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hosted by Chess Queen™ & 12th Women's World Chess Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
La Meridiana Chess from Dec 7 in Perugia, Italy
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Here is the latest chess tournament calendar update via Fide. The 2nd Torneo Internazionale La Meridiana is set to take place on 7-9th December at the La Meridiana Hotel in Perugia, Italy. The Open A will be for the players rated between 1700 and 2350 elo, while the Open B is reserved for the players rated under 1700.
Both groups will be played over 5 rounds of Swiss system with the time control 90′ to finish + 30″ bonus. The tournament is organized by the Accademia Internazionale di Scacchi. Chief Arbiter is IA Antonio Sanchirico. Access the official website for more details.
Italian Chess Championship 2012 Begins with Sabino Brunello as Top Seed
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
The Italian Chess Championship 2012 has begun at the NH Hotel Ambasciatori (corso Vittorio Emanuele 104) in Torino on October 30. It will run till November 10, according to news sent by Chess Blog friend Adolivio Capece. The players include four GMs: Sabino Brunello, Alberto David, Carlos Garcia-Palermo and Michele Godena. Sabino Brunello, 23-years old, is the number two in the national elo list (1.10.2012) and the top seed in the Championship.
Results of Day 1 Bellini - Dvirnyy 1/2-1/2
Caprio - Brunello 1-0 Godena - David 1/2-1/2 Genocchio - Altini 0-1 Garcia Palermo - Denis Rombaldoni 1-0 Axel Rombaldoni - De Filomeno 1-0
Happy Chess Halloween from Chess Queen™ Alexandra Kosteniuk
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
We have here special Happy Halloween greetings from Happy Chess Halloween from Chess Queen™ Alexandra Kosteniuk Alexandra Kosteniuk. Check out the full Halloween photoshoot of the Chess Queen™ by clicking on the "scary" photo! Also, scare your opponent with chess tricks, trips and chess puzzles from Chess King. From Alexandra Kosteniuk's www.chessblog.com Also see her personal blog at www.chessqueen.com Don't miss Chess Queen™ YouTube Channel
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
(Crossville, TN) The United States Chess Federation (USCF) has announced the 2013 All-America Team sponsored by Trophies Plus. Team members will receive their Team Jackets and plaques at the 2012 National K-12 Grade Championship to be held this November in Orlando, FL.
The All-America Team was created in 1987 to honor the very best players ages 18 and under. The team, one of the highest national honors attainable by a young chess player, is selected on the basis of age, rating, and activities during that year, similar to the selection process of “all conference” sports teams. This year’s candidates were selected based on their age as of January 1, 2012, and their peak post-tournament rating from July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012. Since this award is a “post-season” selection, the minimum rating limits in each age group are reviewed annually by the USCF staff and the USCF Scholastic Council.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Here's a neat chess video to brighten up your Monday. It's street chess and actually shot with an iPhone. Don't miss the audience, the surroundings and, of course, don't miss the acoustics. Have fun with chess and share it with us.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
American chess champion 2012, Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura has won the 16th Unive Chess Tournament that was held in Hoogeveen, Netherlands from October 19-27. The tournament consisted of the Crown Group, the Unive Open and two Amateur events. The Crown Group was a four-player double round-robin. Hikaru Nakamura won the event with 4,5/6 points. Sergei Tiviakov was second at 4,0. Dutch top player Anish Giri finished third with 2,5 points, while the Women's World Chess Champion Hou Yifan ended the tournament with 2 points.
Along side the main chess event, the Unive Open was held as a nine-round Swiss for the players rated 2000 or above. Local Grandmasters L’Ami Erwin and Nijboer Friso shared the first place with 7,0/9 points each. L’Ami defeated Nijboer in the last round and overtook him by the additional criteria to claim the winner’s trophy. GM Ernst Sipke, GM Timman Jan, GM Van Kampen Robin and IM Bosboom Manuel (all Netherlands) shared the third place with 6,5 points each. The prize fund in the Open was 7500 EUR with 3000 EUR reserved for the winner. You can access the official website of the chess tournament for details in Dutch.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012 Hi everyone,
The latest chess tournament news via Fide is that the 6th Open weekend Città di Recco was held October 26-28 in Recco, Genova, Italy. The A tournament (for players rated above 1800) and B tournament (for U1900) were played over 5 rounds of Swiss system. The A tournament had 22 participants. GM Igor Naumkin and FM Marco Codenotti shared the first place with 4/5 points each. The B tournament had 44 players. Fausto Scali (ITA 1882) was the sole winner with 4,5/5 points. You can find more details at the Official website
European Individual Women's Chess Championship 2013 in Belgrade
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012 Hi everyone,
The European Chess Union has awarded the organisation of the European Individual Women’s Chess Championship 2013 to Serbian Chess Federation. The Championship will be held in Belgrade, Serbia from July 22 to August 4, 2013 with a prize fund of 75 000 Eur (60 000 Eur for players, 15 000 Eur for the ECU). The Ministry of Youth and Sport, headed by the famous chess player WGM Alisa Maric, and City of Belgrade are providing financial and logistic support, according to the latest update by Chessdom.
Cool Chess Video from Moscow Youth, Children's Championship
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Time for a nice chess video from Moscow. It is the Moscow. Children and Youth Championship 2012 with a nice section from the opening ceremony and the first round. Have fun with chess.
New in Chess Cover Trivia Quiz - Where's Chess Queen™ Alexandra Kosteniuk?
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
This is the latest New in Chess cover. Can you name all the chess players there?
That was way too easy a chess trivia quiz. As you know the 12th Women's World Chess Champion and her team of Russia won the gold at the Istanbul Chess Olympiad this year. You can read all about it at this personal post by the Chess Queen™.
Rochelle Ballantyne: The African-American Chess Girl to Watch
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Steve Kastenbaum has done a nice interview for the CNN of the first African-American girl who is set to become a chess master. She is also the star of Brooklyn Castle. Here is the report along with the audio.
Rochelle Ballantyne plays chess the same way she walks through the streets of New York, determined to reach her goal without letting any obstacles slow her down.
The 17 year old from Brooklyn is just a few wins away from becoming the first female African-American to attain the ranking of chess master.
[:47] "I've never been the first anything so having that title next to my name is going to... it's going to feel amazing." Ballantyne grew up in a single parent home in the working class neighborhood of East Flatbush. She first learned to play chess from her grandmother, who didn't want that background to limit or prevent her from reaching her fullest potential. Ballantyne did not disappoint.
[2:47] "When I push myself, then nothing can stop me."
When it came time for middle school she wound up at I.S. 318, an inner-city public school that is home to the best chess team in the entire United States. Assistant Principal John Galvin oversees the chess program.
[4:53] "Rochelle was one of our best players that we've ever had in our school. She won several individual national championships."
Her time at the middle school is featured in Brooklyn Castle, a documentary about the chess team released earlier this week.
It's made her a rising star in the world of chess.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
We found this interesting 'chess story' about World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand for Indian magazine Outlook. This is what the Indian Grandmaster writes about being 17!
"Seventeen, as I remember it, was a year of change in more ways than one. My father had just retired and we moved into our own house in Chennai’s Besant Nagar. In those days, Besant Nagar was a lonely suburb. I vividly remember my evenings, spent by the sea at Elliot’s Beach, and solitary nights on my balcony where I would reflect quietly on my chess."It was also the year I joined Loyola College’s department of commerce. I was a student of evening college, so I had the luxury of sleeping well into the morning after a night full of chess, often accompanied by music on my player. I was a big fan of ’80s pop music—Pet Shop Boys, Cranberries—and I was constantly wired to my Walkman. It also helped that my professors were extremely proud and supportive of my chess and the career I was making out of it. I still remember how one lecturer, finding I was attending classes regularly, asked me, “Why are you here? Why don’t you go home and practice your chess?”
"Back then, I used to ride a TVS 50 around the city. Some days, I would take a bus to college. I remember this one time when I got into a bus and, as always, was tuned in to my music when I suddenly noticed that women who walked in and out of the bus were giving me dirty looks. Ten minutes had elapsed before I figured that I was on what is called a ‘Ladies Special’ bus. At the next stop, I was out of that bus and walked to college with an embarrassed smile on my face.
"In college, I didn’t have a big set of friends. Honestly, I don’t even remember the names or faces of the people I went to college with. But that is because, more than ever before, chess started occupying my mind-space. Seventeen was also when I was trying for my Grandmaster norm, even though it was only when I turned 18 that my game had a breakthrough of sorts—it was then that I won the World Junior Championship. (As told to Akhila Krishnamurty)
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012 Hi everyone,
This Saturday Oct. 27th, learn chess from the chess champs of I.S. 318! Brooklyn Castle star Justus will be teaching lessons at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center from 12-3pm on Saturday, Rochelle will be at the Sunshine Cinema from 2-4pm, Patrick will be teaching at Claridge Cinema, Montclair in NJ from 4:30-7pm and Alexis will be teaching at the The Pasadena Playhouse from 3:30 - 4:30pm in LA! Root for the five chess champs of Brooklyn Castle, in NY theaters now and CA theaters!
Check all our previous posts on Brooklyn Castle here.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012 Hi everyone,
The 5th International Masters Tournament “Douglas Martinez” is taking place from 25 to 30 October 2012 at the Centro Comercial Copacabana Guarenas Municipio Plaza, Venezuela. The latest chess tournament news from Chessdom is that the tournament will be played over 9 rounds of Swiss system with the Bilbao scoring (3 points for a win, 1 for a draw). Top prize is 15,000 Bs, which is a little more than 3,000 USD. You can find more information at the official website. Participants:1. GM Bruzon Batista Lazaro CUB 2717 2. GM Iturrizaga Eduardo VEN 2639 3. GM Rakhmanov Aleksandr RUS 2592 4. GM Papin Vasily RUS 2552 5. GM Alvarez Pedraza Aramis CUB 2526 6. GM Arencibia Rodriguez Walter CUB 2526 7. GM Dobrov Vladimir RUS 2481 8. GM Vera Gonzalez-Quevedo Reynald CUB 2481 9. IM Ortega Amarelle Mariano CUB 2474 10. GM Fargere Francois FRA 2456 11. GM Borges Matos Juan CUB 2453 12. IM Aguero Jimenez Luis Lazaro CUB 2436 13. IM Blanco Ronquillo Humberto L. CUB 2430 14. IM Prasca Sosa Rafael VEN 2422 15. FM Ravelo Gil Eddy CUB 2397 16. IM Kjartansson Gudmundur ISL 2385 17. FM Ynojosa Felix Jose VEN 2356 18. FM Soto Paez Oliver VEN 2350 19. IM Bassan Remo VEN 2260 20. FM Hernandez Alexander VEN 2259 21. NM Martinez Reyes Pedro Ramon VEN 2221 22. IM Gascon Jose Rafael VEN 2206 23. NM Palomo Franklin Annervys VEN 2195 24. IM Pinero Carlos VEN 2163 From Alexandra Kosteniuk's www.chessblog.com Also see her personal blog at www.chessqueen.com Don't miss Chess Queen™ YouTube Channel
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012 Hi everyone, Have you started your chess training with the super-strong and super-affordable Chess King software yet? Chess King comes with a special new feature of levels - never before used in games with chess puzzles! You get to move up once you complete a particular difficulty level - Perfect for chess training, perfect for chess fun and perfect for improving your chess strength. Meanwhile, here is a nice puzzle for you to solve. How can White win this position?
Click on diagram to find the correct answer with Chess King!
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
African Chess Lounge (ACL) recently held a successful qualifier which was publicised on their TV show. They are talking about taking fast-paced chess on to television. Reuben Salimu is the pioneer leading the South African initiative and is located in Western Cape province. The first qualifier was won by Henry Steel over Don Van derHeever on tiebreaks and he will face on an upcoming TV show at ACL.
A press release states African Chess Lounge, as its main objective and steering, would like to create awareness and spin-off interests in the game of chess. Viewers will be entertained through speed chess, a fast paced production with intense fighting in the qualification rounds. Time is always a factor in chess… so expect a lot of upsets an ‘edge of your seat” moments.
The overall objective of the TV is to elevate the game of chess to the greater South African youth by using this medium to teach young children how to play the game of chess. Chess as a sport has been historically linked to the great minds in mathematics, analytics, strategic thinking and much more. The inclusion of a mental sport to enhance the mathematical and numerical competencies of young minds with the technological advancements of media and communication is a natural progression for the sport.
"We will use the digital and communication platforms to increase awareness, reach and educate the population of South Africans who are looking toward international organisations for their guidance… we aim to bring them home and create a message of trust in abilities of fellow South Africans an in so doing, create South African heroes," states their website: www.africanchesslounge.com.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
The 16th Corsican Circuit, including the Corsica Masters, Orange Blitz and BNP Paribas Youth Trophy, will take place on 27-31st October in Bastia and Ajaccio. This year the Corsican Circuit is part of the FFE Grand Prix Final. The Festival will start on Saturday, 27th, at 11h with the 60-player simul by Grandmasters Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Artur Yusupov and Loek van Wely.
Later on Saturday, from 15th, the Corsica Masters rapid tournament will have the first seven rounds played. The time control is 15 minutes + 3 seconds and the total prize fund is 60,000 EUR.
On Sunday 10:30 the last two rounds of the Masters will take place. Already at 14:00 the 5,000 EUR worth Orange Blitz is starting. Top prizes are EUR 600, 500, 400, 350 etc.
On Monday, 29th, the BNP Paribas Youth Trophy is starting at 10h. The tournament is offering 15,000 EUR in goods, including Macbook Air, iPads, Laptops, home cinema etc. Also on Monday, the quarterfinals (14h) and semifinals (17h) between the eight top finishers in Masters qualification will be played.
Tuesday will be a rest day and on Wednesday, 31st, the Festival is moving to the Convention Center in Ajaccio for the conclusion of the BNP Paribas Youth Trophy and the Final match of the Corsica Masters.
Phiona Mutesi's Remarkable Story: From Uganda Slums to Chess Olympiad!
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Phiona Mutesi, the heroine of the book 'Queen of Katwe' with Chess Queen™ Alexandra Kosteniuk and Robert Katende. Photo: Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam
Phiona Mutesi - the teenager from the slums of Uganda and her progress as a chess champion is now chronicled in an interesting new book by the sport journalist who first wrote an article about the phenom!
Tim Crothers spotted Phiona Mutesi and knew there was an amazing story there. On one hand is Mutesi's daily struggle for food. On the other is her goal of becoming a “grandmaster” so she could improve her life.
Tim Crothers, a former Sports Illustrated senior writer who also occasionally writes for The News & Observer and Charlotte Observer, is the author of the recently released 'The Queen of Katwe'. The feature was a National Magazine Award finalist and has been optioned by Disney films. Crothers gave an interesting interview to Senior Sports Editor Gary Schwab of the Charlotte Observer.
Q. The Queen of Katwe developed out of an article you wrote for ESPN The Magazine. Where did the original idea come from? After a speaking engagement in March of 2010, a man in the audience approached me and said he had a good story idea for me. As a journalist, it’s my job to hear him out. I know that 999 times out of 1,000 that situation leads to a story about his Uncle Ned catching a big fish. But the other time it becomes a book.
Q. What intrigued you about the story of Phiona Mutesi? What writer doesn’t enjoy writing about the underdog? Phiona is the ultimate underdog. An illiterate Ugandan girl from the slums who dreams of becoming a chess “grandmaster.” You can’t make that up. You don’t have to have a natural passion for Africa or chess to be inspired by what this courageous young girl is accomplishing.
Ail Ain Autumn Chess Fest (Blitz+Rapid) from Nov 23
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
The latest chess tournament announcement via Fide is about the Al Ain Chess Club that will be holding its Autumn Chess Festival Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship 2012 on November 23 and 24 in UAE. The tournament will be submitted for FIDE rating.
Blitz Tournament Start at 03:00 P.M., Friday, 23 November 2012 System: 9 Rounds Swiss Time Control: 5 Minutes with 3 Seconds delay per move Rapid Tournament Start at: 02:00 P.M., Saturday 24 November 2012 System: 6 Rounds Swiss Time Control: 20 Minutes with 10 Seconds increment per move
Prizes: Blitz Tournament (Total Prizes 3000 AED): Winner 1000 AED + Cup 2nd 700 AED 3rd 500 AED 4th 250 AED Best Woman 200 AED Best UAE Man 100 AED Best UAE Woman 100 AED Best Alain Youth 100 AED
Rapid Tournament (Total Prizes 3000 AED): Winner 1000 AED + Cup 2nd 700 AED 3rd 500 AED 4th 250 AED Best Woman 200 AED Best UAE Man 100 AED Best UAE Woman 100 AED Best Alain Youth 100 AED
Prizes will not be shared among tied players but determined by tie break. Closing Ceremony of both tournaments will be at 10:00 P.M. of 24 November 2012.
Tie Break System: 1- Direct Encounter; 2 - Buchholz Cut 1; 3- Buchholz Cut 2; 3- Sum of Buchholz 4- Sonneborn-Berger 5- Progressive Score.
Registration: Players who wish to participate should send the following information by Fax to 03-7633362; E-mail to Chessalain@yahoo.com; or by SMS to 050-4374421 till 20:00 of Thursday 22 November 2012. From Alexandra Kosteniuk's www.chessblog.com Also see her personal blog at www.chessqueen.com Don't miss Chess Queen™ YouTube Channel
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012 Hi everyone,
GM Tamaz Gelashvili won clear first at the Boardwalk Open in Ashbury, New Jersey, held from October 19-21. Watch the Scoop for interviews with Tamaz, GM Mikheil Kekelidze, GM Sergey Erenburg and young stars Christopher Wu and Praveen Balakrishnan. The tournament report is at this Chess Blog post. Here is the US Chess Scoop video report.
Turkey-Pakistan in Chess Pact for Friendly Chess Exchange
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012 Hi everyone,
The Turkish Chess Federation (TCF) and Mind Sports Association of Pakistan (MSAP) have signed an agreement for promotion and development of chess in Pakistan. Both countries will be playing an annual chess series in Turkey and Pakistan. Besides, TCF will also help Pakistan in coaching and training during their visit to that country. The agreement was signed by TCF Chief Ali Nihat Yazici, who is also a Vice President of World Chess Federation (FIDE), and Director Tariq Rasheed Khan on behalf of Chairman Khurshid Hadi, who is in London. “Pakistan is a brotherly country and we would be looking forward to their progress in chess with our assistance”, Ali Nihat Yazici, said in a statement. As per the agreement, a 10-member team of men and women with an official will be visiting each other’s country with the host country providing board and lodging and transport during their stay in the country. “We are absolutely delighted with this agreement,” Tariq said while releasing the details of the agreement on Tuesday. Turkey has over 30 Grandmasters (GM), dozens of International Masters (IM), five foreign coaches and 60,000 chess teachers in schools. “It’s a major breakthrough for us as Turkey is a highly rated country in the world of chess. Exposure against their players will help us in greatly improving our game,” said Mahmood Lodhi, Pakistan’s record 13-time national champion and an IM. “Regularly playing against top Turkish players may help me realise my dream of reaching the GM level,” Lodhi said. IM Shahzad Mirza, who is also a former Secretary General, Chess Federation of Pakistan, said India, Iran, Turkey and Bangladesh had many GMs, but Pakistan had failed to produce one in the last 15 years. “This agreement for visits of chess teams on yearly basis will provide significant push to the game of chess in Pakistan,” he said. From Alexandra Kosteniuk's www.chessblog.com Also see her personal blog at www.chessqueen.com Don't miss Chess Queen™ YouTube Channel
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012 Hi everyone,
Bangladesh Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman has won the Nagpur Open Chess tournament with a last round draw with IM Ankit Rajpara. Both Rahman and GM Aleksej Aleksandrov (who registered a hard-fought win over top Indian GM Lalith Babu) tied for the top score, but Rahman won on the Buchholz tie-break.
Ziaur, who had an impressive second-place finish in the Chennai open chess tournament in 2010. Top seed Aleksandrov played a tough game to beat Babu in 76 moves. Martyn Kravtsiv, the second seeded GM from Ukraine, agreed to a quick draw with Bengal's Diptayan Ghosh in a Catalan opening game on the third table. The 15-move draw helped Martyn finish third with 8.5 points while 17-year-old Vidit Gujrathi excelled with a fourth place finish. FINAL STANDINGS: 1. Ziaur Rahman (9, 77.0), 2. Aleksej Aleksandrov (9, 75.5), 3. Martyn Kravtsiv (8.5, 75.0), 4. Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (8, 75.5), 5. Himanshu Sharma (8, 72.0), 6. Ankit Rajpara (8, 71.0), 7. Sahaj Grover (8, 70.5), 8. Diptayan Ghosh (8, 66.0), 9. Andrey Vovk (8, 65.5), 10. MR Lalith Babu (7.5, 73.5).
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012 Hi everyone,
We found this interesting chess interview with Trinidad & Tobago National Women's Chess Champion Aditi Soondarsingh. The interview was conducted by Naseer Khan. Aditi has some interesting things to say like "No mountain high enough. Live, Love, Learn!" Aditi also said, of all your accolades, prizes and awards the ones she rates extremely special are the five nominations of the First Citizens Sports Foundation sports personality of the year. "I have been nominated on five occasions for chess." An aspiring entrepreneur, Aditi is focusing on her chess career as well. Here is the full interview.
She is the seven-time and current women’s national chess champion, having won her first title at the age of 14. The charming and outgoing 24-year-old Aditi Soondarsingh from Barataria is a force to be reckoned with in the world of chess. She recently outmaneuvered Iraq’s Women International Master (WIM) Iman Al-Rufaye at the World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey, becoming the first T&T female chess player to defeat a WIM in an international tournament.
Julio Granda Zuniga wins American Continental Chess
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Peruvian Grandmaster Julio Granda Zuniga was the big winner of the 7th American Continental Championship, not only winning the competition that was held in the auditorium of the Hotel Casino – which brought together around 200 players – but also managing to qualify for the next edition of the World Cup to be held in Tromso (Norway) in August 2013, according to the latest chess tournament news via Chessdom.
Granda, who has lived for five years in Salamanca and has an international Elo of 2647 points – which places him among the 100 best players in the world – was awarded (thanks to his better tie-break) the 7th Continental Championship: he shared the leading position with Diego Flores (Argentina), Eric Hansen (Canada) and the Americans Gregory Kaidanov and Alexander Shabalov, all with 8.5 points after eleven rounds.
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12th Women's World Chess Champion
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