Thursday, May 17, 2012
Interesting WC game 5 video
How does Sveshnikov feel about Gelfand employing his opening? See for yourself. Video provided by our friends at Europe Echecs.
Kasparov in Moscow
GARRY KASPAROV TO BE GUEST OF HONOUR AT WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Garry Kasparov, the 13th world champion, will be a guest of honour at the world chess championship match on 18 May. Garry Kimovich will answer questions from journalists and comment on the match, and will also play a simultaneous exhibition game for young chess players.
A press conference with the 13th champion will take place at 15:15 in the Match press centre, which is operating in the Engineering Building of the Tretyakov Gallery (Lavrushinsky Lane, 12).
When the press conference ends at 16:00 Garry Kasparov will visit the match commentators and will join Alexander Grischuk (in Russian) and Peter Svidler (in English) to discuss the sixth game in the match. Garry Kasparov’s comments will be available not only to the spectators but also to visitors to the official website for the match: http://moscow2012.fide.com/
At 17:00 the famous grandmaster will play a simultaneous exhibition game for young chess players who are taking part in the children’s programme at the match. Prize winners and winners in the world, Russian and European children’s championships will be taking part in the game.
Access to all events at the FIDE world chess championship match is by accredited pass. If you are not accredited to the match, you can send an application for accreditation to the press conference to: korneva@skc-agency.ru or you can obtain accreditation by calling +7 (905) 506-26-04.
***
The FIDE World Chess Championship match between the world champion Viswanathan Anand (India) and the challenger Boris Gelfand (Israel) will take place from 10 to 31 May 2012 in the Engineering Building of the State Tretyakov Gallery. Chess championship match will be taking place in one of the world’s biggest museums for the first time.
Organisers of the match are FIDE (the World Chess Federation) and the RCF (the Russian Chess Federation). Initiator of the idea of holding the match in Moscow and its sponsor is the Russian entrepreneur Andrei Filatov (joint owner of the N-Trans Group). Other sponsors of the contest include businessman Gennady Timchenko and the Ladoga charitable foundation, and also the NVisionGroup, Novatek and Almaz-Antei companies.
Contact information for journalists:
Mark Glukhovsky
Press Attaché for the Russian Chess Federation
Israelis flock to Moscow to show support for Gelfand
Israelis flock to Moscow to show support for Gelfand
Last Updated: Thursday, May 17, 2012, 17:56
Jerusalem: Chess may not be among the most popular sports in Israel, but a lot of Israelis are flocking to Moscow to cheer countryman Boris Gelfand who is in pursuit to dislodge Indian Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand as the world`s leading chess player at the FIDE world championship.
"Israelis are indeed showing their pride and support for Gelfand. Many hardcore chess fans have come to Moscow to see the match in person, as opposed to following it online like tens of thousands of others are doing," reported daily Ha`aretz, as the championship is generating more and more interest in the Israeli public.
Several Israelis arrived in the Russian capital a few days before the match started. Even though lodging in one of the world`s most expensive cities requires both daring and deep pockets, many continue to follow as the match enters the final stages.
"And those aren`t even the bulk of Gelfand`s supporters, who are expected to arrive next week. That group includes several high-ranking chess players and a fair number of amateurs, who decided to combine a tour of Moscow`s countless historical sites with the final stage of the match," the report added.
A lot of these amateur and professional chess players have gathered in the centre of Israel to watch the match.
"Of course, the chess players are excited about this," Yoav Nissenbaum, a member of the Israel Chess Federation said, adding, "This is the first time that an Israeli has made it to the world championship." Ido Ben Artzi, a 17-year-old grandmaster, says that he hardly misses a single move in the match.
"I try to get home in time. I go over the game and see what I think of every single move, without relying on the commentary for help. That`s how I put myself in the players` places," he said.
Source: http://zeenews.india.com
Anand - Gelfand g5 LIVE!
Live chess broadcast powered by ChessBomb and Chessdom
Anand is going for it. 1.e4! A shocker! And Gelfand responds with 1.c5 We have a sharp Sicilian!
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 We have the Sveshnikov even though Gelfand is also a Najdorf expert
7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c4 More popular is 11. c3
11...b4 12. Nc2 0-0 I think Anand may be surprised by Gelfand's opening response. Anand is not playing the sharpest line. When will the novelty come?
13.g3 a5 14. Bg2 Here white could play 14. h4 but chose not to. Still opening book and no new novelty.
14...Bg5 The idea is if h4 then Bh6 Interesting to see the guessing WC game by both players. Anand opened with e4 only to have Gelfand not play his pet Najdorf. Both of them are old foxes. They're using their experience to avoid possible home prep. With computer technology today, it can be dangerous.
15. 0-0 Be6 Also popular is 15...Ne7
Very interesting. After 16. f4, Gelfand played 16...Bxd5. Anand is thinking hard about what to take back with.
Anand took back with 17.cxd5 and not 17. exd5. I am still shocked with 16...Bxd5. This is considered not so great.
17...Nb8 Nice post for the Knight at c5 after Nd7. I'm sure 16...Bxd5 was a part of his home preparation. He played it quite fast :)
18. a3 Na6 This is unusual but Gelfand played it instantly.
19. axb4 Nxb4 20. Nxb4 axb4 21. h4 Bh6 Even though we have even materials, white is slightly better because of black's Bishop on h6, kind of out of the way. White should focus perhaps on the queenside.
22.Bh3 An unexpected move, perhaps to stop black's access to the c file. If black plays Qb6 then Bishop can go to d7.
Gelfand is spending a lot of time in this position. He is looking for the least dramatic, most effective way to simplify this position for a draw.
So finally 22...Qb6. I expect 23. Bd7 from Anand now.
23. Bd7 it is. Gelfand responded immediately with b3
24. Bc6 Ra2 25. Rxa2 bxa2 26. Qa3 This is heading to another draw.
26...Rb8 27. Qxa2 and they agreed to a draw less than 2 hours into the game.
Pravin Thipsay: Anand has aces up his sleeve
Pravin Thipsay: Anand has aces up his sleeve
Published Thursday May 17 2012 11 00 IST
By Vijay Tagore | Place Mumbai | Agency DNA.
The world championship match between Viswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand is intriguingly poised with neither player showing signs of dominance. With the scores level after four games, it has so far appeared to be a battle of equals although Anand is over 60 Elo points ahead of his Israeli challenger.
In that sense, the scoreline is a setback for the world champion who is also known to be good beginner. But experts believe Anand has a few aces up his sleeve. “I expect him to come out with surprises in the next two set of games. I’m sure he will be plus one by the eighth game,” says Pravin Thipsay.
The Mumbai-based Grandmaster thinks Anand’s secret weapon could be e4 and he could come up trumps in the Sicilian Najdorf or Petroff openings. “So far he has played d4. He’s strong at e4 as well. He will use this at some stage. Gelfand has been a Sicilian Najdorf (an option to e4 opening) player for the last 30 years. He got results in the Petroff Defence (an offshoot of e4 opening) on occasions. Anand has good results in both Petroff and Najdorf,” Thipsay says, analysing the options before the Indian maestro. “When and where Anand plays e4 will be interesting to watch.”
The former national champion thinks Anand’s strategy could unravel in the next two or three games as he will not want to leave it till the end. “Anand has something in his mind which will be clear in the next two sets of games. Obviously, Anand will not want to leave it till the end. I’m sure Anand will try to take lead in the next four games. By Game 8, I’m hoping him to be plus one.”
Thipsay says there has not been a clear-cut trend so far in the match. “It has been a very well-fought theoretical battle without advantage or disadvantage for either player. The first two games were more or less equal. In Game 3, Anand had an edge but Gelfand played accurately and in Game 4, Gelfand was better but Anand came up with precise moves.”
The veteran GM says he is baffled by Anand’s strategy. “I’m still trying to figure out what the strategies have been. Anand will be comfortable when his opponent is tired. He has been hoping for an opponent who is elder to him. So Gelfand suits him as an opponent and yet he could not do much in Game 4. I was expecting something from Anand as Game 3 was long and Gelfand had to toil for a draw. He was tired and I hoped Anand would try something different. My judgment was wrong. Maybe he has deferred his plans by a few games,” Thipsay points out.
Thipsay admits Gelfand has prepared well. “If Anand has not taken the lead so far, it is because Gelfand has come up with good preparation. Qualitatively, he is quite a strong player. He is a product of the Soviet system in which the players are imparted nuances of the game. So, they have inbuilt advantage over others.”
Source: http://www.dnaindia.com
Nakamura, Kamsky Win, Zatonskih and Krush Draw
For more information, please contact:
Mike Wilmering
Communications Specialist
Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis
For Immediate Release
Nakamura, Kamsky Win, Zatonskih and Krush Draw
By FM Mike Klein
The 2012 U.S. Championship and U.S. Women's Championship did not change leadership today, though the two tournaments produced much different levels of excitement.
With the two top seeds in each division pulling away from the pack, GM Gata Kamsky exuded his usual perfection in positional chess to give GM Alex Lenderman his first loss of the event. That left the crowd watching to see if GM Hikaru Nakamura, the top seed in the U.S. Championship, could keep pace.
After an unusual French Defense led to a stolid middlegame with no obvious breakthrough, it looked like Nakamura and GM Alex Stripunsky would admit the impasse and agree to a draw. After his own game ended, Kamsky looked on from the press room and had a different opinion. He suggested Nakamura prepare his f-pawn's advance, which Nakamura managed in due time. “White has no counterplay and is lost completely,” Kamsky concluded almost instantly.
Sensing the infiltration, Stripunsky was unwilling to wait for the inevitable. He sacrificed a piece, then the exchange, then later, with his time running out, another exchange. The final salvo proved too much. Though he engineered a quintet of passed pawns, Nakamura's rook took post on the eighth rank to parry all the possible promotions. Stripunsky saw his pawns were stuck and resigned. After the game, a quick analysis by the players produced a myriad of variations. Enlisting the help of other players produced more questions than answers. “White's winning, no black's winning, no white's winning,” GM Yasser Seirawan said.
Kamsky's win lacked similar drama. After repulsing any queenside attacking ideas, he eventually advanced five pawns to the fifth rank in picturesque uniformity. After 18...Bh5, Kamsky said his position was “completely OK.” Then he took a closer look and declared, “Actually, maybe it's not so pleasant for white.” The space advantage, coupled with a belligerent knight, was too much for Lenderman to handle.
“The game got away from me quickly somehow,” a flummoxed Lenderman said. “There were so many choices for white, but I couldn't find a way to make the maximum of all my pieces. I was trying to calculate lines before outlining strategic possibilities.” In a moment of extreme candor from the 22-year-old, he added, “The position was just too complicated for me. Chess understanding is just not there for me. Good thing I am playing in this tournament. I keep trying to make 'professor' moves where I try to do too much. I keep making this mistake against 2700s.”
Kamsky and Nakamura both have 6/8 and will play each other on Friday. Should there be a winner, he will be the betting favorite to win the title.
Chasing the two leaders is a trio of grandmasters. GMs Alex Onischuk, Varuzhan Akobian and Yury Shulman all have 4.5/8. Taken together, the top five men comprise the U.S. Olympiad team from 2008, the last time the squad won a team medal.
Akobian won the only other decisive game of the day, besting GM Alejandro Ramirez in a wild game. “It was an unusual position,” Akobian said. Ramirez pushed ...c5, ...b5, ...f5 and ...g5 all in the first 11 moves. He left his center pawns at home while traversing his queen from one rook file to the other. “I was a little too optimistic,” Ramirez replied. “I wanted to play something interesting, but it backfired.”
Akobian said he spent 20 minutes in the opening calculating the unusual tactic 8. b4. If 8...axb3 e.p., the queen hangs. If 8...Qxb4, 9. Rb1 skewers the queen to the bishop. But if 8...cxb4 the pawn blocks the diagonal pin so 9. Nxe4 is possible. A possible variation is 9...b3+ 10. Ned2 b2 11. Ra2 a3 12. e4 Na6 (heading to b4) 13. Bxa6 Bxa6. Upon seeing this position, both players liked their position. Ramirez thought the b2-pawn and white's inability to castle offset his material loss. Ultimately, Akobian said he could not accurately evaluate the position, and headed for calmer waters with 8. c3.
GM Gregory Kaidanov played his second queen versus three minor piece game, this time departing with the monarch to try his hand with the knights and bishops. Earlier in the tournament, GM Robert Hess trapped Kaidanov's queen on the back rank. This time the queen had more space, but with no major weaknesses for either side, Kaidanov and his former student, GM Ray Robson, agreed to a draw.
In the women's side of the playing hall, IMs Zatonskih and Krush renewed their annual rivalry in round 7. Though a great majority of the their previous contests had produced a winner, Krush had little incentive to go for an unbalanced game. Playing black, Krush liquidated the position's energy and the ladies agreed to a lifeless draw. They both still lead with 5/7.
Zatonskih regretted the move 12. Bf4, which allowed Krush to centralize with 12...Nd5 and win a tempo. “It is just fantastic how I played this,” Zatonskih said, chastising herself. She was using the literal connotation of “fantastic,” expressing that the move was unexplainable and bad. Afterward, she thought for 40 minutes.
Krush said a plan with b4 would have created a few problems for her, but ultimately she was never worried. “I just tried to play solid today,” she said. Although her pairings for the final two rounds are significantly easier than Zatonskih's, Krush said, “The tournament is not over. There's no reason to be joyous.”
The players shared a funny possible drawing line. If 15...a6 16. Nbc3 Nd4 17. Rc1 Nb3 18. Rc2 Nd4 19. Rd2 Nb3 20. Rd3 Nc1 and the rook either returns or goes wandering aimlessly.
IM Rusudan Goletiani took sole possession of third place after her win against WGM Tatev Abrahamyan. With a pawn deficit and short on time, Goletiani threw all of her pawns at her opponent's castled king, breaking through for the point. While she does not control her own destiny, Goletiani faces Zatonskih tomorrow as white in a game both women will be trying to win to stay alive for first place. If Zatonskih wins, Goletiani will be mathematically eliminated from title contention.
WGM Sabina Foisor was the only other winner of the round. She used the Samisch Variation to beat FM Alisa Melekhina's favorite King's Indian Defense. With king's castled on opposite sides, Melekhina could not open an attack, and eventually ceded control of the only open file. Foisor's rook took control and dominated in the endgame. Foisor is in sole fourth place with 4/7.
Round nine for the U.S. Championship and round eight for the U.S. Women's Championship will begin tomorrow at 1 p.m. Central, 2 p.m. Eastern. Come visit the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis.
Tactical review
White to move. Is this a win, draw, or loss for White? What is the best continuation for White?
6k1/R4p2/1p2b2P/4KpP1/4p3/4P3/p7/n7 w - - 0 1
Fabiano Caruana lifts the trophy at Sigeman
Fabiano Caruana lifts the trophy at Sigeman & Co Chess Tournament
The 20th edition of the Sigeman Chess Tournament was organized by Limhamn Chess Club on 9-16th May in Malmö, Sweden.
This year the event had a round robin format with eight players. The additional sponsorship boosted the level of the tournament which featured the strongest lineup ever.
The Italian champion Fabiano Caruana won the competition with an excellent score of 5.5/7 points, leaving the main contender Peter Leko of Hungary half a point behind.
Leko followed the strong pace imposed by the leader and his last-round victory against the over-ambitious Li Chao put some pressure on Caruana. The Italian, however, confidently outplayed Jonny Hector and preserved the top position.
The local hope Nils Grandelius was in the mix for the top two places until he lost to the future tournament winner.
Replay all games with computer analysis
Final standings:
1. GM Caruana Fabiano ITA 2770 – 5.5
2. GM Leko Peter HUN 2723 – 5
3-4. GM Grandelius Nils SWE 2556 and GM Giri Anish NED 2693 – 4
5. GM Li Chao CHN 2703 – 3
6. GM Tikkanen Hans SWE 2566 – 2.5
7-8. GM Berg Emanuel SWE 2587 and GM Hector Jonny SWE 2560 – 2
Susan Polgar Nationwide Open for Boys and Girls
THE SUSAN POLGAR FOUNDATION’S NATIONWIDE OPEN FOR GIRLS & BOYS (K-12)
A Fantastic Tournament in a Great Location!
http://www.cajunchess.com/tourns/tournament20.shtml
June 1 – 3, 2012
(Friday – Sunday *** SAVE THE DATES!!)
Holiday Inn Downtown Superdome
330 Loyola Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70112
The Holiday Inn Downtown-Superdome is located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, just 3 blocks from the French Quarter. Hotel features include: free shuttle, restaurant, pool, and more!
UP TO $100,000 IN PRIZES – SCHOLARSHIPS TO TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
MAIN EVENT: Team & Individual - 6-Round Swiss System
SIDE EVENTS: Bughouse – Blitz – Puzzle Solving – Polgar Simul – Aquatic Simul
$99 Hotel Room Rate
* Top 3 player scores count toward team result
* School or club team trophies awarded in each section
* Special Camp with Susan Polgar
* Breakfast With Susan Polgar (Q & A Session)
Team & Individual Competition
- Open Championship Details (for Main Event and Side Events)
- Secure On-line Registration/Entry for Open Championship (6SS, G/45)
- Secure On-line Registration/Entry for GM Susan Polgar Chess Camp
- Secure On-line Registration/Entry for Chess Puzzle Solving Championship
- Secure On-line Registration/Entry for Bughouse Championship
- Secure On-line Registration/Entry for Blitz Championship (7SS, G/5)
- Secure On-line Registration/Entry for ADULT Breakfast at Brennan's with GM Susan Polgar
- Secure On-line Registration/Entry for CHILD Breakfast at Brennan's with GM Susan Polgar
If you will be in New Orleans long enough to experience some of the wonderful culture that the city has to offer, may we suggest some of the following tours:
Steamboat Natchez Cruise: Cruise the Mississippi River on a paddlewheeler from the port of New Orleans to the Audubon Zoo and see the city skyline from the best view possible . . . the River View!
Oak Alley or Laura Plantation Tour: Go back to the glory of the old South as you walk through one of these plantation homes, rich in Creole Louisiana's storied past!
Other tours you may enjoy: French Quarter Walking Tour, Garden District Walking Tour, Cemetery Walking Tour (visit St. Louis Cemetery #1 and see the gravesites of Paul Morphy - World Chess Champion in the mid-1850s - and Marie Laveau (the infamous Voo-Doo Queen of New Orleans); visit Mardi Gras World (where Mardi Gras floats are built and Carnival comes alive!).
Other Interesting Places to Visit and Things to Do Around Town:
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, Audubon Insectarium, national World War II Museum, Louisiana Children's Museum, Audubon Park & Zoo, take a ferry boat ride across the Mississippi River, and take a street car ride up St. Charles Avenue in the Garden District to see all of the mansions along the Avenue.
A MUST FOR EVERY TOURIST:
Take a walk down to Decatur St. by the River in the French Quarter and see Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, the French Quarter, and be absolutely sure that you get a chance to have some Cafe au Lait (Cafe O-lay) and Beignets (ben-yeh's) - also known as Coffee & Doughnuts - at the famous Cafe du Monde across from Jackson Square! This will be an experience you will not soon forget! If you have time you can also take a Horse & Carriage ride through the streets of New Orleans with a driver who is an experienced tour guide.
But, whatever you do in New Orleans, make sure you HAVE FUN ! ! ! !
http://www.cajunchess.com/tourns/tournament20.shtml
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