Julie at the Olympiad Part 2 - Report by Rudy

Julie had a slightly less successful second half, yet it very nearly was even better than the first half. She still finished on 50%, equal with the Board no1 Olivia Smith, and just behind the Board no2, Suzie Blackburn, who managed 55%.

A very difficult game with Sara Christina Da Silva Monteiro (1818) of Portugal could have been advantageous if Julie had found the move 10 recommended by two Grandmasters in a Yugoslav encyclopedia. As it was after a complex battle the two Ns and Q were better than her R & Q.

She held Dragana Nikolovska of Macedonia (1752) to a draw in a tricky endgame. Then she held Citlali Duran Juarez (1957) to a draw in a N vs B endgame, also quite complex. Finally she lost to Joy Durno (1866 Scottish rating) in a complex game where she had lost a P built up a winning attack, but went wrong on move 41(just after the time control, and after a longish think) with a move that should have lost instantaneously, yet her opponent didn't find. 3 alternatives at move 41 would have been decisive for Bl.Later yet in a position still drawn, she lost a N by transposing moves.

It just shows how difficult team chess can be. On the same day two 2800 players, the best in the world, Magnus Carlsen of Norway and Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria (both having lost two previous games) went down in 25 and 32 moves respectively after misjudging tactics.

Had Julie won then the match against Scotland would have been a win, not a loss. Her opponent, though Fide unrated achieved a WFM title for the tournament. Unfortunately both the women's and the Open team finished below what their initial ranking indicated.

Further commentary available on the WCU website.

Joy Durno - Julie Van Kemenade - 1-0

Rudy van Kemenade