Photo by Biel International Chess Festival - Simon Bohnenblust on Flickr
Introduction
No folks, it’s not me playing at Biel International Chess Festival, it’s Mr. Daniel Bachmann!
The journey of a senior chess improver is often filled with challenges, but it’s also marked by moments of triumph that inspire others on the same path. Many of my blogs reflect on my journey and how I’ve improved and reached my current level in chess. In this post, I want to highlight the achievements of Daniel Bachmann, a dedicated follower of my blog who recently made waves at the Biel International Chess Festival.
Daniel Bachmann is a Swiss chess player with a FIDE rating 1742 in standard chess. Although he doesn’t hold any official FIDE titles, he is actively competing, with a rapid rating of 1798 and a blitz rating of 1704. His connection to chess is deeply personal. In a recent LinkedIn post, Daniel shared how he was inspired to work at IBM after witnessing Deep Blue’s victory over the world chess champion in 1997. His early passion for chess was ignited by his late brother.
Over the last couple of years, Daniel and I have exchanged numerous ideas about integrating technology into our chess training. Our discussions have ranged from using ChessBase 17 with the Chessnut Air eboard to exploring the potential of ChessConnect.
I exchanged with Daniel that I primarily uses ChessBase with Graham’s driver to connect his Chessnut Air eboard, allowing me to play on platforms like Chess.com or Lichess to check things out. Or using Fritz to play against bots while refining openings. Daniel also trains on Chessable. Although I don’t play on Chess.com myself and I don’t use Chessable.
We also discussed the value of correspondence chess, where Daniel shared that he utilizes the database to enhance his Nimzo and Semi-Tarrasch repertoire. Correspondence chess, as he put it, is a goldmine for discovering new ideas and novelties. Recently, he’s been using the Chessnut Evo to prepare for over-the-board games alongside ChessBase 17, ChessBook, and Chessable. His focus has been mastering a 20,000-move repertoire, covering even the most obscure sidelines despite the challenge of memorizing them.
The Game
One of Daniel’s most remarkable games from the Biel tournament showcases the depth of his preparation and strategic insight. He made a spectacular comeback in classical chess with a 98.1% accuracy after a break spanning over two decades—a testament to his dedication and skill. Below is an interactive replay of that game, where you’ll see his thought process unfold move by move.
For those who want a deeper dive into the game, Daniel has also put together a detailed analysis video. His commentary is insightful, and it’s clear that his preparation was meticulously done, likely incorporating some of the techniques we’ve discussed over the months.
References
All Beauty Award Games
All Beauty Award Games on Lichess
Amici Sumus
I will see you in the next few weeks when I will share some more tournament results. If you enjoy my insights, consider supporting me with a virtual coffee! ☕️ Or a beer? Either way 😎 - Your support fuels me to continue sharing valuable content.
Click the coffee mug below at the end of the webpage, and please subscribe and share broadly.
