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Alekhine's Parrot

TheParrot Says…Welcome to the archive of the weekly leader of chess events around the world.  Chessville welcomes your Feedback to TheParrot on this week’s news by writing to TheParrot@Chessville.com where selected letters will be featured.

9-20-2008

Chess Media – Chess Aid

Hurricane relief effort – you can help

On Monday, September 22, Indian GM Harikrishna Pentala , sponsored by the Sun Group , will conduct a 25 board simultaneous exhibition at the Texas Tech Student Union Building after his 4th round game (approximately 7:30 pm).

Half of the proceeds raised from this event will be used to help victims of the recent hurricane in Texas. Millions of lives were effected in one way or another and we are trying to do all we can to help.

Just Kidding? - 1

Hello Parrot, am <name> I would like to know if you sell bird cage. If you do please let me know the types you have and the payment you accept.

Right here the answer is seeds, we can always use seeds.

Whereas, in the editorial department I hear the answer is wool, gathering-wool.

Special thanks to GM Pentala and all who are involved in this effort! If you would like to contribute, please send a check payable to Susan Polgar Foundation (501(c)(3) non-profit organization) 6923 Indiana Avenue (Suite 154) Lubbock, Texas 79413 . Thank you! Chess news from Susan Polgar

Source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1290139/fullcredits#cast

MATE – The Movie

I see that advertising for the forthcoming chess movie “Mate” now formally lists Susan Polgar as a producer.  Of course, details of the film are a tight secret, but the Parrot was able to find out that the advertising poster is not USCF President Bill Goichberg in a ski-mask, nor the mysterious FSS.

Just Kidding 2,
World Championship

Here is an extract from an interview with FIDE Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos:

Q: And the question that most of us are interested in. Will match Kamsky-Topalov take place as planned?

A: You know that we have a sponsor. At least he claims that he wants to be a sponsor for this match to take place in Ukraine. He was supposed to send the money to FIDE many months ago. For the last few weeks we are hearing "tomorrow, tomorrow, the money is going to be transferred". FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, who knows the sponsor,

they are friends, is aware of the serious situation and that is why he personally guaranteed the prize fund.  So even if the sponsor does not proceed with deposing the prize fund to FIDE bank account, because this is the key point, then Mr.Ilyumzhinov will find the solution.

Our problem, at the moment, is that as long as money is not on the FIDE bank account, we cannot even go to Ukraine and speak with the potential organizer.  We cannot sign the final undertaking with the players before we know where are they going to play.  On the other hand, up to this point, we could have had already discussed several details concerning this match.

In fact, to tell the truth, the side of Gata Kamsky is not very helpful.  I invited the players to discuss technical details that do not depend on the playing venue.  But the Kamsky team is waiting to see who is the organizer and where the match is going to take place and only then they want to arrange the details.  In my opinion, this is not fair.  One example, just to illustrate, I asked if there should be private rooms for the players or not.  If the match takes place in Sofia, then no, if it is in Ukraine then we will have them.  In my opinion, this should be solved irrespective of the organizers.  Are there private rooms or not?  There are many similar details that do not depend on where the match will actually take place.  We should agree now on the private rooms, what kind of control, what kind of let's say "anti-cheating" measures will be taken.

I have to say that negotiations with Anand and Kramnik, regarding their own match, were much easier than the situation that we are facing now.

True Chess Stories

A Conversation with Maurice Ashley where we chatted about reactions to his Blitz DVD which features 4 GMs, Joel Benjamin, Hikaru Nakamura, Alex Shabalov and Larry Christiansen.

Christiansen! I remember yelling at the TV, resign Christiansen! in one of his games, not understanding how he could play on. So much for my naïve understanding of LC! – 10 moves later… some thunder-storm had swept over the board completely changing the picture, and… but that’s a teaser!

The second thief [of the DVD] to come by my house was the father of a local prodigy, who of course said “my 7 year old son would LOVE to see that”, and with as much grace as the first thief, basically just stole it!

About 2 weeks later we met again at the chess club and he said there had been all sorts of trouble about the DVD. That his son watched it, and watched it again, and in fact watched it 12 times in the space of 3 days until the child’s mother took it away from him!

So, I told Maurice this anecdote over the phone, and he asked if she hated him? “Not at all, I replied, I doubt she even knows your name, but she knows mine!” At which the GM remained sensibly silent, though I thought I heard a chuckle or two down the line.

Category 15 Begins Stateside

2008 SPICE Cup International Invitational Tournament

Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Chief Organizer: Susan Polgar Category: XV | FIDE Average: 2605.5 | USCF Average: 2666.5 September 19-28, 2008, Day off on September 23.

Highest rated 10-player International RR tournament in U.S. history has begun. Spice takes the cake – they made it too.

Title Name FIDE USCF Country

1. Grandmaster Alexander Onischuk 2670 2741 USA
2. Grandmaster Harikrishna Pentala 2668 2724 India
3. Grandmaster Varuzhan Akobian 2610 2656 USA
4. Grandmaster Leonid Kritz 2610 2647 Germany
5. Grandmaster Gregory Kaidanov 2605 2678 USA
6. Grandmaster Julio Becerra 2598 2647 USA
7. Grandmaster Victor Mikhalevski 2592 2680 Israel
8. Grandmaster Kamil Miton 2580 2702 Poland
9. Grandmaster Hannes Stefansson 2566 2598 Iceland
10. Grandmaster Eugene Perelshteyn 2555 2591 USA

Round 1 results

Akobian 1-0 Perelshteyn
Becerra 1/2 Onischuk [captioned]
Stefansson 1/2 Pentala
Kaidanov 0-1 Kritz
Mikhalevski 1-0 Miton

Official websites: www.SusanPolgar.blogspot.com and www.SPICE.ttu.edu.  Games will be broadcast on www.MonRoi.com

Liverpool – European Individual Championship, Result

Here are the final standings of the top 15 at the European Union Championship (by tiebreaks order)

1 WERLE, Jan NED g 2591 8

2 LAZNICKA, Viktor CZE g 2601 7½
3 ADAMS, Michael ENG g 2735 7½
4 SHORT, Nigel ENG g 2655 7½

5 DAVID, Alberto LUX g 2568 7
6 L'AMI, Erwin NED g 2610 7
7 VACHIER-LAGRAVE, Maxime FRA g 2681 7
8 FRIDMAN, Daniel GER g 2637 7
9 BERG, Emanuel SWE g 2592 7
10 BACROT, Etienne FRA g 2691 7
11 HOWELL, David ENG g 2561 7
12 TIVIAKOV, Sergei NED g 2645 7
13 LUTHER, Thomas GER g 2570 7
14 SMEETS, Jan NED g 2593 7
15 BELIAVSKY, Alexander G SLO g 2606 7

Jan Werle has just captured the 2008 European Union Championship by drawing French GM Vachier-Lagrave.  Super-GM Adams who could have caught up with Werle with a win inexplicably took a 13-move draw.

Indeed, that was not the only short draw: here is commentator John Saunder’s opinions of round 9:

“The afternoon got off to a disappointing start when the clash of the English titans failed to live up to its billing.  Mickey Adams and Nigel Short concluded hostilities in 12 moves.  This sparked off some disapproving emails to us, and messages on chess forums lamenting their lack of fighting spirit.  It is hard to argue with some of the sentiments expressed though perhaps the ire needs to be directed towards the format of modern tournaments rather than the players themselves who have a living to make and a limited shelf-life...”

GM Werle (2591) - GM Vachier-Lagrave (2681) [A05]
European Union Championship, 18.09.2008

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Qa4+ Bd7 6.Qh4 Bc6 7.Qd4 Rg8 8.e3 Bg7 9.Qc4 Nb6 10.Qb3 e5 11.e4 N8d7 12.d3 Qe7 13.Be2 Nc5 14.Qc2 Ne6 15.a4 a5 16.0–0 g5 17.Be3 Game drawn ½–½

GM Berg (2592) - GM Adams (2735) [C92]
European Union Championship, 18.09.2008

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0–0 9.h3 Bb7 10.d4 Re8 11.Ng5 Rf8 12.Nf3 Re8 13.Ng5 Game drawn ½–½

Official website: http://www.liverpoolchessinternational.co.uk

Record Breaking Olympiad in Dresden

Record-breaking Olympiad

Official Dresden Olympiad Website: http://www.dresden2008.com/

FIDE and Organizing Committee enable further registrations. Clear already: largest Olympiad of all times.

Three days after the official registration deadline it is obvious that Dresden will not only be a reform but also a record-breaking Olympiad. The so far highest number of participants was listed in Torino in 2006 but will be beaten by length in Dresden. After the closing of the registration period the national federations have nominated 148 for the open and 114 teams in the women’s tournament.

Despite the enlargement of the women’s teams to now four seated and one substitute players already more women teams than in 2006 have registered. The most impression number is, however, the of active participants. Including the 309 registered coaches and accompanying persons, 80 arbiters and 35 FIDE Officials this number is up to 1984.

The world chess association FIDE and the Organizing Committee agreed to give another ten federations the chance to participate, providing they will register until Friday, 19. September 2008. This exception does include all federations that have already contacted the organnizers in whatever way. Federations which have not yet done so will receive no further chance for late registration.

Last Week the Parrot commented on Chess and Violence, citing 3 recent examples. Reviewing an interview question with a now-board member, Randy Bauer, he made the following response. The Parrot is interested in what aspects of his promise has been made true?

Question 2:  To what extent do you feel the USCF has any obligation to establish and maintain ethical standards in the recruitment and security of women and children in US chess?  How would you go about implementing such a program?  Should the USCF, in the process of establishing such standards,
conference with both women and parents of scholastic players to gain their insights and hear their recommendations?  Should USCF develop standards and certifications for chess teachers?

I think the USCF should stress ethical standards in all of its programs and the services it provides to its members.  Likewise, the USCF definitely should solicit regular feedback from its members and stakeholders as well.  I pushed for greater opportunities for member communication while on the Board the last time.  As with many things, it is often couched as a question of resources, but I think it is a priority and that opportunities are available.

The USCF has an active and involved scholastic council, and I think they are the appropriate vehicle for developing standards and/or certification for chess teachers or instructors.

Final figures and detailed participation lists of nations will be published in the following days.  Official Dresden Olympiad Website: www.dresden2008.com

Bilbao - results:  Final standings (scoring System is: 3 points per win, 1 point per draw, 0 point per loss)

1 Topalov - 17.0
2 Aronian - 13.0
3 Carlsen - 13.0
4 Ivanchuk - 12.0
5 Radyabov - 10.0
6 Anand - 8.0

Official website: http://www.bilbaofinalmasters.com/

Women’s World
Championship Final

After very tense playoff games GM Alekandra Kostniuk managed to defeat her 14 year old GM-elect oponent Hou Yifan.

Alexandra wrote one day to say that Chessville was her favorite English language chess-site, and Chessville this week made inquiries to interview her opponent.

It’s difficult to know who to praise more.

9-13-2008

Chess Media – Chess & Violence 1,
Chess Problems not Life Problems

No, this isn’t about chess politics.  It is about real politicians selecting chess as something desirable in 2008.

Alberto Murillo immigrated to Salinas from Mexico for the fourth grade. That’s when his math teacher urged him to master the chessboard. “I would not be here right now if it wasn't for chess. Chess helped me through school, get to college and I know it could help other students, too,” Salinas chess coach Alberto Murillo said. City leaders have already launched chess activities in libraries and recreation centers in an effort to help calm down crime on the streets. “This is our salvation to ending some of the problems we're having in our community, by getting these kids early on like some of the ones you see today,” Salinas City Councilman Sergio Sanchez said. Kids at local elementary schools said they agree.

Read the entire article including a video link: http://www.ksbw.com/news/17435545/detail.html

Chess Media – Chess & Violence 2,
Women as 2nd Class Chess Citizens?

In 2005 the issue of women as 2nd class citizens in chess arose, and I engaged in a conversation with an English player, first on the subject of Vera Menchik’s era, then on today’s conditions. I was completely startled when, at length, she volunteered this response:

“…actually although we are The North Circular league I live near Canary Wharf in East London.  Certainly I have heard of Vera Menchik.  It was a tragedy that she died early.  A truly gifted player and I agree with Alekhine that it was a pity she was playing below her level.  I think if I had been Vera I would have not worried about the Women’s Championship.

As regarding the worst experience I ever endured.  I was punched in the face by an arbiter called <I have removed the individual's name> at the Sutton Congress in 1994.  This happened in public and I was left unconscious on the floor.  Two things struck me (excuse the pun) as particularly bad about the incident.  He lied about hitting me despite witnesses.  The British Chess Federation went to great lengths to hide the incident and a fellow organiser <I have removed the individual's name> stated that it wasn't important as it was only a woman and not someone like Mickey Adams.  Still that’s chess for you.”  2/18/2005.

Chess Media – Chess & Violence 3,
Chess Youth Safe?

Back in 2008 - another issue which isn’t going away is the predatory activity by some adult mentors and teachers in chess.  Efforts to engage USCF on this subject have proved fruitless over the years – the cost and liability of auditing chess teachers is deemed too high.  Yet sadly, here is yet another instance of abuse of what happens without back-ground checks, and what is now universally accepted as standard practice in Boy Scouts and Little League.

"FORT COLLINS - An arrest warrant has been issued for child sex offender and former chess coach Robert Snyder for violating probation.  Snyder was released from the Larimer County Detention Center late last month.  He was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to sexual assault on a child and unlawful sexual contact.  He was sentenced to at least 10 years of sex offender intensive supervised probation after his release."  Source: http://www.9news.com/

The Parrot asked an insurance professional who has offered personal policies to individual chess players, Mr. Rob Mitchell, of Nashville TN., his professional point of view of the likely costs of background testing, and on insurance for Chess Teachers?  In terms of background testing, what was in his opinion a minimum standard, for example, are 3 references as /minimum/ standard sufficient?

Dear Parrot,  Thank you for the opportunity to address this topic.  Professional liability insurance for teachers is not a new subject.  Most if not all independent schools have a liability policy that covers their teachers.  Many teachers unions provide access through group plans for chess teachers to get coverage.  Others simply acquire the professional liability coverage on their own.  A nurse or a dental hygienist has an individual liability policy that covers them independent of the hospital or clinic for which they work.

Most employers are requiring references prior to hiring and employee.  Drug and background checks are now quite commonplace.  The potential liability to an affiliated organization should the person they hired prove to be someone with a criminal background can be substantial.  That is why they need to do background checks; to mitigate their risk.

Customary costs for professional liability insurance may run as little as $250 a year to $600 a year on a private purchase.  A small price to pay if you are going into a real business.  - Rob Mitchell

Chess Media – Gossiping
with Inspector Keene

Last weekend I tracked down an unusual use of a Grandmaster – solving a murder, so contacted Ray Keene who did the solving and learned that his investigation was to be the subject of a television program.  “But is this a fictional murder, or a real one?” I asked.  “Very real”, he replied.  Read for yourself.
During our Conversation Ray asked a puzzle question. I was joking him about being “Inspector Keene” after the famous Inspector Morse, and his sidekick Lewis.

“Do you know the origin of those names?”
Quizzed Ray.

Obviously this is chess related – and this Parrot scored 50% of the answer.  Can readers do better?

Ray is a Chessville columnist and also has his own new site where he features a couple articles, one on Kasparov, and another being my Chessville interview with him, where he explains how he escaped search by the KGB smuggling samizdat materials on Refuseniks out of Russia. In the interview Ray answers questions about chess in the old Soviet Union, and the state of chess in the world today.

As well as writing with Chessville he has columns in The Spectator, The Times, The Sunday Times, the International Herald Tribune, and has some 130 books published.

An insufficiently reviewed title is one by Ray Keene on Tony Miles.  The blurb reads in part, “Miles also won numerous first prizes in international tournaments.  He feared no-one and his will to win was legendary, as exemplified by the front jacket photograph of this book.  Taken at the Tilburg 1985 tournament, this shows Miles in play on a form of stretcher against grandmaster Djinjihashvili.  Although suffering from terrible back pain, Miles insisted on competing, even from this unorthodox position, the only one in which the pain subsided.  Characteristically Miles went on to win shared first prize in the event.

Tony Miles died tragically early in November 2001.  This book is a memorial to him, written by a Grandmaster rival who faced him many times over the board.”

Liverpool– She Loves Chess, Yeah Yeah Yeah!

THE highest caliber chess tournament in Britain England began at Liverpool’s World Museum last Tuesday.  Fifty Grandmasters battle for chess championship honor, reports Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post.

Taking part are Michael Adams, England's highest ever rated player.  His highest ranking was world number 4, achieved from October 2000 to October 2002 with a rating of 2755.  He is currently number 13 in the world and the number one British chess player with a rating of 2735.  Nigel Short is one of England's greatest ever players, former World Championship Challenger and European Union Individual Champion 2006.  His highest rating was 2712 in 2004.

A total of 150 contestants – 50 of them Grandmasters – made their first moves in the 4th European Open Championships.

Michael Adams, who won his first round match against Charles Kennaugh and said: “It is great to be in Liverpool again. I was here last year for the match against the Chinese. It is great to be in this historic venue.

Nigel Short, said: “It is a lot stronger than two years ago, it is a very tough event.

It follows hugely popular events in Liverpool in 2006 and 2007, including the Great Britain v China match last year. Earlier this year, over 1,000 people took part in the British Championships, in St George's Hall, Liverpool.

Cllr Bradley said: “Welcome to Liverpool, European Capital of Culture. This chess tournament is a major part of Culture Year – I am very pleased it has come to Liverpool.

“It is the strongest field ever to be received in the UK and we are very proud to be hosting it.” Organisers expect worldwide attention for the event, with up to 5m visits per day to the games shown live on the tournament web.

Last year Chessville’s corres team organizer Rob Mitchell got up a team to challenge 2450-rated Elena Dembo, who is appearing at Liverpool this year.

Also Appearing among the 50 GMs and worth keeping an eye on is 2250 rated Yang-Fan Zhou.

Results of tops boards at round 4:

1 ABERGEL, Thal........... 2499   (3)       ½ - ½  ADAMS, Michael.......... 2735   (3)   
2 BITALZADEH, Ali......... 2310   (3)    ½ - ½  VACHIER-LAGRAVE, Maxime. 2681   (3)   
3 FRIDMAN, Daniel......... 2637   (3)      ½ - ½  CONQUEST, Stuart C...... 2536   (3)    
4 BACROT, Etienne......... 2691  (2½)    ½ - ½  GORMALLY, Daniel W...... 2504  (2½)
5 MIEZIS, Normunds........ 2540  (2½)  1 - 0  TIVIAKOV, Sergei........ 2645      (2½)

For information and results, log on here.

Bilbao
Round 9 results:


Anand, Viswanathan - Topalov, Veselin ½-½
Ivanchuk, Vassily - Aronian, Levon ½-½
Radjabov, Teimour - Carlsen, Magnus ½-½

Standings with one round to go:

1. Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2777 14
2. Aronian, Levon g ARM 2737 13
3. Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2781 12
4. Carlsen, Magnus g NOR 2775 12
5. Radjabov, Teimour g AZE 2744 7
6. Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2798 7

Official website.

Women’s World Championship
Semi-Final

Played by blitz playoff.

M-elect Hou (2557) - GM Koneru (2622) [B06]
WWC - Blitz Playoff - Game 2, 12.09.2008

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Be3 a6 5.f4 Nd7 6.Nf3 e6 7.Bd3 b5 8.e5 Ne7 9.Bf2 Nb6 10.Bh4 Qd7 11.a4 b4 12.Ne4 Nbd5 13.Qd2 Nf5 14.Bf2 f6 15.c4 bxc3 16.bxc3 fxe5 17.fxe5 0–0 18.0–0 Bb7 19.a5 Bh6 20.Nfg5 Qe7 21.c4 dxe5 22.dxe5 Nb4 23.Bc5 Bxg5 24.Qxb4 Be3+ 25.Kh1 Qh4 26.Qxb7 Bxc5 27.Nf6+ Rxf6 28.Bxf5 Rff8 29.Bxe6+ Kh8 30.Qd5 Bf2 31.Qd3 Rad8 32.Qe2 Bg3 33.h3 Bf4 34.Qg4 Qh6 35.Rae1 Rfe8 36.Qxf4 Qxf4 37.Rxf4 Rxe6 38.Rf7 c5 39.Rc7 Rd2 40.Rb1 Re8 41.Rbb7 White wins 1–0

Hou wins the blitz playoff 2-0 and will move on to the final to face Kosteniuk of Russia.

Another awful Armageddon play-off arose earlier – see for yourself if you think this is chess at all. The Armageddon finish starts about 1minute 35 seconds into the tape. When the Parrot took on the same issue with USCF he was accused of being ‘personal’ about the finals – now it seems the whole world is being personal about them. USCF have not deemed to notice public reaction, and the Fide Arbiter didn’t seem to care about knocked over pieces and two players each with insufficient winning material, King and Knight each, slapping things around. As with the US Women’s championship, so with the Women’s world Championship.

Thanks to Russian journalist Evgeny Surov for posting the video of Socko-S.Foisor at Youtube.

STOP PRESS: we have arrived at 2 finalists: 14 year-old Hou defeated Humpy after a blitz play-off and will now contest Russian GM Alexandra Kosteniuk for the title.

What’s in a Word? Part 1

The word CHESS is tolerably complex in origin, and not clearly a loan-word. There is the A. Sax CHESE; to chose, with a secondary meaning to see "Even til the hegh bord he chese," being the past participle in Syr Gowghter, 312. Some people think it is a loan word from the Latin for Roman brass coins found in some places in Gloucestershire, 'and so called by country people.' Not unlikely an origin, many coins, stones etc, were original game pieces - CHESSIL; gravel or pebbles [A. Sax], and the beach or gravel bank still named for it. Earliest reference to a chess player I can find is Middleton's CHESSNER. Likely most direct early reference is also A. Sax from CHESTE (var. CHEESTE); strife, debate, which the atavist Gower uses. The word CHEST is more clearly Latin, as is CHESTER, but the first means 'coffin' and the second 'embalmer'. Neither likely candidates. Whereas the word CHESTS means chess; "The playe at chests," //Nomenclature, p. 293.

Interesting is CHEKERE: (1) the exchequer //Langtoft p. 312 (2) the game of chess //Rob. Glouc. p. 192. A later version is A. Norm, (3) a chess-board, but CHECKERED is a checkered sermon, one full of Greek and Latin quotations.

Much later we have CHECKSTONE; a game played by children with round small pebbles. It is mentioned in the early play of Apollo Shroving, 12mo. Lond. 1627, p. 49.

Unclear if the origin of CHEK; fortune; ill-fortune, is from the French echec? CHEKE means (1) choked //Ritson, (2) checked, as in the game of chess ; and hence used metaphorically. (3) a person or fellow [Lincs.]

The word CHESS means in Lincolnshire; to crack.

9-6-2008

9th Montreal – “Empresa”

Yuri Shulman wins a whole point ahead of the field.  Official website
 

Rang

 

Nom

Cote

FED

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Pts

SB

1

GM

Nakamura Hikaru

2697

USA

½

1½

2½

3

3

3½

4

5

5½

5½

23.75

2

GM

Shulman Yuri

2623

USA

½

1

2

3

4

4½

5

6

6½

6½

 

3

GM

Akobian Varuzhan

2610

USA

1

1

2

3

3½

4

4

4½

5½

5½

22.75

4

GM

Mazé Sébastien

2553

FRA

0

½

1

1

1½

2½

3½

4

4½

4½

17.25

5

GM

Bluvshtein Mark

2548

CAN

1

1½

1½

2½

3

4

4½

5

5½

5½

22.25

6

GM

Kovalyov Anton

2548

CAN

½

1

1

1

1½

2½

3

3

3½

3½

13.75

7

GM

Nataf Igor

2534

FRA

½

1

1½

2

2

2½

3½

4

4½

4½

19.75

8

GM

Charbonneau Pascal

2499

CAN

1

1½

2½

3

3½

3½

3½

3½

3½

3½

13.75

9

MI

Roussel-Roozmon Thomas

2486

CAN

0

½

½

½

1

1

1½

2

2½

2½

 

10

MI

Zugic Igor

2457

CAN

0

½

½

1

2

2

2½

3

3½

3½

16.25

12 Year Old Scores 2500 rating, right here in USA

The Florida State Chess Championship just concluded on Labor day this past week in St Petersburg Florida. The surprise of the tournament was 12 year old Lucas van Beuzekom (1948), an 8th grader from Orlando Florida.

He finished tied for 3rd place in the Open section, just a 1/2 point out of first place with 4.5 out of 6. His only loss was to GM Julio Becerra (2640), who tied for first with Ray Robson (2484).

Lucas was tied for first going in to the last round where he had a draw with FM Mark Ritter (2353). Along the way he managed to beat a virtual who's who of Florida chess talent, including Andrew Cunanan (2197), Jeffery Haskel (2238) and Corey Acor (2302).

The performance rating for this tournament was just above 2500! an incredible result for a 12 year old. The full results can be see here: http://www.floridachess.org/2008FloridaChampionship.htm.

Un-Official but up-to-date Ratings
Carlson #1

01 Carlsen 2791,3
02 Anand 2790,9
03 Morozevich 2787,0
04 Topalov 2786,2
05 Ivanchuk 2781,8
06 Kramnik 2771,9
07 Aronian 2754,1
08 Radjabov 2749,5

Chess Media –

Susan Polgar has been making blog reports all week from Bilbao, including interviewing all the players and reporting on the games and atmosphere. Interestingly she reports on top GM habits; beginning with Aronian she says,

“It is interesting to see how all the players develop their daily routines / rituals during the tournament. I know I had mine when I was active.

For example, Topalov is first to come down (by himself) to the lobby to wait to be driven (along with the other participants) to the playing site. As he is always early, he then goes for a short walk to get some fresh air around the park behind the hotel.

Ivanchuk with his second Mexican GM Manuel Leon are usually next to come down and they always have the last minute coffee before the game.”

In other news, an out-of-sorts Carlsen caught a bug in Moscow and is not playing well, whereas she talked with Vishy Anand about chess in India, and learned that now 170,000 children receive chess education in schools.

Coming Up

The World Chess Championship will be held from October 11 to 30, 2008 in the Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Cermany in Bohn, between Vishvanatan Anand (India) and Vladimir Kramnik (Russia). The match will consist of twelve games played under classical time control. If there is a tie at the end of these games a tie-break will be played on October 30, 2008. The prize fund, which will be split equally between the players, is 1.5 million euro (approximately 2.1 million dollars) including taxes and FIDE licensee fees.
Information courtesy Rolf Behovits - Press Officer

Bilbao FC?

Aronian, Carlsen, Radjabov, Ivanchuk, Anand, and Topalov. This year the scoring system will be NOT the traditional chess scoring system. They are using the soccer scoring system with 3 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.

In addition, players who do not attend the official reception at Bilbao's Town Hall on September 1st or the closing ceremony on September 13th will be fined €6,000!

“In an earlier post, I mentioned that I spoke to some of the players. I finally had a chance to speak to Topalov at the Opening Ceremony. We tried to figure out when we saw each other last. We think it was at the Zonal in Budapest in 1993 and Intel Grand Prix a year later. Time really flew by so quickly :)” --wrote Susan Polgar early this week.

Standings after 4 rounds:

1. Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2777 8
2. Carlsen, Magnus g NOR 2775 7
3. Aronian, Levon g ARM 2737 5
4. Radjabov, Teimour g AZE 2744 3
5. Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2781 3
6. Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2798 3

Malcolm Pein sets the stage for us:

The qualifying events were Corus Wijk aan Zee, Linares and MTel Sofia. All six are ranked in the world’s top dozen with the field headed by the world champion Vishy Anand for whom this is the last competitive outing before he defends his title against Vladimir Kramnik.

The most innovative feature of the event is that it will take place in the street but that does not mean the spectators will be allowed to kibitz and there is no risk of rain stopping play as a large glass playing hall complete with areas for commentators and spectators has been constructed in the Plaza Nueva, in the centre of Bilbao's Old Town.

To encourage fighting chess, players will score three points for a win and one for a draw. In addition the ‘Sofia Rules’ which forbid draw offers will be in force.


 Women’s World Championship – Final 8


Upper bracket
Ushenina (2476) vs. Kosteniuk (2510)
Stefanova (2550) vs. Cramling (2544)

Lower bracket
Koneru (2622) vs. The winner of Shen Yang (2445) and N. Kosintseva (2460)
The winner of Yifan Hou (2577) and Sedina (2344) vs. Mkrtchian (2436)

8-30-2008

9th Montreal – “Empresa”

Round 4 results:

Nakamura, Hikaru - Charbonneau, Pascal ½-½
Maze, Sebastien - Shulman, Yuri 0-1
Kovalyov, Anton - Akobian, Varuzhan 0-1
Bluvshtein, Mark - Roussel-Roozmon, Thomas 1-0
Nataf, Igor-Alexandre - Zugic, Igor ½-½

Standings after 5 rounds:

1 Shulman, Yuri g USA 2623 4
2-3 Akobian, Varuzhan g USA 2610 3½
Charbonneau, Pascal g CAN 2499 3½
4-5 Nakamura, Hikaru g USA 2697 3
Bluvshtein, Mark g CAN 2548 3
6-7 Nataf, Igor-Alexandre g FRA 2534 2
Zugic, Igor m CAN 2457 2
8-9 Kovalyov, Anton m ARG 2548 1½
Maze, Sebastien g FRA 2553 1½
10 Roussel-Roozmon, Thomas m CAN 2486 1

Official website

Polgar Offers
Olive-Branch

Lawyers for Susan Polgar attempt to settle several suits, issued the following statement Friday August 29th, 2008, Addressed to Mr. Bill Hall, Executive Director USCF:

(1) United States of America Chess Federation, Inc., will pay One Dollar ($1.00) to Susan Polgar;

What not to Play
How not to play the Colle

White: Parrot // Black: Anon
Correspondence Training Game

1.  d4 Nf6
2.  Nf3 d5
3.  e3 Bf5 [a common device against the Colle, White needs to decide how to treat it]
4.  Nc3 [4.c4 is recommended here]
4… e6
5.  Bd3 Bg6
6.  Ne5 Bd6
7.  O-O Nd7
8.  Nxg6 [why did white exchange his best piece instead of continuing to develop?]
8… hxg6 [the Rook becomes ‘developed’ on its home-square, h8!]
9.  Nb5 [understandably an attempt to remove the other bishop, but overlooking a one-move strike after which the game is practically over. 9. g3 is a necessary defense]
9. …Bxh2+
10. Kh1 c6 [black can wait until the discovered check nets more material]
11. Na3 [and white obliges by providing it with a target.]
11. … Qc7
12. Qf3 Bd6+
13. Kg1 Bxa3
Resigned [Lesson Learned: In the Colle, White needs to remain alert to black’s tactical opportunities, rather than simply play to a model pattern. 9.Nb5 was wrong because it ignored a vulnerable pawn, and 8. Nxg6 neglected completing development to give up an already well-placed knight.]

2) United States of America Chess Federation, Inc., will issue a written public apology to Susan Polgar and to the USCF membership relative to its participation in the events, acts and/or omissions as alleged by Susan Polgar in the above referenced litigation; and

(3) United States of America Chess Federation, Inc., will agree to the entry of an appropriate cease and desist order of the Court relative to any and all future acts of slander, slander per se, tortious interference with existing and future contracts, business disparagement, and tortious interference with any future business relationships of Susan Polgar.

In making this offer of compromise and settlement, Susan Polgar specifically retains and reserves any and all claims and causes of action she has or may have against all other persons, entities or parties including but not limited to those parties named in the above referenced litigation.

Susan Polgar makes this offer of compromise and settlement solely for the purpose of allowing USCF, Inc., and its membership, to avoid the burden and expense of protracted litigation and with the knowledge and understanding that the mission, spirit and assets of the USCF have been grievously compromised and subverted by the actions of members of its Board, its Administration and its attorneys acting in furtherance of their personal interests.

Chess Media – Ground Control to Major Greg

Reports indicate that astronaut Greg Chamitoff is defeating ground controllers in Houston's Mission Control at chess! Last week I asked around if anyone had the game score, and a kind person replied that he had, but the game seemed to have faulty notation, which he corrected thus:

[Event ""]
[Site "Space!"]
[Date "2008.08.23"]
[White "Greg Chamitoff"]
[Black "Ground Control"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 c6 3. Bf4 Nf6 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. e3 e6 6. Ne5 Qa5 7. Bd3 Nxe5 8. Bxe5 Ba3 9. Qc1 Bb4 10. O-O b6 11. a4 Ba6 12. Nb5 O-O 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14.c3 cxb5 15. Rd1 Rac8 16. axb5 Bxc3 17. Rxa5 Bxa5 18. Qb1 Bb7 19. b4 f5 20. bxa5 bxa5 21. Rc1 a4 22. Rxc8 Bxc8 23. Qb4 Bd7 24. Qxa4 Rc8 25. Qxa7 Rc1+ 26. Bf1 Bc8 27. Qa8 Kg7 28. b6 h6 29. b7 Bxb7 30. Qxb7 Kf6 31. f3

But, though that is the official game-score: “Something has gone slightly wrong as White's 28th move was b7! i.e. it moved from b5 to b7 in one move. Initially I assumed that they had missed a move out and that Black played h6 around here, but in fact Black's 31st move was h6, so I think White might have inadvertently made an illegal move.”

I also see an amusing commentary by “Fat Lady”, who wrote: FIDE's jurisdiction covers the entire earth and the airspace up to 200 miles above it. The International Space Station is orbiting just beyond this at 220 miles and at first NASA thought they could get away without paying the usual game fee to FIDE.

However, since half the moves are being played on the surface of the earth, it has been ruled that for legal purposes this game should be considered to be have been played at the average of zero and 220 miles above the earth, i.e. 110 miles.

This is well within the area controlled by FIDE and so all normal FIDE rules and fees apply.

Coming Up, Category 15 in USA

The upcoming SPICE Cup will take place from September 19-28 at Texas Tech University (Student Union Building) in Lubbock, Texas.

In addition to having the games broadcast LIVE on MonRoi, ICC and other sources, we will also try to show LIVE video feeds and taped video interviews. Here are the players:

USA - GM Onischuk, Alexander  2741 USCF / 2670 FIDE
IND - GM Pentala, Harikrishna 2724 USCF 2668 FIDE
GER - GM Kritz, Leonid 2647  USCF / 2610 FIDE
USA - GM Akobian, Varuzhan  2656 USCF / 2610 FIDE
USA - GM Kaidanov, Gregory  2678 USCF / 2605 FIDE
USA - GM Becerra, Julio  2647 USCF / 2598 FIDE
ISR - GM Mikhalevski, Victor  2680 USCF / 2592 FIDE
POL - GM Miton, Kamil 2702  USCF / 2580 FIDE
ISL - GM Stefansson, Hannes  2598 USCF / 2566 FIDE
USA - GM Perelshteyn, Eugene  2591 USCF / 2555 FIDE (Defending Champion)

Average FIDE: 2605.5  (Category 15)
Average USCF: 2666.5

This will make the 2008 SPICE Cup the highest rated 10 person International RR event in U.S. history. Chess news from Susan Polgar

Who is this? A 1930’s Hollywood star?  Maybe looks a bit of a villain?

Not exactly, this is Mr. GM Wang Yue, who just went 6 games without defeat in Holland then was held to a draw by Norwegian GM Agdestein. Facing 2587 rated Jussupov, he uncorked this beauty, and finished with a 3034 performance rating:

GM Wang (2704) - GM Jussupow (2587)
[E21] 28.08.2008

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 0–0 5.Bg5 d6 6.e3 Nbd7 7.Qc2 Qe7 8.Be2 Re8 9.0–0 Bxc3 10.bxc3 e5 11.Nd2 h6 12.Bh4 Nf8 13.Ne4 g5 14.Nxf6+ Qxf6 15.Bg3 Bf5 16.Qb3 b6 17.Rad1 Qg6 18.Rd2 Nd7 19.f3 e4 20.f4 g4 21.Qa3 Qe6 22.Qa6 Nf8 23.Bd1 Qc8 24.Qa3 Ng6 25.c5 d5 26.Bb3 Rd8 27.c4 c6 28.cxd5 cxd5 29.Rc1 Qb7 30.Rdc2 Rac8 31.Qb4 h5 32.Qb5 h4 33.Be1 Rc6 34.cxb6 Rxb6 35.Qa5 Rd7 36.Ba4 Ra6 37.Qb5 Qxb5 38.Bxb5 Ra3 39.Bxd7 Bxd7 40.Rc5 Be6 41.f5 Bxf5 42.Rxd5 Be6 43.Rd8+ Kh7 44.Bc3 h3 45.d5 Bf5 46.Rc2 Kh6 47.d6 hxg2 48.Kxg2 Kg5 49.Kg3 Be6 50.d7 a6 51.Bd4 Rd3 52.Rc6 1–0

Tal Memorial –2008, Result

The Tal Memorial is taking place in Moscow 17th-31st August. The players are: Vladimir Kramnik, Alexander Morozevich, Evgeny Alekseev, Vassily Ivanchuk, Alexei Shirov, Gata Kamsky, Ruslan Ponomariov, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Peter Leko and Boris Gelfand. After the main event will take place a blitz tournament with qualfiers on the 27th and 28th and the invitees Anatoly Karpov and Magnus Carlsen.
1st round starts 18th August at 3pm local time (+3 GMT).

But things warmed up in round 7 with changes at the top and 4/5 games decisive, including a big set back for the previous leader Morozevich who lost to the ultimate victor, Ivanchuk.

 

Round 7
Ivanchuk - Morozevich 1-0
Gelfand - Kramnik 1/2
Ponomariov - Shirov 1-0
Alekseev - Mamedyarov 1-0
Kamsky - Leko 0-1

 

Final standings
1 Ivanchuk - 6.0
2-5 Morozevich, Gelfand, Ponomariov, Kramnik - 5.0
6 Leko - 4.5
7-8 Kamsky, Alekseev - 4.0
9 Mamedyarov - 3.5
10 Shirov - 3.0

Official site


The French Championship took place in Pau 11th-23rd August 2008. –Result

Final standings:
1-2 Bacrot, Vachier-Lagrave - 8.5
3 Fressinet - 7.0
4-5 Bauer, Maze - 6.0
6 Sokolov - 5.5
7 Feller - 5.0
8-9 Nataf, Abergel - 4.5
10 Degraeve - 4.0
11 Apicella - 3.5
12 Vaisser - 2.5

Etienne Bacrot [caption] won the Play-off against Vachier-Lagrave 1-0, 1/2
Official site

Women’s World Championship

For a week the official fide site hasn’t worked, so I hesitate to offer it to readers, but perhaps it will have improved by the time you attempt it – relays from other sites also fail - nalchik2008.fide.com. The only news I have, if it can be called news, are those players who refused to play for safety reasons, and here they are:

Zapata, Karen PER
Sebag, Marie FRA
Chiburdanidze, Maya GEO
Krush, Irina USA
Javakhishvili, Lela GEO
Korbut, Ekaterina RUS
Gvetadze, Sopio GEO
Bosboom Lanchava, Tea NED
Lomineishvili, Maia GEO
Khukhashvili, Sopiko GEO
Khurtsidze, Nino GEO

The first day’s play was marked by the absent players’ boards being set-up then forfeited to their opponents.

In the world of real politics Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Friday that Russia will not be isolated over its conduct in Georgia and warned the Europe not to "serve" the United States.  He also stressed Russia does not fear any Western sanctions, saying that if forced to choose between life and sausage, "we choose life."

It seems to this writer that the absent women, when forced to choose between life and bombs, chose life.

8-23-2008

Un-Beatable Parrot!

After a magnificent season of applying captions and challenging the world to do better. Parrot declares victory and flies off. Beat the Parrot will return in the Fall. Last week’s effort is recorded below in Afore ye go.  {Editor's Note: We received the following image of an alleged Parrot sighting, without any accompanying explanation.  Readers are left to form their own conclusions about The Parrot's current, err, doings.]

Chess in Prison

I read about a chess in the prisons program this week in this article.

The program began in April when Carolyn Young, a counselor and classification administrator at the jail, decided that the maximum security prisoners, in jail for violent crimes, had little to do.

Young brought in a chess coach she knew from her church.  He taught at the jail briefly and then recommended Ken Clayton, 70, of Columbia, as his replacement.  Clayton is a master level chess player who previously taught chess in jail settings and as far afield as Vietnam.

Clayton said he volunteers at the jail to help the players turn their lives around.  "These guys made a mistake, they're going to have to pay for it, but they deserve a chance to do something differently," he said.

Jeremiah Lewis, 21, who was in jail on a violation of probation charge, said he had learned chess in school but was beginning to master the game through Clayton's lessons.

"It helps me use my brain more. I won't be so quick to lash out," Lewis said of the class. Lewis, who was released from jail Aug. 7, said he plans on pursuing the game further.

So this Parrot contacted Dave Rudel, author of the new Zuke-Em! title on the Colle-Zukertort, an all purpose white opening system, and said,

“Hey Dave, would you consider giving….”