The 88th French Chess Championships were held from 11th to 23rd August at the Palais des sports Jean Weille in Nancy.
846 players (not counting all the players in many blitz and other activities around the official events) competed in 9 official tournaments organised by the French Chess Federation and its new president Diego Salazar.
24 professionals fought in the two “Nationaux” groups for the two official titles of 2013 French Chess Champions – 12 men in the “National” and 12 women in the “National-féminin”.
In fact, there were only 11 men because GM Marie Sebag, top French female player and number 10 in the world, chose to play with the men. She had already won the women’s championship at age 14. Amongst her male colleagues, she suffered a bit, finishing last with 3,0/11 points, but she probably learned a lot.
In the absence of the three 2700-rated stars Vachier-Lagrave, Bacrot and Fressinet, who competed in the World Cup 2013 in Tromso, the top seeded players were young Romain Edouard (2662), the ex-European champion Vladislav Tkachiev (2637) and the local boy Christian Bauer (2633).
It is a big surprise that none of them finished in top 3! Finally, two experienced Grandmasters in their forties made an impressive tournament – Hicham Hamdouchi (2613 and 41-years old) and Jean-Marc Degraeve (2563 and 42-years old) finished equal first with 7,5/11 each.
Similar story in the women’s championship with the big favourite Sophie Milliet (2401) finishing only third, and two players who made the tournament of their life – Nino Maisuradze (2288) and Mathilde Congiu (2190) finishing equal first with 8,5/11 points each.
The tie-break matches were necessary to attribute the two special “Vases de Sèvres”, offered by the French President since year 1914 (!), plus a beautiful sculpture from “Daum”, a luxury items company from Nancy (http://www.daum.fr/ ).
Hamdouchi quickly claimed the national trophy by one draw and one win in the rapid games, whereas the girls had to play some blitz after two draws in rapid. Finally Maisuradze won two games and her first French champion title.
Beginning of the tie-breaks
Smiling GM Hicham Hamdouchi
Women’s podium
All results and games : http://www.echecs.asso.fr/Default.aspx?Cat=15
Official website : http://www.nancyechecs2013.com/
All videos : http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtFhgGFOmt5gFtTXtHsrrQA
Report by IM Christophe Philippe
(Click on photo thumbnails for full size)
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- GM Matthieu Cornette in the simul
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- The impressive playing hall, usually the home of the professional basket-ball team of Nancy. 6000 spectators can enter!
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- The special and beautiful “Daum” trophy
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- Hicham Hamdouchi – Andrei Sokolov
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- Sophie Milliet lost already in first round against Silvia Collas
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- Adina-Maria Hamdouchi – Nino Maisuradze
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- The full view on the playing hall
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- GM Eric Prié and Joachim Iglesias provided live games commentary
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- Co-organisers IM Christophe Philippe and Hélène Rossinot
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- GM Christian Bauer in the simul
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- Smiling GM Hicham Hamdouchi
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- Many people at the closing ceremony
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- Beginning of the tie-breaks
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- Men’s podium
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- Draw in the game between number 2 and 3 in the first round
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- The biggest show outside the official competition was on 16th August – a huge simul on the beautiful “Place Stanislas”
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- Nervous smiles before the blitz
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- The local fight between the Grandmasters from region “Lorraine” – Wirig against Bauer
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- Chief arbiter Eric Delmotte
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- The 2 vases offered by the French President François Hollande!
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- GM Anthony Wirig in the simul
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- Women’s podium
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- The fight between the two future winners (draw)
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- Excellent playing conditions for everybody
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- Chess fans had the possibility to came close to the players and to follow the games on big tv screens at the same time
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- Lots of people following tie-breaks
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- The “National”
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- Spectators
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- WGM Nino Maizuradze in the simul
