USA's Top Daily Chess News Blog, Informative, Fun, and Positive
hosted by Chess Queen™ & 12th Women's World Chess Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk
Monday, October 31, 2011
Kasparov chess simul tickets being auctioned online
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
Bidorbuy, a large online auction site, based in South Africa, is set to give people a unique bidding opportunity. Six winning bidders will have the opportunity to take on chess great Gary Kasparov in a simultaneous game of chess. Kasparov will play an exhibition match against 30 or so participants. Six of those will be reserved for bidders on the site.
According to bidorbuy the auctions will be a “one-a-day” affair. One ticket will be available every day over six days, with the auction running between 9AM until 9PM with bids opening at R1(US13c). “Garry Kasparov is a legend. We are very proud to host these auctions”, says bidorbuy CEO Jaco Jonker.
He expects that bidders will jump at the opportunity to play a game with one of the world’s most renowned chess players. The mass exhibition match event is part of the preparations leading up to the launch of the Kasparov Chess Foundation Africa in early 2012. The “simul” will reportedly include a number of high-profile politicians, celebrities and sports personalities. According to bidorbuy, the Kasparov Chess Foundation, already active in the USA and in Europe, plans to develop its African arm in cooperation with the one year old, and already very successful South African programme called Moves For Life. You can read more at this link.
Congratulations to Sasikiran for winning Corsica Chess Circuit Main Open
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand beat 2nd seed Shakhriyar Mamedyarov 2-0 in the final of the Corsica Masters knock-out which moves from Bastia to Ajaccio on Monday 31st October. Earlier rounds and the main open all took place in Bastica. Krishnan Sasikiran finished on 7.5/9 half a point clear of Gawain Jones in the open. Here are the top final standings and some videos. Enjoy. You can check the official website at this link.
Top 10-standings in the open Pl Ti Player Rtng Fed Pts Tr. Bu. Perf 1 g Sasikiran Krishnan 2689 IND 7.5 44.5 55.5 2792 2 g Jones Gawain C B 2624 ENG 7.0 45 56.5 2692 3 g Melkumyan Hrant 2619 ARM 6.5 46.5 57.5 2647 4 g Fressinet Laurent 2696 FRA 6.5 45.5 55.5 2664 5 g Durarbeyli Vasif 2526 AZE 6.5 45 54 2542 6 g Baron Tal 2505 ISR 6.5 44.5 54.5 2559 7 g Cheparinov Ivan 2650 BUL 6.5 44 54.5 2597 8 m Arnold Marc T 2505 USA 6.5 44 54 2629 9 m Battaglini Gabriel 2452 FRA 6.5 43 53 2455 10 g Grigoryan Avetik 2614 ARM 6.5 43 52.5 2588
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
A quick update on all the chess news from tournaments.
The 42nd Annual National Chess Congress will be held from November 25-27, 2011 at the Sheraton Hotel Philadelphia City Center, 17th & Race Streets, Philadelphia. The event has a $30,000 prize fund guaranteed. The event has 10 sections: Premier, Under 2200, Under 2000, Under 1800, Under 1600, Under 1400, Under 1200, Under 1000, Under 800 and Under 600. All sections are 6 round Swiss tournaments with the Master to Under 1200 Sections having 3-day and 2-day schedules to play in and the Under 1000 to Under 600 Sections having a 2-day schedule. Premier section is open to all rated 2000/above and juniors under 18 rated 1800/above. Prizes are $3000-1500-700-400-200, clear win or 1st on tiebreak $100, U2400/Unr $1400-700. Section is FIDE rated. Official website.
The 2nd Copa Latinoamericana de Ajedrez will be held from 1st to 6th November at the Torre de las Comunicaciones in Montevideo, Uruguay. The Championship is organized by the Uruguay Chess Federation and will be played over nine rounds of Accelerated Swiss system. The tournament will have massive participation, with 213 players from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Among them are 19 Grandmasters, 14 International Masters and 18 FIDE Masters. Top seeded is GM Lazaro Bruzon from Cuba, who recently played in good shape at the World Chess Cup. Eduardo Iturrizaga is back in action, after missing the Magistral Casino de Barcelona due to car accident. Top Argentina players are also competing, while Peru is represented by the Cori siblings. Deysi T Cori is the reigning World Junior Girls Champion. Official website.
The International Chess Tournament “Open Skopje 2011″ is being played in hotel “Continental” from 23rd October to 1st November. The tournament is part of the Balkan Grand Prix Tour and is organized by the FYROM Chess Federation and Alkaloid AD – Skopje. The prize fund is 8000 EUR, while the first place is 1500 EUR worth. All relevant information can be found in the Tournament Regulations. Top seeded GM Robert Markus, winner of the Karposh Open in Skopje this spring, defeated the earlier leader GM Vlatko Bogdanovski with black pieces. Meanwhile, Macedonia’s first board Vladimir Georgiev beat IM Lucian-Costin Miron. Markus and Georgiev lead the standings after six rounds with 5 points each.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
We just found this lovely chess photo by Ray Anderson. Surely, the chess photo of the week. Don't forget to leave your comments and send us your own favourite chess photos and videos.
Create a Promotional Chess.com Video and Win $1,000!!
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
The other day we'd carried an advertising video with a tagline for www.chess.com. We've just figured, www.chess.com is actually offering a $1,000 USD prize for the best promotional video!
Here’s how it works:
1. You create an amazing/unforgettable/hilarious promotional video for Chess.com.
2. Upload it to YouTube and then post in this forum!
On January 1, 2012 www.chess.com will give $1,000 to the person whose video has the highest number of “Likes” on YouTube.
That’s it. No holds barred. Create any video you want. Create as many videos as you want. Make it informational and explain the site. Or dance around in a hotdog suit. Or make a mini movie. Or sing a song. Doesn’t matter. Get your friends to watch it. Get it posted on Reddit or Digg. All you need to do is generate positive views of your video! You can download the logo here. Ok! You have till New Years – GO! Have fun and make it awesome!
You can follow the videos in the forum thread here also. Hundreds of videos already up.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
How about beginning the week with a real funny chess video. You will love it. A huge chessy thank you to Eider Cruz from Brazil for sending us this top funny chess video.
Play the Halloween chess gambit to scare your opponents!
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
Have a real fun Halloween and for all the chess lovers out there: Here's our advice! Try the Halloween Gambit.
The Halloween Gambit, also known as the Müller-Schulze Gambit or Leipzig Gambit, is an aggressive gambit in chess, in which White sacrifices a knight for just one pawn. It is a branch of the normally staid Four Knights Game. The theoretician Oskar Cordel reported in 1888 that Leipzigclub players used it to dangerous effect but he did not believe it was sound. Their name for it, Gambit Müller und Schulze, was not after any players by those names; rather, it is a jocular German equivalent of "Smith and Jones" or "Tom, Dick and Harry". The opening is characterised by the moves
1. e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nc6
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. Nxe5
The goal of the gambit is to seize the center with pawns and drive back Black's knights. After 4...Nxe5, White usually plays 5.d4, in preference to 5.f4, which does not facilitate his development.
Check out wikipedia for a starter pack on the gambit. Enjoy.
Also click on the photo below to check out all the Halloween photos of Chess Queen Alexandra Kosteniuk.
Part sexy, part funky, all fun chess video commercial
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
This should fetch you some chess cheer this Sunday. We really don't know how to define the video and possibly a couple of viewings would be required to 'understand' it all. Wink. Enjoy.
Tournament chess news capsule: Four events to follow
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
We thought we'd change our format a bit and give you a tournament chess news capsule every Sunday to keep track of ongoing chess events for the week. A small summary to tell you what's the leaderboard like in tournaments about to finish. Of course other regular news updated would follow as usual.
World Disabled Chess Games in Dresden
On the 25th of October the first World Chess Games for Disabled (WCGD) began with their official opening ceremony in Dresden, Germany. With 35 players from 6 nations, some traveled from India and Spain, the WCGD gains international interest and experts call this world championship of all disabilities a forerunner that will influence the history of chess immensely. Participating in this tournament is a well known chess player: GM Thomas Luther. He is already seen as one of the top players of this tournament and holds a very special position: Luther was appointed as the official 'FIDE Adviser Chess for Disabled' at the last FIDE Congress. The participants have so far played 5 rounds for the title "World Champion of Chess Games for Disabled". You can access Fide for more details.
The 11th Open Lucerne is taking place from 29th October to 1st November at the Hotel Anker in Lucerne (Switzerland). The 7-round Open is organized by the Chess Club Tribschen Lucerne. There are 57 players in Group A, rated for FIDE and SSB (Swiss federation), and 66 in Group B (U1900 ELO, rated only for SSB). Top rated players include Bindrich Falko GM 2548 Zittau GER, Hirneise Tobias IM 2446 Rommelshausen GER, Okhotnik Vladimir IM 2445 Uzgorod FRA, Krivonosov Oleg IM 2439 Daugavspils LAT, Belezky Alexander IM 2430 München UKR. You can access the official website at this link.
The 32nd Edoardo Crespi Trophy is set to take place from 3rd to 11th December in the hall of Chess Club in Milan, via Sant’Uguzzone 8. Participation is open to all Italian and foreign players. All Italian and foreign players who are resident in Italy must show a valid FSI membership card for the current year or subscribe on site at the tournament venue, provided they apply for membership to the “Società Scacchistica Milanese” for the current year. The official website is here.
The 15th International Bavarian Open Chess Championship is organized by the Municipality of Bad Wiessee and Tourism Tegernsee GmbH and takes place from 29th October to 6th November in Bad Wiessee am Tegernsee, Germany. The tournament will be played over nine rounds of Swiss system. The total prize fund is 16500 EUR. A number of young chess stars are taking participation, including the reigning World Junior Champion Dariusz Swiercz, Baku Open winner Sergei Zhigalko, Indian stars Parimarjan Negi and Adhiban Baskaran, Ukrainian wonder Illya Nyzhnyk and American on the European tour Aleksandr Lenderman. Check the official website here.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
One of the most-awaited team chess events is round the corner. The European Team Chess Championship will take place 2nd to 11th of November in Porto Carras, Greece. 38 countries participate in the open section, with 135 GMs and 175 titled players. The countries participating in the women section are 28, with 11 GMs, 40 WGMs, 27 IMs and a total of 123 players. You can access the official website for all the updates and right here at www.chessblog.com through the tournament.
The European Team Championship will be held on the Swiss system in 9 rounds, with one open section and one section for the women’s teams, considered as separate competitions. According to ECU and FIDE rules, the time control will be 90 min for 40 moves + 30 min for the rest of the game + 30 sec increment for every move played starting from the first move.
The games of the European Team Chess Championships 2011 will take place in the Olympic Hall Congress Center (1500 sq. m.), within the 5-star Porto Carras Grand Resort. The luxury Porto Carras Grand Resort is situated in an enchantingly verdant landscape in Halkidiki, Greece. Videos from the venue here
Past winners of the event
1957: USSR 1961: USSR 1965: USSR 1970: USSR 1973: USSR 1977: USSR 1980: USSR 1983: USSR 1989: USSR 1992: Russia 1997: England 1999: Armenia 2001: Netherlands 2003: Russia 2005: Netherlands 2007: Russia 2009: Azerbaijan
As seen above, up to 1992 the ETCC was always won by the ex-USSR but from 1997 the title has been won by other European countries as well: Russia, England, Armenia, Netherlands and Azerbaijan had all a “gold” title!
In the women’s event (it started in 1992) only Russia has won the title twice, and both of them in the last 2 events! All the past winners:
1992: Ukraine 1997: Georgia 1999: Slovakia 2001: France 2003: Armenia 2005: Poland 2007: Russia 2009: Russia
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
A new book is creating quite a discussion in Germany, according to a nice article from www.chessbase.com. It is about two politicians, one a former chancellor of the country (1974 to 1982), the other quite plausibly a future chancellor (2013–), one 93 years old and razor sharp in his mind, the other, 64, a preeminent critic of global predatory capitalism. Both are chess players and the book uses a game motif on its cover.
"They are among the most important politicians of their generation, and they have a long-standing friendship. They stand for reliability, landmark decisions and clear, often uncomfortable positions. They meet – this time not to play chess, but to talk about the big policy issues that concern people currently. Go on read the full article! You can read the press release in German here.
Above is a historical picture of GM Lothar Schmid (arbiter in Fischer-Spassky 1972) playing a simul against members of the German parliament – right Chancellor Helmut Schmidt. The picture was taken on April 23, 1969.
Bulgarian school becomes first in Europe to make chess part of curriculum
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
A high school in Bulgaria has become the first in Europe to introduce chess as a compulsory subject for all its students. Those behind the project want the idea to be extended across the continent.
In a classroom on the top floor of the Eurostandard High School in central Sofia, a group of pupils are laying out chess sets ready for their next lesson.At the beginning of the school year, these pupils became the first in Europe to take chess classes as an obligatory subject. It's a pilot project initiated in partnership with the European Chess Union. The program is designed to promote chess among young people throughout Europe.
"We care about our children of the new generation in Europe, so of course we want to give them the best, that's why we need to promote chess," Boyko Hristov from the European Chess Union told Deutsche Welle. "That's why our partnership became a reality."
The children at Eurostandard are the lucky ones. It's a private high school, which specialises in preparing elite students for careers in banking, finance and insurance. There are just 50 pupils, aged 14 to 18. Hristov hopes this school will be the first of many. He said the Bulgarian Ministry of Education has expressed an interest in introducing chess classes in the public school system, but there's one major stumbling block. Read the full story at this link.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
Time for a Magnus Carlsen video. Here is the current World No. 1 playing 20 opponents at Sjakkhuset in Oslo back in August 2009. Among the opponents were celebrities (Bård Vegar Solhjell, Norwegian minister of education, rapper Magdi etc) and some strong chess players (WIM Sheila Sahl, FM Joran Aulin Jansson etc). Carlsen won all 20 games.
Friday chess trivia question: Who is this amazing grandmaster?
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
Your Friday trivia chess question is here: Who is this grandmaster?
We have a nice hint for you too: Hans Suri, creator of the Festival International de Bienne in 1968 as an organizer until 1997, invited an impressive number of World Chess Champions and International Grandmasters. Among them were a few extraordinary ones. This photograph was taken against during the Interzonal Tournament in Biel in 1976. This young American became University Professor, Economic Advisor to the White House and chief economist at the FMI. He currently teaches at the prestigious Harvard University.
Can you guess who he is? You can check your answer at CaissaEnigma!
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
Your simple chess class is coming up with a cup of coffee! All you have to do is White to play and checkmate in three! No more, no less. Such is life. Enjoy.
Carlsen simply will be World Chess Champion one day: Seirawan
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
Yes, we know you can spot GM Seirawan, but who's the lady?
Here are excerpts from a www.chessdom.com interview with Yasser Seirawan - the chess grandmaster who wears many hats. He's even gone an invented S-Chess with a friend! It's a HUGE interview - must for Seirawan and chess fans.
There are emerging younger and younger chess geniuses every day. What do you think about this?
Marvelous! The more the merrier! And I totally agree, new talents are emerging from all over the world and they are better and stronger and younger than ever before. Welcome!
Which of these young players have the potential, in your opinion, to become a World Champion, if any?
Well, my goodness, all of them have the potential. Smile. Seriously, to mention just a few names without slighting in any way those not mentioned, Magnus Carlsen, simply will be WC one day; Sergey Karaiakin of Russia; Teimour Radjabov Azberjian; Hikaru Nakamura USA; Le Quang, Vietnam; Anish Giri Holland; all of these names and many others stand out in my mind as likely WC’s.
What would be your advice to young people who are just starting to play chess and take it seriously?Have fun. Enjoy what you are doing. Take your work seriously. If you get too stressed, take a break. If you apply yourself, you will get mentally tougher, much more disciplined, feel a greater sense of personal empowerment and learn to succeed in anything you want to do. Believe in yourself.
The Bonus Questions from a fan:GM Marc Narciso: “Mr. Seirawan, are the supposed hypnotic forces of Mihail Tal over his opponents a mere legend or did you also feel them?”
They are both! More legend and yes I did feel them as well. When I played against Karpov and Kasparov both, you could feel their ‘energy and determination’ to defeat you. At times they would look in my direction, not necessarily to ‘disturb’ but at such moments, you understood they wanted to win!
“What is your opinion about Viktor Korchnoi and chess longevity in general; how is it possible to play so well at 80? What would be your explanation of the phenomenon?”
Sadly, I have no answers. Victor is just fantastic. As by the way was Smyslov. They just knew where the pieces had to go and put them there! Perhaps Victor doesn’t have the same energy at the board as he did decades ago but anyone who plays against him today knows that he is burning with desire to win the game!
Nice chess video of Kasparov's simul in Bratislava
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
On Friday, October 14, Bratislava’s Crowne Plaza hotel hosted a nice chess simul with none other than the great Gary Kasparov. Needless to add, Kasparov took less than two hours to crush all the 14 opponents But it was fun all around with autograph signing, chess and talks. Here is a nice video of the event. Enjoy.
Congrats to GM Kasimdzhanov for winning Central Asia Chess Cup
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
Congratulations to GM Rustam Kasimdzhanov for winning the first Central Asia Chess Cup of the FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov that was held from October 17-27 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Players from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan were invited to take part in the tournament. The chess tournament is organised for popularising chess in the Central Asia.
The tournament was played in 9 rounds, Swiss System with 53 players going for a total prize fund of $25,000.
Former World Champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov and GM Anton Filippov entered the final round with equal points but then Filippov was stunned by the untitled Begali Saidov, while Kasimdzhanov outplayed GM Marat Dzhumaev. Kasimdzhanov finished with 7.5 points. GM Pavel Kotsur and Begali Saidov shared the second place with Anton Filippov at fourth place.
Final standings:
1. GM Kasimdzhanov Rustam UZB 2678 – 7.5 2-3. GM Kotsur Pavel KAZ 2558 and Saidov Begali UZB 2350 – 7.0 4. GM Filippov Anton UZB 2606 – 6.5 5-9. IM Kvon Andrey UZB 2486, GM Ismagambetov Anuar KAZ 2500, FM Abdyjapar Asyl KGZ 2308, Karimov Ibragim UZB 2313 and WIM Muminova Nafisa UZB 2319 – 6.0 10-17. GM Dzhumaev Marat UZB 2492, FM Djuraev Sokhib TJK 2381, FM Gubaydulin Talgat UZB 2299, FM Holmirzaev Bahodir UZB 2360, Nugumanov Bakhtiyar KAZ 2216, Alikulov Elbek UZB 2299, Khoroshev Nikita UZB 2263 and Tokhirjanova Hulkar UZB 2144 – 5.5 etc
You can access the official website at this link for more info.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
Daniel Jere has recently won the men’s category of the Chess Federation of Zambia closed championship. This is the 3rd major achievement this year for Jere, who also won himself a silver medal at the September All Africa Games in Mozambique and a Gold Medal at the Botswana Open. The championship in the male category had previously been held by the Gillian Bwalya, who failed to defend his title. In the female category, 18-year-old Epah Tembo emerged winner. Here is a video interview with the winners.
We particularly carried this video to celebrate the 'chess awakening' that is sweeping (well, almost) Africa at this time. We hope for Africa to join mainstream chess with grandmasters aplenty soon.
You might also like to read our previous post related to a talented young Black chess master.
Former world chess champion Kramnik focused on ratings to get into Candidates cycle!
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
After his win at the Unive Crown Chess Group in Hoogoveen, former world chess champion Vladimir Kramnik gave an interview to the Russian Chess Federation website. He said he was focused on his ratings as the current ratings would determine the places in the next Candidates Tournament. Kramnik was talking to Vladimir Barsky, the new editor of the RCF website.
The guys: Anish, Vladimir and Maxime (Judit was the other participant in the Unive Group)
Q. Vladimir, congratulations on your win! How do you manage to perform “to schedule”: winning with White, drawing with Black?
A. Well, it doesn’t always work out that way. This tournament was actually very similar to the Bilbao I won. There I also started off with two white games and won both of them. The only difference here was that I managed to win once more, but the tournament was weaker than Bilbao. They ended up being some kind of “clones”; it seems I should now play exclusively 6-round tournaments, as they turn out the best!
In general I think that in a short double round-robin tournament it’s less than ideal to start with two white games, as you’re not yet warmed up and you might play too sluggishly and calmly, and then you’re left with only black. I’ve discussed it with other chess players; generally no-one wants to start with two whites. It’s often even better to have two blacks, and only then to play white. But on both occasions I’ve managed to win the two games at the start. Over such a short distance that goes a long way towards winning the tournament, as your mood is immediately improved and you’ve got more desire to play as everything’s gone so successfully.
Q. Were you in the mood to fight? Against Vachier-Lagrave, for example, you rejected a repetition of moves in an unclear position…
A. Well yes, but what of it? At the end of the day, it’s not a matter of life and death! (lit. “we’re not playing for a cow”!) For me the tournament had more of a training character – I wanted to get warmed up a little. I’d already agreed to play in it a long time ago, and to an extent it was training before two major events – in Moscow and London, so that I didn’t have too long a break in play. Therefore I travelled to Holland, above all, in order to play fully-fledged games. Anything can happen. Sometimes you get short draws, but overall the goal was to play, so I tried to take advantage of any opportunity to get a game.
Q. How would you characterise your opponents?
The young guys are very talented. In my view Vachier-Lagrave keeps underscoring a little. I think he plays better than his rating suggests – he’s really at something like 2750. He’s had a bad run, he’s played a little sluggishly and he’s always “swarming around” the 2710-2720 zone, but it’s clear that he’s a strong player: he calculates well and his understanding is pretty good. In my view he’s already a chess player of the “sub-elite” level. For some reason he hasn’t yet managed to fulfil his potential, but he’s a very strong and dangerous opponent.
Giri’s also very talented, but for now he’s weaker than Maxime, despite his higher rating. Anish is making progress, and I like the way he does an awful lot of work, learning new openings. In the second game he amazed me: we were playing some totally “offbeat” variation: 1.c4 e5 2.g3, and quite quickly I was already creating at the board, but it turned out that he’d analysed the position very deeply. Such hard work is a guarantee of future success, because he’s undoubtedly talented. Capable young players often start to shirk work, and that immediately lowers their results. In my view Giri also has a good coach – Volodya Chuchelov. So Anish, I think, will slowly but surely improve.
And Judit Polgar, of course, is of a high class, though in comparison to the young it seems as though she doesn’t quite have the same motivation. That’s why her results are unstable. She plays some tournaments very well – for example, the World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk, but here things somehow didn’t go for her. You can’t say she played very badly, but things didn’t come together. She missed a win in the game against Vachier-Lagrave and that, of course, affected her mood. The tournament’s short – one failure and you immediately slip down the table. So Hoogoveen didn’t work out for her, although she can play very decently, as she’s proved more than once of late. Q. After the tournament you reached the 2800-mark. Did you set yourself such a goal before it began?
A. No, of course not. It’s true I’m a little more concerned about ratings just now than before, because it’s necessary to get into the Candidates Tournament, but otherwise I don’t pay much attention to them. Now, to an extent, I’m trying to monitor the situation, but overall… I’ve got two major tournaments ahead of me – in Moscow and London, so you can’t say I’m taking great care of my rating. 2800 is simply a number. If I had 0.2 points less my rating would have turned out to be 2799 and I wouldn’t be in the 2800 club. Of course I didn’t seriously think about that but just played as I played.
Collectible chess set with Dr Who theme and lenticular printing!
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
What makes this Dr Who chess set cool is the lenticular printing on the pieces. Each piece has two pictures of the character inside and they morph as you move them. Each set includes 32 lenticular animated chess pieces and the game board with the Pandorica symbol on it. Lenticular printing is a technology in which a lenticular lens is used to produce images with an illusion of depth, or the ability to change or move as the image is viewed from different angles.
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior appears as a blue police box. Along with a succession of companions, he faces a variety of foes while working to save civilisations, help people, and right wrongs.
The ultimate chess set for fans of Doctor Who. Good guys team includes: 11th Doctor, Amy Pond, Rory Williams, River Song, the TARDIS, and the Judoon Bad guys team includes: Weeping Angel, Supreme Dalek, Cybermen, Silurian General Restac, Smiler, and the Pandorica Board looks like it's engraved with the pattern from the Pandorica Officially licensed Doctor Who chess collectible.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
Chess is going where it has not gone before. Here is tournament chess news via www.chessdom.com that the National Chess Federation Panama is organising the 1st Panama Chess Open from November 3-7 at the Salon Portobello, Centro de Convenciones Atlapa in Panama City.
This event fills a gap in international tournaments in the Republic of Panama since the decade of the 70s! And the hosts are determined to establish it as a fixed annual tournament. Currently 93 players are signed to participate in the 9-round Swiss Open.
1 GM Tiviakov Sergey NED 2623 2 GM Ramirez Alejandro USA 2594 3 GM Corrales Fidel CUB 2585 4 GM Almeida Omar CUB 2576 5 GM Ortiz Isan CUB 2556 6 IM Gomez Camilo CUB 2533 7 GM Alvarez Aramis CUB 2515 8 IM Barrientos Sergio COL 2503 9 GM Arencibia Walter CUB 2499 10 GM Abreu Aryam CUB 2479 11 GM Perez Luis Manuel CUB 2478 12 GM Zapata Alonso COL 2478 13 IM Shoker Samy EGY 2475 14 IM Pozo Sandro CUB 2461 15 IM Escobar Alder COL 2459 16 FM Espinoza Ermes CUB 2456 17 IM Gongora Maikel CUB 2452 18 IM Perez Rodney CUB 2440 19 IM Prasca Rafael Felipe VEN 2424 20 IM Vitoux Colomban FRA 2418 21 IM Hevia Carlos CUB 2413 22 IM Gallegos Carlos Alberto VEN 2404 23 IM Lammers Markus GER 2397 24 FM Sanchez Roberto CUB 2394 25 IM Leyva Hector ESA 2393 26 FM Ruiz Orlen CUB 2388 27 IM Baules Jorge PAN 2380 28 IM Arias Lemnys ESA 2362 29 FM Mancilla Cesar COL 2359 30 WIM Ordaz Lisandra CUB 2358 31 WGM Linares Napoles Oleiny CUB 2349 32 IM Ostos Julio VEN 2342 33 IM Uribe Mauricio COL 2333 34 WGM Piña Vega Sulennis CUB 2325 35 WGM Arribas Maritza CUB 2296 36 Martinez Martin Mauricio COL 2296 37 WGM Sanchez Sarai VEN 2278 38 CM Rosch Herman PAN 2217 39 FM Cu Hor Wiston GUA 2215 40 Uribe Arteaga Daniel COL 2214 41 WIM Corrales Zenia CUB 2212 42 Duran Sergio CRC 2211 43 WGM Vigoa Yanira CUB 2206 44 FM Guevara,Cano Martin NCA 2201 45 FM Sanchez Jorge PAN 2196 46 Garcia Douglas GUA 2177 47 FM Arosemena Jorge PAN 2173 48 Lochte Thomas GER 2172 49 Ortiz Marcos NIC 2171 50 Barria Blass PAN 2167 51 Dalo Hermes VEN 2159 52 WIM Fleites Yuleikys CUB 2156 53 CM Cadena Avella Juan Manuel COL 2152 54 FM Esquivel Luis PAN 2151 55 WIM Zepeda Lorena ESA 2125 56 Fernandez Angel CUB 2116 57 FM Barros Junior Raul COL 2111 58 CM Valdes Rances PAN 2105 59 Uran Oliver VEN 2105 60 WIM Zepeda Sonia ESA 2096 61 Sahin Walid GER 2093 62 Jimenez Moron Elias PAN 2085 63 WIM Fandiño Roquelina CUB 2081 64 Cantilo-Paz Agustin PAN 2071 65 Hernandez Bermudez Ulises VEN 2066 66 Diaz Hector PAN 2058 67 Barrios Zamora Carlos CRC 2049 68 CM Mathews Bryan PAN 2034 69 Hernandez Zaida VEN 2021 70 WIM Muñoz Carolina CRC 2016 71 Barros Raul COL 1992 72 Molina Jesus VEN 1990 73 WIM Mencos Claudia GUA 1972 74 WFM Madrigal Ana Daniela NIC 1913 75 Oquendo Eder COL 1850 76 Toro Henao Juan Sebastian COL 1819 77 Gonzalez Yaribeth PAN 1811 78 Mejia Donaldo NCA 1773 79 WCM Mendieta Kathia NIC 1713 80 Mencos Maria E. GUA 1709 81 CM Vargas Rogelio PAN 0 82 Bonilla Felix PAN 0 83 Cantilo-Paz Anibal PAN 0 84 Carrasco Brandon PAN 0 85 Carrera Du Bois Alhan PAN 0 86 Fuentes Adrian PAN 0 87 Guevara Jaime PAN 0 88 Leon Orlando PAN 0 89 Lombardo Elias PAN 0 90 McNally Bernardo PAN 0 91 Neira Carlos PAN 0 92 Padilla Alvaro PAN 0 93 Sun Robert PAN 0
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Best chess wishes to you! Alexandra Kosteniuk
12th Women's World Chess Champion
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