Freeman enjoys a Royal treat in Romania . . .
FOR the first time in more than 50 years, Romania has hosted a first-class tournament which has just finished. The Royal Tournament was an international event with all 11 Grandmasters playing each other.
The venue, in a small and very pretty village, was the Hotel Expro Bazna, which has a lot of historical information going back as far as 1302.
It is very popular for its spa benefits took on a new role in hosting the tournament.
The players were:
2. Yerevan, Armenia: Rafael Vaganian
3. Slovenia: Alexander Beliavsky
4. Sweden: Ulf Andersson
5. Hungary: Zoltan Ribli
6. Brazil: Henrique Mecking
7. France: Andrei Sokolov
8. Georgia: Mia Chiburdanidze
9. Hungary: Lajos Portisch
10. Romania: Mihai Suba
11. Netherlands: Jan Timman
In the top photo, Freeman, who is also treasurer of FIDE, is shown being introduced to the public by a translator. Behind her is Vaganian. In the photo below, anyone who knows Freeman will know he has just finished telling one of his jokes — which received applause from president of the sponsors Romgaz, Alexandru Jakab, third from left, and also a gesture of appreciation from tournament organiser Dan Mitaru (at his back).
The winner of the tournament, Khalifman, is playing White, with Mecking playing Black.
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. d4 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. 0-0 0-0 9. Nh4 Bg4 10. f3 Bh5 11. g4 Nd5 12. Ng2 Bg6 13. Na2 Bd6 14. e4 Nb6 15. Bb3 e5 16. dxe5 Bxe5 17. a5 Nc8 18. Qxd8 Rxd8 19. Bg5 Re8 20. Nc3 Na6 21. Bf4 Nc5 22. Ba2 Bd4+ 23. Be3 Bxe3+ 24. Nxe3 Nd6 25. Rfd1 Rad8 26. Rd2 Nc8 27. Rad1 Rxd2 28. Rxd2 Kf8 29. Bc4 b5 30. axb6 axb6 31. b4 Nb7 32. Ba6 Ncd6 33. Na4 Bxe4 34. Bxb7 Nxb7 35. fxe4 Rxe4 36. Rd7 b5 37. Rxb7 bxa4 38. Kf2 g6 39. h3 Kg7 40. Kf3 Rd4 41. Ke2 Rf4 42. Nc2 h5 43. gxh5 gxh5 44. Re7 Rh4 45. Re3 Kf6 46. Kd3 Rf4 47. Kc3 Rf1 48. Kd4 Rd1+ 49. Ke4 Kg5 50. Nd4 Rc1 51. Ke5 f6+ 52. Kd6 Rd1 53. Kc5 Rc1+ 54. Kb6 Kf4 55. Ra3 Ke4 56. Nxc6 f5 57. Rxa4 f4 58. b5+ Ke3 59. Ne5 Rc8 60. Ra3+ Ke2 61. Nf3 Kf2 62. Nh4<$>
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