Games: Chess
The Independent – United Kingdom
Oct 16, 2004
Jon Speelman
The biennial chess Olympiad got underway yesterday at the Gran Casino in
Calvia Majorca and continues until 29 October. With generous sponsorship from the
professional services firm Deloitte and Touche, England has the excellent team
of Michael Adams, Nigel Short, Luke McShane, myself, Mark Hebden and Peter
Wells and we are one of the top seeds.
However, while we hope to fight for medals, the Olympiads got much tougher
after the break up of the old Soviet Union fractured one immense giant into
separate countries, including the superpowers Russia itself, the Ukraine and
Armenia. Moreover, a huge number of strong ex-Soviets have moved abroad. Indeed, I
believe (though I’m writing before it’s confirmed) that both the USA and
Israel may consist entirely of ex-Soviets!
The annual Israeli Championship took place in Ramat from 19 to 29 September.
Inevitably it was dominated by those of Russian origin though the winner,
21-year-old Sergei Erenburg is relatively unknown as compared to those who came
behind.
Erenburg scored 6.5/9 which put him first on tie-break ahead of Vitaly Golod;
while Konstantin Lerner and Boris Avrukh made 6 and there were eight players
on 5.5. The winner has a nice calm positional style with a drop of poison as
in this efficient victory.
After 8…Ba6!, White always had some problems on the white squares. The
early middlegame was close to equal but the f4 pawn was a weakness. Even after
dissolving it, Deutsch was still under some pressure and the raid with 28.Nd4?
proved disastrous. At the end, .34.Rf4 Qe1+ 35.Kh2 Qg3+ 36.Kh1 Nf3! is equally
fatal.
Eyal Deutsch vs Sergei Erenburg
Israeli Championship 2004 (round 1)
Queen’s Pawn Opening
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress