Daily Chess News Blog, Informative, Fun, and Positive
hosted by Chess Queen™ & 12th Women's World Chess Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Chess King Video Tutorial by Steve Lopez Episode 5: How to play a game with Chess King
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hello everyone,
We have the second Chess King (Blog, Twitter, Facebook) video tutorial. Chess King Video software Tutorial #5 by Steve Lopez. explains how to play a game in Chess King, in particular how to adjust strength, modes (fun and rated modes), and how to choose your color. Chess King with Houdini 2 is an affordable and powerful chess software. With Chess King you can play chess, solve puzzles, analyze your games with the strongest engine available and have access to more than the 5 million game GigaKing database.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hello everyone,
We love hobby projects with chess. Here is one very nice one for the weekend. You will love it. It's about how to make your own chess piece flash drive. Congrats to Deslivres(Thomas Maillioux)
for coming up with this! He writes: I'm a French librarian trying to learn something every day - and when I learn something really neat, I love to share it with people around me :)
Things you will need
A USB flash drive without a case, or one whose case you're willing to sacrifice A computer with Inkscape to design your chess piece silhouette parts (or you can build from the file attached to this Instructable) Your chess piece silhouette parts, of course A small bottle of loctite glue and small clamps/paper clips to hold the pieces together A Dremel-like tool to make the final fittings for your flash drive Optional : sandpaper and wood varnish for finishing touches
34th Bulgarian Chess Open R8: GMs Branko Tadic, Georgiev Kiril, in joint lead
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
The latest chess news is about the 34th Bulgarian Open Chess Championship 2012 – Georgi Tringov Memorial, organised by the Bulgarian Chess Federation, the Chess Club Lokomotiv Plovdiv and Plovdiv Municipality, that is taking place from 29th January to 5th February in Novotel Hotel, Plovdiv.
The chess tournament will be played over 9 rounds of Swiss system and is valid for FIDE elo and GM/IM norms. Total prize fund is 10000 EUR, with 2000 EUR reserved for the winner. About 267 players are competing in the tournament.
GM Kiril Georgiev defeated his compatriot GM Vasil Spasov and joined GM Branko Tadic on the top of the crosstable with 7 points each. The two leaders will meet each other in the final round on Sunday.
Kiril Georgiev
Round 8 standings: 1-2. GM Tadic Branko SRB 2487 and GM Georgiev Kiril BUL 2658 – 7.0
3-10. GM Cheparinov Ivan BUL 2659, IM Benidze Davit GEO 2516, GM Antic Dejan SRB 2504, FM Lilov Valeri BUL 2411, GM Drenchev Petar BUL 2493, GM Petrov Marijan BUL 2521, GM Stanojoski Zvonko MKD 2455 and IM Mladenov Plamen BUL 2384 – 6.5
11-20. GM Spasov Vasil BUL 2570, GM Nikolov Momchil BUL 2560, GM Grigorov Grigor BUL 2491, FM Filev Georgi BUL 2349, IM Todorovic Goran N SRB 2397, Indjic Aleksandar SRB 2427, IM Milchev Nikolay BUL 2434, Sofranov Velizar BUL 2168, IM Bratanov Zsivko BUL 2459 and Vlashki Nino BUL 2235 – 6.0
21-49. IM Bukal Vladimir Jr CRO 2434, Yordanov Nikolay Plamenov BUL 2290, IM Arsovic Zoran SRB 2441, IM Dimitrov Radoslav BUL 2437, GM Petkov Vladimir BUL 2519, IM Bruno Fabio ITA 2439, IM Arsovic Goran SRB 2422, FM Hadzimanolis Antonios GRE 2332, GM Ristic Nenad SRB 2427, GM Janev Evgeni BUL 2503, FM Pavlidis Anastasios GRE 2359, IM Smith Bryan G USA 2460, IM Kukov Velislav BUL 2414, IM Todorov Ognjan BUL 2294, Nenkov Ljudmil BUL 2297, IM Piscopo Pierluigi ITA 2386, FM Pantev Veselin BUL 2389, Lomsadze Davit GEO 2341, IM Marholev Dimitar BUL 2370, IM Nikolov Sasho BUL 2407, IM Miljkovic Miroslav D SRB 2491, IM Enchev Ivajlo BUL 2430, Livaja Mario SRB 2234, IM Angelov Kosta BUL 2223, Todorov Momchil BUL 2226, IM Mrdja Milan CRO 2389, WGM Voiska Margarita BUL 2325, Dyulgerov Dimitar BUL 1914 and Ljangov Petar BUL 2105 – 5.5 etc
Round 9 top pairings: GM Tadic Branko 2487 – GM Georgiev Kiril 2658 GM Cheparinov Ivan 2659 – GM Drenchev Petar 2493 FM Lilov Valeri 2411 – GM Petrov Marijan 2521 IM Mladenov Plamen 2384 – IM Benidze Davit 2516 GM Antic Dejan 2504 – GM Stanojoski Zvonko 2455 GM Spasov Vasil 2570 – Indjic Aleksandar 2427 GM Nikolov Momchil 2560 – IM Todorovic Goran N 2397 FM Filev Georgi 2349 – GM Grigorov Grigor 2491 IM Bratanov Zsivko 2459 – Vlashki Nino 2235 IM Milchev Nikolay 2434 – Sofranov Velizar 2168 GM Petkov Vladimir 2519 – IM Piscopo Pierluigi 2386
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
The latest chess news via www.chessdom.com is that in the 9th round of the Turkish Women Championship the leaders of the tournament Kubra Ozturk and Betul Yildiz won their matches and finished the race with equal scores. According to the regulations, they had to play a tie-break in order to determine the champion.
Betul Yildiz, who is eight-times Turkish champion, won the first game of the playoff, in which both players had ten minutes for the whole game and five seconds increment per move.
In the second game her team mate Kubra Ozturk managed to equalize a score. The fate of the first place was decided in Armageddon – Kubra Ozturk won the game and clinched the title. Busra Arig took the bronze medal. You can find more details at www.chessdom.com.
Cool Xtreme Chess Championships on TV! Must watch video
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
How about some cool chess news for the weekend? The second episode of the Extreme "X Chess" Championships, featuring a double header Battle of the Sexes is now live!
We thank our friend Jennifer Shahade (writer, entrepreneur and gamesplayer, two-time American Women’s Chess Champion and the editor of Chess Life Online at uschess.org/clo) for sending us this video.
Sixteen-year-old chessmaster Alena Kats faces poker player & chess champ Alex Barnett while law student & ballerina Alisa Melekhina plays an intense match vs. Stanford senior Elliott Liu. The X Chess Champs is an eight-player single-elimination knockout made for TV chess tournament by Jennifer Shahade, Daniel Meirom and Greg Shahade. Stay posted on the Xtreme Chess Championships on twitter, facebook and subscribe to the youtube channel.
Pakistan national chess championship begins; Nigel Short to hold special simul
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
More chess news from the Pakistan national chess championship. Defending champion and favourite Mahmood Ahmed Lodhi got his second successive win in the 2nd PCPA Open Chess Championship for Zahiruddin Farooqui Trophy being held in Karachi, Pakistan. Lodhi’s two main challengers, National Masters Wasim Akram and Tanvir Gilani, both of them also from Punjab, also remained in the hunt for the trophy by registering second victory in as many games.
The fancied quartet of Mohammad Waqar, Haseeb Ahmed, Asadullah Khan and Syed Wahid Ali has also earned a couple of points by winning both their games. However, two other National Masters Aziz Farooqi and Anwar Qureshi were held to draw by their opponents Israr Hussain and Nadeem Aziz respectively.
International Master and national champion Lodhi, hailing from Gujranwala, was given a run for his money in the 75-minute encounter by the dangerous Raees Ahmed Anasri before gaining his second point in the 8-round competition being played on Swiss league basis.
National women champion, Nida Mishraz, playing in the open tournament, suffered her second defeat going down to Younus Malghani from Balochistan. Having flown in from London to take part in the event after the Gibralter Open, she had lost to Mohammad Waqar in the opening round. Sisters Misbah Yamin and Urooj Yamin won their second round matches. A total of 67 players are featuring in the four-day competition which will be concluding on Sunday (tomorrow).
Grandmaster Nigel Short arrives today British grandmaster Nigel Short will arrive in Karachi today and appear at the championship to play exhibition matches against the top junior players, according to PCPA Secretary Shehzad Mirza. “It’s an initiative to promote chess,” Mirza told The Express Tribune. “Short’s not charging anything for the appearances.”
Results:
First round: Mahmood Lodhi bt Mohammad Shahid; Tanvir Gilani bt Zaheen Shahzad; Wasim Akram bt Asif Majeed; Anwar Qureshi bt Salahuddin; Mohammad Waqar bt Nida Mishraz; Aziz Farooqui bt Zafar Ahmed; Asadullah Khan bt Usman Farooq; Wahid Hussain bt Israr-ul-Haq; Khurram Qureshi bt Imtiaz Ahmed; Riasat Ali bt Haseen-ur-Rahman; Al Haj Mahmood drew with Shamsuddin Hai; Jahangir Ahmed bt Mohammad Yamin; Asif Abbasi bt Uzair Rasheed.
Second round: Mahmood Lodhi bt Raees Ahmed Ansari; Tanvir Gilani bt Muhammad Ramzan; Syed Wahid Hususain bt Imrtiazul Haq; Asadullah Khan bt Akhtar Hussain; Mohammad Waqar bt Faraz Saleem; Younus Malghani bt Nida Mishraz; Wasim Akram bt Tafseer Ahmed.
Schachbundesliga chess - 8th and 9th round on 4-5th February
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Another interesting chess match of the weekend probably will take place in Berlin, where the host team meets OSG Baden-Baden. After signing a handful of new players - in particular Levon Aronian - Berlin is one of the major surprises in the current season. Join the games via Liveportal at Saturday to see if the winner of Tata Steel Chess 2012 is playing for his German team.
Playing venue: Town hall Schöneberg, Willy-Brandt-Saal, John-F.-Kennedy-Platz, 10825 Berlin
8th round: Saturday, 4th of February 2012, 2pm SF Berlin - OSG Baden-Baden Hamburger SK - SG Trier
9th round: Sunday, 5th of February 2012, 10 am OSG Baden-Baden - Hamburger SK SG Trier - SF Berlin
The top match of the weekend takes place in Emsdetten, where Werder Bremen meets Mülheim on Sunday. These are the best teams after Baden-Baden, so expect a bunch of world class players facing each other.
Playing venue: VerbundSparkasse Emsdetten-Ochtrup, Kirchstraße 30-34, 48282 Emsdetten
8th round: Saturday, 4th of February 2012, 2pm SK Turm Emsdetten - SV Mülheim Nord Werder Bremen - SF Katernberg
9th round: Sunday, 5th of February 2012, 10 am SV Mülheim Nord - Werder Bremen SF Katernberg - SK Turm Emsdetten
In Solingen the host team is odds-on favourite against Wattenscheid and Dortmund. The rest of the teams in this venue is fighting against relegation. In this regard especially the match between Remagen and Dortmund is very crucial.
Playing venue: Stadtsparkasse Solingen, Kölner Str. 72, 42651 Solingen
8th round: Saturday, 4th of February 2012, 2pm SG Solingen - SV Wattenscheid SC Remagen - Hansa Dortmund
9th round: Sunday, 5th of February 2012, 10 am SV Wattenscheid - SC Remagen Hansa Dortmund - SG Solingen
In Dresden the host team and König Tegel (Berlin) expect their rivals Eppingen and Hockenheim. The last-mentioned are highly-favoured in these matchups.
Playing venue: UKA-Konferenzsaal, Dr. Eberle-Platz 1, 01622 Meißen
8th round: Saturday, 4th of February 2012, 2pm USV TU Dresden - SC Eppingen SK König Tegel - SV Hockenheim
9th round: Sunday, 5th of February 2012, 10 am SC Eppingen - SK König Tegel SV Hockenheim - USV TU Dresden
Live coverage: All games of the Schachbundesliga are covered live via Liveportal. Its possible to follow any game just by one click and all games are analyzed by one of the strongest engines in the world - Houdini 2.0. It´s also possible to download all games by one click.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Here is some tournament chess news via Fide. Croatian Grandmaster Nenad Sulava has won the 2nd 'San Remo Chess 2012' Open A with 6.5 points from 7 games. Second place goes to Loris Cereda from Milan with 5.5 points and third is Damian Topczewski from Turin with 5 points.
The Open B was won by the Milanese Francesco Albano with 6 points from 7 rounds, followed by the Biella Dario Borghi (second place) with 5.5 points and by the Imperia’s Jacopo Privitera (third place) with 4.5 points.
All the results and further information about the chess tournament are available at www.sanremoscacchi.com.
Invisible Moves is Chesscafe Book of the Year 2011
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
The Chesscafe Book of the Year 2011 has been announced. After several weeks of voting, one book stood out as the runaway winner. In previous years the voting has been close round-by-round, or one book will do well in the first round, but falter in the second. This year players (predominately from France, Israel, and The Netherlands) rallied overwhelmingly around just one title:
Invisible Chess Moves has been voted the ChessCafe.com 2011 Book of the Year. Congratulations to authors Yochanan Afek and Emmanuel Neiman, along with publisher New In Chess.
World Chess Blitz Championship qualifier in Moscow on Feb 6
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hello everyone,
The 2012 World Blitz Championship qualifying tournament will be held at the Russian State Social University (V.Pika st., 4) on Monday, February 6th.
The competition consists of 11 rounds of Swiss system with time control 3 minutes per game with additional 2 seconds per every move, with FIDE rating calculation.
The number of participants is limited to 200. The prize fund of the qualifying tournament is 30,000 RUB.
Top three finishers will be awarded by the RSSU Cup organising committee with free air tickets and accommodation for the World Blitz Championship semifinal which will be played in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Nigel Short wins the Gibraltar Chess Masters after a tense play-off with Hou Yifan
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hello everyone,
Congratulations to Nigel Short who has won the Gibraltar Masters following a tense but exhilarating play-off against Women's World Champion Hou Yifan. Nigel won the play-off 1½-½.
Congratulations to Hou Yifan for such an amazing performance... and the year has only begun!
The results of Nigel Short in Gibraltar 2003 =1st-2nd with Krotonias 2004 Clear first 2005 did not participate 2006 =2nd-3rd with Sutovsky (Winner) Kiril Georgiev 2007-2010 did not participate 2011 clear 2nd (Winner Ivanchuk) 2012 1st winner of tie-break with Hou Yifan 1½-½
Breaking chess news - Hou Yifan and Nigel Short in play-off at Gibraltar Chess Festival
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hello everyone,
This is already the most exciting chess news of the year 2012 so far. Women's World Chess Champion Hou Yifan and Grandmaster Nigel Short both scored 8/10 in the Gibraltar Masters so a play-off is now required. In the final round today Hou Yifan drew her game against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov on board 1 and Nigel Short defeated Krishnan Sasikiran on board 3.
The live webcam shot of this historic chess play-off! Surely!
The play-offs have begun and you can follow live at the GibraltarChessFestival website. We are already delighted to congratulate the young teenager GM Hou Yifan for the fantastic performance at this strong open and GM Nigel Short for his flowing natural style to get to the top. Of course, historic event for talented youngster. From Alexandra Kosteniuk's www.chessblog.com Also see her personal blog at www.chessqueen.com
IM Enrico Sevillano Wins 15th Metropolitan Chess FIDE Invitational
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Metropolitan Chess, Inc. hosted an International Master norm round robin tournament on January 25th to 29th 2012. The latest chess news update via www.chessdom.com is that this tournament is the 15th in its series and was held in Suite C1002 of the California Market Center on 110 East 9th Street, Los Angeles 90079. The tournament was organised by Ankit Gupta and the chief arbiter was Randy Hough.
The participants included: IM Zhanibek Amanov (KAZ), IM Andranik Matikozyan (ARM), IM Enrico Sevillano (USA), FM Harutyan Akopyan (USA), FM Mark Duckworth (USA), FM Konstantin Kavutskiy (USA), Vadim Kudryavtsev (RUS), Garush Manukyan (ARM), and NM Craig Clawitter (USA).
The tournament was won by IM Enrico Sevillano in a convincing fashion with a score of 7.5-1.5. No norms were achieved.
The only non-international master who was able to hold IM Sevillano to a draw, FM Konstantin Kavutskiy, came closest to an IM norm performance with a score of 5.5-3.5. 6.5 was necessary for the norm.
The tournament was sponsored by California Market Center, Fashion Business, Inc, Chess.com, MonRoi, LawyerFy, and Betty Bottom Showroom.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hello everyone,
We have more chess news coming in about children having fun with this beautiful sport.
During last week’s tournament that wrapped the Emily Bailey Arts Residency, local chess mentor Omar Durrani counseled Antioch School students on their chess moves. Counterclockwise from bottom left are Marin Wirrig, Ceron Gomez, Henry Wirrig, Tim Bold, Tahlia Potter and Lida Boutis. (photo by Diane Chiddister)
A game of chess is like “a mind martial arts,” according to Kaden Boutis of the Antioch School’s Older Group. To Zenya Miyazaki, chess “exercises your brain. It makes you expand your thinking.” And to Sulayman Chappelle, chess is an opportunity to see how people think differently, how “everyone has a different strategy.”
These Older Group boys began lobbying about a year ago to make chess the focus of the school’s annual artist-in-residency, according to OG Teacher Chris Powell. Specifically, the boys wanted to bring to school instructor Omar Durrani to teach chess to Antioch School kids during the annual Emily Bailey arts residency. And that’s exactly what happened, with Durrani wrapping up his three-week residency on Friday, Jan. 20. You can read the full story here.
Candidates Chess Matches: Levon Aronian's letter for neutral venue
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
GM Levon Aronian with open statement about Candidates Tournament
Levon Aronian, the winner of the Tata Steel Chess tournament and member of the 2800 club, submitted an open statement regarding the upcoming Candidates Tournament. The statement was received via the Armenian Chess Federation and regards a possible Candidates event in Azerbaijan, where GM Levon Aronian states he will not participate in case it is selected as venue. Here is the full open statement of GM Levon Aronian.
To: FIDE PRESIDENT KIRSAN ILYUMZHINOV FIDE PRESIDENTIAL BOARD MEMBERS Dear Mr. President Dear Presidential Board Members I learnt from the media, that the Chess Federations of Azerbaijan and Bulgaria had submitted an application on holding the Candidates Tournament of World Championship. I’d like to inform you that general atmosphere in Azerbaijan and continuous tensions between our countries make my participation in such high ranked tournament in Azerbaijan impossible. A responsible and important event, such as the Candidates Tournament, requires peace of mind and special concentration. No circumstances, if they are not chess-related, should prevent the grandmaster from demonstrating all of his skills. Unfortunately, at this moment no Armenian can find favorable or adequate psychological atmosphere in Azerbaijan, whereas that is something absolutely necessary. In my opinion, all the participants should be in equal conditions, which is impossible in case of holding the tournament in Azerbaijan. Security guaranties and any kind of additional support cannot be a remedy. Taking into account the above-mentioned considerations, I inform you that I would be delighted to take part in Candidates Tournament any other country, but my participation in the candidates tournament in Azerbaijan has to be excluded. I hope you will take into account these considerations while discussing the issue of the tournament venue at the Presidential Board Meeting. Thank you in advance and best regards, GM Levon Aronian
Tata Steel Chess Group B winner P Harikrishna looking forward to stronger Group A challenge next year
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hello everyone,
This year's winner of the Group B at the Tata Steel Chess has said that he is already looking ahead to playing stronger competition in next year's Group A. Pentala Harikrishna could not have started 2012 in a better way. Currently, the Tata Steel chess tournament (formerly called Corus) is the most popular among the super events and to win even the second group (B) is a big achievement.
Group B at Wijk aan Zee this year was a strong tournament as four of the 14 players were rated above Harikrishna, and to score nine points from 13 rounds was creditable.
"This victory is very important for me. It gives me the opportunity to play against the best players next year in group A," Hari told an Indian newspaper on Wednesday as he took stock of his performance.
From Alexandra Kosteniuk's www.chessblog.com Also see her personal blog at www.chessqueen.com
Gibraltar Chess Festival; Sensational performance - Hou Yifan beats Alexei Shirov to take sole lead
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hello everyone,
Women's world chess champion Hou Yifan has downed another grandmaster at the ongoing Gibraltar Chess Festival and gone into sole lead with just one round to go. What a splendid performance by the teenager!
The official press release states: No-one here in Gibraltar at the 2012 Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival can quite believe it. A quiet, polite, 17-year old girl, here with her mother, is a game away from winning the strongest Open chess tournament in history. In her wake, some of the best chess players in the world.
Hou Yifan, from China, has beaten one elite player after another in the last few days - including Judit Polgar, the highest ranked female player of all time. At the start of the event Hou Yifan - the reigning women's world champion - was ranked number 25. But 9 days later, she has beaten four players rated over 2700, and her tournament performance currently stands at a colossal 2892.
Tomorrow (Thursday 2nd Feb) she faces Shakriyhar Mamedyarov, the cheerful Azeri grandmaster, rated 2747 - number 14 in the world. Hou Yifan has 7,5/9. Her opponent tomorrow has 7 points, as have 4 other players, including top British grandmasters Michael Adams and Nigel Short. The final round begins at 11am (Gibraltar time). All eyes will be on Gibraltar to see if Hou Yifan can claim the first prize of £20,000 - as well as the top female award of £10,000.
You can follow Thursday's games live for the final round at the official website here.
Vugar Rasulov is Azerbaijan national chess champion
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hello everyone,
Here is the latest chess news via Fide. The 2012 Azerbaijan Chess Championship for men was held from 22nd to 30th January. Ten players participated in the round robin tournament.
GM Vugar Rasulov defeated GM Sarhan Guliev in the final round to move ahead of the main contender Azer Mirzoev and claim the title of the national champion. Rasulov collected 7 points, while Mirzoev finished with 6.5.
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12th Women's World Chess Champion
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