ČEZ CHESS TROPHY 2016

Alekhine's Defence sealed the deal

[10.06.2016 00:00:00] - The Hungarian grandmaster Richard Rapport yet again surprised with his choice of opening. With his black pieces he chose Alekhine´s defence twice. A surprise move considering that this defence is practically not used at the highest chess level and is considered to be inferior for the player with black pieces. But…. David Navara had white pieces and seemingly (or for real?) he gained an advantage at the opening of the game, however after while it was not clear how he could have progress and to use this advantage. During the first Alekhine´s defence Navara hung by the thread. During the second defence, the Hungarian wizard, currently living in Belgrade, was more careful not to let the captured David to escape. The white could have not escaped unpunished against Rapport playing Alekhine´s defence.

After three draws, the grandmaster Rapport won the fourth game, which meant winning the entire match, taking away the glass trophy for the winner - ČEZ CHESS TROPHY 2016. The deciding game will be on reported upon in details next week in chess weekly, Šachový týdeník.


The world number one at junior ranking Richar Rapport

The traditional Prague Chess Festival yet again attracted a numerous audience and offered remarkable chess experience, such as a chess game performed at Střelecký ostrov by humans instead of chess pieces, a film opening of a chess theme movie, a blindfolded simultaneous game or an exhibition of chess theme photos taken in cafés and pubs.


Hall, where on-going chess game was commented upon by Robert Cvek, was full up.


The beautiful hall of Michnův palác was hosting, as previously, grandmasters’ match.

ČEZ CHESS TROPHY 2016 attracted strong media attention. Articles on festival appeared in printed daily papers Blesk, Lidové noviny and Pražský deník, as well as on chess and non-chess websites such as idnes.cz, chessbase.com or chess-news.ru. Coverage from the festival was broadcasted by Czech TV station Česká televize, not only in chess theme show V šachu, but also in the main evening news, during sport coverage Branky body vteřiny.


The legend of Czech chess, grandmaster Vlastimil Hort, is lecturing about old Czech chess masters – Karel Hromádka, Karel Opočenský and Salo Flohr.

The festival audience was able to meet at Michnův palác at Kampa several grandmasters and other interesting people. Legendary grandmasters Vlastimil Hort, Jan Smejkal, Oleg Romanishin and Ian Rogers were presented. As the younger generation of grandmasters was concern, apart from contestants David Navara, Richard Rapport, Timur Gareyev and the commentator Robert Cvek, presented were also Sergej Movsesian, Viktor Láznička, Peter Michalík and Martin Petr.

As for the other guests of the festival, we should mentioned the Swiss lawyer,Alban Broadbeck, who during the 1981´s fight for world´s champion title in Merano, legally represented Viktor Korcnoy in his dispute with the world champion Anatoly Karpov. Several years after this event, he also represented Anatoly Karpov in his dispute with FIDE.
Other interesting guests included a sponsor of chess and the former CEO of Český Telecom, Bessl Koka, the shadow education minister, Václav Klaus jr., or the film director Maris Flabba.


Ukraine chess legend, Oleg Romanshin, with the chairman of Prague Chess Society, Pavel Matocha.


The Swiss lawyer, Alban Broadbeck, who visited ČEZ CHESS TROPHY 2016 festival the same day, when the legendary Viktor Korcnoy, who he represented 35 years back, died.


The best Czech chess player, David Navara together with British/Estonian director, Maria Flabba, who shot the documentary movie about Chess Train.

| Pavel Matocha | visits(4409x)