Zatonskih draws final game to win US Women's Championship!

It is kind of strange in chess that you fight for draw from even score to win the national championship. But just like last year when Kamsky held Shulman, Zatonskih successfully held Abrahamyan with draw odd black pieces to win the US Women's Championship again. I believe Anna bid for 19 minutes and got black while Abrahamyan got 45 minutes in must win situation.

Congratulations to Anna and Tatev for surviving the grueling test in the past 2 weeks.

Abrahamyan wins game 2 with black to even the score

Tatev Abrahamyan scores a stunning upset against Anna Zatonskih with Black in the second of their two rapid game playoff. As the clear favorite, Zatonskih is under tremendous pressure to live up to expectation. She missed winning opportunities in both game 1 and 2 in regulation. Now they are heading to the Armageddon game.

Kamsky retains title

US Championship Board by www.GLOSgames.com 

APRIL 28, 2011, 11:54 A.M. ET
NY chess grandmaster wins US Championship in Mo. 
Wall Street Journal
Associated Press

ST. LOUIS — A 36-year-old chess grandmaster from New York has won the U.S. Championship in St. Louis.

Gata Kamsky (GAH-tuh KAHM-skee) defeated Grandmaster Yury Shulman (YUHR-ee SHUHL-muhn) of Chicago in the final match on Wednesday. The game lasted 2 1/2 hours.

The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis hosted the event. The organization says Kamsky gets $42,000 and Yury gets $30,000 of the $170,000 prize fund. The event featured 16 competitors, and lower-place finishers also will receive prize money.

The U.S. Championship and U.S. Women's Championship got under way April 14 with exhibition matches. The women's championship has a prize fund of at least $60,000 and was wrapping up Thursday.

Source: http://online.wsj.com

Amateur player defeats Rybka in match, believe it or not?

Ukrainian sensationally beats world's smartest chess programme 
English.news.cn 2011-04-28 19:27:45

KIEV, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian Andrew Slyusarchuk sensationally won the match against the smartest and the strongest chess computer program in the world "Rybka-4", the local media reported Thursday.

He spent 8 months to understand the principles of the program. Slyusarchuk had read about three thousand books about chess.

Skeptics have not believed that Andrew Slyusarchuk will be able to cope with the program. Nobody could do it before.

The first batch Slyusarchuk played blindfold with the white chess. He has not seen a chessboard, but just have memorize moves. For the second leg he used black chess. In general, the player has spent about 2 hours for a duel with the computer.

Seven years ago Russian grandmaster Garry Kasparov had a fight with the computer. The man lost the game. After his defeat chess players have not gambled with the machines.

Andrew Slyusarchuk does not apply for the title of grandmaster. He just wanted to show the audience that the potential of the human's brain is not fully used.

Slyusarchuk is an amateur in chess playing -- he is a neurosurgeon. 39-year-old MD specializes in the brain studying as well as improving memory technologies development. He knows by heart 20,000 books and 30 million digits of the pi number.

Editor: Zhang Xiang

Simutowe won't represent Zambia in All Africa game

Zambia chess master will not represent country at All Africa Games

08:22, April 28, 2011

Zambia's chess ace says he will not represent the country at the 2011 All Africa Games slated for Mozambique in September due to unpaid allowances by the local chess body, the Zambia Daily Mail reported on Wednesday.

Amon Simutowe, Zambia's grand master based in the United States, said he would not represent Zambia until the Chess Federation of Zambia (CFZ) paid him his money.

"The cost for such tournaments is high and the bottom line is I bear the cost. If my cost was zero, then I would have agreed to listen to the proposals of the current federation, but I have already spent too much time on the issue with previous executives and can only consider a better solution to the problem," he said.
Source: http://english.peopledaily.com.cn

Cori qualifies for World Cup

April 27, 2011 [ 20:14 ]
Peru's young chess star qualifies to World Chess Cup in Russia

Peru's young chess star Jorge Cori qualified to the World Chess Cup to be held in Khanty Mansiysk, Russia, after participating in the American Continental Chess Championship 2011 in Toluca, Mexico.

Cuban Grandmaster Lazaro Bruzon won the championship with 7.5 points. However, since he had already qualified to the World Cup during the last competition held in Dominican Republic, the second to seventh-place competitors qualified to the World Cup.

Jorge Cori came in fifth place, thus qualified for the upcoming tournament.

Cori, ranked a Grandmaster, has hopes of winning another title, just like in 2009, when he obtained the U-14 World Chess Title in Turkey.

Source: http://www.livinginperu.com

Round Two, Selangor Open 2011

29 April 2011, Kuala Lumpur - Here are the round two pairings of the Selangor Open. 

Just for fun...

It takes a minute to have crush on someone, an hour to like someone and a day to love someone but it takes a lifetime to forget someone.

Encounter with Alekhine

Encounter With AlekhineBy Michael J. Feuer

Published April 27, 2011, issue of May 06, 2011

Otto Feuer, had been a chess champion (he won the Belgian title in 1936), and his hero had always been the Russian chess champion Alexander Alekhine. One day, in the Buchenwald latrine, Otto came upon what he thought was a miracle of sorts: There on the ground was a page from a recent German chess magazine, undoubtedly discarded by an SS guard, with an article by, of all people, Alekhine. Otto’s mood soared — until he began reading.


Then he discovered that Alekhine had become a rabid anti-Semite and Nazi sympathizer. The article was all about the evils of “Jewish chess.” Otto sank into an especially low depression.
But then there was another uplift, because it occurred to him that if he was still capable of experiencing both joy and sorrow, it must mean that not even the Nazis could destroy his humanity.


And this awareness, that he was still human, gave him hope and the will to continue. He was liberated April 11, 1945, when American troops came to Buchenwald. Aharon Appelfeld has written that “in the Holocaust there was no room for thought or feeling….” I have a different view, based on my father’s encounter with Alekhine.


Michael J Feuer, is a dean and professor of education at The George Washington University.


Read more: http://www.forward.com

Missed opportunities by both players lead to playoff

Anna had a better endgame in the second game of the championship match as Tatev's pawn on e3 was vulnerable. Anna tried very hard to exploit it but she was unable to find the winning plan. She eventually over pushed and it almost cost her the championship. The game ended in a draw after Tatev misplayed the endgame herself. They will head into a playoff tomorrow.

Tiviakov wins in Fagernes

TIVIAKOV WINNER OF NEW NORWEGIAN CHESS FESTIVAL IN FAGERNES Øystein Brekke
organizer of Norsk Sjakkfestival
Favourite Sergey Tiviakov, European champion of 2008, won the main group of the Open Norwegian Championship 2011 in the charming small town of Fagernes. The tournament was part of the first edtion of the new "Norsk Sjakkfestival" which was held during the easter week.

Fagernes will now possibly take over as a major Norwegian chess site, according to the plans of organizer Øystein Brekke. The tournament was also the 40th Open Norwegian Championship. From the beginning in 1970 and for a long time these were organized in the great Norwegian chess arena Gausdal. Believe it or not: At the Quality Hotel & Resort Fagernes the conditions are even clearly better than at Gausdal. Meanwhile it is also right to see this year's festival as part of the process in Norwegian chess towards the 2014 Chess Olympiad in Tromsø, and the same year's 100th anniversary of the Norwegian Chess Federation.

Sergey Tiviakov (38) seemed to keep very good control in the tournament, winning his white games when he needed. Defeating Sweden's veteran GM Lars Karlsson (born 1955) in the 7th round turned out to decide the outcome. Five other GMs from the same number of countries tied for 2nd to 6th prize. Many young players made a good performance, amongst them the Norwegians Aryan Tari and Sebastian Mihajlov, both still only 12. Eric Vaarala of Sweden (born 1993) won the prize as the best player rated 2150 to 2299, and Anders Thingstad of Norway the same rated below 2150. Nevertheless also some veterans showed up well, and we must mention Heikki Westerinen of Finland (66) who was once again a very popular guest. Even no Norwegian player has participated in so many international tournaments in Norway as Heikki, who was also a co-winner of the first Open Norwegian Chess Championship back in 1970.

The first chess festival in Fagernes had a varied program with tournaments for all levels of players, with a total of 257 participants. In addition there were several lectures on history and other chess subjects. The second "Norsk Sjakkfestival" will take place at Fagernes in 2012, from April 28 to May 5.

Results of the Open Norwegian Champinship 2011 in Fagernes:

1. GM Sergey Tiviakov, Netherlands 7 poeng
2. GM Sergey Kasparov, Belarus 6,5 p.
3. GM Gawain Jones, England 6,5
4. GM Lars Karlsson, Sweden 6,5
5. GM Normunds Miezis, Latvia 6,5
6. GM Azer Mirsoev, Aserbaidsjan 6,5
7. GM Michael Richter, Germany 6 p.
8. GM Yuri Solodovnichenko, Ukraina 6
9. (IM) Frode Olav Urkedal, 1911, Oslo, N 6
10. IM Eirik Gullaksen, Bergen, N 5,5
11. GM Leif E. Johannessen, Oslo, N 5,5
12. Eric Vaarala, Sweden 5,5
13. IM Luis Ignacio Lubio Meija, Spain 5,5
14. Anders Hobber, Porsgrunn, N 5,5
15. GM Heikki Westerinen, Finland 5,5
16. Aryan Tari, Asker, N 5,5
17. IM Jeroen Bosch, Netherlands 5,5

Complete results, games, and photos you may find on the festival web site:
http://festival.sjakkweb.no

The complete results of the A group of the Open Norwegian Championship are here:
http://turneringsservice.sjakklubb.no/standings.aspx?TID=DetapneNM2011GruppeA-NorskSjakkforlag

Gata Kamsky wins 2011 US Championship as expected

US Championship Board created by www.GLOSgames.com
Gata Kamsky came to this US Championship as the heavy favorite. He performed solid in both the round robin and knockout stages. Today, he comfortably held with Black in the second of the two game final match against Yury Shulman to retain his US Championship title. Congratulations to Gata and Yury for their superb performances!

Candidates Matches 2011 schedule

Candidates Matches 2011 scheduleGames schedule of the Candidates Matches 2011

The Candidates Matches of the FIDE World Championship cycle 2011-2012 will be played 3-27 May, 2011, in Kazan, Russia. On the left you can see the logo of the Candidates Matches, which will be official for the championship.

The schedule of the Kazan 2011 Candidates Matches is posted right below it.

More about the Candidates: Pairings / Live / Topalov - Kamsky preview / Kramnik - Radjabov preview /Levon Aronian preparing

03 May - Arrival

04 May - Players Meeting / Opening Ceremony

05 May - Game 1, round 1

06 May - Game 2, round 1

07 May - Game 3, round 1

08 May - Game 4, round 1

09 May - Tiebreaks

10 May - Free Day

11 May - Free Day

12 May - Game 1, round 2

13 May - Game 2, round 2

14 May - Game 3, round 2

15 May - Game 4, round 2

16 May - Tiebreaks

17 May - Free Day

18 May - Free Day

19 May - Game 1, round 3

20 May - Game 2, round 3

21 May - Game 3, round 3

22 May - Free Day

23 May - Game 4, round 3

24 May - Game 5, round 3

25 May - Game 6, round 3

26 May - Tiebreaks / Closing Ceremony

27 May - Departure

Chess and Italy: What could be better?

Chess and Italy: What could be better?
Holly McRoberts
Set in majestic Lido Adriano, Italy, chess players gathered from twenty-seven countries and eagerly waited to demonstrate their skills at the Inaugural International Ravenna Chess Tournament on April 2nd through April 10th of this year. As the only American, I was fortunate enough to be amongst those players, and a guest at the Grand Hotel Azzurra, which not only sponsored this event, but also provided a welcoming and relaxing ambiance. Every room in this beautiful hotel had a balcony overlooking the Adriatic Sea and access to a private beach.

As if the incredible accommodations were not enough, the highlight of this tournament featured a guest appearance by Judit Polgar who graciously gave a simultaneous exhibition at the generous price of only ten Euro per participant! Of the twenty-five players, Polgar achieved 24 wins and 1 draw.

Diana Mihajlova not only did an excellent job of organizing this event, but she made all the players feel welcome throughout the tournament. She and the tournament winner, Sarunas Sulskis, kindly invited me to have dinner with Judit Polgar, which I felt was an enormous honor!

Sarunas Sulskis of Lithuania won the tournament from a strong field of 10 GMs, 8 IMs, and 1 WGM in addition to the other class players. He was a favorite amongst the amateurs due to his humble and kind demeanor as well as his willingness to help struggling chess players such as myself. When asked if his first coach was proud of his great accomplishments his response was, “I’m just an ordinary GM.” This is coming from an individual who was second to Ivanchuk, studied at the Botvinnik-Kasparov School, and is a five-time Lithuanian champion.

Being the only American at the event, I felt it was my noble duty to “represent!” Unfortunately, as a class C player, I could not “represent” in the manner or form in which I intended.

Fortunately, Sarunas Sulskis, and the well-known tournament organizer, Stewart Rueben, took pity on this poor American soul and offered their time, patience and wisdom in an attempt to develop my skill as a tournament chess player who eventually achieved 3 out of 9 points.

So, walks on the beach, wonderful food; dinner with Judit Polgar, and personal training from a GM made this trip truly memorable. If this article inspired jealousy in any way, do not fear! You still have the opportunity to experience this amazing event for yourself: the tournament will be on next year, and possibly even this year in the autumn (subject to confirmation), as the organizer’s intention is to hold the tournament twice a year. For more information, visit www.ravennachessinternational.com. This website contains all the information including results, pairings, selected PGN games, and fantastic photos.

FIDE agreement with World Meditation Academy

FIDE President signs agreement with World Meditation Academy

Tuesday, 26 April 2011 06:10

FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov signed an agreement with Mr. Anant Asavabhokhin, the World Meditation Academy Chairman. The World Meditation Academy has been extremely active since it was set up and several courses in meditation are carried out by Buddhist monks with extensive experience in this area.

The benefits of meditation to chess players were reviewed and amongst the principal achievements one can note:

Physical Benefits: Through deep-breathing, which is the backbone of any meditation practice, muscle fatigue and tension are reduced by increasing the circulation of oxygen to the muscles. Meditation has also been proven to lower high blood cholesterol due to its stress-reducing benefits. Meditation also helps to strengthen the immune system as well. Meditation induces the relaxation response which reduces the occurance of pain, insomnia and headaches. Another major physical benefit of meditation is unlimited energy. Meditation helps you to create an eternal and infinite flow of pure lifeforce energy.

Emotional Benefits: Less irritability, reduction in the "fight or flight" response, and more emotional self-control. Helps bring perspective when confronted with a crisis thus making the crisis more manageable. Managing our modern daily lives can become quite overwhelming when you factor in traffic jams, work related stress, toxicity overload and seemingly unmanageable schedules. Taking a small amount of daily time to meditate can bring the perspective you need to manage your busy schedule and bring back a feeling of "I can handle this".

Mental Benefits: Better mental focus, concentration and creativity. Less stress and anxiety and greater peace of mind. Meditation seeks to bring harmful and counter-productive thoughts and feelings to the surface within you, quell them and help you gain the necessary perspective to invoke more truth and reality in your life. The mental benefits of meditation, if regularly practiced, are long lasting and eventually become permanent.

Spiritual Benefits: Greater self-awareness, the feeling of being more "connected" and a greater sense of purpose, along with the added benefit of helping you to resolve past issues that tend to get buried in the psyche and cause difficulties for you on an unconscious level.

Source: http://www.benefitsofmeditation.org/ 

The agreement highlights scholarships which will be offered to FIDE Federations all round the world to send participants for monthly Meditation courses. More details about these scholarships will shortly be publicized on FIDE website.

Mr. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov appointed Mr. Anant Asavabhokhin as a Senior Advisor to the FIDE President and, in turn, has also been appointed an Honorary Advisor to the World Meditation Academy.

Source: FIDE.com

Vallejo, Sokolov, Almasi, and Volkov lead in Nakhchivan

Vallejo, Sokolov, Almasi, and Volkov lead in NakhchivanPhotos, standings, and more from the top open of April

The Super Open Nakhchivan 2011 continues in Azerbaijan. After round 4 there are 4 players sharing the leading position - Francisco Vallejo Pons (Spain), Zoltan Almasi (Hungary), Sergey Volkov (Russia), andIvan Sokolov (Bosna and Herzegovina). They are facing each other in direct battles today, always eying their back, as Wang Yue, Ilia Smirin, Alexander Ipatov, Eltaj Safarli, Mikheil Mchedlishvili, Evgenij Miroshnichenko, and several other top contenders are withing 1/2 to 1 points distance.

The International Chess Festival Nakhchivan Open, dedicated to the memory of President Heydar Aliyev, is scheduled to take place from 23rd April to 1st May at the "Nakhchivan Chess Center" in Nakhchivan.

The Festival is organized by the Azerbaijan Youth & Sport Ministry, Azerbaijan Chess Federation and Nakhchivan AR Chess Federation. Nine rounds according to Swiss system will be played in the tournament. The total prize fund is $ 66.500.

Follow the live games at www.chess.az and www.azerichess.az.

Chess in education controversies

Should all kids be forced to play chess?

Armenia is making the game mandatory for schoolchildren. Will that make them smarter?

posted on April 26, 2011, at 12:58 PM

Best Opinion: National Post, BBC, Education Stormfront

Armenia has come up with a novel approach to school reform — it's making chess lessons mandatory for all students age 6 and older. A spokesman for the country's education ministry says compulsory lessons will "foster school children's intellectual development" and improve their critical thinking skills. The government also hopes that its $1.5 million investment will help the tiny nation of 3.2 million become a "chess superpower." Is forcing kids to play chess really a good way to help them learn?

Absolutely, chess teaches kids how to think: Chess strengthens the mind, says psychology professor Mark Sabbagh in Canada's National Post. Teaching the game in schools will force students to learn "planning, thinking ahead, imagining the strategies of another person." These skills give kids the ability to act on reflection, not just impulse, which is a gift that will help them succeed in life.
"Armenia's gambit to become chess superpower"

But it shouldn't be compulsory: "Chess is obviously a skill," says British education reform advocate Katherine Birbalsingh, as quoted by BBC News, so it's smart to teach it to kids. But cramming mandatory lessons into an already full school day is a bad idea. "There is so much to learn, so many subjects to put into the curriculum, it would be a shame to lose something like music or art for chess."
"Should every child be made to play chess?"

Chess is no silver bullet... but it might just help: At a time when technology is whittling away at our attention spans, says Education Stormfront, "being able to focus on a problem and to be able to creatively solve it" is an increasingly rare skill. "I'm not saying chess is the answer," but if it helps today's frazzled, multitasking children learn to concentrate, maybe schools in the U.S. should give it a try, too.
"Reading, writing, arithmetic ... and chess?"


Source: http://theweek.com

Giving players a chance to shine

Tournament gives chess players a chance to shine 
By natalie dicou 
The Salt Lake Tribune

First published Apr 11 2011 09:45PM
Updated Apr 24, 2011 01:20AM

West Valley City • Jaxson Bailey knows exactly what he loves about chess.

“You get to kill your friends without actually killing them in real life,” said the West Lake Junior High eighth-grader, moments after collecting the first-place trophy at the initial Community Education Partnership of West Valley City (CEP) Chess Tournament.

Krista LeFevre enjoys the game for different reasons.

“I like being able to think hard and work really hard at winning,” said the Farnsworth Elementary sixth-grader as she clutched her second-place trophy.

Whatever their reason for loving the game with 64 black and white squares, 122 students from across West Valley City met last week at West Lake Junior High to showcase their chess skills and inaugurate a tradition.

Full article here.

DATCC Warrior Rapid Chess Weekend

Hou Yifan wins 1st Chinese Women Chess Masters Tournament

Final standings:

1. Hou, Yifan g CHN 2602 * 1 1 ½ ½ 0 1 1 1 1 7 2638

2. Shen, Yang wg CHN 2443 0 * 1 ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 6 2561
3. Ju, Wenjun wg CHN 2519 0 0 * 1 ½ 1 1 1 ½ 1 6 2552

4. Wang, Yu A. im CHN 2398 ½ ½ 0 * ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 4½ 2441
5. Huang, Qian wg CHN 2394 ½ 0 ½ ½ * ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 4½ 2441

6. Ding, Yixin wg CHN 2376 1 0 0 ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ 4 2400
7. Gu, Xiaobing wg CHN 2369 0 ½ 0 0 0 ½ * 1 1 1 4 2401

8. Zhang, Xiaowen wg CHN 2344 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 * ½ 1 3½ 2367

9. Tan, Zhongyi wg CHN 2428 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ * 0 3 2312

10. Zhao, Xue g CHN 2495 0 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 0 1 * 2½ 2264

Official website: http://blog.sina.com.cn/chessnews

Gata wins, Anna and Tatev draw

In the first game of the US Championship final, Gata scored with white to take a 1-0 lead. On the women's side, Anna was not able to convert a slight edge against Tatev. They ended up repeating moves.

In the battle for third, Sam Shankland and Robert Hess fought to a draw. Robert will have white tomorrow. Irina scored with black to take a 1-0 lead on the women's side.

Co-founder of Chess Evolution breaks 2700!

Arkadij Naiditsch wins convincingly the 15th International Neckar Open
Naiditsch breaks the 2700 barrier with the victory

GM Arkadij Naiditsch achieved a convincing victory at the 15th International Neckar Open. He scored the amazing 8,5/9, finishing a full point ahead of GM Arik Braun and GM David Baramidze. In the group of players with 7,0/9 we find the winner of Cappelle La Grande GM Grzegorz Gajewski, as well as the Hungarian talents Viktor Erdös and Peter Prohaszka, as well as many renowened players. The women's first prize went to Joanna Majdan-Gajewska, who clinched an important victory in the last round.

More than 400 participants played the A group and total of 753 participants in the festival. The victory of Naiditsch confirms his status as the number one player in Germany and guaranteed him the title and the 3000 eur winner's check from the prize fund.

Starting with the May rating list GM Arkadij Naiditsch will be with his highest ever ELO - 2701 points. This ELO includes the EICC and the Bundesliga games, Neckar finished just 5 days before the rating list and if included the ELO of Naiditsch will be 2716. In the same month of May he will be commenting theCandidates Matches 2011 live on Chessdom.com together with GM Bacrot and the Chess Evolution team.

More about the Candidates: Pairings / Live / Topalov - Kamsky preview / Kramnik - Radjabov preview /Levon Aronian preparing

International Neckar Open final standings (top 30)

1 Naiditsch,Arkadij 2684 8.5 
2 Braun,Arik 2542 7.5 
3 Baramidze,David 2554 7.5 
4 Huschenbeth,Nicla 2465 7 
5 Erdo"s,Viktor 2597 7 
6 Greenfeld,Alon 2571 7 
7 Gajewski,Grzegorz 2567 7 
8 Shytaj,Luca 2475 7 
9 Schneider,Ilja 2511 7 
10 Epishin,Vladimir 2567 7 
11 Prohaszka,Peter 2545 7 
12 Piorun,Kacper 2521 7 
13 Svetushkin,Dmitri 2543 7 
14 Heimann,Andreas 2491 7 
15 Bindrich,Falko 2523 6.5 
16 Burg,Twan 2432 6.5 
17 Spirin,Oleg 2474 6.5 
18 Yemelin,Vasily 2575 6.5 
19 Grimberg,Boris 2333 6.5 
20 Moor,Roger 2395 6.5 
21 Rombaldoni,Axel 2449 6.5 
22 Hirneise,Tobias 2431 6.5 
23 Raykhman,Alexande 2372 6.5 
24 Skembris,Spyridon 2461 6.5 
25 Kotainy,Jens 2370 6.5 
26 Lobzhanidze,Davit 2489 6.5 
27 Bogner,Sebastian 2541 6.5 
28 Petr,Martin 2499 6.5 
29 Fedorovsky,Michae 2411 6.5 
30 Blu"baum,Matthias 2246 6.5 
31 Rietze,Clemens 2226 6.5 
32 Van Ketel,Raoul 2285 6.5 
33 Banusz,Tamas 2563 6.5