Swiss Young Masters
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Organized by
The Swiss Young Masters 2024 took place in the historic Maison Supersaxo in the centre of Sion from 30 March to 4 April 2024, in an excellent atmosphere. Organised by the Chess Walliss Union, this closed tournament upon invitation (format: round robin) for players until age of 25 brought together six young Swiss players (2 women and 4 men) from Switzerland's national teams, and 4 young masters (2 GMs and 2 IMs) from France, Germany and Austria. In the final rankings, the favourites occupy the podium places and the French players complete the double. Playing virtually on home soil, as he is a member of the Valais 1 and Sion teams in the Swiss team championships, GM Pierre Laurent-Paoli dominated the competition, conceding just one draw. He finished ahead of his compatriot IM Mahel Boyer and Austrian GM Felix Blohberger. Although they did not manage to obtain an IM- or WGM-norm, the Swiss participants in the tournament put up a good fight. The best of them, FM Noah Fecker and FM Matthias Mattenberger, the youngest of the tournament (16 years old) and author of a very fine performance, share 4th place in the ranking. The event was generously supported by the Swiss Youth Chess Foundation, the City of Sion, the Sports-Fonds Valais and the Bourgoisie of Sion.
The photo of the podium, completed with the 2 first Swiss, ranked equal 4th: FM Matthias Mattenberger and Noah Fecker.
Closed tournament by invitation gathering 8 young Romand hopefuls, aged under 25, who will compete in 7 rounds (game pace 60’ + 30"): 5 young people from Valais and 3 other Romands, from the cantons of Vaud, Fribourg, and Neuchâtel.
from left to right: IM Mahel Boyer (France) 2nd, GM Pierre Laurent-Paoli (France) 1st, GM Felix Blohberger
At the end of the tournament, the participants pose for the souvenir photo, under the supervision of the arbiter Fredy Schoch.
4th from the left: Roman Thkoruk (2nd), 5th from the left: Colin Moesching, winner of the tournament.
The 1st Swiss to date, FM Noah Fecker, draws against the German IM Nils Richter. Before the last round, GM Pierre Laurent-Paoli, undefeated, is assured of finishing in 1st place.
The youngest player in the tournament, Matthias Mattenberger, 16 years old, surprises WIM Lena Georgescu.
WIM Sofiia Hryzlova, the reigning Swiss champion, forces GM Felix Blohberger to a draw.
The Espoir 2024 Tournament started on Monday, April 4th. The 8 players, including 5 from Valais, competed in the first round.
In the top match of the 5th round, IM Mahel Boyer (photo) wins against GM Felix Blohberger. The meeting between the youngest players of the tournament, Matthias Mattenberger and Dorian Asllani, does not produce a winner.
The French GM Pierre Laurent-Paoli continues his flawless run in this edition of the Swiss Young Masters!
The women's duel ended in a draw.
As in the first round, all games were hard-fought. After 2 rounds, only GM Pierre Laurent-Paoli has 2 wins to his credit.
The two grandmasters during the post-match analysis. Only this duel resulted in a victory in this first round.
After 1.5 hours of play, the 10 players are in a moment of intense reflection on the best move to make in this first round. At the third chessboard, the duel of the grandmasters is closely followed on this opening day of the Swiss Young Masters 2024.
After a relaxed aperitif on the terrace of the Supersaxo hall, where the players will compete against each other for the next 9 days, the guests of honor, players, and organizers shared a good meal in the carnotzet of the Bourgeoisie of the city of Sion (photo). 9 of the 10 players are seated at the table (Felix Blohberger arrived later), standing: Mrs. Nadine Pardo, municipal councilor in charge of sports, Mr. Raphael Marclay, municipal councilor, Mr. André Vögtlin (central president), Mr. Peter Erismann (head of elite sports and vice-president of the central committee).
Before the official start of the Swiss Young Masters, a relaxed atmosphere prevailed on the terrace of the Supersaxo hall. The participants, in anticipation of the upcoming days of competition, took the opportunity to relax and exchange. Among the guests was Michael Hochstrasser, President of the Swiss Foundation for Youth Chess, highlighted on the left in the photo of the event.
GM Pierre Laurent-Paoli
2537 FIDE
GM Felix Blohberger
2531 FIDE
IM Mahel Boyer
2415 FIDE
MI Nils Richter
2400 FIDE
FM Noah Fecker
2394 FIDE
WIM Sofiia Hryzlova
2251 FIDE
FM Matthias Mattenberger
2239 FIDE
FM/WIM Lena Georgescu
2218 FIDE
FM Igor Schlegel
2196 FIDE
Dorian Asllani
2110 FIDE
IM Adrian Gschnitzer
2409 FIDE
Substitute
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Official opening event
18h30
Round 1
14h00
Round 2
14h00
Round 3
14h00
Round 4
14h00
Round 5
14h00
Round 6
14h00
Round 7
14h00
Round 8
14h00
Round 9
14h00
Prize-giving ceremony
16h30
Program PDF
| Rk. | Participants | Rtg | FED | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | TB1 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GM | Laurent-Paoli, Pierre | 2537 | FRA | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8.5 | ||
| 2 | IM | Boyer, Mahel | 2415 | FRA | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 6.5 | ||
| 3 | GM | Blohberger, Felix | 2531 | AUT | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 4 | FM | Fecker, Noah | 2394 | SUI | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 4.5 | ||
| FM | Mattenberger, Matthias | 2239 | SUI | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 4.5 | |||
| 6 | IM | Richter, Nils | 2400 | GER | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 4 | ||
| 7 | WIM | Hryzlova, Sofiia | 2251 | SUI | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 3.5 | ||
| 8 | FM | Schlegel, Igor | 2196 | SUI | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | 2.5 | ||
| FM | Georgescu, Lena | 2218 | SUI | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 2.5 | |||
| Asllani, Dorian | 2110 | SUI | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 2.5 |
Closed tournament by invitation gathering 8 young Romand hopefuls, aged under 25, who will compete in 7 rounds (game pace 60’ + 30"): 5 young people from Valais and 3 other Romands, from the cantons of Vaud, Fribourg, and Neuchâtel.
This rapid-play tournament (15 minutes per player per game), organized jointly with the Sierre Chess Club and played over 7 rounds, will bring together about thirty Valais cadets and juniors, aged 7 to 20 years, and will count for the Valais Youth Grand Prix U20 2023-2024.
Passersby (curious, tourists, ..., beginners or not) will have the opportunity to discover and/or get acquainted with chess, to play chess games and/or to participate in simultaneous exhibitions. Any desired information will also be given to them about the organization and activities of the Sion Chess Club, the Valais Chess Union as well as the Swiss Chess Federation.
