Nick de Firmian, Michal Krasenkow and Gabriel Sargissian leading with 5.5 points after 6 rounds
Politiken Cup 2007 kicked off on Saturday, July 21st, with the record number of 280 participants in the main group. Already first round saw a big upset when 13-years old Norwegian (sounds familiar?) Benjamin Arvola held favorite GM Igor Khenkin to a draw. On the second day, GM Alexander Stripunsky drew both of his games against U2200 players. Swedish GMs Tiger Hillarp-Persson and Jonny Hector both lost to FMs in the third round. There are 18 Grandmasters in total, top rated is Russian Vladimir Malakhov.
First move in Malakhov-Valle (left) and GM Tomi Nyback (right)
Round 6 standings:
1-3. GM Michal Krasenkow 2660, GM Gabriel Sargissian 2667, GM Nick de Firmian 2540 5.5 points
4-18. GM Peter Heine Nielsen 2637, GM Vladimir Malakhov 2676, GM Stellan Brynell 2470, GM Evgeny Agrest 2541, GM Emanuel Berg 2580, GM Tiger Hillarp-Persson 2568, FM Torstein Bae 2364, GM Mikhail Ivanov 2455, Erik Blomqvist 2313, IM Viktorija Cmilyte 2467, FM Heini Olsen 2350, IM Mikkel Antonsen 2406, GM Tommy Nybäck 2567, GM Lars Schandorff 2521, FM Krzysztof Bulski 2396 5.0 etc
Leaders Michal Krasenkow and Gabriel Sargissian
Top round 7 pairings:
GM Nick de Firmian -GM Gabriel Sargissian
GM Michal Krasenkow – GM Peter Heine Nielsen
GM Vladimir Malakhov – IM Viktorija Cmilyte
GM Emanuel Berg – GM Mikhail Ivanov
GM Tiger Hillarp-Persson – IM Mikkel Antonsen
GM Tommy Nybäck – FM Torstein Bae
FM Krzysztof Bulski – GM Evgeny Agrest
Live Games every day at 13:00 CET (7.00 EST) on the official website.
Interview with GM Mikhail Krasenkov
(by Anders Bork Hansen, July 23, 2007)
Q: What was your impression of China?
A: I have visited China three times. It was nice, but also China and Chinese chess is nothing extraordinary. Chinese people are similar to all other human beings. And then of course: There is a lot of talent!
And will they take over Russians first place in the chess world you might ask? I don’t think so! Russia has a great potential!
Recently I played a strong tournament in Russia. It was the first time in 12 years that I did so. I had never met any of the nine players I faced in the tournament! This is proof of the enormous potential as many of them were strong. I am convinced that there are a number of very strong junior players who are simply very little known in the West. As the numbers of tournaments in Russia go up, we will hear more from these Russian talents!
GM Michal Krasenkow performing a simul
Organizer Lars-Henrik Bech Hansen at the opening ceremony
