THE WEEK IN CHESS 634 1st January 2007 by Mark Crowther

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Contents

1) Introduction
2) XVI Pamplona tournament
3) January 2007 FIDE Rating List
4) Hastings Congress
5) Reggio Emilia
6) Indian Championship
7) Rilton Cup
8) Illes Medes Open
9) 6th Amplico AIG Life
10) Matches in Astana
11) Aniversario del Par de Alfiles
12) 22nd Voivoda Cup
13) Eupen IM
14) Levikov Memorial
15) Subasic Memorial
16) Multicoms La Faisanderie
17) Iranian Championship
18) 33rd Annual Eastern Open
19) 16th IPCCC Paderborn
20) Czech Chess Christmas 2006
21) Forthcoming Events and Links

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Games section

XVI Pamplona tournament             131 games
Hastings Congress                   195 games
Reggio Emilia                        10 games
Indian Championship                 299 games
Rilton Cup                          127 games
6th Amplico AIG Life                593 games
Matches in Astana                    12 games
Aniversario del Par de Alfiles       54 games
22nd Voivoda Cup                     45 games
Eupen IM                             45 games
Levikov Memorial                     45 games
Subasic Memorial                     45 games
Multicoms La Faisanderie             90 games
Iranian Championship                 36 games
33rd Annual Eastern Open             27 games
16th IPCCC Paderborn                 35 games
1790 games

1) Introduction

My thanks to Steve Giddins, Vincent de Parades, Michael Atkins, Lou Caruana, Joaquim De Deus, Jeroen Noomen, Luiz Roberto Da Costa Jr, Jakub Fuksik, Thomas Henrich, Adolivio Capece, Torbjörn Engström, Murat Nemutlu and everyone else who helped with the issue.

A chess filled edition to bring in 2007. Best wishes to everyone for the new year.

Hope you enjoy this issue.

Mark

2) XVI Pamplona tournament

The XVI Pamplona tournaments took place 21st-29th December 2006. A and B tournaments. Alexander Morozevich won the event with and amazing 6/7. Alfonso Llorente Zaro and Mikel Huerga Leache finished with 6.5/9 in the B event and Aleksa Strikovic won the Open with 8/9.

Open tournament

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------
XVI Magistral A Pamplona ESP (ESP), 22-29 xii 2006  cat. XVII (2653)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Morozevich, Alexander      g RUS 2747  * = 1 1 = 1 1 1  6.0  2948 
2. Jakovenko, Dmitry          g RUS 2671  = * = = 1 1 = 1  5.0  2808 
3. Shirov, Alexei             g ESP 2720  0 = * 1 0 1 1 1  4.5  2745 
4. Bauer, Christian           g FRA 2585  0 = 0 * 1 = 1 1  4.0  2713 
5. Wojtaszek, Radoslaw        g POL 2630  = 0 1 0 * = = =  3.0  2606 
6. Illescas Cordoba, Miguel   g ESP 2620  0 0 0 = = * 1 =  2.5  2556 
7. Laznicka, Viktor           g CZE 2596  0 = 0 0 = 0 * 1  2.0  2503 
8. Korneev, Oleg              g RUS 2657  0 0 0 0 = = 0 *  1.0  2343 
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Round 4 (December 26, 2006)

Jakovenko, Dmitry         -  Wojtaszek, Radoslaw       1-0   49  E12  Queens Indian Petrosian
Bauer, Christian          -  Morozevich, Alexander     0-1   41  D00  Queen's Pawn Game
Illescas Cordoba, Miguel  -  Korneev, Oleg             1/2   17  D47  Queens Gambit Meran
Laznicka, Viktor          -  Shirov, Alexei            0-1   44  C43  Petroff's Defence

Round 5 (December 27, 2006)

Morozevich, Alexander     -  Jakovenko, Dmitry         1/2  114  E39  Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Shirov, Alexei            -  Bauer, Christian          1-0   67  B01  Centre Counter
Wojtaszek, Radoslaw       -  Illescas Cordoba, Miguel  1/2   18  D37  QGD 5.Bf4
Korneev, Oleg             -  Laznicka, Viktor          0-1   19  B44  Sicilian Paulsen

Round 6 (December 28, 2006)

Jakovenko, Dmitry         -  Shirov, Alexei            1/2   19  C88  Ruy Lopez Closed
Illescas Cordoba, Miguel  -  Morozevich, Alexander     0-1   52  E17  Queens Indian
Laznicka, Viktor          -  Bauer, Christian          0-1   39  B07  Pirc Defence
Korneev, Oleg             -  Wojtaszek, Radoslaw       1/2   11  B17  Caro Kann

Round 7 (December 29, 2006)

Morozevich, Alexander     -  Korneev, Oleg             1-0   36  D48  Queens Gambit Meran
Shirov, Alexei            -  Illescas Cordoba, Miguel  1-0   35  B84  Sicilian Scheveningen
Bauer, Christian          -  Jakovenko, Dmitry         1/2   45  D15  Slav Defence
Wojtaszek, Radoslaw       -  Laznicka, Viktor          1/2   66  D15  Slav Defence

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
XVI Magistral B Pamplona ESP (ESP), 22-29 xii 2006        cat. III (2317)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Llorente Zaro, Alfonso     f ESP 2419  * = = = 1 = 1 1 = 1  6.5  2471 
 2. Huerga Leache, Mikel         ESP 2315  = * = = = 1 = 1 1 1  6.5  2482 
 3. Alexandrova, Olga          m UKR 2371  = = * = = = = = 1 1  5.5  2390 
 4. Kononenko, Tatiana         m UKR 2375  = = = * = 0 = = 1 1  5.0  2353 
 5. Glavina, Pablo             m ARG 2418  0 = = = * = = = 1 1  5.0  2348 
 6. Navarro Cia, Miguel        f ESP 2297  = 0 = 1 = * = = 0 =  4.0  2275 
 7. Monell Camarasa, David       AND 2212  0 = = = = = * 0 1 =  4.0  2285 
 8. Lopez Gracia, Fernando     f ESP 2348  0 0 = = = = 1 * = 0  3.5  2233 
 9. Zamarbide Inarrea, Borja     ESP 2202  = 0 0 0 0 1 0 = * 1  3.0  2204 
10. Vila Dupla, Aurelio          ESP 2208  0 0 0 0 0 = = 1 0 *  2.0  2108 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
XVI Magistral Open Pamplona ESP (ESP), 22-29 xii 2006
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Strikovic, Aleksa               g  SCG 2535  8   48½   18213    7   2575
 2. Conquest, Stuart                g  ENG 2530  7½   49   18030    6   2476
 3. Magem Badals, Jordi             g  ESP 2487  7   49½   17799    5   2418
 4. Ros Octavio de Toledo, Eduardo     ESP 2166  6½   48   16651    5   2174
 5. Burguete Archel, Eduardo           ESP 2151  6½  45½   16470    6   2176
 6. Alcaide Luque, Aitor               ESP 2100  6½  44½   17649    6   2298
 7. Villuendas Valero, Adrian          ESP 2176  6½   44   16711    5   2198
 8. Lakunza, Juan Carlos               ESP 2175  6½   42   12117    5   2153
 9. Oms Fuentes, Lluis                 ESP 2327  6    50   18015    5   2327
10. Ugalde Ezcurra, Jose Miguel        ESP 2215  6   48½   17362    5   2254
11. Barrenechea Bahamonde, Gustavo     ESP 2191  6   46½   16592    5   2156
12. Cortes Lizano, Jesus               ESP 2270  6   45½   16477    5   2152
13. Zamarbide Inarrea, Daniel          ESP 2015  6    43   14000    5   2103
14. Garcia, Raul                    f  AND 2233  6    41   15933    6   2021
15. Arjol Etxeberria, David            ESP 2073  6   40½   16064    4   2128
16. Gomez Anadon, Daniel            f  ESP 2268  6   40½   15435    5   2017
17. Vinal Gutierez, Pedro              ESP 2165  6    40   15139    5   1954
18. Sola Plaza, Gregorio               ESP 2102  6    40   14116    5   2077
19. Munoz Arana, Miguel                ESP 2109  6    37   13176    3   1964
111 players

3) January 2007 FIDE Rating List

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

The World Championship match between Vladimir Kramnik and Veselin Topalov didn't change the order of the top three but Topalov lost 30 rating points from the match and the Essent tournament that followed it. Anand was inactive and Kramnik gained 16 points. A poor period for Peter Svidler cost him 22 rating points and a drop to 12th in the world, making the reverse journey from 12th to 4th was Shakhriyaz Mamedyarov. Judit Polgar gained 17 rating points and Ruslan Ponomariov 20 but otherwise changes were confined to single figures in the top 20. This is the second list in a row where the composition of the top 20 has remained the same although Krishnan Sasikiran is rated at 2700 the same as 20th placed Akopian.

Some random observations on the rest of the list. Magnus Carlsen lost 8 rating points and three places as he starts to adjust to stronger tournaments, his age rival (both born in 1990) Sergey Karjakin edged up 6 places and 6 points. Lenier Dominguez gained 22 points and 22 places to stand and 30 in the world. 21 year old Ernest Inarkiev rose from 88 to 34 in the world gaining 41 points, at least in part from the Russian Championship, 23 year old Dmitry Jakovenko gained 20 points to rise to 22 in the world and 21 year old Evgeny Alekseev gained 22 points from the same event. Evgeny Bareev dropped from 24 to 66 in the world losing 40 points.

Strangely 2619 was enough to make it into the top 100 as opposed to 2620 last time an anomaly which goes against the recent trend of the mark being higher each time although the average rating of the top 100 of 2666 remains the same. Eight players dropped out of the list including Oleg Korneev who lost a disastrous 51 points, Evgeniy Najer, Lazaro Bruzon, Julio Granda Zuniga, Aleksandar Delchev, Vladimir Baklan, Miguel Illescas Cordoba and Igor Khenkin. Back into the list is 52 year old Kevin Spraggett for the first time in a long time, other re-entries include Emil Sutovsky and 74 year old legend Viktor Korchnoi. 19 year old Evgeny Tomashevsky makes it in for the first time.

FIDE Top 100 Players January 2007 
 No. Oc  Name                        t NAT YroB ap05 ju05 oc05 ja06 ap06 ju06 oc06 ja07 Gms
  1   1  Topalov, Veselin..........  g BUL 1975 2778 2788 2782 2801 2804 2813 2813 2783 17 
  2   2  Anand, Viswanathan........  g IND 1969 2785 2788 2788 2792 2803 2779 2779 2779 0  
  3   3  Kramnik, Vladimir.........  g RUS 1975 2753 2744 2739 2741 2729 2743 2750 2766 11 
  4  12  Mamedyarov, Shakhriyaz....  g AZE 1985 2646 2646 2674 2709 2699 2722 2728 2754 25 
  5   6  Ivanchuk, Vassily.........  g UKR 1969 2739 2752 2748 2729 2731 2734 2741 2750 33 
  6   8  Leko, Peter...............  g HUN 1979 2763 2763 2751 2740 2738 2738 2741 2749 9  
  7   7  Aronian, Levon............  g ARM 1982 2693 2724 2724 2752 2756 2761 2741 2744 13 
  8   5  Morozevich, Alexander.....  g RUS 1977 2717 2707 2707 2721 2730 2731 2747 2741 15 
  9   9  Adams, Michael............  g ENG 1971 2737 2719 2718 2707 2720 2732 2735 2735 0  
 10  10  Gelfand, Boris............  g ISR 1968 2713 2724 2717 2723 2727 2729 2733 2733 19 
 11  11  Radjabov, Teimour.........  g AZE 1987 2673 2682 2704 2700 2717 2728 2729 2729 6  
 12   4  Svidler, Peter............  g RUS 1976 2725 2738 2740 2765 2743 2742 2750 2728 28 
 13  16  Polgar, Judit.............  g HUN 1976 2732 2735 2735 2711 2711 2710 2710 2727 6  
 14  20  Ponomariov, Ruslan........  g UKR 1983 2695 2704 2704 2723 2738 2721 2703 2723 15 
 15  13  Navara, David.............  g CZE 1985 2647 2663 2646 2660 2658 2719 2725 2719 16 
 16  17  Grischuk, Alexander.......  g RUS 1983 2724 2720 2720 2717 2719 2709 2710 2717 16 
 17  14  Shirov, Alexei............  g ESP 1972 2714 2705 2710 2709 2699 2716 2720 2715 21 
 18  18  Bacrot, Etienne...........  g FRA 1983 2731 2729 2725 2717 2708 2707 2705 2705 0  
 19  19  Kamsky, Gata..............  g USA 1974 2700 2700 2690 2686 2671 2697 2705 2705 0  
 20  15  Akopian, Vladimir.........  g ARM 1971 2703 2705 2707 2704 2706 2713 2713 2700 15 
 21  31  Sasikiran, Krishnan.......  g IND 1981 2642 2652 2663 2670 2692 2681 2675 2700 14 
 22  38  Jakovenko, Dmitry.........  g RUS 1983 2608 2627 2644 2662 2675 2667 2671 2691 24 
 23  28  Short, Nigel D............  g ENG 1965 2673 2673 2673 2676 2677 2676 2677 2691 20 
 24  21  Carlsen, Magnus...........  g NOR 1990 2548 2528 2570 2625 2646 2673 2698 2690 11 
 25  22  Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter...  g ROM 1976 2670 2679 2707 2693 2695 2693 2690 2689 31 
 26  29  Van Wely, Loek............  g NED 1972 2687 2655 2648 2647 2655 2675 2676 2683 11 
 27  36  Kasimdzhanov, Rustam......  g UZB 1979 2670 2670 2670 2670 2673 2672 2672 2682 16 
 28  34  Vallejo Pons, Francisco...  g ESP 1982 2677 2681 2674 2650 2666 2674 2674 2679 25 
 29  35  Karjakin, Sergey..........  g UKR 1990 2635 2645 2658 2660 2661 2679 2672 2678 6  
 30  52  Dominguez, Lenier.........  g CUB 1983 2658 2639 2635 2638 2647 2658 2655 2677 19 
 31  23  Rublevsky, Sergei.........  g RUS 1974 2645 2645 2652 2665 2687 2667 2688 2677 13 
 32  48  Eljanov, Pavel............  g UKR 1983 2641 2639 2663 2655 2665 2651 2658 2675 29 
 33  32  Harikrishna, P............  g IND 1986 2646 2645 2673 2673 2680 2682 2674 2673 15 
 34  88  Inarkiev, Ernesto.........  g RUS 1985 2612 2618 2577 2597 2598 2625 2628 2669 34 
 35  43  Almasi, Zoltan............  g HUN 1976 2628 2619 2640 2646 2657 2672 2664 2669 10 
 36  27  Tiviakov, Sergei..........  g NED 1973 2631 2678 2700 2669 2669 2668 2680 2667 13 
 37  51  Milov, Vadim..............  g SUI 1972 2653 2645 2652 2638 2625 2620 2657 2665 8  
 38  44  Timofeev, Artyom..........  g RUS 1985 2622 2661 2658 2653 2646 2657 2662 2663 35 
 39  25  Malakhov, Vladimir........  g RUS 1980 2670 2673 2670 2694 2691 2691 2682 2663 21 
 40  40  Onischuk, Alexander.......  g USA 1975 2638 2628 2640 2650 2650 2668 2668 2663 18 
 41  30  Naiditsch, Arkadij........  g GER 1985 2626 2612 2641 2657 2664 2665 2676 2663 7  
 42  71  Alekseev, Evgeny..........  g RUS 1985 2597 2625 2632 2634 2640 2644 2639 2661 24 
 43  26  Georgiev, Kiril...........  g BUL 1965 2666 2666 2648 2645 2677 2685 2680 2661 18 
 44  53  Dreev, Alexey.............  g RUS 1969 2705 2698 2694 2697 2673 2666 2655 2658 37 
 45  46  Bologan, Viktor...........  g MDA 1971 2700 2700 2682 2661 2666 2645 2659 2658 21 
 46  33  Zvjaginsev, Vadim.........  g RUS 1976 2649 2659 2659 2664 2670 2675 2674 2658 13 
 47  65  Gashimov, Vugar...........  g AZE 1986 2585 2594 2608 2625 2659 2644 2643 2658 6  
 48  42  Sargissian, Gabriel.......  g ARM 1983 2630 2611 2610 2603 2612 2667 2667 2658 6  
 49  41  Lautier, Joel.............  g FRA 1973 2678 2672 2680 2682 2682 2675 2667 2656 0  
 50  74  Miton, Kamil............... g POL 1984 2592 2589 2636 2646 2646 2638 2638 2655 28 
 51  47  Smirin, Ilia..............  g ISR 1968 2649 2652 2673 2662 2662 2659 2659 2654 26 
 52  39  Sokolov, Ivan.............  g NED 1968 2662 2691 2696 2689 2676 2652 2670 2652 6  
 53  58  Krasenkow, Michal.........  g POL 1963 2672 2663 2655 2636 2650 2635 2647 2651 16 
 54  68  Nielsen, Peter Heine......  g DEN 1973 2653 2668 2646 2644 2646 2640 2640 2651 10 
 55  70  Nakamura, Hikaru..........  g USA 1987 2657 2660 2662 2644 2664 2632 2640 2651 6  
 56  54  Jobava, Baadur............. g GEO 1983 2637 2621 2601 2614 2646 2651 2650 2650 0  
 57  60  Tkachiev, Vladislav.......  g FRA 1973 2605 2625 2629 2642 2643 2645 2645 2649 6  
 58  45  Motylev, Alexander........  g RUS 1979 2680 2675 2632 2638 2660 2662 2662 2647 9  
 59  87  Fressinet, Laurent........  g FRA 1981 2638 2627 2624 2625 2633 2626 2628 2646 6  
 60  61  Volokitin, Andrei.........  g UKR 1986 2679 2671 2666 2665 2660 2662 2645 2645 13 
 61  62  Wang, Yue.................  g CHN 1987 2576 2576 2585 2599 2598 2626 2644 2644 45 
 62  69  Areshchenko, Alexander....  g UKR 1986 2595 2625 2653 2670 2660 2641 2640 2644 28 
 63  37  Bu, Xiangzhi..............  g CHN 1985 2630 2632 2637 2645 2640 2664 2671 2644 20 
 64  49  Izoria, Zviad.............  g GEO 1984 2602 2606 2646 2652 2647 2660 2657 2644 13 
 65  63  Avrukh, Boris.............  g ISR 1978 2642 2652 2653 2633 2633 2641 2644 2644 0  
 66  24  Bareev, Evgeny............  g RUS 1966 2709 2688 2675 2698 2701 2683 2683 2643 38 
 67  77  Zhang, Pengxiang..........  g CHN 1980 2583 2616 2613 2638 2623 2622 2636 2643 37 
 68  66  Sakaev, Konstantin........  g RUS 1974 2672 2669 2668 2649 2637 2642 2641 2641 14 
 69  83  Cheparinov, Ivan..........  g BUL 1986 2621 2634 2618 2625 2635 2632 2632 2640 9  
 70  64  Kobalia, Mikhail..........  g RUS 1978 2644 2614 2634 2654 2654 2647 2643 2639 24 
 71  72  Beliavsky, Alexander G....  g SLO 1953 2630 2599 2631 2626 2622 2625 2639 2639 0  
 72  67  Nijboer, Friso............  g NED 1965 2553 2529 2543 2571 2584 2598 2641 2638 16 
 73  75  Seirawan, Yasser..........  g USA 1960 2631 2635 2635 2635 2635 2638 2638 2638 0  
 74  76  Movsesian, Sergei.........  g SVK 1978 2628 2645 2635 2632 2618 2637 2637 2637 25 
 75  84  Wojtaszek, Radoslaw.......  g POL 1987 2569 2591 2606 2605 2597 2622 2630 2637 16 
 76  89  Volkov, Sergey............  g RUS 1974 2634 2622 2614 2629 2620 2628 2628 2636 27 
 77  55  Gurevich, Mikhail.........  g TUR 1959 2630 2669 2652 2633 2643 2643 2648 2635 26 
 78  80  Asrian, Karen.............  g ARM 1980 2611 2611 2645 2646 2646 2635 2634 2634 7  
 79  79  Lputian, Smbat G..........  g ARM 1958 2640 2629 2614 2613 2619 2634 2634 2634 4  
 80  --  Spraggett, Kevin........... g CAN 1954 2585 2592 2585 2581 2578 2577 2610 2633 29 
 81  90  Miroshnichenko, Evgenij...  g UKR 1978 2628 2634 2634 2619 2597 2616 2626 2632 21 
 82  97  Ni, Hua...................  g CHN 1983 2638 2629 2603 2614 2607 2607 2621 2632 20 
 83  73  Azmaiparashvili, Zurab....  g GEO 1960 2671 2672 2658 2658 2669 2669 2638 2632 2  
 84  --  Sutovsky, Emil............. g ISR 1977 2665 2674 2654 2624 2628 2607 2607 2629 36 
 85  --  Korchnoi, Viktor........... g SUI 1931 2619 2615 2620 2608 2607 2600 2607 2629 24 
 86  82  Riazantsev, Alexander.....  g RUS 1985 2608 2599 2603 2594 2593 2622 2632 2629 24 
 87  96  Macieja, Bartlomiej.......  g POL 1977 2613 2593 2591 2585 2584 2613 2622 2629 18 
 88  85  Socko, Bartosz............  g POL 1978 2583 2615 2610 2610 2606 2621 2630 2629 18 
 89  78  Afromeev, Vladimir........  f RUS 1954 2563 2563 2573 2573 2612 2620 2635 2628 0  
 90  81  Moiseenko, Alexander......  g UKR 1980 2665 2664 2663 2657 2662 2649 2632 2627 44 
 91  --  Fridman, Daniel...........  g LAT 1976 2562 2566 2563 2559 2562 2569 2604 2626 18 
 92  91  Nikolic, Predrag..........  g BIH 1960 2627 2591 2584 2596 2596 2626 2626 2626 0  
 93  --  Tomashevsky, Evgeny.......  g RUS 1987 2524 2555 2564 2586 2595 2594 2595 2624 40 
 94  --  Fedorov, Alexei...........  g BLR 1972 2602 2611 2616 2608 2614 2601 2617 2624 16 
 95  92  Smirnov, Pavel............  g RUS 1982 2624 2635 2637 2614 2614 2613 2623 2621 27 
 96  98  Hansen, Curt..............  g DEN 1964 2633 2613 2607 2612 2612 2625 2621 2621 0  
 97  93  Wang, Hao.................  g CHN 1989 2484 2512 2519 2593 2605 2610 2622 2619 24 
 98  --  Hracek, Zbynek............  g CZE 1970 2588 2591 2581 2595 2593 2605 2614 2619 16 
 99  --  Istratescu, Andrei........  g ROM 1975 2624 2624 2622 2618 2621 2612 2616 2619 16 
100  95  Khalifman, Alexander......  g RUS 1966 2658 2653 2653 2660 2640 2622 2622 2619 16 

Dropping Out in January
 Oc  Ju  Name                        t NAT YroB ap05 ju05 oc05 ja06 ap06 ju06 oc06 ja07 Gms
 50  70  Korneev, Oleg.............. g RUS 1969 2611 2594 2599 2649 2671 2638 2657 2606 58
 56  28  Najer, Evgeniy............  g RUS 1977 2615 2614 2641 2652 2653 2677 2648 2605 42
 57  44  Bruzon, Lazaro............  g CUB 1982 2669 2662 2677 2650 2652 2667 2648 2614 46
 59  76  Granda Zuniga, Julio E....  g PER 1967 ---- 2601 2637 2631 2631 2634 2646 2612 36
 86  72  Delchev, Aleksander.......  g BUL 1971 2614 2656 2669 2661 2640 2637 2628 2598 44
 94  96  Baklan, Vladimir..........  g UKR 1978 2584 2584 2590 2601 2606 2621 2622 2618 23
 99  99  Illescas Cordoba, Miguel..  g ESP 1965 2633 2624 2607 2608 2608 2620 2620 2597 16
 100 --  Khenkin, Igor.............  g GER 1968 2610 2610 2603 2595 2602 2586 2620 2611 31

4) Hastings Congress

The Hastings Congress takes place 28th December 2006 - 7th January 2007.

Games from Steve Giddins of the official website: http://www.hastingschess.org.uk/

Leading Round 5 Standings
  1 GAGUNASHVILI, Merab        GEO GM  2611 13601652  4.5 2398  5  4.5 +0.67
  2 IKONNIKOV, Wacheslav       RUS GM  2588  4100972  4.0 2311  5  4   -0.14
  3 HEBDEN, Mark               ENG GM  2545   400084  3.5 2290  5  3.5 -0.56
  4 TAHIROV, Farhad            AZE GM  2545 13401661  3.0 2278  5  3   -1.08
  5 NEVEROV, Valerij           UKR GM  2538 14100150  3.5 2233  5  3.5 -0.77
  6 GOFSHTEIN, Zvulon          ISR GM  2509  2801574  4.0 2355  5  4   +0.54
  7 PAVLOVIC, Milos            SCG GM  2507   900389  4.5 2340  5  4.5 +0.97
  8 PERT, Nicholas             ENG GM  2502   403989  3.5 2319  5  3.5 -0.15
  9 LALIC, Bogdan              CRO GM  2491   409081  3.5 2233  5  3.5 -0.55
 10 WILLIAMS, Simon            ENG IM  2473   404454  3.5 2362  5  3.5 +0.36
 11 CHERNIAEV, Alexander       RUS GM  2472  4117301  4.0 2293  5  4   +0.46
 12 CIUKSYTE, Dagne            LTU IM  2440 12800619  3.0 2170  5  3   -1.11
 13 GREET, Andrew              ENG IM  2439   405817  4.0 2240  5  4   +0.30
 14 HENDRIKS, Willy            NED IM  2439  1000713  3.5 2277  5  3.5 +0.02
 15 HASLINGER, Stewart         ENG IM  2438   405248  3.5 2317  5  3.5 +0.29
 16 MCNAB, Colin               SCO GM  2433  2400030  3.0 2191  5  3   -0.95
 17 JONES, Gawain              ENG IM  2430   409561  3.5 2339  5  3.5 +0.49
 18 WALLACE, John-Paul         AUS IM  2418  3200957  3.5 2169  5  3.5 -0.51
 19 ANSELL, Simon              ENG IM  2394   402141  4.0 2348  5  4   +1.30
 20 GROOTEN, Herman            NED IM  2387  1000330  2.5 2213  5  2.5 -1.03
 21 RENDLE, Thomas             ENG IM  2382   408760  3.0 2315  5  3   +0.12
 22 KNOTT, Simon               ENG IM  2375   400645  3.0 2169  5  3   -0.77
 23 PEEK, Marcel               NED IM  2367  1000462  3.0 2281  5  3   -0.01
 24 VUL, Arkadi                RUS GM  2365  4104307  3.0 2237  4  2   -0.61
 25 HOUSKA, Jovanka            ENG IM  2364   405094  3.5 2395  5  3.5 +1.27
 26 PROSVIRIAKOV, Vladimir     USA IM  2346  2004860  3.0 2099  5  3   -1.01
99 players

5) Reggio Emilia

The 49th edition of the Reggio Emilia Torneo di Capodanno takes place December 30 2006 - January 7 2007. 9 rounds at the hotel Astoria Mercure starting 2,30 pm. Time rate: 1h and 40 min x 40 moves then 50 min to end, plus 30 sec starting from the first move.

Official site: http://www.ippogrifoscacchi.it/

--------------------------------------------------------------------
49th It Reggio Emilia ITA (ITA), 30 xii 2006 - 7 i 2007cat. X (2482)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 
--------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Landa, Konstantin     g RUS 2570  * = . . . . 1 . . .  1.5  2675 
 2. Iordachescu, Viorel   g MDA 2564  = * . . . . . 1 . .  1.5  2688 
 3. Shytaj, Luca          m ITA 2441  . . * . = . . . . 1  1.5  2635 
 4. Khenkin, Igor         g GER 2620  . . . * . = . . . 1  1.5  2676 
 5. Brunello, Sabino      f ITA 2460  . . = . * . . = . .  1.0  2430 
 6. Romanishin, Oleg M    g UKR 2542  . . . = . * . . = .  1.0  2498 
 7. Mogranzini, Roberto   f ITA 2401  0 . . . . . * . 1 .  1.0  2473 
 8. Borgo, Giulio         m ITA 2420  . 0 . . = . . * . .  0.5  2319 
 9. Rombaldoni, Denis     f ITA 2377  . . . . . = 0 . * .  0.5  2278 
10. Manca, Federico       m ITA 2425  . . 0 0 . . . . . *  0.0       
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Round 1 (December 30, 2006)

Iordachescu, Viorel  -  Landa, Konstantin    1/2   14  C43  Petroff's Defence
Romanishin, Oleg M   -  Khenkin, Igor        1/2   24  E01  Catalan
Mogranzini, Roberto  -  Rombaldoni, Denis    1-0   46  B12  Caro Kann Advanced
Borgo, Giulio        -  Brunello, Sabino     1/2   34  A18  English Opening
Manca, Federico      -  Shytaj, Luca         0-1   35  B22  Sicilian Alapin

Round 2 (December 31, 2006)

Landa, Konstantin    -  Mogranzini, Roberto  1-0   61  E94  King's Indian Classical
Khenkin, Igor        -  Manca, Federico      1-0   50  E71  King's Indian 5.h3
Brunello, Sabino     -  Shytaj, Luca         1/2   17  B90  Sicilian Najdorf Variation
Borgo, Giulio        -  Iordachescu, Viorel  0-1   44  E05  Catalan
Rombaldoni, Denis    -  Romanishin, Oleg M   1/2   52  E15  Queens Indian

6) Indian Championship

The 44th National A Indian Championship took place in Atul 18th-29th December 2006. ELO favourite Surya Shekhar Ganguly won the event with 9/13 half a point clear of the field.

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

44th National "A" Chess Championship
ATUL 44th NATIONAL A CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

Final Ranking
Rank            Name                     Rtg     FED     Pts     RtgØ
1       GM      Ganguly Surya Shekhar    2573    IND     9       2445
2       GM      Deepan Chakkravarthy J   2501    IND     8½      2442
3       IM      Arun Prasad S            2424    IND     8½      2422
4               Rohit G                  2393    IND     8       2432
5       IM      Suvrajit Saha            2356    IND     8       2425
6               Gopal G N                2397    IND     8       2422
7       GM      Kunte Abhijit            2524    IND     8       2420
8       GM      Neelotpal Das            2490    IND     8       2419
9       IM      Roy Chowdhury Saptarshi  2423    IND     8       2411
10      WGM     Harika Dronavalli        2353    IND     7½      2445
11      IM      Gupta Abhijeet           2481    IND     7½      2412
12      IM      Sengupta Deep            2420    IND     7½      2406
13      IM      Prathamesh Sunil Mokal   2335    IND     7½      2394
14              Murali Krishnan B T      2364    IND     7½      2382
15      IM      Sundararajan Kidambi     2451    IND     7½      2356
16      GM      Barua Dibyendu           2471    IND     7       2437
17              Rathnakaran K            2422    IND     7       2394
18      IM      Poobesh Anand S          2416    IND     7       2380
19              Palit Somak              2306    IND     7       2357
20      GM      Thipsay Praveen M        2494    IND     6½      2413
21      IM      Venkatesh M R            2466    IND     6½      2401
22      IM      Ravi Lanka               2408    IND     6½      2391
23      IM      Konguvel Ponnuswamy      2407    IND     6½      2387
24              Aswin Jayaram            2322    IND     6½      2377
25      IM      D P Singh                2507    IND     6½      2373
26      GM      Bakre Tejas              2447    IND     6½      2364
27              Parikh Valay             2394    IND     6½      2340
28      IM      Saravanan V              2383    IND     6½      2336
29              Syed Anwar Shazuli       2241    IND     6½      2301
30      IM      Ravi Thandalam Shanmugam 2335    IND     6       2403
31      IM      Babu N Sudhakar          2290    IND     6       2386
32      GM      Ramesh R B               2491    IND     6       2344
33              Thejkumar M S            2322    IND     6       2321
34      IM      Himanshu Sharma          2387    IND     6       2316
35              Abhishek Das             2307    IND     6       2283
36      WGM     Swathi Ghate             2385    IND     5½      2358
37              Kamble Vikramaditya      2346    IND     5½      2355
38      IM      Girinath P D S           2344    IND     5½      2313
39      IM      Roktim Bandyopadhyay     2332    IND     5½      2303
40      WGM     Karavade Eesha           2321    IND     5½      2290
41      IM      Prakash G B              2403    IND     5½      2238
42      IM      Laxman R R               2324    IND     5       2309
43              Swapnil Dhopade          2209    IND     5       2297
44      IM      Koshy Varugeese          2325    IND     5       2281
45              Sinha Sudhir Kumar       2182    IND     3       2283

Crosstable
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
44th National A ch-IND Atul IND (IND), 18-29 xii 2006
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  10  11  12  13 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Ganguly, Surya Shekhar     g  IND 2573  = 6 =11 +14 +12 +10 =20 = 5 = 2 +16 = 3 +24 = 8 = 4  9.0  2586 
 2. Deepan, Chakkravarthy J    g  IND 2501  +28 =17 =18 +39 = 8 =16 +20 = 1 = 3 + 5 = 4 = 9 = 6  8.5  2551 
 3. Arun Prasad, S             m  IND 2424  +44 +45 =16 =20 =15 = 8 =23 +17 = 2 = 1 = 5 +25 = 7  8.5  2531 
 4. Neelotpal, Das             g  IND 2490  =11 + 6 =37 -21 = 7 =36 +18 = 9 =17 +26 = 2 +12 = 1  8.0  2505 
 5. Kunte, Abhijit             g  IND 2524  =34 = 7 +43 +18 =16 =10 = 1 = 8 +23 - 2 = 3 +19 =11  8.0  2506 
 6. Rohit, G                      IND 2393  = 1 - 4 +35 =30 =19 +38 =10 +15 =20 =16 = 9 +24 = 2  8.0  2518 
 7. Suvrajit, Saha             m  IND 2356  =31 = 5 =38 =17 = 4 +42 +22 =26 = 8 = 9 =16 +20 = 3  8.0  2511 
 8. Gopal, G.N                    IND 2397  =29 =38 +45 +23 = 2 = 3 =24 = 5 = 7 =20 +17 = 1 =10  8.0  2509 
 9. Roy Chowdhury, Saptarshi   m  IND 2423  +43 =20 =39 =22 =34 =27 =19 = 4 +31 = 7 = 6 = 2 +16  8.0  2498 
10. Gupta, Abhijeet            m  IND 2481  +36 =22 +34 =16 - 1 = 5 = 6 =11 =12 =19 =13 +18 = 8  7.5  2469 
11. Harika, Dronavalli         wg IND 2353  = 4 = 1 =42 =24 =18 +30 =12 =10 =26 =31 +23 =16 = 5  7.5  2502 
12. Sengupta, Deep             m  IND 2420  =33 +35 +15 - 1 =22 -24 =11 +40 =10 =23 +14 - 4 +29  7.5  2462 
13. Murali Krishnan, B.T          IND 2364  -20 -43 =26 =44 =25 +35 =30 +34 +18 =17 =10 =29 +24  7.5  2438 
14. Prathamesh, Sunil Mokal    m  IND 2335  -23 +26 - 1 =32 +29 =18 =37 =27 =21 +42 -12 +39 +20  7.5  2450 
15. Sundararajan, Kidambi      m  IND 2451  +32 =37 -12 +38 = 3 -21 =36 - 6 =33 =30 +43 +40 +25  7.5  2413 
16. Barua, Dibyendu            g  IND 2471  +40 +27 = 3 =10 = 5 = 2 +21 =24 - 1 = 6 = 7 =11 - 9  7.0  2466 
17. Rathnakaran, K                IND 2422  +25 = 2 -20 = 7 +39 =22 +27 - 3 = 4 =13 - 8 +32 =19  7.0  2423 
18. Poobesh Anand, S           m  IND 2416  =38 +29 = 2 - 5 =11 =14 - 4 +32 -13 +37 +33 -10 +30  7.0  2409 
19. Palit, Somak                  IND 2306  -22 +46 =41 =27 = 6 +37 = 9 +21 =24 =10 =20 - 5 =17  7.0  2432 
20. Thipsay, Praveen M         g  IND 2494  +13 = 9 +17 = 3 +21 = 1 - 2 =23 = 6 = 8 =19 - 7 -14  6.5  2412 
21. Ravi, Lanka                m  IND 2408  =35 =30 +33 + 4 -20 +15 -16 -19 =14 +28 -25 =23 =26  6.5  2391 
22. Konguvel, Ponnuswamy       m  IND 2407  +19 =10 =23 = 9 =12 =17 - 7 -25 =30 -33 +34 =31 +40  6.5  2386 
23. Venkatesh, M.R             m  IND 2466  +14 =39 =22 - 8 +40 +34 = 3 =20 - 5 =12 -11 =21 =28  6.5  2400 
24. Singh, D.P                 m  IND 2507  -37 =32 +44 =11 +42 +12 = 8 =16 =19 +25 - 1 - 6 -13  6.5  2373 
25. Aswin, Jayaram                IND 2322  -17 =36 =28 -40 =13 +29 +42 +22 +27 -24 +21 - 3 -15  6.5  2376 
26. Bakre, Tejas               g  IND 2447  -39 -14 =13 +33 =32 +44 +34 = 7 =11 - 4 =40 =28 =21  6.5  2364 
27. Parikh, Valay                 IND 2394  +42 -16 =30 =19 +43 = 9 -17 =14 -25 -40 =35 +38 +36  6.5  2340 
28. Saravanan, V1              m  IND 2383  - 2 =44 =25 =29 =45 =32 =38 =30 +43 -21 +42 =26 =23  6.5  2336 
29. Syed Anwar, Shazuli           IND 2241  = 8 -18 =36 =28 -14 -25 +46 =39 +35 +41 +31 =13 -12  6.5  2347 
30. Babu, N Sudhakar           m  IND 2290  =41 =21 =27 = 6 =37 -11 =13 =28 =22 =15 =32 +43 -18  6.0  2356 
31. Ramesh, R.B                g  IND 2491  = 7 -34 =32 -43 +33 +39 =40 +36 - 9 =11 -29 =22 =35  6.0  2315 
32. Ravi, Thandalam Shanmugam  m  IND 2335  -15 =24 =31 =14 =26 =28 +41 -18 =37 +34 =30 -17 =33  6.0  2374 
33. Thejkumar, M. S               IND 2322  =12 =41 -21 -26 -31 +46 =44 +38 =15 +22 -18 =36 =32  6.0  2337 
34. Himanshu, Sharma           m  IND 2387  = 5 +31 -10 +37 = 9 -23 -26 -13 +46 -32 -22 +45 +42  6.0  2333 
35. Abhishek, Das                 IND 2307  =21 -12 - 6 +46 -36 -13 =39 +45 -29 +44 =27 +37 =31  6.0  2300 
36. Kamble, Vikramaditya          IND 2346  -10 =25 =29 =45 +35 = 4 =15 -31 -42 =38 +41 =33 -27  5.5  2297 
37. Swathi, Ghate              wg IND 2385  +24 =15 = 4 -34 =30 -19 =14 =43 =32 -18 =44 -35 +45  5.5  2301 
38. Karavade, Eesha            wg IND 2321  =18 = 8 = 7 -15 +41 - 6 =28 -33 =39 =36 =45 -27 +46  5.5  2279 
39. Roktim, Bandyopadhyay      m  IND 2332  +26 =23 = 9 - 2 -17 -31 =35 =29 =38 =45 +46 -14 =41  5.5  2292 
40. Girinath, P.D.S            m  IND 2344  -16 -42 +46 +25 -23 +45 =31 -12 =41 +27 =26 -15 -22  5.5  2301 
41. Prakash, G B               m  IND 2403  =30 =33 =19 -42 -38 +43 -32 +44 =40 -29 -36 +46 =39  5.5  2227 
42. Swapnil, S. Dhopade           IND 2209  -27 +40 =11 +41 -24 - 7 -25 +46 +36 -14 -28 =44 -34  5.0  2255 
43. Laxman, R.R                m  IND 2324  - 9 +13 - 5 +31 -27 -41 +45 =37 -28 +46 -15 -30 =44  5.0  2268 
44. Koshy, Varugeese           m  IND 2325  - 3 =28 -24 =13 +46 -26 =33 -41 +45 -35 =37 =42 =43  5.0  2240 
45. Sinha, Sudhir Kumar           IND 2182  +46 - 3 - 8 =36 =28 -40 -43 -35 -44 =39 =38 -34 -37  3.0  2117 
46. BYE                               ----  -45 -19 -40 -35 -44 -33 -29 -42 -34 -43 -39 -41 -38  0.0       
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7) Rilton Cup

The Rilton Cup takes place 27th December 2006 - 5th January 2007.

Official site: http://www.rilton.se/

Leading Round 5 Standings: 
-------------------------------------------------------------
Rilton Cup 2006-7 Stockholm SWE (SWE), 27 xii 2006 - 5 i 2007
-------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Kotronias, Vasilios        g  GRE 2587  4.5
 2. Ulibin, Mikhail            g  RUS 2506  4.5
 3. Gleizerov, Evgeny          g  RUS 2560  4.5
 4. Nyback, Tomi               g  FIN 2575  4.5
 5. Fontaine, Robert           g  FRA 2557  4.5
 6. Brynell, Stellan           g  SWE 2502  4  
 7. Berczes, Csaba             m  HUN 2414  4  
 8. Rozentalis, Eduardas       g  LTU 2591  4  
 9. Hansen, Lars Bo            g  DEN 2575  4  
10. Lindberg, Bengt            m  SWE 2428  4  
11. Berczes, David             m  HUN 2415  4  
12. Hillarp Persson, Tiger     g  SWE 2557  4  
13. Cramling, Pia              g  SWE 2528  4  
14. Howell, David WL           m  ENG 2471  4  
15. Ernst, Thomas              g  SWE 2441  4  
16. Cicak, Slavko              g  SWE 2530  4  
17. Akesson, Ralf              g  SWE 2467  4  
18. Berg, Emanuel              g  SWE 2582  4  
19. Bindrich, Falko            m  GER 2482  3.5
20. Tikkanen, Hans                SWE 2320  3.5
21. Bellon Lopez, Juan Manuel  g  ESP 2438  3.5
22. Karlsson, Lars             g  SWE 2479  3.5
23. Andersson, Fredrik            SWE 2219  3.5
24. Sammalvuo, Niina           wg FIN 2259  3.5
25. Furhoff, Johan             f  SWE 2370  3.5
26. Barhudarian, Rafael           RUS 2259  3.5
27. Agrest, Inna                  SWE 1973  3.5
28. Gagarin, Vasilij           m  RUS 2406  3.5
133 players

8) Illes Medes Open

The 1st Illes Medes Open takes place 28th December 2006 - 4th January 2007. Games only available from the first round currently.

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

Round 5 (of 9) Standings: 
1   GM  Hamdouchi Hichem                MAR 2582  4,5  11,0   
2   GM  Mirzoev Azer                    AZE 2543  4,5  9,5    
3   IM  Cornette Matthieu               FRA 2480  4,0  12,0   
4   IM  Maze Sebastien                  FRA 2510  4,0  11,5   
5   GM  Moskalenko Viktor               UKR 2543  4,0  11,5   
6   GM  Campos Moreno Javier B          CHI 2446  4,0  11,5   
7   IM  Gerber Richard                  SUI 2365  4,0  11,5   
8   IM  Lopez Martinez Josep Manuel     ESP 2508  4,0  11,0   
9   GM  Delchev Aleksander              BUL 2628  4,0  10,0   
10  FM  Vernay Clovis                   FRA 2334  4,0  10,0   
11  GM  Jankovic Alojzije               CRO 2533  4,0  9,5    
12  GM  Bartel Mateusz                  POL 2569  4,0  9,0    
13  IM  Fluvia Poyatos Joan             ESP 2457  4,0  9,0    
14  GM  Fernandes Antonio               POR 2453  4,0  8,5    
15  GM  Shengelia Davit                 GEO 2504  3,5  12,0   
16  FM  Michalczak Thomas               GER 2330  3,5  11,5   
17      Kozhuharov Spas                 BUL 2420  3,5  11,0   
18  IM  Guidarelli Laurent              FRA 2449  3,5  11,0   
19  IM  Estremera Panos Sergio          ESP 2380  3,5  11,0   
20  FM  Pereira Ruben                   POR 2320  3,5  11,0   
21  GM  Chatalbashev Boris              BUL 2534  3,5  10,5   
22  IM  Matnadze Ana                    GEO 2392  3,5  10,0   
23  IM  Fluvia Poyatos Jordi            ESP 2458  3,5  10,0   
24  FM  Vila Gazquez Xavier             ESP 2404  3,5  10,0   
25      Karim Ismael                    MAR 2288  3,5  10,0   
26  FM  Edouard Romain                  FRA 2431  3,5  9,5    
27      Kukov Velislav                  BUL 2265  3,5  9,5    
28  IM  Formichenko Eduard              RUS 2426  3,5  9,5    
29      Midoux Sebastien                FRA 2343  3,5  9,5    
30      Oussama Omar                    ESP 2299  3,5  9,0    
31  IM  Carlsson Pontus                 SWE 2461  3,5  8,0    
139 players

9) 6th Amplico AIG Life

The 6th Amplico AIG Life International Chess Tournament - European Rapid Chess Championship Under the auspices of the President of the city of Warsaw took place 16th-17th December 2006. All players played an 8-round Swiss Qualification Tournament with the rate of play G-15'+10" (15 minutes for a game for a player, with an increment of 10 seconds per move). After the 8th round 16 players qualified to the Final Tournament, which contained 4 Group Tournaments, Tournaments for places 5-8, 9-12, 13-16, the Semi-finals, the Match for the 3rd place and the Final. Players who didn't qualify to the Final Tournament played a further 5 rounds for a win in the Swiss Tournament. Time control 5 minutes for a game for a player, with an increment of 10 seconds per move. Yuri Drozdovskij won the event by beating Vadim Malakhatko in the final. Full official file of games now available.

Official site: http://www.poloniachess.pl/amplico2006/index.php?lang=en

Final Standings:
1.  Yuri Drozdovskij    UKR
2.  Vadim Malakhatko    UKR
3.  Grzegorz Gajewski   POL
4.  Micha³ Olszewski    POL
5.  Spartak Vysochin    UKR
6.  Kamil Mitoñ         POL
7.  Aleksej Aleksandrov BLR
8.  Andrey Zhigalko     BLR
9.  Bart³omiej Macieja  POL
10. Viktor Bologan      MDA
11. Eduardas Rozentalis LTU
12. Slavko Cicak        SWE
13. Sarunas Sulskis     LTU
14. Sergey Fedorchuk    UKR
15. Bartosz Soæko       POL
16. Matas Narmontas     LTU


  Final                      1   2 S   T1 Score Place
1 Drozdovskij, Yuri          0,5 1 1,5    1,5   1
  Malakhatko, Vadim          0,5 0 0,5    0,5   2

  Match for third place      1 2   S   T1 Score Place
2 Gajewski, Grzegorz         1 0,5 1,5    1,5   3
  Olszewski, Michal          0 0,5 0,5    0,5   4

  Semi-final I-IV            1 2 S T1 Score Place
1 Gajewski, Grzegorz         0 0 0    0     3/4
  Drozdovskij, Yuri          1 1 2    2     1/2

  Semi-final II-III          1 2 S T1 Score Place
2 Olszewski, Michal          1 0 1 0  1     3/4
  Malakhatko, Vadim          0 1 1 1  2     1/2

  Places 5-8                 1   2   3   4 Score Place
1 Aleksandrov, Aleksej       -   0,5 0   1 1,5   7
2 Miton, Kamil               0,5 -   0,5 1 2     6
3 Vysochin, Spartak          1   0,5 -   1 2,5   5
4 Zhigalko, Andrey           0   0   0   - 0     8

  Places 9-12                1   2   3   4 Score Place
1 Rozentalis, Eduardas       -   0,5 0   1 1,5   11
2 Bologan, Viktor            0,5 -   0,5 1 2     10
3 Macieja, Bartlomiej        1   0,5 -   1 2,5   9
4 Cicak, Slavko              0   0   0   - 0     12

  Places 13-16               1   2   3 4   Score Place
1 Socko, Bartosz             -   0,5 0 0,5 1     15
2 Sulskis, Sarunas           0,5 -   1 1   2,5   13
3 Fedorchuk, Sergey          1   0   - 1   2     14
4 Narmontas, Matas           0,5 0   0 -   0,5   16

  Group 1 (1, 8, 9, 16)         1   2   3 4   Score Place
1 Socko, Bartosz             1  -   0   0 0,5 0,5   4
2 Rozentalis, Eduardas       16 1   -   0 0,5 1,5   3
3 Aleksandrow, Aleksiej      8  1   1   - 0   2     2
4 Gajewski, Grzegorz         9  0,5 0,5 1 -   2     1

  Group 2 (2, 7, 10, 15)        1   2   3 4   Score Place
1 Bologan, Viktor            10 -   0,5 0 1   1,5   3
2 Olszewski, Michal          7  0,5 -   1 0,5 2     1
3 Miton, Kamil               2  1   0   - 1   2     2
4 Sulskis, Sarunas           15 0   0,5 0 -   0,5   4

  Group 3 (3, 6, 11, 14)        1   2   3   4   Score Place
1 Macieja, Bartlomiej        3  -   1   0,5 0   1,5   3
2 Fedorchuk, Sergey          11 0   -   0,5 0   0,5   4
3 Vysochin, Spartak          6  0,5 0,5 -   0,5 1,5   2
4 Malakhatko, Vadim          14 1   1   0,5 -   2,5   1

  Group 4 (4, 5, 12, 13)        1 2   3 4   Score Place
1 Cicak, Slavko              5  - 1   0 0   1     3
2 Zhigalko, Andrey           13 0 -   1 0,5 1,5   2
3 Narmontas, Matas           4  1 0   - 0   1     4
4 Drozdovskij, Yuri          12 1 0,5 1 -   2,5   1

Tie-breaks for the final tournament
      White                   Black                         Winner
11-22 Fedorchuk, Sergey A.    Warakomski, Tomasz    1-0     Fedorchuk, Sergey A.
12-21 Zezulkin, Jurij         Drozdovskij, Yuri     0,5-0,5 Drozdovskij, Yuri
13-20 Zhigalko, Andrey        Gyimesi, Zoltan       1-0     Zhigalko, Andrey
14-19 Malaniuk, Vladimir P.   Rozentalis, Eduardas  0-1     Rozentalis, Eduardas
15-18 McShane, Luke J.        Sulskis, Sarunas      0-1     Sulskis, Sarunas
16-17 Zubov, Alexander        Malakhatko, Vadim     0-1     Malakhatko, Vadim

Open Final Round 13 Standings
Place Title Name                      Fed. FIDE Local Sex Total MBch. Bch.   Wins Prog. Group
1     GM    Shirov, Alexei            ESP  2720 2720  M    10.5 97.50 114.00 9    72.5
2     GM    Gritsak, Orest            UKR  2542 2542  M    10.0 98.00 114.50 8    74.0
3     GM    McShane, Luke J.          ENG  2614 2614  M    10.0 97.00 114.50 9    75.0
4     GM    Kveinys, Aloyzas          LTU  2540 2540  M    10.0 94.00 111.50 8    71.0
5     GM    Moiseenko, Alexander      UKR  2632 2632  M    10.0 92.50 109.00 9    71.0
6     GM    Zezulkin, Jurij           BLR  2448 2448  M    10.0 92.00 108.00 8    69.5
7     GM    Wojtaszek, Radoslaw       POL  2630 2630  M    10.0 89.00 104.00 9    67.5
8     GM    Krasenkow, Michal         POL  2647 2647  M    10.0 88.50 104.00 10   66.0
9     GM    Gyimesi, Zoltan           HUN  2616 2616  M     9.5 94.00 110.50 9    70.0
10    GM    Heberla, Bartlomiej       POL  2569 2569  M     9.5 93.00 110.00 9    69.0
11    GM    Bartel, Mateusz           POL  2569 2569  M     9.5 92.50 107.50 7    71.0
12    IM    Firman, Nazar             UKR  2495 2495  M     9.5 90.50 106.50 9    68.5
13    IM    Cmilyte, Viktorija        LTU  2469 2469  F     9.5 90.00 105.00 8    68.0
14    IM    Urban, Klaudiusz          POL  2450 2450  M     9.5 85.00 99.50  9    65.0
15    GM    Malaniuk, Vladimir P      UKR  2534 2534  M     9.0 98.00 114.50 8    72.5
16    IM    Zubov, Alexander          UKR  2537 2537  M     9.0 94.50 110.50 8    70.5
17    GM    Kempinski, Robert         POL  2590 2590  M     9.0 94.00 111.50 8    69.5
18    WGM   Muzychuk, Anna            SLO  2452 2452  F     9.0 92.50 107.50 6    67.5  G16
19    FM    Vaznonis, Vytautas        LTU  2291 2291  M     9.0 92.00 108.00 7    65.0
20    GM    Halkias, Stelios          GRE  2571 2571  M     9.0 91.00 106.50 9    66.0
21    IM    Rajlich, Iweta            POL  2432 2432  F     9.0 91.00 106.00 8    66.0
22    GM    Markowski, Tomasz         POL  2561 2561  M     9.0 90.50 105.50 7    67.5
23    FM    Tomczak, Jacek            POL  2420 2420  M     9.0 90.00 105.50 9    68.0  B16
24    FM    Warakomski, Tomasz        POL  2446 2446  M     9.0 90.00 105.50 7    67.5  B18
25    IM    Hunt, Harriet             ENG  2439 2439  F     9.0 89.50 105.50 8    67.5
26    IM    Jakubowski, Krzysztof     POL  2497 2497  M     9.0 89.00 105.50 7    68.0
27    IM    Stryjecki, Marek          POL  2423 2423  M     9.0 87.00 102.50 8    65.5
28    GM    Gdanski, Jacek            POL  2532 2532  M     9.0 86.50 102.50 9    67.0
29    IM    Dziuba, Marcin            POL  2535 2535  M     9.0 86.50 101.00 9    66.0
30    GM    Sumets, Andrey            UKR  2523 2523  M     9.0 86.00 101.50 8    65.0
31    GM    Akesson, Ralf             SWE  2467 2467  M     9.0 85.50 101.00 8    63.5
32    IM    Ajrapetjan, Yuriy         UKR  2403 2403  M     9.0 84.50 99.00  8    63.5
33    IM    Szymanski, Marcin         POL  2430 2430  M     9.0 83.00 99.50  9    63.0
34    IM    Zapolskis, Antanas        LTU  2377 2377  M     8.5 94.00 110.50 8    66.5
35    IM    Zhigalko, Sergei          BLR  2504 2504  M     8.5 91.50 109.00 7    67.0
36    IM    Shkapenko, Pavel          RUS  2382 2382  M     8.5 91.00 107.00 8    66.0
37    GM    Schmidt, Wlodzimierz      POL  2435 2435  M     8.5 91.00 106.50 6    66.5  S60
38    IM    Zagorskis, Darius         LTU  2468 2468  M     8.5 90.00 105.50 7    67.0
39    GM    Sulypa, Alexandre         UKR  2478 2478  M     8.5 89.50 104.50 7    66.0
40    GM    Galkin, Alexander         RUS  2600 2600  M     8.5 89.00 105.00 7    65.0
41    IM    Hunt, Adam                ENG  2462 2462  M     8.5 89.00 104.50 8    65.5
42    FM    Strzemiecki, Zbigniew     POL  2365 2365  M     8.5 86.00 102.50 8    62.5  B14
43          Mickiewicz, Piotr         POL  2312 2312  M     8.5 85.50 101.00 8    64.5
44    IM    Pinski, Jan               POL  2362 2362  M     8.5 85.50 101.00 8    60.5
45          Deszczynski, Adam         POL  2361 2361  M     8.5 85.50 101.00 6    63.5
46          Nurkiewicz, Maciej        POL  2404 2404  M     8.5 85.50 100.00 8    64.5
47          Piorun, Kacper            POL  2274 2274  M     8.5 84.50 99.00  8    62.0  B16
48    IM    Staniszewski, Piotr       POL  2419 2419  M     8.5 84.00 99.50  8    64.0
49    IM    Dworakowska, Joanna       POL  2372 2372  F     8.5 84.00 99.50  8    63.5
50    WIM   Daulyte, Deimante         LTU  2205 2205  F     8.5 84.00 98.00  8    59.5  G18
51          Solys, Laimutis           LTU  2321 2321  M     8.5 84.00 97.50  7    61.5
52          Krysztofiak, Marcin       POL  2397 2397  M     8.5 82.00 97.50  6    60.0
53          Godlauskas, Kazys         LTU  2269 2269  M     8.5 82.00 95.00  7    61.0
54          Bobula, Mateusz           POL  2285 2285  M     8.5 81.00 95.50  8    59.5  B16
55          Kukawski, Maciej          POL  2293 2293  M     8.5 81.00 95.00  8    60.5  B18
56    FM    Lubczynski, Rafal         POL  2343 2343  M     8.5 80.00 95.00  8    59.0  B18
57          Kalvaitis, Sigitas        LTU  2199 2199  M     8.5 76.00 90.00  8    54.5
58    IM    Adamski, Jan              POL  2355 2355  M     8.5 75.00 90.50  6    59.5  S60
59          Kaluzny, Wlodzimierz      POL  2147 2147  M     8.5 75.00 90.00  8    54.5  S60
475 players

10) Matches in Astana

There were three matches in Astana, Kazakhstan 18th-20th December 2006. Games 1-2 Fide-Timecontrol, Games 3-4 Rapid (30 min). Shakhriyar Mamedyarov beat Darmen Sadvakasov in the strongest match.

Official site: http://chess.ir.kz/

---------------------------------------------------------------
Match Astana KAZ (KAZ), 18-20 xii 2006
---------------------------------------------------------------
                                         1 2 3 4
1   Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar  g  AZE 2728  1 1 1 ½  3.5/4
2   Sadvakasov, Darmen      g  KAZ 2596  0 0 0 ½  0.5/4
                                         1 2 3 4
1   Andriasian, Zaven       m  ARM 2463  ½ 1 ½ ½  2.5/4
2   Ismagambetov, An        m  KAZ 2418  ½ 0 ½ ½  1.5/4

                                         1 2 3 4
1   Chiburdanidze, Maia     g  GEO 2504  ½ 1 1 ½  3.0/4
2   Aketaeva, Dana          wm KAZ 2312  ½ 0 0 ½  1.0/4

11) Aniversario del Par de Alfiles

The Aniversario del Par de Alfiles took place in Asuncion 5th-12th December 2006. Ernesto Real de Azua won the event with 8.5/11 undefeated. Games from the final two rounds are missing.

Links: Results and http://www.ajedrez.com.py/m/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aniversario del Par de Alfiles Asuncion PAR (PAR), 5-12 xii 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Real de Azua, Ernesto   f ARG 2396  * = = = = = 1 1 1 1 1 1  8.5  2446 
 2. Cubas, Jose Fernando    m PAR 2426  = * = = = 1 1 = = 1 1 =  7.5  2365 
 3. Bronstein, Luis         m ARG 2334  = = * 1 = = = 1 = = 1 1  7.5  2374 
 4. Zacarias, Rodrigo         BRA 2047  = = 0 * 1 1 = = 1 1 0 0  6.0  2303 
 5. Sosa Harrison, Jorge    f PAR 2283  = = = 0 * = = = = = = 1  5.5  2245 
 6. Kropff, Ricardo         f PAR 2329  = 0 = 0 = * = = = = 1 1  5.5  2241 
 7. Latorre, Manuel           PAR 2247  0 0 = = = = * 1 = = 0 1  5.0  2212 
 8. Peralta, Eduardo        f PAR 2279  0 = 0 = = = 0 * = = 1 1  5.0  2210 
 9. Escofet, Jaime            URU 2165  0 = = 0 = = = = * = = =  4.5  2191 
10. Valiente, Cristobal     m PAR 2276  0 0 = 0 = = = = = * = 1  4.5  2181 
11. Deus Fo., Joaquim         BRA 2064  0 0 0 1 = 0 1 0 = = * 1  4.5  2200 
12. Lipiniks, Leonardo        PAR 2139  0 = 0 1 0 0 0 0 = 0 0 *  2.0  1996 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

12) 22nd Voivoda Cup

The 22nd Voivoda Cup took place in Legnica, Polgand 7th-14th December 2006. Stanislav Savchenko edged out Sergei Ovsejevitsch on tie-break with 6.5/9.

Official site: http://www.szachy.lca.pl/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
22nd Voivoda Cup Legnica POL (POL), 7-14 xii 2006         cat. VIII (2439)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Savchenko, Stanislav       g UKR 2532  * = = 1 1 = 1 = = 1  6.5  2595 
 2. Ovsejevitsch, Sergei       g UKR 2545  = * = = = 1 = 1 1 1  6.5  2593 
 3. Talla, Vladimir            m CZE 2413  = = * = = 1 1 = 0 1  5.5  2522 
 4. Jakubowski, Krzysztof      m POL 2497  0 = = * = = = 1 = =  4.5  2433 
 5. Zeberski, Jakub              POL 2420  0 = = = * = = 0 1 1  4.5  2441 
 6. Sengupta, Deep             m IND 2420  = 0 0 = = * = 1 = 1  4.5  2441 
 7. Owczarzak, Jerzy             POL 2387  0 = 0 = = = * = 1 =  4.0  2402 
 8. Szelag, Marcin             m POL 2472  = 0 = 0 1 0 = * = =  3.5  2355 
 9. Schmidt, Wlodzimierz       g POL 2435  = 0 1 = 0 = 0 = * 0  3.0  2314 
10. Cherednichenko, Svetlana  wm UKR 2273  0 0 0 = 0 0 = = 1 *  2.5  2291 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

13) Eupen IM

There was an IM norm tournament in Eupen, Belgium. Dimitri Komarov won the event with 7/9.

http://www.schach.be/dt/turniere-svdb.html

------------------------------------------------------------------
IM It Eupen BEL (BEL), 8-16 xii 2006                cat. VI (2378)
------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 
------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Komarov, Dimitri   g UKR 2540  * = 1 1 = = = 1 1 1  7.0  2580 
 2. Kovalev, Andrei    g BLR 2548  = * = = = 1 1 1 1 =  6.5  2525 
 3. Kadimova, Ilaha   wg AZE 2328  0 = * = 1 = = 1 = 1  5.5  2463 
 4. Ahn, Martin        f BEL 2312  0 = = * = = 1 1 = =  5.0  2428 
 5. Gulbas, Cemil      f BEL 2379  = = 0 = * 1 = = = =  4.5  2378 
 6. Hautot, Stephane   f BEL 2368  = 0 = = 0 * = 0 1 1  4.0  2336 
 7. Kaufeld, Juergen     GER 2308  = 0 = 0 = = * = = =  3.5  2305 
 8. Swinkels, Robin      NED 2378  0 0 0 0 = 1 = * = 1  3.5  2298 
 9. Brittner, Serge    f LUX 2317  0 0 = = = 0 = = * =  3.0  2259 
10. Meessen, Rudolf    f BEL 2303  0 = 0 = = 0 = 0 = *  2.5  2220 
------------------------------------------------------------------

14) Levikov Memorial

The Levikov Memorial took place in Lviv 7th-15th December 2006. Jurij Tihonov won the event with 7/9.

Official site: http://ukrchess.org.ua/turnir/t106e.html

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Levikov Mem Lviv UKR (UKR), 7-15 xii 2006            cat. VIII (2441)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 
---------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Tihonov, Jurij         g BLR 2494  * 1 1 0 = = 1 1 1 1  7.0  2655 
 2. Vovk, Yuri             m UKR 2444  0 * = = 1 = 1 1 = =  5.5  2521 
 3. Oleksienko, Mikhailo   g UKR 2530  0 = * 1 = = 0 1 1 1  5.5  2511 
 4. Kravtsiv, Martyn         UKR 2446  1 = 0 * = 0 = = 1 1  5.0  2483 
 5. Esen, Baris            m TUR 2464  = 0 = = * = 1 = = 1  5.0  2481 
 6. Vovk, Andrey           m UKR 2474  = = = 1 = * 0 = 0 =  4.0  2394 
 7. Romanishin, Oleg M     g UKR 2542  0 0 1 = 0 1 * = = =  4.0  2387 
 8. Erdogdu, Mert          m TUR 2383  0 0 0 = = = = * 1 =  3.5  2367 
 9. Zherebukh, Yaroslav      UKR 2321  0 = 0 0 = 1 = 0 * =  3.0  2329 
10. Leniart, Arkadiusz       POL 2315  0 = 0 0 0 = = = = *  2.5  2289 
---------------------------------------------------------------------

15) Subasic Memorial

The V Subasic Memorial took place 8th-16th December 2006. Ferenc Berkes edged out Suat Atalik on tie-break both scored 6.5/9.

Official site: http://www.bihchess.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=6

---------------------------------------------------------------------
V Ilijas Subasic Mem Zenica BIH (BIH), 8-16 xii 2006   cat. IX (2469)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 
---------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Berkes, Ferenc         g HUN 2589  * = 1 = = = = 1 1 1  6.5  2622 
 2. Atalik, Suat           g TUR 2583  = * = = = = 1 1 1 1  6.5  2622 
 3. Dizdarevic, Emir       g CRO 2492  0 = * = = 1 = 1 1 1  6.0  2591 
 4. Drasko, Milan          g SCG 2547  = = = * = = = = 1 1  5.5  2540 
 5. Vukic, Milan           g SCG 2504  = = = = * = = = 1 1  5.5  2545 
 6. Stojanovic, Dalibor    m BIH 2469  = = 0 = = * = 1 0 1  4.5  2469 
 7. Jovanovic, Zoran CRO   g CRO 2539  = 0 = = = = * 0 1 1  4.5  2461 
 8. Dumpor, Atif           f BIH 2411  0 0 0 = = 0 1 * 0 =  2.5  2309 
 9. Muratovic, Enver       f BIH 2265  0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 * =  2.5  2326 
10. Terzic, Safet          f BIH 2295  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 = = *  1.0  2137 
---------------------------------------------------------------------

16) Multicoms La Faisanderie

The GM and IM Multicoms La Faisanderie took place in Paris, France 13th-21st December 2006. Namig Guliyev won the GM event with 8/9.

Official site: http://www.paris-chess-club.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------
GM Multicoms Paris FRA (FRA), 13-21 xii 2006           cat. XI (2508)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 
---------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Guliyev, Namig         g AZE 2542  * = 1 1 1 = 1 1 1 1  8.0  2854 
 2. Abergel, Thal          m FRA 2474  = * = = 1 = = = 1 1  6.0  2636 
 3. Fressinet, Laurent     g FRA 2640  0 = * 0 1 = 1 1 1 1  6.0  2617 
 4. Cornette, Matthieu     m FRA 2480  0 = 1 * = = = 1 = =  5.0  2553 
 5. Le Roux, Jean-Pierre   m FRA 2494  0 0 0 = * = 1 1 1 1  5.0  2552 
 6. Shchekachev, Andrei    g RUS 2561  = = = = = * = = = 0  4.0  2458 
 7. Maze, Sebastien        m FRA 2510  0 = 0 = 0 = * = 1 1  4.0  2464 
 8. Bellaiche, Anthony     m FRA 2472  0 = 0 0 0 = = * 0 1  2.5  2345 
 9. Draoui, Najib          f MAR 2416  0 0 0 = 0 = 0 1 * =  2.5  2351 
10. Murey, Jacob           g ISR 2487  0 0 0 = 0 1 0 0 = *  2.0  2289 
---------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------
IM Multicoms Paris FRA (FRA), 13-21 xii 2006         cat. IV (2333)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Inkiov, Ventzislav   g BUL 2523  * 1 = = 1 = = 1 1 1  7.0  2532 
 2. Dutreeuw, Marc       m BEL 2384  0 * = 1 1 1 = 1 1 1  7.0  2547 
 3. Tissir, Mohamed      m MAR 2490  = = * 0 = 1 1 = 1 1  6.0  2440 
 4. Goldsztejn, Gildas     FRA 2303  = 0 1 * 1 0 = 1 1 1  6.0  2461 
 5. Karim, Ismael          MAR 2288  0 0 = 0 * = 1 1 1 1  5.0  2381 
 6. Manouck, Thierry     m FRA 2342  = 0 0 1 = * 1 0 1 =  4.5  2332 
 7. Parmentier, Xavier   f FRA 2284  = = 0 = 0 0 * 1 1 1  4.5  2338 
 8. Glicenstein, Asher   f FRA 2278  0 0 = 0 0 1 0 * 0 1  2.5  2173 
 9. Colson, Arnaud         FRA 2208  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 * =  1.5  2074 
10. Strugnell, Carl        FRA 2233  0 0 0 0 0 = 0 0 = *  1.0  1993 
-------------------------------------------------------------------

17) Iranian Championship

The Iranian Championships (Shahid Modarres Cup) took place Tehran/Iran December 22nd-30th 2006. Ehsan Ghaem Maghami won the event with 8.5/11. Games from the first 6 rounds only available.

Results: http://chess-results.com/Tnr5139.aspx?ix=1&art=1&lan=1&mm=1&m=1&turdet=YES

Rk.    Name                FED RtgN Pts. TB1 TB2 TB3   Rp
1   GM Ghaem Maghami Ehsan IRI 2580 2580 8,5  4,0 0,0 41,50 2579
2   IM Mahjoob Morteza     IRI 2465 2465 7,5  4,0 0,0 39,00 2511
3      Golizadeh Asghar    IRI 2233 2233 7,0  3,0 0,0 35,25 2501
4   FM Darban Morteza      IRI 2396 2396 6,5  3,0 0,0 33,50 2449
5   GM Bagheri Amir        IRI 2486 2486 6,5  2,5 0,0 29,75 2441
6   FM Alavi Sayed Javad   IRI 2368 2368 6,5  2,0 0,0 30,25 2452
7   FM Toufighi Homayoon   IRI 2386 2386 5,5  2,5 0,0 27,75 2385
8   FM Ardeshi Mehrdad     IRI 2379 2379 4,5  1,5 0,0 20,25 2321
9   FM Roghani Arash       IRI 2383 2383 4,0  1,5 0,0 19,25 2284
10  IM Ghorbani Mohsen     IRI 2304 2304 3,5  3,5 0,0 23,00 2260
11     Moradi Behrooz      IRI 2299 2299 3,0  1,0 0,0 14,25 2218
12     Moosavian S.Hamed   IRI 2345 2345 3,0  0,5 0,0 11,25 2214

18) 33rd Annual Eastern Open

Michael Atkins reports: More than 200 players came to Washington to participate in the 33rd Annual Eastern Open. Played over the Dec 27-30 period, the 8-round tournament was held at the elegant Wyndham, always beautifully decorated during the holiday season.

The 60 player Open section resulted in a four way tie at 6-2 among GMs Jaan Ehlvest, Sergei Kudrin, IM Fabiano Caruana and Kazim Gulamali. A half point back were GMs Alex Ivanov and Alex Stripunsky, IM Stanis Smetankin and experts Zhi-Ya Hu and Gary De Fotis.

Full results are posted at http://www.chessctr.org/eoresults.php 28 games available, many of the important ones

U2200 Section won by David Paulina U1900 Section shared with 80 year old Solomon Verbitsky and Dimitri Barabanov U1600 Section won by Jesse Bickford U1300 Section shared by Alex Gilbert and Alex Chen

Open Blitz won by GMs Ehlvest and Ivanov, Amateur by Dilip Panjwani and Curtis Winter

Top Open finishers were:
Standings. 33rd Annual Eastern Open: Open Section
 #     Name                   Rtng     Tot  
 1  GM Jaan Ehlvest           2668     6.0
 2  GM Sergey Kudrin          2609     6.0
 3  IM Fabiano Caruana        2458     6.0
 4     Kazim Gulamali         2364     6.0
 5  GM Alexander Stripunsky   2644     5.5
 6  GM Alexander Ivanov       2640     5.5
 7  IM Stanisl Smetankin      2512     5.5
 8     Zhi-ya Hu              2185     5.5
 9     Gary C De Fotis        2116     5.5
10  IM Lawrence Kaufman       2381     5.0
11     Daniel I Miller        2332     5.0
12  FM Macon A Shibut         2317     5.0
13     Alexander Betaneli     2282     5.0
14  FM Ralph P Zimmer         2251     5.0
15     Yu Zhong Lu            2187     5.0
16     Shinsaku Uesugi        2175     5.0
17     Daniel A Yeager        2142     5.0
18     Scott T Low            1952     5.0

19) 16th IPCCC Paderborn

The 16th IPCCC (International Paderborn Computer Chess Championship) ended in the German city of Paderborn on December 30th 2006. The tournament was won by Rybka, with the score of 6.5 points out 7 games, ahead of Shredder (6 points). The games section was well below the normal standard for computer events with missing games and other errors. News: Jeroen Noomen.

Official site: http://wwwcs.uni-paderborn.de/~IPCCC/

----------------------------------------------
16th IPCCC Paderborn GER (GER), 27-30 xii 2006
----------------------------------------------
 1     Rybka      6.5  24.5
 2     Shredder   6    25
 3     Gandalf    4.5  25
 4     Jonny      3    27
 5     Gridchess  3    26.5
 6     Spike      3    24.5
 7     Diep       2.5  25
 8     Ikarus     2.5  23.5
 9     Isichess   2.5  23
10     Chiron     1.5  21
----------------------------------------------

20) Czech Chess Christmas 2006

The Czech Chess Christmas 2006 tournament takea place at 26.12.2006-1.1.2007 in Litomysl (CZE). There are 105 participants from 13 countries including 2 GMs (Dydyshko, Manik) and 10 IMs.

Daily results and pairings is published at http://www.a64.cz/tournaments/litomysl2006

21) Forthcoming Events and Links

Corus and Linares 2007

The Corus tournament in Wijk aan Zee takes place 12th-28th January 2007. The fields for the top two groups have been announced.

Participants grandmaster group A
GM  Veselin Topalov         BUL  2813  1
GM  Viswanathan Anand       IND  2779  2
GM  Vladimir Kramnik        RUS  2750  3
GM  Peter Svidler           RUS  2750  4
GM  Levon Aronian           ARM  2741  7
GM  Teymour Radjabov        AZE  2729  11
GM  David Navara            CZE  2725  13
GM  Alexey Shirov           ESP  2720  14
GM  Ruslan Ponomariov       UKR  2703  20
GM  Magnus Carlsen          NOR  2698  21
GM  Sergey Tiviakov         NED  2680  27
GM  Loek van Wely           NED  2676  29
GM  Sergey Karjakin         UKR  2672  35
GM  Alexander Motylev       RUS  2662  44
Average rating  : 2721
Category  : 19

Participants grandmaster group B
  Name  Country  Rating  Position
GM  Dmitry Jakovenko        RUS  2671  38
GM  Bu Xiangzhi             CHN  2671  38
GM  Gabriel Sargissian      ARM  2667  43
GM  Viorel Bologan          MLD  2659  47
GM  Pavel Eljanov           UKR  2658  49
GM  Friso Nijboer           NED  2641  68
GM  Erwin L’Ami             NED  2593  152
GM  Suat Atalik             TUR  2583  187
GM  Maxime Vachier-Lagrav   FRA  2579  209
GM  Daniel Stellwagen       NED  2576  220
GM  Jan Werle               NED  2551  311
GM  Vladimir Georgiev       MKD  2532  437
GM  Jan Smeets              NED  2525  487
IM  Tatiana Kosintseva      RUS  2458  1121
Average rating  : 2597
Category  : 14

Participants grandmaster group C
  Name  Country  Rating  Position
GM  Michal Krasenkow        POL  2647  61
GM  Emanuel Berg            SWE  2582  192
IM  Ian Nepomniachtchi      RUS  2545  336
GM  Parimarjan Negi         IND  2538  390
GM  John van der Wiel       NED  2522  509
GM  Stellan Brynell         SWE  2502  680
IM  Nadezhda Kosintseva     RUS  2493  750
WFM  Hou Yifan              CHN  2481  872
IM  Wouter Spoelman         NED  2450  1214
GM  Zhaoqin Peng            NED  2436  1429
GM  Harmen Jonkman          NED  2431  1506
IM  Edwin van Haastert      NED  2393  2446
IM  Thomas Willemze         NED  2384  2692
IM  Manuel Bosboom          NED  2375  2927
Average rating  : 2484
Category  : 10

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

Alex Finkel Preview

In addition the line up for the Morelia / Linares tournament (again in Mexico and Spain) has been announced. The Morelia half takes place 16th-25th February 2007 and Linares 2nd-11th March 2007.

The field is: Veselin Topalov, Viswanathan Anand, Peter Leko, Peter Svidler, Levon Aronian, Teimour Radjabov, Magnus Carlsen and one of either Alexander Morozevich (it may be that marca has is right as they are the official site and its Moro), Alexei Shirov or Francisco Vallejo Pons depending on who you read. (Mexican Story - or Marca story)

Monroi Grand Prix for Women

Women in chess are being recognized by a Grand-Prix series of international chess events. The events will be broadcast live using the MonRoi system. “The world’s best women chess players have the opportunity to qualify in some of the top tournaments in the world. We invite you to follow live games, pictorial and video reports! Join us in Gibraltar, Cannes, Zagreb, Dresden, Liechtenstein, St. Petersburg and Philadelphia and Montreal!” said Brana Giancristofaro, Founder & CEO of MonRoi Inc. The Grand-Prix Finale will be held in Montreal, Canada July 21-28, 2007. Qualifiers will be selected on the basis of top performance and will compete for Finale prizes! The Grand-Prix starts on January 23rd, 2007, in Gibraltar! Qualifying events are the following:

GibTelecom, Gibraltar, January 23 - February 1
Cannes Open, FRA, February 18-25
Zagreb Open, CRO, March 17-25
ECU Individual, Dresden GER, April 2-15
Liechtenstein Open, May 11-19
White Nights, St. Petersburg RUS, June 16-24
World Open, Philadelphia USA, June 28 - July 4
Montreal Chess Festival Finale, July 21-28

Further details: http://www.monroi.com/GP

ACP Rapid Cup in Odessa

The Association of Chess Professionals http://www.chess-players.org/eng/index.html have announced their first major event. The 1st ACP World Rapid Cup is set to take place in Odessa in the Ukraine 4th-8th January 2007. The event will be sponsored by the Bank Pivdennyi based in Odessa. The venue will be the Hotel Londonskaya. The tournament organisers are the Bank Pivdennyi and the Association of Chess Professionals. The total prize fund will amount to 136,000 US Dollars. 16 grandmasters will participate in this Knock-Out tournament. The time control will be 20 minutes for the whole game with an increment of 5 seconds per move.

The 14 players who will therefore take part in the first ACP WRC are: Alexander Morozevich (Russia), Peter Leko (Hungary), Boris Gelfand (Israel), Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan), Alexei Shirov (Spain), Etienne Bacrot (France), Sergey Rublevsky (Russia), Evgeny Bareev (Russia), Arkadij Naiditsch (Germany), Pentala Harikrishna (India), Ivan Sokolov (Netherlands), Victor Bologan (Moldova), Hikaru Nakamura (USA), Farrukh Amonatov (Tajikistan). In addition, on the proposal of Bank Pivdennyi, two Wild Cards are given to Vassily Ivanchuk (highest rated Ukrainian Grandmaster) and Ilia Smirin (Israel).

Detailed press release: http://www.chess-players.org/eng/news/viewarticle.html?id=585

Chess FM Chess and Books with Fred Wilson

Chess & Books with Fred Wilson - This Week's guest: Noah Sheola (Paul Morphy playwright)

Fred Wilson's guest on Tuesday evening (8pm EST), Dec. 19th, 2006, will be Noah Sheola, author of the well-received new play, "Paul Morphy", currently running at The Players Ring in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Noah, a USCF rated player and avid reader of chess history, is the author of four plays, including one about Marie Antoinette, produced on the East Coast and in Chicago. He is a winner of the F. Gary Newton Playwriting Competition, and also an accomplished actor, performing with the New Hampshire improvisational theater troupe Stranger Than Fiction. He is a graduate of Bard College and now lives in Portsmouth, NH.

Noah says "Writing from history is all about making compromises between the historical record and the need to be concise, coherent and entertaining...I think I have a sense of who Morphy was and what it was like to spend time with him. When you read his letters the force of his personality is there". Please send questions for Noah Sheola about Paul Morphy to fred@fredwilsonchess.com. The show runs from 8:00 to 10:00 PM (EST) every Tuesday evening. As always, there will be replays of the show almost immediately afterwards for our chess enthusiasts on the West Coast & elsewhere, and often there will be several replays the following day.

You can access "Chess and Books with Fred Wilson" at the following website: http://www.chess.fm, ONLY IF YOU ARE AN ICC MEMBER. However, if you visit chessclub.com you can sign up for a one week FREE trial membership, listen to the show that week, and access all the other good stuff on Chess.fm while you're at it!

ACP Christmas Blitz Tournament 2006

The ACP Board is glad to invite you to take part in the ACP Christmas Blitz Tournament. The prize fund will amount to 4,550 euros. The event will be organized on the ACPO, the official playing zone of our association. The preliminary stages of the tournament will take place from December 19th to 22nd 2006, and the final stages on December 26th and 27th 2006.

The prize distribution as well as the registration form can be found on our special page http://www.acpochess.com/acpo/acpxb_index.php

49th Reggio Emilia Tournament

The 49th edition of the Reggio Emilia Torneo di Capodanno takes place December 30 2006 - January 7 2007. 9 rounds at the hotel Astoria Mercure starting 2,30 pm. Time rate: 1h and 40 min x 40 moves then 50 min to end, plus 30 sec starting from the first move.

Players
    GM    KHENKIN            IGOR            GER     ELO 2620
    GM    GELASHVILI         TAMAD           GEO     ELO 2606
    GM    LANDA              KONSTANTIN      RUS     ELO 2570
    GM    IORDACHESCU        VIOREL          MOL     ELO 2564
    GM    ROMANISHIN         OLEG            UKR     ELO 2542
    IM    BRUNELLO           SABINO          ITA     ELO 2460
    IM    SHYTAJ             LUCA            ALB/ITA ELO 2441
    IM    MANCA              FEDERICO        ITA     ELO 2425
    IM    BORGO              GIULIO          ITA     ELO 2420
          MOGRANZINI         ROBERTO         ITA     ELO 2401
GM norm = 6 points - IM norm = 4 points

Sydney International Open

SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL OPEN (10/04/2007-14/04/2007) - Australia's strongest Open tournament ever held.

More information at http://www.chessaustralia.com.au/open or contact info@chessaustralia.com.au

Novi Sad Chess

Novi Sad will host the 2009 Europian National Team Championship. In the run up to that the Championship of Novi Sad takes place 18th-25th March 2007.

Further detail: http://www.drazic.co.yu

Politiken Cup

The 29th Copenhagen Open Politiken Cup takes place 21st-29th July 2006.

Official site: http://www.politikencup.dk/

Coulsdon Christmas International

The Coulsdon Christmas International takes place 11th-15th December 2006. The organisers need 2 titled and 1 non-titled players for the 10 player all-play-all event for IM norms. In addition, we there are 3 spaces in their Challengers' event. If interested contact Scott Freeman chess@ccfworld.com

Details: http://www.ccfworld.com/Chess/Results/2006-12-15_International.htm

Hungarian tournaments January - May 2007

The list of the chess tournaments from January - May 2007 in Hungary:

1. 27th of December until 4th of January, Kecskemet, IM Berger tmt, org: Dr.Erdelyi, Tamas, e-mail: postmaster@caissa.t-online.hu Website: www.caissachessbooks.hu Usually also in the second half of the month IM tmt-s in Kecskemet. 100 km South from Budapest.

2. 5th-13th of January 2007 - EVADNYITO (SEASON STARTING) Open, First prize: brutto 100 000 Ft (1 EURO = 258 Ft now) Prize found: 300 000 Ft. Budapest, org: Marti György, more info: Nagy Laszlo, firstsat@hu.inter.net http://www.firstsaturday.hu

3. 3rd-16th of February 2007 FIRST SATURDAY Budapest GM-IM-FM, 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/..

4. 3rd-16th of March FS Budapest, GM-IM-FM, org: NL.

5. 16th-24th of March Budapest Spring Festival 9 round Swiss Open, org: Nagy L. www.firstsaturday.hu

6. 25th of March - 7th of April, GM closed tournament in SIKONDA, South-West 250 km from Budapest, org: Mr.Gruenwald, mobile phone: +36-30-9971005

7. 7th-20th of April, FS GM-IM-FM, Budapest, org: NL

8. 21st of April - 1st of May GM tmt minimal cat.9. Planned /2451-2475 Elo range/, Org: NL,

9. 5th-18th of May, GM-IM-FM Budapest, org NL,

10. 19th-29th of May, ELEKES MEMORIAL, GM-IM closed, Org: IM Zsinka, e-mail: zsinkala@t-online.hu

Karpov Simul in Moscow

On Thursday at capital restaurant " Stork" (www.novikovgroup.ru/restaurants/aist) took place a simul of of Anatoly Karpov. Opponents of the Ex-World Champion became well-known businessmen, politicians, representatives of show business. Considering, that the place of action was fashionable restaurant, it has turned to a cheerful secular party with chess subjects.

See details: http://en.chess-events.org/News

5th Crikvenica Rapid

The 5th Crikvenica Rapid takes place 29th December 2006 - 1st January 2007.

Details: http://www.crochess.com/turniri/crikvenica/crikvenica_06.htm

First Saturday December 2006

First Saturday Budapest GM-IM-FM closed tournaments, Budapest, HUNGARY, 2nd-15th of December... Vacancies in the GM - IM and FM sections. Website: http://www.firstsaturday.hu . Contact: Lazlo Nagy firstsat@hu.inter.net - Phone-fax: (+36)-1-263-28-59 Mobile: (+36)-30-230-1914 ICC, SKYPE, YAHOO and MSN messenger nickname: mrfirstsaturday

Prague Open 2007

PRAGUE OPEN 2007 (11.-18.1. 2007 - 2 FIDE opens, one of them with a possibility to fulfill IM norm, active chess and blitz tournament, more information at the address http://www.czechtour.net/praha/index.php

Marienbad Open 2007

MARIENBAD OPEN 2007 Marienbad is the second largest spa town in the Czech Republic, 19.-27.1. 2007 - closed GM tournament, closed IM tournament, FIDE open, active chess and blitz tournament, http://www.czechtour.net/marlazne/index.php

ACP Tour Report August - October

Read the ACP Tour Report August - October 2006.

Read the report: http://www.chess-players.org/eng/news/viewarticle.html?id=579

Dutch Team Championship

The Dutch Team Championship Meesterklasse takes place 23rd October 2006 - 12th May 2006. The first three rounds have already taken place. Ivanchuk, Tiviakov and Ivan Sokolov are amongst the players who have already played.

Dutch Chess Federation: http://www.schaakbond.nl/ - Meesterklasse Games side bar at: http://www.schakers.info/ - Photo report at: http://www.chessvista.com

Swiss Chess Tour 2007

The Swiss Chess Tour 2007 starts in Basle in the New Year (1.-7.1.2007.). Venue of Chess Festival for 9th time is Hotel Hilton in Basle.

Hilton Open (1-7.1.2007.) 7 Rounds, 6 hours (2 hours for 40 moves + 60 minutes for complete the game.) Prizes: 2000/1500/1200/800/600/500/2x400/2x300/5x200 CHF. Special prizes 200 CHF for best Lady, Senior (1947), junior (1987-90), schoolboy (1991). Enter fee: 140 CHF (FM and juniors 70 CHF) GM & IM free. At the door 20 CHF.

Players so far for Basle: GM Ulf Andersson (SWE), GM Borislav Ivkov (SCG), GM Andrei Sokolov (FRA), GM Miso Cebalo (CRO), GM Igor Rausis (BAN), GM Nenad Sulava (CRO), GM Stefan Djuric (SCG), IM Martin Senff (GER), IM Simon Kuemin (SUI) etc.

Basle amateur (1-7.1.2007.) 7 Rounds, 4 hours (90 minutes 30 moves + 30 minutes to complete the game). Players under 1900 rating (FIDE or national). Enter fee: 120 CHF (juniors 60 CHF). At the door 20 CHF. Prizes: 500/400/2x300/2x200/4x150 CHF.

Basle juniors (2.1.2007.) 7 Rounds, 15 minutes for the game. Juniors 1987 and younger. Enter fee 5 CHF. Natural prizes for all players.

Basel Lighting Chess (6.1.2007. from 14.00 to 16.00) 9 Rounds, 5 minutes. Enter fee: 20 CHF (juniors 5 CHF). Prizes 300/200/150/2x100/2x50 CHF natural prizes for everybody 50% and more points.

More information and registration: Robert Spoerri tel. +41+62+9654-650, fax +41+62+9654-651 E-mail info@beochess.ch Further information: http://www.beochess.ch or http://yubc.net/~yuchess

Austrian Team Championship

The first three rounds of the Austrian Team Championship took place in Graz 3rd-5th November 2006.

Schedule: R 01-03: 03.11.-05.11.2006, Graz (Hotel Novapark) R 04-07: 18.01.-21.01.2007, Leoben (Gösserbräu) R 08-11: 08.03.-11.03.2007, Mattersburg

Official site: http://www.chess.at/staatsligen/stl_a.htm

Slovenian Chess Centre

The Slovenian Chess Federation opened a centre on the 21st October 2006.

Official site: http://www.sah-zveza.si/news/0610/sahdom/

Pierre Barthélémy Chess Blog

Pierre Barthélémy Chess Blog in French: http://echecs-info.blogspot.com

II Magistral 5 Soles

The II Magistral 5 Soles took place 3rd-11th November 2006. Details may become available.

Official site: http://www.comunic.com.br/xadrez/

Insel-Seniorenturnier

The Insel-Seniorenturnier takes place in Wyk auf Föhr im Hotel "Schloss am Meer" 8th-16th November 2006.

Official site: http://www.schach-info.de/wyk/teil.html

10th A.V.Momot Memorial

The 10th A.V.Momot Memorial takes place November 11th-12th 2006 in Kramatorsk (Ukraine).

Participants: GMs Eljanov (2658), Areshchenko (2640), Efimenko (2612), Brodsky (2566), Kuzubov (2559), Lahno (2459), Andreev (2459) etc.

Official site: http://www.chess.krm.dn.ua/memor.htm

66th Italian Championship

The 66th Italian Championship takes place 21st November - 4th December 2006. The tournament will consist of 11 players in a round robin at Hotel Impero in Cremona. Games will be played on DGT boards, and viewable live at the Italian Chess Federation web site.

Official tournament information: http://federscacchi.it/doc/notcom/d20060902032222_bando_66.pdf

Official federation site: http://www.federscacchi.it/

Rilton Cup

The Rilton Cup takes place 27th December 2006 - 5th January 2007. Details and entry.

Official site: http://www.rilton.se/

Czech Chess Christmas 2006

Czech Chess Christmas 2006 Litomysl (CZE) 26.12.2006-1.1.2007 8th christmas chess FIDE tournament, swiss system of 9 round, rate of game 2 x 1,5h + 30s/move, prize fund 61.000 CZK (1st prize 20.000 CZK = 680 EUR), special conditions for IM, WGM and GM, New Year’s Eve programme. Contact: Proclient s.r.o., Jaroslav Fuksik, Svedska 3, 772 00 Olomouc, mobil: 608 364 664, e-mail: a64@proclient.cz, web: http://www.a64.cz

Fischer on the Radio

Bobby Fischer appeared on the Icelandic private radio station Utvarp Saga on October 16th 2006, He discussed his public despute with UBS, Chess in the past and present, and Interntional affairs, even the North Korea crises.

50 minute interview. It may become available at: http://www.utvarpsaga.is/ is the radio station, (MP3 at: http://www.deep-chess.de/)

3rd Singapore International Chess Convention

The 3rd Singapore International Chess Convention 2006 incorporates the 1. 2nd Asian Schools 17 to 24 December 2nd Asian Schools Entry Form for Singapore Only 2. Seminar for Coaches 18 to 24 December 3. Arbiters Training Seminar 19 to 24 December 4. Masters & Challengers Open 26 to 31 December Masters & Challengers Open.

Details of all events at: http://www.singaporechess.org.sg/

Obrenovac 2006

International Open Championship of Belgrade "Obrenovac 2006" Obrenovac, 22-30.11.2006. Prizes : EUR 5,250.00

Contact information: BELGRADE CHESS INFORMATION 11000 Belgrade, Deligradska 27/III, Serbia and Montenegro Tel/Fax; +381-11 -656 846 E-mail: beochess@eunet.yu

Details: http://www.beochess.org.yu

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

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

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

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/

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.

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/

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.

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/

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/

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