Zimbabwe 1st FIDE Rated Chess Event: GM Sergey Kasparov wins Easter Chess Open

April 23, 2014, 9:54 am

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Hello everyone,

Yes, they have chess apart from cricket in Zimbabwe now. A chess news update via Zimbabwe states GM Kasparov from Belarus has won the Easter Chess event - the first FIDE rated event in the country!

HARARE - Grandmaster Sergey Kasparov of Belarus won the closely -contested 2014 Zimbabwe Easter Open Fide Rated A Section which ended on Monday in Harare.

Kasparov, who narrowly avoided a defeat from Mozambican Candidate Master Persson Abrantes in the second round, had to fight a bruising battle to accumulate a total 5.5 points out of a possible seven.

The Belarusian won the title on a superior tie break after Botswana International Master IM Providence Oatlhotse, also finished on 5.5 points.

The two walked away with $1250 each.

International Master Rodwell Makoto, who led the Zimbabwe team, missed the first round but managed to finish on fourth position with five points, same points with Zambian Andrew Kayonde.

For their efforts Makoto and Kayonde pocketed $675 each.

South African GM designate IM Kenny Solomon shared the spoils on joint fifth position with Zimbabwean top players Elisha Chimbamu, Dion James Moyo and Thabo Elisha on 4.5 points each player winning $212.

“This is the first Fide rated event in the country and it has been a great success. Going forward, the Zimbabwe Chess federation is going to ensure that all chess players in our country are properly registered with Fide so that all tournaments will become rated,” Charles Kuwaza, the Zimbabwe Chess Fedration president, said after the event.

“We are also going to ensure that through our Chess In Schools programs, all our juniors will also properly register with the federation so that we do not miss talent out there.

“The Chess Federation wishes to extend its gratitude to all the sponsors, including the Holiday Inn who made this event a resounding success.” (http://www.dailynews.co.zw/)

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Gata Kamsky wins Philadelphia Chess Open 2014

April 23, 2014, 10:34 am

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Hello everyone,

GM Gata Kamsky has won the 8th Annual Philadelphia Chess Open that was held over the Easter week from April 16-20, 2014, at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, 1201 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

GM Gata Kamsky finished clear 1st in the Open Section, finishing with 7.5 points, a half-point ahead of his nearest rival, GM Josh Friedel. Kamsky collected $6,581 for his efforts while Friedel collected $3,656. David Hua scored an International Master norm as well as finishing as the top player rated under 2400.

The final standings and prizes are now posted for all sections at the official website. 

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World Chess Hall of Fame New Inductions - Maya Chiburdanidze, Paul Keres

April 24, 2014, 5:26 am

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Hello everyone,

We love to follow everything that's happening at the World Chess Hall of Fame in Saint Louis. Another ceremony is coming with two new inductions - Maya Chiburdanidze and Paul Keres. Here is the cool article on the upcoming event via the US Chess Federation website.

World Chess Hall of Fame Inductions Set for May 7

By Mike Wilmering

April 23, 2014 (Saint Louis, MO) – Four exceptional chess players will take their places in history when two are inducted into the World Chess Hall of Fame and two into U.S. Chess Hall of Fame during a ceremony on May 7, 2014. 

The World Chess Federation (FIDE) nominated and selected Maya Chiburdanidze and Paul Keres for the World Chess Hall of Fame. They join 19 other players who have received the honor since the World Chess Hall of Fame’s creation in 2001.

“These two remarkable players were luminaries in 20th century chess. Their legacies still impact the game today,” said Beatriz Marinello, FIDE Vice President.

The U.S. Chess Federation Hall of Fame Committee considers and sends candidates for the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame to the U.S. Chess Trust each year. The Trust votes on candidates, selecting Abraham Kupchik and Jacqueline Piatigorsky to join the 52 other players currently in the Hall of Fame.

“Kupchik and Piatigorsky both had immeasurable influence on the game of chess in the United States. We are thrilled to celebrate them as players and pioneers,” said Harold Winston, chairman of the U.S. Chess Federation Hall of Fame Committee.

Each player is permanently commemorated at the World Chess Hall of Fame with a plaque bearing their image and a biography of their notable contributions to the game.

“The 2014 induction ceremony will highlight these four fantastic chess players as well as the national and global cultural significance of the game. We look forward to welcoming the families and friends of the inductees, who will attend alongside some of today’s biggest names in chess,” said Susan Barrett, director of the World Chess Hall of Fame.

About the 2014 World Chess Hall of Fame Honorees
Maya Chiburdanidze (1961 – ): Maya Chiburdanidze’s introspective, exceptional play earned her U.S.S.R. Women’s Chess Championship at the young age of sixteen. The following year, she earned a place at the top of women’s chess, becoming the youngest woman at that time to win the Women’s World Championship when she defeated Nona Gaprindashvili. Chiburdanidze would defend her title four times, finally losing it in 1991 to Xie Jun.

A pioneer in women’s chess, Chiburdanidze was only the second woman to earn the title of Grandmaster in 1984. She was a member of the Soviet and later Georgian women’s teams that dominated the Women’s Chess Olympiads through the 1980s and 1990s, winning nine team gold medals and four gold medals on Board 1.

Paul Keres (1916 – 1975): A three-time Soviet chess champion, Keres was a Candidate for the World Chess Championship seven times and finished equal third in the 1948 World Chess Championship tournament. Keres’ near misses earned him the nickname the “crown prince of chess.”

Keres’ many tournament victories included ties for first in both AVRO 1938 (which he won on tiebreak) and the 1963 Piatigorsky Cup, two of the strongest tournaments ever held. He also played on gold medal winning teams representing the Soviet Union in the 1952 – 1964 Chess Olympiads. Additionally, Keres’ multi-volume series detailing his games ranks among the greatest best games collections ever written.

About the 2014 U.S. Chess Hall of Fame Honorees
Abraham Kupchik (1892 – 1970): Born in Brest (then a part of Russia), Abraham Kupchik immigrated to the U.S. in 1903 and was one of the strongest American players from 1914 to 1940. He shared first place with U.S. Champion Frank Marshall in 1923 at the 9th American Chess Congress and won the prestigious Manhattan Chess Club Championship thirteen times between 1913/14 and 1936/37. He earned second place at the Lake Hopatcong chess tournament behind José Raúl Capablanca and ahead of Géza Maróczy, Frank Marshall, and Edward Lasker.

In the 1935 Chess Olympiad, Kupchik earned team gold and individual bronze medals playing Board 3 for the U.S. His accomplishments also included playing Board 9 in the famed 1945 U.S.A.-U.S.S.R. radio match. 

Jacqueline Piatigorsky (1911 – 2012): A woman of many talents, Jacqueline Piatigorsky transformed American chess through her efforts as an organizer, philanthropist, and player. She won an individual bronze medal on Board 2 when she represented the U.S. in the first Women's Chess Olympiad in 1957. Piatigorsky is best remembered for organizing two of the greatest American chess tournaments: the 1963 and 1966 Piatigorsky Cups.

Committed to promoting youth chess, she created scholastic programs in Southern California in the early 1960s through the Piatigorsky Foundation. She also initiated the U.S. Junior Closed Chess Championship and provided support for the U.S. and U.S. Women’s Chess Championships.

About the World Chess Hall of Fame www.worldchesshof.org
The World Chess Hall of Fame (WCHOF) is a nonprofit organization committed to building awareness for the cultural and artistic significance of chess. It opened on September 9, 2011, in Saint Louis’s Central West End after moving from previous locations in New York and Miami.

The WCHOF is housed in an historic 15,900 square-foot building that includes three floors of galleries, the U.S. and World Chess Halls of Fame and the stylish Q Boutique. It sits immediately across Maryland Avenue from the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, forming a “chess campus” that has been recognized as the chess capital of the United States as well as one of the game’s top international centers.

It is the only cultural institution of its kind in the world and the only solely chess-focused collecting institution in the U.S.

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East Africa Open Chess Top Winners: Arthur Ssegwanyi, Elijah Emojong

April 24, 2014, 7:48 am

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Hello everyone,

Uganda's Arthur Ssegwanyi has won the East Africa Open Chess T\ournament from among 42 players by top-scoring with 6.5 in eight rounds. The event was held at the Kenyatta University over the Easter weekend. Arthur beat compatriot International Master (IM) Elijah Emojong to earn the first prize of US$1000 and the winner's trophy.

Emojong finished with 6 points to take home US$700, followed by another Ugandan Fide Master (FM) Harold Wanyama with 5.5 points winning US$500. Kenya’s national champion and KCB player, Candidate Master (CM) Ben Magana and former Olympian Kenneth Omolo tied on 5 points to share the 4th and 5th prize, with each getting US$250. Uganda’s CM Ivy Amoko won US$200 as the best lady.

In the open section played over 8 rounds, Steve Okeyo garnered 7.5 points to grab the winner’s trophy and Sh30,000. Collins Young, Givans Amunga, Victor Hongo and Amos Wakhungu each received Sh7,500 after tying in second position with 6.5 points.

Daphne Mwikali won the women's open section with 5.5 points, followed by Deshpande Sanjana 5 points, with Karania Saloni, Ann Kung’u, Gweyani Jumba of KCB and Mary Kung’u tying for 3rd place with 4 points each.

In the boys primary schools section, Sumit Deshpande won with 5 points followed by Aguda Lwanaga (4) and Sunil Subramaniam (3), whereas Krishi Shah won the girls section followed by Fathima Mohamed (3) and Arul Yuvika (3). In the secondary boys section, Subham Rai won with 5 points as Ian Gichuguma and Moses Maina got 5 and 4.5 points respectively. Saloni Karania (5) led Winnie Watani (3) in the women's secondary section. Kenyatta University was declared the best university team. The tournament was sponsored by the Kasparov Chess Foundation to the tune of US$5,000.

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Vugar Gashimov Memorial Chess 2014: Carlsen Loses to both Caruana, Radjabov (Updated)

April 24, 2014, 9:05 am

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Hello everyone,

The Vugar Gashimov Memorial Chess 2014 in Shamkir has hit the chess headlines like a bomb explosion. Not only did World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen lose to Fabiano Caruana but he set a sort of record by suffering his second straight loss the very next round to Teimour Radjabov.

Round 1 and 2 began "normally" enough with the World Chess Champion beating Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Hikaru Nakamura. All other games were drawn in both the rounds. In Round 3, Sergey Karjakin worked hard to hold Magnus Carlsen to a draw and the latter was unable to convert a win. Nakamura, meanwhile, beat Mamedyarov. 

Round 4 and 5 - Fabiano Caruana and Teimour Radjabov delight fans by beating World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen in successive rounds. That's how tough chess can be at the top level. Photos: Official website.

Disaster struck for Carlsen in Round 4. Playing Black against Caruana, he was at the receiving end with a slight fumble allowing Caruana to grind out a win. Carlsen blundered a pawn and then couldn't prevent a collapse. The other games were drawn. This is Magnus Carlsen's first loss in classical chess after winning the world champion title in November, 2013.

Today, in Round 5, the World Chess Champion was to face the horror of his second successive loss against Teimour Radjabov. Nakamura and Karjakin settled for a draw while Mamedyarov beat Caruana!

The standings after Round 5 have Radjabov in lead with 3 points followed by Carlsen, Nakamura, Caruana, Karjakin all at 2.5 points and Mamedyarov at 2 points. *Games via Chess King soon

The Vugar Gashimov Chess Memorial is being held in Shamkir, Azerbaijan, from April 20-30 and is divided into two groups. The A Group features six players: World Champion Magnus Carlsen (2881), Fabiano Caruana (2783), Sergey Karjakin (2772), Hikaru Nakamura (2772), and the two Azeri players Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2760) and Teimour Radjabov (2713). The B group includes ten players - top five from various countries and five from Azerbaijan.

Follow all the action live at the official website

Tomorrow is a rest day at Shamkir Chess 2014 tournament. There will be held an opening ceremony of a chess school in Shamkir. Synergy Group officials, media representatives and Shamkir Chess 2014 tournament participants will attend the ceremony. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov rapid world champion and blitz world champion Sergey Karjakin will show 10 sessions on the board at Zeka Youth Center. At 16:00 football tournament will be held with the participation of 4 teams. Competition with foreign players for team of World and national Grandmasters will play for the Azerbaijan national team. In addition, the organizers of the tournament consisting of the members of organizing committee Synergy Group, and journalists will compete as well.

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Asian Continental Chess Championship: Irene Sukandar Wins Women’s Crown with one Round to Go

April 25, 2014, 11:09 am

≫ Next: Women's World Rapid Chess Championship 2014: Kateryna Lagno, Alexandra Kosteniuk Tie for First

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Hello everyone,

Sharjah: Indonesian Irene Sukandar clinched the Asian Women’s chess crown with one round to spare at Sharjah Chess Club on Friday.

Meanwhile in the Open Section, Chinese GM Yu Yangyi beat Bu Xiangzhi to take sole lead with 6.5 points after the penultimate eighth round of the Asian Continental Chess Championship.

Sukandar drew in 37 moves of a Trompovsky Attack by Gong Qianyun of Singapore to tally seven points, an unreachable 1.5 ahead of second-place Iranian WGMs Sarasadat Khademalsharieh and Atousa Pourkashiyan. The Indonesian matched her victory in the same event two years ago in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam. She now advances to the Women’s World Cup next year.

In the race for silver and bronze medals in the Women’s division, tied at five points each in fourth to seventh slots are Gong Qianyun, Tan Zhongyi of China, Hoang Thi Bao Tram of Vietnam and IM Eesha Karavade of India.

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Women's World Rapid Chess Championship 2014: Kateryna Lagno, Alexandra Kosteniuk Tie for First

April 25, 2014, 8:30 pm

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Hello everyone,

The Women's World Rapid Chess Championship 2014 has concluded in Khanty Mansiysk with three days of most exciting chess. It all came down to the last round and ironically, the world title was decided by a one-move checkmate-in-one blunder in the last round on the top board!!!

Five players went into the last round - 15th - with 9.5 points each: Kateryna Lahno, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Tatiana Kosintseva, Anna Muzychuk and Antoaneta Stefanova. 

Kateryna Lagno (centre) at the press conference after winning the Women's World Rapid Chess Championship 2014 with a tiebreak over Alexandra Kosteniuk. Both scored 10.5 points over 15 rounds.

Only two players could conclude the tournament with 10.5 points each. Kosteniuk beat Pia Cramling round and square. Gunina actually blundered away a mate-in-one to Lagno from an almost-winning position. Stefanova could only draw with Khotenashvili. Muzychuk also drew with Gaponenko. Kosintseva, however, lost to Dzagnidze! Meanwhile, Olga Girya did well to come in third.

Lagno has just played Kh6. Here Valentina Gunina played Kh3... can you spot the checkmate in one?

Of drama, destiny and tiebreak rules

With only Lagno and Kosteniuk completing the event on 10.5, the tiebreak rules came into play. Even though Kosteniuk had a whopping 10 wins earned over 15 rounds as compared to Lagno's 9 wins, the gold goes to Lagno as she had won the direct encounter between the two.

There's plenty of high-exciting chess from the world's top women players still to come in Khanty Mansiysk: |The Women's World Blitz Chess Championship 2014 begins in Khanty Mansiysk from tomorrow. 

Speaking at the press conference, Lagno did mention that lesser rounds with more players could suit the Women's Rapid World Chess Championship better. She said even though men play over 15 rounds (the open blitz world chess championship),  women have lesser stamina and that showed in the drop in quality of games towards the last few rounds... particularly in the last round where her opponent squandered the game with a mate-in-one blunder.

Kateryna said she had been Women's World Blitz Champion in 2010, but she remembers her own blunder to Stefanova in Batumi at the Women's World Rapid Championship where she had been leading and lost. So, title this year is special in that sense to her.

 

Pia Cramling just resigned her game to Alexandra Kosteniuk in Round 15 when White played Rc6. Can you see the nice tactical trick there...?

For more updates, stay tuned to Chess Blog and the official website. Soon you will have an update post on her personal blog by 12th Women's World Chess Champion Chess Queen™ Alexandra Kosteniuk at www.chessqueen.com.

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Chess in the Movies - Blade Runner Chess Clip

April 26, 2014, 6:41 am

≫ Next: Chess Catching up in Nepal - Mt Gaurishankar Open Chess from May 8

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Hello everyone,

This chess clip is taken from "Blade Runner" (June 25, 1982) about a dystopian Los Angeles in November 2019 in which genetically engineered replicants are hunted down and "retired" by police special operatives known as "Blade Runners."

The game showed in the movie is actually a real game, one of the most famous in history - Anderssen vs Kieseritzky, London 1851.




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Chess Catching up in Nepal - Mt Gaurishankar Open Chess from May 8

April 26, 2014, 7:08 am

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Hello everyone,

There are plenty of chess tournaments being organised around the world and it's always great to see chess becoming popular in countries which are still building a chess tradition. 

FIDE has announed the details of the Mt. Gaurishankar 3rd International Open Chess Tournament-2014 which is to held 8-13th May in Charikot, Dolakha, Nepal. The 9-round Swiss event is open to all players.

CASH Prizes RS. 3,03,000/- *Nepalese

Tournament Details:
Arrival: 8th May, Thursday at 10:00 AM
Opening: 8th May, Thursday at 14:00 PM\

Rounds: 9th to 13th May 2014
9th May 2014 Friday 08:30 AM - Round 1
9th May 2014 Friday 14:00 PM - Round 2
10th May 2014 Saturday 08:30 AM - Round 3
10th May 2014 Saturday 14:00 PM - Round 4
11th May 2014 Sunday 08:30 AM - Round 5
11th May 2014 Sunday 14:00 PM - Round 6
12th May 2014 Monday 08:30 AM - Round 7
12th May 2014 Monday 14:00 PM - Round 8
13th May 2014 Tuesday 08:30 AM - Round 9
13th May 2014 Tuesday 14:00 PM - Prize Distribution

Prize Details:
Champion: Rs. 50,000/-
2nd:Rs. 30,000/-
3rd:Rs. 20,000/-
4th:Rs. 15,000/-
5th:Rs. 10,000/-
6th-12th:Rs. 7,000/-
13th-20th:Rs. 6,000/-
Category: Minimum 5 points.
Best Unrated: 1st Rs. 5,000/- 2nd/3rd: Rs. 4,000/-
Best Local: 1st Rs. 4,000/- 2nd/3rd: Rs. 2,500/-
Best Women Local: 1st Rs. 2,000/- 2nd/3rd: Rs. 1,500/-
Best Women Open: 1st Rs. 5,000/-
Best Veteran S55: 1st Rs. 5,000/-
Best ELO 1000-1499: 1st Rs. 5,000/-
Best ELO 1500-1699: 1st Rs. 5,000/-
Best ELO 1700-1899: 1st Rs. 5,000/-
Best ELO 1900-2099: 1st Rs. 5,000/-
Best U10 Open: Boys: Rs. 4,000/- Girls: Rs. 4,000/-
Best U12 Open: Boys: Rs. 4,000/- Girls: Rs. 4,000/-
Best U14 Open: Boys: Rs. 4,000/- Girls: Rs. 4,000/-
Special Prize: Medal & Certificates only.
Best U10/U12/U14 Nepal: Boys & Girls Separately
Best U10/U12/U14 Dolakha: Boys & Girls Separately

Entry Fees:
ELO 2100 plus: Rs. 2,000/-
ELO 1000-2100: Rs. 2,250/-
Unrated: Rs. 2,500/-
Local(Dolakha): Rs. 1,000/-
Dolakha Women/Students: Rs. 500/-
· No request towards waiver of entry fee will be entertained.

The Last date of Entry: 5th May 2014, Monday
Entries with late fee of Rs. 500/- 8th May 2014 till 20:00PM

System of Play:
The tournament will be conducted as per FIDE Laws of Chess and FIDE Swiss System with 9 rounds. Swiss Manager software will be use for pairing.

Time Control:
90 minutes plus 30 second increment from move 1.

Tie Break:
In case of a tie, the latest FIDE Rules shall come in effect. However Cash Prize will not be Shared.

Accommodation:
All out station players will be arranged free lodging on sharing basis. The accompany have to pay Rs. 2,000/-.

Weather:
The weather in Charikot during May expected be pleasant.

Eligibility:
The tournament is open to all.

In Case of Emergency:
Umesh KC, IA/NI: Tournament Director
Mobile: +977-98510-54329, +977-97410-46770

E-mail: umeshcha@gmail.com
Blog: http://chessnepal.blogspot.com/

In/For Dolakha:
Mr. Govinda Shrestha, Secretary Mob: 98510-44708
Mr. Suman Shiwakoti, Member Mob: 97410-88187

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49th Capablanca Chess in Havana May 7-18

April 26, 2014, 7:22 am

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Hello everyone,

The 49th edition of the Tournament Capablanca in Memoriam 2014 will take place on 7-18th May at the Habana Riviera Hotel in La Havana, Cuba.

The event is organized by the Cuban Chess Federation and the Instituto Nacional de Deportes Educación Física y Recreación (INDER).

This chess festival will be played in three groups:

The Elite Group will once again be a six-player double round robin, the strongest in the history of the event.

The players are Leinier Dominguez (Cuba, winner in 2004, 2008 and 2009), Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine, winner in 2005-2007 and 2010-2012), Wesley So (Philippines, first participation), Francisco Vallejo (Spain, winner in 2001), Zoltan Almasi (Hungary, winner in 2013) and Lazaro Bruzon (Cuba, winner in 2002).

The Premier Group will be a 10-player round robin with other top Cuban players and guests from Peru, Italy, Canada.

The players are GM Yuniesky Quesada (Cuba), GM Emilio Cordova (Peru), GM Isan Ortiz (Cuba), GM Danyyil Dvirnyy(Italy), GM Bator Sambuev (Canada), GM Yuri Gonzalez (Cuba), GM Yusnel Bacallao (Cuba), IM Carlos Hevia (Cuba) and IM Yasser Quesada (Cuba).

The Open A Group will be played over 10 rounds of Swiss system with about 100 participants. This section is open to the players with international titles and those rated above 2300 FIDE, youth champions and the qualifiers from last year’s Open B. (Report via FIDE)
 

Girls, Chess is Serious Business - Photo Trivia: Name Them

April 26, 2014, 7:37 am

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Hello everyone,

Here is a cool photo by Kirill Merkuriev from the Women's World Rapid Chess Championship 2014 that just concluded in Khanty Mansiysk. Can you name all the three players and their country?

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Lithuania Chess Championship 2014 Begins

April 27, 2014, 6:56 am

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Hello everyone,

The Lithuanian Chess Championship 2014 for men is taking place from 24th April to 1st May in Vilnius. Ten players with the average elo 2388 are competing in the round robin tournament, according to a chess news update by FIDE. Top seed at the tournament is GM Kveinys Aloyzas (FIDE photo) followed by GM Sarunas Sulskis. After four rounds of play GM Sarunas Sulskis is leading with 3,5 points.


Participants:
GM Kveinys Aloyzas LTU 2543
GM Sulskis Sarunas LTU 2533
IM Pileckis Emilis LTU 2461
GM Malisauskas Vidmantas LTU 2436
IM Laurusas Tomas LTU 2418
IM Beinoras Mindaugas LTU 2404
FM Vedrickas Tautvydas LTU 2330
Stremavicius Titas LTU 2284
FM Kalvaitis Sigitas LTU 2263
Setkauskas Vaidas LTU 2208

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Vugar Gashimov Chess Memorial 2014 Round 6: Radjabov, Carlsen in Joint Lead

April 27, 2014, 8:19 am

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Hello everyone,

Photo: Official website shamkirchess.az

Round 6 at the Vugar Gashimov Chess Memorial 2014 brought good tiding for World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen on Saturday. The Norwegian Grandmaster picked up a win over Shakhriyar Mamedyarov - after two successive losses before the rest day on Friday - to get back into the lead, albeit jointly, with Teimour Radjabov. Both now have 3.5 points. The other two games of the round were draws. 

To begin with, Mamedyarov's pawn sac for control of the centre only had Carlsen get back into his elements and grind out a win. Caruana lost out on positional control and suffered a structural collapse in efforts to go up material, but the American Grandmaster, Hikaru Nakamura, knew how to force a draw. In the Radjabov - Karjakin game, the Russian steered the game to a theoretical draw and earned half a point. 

Standings Round 6

Teimour Radjabov, Magnus Carlsen 3.5

Fabiano Caruana, Sergey Karjakin, Hikaru Nakamura 3.0

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov 2.0

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GM Yu Yangyi wins Asian Continental Chess 2014 in Sharjah

April 27, 2014, 8:51 am

≫ Next: When Anand won a Kiss for Winning a Chess Tournament: Name the Lady, Name the Event

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Hello everyone,

Chinese Grandmaster Yu Yangyi has won the Asian Continental Chess Tournament 2014 in Sharjah.

In the Open section top four games were drawn, in the last round, which was sufficient for GM Yu Yangyi to keep the first place and claim the gold medal with 7,0/9 points.

There followed four players on the shared second place with 6,5 points each. After breaking the tie, GM Adhiban B of India is awarded with the silver medal and former Asian champion GM Ni Hua of China got the bronze.

The top five players from the 2014 Asian Open Championship qualify for the 2015 World Cup. Since Yu Yangyi already qualified as reigning World Junior Champion, the next five in line are Adhiban B, Ni Hua, Kasimdzhanov Rustam (Uzbekistan), Wen Yang (China) and local star Salem A.R. Saleh (UAE).

Irene Kharishma Sukandar had already won the women's section with a round to spare.

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When Anand won a Kiss for Winning a Chess Tournament: Name the Lady, Name the Event

April 27, 2014, 9:39 am

≫ Next: Chess for Beginners Lecture Video (Pawn Promotion) with WGM Jennifer Shahade at Saint Louis Chess Club

≪ Previous: GM Yu Yangyi wins Asian Continental Chess 2014 in Sharjah

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Hello everyone, 

Former World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand has fans aplenty. Do you remember when he last earned a kiss for winning a tournament (apart from the prize money of course) ... name the lady, name the tournament!

We will post the answer soon enough. Don't do a google photo search... it's easy if you try to remember!

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

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at www.chessqueen.com
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Chess for Beginners Lecture Video (Pawn Promotion) with WGM Jennifer Shahade at Saint Louis Chess Club

April 27, 2014, 10:05 am

≫ Next: Anna Muzychuk is Women's World Blitz Chess Champion 2014

≪ Previous: When Anand won a Kiss for Winning a Chess Tournament: Name the Lady, Name the Event

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Hello everyone,

You all must know of the Saint Louis Chess Club. WGM Jennifer Shahade presents a lecture at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis for beginners around the idea of tactics and pawn promotion.





From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

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Anna Muzychuk is Women's World Blitz Chess Champion 2014

April 28, 2014, 6:30 am

≫ Next: Li, Chor Top Seeds at 2014 ChessKid Online Chess Championship

≪ Previous: Chess for Beginners Lecture Video (Pawn Promotion) with WGM Jennifer Shahade at Saint Louis Chess Club

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Hello everyone,

Anna Muzychuk has won the three-day super-exciting Women's World Blitz Chess Championship 2014 in Khanty Mansiysk. She scored 23/30 points with Nana Dzagnidze, in second place, a full 2.5 points away. Russia's Tatiana Kosintseva won the bronze after a last-day burst to earn 20 points. The FIDE Women World Blitz Championship 2014 was held from 26th to 28th April at the Ugra Chess Academy in Khanty-Mansiysk. 

Entering the third day of the Championship, Anna Muzychuk and Nana Dzagnidze were tied in first place with 15/20 points each.

Already in the 11th round Dzagnidze was held to 1-1 by Harika and Muzychuk beat Natalia Zhukova 2-0. Muzychuk continued the winning streak 1,5-0,5 against Elisabeth Paehtz and 2-0 against Anna Ushenina. Meanwhile, Dzagnidze could not make more than 1-1 against Alexandra Kosteniuk and Marina Guseva, respectively.

Following the 14th round 1-1 tie with Marina Guseva, Anna Muzychuk secured the title of Women's World Blitz Champion with one round to spare.

This result is immensely important for the young Slovenian, who many times finished joint first or second in the official events, but never before took home the trophy.

Dzagnidze still had to work to secure the silver and 1,5-0,5 against Inna Gaponenko in the 15th round was just enough to seal the 2nd place.

Tatiana Kosintseva defeated Guseva 2-0 to clinch the bronze medal.

A total of 34 women chess players from 13 countries competed for the title and prize fund of $50,000.

The Blitz Championship concludes a string of FIDE official chess events that lasted nearly two months in Khanty-Mansiysk! It all started early March with the FIDE Candidates Tournament, followed by the FIDE Women Grand Prix and the FIDE Women World Rapid Championship.

Official tournament website http://wwrbc2014.fide.com/

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

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Also see her personal chess blog
at www.chessqueen.com
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Li, Chor Top Seeds at 2014 ChessKid Online Chess Championship

April 28, 2014, 7:25 am

≫ Next: Monday Morning Chess Trivia: Name the Grandmaster, Teacher, Tai Chi Expert...

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Hello everyone,

Here is IM Danny Rensch's previe via US Chess Federation website on the upcoming 2014 ChessKid Online Chess Championship that is set to take place this June.

The field of 30 players is now set for the 2014 ChessKid.com Online National Championship. Set to take place June 6th through 8th, with games played on Chess.com's Live Server, the invitational tournament once again brings together the nation's best youth chess players.

Star players include 12-year-old Ruifeng Li, the highest rated player in the competition at 2367 and 9-year-old expert Kevin Chor (left). Atreya Vaidya is top seed in the 8 and under section and Derek Jin is the highest rated in the 6 years (!!) and under. 

Originally from Iran, Kiana Arab (2048) (photo below) heads the Girls 13 and Under Player's List. Kiana also posted a perfect score at the recent All-Girls Nationals on her way to taking down the 14 and Under section.

Find a full list of players and details on chesskid.com.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

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Monday Morning Chess Trivia: Name the Grandmaster, Teacher, Tai Chi Expert...

April 28, 2014, 8:08 am

≫ Next: Vugar Gashimov Chess Memorial 2014 Round 7: Magnus Carlsen back in Sole Lead

≪ Previous: Li, Chor Top Seeds at 2014 ChessKid Online Chess Championship

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Hello everyone,

Monday morning chess trivia photo is here! Can you name this Grandmaster, writer, popular chess coach and Tai Chi expert... Hint: He has been his country's under-21 champion and his country's national rapid chess champion!

 

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Vugar Gashimov Chess Memorial 2014 Round 7: Magnus Carlsen back in Sole Lead

April 28, 2014, 9:28 am

≫ Next: Six Power Girls of Chess in Khanty Mansiysk: Can you Name them All?

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Hello everyone,

Photo: Official website

World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen is back in the lead at the Vugar Gashimov Chess Memorial 2014 after seven rounds in Shamkir.

Carlsen, playing Black, beat Hikaru Nakamura taking their personal score to 10-0. Basically, White did have an advantage, but passive play did him in. Carlsen now jumps into sole lead again at the tournament.

Teimour Radjabov and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov easily drew a Catalan game as did Sergey Karjakin and Fabiano Caruana in a Gruenfeld struggle. 

Standings after Round 7: Magnus Carlsen 4.5, Teimour Radjabov 4.0, Fabiano Caruana, Sergey Karjakin 3.5, Hikaru Nakamura 3.0, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov 2.5.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal chess blog
at www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
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