Round number two saw the Bangkok Chess Club Open rapidly gather steam. After an initial day in which most of the favourites emerged unscathed, the first skirmishes between titled players took place this Sunday.
Notable performances on the top boards include the Indian junior Ajay Santosh holding GM Samant Aditya to a draw on Board 5
Elsewhere, the only two French players in the Open section – one a real estate tycoon, the other a software wizard – were pitted against each other in a battle that started like fierce duel worthy of Alexandre Dumas himself, but concluded as peacefully as an Armistice Day commemoration atop the Maginot line.
On a nearby board, the battle of the organisers lived up to its billings, with BCC tournament director Kai Tuorila trying to overcome the stubborn resistance of Blue Chevaliers Chess Tournament mastermind Peter Frost, but ultimately conceding a hard-fought draw.
In other news, the celebrations surrounding the Thai New Year or Songkran are in full swing, meaning that even those players who were able to keep their calculations watertight over the weekend may not be as lucky if they venture out to town over the coming days.
As for those who prefer to stay indoors, don’t forget to avail yourself of the games at www.chess.com/events/2024-bangkok-chess-open, and videos on www.youtube.com/@bangkokopen2024
