12th European Individual Chess Championship
Top Grandmasters facing strong resistance in round one
The 12th European Individual Chess Championship was introduced with an opening ceremony on Monday evening and continued with the round one games Tuesday. The Championship is taking place in Aix‐les‐Bains, France, from March 21st (day of arrival) to April 3rd (day of departure).
393 players from 41 countries, also including five under ECU flag, are taking participation. Among them is an impressive number of Grandmasters, 167, and 63 International Masters.
Already on the first day there were many surprises in the matches featuring European top players. IM Artem Smirnov stunned GM Dmitry Jakovenko with black pieces, while a number of his colleagues within the rating range maintained draws against seasoned Grandmasters.
Faroese star IM Helgi Dam Ziska forced repetition against the top seeded GM Peter Svidler. GM Alexander Potapov had to work much longer, for about 80 moves, to prove that the opposite-coloured ending against GM Nikita Vitiugov is a draw. IM Christophe Philippe, whom many know as the tireless organizer from Nancy, earned a draw from GM Alexander Riazantsev. Full round one results bellow.
Top board results
GM Svidler Peter 2730 ½ – ½ IM Ziska Helgi Dam 2432
IM Sermier Guillaume 2428 0 – 1 GM Nepomniachtchi Ian 2729
GM Navara David 2722 ½ – ½ IM Colin Vincent 2427
GM Potapov Alexander 2425 ½ – ½ GM Vitiugov Nikita 2720
GM Jakovenko Dmitry 2718 0 – 1 IM Smirnov Artem 2425
IM Erdogdu Mert 2423 0 – 1 GM Caruana Fabiano 2716
GM Wojtaszek Radoslaw 2711 ½ – ½ IM Roser Kevin 2423
IM Terrieux Kevin 2422 ½ – ½ GM Jobava Baadur 2707
GM Vallejo Pons Francisco 2707 ½ – ½ IM Vedmediuc Serghei 2422
IM Houska Jovanka 2419 0 – 1 GM Dreev Aleksey 2697
GM Fressinet Laurent 2693 ½ – ½ IM Thorfinnsson Bragi 2417
IM Zueger Beat 2417 0 – 1 GM Sutovsky Emil 2692
GM Laznicka Viktor 2688 ½ – ½ IM Telljohann Sven 2415
FM Poetsch Hagen 2415 ½ – ½ GM Polgar Judit 2686
GM Naiditsch Arkadij 2684 1 – 0 IM Roeder Matthias 2414
IM Battaglini Gabriel 2413 0 – 1 GM Mcshane Luke J 2683
GM Zhigalko Sergei 2680 1 – 0 IM Nedilko Vasily 2413
IM Philippe Christophe 2409 ½ – ½ GM Riazantsev Alexander 2679
GM Rublevsky Sergei 2678 1 – 0 IM Zude Erik Dr 2409
IM Shirazi Kamran 2403 0 – 1 GM Motylev Alexander 2677
GM Volokitin Andrei 2677 1 – 0 IM Benitah Yohan 2401
IM Olivier Jean-Christophe 2401 0 – 1 GM Sargissian Gabriel 2676
GM Akopian Vladimir 2675 ½ – ½ Zarkua Davit 2397
IM Kreisl Robert 2394 0 – 1 GM Grachev Boris 2675
GM Inarkiev Ernesto 2674 1 – 0 IM Manea Alexandru 2392
IM Mazur Stefan 2388 0 – 1 GM Moiseenko Alexander 2673
GM Nisipeanu Liviu-Dieter 2673 1 – 0 IM Diermair Andreas 2386
WGM Zawadzka Jolanta 2386 0 – 1 GM Kobalia Mikhail 2672
GM Bologan Viktor 2671 1 – 0 FM Dragomirescu Robin-Alexandru 2385
FM Petrisor Adrian-Marian 2385 0 – 1 GM Nielsen Peter Heine 2670
GM Mamedov Rauf 2667 1 – 0 FM Raznikov Danny 2384
IM Miedema David 2380 0 – 1 GM Georgiev Kiril 2666
GM Cheparinov Ivan 2664 1 – 0 Kadric Denis 2379
FM Csiba Dominik 2378 ½ – ½ GM Zvjaginsev Vadim 2663
GM Fedorchuk Sergey A 2662 1 – 0 FM Petre Nad-Titus 2377
IM Milliet Sophie 2369 0 – 1 GM Khismatullin Denis 2662
GM Fridman Daniel 2661 1 – 0 IM Vuilleumier Alexandre 2369
FM Rozhko Dmitry 2365 0 – 1 GM Smeets Jan 2660
GM Smirin Ilia 2658 1 – 0 FM Stella Andrea 2364
Fejzullahu Afrim 2341 0 – 1 GM Feller Sebastien 2657
GM Nyback Tomi 2656 ½ – ½ IM Beinoras Mindaugas 2356
Serov Maksim 2352 ½ – ½ GM Kurnosov Igor 2653
GM Potkin Vladimir 2653 1 – 0 FM Sarbok Torsten 2347
Maevsky Nikolay 2342 0 – 1 GM Gharamian Tigran 2650
Full results here. Official website: http://www.aixlesbains2011.fr/Default.aspx?lg=UK
This is so strong.