Quantcast
Channel: CHESS NEWS BLOG: chessblog.com
Viewing all 1506 articles
Browse latest View live
↧

World Chess Championship Chennai: Carlsen Preparing with Hammer, Fressinet

August 8, 2013, 8:31 am
$
0
0
Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone, 

The World No. 1 has posted interesting photos and even a video on his Facebook page about his preparation for the World Chess Championship 2013 to be held in Chennai this November. Carlsen is preparing with Grandmasters Jon Ludvig Hammer and Laurent Fressinet in Kragerø.







From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal chess blog 
at www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
YouTube Channel

↧
Search

The Chess Players at Washington Square

August 8, 2013, 11:44 am
$
0
0
Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013


Hi everyone, 

Here is a nice feature on the chess scene in New York - Washington Square to be specific. Every new feature about the chess players in the park is interesting. Though, it's sad that the historic legacy of the chess scene has wanted now. Read on: 

BY LAEL HINES | Attracting a wide variety of parkgoers, Washington Square is renowned for its diversity. The park welcomes offbeat street performers, bohemian musicians, young families, seniors, clean-cut yuppies, N.Y.U. students, and dogs and their owners, among others. (Robert at his chessboard in Washington Square. Photos by Lael Hines)

In the park’s southwest corner, yet another well-known user group can be found: the chess players. Over the decades, the corner has been a legendary spot for chess players in New York City.

“Where we are sitting here is where many legendary chess players played,” said George, who has been playing chess in Washington Square since the 1960s. “Mr. Bobby Fisher would play here,” said George, who didn’t give his last name. “No park has the history we have here in Washington Square. There was a time in the ’50s and ’60s when the world community of chess congregated here. You would come here and see world-famous chess players around these tables.”

A longtime Village resident painted a picture of the tightknit chess community in Washington Square during the ’70s.
“It was a lovely little hangout,” she recalled, asking that her name be withheld. “All the guys knew each other. There were a bunch of characters who hung out there. It was all about the game of chess. They took it so seriously: I would see a guy lose and nearly have a nervous breakdown.”

Despite this historic legacy, by all accounts, Washington Square’s chess scene has waned. Around 3 o’clock on a recent sunny Friday afternoon, two-thirds of the chess tables were forlornly empty.

“Everyone has migrated to Union Square,” explained Julian Turner, a Washington Square chess player since the ’90s. “There’s more business in Union Square, there’s more money. The Union Square area has a lot of traffic. You have the Whole Foods, the two trains and just a lot of people around there. In a sense, chess has become a business; a lot of people just do it for the money.”

The Union Square chess area, located just outside the subway entrance near the northeast corner of 14th St. and Union Square West, mirrors the fast pace of its environment. Dozens of chess players sit on crates and use makeshift tables. They lure passersby with offers to try to beat them for $5 to $10 per game. Matches can be played “on the clock,” or without it. They disdain the term “chess hustler.”

Two young girls teamed up to try to beat 
a chess sharp in Union Square.

Omar, a Union Sq. chess player, described his attraction to the location.

“Don’t get me wrong. Back in the day Washington Square had the great players,” he said. “But the energy is more positive over here. Look over there at Hare Krishna — they generate positive energy. All the real chess players come here now.”

As for why the chess scene has shifted from Washington Square to Union Square, Robert, who plays frequently in the former, also cited economics.

“A good day is like 100 bucks for some guys,” he said of the Union Square chess tables.

Omar claimed that drug dealing in Washington Square is also a reason for the shift.

“Over there, there’s a whole bunch of drugs and stuff,” he said. “I don’t want to be around that negative energy.”

Mack, a Washington Square player, also blames drug use for ruining the Washington Square chess environment.

“There are too many hooligans here,” he said. “Everyone does drugs. It ruins the enjoyment and morality of the park.”

However, Union Square is also known for its drug issues nowadays, in fact, perhaps even more so — particularly with young heroin users.

The Union Square chess scene is centered in the square’s southwestern corner.

Some, though, think Washington Square Park’s recent renovation was the real reason behind the move of the epicenter of the Downtown chess scene: Some of the players migrated to Union Square during the construction, then never returned back to Washington Square, or so the theory goes.

Yet, Washington Square’s renovation also spruced up the park’s chess tables area. New chess tables and a small central grass mound were added, and a low, concrete, encircling wall was removed. The ground was also leveled out, allowing for better drainage after rain.

“The construction was definitely a positive move,” Mack remarked. “It was good that they removed that sketchy wall. There used to be a guy who lived behind that wall — like, he had a little tent and everything set up there.”

Another chess regular, Julian Turner expressed confidence that, with its newly refurbished playing area, Washington Square will once again fulfill its historical chess legacy.

“It changed for the better when they changed the layout of the park,” he said. “They finally removed that wall, which allows things to grow. It’s just more open now. The energy is still here, the Bobby Fischer energy is still in the air.” (The Villager)

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal chess blog
at www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
YouTube Channel


↧
↧

6th Arad Chess Open 2013: Konstantin Tarlev Wins on Tiebreak

August 8, 2013, 10:52 pm
$
0
0
Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone, 


The 6th Arad Chess Open took place from 31st July to 9th August in the Great Concert Hall of the City Cultural Palace in Arad, Romania.

Ukrainian International Master Konstantin Tarlev edged Hungarian Grandmaster Attila Czebe on tiebreak to claim the winner’s trophy in the main Open Tournament. Both players finished the event on 7,5 points from nine games. In the final round Tarlev defeated GM Balog Imre, winner of the previous two tournaments in Arad.

The Festival consisted of the Open Tournament, 9-round event which was held on 3-9th August, the U16 Tournament, 7-round FIDE rated event on 31st July – 3rd August, and U8-U10 Tournaments, 9-round events valid for Romanian ratings on 31st July – 3rd August.

The additional events included FIDE rated Blitz Tournament, Fischer Random Tournament, and bughouse exhibitions.

The Festival was organized by the Sah Club Vados and tournament director was IO Alin Campeanu. The total prize fund was 8000 EUR. (www.chessdom.com)

Official website

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal chess blog
at www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
YouTube Channel



↧

World Chess Cup 2013 Aug 10-Sept 3 : Official Video and Officials

August 10, 2013, 2:10 am
$
0
0
Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone, 

The time has come for some great chess once again. It's the FIDE World Chess Cup 2013. Here is the official video for the event followed by the list of officials for this tournament. 




The chief arbiter is IA Ignatius Leong from Singapore. He is FIDE Secretary-General and has been one of Asia's leading organizers for more than 20 years. At 23, he became one of the world’s youngest International Arbiters.


Arbiters:
Chief Arbiter: IA Ignatius Leong – Singapore
Deputy Chief Arbiter: IA Karl-Johan Rist - Norway

Arbiters: 
Rounds 1-5:
IA Faik Gasanov - Azerbaijan
IA Husan Turdialiev - Uzbekistan
IA Sava Stoisavlijevic - Serbia
IA Ashot Vardapetian – Armenia

Arbiters, Rounds 1-2:
IA Anatoliy Byhovsky - Russia
IA Eduard Duchovny - USA
IA Amiram Kaplan - Israel
IA Jesus Mena - Spain
IA Sainbayar Tserendorj - Mongolia

Appeals Committee:
Deputy President of FIDE, Mr. Georgios Makropoulos – Greece
Vice president of FIDE, Mr. Ali Nihat Yazici - Turkey
Vice president of FIDE, Mr. Boris Kutin - Slovenia

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
Also see her personal chess blog 
Don't miss Chess Queen™


↧

17th Open d’Echecs de Wasselonne Held

August 10, 2013, 2:25 am
$
0
0
Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone,


The 17th Open d’Echecs de Wasselonne took place on 1-4th August at l’Espace Saint-Laurent de Wasselonne, near Strasbourg, France. Group A was open for the players rated above 1400. International Masters Boris Grimberg (Germany), Jean-Noel Riff (France) and Grandmaster Aleksandr Karpatchev shared the first place with 6,0/7 points each. 134 players competed in this section.

Group B was reserved for the players rated under 1500. Alex Maria Oproae convincingly won this section with 6,5/7 points leaving the nearest follower a full point behind.

Group A final standings:

1-3. IM GRIMBERG Boris 2369 GER , IM RIFF Jean-Noel 2427 FRA and GM KARPATCHEV Aleksandr 2475 RUS – 6,0

4-6. IM CHERNOV Vadim 2450 ROU, IM MENSCH Etienne 2345 FRA and IM ROOS Jean-Luc 2260 FRA – 5,5

7-22. IM GENZLING Alain 2396 FRA, FM LERCH Patrice 2369 FRA, IM AGUETTAZ Maxime 2388 FRA, SCHREMS Hermann 2148 GER, BARBARAS Mathieu 2106 FRA, FM VOLODIN Ivan 2266 RUS, SAATDJIAN Stephane 2064 FRA, LAVERDET Tristan 1995 FRA, HIRSCHBERG Valerian 2317 GER , WIM SCHWEITZER Viktoriya 2199 FRA, DEGARDIN Sylvain 2046 FRA, DEVOILLE Hugo 1980 FRA, BELLAHCENE Rayane 1989 FRA, FISCHER Sebastian 2259 GER, COLSON Arnaud 2086 FRA and SCHOTT Reimund 2001 FRA – 5,0 etc (134 players)

Tournament website

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal chess blog
at www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
YouTube Channel

↧
↧

SportAccord Mind Games Chess Participants' List Announced

August 10, 2013, 6:53 am
$
0
0
Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone, 

FIDE has published the list of players who have been selected to participate in the SportAccord Mind Games 2013.

Men
Karjakin, Sergey RUS
Grischuk, Alexander RUS
Aronian, Levon ARM
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar AZE
Dominguez Perez, Leinier CUB
Ponomariov, Ruslan UKR
Radjabov, Teimour AZE
Le, Quang Liem VIE
Wang, Hao CHN
Wang, Yue CHN
Nepomniachtchi, Ian RUS
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime FRA
Kamsky, Gata USA
Leko, Peter HUN
Ivanchuk, Vassily UKR
Giri, Anish NED

Women
Koneru, Humpy IND
Hou, Yifan CHN
Muzychuk, Anna SLO
Dzagnidze, Nana GEO
Lagno, Kateryna UKR
Kosteniuk, Alexandra RUS
Gunina, Valentina RUS
Stefanova, Antoaneta BUL
Ju, Wenjun CHN
Sebag, Marie FRA
Zhao, Xue CHN
Kosintseva, Tatiana RUS
Cramling, Pia SWE
Ushenina, Anna UKR
Paehtz, Elisabeth GER
Cmilyte, Viktorija LTU

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal chess blog
at www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
YouTube Channel





↧

Yuri Solodovnichenko Wins Fano Chess Second Time

August 10, 2013, 9:35 am
$
0
0
Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone, 

Ukrainian Yuri Solodovnichenko got his second straight win at the Fano on the Sea Chess Master Tournament. The event took place from 29th July to 4th August in Fano, Italy, next to the Adriatic Sea. The first edition was also won by Solodvnichenko, who was able to celebrate again after the tiebreaks calculation put him in first place over two other players that arrived at the same 6.5/9 score.

Axel Rombaldoni and Peter Prohaszka arrived to the last round as leaders with 6 points each. The Italian drew his game against Vladimir Burmakin and finished second on tiebreaks, while the Hungarian lost against Ivan Ivanisevic, who incidentally was third on tiebreaks.

The tournament was organized by the Fano Chess Club 1988 and Dario Pedini. The club celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2013.

Official website

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal chess blog
at www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
YouTube Channel

↧

Hot Chess Girls in Belgrade: Identify Them

August 10, 2013, 11:04 am
$
0
0
Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone, 

Can any chess weekend be complete without strong and sexy chess girls for company? So, name these ladies who just attended the European Women's Chess Championship 2013 in Belgrade and shot the mercury up with their stats - chess and otherwise. The photos were taken by Evgeny Surov for www.chess-news.ru.
 

   


From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal chess blog
at www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
YouTube Channel
 

↧
Search

Anand has Experience, but Carlsen has his Chances: Karpov on World Chess Championship 2013

August 10, 2013, 12:50 pm
$
0
0
Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone, 

Former World Chess Champion Anatoly Karpov has taken a balanced view of the upcoming World Championship in Chennai, India this November between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen.

Karpov said the world was awaiting the match with great interest. Karpov said it was clear that Anand and Carlsen were the "best players of our age". On the one hand, Carlsen, so far in his short career, has already achieved much, on the other, Anand has his experience. Karpov mentioned that he first met Anand when the latter was 16 and a talent in his own right. Karpov said it would be a difficult task to defeat Anand, but Carlsen has his chances. 

Karpov also said, In India, Magnus will face some problems with the climate - to a lesser extent - and the food - more. He should be very careful. But, this was not about chess. On the board Carlsen should show all that he is capable of. "He has the knowledge, I think training with Kasparov (or maybe they are working together, I do not know) Carlsen imbibed a good understanding of the game, the understanding of a world championship match, and this is completely different than any tournament."

Karpov's advice: It is necessary to properly assess one's strengths and weaknesses, and the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent. 

You can watch the original video on the msn website at this link.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal chess blog 
at www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
YouTube Channel


↧
↧

Split Chess Open 2013 begins in Croatia

August 11, 2013, 9:45 am
$
0
0
Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone, 

The 3rd International Tournament Split Chess Open 2013 is set to take place from 10th to 18th August in Hotel Zagreb in Split, Croatia. The 9-round Swiss event is organized by the Chess Club “Brda” and City of Split. This year the prize fund is increased to 10,000 EUR. Top prizes are: 2000, 1200, 700, 500, 400, 300 EUR.

The 1st Split Open in 2011 had 120 participants. GM Marin Bosiočić was the convincing winner with 8/9 points. The 2nd Split Open in 2012 had 203 participants. Grandmasters Bojan Kurajica and Ante Saric shared the first place with 7,5/9 points each.

Tournament director: Mateo Ivić, mob.00385 (0)91 6400-589, e-mail: splitchessopen@gmail.com

Chairman of Organising committee: Tihomir Bužančić,mob.00385 (0)98 264-190

Official website
From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal chess blog 
at www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
YouTube Channel



↧

World Chess Cup 2013 Round 1: Top Seeds Win; Some 'Surprises' Otherwise

August 12, 2013, 7:17 am
$
0
0
Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone, 
 


The first games of the World Chess Cup 2013 opening round started in Tromso after Commissioner for Business, Culture and Sports of Tromso Municipality, Mr. Jonas Stein, made the first symbolic move in the Aronian-Markov game.

The first day was marked by strong security measures, interesting games with a few surprises, and a minute of silence for GM Kurnosov. The favorites in the higher half of the draw met significantly lower rated opponents. The top seeds won their games relatively easily, but there were also a few surprises like the loss by Super GM Alexander Morozevich against Canadian GM Bator Sambuev. The American player GM Ray Robson won a beautiful game against the higher rated opponent GM Andrey Volokitin. GM Gata Kamsky and GM Michael Adams drew against Chinese players Lou Yiping and Wan Yunguo respectively, while the Chinese derby between Wang Hao and Liu Qingnan also finished in a draw. Playing with Black former Women’s World Champion Hou Yifan drew against GM Alexey Shirov.

Current European Champion GM Alexander Moiseenko had a rest day as his opponent GM Adly Ahmed from Egypt had to enlist for obligatory service in the Egyptian Army and could not make it to the tournament. Sofia Rules are not in force at the tournament so it’s up to the players to decide when they want to offer a draw. The first game to finish was Zvjagintsev-Swiercz, 12 moves.

Four women are taking part in the FIDE World Cup in Tromso: Judit Polgar, Hou Yifan, Anna Ushenina and Deysi Cori. Former Women’s World Champion Hou Yifan managed to make a draw against GM Alexei Shirov, while the others lost their games. (www.chessdom.com)

World Chess Cup 2013 round 1 results
1 Aronian, Levon ARM 2813 1 – 0 Markov, Mikhail KGZ 2304
2 G., Akash IND 2340 0 – 1 Caruana, Fabiano ITA 2796
3 Kramnik, Vladimir RUS 2784 1 – 0 Bwalya, Gillan ZAM 2341
4 Bjelobrk, Igor AUS 2341 0 – 1 Grischuk, Alexander RUS 2785
5 Karjakin, Sergey RUS 2772 1 – 0 Ali, Sebbar MAR 2371
6 Cori T., Deysi PER 2434 0 – 1 Nakamura, Hikaru USA 2772
7 Gelfand, Boris ISR 2764 1 – 0 Rahman, Ziaur BAN 2470
8 Lou, Yiping CHN 2484 1/2 – 1/2 Kamsky, Gata USA 2741
9 Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar AZE 2775 1 – 0 Shoker, Samy EGY 2489
10 El Gindy, Essam EGY 2487 0 – 1 Dominguez Perez, Leinier CUB 2757
11 Ponomariov, Ruslan UKR 2756 1 – 0 Hansen, Torbjorn Ringdal NOR 2492
12 Liu, Qingnan CHN 2500 1/2 – 1/2 Wang, Hao CHN 2747
13 Svidler, Peter RUS 2746 1 – 0 Ushenina, Anna UKR 2500
14 Wan, Yunguo CHN 2512 1/2 – 1/2 Adams, Michael ENG 2740
15 Leko, Peter HUN 2744 1 – 0 Johannessen, Leif Erlend NOR 2519
16 Sambuev, Bator CAN 2524 1 – 0 Morozevich, Alexander RUS 2739
17 Vitiugov, Nikita RUS 2719 1 – 0 Holt, Conrad USA 2539
18 Salem, A.R. Saleh UAE 2556 0 – 1 Giri, Anish NED 2737
19 Ivanchuk, Vassily UKR 2731 1/2 – 1/2 Duda, Jan-Krzysztof POL 2534
20 Cori, Jorge PER 2569 1/2 – 1/2 Radjabov, Teimour AZE 2733
21 Andreikin, Dmitry RUS 2716 1/2 – 1/2 Darini, Pouria IRI 2535
22 Durarbayli, Vasif AZE 2567 1/2 – 1/2 Korobov, Anton UKR 2720
23 Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime FRA 2719 1 – 0 Shabalov, Alexander USA 2546
24 Wei, Yi CHN 2551 1/2 – 1/2 Nepomniachtchi, Ian RUS 2723
25 Navara, David CZE 2715 1 – 0 Mareco, Sandro ARG 2561
26 Agdestein, Simen NOR 2567 0 – 1 Bacrot, Etienne FRA 2714
27 Alekseev, Evgeny RUS 2710 1/2 – 1/2 Adhiban, B. IND 2567
28 Paragua, Mark PHI 2565 0 – 1 Jakovenko, Dmitry RUS 2724
29 Le, Quang Liem VIE 2702 1 – 0 Barbosa, Oliver PHI 2571
30 Kaidanov, Gregory S USA 2574 0 – 1 Areshchenko, Alexander UKR 2709
31 Malakhov, Vladimir RUS 2707 1 – 0 Hansen, Eric CAN 2584
32 Ramirez, Alejandro USA 2588 1/2 – 1/2 Tomashevsky, Evgeny RUS 2706
33 So, Wesley PHI 2710 1 – 0 Ipatov, Alexander TUR 2584
34 Christiansen, Larry M USA 2584 0 – 1 Fressinet, Laurent FRA 2708
35 Riazantsev, Alexander RUS 2700 1/2 – 1/2 Felgaer, Ruben ARG 2586
36 Flores, Diego ARG 2578 0 – 1 Vallejo Pons, Francisco ESP 2706
37 Eljanov, Pavel UKR 2702 1/2 – 1/2 Brunello, Sabino ITA 2607
38 Fier, Alexandr BRA 2595 1/2 – 1/2 Wojtaszek, Radoslaw POL 2701
39 Moiseenko, Alexander UKR 2699 1 – 0 w/o Adly, Ahmed EGY 2594
40 Hammer, Jon Ludvig NOR 2605 1/2 – 1/2 Movsesian, Sergei ARM 2699
41 Shirov, Alexei LAT 2696 1/2 – 1/2 Hou, Yifan CHN 2609
42 Ortiz Suarez, Isan Reynaldo CUB 2609 1 – 0 Polgar, Judit HUN 2696
43 Jobava, Baadur GEO 2696 1 – 0 Kravtsiv, Martyn UKR 2607
44 Nguyen, Ngoc Truong Son VIE 2625 1 – 0 Akopian, Vladimir ARM 2691
45 Bruzon Batista, Lazaro CUB 2698 1/2 – 1/2 Najer, Evgeniy RUS 2626
46 Robson, Ray USA 2623 1 – 0 Volokitin, Andrei UKR 2688
47 Li, Chao b CHN 2693 1/2 – 1/2 Postny, Evgeny ISR 2628
48 Popov, Ivan RUS 2644 1 – 0 Ragger, Markus AUT 2680
49 Inarkiev, Ernesto RUS 2693 1/2 – 1/2 Leitao, Rafael BRA 2632
50 Melkumyan, Hrant ARM 2632 1/2 – 1/2 Granda Zuniga, Julio E PER 2664
51 Kryvoruchko, Yuriy UKR 2678 0 – 1 Negi, Parimarjan IND 2643
52 Hracek, Zbynek CZE 2635 1/2 – 1/2 Bologan, Viktor MDA 2672
53 Dreev, Aleksey RUS 2668 1/2 – 1/2 Azarov, Sergei BLR 2636
54 Dubov, Daniil RUS 2624 1 – 0 Fedorchuk, Sergey A. UKR 2669
55 Onischuk, Alexander USA 2667 1 – 0 Iturrizaga, Eduardo VEN 2660
56 Smeets, Jan NED 2623 1/2 – 1/2 Matlakov, Maxim RUS 2676
57 Shimanov, Aleksandr RUS 2655 1/2 – 1/2 Jones, Gawain C B ENG 2645
58 Filippov, Anton UZB 2630 1/2 – 1/2 Romanov, Evgeny RUS 2651
59 Safarli, Eltaj AZE 2660 0 – 1 Amin, Bassem EGY 2652
60 Lupulescu, Constantin ROU 2634 1/2 – 1/2 Sasikiran, Krishnan IND 2660
61 Zvjaginsev, Vadim RUS 2659 1/2 – 1/2 Swiercz, Dariusz POL 2654
62 Kobalia, Mikhail RUS 2651 1/2 – 1/2 Khismatullin, Denis RUS 2653
63 Yu, Yangyi CHN 2662 1/2 – 1/2 Beliavsky, Alexander G SLO 2651
64 Istratescu, Andrei FRA 2646 0 – 1 Lysyj, Igor RUS 2648

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal chess blog
at www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
YouTube Channel
 

↧

Emilio Cordova Wins 20th IRT Feria de las Flores Medellin Chess 2013

August 12, 2013, 9:28 am
$
0
0
Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone, 

The 20th IRT Feria de las Flores Medellin 2013 was organized by Liga de Ajedrez De Antioquia on 3-7th August at the Unidad Deportiva Atanasio Girardot Parque del Ajedrez in Medellin, Colombia.

The event was held in three sections:
- FIDE Open (9 round Swiss for players rated above 2000 elo)
- Aficionados (9 round Swiss for players rated under 2000 elo)
- Talentos (7 round Swiss for juniors born on 1999 and later)

Peruvian Grandmaster Emilio Cordova took a clear first place in the FIDE Open with 8,0 points from nine games. Local IM Cristhian Camilo Rios finished second with 7,5 points, while Cuban GM Yuri Gonzalez Vidal is third with 7,0 points. 85 players competed.

Aficionados tournament had 231 participants. Jhon Sebastian Hernandez Montes and Rafael Montoya shared the first place with 8,0/9 points each.

Buritica Eduardo Llano won the Talentos section with 6,5/7 points. 106 players competed in this group.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk'swww.chessblog.com
Also see her personal chess blog 
at www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
YouTube Channel

↧

Chess Queen Kosteniuk writes History in Switzerland

August 12, 2013, 9:52 am
$
0
0
Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone, 
We have some great chess news to share. For the first time in Switzerland’s 113-year chess history, a woman has been able to win both the women’s and men’s national chess titles. Chess Queen™ Alexandra Kosteniuk has conquered the top step on both podiums recently in Grächen, Switzerland. Read all about it on her personal blog at www.chessqueen.com. There are lots of exclusive photos of the event in the post.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal chess blog 
at www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
YouTube Channel

↧
↧

Giant Chess in a Norway City Street - Video

August 12, 2013, 10:08 am
$
0
0
Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone,
Here's a short chess video with a giant chess set providing an interesting time-out on a street in Bergen, Norway. It is the second largest city in Norway. The city centre and northern neighbourhoods are located on Byfjorden and the city is surrounded by mountains. For this reason, Bergen is known as the city of seven mountains. Short video, but fun nevertheless. Don't forget to send us your chess videos as well. Let us know if you are in this chess video!






From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal chess blog
at www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
YouTube Channel

↧

World Chess Cup 2013 Round 1 Game 2: Polgar, Volokitin, Nepomniachtchi Knocked Out

August 13, 2013, 10:38 am
$
0
0
Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone, 
All the players are checked before they enter the playing hall.

Just as on day one there were plenty of fireworks on the second day of the FIDE World Cup in Tromsø. Thirteen players won their matches with a 2-0 score (not counting Alexander Moiseenko, whose opponent could not come to Tromsø).

While some victories with impressive results could be expected from top players such as Aronian, Kramnik, Grischuk, Nakamura and Dominguez, there were also a few 2-0 results produced by players with ratings lower than their opponents.

Russian GM Daniil Dubov managed to outplay experienced and higher rated Ukrainian GM Sergey Fedorchuk. American GM Ray Robson didn’t leave any chances for Ukrainian GM Andrei Volokitin by winning 2-0. One of the most surprising results for those who compare the ratings of opponents happened in the Nepomniachtchi-Wei match. The youngest participant of the event, Chinese GM Yi Wei (a nominee of FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov), defeated Russian GM Ian Nepomniachtchi 1.5-0.5.

The participants of the upcoming Women’s World Championship match Hou Yifan and Anna Ushenina are doing well so far. Anna Ushenina defeated Peter Svidler in his favorite Gruenfeld and Hou Yifan drew the second game against Alexei Shirov. The reigning and former Women’s World Champions will proceed to the playoff stage on Tuesday.

Judit Polgar, the strongest female player in the history of chess, lost out on a number of winning chances, drew against Cuban GM Isan Reynaldo Ortiz and lost the match. A total of 28 matches were undecided after two games at the classical time control and 56 players will continue to fight at 3 p.m. local time on August 13.
Russian GM Alexander Morozevich lost his first game, but managed to equalize.

Rising star from Russia GM Daniil Dubov defeated GM Sergey Fedorchuk 2-0 as well. GM Michael Adams made a second draw against Wan Yunguo of China. The strongest Chinese GM Wang Hao outplayed his compatriot Liu Qingnan. An unexpectedly quick elimination for Ukrainian GM Andrei Volokitin. Ukrainian GM Vassily Ivanchuk outplayed Polish IM Jan-Krzysztof Duda, who upset him with a draw the day before.

The FIDE World Cup is a knockout which starts with 128 players and runs from August 10 to September 3rd. The top two players will qualify for the next FIDE Candidates Tournament which will take place in March 2014 and determine the challenger for the World Championship match in 2014.

The time control for each two-game match is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move one. If the score is equal there are two rapid chess tiebreak games, played at a rate of 25 minutes for each player with an increment of 10 seconds per move. If the score is still equal then two accelerated games will be played, with a time control of 10 min + 10 sec. If the score is still equal two more games will be played at 5 min + 3 sec. If the winner is still not determined then a final Armageddon game with 5 minutes for White and 4 minutes for Black, with a 3 sec increment after move 60, will be played. In this game Black has draw odds (i.e. he wins if the game is drawn).

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal chess blog
at www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
YouTube Channel

↧
Search

Sinquefield Chess Cup Offers Unparalleled Spectator Experience with the World's Best

August 13, 2013, 12:27 pm
$
0
0
Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone, 

Sinquefield Cup offers unparalleled spectator experienceWill feature 3 GM commentary teams and free autograph session with players

SAINT LOUIS (August 13, 2013) -- The 2013 Sinquefield Cup will offer live spectators a bevy of options come September. 

The tournament, which features GMs Magnus Carlsen and Levon Aronian (top two in the World) and GMs Hikaru Nakamura and Gata Kamsky (top two in the U.S.) takes place September 9-15 at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL).

There also will be a special meet-and-greet autograph session on Sunday, September 8, from Noon to 1:30 p.m., where spectators will have the opportunity to get autographs from and take pictures with the players. This event is free, and fans will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Round one of the tournament begins at 1 p.m. CT on September 9.

Three different grandmaster commentary teams will be on site to offer live play-by-play and analysis of each round of this historic tournament.

Following their groundbreaking live commentary of the 2013 U.S. Championships, GMs Yasser Seirawan and Maurice Ashley will once again join WGM Jennifer Shahade on a closed set that will broadcast to thousands of viewers online via www.uschesschamps.com.Two other teams (comprised of GMs Varuzhan Akobian, Ben Finegold, Ronen Har-Zvi and one additional commentator TBD) also will be conducting commentary for live audiences at Lester’s Restaurant (connected to the CCSCSL) and the World Chess Hall of Fame (across the street from the CCSCSL).

Tony Rich, the executive director of the CCSCSL, said additional commentary teams will create a dynamic and engaging spectator experience.
“We wanted to offer a variety of options to ensure a positive experience for club members and visitors alike.” he said.
Event spectators will have the option to observe the players in the tournament playing hall, listen to the live streaming online commentary in a special viewing area at the Chess Club, or sit in on either of the live audience broadcasts. Tickets for individual rounds cost just $15 and also include food and beverage. Click here to purchase tickets or to view ticket package information.

In addition, the World Chess Hall of Fame will present a preview of their upcoming exhibit Jacqueline Piatigorsky: Patron, Player, Pioneer on the first floor gallery alongside the live GM commentary. The exhibition will be on view from September 4-15 and will include artifacts related to the 1963 and 1966 Piatigorsky Cup tournaments, two of the strongest chess competitions to be held in the U.S. These events attracted top grandmasters from around the world, including Boris Spassky, Bobby Fischer, Tigran Petrosian and Paul Keres.

The Sinquefield Cup marks Carlsen’s firsts-ever high-profile tournament in the United States. The event, a four-player, double round robin, features a $170,000 prize fund and an average FIDE rating just under 2800, making it the strongest tournament in the history of the U.S.

The event is named after the founders of the CCSCSL, Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield. The Sinquefields were each honored by the U.S. Chess Federation with a Gold Koltanowski award in 2012, with Rex also earning the distinction in 2009, 2010 and 2011. The award is given to the person or persons who have done the most to promote chess in the U.S. each year.

For more information including area hotels with special chess rates, visit http://www.uschesschamps.com/sinquefield-cup.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
Also see her personal chess blog 
Don't miss Chess Queen™


↧

World Chess Cup 2013: Know Round 2 Players, Pairings

August 13, 2013, 4:16 pm
$
0
0
Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone, 

The field at the World Chess Cup 2013 is down to 64 and the players will begin the second round on Wednesday. Do you want to know the pairings?... And, who's who? Check the list below!

1 Levon Aronian -  64 Igor Lysyj
The top seed takes on the winner of the 2012 Moscow Open

32 Evgeny Tomashevsky - 33 Wesley So
World Championship Challenger Boris Gelfand's second takes on the young talent from the Philippines who is the eighth youngest Grandmaster in history

16 Alexander Morozevich - 80 Rafael Leitao
Talented Russian versus former World Youth Champion from Brazil 

17 Niktia Vitiugov - 48 Markus Ragger
Current Gibraltar Chess Champion and former World Junior Vice-Champion paired with former Austrian Champion 

8 Gata Kamsky - 57 Alexansdr Shimanov
2007 World Cup Winner, former World Rapid Champion and reigning US Champion will play the talented Russian 21-year-old from St Petersburg

25 David Navara - 89 Jon Ludvig Hammer
The Czech Republic talent known for his kind nature versus Carlsen's second and reigning Norway Champion

9 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov - Maxim Matlakov
Reigning World Rapid Chess Champion from Azerbaijan will play the talented Russian 

105 Wei Yi - 41 Alexei Shirov
Alexei Shirov who survived former Women's World Champion Hou Yifan versus another Chinese, the 14-year-old Wei Yi who just eliminated talented Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi

4 Alexander Grischuk - 68 Dariusz Świercz
Former Russian Champion and twice former World Blitz Champion will battle the Polish prodigy who was the youngest to win World Junior

29 Le Quang Liem - 36 Francisco Vallejo Pons
World Blitz Champion from Vietnam versus Spanish prodigy who was former World Youth Champion

13 Peter Svidler - 52 Victor Bologan
Defending World Cup Champion takes on the Grandmaster from Moldova

20 Teimour Radjabov - 45 Lázaro Bruzón
Another prodigy from Azerbaijan versus former World Junior Champion from Cuba 

5 Sergey Karjakin - 60 Krishnan Sasikiran
Former World Rapid Champion, Ukrainian-born Russian talent (youngest Grandmaster and International Master in history) pitted against Indian No. 3

28 Dmitry Jakovenko - 37 Pavel Eljanov
Former U-18 World Champion versus talent from Ukraine

12 Wang Hao - 53 Alexey Dreev
The China No. 1 against Russian talent and second oldest participant at this World Cup (born 1969)

21 Dmitry Andreikin - 85 Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son
Former World Junior Champion versus Vietnam's youngest ever Grandmaster

2 Fabiano Caruana - 63 Yu Yangyi
Italian prodigy Fabiano Caruana 's will take on China's 29th Grandmaster 

31 Vladimir Malakhov - 34 Laurent Fressinet
Nuclear physicist-turned-chess player from Russia former French Champion and Carlsen's sparring partner ahead of the World No. 1's World Championship Final versus Viswanathan Anand

14 Peter Leko - 40 Julio Granda Zuniga
Former World Championship Challenger will battle the oldest participant at this World Cup from Peru (born 1967)

18 Anish Giri - 47 Li Chao
Hungarian prodigy with Nepalese origins who lived in Japan versus China's 23rd Grandmaster

7 Boris Gelfand - 71 Anton Filippov
Former World Chess Champion Challenger from Israel versus the talented player from Uzbekistan

26 Étienne Bacrot - 39 Alexander Moiseenko
Current France No. 1 paired against reigning European Champion

10 Leinier Dominguez Perez - 55 Alexander Onischuk
Four-tie Cuban Champion paired against Soviet-born American Grandmaster 

23 Maxime Vachier-Lagrave - 87 Isan Reynaldo Ortiz Suarez
Former Junior World Champion from France pitted against the Spanish Grandmaster who knocked out the strongest woman player ever, Judit Polgar, from this year's World Cup

3 Vladimir Kramnik - 67 Mikhail Kobalia
Former World Champion from Russia versus country-mate and former European Youth Champion

30 Alexander Areschenko - 94 Ruben Felgaer
Former National Champion from Ukraine to fight the second round against twice-Pan-American Junior Champion from Argentian

14 Michael Adams - 51 Yuriy Kryvoruchko
Just-crowned Dortmund Sparkassen Champion another talented player from Ukraine 

19 Vassily Ivanchuk - Ray Robson
The ever-unpredictable Vassily Ivanchuk paired against junior talent from the United States 

6 Hikaru Nakamura - 59 Eltaj Safarli
World No. 5 and three-time US Champion is to take on former World U-10 Champion from Azerbaijan 

102 Baskaran Adhiban - 91 Alexandr Fier
India's 23rd Grandmaster who survived a lost tiebreak has been paired against Grandmaster from Brazil

11 Ruslan Ponomariov - 75 Daniil Dubov
Former FIDE World Champion from Russia versus country-mate and talented teenager 

22 Anton Korobov - 43 Baadur Jobava
Ukrainian Grandmaster paired against the sac-addicted Grandmaster from Georgia

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
Also see her personal chess blog 
Don't miss Chess Queen™


↧
↧

St Petersburg Chess Summer Festival Begins Aug 26

August 13, 2013, 4:25 pm
$
0
0
Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone,


St. Petersburg Chess Federation is organizing one of the most attractive summer festivals. Consisting of multiple events and with total prize fund of over 25000 USD. The St. Petersburg summer chess 2013 festival is held from 26th August (arrival day) until September 2nd (departure day) 2013 (Rapid chess tournament – 30.08-02.09.2013) at the “Park” hotel located at 12 Severnaya doroga, Krestovsky island, St.Petersburg, Russia. Contact the organizers at this address. The St. Petersburg summer rapid chess 2013 is one of the main events and has a total prize fund of 550 000 RUB (aprox. 16 000 usd). Of them 100000 are for the winner, 15000 are for the top women player, 15000 are for the top St.Petersburg Citizen, and there are prizes until 18th place and special categories.

The system is 11 rounds Swiss, time control 15 mins +10 seconds. The rounds start on August, 31 at 16:00, 17:20, 18:30, 19:40, on September, 1 – 11:00, 12:10, 13:20, 14:30, 15:40, 17:40, 18:50. The closing ceremony – September, 1 at 20:30.

For all other events, conditions, and details visit the tournament official website (www.chessdom.com)

Top 10 players as of this date
Name Rtg Rpd
Shirov, Alexei 2706
Zvjaginsev, Vadim 2660
Alekseev, Evgeny 2636
Rakhmanov, Aleksandr 2592
Popov, Valerij 2572
Antipov, Mikhail Al. 2568
Romanov, Evgeny 2567
Stukopin, Andrey 2522
Matinian, Nikita 2496
Kryakvin, Dmitry 2473

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal chess blog
at www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
YouTube Channel



↧

Rethymno Chess: GM Dmitry Svetushkin from Moldova Wins Clear First

August 7, 2013, 10:33 am
$
0
0
Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone, 
 

The 5th International Open Chess Tournament Rethymno took place from 28th July to 4th August at the Municipal House of Culture in Rethymno, Crete, Greece. The tournament was organized by the Municipality of Rethymno and Chess Club Rethymno, with support from the Region of Rethymno and Greek Chess Federation. Grandmaster Dmitry Svetushkin from Moldova clinched a clear first place in the tournament with a last round win against IM Ankit R. Rajpara. Svetushkin collected 7,5 points from nine rounds. Greek Grandmasters Hristos Banikas and Spyridon Kapnisis were also victorious in their final games to share the second place with 7,0 points each. Tournament director was Anagnostakis Emmanouil and chief arbiter was Logothetis Sotiris.

Official website
 
From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
Also see her personal chess blog 
Don't miss Chess Queen™

↧

Filipino Chess Player Wins Ramadan Rapid Open Chess in Qatar

August 7, 2013, 11:58 am
$
0
0
Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone, 
MANILA, Philippines – Qatar-based Filipino chess player Robert Arellano topped the Ramadan Rapid Open Chess Tournament, held last July 13-21 at the Girls Chess Club Abu Hamour in Doha, Qatar.

Arellano, a former player for the University of Santo Tomas, defeated India’s Shatrughan Jha in the seventh and final round.

His victory earned him a perfect 7.0 points and the winner’s purse of 3,000 Qatari riyals (about P35,000) and the championship trophy.

Arellano, who is already a National Master, also defeated Amvar Kassim of India, Ahmed Batah of Syria, Tareg Al Qadi of Egyp, Yasser Alshawaffa of Syria and Ahmed Hamed of Egypt in the earlier rounds.

Meanwhile, another Qatar-based Filipino, Rolenson Loyola, defeated Adamin Hussein Ahmad in the final round to make it a 1-2 finish for the Philippines.

Loyola, a former player for San Sebastia, tallied 6.0 points and claimed the runner-up purse of 2000 Qatari riyals (about P23,000).

Aside from Qatar and the Philippines, India, Egypt, Syria, Somalia and Indonesia also sent representatives to the tournament. (By Marlon Bernardino)

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal chess blog
at www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
YouTube Channel

↧
Viewing all 1506 articles
Browse latest View live
Search