London Chess Classic 2010

London Chess Classic 2 – Date: 8-15 December at Olympia. I attended the London Classic I last year in December and will definitely not miss this one too as Anand [my favourite] will be playing!You can read my entry about the 2009 Classic HERE on the 12th December 2009.

Image: londonchessclassic

Heading the line-up is the world chess champion, Viswanathan Anand from India; the teenage sensation who currently outranks him on the world chess rating list, Magnus Carlsen from Norway; and Anand’s immediate predecessor as champion, Vladimir Kramnik from Russia.

Vishy Anand is the one addition to the field that contested the first London Chess Classic in December 2009. Though undisputed world champion, Anand is currently not the highest rated player in the world, but he recently wrested back third place from Kramnik, so is considered the man most likely to stop Carlsen making it two London triumphs in a row. Anand has recently stated that his ambition is to regain his number one status, so it sounds like he already has plans for his clash with the prodigiously talented Norwegian in London.

Kramnik and Anand

London Chess Classic 2010 lineup

Carlsen, Magnus NOR 2826

Anand, Viswanathan IND 2800

Kramnik, Vladimir RUS 2780

Nakamura, Hikaru USA 2733

Adams, Michael ENG 2728

Short, Nigel D ENG 2690

McShane, Luke J ENG 2657

Howell, David W L ENG 2616

Click here for entry forms – to take part in the tournamnet [yes, you can play there too] and here for tickets.

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At the Classics

Results: Round 4 – Saturday 12th December

On the way to the Olympia Centre – where the London Chess Classic is being held

Black bird in a tree

Hammersmith-area – traffic and weather

The players…

Kramnik looked away shyly when I winked at him [hehe] and Nigel suddenly said to Michael Adams…you know what, she’s the only woman around here![NOT – there were many others]

aha! got him smiling!

The stage

And everyone wants the best shot

And I got mine too

Kramnik watching the electronic board

The electronic board, we were allowed to click-click only the first 5 min into the games

A Semi-giant set in the foyer – a lovely set

Art in the foyer, do I see a pawn’s head in this piece of art – or is it my chess-brain working overtime?[hehe]

bikes outside

Headless London pawns lined-up – standing vigilant – for McShane’s and Howell’s game?

Into the night

My impression/opinion of the London Chess Classic

It was great to see these GM’s in real life, they are all great people and great players. It was great to see them playing  live on the stage, to see how they respond and their reactions during a tournament. I was very excited to see them as Kramnik is one of my favourite players. Carlsen too, as he’s young and many students can associate with him and he can be of an inspiration to many young players wanting to reach their goal of becoming a GM too?

The venue was great, it wasn’t my first time at the Olympia. If I can have a moan about a few things and maybe, just maybe someone will pick it up and do something about it. Firstly, the Ladies’ toilet near the auditorium was changed into a Gents room. The nearest Ladies was in the East Hall in a maze of corridors with doors enough to take 6mil people to heaven at any one time. I waited for an old lady as I knew she wasn’t going to find her way back. She was already stressed out when she saw me, saying she found it hard to find it – despite the little arrows you could follow. Secondly, the T-shirts were all in sizes Large -and up and then in a small, but no medium-sized-shirts. I was told by Philippa – the wife of Malcolm Pein [organiser of the tournament] – she’s an ex Saffa and spoke to me in Afrikaans, how nice! – that these shirts were not available in a medium-size- as they reasoned that females were not really going to buy it – duh! Was I going to be the only female wanting a shirt? Then I must be of a very rare specie! I did buy a large though, a mug and a pen. I think I will sleep in this large, baggy shirt.[lol]

The games. The chess games were great – sort of. I was very annoyed with Howell and McShane’s game. They didn’t have a good game, it was a boring game, right from the start. Later on I didn’t even follow their game on the board. Magnus played a good game up to a point and I lost interest. Kramnik’s game wasn’t up to the standard I expected from him and I didn’t follow his game – they finished first and quite early too. I was still thinking how to go about to get some autographs when Kramnik disappeared from the stage. One guy was lucky, he was near the exit on Kramnik’s side. You would think they would go to the foyer to mingle with the common chess players and where you can grab them for an autograph. I lost interest in all the games that were left and we left about 6pm. Our parking ticket was £25, all worth it, but will I do it again to see my favourite players in action? I don’t know, maybe. Maybe if us women don’t have to walk two miles for a ladies room, the chess games worth it and t-shirts in medium size [lol] [I must add, the first time I did use the toilet for disabled people, but I was given the look when I wanted to use it again]

On this photo I’m sitting on the right at the far end – you can’t see me! but you can see hubby on the left. The photo is from the official site. We played three games. We arrived at about 12:15-ish and played till about 13:40.

Denise Frick – South African-player taking part in the Women’s Invitational – image: Official site

Plippa – at the bookstall – image: Official site

The games

[Event “London Chess Classic”]
[Site “London ENG”]
[Date “2009.12.12”]
[Round “4”]
[White “Carlsen, Magnus “]
[Black “Nakamura, Hikaru “]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ChessCat “CHESSCAT 1.0”]
[ECO “D17”]
[Opening “QGD Slav”]
[PlyCount “90”]
[Variation “Czech defence”]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Nh4 Bc8 7.e3 e5 8.Bxc4 exd4 9.exd4 Be7 10.O-O O-O 11.Re1 Nd5 12.Nf3 Be6 13.Qb3 Na6 14.Bd2 Nab4 15.Ne4 Bf5 16.Ne5 a5 17.Nc5 Bxc5 18.dxc5 Qc7 19.Bxb4 Nxb4 20.Qf3 Be6 21.Bxe6 fxe6 22.Qb3 Qe7 23.Nf3 Nd5 24.Rac1 Rf4 25.Ne5 Raf8 26.Nd3 Rd4 27.Rc4 Rxc4 28.Qxc4 Qf6 29.g3 Rd8 30.Kg2 Qf5 31.Nc1 Rf8 32.Qe2 Nc7 33.Nd3 Rd8 34.Ne5 Rd5 35.Kg1 Rxc5 36.Nc4 Qf8 37.Rd1 Rd5 38.Rxd5 exd5 39.Qe5 dxc4 40.Qxc7 Qb4 41.Qc8+ Kf7 42.Qf5+ Ke7 43.Qe5+ Kf7 44.Qf5+ Ke7 45.Qe5+ Kf7
1/2-1/2

[Event “London Chess Classic”]
[Site “London ENG”]
[Date “2009.12.12”]
[Round “4”]
[White “Kramnik, Vladimir “]
[Black “Adams, Michael”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ChessCat “CHESSCAT 1.0”]
[ECO “D37”]
[Opening “QGD”]
[PlyCount “92”]
[Variation “classical variation (5.Bf4)”]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 O-O 6.e3 Nbd7 7.a3 c5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Nxd5 exd5 10.dxc5 Nxc5 11.Be5 Bg4 12.Be2 Ne6 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 d4 15.Bxd4 Nxd4 16.Qxd4 Qxd4 17.exd4 Rac8 18.O-O Rc7 19.Rad1 Rd8 20.Rfe1 Kf8 21.Re2 g6 22.g3 Bf6 23.d5 Be7 24.Kg2 Bd6 25.Rde1 Rc5 26.Be4 Rdc8 27.f4 Rc1 28.Kf3 Rxe1 29.Rxe1 Rc5 30.g4 a5 31.a4 Rc4 32.b3 Rc3+ 33.Re3 Rxe3+ 34.Kxe3 h6 35.f5 gxf5 36.Bxf5 Ke7 37.h4 f6 38.Bc8 b6 39.Ke4 Bg3 40.h5 Bh4 41.Kf5 Bg5 42.Kg6 Kd6 43.Be6 Ke7 44.Bc8 Kd6 45.Be6 Ke7 46.Bc8 Kd6
1/2-1/2

[Event “London Chess Classic”]
[Site “London ENG”]
[Date “2009.12.12”]
[Round “4”]
[White “Short, Nigel”]
[Black “Ni Hua “]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ChessCat “CHESSCAT 1.0”]
[ECO “C11”]
[Opening “French”]
[PlyCount “127”]
[Variation “Burn variation”]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Nbd7 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.c3 h6 8.Bh4 c5 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Qf3 cxd4 11.Bb5+ Ke7 12.Ne2 Qd5 13.Qxd5 exd5 14.Nxd4 f5 15.O-O-O Kf6 16.Ne2 Be6 17.Nf4 Rd8 18.Bc4 d4 19.Bxe6 fxe6 20.Rxd4 Bc5 21.Rxd8 Rxd8 22.Nh3 h5 23.Re1 e5 24.Re2 e4 25.Kc2 h4 26.f3 Re8 27.fxe4 fxe4 28.b4 Bd6 29.Rf2+ Ke5 30.Ng1 Rg8 31.g3 hxg3 32.hxg3 Rxg3 33.Ne2 Rf3 34.Rg2 Kd5 35.Nd4 Rh3 36.Nb5 Be5 37.Rd2+ Ke6 38.Nd4+ Bxd4 39.Rxd4 Rh2+ 40.Kb3 Re2 41.a4 e3 42.Kc4 Ra2 43.a5 e2 44.Re4+ Kd6 45.Kd3 b6 46.axb6 axb6 47.Rxe2 Rxe2 48.Kxe2 b5 49.Kd2 Ke6 50.Kd1 Kd5 51.Kc2 Kd6 52.Kd2 Ke6 53.Ke3 Ke5 54.Kd3 Kd5 55.c4+ bxc4+ 56.Kc3 Kc6 57.Kxc4 Kb6 58.b5 Kb7 59.Kc5 Kc7 60.b6+ Kb7 61.Kb5 Kb8 62.Kc6 Kc8 63.b7+ Kb8 64.Kb6
1/2-1/2

[Event “London Chess Classic”]
[Site “London ENG”]
[Date “2009.12.12”]
[Round “4”]
[White “McShane, Luke “]
[Black “Howell, David “]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ChessCat “CHESSCAT 1.0”]
[ECO “A15”]
[Opening “English opening”]
[PlyCount “79”]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.Ne5 Qd6 7.Nxc6 Qxc6 8.Qxc6+ bxc6 9.g3 Bg7 10.Bg2 Rb8 11.b3 O-O 12.Bb2 Nxc3 13.Bxc3 Bxc3 14.dxc3 c5 15.O-O-O Rb6 16.c4 Rd6 17.Rd5 Bb7 18.Rxd6 Bxg2 19.Rdd1 Bxh1 20.Rxh1 Rd8 21.Rd1 Rxd1+ 22.Kxd1 Kf8 23.Kd2 Ke8 24.Ke3 Kd7 25.g4 f6 26.Ke4 Ke6 27.h3 f5+ 28.Kf4 Kf6 29.g5+ Ke6 30.e4 fxe4 31.Kxe4 Kd6 32.f4 e6 33.h4 a6 34.a3 a5 35.Kf3 e5 36.Ke4 exf4 37.Kxf4 Ke6 38.Ke4 Kd6 39.Kf4 Ke6 40.Ke4
1/2-1/2

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MTel Masters 2009

 If you have thought you’ve seen all the “big game” of the Chess World the past week on my blog…then you haven’t seen these “Chess Engines” of the Chess World. These guys look very serious and I think they mean it serious when it comes to chess. Shirov is currently playing in Azerbaijan too! Topalov will again have a blindfolded game – like last year. Ivanchuk is last year’s winner, wonder what will happen this year. On the official site you can read more player info by clicking on their images.
Click HERE to read the interview with Topalov about his chess.

Please click HERE for the Official site. On my blog’s side bar (top right) you will find the link to LIVE-games. All images: Ivan A. Grigorov for mtelmasters

Vassily Ivanchuk, is a Ukrainian Grandmaster. His an ELO of 2787 on the FIDE January 2008 list, making him number 9 in the World and Ukraine’s number one. He played board one on the victorious Ukraine team at the 2004 Calvia Olympiad. As of November 2007 he is the World Blitz Chess champion.

World Champion to comment M-Tel Masters
 The World Champion in chess Antoaneta Stefanova will comment the games from the fifth edition of the super chess tournament M-Tel Masters. The competition will start on 12 May. For the title up to 23 May will compete the leader in the world ranking Veselin Topalov, Magnus Carlsen from Norway, the last year’s winner Vassily Ivanchuk from Ukraine, Leinier Dominguez from Cuba, Alexei Shirov from Spain and Yue Wang from China. The average ELO of the participants is 2755, which makes the tournament FIDE 21st category. Only five tournaments in history have been of that rank so far.

Bulgaria’s all time strongest female player won the chess crown at the World Championship in Elista in 2004. She is currently fourth in the ladies’ world ranking with an ELO of 2549.

The commentator’s place of Stefanova will be meters away from glass pavilion where the games from the tournament will be played. Her guests will be Bulgarian GMs and after each game she will be able to analyze the game with the participants.

The comments and analysis of Stefanova will be heard also online in real time on the web site of the tournament  www. mtelmasters.com. The games from the tournament will start every day at 16:00 local time, only the last round’s games will begin at 15:00.

The Venue: A glass pavilion on the square in front of the National Theatre Ivan Vazov – image: Official site

The first move made by the mayor of Sofia. MTel has started.

The Glass house where the tournament is taking place – in front of the National Theatre Ivan Vazov

Topalov played a game blindfolded.

Players ready for round 1

The first move..by the mayor of Sofia.

The Mtel Chess Masters Round 2- Images: Mtel Official site

Shirov vs Topalov Round 2 move 7

Shirov vs Topalov Round 2 end position 1/2

Ivanchuk vs Wang round 2 move 7

Ivanchuk vs Wang round 2 end position 0-1

Dominguez vs Carlsen round 2 move 7

Dominguez vs Carlsen round 2 end position 1/2

 Round 3

Magnus Carlsen - Images: MTel

Wang vs Shirov

MTel Chess Round 3 Wang vs Shirov end position 1/2

MTel Chess Round 3 Carlsen vs Ivanchuk move 41

MTel Chess Round 3 Topalov vs Dominguez move 41

Carlsen vs Ivanchuk

Topalov

Pairings Rounds: 4-5-6

 Round 4 – Results: 16th May 2009

Round 4 Carlsen vs Shirov move 7

Round 4 Carlsen vs Shirov end position

Round 4 Dominguez vs Ivanchuk move 7

Round 4 Dominguez vs Ivanchuk end position

Round 4 Topalov vs Wang move 7

Round 4 Topalov vs Wang end position

In both problems white moves and mates in two moves

See the “news”-link on the official site for Kostadinov’s Challenge. You can send your solution to him, his email is on the link too.

Round 5: 17th May 2009

Topalov – round 5

Supporters follow the games outside the glass house

Round 5 Ivanchuk vs Topalov move 7

Round 5 Ivanchuk vs Topalov move 22

Round 5 Ivanchuk vs Topalov move 30

Round 5 Ivanchuk vs Topalov move 44

 

Chess football – results- MTel-United 8!

Players played football on their day of rest. This is the evidence to show chess players are good at football too!

Round 6: Results

Round 6: Dominguez vs Wang 1/2

 

Round 6 Topalov vs Carlsen move 7

Round 6 Topalov vs Carlsen move 21

Round 6 Topalov vs Carlsen end position 1/2

Round 6 Shirov vs Ivanchuk 1-0

Round 6: Shirov and Topalov

Results: Round 7

Topalov vs Shirov – 1/2

Carlsen vs Dominguez – 1-0

Wang vs Ivanchuk – 1/2

Results: Round 8

[Event “5th M-Tel Masters round_8”]
[Site “Sofia BUL”]
[Date “2009.05.21”]
[Round “8.1”]
[White “Shirov, Alexei”]
[Black “Wang, Yue”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “E04”]
[WhiteElo “2745”]
[BlackElo “2738”]
[PlyCount “87”]
[EventDate “2009.05.13”]
[EventType “tourn”]
[EventRounds “10”]
[EventCountry “BUL”]
[EventCategory “21”]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. Qa4 Bd7 8. Qxc4 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Rc8 10. Nc3 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Bc5 12. Qh4 O-O 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. Qxf6 gxf6 16. Bxb7 Rb8 17. Bf3 Rxb2 18. Rfd1 Be8 19. Ne4 Be7 20. Nd6 Bxd6 21. Rxd6 Bb5 22. Kf1 Rb8 23.a4 Bc4 24. Rc1 Rb1 25. Rd8+ Kg7 26. Rxb8 Rxc1+ 27. Kg2 Rc2 28. Rc8 Bb3 29. Rxc2 Bxc2 30. a5 f5 31. Bh5 Kf6 32. f4 Ke7 33. Kh3 Be4 34. Kh4 Kf6 35. h3 Kg7 36. e3 Bd3 37. Bf3 Bc2 38. g4 fxg4 39. hxg4 f6 40. Bc6 Bd1 41. Bd7 Kf7 42. Bc8 Be2 43. Bd7 Bd1 44. Bc8 1/2-1/2

[Event “5th M-Tel Masters round_8”]
[Site “Sofia BUL”]
[Date “2009.05.21”]
[Round “8.2”]
[White “Ivanchuk, Vassily”]
[Black “Carlsen, Magnus”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “B77”]
[WhiteElo “2746”]
[BlackElo “2770”]
[PlyCount “81”]
[EventDate “2009.05.13”]
[EventType “tourn”]
[EventRounds “10”]
[EventCountry “BUL”]
[EventCategory “21”]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Bb3 d6 9. f3 Bd7 10. Qd2 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. h4 a5 13. a4 bxa4 14. Bxa4 h5 15.O-O Rb8 16. Bxd7 Nxd7 17. b3 Bxd4+ 18. Qxd4 Qb6 19. Qxb6 Nxb6 20. Nd1 Rfc8 21.Ne3 Ra8 22. Ra2 a4 23. Rfa1 axb3 24. Rxa8 Nxa8 25. cxb3 Nb6 26. Ra7 Rc3 27. Kf2 e6 28. Rb7 Rxb3 29. Nc4 Rxf3+ 30. gxf3 Nxc4 31. Rb4 d5 32. exd5 exd5 33. Rb8+ Kg7 34. Rd8 Kf6 35. Rxd5 Ke6 36. Rb5 Nd6 37. Ra5 Nf5 38. Ra6+ Ke5 39. Ra5+ Ke6 40. Ra6+ Ke5 41. Ra5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event “5th M-Tel Masters round_8”]
[Site “Sofia BUL”]
[Date “2009.05.??”]
[Round “8.3”]
[White “Dominguez Perez, Leinier”]
[Black “Topalov, Veselin”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “B81”]
[WhiteElo “2721”]
[BlackElo “2812”]
[PlyCount “86”]
[EventDate “2009.05.13”]
[EventType “tourn”]
[EventRounds “10”]
[EventCountry “BUL”]
[EventCategory “21”]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e6 7. g4 Be7 8. Bg2
Nfd7 9. Be3 Nc6 10. Qd2 Nde5 11. b3 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 O-O 13. O-O-O b5 14. Ne2 Bb7 15. f4 Ng6 16. Rhf1 e5 17. Be3 exf4 18. Nxf4 Ne5 19. Kb1 Rc8 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21.exd5 Bh4 22. g5 Re8 23. Bf3 g6 24. Bg4 Rc7 25. Bb6 Qb8 26. Bxc7 Qxc7 27. Be2 Qd8 28. Rg1 Qb6 29. Qf4 Bf2 30. Rg2 Be3 31. Qe4 Re7 32. Qb4 Rc7 33. h4 Bc5 34.Qe4 Qa5 35. Rg3 Bf2 36. Rh3 h5 37. gxh6 f5 38. Qf4 Rxc2 39. Kxc2 Qxa2+ 40. Kc1 Qa1+ 41. Kc2 Qa2+ 42. Kc1 Qa1+ 43. Kc2 Qa2+ 1/2-1/2

Ivanchuk and Carlsen after round 8

Standings after round 8

Results: Round 9

Round 9 Topalov vs Ivanchuk move 21 – 1-0

Round 9 Carlsen vs Wang end position – 1-0

Round 9 Dominguez vs Shirov – 1/2

Players at MTel round 9

Final round: Ivanchuk vs Dominguez final position 1-0

Final round: Shirov vs Carlsen final position 1-0

Final round: Wang vs Topalov final position 1/2

MTel Masters 2009: Final rankings

Carlsen and Shirov

Shirov, winner of MTel Masters 2009

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Corus Chess 2009 Live

For the Official site of Corus, please click here. For Live Games, click on the Corus-logo on the side bar of my blog  or click here. If you click on the images, you will get a larger view. All images are from the Official site and all links will open in a new window. At the bottom of this post you can play through the games of some players in Group A.

Corus Schedule: Grand Masters Group A rounds 1 to 6

To see the schedule for the other rounds, please click here for rounds 7-13.
Please click HERE to play through the game of Carlsen vs Radjabov. Carlsen played white in round 1 against Radjabov. The game will open in a new window.

Corus Group A Round 1 results

On the link here, the site of Chess.com, you can play through the games of Aronian,L (2750) vs. Wang Yue (2739); Kamsky,G (2725) vs. Adams,Mi (2712); Van Wely,L (2625) vs. Dominguez Perez,L (2717); Stellwagen,D (2612) vs. Movsesian,S (2751); Carlsen,M (2776) vs. Radjabov,T (2761); Karjakin,Sergey (2706) vs. Morozevich,A (2771) and Ivanchuk,V (2779) vs. Smeets,J (2601). All the games from Round 1, Corus Group A. The link will open in a new window.

Corus Group A Round 2 results

For the games of round 2 please click on this link to play through the games. Please click on the image for a larger view of the results of round 2.

 

Carlsen round 12..end position and move list.

Sergey – Corus round 12 – final position and move list
Play through games on this link played in round 12 and view the standings after round 12 too.

Sergey Karjakin, winner of Corus 2009

Corus Final Results…please click on the image for a larger view – image: chess.com

Sergey Karjakin, round 13 final position and move list

Carlsen Corus Round 13 final position and move list
To play through the games and see more results…click on the next link which will open in a new window.
http://www.chess.com/news/karjakin-wins-corus-flash-report-4516

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Chess, poetry art and music

Image: Chesscentral.com

I believe this is a good combination: chess, poetry, art and music! I’ve started recently reading Dean’s poetry blog and glad that I’ve discovered his blog. This poem in this post, is today’s entry on his blog and I’ve really enjoyed it and thought to share it with you. If you’re a lover of poetry, make sure to visit his blog, if you don’t, you will regret it! If you don’t like poetry, then you still should visit his blog and you will immediately fall in love with his poems! I have a present for you today too, let’s call it an early Christmas present if you like, a composition by Jim Brickman. Finally, for my chess-lovers (and those who think they might become chess-lovers!) I’ve got a few games here (do check back as I have about ten more to blog in this entry!) played a few days ago in the Dresden Olympiad. This post is almost as good as “wine women and song!”:) All links will open in a new window.

Remember me to the world
And all the beautiful girls
I never kissed; if there’s one regret
That is it: that I left any lovelies’
Lips unblessed, her heart repressed

Remember me to the wind, which
Blows wherever it goes; still, or not
Any feeling does not cost, but what you
Do with it: recall I am that
Innocent, awake to only wonder told

Remember me to the sun; the heat,
The blaze, worries public or hidden,
I have had them all, unbidden: most
Of all when you see that woman or girl,
Remember me, my dear, to the blessed world

©Dean J. Baker
To read more wonderful poetry, please click HERE to read on Dean Baker’s blog! Chess=love+poetry+music+art=chess!

Read more about Dean on his biography-link on his blog!

Over 500 poems and prose poems published since 1972 in over 130 literary publications in Canada, the USA, England, Australia, New Zealand, etc., such as Descant, Carleton Literary Review, Poetry WLU, The Prairie Journal, Freelance, Nexus, Bitterroot, Oxalis, Bogg, Aileron, RE:AL, Art Times, Pegasus, Impetus, On The Bus, and many others. More have been published in newspapers, magazines, online and in anthologies, recorded and paper.

Music: Jim Brickman: Dream comes true

Please click HERE to play through the game of Nyback from Finland vs Carlsen played in round 6, Dresden 2008.

Carlsen

Please click HERE to play through the game of Dominguez from Cuba vs Gata Kamsky in round 6, Dresden 2008.

This game of Etienne Bacrot was played in round 7 against Sasikiran from India.

Click HERE to play through the game of Boris Gelfand from Israel vs Elexei Shirov of Spain in round 7.

Please click HERE to play through the game of one of my favourite players, Ivanchuk vs Wang of China.

Ivanchuk

Click HERE to play through Kamsky’s game played in round 7 against Peter Leko.

Play through the game of Michael Adams against Radjabov played in round 7, Dresden.

Please click HERE to play through the game of Yelena Dembo, from Greece,  played in round 7 at the Olympiad.

Yelena Dembo

Please click HERE to play through the game of Cheparinov in round 8, Dresden.

To play through a game of Topalov played in round 8, click on the link!
Please click HERE to play through the game of David Howell from England played in round 9.

image: Greekchess.com..David Navara

Please click here to play through the game of David Navara played in round 9.

To play through the game of NIGEL SHORT, played in round 9, click on the link!

Image: chessbase..Nigel Short

Please click HERE to play through the game of Peter Svidler played in round 9 at the Dresden Olympiad in Germany.

Samuel Bak Chess Art. See my “chess humour”- page for more chess art from Samuel and his link.

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Hooray!

 

 Only if you follow Baku-Chess…you will know what this is all about…. 😉

 

Icheri Sheher – an old inner city of Baku
Image:Baku2008.Fide.com

See more Baku-photos on THIS LINK …which is also about round 5 and the games that were played.

 

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Baku Chess rounds 12 and 13

Today…round 13 – the final round! – was played in Baku, Azerbainjan. The first images in this post is about round 13, please slide down for round 12-results. More images of round 13 can bee seen on the official Baku2008.fide.com-site.

Tadaa! and here are the results of round 13…
Karjakin, Sergey 1/2 Kamsky, Gata 1/2
Svidler, Peter 1 Inarkiev,Ernesto 0
Navara, David 1 Cheparinov, Ivan 0
Adams, Michael 1/2 Gashimov, Vugar 1/2
Grischuk, Alexander 1/2 Radjabov, Teimour 1/2
Carlsen, Magnus 1 Bacrot,Etienne 0
Wang, Yue 1/2 Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar 1/2
Kamsky, Gata 1/2 Kerjakin, Sergey 1/2

Final ranking…
1 Gashimov Vugar 2679 AZE 8
2 Wang Yue 2689 CHN 8
3 Carlsen Magnus 2765 NOR 8
4 Mamedyarov Shakhriyar 2752 AZE 71/2
5 Grischuk Alexander 2716 RUS 7½
6 Adams Michael 2729 ENG 6½
7 Svidler Peter 2746 RUS 6½
8 Radjabov Teimour 2751 AZE 6
9 Kamsky Gata 2726 USA 6
10 Karjakin Sergey 2732 UKR 6
11 Cheparinov Ivan 2695 BUL 5½
12 Navara David 2672 CZE 5½
13 Bacrot Etienne 2705 FRA 5
14 Inarkiev Ernesto 2684 RUS 5

Game between Wang and Mamedyrov…move 29….round 13

This image is from the game between Bacrot and Carlsen…after move 34

Wang against Mamedyarov move…47

End position…Navara and Cheparinov

End position: Grischuk and Radjabov

Results …round 12 played yesterday:

Radjabov 0 Navara 1   
Gashimov 1 Grischuk 0
Kamsky 0 Svidler 1
Carlsen 1 Adams 0
Cheparinov 1/2 Karjakin 1/2
Inarkiev 1/2 Wang 1/2
Mamedyarov 1 Bacrot 0

 

On this image you can see what the game board looked like between Carlsen and Adams in round 12. Click on images for a larger view.

Inarkiev playing white against Wang.

Kamsky playing against Svidler

Final position of the game between Kamsky and Svidler

 
Gashimov against Grischuk…move 17

Gashimov against Grischuk…final position on the board

Radjabov against Navara…move 19

Final position of the board between Radjabov and Navara

Mamedyarov against Bacrot move 49

All images from players: Baku2008-Fide  Official site

…wow…I can’t make up my mind with all of these men…why do  they all look so the same today!

….I was sure there was a fairy…just there!

Gata… I told you he didn’t touch that pawn…it was the pawn on H2…

…but sir…he touched it again! where are you now!….

…if you’re in the top position, this is how you pick up a piece…just watch..and you’ll win!

…..wow…they are sooooooo beautiful!

 

…eeny meeny miny moe!…..

Standings…after round 12
 
Wang Yue 2689 CHN 7½
Gashimov Vugar 2679 AZE 7½
Grischuk Alexander 2716 RUS 7
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar 2752 AZE 7
Carlsen Magnus 2765 NOR 7
Adams Michael 2729 ENG 6
Radjabov Teimour 2751 AZE 5½
Karjakin Sergey 2732 UKR 5½
Svidler Peter 2746 RUS 5½
Kamsky Gata 2726 USA 5½
Bacrot Etienne 2705 FRA 5
Cheparinov Ivan 2695 BUL 5
Inarkiev Ernesto 2684 RUS 5
Navara David 2672 CZE 4½

 

Pairings for round 13, the final round.
 

Round 13 on 05/05/08 at 14:00
Karjakin Sergey – Kamsky Gata
Navara David – Cheparinov Ivan
Grischuk Alexander – Radjabov Teimour
Adams Michael – Gashimov Vugar
Bacrot Etienne – Carlsen Magnus
Yue Wang – Mamedyarov Shakhriyar
Svidler Peter – Inarkiev Ernesto

Enjoy the video about round 13, the final round.

ENJOY! this movie about round 12…also to be seen on the Baku2008-Fide site.

On this image you can see the three winners in this tournament.

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Baku Chess round 10

In Baku, Azerbaijan, it was a rainy day today….In this image you can see Radjabov sharing his umbrella. In Round 10, Carlsen and Navara drew their game and Grischuck and Mamedyarov.  Ivan Cheparinov-(Bulgaria)  won his game against Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan).
Follow THIS LINK to watch some press conferences about different players.
Other results:
Gata Kamsky 1/2 Wang Yue 1/2
Gashimov Vugar 1/2 Karjakin Sergey 1/2
Inarkiev Ernesto 1/2 Michael Adams 1/2
Svidler Peter 1/2 Bacrot Etienne 1/2

Follow the “live” link on the side bar of my blog to follow the games live.
Please follow THIS LINK to see more photos taken today in round 10.

…..is that an expression of a blunder?

 

Round 11 on 03/05/08 at 15:00
Cheparinov Ivan – Kamsky Gata
Karjakin Sergey – Radjabov Teimour
Navara David – Gashimov Vugar
Grischuk Alexander – Carlsen Magnus
Adams Michael – Mamedyarov Shakhriyar
Bacrot Etienne – Inarkiev Ernesto
Yue Wang – Svidler Peter

This video is from the Official website of Fide-Baku-2008

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Baku Chess round 9

Enjoy these images from the Baku-fide official site… round 9 was played today…
Please click HERE to play through some of the games of the Grandmasters played in round 9.

 

….ahw….isn’t he mummy’s sweet little boy!

….yeah, yeah, yeah….let’s do it…before they call it  a
2move-checkmate-game!

 

…er….where is that rule again…the handshake rule… um…oh yeah…here…

…. that’s my boy! let’s shake it!

…oh dear!…who taught you to start with  that pawn!!

….come on Magnus…I’ve been waiting for this day! ….you’re taking too long now!

 Is everything alright, my boy? “Daddy” will keep an eye on you…ok…?

 

….and one more smile for mummy!..ahw…so sweet….

 

…er….I did say I’m sorry….so could we start  playing now….you are playing white…ain’t you?

On the side bar of the blog you will find a link to “live games” to see what the players cooked up for us today in round 9.

Standings after round 9!

1 Grischuk Alexander 2716 RUS 6
2 Gashimov Vugar 2679 AZE 5½
Wang Yue 2689 CHN 5½
4 Radjabov Teimour 2751 AZE 5
5 Carlsen Magnus 2765 NOR 5
6 Mamedyarov Shakhriyar 2752 AZE 5
7 Adams Michael 2729 ENG 5
8 Bacrot Etienne 2705 FRA 4½
9 Kamsky Gata 2726 USA 4½
10 Svidler Peter 2746 RUS 4
11 Karjakin Sergey 2732 UKR 4
12 Cheparinov Ivan 2695 BUL 3½
13 Inarkiev Ernesto 2684 RUS 3
14 Navara David

Pairings for rounds 10-13. Tomorrow, the 1st May…is a free day.

Round 10 on 02/05/08 at 15:00
Kamsky Gata – Yue Wang
Svidler Peter – Bacrot Etienne
Inarkiev Ernesto – Adams Michael
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar – Grischuk Alexander
Carlsen Magnus – Navara David
Gashimov Vugar – Karjakin Sergey
Radjabov Teimour – Cheparinov Ivan
Round 11 on 03/05/08 at 15:00
Cheparinov Ivan – Kamsky Gata
Karjakin Sergey – Radjabov Teimour
Navara David – Gashimov Vugar
Grischuk Alexander – Carlsen Magnus
Adams Michael – Mamedyarov Shakhriyar
Bacrot Etienne – Inarkiev Ernesto
Yue Wang – Svidler Peter
Round 12 on 04/05/08 at 15:00
Kamsky Gata – Svidler Peter
Inarkiev Ernesto – Yue Wang
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar – Bacrot Etienne
Carlsen Magnus – Adams Michael
Gashimov Vugar – Grischuk Alexander
Radjabov Teimour – Navara David
Cheparinov Ivan – Karjakin Sergey
Round 13 on 05/05/08 at 14:00
Karjakin Sergey – Kamsky Gata
Navara David – Cheparinov Ivan
Grischuk Alexander – Radjabov Teimour
Adams Michael – Gashimov Vugar
Bacrot Etienne – Carlsen Magnus
Yue Wang – Mamedyarov Shakhriyar
Svidler Peter – Inarkiev Ernesto

Enjoy the video from the FideBaku2008 website.
 

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Baku Chess round 4

Click on the images to see a larger view. These are results from round 4, the Chess Grand Prix tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan. If you click HERE you will find a games-link and you can play through the games played in the previous rounds…on the side bar of my blog, you will find a link to the current round’s games.

All images from the Official Fide-Baku-Chess-site.

 

Pairings for round 5

 

Baku…city…wall

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Baku Chess round 3

 

Azerbaijan is now a world of chess! GrandMasters in the world of Chess are there for this prestigious event taking place in Baku. Round 4 results now available too. On my side bar you can follow the games LIVE. Look for the “Fide Grand Prix”-link! Read HERE more about Azerbaijan.

Please click HERE to play through the games of Gashimov vs. Svidler, Carlsen vs. Inarkiev and Navara vs. Grischuk in round 3 played on the 23rd April.
Click HERE for the results of round 4.

 

 

On this table you can see the results after round 3. The video can also be seen on
Baku’s Official website and it’s about round 2! See more photos on this link too.

 

 

 

Peter Svidler: Image – Chessvibes

Michael Adams…Image: Chessvibes

 

Kamsky…examined by security before entering …Image: Chessvibes

Carlsen…and security…see more images on Chessvibes.com

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Linares round 13

Please click HERE to play through games from Linares round 13 as well as other rounds…

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Linares 2008 round 12

Image: Chessvibes

Click here to see the game of Carlsen and Topalov on Susan Polgar’s site.
If you click on THIS LINK you can play through the games of the players of rounds played so far. Click on the name on the top-menu to see the rounds of a particular player.

Click HERE to read about Shirov/Aronian’s game. 
Please click HERE to read more about Radjabov/Ivanchuk’s game…
and on THIS LINK about Anand/Leko’s game.

Wednesday is a day of rest…no games and the schedule for the rest of the week:

Round 13 6th March 2008
Ivanchuk, Vassily	vs.	Anand, Viswanathan
Radjabov, Teimour	vs.	Shirov, Alexei
Aronian, Levon	vs.	Carlsen, Magnus
Topalov, Veselin	vs.	Leko, Peter
Round 14 7th March 2008
Anand, Viswanathan	vs.	Topalov, Veselin
Leko, Peter	vs.	Aronian, Levon
Carlsen, Magnus	vs.	Radjabov, Teimour
Shirov, Alexei	vs.	Ivanchuk, Vassily

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Linares Round 8

Official site here….The annual Linares chess tournament, usually played around the end of February, takes its name from the city of Linares in the Jaén province of Andalusia, Spain, in which it is held. It is sometimes described as the Wimbledon of chess. It is one of the strongest annual tournaments held on the chess tour, along with the Corus chess tournament and Dortmund chess tournament.
Read more about LINARES here on Wikipedia…Anand outplays Shirov in Linares chess

LINARES, February 29:   

Viswanathan Anand once again showed excellent technique to outplay Alexei Shirov in the eighth round of the Morelia-Linares chess as the second leg got underway in Linares.Anand’s fourth win in eight rounds took his tally to 5.5 points and extended his lead to a full point. Anand is now one point clear of his nearest rivals Lev Aronian and Magnus Carslen, who have 4.5 points each. Anand also benefited from the win against Shirov as Magnus Carlsen lost a seemingly winning game against Vassily Ivanchuk.In his game against Shirov, whom he beat for the FIDE World title back in 2000, Anand made the Latvian-born Spaniard pay for not being able to get adequate counter play. In Sveshnikov Sicilian, Shirov’s pawn weaknesses ultimately cost him the game. It took Anand 57 moves and some fine technique to bring in the full point.Vaselin Topalov, trying to press too hard for a win, saw the effort backfire as he lost to Aronian. The game was balanced for a long time, but Topalov overpressed and Aronian responded with a defensive exchange sacrifice. That ultimately resulted in a superior endgame for Aronian, who converted it in 65 moves.Ivanchuk squandered a winning chance against Carlsen and made a wrong choice of move on the 20th turn, which ran him into serious time trouble. Carlsen soon won the race between the opposing sides’ passed pawns and grabbed a full point.The game between Teimour Radjabov and Peter Leko was drawn, but it was as exciting as any of the decisive games.Anand finished the first leg in Morelia, Mexico with 4.5 points from seven rounds. The players had four days rest but traveled more than 24 hours and the time difference between Mexico and Spain is seven hours, resulting in considerable jet lag.  
 

Original Report can be read here ….

Read on the US-chess site HERE more about the standings after round 7! There are also games to play through of the Grandmasters participating in this tournament. More chess news…..

Aronyan resumes in Spain from fourth position Morelia/Linares resumed in Spain on Thursday (February 28), with Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronyan (with white) beating Bulgaria’s Veselin Topalov in the opening game.Aronyan finished the Mexican part of the super chess tournament in the fourth position (with 3.5 points in seven games) among eight grandmasters. The 2006 Morelia/Linares winner let Spain’s Alexey Shirov and Bulgaria’s Veselin Topalov (4 points) outstrip him after losing to Norway’s Magnus Carlsen in the last round on Sunday. India’s Vishy Anand, the reigning world champion who is defending his last year’s tournament win, was a clear leader with 4.5 points.On Friday, February 29, Aronyan, with white pieces, was due to play Anand.The Linares part of the tournament is due to end on March 7.Meanwhile, Armenian chess-player Movses Movsisyan, representing the United States, scored 5.5 points out of 7 and took the first prize in the Winter Open held in Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA. Forty chess-players participated in the tournament, according to http://www.armchess.am.And Armenian GM Varuzhan Hakobyan (also from the USA) scored 5.5 points out of 7 and shared the 2nd-6th places in the 3rd Open held in Morelia, Mexico. Hakobyan was behind the winner GM Ramirez (Costa Rica) with only half a point. Ninety-five chess players participated.

The “Magnicificent Eight” lined up in Spain, the players in this chess tournament.

On THIS LINK you can follow some of the results of round 10.

Peter Leko and his wife….

Vishy Anand and his wife…

Levon Aronian

More pictures/images : ….chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=4450
Game…round 1……Topalov against…Aronian……

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Dragon Chess

Image: Ullart.com

I’ve played around a little bit in Fireworks and made some little changes to the original picture. The original pic’s link is on the image
 

See on this link more about the Dragon-opening in chess
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicilian_Defence,_Dragon_Variation

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