A Chess World

World Chess Game

2008-11-10T15:12:00.004+10:30

View The Movie

We intend to restore the fundamental necessities and environmental awareness of the species through the avocation of the most current understandings of who and what we truly are, coupled with how science, nature and technology (rather than religion, politics and money) hold the keys to our personal growth, not only as individual human beings, but as a civilization, both structurally and spiritually. The central insights of this awareness is the recognition of the Emergent and Symbiotic elements of natural law and how aligning with these understandings as the bedrock of our personal and social institutions, life on earth can and will flourish into a system which will continuously grow in a positive way, where negative social consequences, such as social stratification, war, biases, elitism and criminal activity will be constantly reduced and, idealistically, eventually become nonexistent within the spectrum of human behavior itself.

Is this not the most important chess game ever?

The Bilbao Final Masters in Spain

2008-09-02T11:24:00.008+09:30

Saint Anton Church
Leading the Super Grand Masters is of course Viswanathand Anand from India followed by Vassilly Ivanchuck from Ukrain, by the way congratulations Chucky for winning yet again another major tournament the Worlds Largest Blitz Tournament in honor of the late Mikhial Tal from Russia that has just finished. Then we have Magnus Carlsen from Norway, Vesilin Topalov from Russia, Teimour Radjabov and Levon Aronian. This event is held in a most spectacular part of the Basque country filled with old and new architecture. The winners of all elite tournaments from the year are playing here. Magnus Carlsen from Norway has taken the lead from Vesilin Topalov from Russia who is now in second spot. The 17 year old prodigy is the unofficial World Chess Champion as I type this segment, way to go Magnus.

Magnus Carlsen Vs Levon Aronian 1.0
Replay the game with analysis
Vassily Ivanchuk vs Viswanathan Anand 1/2 1/2
Replay the game with analysis
Veselin Topalov Vs Teimour Radjabov 1/2-1/2
Replay the game with analysis

The Grand Slam Chess Final Masters
Live Broadcast
Live Web Cams

Tal Memorial 2008

2008-08-17T18:34:00.013+09:30

The world's "largest" blitz tournament

Vladimir Kramnik, Vassily Ivanchuk, the World Chess Championship semi-finalist Gata Kamsky, the 2007 World Championship participant Boris Gelfand and the 2007 World Cup finalist Alexei Shirov, Alexander Morozevich, Ruslan Ponomariov, Peter Leko, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Evgeny Alekseev to play. Tal's Cup, the world's "largest" blitz tournament will take place on 29-30 August. Total prize fund is US$100.000 USD.

1. Morozevich, Alexander RUS 2788 2½ 3019
2. Ivanchuk, Vassily UKR 2781 2 2842
3. Leko, Peter HUN 2741 2 2882

The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal

Game Analysis
Kramnik-Shirov Round One
Shirov-Kamsky Round Two
Morozevich-Kramnik Round Three

Live Games
Download PGN
Host Site

Mainz Classic 2008

2008-08-02T11:30:00.009+09:30

After the first half of the 13. GRENKELEASING Rapid World Championship Anand and Carlsen share the lead with 2 points each, followed by Morozevich with 1.5 and Judit Polgar with 0.5.

Rybka, the program developed by Vasik Raijlich, won the 4th Livingston Chess960 Computer World Championship. After four tough games against the German program Shredder, programmed by Stefan Meyer-Kahlen from Germany, the American program won with only a narrow margin: 2,5-1,5.

Game of the Day Round One

Game of the Day Round Two

"Live" Human Chess
"Live" Computer Chess
Host Site

Road To the Top

2008-07-29T15:58:00.009+09:30

This is a post I sent to Dylan Loeb MaClain of the New York Times just the other day, and Mr Maclain wrote back explaining with great clarity his views on the World Chess Championships situation.

Dylan Loeb McClain, You wrote: Biel is part of the “First” grand prix tournament in a series to select a challenger for the world championship in 2010. Is there a list of this series you talk of. I am sure it has already been finalized or do you think it could change? Magnus Carlsen almost looked sad when I heard him give an interview and said that it will take him three years to become World Chess Champion. My goodness he is only points away from taking the First Place just slightly behind V. Anand. I would like to hear your view what I seem to believe a very long road indeed to the top!
— Posted by Steven Nicholls

Mr. Nicholls,
If you clink on the link which says "grand prix tournament" it will take you to a story that lists the six grand prix events. The next one begins Wednesday in Sochi, Russia, although evidently Carlsen will not be playing in it as he is right now competing in Biel, Switzerland, and then goes to Mainz, Germany, for another event.
Of course, Carlsen only needs to play in three grand prix events as the best three results will be used to calculate the winner of the series.
According to the World Chess Federation (which has been known in the past, to put it nicely, to be somewhat whimsical about adhering to previously announced rules), the winner of the series will play the winner of the 2009 World Cup in 2010. The winner of that match will play a match against the world champion for the title.
That would mean that Carlsen, should he emerge as the challenger, could do no sooner than slightly more than two years from now, when he will be about to turn 20.
Is that too long? Not necessarily. The system that was used from the 1950’s through 1993 was a three-year cycle between championship matches. That may seem long, but during the intervening period there were a series of tournaments and matches that were a rigorous test so that it was clear that the challenger who emerged really deserved a shot at the title. The length of time between championship matches also served to heighten the tension and build-up to the championship match, making them all that more special.
The problem today is that the federation keeps changing the rules, making it hard for any but the most hard-core fans to understand or to follow. That discourages sponsorship interest and reduces commercial appeal. I don’t think having a grand prix series where the winner faces the winner of the world cup in a match with that winner going on to a championship match is a bad system. It would just be nice if the federation stuck to that system as opposed to changing it again in another year which, based on its past track record, it probably will do.
By the way, I am a bit of purist (or maybe I should say traditionalist) and I think that having a world championship match (preferably of at least 16 games) is the proper format for choosing a champion. I think that the world championship tournaments that Viswanathan Anand of India won last year and Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria won in 2005 are not quite as good a measure for selecting a champion.
I hope I answered your questions and gave you some insight into what I think. Let me know if I overlooked something.
— Posted by Dylan Loeb McClain

Here is information in regards to the second grand prix tournament The tournament will run July 30 - August 15, with thirteen rounds and two rest days - the standard schedule for all six tournaments. Live Games

More exciting chess in Mainz,Germany. Only the best meet the best! Check it out here

International Chess Festival Biel 2008

2008-07-24T01:47:00.006+09:30

I listened in on GM Magnus Carlsen being interviewed about the Sophia rule. Magnus said that he thought it was ok but at Beil it was not mandatory because it was a place very well known for fighting chess! Magnus also went on to say that it will take him about three years to make it to the top place in the world as chess champion! Hum is this because of the confusing bureaucratic rules and laws that are made by Fide? What is your opinion? If there is a fork in the road then I say take it!

Standings After Round Three:

1. Carlsen,Magnus GM 2775 NOR 2.5
2. Alekseev,Evgeny GM 2708 RUS 2.0
3. Onischuk,Alexander GM 2670 USA 2.0
4. Dominguez,Leinier GM 2708 CUB 1.5
5. Bacrot,Etienne GM 2691 FRA 0.5
6. Pelletier,Yannick GM 2569 SUI 0.5

View & Download Games
Live Games
Videos
Host Site

WORLD WOMAN'S CHAMPIONSHIP 2008

2008-07-14T02:34:00.008+09:30

The FIDE Presidential Board has approved the list of qualifiers and the schedule of the World Women's Championship 2008, to be held in Nalchik, the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria (Russian Federation), from 28 August to 18 September with a prize fund of $450,000 USD.

I the webmaster fear for the safety of the women playing chess in such an unstable volatile area of Russia! WARNING Please do not search for photos of this place on the internet! This is not a political statement but one of great concern for our women chess players.

My opinion is that chess ought to be played in a neutral country free of any conflict that could cause distress. Your views and opinions are more than welcome. Russian travel warnings before the war.

Round One Pairings
1 1-64 Xu, Yuhua (CHN) Solomons, Anzel (RSA)
2 2-63 Koneru, Humpy (IND) Alaa El Din, Yorsa (EGY)
3 3-62 Hou, Yifan (CHN) Khaled, Mona (EGY)
4 4-61 Stefanova, Antoaneta (BUL) Zapata, Karen (PER)
5 5-60 Cramling, Pia (SWE) Sanchez Castillo, Sarai (VEN)
6 6-59 Sebag, Marie (FRA) Gasik, Anna (POL)
7 7-58 Zhao, Xue (CHN) Zuriel, Marisa (ARG)
8 8-57 Kosintseva, Tatjana (RUS) Muminova, Nafisa (UZB)
9 9-56 Kosteniuk, Alexandra (RUS) Pourkashiyan, Atousa (IRI)
10 10-55 Cmilyte, Viktorija (LTU) Golubenko, Valentina (CRO)
11 11-54 Muzychuk, Anna (SLO) Velcheva, Maria (BUL)
12 12-53 Ruan, Lufei (CHN) Zakurdjaeva, Irina (RUS)
13 13-52 Zhukova, Natalia (UKR) Rohonyan, Katherine (USA)
14 14-51 Chiburdanidze, Maya (GEO) Nguyen, Thi Thanh An (VIE)
15 15-50 Hoang Thanh Trang (HUN) Arribas Robaina, Maritza (CUB)
16 16-49 Paehtz, Elisabeth (GER) Kadimova, Ilaha (AZE)
17 17-48 Ushenina, Anna (UKR) Le Thanh Tu (VIE)
18 18-47 Socko, Monika (POL) Foisor, Sabina-Francesca (ROM)
19 19-46 Krush, Irina (USA) Sedina, Elena (ITA)
20 20-45 Gaponenko, Inna (UKR) Zhang Jilin (CHN)
21 21-44 Javakhishvili, Lela (GEO) Amura, Claudia (ARG)
22 22-43 Harika, Dronavalli (IND) Nebolsina, Vera (RUS)
23 23-42 Kosintseva, Nadezhda (RUS) Mohota, Nisha (IND)
24 24-41 Korbut, Ekaterina (RUS) Gvetadze, Sopio (GEO)
25 25-40 Zatonskih, Anna (USA) Bosboom Lanchava, Tea (NED)
26 26-39 Shen, Yang (CHN) Kachiani-Gersinska, Ketino (GER)
27 27-38 Mkrtchian, Lilit (ARM) Moser, Eva (AUT)
28 28-37 Tania, Sachdev (IND) Tan Zongyi (CHN)
29 29-36 Bojkovic, Natasa (SRB) Ju, Wenjun (CHN)
30 30-35 Rajlich, Iweta (POL) Mongontuul, Bathuyang (MGL)
31 31-34 Lomineishvili, Maia (GEO) Khukhashvili, Sopiko (GEO)
32 32-33 Khurtsidze, Nino (GEO) Matveeva, Svetlana (RUS)

Live Games
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Host Site

The World Chess Championship 2008

2008-07-13T18:32:00.023+09:30

The World Chess Championship 2008 will be a match between the World Chess Champion, Viswanathan Anand, who won the World Chess Championship 2007 in Mexico City, and the previous World Champion, Vladimir Kramnik. Kramnik was granted this rematch by a special FIDE rule that accorded special privileges to him, and former FIDE World Champion Veselin Topalov, following the reunification of the title in 2006.
The match will take place in Bonn, Germany, between 14 October and 2 November 2008.

· When: From October 11 - 30, 2008
· Where: Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bonn
· Overall Prize fund: 1,5 Million Euro
· Patron: German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück
· Main sponsor: Evonik Industries AG

I will be bringing you live coverage with photos from a friend in Germany who will be attending the event. There is only 5 years difference between them. Anand is 37 years of age and Kramnik is 32 years of age. The issue with Kramnik at the moment is that his biorhythms show his intuitive status as very low indeed.

Anand and Kramnik are two of four players in the history of chess to break the 2800 mark on the FIDE rating list, (the first being Kasparov).
Quiz:Who is the other one?

List of chess games between Anand and Kramnik

FIDE rating card for Viswanathan Anand
FIDE rating card for Vladimir Kramnik

History of Viswanathan Anand
History of Vladimir Kramnik

Game One
Game Two
Game Three
Game Four
Game Five
Game Six
Game Seven

We might be seeing a premature ending to this World chess Championships with Viswanathan Anand the worlds number one from India taking a huge lead in this exciting but strange event. In game seven Game Seven is the Slav Defense it seems that e4 is working in favour for Anand? Way to go Anand.

LIVE GAMES

Download Games

Host Site

Princess of Chess

2008-07-08T12:23:00.010+09:30

Alisha Chawla age 7 from Freemont, Northen California is a chess player to look out for in the future. She is the highest rated chess player for her age in Northan California. Here she is giving a simil quite effortlessly. Video: Princess of Chess When asked for advise on chess she said Open the centre, bring out the Knights before bishops and do not bring out your Queen early in the game, very sound advise! Alisha's mother, Sunanda Chawla taught her daughter to play when she was just 3 years of age. In the USA it is a known fact that girls are a 1 in 10 ratio in regards to boys. We need to focus more on introducing girls to this most underestimated sport in our schools worldwide.

Alisha has been invited to play at the World Youth Chess Championships in Vung Tau, Vietnam, Oct. 19 to 31 and has been accepted to play at J. Polgars chess event for girls July 27 - August 1 at Texas Tech University (TTU) in Lubbock, Texas U.S.A.

Preparations for Vietnam to host the 2008 World Youth Chess Championship are well underway ahead of the event in the southern beach city Vung Tau, local authorities said this week. International master Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, is one of Vietnam’s two best hopes at the World Youth Chess Championship.

I will try to keep updates of these future chess champions. Here is the official web site where over 2000 participants will take place from around the world. Have FUN! : Host Site

The Games have started and i must say the web site is very well laid out and info on all the players and their games is just a sight for sore eyes. Brilliant chess by these young chess participants, I hope you are too enjoying the games.

In August 1999, David Howell became famous internationally when he broke the world record for the youngest player to have defeated a Grandmaster in an official game. He defeated GM John Nunn in a blitz game at the Mind Sports Olympiad. David still holds this record. he is in third place at the moment. Games of David Howell

In 2000 Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son won the world under-10 championship. In 2002, he was awarded the International Master title. In 2004, he became a Grandmaster at the age of 14 years, 10 months. In 2004, he was voted as athelete of the year in Vietnam. Games of Ngoc Truongson NguyenHe is in first place at the moment but still may games to go.

Live Board One
Live Board Two
Latest Results

Life Chess Kiev Russia

2008-07-06T02:03:00.006+09:30

Puppet Theatre

Match Agenda

Rapid chess match between grand masters S. Karyakin and N. Short takes place from 3rd to 7th of July, 2008 in Kiev in the Puppet Theatre.
The match consists of 10 games according to "Chess Rules FIDE".
Time control – 25 minutes for every player till the end of the game plus 10 sec for every made move, counting from the first move.
The winner of the chess match will be the one, who takes 5½ or has more scores. In case of 5 : 5 the match will be draw game.
Game six was an exciting game and ended in a draw, but it seems the youngster Karjakin is proving he is a better player.
Live video
Download Games pgn
Host Site

The Benko Gambit

2008-07-04T13:23:00.007+09:30

Benko was born in France but was raised in Hungary. He was Hungarian champion by age 20. He emigrated to the United States in 1958, after defecting following the World Student Team Championship in Reykjavík, Iceland in 1957. FIDE awarded him the title of Grandmaster in 1958.
The Benko Gambit was originally called the Volga Gambit. I am led to believe that it is still called the Volga Gambit in Russia today, named after the Volga River.

Moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5
ECO A57-A59
Notable Games

Shirov vs A Hauchard, 1990. White Wins
B Leverett vs Judit Polgar, 1987. Black Wins
Karpov vs Topalov, 2002. White Wins
Johann Hjartarson vs Garry Kasparov. Black Wins

Give Away of the Day

2008-07-03T18:31:00.014+09:30

Dortmund Sparkassen Chess 2008

2008-06-20T12:46:00.039+09:30

Venue: Dortmund Theatre, Schauspielhaus, Hiltropwall (Germany).

Congratulations to Peter Leko of Hungary who wins the annual Dortmund super tournament in Germany. Some great chess was played and some great analysis was given of the games by The Game of the Day by ICC. Vassily Ivanchuk won his last game by beating Vladamir Kramnik from Russia. Vassily Ivanchuck I must mention is back up there at the number two position in the world overtaking Magnus Carlsen.

Dortmund Sparkassen 2008 chess competition will take place June 28 - July 6. It will be a round robin tournament with 8 players. Vladamir Kramnik has won this event eight times a fantastic personal achiement. Will Kramnik continue to win this event? Or will someone like GM Vassily Ivanchuk number three in the world from the Ukraine take his place because Ivanchuk has been playing so well in all of this years tournaments. The Wunderkind is not playing, yes I am referring to the worlds number two, GM Magnus Carlsen just 17 years of age!
This event is one of the three "majors" on the chess tournament circuit along with Corus and Linares. Games will be transmitted 15 minutes after the initial start of the tournament.

First Round Pairings:

Saturday, 28th June, 10.00 PM Australian time.

1-8 Gustafsson - Kramnik 1/2-1/2
2-7 Naiditsch - Nepomniachtchi 1/2-1/2
3-6 Mamedjarow - Leko 1/2-1/2
4-5 Ivanchuk - van Wely 1/2-1/2

Participants:

1. Vladimir Kramnik (RUS 2788)
2. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE 2752)
3. Peter Leko (HUN 2741)
4. Vassily Ivanchuk (UKR 2740)
5. Loek Van Wely (NED 2676)
6. Ian Nepomniachtchi (RUS 2634)
7. Arkadij Naiditsch (GER 2623)
8. Jan Gustafsson (GER 2603)

Game of the Day 1
Game of the Day 2
Game of the Day 3
Game of the Day 4
Game of the Day 5
Game of the Day 6
Game of the Day 7
Watch more Game of the Day Videos

Live Games
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Host Site

"Chess Giants" Rapid Chess from 8th to 15th June.

2008-06-12T13:43:00.019+09:30

Asrian Memorial
Congratulations Levon Aronian, Winner of the Asrian Memorial, 2008.
1st place: Levon Aronian 8.5 points
2nd place: Peter Leko 8 points
3rd place: Alexander Morozevich 7.5 points
4th place: Boris Gelfand 7.5 points

Mount Ararat
The Republic of Armenia, covering an area of 30 000 square kilometers (11,600 sq. mi), is located in the north-east of the Armenian Highland (covering 400 000 km² or 154,000 sq. mi), otherwise known as historical Armenia and considered as the original homeland of Armenians. The terrain is mostly mountainous, with fast flowing rivers and few forests. The climate is highland continental, which means that the country is subjected to hot summers and cold winters. The land rises to 4095 meters (13,435 ft) above sea-level at Mount Ararat, and no point is below 400 meters (1,312 ft) above sea level.

Mount Ararat, which was historically part of Armenia, is the highest mountain in the region. Now located in Turkey, but clearly visible in Armenia, it is regarded by the Armenians as a symbol of their land. Because of this, the mountain is present on the Armenian national emblem today.

Live Games Should the Sophia Rule be MANDATORY in ALL GAMES? After looking at a game by GM Levon Aronian Vs GM Akopian who drew their game in 5 moves! Why not just mention I am going to play the Petrov before the game starts without moving a piece and say Draw! Post your comments.

Download PGN

Archived Games

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WuChess

2008-06-11T13:00:00.004+09:30

A New Chess Server WuChess Creator RZA

Robert Diggs (born July 5, 1969), better known as RZA (pronounced ɹɪzʌ), is an American music producer, rapper, and occasional actor. A prominent figure in hip hop music, he is the de facto leader of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan.

RZA stays at the Mandarin Oriental in New York rooms start around $700 a night, and suites go from around $1,300 to $2,200 (a night. Plus tax. The Webmaster pays AUD$68.00 per week for a two bedroom flat) What a mixture music & chess with a passion for sharing with others his gifts, check it out.

You be arrayed in yo finest
But I’ll be playing like Wilhelm Steinitz
The moves your girl you’ll have to ask her
‘Cause I’ll be whirlin’ like Emanuel Lasker
You’ll be sinkin’ like an anchor
‘Cause I’ll be thinkin’ like Capablanca
By game’s end you’ll be yakkin’ and beggin’
‘Cause I’ll be attackin’ like Alekhine
My moves you’ll try to mimic
But I’ll be channelin’ Botvinnik
You’ll be tossed like a rag doll
‘Cause I’ll be bossin’ you like Mikhail Tal
At most you’ll call me a pisher,
But I’m da ghost of Bobby Fischer!

You be divided like a minotaur,
I tan your hide like Andres Philidor
You’re sippin’ Courvoisier and havin’ fun while
I’m trippin like LaBourdonnais against McDonnell
You’ll be sendin’ out for coffee
While I’m endin’ you like Paul Morphy
You be cryin’ for yo lawya
‘Cause I be tryin’ you like Max Euwe
You be easin’ like soil erosion
While I’m squeezin’ you like Petrosian
Your game’s so moldy that you’ll drop off
Faced with Anatoly Karpov
It’s like you’re sufferin’ a harried mind dream
‘Cause I’m as tough as Garry Weinstein
That Chang Chick will be slammin’ it
While I’m bam-bammin’ you like Vlad Kramnik
Courtesy by j'adoube

Aerosvit 2008 International Chess Tournament

2008-06-10T09:16:00.024+09:30

Artwork done by the Webmaster-visit the Seven Wonders of Forus with Aerosvit

Aerosvit meaning (Sky World) Sponsors this international chess event held in Forus (originated from the Greek word Pharos)
Congratulations to GM Magnus Carlsen from Norway the child prodigy who blitzed his way through this amazing tournament, he is still only 17 years old and second in the world. Look out GM V. Anand from India who is currently the worlds No 1. I just wanted to add that GM Vassily Ivanchuck a veteran of chess is placed in between two child prodigies. What is a child prodigy? Here I have created a link to a List of all Chess Child Prodigies.

Here are the Top Three winners of this event:

1. Carlsen, Magnus - 8.0
2. Ivanchuk, Vassily - 7.0
3. Karjakin, Sergey - 6.0

Crimea is the homeland for the Crimean Tatars, an ethnic minority who now make up about 13% of the population. The Crimean Tatars were forcibly expelled to Central Asia by Joseph Stalin's government, but have begun returning to their homeland in recent years.

The games have begun and I hope to bring you some really exciting chess.
June 8th - June 19th

1. Carlsen, Magnus NOR 2765

2. Svidler, Peter RUS 2746

3. Ivanchuk, Vassily UKR 2740

4. Shirov, Alexei ESP 2740

5. Karjakin, Sergey UKR 2732

6. Jakovenko, Dmitry RUS 2711

7. Alekseev, Evgeny RUS 2711

8. Eljanov, Pavel UKR 2687

9. Volokitin, Andrei UKR 2684

10. Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter ROU 2684

11. Van Wely, Loek NED 2676

12. Onischuk, Alexander USA 2664

Game of the Day Round One

Game of the Day Round Two

Game of the Day Round Three

Game of the Day Round Four

Game of the Day Round Five

Game of the Day Round Six

More game of the day Videos

Results from Round One
Results from Round Two
Results with LIVE viewing
Host Site
Download Games in PGN

Winning Streak for Vasilly Ivanchuk

2008-06-05T02:11:00.004+09:30

All artwork done by me the WebmasterFinal Game Four of the "21st Magistral Ciudad de León" in Spain with analysis here.

Host site

Vassily Ivanchuck continues his winning streak and defeats Vishy Anand No 1 in the World and winner of the tournament for the last three years in a row. But Ivanchuck wins in great style, with Anand making a great blunder thus resigning in 16 moves!

Magnus Carlsen No 5 (Norway) Vs Peter Leko No 10 (Hungary) played some exciting chess and analysis can be seen here.
Host site (looks like a great place for a holiday)

Never a Dull Moment in Chess

2008-05-29T16:12:00.005+09:30

Men playing chess in Baku castle.
In Memory of Heydar Aliyev

The name of Baku means "city of winds". The coat of arms of Baku is formed of three torches against the sea waves. Long since Azerbaijan is called "Land of fire" and Baku with its burning springs is a sort of Azerbaijan symbol.
Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan. Modern borders of Baku embrace the main part of Absheron Peninsula. Baku is washed by the Caspian Sea in the East. The city includes health resort areas of Absheron Peninsula, which are well-known far beyond the Republics borders. The territory of Baku is about 2200 square kilometers. The population is 2074, 3 thousands people.
Baku is oil and industry center. In the 30's of the 18th century, the first experiences in oil refining took place in Baku and the first oil was drilled on the Bibi-Eibat fields in 1848. In the beginning of the 20th century Baku produced more than half the world's oil.

The Third President's Cup is took place from May 11th to 21st 2008 in Baku, Azerbaijan. GM Evgeniy Najer wins President's Cup in Baku. There were 180 participants in the Open Tournament, and the prize fund is US $85,000. There was also a Children's U-14 and a Seniors Tournament, it was a great event.
More News from ChessBase
President's Cup 2008 in Baku

All Games in zipped PGN

Invinciple Ivanchuk Wins M-tel

2008-05-14T23:50:00.016+09:30

Congratulations to Vasilly Invanchuk for winning the M-tel Grand Prix in Sophia, Bulgaria. My gift to you is a poster dedicated to this special event. GM Ivanchuk has created history and probably will not be stopped in this tournament! We have a very special guest Boris Spassky giving commentary in English! GM T. Radjabov Vs GM Ivanchuk have just finished their game by creating a draw!

Watch GM Vasilly Ivanchuks Stunning final Game of the Day

Watch Game of Yesterday
Watch Game of the Day
Watch other Game Videos of the Day
A Cage of Glass
I know it is only 1/2 a point between GM Veselin Topalov from Bulgaria and Vaselly Ivanchuk, I too am on the edge of my seat looking at the LIVE games at about 9:30 PM here in Australia. fascinating chess, I just love it. Topalov played a game worthy of note against his number two also from Bulgaria. Cheparinov has just come from Baku and ought to be in top form. Alas he was outplayed by the number one in an extraordinary game that must have been well thought over the night before!

I will change the poster and place the winner in the appropriate place if GM Veselin Topalov should win this event! It was a straight forward game by Ivanchuck playing Wu from China who i must say has picked up his game and created a draw leaving Ivanchuk with only 1/2 a point lead! I am looking forward to tonight as I am sure you all are too.
One day to go, and it was two draws and one win The game of the Day. Bu Xiangzhi from China Vs Veselin Topalov from Bulgaria. Bu played QGA and what a game, brilliant in fact, he outplayed Topalv in mighty fashion.

Live games
Host Site

GM Vassily Ivanchuk Leads the Pack!

2008-05-10T19:57:00.014+09:30

So far so good for "Big Chucky"

The players say he lives on 'Planet Ivanchuk', One never knows which mood he is going to be in! Some days he will treat you like his long-lost brother. The next day he ignores you completely. I the webmaster personally like his style of chess very much.

I want to include here what I saw in the Ivanchuk vs Bu Xiangzhi's game playing right this minute and I wonder if it went through Ivanchucks thinking, because it could have had tremendous possibilities for winning the game! Let me know what you think! Ok 12.Qc5+ Qd6 13.d4!!

Peak rating 2787 (October 2007) Ivanchuk has been known to one day be the next world Champion, right now he is number 10 in the world! As of November 2007 he was the World Blitz Chess champion.

Notable Game
Vassily Ivanchuk vs Garry Kasparov
Linares 1991 - Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack (B51) · 1-0 A really beautiful game!
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Ivanchuk- Bu Xiangzhi
Game of the Day - English

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A Cage of Glass

M-tel Masters 2008 8th - 18th May 2008

2008-05-06T11:45:00.035+09:30

Central Military Club, Sophia, one of the oldest cities in Europe.

The six-player field includes the Bulgarian duo of Veselin Topalov Bulgaria. ELO 2780 and Ivan Cheparinov, ELO 2713 Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan), ELO 2735 Levon Aronian (Armenia), ELO 2739 Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine) 2751 and Xiangzhi Bu (China) 2691
Both Ivan Cheparinov and Teimour Radjabov have just finished the Fide Grand Prix in Baku, will they play any better here than they did at Baku? Lets wait and see! Also will Xiangzhi Bu play just as good as Yue Wang did at the Fide Grand Prix?
We are about to start and GM Veselin Topalov will be giving ONE blindfold exhibition before the games start and his opponent is not even a strong chess player! Remember the days of the late Pillsbury when he took on 20 or so players blindfold and won the majority of them! Those were the days without computer assistance!

This year the web site of the tournament will again offer the game Play Like Topalov which is already popular among the fans. Traditionally last year’s winner in the game, this time Jason Juett from USA will have the chance to play a game against the 19th World Champion Veselin Topalov. This will happen on 6 May, a day before the official opening of M-Tel Masters in the Military Club in Sofia. Bulgaria’s best GM will play blindfold. With all expenses paid, it's not a bad idea after all because anyone in the world can sign up free and play the next move you think Topalov will make against against his opponants and maybe play him next year!
Past Bulgarian Chess Champions

Live games
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Today 7th May the blindfold game between Jason Juett was a surprise to the chess fans of Veselin Topalov when he announced a draw! sorry but I am a huge fan of Pillsbury when it comes to blindfold! jason was of course nervous and will stay for the fist round of the games and then make his way back home to the USA triuphant!

Round 1 - 08.05.2008
15.00 EEST (12.00 UTC)

Aronian, Levon Vs Topalov, Veselin 0-1

Cheparinov, Ivan Vs Xiangzhi, Bu 1-0

Radjabov, Teimour Vs Ivanchuk, Vassily 0-1

View Round One Games
Download PGN (zip)

Round Two - 09.05.2008

Topalov, Vs Ivanchuk, V 0-1

Xiangzhi, Bu Vs Radjabov, T 1/2-1/2

Aronian, L Vs Cheparinov, I 1/2-1/2

View Round Two Games
Download PGN (zip)

Live Games

Game of the Day Round One ECO: E00 Catalan
Game of the Day Round Two ECO C11 French Classical

GM Yue Wang, GM Vugar Gashimov or GM Magnus Carlsen to share the Prize Money?

2008-05-05T13:04:00.010+09:30

All very young GM's enter the last round of the Baku Fide Grand Prix 2008.
Yue Wang from China and Vugar Gashimov a local from Baku lead with 7 1/2 points, there are several on 7 points including the tournament favorite Magnus Carlsen from Norway. I like all three of them to win and I know they are all determined to win!

Who will win this Grand Prix Tournament? Vote Now!
The WINNER Will Receive "Chess Master 8000" Brand New! Postage paid anywhere in the Chess World! No Ties! No Strings! Just write what you thought about the Fide Grand Prix 2008. Just one paragraph. The winner will be picked by our social chess group that runs every Sunday! Your email and address will be kept confidential! So if you are interested start posting! The winner will be notified and paragraph published in the next posting in regards to this event.

Michael Adams (UK) Vs Vugar Gashimov (AZR) Petroff Defense This game has a very thorough "Live Commentary" in (English) or in (Russian) by GM Sergey Shipov
The next Grand Prix tournament is in Sochi, Russia from 30 July till 15 August 2008. See you then!

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Yue Wang (CHN) Wins Again & Takes the Lead!

2008-05-04T00:47:00.004+09:30

Translation of the Grischuk Vs Carlsen game in English by GM Sergey Shipov who is the commentator in Baku. 3 rounds are left till the end of the tournament, and the leaders are keeping their positions stable. Today, Grischuk will play with Carlsen - favorite of the tournament.

I myself prefered to watch the game won by GM Wang Yue (CHN) Vs GM Peter Svidler (RUS) Grunfeld 1-0 Yue is just improving all the time, way to go Wang! Game of the Day

Another great game was played by GM David Navara Vs GM Vugar Gashimov Sicilian Maroczy Bind Gurgenidze System 1/2-1/2

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Great Day for Chess

2008-05-02T21:22:00.013+09:30

Baku at night on the Black Sea!
GM Alexander Grischuk is leading a very strong group of chess players, the host site is doing a fantastic job at presenting up to date news of the event with everything you need to keep you informed and up to date. The pdf files are great to download with some very interesting comments about the games thus far, I highly recommend them. Here is an Interview with GM Wang Yue from China, seeded last but he is up there amongst the top three and surprised many I bet.
During the round of GM Alexander Grischuk vs GM Shakhriyar Mamedjarov, GM Sergey Shipov gives live commentary in Russian .
Alternatively, you can follow it in English.

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Game of the Day GM Teimour Radjabov Vs GM Ivan Cheparinov 0-1 Caro-Kann
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Guess the Move

2008-05-02T20:45:00.001+09:30

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov Vs Alexander Grischuk Slav Defense 14.Nfg5 ?

Wins for Ernesto Inarkiev (RUS) & Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE)

2008-04-30T01:50:00.002+09:30

Ernesto Inarkiev (RUS) Vs David Navara (CZE) Closed Ruy Lopez Anti-Marshall systems 1-0 Inarkiev was just too good with a great pawn advantage in the end game! 38.d6 Kf8 39.Re2+ Kd8 40.Ret Rxb4 41.Nb7+ Kc8 42.Rc7+ Kb8 43.Na5

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE) Vs Sergey Karjakin Queens Indian This must be the game of the day! What brilliance and a good end game. This is at move 36.Qc4 Qa8+

Here we are at move 60.Kg2 Qb4 61.Qc6 Kg5 62.b7 Qb1 63.Qd5 Kf4 64.Qd2+ Kxe4 65.f3+ Kf5 66.Qdt+ 1-0 Wonderful game!

Game of the Day Queens Indian

European Individual Chess Championship Plovdiv, Bulgaria 2008

2008-04-29T16:40:00.003+09:30

The European Individual Chess Championship starts in a week in Plovdiv. Close to 500 players will participate in one of the major competitions in Europe for 2008. In the mens section there are 332 participants with GM Sergey Movsesian as a top seeded player. In the womens section GM Pia Cramling is leading the list of 165 players.

Russia is the most represented country with more than 70 players. The hosts from Bulgaria have 45 players, and third is Greece with 41 players.

Chessdom.com will not be the official media partner of the event as their website has an agreement with the Games festival that takes place during that same period. However, you may expect frequent updates as more than 20 contributors of Chessdom will be in Plovdiv and will send interesting info, photos, videos, and reports. Please look back in a short while! I will be doing my best here at achessworld to cover the event.
Sergey Tiviakov of The Netherlands was the surprise winner in the Men's Championship after winning his last round game against Emil Sutovsky. Tiviakov avoided the large tiebreak that determined second and third place, and the twenty-two qualifiers to the FIDE World Cup tournament. Sergei Movsesian took the silver after beating Sergey Volkov in the playoffs.

In the Women's Championship, Ukraine's Kateryna Lahno won with 8.5/11, a half point ahead of the field. Viktorija Cmylite beat Anna Ushenina in the playoffs to take the silver.

Women's Games (PGN)

Mens Games (PGN)
Official Site

Four Wins in Round Seven!

2008-04-29T02:18:00.006+09:30

What a round that was and I'm sure you will agree! Four wins and the pace is picking up and their heads are down and they mean business. Here are a few images of the winning boards:

Vugar Gashimov (AZR) Vs Gata Kamsky (USA)
Classical Ruy Lopez Anti Marshall Systems
46.Qf3 Qe147.b6 Qb4 48.d6 Qd4+ 49.Kh2 Rb1 50.b7 Rxb7 51.Qxb7 Qxf4+52.g3 1-0
(game of the day)

Teimour Radjabov (AZE) Vs Magnus Carlsen (NOR)
Sicilian Dragon Yugoslav Attack
33.Qf7+Kd8 34.Qg8+ Kd7 35.Qf7+ Qe7 36.Qf5+ Kd8 37.Qa5+ b6 38.Qd5 e1=Q 39.Qa8+ Kd7 40.Qb7+ Ke8 0-1 (game of the day)

Sergey Karjakin (UKR) Vs Ernesto Inarkiev (RUS)
Closed Ruy Lopez
38.Qd2. Rd6 39.Ng3 Nf8 40.Qc3 Qb6 41.Nf5 Rd7 42.Bxb5 Rd1 43.Ne3 1-0

Game of the Day
Teimour Radjabov (AZE) Vs Magnus Carlsen (NOR)
Sicilian Dragon Yugoslav Attack Live Games
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A Win for Svidler, Kamsky & Cheparinov

2008-04-28T01:13:00.009+09:30

Photo is of a church in Sophia. Here we are back in Baku after a day of rest.

A great win for Peter Svidler from Russia Vs Sergey Karjakin from Ukraine it was all Svidler! Opening was QGD Semi Slave Meran system and the end game was pretty and well executed. All the other games were well worth watching Yue Wang from China was playing David Navara from Czechoslovakia and held a draw but what an exciting game it was. I am still watching a fabulous game played by Gata Kamsky USA Vs Micheal Adams from the UK. Kamsky is ahead on material and I feel sure he will win the game! Adams is holding on and and just might get a draw if he plays all the right moves! (of which he is at the moment). Nope Gata Kamsky won with a magnificent end game, Adams did well to hold on but was no match for Kamsky's end game expertise!

Ivan Cheparinov from Bulgaria is playing Ernesto Inarkiev from Russia,Cheparinov is more than likely to win his game he is also ahead on material and time and playing very well. All three games should make game of the day! Just brilliant play! Cheparinov has 23 minutes on the clock and Inarkiev has 7 minutes left.

This is at move 54.ke4 f3 55.Ne5 Rh4+ 56.Kf5 Rh5+ 57.Kg4 58.Bxd3 Bxd3 59.Rxe5 f2 0-1

Game of the Day QGD Semi Slav Meran As I said all three wins could be called game of the day!
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M-tel Masters 2008

2008-04-26T11:50:00.003+09:30

Great Architecture in and around Sophia.

More great chess coming our way and that is the M-tel Masters 2008. May 7 through May 18, at the Central Military Club in Sofia, Bulgaria. And the locals will have more than usual to cheer about, with two Bulgarians playing in a super-tournament for the first time. The six-player field includes the Bulgarian duo of Veselin Topalov Bulgaria. ELO 2780 (more details) and Ivan Cheparinov, ELO 2713 (more details) Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan), ELO 2735 (more details) Levon Aronian (Armenia), ELO 2739 (more details) Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine) 2751 (more details) and Xiangzhi Bu (China) 2691 (more details).

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Yue Wang Vs Sergy Karjakin

2008-04-26T01:44:00.003+09:30

The only win was Yue Wang from China Vs Sergy Karjakin from the Ukraine ECO Ruy Lopez Berlin defense the percentage of White winning is far greater 37.5% black 27.3% draws 33.2%.
Here is a notable game View Frank James Marshall vs Emanuel Lasker 0-1 Download.
I don't want to take away the glory from Yue Wang he played very well indeed, right down to a tight endgame.

Game of the Day Ruy Lopez Berlin Defense

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov Vs Magnus Carlsen

2008-04-25T02:15:00.006+09:30

Queens Indian E17

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 Na6 8. Ne5
Bxg2 9. Kxg2 c6 10. e4 Qc7 11. Nc3 Qb7 12. Nd3 d5 13. e5 Nd7 14. cxd5 cxd5 15.
h4 Nb4 16. Bg5 Nxd3 17. Qxd3 Bb4 18. Rec1 a6 19. Ne2 Rfc8 20. h5 h6 21. a3 Bf8
22. Bd2 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Rc8 24. Rf1 b5 25. f4 Qc6 26. Rc1 Qb7 27. Rf1 Qc6 28. Rc1
Qb7 29. Rf1 Qc6 30. Qf3 Qb6 31. f5 exf5 32. Bc3 a5 33. Bxa5 Qxa5!? {A nice
Bishop sac for good positional play by Mamedyarov} 34. Qxf5 Qd2 35. Qxf7+ Kh8
36. Rf2 Rd8 37. Qxd5 Qa5 {Carlsen is on the ropes and must be feeling the end
is near, a mating net is in the making and I was in awe at this style of play.}
38. Nf4 Qa8 39. Ng6+ 1-0

I must say all three of Whites wins were just wonderful to watch, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE) Vs Magnus Carlsen 1-0 Michael Adams (UK) Vs David Navara (CZE) 1-0 and Yue Wang (CHN) Vs Ivan Cheparinov (BUL) 1-0

I do not know how this will turn out but I am using a browser from my usb drive using ScribeFire a most wonderful user friendly application to carry out blog updates no matter where I am.

Game of the Day Queens Indian E17

GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE) vs GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR)1-0
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First Grand Prix Tournament: Baku 2008

2008-04-21T17:52:00.024+09:30

First Grand Prix tournament: Baku 2008

On Sunday, April 20, the first Grand Prix tournament, will be officially opened. Fourteen of the strongest chess grandmaster will compete in the capital of Azerbaijan. Baku is an amazing place on the Caspian sea with wonderful architecture, old city markets and brilliant subways (not a sandwich) Baku has many great chess players coming from this small corner of the world, I wonder why this is?

The tournament is dedicated to the 85th birthday of former Azerbaijan President Heydar Aliyev, and will be held April 20 - May 6, with thirteen rounds and two rest days.

Participants for this first Grand Prix tournament are Magnus Carlsen (2765), Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2752), Teimour Radjabov (2751), Peter Svidler (2746), Sergey Karjakin (2732), Michael Adams (2729), Gata Kamsky (2726), Alexander Grischuk (2716), Etienne Bacrot (2705), Ivan Cheparinov (2695), Wang Yue (2689), Ernesto Inarkiev (2684), Vugar Gashimov (2679) and David Navara (2672).

I was wondering why several top chess players were not participating in this very long journey to the top and then I did some research! what do you think about this boycott? Does it make sense to you as a chess enthusiast/observer? Here is what Alexander Morozevich had to say!

1st Round Pairings:

Inarkiev Ernesto Vs Kamsky Gata
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar Vs Svidler Peter
Carlsen Magnus Vs Wang Yue
Gashimov Vugar Vs Bacrot Etienne
Radjabov Teimur Vs Adams Michael
Cheparinov Ivan Vs Grischuk Alexander
Karjakin Sergey Vs Navara David

Live Games

Download PGN Games

Well into the tournament there have only been a handful of winning games, in the third round that has just finished Shakhriyar Mamedyarov from Azerbaijan was playing Peter Svidler from Russia in a most exciting match that was reminiscent of a game played long ago. Here it is an 1872 match between Carl Hamppe and Phillip Meitner, your feedback is worth its weight in gold!
View games

Commentary/Analysis's by GM Larry Christiansen
Game of the Day Ruy Lopez/Breyer variation
GM Ernesto Inarkiev Russia Vs GM Gata Kamsky USA
Game of the Day Sicilian: Rossolimo
Michael Adams UK Vs Ivan Cheparinov Bulgaria
Game of the Day Sicilian
GM Vugar Gashimov Azerbaijan Vs Peter Svidler Russia

Masters and Hustlers

2008-04-04T19:24:00.004+10:30

A Great insight into Masters and Hustlers of the Chess World! Well worth watching with Brilliant Commentary! It is my build up to the upcoming Street Chess in the World Info!
Your feedback would be appreciated!

The "Seventeenth Amber Blindfold and Rapid Chess Tournament" 2008

2008-03-28T02:35:00.006+10:30

It looks like Levon Aronian will be the winner of this special chess event that is Blindfold and Rapid. Melody Amber chess tournament, which uniquely combines blindfold chess and speed chess is an annual invitation-only event for some of the world's best players. It has been held in Monte Carlo from 1992 onwards and is sponsored by the Dutch billionaire and world champion of correspondence chess, Joop van Oosterom. Named after his daughter, the tournament is usually held in March of every year. To look at past events please go here: Melody Amber View the latest LIVE game here Round 11

Loek Van Wely-Alexander Morozevich 0-1

Replay the game with analysis

Magnus Carlsen-Boris Gelfand 1-0

Replay the game with analysis

Levon Aronian-Vassily Ivanchuk 1-0

Replay the game with analysis

Viswanathan Anand-Alander Morozevich 1-0

Replay the game with analysis

Vishy Anand Wins Linares 2008

2008-03-08T22:09:00.002+10:30

A stunning victory for Vishy Anand from India, he is the all round winner of the best chess tournament we shall see in a long time. Magnus Carlsen came a half point behind Anand and all I can say is Magnus is improving rapidly. Every where I went people were saying that Magnus Carlsen is the most watched chess player of our time!

Morelia-Linares Mexico-Spain 2008

2008-02-20T20:42:00.017+10:30

It is still to early to tell who is winning convincingly.Aronian is making full use of his opponents mistakes and it is wonderful to go through his games and see lost potential especially his game in round four by Vassily Ivanchuk from the Ukraine. We all know that chess is won by the person who makes the least amount of mistakes!

Here are some games with analysis from the third round:

Veselin Topalov-Vassily Ivanchuk 1-0

Replay the game with analysis

Magnus Carlsen-Viswanathan Anand 0-1

Topalov-Carlsen 0-1 Round 5
GM Joel Benjamin Replays the game with analysis.

Great win for Magnus Carlsen with the Alekhines defense/Classical variation. Carlson played this opening before with Black in a blitz game but not in standard game. I must say a very wonderful surprise and a brilliant win for Magnus! V. Topalov is now falling behind after being in front in the first three rounds. Vishy Anand is 1/2 a point ahead of Aronian and very soon Anand could quite easily maintain his lead. Anand is one point clear of the rest as of Round 6 with Aronian right on his heels, it is still all very close and a joy to watch.

Replay the game with analysis from Round 6
Radjabov-Carlsen 1-0
commentery with analyisis by GM Joel Benjamin.

Your comments are worth their weight in Gold! Who do you see as the all round winner?

Morelia/Linares Tournament 2008

2008-02-16T11:14:00.040+10:30

Medieval Spanish Chess Pieces
The Morelia-Linares tournament is taking place from February 15th to 23rd February in Morelia, Mexico, and from 28th February to 7th March in Linares, Spain.

The annual Linares chess tournament, usually played around the end of February, takes its name from the city of Linares in the Jaén province of Andalusia, Spain, in which it is held. It is sometimes described as the Wimbledon of chess. It is one of the strongest annual tournaments held on the chess tour, along with the Corus chess tournament and Dortmund chess tournament.

Morelia/Linares tournament. The eight-player, double round-robin has a stellar field that includes (in rating order): Vishy Anand (India), Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria), Alexei Shirov (Spain), Peter Leko (Hungary), Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine), Levon Aronian (Armenia), Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan) and Magnus Carlsen (Norway).
At the moment the site is down and when it is back up I will post all the information pertaining to this magnificent chess event.

Round 1: Friday, February 15th
Alexei Shirov-Vishy Anand 0-1
Magnus Carlsen-Vassily Ivanchuk 1/2-1/2
Peter Leko-Teimour Radjabov 1-0
Veselin Topalov-Levon Aronian 1-0

Round 2: Saturday, February 16th
Vishy Anand-Levon Aronian 0-1
Teimour Radjabov-Veselin Topalov 1/2-1/2
Vassily Ivanchuk-Peter Leko 1-0
Alexei Shirov-Magnus Carlsen 1/2-1/2

Round 3: Sunday, February 17th
Magnus Carlsen-Vishy Anand 0-1
Peter Leko-Alexei Shirov 1/2-1/2
Veselin Topalov-Vassily Ivanchuk 1-0
Levon Aronian-Teimour Radjabov 1/2-1/2

Round 4: Tuesday, February 19th
Vishy Anand-Teimour Radjabov 1/2-1/2
Vassily Ivanchuk-Levon Aronian 0-1
Alexei Shirov-Veselin Topalov 1-0
Magnus Carlsen-Peter Leko 1/2-1/2

Monday, February 18th Free day

Round 5: Wednesday, February 20th
Peter Leko-Vishy Anand 0-1
Veselin Topalov-Magnus Carlsen 0-1
Levon Aronian-Alexei Shirov 1/2-1/2
Teimour Radjabov-Vassily Ivanchuk 1/2-1/2

Thursday, February 21st Free day

Round 6: Friday, February 22nd
Veselin Topalov-Vishy Anand
Levon Aronian-Peter Leko
Teimour Radjabov-Magnus Carlsen
Vassily Ivanchuk-Alexei Shirov

Round 7: Saturday, February 23rd
Vishy Anand-Vassily Ivanchuk
Alexei Shirov-Teimour Radjabov
Magnus Carlsen-Levon Aronian
Peter Leko-Veselin Topalov

Sunday, February 25th Transfer to Linares, Spain

Click for Shirov-Anand Round One
commentary and analysis: GM Ronen Har-Zvi.

Shirov had a very bad start making some very unusual errors as you will see from the analysis. Overall a nice game that went terribly wrong for Shirov. Overall there have been many Wins so far in this tournament, the latest is Aronian winning his match with Anand, it was I must say a brilliant game!Aronian said I was not playing aggressively I was playing the "Marshall". Also I must give mention to Ivanchuck who beat Leko with a wonderful Queen sac for a positional advantage and a piece up in the end game that made him win very convincingly.

Click for Anand-Aronian Round Two
commentary and analysis by GM John Fedorowicz

Click for Topalov-Ivanchuk Round 3
commentary and analysis by GM Nick De Firmian

Click for Ivanchuk-Aronian Round 4
commentary and analysis by GM Larry Christiansen

Live Games Round 1
Live Games Round 2
Live Games Round 3
Live Games Round 4
Live Games Round 5
Live Games Round 6
Live Games Round 7
From the past: 36 video chess games at Linares.

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Washington Square Chess

2008-02-15T17:43:00.004+10:30

Many hollywood actors have taken up the game of chess it has been known that the late actor Heath Ledger played at least one game a day and at times he played chess in the Washington Square Park where beautiful stone tables are accessible to all. Earl Biggs, 63, who was a spectator at Ledger's early-morning games. "He'd usually lose. We played for a couple of dollars and he'd lose a few dollars. He just had fun, he loved it."
No matter where street chess is played, no matter how rich or poor the players are, the common denominator is an obsession with the game.

“It becomes an addictive thing,” said Eric Whitsett, who teaches chess at the tables in Washington Square Park. Whitsett claims to have once played for virtually 72 hours straight. “Your mind goes into analytical school. It starts to love it.”

Chess is a great outlet for exercising the brain if anyone know of any actor that plays chess can you please include a post with the news on how well they play. I did make a post a while back on Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, do a site search.

Robert (bobby) James Fischer Dies at 64

2008-01-19T11:16:00.008+10:30

Robert James Fischer Born: March 9, 1943 (1943-03-09) (age 64)

U.S.- born Fischer, who renounced his American citizenship and moved to Iceland in 2005, died Thursday at a hospital in Reykjavik from kidney failure, said spokesman Gardar Sverrisson. Gary Kasparov said that Fischer was the greatest chess player of all time. Spassky in France said he will be deeply missed and he was sorry to hear of his death.

Fischer's open mind and his "War on the Board" attitude has changed the way chess has been played over the years. I only hope that those who truly love chess will see him for his gift shared over the board and not due to his personal opinions of the world in general. We have to look at the great chess played by many champions who for one thing or another became challenged in more ways than one!

He lived one year for every square on a chessboard. As if his whole life was measured by the game he played. He ran out of squares on the chessboard of life.

Robert James Fischer was buried Monday 21 in a private ceremony at at Laugardaelir church outside the town of Selfoss. South of the capital city, REYKJAVIK.
The parish priest was Kristinn Agust Fridfinnsson. The funeral was attended by only a handful of people, including Fischer's longtime companion, Miyoko Watai, and friend and spokesman Gardar Sverrisson.

The old chess is finished as a competitive sport for professionals, because of the use of computers, but still fine for the amateur who plays for the pleasure. Bobby Fischer
The Truth At Last (or is it?)
Assortment of photographs and Images of Bobby Fischer

My 61 Memorable Games

Great photos of Iceland by Harri Eliasson

Corus Chess 2008

2008-01-16T11:05:00.000+10:30

Map of Wijk aan Zee:

Corus Chess 2008

The tournament is being held from 11-27 January 2008 in Wijk aan Zee.

Host site

Always exciting chess being played by many of the top chess players in the world, remember Teimour Radjabov has never lost to Gary Kasparov so playing against Viswanathan Anand and winning is no surprise to me. we are in for some good chess especially from the young chess players like Magnus Carlsen!

Replay Games

Teimour Radjabov-Viswanathan Anand 1-0

Replay the game with analysis

Levon Aronian-Veselin Topalov 1-0

Replay the game with analysis

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov-Magnus Carlsen 0-1

Replay the game with analysis

The Chess Match of a Lifetime

2008-01-04T14:01:00.000+10:30

Robert James Fischer Vs. Gary Kasparov
My proposal was sent to his Royal Highness Sheikh Mohammed to entertain the world with two of the worlds greatest chess players anyone would want to have witness in our lifetime. The players would both receive a substantial amount of money to play the best of 12 games, with the winner receiving around US$20 Million. This one of a kind event will take the world by storm and be played in The Burj Al Arab in Dubai.

We will televise the event to the highest bidder.
This will be The Chess Match of a Lifetime.

His Royal Highness Sheikh Mohammed will go down in the history books like never before. I am awaiting a response to this proposal and will inform the Chess World of it's outcome.

2007-2008 Australian Chess Championships

2008-01-03T13:41:00.000+10:30

2007-2008 Australian Chess Championships
The Australian Chess Championship will take place from the 2nd January 2008 to 11th January 2008. All Championship and Major games will be FIDE rated.

Alongside the Australian Championship will be a number of other chess tournaments. These are the Australian Major (Under 2100), Australian Minor (Under 1600) and Australian Lightning Championship.

View Live Games

2007 Results
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Gibtelecom Chess Festival 2008

2007-12-31T10:28:00.000+10:30

The 6th edition of Gibraltar's Gibtelecom Chess Festival will be held from 22-31 January 2008 at the Caleta Hotel, one of Gibraltar's best hotels.

In previous years they have had players of the quality of Alexei Shirov, Michael Adams and Nigel Short playing in the Masters section. In 2008 the line-up includes 2007 world championship contender Alexander Grischuk, rated 2715 and top Chinese players Wang Yue, rated 2702 and Bu Xiangzhi, rated 2692. In fact, practically the full Chinese squad (which beat Russia and the UK in 2007) is playing in Gibraltar!

Gibtelecom Masters (Open to all) - 22-31 January 2008 (10 rounds Swiss, FIDE rated)

Challengers A (Under 2250) - 22-26 January 2008 (5 rounds Swiss, FIDE rated)

Challengers B (Under 2250) - 27-31 January 2008 (5 rounds Swiss, FIDE rated)

Amateur A (Under 1850) - 22-26 January 2008 (5 rounds Swiss)

Amateur B (Under 1850) - 27-31 January 2008 (5 rounds Swiss)

Evening events (as announced during the event)

Junior Congress - 2-3 February 2008.

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The Battle of Hastings 1066

2007-12-25T12:47:00.000+10:30

From one battle to another, The greatest chess tournament ever held was in Hastings during 1885. The 2007-08 Congress will take place between 28th December 2007 through to 6th January 2008. Visit the home page to see who is participating this year.

The Hastings congress has seen the likes of Albin, Schlecter, Janowski, Marco, Blackburne, Maroczy, Svhiffers, Gunsberg, Burn, Tinsley. Vergani, Steinitz, Tchigorin, Lasker, Pillsbury, Tarrasch, Mieses, Teichmann.

Also over the years all the world champions except Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov have played at Hastings.

(Update)January 2 2008, Apologies made by the organizers of the LIVE coverage of the tournament because of unforeseen problems.

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The Road to Victory

2007-12-17T18:44:00.000+10:30

Congratulations Gata Kamsky

Round 1 Adly, Ahmed (EGY) 2494
Round 2 Avrukh, Boris (ISR) 2641
Round 3 Georgiev, Kiril (BUL) 2649
Round 4 Svidler, Peter (RUS) 2732
Round 5 Ponomariov, Ruslan (UKR) 2705
Round 6 Carlsen, Magnus (NOR) 2714
Round 7 Shirov, Alexei (ESP) 2739

In round 7 game 4 Gata Kamsky a Russian American who lives in Brooklyn New York won the World Cup held in Khanty-Mansiysk, Siberia, Russia 2007. Kamsky has qualified to play a match against Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria, sometime next year. The winner of that match will play the winner of a match between Viswanathan Anand of India, the world champion, and Vladimir Kramnik of Russia. The winner of that match will be the world champion.

Gata Kamsky-Alexei Shirov 1-0

Replay the game with analysis

Alexei Shirov-Gata Kamsky 1/2-1/2

Replay the game with analysis

World Cup Final 07

2007-12-12T00:33:00.000+10:30

This is a great final with two of the strongest GM's of the tournament
Alexie Shirov (Spain)Alexei Dmitrievich Shirov (Aleksejs born July 4, 1972 in Riga, Latvia) is a chess grandmaster. On the July 2007 FIDE rating list he was ranked number eleven in the world with an ELO rating of 2735. Shirov is also a well-regarded chess author. More on Shirov here. Games of Shirov here.
Gata Kamsky (USA) Gata Kamsky (Tatar: Ğataulla Kamski) (born June 2, 1974) is a Soviet-born American chess grandmaster. At one point he was the third highest-rated player in the world, but he played almost no FIDE-rated games between 1997 and late 2004. He is rated 2714 in the October 2007 FIDE list, ranking him seventeenth in the world and first among American players. More on Kamsky here. Games of Gata Kamsky here.

View Live Game 1
View Live Game 2
View Live Game 3
View Live Game 4
Watch Video of the First Game Shirov-Kamsky 1/2-1/2
Watch Video of the Second Game Kamsky-Shirov 1-0
Watch Video of the Third Game Shirov-Kamsky 1/2-1/2
Watch Video of the Fourth Game Kamsky-Shirov 1/2-1/2
With with GM Larry Christiansen
What do people say about Alexie Shirov:

I thought that Kramnik is the best endgame player since Karpov's decline , but after looking at some Shirov's games i kinda changed my mind.

Shirov displays great technique in the opening of the day. You cannot selectively choose the errors of your opponent as the ones you cannot see and your own errors as the ones that are blunders. In most games played by Shirov's opening is sound and solid. He does mighty fine after 14 moves.

What do people say about Gata Kamsky:

His games are something else. Sac, sac, sac, sac, mate. Actually, kamsky isn't so rusty. I admit, he did have a lot to dust off when he first came back to chess but now he's playing at the top level again. Kamsky was brilliant!!!

World Cup Semi-Finals

2007-12-09T07:56:00.000+10:30

World Chess Cup 2007 - Carlsen, Kamsky, Shirov, and karjakin, are in the semifinals! Vote who is going to win in the Poll in a chess world message board! Some great chess has been played and we can expect some fighting chess masterpieces to come out of these four brilliant grandmasters.
Game one of round six was a draw for Carlsen-Kamsky, Shirov-karjakin. In the poll so far Karjakin is the favorite. We can only wait and see!

I was surprised that Magnus Carlsen opted for the Petrov defence, Kamsky stayed solid and never went for any early exchange variation that could possible end in a draw. Kamsky played the better game and well deserved the win.

Sergy Karjakin opened with the Ruy Lopez and followed familiar lines that had Shirov on the ropes. The game was an exchange variation and ended in a draw. Gata Kamsky is looking very good indeed!

World Cup 2007 Quaterfinals

2007-12-06T08:06:00.000+10:30

Land of the Midnight Sun.

Quarterfinals Are Set! We are in for some good fighting chess, will anyone break away from book? If not why not? Post your comments.

Game of the day for me was Jakovenko, Dmitry-Alexei Shirov 0-1 English, four Knights variation.

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nc3 Nb6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. b3 O-O 9. Bb2 Bg4 10. h3 Bh5 11. d3 Re8 12. Rc1 Bf8 13. Ne4 Nd7 14. g4 Bg6 15. Ng3 a5 16. d4 e4 17. Ne5 Ndxe5 18. dxe5 Qh4 19. e3 Rad8 20. Qc2 Nb4 21. Qe2 c6 22. Nxe4 Nd3 23. Rc4 Nxe5 24. Bxe5 Rxe5 25. Rd1 Rxd1+ 26. Qxd1 b5 27. Rd4 c5 28. Rd5 Rxe4 29. Bxe4 Bxe4 30. Rd8 Qe7 31. Rb8 b4 32. Qe2 Qd6 0-1

A marathon of a game with Cheparinov,Ivan-Magnus Carlsen Carlsen lost a pawn at move 27 but managed to get it back towards the end game. Cheparinov held out with great finesse to obtain a well deserved draw! Kamsky had a convincing win over Ponomariov. There is still a ways to go and great chess for the viewing.

1 Cheparinov, Ivan (BUL) ½-½ Carlsen, Magnus (NOR)
2 Alekseev, Evgeny (RUS) ½-½ Karjakin, Sergey (UKR)
3 Kamsky, Gata (USA) 1-0 Ponomariov, Ruslan (UKR)
4 Jakovenko, Dmitry (RUS) 0-1 Shirov, Alexei (ESP)

Alekseev, Evgeny (RUS)
Kamsky, Gata (USA)
Shirov, Alexei (ESP)
Aronian, Levon (ARM)
Ponomariov, Ruslan (UKR)
Cheparinov, Ivan (BUL)
Karjakin, Sergey (UKR)
Carlsen, Magnus (NOR)

Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu-Sergey Karjakin 1-0
Replay the game with analysis

Vladimir Akopian-Alexei Shirov 0-1
Replay the game with analysis

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Game of the Century

2007-12-05T13:27:00.000+10:30

The Game of the Century - Chess game between Donald Byrne and Bobby Fischer, which took place at the Rosenwald Memorial Tournament in New York City, New York on October 17, 1956. Bobby Fischer was only 13 years old in this photo as he was contemplating his famous Queen Sacrifice. For those of you that have not seen it please make your way to the Game of the Week. There is some great analysishere

Little did Bobby know what was in store for him as he was a young man, did you know what he had to endure? In case you did not know I am going to lead you to a few places that might surprise you.

BOBBY FISCHER WINS U.S. JUNIOR TITLE

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Fourteen-year-old Bobby Fischer of Brooklyn won the 1957 U.S. junior championship by the convincing score of 8.5-.5. The nation's youngest master gave up only one draw, to runner-up Gil Ramirez of San Francisco. Ramirez, who is simultaneously State Champion and State Open Champion, also lost no games to post a 7.5-1.5 score. Stephen Sholomson of Los Angeles, who lost to Fischer and Ramirez and drew one game, was third, 6.5-2.5. Ronnie Thacker of Richmond was fourth, 6-3, ahead of six players tied for fifth, 5.5-3.5.

I WAS TORTURED IN THE PASADENA JAIL HOUSE Tuesday afternoon, May 26, 1981!

by BOBBY FISCHER THE WORLD CHESS CHAMPION
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I know just the kind a world Mr Robert James Fischer would want to live in! I feel mighty proud to have lived in his time and be part of the chess world he help create.
Thank you Bobby, from someone deeply appreciative of what you accomplished in your chess career.

Twenty-one year-old Bobby Fischer of Brooklyn, six times U.S. champion, will play several simultaneous exhibitions in California during April. Fischer's first nation-wide tour is in the grand style and few previous appearances by grandmasters have been awaited as eagerly as Fischer's.

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Fischer - Spassky Rematch
Sveti Stefan/Belgrade, Yugoslavia
September - November 1992 $5 Million Prize Money. I say keep sport out of politics! To view these game go here

The World Cup 2007

2007-12-01T07:45:00.000+10:30

126 participants of the World Cup have arrived in Khanty Mansiysk on November 23rd. The competition will be carried out as planned, starting November 24 to December 18. The winner of the World Cup receives the right to challenge the former world champion Veselin Topalov in a match.

Piercing the skyline and rising above the Russian city of Khanty Mansyisk, this mixed-use scheme will create an elegant and crystalline landmark, providing crucial new amenities for its citizens - a place for living, working and leisure, sheltered from the harsh Siberian climate. This place I assure you is really worth looking at. Where is Khanty Mansyisk click here

Below are some games for your enjoyment in analysis's mode: Teimour Radjabov of Azerbiajan, No. 8 is out by playing badly, I know we all have bad days but I wonder why he played such an ordinary game to start with! Results so far.

The pairings for the 4th Round are Karjakin-Nisipeanu, Bareev-Alekseev, Jakovenko-Aronian, Shirov-Akopian, Ponomariov-Sasikiran, Kamsky-Svidler, Adams-Carlsen, and Wang Yue-Cheparinov. Each player is already guaranteed $25,000.

Bartomiej Macieja-Teimour Radjabov 1-0

Alexei Shirov-Yuri Shulam 1-0

Alexander Onischuk-Predrag Nikolic 1-0

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Who is Kirsan Ilyumzhinov?

2007-11-28T11:16:00.000+10:30

Ilyumzhinov maintains that in 1997 while he was on a business trip to Moscow he was forced onto a UFO. They took me from my apartment and we went aboard their ship. We flew to some kind of star. They put a spacesuit on me, told me many things and showed me around. They wanted to demonstrate that UFOs do exist.

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov is the head of FIDE and is in control of the chess world as we see it today, if you want to find out more about this person then please click here

Sunday in MOSCOW Kasparov Arrested!

2007-11-27T19:42:00.000+10:30

Sunday in MOSCOW Former world chess champion Garry Kasparov will go to jail for five days after he helped lead a protest against Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Kasparov's assistant says he was beaten during the demonstration that ended with protesters clashing with police.

Kasparov, with other protesters are demanding fair elections. Kasparov jailed over rally! This is a disgrace as far as I am concerned when the rally was legal!

Kasparov was forced to the ground and beaten, his assistant Marina Litvinovich said in a telephone interview from outside the police station where he was being held- CNN. The rally was legal but it was looked upon as a march according to Russian law was illegal!

News Update:

Garry Kasparov said he was doing fine and that he has been receiving acceptable treatment at the Petrovka 38 jail where he is being held until Thursday. Visits to the jailed opposition leader are still prohibited but he managed to exchange a few words with his mother Klara Kasparova at his Monday appeal hearing. He also received a few books and a chess set. (Perhaps this was allowed because the authorities would like to encourage him to leave politics and return to chess.)

On Saturday, November 24, a completely legal, officially sanctioned rally was held on Andrei Sakharov Square in Moscow, attended by about 2000 people, including Garry Kimovich Kasparov. The permit that the organizers had obtained allowed the event to take place from 13:00 to 14:00. During the rally, participants were essentially surrounded by a cordon of police, but were not otherwise provoked.

Hear The Truth
What were the circumstances of Garry Kasparov’s arrest Sunday?

Karinna Moskalenko: This is the second time that Garry has been arrested. In April, he was arrested at rally which was unlawfully denied a permit. Sunday, the demonstration had all the permits, but the state's actions were completely unlawful. Even before the day’s events began, the OMON riot police were ready and waiting. Following the conclusion of the demonstration meeting, some of Garry’s supporters began a march to the Central Election Committee to present a petition to the authorities, but were quickly stopped by the police. Violence broke out and many were arrested. When Garry went over to see what happened, he was placed under arrest.

Read More
About Putin's plans.

look here to see part of the rally where Gary Kasparov was arrested.

How Life Imitates Chess

2007-11-20T07:50:00.000+10:30

Garry Kasparov author of "How Life Imitates Chess: Making the Right Moves - from the Board to the Boardroom" interviewed by Leon Aron.

Former world chess champion Garry Kasparov relates how his understandings of the game of chess effect other aspects of life. In "How Life Imitates Chess: Making the Right Moves - from the Board to the Boardroom" Mr. Kasparov chronicles his twenty year professional chess career and his political life as the leader of a coalition opposed to the current Russian leadership. Mr. Kasparov discusses his book with Leon Aron, the director of Russian studies at the American Enterprise Institute and the author of "Russia’s Revolution: Essays, 1989-2006."

View the video here I have seen this interview and encourage you to take a look into the life of Gary Kasparov through his best selling book that is dedicated to his mother. You will need to have Real Player to download the latest player go here. If you have seen it feel free to talk about it.

SPICE Cup International Chess Tournament

2007-11-17T22:05:00.001+10:30

Held in memory of grandmaster Samuel Reshevsky

Samuel Herman (Sammy) Reshevsky (born Szmul Rzeszewski, November 26, 1911, Ozorków near Lodz, (then Russian Empire, today Poland) - died April 4, 1992, New York, USA) was a leading American chess Grandmaster. He won the U.S. Chess Championship six times outright, and lost a playoff for the title in 1973. Reshevsky was a Candidate for the World Chess Championship three times (1948, 1953, and 1968). Reshevsky was also a chess author.

Reshevsky learned to play chess at age four, and was soon acclaimed as a child prodigy. At age eight he was beating accomplished players with ease, and giving simultaneous exhibitions. In November 1920 his parents moved to the US to make a living exhibiting their child. He played in the 1922 New York Masters tournament.

As an adult however, Reshevsky was never a professional chess player. He temporarily gave up chess to enter the University of Chicago, and graduated in 1933 with a degree in accounting. He supported himself and his family by working as an accountant. His 1941 marriage to the former Norma Mindick produced three children.

Reshevsky was a devout Orthodox Jew and did not play on the Jewish Sabbath. His games were scheduled accordingly.

Reshevsky Quotes:

* "By playing slowly during the early phases of a game I am able to grasp the basic requirements of each position. Then, despite being in time pressure, I have no difficulty in finding the best continuation. Incidentally, it is an odd fact that more often than not it is my opponent who gets the jitters when I am compelled to make these hurried moves."

* His self-description, "My style is somewhere between that of Tal and Petrosian," is sometimes circulated as an ironic comment but makes more sense in its full context; from his book Great Chess Upsets:

"I am essentially a positional player, although I can conduct an assault with precision and vigor, when the opportunity arises. My style lies between that of Tal and Petrosian. It is neither over-aggressive nor too passive. My strength consists of a fighting spirit, a great desire to win, and a stubborn defense whenever in trouble. I rarely become discouraged in an inferior situation, and I fear no one."

The winner of this great tournament was Eugene Perelshteyn, a grandmaster from Massachusetts, he won the Spice Cup, a tournament at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Tex. He led from start to finish, scoring 6.5 out of 9. You just have to see his games! I must admit i have never heard of this GM before now.

View some really great games here

SPICE CUP Chess Tournament, Round 7

Chess Openings

2007-11-17T08:43:00.001+10:30

The Catalan is a chess opening which can be considered to be White adopting a mixture of the Queen's Gambit and Réti Opening: White plays d4 and c4 and fianchettos the white bishop on g2. A common opening sequence is 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2, though the opening can arise from a large number of move orders. ECO codes E01-E09 are for the Catalan.

The Catalan derives its name from Catalonia — nowadays a region shared mainly by Spain and in a lesser area by France — after tournament organizers at the 1929 Barcelona tournament asked Savielly Tartakower to create a new variation in homage to the area's chess history. It had been played a few times before Tartakower's usage in the tournament, however: Réti-Leonhardt, Berlin 1928, for instance, transposed into an Open Catalan.

Major changes in the rules of chess in the late fifteenth century increased the speed of the game, consequently emphasizing the importance of opening study. Thus, early chess books, such as the 1497 text of Luis Ramirez de Lucena presents opening analysis, as does Pedro Damiano (1512), and Ruy López de Segura (1561). Ruy Lopez's disagreement with Damiano regarding the merits of 2...Nc6 led to 3.Bb5 (after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6) being named for him as the Ruy Lopez or Spanish Opening.[3] Opening theory was studied more scientifically from the 1840s on, and many opening variations were discovered and named in this period and later. Opening nomenclature developed haphazardly, and most names are historical accidents not based on systematic principles.

The oldest openings tend to be named for geographic places and people. Many openings are named after nationalities, for example Indian, English, Spanish, French, Dutch, Scotch, Russian, Italian, Scandinavian, and Sicilian. Cities are also used, such as Vienna, Berlin, and Wilkes-Barre. The Catalan System is named after the Catalonia region of Spain.

Chess players' names are the most common sources of opening names. The name given to an opening is not always that of the first player to adopt it; often an opening is named for the player who was the first to popularize it or to publish analysis of it. Eponymic openings include the Ruy Lopez, Alekhine Defense, Morphy Defense, and the Réti System. Some opening names honor two people, such as with the Caro-Kann.

A few opening names are descriptive, such as Giuoco Piano (Italian: "quiet game"). More prosaic descriptions include Two Knights and Four Knights. Descriptive names are less common than openings named for places and people.

Some openings have been given fanciful names, often names of animals. This practice became more common in the 20th century. By then, most of the more common and traditional sequences of opening moves had already been named, so these tend to be unusual or recently developed openings like the Orangutan, Hippopotamus, Elephant, and Hedgehog.

More on Chess Openings

Kramnik Leads Tal Memorial

2007-11-16T09:19:00.000+10:30

Mikhail Tal was born in Riga, Latvia. At the age of eight, Tal learned to play chess while watching his father, a doctor. Shortly thereafter he joined the Riga Palace of Young Pioneers chess club. His play was not exceptional at first but he worked hard to improve. Alexander Koblencs began tutoring Tal in 1949. Tal's game improved rapidly thereafter, and by 1951 he had qualified for the Latvian Championship. In the 1952 Latvian Championship Tal finished ahead of his trainer. Tal won his first Latvian title in 1953, and was awarded the title of candidate master. He became a Soviet master in 1954 by defeating Vladimir Saigin in a qualifying match. Tal graduated in Literature from the University of Riga, writing a thesis on the satirical works of Ilf and Petrov, and taught school in Riga for a time in his early 20s. He was a member of the Daugava Sports Society, and represented Latvia in internal Soviet team competitions.

The Russian Cup Men's Final Tournament takes place in the town of Serpukhov near Moscow from 5 to 16 Nov. The event is conducted with the support of the town administration. The tournament is played according to the knock-out system, with 16 highest-rated played beginning to play from the second round. The rate of play is 90 minutes to each for the whole game with an increment of 30 second per move starting from the first. If the score is equal, the rivals will play two rapid and (if necessary) two blitz games.

The round-robin tournament, where Vasily Ivanchuk (Ukraine, 2787), Vladimir Kramnik (Russia, 2785), Peter Leko (Hungary, 2755), Shakhriar Mamedyarov (Azerbajan, 2752), Alexei Shirov (Spain, 2739), Boris Gelfand (Israel, 2752), Gata Kamsky (the USA, 2724), Evgeny Alekseyev (Russia, 2716), Magnus Karlsen (Norway, 2714), and Dmitry Jakovenko (Russia, 2710) are taking part, started on 10 Nov. Each round starts at 3 p.m. The playing days are 10 through 14 and 16 through 19 Nov.
The rate of play is 100 minutes to each player for the first 40 moves plus 50 minutes for the next 20 moves plus 15 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from the first.

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Vladimir Kramnik-Alexei Shirov 1-0

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Vassily Ivanchuk-Magnus Carlsen 1/2-1/2

Replay game with analysis
Vladimir Kramnik-Evgeny Alekseev 1-0

Replay game with analysis
Vladimir Kramnik-Shakhriyar Mamedyarov 1-0

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The chess games of Mikhail Tal

European Team Chess Championships 2007

2007-10-29T01:20:00.000+10:30

European Team Chess Championships 2007
Crete, Greece / 27 October - 7 November
The participants include 7 of the World Top-10 players: V. Ivanchuk, V. Topalov, A. Morozevich, S. Mamedyarov, T. Radjabov, L. Aronian,
A. Shirov with many more from 40 countries. This is a must see event updated news will be posted as I receive it. LIVE GAMES

Congratulations to all the teams participating I am sure the journey was a fruitful one. I used to live in Crete and just loved the place as I am sure so did all the participants. The top three teams were:

1 RUSSIA (also the Women's team)
2 ARMENIA
3 AZERBAIJAN

The Russian team came in as favorites to win this event, and did so with gusto. Not far behind was Armenia the Olympic gold medalist in 2006. great play by Azerbaijan we can see that the event was well organized and I feel sure that everyone enjoyed themselves.

I will be picking out a player here and there who I think has played well for this event. I am going to draw your attention to Zdenko Kozul (born May 21, 1966) the year England won the world cup in football! Zdenko is a Croatian chess grandmaster and was the 2006 European champion. He played Shirov in round three and it was a great game, typical of the style of Kozul, this is not the first time he has beaten Shirov. In round four he is up against V.Topalov a must see match. I would like to bring your attention to a game played by Kozul in 2004 at Tripoli, Libya. It was a game of great skill a Rook down and by pushing his pawns as you will no doubt agree was a very nice game indeed.
View Gamethat you can download. Z Kozul vs Rublevsky, 2004 1-0

[Round "5"]
[White "Akopian (ARM)"]
[Black "Atalik (TUR)"]
[Result "1-0"]

Vladimir Akopian (Armenia); born December 7, 1971 in Baku) is a leading Armenian chess Grandmaster. In Armenia his surname is more commonly written Hakobyan however, most English texts and the Fédération Internationale des Échecs use a transliteration of the Russian version.

Akopian won the World Under-16 Championship in 1986 at the age of 14 and the World Under-18 Championship at 16.

Akopian was one of the contributing players on the Armenian chess team which won gold at the 2006 Chess Olympiad he is Armenia's number two player, behind Levon Aronian.

Akopian Vs V.Kramnik [1-0] No doubt about it Akopian is worthy to take a close look especially at his style of play when it comes to an end game. I can just imagine anyone confronted playing him will be thinking I have to mate this guy before the end game because I personally think he is dynamic.

Master the End games II (for your pleasure)

Magnus Carlsen (Norway)Magnus Øen Carlsen (born November 30, 1990) is a Norwegian chess Grandmaster who came to international attention after winning the C group of the Corus Chess Tournament in January 2004 at the age of thirteen, and winning the B group of the same tournament two years later at 15.

Carlsen became Grandmaster at the age of 13 years, 4 months, and 27 days, the third youngest Grandmaster age in world history, surpassed only by Sergey Karjakin and Parimarjan Negi.

[Round "6"]
[White "Carlsen (NOR)"]
[Black "Tiviakov (NED)"]
[Result "1-0"]

Magnus Carlsen has been playing very well indeed, his game in round six just shows that this young man is headed for the top at some point in his career. I have included a game played by Carlsen-Ernst, from the Corus Chess tournament in 2004. It is given with Carlsen's own annotations.

1. e4 c6

A surprise in move one! I had prepared for the Ruy Lopez.

2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bf4 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Ne4 Qa5

13...Nxe4 is possible, followed by 14. Qxe4 Nf6 15. Qd3 Qd5 (15...Qa5 16. Kb1 0-0 causes the continuation) 16. Kb1!? (16. c4 is more common) 16...Nh5 17. Bc1 followed by Ne5 gives good compensation for the pawn.

14. Kb1 O-O 15. Nxf6+ Nxf6

Not 15...Bxf6 16.g4!

16. Ne5

Polgar actually played 16.g4 in this position also - against Anand in last years Wiijk an Zee. I reckoned Ernst was well familiar with this continutation and therefore chose a quieter line.

16...Rad8 17. Qe2

This was the last theoretical move I knew. Still, I had used 45 minutes to decide upon which line to play.

17...c5!?

17...Qb6 18.c3 (18.Rd3 was recommended by some commentators, but it looks like it may be possible for black to snatch the pawn, for instance 18...Rxd4 19. Be3 Re4!) 18...c5 was definitely a better choice for black.

18. Ng6! fxg6?

The alternative 18...Rfe8 19.Nxe7+ Rxe7 20.dxc5 was preferable, but black is in trouble here as well.

19. Qxe6+ Kh8 20. hxg6!

Black is actually defenseless.

20. ... Ng8

The best try. 20...Rd7 or 20...Rde8 are both driven back by 21. Rxh6+ gxh6 22. Bxh6 Rg8 23. Qf7 cxd4 24. Bg5! (In the line after 20...Rde8 the response 22...Qb6 fails to 23. g7+ Kh7 24. gxf8=Q Bxf8 25. Qf7+ Kxh6 26. f4! with a mating attack.)

21. Bxh6 gxh6 22. Rxh6+!

The real point of the combination.

22...Nxh6 23. Qxe7 Nf7

The only move.

24. gxf7

Interestingly enough had 24. Qf6+? been played before, but after 24...Kg8 25. Rh1 Nh6 26. Qe7 Nf7 27. Qf6 white only gets a draw.

24...Kg7

After 24...Qb6 25. Qe5+ Kh7 26. Rh1+ Kg6 27. Rh5 black has to give up his queen with 27...Qf6 28. Rh6+ to avoid mate, but the endgame is of course hopeless.

25. Rd3?!

25. Qe5+! Kxf7 26. Rd3 would have forced black to play 26...Qe1+ to avoid mate.

25...Rd6

This loses immediately, but 25...Qb6 26. Rg3+ Qg6 27. Rxg6+ Kxg6 28. d5 is also easily won for white.

26. Rg3+ Rg6 27. Qe5+ Kxf7 28. Qf5+

27...Kh7 28. Qh5+ Rh6 29. Qf5+ Kh8 30. Qe5+ leads to mate.

28...Rf6

Both 28...Ke7 and 28...Ke8 fails to 29. Re3+.

29. Qd7# 1-0

Feast your eyes on this young man Teimour Radjabov, he played Vladimir Akopian in the eighth round playing French advanced and was so strong it must of had some effect on Akopian. Radjabov never made a single mistake well if there was one I never saw it Teimour was brilliant. Radjabov's playing style has been described as attacking and tactically influenced look at this game where he played Gary Kasparov and I must mention he has never lost to Kasparov. 0-1 click here

In 2003, Radjabov defeated Viswanathan Anand and Ruslan Ponomariov with the black pieces. He is probably the first player ever to beat three former and reigning FIDE World Chess Champions with the black pieces in one year

Teimour Radjabov, also spelled Teymur Rajabov, (Azerbaijani: Teymur Rəcəbov; born March 12, 1987 in Baku, Azerbaijan) is a leading chess player from Azerbaijan. On the July 2007 FIDE list, Radjabov had an Elo rating of 2746, ranking ninth in the world and second in his native Azerbaijan. Radjabov earned the title of International Grandmaster in March 2001 at the age of 14, making him the second youngest grandmaster in history at the time. If you don't know what T. Radjabov looks like then visit the photo gallery in round six, M. Carlsen is at the top of the photo gallery who has also moved in front of Alexander Morozevich by half a point and is now leading the event.

Best Players (according to points)

Round One Results
Round Two Results
Round Three Results
Round Four Results
Round Five Results
Round Six Results
Round Seven Results
Round Eight Results
Round Nine Results

Round One Results (Women)
Round Two Results (Women)
Round Three Results (Women)
Round Four Results (Women)
Round Five Results (Women)
Round Six Results (Women)
Round Seven Results (Women)
Round Eight Results (Women)
Round Nine Results (Women)

Standings and Statistics

Download Games Round One in pgn
Download Games Round Two in pgn
Download GamesRound Three in pgn
Download Games Round Four in pgn
Download Games Round Five in pgn
Download games Round Six in pgn
Download games Round Seven in pgn
Download games Round Eight in pgn
Download games Round Nine in pgn

PHOTO GALLERY

Round One
Round Two
Round Three
Round Four
Round Five
Round Six
Round Seven
Round Eight
Round Nine

Host Site in Crete

Rudolf Rezso Charousek

2007-10-26T14:23:00.000+09:30

The short story, The Last Round by Kester Svendsen, was concurrently based on a most wonderful game I have seen in a long time. The game containing 3 sacrifices, two of which were Queens maybe the most poetic of games. The vividly game was apparently played between Rudolph Charuosek (White) and Jakob Wolner in Kaschua, 1893. Charuosek beat lasker quite easily and Lasker commented that he would have to play him again for the world title.

(Hungarian: Rezső Charousek) (Praga, 19 September 1873 – Budapest, 18 April 1900) was a Hungarian-Jewish chess player. A brilliant player, he had a tragically short career, dying from tuberculosis at 26. Reuben Fine described him as the John Keats of chess.

It was not long ago I wrote an article on another brilliant chess master IM Rashid Nezmehtdinov who could not play Lasker as contender for the world championship because of poverty. This was also the case with Charousek, he was so poor I doubt if he were still alive at the time would he have been able to afford to play Lasker.

Well here is the most wonderful game that has definitely made me a Charousek fan.
1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bc5 6. Nxc3 d6 7. 0-0 0-0 8. Ng5 h6 9. Nxf7 Rxf7 10. e5 Ng4 11. e6 Qh4 12. exf7+ Kf8 13. Bf4 Nxf2 14. Qe2 Ng4+ 15. Kh1 Bd7 16. Rae1 Nc6 17. Qe8+ Rxe8 18. fxe8=Q+ Bxe8 19. Bxd6++

Download the game in pgn here
Puzzles from Charousek's games here

Smith-Morra Gambit

2007-10-26T09:41:00.000+09:30

In chess, the Smith-Morra Gambit (or simply Morra Gambit) is a gambit against the Sicilian defense distinguished by the moves 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3. It is not common in grandmaster games, but at club level chess it is an excellent weapon.

The gambit is accepted by:

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3

White sacrifices a pawn to develop quickly and create attacking chances. In exchange for the gambit pawn, White has a piece developed and a pawn in the center, while Black has nothing but an empty space on c7. The plan for white is straightforward and consists in putting his bishop on c4 with attack on f7, and control of both lines c and d with rooks taking advantage of the fact that the black queen can hardly find a suitable place.

The Smith-Morra is named after two players, the Pierre Morra from France (1900-1969), and Kenneth Ray Smith of the United States (1930-1999). Hence in Europe the name Morra-Smith gambit is preferred; names like Tartakower Gambit and Matulovic Gambit have disappeared. I wonder why that is, I always thought whoever played the gambit first ought to have it named after them! any comments? It is also the game of the week!

Morra published a booklet and several articles about the Smith-Morra around 1950. Smith wrote a total of nine books and forty-nine articles about the gambit. When Ken Smith participated in the international tournament against several top grandmasters in San Antonio in 1972, Smith essayed the Smith-Morra three times, against Donald Byrne, Larry Evans and Henrique Mecking, but wound up losing all those games. In fact, when Mario Campos Lopez played the French Defense (1...e6) instead of the Sicilian against Smith, Bent Larsen gave Lopez's move a question mark along with the comment "stronger is 1...c5 which wins a pawn". Did you know that Kenneth Ray Smith was one of very few people whom Bobby Fischer trusted and had sign a contract with him to help organize and arrange tournaments.

Here is a nice opening trap that can be used as Black. It is against the Smith Morra Gambit. The position comes from the following moves:
1. e4 c5
2. d4 cxd4
3. c3 dxc3
4. Nxc3 e6
5. Bc4 Nc6
6. Nf3 Qc7
7. Qe2 Nf6
8. O-O Ng4
9. h3??

The Hedeghog

2007-10-15T12:43:00.000+09:30

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. Re1 d6. This is the mainline Hedgehog where White has fianchettoed his/her Queen bishop. See the game of the week for for a different idea, the placement of Black's double fiancheto Bishop's is worthy of serious attention. It is good to learn these positions as a nice change of pace because black gets a much bigger piece of the center than usual.

The ideas behind the Hedgehog were originally developed in the English Opening, (hence the game of the week). The Hedgehog Defence in particular refers to a variation in the Symmetrical English. (1.c4 c5) where Black adopts this setup: 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.Nc3 e6 6.0-0 Be7 7.d4 cxd4 8.Qxd4 d6. Other openings where Black often uses the setup include the Queen's Indian Defence and the Taimanov and Kan Variations of the Sicilian Defence.

It is also possible for White to adopt a Hedgehog setup, but this happens more rarely. However, this did occur in the game Fischer - Andersson, Siegen 1970, one of the first games to feature this method of development. Fischer's crushing victory in this game, in which the Kh1/Rg1/g4 method of attack was vividly demonstrated, so impressed Andersson that he would later become one of the foremost Hedgehog exponents himself.

Some people get confused that the Marcozy Bind is almost the same as a *Hedgehog* set-up! But this is not true, the Maroczy Bind is a set up by White, the Hedgehog is a setup by Black. The Maroczy can be used both against the Hedgehog and against the Accelerated Dragon. The Hedgehog does not blatantly stop being a Hedgehog if White meets it with a Maroczy Bind.. any comments?

IM Rashid Nezmehtdinov 1912-1974

2007-10-13T15:06:00.000+09:30

IM Rashid Nezmehtdinov 1912-1974 Was well known as a chess wizard, he played some really fantastic games (including 3 wins against Mischa Tal!). Some people say that his win with black against Lev Polugajevsky at Sochi 1958 is the best chess game ever played! Here is what Tal and Bronstien had to say about him.

Although Rashid Nezhmetdinov was not widely known in the West, his games have a great reputation among connoisseurs of attacking chess. Among his many distinctions in chess are his score of six wins, nine draws and five losses against World Champions.

As former World Champion Mikhail Tal wrote: “With the passage of time, tournament tables tend to lose interest, but some games played in these tournaments live forever, and in this respect Nezhmetdinov is one of the most richly endowed players. His games reveal the beauty of chess and make you love in chess not so much the points and high placings, but the wonderful harmony and elegance of this particular world. I have played four games with the Tatar master and the score was 3-1 in his favor.” David Bronstein too, sang his praises: “Rashid Nezhmetdinov is a virtuoso of combinational chess.”

[Event "Sochi 28th RSFSR ch"]
[Site "Sochi 28th RSFSR ch"]
[Date "1958.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Polugaevsky, L."]
[Black "Nezhmetdinov, R."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A53"]
[Annotator "Fritz 5.00 (5s)"]
[PlyCount "66"]

1. d4 Nf6 {Opening = A53 - Altindisch /Old Indian Defence} 2. c4 d6 3. e4 e5 4.
Nc3 exd4 5. Qxd4 Nc6 6. Qd2 {out of book} g6 7. b3 Bg7 8. Bb2 O-O 9. Bd3 Ng4
10. Nge2 (10. Nf3 f5 $11) 10... Qh4 11. Ng3 Nge5 12. O-O $17 (12. Be2 $5 f5 13.
Nd5 $11) 12... f5 $11 (12... Ng4 $5 13. h3 Nxf2 14. Rxf2 Bh6 $15) 13. f3 $2 $17
(13. exf5 $142 $5 Nxd3 14. Qxd3 Bxf5 15. Nxf5 Rxf5 16. Rae1 $15) 13... Bh6 $15
{Black prepares the advance f4} (13... Nxd3 $5 14. Qxd3 Bd4+ 15. Kh1 Be5 $17)
14. Qd1 f4 15. Nge2 g5 16. Nd5 g4 $16 (16... Rf7 $142 $11) 17. g3 $4 $15 (17.
Nxc7 g3 18. h3 Bxh3 19. gxh3 (19. Nxa8 $4 Bxg2 20. Nxg3 fxg3 21. Kxg2 Qh2#)
19... Qxh3 20. Rf2 gxf2+ 21. Kxf2 Qxf3+ 22. Kg1 $19) 17... fxg3 {
Threatening mate: Qxh2} 18. hxg3 Qh3 19. f4 Be6 $2 $18 (19... Nf3+ 20. Kf2 Qh2+
21. Ke3 Bg7 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Nxc7 Rb8 $18) 20. Bc2 $4 $15 (20. Nxc7 Rxf4 21.
Rxf4 (21. Nxf4 Qxg3+ 22. Kh1 Bxf4 23. Rxf4 Qxf4 24. Bxe5 Nxe5 25. Nxa8 Qh6+ 26.
Kg2 Qh3+ 27. Kf2 g3+ (27... Nxd3+ 28. Ke2 Nc5 29. Qd4 $15 (29. Qxd6 $2 Qf3+ 30.
Ke1 Qc3+ 31. Ke2 Qxa1 32. Qxc5 Qxa2+ 33. Ke3 Qxb3+ 34. Kf4 Qc3 $19)) 28. Ke3
g2+ 29. Kd4 Nf3+ 30. Kc3 g1=Q 31. Qxg1+ Nxg1 32. Rxg1+ Bg4 $19) (21. Nxa8 $4
Rxf1+ 22. Qxf1 Be3+ 23. Qf2 Nf3#) (21. Nxe6 $4 Rxf1+ 22. Qxf1 Be3+ 23. Qf2 Nf3#
) 21... Bxf4 22. Nxf4 (22. gxf4 g3 23. Nxg3 Qxg3+ 24. Kh1 Qh3+ 25. Kg1 Nxd3 $19
) 22... Qxg3+ 23. Ng2 $19) 20... Rf7 21. Kf2 {With the decisive threat Rh1}
Qh2+ {Black is in command} 22. Ke3 Bxd5 $16 (22... Qh5 23. Nxc7 Nxc4+ 24. bxc4
Qc5+ 25. Nd4 Rxc7 26. Bb3 $15) 23. cxd5 (23. exd5 Re8 $1 24. Be4 Rfe7 $19)
23... Nb4 24. Rh1 $4 $19 (24. Bb1 $142 Qh3 25. a3 $14) 24... Rxf4 {
Threatening mate... how?.} (24... Nxc2+ $4 25. Qxc2 Qg2 26. Rxh6 $18 (26. Bxe5
$6 Bf8 27. Bd4 Re8 $18)) 25. Rxh2 (25. gxf4 $143 Bxf4+ $1 26. Nxf4 Nxc2+ 27.
Qxc2 Qxc2 28. Bxe5 dxe5 $19) 25... Rf3+ 26. Kd4 Bg7 $4 $18 (26... c5+ $142 27.
dxc6 b5 $19) 27. a4 $19 (27. Bc3 b5 28. Bxb4 Nc6#) 27... c5+ 28. dxc6 bxc6 $1 {
The mate threat is c5} 29. Bd3 Nexd3+ 30. Kc4 d5+ $1 31. exd5 cxd5+ $1 32. Kb5
Rb8+ 33. Ka5 Nc6+ (33... Nc6+ 34. Ka6 Rb6#) 0-1

Download 374 Rashid Nezhmetdinov Gamesin CBH to view these files you will need Free ChessBase Light 2007 download here

Almira Shripchenko-Lautier

2007-10-03T15:56:00.000+09:30

Almira Skripchenko (born 17 February 1976) is a French chess player who has achieved the FIDE Woman Grandmaster title. She won the second European Open Women's Chess Championship in 2001.
Born in Kishinev (today Chişinău, Moldova) in 1976, Almira Skripchenko married French Grandmaster Joel Lautier in 1996, and has since lived in France. Despite separating from Lautier later on, she became a French citizen in 2001 and continues to make France her home. In chess databases and tournament reports, she is generally known as Almira Skripchenko-Lautier. A daughter of pedagogues, both chess coaches, Almira started playing chess when she was 6 years old.

More info on Almira. Thank you to Michalis Kaloumenos.
More info on MOST PHOTOGENIC PLAYERS, TORINO 2006 please do a site search.

Anand Wins World Title!

2007-09-21T16:24:00.001+09:30

The Top Three Anand, Gelfand, and Kramnik
( Updated 9:22AM Sunday 30Th September 2007

My pick for the Top Three CAME TRUE------->WAS I LUCKY OR DID I KNOW MY CHESS?

Live broadcast for members, but FREE delayed videos for non-members, well worth watching!

In order to listen to the broadcast you will need to have Windows Media Player 11 installed on your computer. Windows Media Player 11 is a FREE download. You can download ithere.

Video of Day Ten, Aronian-Grischuk with GM Larry Christiansen
Video of Day Eleven Anand-Morozevitch with GM Larry Chistiansen
Video of Day Twelve Kramnik-Leko with GM John Fedorowicz
Video of Day Thirteen Grischuk-Anand with GM Gregory Kaidanov
Video of day Fourteen Svidler-Grischuk with GM Gregory kaidanov

Round Eight, first Win for Peter Leko of Hungary he got his well deserved win against Alexander Grischuk of Russia in the start of Round Eight! Levon Aronian was up against Morozevitch that looked like a sure win, but Morozevitch stayed calm and held onto a draw. All the other games were draws and well worth watching? I'm surprised to see the Catalan, Ruy Lopez, Queen's Indian and the Petrov being used as much as they are in this tournament. Tomorrow is a rest day!

Round Nine, was by far the best for Alexander Morozevitch from Russia who beat the worlds number one Vladimir Kramnik also from Russia in a thrilling game using the Symmetrical English, leading into Benoni, a second in the WCC. From beginning to end it was Morozevitch, lets hope we see more of this style of play by Morozevitch. Also a brilliant game by Alexander Grischuk from Russia playing the Nimzo Indian against Boris Gelfand from Israel this game was a wonderful game if not the game of the day, a great win by the underdog coming in to the tournament at 2726. The other games were draws.
Round Ten, Anand responds with the Grunfeld, thrilling end game ending in a draw. What a brilliant win for Aronian, Grischuk also playing an attempted Grunfeld great opening, great middle game but Aronian dominates in the end game for the wonderful win.

Round Eleven, has to go to Vishy Anand, what a game, he has total control of the board!I cannot see him losing the game! Sicilian/Najdorf closed I think. Must be the Game of the Day, well done Anand! This places Anand still in first, hard to catch as he shows us who is World Number One! Second place is Boris Gelfand from Israel. If Anand wins again he will be unstoppable.

Will Vishy Anand beat Peter Svidler of Russia tomorrow? Svidler is one of only three players (the others being Ivanchuk and Joel Lautier) to have beaten every world champion dating back to 1975 (Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov, Vladimir Kramnik, Alexander Khalifman, Viswanathan Anand, Ruslan Ponomariov, Rustam Kasimdzhanov, and Veselin Topalov). I think it might be a draw!

Round Twelve, Peter Svidler from Russia played Vishy Anand using the Ruy Lopez and received a draw, it was the first game to finish! This round had three wins, outstanding! Boris Gelfand is only a point away from catching Anand. Kramnik played the Open Catalan against Peter Leko with great skill, with a wonderful finish to give Kramnik the win. Gelfand was too strong for Aronian who played the semi-slav, this win for Boris Gelfand leaves him in second place behind Anand. Everyone was out for a win today, who put a fire under their seats? Morozevitch played the English four Knights variation against Grischuk, again another even game but Morosivitch managed to obtain the win by using his outstanding skill on the board. So today three wins and only one draw goes to Svidler and Anand! It is very close and only time will tell as to who goes through to become a little richer with the title World Champion.

Round Thirteen:
Gelfand-Kramnik's game was the semi-slave defence/meran system, fast play by Kramnik and the game was an easy draw at move 26. Grischuk-Anand also played semi-slav defence. Down to the end game Grischuk is a pawn up with a good advantage but Anand has plenty of time.

Round Fourteen, Vishy Anand Wins World TitleVishy Anand will get to play Kramnik later in the year to hold onto the World title!

Then most probably the next in line would be V. Topalov, lets look forward to some good chess in the next year, bye for now. Steven Nicholls

Pts RP Name (Rating)Click on names for Wikipedia info.
6 2878 Anand (2792)
5 2800 Gelfand (2733)
4,5 2752 Grischuk (2726)
4,5 2749 Kramnik (2769)
4,5 2747 Leko (2751)
4 2708 Morozevich (2758)
4 2713 Aronian (2750)
3,5 2667 Svidler (2735)

Final Standings as of Today: 30Th September 2007
Name (Rating) Points RP
1. Anand (2792) 9 2860
2-3. Gelfand (2733) 8 2812
Kramnik (2769) 8 2806
4. Leko (2751) 7 2752
5. Svidler (2735) 6,5 2726
6-7. Morozevich (2758) 6 2694
Aronian (2750) 6 2695
8. Grischuk (2726) 5,5 2670

Please Click on PLAYERS NAMES for game review "with analysis" in all rounds, enjoy.

Round Eight:
Svidler - Kramnik 1/2 : 1/2
Aronian - Morozevich 1/2 : 1/2
Gelfand - Anand 1/2 : 1/2
Leko - Grischuk 1 : 0

Round Nine:
Morozevich-Kramnik 1 : 0
Anand-Aronian 1/2 : 1/2
Grischuk-Gelfand 1 : 0
Leko-Svidler 1/2 : 1/2

Round Ten:
Kramnik-Anand 1/2 : 1/2
Svidler-Morozevich 1/2 : 1/2
Aronian-Grischuk 1 : 0
Gelfand-Leko 1/2 : 1/2

Round Eleven:
Grischuk-Kramnik 1/2 : 1/2
Anand-Morozevich 1 : 0
Leko-Aronian 1/2 : 1/2
Gelfand-Svidler 1/2 : 1/2

Tomorrow is a rest day!

Round Twelve:
Kramnik-Leko 1 : 0
Morozevich-Grischuk 1 : 0
Svidler-Anand 1/2 : 1/2
Aronian-Gelfand 0 : 1

Round Thirteen:
Gelfand-Kramnik 1/2:1/2
Leko-Morozevich 1 : 0
Grischuk-Anand 1/2:1/2
Aronian-Svidler 1/2:1/2

Round Fourteen:
Kramnik-Aronian 1:0
Morozevich-Gelfand 1/2:1/2
Anand-Leko 1/2:1/2
Svidler-Grischuk 1:0

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Gelfand Looking Good, Anand Leads in Round 7

2007-09-14T12:08:00.000+09:30

Updated 7:12AM Friday 21St September 2007

Easy Does It in Round One
The players started off by taking it easy and settling in to what is known to be the strongest chess event of the decade. You can still vote for your favorite chess player, at the moment it is hard to tell who is the better player as all seem to be playing safe in the first round. The second round the pace picks up and in the third round Kramnik and Anand lead the event! It has been nothing more than brilliant. What more could one ask from such great chess players!

In round four Aronian had the only win and what a good well deserved win it was, Kramnik along with Anand are in the lead with Aronian and Morozevitch following close behind. It is still early days but some mighty good chess has been played. Grischuk held Kramnik to a draw with a fight to the bitter end.

A great win for Anand in a terrific round five with very skillful play placing him in the lead. Kramnik's game ended up in a draw. Both Morozevitch and Aronian were a bit too ambitious and lost their game making blunders that could've been avoided. Gelfand played very strong and deserved to win along with Grischuk, beautiful chess.

Grischuk made some very interesting moves to give him some positional advantage but Svidler played very defensively to hold off what seemed to be a mighty attack. Morosevitch held off Gelfand as best he could to a mighty endgame, they both made up for the quick draws of the other players. Gelfand won with outstanding play, placing him in first place with Anand!

Please Click on PLAYERS NAMES for game review "with analysis" in all rounds, enjoy.

Round One:
Kramnik – Svidler 1/2:1/2
Morozevich – Aronian 1/2:1/2
Anand – Gelfand 1/2:1/2
Grischuk – Leko 1/2:1/2

Round Two:
Kramnik - Morozevich 1:0
Aronian - Anand 0:1
Gelfand - Grischuk 1/2:1/2
Svidler - Leko 1/2:1/2

Round Three:
Anand-Kramnik 1/2:1/2
Morozevich-Svidler 1:0
Grischuk-Aronian 1/2:1/2
Leko-Gelfand 1/2:1/2

Round Four:
Kramnik-Grischuk 1/2 : 1/2
Morozevich-Anand 1/2 : 1/2
Aronian-Leko 1 : 0
Svidler-Gelfand 1/2 : 1/2

Play resumes on Tuesday as Monday is a rest day! Rest days are:
17Th September
22nd September
26Th September

Round Five:
Leko-Kramnik 1/2 : 1/2
Grischuk-Morozevich 1 : 0
Anand-Svidler 1 : 0
Gelfand-Aronian 1 : 0

Round Six:
Kramnik-Aronian 1/2 : 1/2
Anand-Leko 1/2 : 1/2
Gelfand-Morosevitch 1 : 0
Svidler-Grischuk 1/2 : 1/2

Round 7:
Kramnik-Gelfand 1/2 : 1/2
Morozevich-Leko 1/2 : 1/2
Anand-Grischuk 1 : 0
Svidler-Aronian 1/2 : 1/2

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Mexico 2007 World Chess Championship

2007-09-13T16:56:00.000+09:30

Mexico 2007 World Chess Championship starts today.

The participants in Mexico WCC 2007 are:

Viswanathan Anand India(2792), Vladimir Kramnik Russia(2769), Alexander Morozevich Russia(2758), Peter Leko Serbia(2751), Levon Aronian Armenia(2750), Peter Svidler Russia(2735), Boris Gelfand Israel(2733), Alexander Grischuk Russia(2726).

Round 1 pairings
Kramnik - Svidler
Morizevich - Aronian
Anand - Gelfand
Grischuk - Leko

Round 2:
1-2 Kramnik-Morozevich
7-3 Aronian-Anand
6-4 Gelfand-Grischuk
8-5 Svidler-Leko

Round 3:
3-1 Anand-Kramnik
2-8 Morozevich-Svidler
4-7 Grischuk-Aronian
5-6 Leko-Gelfand

Round 4:
1-4 Kramnik-Grischuk
2-3 Morozevich-Anand
7-5 Aronian-Leko
8-6 Svidler-Gelfand

Round 5:
5-1 Leko-Kramnik
4-2 Grischuk-Morozevich
3-8 Anand-Svidler
6-7 Gelfand-Aronian

Round 6:
1-6 Kramnik-Gelfand
2-5 Morozevich-Leko
3-4 Anand-Grischuk
8-7 Svidler-Aronian

Round 7:
7-1 Aronian-Kramnik
6-2 Gelfand-Morozevich
5-3 Leko-Anand
4-8 Grischuk-Svidler

Round 8-14 the same but colours reversed.

Looking at A Chess World Poll, Levon Aronian looks as if he is the favorite to take on Kramnik as contender for the World's top most position. The biorhythms of Kramnik is at an all time low, so I have predicted may fall by using this method. Look up in the search engine on this site for more info on all players.

Anand comes in at second then with Kramnik, then Gelfand. It could of course be totally unpredictable. Many draws are inevitable! I will do my best to bring to you LIVE broadcast from a reliable source.

DOWNLOAD GAMES ROUND ONE

FIDE Ethics Commission 's Report

2007-08-31T09:50:00.000+09:30

Continuation of what is known to the chess world as "ToiletGate"

Violating several FIDE Code of Ethics - Mr. Veselin Topalov is sanctioned with a severe reprimand.
- In the case of any serious similar breach against the FIDE Code of Ethics within the next 12 months, this judgment will be considered by the EC as a precedent and Mr. Veselin Topalov could be imposed with a suitable fine and could be excluded from participation in all FIDE tournaments for at least a one-year period.
- Mr. Silvio Danailov’s conduct violated art. 2.2.9 and 2.2.11 of FIDE Code of Ethics.
- Mr. Silvio Danailov is sanctioned with a reprimand..

For the full report from the FIDE Ethics Commission please download the following report

Please feel free to make a comment about this report.

The Lincoln Board

2007-08-28T12:54:00.000+09:30

Circular Chess Board Game.
Circular chess dates back nearly 1,000 years, historical records held in the British Library suggest. The game was revived in Lincoln in 1983, and the city hosts an international annual tournament.

This may come as a surprise to players who consider the square board to be the game's authentic archetype, but the circular version is not the modern day "gimmick" that people might be tempted to take it for. There is reliable historical material which suggests that circular chess goes back a very long way. And it is even thought that the great Ala'addin would have been familiar with the game in early 15th century India.
Visit their website, for online games, and test your skill by trying to figure out the next move.

Draughts has been solved

2007-08-21T09:41:00.001+09:30

Trial and error

Professor Schaeffer, who admits he is "awful" at draughts (also known as checkers), began his attempts to solve the board game in 1989.

He consulted champion players to find out more about their game tactics and then fed this information into a computer program called Chinook.

Chinook looked at solving problems much like a human does by using trial and error to find out what appeared to be the best solutions. This is called a heuristic approach.

However, Professor Schaeffer said that although the program was extremely successful - it won the World Checkers Championship in 1994 - it was not perfect and occasionally lost games.

So the computer scientists tried another non-heuristic tack, for which, over a number of years, hundreds of computers ran through game upon game of draughts to work out the sequences that would lead to winning, losing and drawing.

Eventually, the new program gathered so much information that it "knew" the best move to play in every situation. This meant that every game it played led to a certain win, or, if its opponent played perfectly, a draw.

Professor Schaeffer said: "I think we've raised the bar - and raised it quite a bit - in terms of what can be achieved in computer technology and artificial intelligence."

With the vast number of playing possibilities, draughts is the most complex game to have been solved to date - it was about a million times more complicated to solve than Connect Four.

Researchers are now hoping to move on to even bigger problems. However, it seems that grand master of the board games - chess - may remain unsolved for some time.

It has somewhere in the range of a billion billion billion billion billion possible positions, meaning that computers, with their current capacity, would takes aeons to solve it.

Originally cited by BBC. I beat Ben and Jerry's checkers all the time! There is a better place to play and that is Chinook the mighty and unbeatable checkers engine!

In the chess world Kasparov has been known to think 3 moves per second, computers can now think over two hundred thousand moves per second! staggering to say the least.

The New Sofia Rule, Should it be Obligatory?

2007-08-04T12:02:00.000+09:30

"The players should not offer draws directly to their opponents. Draw-offers will be allowed only through the Chief-Arbiter in three cases: a triple-repetition of the position, a perpetual check and in theoretically drawn positions."

Skeptics still debate if the Mtel Masters rule is the key to making games exciting. Here are some alternative suggestions and their effects:

1. Draw offer can be made after a certain number of moves have been completed.

Positive: This is a logical alternative of the Sofia rule since it will eliminate short draws as well.

Negative: It does not prevent draws in unbalanced equal endgame positions. Exactly there is the moment where chess gets exciting for the majority of the audience.

2. Every win is encouraged by financial incentive. The players receive parts of the prize fund not according to their final standing, but according to the number of games won.

Positive: Encourages the fighting spirit and makes the games exciting in unbalanced positions.

Negative: It is not fair for a player that drew all his games to take as much money as somebody who lost all his games.

3. A change the pointing system. For a win are rewarded 3 points, one point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss.

Positive: Encourages fighting chess, eliminates short draws, and increases importance of endgames.

Negative: Requires solid organization by FIDE and major tournaments to apply a global change. It will also be difficult to adjust to for experienced players.

4. Give different points for games drawn with black and white (0.45 to 0.55 for example).

Positive: Statistically it will bring down the number of draws by reducing the strive for draws with blacks.

Negative: This rule will make many last round games a draw for securing a certain place in the table.

There are many more interpretations of the need for change in rules. Obviously none of them is perfect. We would love to hear more options from you, the readers. Also, we want to hear your opinion on the pros and cons of Sofia rule. We are looking forward to your posts.

More on the topic:

Chess media about Sofia rule

The longest tournament chess game ever to be played under modern time rules was Nikolić - Arsović, Belgrade, 1989, which lasted for 20 hours and 15 minutes, ending in a 269-move draw. With modifications to the fifty move rule, this record is unlikely to ever be broken.

What was the shortest game?
Longest decisive game without a capture?

Find out here

Fide Ethics Committee 28Th July 07

2007-08-03T21:22:00.000+09:30

The members of the commission are from left to right: Ms. Elli Sperdokli (Fide secretariat in Athens) and Lawrence Ball (South Africa), Ian Wilkinson (Jamaica), Dirk JA De Ridden (Belgium), Roberto Rivello (Italy), Ralph Alt (Germany), Noureddine Tabbane (Tunisia).

Photo courtesy of Michalis Kaloumenos and also Dimitris Skyrianoglou (Chess for Everyone) in Athens.

Fide Ethics Committee Topalov Vs. Kramnik
Allegations and Accusations but no evidence to back up Topalov's reason that the Fide Ethics Commission came together on Saturday 28Th July in Athens. Discussions were under way on just what to do in regards to this strong accusation of Kramnik cheating during the chess game in Elista 2006.

The chairman repeatedly asked both GM V. Topalov and his manager Mr. Danailov are you accusing Kramnik of cheating, the reply was NO! But continued with.... it was possible! After I personally listened to the meeting there was no evidence to back up Topalov's accusations. So personally speaking what do I make of all of this? It is a most serious matter to accuse anyone especially a Grandmaster of cheating without any hard evidence. OK there was wires found in the toilets of Kramnik but nothing suggest the use of computers during the game! There was an appeal to Topalov to apologise to Kramnik if there was no evidence of cheating. From what I heard it seems to be in the hands of Topalov's lawyers. Will these two great chess players ever face each other over the board again?

I did want to add that after I read the fide rules it says in Article 15:
The Conduct Of The Players
15.1 Prohibitions:

Section (d) It is forbidden to distract or annoy the opponent in any manner whatsoever. Does going to the toilet as many times during a game qualify as a distraction by Kramnik?

To learn more why FIDE has broken unilaterally the contract with Topalov here is an exclusive interview with Silvio Danailov for Chessdom. Then GO HERE

Interview with Vladimir Kramnik
Kramnik speaks out
I will keep you informed as I receive the latest news from Fide in regards to the Ethics Commission's findings.

International Chess Festival

2007-08-02T22:21:00.000+09:30

GM Magnus Carlsen and GM Teimour Radjabov

LIVE GAMES starts every day at 2 pm Swiss time.

Please have a look on the updated biographies of the players

Standings after round 8

1. Alexander Onischuk (USA, 2650) 5 (18.75)
2. Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan, 2746) 5 (18.25)
3. Magnus Carlsen (Norway, 2710) 4.5 (17.50)
Yannick Pelletier (Switzerland, 2583) 4.5 (17.50)
5. Judit Polgar (Hungary, 2707) 4.5 (16.50)

6. Alexander Grischuk (Russia, 2726) 4
7. Bu Xianghzi (China, 2685) 3.5 (14.50)
8. Boris Avrukh (Israel, 2645) 3.5 (13.00)

9. Alexander Motylev (Russia, 2648) 3
10. Loek van Wely (Netherlands, 2679) 2.5

Live Games

Uncover the Secrets of chess, the game of kings!

2007-07-27T12:16:00.000+09:30

If you are a Harry Potter fan you might be interested in this educational collectors item and uncover the secrets of chess!
In each issue of your HARRY POTTER CHESS manual, you'll find two sections - Level 1: Chess Apprentice and Level 2: Chess Challenger. Your entire collection will turn into a comprehensive guide to chess.

World's Youngest Grandmaster's

2007-07-26T20:40:00.000+09:30

World's youngest Grandmasters Parimarjan Negi and the youngest ever Woman Kateryna ("Katja") Lahno.

Parimarjan Negi (b. 9 February 1993) is a 14-year-old chess prodigy from India. In July 2005, he became the youngest International Master ever when he earned his third and final IM norm at the Sort International open chess tournament in Sort, Spain. On 1 July 2006, at the age of 13 years, 4 months, and 22 days, he became the second youngest International Grandmaster ever, second only to Sergey Karjakin, when he earned his third and final GM norm at the Chelyabinsk Region Superfinal Championship at Satka in Russia.

On 6 January 2006 he received his second GM norm at the Hastings Chess Congress where he scored 6/10, a performance of 2568. Negi finished 16th when he was 12 years 10 months and 29 days old.
View Parimarjan Negi Games

Kateryna Lahno (b. December 27, 1989) is a Ukrainian chess player. She earned the FIDE title of Woman Grandmaster (WGM) at the age of 12 years and 4 months, breaking Judit Polgar's record to become the youngest ever to earn this title. She is now a full Grandmaster (GM) [1]. Born in Lviv, Lahno grew up in the industrial and chess-friendly town Kramatorsk. In 2005 she lives in Donetsk.

As of October 2006, she had two of three norms necessary to earn the Grandmaster title. Lahno was the fifth seed for the 64-player knockout 2004 Women's World Chess Championship. At the age of 15 she won the 2005 European Individual Women's Championship, held in June in Chişinău, Moldova. Tied with Russian IM Nadezhda Kosintseva at the end of the 12th round with 9 points each, Lahno won both games of a two-game rapid-play tie-break playoff to win the championship. On the January 2006 list, Lahno's FIDE Rating was 2500, making her number seven among female chess players.

Although Lahno, unlike Polgar, competes for women's titles, both have stated that their true goal is to be simply World Champion.

She won IV Women's 'North Urals Cup - 2006', attaining for a full grandmaster norm in the process.
View Katja's Games
Ukraine's Woman Grandmaster Kateryna Lahno defeated Parimarjan Negi 3-0 after the first half of the six 25-minute rapid games in the Amity Grandmasters Challenge match at the Russian Centre here on Saturday.

After winning the six-game classical battle 3.5-2.5 on Friday, Kateryna expectedly proved her superiority in the shorter version with resounding victories, beginning with the white pieces. Unlike the local boy, Kateryna is known to play and win lots of rapid games on various chess sites.

The next three rapid games are scheduled for Sunday. Overall, Kateryna leads 6.5-2.5 after nine encounters of the 18-game contest.

The results (rapid time control):

Game 1: Kateryna Lahno beat Parimarjan Negi in 65 moves; Game 2: Parimarjan lost to Kateryna in 49 moves; Game 3: Kateryna beat Parimarjan in 46 moves.

Chess is likely to be introduced into Russian Schools Curriculum!

2007-07-26T18:19:00.000+09:30

On 20 July 2007 at a press-conference in Moscow, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Science and Education of the Russian Federation Duma Valentina Ivanova (Edinaia Rossia) has informed the AG Regnum that soon, in Russia, primary schools will have obligatory lessons of chess.

Ivanova said, that "school has to become a quintessence of social life. The Ministry of Education and Science of Russia supports the introduction of chess into the state education standard". According to the Duma Deputy, psychologists think that it is necessary to start chess education in a primary school. "There is a proposal to have 2 hours of chess a week in the 1st class, 2 hours in the 2nd and 3 hours in the 3rd", Ivanova said. She also reminded that there is a draft legislation on the introduction of the Federal State Education Standard in the Russian Duma.

World Champion Anatoly Karpov said, "I am not in favour of children having to study chess during the whole period of the school education. It is difficult to be forced to study this game. But the first year of teaching chess allows to master a skill of defending one's point of view as well as an ability of taking decisions". At the same time, Karpov noted that the introduction of comprehensive chess education will be facing the problem of teachers. He said, "we are in absolute need of chess instructors. The main sports higher institution of the country produces 7 chess trainers per year". In her turn, Mrs. Ivanova said that "a Chess instructor" is not included into the list of teaching specialities and there is a lot to do in order for such a speciality to come into existence.

Mrs. Ivanova also said that in the Cheliabinsk region an experiment had been launched and the 2nd class schoolchildren learn the basics of chess. Such children have better academic performance. She also reminded that the initiative to introduce a new comprehensive subject - chess - belongs to the All Russia Public Organisation "Russian Pedagogical Congress", which was made in June.

According to Mr. Karpov, "chess is present in schools in all the continents, and many have an intention to join the world school chess education system".

The Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov drew the attention to the fact that in Kalmykia, its schools have lessons of chess for more than 10 years and according to the information he has, it promotes improving of the results in a whole range of subjects. Mr. Gryzlov said, "Average increase of the children's academic performance is 40%. I think that such experience can be widely used in other regions". He also noted that it is necessary to increase public and state support to the mass interest to this sport.

In his reply to a question, whether parents will support such an initiative, bearing in mind that the school curriculum is already very stressful, Mr. Karpov said, "if parents want their children to become more intelligent, they will support this proposal. Chess develops memory, allows the children to understand other schools disciplines better".
Do not forget The World Youth Chess Championship 2007 Also do a Site Search for this topic!

ToiletGate Public Hearing

2007-07-20T19:11:00.000+09:30

What has known to become "ToiletGate" is well under way starting on Saturday 28Th July 2007 at 16.60, in the Royal Olympic Hotel, "Abbey Hall" conference room, 28-34 Ath. Diakou Street, Athens, Greece.

This is when Kramnik will be on the defence, when Topalov will submit to the Fide Ethics Commission any evidence for wrong doing. Evidence suggests that Topalov was psychologically at the affect of Kramniks walkabout during the games at Elista in 2006. Will Kramnik's lawyers will be filing suit for damages to his reputation and honour as a top Grandmaster. I will keep you posted.

FM (Golden Child) Salem Abdulrahman 13

2007-07-19T19:04:00.000+09:30

In Dubai Salem Abdulrahman a chess prodigy made Arab chess history when winning his sixth gold medal in a row over a four-year period.

He won Arab under-10 title three times from 2001-2003 and the Arab title under-12 title in 2004. He bagged back-to-back under-16 titles in 2005 and 2006.

He also has shared the first place in the Asian under-14 championship in Iran this June.

Salem received his FIDE master norm when he was only eight years old.

$154,775.40 AUD for a three year contract to study chess and the money to be used to travel to tournaments with all expenses paid! Way to go Salem.

Top of the World

2007-07-19T15:34:00.000+09:30

Topalov Wins M-Tel Masters
Reporter talks with Gata Kamsky and asks - Is the currently acting system for defining the World Champion optimal? Which is the best system in your view?
- Gata Kamsky: Well, there is an on-going controversy with the current world championship system, especially with the latest announcement by the FIDE president which came as a complete surprise to everyone because, as far as I know, everyone who were surveyed with the proposed list of suggestions decided for a formula which was different from the one that was announced. A lot of mysterious things have been going on ever since the unification match has happened and these developments were worrisome.

If you have anything to add please place your comments in the Community Forum, your views are important for the future of chess.

Round One Players:
Topalov, V 0:1 Nisipeanu, LD

Adams, M =:= Sasikiran, K

Mamedyarov, S 1:0 Kamsky, G
Download Games

View Games

Round Two Players:
Nisipaenu, LD =:= Kamsky, G

Sasikiran, K =:= Mamedyarov, S

Topalov, V =:= Adams, M

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Round Three Players:
Adams, M 1:0 Nisipeanu, LD

Mamedyarov, S 1:0 Topalov, V

Kamsky, G 0:1 Sasikiran, K
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Round Four Players:
Mamedyarov, S =:= Nisipeanu, LD

Kamsky, G =:= Adams, M

Sasikiran, K 0:1 Topalov, V
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Round Five Players:
Nisipeanu, LD =:= Sasikiran, K

Topalov, V =:= Kamsky, G

Adams, M =:= Mamedyarov, S
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Round Six Players:
Nisipeanu, LD 0:1 Topalov, V

Sasikiran, K 1:0 Adams, M

Kamsky, G 1:0 Mamedyarov, S
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Round Seven Players:
Kamsky, G =:= Nisipeanu, LD

Mamedyarov, S 0:1 Sasikiran, K

Adams, M =:= Topalov, V
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Round Eight Players:
Nisipeanu, LD 1:0 Adams, M

Topalov, V =:= Mamedyarov, S

Sasikiran, K 0:1 Kamsky, G
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Round Nine Players:
Sasikiran, K =:= Nisipeanu, LD

Kamsky, G =:= Topalov, V

Mamedyarov, S =:= Adams, M
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Round Ten Players:
Nisipeanu, LD =:= Mamedyarov, S

Adams, M =:= Kamsky, G

Topalov, V 1:0 Sasikiran, K
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View Games

Tejmour Radjabov

2007-07-14T20:11:00.000+09:30

Tejmour Radjabov won the Match of the Hopes between two young top world's players Teimour Radjvabov (Azerbaidjan) and Magnus Carlsen (Norway). The event took place May 18th in Porto-Vecchio (south of Corsica). The rate of play was 10 mins + 3 secs increment per move. After two games the score was level 1:1, tie-break blitz games also were 1:1 and the decisive game won Teimour Radjvabov.

game 1 Radjabov - Carlsen 1-0
game 2 Carlsen - Radjabov 1-0
game 3 Carlsen - Radjabov 1/2
game 4 Radjabov - Carlsen 1/2
game 5 Carlsen - Radjabov 0-1
View games
Games in PGN
Officials site

RENÉ GRALLA spoke with the WM-candidate Levon Aronian

2007-07-13T22:34:00.000+09:30

RG: At the chess Olympiad in 2006 you won the selection of Armenia gold. Do you want to crown this success in 2007 with the World Championship title?
Levon Aronian: I will give my best, hopefully with much success.

Recently the candidate tournament in Elista, has ended favourably for you, you created the WM-qualification in convincing way. A good sign for the WM?
I never think abut it no. I train, in order to still increase my form for the WM. Then I will see how the tournament runs.

You won the matches with the world champion Vladimir Kramnik from Russia scarcely two months ago in Armenia capital, in Jerewan with 4:2 points. This make you feel good for the WM?
That was in high-speed chess, 25 minutes per player and portion. I lost before already many times against Kramnik. Therefore from it hardly a prognosis for the WM can be derived.

After the failure of Jerewan the world champion V. Kramnik should actually have fear of you or what?
You must ask that comment to him, in addition I do not know at all whether fear is the correct word. Kramnik knows that I can quite bring him great difficulties.

The other large WM-favorite is momentary the Indian Viswanathan Anand, the title carrier of 2000 and the No.1 of the world ranking list. How do you estimate your chances against him?
What I said about Kramnik, can also be transferred to Anand. I look forward to our meeting, it will be most interesting.

There was a surprised public that mentioned how you created great complex games to get to the world historic chess event, although you call your style at the board "chaotic“. Would you like to comment on this statement?
Yes, I love unclear positions, in which nobody can say exactly, how the situation is. There I mean for wonderful creativity to unfold.
It has been said that 800 million humans play chess world-wide: Is there necessary attention given to chess?
Naturally I wish myself that chess would become even more popular. The sport of chess should be strengthened in the school teaching curriculum, because it trains children to understand much more about their life. Studies from the USA and Russia clearly state this.

In your homeland, Armenia you are a superstar. From where does this enthusiasm for chess come?
It applies less for chess than our successes with the national team. The country has heavy times behind itself. Our country has longed for something great. All the enthusiasm was larger, when we returned from the chess Olympiad in Turin with the gold.

Tigran Petrosjan, the world champion from 1963 to 1969, originates from Armenia. Do you see yourselves with the forthcoming WM in the follow-up of Petrosjan?
Some people in Armenia confound our first names and call me Tigran. But in Ernst: The question comes prematurely, We have to wait for the WM to take place then we shall see.

If you should win the WM-title, the dethroned world champion Kramnik gets a second chance: The world chess federation FIDE was entitled to Kramnik for the right to rematch the WM-winner. Is this privilege fair?
The WM 2007 in Mexico city is a round tournament. But according to my own personal opinion, the world championship should actually be in a match between the title defender and the challenger. That corresponds to the traditional delivering mode. If there is a new winner, then of course the WM-tournament must begin afterwards against the ex champion.

With the reunification WM in such a way specified in Elista during 2006 that both world champions Vladimir Kramnik and the Bulgarian Vesselin Topalov were fixed that the loser is excluded from the WM of this year. This clause had both sides agreeing well before the match started. Now the Bulgarian side tries to have the loser Topalov move into the WM-cycle in 2007. What do you say to it?
Both sides knew, under which conditions the WM in Elista was delivered in 2006 and a defeat for one of them would mean elimination. They accepted that, therefore this does not please me how the camp of Topalov is behaving right now. I would like to know what the public think about this?
Translated from Neues Deutschland Friday 13th 2007(in German)

Reti/Kings Indian; A Study

2007-07-13T11:50:00.000+09:30

Here is a study of the Reti/Kings Indian. The game was drawn but White had so many possible combinations that I would like to ask for your opinion. What if any are the correct moves white might have made to create a win? I have placed my own possible moves that could be good for White and for Black. What do you think of this study? 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 c5 7. Bb2 Nc6 8. e3 b6 9. Nc3 dxc4 10. bxc4 Bb7 11. d3 Rc8 12. Qe2 Qc7 13. Rad1 a6 14. Ne1! {Purpose of this move is to push a kingside attack} 14... Na7 15. f4 b5 16. g4 Rb8 17. g5 Ne8 18. cxb5 axb5 19. Ne4 Rd8 20. Nf3 Bd5 21. Ne5 f6 22. gxf6 Nxf6 23. Ng5 Qb6 24. Kh1 Bxg2+ 25. Qxg2 Nd5 26. Rf3 Bxg5 27. Qxg5 Qb7 28. e4!! ( 28. Rg1 Nxe3!! 29. Qh6 Nf5 30. Qxe6+ Kh8 31. Rg4 ( 31. Rg6 hxg6 32. Nxg6+ Kh7 33. Kg2 Rde8 34. Nxf8+ Rxf8 35. Kf2 Nd4 36. Rh3# ) 31... g6 ( 31... Rde8 32. Ng6+ hxg6 33. Rh4+ ( 33. Qxg6 Qxf3+ 34. Kg1 Re1# ) 33... Nh6 ( 33... Nxh4 34. Qh3 Re1+ 35. Qf1 Rxf1# ) 34. Rxh6# ) 32. Nxg6# ) 28... Nf6 29. Rg1 Nxe4 30. dxe4 *

Arianne Caoili WIM

2007-07-12T19:33:00.000+09:30

Temptress of the Chequered Board? Australian Chess Beauty Queen? What I want to know is will she make a comeback to the world of chess or fulfill her dreams?

Caoili, 20, has listed her likes on her website as: "Funny stories, The Cream, arguing, getting up to no good, shopping, quotes, tea, Pink Floyd album covers, dancing (all forms), chocolate, blitz, theatre, Karpov's games, Oreo's, black and dry humour, singing, good music, gravity (without it we're doomed), sunsets, sunrises, fine food (and fine boys), stars, moons, water, Edward Norton and Johnny Depp, grace, green lights, cooking, pina colada's, vodka, red wine, Kahlua, dwarfs and the odd Cuban cigar."

Here are more chess beauty queens
MOST PHOTOGENIC PLAYERS, TORINO 2006

Emilio Cordova "International Master" Peru

2007-07-11T14:02:00.000+09:30

Emílio Córdova

A chess prodigy who ran away with an exotic dancer almost twice his age has returned home to a hero’s welcome after an amazing teenage adventure that took him to the hotspots of Brazil.

It all began when Emílio Córdova, a 15-year-old international master from Peru, was crowned South American chess champion in January after winning a tournament in the Argentine city of Córdoba.

Instead of returning to Lima he told relatives that he was heading to Brazil to compete in tournaments there in order to reach the rank of international grandmaster.

But, far from focusing on his grand master dreams, Emílio quickly became caught up in São Paulo’s pulsating but frequently sleazy nightlife.

He soon formed a relationship with a 29-year-old Brazilian single mother, , dubbed the “bella brasileira” by the Peruvian media, with whom he reportedly fell in love.

Ms Oliveira works in Love Story, a club where young Emílio took to spending nights dancing.

To fund his Brazilian sojourn he told his family that he had fallen ill and needed them to wire out money to pay for medical expenses. He even sold his laptop computer which contained all his chess notes and training programmes.

As weeks turned into months EmÍlio’s family became worried about his absence, and the Peruvian media set out to Brazil to find out what had happened to their promising young chess genius.

Once they located him, Emílio insisted that he had not abandoned chess altogether but was just enjoying some much deserved fun.

“I play chess, study chess but this doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy myself,” he said. “I’m young and I want to do this. I have to live. To be locked up in my room all the time depresses me.”

Your Web Blog Admin says; I remember what it was like being a 15 year old and I really enjoyed my freedom and was very independent and soon left home to travel the world.

I just wanted to mention that I just finished a chess quiz at one of the Links on this site and got every question right! It said that I must live a DULL LIFE take time out and enjoy myself. I had to laugh, if I was young it would be ok, but I am almost 60 and I have fun studying chess and playing when I can. Moving on, lets look at some of Emilios games; he has a rating well over 2500 and I must say I enjoy looking through some of his Chess Games

Free On-Line Chess Books

2007-07-04T21:56:00.000+09:30

Free Online Chess Books
To see a larger image just click on it! I found this by accident, it is truly very good and a must visit for all you chess book buffs and free at that. Happy Reading! Or if you are into ART type Art, with exact phrase Dada (for Wayne) Who is my Art mentor!

ChessMetrics

2007-07-04T20:45:00.000+09:30

Click Image For Larger View

Jeff Sonas would like to welcome you to his new and improved ChessMetrics Site.
This website allows you to explore chess history "by the numbers" in an interactive way.
You won't find any analysis of chess moves here, but you will find historical ratings and many other statistics that can't be found anywhere else in the world.
Take a look, it is very well worth every second looking through Jeff's work. He is a great expert, compiler of statistics of chess masters.

Longest Opening Repertoire

2007-07-04T17:14:00.000+09:30

What is the longest Opening Repertoire?

A search is on can you beat this?

Would you consider kings pawn to ruy lopez a valid transposition?

e.g.

1.e4 1.e5 = Kings Pawn

2.Nf3 Ktc6

3.Bb5 = Ruy Lopez

3..Ktf6 = Berlin

4.Ktf3 = Spanish Four knights

Therefore it has a transposition count of 4 and not 3.

I think the Catalan/English/Reti could be a good place to look

Starting with g3 as the barzca attack!?

We look forward to your input.

Quality Chess Shop

2007-06-26T19:36:00.000+09:30

A Quality Chess Shop.Your number one stop for inexpensive chess products for schools, clubs or personal use. Please email me with your preference and I will send you the best price guaranteed

NEW Digital Clock

2007-06-21T19:29:00.000+09:30

Digital Chess Clock(DT03)
The digital chess clock has great digital accuracy with cutting-edge technology. This digital clock is so easy to program, you just select the basic timing rule you wish to use and then start. What could be simpler?

You will love the solid construction it is slate gray, red and blue with large display, With easy to use features, this clock is perfect for schools, clubs or tournament play. Operates on 2 C batteries (not included).

Cost of this Digital Clock is Australian $55.00
Free Shiping during the month of July! includes GST.
ABN:99561776989
I use PayPal for all items, I also will accept Visa/Mastercard, click the BUY NOW button. Email me if you are interested in a particular colour, slate gray, red or blue . I will send you documentation regarding the digital clock if required. It is so easy to use and will last a very long time. My email is in my profile.

Large Chess Mat for Giant Chess Pieces

2007-06-21T18:53:00.000+09:30

This is the look of the larger size as mentioned previously, it folds up really well, is very strong and washable. If you want the mini chess mat it will be slightly cheaper. Again please email me of your choice of color and size. There is another plastic mat for the giant chess pieces, that is also more expensive by about Australian $40.00

Universal Currency Converter

Giant Chess Sets with Mat

2007-06-21T16:16:00.000+09:30

Detailed Product Description
Giant Chess Sets (Item 001)
Very nice design, Good Looking knight and Bishop.
Its a great lawn chess set, garden chess set, or simply an outdoor chess set for any imaginable occasion. Great for schools, hotels, and resorts. I have the Best Quality, and most inexpensive chess products.

The only giant outdoor chess set that chess players have come to admire worldwide.

ALL WEATHER plastic resists heat, cold, and the elements.

Every piece is EASY to move with small knob-style tops!

Standard and proportional Staunton chess set designed to be most familiar and recognizable by chess players worldwide.

Steven Nicholls guarantees quality for years of worry-free, break-free play.

Polyurethane plastic is tough, durable, and kid proof!

Weighted for optimal play convenience. Add extra weight if you desire by separating the base of each piece and adding sand or water. Replacement pieces can be purchased if you ever lose a piece!

Includes 32 Giant Chess Pieces with Black and White for high visibility. Plus Nylon fabric giant chess mat. It can be folded, walked on, beaten-up and it still looks great! It can also be machine washed. It accommodates the giant chess pieces and giant checkers piece perfectly, if you wish to add checkers please let me know. Each square is 13 inches across. With a 2-inch border, the entire chess board measures 9 feet.

All Pieces base size: 9.5 inches diameter.

King: 25 inches tall; 1.39kg
Queen: 22 inches tall; 1.36kg
Knight: 18 inches tall; 1.12kg
Bishop: 21.5 inches tall; 1.13kg
Rook: 17 inches tall; 0.94kg
Pawn: 16.5 inches tall; 0.83kg

Cost of each set is Australian $550.00

FREE Postage for the month of JULY! "Sorry 0nly in Australia". If you want to buy a giant chess set I will ship anywhere in the world please send me an email for postage outside of Australia. ABN:99561776989
Best Price for anything chess related

GM Gelfand

2007-06-20T10:00:00.000+09:30

These posts of the Candidates show their biorhythms for the start of the World Chess Championships in Mexico 13th September 2007.Also the other posts of GM Anand, GM Morosovitch, GM Kramnik and GM Svidler, show their biorhythms for the start of the tournament. You can see by their charts and compare who is looking good and who is really down and has an unfavorable outlook, example GM Kramnik is not looking good!

Question to you all, Is it all in the mind?
Comments greatfully received and to to be debated.
Why do Airlines take note of their pilots when they are showing what is known as a "Triple Critical"day and give them time off from flying?

GM Grischuk

2007-06-20T09:52:00.000+09:30

GM Leko

2007-06-20T09:51:00.000+09:30

GM Aronian

2007-06-20T09:48:00.000+09:30

GM Alexander Morozevich

2007-06-19T21:09:00.000+09:30

Alexander Morozevich
Country: Russia
Rating: 2741
World Ranking: 8th Date of Birth: July 18, 1977
September is an interesting month,he is doing better than anyone I have studied so far! He is peaking on the first week of October Big Time! Shame the Chess Championships is not happening during the first month of October!

GM Peter Svidler

2007-06-19T20:14:00.001+09:30

Peter Svidler
Country: Russia
Rating: 2728
World Ranking: 4
Date of Birth: June 17, 1976

I remember the days when Peter and I talked when we both had a Geocities Web Site! Many years ago now! Glad to see he is number 4 in the world and doing very well indeed. As you can see by his Biorhythm chart he is looking good for the occasion, in fact he will do well at this tournament in Mexico. I have to finish all participating chess players to see who is going to be the odds to win the world chess championship for 2007.

GM Vishy Anand

2007-06-16T21:59:00.000+09:30

Viswanathan Anand, number 1 in the FIDE list.

Place of Birth: Madras, India.

Date of birth: December 11th, 1969.

Current FIDE rating: 2786.

Current position in FIDE list: 1st (April 2007).

Physically and Intellectually Peaking during the start of the World Chess Championships event in Mexico in three months time!

2007 WORLD YOUTH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS

2007-06-16T21:05:00.000+09:30

3rd Mediterranean Chess Junior Championships 2007, Turkey

The World Youth Chess Championship 2007 (under 8, under 10, under 12, under 14, under 16 and under 18 years old - girls and boys) which will take place in Kemer-Antalya, Turkey, between November the 17th, 2007 (arrival) and November the 29th, 2007 (departure).

Australian Application Form
Kemer hosts an award winning marina and a delightfull harbour area, with a fine beach and ample restaurants. If and when you tire of the beach you can wander through the charming park area, chill out in a hammock under a shady tree, or relax with a drink in a comfortable sofa and enjoy nature at its best.

Turn right into the mountains, here be prepared to be enthralled by the scenery, nestled away beside streams and rivers are restaurants that serve food as fresh and tasty as their surroundings, the fresh air and sound of bubbling water and the cuisine will leave fond memories for life.
Anyone planning on going from Australia, if so please let us know so we can cheer you on!

GM Vladimir Kramnik

2007-06-16T18:03:00.000+09:30

It does not look good for Kramnik when you see his Biorhythm Chart for the games held in Mexico three months away. I will be posting all the Bio's for the Grand Masters over the weeks preparing each persons chart. I was right about Bareev, also Susan Polgar and Shirov. I will be writing an article on how to prepare for such an event called "Food For Thought".
Please look at "older posts"for understanding the Biorhythms.

Chess Set for the Jet Set

2007-06-14T18:11:00.000+09:30

Check this chess set out! It took hundreds of hours to make by many skilled craftsmen. It is full of Black and white diamonds, It is made out of White Gold! It is for sale so I believe. When I saw it I had to share it with you ;-)It is the worlds most expensive chess set.