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hosted by Chess Queen™ & 12th Women's World Chess Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk
Sunday, December 18, 2011
More super chess videos from London Chess Classic 2011: Korchnoi, Kramnik and Becker!
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia, Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
We still have so much to share with you from this month's top tournament London Chess Classic 2011 that concluded with Vladimir Kramnik taking the top honours with a super-smashing performance. Here are three cool new videos:
You can see more videos at the London Chess Classic official YouTube channel. Quite a treat.
Lots and lots of fantastic WinkBall videos from London Chess Classic 2011
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
WinkBall specialises in capturing people's passion using the power of video. They havea network of over 300 reporters who gather footage from events taking place all over the UK and overseas. See more about their visit to the London Chess Classic below. The official website of the event: http://londonchessclassic.com/
Photo: Kasparov awarding Kramnik the London Chess Classic 2011 trophy plus BONUS CHESS TRIVIA QUESTION
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hello everyone,
Here is the final photo from the prize-giving ceremony at the London Chess Classic 2011. The super photos are by Ray Morris-Hill. Apart from the photos here, you can check the full album at this link. We would also like to thank John Saunders for all the great press reports and chess stuff sent for our readers. You can read all the peppy, creative fully-annotated reports by him at the official tournament website.
For our trivia question, just look at the second photo and tell us: WHO IS SHAKING HANDS WITH WHOM? Don't cheat. :) The photo is from the London Chess Classic 2011 that just concluded yesterday. You can read our post on Kramnik winning the title here.
Congratulations to Vladimir Kramnik for winning London Chess Classic 2011
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hello everyone,
Coming straight after the grand victory of Chess Queen Alexandra Kosteniuk at the SportAccord World Mind Games Rapid 2011, we have another cheer for Russian chess. Grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik has won the London Chess Classic with a steady finish ahead of Hikaru Nakamura and Magnus Carlsen.
As you know, the 2011 London Chess Classic was held from December 3-12. Time controls were classical forty moves in two hours, then twenty moves in one hour and thirty minutes for the rest of the game. A win counted as three points, a draw as one, and a loss. The total prize fund was €160,000 before tax.
In Round 9, we saw Luke McShane drawing with Vishy Anand, Hikaru Nakamura beating Michael Adams with fireworks, Nigel Short holding Magnus Carlsen to a draw and Vladimir Kramnik going for a draw with Levon Aronian. David Howell had a bye and he assisted in the commentary.
We will bring you updates of the prize ceremony soon and meanwhile, you can check the official website for more info.
London Chess Classic R8: Kramnik beats McShane for sole lead
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hello everyone,
Russian grandmaster and former world chess champion Vladimir Kramnik has gone into - what could be decisive - lead in the penultimate round at the London Chess Classic 2011 with a Black win over GM Luke McShane.
The other results results of Round 8 included three draws between Vishy Anand and Magnus Carlsen, David Howell and Levon Aronian and Hikaru Nakamura and Nigel Short.
As you know, the 2011 London Chess Classic is taking place in the Olympia Conference Centre from Saturday, December 3rd until Monday, December 12th, starting at 14:00h London time each day (final round 12:00h). Time controls are classical forty moves in two hours, then twenty moves in one hour and thirty minutes for the rest of the game. A win is counted as three points, a draw as one, and a loss zero.
Standings after eight rounds have Kramnik at 15 points, Carlsen at 13 points, Nakamura and McShane 12 points, Anand and Aronian at 8 points each, Short at 5 points, Howell at 4 points and Adams at 3 points.
Won't you be there for the final round live streaming at the official website?
Congratulations to GM Abhijeet Gupta for winning London Chess Classic Open Tournament 2011
Chess Blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hello everyone,
Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta has won the London Chess Classic 2011 open section with a fine win over GM Keith Arkell of England while Indian International Master Sahaj Grover got the second position after after the final round of the event that concluded on Sunday. Abhijeet, a former world junior champion and reigning Indian national champion, scored eight points in all and will be past the coveted 2650 ELO rating mark in the next rating list, while Sahaj continued his progress for his Grandmaster title.
"I came here last year and had mediocre results, but off late I have been playing better and this win here will probably help me a lot for tough future events like Gibraltar and Aeroflot open," said Abhijeet after a nerve-wracking final game against Arkell. "I had much better position out of the opening and he used too much time to complicate matters, it was a pretty crazy game but somehow, I was able to pull through," said the former under-10 world champion and the reigning World Junior bronze medallist, said Sahaj Grover.
There was Indian dominance in the junior section as all the prizes were shared by them. Mohammad Ashraf, PV Nandhidhaa and under-12 world champion Murali Karthikeyan shared the honours in the junior category. You can access the official website of the London Chess Classic for more details.
London Chess Classic R7: Carlsen, Kramnik, McShane in joint lead; two rounds to go
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hello everyone,
Excitement is surely the best adjective for the London Chess Classic 2011. So, in Round 7 we saw Nigel Short lose to Luke McShane, Vladimir Kramnik beat David Howell, Levon Aronian and Vishy Anand draw and Magnus Carlsen beat Michael Adams. Hikaru Nakamura had a bye and was assisting with commentary. You can access a host of information, photos and games at the official website which is also broadcasting the event live.
The standings after Round 7 are as follows:Carlsen, Kramnik, McShane have 12 points each, Nakamura has 11 points, Aronian and Anand have 7 points each, Short has 4 points while Adams and Howell have 3 points each. Two rounds remain for which Adams and Howell would be getting byes.
Aronian versus Anand heading for a draw... (once they start playing)
Luke McShane catching up with Carlsen and Kramnik for joint lead
London Chess Classic R6: All games drawn, Nakamura leads, Carlsen right behind
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hello everyone,
As things stand, Hikaru Nakamura has taken lead at the London Chess Classic 2011 after six rounds. But World No. 1 is right behind!
All four games were drawn on Friday but all were enjoyable enough. As you know, the 2011 London Chess Classic is taking place in the Olympia Conference Centre from Saturday, December 3rd until Monday, December 12th, starting at 14:00h London time each day (final round 12:00h). Time controls are classical forty moves in two hours, then twenty moves in one hour and thirty minutes for the rest of the game. A win is counted as three points, a draw as one, and a loss zero. You can access the live broadcast at the official website here.
Round 6: Friday, December 9, 2011
Michael Adams ½-½ Levon Aronian Vishy Anand ½-½ Vladimir Kramnik David Howell ½-½ Nigel Short Luke McShane ½-½ Hikaru Nakamura Magnus Carlsen (bye) – assisting commentary
The ever good-spirited Vishy Anand and Vladimir Kramnik before start of Round 6.
Here are the standings after Round 6
We have Hikaru Nakamura with 11 points, Magnus Carlsen, Vladimir Kramnik and Luke McShane with 9 points each, Levon Aronian and Viswanathan Anand with 6 points each, Nigel Short with 4 points, Michael Adams and David Howell with 3 points.
Three rounds to go and Adams, Howell and Nakamura have a day off each for commentary.
London Chess Classic R5: Nakamura surges into sole lead with win over David Howell
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Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hello everyone,
As you head into the weekend, here is some chess news from London Chess Classic 2011. Five rounds have taken place and American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura has surged into a one point lead over Magnus Carlsen.
As you know the 2011 London Chess Classic is taking place in the Olympia Conference Centre from Saturday, December 3rd until Monday, December 12th, starting at 14:00h London time each day (final round 12:00h). Time controls are classical forty moves in two hours, then twenty moves in one hour and thirty minutes for the rest of the game. A win is counted as three points, a draw as one, and a loss zero.
Round five Results
Hikaru Nakamura 1-0 David Howell
Nigel Short 0-1 Vishy Anand
Vladimir Kramnik 1-0 Michael Adams
Levon Aronian ½-½ Magnus Carlsen
Luke McShane (bye) – assisting commentary
Short and Anand in a major discussion over... who pays for dinner tonight!...
... I think Nigel will cause he has this big thing about being host in London. Chivalrous Brits. (Kramnik to Trent). The standings after five rounds is as follows: Nakamura has 10 points with Carlsen right behind at 8, Kramnik and McShane have 8 points each, Aronian and Anand have 5 points each, Short has 3, Adams and Howell have 2 points each. Only Nakamura, Carlsen, Adams and Howell have played five games each.
Friday will see Michael Adams take on Levon Aronian, Vishy Anand versus Vladimir Kramnik, David Howell against Nigel Short, Luke McShane to play Hikaru Nakamura with Magnus Carlsen being busy in the commentary centre.
You can access the official website at this link for a live broadcast.
Super chess interviews with Aronian, Nakamura plus analysis by Anand
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hello everyone,
Here's a video for you to enjoy from the London Chess Classic 2011. It's from Round 5 including interviews with Levon Aronian, Hikaru Nakamura, and long analysis by Vishy Anand.
London Chess Classic R4: Anand loses to Nakamura, Carlsen leads
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hello everyone,
The London Chess Classic is fast becoming a tournament standard for the excitement that is still alive in chess despite all those misgivings about draws. Round 4 on Tuesday saw four wins by black. The only ones to draw were Carlsen and Kramnik.
Round 4 saw Magnus Carlsen and Vladimir Kramnik settle for a draw, Michael Adams losing to Nigel Shot, Vishy Anand losing to Hikaru Nakamura and David Howell losing to Luke McShane. Levon Aronian had a bye so he was assisting in the commentary - a novel concept.
The standings after Round 4 are as follows in the football scoring system: Carlsen and McShane have 8 points each, Nakamura has 7, Kramnik 5, Aronian 4, Short 3, Anand, Adams and Howell with 2 each. However, Kramnik, Aronian, Short and Anand have played only three games as compared to four by the others.
Here is the nice game between Anand and Nakamura. The world chapion was cruising along when disaster struck on Move 29. Wednesday is a rest day at the tournament. You can access the official website at this link.
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12th Women's World Chess Champion
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