![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
Because of a wedding and more family business it took a while before I could start with this final report of the
Hogeschool Zeeland Tournament. Saterday afternoon I had won my own last round game very quickly and at 16.15 I was already in Utrecht, right in time to hear two lovers say the famous "yes, I do". Later that evening my mobile told me that it was Fabiano Caruana after all who had won the 11th edition of the tournament on tiebreak.A magnificent result for the soon youngest grandmaster of all. I had written before that he's fourteen but this was a mistake; on July 30th he turned fifteen. Clinching a title before the league of strong gentlemen such as Krasenkow (who won in Vlissingen last year), Kasimdzhanov (former FIDE champ) and Tiviakov (in good form these days), is simply very impressive. For a moment things seemed to be going the wrong way when he lost to Tiviakov in round 7, but then he just beat Barua and fought hard for his half point against Kasimdzhanov, with which he secured (on tiebreak but still) his well-deserved name inscription on the tournament cup.Caruana had come to Vlissingen with his American father; his Italian mother didn't join them. And although it was a little Italian flag on his name tag, Fabiano only speaks a few words of Italian. The young New Yorker is now a Budapester, where he moved to train and to play the First Saturday tournaments. That turned out to be a strong "move" and to end all possible doubts about his First Saturday GM title he just won his next strong open tournament! It wouldn't surprise me if he'd find an email in his inbox by Corus organizer Jeroen van den Berg on one of the coming days...Of the other players who collected 7,5 points, we first mention FM (!) Migchiel de Jong, who after beating IM Leenhouts and IM Van Riemsdijk also won against GM Fernando Peralta but unfortunately still missed an IM-because he didn't play against five titled players. Also unlucky was IM Ralf Appel, despite his last-round victory over WGM Marie Sebag. After his quick draw in the 8th round against IM Jop Delemarre, because of his pairing against Tiviakov, Delemarre was already sure of his first GM norm (congrats again, Jop!) but Appel himself missed the norm, "even if I had beaten Sebag 3-0. I needed one more GM," he told me. Just like Delemarre, Sebag returned home with a GM norm, her second.Finally, our Dutch champ Tivi also had 7,5 out of 9, while during the tournament he was walking (and playing) as the clear favorite, right after his succes in Canada. Perhaps it was his confidence that cost him the tournament victory. For example, in the third round he sat behind his board very bored, with White against Roi Miedema (2271), and without any interest or emotion he played his king's attack on autopilot. Immediately after Roi had resigned and the forms were signed, Sergei dashed away, back to his hotel.I'm quite satisfied about my own tournament. My performance rating was 2380 and I won 21 points, by beating my five lower-rated opponents, drawing a 2420 and a 2384 and loosing against a 2560 and a 2660. For the first time I didn't stay in Vlissingen but in Middelburg, which I secretly prefer by the way. Especially jazz (diner) caf?ɬ© Desafinado is one I can recommend!Now
ChessVibes on tour is almost over. Wednesday till Sunday I'll be in
Mainz, where the organizers invited me to make videos of the huge rapid chess spectacle. For sure this will be special again!Finals standings:
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
The venue
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
Piece of art before the playing hall
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
This way
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
The top boards during the final round, with Kasim watching his position from a distance
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
Tiviakov and Ikonnikov talking
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
It was often sunny in Vlissingen
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
The trophy
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
Last round, board one
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
Krasenkow and Tiviakov
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
The two Argentinian participants, Flores (l.) and Peralta
The next photos are in order of the final standings:![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
IM Fabiano Caruana, convincing GM-to be!
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
GM Sergei Tiviakov, another solid (shared) first spot
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
IM Ralf Appel
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
FM Migchiel de Jong, who had chosen to wear his lucky Smashing Pumpkins shirt. And it helped. According to the expert their new album,
Zeitgeist, is "just very good, despite the inevitabe criticism".
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
GM Michael Krasenkow, needs no introduction
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
GM Rustam Kasimdzhanov, needs even less
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
GM Dibyendu Barua, who for a long time was India's only GM besides Anand
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
GM Oleg Romanishin, still a legendary name, appeared to be another friendly gent
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
WGM Marie Sebag, strong tourney!
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
GM Dani?ɬ´l Stellwagen, who most probably had hoped for a bit more
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
GM Fernando Peralta
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
IM Koen Leenhouts
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
IM
Jop Delemarre, on his way to GM!?
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
IM Herman Grooten
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
FM Migchiel de Jong chatting with IM Herman van Riemsdijk (r.)
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
IM Diego Flores
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
GM Vyacheslav Ikonnikov
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
IM Edwin van Haastert
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
IM Deep Sengupta, shared winner of the Dutch Open 2007
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
ChessVibes-editor IM Yochanan Afek
![](https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/image-default.445cb543.svg)
Joop Piket, the father of Marcel and Jeroen