THE WEEK IN CHESS 317 4th December 2000 by Mark Crowther

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Contents

1) Introduction
2) FIDE World Chess Championships
3) 3rd Padova International Open
4) Bucharest Tournaments
5) 9th Sonnevanck Tournament
6) Odivelas Closed
7) Mallorca International Open
8) Mitropa Cup II
9) 4NCL 2000-2001
10) First Saturday December
11) Jose Rubinstein Tournament Vicente López
12) Lisbon Chess Festival
13) Norkom European Masters
14) Open Letter by Lev Khariton
15) Professional World Chess Ranking December
16) Forthcoming Events and Links


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Games section

FIDE World Chess Championships         267 games
FIDE World Chess Championships Women   134 games
3rd Padova International Open           16 games
Bucharest Autumn Cup GM                 49 games
Bucharest Autumn Cup IM                 56 games
9th Sonnevanck Tournament               25 games
Odivelas Closed                         36 games
Mallorca International Open            100 games
Mitropa Cup II                         180 games
Vicente López Open                      31 games
Lisbon Chess Festival                   20 games
Norkom European Masters                 52 games
966 games

1) Introduction

My thanks to Emil Pessi, Lost Boys, Laszlo Nagy, John Henderson, Lev Khariton, Nigel Johnson, and all those who helped with this issue.

Perhaps just when the format is about to be changed the players are actually getting used to playing it. There have been some very impressive performances from the leading players especially Anand, Topalov, Gelfand, Morozevich and Bareev. Tomorrow is a big day for defending champion Alexander Khalifman and his opponent Peter Leko. This is the first really elite clash of the event and they can both count themselves unlucky to get such a tough draw in round three. There is plenty of good chess to this week.

Hope you enjoy this issue

2) FIDE World Chess Championships

The FIDE World Chess Championships take place in New Delhi, India and Tehran, Iran, 25 November - 27 December 2000. The FIDE Championships first round got underway on time.

The first round today produced no huge surprise notable results were Bartlomiej Macieja beating Jon Speelman after a playoff, Igor Alexandre Nataf beating Emil Sutovsky and Rafael Leitao beating Joel Lautier.

Round 2 saw the introduction of the top seeds to the event. In round 2 players who overturned ELO disadvantages were: Smbat Lputian who beat Sergei Rublevsky, Bartlomiej Macieja who beat Michal Krasenkov after eight playoff games including four sudden death games, Igor Alexandre Nataf who beat an out of form Nigel Short, Rafael Leitao continued his good form by beating Joel Benjamin, Yermolinsky beat Xu Jun, Vladimirov eliminated Zoltan Almasi, Ehlvest beat Ivanchuk, the rising star Alexander Grischuk beat Ilya Smirin, Aleksandrov beat last years finalist Vladimir Akopian. In the women's event Pia Cramling was eliminated, probably as a result of a very hard tie-break match in her first match.

Vassily Ivanchuk was the highest rated casualty in round 2. After drawing the two normal time-rate games (the second game in only seven moves) and one tie-break game (15 moves) Vassily Ivanchuk completely self-destructed against Jaan Ehlvest. On being knocked out he picked up his chair and smashed it into the table. It was a nervy affair all round, Ehlvest had failed to qualify for the third round on two previous occasions and only when he unleashed a novelty in the Caro-Kann and found himself with the more comfortable position did he turn down a draw offer from Ivanchuk. Afterwards Ivanchuk wrote a letter of apology for his behaviour although he seemed unrepentant the following day. "I think my reaction was normal. Some players mix chess pieces, others drop their chairs or make some noise. "

Round three has reached the playoff stage, the toughest pairing is that between reigning champion Alexander Khalifman and Peter Leko. Both are unfortunate to be meeting such stiff opposition early. The enter the playoffs tomorrow. Peter Svidler had to win with white against Peng Xiaomin to stay in the event and this he managed to do. Boris Gulko beat Zurab Azmaiparashvili. Amongst the favourites for the event who made progress without needing a playoff were: Anand, Topalov, Gelfand, Morozevich and Bareev.

Official internet coverage: http://wcc2000.fide.com/

Schedule:

Dates: India
Round 1 Men (72 players) Women (56 players) 27th-29th November 2000.
Round 2 Men (64 players) Women (32 players) 30th November-2nd December 2000.
Round 3 Men (32 players) Women (16 players) 3rd-5th December 2000.
Round 4 Men (16 players) Women (Quarter Finals 8 players) 6th-8th December 2000.
Round 5 Men (Quarter Finals 8 players) Women (Semi-Finals 4 players) 9th-11th December 2000.
Round 6 Men (Semi-Finals 4 players) Women (Final - 2 players) 12th-16th December 2000.

Move to Tehran

Round 7 Men Final 6 games. 20th-26th December
(break 23rd December, playoffs if required on December 27th 2000)

Results Section

Round 1 results
      
Bologan, Viktor       * (MDA) vs.   Stefansson, Hannes        (ISL) 1/2 1-0
Lputian,Smbat G       * (ARM) vs.   Blehm, Pawel              (POL) 1-0 1/2
Speelman, Jonathan S.   (ENG) vs. * Macieja, Bartlomiej       (POL) 1-0 0-1 1/2 0-1
Wohl, Aleksandar H.     (AUS) vs. * Galkin, Alexander         (RUS) 0-1 0-1
Sakaev, Konstantin      (RUS) vs. * Volkov, Sergey            (RUS) 1-0 0-1 0-1 1-0 1/2 0-1
Lutz, Christopher     * (GER) vs.   Ghaem Maghami, Ehsan      (IRI) 1/2 1/2 1/2 1-0
Sutovsky, Emil          (ISR) vs. * Nataf, Igor Alexandre     (FRA) 0-1 1/2
Lautier, Joel           (FRA) vs. * Leitao, Rafael            (BRA) 0-1 1/2
Fiorito, Fabian         (ARG) vs. * Benjamin, Joel            (USA) 0-1 0-1
Ponomariov, Ruslan      (UKR) vs. * Dao, Thien Hai            (VIE) 1/2 0-1
Yermolinsky, Alex     * (USA) vs.   Al-Modiahki, Mohamad      (QAT) 1-0 1/2
Bacrot, Etienne       * (FRA) vs.   Rytshagov, Mikhail        (EST) 1/2 1/2 1-0 1-0
Hakki, Imad             (SYR) vs. * Adianto, Utut             (INA) 0-1 1/2 
Kharlov, Andrei       * (RUS) vs.   Hansen, Sune Berg         (DEN) 1/2 1-0
Malakhov, Vladimir    * (RUS) vs.   Kveinys, Aloyzas          (LTU) 1-0 1-0
Van Wely, Loek        * (NED) vs.   Asrian, Karen             (ARM) 1/2 1-0
Simutowe, Amon          (ZAM) vs. * Sasikiran, Krishnan       (IND) 1/2 0-1
Kunte, Abhijit          (IND) vs. * Milos, Gilberto           (BRA) 1/2 1/2 1/2 0-1
Barua, Dibyendu         (IND) vs. * Vladimirov, Evgeny        (KAZ) 0-1 0-1
Rustemov, Alexander     (RUS) vs. * Tregubov, Pavel V.        (RUS) 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 0-1 1/2
Lesiege, Alexandre    * (CAN) vs.   Vasquez, Rodrigo          (CHI) 1-0 1-0
Nogueiras, Jesus        (CUB) vs. * Ehlvest, Jaan             (EST) 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 0-1 0-1 
Godena, Michele         (ITA) vs. * Iordachescu, Viorel       (MDA) 1/2 1/2 0-1 1/2 
Lima, Darcy             (BRA) vs. * Grischuk, Alexander       (RUS) 1/2 1/2 0-1 1/2
Ivanov, Alexander     * (USA) vs.   Fedorov, Alexei           (BLR) 1-0 1/2
Serper, Grigory       * (USA) vs.   Bagheri, Amir             (IRI) 1-0 1/2
Agrest, Evgenij         (SWE) vs. * Onischuk, Alexander       (UKR) 0-1 1/2
Villamayor, Bong        (PHI) vs. * Minasian, Artashes        (ARM) 1/2 1/2 1-0 0-1 0-1 0-1
Dizdarevic, Emir      * (BIH) vs.   Psakhis, Lev              (ISR) 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1-0 0-1 1-0 
Hernandez, Gilberto     (MEX) vs. * Piket, Jeroen             (NED) 1/2 1/2 1/2 0-1
Nevednichy, Vladislav * (ROM) vs.   Labib, Ibrahim Hasan      (EGY) 1/2 1-0
Hamdouchi, Hichem       (MAR) vs. * Vaganian, Rafael A        (ARM) 0-1 0-1
Aleksandrov, Aleksej  * (BLR) vs.   El Taher, Fouad           (EGY) 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1-0
Zaja, Ivan              (CRO) vs. * Baklan, Vladimir          (UKR) 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 0-1
Bezgodov, Alexei        (RUS) vs. * Gulko, Boris F            (USA) 1/2 1/2 1/2 0-1
Chernin, Alexander    * (HUN) vs.   Utnasunov, Alexander      (RUS) 1-0 1/2

Round 1 Women
      
Matveeva, Svetlana       * (RUS) vs.    Uskova, Fliura            (KAZ) 1-0 1/2 
Cramling, Pia (GM)       * (SWE) vs.    Lakos, Nikoletta          (HUN) 1/2 1/2 1-0 0-1 1-0 0-1 1-0 
Zayac, Elena             * (RUS) vs.    Meenakshi, Subbaraman     (IND) 1/2 1-0 
Xu, Yuhua                * (CHN) vs.    Amura, Claudia N.         (ARG) 1/2 1-0 
Khurtsidze, Nino           (GEO) vs.  * Hahn, Anna                (USA) 0-1 0-1 
Zhukova, Natalia         * (UKR) vs.    Sziva, Erika              (NED) 1-0 1/2 
Dworakowska, Joanna      * (POL) vs.    Johns-Putra, Geraldine    (AUS) 1-0 Default 
Krush, Irina             * (USA) vs.    Zhu, Chen                 (CHN) 1/2 1-0 
Vasilevich, Tatjana      * (UKR) vs.    Nguyen, Thi Thanh An      (VIE) 1-0 1-0 
Kovalevskaya, Ekaterina  * (RUS) vs.    Pitam, Ela                (ISR) 1-0 Default 
Zielinska, Marta         * (POL) vs.    Charest, Johanne          (CAN) 1-0 1-0 
Wang, Lei                * (CHN) vs.    Stjazhkina, Olga          (RUS) 1-0 0-1 1/2 1/2 1-0 1/2 
Peng, Zhaoqin (IM)       * (NED) vs.    Thipsay, Bagyashree Sathe (IND) 1-0 0-1 1-0 0-1 0-1 1-0 1-0 
Zatonskih, Anna            (UKR) vs.  * Arribas, Maritza          (CUB) 1-0 0-1 1-0 0-1 1-0 0-1 1/2 0-1
 
Demina, Julia            * (RUS) vs.    El Gharbi, Zahira         (MAR) 1-0 1-0 
Goletiani, Rusudan         (GEO) vs.  * Ioseliani, Nana (IM)      (GEO) 0-1 0-1
Calzetta, Monica           (ESP) vs.  * Peptan, Corina (IM)       (ROM) 0-1 0-1 
Koskela, Niina           * (FIN) vs.    Vijayalakshmi, Subbaraman (IND) 1-0 1-0 
Klinova, Masha             (ISR) vs.  * Qin, Kanying              (CHN) 1/2 1/2 1/2 0-1 
Shahade, Jennifer          (USA) vs.  * Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan  (GEO) 0-1 0-1 
Javakhishvili, Lela        (GEO) vs.  * Kachiani-Gersinska, Ketin (GER) 0-1 1/2 
Chaves, Joara              (BRA) vs.  * Manakova, Maria           (YUG) 0-1 0-1 
Reizniece, Dana            (LAT) vs.  * Bojkovic, Natasa          (YUG) 0-1 0-1 
Lagvilava, Genrieta        (BLR) vs.  * Skripchenko-Lautier, Almi (MDA) 0-1 0-1 
Meyer, Marany            * (RSA) vs.    Gurieli, Nino (IM)        (GEO) 1-0 1/2 
Cmilyte, Viktorija       * (LTU) vs.    Hoang, Thanh Trang (IM)   (VIE) 1-0 1-0 
Khurtsilava, Inga        * (GEO) vs.    Gaprindashvili, Nona (GM) (GEO) 1-0 1-0
Tkeshelashvili, Sopio      (GEO) vs.  * Maric, Alisa (IM)         (YUG) 1/2 0-1 
Houli, Asma                (ALG) vs.  * Eidelson, Rakhil          (BLR) 0-1 1/2

Round 2 

Men's Draw
Top half Top Quarter

Bologan, Viktor       (MDA)    vs. * Anand, Viswanathan    (IND)  1/2 0-1
Lputian,Smbat G       (ARM) *  vs.   Rublevsky, Sergei     (RUS)  1-0 1/2

Macieja, Bartlomiej   (POL) *  vs.   Krasenkov, Michal     (POL)  1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 0-1 1-0 1/2 1/2 1/2 1-0
Galkin, Alexander     (RUS)    vs. * Beliavsky, Alexander  (SLO)  1/2 0-1

Volkov, Sergey        (RUS)    vs. * Leko, Peter           (HUN)  1/2 0-1
Lutz, Christopher     (GER)    vs. * Khalifman, Alexander  (RUS)  1/2 1/2 0-1 1/2

Nataf, Igor Alexandre (FRA) *  vs.   Short, Nigel          (ENG)  1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1-0
Benjamin, Joel        (USA)    vs. * Leitao, Rafael        (BRA)  1/2 0-1

Top half Bottom Quarter

Dao, Thien Hai        (VIE)    vs. * Adams, Michael        (ENG)  1/2 1/2 0-1 0-1
Yermolinsky, Alex     (USA) *  vs.   Xu Jun                (CHN)  1-0 1/2

Bacrot, Etienne       (FRA)    vs. * Svidler, Peter        (RUS)  1/2 1/2 0-1 0-1
Adianto, Utut         (INA)    vs. * Peng Xiaomin          (CHN)  0-1 1-0 0-1 1/2

Kharlov, Andrei       (RUS)    vs. * Topalov, Veselin      (BUL)  1/2 0-1
Nisipeanu,Liviu-Dieter(ROM)    vs. * Georgiev, Kiril       (BUL)  1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 0-1

Malakhov, Vladimir    (RUS)    vs. * Dreev, Alexei         (RUS)  1/2 1/2 1-0 0-1 0-1 0-1
Sasikiran, Krishnan   (IND)    vs. * Van Wely, Loek        (NED)  0-1 0-1

Bottom Half Top Quarter

Morozevich, Alexander  (RUS) * vs.   Milos, Gilberto       (BRA)  1-0 1-0
Alamsi, Zoltan         (HUN)   vs. * Vladimirov, Evgeny    (KAZ)  1/2 1/2 0-1 1/2

Kasimdzhanov, Rustam   (UZB) * vs.   Tregubov, Pavel V.    (RUS)  1-0 0-1 1/2 1-0
Tkachiev, Vladislav    (FRA) * vs.   Lesiege, Alexandre    (CAN)  1-0 1/2

Ivanchuk, Vassily      (UKR)   vs. * Ehlvest, Jaan         (EST)  1/2 1/2 1/2 0-1
Movsesian, Sergei      (CZE) * vs.   Iordachescu, Viorel   (MDA)  1-0 0-1 1/2 1/2 1-0 1-0

Smirin,Ilya            (ISR)   vs. * Grischuk, Alexander   (RUS)  1/2 1/2 0-1 0-1
Ivanov, Alexander      (USA)   vs. * Serper, Grigory       (USA)  0-1 0-1

Bottom half Bottom Quarter

Shirov,Alexei          (ESP) * vs.   Onischuk, Alexander   (UKR)  1/2 1/2 1-0 1/2
Gurevich, Mikhail      (BEL) * vs.   Minasian, Artashes    (ARM)  1/2 1/2 1-0 1/2

Gelfand, Boris         (ISR) * vs.   Dizdarevic, Emir      (BIH)  1-0 1-0
Piket, Jeroen          (NED) * vs.   Nevednichy, Vladislav (ROM)  1-0 1-0

Bareev, Evgeny         (RUS) * vs.   Vaganian, Rafael A    (ARM)  1-0 0-1 1/2 1/2 1-0 1-0
Akopian, Vladimir      (ARM)   vs. * Aleksandrov, Aleksej  (BLR)  1/2 0-1 

Azmaiparashvili, Zurab (GEO) * vs.   Baklan, Vladimir      (UKR)  1-0 1/2
Gulko, Boris F         (USA) * vs.   Chernin, Alexander    (HUN)  1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1-0

Women's Results

Matveeva, Svetlana    (RUS)   vs. * Xie, Jun                (CHN)  1/2 1/2 0-1 1/2
Zayac, Elena          (RUS) * vs.   Cramling, Pia           (SWE)  1-0 1/2 
Khan, Anna            (USA)   vs. * Xu, Yuhua               (CHN)  1/2 0-1
Dworakowska, Joanna   (POL)   vs. * Zhukova, Natalia        (UKR)  0-1 0-1
Vasilevich, Tatjana   (UKR) * vs.   Krush, Irina            (USA)  1/2 1-0
Zielinska, Marta      (POL)   vs. * Kovalevskaya, Ekaterina (RUS)  1/2 0-1 
Peng, Zhaoqin         (NED) * vs.   Wang, Lei               (CHN)  1/2 1-0
Demina, Julia         (RUS) * vs.   Arribas, Maritza        (CUB)  1/2 1/2 0-1 1-0 1-0 0-1 1-0
Chiburdanidze, Maia   (GEO)   vs. * Peptan, Corina          (ROM)  0-1 1/2
Ioseliani, Nana       (GEO) * vs.   Koskela, Niina          (FIN)  1-0 1/2
Qin, Kanying          (CHN) * vs.   Arakhamia-Grant,Ketevan (GEO)  1-0 1/2
Kachiani-Gersinska, K (GER) * vs.   Manakova, Maria         (YUG)  1-0 1-0
Galliamova, Alisa     (RUS) * vs.   Bojkovic, Natasa        (YUG)  1-0 0-1 1/2 1-0
Skripchenko-Lautier,A (MDA) * vs.   Meyer, Marany           (RSA)  1/2 1-0
Cmilyte, Viktorija    (LTU) * vs.   Khurtsilava, Inga       (GEO)  1-0 1/2
Maric, Alisa          (YUG) * vs.   Eidelson, Rakhil        (BLR)  1/2 1-0

Round 3

Men's Draw
Top half Top Quarter

Lputian,Smbat G        (ARM)   vs. * Anand, Viswanathan    (IND)  1/2 0-1
Beliavsky, Alexander   (SLO)   vs.   Macieja, Bartlomiej   (POL)  1/2 1/2 Playoff

Khalifman, Alexander   (RUS)   vs.   Leko, Peter           (HUN)  1/2 1/2 Playoff
Leitao, Rafael         (BRA) * vs.   Nataf, Igor Alexandre (FRA)  1-0 1/2

Top half Bottom Quarter

Yermolinsky, Alex      (USA)   vs.   Adams, Michael        (ENG)  1/2 1/2 Playoff
Peng Xiaomin           (CHN)   vs.   Svidler, Peter        (RUS)  1-0 0-1 Playoff

Georgiev, Kiril        (BUL)   vs. * Topalov, Veselin      (BUL)  0-1 1/2
Van Wely, Loek         (NED)   vs. * Dreev, Alexei         (RUS)  0-1 1/2

Bottom Half Top Quarter

Morozevich, Alexander  (RUS) * vs.   Vladimirov, Evgeny    (KAZ)  1-0 1/2
Kasimdzhanov, Rustam   (UZB)   vs.   Tkachiev, Vladislav   (FRA)  1/2 1/2 Playoff

Ehlvest, Jaan          (EST)   vs.   Movsesian, Sergei     (CZE)  1/2 1/2 Playoff
Grischuk, Alexander    (RUS) * vs.   Serper, Grigory       (USA)  1-0 1/2

Bottom half Bottom Quarter

Shirov,Alexei          (ESP)   vs.   Gurevich, Mikhail      (BEL) 1/2 1/2 Playoff
Gelfand, Boris         (ISR) * vs.   Piket, Jeroen          (NED) 1-0 1/2

Bareev, Evgeny         (RUS) * vs.   Aleksandrov, Aleksej   (BLR) 1-0 1-0
Azmaiparashvili, Zurab (GEO)   vs. * Gulko, Boris F         (USA) 0-1 1/2

Women's Round 3 Pairings

Top half Top Quarter

Zayac, Elena           (RUS)   vs. * Xie, Jun              (CHN)  1/2 0-1
Zhukova, Natalia       (UKR)   vs.   Xu, Yuhua             (CHN)  1/2 1/2 Playoff

Top half Bottom Quarter

Kovalevskaya, Ekaterina(RUS) * vs.   Vasilevich, Tatjana   (UKR)  1/2 1-0
Demina, Julia          (RUS)   vs. * Peng, Zhaoqin         (NED)  0-1 0-1

Bottom half Top Quarter

Peptan, Corina         (ROM) * vs.   Ioseliani, Nana       (GEO)  1-0 1/2
Qin, Kanying           (CHN) * vs.   Kachiani-Gersinska, K (GER)  1-0 1/2

Bottom half bottom Quarter

Galliamova, Alisa      (RUS)   vs.   Skripchenko-Lautier,A (MDA)  1-0 0-1 Playoff
Cmilyte, Viktorija     (LTU)   vs. * Maric, Alisa          (YUG)  1/2 0-1 

3) 3rd Padova International Open

The 3rd Padova International Open takes place December 2nd-10th 2000. Grandmasters Timoscenko, Solozhenkin, Chatalbashev, Dervishi, Skembris, Djuric, Zlochevskij, Naumkin are playing. My thanks to Lanfranco Bombelli.

Internet coverage: http://www.infcom.it/fsi/tornei/00padova.htm

3rd Padova Open ITA (ITA), 2-10 xii 2000
--------------------------------------------------------
 1. Cacco, Christian           ITA 2267  +25  1.0       
 2. Caruso, Augusto            ITA 2286  +26  1.0       
 3. Del-Monaco, Andrea         ITA 2077  +31  1.0       
 4. Dervishi, Erald         g  ALB 2478  +19  1.0       
 5. Djuric, Stefan          g  YUG 2472  +22  1.0       
 6. Manca, Federico         m  ITA 2396  +21  1.0       
 7. Quinn, Mark             f  IRL 2381  +27  1.0       
 8. Rossi, Carlo            f  ITA 2436  +30  1.0       
 9. Skembris, Spyridon      g  GRE 2475  +23  1.0       
10. Solozhenkin, Evgeniy    g  RUS 2504  +29  1.0       
11. Timoscenko, Genadij     g  SVK 2529  +28  1.0       
12. Paragua, Mark              PHI 2423  +20  1.0       
13. Zlochevskij, Alexander  g  RUS 2450  +24  1.0       
14. Genocchio, Daniele         ITA 2201  +32  1.0       
15. Artizzu, Guilio            ITA 2095  =17  0.5  2440 
16. Chatalbashev, Boris     g  BUL 2494  =18  0.5  2169 
17. Naumkin, Igor           g  RUS 2440  =15  0.5  2095 
18. Van Hoolandt, Patrick      BEL 2169  =16  0.5  2494 
19. Alberton, Roberto          ITA 2147  - 4  0.0       
20. Antoniacci, Ricardo        ITA 2065  -12  0.0       
21. Astengo, Marcello          ITA 2060  - 6  0.0       
22. Bracaglia, Carlo           ITA 2134  - 5  0.0       
23. Cecchetto, Vanni           ITA 2139  - 9  0.0       
24. Danieli, Enrico            ITA 2096  -13  0.0       
25. Di Lazzaro, Gabriele       ITA 2015  - 1  0.0       
26. Gorecki, Zbigniew          POL 2005  - 2  0.0       
27. Pircher, Karl              ITA 2041  - 7  0.0       
28. Rossato, Armando           ITA 2201  -11  0.0       
29. Sabia, Corrado             ITA 2194  -10  0.0       
30. Straub, Peter              GER 2084  - 8  0.0       
31. Mrdja, Milan            m  CRO 2431  - 3  0.0       
32. Radulescu,Gheorghe             ----  -14  0.0       
--------------------------------------------------------

4) Bucharest Tournaments

There are two events taking place in Bucharest, Romania. The Autumn Cup GM and IM events run November 20th-December 3rd 2000. They have reached the 10th (GM) and 11th (IM) rounds. The event finishes today. Final results and games should follow next week. My thanks to Emil Pessi.

Internet coverage: http://www.notzai.com/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Autumn Cup GM Bucharest ROM (ROM), 4 xi-3 xii 2000          cat. VII (2413)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Badea, Bela          g ROM 2480  * . 0 . = = = . 1 1 1 1 1 1  7.5  2607 
 2. Itkis, Boris         m ROM 2384  . * = = 1 . . = = = 1 1 = 1  7.0  2553 
 3. Svetushkin, Dmitry   m MDA 2472  1 = * 0 . 1 . = . 1 0 = 1 =  6.0  2465 
 4. Podinic, Vladimir      YUG 2340  . = 1 * = = = = = = = . = .  5.5  2458 
 5. Istratescu, Andrei   g ROM 2578  = 0 . = * = 1 = . . 1 = = =  5.5  2432 
 6. Mateuta, Gabriel     m ROM 2409  = . 0 = = * = . = . = 1 = 1  5.5  2447 
 7. Vukovic, Zdravko     m YUG 2471  = . . = 0 = * = = . 0 1 1 1  5.5  2437 
 8. Matulovic, Milan     g YUG 2433  . = = = = . = * 0 = = . 1 =  5.0  2402 
 9. Szabo, Gergely ROM     ROM 2330  0 = . = . = = 1 * 0 . = = 1  5.0  2400 
10. Parligras, Mircea      ROM 2441  0 = 0 = . . . = 1 * = 0 1 1  5.0  2388 
11. Simantsev, Mikhail   m UKR 2403  0 0 1 = 0 = 1 = . = * = . .  4.5  2408 
12. Florean, Andrei      m ROM 2441  0 0 = . = 0 0 . = 1 = * . 1  4.0  2355 
13. Murariu, Andrei        ROM 2299  0 = 0 = = = 0 0 = 0 . . * .  2.5  2240 
14. Sebe, Razvan           ROM 2303  0 0 = . = 0 0 = 0 0 . 0 . *  1.5  2147 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Autumn Cup IM Bucharest ROM (ROM), 4 xi-3 xii 2000                    cat. I (2271)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Jianu, Vlad               f ROM 2293  * 1 1 = = = = . = 1 . 1 . . 1  7.5  2460 
 2. Vioreanu, Bogdan            ROM 2280  0 * . . 1 . = = = 1 1 = 1 1 0  7.0  2374 
 3. Ionescu, Doru Alexandru   f ROM 2258  0 . * = . 1 = 0 . . 1 = = 1 1  6.0  2335 
 4. Vujic, Mihailo              YUG 2281  = . = * . . = 1 = 0 = = = = 1  6.0  2311 
 5. Berechet, Otiliu          m ROM 2224  = 0 . . * . = 0 1 = . = = 1 1  5.5  2312 
 6. Hernandez, Gustavo VEN      VEN 2245  = . 0 . . * = = = . 0 1 1 = 1  5.5  2304 
 7. Glodeanu, Ion             m ROM 2271  = = = = = = * = = = = = . . .  5.5  2272 
 8. Marin, Luiza             wm ROM 2187  . = 1 0 1 = = * . . 1 . = 0 0  5.0  2264 
 9. Petrenko, Svetlana       wm MDA 2316  = = . = 0 = = . * = . = . = 1  5.0  2268 
10. Cioara, Andrei Nestor     m ROM 2350  0 0 . 1 = . = . = * . 0 1 = 1  5.0  2273 
11. Grunberg, Florin            ROM 2295  . 0 0 = . 1 = 0 . . * = 1 = 1  5.0  2258 
12. Bogza, Adina             wm ROM 2271  0 = = = = 0 = . = 1 = * . . .  4.5  2245 
13. Milanovic, Slavisa          YUG 2324  . 0 = = = 0 . = . 0 0 . * 1 1  4.0  2187 
14. Petre, Nad-Titus          f ROM 2293  . 0 0 = 0 = . 1 = = = . 0 * .  3.5  2166 
15. Osman, Mihai                FRA 2177  0 1 0 0 0 0 . 1 0 0 0 . 0 . *  2.0  2015 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5) 9th Sonnevanck Tournament

The 9th Sonnevanck takes place 28th November - 7th December 2000. Players: Alexander Dgebuadze, Maarten Solleveld, Julius Armas, Willy Hendriks, Aviv Friedman, Tom Bottema, Yochonan Afek, Marcel Peek, Nico Vink and Daniel Stellwagen.

Internet coverage: http://chess.lostcity.nl/sonnevanck2000/

Round 5 Standings:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
9th Sonnevanck It NED (NED), 28 xi-7 xii 2000           cat. V (2365)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 
---------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Armas, Julius          m FRA 2378  * . . 1 1 = . . = 1  4.0  2566 
 2. Solleveld, Maarten       NED 2426  . * 1 = = . . . 1 1  4.0  2608 
 3. Dgebuadze, Alexandre   g GEO 2536  . 0 * = = 1 . 1 . .  3.0  2415 
 4. Friedman, Aviv         f ISR 2364  0 = = * = . 1 . . .  2.5  2402 
 5. Vink, Nico               NED 2296  0 = = = * . . . 1 .  2.5  2397 
 6. Afek, Yochanan         m ISR 2330  = . 0 . . * = = . 1  2.5  2390 
 7. Hendriks, Willy          NED 2378  . . . 0 . = * 1 = =  2.5  2327 
 8. Peek, Marcel           f NED 2299  . . 0 . . = 0 * 1 =  2.0  2305 
 9. Stellwagen, Daniel       NED 2285  = 0 . . 0 . = 0 * .  1.0  2115 
10. Bottema, Tom             NED 2359  0 0 . . . 0 = = . *  1.0  2122 
---------------------------------------------------------------------

6) Odivelas Closed

The new municipality (near Lisbon) of Odivelas will have it's first international tournament (closed, round robin, category 4. The event takes place 28th November to 8th December 2000. Mathias Roeder is leading with 5.5/6.

Links: http://www.ip.pt/~ip001018/, http://www.ip.pt/~ip001018/1intodv.htm and http://www.ip.pt/~ip001018/1intodvz.htm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Odivelas It POR (POR), 28 xi-16 xii 2000                cat. IV (2328)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Roeder, Mathias         m GER 2467  * . = 1 . . 1 . 1 1 . 1  5.5  2654 
 2. Strikovic, Aleksa       g YUG 2490  . * = . . = . . 1 1 1 1  5.0  2565 
 3. Ikonnikov, Vyacheslav   g RUS 2548  = = * . 1 . . = 1 1 . .  4.5  2564 
 4. Guerra, Victor            POR 2156  0 . . * 0 . 1 1 . . 1 1  4.0  2430 
 5. Kogan, Artur            g ISR 2504  . . 0 1 * 0 . . . 1 1 1  4.0  2411 
 6. Fernandes, Antonio      m POR 2438  . = . . 1 * 0 1 1 0 . .  3.5  2393 
 7. Fernando, Diogo           POR 2257  0 . . 0 . 1 * 1 . . = 1  3.5  2334 
 8. Dias, Paulo               POR 2302  . . = 0 . 0 0 * . . 1 =  2.0  2158 
 9. Andrade, Jose             POR 2196  0 0 0 . . 0 . . * 1 1 .  2.0  2279 
10. Santos, Antonio P         POR 2272  0 0 0 . 0 1 . . 0 * . .  1.0  2167 
11. Pinho, Paulo              POR 2213  . 0 . 0 0 . = 0 0 . * .  0.5  1916 
12. Leite, Catarina           POR 2089  0 0 . 0 0 . 0 = . . . *  0.5  1961 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

7) Mallorca International Open

The Mallorca International Open takes place December 2nd-10th 2000.

Herminio Herraiz, Atanas Kolev, Francisco Vallejo Pons, Mauricio Vasallo, Santiago Pons Sastre, Zenon Franco Ocampos, Aleksandar Kovacevic, Boris Zlotnik, Diego Adla, Guillermo Baches, Lester Tattersall, Javier Campos Moreno, Fernando Braga, Ismael Teran Alvarez, Gabriel Pons Boscana, Rodrigo Reinaldo, Bernal Gonzalez, Antonio Ducros Salva and Gunter Voos are on 2/2. Mihai Suba is amongst those on 1.5.

Internet coverage: http://www.fbescacs.org/intmallorca2000/

8) Mitropa Cup II

Directly after the Mitropa Cup takes place in Aymavilles (Aosta Valley) Italy (18th-26th November 2000) there was another Mitropa Cup, this time in Charleville, France. This was a team event won by the French team 1.5 points clear of Hungary, Croatia and Switzerland.

Coverage: http://www.echecs.asso.fr/bayard-monge/

Mitropa Cup 2000 - Charleville - Mezieres   
                   Elo   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10 Total 
 1 France      FRA 2500 ### 2.0 1.5 3.0 2.0 3.0 3.5 3.5 3.0 3.0 24.5
 2 Hungary     HUN 2497 2.0 ### 1.5 2.5 1.5 2.5 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 22 
 3 Croatia     CRO 2532 2.5 2.5 ### 1.5 3.5 3.5 2.5 1.5 1.5 3.0 22
 4 Switzerland SUI 2466 1.0 1.5 2.5 ### 1.5 2.0 4.0 3.0 3.5 3.0 22
 5 Germany     GER 2483 2.0 2.5 0.5 2.5 ### 2.5 2.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 20
 6 Italy       ITA 2415 1.0 1.5 0.5 2.0 1.5 ### 1.0 2.5 3.0 2.5 15.5
 7 Czech Rep   CZE 2394 0.5 1.0 1.5 0.0 1.5 3.0 ### 1.5 3.5 3.0 15.5
 8 Slovenia    SLO 2413 0.5 1.0 2.5 1.0 1.0 1.5 2.5 ### 1.5 1.5 13.5 
 9 Austria     AUT 2320 1.0 1.0 2.5 0.5 1.5 1.0 0.5 2.5 ### 2.5 12.5
10 Slovakia    SVK 2337 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 1.5 1.0 2.5 1.5 ### 12.5

Individual scores (calculated from the games)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mitropa Cup Charleville FRA (FRA), 25 xi-3 xii 2000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 1. Degraeve, Jean-Marc  g  FRA 2540  +36 +15 = 9 +11 =40 =47 +39 +35 +32  7.5  2659 
 2. Fressinet, Laurent   m  FRA 2536  +19  .  +24 =14 = 8 +31 +44 +21 +42  7.0  2774 
 3. Golubovic, Boris     m  CRO 2466  =26 +41 +25 +45 =13 +15 + 9 = 6 =36  7.0  2602 
 4. Ruck, Robert         m  HUN 2489  +35 +32 =13 =15 +27 =29 =30 +26 +41  7.0  2629 
 5. Doettling, Fabian    f  GER 2473  +42 +13 =19 +24 =14 - 8 +31 +44 =16  6.5  2596 
 6. Zueger, Beat         m  SUI 2416  +39 =25 =45  .  +34 = 9 +36 = 3 +47  6.0  2563 
 7. Kalod, Radek         m  CZE 2483  -28 =18 =22 +33 +37 +12 =20 =10 +23  6.0  2603 
 8. Cvitan, Ognjen       g  CRO 2541  +31 +44 =16 =42 = 2 + 5 =24 =29 =19  6.0  2566 
 9. Horvath, Adam        m  HUN 2425  =25 +45 = 1 =34 +36 = 6 - 3 +47 +39  6.0  2513 
10. Gustafsson, Jan      m  GER 2506  =12 =20 +33 =23 +28 =18 =22 = 7 =37  5.5  2556 
11. Pelletier, Yannick   m  SUI 2474  +17 =35 +32 - 1  .   .  +27 +30 =26  5.0  2563 
12. Balinov, Ilija       g  AUT 2453  =10 +23 -28 +18 +22 - 7 -21 +33 =20  5.0  2523 
13. Eliet, Nicolas       m  FRA 2391  +27 - 5 = 4 =29 = 3 +26 +41 -16 =38  5.0  2449 
14. Ekstroem, Roland     m  SUI 2487  +44 -21 +38 = 2 = 5 =24 =33 =18 =22  5.0  2485 
15. Grund, Holger           GER 2475  +38 - 1 +27 = 4 +29 - 3 =43 -17 +35  5.0  2478 
16. Borgo, Giulio        m  ITA 2391  +24  .  = 8 +43 -17  .  =42 +13 = 5  4.5  2537 
17. Vavra, Pavel1           CZE 2393  -11 +30 +31 -19 +16 =32  .  +15  .   4.5  2529 
18. Kozul, Zdenko        g  CRO 2611  =22 = 7 +21 -12 +20 =10 =23 =14 -33  4.5  2467 
19. Soln, Primoz         m  SLO 2413  - 2 -31 = 5 +17 +24 =21 =29 =42 = 8  4.5  2457 
20. Hauchard, Arnaud     m  FRA 2539  =33 =10 -23 +28 -18 =22 = 7 +37 =12  4.5  2472 
21. Belotti, Bruno       m  ITA 2417  +23 +14 -18 -31 =44 =19 +12 - 2  .   4.0  2482 
22. Plachetka, Jan       g  SVK 2373  =18 =33 = 7 -37 -12 =20 =10 +23 =14  4.0  2453 
23. Varga, Zoltan        g  HUN 2541  -21 -12 +20 =10 +33 +28 =18 -22 - 7  4.0  2427 
24. Acs, Peter           g  HUN 2497  -16 +42 - 2 - 5 -19 =14 = 8 +31 +44  4.0  2400 
25. Lanzani, Mario       m  ITA 2419  = 9 = 6 - 3 =26  .  +36 =32  .  =34  3.5  2383 
26. Kujovic, Michal         SVK 2244  = 3 +36 -39 =25  .  -13 +34 - 4 =11  3.5  2379 
27. Jelen, Igor          m  SLO 2423  -13 +43 -15 =41 - 4 =35 -11 +32 =30  3.5  2351 
28. Jenni, Florian       m  SUI 2440  + 7 +37 +12 -20 -10 -23  .   .   .   3.0  2493 
29. Gallagher, Joseph G  g  SUI 2514   .   .   .  =13 -15 = 4 =19 = 8 +43  3.0  2455 
30. Sulava, Nenad        m  CRO 2549  +43 -17 +35 -38  .   .  = 4 -11 =27  3.0  2360 
31. Likavsky, Tomas         SVK 2409  - 8 +19 -17 +21 +42 - 2 - 5 -24  .   3.0  2363 
32. Pingitzer, Harald    f  AUT 2278  +34 - 4 -11  .  +47 =17 =25 -27 - 1  3.0  2341 
33. Tratar, Marko        m  SLO 2410  =20 =22 -10 - 7 -23 =37 =14 -12 +18  3.0  2367 
34. Handke, Florian      m  GER 2455  -32 =46 =36 = 9 - 6 -40 -26 +39 =25  3.0  2258 
35. Mantovani, Renzo     m  ITA 2410  - 4 =11 -30  .  =41 =27 +38 - 1 -15  2.5  2310 
36. Kos, Toni            f  SLO 2400  - 1 -26 =34 +39 - 9 -25 - 6 =45 = 3  2.5  2225 
37. Arlandi, Ennio       m  ITA 2437   .  -28  .  +22 - 7 =33  .  -20 =10  2.0  2333 
38. Kuba, Guenter           AUT 2260  -15  .  -14 +30 =43 -44 -35  .  =13  2.0  2290 
39. Vrana, Frantisek        CZE 2285  - 6  .  +26 -36  .  +45 - 1 -34 - 9  2.0  2235 
40. Kovacevic, Vlatko    g  CRO 2492   .   .   .   .  = 1 +34  .   .   .   1.5  2690 
41. Pisk, Petr           m  CZE 2400   .  - 3 =43 =27 =35  .  -13  .  - 4  1.5  2240 
42. Pilaj, Herwig           AUT 2334  - 5 -24  .  = 8 -31  .  =16 =19 - 2  1.5  2235 
43. Balogh, Tomas        m  SVK 2421  -30 -27 =41 -16 =38  .  =15  .  -29  1.5  2200 
44. Cvek, Robert         m  CZE 2408  -14 - 8  .   .  =21 +38 - 2 - 5 -24  1.5  2228 
45. Fusi, Christoph         AUT 2275   .  - 9 = 6 - 3  .  -39  .  =36  .   1.0  2158 
46. Prie, Eric           g  FRA 2492   .  =34  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   0.5  2455 
47. Pinter, Erik            SVK 2238   .   .   .   .  -32 = 1  .  - 9 - 6  0.5  2092 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9) 4NCL 2000-2001

The 4NCL season 2000-2001 is underway. The venue for all matches is the The Birmingham Grand Moat House Hotel, Colmore Row, Birmingham. The 1st and 2nd rounds take place 23rd-24th September 2000, 3rd-4th on 25th-26th November, 5th-6th on 27th-28th January 2001, 7th-8th on 17th-18th March and the final rounds 9,10 and 11 on 5th-7th May 2001. There are 26 Clubs, 40 teams, 3 Divisions, 536 players registered.

Round 4 results from November 26th 2000. Games are not yet available.

Division 1

      Barbican 4NCL 1  2392         4-4    Guildford-ADC 1  2390
1  w  Parker, Jonathan  2539        ½-½    Gormally, Daniel  2504
2  b  Crouch, Colin  2425           ½-½    Rowson, Jonathan  2506
3  w  Kelly, Brian  2464            ½-½    Conquest, Stuart  2529
4  b  Collinson, Adam  2404         0-1    Plaskett, James  2526
5  w  Ferguson, Mark  2374          ½-½    Webb, Richard  2353
6  b  Knott, Simon  2390            1-0    Povah, Nigel  2359
7  w  Dishman, Stephen  2364        ½-½    Mason, Don  2286
8  b  Lauterbach, Ingrid (F)  2179  ½-½    Yurenok, Maria (F)  2058
        4-4    
      Wood Green 1  2420           5½-2½   Thistle Birm. White Rose  2304
1  w  Emms, John  2502              ½-½    Arkell, Keith  2440
2  b  Turner, Matthew  2485         ½-½    Hunt, Harriet (F)  2447
3  w  Ward, Chris  2527             ½-½    Dunnington, Angus  2388
4  b  Martin, Andrew  2445          1-0    Dunworth, Chris  2293
5  w  Levitt, Jonathan  2438        1-0    Gayson, Peter  2273
6  b  Littlewood, Paul  2394        ½-½    Townsend, Paul  2230
7  w  Tiller, Bjorn  2384           1-0    Barrett, Steve  2217
8  b  Jackson, Sheila (F)  2185     ½-½    White, Mark  2145

      Index-IT 1  2467             4½-3½   Slough 1  2509
1  w  Nunn, John  2578              ½-½    Khenkin, Igor *  2633
2  b  Rogers, Ian  2558             ½-½    Ftacnik, Lubomir  2608
3  w  Hennigan, Michael  2455       1-0    Kosten, Tony  2524
4  b  Chandler, Murray  2535        ½-½    Miles, Tony  2578
5  w  Hebden, Mark  2515            ½-½    Summerscale, Aaron  2513
6  b  McDonald, Neil  2439          1-0    Wells, Peter  2504
7  w  Gallagher, Joe  2514          ½-½    McNab, Colin  2400
8  b  Richards, Heather (F)  2139   0-1    Lalic, Susan (F)  2315
        
      Index-IT2  2150              4½-3½   South Wales Dragons  2241
1  w  Cooper, Lawrence *  2336      1-0    Cobb, James  2352
2  b  Giddins, Stephen  2315        0-1    Cooper, John  2341
3  w  Richardson, John  2338        1-0    Morris, Charles  2238
4  b  Black, Richard  2264          0-1    Zeidler, Sven  2255
5  w  Lyell, Mark  2224             1-0    James, David  2238
6  b  Wade, Robert  2213            1-0    Richmond, Peter  2220
7  w  Cafferty, Bernard  2193       ½-½    Roberts, David  2171
8  b  Barraclough, Stephanie (F)    0-1    Cast, Abigail (F)  2114
        
      Richmond  2261               3½-4½   Midland Monarchs  2279
1  w  Wall, Gavin  2384             ½-½    Ledger, Andrew  2451
2  b  Bates, Richard  2371          ½-½    Pert, Nick  2451
3  w  Johnstone, Paul  2299         1-0    Williams, Simon  2350
4  b  Webb, Laurence  2257          0-1    Ledger, David  2264
5  w  Phillips, Roy  2240           0-1    Pert, Richard  2263
6  b  Franklin, Michael  2253       0-1    Naylor, John  2241
7  w  Thiruchelvam, Murugan  2168   1-0    James, Russell  2209
8  b  Buckley, Melanie (F)  2114    ½-½    Tidman, Sophie (F)  2003
        
      Barbican 4NCL 2  2281         5-3    Poisoned Pawns 1  2164
1  w  Webster, Andrew  2424         1-0    Harley, Andrew  2296
2  b  Duncan, Christopher  2310     ½-½    Hadzimanolis, Antonios *  2235
3  w  Hanley, Craig  2283           ½-½    Swanson, Stephen  2273
4  b  Plueg, Andreas  2313          0-1    Smith, Andrew P  2252
5  w  Rogers, Jonathan  2329        1-0    Byway, Paul  2231
6  b  Twyble, Michael  2231         0-1    Devereaux, Max  2274
7  w  Palliser, Richard  2277       1-0    Hammond, Andy  2213
8  b  Kieran, Rosalind (F)  2083    1-0    Vann, Monica (F)  1536
        
        
                                   P  W  D  L  MP  GP
 1  IndexIT 1                      4  4  0  0  8  24.5
 2  Guildford-ADC                  4  3  1  0  7  23.0
 3  Slough 1                       4  3  0  1  6  22.0
 4  Wood Green 1                   4  3  0  1  6  21.0
 5  Barbican 4NCL 1                4  2  1  1  5  17.5
 6  Midland Monarchs               4  2  0  2  4  15.0
 7  Thistle Birmingham White Rose  4  2  0  2  4  15.0
 8  Index IT 2                     4  2  0  2  4  12.0
 9  Barbican 4NCL 2                4  1  0  3  2  13.0
10  Richmond                       4  1  0  3  2  13.0
11  South Wales Dragons            4  0  0  4  0   9.0
12  Poisoned Pawns 1               4  0  0  4  0   7.0

For further information see the 4NCL website at: http://freespace.virgin.net/nigel.chess96/4ncl/0001/0001menu.htm. Additional coverage at: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/John_Katrin_Sharp

10) First Saturday December

Laszlo Nagy reports: The December First Saturday events take place 2nd-15th December.

GM Tournament. IGM Varga, Zoltan (HUN, 2541), IGM Lukacs, Peter (HUN, 2488), IM Markus, Robert (YUG, 2465), Szeberenyi, Adam (HUN, 2317), Resika, Nathan (USA,2313), Antal, Gergely (HUN, 2405), IM Radjabov, Teimour (AZE,2476), Berkes, Ferenc (HUN, 2372), IGM Barbero, Gerardo (ARG, 2445), IM Czebe, Attila (HUN, 2520), Balogh, Csaba (HUN, 2359), Szeberenyi, Adam (HUN, 2357).

Round 1 results: Berkes - Szeberenyi 1:0 Barbero - Varga draw Lukacs - Balogh 1:0 Resika - Antal 0:1 Markus - Radjabov 0:1 Czebe - Szieberth 1:0

Games and results from this and the IMA and IMB events follow next week.

11) Jose Rubinstein Tournament Vicente López

As reported last week the 7th PRO-AM Jose Rubinstein Tournament in Vicente López, Argentina took place 16th-26th November 2000. There was a two way tie between Ruben Felgaer and Andres Rodriguez with Felgaer taking first place on tie-break. Chess legend Bent Larsen finished in 12th place. Games from the final three rounds are now available.

Internet: http://escavm.tripod.com/

------------------------------------------------------------------
Jose Rubinstein Tournament Vicente Lopez (ARG), 16-26 xi 2000
------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            
------------------------------------------------------------------

 1. Felgaer, Ruben           f  ARG 2390   7.5        49.5   52.50
 2. Rodriguez, Andres        g  URU 2493   7.5        42.5   42.50
 3. Scarella, Enrique        f  ARG 2352   7.0        49.5   53.50
 4. Tempone, Marcelo         m  ARG 2439   7.0        46.5   46.50
 5. Ginzburg, Maximiliano    m  ARG 2389   7.0        45.0   46.00
 6. Quiroga, Facundo            ARG 2398   6.5        48.0   51.50
 7. Reides, Marcelo          f  ARG 2350   6.5        46.5   50.50
 8. Van Riemsdijk, Herman C  m  BRA 2385   6.5        42.5   42.50
 9. Andres, Miguel           m  CUB 2382   6.5        40.5   40.50
10. Lafuente, Pablo          f  ARG 2291   6.0        50.0   53.00
11. Larsen, Bent             g  DEN 2500   6.0        49.0   53.50
106 players

12) Lisbon Chess Festival

The sixth edition of the Lisbon Chess Festival took place 18th to 26th November 2000 in Lisbon, Portugal. There was a four way tie on 7.5/9 between Ildar Ibragimov (first on tie-break), Mladen Palac, Lenier Dominguez and Eric Van den Doel. My thanks to António Pedro Pereira for the news. Round 9 games available.

Internet coverage: http://cmlxadrez.esoterica.pt/openlisboa00eng.htm

13) Norkom European Masters

Luke McShane won the event with 5/6 after a last round win over Malcolm Pein during a sudden death finish. Pein's flag fell when Luke had approx 30 seconds left. Robert Bellin, Alexander Baburin and Eduardas Rozentalis were amongst those half a point behind. My thanks to Robert Bellin for some corrections and John Henderson for the games.

Final Standings
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Norkom European Masters Kilkenny IRL (IRL), 24-26 xi 2000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1   2   3   4   5   6 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

 1. McShane, Luke J       m  ENG 2480  +24 =15 +10 = 2 + 9 + 6  5.0  2644 
 2. Baburin, Alexander    g  IRL 2590  +12 = 5 + 7 = 1 = 3 +13  4.5  2532 
 3. Rozentalis, Eduardas  g  LTU 2570  +31 + 4 = 9 = 6 = 2 +10  4.5  2576 
 4. Bellin, Robert        m  ENG 2369  +11 - 3 +20 +12 = 5 +19  4.5  2438 
 5. Heidenfeld, Mark      m  IRL 2375  +29 = 2 =15 +21 = 4 + 9  4.5  2546 
 6. Pein, Malcolm         m  ENG 2424  +33 =20 +30 = 3 + 8 - 1  4.0  2341 
 7. Shaw, John            m  SCO 2435  +18 +25 - 2 - 9 +22 +15  4.0  2444 
 8. Howell,D                 ENG ----  =28 +31 =21 +15 - 6 +18  4.0  2352 
 9. Belkhodja, Slim       m  FRA 2440  +16 +13 = 3 + 7 - 1 - 5  3.5  2393 
10. Short, Philip M       f  IRL 2302  =27 +17 - 1 +30 +16 - 3  3.5  2293 
11. Cafolla, Peter           IRL 2106  - 4 =24 =18 =17 +28 +21  3.5  2248 
12. O'Connell, Gerard        IRL 2175  - 2 +34 +25 - 4 =21 +23  3.5  2329 
13. Rochev,Y                 IRL ----  +34 - 9 =22 +27 +23 - 2  3.5  2291 
14. Fox,A                    ENG ----  -26 =33 -16 +34 +29 +24  3.5  2187 
15. Delaney, Paul         f  IRL 2301  +19 = 1 = 5 - 8 +32 - 7  3.0  2215 
16. Anderson, John           ENG 2161  - 9 =23 +14 +28 -10 =17  3.0  2151 
17. Dooley, Michael          IRL 2146  =22 -10 =29 =11 +26 =16  3.0  2183 
18. Keogh, Eamon             IRL 2152  - 7 =19 =11 +33 +20 - 8  3.0  2131 
19. Harpur,C                 IRL ----  -15 =18 =24 +25 +27 - 4  3.0  2216 
20. McMahon, Daire           IRL 2246  +23 = 6 - 4 =22 -18 =25  2.5  2176 
21. Brady, Stephen        f  IRL 2310  =30 +26 = 8 - 5 =12 -11  2.5  2090 
22. Bellin, Jana          wg ENG 2190  =17 =27 =13 =20 - 7 =26  2.5  2129 
23. Kennedy, John            IRL 2019  -20 =16 +33 +26 -13 -12  2.5  2078 
24. O'Donovan, Richard       IRL 2173  - 1 =11 =19 =32 +34 -14  2.5  2058 
25. O'Cinneide, Mel          IRL 2244  +32 - 7 -12 -19 +30 =20  2.5  2085 
26. Hynes, Kilian A          IRL 2231  +14 -21 =27 -23 -17 =22  2.0  1995 
27. Sautter, Elke            GER 2060  =10 =22 =26 -13 -19 =30  2.0  1995 
28. Gamez,A                      ----  = 8 -30 +32 -16 -11 =29  2.0  1938 
29. Dempsey, Paul            IRL 2111  - 5 -32 =17 +31 -14 =28  2.0  1991 
30. Neville,M                    ----  =21 +28 - 6 -10 -25 =27  2.0  2098 
31. Killane, Jack            IRL 2178  - 3 - 8 =34 -29 =33 +32  2.0  2006 
32. Llorens,I                    ----  -25 +29 -28 =24 -15 -31  1.5  1974 
33. MacElligott,G                ----  - 6 =14 -23 -18 =31 =34  1.5  1953 
34. Connolly, Suzanne        IRL 2105  -13 -12 =31 -14 -24 =33  1.0  1814 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

14) Open Letter by Lev Khariton

TWIC always welcomes letters. No publication is guaranteed but the magazine can act as a forum for chess issues of the moment. The views expressed in these letters are those of the authors not of TWIC or Chess & Bridge Ltd.

Shame and Disgrace by Lev Khariton

Lev Khariton is the Chess columnist of La Pensee Russe Paris - New -York.

Unfortunately (or fortunately?) I was not following the agenda of the FIDE Congress. Only some days after the Congress, I read Ilyumzhinov's interview to the radio station "Echo" in Moscow. I will allow myself to make two quotes from this interview:

"The format of the chess game will be changed...(that is 40 minutes for the game).It will be a great breakthrough"

"The time of Steinitz,Lasker and Capablanca is long bygone.The new generation has come, with a new vision of chess.The match between Kasparov and Kramnik has shown that the system of knock-out tournaments instead of matches created by FIDE on the threshold of the 21st century is the only viable system today..."

Frankly, I have never heard that the word "format" could be applied to a game of chess which is a creative and time-consuming endeavour.The quality of chess will inevitably go down if chess players play with ping-pong rapidity.

To say that the time of Steinitz and Lasker is bygone is to show complete disrespect to chess. Can we say that the time of Mozart and Chopin, Rembrandt and Rubens is bygone? Moreover, Ilyumzhinov is not a chess player, so he has no competence to judge.It should be reminded that when Ilyumzhinov became FIDE President he said that chess is for him an occupation of secondary interest.May be, being President of Kalmukia is of primary interest ? Not at all! Money, this is what matters for him first and foremost! Ilyumzhinov, as I wrote once in one of my postings in The Chess Cafe is the logical continuation of Campomanes, but on a new spiral. I remember vividly how Campomanes in Sukhumi in 1988 during the FIDE Chess Seminar (where I was working as translator at the lectures delivered by Soviet grandmasters to young chess palyers from the Third World countries) invited representatives of these countries to his hotel suite, treating them to excellent Georgian and Armenian cognac, thus buying their votes. Now FIDE is totally Ilyumzhinov's commercial enterprise.

No, the time of Capablanca is not bygone. Hopefully, the time of Ilyumzhinov will be soon bygone and the chess world will forget this nightmare. But to do so,chess players (but not Ilyumzhinov's backscratchers in FIDE) should unite their efforts in exposing Ilyumzhinov as the greatest impostor in chess history.

In 1998 soon after the assassination of Larissa Yudina, who edited an anti-Ilyumzhinov newspaper in Kalmukia, Sarah Hurst, one of the best and most honest journalists on the chess curcuit, who visited Kalmukia, called upon chess players not to participate in the Olympiad in Elista. Her appeal remained "vox clamantis":almost all the teams obediently went to Elista right into the hands of the back-stabber of the noble game of Morphy, Reti and Tal. At that time I was in correspondence with Sarah.I wrote to her: "The day will come, Sarah, when chess players will be ashamed of their cowardice". I hope this day has come. We must defend chess,we must defend chess history against Ilyumzhinov.

15) Professional World Chess Ranking December

The Professional World Chess Rankings (Produced by Ken Thomson of New Jersey calculated by Vladimir Dvorkovich of Moscow has been released. The list is seriously at varience with the projected FIDE list as it is calculated in a different way. In particular it tends to show changes more quickly. In their December list they place Vladimir Kramnik at the top of the rating list ahead of Garry Kasparov (on Varience a measure of the stability of the results the rating is the same) after their match in London. This match is unlikely to be rated by FIDE. Alexander Khalifman has also had a big recent rise, up to 11.

    1.Kramnik,Vladimir                   25.06.75 g   RUS  2792  111  
    2.Kasparov,Garry                     13.04.63 g   RUS  2792  119  
    3.Anand,Viswanathan                  11.12.69 g   IND  2732  123  
    4.Leko,Peter                         08.09.79 g   HUN  2717  122  
    5.Morozevich,Alexander               18.07.77 g   RUS  2706  180  
    6.Shirov,Alexei                      04.07.72 g   ESP  2701  199  
    7.Kamsky,Gata                        02.06.74 g   USA  2696  184  
    8.Topalov,Veselin                    15.03.75 g   BUL  2687  169  
    9.Ivanchuk,Vassily                   18.03.69 g   UKR  2680  156  
   10.Ponomariov,Ruslan                  11.10.83 g   UKR  2675  150  
   11.Khalifman,Alexander                18.01.66 g   RUS  2671  155  
   12.Bareev,Evgeny                      21.11.66 g   RUS  2666  151  
   13.Adams,Michael                      17.11.71 g   ENG  2666  175  
   14.Gelfand,Boris                      24.06.68 g   ISR  2659  149  
   15.Grischuk,Alexander                 31.10.83 g   RUS  2657  148  
   16.Van Wely,Loek                      07.10.72 g   NED  2657  164  
   17.Svidler,Peter                      17.06.76 g   RUS  2654  163  
   18.Gurevich,Mikhail                   22.02.59 g   BEL  2649  154  
   19.Georgiev,Kiril                     28.11.65 g   BUL  2648  177  
   20.Dreev,Alexey                       30.01.69 g   RUS  2639  153  
   21.Akopian,Vladimir                   07.12.71 g   ARM  2636  168  
   22.Azmaiparashvili,Zurab              16.03.60 g   GEO  2631  165  
   23.Lautier,Joel                       12.04.73 g   FRA  2630  149  
   24.Smirin,Ilia                        21.01.68 g   ISR  2630  170  
   25.Karpov,Anatoli                     23.05.51 g   RUS  2629  134  
   26.Kasimdzhanov,Rustam                05.12.79 g   UZB  2627  158  
   27.Kharlov,Andrei                     20.11.68 g   RUS  2626  167  
   28.Bologan,Viorel                     14.12.71 g   MDA  2624  164  
   29.Short,Nigel D                      01.06.65 g   ENG  2623  152  
   30.Ye Jiangchuan                      20.11.60 g   CHN  2622  162  
   31.Tkachev,Vladislav                  09.11.73 g   FRA  2619  146  
   32.Yusupov,Artur                      13.02.60 g   GER  2613  145  
   33.Movsesian,Sergei                   03.11.78 g   CZE  2613  170  
   34.Salov,Valery                       26.05.64 g   RUS  2612  199  
   35.Polgar,Judit (GM)                  23.07.76 g   HUN  2608  173  
   36.Sakaev,Konstantin                  13.04.74 g   RUS  2604  142  
   37.Hjartarson,Johann                  08.02.63 g   ISD  2604  176  
   38.Granda Zuniga,Julio E              25.02.67 g   PER  2603  202  
   39.Nikolic,Predrag                    11.09.60 g   BIH  2602  159  
   40.Wolff,Patrick G                    15.02.68 g   USA  2602  186  
   41.Khenkin,Igor                       21.03.68 g   RUS  2601  164  
   42.Rublevsky,Sergei                   15.10.74 g   RUS  2601  169  
   43.Dautov,Rustem                      28.11.65 g   GER  2600  176  
   44.Sadler,Matthew                     15.05.74 g   ENG  2600  188  
   45.Krasenkov,Mikhail                  14.11.63 g   POL  2599  171  
   46.Magerramov,Elmar                   10.04.58 g   AZE  2595  187  
   47.Almasi,Zoltan                      29.08.76 g   HUN  2594  162  
   48.Rozentalis,Eduardas                27.05.63 g   LTU  2592  167  
   49.Zhang,Zhong                        05.09.78 g   CHN  2591  188  
   50.Hansen,Curt                        18.09.64 g   DEN  2589  141  

16) Forthcoming Events and Links

Van der Wiel - Rebel Match

Maarten van Gils reports: There will be a match in Maastricht between John Van der Wiel and the computer program Rebel. It will take place January 2nd to 11th, 2001. John van der Wiel has developed explicit ideas about playing against computers and Rebel 11.0 (November 2000) seems to be much stronger than its predecessors. So the organisers hope the match will be exciting. The Arbiter will be Geurt Gijssen. The organisers are Stichting Chess Events Maastricht. The venue: Centre Céramique, Avenue Céramique 50 Maastricht, The Netherlands. Dates: January 2-4, 2001 Round 1-3. January 9-11, 2001 Round 4-6.

Match (6 games): GM John van der Wiel vs REBEL 11.0. Time control: 40/120 + 60/all. Games start at 13:00 local time. Entry is free.

Contact details:

Director: Maarten van Gils mvgvsm@wxs.nl

Game comments: Jan van Reek Endgame.Reek@net.HCC.nl

Live Internet coverage: Daan Brorens http://www.chess.dts.nl

More information: (English text) http://www.rebel.nl/rebwiel.htm (Dutch text) http://www.lisb.nl/vdWielRebel.htm

Bundesliga Live

Individual matches are being covered live by various German Clubs.

Bundesliga coverage December 9th-10th 2000 including the battle of the giants: Porz vs. Solingen. Internet coverage: http://www.schach.com/bundesliga.

Further coverage from other venues at: http://www.lsv1873.de/ , http://www.galaxis.de/ and http://www.gmschach.de

Martve Open

The Martve Open takes place 15-24.XII 2000 in Tbilisi. If interested E-mail: amiran_chess_tur@yahoo.com, geo_chess2000@yahoo.com, allach@viam.hepi.edu.ge, a_japaridze@yahoo.com

Internet site: http://geocities.com/amiran_chess_tur

Gausdal Troll Masters

The Gausdal Troll Masters are played at the Gausdal Høifjellshotel in Norway 5-12th January 2001. Open 9-round GM-tournament with good norm chances. 14-18 titled players expected out of 60-70 participants. Maximum 10-12 unrated players. Confirmed GMs: Rozentalis (2593), Rausis (2551), Krakops (2522), Gausel (2492), Djurhuus (2484) and Westerinen (2370). Last date of entry: 1st Januay 2001 Start fee: NOK 300-900, depending on rating. Prizes: NOK 6000 - 4000 - 2500 - 1500 - 1000

More information on the home page: http://home.online.no/~bjarke-k/TrollMasters/Troll2001/Engelsk/index.htm

Participation in the tournament may be combined with the Open Norwegian Rapid Chess Championships, played in Fredrikstad (south-east of Oslo) 12-13th January 2001. Home page: http://www.sjakk.net/nm_2001.html

Bethune Open (France)

The Bethune Open takes place 26th-30th December 2000. The 21st international open in Bethune (north of France). Many prizes: at least 36000 FF (~$5000) with 10000 FF (~$1500) for the winner. Further information: http://www.viruschess.com/ or by e-mail: lahcenec@aol.com

John McVicar Braingames Article

Ex-convict John McVicar wrote a column on the braingames World Chess Championships in Punch. The article by an outsider gives a unique view of the event. It will probably only be available this week.

Link: http://www.punch.co.uk/mcvicar.html

Cappelle la Grande

The XVII Cappelle la Grande open takes place 24th February-3rd March 2001.

Internet site: http://cappelle.free.fr

GM Alexander Baburin chess sites

GM Alexander Baburin has been a familiar presence on the internet with his Coffee Break magazine. He is now involved in two new websites. http://www.gmsquare.com The idea is to provide a place on the Web to those GMs who would like to have some presence on the Internet and currently there are sites of three GMs there - Alexander Baburin himself, Alexander Morozevich and Lev Psakhis. Secondly at: http://www.chesstoday.net there will be a commercial chess service, providing daily news, interviews and instruction to a wide range of players. Each issue will feature one annotated game and news from around the world, while weekend issues will have some instructional materials, particularly useful for club players. Chess Today costs about $15 for 4 months.

Carlos Torre Memorial

XIII GM Carlos Torre Repetto In Memoriam 2000 12th-20th December 2000. Venue: Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. Details: http://commcenter.terra.com.mx Contact: Lic Hugo A Balam Lopez: Tel 0199 913844. E-Mail hcamaron@terra.com.mx

76th Hastings Chess Congress

The 76th Hastings International Chess Congress will take place from the 28th December 2000 to 7th January 2001. This year it will be held at a new venue which should greatly enhance the event. It will be played under one roof at the new £4.5 million Horntye Park Sports Complex which opened in the late Spring.

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

Contact Pam Thomas Tel/Fax 01424 445348 e-mail dmt123@compuserve.com

Ano Liosia Open

The 11th International Open Chess Tournament "Ano Liosia 2001" takes place 27 December 2000 - 6 January 2001, in Ano Liosia, Athens.

PRIZES 1st : 600.000 drs (1.500$), 2nd : 450.000 drs (1.125$), 3rd : 300.000 drs (750$), 4th : 250.000 drs (625$), 5th : 200.000 drs (500$), 6th : 150.000 drs (375$), 7th : 100.000 drs (250$), 8th : 90.000 drs (225$), 9th : 80.000 drs (200$), 10th : 70.000 drs (175$), 11th : 60.000 drs (150$), 12th : 50.000 drs (125$), 13th : 40.000 drs (100$), 14th : 35.000 drs (87.5$), 15th : 30.000 drs (75$), 16th : 25.000 drs (62.5$). TOTAL : 2.530.000 Drs. (6.325$)

Internet coverage: http://www.chess.gr/anoliosia

4th Afro-Asian Email Chess Championship

The 4th Afro-Asian Email Chess Championships which is a tournament of the ICCF. Any chess lover who lives in Africa or Asia can take part in the tournament with no entry fee. The preliminary round starts on 15.01.2001. The application should be sent by Email to the zonal director samraoui@aol.com not later than 31.12.2000.

Zadar Christmas Open

The Zadar Christmas Open takes place 9th-17th December 2000.

Further details: http://sites.netscape.net/mladen18/zd2000/index.htm

Kramnik-Leko Match

The "Westfälische Ferngas AG" (WFG) announced a match between Vladimir Kramnik and Peter Leko, to be held from January 2nd to 8th 2001. We will see 12 rapid games (two per day, rest day: January 5th) in the Hotel Kempinski, city centre of Budapest (Hungary).

Internet coverage: To be announced.

Corus Wijk aan Zee 2001

The 14 players who will compete in the Corus 2001 chess tournament in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands January 12th-28th 2001 have been invited. For the 3rd year running Garry Kasparov will play in the event. The top nine players in the July 2000 rating list are taking part.

Round 1 is on January 13th. Rest days were on Monday (15th), Friday (19th) and Wednesday (24th) are rest days.

Players: Garry Kasparov (Russia - 1 - 2849), Vladimir Kramnik (Russia - 2 - 2770), Viswanathan Anand (India - 3 - 2762), Alexander Morozevich (Russia - 4 - 2756), Michael Adams (England - 5 - 2755), Alexey Shirov (Spain - 6 - 2746), Peter Leko (Hungary 7 - 2743), Vassili Ivanchuk (Ukraine - 8 - 2719), Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria - 9 - 2707), Jeroen Piket (Netherlands - 34 - 2649), Alexey Fedorov (Belarus - 37 - 2646), Loek van Wely (Netherlands - 39 - 2643), Jan Timman (Netherlands - 46 - 2639), Sergey Tiviakov (Netherlands - 76 - 2608). Average rating: 2713 Category: 19

Coverage last year was at: http://chess2.lostcity.nl/corus/ and its expected this site will have the tournament for 2001.

Tel Aviv Open 2001

Open Swiss International Tournament in Tel-Aviv Dates: 9th-17th April 2001. 9 rounds. Possibilities for GM and IM norms. Prizes: 4000 3000 2000 1200 800....20 prizes in total (10 last are 250$); special U-2400, U-2000, U-18 y.o: 500 300 200 + women prizes; Special Conditions for the first 10 Grandmasters (2550+).

Info: The Israeli Chess Federation through Mr. Igal Lotan 03-6437627, 03-6437630;

Rilton Cup

The XXX Rilton Cup in Stockholm takes place 27th December 2000 - 5th January 2001.

Homepages: http://home2.swipnet.se/~w-21958/rc2000a.htm(English), http://home2.swipnet.se/~w-21958/rifoen0001d.htm or http://www.stockholmchessfederation.com/

2001 Australian Open

Thursday 28 December 2000 - Tuesday 09 January 2001 Rydges Hotel Canberra City London Circuit, ACT, AUSTRALIA (3 hours drive from Sydney - transfer from airport may be available)

11 Round Fide-Rated Open Swiss The Following Players Are Confirmed: Gm Yuri Yakovich (Russia 2585) Gm Utut Adianto (Indonesia 2583) Gm Ian Rogers (Australia 2558) Gm Alexander Volzhin (Russia 2556) Gm Darryl Johansen (Australia 2505) Gm Markus Stangl (Germany 2479) Gm Goran Todorovich (Yugoslavia 2455) Gm H. Ardiansyah (Indonesia 2421) Im Gary Lane (England 2452) Im Michael Gluzman (Australia 2432) Im Vladimir Feldman (Australia 2399) Im Guy West (Australia 2372) Im Zong Yuan Zhao (Australia 2341) Im David Smerdon (Australia 2315) Im Irina Berezina-Feldman (Australia 2304) Gm And Im Norms Will Be Available.

All rounds 2:00 PM except last round 10:00 AM Accompanying minor, rapid and lightning events as well as simultaneous exhibitions. Entry: GMs, IMs, WGMs, WIMs free. Otherwise: A$120 A$96 (concession) The Open prize fund will be between A$11,000-A$15,000. 1st prize is A$3,000 with at least 6 place prizes overall with 2nd A$1,800 and 3rd A$1,200. Also a wide range of rating group and junior prizes in over 10 different sections.

Some conditions for GMs and IMs may be available, for instance billet accommodation. A limited number of summertime tourist bus outback travel packages might also be available for visiting titled players. 2001 Australian Junior Championships: The Australian Junior Championships will follow the Australian Open from 11 to 23 Jan 2001, also to be held in Canberra. Some coaching opportunities may be available for squads of titled players playing in the Open.

Entries so far: Leading entries include IGMs: GM Utut Adianto (Indonesia 2583), GM Ian Rogers (Australia 2558), GM Alexander Volzhin (Russia 2556), GM Darryl Johansen (Australia 2505), GM Stefan Djuric (Yugoslavia 2472), GM Goran Todorovic (Yugoslavia 2455). and IMs: IM Gary Lane (England 2452), IM Michael Gluzman (Australia 2432), IM Maarten Solleveld (Netherlands 2426), IM Vladimir Feldman (Australia 2399), IM Guy West (Australia 2372), IM Zong-Yuan Zhao (Australia 2341), IM David Smerdon (Australia 2315), IM Irina Berezina-Feldman (Australia 2304).

Important web sites: Australian Open http://www.auschess.org.au/centenary/ Australian Chess Federation http://www.auschess.org.au/ Australian Open Accommodation http://www.auschess.org.au/centenary/austaccom.html - cheap accommodation options available close to the venue

Bobby Fischer contribution to the Ambassador Report

Bobby Fischer was associated with Herbert W. Armstrong's Worldwide Church of God for some time. The Ambassador report was compiled by opponents of the organisation. You can read it at: http://homepage.altavista.com/AmbassadorReport/files/Fischer.html

4NCL Fantasy Chess

Fantasy Chess is now running a competition based on the 4NCL. People have to predict the results of the matches rather than the individual games. One for the Bundesliga will follow.

http://play.at/fantasychess

Three Hungarian Tournaments

Szekszard HUN IM closed tournament 04-10 12 2000 9 rounds, 2 double rounds, cat. 3-4, entry fee: 200 DEM information: Videki Sandor Tel/fax: 00-36-75421225 email: videkisn@matavnet.hu

Szekszard HUN 9 rounds open, children, blitz tournaments 05-10 12 2000 prizefound: 400000 HUF Information: Papp Csaba, Decs Oreg str.53 Hungary email: rlaszlo@freemail.hu

There will be the TAPOLCA Open chess tournament in Budapest January 5th-13th 2001. Prizes: 40-25-15-10-6-4-2x3-2x2.5-2x2 thousand HUF /1 USD = 300 HUF now/. About 4-6 IM-s, 50-70 % FIDE rated usually. The organizer: PAREJ, Jozsef, phone: 00-36-87-321-950, home 19:00-21:00 hours Central European Time More info and accommodation in Budapest: Nagy, Laszlo International Chess Organizer E-mail: firstsat@elender.hu

IECG Cup

The IECG Cup VI preliminary stage. IECG Cup is an open tournament: players of any rating are merged together. So this is a nice opportunity to play a wide range of opponents. Subscriptions are open until September 15. Entries received after this date are used for a replacement list, which will be closed on October 1st. The tournament will be launched on October 1st, for a duration of 11 months. All the unfinished games will be adjudicated. During the preliminary phase, all participants take part in a 7 men, single round tournament (so 6 games to play). The 2 winners of each section will be entitled to play in the next stage, starting in October 2001. All games count for IECG rating, of course.

The entry form for Cup VI is at: http://www.iecg.org/cupentry.htm The web entry form is the best method to be enlisted in the Cup, as the process behind is easier for us.

Vikings Chess Festival

The second York Vikings Chess Festival are 13th to 22nd December 2000. The venue will once again be the superb Lady Anne Middleton's Hotel.

Contact: Adam Raoof if interested: adam@circuit.demon.co.uk

GM 'A' - £10,000 in prizes! GM Julian Hodgson (British Champion) GM Tiger Hillarp-Persson (SWE) GM Jonny Hector (SWE) GM Emil Sutovsky (ISR) GM Alexei Barsov (UZB) GM Jonathan Rowson (SCO)

GM 'B' - £5,000 in prizes! GM Aaron Summerscale GM Keith Arkell IM Irina Krush (USA) Entries from players 2350+ are invited.

Masters IM Valer Krutti (HUN) IM Still to be invited... IM Still to be invited... Entries from players 2250+ are invited.

Open This will be a 9-round FIDE rated swiss tournament with a first prize of at least £200. The entry fee is £25 for rated players (July 2000 list) or £40 for unrated players. Blitz 5 minute chess - Sunday 17th December - £5 entry - all entries returned as prizes - 11am start - 6pm finish - parking at the venue Accommodation Very special room rates at the Lady Anne Middleton Hotel venue for players and partners; £19.50 for a single room per person per night bed and breakfast £15.00 per person per night if they share a twin/double room http://www.ladyannes.demon.co.uk/

Website: http://www.circuit.demon.co.uk/york2.htm

Linares and Ubeda Opens 2001

The VIII "Anibal" Open takes place in Linares, January 8th-18th, 2001. 11 round Swiss System Event.

PRIZES 1º 1.000.000 pts. 2º 500.000 pts. 3º 250.000 pts. 4º 200.000 pts. 5º 150.000 pts. 6º-10º 100.000 pts. 11º-20º 50.000 pts. 21º-30º 30.000 pts. 31º-50º 25.000 pts. 1st Woman Chessplayer 50.000 pts. 1st Chessplayer under 2300 Elo 50.000 pts. 1st Chessplayer from Jaen 50.000 pts.

The VI "Ciudad de Ubeda" Open takes place Ubeda, January 21st-30th 2001. 10 Round Swiss System event.

PRIZES 1º 500.000 pts. 2º 250.000 pts. 3º 150.000 pts. 4º 125.000 pts. 5º 100.000 pts. 6º-15º 75.000 pts. 16º-50º 50.000 pts. 1st Woman Chessplayer 50.000 pts. 1st Chessplayer under 2300 Elo 50.000 pts. 1st Chessplayer from Jaen 50.000 pts.

CONDITIONS

Chessplayers with 2580 Elo according FIDE ranking list July 2000 or January 2001: Free full board in a single room and free fixed fee. G.M. and I.M. Lodging free in a 3 stars hotel in Linares and in a 4 stars hotel in Ubeda. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are $12 per person/day in a double room (single supplement $25). Others Chessplayers: Lodging in a 3 stars hotel in Linares and in a 4 stars hotel in Ubeda is $24 per person/day in a double room (single supplement $25). Breakfast, lunch and dinner are $12 per person/day.

FIXED FEE PER TOURNAMENT: Until December 31st , 2000 7.500 pts. Since January 1st, 2001 10.000 pts.

VIII Open "Anibal" Tel. 953 650400, fax 953 652204 (Miss Flori). VI Open "Ciudad de Ubeda" Tel. 953 791011, fax 953 791012 (Miss Tana). e-mail address: linareschess@wanadoo.es - linareschess@teleline.es

Bank details: Banco de Andalucía, account nº 0004 3270 84 0601005803 Prizes will be subject to 25% tax.

Lajos Ózdi IM Harkany

The Lajos Ózdi Memorial IM tournament in Harkany, Hungary taking place November 16th-24th 2000. The ten player all-play-all IM norm event takes place in the Hotel Platán Harkány Bartók Béla u 15. Contact: Schepp Zoltán Tel 36-72-258-044 e-mail: gyorkos.lajos@dpg.hu

In addition there is the 24th Tenkes Cup in the same venue and dates. With an A and B Masters Open. Entry deadline 10th November 2000. Contact: Faludi László SIKLÓS, Kossuth tér 1. 7801 Tel.: 00 36 72l352-122 Fax: 00 36 72/351-858 Hungary Mikola Lajos: e-mail : tenkescup@egon.gyaloglo.hu

WPC Site

Valery Salov heads the WPC (World Players Council) and they have their own website. The site is at: http://ajedrez_democratico.tripod.com with a mixture of material in Spanish and English. Includes: In English continued correspondence between Yasser Seirawan and Valery Salov, the WPC Memorandum and a summary of a press conference in London and Alexei Shirov annotating his win against Bacrot in Sarajavo. In Spanish there is more material including a press conference in Leon 5th June with the participants: GM Valeri Salov, IM Javier Ochoa, GM Zenón Franco, GM Jordi Magem, IM Ricardo Calvo, IM Leonid Bass, Leontxo García, Miguel Ángel Nepomuceno, Frederic Friedel (his exchanges are given in English), Amador Cuesta Robledo, and David Llada. You could try running the Spanish sections through the Babel Fish translation program to get the early exchanges if you don't speak the language.

New Russian Website

There is a new Russian Website (English content to follow) at: http://kvkchess.euro.ru/. Material includes chess history and statistics and a collection of the chess links.

New Greek Site

The OAA Heraklio Chess Club a new website: http://www.oaachess.bizland.com the site has chess news from Greece, chess features, etc. Includes a Greek chess calendar.

16th Maccabiah Chess Tournaments

As part of the 16th Maccabiah there will be a number of chess tournaments (GM/IM and open tournaments) The 16th Maccabiah (Jewish Olympiad) takes place in Tel-Aviv 16th-26th June 2001. http://www.slavchess.co.il/academy/maccabi.html