The Exhibition Blitz Tournament, celebrating the 45 years of the Biel Chess Festival, was held on Sunday 22nd July, 14.00 pm, as a knockout event with 8 invited Grandmasters.
Playing System: Two games with 5‘+ 2‘‘/move. If 1-1, one Armageddon game with 5’ for white (has to win) and 4’ for black.
Magnus Carlsen was eliminated in the first round by Etienne Bacrot (1-2), Hikaru Nakamaura defeated Pentala Harikrishna (1.5-0.5), Alexander Morozevich – Yannick Pelletier 2-1, Alexandra Kosteniuk – Wang Hao (1.5-0.5).
In the semi-final Nakamura soundly beat Morozevich (2-0) and Bacrot used the white pieces to win against Kosteniuk (1.5-0.5).
In the final Nakamura beat Bacrot (1.5-0.5) to take the first prize – a very nice Swiss watch.
The main Grandmaster Tournament, a 21st category double round robin event, starts on Monday. Games will be relayed live with computer analysis.
Hikaru Nakamura
