Susan Polgar Chess Daily News and Information

at 7/17/2009 07:45:00 PM

White to move and checkmate in 6. No computer analysis please.

8/6pp/8/p5p1/P6k/8/4NNK1/8 w - - 0 2

at 7/17/2009 07:42:00 PM

Here is some excellent information by TWIC:

Name	NAT	Elo points	W Rank	Age	Past results
Boris Gelfand	ISR	2755	No 9	41	Winner in Biel in 1993 (Interzonal Tournament), 2005
Alexander Morozevich	RUS	2751	No 10	32	Winner in Biel in 2003, 2004, 2006
Evgeny Alekseev	RUS	2714	No 24	23	Winner in Biel in 2008
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave	FRA	2703	No 29	18	1st time in Biel
Vassily Ivanchuk	UKR	2703	No 30	40	Winner in Biel in 1989
Fabiano Caruana	ITA	2670	No 59	16	1st time in Biel

Official site: http://www.bielchessfestival.ch

at 7/17/2009 07:20:00 PM

New Chess Champion(s) will be Crowned at Texas Tech University

by Dr. Rich Rice, Texas Tech University

The sixth, annual Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls (SPNI), which is the most prestigious all-girls national championship in the United States, will take place July 26-31, 2009 at the Frazier Alumni Pavilion on the Texas Tech University (TTU) campus in Lubbock, Texas.

To be eligible to play, each state can nominate one talented young female chess player 18-years-old or younger. Winning the Susan Polgar National Open for Girls or the Susan Polgar World Open for Girls also qualifies one to compete at SPNI. The defending champion and current members of the Susan Polgar All-Star Chess Team also receive invitations. Thousands of girls compete annually in a variety of events to gain eligibility.

This is the second year that Texas Tech University will host this prestigious event, and it has an agreement with the USCF to do so until 2017. Thanks to the generous sponsorship from the TTU’s Provost’s office, each qualified player receives free accommodation on TTU’s campus at Gordon Hall, as well as three free meals a day on campus at the “Fresh Plate” for the duration of the six-day event. In addition, TTU will award a four-year academic scholarship each year to the highest-finishing player who has not graduated from high school by August of the year of the tournament.

A record fifty-two players from across the country participated in the main event in 2008. The winner of the 2008 SPNI was Courtney Jamison of Texas. This year, the record will be broken as sixty young and talented young female players have already confirmed their participation.

Previous first-place winners include:

2008: Courtney Jamison (Texas)

2007: Julia Kerr (New York) and Eunice Rodriguez (Florida)

2006: WFM Abby Marshall (Virginia)

2005: WGM Anya Corke (California), WIM Alisa Melekhina (Pennsylvania), and WFM Abby Marshall (Ohio)

2004: WFM Roza Eynullayeva (Massachusetts)

Over $150,000 in scholarship and prizes will be awarded in this national championship annually, and an additional $25,000 is budgeted for housing, meals, and organizational cost. This level of support for chess from a University is unprecedented. For rules and conditions see http://susanpolgar.blogspot.com/2009/02/2009-sp-national-invitational-for-girls.html.

Schedule for the Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls

July 25

5:00pm: “Warm-Up” Quads (G/30), R1 at 6pm (English Building)

July 26

1:30pm-2:30pm: Opening Ceremony (Frazier Alumni Pavilion)

3:00pm-6:30pm: SPNI R1 (Frazier)

8:00pm: Movie Night (English)

July 27

10:00am: Ribbon Cutting/Opening of the new TTU Chess Park (Student Union)

1:30pm-5:00pm: SPNI R2 and Parents/Friends Open R1 (Frazier)

7:00pm: SPNI Chess Puzzle-Solving Championship (Frazier)

7:30pm: Free lecture by Susan Polgar (Frazier)

July 28

10:00am: TTU Campus Tour

12:30pm: Meet and picture taking with the “Masked Rider” (Frazier)

1:30pm-5:00pm: SPNI R3 and Parents/Friends Open R2 (Frazier)

7:00pm: SPNI Blitz Championship (Frazier)

July 29

10:00am: SPNI Fun Basketball (Rec Center)

1:30pm-5:00pm: SPNI R4 and Parents/Friends Open R3 (Frazier)

7:00pm: SPNI Bughouse Championship (Frazier)

July 30

10:00am: TTU Campus Tour with free gift bags (Frazier)

1:30pm-5:00pm: SPNI R5 and Parents/Friends Open R4 (Frazier)

7:00pm-8:00pm: Fun Dance Class (Frazier)

July 31

10:00am-1:30pm: SPNI R6 (Frazier)

2:30pm: Closing Ceremony (Frazier)

See http://www.ChessDailyNews.com for daily updates, including the updated participant list. See http://www.SPICE.ttu.edu for more information about SPICE. See http://www.ttu.edu for more information about Texas Tech University.

at 7/17/2009 11:32:00 AM

White to move. Can White win this endgame?

8/pk6/8/P7/K7/8/1P6/8 w - - 0 1

at 7/17/2009 10:52:00 AM

Here are the leaders after 6 rounds:

#	Name	Rtng	Rd 1	Rd 2	Rd 3	Rd 4	Rd 5	Rd 6	Tot
1	GM Surya Ganguly	2637	W98	W116	W31	W19	D4	W16	5.5
2	GM Hua Ni	2701	W48	W70	W12	W18	D3	D4	5.0
3	GM Victor Mikhalevski	2631	W119	W64	W30	W29	D2	D7	5.0
4	GM Mark Bluvshtein	2598	W110	W54	W55	W82	D1	D2	5.0
5	GM Alexei Shirov	2748	W73	W60	W43	D6	W10	D8	5.0
6	GM Xue Zhao	2544	W120	W85	W13	D5	D17	W42	5.0
7	GM Michael Adams	2699	W174	W52	D15	W76	W20	D3	5.0
8	IM Edward Porper	2510	W180	W38	D49	W22	W32	D5	5.0
9	GM Eugene Perelshteyn	2588	W142	W33	D17	W36	D14	W31	5.0
10	FM Raja Panjwani	2418	W115	W23	W57	W11	L5	W35	5.0
11	GM Anton Kovalyov	2586	W128	W59	W21	L10	W51	W15	5.0
12	FM Jonathan Tayar	2392	W105	W87	L2	W40	W54	W30	5.0
13	Victor Plotkin	2310	W131	W117	L6	W91	W58	W29	5.0

Official website: http://monroi.com/2009-canadian-open-chess-championship-results.html

at 7/17/2009 10:38:00 AM

Standings with 1 round to go:

1.	Pashikian, Arman	g	ARM	2650	6
2.	Berkes, Ferenc	g	HUN	2647	5½
3.	Ter-Sahakyan, Samvel	g	ARM	2480	5
4-5.	Zhigalko, Sergei	g	BLR	2621	4
4-5.	Lysyj, Igor	g	RUS	2617	4
6-8.	Babujian, Levon	m	ARM	2515	3½
6-8.	Li Chao	g	CHN	2634	3½
6-8.	Grigoryan, Avetik	g	ARM	2504	3½
9-10.	Kotanjian, Tigran	g	ARM	2580	2½
9-10.	Jumabayev, Rinat	m	KAZ	2550	2½

Official site: http://www.sevan.chessacademy.am/

at 7/17/2009 10:08:00 AM

Top 15 after 6 rounds:

1	GM Mark Hebden	5.5	ENG	M	2468
2	GM S. Arun Prasad	5.0	IND	M	2556
3	GM Magesh Chandran Panchanath	5.0	IND	M	2493
4	GM Jan Markos	4.5	SLO	M	2555
5	GM Keti Arakhamia-Grant	4.5	SCO	F	2506
6	GM Paul Motwani	4.5	SCO	M	2503
7	GM Colin McNab	4.5	SCO	M	2474
8	IM Andrew Greet	4.5	ENG	M	2443
9	FM Gudmundur Kjartansson	4.5	ICE	M	2356
10	FM Iain Gourlay	4.5	SCO	M	2349
11	Martin Mitchell	4.5	SCO	M	2147
12	GM Jonathan Rowson	4.0	SCO	M	2591
13	GM John Shaw	4.0	SCO	M	2462
14	FM Graham Morrison	4.0	SCO	M	2366
15	FM Craig Thomson	4.0	SCO	M	2320

Full standings here.

at 7/17/2009 09:55:00 AM

photo by David Llada

Here are the final standings:

1-2.	Nakamura, Hikaru	g	USA	2710	6½
1-2.	Ponomariov, Ruslan	g	UKR	2727	6½
3.	Svidler, Peter	g	RUS	2739	5½
4-5.	Kasimdzhanov, Rustam	g	UZB	2672	5
4-5.	Vallejo Pons, Francisco	g	ESP	2693	5
6-7.	Movsesian, Sergei	g	SVK	2716	4½
6-7.	Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	g	FRA	2703	4½
8.	Granda, Julio	g	PER	2647	3½
9.	San Segundo Carrillo, Pablo	g	ESP	2570	2½
10.	Karpov, Anatoly	g	RUS	2644	1½

Official website: http://www.donostiachess.com/en/

Hikaru defeated Ponomariov 2-0 in the blitz playoff! Congratulations to Hikaru!

at 7/17/2009 09:04:00 AM

Ray Robson has won the 2009 U.S. Junior Championship by a full point! This is the most prestigious national championship for young players under the age of 21. His final score is 6 points in 7 games (5 wins, 2 draws) against players with an average rating of about 2450.

Congratulations to Ray!

at 7/17/2009 09:03:00 AM

at 7/17/2009 07:45:00 AM

The 2009 Egyptian Championship just concluded yesterday. The event was held on July 8-16, 2009 in Cairo, Egypt.

Final standings:

1.	Adly, Ahmed	g	EGY	2548	7
2-3.	Ezat, Mohamed	m	EGY	2459	6
2-3.	Amin, Bassem	g	EGY	2551	6
4.	Frhat, Ali	m	EGY	2397	5½
5.	Wageih, Kareim	m	EGY	2253	4½
6.	Abou el Zein, Eid Mahmoud	m	EGY	2357	4
7-8.	El Gindy, Essam	g	EGY	2501	3½
7-8.	El Ghazali, Youssef	m	EGY	2362	3½
9.	Amin, Ashraf		EGY	2357	3
10.	Sadek, Sameh		EGY	2384	2

Games available at http://chess-results.com/tnr23612.aspx

at 7/17/2009 07:33:00 AM

Below are various emails which clearly show the involvement of USCF President Bill Goichberg, Chess Journalist of America President Jerry Hanken, and others in a bribery scheme for votes in July/August 2008. They also clearly show that USCF President Bill Goichberg clearly mislead me and the USCF members about his own involvement.

When I ran for the USCF Executive Board 2 years ago, this is one of the areas I said that I will do everything possible to clean up. This is just the surface of it. Because I am exposing these unethical individuals, they and their supporters have tried to trash my name and reputation.

In the past two years, instead of working with me and helping me promote chess to benefit our entire sport, some of these chess politicians have spread the most outrageous and vicious rumors and lies, trying to destroy my reputation, my employment at Texas Tech University, and my family. They even stooped so low as to use my children (who are only 8 and 10) as one of their targets.

Knowing that I am a one of the biggest advocates for scholastic chess in this country, especially for girls, some of these people spewed out the disgustingly offensive rumor that my husband and I were child abusers. They claimed that we abused my children and we even forced them to consume hot sauce. This sort of despicable thing made its way to the internet and even made its way to my employer Texas Tech University as well as to sponsors and potential sponsors. This outrageous lie was even tossed around within the USCF leadership as a way to pressure my husband and me to resign from the board even though they knew that it was false.

There were countless remarks and postings telling my husband and me to go “back to where we came from.” Some said this is the United States Chess Federation and not the United Nations Chess Federation, and a foreigner had no business running the USCF, while others were openly discussed ways to deport me back to my native Hungary although I have been an American citizen for a number of years and both my children were born in the U.S.But the facts are hidden from the USCF members and delegates. In the mean time, they are using Chess Life, the USCF forums, the USCF website, members' money and other means to mislead the USCF members, to cover up their incompetence and unethical conduct. I highlighted many of these facts here and here.

It is amazing that these people claim that the USCF has no money to promote chess, support chess players, chess clubs, and affiliates. But they have no problem spending over $500,000-$600,000 of USCF members money for lawsuits to go after and silence people who want to expose their misconduct.

These people crossed the ethical line and they clearly abused their political power. Their conduct directly and indirectly caused lawsuits / legal actions in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Texas, California, Illinois, and Tennessee. The financial situation of the USCF is dire. If we do not stand up and fight against this kind of corruption, there soon will be no USCF.

A lot more information can be downloaded here.

Here are just some of the evidence of the bribery scheme:

From:
Sent: Friday, August 15, 2008 1:54 AM
To: Polgar, Susan

Hi Susan,

I wanted to forward this to you to prove that I originally had no plans, whatsoever, to attend the 2008 U.S. Open. I was simply going to visit my husband in San Jose, where the two of us intended to spend a week together before I returned to where I am currently living, in San Diego. Only after being convinced to attend, by Jerry, did I change my plans. I will include that proof as well, and you will also be receiving some other forwarded emails corroborating the rest of what I have told you already.

My husband and I are also seriously considering resigning as delegates, considering the fact that we were not otherwise interested in becoming such, except to help please Jerry, and go along with what he felt was right, because it would show loyalty and solidarity to someone who has, to this point, been a good friend. I hope this serves to do at least some good.

-------------------------------------------------

From: JerryHanken@aol.com
Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:58:06 -0400
Subject: (no subject)

You have a free entry to the US Open (and some possible money for a blog for Jennifer.) You can't transfer the entry to a CCA. event. If I can get your airfare paid and I agree to pick up a few meals for you and Hero, couldn't you handle the room? I think Hero would go for it if I can swing airfare. Don't say "no" quite yet.

Jerry

-------------------------------------------------

From: JerryHanken@aol.com
Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2008 06:11:49 -0400
Subject: Re: (no subject)

If Bill (Goichberg) says "yes", you wouldn't owe anything to him. I asked for a sponsorship gift, not a loan. At the Open, you could still spend lots of time with Hero. Also you may have some pay for the blog you will do for Jennifer. You will win games like that at 40 in two. You ARE improving-- don't let anyone tell you different. Notice that I am willing to provide some food for you and Hero. I will have a fridge which will help. As to changeing, aren't you on Southwest? They .don't charge to change or cancel a trip.

-------------------------------------------------

From: JerryHanken@aol.com
Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2008 06:21:03 -0400
Subject: Re: (no subject)
To: Chessoffice@aol.com (Bill Goichberg)

Come on Bill (Goichberg), I will go half on the airfare. There are so many good reasons to do this. Give it some thought. Just think what going half means to me and what it means to you. If we lose a critical vote, you will think of this. All the money you have given the USFCF will be in the toilet if we ultimately lose this fight.

Jerry

-------------------------------------------------

From: Chessoffice@aol.com (Bill Goichberg)
To: JerryHanken@aol.com
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:01:45 -0500
Subject: Re: (no subject)

The affiliate needs to go to the TD/Affiliate area and purchase a 6 month membership.

Bill

-------------------------------------------------

From: JerryHanken@aol.com
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:35:28 -0400
Subject: (no subject)

Dear Jess and Hero,

If Hero is willing to serve as a Delegate, it is important that you go on line today (when it is still July) and purchase a six month membership in USCF. It is $25 and I will personally reimburse you this money. I hope to talk with you later today, Jess.

Jerry

-------------------------------------------------

7/30/2008 8:53:32 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time (11:53:32 A.M. EST), Chessoffice writes:

As I said, the $25 rate is only available to affiliates.

Bill

-------------------------------------------------

From: JerryHanken@aol.com
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:30:53 -0400
Subject: Fwd: (no subject)
To: randallhough@yahoo.com

Could you get this done today so we have the option of having Hero as a delegate I will pay.

Jerry

-------------------------------------------------

From:
Sent: Friday, August 15, 2008 2:12 AM
To: Polgar, Susan
Subject: Summing things up

Hi Susan,

By now, I've already sent you several emails, each one forwarded directly from my personal account, and numbered 1 to 9. Included are copies of both my hotel and flight reservations, whose dates exactly match those immediately following the forwarded emails from Jerry, in which he convinced us to come, just so we would be there to vote. That fact is quite clear here, and should be easily demonstrated.

Additionally, I should point out that since my real interest was in playing chess, and NOT getting politically involved, this is proven by the fact that Jerry, on more than one occasion leading up to the delegates' meeting, begged me to forego the Blitz, offering to pay for not ONE future event in speed, but THREE, if only I would be there to vote.

Now, my husband and I will also write the letters you requested, but I thought this data would prove useful in the meantime, considering the fact that it verifies my story for all those critics online. By the way, I still have not been able to locate any posts which specifically claim I am a liar, but I'm sure they are not all that far behind, since I have now pissed off quite a few people on Jerry's side, and all for voting what I could gather, based on fact, and not merely conjecture.

Anyway, I hope this helps.

Take care,

-------------------------------------------------

In a message dated 8/17/2008 8:02:17 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, SusanPolgar writes:

Bill,

Are you saying that you are absolutely not aware of any attempt to offer incentives / pay ordinary chess players and even non-USCF members to join the USCF, come to Dallas, get certified to be delegates, to vote against Paul?

I am not aware that anyone was paid, offered incentives or given free entry in order to vote a certain way.

If board members/ delegates are caught bribing / paying for votes, should you or the USCF report them to the Illinois Attorney General or other appropriate authority? I strongly believe that this is highly unethical and illegal and I certainly hope that you feel the same way.
In addition, should board members / delegates who do such thing resign from the executive board / delegates immediately?

Susan Polgar

Bribes are unethical and illegal, and charges of same should be dealt with as recommended by our attorneys.

Bill Goichberg

-------------------------------------------------

In a message dated 8/17/2008 8:31:06 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, SusanPolgar writes:

Thank you for your response. Just to clarify, did anyone approach you about the idea of paying / providing incentives in exchange for votes against Paul at the delegates meeting on Saturday, August 9, 2008?

Thank you.
Susan Polgar

NO!

Bill Goichberg

at 7/17/2009 02:31:00 AM

White to move. How should White proceed?

Source: ChessToday.net

at 7/17/2009 02:18:00 AM

CHESS CLASSIC / ORDIX OPEN 2009

2007 the Chess Classic ORDIX Open attracted 762 participants to become the world’s biggest tournament. At that time it already was the world’s biggest open. For 16 years the world’s best players have been fighting here for fame and honor.

For this year’s ORDIX Open, which will take place from 1st to 2nd August, a large number of strong grandmasters want to come and all is set for a new record. 320 players have registered, among them 75 GMs, plus a number of IMs and FMs. As far as quality is concerned the tournament already tops the record year 2007. The best ten players do have a fantastic Elo-average of 2716 and the top 20 can still boast of a 2695+ average. Currently, the highest rated player in the field is Vugar Gashimov with 2740, followed by Grischuk, who qualified in the ICC tournament, Bacrot, who just played in Dortmund, last year’s candidate’s finalist Kamsky, former World Junior Champion Mamedyarov, the American rapid chess phenomenon Nakamura, the previous ORDIX winners Navara and Bologan, former World Champion Kasimdzhanov, the Armenian Olympic gold medal winners Akopian and Sargissian, and many more. With Arkadi Naiditsch, Daniel Fridman and Georg Meier the best Germans also take part.

at 7/17/2009 01:58:00 AM

IM Antal, Texas Tech Knight Raiders current top player, just won the Budapest First Saturday tournament by a full point. However, he just missed his third and final GM norm. He will return to Texas Tech for his senior year in August.

No.	PNo.	Name	Score	rat.
1.	9	Antal, Gergely	7.0	2479
2.	3	Flumbort, Andras	6.0	2507
	11	Jugelt, Tobias	6.0	2398
	4	Ilincic, Zlatko	6.0	2479
	12	Farago, Ivan	6.0	2511
	2	Lorscheid, Gerhard	6.0	2345
7.	5	Fogarasi, Tibor	5.5	2419
	8	Rombaldoni, Denis	5.5	2465
	6	Varga, Zoltan	5.5	2473
10.	1	Shen, Siyuan	5.0	2321
	7	Breder, Dennis	5.0	2435
12.	10	Bertholee, Rob	2.5	2368