English Chess Forum

Just noticed Matthew Sadler playing in the above tournament.

http://www.hwphaarlem.nl/novahome

is the tournament's website.

The reason I mention it is that in round 2 Sadler's game (with him as black) started 1. e4 a6 2. d4 h6, and ended with him beating a 2400- rated player in 22 moves.

Sadler has this afternoon won this small but strong event ( 32 players, 7 GMs and 3 IMs, first prize 1200 Euros) with an unbeaten 5/6, including a draw in a probably winning position. That's a great result after a six-year break from tournament chess.

Besides the 1 d4 a6 2 e4 h6 game above, he skipped theory in both his other Blacks, one starting 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Qe7 and the other using a hybrid Indian where he fianchettoed both bishops.

This raises the question, which I hope Loz will look into, whether he may extend this comeback. Fact is that a 2012 Olympiad team with Sadler would have five 2600 GMs and a chance of a top 6-10 finish.

The World Open has four rounds to go today and tomorrow with McShane in good contention. He is on 4/5 including a win from Onischuk and draws with Harikrishna and Ganguly, and is joint second a point behind the sole leader V Laznicka.

By all means look into it, but these reports of his Black repertoire rather scream "just playing for a bit of fun, for old times' sake" to me.

Leonard Barden wrote:Sadler has this afternoon won this small but strong event ( 32 players, 7 GMs and 3 IMs, first prize 1200 Euros) with an unbeaten 5/6, including a draw in a probably winning position. That's a great result after a six-year break from tournament chess.

For once LWB nods.

Sadler played another event earlier this year. See http://www.ecforum.org.uk/viewtopic.php ... it=+Sadler.

I was aware of the previous event, but it was only a rapid.

Leonard Barden wrote:I was aware of the previous event, but it was only a rapid.

Fair enough. Apologies for having accused you of nodding.

You spend years getting to FIDE 2400 and then some ex-2600 GM comes along not having pushed a pawn for the last 5(?) years wheels out 1....a6 2....h6 against you and beats you in 22 moves! Its going take more than a cup of tea and and a biscuit to get over that.....................

Games and results are here:

http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/chessnews/e ... ekend-2010

Note Stewart Haslinger also played

Fyi we did a report here

http://www.chessvibes.com/reports/victo ... ew-sadler/

http://www.chessvibes.com/reports/victo ... ew-sadler/

Matthew wins his first tournament back after 11 years out of chess. Looking at the games he won them in some style as well. One of his wins as Black went 1. ... a6 2. ... h6!

If he joined the Olympiad team later this year we would definitely look stronger.

Phil

Phil Ramsey wrote:http://www.chessvibes.com/reports/victo ... ew-sadler/

Matthew wins his first tournament back after 11 years out of chess. Looking at the games he won them in some style as well. One of his wins as Black went 1. ... a6 2. ... h6!

If he joined the Olympiad team later this year we would definitely look stronger.

Phil

A quick merge of topics as this information had already been reported

Mick Norris wrote:Games and results are here:

http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/chessnews/e ... ekend-2010

Note Stewart Haslinger also played

and Mike Haslinger who finished 4th= in Group B

Leonard Barden wrote:Sadler has this afternoon won this small but strong event ( 32 players, 7 GMs and 3 IMs, first prize 1200 Euros) with an unbeaten 5/6, including a draw in a probably winning position. That's a great result after a six-year break from tournament chess.

Besides the 1 d4 a6 2 e4 h6 game above, he skipped theory in both his other Blacks, one starting 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Qe7 and the other using a hybrid Indian where he fianchettoed both bishops.

This raises the question, which I hope Loz will look into, whether he may extend this comeback. Fact is that a 2012 Olympiad team with Sadler would have five 2600 GMs and a chance of a top 6-10 finish.

The World Open has four rounds to go today and tomorrow with McShane in good contention. He is on 4/5 including a win from Onischuk and draws with Harikrishna and Ganguly, and is joint second a point behind the sole leader V Laznicka.

Isnt the olympiad team sorted now, even if he wanted to come back , surely thats a "unlucky mate, you've missed the boat".

Ben Purton wrote:Isnt the olympiad team sorted now, even if he wanted to come back , surely thats a "unlucky mate, you've missed the boat".

"But you let Adams in the team after it was announced, so why not me?"

I don't think he would want to be selected though, and as speculated above, it was probably a one-off thing.

Ben Purton wrote:

Leonard Barden wrote:Sadler has this afternoon won this small but strong event ( 32 players, 7 GMs and 3 IMs, first prize 1200 Euros) with an unbeaten 5/6, including a draw in a probably winning position. That's a great result after a six-year break from tournament chess.

Besides the 1 d4 a6 2 e4 h6 game above, he skipped theory in both his other Blacks, one starting 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Qe7 and the other using a hybrid Indian where he fianchettoed both bishops.

This raises the question, which I hope Loz will look into, whether he may extend this comeback. Fact is that a 2012 Olympiad team with Sadler would have five 2600 GMs and a chance of a top 6-10 finish.

The World Open has four rounds to go today and tomorrow with McShane in good contention. He is on 4/5 including a win from Onischuk and draws with Harikrishna and Ganguly, and is joint second a point behind the sole leader V Laznicka.

Isnt the olympiad team sorted now, even if he wanted to come back , surely thats a "unlucky mate, you've missed the boat".

Please read the post, Ben. Leonard is talking about the 2012 Olympiad.