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A new twist in a complicated puzzle

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 24, 2008 on 12:47 pm | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

Topalov has not signed contracts for the match with Kamsky and the World Mind Sports Games
Danailov informs Chessdom.com in a short telephone call
Special report by Chessdom.com

Chessdom.com has received a telephone call from Silvio Danailov with interesting information. Topalov's manager claims that his client has not signed contracts for the match with Kamsky, nor for the World Mind Sports Games scheduled to take place this year in Beijing.

"Following the information that was published these days on your website, I have to inform that Topalov has not signed yet the contracts for the match with Kamsky. One for the WMSG in Beijing is also not present," said Danailov. "The only sure participations for Veselin Topalov are in Villarrobledo and in the Grand Slam Final."

With the FIDE President Kirsan Ilymzhinov guaranteeing the money and Lvov starting preparations for the match everything seemed calm. However, the call from Danailov brings up more questions about the status of the match. Topalov's manager did not want to reveal more information in the short telephone call and confirmed he will say more after Villarrobledo is over.

Alekseev wins, caught Carlsen

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 24, 2008 on 11:43 am | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

Photo by Europe Echecs

GM Pelletier (2569) - GM Alekseev (2708) [D38]
24.07.2008 / Round 4

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.Qb3 c5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.a3 Bxc3+ 10.Qxc3 b6 11.e3 0–0 12.Be2 Nd7 13.0–0 Bb7 14.Rfc1 c4 15.a4 a6 16.Qb4 Bc6 17.Nd2 b5 18.axb5 axb5 19.b3 Qg6 20.Bf3 Rfb8 21.h3 Rxa1 22.Rxa1 Qc2 23.Nb1 Qc1+ 24.Kh2 Qb2 25.Qc3 Qxf2 26.bxc4 bxc4 27.Nd2 Rc8 28.Ra5 Nf6 29.Rc5 Bd7 30.Rxc8+ Bxc8 31.Nb3 Bf5 32.Nc5 g5 33.Qa3 Kg7 34.Nb7 g4 35.hxg4 Bxg4 Black wins 0–1

Click here to replay the game.

Savchenko perfect at Politiken Cup

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 24, 2008 on 9:19 am | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

GM Boris Savchenko is 6 out of 6 at the 2008 Politiken Cup!

Here are the leaders after 6 rounds:

1 GM Boris Savchenko 2578 6

2 GM Artur Kogan 2569 5½
3 GM Peter Heine Nielsen 2652 5½
4 GM Michael Roiz 2680 5½
5 IM Ashwin Jayaram 2436 5½
6 GM Alexander A. Evdokimov 2555 5½
7 GM Pavel Eljanov 2716 5½
8 GM Vitali Golod 2578 5½
9 GM Konstantin Landa 2615 5½
10 GM Yurij Kuzubov 2578 5½

Here is the official website: http://www.politikencup.dk/

Onischuk - Carlsen

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 24, 2008 on 9:01 am | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

GMs Onischuk and Carlsen tied for first last year in Biel. Carlsen won the playoff and went on an unprecedented rise to the top of the chess world. They are facing each other again today. The above diagram is the position after 25...b6.

GM Onischuk (2670) - GM Carlsen (2775) [D18]
Biel, 24.07.2008 / Round 4

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.0–0 Nbd7 9.Qe2 Bg4 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 0–0 12.Rd1 e5 13.d5 Bxc3 14.dxc6 e4 15.Qe2 Be5 16.cxd7 Qe7 17.Ra2 Rfd8 18.b3 Rxd7 19.Rxd7 Qxd7 20.Rd2 Qe7 21.Rd1 h6 22.Qa2 Rd8 23.Rxd8+ Qxd8 24.Qd2 Qe7 25.Qa5 b6 26.Qd2 a5 27.Bb2 Bxb2 28.Qxb2 =

Confirmed players as of 7-24-08

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 24, 2008 on 8:44 am | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

The 5th Annual Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls, the most prestigious all-girls national championship in the U.S., is set to begin in 3 days. The tournament will be held at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Here is the confirmed list of participants as of today.

A tough endgame

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 24, 2008 on 7:58 am | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

White to move. How should White proceed?

Hint by Chess Today: White wins, but only with 'outside of the box' thinking!

Source: Chess Today

A new record for SPNI

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 24, 2008 on 7:42 am | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

Ashley Carter has qualified to represent the state of Michigan for the 5th straight time next week at the 5th annual Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls (which will take place at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX). That is an impressive new record. Congratulations Ashley!

Chess tactic

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 23, 2008 on 10:30 pm | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

White to move. Can White save this game?

Kansas Champ

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 23, 2008 on 9:13 pm | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

Kansas crowns new chess champion

Lindsborg, Kan. - Forty-five chess players from throughout Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado and Missouri competed in the Kansas Open Chess Tournament last weekend at Bethany College in Lindsborg.

Chris Purdy, 18, a camp counselor for the Karpov Chess School, thought he would relax over the weekend by entering the Kansas Open Chess Tournament.

After two days of intense play, Purdy narrowly edged out Maxx Coleman, Derby, to become the new Kansas State Chess Champion.“It was gratifying to see Chris win this event; he’s a tough competitor,” said Karpov Chess School President Marck Cobb.

Maxx Coleman took home the second-place trophy, and Conrad Holt, from Andover, won third place. Holt recently won the U.S. Cadet Chess Championship and a full scholarship to the University of Maryland.

The Cadet Championship was held at the Karpov Chess School in Lindsborg. Holt went to the World Open the following week in Philadelphia where he tied for first place in his section.

The first place prize was $12,000. William Teague, Topeka, won first place in the Reserve Section of the Kansas Open. The Reserve Section is for players rated 1800 and below by the United States Chess Federation (USCF). Teague attended several chess camps at the Karpov Chess School, and he finished his last game at the Kansas Open in time to come down to the chess school to register for this year’s camp.

“Our number of players is down quite a bit from last year,” said Kansas Chess Association President Laurence Coker. “Last year we had several players from Colorado, but I didn’t see that many this year. It must have something to do with the price of gas.”

In other chess news, 22 students registered on Sunday to attend the second session of the Karpov Chess Camp that is being held this week. Students came from as far away as Memphis, Tenn., to attend this week’s camp.

Grandmaster Var Akobian, North Hollywood, Calif., will also be teaching the second session of the camp. Akobian is one of the top ranked chess players in the United States, and he has been selected to be one of the five U.S. players who will represent the United States in the upcoming Chess Olympiads that will be held in Dresden, Germany in November.

This coming weekend will mark the start of the U.S. Junior Open Chess Championships, which will be held at the Smoky Valley High School, Lindsborg. The event was also held in Lindsborg in 2004.

The Junior Open is one of the annual national events sanctioned by the USCF. About 100 students from throughout the country are expected to enter the event.

Additional information can be found on the Karpov School’s Web site: http://www.anatolykarpovchessschool.org/.

Social chess is held the first and third Thursdays of each month at 7 p.m. at the Karpov Chess School. It is free and ages and skill levels are welcome.

Source: http://www.mcphersonsentinel.com/

1.6 point away from history

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 23, 2008 on 7:25 pm | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

Here are the live ratings after 3 rounds in Biel. Magnus has pulled within 1.6 point of Anand and he has 7 more rounds to make history.

1 Anand 2798.0
2 Carlsen 2796.4
3 Ivanchuk 2791.5
4 Morozevich 2788.0
5 Topalov 2777.0
6 Kramnik 2772.9

Source: http://chess.liverating.org/

Will he break 2800 after Biel?

Birthday tactic

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 23, 2008 on 10:50 am | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

Polgar, Judit - Milos Gilberto (Sao Paulo, 1996), presented by Andreas

White to move. How should White proceed? Can you play like Judit Polgar?

2b4k/4b2p/pq3p2/2pBpp2/2P2BP1/1P5P/P3QP2/6K1 w - - 0 32

Create your own caption

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 23, 2008 on 10:49 am | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

Photo by Fred Lucas, presented by Philippe of http://www.chessandstrategy.com

The winning secret?

Cordova’s powerful performance

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 23, 2008 on 6:55 am | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

4th Alajuela Open in Costa Rica

The winner of this open tournament, which finished last week, is 16-year old IM Emilio Cordova of Peru. His rating is 2519 and he had 2 GM norms before this event.

Final standings:

1 IM Cordova, Emilio 2519 PER 8
2 GM Tiviakov, Sergei 2645 NED 7½
3 GM Sagalchik, Gennadij 2424 USA 7½

4 IM Perez, Luis Manuel 2495 CUB 7
5 GM Vera, Reynaldo 2493 CUB 7
6 GM Mitkov, Nikola 2556 MKD 7
7 IM Leyva, Hector 2380 ESA 7
8 IM Arias, Mauricio 2310 CRC 7
9 FM Arias, Lemmys A 2342 ESA 7
10 Ruiz, Sebastian 2195 CRC 7

11 GM Mikhalevski, Victor 2592 ISR 6½
12 GM Georgiev, Vladimir 2531 MKD 6½

Full standings can be seen here: http://www.internacionaldealajuela.com/tabla_pareo_abierto/ronda9.html

Special Happy Birthday!

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 23, 2008 on 5:06 am | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

Happy Birthday to my sister Judit, the strongest female chess player of all-time!

Blitz King

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 23, 2008 on 4:59 am | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

Here are some of the top finishers in a strong blitz tournament during the 2008 Czech Open:

1 GM Mamedyarov Shakhriyar AZE 2742 7,5

2 GM Najer Evgeniy RUS 2670 7,0
3 GM Kononenko Dmitry UKR 2502 7,0

4 GM Motylev Alexander RUS 2674 6,5
5 GM Turov Maxim RUS 2584 6,5
6 GM Jirovsky Milos CZE 2492 6,5
7 GM Potkin Vladimir RUS 2629 6,5
8 IM Zurek Milan CZE 2374 6,5

Here is the full crosstable.

Savchenko and Aagaard lead Politiken Cup

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 23, 2008 on 4:44 am | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

After 5 rounds, GMs Savchenko and Aagaard are leading the Politiken Cup with 5 points. Here are the leaders so far:

1 13. GM Boris Savchenko 2578 5
2 20. GM Jacob Aagaard 2531 5

3 5. GM Sergey Tiviakov 2645 4½
4 2. GM Vladimir Malakhov 2689 4½
5 11. GM Vitali Golod 2578 4½
6 3. GM Michael Roiz 2680 4½
7 12. GM Yurij Kuzubov 2578 4½
8 4. GM Peter Heine Nielsen 2652 4½
9 1. GM Pavel Eljanov 2716 4½
10 16. GM Alexei Iljushin 2546 4½
11 9. GM Mikheil Mchedlishvili 2604 4½

Official website: http://www.politikencup.dk/

Cuban success

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 23, 2008 on 12:02 am | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

Cuba in one of their best moments in chess in the world

Cuban chess player Maritza Arribas Robaina (IM) became International Grandmaster at the 23rd International Chess tournament Cidade de Ferrol, Spain, on Jul 15-20.

Arribas, eight times Cuban National Champion, said she scored six points out of nine to achieve an average 2,453 point Elo that improves her previous 2,323 Elo.

She added that she ended 23rd among over 140 contenders with five wins, two ties and two loss, plus 20 point bonus.

As best performance are her wins on Bulgarian GM Vladimir Dimitrov (2,450) and Latvia IM Ilmar Starustits (2,497), and ties with Cuban IM Jose Angel Guerra (2,456) and Indian Siram Jha (2,429).

This was Arriba’s third involvement in Spanish Summer chess events that brace her readiness to represent Cuban at the World Championship in Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia, in August.

If this third norm is confirmed, Arribas becomes the first Cuban female to become International Master among men.

Coach IM Roquelina Fandino said Arribas just needed to surpass the 2,400 Elo to complete the minimum score.

(PL)

Source: www.cubaheadlines.com

2007 winners face off

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 22, 2008 on 10:10 pm | In Susan Polgar | No Comments
Biel standings after 3 rounds:

1. Carlsen 2.5
2-3. Alekseev, Onischuk 2.0
4. Dominguez 1.5
5-6. Bacrot, Pelletier 0.5

Round 4 pairings:

Alexander Onischuk - Magnus Carlsen
Yannick Pelletier - Evgeny Alekseev
Leinier Dominguez - Etienne Bacrot

Can Onischuk dethrone Carlsen tomorrow? What's your prediction?

Category 29 RR tournament!

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 22, 2008 on 9:51 pm | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

Chess960 computer chess world championship: The strongest chess tournament ever
Written by content team
23 July 2008

This is the first time we'll have a Fide-category 29 tournament, in other words, the strongest tournament in the history of chess! For the fourth time during the Chess Classic in Mainz, the Livingston Chess960 computer chess world championship will be held. Last, year we saw a four-program round robin with the strong participants Rybka, Shredder, Jonny and Spike.

Rybka, developed by Vasik Rajlich won the final against the German top program Shredder to clinch home the title. Both programs will play in Mainz again this year and from 31st July to 2nd August.

They will be challenged by two top chess programs, the qualifiers from the ICC online tournament: Naum, made by Alexander Naumov and Deep Sjeng, the brainchild of Belgian programmer Gian-Carlo Pascutto. The engines that will battle it out in Mainz are the numbers 1-4 on the Chess960 computer rating list.

Arbiter Hans Secelle calculated that the average rating of Rybka, Shredder, Naum and Deep Sjeng adds up to (3052 + 2970 + 2956 + 2947) = 2981. This means that we'll have a Fide-category 29 (!) tournament or, in other words, the strongest tournament in the history of chess....

Source: http://latestchess.com/showNews.php?id=165

Chess in Education workshop

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 22, 2008 on 6:58 pm | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

USCF Chess in Education workshop to be held in Dallas, August 7, 2008
By Alexey Root

Contact: Alexey Root mailto:alexey.root@gmail.com?subject=USCF%20Workshop

The United States Chess Federation (USCF) Chess in Education workshop is open for registration. USCF workshop: co-organizers Dr. Alexey Root and Dr. Tim Redman, sponsors USCF, U.S. Chess Trust, The University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB), Texas Tech University (TTU), and The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD)

Thursday, August 7, 2008:

1:00-1:30 USCF Chess in Education committee business meeting (John Buky and Joseph Eberhard, co-chairs).

1:30-2:00 Dr. Alexey Root, author of Science, Math, Checkmate: 32 Chess Activities for Inquiry and Problem Solving, presents a classroom activity.

Here is the complete info.

Rules or no rules

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 22, 2008 on 2:28 pm | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

Peru's Chess Federation changes rules - Top players may not see Olympics
Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Official Olympiad Website: www.Dresden2008.com

If the Peruvian Chess Federation does not put its initial regulations back into effect, the country's top female chess players will not be able to take part in the 2008 World Chess Olympics to be held in Germany.

Complications began when the Peruvian Chess Federation announced that regulations had been changed and that female chess players could not automatically qualify to play in Germany but would have to take part in a qualifying match in La Oroya, a town outside of Lima in the Andes.

Despite the fact the Federation had officially announced last year that International Masters Luciana Morales (ELO 2189) and Deysi Cori (ELO 2280) would represent the country at the World Chess Tournament, it has stated that rules had been changed and they would have to attend the qualifying match in La Oroya.

According to Milton Iturry, the head of the Andean country's Chess Federation, female players can no longer automatically qualify for the World Tournament.

In an ambiguous explanation to El Comercio daily, Iturry stated that only Emilio Córdova and Julio Granda could automatically qualify because there was "a much bigger difference".

"In the case of the women, the level is much more even," said the head of the Federation.

Because Luciana Morales lives in Beijing with her mother, she has affirmed that she will not be able to attend the event in La Oroya, which Iturry has stated "is nearby, just three hours outside of Lima".

Morales has affirmed that changing regulations is a lack of respect on behalf of the Federation, stating she was the captain of the female team at the last Olympics and is one of Peru's three female International Masters.

Source: http://www.livinginperu.com/

Special Interview with North Urals Organizer

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 22, 2008 on 2:24 pm | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

Special Interview

Only several weeks ago hardly anybody could imagine that a small town in the North of Sverdlovsk region will attract attention of millions of people from all over the world and that annually for several days Krasnoturinsk will be the centre of world women chess. However the time showed that actually it is true. On the 26th of July the sixth international women chess supertournament “North Urals Cup” is beginning. On the eve of this event we talk to one of the organizers of this chess festival in the North Ural Vice-President of FIDE and Honorary President of the Russian Chess Federation Andrey Selivanov.

Will the “North Urals Cup 2008” be different from tournaments of previous years?

From year to year the level of the tournament is higher and higher. This year eight participants from eight countries take part in it. They are: the participant with the highest rating and the winner of “North Urals Cup - 2005” Humpy Koneru (India), world champion 2004 Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria), Europe champion 2003 Pia Cramling (Sweden), champion of France Marie Sebag (France), Olympic champion in the Ukrainian team Anna Ushenina (Ukraine), the winner of “Moscow – Open 2008” Anna Muzychuk (Slovenia), international grandmaster Natalya Pogonina (Russia) and current world champion Xu Yuhua (China) who gained this title in Yekaterinburg in 2006.

The average rating of participants of the tournament is 2522, that corresponds to the 19 FIDE category. There was no women tournament of such category before. Of course all of us are waiting for bright games.

How do the organizers of the tournament manage to gather such strong participants?

In 2003 when we held the first “North Urals Cup” in Krasnoturinsk this competition became a real breakthrough for women chess. There was no systematic women chess tournament in the world before. Many chess admirers heard about Dortmund, Linares, Veik-an-See but with the connection of men chess.

In 2003 the idea of holding of the women chess supertournament in Krasnoturinsk was supported by A. Sysoev who was the General Director of Bogoslovsky Aluminium Smelter at that time and sponsored all following tournaments. It is symbolic that this year A. Sysoev as the President of Sverdlovsk Chess Federation is the main organizer of the tournament and he is also the Head of the group of companies “SAVIAK” which is the General sponsor of the competition.

Today the tournament is so popular that almost all chess players dream to take part in it. The experience of Krasnoturinsk was adopted in other countries and now we can speak about the so called competition among tournaments. Similar tournaments are held in Azerbaijan and Turkey, the women tournament that is held in the framework of “Moscow Open” became a separate competition. By the way, this year the winner of “Moscow Open – 2008” Anna Muzychuk is going to play in Krasnoturinsk.

Is it possible to say that the “North Urals Cup” contributed to the development of chess in Sverdlovsk region?

The tournament is included into the official calendar of the Russian Chess Federation. It is held under the support of the Governor of Sverdlovsk region E. Rossel and regional Ministry of Physical Culture, Sport and Tourism. There are a lot of mass tournaments held during the Cup, chess players from different cities of the region take part in them. Traditionally honorary guests visit the tournament, their presence also contribute to the chess popularization. Owing to the “North Urals Cup” repeated world champion Nona Gaprindashvili, the 10th and 11th world champions Boris Spassky and Anatoly Karpov, a famous grandmaster, coach and journalist Yury Averbakh visited Krasnoturinsk. A five-time world champion Maya Chiburdanidze was cordially welcomed in the North Ural. Many chess fans specially came to Krasnoturinsk to look at this legendary person.

Also today we can surely say that the tournament gave a definite impulse to the chess development in our region. Of course it happened to a large extent owing to people who support the tournament and like chess very much. The head of the Administration of the Governor of Sverdlovk region A. Levin and the Head of Northern Administrative District I. Gramatik who supports the chess development in the North of Sverdlovsk region are among them.

Taking into account the great experience of organizing Krasnoturinsk tournament the decision of holding two world championships (individual and team) in Sverdlovsk region was made. They were held at the highest level in Yekaterinburg. On the initiative of the Governor of Sverdlovsk region E. Rossel the building of Chess Academy was started. It must become the centre of chess popularization and development in Sverdlovsk region and the whole Ural. Today many heads of cities understand that this kind of sport should be paid attention to. Last year a new chess club was opened in Serov under the support of the Head of the city V. Anisimov. The head of Krasnoturinsk V. Mikhel also intends to actively support chess players and find the building for city chess club. And on behalf of FIDE and the Russian Chess Federation I express the appreciation of the these people’s great contribution to chess development.

Now I can already say one thing that must be a very good news for chess admirers. International Chess Federation (FIDE) made the decision that women Grand Prix will be organized since 2009, it will consist of 6 tournaments. And most probably the tournament in Krasnoturinsk will be one of its rounds.

WIM Anna Burtasova
Press-attache of women chess super-tournament 'North Urals Cup 2008'
anna_burtasova@hotmail.com

Onischuk in 2nd place in Biel

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 22, 2008 on 12:50 pm | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

GM Onischuk (2670) - GM Pelletier (2569) [E15]
22.07.2008 / Biel - Round 3

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Nbd2 Bb4 6.Qc2 0–0 7.Bg2 d5 8.0–0 c5 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Ne4 Nb4 12.Qd2 Be7 13.a3 Qxd2 14.Bxd2 Nd5 15.Nd4 Bc5 16.Nxc5 bxc5 17.Nf5 Nc6 18.Rfc1 Nd4 19.Nxd4 cxd4 20.Bb4 Rfd8 21.Bc5 e5 22.Rc2 Rac8 23.Rac1 Nc3 24.bxc3 Rxc5 25.cxd4 Rxc2 26.Rxc2 exd4 27.Be4 Kf8 28.f3 Ke7 29.Kf2 d3 30.Rc7+ Kf8 31.Rxa7 d2 32.Bc2 Rc8 33.Bd1 Rc1 34.Rxa6 Rxd1 35.Ke3 h5 36.a4 Rh1 37.Kxd2 Rxh2 38.Rc6 h4 39.gxh4 Rxh4 40.a5 Ra4 41.a6 g5 42.e4 Ke7 43.Kc3 Kd7 44.Rf6 Ke7 45.Rb6 Kd7 46.Kb3 Ra1 47.Kc4 Ra3 48.Kb4 Ra1 49.Kb5 Rb1+ 50.Kc5 Rc1+ 51.Kd5 Ra1 52.Rb7+ Kc8 53.Rxf7 Rxa6 54.Ke5 Ra1 55.Kf6 Rg1 56.e5 Rg3 57.Ke7 White wins 1–0

Click here to replay the game.

What to do?

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 22, 2008 on 11:16 am | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

White to move. How should White proceed? How do you assess this position?

Liburkin 1949, presented by Andreas

5R2/1n6/P6k/8/1P5r/8/3K1p2/8 w - - 0 1

Carlsen wins again!

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 22, 2008 on 10:55 am | In Susan Polgar | No Comments
What can we say about Carlsen? He gets it done again so far in Biel. There is no limit to what this kid can do.

GM Carlsen (2775) - GM Bacrot (2691) [D43]
22.07.2008 / Biel - Round 3

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.cxd5 exd5 7.e3 Be7 8.Qc2 Nh5 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 10.0–0–0 Nb6 11.h3 Be6 12.Bd3 0–0–0 13.Kb1 Kb8 14.Nd2 g6 15.Nb3 Ng7 16.f3 Bf5 17.Bxf5 Nxf5 18.Rhe1 Nc4 19.Qc1 Qg5 20.g4 Ng7 21.f4 Qh4 22.e4 Qxh3 23.exd5 cxd5 24.Nc5 Ne6 25.b3 Nxc5 26.dxc5 Na5 27.b4 Nc4 28.Nxd5 Na3+ 29.Ka1 Rhe8 30.c6 bxc6 31.Qxc6 White wins 1–0

Click here to replay the game.

Find the best move

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 22, 2008 on 8:37 am | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

White to move. Does White have enough compensation for the pawn? How should White proceed?

4r1k1/1R4p1/2Pq1p1p/p7/6P1/p4Q1P/r5P1/5RK1 w - - 0 1

Kasparov drew Cuban’s Bruzon

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 22, 2008 on 8:31 am | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

GM S. Kasparov drew GM Bruzon yesterday to stay in contention at the Open de Balaguer.

GM Kasparov (2486) - GM Bruzon (2592) [B41]
21.07.2008 - Open de Balaguer

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Bd3 Qb6 6.Nb3 Qc7 7.0–0 a6 8.c4 d6 9.Nc3 Nbd7 10.Be2 b6 11.Be3 Be7 12.f3 0–0 13.a4 Rb8 14.Qd2 Nc5 15.Qc2 Bb7 16.Rfc1 Ba8 17.Nd4 Rfe8 18.Qd1 Ncd7 19.Qf1 Rbc8 20.Nd1 Qb8 21.Kh1 Bd8 22.Rab1 Bb7 23.b4 Qa8 24.Bg1 h5 25.Nf2 Ne5 26.Nb3 Ned7 27.a5 d5 28.exd5 exd5 29.axb6 dxc4 30.Na5 Nxb6 31.Nxb7 Qxb7 32.Bxc4 Nxc4 Game drawn ½–½

Click here to replay the game.

Official website: http://www.openbalaguer.org/htm/inici_a.htm

Biel round 3 begins

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 22, 2008 on 8:00 am | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

Round 3 - Biel

Carlsen, Magnus - Bacrot, Etienne
Dominguez, Leinier - Alekseev, Evgeny
Onischuk, Alex - Pelletier, Yannick

Official website: http://www.bielchessfestival.ch/

Topalov top seed at World Mind Sports Games

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 22, 2008 on 7:43 am | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

63 federations have entered the Men’s Team Rapid and Blitz competitions with China, Germany, India, Cuba and Hungary leading the seedings. The Women’s Team event has 52 teams led by China, Russia, India, Ukraine and Poland. In the Pairs competition, there are 45 teams with Bulgaria, China, Russia, Germany and India entering the highest rated combinations. There will be 60 players in both the Men’s and Women’s Individual events for Rapid and Blitz.

The total number of participating federations in the Games is 77.

The 1st World Mind Sports Games are being held in Beijing from October 3rd to October 18th. Bridge, Go, Draughts and Chinese Chess will also be present at this historic event. See full details of entries here:

Men's Individual:
BLITZ
RAPID

Women's Individual:
BLITZ
RAPID

Pairs
BLITZ & RAPID

Team Blitz:
MEN
WOMEN

Chessdom also has excellent coverage on their site.

2-on-2 showdown

Posted by SusanPolgar - July 22, 2008 on 7:32 am | In Susan Polgar | No Comments

GMs 2-on-2 showdown mulled

By Marlon Bernardino
Cebu Daily News
First Posted 14:20:00 07/22/2008

Grandmasters (GM) Eugene Torre and Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. are undeniably the long-time pillars of Philippine chess and this early, pundits are itching to have the two giants pit their skills against two rising players who will most likely take their place — Wesley So and Mark Paragua in a 2-on-2 showdown.

“Magandang proyekto yan, magkampi kami ni Eugene (Torre) kalaban sina Wesley (So) at Mark (Paragua) (That’s a good project, Eugene and I will team up against Wesley and Mark),” said Antonio, a many-time national open champion.

“Puwede nga round robin kaming apat parang Scheveningen bukod sa team results ay may individual results din (We can also do a round robin of us four, just like Scheveningen, aside from team results there will be individual results),” added Torre, Asia's First Grandmaster.

Both Torre and Antonio, renewed their rivalry in a six-game duel which started yesterday at the Quezon City Hall dubbed “QC Chess Road Show.”

In 1998, Torre and Antonio played a 12-game match which the latter won, 5.5-6.5 in which Antonio won once and the rest were draws.

However, unknown to the public, Torre and Antonio played in another 12-game series in July 1999 as part of Antonio’s preparations for the Las Vegas World Championship. It was held at the President's Tower in Timog Avenue, under the sponsorship of Bataan construction magnate Jerry Acuzar. The match which was kept from public view, ended in a 6-6 deadlock.

Here is the full article.

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