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by LozCooper » Mon Apr 12, 2010 9:40 am
European Chess Solving Championship 2010
De Vere Venues, Sunningdale Park, Berkshire
10th – 11th April 2010
The 2010 European Solving Championship at Sunningdale was hosted by the British Chess Problem Society. It was the first major international solving competition held in Great Britain for over twenty years.
The outcome was a great triumph for the Great Britain A Team, who became European Champions, and for Solving Grandmaster John Nunn, who won the individual title.
A total of 55 solvers took part and there were 13 teams.
Poland finished second in the team event and their leading solver, current World Champion Piotr Murdzia, finished second in the individual. The Polish team were understandably affected by the tragic air crash which had shocked their country and a minute’s silence was held at the start of the second day.
The competition is held over two days and comprises six rounds of solving, each of a different discipline and with three problems in each round. A correct answer is worth five points. On the first day there are Twomovers, Threemovers and Studies; on the second day Helpmates, Moremovers and Selfmates. Teams comprise four solvers, with the best three scores in each round counting in the final total.
At the end of two days’ hard solving and a tense wait for the final results, the outcome was:
Team: 1st Great Britain A 204.5/270 2nd Poland 202.5 3rd Serbia 192
Individual: 1st John Nunn (GBR) 80.5/90
2nd Piotr Murdzia (POL) 77 3rd Eddy van Beers (BEL) 76.25
The value of John Nunn’s performance to the team result can readily be seen. His margin of victory in the individual competition exceeded the overall margin in the team event.
The other solvers in the Great Britain A team were Colin McNab, who finished 13th, Jonathan Mestel, 15th, and David Friedgood, 23rd. All of them did well enough for their scores to count in at least three rounds.
As host nation, Great Britain was allowed to enter two teams. Great Britain B finished in 10th place. The team comprised Ian Watson, 25th, Michael McDowell, 37th, Roddy McKay, 41st, and Paul Cumbers, 45th.
Three further British solvers competed as individuals. Ankush Khandelwal, who was one of only five junior competitors, finished 47th. The other two, competing unofficially, were Stephen Emmerson, 53rd, and your correspondent David Sedgwick. The last named condemned himself to last place by failing to notate correctly his intended solution to a helpmate.
Whilst a notation error in a game will result at worst in a mild rebuke from an arbiter, a similar error in a solving competition is likely to lead to the loss of vital points.
An enjoyable weekend was had by all and thanks for this are due in particular to:
The sponsors, Winton Capital Management, who were generous as ever;
The Organiser, Paul Valois, who was extremely conscientious and efficient;
The Director, Pavel Kamenik of the Czech Republic, and his assistants, Steve Giddins, Christopher Jones and Brian Stephenson.
The management and staff of De Vere Venues, Sunningdale Park.
David Sedgwick 11th April 2010
