GM Pikula - GM Damljanovic Match

Dejan Pikula and Branko Damljanovic have tied first place on the SCG championship played back in March. Since Serbia and Montenegro have split in May, this match will determinate who will be the first champion of Serbia. Match will be played on October 1st-4th in Primary School "4. Kraljevacki bataljon", Kraljevo. Curious fact is that music teacher in this school Lidija Spaski is cousin of famous Boris Spassky.

Both players have promised fearless battle and started with sharp Sicilian in the 1st game. Pikula was just that bit faster with attack to take his opponent into the mating net. The match will consist of 4 games.


GM Dejan Pikula 2542 - GM Branko Damljanovic 2595
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bd7 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8. f3 Be7 9. O-O-O b5 10. h4 h6 11. Be3 b4 12. Nce2 e5 13. Nf5 Bxf5 14. exf5 d5 15. f4 e4 16. Nd4 h5 17. Be2 Bc5 18. Nb3 Bxe3 19. Qxe3 Qd6 20. Rh3 Nc6 21. Rg3 O-O 22. Rg5 Rfc8 23. g4 hxg4 24. Kb1 a5 25. Bxg4 a4 26. Nc1 b3 27. cxb3 a3 28. Qd2 d4 29. bxa3 Rxa3 30. Rg1 Kf8 31. Be2 d3 32. Rxg7 Nd4


33. Bh5 Rc7 34. Qg2 Nb5 35. Rg8+ Ke7 36. Qg7 Nc3+ 37. Ka1 Nxh5 38. Qf8+ Kd7 39. Qe8# 1-0


2nd round update:
Branko Damljanovic strikes back by winning the 2nd game.

GM Branko Damljanovic 2595 - GM Dejan Pikula 2542
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb7 6. Bg2 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 a5 8. O-O O-O 9. Nc3 Ne4 10. Nxe4 Bxe4 11. Bf4 Ba3 12. Qd2 Na6 13. d5 Qe7 14. Rad1 d6 15. dxe6 fxe6 16. Qe3 Bb7 17. Ne1 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Bb2 19. Bg5 Qe8 20. Qe4 a4 21. Nd3 Nc5 22. Nxc5 bxc5 23. Rb1 axb3 24. Rxb2 bxa2 25. Ra1 Qf7 26. Be3 d5 27. Qe5 d4 28. Bf4 h6 29. h4 Ra4 30. Rbxa2 Rxc4 31. Ra8 Rxa8 32. Rxa8+ Kh7 33. Rc8 1-0


3rd round update:
Same variation was seen in the 1st game, but Pikula was well prepared to gain advantage this time. However, Damljanovic made an exchange sacrifice that pretty much confused Pikula who continued with passive moves. Black grabbed initiative and won the game.

GM Dejan Pikula 2542 - GM Branko Damljanovic 2595
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bd7 6.Bg5 e6 7.Ndb5 Bc6 8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.Qh5 a6 10.Nd4 Bd7 11.0-0-0 Nc6 12.Nb3 Qb6 13.Rd2 Rc8 14.Kb1 Ne7 15.g3 Bg7 16.Bh3 0-0 17.Rhd1


17...Rxc3 18.bxc3 Bc6 19.Bg2 f5 20.Qg5 Qc7 21.c4 fxe4 22.c3 d5 23.c5 h6 24.Qh5 Ba4 25.Rc2 Bxb3 26.axb3 Qxc5 27.b4 Qc4 28.Rdc1 Rc8 29.Bf1 Qb3+ 30.Rb2 Qa3 31.Ra2 Qb3+ 32.Rb2 Qa4 33.Qh4 Ng6 34.Qh5 Rxc3 0-1


4th round update:
GM Branko Damljanovic is first champion of Serbia! Pikula missed his chance to win rook ending with two extra pawns and the 4th game was drawn. Final score is 2.5-1.5