Home Page arrow Chess Life Online arrow 2008 arrow August arrow Anna Underwater in Curacao
Anna Underwater in Curacao Print E-mail
By Jennifer Shahade   
August 8, 2008
Annafish.jpg
Photo Barry Brown

In the 2008 Curacao Chess Festival (July 26-August 4) , American GMs Joel Benjamin and Larry Christiansen and Spanish IM Luis Javier Bernal Moro tied for first. Meanwhile, U.S. Women's Champion Anna Zatonskih drew against IM Robin Swinkels (Netherlands) in the first  known underwater match, held in the Curacao Aquarium. International Arbiter Alex Roose devised the event, which was organized by Lions Dive& Beach Resort.

Anna fell in love with scuba-diving several years ago, on her first trip to Curacao. On that first trip, she scuba-dived every day at Breezes Hotel and Resort,  which hosted the chess international. Anna called the quality of this game high and said, "I wish the whole event were held underwater," musing that in this case, she probably would have won because "Joel and Daniel (Anna's GM husband) don't know how to scuba-dive." Here is the game and more photos from Barry Brown.

2238

underwater1.jpg
Not your typical chess preparation

underwaterstart.jpg
Do the fish distract or help the players?

SHARK.jpg
That is a shark, but don't worry- what you can't see in the photo
 is a glass barrier between Anna and Jaws' little brother.


Anna was not the only one to find a good photo-op in Curacao: On his way to first place, GM Larry Christiansen looks like he had the time of his life with dolphins.

LarryNatashadolphins.jpg
Larry and Natasha Christiansen in Curacao


 
For more details on Americans in the Dutch Carribean, look for an upcoming CLO blog by Joel Benjamin on the Curacao Chess Festival. To find out how you can get in on the fun at the next major chess event in Curacao, contact organizer Fabio Mensing.
 
Be first to write a comment on this Article
(USCF Members-only)
Advertisement

August - Chess Life Online 2008

Rohonyan and Zatonskih AdvanceFM Ylon Schwartz Makes WSOP Final TableRohonyan and Zatonskih in NalchikStart Solving Now: Part IIU.S. Chess League Week 1 Quiz Abby on the Atlantic Ivanchuk Wins; Gata Finishes with FourHikaru and Pascal Lead in Montreal Kamsky Beats Top Dog in Tough Tourney Erenburg and Stripunsky Take AtlanticAmericans in Canada Start Solving Now: Part IU.S. Chess League Kicks Off Monday USCS Comes to New Jersey: Part IIChess Journalists of America Announce Awards U.S. Chess School Comes to New Jersey Kamsky Rebounds in Moscow2009 U.S. Champs Set for Saint LouisGM Joel Blogs on Curacao Hanken's Last CornerIvanchuk Avenges in MoscowErenburg Wins in New England Get Ready for MiamiIndians Prevail in World Junior New England Norm Hunt is On Kamsky Finishes Sochi With a WinNew England Masters in Full SwingHilton on Championship Fate UTD Scores Two for One in GreeceFour-Way Tie at Bradley OpenMilovanovic, Sevillano and Shabalov ScoreNakamura on his New ApproachJessica Blogs on Leaving DallasIn Dallas, 6 Lead Going into Final RoundMagnanimous Magnus on ICC Jessica Blogs from DallasSevillano and Mulyar Lead Anna Underwater in Curacao Kamsky Wins Another; Radjabov SparklesNew England Masters Preview Seven Lead Open After Big Merge How to Beat ShabalovJerry on Chess Chatter Hopin' at the OpenHilton Blogs from the Denker: Part IIGMs Join Open; Yeager and Fernandez WinTatev Takes Clear Lead in Turkey Hess Takes New York August Open11 Perfect in Open; Fernandez and Parry LeadJennifer on Threats, St.Louis and Belize Hanken Philosophizes in his Corner Hilton Blogs from the DenkerTyler and Tatev Arrive in TurkeyMore on Nakamura, Bhat and Anand from Mainz U.S. Open Kicks OffGata Missteps in Sochi Jamison Unstoppable in PolgarGata Scorches Ivanchuk Nakamura Takes Mainz 960Jamison, Wiener and Conley Lead Polgar

Announcements