The return of the prodigal son

Yannick Pelletier has been a French resident for a few years, but he remains the standard-bearer of Swiss chess. His return to the fold for the 2011 Festival attracts the attention of many of his fans from both the French and German parts, who are looking forward to seeing him cross swords again with some of the world's best players.

Yannick is more than a regular visitor of the Biel Festival. While it saw him brought to light by propelling him as a guest star of this world famous closed tournament, he has been able to return the favour by entertaining the crowd and fully justifying his invitations. His victory a few years ago against Magnus Carlsen, who had already become a “monster”, is still remembered as perhaps the greatest achievement by a Swiss player in the world of the 64 squares. This year's double match against who has become the world's number one since then will undoubtedly lend a special flavour to our leader. 

A solid player, theoretically well prepared and very popular in the chess world where he shines as a notorious polyglot, Yannick has quite naturally become French GM Etienne Bacrot's second over the recent years. This painstaking work seems to be bearing fruit at international level. Radoslaw Wojtaszek, Ivan Cheparinov and Peter Heine Nielsen are excellent examples of players who have reached the 2700 Elo points mark after collaborating with players competing for the title of world champion. This year, Vladimir Potkin, Ian Nepomniachtchi's second (the Russian Carlsen), has even been crowned European champion! Without doubt, Yannick will know how to follow these prestigious examples and draw inspiration from his work with Etienne Bacrot to bring his opponents out in a cold sweat in this tournament. 

A multiple Swiss champion, as was demonstrated in the team championships with the Biel Chess Society, Yannick will have to take up a difficult challenge as he is a good hundred Elo points lower than his opponents. However, his brilliant past performances at the Festival and his famous solidity allow him to hope for more than the mere role of the local representative which he perhaps took on at the beginning. His two third places in similar situations in the past may pave the way for the wildest dreams …

A.V. 
(N.D.)