Report by Fabrice Wantiez

You can now find on http://www.echecs-photos.be/NATO2009/ a report of the last NATO Championship which was played in Hammelburg, Germany from 15-19 Jun 2009.


Here the official page where you can also find the games : http://www.natochess.com/championship2009.html


Games from 1995-2008: http://www.natochess.com/files_official/NATO.cbv


That was the 20th NATO chess championship, again in Hammelburg after 20 years. The first NATO chess championship was held in Hammelburg in 1989. Before 1989, there were only unofficial tournaments starting in 1978.


The main organizer of the NATO championship 2009 was Karl Koopmeiners. He was assisted by the KAS’ team (German Catholic welfare organisation for the services)

KAS: http://www.kas-bonn.de/?showme=94


Germany had the very best record: 16 victories in the 20 championships, 11 victory in the 12 unofficial tournaments.


Last year in Brussels, Turkey made a surprise with a first place finish. But this year, Germany was again too strong and won by one point.



The team’s ranking is made with the score of the 4 best players of a team (28 points maximum).

In individual, the best ELO, IM Andreas Schenk (2507) won easily. His games were very impressive. The second was a surprise. The Poland player Mateusz Sypien (2245) made the very best performance (2564!) and was only second after the bucholtz.


Team Ranking

Individual Ranking

Rank

Country

Points

Rank

Player

Country

Points

1.

Germany

21

1.

Schenk, Andreas

GER

6,0

2.

Norway

20

2.

Sypien, Mateusz

POL

6,0

3.

Poland

19,5

3.

Vaznonis, Vytautas

LTU

5,5

4.

Denmark

18,5

4.

Pedersen, Finn

DEN

5,5

5.

The Netherlands

17

5.

Wantiez, Fabrice

BEL

5,5

6.

Turkey

15,5

6.

Hole, Oystein

NOR

5,5

7.

France

15,5

7.

De Haan, Eric

NED

5,5

8.

Belgium

15,5

8.

Helbig, Mark

GER

5,0

9.

United States of America

14,5

9.

Kertesz, Alfred

GER

5,0

10.

Italy

14,5

10.

Lillevold, Frode

NOR

5,0

11.

NATO-Team

14,5

11.

Drabke, Lorenz

GER

5,0

12.

Hungary

14

12.

Gerardi, Saverio

ITA

5,0

13.

Lithuania

13,5

13.

Moen, Steinar

NOR

5,0

14.

Slovenia

13,5

14.

Bieluszewski, Piotr

POL

4,5

15.

United Kingdom

11,5

15.

Alaslar, Devrim

TUR

4,5

16.

Canada

8,5

16.

Indbryn, Tommy

NOR

4,5

17.

Spain (only 2 persons)

7

17.

Karbowiak, Adam

POL

4,5

18.

Luxembourg (only 1 person)

3,5

18.

Krainski, Jaroslaw

POL

4,5



The next tournament will be in Koege, 30 km from Copenhagen in Denmark from 18-22 October 2010 and during an IGM close tournament: the 3rd Nimzowtsch Memorial. These tournaments will be organized by the Danish team captain Finn Stuhr.


Future events:


· 2010 : Denmark

· 2011 : Lithuania

· 2012 : Italy

· 2013 : France

· 2014 : Hungary or The Netherlands


On Friday afternoon, there was also the traditional BLITZ tournament. IM Andreas Schenk won again with the perfect score of 9/9!


Individual ranking: http://www.natochess.com/2009/20th%20NATO%20Chess%20Championship%202009.html


Blitz: http://www.natochess.com/2009/Blitz%20of%2020th%20NATO%20Chess%20Championship.html


Wednesday afternoon, there was a traditional cultural visit. This time, the players can visit the Point Alpha. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Observation_Post_Alpha

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Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Susan Polgar July 6, 2009 Daily News, General News 2 Comments
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