EGP Paris 2017
August 26-27
winner: Takeshi Murakami
2017 European Champion: Takuji Kashiwabara



​The 4 contenders for the European Grand Prix Occupied the first 4 places after round 2 and met in round 3. Matthias Berg won against Takuji Kashiwabara and Marc Tastet defeated Imre Leader. In round 4 Marc Tastet won against Matthias Berg and Marc against Takuji was a draw in round 6. Round 7, Imre Leader against Mathias Berg, the last game in the 11 rounds between the top 4, finished as a win for Matthias.

​Thanks to Bintsa Andriani for the pictures



KASHIWABARA Takuji 26-38 BERG Matthias
Paris EGP, round 3
Picture
Takuji Kashiwabara - Matthias Berg
Picture
Imre Leader - Marc Tastet


TASTET Marc 36-28 LEADER Imre
Paris EGP, round 3


BERG Matthias 21-43 TASTET Marc
Paris EGP, round 4


KASHIWABARA Takuji 32-32 TASTET Marc
Paris EGP, round 6


BERG Matthias 38-26 LEADER Imre
Paris EGP, round 7
Four Japanese players at this tournament, among them Takeshi Murakami who was World Othello Champion in 1996, 1998 and 2000. Former World Champion Kunihiko Tanida was expected to come, but unfortunately he was not able to make it. Takeshi started the tournament with a loss against Takuji Kashiwabara but from then on it was all wins for him in rounds 2 to 7. 
​.


MURAKAMI Takeshi 34-30 LEADER Imre
Paris EGP, round 4
Picture
Imre Leader - Takeshi Murakami


KASHIWABARA Takuji 42-22 MURAKAMI Takeshi
Paris EGP, round 1


MURAKAMI Takeshi 33-31 BERG Matthias
Paris EGP, round 6
Results after 7 rounds:

   1:   6.  pts [413]   MURAKAMI Takeshi (299) {JPN}
   2:   5.5 pts [469]   KASHIWABARA Takuji (839) {FRA}
   3:   5.  pts [435]   BERG Matthias (5301) {DEU}
   4:   4.5 pts [422]   TASTET Marc (2) {FRA}
   5:   4.  pts [393]   LEVY-ABEGNOLI Thierry (3598) {FRA}
                       [390]   ONUKI Yutaka (13329) {JPN}
                       [387]   NAKAMURA Keiichiro (13118) {JPN}
                       [386]   CLINTON Samuel (50036) {FRA}
   9:   3.5 pts [339]   HORIUCHI Keiko (652) {JPN}
  10:   3.  pts [430]   LEADER Imre (79) {GBR}
                        [360]   ANDRIANI Sandry (46) {FRA}
                        [337]   TOUCHENE Fouad (9025) {DZA}
                        [332]   BUSUTTIL Michel (228) {FRA}
  14:   2.  pts [316]   PUZZO Luigi (43) {ITA}
  15:   1.5 pts [303]   BJORK Lisbeth (1536) {SWE}


LÉVY-ABÉGNOLI Thierry 38-26 BERG Matthias
Paris EGP, round 8


LEADER Imre 29-35 KASHIWABARA Takuji
Paris EGP, round 9
The winner of the Europeand Grand Prix 2017, the European Champion, we did not have to wait till the final. With still a round to play, at the start of round 11, who else could it be but Takuji Kashiwabara! Takuji qualified to play the final against Takeshi Murakami and with at least a second place in the tournament, that was enough for him to win the European Grand Prix. What a disappointment for Matthias Berg, who was well on his way to keep Takuji from an 11th EGP title, but missing out on the Paris final blew his chances. What a great succes for Takuji, 11 times European Champion, a winning streak of 7. Congrats, Takuji!!!!!!!

Marc Tastet won the playoff for 3rd/4th place against Matthias Berg. 

​A fabulous tournament for Takeshi Murakami who defeated European Champion 2017 Takuji Kashiwabara 2-0 in the final. Takeshi won the EGP in 1989 (tied win with Karsten Feldborg). Takeshi's said: "I am so happy because it was my first victory in Paris in the last 22 years! My last victory was in 1995".
Results after 11 rounds:   

1:  10.  pts [885]   MURAKAMI Takeshi (299) {JPN}
2:   9.5 pts [858]   KASHIWABARA Takuji (839) {FRA}
3:   8.  pts [847]   BERG Matthias (5301) {DEU}
4:   7.5 pts [835]   TASTET Marc (2) {FRA}
5:   7.  pts [774]   LEVY-ABEGNOLI Thierry (3598) {FRA}
6:   6.  pts [810]   LEADER Imre (79) {GBR}
                    [773]   ONUKI Yutaka (13329) {JPN}
                    [771]   CLINTON Samuel (50036) {FRA}
                    [753]   NAKAMURA Keiichiro (13118) {JPN}
                    [699]   ANDRIANI Sandry (46) {FRA}
11:   4.  pts [663]   TOUCHENE Fouad (9025) {DZA}
                     [618]   BUSUTTIL Michel (228) {FRA}
 13:   3.5 pts [613]   HORIUCHI Keiko (652) {JPN}
 14:   2.5 pts [590]   BJORK Lisbeth (1536) {SWE}
 15:   2.  pts [599]   PUZZO Luigi (43) {ITA}


MURAKAMI Takeshi 46-18 KASHIWABARA Takuji
Paris EGP, final game 1

Picture
Takuji Kashiwabara - Takeshi Murakami


KASHIWABARA Takuji 16-48 MURAKAMI Takeshi
Paris EGP, final game 2



TASTET Marc 35-29 BERG Matthias
Paris EGP, 3/4 playoff

Picture
Marc, Takuji, Matthias and Imre
​Top 4 EGP 2017:
  1. KASHIWABARA Takuji
  2. BERG Matthias
  3. TASTET Marc
  4. LEADER Imre (won a water inspired trophy)
Picture
Takuji, Marc, Takeshi, Thierry and Matthias
Top 5 EGP Paris:
  1. MURAKAMI Takeshi
  2. KASHIWABARA Takuji
  3. TASTET Marc
  4. BERG Matthias
  5. LEVY-ABEGNOLI Thierry (is that Imre's trophy?)

European Grand Prix 2017, the final battle

The last stage of the European Grand Prix 2017, Paris EGP tournament, will be held on Saturday August 26th and Sunday August 29th.

This year, we'll have as guest stars several Japanese players, including two former World Othello Champions: Takeshi Murakami and Kunihiko Tanida.

Also the European Grand Prix will be decided between Matthias Berg, Takuji Kashiwabara, Imre Leader and Marc Tastet (note by ON editor: Marc is also  a former World Othello Champion): all of them will be there.

Marc Tastet
Links:
Picture
2017 top 4 players and an undercover agent
Picture
EGP 2017 stage 7/8
Foto
EGP Champions 1986 - 2017