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3-29-2008

I looked at USCF’s Chess Life OnLine for a URL for this tournament, and it wasn’t there. So I pressed ‘Press’ and nothing happened. Well, USCF have been having Senior moments for 25 years, and at least this is appropriate coverage. Wait… the link was just a bit s  l  o  w  and did come up, but did not list this tournament.  zzzzzzzzz

Chess News WORLDWIDE and the Americas:

Chess and Mathematics
Prof. Dr. Christian Hesse to give lecture on “Chess and Mathematics”

The new patron of the Chess Olympiad Dresden 2008 is Christian Hesse, Professor for Mathematics at the University Stuttgart. The avowed chessfriend will promote the worldwide largest chess event which will take place in Germany for the first time after 38 years from 12 to 25 November 2008. He will publicly lobby for the event in Dresden. Thus, Hesse wants to get involved with promoting an attractive programme of collateral tournaments in the first place. Besides, the former youngest German professor plans to give a public lecture in the frame of the workshop „Chess and Mathematics“ from 21 to 23 November 2008.

The special edition stamp sale for the Chess Olympiad 2008 was launched at 9 am this morning by Dresden's incumbent mayor Dr. Lutz Vogel together with the president of the Saxon parliament, Erich Iltgen, and Dr. Heidi Brandt as representative of the Deutschen Post AG with a short ceremony. For one day the special branch post office can be found in the city hall cellar from 10am to 3pm for all souvenir hunters to purchase the collector’s pieces on the occasion of the Chess Olympiad 2008 in Dresden. The postmark which will be stamped with was designed especially for this promotion day.

Chess playing sportsmen
ACP [Fri Feb 15th, 09:00]

Greek basketball player Papadopoulos and Brazilian football star Baptista have a common passion: playing chess as a pastime.  In an article which appeared on a website of the Real Madrid, both famous sportsmen claim to have learnt the game at an early age.  Since then, they enjoy playing chess as a way of relaxing during competitions and keeping their mind fresh.  Real Madrid organized a game between them and interviewed them on their passion for chess.  The full article can be found in Spanish here.

Reading the article, it transpires that Papadopoulos is probably a better chess player than Baptista.  Not only was he born in Russia, which he claims to be the ideal country for becoming a good chess player.  But Baptista himself admits never to have studied games of strong players.

However it is, we were pleased to read an article where famous sportsmen reveal their passion for our game.  We remember that boxing champions Lennox Lewis and the Klitschko brothers made no secret either of their love for chess.

3-22-2008

Characteristic: Each National Federation may register as many players as it wishes.  All participants must be endorsed by their FIDE recognized, national federations.

Tie Breaks System
1. The Sum of the progressive scores.
2. Bucholz
3. By age in favor of the youngest player.

TITLES, PRIZES AND OTHER CONDITIONS:

General Section (Absoluta) Categories Under 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18: The FIDE Master Title is awarded to the Champion of this category.

Girls Section Categories Under 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18: The FIDE Women Master Title will be awarded to the Champion of this category.

Note: In case of a first place tie, the titles will be given to up to three players per category.

General Section (Absoluta) Categories Under 16 and 18: The Champion of this category will earn a 9 Rounds Norm towards their International Master Title.

Girls Section Categories Under 16 and 18: The Champion of this category will earn a 9 Rounds Norm towards their Women International Master Title.

Note: In case of a first place tie, FIDE Master Titles and FIDE Woman Master Titles will be awarded for the second and third places.

In case there isn’t a tie for first place, in the categories under 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18; the players in second and third places will receive the Candidate FIDE Master Title. In the Girls Section, the title for the second and third places will be the Candidate FIDE Woman Master.

Full information from ajedrezfedarg@hotmail.com

Atatürk International Women Masters Chess Tournament in Turkey.

The youngest player of this tournament won the event by a full point. Yifan Hou took a quick draw against Javakhishvili to ensure herself of a first place finish. Zhao Xue defeated the former tournament leader to finish clear third while Pia Cramling drew Anna Ushenina to finish in clear second.

Final round results:

WIM YILDIZ Betul Cemre 2207 0 - 1 GM CHEN Zhu 2548
GM CRAMLING Pia 2524 ½ - ½ IM USHENINA Anna 2484
WGM YIFAN Hou 2527 ½ - ½ IM JAVAKHISHVILI Lela 2470
WGM XUE Zhao 2517 1 - 0 IM ATALIK Ekaterina 2408
IM DRONAVALLI Harika 2455 ½ - ½ IM KRUSH Irina 2473

Final standings:

1. WGM YIFAN Hou 2527 CHN 7
2. GM CRAMLING Pia 2524 SWE 6
3. WGM XUE Zhao 2517 CHN 5½
4. IM ATALIK Ekaterina 2408 TUR 5
5. IM JAVAKHISHVILI Lela 2470 GEO 4½
6-7. GM CHEN Zhu 2548 QAT 4
IM DRONAVALLI Harika 2455 IND 4
8. IM KRUSH Irina 2473 USA 3½
9. IM USHENINA Anna 2484 UKR 3
10. WIM YILDIZ Betul Cemre 2207 TUR 2½

This news first reported by Susan Polgar.  Official site.

Annual Amber

March 15 to March 27; Blindfold and Rapid, total 2008 prize-fund is 216,000 Euro.

Participants:

No apologies for giving these results in full – there are the brightest of the bright in Russia, and in a year or two will be all over the chess headlines – and of course because Chessville has big readership in Eastern Europe.  One very noticeable fact in showing the results in full is to view the decisive game rate, especially its gender relation, and also white-black scoring, subjects now occupying the attention of rules maker all over the world.

Final standings:
   1 Sjugirov - 8.0    [Sanan Sjugirov, captioned]
   2 Chadaev - 8.0
   3 Ponkratov - 7.5
   4 Andreikin - 6.5
   5 Linchevsky - 6.5
   6 Romanov - 6.0
   7 Papin - 4.5
   8 Nechepurenko - 4.5
   9 Popov - 4.5
   10 Shimanov - 4.5
   11 Rakhmanov - 4.0
   12 Lovkov - 1.5

View games     Games in PGN

The participants of the girls tournament: Charochkina Daria 1990 wm 2383 Moscow, Vasilkova Svetlana 1988 wm 2359 Moscow, Girya Olga 1991 wf 2342 Moscow, Gunina Valentina 1989 wf 2295 Moscow, Bodnaruk Anastasia 1992 wf 2317 Moscow, Tarasova Viktoria 1989 wm 2267 Saratov, Ivakhinova Inna 1989 wm 2250 Ulan-Ude, Ambartsumova Karina 1989 wf 2228 Moscow, Severiukhina Zoja 1990 wf 2199 Izhevsk, Meleshko Anna 1989 wm 2215 Primorsk region, Shlakich Anna 1991 2244 Saint-Petersburg, Savina Anastasia 1992 2202 Moscow.

Final standings
1 Bodnaruk - 8.5    [Anastasia Bodnaruk, captioned]
2 Gunina - 7.0
3 Vasilkova - 6.5
4 Charochkina - 6.5
5 Girya - 6.0
6 Savina - 6.0
7 Severiukhina - 5.5
8 Ivakhinova - 5.0
9 Tarasova - 5.0
10 Shlakich - 4.5
11 Ambartsumova - 3.0
12 Meleshko - 2.5

 Big game downloads are available here.     Official site.

3-15-2008

The average guess of the weight of the bag was 17 pounds, and that every women player had at least 3 bags, with exactly similar contents, but in different colors, some of which was due to spilt make-up.

On the serious side Chessville is become active in support of players remuneration, and we are all pleased to announce that Goddesschess  is once again sponsoring a $350 "Fighting Chess" prize for the upcoming 2008 U.S. Women's Chess Championship!  AND Susan Polgar has agreed to be the judge for the "Fighting Chess" prize at The Frank K. Berry U.S. Women's Chess Championship.

Prizes -$25,000. Seeding - The 10 contenders for the title will be determined as follows:

• U.S. Women's Champion (Irina Krush)

• 6 Top-Rated Women players on the March Rating List

• 3 Wild Cards selected by Frank K. Berry (One of these wild cards will be top female finisher at the Qualifier Open)

MonRoi  will again be a sponsor, and will carry the official website and host LIVE games.

Just to be fair each male crony had to turf out his wallet and have the contents analyzed, and with remarkable consistency each had:

a)      $28 cash
b)      one debit card
c)      one USCF membership card, expiration date 1999
d)      one ‘Lucky-Brand’ condom, expiration date 1999
e)      one business card; ‘Steve’s auto repair and towing, reasonable rates’
f)        one business card; ‘Steve’s repair-all and not-bad used-tool shop’
g)      one spare car key
h)      one electronic key-card, ‘Marriott Hotel’

Average weight, 5 ounces. Average age of wallet was 17 years. Now, if any chess player’s out there do not ‘profile’ with the above, write to the Parrot.

Chess News WORLDWIDE

Women have Draw Problem  [They don’t know how to do it.]

After the last round of Linares and all those draws, it is interesting to review the first round of the Atatürk International Women Masters Chess Tournament in Turkey.  Here are results of previous rounds, which contain completely unexpected results; the previous Women’s World Champ going 0-4:

The first two rounds were very decisive, with 9 from 10 games not resulting in draws.  Though round 4 produced 4/5 draws.

Krush 1-0 Zhu Chen
Javakhishvili 1-0 Zhao Xue
Ushenina 0-1 Hou Yifan
Yildiz 0-1 Cramling
E. Atalik 1-0 Harika

GM CHEN Zhu 2548 0 - 1 GM CRAMLING Pia 2524
WGM YIFAN Hou 2527  1 - 0 WIM YILDIZ Betul Cemre 2207
WGM XUE Zhao 2517  1 - 0 IM USHENINA Anna 2484
IM DRONAVALLI Harika 2455  1 - 0 IM JAVAKHISHVILI Lela 2470
IM KRUSH Irina 2473 ½ - ½ IM ATALIK Ekaterina 2408

Skipping a round, here are results from Round 4, and current standings:

GM CHEN Zhu 2548 0 - 1 WGM YIFAN Hou 2527
WGM XUE Zhao 2517 ½ - ½ GM CRAMLING Pia 2524
IM DRONAVALLI Harika 2455 ½ - ½ WIM YILDIZ Betul Cemre 2207
IM KRUSH Irina 2473 ½ - ½ IM USHENINA Anna 2484
IM ATALIK Ekaterina 2408 ½ - ½ IM JAVAKHISHVILI Lela 2470

Standings after 4 rounds:

WGM YIFAN Hou 2527 CHN 3½ [caption]
IM ATALIK Ekaterina 2408 TUR 3
GM CRAMLING Pia 2524 SWE 3
IM DRONAVALLI Harika 2455 IND 2½
IM KRUSH Irina 2473 USA 2½
WGM XUE Zhao 2517 CHN 2½
IM JAVAKHISHVILI Lela 2470 GEO 2
IM USHENINA Anna 2484 UKR ½
WIM YILDIZ Betul Cemre 2207 TUR ½
GM CHEN Zhu 2548 QAT 0

Quaere? Is Irina [captioned top] the most active American player overseas, of either gender?  Another fun thing to do is to visit the official site and learn to use the navigation buttons in Turkish – this is well worth the effort, since the photographs are good, and there are lots of them.

Here is another picture of Irina listening to an unidentified man, and deserves one of those “make up your own caption” labels.  From Irina’s body language I hope he is not lecturing her on <yikes> overweight handbags.

You can also watch live from the Official Site.

3-8-2008

Player of the Week:

Youngest US Master ever! Nicholas Nip has broken the US Chess Federation's record for the youngest master at the tender age of 9 years and 11 months, shattering the previous record of 10 years and 79 days held by Hikaru Nakamura. His new rating on the MSA website stands at 2207. Nicholas earned the final 20 rating points on March 5 in a G/60 quad tournament at the Mechanics' Institute in San Francisco, defeating FM Ron Cusi (2339) in the climactic game.

The youngest master record is considered one of the most hallowed marks of the USCF. Future World Champion Bobby Fischer was considered a prodigy when he became a master at the age of 13.

Chess reporter of the Week is Michael Aigner, who broke the story. Photo of Nicholas by ChessDryad. Check out Michael’s site for his full commentary at www.fpawn.com.

Liberal opposition leaders Kasparov and Mikhail Kasyanov were barred from running after authorities said they did not meet the strict requirements for gaining a spot on the ballot.  Associated Press writers Lynn Berry, Maria Danilova, Angela Charlton, Peter Leonard and Mansur Mirovalev contributed to this report.

OMON, riot police officers detain activists of the vocal opposition group co-led by former chess champion Garry Kasparov as they try to hold an unsanctioned protest over Russia's presidential election, Moscow, Monday, March 3, 2008.  Police detained dozens of people at a planned opposition protest Monday over Russia's presidential election, in a strong show of force the day after an election that was dismissed by Kasparov and other liberal opposition leaders as a farce.  (AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev)

2700 CLUB: Morelia Linares

The second half of this super-strong contest is about to resume in Linares – here was the picture so from the first half in Morelia:

1 Anand - 4.5
2-3 Shirov, Topalov - 4.0
4-5 Aronian, Carlsen - 3.5
6-7 Radjabov, Ivanchuk - 3.0
8 Leko - 2.5

The stage was set for the final round:

And the winner is [opens envelope] after 69 moves the last contender for the top place Magnus Carlsen couldn’t overcome his opponent, and with four draws in the last round, Vishy kept sole control of his lead, and wins it!  Although it must be said, Carlsen is also a big winner here, and his ELO has soared to make him perhaps number 4 in the world – not bad when you consider he is half the age of two players ahead of him.

But Carlsen will not become world champion!

Not with a huge qualifying cycle, and a money-based system during a recession, and a risky knock-out section…

Final round 14 results:

Vishy Anand (8) 1/2 Veselin Topalov (7)
Magnus Carlsen (7.5) 1/2 Teimour Radjabov (6.5)
Peter Leko (5) 1/2 Levon Aronian (7)
Alexei Shirov (5) 1/2 Vassily Ivanchuk (6)

Final Standings

1. Anand 8.5
2. Carlsen 8.0
3-4. Aronian, Topalov 7.5
5.Radjabov 7.0
6. Ivanchuk 6.5
7-8. Shirov, Leko 5.5

The Championships of Russia among boys and girls under 20 take place in Saint-Petersburg 8th-18th March. Time control: 1 hour 30 min. for 40 moves, 30 min. till the end of the game with an increment of 30 sec. per move since the first. The players who will take 1st place in the tournaments get right to participate in the World Championships under 20.

Participants of the boys tournament: Popov Ivan born 1990 g 2595 Moscow, Andreikin, Dmitry 1990 g 2573 Saratov, Romanov Evgeny 1988 g 2543 Chelyabinsk region, Rakhmanov Alexander 1989 g 2524 Moscow, Nechepurenko Roman 1988 f 2495 Ufa, Ponkratov Pavel 1988 m 2489 Chelyabinsk, Papin Vasily 1988 m 2475 Rostov region, Chadaev Nikolai 1988 m 2471 Moscow, Lovkov Roman 1988 f 2457 Saint-Petersburg, Linchevsky Daniil 1990 m 2440 Leningrad region, Shimanov Alexander 1992 m 2441 Saint-Petersburg, Sjugirov Sanan 1993 m 2491 Lipetsk region.

Participants of the girls tournament: Charochkina Daria 1990 wm 2383 Moscow, Vasilkova Svetlana 1988 wm 2359 Moscow, Girya Olga 1991 wf 2342 Moscow, Gunina Valentina 1989 wf 2295 Moscow, Bodnaruk Anastasia 1992 wf 2317 Moscow, Tarasova Viktoria 1989 wm 2267 Saratov, Ivakhinova Inna 1989 wm 2250 Ulan-Ude, Ambartsumova Karina 1989 wf 2228 Moscow, Severiukhina Zoja 1990 wf 2199 Izhevsk, Meleshko Anna 1989 wm 2215 Primorsk region, Shlakich Anna 1991 2244 Saint-Petersburg, Savina Anastasia 1992 2202 Moscow.

Shahcom Company provides live coverage of games in the playing hall and via Internet.  Rounds start at 15-00 Moscow time (+3 GMT).

3-1-2008

Alexander Ganichev (1994) - silver medalist of NW Russian region between boys under 12-14, Vadim Pischikov (1994) - winner of the Leningrad region Cup, Evgeny Polonovsky (1994) - Champion of NW region of Russia under 12, Champion of Leningrad region under 10-14, Vladimir Smirnov (1994) - Champion of Kirishi under 14. During the festival take place: the rapid chess tournament (23.02), classical chess tournament "Participants against computers" (23.02), round robin tournament "Chess 960" (24.02), Sheveningen tournament between participants and local team club "Kinef" (25.02), simults by GM Evgeny Alekseev against participants of Festival and GM Konstantin Sakaev against local chess club "Gambit".

The Shahcom Company provided live coverage of the games of the rapid chess and "Chess 960" tournaments in the playing hall and via Internet. The round starts at 10 a.m. Moscow time (+3 GMT).

Chess 960 (24 February)

Won by Maria Butuc

Rapid chess (23 February)

Won by Kirill Aleekseenko

2700 CLUB: Morelia Linares:  The second half of this super-strong contest is about to resume in Linares – here is the picture so far from the first half in Morelia:-

1 Anand - 4.5
2-3 Shirov, Topalov - 4.0
4-5 Aronian, Carlsen - 3.5
6-7 Radjabov, Ivanchuk - 3.0
8 Leko - 2.5

Immediately noticeable on an individual basis are the Anand 3 wins, all with the black bits – and the overall analysis of White and Black scores look like this:

White Wins: 8
Black Wins: 7
Draws: 12

Decisive : Draw ratio = 15 : 12

Play resumes Saturday, March 1, 2008 with this line up:

Vishy Anand - Magnus Carlsen
Vassily Ivanchuk - Veselin Topalov
Teimour Radjabov - Levon Aronian
Alexei Shirov - Peter Leko

2-23-2008

GM Topalov (2780) - GM Carlsen (2733) [B04]
20.02.2008, Morelia 2008

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 dxe5 5.Nxe5 c6 6.Bd3 Nd7 7.Nxd7 Bxd7 8.0-0 g6 9.Nd2 Bg7 10.Nf3 0-0 11.Re1 Bg4 12.c3 c5 13.Be4 cxd4 14.cxd4 e6 15.Qb3 diagram

[The first decision points comes after White’s 15. Qb3, diagram, and while white is still cramped, it doesn’t look terrible, does it?] 15...Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Bxd4 17.Bxd5 Qxd5 18.Qxd5 exd5 19.Rd1 Bg7 20.Kf1 Rfd8 21.Bg5 Rd7 22.Rd2 h6 23.Be3 d4 24.Rd3 Rc8 25.Bd2 Rc2 26.Rb1 diagram

[Just a few moves later black has kept his pawn, activated both his rooks and white has no compensation whatever] 26...Re7 27.a4 f5 28.b3 Rec7 29.Be1 Kf7 30.Rd2 Rc1 31.Rxc1 Rxc1 32.Ke2 Rb1 33.Rd3 Ke6 34.h4 Kd5 35.Bd2 Ke4 36.Rg3 f4 diagram

[Caption – a very cool move, since obviously 37. Rxg6 fails to d3++, and now the rest, as they say in chess-books, is a matter of technique.] 37.Rd3 Be5 38.f3+ Kd5 39.Be1 Bd6 40.Bd2 g5 41.hxg5 hxg5 42.Be1 g4 [a diversion of the f pawn to allow the king to advance] 43.fxg4 Ke4 0-1

The picture at the end of Round 5 looked like this:

Round 5 standings
1 Anand - 3.5
2 Aronian - 3.0
3-5 Shirov, Topalov, Carlsen - 2.5
6-8 Radjabov, Ivanchuk, Leko - 2.0

And Carslen’s topsy-turvey performance continued into round 6, with just more round in Morelia to go before the 2700-club goes to Linares for the second half of the tournament:

Official site: www.ajedrezmorelialinares.com.mx

Late Result:  The 4-Nations Tournament between Norway, Sweden, England and Latvia.  England came second behind Sweden in the Four Nations Chess Challenge Oslo - Norway, 15 - 17 February 2008.  Following defeat to the eventual winners on day 1, England recovered with victories against Latvia and Norway to take clear second place.

Final Result: Sweden 20 points, England 14 points, Latvia 13.5 points and Norway 12.5.

Captions are of WIM E. Hagesæther (NOR) vs WFM Chevannes (ENG); and GM Pontus Carlsson (SWE) vs IM Espen Lie (NOR).

Congratulations to Kanwal Bhatia, who made the best score on board 8 on her England debut, and also to David Howell, Simon Williams, Stewart Haslinger and Harriet Hunt, who all made plus scores.Full details of the event can be found on the official web site:- http://www.bergensjakk.no/four_nations_2008/

Brits Make a Chess Studio – ECF announce: The ECF Online Chess Club is still rapidly increasing in size. Over 800 members are now signed up. The facilities are improving all the time and a recording studio has now been set up in England for live broadcasts/lessons/lectures/shows etc There will be a premium service coming online in the not too distant future for which there will be a charge. Naturally all the basic facilities remain free. Come and join the fun at ecfclub.chesscube.com. We look forward to meeting you online!

The Parrot recommends a look at the playing screen at the site above – is this the future of chess media? Combining the interactivity of the computer with video materials always seemed natural and the way to go.

2600 CLUB: AEROFLOT the traditional Aeroflot tournament takes place in Moscow from 14 to 22 Feb.  Participants: Akopian Vladimir ARM 2700, Bologan Viorel MDA 2663, Amonatov Farrukh TJK 2649, Motylev Alexander RUS 2644, Jobava Baadur GEO 2643, Khalifman Alexander RUS 2638, Najer Evgeniy RUS 2634, Asrian Karen ARM 2621, Alexandrov Aleksej BLR 2618, Guseinov Gadir AZE 2617, Bocarov Dmitry RUS 2600

Final Result:
1 GM Nepomniachtchi, Ian 7.0 RUS 2600 2822

2 GM Motylev, Alexander 6.5 RUS 2644 2761
3 GM Dreev, Alexey 6.5 RUS 2633 2767

4 GM Rodshtein, Maxim 6.0 ISR 2614 2717
5 GM Volokitin, Andrei 6.0 UKR 2674 2706
6 GM Grachev, Boris 6.0 RUS 2601 2736
7 GM Guseinov, Gadir 6.0 AZE 2617 2727
8 GM Amonatov, Farrukh 6.0 TJK 2649 2701

Here is the final chart.  News from Susan Polgar.  Official website: http://www.aeroflotchess.com/

2-16-2008

Chess News - Worldwide

First of all, a salute to my correspondence opponent from Yugoslavia, who is losing with both Black and White.  He is rated about 1900, but won’t read this notice.  That’s because he is blind.  I don’t know how people can play that well without sight of the board.  If I too played blind he would beat me hollow.  So…!  This is to celebrate you, Mr. M., who will never read this notice.

Correspondents have pointed out : “There is a list of U.S. Braille Chess Association tournament winners at http://www.crisscrosstech.com/usbca/winnerslist.html. (Oddly enough, they use a *very large* type size.)  I think it corresponds to the U.S. Blind Championship, but I'm not absolutely certain.  The late Al Sandrin was probably of master strength at his peak.”

And: “In the UK, the Braille Chess Association has a website at "http://www.braillechess.org.uk", and runs a team currently lying 2nd in Div 4 of the 4NCL.   Many other countries have similar teams and/or organizations; there are some links at the site just mentioned.

Editor:  Chessville's links collection contains the following Chess Sites for the Visually Impaired:
     Association Italian Blind Chess players
     Austrian Blind Chess Federation
     Braille Chess Association
     Braille Chess Association of Ireland
     All India Chess Federation for the Blind
     International Association For The Blind And Visually Impaired Chess Players
     United States Braille Chess Association

Current Big One: Moscow

4th International Chess Festival
Moscow Open 2008
– with 274 players

Artyom Timofeev became the winner of The 4th International Chess Festival Moscow Open 2008 took place 2nd-10th February 2008. Participants: Akopian Vladimir GM ARM 2700, Malakhov Vladimir GM RUS 2689, Inarkiev Ernesto GM RUS 2681, Zviaginnsev Vadim GM RUS 2677, Timofeev Artyom GM RUS 2664, Tiviakov Sergei GM NED 2649, Amonatov Farrukh GM TJK 2649, Miroshnichenko Evgenij GM UKR 2647, Areshcenko Alexander GM UKR 2645, Motylev Alexander GM RUS 2644, Jobava Baadur GM GEO 2643, Moiseenko Alexander GM UKR 2643, Sutovsky Emil GM ISR 2642, Naiditsch Arkadij GM GER 2638, Efimenko Zahar GM UKR 2638, Tregubov Pavel GM RUS 2636, Najer Evgeniy GM RUS 2634, Dreev Alexey GM RUS 2633, Riazantsev Alexander GM RUS 2628, Kobalia Michael GM RUS 2623, Volkov Sergey GM 2623 RUS, Asrian Karen GM 2621 ARM, Aleksandrov Aleksej GM 2618 BLR, Guseinov Gadir GM 2617 AZE, Macieja Bartlomiej GM 2617 POL, Smirin Ilia GM 2616 ISR, Rodshtein Maxim GM 2614 ISR, Burmakin Vladimir GM 2611 RUS, Potkin Vladimir GM 2609 RUS, Vitiugov Nikita GM 2609 RUS, Fedorov Alexei GM 2607 BLR, Korotylev Alexey GM 2607 RUS, Kuzubov Yuriy GM 2606 UKR, Kaidanov Gregory S GM 2604 USA, Grachev Boris GM 2601 RUS, Bocharov Dmitry GM 2600 RUS etc. (274 players)

Leader final standings:

1 Timofeev - 7.5
2-10 Riazantsev, Volkov, Efimenko, Lastin, Jobava, Inarkiev, Kazhgaleyev, Moiseenko, Kurnosov - 7.0
11-22 Motylev, Naiditsch, Kobalia, Korobov, Potkin, Khairullin, Zabotin, Malakhov, Areshchenko, Aleksandrov, Rodshtein - 6.5
23-44 Popov Ivan, Kuzubov, Glek, Smirnov, Novikov, Lysyj, Naumkin, Tregubov, Asrian, Zvjaginsev, Khismatullin, Andreikin, Yemelin, Iordachescu, Evdokimov, Yandemirov, Burmakin, Demchenko, Vovk, Korotylev, Deviatkin, Pileckis, Zakhartsov - 6.0

Official site: moscowchessopen.ru

2700 CLUB: Morelia Linares

Another super-strong field contest each other, starting in Morelia, Mexico, February 15 – 23, and for the second half of the tournament in Linares Spain, February 28 - March 7.  Eight players engage in this double round robin event:

GM Viswanathan Anand. GM Veselin Topalov. GM Vassily Ivanchuk, GM Teimour Radjabov, GM Peter Leko, GM Levon Aronian, GM Magnus Carlsen, GM Alexei Shirov.

Morelia schedule [times are local]

14 February Opening ceremony 20:00 h Teatro Ocampo. Morelia (Michoacán - México)
15 February Ronda 1 15:30 h Teatro Ocampo. Morelia (Michoacán - México)
16 February Ronda 2 15:30 h Teatro Ocampo. Morelia (Michoacán - México)
17 February Ronda 3 15:30 h Teatro Ocampo. Morelia (Michoacán - México)
18 February Rest day
19 February Ronda 4 15:30 h Teatro Ocampo. Morelia (Michoacán - México)
20 February Ronda 5 15:30 h Teatro Ocampo. Morelia (Michoacán - México)
21 February Rest day
22 February Ronda 6 15:30 h Teatro Ocampo. Morelia (Michoacán - México)
23 February Ronda 7 15:30 h Teatro Ocampo. Morelia (Michoacán - México)

 Chessville coverage - Download all the games - Official site (Morelia)

2600 CLUB: AEROFLOT

The traditional Aeroflot tournament takes place in Moscow from 14 to 22 Feb.

Participants: Akopian Vladimir ARM 2700, Bologan Viorel MDA 2663, Amonatov Farrukh TJK 2649, Motylev Alexander RUS 2644, Jobava Baadur GEO 2643, Khalifman Alexander RUS 2638, Najer Evgeniy RUS 2634, Asrian Karen ARM 2621, Alexandrov Aleksej BLR 2618, Guseinov Gadir AZE 2617, Bocarov Dmitry RUS 2600.  Official website: http://www.aeroflotchess.com/

A quarter of a million chess sets given away… hey Brits, get on it!

Andy Reed MP today announced the giving away of chess sets to schools. The chess sets are available for schools as part of a scheme to provide a quarter of a million chess sets into the school network. Negotiations with manufacturers and distributors means that ten sets and boards can be presented to every school in England.

At a recent meeting in the House of Commons Holloid Plastics Ltd made a big-hearted offer to encourage interest in chess. They agreed to sponsor 250,000 chess sets to be distributed to schools throughout England. The allocation will be made in packages of 10 chess sets on a “first come first served” basis.

The offer give schools the opportunity to receive free of charge 10 chess sets for use to encourage more chess to be played in schools. The offer made in conjunction with the English Chess Federation is to encourage more young people to play chess.

The Loughborough MP told inLoughborough: “This offer is a great opportunity for school to receive chess sets and revive interest in chess. I encourage and call on all schools in the Loughborough area to apply for these sets.  I hope that chess can be taken up by a new generation of school children and this offer is a great way for schools to encourage chess to be played. I hope that school in Loughborough will make use of this opportunity.”

Chess in the form we know it today started in Southern Europe in the 15th Century. It has been shown relatively recently that stronger players start playing chess early in life, their is a greater probability that they are left handed and were born in the winter months or early spring. [Which might explain why I am good at chess being a left handed Capricorn ~ Ed]

If your school would like to receive these sets then please contact the address below:

The English Chess Federation
The Watch Oak
Chain Lane
Battle
TN33 OYD
Email office@englishchess.org.uk

Four nations chess challenge
Oslo - Norway, 15 - 17 February 2008
Report by http://www.chessdom.com/

A Traditional International chess Festival "Finek-2008" took place in Saint-Petersburg 25 January - 1 February.  The organizers were: Saint-Petersburg State University of economics and finances, Chess Federation of Russia Northwest region with a sponsorship of bank "Viking" - the first commercial bank of Russia and Saint-Petersburg - one of the eldest credit institutions of Saint-Petersburg.  This year there were 3 grandmasters tournaments - two men and one women.  30 chess players from 5 countries took part in the Festival including 12 international grandmasters and 13 international masters.  The winners were: tournament A - S.Savchenko (Ukraine), E.Gorovykh (Saint-Petersburg), D.Linchevsky (Gatchina, Saint-Petersburg region), tournament B - GM S.Vysochin (Ukraine), E.Levin (Saint-Petersburg), Y.Tikhonov (Byelorussia) women tournament: m Y.Gromova (Saint-Petersburg), T.Molchanova (Saint-Petersburg), GM S.Petrenko (Moldova).

2-9-2008

Harder to find from the site are the results of the ‘Ladies Tournament’, but I found Irina there!  After getting up to speed at Corus she seems to be doing very well and is joint leader.  Here were the match-ups for round 6, all players have 4 points:

Ushenina Anna WIM Vasilkova Svetlana
IM Muzychuk Anna IM Tairova Elena
WGM Kovanova Baira IM Lahno Kateryna
IM Krush Irina WGM Melia Salome
WFM Malgina-Sterliagova Tatiana WGM Zhukova Natalia
IM Harika Dronavalli IM Gvetadze Sopio
WFM Girya Olga IM Matveeva Svetlana
IM Vasilevich Irina WFM Bodnaruk Anastasia

Grin and ‘Bear’ it Handbag Scandal!  One report on the women’s competition reads:

The female hall is similar to a labyrinth:  tables are located very close to each other, and it is possible to pass between them easily only at the beginning of the round. All passages are blocked by handbags.

I provide two pictures to illustrate gender difference in playing conditions.  Official site

FIDE Say:

3.1. MATCHES. For the first cycle of 2008/9, all players in the World Championship (i.e. Kramnik or Anand) and Challenger matches (Topalov or the World Cup 2007 winner) will be invited to participate in the Grand Prix from the outset. Given the organisation of both these matches in the third quarter of 2008, these players will all be asked to commit their participation in the Grand Prix series by not later than 31st January 2008. Should any of these players decline to participate in the Grand Prix series, the President may nominate a player to replace and this player must be rated among the top 40 players in the World.

3.2. QUALIFICATION. The FIDE World Cup in Khanty Mansiysk 2007 will be used to determine three qualifiers for the 2008/9 Grand Prix Series. Excluding the winner, these will be the players who have qualified to the semi final stages of the World Cup.

3.3. RATING. Based on an average calculation to two decimal places, of the January 2007 rating list and the October 2007 rating list in the year prior to start of the cycle, seven qualifiers will be selected (excluding the four players who will be playing the matches as defined in Article 2.1). If players have the same average rating, the number of games played between January 2007 and September 2007 (rating period) will be used to determine ranking. To ensure active participation in the future, a minimum of twenty five (25) games is being recommended in the four rating lists including and prior to the October rating list in the year of qualification i.e. 2009, 2011 etc.. Given the short notice in the first edition of the Grand Prix, this regulation will not be applicable in the 2008-2009 series. If any player, qualified by rating, does not accept to play in the Grand Prix series, then the selection process using the average rating (Oct-07 & Jan-07 to two decimal places) plus number of games played in the rating period (Jan-07 + Apr-07 + Jul-07 + Oct-07) will be adopted to identify reserves, until the number of qualifiers required for the Grand Prix is completed. The first seven players and reserves are as follows :

FIDE has announced the following dates and venues for the 2008/2009 Grand Prix Tournaments:

Each Tournament will be a 14 player all play all. The winner of the Grand Prix will play with the winner of the 2009 World Cup for the right to challenge the World Champion in 2010.

Hrvoje Stevic became the Champion of Croatia. The Croatian chess championship took place in Split, 16th-29th January 2008, round robin, 11 grandmasters including European U18 champion Ivan Saric, Ex European champion (2006) Zdenko Kozul and 3 ex-World junior champions (Kurajica, Cvitan, Stevic). The participants: Kozul Zdenko g CRO 2600, Zelcic Robert g CRO 2587, Palac Mladen g CRO 2575, Dizdar Goran g CRO 2564, Brkic Ante g CRO 2558, Kurajica Bojan g CRO 2556, Hulak Krunoslav g CRO 2552, Jankovic Alojzije g CRO 2541, Cvitan Ognjen g CRO 2535, Stevic Hrvoje g CRO 2531, Jovanovic Zoran g CRO 2525, Saric Ivan m CRO 2482, Rezan Sasa m CRO 2390.

Final standings:
1 Stevic - 8.0 [captioned]
2 Zelcic - 7.0
3-6 Kurajica, Hulak, Jankovic, Jovanovic - 6.5
7-8 Saric, Cvitan - 6.0
9-10 Palac, Dizdar - 5.5
11 Kozul - 5.0
12-13 Rezan, Brkic - 4.5
 
Information courtesy Mladen Zelic;  Official site.

The Next Big One: Linares!

In about two weeks another super-strong field contest each other, starting in Morelia, Mexico, February 15 – 23, and for the second half of the tournament in Linares Spain, February 28 - March 7.

8 players will engage in this double round robin event:

Letter of the Week:

Gert Jan Slottboom of the The Netherlands writes about Parrot Show Cage #1:

Hello Parrot,  I have a similar chess set made in Zakopane.  It is the same area as Krynica.  That is the south of Poland (Carpathian Tatra mountains).

In answer on your questions:

1. Yes, the set is Polish.

2. These sets have been made from the early 20^th century till the present day.  This set is probably from the fifties.

3. This is indeed the traditional style of carving.  The way the pieces are carved and painted today is hardly (if not) changed over the years.  The sets are made of poplar wood.

4. The pieces represent country folk in their local costumes.  The ‘whites’ in the local dress of the region and the ‘blacks’ in the dress of the Ural people.  Maybe a passive resentment against the Russian oppression at the time?

5. As far as I know these sets are always made this way and no other people or groups were depicted.

6. Sets like this can make many hundreds, depending their age, quality and condition.

7. These sets are individually crafted but in larger quantities.  However, they are rather rare.

8. As stated before: chess sets of this design are made from the early 20^th century till the present day.  By no means a one-of set.  How many are made is not to trace.

9. I have done some carving.  Basically you need a good selection of chisels, and a first aid kit.

10. Believe it or not, I have seen an experienced carver in the Czech Republic producing up to two comparable chess sets a day.

 I hope my answers are of any help to you. Kind regards.

What the Parrot wants to know is if any reader has tried hand-craving [not lathe-turned] chess pieces as has Mr. Slottboom; and can we see a picture of the set, and what other advice would they offer? The Parrot wants to have a go at this too.

Four nations chess challenge

Oslo - Norway, 15 - 17 February 2008
Report by http://www.chessdom.com/

Four Nations Chess Challenge will be a match between Norway, Sweden, England and Latvia in Oslo - Norway, 15 - 17 February 2008.  It is a part of the preparation of the teams for the upcoming Chess Olympiad in Dresden 2008.  For this reason the rate of play is 40 moves in 90 minutes and 30 minutes for the rest with 30 seconds increment per move.

The games will take place in Bridgesenteret, Oslo.  All games from the Norway match and the top man and woman board (board 1 and 6) from the other match will be live on the internet.  The other games will be available at Chessdom.com  after every round.  There will be live commentary at the playing venue by IM Torstein Bae.  Entry is free and visitors are welcome.

England was the first to announce their team and Mr. Dag Danielsen, Secretary General of the Norwegian Chess Federation, sent us the other teams together with the schedule.

Schedule

Round 1: Norway - Latvia, England - Sweden (start 17:00 CET)
Round 2: Norway - Sweden, England - Latvia (start 15:00 CET)
Round 3: Norway - England, Sweden - Latvia (start 10:00 CET)

2-2-2008

Boris Bacynzskyj (1945-2008)  FM Boris Bacynzskyj of Philadelphia passed away on January 16.  A friendly giant who stood 6-foot-6, Boris was an institution at the Franklin Mercantile Chess Club in Center City Philadelphia for four decades.  Boris played a lot of chess in the late 1970s and early 1980s but by the middle of that decade he had become active in computer chess and co-authored two early books on the subject.  He also found time to teach chess to thousands of kids including members of the Vaux Junior High School chess team which won seven national junior high chess championships.  Boris was also a member of the US Chess League's Philadelphia Inventors.   Check out one of his wins here: FM Boris Baczynskyj (PHI) vs NM Nicolas Yap (SF)  1-0.

Frank Brady was on National Public Radio this week talking about Fischer the genius player and Fischer the ‘son-of-a-bitch’ of a man.  Dr. Brady, who is president of the Marshall Chess Club, contributed to the aired discussion for some 20 minutes.

And the New Fischer movie is… Universal and Working Title partners Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner have tapped Kevin Macdonald [captioned] to direct "Bobby Fischer Goes to War."  Macdonald won an Oscar for the documentary "One Day in September" before making his scripted directing debut on "The Last King of Scotland."  His next pic, "State of Play," is an adaptation of the British miniseries that stars Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck and Helen Mirren.  Wrote Michael Fleming of Variety, this week.

Press Release January 29^th, 2008: National Chess Championships coming to Lindsborg, Kansas.  In 2008 it will be the site of three major national chess championships in June and July.  The Karpov Chess School’s Executive Director, Tom Brownscombe, said the United States Chess Federation (USCF) notified him that Lindsborg submitted the winning bids for three national championship events: The U.S. Junior Open, U.S. Junior Closed Championship, and the U.S. Cadet Championship. More information here.

A New Chess course announced Wednesday for mainstream educators wishing to teach chess. Susan Polgar and Paul Truong have created a 64 page Adobe.pdf document which which will be subsequently reviewed here at Chessville.

1-26-2008

Forget it!  Everyone in the world has been looking at the monster category 20 Corus event in Wijk aan Zee. I don’t know what’s happened to USCF’s on-line magazine, the last entry was last year.

One of the strongest tournaments ever has been underway for 2 weeks, and things were relatively sedate – a few fierce fierce battles, some shortish draws, but no real fireworks until Topalov met Kramnik, and a remarkable game ensued, one for the history books, and for chess theory.

Topalov later commented that his knight sacrifice in the Kan had been long prepared, and in some lines he had analysed to move 40. Watching the games live it was obviously the result of substantial preparation, since at move 20 I noticed Toppy’s clock read 1:59 and Kramnik’s 1:00.

I strongly recommend all players take a look at the game, since we are all going to be analysing it for a long time.  I take the liberty of showing the game score here with a few GM notes from Susan Polgar:

GM Topalov (2780) - GM Kramnik (2799)
[D43] 22.01.2008

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.0–0 Nbd7 11.Ne5 Bg7 12.Nxf7 Kxf7 13.e5 Nd5 14.Ne4 Ke7 15.Nd6 Qb6 16.Bg4 Raf8 17.Qc2 Qxd4 18.Qg6 Qxg4 19.Qxg7+ Kd8 20.Nxb7+ Kc8 21.a4 b4 22.Rac1 c3 23.bxc3 b3 24.c4 Rfg8 25.Nd6+ Kc7 26.Qf7  White has a small edge but the position is extremely complicated! 26...Rf8 27.cxd5 Rxf7 28.Rxc6+ Kb8 29.Nxf7 Re8 30.Nd6 Rh8 31.Rc4 Qe2 32.dxe6 Nb6 33.Rb4 Ka8 34.e7 Nd5 35.Rxb3 Nxe7 36.Rfb1 Nd5 37.h3 h5 38.Nf7 Rc8 39.e6 a6 40.Nxg5 h4 +- 41.Bd6!!  This move gives White an almost decisive advantage.  It is still a way to go but Topalov is in good shape. 41...Rg8 42.R3b2 +- Qd3 43.e7 Nf6 44.Be5 Nd7 45.Ne6 1–0  [Editor's Note:  This game is also heavily analyzed (not once, but twice!) by Dr. Albert Alberts in his Corus Diaries.  Be sure to check out the refutation he found!]

Nice story?  The very next day we see it again!  Here are my own on-the-fly commentary notes, while also writing on 8 other games – some of the captions below are of other lookers-on.  There’s Anatoly, and Mickey Adams is passing by Carlsen-Leko, and who really wants to fight Viktor?  Irina Krush is representing American interest in Group C, and is about mid table.  I’ve been watching some of her games, and she is becoming as aggressive as Judit Polgar.  Maybe Irina would like to fight Viktor?

Timman Ljubo are in a ... [lol] wait!! 12.Nxf7 - where have we seen this before?  So this game is Toppy-Kramnik, part two.  But - an improvement? at 17, where Ljubo plays Rhg8 which Timman answers with 18.a4 follow the stem game yesterday to white's 17.  Latest move is 18... Ba8, with time about equal at an hour each.  I imagine everyone at Corus looked at this game last night, and who knows what teams worked on plans for white and for black?  19.Rfe1 - just as fascinating a position as yesterday, with the interim moves perhaps only being parenthetical to the big sac attack?  I must say that black's position looks awful with a bishop on a8 staring at its own pawn at c6.  Seemingly invited is the capture Qxd4...

19 ...Nc7
20 d5 [!?!] ... cxd5
21 axb5 a5
22. b3 time remaining white /black 0:47 to 0:34
22 ... cxb3
23 Qh7 [there it goes] ....d4
24 Bh5 Nxb5
25 Nf7 [what?] ?!?!?
25 ... b2
26 Rab1 Nc3
27 Nxh6 Rh8
28 Qxg7+ Kd8
29 Nf7+ Kc7

[No apologies, btw for illustrating this var today or yesterday, we are all going to be examining them for years!  So might as well make an archival copy here on usenet and get used to the positional possibilities.]

30 Nxh8 Nxb1
31 Ng6 Rd8
32 h4 Nd2
33 hxg5 b1=Q
34 Rxb1 Qxb1+
35 Kh2 Nf1+
36 Kh3 Ne3 [time remaining: 22 mins to 1 min.]
37 fxe3 Qh1+
38 Kg4 Qxg2 [time remaining: 20 mins to 1 min
and the a8 bishop eventually plays a huge part in the game!
39 Qf7 dxe3 [wow - I didn't think there was time for that]
40 Nh4 Qe4+ [time control]
41 Qf4 a4
42 Bf7 Nc5

0-1 Black strikes back!

Group A

1. M. Carlsen 6½
2. L. Aronian 6
3. V. Kramnik, T. Radjabov, M. Adams, V. Ivanchuk, V. Anand 5½
8. S. Mamedyarov, V. Topalov, P. Leko 5
11. J. Polgar 4½
12. L. van Wely 4
13. B. Gelfand 3½
14. P. Eljanov 3

But by Round 11, it was a different picture, after these results, Aronian moved into sole first place:

L. Aronian 1-0 L. van Wely
V. Ivanchuk 1/2 M. Adams
J. Polgar - P. Eljanov 0-1
V. Topalov 1/2 S. Mamedyarov
B. Gelfand 0-1 T. Radjabov
P. Leko 1/2 V. Kramnik
M. Carlsen 0-1 V. Anand

At press time, with 2 rounds to go, here was the picture:

Group A

1. L. Aronian 7
2. T. Radjabov, M. Carlsen, V. Anand 6½
5. V. Kramnik, M. Adams, V. Ivanchuk 6
8. S. Mamedyarov, V. Topalov, P. Leko 5½
11. J. Polgar 4½
12. P. Eljanov, L. van Wely 4
14. B. Gelfand 3½

Group B

1. S. Movsesian 8
2. E. Bacrot, N. Short 7½
4. P. Harikrishna, I. Nepomniachtchi 6½
6. D. Stellwagen, E. L’Ami 5½
8. Y. Hou, H. Koneru, I. Cheparinov 5
11. J. Smeets 4½
12. M. Krasenkow 4
13. G. Sargissian 3½
14. W. Spoelman 3

Group C

1. F. Caruana 8
2. F. Nijboer, P. Negi, D. Reinderman 7
5. J. van der Wiel 6
6. S. Li, M. van der Werf, P. Carlsson, A. Braun 5½
10. E. Grivas, I. Krush 5
12. A. Ushenina 4½
13. Z. Peng 4
14. D. Ruijgrok 1½

Honorary Group

1. L. Ljubojevic, V. Kortchnoi 3
3. L. Portisch, J. Timman 2

The 6th edition of Gibraltar's Gibtelecom Chess Festival takes place from 22-31 January 2008 at the Caleta Hotel, one of Gibraltar's best hotels.  Official site.

Caption; at board 2, Elisabeth Paehtz versus Bu Xiangzhi.

In 2008, the line-up includes four top Chinese players: Wang Yue, rated 2698 and Bu Xiangzhi, rated 2691, Ni Hua, rated 2680, and Wang Hao, rated 2665.  In fact, practically the full Chinese squad (which beat Russia and the UK in 2007) is playing in Gibraltar!  The challenge to the top Chinese players is headed by the USA's Hikaru Nakamura, rated 2670 and Viktor Bologan, rated 2663.

There are live board displays and live commentary from GM Stuart Conquest throughout the event. In association with the congress there is a ‘Team of Four’ Blitz Tournament, and Hikara Nakamura looks like he is having fun. Whereas on the next table I must assume that is a Fide-approved substance, in the caption where Gawain Jones is playing Tigran Petrosian and Mark Hebden playing Anna Muzychuk.  Photo Credits; Zeljka Malobabic for Monroi.

Parrot’s Diary, Stardate January 25th in the year of the Rat [almost].

Its been a thundering New Year for Chessville.  Firstly, we have a new columnist to write about Women in Chess.  If you missed it last week, check out JanXena!  [caption; 1301-1333 Zürich Le Roi Otto IV de Brandenburg jouant aux échecs avec une femme]  Our femme is also threatening to write about fashion, whatever that is.

Next, another new column coming soon!  Featuring the United States Marine Corps, Navy, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard – in a regular report on mil-chess.

Thirdly, Chessville itself moved around in hyperspace and landed in a place where it is now securely reflected by six servers around the country, reducing outages?

What else – well… some eye-watering exchanges this week at the political level of chess, but more of that below.

And finally, even the publisher has broken down to agree he needs help on the structural side to support all these journalistic efforts. If you are interested in contributing about 2 to 4 hours to chess per week, write to us! [Caption; Chessville editorial meeting.]

Okay, now for CHESS SPAM as received at Chessville this week.  Should one buy them a big set?

Firstly, are these children normal?  And why would you want your chess-kids doing this just because you paid a lot of money for the set?  Where are you going to put all this stuff in the winter, did you think of that?  Does your lawn even have a flat bit?  Come on, Chess Mums and Dads, think about it!  Like what the neighborhood children will say about your children, and will you leave it out overnight… right!  You just paid over four hundred bucks for it, and a missing pawn is going to cost $30 plus shipping.  And do you really think these two are going to bring it indoors themselves?  And if they do, will they ever take it out again?  Maybe you can set it up for your big lawn-party of the year, and uncle Albert can insist on playing one of your kids, getting bad-tempered as they fork his queen.  Look, real chess kids stay indoors… and play on-line against people called Weirdo*Vibes from Sweden.  Its climate-controlled in there, private, and doesn’t take 30 minutes to set up, and another 30 to… you could get 4 pieces into the wheel barrow at any one time to take them back to the garage.  And there are 32 pieces… but you’re the proud parent of the young geniuses who will almost certainly not switch allegiances to kite-flying next month.

1-19-2008

Headline: Bobby Fischer 1943-2008

Bobby Fischer died from kidney failure 17th January 2008. He'd been in hospital for two months but was released to go home after the doctors said his case was hopeless, he may have also been in hospital his final days.  Born March 9th 1943 he became world champion in 1972.

Icelandic confirmation: http://mbl.is/mm/frettir/ and BBC.

We at Chessville all been off the air for a few weeks, while we restructure, including a new column on women in chess, with which we have been engaging ourselves with a title, thereupon settling after this Parrot’s initial joke, on “JanXena on Les Echecs des Femmes.”

Also – somewhere in our pages you can find our own reporter at Wijk aan Zee for the massively strong Category 20 Corus tournament. Dr. Alberts’ Diary is not boring – not even armed with Fritz.  One of the Corus players he reports upon is…

Jugadora!! Chess in Spanish: here is an interesting site, http://www.sidurchess.com:80/ with among other things, an interesting array of photos of Judit Polgar, jugadora de Ajedrez.

So… If Fischer was Liszt…

Judit Polgar’s frequent opponent on the top circuit is Mickey Adams, who wrote to say that his own interview is derailed until February, since he, like Judit, is at Corus. Chessville is currently interviewing Mickey, with guest questions from several GMs including a world champion. One question we asked Mickey was, who he is like?

An annual festival was started which included lectures and exhibitions.  The festival was enhanced by leading players of the day including Lasker, Gunsberg, Janowski and Teichmann and especially by J. H.Blackburne, who later became a resident of Hastings.  The strength of the club increased and this paved the way for the great Hastings Tournament of 1895 - still regarded as probably the greatest chess tournament ever held.

Parrot’s Diary, Tuesday 8th. Mickey Adams wrote me yesterday to excuse himself from our interview until early Feb, since he is off to Wijk aan Zee for the Corus event. Here is the amazingly powerful field comprising Category 20 players - I'm not sure I ever saw such a strong group at this event, not even when Kasparov took part.

Chessville's own reporter also wrote this morning, and he is making his way armed with Camera and Fritz. See Dr. Alberts’ Diary.  Another correspondent points out that: the tournament field has an average ELO of 2742, one of the strongest in all chess history.

To put this into perspective, Montreal 1979 (Tal, Karpov, Spassky, Portisch, Ljubojevic, Timman, Larsen, Hort, Huebner, Kavalek) was only a Category 15 with an average ELO of 2622.

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