The winners of the Rotterdam Chess Set

The Tata Steel Chess Tournament has come to an end and so is the competition for winning an unique Rotterdam Chess Set, which was held on Schaaksite.nl. Maybe you have tried your chance to win this beautiful chess set and, in case you haven't yet checked the official website, now is the moment to find out the lucky winners!

The Rotterdam Chess Pieces Museum together with Schaaksite.nl had 3 sets available for the best predictions of the winners in all 3 groups. But this was not all, as we'll soon find out. The Museum's Director decided to offer 3 more sets to the actual winners of the groups, initiative embraced with enthusiasm by Schaaksite and I am sure by the players as well:)
Hikaru Nakamura was the unexpected winner of the A-Group, conclusion drawn by the small numbers of votes he received. Many of you voted for Carlsen or Anand and just a few for Nakamura.
Hikaru was pleasantly surprised to receive a Rotterdam Chess Set as a gift and he happily took it to America, together with the trophee of the A-Group.

Teun Koorevaar offering the chess set to Hikaru.
Foto: Fred Lucas

On Twitter, Hikaru exclaimed with an exuberant:"YESSSSSSS! It was long time ago since an american has won a major tournament" he explained later. "Therefore, it is a great day for american chess and I hope I have inspired many children to play this beautiful game." - Hans Klippus reported in the Dutch newspaper: AD.


Luke McShane finished on the first place, with the same number of points as David Navara. The last round was the decisive one, when Luke played with the Black pieces against David and he needed a draw. We know that both players took half a point and thus, Luke became the winner of the 73rd edition and the owner of a Rotterdam Chess Set! 

Luke is thinking to visit Rotterdam once, to see live
the buildings symbolized in the chess set he just received!
Foto: Fred Lucas

Winning the B-Group this year doesn't come as a total surprise for those who remember the latest achievements of Luke. He had a great performance in 2010 in London Chess Classic, winning in the first round against Carlsen, and he also won the tournament in Wolvega with 3.5 out of 5. Clearly back on the chess scene, it makes us all wonder: What's next?! In case someone will have the initiative to organize a chess tournament in Rotterdam and invite him, Luke declared he will be more than happy to attend it:)


Daniele Vocaturo is the winner of the C-Group, after a dramatic game against Ilya Nyzhnyk. As spectators, we all enjoyed the game, but I am not sure if the players felt the same:) The tension, stake, pressure, stress, they all had something to say in this final round. Daniele drew the game and he is the one to be invited next year for the B-Group!

I mentioned it before, but I will do it again:
at the tender age of 14, Ilya reacted in a very mature way after his tragic game against Daniele. Although he was winning, unlike any other player, he took his misfortune with calm and fairplay, a professional attitude for which he will surely be rewarded later on, in a way or another.

Hikaru, Luke and Daniele took back home, besides their fantastic result, a Rotterdam Chess Set: "the winner takes it all" - Abba:)


"The winner takes it all                      The game is on again
The loser has to fall                          A lover or a friend
It's simple and it's plain                      A big thing or a small
Why should I complain.                      The winner takes it all."


And now, the best predictors:


The Schaaksite team received around 250 entries from all over the world, but only 3 had the chance to win the chess set:

T.J.Casper from America, predicted well the winners of all A, B and C groups.


E.v.d.Raaf from Den Haag, predicted well the winners of the A and C groups.


K.Calitri also from America, is the third winner of the Rotterdam Chess Set, after predicting well the winners of the B and C groups.


Congratulations!


We are all looking forward for the 74th edition and, who knows, maybe we will be more lucky next time?!