THE WEEK IN CHESS 621 2nd October 2006 by Mark Crowther

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Contents

1) Introduction
2) Kramnik and Topalov Re-unification match
3) FIDE Rating List October 2006
4) 15th Monarch Assurance
5) US Chess League
6) XVI Gros Xake Taldea International Open
7) 1st Montenegro airlines league
8) Greek Teams Cup
9) Serbia & Montenegro Championship Playoff
10) Gausdal Bygger'n Masters
11) XIX Moratalaz Open
12) ProMoPro Open
13) Dunav-Drava-Sava
14) 2nd Efim Geller Memorial Open
15) 10th Itau Cup
16) Quality Leagues of Vojvodina
17) 10th Waalwijk Blitz championship
18) World Blitz Championship
19) Forthcoming Events and Links

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Games section

Kramnik and Topalov Re-unification match     4 games
15th Monarch Assurance                     376 games
US Chess League                             20 games
XVI Gros Xake Taldea International Open    100 games
1st Montenegro airlines league             324 games
Greek Teams Cup                             28 games
Serbia & Montenegro Championship Playoff     1 game
Gausdal Bygger'n Masters                   171 games
XIX Moratalaz Open                         114 games
ProMoPro Open                              225 games
Dunav-Drava-Sava                           198 games
2nd Efim Geller Memorial Open               50 games
10th Itau Cup                               70 games
Quality Leagues of Vojvodina               270 games
2041 games

1) Introduction

My thanks to Peter Doggers, Eirik T. Gullaksen, Carsten Hensel, Lou Caruana, Goran Urosevic, Grivas Efstratios, Mikhail Golubev, John Saunders, Mihajlo Savic, Mikel Larreategi, Pankaj Athawale, Franz Jittenmeier, Goran Tomic, Alik Gershon, Reinaldo Vera, Lahcene Chemali, Primoz Kokalj, Malcolm Pein, Bretislav Modr and everyone else who helped with the issue.

I used to love controversy in chess, glory in it, write thousands of words on news groups and get in angry discussions with people who disagreed with me. Now, doing TWIC full time, by the time they're finished I'm too darned tired (last night and today I waited for news, did the rating list, a tonne of tournaments for this magazine and live coverage also) and know that lots of people are going to disagree with me (because there simply are that many opinions). I'm talking of course about the near collapse of the match between Vladimir Kramnik and Veselin Topalov. My two cents is below, don't be too harsh, its just an opinion, and maybe one I might change sometime, but I'm tired, I've said what I feel right now and I just want them to play, show us what they've got in a classic match.

Hope you enjoy this issue.

Mark

2) Kramnik and Topalov Re-unification match

Vladimir Kramnik and Veselin Topalov play their 12 game world championship reunification match in Elista, 23rd Sept - 10th Oct 2006. Play starts at 12pm BST on game days. Dates: Open Ceremony 21st September 2006, 7.00 p.m. Play on: 23rd, 24th, 26th, 27th, 29th, September, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 11th and 13th (tie-breaks) October 2006. Closing ceremony 13th October 2006.

After his wins in the first two games Kramnik had white in game three. Topalov diverged from game one on move five and Kramnik built up a nice edge. 17.Ne4 may have been a better choice but Kramnik was entirely at home and looked to be making progress. 32.exd5 looked a better way to play for a win, as it was after 35.Rb3 f5 a draw was the best that could be had which happened by perpetual on move 38.

Game four saw a Meran where Topalov found a creative novelty with 14.Nd2 which posed a lot of problems. Kramnik however played very well returning a pawn with reasonable counterplay. Kramnik tried to claim afterwards the the game was already heading for a draw which can't be a reasonable assessment. Topalov himself suggested 32.f3 keeping the black bishop out of the game and 48.Qxc4 may have been more testing also. As it was the pieces came off for a draw on move 54.

It was after game four that all hell broke loose. Two press releases and official complaints were released by Silvio Danailov Topalov's manager: First press release 28th September and Second press release 29th September complaining about Kramnik's frequent absense from the board in his rest room and in particular the number of times Kramnik visited the toilet during the game. In between the two press releases was an appeals committee decision to close the toilets in the rest room and make another available which could only be used at the request of the arbiter. In his second press release Danailov said that were considering withdrawing from the match over the issue and Topalov would be removing normal relations between the players and not shaking hands or doing joint press conferences with Kramnik. Whilst journalists were busy making light of the situation "toiletgate" and so forth in fact this was obviously not about toilets at all.

There are two things it was about. Firstly it was about changing the dynamic of the match for a player who had gone down to an early 2-0 deficit an attempt to intensify the struggle off the board to change things on it. Chess matches are about power both on and off the board. Here by using the appeals committee Topalov and his team were trying to change his routine. It been seen before, will be seen again, its not nice, its not big, its not clever, but this kind of gamesmanship is something you have to stand up to and find a way of reacting to. In physical sports you might see a particularly strong tackle on the edge of the rules just to ask the question are you up for this?

The second thing this was about was far darker and I believe its something that has to stop right now before it kills chess. Its about the spurious allegations which in certain quarters (read the bulletin boards I'm told) say that Topalov received computer assistance in winning the title in San Luis, also in the Linares half of that super tournament and in MTel (but not apparently in Wijk aan Zee where his play was just the same). There is no evidence at all for this, no evidence that computer cheating takes place at the elite level, if players start mistrusting each other to this extent normal tournaments will become a misery. The security measures against this kind of cheating for this match were unprecidented. I'm pretty sure Topalov was hurt by these allegations (which Kramnik has had no part) so to virtually in so many words accuse Kramnik of cheating by going into the toilet area where there are no cameras (and confirming that's what they really meant by the refusal of the handshake) was both low and he knows it was wrong. It was also deviously clever, maybe even more so than orginally designed.

Of the two motivations I guess it was a whole lot of the first and just a little of the second that were going through the Topalov camp's mind. I doubt they really seriously thought he was cheating, but who knows they might find something out about Kramnik's recent health problems and perhaps upset him enough to play weaker. I really doubt it was possible to predict what actually happened.

Its a strange part of this match that both players feel like they're on foreign soil. Topalov because he IS on foreign soil and Kramnik because he perceives Topalov as FIDE's preferred winner. Can't be both true. In addition Georgios Makropoulos and in particular Zurab Azmaiparashvili were perceived as favouring Topalov in this match. I honestly don't think FIDE mind who wins this match, the story is they're going to pass the whole of their professional operation over to Bessel Kok after this match at FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov's instance.

Actually days after the original decision Georgios Makropoulos was quoted on Susan Polgar's blog. http://susanpolgar.blogspot.com/2006/10/both-chess-kings-go-missing-from-board.html and the decision didn't seem that outrageous. It was more of an attempt to keep Topalov happy and not upset Kramnik too much sort of compromise. A flawed compromise because the appeal was filed at the wrong time and the playing conditions for each player were in black and white in contracts. Flawed mainly because it didn't really recognise that the complaint wasn't about toilets at all. The appointment of the appeals committee seems to have become an extra way of earning some money. Karpov pointed out that in his day there was a long appointments proceedure and many candidates until they found the best, strongest and most acceptable candidates to both players. I initially believed the decision was biased (I have some issues with some of its members), now I honestly think its they didn't realise the implications (and to be fair I think you have to be really good at your job to realise this). Their job is to be a buffer for petty power plays of the opponents who are both strong personalities under great stress. They were not up to this job.

Kramnik's reaction was to go ballistic. He felt that the appeals committee decision was completely outside the agreements for the match (he was dead right) and insulting (it was intended to be) and that he was fully entitled not to play until the decision to reopen the toilets was made which under the regulations was inevitable. He felt to give in even for a game would be to grant Topalov a huge boost. However this is where I think he was wrong. By not playing a game (technically he was there in the rest room waiting for the toilets to be opened and a restoration of the agreed playing conditions) you break one of the most serious rules. I've never seen a situation in any sport where refusing to take the field works, the most common thing that happens is that you lose the point/ match/ game that you're playing, you may occasionally get it returned but its you that are begging for it and you're turned into the bad guy. Its a golden rule of sport, you always turn up and play whatever the provocation. And its a good rule too because the public have a right to expect people to turn up and play as they've turned up to watch and any disputes that are around become ten times harder to fix.

FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov returned from affairs of state (a regional meeting with Putin) came back to bang some heads together, get rid of the appeals committee and bring some new ones in, he produced some statesmenlike comments (hell don't you hate it when that happens, I really don't like the guy but....) dealt with the non-issue of the toilets but was faced with the golden rule. Kramnik had defaulted a game, he tried to get round, it under it over it, extend the match but keep the score but under the rules of the competition Kramnik didn't even appeal against his default within the two hours required under the rules. When Topalov wouldn't give the point back he had absolutely no choice, it was game on, on Monday, and be there you two! Kramnik kept us all waiting until less than an hour before play started he announced he was to Plays on in game 6 under protest.. Ilyumzhinov thanked them for their wise decision.

The majority of the chess public have generally supported Kramnik and abused Topalov and his manager Danailov for stealing a point. I'd say I admire Kramnik's principals and his chess, but I just don't feel quite as harshly towards Topalov as many think I should be, I didn't like what he and his team did but he is giving this title match all he's got. Kramnik's decision to play on has been extremely well received, not least by me, and I'm sure he's now the popular favourite. I really hope for a spicey match over the board and hope the defaulted point doesn't make a controversial difference. Kramnik has made it clear that he'll be revisiting that point, possibly legally later, but he's taken on board the golden rule, you always turn up and play.

Game six was perhaps more notable for the fact it happened than for the moves. Started with a handshake Topalov played 5.Ne5 against Kramnik's Slav. Kramnik followed an idea of Vassily Smyslov's and got a cramped but playable position. Gradually the position simplified and the players reached a sterile position on move 31 and agreed a draw.

Game seven will take place on Wednesday and unusually as per the match regulations at the half way stage Topalov will have white again. This is because the games are played in pairs without this regulation one player would have white and could press after each rest day.

Official site: http://www.worldchess2006.com/

Kramnik, Vladimir  -  Topalov, Veselin   1-0   75  E04  Catalan
Topalov, Veselin   -  Kramnik, Vladimir  0-1   63  D19  Slav Defence
Kramnik, Vladimir  -  Topalov, Veselin   1/2   38  E02  Catalan
Topalov, Veselin   -  Kramnik, Vladimir  1/2   54  D47  Queens Gambit Meran
Kramnik, Vladimir  -  Topalov, Veselin   0-1            Default
Topalov, Veselin   -  Kramnik, Vladimir  1/2   31  D17  Slav Defence

WCh Elista RUS (RUS), 23 ix-12 x 2006
------------------------------------------------------------------
                                1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2
------------------------------------------------------------------
Kramnik, Vladimir g  RUS 2743   1 1 = = 0 = . . . . . .  3.5  2870
Topalov, Veselin  g  BUL 2813   0 0 = = 1 = . . . . . .  2.5  2686
------------------------------------------------------------------

3) FIDE Rating List October 2006

Source: http://www.fide.com. The full list is available for download there.

Topalov and Anand were inactive in this period. Kramnik moves up to third and Peter Svidler fourth both on the same rating of 2750. Alexander Morozevich moves up from 9th to 5th in the world after gaining 16 points, Vassily Ivanchuk is up but Levon Aronian lost 20 rating points at Dortmund. Peter Leko drops from 6th to 8th in spite of his rating rising by 3 points. Not many changes in 10-20 but Ponomariov lost 18 points in the period. Magnus Carlsen is the top rated player outside the 2700 club with a rating of 2698 and he over takes his rival Sergey Karjakin who is down to 35 in the world. Seven players moved in and seven out in the list including Karpov who seems just one game short of being considered an active player. Friso Nijboer was the top re-entry gaining 43 points.

FIDE Top 100 Players October 2006 
 No. Ju  Name                        t NAT YroB ja05 ap05 ju05 oc05 ja06 ap06 ju06 oc06 Gms
  1   1  Topalov, Veselin..........  g BUL 1975 2757 2778 2788 2782 2801 2804 2813 2813 0  
  2   2  Anand, Viswanathan........  g IND 1969 2786 2785 2788 2788 2792 2803 2779 2779 0  
  3   4  Kramnik, Vladimir.........  g RUS 1975 2754 2753 2744 2739 2741 2729 2743 2750 7  
  4   5  Svidler, Peter............  g RUS 1976 2735 2725 2738 2740 2765 2743 2742 2750 7  
  5   9  Morozevich, Alexander.....  g RUS 1977 2741 2717 2707 2707 2721 2730 2731 2747 10 
  6   7  Ivanchuk, Vassily.........  g UKR 1969 2711 2739 2752 2748 2729 2731 2734 2741 12 
  7   3  Aronian, Levon............  g ARM 1982 2684 2693 2724 2724 2752 2756 2761 2741 7  
  8   6  Leko, Peter...............  g HUN 1979 2749 2763 2763 2751 2740 2738 2738 2741 7  
  9   8  Adams, Michael............  g ENG 1971 2741 2737 2719 2718 2707 2720 2732 2735 18 
 10  10  Gelfand, Boris............  g ISR 1968 2696 2713 2724 2717 2723 2727 2729 2733 11 
 11  11  Radjabov, Teimour.........  g AZE 1987 2667 2673 2682 2704 2700 2717 2728 2729 10 
 12  12  Mamedyarov, Shakhriyaz....  g AZE 1985 2657 2646 2646 2674 2709 2699 2722 2728 12 
 13  14  Navara, David.............  g CZE 1985 2644 2647 2663 2646 2660 2658 2719 2725 22 
 14  15  Shirov, Alexei............  g ESP 1972 2713 2714 2705 2710 2709 2699 2716 2720 11 
 15  16  Akopian, Vladimir.........  g ARM 1971 2693 2703 2705 2707 2704 2706 2713 2713 0  
 16  17  Polgar, Judit.............  g HUN 1976 2728 2732 2735 2735 2711 2711 2710 2710 0  
 17  18  Grischuk, Alexander.......  g RUS 1983 2710 2724 2720 2720 2717 2719 2709 2710 11 
 18  19  Bacrot, Etienne...........  g FRA 1983 2715 2731 2729 2725 2717 2708 2707 2705 1  
 19  20  Kamsky, Gata..............  g USA 1974 2717 2700 2700 2690 2686 2671 2697 2705 9  
 20  13  Ponomariov, Ruslan........  g UKR 1983 2700 2695 2704 2704 2723 2738 2721 2703 11 
 21  34  Carlsen, Magnus...........  g NOR 1990 2553 2548 2528 2570 2625 2646 2673 2698 46 
 22  21  Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter...  g ROM 1976 2673 2670 2679 2707 2693 2695 2693 2690 11 
 23  43  Rublevsky, Sergei.........  g RUS 1974 2650 2645 2645 2652 2665 2687 2667 2688 11 
 24  24  Bareev, Evgeny............  g RUS 1966 2709 2709 2688 2675 2698 2701 2683 2683 0  
 25  22  Malakhov, Vladimir........  g RUS 1980 2664 2670 2673 2670 2694 2691 2691 2682 10 
 26  23  Georgiev, Kiril...........  g BUL 1965 2654 2666 2666 2648 2645 2677 2685 2680 10 
 27  39  Tiviakov, Sergei..........  g NED 1973 2627 2631 2678 2700 2669 2669 2668 2680 47 
 28  29  Short, Nigel D............  g ENG 1965 2674 2673 2673 2673 2676 2677 2676 2677 9  
 29  30  Van Wely, Loek............  g NED 1972 2679 2687 2655 2648 2647 2655 2675 2676 15 
 30  46  Naiditsch, Arkadij........  g GER 1985 2623 2626 2612 2641 2657 2664 2665 2676 8  
 31  26  Sasikiran, Krishnan.......  g IND 1981 2657 2642 2652 2663 2670 2692 2681 2675 0  
 32  25  Harikrishna, P............  g IND 1986 2632 2646 2645 2673 2673 2680 2682 2674 21 
 33  32  Zvjaginsev, Vadim.........  g RUS 1976 2653 2649 2659 2659 2664 2670 2675 2674 10 
 34  33  Vallejo Pons, Francisco...  g ESP 1982 2686 2677 2681 2674 2650 2666 2674 2674 0  
 35  27  Karjakin, Sergey..........  g UKR 1990 2599 2635 2645 2658 2660 2661 2679 2672 21 
 36  36  Kasimdzhanov, Rustam......  g UZB 1979 2678 2670 2670 2670 2670 2673 2672 2672 0  
 37  47  Bu, Xiangzhi..............  g CHN 1985 2607 2630 2632 2637 2645 2640 2664 2671 22 
 38  42  Jakovenko, Dmitry.........  g RUS 1983 2596 2608 2627 2644 2662 2675 2667 2671 22 
 39  54  Sokolov, Ivan.............  g NED 1968 2685 2662 2691 2696 2689 2676 2652 2670 22 
 40  38  Onischuk, Alexander.......  g USA 1975 2652 2638 2628 2640 2650 2650 2668 2668 0  
 41  31  Lautier, Joel.............  g FRA 1973 2678 2678 2672 2680 2682 2682 2675 2667 3  
 42  41  Sargissian, Gabriel.......  g ARM 1983 2603 2630 2611 2610 2603 2612 2667 2667 0  
 43  35  Almasi, Zoltan............  g HUN 1976 2628 2628 2619 2640 2646 2657 2672 2664 10 
 44  53  Timofeev, Artyom..........  g RUS 1985 2619 2622 2661 2658 2653 2646 2657 2662 12 
 45  48  Motylev, Alexander........  g RUS 1979 2665 2680 2675 2632 2638 2660 2662 2662 0  
 46  60  Bologan, Viktor...........  g MDA 1971 2683 2700 2700 2682 2661 2666 2645 2659 11 
 47  51  Smirin, Ilia..............  g ISR 1968 2644 2649 2652 2673 2662 2662 2659 2659 0  
 48  55  Eljanov, Pavel............  g UKR 1983 2643 2641 2639 2663 2655 2665 2651 2658 8  
 49  50  Izoria, Zviad.............  g GEO 1984 2607 2602 2606 2646 2652 2647 2660 2657 18 
 50  70  Korneev, Oleg.............. g RUS 1969 2602 2611 2594 2599 2649 2671 2638 2657 42 
 51  98  Milov, Vadim..............  g SUI 1972 2668 2653 2645 2652 2638 2625 2620 2657 18 
 52  52  Dominguez, Lenier.........  g CUB 1983 2661 2658 2639 2635 2638 2647 2658 2655 8  
 53  45  Dreev, Alexey.............  g RUS 1969 2704 2705 2698 2694 2697 2673 2666 2655 18 
 54  56  Jobava, Baadur............. g GEO 1983 2640 2637 2621 2601 2614 2646 2651 2650 28 
 55  63  Gurevich, Mikhail.........  g TUR 1959 2634 2630 2669 2652 2633 2643 2643 2648 21 
 56  28  Najer, Evgeniy............  g RUS 1977 2624 2615 2614 2641 2652 2653 2677 2648 27 
 57  44  Bruzon, Lazaro............  g CUB 1982 2652 2669 2662 2677 2650 2652 2667 2648 18 
 58  74  Krasenkow, Michal.........  g POL 1963 2672 2672 2663 2655 2636 2650 2635 2647 18 
 59  76  Granda Zuniga, Julio E....  g PER 1967 2599 ---- 2601 2637 2631 2631 2634 2646 37 
 60  59  Tkachiev, Vladislav.......  g FRA 1973 2609 2605 2625 2629 2642 2643 2645 2645 0  
 61  49  Volokitin, Andrei.........  g UKR 1986 2685 2679 2671 2666 2665 2660 2662 2645 21 
 62  84  Wang, Yue.................  g CHN 1987 2549 2576 2576 2585 2599 2598 2626 2644 32 
 63  66  Avrukh, Boris.............  g ISR 1978 2629 2642 2652 2653 2633 2633 2641 2644 11 
 64  58  Kobalia, Mikhail..........  g RUS 1978 2634 2644 2614 2634 2654 2654 2647 2643 11 
 65  61  Gashimov, Vugar...........  g AZE 1986 2585 2585 2594 2608 2625 2659 2644 2643 33 
 66  64  Sakaev, Konstantin........  g RUS 1974 2677 2672 2669 2668 2649 2637 2642 2641 0  
 67  --  Nijboer, Friso............  g NED 1965 2549 2553 2529 2543 2571 2584 2598 2641 38 
 68  67  Nielsen, Peter Heine......  g DEN 1973 2648 2653 2668 2646 2644 2646 2640 2640 0  
 69  65  Areshchenko, Alexander....  g UKR 1986 2570 2595 2625 2653 2670 2660 2641 2640 28 
 70  78  Nakamura, Hikaru..........  g USA 1987 2613 2657 2660 2662 2644 2664 2632 2640 16 
 71  62  Alekseev, Evgeny..........  g RUS 1985 2605 2597 2625 2632 2634 2640 2644 2639 22 
 72  86  Beliavsky, Alexander G....  g SLO 1953 2635 2630 2599 2631 2626 2622 2625 2639 10 
 73  37  Azmaiparashvili, Zurab....  g GEO 1960 2662 2671 2672 2658 2658 2669 2669 2638 14 
 74  69  Miton, Kamil............... g POL 1984 2583 2592 2589 2636 2646 2646 2638 2638 0  
 75  71  Seirawan, Yasser..........  g USA 1960 2631 2631 2635 2635 2635 2635 2638 2638 0  
 76  73  Movsesian, Sergei.........  g SVK 1978 2624 2628 2645 2635 2632 2618 2637 2637 0  
 77  93  Zhang, Pengxiang..........  g CHN 1980 2560 2583 2616 2613 2638 2623 2622 2636 22 
 78  97  Afromeev, Vladimir........  f RUS 1954 2556 2563 2563 2573 2573 2612 2620 2635 30 
 79  77  Lputian, Smbat G..........  g ARM 1958 2640 2640 2629 2614 2613 2619 2634 2634 0  
 80  75  Asrian, Karen.............  g ARM 1980 2602 2611 2611 2645 2646 2646 2635 2634 12 
 81  57  Moiseenko, Alexander......  g UKR 1980 2669 2665 2664 2663 2657 2662 2649 2632 13 
 82  91  Riazantsev, Alexander.....  g RUS 1985 2596 2608 2599 2603 2594 2593 2622 2632 8  
 83  80  Cheparinov, Ivan..........  g BUL 1986 2572 2621 2634 2618 2625 2635 2632 2632 0  
 84  92  Wojtaszek, Radoslaw.......  g POL 1987 2553 2569 2591 2606 2605 2597 2622 2630 18 
 85  95  Socko, Bartosz............  g POL 1978 2591 2583 2615 2610 2610 2606 2621 2630 28 
 86  72  Delchev, Aleksander.......  g BUL 1971 2597 2614 2656 2669 2661 2640 2637 2628 30 
 87  83  Fressinet, Laurent........  g FRA 1981 2638 2638 2627 2624 2625 2633 2626 2628 29 
 88  89  Inarkiev, Ernesto.........  g RUS 1985 2602 2612 2618 2577 2597 2598 2625 2628 8  
 89  81  Volkov, Sergey............  g RUS 1974 2612 2634 2622 2614 2629 2620 2628 2628 0  
 90  --  Miroshnichenko, Evgenij...  g UKR 1978 2620 2628 2634 2634 2619 2597 2616 2626 22 
 91  85  Nikolic, Predrag..........  g BIH 1960 2676 2627 2591 2584 2596 2596 2626 2626 0  
 92  --  Smirnov, Pavel............  g RUS 1982 2645 2624 2635 2637 2614 2614 2613 2623 9  
 93  --  Wang, Hao.................  g CHN 1989 2457 2484 2512 2519 2593 2605 2610 2622 27 
 94  96  Baklan, Vladimir..........  g UKR 1978 2578 2584 2584 2590 2601 2606 2621 2622 40 
 95  94  Khalifman, Alexander......  g RUS 1966 2662 2658 2653 2653 2660 2640 2622 2622 0  
 96  --  Macieja, Bartlomiej.......  g POL 1977 2618 2613 2593 2591 2585 2584 2613 2622 15 
 97  --  Ni, Hua...................  g CHN 1983 2625 2638 2629 2603 2614 2607 2607 2621 22 
 98  88  Hansen, Curt..............  g DEN 1964 2633 2633 2613 2607 2612 2612 2625 2621 9  
 99  99  Illescas Cordoba, Miguel..  g ESP 1965 2633 2633 2624 2607 2608 2608 2620 2620 0  
100  --  Khenkin, Igor.............  g GER 1968 2604 2610 2610 2603 2595 2602 2586 2620 35 

Dropping out in October

 40  32  Karpov, Anatoly...........  g RUS 1951 2682 2674 2674 2672 2672 2672 2672 2668 3    
[Less than 4 games in a one year period]
 68  73  Zhang, Zhong..............  g CHN 1978 2596 2591 2599 2608 2598 2629 2640 2639 8    
 79  58  Efimenko, Zahar...........  g UKR 1985 2594 2601 2620 2643 2637 2666 2648 2632 26   
 82  79  Aleksandrov, Aleksej......  g BLR 1973 2659 2635 2635 2630 2636 2653 2634 2627 16   
 87  --  Damljanovic, Branko.......  g SCG 1961 2578 2587 2588 2612 2608 2615 2615 2625 22   
 90  75  Ibragimov, Ildar..........  g USA 1967 2585 2603 2611 2605 2617 2635 2637 2624 22   
100  90  Vescovi, Giovanni.........  g BRA 1978 2645 2645 2638 2640 2646 2633 2622 2619 11   
101  82  Atalik, Suat..............  g TUR 1964 2541 2560 2561 2561 2620 2618 2632 2619 51  

4) 15th Monarch Assurance

The 15th Monarch Assurance Isle of Man International took place 23rd September - 1st October 2006 at the Ocean Castle Hotel, Port Erin, Isle of Man. Alexander Areshchenko ediged out Sergey Volkov on tie-break after both scored 7/9. IM Norms for Gary Quillan and Anna Zatonskih. The tournament was dedicated to the memory of Richard Furness. I give the games again as I made the incredibly irritating error of getting the wrong Sergey Volkov in the PGN section again.

Official site: http://www.monarchchess.bcmchess.co.uk/

------------------------------------------------------------------
Monarch Assurance Isle of Man Port Erin IOM (IOM), 23 ix-1 x 2006
------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Nat Ti FIDE 
Pos Player                    lty tl Rtng    A   B  C     D     E     F
  1 Areshchenko, Alexander... UKR g  2641    7   9  7   2549  5.58  1.42
  2 Volkov, Sergey........... RUS g  2628    7   9  7   2528  5.67  1.33

  3 Bartel, Mateusz.......... POL g  2561    6½  9  6½  2562  4.40  2.10
  4 Golod, Vitali............ ISR g  2576    6½  9  6½  2496  5.33  1.17
  5 Kobalia, Mikhail......... RUS g  2647    6½  9  6½  2535  5.79  0.71
  6 Kuzubov, Yuri............ UKR g  2554    6½  9  6½  2500  5.07  1.43
  7 Yakovich, Yuri........... RUS g  2583    6½  9  6½  2474  5.72  0.78

  8 Akopian, Vladimir........ ARM g  2713    6   9  6   2562  6.27 -0.27
  9 Krasenkow, Mikhal........     g  2635    6   9  6   2562  5.36  0.64
 10 Landa, Konstantin........ RUS g  2584    6   9  6   2546  4.91  1.09
 11 Malakhatko, Vadim........ UKR g  2594    6   9  6   2461  6.07 -0.07

 12 Efimenko, Zahar.......... UKR g  2632    5½  8  4½  2476  5.63 -1.13
 13 Gormally, Daniel W.......     g  2513    5½  9  5½  2489  4.73  0.77
 14 Greenfeld, Alon.......... ISR g  2551    5½  9  5½  2458  5.56 -0.06
 15 Hanley, Craig A..........     m  2419    5½  9  5½  2409  4.54  0.96
 16 Hebden, Mark L...........     g  2532    5½  9  5½  2372  6.26 -0.76
 17 Iordachescu, Viorel...... MDA g  2603    5½  9  5½  2484  5.89 -0.39
 18 Khenkin, Igor............ GER g  2586    5½  9  5½  2495  5.54 -0.04
 19 Korneev, Oleg............ RUS g  2638    5½  9  5½  2472  6.40 -0.90
 20 Neverov, Valeriy......... UKR g  2556    5½  9  5½  2492  5.22  0.28
 21 Paehtz, Elizabeth........     m  2456    5½  9  5½  2464  4.34  1.16
 22 Palliser, Richard JD.....     m  2413    5½  9  5½  2427  4.27  1.23
 23 Postny, Evgeny........... ISR g  2591    5½  9  5½  2502  5.54 -0.04
 24 Shabalov, Alexander...... USA g  2604    5½  9  5½  2515  5.54 -0.04
 25 Socko, Bartosz........... POL g  2621    5½  9  5½  2532  5.55 -0.05
 26 Stocek, Jiri............. CZE g  2561    5½  9  5½  2405  6.29 -0.79

 27 Bobras, Piotr............ POL g  2535    5   9  5   2469  5.24 -0.24
 28 Cox, John J..............     m  2418    5   9  5   2407  4.60  0.40
 29 Ferguson, Mark...........     m  2389    5   8  4   2495  2.90  1.10
 30 Haslinger, Stewart G.....     m  2423    5   9  5   2387  4.84  0.16
 31 Kazhgaleyev, Murtas...... KAZ g  2606    5   9  5   2449  6.32 -1.32
 32 Kiriakov, Petr........... RUS g  2554    5   9  5   2365  6.65 -1.65
 33 Ledger, Andrew J.........     m  2411    5   8  4   2445  3.62  0.38
 34 Mannion, Steve R.........     m  2346    5   8  4   2350  3.94  0.06
 35 Quillan, Gary............        2344    5   9  5   2419  3.60  1.40
 36 Roy Chowdhury, Saptarshi. IND m  2394    5   9  5   2290  5.68 -0.68
 37 Vijayalakshmi, Subbaraman IND m  2417    5   9  5   2497  3.58  1.42
 38 Wells, Peter K...........     g  2480    5   9  5   2444  4.94  0.06
 39 Williams, Simon K........     m  2473    5   9  5   2358  5.77 -0.77

 40 Arkell, Keith C..........     g  2479    4½  9  4½  2383  5.52 -1.02
 41 Devereaux, Maxim L.......     f  2377    4½  9  4½  2322  5.06 -0.56
 42 Dworakowska, Joanna...... POL m  2359    4½  9  4½  2379  4.20  0.30
 43 Ikonnikov, Vyacheslav.... RUS g  2587    4½  9  4½  2451  6.01 -1.51
 44 Kononenko, Tatiana....... UKR wg 2387    4½  9  4½  2372  4.67 -0.17
 45 Peek, Marcel............. NED m  2367    4½  9  4½  2382  4.32  0.18
 46 Sahl, Bjarke............. DEN m  2364    4½  9  4½  2387  4.23  0.27
 47 Sarakauskas, Gediminas... LTU m  2414    4½  9  4½  2455  4.00  0.50
 48 Siebrecht, Sebastian..... GER m  2417    4½  9  4½  2357  5.15 -0.65
 49 Sriram, Jha.............. IND m  2408    4½  8  3½  2477  3.26  0.24
 50 Zatonskih, Anna.......... USA wg 2432    4½  9  4½  2517  3.42  1.08

 51 Al Sayed, Mohamad N...... QAT m  2492    4   9  4   2370  5.84 -1.84
 52 Ashton, Adam G...........     f  2329    4   9  4   2291  4.87 -0.87
 53 Eggleston, David J.......        2232    4   9  4   2393  2.69  1.31
 54 Meenakshi, Subbaraman.... IND wg 2310    4   9  4   2385  3.59  0.41
 55 Mohota, Nisha............ IND wg 2313    4   9  4   2352  4.00  0.00
 56 Sarakauskiene, Zivile.... LTU wm 2158    4   9  4   2271  3.26  0.74
 57 Sharma, Dinesh K......... IND m  2358    4   9  4   2425  3.73  0.27
 58 Spence, David J..........        2205    4   8  3   2258  3.54 -0.54
 59 Szieberth, Adam.......... HUN m  2328    4   9  4   2303  4.71 -0.71
 60 Vasilevich, Tatiana...... UKR m  2412    4   9  4   2434  4.22 -0.22
 61 Walton, Alan J...........     c  2222    4   9  4   2311  3.56  0.44
 62 Zimmerman, Yuri.......... RUS m  2374    4   9  4   2258  5.74 -1.74
 63 Zozulia, Anna............ UKR m  2352    4   9  4   2369  4.25 -0.25
94 players

5) US Chess League

The fifth week of the US Chess League took place on 25th and 27th September 2006 on ICC. News: Greg Shahade.

Official site: http://www.uschessleague.com

WEEK 5 - Monday September 25th 2006

1. New York Knights vs Seattle Sluggers                 New York      3-1

Wednesday September 27th 2006

2. Carolina Cobras vs Boston Blitz                      Boston        3-1
3. Philadelphia Masterminds vs Baltimore Kingfishers    Philadelphia  2.5-1.5
4. Dallas Destiny vs Miami Sharks                       TIE           2-2
5. San Francisco Mechanics vs Tennessee Tempo           San Francisco 3-1

Standings: 
+----------------+----+----+-----------+
|EASTERN DIVISION|W   |L   |Points     |
+----------------+----+----+-----------+
|Boston          |5.0 |0.0 |14.0 (70%) |
+----------------+----+----+-----------+
|New York        |3.0 |2.0 |9.5 (48%)  |
+----------------+----+----+-----------+
|Baltimore       |2.0 |3.0 |10.5 (53%) |
+----------------+----+----+-----------+
|Philadelphia    |1.0 |4.0 |8.5 (43%)  |
+----------------+----+----+-----------+
|Carolina        |1.0 |4.0 |7.5 (38%)  |
+----------------+----+----+-----------+
+----------------+----+----+-----------+
|WESTERN DIVISION|W   |L   |Points     |
+----------------+----+----+-----------+
|San Francisco   |4.5 |0.5 |13.5 (68%) |
+----------------+----+----+-----------+
|Seattle         |4.0 |1.0 |14.0 (70%) |
+----------------+----+----+-----------+
|Miami           |2.5 |2.5 |10.0 (50%) |
+----------------+----+----+-----------+
|Dallas          |1.5 |3.5 |8.5 (43%)  |
+----------------+----+----+-----------+
|Tennessee       |0.5 |4.5 |4.0 (20%)  |
+----------------+----+----+-----------+

6) XVI Gros Xake Taldea International Open

The XVI Gros Xake Taldea International Open took place in the northern spanish city of Donostia-San Sebastián, 21st-29th September 2006. Sergey Kasparov edged out Aimen Rizouk to take first place on tie-break after both scored 7.5/9.

The so called "Recursive Performance" was used for the tie-breaks. It's a new tie-break system prepared by 4 spanish mathematicians. More info about it can be found at their website (mostly in spanish) at http://pareto.uab.es/jgonzalez/Performance_Recursiva.htm

Results: http://chess-results.com/tnr4375.aspx?lan=1

------------------------------------------------------------------
XVI Gros Open San Sebastian ESP (ESP), 21-29 ix 2006
------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Kasparov, Sergey               m  BLR 2491  7,5  1  40,0  47,5
 2. Rizouk, Aimen                  m  ALG 2447  7,5  2  39,0  46,5
 3. Meijers, Viesturs              g  LAT 2474  7,0  0  42,5  50,0
 4. Pinilla Santibanez, Roberto       ESP 2114  6,5  1  35,0  42,0
 5. Rodriguez Gonzalez, Javier        ESP 2222  6,5  2  35,0  42,0
 6. Paunovic, Dragan               m  SCG 2506  6,0  1  43,5  51,0
 7. Garcia Castro, Pablo           f  ESP 2336  6,0  2  40,5  48,0
 8. Argandona Rivero, Inigo        f  ESP 2366  6,0  3  40,5  48,0
 9. Calderon, Jonathan                ECU 2029  6,0  4  35,0  41,0
10. Torres, Patrice                   FRA 2040  6,0  5  32,5  40,0
11. Aabling-Thomsen, Jakob            DEN 2271  5,5  1  40,0  47,5
12. Lakunza Plazaola, Asier           ESP 1922  5,5  2  35,5  42,0
13. Zaballa,Jon                       ESP ----  5,5  3  33,5  39,5
14. Iglesias Gonzalez, Veronica       ESP 1728  5,5  4  32,5  38,5
15. Tung, Kai Ming                    ESP 2080  5,5  5  33,5  39,5
16. Saenz Zabala, Juan Ignacio        ESP 1850  5,5  6  28,0  32,5
57 players

7) 1st Montenegro airlines league

The 1st Montenegro airlines league takes place in Herceg Novi, 22nd September - 2nd October 2006. Buducnost (1 Blagojevic Dragisa 2529 2 Djukic Nikola 2507 3 Kosic Dragan 2506 4 Ivanovic Bozidar 2444 5 Kalezic Blazo 2433) have started with 10/10 with one round to go.

Official site: http://www.cgsah.org/index.html

 1  BUDUCNOST          10  10 0  0  20 44   0    272,50
 2  ELEKTROPRIVREDA CG 10  9  0  1  18 42   0    268,00
 3  HERCEG NOVI        10  8  0  2  16 43   0    195,00
 4  RUDAR              10  7  1  2  15 35   0    212,75
 5  SAHMATIK           10  6  0  4  12 33   0    129,50
 6  MIMOZA             10  2  4  4  8  32   0    72,25
 7  VESELIN BOSKOVIC   10  3  2  5  8  30   0    75,25
 8  KOTOR              10  3  1  6  7  29   0    61,75
 9  KORALI-MORNAR      10  3  1  6  7  28   0    60,75
10  BIJELA PANTOMARKET 10  3  1  6  7  26   0    59,25
11  RADONJA BOJOVIC    10  1  0  9  2  10   0    5,00
12  KOMOVI             10  0  0  10 0  5    0    0,00

8) Greek Teams Cup

The Greek Teams Cup took place in the Hotel Plaza Resort in Athens 30th September - 1st October 2006. The team of A.O. Kydon Khania (Azmaiparashvili, Nikolaidis, Papaioannou and Banikas) defeated AEK Athens (PH Nielsen, Michos, Grivas and Kalesis) after a rapid playoff. AEK Athens had already gone through two playoffs to win their round one match against E.S.Thesalonikis. Report: Grivas Efstratios.

Semi-Finals (30.09.2006)

Match 1
E.S.Thesalonikis - A.E.K. Athens     2-2
A.E.K. Athens - E.S.Thesalonikis     2-2   (Rapid 15')
E.S.Thesalonikis - A.E.K. Athens 1,5-2,5   (Rapid 15')

Match 2
A.O. Kydon Khania - S.O.Kavalas 3,5-0,5

Position 3-4 (01.10.2006)
S.O.Kavalas - E.S.Thesalonikis 1-3

Final (01.10.2006)
A.E.K. Athens - A.O. Kydon Khania    2-2
A.O. Kydon Khania - A.E.K. Athens 3,5-0,5 (Rapid 15')

Final Standings 2006
1. A.O. Kydon Khania
2. A.E.K. Athens
3. E.S.Thesalonikis
4. S.O. Kavalas

9) Serbia & Montenegro Championship Playoff

There is a playoff for the championship of Serbia & Montenegro (the last one) which initially was held in March, the match promises to be an interesting one. News: Goran Urosevic.

Official site: http://www.serbiachess.net/2006/mec_sampion06/mec_sampion06eng.htm

Pikula, Dejan        -  Damljanovic, Branko  1-0   39  B56  Sicilian Defence

ch-SCG playoff Kraljevo SRB (SRB), 1-4 x 2006
------------------------------------------------------------
                                   1   2   3   4 
------------------------------------------------------------
Pikula, Dejan       g  SCG 2542    1   .   .   .   1.0      
Damljanovic, Branko g  SCG 2595    0   .   .   .   0.0      
------------------------------------------------------------

10) Gausdal Bygger'n Masters

The Gausdal Bygger'n Masters was played at Gausdal (Norway) 24 september to 2 October 2006. GM Kjetil A. Lie made an impressive performance and took clear first place with 7.5 points from 9 games. GM Tiger Hillarp Persson was second with 7 points. The surprise of the tournament was Magne Sagafos (2301) who made his second IM-norm and captured third place. News: Eirik T. Gullaksen.

Official site: http://eirikgu.home.online.no/byggern2006/

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bygger'n Masters Gausdal NOR (NOR), 24 ix-2 x 2006
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Lie, Kjetil A              g  NOR 2523  +29 +16 +10 = 4 + 9 + 2 +12 = 3 = 8  7.5  2628 
 2. Hillarp Persson, Tiger     g  SWE 2549  +24 +14 = 7 +12 + 3 - 1 + 5 + 4 = 9  7.0  2615 
 3. Sagafos, Magne                NOR 2301  +32 = 6 +11 + 8 - 2 =12 +10 = 1 = 4  6.0  2514 
 4. Holzke, Frank              m  GER 2472  +26 +19 = 9 = 1 +18 = 5 + 7 - 2 = 3  6.0  2486 
 5. Miezis, Normunds           g  LAT 2527  +21 -10 +18 +14 + 7 = 4 - 2 =11 +12  6.0  2481 
 6. Levin, Felix               g  GER 2500  +15 = 3 -12 +17 +13 -11 +18 = 9 +20  6.0  2383 
 7. Akesson, Ralf              g  SWE 2449  +31 +13 = 2 = 9 - 5 +16 - 4 +21 +11  6.0  2462 
 8. Westerinen, Heikki M.J     g  FIN 2378  +30 - 9 +21 - 3 +33 =18 +20 +14 = 1  6.0  2308 
 9. Rozentalis, Eduardas       g  LTU 2605  +17 + 8 = 4 = 7 - 1 +14 =11 = 6 = 2  5.5  2502 
10. Afek, Yochanan             m  ISR 2316  +37 + 5 - 1 =13 =11 =20 - 3 +27 +18  5.5  2323 
11. Kulaots, Kaido             g  EST 2550  +20 =12 - 3 +16 =10 + 6 = 9 = 5 - 7  5.0  2415 
12. Pitl, Gregory              f  GER 2380  +25 =11 + 6 - 2 +28 = 3 - 1 +16 - 5  5.0  2395 
13. Bentsen, Hakon                NOR 2200  +36 - 7 +24 =10 - 6 =17 =27 +25 =15  5.0  2177 
14. Hammer, Jon Ludvig         f  NOR 2306  +38 - 2 +15 - 5 +19 - 9 +24 - 8 +30  5.0  2250 
15. Lindsoe, Fredrik-Aunan        NOR 1960  - 6 +36 -14 +30 =24 +28 -16 +17 =13  5.0  2180 
16. Bentsen, Oyvind               NOR 2216  +22 - 1 +31 -11 +21 - 7 +15 -12 =19  4.5  2214 
17. Reppen, Sigmund               NOR 2071  - 9 +27 =22 - 6 +25 =13 =26 -15 +21  4.5  2123 
18. Stubberud, Ornulf             NOR 2202  +33 +28 - 5 +20 - 4 = 8 - 6 +26 -10  4.5  2231 
19. Quinn, John M                 ENG 2150  +23 - 4 =33 +22 -14 =27 -21 +31 =16  4.5  2078 
20. Kvisla, Johannes Luangtep     NOR 2054  -11 +37 +35 -18 +29 =10 - 8 +23 - 6  4.5  2197 
21. Rost,Bjorn                    NOR 1983  - 5 +32 - 8 +26 -16 +22 +19 - 7 -17  4.0  2132 
22. Ronningen,Anders              NOR ----  -16 +26 =17 -19 =31 -21 +32 =24 =29  4.0  1969 
23. Nygaard Nyberg,Daniel         NOR ----  -19 =25 -26 =32 +30 =29 +28 -20 =27  4.0  1938 
24. Johansson, Per                SWE 1996  - 2 +30 -13 =31 =15 +33 -14 =22 =25  4.0  2017 
25. Hobber, Anders                NOR 1926  -12 =23 +27 -28 -17 +35 +29 -13 =24  4.0  2034 
26. Hagen, Anders Gjerdum         NOR 1949  - 4 -22 +23 -21 +38 +31 =17 -18 =28  4.0  2021 
27. Birger-Nilsen, Joachim        NOR 1988  +35 -17 -25 =29 +34 =19 =13 -10 =23  4.0  2028 
28. Bjorgvik, Jan Arne            NOR 2082  +34 -18 =29 +25 -12 -15 -23 +36 =26  4.0  2001 
29. Sjol, Henrik                  NOR 1980  - 1 +38 =28 =27 -20 =23 -25 +35 =22  4.0  2003 
30. Time, Jonathan                NOR 1864  - 8 -24 +32 -15 -23 +34 +36 +33 -14  4.0  1988 
31. Wilsbeck, Jan B               NOR 1931  - 7 +34 -16 =24 =22 -26 +33 -19 +37  4.0  2003 
32. Jacobsen, Maria Pitz          NOR 1836  - 3 -21 -30 =23 =36 +37 -22 +38 +34  4.0  1939 
33. Wibe, Per H                   NOR 1809  -18 =35 =19 +37 - 8 -24 -31 -30 +38  3.0  1898 
34. Kalkman de Koster,Franzke     NED ----  -28 -31 =38 +36 -27 -30 +35 -37 -32  2.5  1766 
35. Helberg,Harald                NOR ----  -27 =33 -20 =38 =37 -25 -34 -29 +36  2.5  1772 
36. Sondresen,Per                 NOR ----  -13 -15 =37 -34 =32 +38 -30 -28 -35  2.0  1739 
37. Bue, Gunnar                   NOR 1850  -10 -20 =36 -33 =35 -32 -38 +34 -31  2.0  1756 
38. Lie, Terje                    NOR 1842  -14 -29 =34 =35 -26 -36 +37 -32 -33  2.0  1750 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

11) XIX Moratalaz Open

The XIX Moratalaz Open took place 18th-25th September of 2006. IM Herminio Herraiz won the event with 7.5/9. News: Lou Caruana.

Official site: http://www.ajedrezdetorneo.com/moratalaz/

------------------------------------------------------------------------
19th Moratalaz Open Madrid ESP (ESP), 18-26 ix 2006
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1. Herraiz Hidalgo, Herminio         m  ESP 2492  7½   45    54    39½
  2. Caruana, Fabiano                  m  ITA 2444  7½   41½   48½   40½
  3. Barria, Daniel                    m  CHI 2420  7    45½   53    38
  4. Almagro Llamas, Pablo             f  ESP 2380  7    42    50½   36
  5. Elissalt Cardenas, Hector         m  CUB 2329  7    41½   50½   36
  6. Moreno Ruiz, Javier               m  ESP 2469  7    40    48    35½
  7. Valles Moreno, Ivan                  ESP 2356  6½   46    55½   38
  8. Roa Alonso, Santiago              f  ESP 2418  6½   44½   53½   37
  9. Martinez Martin, David            m  ESP 2402  6½   43    52    33½
 10. Rabadan Velasco, Raul                ESP 2227  6½   42½   51½   38
 11. Fernandez Garcia, Miguel A        f  ESP 2317  6½   40    47    33½
 12. Perez Marco, Ricardo                 ESP 2167  6½   38    47    34
 13. Garcia Ruido, Ricardo                ESP 2200  6½   36    44    32½
167 players

12) ProMoPro Open

The ProMoPro Open took place in Prague 9th-17th September 2006. Ivan Hausner won with 7/9.

Official site: http://www.viktorka.cz/jandecka.nsf/i/open_2006

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ProMoPro Open Prague CZE (CZE), 9-17 ix 2006
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Hausner, Ivan        m  CZE 2388  +27 +13 = 6 + 2 + 3 = 4 =16 = 5 +11  7.0  2433 
 2. Sodoma, Jan             CZE 2285  +21 + 9 +14 - 1 + 5 + 6 = 4 +16 - 3  6.5  2368 
 3. Vedral, Oldrich         CZE 2242  +29 +36 =31 +18 - 1 =10 =11 +13 + 2  6.5  2318 
 4. Vaculik, Martin         CZE 2272  +35 =24 =15 +31 + 8 = 1 = 2 = 6 = 5  6.0  2320 
 5. Londyn, Radek           CZE 2301  +32 +20 = 8 = 7 - 2 +30 +13 = 1 = 4  6.0  2299 
 6. Stross, Frantisek       CZE 2256  +44 +19 = 1 = 8 + 7 - 2 +31 = 4 =10  6.0  2315 
 7. Vokoun, Jan          f  CZE 2217  =22 +43 +12 = 5 - 6 +15 =10 = 9 +19  6.0  2235 
 8. Erneker, Josef          CZE 2198  +48 +30 = 5 = 6 - 4 =19 +24 =10 +18  6.0  2248 
 9. Slovak, Pavel           CZE 2084  +42 - 2 =29 +33 -10 +17 +23 = 7 +16  6.0  2218 
10. Pirklova, Hana          CZE 2132  =26 =17 =27 +35 + 9 = 3 = 7 = 8 = 6  5.5  2189 
11. Kubikova, Hana       wf CZE 2162  +28 -14 =25 =32 +21 +27 = 3 +12 - 1  5.5  2162 
12. Bernasek, Vaclav        CZE 2128  +38 =39 - 7 =27 =14 +35 +25 -11 +30  5.5  2126 
13. Wichs, Jakub            CZE 2093  +37 - 1 =32 +22 +43 +23 - 5 - 3 +25  5.5  2195 
14. Stolc, Martin           CZE 1993  +16 +11 - 2 =23 =12 -31 =30 =28 +36  5.0  2190 
15. Urbanek, Stepan         CZE 2086  =34 +22 = 4 =16 =31 - 7 +27 =23 =17  5.0  2164 
16. Seleljo, Daniel         CZE 2303  -14 +38 +39 =15 +17 +18 = 1 - 2 - 9  5.0  2151 
17. Drabek,Vojtech          CZE ----  =23 =10 =19 +24 -16 - 9 +34 +39 =15  5.0  2147 
18. Hase, Pavel             CZE 2129  =43 +34 +24 - 3 +25 -16 =19 +22 - 8  5.0  2136 
19. Szirmai, Emil           CZE 2074  +41 - 6 =17 =28 +40 = 8 =18 +31 - 7  5.0  2152 
20. Framberk, Jan           CZE 2089  +40 - 5 =35 =29 =28 =39 =22 +32 =21  5.0  2059 
21. Drahorad, Daniel        CZE 1985  - 2 =40 =26 +38 -11 =29 +43 +24 =20  5.0  2104 
22. Slechta, Karel          CZE 1935  = 7 -15 +42 -13 +46 +36 =20 -18 +31  5.0  2138 
23. Karl, Winfried          GER 2173  =17 =26 +30 =14 +34 -13 - 9 =15 =28  4.5  2032 
24. Petrak, Robert          CZE 2079  +45 = 4 -18 -17 +29 +28 - 8 -21 +38  4.5  2058 
25. Ryslink, Daniel         CZE 2014  +47 -31 =11 +26 -18 +34 -12 +29 -13  4.5  2071 
26. Tomisek,Petr            CZE ----  =10 =23 =21 -25 -35 +44 =36 =27 +39  4.5  2035 
27. Stepanek, Svatopluk     CZE 2005  - 1 +37 =10 =12 +44 -11 -15 =26 +42  4.5  2095 
28. Nad,Boris               CZE ----  -11 +47 =36 =19 =20 -24 +42 =14 =23  4.5  2069 
29. Trnka, Jaroslav         CZE 1942  - 3 +49 = 9 =20 -24 =21 +37 -25 +40  4.5  2054 
30. Zalsky, Petr            CZE 2034  +46 - 8 -23 +37 +32 - 5 =14 +33 -12  4.5  2063 
31. Benes, Petr1            CZE 2189  +33 +25 = 3 - 4 =15 +14 - 6 -19 -22  4.0  2030 
32. Bohac, Jaroslav         CZE 1990  - 5 +45 =13 =11 -30 +43 =39 -20 =37  4.0  2033 
33. Horak, Karel            CZE 1786  -31 =41 +46 - 9 -39 +47 +40 -30 =34  4.0  1992 
34. Cabart,Pavel            CZE ----  =15 -18 +48 +39 -23 -25 -17 +43 =33  4.0  1960 
35. Kovar, Josef            CZE 1981  - 4 +50 =20 -10 +26 -12 =38 -36 +44  4.0  2028 
36. Simunek, Josef          CZE 2056  +50 - 3 =28 -43 +41 -22 =26 +35 -14  4.0  1973 
37. Ruzicka,Vitezslav       CZE ----  -13 -27 +47 -30 +49 =40 -29 +41 =32  4.0  1964 
38. Muzikar,Martin          CZE ----  -12 -16 +50 -21 =47 +41 =35 +44 -24  4.0  2005 
39. Rakous, Pavel           CZE 2011  +49 =12 -16 -34 +33 =20 =32 -17 -26  3.5  1952 
40. Vnoucek,Pavel           CZE ----  -20 =21 =44 +48 -19 =37 -33 +45 -29  3.5  1883 
41. Kovac,Petr              CZE ----  -19 =33 -43 +42 -36 -38 +49 -37 +50  3.5  1910 
42. Plicka,Jiri             CZE ----  - 9 =44 -22 -41 +48 +46 -28 +49 -27  3.5  1899 
43. Plicka,Petr             CZE ----  =18 - 7 +41 +36 -13 -32 -21 -34 =45  3.0  1927 
44. Prachar, Josef          CZE 1962  - 6 =42 =40 +49 -27 -26 +46 -38 -35  3.0  1901 
45. Stvan,Marek             CZE ----  -24 -32 -49 -46 =50 +48 +47 -40 =43  3.0  1864 
46. Maly,Petr               CZE ----  -30 =48 -33 +45 -22 -42 -44 +50 =47  3.0  1825 
47. Kukacka,Ladislav        CZE ----  -25 -28 -37 +50 =38 -33 -45 +48 =46  3.0  1834 
48. Novotny, Vladimir       CZE 1833  - 8 =46 -34 -40 -42 -45 =50 -47 +49  2.0  1802 
49. Filipec,Pavel           CZE ----  -39 -29 +45 -44 -37 +50 -41 -42 -48  2.0  1752 
50. Cozl,Miroslav           CZE ----  -36 -35 -38 -47 =45 -49 =48 -46 -41  1.0  1634 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

13) Dunav-Drava-Sava

The international league "Dunav-Drava-Sava 2006" took place 15-20 september 2006. in Tuzla (north-east Bosnia and Hrezegovina). In each teams had 4-6 players.All themselves it played individual 9.round and the best four scored for teams rank. In teams rank the best was SK "Tusanj" Tuzla afore SK PLANUM Vukovar. In individual rank the best was IM Stojanovic Dalibor, the second was IM Nurkic Sahbaz and third Tomic Bosko. Chief arbiter:Milan Cvijetinovic and Mihajlo Savic, for pairings, both IA.

Official site: http://www.chessdiagonals.com/

-------------------------------------------------------
12th DDS League and Open Tuzla BIH (BIH), 15-26 ix 2006
-------------------------------------------------------
 1. Stojanovic, Dalibor      m  BIH 2472  7    42
 2. Nurkic, Sahbaz           m  BIH 2395  6½   40
 3. Tomic, Bosko                BIH 2341  6½   37½
 9. Budimir, Boris           f  BIH 2322  6½   37
 5. Avdic, Adnan                BIH 2288  6    41½
 4. Mrkonjic, Nenad          m  CRO 2378  6    41
 8. Majeric, Zoran           m  CRO 2292  6    39½
 7. Karahmetovic, Adnan         BIH 2287  6    39
 6. Mujic, Hamza             f  BIH 2352  5½   39½
11. Goric, Esad              m  BIH 2293  5½   38
10. Saric, Sinisa            f  SCG 2259  5½   37
12. Runic, Zoran             m  BIH 2427  5½   36
13. Trumic, Enes                BIH 2295  5½   34½
14. Avdil, Halil                BIH 2303  5½   32½
15. Elez, Sinisa                SCG 2168  5½   31
43 players

Final Ranking
-------------
 
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|1|SK TUSANJ Tusanj       |24½|148½|17|
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|1|Nurkic Sahbaz          |6½ | 40 |4 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|2|Tomic Bosko            |6½ |37½ |4 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|3|Budimir Boris          |6½ | 37 |5 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|4|Sprecic Mustafa        | 5 | 34 |4 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|2|SK PLANUM Vukovar      |23 |155½|16|
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|1|Mrkonjic Nenad         | 6 | 41 |3 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|2|Majeric Zoran          | 6 |39½ |4 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|3|Goric Esad             |5½ | 38 |5 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|4|Saric Sinisa           |5½ | 37 |4 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|3|SK PANTERI Bijeljina   |23 |142 |19|
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|1|Stojanovic Dalibor     | 7 | 42 |5 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|2|Runic Zoran            |5½ | 36 |5 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|3|Elez Sinisa            |5½ | 31 |5 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|4|Tonkovic Robert        | 5 | 33 |4 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|4|DOO RUDAR Tuzla        |22 |144½|14|
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|1|Avdic Adnan            | 6 |41½ |3 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|2|Karahmetovic Adnan     | 6 | 39 |4 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|3|Trumic Enes            |5½ |34½ |4 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|4|Nezirovic Ozren        |4½ |29½ |3 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|5|OSK ZIVINICE Zivinice  |19 |130½|13|
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|1|Mujic Hamza            |5½ |39½ |4 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|2|Bajric Sakib           | 5 |34½ |4 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|3|Avdic Amir             |4½ |26½ |3 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|4|Mahmutbegovic Midhat   | 4 | 30 |2 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|6|AGRONOM Novi Sad       |17½|121½|14|
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|1|Cengija Vanja          | 5 | 34 |4 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|2|Dugonjic Dragan        |4½ |31½ |4 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|3|Blagojevic Srdjan      |4½ | 28 |4 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|4|Zupcevic Nedim         |3½ | 28 |2 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|7|SK JEDINSTVO Brcko     |16½|117 |12|
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|1|Avdil Halil            |5½ |32½ |4 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|2|Omercic Adnan          |4½ |30½ |4 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|3|Mikanovic Sandro       |3½ |28½ |2 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|4|Ilic Slavisa           | 3 |25½ |2 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|8|SK UGLJEVIK Ugljevik   |15½|116 |11|
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|1|Hadzimehmedovic Mustafa| 4 |31½ |4 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|2|Gajic Zoran            | 4 | 29 |3 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|3|Piric Fikret           | 4 |28½ |2 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+
|4|Hadzic Hazim           |3½ | 27 |2 |
+-+-----------------------+---+----+--+

14) 2nd Efim Geller Memorial Open

The 2nd Efim Geller Memorial Open (not to be confused with the rapid chess Geller Memorials which are also organised in Odessa) took place in Odessa, Ukraine from 18-26 September. The first place in the A-Open with 68 participants (among them there were 9 GMs and 2 WGMs) took GM Michail Brodsky of Kharkov, who had the better tiebreak than other four players who also scored 6.5 points. WIM Carmen Voicu of Romania took the prize for the best result among women. The B-Open with 106 participants was won by Vladimir Holkin (Elo 2000) who scored 8/9. The blitz tournament on September 27 with the first prize of UAH 1.000 (approx. 200 USD) was won by GM Yuri Drozdovsky of Odessa.

This year, the main sponsor of the Memorial was Bank Pivdenny, the largest bank in the South of Ukraine. The memorial was supported by Association of Chess Professionals (ACP). On September 27, at the closing ceremony in the Hotel Mozart, the president of the Odessa chess federation Vadim Morokhovsky announced that the rapid chess world cup with participation with some of the world's top players can take place in Odessa in January 2007. (News and 50 selected games: GM Mikhail Golubev, http://www.chesstoday.net).

Official site: http://www.chess.odessa.ua/

Ranking after round 9 of International Chess Turnaiment"Geller memorial" A
No.  PNo.  Name                       Score WP    SB     PS    rat.  TPR  W-We
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1.    1  Brodsky, Michail            6.5  52.0  36.50  37.5  2571 2634 +0.74
        7  Zubarev, Alexander          6.5  48.5  34.50  35.0  2518 2579 +0.74
        2  Vysochin, Spartak           6.5  48.0  33.75  33.0  2555 2594 +0.47
        4  Zubov, Alexander            6.5  47.5  33.50  31.0  2538 2539 +0.02
       14  Golubev, Mikhail            6.5  43.0  31.00  30.0  2467 2455 -0.07
  6.    5  Solodovnichenko, Yuri       6.0  50.0  31.75  32.0  2537 2540 -0.03
        3  Drozdovskij, Yuri           6.0  49.0  31.75  31.5  2552 2548 -0.03
        6  Shishkin, Vadim             6.0  49.0  31.75  31.5  2529 2523 -0.12
       16  Sumets, Andrey              6.0  48.0  30.50  31.5  2462 2514 +0.60
        9  Savchenko, Stanislav        6.0  48.0  30.00  32.5  2508 2543 +0.42
       29  Kovalenko, Igor        U    6.0  47.0  29.25  29.5  2325 2536 +2.28
       18  Kozel, Roman                6.0  45.5  26.25  30.0  2415 2464 +0.50
 13.   11  Kryakvin, Dmitry            5.5  48.0  28.00  30.0  2488 2435 -0.62
       23  Nedilko, Vasily             5.5  48.0  26.50  30.0  2390 2482 +1.18
       10  Tunik, Gennady              5.5  47.5  25.75  30.0  2488 2467 -0.26
       22  Kiselev, Vitaliy       U    5.5  47.5  25.75  29.0  2392 2440 +0.64
       17  Vovk, Yuri             U    5.5  47.0  25.75  30.5  2441 2476 +0.46
        8  Malaniuk, Vladimir P        5.5  45.0  26.00  28.0  2511 2391 -1.34
 19.   15  Legky, Nikolay A            5.0  47.5  24.25  30.0  2464 2445 -0.31
       31  Tishin, D.             U    5.0  45.0  22.75  26.5  2313 2388 +0.58
       13  Podgaets, Mikhail           5.0  44.5  23.25  28.0  2472 2374 -1.21
       24  Vovk, Andrey           U    5.0  44.0  22.25  25.5  2388 2310 -0.94
       44  Ipatov, Alexander           5.0  43.5  22.00  24.0  2178 2332 +1.68
       33  Voicu, Carmen          G    5.0  43.5  20.25  27.5  2286 2399 +1.20
       20  Peskov, Alexsey             5.0  43.0  21.75  25.0  2400 2277 -1.48
       21  Shilin, Denis               5.0  42.0  20.50  25.0  2392 2315 -0.94
       25  Galakhov, Vladimir          5.0  41.5  22.25  25.0  2383 2350 -0.26
       46  Yusupov, Maxim         U    5.0  40.5  20.50  23.0  2153 2279 +1.11
       32  Garifulin, Alexander   U    5.0  39.5  19.00  25.5  2291 2299 +0.06
       37  Shevtsov, Nikoliy      U    5.0  39.0  14.25  22.0  2255 2241 -0.15
       26  Stets, Vasilij              5.0  37.0  17.50  23.0  2351 2198 -1.60
68 players

15) 10th Itau Cup

The 10th Itau Cup took place in Sao Paulo took place 23rd-30th September 2006. Giovanni Vescovi edged out Neuris Delgado on tie-break after both finished on 8/9.

Official site: http://www.cxsp.com.br/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
X Itau Cup Sao Paulo BRA (BRA), 23-30 ix 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Vescovi, Giovanni                 g  BRA 2619  8     45.0  56.5   42.5 47.00
 2. Delgado, Neuris                   g  CUB 2523  8     43.5  55.5   41.5 43.50
 3. Leitao, Rafael                    g  BRA 2598  7     44.0  55.0   38.0 40.50
 4. Milos, Gilberto                   g  BRA 2563  7     43.5  55.0   39.5 40.00
 5. Matsuura, Everaldo                m  BRA 2445  7     42.0  53.5   38.5 38.00
 6. Crosa, Martin                     m  URU 2405  7     42.0  53.5   38.0 40.00
 7. Van Riemsdijk, Herman C           m  BRA 2376  7     42.0  53.5   37.0 39.00
 8. Rodriguez, Andres                 g  URU 2511  7     40.5  51.5   37.0 38.00
 9. Di Berardino, Diego Rafael           BRA 2370  7     39.5  52.0   37.5 37.00
10. Mekhitarian, Krikor Sevag            BRA 2448  7     39.0  49.5   36.0 36.00
11. Diamant, Andre                    f  BRA 2306  6.5   42.5  53.0   37.0 36.75
12. Limp, Eduardo                     m  BRA 2413  6.5   41.0  53.0   36.5 34.75
13. Prates, Fabiano                      BRA 2274  6.5   39.5  51.0   35.0 33.75
14. Santos, M.V.M                     f  BRA 2416  6.5   38.5  50.5   36.0 35.25
15. Sega, Carlos Alberto              f  BRA 2266  6.5   37.5  48.0   33.5 35.00
16. Pelikian, Jefferson               m  BRA 2385  6.5   37.0  48.0   34.5 32.00
17. Fier, Alexander Hilario Takeda    m  BRA 2459  6.5   37.0  47.5   33.0 31.50
18. De Araujo,Jose Roberto                   ----  6.5   37.0  46.5   30.5 30.75
19. Tsuboi, Edson Kenji               f  BRA 2287  6.5   34.0  44.0   33.0 28.75
20. De Souza Haro, Paulo Cezar        f  BRA 2198  6.5   33.5  43.5   32.5 30.75
205 players

16) Quality Leagues of Vojvodina

The quality leagues of Vojvodina for men and women took place in Sremska Mitrovica 21th-28th September 2006. In men's event there were 10 teams in a robin round and the women's 14 teams in a 5 round swiss. The victors were SK "Agronom" Novi Sad (men) and SK"Srem" Sremska Mitrovica (women). The both teams will play next year in the first league of the Republic Serbia. The Cheif arbiter was Mihajlo Savic, IA.

Details: http://www.chessdiagonals.com

Men Final Ranking
-----------------
 
+----+------------------------------+----+-+-+-+--+----+----+-----+
|Rank|Team                          |Gam.|+|=|-|MP|Pts.|Res.|SB.  |
+----+------------------------------+----+-+-+-+--+----+----+-----+
|   1|"Srem" Sremska Mitrovica      |   5|4|1|0|9 |11½ |0   |40,75|
+----+------------------------------+----+-+-+-+--+----+----+-----+
|   2|"Agronom" Novi Sad            |   5|3|1|1|7 |10½ |0   |24,00|
+----+------------------------------+----+-+-+-+--+----+----+-----+
|   3|"Bora Kostic" Vrsac           |   5|3|1|1|7 |10  |0   |24,25|
+----+------------------------------+----+-+-+-+--+----+----+-----+
|   4|"Sahmatni kruzok" Novi Sad    |   5|3|1|1|7 |9½  |0   |20,00|
+----+------------------------------+----+-+-+-+--+----+----+-----+
|   5|"Mladost" Nova Pazova         |   5|2|2|1|6 |7½  |0   |19,25|
+----+------------------------------+----+-+-+-+--+----+----+-----+
|   6|"Hajduk" Curug                |   5|3|0|2|6 |7   |0   |17,50|
+----+------------------------------+----+-+-+-+--+----+----+-----+
|   7|"Radnicki" Bajmok             |   5|2|1|2|5 |6½  |0   |15,75|
+----+------------------------------+----+-+-+-+--+----+----+-----+
|   8|"Novosadski sah klub" Novi Sad|   5|2|1|2|5 |6½  |0   |13,50|
+----+------------------------------+----+-+-+-+--+----+----+-----+
|   9|"Ivan Kurjacki" Pancevo       |   5|2|1|2|5 |6   |4   |15,25|
+----+------------------------------+----+-+-+-+--+----+----+-----+
|  10|"Somborski sah klub" Sombor   |   5|1|2|2|4 |6   |0   |14,00|
+----+------------------------------+----+-+-+-+--+----+----+-----+
|  11|"Stara Pazova" Stara Pazova   |   5|1|1|3|3 |4½  |0   |9,25 |
+----+------------------------------+----+-+-+-+--+----+----+-----+
|  12|"Naftagas" Elemir             |   5|0|2|3|2 |6   |1   |5,75 |
+----+------------------------------+----+-+-+-+--+----+----+-----+
|    |"PASK" Pancevo                |   5|0|2|3|2 |6   |1   |5,75 |
+----+------------------------------+----+-+-+-+--+----+----+-----+
|  14|"Radnicki" Zrenjanin          |   5|0|2|3|2 |5½  |0   |6,00 |
+----+------------------------------+----+-+-+-+--+----+----+-----+
 

Women Final Ranking
-------------------
 
+----+-----------------------------+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+----+----+------+
|Rank|Team                         |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 |6 |7 |8 |9 |10|MP|Pts.|Res.|SB.   |
+----+-----------------------------+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+----+----+------+
|   1|SK"AGRONOM" Novi Sad         |* |4 |3 |4 |3½|3½|4½|5 |4½|4 |17|36  |0   |218,75|
+----+-----------------------------+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+----+----+------+
|   2|SK"STARA PAZOVA" Stara Pazova|2 |* |3 |4½|4½|2½|3½|4½|3½|5½|13|33½ |0   |156,75|
+----+-----------------------------+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+----+----+------+
|   3|SK"IVAN KURJACKI" Pancevo    |3 |3 |* |3 |2 |2½|4 |4½|4½|4 |11|30½ |1   |131,00|
+----+-----------------------------+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+----+----+------+
|   4|SK"RADNICKI" Zrenjanin       |2 |1½|3 |* |2½|3½|3½|5 |4½|5 |11|30½ |1   |124,75|
+----+-----------------------------+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+----+----+------+
|   5|SK"PASK" 1 Pancevo           |2½|1½|4 |3½|* |3½|2½|5 |3 |4½|11|30  |0   |135,75|
+----+-----------------------------+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+----+----+------+
|   6|"SOMBORSKI SK" Sombor        |2½|3½|3½|2½|2½|* |3 |3 |5 |3 |9 |28½ |0   |115,25|
+----+-----------------------------+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+----+----+------+
|   7|SK"JUGOVIC" Kac              |1½|2½|2 |2½|3½|3 |* |3 |3 |3 |6 |24  |0   |72,75 |
+----+-----------------------------+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+----+----+------+
|   8|SK"NAFTAGAS" Elemir          |1 |1½|1½|1 |1 |3 |3 |* |4½|3 |5 |19½ |0   |55,75 |
+----+-----------------------------+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+----+----+------+
|   9|SK"MLADOST" Nova Pazova      |1½|2½|1½|1½|3 |1 |3 |1½|* |6 |4 |21½ |0   |43,00 |
+----+-----------------------------+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+----+----+------+
|  10|SK"RADNICKI" Bajmok          |2 |½ |2 |1 |1½|3 |3 |3 |0 |* |3 |16  |0   |36,00 |
+----+-----------------------------+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+----+----+------+
 

17) 10th Waalwijk Blitz championship

Daniel Fridman has won the tenth blitz championship of Waalwijk, The Netherlands. Fridman beat local hero Loek Van Wely in the final. Fridman, playing the white pieces, had ten minutes to beat Van Wely who had eight minutes, but only needed a draw. Van Wely outplayed Fridman, winning a piece along the way, but this took too much time. When Loek had a few seconds left, Fridman tricked him to a mate. Report Peter Doggers.

There are videos of the event at: http://www.doggers-schaak.nl/

18) World Blitz Championship

As reported in TWIC 618 the World Blitz Championship final took place on 7th September 2006 in Rishon Le Zion (Israel). This was a Round Robin Tournament with 16 players. Alexander Grischuk won a final armageddon playoff game (he had white but had to win) against Peter Svidler to take the title after they tied during the all-play-all phase. There is now some film of the event with exclusive video interviews with the winners of the first WBC, and about 5 minutes of video clip from the event at: http://www.ichessu.com/Live.aspx

Official site: http://www.fideblitz.com

19) Forthcoming Events and Links

XLI Capablanca Memorial

The XLI Capablanca Memorial had to move from its normal dates in May due to the Turin Olympiad. This years event takes place 19th-30th November 2006 in the hotel Habana Riviera.

As usual there will be a number of events, the elite for players rated over 2600 and an 11 round swiss with 22 players etc

For details and entry by 3rd November 2006 contact: anayar@inder.co.cu or baby@inder.co.cu or baby@23yb.uci.cu

OBRO Chessclub tournament Copenhagen 2 players wanted

The 70 year jubilee tournament of OBRO Chessclub Copenhagen takes place October 14th-22nd 2006. They could use two foreigners more (preferably 2300+ and chasing an IM norm) entering a 9 round modified Swiss tournament with so far 29 participants, headed by GM Varga (H), IM Antoniewski (PL), IM Vajda (H), IM Glud (DK) and IM Hermansson (S).

Private lodgings will be found for the players and they will not have to pay an entry fee. Transportation and food will be the problem of the participant(s).

This should be a very good offer to youngsters chasing IM norm possibilities. A tournament served on a plate with free lodging in expensive Copenhagen.

The participant list will be maintained at this link: http://www.oebroskak.dk/aktiviteter/aktiv_beskriv.asp?id=160

Any questions for potential participants should be addressed to Soren Bech Hansen at: sorenbh@post10.tele.dk

27th Bethune International Open

The Bethune chess club is preparing his 27th International Open, Hall Olof Palme, Commercial centre La Rotonde, Bethune, France (Pas-de-Calais) from December 26 to 30. 9 rounds The tournament is divided in 2 tournaments: - Tournament A for players whose Elo rating is above or equal to 1600, 1st price : 1500 euros - Tournament B for players strictly below 1800 and not FIDE, 1st price : 300 euros, Fischer pace 1h30+30s KO for each game in both tournaments. At least 5500 euros of prices, prices for Elo categories in both tournaments. Inscription fee : 40 euros (adults), 20 euros (youngsters under 20), free for IM, GM and FIDE Masters. Conditions for IM and GM and special conditions for GM>2600, contact us at open@bethunechess.com For more information visit: http://www.bethunechess.com

13th Vasja Pirc Memorial

The 13th Vasja Pirc Memorial and International Open Championship of Slovenia in Rapid Chess takes place in Maribor, sports hall 8th October 2006. 9 rounds swiss.

Contact: Georg MOHR, Mobile: +386-40-834-432, georg.mohr@siol.net

Internet: http://www.sah-zveza.si/rez/0610/pirc/

XI Blind Individual World Chess Championship

The All India Chess Fedederation for the Blind organises the XI individual world chess championship for the blind in Goa 8th-19th October 2006 at the Radisson white sands hotel. The event is held every 4 years. More than 35 countries have confirmed their participation.

Official site: http://www.aicfb.org/iwccb.html

World U-20 Juniors and Girls Championships

World U-20 s and Girls Chess Championships takes place October 2nd to 17th 2006, in Yerevan, Armenia.

Official site: http://www.armchess.am.

Galway Chess Congress

The Galway Chess Congress 2006 took place September 29th - October 1st 2006.

Official site: http://www.galwaychess.net/

Corus Invitations

in a press release on September 19th 2006 on their website the Corus, Wijk aan Zee organisers announced the first players for the event in January 2007. The top three in the world Veselin Topalov, Viswanathan Anand and Levon Aronian will all play. It was already known that Alexander Motylev qualified from the B group last year and that Magnus Carlsen who officially lost out on tie-break to him would also be invited.

Official site: http://www.coruschess.com/article.php?s=n115

First Saturday October

FIRST SATURDAY Budapest GM-IM-FM round robins, 7th-19th October 2006. There are some vacancies. E-mail Laszlo Nagy if interested at: firstsat@hu.inter.net

Website: http://www.firstsaturday.hu

Hastings Congress

The Hastings Congress takes place 28th December 2006 - 7 January 2007. 9 round master Swiss +many other events including a FIDE Rated open 6-7 January. Details Con Power conpowr@aol.com.

Further details: http://www.hastingschess.org.uk/

3rd IGB Dato' Arthur Tan Malaysia Open

The 3rd IGB Dato' Arthur Tan Malaysia Open Chess Championship took place 21st-27th August 2006. Total prizes:USD$ 18,000 (RM 68,000). Dao Thien Hai won the event with 8/11 on tie break from four others on that score. Games may become available.

Official site: http://malaysiaopen.net/

17th NATO Championship

7th NATO CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP took place at Wellington College, Berkshire (UK) 21st-25th August 2006 after the Stauton Memorial. Results and games not yet available.

Official site: http://www.natochess.org/

Hungarian tournaments September-December 2006

1. 2nd-14th September FIRST SATURDAY GM-IM-FM round robins (BERGER- ROUND ROBIN), 9-13 games, GM-IM norm possibilities in Budapest, venue: Hungarian Chess Federation, Falk Miksa Str.10. 2nd floor. Organisation: Nagy Laszlo, FIDE International Chess Organizer /NL/, E-mail: firstsat@hu.inter.net Website: http://www.firstsaturday.hu Other website: http://home.hu.inter.net/~firstsat Phone-fax: +(361)-2632859, cellphone: +(36)-30-230-1914 /From 12:00 a.m. until midnight - Central European Time - GMT+1 hour/..

2. 16th-24th of September Kecskemet, IM Berger tmt, org: Dr.Erdelyi, Tamas, e-mail: postmaster@caissa.t-online.hu Website: http://www.caissachessbooks.hu Usually also in the second half of the month IM tmt-s in Kecskemet. 100 km South from Budapest.

3. 15th-23rd of September BUDAPEST AUTUMN - 1st GOLD CROWN Kup, 9 rounds Swiss Open, Org: Nagy Laszlo. firstsat@hu.inter.net Website: www.firstsaturday.hu

4.. 7th-19th of October, FS GM-IM, Budapest Org: .Nagy Laszlo,

5. 14th-22nd of October, 9 round Swiss Open tmt HÉVÍZ - 150 km West from Budapest, org: IM RIGO, Janos, website: www.lellechess.tar.hu

6. 4th-16th of November FS GM-IM-FM closed tmt, Budapest, info Nagy Laszlo.

7.. 16th-24th of of November, TENKES KUPA - OPEN, Harkány, 250 km South West from Budapest, Organizer: Mr FULOP, Csaba E-mail: fulopcsa@invitel.hu

8 2nd-15th of December, FS GM-IM-FM, Budapest, info Nagy Laszlo.

Hull Congress

The 43rd Hull Chess Congress (Yorkshire, England) will take place in the Student Union Building, University of Hull, over the weekend of November 17-19, 2006. This year's Hull Congress has three sections, Open, Under 150 and Under 100 and the total prize fund for the tournament is 1200 pounds (1st 250, 2nd 100, 3rd 50 each section), with the option of adding additional prizes based on the number of entries. The entry fee is just 15 pounds if you commit your entry on or before October 31, 2006 and just 20 pounds after that date. For more information about the Hull Congress and to download an entry form, please visit the new Hull & District Chess Association website at http://www.h-d-c-a.org.uk/ or contact Mark Ieronimo, Tournament Organizer, at congress@h-d-c-a.org.uk to obtain an entry form via email.

Secrets of the July 2006 FIDE Rating List

"Secrets of the July 2006 FIDE Rating List" by Boris Schipkov, 15.08.2006 appears on the website Chess Siberia http://www.chessib.com/. There are more than 1000 grandmasters in the World now. Germany leads on the number of players with rating. The greatest increase in number of players was in France.

Kramnik - Deep Fritz

Vladimir Kramnik will play the ChessBase computer program Deep Fritz in a 6 game match 25th November - 5th December 2006 in the German’s Art and Exhibition Hall in Bonne. Kramnik stands to win a prize of $1 Million US for a win in the match doubling his starting fee.

Asked how he estimates his chances, Kramnik reacted cautiously: "Fritz examines millions of moves per second. It is extraordinarily difficult to play against such a calculating monster. Right from the start you are walking on a very narrow ridge, and you know that any inattentiveness will be your downfall. It is a scientific experiment and I will have to fight very hard for my chance."

The WCC is being organized by Universal Event Promotion (UEP), in cooperation with the Art and Exhibition Hall.

Schedule: Game 1: Saturday 25.11.2006 16h Game 2: Monday 27.11.2006 16h Game 3: Wednesday 29.11.2006 16h Game 4: Friday 01.12.2006 16h Game 5: Sunday 03.12.2006 16h Game 6: Tuesday 05.12.2006 16h

During the entire period of the match the Art and Exhibition Hall will offer a varied program.

Official site: http://www.rag.de/microsite_chess_com/

Sydney International Open 2007

The 2007 Sydney International Open will be held as a 9-round FIDE-rated Swiss event from 10th-14th April 2007. The venue is Parramatta Town Hall, an historic centre and business hub just 30 minutes by train from Central Sydney and International Airport. Some conditions are offered to titled players. It is also possible to play in Australia's largest weekender, the Doeberl Cup, a 7-round FIDE-rated event held in Canberra 6-9 April 2007. An information sheet, registration form and other details are available at http://www.chessaustralia.com.au/open. The organisers are Australian Chess Enterprises. Contact is Brian Jones at info@chessaustralia.com.au

GibTelecom Chess Festival

The GibTelecom Chess Festival takes place 23rd January - 1st February 2007. including a 9 round Masters with a rest day. Also two 5 round Swisses for players under 2200 and two separately for players under 1800. Total prize fund £71,000, including £9000 awards specifically for females with a first of £4000; £12000 for players under 2200, where such a player could win £6000; seniors £2000; junior £1000. So far Arishchenko, Efimenko, Kuzubov, Milov, Krush, Ganguly, Kunte, Sand ipan, Bellon, Cramling have accepted invitations. further details Judy Whurr conf.banq@caletahotel.gi

Further details: http://www.gibraltarchesscongress.com/

European Rapid Chess Championship

The European Rapid Chess Championship 2006 takes place in Warsaw, Poland (at the same time the 6th AMPLICO AIG LIFE Tournament played during the 25th Memorial of Stanislaw Gawlikowski) takes place 16th-17th of December 2006. The prize fund is 20.000 Euros. The tournament is a part of the ACP Tour. Visit the Official site for more information, updates are coming soon. Contact details of Organizers and Chief arbiter.

Tournament Director - Mrs Maria Macieja mobile: + 48 603 391 318 e-mail: mariamacieja@o2.pl

Official site: http://www.warsawchess.pl/

olimpbase

The olimpbase website: http://www.olimpbase.org from April covers all team events. The latest addition is the European U18 Team Ch. has just finish in Balatonelle. Also, there is a lot on the history of this interesting event at my page, including details, games and results of all previous editions, overall statistics and medal table. See http://www.olimpbase.org/youth/euro18.html

Swiss Chess Tour Christmas 2006

The "Swiss Chess Tour 2006" will restore "Christmas Tournament" back after a one year break and four years in Interlaken this time in Bern. The change is only in the venue in the Hotel "Bern", in the very center of the city. The 1st International Open Hotel "Bern" December 26th-30th 2006. Swiss system, 7 rounds and the games will last a maximum of 5 hours (40 moves for 2 hours and 30 minutes till the end). Prize are: 2.000 SF, 1.500, 1.000, 700, 500, 400, 300, 250, 200 and 150 SF. The natural prizes till 20th place. Special prizes for best Lady, senior (1945), junior (1986-89), schoolboy (1990) and best local player. Entry fee 130 SF, FMs and juniors 60 SF, at the door 20 SF more, GMs and IMs free. Venue: Hotel "Bern" Blitz tournament, Swiss system, 9 double rounds.Prize are: 300, 200, 150, 2x100, 2x50 CHF. Entry fee 20 CHF (juniors 5 CHF) Time table for "Bern Open": December 26. The last registration 12.00-13.00. Open ceremony and apero reception from 13.30-14.00. Round 1st 14.00-19.00. December 27. Round 2nd 9.30-14.30 Round 3rd 15.30-20.30 December 28.: Round 4th 14.00-19.00. Blitz Tournament 19.30-22.30. December 29. Round 5th 9.30-14.30. Round 6th 15.30-20.30 December 30. Round 7th 9.30-14.30 Closing ceremonies 15.00. Special chess rates in Hotel "Bern". More information and registration: Robert Spoerri tel. +41+62+965-465-40, fax +41+62+965-46-51 E-mail beochess@bluewin.ch

Further information: http://www.beochess.ch/

Brian Jones' Chess Clinic in Malaysia

The Chess Club of the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Secondary School in Klang, Malaysia will be organizing a half-day chess clinic by FIDE Master Brian Jones from Sydney, Australia on the 19th of August 2006. To be held at the school's Library between 1 pm and 5 pm (Malaysian time), the fee for the chess clinic is Ringgit Malaysia 50 per person.

To obtain more information and to register for the chess clinic, please contact the Chess Club at the following email address: starschool_chessclub@yahoo.com

2nd Lviv Chess Open

The Lviv Chess Club and Lviv Chess Federation organises the in Lviv (Ukraine) the 2nd International Chess Open "The Cup of Lion - 2006" from 20th-26th August 2006. ( 1 prize - 1000 $) Last year the event had 168 participants from 6 countries. The top rated players were Vysochin Spartak (UKR 2573), Kovchan Oleksander ( UKR 2508), Oleksienko Mikhailo (UKR 2487), Kryvoruchko Yurij (UKR 2476). There were 6 GMs and more than 15 IMs. Contact - nazar_f@mail333.com

Official page of the tournament - http://www.chessclub.lviv.ua/

Satka Tournament

The Satka tournament saw two all-play-all tournaments. Just results seem to be available. Chess Today reports that Parimarjan Negi became India's youngest GM at 13 years 142 days.

Tables: http://fgala.boom.ru/tourn/satka06.htm

Computer chess tournament calendar

The Computer chess tournament calendar by Frank Quisinsky has been updated. Frank's Chess Page: http://www.amateurschach.de Frank's Chess Page, CC-Calendar: http://www.amateurschach.de/atl4/_calendar.htm

AnMon 5.6 by Christian BARRETEAU won the computer chess tournament in Massy (France) with 6/6 . This tournament has been organised for many years by a very strong group of French computer chess engine programmers. Unfortunately, this year only seven French programs participated. Second place for Pharaon 3.4 by Franck ZIBI with 5/6 and the third place for ChessTiger 2006 Alpha by Christophe THERON with 4/6. In other words ... AnMon defended its title. The next computer chess tournament is the Australasian-NCC-ch in Canberra at August 20th, 2006. TOP favorits are Bodo, Trace and Warp.

Lugano tournaments

International Week-end Chess Open Lugano 2006 "ONE WEEKEND IN THE SOUTH PART OF SWITZERLAND" When: Friday, 17 November ' Sunday November Where: Hotel Flora, Via Geretta 16, 6900 Lugano- Paradiso Phone +41 91 994 16 71 Fax: +41 91 994 27 38 E-mail: hotelflora@bluewin.ch Modality: International Tournament. 5 Rounds Swiss System Rate of Play: 36 Moves in 90 Minutes + 30 Minutes K.O. Rating: CH- & FIDE

International Amateurs Chess Open Ascona 2006 Only for Amateurs, Max. 2299 ELO. , 26th December ' Saturday, 30th December 2006 Where: Hotel Ascona, via Collina, 6612 Ascona (Switzerland) Modality: International Chess Tournament. 7 Rounds Swiss System Rate of Play: 40 Moves in 120 Minutes + 60 Minutes K.O. ELO: Not valid for ELO Points (holiday mood!)

Lugano Rapid Chess Marathon Ticino Cureglia 2006 Sunday, 18.06.2006 Where? Parco Rusca (Park & town hall), CH-6944 Cureglia Modality? International Rapid Chess Tournament 24 rounds Swiss System Rate of play? 5 minutes to finish the game Prizes? CHF 600 (€ 400) / 400 (€ 268) / 300 (€ 200) / 200 (€ 133) / 100 (€ 67) CHF 100 (€ 67) Best Ticino player + 9 Special prizes (Full prize amount with 50 players, otherwise % to the number of participants ) Inscriptions? CHF 40 (€ 27) under 20 CHF 20 (€ 14), Sunday: 08.00 - 09.00 Timetable? Sunday 09.15 - 13.00 (15 rounds) 14.30 - 16.30 (9 rounds)

Further details: http://www.luganoscacchi.ch/

Frits Agterdenbos Photos

Chess Photographer Frits Agterdenbos has launched a website of his photos at: http://www.chessvista.com/. He is at the Turin Olympiad and his photo reports is available there.

FIDE Presidential Election Websites

Both Presidential tickets for the upcoming FIDE Elections in Turin now have websites.

FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov: http://www.chessfidelity.com

Bessel Kok: http://www.rightmove06.org

French Team Championship

The final four rounds of the French Team Top 16 Championship took place 4th-7th May 2006 in Asnières-sur-Seine. NAO Chess Club again won the title three points clear of Monaco who they defeated in the final round. Games from the final two rounds are not yet available (apart from the Monaco - NAO match) if anyone has them I'd be grateful.

Further details: http://www.echecs.asso.fr, http://www.europe-echecs.com/ and http://www.nao-cc.com

IbeatGarry.com: The Six Degrees of Kasparov

If you've won a game that's appeared in Chessbase Megabase 2005 then find out a series of results which by separation means you beat Garry Kasparov! Fun stuff from Karlheinz Zoechling. I'm not in Megabase but have beaten someone who has a separation of two, giving me a separation of three!

Site: http://ibeatgarry.com/

15th Open International D’Echecs de Martigny

The 15th Open International D’Echecs de Martigny takes place 4th-7th August 2006.

Further detail: http://www.uve-wsb.ch/openmartigny/

IRT Buenos Aires

An IRT (International Rated Tournament) takes place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, organized by FAOGBA (Federación de Ajedrez del Oeste del Gran Buenos Aires) Federation of Chess of the West of Great Buenos Aires. Apr, 19th-May, 20th 2006. 11 players, average ELO 2118 (eight rated players) It takes place in the halls of the Italian Society of the city of Merlo, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Official site: http://www.ajedrezfaogba.com.ar

Czech Tour 2006/2007

There is new information about the Czech Tour 2006/2007 including:

9th OLOMOUC CHESS SUMMER (the Sigma hotel) 2nd-10th August 2006.

3rd HIGHLANDS OPEN (Havlickuv Brod, the Slunce hotel) 23rd September - 1st October 2006.

7th LIBEREC OPEN (the Liberec hotel) 11th-18th November 2006.

6th PRAGUE OPEN (TOP HOTEL Praha) 11th-18th January 2007.

6th MARIENBAD OPEN (the Evropa hotel) 19th-27th January 2007.

Further details: http://www.czechtour.net or Dr. Jan Mazuch, Director of CZECH OPEN & CZECH TOUR - j.mazuch@avekont.cz

In addition there is the 27th Tournament of Chess Hopes and 17th Pobeskydi Tournament organised by the town of Frydek-Mistek 13th-17th April 2006.

Further details: http://www.chessfm.cz

10th Anniversary of correspondencechess.com

correspondencechess.com is celebrating its 10th Anniversary. It has a 10th Anniversary Commemorative Coin: http://www.correspondencechess.com/coin.htm

Home of: Grandmaster V.V. Palciauskas' The World of Correspondence Chess Senior International Master Knudsen's The Correspondence Chess Place The Campbell Report Ralph Marconi's Chess Pages The Canadian Correspondence Chess Association (CCCA) American Postal Chess Tournaments (APCT) The Correspondence Chess Message Board (TCCMB)   and much, much more!

Official site: http://www.correspondencechess.com/

Christophe Bouton Chess Blog

Christophe Bouton has started a chess blog in French at: http://echecs64.blog.20minutes.fr/

Free "How good is your chess" articles in German

For German Readers The excellent series "How good is your chess", written by the english Grandmaster Daniel King, appears also in the german language as "Test & Training". You can download a free sample in the section "Training" at http://www.schach-magazin.de

Spanish Championship

The Spanish closed and open Championships will be held in León November 22nd-30th 2006. The Hotel Conde Luna from León will be the venue and the official hotel of the organization.

Alushta Tournaments

01.02.06 Tournaments in Alushta:

GM Norm: 29.04-9.05, 11.05-21.05, 23.05-1.06, 2.06-12.06, 16.06-26.06, 2.09-12.09, 14.09-24.09, 26.09–6.10,

IM Norm: 29.04-9.05, 11.05-21.05, 23.05-1.06, 2.06-12.06, 16.06-26.06, 2.09-12.09, 14.09-24.09, 26.09–6.10,

Rating tournament: 5.06-13.06, 23.06–27.06

Open tournament (under 16 years) First prize - 200$ 14.06-22.06, Swiss 9 rounds.

Open tournament First prize - 1000$ First prize (woman)- 500$: 28.06-6.07, Swiss 9 rounds. Open tournament (rapid chess) 7.07–8.07, Swiss 9 rounds. Blitz tournament 9.07. Session of school of Gennadi Kuzmin 23.06–27.06. Individual and group studying.

Further information: http://www.kaissa.com.ua phone +38 (06560)5-05-32, +380505828911 (for Russian speaking) + 38 050 669-26-04 (for English speaking) e-mail: info@kaissa.com.ua

Seagaard ChessReviews

Soren Sogaard has announced that his site Seagaard ChessReviews will be updated after receiving a lot of positive e-mails, "I decided to try to keep running the site. I also got two new reviewers, and the well known danish IM Steffen Pedersen reviews his first book." He'll see if he can keep it going another 6 months.

Website: http://seagaard.dk/review

1st ICCF Webchess Open Tournament

The ICCF have announced the 1st WebChess Open Tournament and invites every player worldwide to participate in the event. The event is to be played on the ICCF dedicated Webserver http://www.iccf-webchess.com. This tournament is open to all correspondence chess players worldwide, also for those without any previous ICCF experience. Multiple entries are allowed. The tournament will be played in three stages - preliminaries, semifinal and final.

Details: http://www.iccf-webchess.com/Message.aspx?message=19

Russia vs ROW Correspondence

The Russian Chess Federation is celebrating its 10th anniversary and is using this occasion to challenge the rest of the world to a match over 64 boards with 2 games for each and the start is 15.02 2004. Players include Joop van Oosterom

http://www.mychessweb.com/Tables/Internationale/Play/russia-world.htm