The 23rd Croatian Team Chess Championships for Men and Women were organized by the Croatian Chess Federation on 3-13th October 2014 at the Bluesun Hotel Elaphusa in Bol on island Brac in Croatia.
Men’s Section was convincingly won by Chess Club “Zagreb” (Zagreb) with 18/18 points. The team consisted of GM Vladimir Malakhov from Russia (2699), Ukrainian GM Anton Korobov (2679), Croatians GM Mladen Palac (2561), GM Zdenko Kozul (2613), GM Ante Saric (2546) and GM Robert Zelcic (2548). Malakhov, Palac and Kozul were best player at first, third and fourth board respectively.
The team of “Liburnija” (Rijeka), represented by German GM Arkadij Naiditsch (2710), Croatian Olympic leader GM Ivan Saric (2678), GM Luka Lenic from Slovenia (2653) and Croatians GM Zoran Jovanovic (2561), GM Davorin Kuljasevic (2543), GM Ognjen Jovanic (2468) and IM Blazimir Kovacevic (2467), took the gold with 14 points. Saric took the gold on second board, Kuljasevic was the best player on the fifth board, while Kovacevic prevailed on his board.
“Rijeka” (Rijeka) and “Osijek” (Osijek) shared third place, but “Rijeka” took the bronze on a better tie-break score. The medals went to Russian GM Boris Grachev (2673), GM Anton Filippov from Uzbekistan (2589) and Croatians GM Marin Bosiocic (2548), GM Ognjen Cvitan (2539), IM Uros Krstic (2436), IM Boris Golubovic (2408), IM Josip Rukavina (2400) and IM Jole Petrov (2415).
A team from the Croatian capital Zagreb prevailed in the Women’s Section as well. “Mladost” (Zagreb) took the gold with 13/14 points, leaving the runner-up “Liburnija” (Rijeka) one point behind. “Mladost” consisted of Bulgarian WGM Margarita Voiska (2324) and Croatians WFM Ivona Purgar (2094), WIM Vlasta Macek (2150) and Brigita Stadler (2082). Voiska was the best player on the first board.
“Liburnija” took the silver with Bulgarian WGM Iva Videnova (2388), WIM Borka Franciskovic (2332), WFM Zrinka Deur Saric (2115), WIM Ana Berke (2080) and Patricija Vujnovic (2042). WFM Zrinka Deur Saric took the trophy for the best third board player.
“Draga” (Rijeka) and “Mornar” (Split) split the third place, but “Draga” prevailed and took the bronze. Members of the team were Croatian WGM Valentina Golubenko (2270), Bulgarian WGM Adriana Nikolova (2307) and Croatian WFM Snjezana Bazaj Bockai (2102) and Lora Kukic (1855). Nikolova and Kukic lifted the trophies on second and fourth board. You can see the full standings below.
Official website/ LIVE games with analysis
The famous beach “Zlatni Rat” situated near the laying hall of Hotel Elaphusa
From left to right: GM Ognjen Jovanic – captain of the silver team of “Liburnija”, GM Mladen Palac – captain of “Zagreb”, FM Srdjan Zelenika – captain of “Rijeka”, Josip Leko – president of the Croatian Chess Federation, IM Nenad Doric – tournament director and arbiter, Ivica Brkic – member of the Croatian Chess Federation Executive Board and IM Ervin Sindik – secretary of the Croatian Chess Federation
GM Ivan Saric took gold medal on second board, adding 2 more points to his rating
GM David Navara
GM Davorin Kuljasevic was the best on fifth board
GM Robert Zelcic
GM Nikola Sedlak
GM Petar Arnaudov
Men’s Section final standings:
1 Chess Club “ZAGREB” Zagreb 18
2 Chess Club “LIBURNIJA” Rijeka 14
3 Chess Club “RIJEKA” Rijeka 12
4 Chess Club “ETF-OSIJEK” Osijek 12
5 Chess Club “SLJEME-AGROPROTEINKA” Sesvete 8
6 Croatian Academic Chess Club “MLADOST” Zagreb 8
7 Chess Club “POŽEGA” Požega 6
8 Chess Club “SOLIN-CEMEX” Solin 6
9 Chess Club “ĐAKOVO-LIMMONT” Đakovo 5
10 Chess Club “VARAŽDIN” Varaždin 1
Women’s Section final standings:
1 HAŠK „Mladost“, Zagreb 13
2 Chess Club „Liburnija“, Rijeka 12
3 Chess Club „Draga“, Rijeka 8
4 Chess Club „Mornar“, Split 8
5 Chess Club „Goran“, Vrbovsko 6
6 Chess Club „Dama“, Đakovo 4
7 Chess Club „Polet“, Buševec 4
8 Chess Society „Sisak“, Sisak 1
