June 8th Anna Zatonskih Chess Benefit for Cardon Chlldren's Medical Center

3-time U.S. Women's Chess Champion Anna Zatonskih

Hello everybody!

I got an email from Norm Saba, M.D., FAAP, of the Cardon's Children Medical Center, telling me that 3-time U.S. Women's Chess Champion Anna Zatonskih will conduct a Chess Benefit to support Pediatric Rehab at Cardon Children's Medical Center on June 8, 2010, from 6 to 10:00 PM.

You might remember some time ago we featured Anna in our Star Interview, it's definitely worth a read.

So if you're not far from Mesa, Arizona, it would be great to support this noble cause and meet Anna in person!

Also look below at information for the great summer chess camp June 21 to July 2, 2010.

The detailed information is provided below:

June 8th, 2010

6:00 – 10:00 PM

Saguaro Auditorium

Rosati Education Center, Banner Desert Medical Center

1400 S. Dobson Rd., Mesa, AZ 85202, USA

Come Meet the Reigning and Three Time U.S. Women’s Chess Champion Woman Grandmaster and International Master Anna Zatonskih and support Pediatric Rehab at Cardon Children’s Medical Center!

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to meet one of the best chess players in the world! All proceeds will go directly toward the purchase of much needed rehabilitation equipment. For example, a state of the art rehabilitation bicycle costs $5,000.00! Many other items are on the wish list for this unit that does so much to help children who have been disabled from injury or disease. WGM Zatonskih will speak about what it takes to balance motherhood with being a world class chess champion. She will also perform some feats of mental gymnastics as she dazzles you with her chess brilliance in her effort to raise money for a very special cause.

So please mark your calendars now and plan to be a part of chess history at Cardon Children’s!

Please RSVP by June 4th to Medical Staff Office at 480-412-3221 or marylou.erwin@bannerhealth.com

6:00 – 6:30: Reception

6:30 – 7:00 Dinner

7:00 – 7:15 Introductions – Norm Saba, M.D.; Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman

7:15 – 8:00 – WGM Anna Zatonskih

8:00 – Chess Exhibition

9:45 – Closing Remarks

Cost: $50.00 per couple or $30 per single

Please make your tax deductible donations to:

Banner Health Foundation (include “Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit” on your check) and mail them to Norm Saba, M.D.; Medical Staff Office; Banner Desert Medical Center; 1400 S. Dobson Rd.; Mesa, AZ 85202 by June 4th.

If you have questions feel free to call Norm at 602-228-2379.

Anna’s Chess Accomplishments:

1991: Mariupol, Ukraine City (Adult) Championship


1993: Bulgarian Women’s Champion


1994: Third Place World Junior Championship (Girls Under 16)


1999: Awarded WGM title


2001: Ukrainian Women’s Champion


2002: Ukrainian Women’s Co-champion


2004: Chess Olympiad silver medal with U.S. team


2008: Chess Olympiad bronze medal with U.S. team and individual gold medal


2006, 2008, 2009: U.S. Women’s champion

Anna will be one of the featured instructors for the 2010 Summer Chess Academy held June 21st to July 2nd at Imagine Elementary at Tempe; 1538 E. Southern Avenue; Tempe, AZ 85282.

For more information please contact Alan Anderson at 480-966-9542 or checkm8chess@aol.com.

Anna’s husband Grandmaster Daniel Fridman will be participating in the 2010 Copper State International Chess Tournament, June 2nd – 9th. For more information please contact Daniel Rensch at 602-618-2045 or www.americanchess.net. You can also download a 2010 Summer Chess Academy Information and Registration Packet there.

Thank you for making this event a success and for helping raise funds to support the Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit!

Name: __________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

Phone: _________________________________________________

____ Yes, I (we) would love to join you on June 8th for this event!

Enclosed is our check for ___$50.00 (couple) ___$30.00 (single)

We would also love to help sponsor a much needed piece of equipment for the Pediatric Rehab Unit and enclose $______.

_____No, I (we) unfortunately cannot make it that night but still would love to support the Pediatric Rehab Unit with a donation of $______.

Please make your tax deductible donations payable to “Banner Health Foundation” and put “Pediatric Rehab Unit” in the memo portion of the check. Mail to: Norm Saba, M.D., Medical Staff Office; 1400 S. Dobson Rd.; Mesa, AZ 85202 by June 4th

You may also make an online donation by clicking below:

Support Anna Zatonskih’s Chess Benefit

Under “Arizona” choose Cardon Children’s Medical Center and in the box below please type: “Pediatric Rehab Unit – Chess Benefit”

The families and children in the Pediatric Rehab Unit thank you tremendously for your generous support!

Posted by Alexandra Kosteniuk

Women's World Chess Champion

www.chessblog.com

U.S. Women's Chess Championship off to an exciting start

Defending chess champion IM Anna Zatonskih

Hello Everyone,

The U.S. Women's Chess Championship first and second rounds saw five decisive games each at the St. Louis Chess Club. The defending champion IM Anna Zatonskih won her games without much trouble even as IM Irina Krush earned two points as well. Here are the Round 1 and 2 results. Zatonskih takes on Krush in the third round.

Round 1 results

1. WIM Iryna Zenyuk-WGM Sabina Foisor 1-0

2. WFM Abby Marshall-WIM Alisa Melekhina 0-1

3. WIM Beatriz Marinello-IM Irina Krush 0-1

4. WFM Tatev Abrahamyan-WGM Camilla Baginskaite 1-0

5. IM Anna Zatonskih-WGM Katerina Rohonyan 1-0

Round 2 results

1. WGM Sabina Foisor-WGM Katerina Rohonyan 0-1

2. WGM Camilla Baginskaite-IM Anna Zatonskih 0-1

3. IM Irina Krush-WFM Tatev Abrahamyan 1-0

4. WIM Alisa Melekhina-WIM Beatriz Marinello 1-0

5. WIM Iryna Zenyuk-WFM Abby Marshall 1-0

Standings after Round 2

1. IM Irina Krush 2.0

2. IM Anna Zatonskih 2.0

3. WIM Alisa Melekhina 2.0

4. WIM Iryna Zenyuk 2.0

5. WFM Tatev Abrahamyan 1.0

6. WGM Katerina Rohonyan 1.0

7. WGM Camilla Baginskaite 0.0

8. WGM Sabina Foisor 0.0

9. WFM Abby Marshall 0.0

10. WIM Beatriz Marinello 0.0

Here is defending champion Anna Zatonskih's game from Round 1. You can run it in our pgnplayer or watch it in flash below.

PGN: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bd3 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Bg4 8. h3 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 e6 10. Rd1 Nbd7 11. Rb1 a6 12. e4 e5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Qe2 d4 15. Bc2 Nfd7 16. f4 dxc3 17. fxe5 Qe7 18. bxc3 Nxe5 19. Be3 Rad8 20. c5 Rxd1+ 21. Rxd1 Nd7 22. Qc4 Be5 23. Bb3 Bb8 24. Qd4 Ne5 25. Bh6 Re8 26. Rf1 Rf8 27. Bxf8 Qxf8 28. Rd1 Bc7 29. a4 Qe7 30. Ba2 a5 31. Kh1 h5 32. Rf1 Bb8 33. Qf2 Kg7 34. Rb1 Qc7 35. Qd4 Qe7 36. Rd1 Bc7 37. Rf1 Kg8 38. Qe3 Kg7 39. Qf2 Bb8 40. Rb1 Qc7 41. Qd4 Qe7 42. Bc4 Kg8 43. Ba6 Bc7 44. Rxb7 Kh7 45. Be2 Kg8 46. Qe3 Kg7 47. Rb1 Nd7 48. Rf1 Nxc5 49. Qd4+ Be5 50. Qc4 Bf6 51. Bf3 Be5 52. Rd1 Kh7 53. Rf1 Kg7 54. Bd1 Bf6 55. Bc2 h4 56. Rf3 Qe5 57. Bb1 Qe7 58. Bc2 Qe5 59. Qf1 Ne6 60. Qd3 Be7 61. g4 hxg3 62. Rxg3 c5 63. Qe3 Bd6 64. Rg2 Nf4 65. Rf2 Qg5 66. Bb3 Qh4 67. e5 c4 68. Rxf4 Qxf4 69. Qxf4 cxb3 1-0

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com

U.S. Women's Chess Championship: Krush, Zatonskih keep joint lead after 4 rounds

WIM Alisa Melekhina who had a tough game

against IM Anna Zatonskih in Round 4

Hello Everyone!

IM Irina Krush and defending champion IM Anna Zatonskih maintained their joint lead with victories in the fourth round at the U.S. Women's Chess Championship being played at St. Louis along with the U.S. Junior Chess Championship. Both the IMs have 3.5 points each.

Incidentally, there is a difference of only three Fide rating points between Zatonskih (2518) and Krush (2521) while both of them are at least 150 Fide rating points more than the next contender. Naturally, both Krush and Zatonskih are clear favorites in the tournament.

You can watch some videos and check interesting reports at the official website of the tournament.

Results of Round 4

--------------------------

1. WGM Sabina Foisor-WGM Camilla Baginskaite ½-½

2. IM Irina Krush-WGM Katerina Rohonyan 1-0

3. WIM Alisa Melekhina-IM Anna Zatonskih 0-1

4. WIM Iryna Zenyuk-WFM Tatev Abrahamyan 0-1

5. WFM Abby Marshall-WIM Beatriz Marinello ½-½

Standings after Round 4

---------------------------------

1. IM Irina Krush 3.5

2. IM Anna Zatonskih 3.5

3. WFM Tatev Abrahamyan 3.0

4. WIM Alisa Melekhina 2.0

5. WIM Iryna Zenyuk 2.0

6. WGM Camilla Baginskaite 1.5

7. WGM Sabina Foisor 1.5

8. WIM Beatriz Marinello 1.5

9. WGM Katerina Rohonyan 1.0

10. WFM Abby Marshall 0.5

Here are the two games played by IM Irina Krush-WGM Katerina Rohonyan and

WIM Alisa Melekhina-IM Anna Zatonskhi in Round 4. You can run them in our pgnplayer or watch in flash below.

PGN:

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. c5 Nbd7 6. Bf4 Nh5 7. Bd2 Nhf6 8. Qc2 g6 9. h3 Qc7 10. e4 Nxe4 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Ng5 h6 13. Nxe4 Bg7 14. Bc4 Nf6 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6 16. Qb3 e6 17. Be3 Bd7 18. Qc2 Bg7 19. O-O O-O 20. Qd2 Kh7 21. Bf4 Qd8 22. Bd6 Re8 23. Rfe1 a5 24. Re3 b6 25. Rae1 bxc5 26. dxc5 Bc8 27. Qe2 a4 28. Qf3 Qd7 29. b4 axb3 30. Bxb3 Ba6 31. h4 h5 32. g4 Bh6 33. gxh5 Bxe3 34. hxg6+ fxg6 35. Rxe3 e5 36. Bc2 Re6 37. h5 Rxd6 38. cxd6 Kg7 39. Rxe5 Qxd6 40. Rg5 Rf8 41. Qc3+ Rf6 42. Rxg6+ Kf7 43. Qxf6+ Qxf6 44. Rxf6+ Kxf6 45. h6 c5 46. Kg2 Bc4 47. a4 Ba2 48. Kf3 c4 49. Ke3 1-0

PGN:

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 dxe5 5. Nxe5 c6 6. Bc4 g6 7. Nc3 Bg7 8. O-O O-O 9. Ne4 Nd7 10. f4 N7f6 11. Ng5 e6 12. c3 Qc7 13. Qe1 c5 14. b3 h6 15. Ngf3 cxd4 16. cxd4 Re8 17. Bd2 Bd7 18. Rc1 Qd6 19. Bd3 Rec8 20. Bc4 b5 21. Bd3 Rxc1 22. Bxc1 Be8 23. g4 Ne7 24. Qa5 Nc6 25. Qa6 Rb8 26. g5 Rb6 27. Qa3 Qxa3 28. Bxa3 Nd5 29. Bc5 Rb7 30. Be4 Rb8 31. Bxd5 exd5 32. h4 Nd8 33. b4 Rb7 34. Nh2 Bd7 35. Nxd7 Rxd7 36. Ng4 hxg5 37. fxg5 Ne6 38. Nf6+ Bxf6 39. gxf6 Rc7 40. Re1 Rc6 41. Re5 Nf4 42. Re8+ Kh7 43. Re7 Rxf6 44. Bxa7 Kh6 45. Kh2 Ra6 46. Rxf7 g5 47. hxg5+ Kxg5 48. Bc5 Kg4 49. a3 Rxa3 50. Rg7+ Kf5 51. Re7 Rd3 52. Re1 Kg4 53. Rg1+ Kf3 54. Rf1+ Ke4 55. Rf2 Re3 56. Rf1 Rh3+ 57. Kg1 Rg3+ 58. Kh2 Rh3+ 59. Kg1 Rf3 60. Re1+ Re3 61. Rd1 Nd3 62. Rb1 Re1+ 63. Rxe1+ Nxe1 64. Kf2 Nc2 65. Ke2 Nxd4+ 66. Kd2 Ne6 67. Ke2 d4 68. Be7 Kd5 69. Kd3 Nf4+ 70. Kd2 Kc4 71. Bd6 Nd5 72. Bf8 Nxb4 73. Bd6 Nd5 74. Bf8 Nc3 75. Bg7 b4 76. Kc2 Na4 77. Bf6 Nc5 78. Bg7 b3+ 79. Kd1 Kc3 80. Kc1 b2+ 81. Kb1 Nb3 82. Ka2 Kc2 0-1

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com

U.S. Women's Chess Championship: Zatonskih, Krush draw to keep joint lead

IM Anna Zatonskih at the

U.S. Women's Chess Championship

Hello Everyone!

IM Anna Zatonskih and IM Irina Krush drew their game on the top board in the third round of the U.S. Women's Chess Championship. Both are jointly leading with 2.5/3 each. The Championship is being held in St. Louis along with the U.S. Junior Closed Championship.

Krush came prepared with a Benoni particularly to surprise her opponent. Krush has played the Benoni only two times five years ago! However, Zatonskih was up to the challenge and the game ended with a three-fold repetition. All the other four games were decisive. You can check the official website for the full news report here.

Round 3 results

-------------------

1. WFM Abby Marshall-WGM Sabina Foisor 0-1

2. WIM Beatriz Marinello- WIM Iryna Zenyuk 1-0

3. WFM Tatev Abrahamyan-WIM Alisa Melekhina 1-0

4. IM Anna Zatonskih-IM Irina Krush ½-½

5. WGM Katerina Rohonyan-WGM Camilla Baginskaite 0-1

Standings after Round 3

-----------------------------

1. IM Irina Krush 2.5

2. IM Anna Zatonskih 2.5

3. WFM Tatev Abrahamyan 2.0

4. WIM Alisa Melekhina 2.0

5. WIM Iryna Zenyuk 2.0

6. WGM Camilla Baginskaite 1.0

7. WGM Sabina Foisor 1.0

8. WGM Katerina Rohonyan 1.0

9. WIM Beatriz Marinello 1.0

10. WFM Abby Marshall 0.0

Here are two nice games from the third round. You can run them in our pgnplayer or watch them in flash below.

PGN: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. Bf4 Bg7 8. Qa4+ Bd7 9. Qb3 Qc7 10. h3 b5 11. Nxb5 Bxb5 12. Qxb5+ Nbd7 13. Qc6 Qd8 14. Nd2 O-O 15. e3 Rc8 16. Qxd6 Qa5 17. Qa6 Qb4 18. Qb5 Nxd5 19. a3 Qxb2 20. Qxb2 Bxb2 21. Ra2 Bc3 22. Bh6 Rfd8 23. Bc4 Ne5 24. Bxd5 Rxd5 25. Ke2 Rxd2+ 26. Rxd2 Bxd2 27. Kxd2 Nc4+ 28. Kc3 Nxa3 29. Bf4 Nb5+ 30. Kc4 Na3+ 31. Kb3 Nb5 32. Kc4 Na3+ 33. Kb3 Nb5 1/2-1/2

PGN: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd2 a6 8. a3 Be7 9. Qc2 b6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Bd3 Bb7 12. Ne5 h6 13. f4 Nxe5 14. fxe5 Ne8 15. O-O c5 16. Rf2 Nc7 17. Raf1 Ne6 18. Qd1 Bg5 19. Qg4 cxd4 20. exd4 Bxd2 21. Rxd2 Qg5 22. Qxg5 hxg5 23. Bf5 Bc6 24. Rf3 Nf4 25. g3 Ne6 26. Kf2 Rae8 27. Ke3 f6 28. Rdf2 Nxd4 29. e6 Nxf3 30. Kxf3 d4+ 31. Ne4 g6 32. Bxg6 f5 0-1

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com

U.S. Women's Chess Championship: Zatonskih leads by half a point after 5 rounds

WFM Tatev Abrahamyan in

a second-place tie with IM Irina Krush

Hello Everyone!

IM Anna Zatonskih pulled away from the rest of the field with a half-point lead after five rounds at the U.S. Women's Championship being played at St. Louis. She beat WIM Iryna Zenyuk with a nice Trompowski. Incidentally, Zatonskih has used a different opening in each of her games so far.

Meanwhile, Irina Krush drew her game with WGM Camilla Baginskaite to stay in joint second position with WFM Tatev Abrahamyan. The latter won her game against WFM Abby Marshall.

Results of Round 5

----------------------

1. WIM Beatriz Marinello-WGM Sabina Foisor 0-1

2. WFM Tatev Abrahamyan-WFM Abby Marshall 1-0

3. IM Anna Zatonskih-WIM Iryna Zenyuk 1-0

4. WGM Katerina Rohonyan-WIM Alisa Melekhina ½-½

5. WGM Camilla Baginskaite-IM Irina Krush ½-½

Standings after Round 5

----------------------------

1. IM Anna Zatonskih 4.5

2. IM Irina Krush 4.0

3. WFM Tatev Abrahamyan 4.0

4. WGM Sabina Foisor 2.5

5. WIM Alisa Melekhina 2.5

6. WGM Camilla Baginskaite 2.0

7. WIM Iryna Zenyuk 2.0

8. WGM Katerina Rohonyan 1.5

9. WIM Beatriz Marinello 1.5

10. WFM Abby Marshall 0.5

Here is the nice game by IM Anna Zatonskih. You can run it in our pgnplayer or watch it in flash below. There are some nice videos, photos and reports also on the official website.

PGN: 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 d5 3. e3 g6 4. Bxf6 exf6 5. c4 c6 6. Nc3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 Bd6 8. Nge2 f5 9. Qd2 Nd7 10. Bb3 Nf6 11. h3 Qe7 12. O-O-O Be6 13. Bxe6 Qxe6 14. Qc2 O-O 15. Kb1 b5 16. Nc1 a5 17. Rhe1 Rfe8 18. f3 Bb4 19. Nd3 Ra7 20. Re2 Bxc3 21. Qxc3 Nd5 22. Qc5 Ra6 23. Rc1 f6 24. e4 fxe4 25. fxe4 Nb4 26. Nxb4 axb4 27. b3 f5 28. e5 f4 29. Qc2 Rf8 30. Qe4 f3 31. gxf3 Qxh3 32. e6 Qf5 33. Qxf5 gxf5 34. Rg1+ Kh8 35. e7 Re8 36. Reg2 Raa8 37. Rg7 f4 38. R1g4 h6 39. R4g6 Rac8 40. Rf7 Rc7 41. Rgg7 1-0

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com

Irina Krush is U.S. Women's National Chess Champion

IM Irina Krush

Hello Everyone!

IM Irina Krush's struggle paid off in the ninth round when she beat WFM Abby Marshall to win the 2010 U.S. Women's Chess Championship title with a score of 8/9. She was tied with IM Anna Zatonskih with 7 points each at the end of the eighth round. Zatonskih could only manage a draw against against WGM Sabina Foisor allowing Krush to win the title.

Krush has won the title for the third time this year. She had won it in 2007 and 2008. Anna Zatonskih was the defending champion this year.

Krush told the media that "I tried to be aggressive with Black and kind of principled with White. So no one was just going to get any easy points.”

In round nine, Krush had White against Marshall. The latter has had a disappointing tournament - this being her first U.S. Women's Championship - as she managed to score just 0.5/9. Ironically, Krush said her game against Marshall was the worst in the tournament.

Zatonskih, on her part, said she missed a lot of opportunities in this tournament. She tied with WFM Tatev Abrahamyan with 7.5/9 points.

Results of Round 9

-------------------------

1. IM Anna Zatonskih-WGM Sabina Foisor ½-½

2. WGM Katerina Rohonyan-WFM Tatev Abrahamyan 0-1

3. WGM Camilla Baginskaite-WIM Beatriz Marinello 1-0

4. IM Irina Krush-WFM Abby Marshall 1-0

5. WIM Alisa Melekhina-WIM Iryna Zenyuk 0-1

Final Standings

---------------------

1. IM Irina Krush 8.0

2. IM Anna Zatonskih 7.5

3. WFM Tatev Abrahamyan 7.5

4. WIM Alisa Melekhina 4.5

5. WGM Katerina Rohonyan 4.5

6. WGM Camilla Baginskaite 4.0

7. WIM Iryna Zenyuk 4.0

8. WGM Sabina Foisor 3.0

9. WIM Beatriz Marinello 1.5

10. WFM Abby Marshall 0.5

You can check the official website for videos, photos and other statistics. Meanwhile, here is the nice Krush-Marshall game that you can run through our pgnplayer or watch in flash below.

PGN: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 dxc4 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 a6 7. e4 Bg4 8. d5 Ne5 9. Bg3 Nfd7 10. Be2 Bxf3 11. gxf3 g5 12. f4 Ng6 13. fxg5 hxg5 14. Qd4 b5 15. a4 Rg8 16. axb5 axb5 17. Rxa8 Qxa8 18. Nxb5 Qa5+ 19. Nc3 Bg7 20. Qxc4 Nf4 21. Bd1 Kf8 22. O-O Be5 23. Qa4 Bxc3 24. Qxd7 Bf6 25. Kh1 Qd2 26. Qxc7 Qd3 27. Re1 Qd2 28. Rg1 Nd3 29. Qc2 Qxc2 30. Bxc2 Ne5 31. b4 Nf3 32. Rc1 Kg7 33. Bd1 Ne5 34. b5 Nd3 35. Rb1 Bd4 36. b6 Nxf2+ 37. Bxf2 Bxf2 38. b7 Rb8 39. Bg4 Bd4 40. Bc8 Be5 41. h3 Bd6 42. Kg2 Kf6 43. Kf3 Ke5 44. Ke3 Kf6 45. Kd4 Be5+ 46. Kc5 Bd6+ 47. Kb6 Ke5 48. Re1 f6 49. Bf5 Rh8 50. Rc1 Rh4 51. Rc6 Rxe4 52. Bxe4 1-0

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com