Bluebaum Wins the European Championship
No "full-time" super-GMs were playing, though a few GMs who have visited the super-elite (most especially David Navara) were in action. Still, it was an interesting event, in part because so many players participated that a much wider array of openings will be found here than in the Grand Prix tournaments, for example.
German GM Matthias Bluebaum won the tournament, on tiebreaks ahead of Armenian Gabriel Sargissian. Bluebaum was held to a draw in the first round before ripping off six wins a row. That let him coast a little, and finishing with four draws was still enough to win the title. They finished with 8.5/11, half a point ahead of six players; Ivan Saric had the best tiebreaks of that group and took the bronze; full results here.
For your entertainment and (maybe, maybe not) instruction, here are six games that caught my eye. All six finish in a lively way - sometimes even with mate - and are offered with brief comments--enjoy.
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