Laznicka meets Volokitin in today's San Sebastian final
Viktor Laznicka (Czech Republic) and Andrei Volokitin (Ukraine) qualified for the final of the San Sebastian-Donostia Chess Festival's A group. Laznicka defeated Alexander Moiseenko (Ukraine) while Volokitin was too strong for Leinier Dominguez Perez (Cuba).
The semi-finals in action | All photos © David Llada and Anastasiya Karlovich
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By Anastasiya Karlovich
On the 4th of January two semi-final matches were played in the A group – Leinier Dominguez faced Andrei Volokitin and Alexander Moiseenko played against Viktor Laznicka. The first game of the match Volokitin-Dominguez was drawn. The Cuban player got quite a comfortable position with Black in the other one, but after a few mistakes Dominguez had to defend a worse rook endgame. Volokitin played precisely and won the second game and the match.
Dominguez vs Volokitin
In the first classical game Alexander Moiseenko, who had white, sacrificed a piece but made a mistake in a complicated position. As a result he had to give up a second piece for some counterplay, but the compensation was not enough.
Even so, Moiseenko managed to equalize the score by winning the other classical game. The match was decided in the rapid match, where Viktor Laznicka won comfortably with white and managed to secure the overall victory by giving perpetual check in the second game. This means we will see Volokitin and Laznicka in the final on Thursday.
Moiseenko vs Laznicka
The players who were eliminated from the B group continued playing in the normal open tournament (C-group). Former Women's World Champion Antoaneta Stefanova, who defeated IM Mikel Huerga Leache, is sharing first place with Reynaldo Vera Gonzalez-Quevedo. Ten players share the third place, half a point behind. The last round of the C group will also be held on the 5th of January.
Games round 6
Viktor Laznicka shared his emotions after the match with Alexander Moiseenko:
I think the first classical game, where my opponent sacrificed a piece, was completely winning for me. He might have some compensation but I think it’s not enough. I didn’t see how he can even equalize the position. I think I’m at least better. The second game was just incredible! It was totally equal but I saw I was winning with black and I got nervous a little bit. I started to play for a draw, changed some pieces but it's nonsense of course - I should have continued to play normal chess.
What did you feel before the rapid? How did you manage to calm down after those tough games?
I just knew that I was a complete idiot and I had to play again! (Laughing.) I knew I had to perform well. Of course I was angry but with such a mood you can resign immediately. I had to recover fast. In the rapid I got a comfortable edge with white and the initiative, so it was quite easy to win after f5. In the game with the black pieces I had a better position all the time. Even so I got a bit nervous again because the situation reminded me of the previous, classical games. Fortunately I managed to make a draw in this game.
What do you think about the new Basque system?
It’s fun to play here and I like the idea. I don’t need to count Elo points, so I can just simply play chess. I think preparation doesn’t play such a crucial role here if we compare it with normal chess. So I think this format fits my style.
Viktor Laznicka
