A coverage of the event can be read on the FID site:
http://www.federdama.it/cms/elenco-degl ... ma-inglese
GM Sergio Scarpetta and GM Michele Borghetti ran suitabvery close, tieing their encounter with one win each in the 5th round with the opening 1. 10-14 24-20, 2.14-18 by scoring one win each.
Before the last round both were still on the same number of points, having won all rounds except the round they played against each other.
Sergio was paired with GM Paolo Faleo, who finished 7 th at the last WMSG in Beijing, and who also was Italian Champion in Dama Italiano multiple times, while Michele faced the Italian Champion in "Dama Inglese" (our style) 2010, Cesare Flavoni. The opening that was drawn for all pairings in the given round (to reduce the facor of Chance by picking "a lucky opening") was by a lucky chance 1.9-14 23-19, 2. 14-18, one of the most liveliest openings there are.
Both drew their first games, and in the 2nd game Sergio managed to score a win, while Michele was beaten by Flavoni, who proved that in this style he is a true specialist.
That way Sergio Scarpetta defended his title and very deservedly qualified for the WMSG in Lille.
Before that he will play the World Championship match in GAYP against the unbeaten World Champion Ron King in San Giovanni Rotondo in July.
We wish you all the luck Sergio, though you once again proved that you don`t need any luck to beat the best.
My congratulations to Michele, who fought but was unlucky, to Matteo Bernini of kurnik fame, and to Cesare Flavoni, who beat the unbeatable and though he did not win himself, decided who won the 2012 championship.
My special greetinx also to my friends Paolo Faleo and Mirko Mancini that I had the pleasure to meet in Beiijing, to Paolo`s pupil, Erika Rosso, winner of the Ladies QT San Remo 2012, who will play a match for the GAYP title against Amangul Berdiyeva in short time (good luck Erika!) , and to Mario Maiello that I met and played in San Remo at the Open event.
Greetinx from sunny, but cloudy Dortmund,
Ingo Zachos