Top Chess Stars to Play Tashir Chess in Memory of 9th World Chess Champin Tigran Petrosian

Hello chess blog friends, a special chess tournament in memory of chess legend GM Tigran Petrosian will be held in Moscow from November 3-11. The chess tournament is being organised by the Tashir Group of Companies and the Russian Chess Federation. Petrosian was the ninth World Chess Champion. 2014 is the 85th birth anniversary year of Petrosian. 

Some of the top chess players of the world will be attending the tournament. The chairman of the tournament organising committee is the President of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. SerzhSargsyan.

The competitors in the 21 Category tournament will be: the World Cup holder, three-time Olympic Chess Champion Levon Aronian (Armenian), former world champion Vladimir Kramnik (Russia), two-time World Blitz Chess Champion Alexander Grischuk (Russia), former Vice World Chess Champion Boris Gelfand (Israel), Vice World Champion Peter Leko (Hungary), China’s leading Grandmaster Din LiZhen, two-time Chess Champion of Russia Alexander Morozevich and the winner of the Russian Championship Higher Leagues Ernesto Inarkiev (Russia).The tournament will be a round-robin. The prize fund of the tournament is 100,000 euro.

Zara Agemyan, aide to the President of the Tashir Group of Companies, Head of Communications and Marketing department, says: “Tashirinvariably strives to support the most promising cultural and sports initiatives.We are convinced that a tournament where the world’s most prominent grandmasters compete will become yet another contribution of our Group to the sports and culture development in Russia. An international tournament is not a mere mastery competition betweenchess players from different countries. It also represents a uniting effort for nations, an additional confirmation that for people who have a passion for something no borders or divisions exist."

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$6.3 Million Rouble International Chess Festival Cup of RSSU - Moscow Open 2014 begins

Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hello everyone,

The International Chess Festival Cup of RSSU - Moscow Open, 2014 for the prizes of the Russian State Social University and the Moscow Chess Federation will be held in Moscow from 31th January to 10th February 2014 at the Russian State Social University.

The festival consists of eight tournaments.

- Tournament A – Men’s Cup of Russia Stage (price fund is 1500 000 RR, first place is 500 000 RR)
- Tournament B – Women’s Cup of Russia Stage (price fund is 850 000 RR, first place is 300 000 RR)
- Tournament C – Amateurs’ Cup of RSSU (price fund is 500 000 RR, first place is 60 000 RR)
- Tournament D – Veterans’ Cup of RSSU (price fund is 250 000 RR, first place is 40 000 RR)
- Tournament E – World Cup Chess Composition (price fund is 200 000 RR, first place is 40 000 RR)
- Tournament F – Students-grandmasters’ Cup of RSSU (men, price fund is 250 000 RR, first place is 80 000 RR)
- Tournament G – Students-grandmasters’ Cup of RSSU (women, price fund is 250 000 RR, first place is 80 000 RR)
- Tournament H – School Champions’ Cup of RSSU (24 prices - complimentary hotel with meals for 3 winners in each age categories for participation in European School Chess Championship in Greece, June 2014)

Training courses for coaches, referees and organizers will also be held holding during the Festival under the auspices of the Russian Chess Federation and FIDE (Russian language with translation in English).

The total prize fund of the Festival is 6.3 million rouble.

All tournaments (except tournament E) played on the classical scheme (one match per day) with the time control: 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 30 minutes with an increment of 30 seconds per move, starting from the first move. In tournaments H - 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move, starting from the first move. A forfeit will be awarded for being late by more than 30 minutes. 

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Photo Chess Trivia: Two Chess Divas in Moscow - When and Why?

Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hello everyone,

Two chess divas meet up in Moscow... Name them. A big high-five if you know the year and event!

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Caissa Chess Awards in Moscow: Chess Queen™ Alexandra Kosteniuk is Media Person of the Year 2012!

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Chess Queen™ Alexandra Kosteniuk has been declared 'Media Person of the Year 2012' at the Caissa Awards Night in Moscow on December 17. As you know, GM Kosteniuk is in Beijing right now to complete her tournaments at the Sport Accord World Mind Games 2012, where she has already won the Gold Medal in the Blitz event just on December 17. So, you can expect more details on the Caissa Award later on her personal blog at www.chessqueen.com. (Photo: 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.) 

The 12th Women's World Chess Champion is an extremely Internet-savvy Grandmaster with a verified Twitter account, host of YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LiveJournal accounts. Her Chess Blog has been voted best blog in the USA. She is regular at staying in touch with fans and promotes chess around the world with the latest chess news, views, and chess-learning tips. Her summary RSS page with links to all the accounts are at kosteniuk.com: Follow them all for the latest in chess news and World Champion's chess views/training!

The Caissa Chess Awards Night was held at the Central House of Literature in Moscow. The tradition was renewed after a long break in April of this year thanks to the charity Our Heritage Fund, with special thanks to Vladimir Palikhata, businessman and president of the Moscow Chess Federation, and Victoria Korol, president of the fund.

The Award was given to 16 individuals. The splendid glass statues of the Chess Goddess Caissa were given not only to famous chess players, but also to politicians, businessmen and journalists who ensured chess has a place of honour in the life of the Russian capital.

“The Central House of Literature has a long history, a part of which is the tradition of regular chess nights. Last time we opened the intellectual game hall, which is now in use. Our Caissa Award is a sign of gratitude to people who have made substantial contributions for chess, for its development and popularisation, said Vladimir Palikhata in his opening address.

“Chess development is an integral part of our fund’s efforts which we accomplish jointly with the Moscow Chess federation and the Russian and international chess federations. This evening is devoted to the first Caissa Award ceremony for contribution to the development of this wise game in our capital. This ceremony will be annual and we hope the most prestigious in the world of chess,” said Victoria Korol, president of Our Heritage Fund.

Eminent guests on the occasion included FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, Russian Federation First Deputy Prime Minister Arcady Dvorkovich, Russian Federation Parliament First Vice Speaker Alexander Zhukov, the First President of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev, and other famous politicians, businessmen, athletes, members from intellectual circles and the media.

Sergey Karjakin, who has this year won the World Rapid Chess Championships, was recognised as the best chess player of 2012. Valentina Gunina, playing for the Russian National Team helping them take two Olympiad championships as well as winning European Individual Chess Championship titles and the World Blitz Chess Championship, was recognized as the best female chess player of the year.

Hosts Margarita Mitrofanova and Mark Glukhovsky granted awards to former multiple World Chess Champion Anatoly Karpov, distinguished Grandmaster and 12-time Moscow Champion Evgeni Vasiukov, Russian Federation First Deputy Prime Minister Arcady Dvorkovich, Russian Federation Duma First Vice Speaker Alexander Zhukov, Moskomsport First Vice President Nikolay Gulyayev, businessman Andrey Filatov. Awards were also given to the company Rosneft and its president Igor Sechin and Businessman Gennady Timchenko.

A special guest of the event was the new Women’s Chess Champion Anna Ushenina. She also was presented a Caissa for Brightest Foreign Chess Player. The statue was handed to the champion by none other than the former USSR president, Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev. “It’s really nice winning an award like this,” said Ushenina. 

“I would like to thank all those who are selflessly and faithfully supporting the development of chess in Moscow and throughout Russia. It’s just fantastic. It was thanks to the Russian school of chess that there was a nudge of development for the whole chess world. And it’s doubly nice that it is under continued support and development at the governmental level.”

In the course of the evening Anna played two “pair versus pair” games against the Russian Valentina Gunina, European champion. In the first game Ushenina’s partner was Vladimir Palikhata, with Alexander Zhukov playing for Valentina. For the second game, Palikhata joined Gunina against Ushenina and Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, President of FIDE. The moves were split between the teammates by turns, played in blitz format. The first game ended in a win for Gunina-Zhukov, the second was drawn.

Also of interest was a collection of chess and other cultural rarities open for viewing in the Our Heritage Gallery.

Annual Caissa Chess Award Recipients

1. Best Chess Player – Sergey Karjakin
2. Best Female Chess Player – Valentina Gunina
3. Best Journalist – the Kommersant, Alexey Dospekhov
4. Best Chess Journalist – Sergey and Marina Makarychev
5. Contribution to the Development and Promotion of Chess in Moscow and Worldwide – Anatoly Karpov
6. Mediaperson of the Year – Alexandra Kosteniuk
7. Best New Talent – Yuri Eliseev (World Champion under 16)
8. Partner of the Year – Moskomsport
9. Best Use of Chess Images in the Press – RBC Magazine, Editor-in-Chief Anton Popov
10. Chess Dynasty – Vladimir Yakovlevich Dvorkovich (posthumously), Galina Lvovna Dvorkovich, Arkady Dvorkovich
11. Greatest Contribution to Education of Future Generation – Company Rosneft and its President Igor Sechin
12. Development of “Chess Parliamentarism” – Alexander Zhukov
13. Best Television Coverage of Chess in the Capital – Moscow 24
14. Special Award “Our Heritage” – Evgeny Vasyukov
15. Event of the Year in Moscow – World Championship Match Anand – Gelfand sponsors – Andrey Filatov, Gennady Timchenko
16. Brightest Foreign Chess Player – Anna Ushenina

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

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More Chess in Moscow, Says City Chess Fed Chief Palikhata

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Muscovites Will Play Chess in Coffee Shops and Parks
MOSCOW, Sept. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Chess, phenomenally popular in the USSR since the 1920s, when the state invested heavily in the game to show the world the prevalence of communism, is back in fashion in Moscow. Soon, young Muscovites will be able to enjoy a game of chess in cafes and parks all over the city.

Moscow Chess Federation President Vladimir Palikhata (left) and Grandmaster Boris Gelfand at the opening ceremony of World Chess Grand Prix in London. (PRNewsFoto/MCF)

Vladimir Palikhata, well-known businessman and philanthropist, became the President of the Moscow Chess Federation in 2012 and was impressed by how popular chess is among young people. “I feared that only people who remember the Fischer-Spassky times play chess and I was thrilled to learn that the game is most popular among 14-35 year-olds. Our next big tournament took place at Strelka Institute, heart of the Moscow hipster culture, and the turnout was phenomenal. Now we are taking chess to cafes,” says Palikhata.

Moscow Chess Federation is also actively involved in promoting chess around the world. Vladimir Palikhata, today called upon London to embrace the sport of chess. In a letter to mayor Boris Johnson, Mr. Palikhata, said that London should build upon the sporting legacy of the Olympics by actively supporting the game in London schools and chess clubs.

He said: “It has been proven that playing chess has a hugely beneficial impact on academic performance in schools and London could play a key role in the revival of the sport in England – a country with a proud history in the sport. And London is nearly as cold and wet as Moscow during the dark winter months. What better sport than chess to occupy our efforts.” Mr Palikhata’s remarks come as London plays host to the first Grand Prix in the new World Chess Championship Cycle.

Mr. Palikhata was present at the opening ceremony for the London Grand Prix, which took place at Somerset House on September 20. The Moscow Chess Federation co-hosted the event, which saw over 300 distinguished guests witness exhibition blitz games between the world’s leading chess players. Guests included FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, and chess enthusiast Lily Cole, the supermodel and actress.

“We are studying other cities’ experience and integrating chess into Moscow’s urban culture. By 2013, chessboards will be in over 500 Moscow cafes,” added Palikhata.

Moscow Chess Federation, established in 1970, aims to develop and popularize chess in the Russian capital.


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Moscow Chess Fed Chief Sends Surprise Chess Day Gift to Mayors Across the World!

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Mayors of 86 global and regional cities around the world got a surprise gift for the International Chess Day on Friday, July 20 – a competition chess set, with a note from Vladimir Palikhata, President of the Moscow Chess Federation (MCF), extolling the virtues and benefits of chess – "a wise and ancient game," which, according to the release, can "help reduce stress associated with managing a city" and "bring pleasure."

Vladimir Palikhata decided to use this opportunity to reach out to the chief administrators of sister cities of Moscow, including London, Chicago, Vienna, Tokyo, and Santiago, to establish and reinforce relations with the chess-playing community in these cities.

"It gives me pleasure to congratulate Mayors of so many cities on our holiday," said Palikhata. "I know that some are already very good players. Others may yet develop an interest in the game."

First VP of the MCF Nikita Kim added that the gift chess sets were "one of several actions we are planning to strengthen MCF partnership relations overseas." He emphasized that "Vladimir Palikhata sees developing MCF's relations with international partners as very important."

Russian capital has 85 sister cities; Paris is Moscow's "partner city". Moscow Chess Federation, established in 1970, aims to develop and popularize chess in the Russian capital. It is headed by Vladimir Palikhata, successful Russian businessman and philanthropist. Under Palikhata's watch, the Federation underwent rebranding, announced major chess tournaments and nurtured three new chess champions.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
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Anand, Gelfand World Chess Championship 2012 Live Schedule

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012


Hi everyone,

Photo: World Chess Championship Official Website.

We are all waiting for the world chess championship match to resume on May 14 -- Monday. Here is the complete schedule of the world chess championship matches. We are sure that you haven't forgotten that the excellent high-definition live world chess championship 'show' is available on all chess game days at the official website. You can also access the archives of all chess game broadcasts and game moves.

Schedule for Anand, Gelfand World Chess Championship Match 2012 Complete Schedule

Day	Date	Match event	Time
Day 1	10 May	Opening ceremony	19.00/20.00
Day 2	11 May	Game  1	15.00
Commentators: Nigel Short, Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam
Day 3	12 May	Game  2	15.00
Commentators: Nigel Short, Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam
Day 4	13 May	Rest day
Day 5	14 May	Game  3	15.00
Commentators: Jan Timman, Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam
Day 6	15 May	Game  4	15.00
Commentators: Jan Timman, Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam
Day 7	16 May	Rest day
Day 8	17 May	Game  5	15.00
Commentators: Joel Lautier, Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam
Day 9	18 May	Game  6	15.00
Commentators: Peter Svidler, Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam
Day 10	19 May	Rest day
Day 11	20 May	Game  7	15.00
Commentators: Peter Leko, Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam
Day 12	21 May	Game  8	15.00
Commentators: Peter Leko, Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam
Day 13	22 May	Rest day
Day 14	23 May	Game  9	15.00
Commentators: Peter Svidler, Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam
Day 15	24 May	Game  10	15.00
Commentators: Peter Svidler, Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam
Day 16	25 May	Rest day
Day 17	26 May	Game  11	15.00
Commentators: Vladimir Kramnik, Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam
Day 18	27 May	Rest day
Day 19	28 May	Game  12	15.00
Commentators: Peter Svidler, Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam
Day 20	29 May	Rest day
Day 21	30 May	Tie break	12.00

The closing ceremony shall take place on the day after the FWCM has been decided or one day thereafter.


By the way, if you are getting bored on the rest day, here are two entertaining posts we found:


- Top 6 Reasons Why Anand, Gelfand 2012 World Chess Championship Will be Fun


- Anand, Gelfand World Chess Championship 2012 - What Would Have Bobby Fischer Said

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World Chess Championship 2012 Anand, Gelfand R2 - 25 Move Draw

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,


Photo: Fide
Reigning world chess champion Vishy Anand and challenger Boris Gelfand played a relatively new variation of the Slav Defence in their second game on Saturday and settled for a draw at the 15th move. Possibly, Gelfand's 1.d4 was expected and the Chebanenko and semi-Slav structure gave Black a solid position. There are 10 more games to be played. Sunday is a rest day.

Read more »

Has 2012 World Chess Championship Anand vs Gelfand Begun a Day Earlier?

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012


Hi everyone,


Going by the photo we are tempted to assume that the 2012 World Chess Championship has begun a day earlier as current world chess champion Vishy Anand and challenger Boris Gelfand sit across the chess board. But, that's not so. This photo is from the inspection that the two teams conducted on Wednesday, a day before the official opening ceremony. In fact, both the grandmasters visited the venue at the same time. You can find lots of photos at the official website of this grand chess event. There would be live broadcast from the playing hall as well. 

Do you know who will be the commentators and guests of honour at the event?On each day of play there will be commentary on the games in Russian by grandmaster Ilya Smirin (Israel), and he’ll be joined by a number of colleagues: Sergei Rublevsky on 11–12 May, Dmitry Yakovenko on 14 May, Viorel Bologan on 15 May, Alexander Grischuk on 17–18, 20 and 23–24 May, Peter Svidler on 21 and 26 May, and Vladimir Kramnik on 28 May.

The regular commentator in English will be Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam, editor in chief of New in Chess, and other commentators working with the English-speaking audience will be Nigel Short on 11–12 May, Jan Timman on 14–15 May, Joel Lautier on 17 May, Peter Svidler on 18, 23–24 and 28 May, Peter Leko on 20–21 May, and Vladimir Kramnik on 26 May.

The world champions Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov, the long-standing challenger for the champion’s title Viktor Korchnoi, the world’s oldest grandmaster Yuri Averbakh, the composer Vladimir Dashkevich, the pianist Nikolai Lugansky and other prominent chess players and cultural figures have agreed to be guests of honour at the match.

Don't go anywhere, stay with us right here on Chess Blog and we would keep you surfing in the right direction for all the latest on the 2012 Vishy-Gelfand World Chess Match.

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Anand-Gelfand World Chess Championship 2012 Organising Committee Finalised

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

 

According to the latest press release about the upcoming World Chess Championship, the Organising Committee has been finalised. The panel will include Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Russian Chess Federation, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation, Arkady Dvorkovich; Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Russian Chess Federation, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Alexander Zhukov; General Director of the State Tretyakov Gallery, Irina Lebedeva; Chairman of the Management Board of the Russian Chess Federation, Ilya Levitov; and match sponsors, businessmen Andrey Filatov and Guennadi Timtchenko. 

The aim of the Organising Committee is to hold the top-level event in Moscow. The FIDE World Chess Championship Match is the most important event in the world chess calendar. Preparations for the match, which will take place in the Engineering Building of the State Tretyakov gallery, are currently being finalised. The FIDE World Chess Championship Match between World Champion, Viswanathan Anand (India), and challenger, Boris Gelfand (Israel), will take place from 10 till 31 May 2012 in the Engineering Building of the State Tretyakov gallery. This will mark the first time that the World Championship Match will be held in one of the largest museums in the world. The organisers of the match are FIDE (the World Chess Federation) and the RCF (the Russian Chess Federation). 

The initiator and sponsor of the match in Moscow is the Russian entrepreneur Andrey Filatov (co-owner of N-Trans Group). Other sponsors of the competition are businessman Guennadi Timtchenko, as well as the company Novatek and the Ladoga charity foundation. Further information can be found on the match’s official website http://moscow2012.fide.com/en/

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