2013 DSK Chess Championship (S. Africa)

South Africa recently hosted the Commonwealth Championship and was graced with an appearance of Garry Kasparov. The momentum continues as a strong invitational will begin today featuring a number of Grandmasters and several regional hopefuls. Sergey Tiviakov, the globetrotting chess player, will lead a field of 13 players in the DSK Championship over the next ten days. Local talent will include South Africa’s legendary IM Watu Kobese and Zimbabwean ace IM Robert Gwaze. Both have long desired opportunities to test their skills against world-class competition. Rising stars FM Daniel Cawdery of South Africa and Uganda’s IM Elijah Emojong will also be looking for a few GM scalps. Hopefully the recent trends on the continent will result in more of these strong events being available for the untapped reservoir of talent.

2013 DSK Chess Championship
July 20th-29th, 2013 (Cape Town, South Africa)
Players
#
Name
Title
Federation
Flag
Rating
1 Tiviakov, Sergei GM Netherlands
2654
2 Ipatov Alexander GM Turkey
2583
3 Arnold, Marc GM USA
2525
4 Kasparov, Sergey GM Belarus
2470
5 Gwaze, Robert IM Zimbabwe
2433
6 Tischbierek, Raj GM Germany
2422
7 Haznedaroglu, Kivanc GM Turkey
2417
8 Cawdery, Daniel FM South Africa
2345
9 Kobese, Watu IM South Africa
2343
10 Emojong, Elijah IM Uganda
2311
11 Van Den Heever, Donovan FM South Africa
2280
12 De Villiers, Charles FM South Africa
2255
13 Gluckman, David IM South Africa
2250
Results: https://chess-results.com/

25 Comments

  1. Round #1 (20 July 2013)

    FM Cawdery Daniel (RSA) 2345 0-1 GM Tiviakov Sergei (NED) 2654
    GM Ipatov Alexander (TUR) 2583 1-0 IM Kobese Watu (RSA) 2343
    IM Emojong Elijah (UGA) 2311 ½-½ GM Arnold Marc (USA) 2525
    GM Kasparov Sergey (BLR) 2470 1-0 FM Van Den Heever Donovan (RSA) 2280
    FM De Villiers Charles (RSA) 2255 0-1 IM Gwaze Robert (ZIM) 2433
    GM Tischbierek Raj (GER) 2422 ½-½ IM Gluckman David (RSA) 2250
    FM Solomons Deon (RSA) 2179 0-1 GM Haznedaroglu Kivanc (TUR)2417

  2. Round #2 (21 July 2013)

    GM Tiviakov Sergei (NED) 2654 1 – 0 GM Kasparov Sergey (BLR) 2470
    IM Gwaze Robert (ZIM) 2433 0 – 1 GM Ipatov Alexander (TUR) 2583
    GM Haznedaroglu Kivanc (TUR) 2417 0-1 GM Tischbierek Raj (GER) 2422
    IM Gluckman David (RSA) 2250 ½-½ IM Emojong Elijah (UGA) 2311
    GM Arnold Marc (USA) 2525 1-0 FM Cawdery Daniel (RSA) 2345
    IM Kobese Watu (RSA) 2343 ½-½ FM De Villiers Charles (RSA) 2255
    FM Van Den Heever Donovan (RSA) 2280 ½-½ FM Solomons Deon (RSA) 2179

  3. Round #3 (22 July 2013)

    GM Ipatov Alexander (TUR) 2583 ½-½ GM Tiviakov Sergei (NED) 2654
    GM Tischbierek Raj (GER) 2422 ½-½ GM Arnold Marc (USA) 2525
    GM Kasparov Sergey (BLR) 2470 1-0 GM Haznedaroglu Kivanc (TUR) 2417
    IM Emojong Elijah (UGA) 2311 0 – 1 IM Gwaze Robert (ZIM) 2433
    FM De Villiers Charles (RSA) 2255 ½-½ IM Gluckman David (RSA) 2250
    FM Solomons Deon (RSA) 2179 ½-½ IM Kobese Watu (RSA) 2343
    FM Cawdery Daniel (RSA) 2345 ½-½ FM Van Den Heever Donovan (RSA) 2280

  4. Round #4 (23 July 2013)

    GM Tiviakov Sergei (NED) 2654 ½ – ½ GM Tischbierek Raj (GER) 2422
    GM Arnold Marc T (USA) 2525 ½ – ½ GM Ipatov Alexander (TUR) 2583
    IM Gwaze Robert (ZIM) 2433 0 – 1 GM Kasparov Sergey (BLR) 2470
    IM Gluckman David (RSA) 2250 ½ – ½ FM Solomons Deon (RSA) 2179
    GM Haznedaroglu Kivanc (TUR) 2417 1 – 0 FM De Villiers Charles (RSA) 2255
    FM Van Den Heever Donovan (RSA) 2280 ½ – ½ IM Emojong Elijah (UGA) 2311
    IM Kobese Watu (RSA) 2343 ½ – ½ FM Cawdery Daniel (RSA) 2345

  5. Round #5 (24 July 2013)

    GM Ipatov Alexander (TUR) 2583 1 – 0 GM Kasparov Sergey (BLR) 2470
    GM Arnold Marc T (USA) 2525 ½ – ½ GM Tiviakov Sergei (NED) 2654
    GM Tischbierek Raj (GER) 2422 0 – 1 IM Gwaze Robert (ZIM) 2433
    IM Gluckman David (RSA) 2250 0 – 1 GM Haznedaroglu Kivanc (TUR) 2417
    FM Van Den Heever Donovan (RSA) 2280 ½ – ½ IM Kobese Watu (RSA) 2343
    IM Emojong Elijah (UGA) 2311 1 – 0 FM Solomons Deon (RSA) 2179
    FM Cawdery Daniel (RSA) 2345 1 – 0 FM De Villiers Charles (RSA) 2255

  6. Gwaze just beat a Grandmaster. I strongly believe African players have low ratings simply because they don’t get to compete with rated international players & Grandmasters. Surely two of the best Africans should be able to compete in Wijk aan Zee group B or C. Everytime an African gets to compete in a major international tournament it’s usually in the world cup knock out stages whey they play renown players like Topalov, Kramnik, Shirov. I mean, honestly, cut them some slack for crying out loud.

    1. Remember though… Gwaze was higher-rated than the GM he beat so that is not a surprise at all. They are the same strength. You always have to look at the ELO since you have 2100 IMs and 1800 FMs.

      I believe Africans merely have to get tougher instead of someone giving them an easier route. Eventually, you will face the strongest competition. There is no hiding.

  7. Can u explain to me then why Gwaze, after winning the African Individual Chess Championship in Windhoek 2007, meaning he was the strongest player in the entire continent of Africa, was not invited to Wijk aan Zee?

    1. It simply means Gwaze won the African championships that year. That honor does not bestow any right to compete in invitational tournaments. Wijk aan Zee is a private tournament based on invitations and not regional qualification.

      To gain invitations, Gwaze needs to be more visible in the international tournament circuit. He plays infrequently and is one IM in a long list of aspirants who seek norms. There is no reason to believe Dutch organizers would choose a 2400-rated African IM over hundreds of other higher-rated European players vying for a spot at Wijk aan Zee. They simply would not do it. Not even Amon Simutowe got an invitation when he was very active in Europe. Moroccan Hichem Hamdouchi, the strongest player in African history, was invited to 2004 Wijk aan Zee “B” and got 5/13. He played a lot in Europe and now represents France.

      Half of the spots in the “C” group go to Dutch players to give them an opportunity for norms. The foreign players are generally highly-rated. The organizers have designed the tournament this way.

      Here are the results from 2008 Wijk aan Zee.

      https://en.chessbase.com/home/TabId/211/PostId/4004417

  8. Round #6 (26 July 2013)

    GM Haznedaroglu Kivanc (TUR) 2417 0 – 1 GM Ipatov Alexander (TUR) 2583
    GM Tiviakov Sergei (NED) 2654 1 – 0 IM Gwaze Robert (ZIM) 2433
    GM Kasparov Sergey (BLR) 2470 0 – 1 GM Arnold Marc T (USA) 2525
    IM Emojong Elijah (UGA) 2311 ½ – ½ GM Tischbierek Raj (GER) 2422
    IM Kobese Watu (RSA) 2343 0 – 1 IM Gluckman David (RSA) 2250
    FM Solomons Deon (RSA) 2179 0 – 1 FM Cawdery Daniel (RSA) 2345
    FM De Villiers Charles (RSA) 2255 1 – 0 FM Van Den Heever Donovan (RSA) 2280

  9. Round #7 (27 July 2013)

    GM Ipatov Alexander (TUR) 2583 1 – 0 IM Emojong Elijah (UGA) 2311
    IM Gluckman David (RSA) 2250 0 – 1 GM Tiviakov Sergei (NED) 2654
    GM Arnold Marc (USA) 2525 0 – 1 GM Haznedaroglu Kivanc (TUR) 2417
    FM Cawdery Daniel (RSA) 2345 0 – 1 GM Kasparov Sergey (BLR) 2470
    IM Gwaze Robert (ZIM) 2433 1 – 0 IM Kobese Watu (RSA) 2343
    GM Tischbierek Raj (GER) 2422 1 – 0 FM Van Den Heever Donovan (RSA) 2280
    FM Solomons Deon (RSA) 2179 0 – 1 FM De Villiers Charles (RSA) 2255

  10. Round #8 (28 July 2013)

    GM Tischbierek Raj (GER) 2422 0 – 1 GM Ipatov Alexander (TUR) 2583
    GM Tiviakov Sergei (NED) 2654 1 – 0 GM Haznedaroglu Kivanc (TUR) 2417
    FM De Villiers Charles (RSA) 2255 0 – 1 GM Arnold Marc (USA) 2525
    IM Gwaze Robert (ZIM) 2433 ½ – ½ FM Cawdery Daniel (RSA) 2345
    GM Kasparov Sergey (BLR) 2470 1 – 0 1½ FM Solomons Deon (RSA) 2179
    IM Kobese Watu (RSA) 2343 0 – 1 IM Emojong Elijah (UGA) 2311
    FM Van Den Heever Donovan (RSA) 2280 ½ – ½ IM Gluckman David (RSA) 2250

  11. Round #9 (29 July 2013)

    GM Ipatov Alexander TUR 2583 1 – 0 FM De Villiers Charles RSA 2255
    IM Emojong Elijah UGA 2311 ½ – ½ GM Tiviakov Sergei NED 2654
    GM Arnold Marc USA 2525 ½ – ½ IM Gwaze Robert ZIM 2433
    GM Kasparov Sergey BLR 2470 0 – 1 IM Kobese Watu RSA 2343
    GM Haznedaroglu Kivanc TUR 2417 0 – 1 FM Van Den Heever Donovan RSA 2280
    FM Solomons Deon RSA 2179 0 – 1 GM Tischbierek Raj GER 2422
    FM Cawdery Daniel RSA 2345 1 – 0 IM Gluckman David RSA 2250

  12. Standings (after Round #9)

    Rk.   Name FED Rtg Pts.  TB1   TB2  n w we w-we K rtg+/-
    1
    GM Ipatov Alexander TUR 2583 8.0 42.0 35.75 9 8 6.26 1.74 10 17.4
    2
    GM Tiviakov Sergei NED 2654 7.0 45.0 33.50 9 7 7.04 -0.04 10 -0.4
    3
    GM Arnold Marc T USA 2525 5.5 46.0 27.25 9 5.5 5.59 -0.09 10 -0.9
    4
    IM Gwaze Robert ZIM 2433 5.0 45.5 20.50 9 5 4.50 0.50 10 5.0
    5
    GM Tischbierek Raj GER 2422 5.0 42.5 19.25 9 5 4.72 0.28 10 2.8
    6
    GM Kasparov Sergey BLR 2470 5.0 42.0 18.50 9 5 5.09 -0.09 10 -0.9
    7
    IM Emojong Elijah UGA 2311 4.5 42.0 16.75 9 4.5 3.46 1.04 15 15.6
    8
    FM Cawdery Daniel RSA 2345 4.5 37.0 13.75 9 4.5 4.17 0.33 15 4.9
    9
    GM Haznedaroglu Kivanc TUR 2417 4.0 42.0 13.50 9 4 4.66 -0.66 10 -6.6
    10
    IM Gluckman David RSA 2250 3.5 36.0 11.75 9 3.5 3.34 0.16 10 1.6
    11
    FM Van Den Heever Donovan RSA 2280 3.5 34.0 12.50 9 3.5 3.87 -0.37 15 -5.6
    12
    IM Kobese Watu RSA 2343 3.0 38.5 11.25 9 3 4.51 -1.51 10 -15.1
    13
    FM De Villiers Charles RSA 2255 3.0 38.5 8.25 9 3 3.20 -0.20 15 -3.0
    14
    FM Solomons Deon RSA 2179 1.5 36.0 5.00 9 1.5 2.59 -1.09 15 -16.4

    All PGN Games

    1. Yes… Watu beat Sergey Kasparov (2470). Only wish this was 25 years ago and the Kasparov whose first name was “Garry”. That would certainly would have been news!

      1. The Watu of this tournament was not the same Watu who played in the Commonweatlh Championship just a week earlier before this tournament. He played beautiful chess and drew against the Top seed in a brilliant Dragon and against Tiviakov he aso drew.

        But in this tournament he played far below his ability.

  13. Yes… Watu was one of those bright African talents whose potential was never fully developed. His games of old possessed a quality and were full of ideas which is why he has been able to topple the likes of Peter Leko and Judit Polgar in this years.

  14. Thanks to Daaim for publishing these games! It was almost certainly the strongest tournament held in Southern Africa, with an average rating of 2390. Some corrections to the PGN – in round 1 David had the black pieces and agreed to a draw, just when 19…Nb4 wins the exchange. A crafty draw offer by the GM. In round 8 Charles lost per the results website, so 0-1 not 1-0, although the final position is surely a draw – time perhaps? Just one game is missing, in round 4 by Ipatov vs Arnold.

    1. Not sure what you are saying about the correction for Gluckman’s game. Are you saying it is an incomplete score or are you simply making a suggestion that he should have played 19…Nb4? Sometimes there is a fear of title (albeit a lowly-rated GM) and players accept draws with titled players due to lack of confidence. Most anyone would take the exchange and try to win. I corrected the De Villiers-Arnold result. Thanks!

    1. From my calculations, neither were close. IMs Gwaze (5/9) and Emojong (4.5/9) had the highest scores amongst the Africans, but they needed higher scores. Gwaze’s average opposition was 2434 (which means he needed 6.5/9); Emojong average opposition was 2408 (which means he needed 7/9). Both also had low total performance ratings (2477 and 2408) where 2600 is required.

      You can check it here… https://www.fide.com/fide/handbook.html?id=164&view=article

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Back to top button