{"id":9208,"date":"2019-02-22T10:30:57","date_gmt":"2019-02-22T09:30:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mvlchess.com\/?p=9208"},"modified":"2019-03-25T21:16:20","modified_gmt":"2019-03-25T20:16:20","slug":"limagination-gouverne-le-monde","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mvlchess.com\/en\/2019\/02\/22\/limagination-gouverne-le-monde\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00ab\u00a0Imagination rules the world\u00a0\u00bb"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This famous Napol\u00e9on Bonaparte quote illustrates fairly well the chess event that took place February 16 in La Roche sur Yon<\/a>. But what is the connection between Napol\u00e9on and the Vend\u00e9e prefecture, you will probably ask?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\nturns out that, by decree of 1804, May 25, the one who would become\nEmperor a few months later, ordered the foundation of a new\nadministrative and military town, in the center of Vend\u00e9e. La Roche\nsur Yon is hence a \u00ab Napoleonian town \u00bb, which regularly\nhonours its founder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This\nyear, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Napol\u00e9on\u2019s birth, the\ncity decided to create a chess event, as the Emperor was a player\nhimself. So, off for a blitz match between the promising Dutch\nyoungster Jorden Van Foreest and myself! And as \u00ab imagination\nrules the world \u00bb, the organizers had invented a fairly original\nformat; seven games, of which two were Classical, two were Chess 960,\ntwo were thematic, and a further blindfold game to top it off!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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View of the auditorium (Photo City La Roche-sur-Yon).<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A\nwell thought out organization put the event on high level standards,\nfor the players as well as for the audience A 300-seat auditorium\nalmost filled up for a chess show, in an average town like La Roche\nsur Yon, means a clear success and is always a pleasure for the\nplayers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As\nfor the match itself, Jorden proved he was a worthwhile opponent. I\nwas in danger as early as game 1, which I lost with white.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mvl-Van Foreest, Game 1<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Here,\ninstead of the normal 9.Nxd7, I got carried away by the pawn\nsacrifice 9.d4?!\ncxd4 10.Bf4<\/strong>,\nbut after 10\u2026Qc8<\/strong>,\nI could not prove any compensation. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately,\nI was able to move up a gear in the second classical game, then in\nthe two 960 games, hence recording three wins in a row.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\nis a nice tactical shot in the latest one:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mvl-Van Foreest, Game 4.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

White\njust played 23.Bxc5<\/strong>\nand the position looks so symetrical. But black is on the move and\ntactical themes seem to favour him! 23\u2026Qb3!<\/strong>\nand strangely enough, white has a one and only move to find to avoid\nlosing material, and it is not so easy to spot with little time on\nthe clock. The game went on 24.Qxb3?<\/strong>\n(24.Re1? Bd4+!) 24\u2026Bxb3\n25.Rd3<\/strong>\n(25.Rc1 Rxc5! 26.Rxc5 Bd4+ or 25.Bd5+ Bxd5 26.Rxd5 Rxc5!) 25\u2026Bc4\n26.Rd4 Bf7!<\/strong>\n(but not 26\u2026Rxc5? 27.Rxc4! and the tactical motif is reversed!\nNeither 26\u2026Bxd4+, which would \u00ab only \u00bb win the\nexchange) 27.Rd7\nRxc5 0-1<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Returning\nto the diagrammed position, the only move after 23\u2026Qb3! was 24.Bf3!\nand everything holds!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Place Napol\u00e9on in La Roche sur Yon (Photo Etienne Mensch).<\/em>
<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The thematic games could offer nothing else than a \u00ab Napol\u00e9on Opening \u00bb!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Games 5 & 6.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Unimpressed\nby the imperial second white move, we both won fairly easily with\nblack!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then\ncame the time for the blindfold game, with a little more time\n(15\/10). We\u2019re not used anymore to this type of play! Unfortunate\nthough, as in spite of its ultra intense side – or perhaps thanks to\nit – blindfold chess is really interesting, as it requires an higher\nand unusual level of concentration. I know some players consider it\nis too demanding\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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(Photo City La Roche-sur-Yon).<\/em>
<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

At\nthe beginning of the game, we played the opening too quickly for the\nbroadcast. But the IM duo Mullon\/Mensch repaired the damage at\nlightning speed, discovering on the way that I had discarded my\nbeloved Najdorf for the benefit of the Dragon. A choice which turned\nout to be no great success, although I was able to earn the\nhalf-point at the end, allowing me to win the match by a two-point\nmargin, 4.5-2.5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nafternoon concluded with the giant 100-board simultaneous display. We\nwere four to face the players, Jorden and myself being joined by the\ncommentators, IM Jean-Baptiste Mullon and FM Yannick Berthelot. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In\nother words, each of us was back to a certain game four moves later,\nwhich means we usually had to think from scratch!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of\ncourse, there were a few hiccups, Jorden and I being a bit quicker\nthan our comrades \uf04a.\nTherefore, it happened sometimes that we overtook one of them,\ncreating traffic jams around a few boards in the process. With the\nresult that some players had very little time to think, while others\nhad way too much of it\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus,\nin the general good mood around, a few pieces were left en\nprise<\/em>,\nand a few games were lost by us!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Simultaneous in the Atrium (Photo City La Roche-sur-Yon).<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The\nTroph\u00e9e Napol\u00e9on in La Roche sur Yon has been a real success, and\nit might happen again next year. The organization team has set really\nhigh standards for a first, well supported by motivated city\nofficials, and it definitely deserves to have another shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Official site: <\/strong>http:\/\/www.larochesuryon.fr<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n