Chess Train 2018

King is a king, still, West is the best

[17.10.2018 00:00:00] - Australian international master Guy West won the international chess tournament, with 10 points from 11 rounds, played during the five days long Chess train journey across the Czech Republic and Poland. Alexander King, American, and Ukrainian international master Roman Khaetsky finished second and third. Khaetsky, as a matter of fact, won the Chess Train tournament in 2017.

A novelty of this year was a chess problems solving competition. Each competant was provided 45 minutes to solve 12 difficult two-dots. Half of the competants solved no more then two of them. To finish 2nd, 3rd or 4th 6 problems needed to be solved. Nonetheless, Alexander King, the winner, solved all of them. Even Marek Kolčák, the organiser of the contest, was thrilled, pronouncing that King should attend a World Championship in problems solving, because his premises on this field are great.


Vlastimil Hort, a legend of Czech chess game, came to hand the Chess Train tournament prize to the hands of the winner, Australian international master Guy West.

All twelve diagrams used in the contest will be at everybody‘s disposal in the next issue of Šachový týdeník – you set your clock (45 minutes) and solve the two-dots yourself.
Let‘s get back to the rapid tournament and mention some other succesful players. The best Czech representative was a České dráhy‘s employee, Ladislav Winkelhofer, who finished 17th. Olympics attendant Monika Motyčáková finished 8th and she also was found to be the best woman player of the tournament. Alexandra Paulsen (US) was the best junior player, finished 24th. The most impressive “jumper“ was Antoine Broume, French, his rating and game results differ by 1169 ELO points. Here you can see the results of the tournament.


Pavel Matocha, the chairman of Prague Chess Company (Pražská šachová společnost), while launching another round of the tournament.

103 chess players from 22 countries (involving places such as India, Mexico, Canada, Australia) around the globe joined this year‘s Chess Train tournament.
Next year the Chess Train will pull out on Friday, 11th October and finish its way on Tuesday, 15th. Keep you diaries blank! The way of the train will be known in December.


Piotr Pisanski – a Canadian chess player with Polish roots.

2018 Chess Train photographs gallery.

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