Gibraltar LIVE!

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All news about Gibraltar Chess Festival here

Full participants list at this link

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Moscow Chess Tactic

White to move. How should white proceed?

Source: ChessToday.net

Can anyone stop Hou Yifan?

Final round pairings

Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
1	25	GM	Hou Yifan	2605	7½		7	GM	Mamedyarov Shakhriyar	2747	2
2	14	GM	Bologan Viktor	2680	7		7	GM	Adams Michael	2724	3
3	11	GM	Sasikiran Krishnan	2700	7		7	GM	Short Nigel D	2677	15
4	10	GM	Movsesian Sergei	2700	6½		6½	GM	Svidler Peter	2749	1
5	21	GM	Gustafsson Jan	2643	6½		6½	GM	Almasi Zoltan	2717	4
6	22	GM	Negi Parimarjan	2641	6½		6½	GM	Le Quang Liem	2714	5
7	23	GM	Erdos Viktor	2634	6½		6½	GM	Sutovsky Emil	2703	9
8	27	GM	Howell David W L	2603	6½		6	GM	Shirov Alexei	2710	7
9	6	GM	Polgar Judit	2710	6		6	GM	Korchnoi Viktor	2558	37
10	8	GM	Laznicka Viktor	2704	6		6	GM	Rapport Richard	2543	39
11	38	GM	Berg Emanuel	2550	6		6	GM	Vachier-Lagrave Maxime	2699	12
12	41	GM	Dzagnidze Nana	2535	6		6	GM	Sargissian Gabriel	2683	13
13	16	GM	Fridman Daniel	2660	6		6	GM	Al-Sayed Mohammed	2524	45
14	42	GM	Del Rio De Angelis Salvador G	2531	6		6	GM	Gupta Abhijeet	2652	17
15	18	GM	Parligras Mircea-Emilian	2650	6		6	GM	Kanep Meelis	2509	48
16	46	GM	Stefanova Antoaneta	2523	6		6	GM	Iturrizaga Edoardo	2649	19
17	24	GM	Akobian Varuzhan	2617	6		6	GM	Cabrera Alexis	2504	52
18	28	GM	David Alberto	2598	6		6	GM	Salem A R Saleh	2505	51
19	30	GM	Brunello Sabino	2581	6		6	GM	El Debs Felipe De Cresce	2497	54
20	56	GM	Cramling Pia	2491	6		6	GM	Kulaots Kaido	2581	31
21	34	GM	Jussupow Artur	2569	6		6	GM	Womacka Mathias	2455	62
22	59	GM	Zhu Chen	2472	6		6	GM	Gopal G N	2566	35

Full final round pairings: http://chess-results.com/tnr63931.aspx

Sevillano Wins 15th Metropolitan Chess FIDE Invitational

IM Enrico Sevillano Wins 15th Metropolitan Chess FIDE Invitational
Feb 1, 2012

Metropolitan Chess, Inc. hosted an International Master norm round robin tournament on January 25th to 29th 2012.

This tournament is the 15th in its series and was held in Suite C1002 of the California Market Center on 110 East 9th Street, Los Angeles 90079. The tournament was organized by Ankit Gupta.

The participants included: IM Zhanibek Amanov (KAZ), IM Andranik Matikozyan (ARM), IM Enrico Sevillano (USA), FM Harutyan Akopyan (USA), FM Mark Duckworth (USA), FM Konstantin Kavutskiy (USA), Vadim Kudryavtsev (RUS), Garush Manukyan (ARM), and NM Craig Clawitter (USA).

The tournament was won by IM Enrico Sevillano in a convincing fashion with a score of 7.5-1.5. No norms were achieved.

The only non international master who was able to hold IM Sevillano to a draw, FM Konstantin Kavutskiy, came closest to an IM norm performance with a score of 5.5-3.5. 6.5 was necessary for the norm.

The tournament was a 10 player round-robin (all play all), with rounds scheduled as follows – 25th: 7:00 PM, 26th: 11:00 AM & 5:00 PM, 27th: 11:00 AM & 5:00 PM, 28th: 11:00 AM & 5:00 PM, 29th: 10:00 AM & 4:00 PM.

The tournament was sponsored by California Market Center, Fashion Business, Inc, Chess.com, MonRoi, LawyerFy, and Betty Bottom Showroom.

The standings can be found on the Metropolitan Chess, Inc. website at: http://metrochessla.com/schedule.php

64 squares and 100X that in laughs

64 squares and 100X that in laughs from Lisa Suhay on Vimeo.

Mr. Brian was AWOL from chess tonight, so poor Curtis took all the hits and loved every minute of it. From getting the stare-down from a 5-year-old, to trash-talking with the boy Brian challenged last week, it was a fun night at Lamberts Point Community Center. Even Mr. Ronning reversed his position on the fun factor of the game!

Leading the pack with one round to go

Leaders after 9 rounds

Rk.		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1
1	GM	Hou Yifan	CHN	2605	7.5	2892.0
2	GM	Adams Michael	ENG	2724	7.0	2826.0
3	GM	Mamedyarov Shakhriyar	AZE	2747	7.0	2808.0
4	GM	Short Nigel D	ENG	2677	7.0	2807.0
5	GM	Sasikiran Krishnan	IND	2700	7.0	2776.0
6	GM	Bologan Viktor	MDA	2680	7.0	2740.0
7	GM	Le Quang Liem	VIE	2714	6.5	2744.0
8	GM	Almasi Zoltan	HUN	2717	6.5	2740.0
9	GM	Howell David W L	ENG	2603	6.5	2727.0
10	GM	Movsesian Sergei	ARM	2700	6.5	2707.0
11	GM	Svidler Peter	RUS	2749	6.5	2701.0
12	GM	Negi Parimarjan	IND	2641	6.5	2692.0
13	GM	Erdos Viktor	HUN	2634	6.5	2633.0
14	GM	Sutovsky Emil	ISR	2703	6.5	2624.0
15	GM	Gustafsson Jan	GER	2643	6.5	2618.0
16	GM	Gopal G N	IND	2566	6.0	2669.0
17	GM	Polgar Judit	HUN	2710	6.0	2668.0
18	GM	Dzagnidze Nana	GEO	2535	6.0	2658.0
19	GM	Laznicka Viktor	CZE	2704	6.0	2656.0
20	GM	David Alberto	LUX	2598	6.0	2642.0
21	GM	Shirov Alexei	LAT	2710	6.0	2635.0
	GM	Parligras Mircea-Emilian	ROU	2650	6.0	2635.0
23	GM	Brunello Sabino	ITA	2581	6.0	2633.0
24	GM	Kulaots Kaido	EST	2581	6.0	2619.0
25	GM	Akobian Varuzhan	USA	2617	6.0	2614.0
26	GM	Rapport Richard	HUN	2543	6.0	2605.0
27	GM	Zhu Chen	QAT	2472	6.0	2604.0
28	GM	Fridman Daniel	GER	2660	6.0	2603.0
29	GM	Vachier-Lagrave Maxime	FRA	2699	6.0	2601.0
30	GM	Jussupow Artur	GER	2569	6.0	2600.0
31	GM	Cramling Pia	SWE	2491	6.0	2595.0
32	GM	El Debs Felipe De Cresce	BRA	2497	6.0	2585.0
33	GM	Salem A R Saleh	UAE	2505	6.0	2583.0
34	GM	Stefanova Antoaneta	BUL	2523	6.0	2565.0
35	GM	Sargissian Gabriel	ARM	2683	6.0	2560.0

Full standings: http://chess-results.com/tnr63931.aspx

Spectacular performance by the young phenom in Gibraltar

Round by round results

Rd.	Bo.	SNo		Name	Rtg	FED	Pts.	Res.
1	25	93	FM	Schiendorfer Emanuel	2354	SUI	5.0	w 1
2	21	61	IM	Hunt Adam C	2462	ENG	4.5	s 1
3	3	4	GM	Almasi Zoltan	2717	HUN	6.0	w 1
4	1	3	GM	Adams Michael	2724	ENG	6.5	w ½
5	5	11	GM	Sasikiran Krishnan	2700	IND	6.0	s 0
6	18	57	IM	Muzychuk Mariya	2483	UKR	4.5	s 1
7	7	6	GM	Polgar Judit	2710	HUN	5.5	w 1
8	3	5	GM	Le Quang Liem	2714	VIE	5.5	w 1
9	2	7	GM	Shirov Alexei	2710	LAT	6.0	s 1

Going into the final round, Hou Yifan is leading Gibraltar with 7.5 points / 9, with wins over four 2700+ players!

Hou Yifan takes down another 2700, leads Gibraltar

Round 9 top board results

Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
1	4	GM	Almasi Zoltan	2717	6	½ - ½	6½	GM	Adams Michael	2724	3
2	7	GM	Shirov Alexei	2710	6	0 - 1	6½	GM	Hou Yifan	2605	25
3	1	GM	Svidler Peter	2749	6	½ - ½	6	GM	Negi Parimarjan	2641	22
4	2	GM	Mamedyarov Shakhriyar	2747	6	1 - 0	6	GM	Akobian Varuzhan	2617	24
5	27	GM	Howell David W L	2603	6	½ - ½	6	GM	Movsesian Sergei	2700	10
6	39	GM	Rapport Richard	2543	6	0 - 1	6	GM	Sasikiran Krishnan	2700	11
7	35	GM	Gopal G N	2566	6	0 - 1	6	GM	Bologan Viktor	2680	14
8	51	GM	Salem A R Saleh	2505	6	0 - 1	6	GM	Short Nigel D	2677	15
9	5	GM	Le Quang Liem	2714	5½	1 - 0	5½	IM	Muzychuk Anna	2580	32
10	31	GM	Kulaots Kaido	2581	5½	½ - ½	5½	GM	Polgar Judit	2710	6
11	9	GM	Sutovsky Emil	2703	5½	1 - 0	5½	GM	Nabaty Tamir	2563	36
12	12	GM	Vachier-Lagrave Maxime	2699	5½	½ - ½	5½	GM	Dzagnidze Nana	2535	41
13	62	GM	Womacka Mathias	2455	5½	½ - ½	5½	GM	Fridman Daniel	2660	16
14	19	GM	Iturrizaga Edoardo	2649	5½	½ - ½	5½	GM	Del Rio De Angelis Salvador G	2531	42
15	21	GM	Gustafsson Jan	2643	5½	1 - 0	5½	FM	Kuipers Stefan	2391	84
16	23	GM	Erdos Viktor	2634	5½	1 - 0	5½	IM	Dvirnyy Daniyyl	2492	55
17	56	GM	Cramling Pia	2491	5½	½ - ½	5½	GM	Brunello Sabino	2581	30
18	29	GM	Koneru Humpy	2589	5	½ - ½	5½	GM	Zhu Chen	2472	59
19	60	IM	Krush Irina	2467	5	0 - 1	5	GM	Laznicka Viktor	2704	8
20	13	GM	Sargissian Gabriel	2683	5	1 - 0	5	IM	Hanley Craig A	2421	72
21	17	GM	Gupta Abhijeet	2652	5	1 - 0	5	IM	Javakhishvili Lela	2454	63
22	64	IM	Molner Mackenzie	2449	5	0 - 1	5	GM	Parligras Mircea-Emilian	2650	18
23	66	IM	Cernousek Lukas	2438	5	1 - 0	5	GM	Fier Alexandr	2603	26
24	68	IM	Lyrberg Patrik	2435	5	0 - 1	5	GM	David Alberto	2598	28
25	71	GM	Bellon Lopez Juan Manuel	2422	5	0 - 1	5	GM	Jussupow Artur	2569	34

Full results here: http://chess-results.com/tnr63931.aspx

World Amateur Chess Championship 2012

World Amateur Chess Championship 2012

The “Chess Academy of Thessaloniki”, the World Chess Federation (FIDE) and the Greek Chess Federation have the honour of inviting all national chess federations and eligible players in the FIDE World Amateur Chess Championship 2012 to be held in the 5-star Porto Carras Grand Resort in Halkidiki, Northern Greece from 16 April (1st round) to 22 April (9th round).

The participants shall not have a FIDE title or published FIDE rating above 2000 at the start of the tournament nor had such a rating for at least two years prior to the start of the event. The World Amateur Championship is open to all eligible chess players registered with their federation. FIDE-member federations shall have the right to send as many players as they wish. The World Amateur Women’s Championship shall be held as part of the World Amateur Championship and female contestants will be eligible to win both titles.

Full regulations in English (PDF)

Full regulations in German (PDF)

Full regulations in Russian

Full regulations in Greek (PDF)

Side events

The 4th International Open Chess Tournament “Alexander the Great”, which will be held with open participation and nine (9) rounds Swiss system for players with a FIDE rating of over 2000.

The tournament will be held in the 5-star “Porto Carras Grand Resort” on the seaside of Halkidiki, Northern Greece from 16 April (1st round) to 22 April (9th round) 2012. A limited number of players with a FIDE rating below 2000 may be accepted by the Organising Committee to play in the “Alexander the Great” tournament.

Time control: for each player 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from the 1st move. The FIDE system rules are valid and the tournament will be FIDE rated.

Players with a FIDE rating of 2000 and less can participate in the parallel “World Amateur Championship 2012″ which will also be held the same dates in Porto Carras, in accordance with FIDE regulations.

The 2nd international Youth Chess Open Tournament “Hebe 2012″, which will be held with open participation and seven (7) rounds Swiss system. The tournament will be held in Hotel Porto Carras Grand Resort, Halkidiki from 16 April (1st round) to 22 April 2012 (7th round).

Time control for each player is 90 minutes for the whole of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 1. The FIDE system rules are valid.

The tournament will be FIDE rated and is for Juniors/Girls U14 (born in 1998 and afterwards) with less than 1500 FIDE Rating.

Turkish Championship

Dear Friends!

Turkish Chess Championships among women and men is under way in Kemer, Antalya and will continue till 5th of February. The fifth round was a successful day for Turkish youngsters – Vahap Sanal, Batuhan Dastan, Cemil Can and Volkan Sevgi (all members of the National team) defeated rating favourites of their matches. Batuhan Dastan, playing Black, managed to win against defending Turkish Champion GM Emre Can. After the fifth round Solak Dragan, Umut Atakisi, Vahap Sanal and Cemil Can are leading in the championship with 100% result.

In women championship the key game between strongest Turkish players Betul Yildiz and Kubra Ozturk took place in the sixth round. Kubra Ozturk, playing with White pieces, managed to defeat her teammate and took a lead in the event together with ARIĞ BÜŞRA Busra Arig with 5.5 points after 6 games. Betul Yildiz placed third half .

Tournament is organized with help and sponsorship of Turkish Chess Federation, Is Bank and Arzum Company.

Official websites: http://tr2012.tsf.org.tr/
http://kadinlar2012.tsf.org.tr/
Live games: http://tr2012.tsf.org.tr/tr/canli-yayin

Pictures by Anastasiya Karlovich

With best wishes, Anastasiya Karlovich
member of press team

Gibraltar LIVE!

The Gibraltar Chess Festival 2012 will be live daily on Chessdom.com with analysis by the Houdini 2.0 engine. Games start at 14:00 CET.

All news about Gibraltar Chess Festival here

Full participants list at this link

Live chess broadcast powered by ChessBomb and Chessdom

Kids friendly chess artwork

Awesome chess artwork (kids friendly) by Mike Magnan: http://www.magnanschessblog.blogspot.com/

You can even buy his work for your home or chess club. Feel free to check it out.

Is a chess federation relevant?

Chess, Scrabble Federations Face Sack
01 Feb 2012
By Olawale Ajimotokan

Supervising Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has canvassed for the streamlining of the national sports associations in order to save costs and make them (federations) to be efficient.

Abdullahi, who is the substantive Minister of Youth Development, made the submission during the public hearing conducted by the House of Representatives Committee on Sports when the NSC appeared before it to defend its budget for year 2012.

According to the minister, the current 37-federation structure is superfluous because the country was not in position to competently fund all of them.

He questioned the relevance of federations like Chess and Scrabble, stressing that the National Sports Commission (NSC) can derive comparative advantage by streamlining these federations to a manageable 10 sports associations that can get results for the country.

He said the rest can continue to exist if they can source their own funds instead of depending on government’s subvention.

“We have all kinds of federations that we don’t even know whether they are hobbies or sports. We should be known for something instead of 37 sports federations. Do we need to give funds to sports like Chess, Ludo and Scrabble which are hobbies and not sports? Let’s ask ourselves, as a country though we have potentials for Ayo Olopon (Ayo), what benefit will Nigeria derive in funding it?” Abdullahi queried.

According to him, the Sports Commission has resolved to go into wider consultation and reach a consensus on the sports that Nigeria can focus on because “there is no point spreading resource so thin on every sport because you want to carry everybody along.”

There is always a concern about policy sustainability in Nigeria sports. Even as the Minister is proposing to streamline these federations, a new administration may step in later to reverse such decision.

But despite such concern, the Minister said the NSC is bound to make the streamlining policy work, in the sense that if it is successful, which ever new office holder will be proud to associate with it.

Similarly, he described the endless power tussle among factions in Nigerian football as ‘political’, and not legal. He insisted that the NSC will soon bring the warring factions to a round table discussion to talk out their differences.

Two weeks ago, a federal high court of competent jurisdiction, threw Nigerian football into confusion by pronouncing the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Nigeria Premier League (NPL) as aberration.

Source: http://www.thisdaylive.com

Alexei Shirov shows win over Jussupow

Alexei Shirov shows win over Jussupow (Gibraltar Chess Festival - Round 8)

Moscow 2012 LIVE

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