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In a joined effort of the Curaçao Chess festival, Lion Dive & Beach Resort, Seaquarium and a couple enthusiastic chess players, an underwater chess tournament was organized on August 2nd and 3rd 2008. On Saturday August 2nd, the Dutch international chess masters Robin Swinkels and Hans Böhm played each other and the next day it was this winner against female chess master and champion of the United States Anna Zatonskih.
During previous days the chess masters got some dive lessons to be well prepared for this event. In a glass bottom boat the fans could follow the matches. Each move was vividly commented by the chess fans on shore; it was not taken into account that the ability to think decreases with each meter under water. And don’t forget the distractions of the fish swimming lively between the chess masters; some sting-rays raised the tension by joining elegantly and graceful with their flat and smooth bodies (to see photograph).
They even could be touched by the chess masters. Robin Swinkels and Hans Böhm agreed to remise and the next day Robin Swinkels and Anna Zatonskih also agreed on sharing the points.
