Chess night in Hamburg

by ChessBase
6/15/2002 – It was a spectacular event, pitting the very successful German national team against visitors of the Playchess server. Sixteen had qualified in tournaments, and took on the GMs in six rounds at 7 minutes per side per game. The result was 24:6 for the national team – quite victory, since the entire presidential board of the German Chess Federation had turned up to watch. More

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A Playchess night in Hamburg

They all turned up in the afternoon, a squad taken from the very successful German National team (which won the silver medal in the last Olympiad). Accompanied by the national trainer GM Uwe Bönsch and the entire Presidential board of the German Chess Federation, the players had come to Hamburg for two reasons: to learn some of the finer points of the software provided by their sponsors ChessBase, and to play an Internet spectacular against a team of users on the Playchess Server.

The "Fritz Team" had gone through a series of qualification tournaments. Sixteen were nominated by virtue of their results, four were standing by in case someone had connection problems. There were none, everything went extremely smoothly. The atmosphere was great, with everyone clearly enjoying the experience.

The rate of play was seven minutes per side per game. This was chosen in order to give both sides equal chances. The players who had qualified were all power users with a great deal of experience playing on the Fritz server; for them faster time controls would be advantageous. The German national team was obviously much stronger but individual players had less experience with optical mice and the "dropping" technique used in fast games. So they preferred a slower rate of play.

In the end the professionals scored a resounding victory of 24:6. Afterwards, with midnight coming, there were a lot of informal games, the most interesting being between Germany's most experienced player Robert Hübner and Vishy Anand, who generally looks in during such events. Hübner, who was somewhat sceptical about this form of chess, as able to hold the world's number three to a draw.

Gerald Hertneck and Klaus Bishof during the game. Onlookers standing around are GM Rainer Knaak, Dr. Heinz Meyer (vice president of the German Chess Federation), Siegfried Wölk, Chess Federation president Alfred Schlya, Federation CEO Horst Metzing, IM Oliver Reeh

Round 1

Board
Server Team
National team
result
1
The Bache
  Dr. Robert Hübner
0 : 1
2
Markus Hochgräfe
  Gerald Hertneck
0 : 1
3
AlexanderMagnus
  Klaus Bischoff
0 : 1
4
Captain Kirk
  Elisabeth Pähtz
1 : 0
5
Litti
  Uwe Bönsch
0 : 1

Setting things up for Dr Robert Hübner and Uwe Bönsch

Round 2

Board
Server Team
National team
Result
1
The Bache
  Dr. Robert Hübner
0 : 1
2
Markus Hochgräfe
  Gerald Hertneck
1 : 0
3
AlexanderMagnus
  Klaus Bischoff
0 : 1
4
Captain Kirk
  Elisabeth Pähtz
0 : 1
5
Litti
  Uwe Bönsch
0 : 1

A picture of determination: WGM Elisabeth Paehtz during a game

Round 3

Board
Server Team
National team
Result
1
ZoranP
  Dr. Robert Hübner
0 : 1
2
Bullmover
  Gerald Hertneck
0 : 1
3
Bärli
  Klaus Bischoff
1 : 0
4
Udo Mainz
  Elisabeth Pähtz
1 : 0
5
Tobitiger
  Uwe Bönsch
0 : 1

Matthias Wüllenweber of ChessBase helps GM Klaus Bischoff

Round 4

Board
Server Team
National team
Result
1
ZoranP
  Dr. Robert Hübner
0: 1
2
Bullmover
  Gerald Hertneck
1 : 0
3
Bärli
  Klaus Bischoff
0 : 1
4
Udo Mainz
  Elisabeth Pähtz
1 : 0
5
Tobitiger
  Uwe Bönsch
0 : 1

Germany's most experienced player Dr Robert Hübner

Round 5

Board
Server Team
National team
Result
1
Taxi-Driver
  Dr. Robert Hübner
0 : 1
2
Barbarossa
  Gerald Hertneck
0 : 1
3
Dreistein
  Klaus Bischoff
0 : 1
4
Milamber
  Elisabeth Pähtz
0 : 1
5
PUnger
  Uwe Bönsch
0 : 1

 

Gerald Hertneck wrapping up a game

Round 6

Board
Server Team
National team
Result
1
Taxi-Driver
  Dr. Robert Hübner
0 : 1
2
Barbarossa
  Gerald Hertneck
0 : 1
3
Dreistein
  Klaus Bischoff
0 : 1
4
Milamber
  Elisabeth Pähtz
0 : 1
5
Salzer
  Uwe Bönsch
0 : 1

Everyone enjoys a good game on the Internet

Final standings

Board
National team
Total
1
Dr. Robert Hübner
6 : 0
2
Gerald Hertneck
4 : 2
3
Klaus Bischoff
5 : 1
4
Elisabeth Pähtz
3 : 3
5
Uwe Bönsch
6 : 0
 
Grand total
24 : 6

German Chess Federation Vice President Dr. Heinz Meyer and Presiden
Alfred Schlya play a few games (and win them all!)

Gerry Hertneck watches Elli Pähtz win a game

Dr Robert Hübner plays informally against Vishy Anand, who is in Madrid.


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