New In Chess recently published a new book on the Center Game by Arne Moll. The author found an original way to launch his book by organizing a thematic tournament where playing the Center Game was mandatory.
Below is a short report on this event, complete with pictures and a tactical game commented on by the author himself.

On 17 November, Arne Moll’s new opening book, “The Center Game,” was launched with a blitz tournament in Amsterdam in which the moves 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 were mandatory. In café Eighty-Four, located in the eastern part of the city, prominent chess players of all ages from the Amsterdam area gathered to play a thematic tournament celebrating this ancient chess opening, characterized by White’s early queen sortie.

The day started with a “crash course” in Center Game opening theory by the author himself. After that, a 3+2 blitz tournament was held in which everyone played two games, one with white and one with black, against the same opponent. As the book was for sale before and during the tournament, many Center Game lines were studied and commented upon between the rounds. Indeed, some interesting new ideas were tested and introduced during the tournament! The author providing a "crash course"

The sixth and last round saw author Arne Moll, one of the few players with prior experience in this opening, paired on first board against the field’s strongest player, Dutch GM Friso Nijboer. Moll could have clinched first place if he had managed to convert a completely winning knight ending, but he managed to find a way to mix things up and ended up losing, which meant Nijboer clinched first prize ahead of IM’s Merijn van Delft and the legendary Manuel Bosboom.
The winner - Friso Nijboer (right) - in action

Special prizes were awarded for “best novelty not mentioned in the book” and the best game of the day. Below game between the creative Amsterdam chess player Nirav Christophe and chess journalist and author Peter Doggers, featured an interesting new idea in a rare line and was unanimously voted for as the most spectacular game of the tournament.

The author and organiser was clearly enjoying the event!