Usually when every year ends everybody makes some post with the best moments of the last year. So I decide it to post my most favourites shots of 2011.

The most favourite male portrait is Nikolaidis Ioannis‘ portrait

And the most favourite female portrait is Valentina Golubenko’s portrait

In chess world one of the most popular people is Anastasia Karlovich. She is not only a woman Grand Master but also almost in all tournaments the official chess photographer.

Last year she took a photo of me that more than 11 months was my profile picture. This year I was waiting the new one and finally she took me when I was looking for my next target to make a photo. So this year also I tried to have some pictures of her too.

So this post is for one of the best and prettiest chess photographers Anastastasia Kalovich

Michael Adams won the Golden medal in the first board in European Team Chess Championship. Maybe England didn’t succeed alot but he managed to have the second greater performance of all the tournament and the best score in the 1st board.

Greek chess team in European chess team championship had some very good moments, winning England but finally finished at 20th position. On this photo we see that before the games Greek national team trainer, Vasilis Kotronias encourages players before the game. The smiles on their faces show that at least they enjoyed it.

Teimour Radjabov on the first board of Azerbaijan in European Team Chess club maybe didn’t made a great tournament but he gave a great victory to his team by winning Peter Svidler and this way the finally took silver medal.

In the last game of  European team club cup women section Russia easily had won Austria but Nadezhda Kosintseva played until the end to draw. She was fighting until the end but no different result.

In chess there are not disabled. Only people that fight for the win!

When you support a team in any game you are anxious about win. It is the same feeling in chess as in other sport, when your team wins you feel relief for the win. I am member of E.E.S.Korydallou. In the Greek championship we played against strong team OS Triandrias. The score is 6-5 and we have still a game that is not so clear who is winning

And I captured the moment that we see the opponent of Maria Ikonomopoulou gave her hand to resign. In smiles you can see the relief of my teammates.

Many friends often ask me about Greek tournaments. Last year I tried to make a guide for Greek chess open tournaments but I didn’t manage to complete it before I left my pc to complete my military service. And actually I have not personal experience for all the greek tournaments except 3. (Summer Cup, Kavala & Nikea).
The last 2 years I am the chief arbiter of “Summer Cup “. Usually in a place that I go 2 times, 2nd I believe that was worst than first. But not in Porto Carras hotel. I like this tournament not only because is a quiet chess tournament that players have everything to play good games (silence, room between boards) and that makes it an easy job for the chief arbiter (almost no complaints) but also because of the place. 5 star hotel next to Neos Marmaras that has a real exciting night life, and beautiful beaches.

So if someone asks me about a tournament that he would the best conditions I am sure is “Summer cup “.
Of course there always some disadvantages, summer cup has no sponsors so it does not invite any player. But this makes easier for strong players that everywhere pay to go for the 1st prize that is 1000€. Last year won FM Antonis Hadzimanolis and this year GM Trajko Nedev won the first prize almost easily. So even for GM maybe is a good tournament that will give them more money that other with too strong competition.

Who said that chess is not fun and a team sport?