Results from the European Shogi Championship 2009

[martin....@telia.com]

Dear shogi friends,

The European Shogi Championship 2009 has been played in Stockholm. 27 players were allowed to participate this year of the total 32 players in the WOSC. Until now, the weather has been magnificent in the Swedish capital. When I write this, the WOSC is still ongoing. Now, the 7^th round is being played.

Alan Baker was the rating favorite of the ESC before the start of the tournament. However, he was knocked out in the quarter finals. The new European Shogi Champion was a surprising name before the tournament, but I can promise you that he is the next European top player. According to Asle Olufsen, he already became a dan player (starting at 2-kyu!) after four rounds here in Stockholm.

Results:

Top 32:

Alan Baker, Carl Johan Nilsson, Christer Hartman, Thomas Pfaffel, and Karl Wartlick were directly qualified for the top sixteen.

Jonas Ahlqvist-Niklas Alexandersson 1-0

Jean Fortin-Rafael Gerdin 1-0

Terje Christoffersen-Stephane Aymonier 1-0

Richard Bjerke-Asle Olufsen 1-0

Anders Vidal-Peder Gedda 0-1

Robert Soderberg-Daniel Wredenberg 0-1

Jan Rabe-Rikard Skotnicki 1-0

Bart de Shepper-Karolina Styczynska 1-0

Peter Kaneko-Therése Jernberg 1-0

Michael Hofmann-Nicolas Wiel 0-1

Igor Sinelnikov-Arash Rouhani 1-0

Top 16:

Alan Baker-Jonas Ahlqvist 1-0

Jean Fortin-Terje Christoffersen 1-0

Carl Johan Nilsson-Richard Bjerke 1-0

Peder Gedda-Christer Hartman 0-1

Thomas Pfaffel-Daniel Wredenberg 0-1

Jan Rabe-Bart de Shepper 0-1

Peter Kaneko-Nicolas Wiel 1-0

Igor Sinelnikov-Karl Wartlick 0-1

Quarter finals:

Alan Baker-Jean Fortin 0-1

Carl Johan Nilsson-Christer Hartman 0-1

Daniel Wredenberg-Bart de Shepper 0-1

Peter Kaneko-Karl Wartlick 0-1

Semi finals:

Jean Fortin-Christer Hartman 1-0

Bart de Shepper-Karl Wartlick 0-1

Final:

Jean Fortin-Karl Wartlick 1-0

Bronze game:

Christer Hartman-Bart de Shepper 1-0

The final was a hard fought game. In the end, Karl had a material advantage, but there was no tsume attack. Instead, Jean Fortin became European Champion by making a net for the king in the middle of the board. Karl had to resign.

Later, the WOSC will be reported. After six rounds, Takahashi was the only player with six points. He was followed by Fortin, Wartlick, and Ahlqvist with five points.

 

Best regards,

 

Martin Danerud,

 

Tournament director of the ESC/WOSC 2009