USA's Top Daily Chess News Blog, Informative, Fun, and Positive
hosted by Chess Queen™ & 12th Women's World Chess Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Fantasy Chess: Prizes and Rules!
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hi everyone,
Get set to take part in Fantasy Chess for the 2013 U.S. Championship and 2013 U.S. Women's Championship. Here are the rules and regulations for the 2013 Fantasy Chess competition. Registration will close at 1:00 PM CST on May 3rd, 2013, so get your picks in now! Once the Championships start, check back regularly to see how your Fantasy Team is doing!
Prizes:
Round-trip airfare for two people to Saint Louis from anywhere in the continental U.S.; two nights lodging at hotel; private dinner and two private lessons with GM Yasser Seirawan; VIP tour of Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis and World Chess Hall of Fame. (winner must use prize prior to August 1)
Beautiful rosewood chessboard autographed by all participants of the 2013 U.S. Championship and U.S. Women's Championship; two private lessons with the CCSCSL's Resident Grandmaster
Chessboard autographed by all participants of the 2013 U.S. Championship and U.S. Women's Championship; Mayhem in the Mora chess book and an annual membership to the CCSCSL
Chessboard autographed by all participants of the 2013 U.S. Championship and U.S. Women's Championship; $50 gift card to CCSCSL
Chessboard autographed by all participants of the 2013 U.S. Championship and U.S. Women's Championship; $25 gift card to CCSCSL
Chessboard autographed by all participants of the 2013 U.S. Championship and U.S. Women's Championship; $25 gift card to CCSCSL
Chessboard autographed by all participants of the 2013 U.S. Championship and U.S. Women's Championship; $25 gift card to CCSCSL
Chessboard autographed by all participants of the 2013 U.S. Championship and U.S. Women's Championship; $25 gift card to CCSCSL
Chessboard autographed by all participants of the 2013 U.S. Championship and U.S. Women's Championship; $25 gift card to CCSCSL
Chessboard autographed by all participants of the 2013 U.S. Championship and U.S. Women's Championship; $25 gift card to CCSCSL
Limit one prize per person only!The Rules: Create an account or log in to make your selections.
Only one Fantasy Team is allowed per person.
The goal is to select a Fantasy Team that will earn the most combined points in the 2013 U.S. Championship and 2013 U.S. Women's Championship. For each point earned by a player on your Fantasy Team, you receive one Fantasy Point. The Fantasy Player with the most Fantasy Points at the end wins!
Each competitor in the 2013 U.S. Championship and U.S. Women's Championship has a price tag, and you have 2,700 Fantasy Bucks to spend.
Choose your Fantasy Team by buying players. When you're out of Fantasy Bucks, submit your team!
Finally, answer the tie-break questions. If more than one Fantasy Player is tied for first, your tie-breaks will be the difference between victory and defeat!
Remember to choose wisely! Once your team has been selected and submitted, it cannot be changed. Good luck, and thanks for playing!
You can click a player's name to read more about them.
US Chess Championship 2013: GoddessChess Fighting Chess Award goes to Anna Zatonskih
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013 Hi everyone,
The GoddessChess Fighting Chess Award 2013 goes to four-time US Chess Champion Anna Zatonskih for her great fighting spirit at the US Women's Chess Championship 2013. The 12th Women's World Chess Champion, Chess Queen™ Alexandra Kosteniuk, was the judge for the award and decided to give the award to Anna Zatonskih. Goddesschess has sponsored a special prize at the U.S. Women's Chess Championship since 2007, except for 2012.
As you know, Irina Krush has won the US Women's Chess Championship 2013 this Sunday. (Read the full Chess Blog post.) Zatonskih lost Round 3 to Irina Krush, but came back to continue fighting and winning games. In the end she stood second - behind the eventual champion - by only 1/2 point. It is indeed the mark of a true champion to come back after a loss and win game after game to get to the second spot in the standings. She never gave up and fought hard even when it required pretty long games against determined opponents. Here are the US Women's Chess Championship 2013 Final Standings:
Interestingly, either Krush or Zatonskih have been the clear favorite to win the US Women's Chess Champion title each of the past five years! Outside of chess, Anna has a variety of interests from bicycling to ping pong to scuba diving. She is coached by her husband, German Grandmaster Daniel Friedman.
U.S. Chess Championship 2013 Special to Air on FOX Sports Midwest May 25
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hi everyone,
SAINT LOUIS -- On May 25 at 6 p.m. CT, FOX Sports Midwest will air a one-hour recap special covering the 2013 U.S. and U.S. Women’s Chess Championships, which recently concluded at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis.
The 2013 U.S. Championship and 2013 U.S. Women’s Championship were held concurrently May 2 through May 13 at the CCSCSL. This marked the fifth consecutive year these events, the two most prestigious chess tournaments in the nation, were held in Saint Louis.
Grandmasters Gata Kamsky and Alejandro Ramirez squared off in an intense, head-to-head, rapid playoff to determine the 2013 U.S. Champion while the 2013 U.S. Women’s Championship boiled down to a three-way race between Tatev Abrahamyan, Anna Zatonskih and Irina Krush.
The one-hour special premiering on FOX Sports Midwest on May 25 will introduce viewers to some of the unique personalities in the U.S. chess scene and recap all the exciting action, including the thrilling climax, of the most important chess tournaments in the country.
In addition to the premiere, the special will also air on the following dates and times:
Thursday, May 30 at 5 p.m.
Saturday, June 1 at 8 p.m.
Wednesday, June 5 at 5 p.m.
Saturday, June 8 at 7 p.m.
Thursday, June 13 at 11 p.m.
Live play-by-play of each round of the event also was streamed online to tens of thousands of viewers across the world through the websites of FOX Sports Midwest and USChessChamps.com, the U.S. Championships event website.
CCSCSL Executive Director Tony Rich said the live streaming show and televised recap special through FOX Sports Midwest both mark an important turning point for U.S. chess.
“This partnership with FOX Sports Midwest allows us to bring chess to a broader audience and to introduce the excitement and intensity of tournament chess to a whole new demographic,” Rich said. “Our goal is to showcase the talents of the top chess players in the nation and to create more fans and students of the sport of chess.”
The 2013 U.S. Championship featured a field of 24 players and a total prize fund of $180,000, and the 2013 U.S. Women’s Championship featured a 10-player field and a prize fund of $65,000.
“These players are the superstars of the U.S. chess scene,” Rich said. "We hope their play will inspire young chess players all across the country to achieve great things."
The CCSCSL has been home to the championships for each of the past five years, helping contribute to Saint Louis’ reputation as the hub of the U.S. chess scene.
Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hello everyone,
SAINT LOUIS (January 15, 2014) -- The best chess players in the U.S. will gather in Saint Louis once again to fight for the title of U.S. Champion and U.S. Women’s Champion.
For the sixth consecutive year Saint Louis will host the top chess tournaments in the nation.
GM Gata Kamsky will defend his title at the 2014 U.S. Championship while recently anointed Grandmaster Irina Krush will look for her sixth title at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Championship. The events will be held simultaneously May 7 through May 21 at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL).
The U.S. Junior Closed Championship also will be held in Saint Louis once again from June 20 through July 3. This marks the fifth consecutive year the CCSCSL has hosted the top event in the nation for players under the age of 20.
Tony Rich, executive director of the CCSCSL, said he is excited to continue the long-standing and growing tradition of U.S. Championship chess in Saint Louis.
“Since 2009, we’ve worked to raise the prominence and profile of the U.S. Championships,” Rich said. ”We’re honored the U.S. Chess Federation once again awarded these prestigious events to Saint Louis, and we hope our U.S. Champions will continue to serve as role models for young chess players across the country.”
These three events are the most prominent invitational tournaments in the nation, and the players will be competing for more than a quarter of a million dollars in prize money.
2014 U.S. Championship Dates: May 7-21, 2014 Format: 12-player Round Robin Prize Fund: $171,000 plus $64k Fischer Bonus (breakdown to be published soon) Invitations: 2013 U.S. Champion: Gata Kamsky 2013 U.S. Junior Closed Champion: Daniel Naroditsky 2013 U.S. Open Champion: Josh Friedel (1) - Wildcard (TBD) (8) - Rating (TBD - March supplement)
2014 U.S. Women's Championship Dates: May 7-21, 2014 Format: 10-player Round Robin Prize Fund: $65,000 (breakdown to be published soon) Invitations: 2013 U.S. Women's Champion: Irina Krush (2) - Wildcard (TBD) (7) - Rating (TBD - March supplement)
2014 U.S. Junior Closed Championship Dates: June 20 - July 1, 2014 Format: 10-player Round Robin Prize Fund: $10,000 (breakdown to be announced soon) Invitations: (1) - 2013 U.S. Junior Closed Champion (Daniel Naroditsky) (1) - 2013 U.S. Junior Open Champion (Justus Williams) (2) - Wildcard (TBD) (6) - Rating (TBD - April rating supplement)
For the U.S. Championship, the CCSCSL once again will sponsor the “$64K Fischer Prize,” to be awarded to anyone that scores a perfect 11-0, in honor of Bobby Fischer’s similar accomplishment at the 1963-64 U.S. Championship.
World Chess Hall of Fame New Inductions for 2013: Two Women!
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hi everyone,
An induction ceremony on May 2, 2013, will recognize five exceptional chess players as three are inducted into the World Chess Hall of Fame and two into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame. The World Chess Federation (FIDE) nominated and selected Elizaveta Bykova, Nona Gaprindashvili, and Mikhail Chigorin for the World Chess Hall of Fame. They join 16 other players to receive the honor since the World Chess Hall of Fame’s creation in 2001. These are the first new inductees since 2011. “This year’s World Chess Hall of Fame induction is particularly unique because it includes two women. The first and only woman who had previously received this honor was Vera Menchik,” said Beatriz Marinello, FIDE Senior Vice President.
The U.S. Chess Federation Hall of Fame Committee considers and sends candidates for the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame to the U.S. Chess Trust each year. The Trust votes on candidates, selecting Gregory Kaidanov and Mona May Karff to join the 50 other players currently in the Hall of Fame. “These two players join luminaries like Bobby Fischer and Frank Marshall as some of the top players in U.S. history. Their contributions to the sport are numerous and lasting,” said Harold Winston, chairman of the U.S. Chess Federation Hall of Fame Committee.
2013 U.S. Chess Championships Celebrate 5 Years in Saint Louis
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hi everyone,
SAINT LOUIS, April 11, 2013 -- The fields are set for both the 2013 U.S. Championship and 2013 U.S. Women’s Championship, scheduled to be held simultaneously May 2 through May 13 at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL).
This marks the fifth consecutive year that each of these prestigious events will be held in Saint Louis. The opening ceremony takes place on May 2, and the first round for both events will kick off at 1 p.m. CDT on May 3.
In honor of the five-year anniversary, the 2013 U.S. Championship will feature a 24-player Swiss, the same format that was featured the first time the CCSCSL hosted a national championship in 2009. This year’s event will feature a guaranteed prize fund of more than $180,000.
Tony Rich, executive director of the CCSCSL, said the expanded field is sure to encourage fighting chess with many decisive results.
“With such a dynamic field, this year’s event is shaping up to be our most exciting U.S. Championship to date,” Rich said.
GM Hikaru Nakamura, the reigning U.S. Champion, declined his invitation to play in this year’s event, opting instead to compete in the Norway Chess 2013 super tournament featuring World Championship challenger GM Magnus Carlsen.
With Nakamura out, a number of youthful challengers hope to usher in a changing of the guard including reigning World Champions IM Kayden Troff (U-14 World Champion) and IM-elect Sam Sevian (U-12 World Champion). Among other new faces at the U.S. Championship is GM Timur Gareeev, who recently transferred federations from Uzbekistan and is coming off of an undefeated, first-place finish at the North American Open in Las Vegas this past December.
Anand, Carlsen World Chess Championship 2013: All the Top News
Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hello everyone,
The World Chess Championship 2013 is just about two weeks away and the chess fever is catching on Chennai - the venue of the World Championship Match between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen.
A host of chess tournament are being held in Chennai and several more are planned during the World Championship as well. Not only are there several events for all rating groups, men and women players, but also for school children. A district-level school chess competition is scheduled for November 7, will see 360 students shortlisted students from across the state of Tamil Nadu.
The Tamil Nadu government has released about $4.7 million for the World Chess Championship. Some local chess events included 55,667 chess training programmes conducted across the schools in Tamil Nadu in August this year. This was followed by the school-level chess championship. After four qualifying rounds, 360 students were shortlisted from a total of 11,25,628 students who had participated.
Meanwhile, several chess features and reports are beginning to fill up the chess cyberspace:
India’s first IM Manuel Aaron is proud that his one-time student Vishy Anand will be playing his World Championship against Magnus Carlsen in Chennai where the maestro learnt the nuances of the game. “When I first saw Anand at the Tal Chess Club he appeared to be a slim kid with a squeaky voice with a flair for chess. He was attentive, obedient, regular at the classes (chess) and always had the inclination to learn more,” said Aaron.
The official website of the event is accessible at http://chennai2013.fide.com/. You can find all the basic information there along with details of tickets, profiles of the players and other details about the Indian city of Chennai.
If you love chess and all the fun that comes along with it, here's a cool site to give you both articles curated from the Internet and other originals ones surrounding the Anand vs Carlsen World Chess Championship. WorldChessChampionship2013.com is an endeavour of the Chess Magazine Black & White. Some top stories on the site include:
Ex-US Chess Champ Jen Shahade on 'Hidden Beauty' in Chess
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hi everyone,
Here's a 'beautiful' feature from the two-time US Women's Chess Champion with an insight and passion for the sport of chess that only a true chess lover can possess. Enjoy reading.
Marcel Duchamp is best known as an artist, and he is revered at the World Chess Hall of Fame, which is directly across the street from the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis. Duchamp, also a chess master, famously said, “In chess there are some extremely beautiful things in the domain of movement, but not in the visual domain. It’s the imagining of the movement or of the gesture that makes the beauty.”
Jennifer Shahade and Yasser Seirawan are providing live play-by-play commentary of the U.S. Chess Championships to thousands of viewers online.
Indeed, much of the beauty in a chess game lies in hidden variations that are imagined in a chess player’s mind but not played over the board. Play-by-play commentary unveils this magic to a larger audience and is one of the reasons insightful and entertaining live commentary is key to making chess popular in America.
The St. Louis Chess Club is at the forefront of chess innovation in America, and this year’s approach to coverage and commentary is yet another example. Spectrum Studios is covering the 2013 U.S. Championship and U.S. Women’s Championship for FOX Sports Midwest and will produce a one-hour recap special that will air at 6 p.m. May 25. This is an important step toward increasing the popularity of chess and a sign that we are nearing a tipping point.
The live show streams daily at 1 p.m. on the website of FOX Sports Midwest, and also on the main tournament event website: www.uschesschamps.com/live. Every round, I join Grandmasters Maurice Ashley and Yasser Seirawan to unravel the mysteries of the 17 games for thousands of viewers in hundreds of countries across the world.
Maurice Ashley interviews Gregory Kaidanov, a recent inductee into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame, after his first-round victory at the 2013 U.S. Championship.
Both Ashley and Seirawan are among the most renowned commentators in chess history. Both have appeared on ESPN, and Ashley even joined Garry Kasparov in commenting on “Magnus Carlsen vs. the World” at a G-star Raw fashion week event in September 2010. Four-time U.S. Chess Champ Seirawan has commented on chess tournaments all over the world, and fans adore his soothing voice and instructive strategic analysis.
I’ve also focused on chess commentary in my own career, serving as a commentator for the U.S. Championships each of the five years they’ve been held in St. Louis. Another special project of mine was a TV show pilot called Extreme “X Chess” Championships, where games played out to checkmate so viewers could see every bloody finish.
This year’s approach to commentary is a little different: Yasser and I supply a steady stream of analysis while Maurice breaks in with key moments and beautiful variations.
So far, viewers have been pleased with the coverage, though there is always room for improvement. As I tweeted (@jenshahade) after yesterday’s round: “Need some more jackets for live shows. Color suggestions? Feeling dowdy next to two best-dressed GMs Seirawan & @MAURICEASHLEY!” Leopard print was the public vote, but I’ll be looking for the perfect combination of black and white.
Come see the action in person at the Chess Club on the Central West End, or catch the play-by-play for the remaining rounds online at uschesschamps.com/live. I’ll keep working with Maurice and Yasser to explore the hidden variations lurking in the minds of the country’s best chess players.
Jennifer Shahade is a Philadelphia-based writer, gamesplayer, author and commentator. She is a two-time U.S. Women's Chess Champion and is the editor of Chess Life Online at uschess.org/clo. Shahaded is on the board of directors of the World Chess Hall of Fame in St. Louis and was a commentator and organizer for the 2009-2013 U.S. Chess Championships.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hi everyone,
The opening ceremony of the 2013 U.S. Championship and U.S. Women’s Championship, held Thursday night at the Peabody Opera House in Saint Louis, determined the colors for the U.S. Championship and the round-by-round pairings for the U.S. Women’s Championship. Here is the article by FM Mike Klein via the official website.
The 24 men and ten women were invited one-by-one on stage to be recognized and to hear who they would match up with in round one, which is scheduled to start today at 1:00 p.m. Central Time.
The “Drawing of Lots” for the U.S. Women’s Championship occurred first, with four-time and defending champion IM Irina Krush selecting the gift bag with a card revealing pairing number eight. The other nine women picking their random numbers in turn.
For the U.S. Championship, the first-round pairings were already set, but the men needed to determine their colors. Three-time champ GM Gata Kamsky selected the lucky white card from a gift bag, meaning the higher odd-numbered seeds, including himself, will enjoy the advantage of the first move. From there, they will play a nine-round Swiss tournament, while the women will play a traditional nine-game round robin.
Rex Sinquefield, President and Chairman of the Board of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis, said this is the first time that one city has hosted the championship five years in a row. In addition to the $180,000 prize fund for the U.S. Championship and $65,000 in prize money for the U.S. Women’s Championship, there will once again be a $64,000 “Fischer Prize” to go to any man who runs the table and wins all nine games in the main event. Fischer’s feat was accomplished 50 years ago at the 1963/64 U.S. Championship.
U.S. Chess Championships 2012: Dates, Format Finalized
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012 Hi everyone,
SAINT LOUIS, January 22, 2013 -- 2013 will mark five years of checkmates and championships in Saint Louis.
The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL) will host the 2013 U.S. Championship and 2013 U.S. Women’s Championship simultaneously May 2 through May 13. This marks the fifth consecutive year that each of these prestigious events will be held in Saint Louis.
In honor of the five-year anniversary, the 2013 U.S. Championship will feature a 24-player Swiss, the same format that was featured the first time the CCSCSL hosted a national championship in 2009. This year’s event will feature a guaranteed prize fund of more than $180,000.
Tony Rich, executive director of the CCSCSL, said the club is honored to once again host these national championship events.
“In addition to promoting the many educational benefits of chess, we also strive to raise the prominence of the game at the highest levels by hosting top-level events like the U.S. Championships,” Rich said. “We are working to ensure that this year’s installment is the best yet.”
In addition, the CCSCSL will sponsor the “$64K Fischer Prize,” to be awarded to anyone that scores a perfect 9-0 in the U.S. Championship, in honor of Bobby Fischer’s result at the 1963-64 U.S. Championship. Invitations for the 2013 U.S. Championship are as follows:
(1) 2012 U.S. Champion: GM Hikaru Nakamura(1) 2012 U.S. Open Champion: FM John Bryant (1) 2012 U.S. Junior Closed Champion: IM Marc Arnold (1) 2012 U.S. Senior Open Champion: GM Alexander Ivanov (15) The 15 remaining highest-rated players according to the March supplement: TBD (5) Five wildcard invitations: TBD
The 2012 U.S. Women’s Championship will feature 10 players and a guaranteed prize fund of $65,000. Invitations for the 2012 U.S. Women’s Championship are as follows:(1) 2012 U.S. Women’s Champion: IM Irina Krush (7) The seven remaining highest-rated players according to the March supplement: TBD (2) Two wildcard invitations: TBD
The U.S. Junior Closed Championship also will be held in Saint Louis once again June 13-23. This marks the fourth consecutive year the CCSCSL has hosted this prestigious event.
Check www.uschesschamps.com for the latest updates, info about past U.S. Championships and news about the top players in the U.S.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
International Master Marc Arnold has won the 2012 U.S. Junior Closed Championship in the final game of a two-game playoff against Alec Getz. Marc will receive an invitation to the 2013 U.S. Championship.
In the closing ceremony, the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL) crowned International Master Marc Arnold, 19, of New York City, the 2012 U.S. Junior Chess Champion.
The Junior Closed Championship is an invitation-only tournament that features the top chess players in the nation under the age of 21. Alongside the U.S. Chess Championship and U.S. Women's Championship, the Junior Closed Championship completes the "Triple Crown" of the three most prestigious chess tournaments in the country.
Arnold beat out 16 other players in a split round-robin tournament with a playoff final to clinch the title and the first-place prize of $4,000. As the winner of the U.S. Junior Closed Championship, Arnold will also receive an invitation to the 2013 U.S. Chess Championship, which is scheduled to be held in Saint Louis next year.
"I'm honored to have won this tournament because the competition was really tough," said Arnold. "I'm looking forward to getting a chance to come back to Saint Louis to compete with the nation's best at the U.S. Championship next year."
Arnold was ranked first by rating out of the 16 competitors and was considered one of the favorites coming onto the tournament. The 16 players were split into two groups of eight, and the winner of each section squared off in a head-to-head playoff for the title. Arnold went undefeated in his round-robin section, scoring five points out of seven games, to secure his spot in the playoff finals.
"Marc did an amazing job and fought hard throughout the entire tournament," said Tony Rich, executive director of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. "Our hope is that his passion for the game and the amazing sportsmanship he has demonstrated will encourage and inspire other young chess players across the country to become more active chess players."
Arnold defeated Alec Getz, 18, also of New York City, who was the winner of the other round-robin section, in a two-game playoff final. Getz received $3,000 for second place and entered the tournament ranked eighth out of the 16 players.
The junior tournament's winnings for first through last place totaled $18,000.
About The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to making chess an important part of our community. In addition to providing a forum for the community to play tournaments and casual games, the club also offers chess improvement classes, beginner lessons and special lectures.
Recognizing the cognitive and behavioral benefits of chess, the Chess Club and Scholastic Center is committed to supporting those chess programs that already exist in area schools while encouraging the development of new in-school and after-school programs. For more information, visit www.saintlouischessclub.org.
US Chess Championship 2013: Gata Kamsky Wins Playoff vs Alejandro Ramirez to Secure 4th Title
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hi everyone,
Maurice Ashley with Gata Kamsky.
SAINT LOUIS (May 13, 2013)--The 2013 U.S. Championship went extra innings today in a gripping tiebreak final. After splitting a pair of rapid games, GM Gata Kamsky won $30,000 and his fourth title in an Armageddon game against GM Alejandro Ramirez, who was seeking his first title.
In all three hours of competition, and for more than 150 moves, Kamsky was the aggressor. Despite the constant pressure, he could not break through the stalwart and creative endgame defense of Ramirez until the waning moments. “It feels a bit awkward,” Kamsky said. “I consider us equals. Someone just got luckier than the other.”
The two went into a playoff by virtue of being tied after nine rounds of classical chess. Both players had 6.5/9; they drew their face-to-face battle in round eight. Kamksy was undefeated with four wins and five draws, while Ramirez had a loss but also one more win, thus necessitating today’s action.
Games one and two were played at a time control of 25 minutes per player with a five second increment per move. Ramirez seemed determined not to get behind on the clock, but an early misstep allowed Kamsky to embed a knight on d5. Shortly after, black’s pawns were crippled, but Ramirez found all the necessary countermeasures to prevent any white pawn from reaching paydirt. Of the many players who were spectating, GM Robert Hess said Kamsky did not need to be so quick to exchange his best piece.
After a short break, they switched colors and resumed the rapid play. This time Kamsky broke through on the queenside, and probed Ramirez’s position with his rook. Sensing that the black bishop would soon enter the fray, Ramirez offered a pawn with the clever 35. g4, intending to occupy e4 with his knight. Kamsky offered a pawn in turn with 36…e4, preventing the knight from landing there. Naturally, Ramirez had one last rejoinder, 38. e5, clearing the square once and for all.
The minor pieces traded and another rook-and-pawn ending was reached, with Kamsky having all the chances. One again Ramirez was up to the task, using a stalemate tactic to extend the tiebreak. 64. Rg2+ was the only move to draw. The rare ending to a grandmaster game caused the supremely focused Kamsky to look at the crowd and laugh. Later, he said he had almost the same ending at the World Cup in 2011 against GM Ian Nepomniachtchi, but was able to win that game.
The rules dictated that in case of a 1-1 tie, the playoff would end in an Armageddon match, where players bid for time and color. In sealed envelopes, Ramirez wrote the time 19:45, while Kamsky’s envelope read 20 minutes even. Ramirez thus got 19:45 to Kamsky’s 45 minutes, while Ramirez had black and draw odds.
“I was starting to get really nervous,” Kamsky said. “It wasn’t clear until the last move.”
Ramirez said the experience of playing worse positions was “torture”, then he was reminded that he still pockets $20,000. “I’ve never won that much in chess, ever,” he said.
After the tense playoff, Kamsky seemed more relieved than elated. He flew in from a tournament in Switzerland just days before the championship, and he has less than one week until he competes against the world’s best in Greece. “I just want to get some sleep,” he said. (The detailed report by FM Mike Klein is at the official website.)
World Chess Championship 2013 Should be Held in Neutral Territory: Magnus Carlsen
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hi everyone,
While all that talk of India hosting the World Chess Championship 2013 goes on in the Indian media, we await confirmation from Fide and the Challenger, Magnus Carlsen, himself. Chess news website www.chess-news.ru has posted an interesting analytical article with reference to World No. 1's comments given to Norwegian website NRK.
Chess-News states: Where the next World Championship Match between Vishy Anand and Magnus Carlsen is going to take place? This question is asked more and more frequently as the date of the match approaches. Despite that there's no official information. The wish of hosting the match has been announced by Norwegian Tromso and Indian Chennai; according to rumours New York is also interested in holding the event. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, the FIDE president, is "visiting one of the European countries for further negotiations" he has stated in the recent interview given to the Russian TV channel.
Ilyumzhinov's earlier announcements should also be taken into consideration: after the World Championship Match 2012 Anand - Gelfand which was held in the Tretyakov Gallery he noted that Chennai would be given a priority in getting the right to hold the event.
Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2014
Hello everyone,
Mike Wilmering has written an excellent article for the Saint Louis Public Ration website on Hikaru Nakamura turning down the invitation to play in the US Chess Championship 2014.
Twelve of the top chess players in the U.S. just got fantastic news: Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura will not be fighting for the title of 2014 U.S. Champion.
Nakamura, currently ranked No. 8 in the world, declined his invitation citing his decision to prepare for, and compete against, only the world’s elite.
This isn’t surprising, really. A number of the world’s best players forgo their national championship for similar reasons. The last time World No. 2 Levon Aronian won the Armenian National Championship was 2002. Viswanathan Anand hasn’t claimed India’s title since 1988.
While Nakamura’s decision is certainly a blow to the prominence and profile of the U.S. Championship this year, it might actually make for a more exciting tournament.
I’m not saying he would have been a lock to win, but the format certainly favors a player of Nakamura’s caliber. The round robin ensures an even playing field with regard to pairings, and there’s no question he would have been the odds-on favorite.
Gata Kamsky is seeking his fifth U.S. Championship title this year. Photo: Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis
Gata Kamsky, the reigning champion, is now the clear frontrunner, but he has demonstrated some vulnerability over the past year. In July 2013, Kamsky’s FIDE rating sat at 2763, good for No. 11 in the world. Since then, however, the four-time U.S. Champion has stumbled, and his rating has tumbled to 2709, which currently puts him at No. 40 overall.
Now Nakamura’s absence and Kamsky’s struggles have given a group of rising stars and seasoned veterans renewed hope to claim the crown.
The field for the 2014 U.S. Championship is nearly set. Eleven have gotten the call. One still remains, with only the wildcard yet to be determined.
The players (listed in rating order, highest to lowest) are: GM Gata Kamsky, 39, New York/Moscow GM Timur Gareev, 26, Las Vegas GM Varuzhan Akobian, 30, Topeka, Kans. GM Alexander Onischuk, 38, Lubbock, Texas GM Sergey Erenberg, 31, Richmond, Va. GM Ray Robson, 19, St. Louis GM Sam Shankland, 22, Orinda, Calif. GM Daniel Naroditsky, 18, Foster City, Calif. GM Josh Friedel, 27, Milwaukee GM Alex Lenderman, 24, New York GM Alejandro Ramirez, 25, Garland, Texas
The U.S. Championship is the premier invitational chess tournament in the country and has been held at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis since 2009. Because it is held concurrently with the U.S. Women’s Championship, there is a mistaken belief that it’s for men only. This is not the case. Each year the format changes, but the vast majority of the field is made up of the top players in the country by rating. (Irina Krush, the reigning U.S. Woman’s Champion and highest-rated female player in the U.S., is ranked 48th overall.)
This year’s tournament kicks off with the opening ceremony on May 7 and will run through May 20.
While the sometimes-brash-but-always-brilliant play of Nakamura would have been a treat for spectators, his absence makes for a more intriguing title fight for 12 deserving contenders.
Note: Mike Wilmering is a 2006 graduate of the University of Missouri at Columbia School of Journalism and serves as the communications specialist for the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis.
Hello chess blog friends, one of the most popular chess events for juniors is coming up in Dubai. The 13th Dubai Juniors Chess Championship will be held from August 11-19.
The Dubai Chess and Culture Club is hosting chess players 14 years (Boys and Girls) (Born in 2000) to participate in the 13th Dubai Juniors Chess Championship.
PARTICIPATION: The Club will provide only world and Asian title holder (2013) invited players + only one companying person by Visa and accommodation.
Other players may be accepted, but at their own expenses for accommodation during the period of championship in and they will provide with VISA.
All the travel expenses must be paid by the participants or their Federations.
Each additional or accompanying person must pay to the organizing committee the amount of 100 US$ at the moment of the registration (before July 10th, 2014). This payment is compulsory and represents a confirmation of participation.
The event will be played over nine rounds based on the Swiss system. Time control will be 1 hour 30 minutes for the whole game with an increment time of 30 seconds per move from move one. Players may only agree to a draw after the 30thmove has been made by Black. Players violating this rule will be forfeited. If a player is offered a draw before the 30th move has been made by Black, he should call an arbiter. His opponent shall be punished for distracting, according to the FIDE Laws of Chess.
DAILY PROGRAMME: The Chief Arbiter before the beginning of the tournament according to tournament schedule will announce the daily program for the 12th DUBAI Juniors CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP.
ARBITRATION and COMMITTEE OF APPEAL: The chief arbiter and the organizing committee will nominate the arbitration team and the Appeal Committee will be selected according to the provisions of FIDE regulation.
PRIZES: The Organizing Committee will grant the prizes total of which is U.S. $ 10000 as follows: 1st place U.S. $ 2000 2nd place U.S. $ 1600 3rd place U.S. $ 1400 4th place U.S. $ 1200 5th place U.S. $ 1000 6th place U.S. $ 600 7th place U.S. $ 500 9th place U.S. $ 400 9th place U.S. $ 300 10th place U.S. $ 200
Special prizes for: Best result UAE (Boy 200 US$ - Girl 200US$) Best Dubai chess Club (Boy 200 US$ - Girl 200 US$) Total U.S. $10000
If two or more players share the same place, the money will be equally shared. The awarding of the Cup will be decided in case of sharing the first place by the average rating of the 8 strongest opponents who share first place.
For more details, check out the official website.
From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
Nation's Chess Capital: U.S. House, Senate Recognize Saint Louis as 'the city'
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hi everyone,
(L-R) Irina Krush, Sarah Chiang, Jennifer Shahade, Yasser Seirawan, Sam Sevian and Kayden Troff attend a special event held at United States Capitol Building on April 18, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis)
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 18, 2013 – Representatives William “Lacy” Clay (D-MO) and Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) and Senators Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) introduced resolutions in the U.S. House and Senate today recognizing Saint Louis as the Nation’s Chess Capital. The resolutions also recognized the success of chess after-school programs and the benefit for students, including fostering problem-solving skills, and improving math and reading test scores.
(L-R) Jonathon Cosby, Dannielle Henderson, Rep. William "Lacy" Clay (D-MO), Donnie Henderson and Cynthia Gill attend a special event held at United States Capitol Building on April 18, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis)
“Saint Louis is definitely America’s Chess Capitol. I’m very proud to have the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis in my congressional district,” said Representative William “Lacy” Clay (D-MO). “I thank my Missouri congressional colleagues for joining me in introducing this bipartisan resolution.”
“Chess provides our young people with the kind of reasoning skills they need in an ever-complicated world, and I am proud to have the opportunity in Congress to support Saint Louis’ designation as our nation’s chess capital,” said Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO). “This resolution is also an opportunity to recognize the region’s ongoing commitment to the development of our young people’s minds and spirits.”
“Excellence in this game requires the combination of creativity and intellect—skills our Saint Louis students are most certainly known for,” said Senator Claire McCaskill. “Making Saint Louis the nation’s chess capital would rightly highlight our state’s commitment to strong education, and our nation’s brightest young minds.”
“Chess is a way to promote problem solving, critical thinking, and self-esteem, which are important to the development and education of our nation’s young minds,” Representative Blunt said. “I’m proud to recognize Saint Louis as the ‘National Chess Capital’ and to applaud the success of our local chess scholars. I’ll continue to support chess programs in our schools and community centers in Missouri and nationwide.”
The introduction of the bipartisan, bicameral resolutions were announced during a morning reception on Capitol Hill where GM Yasser Seirawan, IM Irina Krush, WGM Jennifer Shahade, IM Kayden Troff, IM-elect Sam Sevian and WFM Sarah Chiang gave chess lessons to Members of Congress and their staff.
Women's FIDE Master Sarah Chiang (L) shares chess tips with Rep. Anne Wagner during a special event held at United States Capitol Building on April 18, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis)
“We appreciate the leadership of Representatives Clay and Luetkemeyer and Senators McCaskill and Blunt recognizing Saint Louis as the nation’s chess capital,” said Tony Rich, executive director of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. “Their commitment to expanding the successful chess after-school programs is a tremendous example of how our nation can come together on a bipartisan basis to help our students.”
Woman Grandmaster Jennifer Shahade (R) shares chess tips with Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA) during a special event held at United States Capitol Building on April 18, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis)
International Master Kayden Troff (R) and Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT) attend a special event held at United States Capitol Building on April 18, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis)
Also in attendance were students who have benefited from chess after-school programs led by the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. These students played chess with Members of Congress and shared their personal stories of the educational benefits of chess. Saint Louis, Mo., will host the 2013 U.S. and Women’s Chess Championships May 2-13, 2013 at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, the fifth consecutive year the nation’s top players have come to Missouri to compete in the national championship. - Report by Mile Wilmering for US Chess Federation.
2013 US Junior Chess Closed Championship from June 13-23 in St Louis
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013 Hi everyone,
SAINT LOUIS: The 10-player field has been set for the 2013 U.S. Junior Closed Championship, scheduled to be held at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL) June 13-23. The top Juniors in the nation will meet in Saint Louis with more than $10,000 at stake and an invitation to the 2014 U.S. Championship at stake.
The Junior Closed Championship is the most prestigious tournament in the nation for the country’s top players under the age of 21. This marks the fourth consecutive year this event is being held at the CCSCSL.
Field
Title
Name
Rating
Invitation
IM
D Naroditsky
2538
Rating
IM
Victor Shen
2511
Rating
NM
Robert Perez
2510
Rating
IM
Kayden Troff
2505
Rating
FM
Jeffrey Xiong
2483
Rating
FM
Yian Liou
2469
Rating
FM
Sam Sevian
2467
Rating
FM
Atulya Shetty
2446
Wildcard
FM
L H-Vellotti
2434
Wildcard
WFM
Sarah Chiang
2238
Open Invite
Ratings based on April USCF Supplement
Karthik Ramachandran, the winner of the 2012 U.S. Junior Open, was ineligible to play in the 2013 U.S Junior Closed due to age restrictions, so the invitation was extended to WFM Sarah Chiang, the second-place finisher. Chiang is coming off her first-ever U.S. Women’s Championship appearance, which was held in Saint Louis in May. Kayden Troff and Sam Sevian also have recent big-tournament exposure, both having acquitted themselves nicely at the 2013 U.S. Championship, also held in Saint Louis in May. The opening ceremony and players' meeting will take place on June 13, and the first round of play will begin at 1 p.m. CT on June 14. Grandmasters Yasser Seirawan and Ben Finegold will provide live play-by-play commentary for each round of the event. Spectators are welcome to watch the commentary live at the Saint Louis Chess Club or online at www.USChessChamps.com.
About The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to making chess an important part of our community. In addition to providing a forum for the community to play tournaments and casual games, the club also offers chess improvement classes, beginner lessons and special lectures.
Recognizing the cognitive and behavioral benefits of chess, the Chess Club and Scholastic Center is committed to supporting those chess programs that already exist in area schools while encouraging the development of new in-school and after-school programs. For more information, visit www.saintlouischessclub.org. From Alexandra Kosteniuk's www.chessblog.com Also see her personal blog at www.chessqueen.com Don't miss Chess Queen™ YouTube Channel
Chess is the Sleeping Giant of the World in Popularity, Sponsorship!
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Here is the latest press release from Agon. Chess has been under the radar for the last 40 years since Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky fought the Cold War for us in Reykjavik. But outside the glare of the media spotlight, chess players now make up one of the largest communities in the world: 605 million adults play chess regularly – a number comparable to regular users of Facebook.
Andrew Paulson
According to authoritative polling organization YouGov, across varied national demographic profiles (US, UK, Germany, Russia, India), a surprisingly stable 70% of the adult population has played chess at some point during their lives. Even if they played chess as children but left it behind as they grew up, they still retain a deep admiration for the game.
Across the board, chess players and non-players alike rank chess significantly higher than any other game or sport for attributes such as intelligence, sophistication, strategy, perfection and complexity, confirming top branding agency Pentagram’s view that: “Chess is about Thinking and Winning.”
2013 Samford Chess Fellowship Awarded to GM Sam Shankland
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013 Hi everyone,
The FRANK P. SAMFORD, JR. CHESS FELLOWSHIP, marking its twenty-seventh annual award, has selected Grandmaster Sam Shankland of Orinda, California, as its 2013 Fellow. The Samford is the richest and most important chess fellowship in the United States. It identifies and assists the best young American chess masters by providing top-level coaching, strong competition and access to study materials. The Fellowship also supplies a monthly stipend for living expenses so that the winners may devote themselves to chess without having financial worries. The total value of the Fellowship has been increased several times over the years and is now $42,000 annually. The prize is awarded for one year and can be renewed for a second year. The winners’ term begins July 1st, 2013. IM John Donaldson, in his report at the USCF website, further writes: All in all, it gives these brilliant young American Grandmasters the support and resources necessary to enhance their skills and reach their full potential. Currently rated 2612 by FIDE, Sam Shankland was awarded the GM title at the age of 20. His career highlights include tying for first in the under 18 category in the 2008 World Youth Championships, taking third in the 2011 US Championship, beating Hungarian Super GM Peter Leko in the 2011 World Cup and winning both team and individual gold while playing for the US team in the 2013 Pan American Team Championship.
33-Board Chess Blindfold Simul by GM Timur Gareev in St Louis on April 30
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hi everyone,
This should be for the record books: On Tuesday, April 30, Grandmaster Timur Gareev will conduct a 33-board blindfolded simultaneous exhibition at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL). The event will help kick off the 2013 U.S. Championships, scheduled to be held in Saint Louis May 2 through May 13.
GM Gareev will meet and greet simul participants at 8 a.m. CT, and the simul will begin at 9 a.m. He is working toward setting a new blindfold simul world record of 64 boards before the end of 2013. The date for the record-breaking simul is tentatively set for December 21 on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.
CCSCSL Executive Director Tony Rich said the blindfold simul presents a perfect exhibition to demonstrate how chess can positively impact students.
“This remarkable demonstration of concentration and memory will help drive home the many and varied scholastic benefits chess has to offer,” Rich said.
After switching federations from Uzbekistan to the U.S., GM Gareev will be competing in his first-ever U.S. Championship. He enters the tournament as the No. 2-rated player in the field, second only to GM Gata Kamsky.
The 2013 U.S. Championship and 2013 U.S. Women’s Championship will be held simultaneously May 2 through May 13. This marks the fifth consecutive year that each of these prestigious events will be held in Saint Louis. The opening ceremony takes place on May 2, and the first round for both events will kick off at 1 p.m. CT on May 3.
Also, fans of the U.S. Chess Championships can participate in Fantasy Chess for free by visiting: http://www.uschesschamps.com/2013-fantasy-chess. The grand prize is round-trip airfare for two from anywhere in the continental U.S., two nights hotel, a private dinner with GM Yasser Seirawan and two private lessons with Seirawan as well. Select your favorite players, build your team and follow the live play-by-play coverage of each round on the event website: www.uschesschamps.com.
For the first time in the five years the CCSCSL has hosted the event, organizers are bringing in three commentators to provide even more extensive live coverage of the games and more in-depth player interviews and post-game analysis. GM Yasser Seirawan, GM Maurice Ashley and WGM Jennifer Shahade will provide live play-by-play coverage. For more information about the U.S. Championships or to watch live coverage of the event, visit www.uschesschamps.com.
Don't be shy about contacting me
to share women's chess news
or to propose collaboration
Best chess wishes to you! Alexandra Kosteniuk
12th Women's World Chess Champion
Facebook, Twitter, Youtube
