The A-group at the Amsterdam Chess Open saw several surprises right from the first two rounds. IM Dagur Radnarsson and CM Rogier van Arkel suffered unexpected defeats on Friday morning, followed by losses in the afternoon round for GM Alexander Bagrationi, FMs Vitali Braun, Albert Castillo, and Murad Abdulla. Top favourite GM Erik van den Doel already dropped half a point.
Foto: Bas Beekhuizen
The A-group at the Amsterdam Chess Open saw several surprises right from the first two rounds. IM Dagur Radnarsson and CM Rogier van Arkel suffered unexpected defeats on Friday morning, followed by losses in the afternoon round for GM Alexander Bagrationi, FM Vitali Braun, FM Albert Castillo, and FM Murad Abdulla.
The second Amsterdam Chess Open officially began Friday morning at the HvA Business Campus. It was wonderful to see 500 players of all ages and levels starting their games in the beautiful playing halls of the Corry Tendeloo Huis. The new tournament venue was widely appreciated.
While typically stronger players defeat lower-rated players in the initial rounds of an open tournament, here we saw an unusual number of surprising results.
The biggest shock was Radnarsson (2346) losing with the white pieces to Kai-Christian Bruns (2067). There was no major blunder—Bruns won in a straightforward game.
Radnarsson-Bruns ACO (01), 2024
21...a5?!
The immediate 21...b5 made more sense because then White really cannot take on a7.
22.Rc7 b5 23.Qc2?
23.Qxa5 was necessary here since 23...Ra8 can be met by 24.Ra7. After 24...Rxa7 25.Qxa7 h6 26.Bd2 b4 Black has good compensation.
23...h6 24.Be3
24.Bd2 was more tenacious.
24...Nb6
Now Black is much better, perhaps even winning already, thanks to the pawn majority on the queenside and the strong control of the light squares. He won convincingly.
Rick Lahaye, our tournament winner of last year, will have a tough time finishing first again. The untitled 2400-player could only draw his first two games. It was the Swede Lars Bromstrom (2077) who comfortably held his own in the first:
Blomstrom-Layahe ACO (01), 2024
To keep winning chances, Black should have kept the tension in the position. The following liquidation doesn't give him anything.
13...gxf4 14.gxf4 cxd4 15.Nexd4 Ncxd4 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.cxd4 Bb4+
This was Black's idea but the white king is ver safe on the light squares.
18.Ke2 Qc7 19.Kf3!
If anyone is better it is White.
19...Qc2 20.Qxc2 Rxc2 21.Rb1 Rg8 22.Bd3 and a draw was agreed soon.
Perhaps the biggest surprise so far was GM Bagrationi’s (2391) loss in Round 2 to Bas van Doren (2147), who capitalised on tactical opportunities to win convincingly.
Van Doren-Bagrationi ACO (02), 2024
14...e5?!
Black's previous move 13...Nc3 already wasn't great and he should have returned the knight to e4. This loses material.
15.Rc2 Ne4
Even worse is 15...Na4? 16.c5 Bc7 17.Rc4 and a full piece will be gone.
16.Nxe5! Bf5 17.g4!?
The easiest was 17.Nxc6 bxc6 18.c5 Bc7 19.Nd4 with a won position.
17...Nb4 18.Re2 Nc3 19.Rd2 Bc7 20.gxf5 Bxe5 21.Bb2
This is terrible for Black; White won easily.
After two rounds, 13 players still have perfect scores, including four untitled players. At the bottom of the rankings, among the players with zero points, we even find an IM: Bogdan Borsos from Ukraine.
In the B-group (for players under 2000), 13 players lead with two out of two points. In the C-group (1650-1850 rating), eleven players lead, and in the D-group (under 1700 rating), a remarkable 19 players have won both of their games.
We give special attention to the participants who are a member of chess club Caïssa Amsterdam, partner of our tournament. After two rounds, the best Caïssa player in the A group is FM Michaël Wunnink, who held Van den Doel to a draw in Round 2. Pieter Fritschy is on 2/2 in group B while Aleks Varnicka started with 1/2 in C, just like Hugo Somer in D.
Between rounds, players are eagerly taking advantage of our educational service: the tournament coaches. GM Paul van der Sterren, IM Merijn van Delft, Ewoud de Groote, and Ashley Krishnasing continuously provide tips for participants with technical chess questions.
Additionally, prize raffles are being held during breaks. Lucky winners have been (and will be) delighted with Pegasus online chess computers, DGT clocks, Chessity premium memberships, 3D-printed chess sets, and ACO sweaters.