And so, we reach the last rounds – plural, because the three New Year events also concluded today. These tournaments began on the first day of the year, and have brought new participants to the Congress, while a substantial number of entrants also played in one of the three earlier Con Power groups. It is worth noting that the keenest have had the opportunity to play 25 FIDE rated games here: 6 Con Power; 5 New Year; 5 Weekender; 9 Blitz!
The first question in the Masters was whether England’s Danny Gormally was going to try and use the advantage of the White pieces to play for a win – or indeed ”just play.” It was clear that his opponent, Haowen Xue, would be satisfied with a draw; a half-point was a guarantee not only of at least a tie for first place, but also of a GM norm. In the event, Danny decided a draw was fine with him too, and with his fourteenth move made a peace proposal which was accepted.
This left open the possibility of Haowen being caught for first place on 7/9 by either Pengxiang Zhang or Kirk Ghazarian, who were facing each other on board two, the only players on 6/8. Would we see a two-way Chinese victory this year, or might the 18 year-old American GM round off an excellent first visit to the Congress with a dramatic win? The two fought an even battle in which accuracy held to the fore; Black shed a pawn in return for activity, White returned it for a slight endgame initiative. By now there simply wasn’t enough left in the position. The draw, when it came, was the just result, merited on both sides.
Eleven players began the round on 5,5/8. Board three saw Pierre Laurent-Paoli paired with Mads Vestby-Ellingsen. This game had special value for the Norwegian IM: were he to win, he would secure his first GM norm. The opening was sharp and more than a little obscure, a kind of delayed Keres Attack versus the Sicilian in which Pierre, in response to Black’s break in the centre, chose Rh1-h3 followed by Ra1-a4 – no more castling! White did in fact stand better but took some missteps, and was happy to repeat moves (at least, the same position appeared twice), but Mads needed more than a draw and the game veered along a new path. In a complex position and pressed for time it was Black however who made the fatal slip.
Shreyas Royal started this event with a surprise defeat but ended strongly, building a commanding advantage against Tor Fredrik Kaasen in their game today. By move twenty or so Black’s position was effectively lost. The only other player to reach 6,5/9 was Eldar Gasanov, who won with Black against Baptiste Roux. The Ukrainian GM played strongly and had victory in his grasp but then lost control, allowing the Frenchman to stay in the game. For a move or two things were unclear but then further errors came, and Eldar finished with a neat checkmate.
Tim Grutter will be happy with his tournament. A draw today with Svyatoslav Bazakutsa brings his live rating up to 2399.6 (which can be rounded up to 2400) and this should, in theory, mean he has obtained his IM title. Congratulations, Tim! Scotland’s Freddy Gordon needed a win today for his IM norm, but with Black against GM Alexander Kovchan this was always going to be a challenge. Although he lost, we feel sure that Freddy will soon be back in the ”norm zone.” In another game where a win was worth a share of second, Swedish IM Seo Jung Min had an extra pawn against Hugo de Melo Lux and might have made more of it, but the game ended a draw.
Our tournament winner (together with his father who has been here throughout) had a flight to catch from London back to China this evening, so was unable to stay for the prizegiving proper, but John Ashworth, CEO of our sponsor, Caplin Systems Ltd., was here to award Haowen his £2,500 first prize and to congratulate him. John also ”presented” Haowen with the Golombek trophy, which remains in custody of the Congress, and to which the newly appointed GM’s name will be added as Hastings 2024/25 champion.
Photograph by Anniken Vestby