European Club Championship 2002

Ramiras
Chess & Music & Things

European Club Championship 2002

Read all about it here (official link)

This time Randaberg had an interesting combination of good and bad and young and old players.

We also met some interesting ones ...
(interesting 1, 2, 3)

I joined the group as the accidential tourist, and due to a last notice drop-out from Kåre due to illness I was suddenly faced with the task of being Team leader! As it turned out I also had to step inside the ring for a few nice battles!

The strategy of no sex in connection with matches was compensated by a very hard physical program from 10 - 13 each morning which left us all exhausted by the time the games started. After the games there were serious bridge-tournaments in addition to extensive analyses (of CL-football matches at the outdoor bar in addition to chessgames in the room). At night there were drinking and pool competitions with Guess Who?

Of course there were plenty occasions for swimming as you might guess from the view.

Round 1 (Annotated Games)

Jim had a fantastic, aggressive game with heavy artillery against an Israely player (normally it's the other way around). Fortunately his opponent did not understand Norwegian - so when Jim mumbled a draw offer - this went unnoticed. Although there were several strange moves - it turned out well in the end!

Knut had the strong GM Alik Gershon hanging by the ropes.
Knut also heard the draw offer, but declined (although without his usual smile...) and went on to a thrilling end-game before eventually losing!

Per Ove had a very good looking position against GM Sutorsky and missed the draw in a wild end-game.

Thor Geir was given a good lesson by GM Lerner who learned him the masochistic way of losing the Kings-Indian.

Hans and Jan Vidar was not able to put up very much resistance this time. (Slekta)

Round 2 (Annotated Games)

Jim blundered. Thor Geir missed a clear win. I did a typical Tasta-move and went on to lose after having obtained a complicated position in the middle game. Knut played positionally bad and lost. Hans fell asleep during the game and was mated. Per Ove played a long draw with chances on both sides - I think he missed an obvious win in the end though! Pictures: top - bottom)

Round 3 (Annotated Games)

Jan Vidar and I had a very interesting talk during lunch about 2.d3 in the French and look what happened. Unfortunately we messed up in the end. Per Ove and his opponent acted out an endless parody of Finnish TV-theatre - his greatest achievement was to stay awake. Knut was very creative (h5) and managed to obtain an apparantly promising position, but lost.

Round 4 (Annotated Games)

We were crushed on the upper three tables.Jan Vidar managed to escape from a risky opening and won in great style due to some bishops which can only be equalled by Terje Melkeraaen. Jim got a lucky draw, and Hans won in great style.

Round 6 (Annotated Games)

The Luck of the Irish!

Knut went for a draw but was tricked by a nasty Irish horse.
Thor Geir was about to resign when his opponent offered draw. Jan Vidar was playing book moves while his opponent was writing J A I L with his candies (M&M's) in nice colours upon completion of which he generously blundered.Hans played convincingly until he slipped up, but his opponent missed his chance and went along into a scenic mate!Jim made another lucky draw escape and I went out to an apparantly won endgame with a pawn up and equally coloured bishop! However Niall played a very serious defence and managed a nice draw which according to himself saved his trip!

Round 7 (Annotated Games)

Last round was a weak one. I managed to get a three move tempo after 12 moves (since my opponent opened with the wrong knight!). However I missed the winning combination and was left a pawn up with a weak horse against a strong bishop. Hans missed a probable win and lost. Thor Geir was crushed. Jim managed another miraculous draw and Jan Vidar won a beautiful endgame after avoiding punishment for an earlier slip up.
Per Ove made a peaceful draw in an overcrowded position against his Iranian dancingpartner!

All in all as expected! A little muddy and Great FUN!