26th NATO Chess Championship 2015 in Amsterdam July 6
Hello chess blog friends, the NATO chess championship is an annual event and the 2015 edition will be held in Amsterdam.
26th NATO Chess Championship 2015
Location: Royal Netherlands Navy Barracks Amsterdam
Time-Period: July 06 - July 10, 2015
Modus: 7 rounds Swiss system, (team/single score)
Teamscore: Best 4 players of 6 players team
Organisation Committee: LCol Johan Engelen
Ard Dekker
Patronage: Office International Military Sport Netherlands
Master Sergeant (MSgt) Robert Keough-2061-Fort Meade, MD
Petty Officer Enrico Balmaceda-2050-Navy Consolidated Brig Miramar, Miramar, CA
Lieutenant Colonel Jon Middaugh-1791-Army National Guard
Staff Sergeant (retired) John Farrell-2048-HQs, Marine Corps, Pentagon, Washington, DC
Lieutenant Colonel Charles Musselman-1965-AFROTC Det 410, University of St. Thomas, MN
This photo is from the 2014 edition of the Nato Chess Championship with a nice report by US Chess Federation.
Labels: nato chess
Wow Chess Girls in Red 'n White - Name them!
Hello chess blog friends, your chess trivia today - wow chess girls in red 'n white - can you name them? Can you also say what is their highest achievement in chess? This photo is from the #1 chess portraits database at www.chesspics.com.
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Australia Chess Masters - GMs Kazhgaleyev, Khusnutdinov, Papin tie for First Place
Hello chess blog friends, chess in Australia - a short chess news update via FIDE states Grandmasters from Kazahstan Murtas Kazhgaleyev, Rustam Khusnutdinov and Vasily Papin from Russia were the winners of the Category 8 of the Australasian Masters tournament just completed in Melbourne.The final crosstable can be seen here. In the Australasian Masters IM Norm tournament Kanan Izzat from Azerbaijan was the convincing winner. Full results.
Box Hill Chess Club hosted the chess events in Melbourne. The Box Hill and the Canterbury Junior Chess Clubs together form one of the largest chess playing groups in suburban Melbourne. The combined membership of well over one hundred includes some of the best known players in Victoria, such as Victorian champion Bobby Cheng, former triple Australian Champion Douglas Hamilton, present Chess Victoria president IM Leonid Sandler, and Karl Zelesco the nation’s biggest rating improver.
The clubs meet at Emulation Hall, 3 Rochester Road, Canterbury every Friday night and most Sundays. Rated tournaments are run throughout the year. New members and visitors are welcome.
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Labels: australia chess, murtas kazhgaleyev, rustam khusnutdinov, vasily pain
Friends help Talented Chess Kid before he Loses Vision - You can Help
Hello chess blog friends, talented chess kid gets help from the community as doctors say he would lose his vision - Seventh-grader Jonathen Speelman looks like any normal 12-year-old and is a wizard at chess. He even has the trophies to prove it.
Three years ago doctors found an incurable eye disorder, retinitis pigmentosa, that will eventually lead to blindness that could happen at any time.
Jon's mother says it is painful for her to think about her son going blind. Jon has already learned to read braille and teaches it to other children at a nearby elementary school.
But for now, Jon just wants to be a normal kid.
“I don't want to be treated like I’m someone special or need special treatment or anything,” Jonathen said. I just want to be known as the boy who's normal.”
A friend is trying to help Jon see some sites he hasn't gotten to yet at his young age and has set up a website so anyone can contribute. To donate, click here. (This report is via wgal.com where you can also watch a video.)
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Labels: chess charity, chess kid talent
Videos Chess Olympiad u16 from Hungary
GM SP Sethuraman is India National Chess Champion 2014
Hello chess blog friends, the Indian national chess championship 2014 concluded recently with GM SP Sethuraman becoming the new champion. He drew his last game to take the title 1/2 ppoint clear of the field.
GM Deep Sengupta IM P Karthikeyan scored 8 points, but the former was second on better tiebreak score.
This was Sethuraman's third try at the Indian national chess championship and he remained undefeated in the event.
Final Standings
1 Sethuraman S.P. (PSPB) 8½
2 Sengupta Deep (PSPB) 8
3 Karthikeyan P. (Rlys) 8
4 Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (PSPB) 7
5 Grover Sahaj 7
6 Kunte Abhijit (PSPB) 6½
7 Lalith Babu M.R. (PSPB) 6
8 Shyam Nikil P. (TN) 5½
9 Deepan Chakkravarthy J. (Rlys) 5½
10 Swayams Mishra (ORI) 5
11 Laxman R.R. (Rlys) 4
12 Rajesh V A V (TN) 3½
13 Girinath P.D.S. (Rlys) 3½
Find more photographs at FIDE website.
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Anand Chess Simul for Kids Spreads Holiday Cheer
Hello chess blog friends, former world chess champion Viswanathan Anand held a simul for school kids to spread the Christmas cheer. It was a rare opportunity for 10 students of Vriksha Global School at Tiruchengode and 16 students from other schools to take on the five-time world chess champion.
Needless to add, Anand won all the rapid games. “It is great playing with the champion,” said the students.“Though it is nervous to play with him, I learnt about confidence move,” they added. The students were from different categories, Under 8, 11, 13 and 16, selected through competitions conducted in the school.
Earlier, Anand inaugurated the NIIT Nguru MathLab and Mind Champion’s Academy in the school that will enable students to explore mathematical concepts and theorems using technology tools as well as hands-on-activities using mathematical models. Chairman of the school R. Rajasekaran, correspondent R. Harinivas, Territorial Manager of NIIT Aravind Sadhasivam and faculties were present. In his interaction with reporters, Mr. Anand complimented the State Government’s initiative of introducing chess in schools as it would encourage more students to play chess.
“The infrastructure in schools in villages needs to be improved,” he added.
He said that the game has grown in the last 10 years and said that online instruction for playing chess is easily available and asked enthusiasts to actively participate in all tournaments.
A relaxed Anand felt that the year was positive with three big wins and expressed hopeful for winning in coming years.
“It is good to end the year by winning London Chess Classic.
It energises me as there are about seven to eight tournaments in 2015,” the Grandmaster said with a smile.(Excerpted from a report by S. P. SARAVANAN in The Hindu)
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Labels: chess simul, Viswanathan Anand, world chess champion
Christmas Chess Comic with Chess Queen Kosteniuk
Hello chess blog friends, Merry Christmas with lots of chess fun. 12th Women's World Chess Champion Chess Queen™ Alexandra Kosteniuk is out with Santa to give out the gifts. If you know any kids around you, please share with them her chess comic. Remember that giving a chess set or a chess book or a chess program for Christmas is a great idea!
Happy holidays!
P.S. See the full comic below. You can see or download for print all comics in several languages here. You have permission to publish at no cost, as long as you leave the full page and text exactly as it is.
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Labels: Chess Queen Alexandra Kosteniuk, christmas chess comic, world chess champion
Indian Bollywood Chess Movie with Superstars Amitabh Bachchan, Farhan Akhtar
Hello chess blog friends, here's an interesting chess video - the teaser trailer of Bollywood Indian movie 'Wazir'. Wazir, in Hindi, means vice-regent or minister, but in India, when taken in context of chess, it refers to the Queen piece! Enjoy the trailer, we will keep you posted on more updates via Chess Magazine Black and White. The movie stars Indian sub-continent superstar Amitabh Bachchan and another young star/director Farhan Akhtar.
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Will Play more Chess Tournaments in 2015: Anand
Hello chess blog friends, former World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand has said he will be playing more chess tournaments in 2014. Speaking to news agency PTI at a function by his sponsor NIIT, Anand said, he hoped his best was yet to come and "I try to be optimistic."
The 45-year-old said he was happy with his performance in the year that is drawing to a close as he won three tournaments, although he acknowledged that in the recent world championship he could not capitalise on the self-created opportunities.
"I am happy with this year. I played well in many tournaments. I won three tournaments. I hope the trend continues," Anand, who earlier launched the NIIT Nguru MathLab Plus at a function organised by Kennedy High global school here, said.
Anand said he created "more chances" during the world championship, which he lost to Magnus Carlsen of Norway at Sochi recently, but unfortunately could not make use of those.
Describing Carlsen as one having a "practical style" Anand said, "He is not someone who spends a lot of time in warming up and playing long openings."
On his plans the for the coming year, Anand, who won the London Chess Classic a few days ago, said: "I will be playing more tournaments in general. My focus is really shifting to tournaments."
Asked if he would like to go into coaching, the grandmaster said he has not thought about it as he was currently focused on playing.
"It's very difficult to combine (coaching) with the playing career. And I am still not ready to give that (playing career) up. I am still looking forward for playing for several years. And after that, we can see," he said.
Anand, who became India's first Grandmaster in 1988, disagreed with the perception in some quarters that training abroad is better than doing so back home.
"One should try to learn from the best from anywhere in the world. India has strong chess coaches and it's easy to find them," he opined.
Expressing happiness over the number of youngsters taking interest in chess, he approved the introduction of the game in education curriculum, saying it would help students perform better in academics also.
"Chess enables students to memorise and strategise better," said Anand.
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It's Chess Summer in Australia!
Hello chess blog friends, hot chess in Australia coming up this December because they've got summer now. Here is an update by IM Leonid Sandler, Chess Australia PTY LTD, via FIDE : --
Traditionally in December and January in Australia we are holding many chess events for the players of different strength. At the moment quite a few foreign players are visiting the Green continent and participating in various events around the country. International Master Kanan Izzat from Azerbaijan won the Australian Young Masters competition scoring 6.5 points from 7 games.
Full details are there http://lidumsaym.com/
After 3 rounds in the Cat. 8 Australasian Masters Grandmaster Norm 10 players round robin tournament being held in Melbourne. This event is the strongest round robin tournament ever held in the Victorian Capital!
GM Vasily Papin (Russia) and the youngest player in the field 13-years old International Master Anton Smirnov (Australia) leading with 2.5 points. This event is the strongest round robin tournament ever held in Melbourne! By the way Vasily Papin is spending more than a month in Australia and will play in total 62 tournament games in 7 different competition.
Kazakhstan Grandmasters Murtas Kazhgaleyev and Rustam Khusnutdinov will play 56 games in Australian soil.
In the Australasian Masters IM Norm event (10 players, round robin)
Bob Smith (New Zealand) is an early leader with 3 points.
Live games, full results plus much more can be viewed following the link http://boxhillchess.org.au/tournaments/current-tournaments/
Our guests are actively promoting chess in Australia.
Vasily Papin has visited school in the bush where all 150 students are participating in a very successful chess program. Here are the list of some notable events in Australia in the coming weeks.
December 22---Victorian Blitz Championship (Melbourne)
December 26---Australian Allegro Championship (Adelaide)
January 2-11/2015----Australian Open Championship (Sydney)
January 12-22/2015------Australian Women's Masters (Melbourne).
We are welcoming chess players around the world to visit our beautiful country!
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GM Saleh wins Al Ain Chess Rapid
Hello chess blog friends, the Al Ain Chess is off to a great start with some rapid chess. GM Salem A.R. Saleh of the UAE won the Al Ain Rapid Chess Championship yesterday at the Hili Rotana hotel in Al Ain, undefeated with 6 points out of 7 rounds. Seventy players from 17 countries including 25 Grandmasters took part in the one-day precursor to the Al Ain Classic Chess Championship.
Salem beat Vugar Asadli of Azerbaijan, Armenians FM Manuel Petrosyan, GM Arman Pashikian and GM Samuel Ter-Sahakyan, GM Rauf Mamedov of Azerbaijan and drew with GM Yuriy Kryvoruchko of Ukraine and GM Mikheil Mchedlishvili of Georgia.
After his fourth round loss to Salem, GM Ter-Sahakyan caught up to tie with 6 points for second place as Salem emerged first in the tie break. GM Kryvoruchko finished in third place with 5.5 points ahead by tie break over Mchedlishvili and GM Levon Babujian of Armenia who both scored 5.5 points each.
Seven players followed with five points each. Finishing in tie break order were GM Miknailo Oleksienko of Ukraine in 6th place followed by Marin Kravtsiv, also of Ukraine, GM Viktor Moskalenko of Spain, GM Alexander Kovchan of Ukraine, GM Arman Pashikian of Armenia and IM Amierreza Pourrameezanali of Iran.
Mokal Amruta Sunil of India won the award for best woman player while IM Omar Noaman received the prize for Emirati player and FM Mayed Alrashedi won best Al Ain player award.
Visit chess-results.com for Al Ain Rapid Chess results and standings and to download games.
More players are expected to arrive on time for the Al Ain Chess Classic also at the Hili Rotana hotel. At stake are some $50,000 in cash prizes with a top prize of $11,000 and various category prizes. The standard time control event shall be conducted as a 9-round Swiss System. Two rounds are scheduled on Saturday at 10 am and 5 pm. From Sunday games start 4 pm daily except for the last round which starts 2 pm. All games shall be broadcast live at the alainchess.com web site with photo gallery.
Organizing Committee head Dr. Saif Al Nuaimi (left) awarding prizes to the winners of the Al Ain Rapid Championship, from left, runner-up Ter-Sahakyan Samuel, champion Salem A.R. Saleh of the UAE, third placer Kryvoruchko Yuriy, Tournament Director International Organizer Tarek Al Taher, Chief Arbiter Ashot Vardapetian. In front row are, from left, best woman awardee Mokal Amruta Sunil, Mchedlishvili Mikheil, Oleksienko Mikhailo, Kravtsiv Martyn, Kovchan Alexander and Moskalenko Viktor.
Organizing Committee head Dr. Saif Al Nuaimi makes the ceremonial move assisted by Tournament Director International Organizer Tarek Al Taher on the top board game between top seed GM Rauf Mamedov of Azerbaijan (right) and CM Puranik Abhimanyu of India. (Report via FIDE)
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Labels: al ain chess, rapid chess, salem ar saleh
Basque Chess at World Mind Games: Gold for Hou, Silver for Kosteniuk
Hello chess blog friends, chess can be strenuous, particularly if you you play Basque Chess. Beijing World Mind Games chess section concluded with the Basque chess version that has players take on their opponent with both White and Black at the same time over two boards in each round!
Men’s: 1. Nepomniachtchi Ian (RUS) 2. Radjabov Teimour (AZE) 3. Vachier-Lagrave Maxime (FRA)
Women’s: 1. Hou Yifan (CHN) 2. Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS) 3. Zhao Xue (CHN)
The Russians seem to be quite at good at this version of hectic chess picking up two medals - Ian Nepomniachtchi picked up the gold in the open section and ChessQueen Alexandra Kosteniuk took the silver in the women's section.
“I feel much better now that I’ve won a medal, I couldn’t show my best in the beginning and this was frustrating” stated Nepomniachtchi. The 24-year-old Russian, living in Moscow arrived at the World Mind Games just after playing in the national championships back home. Koneru Humpy - the golden girl of Indian chess - was pitted against Hou Yifan in the last round and the result could have gone either way, but eventually it was Zhao Xue who got the bronze.
You can find lots of photos and videos on the official site. The FIDE website of the SportAccord World Mind Games also has great reports and photographs by Alina L'Ami.
SportAccord World Mind Games is a multi-sport event centred on the gymnasium of the mind and highlighting the great value of the mind sports. The 2014 edition will take place from 11-17 December. As well as the first, second and third editions in 2011, 2012, and 2013 the event includes five mind sports of great popularity and influence worldwide - Bridge, Chess, Draughts, Go and Xiangqi (Chinese Chess). The event is a showcase of some top-level mind games performances with the world's best players. The Cultural and Social Programme is an integral part of the event and through a series of activities, it aims at increasing and improving mind sports' influence and practice in schools.
Ever more countries and regions integrate the mind sports as an important part of their education programmes. Mind sports suit well a wide range of people not only in terms of age; these sports can be equally played by people with certain physical disability. The characteristics of the mind games themselves, make these sports particularly appropriate for the use of various resources, such as new technologies.
The launch of a new media platform is the springboard for the organisation of online tournament and encourage to practice these sports through the Internet – players from all over the world are able to compete and win attractive prizes! These traditional games, where intelligence, strategy and intuition are protagonists, combined with innovative and modern elements, can create and bring new and unique experiences to a large and highly diversified group of people.
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Labels: basque chess, Chess, sportaccord beijing, world mind games
Russia the best at World Mind Games 2014
Hello chess blog friends, Russia emerge as the big winners in 4th edition of the SportAccord World Mind Games; China come a close second. The celebrations of the Russians marked the close of the 4th edition of the World Mind Games 2014, organised in Beijing, China from December 11-17, 2014. The final competition of this year’s event ended with Ian Nepomnianchtchi (Russia) and Hou Yifan (China) being crowned the winners in the men’s and women’s chess basque competitions. With the final medals being awarded, the Russians emerged as the big winners in the whole competition as their players took home a total of 6 gold and 5 silver medals, and 1 bronze medal.
Apart from Hou Yifan, Alexander Grishchuk from Russia (chess), Ilan and Ophir Herbst from Israel, Nicola Smith from England, Geir Helgemo from Monaco (all bridge), Mi Yuting and Yu Zhiying from China (both Go) emerged as the big winners in the 4th edition, taking home 2 gold medals each.
Announcing the closing of the World Mind Games 2014, SportAccord Director General Vlad Marinescu said, “In terms of scale, competition, organisation and broadcasting, this edition of the World Mind Games has set the benchmark for all future editions of the same, and even other SportAccord multi-sports games. We congratulate the athletes for their success, the international federations for their contributions and the local organising committee for their untiring efforts in ensuring the event’s conduct. We also thank the sponsors for providing their valuable support for the World Mind Games 2014. The venue became a big melting pot for all elements that contribute towards a successful event. The cultural programme touched over 2000 children, through the activities of our sporting ambassadors. Finally, we give a big vote of thanks to the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports, the Board and Card Administrative Center of the General Administration of Sport of China and the people of Beijing people for welcoming us with open arms and making this the home of the World Mind Games for the last 4 years.”
In total, there were 150 players from 37 countries, who took part in the World Mind Games 2014. There were 14 disciplines across 5 sports on offer, with 24 medal rounds being contested.
Full results and schedule
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Al Ain Chess Dec 19 - GM Yuri Kuzubov of Ukraine Top Seed
Hello chess blog friends, GM Yuri Kuzubov of Ukraine is top seed at the Al Ain Chess Tournament to be held from Dec 19 - 26 at the Hili Rotana Hotel. Forty-five Grandmasters and 14 International Masters are among 153 participants from 26 countries for the $50,000 Al Ain Classic Chess Championship. Seventeen of these players are rated above 2600 -- namely Ukrainians Yuriy Kryvoruchko, Alexander Areshchenko, Mikhailo Oleksienko, Evgenij Miroshnichenko and Vladimir Onischuk, Belarussian Sergei Zhigalko, Armenians Tigran L. Petrosian and Arman Pashikian, Ivan Sokolov of the Netherlands, Samuel Shankland of the USA, Constantin Lupulescu of Romania, Mikheil Mchedlishvili of Georgia and Viorel Iordachescu of Moldova.
Aside from the host country, the largest contingent is from India with 33 players followed by Azerbaijan with 22 players. National team member GM Rauf Mamedov heads the Azerbaijan delegation while GM Aghijeet Gupta and Vidit Santosh Gujrathi lead the Indian contingent. The tournament will be a 9-round Swiss System. Round 1 will start 6pm tomorrow, 19 Dec.
Two rounds are scheduled 10am and 5pm on Saturday followed by daily rounds starting 4pm. The last 9th round starts 2pm on Friday, 26 Dec. Games shall be broadcast live on the web. At stake are some US$50,000 for the first 20 places with a top prize of $11,000 for the champion and various category prizes.
Al Ain Chess Club president Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan (second from left) giving a press conference yesterday at the Hili Rotana hotel. In photo are, from left, Dr. Rashed Al Dhaheri, chairman of the UAE Chess Federation Constitutional Commission, Sheikh Sultan, Dr. Saif Al Nuaimi, General Secretary of the Al Ain Chess Club and Engr. Sultan Al Yabhoni, Deputy President of the Al Ain Chess Club. (Via FIDE)
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India National Chess R11: Sethuraman in Lead
Hello chess blog friends, Indian national chess championship now has S.P. Sethuraman in sole lead after 11 rounds after he drew with Vidit Gujrathi in Kottayam, India. He leads by 1/2 a point.
Sethuraman leads with 7.5, and is followed by Deep Sengupta and Sahaj Grover on seven points. In fourth place is Vidit Gujrathi on 6.5 points. All four of them have won world age group titles but not yet the Indian national chess championship.
The absence of big stars like Ganguly and Sasikiran has allowed the next generation of stars to play and win the most prestigious National Premier.
The results (round eleven): Sahaj Grover (Rly) 7 drew with P Shyam Nikil (TN) 4.5; R.R. Laxman (Rly) 3.5 bt J Deepan Chakkravarthy (Rly) 4.5; Swayams Mishra (Odi) 4 drew with V.A.V. Rajesh (TN) 2.5; S.P. Sethuraman (PSPB) 7.5 drew with Vidit Gujrathi (PSPB) 6.5; Deep Sengupta (PSPB) 7 bt Abhijit Kunte (PSPB) 4.5; P.D.S.Girinath (Rly) 2.5 drew with M.R. Lalith Babu (PSPB) 6; P Karthikeyan (Rly) 6 – bye. (Update via All-India Chess Federation website)
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Vishy Anand Chess Trivia: What Trophy is That?
4 Top Chess Downloads for Chess Beginners!
World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen plays 'Flick Chess' in Office! (Video)
Hastings Chess Congress (Dec 29) receives Kowitz Family Foundation Grant for Young Talent
Hello chess blog friends, the 90th edition of the Hastings Chess Congress (Dec 29 - Jan 6) has received £6,000 from the Kowitz Family Foundation in conjunction with Chess in Schools and Communities (CSC). This generous gesture is offered primarily to further the interests of junior chess. It is intended to inspire young players, to encourage new players and to provide opportunities for existing players to reach their chess potential. In addition the profile of both Hastings Congress and Hastings Borough will be enhanced.
A spokesperson for the Kowitz Family Foundation said “The Foundation is pleased to support the Hastings International Chess Congress and more specifically junior chess players in Hastings. The town has an astonishing historic legacy in the game of chess and we hope this donation will help revive interest in the Congress among local spectators and junior competitors alike and draw chess enthusiasts from far and wide.”
£500 will be given to Sussex Junior Chess Association who are holding their annual Junior Congress in Hastings on 4th January 2015. Additions to the Congress programme will appear as soon as confirmed. These are expected to include coaching sessions and additional funding for young players in the Masters. The funding will also help further involvement with local junior schools’ chess activities.
CSC is a registed charity whose mission is to give every primary schoolchild in the country the chance to learn how to play chess. The charity was formed in 2010 but has already taught over 40,000 children. This year CSC will deliver chess to 25,000 children in 250 schools across 56 boroughs in England and Wales. The charity provides schools with chess sets, a chess curriculum, teacher training and a weekly visit from a chess tutor.
Labels: hastings chess congress, kowitz family foundation
SportAccord World Mind Games Chess 2014: Russia #1 Alexander Grischuk wins Double Gold
Hello chess blog friends, as you know the chess section of the SportAccord World Mind Games is on in Beijing. Two sections have been completed and the Russians have ruled particularly Alexander Grischuk who has won gold in both the blitz and rapid section of the men's events.
GM Alexander Grischuk
Playing some fantastic and focused chess this past week, Russia's top-rated Alexander Grischuk picked up the double gold with east. In the blitz list, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France picked up the silver and Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan earned the bronze. In the women's section, reigning women's world chess champion Hou Yifan of China earned the gold, silver going to Valentina Gunina of Russia and Anna Muzychuk of Ukrained got the bronze.
The Russian flag was flying high in the rapid section as well. Grischuk Alexander (RUS) became the winner of the tournament, Vachier-Lagrave Maxime (FRA) finished in the second place and Bronze medal went to Wang Hao (CHN). In the women's section of the rapid, the gold went to Gunina Valentina (RUS), silver to Hou Yifan (CHN) and bronze to Ushenina Anna (UKR).
The Basque chess event is now being played in Beijing that has the opponents play two games in each round - one with white and one with black against the same opponent. You can follow all the action live at the official website.
ABOUT WORLD MIND GAMES
SportAccord World Mind Games is a multi-sport event centred on the gymnasium of the mind and highlighting the great value of the mind sports. The 2014 edition will take place from 11-17 December. As well as the first, second and third editions in 2011, 2012, and 2013 the event includes five mind sports of great popularity and influence worldwide - Bridge, Chess, Draughts, Go and Xiangqi (Chinese Chess). The event is a showcase of some top-level mind games performances with the world's best players. The Cultural and Social Programme is an integral part of the event and through a series of activities, it aims at increasing and improving mind sports' influence and practice in schools.
In addition, an online tournament extends the event's reach to the worldwide audience. Mind Games are spread and known throughout the world since ancient times and their educational values are widely recognised. They combine the fun of playing games and the enhancement of concentration, logic, memory, mathematics, literacy, learning skills, decision making and socialising skills, etc. Ever more countries and regions integrate the mind sports as an important part of their education programmes. Mind sports suit well a wide range of people not only in terms of age; these sports can be equally played by people with certain physical disability.
Labels: beijing chess, sportaccord world mind games 2014
World Chess Champion Trivia: Identify this Dutch GM!
GM Timur Gareyev wins American Chess Open 2014
Hello chess blog friends, the American Chess Open 2014 has been won by GM Timur Gareyev at Doubletree in Orange, California, according to a nice report via USChess.org. The detailed report is by Randy Hough.
The 274 players (plus five reentries) enjoyed eight rounds of chess in the comfortable ballroom, a welcome change from the last two years when the scholastic tournament preempted the prime space. That event was switched to the previous weekend, drawing 342 juniors. In the 43-player Open section, GM Timur Gareyev of Las Vegas again came out on top, scoring 7-1 to lap the field by a point. (Last year GM Mac Molner, who didn't play this time, tied for first.) The strong field included four GMs and four IMs.
Aldama and Abrahamyan drew, leaving the former tied for second with Peters and Panopio (who took Under 2450 honors). The group at 5½ included Abrahamyan, young FM Vignesh Panthananam (with a last round half point bye) and another Filipino master, Hamed Nouri, whose woefully unrepresentative USCF was wisely replaced by the organizers with a 2377 seed (FIDE rating plus 50). Among the five pointers, Mike Zaloznyy took Under 2300 laurels. Abrahamyan, with her teammate and student Robert Shlyantenko. also tied for the Mixed Doubles prize.
The Under 2200 prize was split by two players with 6½. Young WFM Agata Bykovtsev is an experienced international player, and her rating reached...2199. Her dedicated mother Rita has endured many three hour drives back to Santa Barbara, but a nice prize check must have made this one sweeter. The other 6 ½ pointer, Kenneth Odeh, actually won five games and drew one, but had to take two byes the last day because of his aviation job.
In Under 2000 (the largest, with 63 players), young Derek Zhang of Washington State downed former master Brian Zavodnik in the last round to take clear first. Derek tied for Under 1800 two years ago – we like to see progress!
Two local players, James Williams and young Cory Chen, tallied 6½ to split Under 1800 laurels. Locals also prevailed with 6½ in Under 1600, as Jesus Barraza and Pio Reyes tied for first. The Under 1400 went better for visitors, with Ricardo Lara Jr. of Arizona and Varun Kumar of Washington State joining local Leo De Vera at – you guessed it – 6½. It's a rare year when none of the class winners equals the Open champion's score!
The teams that tied Abrahamyan/Shlyakhtenko for Mixed Doubles were siblings Queena and Tim Deng (whose parents, Ben Deng and Sarah Lu, are leading local coaches) and Gabriel Sam and Kaitlyn Chu. Panopio took the 49 player Blitz ahead of Gareyev, and Laylo partially redeemed himself by tying with local master Eduardo Ortiz in the 26 player Action (hardly the only dropout from the main event to participate).
The Chess Palace crew (aka the Ong family: seven present, though two had to return to their college studies Sunday night) kept a variety of plates spinning in the air – pairings, presence on the playing floor, coordinating the videos and lectures (IM Jeremy Silman was the great hit as usual), selling books and merchandise, and handing out a variety of gifts to celebrate the 50th anniversary. Almost $27,000 was paid out in prizes, all plus scores got gift certificates, and place winners received medals as well as moola. Several players received special recognition, including 92-year-old Dave Hartman and Dr. Leo Raterman, the only participant who took part in the inaugural tournament in 1965.
From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
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Labels: american chess open 2014, timur gareyev
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Master Sergeant (MSgt) Robert Keough-2061-Fort Meade, MD
