First Chess Grandmaster for South Africa!

Kenny Solomon
This is very exciting news for South Africa and South African Chess players. We’ve been waiting for a Chess Grandmaster. We knew it was just a matter of time…and the time has come! Congratulations to Kenny! Proudly South African!

September 11 2012 at 10:01am

Cape Town – A Mitchells Plain father who grew up in the township and played his first game of chess at 13, has become South Africa’s first chess grandmaster.

Kenny Solomon, 32 was in a team of five South Africans at the 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul for two weeks.

When results were announced at the weekend, he was one of eight international contestants awarded grandmaster – a title held for life. It is the highest title a player can attain and had been awarded to greats like Garry Kasparov and the late Bobby Fisher. To become a grandmaster a player must have a performance rating consistently above 2 500.

Solomon could not be reached as he was flying from Turkey to Italy, but Anant Dole, whom he taught chess for five years, said his rating had been around 2 600 over nine rounds at the Olympiad as well as at three other previous tournaments.

“The best rating in the world is 2 880. Kenny has been working very hard for the grandmaster title – even while he trained me he was preparing himself. He deserves it.”

Dole who lives in Constantia said Solomon moved to Italy last year to hone his skills.

“Playing top-class chess in South Africa is very difficult because there are few top-class players. Kenny was number one here, but for him it was not enough,” Dole, 19 said. He said Solomon was married with a daughter.

On his blog, Solomon said he started playing in Mitchells Plain aged 13 after his older brother, Maxwell, was flown to Manila to play in an Olympiad.

He began reading chess books, taught himself and in two years won the national championship. Also on the blog were messages, including one from a Sharon Snell who wrote: “South Africa’s first grandmaster. You are an inspiration to us all.”

Cultural Affairs and Sport MEC Ivan Meyer said: “We await with great excitement for the confirmation of his new status … making him only the second chess player from sub-Saharan Africa and only the eighth in Africa to ever achieve this.”

Please click HERE to read the original article.

Melissa Greeff – South Africa’s first Woman Grandmaster – since 2009

Read about Melissa on this link.

More Titles – source: chessa

More titles… Steel & van den Heever Wednesday 12 September 2012

Congratulations to Henry Steel who was awarded the title of International Master (IM) for his sterling performance at the 2012 FIDE Olympiad.  Henry’s rating also surpassed the 2400 mark.  And congratulations to Donovan van den Heever who is awarded the title of FIDE Master (FM) for his rating breaking the 2300 barrier.  Well done guys!.

Read Full Post »

South Africa’s Woman Chess Grandmaster!

FIDE has recognised the achievements of Melissa Greeff [15] by indicating that she will be awarded the prestigious title of International Woman Grandmaster.CONGRATULATIONS Melissa!! You do us PROUD!  Baie Geluk, Melissa, ons het hiervoor gewag, ons het eintlik geweet jy’s  reeds ‘n Grandmaster, ons het slegs vir die aankondiging gewag! We already knew you were one… we’ve been waiting for the announcement only!! [news:official site: chessa.co.za]

You can see her Fide profile on this link. The link will open in a new window.

Click on this link this link to see her games during the “First Saturday” tournament in Budapest and on this link to play through her games interactively on chessgames and 365chess. Links will open in a new window.

Melissa – 15 year old student in her school uniform- photo:

herschel.org.za/news/senior-news/165/check-mate

Melissa vs Groetz at the Arctic Chess Challenge

The same time, congratulations to the Springboks! You are still my heroes when it comes to rugby!

The following message from Jennifer Shahade  to Melissa:

Nikita: Send my congrats to WGM Greef! Her family was so hospitable when I was in SA, hope to visit again sometime soon.

[message on her site: jennifershahade.com]

Read Full Post »

African Individual Chess Tournament 2009

 

The African Individual Chess Championships are now taking place in Tripoli,  Libya. It started the 21st July and it continues till the 30th July2009.

 WIM Melissa Greeff – RSA

Congratulations to:

Melissa Greeff

For winning the
African Individual Chess Championship 2009
–   Women section
Click on this link,which will open in a new window, to play through some of her games on 365chess and chessgames you can play through more games of Melissa. On this link you can view her games played in Budapest during the First  Saturday tournament early July 2009 or you can follow the link of First Saturday to play through her games interactively.

GM Bassem Amin from Egypt…winner of the men’s section

Image: Chessbase
Final Results/Rankings: Women after round 9

1 WIM Greeff Melissa RSA 2038 7
2 WIM Mezioud Amina ALG 2035 7
3 WGM Mona Khaled EGY 2094 6,5
4 WIM Solomons Anzel RSA 1932 6,5
5 WFM Latreche Sabrina ALG 1964 6,5
6 WCM Beddar Karima ALG 1803 5,5
7 WIM Alaa el Din Yosra EGY 1913 4,5
8  Abdulgader Amira LBA  4,5
9  Rahal Mawadda LBA  4
10  Matoussi Amina TUN 1755 4
11  Elansary Eman EGY  3,5
12 WFM Mudongo Boikhutso BOT 1905 3,5
13 WFM Elfelo Khouled LBA  3,5
14  Elgohary Myada EGY 1683 3,5
15  Al Jahani Marwah LBA  2
16  Al Felo Ekhlas LBA 0

 List of players Women
1 Abdulgader Amira 0 LBA
2 Al Felo Ekhlas 0 LBA
3 Al Jahani Marwah 0 LBA
4 WIM Alaa el Din Yosra 1913 EGY
5 WCM Beddar Karima 1803 ALG
6 Elansary Eman 0 EGY
7 WFM Elfelo Khouled 0 LBA
8 Elgohary Myada 1683 EGY
9 WIM Greeff Melissa 2038 RSA
10 WFM Latreche Sabrina 1964 ALG
11 Matoussi Amina 1755 TUN
12 WIM Mezioud Amina 2035 ALG
13 WGM Mona Khaled 2094 EGY
14 WFM Mudongo Boikhutso 1905 BOT
15 Rahal Mawadda 0 LBA
16 WIM Solomons Anzel 1932 RSA

 

Results of Women: African Individual Chess Championships – Round 1

Results- Women: African Individual CC: Round 2 – please click on images for a clear view.

Rank after Round 2 -Women: Top 5 positions

1 WFM Latreche Sabrina ALG 1964
 WIM Alaa el Din Yosra EGY 1913
 WCM Beddar Karima ALG 1803
4 WIM Greeff Melissa RSA 2038
5 WIM Solomons Anzel RSA 1932

Pairings/Results – Women
Round 3 on 2009/07/23 at 15:00
 WIM Alaa el Din Yosra vs  WFM Latreche Sabrina–0-1
 WIM Solomons Anzel vs WCM Beddar Karima– 1-0
 WGM Mona Khaled vs  WIM Greeff Melissa –1-0
 WIM Mezioud Amina  vs  Al Jahani Marwah –1-0
 Elansary Eman vs  Elgohary Myada –1-0
 Rahal Mawadda vs  Abdulgader Amira–1/2
 WFM Mudongo Boikhutso vs  WFM Elfelo Khouled–1/2
 Al Felo Ekhlas vs   Matoussi Amina–0-1

Pairings/Results: Women
Round 4 on 2009/07/24 at 15:00

WFM Latreche Sabrina   vs   WIM Solomons Anzel–0-1
WCM Beddar Karima   vs  WGM Mona Khaled–0-1  
Elansary Eman   vs  WIM Mezioud Amina–0-1 
Abdulgader Amira   vs  WIM Alaa el Din Yosra–0-1  
WIM Greeff Melissa   vs    Rahal Mawadda–1-0  
Elgohary Myada    vs   Matoussi Amina–0-1 
Al Jahani Marwah   vs WFM Mudongo Boikhutso–0-1 
WFM Elfelo Khouled  vs   Al Felo Ekhlas–1-0 

Rank after Round 3

1 WFM Latreche Sabrina ALG 1964
2 WIM Solomons Anzel RSA 1932
3 WCM Beddar Karima ALG 1803
4 WIM Alaa el Din Yosra EGY 1913
5 WGM Mona Khaled EGY 2094
6  Elansary Eman EGY
7 WIM Mezioud Amina ALG 2035
8 WIM Greeff Melissa RSA 2038
9  Abdulgader Amira LBA
10  Rahal Mawadda LBA
11  Al Jahani Marwah LBA
12  Elgohary Myada EGY 1683
13  Matoussi Amina TUN 1755
14 WFM Mudongo Boikhutso BOT 1905
  WFM Elfelo Khouled LBA
16  Al Felo Ekhlas LBA

Ranking after round 4: South Africans...1.Anzel Solomons and position 6. Melissa Greeff

Pairings/Results: Women
Round 5 on 2009/07/25 at 15:00

WIM Solomons Anzel vs   WIM Alaa el Din Yosra –1-0
WGM Mona Khaled vs   WFM Latreche Sabrina –1/2 
WIM Mezioud Amina vs  WIM Greeff Melissa –0-1
Matoussi Amina  vs WCM Beddar Karima –0-1
Rahal Mawadda  vs  Elansary Eman –1-0
WFM Elfelo Khouled  vs Abdulgader Amira –0-1
WFM Mudongo Boikhutso vs   Elgohary Myada–1-0 
Al Felo Ekhlas vs  Al Jahani Marwah–0-1

Rank after Round 5- Women

1 WIM Solomons Anzel RSA 1932 – 4,5
2 WFM Latreche Sabrina ALG 1964- 3,5
3 WGM Mona Khaled EGY 2094- 3,5
4 WIM Greeff Melissa RSA 2038- 3,5
5 WIM Alaa el Din Yosra EGY 1913-3
6 WCM Beddar Karima ALG 1803-3
7 WIM Mezioud Amina ALG 2035-3
8  Abdulgader Amira LBA -2,5
9  Rahal Mawadda LBA -2,5
10 WFM Mudongo Boikhutso BOT 1905-2,5
11  Elansary Eman EGY -2
12  Al Jahani Marwah LBA -2
13  Matoussi Amina TUN 1755-2
14 WFM Elfelo Khouled LBA -1,5
15  Elgohary Myada EGY 1683-1
16  Al Felo Ekhlas LBA- 0

Pairings/Results: Women
Round 6 on 2009/07/27 at 15:00
 
WGM Mona Khaled  3½ vs 4½ WIM Solomons Anzel (RSA)–1-0
WIM Greeff Melissa  3½(RSA) vs 3½ WFM Latreche Sabrina–1-0
WIM Alaa el Din Yosra  3 vs 3 WIM Mezioud Amina–0-1 
WCM Beddar Karima  3 vs 2½  Abdulgader Amira–1-0
Rahal Mawadda  2½ vs 2½ WFM Mudongo Boikhutso–0-1
Matoussi Amina  2 vs 1½ WFM Elfelo Khouled–0-1
Al Jahani Marwah  2 vs 1  Elgohary Myada–0-1 
Elansary Eman  2 vs 0  Al Felo Ekhlas–1-0

Rank after Round 6 – Top 11 only: Women

1 WIM Solomons Anzel RSA 1932
2 WGM Mona Khaled EGY 2094
3 WIM Greeff Melissa RSA 2038
4 WCM Beddar Karima ALG 1803
5 WIM Mezioud Amina ALG 2035
6 WFM Latreche Sabrina ALG 1964
7 WFM Mudongo Boikhutso BOT 1905
8 WIM Alaa el Din Yosra EGY 1913
9  Elansary Eman EGY
10  Rahal Mawadda LBA
11  Abdulgader Amira LBA

Pairings/Results: Women
Round 7 on 2009/07/28 at 15:00

WIM Mezioud Amina  4 vs 4½ WGM Mona Khaled–1-0
WCM Beddar Karima  4 vs 4½ WIM Greeff Melissa –1/2
WIM Solomons Anzel  4½ vs 3½ WFM Mudongo Boikhutso–1-0 
WFM Latreche Sabrina  3½ vs 2  Matoussi Amina–1-0
WIM Alaa el Din Yosra  3 vs 3  Elansary Eman–1/2  
WFM Elfelo Khouled  2½ vs 2  Al Jahani Marwah–1-0
Elgohary Myada  2 vs 2½  Rahal Mawadda–1/2
Abdulgader Amira  2½  vs 0  Al Felo Ekhlas–1-0

Rank after Round 7: Top 11 only: Women

1 WIM Solomons Anzel RSA 1932 5,5
2 WIM Greeff Melissa RSA 2038 5,0
3 WIM Mezioud Amina ALG 2035 5,0
4 WFM Latreche Sabrina ALG 1964 4,5
5 WGM Mona Khaled EGY 2094 4,5
6 WCM Beddar Karima ALG 1803 4,5
7 WIM Alaa el Din Yosra EGY 1913 3,5
8  Elansary Eman EGY  3,5
9  Abdulgader Amira LBA  3,5
10 WFM Mudongo Boikhutso BOT 1905 3,5
11 WFM Elfelo Khouled LBA  3,5

 Pairings/Results:Women
Round 8 on 2009/07/29 at 15:00

WIM Mezioud Amina  5 vs 5½ WIM Solomons Anzel–1-0
WIM Greeff Melissa  5 vs 3½ WIM Alaa el Din Yosra–1-0 
WFM Latreche Sabrina  4½ vs 4½ WCM Beddar Karima–1-0
Elansary Eman  3½ vs 4½ WGM Mona Khaled–0-1 
Elgohary Myada  2½ vs 3½ WFM Elfelo Khouled–1-0  
WFM Mudongo Boikhutso  3½ vs 2  Matoussi Amina–0-1
 Al Jahani Marwah  2 vs 3½  Abdulgader Amira–0-1  
Al Felo Ekhlas  0 vs 3  Rahal Mawadda–0-1

Pairings/Results – The final round! – Women
Round 9 on 2009/07/30 at 09:00

1 Abdulgader Amira  4½ vs 6 WIM Greeff Melissa–0-1  
2 Rahal Mawadda  4 vs  6 WIM Mezioud Amina–0-1 
3 WGM Mona Khaled  5½ vs 3½ WFM Mudongo Boikhutso–1-0
4 WFM Elfelo Khouled  3½ vs 5½ WFM Latreche Sabrina–0-1  
5 WIM Solomons Anzel  5½ vs 3½  Elgohary Myada–1-0  
6 WCM Beddar Karima  4½ vs 2  Al Jahani Marwah–1-0  
7 Matoussi Amina  3 vs 3½  Elansary Eman–1-0  
8 WIM Alaa el Din Yosra  3½ vs 0  Al Felo Ekhlas–1-0  

Rank after Round 8: Women

1 WIM Greeff Melissa RSA 2038 6
2 WIM Mezioud Amina ALG 2035 6
3 WIM Solomons Anzel RSA 1932 5,5
4 WFM Latreche Sabrina ALG 1964 5,5
5 WGM Mona Khaled EGY 2094 5,5
6 WCM Beddar Karima ALG 1803 4,5
7  Abdulgader Amira LBA  4,5
8  Rahal Mawadda LBA  4
9 WIM Alaa el Din Yosra EGY 1913 3,5
10  Elansary Eman EGY  3,5
11 WFM Mudongo Boikhutso BOT 1905 3,5
12 WFM Elfelo Khouled LBA  3,5
13  Elgohary Myada EGY 1683 3,5
14  Matoussi Amina TUN 1755 3
15  Al Jahani Marwah LBA  2
16  Al Felo Ekhlas LBA 0

 Please click this link for more details/results about the African Individual Chess Championships – Women section.  Update: Results of the men’s section have only emerged today – 24th July -…there are all sorts of “issues” around this tournament.
Read here about it. The link will open in a new window.

For the results of the MEN’s section,  please click the link which will open in a new window.

 Alphabetical list of players: MEN

1 IM Abdel Razik Khaled 2462 EGY
2 IM Abdelnabbi Imed 2452 EGY
3 GM Adly Ahmed 2548 EGY
4  Al-Zayat Ahmed 1969 LBA
5 GM Amin Bassem 2551 EGY
6 IM Arab Adlane 2432 ALG
7 FM Asabri Hussien 2220 LBA
8 GM Belkhodja Slim 2467 TUN
9 FM Chahrani Ibrahim 2280 LBA
10  Degondo Simplice Armel 0 IVC
11 GM El Gindy Essam 2501 EGY
12  El Kamel Adel Mahmoud 2239 TUN
13 IM Ezat Mohamed 2459 EGY
14 IM Frhat Ali 2397 EGY
15  Gator Mosab 0 LBA
16 IM Haddouche Mohamed 2329 ALG
17  Humrana Mostafa 2114 LBA
18 IM Kaabi Mejdi 2313 TUN
19 IM Kobese Watu 2391 RSA
20 FM Njili Kamel 2318 TUN
21  Nyazi Nehad 2237 EGY
22  Oatlhotze Providence 2164 BOT
23  Obiamiwe Paul 2043 NGR
24  Ranaivoharisoa Alain 2083 MAD
25 GM Rizouk Aimen 2506 ALG
26  Salem Ali Maoloud 2131 LBA
27 IM Sarwat Walaa 2390 EGY
28  Shabash Abdullatief Mohamed 2193 LBA
29 GM Simutowe Amon 2481 ZAM
30 IM Solomon Kenny 2351 RSA
31 CM Solomons Deon 2210 RSA
32 CM Van Den Heever Donovan 2254 RSA
33 IM Wageih Kareim 2253 EGY
34 CM Zaibi Amir 2123 TUN

Pairings/Results: Men
Round 4 on 2009/07/24 at 15:00
 
IM Abdelnabbi Imed  2½ ½ – ½ 2½ GM Adly Ahmed 
IM Ezat Mohamed  2½ ½ – ½ 2½ GM El Gindy Essam 
IM Abdel Razik Khaled  2½ 1 – 0 2½ IM Solomon Kenny 
GM Amin Bassem  2 1 – 0 2 IM Kobese Watu 
IM Sarwat Walaa  2 ½ – ½ 2 GM Simutowe Amon 
Humrana Mostafa  2 0 – 1 1½ GM Belkhodja Slim 
GM Rizouk Aimen  1½ 1 – 0 1½ CM Solomons Deon 
CM Van Den Heever Donovan  1½ 0 – 1 1½ FM Njili Kamel 
IM Kaabi Mejdi  1½ 1 – 0 1½ IM Wageih Kareim 
El Kamel Adel Mahmoud  1½ 0 – 1 1 FM Chahrani Ibrahim 
IM Frhat Ali  1 1 – 0 1  Gator Mosab 
FM Asabri Hussien  1 0 – 1 1 CM Zaibi Amir 
Ranaivoharisoa Alain  1 ½ – ½ 1  Oatlhotze Providence
Nyazi Nehad  ½ 1 – 0 ½  Obiamiwe Paul 
Shabash Abdullatief Mohamed  ½ 1 – 0 ½  Al-Zayat Ahmed
Degondo Simplice Armel  ½ 0 – 1 ½  Salem Ali Maoloud 

Pairings/Results:Men
Round 5 on 2009/07/25 at 15:00

GM Adly Ahmed 3 vs 3½ IM Abdel Razik Khaled–1/2
GM El Gindy Essam 3 vs 3 GM Amin Bassem–1/2
IM Abdelnabbi Imed 3 vs 3 IM Ezat Mohamed–1/2
FM Njili Kamel 2½ vs 2½ GM Rizouk Aimen–1/2
GM Simutowe Amon 2½ vs 2½ IM Haddouche Mohamed–1/2
GM Belkhodja Slim 2½ vs 2½ IM Kaabi Mejdi–1-0
IM Arab Adlane 2½ vs 2½ IM Sarwat Walaa–0-1
IM Solomon Kenny 2½ vs 2 IM Frhat Ali–1/2
IM Kobese Watu 2 vs 2 FM Chahrani Ibrahim–1-0
CM Zaibi Amir 2 vs 2 Humrana Mostafa–1-0
CM Solomons Deon 1½ vs 1½ CM Van Den Heever Donovan–0-1
IM Wageih Kareim 1½ vs 1½ Shabash Abdullatief Mohamed–1-0
Oatlhotze Providence 1½ vs 1½ El Kamel Adel Mahmoud–1/2
Salem Ali Maoloud 1½ vs 1½ Nyazi Nehad–0-1
Gator Mosab 1 vs 1½ Ranaivoharisoa Alain–0-1
Al-Zayat Ahmed ½ vs 1 FM Asabri Hussien–1/2
Obiamiwe Paul ½ vs ½ Degondo Simplice Armel–0-1

African Individual -Results round 6: Men – please click on the image for a clearer view.

Rank after Round 5: Men

1 IM Abdel Razik Khaled EGY 2462-4
2 GM El Gindy Essam EGY 2501-3,5
3 IM Abdelnabbi Imed EGY 2452-3,5
4 IM Ezat Mohamed EGY 2459-3,5
5 GM Adly Ahmed EGY 2548-3,5
6 GM Amin Bassem EGY 2551-3,5
7 IM Sarwat Walaa EGY 2390-3,5
8 GM Belkhodja Slim TUN 2467-3,5
9 IM Solomon Kenny RSA 2351-3
10 GM Simutowe Amon ZAM 2481-3
11 IM Kobese Watu RSA 2391-3
12 IM Haddouche Mohamed ALG 2329-3
13 GM Rizouk Aimen ALG 2506-3
14 FM Njili Kamel TUN 2318-3
15 CM Zaibi Amir TUN 2123-3
16 IM Arab Adlane ALG 2432-2,5
17 IM Kaabi Mejdi TUN 2313-2,5
18 IM Wageih Kareim EGY 2253-2,5
19 CM Van Den Heever Donovan RSA 2254-2,5
20 IM Frhat Ali EGY 2397-2,5
21  Ranaivoharisoa Alain MAD 2083-2,5
22  Nyazi Nehad EGY 2237-2,5
23  Humrana Mostafa LBA 2114-2
24 FM Chahrani Ibrahim LBA 2280-2
25  El Kamel Adel Mahmoud TUN 2239-2
26  Oatlhotze Providence BOT 2164-2
27 FM Asabri Hussien LBA 2220-1,5
28 CM Solomons Deon RSA 2210-1,5
29  Salem Ali Maoloud LBA 2131-1,5
30  Shabash Abdullatief Mohamed LBA 2193-1,5
31  Degondo Simplice Armel IVC -1,5
32  Gator Mosab LBA -1
33  Al-Zayat Ahmed LBA 1969-1
34  Obiamiwe Paul NGR 2043-0,5

Ranking  after Round 6 – Top 11 only:Men

1 IM Abdel Razik Khaled 2462 EGY 
2 GM Adly Ahmed 2548 EGY
3 GM Amin Bassem 2551 EGY
4 GM Belkhodja Slim 2467 TUN
5 GM El Gindy Essam 2501 EGY
6 IM Abdelnabbi Imed 2452 EGY
7 IM Ezat Mohamed 2459 EGY 
8 IM Solomon Kenny 2351 RSA
9 GM Simutowe Amon 2481 ZAM
10 IM Sarwat Walaa 2390 EGY
11 IM Kobese Watu 2391 RSA

African Individual: Results round 7 – Men…please click on the image for a clearer view.

Rank after Round 7: Top 11 positions:Men

1  GM Adly Ahmed EGY 2548 5,5
2  GM Amin Bassem EGY 2551 5,5
3  IM Abdel Razik Khaled EGY 2462 4,5
4  GM El Gindy Essam EGY 2501 4,5
5  IM Solomon Kenny RSA 2351 4,5
6  IM Sarwat Walaa EGY 2390 4,5
7  GM Simutowe Amon ZAM 2481 4,5
8  IM Kobese Watu RSA 2391 4,5
9  GM Belkhodja Slim TUN 2467 4,5
10  IM Abdelnabbi Imed EGY 2452 4,0
11  IM Haddouche Mohamed ALG 2329 4,0

African Individual: Results round 8: Men

African Individual CC: Men -Results round 9 – The final round!

Please click on the image for a clearer view!

Rank after Round 8: Men – Top 20

1  GM Amin Bassem EGY 2551 6,5
2  IM Abdel Razik Khaled EGY 2462 5,5
3  GM Adly Ahmed EGY 2548 5,5
4  GM El Gindy Essam EGY 2501 5,5
5  IM Sarwat Walaa EGY 2390 5,5
6  IM Haddouche Mohamed ALG 2329 5
7  GM Rizouk Aimen ALG 2506 5
8  IM Abdelnabbi Imed EGY 2452 4,5
9  IM Ezat Mohamed EGY 2459 4,5
10  IM Solomon Kenny RSA 2351 4,5
11  GM Simutowe Amon ZAM 2481 4,5
12  IM Kobese Watu RSA 2391 4,5
13  GM Belkhodja Slim TUN 2467 4,5
14   El Kamel Adel Mahmoud TUN 2239 4,5
15   Nyazi Nehad EGY 2237 4,5
16  IM Arab Adlane ALG 2432 4
17  CM Zaibi Amir TUN 2123 4
18  IM Kaabi Mejdi TUN 2313 4
19  CM Van Den Heever Donovan RSA 2254 4
20   Ranaivoharisoa Alain MAD 2083 4

Final Results/Ranking: Men – Top 12 positions

Read Full Post »

First Saturday

Two of South Africa’s young chess players are now taking part in the First Saturday Chess tournament –in Budapest – to gain the title of Fide Master. Players have to gain norms to qualify for titles. Both Melissa and Jenine have already the title of Woman International Master. Melissa plays in Tournament A and Jenine  in Tournament B. GM Peter Leko – one of the top players of the GM’s, also gained his title at this tournament in Budapest. If you click on the first image with the logo of First Saturday, you will get taken to the official website of the tournament.

Chess Titles: explained

Grandmaster (shortened as GM, sometimes International Grandmaster or IGM is used) is awarded to world-class chess masters. Apart from World Champion, Grandmaster is the highest title a chess player can attain. Before FIDE will confer the title on a player, the player must have an Elo chess rating  of at least 2500 at one time and three favorable results (called norms) in tournaments involving other Grandmasters, including some from countries other than the applicant’s. There are also other milestones a player can achieve to attain the title, such as winning the World Junior Championship.
International Master (shortened as IM). The conditions are similar to GM, but less demanding. The minimum rating for the IM title is 2400.
FIDE Master (shortened as FM). The usual way for a player to qualify for the FIDE Master title is by achieving a FIDE Rating of 2300 or more.
Candidate Master (shortened as CM). Similar to FM, but with a FIDE Rating of at least 2200.
All the titles are open to men and women. Separate women-only titles, such as Woman Grandmaster (WGM), are also available. Beginning with Nona Gaprindashvili in 1978, a number of women have earned the GM title, and most of the top ten women in 2006 hold the unrestricted GM title.
Source: Wikipedia

Results: Fide Master Norm – Tournament A: Melissa

Round 1: Peter Segelken vs Melissa Greeff —0-1
Round 2: Melissa Greeff vs Andras Zoltan —1-0
Round 3: Zoltan Czibulka vs Melissa Greeff —1-0
Round 4: Melissa Greeff vs Kristof Koczo —1-0
Round 5: Michael Yip vs Melissa Greeff —0-1
Round 6: ***
Round 7: Melissa Greeff vs Jozsef Katona —1/2
Round 8: Rene Rauer Hansen vs Melissa Greeff —1/2
Round 9: Melissa Greeff vs Csaba Schenkerik —1-0
Round 10:Yorick Ten Hagen vs Melissa Greeff —1/2
Round 11:Melissa Greeff vs Lajos Borda —1/2

Please click here to follow the results of Melissa.

Standings after round 11: Top 3 places

1.     Ten Hagen, Yorick      8.5    2150

2.   Greeff, Melissa      7.0    2038

3.    Koczo, Kristof       7.0    2242

 

Melissa Greeff

Janine Ellappen
Results: Fide Master norm: Tournament B – Jenine
Round 1: Jenine Ellappen vs Istvan Mayer —0-1
Round 2: Jenine Ellappen vs Gyula Lakat —1/2
Round 3: Ryan Rhys Griffiths vs Jenine Ellappen —1/2
Round 4: Jenine Ellappen vs Csaba Mezei —0-1
Round 5: Hicham Boulahfa vs Jenine Ellappen —1/2
Round 6: Istvan Mayer vs Jenine Ellappen —1-0
Round 7:Gyula Lakat vs Jenine Ellappen —1-0
Round 8:Jenine Ellappen vs Ryan Rhys Griffiths —1-0
Round 9:Csaba Mezei vs Jenine Ellappen —0-1
Round 10:Jenine Ellappen vs Hicham Boulahfa — 1/2

Please click here to follow the results of Jenine.

Chess games of Melissa Greeff played during the tournament

[Event “First Saturday 09 July FM-A”]
[Site “Budapest”]
[Date “2009.07.04”]
[Round “1”]
[White “Segelken, Peter”]
[Black “Greeff, Melissa”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “B90”]
[WhiteElo “1912”]
[BlackElo “2038”]
[PlyCount “100”]
[EventDate “2009.07.04”]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 a6 6. h3 e6 7. Bd3 b5 8. a3
Bb7 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Qe2 Rc8 12. Kh1 h6 13. Be3 Nc5 14. f3 Nh5 15. Bf2 Bf6 16. Nb3 Be5 17. Qe1 Qg5 18. Ne2 Nf4 19. Nxf4 Qxf4 20. Bg1 Bxb2 21. Bh2 Qf6 22. Ra2 Nxb3 23. cxb3 Be5 24. f4 Bc3 25. Qe2 O-O 26. e5 dxe5 27. fxe5 Qh4 28. Rf4 Qg5 29. Rg4 Qc1+ 30. Bg1 Qe1 31. Qxe1 Bxe1 32. Rc2 Rxc2 33. Bxc2 Rc8 34. Be4 Bxe4 35. Rxe4 Bg3 36. Re3 Bf4 37. Re1 Rc3 38. Rb1 Bxe5 39. a4 b4 40. Bb6 Kf8 41. Kg1 Ke7 42. Kf1 f5 43. Re1 Bg3 44. Re3 Rc1+ 45. Ke2 Bd6 46. Rd3 e5 47. Kd2 Rc6 48. Bg1 e4 49. Rd5 Ke6 50. Rd4 Bc5 0-1

[Event “First Saturday 09 July FM-A”]
[Site “Budapest”]
[Date “2009.07.05”]
[Round “2”]
[White “Greeff, Melissa”]
[Black “Zoltan, Andras”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “C63”]
[WhiteElo “2038”]
[BlackElo “1945”]
[PlyCount “77”]
[EventDate “2009.07.04”]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. d3 fxe4 5. dxe4 Nf6 6. O-O Bc5 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. Nxe5 O-O 9. Bg5 Qe8 10. Bxf6 Rxf6 11. Nd3 Bd4 12. c3 Bb6 13. Nd2 Ba6 14. Qc2 Qf7 15. Nf3 Rf8 16. Nde5 Qe6 17. Rfd1 d6 18. Nxc6 Rxf3 19. gxf3 Rxf3 20. Nd4 Qg4+ 21. Kh1 Bxd4 22. cxd4 Rf4 23. Qb3+ Rf7 24. f3 Qh5 25. Rd2 Bc8 26. Rg2 h6 27. Rag1 Kh7 28. Rg3 Bd7 29. Qd5 Qxd5 30. exd5 c6 31. Rg6 cxd5 32. Rxd6 Bc8 33. Rc1 Bb7 34. Kg2 h5 35. b4 a6 36. a4 g6 37. b5 axb5 38. axb5 Kh6 39. b6 1-0

[Event “First Saturday 09 July FM-A”]
[Site “Budapest”]
[Date “2009.07.06”]
[Round “3”]
[White “Czibulka, Zoltan”]
[Black “Greeff, Melissa”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “A12”]
[WhiteElo “2087”]
[BlackElo “2038”]
[PlyCount “111”]
[EventDate “2009.07.04”]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. b3 Bg4 4. e3 Nf6 5. Be2 Nbd7 6. Bb2 e6 7. Ne5 Bxe2 8.
Qxe2 Nxe5 9. Bxe5 Bd6 10. Bb2 O-O 11. O-O Qe7 12. d3 Rfe8 13. Nd2 Ba3 14. Be5 Nd7 15. Bc3 e5 16. Rad1 a5 17. Nb1 Bd6 18. Qd2 a4 19. b4 Nf6 20. c5 Bc7 21. Qb2 Rad8 22. Rde1 Qd7 23. e4 Nh5 24. g3 Qg4 25. f3 Qg6 26. Rd1 Qe6 27. Kg2 Rd7 28. Qc2 b5 29. cxb6 Bxb6 30. Rc1 Rc8 31. Bd2 d4 32. Na3 c5 33. b5 Nf6 34. Nc4 Ra7 35. h3 Nd7 36. f4 f6 37. Rb1 Bd8 38. f5 Qe7 39. a3 Nb6 40. Na5 Qd6 41. Nc6 Raa8 42. Rfc1 Nd7 43. Qa2+ Kh8 44. Rc2 Bb6 45. Rc4 Rxc6 46. bxc6 Qxc6 47. Rc2 h6 48. Qe6 Qc7 49. Rcb2 Ra6 50. Kf2 Qd8 51. g4 Ra7 52. Qd5 Qc7 53. h4 Ra6 54. g5 Kh7 55. Qf7 Nb8 56. g6+ 1-0
[Event “First Saturday 09 July FM-A”]
[Site “Budapest”]
[Date “2009.07.07”]
[Round “4”]
[White “Greeff, Melissa”]
[Black “Koczo, Kristof”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “B12”]
[WhiteElo “2038”]
[BlackElo “2242”]
[PlyCount “93”]
[EventDate “2009.07.04”]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. dxc5 e6 5. Be3 Nd7 6. f4 Bxc5 7. Bxc5 Nxc5 8. Nf3 Ne7 9. Nd4 Nc6 10. c3 Ne4 11. g3 Qb6 12. Qb3 Nxd4 13. Qxb6 axb6 14. cxd4 Bd7 15. Nd2 Ra4 16. Nf3 Ke7 17. Bd3 Rha8 18. a3 Rb4 19. Rb1 Rb3 20. Ke2 Bb5 21. Bxb5 Rxb5 22. Rhc1 Kd7 23. Ng5 f6 24. Nxe4 dxe4 25. Rc3 Rc8 26. Rxc8 Kxc8 27. b4 f5 28. g4 Rd5 29. gxf5 exf5 30. Ke3 Rd8 31. Rg1 g6 32. h4 Kc7 33. Rc1+ Kd7 34. d5 Ra8 35. Rc3 Rd8 36. Kd4 Ke7 37. h5 gxh5 38. Rh3 h6 39. Rxh5 Rh8 40. Rxf5 h5 41. Rg5 h4 42. Rg2 e3 43. Kxe3 Ra8 44. Ke4 Rxa3 45. Rg7+ Kf8 46. Rh7 h3 47. d6 1-0
[Event “First Saturday 09 July FM-A”]
[Site “Budapest”]
[Date “2009.07.08”]
[Round “5”]
[White “Yip, Michael”]
[Black “Greeff, Melissa”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “D19”]
[WhiteElo “2045”]
[BlackElo “2038”]
[PlyCount “67”]
[EventDate “2009.07.04”]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
O-O 9. Qe2 Bg6 10. Rd1 Qa5 11. Na2 Qxa4 12. b3 Qa5 13. Bb2 Be7 14. Nc3 Qc7 15. e4 Nbd7 16. d5 exd5 17. exd5 Rfe8 18. Qd2 cxd5 19. Bxd5 Nb6 20. Nb5 Qd7 21. Bc4 Qxd2 22. Rxd2 Nxc4 23. bxc4 Rec8 24. Ne5 a6 25. Nd6 Rd8 26. Rad1 Ne4 27. Nxe4 Bxe4 28. Nd7 Bc6 29. Kf1 Ba4 30. Be5 Bxd1 31. Rxd1 Rac8 32. Rd4 f6 33. Bf4 Kf7 34. Rd5 0-1
[Event “First Saturday 09 July FM-A”]
[Site “Budapest”]
[Date “2009.07.10”]
[Round “7”]
[White “Greeff, Melissa”]
[Black “Katona, Jozsef”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “B42”]
[WhiteElo “2038”]
[BlackElo “1962”]
[PlyCount “109”]
[EventDate “2009.07.04”]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Ne7 6. O-O Nbc6 7. c3 b5 8. Qe2 Ne5 9. Bc2 Bb7 10. f4 Nc4 11. a4 Nc6 12. b3 Nxd4 13. cxd4 Qb6 14. Rd1 Na5 15. Be3 Rc8 16. Ra2 b4 17. Nd2 Qc7 18. Bd3 Be7 19. Rc2 Qd8 20. Rxc8 Qxc8 21. Qg4 O-O 22. f5 f6 23. Qh5 Qc3 24. Qe2 Nxb3 25. Nxb3 Qxb3 26. fxe6 Qxe6 27. d5 Qe5 28. g3 b3 29. Bc4 Bd6 30. Bd4 Qe7 31. Bxb3 Kh8 32. Bc4 a5 33. Rb1 Bb4 34. Qe3 d6 35. Kg2 Re8 36. Kf3 Qc7 37. Bb5 Rc8 38. Rf1 Qf7 39. g4 Bc5 40. Bxc5 Rxc5 41. Rc1 Rxc1 42. Qxc1 h5 43. h3 h4 44. Qc3 Qe7 45. Qxa5 Qe5 46. Qe1 g5 47. Qe3 Qh2 48. a5 Qxh3+ 49. Kf2 Qh2+ 50. Ke1 Qh1+ 51. Kf2 Qh2+ 52. Ke1 Qb2 53. Qb6 Qb1+ 54. Kd2 Qb2+ 55. Ke3 1/2-1/2
[Event “First Saturday 09 July FM-A”]
[Site “Budapest”]
[Date “2009.07.11”]
[Round “8”]
[White “Hansen, Rene Rauer”]
[Black “Greeff, Melissa”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “D18”]
[WhiteElo “1991”]
[BlackElo “2038”]
[PlyCount “69”]
[EventDate “2009.07.04”]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
O-O 9. Ne2 Nbd7 10. Ng3 Bg6 11. b3 Qe7 12. Bb2 Rad8 13. Qe2 Nh5 14. Rac1 Nxg3 15. hxg3 Bh5 16. Qc2 c5 17. Bd3 Bg6 18. Bxg6 hxg6 19. Rfd1 cxd4 20. Rxd4 e5 21. Rh4 Bd6 22. Kh2 Rc8 23. Rc4 Rxc4 24. Qxc4 Nb6 25. Qb5 Re8 26. a5 Na8 27. Qd5 b6 28. Rd1 Bc7 29. axb6 Nxb6 30. Qc6 Rc8 31. Qb5 e4 32. Nd4 Be5 33. Nc6 Rxc6 34. Qxe5 Qxe5 35. Bxe5 1/2-1/2
[Event “First Saturday 09 July FM-A”]
[Site “Budapest”]
[Date “2009.07.12”]
[Round “9”]
[White “Greeff, Melissa”]
[Black “Schenkerik, Csaba”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “B03”]
[WhiteElo “2038”]
[BlackElo “2153”]
[PlyCount “101”]
[EventDate “2009.07.04”]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6 exd6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Bd3 Nc6 8.
Nge2 O-O 9. O-O Nb4 10. Bb1 Nxc4 11. a3 d5 12. axb4 Bxb4 13. b3 Nb6 14. Qd3 g6 15. Qg3 Bd6 16. Bf4 Bxf4 17. Nxf4 c6 18. h4 Qf6 19. Rd1 Bf5 20. Bxf5 Qxf5 21. Nd3 Rfe8 22. Nc5 Re7 23. Re1 Qf6 24. Rxe7 Qxe7 25. Qg5 f6 26. Qe3 Qf7 27. Re1 Kf8 28. Qe6 Qxe6 29. Rxe6 Kf7 30. Re1 Rb8 31. g4 Nc8 32. Nd7 Ra8 33. g5 fxg5 34. hxg5 Nd6 35. Ne5+ Kg7 36. Na4 Nf5 37. Rd1 Re8 38. f4 Nd6 39. Kf2 Rf8 40. Ke3 Nf5+ 41. Kf3 Re8 42. Nc5 Re7 43. Ke2 Nd6 44. Kd3 Re8 45. Rh1 Re7 46. Ncd7 Ne4 47. Rh2 Nd6 48. Nf6 h5 49. gxh6+ Kxf6 50. h7 Nf7 51. Nxf7 1-0

[Event “First Saturday 09 July FM-A”]
[Site “Budapest”]
[Date “2009.07.13”]
[Round “10”]
[White “Ten Hagen, Yorick”]
[Black “Greeff, Melissa”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “B42”]
[WhiteElo “2150”]
[BlackElo “2038”]
[PlyCount “63”]
[EventDate “2009.07.04”]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Nxc6 dxc6 7. O-O e5 8. Bc4 Qxd1 9. Rxd1 Nf6 10. f3 Bc5+ 11. Kf1 O-O 12. a3 b5 13. Ba2 a5 14. Ke2 Ba6 15. Be3 Be7 16. Kf2 Rfd8 17. Nd2 Nd7 18. a4 bxa4 19. Nc4 Bxc4 20. Bxc4 Bc5 21. Rd3 Bxe3+ 22. Kxe3 Nb6 23. Rc3 Rd6 24. Be2 Kf8 25. Rc5 f6 26. b3 axb3 27. cxb3 a4 28. bxa4 Nxa4 29. Rc2 Nb6 30. Rxa8+ Nxa8 31. Ba6 Nc7 32. Bb7 1/2-1/2
[Event “First Saturday 09 July FM-A”]
[Site “Budapest”]
[Date “2009.07.14”]
[Round “11”]
[White “Greeff, Melissa”]
[Black “Borda, Lajos”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “B28”]
[WhiteElo “2038”]
[BlackElo “2070”]
[PlyCount “124”]
[EventDate “2009.07.04”]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 Nf6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Bd6 8. c4
Qc6 9. Nc3 Nbd7 10. Re1 O-O 11. h3 Qc7 12. Be3 b6 13. Qd2 Bb7 14. Rad1 Rad8 15. b3 cxd4 16. Nxd4 Bb4 17. Qc2 Qe5 18. Bd3 Nc5 19. f4 Qc7 20. Rf1 Nxd3 21. Qxd3 Rfe8 22. Na4 Bc6 23. Qb1 Bxa4 24. bxa4 Bc5 25. Qc1 e5 26. Nb3 Rxd1 27. Rxd1 exf4 28. Bxc5 bxc5 29. Re1 Re6 30. Qd2 h6 31. Qf2 Ne4 32. Qc2 Ng5 33. Rxe6 Nxe6 34. Qe4 Ng5 35. Qd5 f3 36. gxf3 Qg3+ 37. Kf1 Nxf3 38. Ke2 Ng1+ 39. Kd2 Qf2+ 40. Kd1 Qe2+ 41. Kc1 Qxa2 42. Qd8+ Kh7 43. Qd3+ g6 44. Nxc5 Ne2+ 45. Kd1 Nf4 46. Qe4 Nxh3 47. Qd4 Ng5 48. Kc1 Qa3+ 49. Kd1 a5 50. Ke2 Qf3+ 51. Kd2 Qc6 52. Kc2 Qg2+ 53. Kc1 Qf1+ 54. Kb2 Qe2+ 55. Kc1 h5 56. Nd7 Qe1+ 57. Kb2 Qb4+ 58. Kc1 Qa3+ 59. Kb1 Ne6 60. Nf6+ Kh6 61. Ng8+ Kh7 62. Nf6+ Kh6 1/2-1/2

http://ratings.fide.com/view_pgn.phtml?code=16488

While we’re on the topic of girls….Natalia Pogonina is a Woman Chess Grandmaster. She’s a WGM’s I’ve only discovered a few days ago! She’s written a book about women and chess. On any chess site, there are always threads in the forums about the question: why are there less women playing chess, or: why are there less Women Chess Grandmasters, etc. etc…it’s endless…all the different topics. It’s good to know that the men like to talk about us, it shows that they have at least something to talk about…haha… Chess is a game for people who can use their logical mind and if they can’t reason in a logical way too, well, then I have a few questions to ask too. I think the reasons are straightforward and we don’t have to argue about it or start any conversations about this topic. Men should really start accepting the reasons. Some of them even enjoy to put women down, maybe to feel better about themselves and their own shortcomings?  Do make an effort to read what Natalia says. I’ve also GM Yelena Dembo’s site-link for you. Click on the images of the GM’s and you will be taken to their sites. Links will open in a new window.

WGM Yelena Dembo
If you click HERE you can play through her best games.

WGM Natalia Pogonina

On June 5, 2009 WGM Natalia Pogonina and Peter Zhdanov got married – she a Women’s Grandmaster, he a successful IT-specialist and debate expert. Peter is also Natalia’s manager, together they are writing a book called “Chess Kamasutra”. Today they share with us their views on the perennial topic why women are worse at chess than men, and take a look at the future of women’s chess.

“They’re all weak, all women. They’re stupid compared to men.
They shouldn’t play chess, you know. They’re like beginners. They lose every single game against a man.There isn’t a woman player in the world I can’t give knight-odds to and still beat.”
Robert James Fischer, 1962, Harper’s Magazine

Chess is often divided into men’s chess and women’s chess. The classification is quite relative, since women can participate in tournaments for men, while men can’t take part in women’s events. This discrimination has always been a subject of heated discussions. So, is it true that men are better than women in chess, and if so, then what are the reasons for that?
Genes?
Chess is an intellectual sport, physical strength is by far not the key factor there. Endurance is also not a factor, because women are probably even more enduring than men.

Some say it’s about the level of testosterone that affects competitiveness – men are more likely to be trying to excel at something than women. However, if we look at the percentage of so-called “grandmaster draws” among women and men then we’ll see that women’s fighting spirits are definitely higher. You may say that it’s an exception from the rule, but we still doubt that it’s the high level of testosterone that makes top women players good at chess.
 
So, maybe women are just less smart than men? According to multiple studies, on the average the answer is “no”. Then what’s the problem?

Historical reasons
Women have started playing chess professionally long after men. Nowadays the number of professional women chess players is growing, but the proportion is still incomparable. There are very few women in chess, so they have meager chances to enter the world chess elite.
 
Look at the top-300 list of chess players and count the number of women there. If you don’t miss anyone, you’ll find only three of them. Almost one to a hundred, “great” ratio, isn’t it? A few more illustrative figures: according to FIDE’s website, there are 20 female players who hold the GM title to 1201 male grandmasters (about 1 to 60), 77 female IMs to 2854 male (about 1 to 37), 239 WGMs and 7 female FMs to 5400 male FMs (about 1 to 22). Side note: notice the downward trend?

Upbringing and social stereotypes
The other important issue is that in order to become a top chess player you’ve got to study chess diligently from early childhood. Parents (who have a large influence on their children’s choice of hobbies) deem chess as a strange pastime for a girl, and also do not appreciate the fact that their daughter will be spending a lot of time with male adults or teenagers (especially when leaving home to play in tournaments).

Roy Gates (Southern California, USA) recalls:
I think that there’s definitely some cultural/sociological bias at work that has made it more difficult for women to excel in chess. I realized a few years ago (after it was pointed out to me by an ex-girlfriend) that I was taking a much more active role in my nephew’s chess education than I was with my niece despite the fact that she was more eager to play/learn and seemed to take to the game much quicker. I had subconsciously not taken her interest in chess seriously and was mortified when I realized I was helping to perpetuate the myth that boys are better chess players.

Michael Ziern (Frankfurt, Germany) adds:
It is hard to convince parents to send girls to tournaments along with their male club colleagues. Parents are often afraid to allow their 10 or 12 year old girl to travel around with a group of boys and young men. If girls play fewer tournaments, they do not improve so quickly and lose interest. In order to solve this problem, my club cooperated with clubs from neighboring towns to have greater groups of girls who could share rooms in youth hostels, make friends etc. with some success.

Moreover, serious chess studies require substantial investments (coaches, trips etc.), while it’s a well-known fact that women chess players can’t make a decent living playing chess unless they’re at the very top. That’s why parents discourage their daughters’ interest in chess – what’s the point of wasting so much time on a dubious activity?
 
When Natalia was twelve she even had to move to another city to get access to good coaching and financing – life in Russia in the 90s used to be tough for anyone, not to mention chess players. So she and her coach could hardly find money for the chess trips and had to carry heavy bags full of chess books with them and sell the volumes in order to compensate the expenses.

Psychology
This factor seems to me to be the most important. A stereotype exists in chess that women are no match for men. It is based on statistical data. That’s why many female chess players are taught from early childhood that they’ll never make it to men’s level. TV and books are also trying to convince them that it’s unreal. But all this is a myth! The first woman to break it was the incredible Judit Polgar, the greatest woman chess player of all times.

Different priorities?
 What if women are just not interested in chess? Could it be one of those activities that appeal to men more than to women (like playing PC games, fighting, shooting, cussing etc.?). There was even an amusing hypothesis that chess is for immature and weird people, so women (who tend to mature faster than men) don’t take up such a strange occupation.
 
Robert Tierney (Binghamton NY, USA):
Adding my two-cents here, I think the question is phrased wrong.  “Why do women play chess worse than men” is an improper question, framed in a male-dominated area with a male-dominated history.  Since everyone (here) seems to agree that women are quicker learners than men, and mature quicker than men, perhaps they are too intelligent to spend more time at something that is just a game, as Morphy stated several times.  Maybe the question should be, are men too stupid or too immature to quit obsessing on chess?  Then maybe we wouldn’t have this topic getting abused over and over again.  “Chess is a sign of lack of intelligence”–now wouldn’t that be a kick in the head?

Different tastes and priorities are probably part of the answer, but they are also closely connected with the other reasons. For instance, priorities are largely affected by social stereotypes and upbringing, so if (theoretically) we change them (e.g. encourage boys to play dolls and girls to study chess), we may see a completely opposite result.

Read Full Post »

African Juniors 2008_2009 and Chess games

African Junior Chess Championhips 2008_2009… Please scroll down a little bit..I do apologise for this mixed post! I didn’t know I was going to have time to blog the African Juniors and didn’t want to start a new entry…

Melissa Greeff and Kareim Wageih - Winners of the African Junior CC 2008_9

 Finally I got my picture! Image from the Official site of Chessa. Melissa Greeff – from South Africa and Kareim Wageih – from Egypt, are the winners of the 2008_9 African Junior Chess Championship that took place in South Africa. For a larger view you may want to click on the image. See more images at the bottom of this post and 5 pages of lovely photos on the official site (link in this post).

I’m not in a mood to explain anything about my own games in this post. Ask me why…and I’ll tell you it’s because of politiciants ranted about what was written in a book they’ve read, believed all the rubbish and think they know everything after what some stupid guy wrote! (ok, that was a couple of  years ago, but still…the idea! who says what was was written in that book was the truth anyway! You should go and visit a place to see what’s going on before you make any accusations or act upon what was written in a book! Silly – if you ask me!) Well, you shouldn’t ask me more on this, unless you want to see me ranting tomorrow whole day!  And those same “people” won’t move a finger about what’s going on in Zimbabwe. Could somebody please write them a book about Zimbabwe!!! People are dying of hunger, calling for help…much worse is going on than what was written by “someone”, but do they care…no! They think they care..does anyone ever really care what’s going on in another country…who cares about Mugabe killing his own people? Is he God-sent..that they don’t do anything?

Ek wip sommer my agterend vir hierdie Engelse Barones wat dink dat as jy ‘n boek lees, dat alles in ‘n boek waar is…sy was seker lekker blond gewees. Dis alles in die hansard, skree as jy die link wil hê, maar maak gereed om jou te vererg.

 Ok, I’ll shut-up and keep my thoughts to chess…that’s much better – for my soul at least. I’ve decided to upload only a few images about games I’ve played recently..some good games, some silly stupid games.  Chess Cube is a quite newish chess site which is worth to check out. You can follow this link or the link on my blog’s side bar – with the white knight’s-head. Links in the post will open in a new window.

 The Hastings Chess tournament is also now on and on THIS LINK you will find games from the 1920’s till 2004 played at Hastings tournaments. Games can also be downloaded. I also have a few chess graphics of games played by earlier Chess Grandmasters, which I dug out on Chess World. Sometimes if I play through these games, I think..oh, that’s easy, or that looks like such an easy game, or…hmm..I think I can play a game like that too! but…gmf..when it comes to the real game…it’s not always so easy peasy, but I guess I need to follow the “rules” more, as I’m  following my “own” rules. I’m playing not too much now, but prefer to go on Chess Cube for a quick real time game, there’s always someone to play with. I do like Chess Cube’s interface, it’s cool.  Chess Cube is a South African site, also now a site which the English Chess use for their chess club. At the bottom of this post you will find a link to the English Chess-forum-site and the image with the link shows you the page you get when you go to “their” club…but once you’ve clicked on “log in”..it takes you straight away to the main page of Chess Cube. On Chess Cube you can also join your country’s chat room, if you like. The African Junior Chess Championship is now taking place in South Africa! You will find a link to the official site with more information in this post too.

Chess.com-game..I played white. I guess it was  a good checkmate in this game.

 

Chess.com-game..I played white in this game, my American opponent wasn’t “impressed” with my play…by that I think you know what I mean..

Sneumann vs Steinitz

Maroczy vs Pillsbury 

Steinitz vs Lasker

Chess.com-game..this game wasn’t a  good game for me…although it might look like it was.

Chess Cube-game..I like the position here..I played white in this game too..how come are all these games I’m blogging games where I played white!…just wondering..

Flags of the African countries taking part in the championships

African Junior Chess Championship: 28th December 2008 – 6th January 2009.
Please click here for the African Juniors link for more information.

The Amanzintaba Resort at Bronkhorstspruit, South Africa, where the African Junior Chess Championships are taking place. Amanzintaba means: “Water from the mountain”, this link will take you to the resort’s homepage. Bronkhorstspruit is near Pretoria, about 30 mins’ drive on the N4 Highway. Thaba in Northern Sotho means “mountain”…I’m not sure if they’ve changed the spelling of “thaba” in this resort’s name..this is my knowledge of Northern Sotho.

African Junior Chess Championship: Schedule

 

African Junior Chess Championships 2008_9: Girls top 5 after round 7

African Junior Chess Championships 2008_9: Open section after round 7

South African girls taking the lead in the African Juniors- girls section

African Junior Chess Championship: Open section after round 8

 African Junior Chess Championships: Round 9 – The final round…
  

Results: Round 9 - South African girls taking the first 5 places, well done!

Results: Open section: Round 9, the final round. Egypt taking the lead again.

For a larger view, please click on the images

For more images about the African Juniors…please follow my link to the official site in this post. There are 5 pages of lovely pics to see, also pics about their free day.

Chess Cube interface…ahh…you can see I played black here!
Please click here for the English Chess Forum link. The link will open in a new window. English chess -url…http://ecfclub.chesscube.com/

Read Full Post »

Dresden Games

If you click on the logo, you will get taken to the official site of Dresden and the “Live” image will take you straight to the “live”-games-link. On this link you can play through games played in round 8. Players from the SA team and also GM’s like Boris Gelfand, Magnus Carlsen, Ivan Cheparinov, Alexei Shirov, Topalov, Yelena Dembo, Nigel Short, Peter Leko, etc. The link will open in a new window. You can now play through two games, I will add more soon when I’ve got more time!
Please click HERE to play through the game of Kamsky and Ivanchuck and a few other players in round 11, the final round on chess.com. The link will open in a new window.
http://chessaleeinlondon.blogspot.com/2008/11/dresden-olympiad-2008.html

On this next link you can play through games of round 6. The SA-team games plus games of Kramnik and Ivanchuk. The link will also open in a new window.

http://chessaleeinlondon.blogspot.com/2008/11/south-africa-dresden-and-round-6.html

See more chess graphics and results of the SA-team on this link which will open in a new window.

https://chessaleeinlondon.wordpress.com/2008/11/20/dresden-chess-olympiad-2008/

GM Eduardo Iturrizaga..Watu Kobese’s opponent in round 9

More games to play through will be added soon, also games of about 15 GM’s. So, keep watching this space!

Statistics of Eduardo

Statistics of Watu

Watu Kobese..image: chessaol

Melissa Greeff Image: chessaol.wordpress.com

Melissa: Statistics…Melissa has a personal score of 6.5 so far at the Olympiad, a score not many other females could equal in this tournament. Well done to Melissa!

Results of the ladies after round 10…you can see Melissa having 7 out of 9…she didn’t play in round 5.

Please click HERE to play through the game of Melissa Greeff in round 9 played on the 22nd November at the Chess Olympiad 2008. Links in this post will all open in new windows.

Please click HERE to play through Watu Kobese’s game played in round 9.

Please click HERE to play through the game of Kenny Solomon played in round 9.

Please click HERE to play through the game of Carmen de Jager in round 9.

Please click HERE to play through the game of Anzel Solomons played in round 9.

Please click HERE to play through the game of Daniel Cawdery played in round 9 vs Jose Sequera Paolini of Venezuela.

Melissa Greeff round 10 move 27

Dresden round 10 Melissa Greeff  end position…1/2

Round 10 move list: Melissa Greeff, see the last move with the chess graphics

Dresden round 10: Results of the ladies – SA vs Scotland

Image: chessaol.wordpress.com

Kenny’s game – 1/2

Dresden round 10: Results of the men’s team

Dresden round 11: Results of the SA Ladies against UAE…3-1..well done ladies!

SA ladies on the left..image: chessaol.wordpress.com

Dresden round 11 Results of the SA men against IPCA (International Chess Organisation for Physically Disabled)…3-1..well done boys!

SA men on the right..image: chessaol.wordpress.com

The Gaprindashvili Cup – click on the image for a clear view, or follow this link: The link will open in a new window.

http://chessforall.co.za/tournaments/tourreps/olympiad_dresden/newsitems.php?page=newsitems/olym_dres_n10.html 

 

Dresden top 10 Africa countries…South Africa is second in the Africa-group image: chessforall.co.za

Dresden: Top 20 countries: Gaprindashvilicup

Dresden rankings: SA ranked in position no 58

Dresden final standings: Top 20 countries after round 11 – click on the image for a clear view. South Africa is in position 56.

Dresden Top 10 Women: Image: chess.com

Countries represented at Dresden

Please click HERE to play through the game of Cheparinov in round 9.

Please click HERE to play through the game of Radjabov in round 9.
more games of the masters to follow a bit later!

Radjabov: Image: Official site of Dresden

Read Full Post »

Dresden-Chess Olympiad 2008

Chess Games of Round 8: South African chess players as well as: Magnus Carlsen, Boris Gelfand, Ivan Cheparinov, Topalov, Radjabov, Yelena Dembo and a few more GrandMaster-games to play through on my blogger-blog, please click on the link here and it will open in a new window.

http://chessaleeinlondon.blogspot.com/2008/11/dresden-olympiad-2008.html

Click on the logo and you will be taken to the Official site and the “live” link will take you straight away to the live-games! Both links will open in a new page.

Please click HERE to see more results of games played in round 1 and round 2. The link will open in a new window. Please click HERE to see lots of South African Chess player-pics and to see the results of rounds 3-6. At the bottom of this post you will find a link to play through games of round 5, where South Africa played Luxembourg.

On this link…see their games of round 6 and you can play through their games interactively. Also, the games of Kramnik and Ivanchuk (my favourite) of round 6 can be found on this link. The page will open in a new link.

http://chessaleeinlondon.blogspot.com/2008/11/south-africa-dresden-and-round-6.html

Schedule: Dresden

From L-R: Anzel Solomons, Melissa Greeff, Jenine Ellappin, Carmen de Jager, Monique Sischy

LtoR: Watu Kobese, Kenny Solomon, Henry Steel, Daniel Cawdery, Johannes Mabusela

Dresden Olympiad 2008 Round 7

Ladies team against Guatemala and the mens team against the Faroe Islands

Results: See the chess graphics

Dresden round 7: Anzel Solomons move 14…0-1

Dresden round 7:  Melissa Greeff move 12…1-0

Dresden round 7 Carmen de Jager  move 18..1-0

Dresden round 7 Monique Sischy move 7…0-1

Dresden round 7 Watu Kobese move 11…1-0

Dresden round 7 Kenny Solomon move 18…1-0

Dresden round 7 Daniel Cawdery move 14…1/2

Dresden round 7 Johannes Mabusela move 17…0-1

Round 8: South Africa vs Cyprus: Mens team

Round 8: South Africa vs Bosnia Herzegovina: Ladies team

Dresden round 8 Watu Kobese…1-0

Dresden round 8 Kenny Solomon…0-1

Dresden round 8 Henry Steel…1-0

Dresden round 8 Johannes Mabusela…1/2

Dresden round 8 Anzel Solomons …0-1

Dresden round 8 Melissa Greeff move 19

Dresden round 8 Melissa Greeff…0-1

Dresden round 8 Jenine Ellappen …0-1

Dresden round 8 Monique Sischy…1-0

Results: rounds 5-9 South African ladies’ team…Round 9 was played today, Saturday 22nd November. Click on the image for a clear view.

 

Results: rounds 5-9 South African men’s team. Round 9 was played today, 22nd November. Click on the image for a clear view.

Read Full Post »

South Africa at Dresden 2008

Please click HERE to see more results of games played in round 1 and round 2. The link will open in a new window. At the bottom of this post you will find a link to play through games of round 5, where South Africa played Luxembourg.

On this link you can play through games played in round 6. The link will open in a new window.

http://chessaleeinlondon.blogspot.com/2008/11/south-africa-dresden-and-round-6.html

 

Click on the top image/logo to access the official site of Dresen 2008, it will open in a new window and on the “live” image for the live games.

 

South African players: Men

South African players: Ladies

Dresden Schedule

The South African women’s team at Dresden

All images in this post: HERE the official chess blog of Chess SA. The link will open in a new window.

Carmen de Jager

Monique Sischy

Melissa Greeff

Jenine Ellappen

Anzel Solomons

Henry Steel

Watu Kobese

Please click HERE to play through a game of Watu Kobese against Jennifer Shahade played in Philadelphia in June 1998. The game was Kobese’s.

Kenny Solomon

Johannes Mabusela

Daniel Cawdery

Some of the round 3 results- click on images for  larger view

Melissa Greeff round 3 move 39 …0-1

Melissa Greeff round 3 move list

 

Daniel Cawdery round 3 end position 1/2

Daniel Cawdery round 3 move list

Monique Sischy round 3 end position 0-1

Monique Sischy round 3 move list

Round 4  16 Nov women’s team against Norway and men’s team against Pakistan

Melissa round 4 move 18

Jenine round 4 move 17

Anzel round 4 move 17

Monique round 4 move 17

Daniel round 4 move 17

Henry round 4 move 14

Kenny round 4 move 12

Johannes round 4 move 12

 

South Africa vs Pakistan Images from players: chesssaol.wordpress.com

South African Ladies’ team vs Latvia

Results of the ladies’ team after round 4

Results of the men’s team after round 4

Round 5 results: South Africa vs Luxembourg 17th November 2008

Henry Steel vs Jeitz Christian Dresden round 5…1-0

Mietek Bakalarz vs Kenny Solomon Dresden round 5 …0-1

Pierre Gengler vs Johannes Mabusela Dresden round 5…1/2

Watu Kobese vs Fred Berend Dresden round 5…1-0

Watu Kobese round 5 move list

Kaydanovich vs Monique Sischy Dresden round 5…0-1

Round 5 Monique Sischy move list

Anzel Solomons vs Gelina Melnik Dresden round 5 …1-0
Please click HERE to play interactively through the games of round 5. The link will open in a new window.

Results: Ladies Round 6 South Africa vs Egypt

Results: Men Round 6 South Africa vs Italy

 

Read Full Post »

Chess Olympiad Dresden 2008

 

 

Click on the top image/logo to access the official site of Dresen 2008, it will open in a new window and on the “live” image for the live games.
Click HERE for round 1 live games. The link will open in a new window. Then click on the country and it will take you to a window where you can click on “live”. There is a separate link to the Women’s section.

Please click on THIS LINK to see more images of the South African team at Dresden and for more results. The link will open in a new window.

„There is an incredible treasure of all kinds in this beautiful place” wrote Goethe about Dresden. Today Saxony’s state capital has rebuilt its glamorous position step by step. Dresden as cultural metropole is a worldwide center of attraction – and a strong location for economy and science. Dresden’s microelectronics cluster (ZMD, AMD, Infineon), Fraunhofer Institutes, the Max-Planck Institutes, the Technical University and the College of Arts represent an environment offering a mentality which is also determining for chess. Thus, Dresden is, for example, City of Science 2006.

Intelligence has here been at home already very early. 1083 the Bohemian daughter of a king, Judith, brought along a precious chess game as dowry to Saxony. Therewith, Dresden’s match as a chess city was begun. Alone since 1991 210 international and national relevant chess events could be experienced. Stars like Anatoly Karpov or Garry Kasparov are in Dresden oftentimes. Even the castling is close by to relax.

Elena Winkelmann is one of Germany’s greatest chess talents. Here she is playing in front of the emblem of the EURO 2007 and the Chess Olympiad, the Crown Gate of the Zwinger.

A dignified framework: the venue of the Olympiad 2008 in the ICD Dresden is located directly on the river banks on the old side of the city. Church of our Lady, Semper Opera, Castle, Bruhl’s Terrace – the famous baroque ensemble is only a few steps away. And every visitor right away feels the special flair of hospitality and love for cultural engagement in the whole city. Read on the Official Site more about Dresden.

Image: Dresden2008

Please click HERE to access the official site where you can locate your country to view the players/teams that will take part. The links in this post will all open in a new window.Please click HERE to read about Jennifer Shahade’s visit to South Africa and you can see images from her and her visit.

Simen Agdestein, Norwegian Grandmaster toured South Africa during March and said SA has great chess talent, the problem South Africans face…is the fact that they are far from Europe to play tournaments! You can see his image in this post where he played chess in a restaurant in South Africa.

Kenny Solomon

Carmen de Jager, Anzel Solomons and Monique Sischy

Melissa Greeff

Image chessbase :Henry Steel

Image: chessbase:Jenine Elappen, Anzel Solomons, Melissa Greeff

South African players

Image: Chessbase..Dresden Chess 2008…map with details

1. Congress Center Dresden (Playing Hall)
2. Hotel Maritim Hotel
3. Westin Bellevue
4. Museum Japanese Palais
5. Art‘otel
6. Freiberger Arena (Opening Ceremony)

Dresden: Schedule…Info: Chessbase

Image: spotlightgermany.com

Watu Kobese….Image: farm1.static.flickr.com/5/4967409_aa51644369

Please click HERE to play through a game of Watu Kobese against Jennifer Shahade played in Philadelphia in June 1998. The game was Kobese’s.

Chess Art…a display at Dresden 2008 – Image: http://susanpolgar.blogspot.com

Image: dresden2008

Grootmeester Simen Agdestein van Noorweë speel ‘n potjie informele skaak in ‘n restaurant in Pretoria. Sy hoed is ‘n aandenking van Suid-Afrika. Foto: Waldo Swiegers

SA hét talent, sê skaak-grootmeester Mar 03 2008 01:21:33:830AM  – (SA)  
Neels Jackson

Suid-Afrika se skaakspelers is erg ondergegradeer.

Dís die mening van mnr. Simen Agdestein, Noorweegse grootmeester, wat die naweek saam met ’n groep van sy skaakleerlinge in Suid-Afrika aangekom het om deur die land te toer. Hulle speel die naweek ook in ’n internasionaal gegradeerde toernooi by die Hoërskool Waterkloof in Pretoria.

Agdestein sê as Suid-Afrika nie so ver van Europa was nie en meer van sy spelers kon gereeld aan internasionale toernooie deelneem, sou die land al verskeie grootmeesters opgelewer het.

Hy was op sy dag die wêreld se no. 16-speler, maar hy lê hom nou toe op skaakafrigting by ’n Noorweegse sportskool. Hy is een van nege Noorweegse grootmeesters.

Dat hy ook ander talente het, blyk daaruit dat hy sy land agt keer as doelskieter van die nasionale sokkerspan verteenwoordig het.

Hy het ook aan die Noorweegse weergawe van Strictly come dancing deelgeneem, maar sê hy het vroeg uitgeval weens ’n swak ronde met die tango.

Die sportskool waar hy skaakafrigting doen, het ’n samewerkingsooreenkoms met die Hoërskool Waterkloof se skaaksentrum gesluit. Die Noorweërs se besoek is deel van dié ooreenkoms.

Skaak help kinders volgens hom nie net met hul verstandelike ontwikkeling nie. Dit verryk ook hul lewe deurdat hulle mense op ’n ander manier leer ken.

Hy bestempel dit as ’n geson-de aktiwiteit – baie beter as rekenaarspeletjies, wat hy as “ silly ” bestempel.

http://www.news24.com/Beeld/Suid-Afrika/0,,3-975_2280944,00.html.

Image: Wikipedia..The symbol of the 6th Olympiad held in 1935 in Warshaw by J Steifer.

Birth of the Olympiad
The first Olympiad was unofficial. For the 1924 Olympics an attempt was made to include chess in the Olympics Games but this failed because of problems with distinguishing between amateur and professional players.While the 1924 Summer Olympics was taking place in Paris, the 1st unofficial Chess Olympiad also took place in Paris. FIDE was formed on Sunday, July 20, 1924, the closing day of the 1st unofficial Chess Olympiad. FIDE organised the first Official Olympiad in 1927 which took place in London.The Olympiads were occasionally held annually and at irregular intervals until World War II; since 1950 they have been held regularly every two years.

Read more about the history of the Chess Olympiad on this link which will open in a new window.

Image: Wikipedia
Bobby Fischer’s score card from his round 3 game during the Chess Olympiad in 1970…he played against Miguel Najdorf in Warshaw.

Children in Nepal playing chess!   Image: susanpolgar.blogspot.com/2008/11/picture-of-the-day-global-chess.html

Dresden Opening Ceremony images

Dresden Opening Ceremony

Results: Round 1

Dresden round 1: South Africa’s Woman’s team against Tunisia

 

Results round 1: Hong Kong vs South Africa

Dresden round 1: England vs Turkey

Round 2 results – games played on Friday 14th November 2008

Melissa Greeff Round 2 move 19

Melissa Greeff Round 2 draw

Melissa Greef Round 2 move list – 1/2

Monique Sischy  Round 2 move 14 – 1/2

 

Watu Kobese round 2 move 20

Watu Kobese Round 2 Dresden end position and move list – 1/2

Jenine Ellappen round 2

Jenine Ellappen Round 2 move list – 1-0

Read Full Post »

SA Women’s Closed Chess Championship 2008

The South African Women’s Closed Chess Championship 2008 is now taking place in Cape Town till the 12th January! You can read more on this link here , the site of SAJCA. Here are results after round 5 !  Round 6 will be played tomorrow at 11am — 11th January! —- Round 7, the last round is scheduled for Saturday at 8:30 local time.

On the picture are the players taking part in this Chess Championship!
CINDI MBALENHE, JENINE ELLAPPEN, EZET ROOS, MELISSA GREEFF,
CARMEN DE JAGER, ANZEL SOLOMONS, MONIQUE SISCHY, LAETITIA VAN WYK

See more photos on the red link in the top of my post.

 

 

On THIS LINK you can play through a game of Melissa Greeff played on the 25th January 2008 against Linda Marie Hansen during the Gibraltar tournament.

And VERY sad news about 17yr old Jamie Tindill on this link.

 

 

 

Read Full Post »

African Junior Chess Championships Final Results

afjun07finalgirls.doc     afjun07finalboys.doc

 

 

Well done to all the South African players particularly Daleen Wiid for winning the Girls section, Carmen de Jager for 2nd place and Calvin Klaasen for his second place in the boys section.  The boys section has been won by Kareim Wageih (Egypt).

Ryan van Resnburg was 3rd in the boys section, Lthuekela Zitha 5th, Melissa Greeff 6th (boys) and Angelique Hattingh was 7th in the girls section. You can click on the two doc-links to download the final results or you can click HERE ….. for the official site of the SA Junior Chess Association. Links will open in a new window.

Egyptian, South African win Africa junior chess
BY Mphatso Malidadi
12:05:21 – 08 January 2008

Egyptian top seed Kareim Wagein and South African Wiid Darleen on Sunday won this year’s Africa junior chess champions in boys and girls respectively during the week-long event that was staged at the elite Kamuzu Academy.
Wagein, who accumulated 7.5 points, and Darleen were rewarded with international master title status
South African Calvin Klaasen finished as Wagein’s runner-up with 6.5 points while his compatriot Ryan Van Rensburg came third with 5.5 points.
In the girls category, Carmen De Jarger emerged second while Rocha Valquiria was third.
However, the three Malawian flag carriers failed to make it into the top three positions in the open category which saw South African girl Melisa Greef taking part in the boys group.
Despite failing to make it into top three, the country’s ambassadors showed they had made strides in the competition as they occupied better positions unlike in the previous competitions where they had ended at the bottom.
Chuma Mwale finished eighth with five points, national junior champion Chiletso Chipanga came 11th, national champion Joseph Mwale came 14th in the event that had 23 participants.
Read the entire article HERE ….

     

Read Full Post »

Chess humour and Jennifer Shahade

Chess is a sea in which a gnat may drink and an elephant may bathe – Indian proverb

South Africa, Part I

By Jennifer Shahade

Click HERE to read about Jennifer’s visit to South Africa during May 2007.
And….on THIS LINK you can read even more about Jennifer.

Jennifer with Carmen de Jager, South Africa’s Woman’s Closed Champion.

and….Melissa Greeff…SA’s Woman’s Open Chess Champion…read on JENNIFER’s blog more about them all! Last year, Melissa (13) won the girls section of the African Junior Chess Championships (U20) in December 2006 in Botswana, and was awarded a Woman International Master title (WIM) and her first Woman Grand Master norm.

Read Full Post »