31 December 2010
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Hi Everyone,
Fide Chess Ratings for January 1, 2011 are released.
Magnus Carlsen and Judit Polgar go into 2011 Rated No. 1 on the official Fide List. Find more statistics and all the details at the official Fide website here. Chess Queen Alexandra Kosteniuk is at the 15th slot among the women.
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
Hi Everyone,
Fide Chess Ratings for January 1, 2011 are released.
Magnus Carlsen and Judit Polgar go into 2011 Rated No. 1 on the official Fide List. Find more statistics and all the details at the official Fide website here. Chess Queen Alexandra Kosteniuk is at the 15th slot among the women.
| Top 20 Players January 2011 |
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From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
31 December 2010
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Hello Everyone,
Continuing our series of chess videos here is one with – yes, yes, yes, – Liv Tyler playing chess with Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen at The Village Chess Shop, New York City.
Hello Everyone,
Continuing our series of chess videos here is one with – yes, yes, yes, – Liv Tyler playing chess with Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen at The Village Chess Shop, New York City.
We bet you haven’t seen it before! It would have been nicer if the video was longer. Earlier, this year, Magnus Carlsen and liv Tyler had starred together in the G-Star Advertising Campaign.
(Here’s our earlier post – of July 7, 2010 – headlined ‘World No. 1 Chess Grandmaster Carlsen now also a fashion model’
We’re surprised this video never went with all the G-Star videos that flooded the Internet at the time of the campaign!
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
(Here’s our earlier post – of July 7, 2010 – headlined ‘World No. 1 Chess Grandmaster Carlsen now also a fashion model’
We’re surprised this video never went with all the G-Star videos that flooded the Internet at the time of the campaign!
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
31 December 2010
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Find great photos of GM Francisco Vallejo Pons
Hello Everyone,
The news from the Reggio Emilia Chess Tournament in Italy is that Francisco Vallejo Pons has taken over the lead after the third round from Nigel Short. Navara and Morozevich still have to play a pending game on January 1, 2011. You can access the official website of the tournament here.
The 53rd Reggio Emilia masters tournament is being held from December 28, 2010 to January 6, 2011 and includes the current top two Italian players.
Standings after 3 rounds
| 1. | Vallejo Pons, Francisco | g | ESP | 2698 | 2½ |
| 2. | Short, Nigel | g | ENG | 2680 | 2 |
| 3. | Ivanchuk, Vassily | g | UKR | 2764 | 1½ |
| 4. | Caruana, Fabiano | g | ITA | 2709 | 1½ |
| 5. | Onischuk, Alexander | g | USA | 2683 | 1½ |
| 6. | Movsesian, Sergei | g | SVK | 2721 | 1½ |
| 7. | Navara, David | g | CZE | 2708 | 1 |
| 8. | Godena, Michele | g | ITA | 2549 | 1 |
| 9. | Gashimov, Vugar | g | AZE | 2733 | 1 |
| 10. | Morozevich, Alexander | g | RUS | 2700 | ½ |
Here is also a nice video from the tournament.
Here is a nice game from Round 3. You can run them in our flashplayer or see the moves in the pgnplayer.
PGN: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O f6 6. d4 Bg4 7. c3 Bd6 8. Be3 Ne7 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. Qb3+ Kh8 11. h3 Bh5 12. Qxb7 Bf7 13. dxe5 fxe5 14. Nb3 Bc4 15. Rfd1 Rb8 16. Qa7 Ra8 17. Qb7 Be2 18. Nxe5 Qe8 19. Rxd6 cxd6 20. Re1 dxe5 21. Rxe2 Ng6 22. Rd2 Qe6 23. Nc5 Qxa2 24. Kh2 Qc4 25. Rd7 Rab8 26. Qxc6 Rxb2 27. Rxg7 Rfxf2 28. Bxf2 Rxf2 29. Qc8+ Kxg7 30. Ne6+ Qxe6 31. Qxe6 Rxg2+ 32. Kh1 Rg3 33. c4 Rc3 34. Qd7+ Kh8 35. h4 h5 36. Qc8+ Kg7 37. Qd7+ Kh8 38. Qd6 Kg7 39. c5 Rh3+ 40. Kg1 Rxh4 41. c6 Rg4+ 42. Kf2 Rf4+ 43. Ke3 Rf6 44. Qd8 Rf7 45. c7 Ne7 46. Qd6 1-0
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
31 December 2010
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Hi Everyone,
Talented Ukrainian prodigy is now the world’s youngest Grandmaster at the age of 14. Illya Nyzhnyk fulfilled his third and final Grandmaster norm at the just-concluded Groningen Chess Festival. The tournament ran from December 21-30, 2010 at the Sportcentrum Rijksuniversiteit & Hanzehogeschool in Groningen, Netherlands. The Festival is traditionally organised around Christmas and has continued for the last 47 consecutive years.
The Festival consisted of Open A with the prize fund of 6500 EUR, Open B (1700-2200 elo, 2000 EUR), Open C (U1800 elo, 1000 EUR) and Groningen Compact, a five-round swiss event. You can check the official website here..
The final standings saw a six-way tie for the first place with GM Dejan Bojkov eventually winning the title on tie-break.
Top-20 final Standings
1. Bojkov, Dejan GM BUL 2542 6.5 2631
2. Nyzhnyk, Illya IM UKR 2535 6.5 2671
3. Bluvshtein, Mark GM CAN 2587 6.5 2606
4. Brandenburg, Daan IM NED 2515 6.5 2639
5. Ernst, Sipke GM NED 2590 6.5 2628
6. Van Kampen, Robin IM NED 2454 6.5 2627
7. Andriasian, Zaven GM ARM 2585 5.5 2540
8. Prohaszka, Peter GM HUN 2536 5.5 2550
9. Gupta, Abhijeet GM IND 2600 5.5 2550
10. Rotstein, Arkadij GM GER 2538 5.5 2551
11. Lobzhanidze, Davit IM GEO 2496 5.5 2471
12. Grover, Sahaj IM IND 2432 5.5 2475
13. Bok, Benjamin IM NED 2458 5.5 2390
14. Baklan, Vladimir GM UKR 2613 5.5 2502
15. Naroditsky, Daniel FM USA 2425 5.5 2474
16. Van Oosterom, Chiel IM NED 2426 5.5 2398
17. Baghdasaryan, Vahe ARM 2303 5.0 2474
18 Werle, Jan GM NED 2578 5.0 2466
19 Romanishin, Oleg M GM UKR 2534 5.0 2437
20 Nijboer, Friso GM NED 2583 5.0 2423
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
Hi Everyone,
Ukrainian Grandmaster Illya Nyzhnyk
Talented Ukrainian prodigy is now the world’s youngest Grandmaster at the age of 14. Illya Nyzhnyk fulfilled his third and final Grandmaster norm at the just-concluded Groningen Chess Festival. The tournament ran from December 21-30, 2010 at the Sportcentrum Rijksuniversiteit & Hanzehogeschool in Groningen, Netherlands. The Festival is traditionally organised around Christmas and has continued for the last 47 consecutive years.
The Festival consisted of Open A with the prize fund of 6500 EUR, Open B (1700-2200 elo, 2000 EUR), Open C (U1800 elo, 1000 EUR) and Groningen Compact, a five-round swiss event. You can check the official website here..
The final standings saw a six-way tie for the first place with GM Dejan Bojkov eventually winning the title on tie-break.
Top-20 final Standings
1. Bojkov, Dejan GM BUL 2542 6.5 2631
2. Nyzhnyk, Illya IM UKR 2535 6.5 2671
3. Bluvshtein, Mark GM CAN 2587 6.5 2606
4. Brandenburg, Daan IM NED 2515 6.5 2639
5. Ernst, Sipke GM NED 2590 6.5 2628
6. Van Kampen, Robin IM NED 2454 6.5 2627
7. Andriasian, Zaven GM ARM 2585 5.5 2540
8. Prohaszka, Peter GM HUN 2536 5.5 2550
9. Gupta, Abhijeet GM IND 2600 5.5 2550
10. Rotstein, Arkadij GM GER 2538 5.5 2551
11. Lobzhanidze, Davit IM GEO 2496 5.5 2471
12. Grover, Sahaj IM IND 2432 5.5 2475
13. Bok, Benjamin IM NED 2458 5.5 2390
14. Baklan, Vladimir GM UKR 2613 5.5 2502
15. Naroditsky, Daniel FM USA 2425 5.5 2474
16. Van Oosterom, Chiel IM NED 2426 5.5 2398
17. Baghdasaryan, Vahe ARM 2303 5.0 2474
18 Werle, Jan GM NED 2578 5.0 2466
19 Romanishin, Oleg M GM UKR 2534 5.0 2437
20 Nijboer, Friso GM NED 2583 5.0 2423
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
30 December 2010
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Hi Everybody,
Two very interesting White to move and checkmate-in-three puzzles for the year-end. You can run the answers in the flashplayer below. Enjoy!
Magnus Carlsen – Hans K Harestad, Copenhagen, 2003
Frank Healey vs. ?, 1902
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
Also see her personal blog at
30 December 2010
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Hi Everyone,
Just when we think we’ve carried all those advertisements or commercials from around the world with chess in them, along comes an email or twitter message from a reader with fresh videos. Here are some sent to us by @swakilki via @chessqueen and @kosteniuk on twitter. (You’re following Chess Queen Alexandra Kosteniuk on twitter – right?)
Enjoy the videos.
P.S. Oh we’re high on chess which has no hangover!
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
Hi Everyone,
Just when we think we’ve carried all those advertisements or commercials from around the world with chess in them, along comes an email or twitter message from a reader with fresh videos. Here are some sent to us by @swakilki via @chessqueen and @kosteniuk on twitter. (You’re following Chess Queen Alexandra Kosteniuk on twitter – right?)
Enjoy the videos.
P.S. Oh we’re high on chess which has no hangover!
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
30 December 2010
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Hello Everyone,
The update from the 53rd Torneo di Capodanno in Reggio Emilia, Italy, after two rounds, is that British Grandmaster Nigel Short leads with a perfect score. Check the official website here and also see www.chessdom.com for some great analysis.
Round 2 results
Standings after Round 2
1. Short, Nigel g ENG 2680 2
2. Vallejo Pons, Francisco g ESP 2698 1½
3. Navara, David g CZE 2708 1 + 1 game
4. Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2764 1
5. Movsesian, Sergei g SVK 2721 1
6. Onischuk, Alexander g USA 2683 1
7. Gashimov, Vugar g AZE 2733 ½
8. Caruana, Fabiano g ITA 2709 ½
9. Godena, Michele g ITA 2549 ½
10. Morozevich, Alexander g RUS 2700 0 + 1 game
Hello Everyone,
The update from the 53rd Torneo di Capodanno in Reggio Emilia, Italy, after two rounds, is that British Grandmaster Nigel Short leads with a perfect score. Check the official website here and also see www.chessdom.com for some great analysis.
Find nice photos of the
British Grandmaster Nigel Short at www.chesspics.com.
Round 2 results
- Nigel Short – Alexander Morozevich 1-0
- David Navara – Fabiano Caruana 1-0
- Vassily Ivanchuk – Francisco Vallejo Pons 1/2-1/2
- Vugar Gashimov – Sergei Movsesian 1/2-1/2
- Michele Godena – Alexander Onischuk 1/2-1/2
Standings after Round 2
1. Short, Nigel g ENG 2680 2
2. Vallejo Pons, Francisco g ESP 2698 1½
3. Navara, David g CZE 2708 1 + 1 game
4. Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2764 1
5. Movsesian, Sergei g SVK 2721 1
6. Onischuk, Alexander g USA 2683 1
7. Gashimov, Vugar g AZE 2733 ½
8. Caruana, Fabiano g ITA 2709 ½
9. Godena, Michele g ITA 2549 ½
10. Morozevich, Alexander g RUS 2700 0 + 1 game
Here are two interesting games that you can view in our flashplayer below or run the moves through our pgnplayer.
PGN: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. dxc5 Nc6 7. a3 Bxc5 8. Qg4 O-O 9. Bd3 Qe7 10. Bd2 f6 11. Qh4 h6 12. exf6 Nxf6 13. O-O-O e5 14. fxe5 Nxe5 15. Nf3 Nxd3+ 16. cxd3 b5 17. Rhe1 Qb7 18. Be3 Bxe3+ 19. Rxe3 a5 20. Rde1 b4 21. Re7 Qb6 22. axb4 axb4 23. Nd1 Bg4 24. Kd2 b3 25. Ke2 Ra4 26. Qg3 Nh5 27. Qe5 Rf5 28. Qc3 Bxf3+ 29. gxf3 d4 30. Re8+ Kh7 31. Qc8 Nf4+ 32. Kf1 Qb5 33. Nf2 Nxd3 34. Rh8+ Kg6 35. Qe6+ Kh5 36. Rb8 Qe5 37. Rxe5 Ra1+ 38. Re1 Rxe1+ 39. Qxe1 Nxe1 40. Kxe1 Rxf3 41. Rd8 Re3+ 42. Kf1 Rc3 43. bxc3 dxc3 44. Nd3 1-0
PGN: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Rb8 13. Be2 Bg5 14. O-O Be6 15. Ncb4 Qc8 16. Qd3 Nxb4 17. Nxb4 a5 18. Nd5 Qd7 19. Rad1 Rfc8 20. Qg3 Qd8 21. a3 h6 22. Bg4 Rc5 23. Bxe6 fxe6 24. Ne3 Qe7 25. Rd3 Rf8 26. f3 Bh4 27. Qg6 Rf6 28. Qh5 Rf8 29. Rfd1 Rc6 30. g3 Bg5 31. Nc2 Qd7 32. h4 Bd8 33. Kg2 Qe7 34. Qg4 Bb6 35. h5 Kh8 36. Kh3 Rf7 37. Ne1 a4 38. Ng2 Bc7 39. f4 Rc4 40. Nh4 Kh7 41. fxe5 dxe5 42. Rd7 Qe8 43. Qg6+ Kg8 44. R1d3 Rc6 45. Rxf7 Qxf7 46. Qxf7+ Kxf7 47. Rd7+ Kf6 48. Ng6 Bd6 49. Kg4 Rb6 50. Nh8 Be7 51. Rd3 Bc5 52. Rf3+ Ke7 53. Rf7+ Ke8 54. Rxg7 Be3 55. Rg8+ Ke7 56. Ng6+ Kf6 57. Rf8+ Kg7 58. Rf3 Bc1 59. Rf2 Rd6 60. Rc2 Rd1 61. Nxe5 Re1 62. Nc6 Rxe4+ 63. Kf3 Re1 64. Nd4 e5 65. Nxb5 e4+ 66. Kg4 e3 67. c4 Bd2 68. c5 Rd1 69. Nd4 Ba5 70. Nf5+ 1-0
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
Also see her personal blog at
29 December 2010
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Piazza Prampolini is the heart of the Reggio Emilia town – formerly known as Grand Piazza. The Palazzo del Monte, encompasses a belfry, and the Crostoso fountain which represents the allegory of the river flowing through the town.
Hello Everyone,
The 53rd Torneo di Capodanno in Reggio Emilia saw very interesting games all around. In the first round, Nigel Short and Francisco Vallejo Pons notched up victories – the former capitalising on an opponent’s attack gone wrong and the latter on the opponent’s blunder in time trouble. Meanwhile, Alexander Morozevich finally reached Reggio Emilia after two days of traveling. His match with David Navara has been posted to the rest day – January 1, 2011.
Results of Round 1
- Nigel Short – Vugar Gashimov 1-0
- Alexander Morozevich – David Navara (postponed to 1st January)
- Fabiano Caruana – Vassily Ivanchuk 1/2-1/2
- Francisco Vallejo Pons – Michele Godena 1-0
- Alexander Onischuk – Sergei Movsesian 1/2-1/2
You can follow the action live at the official website here.
Meanwhile, here is the Short-Gashimov game from Round 1 that you can enjoy in the flashplayer below or run the moves through our pgnplayer.
PGN: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nf3 Be7 8. Bc4 O-O 9. O-O Nc6 10. Re1 Be6 11. Bb3 Na5 12. Bg5 Nxb3 13. axb3 Nd7 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Nd2 Nb6 16. Nf1 f5 17. exf5 Bxf5 18. f4 Bg6 19. fxe5 dxe5 20. Qe2 Qh4 21. Qe3 Rf6 22. Ne4 Rxf1+ 23. Kxf1 Qxh2 24. Nf2 Rf8 25. Qxb6 Qh1+ 26. Ke2 Qxg2 27. Rf1 h6 28. Kd2 Rf6 29. Qc5 Kh7 30. Rae1 Rc6 31. Qxe5 Rxc2+ 32. Ke3 Qc6 33. Ne4 Qb6+ 34. Kf4 Qxb3 35. Rf3 Qb4 36. Rc3 Rf2+ 37. Kg3 Rf5 38. Qe6 Qxb2 39. Rc8 h5 40. Qg8+ Kh6 41. Qh8+ Bh7 42. Qd8 g5 43. Nd2 Rf6 44. Rc7 h4+ 45. Kg2 Bg8 46. Rd7 Qc3 47. Re3 Qc6+ 48. Ne4 Rg6 49. Rd6 Qc2+ 50. Kg1 Qb1+ 51. Kf2 Qa2+ 52. Re2 Qf7+ 53. Kg1 Qf5 54. Nf6 Qc5+ 55. Kh2 1-0
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
Also see her personal blog at
29 December 2010
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Hello Everyone,
We found this interesting link to a study titled ‘A psychological autopsy of Bobby Fischer‘ via www.chessvibes.com. Chess player Bobby Fischer’s tortured life illustrates why promising young talents deserve better support programs, argues Joseph G. Ponterotto in his research essay.
What would Bobby Fischer’s life and career have looked like had he received appropriate mental health services throughout his life? And is there a way for society to help troubled, often defiant prodigies become less troubled, without diminishing their genius and eventual contribution to society? These and other issues are discussed in a Miller-McCune research essay.
An excerpt from the essay states:
It appears Fischer never adjusted well to the New York City school system. He was expelled from a public school in Manhattan when he kicked the principal, and he dropped out of high school. In contrast to this disinterest in school, Bobby developed an intense focus on chess. In fact, to say Bobby became obsessed with chess would be a wild understatement.
Hello Everyone,
We found this interesting link to a study titled ‘A psychological autopsy of Bobby Fischer‘ via www.chessvibes.com. Chess player Bobby Fischer’s tortured life illustrates why promising young talents deserve better support programs, argues Joseph G. Ponterotto in his research essay.
What would Bobby Fischer’s life and career have looked like had he received appropriate mental health services throughout his life? And is there a way for society to help troubled, often defiant prodigies become less troubled, without diminishing their genius and eventual contribution to society? These and other issues are discussed in a Miller-McCune research essay.
An excerpt from the essay states:
It appears Fischer never adjusted well to the New York City school system. He was expelled from a public school in Manhattan when he kicked the principal, and he dropped out of high school. In contrast to this disinterest in school, Bobby developed an intense focus on chess. In fact, to say Bobby became obsessed with chess would be a wild understatement.
During Bobby’s childhood and early adolescence, Regina consulted with, or had Bobby meet directly, three different mental health professionals. According to Brady, Regina spoke with Ariel Mengarini, a New York City psychiatrist and chess master, about curbing her son’s “chess obsession,” and Mengarini responded: “I could think of a lot worse things than chess that a person could devote himself to and … you should let him find his own way.” Regina received a similar response from Harold Kline, who saw her son at the Children’s Psychiatric Division of the Brooklyn Jewish Hospital.
You can read the full essay here.
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
You can read the full essay here.
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
29 December 2010
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Hello Everyone,
Here is an interesting chess photo that has ‘travelled’ across the Internet at amazing speed in the last 48 hours. It’s all over the place. Surely, nothing could better capture the mood of the season.
Morris Farimi, 70, of Philadelphia, waits for a challenger in a game of chess after finding out his flight to Germany had been canceled at Newark Liberty International Airport, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010, in Newark, Pa. Airlines are working to rebook stranded passengers and possibly add flights after a winter storm on the East Coast caused thousands of flight cancellations and left countless passengers stranded. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
But this photo also reminds us of drivers playing chess during a traffic jam stretching more than 60 miles in China in August this year. The traffic jam since August 14 on the National Expressway 110, which is also known as the G110, the major route from Beijing to Zhangjiakou, had lasted more than nine days! Too bad couldn’t find photos of that!
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
Hello Everyone,
Here is an interesting chess photo that has ‘travelled’ across the Internet at amazing speed in the last 48 hours. It’s all over the place. Surely, nothing could better capture the mood of the season.
Morris Farimi, 70, of Philadelphia, waits for a challenger in a game of chess after finding out his flight to Germany had been canceled at Newark Liberty International Airport, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010, in Newark, Pa. Airlines are working to rebook stranded passengers and possibly add flights after a winter storm on the East Coast caused thousands of flight cancellations and left countless passengers stranded. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
But this photo also reminds us of drivers playing chess during a traffic jam stretching more than 60 miles in China in August this year. The traffic jam since August 14 on the National Expressway 110, which is also known as the G110, the major route from Beijing to Zhangjiakou, had lasted more than nine days! Too bad couldn’t find photos of that!
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
28 December 2010
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Off to an Italian campaign!
Find great photos of
Grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk at www.chesspics.com
Hi Everybody,
Vassily Ivanchuk is the top seed at the 53rd Torneo di Capodanno in Reggio Emilia – a quaint little town in the middle of Italy. The town takes the credit for being the ‘birthplace’ of the Italian national flag in the late 1700s.
The city used to be the property of the Este family which included Duchess of Mantova – Isabella. She was known for hosting some of the best chess players of the time. Surely, the chess tradition in Reggio Emilia dates back to more than 500 years!
The 53rd edition of the Torneo di Capodanno runs from December 28, 2010 to January 6, 2011. The tournament will be played at hotel Astoria Mercure.
Scacchierando Blog has printed 300 postcards as gift for the visitors of the 53rd Reggio Emilia’s Tournament.
The list of players attending the tournament include:
- Vassily Ivanchuk UKR 2764
- Vugar Gashimov AZE 2733
- Sergei Movsesian SVK 2721
- David Navara CZE 2708
- Fabiano Caruana ITA 2709
- Alexander Morozevich RUS 2700
- Francisco Vallejo Pons ESP 2698
- Alexander Onischuk USA 2683
- Nigel Short ENG 2680
- Michele Godena ITA 2549
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
28 December 2010
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Hello Everyone,
The 2010-11 Hastings International Chess Congress – 86th edition – will take place from December 28, 2010 to January 5, 2011.
This historic annual event is once again being sponsored by the Hastings Borough Council with support by the The White Rock Hotel, Deutsch Limited, KC Computers, Gwalia Resources, KC Computers and the Pig in Paradise Horntye Park Sports Complex will again provide the excellent venue giving spectators the chance to enjoy a feast of chess including the entertaining live commentary given by grandmaster Chris Ward. Admission is free for spectators
As in other years, the event will comprise several tournaments providing something for all levels of player. The 9-round Masters Tournament will include a line-up of invited international grandmasters and masters. The Christmas Morning and Christmas Afternoon are both 4-round tournaments. The 28th Hastings Weekend Congress will be a 5-round event taking place on 1st and 2nd January. This will be followed by a five-round New Year Tournament.
Keep track of all the action at the official website here. The list of this year’s Congress is here including
- EDOUARD Romain, FRA, gm, 2636
- ISTRATESCU Andrei, ROU, gm, 2616
- HOWELL David, ENG, gm, 2611
- KOTRONIAS Vasilios, GRE, gm, 2591
- HEBDEN Mark, ENG, gm, 2560
- SENGUPTA Deep, IND, gm, 2558
- NEVEROV Valeriy, UKR, gm, 2522
- WILLIAMS Simon, ENG, gm, 2493
- DAS Arghyadip, IND, im, 2476
- GORMALLY Daniel, ENG, gm, 2470
A nice article about the significance to the congress of the Hastings Pier written by Stewart Reuben is here.
A photo of the pier with a poster advertising the 72nd
Congress that started in December 1996 in the foreground.
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
Also see her personal blog at
28 December 2010
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Hello Everyone,
This is something quite interesting. Life-size chess rooks are being placed at key points in the city of Krakow, Poland. We found nine rooks already and by April, 2011, there would be 100 rooks all over the city. Cool.
This special endeavour is part of the preparations for the 2011 World School Chess Championship and the 2011 FIDE Congress which will be held in the city. You can keep track of the ‘progress of the rooks’ at the official website http://www.wscc2011.pl/en.
Meanwhile, here are the photos. Enjoy!
Kraków (Polish pronunciation: [ˈkrakuf] ( listen)), also spelled Krakow or Cracow (English: /ˈkrækaʊ/ listen), is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Its historic centre was inscribed on the list of World Heritage Sites as the first of its kind in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River (Polish: Wisła) in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural and artistic life and is one of Poland’s most important economic centres.
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
Hello Everyone,
This is something quite interesting. Life-size chess rooks are being placed at key points in the city of Krakow, Poland. We found nine rooks already and by April, 2011, there would be 100 rooks all over the city. Cool.
This special endeavour is part of the preparations for the 2011 World School Chess Championship and the 2011 FIDE Congress which will be held in the city. You can keep track of the ‘progress of the rooks’ at the official website http://www.wscc2011.pl/en.
Meanwhile, here are the photos. Enjoy!
Kraków (Polish pronunciation: [ˈkrakuf] ( listen)), also spelled Krakow or Cracow (English: /ˈkrækaʊ/ listen), is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Its historic centre was inscribed on the list of World Heritage Sites as the first of its kind in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River (Polish: Wisła) in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural and artistic life and is one of Poland’s most important economic centres.
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
27 December 2010
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Hello Everyone,
No forgetting the white-to-move and mates-in-three puzzles in the holiday season. So, quick refresher for a ten-minute chess break. Yes, White to play and checkmate in three in both the puzzles. Easy stuff. You can run the solution in the flashplayer below after your thinking time!
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
Hello Everyone,
No forgetting the white-to-move and mates-in-three puzzles in the holiday season. So, quick refresher for a ten-minute chess break. Yes, White to play and checkmate in three in both the puzzles. Easy stuff. You can run the solution in the flashplayer below after your thinking time!
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
27 December 2010
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Hi Everybody,
Look what we found – Chess prayer beads! The ‘very interesting’ comment posted along side will wow you. Smile away! ‘From the Island of Baltimore‘ is the official blog of Brown Mega Corporation.
I didn’t say chess “player”. That’s right, I said chess PRAY-er. With Brown Mega Brand Chess Prayer Beads, you have a prayer against top Grandmasters and budding wunderkinds. Simply meditate about the most ideal functioning and developments for your pieces in the face of competition from the opponent and you will find success. Sterling silver chess pieces and beads made of Czech glass.
Price: $1000.00
We’d sure like to know how many have been sold so far.
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
Also see her personal blog at
27 December 2010
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Miroslav Milenkovic Bone and the tournament
winner IM Zoran Novoselski.
Hello Everyone,
Some small chess tournaments too catch our eye. Here is one special one.
The 6th Bone Blitz Tournament (a 13-round blitz event) was held on December 26 to honour Miroslav Milenkovic Bone, the Serbian chess legend, who has won many competitions in France, Italy and Bulgaria, including twice the Championship of Paris in the mid 50s. At the age of 77, Bone is still actively playing for the local club Radnicki in the Central Serbia League.
How cool!
IM Zoran Novoselski from Kragujevac won the event by collecting 10.5 points, finishing full point ahead of the opposition. Novoselski obviously enjoys playing in Cuprija, as he already won two very strong tournaments here – the 2nd Bone Blitz in 2006 and Mirko Kolar Memorial in 2009.
FM Dejan Brankovic and FM Boroljub Zlatanovic are sharing the second place with 9.5 points each. IM Miodrag Perunovic, who had a crushing start but later slipped with two consecutive defeats, and FM Aleksandar Milosevic are joint 4th with 9 points each. These FIDE Masters were all Bone’s team-mates in Radnicki at some point in time.
You can find a full report and lots of more photographs here at www.chessdom.com.
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
26 December 2010
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Guess what British Grandmaster Mickey Adams did after finishing the London Chess Classic 2010. He wrote this fantastic article for Daily Mail about the 10 greatest chess games of all time. Real cool selection. Here is the list from the talented grandmaster’s article at the Mail Online link. Nice chess treat. Enjoy.
1. DEEP BLUE vs GARRY KASPAROV
New York, 1997. 19 moves. Win: Deep Blue
In this landmark clash Kasparov became the first champion to lose a match to a computer. At the time, Kasparov, undisputed world champion from 1985 to 1993, was still very much at the top of his game. Deep Blue, a huge mainframe computer, was an experimental IBM project. In the first five games man and machine had won a game apiece and drawn three times, thus making the sixth, final game decisive. Kasparov (black) employed the Caro-Kann defence, not one he normally used: he didn’t believe the computer could make the necessary early sacrifice. The strategy was flawed. Deep Blue made the sacrifice and followed up effectively. The game witnessed a real collapse by Kasparov – there is intense pressure when playing against an unyielding machine. At the time computers weren’t as strong as the strongest players, but now there’s little interest in man-machine matches – you have to make conditions so favourable to humans that they’re no longer interesting events.
2. ANATOLY KARPOV vs GARRY KASPAROV
Moscow, 1985. 42 moves. Win: Kasparov
Featuring two of the greatest players of all time – Anatoly Karpov (far left) and Garry Kasparov – this game proved a thrilling conclusion to a match that Karpov needed to win in order to retain his world titke
Featuring two of the greatest players of all time – Karpov (far left) was world champion from 1975 until 1985 – this game provided a thrilling conclusion to a match that Karpov needed to win in order to retain his world title. Kasparov (black) employed his favourite Sicilian Najdorf defence, with which he scored brilliantly throughout his career. In later matches Karpov no longer challenged him in this opening. The game turned on an unusual choice of Kasparov’s on his 23rd move, putting his rook on a square that on the face of it seemed to offer few prospects. Later on, he managed to open that sector of the board and activate his pieces there, and it became apparent how far-sighted the rook move had been.
3. BORIS SPASSKY vs DAVID BRONSTEIN
Leningrad, 1960. 23 moves. Win: Spassky
This clash took place when Russia dominated the worldwide game. Spassky – a Soviet grandmaster and future world chess champion (1969-72) – and Bronstein were pretty evenly matched. Bronstein, also a Soviet grandmaster, narrowly missed out on becoming world chess champion in 1951 and was strong and creative. The game began with Spassky (white) using the King’s Gambit opening. All his pieces flowed into the action very quickly. He concluded with a nice attack, sacrificing a knight to open up the pawn cover in front of his opponent’s king. Then his pieces flowed in on the light squares. This game was the model for the chess scene in From Russia With Love.
4. MAGNUS CARLSEN vs THE WORLD
New York, 2010. 44 moves. Win: Carlsen
Norwegian Carlsen was the top-rated player and at 19 the youngest ever World No 1. ‘The World’ was advised by three top players: Hikaru Nakamura (U.S.), Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France) and Judit Polgar (Hungary). Their suggestions were put to a live vote on the internet. On paper, The World had a reasonable chance, but with three players advising it’s difficult to form a coherent plan. In a King’s Indian defence Carlsen could have won in a mundane way, but instead he finished in striking fashion, his passed pawns on the queenside proving unstoppable.
Featuring two of the greatest players of all time – Karpov (far left) was world champion from 1975 until 1985 – this game provided a thrilling conclusion to a match that Karpov needed to win in order to retain his world title. Kasparov (black) employed his favourite Sicilian Najdorf defence, with which he scored brilliantly throughout his career. In later matches Karpov no longer challenged him in this opening. The game turned on an unusual choice of Kasparov’s on his 23rd move, putting his rook on a square that on the face of it seemed to offer few prospects. Later on, he managed to open that sector of the board and activate his pieces there, and it became apparent how far-sighted the rook move had been.
Leningrad, 1960. 23 moves. Win: Spassky
4. MAGNUS CARLSEN vs THE WORLD
New York, 2010. 44 moves. Win: Carlsen
5. ADOLF ANDERSSEN vs LIONEL KIESERITZKY
London, 1851. 23 moves. Win: Anderssen
Known as the Immortal Game, this took place at the first international chess tournament. Anderssen, a German master, faced Kieseritzky, who became one of the four leading French masters of the age. The game wasn’t spectacular quality-wise – Anderssen was clearly the superior player – but its significance lies in the beauty of its finish. Anderssen gave up almost all of his forces: both rooks, a bishop and then his queen. Kieseritzky had captured virtually all his pieces. But in an astonishing aboutturn Anderssen went on to checkmate Kieseritzky using the few pieces remaining – a bishop and two knights – with black’s king cornered.
6. BOBBY FISCHER vs BORIS SPASSKY
Reykjavik, 1972. 41 moves. Win: Fischer
In winning game six and the match against defending world champion Boris Spassky, Bobby Fischer (above), the maverick’s maverick, broke Russia’s dominance in 1972
A noteworthy game, with distinct Cold War overtones. In winning game six and the match against defending world champion Spassky, Fischer (above), the maverick’s maverick, broke Russia’s dominance. What made this game so unusual was Fischer using the Queen’s Gambit, showing his willingness to play openings he hadn’t played before at the highest level. This victory was so sensational many thought the result was a misprint. Until he disappeared from chess a few years later, Fischer was just unbeatable, but he was also very unreasonable. He was, for instance, unhappy about cameras being present in 1972; Spassky largely acquiesced to ensure that the match happened.
7. ASTRONAUT FRANK POOLE vs HAL
2001: A Space Odyssey, 1968. 15 moves. Win: Hal
Astronaut Frank Poole faces his spaceship’s HAL 9000 computer in sci-fi classic 2001: A Space Odyssey, directed by Stanley Kubrick, a passionate chess player
Frank Poole faces his spaceship’s HAL 9000 computer in sci-fi classic 2001: A Space Odyssey, directed by Stanley Kubrick, a passionate chess player. The game ends after only 15 moves with HAL (black) announcing mate. HAL floods pieces around Poole’s king, ultimately attacking with a bishop, a queen and two knights, a formidable force. Poole doesn’t fare well under the onslaught. It’s a serious game that was probably part-inspired by one between two lesser chess masters, Roesch and Schlage, in 1910.
8. GARRY KASPAROV vs VESELIN TOPALOV
Wijk aan Zee, Holland, 1999. 44 moves. Win: Kasparov
One of the best attacking games ever, featuring two of the modern giants, Garry Kasparov and Bulgarian Veselin Topalov, currently ranked fifth in the world
One of the best attacking games ever, featuring two of the modern giants, Kasparov and Bulgarian Veselin Topalov, currently ranked fifth in the world. The game saw Kasparov (white) chasing Topalov’s king all over the board, and ended with it being driven to its doom. In return for his king becoming a nomad, Topalov grabbed some key pieces – but Kasparov was able to keep the flame of his attack burning. You don’t see many games like this nowadays, because leading players are more defensively aware. Kasparov sees so much more than other players.
9. STEFAN LEVITSKY vs FRANK MARSHALL
Breslau, Germany, 1912. 23 moves. Win: Marshall
A terrific game famed for Frank Marshall’s amazing concluding move. Marshall was U.S. chess champion from 1909 to 1936, and one of the strongest players of his era. A piece up, he made a very bold move, putting his queen open to capture by two separate pawns. The move forced Levitsky to resign immediately. If he had captured Marshall’s queen, mate would swiftly have ensued against him. Again, it was probably not a very evenly matched game – Marshall was a brilliant player. The game was played in a café, and everyone was so struck by the brilliance of the concluding blow that they showered the board with gold coins.
10. HOWARD STAUNTON vs PIERRE SAINT-AMANT
London, 1843. 30 moves. Win: Staunton
In game four of an unofficial match to decide the world’s strongest player, Howard Staunton, an English master, met the French master Pierre Charles Fournier de Saint-Amant, a regular player at the Café de la Régence in Paris. Staunton was ahead of his time, with a better understanding of the importance of activating pieces quickly: now the norm, but then revolutionary. He crushed Saint-Amant (black) with his pieces still mostly asleep in their bed.
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
London, 1851. 23 moves. Win: Anderssen
Known as the Immortal Game, this took place at the first international chess tournament. Anderssen, a German master, faced Kieseritzky, who became one of the four leading French masters of the age. The game wasn’t spectacular quality-wise – Anderssen was clearly the superior player – but its significance lies in the beauty of its finish. Anderssen gave up almost all of his forces: both rooks, a bishop and then his queen. Kieseritzky had captured virtually all his pieces. But in an astonishing aboutturn Anderssen went on to checkmate Kieseritzky using the few pieces remaining – a bishop and two knights – with black’s king cornered.
6. BOBBY FISCHER vs BORIS SPASSKY
Reykjavik, 1972. 41 moves. Win: Fischer
A noteworthy game, with distinct Cold War overtones. In winning game six and the match against defending world champion Spassky, Fischer (above), the maverick’s maverick, broke Russia’s dominance. What made this game so unusual was Fischer using the Queen’s Gambit, showing his willingness to play openings he hadn’t played before at the highest level. This victory was so sensational many thought the result was a misprint. Until he disappeared from chess a few years later, Fischer was just unbeatable, but he was also very unreasonable. He was, for instance, unhappy about cameras being present in 1972; Spassky largely acquiesced to ensure that the match happened.
7. ASTRONAUT FRANK POOLE vs HAL
2001: A Space Odyssey, 1968. 15 moves. Win: Hal
Astronaut Frank Poole faces his spaceship’s HAL 9000 computer in sci-fi classic 2001: A Space Odyssey, directed by Stanley Kubrick, a passionate chess player
Frank Poole faces his spaceship’s HAL 9000 computer in sci-fi classic 2001: A Space Odyssey, directed by Stanley Kubrick, a passionate chess player. The game ends after only 15 moves with HAL (black) announcing mate. HAL floods pieces around Poole’s king, ultimately attacking with a bishop, a queen and two knights, a formidable force. Poole doesn’t fare well under the onslaught. It’s a serious game that was probably part-inspired by one between two lesser chess masters, Roesch and Schlage, in 1910.
8. GARRY KASPAROV vs VESELIN TOPALOV
Wijk aan Zee, Holland, 1999. 44 moves. Win: Kasparov
One of the best attacking games ever, featuring two of the modern giants, Kasparov and Bulgarian Veselin Topalov, currently ranked fifth in the world. The game saw Kasparov (white) chasing Topalov’s king all over the board, and ended with it being driven to its doom. In return for his king becoming a nomad, Topalov grabbed some key pieces – but Kasparov was able to keep the flame of his attack burning. You don’t see many games like this nowadays, because leading players are more defensively aware. Kasparov sees so much more than other players.
9. STEFAN LEVITSKY vs FRANK MARSHALL
Breslau, Germany, 1912. 23 moves. Win: Marshall
A terrific game famed for Frank Marshall’s amazing concluding move. Marshall was U.S. chess champion from 1909 to 1936, and one of the strongest players of his era. A piece up, he made a very bold move, putting his queen open to capture by two separate pawns. The move forced Levitsky to resign immediately. If he had captured Marshall’s queen, mate would swiftly have ensued against him. Again, it was probably not a very evenly matched game – Marshall was a brilliant player. The game was played in a café, and everyone was so struck by the brilliance of the concluding blow that they showered the board with gold coins.
10. HOWARD STAUNTON vs PIERRE SAINT-AMANT
London, 1843. 30 moves. Win: Staunton
In game four of an unofficial match to decide the world’s strongest player, Howard Staunton, an English master, met the French master Pierre Charles Fournier de Saint-Amant, a regular player at the Café de la Régence in Paris. Staunton was ahead of his time, with a better understanding of the importance of activating pieces quickly: now the norm, but then revolutionary. He crushed Saint-Amant (black) with his pieces still mostly asleep in their bed.
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
26 December 2010
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Hi Everybody,
Here is the second part of the www.chessvibes.com video of World Champion Viswanathan on his game with Carlsen at the London Chess Classic, 2010. You must have seen the first part here yesterday.
On Wednesday, December 15, 2010 it was 75 years ago that Max Euwe became World Chess Champion. Therefore the Max Euwe Centrum in organized activities on Saturday, December 18th, which took place on the Max Euwe Square, in the heart of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The activities included a lecture and a simul by the current World Champion, Viswanathan Anand from India.
Enjoy!
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
Also see her personal blog at
26 December 2010
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Hi Everyone,
Chess is so romantic. But it hurts when you lose. Quite like when it hurts when your heart breaks. But what do you do when you lose both – a game of love and a game of chess. Hmmm. Nothing to say.
But, so what. You know, it’s the sweet pain of love. So, you’ll never stop playing, never stop loving. Because it’s all worth it. Enjoy the video.
Credits:
A Brandt-Chow-Mauldin production
Made for the 48 Hour Film Project Nashville 2010
July 30 – August 1
Genre: Romance
Character: Eva or Evan Minors, City Employee
Prop: Chess Set
Line: “It’s not easy being me.”
Produced by Kyle Bulthuis
Written by Oliver Mauldin and Kyle Bulthuis
Directed by Mike Chow
Starring Mindy Ramski, Oliver Mauldin and Kyle Bulthuis
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
Hi Everyone,
Chess is so romantic. But it hurts when you lose. Quite like when it hurts when your heart breaks. But what do you do when you lose both – a game of love and a game of chess. Hmmm. Nothing to say.
But, so what. You know, it’s the sweet pain of love. So, you’ll never stop playing, never stop loving. Because it’s all worth it. Enjoy the video.
Stay ‘warm’.
Credits:
A Brandt-Chow-Mauldin production
Made for the 48 Hour Film Project Nashville 2010
July 30 – August 1
Genre: Romance
Character: Eva or Evan Minors, City Employee
Prop: Chess Set
Line: “It’s not easy being me.”
Produced by Kyle Bulthuis
Written by Oliver Mauldin and Kyle Bulthuis
Directed by Mike Chow
Starring Mindy Ramski, Oliver Mauldin and Kyle Bulthuis
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
25 December 2010
Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Hello Everyone,
We found this fantastic video at the BlindfoldChess website. It is about German FIDE master Marc Lang. He has been working on improving the number of blindfold games in a simul. He started playing 15 simultaneously in June 2009 to becoming the holder of the German record of 23 in November of the same year. Just recently (Nov.27-28, 2010) he successfully took on 35 opponents in Sontheim, Germany, which eclipsed the 34-board performance of George Koltanowski in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1937.
Koltanowski’s accomplishment became the world record for number of simultaneous blindfold games played up to that time, but a decade later Miguel Najdorf played 45 at once in São Paulo, Brazil and this currently stands as the generally accepted world record.
Well, we have the video in German. But don’t worry. If you love chess, you would love the video. In any case, flip back to the article and read it in English afterwards at BlindfoldChess website.
Meanwhile, we wish FM Marc Lang the best of luck in his amazing chess quest.
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
Hello Everyone,
We found this fantastic video at the BlindfoldChess website. It is about German FIDE master Marc Lang. He has been working on improving the number of blindfold games in a simul. He started playing 15 simultaneously in June 2009 to becoming the holder of the German record of 23 in November of the same year. Just recently (Nov.27-28, 2010) he successfully took on 35 opponents in Sontheim, Germany, which eclipsed the 34-board performance of George Koltanowski in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1937.
Koltanowski’s accomplishment became the world record for number of simultaneous blindfold games played up to that time, but a decade later Miguel Najdorf played 45 at once in São Paulo, Brazil and this currently stands as the generally accepted world record.
Well, we have the video in German. But don’t worry. If you love chess, you would love the video. In any case, flip back to the article and read it in English afterwards at BlindfoldChess website.
Meanwhile, we wish FM Marc Lang the best of luck in his amazing chess quest.
From Alexandra Kosteniuk’s
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
