European Club Cup & Club Cup for Women 2023

[LawrenceCooper]

There have been reports of at least 30-40 players feeling unwell at the tournament. The word from the organisers is that this is a "light season virus" which should pass in a day or two with advice to rest and stay hydrated. They did extend board order submission by an hour today to allow captains to check which of their players were fit enough to play.

[Kevin Thurlow]

I hope they're not coughing...

[MJMcCready]

What an opening move by Carlsen today. 1.e4 a6! And wins!

[IM Jack Rudd]

[Event "European Chess Club Cup 2023"] [Site "Durres, Albania"] [Date "2023.10.03"] [Round "3.7"] [White "Maksimovic, Bojan"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2484"] [WhiteTitle "IM"] [BlackElo "2839"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [TimeControl "90' + 30' & 30\""] [UTCDate "2023.10.03"] [UTCTime "12:45:49"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C00"] [Opening "French Defense: St. George Defense"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/AAArmstark"] 1. e4 { [%eval 0.36] [%clk 1:30:55] } 1... a6 { [%eval 0.28] [%clk 1:29:15] } 2. d4 { [%eval 0.58] [%clk 1:30:52] } 2... e6 { [%eval 0.83] [%clk 1:29:39] } 3. Nf3 { [%eval 0.29] [%clk 1:30:18] } 3... d5 { [%eval 0.58] [%clk 1:30:01] } 4. Nbd2 { [%eval 0.42] [%clk 1:24:49] } 4... c5 { [%eval 0.52] [%clk 1:28:13] } 5. dxc5 { [%eval 0.09] [%clk 1:19:08] } 5... Bxc5 { [%eval 0.43] [%clk 1:26:01] } 6. Bd3 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 1:17:38] } 6... Nc6 { [%eval 0.5] [%clk 1:24:47] } 7. O-O { [%eval 0.49] [%clk 1:16:13] } 7... Nf6 { [%eval 0.51] [%clk 1:25:06] } 8. Qe2 { [%eval 0.13] [%clk 1:09:54] } 8... Qc7 { [%eval 0.32] [%clk 1:22:52] } 9. exd5 { [%eval 0.04] [%clk 0:58:44] } 9... Nxd5 { [%eval 0.12] [%clk 1:22:38] } 10. Ne4 { [%eval 0.16] [%clk 0:58:37] } 10... Be7 { [%eval 0.16] [%clk 1:22:03] } 11. Ng3 { [%eval -0.1] [%clk 0:54:21] } 11... Bd7 { [%eval 0.2] [%clk 1:17:25] } 12. c3 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:48:28] } 12... Nf4 { [%eval -0.09] [%clk 1:16:17] } 13. Bxf4 { [%eval -0.03] [%clk 0:48:15] } 13... Qxf4 { [%eval -0.06] [%clk 1:16:44] } 14. Rad1 { [%eval -0.14] [%clk 0:47:54] } 14... Rd8 { [%eval -0.12] [%clk 1:16:14] } 15. Rfe1 { [%eval -0.2] [%clk 0:47:23] } 15... O-O { [%eval -0.22] [%clk 1:14:24] } 16. Qc2 { [%eval -0.25] [%clk 0:44:25] } 16... g6 { [%eval -0.28] [%clk 1:14:39] } 17. h4 { [%eval -0.16] [%clk 0:38:49] } 17... Kg7 { [%eval -0.36] [%clk 1:14:25] } 18. h5 { [%eval -0.57] [%clk 0:35:18] } 18... Bc8 { [%eval -0.55] [%clk 1:14:29] } 19. Be4 { [%eval -0.49] [%clk 0:33:16] } 19... Rxd1 { [%eval -0.55] [%clk 1:13:48] } 20. Rxd1 { [%eval -0.42] [%clk 0:32:43] } 20... Ne5 { [%eval -0.29] [%clk 1:13:57] } 21. Ne2 { [%eval -0.46] [%clk 0:32:22] } 21... Nxf3+ { [%eval -0.42] [%clk 1:14:18] } 22. Bxf3 { [%eval -0.45] [%clk 0:32:45] } 22... Qe5 { [%eval -0.51] [%clk 1:13:44] } 23. Qb3 { [%eval -0.49] [%clk 0:31:29] } 23... Qc7 { [%eval -0.56] [%clk 1:09:42] } 24. g3 { [%eval -0.58] [%clk 0:28:44] } 24... Rd8 { [%eval -0.28] [%clk 1:03:59] } 25. Rxd8 { [%eval -0.21] [%clk 0:28:35] } 25... Bxd8 { [%eval -0.2] [%clk 1:04:26] } 26. hxg6 { [%eval -0.29] [%clk 0:27:17] } 26... hxg6 { [%eval -0.22] [%clk 1:02:50] } 27. Nf4 { [%eval -0.32] [%clk 0:27:18] } 27... b6 { [%eval -0.22] [%clk 1:02:27] } 28. Qd1 { [%eval -0.31] [%clk 0:26:26] } 28... Qd7 { [%eval -0.2] [%clk 1:01:30] } 29. Qe2 { [%eval -0.18] [%clk 0:25:01] } 29... Qd6 { [%eval -0.22] [%clk 1:01:47] } 30. Nd3 { [%eval -0.19] [%clk 0:22:19] } 30... Bc7 { [%eval -0.22] [%clk 1:01:16] } 31. Nb4 { [%eval -0.18] [%clk 0:21:31] } 31... a5 { [%eval -0.11] [%clk 0:58:46] } 32. Nc2 { [%eval -0.36] [%clk 0:20:25] } 32... Bd7 { [%eval -0.25] [%clk 0:58:05] } 33. Ne3 { [%eval -0.35] [%clk 0:18:53] } 33... b5 { [%eval -0.32] [%clk 0:57:38] } 34. a3 { [%eval -0.3] [%clk 0:17:42] } 34... a4 { [%eval -0.35] [%clk 0:55:49] } 35. Kg2 { [%eval -0.35] [%clk 0:16:26] } 35... f5 { [%eval -0.42] [%clk 0:54:14] } 36. Qc2 { [%eval -0.38] [%clk 0:13:38] } 36... Bb6 { [%eval -0.48] [%clk 0:51:16] } 37. Qe2 { [%eval -0.64] [%clk 0:09:02] } 37... e5 { [%eval -0.62] [%clk 0:50:25] } 38. Ba8 { [%eval -0.79] [%clk 0:08:20] } 38... e4 { [%eval -0.67] [%clk 0:36:08] } 39. Nd5 { [%eval -0.71] [%clk 0:07:05] } 39... Ba7 { [%eval -0.38] [%clk 0:36:06] } 40. Nb4 { [%eval -0.86] [%clk 0:03:28] } 40... Bc5 { [%eval -0.73] [%clk 0:29:23] } 41. Bb7 { [%eval -1.11] [%clk 0:20:46] } 41... Kh6 { [%eval -0.8] [%clk 0:54:38] } 42. Ba8 { [%eval -1.07] [%clk 0:19:01] } 42... Be8 { [%eval -1.17] [%clk 0:52:21] } 43. c4 { [%eval -1.25] [%clk 0:04:50] } 43... Qd4?! { [%eval -0.53] } { Inaccuracy. g5 was best. } { [%clk 0:41:32] } (43... g5 44. g4 Qf4 45. Nd5 Qe5 46. Nc3 Bd6 47. Qe3 Qh2+ 48. Kf1 Qh1+ 49. Ke2 Qg2 50. Qb6) 44. Bd5?? { [%eval -2.86] } { Blunder. Na6 was best. } { [%clk 0:02:43] } (44. Na6 Qd3) 44... g5 { [%eval -2.87] [%clk 0:39:33] } 45. Nc6 { [%eval -2.9] [%clk 0:00:38] } 45... Qd3 { [%eval -3.03] [%clk 0:39:21] } 46. Qxd3 { [%eval -2.99] [%clk 0:00:49] } 46... exd3 { [%eval -3.0] [%clk 0:39:48] } 47. Kf1 { [%eval -3.11] [%clk 0:00:58] } 47... bxc4 { [%eval -2.86] [%clk 0:38:58] } 48. Ne5?! { [%eval -3.75] } { Inaccuracy. f3 was best. } { [%clk 0:00:57] } (48. f3 c3 49. bxc3 Bxa3 50. Ne5 Bb2 51. Nxd3 Bxc3 52. Ke2 a3 53. Ba2 Bb5 54. Ke3 Kg7) 48... d2 { [%eval -3.84] [%clk 0:37:46] } 49. Ke2 { [%eval -3.85] [%clk 0:01:21] } 49... Bxf2 { [%eval -3.82] [%clk 0:37:55] } 50. g4 { [%eval -3.8] [%clk 0:01:40] } 50... Bd4 { [%eval -3.81] [%clk 0:35:46] } 51. Nxc4 { [%eval -3.84] [%clk 0:02:03] } 51... fxg4 { [%eval -3.94] [%clk 0:36:08] } 52. Kxd2 { [%eval -4.03] [%clk 0:00:53] } 52... g3 { [%eval -3.78] [%clk 0:36:32] } 53. Kd3 { [%eval -3.93] [%clk 0:00:39] } 53... Bf7 { [%eval -3.5] [%clk 0:36:02] } 54. Bg2 { [%eval -3.72] [%clk 0:00:41] } 54... Bf6 { [%eval -3.75] [%clk 0:35:59] } 55. Nb6 { [%eval -4.51] [%clk 0:00:39] } 55... Bb3 { [%eval -4.23] [%clk 0:35:59] } 56. Ke3 { [%eval -4.87] [%clk 0:00:37] } 56... Bxb2 { [%eval -4.71] [%clk 0:35:48] } 57. Bc6 { [%eval -4.42] [%clk 0:00:34] } 57... g2 { [%eval -4.43] [%clk 0:36:05] } 58. Bxg2 { [%eval -4.67] [%clk 0:01:00] } 58... Bxa3 { [%eval -5.01] [%clk 0:36:30] } 59. Kd3 { [%eval -5.29] [%clk 0:00:37] } 59... Bb2 { [%eval -4.69] [%clk 0:36:44] } 60. Bd5?! { [%eval -5.99] } { Inaccuracy. Nc4 was best. } { [%clk 0:00:32] } (60. Nc4 Kh5) 60... Bxd5 { [%eval -6.36] [%clk 0:37:05] } 61. Nxd5 { [%eval -6.26] [%clk 0:00:59] } 61... a3 { [%eval -6.14] [%clk 0:36:52] } 0-1

[MJMcCready]

[Event "European Chess Club Cup 2023"] [Site "Durres, Albania"] [Date "2023.10.03"] [Round "3.7"] [White "Maksimovic, Bojan"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2484"] [WhiteTitle "IM"] [BlackElo "2839"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [TimeControl "90' + 30' & 30\""] [UTCDate "2023.10.03"] [UTCTime "12:45:49"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C00"] [Opening "French Defense: St. George Defense"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/AAArmstark"] 1. e4 { [%eval 0.36] [%clk 1:30:55] } 1... a6 { [%eval 0.28] [%clk 1:29:15] } 2. d4 { [%eval 0.58] [%clk 1:30:52] } 2... e6 { [%eval 0.83] [%clk 1:29:39] } 3. Nf3 { [%eval 0.29] [%clk 1:30:18] } 3... d5 { [%eval 0.58] [%clk 1:30:01] } 4. Nbd2 { [%eval 0.42] [%clk 1:24:49] } 4... c5 { [%eval 0.52] [%clk 1:28:13] } 5. dxc5 { [%eval 0.09] [%clk 1:19:08] } 5... Bxc5 { [%eval 0.43] [%clk 1:26:01] } 6. Bd3 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 1:17:38] } 6... Nc6 { [%eval 0.5] [%clk 1:24:47] } 7. O-O { [%eval 0.49] [%clk 1:16:13] } 7... Nf6 { [%eval 0.51] [%clk 1:25:06] } 8. Qe2 { [%eval 0.13] [%clk 1:09:54] } 8... Qc7 { [%eval 0.32] [%clk 1:22:52] } 9. exd5 { [%eval 0.04] [%clk 0:58:44] } 9... Nxd5 { [%eval 0.12] [%clk 1:22:38] } 10. Ne4 { [%eval 0.16] [%clk 0:58:37] } 10... Be7 { [%eval 0.16] [%clk 1:22:03] } 11. Ng3 { [%eval -0.1] [%clk 0:54:21] } 11... Bd7 { [%eval 0.2] [%clk 1:17:25] } 12. c3 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:48:28] } 12... Nf4 { [%eval -0.09] [%clk 1:16:17] } 13. Bxf4 { [%eval -0.03] [%clk 0:48:15] } 13... Qxf4 { [%eval -0.06] [%clk 1:16:44] } 14. Rad1 { [%eval -0.14] [%clk 0:47:54] } 14... Rd8 { [%eval -0.12] [%clk 1:16:14] } 15. Rfe1 { [%eval -0.2] [%clk 0:47:23] } 15... O-O { [%eval -0.22] [%clk 1:14:24] } 16. Qc2 { [%eval -0.25] [%clk 0:44:25] } 16... g6 { [%eval -0.28] [%clk 1:14:39] } 17. h4 { [%eval -0.16] [%clk 0:38:49] } 17... Kg7 { [%eval -0.36] [%clk 1:14:25] } 18. h5 { [%eval -0.57] [%clk 0:35:18] } 18... Bc8 { [%eval -0.55] [%clk 1:14:29] } 19. Be4 { [%eval -0.49] [%clk 0:33:16] } 19... Rxd1 { [%eval -0.55] [%clk 1:13:48] } 20. Rxd1 { [%eval -0.42] [%clk 0:32:43] } 20... Ne5 { [%eval -0.29] [%clk 1:13:57] } 21. Ne2 { [%eval -0.46] [%clk 0:32:22] } 21... Nxf3+ { [%eval -0.42] [%clk 1:14:18] } 22. Bxf3 { [%eval -0.45] [%clk 0:32:45] } 22... Qe5 { [%eval -0.51] [%clk 1:13:44] } 23. Qb3 { [%eval -0.49] [%clk 0:31:29] } 23... Qc7 { [%eval -0.56] [%clk 1:09:42] } 24. g3 { [%eval -0.58] [%clk 0:28:44] } 24... Rd8 { [%eval -0.28] [%clk 1:03:59] } 25. Rxd8 { [%eval -0.21] [%clk 0:28:35] } 25... Bxd8 { [%eval -0.2] [%clk 1:04:26] } 26. hxg6 { [%eval -0.29] [%clk 0:27:17] } 26... hxg6 { [%eval -0.22] [%clk 1:02:50] } 27. Nf4 { [%eval -0.32] [%clk 0:27:18] } 27... b6 { [%eval -0.22] [%clk 1:02:27] } 28. Qd1 { [%eval -0.31] [%clk 0:26:26] } 28... Qd7 { [%eval -0.2] [%clk 1:01:30] } 29. Qe2 { [%eval -0.18] [%clk 0:25:01] } 29... Qd6 { [%eval -0.22] [%clk 1:01:47] } 30. Nd3 { [%eval -0.19] [%clk 0:22:19] } 30... Bc7 { [%eval -0.22] [%clk 1:01:16] } 31. Nb4 { [%eval -0.18] [%clk 0:21:31] } 31... a5 { [%eval -0.11] [%clk 0:58:46] } 32. Nc2 { [%eval -0.36] [%clk 0:20:25] } 32... Bd7 { [%eval -0.25] [%clk 0:58:05] } 33. Ne3 { [%eval -0.35] [%clk 0:18:53] } 33... b5 { [%eval -0.32] [%clk 0:57:38] } 34. a3 { [%eval -0.3] [%clk 0:17:42] } 34... a4 { [%eval -0.35] [%clk 0:55:49] } 35. Kg2 { [%eval -0.35] [%clk 0:16:26] } 35... f5 { [%eval -0.42] [%clk 0:54:14] } 36. Qc2 { [%eval -0.38] [%clk 0:13:38] } 36... Bb6 { [%eval -0.48] [%clk 0:51:16] } 37. Qe2 { [%eval -0.64] [%clk 0:09:02] } 37... e5 { [%eval -0.62] [%clk 0:50:25] } 38. Ba8 { [%eval -0.79] [%clk 0:08:20] } 38... e4 { [%eval -0.67] [%clk 0:36:08] } 39. Nd5 { [%eval -0.71] [%clk 0:07:05] } 39... Ba7 { [%eval -0.38] [%clk 0:36:06] } 40. Nb4 { [%eval -0.86] [%clk 0:03:28] } 40... Bc5 { [%eval -0.73] [%clk 0:29:23] } 41. Bb7 { [%eval -1.11] [%clk 0:20:46] } 41... Kh6 { [%eval -0.8] [%clk 0:54:38] } 42. Ba8 { [%eval -1.07] [%clk 0:19:01] } 42... Be8 { [%eval -1.17] [%clk 0:52:21] } 43. c4 { [%eval -1.25] [%clk 0:04:50] } 43... Qd4?! { [%eval -0.53] } { Inaccuracy. g5 was best. } { [%clk 0:41:32] } (43... g5 44. g4 Qf4 45. Nd5 Qe5 46. Nc3 Bd6 47. Qe3 Qh2+ 48. Kf1 Qh1+ 49. Ke2 Qg2 50. Qb6) 44. Bd5?? { [%eval -2.86] } { Blunder. Na6 was best. } { [%clk 0:02:43] } (44. Na6 Qd3) 44... g5 { [%eval -2.87] [%clk 0:39:33] } 45. Nc6 { [%eval -2.9] [%clk 0:00:38] } 45... Qd3 { [%eval -3.03] [%clk 0:39:21] } 46. Qxd3 { [%eval -2.99] [%clk 0:00:49] } 46... exd3 { [%eval -3.0] [%clk 0:39:48] } 47. Kf1 { [%eval -3.11] [%clk 0:00:58] } 47... bxc4 { [%eval -2.86] [%clk 0:38:58] } 48. Ne5?! { [%eval -3.75] } { Inaccuracy. f3 was best. } { [%clk 0:00:57] } (48. f3 c3 49. bxc3 Bxa3 50. Ne5 Bb2 51. Nxd3 Bxc3 52. Ke2 a3 53. Ba2 Bb5 54. Ke3 Kg7) 48... d2 { [%eval -3.84] [%clk 0:37:46] } 49. Ke2 { [%eval -3.85] [%clk 0:01:21] } 49... Bxf2 { [%eval -3.82] [%clk 0:37:55] } 50. g4 { [%eval -3.8] [%clk 0:01:40] } 50... Bd4 { [%eval -3.81] [%clk 0:35:46] } 51. Nxc4 { [%eval -3.84] [%clk 0:02:03] } 51... fxg4 { [%eval -3.94] [%clk 0:36:08] } 52. Kxd2 { [%eval -4.03] [%clk 0:00:53] } 52... g3 { [%eval -3.78] [%clk 0:36:32] } 53. Kd3 { [%eval -3.93] [%clk 0:00:39] } 53... Bf7 { [%eval -3.5] [%clk 0:36:02] } 54. Bg2 { [%eval -3.72] [%clk 0:00:41] } 54... Bf6 { [%eval -3.75] [%clk 0:35:59] } 55. Nb6 { [%eval -4.51] [%clk 0:00:39] } 55... Bb3 { [%eval -4.23] [%clk 0:35:59] } 56. Ke3 { [%eval -4.87] [%clk 0:00:37] } 56... Bxb2 { [%eval -4.71] [%clk 0:35:48] } 57. Bc6 { [%eval -4.42] [%clk 0:00:34] } 57... g2 { [%eval -4.43] [%clk 0:36:05] } 58. Bxg2 { [%eval -4.67] [%clk 0:01:00] } 58... Bxa3 { [%eval -5.01] [%clk 0:36:30] } 59. Kd3 { [%eval -5.29] [%clk 0:00:37] } 59... Bb2 { [%eval -4.69] [%clk 0:36:44] } 60. Bd5?! { [%eval -5.99] } { Inaccuracy. Nc4 was best. } { [%clk 0:00:32] } (60. Nc4 Kh5) 60... Bxd5 { [%eval -6.36] [%clk 0:37:05] } 61. Nxd5 { [%eval -6.26] [%clk 0:00:59] } 61... a3 { [%eval -6.14] [%clk 0:36:52] } 0-1

Do we have a name for this? I don't think it qualifies at The St.George's as there's no b5 and fianchetto of the light squared bishop. Some sort of French defence deferred or something.

[MJMcCready]

"Definitely not a good idea to sac a knight when all you are left for back up for the queen is a bad bishop that isn't even in the game."

Possibly he reached a stage with which I am very familiar, "Groan, what do I do now? Oh let's try this."

Think so yes because a few moves after he sacced it, he resigned.

[Richard Bates]

There have been reports of at least 30-40 players feeling unwell at the tournament. The word from the organisers is that this is a "light season virus" which should pass in a day or two with advice to rest and stay hydrated. They did extend board order submission by an hour today to allow captains to check which of their players were fit enough to play.

“Light season virus” is one interpretation. Others suspect the buffet risotto…

[MJMcCready]

It could be man flu.

[Richard Bates]

It could be man flu.

Women were affected too…

[IM Jack Rudd]

It's a Tarrasch French by transposition - the position after move 4 can be reached by 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 a6 4.Ngf3.

[MJMcCready]

It's a Tarrasch French by transposition - the position after move 4 can be reached by 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 a6 4.Ngf3.

It looks more like a Sicilian to me
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nf3 Qc7 7. O-O Nf6 8. Nbd2 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Qe2 Nc6

In any event its not good to let your centre disintegrate, especially against the French by transposition, white's opening play looks rather passive.

[LawrenceCooper]

I haven't been posting results because so many players are ill the chess doesn't seem important. They can be viewed on chess-results:
https://chess-results.com/tnr775458.asp ... ES&flag=30 & https://chess-results.com/tnr774133.asp ... ES&flag=30

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Oh dear. Sorry to hear so many players are unwell. There has been something viral circulating here (London, possibly the whole UK?) for the past few weeks, so maybe this is the same thing? (Anecdotally, people getting this, if it is the same thing and not just a seasonal variant of some virus or other, are typically testing negative for Covid, though not sure how meaningful that is.)

[Christopher Kreuzer]

I haven't been posting results because so many players are ill the chess doesn't seem important. They can be viewed on chess-results:
https://chess-results.com/tnr775458.asp ... ES&flag=30 & https://chess-results.com/tnr774133.asp ... ES&flag=30

I see Carlsen beat Keymer. Which means Carlsen's team (Offerspill) play Superchess in round 6 (with Anand on board 2 behind Richard Rapport).

And Wood Green beat one Israeli team 4-2 and then lost by the same score to a stronger Israeli team.

[Ian Thompson]

I haven't been posting results because so many players are ill.

"fever, pukings& diarrhoea", apparently. Not for the first time either, it appears ( (filter the reviews on "poisoning").