THERE were mixed fortunes for the two players with the most appearances at the Fortis International Chess Festival. For 33 years both Rudy von Saldern from Germany and Dutch-man Jan Havenaar have travelled to the island to take part.
And whereas the 77-year-old von Saldern was flying going into round four to see him face grandmaster Tiger Hillarp-Persson on board three of the open tournament at the Peninsula Hotel, Havenaar was near the bottom.
But von Saldern thought his run had come to an end as he prepared to take on former champion Hillarp-Persson.
‘Playing Tiger today I have hope but there’s no chance,’ said the retired engineer.
‘He has a different way of thinking.’ And he was proved right.
The 56-year-old Havenaar on the other hand had only half a point to his name after losing two matches and drawing one.
‘I’ve been playing badly,’ said the IT specialist.
‘I’m trying to improve but I’m struggling. I like this tournament because I know the people who play here. That’s why I keep coming back.’
The festival has attracted 116 competitors and Havenaar is part of the 30-strong Dutch contingent who have come over this year.
Von Saldern, like Havenaar, says the friendly ethos of the week keeps bringing him back.
He attended the first festival in 1975 after reading about it in a chess magazine.
‘It’s a very friendly atmosphere and I like to meet lots of friends I know,’ he said.
‘I can also learn lots of ideas from others.’
Going into the fourth round, international master Vaidyanathan Ravikumar from India and Dutchman Cornel-isse led with three points apiece.
The two drew and the loss of their 100% records allows the grandmasters in the field to catch up.
Russian G. P. Epishin beat Bolt of England and Hillarp-Persson both won, while Robert Bellin missed an opportunity of making up ground in a draw with Ippel of the Netherlands.
The leading Guernsey players at the start of the day were Fred Hamperl and Peter Rowe on two points each.
Hamperl had the initiative during the opening exchanges but still lost to Broek, another Dutchman, while Rowe drew with Englishman Heppel.
In the holiday tournament, Guernsey-based Pole Seb Nalichowski continues to go well and in round four beat Collins of England.
He shares the lead with Hoogakker of the Netherlands and Englishman Randall.
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