In a dramatic last round of the top division in the Israeli league, Ashdod (with B. Avrukh, E. Sutovsky, I. Smirin, V. Golod, A. Kogan, B. Kantsler and Y. Gruenfeld playing) won its third consecutive title. Yochanan Afek reports.

The last round of the top division in the Israeli team championship last weekend was especially dramatic as both the battle for the title and the struggle against relegation were close and highly tense. An early point lead turned insufficient for Beer Sheba who beat Rishon- Letzion “just” 4.5: 2.5 while Ashdod defeated ASA Tel-Aviv 6:1 to win a third consecutive title.

Games Ashdod-ASA Tel-Aviv

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No less than six teams were at the bottom “danger zone” and coincidently met each other in the last round for the last decisive effort to survive. Hapoel Petakh-Tikva and Hapoel Holon eventually relegated, while Elitzur Petakh- Tikva will still have to play an extra match against a second division team to secure its place next year. In the Israeli league each team plays on six boards and gains an extra point for an overall team victory.

The final standings (with the local as well as the active foreign GMs)

1. Ashdod 57.5 GMs B. Avrukh, E. Sutovsky, I. Smirin, V. Golod, A. Kogan, B. Kantsler , Y. Gruenfeld
2. Beer-Sheba 57 GMs M. Roiz, M. Rodshtein, E. Postny, A. Khuzman, A. Greenfeld, S. Dvoirys
3. Rishon Letzion 46.5 GMs B. Gelfand, V. Mikhalevsky, B.Alterman, E.Liss, Y.Kosashvili
4. Kfar-Saba 39.5 GMs E. Rozenthalis, K. Lerner, M. Oratovsky, A. Gershon, O. Gladishev Y. Zilberman
5. ASA Tel-Aviv 37.5 GMs Manor & Finkel
6. Porat Rechovot 34
7. Beer-Sheba B 33 GM M. Tseitlin
8. Ashdod B 31.5 GMs A.Kovaliov & T. Abargel
9. Jerusalem 30 GMs I. Khenkin, A. Delchev, GM Rechlis
10. Elitzur Petakh-Tikva 29 GMs Z. Gofshtein and Av. Bikhovsky
11. Hapoel Petakh- Tikva 28 GM S. Erenburg
12. Holon 27.5 GMs Soffer, Y. Murey

Some 35 Israeli IMs took also part in the competition.

Best Individual scores: Ilya Smirin,Vitaly Golod (Ashdod) 9/11; M. Royz, A.Khuzman, A.Greenfeld (Beer-Sheba) 8.5/11; A.Finkel (ASA Tel-Aviv) 8/10; E. Sutovsky (Ashdod) 6/7;

A most remarkable individual comeback was that of IM Natan Birnboim, three times Israel champion in the eighties who, after two almost inactive decades, led the young surprising family Porat team (with three brothers and a sister regularly playing) from Rechovot to an excellent sixth place with 7.5/11. Had he won his last round game against GM Gershon he would have even scored a GM norm but unfortunately lost.

Standing (from left to right): A. Riabukhin (team board), GM V.Golod., GM Y. Gruenfeld, GM B.Kantsler, GM E. Sutovsky, GM I. Smirin, GM A. Kovaliov, GM A. Kogan, GM B. Avrukh and his wife. Sitting: I. Ginzburg (team board) and M.Slav (club chairman). The photo is courtesy of V.Golod.

Link

• Israeli league games in PGN