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Chessville
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.jpg) TheParrot Squaawks….! Opinions and Reader Feedback TheParrot
Says… 12-30-2005 The Russian Championship has been controversial on four fronts this year, illustrating some problems in chess:
(1)
Grischuk’s withdrawal because of 1st prize fund goes somewhat
unexplained – did he not know about 1st prize or was it changed? Readers respond:
Late Addition: TheParrot received this message from GM Raymond Keene, regarding the controversy on ChessCafe's alleged blacklisting of certain authors from the USCF sales:
12-23-2005 Will Topolov-Kramnik ever happen? TheParrot means while both of them still share claims to the title. Over at the Chessville Forum the argument rages, once again, about reunification, whose title is it really, and so on. In an utterly non-scientific poll, at the time of this writing, only 36% think Kramnik is THE World Chess Champ. Even fewer (29%) think Topolov is. The rest think each man has some claim to the title (29%) or are sick and tired of hearing about the whole subject (7%). Hop on over to the Forum and add your opinion to the discussion. Here's a sampling of comments so far:
Readers respond:
12-17-2005 This is an exciting time at Chessville. New columns coming, from some of the best writers out there today. New sponsors, too. Good folks running for the leadership of FIDE, dare we hope for a change for the better in that moribund bureaucracy? Meanwhile the USCF appears to remain shrouded in secrecy; oh well, I guess it can't all be wine and roses! Still, an exciting time, with exciting new players coming to the fore. TheParrot is happy for chess in the U.S. of A. 12-10-2005 What do you think? Come on, write to The Parrot and let us know your thoughts!! 12-3-2005 And now to the World Championship: Universal Event Promotion (UEP) offered FIDE World Champion Veselin Topalov as well as to the Classical World Chess Champion Vladimir Kramnik a written offer with a guaranteed fee of $1,000,000 US. Half a million each. The match was to take place 25 November to 17 December 2006 under the title "World Chess Match of Champions". There were to be 14 classical games. The offer, accepted by GM Kramnik, was rejected by GM Topalov. The CEO of the UEP made this comment: “I am disappointed that FIDE remains inactive, and in addition Veselin Topalov is turning down a serious proposal which could easily have led to a solution. Therefore the unification of the chess world will be postponed for an uncertain period of time.” - Universal Event Promotion GmbH, CEO Stefan Koth It seems to the Parrot that the World Champion of Chess is someone who plays chess even if for 5 bucks in a park. Someone big bucks have made having a world champion who is universally acknowledged an impossible achievement since… um, since the last century. 11-26-2005 Congratulations to the US Chess League, and to principal organizer and League Commissioner, IM Greg Shahade. Shahade, of New York Masters fame, has struck gold again with his latest effort, the USCL. In their inaugural season they fielded eight teams from coast to coast. Next year they will be expanding, adding two more teams.
Writes Shahade:
11-19-2005 Today TheParrot opens up an old can of worms, one that still stinks and is every bit as controversial as when the practice first became FIDE law - Drug Testing in chess. We invited one of drug testing's most ardent supporters (Dr. Stephen J. Press, Past-Acting President and Founder, FIDE Medical Commission) to make his case for drug testing. Next week we plan to post the views of a very vocal critic of drug testing in chess. Meanwhile, here's part of what Dr. Press had to say:
11-12-2005 from The Parrot's in-box: FROM SUSAN POLGAR: My chess motto is: "Win with grace. Lose with dignity." Unfortunately, not all chess players follow this. Right after the World Championship in San Luis, an anonymous participant of the World Championship accused the new FIDE World Champion Topalov of cheating. Even though this is not uncommon for chess players to accuse their opponents of cheating after they lost, it is still a disgusting behavior to me.
If you want to make an accusation, do it publicly and be prepared to back up your statement. Let there be an official investigation. If the charge is true then the chess federation can ban the cheater(s). However, if it is a false malicious accusation then the accuser should be punished severely. This happened to me a in August 2003. For dirty political reasons, a board member of the United States Chess Federation and his political bulldogs made a similar bizarre accusation against me. They did not have the guts to even make the charge public. Instead, they went around spreading the rumors by word of mouth. I obviously publicly challenged the allegation. My attorney and a number of top GMs backed me up. The cowards were allowed to hide behind their masks while they tried to ruin my spotless reputation. Why? Because I refused to join their dirty political game to attack their foes. Of course the charges were dropped immediately because there was not even an ounce of evidence. It is like accusing a world champion of using computer assistance to beat a 1300. Stupid and outrageous! Why were they able to make a charge like that? Because other politicians protected them in exchange for future political favors. I hope that these people will never be allowed to hold another position within the chess federation ever again. They are lucky I did not pursue serious legal actions against them. I think Topalov should DEMAND to know which player made this outrageous accusation. Let that player proves it. A full investigation should be done by FIDE. If the allegation is true, Topalov should be stripped of his title and banned from chess for at least 3 years. However, if the allegation is false and the accuser was just a sore loser then let FIDE fine that player a substantial amount of money. In addition, the accuser's name must be made public and Topalov should have the right to seek legal actions against that player. There is no place for this kind of behavior in chess. WIN WITH GRACE! LOSE WITH DIGNITY! 11-5-2005 from The Parrot's in-box: Gentlemen, The agenda for the upcoming Executive Board meeting of November 5-6 is your typical Federation travesty. More than half of it appears "CLOSED." Among the subjects that cannot be discussed before the Federation membership is the upcoming FIDE election. The Federation will likely announce support for Anatoly Karpov, an Order of Lenin winner, who played Victor Korchnoi, while the latter's son was being beaten up in a Soviet slave labor camp. That's called sportsmanship by some. Board members don't wish to field public questions during an open session about our FIDE policies. Hence the membership is not to know, and we have defenders of this kind of faith right here on rgcp. As for the ChessCafe agreement, I am told that the Executive Board will ratify a deal that amounts to the following: 1. Hanon Russell submitted a bid for the USCF's book and equipment concession that was so attractive as to blow other competition out of the marketing water. 2. Hanon Russell did not deliver on the bid he submitted, running up a debt to the Federation estimated at over $250,000. 3. Hanon Russell demanded a lower percentage payout on his sales and a lock on the books and equipment business to at least 2012, as well as debt forgiveness -- and, so it is claimed, that the contract not be put up to public tender again. 4. The USCF Executive Board has moved to REWARD Mr. Russell for VIOLATING his contract: he gets debt forgiveness; he gets a lock on the contract without competing bids until 2012; he gets a lower percentage payout to the Federation on sales; and he gets, in truth, permanent possession of the Federation's book and equipment business. BUSINESS 101 LESSON: when you have good friends in the Federation, you blow others out of the water with a great bid; you do not fulfill the bid; you get the friends to REWARD you with permanent possession of the sales concession after having eliminated the competition. Neat. Nice. Nifty. Randy Bauer says that one ought not to imagine even the "possibility" that the confluence of money-politics-friendship might have something to do with the above dealmaking. Right. Imagine Larry Evans, who once had the Pinkertons sicked on him by the USCF, being REWARDED for VIOLATING his obligations at Chess Life. Different strokes, for different folks. Yours, Larry Parr 10-29-2005 Very little news this week on USCF’s deal with Chesscafe. What is particularly unclear is how a continuation of the contract would be secured, since the current contract is not secured, and especially since the rejected bid from chess4less did offer security as well as a guarantee of $100,000 more per year.
Meanwhile the rumor-mongers are going wild on the newsgroups, with some speculating that TheParrot is after Chess Café's B&E business, which is so ludicrous it actually make the old Parrot fart out loud, he laughed so hard! 10-22-2005 The very strange goings-on surrounding USCF and Chess Cafe’s current deal form the subject of this week’s investigation by the doughty Parrot, who has discovered....It all started with the following posting by Larry Parr in one of the public newsgroups last week. Read all about it in TheParrot's Special Report - The USCF's Book & Equipment Deal with Chess Cafe. 10-15-2005 From the newsgroups: Gentlemen, The USCF Executive Board has caved to the ChessCafe. That is the report I received from a source. By a 5-1 vote the EB has decided WITHOUT OFFERING A PUBLIC TENDER to alter favorably for the Cafe the terms of its contract and to extend the Cafe's sales agreement until 2012. Further, the Cafe will have over $100,000 of its $250,000-plus debt to the USCF forgiven. The vote was 5 to 1. One of the signs of a sweetheart contract is when the side failing to fulfill the terms has the contract altered to its advantage without reoffering the contract for PUBLIC TENDER. Another sign of such a contract is when it is extended for several years, thereby locking the debtor into a position offering still more leverage. Finally, the Cafe will NOT be required to repay the USCF from profits it has made on the sales franchise deal or from future profits. IT DOES NOT GET ANY SWEETER THAN THAT, FOLKS -- if my source is correct. You get your debt forgiven now, and you never have to make it good in the future from profits. If true, it is sugar sweeeeet! Under the new terms of the contract, if my source is accurate, the Cafe will be required to provide an annual subvention of $150,000, less than half the previous figure of $350,000. That may mean the Cafe's percentage contribution will be about 40 percent of its successful bid in 2003. This deal has been made without reopening the sales franchise for PUBLIC TENDER. I am told that Grant Perks conducted an audit of the Cafe, but we do not know the results. It appears that portions of the Cafe's sales program that bring in profits were outside the deal with the USCF. My sources states that profits from these sales need not be used by the Cafe to repay its debt to the USCF. About 22 months ago, book and equipment sales were put at about $2.7 million. The new Cafe requirement is to subvent only $150,000 annually. The profits made by the Cafe from this sweetheart deal need not be paid by the Cafe to retire its debt. I am told that the EB feared that Hanon Russell, who has been described as a reputable lawyer, might declare bankruptcy, stiffing right up the nether region those to whom he owes money. THE BOTTOM LINE: The Cafe, if the report I received is accurate, has a lock on Federation B and E for the next seven years. By that time, there will no longer be any wherewithal in the Federation to resuscitate a once successful sales program, and there will likely no longer even exist the capability of putting the B&E franchise up for competitive bidding. Near total silence now emits from the USCF Executive Board. I know that many Delegates read both this site and the fidechess group where I will also post this report. One hopes that questions will be asked and attacks eventuate that will sting, if the report I received is accurate. My source, if correct, paints a picture in which the ChessCafe, a debtor delinquent, has received a reward -- not a punishment -- for threats to declare bankruptcy and for failure to fulfill a contract. Yours, Larry Parr 10-8-2005 Public newsgroups seem to develop one or two genuine items of interest per week - this conversation seems worth repeating on USSR's political collusion in the World Championship process to support its own favorite. (The other main topic this week has been about censoring authors.) "Nick" <nickbourbaki3@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:1128733550.712790.89150@z14g2000cwz.goog > David Richerby
wrote: Evidently, Geller, Keres, and Petrosian did make an agreement to make draws with one another. Korchnoi and Tal made no such agreement with the other Soviet players. If Moscow had really been pulling the strings in a dedicated anti-Fischer conspiracy, then it seems odd that two out of the five Soviet players would not have been a part of it. What strings Moscow pulled are examined below by those who were asked to collude with string-pulling. One may argue about the sportsmanship of such agreements. But I am far from convinced that Fischer would have won the 1962 Candidates' Tournament in the absence of such collusion. Indeed, one may argue that the agreed 2-2 results among Geller, Keres, and Petrosian *helped* Fischer's chances of winning by avoiding the possibility that one of those Soviet players could have achieved a large plus score against the other two players. In our interview with Mark Taimanov, he responded to two questions like this:-
and to the immediately following question like this:
And to play with special attention versus our leader's chief competitors*. The GM made an indirect comment about Fischer* is the next section - mentioning that he had written extensively on the subject in his book "I was Fischer's Victim". Now... that is an interesting book, the first edition covered the match, and some amount of the aftermath, including Taimanov's persecution - but a second edition had available to it the secret government files maintained on Taimanov. Unfortunately this book is not available in English, but I have a Russian copy on my desk. It ain't pretty reading - but shall we assume that this rare memoir is more typical of the State's attention to suspects, dissidents and 'traitors', than not? Especially high profile ones. The main point of the Answers in the above texts is that in two of them there is a different flavour to the Soviet government's interest than is usually credited - but that high political interest is substantiated, and the manner of collusion by players is suggested. As with Botvinnik's case, the above example concerning Smyslov does not indicate that Symslov need have colluded or even been aware of specific pressure on his opponents. David Bronstein makes an independent report on these issues, and at least on the public record in Russia, these views conflict with some other "show-and-tell" journalism by parties who may not have been so innocent or making a few of these basically cheating arrangements, nor indeed of arranging a little persecution of those who did not play along with the Great Game. Phil Innes, 8 Oct. 05. *In a subsequent response Taimanov said that for example Larsen was not considered to be a dangerous threat to USSR players, but Fischer certainly was. 10-1-2005 GM Susan Polgar writes, about the FIDE World Championship tourney going on right now in San Luis, Argentina, "The fighting spirit has been very high so far. Unfortunately, the level of play is not up to the World Championship level. There have been plenty of errors by a number of players. This will all come down to tough battle of nerves among the participants." For more game analysis and commentary by Susan, see Chessville's coverage. TheParrot's favorite, scorned underdog that he is, despite being the reigning FIDE Champion, is hanging in there in 4th place, so far good enough to go on to the knock-out phase - IF the round robin phase ended today. With still 10 games to go, however, it's still a dogfight! 9-24-2005
9-17-2005
TheParrot squaawks today about a great collegiate tradition - team competitions! The ICCL is alive & thriving, matching collegiate teams from all over the nation in internet matches. Their 2005 Fall Tourney is just around the corner, and the ICCL is now recruiting teams for the 2005-2006 season. Last year they were able to restart this league with a handful of dedicated university teams. At least three masters and plenty of experts were involved in exciting internet matches. This year, we're looking to expand the league and attract a larger range of teams. Learn more here, and get your college involved! 9-10-2005 This week Chessville has posted an Editorial: Why I am sick and tired of reading about Susan Polgar, by Phil Innes. Innes asks the rhetorical question, "Are you approaching your Polgar-limit?" More: "You see her here you see her there, you see her everywhere in print from coast-to-coast, and now or at least very soon, on varieties of television programs, including very prominent ones. A hundred articles already this year in mainline print media. Are you sick of this too?
9-3-2005 TheParrot's heart (yes, there is one in there!) goes out this week to the many victims of Hurricane Katrina. Please, do what you can to aid those in need whose lives have been so devastated by this terrible natural disaster. Susan Polgar, as noted above, is spearheading one relief effort, and here are links to many others, as well as links to help locate & reconnect loved ones who might be missing or out of contact: From CNN.com
Hurricane Katrina
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Katrina Survivor-Connector List 8-27-2005 The Scholastic crowd is in the spotlight once again. Last year Tom Braunlich (in his well-known article “Scholastics and the Soul of Chess: Is Scholastic Chess Killing Tournament Chess, or Saving It?) presented some surprising and detailed criticisms of the scholastic chess movement. Now Russ Mollot (founder, Chess Express Ratings) writes about The Black Hole In Chess Ratings, wherein he claims that: "There is a “black hole” in chess ratings. It has a definite cause: unregulated scholastic ratings. The number of scholastic chess players in the USA has grown dramatically in the last 10 to 15 years, and consequently, scholastic players outnumber adult players by something in the order of 4 to 1 (twenty years ago it was more like 1 to 2, with adult players outnumbering student players). This trend is not only continuing, it is accelerating...The rampant anarchy in scholastic chess ratings is a ticking time-bomb that is leading to the devastation of the purpose and meaning of chess ratings. Let us examine several simple examples so we can project the effects which are percolating throughout the greater system of chess ratings..." 8-13-2005 As expected, the voters endorsed the Goichberg slate in the recent USCF Board elections. Now Beatriz Marinello appears to be taking her revenge by trying to ensure that the USCF is committed to staying in Crossville. This despite pleas from the new Board members (who have yet to actually take office) to leave things alone and let them decide the future of the USCF. If this is true, it's just the latest in a string of apparent abuses and missteps by the once promising Chilean and her "crew". Let's hope it's the last, too; let's hope there aren't any hidden shenanigans that come to light down the road. ¡Adios, Beatriz! 7-23-2005 The proverbial Winds of Change may be about to sweep through USCF Headquarters, as the elections appear to have put into office Bill Goichberg and friends. This is a stinging defeat for the Status Quo, and specifically for USCF's Ms. Everything, Beatriz Marinello. What will her role be after the new Board takes office? Will she stay that long? Will the USCF still build in Crossville? What will outgoing Board members do in their final weeks in office? Transitions are always a difficult time, but this one is magnified by the acrimonious way in which both the campaign, and indeed all of USCF politics the past few years, has been run. TheParrot thinks it's time to close ranks behind the new Board, and help them establish a more civil, more transparent, and more productive governance of the USCF. The USCF needs to live up to the promise of it's mission, it's high time! 7-16-2005 The big news, of course, is the Distance Chess match that will be delay-broadcast next Sunday, July 24th. This is an amazing event, something that we've never seen on TV before. Real chess on TV? Wow! TheParrot thinks it's important to watch if for no other reason than to send the message to the sponsors, both the sponsors of this event as well as potential future sponsors, that chess on TV can and will draw an audience, which is really all the sponsors want & need. Plus, enjoy tunes with the band Bering Strait who perform during the show. Check out the listings above, find out the exact time & channel in your part of the world (or tune in over the internet) and get ready for some fast-paced top-level chess action! (On 7-9-2005, TheParrot did not sing.) 7-2-2005 TheParrot received some spam this week supporting a slate of candidates in the upcoming USCF Board of Directors election. After some correspondence with the originator of that email, USCF President etc. Beatriz Marinello, we received the following fairly lengthy reply:
Dear All: 6-25-2005 Fantastic news from the American chess scene this week: Distance Chess comes to America! The match, New York City, USA, versus St Petersburg, Russia, is a 2 rounds match over 4 boards played at distance chess, and will be the biggest televised broadcast of a chess event of all time. It reconnects the two countries since the last distance play event over 60 years ago. What's most exciting though, is the promotional value of the event - it is being broadcast in 30 major US markets on broadcast Television. It is being sent via satellite to 40 countries world wide. This will be the largest mainstream media coverage of a chess event since Fischer-Spassky in 1972. This IS chess excitement! 6-18-2005 Wow! Talk about weird politics in the USCF. A really really stupid decision to accept sponsorship from and support a supposedly performance enhancing substance, a so-called "brain-pill". TheParrot thought we were against such drugs, or else we really didn't believe they enhanced performance (we seriously doubt that the FDA reviewed the sponsor's claims.) TheParrot saw photos of kids lining up at the sponsor's table to get free samples & literature! Why are we teaching our kids that it's OK to take drugs to improve your competitive edge? Then, after a massive uproar, especially from the Scholastic folks, the ad mysteriously disappears from the USCF web site. No explanation, no apologies, no nada! Instead, we get accusations and attacks, an all too familiar scenario involving this particular Board. Don Schultz asks for a release of information, that the details of the deal be made public, and in response the Board President, Executive Director, and whatever else she is these days, Beatrice Marinello, moves to have Don removed from his post as Board Secretary! What a crock of Parrot droppings! TheParrot thinks that the USCF, like FIDE, may be irretrievably broken, if this is the sort of shenanigans we have to put up with, while honest efforts to promote chess are either ignored, discouraged, or disparaged. 6-4-2005 From TheParrot's mailbag: A Personal Experience with Susan Polgar. I recently worked as a volunteer at the SuperNationals in Nashville Tennessee in April of this year. Susan Polgar was in attendance. I was fortunate enough to speak with her very briefly on one occasion. But what impressed me the most was working with her at the trophy ceremony. She was on stage for pictures with all of the Elementary winners. The trophy ceremony was almost 3 hours long. There was no air conditioning on that stage. I know because I was there handing the trophies to the people. Let me tell you it got very warm under those stage lights. Ms. Polgar was present in a business suit complete with jacket. She stood on that stage the whole time and never once complained about being warm or uncomfortable or getting tired. She smiled in every picture. I was so impressed with her performance that evening! I will tell you from my personal experience on that stage, if the ceremony had been much longer I would have passed out from heat exhaustion. I don't know how Ms. Polgar managed it, but she persevered and didn't even seem to break a sweat. I don't know if those Elementary kids and parents appreciated her effort that night, but I certainly did. WAY TO GO SUSAN! Roy Manners Dear Parrot, In just a few short years Susan Polgar has become the single most important name in American chess. Hikaru Nakamura is a great story, and there are many other notables. But nobody else in American chess can pull in a crowd of chess players as well as Susan can. Outside of Kasparov or Karpov or Spassky or Fischer, I doubt any other player in the world can match her chess celebrity. Susan knows the importance of injecting personality into chess. Susan has shown the bystanders what chess promotion really is, and the importance of the personal element. Susan is showing how very successful chess promotion can be for both the promoter and for the chess community. Susan is now a force. The donations she sparked in south Texas for the new chess center is only the latest tangible sign of her impressive personal skills and rising status. Susan's influence is growing, and her best days are ahead. - Gene M 5-28-2005 Last week we applauded the efforts of Sonny Kamberi and the
staff of the Chess Emporium, for their efforts in both reaching out to our
youngsters, but in the process providing a few chess lovers the chance to
actually make a living doing something they relish. This week brings
news of two more great examples of the non-politico's successes at promoting
and developing chess: first is news of the
Bert Quintanilla, a member of the newly formed board of directors, said he hopes the center inspires children. TheParrot hopes news of success stories like these inspire others to bypass the politicos, and take chess promotion into their own hands! After bemoaning the seemingly endless squabbles that chess politicians seem to engage in, TheParrot is proud to be able to point out to our readers the fine work so many chess promoters are engaged in, promoting the Royal game and bringing it's benefits to new players everywhere. 5-21-2005 Sonny Kamberi write TheParrot that the Chess Emporium in Phoenix (Arizona) is looking for dynamic hard working coaches to fill two full-time coaching positions. Expect to make $25,000 to $35,000 annually, with extensive training provided by the Emporium. Of course, you must be willing to relocate to Phoenix, but that's not a bad thing! Interested individuals need to apply by June 5th 2005. TheParrot loves seeing organizations like the Chess Emporium not only reaching out to our youngsters, but in the process providing a few chess lovers the chance to actually make a living doing something they relish. Sonny & the staff of the Chess Emporium are to be thanked for their efforts and congratulated for their success. 5-14-2005 From TheParrot's Inbox:
5-7-2005 A decision from the Court of Arbitration in Lausanne has TheParrot's feathers all a-flutter. In the case of GM Vadim Milov vs FIDE the court agreed that it was ‘reasonable’ to expect GM Milov to fly to Tripoli within 24 hours notice and take part in a first round game on the same day. Come on now, the Court of Arbitration wouldn't know an agreed draw from a skewer attack, what do they know from reasonable? Might as well ask the Pope if it's reasonable to, well never mind. You get the idea. The only plausible explanations... are being withheld on the advice of TheParrot's attorneys. TheParrot can only say, puh-leeeez! 4-30-2005 Parrot Questioned: A reader has asked “Dear Chessvillers, No doubt there is an excellent reason why your advice column is entitled "Alekhine's parrot." For those of us with limited knowledge, would you be so good as to explain the allusion?” Many thanks. Fred Bethke Parrot Says: Dear Mr. Bethke, As ani fül no, parrots can live for a 100 years! If there is some insinuation in your question that I am not indeed Alekhine’s Parrot – BTW he still liked his original spelling of Aljechin, - I wish you had made it explicit in your inquiry. Very few people know my personal name, but, nod to the wise, Estorillian parrots are vocal but discreet about some certain subjects. I hope readers will not now insist on an endless series of Alekhine “chokes.” Le Parrot. 4-23-2005 Domestic news seems to be all about politics these days, turning TheParrot's stomach. So we turn to the international scene, where it's (almost) all about the chess. The XII Russian Team Championship, 2005 Individual European Championship, Sigeman & Co Chess Tournament 2005, the Cuban Championship, The Gausdal Classics, and the 16th International Festival of Chess, Bridge and Games CZECH OPEN 2005 all provide welcome relief from those who are unable to put the interests of chess above their own petty squabbles and political power grabs. TheParrot will leave the campaigning, the depositions, and the like for others, we're more inclined to watch some of the great chess taking place around the world, like this game: Moiseenko,A (2665) - Svidler,P (2725) [D91] 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5 Ne4 5.Bh4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 dxc4 7.e3 Be6 8.Nf3 Bg7 9.Rb1 b6 10.Nd2 0-0 11.Be2 c5 12.Bf3 cxd4 13.cxd4 Nd7 14.Bxa8 Qxa8 15.0-0 c3 16.Nf3 Rc8 17.Qa4 Nf6 18.Rfc1 Nd5 19.Qc2 a5 20.a3 Qa6 21.Bg3 Bh6 22.Re1 b5 23.e4 b4 24.Ne5 Bd2 25.Rf1 Qb5 26.a4 Qb7 27.Nf3 Bh6 28.h4 Nb6 29.d5 Bd7 30.Ra1 Nxa4 31.Nd4 Qb6 32.Nb3 Bb5 33.Rfb1 Nc5 34.Nxc5 Rxc5 35.Be5 Rc8 36.Rd1 a4 37.d6 b3 38.d7 Bxd7 39.Qd3 Bb5 40.Qh3 Qe6 0-1 4-16-2005 TheParrot is too tired to squaawk about anything this week. Tired of politics and politicians. Tired of FIDE's shenanigans. Tired of the USCF & their seemingly endless infighting, to the detriment of chess promotion. Tired of everything, except the chess! Isn't that what we're all supposed to be about? 4-9-2005 Today TheParrot lets the games (XIII Dos Hermanas Internacional) speak for themselves: Rustemov,A (2573) - Dreev,A (2705) 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bf4 a6 7.Rc1 Ne4 8.Ne5 Nxc3 9.Rxc3 Bd7 10.Nxc6 Bxc6 11.a3 e6 12.e3 Be7 13.Bd3 g6 14.0-0 f6 15.Qg4 Kf7 16.Rfc1 a5 17.h3 Rg8 18.Qe2 Qd7 19.a4 Rgc8 20.b3 Ba3 21.Ra1 Qe7 22.Rc2 ½-½ Harikrishna,P (2646) - Korneev,O (2611) 1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 dxc4 5.Qa4+ c6 6.Qxc4 b5 7.Qc2 Bb7 8.0-0 Nbd7 9.d3 c5 10.a4 a6 11.Na3 Be7 12.Bf4 Bc6 13.axb5 axb5 14.Qb3 Bd5 15.Qc2 Qb6 16.Ne5 Nxe5 17.Bxe5 0-0 18.Bxd5 exd5 19.Qb3 b4 20.Nc2 Qe6 21.Bxf6 Bxf6 22.Ne3 Rad8 ½-½ Radjabov,T (2673) - Felgaer,R (2593) 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 dxc4 4.e3 b5 5.a4 b4 6.Ne4 Qd5 7.Nd2 c3 8.bxc3 bxc3 9.Nc4 Nf6 10.Qb3 Nbd7 11.Nf3 Rb8 12.Qxc3 e6 13.Qc2 Bb4+ 14.Bd2 0-0 15.Bd3 Bxd2+ 16.Ncxd2 ½-½ Korneev,O (2611) - Azmaiparashvili,Z (2671) 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 c5 6.Bb5+ Bd7 7.e5 Ng4 8.e6 fxe6 9.Ng5 Bxb5 10.Nxe6 Bxd4 11.Nxd8 Bf2+ ½-½ Korneev,O (2611) - Felgaer,R (2593) 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Nd5 Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.c3 Ne7 12.Nxf6+ gxf6 13.Bd3 Bb7 14.Qe2 Rg8 15.g3 Qb6 16.0-0-0 0-0-0 17.Nc2 Kb8 18.Rhe1 d5 19.a3 h5 20.Qxh5 Rh8 21.Qxf7 Qd6 22.Ne3 Rdf8 23.Qg7 Rfg8 24.Qf7 Rf8 ½-½ Radjabov,T (2673) - Harikrishna,P (2646) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nxc6 Qf6 6.Qf3 Qxf3 7.gxf3 bxc6 8.Be3 Bxe3 9.fxe3 Ne7 10.Nc3 d6 11.0-0-0 0-0 12.f4 f5 13.Bc4+ ½-½ 4-2-2005 Reprinted here is an editorial from one of Iceland's most dignified newspapers, and is a response to the Washington Post's recent leader... MORGUNBLADID, Reykjavik - Iceland Editorial Robert James Fischer returned to Iceland on Maundy Thursday after an absence of 33 years. For nine months he had been in detention in Japan, threatened with extradition to the United States for having violated an international trade embargo against erstwhile Yugoslavia when he played chess there in 1992. But Mr. Fischer has also occasioned angry reactions from Americans by repeatedly denouncing Jews and by exulting in a radio interview over the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. The most choleric response to Bobby Fischer’s arrival in Iceland appeared yesterday in the American newspaper The Washington Post, under the headline “Shame of Iceland.” The paper states that the day Althingi [the Icelandic parliament] agreed to grant Mr. Fischer Icelandic citizenship was “a sad day for Iceland, which actively associated itself with a man who has long since left decency behind.” It goes on to say, “Fischer, clearly deeply unbalanced, should perhaps be considered a subject of pity, rather than hatred. But he should certainly not be a subject of legislative honor – not unless his new countrymen want their nation shamed every time this chessman opens his mouth.” Bobby Fischer has not come to Iceland because of his opinions. They are his, and he is responsible for his words just as any other Icelander is. When Mr. Fischer became World Champion, Americans were eager to cloak themselves in this eccentric chess genius’ victory over the Soviet chess dynasty, but since 1992 their intransigence toward him has been unalloyed. Early this winter, Mr. Fischer wrote to the authorities in this country and requested asylum in Iceland. Minister of Foreign Affairs Davíd Oddsson demonstrated both valor and philanthropy when he decided to honor that request. Icelanders have formed a group of Bobby Fischer supporters who have worked tirelessly to get him released, and it is thanks to this group and the Minister for Foreign Affairs that Mr. Fischer is here. The original intent was not to grant Mr. Fischer Icelandic citizenship, but when it became clear that the Japanese would not release him, the decision was made to take this step. Althingi did not bring Iceland to shame with this decision; instead, it saved the United States the shame of having imprisoned Robert James Fischer for the sole crime of not having behaved in harmony with American foreign policy. Readers respond:
3-26-2005
3-19-2005 TheParrot's internet service provider, has, without notice or credible explanation, cut off access to every European web site. But Russia is not Europe, I objected, to which they replied "well, over there..." It is an issue of Spyware apparently. I have asked for a specific site to be cleared - and await their decision. They might not give it. Fortress America! If any people on earth needed to get a second opinion on what life is about elsewhere then it is here. Sorry to sound so disgusted, but I also apologize for this world-wide black-out of news - for commercial reasons, says Mammon. I will change the service provider... What was once thought of as overcoming the barriers of isolation and news-control is once again being challenged by the would-be mind controllers. Shades of George Orwell's 1984! Shall Newspeak dominate the airwaves once again? Not if TheParrot has his way! 3-12-2005 Probably the two greatest chess players of all time dominate the news this week. First, Bobby's sad saga continues, with a variety of new weirdnesses to add to an already bizarre situation. Read all about it above and in the Fischer Freedom Watch. Next, Garry Kasparov announces that due to FIDE's continuing ineptness and the apparent impossibility of unifying the World Championship title any time soon, he's played his last serious chess, winning Linares on tie-breaks over Topalov. While most of us see his departure as a tragedy, a loss for those of us who have come to look forward to his games, a few other interesting reactions have surfaced, the oddest of which is offered by Pennsylvania's Eric Johnson (who ironically nicknames himself "chesspride"). Eric writes in the FIDE-Chess list, in reaction to the news, "thank God for small favors." Eric, also known as FIDE-all-the-way Eric, needs to spend some time in a reeducation camp, methinks. Perhaps a stay in Kirsan's Elista would work wonders for him. As for TheParrot and friends, we bemoan both situations. Bobby's continued imprisonment, and Garry's decision to walk away from it all, are both bad for chess. Yes, chess, not Pennsylvania Chess, or FIDE chess, but chess. Readers say:
3-5-2005 And the beat goes on...FIDE is at it again, taking revenge for the perceived abuse of a FIDE official during the Calvia Olympiad. According to my sources, the official in question is a somewhat shady character, but by all accounts I've heard, he was given the bum's rush during the incident in question. One of those situations where if the victim was at all sympathetic we would all scream & howl. Now FIDE extracts it's revenge by announcing a boycott of Spanish events. So what else should we expect from FIDE? They say you get the government you deserve, and we certainly deserve Kirsan & his cronies. Until we get the collective guts to drop-kick his presidency into the ash heap of history, we just get what we deserve. Of course, collective guts starts one federation at a time. Where does the USCF stand? Where do the chessplayers stand? Where do you stand? 2-26-2005 Linares, the so-called Super-Tournament, with the world's #1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 18, and 25 slugging it out. "Slug" may indeed describe some of the games. Through four rounds there have been 12 games, with just four decisive results. To be sure, not all the draws are of this type: Adams,M (2741) - Leko,P (2749) [C88] 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.a4 b4 9.d3 d6 10.Nbd2 Na5 11.Ba2 Be6 12.Bxe6 fxe6 13.c3 bxc3 14.bxc3 Rb8 15.Qe2 Nh5 16.g3 Qe8 17.Ba3 Nb3 18.Ra2 Nxd2 ½-½ Topolov & Leko produced a very nice fighting draw, e.g. But 67% draws? Come on now. Woe to me, that I live to see the best of the best playing not to lose. 2-19-2005 Anyone besides TheParrot notice the more than passing similarities (and contrasts) between the NHL and FIDE? The NHL recently cancelled it's season after a prolonged labor stoppage. The players & owners were unable to come to an agreement about - what else? Money! - and so they took up their skates and went home. FIDE is in a situation similar to the players, when Kasparov decided to call off his participation in the title reunification, aka Prague Agreement. (Somebody please, explain it to me again, why did they call it an "agreement"?) Of course FIDE, unlike the NHL, has consistently called in replacement players, and fielded an event which awarded their title. It wasn't the real title, mind you, just a tinsel-covered substitute. Just like most of the FIDE Champions have been recently (not disparaging any of these players mind you, just commenting on what they won.) Now FIDE is at it again, with news that the 2005 World Chess Championship will be held at the end of the year in Ho Chi Minh City. Whose turn is it to win the title this year? And wither reunification? It won't happen through FIDE, TheParrot thinks. Somebody is going to have to cough up some seriously big bucks to get Kramnik & Kasparov to the board, and hopefully that somebody will establish a two or three year cycle of qualifiers producing a challenger for the title. We - the chess public, the chess fan (remember us?) - can only hope that the title will effectively be wrested from FIDE's cold dead fingers and perpetuated under the auspices of a more democratic and responsive organization. 2-12-2005 Politics in the USCF are starting to heat up again (as if they ever cooled off!) With elections for Board positions coming up this summer, the attack dogs are already taking shots at each other, and at some of the candidates, some of whom have already started advertising. TheParrot thinks there are some good candidates available this time around, including those with business savvy & also those who can intelligently represent the player's point of view. Let's hope this time we get a board that can work together, without the rancor and in-fighting of most past boards. 2-5-2005 It is time for all good parrots to squaawk, to tell us about what you think we should be talking about in this column. What in the wide, wide world of chess is important to you? Reunification? The USCF's possible move to Crossville? The disappearance of Sam Sloan? Corus? Come on, what do you think? 1-29-2005 Today TheParrot publishes his response to a correspondent, on the subject of the 11th World Champion: Dear Hans, Its difficult to speak about because I get stuck with my own opinions about it. Because I do not know Fischer personally, I can only guess what all this must seem like /to him./ I think it must be confusing! | |||||||
The
Kingfishers had a roller coaster of a season, with a slow start that was
followed by a torrid run of 4 straight crushing victories that left the
league thinking that Baltimore was nearly unstoppable. Suddenly the
unthinkable happened as Baltimore dropped matches to Philadelphia and
Carolina (The two teams with the worst record) in back to back weeks. Just
when it seemed as if the 4 match winning streak was just a lucky run, the
Kingfishers turned it up a notch again as they took down the undefeated New
York Knights and finished the season with a solid victory over the Boston
Blitz. When the playoffs rolled around the Kingfishers were back to their
steamroller selves as they defied all the oddsmakers to beat the favorite to
win the Championship, the New York Knights, and earned their spot in the
Championship game. This was especially impressive as the New York Knights
received draw odds in the match due to their better regular season record.
With their victory last night, the Baltimore Kingfishers completed the final
chapter of their journey to the first ever Untied States Chess League
Championship.
USCF
President Bill Goichberg replied that the Parrot’s report last week may
or may not be accurate! 
Susan
Polgar has been, seemingly, everywhere the past few years, promoting chess,
and specifically scholastic Chess. From the
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We
have seen her in Mexico City surrounded by 30,000 fans; then in Florida
surrounded it seemed by that many media people during an attempt
(successful) on the Guinness Book of records simul., in Texas opening a
new metro chess HQ and even on the cover of Parade and Lifestyles
with prominent celebrities from our time and before.
Ostensibly
both the Susan Polgar Foundation and the United States Chess Federation
exist for the same purpose – to further chess into mainstream culture. Yet
anyone reading these statistics, or even the newspapers, and who had a few
dollars to promote chess, would make their choice as a no-brainer! Which of
the two actually can be said to promote chess into mainstream culture in a
superior way? My ten dollars is going to get 100 here and 2 there…"
| 
She was quite touched by the overwhelming support from the players, their
parents and the local community. Within a few days after her trip, the
parents of one of the players agreed to donate a building to create the
Fischer
is now free, at least free of his Japanese prison. The Icelandic RJF
Committee is to be commended for their perseverance in righting this wrong.
Still we must remember the terrible price that life appears to have
extracted from Bobby in return for his chessic genius. We can only
hope that he is now allowed to live out his life in what modicum of
obscurity can be found for him in his new home country. Somehow,
TheParrot doubts that will really happen. Methinks Bobby will continue
to so fascinate, that he will remain newsworthy long even after his death.
So is Bobby really free? Is he free from hounding by admirers and
the media? Is he free from US persecution? Is he free even
from his own demons? Sadly, we think not.