Snowdrops vs Old Hands 2013

12/6/2013 – From November 30th to December 8th the historical spa city of Podebrady is once again hosting a match between a rising generation of female chess players and chess legends of the 20th century. The games are being played in Hotel Zámecek in Podebrady, and after three rounds the Snowdrops were leading by 7.5:4.5. Read all about it in our first illustrated report.

The Snowdrops are represented by Lithuanian GM Viktorij Cmilyte (30, from Lithuania, rated 2506), IM Maria Muzychuk (21, Ukraine, 2491) WGM Alina Kashlinskaya (20, Russia, 2422) and WGM Nastassia Ziaziulkina (18, Belarus, 2350). The "Old Hands" are GM Iossif Dorfman (61, France, 2580) GM Boris Gulko (66, USA, 2543), GM Borislav Ivkov (80, Serbia, 2408) GM Wolfgang Uhlmann (78, Germany, 2334). The event is taking place at Hotel Zámecek in Podebrady, the rate of play is 90 minutes for 40 moves, 30 minutes for the rest, with an increament of 30 seconds per move.

The oldest grandmaster in hotel Zámecek, however, is Pal Benko, 85, who drew the colour for the first round. He also played a simul against Vlastimil Chládek, organiser Pavel Matocha, Jirí Navrátil and Juraj Ballo. Benko won convincingly with a 3:1 result – only Chládek, the director of company Dopravní stavby Brno, could wrest a point from the GM.

In the first round the Snowdrops had white on all boards. Jossif Dorfman chose a firm Caro-Kann against Nastassia Ziaziulkina, who gained a slight spatial advantage, but the game ended in a draw. Maria Muzychuk vs Boris Gulko also ended in a draw, again with a white advantage for the Ukrainian IM.

Viktorija Cmilyte outplayed the oldest player, Bora Ivkov, step by step

Second victory of the first day was scored by Alina Kašlinskaja against
Wolgang Uhlmann, who had a better position but lost on time on move 37

Round two

Four draws, but not "boring" – on the contrary: all four games were very dramatic and the results hard fought.

Wolfgang Uhlmann (above) had a slight advantage over Viktorija Cmilyte, but one inaccuracy transferred the advantage to her side. However the advantage of two bishops was not enough to win and the game finished in a draw just before the time control move 40.

Boris Gulko, too, had an advantage against Anastasia Zjazjulkina, but again one careless move led him to lose a pawn and with it almost the game. He managed to complicate the position around the king and, because of the time trouble of Anastasia, the game finished in a draw as well.

Playing against Alina Kashlinskaya, Borislav Ivkov was in time trouble from move 15. He lost two pawns, but was able to organise an attack (mainly the move 27.e6!), and was unfortunate not to find the right path to victory.

Mariya Muzychuk obtained the advantage from the opening against Iossif Dorfman, but he transferred the position into a rook ending with an extra pawn. But all pawns were on one side of the board and after a long fight Dorfman managed to hold the draw. So after two rounds the Snowdrops were leading 5:3.

Round three

The third round brought a surge by the Snowdrops. Mariya Muzychuk played a very sharp game against Wolfgang Uhlmann, who had winning chances after a piece sacrifice by his opponent, but committed the final mistake that cost him the game.

Alina Kashlinskaya also pressured Boris Gulko, whos started the game a bit casually. However his opponent did not continue precisely, pressing forward with her pawns on the queenside and finishing the game with a draw.

Iossif Dorfman lost a lot of time in the opening against Viktorija Cmilyte. On move 16 the Lithuanian GM took on e6, after which her opponent could draw without too many problems. Instead White had several interesting moves with dangerous initiative, for example 16.Re1 or 16.Ne5.

The only one of the Oldhands who had a good position after the opening was Borislav Ivkov against Anastasia Zjazjulkina. He played a smart variant of the French with 6…b6!?. By the way, it is the same as the one he had used to beat Bobby Fischer, and he used it to disconcert his opponent. White did not continue correctly, but still the position was very complicated. In the end the Oldhand ran out of time and agreed to a draw. It is not clear what to do against the plan Kd2 with Na3 and Nb5.

After three rounds the score was 7.5:4.5 in favour of the Snowdrops. More rounds have been played, and a continuation of this report will follow soon