Svidler, Gurevich Win North Sea Cup
Peter Svidler (RUS, 2689) and Mikhail Gurevich (BEL, 2667) won the 15th North Sea Cup with 6.5/9 points each. The tournament was held July 7-15 in Esbjerg, Denmark.
Gurevich and Svidler both drew their final-round games quickly. They had both won their games in the previous (8th) round. Svidler beat Hansen on the white side of a Ruy Lopez, while Gurevich beat Emms on the white side of a Nimzo-Indian.
Svidler started off the tournament with 4 straight draws and finally managed to break through in the fifth round with a win with black over DeFirmian in a Ruy Lopez. He then won 3 more in a row over De Vreugt, Emms, and Hansen. Most of Svidler's games were Ruy Lopezes, which he plays exceptionally well as white and black.
Gurevich reeled off 2 wins at the start of the tournament over Nielsen and Grischuk. He made quick work of Nielsen's Nimzo-Indian and his French hunted Grischuk's king out to g4 for a win in 30 moves. In rounds 3 and 4, he drew quickly with Gulko and Svidler. Then in round 5 he suffered his only defeat of the tournament at the hands of Hansen (he lost on time in 39 moves in an even position). Gurevich then won 3 in a row over DeFirmian, De Vreugt, and Emms. Gurevich played the French as black and as white his games were Nimzo-Indians.
Final Scores
Peter Svidler (RUS) 2689 6˝
Mikhail Gurevich (BEL) 2667 6˝
Alexander Grischuk (RUS) 2606 5.0
Curt Hansen (DEN) 2613 5.0
Boris Gulko (USA) 2643 4˝
Peter Heine Nielsen (DEN) 2578 4˝
Nick de Firmian (USA) 2567 4.0
Lars Bo Hansen (DEN) 2562 4.0
John Emms (ENG) 2527 3.0
Dennis de Vreugt (NED) 2511 2.0
Website: home1.inet.tele.dk/tpherman/vh2000/2index.htm
Games in PGN
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