Saturday, March 21, 2009

Evgeny Tomashevsky Won European Chess Championship 2009

In the final tie-break game, Russian Grandmaster Evgeny Tomashevsky won against Vladimir Malakhov to claim the title of 2009 European Chess Championship. After winning the first game, Tomashevsky forfeited in the second game in drawing Rook endgame. In the final game, Malakhov achieved a winning position but then he blundered the rook and lost the game.
From the group of players who tied with 7.5 points, Meier Georg, Nijboer Friso, Fedorchuk Sergey A, Timofeev Artyom, Sjugirov Sanan, Bartel Mateusz and Mamedov Rauf have qualified for the World Cup 2009.

Amber Blindfold and Rapid 2009 : Kramnik takes lead

In Round 4 of the 18th Amber Blindfold and Rapid Tournamentm Vladimir Kramnik has taken the sole lead. Winning both the blindfold and the rapid game, the Russian grandmaster defeated the luckless Wang Yue 2-0. Kramnik said that so far he was particularly satisfied about his blindfold play in Nice. After four games he tops the blindfold standings with 3½ points. Report with games and videos.
The 18th Amber Blindfold and Rapid Chess tournament, organized by the Association Max Euwe in Monaco is taking place from 14 - 26 March at the Palais de la Mediterranee, located on the famous Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France. The total prize-fund is € 216,000. This year’s field is stronger than ever with all the world’s best players taking part. Every day four sessions will be played, two blindfold sessions and two rapid sessions.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

AICF may take action against Grandmaster G.N. Gopal



Indian Grandmaster G.N. Gopal’s decision to skip the 46th National ‘A’ chess championship may prove costly. The All India Chess Federation (AICF) is planning to take disciplinary against the player.We contacted Grandmaster G.N. Gopal on this issue, he said, "As of now I haven’t received any official communication from the All India Chess Federation (AICF).
Hence I will explain the whole issue immediately after receiving the same."The All India Chess Federation (AICF) has decided not to recommend Grandmaster G.N. Gopal - who had skipped the last National ‘A’ championship despite being warned by the federation - to represent India in any official tournaments for a year with immediate effect. That, in effect, puts the Kochi-based player out of any official Indian team for one year. He is, however, free to play in tournaments for which he is personally invited. Playing abroad

The decision was taken in Chennai at the AICF Central Council meeting, which found his reasons for staying away from the last National ‘A’ championship held in Mangalore last December, and playing in a tournament overseas instead, not satisfactory."The AICF had asked him to play in the National ‘A’ championship, which is the qualifying event for the Indian team for various international tournaments, but he chose to play in an event abroad," the AICF Secretary, D.V. Sundar told The Hindu newspaper.
arjay meeegs

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

ALL SET FOR “BATTLE OF GM’S”

ONE of the most-awaited chess events of the year – the “Battle of GMs chess championships – finally comes off the wraps on March 24-31 in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte.

An annual undertaking of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) under president/chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay and secretary--general Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, the week-long tournament will be held this year in cooperation with the Dapitan City government thru Mayor Dominador Jalosjos and secretary to the Mayor Alemalrou Dagpin.
Venue of the competition is the Pavilion Hotel in Dapitan City.

Twenty-four of the country’s top male and female players, led by newly-crowned Corus champion GM Wesley So and Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre, and Dresden (Germany) Olympiad veterans Catherine Perena and Cheradee Chardine Camacho, are seeing action in the prestigious tournament which offers a guaranteed cash prize of close to P1-million.

So, the country’ s highest-rated player with an ELO of 2627, and Perena, the highest-ranked female player with an ELO of 2184, are the top seeds in the tournament.
Torre is seeded second with an ELO of 2560 while newly-minted GM John Paul Gomez is ranked third with an ELO of 2539.

Other notable players seeing action are newly-crowned Gov. Umali Cup champion GM Mark Paragua, fourth with an ELO of 2537; GM Rogelio Antonio Jr., fifth with an ELO of 2519; GM Darwin Laylo, sixth with an ELO of 2504; GM Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor, seventh with an ELO of 2471; and GM Jayson Gonzales , eighth with an ELO of 2466.

Completing the men’s field are GM-candidates Richard Bitoon (ELO 2473), Julio Catalino Sadorra (ELO 2439), Rolando Nolte (ELO 2488) and Ronald Dableo (ELO 2342).
So, Gomez, Villamayor, Gonzales and Laylo represented the country in the recent 38th World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany. Torre served as non-playing team captain.

Perena is top seed in the women’s division with an ELO of 2184, followed by Camacho with ELO of 2166.

Joining Perena and Camacho in the female division are Shercila Cua (ELO 2155), Sherily Cua (ELO 2143), Daisy Rivera (ELO 2094), Rulp Ylem Jose (ELO 2054), Beverly Mendoza (ELO 2045), Christy Lamiel Bernales (ELO 2043), JEdara Docena (ELO 2001), Kimberly Jane Cunanan (ELO 1991), Jan Jodilyn Fronda (ELO 1970) and Rida Jane Young (ELO 1957).

Perena, Camacho, Rivera, Cua and Bernales all saw action for the RP team in the Dresden Olympiad.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

STI INTER-HIGH SCHOOL CHESS TOURNAMENT 2009

STI COLLEGE-ORMOC
in coordination with AGYLA’s Chess Club (ACC-EKCC)
(Active Genuine Youth Leaders Association’s Chess Club-EVSU Knights Chess Club)
presents:
“STI INTER-HIGH SCHOOL CHESS TOURNAMENT”
4th District of Leyte
to be officiated by:
ACC-EKCC Officiating Arbiters/Committees
9:00 AM, February 21, 2009 at STI Campus
3rd Floor Centrum Building, Ormoc City







Thursday, February 19, 2009

Kamsky - Topalov Candidates Match in Sofia.

Kamsky - Topalov Candidates Match in Sofia. Game 1 drawn. Notes now up. Game 2 won by Topalov who outplayed Kamsky on the black side of a Berlin.

Aeroflot Open. Round 2 under way. Unfortunately the Aeroflot site seems to be struggling with the weight of traffic so game updates will be a bit flakey.

Linares starts Thursday

UEP bid for the World Championship Candidates 2010 and World Championship 2011 Corus Tournament in Wijk aan Zee. Sergey Karjakin took the tournament after winning with black against Leinier Dominguez Perez. Magnus Carlsen lost. The rest of the players tied going into the round drew. Nigel Short had the group-B in his grasp but somehow missed perpetual and lost to the tournament winner Fabiano Caruana. Wesley So confirmed his victory in the C-Group after a quick draw.

Friday, February 6, 2009

YOUTH CONQUERS CORUS 2009

Sergei Karjakin, who was the youngest player ever to become a Grandmaster, fulfilled expectations and won one of the world's most prestigious tournaments, main group of Corus Wijk aan Zee. He was the only winner, with 8 points, but six players were on shared first prior to the last round. Karjakin was the only to win, with Black against Dominguez.Corus B finish was a thriller. "Crazy" Motylev beautifully sacrificed his Queen in the early opening against the leading Kasimdzhanov and went on to win after 70+ moves. At the same time Fabiano Caruana kind of swindled against another leader Nigel Short and won to become lone winner.Corus C is always the most interesting tournament because of many decided games. Those people are fighting like they will never play chess again. Manuel Leon Hoyos made 5 wins, 8 losses, without draws. Eduardo Iturrizaga made a single draw and this put him half a point ahead of Leon Hoyos. The winner was 15 years old Wesley So, pride of Philippines, who collected fantastic 9,5 points.