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Home » Chess News » Events » Max Euwe Memorial 2011 » Euwe tournament: Conquest arrives, Olafsson ill, Socko wins

Stuart Conquest played his first game in the Euwe Tournament today against the player with the highest rating, 17-year old Robin van Kampen. Due to weather problems in London, Conquest could not arrive on time for the first round. "I planned to take the ferry from Harwich to Hoek van Holland in the evening and stayed at the airport to get some work done. Then I suddenly heard a last call announcement for a flight to Amsterdam, so I ran to the gate and fortunately they had a seat for me", Conquest explained.

Still, only three games were played today. Fridrik Olafsson already had some problems with his stomach on Monday and he even had to see a doctor on Tuesday. He could not play his game against Cramling today, so this game will be played on the rest day on Thursday, together with Conquest and Arakhamia who still play their first round game.

Let's take a quick look at the games. Conquest played a typical "English" opening, after 1.d4 d5 he played the move 2.Bg5. A lot of English grandmasters in the eighties and nineties played this highly popular move. If you want to learn something about this opening or 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5, check some older games of Hodgson, Adams, Short, Hebden or Norwood. In this game Conquest played the new move 10.Qa4 and Van Kampen had to solve some small problems. After 24...Nc5?! Conquest missed 25. Rxc5 Bxc5 26.Bxd8 Bxd4 27.Be7 with a better position for white. Both players were in time trouble though, and the young Dutchman could not convert his advantage. He missed the tactical blow 33...Nf4! which would have given him some chances in the endgame. The game ended in a draw after 35 moves.

Stuart Conquest - Robin van Kampen Euwe Memorial Gp2 (2)

1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 Nf6 3. e3 Ne4 4. Bf4 c5 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. Nd2 Nc6 7. c3 Qb6 8. Rb1 Bg4 9. Ngf3 e6 10. Qa4 Nd7 11. O-O cxd4 12. cxd4 Be7 13. b4 O-O 14. Rfc1 Rfc8 15. b5 Qa5 16. Qc2 Nd8 17. Qb3 Qa3 18. Bc7 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Bd6 20. Qxa3 Bxa3 21. Rc3 Bd6 22. Rbc1 Bb4 23. R3c2 Ba3 24. Rd1 Nc5

25. dxc5 Rxc7 26. Nb3 Rac8 27. e4 Bxc5 28. exd5 exd5 29. Bf5 Ne6 30. Rxd5 Bb6 31. Rxc7 Rxc7 32. a4 Rc3 33. Rd3 Rxd3 34. Bxd3 Nc5 35. Nxc5 1/2-1/2

The game Van der Sterren-Peng also ended in a draw. In an English opening, Van der Sterren had a slightly better position, but after 18...a5 black could easily equalize. After 29 moves Van der Sterren offered a draw in a position which was "clearly better for black", according to kiebitzer GM Dimitri Reinderman in the commentary room.

Monika Socko won a nice game against Kati Arakhamia-Grant. The Scottish champion mishandled the opening completely but somehow managed to get an acceptable position. However, in severe time trouble she lost an important pawn on e6 and the position went downhill pretty fast. Socko had no problem to score the full point.

38... Qxe6 39. Ra2 Rxb3 40. Bxc2 Rxf3 41. Rxf3 Bxf3 42. f5 Qd6 43. Qf2 Qf4 44. fxg6 hxg6 45. Bd3 Rc1+ 46. Bf1 Kf7 47. Rd2 Qe4 48. Rb2 Qd3 49. g5 f5 50. Ra2 Be4 0-1

On Wednesday we will see the next games and let's hope that all players are healthy and well. In group 1 we will see Cramling-van der Sterren and Peng-Olafsson. In group 2 Van Kampen-Arakhamia and Socko-Conquest will be played. The games start at 13.00, live games on www.euwetoernooi.nl

On Wednesday afternoon 16 November, 14:00-17:30, on the children's floor of the Public Central library we are organising an afternoon for all children who like chess or would like to know more about it. Jennifer Shahade arrived in Amsterdam today, and she will give a simul tomorrow. The film "Long live the Queen" will be screened and in the evening there is a lecture by Dr. Jos Uiterwijk. Uiterwijk delivers a lecture on digital developments since Euwe's time as part of the "Digital Month" series organized by the Amsterdam public library.

Lots of fascinating chess stuff coming up on Wednesday! (Eric van Reem)

Max Euwe Mem Gp1 Amsterdam (NED), 14-20 xi 2011											cat. IX (2454)
					1		2		3		4
1.	Van Der Sterren, Paul	g	NED	2514	*	*	½	.	.	.	½	.	1	2403
2.	Peng, Zhaoqin	g	NED	2379	½	.	*	*	½	.	.	.	1	2504
3.	Cramling, Pia	g	SWE	2495	.	.	½	.	*	*	.	.	½	2379
4.	Olafsson, Fridrik	g	ISL	2428	½	.	.	.	.	.	*	*	½	2514

Round 1 (November 14, 2011)
Peng, Zhaoqin	- Cramling, Pia	½-½	53	A33	English Symmetrical
Olafsson, Fridrik	- Van Der Sterren, Paul	½-½	20	E54	Nimzo Indian
Round 2 (November 15, 2011)
Van Der Sterren, Paul	- Peng, Zhaoqin	½-½	29	A29	English Four Knights

Max Euwe Mem Gp2 Amsterdam (NED), 14-20 xi 2011											cat. X (2500)
					1		2		3		4
1.	Socko, Monika	g	POL	2479	*	*	½	.	.	.	1	.	1½	2693
2.	Van Kampen, Robin	g	NED	2558	½	.	*	*	½	.	.	.	1	2500
3.	Conquest, Stuart C	g	ENG	2521	.	.	½	.	*	*	.	.	½	2558
4.	Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan	g	SCO	2443	0	.	.	.	.	.	*	*	0

Round 1 (November 14, 2011)
Socko, Monika	- Van Kampen, Robin	½-½	62	D11	Slav Defence
Round 2 (November 15, 2011)
Conquest, Stuart C	- Van Kampen, Robin	½-½	35	D00	Queen's Pawn Game
Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan	- Socko, Monika	0-1	50	B70	Sicilian Dragon

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