The highest division of the Spanish Team Championship (Campeonato de España por Equipos de Club de División de Honor) was held in Linares from September 23 to September 29. Eight best local teams with six boards in each (one woman) competed in the round-robin format.

The defending champion Magic Extremadura from Merida did not manage to repeat its last-year result and finished third. The new champion, Silla – Bosch Serinsys (with Anton Korobov and Alexei Shirov on top boards) drew all three matches with the main competitors but won all the rest. Andreu Paterna, Magic Extremadura, and Beniajan – Duochess were not as “rational” as they exchanged blows facing each other and lost critical points.

Before the final round Silla – Bosch Serinsys was one point ahead of Andreu Paterna but faced a strong opponent Gros Xake Taldea whereas its main rival took on Solvay. Andreu Paterna did its part, convincingly winning the match, and got a theoretical chance to catch up with the leader in case it would have stumbled.  

Etienne Bacrot (Gros Xake Taldea) scored a nice victory over Anton Korobov, but Alexei Shirov and Nijat Abasov pulled Bosch Serinsys in front. The fate of the match and the title was decided on the fifth board where Alwar Alonso held a tough position vs. Alejandro Franco and earned so much needed draw that handed his team a victory by a slim margin.

Final standings:

1. C.A. SILLA - BOSCH SERINSYS – 11 (26)
2. C.A. ANDREU PATERNA – 10 (24½)
3. C.A. MAGIC EXTREMADURA – 9 (23½)
4. C.A.C. BENIAJÁN – DUOCHESS – 7 (22)
5. GROS XAKE TALDEA – 7 (20)
6. C.A. JAIME CASAS – 6 (22½)
7. C.A. SOLVAY – 6 (21)
8. C.A. COLLADO VILLALB – 0 (8½)

Photo: FEDA

Official site: www.feda.org