Khaberni - The Calvia International Chess Festival, held on the Spanish island of Majorca, witnessed an unusual encounter between an 8-year-old child and a man in his eighties.
Despite the huge age gap between the competitors, the match experienced thrilling moments filled with concentration and anticipation, ending with a heavy surprise as described by the Spanish newspaper "Marca".
The match brought together the German child Georg Arke (8 years old) and his fellow senior Horst Muller (85 years old), noting that the latter is one of the veteran players in chess.
Young Arke amazed everyone with his calmness and confidence against an opponent who has decades of experience, before he made a bold move that left the audience in a state of shock and admiration.
According to "Marca", Arke sealed the match with an astounding victory through sacrificing his king, a move that confused any defensive attempt by Muller and left him without a chance to respond, prompting the audience to warmly applaud the child in admiration of his intelligence.
Muller acknowledged Arke's talent after the match, saying "It's wonderful to see children play this way, this boy reminded me of myself, as I was and still am in love with the game."
The Calvia International Chess Festival, which first appeared in 2004, is one of the premier European tournaments, usually bringing together players of various ages and levels.
The current (22nd) edition involves nearly 154 players from more than 20 different nationalities, enhancing the international and familial character of the competition.
Over two decades, the festival has presented the world with inspiring human and sporting stories, the latest of which happened between Georg Arke and Horst Muller.
