Hans Multhopp Wins Blindfold Championship

This year's blindfold championship featured six strong games between our three entrants. The tournament was a double round robin and, after the first round, was all tied up with one win for each player. The second round, held September 20th, would determine the winner with each player needing two solid games to claim the title.

Hans and Andy played first. In their first game of the tournament on September 13th, Andy resigned a position which he had underestimated and was looking to turn things around with a win in their second meeting. Hans was able to get a strong kind-side initiative though and it soon became clear he would break through so Andy resigned.

In the second game of the evening, Andy had the white pieces against Jeremy. Knowing Hans now had two points and this his last game, Andy needed to fight for the win if he was to keep up with Hans. He and Jeremy played an exciting game and on move 32 when neither player had a clear advantage, Jeremy offered a draw. Andy still needed the win and pressed on but three moves later a draw was agreed upon.

Going into the final game of the night, Hans had two points and Jeremy a point and a half. Jeremy had the white pieces and was looking for a strong attack but Hans, with the black pieces, just needed a draw to capture the title. Jeremy got a strong king-side initiative going, reminiscent of Hans' attack against Andy at the start of the night. However, Hans held strong on defense, always finding just enough to cover the threat until he was able to turn the game around and go on the attack himself. Hans soon had the better position and a material advantage.

When Jeremy resigned, Hans came away with his second win of the night and became the winner of the 2013 Blindfold Championship. Congratulations to Hans for his victory and to Andy and Jeremy for six excellent, hard-fought games. The game board below contains all six games from this year's event.

**GAME VIEWER HERE**

1.Nf3c5
2.c4Nf6
3.Nc3e6
4.e4d6
5.d4cxd4
6.Nxd4Be7
7.Bg5a6
8.Be2O-O
9.Qd2Nc6
10.Nf3Qc7
11.O-Ob6
12.Rfe1Bb7
13.Bd3Rfe8
14.Rad1Rad8
15.Bb1Ne5
16.b3Nxf3+
17.gxf3Rc8
18.Kh1b5
19.cxb5Qxc3
20.Qxc3Rxc3
21.bxa6Bxa6
22.Bxf6Bxf6
23.Rxd6Be2
24.Rxe2Rc1+
25.Kg2Rxb1
26.e5Bg5
27.Rb6g6
28.a4Ra8
29.Ra2Bf4
30.Rb5Re1
31.b4Rxe5
32.Rb7Rh5
33.b5Rxh2+
34.Kf1Rc8
35.Ra1Rc5
36.Rd1Rg5
37.Ke1Rh1+
38.Ke2Re5+
39.Kd3Rxd1+
40.Kc4Ra1
41.b6Rxa4+
42.Kb3Ra8
43.Kb4h50-1

PGN viewer provided by chesstempo.com