Round 1 report, 15th Hogeschool Zeeland Chess Tournament 2011

The fifteenth edition of the HZ tournament is unlike previous years, unfortunately, not quite full. In contrast, the participants have never been as strong as this year.

After one minute silence in memory of the recently deceased Huub van Dongen gave the new chief referee Frans Peeters launched the first round.

The main candidate for the title, the German number one Arkadij Naiditsch, was not so heavy and it trumped the Spaniard Garcia Serrano. The number two of the placement list Yasser Seirawan won. Henk Westerman held in Egmond aan Zee last long, but could not manage to end the popular American, who apparently did not suffer from jet lag after his performance at the world championships for national teams in China.

The first surprise of the tournament came in the name of Maarten Westerweele. Westerweele, inhabitant of Vlissingen, had great advantage against the Israeli IM Tal Haimovich. The game was ultimately a draw after a remarkable incident. Maarten Westerweele conducted an illegal move, and before that he had pressed the bell, put Haimovich (with only one second reflection) the clock and claimed the official. Of course, his request for two minutes extra time rejected. Westerweele was so athletic for a draw offer and thus peace was signed.

Translated by: Waqas Ahmad (www.pakchess.org)