From: Eric Cheymol FREE FR> Date: 22 may 2002 Subject: Habu's magical tour in Paris (round 9) Here are my comments after the last round ; A great fighting spirit has been shown during all the tournament. Even for this last round. Well, except perhaps for both leaders Marcelin et Guidarelli who prefer to share the point after 27 moves. But this game was really important for both. No draw without fighting for the GM neither : Lupu lose a second game in a row against Mark Taimanov. Inkiov plays all his chances but can not break the good defense of Yoshiharu Habu, despite the win in the middle game of the queen against rook, knight and pawn. After a big suspense, the french IM Cyril Marcelin confirms his ambitions and wins the tournament alone. 1. Marcelin, 6,5 out of 9 2-3. Guidarelli, Inkiov, 6 points 4. Bonnet, 5 points 5-6. Habu, Taimanov, 4,5 points 7-8. Lupu, Midoux, 4 points 9. Serafimov, 2,5 points 10. Marchand, 2 points To summarize Yoshiharu Habu's performance in this tournament : he gets a good win against the winner of the tournament, draws twice against two GM, and his fantastic start gave all hopes to the numerous Japanese who followed the tournament in live despite the jet lag. Rounds 7 and 8 showed all IM norm hopes vanish, despite an advantage on the board. This tournament, organized with a grand master's hand by Joël Lautier, will stay as a great chess - shogi event for all. Many chess players have shown some interest for shogi : the main chess database editor ChessBase has just published an article about the event . And many Japanese have followed with a great interest the chess games of Yoshiharu Habu. A TV team has followed the event from the beginning to the end. For those who can get Japanese TV channels, give a look at the programs around end of june / beginning of july. Before flying back to Japan on wednesday evening, Yoshiharu Habu will give a simul in the Ambassy of Japan in Paris, you still have the time to be there. Last report of the "Habu's magical tour in Paris" tomorrow evening with this simul, I will be able to take new photographs too :-), if I am not too busy with my game. Best shogi and chess wishes, Eric Cheymol ---------------- Get the European shogi archives at http://www.shogi.fr.st