Oleksandr Matlak is the New National Master!

Last weekend a Bristol Centenary & WECU Championship chess tournament was played in Bristol, UK.

In the open section of this tournament 63 players competed for the West of England Chess Champion title.

Besides the participation of two international grandmasters and several highly rated international masters, my friend Oleksandr Matlak (representing Wells) took the lead in the tournament race and finally won the first-second place with Jacob Boswell from Cheddleton & Leek (both scored 4,5 points from 5 games).

What a great fortune!

And the third place in this tournament was taken by IM Chris Beaumont  (Bristol & Clifton) with the full 4 points. 

The tournament for Oleksandr was started with just a draw. 

After two wins in the two following games, Oleksandr continued with a powerfull positional attack in the round number four!

Cool!

Three wins in a row!

But finally, the most important test awaited for Oleksandr in the last round.

The way to a possible triumph was put on the line in a game with GM Peter Wells, an 2351 ELO-rated British grandmaster.

Let's go to the table to find out what happened when the clock was started!

My big congratulations to Oleksandr Matlak for this wonderful tournament victory and achieving the English National Master title!

Full tournament results here.

Well played, my dear-dear friend!

See you again!