European Grand Prix 2016 - Amsterdam
winner: Roel Hobo
European Champion 2016: Takuji Kashiwabara
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This is the 13th Dutch EGP since the first edition started in 2001 and will be the 7th and last stage of the European Grand Prix series 2016 where the winner of this year will be crowned.
Venue: Spelletjescafe 2 Klaveren, De Clercqstraat 136, Amsterdam For players who are already in town on friday, there will be a friday night meet in the Vondelpark (gather at the entrance at Vondelstraat 71) at 20:00h. Links: Othello News FB, NOV website, LiveOthello and FB event page. |
A very sunny day and lots to do in the beautiful city of Amsterdam. But 18 brave chose to hide in the belly of the city, with only one wish, to play their best. For four players there was even nore at stake than just the win of the tournament. Takuji Kashiwabara, Tom Schotte, Marc Tastet and Dmitriy Atamanov were still in the running for the 2016 European Championship. Their goal, make it to the final. But there was a lot of strong competition from the local Dutch players and 1982 WorldChampion Kunihiko Tanida.
Nicky van den Biggelaar won all his games on the first day. Tom Schotte and Roel Hobo scored 5 points. Takuji Kashiwabara, Marc Tastet and Dmitriy Atamanov scored 4 points.
For me 3 wins against Rémi Frauke and Jiska and 2 games that I really enjoyed against Takuji and Dmitriy. It is not about winning a game, a game is fun when it prompts you to find new solutions. They may not be the best solutions, but the creative process is rewarding.
Nicky van den Biggelaar won all his games on the first day. Tom Schotte and Roel Hobo scored 5 points. Takuji Kashiwabara, Marc Tastet and Dmitriy Atamanov scored 4 points.
For me 3 wins against Rémi Frauke and Jiska and 2 games that I really enjoyed against Takuji and Dmitriy. It is not about winning a game, a game is fun when it prompts you to find new solutions. They may not be the best solutions, but the creative process is rewarding.
results after 7 rounds
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VAN SEGGELEN Trees 26-38 KASHIWABARA Takuji EGP Amsterdam, round 2 |
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DE GRAAF Jan C. 37-27 TASTET Marc EGP Amsterdam, round 2 |
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DE GRAAF Jan C. 24-40 VAN DEN BIGGELAAR Nicky EGP Amsterdam, round 3 |
HOBO Roel 36-28 TANIDA Kunihiko EGP Amsterdam, round 3 |
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VAN DE MOORTEL Frauke 24 - 40 VAN SEGGELEN Trees EGP Amsterdam, round 5 |
SCHOTTE Tom 38-26 TASTET Marc EGP Amsterdam, round 6 |
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TASTET Marc 55-9 VAN SEGGELEN Trees EGP Amsterdam, round 7 |
I started the first day of tournament with a game against Tastet (the son) and finished the day with a game against Tastet (the father). Marc was kind enough to send me the transcript and his game analysis (my transcripts are usually incomplete and/or incorrect). After our game, I told you that after move 40, I was sure to win, but I didn't know where you went wrong. |
The venue was a very nice pub dedicated to boardgames. On Sunday a crowd of players gathered in the upstairs area to play lots of different games. Very lively and fun atmosphere. One of the backgammon players was so kind to teach me the game during a break. We even lost 1 player to the backgammon crowd because John Horton (a VOG-pal from years back, Tigereye) did not play the last round of the EGP, so he could enter the Sunday afternoon backgammon tournament. He did very well there and was still in the running for the quarter final, when we left.
The second day of tournament Nicky played strong as ever. He qualified for the final with a perfect score of 11/11. His opponent in the final, not one of the aspiring European Champions, but the tourney director Roel Hobo. Tom Schotte qualified for the playoff for 3/4 place as did Kunihiko Tanida. Marc Tastet and Dmitriy Atamanov had no more chance to win the EGP 2016 but Takuji still had a chance, if Tom would lose the game. A hard job for Tom to face a former World Champion on his way to the EGP title and unlucky for him, Kunihiko Tanida proved too strong for him in his final game of the EGP season. Takuji Kashiwabara and Tom Schotte finished this season with the same best of 4 score. Both scored 1 win, 1 second place, 1 third pace and 1 fourth place. Tie-break rule was in favour of Takuji Kashiwabara who won his 10th EGP Championship. I don't think we ever had such a close finnish.
The second day of tournament Nicky played strong as ever. He qualified for the final with a perfect score of 11/11. His opponent in the final, not one of the aspiring European Champions, but the tourney director Roel Hobo. Tom Schotte qualified for the playoff for 3/4 place as did Kunihiko Tanida. Marc Tastet and Dmitriy Atamanov had no more chance to win the EGP 2016 but Takuji still had a chance, if Tom would lose the game. A hard job for Tom to face a former World Champion on his way to the EGP title and unlucky for him, Kunihiko Tanida proved too strong for him in his final game of the EGP season. Takuji Kashiwabara and Tom Schotte finished this season with the same best of 4 score. Both scored 1 win, 1 second place, 1 third pace and 1 fourth place. Tie-break rule was in favour of Takuji Kashiwabara who won his 10th EGP Championship. I don't think we ever had such a close finnish.
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Top 3 European Grand Prix 2016:
Roel Hobo won the first game of the final but Nicky won the second one so it all boiled down to the last game. The last game was a win for Roel and EGP Amsterdam was Roel's second EGP victory. Top 4 EGP Amsterdam:
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results after 11 rounds
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SCHOTTE Tom 21-43 TANIDA Kunihiko EGP Amsterdam, playoff 3/4 |
HOBO Roel 40-24 VAN DEN BIGGELAAR Nicky EGP Amsterdam, final game 1 |
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VAN DEN BIGGELAAR Nicky 41-23 HOBO Roel EGP Amsterdam, final game 2 |
VAN DEN BIGGELAAR Nicky 27-37 HOBO Roel EGP Amsterdam, final game 3 |
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Dmitriy Atamanov, Takuji Kashiwabara and Tom Schotte
top 21 EGP 2016
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