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hosted by Chess Queen™ & 12th Women's World Chess Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk
Friday, May 30, 2014
Rapid Chess not Harmful, but Spectator Friendly: Former World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand
Hello chessblog friends, former world chess champion Viswanathan Anand has said in the Indian city of Pune, while speaking to Times of India. He said, "In chess, rapid and blitz are default tiebreak options and you can never neglect them completely.
Anand said: "Though the slower format is played in competitions, almost all the players there come through playing a lot of blitz (5 minutes per player) and rapid (25/30 mins per player). It's good for training. It is good to play more games in a day than one game a day which requires high concentration. I don't think rapid is harmful. It's more spectator friendly."
Anand will play the World rapid and blitz championships in Dubai from June 15 to 21.
Anand also said the club/league/franchise culture needed to be given time to get established in India and that one can't compare club loyalties and more systematic approach with Europe.
The 44-year-old refused to talk much on his World title rematch against reigning champion Magnus Carlsen not receiving a bid.
On Carlsen's mind-boggling plus-23 score (difference between wins and defeats) in classical chess since January 2013, he said: "Very impressive ... nothing much to say about that. It was impressive last year and it keeps going up. I have to find some way to match when playing against him. Going by Khanty (Candidates success), I feel optimistic and positive."
On whether older players tend to focus on 'not losing' instead of winning, Anand said: "I have no idea. I just feel that I had a difficult phase. For no particular reason, I did well in Candidates ... and now I feel optimistic again."
Anand gave glimpses of his endearing personality when he obliged the kids with a Q&A session with all seriousness.
He also managed to squeeze in a tiny 'workshop' for chess parents. He told them to "relax a bit", saying five-six hours of practice in a day in most cases was not necessary.
"Results should not stop them (children) from enjoying," he said reminding a refined quote from his father, who had said "we backed Anand because he loved the sport."
On dealing with increasing coaching expenses for the sport, Anand said: "If parents feel that coaching is valuable, then it can kind of get into an arms' race. When parents feel it could be useful even without any evidence to base it on, then it's peer pressure.
"No parent wants to handicap their kid. But I believe coaching is best in moderation. The best way of learning is still practising a lot. Without diminishing the coaches, coaching works when you have many examples to show.
"Youngsters are taking the game far too seriously and at far too early an age. They are getting too competitive ... that's the age to have fun. I would advice parents not to be too obsessive about coaching." From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
FIDE Chess Ratings Blitz, Rapid: Spot Your Favourite GMs!
Hello chess friends, it is exciting to see chess ratings for blitz and rapid chess published by FIDE. The top players in the men's rapid ratings are Hikaru Nakamura 2841, Fabiano Caruana 2840, Alexander Grischuk 2828 and World No. 1 in standard, World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen is at No. 4 with 2827. Vassily Ivanchuk is ranked fifth with 2811 rating points.
In the women's rapid and blitz list there are not many changes between the two lists or even as compared to the main world top list. Judit Polgar leads in all the lists.
Beijing Chess Event SportAccord World Mind Games 2013: Congrats to Karjakin, Yifan for Gold
Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hello everyone,
Congratulations to Sergey Karjakin and Hou Yifan for winning the blitz event at the SportAccord World Mind Games 2013 in Beijing this Sunday.
Sergey Karjakin from Russia won the blitz tournament with 19.5 out of 30 games. Levon Aronian from Armenia finished with the same score, but he lost the direct match 0,5-1,5 and he had to settle for the silver medal. The third place was shared by Maxime Vachier-Lagrave from France and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov from Azerbaijan. The same tie-break score decided, a bronze medal went to the French man.
The last part of the chess event was very exciting with Le Quang Liem taking away the initial lead that Shakhriyar Mamedyarov had gained. But, some successive losses by Liem allowed others to catch up.
The women's blitz chess event saw reigning women's word chess champion Hou Yifan win the event ahead of Valentina Gunina. Both dominated the event. Yifan picked up the gold with 21.5 points, Gunina got the silver with 19.5 points and Anna got the bronze with 18.5 points
The next two days we will feature the ”Basque” event, where the players face each other in two simultaneously played games! From Alexandra Kosteniuk's www.chessblog.com Also see her personal chess blog at www.chessqueen.com Don't miss Chess Queen™ YouTube Channel
Your Chess Pieces: Friction Test 'Em for Speed <-- Cool Video
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Blitz players usually want their chessmen fast and sliding smooth. On the other hand, some detest the super-fast action and prefer more solid grip on the chessboard. Here's a very interesting video about just how "fast" different types of chess pieces can be. Wow.
Chess Queen™ Alexandra Kosteniuk Wins Blitz Gold at Sport Accord World Mind Games 2012 in Beijing
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
BREAKING NEWS:
Chess Queen™ Alexandra Kosteniuk with the women's Gold medal and GM Sergey Karjakin - also of Russia - with the men's gold medal in the Sport Accord Blitz.
JUST IN: Chess Queen™ Alexandra Kosteniuk has just won the Gold in the Blitz Tournament at the Sport Accord World Mind Games 2012 in Beijing. Showing an incredible determination, the 12th Women's World Chess Champion led from the start and obtained a total of 11.5 points in 15 rounds over two days. That netted +76 Elo points to Alexandra, whose new Blitz rating will go from 2505 to 2581 at the end of the year.
These points included a record streak of six straight wins in the first rounds and a total of 11 wins, more than anybody in the tournament. The finish was extremely exciting as GM Anna Muzychuk of Slovenia caught up and even passed GM Kosteniuk by a half point before the last round. But Alexandra won her last round against Anna Zatonskih of the USA, while Anna drew Elisabeth Paehtz, in the tiebreaks Alexandra came our first due to her win in their direct encounter.
1. Gold: Alexandra Kosteniuk (center) 2. Silver: Anna Muzychuk (left) 3. Bronze: Elisabeth Paehtz (right)
This was one of the strongest blitz chess tournaments this year with all the top names like former world champions Hou Yifan and Antoaneta Stefanova, Koneru Humpy, Kateryna Lahno, and others. Incidentally, GM Kosteniuk beat both Hou Yifan and Antoaneta Stefanova in the tournament.
Chess Chess Queen™ Alexandra Kosteniuk with her blitz gold medal along with (left) GM Anna Muzychuk (silver) and GM Elizabeth Paehtz (bronze) at the awards ceremony in Beijing on Monday.
More details would be updated soon on her personal blog www.chessqueen.com.
A very determined Kosteniuk in Beijing wins Blitz Gold
Here is the first round game Kosteniuk - Hou:
Alexandra Kosteniuk - Hou Yifan
Result: 1-0
Site: Sport Accord Blitz Beijing 2012
Date: December 15, 2012
[...]1.e4c5 The Sicilian Defense 2.¤f3d63.d4cxd44.¤xd4¤f65.¤c3e66.¥e2¤c67.¥e3¥e78.O-OO-O9.f4a610.a4¥d711.¤b3b612.¥f3£c7 "General opening development hs taken place, now it's time for making a plan"
13.g4! "The attack starts!" 13...¥c814.g5¤d715.¥g2! Gives passage to the Queen to h5 and to the rook to f3 then h3
15...¥b716.£h5¦fe817.¦f3 +0.00* 17...g6 N "Novelty"
(17...¤b4 was played before 18.¦h3¤f819.£e2d520.£f2¤d721.f5exf522.¦f1 "and the attack continues...1-0, Milov Leonid 2463 - Uwira Oliver 2282 , Dotzheim 2002 It (open)")
18.£h6¥f819.£h4¥g720.¦h3¤f8 "Now it seems all key squares around the black king are defended, h8, h7, h6"
21.f5!¥xc322.f6 "! N" Now the threat of Qh7 and mate on g7 is too strong, even giving back the Bishop with Bxf6 does not help"
(22.bxc3 "would have been a mistake since" 22...exf523.exf5¤e7 and both black knights are holding the key squares.)
22...h523.¥f3! This Bishop will sacrifice itself on h5 for a crushing attack to take place on the column h +4.76*
23...¥xf624.gxf6¤e525.¥xh5! +31.1025...¤h7 +299.9626.¥e2 and mate on either h7 or h8 is unavoidable. Hou resigns. An extremely strongly played game by Alexandra Kosteniuk
NTG Chess Quick Grand Prix: Carlsen, Hammer Share First
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012 Hi everyone,
There's plenty of blitz and rapid chess happening out there this December. The latest chess news comes from the NTG Quick Chess Grand Prix organised by the NTG Chess Club on 15th December. The 15-min rapid tournament was played in two groups and over seven rounds of Swiss system, according to a Chessdom report. Top Norwegian Grandmasters Magnus Carlsen and Jon Ludvig Hammer shared the first place with 6,0/7 points each. Hammer defeated Carlsen but lost to the third-placed Aryan Tari. Carlsen took the first prize thanks to the slightly better tie-break. B Group had 22 players, Henrik Storesund and Andreas G Tryggestad are tied on first place with 5,5/7 each. Final standings A Group: 1-2. GM Magnus Carlsen 2849 and GM Jon Ludvig Hammer 2643 – 6,0 3. Aryan Tari 2295 – 5,5 4. Johan Salomon 2100 – 5,0 5. IM Frode Elsness 2468 – 4,5 6-9. Lars Oskar Hauge 2176, FM Kristian Stuvik Holm 2291, Anders Hobber 2244 and Johan-Sebastian Christiansen 2126 – 4,0 10-14. GM Simen Agdestein 2535, FM Andreas G.R. Moen 2386, Svetoslav Mihajlov 2056, FM Brede Alex. Kvisvik 2315 and Sebastian Mihajlov 2090 – 3,5 15-16. Francisco Silva Gonzàlez 1743 and Jens Hjorth Kjølberg 1897 – 3,0 17-20. Henrik Sjøl 1800, Arnt-Ole Johansen 1845, Sondre Merkesvik 1920 and Christian Harstad 1949 – 2,0 21. Johannes Haug 1942 – 1,5 22. Øystein Brekke 1923 – 1,0
Replay the Magnus Carlsen – Jon Ludvig Hammer, round 4 game with Chess King.
More Blitz, Rapid Chess Tournaments: FIDE Tells Federations
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
FIDE is focused on promoting rapid and blitz chess. In a recent official announcement, FIDE says that they encourage more federations to further popularise and organize more Rapid and Blitz tournaments. A step in this direction is that the QC, after consultation with the Treasurer, has agreed to defer payments for rating reports and rating fees for Rapid and Blitz tournaments until at least 1 January 2014. Also, the QC will present its draft regulations for title awards for Rapid and Blitz at the 2013 Congress. Ideas can be submitted to ignatius.leong@fide.com before 31 January 2013.
Ail Ain Autumn Chess Fest (Blitz+Rapid) from Nov 23
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
The latest chess tournament announcement via Fide is about the Al Ain Chess Club that will be holding its Autumn Chess Festival Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship 2012 on November 23 and 24 in UAE. The tournament will be submitted for FIDE rating.
Blitz Tournament Start at 03:00 P.M., Friday, 23 November 2012 System: 9 Rounds Swiss Time Control: 5 Minutes with 3 Seconds delay per move Rapid Tournament Start at: 02:00 P.M., Saturday 24 November 2012 System: 6 Rounds Swiss Time Control: 20 Minutes with 10 Seconds increment per move
Prizes: Blitz Tournament (Total Prizes 3000 AED): Winner 1000 AED + Cup 2nd 700 AED 3rd 500 AED 4th 250 AED Best Woman 200 AED Best UAE Man 100 AED Best UAE Woman 100 AED Best Alain Youth 100 AED
Rapid Tournament (Total Prizes 3000 AED): Winner 1000 AED + Cup 2nd 700 AED 3rd 500 AED 4th 250 AED Best Woman 200 AED Best UAE Man 100 AED Best UAE Woman 100 AED Best Alain Youth 100 AED
Prizes will not be shared among tied players but determined by tie break. Closing Ceremony of both tournaments will be at 10:00 P.M. of 24 November 2012.
Tie Break System: 1- Direct Encounter; 2 - Buchholz Cut 1; 3- Buchholz Cut 2; 3- Sum of Buchholz 4- Sonneborn-Berger 5- Progressive Score.
Registration: Players who wish to participate should send the following information by Fax to 03-7633362; E-mail to Chessalain@yahoo.com; or by SMS to 050-4374421 till 20:00 of Thursday 22 November 2012. From Alexandra Kosteniuk's www.chessblog.com Also see her personal blog at www.chessqueen.com Don't miss Chess Queen™ YouTube Channel
Lightning Chess: Two Days Straight Only Three Toilet Breaks - Chess Video
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
We don't know if this chess "event" is for real, but the YouTube video caption states: Each player has only one minute per game. They only take three toilet breaks a day and have been doing this for two days now! Fun chess video. We've got lots of great chess videos on our blog. Just perform a "chess video" search and you would be able to see them all. Stay tuned this coming week, as we have lots of great videos coming up to take you through October into the winter.
Blitz Chess Show in Biel with Chess Queen Kosteniuk, World #1 Carlsen, US Champion Nakamura and Others
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
A very special Blitz Chess Show is being organised in Biel on Sunday, July 22. A special invitational blitz chess tournament is going to be held on the knock-out format to celebrate 45 years of the Biel Chess Festival.
CHESS BLITZ FEVER by Alexandra Kosteniuk The DVD from Women’s World Chess Champion and Chess Queen Alexandra Kosteniuk about Blitz Chess. Alexandra gives many tips on how to play better blitz chess and shows 8 of her sensational wins from the 2009 World Blitz Championship, where she beat World #1 Rated Magnus Carlsen, World Champion Vishy Anand, and super Grandmasters Gashimov, Aronian, Morozevich, Grischuk, Judith Polgar, and Naiditsch. All games are fully commented with simultaneous live screens and and 2D boards.
The invitees include (according to seeding):
Magnus Carlsen NOR Hikaru Nakamaura USA Alexander Morozevich RUS Wang Hao CHN Etienne Bacrot FRA Pentala Harikrishna IND Yannick Pelletier SUI Alexandra Kosteniuk RUS System: Two games with 5‘+ 2‘‘/move. If 1-1, one Armageddon game with 5’ for white (has to win) and 4’ for black.
The draw will made according the FIDE Elo rankings of 1st July 2012, with GM seeded Nr 1 on the top and GM seeded Nr 2 on the bottom. Then, Nr 3 and Nr 4 on each half of the draw. from the top to the bottom.
The main Biel Chess Festival with a GMs' tournament, Masters' tournament, chess events, begins on July 23. Stay tuned at Chess Blog for more details on that.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
More than 140 chess players, including 65 women from 14 cities, are competing in the 2012 Vietnam National Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships from July 5-10.
Among them are leading grandmasters Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, Nguyen Duc Hoa, Pham Le Thao Nguyen and Hoang Thi Bao Tram, as well as others who performed well at the recent Asian Junior Chess Championships, namely Nguyen Thi Mai Hung, Nguyen Anh Khoi and Vu Thi Dieu Ai.
Vietnam’s top player Le Quang Liem could not join the tournament as he is currently playing the 2012 World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, from July 1-10.
Eleven rapid and 13 blitz chess games will be played in the first round to select four best players in each category for the semi-finals.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Top seed GM Baadur Jobava of Georgia won the Dubai International Chess Blitz Tournament on April 20 at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He beat six opponents and drew with three others to finish alone with 7-1/2 points out of 9 rounds.
GM Baadur Jobava displays his winner's Cup.
Four players shared 2nd to 5th place. Tied with 7 points each were GMs Mikheil Mchedlishvili of Georgia, Vladimir Baklan and Alexander Kovchan of Ukraine, and Avetik Grigoryan of Armenia. A strong group of 84 players from 21 countries took part in the one-day competition including 21 Grandmasters and 9 International Masters. At stake was a total of $5,000 in cash prizes.
On his way to winning the top prize of $1,000 Jobava, rated 2706, beat GMs Gevorg Harutjunyan of Armenia, David Arutunian and Levan Pantsulaia of Georgia and IM Fouad El Taher of Egypt. Jobava drew with GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami of Iran, Alexander Kovchan of Ukraine and coasted to a draw in the last round with compatriot GM Mikheil Mchedlishvili.
Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and final standings.
Top standings after 9 Rounds Rk. Name FED Rtg Pts. 1 GM Jobava Baadur GEO 2706 7.5 2 GM Mchedlishvili Mikheil GEO 2626 7 GM Baklan Vladimir UKR 2612 7 GM Grigoryan Avetik ARM 2600 7 GM Kovchan Alexander UKR 2598 7 6 GM Andriasian Zaven ARM 2616 6.5 GM Hovhannisyan Robert ARM 2600 6.5 IM El Taher Fouad EGY 2483 6.5 Baghdasaryan Vahe ARM 2406 6.5 10 GM Volkov Sergey RUS 2623 6.5 11 GM Miezis Normunds LAT 2557 6 GM Harutjunyan Gevorg ARM 2455 6 Dilanyan Grigor ARM 2276 6 14 GM Petrosian Tigran L ARM 2643 6 GM Salem A R Saleh UAE 2522 6 IM Ramnath Bhuvanesh R IND 2343 6 17 GM Pantsulaia Levan GEO 2595 5.5 GM Arutinian David GEO 2553 5.5 IM Grigoryan Karen H ARM 2510 5.5 IM Roy Chowdhury Saptarshi IND 2405 5.5 21 GM Ganguly Surya Shekhar IND 2633 5.5 GM Ghaem Maghami Ehsan IRI 2581 5.5 GM Kayumov Sergey UZB 2505 5.5 Hilwani Talal SYR 2277 5.5
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12th Women's World Chess Champion
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