The Week in Chess 254

THE WEEK IN CHESS 254 - 20th September 1999 by Mark Crowther

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1) Introduction

My thanks to Oscar de la Riva, Gunnar Bjornsson, Neil Brennen, Robert Jamieson, Ian Rogers, Dan Merchant, Europe-Echecs, Arvind Aaron, Laszlo Nagy, Wybe Koopmans, Argiris Kotsis, Luis Santos, Rodolfo Arias, Bill Townsend, and all those who helped with this issue.

A bits and pieces week with no big events running at the moment. In fact the story of the week is probably the fact that Anand-Kasparov is definitely off until next year at the earliest. In addition the Tilburg tournament which runs at this time of year is off too. I hope something turns up soon!

Hope you enjoy this issue

Mark

2) Bacrot-Beliavsky Match

The 6-game match Bacrot-Beliavsky ran 14th-20th September 1999. It took place in Albert in the North of France. There was just one decisive game when Beliavsky won a drastic game in 17 moves. Interestingly Beliavsky travelled by train from Brussels and was asleep during the time the TGV was stopped in Lille (where he had to change trains). He duly arrived in London... He had to catch the train back and arrived 4 hours late for the drawing of lots. He was Black in games 1, 3 and 5.

Coverage at: http://www.europe-echecs.com/

Bacrot, Etienne         -  Beliavsky, Alexander G  1/2   25  D55  QGD;
Beliavsky, Alexander G  -  Bacrot, Etienne         1-0   17  D43  Semi-Slav
Bacrot, Etienne         -  Beliavsky, Alexander G  1/2   31  D58  QGD;
Beliavsky, Alexander G  -  Bacrot, Etienne         1/2   47  D21  QGA;
Bacrot, Etienne         -  Beliavsky, Alexander G  1/2   20  E32  Nimzo indian
Beliavsky, Alexander G  -  Bacrot, Etienne         1/2   32  D02  Queen's pawn


Match Albert FRA (FRA), 14-21 ix 1999
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     1   2   3   4   5   6 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Beliavsky, Alexander G  g SLO 2618    =   1   =   =   =   =   3.5  2649
Bacrot, Etienne         g FRA 2592    =   0   =   =   =   =   2.5  2561
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

3) Anand-Kasparov Match not this year

Kuruvilla Abraham, manager of Viswanthan Anand in India, has said in a press release to the Indian press the Anand-Kasparov match will not take place this year. In the release he claims that Kasparov's Microsoft Network match against the World caused a silicon-valley based company to pull out of sponsoring the match due to a conflict of interest. The match promoter Serge Grimaux was given additional time to find an alternative sponsor for the match but time has almost run out now. It is thought the match will take place still as both players are still committed to playing it (Anand is reported to still be in training) and it is hoped that it will be early next year.

Press Release in Full:

Text of Mr. Kuruvilla Abraham, manager of GM V.Anand in Chennai sent out to Indian newspapers on Tuesday 14th September 1999.

Start "The much awaited match between Viswanathan Anand and Garry Kasparov will not happen this year. The 16 game championship, which was to have taken place in October this year, has been canceled due to lack of sponsorship. The event was originally to have been sponsored by a Silicon Valley mega- corporation who pulled out in the last minute due to a conflict of interest caused by Kasparov's, Microsoft backed, Internet based chess match.

As a sequence, the promoter Mr. Serge Grimaux, was unable to finalise an alternative sponsor within the deadline prescribed by the formal agreement signed by all parties involved.

Subsequently, Mr. Grimaux requested and was given 30 further business days (holidays and weekends not included) to make other sponsorship arrangements. However, despite his best efforts, adequate sponsorship commitments were not finalised during this extended period and therefore the championship now stands canceled.

Mr. Grimaux is yet to make an official statement about the status of this championship, which would have been a face off between the two strongest players of the world. A team of eminent people headed by Mr. Bessel Kok had informed the committee under whose authority the championship was supposed to have been organised. The committee may meet at a later date to decide on a future championship.

Viswanathan Anand, who had kept away from the FIDE Championship due to his contractual obligation to this event, stated, "It is sad that the championship will not happen this year. It would have meant a big boost for committed commercial sponsorship of chess."

It is also unfortunate that Garry Kasparov, went ahead with a press conference in London to announce that the championship was cancelled before the expiry of the extended organising period given to Mr. Grimaux by all signatories to the agreement. All the signatories were bound by a clause of confidentiality, which Mr. Kasparov has not seen necessary to honour. " End

This last comment seems a little strange as Kasparov made no announcement about the Championships at all in London. A question on future sponsorship of chess events by Microsoft was handled by a Microsoft spokesperson.

4) World Junior Championships

The World Junior Championships have started in Yerevan, Armenia. Results are available from http://www.armchess.am/ Round one was on September 18th 1999 and runs until September 30th.

5) Interesting references

There has been a book published in Britain called "The Mitrokhin Archive: The KGB in Europe and the West" by Christopher Andrews and Vasili Mitrokhin. The book contains material smuggled out of the KGB archives by a defector called Mitrokhin. There are two references to chess on p.728 and p.343.

The most interesting is on p. 728. It talks about the Karpov-Korchnoi match of 1978 where it says "the Centre [KGB headquarters] assembled a team of 18 FCD operations officers to try and ensure Korchnoi's defeat" (unfortunately Mitrokhin didn't actually copy the names down). The rest of the material mentioned is known being quotes from Keene's book on the match and Child of Change by Kasparov. (The book mentions the tactic of Karpov not shaking hands with Korchnoi before game 8 and the parapsychologist they placed in the audience were all part of this plan).

But most intriguing was the final comment. "A books remains to be written about the KGB's involvement in Soviet Chess." Indeed!!

On p.343 there is a short account of Pachman's arrest after the Soviet invasion of Czecheslovakia. Pachman made secret radio broadcasts against the Soviets and a KGB agent called Yuri Linev gained his trust which allowed the authorities to arrest Pachman and others involved in the broadcasts.

6) First Saturday, September

Laszlo Nagy reports: The First Saturday tournaments for September took place 5th-17th of september 1999. The main events were two 13 player all-play-all IM events (one is Cat III the other Cat. II) .

Heikki Kallio of Finland and Primoz Soln (SLO) scored IM norms. The IM A event was won by Heikki Kallio of Finland with 9/12 ahead of Primoz Soln on 8, the IM B event was won by IM Attila Czebe with 9.5/12.

In October the First Saturday tournaments start on October 2nd. The main GM event is the 2nd Kluger Memorial. Prizes $500-400-300-200-100 USD. In addition there will be IM and ELO events.

More info: Nagy Laszlo, firstsat@elender.hu http://www.elender.hu/~firstsat Phone-fax: (361)-263-2859

FSIMA
Budapest HUN (HUN), 5-15 ix 1999                     cat. III (2307)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
                                1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 
--------------------------------------------------------------------
 1 Kallio, Heikki    f FIN 2360 * = = 1 = 1 = 1 = = 1 1 1  9.0  2495
 2 Soln, Primoz      f SLO 2411 = * = = = 0 1 = 1 1 1 1 =  8.0  2423
 3 Skytte, Rasmus    f DEN 2338 = = * 1 0 0 = 1 = 1 = 1 1  7.5  2399
 4 Boros, Daniel       HUN 2292 0 = 0 * 1 1 = 1 = = = 1 1  7.5  2403
 5 Eperjesi, Laszlo  m HUN 2381 = = 1 0 * = 0 1 1 = = 1 =  7.0  2358
 6 Farago, Sandor    m HUN 2295 0 1 1 0 = * = 0 = = = = 1  6.0  2308
 7 Husari, Sate        SYR 2307 = 0 = = 1 = * 0 = 0 1 1 0  5.5  2278
 8 Resika, Nathan A    USA 2251 0 = 0 0 0 1 1 * 1 1 1 0 0  5.5  2282
 9 Belotelov, Denis  f RUS 2267 = 0 = = 0 = = 0 * 1 = = 1  5.5  2281
10 Kahn, Evarth      m HUN 2305 = 0 0 = = = 1 0 0 * = = 1  5.0  2250
11 Szuk, Balazs      f HUN 2374 0 0 = = = = 0 0 = = * 1 1  5.0  2244
12 Johnsen, Sverre     NOR 2211 0 0 0 0 0 = 0 1 = = 0 * 1  3.5  2157
13 Bodrogi, Mihaly     HUN 2202 0 = 0 0 = 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 *  3.0  2123
--------------------------------------------------------------------

FSIMB
Budapest HUN (HUN), 5-15 ix 1999                              cat. II (2298)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1 Czebe, Attila             m HUN 2414 * = = = 1 1 1 = 1 = 1 1 1  9.5  2518
 2 Johannessen, Leif Erlend  f NOR 2356 = * = = = = 1 = 1 1 1 = 1  8.5  2450
 3 Wolter, Kai                 GER 2344 = = * = = 1 1 1 = = 1 = 0  7.5  2388
 4 Leer-Salvesen, Bjarte       NOR 2261 = = = * = = = = 0 1 1 = =  6.5  2329
 5 Vadasz, Laszlo            g HUN 2275 0 = = = * = = 1 = = = = 1  6.5  2328
 6 Jamrich, Gyorgy             HUN 2189 0 = 0 = = * 0 1 1 = = 1 =  6.0  2306
 7 Grimm, Sascha               GER 2337 0 0 0 = = 1 * = = 1 0 1 1  6.0  2294
 8 Molander, Riku              FIN 2234 = = 0 = 0 0 = * 1 0 = 1 1  5.5  2274
 9 Valenti, Giuseppe           ITA 2227 0 0 = 1 = 0 = 0 * 1 = = 1  5.5  2274
10 De Sousa, Jose-Claude       FRA 2253 = 0 = 0 = = 0 1 0 * = = 1  5.0  2244
11 Krutti, Valer             m HUN 2357 0 0 0 0 = = 1 = = = * 1 =  5.0  2235
12 Ruiz Gonzalez, Guillermo  f MEX 2309 0 = = = = 0 0 0 = = 0 * =  3.5  2138
13 Kun, Gabor                  HUN 2314 0 0 1 = 0 = 0 0 0 0 = = *  3.0  2103
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

7) Rebel vs Baltijos Lyga Match

Wybe Koopmans reports: On Saturday September 18, 1999 there was a match between REBEL CENTURY and the top players of the Baltijos Lyga chess club (Lithuania) over 4 boards. The event was live on the Rebel home page and ICC. Baltijos Lyga players: 1. Darius Ruzele GM 2515 ; 2. Oleg Krivonosov IM 2432 ; 3. Antanas Zapolskis IM 2399 ; 4. Virginijus Grabliauskas IM 2466. The event was on TV. The time control was 40 moves in 2 hours and then one hour for the rest of the game. More info: http://www.rebel.nl/gmspec.htm

Round 1 (September 18, 1999)

Zapolskis, Antanas        -  REBEL CENTURY             0-1   39  B01  Scandinavian
REBEL CENTURY             -  Krivonosov, Oleg          1/2   51  D37  Queen's gambit
Ruzele, Darius            -  REBEL CENTURY             1/2   51  D45  Semi-Slav
REBEL CENTURY             -  Grabliauskas, Virginijus  1/2   48  B06  Modern defence

8) Chania Tournament

The 9th International "Battle of Crete" tournament took place in Chania 3-10 August 1999. Alexander Nenashev won the event with 8/9 ahead of Ioannis Papaioannou, Igor Miladinovic, Slavoljub Marjanovic, Krum Georgiev and Andre Tzermiadianos on 7. My thanks to Argiris Kotsis. Further details: http://www.chess.gr/

9) Portuguese Championships

Luis Santos reports: The Portuguese Championships took place September 8th-18th 1999 in Lisbon, Portugal. IM Rui Dâmaso won the 55th portuguese championships with 9/11, last Saturday in Hotel Embaixador, Lisbon. The title was virtually decided in the 10th round when António Fernandes surprisingly lost to Luís Sousa Reis a result that gave Dâmaso the lead. Damaso won his last round game against the same opponent and thus won his 4th title (1986, 93, 95 and 99). For the first time, the Portuguese Masters Association (founded in 1996) was the main organiser with the Portuguese Federation and Portugal Telecom as sponsors. There was also a best game prize (Telepac prize) each round. The best game of the tournament (the TMN prize) was won by Hermenegildo Charneira for his win with black against Fernando Costa in round 10.

Full daily coverage at: http://www.ip.pt/~ip001018/

55th Portuguese Championships TELECOM 1999
Hotel Embaixador - 8th-18th September 1999 - 11 rounds
Final standings:
  1. Rui Dâmaso               Porto                   9.0        69.5     7.00
  2. António Fernandes        Lisboa                  8.5        70.5     7.00
  3. António P Santos         Lisboa                  8.0        66.0     6.00
  4. Luís Sousa Reis          Lisboa                  7.5        70.0     6.00
  5. Carlos P Santos          Porto                   7.5        68.0     5.00
  6. Diogo Fernando           Lisboa                  7.5        65.5     5.00
  7. Leonardo Andrade         Lisboa                  7.0        67.0     6.00
  8. José Pinheiro            Lisboa                  7.0        61.0     6.00
  9. António Silva            Porto                   7.0        57.0     6.00
 10. António Frois            Evora                   6.5        64.5     6.00
 11. Catarina Leite           Lisboa                  6.5        58.0     6.00
 12. Fernando Ribeiro         Porto                   6.5        58.0     5.00
 13. Paulo Dias               Lisboa                  6.5        56.0     6.00
 14. Alda Carvalho            Lisboa                  6.5        49.0     6.00 
 15. Nelson Ferreira          Lisboa                  6.0        70.0     4.00
 16. João Leonardo            Setubal                 6.0        68.0     6.00
 17. João Cordovil            Evora                   6.0        65.5     5.00
 18. Joaquim Durao            Leiria                  6.0        62.0     5.00
 19. Rui Guimarães            Porto                   6.0        58.0     6.00
 20. Paulo Vasconcelos        Porto                   6.0        53.0     5.00
 21. Jorge Costa              Lisboa                  6.0        47.5     5.00
48 players

10) Kramnik simul against the Swiss Team

Valdimir Kramnik played a simul against 6 players from Switzerland on September 3rd 1999. Kramnik won +4=2.

Kramnik beat Forster, Richard (m SUI 2459) and Gerber, Richard (f SUI 2386) Draws: Bucher, Denis (SUI 2329), Gallagher, Joseph G (g SUI 2521), Jenni, Florian (f SUI 2399), Pelletier, Yannick (m SUI 2479).

11) Championships of Costa Rica

The Costa Rican Championships took place in the Antiguo Club Capablanca July 31st - August 16th 1999. The event was won by Sergio Minero Pineda with 10/12.

Rodolfo Arias reports: the event had the twelve best players from Costa Rica (including IM´s Gonzalez, Minero and Murillo, plus IM´s-to-be Valdes and Hernandez, who made the title in a recent sub-zonal tournament played in El Salvador). Cuban IM Luis Sieiro played hors de concours, in order to give the competition the needed level to obtain IM norms.

ch-CRC Antiguo Club Capablanca (CRC), 31 vii-16 viii 1999           cat. I (2263)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1 Minero Pineda, Sergio         m CRC 2382 * = = 1 1 = = 1 1 1 1 1 1  10.0  2526
 2 Gonzalez, Bernal              m CRC 2411 = * = = = = 1 1 1 1 1 1 1   9.5  2480
 3 Sieiro-Gonzalez, Luis         m CUB 2402 = = * = 1 = = = 1 = 1 1 1   8.5  2409
 4 Valdes, Leonardo              f CRC 2263 0 = = * 1 = 0 = 1 1 1 1 1   8.0  2387
 5 Granados, Carlos                CRC 2271 0 = 0 0 * 1 1 1 0 = 1 = 1   6.5  2291
 6 Hernandez Basante, Francisco  f CRC 2298 = = = = 0 * 1 0 = = 1 1 0   6.0  2260
 7 Murillo, Alexis               m CRC 2419 = 0 = 1 0 0 * = = = 1 = 1   6.0  2249
 8 Charpentier, William          f CRC 2250 0 0 = = 0 1 = * = 1 0 1 =   5.5  2235
 9 Minero, Carlos                  CRC 2182 0 0 0 0 1 = = = * = = = 1   5.0  2212
10 Jimenez, Juan Leon            f CRC 2252 0 0 = 0 = = = 0 = * = 0 1   4.0  2138
11 Ugalde, Ronald                  CRC 2183 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 = = * 1 =   3.5  2111
12 Leandro, Johnny                 CRC 2105 0 0 0 0 = 0 = 0 = 1 0 * =   3.0  2083
13 Melendez, Esteban               CRC ---- 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 = 0 0 = = *   2.5  2054
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

12) New York State Championships

The New York State Championships took place September 4th-6th reports Bill Townsend. The event was won by IM Jay Bonin who beat the defending champion, FM Ron Burnett, in the last round. Games were in last week's issue.

Bill Townsend reports:

IM Jay Bonin was the clear winner of the 121st New York State Championship, held in Saratoga Springs, NY from Sept. 3 to 6. Bonin scored an undefeated 5 1/2 out of 6 to lead the rest of the field by a half point. Even though he was leading for the entire event, this was not an easy victory by any means. His games with Spraggett (R. 3) and defending champion Burnett (R. 6) bordered on the chaotic and could have gone either way.

FM Dan Edelman was clear second with 5 points, and was also undefeated.

There were many strong junior players at this event, among them Dmitry Schneider, the 1998 U.S. Cadet (U16) Champion, and the Nakamura brothers Hikaru and Asuka. Mention should also be made of Noah Belcher, who is only nine years old.

The New York State Championship is the oldest annual event in the United States, and probably the world. Over its long history some of the strongest North American players have been State Champion, among them: Frank Marshall, Reuben Fine, Herman Steiner, Arnold Denker, Isaac Kashdan, William Lombardy and more recently Joel Benjamin, Michael Rohde, John Fedorowicz and Roman Dzindzichashvili.

New York State also counts two World Champions among its titleholders: Jose Capablanca was Champion in 1910, and 5th World Correspondence Champion Hans Berliner was Champion in 1953.

This year's tournament was ably directed by Steve Immitt for the Chess Center of New York.

No.    Name        Rating USCF   R1     R2     R3     R4     R5     R6   Tot
 01. Bonin, Jay R        2457    W11    W16    W04    W09    D07    W06    5.5
 02. Edelman, Dan        2441    W34    W25    D27    D12    W22    W07    5.0
 03. Nikolayev, Igor     2304    W35    W28    W18    D07    L06    W08    4.5
 04. Spraggett, Grant    2283    W36    W32    L01    W17    D12    W13    4.5
 05. Chipkin, Leonard    2076    W38    L27    W32    D14    W15    W25    4.5
 06. Burnett, Ronald W   2464    W21    W42    L09    W27    W03    L01    4.0
 07. Schneider, Dmitry   2460    W46    W23    W14    D03    D01    L02    4.0
 08. Castaneda, Nelson   2308    L10    W36    W29    W25    W23    L03    4.0
 09. Pixton, Aaron       2138    W41    W19    W06    L01    H--    H--    4.0
 10. Altschuler, Bruce   2105    W08    L14    D31    W40    W27    H--    4.0
 11. Williams, Vance     2040    L01    W33    L23    W44    W32    W22    4.0
 12. Shahade, Gregory    2494    W15    D22    W13    D02    D04    U--    3.5
 13. Nakamura, Hikaru    2289    W30    D17    L12    W29    W16    L04    3.5
 14. Chernin, Oliver     2279    W31    W10    L07    D05    D20    D18    3.5
 15. Simon, Jerry        2200    L12    W37    H--    W31    L05    W29    3.5
 16. Farrell, Gary E     2132    W33    L01    X--    D19    L13    W31    3.5
 17. Lawson, Brian       2076    W40    D13    D22    L04    W30    D19    3.5
 18. Felber, Joseph J    2043    W44    W24    L03    L23    W35    D14    3.5
 19. Steffek, Bruce D    2008    W45    L09    W41    D16    H--    D17    3.5
 20. May, Dmitrij        1968    D24    L29    W34    W42    D14    H--    3.5
 21. Sherman, Brian R    1959    L06    W45    D42    W24    L25    W36    3.5
 22. Golyak, Isay        2237    W37    D12    D17    W35    L02    L11    3.0
 23. Buscemi, Edward     2157    W48    L07    W11    W18    L08    U--    3.0
 24. Nakamura, Asuka     2131    D20    L18    W26    L21    W41    D28    3.0
 25. Buehl, Walter       2082    W47    L02    W44    L08    W21    L05    3.0
 26. Kantor, Alan        2006    L27    D46    L24    D37    W44    W35    3.0
 27. Weeramantry, Sunil  2250    W26    W05    D02    L06    L10    U--    2.5
 28. Stenzel, Harold     2129    W43    L03    L35    D38    D40    D24    2.5
 29. Prus, Irving        2043    H--    W20    L08    L13    W38    L15    2,5
 30. Kalfas, Richard     2032    L13    W48    F--    W45    L17    D32    2.5
 31. Adamec, Carl        2025    L14    W38    D10    L15    W33    L16    2.5
 32. Italie, Ralph       2010    B--    L04    L05    W39    L11    D30    2.5
 33. Amori, Michael      1971    L16    L11    D37    W34    L31    W40    2.5
 34. Townsend,William    2027    L02    D40    L20    L33    D39    W45    2.0
 35. McBride, Kenneth    2026    L03    W43    W28    L22    L18    L26    2.0
 36. Wray, Laverne       2021    L04    L08    L40    W48    W37    L21    2.0
 37. Battes, Lee         2004    L22    L15    D33    D26    L36    W48    2.0
 38. Lack, Jonathan      1938    L05    L31    B--    D28    L29    D39    2.0
 39. Belcher, Noah       1877    L42    L41    W45    L32    D34    D38    2.0
 40. Hervieux, Donald    1852    L17    D34    W36    L10    D28    L33    2.0
 41. Vischi, Richard     1680    L09    W39    L19    W43    L24    U--    2.0
 42. Benen, Samson R/E   2182    W39    L06    D21    L20    U--    U--    1.5
 43. Harris, Frederic    1947    L28    L35    W48    L41    U--    U--    1.0
 44. Berger, Craig       1793    L18    B--    L25    L11    L26    U--    1.0
 45. Millenbach, Lew     1521    L19    L21    L39    L30    W48    L34    1.0
 46. Benen, Samson       2182    L07    D26    U--    U--    U--    U--    0.5
 47. Allen, Eric         1943    L25    U--    U--    U--    U--    U--    0.0 
 48. Clague,James        1973    L23    L30    L43    L36    L45    L37    0.0

H-- = 1/2 point bye
U-- = Unplayed Game
X-- = Forfeit win or full point bye
F-- = Forfeit Loss

Under 2,000
1. Bourassa, Ronald     5.5
2. Schneider, Igor      5.0
3. Gausewitz, Glen      5.0
...52 others

Under 1,800
1. Margolies, Marc      5.0
2. Bridy, Andrew        5.0
3. Dayal, Jai           4.5
...30 others

Under 1,600
1. Loyola, Johnny       6.0
2. Finnerman, David     5.0
3. Lopez, Jorge         5.0
4. Goyzueta, Sebastian  4.5
...36 others

Under 1,400
1. Knight, Jeffrey      5.5
2. Alvarado, Brian      5.0
3. Bikowitz, Walter     4.0
4. Friedman, Weston     4.0
5. Clarkin, Bob         4.0
...16 others

Under 1,200
1. Lourette, Sean       5.5
2. Wilson, Paul         5.0
3. Patil, Sagar         5.0
4. Chudzicki, David     4.5
5. Dalland, Michael     4.5
...31 others

8th New York State Action (G/30) Championship
1. Wojtkiewicz, Alek    4.0
2. Bisguier, Arthur     4.0
3. Nakamura, Asuka      3.5
4. Steffek, Bruce       3.5
5. Zemanian, Lewis      3.5
...17 others

13) I Tancat "Principat d'Andorra"

The I Tancat "Principat d'Andorra" Escaldes (ANDORRA) took place 11-19 September 1999. The event was won by Luis Galego of Portugal with 7/9. My thanks to Oscar de la Riva .

Web site: http://www.solucions.ad/IS/feva/tANCAT.html

I Tancat Escaldes AND (AND), 11-19 ix 1999             cat. V (2366)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 
--------------------------------------------------------------------
 1 Galego, Luis            m POR 2427 * = = = 1 1 1 = 1 1  7.0  2579
 2 Ivanov, Jordan          m BUL 2404 = * = 1 = = = = 1 1  6.0  2487
 3 Braga, Fernando         m ITA 2461 = = * 1 = 1 = = = =  5.5  2435
 4 Chabanon, Jean-Luc      m FRA 2456 = 0 0 * = = = 1 1 1  5.0  2399
 5 Granados Gomez, Manuel  f ESP 2358 0 = = = * = 0 1 1 1  5.0  2410
 6 Brochet, Philippe         FRA 2349 0 = 0 = = * 1 = 1 1  5.0  2411
 7 Gallego, Ruben            AND 2283 0 = = = 1 0 * 0 1 1  4.5  2375
 8 Mellado Trivino, Juan   m ESP 2477 = = = 0 0 = 1 * = =  4.0  2310
 9 Simonet, Marc             AND 2262 0 0 = 0 0 0 0 = * 1  2.0  2157
10 Jose Queralto, Daniel     AND 2185 0 0 = 0 0 0 0 = 0 *  1.0  2035
--------------------------------------------------------------------

14) Icelandic Chess Championships

Gunnar Bjornsson reports: The Icelandic Chess Championship 1999 was held in Reykjavik 31st August-11th September 1999. GMs Hannes Stefansson and Helgi Gretarsson finished equal first with 9½/11. FMs Gardarsson and Hardarson finished in equal third place with 6½ points. GM Thorhallsson was only 5th placed with 6 points. Stefansson and Gretarsson will have a playoff match shortly.

Coverage: http://www.simnet.is/hellir/sthi99.htm

ch-ISL Reykjavik ISL (ISL), 31 viii-11 ix 1999            cat. IV (2342)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1 Stefansson, Hannes      g ISL 2584 * = 1 1 = = 1 1 1 1 1 1  9.5  2628
 2 Gretarsson, Helgi Ass   g ISL 2521 = * = 1 1 1 = 1 1 1 1 1  9.5  2634
 3 Vidarsson, Jon G        f ISL 2352 0 = * 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1  6.5  2405
 4 Hardarson, Robert       f ISL 2331 0 0 0 * 1 = 1 0 1 1 1 1  6.5  2407
 5 Thorhallsson, Throstur  g ISL 2489 = 0 1 0 * = = = = = 1 1  6.0  2364
 6 Bjarnason, Saevar       m ISL 2309 = 0 0 = = * 1 1 = 0 0 =  4.5  2279
 7 Gunnarsson, Jon Viktor  m ISL 2411 0 = 1 0 = 0 * = 0 1 0 1  4.5  2270
 8 Bjornsson, Sigurbjorn     ISL 2254 0 0 1 1 = 0 = * = 0 = =  4.5  2284
 9 Einarsson, Bergsteinn     ISL 2241 0 0 0 0 = = 1 = * 1 = =  4.5  2285
10 Kjartansson, David        ISL 2154 0 0 0 0 = 1 0 1 0 * 1 1  4.5  2293
11 Thorfinnsson, Bjorn       ISL 2195 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 = = 0 * 0  3.0  2180
12 Thorfinnsson, Bragi       ISL 2260 0 0 0 0 0 = 0 = = 0 1 *  2.5  2138
------------------------------------------------------------------------

European Club Cup, preliminary group 2 will be held in Reykjavik 24th-26th October 1999. Two Icelandic teams, this year's winners Hellir Chess Club (Stefansson, Arnason, Olafsson, Gretarsson etc.) and the runner up Reykjavik Chess Club (Petursson, Rausis, Thorhallsson) will both play. One English team Invicta Knights Maidstone (Sadler, Nunn, Flear etc.) plays. Definitely the strongest team with World number 4 are the Russian team of Sibir Tomsk (Morozevich, Zvjagainsev, Pigusov, Filippov etc.)

Coverage: http://www.simnet.is/hellir/ECC99.htm

15) Croatian Team Championships

The Croatian Team Championships ran September 9th-18th 1999. Players included: Movsesian, Tkachiev, Tukmakov, Morovic Fernandez, Shariyazdanov, Kozul, Lalic, Zelcic, Komljenovic, Palac, Dizdar, Csaba Horvath, Cvitan, Cebalo, Dizdarevic, Kurajica, Kovacevic, Nikolac, Sermek, Gymesi, Pinter, Hulak, Ulibin (23 GM's).

Mravince took the title (the team were Kozul, Dizdarevic, Kurajica, Kovacevic, Nikolac and Zelic) ahead of Zrinjevac (Morovic, Lalic, Shariazdanov, Zelcic, Komljenovic and Sulava). Top scorers on each board. 1) Movsesian 6/9, 2) Tkachiev 6/8, 3) Dizdaevich 6/9, 4) Kurajica 7/9 5) Vlado Kovakevic and 6) Sale and Sulava 7/9.

Belisce Metalis won the women's league and Gradac and Maestral were promoted from the second league.

Top Group

 1.  Mravince          36 
 2.  Zrinjevac         33 
 3.  Pula              31 
 4.  Mursa             28,5 
 5.  Pozega            26,5 
 6.  Slavonska Banka   26,5 
 7.  Goran             23,5  
 8.  Mladost           23 
 9.  HPT TKC Split     22,5 
10.  Kastav            19,5 
 
Women's Group

 1.  Belisce Metalis  21,5 
 2.  Slavonska Banka  20,5 
 3.  Mladost          18 
 4.  Mravince DC      16,5  
 5.  Maestral         14 
 6.  Bilokalnik       12 
 7.  Kastav           11,5 
 8.  Goranka Kenda    10,5  
 9.  HPT TKC Split     7,5  
10.  Pula              3

http://www.crochess.com/turniri/pula/1liga_99.htm

16) 19th NPCC Open

Neil Brennen reports: The 19th NPCC Fall Open, was played September 18th-19th 1999 in Hatfield, PA, USA. The Open was won by GM Alexander Stripunsky, who took home $500. 5 titled and/or over 2300 players played. The sensation of the event was 17 year old NM Stanislaw Ritvin beating IM Ron Burnett. 48 players competed in this 5 round swiss, directed by IA Dr. Ira Lee Riddle.

17) Governor's Cup

The Governor's Cup took place in Sioux Falls, SD. Sergey Kudrin and Pavel Blatny scored 4.5/5 ahead of Alex Yermolinsky, John Donaldson and Michael Brooks on 4.0.

Full coverage at: http://www.sdchess.org/govcup/index.html

18) OBITUARY Garry Koshnitsky MBE

OBITUARY Garry Koshnitsky MBE - Chess Master and Administrator. Born: 6.10.1907 Died: 17.9.1999

by IM Robert Jamieson

Garry Koshnitsky, along with Cecil Purdy the most prominent figure in Australian chess this century, has passed away in Adelaide at the age of 91 years.

The "Grand Old Man of Australian Chess", Grigory Semienovich Koshnitsky (Garry) was born in Kishinev, Russia, (now Moldova) in 1907 but with the advent of the Russian revolution his family moved to Shanghai and Kosh joined his first chess club where he came to prominence by beating touring Master Boris Kostich in a simul.

In 1926 he moved to Australia, settled in Brisbane and won a hat trick of Queensland Championships in 1926, 1927 and 1928. He moved to Sydney to find better competition and met the young Cecil Purdy who became his life-long friend and rival. Kosh won the Australian Championship at his third attempt in 1933 and was successful again in 1939 with a record score of 12.5 points out of 13 games.

Kosh enlisted during World War II and was soon moved to the education section to teach chess to the troops. He gave simuls and lectures throughout Queensland, New South Wales and New Guinea and was promoted to Lieutenant.

After the war Kosh's first marriage broke up and in 1947 he started a chess academy at Anthony Horden's store in Sydney which ran till 1960. In 1950 he married Evelyn Esau, herself a keen chess player and organiser, and together they formed a unique partnership in world chess which culminated in 1993 with them both being award Honorary Membership of the World Chess Federation (FIDE).

In 1961 the Koshnitskys moved to Adelaide and Kosh began his involvement with FIDE as President of Zone 10 (South-East Asia and the Pacific). He was soon elected to the FIDE Central Committee and was Australia's delegate to FIDE for many years and Australian Olympiad captain in 1964, 1968, 1970, 1972 and 1980.

The Koshnitskys organised many International Tournaments in Adelaide, starting with the Karlis Lidums International in 1971 and including the World Junior Championship in 1988 when he was a mere 81 years of age! In 1979, when the Australian Chess Federation instituted the office of President, Kosh was elected as the inaugural President and in 1994 both Garry and Evelyn were presented with the "ACF Distinguished Service Award".

Garry Koshnitsky also excelled at correspondence chess, twice finishing second in the Australian Championship and achieving the International Master title in overseas play. He was President of the Correspondence Chess League of Australia from 1937 to 1953.

Kosh wrote his first chess column in 1933 in the "Sydney Sun" and has contributed numerous columns to various papers over the years, including a brief stint of over 45 years as editor from 1949 of the chess column in the Sydney "Sun Herald".

In his long life there has not been an area of Australian chess in which Garry Koshnitsky has not made a significant contribution, whether it be organising junior chess, women's chess, correspondence chess, national or international chess or as a champion chess player in his own right. His contribution will never be equalled.

In recent months Kosh was in poor health, but maintained his enthusiastic outlook on life and his interest in chess. He is survived by his wife Evelyn, and two sons Peter and Nicholas.

19) Garry Kasparov vs the World

The Garry Kasparov vs. the World chess tournament. The event continues, you can follow the game at: http://www.zone.com/kasparov/Home.asp It allows players to consult in choosing which move is played against Kasparov. Players can vote for one of the suggested moves or for their own recommended move. The move with the most votes will be chosen as the world team's move. There is a team of coaches Etienne Bacrot, 16, Florin Felecan, 19, Irina Krush, 15, and Elisabeth Pähtz, 14 who have aided the choice of moves and GM Danny King has acted as moderator during the match.

The Kasparov vs. the World chess tournament started June 21st. The event is taking place on the MSN network. Kasparov gave a press conference in London on September 2nd 1999.

Download this file to hear the full interview. The file has dsslight (which needs installing) and the full 45 minute Kasparov in (.dss format) MSN press conference zipped together [1.7 Meg].

Garry Kasparov vs The World Prize Quiz

Moves so far Kasparov,G (2812) - The World [B52] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.c4 Nc6 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.0-0 g6 8.d4 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Bg7 10.Nde2 Qe6 11.Nd5 Qxe4 12.Nc7+ Kd7 13.Nxa8 Qxc4 14.Nb6+ axb6 15.Nc3 Ra8 16.a4 Ne4 17.Nxe4 Qxe4 18.Qb3 f5 19.Bg5 Qb4 20.Qf7 Be5 21.h3 Rxa4 22.Rxa4 Qxa4 23.Qxh7 Bxb2 24.Qxg6 Qe4 25.Qf7 Bd4 26.Qb3 f4 27.Qf7 Be5 28.h4 b5 29.h5 Qc4 30.Qf5+ Qe6 31.Qxe6+ Kxe6 32.g3 fxg3 33.fxg3 b4 34.Bf4 Bd4+ 35.Kh1 b3 36.g4 Kd5 37.g5 e6 38.h6 Ne7 39.Rd1 e5 40.Be3 Kc4 41. Bxd4 exd4 42. Kg2 b2 43. Kf3 Kc3 44. h7 Ng6 45. Ke4 Kc2 46. Rh1 [last update 20/9/99]... continues.

20) Forthcoming Events and Links

Huebner Live Simul

Sibylle Heyme report: On September, 25th, there will be an blindfold simul exhibition by Dr Robert Huebner in Berlin. He will play the Berlin club team "SC Kreuzberg", a second-league-team with an average Elo-rating of 2300. The games will be transmitted live at: http://www.zeitschriftschach.de or directly http://www.zeitschriftschach.de/blind.htm

X Panamerican Youth Festival

The X Panamerican Youth Festival take place in Matinhos, Paraná, Brazil, from Sept 30th to Oct 6th.

Organization: Brazilian Chess Federation - e-mail cbx@cbx.org.br - phone 00 55 41 232 1828 - fax 00 55 41 2336101

Events: - X Panamerican Youth Championships (u-18/10 boys/girls) - Mercosur Rapid Tournament (15') - Seminary for chess in schools - Arbiters Course - Trainers Courses - Clinic for players

Support: City Hall of Matinhos (http://www.matinhos.com) Ministry of Sport and Tourism of Brazil

Confirmed participants from the 10 federations of the Americas: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Equador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela

Panamerican Program (in english) available at http://www.cbx.org.br/panfolder.htm Coverage at http://www.cbx.org.br

British Rapidplay Chess Championships

The British Rapidplay Chess Championships take place in Leeds, 16/17 October 1999. Further details http://www.leedschess.freeserve.co.uk/rapid

Northumberland Congress

Northumberland Chess Association and nt NORTH TYNESIDE C O U N C I L present The 1999 CHESS CONGRESS Friday 24TH SEPTEMBER TO SUNDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER AT The Parks Leisure Royal Quays North Shields North Tyneside enquiries and entries to The Congress Organiser: Lara Barnes 34 Beaconsfield St. Blyth, Northumberland NE24 2DP e-mail LB and CW@aol.com Tel & Fax (01670) 540848 Open No grading restrictions, Entry fee: £18.00 (conc' £16) Prizes: £200, £100, £50 + 2 grading prizes Major Restricted to players of 150 BCF + below Entry fee: £14 (conc' £12) Prizes £140, £60, £30 + grading prize Minor Restricted to players of 120 BCF + below Entry fee £12 (conc' £10) Prizes: £100, £40, £20 + grading prize Tyro Restricted to players 90 BCF or below or ungraded novices Entry fee: £10 (conc' £8.00) Prizes: £60, £20, £10 + 2 other prizes A BCF Game Fee Event ONYX GRAND PRIX NCCU GRAND PRIX The TYNE & WEAR TROPHY will be awarded for the best result by a North East player in the OPEN, and is to be held for one year. The NORA HUNTER TROPHY will be awarded for the best result by a North East player in the MINOR, and will be held for one year. The HK APPLEBY TROPHY will be presented to the club team of three, each in a different tournament, obtaining the highest aggregate score, and is to be held for one year. Junior Quickplay Event Sunday 26th only Restricted to ungraded players under 16 years of age or under 12 years of age graded under 70 BCF Start 10am - Entry Fee £4