Barrage for the first place

After a draw in the first rapid game, Groenendijk was successful in the second one, which resulted in his first major title.

Alexander Baliakin - Jan Groenendijk 0-2

31.40-34!?

Probably Baliakin speculated on 10-14? 32.34-29 23x34 33.44-39 34x21 34.26x10 W+ But ironically due to this move he will soon become the victim of a tactical trap himself. After immediately 31.42-37 10-14 32.27-21 16x27 33.37-32 it looks like white has the better position. But after 13-19 34.32x21 12-17 35.21x12 18x7 36.31-27 22x31 37.36x27 23-29! 38.26-21 3-8 39.38-32 8-12 the balance is not disturbed.

13-19 32.42-37 10-14 33.27-21? 16x27 34.37-32 9-13! 35.32x21 14-20 36.15x24 19x39 37.44x33 22-28 38.33x22 18x16

and with a piece advantage Groenendijk had no problems to win the game.

Barrage for the third place

Boomstra managed to win the barrage against Sipma in a very convincing style.

Wouter Sipma - Roel Boomstra 0-2

25.49-44(?) 17-21! 26.26x17 11x22 27.32-27 13-18! 28.39-33 8-13 29.44-39 12-17 30.31-26 22x31 31.26x37 17-22 32.37-32?

The problem for white is that the pieces on 38 and 43 cannot be brought into play due to a simple combination. But after this move Boomstra takes complete control over the position. It was necessary to play 32.37-31 and white can survive because 16-21? is not possible due to 33.34-30 25x23 34.31-26 20x29 35.26x8 2x13 36.33x24.

16-21!! 33.48-42

White has no choice, because after 33.32-28 black will make a king using 21-27 34.28x17 27-32 35.38x27 18-23 36.29x18 20x49.

21-26 34.42-37 2-7 35.36-31 7-11 36.32-27

Also 36.40-35 3-8 37.45-40 11-16 38.32-28 16-21 39.28x17 21x12 40.33-28 14-19!! is losing for white. For example 41.38-32? 19x30 42.35x24 18-23 43.29x7 20x29 44.34x23 8-12 45.7x18 13x35 46.23-18 6-11 B+

11-16 37.34-30 25x23 38.24-19 13x24 39.37-32 26x28 40.40-34 22x31 41.33x4 31-36 42.4-13 14-19 43.13-22 23-28