"Snow drops" beat "Old Hands" 16.5-15.5
After rounds 4, 5 and 6 the ladies were leading by a 3-point margin in Marianske Lazne. But, thanks to two strong last two rounds, the "Old Hands" managed to limit their loss against the "Snow Drops" to a minimum: 16.5-15.5. Final report.
The Czech Coal Chess Match 2009, a double-round Scheveningen match, took place November 28 - December 5 at the Chrystal Palaca Hotel in Marianske Lazne (the former Marienbad), Czech Republic. The rate of play was 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 30 minutes and 30 seconds increment to finish the game. The tournament was organized by the Prague Chess Society.
Rounds 4-8
From our first report we know that the ladies took an early lead. Jana Jackova defeated Viktor Kortchnoi in the first round, but she wouldn't score much more in the rest of her games: only three draws in rounds 4-8.
Kortchnoi himself started badly with 0.5/4, but then recovered in the second half with two wins and two draws. It was a similar story to that of the whole "Old Hands" team: a slow start, a better continuation and an excellent finish.
The last two matches were both won 2.5-1.5 and so the veterans could leave Marianske Lazne reasonably satisfied. Courteous as they were, they let the ladies win by one point. (Well, courteous except for Viktor Kortchnoi perhaps, who refused to shake hands and sign the score sheet after he lost to Anna Muzychuk in round 3. Unfortunately the living legend has become a bit of a grumpy old man, but we do admire his chess strength at the age of 78...)
Games rounds 4-8
Game viewer by ChessTempo
Humpy Koneru preparing for one of the games, her father sitting next to her
Robert Hübner vs Anna Muzychuk
Jana Jackova vs Viktor Kortchnoi
The 'Snow Drops' consisted of Humpy Koneru...
...Jana Jackova...
...Anna Muzychuk...
...and Kateryna Lahno, playing against...
'Old Hands' Robert Hübner...
...Jan Timman...
...Viktor Kortchnoi...
...and Vlastimil Hort
A pleasant tourney in which young female GMs learnt a lot from experienced and famous GMs
Photos by Vladimir Jagr, courtesy of the tournament website
Links
Founder and editor-in-chief of ChessVibes.com, Peter is responsible for most of the chess news and tournament reports. Often visiting top events, he also provides photos and videos for the site. He's a 1.e4 player himself, likes Thai food and the Stones.
Comments
Radical Caveman
2 years 2 months ago
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Your concluding caption is a bit sexist. Let's turn it around:
A pleasant tourney in which experienced and famous GMs learnt a lot from young female GMs -- including how to lose graciously to a "girl."
Although Korchnoi, it seems, needs more practice!
chess
2 years 2 months ago
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what happened with other famous chess players from 60,70 and maybe 80s?
hear nothing.
Meppie
2 years 2 months ago
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Hi, I think there is a little mistake in the individuale results. Koneru lost her second game against Kortchnoi. Her results give a draw.
Together she's got 6 point (instead of 5,5).
njm
2 years 2 months ago
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great games.
PP (NL)
2 years 2 months ago
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A shame that Kortchnoi, somebody that I admire greatly (who doesn't?) sometimes can be so unsportsmanlike by not shaking hands after a loss to what he thinks is an inferior chess-player.
Nice tournament!
dan
2 years 2 months ago
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the final position of that game, Korchnoi-Muzychuk looks puzzling on how white can lost. maybe Korchnoi lost in time ? should have more complete story here before make any comment on the incident.
Thomas
2 years 2 months ago
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Yes, Korchnoi lost one game on time - not 100% sure it was against Muzychuk, nor do I remember where I saw this on video. It seems he had completely forgotten about the clock, then an arbiter approached the board pointing at the clock ... . Korchnoi initially didn't seem to understand at all, then he just left (shaking his head but not shaking hands).
Maybe an explanation, not an excuse for his behavior ... I fully agree with PP (NL). It (no hand shake) happened just a few weeks ago to Afek after beating Korchnoi in blitz - I was playing in the same Dutch event but heard and read about that incident only later on.
Poek
2 years 2 months ago
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Personally, I prefer winning on time and my opponent not shaking hands to losing (and my opponent accepting my hand). But that might be just me...
test
2 years 2 months ago
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It was in a video report by Europe Echecs.
Video. (See 'Rondes 3&4'.)
Dimitri
2 years 2 months ago
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Interesting ... you see that the photographers are being a little over-liberal in picture manipulation.
I would never expect to see Mr. Hort with a black square on bottom right (Last Picture).
:-)
Dimitri
2 years 2 months ago
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Sorry ... second to last ...
test
2 years 2 months ago
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@Dimitri
I don't think it's picture manipulation, the King & Queen are the wrong way around as well, looks like a board with the pieces set up wrong.
Dave Bee
2 years 2 months ago
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Nah - the picture's just been published the wrong way (as a mirror image). Mirror it back and you'll see that all is well (including the set in the background, where on this page the white king is to the *left* of the queen)
test
2 years 2 months ago
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@Dave Bee
Right. [slap forehead] That is definitely the most obvious explanation. :)
Anonymous
2 years 2 months ago
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If I were playing I would just stare at Jana Jackova's face the entire match. Yum!!!
Maybe I would offer a gambit under the table. ;P
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