The first round has abounded with many stout games – there were as many as 4 drawn matches in the OPEN section. Even the top seed – German team – made a draw against Moldova. There were some more unexpected results – Serbia was not far away from being defeated by Israel who is defending the title from the last year from Celje, Poland I did not manage to win against lower rated England.
The round has last for more than 5,5 hours, below you can find the most spectacular skirmishes:
Macko Miroslav (SLO II) – Jedranko Plenca (CRO)
1...Rb8 2.Qa4 Rxb2! 3.Nxc6 Bc2! White must have overseen this move. 4.Nb3 After 4.Qa3 Rb7 5.Qc1 cxd4! 6.exd4 Be4 Black would obtain a great advantage. 4...Nd7 5.Ne5 cxd4 6.cxd4?! 6.0–0 would have been better, but after f6! Black is great. 6...Qc3+ 7.Kf1 Bd3+ 8.Kg1 Bb5 9.Qa5 Bb4 and the queen is trapped!
Oskar Ogłaza (POL II) – Gergo Havasi (HUN)
White has made few mistakes just after the opening and Black has gained a severe attack. 1...d4! 2.Qxb4 (After 2.Rxb4 axb4 3.Qd3 Nc3+! Or Qb3 Nc5! –+ White's queen is being captured! 2...axb4 3.Bf4 c5 4.Rd3 Nc3+! 5.bxc3 bxc3+ 6.Kc1 Rxa2 –+ 7.Kd1 Rb1+ 8.Ke2 Rxc2+ 9.Bd2 Rxh1 10.Bxh1 Bc4 0-1
After the first round we have 7 leaders – Hungary (who won 4-0 against Poland II), Ukraine (3,5-0,5 against Slovakia III), Turkey (3-1 vs. Estonia), Croatia, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Poland III – all above-mentioned teams won their matches 2,5-1,5. Tomorrow we will observe the battle between Hungary and Croatia, Ukraine and Slovakia, Czech Republic and Turkey as well as Germany against Poland III.
There were several surprises in the girls section as well – the favourites from Poland and Germany drew their matches (against Slovenia II and Hungary II respectively). There are 7 leaders (Hungary, Poland II, Czech Republic, Slovenia II, Ukraine, Estonia and Turkey). Tomorrow we will see the matches: Serbia vs. Slovenia, Estonia against Poland II, Ukraine vs. Czech Republic and Turkey against Poland on the top boards.
Let's take a look at the sample of the girls' abilities:
Agnieszka Buchta (POL V) – Margareth Olde (EST)
1 Be3?! d4 2.Bc1 Bf7! The difference berween the opposite-coloured bishops' activity is decesive for the position's evaluation. 3.Kh2 Qf8 4.Qd2 Bd5 5.Rg1 Qg7 - all Black's pieces are well placed. 6.Ba3 Rxh3+! 7.Kxh3 Qg3# 0-1
