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hosted by Chess Queen™ & 12th Women's World Chess Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk
Monday, February 28, 2011
Your short-notice transatlantic flight (for love) or a checkmate!
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
There are two reasons why you would be ready to take a transatlantic flight in the next two minutes - If there's a love waiting on the other side or if there's a checkmate!!! So, we give you the second reason to take the flight in our chess class today - hosted by Chess Queen Alexandra Kosteniuk from the World's No. 1 www.chesskillertips.com. Enjoy.
CKT 033: Transatlantic Flight
LEVEL: Easy
CATEGORY: Problem
White plays and mates in two moves. Chess Problem published in Musical World, 1860.
Fide Rating March 2011 list: Chess Queen Alexandra Kosteniuk most-active top woman chess player
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
This is cool news. Not only has Chess Queen Grandmaster Alexandra Kosteniuk got back into the 2500-plus club but she remains the most-active woman chess player in the top-60 bracket. The only woman to have played 22 tournament games in the quarter - requiring courage and commitment.
She has begun a turbo-charged 2011 by notching up the best performance in the World Blitz Chess Qualifier held in Moscow and of course, before that, winning the Moscow Open Women's Closed Event this year.
Meanwhile, in the men's Fide rating list, nothing much happening except World Champion Viswanathan Anand back to the No. 1 slot with Maxime Vachier-Lagrave being the most active among the top players. Here is the list.
Pretty lady getting massage next to your chess board: Is that distracting?
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011 Hi everyone, Before we give you this news update, here's a serious question: Would a pretty lady getting a massage next to your chess board distract you? Think about it. Till we tell you the news first.
Jolanta Zawadzka (2371) has won the Polish Chess Championship for women. The men’s segment was won by Mateusz Bartel (2617). Both the winners came clear first, scoring 7/9. GM Bartel won the tournament for the second time in a succession and showed a respectable 2789 performance.
The Championship was held in Warsaw from February 12-20, 2011. Though the women’s section was a round robin with nine rounds, the men played Swiss format with 22 participants. (Right: Jolanta Zawadzka)
GM Mateusz Bartel won the men’s section convincingly (7.0/9), finishing a full point ahead of the field and suffering not a single loss. The next players, GMs Pawel Jaracz (2543) and Radoslaw Wojtaszek (2726) scored 6/9, whereas the second prize went to Jaracz based on Buchholz tie-break points. In the women’s section, the victor WGM Jolanta Zawadzka (2371) scored 7.0/9 with not a single loss. She left behind GM Monika Socko (2489), who scored 6.5/9 and WGM Karina Szczepkowska-Horowska (2254), who scored 5.5/9.
Prize winners Pawel Jaracz (left), Mateusz Bartel (left of centre) and Radoslaw Wojtaszek (right) with Dorota Rzepecka, the Tournament Director.
You can find more details at the official website here. And, now back to the question: Would a pretty lady getting a massage next to your chessboard distract you? We think GM Robert Kempinski would answer that best. Wink.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
Here is a really nice chess pawns skating dance video sent to us by Greta Muller, Munich. There are two segments in the video - Demonia and Chess. The Chess segment begins somewhere about minute 4.08 but then the entire video is worth a watch.
Enjoy the video.
It will keep you in high spirits throughout the coming week. And, don't forget we love chess and we love you every time you write to us with your comments, views, videos and updates. Keep them coming in.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
What are you doing this Sunday? Having fun? Catching up with some sleep? Planning for the week ahead? Whatever you're doing, you surely got time for this cool chess class? Right! So, here goes. Enjoy.
CKT 032: She can't hide
LEVEL: Difficult
CATEGORY: Study
1903 Study by Henri Rinck. White plays and wins. Beautiful and more complex examples of the Enfilade technique introduced in CKT 002.
Women's Chess Grand Prix in Doha R5: Danielian increases lead to full two points
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
Antoaneta Stefanova: That's how chess can make you happy...
Elina Danielian's powerful performance with five straight victories is the talk of the tournament at the sixth women's chess grand prix currently on in Doha, Qatar. The rest of the competition is a good two points far away with Marie Sebag, Pia Cramling and Martha Fierro at 3 points each. Is she running away with this? Your guess is as good as ours!
... and Maia Chiburdanidze
couldn't agree more!
There have been some super games at the tournament and we hope you've been keeping track with all our posts here at www.chessblog.com.
You can find the standings after five rounds below and can also access the official website here if you are looking for more background information and press updates from the tournament.
Don't be shy about contacting me
to share women's chess news
or to propose collaboration
Best chess wishes to you! Alexandra Kosteniuk
12th Women's World Chess Champion
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