12th March, 2003

THE legendary New York Open, with its record prize funds, may only be a
distant memory, but the legacy of big-bucks Swisses continues - most
notably last month's record-breaking $150,000 Aeroflot Open in Moscow.
This was followed by the unlikely little Dunkirk suburb of Cappelle la
Grande, which in late February traditionally plays host to the largest
open event on the tournament circuit. This year Cappelle attracted a
field of 608 (down from a high of 702 in 2001) competing in the 19th
Open, comprising of 80 GM's and 50 IM's.

With such a strong line-up, inevitably an outright winner proves
elusive. And indeed there was a seven-way tie for first on 7/9, with
Vladimir Burmakin of Russia taking the title on tiebreak. There was also
a five-strong Scottish delegation competing, led by Kilmarnock's John
Shaw looking for his second successive GM norm.

After his good fortune in the final round last month at Gibraltar where
a mishap gifted him the norm, John found the opposition at Cappelle in
the final rounds not in such a generous mood as 'Gentleman' Jim Plaskett
proved to be. After being outplayed by former winner Suat Atalik in the
penultimate round, John let slip a golden opportunity from a favourable
position in the final round that would have secured him another norm.

Final Standings: 1-7 GM V Burmakin (Russia), GM E Rozentalis
(Lithuania), GM P Schlosser (Germany), GM A Areshchenko (Ukraine), IM J
Geller (Russia), IM D Bocharov (Russia), GM E Miroshniche (Ukraine) 7/9.
Scottish scores: GM Colin McNab 6, IM John Shaw 5.5, Paul Roberts 5.5,
Tim Upton 5 and IM Douglas Bryson 4.

S Atalik - J Shaw
Cappelle la Grande, (8)
Reti's Opening
1 Nf3 d5 2 g3 Nf6 3 Bg2 c6 4 0-0 Bf5 5 c4 e6 6 cxd5 cxd5 7 Qb3 Qc8 8 d3
Be7 9 Nd4 Bg6 10 Bf4 Nc6 11 Rc1 Qd7 12 Nxc6 bxc6 13 Nd2 Bh5 14 e4 0-0 15
e5 Rfb8 16 Qc2 Ne8 17 Qxc6 Qxc6 18 Rxc6 Rxb2 19 Nb3 Bd8 20 Bc1 Re2 21
Be3 Bb6 22 Bf1 Rb2 23 Bxb6 axb6 24 Rxb6 Rbxa2 25 Rxa2 Rxa2 26 Rb8 Kf8 27
d4 Rb2 28 Bb5 f6 29 Nc5 Bf3 30 Nxe6+ Ke7 31 Rxe8+ Kf7 32 Nd8+ Kg6 33
Bd3+ f5 34 Rf8 Rd2 35 Ne6 Rd1+ 36 Bf1 Kh6 37 Nf4 g5 38 Rf6+ Kg7 39 Ne6+
1-0

JOHN B HENDERSON