Gary Hogan was selected to represent the UK at the IBCA Individual European Championship in Ploesti, Romania, from the 15th to the 25th of June 2024.  He travelled out early with his wife Alyona and daughter Natasha, and together they enjoyed visiting Bucharest before travelling on to the tournament venue, where they met Gary’s coach, Owen Phillips.

The line-up for this event was even stronger than that faced by Gary at the IBCA World Individual Championship in Rhodes last year!  Drawn against Frank Schellmann, a CM from Germany, in round 1, Gary mistimed his attack, with inevitable consequences.  In round 2 Gary faced Oliver Deville of France, and sacrificed a pawn for an attack.  However, Olivier defended well and they settled on a draw.  It must have been a relief for Gary to get off the mark in this elite VI chess tournament!  Round 3 saw Gary progress to a full point with a draw against Slovenian Gregor Cizman.  In round 4 Gary was up against Dieter Riegler, another very strong German player.  Gary admits to misplaying the opening slightly and losing tempi as a result.  His hugely experienced opponent was able to capitalise on that, eventually leaving Gary with no option but to resign.  It was in round 5 that Gary notched up his first win!  He played Monica de Fazio of Italy and found an intermezzo move that won a knight.  Tragically, in round 6, Gary missed the offer of a draw from Romanian Vasile Carapit due to a misunderstanding.  They played on and Gary lost.  Gary’s round 7 opponent was another German – a young, rapidly improving player.  Gary found a move that forked an unprotected knight while at the same time threatening checkmate and went on to win!  There was a sense of déjà vu for Gary in round 8, when he was drawn against Croatian, Miroslav Madjeric, whom he had beaten last year in Rhodes.  This time Gary played safe and accepted his opponent’s second offer of a draw, after coming out of the opening very even.  Gary’s final opponent was Alaettin Gundogmus of the Netherlands.  Gary spent hours preparing the Albin Countergambit, but Alaettin played a variation that Gary wasn’t ready for.  When Alaettin offered a draw, Gary felt that his own position was inferior so he accepted.

Gary writes, “I was fairly content with 4/9 although I had hoped for better and I was disappointed that I only won two games.  I finished 47/63, one place above my starting position of 48th.  We had an amazing time in Romania, I’d like to thank the Romanian organisers and the BCA for sending me there!”

The BCA is very proud of Gary’s achievement in this tough tournament!

Gary at the start of a game