THE WEEK IN CHESS 756 4th May 2009 by Mark Crowther

Sponsored by the London Chess Centre

TWIC Home| The London Chess Centre| Online-Shop

Contact The Week in Chess
Mark Crowther
E-Mail mdcrowth@btinternet.com
Mobile 07971 920016
http://www.chesscenter.com/twic/twic.html

Contents

1) Introduction
2) 4th FIDE Grand Prix Tournament in Nalchik
3) French League Top 16
4) 4NCL
5) Hungarian Team Championship 2008-9
6) IV Campeonato de Espana de Selecciones Autonomicas
7) Torch Real Estate Cup
8) 11th Dubai Open
9) XXII Benidorm Open
10) VI Magistral Hebraica
11) 8th Annual Heroes Day
12) China's 2010 World Cup Qualification
13) Dutch Juniors
14) First Saturday May
15) 5th Thessaloniki Games Festival
16) III Cerrado Manises
17) Ostravsky Konik Festival
18) Azerbaijan vs the World
19) 1st Caen Masters
20) II La Vega Chess Open
21) 2nd Mumbai Mayors Cup
22) Italian Team Championships
23) 7th Brussel International Rapid
24) III Open Internacional Hotel D. Luis
25) Argentine Championships
26) Lluis Muratet Memorial
27) 9th Znojmo Open
28) 3rd ACP World Rapid Cup
29) Italian Senior Championship
30) Rhode Island State Championship
31) Miroslav Filip 1928-2009
32) Forthcoming Events and Links

Games Section
4th FIDE Grand Prix Nalchik14 games
French League Top 16356 games
4NCL60 games
Hungarian Team Championship 2008-9792 games
IV Tch-ESP Selecciones Autonomicas161 games
Torch Real Estate Cup5 games
11th Dubai Open275 games
XXII Benidorm Open63 games
VI Magistral Hebraica10 games
8th Annual Heroes Day108 games
Dutch Juniors60 games
First Saturday May9 games
5th Thessaloniki Games Festival96 games
III Cerrado Manises30 games
Ostravsky Konik Festival22 games
1st Caen Masters45 games
2nd Mumbai Mayors Cup119 games
Italian Team Championships171 games
2296 games

Contact the London Chess Centre
E-Mail info@chess.co.uk
Tel: +44 020-73882404 Fax:+44 020-73882407
USA Telephone Orders: 1 561 827 0993
http://www.chess.co.uk/

Join Chess Express and receive all the latest chess news straight into your inbox. Simply click here to start receiving chess express

Links:

New Shop: http://www.chess.co.uk/shop

Big Mega

My 60 Memorable Games

ChessBase Now Out

1) Introduction

My thanks to Adolivio Capece, Luis Blasco de la Cruz, Luiz Roberto Da Costa Jr, Anders Hansen, Christian Clin, Antti Parkkinen, Dave Clayton, Dirk Austin, Jan Mazuch, Emmanuel Variniac, Gerard Demuydt, Ian Wilkinson, Jon Speelman, Bela Lengyel, George Mirijanian, Miklos Orso, Piet Boonen, Mehrdad Pahlevanzadeh, Rohan Waithe, Thomas Henrich, Yuri Zimmerman and everyone else who helped with the issue.

Levon Aronian took clear first place at the FIDE Grand Prix tournament in Nalchik after a final round win against Peter Leko, the pair were joint leaders going into the final round. Elsewhere there has been a lot of team chess as well as open tournaments. Sad news from Prague with the death of Miroslav Filip, anyone who was a two time Candidate from that era deserves a lot of respect.

Hope you enjoy this issue.

Mark

2) 4th FIDE Grand Prix Tournament in Nalchik

The FIDE Grand Prix Series Tournament took place in Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia 14th-29th April 2009. Levon Aronian took clear first place by a point after beating his co-leader in the final round. Peter Leko and Vladimir Akopian finished in joint 2nd place. Alexander Grischuk and Etienne Bacrot were a further half point behind. The total prize-fund was 162,000 Euros.

Official website: http://www.nalchik2009.fide.com

4th FIDE GP Nalchik (RUS), 15-29 iv 2009 cat. XIX (2725)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4
1. Aronian, Levon g ARM 2754 * 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 1 1 ½ 1 2832
2. Leko, Peter g HUN 2751 0 * 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 2780
3. Akopian, Vladimir g ARM 2696 0 0 * ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 2784
4. Grischuk, Alexander g RUS 2748 ½ ½ ½ * 1 1 1 0 ½ ½ 0 0 1 ½ 7 2752
5. Bacrot, Etienne g FRA 2728 ½ ½ 0 0 * 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 7 2753
6. Alekseev, Evgeny g RUS 2716 ½ ½ ½ 0 0 * ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 2725
7. Gelfand, Boris g ISR 2733 ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ * ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 0 2724
8. Kamsky, Gata g USA 2720 ½ ½ 0 1 ½ ½ ½ * 0 1 ½ ½ ½ 0 6 2696
9. Karjakin, Sergey g UKR 2721 1 ½ 0 ½ 0 0 0 1 * 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 6 2696
10. Svidler, Peter g RUS 2726 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 0 * 0 1 ½ 1 6 2696
11. Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar g AZE 2725 0 ½ ½ 1 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 * ½ ½ ½ 6 2696
12. Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2746 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ * 0 ½ 2666
13. Kasimdzhanov, Rustam g UZB 2695 ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 * ½ 2670
14. Eljanov, Pavel g UKR 2693 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 1 1 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ * 2670

Round 12 (April 28, 2009)
Leko, Peter - Kasimdzhanov, Rustam 1-0 30 C42 Petroff's Defence
Akopian, Vladimir - Gelfand, Boris ½-½ 31 C42 Petroff's Defence
Grischuk, Alexander - Bacrot, Etienne 1-0 56 A63 Benoni
Alekseev, Evgeny - Ivanchuk, Vassily ½-½ 37 B66 Sicilian Rauzer
Kamsky, Gata - Aronian, Levon ½-½ 40 A07 Barcza System
Karjakin, Sergey - Svidler, Peter 1-0 52 C92 Ruy Lopez Chigorin
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar - Eljanov, Pavel ½-½ 50 D37 QGD 5.Bf4
Round 13 (April 29, 2009)
Aronian, Levon - Leko, Peter 1-0 54 E55 Nimzo Indian
Bacrot, Etienne - Alekseev, Evgeny 1-0 63 C43 Petroff's Defence
Gelfand, Boris - Karjakin, Sergey 1-0 45 D15 Slav Defence
Svidler, Peter - Grischuk, Alexander ½-½ 21 C19 French Winawer
Ivanchuk, Vassily - Kamsky, Gata ½-½ 32 C95 Ruy Lopez Breyer
Kasimdzhanov, Rustam - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar ½-½ 39 D83 Gruenfeld 4.Bf4
Eljanov, Pavel - Akopian, Vladimir 0-1 49 D12 Slav Defence

3) French League Top 16

The French Team Championship (TOP 16) took place in Mulhouse (group A) and Chalons-en-Champagne (group B) 30th April - 3rd May 2009. The Poule Haute and Basse take place 28th-31st May 2009. The top 4 teams in each group take forward the three results against each other and play off against the teams from the other group to produce a final winner.

Official site: http://www.echecs.asso.fr/Equipes.aspx

French Team Championship Group A (FRA), 20 iii-3 v 2009
Group A at Mulhouse
Round 4 30th April 2009
Bois-Colombes 0 - 6 Clichy
Drancy 2 - 4 Noyon
Mulhouse Philidor 1 - 1 Marseille Echecs
Evry Grand Roque 7 - 0 Lutece Echecs
Round 5 1st May 2009
Clichy 4 - 1 Mulhouse Philidor
Noyon 1 - 3 Evry Grand Roque
Lutece Echecs 2 - 4 Drancy
Marseille Echecs 3 - 0 Bois-Colombes
Round 6 2nd May 2009
Evry Grand Roque 5 - 1 Clichy
Mulhouse Philidor 4 - 0 Noyon
Drancy 1 - 3 Marseille Echecs
Bois-Colombes 1 - 4 Lutece Echecs
Round 7 3rd May 2009
Clichy 6 - 1 Drancy
Noyon 4 - 2 Bois-Colombes
Marseille Echecs 0 - 5 Evry Grand Roque
Lutece Echecs 1 - 6 Mulhouse Philidor
French Team Championship Group A (FRA), 20 iii-3 v 2009
Round 4
Bois-Colombes 0 - 6Clichy
g KOZAKOV Mikhail24570 - 1 gJAKOVENKO Dmitry2753
m VUILLEUMIER Alexandre23120 - 1 gFRESSINET Laurent2664
m LANDENBERGUE Claude24100 - 1 gTREGUBOV Pavel V.2628
f LE ROY Brice2307½ - ½ gMAZE Sebastien2571
m CHOMET Pascal2342½ - ½ gEDOUARD Romain2594
mf GUICHARD Pauline22570 - 1 gPELLETIER Yannick2559
DERIEUX Christian21440 - 1 mSKRIPCHENKO Almira2449
STENEL Vincent21030 - 1 fMULLON Jean-Baptiste2333
Drancy 2 - 4Noyon
g KOMAROV Dimitri2530½ - ½ gGOFSHTEIN Leonid2533
g TODOROV Todor25030 - 1 mADLA Diego2508
m KARR Jean-Philippe23880 - 1 gMARCELIN Cyril2495
g LEGKY Nikolay A2468½ - ½ gMAGEM BADALS Jordi2531
g LAZAREV Vladimir24791 - 0 fCLERY Nicolas2389
f BERTHELOT Yannick23241 - 0 mNGUYEN Chi-Minh2439
m GIFFARD Nicolas23770 - 1 mAGUETTAZ Maxime2396
LEFEVRE Margaux20210 - 1 ffASSAD Karine2037
Mulhouse Philidor 1 - 1Marseille Echecs
g SOKOLOV Andrei2558½ - ½ gDELCHEV Aleksander2648
g NAVARA David26541 - 0 gBARTEL Mateusz2601
g WOJTASZEK Radoslaw2630½ - ½ gDEGRAEVE Jean-Marc2558
g ABERGEL Thal2497½ - ½ mGOZZOLI Yannick2499
g VOVK Yuri25750 - 1 gJEDYNAK Radoslaw2497
m WIRIG Anthony2472½ - ½ gNATAF Igor-Alexandre2533
m FARGERE Francois2459½ - ½ mMARZOLO Cyril2476
mf MULLER Anne2163½ - ½ DELORME Laurie2177
Evry Grand Roque 7 - 0Lutece Echecs
g NAKAMURA Hikaru27011 - 0 gDAVID Alberto2587
g FEDORCHUK Sergey A.26561 - 0 mSHIRAZI Kamran2404
g VACHIER-LAGRAVE Maxime26841 - 0 mPIRA Davoud2388
g JUSSUPOW Artur25761 - 0 fSAN EMETERIO CABANES Jose L.2392
g FELLER Sebastien2539½ - ½ fBABAULT Patrice2348
g CHABANON Jean-Luc24541 - 0 CARPENTIER Pierre2235
g RELANGE Eloi24821 - 0 fLAMORELLE Yves2201
m MILLIET Sophie23791 - 0 ffDACALOR Aurelie2038
Round 5
Clichy 4 - 1Mulhouse Philidor
g JAKOVENKO Dmitry27531 - 0 g NAVARA David2654
g FRESSINET Laurent2664½ - ½ g SOKOLOV Andrei2558
g NAIDITSCH Arkadij27001 - 0 g WOJTASZEK Radoslaw2630
g PELLETIER Yannick2559½ - ½ m RIFF Jean-Noel2507
g TREGUBOV Pavel V.26280 - 1 g VOVK Yuri2575
g MAZE Sebastien25711 - 0 m WIRIG Anthony2472
g EDOUARD Romain2594½ - ½ m FARGERE Francois2459
m SKRIPCHENKO Almira24491 - 0 mfMULLER Anne2163
Noyon 1 - 3Evry Grand Roque
g MARCELIN Cyril2495½ - ½ gNAKAMURA Hikaru2701
g MAGEM BADALS Jordi25310 - 1 gVACHIER-LAGRAVE Maxime2684
g GOFSHTEIN Leonid2533½ - ½ gFEDORCHUK Sergey A.2656
m ADLA Diego2508½ - ½ gJUSSUPOW Artur2576
m HOUSIEAUX David24201 - 0 gRELANGE Eloi2482
m AGUETTAZ Maxime2396½ - ½ gCHABANON Jean-Luc2454
f CLERY Nicolas23890 - 1 gFELLER Sebastien2539
ff ASSAD Karine20370 - 1 mMILLIET Sophie2379
Lutece Echecs 2 - 4Drancy
g DAVID Alberto2587½ - ½ gKOMAROV Dimitri2530
m SHIRAZI Kamran24040 - 1 gTODOROV Todor2503
m PIRA Davoud23881 - 0 gLAZAREV Vladimir2479
f SAN EMETERIO CABANES Jose L.2392½ - ½ gLEGKY Nikolay A2468
f BABAULT Patrice23481 - 0 fBERTHELOT Yannick2324
CARPENTIER Pierre22350 - 1 mKARR Jean-Philippe2388
WUNDERMAN Xavier22150 - 1 mGIFFARD Nicolas2377
ff DACALOR Aurelie20380 - 1 LEFEVRE Margaux2021
Marseille Echecs 3 - 0Bois-Colombes
g BACROT Etienne27281 - 0 gKOZAKOV Mikhail2457
g DELCHEV Aleksander2648½ - ½ mVUILLEUMIER Alexandre2312
g DEGRAEVE Jean-Marc2558½ - ½ fLE ROY Brice2307
g NATAF Igor-Alexandre25331 - 0 mCHOMET Pascal2342
g JEDYNAK Radoslaw2497½ - ½ mLANDENBERGUE Claude2410
m MARZOLO Cyril2476½ - ½ mfGUICHARD Pauline2257
m GOZZOLI Yannick2499½ - ½ DERIEUX Christian2144
DELORME Laurie21771 - 0 STENEL Vincent2103
Round 6
Evry Grand Roque 5 - 1Clichy
g SVIDLER Peter27261 - 0 gJAKOVENKO Dmitry2753
g VACHIER-LAGRAVE Maxime26841 - 0 gNAIDITSCH Arkadij2700
g NAKAMURA Hikaru27011 - 0 gMAZE Sebastien2571
g JUSSUPOW Artur25760 - 1 gFRESSINET Laurent2664
g HAUCHARD Arnaud25121 - 0 gPELLETIER Yannick2559
g FELLER Sebastien25391 - 0 gEDOUARD Romain2594
m MILLIET Sophie2379½ - ½ gTREGUBOV Pavel V.2628
g CHABANON Jean-Luc2454½ - ½ mSKRIPCHENKO Almira2449
Mulhouse Philidor 4 - 0Noyon
g WOJTASZEK Radoslaw2630½ - ½ mADLA Diego2508
g SOKOLOV Andrei2558½ - ½ gGOFSHTEIN Leonid2533
g NAVARA David26541 - 0 gMAGEM BADALS Jordi2531
g VOVK Yuri25751 - 0 mNGUYEN Chi-Minh2439
g ABERGEL Thal24971 - 0 mHOUSIEAUX David2420
m RIFF Jean-Noel2507½ - ½ gMARCELIN Cyril2495
m FARGERE Francois24591 - 0 fCLERY Nicolas2389
mf MULLER Anne2163½ - ½ ffASSAD Karine2037
Drancy 1 - 3Marseille Echecs
g TODOROV Todor25030 - 1 gDELCHEV Aleksander2648
g KOMAROV Dimitri25301 - 0 gBACROT Etienne2728
g LEGKY Nikolay A2468½ - ½ gJEDYNAK Radoslaw2497
g LAZAREV Vladimir2479½ - ½ gNATAF Igor-Alexandre2533
f BERTHELOT Yannick23240 - 1 mGOZZOLI Yannick2499
m KARR Jean-Philippe23880 - 1 gDEGRAEVE Jean-Marc2558
m GIFFARD Nicolas2377½ - ½ mMARZOLO Cyril2476
LEFEVRE Margaux2021½ - ½ DELORME Laurie2177
Bois-Colombes 1 - 4Lutece Echecs
m LANDENBERGUE Claude2410½ - ½ gDAVID Alberto2587
g KOZAKOV Mikhail2457½ - ½ mSHIRAZI Kamran2404
mf GUICHARD Pauline22570 - 1 fSAN EMETERIO CABANES Jose L.2392
m CHOMET Pascal23420 - 1 mPIRA Davoud2388
f LE ROY Brice2307½ - ½ fBABAULT Patrice2348
PLANE Boris21600 - 1 CARPENTIER Pierre2235
DERIEUX Christian21441 - 0 WUNDERMAN Xavier2215
STENEL Vincent21030 - 1 ff DACALOR Aurelie2038
Round 7
Clichy 6 - 1Drancy
g FRESSINET Laurent2664½ - ½ g TODOROV Todor2503
g NAIDITSCH Arkadij27001 - 0 g KOMAROV Dimitri2530
g JAKOVENKO Dmitry27531 - 0 m KARR Jean-Philippe2388
g MAZE Sebastien25710 - 1 g LAZAREV Vladimir2479
g TREGUBOV Pavel V.26281 - 0 g LEGKY Nikolay A2468
g EDOUARD Romain25941 - 0 m GIFFARD Nicolas2377
g PELLETIER Yannick25591 - 0 f BERTHELOT Yannick2324
m SKRIPCHENKO Almira24491 - 0 LEFEVRE Margaux2021
Noyon 4 - 2Bois-Colombes
m ADLA Diego25080 - 1 mLANDENBERGUE Claude2410
g GOFSHTEIN Leonid2533½ - ½ gKOZAKOV Mikhail2457
g MAGEM BADALS Jordi25311 - 0 fLE ROY Brice2307
g MARCELIN Cyril24951 - 0 mCHOMET Pascal2342
m HOUSIEAUX David24201 - 0 mVUILLEUMIER Alexandre2312
m NGUYEN Chi-Minh2439½ - ½ mfGUICHARD Pauline2257
m AGUETTAZ Maxime23961 - 0 DERIEUX Christian2144
ff ASSAD Karine20370 - 1 PLANE Boris2160
Marseille Echecs 0 - 5Evry Grand Roque
g BACROT Etienne27280 - 1 gVACHIER-LAGRAVE Maxime2684
g DEGRAEVE Jean-Marc25580 - 1 gSVIDLER Peter2726
g DELCHEV Aleksander26480 - 1 gNAKAMURA Hikaru2701
g NATAF Igor-Alexandre25330 - 1 gFELLER Sebastien2539
m GOZZOLI Yannick2499½ - ½ gJUSSUPOW Artur2576
g JEDYNAK Radoslaw2497½ - ½ gRELANGE Eloi2482
m MARZOLO Cyril2476½ - ½ gHAUCHARD Arnaud2512
DELORME Laurie21770 - 1 mMILLIET Sophie2379
Lutece Echecs 1 - 6Mulhouse Philidor
g DAVID Alberto25870 - 1 gNAVARA David2654
m SHIRAZI Kamran24040 - 1 gWOJTASZEK Radoslaw2630
m PIRA Davoud23880 - 1 g ABERGEL Thal2497
f SAN EMETERIO CABANES Jose L.23920 - 1 m WIRIG Anthony2472
f BABAULT Patrice2348½ - ½ g SOKOLOV Andrei2558
CARPENTIER Pierre22350 - 1 m RIFF Jean-Noel2507
WUNDERMAN Xavier22150 - 1 m FARGERE Francois2459
ff DACALOR Aurelie20381 - 0 mfMULLER Anne2163
French Team Championship Group A (FRA), 20 iii-3 v 2009
Pl. Equipe Pts j. d. p. c.
1 Evry Grand Roque 21 7 33 36 3
2 Clichy 19 7 20 29 9
3 Mulhouse Philidor 16 7 5 18 13
4 Noyon 15 7 -1 17 18
5 Marseille Echecs 14 7 1 14 13
6 Drancy 11 7 -10 14 24
7 Lutece Echecs 9 7 -23 11 34
8 Bois-Colombes 7 7 -25 5 30
French Team Championship Group B (FRA), 20 iii-3 v 2009
Gp B at Chalons en Champagne
Round 4 30th April 2009
Montpellier 7 - 0 Strasbourg
Cannes 3 - 3 Chalons en Champagne
Antibes 0 - 4 Vandoeuvre
Grasse 2 - 3 Metz Fischer
Round 5 1st May 2009
Vandoeuvre 3 - 3 Montpellier
Metz Fischer 1 - 2 Cannes
Chalons en Champagne 6 - 1 Grasse
Strasbourg 1 - 1 Antibes
Round 6 2nd May 2009
Montpellier 2 - 1 Metz Fischer
Cannes 2 - 1 Vandoeuvre
Antibes 0 - 7 Chalons en Champagne
Grasse 0 - 5 Strasbourg
Round 7 3rd May 2009
Chalons en Champagne 2 - 2 Montpellier
Strasbourg 1 - 3 Cannes
Metz Fischer 3 - 2 Antibes
Vandoeuvre 5 - 1 Grasse
French Team Championship Group B (FRA), 20 iii-3 v 2009
Round 4
Montpellier 7 - 0Strasbourg
g VAN WELY Loek26221 - 0 g ROZENTALIS Eduardas2595
g HAMDOUCHI Hicham2596½ - ½ g VAISSER Anatoly2513
g STELLWAGEN Daniel26191 - 0 m ROOS Daniel2425
g KOSTEN Anthony C.25131 - 0 m ROOS Louis2350
g PRIE Eric25041 - 0 mVARGA Peter2446
g LIBISZEWSKI Fabien25051 - 0 mROOS Jean-Luc2273
g FLEAR Glenn C24851 - 0 fREINHART Emmanuel2329
ff HAUSSERNOT Cecile19241 - 0 mf NICOARA Malina2167
Cannes 3 - 3Chalons en Champagne
g SASIKIRAN Krishnan26821 - 0 gNYBACK Tomi2655
g TKACHIEV Vladislav2657½ - ½ gKRASENKOW Michal2622
g KAZHGALEYEV Murtas26261 - 0 gSMIRIN Ilia2641
g FONTAINE Robert25460 - 1 gSEBAG Marie2527
g SIEBRECHT Sebastian24331 - 0 gCORNETTE Matthieu2573
m GOVCIYAN Pavel2412½ - ½ gBELKHODJA Slim2479
gf LECONTE Maria23340 - 1 g APICELLA Manuel2521
m LEVACIC Damir22840 - 1 m COSSIN Sebastien2471
Antibes 0 - 4Vandoeuvre
g KORNEEV Oleg2587½ - ½ gMEIER Georg2641
g PARLIGRAS Mircea2586½ - ½ gLANDA Konstantin2627
g MIRALLES Gilles2477½ - ½ gNIJBOER Friso2562
g DAMLJANOVIC Branko25730 - 1 g BAUER Christian2605
ACHER Mathieu23810 - 1 m BRUNNER Nicolas2398
BIJAOUI Manuel2409½ - ½ mPHILIPPE Christophe2435
PEREZ Flavio22750 - 1 mNEZAR Mustapha2394
COCHET Caroline20520 - 1 ffSTEIL-ANTONI Fiona2115
Grasse 2 - 3Metz Fischer
m COLOVIC Aleksandar24430 - 1 gSVETUSHKIN Dmitry2615
m ELIET Nicolas24290 - 1 gPOSTNY Evgeny2648
m SHOKER Samy24040 - 1 gRIAZANTSEV Alexander2635
m KARIM Ismael2410½ - ½ mKOCH Jean-Rene2453
m DOBREV Nanko2366½ - ½ fELBILIA Jacques2402
m ANDONOV Bogomil23211 - 0 fNEIMAN Emmanuel2355
FORESTIER Flavien2164½ - ½ PUCHER Sebastien2278
FORESTIER Carole20991 - 0 LECLAIR Marie1987
Round 5
Vandoeuvre 3 - 3Montpellier
g NIJBOER Friso2562½ - ½ g STELLWAGEN Daniel2619
g BAUER Christian26050 - 1 g VAN WELY Loek2622
g MEIER Georg26411 - 0 g PRIE Eric2504
g LANDA Konstantin2627½ - ½ g HAMDOUCHI Hicham2596
m NEZAR Mustapha23941 - 0 g KOSTEN Anthony C.2513
m PHILIPPE Christophe24350 - 1 g LIBISZEWSKI Fabien2505
m BRUNNER Nicolas23981 - 0 g FLEAR Glenn C2485
mf CONGIU Mathilde22120 - 1 ffHAUSSERNOT Cecile1924
Metz Fischer 1 - 2Cannes
g POSTNY Evgeny26481 - 0 g SASIKIRAN Krishnan2682
g RIAZANTSEV Alexander2635½ - ½ gTKACHIEV Vladislav2657
g SVETUSHKIN Dmitry2615½ - ½ gKAZHGALEYEV Murtas2626
m KOCH Jean-Rene2453½ - ½ gFONTAINE Robert2546
PUCHER Sebastien2278½ - ½ gSIEBRECHT Sebastian2433
f PUCHER Olivier23130 - 1 mGOVCIYAN Pavel2412
f TADDEI Benoit2314½ - ½ gfLECONTE Maria2334
LECLAIR Marie19870 - 1 m LEVACIC Damir2284
Chalons en Champagne 6 - 1Grasse
g SMIRIN Ilia2641½ - ½ mCOLOVIC Aleksandar2443
g KRASENKOW Michal26221 - 0 mKARIM Ismael2410
g NYBACK Tomi26551 - 0 m DOBREV Nanko2366
g SEBAG Marie25271 - 0 m ELIET Nicolas2429
g CORNETTE Matthieu25730 - 1 mSHOKER Samy2404
g APICELLA Manuel25211 - 0 mANDONOV Bogomil2321
m COSSIN Sebastien24711 - 0 BUFFE Fabrice2158
g BELKHODJA Slim24791 - 0 FORESTIER Carole2099
Strasbourg 1 - 1Antibes
g ROZENTALIS Eduardas2595½ - ½ gKORNEEV Oleg2587
g DOETTLING Fabian2564½ - ½ gPARLIGRAS Mircea2586
g VAISSER Anatoly2513½ - ½ gMIRALLES Gilles2477
m VARGA Peter2446½ - ½ gDAMLJANOVIC Branko2573
m ROOS Daniel24251 - 0 ACHER Mathieu2381
m ROOS Louis2350½ - ½ BIJAOUI Manuel2409
m ROOS Jean-Luc22730 - 1 PEREZ Flavio2275
mf NICOARA Malina2167½ - ½ COCHET Caroline2052
Round 6
Montpellier 2 - 1Metz Fischer
g STELLWAGEN Daniel2619½ - ½ g POSTNY Evgeny2648
g VAN WELY Loek2622½ - ½ g RIAZANTSEV Alexander2635
g PRIE Eric2504½ - ½ g SVETUSHKIN Dmitry2615
g HAMDOUCHI Hicham25961 - 0 fELBILIA Jacques2402
g KOSTEN Anthony C.2513½ - ½ mKOCH Jean-Rene2453
g LIBISZEWSKI Fabien2505½ - ½ fPUCHER Olivier2313
g FLEAR Glenn C24851 - 0 fTADDEI Benoit2314
ff HAUSSERNOT Cecile19240 - 1 LECLAIR Marie1987
Cannes 2 - 1Vandoeuvre
g SASIKIRAN Krishnan2682½ - ½ gMEIER Georg2641
g TKACHIEV Vladislav2657½ - ½ gNIJBOER Friso2562
g FONTAINE Robert25461 - 0 gLANDA Konstantin2627
g KAZHGALEYEV Murtas2626½ - ½ gBAUER Christian2605
g SIEBRECHT Sebastian2433½ - ½ mNEZAR Mustapha2394
m GOVCIYAN Pavel2412½ - ½ mBRUNNER Nicolas2398
gf LECONTE Maria23340 - 1 f GENZLING Alain2317
m LEVACIC Damir22841 - 0 mf CONGIU Mathilde2212
Antibes 0 - 7 Chalons en Champagne
g PARLIGRAS Mircea25860 - 1 gKRASENKOW Michal2622
g DAMLJANOVIC Branko25730 - 1 gNYBACK Tomi2655
g KORNEEV Oleg25870 - 1 gSMIRIN Ilia2641
g MIRALLES Gilles24770 - 1 mCOSSIN Sebastien2471
ACHER Mathieu23810 - 1 g SEBAG Marie2527
BIJAOUI Manuel24090 - 1 gAPICELLA Manuel2521
PEREZ Flavio2275½ - ½ g BELKHODJA Slim2479
COCHET Caroline20520 - 1 gCORNETTE Matthieu2573
Grasse 0 - 5Strasbourg
m COLOVIC Aleksandar24430 - 1 g VAISSER Anatoly2513
m ELIET Nicolas24290 - 1 g DOETTLING Fabian2564
m SHOKER Samy24040 - 1 g ROZENTALIS Eduardas2595
m ANDONOV Bogomil23210 - 1 m ROOS Daniel2425
m DOBREV Nanko2366½ - ½ mVARGA Peter2446
m KARIM Ismael2410½ - ½ fREINHART Emmanuel2329
BUFFE Fabrice2158½ - ½ mROOS Louis2350
FORESTIER Carole20990 - 1 mfNICOARA Malina2167
Round 7
Chalons en Champagne 2 - 2Montpellier
g KRASENKOW Michal2622½ - ½ g HAMDOUCHI Hicham2596
g NYBACK Tomi26550 - 1 g VAN WELY Loek2622
g SMIRIN Ilia26411 - 0 g STELLWAGEN Daniel2619
m COSSIN Sebastien2471½ - ½ g LIBISZEWSKI Fabien2505
g SEBAG Marie2527½ - ½ g KOSTEN Anthony C.2513
g BELKHODJA Slim24790 - 1 gPRIE Eric2504
g APICELLA Manuel2521½ - ½ gFLEAR Glenn C2485
g CORNETTE Matthieu25731 - 0 ffHAUSSERNOT Cecile1924
Strasbourg 1 - 3Cannes
g ROZENTALIS Eduardas2595½ - ½ gSASIKIRAN Krishnan2682
g DOETTLING Fabian2564½ - ½ gTKACHIEV Vladislav2657
g VAISSER Anatoly2513½ - ½ g FONTAINE Robert2546
m VARGA Peter2446½ - ½ gKAZHGALEYEV Murtas2626
m ROOS Daniel24250 - 1 gSIEBRECHT Sebastian2433
f REINHART Emmanuel23290 - 1 m GOVCIYAN Pavel2412
m ROOS Jean-Luc22731 - 0 gfLECONTE Maria2334
mf NICOARA Malina21670 - 1 m LEVACIC Damir2284
Metz Fischer 3 - 2Antibes
g RIAZANTSEV Alexander26351 - 0 g KORNEEV Oleg2587
g POSTNY Evgeny2648½ - ½ g DAMLJANOVIC Branko2573
g SVETUSHKIN Dmitry2615½ - ½ g PARLIGRAS Mircea2586
f ELBILIA Jacques24020 - 1 BIJAOUI Manuel2409
m KOCH Jean-Rene24531 - 0 ACHER Mathieu2381
f NEIMAN Emmanuel2355½ - ½ g MIRALLES Gilles2477
f PUCHER Olivier23131 - 0 PEREZ Flavio2275
LECLAIR Marie19870 - 1 COCHET Caroline2052
Vandoeuvre 5 - 1Grasse
g MEIER Georg26411 - 0 m COLOVIC Aleksandar2443
g BAUER Christian2605½ - ½ m ELIET Nicolas2429
g LANDA Konstantin26271 - 0 m ANDONOV Bogomil2321
g NIJBOER Friso25621 - 0 m DOBREV Nanko2366
m PHILIPPE Christophe24350 - 1 mSHOKER Samy2404
m BRUNNER Nicolas2398½ - ½ mKARIM Ismael2410
f GENZLING Alain23171 - 0 FORESTIER Carole2099
ff STEIL-ANTONI Fiona21151 - 0 FORESTIER Flavien2164
French Team Championship Group B (FRA), 20 iii-3 v 2009
Pl. Equipe Pts j. d. p. c.
1 Montpellier 19 7 15 23 8
2 Cannes 18 7 14 22 8
3 Vandoeuvre 16 7 10 23 13
4 Chalons en Champagne 16 7 12 27 15
5 Metz Fischer 15 7 1 18 17
6 Strasbourg 11 7 -8 11 19
7 Antibes 10 7 -13 9 22
8 Grasse 7 7 -31 6 37

4) 4NCL

The 4NCL took place 4th October 2008 - 4th May 2009. Rounds 9-11 took place 2nd-4th May 2009 in the De Vere Venues in Staverton near Daventry. Games from the live coverage are available, there are more which should be available next week along with details of the final tables.

Official site: http://www.4ncl.co.uk - Live coverage: http://www.bcfservices.org.uk/livechess/4ncl/0809/index.htm

5) Hungarian Team Championship 2008-9

The Hungarian Team Championships took place 26th October - 18th April 2009. Aquaprofit Nagykanizsai Tungsram Sakk-Klub (Shirov 1 game, Polgar 2 games, Balogh, Beliavsky, Markus etc) took first place.

Official site: http://www.chess.hu/hu/bajnoksagok.php

Laszlo Szabo Hungarian Teams 2008-9 (HUN), 26 x 2008 - 18 iv 2009
Team1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.Tot
1. Aquaprofit-NTSK -7.57.58.57.58.58.591010119 97
2. Z.Csuti-Hydrocomp SK 4.5-669.57.59.5106.59.577.5 83.5
3. ASE Paks 4.56-6.58.5866.57.57.578.5 76.5
4. HVSE-SZOVA 3.565.5-666.577.57.55.57.5 68.5
5. BEAC 4.52.53.56-56.56.57.575.57.5 62
6. Makoi SVSE 3.54.5467-55.57.556.56 60.5
7. P.S.E. 3.52.565.55.57-55.56.54.58 59.5
8. MLTC 325.555.56.57-6.55.55.57 59
9. Kbarcika VSC 25.54.54.54.54.56.55.5-5.587 58
10. Hungaropharma Decs 22.54.54.5575.56.56.5-6.56.5 57
11. MTK-Erzsebetvaros 1556.56.55.57.56.545.5-4 57
12. Tabani Spartacus 34.53.54.54.564555.58- 53.5

6) IV Campeonato de Espana de Selecciones Autonomicas

The IV Campeonato de Espana de Selecciones Autonomicas took place 30th April - 3rd May 2009 in Villava, Navarra. Cataluna (Illescas, Lopez Martinez, Narciso Dublan, Oms Pallisse etc) took first place from Aragon (Llorente Zaro). Games from rounds 5 and 6 not yet available.

Official site: http://www.fnajedrez.com/index.php/competiciones-oficiales/cto-espana.html

Results: http://chess-results.com/tnr21519.aspx

IV Tch-ESP Selecciones Autonomicas (ESP), 30 iv-3 v 2009
Rk.SNoTeamGames + = - TB1 TB2 TB3
11Cataluna660025,5120
24Aragon641123,590
33Madrid631222,070
45Asturias632121,580
52Galicia640221,080
610Baleares630321,060
76Castilla la Mancha630319,560
89Cantabria622219,060
98Euskadi621319,050
1013Castilla y Leon622217,560
117Navarra A620416,540
1211La Rioja620412,040
1312Navarra B611410,030
1414Melilla60063,000

7) Torch Real Estate Cup

The Chinese team competition the Torch Real Estate Cup started in Chengdu China on 4th May 2009. I don't have dates, venues or details as the official site won't google translate for me. Last year the first 8 rounds were in May and the conclusion was in October. 5 games from the 1st round are available.

Live games: http://live.chinaqiyuan.com/chess/tfd.htm

Official site: http://chess.sport.org.cn/

Results: http://chess-results.com/tnr21650.aspx

8) 11th Dubai Open

The 11th Dubai Open Chess Championship for the Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Cup took place 25th April - 5th May 2009. Tigran Kotanjian, Dmitry Bocharov and Ashot Anastasian finished on 7/9.

Official site: http://www.dubaichess.ae/

Results: http://chess-results.com/tnr21390.aspx

11th Dubai Open Dubai (UAE), 26 iv-4 v 2009
Final Round 9 Standings:
Rk.NameFEDRtgPts. TB1 TB2 TB3
1GMKotanjian TigranARM25527,02022725560,0
2GMBocharov DmitryRUS26067,01964224870,0
3GMAnastasian AshotARM25547,01958624810,0
4GMGuseinov GadirAZE26596,52043025630,0
5GMMalakhatko VadimBEL26186,52024925430,0
6IMSundararajan KidambiIND24876,52008225560,0
7GMMaletin PavelRUS25596,52004525440,0
8GMNeverov ValeriyUKR25526,51992825280,0
9GMMchedlishvili MikheilGEO25866,51970924800,0
10GMVolkov SergeyRUS25946,51951124640,0
11GMMiezis NormundsLAT25796,51943324510,0
12GMGhaem Maghami EhsanIRI25936,02010725200,0
13GMArun Prasad SIND25526,02007925420,0
14GMPantsulaia LevanGEO25816,02006525280,0
15GMJankovic AlojzijeCRO25406,02003325350,0
16GMHossain EnamulBAN25316,01998425360,0
17GMMelkumyan HrantARM25286,01997825290,0
18GMIbrahimov RasulAZE25376,01982525090,0
19GMGeetha Narayanan GopalIND25726,01982324920,0
20GMSafarli EltajAZE25996,01977324800,0
21GMFedorov AlexeiBLR26116,01966424870,0
22GMGasanov EldarUKR25516,01962224770,0
23GMPerunovic MilosSRB25806,01947624630,0
24GMMilanovic DaniloSRB25646,01915324140,0
25FMMoosavian S HamedIRI23956,01912124580,0
26GMIordachescu ViorelMDA26086,01900324000,0
27GMBachmann AxelPAR25555,52022525580,0
28Poghosyan SurenARM22855,52015125290,0
29GMAleksandrov AleksejBLR26245,51995525100,0
30GMKotsur PavelKAZ25895,51975725030,0
31GMArutinian DavidGEO25485,51973124940,0
32IMLaxman R RIND25215,51945124600,0
33GMSturua ZurabGEO25145,51944824660,0
34FMHirneise TobiasGER24075,51899724310,0
35WGMMamedjarova ZeinabAZE23165,51851223500,0
36WIMPourkashiyan AtousaIRI22735,51844723770,0
37IMGurieli NinoGEO23255,51827523530,0
38GMSalem A R SalehUAE24795,51811023100,0
39Ramnath Bhuvanesh RIND22735,51779525420,0
40FMGrover SahajIND22345,02032125620,0
41IMSangupta DeepIND24665,01981525060,0
140 players

9) XXII Benidorm Open

The 22nd Benidorm Open took place 24th April - 3rd May 2009, 10 round swiss. Eduardo Iturrizaga edged out Robert Kempinski and Julen Luis Arizmendi Martinez on tie-break after they all finished on 8/10.

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

XXII Open Benidorm (ESP), 24 iv-3 v 2009
Final Round 10 Standings:
1Iturrizaga Eduardo GM VEN 252286155½ 51.752652
2Kempinski Robert GM POL 2587860½ 55½ 49.752645
3Arizmendi Martinez Julen Luis GM ESP 2502857½ 52½ 462594
4Berg Emanuel GM SWE 2610635749.52642
5Kovalyov Anton GM ARG 257161½ 56½ 462539
6Granda Zuniga Julio E. GM PER 261061½ 56492619
7Burmakin Vladimir GM RUS 260561½ 5648.252638
8Bykhovsky Anatoly IM ISR 24665954½ 442580
9Lemos Damian GM ARG 251258½ 53452519
10Markowski Tomasz GM POL 26107655947.252576
11Al Sayed Mohamad N IM QAT 2496761½ 5644.52519
12Halkias Stelios GM GRE 25667615544.252527
13Suba Mihai GM ROU 25427615541.252525
14Granero Roca Antonio IM ESP 2393759½ 54½ 412518
15Pogorelov Ruslan GM UKR 2420759½ 53½ 432483
16Levin Felix GM GER 2526758½ 5341.52512
17Vavrak Peter IM SVK 2487757½ 52412435
18Rivas Pastor Manuel GM ESP 2535757½ 51½ 41.752464
19Haslinger Stewart G GM ENG 254475650½ 432461
20Rotstein Arkadij GM GER 252675650½ 40.752399
21Cabrera Alexis GM ESP 251875550½ 37.52425
22Cori T Deysi WIM PER 2262753½ 49342378
23Moran Rodriguez Luciano ESP 2137750½ 4732.52260
24Nabaty Tamir ISR 25016155½ 40.752469
25Bhat Vinay S GM USA 24755751½ 372416
26Salgado Allaria Carlos FM ESP 236956½ 5234.252371
27Stokke Kjetil FM NOR 232356½ 51½ 36.52408
28Kovacevic Slobodan IM SRB 238353½ 4929.752304
29Lasinskas Povilas FM LTU 224252½ 4832.752323
30Montero Fernandez Oscar ESP 22095247½ 31.752332
31Avila Jimenez Javier ESP 225250½ 46½ 31.52162
32Neagos Raul-Alexandru ROU 202449½ 44½ 32.52251
33Bellon Lopez Juan Manuel GM ESP 2439660½ 55½ 34.752404
34Meszaros Michal IM SVK 2397659½ 5533.252389
35Vernay Clovis IM FRA 244065550½ 292345
36Van Eijk Sander FM NED 23196555032.252291
37Kekki Petri IM FIN 2377653½ 4929.52327
38Tjolsen Katrine WFM NOR 211265348½ 30.752250
39Alcaraz Ortega Javier ESP 2239652½ 4830.52226
40Silva Stephane POR 2218652½ 47½ 29.752292
41Cori Jorge FM PER 241865247½ 29.752283
183 players

10) VI Magistral Hebraica

The VI Magistral Hebraica took place in Sao Paulo 20th-28th April 2009. Gilberto Milos and Alexandr Fier finished on 6.5/9 although the results below are unofficial as I haven't seen an official final table.

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

VI Magistral Hebraica Sao Paulo (BRA), 20-28 iv 2009 cat. IX (2459)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
1. Milos, Gilberto g BRA 2585 * 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 2610
2. Fier, Alexandr g BRA 2595 0 * ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 2609
3. Greenfeld, Alon g ISR 2541 ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ 2529
4. Diamant, Andre m BRA 2506 ½ 0 ½ * ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 2453
5. Rodi, Luis Ernesto f ARG 2357 ½ ½ ½ ½ * 0 0 ½ 1 1 2470
6. Duarte, Leonardo m ARG 2341 0 0 ½ ½ 1 * ½ 0 1 1 2472
7. Van Riemsdijk, Herman C m BRA 2375 ½ ½ 0 0 1 ½ * ½ ½ ½ 4 2425
8. Mekhitarian, Krikor Sevag m BRA 2503 0 0 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ * ½ ½ 2374
9. Santos, Marcus Vinicius Moreira m BRA 2399 ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 0 ½ ½ * ½ 3 2340
10. Perdomo, Leandro m ARG 2387 0 0 ½ ½ 0 0 ½ ½ ½ * 2300

11) 8th Annual Heroes Day

The 8th Annual Heroes Day International Chess Tournament took place in Bridgetown, Barbados on April 27th - May 3rd, 2009. Alexander Shabalov won the event with 7.5/9.

Websites: http://www.barbados.org/chess/ - http://www.fideamerica.com/index.php and http://chessdrum.net/

Heroes Day Cup Masters Bridgetown (BAR), 27 iv-3 v 2009
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
1. Shabalov, Alexander g USA 2569 +11 -2 +3 +10 +4 +8 +5 +6 =7 2654
2. Zapata, Alonso g COL 2514 +12 +1 =4 +11 +8 -3 =7 +10 +9 7 2593
3. Buhmann, Rainer g GER 2582 +13 =5 -1 +7 +11 +2 =4 =9 +8 2555
4. Neubauer, Martin m AUT 2414 +14 +7 =2 =8 -1 =5 =3 +12 +13 6 2531
5. Moran Nuque, Augusto m ECU 2393 +9 =3 -8 +6 =10 =4 -1 =7 +14 5 2402
6. Harper, Ryan f TRI 2206 =8 =10 -11 -5 +13 +9 +14 -1 +12 5 2365
7. Uribe, Mauricio m COL 2416 =10 -4 +9 -3 +12 =11 =2 =5 =1 2388
8. Denny, Kevin m BAR 2354 =6 +13 +5 =4 -2 -1 -9 +14 -3 4 2340
9. Warner, Delisle f BAR 2209 -5 =12 -7 +13 +14 -6 +8 =3 -2 4 2323
10. Pitterson, Jomo f JAM 2242 =7 =6 =12 -1 =5 =14 =13 -2 =11 2279
11. Paikidze, Nazi wm GEO 2310 -1 +14 +6 -2 -3 =7 -12 -13 =10 3 2248
12. Elliott, Warren f JAM 2265 -2 =9 =10 =14 -7 =13 +11 -4 -6 3 2194
13. Hammar, Bengt f SWE 2323 -3 -8 =14 -9 -6 =12 =10 +11 -4 2147
14. Farley, Terry f BAR 2241 -4 -11 =13 =12 -9 =10 -6 -8 -5 2028

Heroes Day Cup Candidates Bridgetown (BAR), 27 iv-3 v 2009
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
1. Suez-Panama, Gilles FRA 2098 * ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 ½ 1 7 2215
2. Brown, Equitable JAM 2159 ½ * ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 7 2208
3. Halliday, Lyndell BAR 2024 ½ ½ * ½ ½ 1 0 1 1 1 6 2128
4. Moore, Demetrio BAR ---- ½ ½ ½ * 1 ½ 1 ½ 0 1 2086
5. Gilkes, Dwayne BAR 1861 0 0 ½ 0 * 1 1 ½ 1 1 5 2064
6. Rapon, Karl-Loic FRA 2023 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 * 1 1 1 1 5 2046
7. Harewood, Othneil BAR 1933 0 0 1 0 0 0 * 1 1 1 4 1970
8. Griffith, Trevor BAR ---- 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 0 * 1 1 3 1881
9. Marbot, Raymond FRA 1958 ½ 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 * 1 1844
10. Garnett, Juanita BAR ---- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 * 0

12) China's 2010 World Cup Qualification

China's 2010 World Cup Qualification events for Men and Women took place 17th - 28th April 2009 in Beijing. 12 men competed for 2 places and Zhou Jianchao and Wang Hao finished level on 7/11. 12 women played for 4 places Ruan Lufei and Shen Yang made 7.5/11, Huang Qian and Ju Wenjun made 7. Wang Yue, Ni Hua, Bu Xiangzhi, Hou Yifan, Zhao Xue and Xu Yuhua are already qualified by rating. (Info: China Chess Association). I'm hoping a game file turns up.

News: http://blog.sina.com.cn/chessnews

Official site: http://chess.sport.org.cn/

Results: http://chess-results.com/tnr21467.aspx - http://chess-results.com/tnr21468.aspx

Qualifier Beijing (CHN), 17-28 iv 2009 cat. XII (2541)
Rk.NameRtgFED123456789101112Pts. TB1 TB2 TB3
1GMZhou Jianchao2635CHN*½½½1½1½½½½17,00,5336,75
2GMWang Hao2696CHN½*½½½½½1½½117,00,5336,00
3GMLi Chao B2643CHN½½*½½111½½½06,50,0335,75
4GMZhou Weiqi2563CHN½½½*½010½11½6,00,5332,00
5GMWen Yang2532CHN0½½½*1½1½0½16,00,5331,00
6Gao Rui2500CHN½½010*0110½15,50,0428,75
7Yu Yangyi2433CHN0½00½1*½11½05,02,5326,75
8Ding Liren2458CHN½00100½*½1½15,02,0325,25
9GMZhao Jun2560CHN½½½½½00½*1015,01,5227,25
10Xiu Deshun2422CHN½½½011000*1½5,00,0328,00
11GMLi Shilong2557CHN½0½0½½½½10*½4,50,0124,25
12GMXu Jun2498CHN001½00100½½*3,50,0219,25

Qualifier w Beijing (CHN), 17-28 iv 2009 cat. V (2353)
Rk.NameRtgFED123456789101112Pts. TB1 TB2 TB3
1WGMRuan Lufei2486CHN*½0½½½1111½17,50,5536,50
2WGMShen Yang2420CHN½*½½½½½1½1117,50,5437,00
3WGMHuang Qian2410CHN1½*½½½11½½017,00,5438,00
4Ju Wenjun2454CHN½½½*0½½1½1117,00,5434,00
5IMWang Yu2364CHN½½½1*0½½1½1½6,50,0334,50
6Tan Zhongyi2436CHN½½½½1*½000115,50,0330,50
7WGMGu Xiaobing2336CHN0½0½½½*101105,00,0325,25
8Wang Xiaohui2265CHN0000½10*11½½4,51,0320,75
9WFMDing Yixin2281CHN0½½½0110*0104,50,0324,75
10WIMZhang Xiaowen2340CHN00½0½1001*014,00,0320,25
11Wang Jue2162CHN½010000½01*½3,50,5218,75
12WGMZhang Jilin2335CHN0000½01½10½*3,50,5216,75

13) Dutch Juniors

The Junior Championships of the Netherlands took place in Venlo, in the southeast of the Netherlands. There were separate groups for the ages U21, U17 and U15, and per age-group there is a general group and a group for girls only. Robin Van Kampen won the event with 7/9.

Piet Boonen reports: Robin Van Kampen new junior champion of the Netherlands

On May 2nd, the Dutch junior championships U21 ended in an exiting finish. Three players were in front before the last round, topseed Robin Swinkels and two 14 year old youngsters, Benjamin Bok and Robin Van Kampen. All had 6 points, and it was clear that the championship would go to one of them, although Christov Kleijn, trailing by half a point, still had theoretical chances.

In the final round, Robin Swinkels quickly lost to Roi Miedema. Christov Kleijn defeated Marijn Otte and kept his chances alive, but by then Robin Van Kampen was winning, although he had to navigate around the perpetual checks which his opponent, Lody Kuling, tried to build in. He managed to do this successfully, and took the lead. In the meantime, Benjamin Bok saw his chances diminish. In his game against Lars Ootes, he ended up in an inferior endgame, and although he tried very hard, he lost his game.

Robin Van Kampen therefore became the new junior champion of the Netherlands, and at an age of 14, he is one of the youngest champions ever. Only one player before him become champion at the age of 14, Jan Timman in 1966. I believe Timman was a month younger when he became champion, but it is clear that with Van Kampen and Bok a new generation is emerging, which holds great promises for the future of Dutch chess.

In the Women U21 Leonore Braggaar became the new champion, after defeating Pauline Van Nies 2-0 in the playoffs. Both ladies ended, together with Lisa Hortensius, on 6,5 points. As there is a new rule this year, limiting the players for a playoff to two, Lisa Hortensius ended as third. The games of the playoff were not registered, due to the fact that the organisation ordered the playoff to be played in a secluded room, and left no time to build up a digital board there, and neither provided assistance in annotating these games.

In the other groups, Hugo Ten Hertog became champion U17, Evie Warmelink champion Women U17, Roger Meng champion U15 and Diana Dalemans champion Women U15.

Official site: http://www.lisb.nl/nkjeugd/ [in Dutch]

NK Jeugd A Venlo (NED), 24 iv-2 v 2009
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1. Van Kampen, Robin f NED 2348 +19 +16 +3 =5 -4 +2 +9 =6 +8 7 2482
2. Kleijn, Christov f NED 2320 +10 =11 =5 +12 =3 -1 +14 +4 +18 2448
3. Swinkels, Robin m NED 2499 +8 +6 -1 +16 =2 +9 +4 =5 -7 6 2431
4. Burg, Twan f NED 2362 +17 =13 +9 +8 +1 =5 -3 -2 +15 6 2391
5. Bok, Benjamin f NED 2346 +21 +14 =2 =1 +11 =4 +7 =3 -6 6 2412
6. Ootes, Lars NED 2219 +20 -3 =11 =7 +15 =14 +12 =1 +5 6 2381
7. Miedema, Roi f NED 2370 -14 +22 =21 =6 +13 +11 -5 +16 +3 6 2333
8. Kuling, Lody NED 2205 -3 +19 +15 -4 =20 =16 +18 +13 -1 5 2242
9. Pruijssers, Roeland m NED 2442 =12 +15 -4 +18 +21 -3 -1 =11 +16 5 2303
10. Van der Knijff, Reint NED 1981 -2 +23 . -14 +22 =13 =11 =17 +24 2161
11. Kuipers, Stefan f NED 2343 +22 =2 =6 +13 -5 -7 =10 =9 =12 2230
12. De Groote, Ewoud NED 2191 =9 +18 =13 -2 =16 +20 -6 =14 =11 2233
13. Meurs, Tom NED 2178 +24 =4 =12 -11 -7 =10 +22 -8 +14 2177
14. Blom, Vincent NED 2123 +7 -5 -16 +10 +17 =6 -2 =12 -13 4 2146
15. Goudriaan, Etienne NED 2104 +18 -9 -8 +22 -6 +17 -16 +19 -4 4 2126
16. Haast, Anne NED 2144 +23 -1 +14 -3 =12 =8 +15 -7 -9 4 2210
17. Smith, Thijmen NED 1955 -4 =20 +19 =21 -14 -15 +24 =10 =23 4 1999
18. Otte, Marijn f NED 2349 -15 -12 +23 -9 +19 +21 -8 +24 -2 4 2077
19. Nicolai, Amir NED 1825 -1 -8 -17 +23 -18 +24 +21 -15 +22 4 2066
20. Van Zetten, Maarten NED 1984 -6 =17 . +24 =8 -12 =23 -22 +21 2031
21. Lombaers, Peter NED ---- -5 +24 =7 =17 -9 -18 -19 +23 -20 3 2016
22. Boulahfa, Hicham NED 2026 -11 -7 +24 -15 -10 +23 -13 +20 -19 3 1962
23. Sharshov,Wadim NED ---- -16 -10 -18 -19 =24 -22 =20 -21 =17 1756
24. Engberink,Thijs NED ---- -13 -21 -22 -20 =23 -19 -17 -18 -10 ½ 1589

14) First Saturday May

The First Saturday tournaments take place 2nd-15th May in Budapest. No GM group this month, just an IM and two FM sections.

Official site: http://www.firstsaturday.hu/

FSIM May Budapest (HUN), 2-11 v 2009 cat. II (2283)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
1. Lengyel, Bela m HUN 2268 * . . ½ 1 . . . . . 2486
2. Galyas, Miklos m HUN 2458 . * . . . 1 . ½ . . 2458
3. Koczo, Kristof HUN 2244 . . * ½ . . . . 1 . 2456
4. Wittmann, Walter m AUT 2272 ½ . ½ * . . . . . . 1 2256
5. Kislik, Erik Andrew USA 2314 0 . . . * . 1 . . . 1 2281
6. Hedke, Fred f GER 2310 . 0 . . . * . . . 1 1 2323
7. Szalanczy, Emil m HUN 2295 . . . . 0 . * . . 1 1 2251
8. Szabo, Bence HUN 2220 . ½ . . . . . * . . ½ 2458
9. Farago, Sandor m HUN 2255 . . 0 . . . . . * . 0
10. Denisov, Ivan RUS 2189 . . . . . 0 0 . . * 0

15) 5th Thessaloniki Games Festival

The 5th Thessaloniki Games Festival took place 26th April - 4th May 2009. Giorgi Bagaturov and Baris Esen finished on 7/9 in the Thessaloniki Open. Games from the final round not yet available.

There was the World Schools Championships (covered in detail on the official site and chessdom site) and World Amateur Championship where Stefan Parlog beat Euclides Roberto Ferreira in the final round to claim the Championship.

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

Open Thessaloniki (GRE), 27 iv-4 v 2009
Final Round 9 Standings:
Rk. Name FED Rtg Pts.
1 GM Bagaturov Giorgi GEO 2467 7
2 IM Esen Baris TUR 2472 7
3 Pavlidis Antonios GRE 2307 6,5
4 Sidorenko Ilya ISR 2357 6
5 GM Sanduleac Vasile MDA 2438 6
6 FM Perdek Miroslaw POL 2232 6
7 WIM Burtasova Anna RUS 2299 6
8 IM Obodchuk Andrei RUS 2393 5,5
9 GM Georgiev Vladimir MKD 2539 5,5
10 IM Shavtvaladze Nikoloz GEO 2454 5,5
11 WIM Fakhiridou Ekaterini GRE 2252 5,5
12 GM Georgiev Krum BUL 2440 5,5
13 IM Poley Vladimir BLR 2338 5
14 IM Ivanov Jordan BUL 2435 5
15 FM Vragoteris Antonios GRE 2264 5
16 FM Velchev Hristo BUL 2284 5
17 FM Simanjuntak Sebastian INA 2260 5
18 WGM Karlovich Anastazia UKR 2251 5
19 Nikologorsky Matfei RUS 2229 5
20 Galopoulos N GRE 2247 5
21 Kounalakis Evryklis GRE 2090 5
22 Pavlidou Ekaterini GRE 2162 5
23 Matsenko Vadim RUS 2144 5
24 Skoulakis Charalambos GRE 2091 5
25 IM Danilov Vladimir ROU 2410 4,5
45 players

16) III Cerrado Manises

The III Cerrado Manises takes place in Manises - Valencia (Spain) 20th April - 10th May 2009.

Official site: http://www.escuelavalencianadeajedrez.com/ - Results: http://chess-results.com/tnr21095.aspx

III Cerrado Manises Manises ESP (ESP), 30 iv-10 v 2009 cat. II (2293)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
1. Garcia, Jhoel PER 2295 * . . ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 . 5 2573
2. Palencia, Wilson m COL 2322 . * . ½ . ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 4 2385
3. Valmana Canto, Jaime f ESP 2341 . . * . 0 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 4 2389
4. Garcia Fernandez, Carlos m ESP 2385 ½ ½ . * . . ½ ½ 1 ½ 2317
5. Dolezal, Cristian m ARG 2411 0 . 1 . * 1 . 0 ½ 1 2321
6. Sanchez Romero, Miquel Angel ESP 2235 ½ ½ ½ . 0 * . . ½ ½ 2233
7. Pena Riasco, Alexander f COL 2228 0 ½ 0 ½ . . * 1 . ½ 2252
8. Pallardo Lozoya, Jose Vicente f ESP 2342 0 0 ½ ½ 1 . 0 * . . 2 2205
9. Calvo Alfonso, Vicente ESP 2204 0 ½ 0 0 ½ ½ . . * . 2138
10. Aymerich Rosell, Pablo ESP 2169 . 0 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ . . * 2127

17) Ostravsky Konik Festival

The Ostravsky Konik Festival takes place 1st-10th May 2009. GM tournament and FIDE opens.

Official site: http://www.ostravskykonik.cz/

Results: http://chess-results.com/tnr21618.aspx

GM Ostrava (CZE), 3-9 v 2009 cat. XV (2614)
1 2 3 4
1. Laznicka, Viktor g CZE 2598 * * ½ . 1 . . . 2804
2. Hracek, Zbynek g CZE 2604 ½ . * * . . ½ . 1 2617
3. Azarov, Sergei g BLR 2618 0 . . . * * 1 . 1 2617
4. Socko, Bartosz g POL 2637 . . ½ . 0 . * * ½ 2418

Round 1 (May 3, 2009)
Laznicka, Viktor - Azarov, Sergei 1-0 41 E34 Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Hracek, Zbynek - Socko, Bartosz ½-½ 38 E94 King's Indian Classical
Round 2 (May 4, 2009)
Laznicka, Viktor - Hracek, Zbynek ½-½ 58 E36 Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Azarov, Sergei - Socko, Bartosz 1-0 38 C92 Ruy Lopez Chigorin

Open Ostrava (CZE), 2-9 v 2009
PlNameTiFEDRtgFIDEPtsTB 1
1Hausner IvanIMCZE239331.5
2Bernasek JanIMCZE24432.52
Strebkovs AndrejsIMLAT24202.52
4Simacek PavelIMCZE24892.52
5Dziuba MarcinGMPOL25352.52
Jedlicka AlesFMCZE23062.52
7Vojtek VladimirFMSVK23382.51.5
8Dolezal RadoslavIMCZE24322.51.5
9Nedela VlastimilIMCZE23362.51.5
10Stupak KirillIMBLR24672.51.5
11Kravtsiv MartynIMUKR25112.51.5
Sergeev VladimirGMUKR24792.51.5
Cempel JaroslavFMCZE22982.51.5
14Maiorov NikitaGMBLR25252.51.5
15Socko MonikaGMPOL24562.51.5
Skliba MartinCZE23132.51.5
17Pesotsky VitalyIMUKR23182.50.5
18Warakomski TomaszIMPOL248822
19Jasny StanislavFMCZE239222
Ganaus HannesIMAUT223522
101 players

18) Azerbaijan vs the World

Azerbaijan will play a world team in Baku as part of the "President's Cup" 7th-9th May 2009. The players will have 25 minutes per game.

The Scheveningen event will see the Azerbaijan team of : Teimour Radjabov (5), Vugar Gashimov (16), Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (20), Gadir Guseinov (65) take on The World: Vishwanathan Anand (India, 2), Vladimir Kramnik (Russia, 4), Alexey Shirov (Spain, 13) and Sergey Karjakin (Ukraine, 23).

Azerbaijan's team is currently ranked 5th in the world behind Russia, China, Ukraine and Israel in terms of the average rating of its top ten players.

I don't have an official website currently.

19) 1st Caen Masters

The 1st Caen Masters took place 28th March - 3rd April 2009. Romain Picard won the event with 6/9.

Official site: http://bno-echecs.fr/

Masters Caen (FRA), 28 iii-3 iv 2009 cat. V (2356)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
1. Picard, Romain f FRA 2394 * ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 6 2476
2. Payen, Arnaud m FRA 2364 ½ * ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 5 2397
3. Colin, Vincent m FRA 2415 ½ ½ * 0 1 ½ ½ 1 0 1 5 2392
4. Vojinovic, Jovana wm MNE 2331 0 0 1 * ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 5 2401
5. Coursaget, Nicolas f FRA 2303 0 ½ 0 ½ * ½ 1 ½ 1 1 5 2404
6. Geenen, Marc f BEL 2333 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ 2358
7. Vojinovic, Goran m SRB 2465 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ * ½ ½ ½ 4 2300
8. Leconte, Maria wg FRA 2334 0 ½ 0 0 ½ ½ ½ * 1 1 4 2315
9. Sandalakis, Angelos GRE 2372 ½ ½ 1 0 0 ½ ½ 0 * ½ 2273
10. Lefebvre, Herve FRA 2246 ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ * 3 2242

20) II La Vega Chess Open

The II La Vega Chess Open took place 20th-24th April 2009, in La Vega, Dominican Republic. Julio Becerra Rivero won with 7.5/9. No games available.

Photo report: http://www.chessbase.com/espanola/newsdetail2.asp?id=7066

21) 2nd Mumbai Mayors Cup

The 2nd Mumbai Mayors Cup International Open Chess Tournament takes place May 1st-9th 2009.

Alexander Areshchenko, Abhijeet Gupta and Andrei Deviatkin are on 5/5. Round 2 has a lot of transmission errors. Almost all the names were backwards in the game file. No standings available either.

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

Live coverage: http://www.monroi.com/watch/?tnm_id=1251

22) Italian Team Championships

The Italian Team Championships took place in Senigallia 30th April - 3rd May 2009. Obiettivo Risarcimento won the event with 11/14 points starting with a loss and a draw before winning their remaining matches. Kiril Georgiev, Alfonso Romero Holmes, Fabio Bellini, Sabino Brunello who scored 7/7 for a 3099 performance were in the winning team. Pesaro finished a point behind with a team of IM Denis Rombaldoni, IM Axel Delorme, IM Axel Rombaldoni, M. Ragonesi. There was a women's event alongside.

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

41st TCh-ITA Senigallia (ITA), 30 iv-3 v 2009
Pos ID Team Name Rtg Origin Scr SumR
12Obiettivo Risarcimento 2531Padova 1119.5
29Pesaro 2363Pesaro 1016
310La Zisa 2360Palermo 916.5
41Chieti 2554Chieti 916
57Il Massimo Banca Nuova 2371Palermo 915
64Salentina Confindustria 2457Pisignano (Le) 815.5
78CSKB Torveca Caffè 2394Vigevano (Pv) 714
86Acc. Sc. Le Due Torri 2380Bologna 714
93Vimar Scacchi 2508Marostica (Vi) 714
105Montebelluna 1 2408Montebelluna(Tv) 713.5
1112Latina 2334Latina 613.5
1211Portlab Club 64 2354Modena 511
1313Mens Sana Scacchi 2283Siena 29.5
1414Anastasiana 2259S. Anastasia(Na) 18

23) 7th Brussel International Rapid

The 7th Brussel International Rapid Chess tournament took place 2nd-3rd May 2009 in Brussels. 11 rounds, 25 minutes. 6 GMs participate : - Ulf Andersson - Predrag Nikolic (winner 2008) - Ivan Sokolov (winner 2007) - Ralf Akesson - Alexandre Dgebuadze - Alexei Barsov (winner 2006)

Ivan Sokolov won again this year. I don't have further details yet.

Official site: http://www.creb.be

24) III Open Internacional Hotel D. Luis

Open Hotel D. Luis - Coimbra - Portugal

The III Open Internacional Hotel D. Luis took place 30th April - 3rd May 2009. Vladimir Talla, Alberto Andres Gonzalez and Kevin Spraggett had 4/4. Final results not yet available. No games available.

Official site: http://www.xadrez64.com/

25) Argentine Championships

The Championships of Argentina 2009 take place in April and May. Semifinals: 30th April - 6th May, 2009 in La Plata. Final: 9th-20th May, 2009 in La Plata. Place: Club Espanol de la Plata.

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

26) Lluis Muratet Memorial

The Lluis Muratet Memorial Primavera 2009 took place 1st-3rd May 2009 in Banyoles - (Girona - Spain). Rapid tournament with Korchnoi as a guest.

Official site: http://escacsbanyoles.cat/

27) 9th Znojmo Open

The 9th International Chess Festival Znojmo Open 2009, took place 30th April - 3rd May 2009 in the town of Znojmo (the Czech Republic). Events included a FIDE open with 7 rounds won by Yrij Vorobyov and the Znojmo Queen - Open Women’s Czech Championship in Active Chess won by Jana Jackova. Games may follow.

More detailed information at http://www.czechtour.net/znojmo-open/

28) 3rd ACP World Rapid Cup

The 3rd ACP World Rapid Cup will be organised by the Pivdenny Bank in Odessa, Ukraine on 22nd-24th May 2009. As usual, it will be a KO tournament with 16 participants. In accordance with the ACP rules, 13 of 16 spots are given to the players who qualified from the ACP Tour 2007/08. The total prize fund will be USD $57,000. The winner receives USD $10,000. Viktor Korchnoi has been invited as a commentator for the spectators. According to the tournament director, WGM Masha Klinova, as of 27th April the following 13 Grandmasters have confirmed their participation: Jakovenko (2753), Grischuk (2748), Movsesian (2747), Gashimov (2730), Bacrot (2728), Svidler (2726), Naiditsch (2700), Eljanov (2693), Efimenko (2682), Najer (2669), Karpov (2644), Tregubov (2628) and Drozdovskij (2603).

The official tournament website (in Russian) is the chess site of the Pivdenny Bank, http://worldcup.pivdenny.com.

29) Italian Senior Championship

The Italian Senior Championship took place in Arvier (Aosta Valley) April 24th - May 2nd 2009. 48 players (new record for participation). News: Adolvio Capece.

The winner is Carlo Barlocco from Legnano (near Milan) owing to the best tie-break on Giusepppe laco from Gorizia (champion 2008). Third Renato Tribuiani from Roma. Antonio Pipitone from Parma was the oldest player: 83 years old.

Women: the winner is Maria Rosa Centofante from Varese (see 'podio femminile')

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

30) Rhode Island State Championship

George Mirijanian reports: The Rhode Island State Championship took place 2nd-3rd May 2009 at Rhode Island College in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. GM Alexander Ivanov, 53, of Newton, Massachusetts, and IM David Vigorito, 38, of Somerville, Mass. tied for first place with scores of 4.5-0.5, including a draw with one another in the third round. Finishing as runner-up with a 3.5-1.5 tally and gaining the state championship title as the highest-scoring resident was U.S. Chess Federation-rated expert David Harris, 55, of Providence. Other top scorers included experts Ben Bentrup of Middletown, Rhode Island, and Carlos Avalos of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, both of whom tallied 3-2. The tournament was held in three sections and drew 41 players. Frank Vogel III directed, with assistance from Eric Berkey, for the sponsoring Rhode island Chess Association.

31) Miroslav Filip 1928-2009

Two times World Championship Candidate Miroslav Filip has died. Born October 27th, 1928 in Prague - April 27th, 2009 in Prague.

IM title 1953, GM in 1955. Filip represented Czechoslovakia in 12 consecutive Chess olympiads from Helsinki 1952 to Nice 1974, playing 194 games with the overall result (+62 =104 -28).

In 1955 Filip was 7th in the Goteborg Interzonal, qualifying for the Amsterdam Candidates Tournament in 1956. He finished eighth out ten players. In 1962 Filip he qualified in fifth place (from 23 players) at the Stockholm Interzonal. This qualified him for the Candidates tournament in Curaçao, where he finished equal 7th with Tal who didn't play the final cycle. Filip won Czech Championship three times: in 1950 at Gottwaldov, in 1952 at Tatranska Lomnica, and in 1954 in Prague. A two time Candidate in that era was a very special achievement.

Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miroslav_Filip. ChessBase obituary by Ray Keene at: http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=5400

32) Forthcoming Events and Links

Sigeman & Co Chess Tournament

The Sigeman & Co Chess Tournament 2009 takes place 3rd - 7th June 2009.

For 17 years in a row the tournament has been played in Malmo, Sweden and this time will be no different. The tournament will be played at the classical Hipp Theater in central Malmo, for the twelfth time. This year, the tournament has a new format, with only six players playing five rounds.

Sigeman & Co Chess Tournament Malmo (SWE), 3-7 vi 2009
1.GM Nigel ShortENG 2674
2.GM Ivan Sokolov BIH 2669
3.GM Tomi Nyback FIN 2655
4.GM Tiger Hillarp Persson SWE 2618
5.GM Emanuel Berg SWE 2610
6.IM Nils Grandelius SWE 2491

Tournament Schedule Round 1 3 June 14.00-21.00 CET Round 2 4 June 14.00-21.00 CET Round 3 5 June 14.00-21.00 CET Round 4 6 June 14.00-21.00 CET Round 5 7 June 12.00-19.00 CET

Official site: http://www.sigeman-chess.com

III La Laguna Open

The III La Laguna Open takes place 4th-10th May 2009. Julio Granda Zuniga and Vladimir Epishin are the top seeds.

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

Results: http://chess-results.com/tnr21480.aspx

Historical Elo Ratings

http://www.shakki.net/history/elotop.htm has a list of historical top ten FIDE lists. The text is in Finnish but is understandable anyhow.

Chess Classic Mainz

The Chess Classic Mainz takes place 27th July - 2nd August 2009 in the Rheingoldhalle in Mainz.

The world championships in rapid chess and Chess960 will be staged in a tried and trusted double round robin format with four players, after which the players battle it out in mini-matches to determine the top spot. The players for the main events have already been contracted.

The GRENKELEASING Rapid World Championship sees the World Chess Champion and Chess Classic serial winner Vishy Anand will try to defend his title for the 11th time in a row. He faces Levon Aronian, Ian Nepomniachtchi and Arkadij Naiditsch.

Other events include the gigantic ORDIX rapid chess Open, the FiNet Ches960 Open, the open tournaments for U14 talents, the 40 board simultaneous exhibition with Levon Aronian, the Livingston Chess960 Computer World Championship, etc., etc.

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

XXXV Sitges Open

The XXXV Open Internacional d'Escacs "Vila de Sitges" takes place 22nd-30th July 2009.

Official site: http://www.casinoprado.cat/open.html

Details: http://chess-results.com/tnr20620.aspx?lan=2

"King's Gambit" in Lipetsk

There will be an international chess festival called "King's Gambit" in Lipetsk, Russia, between June 22nd (arrival day) and July 3rd, 2009. The festival consists of two round-robin tournaments (one with GM norm and one with IM norm) and an open for FIDE rating. Opening ceremony: 2.30 p.m. on July 23, 1st round at 3 p.m. Festival director: Zimmerman, Yuri . Tel.: +7-4742-720064, or +7-919-255-9764. E-mail: zimmerman@lipetsk.ru."

US Championships

The 2009 US Chess Championship takes place in St Louis, United States, May 7th-17th 2009. 24 players compete including: Varuzhan Akobiana, Julio Becerra Rivero, Joel Benjamin, Michael Brooks, Larry Christiansen, Jaan Ehlvest, Josh Friedel, Boris Gulko, Robert Hess, Tyler Hughes, Ildar Ibragimov, Gregory Kaidanov, Gata Kamsky, Melik Khachiyan, Irina Krush, Charles Lawton, Hikaru Nakamura, Alexander Onischuk, Ray Robson, Enrico Sevillano, Alexander Shabalov, Yury Shulman and Anna Zatonskih.

The women's championship takes place 2nd-12th October 2009 at the same venue.

Live coverage at the St Louis Chess Club website, TWIC, ICC and ChessBase.

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

27th Elba Island Festival

The 27th International Chess Festival of Elba Island "Luigi Amalfi", takes place at the Hotel Lacona 10th-17th May 2009.

Details: http://www.tuscanhotels.it/en/cmsx.asp?IDPg=23

Reno Far West Open

The Far West Open Chess Tournament took place April 10th-12th 2009 in Reno Nevada. Sergey Kudrin edged out Enrico Sevillano and Gergerly Antal who finished on 5/6. Games should follow.

Official site: http://www.renochess.org/fwo/index.html

32nd Taminco Gent Open

The 32nd Taminco Open International Chess Tournament Gent (Belgium) takes place 18th-22nd July 2009, 9 rounds Swiss, two hours KO chess, prize money 8400 euro for 400 participants. This traditional open tournament takes place near the center of the medieval town of Gent in the week of the famous annual Gent festivities. Email: open2009@kgsrl.be

Information and registration: http://www.kgsrl.be

Info Gent annual festivities: http://www.gentsefeesten.be/

Dutch Teams

The Dutch Team Championship takes place 27th September 2008 - 10th May 2009. Round 8 was on 18th April 2009. The final round 9 is on 10th May 2009. HSG (Van Wely, Nikolic, Stellwagen, Seirawan, L'Ami etc ) are already champions.

Great coverage at: http://www.schakers.info/ and also the http://www.schaakbond.nl/wedstrijdschaak/knsb-competitie/

Dutch Teams (NED), 27 ix 2008 - 10 iv 2009
Round 8 (18th April 2009) results
Homburg Apeldoorn - BSG -
LSG - Schrijvers Rotterdam 5 - 5
HSG - Hotels.nl -
Voerendaal - HMC Calder -
ESGOO - Utrecht 4 - 6

Dutch Teams (NED), 27 ix 2008 - 10 iv 2009
Round 7 Standings:
Meesterklasse Mp Bp 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1. HSG 16 55½ x 5.5 . 5.5 8.5 8.5 6.5 5.5 7.5 8
2. Hotels.nl 11 49 4.5 x 6.5 6 8.5 4.5 6 5 . 8
3. Schrijvers Rotterdam 11 44 . 3.5 x 6 4.5 5.5 5.5 5 6 8
4. HMC Calder 10 45 4.5 4 4 x 5.5 . 5.5 7.5 5.5 8.5
5. Utrecht 10 37 1.5 1.5 5.5 4.5 x 6 5.5 6.5 6 .
6. ESGOO 7 35 1.5 5.5 4.5 . 4 x 2.5 5 5.5 6.5
7. Homburg Apeldoorn 6 39½ 3.5 4 4.5 4.5 4.5 7.5 x . 5.5 5.5
8. LSG 5 37 4.5 5 5 2.5 3.5 5 . x 3.5 8
9. Voerendaal 4 37½ 2.5 . 4 4.5 4 4.5 4.5 6.5 x 7
10. BSG 0 20½ 2 2 2 1.5 . 3.5 4.5 2 3 x

Voronezh-2009

The 13th "Voronezh-2009" traditional chess festival takes place 10th-21st June 2009.

Details: http://www.relex.ru/~xuser/voronezh_open

13th Hogeschool Zeeland Tournament 2009

The 13th Hogeschool Zeeland Tournament takes place August 1st-8th 2009 in Vlissingen, Netherlands.

Official site: http://www.hztoernooi.nl and contact e-mail: hgroffen@zeelandnet.nl.

Canadian Open

The Canadian Open takes place in Edmonton, Alberta Canada July 11th-19th 2009. Alexei Shirov adn Michael Adams are among the early entrants.

Details: http://monroi.com/2009-canadian-open-chess-championship-home.html

San Sebastian GM

There is a tournament in San Sebastian July 6th-16th 2009.

GMA San Sebastian (ESP), 6-16 vii 2009
cat. XVIII (average elo: 2687)
Sergei Movsesian2747SVK
Peter Svidler2726RUS
Rustam Ponomariov2726UKR
Hikaru Nakamura2701USA
Rustam Kasimzhanov2695UZB
Francisco Vallejo2688SPA
Maxime Vachier-Lagraeve2684FRA
Anatoly Karpov2644RUS
Julio Granda2610PER
Pablo San Segundo2560SPA

Prizes in Euros: 1.- 9.000 2.- 6.000 3.- 4.000 4.- 3.500 5.- 3.000 6.- 2.500 7.- 2.000 8.- 1.500 9.- 1.000 10.- 500

There will be also a B tournament (cat. XI), C tournament (cat. VIII), and D tournament (female players). The games will be played in the same hall that held the historic tournament in 1911 won by Capablanca and the organisers are hoping for a special event to commemorate the centenary. News David Llada. Website to be announced.

Dortmund

The Dortmund Chess Meeting takes place 2nd-12th July 2009. Players: Kramnik, Leko, Carlsen, Jakovenko, Bacrot, and Naiditsch play.

Details: http://www.chess-international.de/?p=429

Brno Chess Festival

The Duras Chess Club organises the Brno Chess Festival in the Czech Republic. The GM Brno, IM Tespo Engineering and IM Dopravni stavby tournaments take place 26th June - 5th July 2009. Open tournaments start on the 27th June 2009.

Applications and details contact Rudolf Moulis: e-mail: moulis@kroknet.cz , phone +420 548 522 186, mobile phone: +420 607 900 656

Further info at: http://www.skduras.cz/cz/propozice.html and http://www.skduras.cz/cz/brnensky-sachovy-festival-2009.html

World Open

The World Open Chess Tournament takes place June 29th - July 5th 2009 in Philadelphia.

Details: http://www.chesstour.com/wo09.htm and http://monroi.com/2009-world-open-chess-tournament-home.html

British Championships

The 96th British Chess Championships take place 26th July - 8th August 2009 in Torquay.

Official site: http://www.britishchess09.com/

Zone 2.3 Guayaquil Ecuador

Zone 2.3 takes place in Guayaquil Ecuador 10th-21st May 2009.

Details: http://www.ajedrezenecuador.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=443

Asian Individual Open

The Asian Individual Open and Women’s Chess Championship in Subic Bay, Philippines from May 12th-24th 2009. No official site.

14th Pannonia - Nitrokemia Cup

The 14th Pannonia - Nitrokemia Cup takes place in Balatonalmadi, 29th July - 2nd August, 2009.

Group A: International Open Tournament for FIDE ratings. Group B: International Open Tournament for FIDE ratings, for players under 2000 ELO System used: 7 Rounds Swiss without age limit for both Groups Venue: The air-conditioned Conference Hall of Pannonia Cultural Centre & Library Address: Balatonalmadi, Városház Square 6. Organiser: Recreation Association of Vorosbereny Time Limit: Group A: 90-90 minutes + 30sec after each move Group B: 120-120 minutes for all moves

Details: http://fancsyimi.fw.hu. Entries and further information IM Fancsy Imre E-mail: almadikupa@freemail.hu

M-Tel Masters

The 5th M-Tel Masters takes place in Sofia 12th-23rd May 2009 (rest day 18th May).

The Category XXI event sees Veselin Topalov, Magnus Carlsen, Vassily Ivanchuk, Wang Yue, Leinier Dominguez Perez and Alexei Shirov play in a double round robin format. The games will be played in a glass pavilion on the square in front of the National Theatre Ivan Vazov.

The time control is 90 minutes for 40 moves per player and 60 minutes per player till the end of the game. The maximum period for a single game is 5 hours. "Sofia rules" will again be used. They are that: Opponents cannot communicate during the games and cannot offer a draw. Proposals for a draw can be made only through the Chief Arbiter in three cases: triple repetition, eternal chess and theoretical draw position. When making the decisions the Chief Arbiter will be consulted by Zurab Azmaiparashvili, Vice President of FIDE.

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

14th International Stuttgart Championship

The 14th "International Stuttgart Championship" in Germany takes place 21th-24th May 2009. Contact Michael Meier e-mail: info@stuttgarter-stadtmeisterschaft.de

For further information on the event: http://www.stuttgarter-stadtmeisterschaft.de

20th International Chess and Games Festival Czech Open

The 20th International Chess and Games Festival Czech Open 2009 takes place 16th July - 2 August 2009 in Pardubice (the Czech Republic). There are more than 100 tournaments in chess and other games, eg. European Youth Chess Teams Championship, ISCU Children Clubs Chess Championship and European Amateurs Championship in Chess.

More detailed information: http://www.czechopen.net/news/index.php. the festival website will be ready at the end of April.

6th Summer Catalan Chess Circuit

The 6th Summer Catalan Chess Circuit takes place May - September every year as part of the Catalan Chess Circuit, which is composed of 28 International Tournaments, and held in Spain, extended beyond Catalonia.

In 2009 there will be 14 Opens with traditional time control to be played over 9-10 days, as well as 14 Opens in Rapid Chess, played over 1-2 days (see Tournament Calendar).

During 120 days of tournaments, around 22.000 chess games will be played with selected ones broadcast.

Approximately 3,000 players from more than 30 different countries. The prize fund will reach 175.000 euros.

Apart from the traditional tournament prizes, the Catalan Chess Federation establishes a special classification composed of player´s results in each Circuit tournament, based on which players will be able to claim such special Circuit Prizes as General Final Standings, Prizes by Categories, Specific Prizes for best Catalan Players.

Prizegiving Ceremony will be held at Fiesta Catalana (Catalan Chess Party), on September, 27th, 2009

For more information please contact the Catalonia Chess Federation on federacio@escacs.cat or visit the official website: http://escacs.cat/circuit2009/torneigs.html

6th Summer Catalan Chess Circuit (ESP), 5 v - 20 ix 2009
5-13 May VILA DE SALOU SALOU 9 Rd Swiss B CFrancesc Linan 616094289
17 May VILA DE CANOVELLES CANOVELLES 9 Rd Swiss b bDaniel Flores 938493564
24 May VILA DE L'AMPOLLA L'AMPOLLA 9 Rd Swiss a bEnric Gallimo 666187061
31 May VILA DE STA COLOMA DE QUERALT SANTA COLOMA DE QUERALT 8 Rd Swiss a a supSalvador Barrot 654095338
20 June CIUTAT DE REUS REUS 9 Rd Swiss a a supJoan Pinol 649341056
21 June MOLLET DEL VALLES MOLLET DEL VALLES 9 Rd Swiss b aFrancesc Fernandez 647625832
24 June-2 July VILA DE SORT SORT 9 Rd Swiss B CJoan A. Conesa 609825066
25 June-3 July VILA DE MONTCADA MONTCADA 9 Rd Swiss A AReyes Cantero 938152902
4-12 July BARBERÀ DEL VALLES BARBERA DEL VALLES 9 Rd Swiss A A supVíctor Pont 629386528
4-12 July TORREDEMBARRA TORREDEMBARRA 9 Rd Swiss C BJordi Salvat 649061984
13-22 July CIUTAT DE BALAGUER BALAGUER 10 Rd Swiss A sup AAntoni Montoliu 679082837
18-26 July ANDORRA LES ESCALDES 9 Rd Swiss A sup A supOscar la Riva 00376-347085
22-30 July VILA DE SITGES SITGES 9 Rd Swiss A AFrancesc González 600923277
25 July CERVELLO CERVELLO 8 Rd Swiss b bJuan Mª Santiago 936840402
26 July OLOT OLOT 8 Rd Swiss b bJosep Ma Mir 606119678
1-8 August FIGUERES "MIQUEL MAS" FIGUERES 9 Rd Swiss C AJordi Serra 699848479
1-9 August CIUTAT DE BADALONA BADALONA 9 Rd Swiss A A supManel Triquell 609683157
2-10 August LA POBLA DE LILLET LA POBLA DE LILLET 9 Rd Swiss C CJosep Salvador 630625152
15-16 August VILA DE POBLENOU BARCELONA 10 Rd Swiss a sup aJoan Lorda 659529581
21-30 August SANTS BARCELONA 10 Rd Swiss A sup A supCotxeres 932918701
22-23 August AJEDREZND BARCELONA 9 Rd Swiss a sup aJordi Morcillo 620341266
1-10 September FESTIVAL DE SABADELL SABADELL 9 Rd Swiss B BIvan Aguilar 666346958
6 September VILA DE SANTPEDOR SANTPEDOR 9 Rd Swiss b bJosep Mascaro 616477533
11 September DIADA DE L'11 DE SETEMBRE SABADELL 9 Rd Swiss a a supIvan Aguilar 666346958
12 September RIBERA D'EBRE MORA D'EBRE 8 Rd Swiss a aJosep Terrones 696204203
13 September CIUTAT DE TORTOSA TORTOSA 8 Rd Swiss b bAbraham Pla 680532570
19-20 September VALLFOGONA DE BALAGUER VALLFOGONA DE BALAGUER Suís 11 rondes a sup aJaume Parramon 649960831
Potential
13-21 July SANT MARTI BARCELONA 9 Rd Swiss Ricard Llerins 933082425

XXVII Andorra International Chess Open

The XXVII Andorra International Chess Open takes place 18th-26th July 2009. Contact: open@escacsandorra.com

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

27th Elba Chess Festival

The 27th Elba Chess Festival takes place 10th-17th May 2009.

Official site: http://www.tuscanhotels.it/cmsx.asp?IDPg=10

Calgary International

Calgary, Alberta (Canada) stages a small 9 round international norm event May 14th-18th, 2009. A host of GM's and IM's will be in attendance, IM norms will be available.

Official site:http://www.albertachess.org/Calgary_International.html

For more info, email the tournament organiser Tony Ficzere at tficzere@telus.net

London super-tournament in December 2009

Cream of world chess to play in new London tournament. [Press release 9th March 2009]

London Chess Centre is proud to announce a world-class chess tournament to be held in London in December, 2009. The event will be an elite eight-player all-play-all in the most prestigious tournament in the capital since former world champion Anatoly Karpov won the Phillips and Drew Masters in 1984.

Since then, despite London hosting three world title contests, there has not been a tournament in which England's leading players could lock horns with the world's best on home soil. The December 09 tournament will be the first in a series of events designed to reinvigorate UK chess and promote the game and its undoubted educational benefits in schools and communities.

The tournament will be FIDE Category 19 with an average FIDE rating of 2700 and a minimum prize fund of €100,000. The eight players will comprise of three English and five world-class Grandmasters from abroad. Included in the prize fund will be a €10,000 Brilliant Game award along with separate prizes for each victory with the White and Black pieces. Matches will be covered live online where fans will be able to vote for Game of the Day.

The tournament has applied for membership of the prestigious annual Grand Slam of Chess which culminates in Bilbao and boasts a €400,000 prize fund.

The games will be under Classical Chess time control; 40 moves in two hours, 20 in the subsequent hour then an additional 15 minutes plus an increment of 30 seconds a move until the end of the game. The tournament will further benefit from the use of Sofia Rules which disallow early draws. Players will receive three points for a win and one for a draw.

The opening ceremony will take place on Thursday, December 10 and will include a blindfold chess display and charity simultaneous. Play will take place daily from Friday, December 11 to Thursday, December 17 inclusive.

The list of players and venue will be announced in April.

Malcolm Pein (IM) Director London Chess Centre

Notes for editors: All communications to Malcolm Pein IM at London Chess Centre: 020 7388 2404. E-Mail: info@chess.co.uk. Website: www.chess.co.uk

Masterskill Commonwealth Chess Championships

The Masterskill Commonwealth Chess Championships takes place 14th-21st July 2009 in Ipoh, Malaysia.

Details: http://www.fide.com/component/content/article/4-tournaments/3827-commonwealth-chess-championship-2009-in-malaysia

Maia Chiburdanidze Cup

The "Maia Chiburdanidze Cup" (International Open Women's Chess Tournament) takes place in the Chess Palace, Tbilisi (Georgia) 4th-13th June 2009. The Tournament is open to all women players. Each player must herself (or her federation) cover all her expenses: entry fee, transportation, accommodation and board. 9 round Swiss. Rate of play: 90 min for all moves, increment 30 seconds per move. Details available from the addresses below.

Contact IA, FM Varlam Vepkhvishvili E-mail: chessgeorgia@hotmail.com or chessvarlam@hotmail.com.

Phone:
(995)32-997736 - Federation
(995)32-960199 - Home
(995)99-771974 - Mobile

Official site: http://www.gcf.org.ge

1st International Open Tbilisi

The 1st International Open Tbilisi Chess Tournament takes place 14th-24th June 2009.

Official site: http://www.chess.tbilisi.ge (not yet up and running)

9 round Swiss. Rate of play: 90 min for all moves, increment 30 seconds per move. Details available from the addresses below.

e-mail: chessvarlam@hotmail.com - Varlam Vepkhvishvili
e-mail: ggrs92@hotmail.com - Giorgi Khomeriki

Varna Chess Festival

The 1st International Chess Festival Varna, takes place at the Grand Hotel Varna 11th-20th June 2009. Contact: seahorse@abv.bg for more details.

Website: http://euroschoolchess.org/ (although I couldn't find the event myself)

European Youth Championships

The European Youth Championships (U10 - U18) takes place in Fermo/Italy 30th August - 10th September 2009.

Details: http://www.euroyouth2009.com

European Senior Championships

The European Individual Senior Championship takes place in Rogaska Slatina/Slovenia 22nd - 31st July 2009. For the first time just before the event a European Senior Rapid Championship will be organised. The dates are 19th - 21st July.

Further details are published under http://www.sahohlacnik.com/eu-sen/

European Union Website

The European Chess Union Website ECU website has changed address to http://www.europechess.org

Alushta Diary 2009

Alushta Diary 2009:

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, 5.09 - 13.09, Open tournament (under 16 years) 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, 10.07 - 18.07, 20.07 - 28.07, 22.08 - 30.08, Alushta Swiss 9 rounds Blitz tournament 7.07, 19.07, 29.07, Alushta Swiss 9 rounds Open tournament (rapid chess) 8.07 - 9.07, 30.07 - 31.07, Alushta Session of school of Gennadi Kuzmin 21.06 - 27.06, 15.07 - 24.07. Individual and group studying Further information: http://www.kaissa.com.ua phone +38 (06560)5-05-32, +380505828911 (for Russian speaking), + 380506692604 (for English speaking) e-mail: info@kaissa.com.ua

Zuerich Chess Club 200th Anniversary

Dr. Christian Rohrer reports: The world's oldest chess club celebrates its 200th year with spectacular jubilee events, including World Champions Spassky, Kasparov and Anand.

The Schachgesellschaft Zuerich celebrates 200th anniversary with spectacular jubilee events

The Schachgesellschaft Zuerich, the world's oldest chess club, celebrates its 200th year in 2009 with spectacular jubilee events. To mark the anniversary, some of the greatest masters of the last five decades, including World Champions Spassky, Kasparov and Anand, will play at the event. Highlights will be a simultaneous exhibition and a rapid chess tournament on the 22nd and 23rd of August, held in Zurich Main Railway Station. With generous sponsor support from Credit Suisse the Schachgesellschaft Zuerich continues its long standing tradition of world class chess tournaments.

On Saturday the 22nd of August, in simultaneous games 200 amateurs will be honoured to face eight word-class chess players, who have made historical contributions to world chess over the last 50 years: Viswanathan Anand, Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov, Viktor Korchnoi, Vladimir Kramnik, Boris Spassky, Ruslan Ponomariov and Veselin Topalov. On Sunday the 23rd of August, these champions will compete against each other in an exciting rapid chess format. Judit Polgar, the strongest female chess player ever, and Werner Hug of Schachgesellschaft Zuerich, former world junior chess champion, will replace Kasparov and Spassky, who have retired from competitive chess.

A huge number of spectators, from enthusiasts to the generally curious, is expected for the events at Zurich Railway Main Station. And no one need miss it: All commemorative events will be streamed live via Internet.

The jubilee commences with an open tournament; certain to be one of the most exciting open chess tournaments of 2009. Players of every skill level, from beginners to the elite world class, are expected and will be welcomed at the Zurich Kongresshaus from August 9th to the 15th, 2009. They will compete in two tournaments, 9 rounds each, for CHF 100.000 guaranteed prize money and many attractive prizes.

To further honour the occasion, Richard Forster, reputable chess historian, will release his comprehensive book, researched in great detail, on the unique history of the Schachgesellschaft Zuerich. Entitled "Schachgesellschaft Zuerich: 1809 bis 2009", Forster's work will analyze the development of the Schachgesellschaft Zuerich from the times of Napoleon to the present day.

Details: http://www.sgzurich2009.ch

32nd Ikaros Chess Festival 2009

The traditional 32nd Ikaros Chess Festival 2009 takes place on Ikaria island.

The main event of the festival, the International Aegean Open Championship takes place 11th-19th July 2009. It is a 9 round swiss event with prize fund 3600 Euros in total (1st prize 1000 Euros, special money prizes for ladies and veterans). Special conditions for GMs/IMs and WGMs/WIMs are provided, special discounts for families and club teams are also offered (more information will be available in the official announcement of the festival that will be out soon on the official webpage.

Contact info: ikaros@chess.gr while to contact us on the phone one can try: +30 6932 478386 or +30 210 5010871 (Mr. Savas Kyriakou). For general information about the island of Ikaria one can also check at: http://www.island-ikaria.com

Official site: http://www.chess.gr/ikaros

Pula Open 2009

The 23rd International Chess Tournament "Pula Open 2009" takes place 27th June - 4th July 2009 in Pula, Croatia. Official site: http://www.skpula.hr and contact e-mail: pulaopen@globalnet.hr.

Hungarian Chess Tournaments March-October 2009

1. 7th-19th of February, FIRST SATURDAY GM-IM-FM Budapest FIRST SATURDAY Budapest, 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/

2.20th-28th of February IM-Rating Caissa, Kecskemet, org: Dr.Erdelyi, Tamas, cellphone: +36-30-271-33-38, Landline phone-fax: +36-76-481-685 e-mail: postmaster@caissa.t-online.hu Website: http://www.caissachessbooks.hu Usually also in the second half of the month IM and rating tournaments in Kecskemet, a city 80 km South-East from Budapest.

3.7th-19th of March, First Saturday, Budapest, GM-IM-FM, org Nagy L.

4.20th-28th of March, 25th BUDAPEST SPRING FESTIVAL 9 rounds Swiss Open, org: Nagy L. - e-mail: firstsat@hu.inter.net

5.4th-16th of April First Saturday Budapest, org.Nagy L.

6.18th-26th of April Caissa, IM + rating Kecskemet, Org.Erdelyi,

7.2nd-14th of May, First Saturday GM-IM-FM Budapest, org Nagy L.

Kecskemet Caissa IM + rating tournaments more: 16th-25th of May, 20th-28th of June, 18th-27th of July, 15th-24th of August, 19th-28th of September. FIRST SATURDAY Budapest GM-IM-FM tournaments more: 6th-18th of June, 4th-16th of July, 1st-13th of August, 5th-17th of September.

Grand Slam Masters Final

The 2nd edition of the Grand Slam Masters Final will be played in Bilbao, September 2-15th 2009. The winners of Corus-Wijk aan Zee, Ciudad de Linares and Mtel Masters-Sofia tournaments will qualify directly for the Masters Final in Bilbao, where the first edition (played at a central square, inside a glass cube) was a very big success last September.

More details on the 2009 tournament (number of players, system of play, etc) will be announced at the end of the Corus tournament in Wijk aan Zee. The Grand Slam is in negotiations to include one more high level tournament in the 2009 circuit.

Grand Slam Chess Association (GSCA)

Dresden, 23 November 2008

Chess Study

Dr Robert Howard is making a study of rated chess players.

The full article: http://education.arts.unsw.edu.au/fidestudy/results

If you would like to participate, please go to this website: http://education.arts.unsw.edu.au/fidestudy/

For any queries, please contact Dr Robert Howard, University of New South Wales, on rwh@unsw.edu.au