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The
82nd French Championships took place in Aix-les-Bains, France, from August 13th
to 25th, 2007. Some famous players were missing: Etienne Bacrot, who was busy
playing at the Chess Classic in Mainz; Joël Lautier, who has only played
in team matches this year; Marie Sebag, who earned her second GM norm in the
Nederland last week; Almira Skripchenko, who has had a baby a few months back.
GM Bachar Kouatly made a kind of come-back to competition, after one break of
seven years, in the B-group, but without great success.
The main Championship ended in a tie between top seed GM Vladislav Tkachiev and 16-year-old Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, both of whom scored 7.5/11 points. The tiebreak of two rapid chess games (15 min + 5 sec per move) ended in a draw, so that the title was decided by two blitz games, both won by Vachier-Lagrave, who thus took the title.
16-year-old French Champion 2007: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Vladislav Tkachiev, drew for first, then lost the tiebreak
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, born on October 21st 1990, was one of the youngest chess grandmasters in history, completing his final grandmaster norm at the age of 14 years, 4 months, in 2005. His current rating is 2595, making him the sixth best player in the country, and the 13th bes junior under 20 world wide.
The playing venue at the 2007 French Championship
Nataf vs Tkachiev in round one (draw)
Third seed GM Christian Bauer (Elo 2626)
GM Laurent Fressinet, as in Almira Skripchenko-Fressinet
I'm White in this round? GM Jossip Dorfman
Comeback? GM Bachar Kouatly (Elo 2475)
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The Women's Section was won jointly by Sophie Milliet and Silvia Collas. In the Rapid Chess tiebreak Silvia Collas won the first game and drew the second to take the title of French Women's Champion 2007.
French Women's Champion 2007: Silvia Collas
Tied for first, lost the tiebreak: top seed Sophie Milliet
Natacha Benmesbah and Sophie Milliet at work
WFM Mathilde Congiu, rated 2159
Information provided by Dominique Primel, photos by © Europe-Echecs
The B-Section of the French Championship was won by Thal Abergel, a point and a half ahead of the field.
First blitz game Vachier-Lagrave (white) vs Tkachiev: 1-0
Final blitz game Tkachiev (white) vs Vachier-Lagrave: 0-1
Final playoff game Sophie Milliet (white) vs Silvia Collas: ½-½
