England wins its first ever European Team Championships

By Kristianus Liem

JAKARTA (JP): England for the first time won the 11th European Team Championship which was held at Pula, a well-known resort on the Adriatic Coast, Croatia, in May.

Thirty-four teams from 33 countries took part in the men's event.

The first part of the tournament was dominated by host Croatia, owing to the good performance of GMs Kozul and Palac. Kozul won four games in the first rounds, and Palac finished as the best third board.

The turning point was in round five when England scored 3-1 against the leading Croats and took over the lead. Then England defeated close rivals Armenia and Hungary to confirm its lead.

After a draw with Russia in the penultimate round, thereby retaining a two-point margin over its greatest rival, England seemed to have a clear path to the gold.

However, in the exciting last round England lost to Germany 2.5-1.5 and Russia defeated Belarus with an unexpected 3.5-0.5, scoring the same number of points as England. Still, England had better Bucholz tiebreaks and took the gold medal.

The final standings are: 1. England 22.5 2. Russia 22.5 3. Armenia 22 4. Hungary 21.5 5. Germany 21.5 6. Israel 21 7. Croatia I 20.5 8. Georgia 20 9. Byelorussia 19.5 10. Bosnia & Herzegovina 19.5 11. Netherlands 19.5 12. Poland 19.5 13. Estonia 19 14. Switzerland 19 15. Azerbaijan 19 16. Slovakia 19 17. Sweden 19 18. Latvia 18 19. France 18 20. Spain 18 21. Turkey 18 22. Italy 17.5 23. Croatia II 17.5 24. Lithuania 17 25. Czech Republic 17 26. Greece 17 27. Macedonia 17 28. Slovenia 16.5 29. Portugal 16.5 30. Finland 16.5 31. Austria 15.5 32. Ireland 12.5 33. Scotland 8.5 34. Wales 6.5

The top scorer in the English team is GM Matthew Sadler. He took seven points in nine rounds. Here is one of his best game.

White: GM Goran Dizdar (Croatia)

Black: GM Matthew Sadler (England)

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.0-0 Be7 5.c4 0-0 6.d4 dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.a4 Bd7 9.Rd1 Bc6 10.Nc3 Bxf3 11.Bxf3 Nc6 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Bg5 Rb8

Practice has shown this to be a solid variation for Black. The possible attack ...c6-c5 and the open b-file make sufficient compensation for the disreputable pawn structure on the Queen- side.

14.e3

Piket previously played 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.e3 against Joel Lautier in a game at the Melody Amber tournament in 1996 and got very little out of the opening though he eventually won the game.

Also interesting is 14.a5 Rb4 15.Ra4 Qb8 16.Rxb4 Qxb4 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Na2 Qb5 Kochyev-Aseev, Leningrad 1989.

14...Nd7! 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Ne4 Rb4!

The text much more preparing to double on the b-file against the White pawn on b2 than to protected the c4-pawn.

17.Nd2 c5 18.Nxc4 Rfb8 19.Rac1 h6 20.dxc5 Nf6! 21.Ne5 Rxb2 22.Qc4 Nd5 23.e4?

See diagram. White's idea was to meet 23...R8b4 with 24.exd5 Rxc4 25.Nxc4 followed by d6 with fantastic compensation for the Queen.

23...Ne3!

A fantastic move! Black gave his Knight at the moment White threatened to fork his Queen and Rook with Nc6.

24.fxe3 Qg5! 25.Qc3 Qh5!

This is the point. Since 26.h4 loses to 26...Qe2, White must return the piece. The main and decisive factor in the position is White's poor pawn structure.

26.Rd8+!? Kh7 27.Rd2 Rxd2 28.Qxd2 Qxe5 29.Qd4 Qg5 30.Rf1 e5 31.Qc3 f6

Having secured his king-side pawn structure, Black could turn his attention to White's weaknesses.

32.Kg2 Qg4 33.Qc4 a5!

Securing the valuable b4 square for the Black Rook from where it attacks both the a4 and e4 pawns.

34.h3 Qd7 35.Qc2 Qc6!

A lovely square for the Black Queen attacking three pawns at once.

36.Rd1 Rb4 37.Rd8 Rxa4 38.Rc8 Rb4 39.Qd3 Qxc5

White lost on time here, but 40.Qd8 Qc2+! 41.Kf3 Qxe4+ is hopeless for White. 0-1