A Sporting Success but a Public Fiasco

Bo Plato

That is how one might characterize Kirseberg Chess Club's anniversary tournament in Malmö in December. But perhaps one should not expect too much spectator interest in winter weather and the Christmas rush. Moreover, this was actually the first time an international tournament had been organized in Scania! The tournament was the biggest chess event to take place at these latitudes since Bent Larsen and Boris Spassky played their World Championship qualifying match in Malmö in 1968. It was only a pity that local favorite Harry Schüssler was unable to take part because of his studies.

The Polish grandmaster Wlodzimierz Schmidt won comfortably, finishing two points ahead of his Hungarian colleague Levente Lengyel, who drew too many games to be able to compete for the first prize of 3,000 kronor.

Schmidt, 33 years old and based in Poznan, made a very solid impression. He conceded only three draws and was never really in trouble in any game. The possible exception was his game against Christer Niklasson...

Third place went to Schmidt's compatriot Jacek Bednarski, now a frequent visitor to Sweden. He started strongly but missed a drawing resource in an endgame against the talented Danish champion Ulrik Rath in the fifth round. After that he scored only 1½ points in the last four rounds.

The Swedish players did not enjoy much success. Axel Ornstein only occasionally showed his old strength and too often landed in serious time trouble. Christer Niklasson, who here had the opportunity to achieve his third IM norm, could not maintain the pace and recorded three losses in the final three rounds.

The best results among the Swedes were achieved by Dan Hansson and Kjell Krantz, who together with Rath shared 4th-6th places. Krantz showed that it is no coincidence that he plays ahead of Magnus Wahlbom in LASK's Swedish League team. In fact, he had an IM norm within reach when the final round began, but in the end he lost to Bednarski.

We would also like to give some credit to Tom Wedberg, who unfortunately received little reward for his efforts. After six rounds he had only one point, but in the seventh he defeated Bednarski in such a way that for a long time to come it ought to cure the Pole of any taste for experiments in the French Defence.

In summary: several interesting and exciting games were played, and it was a pleasure to see Hansson, Krantz and Wedberg playing so freshly and uncompromisingly in most positions.

The tournament organizers Lars Grahn, Åke Andersson and Carl-Eric Erlandsson are welcome to arrange another tournament this year — if not in Malmö, then perhaps in Lund?