THE WEEK IN CHESS 690 28th January 2008 by Mark Crowther

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Contents

1) Introduction
2) Corus Wijk aan Zee
3) Gibraltar Gibtelecom Chess Festival
4) 68th Armenian Championship
5) Belarus Championship
6) New Zealand Chess Championship
7) Croatian Chess Championship
8) Marienbad International Chess Festival
9) Asian Team Championships
10) Liege Masters
11) Estonia-Finland 100 boards
12) Austrian Bundesliga
13) Venezuelan Championship
14) 91st Marshall Chess Club Championship
15) Perenyi Memorial Open
16) Prague Open
17) Porzellancup
18) Boris Baczynskyj 1945-2008
19) Forthcoming Events and Links

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Games Section
Corus Wijk aan Zee 113 games
Gibraltar Gibtelecom Chess Festival 600 games
68th Armenian Championship 11 games
Belarus Championship 15 games
New Zealand Chess Championship 121 games
Croatian Chess Championship 42 games
Marienbad International Chess Festival 308 games
Asian Team Championships 195 games
Liege Masters 45 games
Estonia-Finland 100 boards 87 games
Austrian Bundesliga 144 games
Venezuelan Championship 111 games
91st Marshall Chess Club Championship 116 games
Prague Open 9 games
1917 games

1) Introduction

My thanks to Paul Spiller, Jan Mazuch, Miklos Orso, Jose Luis Guilarte, Mikel Larreategi, Alex Brunetti, Michael Freeman, Miklos Orso, Istvan Brindza, Oscar de la Riva Aguado, Lawrence Tamarkin, Laszlo Nagy, Ülar Lauk and everyone else who helped with the issue.

25 year old Levon Aronian and 17 year old Magnus Carlsen shared first at the Corus tournament in Wijk aan Zee. Whilst neither dominated the event they were both deserved winners playing the best chess. There were rather underwhelming performances from joint World Number ones Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik but their match later this year was almost certainly on their minds, especially in their opening choices. Even more out of sorts was World Number 3 Veselin Topalov whose best moment came when he beat Vladimir Kramnik with a huge novelty he had been saving up for three years, but he too has a match on his mind, against Gata Kamsky. Aronian's result was the second time he shared first here and he is still predicted to go to the very top at some point in the next few years. Magnus Carlsen's result was not quite astonishing because he has been seen as the coming man for some time but nevertheless at 17 years old this is a notable victory. Even Carlsen had some weak moments and only a big piece of luck against Loek van Wely allowed him to share the prize. Nevertheless it can't do his confidence any harm and quick improvement can still be expected. 19 years old is in my view usually the age when the fully fledged Grandmaster first appears and he has some way and much improvement to go to reach that mark.

Hope you enjoy this issue.

Mark

2) Corus Wijk aan Zee

The Corus Chess Tournament 2008 took place 11th-27th January 2008 in Wijk aan Zee. The tournament venue was the De Moriaan Community Centre. Levon Aronian shared first place for the second year in a row. 17 year old Magnus Carlsen was joint first having made his breakthrough in the C-Group in only 2004.

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

Fred Lucas takes many photos at the event: http://www.fredlucas.eu. Frits Agterdenbos has daily photo reports: http://www.chessvista.com/. Commentary: http://www.chessdom.com/. Chess Videos: http://www.chessvibes.com/. http://www.chessclub.com/ has daily live coverage and also John Watson interviews Wijk tournament director Jeroen van den Berg on his Book show. Direct link - Etienne Bacrot annotates his own games: http://www.chess22.fr/ - Ian Rogers blogging from Wijk: http://main.uschess.org/ - John Lee Shaw on the spot: http://www.chessgateway.com/ - Europe Echecs has videos: http://www.europe-echecs.com/

Corus Wijk aan Zee 2008 A-Group 11th-27th January 2008
Round 9 (January 22, 2008)
Aronian, Levon - Eljanov, Pavel ½-½ 20 A29 English Four Knights
Lékó, Peter - Carlsen, Magnus 1-0 40 C95 Ruy Lopez Breyer
Ivanchuk, Vassily - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar ½-½ 41 D86 Gruenfeld Simagin
Adams, Michael - Van Wely, Loek 1-0 47 B87 Sicilian Sozin Attack
Topalov, Veselin - Kramnik, Vladimir 1-0 45 D43 Anti-Meran Gambit
Polgar, Judit - Radjabov, Teimour ½-½ 23 C63 Ruy Lopez Schliemann
Gelfand, Boris - Anand, Viswanathan ½-½ 25 E06 Catalan
Round 10 (January 23, 2008)
Anand, Viswanathan - Lékó, Peter ½-½ 19 C84 Ruy Lopez Centre Attack
Radjabov, Teimour - Topalov, Veselin ½-½ 42 C45 Scotch Game
Adams, Michael - Aronian, Levon ½-½ 21 C88 Ruy Lopez Closed
Kramnik, Vladimir - Gelfand, Boris ½-½ 48 E15 Queens Indian
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar - Polgar, Judit ½-½ 28 C10 French Rubinstein
Eljanov, Pavel - Ivanchuk, Vassily 0-1 56 E00 Catalan
Van Wely, Loek - Carlsen, Magnus 0-1 49 A58 Volga Gambit
Round 11 (January 25, 2008)
Aronian, Levon - Van Wely, Loek 1-0 41 D11 Slav Defence
Carlsen, Magnus - Anand, Viswanathan 0-1 42 B84 Sicilian Scheveningen
Lékó, Peter - Kramnik, Vladimir ½-½ 28 C42 Petroff's Defence
Ivanchuk, Vassily - Adams, Michael ½-½ 28 A13 Reti Opening
Topalov, Veselin - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar ½-½ 42 E92 King's Indian Classical
Polgar, Judit - Eljanov, Pavel 0-1 43 C65 Ruy Lopez Berlin
Gelfand, Boris - Radjabov, Teimour 0-1 37 E94 King's Indian Classical
Round 12 (January 26, 2008)
Aronian, Levon - Ivanchuk, Vassily ½-½ 62 D27 QGA
Radjabov, Teimour - Lékó, Peter ½-½ 31 E15 Queens Indian
Adams, Michael - Polgar, Judit 0-1 44 C42 Petroff's Defence
Kramnik, Vladimir - Carlsen, Magnus 0-1 57 A30 English Symmetrical
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar - Gelfand, Boris ½-½ 26 B50 Sicilian Defence
Eljanov, Pavel - Topalov, Veselin 1-0 46 A62 Benoni
Van Wely, Loek - Anand, Viswanathan ½-½ 45 E19 Queens Indian
Round 13 (January 27, 2008)
Carlsen, Magnus - Radjabov, Teimour ½-½ 65 A48 King's Indian Defence /c2-c4
Anand, Viswanathan - Kramnik, Vladimir ½-½ 61 C42 Petroff's Defence
Lékó, Peter - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar 1-0 27 C72 Ruy Lopez Modern Steinitz
Ivanchuk, Vassily - Van Wely, Loek ½-½ 35 A09 Reti Opening
Topalov, Veselin - Adams, Michael ½-½ 23 C78 Ruy Lopez Moeller Defence
Polgar, Judit - Aronian, Levon ½-½ 57 C89 Ruy Lopez Marshall
Gelfand, Boris - Eljanov, Pavel 1-0 38 A17 English Opening

Corus A Wijk aan Zee (NED), 12-27 i 2008 cat. XX (2742)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4
1. Aronian, Levon g ARM 2739 * ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 0 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 8 2829
2. Carlsen, Magnus g NOR 2733 ½ * 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 ½ 8 2830
3. Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2799 ½ 1 * 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 7½ 2794
4. Radjabov, Teimour g AZE 2735 0 ½ 1 * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 7½ 2799
5. Lékó, Peter g HUN 2753 ½ 1 ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 7 2770
6. Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2751 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 7 2770
7. Adams, Michael g ENG 2726 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ 6½ 2743
8. Kramnik, Vladimir g RUS 2799 1 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ * 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 6½ 2737
9. Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2780 0 ½ 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 * ½ ½ 0 0 1 6 2710
10. Polgar, Judit g HUN 2707 ½ 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ * ½ 0 ½ 1 6 2716
11. Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar g AZE 2760 ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ 1 ½ 6 2711
12. Eljanov, Pavel g UKR 2692 ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 1 1 ½ * ½ 0 5 2659
13. Van Wely, Loek g NED 2681 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 1 ½ 0 ½ * ½ 5 2660
14. Gelfand, Boris g ISR 2737 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 0 ½ 1 ½ * 5 2655

Corus Wijk aan Zee 2008 B-Group 11th-27th January 2008
Round 9 (January 22, 2008)
Movsesian, Sergei - Short, Nigel D ½-½ 22 C50 Giuoco Piano
Nepomniachtchi, Ian - Stellwagen, Daniël 1-0 44 B43 Sicilian Paulsen
L'Ami, Erwin - Hou Yifan 1-0 55 A17 English Opening
Smeets, Jan - Spoelman, Wouter 0-1 59 B51 Sicilian Rossolimo
Cheparinov, Ivan - Krasenkow, Michal 1-0 42 D31 Semi-Slav Defence
Koneru, Humpy - Harikrishna, P ½-½ 28 D79 Gruenfeld 3.g3
Sargissian, Gabriel - Bacrot, Etienne ½-½ 40 D15 Slav Defence
Round 10 (January 23, 2008)
Movsesian, Sergei - Smeets, Jan 1-0 25 C53 Giuoco Piano
Short, Nigel D - Krasenkow, Michal 1-0 50 C65 Ruy Lopez Berlin
Bacrot, Etienne - Cheparinov, Ivan ½-½ 51 B90 Sicilian Najdorf Variation
Harikrishna, P - Sargissian, Gabriel ½-½ 62 C53 Giuoco Piano
Stellwagen, Daniël - L'Ami, Erwin ½-½ 48 C42 Petroff's Defence
Hou Yifan - Koneru, Humpy ½-½ 54 C87 Ruy Lopez
Spoelman, Wouter - Nepomniachtchi, Ian 0-1 46 B90 Sicilian Najdorf Variation
Round 11 (January 25, 2008)
Nepomniachtchi, Ian - Movsesian, Sergei ½-½ 64 B43 Sicilian Paulsen
L'Ami, Erwin - Spoelman, Wouter 0-1 37 E12 Queens Indian Petrosian
Smeets, Jan - Short, Nigel D 0-1 41 C12 French MacCutcheon
Cheparinov, Ivan - Harikrishna, P 0-1 50 D20 QGA
Koneru, Humpy - Stellwagen, Daniël ½-½ 34 D48 Queens Gambit Meran
Krasenkow, Michal - Bacrot, Etienne 0-1 34 D23 QGA
Sargissian, Gabriel - Hou Yifan 0-1 49 E15 Queens Indian
Round 12 (January 26, 2008)
Movsesian, Sergei - L'Ami, Erwin 1-0 30 C50 Giuoco Piano
Short, Nigel D - Bacrot, Etienne ½-½ 36 C86 Ruy Lopez Worrall Attack
Harikrishna, P - Krasenkow, Michal ½-½ 45 B30 Sicilian Rossolimo
Stellwagen, Daniël - Sargissian, Gabriel ½-½ 39 C67 Ruy Lopez Berlin
Smeets, Jan - Nepomniachtchi, Ian 1-0 57 D86 Gruenfeld Simagin
Hou Yifan - Cheparinov, Ivan ½-½ 41 C89 Ruy Lopez Marshall
Spoelman, Wouter - Koneru, Humpy 1-0 45 B06 Modern Defence
Round 13 (January 27, 2008)
Bacrot, Etienne - Harikrishna, P ½-½ 19 D11 Slav Defence
Nepomniachtchi, Ian - Short, Nigel D ½-½ 38 C77 Ruy Lopez Anderssen
Cheparinov, Ivan - Stellwagen, Daniël 1-0 50 D43 Anti-Meran Gambit
L'Ami, Erwin - Smeets, Jan ½-½ 19 D43 Anti-Meran Gambit
Koneru, Humpy - Movsesian, Sergei ½-½ 16 D11 Slav Defence
Sargissian, Gabriel - Spoelman, Wouter 1-0 52 E17 Queens Indian
Krasenkow, Michal - Hou Yifan ½-½ 28 A14 Reti Opening

Corus B Wijk aan Zee (NED), 12-27 i 2008 cat. XV (2618)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4
1. Movsesian, Sergei g SVK 2677 * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 ½ ½ 1 1 9½ 2788
2. Short, Nigel D g ENG 2645 ½ * ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 0 ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 8½ 2726
3. Bacrot, Etienne g FRA 2700 ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 8½ 2721
4. Harikrishna, P g IND 2664 ½ ½ ½ * ½ 1 ½ 0 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 7½ 2671
5. Nepomniachtchi, Ian g RUS 2600 ½ ½ ½ ½ * 0 ½ 0 ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 7 2648
6. Cheparinov, Ivan g BUL 2713 ½ 0 ½ 0 1 * 0 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 6½ 2610
7. L'Ami, Erwin g NED 2581 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 * ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 0 0 6 2591
8. Smeets, Jan g NED 2573 0 0 0 1 1 1 ½ * 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ 0 6 2592
9. Hou Yifan wg CHN 2527 0 1 0 0 ½ ½ 0 1 * ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 6 2596
10. Stellwagen, Daniël g NED 2625 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 0 ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ 1 1 6 2588
11. Koneru, Humpy g IND 2612 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 0 ½ ½ * ½ 1 0 5½ 2561
12. Sargissian, Gabriel g ARM 2676 ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ * 0 1 5 2526
13. Krasenkow, Michal g POL 2636 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 1 ½ ½ 0 0 1 * 1 5 2529
14. Spoelman, Wouter m NED 2424 0 ½ 0 0 0 0 1 1 ½ 0 1 0 0 * 4 2492

Corus Wijk aan Zee 2008 C-Group 11th-27th January 2008
Round 9 (January 22, 2008)
Caruana, Fabiano - Van der Wiel, John 1-0 44 B67 Sicilian Rauzer
Reinderman, Dimitri - Ushenina, Anna 1-0 62 A30 English Symmetrical
Carlsson, Pontus - Braun, Arik 1-0 31 C07 French Tarrasch
Van der Werf, Mark - Negi, Parimarjan ½-½ 56 D83 Gruenfeld 4.Bf4
Grivas, Efstratios - Li Shilong 0-1 32 D15 Slav Defence
Peng Zhaoqin - Krush, Irina ½-½ 64 D45 Anti-Meran Variations
Ruijgrok, Dennis - Nijboer, Friso 0-1 64 B56 Sicilian Defence
Round 10 (January 23, 2008)
Negi, Parimarjan - Ruijgrok, Dennis 1-0 35 B31 Sicilian Rossolimo
Nijboer, Friso - Reinderman, Dimitri 1-0 42 B74 Sicilian Dragon
Krush, Irina - Braun, Arik 1-0 48 D27 QGA
Li Shilong - Caruana, Fabiano 1-0 88 D19 Slav Defence
Van der Wiel, John - Carlsson, Pontus ½-½ 24 B76 Sicilian Modern Dragon
Peng Zhaoqin - Van der Werf, Mark ½-½ 46 D30 Queen's Gambit (without Nc3)
Ushenina, Anna - Grivas, Efstratios 1-0 55 E67 King's Indian Fianchetto
Round 11 (January 25, 2008)
Caruana, Fabiano - Ushenina, Anna 1-0 36 C02 French Advance
Reinderman, Dimitri - Negi, Parimarjan ½-½ 34 C77 Ruy Lopez Anderssen
Carlsson, Pontus - Li Shilong ½-½ 56 B91 Sicilian Najdorf with 6.g3
Braun, Arik - Van der Wiel, John ½-½ 22 A46 Queen's Pawn Opening
Van der Werf, Mark - Krush, Irina ½-½ 60 D00 Queen's Pawn Game
Grivas, Efstratios - Nijboer, Friso ½-½ 37 E90 King's Indian Classical
Ruijgrok, Dennis - Peng Zhaoqin 0-1 71 C08 French Tarrasch
Round 12 (January 26, 2008)
Negi, Parimarjan - Grivas, Efstratios 1-0 29 C10 French Rubinstein
Nijboer, Friso - Caruana, Fabiano 0-1 37 B43 Sicilian Paulsen
Krush, Irina - Van der Wiel, John 1-0 36 E32 Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Van der Werf, Mark - Ruijgrok, Dennis ½-½ 25 D83 Gruenfeld 4.Bf4
Li Shilong - Braun, Arik ½-½ 37 D34 Tarrasch Defence, Main Line
Peng Zhaoqin - Reinderman, Dimitri ½-½ 61 A84 Dutch
Ushenina, Anna - Carlsson, Pontus 0-1 43 E00 Catalan
Round 13 (January 27, 2008)
Caruana, Fabiano - Negi, Parimarjan 1-0 61 C89 Ruy Lopez Marshall
Reinderman, Dimitri - Van der Werf, Mark ½-½ 24 C86 Ruy Lopez Worrall Attack
Carlsson, Pontus - Nijboer, Friso 1-0 44 B23 Sicilian Closed
Braun, Arik - Ushenina, Anna 1-0 33 A33 English Symmetrical
Van der Wiel, John - Li Shilong 1-0 45 B22 Sicilian Alapin
Grivas, Efstratios - Peng Zhaoqin 1-0 41 A06 Zukertort Opening
Ruijgrok, Dennis - Krush, Irina 0-1 72 B56 Sicilian Defence

Corus C Wijk aan Zee (NED), 12-27 i 2008 cat. X (2494)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4
1. Caruana, Fabiano g ITA 2598 * ½ 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 ½ 1 1 1 10.0 2696
2. Reinderman, Dimitri g NED 2533 ½ * ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 8.0 2577
3. Negi, Parimarjan g IND 2526 0 ½ * 0 1 0 1 0 ½ 1 1 1 1 1 8.0 2578
4. Carlsson, Pontus m SWE 2501 0 0 1 * 0 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 7.5 2549
5. Krush, Irina m USA 2473 1 ½ 0 1 * 1 1 0 ½ 0 0 ½ ½ 1 7.0 2524
6. Braun, Arik m GER 2536 0 ½ 1 0 0 * ½ 1 1 ½ 0 1 1 ½ 7.0 2519
7. Van der Wiel, John g NED 2490 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ * 1 ½ 1 1 ½ 1 ½ 7.0 2522
8. Nijboer, Friso g NED 2578 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 * 0 1 ½ ½ 1 1 7.0 2516
9. Van der Werf, Mark m NED 2389 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 1 * 1 1 ½ 0 ½ 6.5 2501
10. Li Shilong g CHN 2502 1 0 0 ½ 1 ½ 0 0 0 * 1 ½ 1 ½ 6.0 2463
11. Grivas, Efstratios g GRE 2509 ½ ½ 0 ½ 1 1 0 ½ 0 0 * 1 0 1 6.0 2463
12. Peng Zhaoqin g NED 2461 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 * 0 1 4.5 2386
13. Ushenina, Anna m UKR 2484 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 * 1 4.5 2384
14. Ruijgrok, Dennis NED 2329 0 0 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 0 0 * 2.0 2210

Corus Honorary Wijk aan Zee (NED), 19-26 i 2008 cat. XIII (2560)
Round 3 (January 22, 2008)
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir - Korchnoi, Viktor ½-½ 31 E33 Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Timman, Jan H - Portisch, Lajos ½-½ 18 C67 Ruy Lopez Berlin
Round 4 (January 23, 2008)
Timman, Jan H - Ljubojevic, Ljubomir 0-1 42 D43 Anti-Meran Gambit
Portisch, Lajos - Korchnoi, Viktor 0-1 25 A90 Dutch Classical
Round 5 (January 25, 2008)
Korchnoi, Viktor - Ljubojevic, Ljubomir 0-1 49 D48 Queens Gambit Meran
Portisch, Lajos - Timman, Jan H 1-0 56 A70 Benoni
Round 6 (January 26, 2008)
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir - Portisch, Lajos 1-0 33 E38 Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Timman, Jan H - Korchnoi, Viktor 1-0 35 C45 Scotch Game

Corus Honarary Wijk aan Zee (NED), 19-26 i 2008 cat. XIII (2560)
1 2 3 4
1. Ljubojevic, Ljubomir g SRB 2543 * * 0 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 4 2690
2. Timman, Jan H g NED 2561 1 0 * * ½ 1 ½ 0 3 2559
3. Korchnoi, Viktor g SUI 2605 ½ 0 ½ 0 * * 1 1 3 2544
4. Portisch, Lajos g HUN 2530 ½ 0 ½ 1 0 0 * * 2 2444

3) Gibraltar Gibtelecom Chess Festival

The 6th edition of Gibraltar's Gibtelecom Chess Festival takes place 22nd-31st January 2008 at the Caleta Hotel, one of Gibraltar's best hotels. Bu Xiangzhi leads on 5.5/6.

Offical site: http://www.gibraltarchesscongress.com/

There is live audio-visual commentary at 15:00 GMT+1 (2pm British time) every day by GM Stuart Conquest at: http://www.gibraltarchesscongress.com/gib2008/live/commentary.html (9 games). Another 50 are available live at http://www.monroi.com

Gibraltar's Gibtelecom Chess Festival 22nd-31st January 2008
Leading Round 6 standings:
Rank Name Fed. Name Rating Score BH SB TPR
1 Bu, Xiangzhi GM CHN 2691 5.5 25.0 23.25 2951
2 Wang, Hao GM CHN 2665 5.0 23.5 19.0 2785
3 Bologan, Viktor GM MDA 2663 5.0 21.0 16.5 2705
4 Georgiev, Kiril GM BUL 2662 5.0 23.5 19.5 2787
5 Efimenko, Zahar GM UKR 2638 5.0 22.5 18.25 2653
6 Stefanova, Antoaneta GM BUL 2464 5.0 27.0 20.0 2863
7 Wang, Yue GM CHN 2698 4.5 22.0 16.0 2636
8 Ni, Hua GM CHN 2680 4.5 23.5 17.0 2708
9 Areshchenko, Alexander GM UKR 2645 4.5 24.0 17.5 2658
10 Beliavsky, Alexander G GM SLO 2638 4.5 25.0 18.25 2677
11 Socko, Bartosz GM POL 2635 4.5 23.0 15.5 2669
12 Gurevich, Mikhail GM TUR 2607 4.5 19.0 13.0 2598
13 Petrosian, Tigran L. GM ARM 2606 4.5 20.5 14.5 2606
14 Malakhatko, Vadim GM BEL 2600 4.5 23.0 16.5 2612
15 Sandipan, Chanda GM IND 2593 4.5 21.0 14.75 2563
16 Banikas, Hristos GM GRE 2592 4.5 23.5 16.75 2735
17 Agdestein, Simen GM NOR 2589 4.5 21.0 15.25 2579
18 Berg, Emanuel GM SWE 2583 4.5 26.5 19.25 2724
19 Sulskis, Sarunas GM LTU 2553 4.5 23.5 15.75 2612
20 Speelman, Jon S GM ENG 2491 4.5 24.5 18.0 2777
21 Zhao, Zong-Yuan IM AUS 2487 4.5 24.0 17.25 2715
22 Hammer, Jon Ludvig IM NOR 2441 4.5 19.5 13.75 2573
23 Paehtz, Elisabeth IM GER 2420 4.5 22.5 14.75 2579
24 Bellin, Robert IM ENG 2385 4.5 23.5 17.0 2637
25 Nakamura, Hikaru GM USA 2670 4.0 23.0 14.5 2599
26 Kuzubov, Yuriy GM UKR 2606 4.0 19.5 9.75 2450
27 Akobian, Varuzhan GM USA 2599 4.0 22.5 12.5 2601
28 Felgaer, Ruben GM ARG 2539 4.0 23.5 12.75 2523
29 Hebden, Mark L GM ENG 2530 4.0 23.5 14.25 2563
30 Gopal, G.N. GM IND 2528 4.0 22.5 13.0 2580
31 Cramling, Pia GM SWE 2524 4.0 22.5 12.0 2540
32 Zhao, Xue WGM CHN 2517 4.0 23.0 13.5 2484
33 Szabo, Krisztian IM HUN 2500 4.0 21.0 13.25 2469
34 Leon Hoyos, Manuel IM MEX 2495 4.0 19.5 11.75 2449
35 Socko, Monika IM POL 2479 4.0 23.0 13.5 2590
36 Cmilyte, Viktorija IM LTU 2475 4.0 21.5 12.5 2574
37 Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan IM GEO 2457 4.0 16.0 10.25 2356
38 Harika, Dronavalli IM IND 2455 4.0 20.0 12.25 2491
39 Papadopoulos, Ioannis IM GRE 2444 4.0 18.0 11.5 2390
40 Butnorius, Algimantas GM LTU 2441 4.0 22.5 13.0 2481
41 Shen, Yang WGM CHN 2429 4.0 22.5 13.75 2523
42 Berczes, David IM HUN 2429 4.0 20.0 10.5 2570
43 Foisor, Cristina Adela IM ROU 2412 4.0 21.0 12.25 2450
44 Aloma Vidal, Robert FM ESP 2393 4.0 19.5 11.0 2380
45 Wang, Yu A. IM CHN 2391 4.0 21.0 12.25 2503
46 Karim, Ismael   MAR 2347 4.0 18.0 10.0 2518
47 Rodriguez Lopez, Rafael IM ESP 2285 4.0 18.5 11.0 2405
48 Forsaa, Espen   NOR 2285 4.0 19.0 10.5 2369
49 Danielmeier, Ralf   GER 2112 4.0 13.0 8.75 2221
203 players

4) 68th Armenian Championship

The 68th Armenian Championship took place 7th-21st January 2008 in Yerevan. Karen Asrian edged out Artashes Minasian on tie-break after both finished on 8/11. Ashot Anastasian withdrew after 8 rounds. . The women's championship was won by Lilit Galojan on tie-break from Siranush Andriasian.

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

68th ch-ARM Yerevan (ARM), 8-21 i 2008 cat. XII (2531)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3
1. Asrian, Karen g ARM 2621 * ½ 0 1 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ + ½ 8 2648
2. Minasian, Artashes g ARM 2578 ½ * 0 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 + 1 8 2652
3. Ter-Sahakyan, Samvel f ARM 2369 1 1 * 0 1 ½ 0 0 1 1 ½ + ½ 7½ 2639
4. Kotanjian, Tigran g ARM 2545 0 0 1 * 0 1 1 1 ½ 1 0 1 1 7½ 2625
5. Petrosian, Tigran L g ARM 2606 0 ½ 0 1 * 0 1 ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 7½ 2620
6. Andriasian, Zaven g ARM 2532 ½ ½ ½ 0 1 * ½ ½ ½ 0 1 + 1 7 2588
7. Minasian, Ara g ARM 2466 ½ ½ 1 0 0 ½ * ½ ½ 0 1 + 1 6½ 2565
8. Lputian, Smbat G g ARM 2616 ½ ½ 1 0 ½ ½ ½ * 0 1 ½ 1 0 6 2524
9. Pashikian, Arman g ARM 2556 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 * ½ 1 0 1 6 2529
10. Babujian, Levon m ARM 2439 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 ½ * ½ 0 1 4 2414
11. Yegiazarian, Arsen g ARM 2512 ½ 0 ½ 1 0 0 0 ½ 0 ½ * 0 ½ 3½ 2374
12. Anastasian, Ashot g ARM 2562 - - - 0 0 - - 0 1 1 1 * ½ 3½ 2370
13. Nalbandian, Tigran g ARM 2505 ½ 0 ½ 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 ½ ½ * 3 2340

62nd ch-ARM w Yerevan (ARM), 13-21 i 2008
1. Galojan, Lilit wm ARM 2307 * 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 ½ 6½ 2310
2. Andriasian, Siranush wm ARM 2228 0 * ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 6½ 2319
3. Aginian, Nelly wg ARM 2308 0 ½ * 1 1 1 1 ½ ½ 0 5½ 2224
4. Gasparian, Narine wm ARM 2172 1 ½ 0 * 0 0 1 ½ 1 1 5 2202
5. Kharatyan, Anahit ARM 2115 0 0 0 1 * 1 1 0 ½ ½ 4 2123
6. Gasparian, Mariana ARM 2070 0 0 0 1 0 * 1 1 0 1 4 2128
7. Martirosyan, Lia ARM 2111 1 ½ 0 0 0 0 * ½ ½ 1 3½ 2086
8. Movsisian, Naira wg ARM 2152 0 0 ½ ½ 1 0 ½ * 0 1 3½ 2082
9. Aghabekian, Liana ARM 2191 0 0 ½ 0 ½ 1 ½ 1 * 0 3½ 2077
10. Karapetyan, Lusine ARM 1957 ½ 0 1 0 ½ 0 0 0 1 * 3 2058

5) Belarus Championship

The Championships of Belarus took place 10th-22nd January 2008. Alexei Fedorov won the event with 9.5/13.

Official site: http://www.chess.by

ch-BLR Minsk (BLR), 10-22 i 2008 cat. IX (2473)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4
1. Fedorov, Alexei g BLR 2607 * ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 9½ 2638
2. Zhigalko, Sergei g BLR 2558 ½ * 1 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 1 9 2607
3. Tihonov, Jurij g BLR 2497 ½ 0 * ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 8½ 2581
4. Stupak, Kirill m BLR 2412 0 1 ½ * ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 0 1 ½ 1 ½ 7½ 2535
5. Azarov, Sergei g BLR 2594 ½ ½ 0 ½ * 0 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 7½ 2521
6. Podolchenko, Evgeniy BLR 2467 ½ ½ 0 ½ 1 * 1 0 0 1 0 1 ½ 1 7 2502
7. Teterev, Vitaly g BLR 2507 0 ½ ½ 0 0 0 * 1 1 ½ ½ 1 1 1 7 2499
8. Lomako, Pavel BLR 2413 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 0 * ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ 6½ 2478
9. Romanenko, Vladimir BLR 2460 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 0 ½ * ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 6½ 2474
10. Mihajlovskij, Sergei BLR 2466 0 0 ½ 1 0 0 ½ 1 ½ * 1 1 0 1 6½ 2474
11. Zhigalko, Andrey g BLR 2556 ½ 0 0 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 0 * 1 ½ 1 6 2438
12. Lutsko, Igor g BLR 2429 0 0 ½ ½ 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 0 * 1 1 4 2335
13. Borsuk, Yuriy BLR 2268 ½ 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 0 0 1 ½ 0 * 0 3 2278
14. Smirnov, Valerij m BLR 2394 0 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 0 0 1 * 2½ 2228

6) New Zealand Chess Championship

The New Zealand Chess Championship was held in Auckland January 15th-25th, 2008. This was the 115th Championship, the longest running Chess Championships in the world. GM Murray Chandler made a successful return to the NZ Championship after his success in Queenstown 2006 (this is his 3rd title the previous ones were 1975/76 and 2005/06.). After an early loss to FM Stephen Lukey he dominated the event in the latter half winning his last five games to finish on 9/11. Second equal were IM Russell Dive and Michael Steadman on 7.5 points. News: Paul Spiller.

Full results, crosstable can be found on Helen milligan's site at http://www.newzealandchess.co.nz and games at: http://www.aucklandchesscentre.co.nz/

115th ch-NZL Auckland (NZL), 15-23 i 2008 Final Round 11 Standings
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
1. Chandler, Murray G g NZL 2540 +3 -9 +6 =14 +18 =8 +4 +2 +10 +5 +16 9 2546
2. Dive, Russell John m NZL 2341 +6 +11 +14 =18 -4 =3 +8 -1 +13 +9 =5 7½ 2446
3. Steadman, Michael NZL 2238 -1 =22 +21 +12 +10 =2 =13 +9 -5 +4 +8 7½ 2425
4. Van Riemsdijk, Herman C m BRA 2391 -12 +10 +7 +9 +2 =13 -1 =5 +8 -3 =15 6½ 2356
5. Mc Laren, Leonard NZL 2250 +21 =18 =13 -8 +16 =9 +6 =4 +3 -1 =2 6½ 2357
6. Spain, Graeme NZL 2191 -2 +20 -1 +15 +11 =18 -5 -8 +22 +14 +17 6½ 2316
7. Hart, Ralph NZL 2174 =13 =16 -4 =19 +17 =14 -9 =12 +20 +22 +18 6½ 2284
8. Ker, Anthony F m NZL 2330 -15 +17 +12 +5 =13 =1 -2 +6 -4 +10 -3 6 2317
9. Lukey, Stephen G f NZL 2283 +22 +1 -18 -4 +14 =5 +7 -3 =11 -2 +20 6 2308
10. Smith, Robert W f NZL 2333 =16 -4 +19 +11 -3 +12 +18 =13 -1 -8 +21 6 2311
11. Reilly, Tim f AUS 2276 +20 -2 +15 -10 -6 =16 +21 +18 =9 =13 =19 6 2254
12. Hartvig, Ove Weiss f DEN 2233 +4 -14 -8 -3 +19 -10 +20 =7 +21 =16 +22 6 2245
13. Garbett, Paul Anthony m NZL 2338 =7 +15 =5 +16 =8 =4 =3 =10 -2 =11 -14 5½ 2267
14. Watson, Bruce R f NZL 2293 +17 +12 -2 =1 -9 =7 -16 +21 =15 -6 +13 5½ 2236
15. Barlow, Matthew NZL 2148 +8 -13 -11 -6 =20 =17 =19 +22 =14 +21 =4 5½ 2208
16. Dowden, R. Anthony NZL 2170 =10 =7 +22 -13 -5 =11 +14 =17 =19 =12 -1 5 2213
17. Thornton, Giovanni Antonio NZL 2095 -14 -8 =20 +21 -7 =15 +22 =16 +18 =19 -6 5 2145
18. Croad, Nicolas NZL 2313 +19 =5 +9 =2 -1 =6 -10 -11 -17 +20 -7 4½ 2179
19. Stuart, Peter NZL 2114 -18 =21 -10 =7 -12 =22 =15 =20 =16 =17 =11 4 2080
20. Fuatai, Fuatai NZL 2087 -11 -6 =17 =22 =15 =21 -12 =19 -7 -18 -9 2½ 1971
21. Goodhue, Nathan NZL 2083 -5 =19 -3 -17 +22 =20 -11 -14 -12 -15 -10 2 1934
22. Bennett, Hilton NZL 2094 -9 =3 -16 =20 -21 =19 -17 -15 -6 -7 -12 1½ 1856

7) Croatian Chess Championship

The Croatian chess championship takes place in Split, 16th-29th January 2008. 13 participants, round robin. - 11 grandmasters - including European U18 champion Ivan Saric - Ex European champion (2006) Zdenko Kozul and 3 ex-World junior champins (Kurajica, Cvitan, Stevic). Hrvoje Stevic leads by a point with a round to go.

Official site: http://www.a1split.hr/prvenstvo/prvenstvo.html

ch-CRO Split (CRO), 16-29 i 2008 cat. XII (2538)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4
1. Stevic, Hrvoje g CRO 2531 * 1 ½ 1 1 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ . 1 7½ 2685
2. Zelcic, Robert g CRO 2587 0 * ½ 0 . 1 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 6½ 2597
3. Kurajica, Bojan g CRO 2556 ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 1 1 6½ 2565
4. Jankovic, Alojzije g CRO 2541 0 1 ½ * ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 1 . 1 0 6 2571
5. Hulak, Krunoslav g CRO 2552 0 . ½ ½ * ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 0 1 6 2568
6. Saric, Ivan m CRO 2482 1 0 ½ 1 ½ * . 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 5½ 2543
7. Cvitan, Ognjen g CRO 2535 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ . * 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 5½ 2543
8. Jovanovic, Zoran CRO g CRO 2525 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 1 0 * ½ . ½ ½ 1 5½ 2533
9. Palac, Mladen g CRO 2575 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ . 5 2497
10. Kozul, Zdenko g CRO 2600 0 ½ 1 0 ½ ½ ½ . ½ * ½ ½ ½ 5 2497
11. Dizdar, Goran g CRO 2564 ½ 0 ½ . 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ 1 5 2499
12. Rezan, Sasa m CRO 2390 . 0 0 0 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ * 0 4 2450
13. Brkic, Ante g CRO 2558 0 ½ 0 1 0 ½ ½ 0 . ½ 0 1 * 4 2431

8) Marienbad International Chess Festival

The Marienbad International Chess Festival took place in Marianske Lazne 19th-27th January 2008. Allan Stig Rasmussen won the GMA1 event and Stefan Kristjansson the GMA2 tournament. In addition there were two IM events and an open. The games for the first 7 rounds only are available in the round robin tournaments.

Official site: http://www.czechtour.net/marienbad-open/results-and-games/

GMA1 Marianske Lazne (CZE), 19-27 i 2008 cat. VIII (2434)
Rk. Name Ti FED RtgI Pts. TB1 Rp rtg+/-
1 Rasmussen Allan Stig FM DEN 2468 8,5 42,50 2642 36,9
2 Sergeev Vladimir GM UKR 2502 7,0 38,75 2530 3,9
3 Jansa Vlastimil GM CZE 2486 7,0 35,75 2505 2,6
4 Swiercz Dariusz FM POL 2315 7,0 34,00 2547 51,2
5 Meduna Eduard GM CZE 2431 6,0 29,00 2470 5,6
6 Vavrak Peter IM SVK 2472 5,0 27,50 2362 -15,3
7 Thorfinnsson Bragi IM ISL 2406 5,0 25,00 2369 -5,2
8 Brener Ilja IM GER 2394 5,0 24,25 2526 21,0
9 Talla Vladimir IM CZE 2419 5,0 23,00 2399 -2,5
10 Cerveny Petr   CZE 2403 4,0 19,25 2335 -14,7
11 Hermansson Emil IM SWE 2472 3,5 15,50 2297 -26,4
12 Rajlich Iweta IM POL 2437 3,0 19,00 2258 -25,6
GMA2 Marianske Lazne (CZE), 19-27 i 2008 cat. VIII (2429)
Rk. Name Ti FED RtgI Pts. TB1 Rp rtg+/-
1 Kristjansson Stefan IM ISL 2476 7,0 32,25 2554 8,0
2 Meister Yakov IM GER 2491 7,0 30,50 2586 12,5
3 Simacek Pavel IM CZE 2463 6,5 28,25 2529 8,3
4 Sveshnikov Evgeny GM LAT 2506 6,0 27,25 2443 -6,9
5 Smith Axel   SWE 2458 5,5 24,25 2450 -1,4
6 Shytaj Luca IM ITA 2471 5,0 23,75 2439 -4,4
7 Vokac Marek GM CZE 2435 5,0 22,75 2443 1,1
8 Hedman Erik FM SWE 2396 4,5 20,75 2410 2,8
9 Voloshin Leonid GM CZE 2451 4,0 17,25 2391 -7,1
10 Krejci Jan FM CZE 2357 2,5 12,75 2281 -13,4
11 Serafimov Tervel   BUL 2356 2,0 7,25 2309 -3,6
12 Natsidis Christoph   GER 2284 0,0 0,00 0 0,0
IMB1 Marianske Lazne (CZE), 19-27 i 2008 cat. III (2324)
Rk. Name Ti FED RtgI Pts. TB1 Rp rtg+/-
1 Vojta Tomas FM CZE 2361 7,5 38,25 2454 21,5
2 Sveshnikov Vladimir FM LAT 2392 7,5 37,75 2451 14,3
3 Krupa Monika WIM POL 2266 7,0 36,25 2431 36,8
4 Kozhuharov Spas IM BUL 2456 6,5 34,75 2377 -10,3
5 Thorfinnsson Bjorn FM ISL 2364 6,0 28,50 2357 -1,5
6 Babula Milan IM CZE 2328 5,5 30,50 2324 -0,6
7 Semcesen Daniel FM SWE 2349 5,5 26,50 2322 -5,4
8 Lagerman Robert FM ISL 2348 5,5 25,50 2322 -5,4
9 Plischki Sebastian IM GER 2358 5,0 23,75 2285 -15,3
10 Bejtovic Jasmin FM BIH 2353 5,0 23,00 2286 -23,3
11 Butuc Maria WFM RUS 2098 3,5 16,50 2212 19,5
12 Vokoun Jan FM CZE 2217 1,5 9,75 2025 -34,3
IMB2 Marianske Lazne (CZE), 19-27 i 2008 cat. III (2308)
Rk. Name Ti FED RtgI Pts. TB1 Rp rtg+/-
1 Arngrimsson Dagur FM ISL 2359 8,5 41,50 2504 27,6
2 Biolek Richard IM CZE 2422 7,0 36,25 2399 -3,2
3 Jedlicka Ales   CZE 2318 6,5 33,50 2372 12,8
4 Fejzullahu Afrim FM SRB 2323 6,5 32,00 2371 11,4
5 Marholev Dimitar IM BUL 2401 6,0 32,50 2335 -10,0
6 Schneider Veronika WIM HUN 2250 6,0 30,00 2349 21,5
7 Paci Cedric FM FRA 2301 5,5 30,00 2308 1,6
8 Zemerov Vladimir IM RUS 2341 5,0 21,75 2269 -10,5
9 Rudolf Anna WIM HUN 2242 4,5 24,75 2249 0,9
10 Braun Peter FM GER 2309 4,5 21,50 2243 -15,3
11 Nilsson Sebastian   SWE 2201 3,5 17,25 2185 -4,1
12 Bartos Jan FM CZE 2227 2,5 13,00 2118 -20,9
Open Marianske Lazne (CZE), 19-26 i 2008
Final Round 9 Standings
Rk. Name Ti FED RtgI Pts. TB1 Rp rtg+/-
1 Turner Jan   CZE 2347 7,5 52,0 2463 19,5
2 Kulicov Oleg IM RUS 2405 7,0 55,5 2414 2,6
3 Hansen Torbjorn Ringdal FM NOR 2354 7,0 51,5 2399 9,1
4 Bae Torstein IM NOR 2386 6,5 54,5 2387 3,8
5 Volodin Viktor IM RUS 2233 6,5 54,0 2343 13,7
6 Urkedal Frode   NOR 2264 6,5 50,5 2318 10,9
7 Kryukova Irina WGM RUS 2249 6,5 50,0 2294 9,0
8 Wieczorek Oskar   POL 2204 6,5 49,0 2260 12,0
9 Kozak Milos FM CZE 2181 6,5 48,0 2269 16,0
10 Golcman Evgeny   RUS 2273 6,5 47,5 2258 -0,9
11 Snorek Milan   CZE 2098 6,5 47,0 2201 26,4
12 Neoral Antonin   CZE 2142 6,5 43,0 2240 30,3
13 Baum Bernd Dr FM GER 2204 6,0 49,5 2229 4,8
14 Antipov Mikhail Al CM RUS 2114 6,0 49,5 2259 43,8
15 Osmanovic Faruk   GER 2138 6,0 48,0 2202 5,8
16 Rzoska Kamil   POL 2172 6,0 47,0 2137 -3,5
17 Ondrejat Miroslav   CZE 2074 6,0 46,0 2152 19,8
18 Meschke Andreas   GER 2153 6,0 46,0 2134 -2,0
19 Haug Marianne Wold   NOR 1753 6,0 45,5 2152 0,0
20 De Verdier Michael   SWE 2147 6,0 45,5 2179 12,5
21 Jiruse Josef   CZE 2159 6,0 44,5 2139 -1,5
22 Hastik Svatopluk   CZE 2116 6,0 44,0 2167 10,4
23 Musil Vitezslav Ing.   CZE 2066 6,0 42,5 2066 9,8
144 players

9) Asian Team Championships

The Asian Team Championships took place in Visakhpatnam, India 3rd-9th January 2008. China took the Gold, India the Silver and Vietnam the Bronze in both events.

Details: http://www.vizagchess.net

15th TCh-Asia Visakhpatnam (IND), 3-9 i 2008
Rank Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 MP Pts.
1 China * 2 2 3½ 3 3½ 4 3½ 12 21½
2 India Reds 2 * 3 2½ 2½ 2 3½ 4 12 19½
3 Vietnam 2 1 * 3 2½ 2½ 4 4 11 19
4 Uzbekistan ½ 1½ 1 * 2½ 3 4 4 8 16½
5 Iran 1 1½ 1½ 1½ * 3 3 3 6 14½
6 India Blues ½ 2 1½ 1 1 * 2½ 3½ 5 12
7 Afghanistan 0 ½ 0 0 1 1½ * 3 2 6
8 Sri Lanka ½ 0 0 0 1 ½ 1 * 0 3

15th TCh-Asia w Visakhpatnam (IND), 3-9 i 2008
Rank Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 MP Pts.
1 China * 2½ 2½ 2½ 3 3 2½ 3 14 19
2 India Reds ½ * 2½ 2 2½ 3 3 3 12 16½
3 Vietnam ½ ½ * 1½ 1½ 1½ 3 3 7 11½
4 Iran ½ 1 1½ * 1½ 1½ 2 3 7 11
5 India Blues 0 ½ 1½ 1½ * 1½ 2 3 7 10
6 Uzbekistan 0 0 1½ 1½ 1½ * 1 3 5 8½
7 India Greens ½ 0 0 1 1 2 * 3 4 7½
8 Sri Lanka 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 * 0 0

10) Liege Masters

The Liege Masters took place 3rd-12th January 2008. There was a four way tie headed by Ovidiu Doru Foisor on 6/9, rather unusually two other Foisors finished on 6 too along with Stephane Hautot.

Official site: http://users.pandora.be/vmaes/boncelles/

Masters Liege (BEL), 3-12 i 2008 cat. III (2302)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
1. Foisor, Ovidiu Doru m ROU 2401 * ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 6 2415
2. Foisor, Sabina-Francesca wg ROU 2386 ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 6 2417
3. Hautot, Stephane f BEL 2336 ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 6 2422
4. Foisor, Cristina Adela m ROU 2412 ½ ½ ½ * ½ 1 0 1 1 1 6 2414
5. Ringoir, Tanguy BEL 2229 0 ½ ½ ½ * 1 1 1 0 1 5½ 2389
6. Gulbas, Cemil f BEL 2356 ½ ½ ½ 0 0 * ½ ½ 1 1 4½ 2295
7. Pytel, Krzysztof m FRA 2413 ½ 0 0 1 0 ½ * ½ 1 1 4½ 2289
8. Goossens, Etienne f BEL 2302 ½ ½ ½ 0 0 ½ ½ * 0 1 3½ 2221
9. Soors, Stef BEL 2146 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 * 1 3 2193
10. Godart, Francois FRA 2035 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 * 0

11) Estonia-Finland 100 boards

The 5th match between Estonia and Finland over 100 boards. took place in Tallinn on 13th January 2008. Estonia won 60,5-28,5 (Finland were missing 11 players, and match was really over 89 boards). News: Ülar Lauk.

Official site: http://www.maleliit.ee/turniirid/arhiiv/maavoistlused/?lang=eng&act=&k=&a=

EST-FIN Match Tallinn (EST), 13 i 2008
Results Top 20 Boards (of 89)
1 Kanep Meelis 2528 0 - 1 Nybäck Tomi 2588
2 Liiva Riho 2471 ½ - ½ Pihlajasalo Antti 2429
3 Sepp Olav 2474 ½ - ½ Nyysti Sampsa 2380
4 Ðvõrjov Igor 2407 ½ - ½ Westerinen Heikki 2376
5 Seeman Tarvo 2431 1 - 0 Norri Joose 2369
6 Lauk Ülar 2390 ½ - ½ Nouro Mikael 2351
7 Volodin Aleksandr 2371 1 - 0 Hartikainen Markku 2326
8 Ðiðkov Andrei 2387 1 - 0 Tuominen Risto 2308
9 Leito Priit 2363 ½ - ½ Ristoja Jan 2303
10 Zjukin Sergei 2342 ½ - ½ Pääkkönen Timo 2288
  6 - 4      
11 Sergejev Roman 2347 ½ - ½ Franssila Tommi 2286
12 Vovk Ilja 2351 0 - 1 Binham Timothy 2284
13 Kärner Hillar 2317 ½ - ½ Nevanlinna Risto 2278
14 Remmel Anto 2315 0 - 1 Henttinen Markku 2272
15 Sõskov Vjatðeslav 2297 0 - 1 Kosmo Santul 2270
16 Talihärm Andrus 2282 ½ - ½ Ebeling Mika 2259
17 Keskel Marko 2142 0 - 1 Pihlajasalo Hannu 2238
18 Valner Uku 2274 ½ - ½ Kujala Auvo 2203
19 Vassiljev Igor 2274 ½ - ½ Nippula Timo 2234
20 Vorobjov Pavel 2271 1 - 0 Tusa Tuukka 2220
  3.5 - 6.5      

12) Austrian Bundesliga

The second round of games from the Austrian Bundesliga took place in Jenbach 10th-13th January 2008. The final round of games (rounds 8-11) take place13th-16th Match 2008 in Graz (Novapark).

Official site: http://www.chess.at/

TCh-AUT 1st Bundesliga 2007-8 30 xi 2007 - 16 iii 2008
Standings Round 7 (of 11)
Rg. Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Wtg1 Wtg2 Wtg3
1 Holz Dohr *     3   3½ 4 3½   4½ 4½ 3½ 26,5 19 0
2 SK Advisory Invest Baden   * 3½ 3½ 3       3½ 4 3½ 5 26,0 19 0
3 ASVÖ Wulkaprodersdorf   2½ * 2½ 3½   4½   4 4   3 24,0 13 0
4 SK Hohenems 3 2½ 3½ * 3 4½     3   4½   24,0 12 0
5 SK Kl.Ztg.MPÖ Maria Saal   3 2½ 3 * 3     2½   4 4½ 22,5 9 0
6 Styria Graz 2½     1½ 3 * 3½ 3   3   4½ 21,0 9 0
7 Mayrhofen/Zillertal 2   1½     2½ * 4 3   2½ 5 20,5 7 0
8 Union Ansfelden 2½         3 2 * 3 3½ 2½ 3½ 20,0 8 0
9 SK Absam   2½ 2 3 3½   3 3 * 3     20,0 7 0
10 SC Die Klagenfurter 1½ 2 2     3   2½ 3 * 4   18,0 5 0
11 ASVÖ Pamhagen 1½ 2½   1½ 2   3½ 3½   2 *   16,5 6 0
12 RbEJ Gleisdorf 2½ 1 3   1½ 1½ 1 2½       * 13,0 1 0

13) Venezuelan Championship

The Venezuelan National Championship took place in the Room of Conventions Henrique Tirado Reyes of San Felipe city, Yaracuy State, January 12th-19th 2008. The event was a round robin system with 90 minutes for all moves plus 30 seconds per move. The technical direction and arbitration was by international arbiters Uvencio Blanco, Jose Luis Guilarte (VEN) and Lázaro Darromán Cotilla (CUB) together with the national arbiters Wilfredo Muñoz and Rubén Keller. IM Eduardo Iturrizaga won for the third consecutive time the National Championship 2007. Iturrizaga scored 10/11 points with nine victories and two draws, he showing a clear and forceful advantage on his rivals on this event. In the ladies section WIM Maria Ubaldo won - for the second year in a row – the Women's National Championship, after triumphing in the last round and obtaining 6.5 points. News: Jose Luis Guilarte of the Venezuela Chess Federation.

Further details: http://www.zeitnot.com.ve/articulo_237.htm

ch-VEN San Felipe (VEN), 13-19 i 2008 cat. I (2270)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2
1. Iturrizaga, Eduardo m VEN 2470 * 1 ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10.0 2635
2. Alvarez, Johan m VEN 2385 0 * ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 1 1 ½ 1 8.5 2470
3. Prasca, Raphael m VEN 2386 ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 7.5 2392
4. Soto Paez, Oliver f VEN 2371 ½ ½ ½ * ½ 1 0 ½ 0 1 ½ 1 6.0 2297
5. Sequera, Jose m VEN 2427 0 0 ½ ½ * ½ 1 ½ 1 0 1 1 6.0 2291
6. Osorio, Fernando VEN 2126 0 0 ½ 0 ½ * ½ 1 ½ 0 1 1 5.0 2247
7. Ostos, Julio m VEN 2335 0 0 0 1 0 ½ * 0 1 ½ 1 1 5.0 2228
8. Duran, Reinaldo VEN 2050 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 1 * ½ 1 ½ ½ 4.5 2225
9. Trujillo Villega, Pablo Adrian VEN 2223 0 0 ½ 1 0 ½ 0 ½ * ½ ½ 1 4.5 2209
10. Gonzalez,Fidel VEN ---- 0 0 0 0 1 1 ½ 0 ½ * ½ 1 4.5 2229
11. Ordonez, Francisco f VEN 2277 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 0 0 ½ ½ ½ * ½ 3.5 2136
12. Chavez Lazo, Jorge Luis VEN 2192 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 0 ½ * 1.0 1894


ch-VEN San Felipe (VEN), 13-19 i 2008 cat. I (2270)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
1. Ubaldo Suarez, Maria Gisela wm VEN 2078 * 1 1 0 1 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 6½ 2169
2. Hernandez, Zaida VEN 1999 0 * 0 ½ 1 1 1 1 ½ 1 6 2137
3. Han Wong, Irene Estefania wm VEN 2096 0 1 * 1 0 0 ½ 1 1 1 5½ 2081
4. Sequeda, Nancy wm VEN 2034 1 ½ 0 * 1 ½ 1 1 0 0 5 2051
5. Otazo, Annyd VEN 1940 0 0 1 0 * 1 0 1 1 1 5 2061
6. Moreno Garcia, Elizabeth Paola wf VEN 1889 0 0 1 ½ 0 * 1 1 1 0 4½ 2024
7. Araujo, Yesmar VEN 2012 ½ 0 ½ 0 1 0 * ½ 1 1 4½ 2010
8. Tellechea,Jessica VEN ---- ½ 0 0 0 0 0 ½ * 1 1 3 1886
9. Rincon Gonzalez,Luzalba VEN ---- ½ ½ 0 1 0 0 0 0 * ½ 2½ 1845
10. Rincon, Drina VEN 2059 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 ½ * 2½ 1839

14) 91st Marshall Chess Club Championship

Jaan Ehlvest own the 91st Marshall Chess Club Championship held December 12th-16th, 2007 at the world-renowned club located at 23 West 10th St., NY 10011. Jaan Ehlvest won his fourth title with an undefeated 6.5/9 to head a field of 27, including 4 other GM's and five IM's, to capture the $2000 first prize. Ehlvest took the lead in the 4th round, beating Canadian GM Pascal Charbonneau. GM Leonid Yudasin caught up in Round Six, but fell behind again in the eighth round when he could only draw with WGM Irina Krush while Ehlvest won on time against IM Justin Sarkar. A short draw in the last round against 3-time Champion IM Jay Bonin wrapped up the title. Yudasin still had chances of tying for first going into the last round but wound up losing an exciting game to GM Pascal Charbonneau who now was able to tie for 2nd place with GM’s Alexander Stripunsky & New IM Robert L. Hess. News: Larry S. Tamarkin.

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

ch-Marshall CC New York USA (USA), 8-16 xii 2007
1 Ehlvest, Jaan g USA 2601 6.5 $2,000
2 Stripunsky, Alexander g USA 2592 6.0 $617
3 Charbonneau, Pascal g CAN 2507 6.0 $617
4 Hess, Robert L m USA 2445 6.0 $617
5 Yudasin, Leonid g ISR 2550 5.5 $50
6 Kudrin, Sergey g USA 2563 5.5 $50
7 Bonin, Jay R m USA 2343 5.5 $250
8 Krush, Irina m USA 2475 5.0 2442
9 Pader, Douglas USA 2234 5.0 $150
10 Gaillard, Edward USA 2160 5.0 $150
11 Sarkar, Justin m USA 2413 4.5
12 Molner, Mackenzie USA 2308 4.5
13 Zenyuk, Iryna wf USA 2192 4.5
14 Sturt,Raven M USA ---- 4.5
15 Treger, Effim USA 2196 4.0
16 Katz, Benjamin J USA 2091 4.0
17 Korley,Kassa USA ---- 4.0
18 Sobo, Henry C USA 2139 4.0
19 Braylovsky, Gregory USA 2336 3.5
20 Thaler, Michael USA 2086 3.5
21 Kopiecki, Edward USA 2147 3.5
22 Sena, Juan DOM 2183 3.0
23 Ostrovskiy, Aleksandr A USA ---- 3.0
24 Frumkin, Edward USA 2029 2.5
25 Swaminathan, Rahul K USA 2000 2.0
26 Naranja, Renato m PHI 2317 1.0
27 Ostrovskiy, Anatoliy USA 2002 1.0

15) Perenyi Memorial Open

The Perenyi Memorial Open took place in Budapest 11th-19th January 2008. The Romanian Raul Schmidt from Brasov won the event with 7 points out of 9 games. The organizer and the artbiter was IA Fazekas (HUN). No games available.

Perenyi Mem Open Budapest, 11-19 i 2008
Final Round 9 Standings
1 Schmidt, Raul 2160 7 47.5 2441 3.24
2 Nguyen, Huynh Minh Huy 2398 6.5 55 2470 0.96
Galyas, Miklos 2432 6.5 51 2466 0.53
Kahn, Evarth Dr. 2326 6.5 49.5 2446 1.53
Szeberenyi, Adam 2350 6.5 48 2386 0.61
Kovacs, Gabor 2499 6.5 51 2422 -0.61
Lengyel, Bela 2261 6.5 47 2323 0.88
8 Duong, The Anh 2381 6 47.5 2293 -0.82
Pataki, Gyozo 2398 6 47.5 2312 -0.83
Balog, Marton 2288 6 46 2285 0.02
Nagy, Laszlo 2116 6 39 2274 1.95
12 Werner, Dimo 2293 5.5 52 2294 0.13
Balla, Tamas 2341 5.5 51 2239 -1.02
Simonyi, Zoltan 2262 5.5 47 2251 -0.03
Somogyi, Istvan Sr 2230 5.5 42.5 2240 0.16
Horvath, Kalman 2138 5.5 41.5 2164 0.4
Sipos, Gabor IFI 1836 5.5 40.5 2117 2.78
18 Zentai, Peter 2177 5 48 2283 1.22
Bencze, Laszlo Dr Sr 2254 5 48.5 2254 0.02
Szabo, Bence IFI 2138 5 45.5 2208 0.83
Ritter, Gabor 2094 5 42 2217 1.09
Lukacs, Janos 2114 5 41.5 2083 -0.23
Meixner, Ferenc 2134 5 43 2099 -0.28
Balazs, Gabor IFI 2313 5 42.5 2141 -1.95
Burghardt, Jozsef 2185 5 39 2050 -1.35
Katona, Tamas 1996 5 43.5 2194 2.2
Mester, Attila 2092 5 39.5 2144 0.55
Zilahi, Gabor Sr 1994 5 36 2010 0.14
Abel, Imre 2014 5 34 2052 0.35

16) Prague Open

The Prague Open took place 11th-18th January 2008. Viesturs Meijers won on tie-break from Evgeny Sveshnikov and Saptarshi Roy Chowdhury after all finished on 7/9. Final round 9 games are now available.

Official site: http://czechtour.net/prague-open/

Prague Open takes place 11-18 i 2008.
Final Round 9 Standings
Rk. Name   FED Pts. TB1 TB2 TB3 Rp
1 Meijers Viesturs GM LAT 7,0 53,0 41,5 2300 2520
2 Sveshnikov Evgeny GM LAT 7,0 50,5 40,0 2280 2500
3 Roy Chowdhury Saptarshi IM IND 7,0 50,0 40,0 2285 2505
4 Vokac Marek GM CZE 6,5 52,5 41,0 2320 2486
5 Zvara Petr FM CZE 6,5 51,5 41,0 2301 2467
6 Macak Stefan   SVK 6,5 50,5 39,0 2309 2475
7 Spirin Oleg FM RUS 6,5 50,0 39,5 2331 2497
8 Meduna Eduard GM CZE 6,5 49,5 39,5 2331 2497
9 Plischki Sebastian IM GER 6,5 49,5 39,0 2303 2469
10 Lehtinen Heikki IM FIN 6,5 48,5 38,0 2278 2444
11 Vavrak Peter IM SVK 6,5 47,5 37,0 2251 2417
12 Ivanov Mikhail M GM RUS 6,0 55,5 43,5 2330 2455
13 Khantuev Alexander FM RUS 6,0 51,0 40,0 2313 2438
14 Dolezal Radoslav IM CZE 6,0 49,5 39,0 2260 2385
15 Mertanen Janne FM FIN 6,0 49,5 38,5 2265 2390
16 Jackova Jana IM CZE 6,0 49,0 37,5 2266 2366
17 Schula Michal   CZE 6,0 47,5 36,0 2223 2348
18 Gross Georg FM GER 6,0 46,5 36,0 2186 2311
19 Pribyl Josef IM CZE 6,0 45,5 36,0 2163 2288
20 Bures Jaroslav   CZE 6,0 45,5 35,0 2250 2375
21 Rzoska Kamil   POL 6,0 44,0 33,5 2166 2291
22 Lagerman Robert FM ISL 5,5 51,5 41,0 2288 2368
23 Sengupta Deep IM IND 5,5 50,5 40,0 2276 2356
24 Marholev Dimitar IM BUL 5,5 50,0 39,0 2258 2338
25 Kulicov Oleg IM RUS 5,5 47,5 37,0 2240 2320
26 Juptner Jan FM CZE 5,5 47,0 37,5 2222 2302
27 Trichkov Vasil IM CZE 5,5 45,0 40,0 2273 2414
28 Ganaus Hannes IM AUT 5,5 45,0 35,0 2160 2240
29 Soural Jan   CZE 5,5 44,0 35,5 2181 2261
30 Filinkov Alexander   RUS 5,5 43,5 34,5 2226 2306
31 Redo Giorgio   ITA 5,5 43,5 33,5 2125 2157
32 Vanka Miloslav   CZE 5,5 42,0 32,0 2118 2198
33 Kulik David   GER 5,5 41,5 32,5 2100 2180
34 Rosko Lubos   CZE 5,5 41,0 32,5 2140 2220
35 Soucek Milan   CZE 5,5 40,5 31,0 2105 2185
36 Drabek Vojtech   CZE 5,5 39,0 31,0 2070 2150
37 Johansson Thomas   SWE 5,5 39,0 30,0 2050 2130
38 Forthoffer Patrick   FRA 5,5 37,0 29,0 2080 2160
39 Bores Roman   CZE 5,5 36,5 28,5 2027 2107
127 players

17) Porzellancup

The Porzellancup took place in Dresden 12th-13th January 2008. Robert Kempinski won with 9/9. No games available. (I reported this as the ZMD Schachfestival in TWIC688 but that is later in the year)

Official site: http://www.schachfestival.de

ZMD Schachfestival Dresden 12-13 i 2008
Final Round 9 Standings
Pl Player Ti TWZ NAT Pts Buch SoBerg
1 Kempinski,Robert GM 2590 POL 9 53 39.75
2 Kritz,Leonid GM 2592 GER 8 55 42.25
3 Graf,Alexander GM 2586 GER 7.5 51 43
4 Barsov,Alexei GM 2521 UZB 7.5 49.5 40.75
5 Miezis,Normunds GM 2553 LAT 7.5 49 43.25
6 Jaracz,Pawel GM 2527 POL 7.5 48 37.75
7 Rausis,Igors GM 2520 CZE 7 49.5 39.75
8 Bischoff,Klaus GM 2537 GER 7 49 40.25
9 Thiede,Lars IM 2468 GER 7 49 38.5
10 Bindrich,Falko GM 2497 GER 7 44.5 33.25
11 Jussupow,Artur GM 2585 GER 7 43.5 35.5
12 Markowski,Tomasz GM 2585 POL 6.5 51.5 39
13 Glek,Igor GM 2546   6.5 48.5 38.25
14 Vogt,Lothar GM 2466 GER 6.5 48 36.25
15 Pähtz,Elisabeth IM 2420 GER 6.5 47 34.25
16 Zumsande,Martin IM 2411 GER 6.5 44 29.75
17 Pähtz,Thomas GM 2444 GER 6.5 42.5 31.5
18 Zozulia,Anna IM 2344 BEL 6.5 42 31
160 players

18) Boris Baczynskyj 1945-2008

Last week, the Philadelphia chess legend FM Boris Bacynzskyj (1945-2008) passed away. Boris was a popular coach, and a member of the U.S. Chess League team, the Philadelphia Inventors reports Jennifer Shahade.

Details: http://main.uschess.org/content/view/8135/431/

19) Forthcoming Events and Links

Amber Rapid and Blindfold Chess Tournament  2008

The 17th Amber Rapid and Blindfold Chess Tournament takes place March 14th-28th, 2008 at the Hotel Palais de la Mediterranée on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. Twelve grandmasters from ten different countries will take part and the total prize-fund is 216,000 Euro.

Amber Rapid and Blindfold 14-28 iii 2008
No Name NAT YroB ja08 Gms Wrnk
1 Kramnik, Vladimir RUS 1975 2799 9 1
2 Anand, Viswanathan IND 1969 2799 3 2
3 Topalov, Veselin BUL 1975 2780 14 3
4 Morozevich, Alexander RUS 1977 2765 12 4
5 Mamedyarov, Shakhriyaz AZE 1985 2760 35 6
6 Leko, Peter HUN 1979 2753 9 8
7 Ivanchuk, Vassily UKR 1969 2751 30 9
8 Aronian, Levon ARM 1982 2739 16 10
9 Gelfand, Boris ISR 1968 2737 9 11
10 Carlsen, Magnus NOR 1990 2733 37 13
11 Karjakin, Sergey UKR 1990 2732 36 14
12 Van Wely, Loek NED 1972 2681 16 35

31st San Sebastian City Open

The 31st San Sebastian City Open takes place 16th-23rd of March 2008.

Details: http://www.fgajedrez.org/open/open.htm

Hévíz GM, IM and Open Tournaments 2008

The Palace Hotel International Chess Tournament Hévíz (Hungary) 18th-28th March 2008. There are GM, IM and Open sections.

Further details: http://www.lellechess.tar.hu/

The Battle of Senta 1697 Chess Festival 2008

12th International Chess Festival "The Battle of Senta 1697" will be held on 18.-25. Juli 2008. in Senta (the Vojvodina /Serbia).

Further details: http://www.chess-senta.org.yu and in English: http://www.chess-senta.org.yu/select.php?lang=3&xid=2

XXVI  International Chess Open of Andorra

The XXVI  International Chess Open of Andorra takes place 19th-27th July 2008. Contact: open@escacsandorra.com FEVA - Tel/Fax: 00.376.824465  

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

Bermuda Open

The Bermuda Open takes place 7th-11th February, 2008. Details can be got from Nick Faulks at armadillo@northrock.bm or Nigel Freeman at cadilly@northrock.bm

4th Cappelle la Grande International Chess Open

4th Cappelle la Grande International Chess Open will take place 16th-23rd February 2008 at the Palais des Arts et des Loisirs. Every player play the same open, with 600 players. Like every years more of 70 im and more of 90 igm but this year : more of 70 countries ! The entry form, the list of invited players and the list of the registered players are online and it will be published and updated until Thursday 14 February 2008 20 first boards online.

Details : http://www.cappelle-chess.com/

Offene Internationale Stuttgarter Stadtmeisterschaft 2008

Offene Internationale Stuttgarter Stadtmeisterschaft 2008, 1.5. - 4.5.2008, in Ditzingen, South-Germany. 7 Rounds, Swiss System, A/B/C-tournament, over 7000 € prizes.

Further Details: http://www.stuttgarter-stadtmeisterschaft.de

Alushta Diary 2008

GM Norm events: 23.05 - 1.06, 2.06 - 12.06, 15.06 - 25.06, 2.09 - 12.09, 14.09 - 24.09, 26.09 – 6.10, IM Norm: 23.05 - 1.06, 2.06 - 12.06, 15.06 - 25.06, 2.09 - 12.09, 14.09 - 24.09, 26.09 – 6.10, Rating tournament: 4.06 - 12.06, 22.06 – 27.06, Open tournament (under 16 years) First prize - 200$ 3.06 – 11.06, 13.06 - 21.06, Alushta Swiss 9 rounds Open tournament First prize - 1000$ First prize (woman) - 500$ 28.06 - 6.07, Alushta Swiss 9 rounds Blitz tournament 7.07, Alushta Swiss 9 rounds Open tournament (rapid chess) 8.07 – 9.07, Alushta Session of school of Gennadi Kuzmin 21.06 – 27.06 Individual and group studying. phone +38 (06560)5-05-32,

Further information: http://www.kaissa.com.ua

20th Lenk International Chess Festival

The great jubilee, 20th Lenk International Chess Festival part of the "Swiss Chess Tour 2008" continues in Lenk March 20th-24th 2008. The venue is the Hotel "Kreuz", Grande Open, 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). The Main Prize are: 1.500 SF, 1.200, 800, 600 and 400 SF. Special prizes: Ladies senior (1947), junior(1988-91), schoolboy (1992) and amateur (under 2000) for all: 200/150/100 CHF. Golden prizes for the players who play more then 10 times: 300/200/150 CHF. Silver prizes for the players who play MORE THEN 5 TIMES 200/150/100 CHF. Entry fee 130 SF, FMs and juniors 60 SF, at the door 20 SF more, GMs and IMs free. The teams competition, with 4 members; 3 prizes: 4x100/4x75/4x50 SF; entry fee 10 SF. Venue: Hotel "Kreuz". Time table: Round 1st 18.00-23.00 March 20,; Rounds 2/3 09.30-14.30 and 15.30-20.30 March 21,; Round 4 13.30-18.30 March 22,; Rounds 5/6 09.30-14.30 and 15.30-20.30 March 23,; Round 7 9.30-14.30 March 24. Closing ceremony March 24 at 16.00. Gala jubilee dinner March 22 from 19-22 at Hotel “Kreuz”. Info: Beochess +41+62+965-46-50 (Robert Spoerri) or info@beochess.ch or site http://www.beochess.ch for more details.  

Nancy Chess Festival

There is a Category XII tournament (average 2528) in Nancy from 18th-24th February 2008.

It Nancy 18-24 ii 2008
Landa, Konstantin g 2641 RUS
Bauer, Christian g 2614 FRA
Miladinovic, Igor g 2604 SRB
Guliyev, Namig g 2570 AZE
Sikula, V m 2550 UKR
Gozzoli, Yannick m 2510 FRA
Riff, Jean-Noël m 2474 FRA
Marzolo, Cyril m 2474 FRA
Roussel-Roozmon, Thomas m 2442 CAN
Nezar, Mustafa m 2404 FRA
Category XII (Average 2528)

Also the 6th international Festival in Nancy will see about 150 players : 15 groups of 10 players each. Also group B for IM-norms, group C for women, group D, E, F ...

Official site: http://echecs54.free.fr/

M-Tel Masters

M-Tel Masters takes place 7th-18th May 2008 in the Central Military Club in the Bulgarian capital Sofia. The event is a 10 round double round robin with a 5 hour time control. In case of a draw at the top there will be a tie break for determining the winner. Like in the previous three editions of M-Tel Masters the rule for the draws introduced in Sofia will be valid. According to it the players do not have the right to agree a draw. This can be decided only by the chef arbiter of the tournament.

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

M-Tel Masters Sofia BUL 7-18 v 2008
Veselin Topalov BUL 2780
Vassily Ivanchuk UKR 2751
Levon Aronian ARM 2739
Teimour Radjabov AZE 2735
Ivan Cheparinov BUL 2713
Bu Xiangzhi CHN 2691
Average rating: 2735 Category: 20

Chess Classic Mainz 2008

The schedule for Chess Classic Mainz 2008 is now available. The event takes place 28th July - 3rd August 2008 in Mainz/Germany (a week later than originally advertised).

In addition there is a Chess Classic Calendar for the next year, which will be available in the first week of December. It is a big format (420 x 594 mm) and shows the stars and the biggest moments of the 14 years tournament history. The copies are limited to 200 (39,- Euro plus delivery) plus 64 with an autograph of World Champion Vishy Anand (48,- Euro plus delivery). Contact for order: juergen.wienecke@chesstigers.de

Further details: http://www.chesstigers.de

4NCL

The 3rd weekend of the 4NCL took place 12th-13th January 2008. Next rounds 1st-2nd April 2008. My thanks to Malcolm Armstrong for the games.

Note that I have just noticed I got the dates for the first two rounds of the 4NCL wrong in the games section at that time. They took place 15th-16th September 2007 not in November as stated.

Moscow Open 2008

The 4th International Chess Festival Moscow Open 2008 takes place 2nd-10th February 2008. Venue - the Russian State Social University. Minimal gartanted prize fund of full festival is RUR 5 000 000 (nearly EUR 150 000 or USD 200 000, two times more than in 2007!) There are Open “A” (for all, 1st prize RUR 500 000 - also possible to play 6- or 7 days like last two years), Open “B” (<2300, 1st RUR 150 000), Women Open (new! 1st prize RUR 150 000), open tournaments for school chidrens (qualify for World School Ch). Conditions for GMs 2600+ and best rated women GMs will be given probably, for GMs 2550+ it’s still unclear. More details in the middle of September. Some days later (13-22.2) “Aeroflot Open 2008” will start. As preparation to the World Mind Games in China – 2008 there are probably "Moscow Open Mind Games 2008" - Chess 960, Bridge, Go, Shogi, Damen tournaments etc. Some days later (13-22.2) “Aeroflot Open 2008” will start.

Contact: wlct06@gmail.com

Further details: http://moscowchessopen.ru/eng/index.shtml

IX European Individual Chess Championship 2008

The IX European Individual Chess Championship takes place in Plovdiv, Bulgaria 20th April (day of arrival) - 4th May (day of departure) 2008.

Official site: http://www.eicc2008.com

Pula Open 2008

The Pula Open 2008 takes place 21st-28th June 2008 in Pula, Croatia. Contact e-mail: pulaopen@globalnet.hr

Further details: http://www.skpula.hr

echiquier-nicois Website

Thierry Foissez's echiquier-nicois website reports on news and events in French daily.

http://www.echiquier-nicois.org

Hungarian Chess Tournaments January - June 2008

1. 11th-19th of January 2008 Open in Budapest, Season opening, org: IA FAZEKAS, György, e-mail: srcolonel@freemail.hu http://www.chess.hu/download/hirek/mssz_evadnyito_nk_nyilt_20070827_141136.doc More info: http://www.firstsaturday.hu

2. 19th-28th of January 2008 KECSKEMET, IM Berger tmt, org: Dr.Erdelyi, Tamas, e-mail: postmaster@caissa.t-online.hu Website: http://www.caissachessbooks.hu Usually also in the second half of the month IM tmt-s in Kecskemet. 100 km South-East from Budapest.

3. 2nd-14th of February FIRST SATURDAY Budapest GM-IM-FM, GM-IM-FM round robins (BERGER), 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 Phone-fax: +(361)-2632859, cellphone: +(36)-30-230-1914 /From 12:00 a.m. until midnight - Central European Time = GMT+1/

4. 16th-25th of February - IM tmt Kecskemet, org. Erdelyi

5. 1st-14th of March - First Saturday Budapest, org: Nagy L.

6. 21st-29th of March - Budapest Spring Festival 9 rounds Swiss Open, org.: Nagy Laszlo

7. 5th-18th of April First Saturday Budapest, org.NL,

8. 19th-28th of April, KECSKEMET, CAISSA IM tmt, org. Erdelyi

9. 3rd-15th of May First Saturday Budapest, org. NL,

11. 22nd-30th of May, ZALAKAROS Open, 9 rounds Swiss, 1st prize 500,000 Ft (brutto 2 thousand EURO), org: IM Horvath, Tamas, e-mail: mssz@zalaszam.hu Mobile: 36-20-9777003

12. 7th-19th of June First Saturday, Budapest, org: NL.,

13. 13th-21st of June, Balatonlelle Open, GM-IM round robin, org: IM Rigo, e-mail: me-ri@t-online.hu

Anand - Kramnik World Championship Match

A Press release from UEP Promotions announces that Viswanathan Anand will defend his World title against Vladimir Kramnik in Bonn, Germany October 11th–30th October, 2008. Main sponsor Evonik Industries AG and prizemoney 1,5 Million Euro. The match will be 12 games followed by playoffs if required. The contract was signed by both players 18th December 2007.

Website: http://www.uep-worldchess.com/

Morelia Linares 2008

The field has been announced for the Morelia - Linares tournament, with only Alexei Shirov not playing at Wijk aan Zee the event is a category stronger than that event but with far fewer players and also missing Vladimir Kramnik who will probably be world number 2 when the event takes place. As usual the first half is in Morelia, Mexico and the second half in Linares, Spain.

Official site:http://www.ajedrezmorelialinares.com.mx/

Morelia/Linares MEX/ESP 15-23 ii + 28 ii - 7 iii 2008
Name Year of birth Rating W rnk
GM Viswanathan Anand 1969 2801 1
GM Vassily Ivanchuk 1969 2787 2
GM Veselin Topalov 1975 2769 4
GM Peter Leko 1979 2755 5
GM Teymour Radjabov 1987 2742 8
GM Levon Aronian 1982 2741 9
GM Alexei Shirov 1972 2739 10
GM Magnus Carlsen 1990 2714 17
Category: 21

Mindsports

The World Mindsports games takes place in Beijing, China after the Olympics 3rd –18th October 2008.

Details: http://www.worldbridge.org/competitions/Calendar/files/WorldMindSportsGames2007.pdf.

Dutch Team Championship

The Dutch Team Championships take place 15th September 2007 - 17th May 2008.

Links: Dutch Chess Federation: http://www.schaakbond.nl/ - Meesterklasse Games side bar at: http://www.schakers.info/

Bundesliga

The German Bundesliga for 2007-8 takes place 19th October 2007 - 20th April 2008. The first games were on Friday 19th October as part of the special round 7 - fixtures from this round are played before various weekend programs. Most of Rounds 3 and 4 took place 24th-25th November 2007 but the fixtures at Baden Baden take place on 15th-16th December. Rounds 5 and 6 took place 8th-9th December 2007 but there was also an extensive round 7 program on the Friday. The next games take place 8th-10th February 2008.

Official site: http://www.schachbundesliga.de/ further coverage: http://www.schach.com and also at the national Federation site at: http://www.schachbund.de/SchachBL/index.php and statistics also at: http://www.godesbergersk.de/bundesliga-statistik/. Games from Baden Baden at: http://www.rochade.de/live.htm

Stockholm Ladies Open

The Stockholm Ladies Open tournament takes place 20th-25th March 2008. The prize money is over 100 000 Skr

The Invitation are in english, Dutch and Russian http://www.scandinavian-chess.se/

25th Bled Chess Festival

The 25th Chess Festival BLED takes place 23rd February - 2nd March 2008 (the main event finishes 1st March which allows participation in other events around that time).

Details: http://www.sah-zveza.si/bled/2008/

13th Euro Chessweek in Leutersdorf

The 13th Euro Chessweek in Leutersdorf (Germany) takes place 3rd-7th February 2008.

http://www.scoberland.de/

XXI Benidorm Open

The XXI Open Internacional de Ajedrez Villa de Benidorm 2008 Benidorm organised an international tournament 1977 till 1995 now it has returned second year. The event takes place 25nd April - 4st May 2008 (10 rounds). 35.000 Euros in prizes. Information: Mr. Alfonso Vilches Tel: +34 695 91 56 78. E-mail: open@chessbenidorm.com

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

Icelandic Rapid Championships

The Icelandic Rapid Championships took place 18th-20th October 2007. Bragi and Björn Þorfinnsson will meet in the final in December which be on TV in Iceland.

Official site: http://www.skaksamband.is/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=5661&Itemid=387

Games Festival Halkidiki 2008

Games Festival is a mass event organized for the third year in Halkidiki, Greece 28th April - 6th May 2008. The festival includes series of tournaments & exhibitions in prestigious sports like, chess, billiards, bridge, darts, streetbasketball and popular table games like scrabble, strategic games, pc games etc.

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

Halkidiki Chess Festival 2008

The Halkidiki Chess Festival takes place in Kallithea, 28th April - 5 May 2008.

The Organizing Committee of the Halkdiki Chess Festival 2008. Tel/fax: +30 2310 865778 - e-mail: teotsorb@otenet.gr V.Olgas 285, Thessaloniki, Greece.

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

Etienne Bacrot's Website

Etienne Bacrot has a website at: http://www.chess22.fr/ giving news about himself, some comments on recent events including the World Championships in Mexico City etc. Worth check out.

32nd Kings Head Rapidplay

The 32nd Kings Head Rapidplay takes place Saturday 5 April 2008 start time 11:00, details below: 6-round Swiss rapidplay (30 minutes), prize fund £700

The Porchester Hall Porchester Road Bayswater London W2 5HS

Contact: Colin Mackenzie 9 Allan Way Acton London W3 0PW 020 8992 1849 colin.mackenzie@atosorigin.com

Further details; http://www.khcc.org.uk

10th European Senior Team-Championship

10th European Senior Team-Championship take place 11th-19th February 2008 in RAMADA-Hotel in Dresden.

Further info contact: ZMD Schachfestival Dresden e.V., Oskar-Mai-Straße 6, D-01159 Dresden, Fon +49 (0)351 416 16 29, Fax: +49 (0)351 416 16 39 Dr. Gerhard Schmidt, Hepkestraße 131, D-01277 Dresden, Fon +49 (0)351 251 34 20, E-Mail: gerhard.schmidt@schachfestival.de

Alex Brunetti's TotoScacco Site

Alex Brunetti's TotoScacco Site allows predictions for current chess tournaments. http://e4e6.com/toto

Sydney International Open 2008

The 2008 Sydney International Open takes place at Parramatta Town Hall 25th-29th March 2008. Free accommodation and modest conditions are offered to GMs. All enquiries to the Tournament Organiser, FM Brian Jones, at info@chessaustralia.com.au

Details: http://www.chessaustralia.com.au/

ICC and FICS client for mobile phones

Mats Luthman has written a program that connects to ICC and FICS, compatable with many modern mobile phones. I've been looking for something like this for a while for watching live tournaments if I'm out and about. Its a nice free solution, you can also play but I haven't tried that.

Website: http://www.luthman.nu/Mobi/Mobi.html