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Russia rocks
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Russia celebrated the capturing the gold medals at the European Team Championships with victory over Bulgaria in the final round. The Russians conceded just one 2-2 draw in nine matches and were just too strong on the top boards where Peter Svidler scored 6/7 on board one and Alexander Morozevich 6/8 on board two. Svidler’s tournament rating performance was 2989.
The minor medals went to the Caucasus as Armenia defeated Israel to take silver and Azerbaijan overcame France to secure bronze.
England were hugely out-rated by Ukraine in their final match but Michael Adams had one of his best results for some time and defeated Vasily Ivanchuk, the latter’s third loss at the event. Ukraine won on boards two and three and England finished 16th on 10/16 which corresponded to their seeding but the performance was better than that.
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Russians out of reach
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Russia won the European Team Championships at Crete with a round to spare. Although their run of victories was ended by Spain in the eighth round, a 2-2 draw was sufficient to give them an unassailable lead of three match points as their closest rivals Azerbaijan and Armenia drew 2-2.
Alexander Morozevich lost to Alexey Shirov and his personal score dropped to 6/8, still a wonderful performance. Peter Svidler was rested for the match against Spain. His 5/6 score gives him a tournament rating performance close to 3000 and he could surpass that with victory in the final game against Bulgaria.
England had another great day defeating Georgia 2.5-1.5. Michael Adams won on top board and Gawain Jones crushed another highly rated Grandmaster with the f4 Sicilian. The line with Bb5 as opposed to the original Bc4 plan gives Black different problems to solve. Readers may recall Jones’ demolition of Loek Van Wely at the Staunton Memorial in August. In that game black’s fianchettoed bishop left the kingside with predictably dire results for the black monarch, this game is similar.
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Russia goes for gold
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It is now a magnificent seven wins out of seven for Russia as they defeated France 2.5-1.5 to increase their lead to 3 match points at the European Team Championships taking place in Crete. Alexander Morozevich scored the decisive win over the European Individual champion Vladislav Tkachiev on the second board.
Morozevich’s score on board two is 6/7, on board one Peter Svidler has 5/6. Both players have tournament rating performances close to 3000.
With two rounds to play, Russia need only draw their remaining matches to secure the gold medals. Next up for the leaders is an Armenian team who have defeated them before.
It is a very long time since world number two Vasily Ivanchuk lost twice in the same event but after his reverse at the hands of French number one Etienne Bacrot the Ukrainian’s loss to Shakriyaz Mamedyarov, ranked seven was the cause of his teams 1.5-2.5 defeat against Azerbaijan.
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Russia makes comeback
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Russia defeated the ex Russians in the sixth round of the European Team Championships at Crete as the leaders enjoyed a comfortable 3-1 victory over Israel. In Russia there was an old joke which ran ‘the best chess players are Russian Jews, Russians and then Jews’ there was something in it during the days of the old USSR but this era is over.
Post war, the USSR dominated team tournaments and after the break-up of the Soviet Union Russia enjoyed a brief period of dominance before it was usurped by former Soviet Republics such as Ukraine and Armenia. Russia’s last win in the European Team Championships was at Plovdiv in 2003.
At Gothenburg two years ago the Netherlands took gold and Russia finished a disastrous 14th. Now it seems they are making a comeback, even without the assistance of the 14th world champion Vladimir Kramnik who is in Moscow licking his wounds and planning the downfall of Vishy Anand.
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Topalov tricks Kasimdzhanov with a Trojan Horse
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Two former FIDE world champions clashed at the Chess Champions League in Vitoria Gasteiz, Spain. The ever flamboyant Veselin Topalov permitted his opponent to take a pawn, but in return he had the initiative that ended up being decisive. Judit Polgar drew Anatoly Karpov, while late replacment Nisipeanu held his own against Ponomariov. On the side we saw a bunch of chess pieces having fun.
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When the Sacrifice of a Queen Leads to a Checkmate Victory
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There is no moment in chess that is more magical than the queen sacrifice, especially when it leads to checkmate. But effective sacrifices require a high degree of precision.
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Leonard Barden. November 3, 2007
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England, the main rivals to the Soviet Union 20 years ago, are seeded only 16th in the current European championships at Heraklion, Crete. Though led by the world No13, Michael Adams, the team otherwise consists of modestly ranked GMs with the inexperienced Gawain Jones on board two. England still made a solid start and are 12th before this afternoon's sixth round of nine. Mark Hebden, at 49 the team veteran, has 4/5.
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Russia proves relentless
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Who will stop Russia? That is the question after the favourites comfortably despatched their main rivals Azerbaijan in the fifth round of the European Team Championships taking place in Crete. Russia are the only team on maximum points and it was their leading players Peter Svidler and Alexander Morozevich who overcame Azerbaijan’s stars both of whom are rated in the world’s top 10.
Svidler outplayed Shakriyaz Mamedyarov with black while Morozevich pulled off another astonishing victory over Teimour Radjabov from a level endgame where he had a knight completely out of play. However even these exploits were overshadowed by David Navara’s demolition of Ivan Cheparinov playing on top board for the Czech Republic against Bulgaria for whom Veselin Topalov has already departed to play in a tournament in Spain. France held Ukraine to a 2-2 draw after Etienne Bacrot beat world number two Vasily Ivanchuk with black.
England achieved a 2-2 draw with Spain despite being out-rated. Gawain Jones lost to Paco Vallejo-Pons, Michael Adams drew with Alexei Shirov on top board but Mark Hebden played a superb game to defeat Miguel Illescas.
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Russian roulette
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A round five showdown between Russia and Azerbaijan is in prospect as they overcame Slovenia and Holland respectively to continue their winning runs and reach 8/8 match points at the European Team Championships taking place in Crete. Team score two for a win and one for a 2-2 draw over the four boards.
The leaders are already two match points clear of the field as the other two unbeaten teams; Israel and Ukraine have both drawn two matches. Another of the favourites, Armenia, were surprisingly held 2-2 by Denmark and their two match wins and a draw give them only 5/8.
England drew 2-2 with Sweden which was pretty much a par result. Michael Adams won on top board but Nick Pert lost. Scotland defeated Luxembourg.
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Chess Group Officials Accused of Faking Web Posts to Hurt Rivals
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Two officers of the nation’s leading chess organization have been accused of posting inflammatory remarks on the Internet under false names to win election to the group’s board.
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Azerbaijan's aces
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Russia, Azerbaijan, Slovenia and Holland are the only teams to have won all their matches after three rounds of the European Team Championships taking place in Crete. The Russians, led by Alexander Morozevich and Peter Svidler look in good form and have already scored victories over the Armenians and Czechs.
Azerbaijan are the only team with two players in the world’s top ten and Shakriyaz Mamedyarov demolished Vishy Anand’s trainer Peter-Heine Nielsen to score the decisive win in a narrow victory over Denmark.
Ukraine were frustrated by Israel for whom Michael Roiz overcame Sergey Karjakin. Roiz is a somewhat underrated player and he scored a masterful victory over Anatoly Karpov earlier this year.
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Russian Killer Gets Life Sentence
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 The “Chessboard Killer,” who had hoped to become the most prolific murderer in post-Soviet Russian history, was convicted last week of murdering 48 people.
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Russia's 'Chessboard Killer,' Claiming 63 Murders, Gets Life in 48
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Aleksandr Y. Pichushkin was convicted last week of murdering 48 people and trying to kill three others. The Russian news media had dubbed him the Chessboard Killer.
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Tiger shows his stripes
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Tiger Hillarp-Persson won the Guernsey Chess Festival with a score of 6/7. ‘The Tiger’ arrived late but had organised a first round half point bye in advance. He won his first five games and then drew with the Russian GM Vladimir Epishin before defeating Robert Bellin in the last round – see below. Epishin scored 5.5.
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Ivanchuk chucks Leko
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In a recent interview, Alexander Morozevich stated that Vasily Ivanchuk is the best player in the world. Morozevich pointed out that Ivanchuk has risen to world number two without the assistance of a big analytical team.
Before travelling to Crete to play on the top board for Ukraine at the European Team Championships Ivanchuk played a challenge match against world number five Peter Leko of Hungary in the Ukrainian town of Mukachevo. Games were played at a rate of 10 minutes plus an increment of 10 seconds per move. Ivanchuk took a two game lead but Leko levelled the score in game eleven and the final Rapid game was drawn. The match went to a Blitz playoff which Ivanchuk won.
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Nakamura triumphs
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The nineteen year old American GM Hikaru Nakamura scored one of his finest tournament victories to date as he won the Casino Barcelona tournament by a clear point with a score of 7/9. A last round win over the Spanish GM Marc Narciso Dublan ensured his victory. Nakamura was his combative self and drew just two games. The Cuban Lenier Dominguez was second on 6/9.
The Israeli grandmaster Viktor Mikhalevski won the Calvia Open on the island of Majorca ahead of a very strong field after winning his first seven games. He slowed down and drew the last two but still finished a point clear of former WCC Candidate Kevin Spraggett who was second. The British Women’s Champion Ketevan Arakhamia Grant of Edinburgh scored her second GM norm after a last round win over Rauf Mamedov.
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Jonathan Speelman. October 28, 2007
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The 11th annual Essent Tournament took place in Hoogeveen in Holland from 12-20 October. First held in 1997, this always comprises several different sections with at the top an elite four player double rounder.
Last year's tournament was won jointly by Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Judit Polgar and Mamedyarov was back together with Ruslan Ponomariov, Loek Van Wely and the 2006 World Junior Champion Zaven Andriasian (Armenia), who was invited since the World Junior Champion is traditionally included in the field.
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A Grandmaster Who Rules the Problem-Solving Realm
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John Nunn is the rare player who is both excels at tournaments and at chess problem-solving.
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Leonard Barden on chess
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It sounded an attractive event. The elite teens Sergey Karjakin, 17, and Magnus Carlsen, 16, the all-time No1 woman, Judit Polgar, and the combative Veselin Topalov were all in a six-player double-rounder in Bilbao last week.
Unfortunately the small print was that it was blind chess, played with a keyboard and an empty chessboard, at a fast time limit. The games were littered with blunders. Monaco's Amber event also has blind games but there the board is on a computer screen rather than physically on the table, and this factor seems to have disoriented the GM thought patterns in Bilbao. China's Bu Xiangzhi was the surprise winner.
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Nonchalant Nakamura
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Hikaru Nakamura continues to impress at the Casino Barcelona tournament. The nineteen year old American leads by half a point with a game to play. After suffering his first defeat Nakamura outplayed the Spanish GM Miguel Illescas to reach 6/8 with the Cuban Lenier Dominguez on 5.5.
Nakamura played typically aggressive chess in the first seven rounds but surprised his eighth opponent by playing the positional Catalan Opening. The Catalan has been the weapon of choice for the 14th world champion Vladimir Kramnik and Nakamura won in a style that would have pleased the former champion. Illescas never found counterplay and when he tried to break free Nakamura accepted a pawn sacrifice and won easily. This game was particularly impressive as Illescas is one of Kramnik’s former trainers.
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The usual suspects...
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The European Team Championships start tomorrow in Crete and run until 7th November at the Maris Conference Hotel. Forty countries have registered and I expect the medals to go to three of either: Russia, Ukraine, Armenia or Azerbaijan although France, Spain and Israel may also challenge. Hungary would have been amongst the favourites were it not for the absence of Peter Leko and Judit Polgar.
England’s days of challenging for medals are long gone and the team is weakened by the absence of Nigel Short and what appears to be the retirement of Luke McShane who has taken a job in the City of London. Scotland and Wales are represented although by amateur teams, presumably due to lack of funds.
Only three of the world’s top ten rated players will be missing: Vladimir Kramnik, Peter Leko and Vishy Anand, the latter because he is of course ineligible.
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Bu plays a blinder
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Bu plays a blinder
By Malcolm Pein
Last Updated: 12:01am BST 25/10/2007
It has been non-stop chess in Spain with tournaments in Barcelona, Bilbao and Calvia. Bu Xiangzhi of China won the Blindfold World Cup in Bilbao while the Israeli Viktor Mikhalevski has won seven games in a row at the Calvia Open where the Spanish Team Championship final is also taking place.
The American GM Hikaru Nakamura continued his tremendous run and extended his lead at Barcelona. A victory over Lenier Dominguez of Cuba took him to 5/6, 1.5 points clear with three to play.
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'The H Bomb' explodes
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The American GM Hikaru Nakamura has taken a break from college and is back to his brilliant best. Known as the ‘H Bomb’ for his explosive style of play, Nakamura detonated Michal Krasenkow’s position in the following game and forced a quick mate. After five rounds Nakamura leads with 4/5.
M Krasenkow – H Nakamura
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Where Hip-Hop, Martial Arts and Chess Meet
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 RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan won the Hip-Hop Chess Federation’s Kings Invitational tournament.
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At Miami Open, Nakamura Lives Up to High Expectations
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A tournament that made its debut last week in Miami may become an annual event. The Miami Open was the idea of Blas Lugo, an international master. It received some corporate backing, but was primarily supported by two sponsors who put up $20,000 each. Its guaranteed prize fund of $50,000 would have risen to $100,000 if more than 650 people had entered.
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A wily win for Van Wely
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Shakriyaz Mamedyarov won the Crown Group of the Essent tournament in Holland by virtue of his first round win over Loek Van Wely. Subsequently the three world class grandmasters concentrated on making life miserable for the debutant Devan Andriasian by defeating him in every game. The tournament was held in the town of Hoogeveen which is famous for its glass manufacturing and the players used glass pieces.
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Britain's puzzle kings
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British solvers have recorded a unique hat trick of victories by taking the gold medals at the World Chess Problem Solving Championship. The competition was held at the 50th World Congress for Chess Compositions in Rhodes and the British team was supported by Winton Capital Management whose assistance ensured the participation of our leading trio of solvers.
John Nunn’s magnificent individual performance was the foundation of the victory and his score of 89/90 secured his second individual world solving title ahead of a galaxy of former world champion solvers. Nunn’s team mates were David Friedgood and Jonathan Mestel and the team total of 163/180 was comfortably ahead of Russia on 158.5 and Germany on 158.
In chess problem solving, points are scored for the accuracy and completeness of the solutions which are hand written and submitted to the judges. The competition comprised six rounds and in each round the team’s score was the total of the best two performers. Each round presented the solvers with a different task. There were; mates in 2 moves, mates in 3 moves, mates in more than 3 moves, Endgame Studies, Helpmates; where both sides cooperate to ensure Black is mated, and Selfmates; where White forces Black to mate him.
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Leonard Barden. October 20, 2007
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An English gold medal at last! Not in the way you would expect it, though. Michael Adams scored 4.5/7 for Linex Magic Merida, the Spanish champions, who were seeded only fifth but won the European Club Cup in Turkey. The all-ex-Soviet No2 and 3 seeds, from Tomsk (winners of the last three cups) and Sverdlovsk, took silver and bronze.
It seems even easier in chess than in football for top European teams to field mercenaries. Besides Adams, Merida had grandmasters from the US, Russia, Armenia and Bulgaria, with one token Spaniard. Nigel Short played fifth board for Sarajevo, and in contrast Hilsmark Kingfisher, sole representatives from the UK league, fielded only one GM.
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'Blind' leading the Blind
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Six of the world’s finest players are contesting the Blindfold World Cup at the Sheraton Hotel in Bilbao and some interesting games have been interspersed with terrible blunders. Former Fide champion Veselin Topalov has been a victim twice, losing a knight and a bishop and the Indian GM Pentyla Harekrishna blundered his queen. Mistakes are bound to happen without sight of the board but there have been more than usual for this type of contest.
After four rounds the Chinese GM Bu Xiangzhi led the field with the prodigies Magnus Carlsen and Sergei Karjakin in pursuit. Players get three points for a win and draw offers are not allowed under the ‘Sofia Rules’, so named as the idea was introduced at the MTel events in the Bulgarian capital.
Polgar and Topalov drew their match 1-1 but were in last place at the end of the first day.
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Aggressive Adly aces it
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The Egyptian GM Ahmed Adly has pulled off a famous victory at the World Junior Championship held at Yerevan and becomes the first player from the Arab world to win a world title and the first from Africa. Adly played consistently aggressive chess even though he avoided the main lines of opening theory, particularly with the white pieces.
Adly played so uncompromisingly he did not draw a single game out of thirteen played. After losing in round one he won seven on the trot before losing twice and then winning his last three. Adly follows in the steps of four world champions, Boris Spassky, Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov and Vishy Anand who all won the world junior.
Tony Miles is the only English player ever to have won the event. Miles was victorious in 1974 at Manila. This time around Gawain Jones was in contention and as we saw earlier in the week he played some fine chess but ended half a point from a medal position on 8.5/13 in joint fifth.
David Howell also performed well and finished with 7/13. Ivan Popov of Russia took the silver medal and Wang Hao of China the bronze.
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