Let my stolen chess board go to an intelligent child who would become a famous chess player: Vassily Ivanchuk
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hello everyone,
Here is a very nice interview given to www.chess-news.ru by Grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk. It's about the robbery that took place in Sao Paulo which you can read about at our previous post.
Ivanchuk spoke to Evgeny Surov of Chess-News. The interview took place via telephone and can also be listened to here (in Russian).
To begin with, how do you feel?In principle everything’s fine and I feel fine. There aren’t any problems and I’m fully able to continue the tournament. I hope everything goes ok. It was a small robbery, and by the way it was almost on hotel property, which was strange. My wife and I came out, sat in the car, put down our things… And then – two guys with pistols. They took our things and ran away. That was all it was, actually. There’s not really anything particular to say about it. Fortunately my laptop bag was between my feet and they simply didn’t notice it, clearly.
So you’ve still got your computer?Yes, I’ve still got my computer and also, fortunately, I’ve got my passport – it was in the inside pocket of my jacket. That enabled me to travel here, to Bilbao, and continue the tournament. Otherwise I’d have had to return to Ukraine, just as my wife had to. Her passport was stolen.
And what did you do next? Did you go to the police?It was at the hotel. We immediately went to reception and reception called the police, but it was already quite late. They suggested we could immediately go to the police, on the same day, but it was already late. We didn’t want to leave the hotel and we went to the police the next day and left a statement. They haven’t found anything yet, or at least they haven’t informed me about it.
There’s been no progress with the investigation?
No, but I’m not especially concerned. At the end of the day, there wasn’t anything particularly valuable there. The most valuable thing for me was my chess set, not in terms of money but in terms of some sort of… I’ve used that chess set for many, many years. I’ve even got a wish: perhaps that chess set can somehow fall into the hands of an intelligent child, and thanks to some sort of magical properties it’ll help that child to become a famous chess player.
Are you talking about a normal wooden chess set?Yes, a normal folding set – the board opens and closes and the wooden pieces are inside.
And today, as I understand it, you made it to Bilbao a few hours ago, and tomorrow you’re already going to play?Yes, that’s right. The game won’t be postponed. There’s no point. The organisers offered to postpone it, by the way, but I said: but why, if I’m already here? Why create problems and interfere with the natural course of the tournament? Nothing in particular that would get in the way of me playing has happened.
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Labels: chess robbery, Sao Paulo, Vassily Ivanchuk
Grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk and wife robbed in Sao Paulo
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hello everyone,
We've just got the information that Grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk and his wife were robbed in Sao Paulo before they were leaving for Bilbao, Spain to continue with the second part of the Grand Slam Chess Masters. The full story is there on www.chessvibes.com.
This is pathetic news. If only the world would understand. Why do we have people who have to create problems, do negative things and harm others. It's part ridiculous and very upsetting too for all of us.
Just outside their hotel in Sao Paulo, Vassily Ivanchuk and his wife were robbed yesterday. "The robbers were armed with a gun", Leontxo Garcia told Chess Vibes on phone, "and took two suitcases." The Spanish journalist had contact via email with Ivanchuk, who is leading the Grand Slam Masters Final at halft-time.
Earlier today, in his daily column for El País, Garcia wrote:
What had been a great success for the Masters Final in Sao Paulo on Sunday, was marred by an unfortunate event. Ivanchuk and his wife were robbed at gunpoint when, twenty meters from the hotel, they were about to enter a taxi that would take them to the airport.
Somehow the stolen bags included the passport of Ivanchuk's wife, and so the couple suddenly had problems leaving Brazil. Communicating with Leontxo Garcia, the super grandmaster's first reaction was that he didn't want to continue his tournament if his wife couldn't be with him from Thursday on. On that day play resumes in Bilbao.
On the phone, Garcia told Chess Vibes:
Now the situation is under control. The authorities issued a 'salvoconducto' [emergency travelling pass - CV]. They will fly together to Munich, from where his wife will return home and apply for a new passport. Ivanchuk will arrive in Bilbao on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Ivanchuk is scheduled to play White against Hikaru Nakamura. The American grandmaster tweeted today:
Quite disappointed to hear the news from São Paulo about Ivanchuk being robbed. Hopefully we can postpone the game till the 9th.
It's possible that the robbers somehow knew who they were dealing with; maybe they thought that the tournament was over, and Ivanchuk had collected his prize money. It seems more likely that the robbery was a case of extremely bad luck. Garcia:
They have been very unlucky. The area is one of the best and safest of Sau Paulo, with a, for Brazilian standards, high level of security. I have been walking around at nights and haven't seen any signs of danger during the whole week.
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Labels: chess grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk, robbery, Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo Grand Slam Chess Masters R5: Carlsen, Nakamura win
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hello everyone,
The party now moves on to Bilbao, Spain. But in Round 5, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, we had two decisive games! At half-time, tournament leader Vassily Ivanchuk lost his first game of the event to Magnus Carlsen but maintained his lead. Hikaru Nakamura, who beat Vallejo in round 5, is now clear second with 7 points. The game between Vishy Anand and Levon Aronian ended in a draw. Here are the standings after Round 5.
Grand Slam Masters Final 2011 | Round 5 Standings (football)
1 Vassily Ivanchuk 10
2 Hikaru Nakamura 7
3-5 Levon Aronian, Vishy Anand, Magnus Carlsen 6
6 Francisco Vallejo 3
And, the games for you to enjoy in our special game player. Just use the pop-down menu to choose the game you want to see.
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Labels: Grand Slam Chess Masters Final, Sao Paulo
Grand Slam Chess Masters Final Sao Paulo R2: Ivanchuk beats Vallejo, others draw
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hello everyone,
We had one decisive game in the second round - like in the first - at the Grand Slam Chess Maters Final in Sao Paulo. There was fighting chess all around though. Magnus Carlsen-Levon Aronian, Hikaru Nakamura-Viswanathan Anand were drawn but Vassily Ivanchuk beat Francisco Vallejo. You can access the official website for more info.
Here are the games. Use the pop-down menu to check the games.
Grand Slam Masters Final 2011 | Round 2 Standings (football)
- 1-2 Levon Aronian, Vassily Ivanchuk 4
- 3-5 Anand, Carlsen, Nakamura 2
- 6 Vallejo 0
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Labels: Grand Slam Chess Masters Final, Sao Paulo
Grand Slam Chess Masters: Aronian begins with win, others draw
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hello everyone,
Grandmaster Levon Aronian starts the Bilbao half of the Grand Slam Chess Masters with a win over Francisco Vallejo while the others draw. The games Vishy Anand vs Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura vs Vassily Ivanchuk ended in draws.
The 4th edition of the Grand Slam Masters Final runs from September 25th until October 11th and is played in two different venues. The first five rounds of this double round-robin event takes place in Sao Paulo, Brazil from 25th of September to 1st of October, and the second leg will be played in Bilbao, Spain from 6th to 11th of October. Magnus Carlsen, Vishy Anand, Levon Aronian, Vassily Ivanchuk, Hikaru Nakamura and Francisco Vallejo play a double round-robin. In both venues, the Ibirapuera Park in Sao Paulo and the Bilbao Alhóndiga, the players play in a big class cube. The rate of play is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves plus 60 minutes to finish the game, with 10 seconds increment per move from move number 41. Players are not allowed to agree to a draw without the arbiter’s permission. In case both players request it to him, the arbiter will make his decision after consulting with the technical assistant. The football scoring system is used: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 for a loss.
In the third edition, last year, the infamous glass cube was dropped but this time it's back. Both in the Ibirapuera Park in Sao Paulo and the Bilbao Alhóndiga the players will again be executing their moves in a sound-proof 'aquarium'. This makes it possible to set up a commentary booth right next to the 'playing hall', where Spanish journalist Leontxo Garcia and guests are explaining the games during the rounds, and talking to the players after the games.
Here are the nice first round games.
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Labels: Grand Slam Chess Masters Final, Sao Paulo
Grand Slam Chess Masters Final starts today in Sao Paulo
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hello everyone,
This year's Grand Slam Masters Final includes the world's top 3 players and starts today in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The first round pairings are Nakamura-Ivanchuk, Anand-Carlsen and Aronian-Vallejo.
The six participants with the mayor of Sao Paulo
The 4th edition of the Grand Slam Masters Final runs from September 25-October 11 and will be played in two different venues. The first five rounds of this double round-robin event will be played in Sao Paulo, Brazil from 25th of September to 1st of October, and the second leg will be played in Bilbao, Spain from 6th to 11th of October. In both venues, the Ibirapuera Park in Sao Paulo and the Bilbao Alhóndiga, the traditional big glass cube will be installed, inside which Magnus Carlsen, Vishy Anand, Levon Aronian, Vassily Ivanchuk, Hikaru Nakamura and Paco Vallejo will play a double round-robin.
The tournament was officially opened on Sunday, September 25th in the Sao Paulo Ibirapuera Park, a major urban park.
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Labels: Grand Slam Chess Masters Final, Sao Paulo
Bilbao and Sao Paulo Chess Grand Slam: Anand, Carlsen, Nakamura confirmed
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hello everybody,
Great chess is ahead with Anand, Carlsen and Nakamura confirming their participation for the 2011 Grand Slam Final to be played from September 25 to October 11. The tournament picks up a Linares type model, making the tournament a double round robin one to be held at two venues - Bilbao and Sao Paulo.
The presentation of the Final Chess Masters itself will be organised on the board the thematic chess cruise ship MSC Ópera. Then the first rounds of the event will be played in Sao Paulo and the second part will be in Alhóndiga Bilbao.
The Grand Slam 2011 is a double round robin with 6 players. GM Magnus Carlsen (Nanjing winner), GM Viswanathan Anand (World Champion), and GM Hikaru Nakamura (winner of Corus) are confirmed participants. One more will be selected from the tournament of Bazna Kings in June, while two more nominees will be announced later. One more time Sofia rule and Bilbao rule will be part of the Grand Slam final. Bazna Kings is the next Grand Slam event. Here is a nice video from the news site www.chessdom.com. Enjoy. Labels: bilbao, chess grand slam, Sao Paulo
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