THE WEEK IN CHESS 66 14/01/96 Mark Crowther
---------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Introduction
2) Hoogovens International Tournament
3) Paul Keres Memorial Tallinn Tournament by Mart Tarmak
4) Short vs Adianto - Jakarta
5) Pamplona Spain
6) First Saturday Chess Tournaments December by Joerg Harm
7) Israeli Chess League by Shay Bushinsky.
8) Reports from the Czech Republic by Martin Pribyl
9) South African Championships by Charles de Villiers
10) More on the World Chess Championships
11) Piket - Adams annotated by Danny Mozes
GAMES SECTION
-------------
Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee NED 7 games
Short vs Adianto Match 1 game
Pamplona International 1 game
INTEL virtual chess challange correction. 1 game
First Saturday Grandmaster Tournament - December. 45 games
First Saturday IM Tournament - December 45 games
National Championships of South Africa. 10 games
1) Introduction
----------------
My thanks to Tasc B.V., Mart Tarmak, Joerg Harm, Shay Bushinsky,
Martin Pribyl, Charles de Villiers, Danny Mozes and Ganesan.
I have had some trouble with my E-Mail recently both incoming
and outgoing. If anyone was expecting a reply or thought they
had submitted material to TWIC that hasn't appeared let me know.
The FIDE rating list has now appeared and is available in full
on my www page:
http://www.brad.ac.uk/~mdcrowth/chess.html
(there have been some technical problems here too this weekend
so you may have to wait until Monday.)
I still have some catching up to do with various bits and pieces
from over Christmas hopefully I will do this over the next couple
of weeks.
Hope you enjoy this issue.
Mark
2) Hoogovens International Tournament
---------------------------------------
Round 1 (1996.01.13)
Anand, Viswanathan - Ivanchuk, Vassily 1/2 25
Gelfand, Boris - Tiviakov, Sergei 1/2 16
Huebner, Robert - Piket, Jeroen 1/2 59
Leko, Peter - Adams, Michael 1/2 27
Timman, Jan H - Sokolov, Ivan 1/2 51
Topalov, Veselin - Shirov, Alexei 1/2 53
Van Wely, Loek - Dreev, Alexey 0-1 56
The whole tournament is being covered by Tasc B.V. 1996. You can
contact Tasc at: info@tasc.nl. Their material appears on their
www page at
http://www.tasc.nl/hoogovens/index.html
Dutch Teletext are providing live coverage at:
http://www.nos.nl/cgi-bin/tt/nos/page/t/850
pages 850-9 are to be used.
Wijk aan Zee NED (NED), I 1996. cat. XVII (2656)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Dreev, Alexey g RUS 2670 * . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1.0
2 Adams, Michael g ENG 2660 . * . . . . = . . . . . . . 0.5 2625
3 Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2725 . . * . . = . . . . . . . . 0.5 2735
4 Gelfand, Boris g BLR 2700 . . . * . . . . . . . = . . 0.5 2625
5 Huebner, Robert g GER 2635 . . . . * . . = . . . . . . 0.5 2570
6 Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2735 . . = . . * . . . . . . . . 0.5 2725
7 Leko, Peter g HUN 2625 . = . . . . * . . . . . . . 0.5 2660
8 Piket, Jeroen g NED 2570 . . . . = . . * . . . . . . 0.5 2635
9 Shirov, Alexei g ESP 2690 . . . . . . . . * . . . = . 0.5 2700
10 Sokolov, Ivan g BIH 2665 . . . . . . . . . * = . . . 0.5 2620
11 Timman, Jan H g NED 2620 . . . . . . . . . = * . . . 0.5 2665
12 Tiviakov, Sergei g RUS 2625 . . . = . . . . . . . * . . 0.5 2700
13 Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2700 . . . . . . . . = . . . * . 0.5 2690
14 Van Wely, Loek g NED 2570 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . * 0.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Grandmaster B Group consists of:
Antunes, Antonio g POR 2545 27 06.02.62
Bologan, Viktor g MDA 2590 63 14.12.71
Delemarre, Jop f NED 2325 23 30.06.77
Garcia, Gildardo g COL 2525 39 09.03.54
Gretarsson, Helgi Ass g ISL 2450 42 18.02.77
Kuijf, Marinus m NED 2470 9 12.02.60
Miles, Anthony J g ENG 2635 66 23.04.55
Nijboer, Friso g NED 2475 31 26.05.65
Onischuk, Alexander g UKR 2580 38 03.09.75
Stripunsky, Alexander m UKR 2495 64 . .
Van Der Wiel, John T.H. g NED 2535 34 09.08.59
Van De Mortel, Jan f NED 2315 16 22.04.75
3) Paul Keres Memorial Tallinn Tournament by Mart Tarmak
------------------------------------------------------
Tallinn 6-7.01.1996 FINAL RESULTS 25 minutes Rapidplay.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2740 36 18.03.69 M 6.5
2. Smyslov, Vassily g RUS 2565 26 24.03.21 M 5.0
3. Malisauskas, Vidmantas g LTU 2510 53 04.08.63 M 5.0
4. Liiva, Riho EST 2410 7 04.07.75 M 4.5
5. Shirov, Alexei g ESP 2695 61 04.07.72 M 4.5
6. Ehlvest, Jaan g EST 2630 37 14.10.62 M 4.0
7. Rytshagov, Mikhail m EST 2475 48 12.11.67 M 4.0
8. Maidla, Vallo f EST 2350 6 25.05.70 M 2.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The first day at the Paul Keres 80th birth anniversary memorial
tournament in rapid chess (25+25) ended after four rounds with
following results:
1. GM Ivanchuk (UKR) 3, 2.-3. GM Malisauskas (LIT), Liiva (EST) 2,5,
4. GM Smyslov (RUS) 2, 5.-8. GM Shirov (ESP), GM Ehlvest (EST), IM
Rotsagov (EST), Maidla (EST) 1,5.
Three more rounds on Sunday. Sensations of the first day were defaults
of the number 1 Estonian GM Ehlvest against young Estonian masters
Vallo Maidla and Riho Liiva. Malisauskas won against Shirov. The
second Estonian GM Lembit Oll is not playing because of illness.
In February the "normal chess" memorial tournament will be played in
another Estonian town Pärnu. The tournament will be XVII (!) category
(average 2653) two round round-robin for six GMs (Ehlvest, Oll, Short,
Hracek, I. Sokolov, Khalifman).
4) Short vs Adianto - Jakarta
-----------------------------
Nigel Short was undefeated in his easy win against
Utut Adianto in Jakarta before Christmas.
Match Jakarta 1 2 3 4 5 6
-------------------------------------------------------
Short, Nigel D. g ENG 2645 1 1 = = 1 = 4.5
Adianto, Utut g INA 2590 0 0 = = 0 = 1.5
-------------------------------------------------------
5) Pamplona Spain
------------------
27th December 1995 - Jan 5th 1996
FINAL RESULTS It Pamplona Spain 1995-1996.
------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
1 Granda Zuniga, Julio E g PER 2605 5.5
3 Magem Badals, Jorge g ESP 2560 5.5
2 Illescas Cordoba, Miguel g ESP 2620 5
4 Ljubojevic, Ljubomir g YUG 2600 4.5
5 Zvjaginsev, Vadim g RUS 2600 4.5
5 San Segundo, Pablo m ESP 2520 4.5
6 De la Villa Garcia,J m ESP 2500 4.0
7 Slobodjan, Roman m GER 2500 4.0
9 Izeta Txabarri, Felix g ESP 2495 4.0
6 Shulman, Yuri m BLR 2540 3.5
-------------------------------------------
Just one decisive game in the final round saw Felix Izeta beat
Miguel Illescas and deny him a share of first prize.
The open was won by Aleksa Strikovic.
6) First Saturday Chess Tournaments December by Joerg Harm
----------------------------------------------------------
FIRST SATURDAY GM TOURNAMENT
FIDE VII. category (2402) GM norm: 7,0 pts. IM norm: 5,5 pts.
Budapest, 02.12-10.12.1995.
Budapest HUN (HUN), XII 1995. cat. VII (2402)
----------------------------------------------------------------
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Cao, Sang VIE 2420 * 0 0 1 1 0 1 = 1 1 5.5 2480 IM NORM
2 Kahn, Evarth m HUN 2350 1 * 1 = 0 = = = = 1 5.5 2487
3 Zimmerman, Yuri RUS 2375 1 0 * = = = 1 1 = = 5.5 2485 IM NORM
4 Acs, Peter f HUN 2370 0 = = * = 1 0 1 = 1 5.0 2448
5 Csom, Istvan g HUN 2455 0 1 = = * = 1 = = = 5.0 2439
6 Varga, Zoltan m HUN 2535 1 = = 0 = * 1 0 = 1 5.0 2430
7 Hmadi, Slaheddine m TUN 2325 0 = 0 1 0 0 * 1 1 = 4.0 2367
8 Certic, Branimir f YUG 2450 = = 0 0 = 1 0 * = = 3.5 2316
9 Vadasz, Laszlo g HUN 2350 0 = = = = = 0 = * = 3.5 2327
10 Sziebert, Adam f HUN 2390 0 0 = 0 = 0 = = = * 2.5 2237
----------------------------------------------------------------
FIRST SATURDAY IM TOURNAMENT
FIDE II.category (2296) IM norm: 7,0 pts.
Budapest, 02.12-10.12.1995.
Budapest HUN (HUN), XII 1995. cat. II (2296)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Turzo, Attila HUN 2310 * 0 = 1 1 1 = 1 1 1 7.0 2514 IM NORM
2 Jakovenko, Dmitrij RUS 2275 1 * 1 0 = = = 1 1 0 5.5 2378
3 Mijailovic, Zoran f YUG 2360 = 0 * 1 = = = = 1 1 5.5 2368
4 Kersten, Uwe f GER 2320 0 1 0 * = = 1 1 0 1 5.0 2336
5 Arnold, Johannes GER 2250 0 = = = * = = = = 1 4.5 2301
6 Sziraki, Tamas HUN 2255 0 = = = = * = 0 1 1 4.5 2300
7 Eperjesi, Laszlo m HUN 2280 = = = 0 = = * = = = 4.0 2254
8 Farago, Sandor m HUN 2360 0 0 = 0 = 1 = * = 1 4.0 2245
9 Touzane, Olivier m FRA 2250 0 0 0 1 = 0 = = * 1 3.5 2221
10 Kasantsev, Anatolij B RUS 2300 0 1 0 0 0 0 = 0 0 * 1.5 2022
--------------------------------------------------------------------
What's the News, FIRST SATURDAY Chess Tournament Series?
For people involved in chess, the name of the FIRST SATURDAY chess
tournament series, which has been going on since 1992 in Budapest,
sounds familiar. The idea is very-very simple: if there are annual
tournaments all over the world, e.g. the one in Groningen, the
Netherlands, around Christmas, the Berlin Summer in Germany every
August, the Christmas Open in Boeblingen, the Budapest Spring Festival
in the second half of every March etc., then tournaments can be
organized with a monthly regularity, too.
This idea has come to life in Budapest, with tournaments starting on
the first Saturday of each month except for January. At first, 9-day
scheveningen-system tournaments for international rating were held,
but the first fighting for International Master's norms in an
all-play-all event also gathered just a couple of months later.
>From January 1993 on, thanks to the sponsorship of EXPRESSZ, an
advertising daily, eleven grandmaster tournaments took place in the
year 1993, breaking a peculiar record: Hungary became "world champion"
in the organization of grandmaster tournaments, and this achievement
made its way to the GUINESS Book of Records.
The tournaments went on in 1994 and 1995, too. More and more chess
players came to Hungary from more and more remote parts of the world,
quite a few people simply moved to Hungary from far away (USA, Mexico,
Vietnam) for several months, renting flats in Budapest, just to make
their international master's (IM), or grandmaster's (GM) norms
here. One of them was IM Peter Enders (32) of Germany, who has to make
only one more GM norm for the title. Eran Liss (19), who won the world
championship of boys under 14 years of age some years ago, and is
serving in the Israeli army at present, made all of his three GM norms
in FIRST SATURDAY tournaments, "commuting" between Tel-Aviv and
Budapest for two years.
A whole "squad" of talented Vietnamese players has gathered in
Budapest for the sake of FIRST SATURDAY tournaments: DAO Thien Hai
(18) made two of his three GM norms here, and the female GM TRANG
Hoang also earned her title in these tournaments. The winner of the GM
tournament of December 1995, CAO Sang (23) fulfilled the requirements
for the IM norm for the fourth time already with this performance. The
above-mentioned three promising Vietnamese players all live in
Budapest, their trainer is GM Levente Lengyel, one of the head
trainers of the chess club MTK.
In April 1993, Peter LEKO (16), who is the youngest grandmaster in the
world now, made his second norm in a FIRST SATURDAY event. His trainer
at that time was GM Andras Adorjan.
A cardinal issue of the tournaments has always been the proper
tournament room. The venues have been the CZOBEL Student Hostel in
Tabornok Street, in the 14th district of Budapest, the Hungarian Chess
Federation and Hotel Sunlight on the Buda side (across the river
Danube).
The FIRST SATURDAY chess tournament series seems to have come safe
into port. The organizer, Mr. Laszlo Nagy (38), has signed a
three-year contract starting from February 1996 with the manager of
the Club for the Inhabitants of the Buda Castle Area (VARLAK)
Ms. Ilona Jenei. On the basis of this contract, VARLAK makes its
banqueting hall (6 Bem Embankment, Budapest) available for the
purposes of the chess tournaments. The would-be tournament room used
to be the ballroom of the Countess Katinka Andrassy, the wife of
Mihaly Karolyi, president of Hungary in 1918-1919. This venue is very
close to the underground station Batthyany Square. The room has really
preserved the atmosphere of the early 20th century, the windows look
onto the river Danube, the players can take delight in the lights of
the Pest side in the evenings.
It is worth mentioning that Ms. Ilona Jenei is the daughter of chess
master Ferenc Jenei, who used to be the trainer of the Hungarian
women's national team, so she has been "committed" to chess since her
childhood. She works for the rise of her cultural community centre
enthusiastically.
We hope that this new agreement brings about the growth of cultural
life of the Castle District as well as the birth of a new world chess
centre. It is a special pleasure for us that this centre is in
Budapest.
All in all, the next FIRST SATURDAY event starts on 3rd February 1996
(the first Saturday of the month) 6 Bem Embankment in the Hungarian
capital, and the series will hopefully go on for 3 years at the same
place. The parties signing the contract agreed that they both want to
build up a functioning system, coninuously "beautifying" the
tournament room, and forming a world-famous "stronghold" of chess, in
which they plan to organize other chess events like training sessions
etc.
Laszlo Nagy,
International Chess Manager
director of the FIRST SATURDAY chess tournament series,
Translated from Hungarian to English by FM Adam SZIEBERTH
International GM- or IM-norms having made in the FIRST SATURDAY events
in 1995
+----------+---------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| | GM-norm | IM-norm |
| month +---------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| | name |land | elo |age | name |land | elo |age |
+----------+---------------+-----+------+----+---------------+-----+------+----+
|February |DAO, Thien Hai | VIE | 2480 | 17 |TRANG, Hoang | VIE | 2325 | 14 |
+----------+---------------+-----+------+----+---------------+-----+------+----+
|April | | | | | | | | |
+----------+---------------+-----+------+----+---------------+-----+------+----+
| | | | | |KJELDSEN, S. | DEN | 2420 | 24 |
|March | | | | |SCHOENE, Ralf | GER | 2355 | 34 |
| | | | | |PETER, Ambrus | HUN | 2335 | 25 |
+----------+---------------+-----+------+----+---------------+-----+------+----+
|May |VARAVIN, V. | RUS | 2520 | 28 |DAO, Thien Hai | VIE | 2480 | 17 |
| | | | | |CAO, Sang | VIE | 2300 | 23 |
+----------+---------------+-----+------+----+---------------+-----+------+----+
|June |LISS, Eran | ISR | 2465 | 19 |ACS, Peter | HUN | 2240 | 14 |
| |DAO, Thien Hai | VIE | 2480 | 17 | | | | |
+----------+---------------+-----+------+----+---------------+-----+------+----+
| |MALAKHOV, V. | RUS | 2395 | 15 |IVAKHIN, M. | RUS | 2300 | 18 |
|July |GYIMESI, Z. | HUN | 2525 | 18 |CAO, Sang | VIE | 2420 | 23 |
| | | | | |ZAITSEV, V. | RUS | 2320 | 25 |
+----------+---------------+-----+------+----+---------------+-----+------+----+
|August |ENDERS, Peter | GER | 2470 | 32 |GONZALEZ, J. | MEX | 2375 | 25 |
| | | | | |PEREDY, F. | HUN | 2235 | 22 |
+----------+---------------+-----+------+----+---------------+-----+------+----+
|September |VOTAVA, Jan | TCH | 2440 | 21 |PETER, Ambrus | HUN | 2410 | 25 |
+----------+---------------+-----+------+----+---------------+-----+------+----+
|October | | | | |ZIMMERMAN, Y. | RUS | 2375 | 32 |
+----------+---------------+-----+------+----+---------------+-----+------+----+
|November | | | | |CAO, Sang | VIE | 2420 | 23 |
+----------+---------------+-----+------+----+---------------+-----+------+----+
| | | | | |ZIMMERMAN, Y. | RUS | 2375 | 32 |
|December | | | | |CAO, Sang | VIE | 2420 | 23 |
| | | | | |TURZO, Attila | HUN | 2310 | 17 |
+----------+---------------+-----+------+----+---------------+-----+------+----+
--
Jvrg Harm jh@informatik.uni-rostock.de
Fachbereich Informatik, Universitdt Rostock, D-18051 Rostock
Telefon: +49-381-4983432 Fax: +49-381-4983426
7) Israeli Chess League by Shay Bushinsky.
------------------------------------------
The strongest ever Israeli chess league featuring 25 GMs started last week
with the following round 1 results:
(note according to the new rules an extra point is granted to a team
that wins)
P"T 4.5
ASA 1.5
GM R. Soffer 1-0 GM Gadi Rechlis
Ravia Mosi 1/2 GM Ronen Har-Zvi
Oleg Peker 1/2 IM Dan Zoller
FM Yedael Stepak +/- (GM Kriedman absent)
Jonathan Wapner 1/2 Igor Sorkin
Rishon 5.5
Hapoel 0.5
GM Boris Alterman 1-0 FM Israel Gelfer
GM Yona Kosashvili 1/2 FM Ehud Lahav
GM Eran Lies 1-0 IM Uriel Zak
GM Lev Gutman 1-0 Simcha Kataiev
IM Leonid Shmuter 1-0 FM Arkadi Blushtein
Herzelia 4.5
Haifa 1.5
GM Lev Psakhis 1-0 IM Vladimir Uritski
IM Yaccov Zilberman 1/2 GM Avigdor Bichovsky
GM Ronen Lev 0-1 IM Mark Berkovich
IM Dubi Zifroni 1-0 IM Eduard Grinshpon
FM Leonid Slutsky 1-0 Vladimir Wienstein
Beer-Sheba A 4.5
Beer-Sheba B 1.5
GM Alon Greenfeld 1/2 GM Alex Finkel
GM Alexander Huzman 1/2 IM Victor Michalevsky
GM Mark Tsietlin 1-0 Alexander Michalevsky
IM Vitali Golod 1/2 Dmitri Tiumkin
IM Boris Avruch 1/2 Michael Diker
Elizur P"T 4
Bikurei Haitim 2
GM Leonid Yudasin 1-0 GM Leonid Gopstein
GM Ilya Smirin 0-1 IM Ilan Manor
GM Vadim Milov 1-0 IM Elijahu Shvidler
GM Alexander Guldin 1-0 IM Alexander Kries
IM Artur Kogan 0-1 IM Shimon Kagan
Givatayim 2.5
Makabi Afek 2.5
GM Yehuda Grunfeld 1/2 GM Emil Sutovsky
IM Ofer Bruk 1/2 IM Michael Oratovsky
GM Vladimir Liberzon 1/2 IM Boris Kanstler
IM Eivy Gudes 1/2 IM Yaacov Stisis
Boris Bludshtein 1/2 Malachi Malachi
ROUND 2 Jan 12th
------------------------
The second round of the strong Israeli Chess league supplied
several unexpected results:
The youngsters from Hapoel P"T surprised the experienced players
from Givatayim. But the biggest surprise was Herzelia shocking
the cup holders and former champions from Beer-Sheba 4-2.
A mini surprise was Asa holding to a draw the 1994 champions
from Rishon. Though Alterman was better all the way through against
Rechlis he could only manage a draw while Kosahvili made a
dubious pawn sacrifice in a dead drawn ending. His opponent's
pawn queened later on... Lies with a preferable position
lost in time trouble. Elizur P"T the reigning champions creamed
the second team from Beer-Sheba. Hapoel T"A showed no sign of
resentment towards becoming the boxing sac of the league.
Elizur P"T 6
Beer-Sheba B 0
GM Leonid Yudasin 1-0 GM Alex Finkel
GM Ilya Smirin 1-0 IM Victor Michalevsky
GM Vadim Milov 1-0 IM Alexander Michalevsky
GM Alexander Guldin 1-0 Dmitri Tiumkin
IM Artur Kogan 1-0 Gur Mitelman
Hapoel P"T 5
Hapoel Givatayim 1
GM R. Soffer 1/2 GM Yehuda Grunfeld
Mosi Ravia 1/2 IM Ofer Bruk
Oleg Peker 1-0 GM Vladimir Liberzon
FM Yedael Stefak 1-0 IM Iyvi Gudes
Jonathen Wapner 1-0 Boris Bludshtein
Herzelia 4
Beer-Sheba A 2
GM Lev Psakhis 1/2 GM Alon Greenfeld
IM Yaacov Zilberman 1-0 GM Alexander Huzman
GM Ronen Lev 0-1 GM Mark Tseitlin
IM Dubi Zifroni 1-0 IM Vitali Golod
IM Leonid Slutsky 1/2 IM Boris Avruch
Rishon 2.5
Asa 2.5
GM Boris Alterman 1/2 GM Gadi Rechlis
GM Yona Kosashvili 0-1 IM Dan Zoler
GM Eran Lies 0-1 GM Yair Kridman
GM Leonid Shmuter 1-0 Igor Sorkin
IM Alexander Kaspi (Serberianik) 1-0 Yossi Shutzman
Makabi Afek 4
Technion Haifa 2
GM Emil Sutovsky 1-0 IM MAxim Uritsky
IM Michael Oratovsky 1/2 IM Eduard Porper
IM Boris Kanstler 1/2 GM Avigdor Bichovsky
IM Yaccov Stisis 1/2 IM Mark Berkovic
Avraham Malachi 1/2 IM Eduard Grinshpon
Bikurei Haitim 5.5
Hapoel Tel-Aviv 0.5
GM Leonid Gopstein 1-0 FM Israel Gelfer
IM Ilan Manor 1/2 FM Ehud Lahav
IM Eliyahu Shvidler 1-0 IM Uriel Zak
IM Alexander Krayz 1-0 Simcha Katayev
IM Shimon Kagan 1-0 FM Arkadi Bludshtein
8) Reports from the Czech Republic by Martin Pribyl
----------------------------------------------------
Lazne Bohdanec (Czech Republic)
------------------------------------
- 3rd annual tournament, this year GM (cat. 9-11) & IM (cat. 5). The young
Czech IMs have the possibility to achieve a GM norm. The chances have IM
Babula (2 norms), IM Movsesian (new rating 2580, 1 norm) and IM Votava (1
norm). I play in the master tournament.
(09.01.1996 - 19.01.1996)
Organizer: AVE-Kontakt s.r.o., Sukova trida 1556, CZ-530 02 Pardubice
tel./fax: +42-40-512 380
Directors of the festival: Dr Jan Mazuch & Petr Lausman
Time: 40/2 + 20/1 + 30 min.
Schedule: Opening Ceremony 13.30 - 14.00 (09.01.1996)
Round 1 - 10 14.00 - 21.00 (09.01. - 18.01.1996)
Round 11 8.00 - 15.00 (19.01.1996)
Closing Ceremony 15.00 (19.01.1996)
Lazne Bohdanec is a small town (2.270 inhab.) near Pardubice
in the Eastern Bohemia (100 kms from Prague).
A. Ekorex Cup - GM tournament (cat. 10, average 2496)
-----------------------------------------------------
1. GM Blatny, Pavel 2515 CZE
2. IM Vokac, Marek 2455 CZE
3. IM Kaminski, Marcian 2525 POL
4. IM Stocek, Jiri 2465 CZE
5. IM Babula, Vlastimil 2540 CZE {2 GM norms}
6. GM Neverov, Valery 2515 UKR
7. IM Votava, Jan 2540 CZE {1 GM norm}
8. IM Jirovsky, Milos 2420 CZE
9. IM Movsesian, Sergei 2580 GEO {1 GM norm}
10. IM Kogan, Artur 2485 ISR
11. GM Meduna, Eduard 2435 CZE
12. IM Keitlinghaus, Ludger 2475 GER
GM = 7.5 IM = 5.5
Round 1 - 09.01.1996
--------------------
Blatny - Keitlinghaus 0-1
Vokac - Meduna 1/2
Kaminski - Kogan 1-0
Stocek - Movsesian 0-1
Babula - Jirovsky 0-1
Neverov - Votava 1-0
Round 2 - 10.01.1996
--------------------
Keitlinghaus - Votava 1-0
Jirovsky - Neverov 1-0
Meduna - Kaminski 1-0
Kogan - Stocek 0-1
Movsesian - Babula 1-0
Blatny - Vokac 1-0
Standings:
----------
1= Movsesian, Keitlinghaus, Jirovsky 2.0
4 Meduna 1.5
5= Blatny, Neverov, Kaminski, Stocek 1.0
9 Vokac 0.5
10= Babula, Votava, Kogan 0.0
Later news:
ROUND 3
-------
Vokac-Keitlinghaus 0-1
Stocek-Meduna 1/2
Kaminski-Blatny 1-0
Neverov-Movsesjan 1/2
Babula-Kogan 1-0
Votava-Jirovsky 1-0
ROUND 4
-------
Blatny-Stocek 1-0
Vokah-Kaminski 1/2
Meduna-Babula 1/2
Kogan-Neverov 1/2
Movsesjan-Votava 1-0
Keitlinghaus-Jirovsky 1/2
ROUND 5
--------
Babula-Blatny 1-0
B. Lazne Bohdanec Cup - IM tournament (cat. 4, average 2344)
------------------------------------------------------------
1. IM Pribyl, Josef 2415 CZE
2. Valenta, Vit 2320 CZE
3. FM Pribyl, Martin 2325 CZE {4 IM norms}
4. IM Krupkova, Petra 2300 CZE
5. Jakubiec, Artur 2425 POL
6. Manik, Mikulas 2345 SVK
7. IM Trichkov, Vasil 2415 BUL
8. Hlavnicka, Jiri 2210 CZE
9. Blehm, Pawel 2435 POL
10. Pokorny, Tomas 2285 CZE
11. IM Voloshin, Leonid 2435 RUS
12. FM Mojzis, Jaroslav 2220 CZE
IM = 7.5
Round 1 - 09.01.1996
--------------------
J. Pribyl - Mojzis 1-0
Valenta - Voloshin 0-1
M. Pribyl - Pokorny 1-0
Krupkova - Blehm 0-1
Jakubiec - Hlavnicka 1-0
Manik - Trichkov 1-0
Round 2 - 10.01.1996
--------------------
Mojzis - Trichkov 1-0
Hlavnicka - Manik 0-1
Voloshin - M. Pribyl 1-0
Pokorny - Krupkova 1/2
Blehm - Jakubiec 1/2
J. Pribyl - Valenta 1-0
Standings:
----------
1= J. Pribyl, Voloshin, Manik 2.0
4= Blehm, Jakubiec 1.5
6= M. Pribyl, Mojzis 1.0
8= Krupkova, Pokorny 0.5
10= Trichkov, Valenta, Hlavnicka 0.0
Later News
ROUND 3
--------
Valenta-Mojzis 1-0
Krupkova-Voloshin 1/2
Pribyl M.-Pribyl J. 1/2
Manmk-Blehm 1-0
Jakubiec-Pokorny 0-1
Trihkov-Hlavnihka 1-0
Schwaebisch Gmuend 1996
------------------------
8th Staufer Open in Schwaebisch Gmuend. Arbakov started with 7/7 but lost
the last two rounds (IM Miezis 2505 & GM Chuchelov 2550)!
The last round results:
1. Chuchelov - Arbakov 1:0,
2. Miezis - Zagorskis 1/2,
3. Galdunts - Martinovic 0:1.
Another 300 players New Year tournament.
Schwaebisch Gmuend (Germany) - 8. Staufer Open
02.01. - 06.01.1996
1. GM Martinovic, Slobodan YUG 7.5 50.5 457.00
2. GM Chuchelov, Vladimir BEL 7.5 50.5 449.50
3. IM Miezis, Normunds LAT 7.5 50.0 455.00
4. IM Zagorskis, Darius LTU 7.0 54.0
5. IM Ristic, Nenad YUG 7.0 52.0
6. GM Badea, Bela ROM 7.0 51.0
7. IM Meijers, Viesturs LAT 7.0 50.5 447.00
8. GM Arbakov, Valentin RUS 7.0 50.5 445.50
9. GM Kupreichik, Victor BLR 7.0 49.5 448.00
10. IM Adamski, Jan POL 7.0 49.5 420.50
11. IM Pribyl, Josef CZE 7.0 48.5
12. IM Klovan, Janis LAT 7.0 48.0 436.00
13. GM Gipslis, Aivars LAT 7.0 48.0 426.00
14. IM Jurek, Josef CZE 7.0 46.0
15. Joachim, Sven GER 6.5 50.0
16. IM Galdunts, Sergej ARM 6.5 49.5
17. GM Balashov, Yuri RUS 6.5 46.5 441.50
18. IM Ciolac, Gheorghe ROM 6.5 46.5 412.00
19. FM Pribyl, Martin CZE 6.5 46.0
20. Morlo, Michael GER 6.5 45.5 417.00
21. IM Solonar, Stefan MDA 6.5 45.5 415.50
22. Kountz, Jochen GER 6.5 45.5 414.50
23. IM Petrosian, Karen RUS 6.5 44.5
24. Namyslo, Holger GER 6.0 48.0
25. Held, Paul GER 6.0 47.5 423.50
26. FM Metz, Hartmut GER 6.0 47.5 411.00
27. Jirovsky, Petr CZE 6.0 47.0 421.50
28. Kersten, Uwe GER 6.0 47.0 401.50
29. IM Klundt, Klaus GER 6.0 46.5
30. Khadempour, Farhad GER 6.0 45.5 419.00
etc. 292 players
Czech Republic Extra League 1995/96
------------------------------------
- 12 teams RR, 8 players.
The same system as the German Bundesliga.
GMs Hracek 2650, Rogers 2600, Ioseliani, Ftacnik, Stohl, Smejkal,
Jansa, Mokry, Meduna, Pachman, Lechtynsky, many IMs.
Last double round is scheduled in March 96.
Czech Republic - Extra League 1995/96
Standings after 6+ rounds
Rang Team #M + = - Score Pts.
------------------------------------------------------------------
1. SK Dum armady Praha 6 6 0 0 34.0 : 14.0 12
2. Sokol Kolin 6 5 0 1 32.0 : 16.0 10
3. MILO Olomouc 6 5 0 1 30.0 : 18.0 10
4. Bohemians Praha 6 4 0 2 26.0 : 22.0 8
5. SK HM Ostrava 6 3 1 2 28.0 : 20.0 7
6. SK Mladi Praha 7 2 3 2 29.5 : 26.5 7
7. Dopravni podniky Praha 7 2 1 4 24.5 : 31.5 5
8. SK Havrice 6 2 0 4 21.5 : 26.5 4
9. ZCE Plzen 6 1 2 3 20.5 : 27.5 4
10. Vysehrad Praha 6 1 1 4 21.0 : 27.0 3
11. IWEX Litomerice 6 0 2 4 16.5 : 31.5 2
12. Slavia Havirov 6 0 2 4 12.5 : 35.5 2
Rang Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
=====================================================================
1. SK DA Praha xxx 4.5 ... 6.0 5.0 ... ... ... ... 4.5 6.5 7.5
2. Sokol Kolin 3.5 xxx 5.5 ... 4.5 ... ... 6.0 5.5 ... ... 7.0
3. MILO Olomouc ... 2.5 xxx 6.5 ... 5.0 4.5 ... ... 5.5 6.0 ...
4. Bohemians Praha 2.0 ... 1.5 xxx ... 5.0 7.5 4.5 5.5 ... ... ...
5. SK HM Ostrava 3.0 3.5 ... ... xxx 4.0 5.5 ... 5.5 ... 6.5 ...
6. SK Mladi Praha ... ... 3.0 3.0 4.0 xxx 4.0 5.5 ... 4.0 ... 6.0
7. DP Praha ... ... 3.5 0.5 2.5 4.0 xxx 4.5 ... 2.5 ... 7.0
8. SK Havrice ... 2.0 ... 3.5 ... 2.5 3.5 xxx ... 5.5 4.5 ...
9. ZCE Plzen ... 2.5 ... 2.5 2.5 ... ... ... xxx 5.0 4.0 4.0
10. Vysehrad Praha 3.5 ... 2.5 ... ... 4.0 5.5 2.5 3.0 xxx ... ...
11. Litomerice 1.5 ... 2.0 ... 1.5 ... ... 3.5 4.0 ... xxx 4.0
12. Slavia Havirov 0.5 1.0 ... ... ... 2.0 1.0 ... 4.0 ... 4.0 xxx
=====================================================================
Round 7 - 13.01.1996 & 14.01.1996
---------------------------------
Bohemians Praha - Vysehrad Praha
IWEX Litomerice - Sokol Kolin
Slavia Havirov - SK HM Ostrava
SK DA Praha - ZCE Plzen
MILO Olomouc - SK Havrice
Czech Republic - Extra League 1995/96
TOP 100 - after 6+/11 rounds
Rang Brd. Player ELO Team Points Aver TPR
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1. 7. IM Orsag Milan 2415 SK DA Praha 5.5/ 6 2347 2743
2. 9. IM Sergeev Vl. (UKR) 2415 SK DA Praha 5.5/ 6 2286 2681
3. 1. GM Hracek Zbynek 2635 SK DA Praha 5 / 6 2419 2696
4. 4. IM Velicka Petr 2415 SK HM Ostrava 5 / 6 2392 2669
5. 6. IM Votava Jan 2440 SK DA Praha 5 / 6 2367 2644
6. 3. IM Rasik Vitezslav 2420 SK HM Ostrava 5 / 6 2364 2641
7. 7. FM Firt Stanislav 2375 SK HM Ostrava 5 / 6 2303 2579
8. 4. IM Gross Stefan 2350 Sokol Kolin 4.5/ 6 2379 2572
9. 8. Jirovsky Pavel 2315 Sokol Kolin 4.5/ 6 2340 2533
10. 1. GM Ioseliani N (GEO) 2475 SK Mladi Praha 4.5/ 7 2449 2553
11. 3. IM Pribyl Josef 2405 SK Mladi Praha 4.5/ 7 2401 2505
12. 4. IM Hausner Ivan 2455 DP Praha 4.5/ 7 2369 2473
13. 11. Moravec Michal 2300 Sokol Kolin 4 / 4 2273 3073
14. 8. FM Hajek Michal 2300 SK HM Ostrava 4 / 5 2249 2489
15. 3. IM Vokac Marek 2475 Bohemians Praha 4 / 6 2410 2532
16. 3. FM Zurek Milan 2430 MILO Olomouc 4 / 6 2382 2504
17. 6. Vavruska David 2265 ZCE Plzen 4 / 6 2358 2480
18. 5. Jirovsky Petr 2255 SK Mladi Praha 4 / 6 2357 2480
19. 10. Zvara Petr 2295 Bohemians Praha 4 / 6 2316 2438
20. 2. GM Meduna Eduard 2445 SK Mladi Praha 4 / 7 2408 2459
21. 1. GM Rogers Ian (AUS) 2600 Bohemians Praha 3.5/ 4 2526 2855
22. 5. IM Oral Tomas 2410 MILO Olomouc 3.5/ 4 2390 2719
23. 1. GM Smejkal Jan 2520 DP Praha 3.5/ 5 2443 2592
24. 3. IM Jirovsky Milos 2425 Sokol Kolin 3.5/ 5 2410 2559
25. 1. IM Movsesian S (GEO) 2470 Sokol Kolin 3.5/ 6 2476 2536
26. 2. IM Koutsin S. (UKR) 2455 MILO Olomouc 3.5/ 6 2429 2489
27. 2. IM Nedela Vlastimil 2455 SK HM Ostrava 3.5/ 6 2411 2471
28. 8. Chloupek Stanisl. 2305 Vysehrad Praha 3.5/ 6 2279 2339
29. 9. Folk Petr 2295 ZCE Plzen 3 / 4 2335 2528
30. 7. IM Berzinsh R. (LAT) 2435 MILO Olomouc 3 / 4 2321 2514
31. 9. Kotek Daniel 2360 Litomerice 3 / 4 2301 2494
32. 10. Obsivac Josef 2350 MILO Olomouc 3 / 4 2266 2459
33. 7. Gross David 2385 Sokol Kolin 3 / 5 2360 2432
34. 9. IM Beil Zdenek 2315 MILO Olomouc 3 / 5 2269 2341
35. 1. FM Langner Ladislav 2360 Slavia Havirov 3 / 6 2469 2469
36. 3. Lipka Juraj (SVK) 2360 ZCE Plzen 3 / 6 2408 2408
37. 3. IM Mozny Milos 2425 Vysehrad Praha 3 / 6 2392 2392
38. 4. IM Kogan Artur (ISR) 2495 SK DA Praha 3 / 6 2390 2390
39. 4. IM Voloshin L. (RUS) 2435 Vysehrad Praha 3 / 6 2387 2387
40. 6. IM Biolek Richard 2415 MILO Olomouc 3 / 6 2362 2362
41. 6. Houser Pavel 2340 Litomerice 3 / 6 2347 2347
42. 12. FM Znamenacek Kvet. 2335 Bohemians Praha 3 / 6 2307 2307
43. 10. Dolezal Radoslav 2260 Sokol Kolin 3 / 6 2296 2296
44. 7. Cech Pavel 2360 Vysehrad Praha 3 / 6 2290 2290
45. 2. IM Spacek Petr 2400 DP Praha 3 / 7 2426 2375
46. 3. IM Freisler Pavel 2345 DP Praha 3 / 7 2400 2349
47. 4. FM Pribyl Martin 2390 SK Mladi Praha 3 / 7 2369 2318
48. 9. Belaska Premysl 2230 SK Mladi Praha 2.5/ 4 2265 2356
49. 8. Jurasek Miroslav 2240 SK Havrice 2.5/ 4 2260 2351
50. 5. IM Nun Jiri 2415 Sokol Kolin 2.5/ 5 2327 2327
51. 6. Chytilek Roman 2320 SK Havrice 2.5/ 5 2293 2293
52. 7. Vrana Frantisek 2240 SK Havrice 2.5/ 5 2262 2262
53. 1. IM Babula Vlastimil 2530 SK Havrice 2.5/ 6 2455 2395
54. 2. IM Konopka Michal 2420 Vysehrad Praha 2.5/ 6 2422 2362
55. 2. Sluka Radek 2310 SK Havrice 2.5/ 6 2411 2351
56. 2. Vavra Pavel 2355 ZCE Plzen 2.5/ 6 2409 2349
57. 4. Pisk Petr 2275 SK Havrice 2.5/ 6 2401 2341
58. 6. IM Prandstetter Ed. 2380 Bohemians Praha 2.5/ 6 2387 2327
59. 5. Knazovcik Ladisl. 2330 SK Havrice 2.5/ 6 2366 2306
60. 7. IM Pekarek Ales 2445 Bohemians Praha 2.5/ 6 2332 2272
61. 5. IM Michenka Jozef 2375 SK HM Ostrava 2.5/ 6 2331 2271
62. 6. FM Netusil Miloslav 2305 Vysehrad Praha 2.5/ 6 2322 2262
63. 5. IM Tichy Vladimir 2370 Vysehrad Praha 2.5/ 6 2319 2259
64. 7. IM Polasek Jaroslav 2275 DP Praha 2.5/ 6 2312 2252
65. 7. Suran Jan 2215 SK Mladi Praha 2.5/ 6 2293 2233
66. 8. Pachmann Ales 2250 SK Mladi Praha 2.5/ 6 2290 2230
67. 1. GM Stohl Igor (SVK) 2525 MILO Olomouc 2 / 3 2492 2614
68. 6. Vrbata Zbynek 2350 DP Praha 2 / 3 2317 2439
69. 10. IM Krupkova Petra 2210 SK Mladi Praha 2 / 3 2273 2395
70. 3. GM Lechtynsky Jiri 2430 SK DA Praha 2 / 4 2370 2370
71. 8. Valenta Vit 2250 MILO Olomouc 2 / 4 2271 2271
72. 13. Vorisek Jaroslav 2215 Bohemians Praha 2 / 4 1691 1691
73. 5. IM Trichkov V. (BUL) 2420 Bohemians Praha 2 / 5 2379 2307
74. 3. FM Ramik Zdenek 2345 SK Havrice 2 / 6 2379 2257
75. 4. FM Kucera Petr 2330 Litomerice 2 / 6 2377 2255
76. 3. Kozak Milos 2300 Litomerice 2 / 6 2377 2255
77. 4. FM Bakalar Petr 2355 ZCE Plzen 2 / 6 2372 2250
78. 8. IM Stratil Ladislav 2380 SK DA Praha 2 / 6 2353 2231
79. 7. Michalek Jan 2300 ZCE Plzen 2 / 6 2321 2199
80. 2. GM Jansa Vlastimil 2495 SK DA Praha 1.5/ 2 2425 2618
81. 5. IM Polak Tomas 2450 SK DA Praha 1.5/ 2 2340 2533
82. 10. IM Votruba Pavel 2335 SK DA Praha 1.5/ 2 2327 2520
83. 11. Slezka Vojtech 2330 SK DA Praha 1.5/ 2 2320 2513
84. 1. IM Stocek Jiri 2475 ZCE Plzen 1.5/ 4 2439 2348
85. 5. FM Pacl Vaclav 2275 Slavia Havirov 1.5/ 4 2331 2240
86. 6. Masternak A (POL) 2265 Slavia Havirov 1.5/ 4 2304 2214
87. 8. Sabol Marian 2268 DP Praha 1.5/ 4 2298 2207
88. 1. IM Trapl Jindrich 2360 Litomerice 1.5/ 6 2476 2283
89. 1. IM Mrva Martin (SVK) 2400 SK HM Ostrava 1.5/ 6 2469 2276
90. 5. Cerny Martin 2330 Litomerice 1.5/ 6 2349 2156
91. 7. Mitura Vaclav 2230 Slavia Havirov 1.5/ 6 2307 2114
92. 12. Tobyas Miroslav 2315 DP Praha 1.5/ 6 2295 2102
93. 11. FM Modr Bretislav 2360 Bohemians Praha 1 / 1 2320 3120
94. 11. FM Zvolanek Libor 2320 MILO Olomouc 1 / 1 2260 3060
95. 10. Buran Jaroslav 2197 SK Havrice 1 / 1 2250 3050
96. 13. Rybak Milan 2260 Sokol Kolin 1 / 1 2155 2955
97. 2. GM Ftacnik L. (SVK) 2580 Bohemians Praha 1 / 2 2528 2528
98. 2. IM Keitlinghaus (GER)2500 Sokol Kolin 1 / 2 2393 2393
99. 5. Ralis Petr 2275 ZCE Plzen 1 / 2 2377 2377
100. 11. FM Brychta Ivan 2255 DP Praha 1 / 2 2303 2303
...
106. 1. GM Pachman Ludek 2325 Vysehrad Praha 1 / 5 2527 2287
110. 6. IM Banas Jan (SVK) 2375 Sokol Kolin 0.5/ 1 2440 2440
113. 5. IM Borik Otto (GER) 2400 DP Praha 0.5/ 2 2360 2167
122. 9. IM Ambroz Jan 2400 Bohemians Praha 0 / 1 2415 1615
132. 4. IM Lerch Jan 2390 MILO Olomouc 0 / 2 2340 1540
9) South African Championships by Charles de Villiers
------------------------------------------------------
Gluckman Wins South African Championship
IM David Gluckman won the South African Closed (invitational)
Championships held near Cape Town from 11-22 December 1995.
This tournament was the first national closed championship held since
the unification of South Africa's chess organisations in 1991, and also
served to select the Olympic team - so practically all the country's
strongest players took part, along with some titled players from
Angola and Zimbabwe.
The format was a 20-player, 11-round Swiss with daily 6-hour
sessions. Gluckman faced strong competition from IM George Michelakis
and Mark Levitt until the final three rounds, when there was an
unexpected bloodbath among the leaders.
Gluckman's 2/3 finish was enough to give him the title.
Final standings were as follows:
1. IM David Gluckman (2370) 7.5
2-3. IM George Michelakis (2410) 7.0
Mark Levitt (2290) 7.0
4-8. IM Watu Kobese (2275) 6.5
Antonio Bravetti 6.5
Sarel Steel 6.5
Deon Solomons (2265) 6.5
Steven Pearson 6.5
9-13. Charles de Villiers (2350) 6.0
Milan Keserovic (2230) 6.0
Konrad van Zijl Smit (2100) 6.0
Solomon Mauba 6.0
Shabier Bhawoodien 6.0
14. IM Aderito Pedro (ANG) (2195) 5.0
15-17. IM Kudzanai Mamombe (ZIM)(2140) 4.5
Piet Kroon (2330) 4.5
Greg Paszczyk 4.5
18. Deon Pick 4.0
19. FM Aristoteles Ramos (ANG)(2215) 3.5
20. Maxwell Solomon 0.0
The tournament was ably organised by Elan Rabinowitz on behalf of the
Cape Town Chess Club, which is 110 years old this year. Arthur Kobese
and Rupert Jones were tournament directors, and Mark Levitt prepared
the bulletins.
10) More on the World Chess Championships
-----------------------------------------
In an interesting reaction to both the recent FIDE proposed
changes and my suggestions in the last issue Ganesan write
the following interesting article. (The views expressed are
his!) Based on various conversations and postings there are
a number of additional points that I (MC) would like to make:
1) Karpov and Kasparov are implacabley against the new FIDE
knockout proposals.
2) The proposals do for the first time aim to at least provide
decent renumeration even for first round losers. However
if there is $5m then even with an Interzonal being played
there is no reason why everyone shouldn't get $5000. This
is independent of the proposals.
3) There is no evidence that there is $5m worth of interest
in this event, no evidence that this money can be raised.
I think it is a big mistake to believe that the FIDE President's
supposed riches are any factor in this.
4) Does anyone know of players that would have been likely to
participate in the Interzonal especially outside the normal
prizewinning area that are in favour of the proposals? Or
indeed any top player?
5) Ganesan talks about a Grand Prix below. I always thought that
the GMA Grand Prix Tournaments were a key idea in promoting
chess. Whether it is possible to revitalise the idea given the
bad relations in the chess World is a different point.
6) The FIDE President has priorites in making sure that FIDE
don't go bankrupt. There seems no prospect of a PCA FIDE
deal, no prospect of any method of raising significant cash
in the forseeable future. All these have to be addresses
by him. No matter what we think of FIDE it is supposed to
be our organisation. The point is it should take note of
opinions outside the narrow politicking that happens at
the moment.
7) The key to promoting chess is television. Finding a way of
presenting chess tournament as an enjoyable thing to watch
on TV should be in the thinking of all.
The World Championship by Ganesan
---------------------------------
My own two cents worth... Personally, I disagree with the new FIDE
suggestions and also your proposal! [TWIC65] As I think everyone
realises, FIDE's changes leave too much to random chance. However,
your idea concentrates only on the final match whereas I believe
the system really stinks at the zonal and interzonal stages.
The real problem, I feel, is we have an overabundance of strong players.
Gone are the days when Karpov or Kasparov stood head and shoulders above
their nearest competitors. I think the present system of Swiss zonal and
interzonals is ridiculous, as a lot of worthy contenders are eliminated
on the basis of one poor performance. For example, Ivanchuk, the crown
prince of chess and arguably the most talented player today, did not make
either candidates cycle.
What is the solution? I say we stop having a world championship! The success
of chess depends on making it accessible to the public and increasing their
awareness of the game, NOT on having a single figurehead. Both tennis and
golf are immensely popular without having a world champion. Just like those
games, chess already has an accurate rating system. Instead of having a
world champion, we should just say "Kasparov is ranked #1". Just like tennis,
we can have a "Grand Slam" series of top tournaments, like the PCA cycle
last year. And we can augment this by a small double round robin with the
world's top four or top eight, but without calling the winner the world
champion. This already happens in tennis, where we have an annual tournament
of champions.
I think people are overestimating the power of the world championship. The
truth is chess is more popular than ever before, and there are more strong
players than ever before. The present world championship rules are extremely
skewed towards the titleholder. Why continue with this farce? The rating
system may be imperfect, but it's as good a way as any in ranking players,
without a formal cycle of events.
3. The 2700 Class
From the beginning of the Elo system up to the Jan. 96 list, only twelve
players have reached the magic 2700 rating. Of these, one [Tal] is dead
and another [Fischer] effectively so in the chess sense. The other ten are
active tournament players. Here is a summary of encounters between these
players in 1995. I have deliberately left out the PCA Rapidplay events. To
me the quality of these games is lower and they should be treated separately.
The players are in the order of their 1996 rating, except that I've placed
Kasparov before Kramnik.
Kas Kra Kar Iva Kam Ana Top Gel Shi Sal Total
Kasparov xx -- -- -- -- +5 +3 -- -- -- +8
xx =3 -- =2 -- =13 -- -- -- -- =18
xx -- -- -1 -- -1 -- -- -- -- -2
Kramnik -- xx -- +1 -- -- +1 -- -- -- +2
=3 xx =1 =4 -- =1 =1 =1 =1 -- =12
-- xx -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -0
Karpov -- -- xx -- -- -- +1 +4 +1 +1 +7
-- =1 xx =2 =1 -- -- =5 =1 -- =10
-- -- xx -- -1 -- -- -1 -- -- -2
Ivanchuk +1 -- -- xx -- -- +1 -- -- -- +2
=2 =4 =2 xx -- =1 -- -- =2 -- =11
-- -1 -- xx -- -- -2 -1 -- -- -4
Kamsky -- -- +1 -- xx +1 -- -- -- +4 +6
-- -- =1 -- xx =7 -- =1 =1 =4 =14
-- -- -- -- xx -3 -- -- -- -- -3
Anand +1 -- -- -- +3 xx -- -- -- -- +4
=13 =1 -- =1 =7 XX -- -- -- -- =22
-5 -- -- -- -1 XX -- -- -- -- -6
Topalov -- -- -- +2 -- -- xx -- -- -- +2
-- =1 -- -- -- -- xx =1 =1 -- =3
-3 -1 -1 -1 -- -- xx -- -1 -- -7
Gelfand -- -- +1 +1 -- -- -- xx +2 -- +4
-- =1 =5 -- =1 -- =1 xx =1 =1 =10
-- -- -4 -- -- -- -- xx -- -- -4
Shirov -- -- -- -- -- -- +1 -- xx +1 +2
-- =1 =1 =2 =1 -- =1 =1 xx =1 =8
-- -- -1 -- -- -- -- -2 xx -- -3
Salov -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- +0
-- -- -- -- =4 -- -- =1 =1 xx =6
-- -- -1 -- -4 -- -- -- -1 -- -6
The large number of "gaps" speaks volumes about the divisive chess world. Is
it fair to call Kasparov world champion when he goes a whole year without
meeting some of his closest competitors? Also, all his wins came from just
Anand and Topalov. Kramnik's undefeated record deserves praise, while Karpov
had the most successful year [Kramnik was only 4th= at Riga and 6th at
Novgorod, whereas Karpov was 1st or 2nd in his tournament outings].
Except perhaps for Topalov with his risky style and Salov until he restores
his equilibrium, every player on this list is capable of beating the others.
It is wonderful to have such a pool of talent at the top but sad that at the
same time chess administration and politics is such a quagmire of deceit and
treachery.
11) Piket - Adams annotated by Danny Mozes
---------------------------------------
My thanks to Danny Mozes for annotating this game which should
import into ChessBase without problems. He also points out that
he beat Kasparov in the virtual chess challenge given in TWIC
61. (corrected result and score given in that section)
[Event "It"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1995.12.30"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Piket,J"]
[Black "Adams,M"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[ECO "A60"]
1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 Bd6
6.Nc3 Bc7 7.g4 d6 8.g5 Nfd7 9.h4 a6 10.a4 Qe7 11.Bh3 0-0 12.Qd3 Ne5
13.Nxe5 Qxe5 14.a5 Qd4
(14...b5 {is better} 15.axb6 Bxb6 16.Qe4 Qe8)
15.Qg3 Qb4 16.h5 Nd7
(16...Bxh3 17.Rxh3 Re8 18.g6)
17.g6! Nf6
(17...f6?? {there was an on-line broadcasting of this game on the
Dutch Teletext, when I saw Pf6 for some moments I was in a shock
because I thought Adams had played Pf7-f6, which should be punished
by mate in 7, not paying attention to the fact that in Holandish
the symbol 'P' means a Knight} 18.Be6+ Kh8 19.h6 Rf7 ( 19...f5
20.hxg7+ Kxg7 21.Rxh7+ Kf6 22.f4 Qxf4 23.Bxf4 Ne5 24.Qg5+) 20.hxg7+
Rxg7 21.Rxh7+)
18.gxh7+ Kh8 19.Rg1 Nxh5 20.Qf3 Bxh3 21.Qxh5 Bd7 22.Qg5? { Piket had
built a winning position but failed to enjoy its fruits}
(22.Bh6!!
{A)} 22...gxh6? 23.Qxh6 Qd4 24.Rd1 Qg4 (24...Qe5 25.f4 {traping the
Black Queen}) 25.Rxg4 Bxg4 26.Qf6+ Kxh7 27.Kd2 {and mate is
unavoidable};
{B)} 22...g6 23.Qf3 Bf5
{B1)} 24.Bxf8? Rxf8 25.Kf1 (25.0-0-0 Qh4 26.e4) Qxb2 26.Kg2 Bd8
27.e4 Bc8 28.Ra2 Qb4 29.Kh1;
{B2)} 24.Ra4! Qxb2 25.e4 Rfe8 26.Kf1 Rxe4 27.Bg5 Bd8 (27...Kg7
28.Nxe4) 28.Bxd8 Rxd8 29.Rxe4 Bxe4 30.Qf6+ Kxh7 31.Qxf7+ Kh6
32.Qf4+ Kg7
{B2a)} 33.Nxe4! Rf8 34.Qg4 Qb5+ 35.Qe2 Qb1+ (35...Qxe2+
36.Kxe2 Rf5 37.Nxd6 Rxd5 38.Nxb7 c4 39.Rc1 Rb5 40.Nd6 Rxa5
41.Rxc4 Kf6 42.Rc6 Ra2+ 43.Kf3) 36.Kg2 Qb3 37.Qd1 Qc4
38.Qa1+ Kg8 39.Nf6+ Kf7 40.Rh1 Qd4 41.Qxd4 cxd4 42.Ne4 {+-};
{B2b)} 33.Qxe4? {the advantage on this line may not suffice
for a win} Qc1+ 34.Qe1 Qxe1+ 35.Kxe1 Rf8 (35...Rb8 36.Na4
Re8+ 37.Kd2 Rf8 38.Rg2 Rf5 39.Nb6 Kf6 40.Rh2 Kg7 41.Kd3 g5
42.Ke3 Re5+ 43.Kf3 Re7 44.Nc4 Rf7+ 45.Kg2 Rf5 46.Nxd6 Rxd5
47.Nxb7 c4 48.Rh3 Rd7 49.Nc5 Rd5 50.Ne4 Rxa5 51.Rc3 Rf5
52.Rxc4)(35...Re8+ 36.Kd2 Kf6 37.Kd3) 36.Ke2 Re8+ 37.Kd3)
22...Qd4 23.Bf4 Bd8 24.Qg3 Bf6 25.Rd1 Qc4 26.Bg5 Be5 27.f4 Bd4 28.Rg2
Rae8 29.Rd3 Bf5 30.Rf3 Be4 {White forfeited on time. Danny Mozes
(ChessT) } 0-1