Hrað-Skák - 26.10.1988, Síða 11

White: J. Hjartarson
Black: U. Andersson
Bogo-Indian defense
1. d4 &f6 2. c4 e6 3. &f3 Ab4t
4. ^bd2 0—0 5. a3 l.xd2t 6.
Ixd2 ^e4 7. g3 &xd2 8. #xd2
d6
The final moments of the World Chess Cup in Reykjavík were held in Hotel Saga. The host was Primeminister Steingrímur Hermannsson.
The atmosphere was relaxed but you could see the pride on the faces of the lcelanders who made this tournament the success it Mm.
After guests had found their places and dinner went on it was time for some speeches. Mr. Páll Magnússon introduced the Primeminister
who expressed his delight in having so many strong chessplayers there together. He spoke of the long chess tradition in this country and that
this tournament would further spread chess interest in Iceland. He congratulated Channel 2 for it’s courage and determination in holding
the tournament and said this showed what the private enterprise was capable of.
Next came Mr. Guðmundur Arnlaugsson the chief arbiter of the tournament. He spoke of many things concerning the games f.e. that out
of 153 games only 95 were drawn, a very high winning score for such an outstanding field as was gathered here. He further stated that many
of these draws were hard fights not ending until every winningchance was gone.
Dr. Jón Óttar Ragnarsson president of Channel 2 came next and congratulated the winner on his victory, he also praised Jóhann Hjartarson
and Margeir Pétursson for their excellent results. He said that chess interest hadpuzzled many a wise man when visiting Iceland using a seven-
teenth century manuscript to prove his point. There it was said that peopte here were remarkably good at chess but the author found no
other field of praisal for us.
Mr. Páll Magnússon received a gift from hisfellows in Channe! 2 presented by chairman of the board of Channel 2 Hans Kristján Árnason
who said that it was Magnússon’s chessinterest and determination that had convinced the others to go into this sponsorship.
Now the actual prize ceremony began. Mr. Páll Magnússon asked the financia! director of the tournament, Mr. Sigurður Kolbeinsson, to come
on the stage accompanied by Kristján Auðunsson manager of Einar J. Skúlason. And in a row came the players beginning with the last place
and moving up to the winner, Gary Kasparov. Nobody seems to liave gone emptyhanded and Kasparov had almost too much for his hands
to carry, his 20 thousand dollar first prize was given to him as a huge check.
After some moments GM Helgi Ólafsson came up to the stage on behalf of himself and GM Jón L. Árnason to deliver special prizes. For
the best came Kasparov because of his game with Timman. The beauty prize went to Tal for his game against Speelman. The two other games
were given special prizes: Spassky-Beljavsky and Ehlvest-Nikolic.
A little later Timman spoke on behalf of the players and GMA. He said he was very happy with the organisation of the tournament and
expressed his gratitude. He said that after four visits to Iceland he was finally reading the Sagas and found them interesting. He said that
he doubted that Iceland became such a great chessnation because of „The Match". He had been here before and everything was beautifully
organized then. Neither did he belive that long dark winternights were the main reason. Easier to belive is that the great interest through
the centuries made the circumstances.
Finally GM Jóhann Hjartarson spoke and said this was one of the greatest tournaments in the history of chess. He would have liked to see
more of lcelandic players in the tournament and was convinced we should sponsor another World Cup in the future.
The speakers of the night. J. Timman, J. Hjartarson, the host Primeminister S. Hermannsson, J. Ó. Ragnarsson and G. Arnlaugsson.
HRAÐ-SKÁK 379