E-MAGAZINE JUNE 2021

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Mediterranean Championship

Ivan Saric wins the 11th edition of the Mediterranean Championship held in Petrovac, Montenegro

ECU101 Certificates

We have reached Certificate No.1000 (!) last weekend for ECU Teachers Chess Training Course in cooperation with ChessPlus.

# 6 Over-The-Board ECU Championships annnounced! Briefly..

The 3rd ECU Board meeting in 2021 took place on Wednesday 9th of June through teleconference.

Regulations for six (6) European Chess Championships in 2021 have been published. Special health measures will be valid according the hosting countries rules and ECU protocols.

European Women Individual Chess Championship 2021 will take place from 8th-21st of August 2021, in Iasi, Romania. 116 players from 29 federations registered for the event. A few late registrations are also expected to complete the list.

The Mediterranean Chess Championship 2021 took place succefuly European Chess Union has its seat in Switzerland, from 18-27 June 2021, in Petrovac, Montenegro. Address: Rainweidstrasse 2, CH-6333, Hunenberg See, Switzerland . European Chess Union is an independent association founded in 1985 in Graz, Austria; ECU organised special webinars in cooperation with FIDE Planing and European Chess Union has 54 National Federation Develoment Commission. Reports are inlcuded in the magazine. Members; Every year ECU organizes more than 20 prestigious events and championships; + Webinar for Erasmus #Friday June 18 www.europechess.org [email protected] + Online FIDE International Organizers Seminar 28 June - July 1 + Chess Teacher Training Online Course on 19-20 June contents

Mediterannean #Chess 's Chess Festival Seminar for Erasmus+ 03 Mediterannean Chess 12 Final report on Queen's Chess 16 ECU Online Seminar for Championship 2021 - Final Festival application in Erasmus+ report programs ECU Board Meeting ECU FIDE IO Seminar Arbiters Corner 04 Communique of the ECU 13 ECU FIDE IO Seminar short 17 "Once upon a time in Board Meeting - Main report Belgium..." information and decisions Text by: IA Geert Bailleul ECU OTB EVENTS ECU EDU activities Fun Zone 05 Preview and invitations of 14 1000+ Certificated ECU 19 announced ECU Over-The- Chess Teachers! Board events

Newsletter June 2021 Mediterranean Chess Championship 2021

Mediterranean Chess Championship 2021 took place from 18-27 June 2021 in a 4* Hotel Palas, in Petrovac, Montenegro.

128 players from 20 federations participated in the 11th Mediterranean Chess Championship. The event was opened by the ECU President, Mr.Zurab Azmaiparashvili.

After 9 played rounds, GM Ivan Saric (Croatia) claimed the title of Mediterranean Champion. He tied for the first place with IM Saraci Nderim (Kosovo), scoring 7.5 Légende Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem points. quia voluptas sit aspernatur. Additional criteria decided that trophy goes to Ivan Saric, while Saraci Nderim took silver. The total prize fund of the event was 10.500 EUR, with 1.200 EUR Three players tied for bronze, reserved for the Champion of the scoring 7 points each: GM Vahap event. Sanal (Turkey), GM Zelcic Robert (Croatia) and IM Livaic Leon The event was played according to (Croatia), but according to tiebreaks, Swiss system, 9 rounds, with time Vahap Sanal took bronze medal. control 90 minutes per player for 40 moves, plus 15 minutes till the end IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (Greece) of the game, with increment of 40 scored 6.5 points to claim the seconds for each move, starting Mediterranean Women's Chess from move one. Chmapion title. WGM Injac Teodora (Serbia) finished 2nd with 5.5 points All the results and final standings and Eizaguerri Floris Maria (Spain) can be found here. came 3rd with 5 points.

MediterraneanCh2021

The 11th edition of the Mediterranean Chess Championship took place from 18-27 June in Petrovac, Montenegro.

The Closing ceremony of the event was attended by ECU President Zurab Azmaiparashvili and ECU Vice President and FIDE CEO Dana Reizniece-Ozola.

Newsletter June 2021 3 ECU CL No5/2021

COMMUNIQUE OF THE ECU BOARD MEETING

The third ECU Board meeting in 2021 >The European Individual Senior took place on Wednesday 9th of June Championship 2021 will be organized by through teleconference. the Italian Chess Federation. Expected >ECU Board discussed the reports of to start on 25th of September. Exact European Online and Hybrid schedule will be announced. Competitions, which were organized >The European Youth Rapid & Blitz from March to May 2021 and expresses Chess Championship is scheduled in its satisfaction with the level and results Novisad,Serbia from the 26th to 31st of of the events. For the European Hybrid December 2021. Qualifier Tournament, ECU thanks >The European Corporate National Chess Federations, who went Championship 2021 in Rotterdam to great lengths to organize the venues postponed for 2022. well and also show great concentration >For European Youth Chess in the anti-cheating guidelines. Championship 2021 the decision will be >ECU Board was informed about the made in early July, taking into account projects concluded by the support of travel conditions and restrictions in Main information FIDE Development fund and especially Europe especially for young players the actions in cooperation with FIDE >European School Chess Championship and decisions of Women’s Commission and FIDE 2021 will be held online. Exact schedule Commission for the Disabled. will be announced. the ECU Board: >The Board approved the 2020 >European Small Nations Team Chess accounts and financial statements, Championship 2021 will be held in Malta noting that the financial sustainability of from 27th November to 5th December ECU has not been affected in this with the ECU support. difficult year due to drastic cuts in the annual budget. However, the ECU The Board of ECU is aware that the program remained active online with chess calendar for the months August- many competitions, webinars, and online December 2021 is full of national and conferences. international events after the long break of the over the board activities. However, European Chess Championships holding more competitions in conjunction >The European Open and Women Club with the organisers requests than being Cup 2021 will take place at Ohrid Lake, cancelled for this year is a positive step. North Macedonia from the 17th to the 25th of September 2021, with 44.000 > The bidding process for European prize fund. Championships available in 2023 will >The European Open and Women Club open with a deadline of October 1, 2021 Cup 2022 will be organised in Austria. to submit bids. Championships not >The European Women Club Cup 2023 organised in 2021 will be carried over to will be organized in Monaco. 2022 and 2023. >The European Team Chess Championship 2021 will be organized in >The ECU General Assembly 2021 will Terme Omilia, Slovenia, from the 11th to take place in Terme, Omilia Slovenia the 22nd of November 2021. during the European Team Chess >The European Rapid&Blitz Chess Championship. Championship will be organized in Katowice, Poland from 16-19 December.

Newsletter June 2021 4 INVITATION European Individual Chess Championship

European Individual Chess Championship 2021 will take place from August 26th (1st round) – September 5th in Reykjavik, Iceland.

The Championship will be played according to the ECU Tournament Rules Swiss system of 11 rounds. The European Individual Chess Championship 2021 is a qualifying event for the FIDE World Cup 2023 with 23 qualification spots. The total prize fund is 100,000EUR, with 20.000EUR reserved for the Winner of the event. Besides the regular prizes, there will be special prizes for best players, best women players, best senior players and prizes for the 5 highest placed ACP Premium Members.

The official venue of the championship is Registration deadline is July 15th. Hotel Natura, a historic place with a rich events held there. Prolongation of the registration deadline stayed at this hotel during may be possible for some federations if his 1972 World Championship match a very special reason is presented as a against Boris Spassky. A replica of the justification for the delay. famous table used in 1972 can be found at the hotel. Several other high-profile The list of registered players can be events have been held at the hotel, found on the Official Website. Lists are including the 1977 Spassky vs. Hort updated daily Candidates match and the 1991 GMA World Cup. as well as the GMA World Cup in 1991. The event is open to all players representing the Chess Federations which are members of the European Chess Union, regardless of their title or rating. There is no limit to participants per federation.

Hotel Natura - #EICC2021 Official venue of the European Regulations and Individual Chess Boarder Rules Championship 2021 All the detailed information altogether with regulations of the event can be found on the ECU Website.

Important Boarder Rules of entry to Iceland have been published and can be found on the Official Website of the event.

Newsletter June 2021 5 PREVIEW

European Women Individual Chess Championship 2021 will take place from 8th-21st of August 2021, in Iasi, Romania.

116 players from 29 federations registered for the event. A few late registrations are also expected to complete the list.

European Women's Individual Chess Championship 2021

very strong battlefield is led by According to the FIDE regulations and Dzagnidze Nana (GEO, the ECU Board decision, at least 10 2524), Batsiashvili Nino (GEO, players will qualify. The number of 2491), Javakashvili Lela (GEO, 2473), qualification spots may be increased A Stefanova Antoaneta (ECU, 2470), with a decision prior to the start of the Khotenashvili Bela (GEO, 2463), Girya Championship. Olga (RUS, 2448) and others. All players and accompanying persons he event will be played in 11 rounds, shall be accommodated in the official Swiss system, with 90 ****UNIREA Hotel due to the special minutes for 40 moves plus 30 minutes sanitary measures for the conduct of the for the rest of the game with an championship. increment of 30 seconds per move, starting from /move one. All the players should follow medical protocol which is described in the Official The total prize fund of the event will be Regulations of the event that can be 60.000 EUR. The 21st European found on the ECU Website. Individual Women Chess Championship is a qualification event for the FIDE Starting list of the players can be found Women’s World Cup 2022 or 2023. here.

Newsletter June 2021 6 INVITATION EUROPEAN CLUB CUP 2021

The 36th European Club Cup and the 25th European Club Cup for Women will take place from 17th-25th September 2021 in Struga, Ohrid Lake, North Macedonia.

The championships will be held in 7 rounds, played in the Swiss system in accordance with the ECU Tournament Rules. According to FIDE and ECU rules, the time control will be 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move, starting from move one.

Each European federation is allowed to take part in this competition. According to the regulations, Légende Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem participation is open to: quia voluptas sit aspernatur. >Obiettivo Risarcimento Padova, Italy, the current cup holder in the open All players fees and compositions competition. restrictions are waived only for the year >Five (5) clubs per federation in which a 2021 by decision of the ECU Board. national team championship is organized or four (4) clubs per The date of August 15, 2021, is the federation in which no national team registration deadline. The basic team championship is organized. composition shall be submitted with the >There is no restriction how the clubs entry form. will be selected by the National federations The open teams shall be composed of >Any additional request for participation six (6) players and two (2) reserves For should be examined by the ECU Board the women competition the teams shall >In the Women competition all the club be composed of four (4) players and one members of ECU Federations are (1) reserve. allowed to participate. The OPEN event will be held in the 5* >Clubs shall be registered through the hotel Izgrev, Struga, Ohrid lake. National chess Federations or direct if The Women event will be held in 4* there is no objection from the National hotel Drim, Struga, Ohrid Lake, beside Chess Federation. river Drim.

#ECCC2021 Prizes

The total prize fund of the event is 44.000 Euros. The first ranked 3 teams will receive trophies. Each team member of the winning clubs open & women (players, reserves and captain) will receive a gold medal. The team members of the 2nd and 3rd placed clubs Hotel Drim, will each receive a silver and Struga, Ohrid bronze medal respectively. Lake, beside river Drim.

Newsletter June 2021 7 INVITATION

European Team Chess Championship 2021

European Team Chess Championship 2021 and The playing venue of the event will be European Women’s Team Chess Championship 2021 will Hotel Terme Čatež Spa. take place from 11th-22nd November in Catez, Slovenia. The winners of Open and Women’s sections will claim the title of the European Team Champions for the years 2021-2022. The first three teams he events will be played according to the in the Open and Women’s sections will Swiss System in 9 rounds, with time each receive cups. Each member of the control of 90 minutes for 40 moves + 30 winning team (players, reserves and minutes for the rest of the game, with 30 captain) shall receive a gold medal and seconds increment for every move diploma. Members of the second and T played starting from the move one. third-placed teams shall each receive a silver and bronze medal and a diploma Each ECU member has the right to enter respectively. The best – performing one team of four players + one reserve players in the Open and Women’s player in the Open competition and one sections on each board (10 players in team of four female players + one total) will receive gold medals. reserve player in the Women’s Performance shall be calculated as per competition. The hosting federation may ECU tournament rules. Second and third compete with more than one team in placed players in both sections will each section by approval of the ECU receive silver and bronze medals. Board. The registration deadline is Contact Information: September 30th, 2021. Registrations Email: [email protected] can be submitted by National Chess Official Website – www.etcc2021.eu Federations through the following email address: [email protected].

The playing venue of the event will be Hotel Terme Čatež Spa.

Newsletter June 2021 8 INVITATION European Senior Chess Championship 2021

European Senior Chess Championship 2021 will take place from 25th September – 5th October in Budoni, Italy.

The event will be played in two age categories: 50+ and 65+, Open and Women sections separately. The events will be played in 9 rounds, Swiss system, with time control of 90 minutes for 40 moves + 30 minutes till the end of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds for each move, starting from move one.

If the total number of Women teams is less than 9, Women section will be merged with Open section with separate prizes.

The total prize fund of the event will Covid19 measures: be 8.000 EUR. The top 3 players Upon arrival to the tournament, all from each category of the European participants, referees and staff Senior Chess Championship 2021 (including Italian citizens) must will qualify for the FIDE World Senior present to the Organising Championship 2022 or 2023, with Committee a certificate of full personal rights (free board and vaccination or a 72h negative PCR lodging). test for Coviv19.

Regisration deadline is September Additional measures will comply with 5th, 2021. Registrations shall be the Italian and ECU health protocols. sent to the following email address: [email protected].

#ESCC2021 Contact information:

Contact person: Nadia Ottavi

E-mail: [email protected] Official website: www.ecusenior.unichess.it

All the information and official regulations can be found on the ECU Website.

Newsletter June 2021 9 INVITATION

European Senior Team Chess Championship 2021

European Senior Team Chess Championship 2021 will The European Senior Team Chess Championship is open to all players, take place from 29th August -8th September in regardless of rating and title, who reach Prague, Czech Republic. their age of 50 and 65 by 31st December 2021 and represent National Chess Federations which are members of FIDE. Teams can register only he event will be played in 2 age through their national chess federations. categories: 50+ and 65+, and open and There is no limit in the number of teams women sections will be awarded per federation (club teams, city teams, separately. Both sections will be played regional teams, national teams, etc. may in 9 rounds, Swiss system, with time start in the championship, there is no T control of 90 minutes for 40 moves+ 30 limitation). There is only one limitation – minutes for the rest of the game, with an all team players must be members of the increment of 30 seconds per each move, same European chess federation (for starting from the move one. example CZE).

The registration deadline is August Organisers have secured various 15th, 2021. Due to anti-epidemic accommodation packages for the teams measures all teams are obliged to be and prepared also a parallel cultural accommodated in the official hotel- program for the participants. venue. The official venue and the hotel during the event will be Hotel Don The total prize fund of the event is 6.000 Giovanni. Upon arrival to the EUR and material prizes for individual tournament, all participants, referees board winners. and staff (including Czech citizens) must present a certificate of full vaccination or All details and official regulations can be a 72h negative PCR test for Covid19. found on the ECU Website.

Newsletter June 2021 10 INVITATION

European Union Youth Chess Championship 2021 will take place from 13th-22nd August 2021, in Kouty nad Desnou, Czech Republic. The event will be played in 4 age categories: U8, U10, U12 and U14, according to a Swiss system in 9 rounds, with time control of 90 min for the whole game + 30 sec increase for each move played.

EUROPEAN UNION YOUTH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP 2021

nly players based in the EU The first three players from each member countries are allowed to category will receive participate. Each Federation can championship trophies, medals O register to the tournament one and diplomas. The winners of player, a boy or a girl, in each of each tournament receive a the categories – under 8, 10, 12 laptop, other medalists will and 14 years. Boys and girls will receive a digital clock. Prizes will play in the same tournament, but receive at least the first six with two separate scores. players of each category. The total value of the prize fund will Registration deadline is July be at least 6.000 Euro. Girls in 12th, 2021. Registration form each category will be evaluated shall be fullfilled and sent to the separately. following email address: [email protected] . Official regulations and contact information can be found on the ECU Website.

Newsletter June 2021 11 Queens’ Festival – Connecting Women in Chess

The Global Women’s Online Chess Challenge “The Queens’ Festival”, a series of continental and global women’s online chess tournaments and educative side events, started on June 11, 2021.

The Queen’s Festival is a unique all- inclusive event with the aim to develop a strong global community of women in chess and enhance participation of women in all aspects of . Built on the recent success and appeal of the Netflix series “The Queen’s ”, this event promotes female players, organizers, arbiters, influencers, leaders, and rising stars of all levels, backgrounds and countries.

Players from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas were able to participate in the Continental Online Blitz Qualification Tournaments and those who qualified The Winners Group B: advanced to the Queens’ Online 1.WFM Lile Koridze () Individual and Team Finals. 2.WIM Angela Franco Valencia (Colombia) Over 460 female players from 82 3.Kamila Hryshchenko (Ukraine) countries participated in the individual and team tournaments. The Winners Group C: 1.Miranda Vargas Analia Karen Argentina scored 29.5 points and (Ecuador) emerged as the winner of the Team Blitz 2.Sanudula C M Dahamdi (Sri Lanka) Tournament. Georgia with 29 points and 3.Magpily Francois Marie (Philipinnes) Indonesia with 28 points finished second and third respectively. The Winners Group D: 1.Herfesa Shafira Devi (Indonesia) The Winners of individual events- 2.Subramanian Anusha (England) Group A: 3.Gunawardhana Devindya Oshini 1. IM/WGM Martha Fierro (Ecuador) (India). 2. IM/WGM Olga Zimina (Italy) 3. WGM Gong Qianyun (Singapore)

Queen's Festival Side-events

For those interested in various chess-related topics, there were seminars and networking events with special guests including Dana Reizniece- Ozola, Dinara Saduakassova, , Susan Namangale, Regina Pokorna, Sarkhan Gashimov, Dr. Gnounewou Fopa Seraphin and others.

Newsletter June 2021 12 International Organisers Online Seminar

The Webinar for FIDE International Organisers took place from June 28 – July 1.

The event wass organized by European Chess Union in cooperation with FIDE Events Commission and FIDE Women’s Commission, co-funded by FIDE Development Fund.

The Webinar was held in English language with following topics: >Regulations FIDE Events (General Regulations, Specific Regulations, Bid Procedure) >Events’ Management >Ratings and Titles – Tournament Conditions >Titles applications and Tournament experience >Organisation of Online and Hybrid Events

24 participants took the evaluation test after 3 days of lectures.

Newsletter June 2021 13 We have reached Certificate ECU Teachers Chess Training Course No.1000 (!) last - 1000 Certificated Teachers! weekend for ECU Teachers Chess The very first training course, ECU101 - The SMART Method to Teach Training Chess has been a great success since its start in 2017. Course in More than 1000 chess educators have taken the opportunity so far to cooperation develop their skills to teach chess for educational purposes and with gained the School Chess Teacher Certificate from the European ChessPlus. Chess Union. The certificate is widely recognised today between European Schools and Teachers and we believe soon to be also recognised by a number of states!

More details about courses and upcoming events can be found here.

Newsletter June 2021 14 ECU101 Teaching Chess in Schools Online Seminar took place from 19-20 June 2021.

The Webinar was led by Jesper Hall, Chairman of ECU EDU Commission, and supported by the FIDE Development fund.

ECU101 Teaching Chess in Schools

15 participants attended the course, Testimonies: among whom were 13 participants • Thank you for the great course! supported by FIDE Deevelopment fund: • Excellent presented from Mr. Jesper Albania (5), Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Bergmark Hall and appreciate that being Luxembourg, North Macedonia (2), part of this team and this course. Finland, UK. •Great teacher excellent english, good structured - sorry everything was fine 14 participants took part in the test by • Online teaching is difficult, but given the end of the lectures, and all of them the circumstances, this was very well passed the test with the average test done. score of 85.3%. • Jesper, Brigitta and John were all very friendly and nice. Jesper managed to 11 feedback replies, the participants create a good athmosphere in the group, answered following questions: he also taught everything very well. I am >Did you enjoy course? 100% very happy to have taken this course. >Would you recommend the Thank you also for providing it in this course?100% Pandemic times! :) >Are you more confident to teach • Perfect , a huge thank you, will look chess? 100% forward to other courses.... >Are you clear of the education benefits •Very useful course. waiting for other of chess? 100% ones.

Newsletter June 2021 15 The first Online seminar on how to applicate and run an Erasmus+ project took place on 18th of June. Alessandro Dominici and Jesper Bergmark Hall as the main speakers led the seminar, introducing procedures of application in Erasmus+ projects. Seminar for application in Erasmus+

14 participants took part Till the next seminar in August representing federations and the participants will come in with organizations. The idea with the their best ideas to Alessandro seminar was to create a network and Jesper, 2-3 will be pitched, of federations and people presented, and coached. interested in making application Hopefully, this can be the for Erasmus+ projects and to: fundament for an application. 1) Present Erasmus+ 2) Present the application The action supported by the procedure 3) Present successful FIDE Development fund. projects, both smaller and larger ones Report by: 4) Discuss ideas for a future Jesper Bergmark Hall application Chairmain of ECU EDU 5) Discuss how to co-operate Commission

Newsletter June 2021 16 ARBITERS CORNER

Once upon a time in Belgium... (by IA Geert Bailleul, secretary of the ECU Arbiters’ Council)

The ECU Arbiters’ Council is always interested in the opinion of all their colleagues. By studying several cases, we are convinced that we can learn from each other and improve our skills as an arbiter. This month I would like to actively involve you all in this article. It is my intention to start some kind of discussion about two cases which occurred during two different tournaments in Belgium.

The first case occurred during an Open After the start of that round at 15:00 pm International Tournament. (the 8th), and before entering the playing The playing venue (playing area, small venue, the IGM on the first board with bar, toilets, smoking area...) was clearly the black pieces was looking on his separated from the bar (+ analysing laptop (in the bar!) to see what was the possibilities and projection of the live first move of his IGM-colleague with the games). white pieces. They were both in another building, about 50 meter from each other. After seeing that the White player had played 1. e4..., the Black player started The time control was 90 minutes + 30 to search on the internet to find games sec per move starting from move 1. of the player with the white pieces in Schedule: 9 rounds. which he played 1. e4... 2 rounds per day (during 4 days, the last He then studied about 30 games of his day only 1 round), one round starting at opponent on his laptop before entering 10:00 am and the second round the the playing venue. same day starting at 15:00 pm. He did that during approximately 20 ARBITERS CORNER The default time was 30 minutes. minutes, still being in the bar. After that, he entered the playing hall During the 4th day of the tournament, (without his laptop) to make his first the round that had started at 10:00 am move. For this edition of the Arbiters' (the 7th round) ended at 14:15 pm. Corner, Secretary of the ECU The pairings of the round that starts at Some spectators who, at that time, were Arbiters' Council IA Geert 15:00 pm that day (the 8th round) were in the bar and saw what this player did, Bailleul presents two cases that available at 14:30 pm. informed the chief arbiter (CA) about it. occured during 2 events. They were rather upset of what the The ECU Arbiters Council On the first board two IGM’s were player did. would be very pleased if we playing against each other (on a live They were convinced that it must be would be flooded with internet board). It was an important interpreted as cheating. responses concerning both They asked the CA if this was cases. We will be glad to game for the first place (and the title) of publish the most interesting the tournament. acceptable and what he (the CA) was comments and remarks of the going to do about it. arbiters in the Arbiters’ Corner of next Magazines.

Newsletter June 2021 17 ARBITERS CORNER

Text by: IA Geert Bailleul

Once upon a time in Belgium...

The CA didn’t react because he did not The clock was stopped and turned off by see the player do it. player B. At the time, when the player was The pieces were set again on their analysing the games of his opponent (in original position. the bar), the CA was in the playing area. After done all that both players filled in their score sheets. What is your opinion about this situation? Only at that time they discovered their Is this cheating? mistake and the confusion between How to react as an arbiter or CA? them. How to react as an arbiter if you see a Player A had “1 – 0” on his score sheet, player acting like that before he enters while player B had “½ - ½”. the playing venue? Player A refused to sign the score sheet What can we do to prevent this kind of of player B. situations? The arbiter was called to solve the The second case occurred during problem. another international tournament in They didn’t play on a live board. Belgium. How would you, as an arbiter, react in The player with the white pieces (player this case? What has to be done? A) was an older man from about 70 What is your opinion when players offer years old. a when their position on the board The player with the black pieces (player is completely lost? B) was a 9 years old youth player. The ECU Arbiters Council would be very After more than 2 and a half hours of pleased if we would be flooded with play, the situation of player B on the responses concerning both cases. board was disastrous. We will be glad to publish the most He was one and 4 pawns down. interesting comments and remarks of At a certain moment in the game, after the arbiters in the Arbiters’ Corner of one player B played his move, he reached of the next the ECU Magazines. out his hand to his opponent and asked: “draw??”. Player A shacked hands with the youth IA Geert Bailleul player, thinking that he resigned Secretary of the ECU Arbiters’ Council. because he (player A) didn’t hear player B ask: “draw??”. Player A was convinced that player B resigned, because of his disastrous position on the board. Player B thought that his opponent accepted the draw offer.

Newsletter June 2021 18 FUN ZONE

>If it is true that a player’s style is For this edition of the his person, then everyone plays as he is intended to by nature. I ECU E-Magazine we am naturally cautious, and I prepared for you 4 altogether dislike situations which involve risk. positions where White mates in 2 moves! Tigran >In almost any position the boundless possibilities of chess enable a new or at least a little- studied continuation to be found. Petrosian Solutions from May >Chess is a game by its form, an Magazine said art by its content and a science #Puzzle 1: by the difficulty of gaining 1.Rb8+! Rxb8 2.Nf7# mastery in it. Chess can convey about as much happiness as a good #Puzzle 2: book or work of music can. 1.Re6+!! Kxe6 2.Qd6# #Puzzle 3: chess: >In general I consider that in 1.Re6+! Nxe6 2.b4# chess everything rests on tactics. If one thinks of strategy as a Puzzle 4: of marble, then tactics are 1.Re8+! Kxe8 2.Qe7# the chisel with which a master operates, in creating works of chess art.

Newsletter June 2021 19