While Europe was closed for air traffic last weekend due to the ongoing volcanic activity, the 2010-11 Pandanet Tour launched in Bled, Slovenia, which the players — who hail from Central Europe — could reach by car. Ondrej Silt 6d swept all six rounds of the Tour’s first tournament April 16-18, while Pal Balogh 6d won five for silver and veteran Vladimir Danek 5d’s four games earned him bronze. The same names topped last season’s tour, which ended last month in Paris. The season opener, the Vladimir Omejc Memorial, attracted 41 participants, of whom youngsters Luka Camernik 1d and Nenad Denadic 7k – both of Slovenia – also did well with 5-1 each.
– Peter Dijkema, European Correspondent for the E-Journal
