THE WEEK IN CHESS 549 16th May 2005 by Mark Crowther

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Contents

1) Introduction
2) Mtel Masters
3) 40th Capablanca Memorial
4) FIDE Championship in Argentina
5) Armenian Championship
6) Hungarian Championships
7) Lithuanian Championship
8) First Saturday May
9) Van Wely - Stellwagen Match
10) CCA-ICC International
11) Young Stars of the World
12) French League Top 16
13) Serbia and Montenegro Women's Playoff
14) 55th Russian Women's Championship
15) Russian under-18 championship
16) 23rd Liechtenstein Open
17) 10th Stuttgart International Championship
18) Japfa Match
19) 1st Livry Gargan Rapid
20) Serbia and Montenegro Team Cup
21) Harvard Open
22) Bundesliga
23) Leonid Shamkovich 1923-2005
24) ACP Tour Report - April 2005
25) TWIC Theory
26) Forthcoming Events and Links


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Games section

Mtel Masters                            15 games
40th Capablanca Memorial               135 games
Armenian Championship                   12 games
Hungarian Championships                 50 games
Lithuanian Championship                 66 games
First Saturday May                      92 games
Van Wely - Stellwagen Match              4 games
CCA-ICC International                   34 games
French League Top 16                   225 games
Serbia & Montenegro Women's Playoff      4 games
55th Russian Women's Championship       12 games
Russian under-18 championship          162 games
23rd Liechtenstein Open                176 games
10th Stuttgart International            10 games
Japfa Match                              6 games
1st Livry Gargan Rapid                  36 games
Serbia and Montenegro Team Cup          44 games
Bundesliga                               1 game
1085 games

1) Introduction

My thanks to Gaguik Oganessian, Yannick Pelletier, Zsuzsa Veroci, Gary Suffield, Misha Savinov, Eric Birmingham, Vladica Andrejic, Miklos Orso, Martin Mrva, Gérard Demuydt, Pat Reynolds, Eric van Reem, Marius Fraenzel, Pierre Bourget, Eldar Mukhametov, Thomas Henrich, Dimitris Skyrianoglou, George Mirijanian, Sergey Bystrov, Jovan Petronic, Gabor Kallai, Igor Glek, Rod McShane, ZF, Michal Krasenkow and everyone else who helped with the issue.

The innovative Mtel Masters is well under way. The main new idea is to prevent the players agreeing early draws and getting them to play the games out until they are sterile. Of course the players have to a certain extent circumvented the idea by repeating the position three times if both sides want a draw but the experiment has been a qualified success. One of my bugbears about top class chess is the number of almost exclusive 1.e4 players there are. This might be about to change as the Petroff Defence has been so extensively tested that its now starting to look like a full answer if black wants to draw. After four rounds of 1.e4 the fifth round saw all the white players abandon it altogether and some interesting chess ensued. Hopefully this is the start of a bit more variety in opening choices. After five rounds Michael Adams and Vladimir Kramnik lead on 3/5. FIDE have undertakings from Rustam Kasimdzhanov, Vishwanathan Anand, Veselin Topalov, Peter Leko, Michael Adams, Alexander Morozevich, Peter Svidler and Judith Polgar to play in their World Championship tournament. I would say FIDE can't afford for the event not to take place so it seems very likely that it will. It should be a very interesting event.

Hope you enjoy this issue.

Mark

2) Mtel Masters

"Mobiltel" and "Kaissa Chess Management" (the agency of Silvio Danailov, manager of Veselin Topalov) have organised a tournament May 11th-22nd, 2005 in Sofia, Bulgaria. The event is a part of the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the biggest Bulgarian mobile operator(http://www.mobiltel.bg)

The Category 20 event is a double round robin with a 7 hour time control. There will be a winner of the event as there will be a playoff in the case of a tie.

One unusual rule is that draw by mutual agreement between the players is forbidden. The players won't be allowed to offer a draw or speak to their opponent. The player can claim the draw only via Arbiter in 3 cases: A) Perpetual check B) Triple repetition C) A theoretically drawn position. Only the Arbiter can confirm the result of the game. The Arbiters will be advised by Zurab Azmaiparashvili on this. Arbiters: Chief Arbiter: Joaquin Espejo (Spain),Deputy arbiters: Boris Postovski (USA),Panaqiotis Nikolopoulos (Greece).

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

Round 1 (May 12, 2005)

Adams, Michael      -  Polgar, Judit       1/2   74  B47  Sicilian Paulsen
Kramnik, Vladimir   -  Ponomariov, Ruslan  1-0   60  B17  Caro Kann
Anand, Viswanathan  -  Topalov, Veselin    1/2   60  B80  Sicilian Scheveningen

Round 2 (May 13, 2005)

Kramnik, Vladimir   -  Anand, Viswanathan  1/2   32  C42  Petroff's Defence
Ponomariov, Ruslan  -  Polgar, Judit       1/2   78  B55  Sicilian Rauzer
Topalov, Veselin    -  Adams, Michael      1/2   26  C88  Ruy Lopez Closed

Round 3 (May 14, 2005)

Adams, Michael      -  Kramnik, Vladimir   1-0   41  C42  Petroff's Defence
Anand, Viswanathan  -  Ponomariov, Ruslan  1/2   33  C42  Petroff's Defence
Polgar, Judit       -  Topalov, Veselin    1/2   60  C67  Ruy Lopez Berlin

Round 4 (May 15, 2005)

Adams, Michael      -  Ponomariov, Ruslan  1/2   27  B13  Caro Kann Exchange
Topalov, Veselin    -  Kramnik, Vladimir   1/2   52  C42  Petroff's Defence
Polgar, Judit       -  Anand, Viswanathan  1/2   70  B46  Sicilian Paulsen

Round 5 (May 16, 2005)

Kramnik, Vladimir   -  Polgar, Judit       1-0   62  E32  Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Anand, Viswanathan  -  Adams, Michael      1/2   54  A30  English Symmetrical
Ponomariov, Ruslan  -  Topalov, Veselin    1-0   40  E06  Catalan

Mtel Masters Sofia BUL (BUL), 12-22 v 2005     cat. XX (2747)
-------------------------------------------------------------
                                  1  2  3  4  5  6 
-------------------------------------------------------------
1 Adams, Michael      g ENG 2737 ** 1. =. =. =. =.  3.0  2820
2 Kramnik, Vladimir   g RUS 2753 0. ** =. 1. =. 1.  3.0  2817
3 Anand, Viswanathan  g IND 2785 =. =. ** =. =. =.  2.5  2739
4 Ponomariov, Ruslan  g UKR 2695 =. 0. =. ** 1. =.  2.5  2757
5 Topalov, Veselin    g BUL 2778 =. =. =. 0. ** =.  2.0  2668
6 Polgar, Judit       g HUN 2732 =. 0. =. =. =. **  2.0  2677
-------------------------------------------------------------

3) 40th Capablanca Memorial

The 40th Capablanca Memorial takes place 5th-20th May, 2005. Vassily Ivanchuk leads with 6.5/8 two points clear of the field.

Official site: http://www.inder.co.cu/capablanca/

Capablanca Mem Elite Havana CUB (CUB), 6-19 v 2005   cat. XV (2619)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 1  2  3  4  5  6  7 
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Ivanchuk, Vassily  g UKR 2739 ** =. =1 =. 1. 11 1.  6.5 / 8  2862
2 Delgado, Neuris    g CUB 2567 =. ** 0. =. 10 1. =1  4.5 / 8  2646
3 Dominguez, Lenier  g CUB 2658 =0 1. ** =1 =. 0. =.  4.0 / 8  2635
4 Bruzon, Lazaro     g CUB 2669 =. =. =0 ** =. =. 1.  3.5 / 7  2617
5 Nogueiras, Jesus   g CUB 2533 0. 01 =. =. ** =. =.  3.0 / 7  2573
6 Jobava, Baadur     g GEO 2637 00 0. 1. =. =. ** 10  3.0 / 8  2533
7 Arencibia, Walter  g CUB 2530 0. =0 =. 0. =. 01 **  2.5 / 8  2484
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Round 3 (May 8, 2005)

Delgado, Neuris    -  Ivanchuk, Vassily  1/2   29  C08  French Tarrasch
Nogueiras, Jesus   -  Arencibia, Walter  1/2   14  D29  QGA
Jobava, Baadur     -  Bruzon, Lazaro     1/2   79  D61  Queens Gambit Main Line with 7.Qc2

Round 4 (May 9, 2005)

Ivanchuk, Vassily  -  Nogueiras, Jesus   1-0   58  D17  Slav Defence
Dominguez, Lenier  -  Jobava, Baadur     0-1   53  B63  Sicilian Rauzer
Bruzon, Lazaro     -  Delgado, Neuris    1/2   39  B86  Sicilian Sozin Attack

Round 5 (May 10, 2005)

Delgado, Neuris    -  Dominguez, Lenier  0-1   39  B92  Sicilian Najdorf with 6.Be2
Nogueiras, Jesus   -  Bruzon, Lazaro     1/2   49  D62  Queens Gambit Main Line with 7.Qc2
Arencibia, Walter  -  Ivanchuk, Vassily  0-1   40  D12  Slav Defence

Round 6 (May 11, 2005)

Dominguez, Lenier  -  Nogueiras, Jesus   1/2   26  C11  French Defence
Bruzon, Lazaro     -  Arencibia, Walter  1-0   64  B07  Pirc Defence
Jobava, Baadur     -  Delgado, Neuris    0-1   56  E13  Queens Indian 5.Bg5

Round 7 (May 12, 2005)

Ivanchuk, Vassily  -  Bruzon, Lazaro     1/2   44  D36  QGD Exchange
Nogueiras, Jesus   -  Jobava, Baadur     1/2   13  E08  Catalan
Arencibia, Walter  -  Dominguez, Lenier  1/2   47  D12  Slav Defence

Round 8 (May 13, 2005)

Ivanchuk, Vassily  -  Dominguez, Lenier  1-0   87  C24  Bishop's Opening
Nogueiras, Jesus   -  Delgado, Neuris    1-0   60  A29  English Four Knights
Arencibia, Walter  -  Jobava, Baadur     1-0   50  D38  QGD Ragozin

Round 9 (May 14, 2005)

Delgado, Neuris    -  Arencibia, Walter  1-0   36  B08  Pirc Defence
Dominguez, Lenier  -  Bruzon, Lazaro     1-0   91  C42  Petroff's Defence
Jobava, Baadur     -  Ivanchuk, Vassily  0-1   30  E12  Queens Indian Petrosian

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capablanca Mem Premier 1 Havana CUB (CUB), 6-19 v 2005            cat. VIII (2448)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Gonzalez, Yuri              m CUB 2482  * . . . 1 = . = 1 = 1 1 . 1  6.5  2696 
 2. Kallio, Heikki              g FIN 2469  . * 0 0 . 1 1 1 1 1 . . 0 .  5.0  2549 
 3. Abreu, Aryam                m CUB 2440  . 1 * = 0 1 0 . 1 = . . 1 .  5.0  2554 
 4. Mosquera, Miguel            m COL 2434  . 1 = * = . = . = . 1 . = =  5.0  2532 
 5. Perez, Luis Manuel          m CUB 2420  0 . 1 = * 0 1 = . . . 1 1 .  5.0  2544 
 6. Flores, Diego               m ARG 2491  = 0 0 . 1 * . 1 . . = = . 1  4.5  2479 
 7. Perez, Rodney               m CUB 2437  . 0 1 = 0 . * . . . = = 1 1  4.5  2479 
 8. Ortega, Mariano             f CUB 2411  = 0 . . = 0 . * . 1 = = . 1  4.0  2455 
 9. De la Paz, Frank            g CUB 2461  0 0 0 = . . . . * . 1 1 1 =  4.0  2443 
10. Vera, Reynaldo              g CUB 2507  = 0 = . . . . 0 . * = = = =  3.0  2353 
11. Zambrana, Oswaldo           m BOL 2472  0 . . 0 . = = = 0 = * . 1 .  3.0  2372 
12. Fernandez Romero, Ernesto   m ESP 2449  0 . . . 0 = = = 0 = . * . =  2.5  2304 
13. Soppe, Guillermo            m ARG 2453  . 1 0 = 0 . 0 . 0 = 0 . * .  2.0  2262 
14. Garcia Martinez, Silvino    g CUB 2351  0 . . = . 0 0 0 = = . = . *  2.0  2266 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capablanca Mem Premier 2 Havana CUB (CUB), 6-19 v 2005              cat. VIII (2447)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Giaccio, Alfredo              m ARG 2478  * = . = 1 . = . = . . 1 1 1  6.0  2631 
 2. Quezada, Yuniesky             m CUB 2502  = * . 1 0 0 1 . 1 . . 1 = .  5.0  2544 
 3. Colovic, Aleksandar           m MKD 2418  . . * 0 1 1 = 1 . = 0 . . =  4.5  2491 
 4. Gongora, Maikel               m CUB 2454  = 0 1 * . . . = = . 1 . = =  4.5  2478 
 5. Hernandez, Holden             m CUB 2446  0 1 0 . * . . = . 1 = . = 1  4.5  2488 
 6. Corrales, Fidel               f CUB 2501  . 1 0 . . * 1 0 . = 0 . 1 1  4.5  2484 
 7. Prasca, Raphael               m VEN 2442  = 0 = . . 0 * . = 1 1 = . .  4.0  2455 
 8. Fernandez Garcia, Jose Luis   g ESP 2468  . . 0 = = 1 . * = = 1 0 . .  4.0  2445 
 9. Hernandez, Roman              g CUB 2367  = 0 . = . . = = * . . = 1 =  4.0  2454 
10. Almeida, Omar                 m CUB 2452  . . = . 0 = 0 = . * 1 . = 1  4.0  2440 
11. Perez, Orelvis                  CUB 2439  . . 1 0 = 1 0 0 . 0 * 1 . .  3.5  2415 
12. Borges Mateos, Juan           g CUB 2484  0 0 . . . . = 1 = . 0 * 1 =  3.5  2395 
13. Schilow, Wladimir               GER 2425  0 = . = = 0 . . 0 = . 0 * .  2.0  2267 
14. Estremera Panos, Sergio       m ESP 2385  0 . = = 0 0 . . = 0 . = . *  2.0  2257 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capablanca Mem Mixto Havana CUB (CUB), 6-19 v 2005              cat. III (2313)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Leon Hoyos, Manuel          f MEX 2376  * = . = 1 1 1 . . . 1 1  6.0  2642 
 2. Arribas, Maritza           wg CUB 2280  = * = 1 = = . . . . 1 1  5.0  2515 
 3. Pina, Sulennis             wg CUB 2330  . = * 1 = . 1 1 0 = . .  4.5  2386 
 4. Mascaro March, Pedro        f ESP 2389  = 0 0 * . 1 . . 1 . 1 =  4.0  2373 
 5. Frois, Antonio              m POR 2356  0 = = . * . . 1 1 . = =  4.0  2341 
 6. Pazos Gambarrotti, Plinio   m ECU 2421  0 = . 0 . * . 1 = 1 . 1  4.0  2359 
 7. Ordaz Valdes, Lisandra     wm CUB 2252  0 . 0 . . . * 0 = 1 1 1  3.5  2293 
 8. Ramon, Vivian              wg CUB 2198  . . 0 . 0 0 1 * 1 = = .  3.0  2250 
 9. Iturrizaga, Eduardo         m VEN 2225  . . 1 0 0 = = 0 * = . .  2.5  2217 
10. Marrero, Yaniet            wm CUB 2291  . . = . . 0 0 = = * 0 1  2.5  2192 
11. Hernandez, Tania           wm CUB 2227  0 0 . 0 = . 0 = . 1 * .  2.0  2148 
12. Perez, Angel                f CUB 2406  0 0 . = = 0 0 . . 0 . *  1.0  2028 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4) FIDE Championship in Argentina

FIDE have announced that their double round robin World Championship has been awarded to the Province of San Luis, Argentina with a prize fund of USD 1,000,000. Its due to take place 27th September - 16th October 2005. The offer is also backed by a financial guarantee and an agreement concerning further organsing details signed by the Governor of San Luis, H.E. Dr Alberto Rodriguez Saa and the FIDE President H.E. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

FIDE (http://www.fide.com) have released a Communique for the 2nd quarter FIDE Presidential Board Meeting 2005 (15th May). It says that they have approved the final list of participants who have all confirmed their participation in the World Chess Championship Tournament. This is a major coup for them as one of my doubts was their ability to sign up players. They have all the players who might have been expected to play. I have become very cynical about their ability to get this event off the ground but this announcement places them very close to making this happen. However if for whatever reason the event doesn't take place it would be the end of any FIDE credibility, from their point of view it has to take place and so almost certainly will. The classical format gives this a legitimacy that their knockout format never had. However their plan to go back to the knockout to find a challenger for the winner will hopefully be changed. One of these every two years would be comparatively easy to finance and they should stick to this format.

1. GM Rustam Kasimdzhanov (UZB, World Champion)
2. GM Vishwanathan Anand (IND, World Champion 2000-2002)
3. GM Veselin Topalov (BUL)
4. GM Peter Leko (HUN)
5. GM Michael Adams (ENG)
6. GM Alexander Morozevich (RUS)
7. GM Peter Svidler (RUS)
8. GM Judith Polgar (HUN)

Kramnik has already announced he will not participate: http://www.chesscenter.com/twic/kramfide.html. But the winner will have the kind of legitimacy that the FIDE KO event did not have in my view so putting pressure on Kramnik to find a good way of challenging for his title.

FIDE have also recognised the new Indian Chess Federation. They also issued a warning about phantom tournaments.

"In recent times, the attention of FIDE has been drawn to several cases where there were strong suspicions regarding the credibility of the results of games and tournaments. FIDE is aware that instances of misconduct are far from easy to prove. However, in order to preserve decency within our noble game and to protect the integrity of our rating and title system, FIDE wishes to make it very clear to everyone that it intends to deal severely with any confirmed case. FIDE emphasizes that a Federation is primarily responsible for all chess matters within its territory. Consequently, it is the obligation of every Federation to investigate and report to FIDE any suspicions regarding results of games. However, FIDE retains the right to carry out an independent enquiry if it feels that this is necessary. There will be severe punishments for players, arbiters, officials, organisers and Federations in proven cases of malpractice, up to a ban for life. The Code of Ethics will be reviewed to see if any changes are required. Also, any new regulations required will be drafted for approval at Congress. If necessary, Senior Arbiters will be appointed by FIDE to monitor results and practices."

They clearly recognise the problem, its very hard to catch people at it unless they're totally incompetant such as in the case of the recent "Heroes of Chernobyl Memorial".

A couple of things have emerged since.

IM Piotr Bobras who didn't have internet access during the Polish Championship is understandably worried about his reputation after having his name used during the event. He points out he has never been to the Ukraine and isn't planning to go there in the near future!

The other is that the organisers of the event are busy trying to avoid the blame. A summary of a recent interview with Viktor Petrov, the President of the Ukrainian Chess Federation. says The UCF Board learned about the Slavutich "tournament" during their meeting on 15.4. They immediately called to one of the "participants" and found him at home; Another player (Chokhonelidze) was playing in a tournament in Kiev at that period (from 19.4); Mr. Petrov condemns the president of the UCF qualification committee Mikhail Seleznev for not intervening and doubts whether GM D.Komarov (who is a chess columnist of one of the leading newspaper and must therefore follow current chess events) really didn't know anything about the falsification, according to his declaration."

Russian version in full: http://www.chesspage.kiev.ua/?z=interview.90.

5) Armenian Championship

The Armenian Championship took place April 29 - May 12, 2005, in Yerevan. Ashot Anastasian won the event with 7.5/11 half a point clear of Karen Asrian and Gabriel Sargissian who were joint leaders going into the final round but lost.

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
ch-ARM Yerevan ARM (ARM), 29 iv-10 v 2005                 cat. XI (2521)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Anastasian, Ashot     g ARM 2574  * = 1 0 = 1 = 1 1 = 1 =  7.5  2648 
 2. Asrian, Karen         g ARM 2611  = * = 1 1 0 1 1 = = = =  7.0  2614 
 3. Sargissian, Gabriel   g ARM 2630  0 = * = 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1  7.0  2612 
 4. Nalbandian, Tigran    g ARM 2508  1 0 = * 1 1 0 = 0 1 = =  6.0  2557 
 5. Yegiazarian, Arsen    g ARM 2534  = 0 0 0 * 1 = 1 1 = = 1  6.0  2555 
 6. Babujian, Levon         ARM 2386  0 1 0 0 0 * 1 = 1 = 1 1  6.0  2568 
 7. Minasian, Artashes    g ARM 2597  = 0 0 1 = 0 * = = 1 = 1  5.5  2513 
 8. Galstian, Beniamin      ARM 2448  0 0 1 = 0 = = * 0 1 1 1  5.5  2527 
 9. Kotanjian, Tigran     m ARM 2443  0 = 1 1 0 0 = 1 * 0 0 1  5.0  2491 
10. Petrosian, Tigran L   g ARM 2599  = = 0 0 = = 0 0 1 * 1 1  5.0  2477 
11. Minasian, Ara         g ARM 2510  0 = 0 = = 0 = 0 1 0 * 0  3.0  2346 
12. Chibukhchian, Artur   m ARM 2406  = = 0 = 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 *  2.5  2319 
------------------------------------------------------------------------

6) Hungarian Championships

The 55th Hungarian Men's Championship (Barcika Cup) takes place 10th-18th May 2005. Also the 53rd Hungarian Women Championship takes place in Szeged 12th-20th May 2005.

Official site men: http://web.axelero.hu/passant/ffi/online.html - Women: http://web.axelero.hu/passant/noi3/online.html

----------------------------------------------------------------
55th ch-HUN Kazincbarcika HUN (HUN), 10-18 v 2005cat. XII (2549)
----------------------------------------------------------------
                                  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 
----------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Gyimesi, Zoltan   g HUN 2595  * . = . = = = 1 1 .  4.0  2671 
 2. Balogh, Csaba     g HUN 2531  . * = = = = = . . 1  3.5  2617 
 3. Almasi, Zoltan    g HUN 2628  = = * . . = . = = 1  3.5  2605 
 4. Portisch, Lajos   g HUN 2525  . = . * . 1 = = = =  3.5  2588 
 5. Ruck, Robert      g HUN 2551  = = . . * = = = = .  3.0  2537 
 6. Berkes, Ferenc    g HUN 2617  = = = 0 = * . . . 1  3.0  2564 
 7. Cao Sang          m VIE 2488  = = . = = . * = . 0  2.5  2488 
 8. Varga, Zoltan     g HUN 2515  0 . = = = . = * = .  2.5  2487 
 9. Erdos, Viktor     m HUN 2480  0 . = = = . . = * =  2.5  2504 
10. Horvath, Adam1    g HUN 2555  . 0 0 = . 0 1 . = *  2.0  2419 
----------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------
53rd ch-HUN w Szeged HUN (HUN), 12-20 v 2005
---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 
---------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Madl, Ildiko          m HUN 2375  * = . . . . 1 1 . 1  3.5  2522 
 2. Lakos, Nikoletta     wg HUN 2342  = * . . 1 . . . 1 1  3.5  2570 
 3. Gara, Anita          wg HUN 2400  . . * = 1 . . . 1 1  3.5  2550 
 4. Gara, Ticia          wg HUN 2296  . . = * . 0 . 1 1 .  2.5  2304 
 5. Schneider, Veronika  wm HUN 2241  . 0 0 . * 1 1 . . .  2.0  2286 
 6. Rudolf, Anna            HUN 2210  . . . 1 0 * . 0 1 .  2.0  2191 
 7. Ignacz, Maria           HUN 2195  0 . . . 0 . * 1 . 1  2.0  2205 
 8. Domany, Zsofia          HUN 2056  0 . . 0 . 1 0 * . .  1.0  2076 
 9. Albert, Kornelia        HUN 2171  . 0 0 0 . 0 . . * .  0.0       
10. Decsey, Katalin         HUN 2151  0 0 0 . . . 0 . . *  0.0       
---------------------------------------------------------------------

7) Lithuanian Championship

The Lithuanian Championship took place in Siauliai 7th-14th May 2005. Viktorija Cmilyte took first on Berger tie-break from Sarunas Sulskis (who she defeated in their individual game) both scoring 8/11.

Further details: http://www.kris-egis.com/chegis/index.php and http://www.chessfed.lt

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ch-LTU Siauliai LTU (LTU), 7-14 v 2005                        cat. VI (2393)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Cmilyte, Viktorija        m LTU 2459  * 1 = 1 1 = = = 1 = = 1  8.0  2562 
 2. Sulskis, Sarunas          g LTU 2545  0 * 0 1 1 1 = 1 1 1 1 =  8.0  2554 
 3. Sakalauskas, Vaidas       m LTU 2476  = 1 * 0 0 1 = = = = 1 1  6.5  2450 
 4. Zagorskis, Darius         m LTU 2482  0 0 1 * 1 1 = = = 1 = =  6.5  2450 
 5. Dambrauskas, Virginijus   m LTU 2318  0 0 1 0 * = 1 0 1 1 = =  5.5  2400 
 6. Sarakauskas, Gediminas    m LTU 2431  = 0 0 0 = * 1 = 1 0 1 1  5.5  2390 
 7. Butnorius, Algimantas     m LTU 2424  = = = = 0 0 * 1 = 0 1 =  5.0  2354 
 8. Kveinys, Aloyzas          g LTU 2539  = 0 = = 1 = 0 * 0 1 = =  5.0  2344 
 9. Narmontas, Matas            LTU 2189  0 0 = = 0 0 = 1 * 1 = =  4.5  2347 
10. Savickas, Airidas           LTU 2275  = 0 = 0 0 1 1 0 0 * = =  4.0  2302 
11. Novikov, Vitalij            LTU 2338  = 0 0 = = 0 0 = = = * 1  4.0  2296 
12. Chocenka, Dmitrijus         LTU 2245  0 = 0 = = 0 = = = = 0 *  3.5  2273 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

8) First Saturday May

The First Saturday May events take place 7th-19th May 2005.

http://www.firstsaturday.hu or http://home.hu.inter.net/~firstsat

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
FSGM May Budapest HUN (HUN), 7-19 v 2005                   cat. VIII (2436)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Chernyshov, Konstantin   g RUS 2531  * = = . 1 . . = = 1 1 1  6.0  2627 
 2. Hoang Thanh Trang        m VIE 2470  = * = 1 1 . 0 . 1 . 1 =  5.5  2584 
 3. Nguyen Ngoc Truongson    g VIE 2527  = = * = = = 1 . . 1 . 1  5.5  2585 
 4. Berczes, David           f HUN 2342  . 0 = * . = 1 1 = 1 . 1  5.5  2580 
 5. Koneru, Humpy            g IND 2508  0 0 = . * = . 1 1 1 1 .  5.0  2530 
 6. Gonda, Laszlo            f HUN 2416  . . = = = * = = = . 0 1  4.0  2429 
 7. Ilincic, Zlatko          g SCG 2473  . 1 0 0 . = * = 1 . = =  4.0  2417 
 8. Seger, Ruediger          m GER 2416  = . . 0 0 = = * . = = 1  3.5  2384 
 9. Paschall, William M      m USA 2400  = 0 . = 0 = 0 . * = 1 .  3.0  2345 
10. Wittmann, Walter         m AUT 2386  0 . 0 0 0 . . = = * 1 1  3.0  2349 
11. Kun, Gabor                 HUN 2336  0 0 . . 0 1 = = 0 0 * .  2.0  2257 
12. Varadi, Viktor             HUN 2430  0 = 0 0 . 0 = 0 . 0 . *  1.0  2123 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FSIM May Budapest HUN (HUN), 7-19 v 2005                          cat. I (2275)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Galyas, Miklos          m HUN 2444  * = = 1 1 . . = = . 1 1 . .  6.0  2465 
 2. Caruana, Fabiano        f USA 2255  = * 1 0 . = . . 1 = 1 . 1 .  5.5  2428 
 3. Werner, Dimo            m GER 2334  = 0 * = 1 . = . . 1 1 . . =  5.0  2386 
 4. Hasanova, Elmira       wm RUS 2282  0 1 = * . = . 1 1 . 0 . 1 .  5.0  2372 
 5. Fodor, Tamas jr         f HUN 2269  0 . 0 . * = 1 . . = . 1 1 1  5.0  2377 
 6. Lengyel, Bela           m HUN 2302  . = . = = * = = = . . = . 1  4.5  2309 
 7. Niemi, Kalle              FIN 2247  . . = . 0 = * = = 1 . = . 1  4.5  2324 
 8. Charleshouse, Glenn L   f ENG 2212  = . . 0 . = = * . = 1 . 0 =  3.5  2233 
 9. Chetverik, Maxim        m RUS 2305  = 0 . 0 . = = . * = = . 1 .  3.5  2227 
10. Prohaszka, Peter2         HUN 2265  . = 0 . = . 0 = = * . 0 . 1  3.0  2186 
11. Erdelyi, Zombor           HUN 2264  0 0 0 1 . . . 0 = . * = 1 .  3.0  2187 
12. Lundin, Jan               SWE 2259  0 . . . 0 = = . . 1 = * 0 =  3.0  2188 
13. Katsuhara, Osamu          JPN 2106  . 0 . 0 0 . . 1 0 . 0 1 * =  2.5  2127 
14. Koneru, Chandra Hawsa     IND 2305  . . = . 0 0 0 = . 0 . = = *  2.0  2056 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9) Van Wely - Stellwagen Match

The Chess Events Maastricht Foundation organised a "Complete Chess match" between the Dutch Grandmasters Loek Van Wely (32, ELO 2687) and Daniel Stellwagen (18, ELO 2532). They played four games in Maastricht, The Netherlands from 10th-13th May 2005. Both players used a computer with ChessBase software during the games. A couple of the games were standard, the other two with the pieces in random positions. Daniel Stellwagen won 3-1 winning both the standard and random elements of the match 1.5-0.5.

Full details: http://www.chessevents.nl

Standard
Van Wely, Loek      -  Stellwagen, Daniel  0-1   41  E97  King's Indian Classical
Stellwagen, Daniel  -  Van Wely, Loek      1/2   36  B31  Sicilian Rossolimo
Random
Van Wely, Loek      -  Stellwagen, Daniel  1/2   48
Stellwagen, Daniel  -  Van Wely, Loek      1-0   42

Complete Chess Match Maastricht NED (NED), 10-13 v 2005
-----------------------------------------------------------
                                  1   2   3   4 
-----------------------------------------------------------
Stellwagen, Daniel g  NED 2532    1   =   =   1   3.0  2880
Van Wely, Loek     g  NED 2687    0   =   =   0   1.0  2339
-----------------------------------------------------------

10) CCA-ICC International

The CCA-ICC International took place May 11th-15th, 2005 and the New York State Open May 13-15, 2005. GM Victor Mikhalevski took clear first and $5,000 with 6.5/9.

Official site: http://www.chesstour.com/ccai05.htm - Games were broadcast on ICC.

------------------------------------------------------
CCA-ICC Open Lake George USA (USA), 11-15 v 2005
------------------------------------------------------
 1. Mikhalevski, Victor      g  ISR 2572 6½ - $5,000
 2. Izoria, Zviad            g  GEO 2602 6  - $1,500
 3. Kacheishvili, Giorgi     g  GEO 2597 6  - $1,500
 4. Shabalov, Alexander      g  USA 2593 6  - $1,500
 5. Epishin, Vladimir        g  RUS 2605 5½ - $500
 6. Atalik, Suat             g  BIH 2561 5½ - $500
 7. Howell, David WL         m  ENG 2416 5½ - $500
 8. Ehlvest, Jaan            g  EST 2614 5  - $167
 9. Kiriakov, Petr           g  RUS 2565 5  - $167
10. Wojtkiewicz, Aleksander  g  USA 2535 5  - $167
11. Gonzales, Jayson         m  PHI 2474 5  - $167
12. Sarkar, Justin           m  USA 2392 5  - $167
13. Harper, Ryan             f  TRI 2230 5  - $167
14. Filippov, Valerij        g  RUS 2621 4½
15. De Firmian, Nick E       g  USA 2549 4½
16. Fernandez, Daniel USA    f  USA 2406 4
17. Rizzitano, James         m  USA 2376 4
18. Ardaman, Miles           f  USA 2308 4
19. Yermolinsky, Alex        g  USA 2574 3½
20. Fridman, Daniel          g  LAT 2562 3½
21  Bakker, Joshua              USA 2172 3
22  Song, Paul H                USA 2112 3
23  Waidyaratne, Kasun          USA 2000 1
24  Aaron, Deepak               USA 1907 0

11) Young Stars of the World

The Young Stars of the World tournament takes place in Kirishi, Leningrad region 12th (arrival) - 26th May 2005.

Participants Alekseev Evgeny (Russia) Andreikin Dmitry (Russia) Zhigalko Sergey (Belarus) Karjakin Sergey (the Ukraine) Kuzubov Yury (the Ukraine) Luka Lenic (Slovenia) Linchevsky Daniil (Russia) Mamedov Rauf (Azerbaijan) Nepomnyashchy Yan (Russia) Parimarjan Negi (India) Sjugirov Sanan (Russia) Khairullin Ildar (Russia)

Official sites: http://www.somovs-memorial.ru/ (Russian only) http://www.somovs-memorial.ru/table_eng.html (English Table)

12) French League Top 16

The final 4 rounds of the French Top 16 league took place 4th-7th May 2005. NAO Chess Club with Kramnik, Adams, Svidler, Lautier etc took the title ahead of Cannes (Shirov, Tkachiev) and Nice. Games from rounds 8-10 are complete, I had to type in the games from the NAO match and the rest seem to be missing.

Details: http://www.echecs.asso.fr and http://europe-echecs.com/article.php?art=20050508001831426

Pl. Team         Pts Pl   d.  p.  c.
 1  Paris Nao    32  11   43  53  10
 2  Cannes       29  11   31  46  15
 3  Nice         27  11   21  34  13
 4  Evry         26  11   20  40  20
 5  Clichy       25  11   17  36  19
 6  Bischwiller  21  11  -11  14  25
 7  Gonfreville  21  11  -11  12  23
 8  Mulhouse     20  11  -18  18  36

Pl. Team         Pts Pl   d.  p.  c.
 9  Montpellier  26  11   11  33  22
10  Monaco       25  11   16  36  20
11  Nancy        21  11  -3   26  29
12  Avignon      20  11  -3   29  32
13  Noyon        19  11  -13  24  37
14  Vandoeuvre   16  11  -20  21  41
15  Reims        13  11  -46  10  56
16  Sautron      11  11  -52  10  62

13) Serbia and Montenegro Women's Playoff

WGM Irina Chelushkina and IM Marija Petrovic tied for first in the Women's Chess Championship of Serbia and Montenegro (Pancevo, April 18-26th, 2005). A playoff Match was organised (Pancevo, May 9-13th, 2005). It was 2-2 after 4 regular games, and the champion was determined after two rapid games. Irina Chelushkina is the women champion of Serbia and Montenegro! It was 2-0 for Petrovic, but Chelushkina then won 4 games in row. Classic time rate games available.

Official website: http://www.scgchess.org/

Standard Time Rate Games
Petrovic, Marija    -  Chelushkina, Irina  1-0   45  D95  Gruenfeld Closed
Chelushkina, Irina  -  Petrovic, Marija    0-1   63  B07  Pirc Defence
Petrovic, Marija    -  Chelushkina, Irina  0-1   68  A46  Queen's Pawn Opening
Chelushkina, Irina  -  Petrovic, Marija    1-0   49  B07  Pirc Defence

Playoff Games
Chelushkina, Irina  -  Petrovic, Marija    2-0 

ch-SCG w Playoff Pancevo SCG (SCG), 9-13 v 2005
-------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 1   2   3   4   5   6 
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Chelushkina, Irina wg SCG 2369    0   0   1   1   1   1   4.0  2346
Petrovic, Marija   wm SCG 2221    1   1   0   0   0   0   2.0  2244
-------------------------------------------------------------------

14) 55th Russian Women's Championship

The superfinal of the 55th Russian women's championship takes place May 15th-26th in Samara.

News: http://www.russiachess.ru - specifically - http://www.russiachess.ru/mods.php?name=section&oid=1009&bid=31

The special website of the championship in Samara is http://www.chess63.com

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ch-RUS w Samara RUS (RUS), 15-26 v 2005                        cat. VI (2389)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Kosteniuk, Alexandra      g RUS 2492  * . . . 1 . . . . . 1 .  2.0       
 2. Kovalevskaya, Ekaterina   m RUS 2469  . * . . . . . . 1 . . 1  2.0       
 3. Kosintseva, Tatiana       m RUS 2486  . . * . . . . . = 1 . .  1.5  2518 
 4. Pogonina, Natalija       wg RUS 2355  . . . * . . . = . . . 1  1.5  2461 
 5. Kosintseva, Nadezhda      m RUS 2459  0 . . . * . 1 . . . . .  1.0  2457 
 6. Zaiatz, Elena            wg RUS 2398  . . . . . * . . . = = .  1.0  2355 
 7. Matveeva, Svetlana       wg RUS 2423  . . . . 0 . * 1 . . . .  1.0  2464 
 8. Galliamova, Alisa         m RUS 2469  . . . = . . 0 * . . . .  0.5  2196 
 9. Gunina, Valentina        wf RUS 2340  . 0 = . . . . . * . . .  0.5  2284 
10. Kochetkova, Julia        wm RUS 2311  . . 0 . . = . . . * . .  0.5  2249 
11. Korbut, Ekaterina        wg RUS 2399  0 . . . . = . . . . * .  0.5  2252 
12. Yakovich, Yuliya         wf RUS 2068  . 0 . 0 . . . . . . . *  0.0       
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

15) Russian under-18 championship

The Russian under-18 championship was played in Dagomys April 6th-14th 2005. Nikita Vitiugov won the event with 7/9.

Further details: http://www.volgachess.ru - (specifically http://www.volgachess.ru/f/u18VL.htm)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ch-RUS u18 Nojabrsk RUS (RUS), 6-14 iv 2005
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Vitiugov, Nikita          RUS 2482  +24 +27 = 2 = 7 = 5 +10 + 4 = 3 + 9  7.0  2600 
 2. Lovkov, Roman          f  RUS 2351  +35 + 9 = 1 = 4 =10 = 6 =13 + 7 + 5  6.5  2529 
 3. Reshetnikov, Alexey    f  RUS 2355  +36 - 4 +14 = 9 +28 +19 = 5 = 1 +16  6.5  2539 
 4. Nechepurenko, Roman V  f  RUS 2402  +19 + 3 +22 = 2 + 7 - 5 - 1 + 8 = 6  6.0  2504 
 5. Romanov, Evgeny        f  RUS 2437  =15 =25 +21 +11 = 1 + 4 = 3 + 9 - 2  6.0  2490 
 6. Eraschenkov, Denis     m  RUS 2378  +31 =10 =28 =19 +22 = 2 - 9 +13 = 4  5.5  2422 
 7. Pokazanjev, Nikolai    f  RUS 2380  =11 +30 +12 = 1 - 4 +29 = 8 - 2 +18  5.5  2420 
 8. Chadaev, Nikolai       f  RUS 2434  =28 +32 =10 =22 =29 +18 = 7 - 4 +19  5.5  2385 
 9. Lysyj, Igor               RUS 2498  +21 - 2 +15 = 3 =12 +11 + 6 - 5 - 1  5.0  2407 
10. Zacurdajev, Mikhail       RUS 2314  +23 = 6 = 8 +13 = 2 - 1 +29 -16 =14  5.0  2453 
11. Bryndin, Alexey           RUS 2272  = 7 =13 +27 - 5 +14 - 9 +22 =19 =12  5.0  2427 
12. Moskalenko, Alexander  f  RUS 2355  =18 +33 - 7 +16 = 9 =13 =19 =14 =11  5.0  2386 
13. Ponkratov, Pavel          RUS 2378  =30 =11 +25 -10 +23 =12 = 2 - 6 +24  5.0  2370 
14. Askarov, Marat         m  RUS 2455  -22 +34 - 3 +26 -11 +25 +15 =12 =10  5.0  2333 
15. Ivanov, Alexey3           RUS 2303  = 5 +16 - 9 -29 =20 +27 -14 +33 +30  5.0  2415 
16. Krylov, Mikhail RUS    m  RUS 2417  =25 -15 +30 -12 =26 +21 +28 +10 - 3  5.0  2339 
17. Verzhansky, Alexander  f  RUS 2360  =32 -28 +33 =18 -19 =26 =31 +29 +22  5.0  2302 
18. Aklanov, Fedor            RUS 2172  =12 =20 =23 =17 +21 - 8 =24 +30 - 7  4.5  2359 
19. Kiselev, Artiom        f  RUS 2277  - 4 +36 +20 = 6 +17 - 3 =12 =11 - 8  4.5  2335 
20. Demin, Vladimir1       f  RUS 2358  =33 =18 -19 =24 =15 =32 +26 =23 =21  4.5  2280 
21. Lavrov, Maxim1         f  RUS 2344  - 9 +35 - 5 +31 -18 -16 +27 +28 =20  4.5  2308 
22. Maslov, Mikhail        f  RUS 2324  +14 +29 - 4 = 8 - 6 =28 -11 +34 -17  4.0  2309 
23. Papin, Vasily          f  RUS 2440  -10 +31 =18 =28 -13 =24 =33 =20 =26  4.0  2236 
24. Tomilin, Alexey           RUS 2327  - 1 -26 +32 =20 =25 =23 =18 +31 -13  4.0  2265 
25. Keosidi, Konstantin       RUS 2278  =16 = 5 -13 =27 =24 -14 =35 =32 +33  4.0  2272 
26. Musaev, Mansur            RUS 2192  -27 +24 =29 -14 =16 =17 -20 +35 =23  4.0  2298 
27. Krutko, Anatoly        f  RUS 2358  +26 - 1 -11 =25 =30 -15 -21 +36 +34  4.0  2227 
28. Pogromsky, Mikhail        RUS 2291  = 8 +17 = 6 =23 - 3 =22 -16 -21 =36  3.5  2270 
29. Garakov, Mikhael          RUS 2359  +34 -22 =26 +15 = 8 - 7 -10 -17 =31  3.5  2228 
30. Fatkulin, Andrey          RUS 2235  =13 - 7 -16 +33 =27 =34 +32 -18 -15  3.5  2220 
31. Uzhva, Andrey             RUS 2247  - 6 -23 +36 -21 =34 +35 =17 -24 =29  3.5  2201 
32. Beklarjan, Lazar          RUS 2232  =17 - 8 -24 =34 +36 =20 -30 =25 -35  3.0  2132 
33. Matveev, Mikhail2 RUS     RUS 2238  =20 -12 -17 -30 +35 +36 =23 -15 -25  3.0  2145 
34. Bratkovskiy, Dmitry       RUS 2224  -29 -14 =35 =32 =31 =30 +36 -22 -27  3.0  2131 
35. Kuznetsov,Dmitry          RUS ----  - 2 -21 =34 -36 -33 -31 =25 -26 +32  2.0  2025 
36. Gizatullin, Dmitry        RUS 2102  - 3 -19 -31 +35 -32 -33 -34 -27 =28  1.5  1973 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

16) 23rd Liechtenstein Open

The 23rd Liechtenstein Open took place in Triesen 29th April - 7th May 2005. Martin Senff won the event with 7.5/9.

Official site: http://www1.supra.net/schach/

-----------------------------------------------------------
23rd Liechtenstein Open Triesen LIE (LIE), 29 iv-7 v 2005
-----------------------------------------------------------
 1. Senff, Martin            m  GER 2430  7½   48½   43.75
 2. Horvath, Jozsef1         g  HUN 2513  7    49½   40.25
 3. Kritz, Leonid            g  GER 2549  7    47½   38.25
 4. Horvath, Csaba1          g  HUN 2545  6½   49    37.75
 5. Van der Weide, Karel     g  NED 2472  6½   45½   33.00
 6. Siebrecht, Sebastian     m  GER 2438  6½   40½   31.75
 7. Vasilev, Milen           m  BUL 2403  6    48    32.75
 8. Solleveld, Maarten       m  NED 2466  6    46½   31.75
 9. Grunberg, Mihai-Lucian   m  ROM 2421  6    44½   29.75
10. Peredy, Ferenc           m  HUN 2290  6    44    29.75
11. Brestian, Egon           m  AUT 2415  6    43½   29.75
12. Dizdar, Goran            g  CRO 2524  6    42½   30.00
13. Kohlweyer, Bernd         m  GER 2429  6    40½   29.25
14. Johnsen, Gunnar             NOR 2233  6    40    26.75
92 players

17) 10th Stuttgart International Championship

The 10th Stuttgart International Championship took place in Germany 5th-8th May 2005. Viesturs Meijers won the event with 6.5/7. Games from the final round now available.

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

------------------------------------------------------
10th Open Stuttgart GER (GER), 5-8 v 2005
------------------------------------------------------
					  Pt    Buchh
 1. Meijers, Viesturs        g  LAT 2486  6.5 	29.5
 2. Ivanov, Mikhail M        g  RUS 2418  6.0 	30.5
 3. Gutman, Lev              g  GER 2469  6.0 	28.0
 4. Karpatchev, Aleksandr    g  RUS 2472  5.5 	29.5
 5. Vuckovic, Aleksandar     f  GER 2328  5.5 	28.5
 6. Gaponenko, Inna          m  UKR 2482  5.5 	28.5
 7. Dudek, Richard              GER 2252  5.5 	28.5
 8. Bogner, Sebastian           GER 2409  5.5 	27.0
 9. Reich, Thomas            m  GER 2398  5.5 	27.0
10. Brustman, Agnieszka      wg POL 2333  5.5 	23.5
11. Dausch, Rene             f  GER 2385  5.0 	28.5
12. Gheng, Josef             f  GER 2339  5.0 	28.5
13. Kabisch, Thilo              GER 2262  5.0 	28.0
14. Zeller, Frank            m  GER 2426  5.0 	27.0
15. Kabisch, Thilo              GER 2262  5.0 	26.5
16. Eichler, Christoph       f  GER 2283  5.0 	26.5
17. Mutschnik, Ilia          m  GER 2408  5.0 	26.0
18. Schebler, Gerhard        g  GER 2500  5.0 	26.0
19. Vanderhallen, Nicolas       BEL 2103  5.0 	25.5
20. Pitschka, Klaus          f  GER 2212  5.0 	24.0
21. Guenthner, Oliver        f  GER 2272  5.0 	23.5
22. Epding, Olaf                GER 2285  5.0 	23.0
162 players

18) Japfa Match

The Japfa Chess Festival is now underway in Jakarta, Indonesia. Before it started there was a match 2nd-7th May 2005 between Megaranto and Dao Thien Hai which finished 3:3, Play off 1:1, Sudden Death 0:1

Coverage http://www.indochess.com

Dao Thien Hai       -  Megaranto, Susanto  0-1   48  D17  Slav Defence
Megaranto, Susanto  -  Dao Thien Hai       1-0   35  B86  Sicilian Sozin Attack
Dao Thien Hai       -  Megaranto, Susanto  1-0   54  D45  Anti-Meran Variations
Megaranto, Susanto  -  Dao Thien Hai       0-1   39  B42  Sicilian Paulsen
Dao Thien Hai       -  Megaranto, Susanto  1-0   48  E90  King's Indian Classical
Megaranto, Susanto  -  Dao Thien Hai       1-0   40  C42  Petroff's Defence

Japfa Match Jakarta INA (INA), 2-7 v 2005
-------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 1   2   3   4   5   6 
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Dao Thien Hai      g  VIE 2609   0   0   1   1   1   0   3.0  2489
Megaranto, Susanto g  INA 2489   1   1   0   0   0   1   3.0  2609
-------------------------------------------------------------------

19) 1st Livry Gargan Rapid

The 1st Livry Gargan Rapid took place on 15th May 2005. Murtas Kazhgaleyev edged out Alberto David on tie-break. There were 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw. News: Eric Birmingham.

Website :http://www.livry-echecs.com/

----------------------------------------------------------------
1st Open Livry Gargan BEL (BEL), 15-15 v 2005
----------------------------------------------------------------
 1. Kazhgaleyev, Murtas     g  KAZ 2600  25  73    2895  87
 2. David, Alberto          g  LUX 2579  25  72,5  2922  85,5
 3. Malakhatko, Vadim       g  UKR 2562  24  69    2692  81,5
 4. Gouliev, Namig          m  AZE 2526  23  61,5  2681  75,5
 5. Chabanon, Jean-Luc      g  FRA 2424  22  67    2633  80
 6. Tregubov, Pavel V       g  RUS 2612  22  66    2612  80,5
 7. Cekro, Ekrem            m  BEL 2408  22  60    2497  75
 8. Nikolic, Predrag        g  BIH 2627  21  73,5  2669  90,5
 9. Shchekachev, Andrei     g  RUS 2526  21  71,5  2559  86
10. Fedorchuk, Sergey A     g  UKR 2577  21  70    2573  84
11. Gozzoli, Yannick        m  FRA 2433  21  69    2482  81,5
12. Elbilia, Jacques        f  MAR 2313  21  68,5  2441  79,5
13. Pira, Davoud            m  FRA 2383  21  67    2445  81
14. Alienkin, Aleksander    m  RUS 2393  21  65,5  2412  79,5
15. Boudiba, Mahfoud        m  ALG 2337  21  61,5  2404  73,5
16. Garbarino, Xavier          FRA 2145  21  60    2343  71,5
17. Draoui, Najib           f  MAR 2373  21  58,5  2385  72,5
18. Payen, Arnaud           m  FRA 2393  20  64,5  2496  78
19. Koziak, Vitali          m  UKR 2485  20  60,5  2462  72
20. Dgebuadze, Alexandre    g  BEL 2534  19  69,5  2563  83
21. Marcelin, Cyril         g  FRA 2455  19  69,5  2498  82,5
22. Shirazi, Kamran         m  USA 2399  19  66,5  2445  75,5
23. Marchand, Francois      f  FRA 2266  19  65,5  2427  81
24. Bagheri, Amir           g  FRA 2518  19  62,5  2465  73,5
25. Rrhioua, Tarik          f  MAR 2319  19  62,5  2310  73
322 players

20) Serbia and Montenegro Team Cup

Serbia and Montenegro Team Cup (Men) takes place 15th-22nd May 2005 in Herceg Novi. It will be Swiss with 22 Teams. The Women's Team Cup takes place 15th-19th May 2005. There are 6 teams and it is Round Robin event.

Details: http://www.scgchess.org

21) Harvard Open

George Mirijanian reports: The Harvard Open took place 7th-8th May 2005 at the Harvard University Science Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. GM Alexander Ivanvov captured first place with a score of 4.5-0.5. FM Paul MacIntyre took second place with a 4-1 tally. Deadlocked in 3rd-7th place with 3.5-1.5 results were GM Gennady Sagalchik, national masters Charles Riordan and Max Enkin, and national experts Ilya Krasik and Olga Sagalchik. The tournament drew 56 players in two sections. Albert C. Yeh directed for the sponsoring Harvard Chess Club. Complete crosstables are available at http://masschess.org

22) Bundesliga

There is a correction (the wrong game) to the game McShane - Nielsen (14) Bundesliga which was given in error a few weeks ago.

23) Leonid Shamkovich 1923-2005

Leonid Shamkovich born in Rostov-on-Don, Russia 1st June 1923 died in the USA 22nd April 2005.

The former Soviet Grandmaster had a reputation as a sharp tactician and theoretician. In later years he was better known as an author.

He became an IM 1962 and a GM 1964. He competed in the Russian Championship six times between 1954 and 1972 with his best result being shared 5th in 1964. Other notable results: Moscow 1962 3rd= Marianske Lazne 3rd, Sochi 1967 1st= (some other firsts; Salgotarjan 1967, Constanta 1969 and Timisoara 1972, New York 1976 and New York Open 1976) He emigrated from the Soviet Union to Israel in 1965 before settling in the US by way of Canada in 1976. He played for the US at the 1980 Olympiad in Malta and participated in four US Championships, his best being 3rd behind Lubomir Kavalek and James Tarjan, in Pasadena in 1978.

24) ACP Tour Report - April 2005

The ACP Board sends an update of their ACP tour standings.

The last period was a relatively quiet one, as only three events were taken into account in the ACP Tour. As a matter of fact, nothing really changed in the standings.

Amongst ACP members, only Teimour Radjabov scored a big jump thanks to his win in Dos Hermanas. He now appears on place 11 with 452 points and still trails 8th placed Alexander Grischuk by 115 points.

 1 Anand        1598 
 2 Leko         1196 
 3 Gelfand       916 
 4 Kramnik       839 
 5 Morozevich    709 
 6 Bacrot        612 
 7 Amonatov      600 
 8 Grischuk      567 
 9 Bologan       545 
10 Short         510

The very strong 7th Dubai Open International Chess Championship was won by 16-year-old Wang Hao. This untitled Chinese player created one of the greatest sensations of the last years. His ten followers all received 96 ACP points for their efforts.

The third tournament registered is the Grand Prix d'Echecs de Bordeaux. Unfortunately, this event turned out to be weaker than previously expected. But both finalists Anatoly Karpov and Hisham Hamdouchi made it up by producing a very tense struggle which was finally won by the former World Champion.

May will be full of interesting tournaments. We deeply regret the decision of the organizing comitee of the Super GM Tournament in Sofia not to enter the ACP Tour. The participants will, thus, only be awarded half the points they would have received under normal circumstances. American opens specialists will have the opportunity of upsetting the standings, as three tournaments will be registered in the next list: the strong HB Global Chess Challenge in Minneapolis, the CCA International & NY State Open in Lake George and the open in Chicago. The Bosna closed tournament in Sarajevo will probably join the ACP Tour as well, as we are still waiting for the organizer's final decision. Finally, the strong rapid tournament of Livry-Gargan near Paris will complete the period.

The ACP Board

25) TWIC Theory

TWIC Theory is a new electronic magazine with high quality articles delivered in ChessBase, PGN or PDF format. A 3 month subscription costs $15. 12th subscription article: "New Paths in the Sveshnikov Sicilian" by GM Larry Christiansen.

To subscribe click here: http://www.chesscenter.com/twictheory/ or at http://www.chess4less.com (Directly: http://www.classicalgames.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=001316&AFFIL=CBL)

E-Mail for comments and contact: twictheory2005@yahoo.co.uk

Prospective Articles:
May 24  Benko Gambit                                   IM Andrew Martin
May 31  Latest developments in  the English            GM Tony Kosten
June 7  Queen's Gambit Exchange Variation              GM Olivier Renet
June 14 Grunfeld                                       GM Victor Mikhailevski
June 21 Ruy Lopez Main Line 9 d4                       GM Bogdan Lalic
June 28 Scandinavian 3...Qd6                           IM Andrew Martin 

26) Forthcoming Events and Links

Ikaros Chess Festival

The Ikaros Chess Festival will take place 9th-22nd July 2005. The Festival has been held for the last 27 years on Ikaria island.

This year's events include the traditional open international tournament "Open Aegean Championship" (12th-20th July) as well as plenty of other side events such as Junior, Ladies, Veteran, blitz, rapid and simultaneous exhibition events, blindfold chess, chess lectures and many others.

Details: http://www.chess.gr/ikaros/

HB Global Chess Challenge

The HB Foundation has posted $500,000 prize fund for the HB Global Chess Challenge, a Maurice Ashley-led event expects to bring more than 4,000 participants to Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The event takes place May 18th-22nd 2005 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. First place in the Open section has a cash prize of $50,000, and that overall more than 50 others will receive cash prizes. Many other side events. There is an extension to the discount period for signing up for the event.

GMs entered: GM Utut Adianto GM Varuzhan Akobian GM Alexander Beliavsky GM Joel Benjamin GM Pavel Blatny GM Larry Christiansen GM Vladimir Epishin GM John Fedorowicz GM Valerij Filippov GM Daniel Fridman GM Gildardo Garcia GM Vladimir Georgiev GM Alex Goldin GM Dmitry Gurevich GM Pentala Harikrishna GM Alexander Ivanov GM Artur Jussupow GM Gata Kamsky GM Petr Kiriakov GM Boris Kreiman GM Sergey Kudrin GM Anatoly Lein GM Victor Mikhalevski GM Vadim Milov GM Nikola Mitkov GM Alex Moiseenko GM Alexander Motylev GM Evgeniy Najer GM Hikaru Nakamura GM Igor Novikov GM Alexander Onischuk GM Andrés Rodríguez Vila GM Gregory Serper GM Alexander Shabalov GM Miron Sher GM Yuri Shulman GM Ilya Smirin GM Alex Stripunsky GM Loek Van Wely GM Alex Wojtkiewicz GM Leonid Yudasin GM Pablo Zarnicki

Official sites: http://www.hbfoundation.org and http://www.generationchess.com

Torch Real Estate Cup China Chess League

The Torch Real Estate Cup China Chess League first phase took place April 20th-28th 2005 in Jinan. The 2nd phase takes place May 8th-14th, 2005 in Wuxi, Jiangsu and the 3rd phase June 20th-25th, 2005 in Xiapu, Zhejiang. This was the first league with 19 teams (male and female players). Games from rounds 1-6 were in TWIC546. Will round up the games from the second phase next week.

Further details: http://ccl.sports.cn/ and http://www.chende.net

Armenian Women's Championship

The Armenian Women's Championship takes place May 13th-22nd, 2005 in Yerevan.

Players: wg Elina Danielian, wg Lilit Mkrtchian, wm Nelli Aginian, wm Lilit Galoyan, wm Narine Gasparian, etc.

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

World Amateur Chess Championship

The World Amateur Chess Championship 2005 takes place in Piestany (Slovakia), July 31st - August 12th 2005. Playing venue - town Piestany is the world known spa. Total prize fund is 5000 EUR All players should register before May 31st 2005.

Further information (regulations, registration form, information about playing venue) at the official web site: http://www.wacc2005.chess.sk

15th European Team Championship

The 15th European Team Championship takes place July 29th-August 8th 2005 in Gothenburg, Sweden. Don't have details of a website yet.

11th Annual Bray Rapidplay

11th Annual Bray Rapidplay June 18 2005 Esplanade Hotel Strand Rd Bray 6-round Swiss, rounds 1-2 accelerated Registration 9-10am Rd1 10.15 sharp Time control 25 0 all moves FIDE Rapidplay rules apply Entry Euro30: Euro25 if prepaid by June 9 Prizes Euro700 Euro400 Euro250 Euro150 1-2-3-4; grading prizes Euro100 each; biggest upset Euro50 Enquiries Colin Byford - 353-1-2065066h csb@iolfree.ie Entries Eugene Rellis 13 Burnaby Pk Greystones 353-1-2875154h greystonesrellis@eircom.net

Event website: http://www.brayrapidplay.com

Bray/Greystones CC - Esplanade Wed nights, new members welcome- club website http://www.chesssource.com/bray/

FIDE Trainers Committee

IM Jovan Petronic. Chairman, FIDE Computer & Internet Chess Committee has written about the FIDE Trainers Committee. Link to his article below. In 1998 FIDE formed a powerful Committee comprising of leading chess trainers around the chess globe. Accordingly, it was named the FIDE Trainers Committee, and below, I will try to summarize the immense useful information for the readers, current major chess training activities and appeals of the Committee, etc. The number of certified FIDE Trainers has grown and they are now (in alphabetical order) - none other than: Alburt Lev (USA), Asanov Bolat (Kazahstan), Azmaiparashvili Zurab (Georgia), Boensch Uwe (Germany), Beliavsky Alexandr (Slovenia), Chernin Alexandr (Hungary), Dorfman Iossif (France), Dvoretsky Mark (Russia), Gelfer Israel (Israel), Georgadze Tamaz (Georgia), Gulko Boris (USA), Illescas Miguel (Spain), Kuzmin Alexey (Katar), Khodarkovsky Michael (USA), Leong Ignatius (Singapore), Mikhalcishin Adrian (Slovenia), Marjanovic Slavoljub (Serbia & Montenegro), Mohr Georg (Slovenia), Nikitin Alexandr (Russia), Petrosjan Arshak (Armenia), Polgar Zsuzsa (USA), Postovsky Boris (USA), Psakhis Lev (Israel), Razuvaev Yuri (Russia), Seirawan Yasser (USA), Sosonko Genna (Netherlands), Schmidt Wlodzimerz (Poland), Tukmakov Vladimir (Ukraine), Ubilava Elizbar (Georgia), Vladimirov Evgeny (Kazahstan), Zapata Alonso (Columbia) and Xie Yun (China).

Read the article: http://www.jovanpetronic.com/fidetrainerscommittee.htm and an update: http://www.jovanpetronic.com/fidetrainerscommittee2.htm

Biel GM Tournament

The field of the Biel GM Tournament is now known. The event takes place 16th-29th July 2005.

Further info: http://www.bielchessfestival.ch

Biel Grandmaster Tournament 2005: 

Boris Gelfand         ISR Elo 2713 
Andrei Volokitin      UKR 2679   
Hikaru Nakamura       USA 2657  
Christian Bauer       FRA 2640          
Yannick Pelletier     SUI 2610  
Magnus Carlsen        NOR 2548       
Category 16, Elo 2641

15th Heart of Finland Open

The 15th Heart of Finland Open takes place in Jyväskylä, July 18th-24th 2005. The tournament will be a 10 round Swiss system. Tournament is ELO-rated and there are possibilities to reach FIDE title norms. Venue: IT-Dynamo, street address Piippukatu 2, Lutakko, Jyväskylä.

Prizes: Total prize fund approximately 7000 EUR, 1st prize 1500 EUR, lots of rating group prizes.

Registration / Info: Sami Hämäläinen +358 9 791140, mobile +358 40 5123864, email aurifera@kolumbus.fi

Likely website: http://www.shakki.net/

Dortmund 2005

The Dortmund Sparkassen Chess Meeting takes place 8th-17th July 2005 (rest day 13th) in the Civic Theatre Vladimir Kramnik plays in this event which is a 10 player all-play-all. The rest of the field was announced at a press conference on April 29th 2005.

Participants: Vladimir Kramnik, Peter Leko, Veselin Topalov, Peter Svidler, Michael Adams, Etienne Bacrot, Loek van Wely, Peter Heine Nielsen, Emil Sutovsky, Arkadij Naiditsch.

Pairings: 1. Round: Fri 08.07. Leko - Van Wely Adams - Topalov Naiditsch - Sutovsky Kramnik - Svidler Nielsen - Bacrot 2. Round: Sat 09.07. Van Wely - Bacrot Topalov - Naiditsch Sutovsky - Kramnik Svidler - Nielsen Leko - Adams 3. Round: Sun 10.07. Adams - Van Wely Kramnik - Topalov Nielsen - Sutovsky Bacrot - Svidler Naiditsch - Leko 4. Round: Mon 11.07. Van Wely - Svidler Topalov - Nielsen Sutovsky - Bacrot Leko - Kramnik Adams - Naiditsch 5. Round: Tue 12.07. Naiditsch - Van Wely Bacrot - Topalov Svidler - Sutovsky Nielsen - Leko Kramnik - Adams 6. Round: Thur 14.07. Van Wely - Sutovsky Topalov - Svidler Leko - Bacrot Adams - Nielsen Naiditsch - Kramnik 7. Round: Fri 15.07. Kramnik - Van Wely Sutovsky - Topalov Svidler - Leko Bacrot - Adams Nielsen - Naiditsch 8. Round: Sat 16.07. Van Wely - Topalov Leko - Sutovsky Adams - Svidler Naiditsch - Bacrot Kramnik - Nielsen 9. Round: Sun 17.07. Nielsen - Van Wely Topalov - Leko Sutovsky - Adams Svidler - Naiditsch Bacrot - Kramnik

In addition is the Sparkassen Open which is divided into two classes: Open A (Open ELO Tournament) and Open B (Amateur Open). The venue will be the town hall (Rathaus) of the City of Dortmund at Friedensplatz. Each day play begins at 11 a.m.. The conditions for the Open Tournaments, with information on registration, may be found on the internet under http://www.schachfreunde-brackel.de as well as on the official organizers’ homepage http://www.chessgate.de/do2005.

Official site: http://www.chessgate.de/do2005/

XXXV International GM Supertournament "Bosna 2005"

The XXXV International GM Supertournament "Bosna 2005" will be Category XVI (Average rating: 2630,7). The Tournament takes place May 18th-28th, 2005. Drawing of lots will on May 18th, at 7,30 p.m. in Hotel «Saraj». Opening Ceremony and tournament: May 19th at 12,30 p.m. in the Concert Hall of House of Army FB&H Round 1: May 19th Rest day: May 24th Last round and Closing Ceremony: May 28th 2005.

Players: 1. Shirov Alexei, GM, Spain, Rating: 2714, 2. Bologan Victor, GM, Moldova, Rating: 2700, W 3. Volokytin Andrey, GM, Ukraine, Rating: 2679, 4. Sokolov Ivan, GM, Holand, Rating: 2662, 5. Elyanov Pavel, GM, Ukraine, Rating: 2641, 6. Movsesian Sergei, GM, Slovakia, Rating: 2628, 7. Timofeev Artyom, GM, Russia, Rating: 2622, 8. Kozul Zdenko, GM, Croatia, Rating: 2591, 9. Predojevic Borki, GM, BiH, Rating: 2549, 10. Dizdarevic Emir, GM, BiH, Rating: 2521

Official site: http://www.skbosna.ba

Bruzon-Timman Match

The Lazaro Bruzon against Jan Timman takes place in Curaçao 11th-17th June 2005.

Schedule: 1st Day - 2 rapid games (25 minutes for each player) 2nd Day- 2 rapid games (25 minutes for each player) 3rd Day - 1st classic game 4th Day - 2nd classic game 5th Day - 3rd classic game 6th Day - 4th classic game

Further details in Spanish: http://www.cadenagramonte.cubaweb.cu/noticias/040505_07.asp

4th Condom Open

The 4th Condom open takes place 9th-16th July 2005. (south-west of France) Prizes found 7000 € - 1st :1100 €. Possibilities for GM and IM norm. Economical accommodation (boarding school) / campings / hotels. E-Mail contact: echecs.condom@free.fr

Further details : http://echecs.condom.free.fr

III Marx György Memorial

The III Marx György Memorial takes place 12th-22nd June 2005 in Paks, Hungary.

Type of the tournament: Double Round Robin with 6 players, Average Rating: 2616 The tournament is Fide Category XV. The invited players are: Viktor Korchnoi, Emil Sutovsky, Krishnan Sasikiran, Almási Zoltán, Berkes Ferenc, Ács Péter

Further details: http://www.ase.hu/marxgy

VII Paks Open

The VII. Paks open takes place 14th-22nd June in Paks Hungary System: 9 rounds swiss tournament Time limit: 100 minutes 40 moves + 30 minutes after 40 moves+ 30 seconds/move in the whole game

Prizes: 1st 150.000 2nd 100.000 3rd 80.000 4th 60.000 5th 50.000 6th 40.000 7th 30.000 8th 25.000 9th 20.000 10th 20.000 Special prize for the best women, youth (under 18), rated under 2200, rated under 1800 - each of these 15.000 HUF The total prize found is about 620.000 HUF Entry fee: free for foreign players.

Applications and Information Vidéki Sándor 0036-75421225; mobile: 0036-304012866 email: videkis2001@yahoo.com ,

Further details: http://www.ase.hu/marxgy

XXIII Open Andorra

The XXIII Andorra Open takes place 9th-17th July 2005.

Official site: http://www.feva.ad/

4th Berlin Bughouse Tournament

The Berlin Bughouse Tournament takes place May 13th-16th 2005.

Further details: http://www.bughouse.info

Instructional Tactics

There is an instructional tactical site at: http://www.chesstactics.org compiled by Ward Farnsworth.

Canadian Open

The Canadian Open takes place July 9th-17th 2005.

GMs Vassily Ivanchuk and Alexei Shirov have confirmed their participation, as well as Alex Shabalov and some Canadian Grandmasters. Shirov will give a lecture during the event.

The official website is: http://www.edmontonchess.org/CdnOpen2005/

6th European Individual Chess Championship

The Warsaw Foundation for Chess Development and Sports Club Polonia Warsaw organise the 6th European Individual Chess Championship to be held from June 17th - July 3rd 2005, in Warsaw - Zegrze Poludniowe.

Official site: http://www.warsawchess.pl

Chess Classic Mainz

The Chess Classic Mainz takes place August 9th-14th 2005.

For the first time the event will last six days. The extension of the event is a tribute to Wolfgang Unzicker. The Grandmaster from Munich will turn 80 on June 26 and will be honoured with a Gala-Tournament from August 9 to 10. From August 11 to 14, two additional events will be at the center of attention in the Rheingoldhalle: the Gerling Match for the world championship in Chess960 and especially the GrenkeLeasing Match, in which Viswanathan Anand will defend his title as the best rapid chess player in the world. His final opponent has yet to be decided by organiser Hans-Walter Schmitt. There will be the Ordix Open and various events and simuls alongside.

The Unzicker Gala 80" on August 9 and 10 sees legendary players will get together. In addition to Wolfgang Unzicker, who was probably the world’s strongest amateur player in the fifties, Victor Korchnoi and Boris Spassky will participate.

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

Queenstown Chess Classic 2006

The Queenstown Chess Classic 2006 takes place on the South Island of New Zealand January 15th-24th 2006 followed by the NZ Rapid and Blitz Championship on Jan 25th & 26th. This event is being sponsored by NZ GM Murray Chandler and promises to be NZ's largest ever Open International event. The total prize fund is in excess of NZD $35,000. It is endorsed by the NZ Chess Federation and will incorporate the NZ Championship. Entries so far include GM's Chandler, Rogers and Hecht.

Further information: http://www.queenstownchess.com

20th North Sea Cup

The 20th North Sea Cup takes place in Esbjerg, Denmark, 2nd-9th July 2005. 9 Swiss Open, time control: 40 moves 2 H + ½ H rest Prize fund: DKK 65000,- = 8800 Euro

The organiser is Jens Nielsen Tel: 0045 75123975 Email: Jerneif@get2net.dk. Fax: 0045 75123975 Address: Storegade 66, 6700 Esbjerg Chief Arbiter: IA Lars Lindhard Deputy Arbiter: Aksel Hansen, Kim Schmidt, Karsten Jakobsen

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

2nd European Amateur Chess Championship

2nd European Amateur Chess Championship will be held in Herceg Novi (Montenegro, Serbia and Montenegro) from May 25th to June 3rd, 2005. Tournament is open to all players representing ECU Chess Federations, and whose on the FIDE rating list of April 1st, 2005 will have rating 2200 and lower, like as player whose don’t have FIDE rating. Total prizes fund of the Championship will be 10.000 EUR The official site of the event is http://www.scgchess.org/amateur/index.html

Kasparov on his retirement

Kasparov's website: http://www.chesschamps.com gives a diary entry on the reasons for his retirement: http://www.chesschamps.com/diary07.html

Leko Adams Rapid Match

There will be a rapid match between Peter Leko and Michael Adams in Miskolc, in Hungary. The Main Patron of the Match will be the Mayor of the City Of Miskolc Sandor Kali. The match will take place 1st-5th June 2005, 31st arriving, 1st evening the Opening Ceremony and drawing of lots, 2-5 playing days, two games per day 25 minutes + 5 seconds per move.

About the city: http://www.miskolc.hu, or about the County Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen http://www.baz.hu.

News: Zsuzsa Veroci.

Friendship Tournament in Cartak CZE

The Friendship Tournament in Cartak CZE takes place 18th-26th June 2005. 7th international chess festival A) round-robin grandmaster tournament (10-12 players) B) round-robin master tournament (10-12 players) C) open FIDE (swiss system of 9 round) Contact: Richard Biolek, phone: (+420)581209407, e-mail: biolci@volny.cz,

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

Znojmo Open 2005

Znojmo Open 2005, the 5th International Chess Festival part of CZECH TOUR 2005/2006 Series 14th-22nd May 2005, Znojmo, Czech Republic.

Further details: http://www.czechtour.net

Correspondence Chess - Romanian Chess Federation - 80 Years

Therer will be a CC tournament "Romanian Chess Federation - 80 Years"? which will be one of the strongest CC events of the year 2005 with 4 ICCF-GMs and 4 ICCF-SIMs among the 13 participants.

Every 2-3 months there will be reports on the tournament wrote by GM Dorian Rogozenko, IM Mihai Ghinda, IM Mircea Pavlov, IM Constantin Lupulescu and FM Marius Ceteras including comments around the games in progress (this is something new in CC).

A promo pdf booklet of the event is available in Romanian chess pages www.romanianchess.org , in the section dedicated to this event http://www.romanianchess.org/rcf80 The booklet contains the introduction of the players, their best games and a short history of the Romanian correspondence chess. Short link for download the promo booklet (archived pdf file) http://www.romanianchess.org/rcf80/rcf80.zip

The tournament will be played at ICCF webserver ( http://www.iccf-webchess.com/EventCrossTable.aspx?id=278 ) .

Las Vegas International Chess Festival

The Las Vegas International Chess Festival comprises of the following events:

June 9th, Polgar Sisters Tandem Simul! For the first time in over 10 years the Polgar sisters, Susan, Judit and Sofia will give a tandem simul.

June 9th, National Open Blitz Championship 7 double rounds, seeded Swiss format tournament.

June 10th, Breakfast with the Polgar Sisters

June 10th-12th, National Open Tournament $55,000 guaranteed prize fund! First place, $5000. 6 round, seeded Swiss format. 8 different sections. US Championship Qualifier.

June 13th, US Game/10 Championship $5,000 guaranteed prize fund. 7 round, seeded Swiss format.

June 13th-18th, US Senior Championship Open to US residents/citizens born before 6/13/1955. 6 round, seeded Swiss format, one round a day and this is also a US Championship Qualifier.

June 13th-18th, US "Under 50" Championship Open to US residents/citizens born on or after 6/13/1955. 6 round, seeded Swiss format, one round a day.

You can find out more information about all the above events, along with online entry at http://www.64.com

II Calvia Chess Festival

The 2nd Calvià Chess Festival offers a varied programme with tournaments for different categories covering all ages. Takes place October 21st-November 5th 2005.

http://www.calviafestival.com

VII Sants Open

The VII Sants Open in Barcelona takes place 27th August - 4th September 2005.

Further details: http://www.cotxeres.org/open2005 This tournament is part of the Catalan Grand Prix http://www.fcde.org/circuit/oberts.html

Prague Chess Holiday

The XV International Chess Holiday 2005 and VIII Professor Jaroslav Pelikán Memorial takes place in Prague. Three dates: 16th-23rd July 2005, 23rd-30th July 2005 and 30th July - 6th August 2005.

http://www.schach-prag.de/

2nd Skelmersdale Rapidplay

The 2nd Skelmersdale Rapidplay takes place Sunday 15th May 2005. 6 round Swiss.

Further details: http://www.skelmersdalechess.org.uk The organiser of the event is John Reid (tel) 01257 462822

2nd Amsterdam Chess Tournament

The 2nd Amsterdam Chess Tournament takes place 16th-24th July 2005.

Further details: http://home.hccnet.nl/w.haggenburg/act05/eng.html

9th Essent Chess Tournament

The 9th Essent Chess Tournament (Hoogeveen) takes place 21st-29th October 2005.

Last year the event was covered at: http://www.essentchess.nl

Computer Chess News

There have been recent computer events. See the Computer Chess Calendar at: http://www.playwitharena.com

Ratings Article

Jean-Claude Templeur on ratings manipulation: http://www.chessmile.com/articles.php?id=30

Final of the WCBCSC 2004-2005

Brian Stephenson of the British Chess Problem Society reports. The Final of the WCBCSC 2004-2005 took place at Oakham School on Saturday 19th February. It was a resounding success for solving GM and Ex-World Champion Jonathan Mestel, who came ahead of two other ex-world champions. The event was sponsored by Winton Capital Management: http://www.wintoncapital.com/

The full results can be found at my website. Follow this link for the final table: http://www.bstephen.freeuk.com/0405/finaltable.html and this for the problems used: http://www.bstephen.freeuk.com/0405/final_diag.html

British Chess Problem Society: http://www.bstephen.freeuk.com/

Swiss Chess Tour Davos Festival 2005

The "Swiss Chess Tour 2005" will continue in Davos with Chess Festival, the first time, besides "Open Davos", will be separate "Senior Open Davos", "Junior Open Davos" and "Summer-night open".

Davos is one of the most popular tourist places in Europe (summer and winter). Last year when all Europe caught by high tropical temperature at Davos was 20-25 degrees Celsius, always with a cupful of mountain wind. Next year, 2006, Davos will host European Individual Senior Championship.

Main event, the 4th "Sunstar Park Hotel Open", July 30th - August 7th 2005. "Sunstar Park Hotel" (4 stars) will be host festival in the new, comfortable "Congress Center". Swiss system, 9 rounds and the games will last a maximum of 6 hours (40 moves for 2 hours and 60 minutes till the end). Valid for FIDE titles and FIDE rating. Prize are: 1.500 SF, 1.200, 900, 700, 500, 400, 300, 250, 200 and 150 SF. From 11.- 20. places natural prizes. Special prizes for best Lady, best local player. Entry fee 140 SF, FMs and juniors 70 SF, at the door 10 SF more, GMs and IMs free. Time table: Rounds 1 16.00-22.00 July 30th; Round 2/8 14.00-20.00 July 31st- August 6th; Round 9 10.00-16.00 August 7th.

"Senior Open" July 31st - August 6th, senior 1945, 7 rounds and the games last of 5 hours (40 moves 2 hours and 30 minutes till the end). Valid for FIDE titles and FIDE rating. Prize is: 500/400/300/2x200/2x150 SF. Natural prizes for players with 4 points. Entry fee 70 SF, at the door 10 SF more. Time table 9.30 - 14.30 every day.

"Junior Open", born 1985 and younger. Exactly the same like "Senior Open" except, juniors lodging at "Sunstar Park Hotel" don't pay enter-fee. (Hotel pays for them).

"Summer-night Open", 7 rounds, 45 minutes for game; time-table 21.15-22.45 every day; natural prizes for all players with 4 points; enter fee 10 SF.

Venue: "Sunstar Park Hotel" (4 stars). Closing ceremony August 8th, half-hour after the last game. Unbelievable chess-rates. Info: Beochess +41+34+424-01-06 (Robert Spoerri) or info@beochess.ch

9th Chess Festival Voronezh

The 9th Chess Festival Voronezh 2005 takes place 10th-21st June 2005.

Official site: http://www.relex.ru/~xuser/voronezh_open/

18th Ciudad de Leon

The 18th edition of the Ciudad de Leon chess tournament will be held in Leon, Spain June 9th-13th 2005. Players: Viswanathan Anand, Rustam Khasimdanov, Alexei Shirov and Magnus Carlsen. As usual, there will be 2 semi finals (June 10th and 11th) and a final (June 12th) and the venue will be the "Edificio de la Junta de Castilla y León" building. The sponsors are: the Ayuntamiento de León, the Junta de Castilla y León, the Diputación de León, the Universidad de León, Cajaduero and Alsa

The official web will be http://www.advancedchessleon.com and/or http://www.elajedrezdelfuturo.com

Brno 2005

There are GM, IM and Open tournaments in Brno, Czech Republic 30th June - 10th July 2005.

Information: Internet - http://volny.cz/skduras E-mail - petr.pisk@centrum.cz Phone - Petr Pisk, +420- 731 465 344

19th Pula Open

The 19th "Pula Open 2005" in Croatia takes place 19th-26th June 2005.

For further information on the event: http://www.skpula.hr. Contact Denis Vretenar by e-mail: pulaopen@globalnet.hr.

European Individual Women's Chess Championship

The European Individual Women's Chess Championship takes place in Chisinau, Moldova 10th-25th June 2005. Organisers Chess Federation of Moldova Sciusev Street, 111 2004, Chisinau Tel.: 00373-22-565451 Fax.: 00373-22-565451 or 210707 E-Mail: fskrip@company.md

Details on http://www.eurochess.org.

Official site for the event: http://eiwcc2005.chisinau.md/

12th Echternach International Open

The 12th Echternach International Open takes place 25th-26th June 2005. Seniors should also note the following dates: 2nd Open (rapid chess) for young seniors (aged 50 and above) 13th-14th August 2005. 5th Open-seniors (aged 60 and above) 15th-21st August 2005.

Further info: http://www.desprenger-echternach.lu/

Alushta Diary 2005

Leonid Galperin sends a calendar of planned events in Alushta, Ukraine 2005.

GM Norm events: 12.05 - 22.05 24.05 - 4.06 17.06-27.06. 1.09-11.09 25.09-5.10 7.10-17.10 IM Norm events 12.05 - 22.05 24.05 -4.06 17.06-27.06. 1.09-11.09 25.09-5.10 7.10-17.10 Rating tournament 5.06 - 13.06 Open tournament (under 16 years) First prize - 200 $ 14.06 - 22.06 Alushta Swiss 9 rounds Blitz tournament 28.06 12.09 Alushta Swiss 9 rounds Open tournament (rapid chess) 29 - 30.06 13-14.09 Alushta Swiss 9 rounds Open tournament First prize 1000 $ First prize (woman) 500$ 2.07-10.07 15.09-23.09 Alushta Swiss 9 rounds Session of school of Gennadi Kuzmin 5.06-14.06 25.09-4.10 Alushta Individual and group studying

Further information: http://www.kaissa.com.ua phone +38 (06560)5-05-32 (for Russian speaking) + 38 050 669-26-04 (for English speaking) e-mail: info@kaissa.com.ua

Harald Malmgren 100 years Correspondence

31st Dec 2004 saw the start of the first Grandmaster tournament on the ICCF Webserver. The tournament is the "Harald Malmgren 100 years". The occasion is to commemorate the 100:d birthday of Harald Malmgren, Tierp in Sweden. Malmgren was runner up after Cecil Purdy in ICCF's first World Championship and earned his GM title in the event. Malmgren passed away in 1957. In his career he was also second in IFSB Championship 1939 and won the Swedish CC Championship in 1942. Malmgren was a true chess enthusiast and issued a book in 1953 "Mina bästa partier" (My best games) with only CC games he had played.

There are 13 participants and you will be able to follow the results on http://www.schack.se/SSKK/palview/res/malmgren.htm and as soon as about 10 moves are made in every game, SSKK will open a page for "live" games. That is games according to the ICCF CoC regulations for live games. The Category of the event is 10 which means that all norms are available.The tournament has two sponsors, Schackakademin and Svenska Schackbutiken AB.

The players are: IM Jan Bennborn, Sweden, IM Sture Olsson, Sweden, IM Rune Bergquist, Norway, IM Ervin Liebert, Estonia, IM Taisto Koskela, Finland, IM Leif Åhman, Sweden, SIM Jón A Pálsson, Iceland, SIM Josef Mrkvicka, Czech Rep, GM Matthias Rüfenacht; Switzerland, IM Gary S Benson, Australia, SIM John Pugh, England, Phillippe Chopin, France and Mads Smith Hansen, Denmark. The withdrawing ICCF President keeps playing CC and starts this event on his very last day in office.

Tomas Carnstam, Jonas Dahlgren, Robert Ericsson, Sebastian Nilsson and Per Söderberg wedish Correspondence Chess Federation (SSKK) Board members.

38th Biel International Chess Festival

38th Biel International Chess Festival Dates: 16th-29th July 2005 with, in particular: - the Grandmaster tournament (17th-27th July 2005) - the Accentus Ladies Tournament 17th-27th July 2005) - the active chess tournament (16th and 17th July 2005) - the Master Open (18th-29th July 2005, last round in the morning) - the General Open (20th-29th July 2005, last round in the morning) - the Blitz tournament (23th July 2005)

Further details: http://www.bielchessfestival.ch

Hamarat Challenge Match

The ICCF World Champion Tunc Hamarat (AUT) who has never lost a single game with White, has challenged the "Rest of the World" to a friendly 2-game match. He will have White in both games. The games (one will start with 1.e4 and one with 1.d4) will be played on the ICCF Webserver and started on 10th February 2005 with the rule "10 moves/70 days".

The players on the "Rest of the World" team will vote on each move. The move receiving the most votes will be selected. Should 2 or more moves receive the same number of votes, the "Rest of the World" will be given 2 more voting days to decide between the tied moves. Participation in this event is open to all players who pay an entry fee of 5 EUR or $7.00 US dollars via their National CC Federation or the ICCF Direct Entry (DE) option. All fees collected will be transferred to the ICCF Development Fund. The money will be used primarily for development and system support of the ICCF WebChess Server. It will be possible to join the "Rest of the World" team at any stage of the game.

The games may be seen "live" by all players and other observers at http://www.iccf-webchess.com

Each player who voted for the selected move will receive 1 point per move. The player(s) with the most points at the end of the games will receive an ICCF Gold Book. The list of all entrants will be published on the ICCF webpage.

Hungarian chess tournaments May 2005 - August 2005

Contact Laszlo Nagy: firstsat@hu.inter.net

1. 7th-19th of May, FS GM-IM-FM closed, Budapest, org.: NL

2. 20th-28th of May, ZALAKAROS Open, 9 rounds Swiss, (250 km West from Budapest), org: IM Horvath, Tamas, phone: +(36)-20-9777003

3. 21st-31st of May, ELEKES Memorial, GM-IM closed, Budapest, org.IM Zsinka, phone: +(36)-20-921-91-97

4. 4th-16th of June, FS GM-IM-FM, Budapest, Org: NL

5. 18th-26th of June, BALATONLELLE Open + GM-IM closed, 120 km West from Budapest, organizer: IM Rigo, e-mail: me-ri@axelero.hu

6. 2nd-14th of July, FS GM-IM-FM Budapest, org. NL.

7. 23rd- 31st of July, Agria Open /EGER, 100 km North-East from Budapest/, organizer: Rauch Ferenc, e-mail: rauch@freemail.hu

8. 6th-18th of August, FS GM-IM-FM Budapest org.:NL

1st ICCF Webchess Open Tournament

The ICCF have announced the 1st WebChess Open Tournament and invites every player worldwide to participate in the event. The event is to be played on the ICCF dedicated Webserver http://www.iccf-webchess.com. This tournament is open to all correspondence chess players worldwide, also for those without any previous ICCF experience. Multiple entries are allowed. The tournament will be played in three stages - preliminaries, semifinal and final.

Details: http://www.iccf-webchess.com/Message.aspx?message=19

Russia vs ROW Correspondence

The Russian Chess Federation is celebrating its 10th anniversary and is using this occasion to challenge the rest of the world to a match over 64 boards with 2 games for each and the start is 15.02 2004. Players include Joop van Oosterom

http://www.mychessweb.com/Tables/Internationale/Play/russia-world.htm

TWIC Messageboard

With the Linares tournament about to start it seems a good time to launch a new discussion forum. Vote on your prediction of the winner of Linares. The TWIC message board. You need to register to post and vote. Address: http://www.chesscenter.com/messageboard