The 8th festival in London took place in Olympia conference center in Kensington.
There were several events including the supertournament, FIDE Open and the Super Rapidplay. Just before the event I had a training camp with my friend Alexander Shabalov in Estonia. The plan was to prepare for the outcoming US Championship. He also insisted to get some practise. The London festival looked like a good place to participate.
Shabalov is a really devoted chess player and also a coach. My best tournaments are definately over and I did not expect any suprises in London as well. The festival gathered a lot of various chess people and also many senior players took part. In Super Rapidplay next to me John Nunn was playing. We played in the first Word Cup tournament series together at the end of eighties last century.
The FIDE Open had over two hundred players. I started well, winning my first three games. My best game was from round three, where I punished my opponent for too creative opening play.
Meanwhile Shabalov was doing fine as well. He won first four games and was a sole leader. The crucial encounter with the future winner took place in round five.
It was not only about overestimating his position, but the lack of sensing the danger of loosing. There is one player who has this feeling and his name is Vladimir Kramnik. This is not my discovery, but years ago my second Russian coach Vladimir Yurkov explained this to me. In the very next round Shabalov lost winning position to Smirin.
Shabalov has his bright moments as well, when in round four he beat an other ELO favorite.
I missed my chanses in rounds 6 to 8. First I had very good chances to win in round six and seven drawing both games and finally in round eight I lost very promising position.
The Open results here .
The Super Rapidplay was won by a women player. It is second big suprise in my knowledge when women player is winning a big Open tournament. Years ago the middle sister of Polgar’s Zsofia won in 1989 the Rome Open with 8,5 points out of 9.
Gunina had some luck, but it was obvious that her opponents were not feeling well playing against her.
Shabalov won first five games in the first day. In round five he had is revenge against Smirin. I started with 4,5 points drawning Bacrot in round five. Next day Shabalov lost again to Bacrot, but finally he finished with 8 points. I lost to Howell in very disapointing game in round eight. In the last round I needed to win to catch up with some prize winners, but was as black against super solid Erik Blomquist and finally I lost in drawish endgame. Still I was satisfied with my overall play. Everybody can win!
Jaan Ehlvest
