Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
World champion Viswanathan Anand overpowered second- seeded defending champion Shakhriyar Mamedyarov 2-0 to win the Corsica Masters knockout rapid chess title at Ajaccio, France, on Monday. Anand, who overcame compatriot Krishnan Sasikiran 3-1 in the semifinal by winning the two blitz games, outwitted Mamedyarov with white pieces in the first game after 43 moves of Grunfeld defence.
The 14 top players from the Corsican Open were joined by two seeded world-class grandmaster for the Masters Knockout. In the second game, that followed the opening moves of Queen's Gambit Declined, Anand won with black pieces in 40 moves to seal the title. This was Anand's third rapid title of the year. He won the Leon Masters in June and the Botvinnik memorial in September when he finished ahead of Vladimir Kramnik, Levon Aronian and World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in the four-player field.
Congratulations to Sasikiran for winning Corsica Chess Circuit Main Open
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand beat 2nd seed Shakhriyar Mamedyarov 2-0 in the final of the Corsica Masters knock-out which moves from Bastia to Ajaccio on Monday 31st October. Earlier rounds and the main open all took place in Bastica. Krishnan Sasikiran finished on 7.5/9 half a point clear of Gawain Jones in the open. Here are the top final standings and some videos. Enjoy. You can check the official website at this link.
Top 10-standings in the open Pl Ti Player Rtng Fed Pts Tr. Bu. Perf 1 g Sasikiran Krishnan 2689 IND 7.5 44.5 55.5 2792 2 g Jones Gawain C B 2624 ENG 7.0 45 56.5 2692 3 g Melkumyan Hrant 2619 ARM 6.5 46.5 57.5 2647 4 g Fressinet Laurent 2696 FRA 6.5 45.5 55.5 2664 5 g Durarbeyli Vasif 2526 AZE 6.5 45 54 2542 6 g Baron Tal 2505 ISR 6.5 44.5 54.5 2559 7 g Cheparinov Ivan 2650 BUL 6.5 44 54.5 2597 8 m Arnold Marc T 2505 USA 6.5 44 54 2629 9 m Battaglini Gabriel 2452 FRA 6.5 43 53 2455 10 g Grigoryan Avetik 2614 ARM 6.5 43 52.5 2588
Great chess preview video of the 15th Corsican Chess Circuit beginning Oct 22
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
Here is a nice preview video from the upcoming 15th Corsican Chess Circuit to be held from October 22-29 in Bastia and October 31 in Ajaccio. More than 700 players are taking part in the event including a simul by World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand. The 15 top players of the youth tournament, another 15 by draw, and another 30 from the main tournament will face the World Champion.
The amazing thing about Corsica, besides the tradition and constant expansion, is how they manage to maintain the prize fund in times of crisis. The main section has 60 000 eur prizes, while the total prize fund is 95 000 euros.
“If in a difficult economic environment, we maintain the same level of prizes (95 000 €), thus this is not by chance, says main organiser Léo Battesti. “The number of sponsors replaces all doubts: 124 ! The impact of the event is considerable. Hundreds of young people who will participate in this festival are also a beautiful symbol and probably the best way to welcome our friends from the five continents. Among them, the World Chess Champion, Vishy Anand and many IGM : Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Ivan Cheparinov, Sasikiran Krishnan, Wesley So, Laurent Fressinet, Gawain Jones, Pavel Tregubov, Mark Paragua, Nenad Sulava, Joseph Sanchez, Vasif Dubarbeyli, Glenn Flear, Vladimir Malaniuk, etc.”
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12th Women's World Chess Champion
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