THE WEEK IN CHESS 684 17th December 2007 by Mark Crowther

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Contact The Week in Chess Mark Crowther E-Mail mdcrowth@btinternet.com Mobile 07971 920016 http://www.chesscenter.com/twic/twic.html Contents 1) Introduction 2) Gata Kamsky wins the World Chess Cup 3) Russian Championship Superfinals 4) XX Carlos Torre Memorial 5) Bundesliga 6) Dutch Team Championship 7) 7th Amplico AIG Life 8) Ukrainian Championships 9) 17th Magistral de Elgoibar 10) 15th Salona 11) VI Bali International Chess Festival 12) First Saturday December 13) Eupen IM Norm Tournament 14) Festival Internacional de Xadrez Americana 15) Greek Championships 16) Ascona Open 17) UTD Dallas 18) 74th Brazilian Championship 19) Slovenian Women's Tour 20) Granda Chess Festival 21) El Sauzal Rapid 22) Villa de Navalmoral 23) Ivan Nemet 1943-2007 24) My 61 Memorable Games 25) Forthcoming Events and Links

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1) Introduction

My thanks to Edward Labate, Rodolfo Arias, Agustin Manrique, Diego De La Vega, Sinisa Joksic, Luiz Roberto Da Costa Jr, Miklos Orso, Palo Velija, Bruce Towell, Evgeny Klavir, Lennarth Eriksson, Misha Savinov, Goran Urosevic, Adolivio Capece and everyone else who helped with the issue.

Gata Kamsky completed his return to the top of chess by winning the World Chess Cup and a match against Veselin Topalov which in itself could be quite a battle. Kamsky took time out to earn a law degree and his return saw him as tough as ever but all at sea with the new level of opening preparation required to compete. In that regard he is still behind many and he reminds me a lot of Sammy Reshevsky in may ways who also had trouble in that area when he competed as an amateur in a professional world. Kamsky was undefeated in Khanty-Mansiysk and overcame an Alexei Shirov who was also in top form in a wild struggle in game two. Its good to have both of them back playing chess at a high level.

Hope you enjoy this issue.

Mark

2) Gata Kamsky wins the World Chess Cup

The World Chess Cup took place in Khanty-Mansiysk.22nd November-18th December 2007. Gata Kamsky was undefeated on the way to taking the title. He beat Alexei Shirov 2.5-1.5 and inflicted that player's only loss. If things go to plan, which in the modern chess world they seldom do, then Kamsky will play Topalov for the right to meet the winner of Anand against Kramnik.

Time control. Standard 90m+30s/move to move 40 then 30m+30s/move to the end of the game. Rapids 25m+10s/move, Blitz 5m+10s/move. Final sudden death game White 6 mins, Black 5 mins, without any addition. In case of a draw the player with the black pieces is declared as winner. [FIDE regulations]

Official site: http://www.ugra-chess.ru/eng/main_e.htm [and link to the handy pairings tree is at: http://www.fide.com/news.asp?id=1520] Further coverage: http://www.chessdom.com/world-chess-cup-2007/ and http://www.chessvibes.com/

3) Russian Championship Superfinals

The Russian Championship Superfinals take place 17th-30th December 2007 (Round 1 18th Dec) .

Players: Men: Alekseev, Amonatov, Vitjugov, Grischuk, Dreev, Inarkiev, Morozevich, Rychagov, Svidler, Timofeev, Tomashevsky, Jakovenko. Women: Galliamova, Gunina, Matveeva, Kovalevskaya, Korbut, N.Kosintseva, T.Kosintseva, Kosteniuk, Ovod, Stepovaya, Tairova, Shadrina.

4) XX Carlos Torre Memorial

The XX Carlos Torre Memorial takes place in Mérida, Yucatán, México 15th-23rd December 2007. The early rounds are under way. Usually they have stars arriving later in the event but I couldn't find a list of names.

Details: http://www.idey.gob.mx/ct2008.htm

5) Bundesliga

The German Bundesliga for 2007-8 takes place 19th October 2007 - 20th April 2008. The first games were on Friday 19th October as part of the special round 7 - fixtures from this round are played before various weekend programs. Most of Rounds 3 and 4 took place 24th-25th November 2007 but the fixtures at Baden Baden take place on 15th-16th December. Rounds 5 and 6 took place 8th-9th December 2007 but there was also an extensive round 7 program on the Friday. The next games take place 8th-10th February 2008.

Official site: http://www.schachbundesliga.de/ further coverage: http://www.schach.com and also at the national Federation site at: http://www.schachbund.de/SchachBL/index.php and statistics also at: http://www.godesbergersk.de/bundesliga-statistik/. Games from Baden Baden at: http://www.rochade.de/live.htm

6) Dutch Team Championship

The Dutch Team Championships take place 15th September 2007 - 17th May 2008.

Links: Dutch Chess Federation: http://www.schaakbond.nl/ - Meesterklasse Games side bar at: http://www.schakers.info/

7) 7th Amplico AIG Life

The 7th Amplico AIG Life European Rapid Championships (XXVI Stanislawa Gawlikowskiego Memorial ) took place in Warsaw, Poland 15th-16th December 2007. The event consisted of a 13 round Swiss where 16 players qualified after 8 rounds (with the rest continuing on in the swiss) for a group stage of four all-play-alls with four players, there were then semi-finals and finals or another group stage to establish the final standings. Time rates: G-15'+10''. The rate of play in tie-breaks is 5 minutes for white and 4 minutes for black for a game with black getting draw odds. Aleksej Aleksandrov beat Tomasz Markowski in the final.

8) Ukrainian Championships

The final of the 76th Championships of the Ukraine took place in Kharkiv 17th-25th November 2007. Veleriy Aveskulov won the event with 6.5/9.

Official site:http://ukrchess.org.ua/turnir/ukr07mf/index.html

9) 17th Magistral de Elgoibar

17th Magistral de Elgoibar.took place 10th-16th December 2007. Kamil Miton was the clear winner with 7/9.

Official site: http://www.xake.net/1%20Inicio.htm

10) 15th Salona

The 15th Salona took place in Solin CRO 7th-15th December 2007. Antoaneta Stefanova won the event with 6.5/9.

Official site: http://www.crochess.com/turniri/solin/07/index.shtm

11) VI Bali International Chess Festival

The VI Bali International Chess Festival took place 30th November 9th December 2007. The main tournament of stars rapid was won by Vladimir Malaniuk. The final days games are now available. Also unfortunately there were duplicate round 5 games given last week.

Further details: http://www.ajedrezbali.com/

12) First Saturday December

The First Saturday tournaments for December took place 1st-11th December 2007. Zhao Zong-Yuan and Zlatko Ilincic finished on 7/9 in the GM group. Evarth Kahn won the IM group but I'm unsure of the final table, especially the score of Eric Cooke.

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

13) Eupen IM Norm Tournament

The Eupen IM Norm Tournament took place 7th-15th December 2007 and was organised by the Chess Federation of German-speaking Belgium, with the support of Belgian Federal chess. The time rate was 40 move in 100 minutes plus 30 seconds per move. For the rest of the game 50 minutes plus 30 seconds per move. Aleksandar Berelovich and Christian Braun finished on 6.5/9.

Official site: http://www.chess-international.de/ticker/0belgien_normenturnier/index.html

14) Festival Internacional de Xadrez Americana

The Festival Internacional de Xadrez Americana (Brasil) took place 4th-11th December, 2007. Rafael Leitao won with 7/9.

Official site: http://www.fpx.com.br/

15) Greek Championships

The Greek Championships took place in Igoumenitsa December 1st-9th 2007. I Papadopoulos took clear first with 7.5/9.

Official site: http://www.chessfed.gr

16) Ascona Open

The Ascona (Switzerland) Chess Festival took place 3rd-8th December 2007. Boris Chatalbalshev, Leonid Kritz and Vadim Malakhatko all finished on 7/9. My thanks to Sinisa Joksic for the games.

Sinisa Joksic reports: "After Lugano Olympiad 1968 chess became very popular in Ticino. Started with round robin tournament 1970, continued with the most respected open tournaments till 1990. Ascona start similar after world champion match Vladimir Kramnik and Peter Leko in Brisago 2004, Hotel Ascona, where both players stay, decide to begin with open tournaments. Another coincident both Lugano and Ascona are on the lakes, Lugano on the lake with the same name and Ascona at the Lake Maggiore. Will be nice to repeat also chess success. There were 38 players, 10 national, 6GM, 3WGM, 6 IM, 2 WIM, 1 FM, 1WFM. Swiss system, 9 rounds; two hours for 40 moves and one hour till the end. Young master ran for separate prizes. (Special prize fond gave “Lugano Si”) GM Boris Chatalbashev won tournament on tie-break, second was Kritz and third Malakhatko. Chatalbashev was lieder and rivals catch him in the last round. Last day was rapid tournament won convinced by Leonid Kritz. Organization was nice, with sunny weather very rare for this time of the year. Next, 2nd Ascona International Chess Festival will be from 3 to 6 January 2009. "

Official site: http://www.luganoscacchi.ch/

17) UTD Dallas

The UTD Dallas tournament took place in Rischarson 6rh-14th December 2007. Davorin Kuljasevic and Alejandro Ramirez finished on 7.5/11.

Official site: http://chess.utdallas.edu/grandmasterinv2007.html

18) 74th Brazilian Championship

The 74th Brazilian Championship takes place in Rio de Janeiro 14th-22nd December, 2007. 12 players Prize Fund US$ 6.000,00.

Players: GM Giovanni Vescovi, GM Rafael Leitão, GM Gilberto Milos, IM Herman Claudius, IM Krikor Mekhitarian, IM André Diamant, IM Everaldo Matsuura, IM Diego Di Berardino, FM Roberto Molina, FM Jorge Bittencourt (new IM), Roberto Calheiros and Yago Santiago

Official site: http://www.fexerj.com.br/brasileiro2007/

19) Slovenian Women's Tour

The Slovenian Women's Tour took place 29th November - 8th December 2007. Games from round 7 are missing.

Official site: http://www.sah-zveza.si/rez/0711/si07lgdw/

20) Granda Chess Festival

The Granada Chess Festival took place 5th-9th December 2007. Branko Damljanovic took clear first in the open with 7.5/9. Time control 90 minutes + 30 seconds/move

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

21) El Sauzal Rapid

The VIII Torneo Int Villa de El Sauzal (Tenerife) rapid (25 mins) was a 9 round Swiss held 3rd-4th November 2007. Sinia Drazic edged out Mikheil Mchedlishvili on tie-break after both finished on 8/9. News from the organiser Agustin Manrique.

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

22) Villa de Navalmoral

GM Julio Granda won the 'Villa de Navalmoral 2007' (Extremadura, Spain) - 5th-9th December, 2007 with 7/9 on tie-break from Salvador Del Rio Angelis and Hichem Hamdouchi.

http://www.ajedrezenextremadura.com

23) Ivan Nemet 1943-2007

Sinisa Joksic reports: GM Ivan Nemet (64) pass away 16th December 2007 in Basle. He will not participate in Hilton Basle January 1st nor the Biersek open January 3rd where he signed up to play. Nemet was born 14.04.1943 in Sombor (Serbia, previous Yugoslavia), and lived afterwards in Rijeka (Croatia) and 1978 transfer to Switzerland, first to Bern and then Basle. He became a Yugoslav master ub 1962, he was Yugoslav champion both junior and full, champion of Switzerland 1990, five years Bundesmaster. He played for the national teams of Yugoslavia and Switzerland. Nemet played also for strong chess clubs: Gosa (Smederevska Palanka), Kvarner (Rijeka), Zytglogge (Bern), Basle and at the end for Riehen. An excellent couch, Nemet took Cvitan from a talented candidate master to world junior champion for only six month. In Switzerland with Zytglogge very young boys, all his pupils twice won team championships. Ivan was so fond of chess and he really knew the game. He could play and talk about chess day and night. As a person he vwas ery, very good. During Steafa rapid tournament, December 1st, he had a heart attack and had to the leave tournament before the second round. That was his second attack and the friends thought that he would recuperate especially after they signed him up for January’s tournaments.

24) My 61 Memorable Games

Before being pulled Ebay had a new edition of My 60 Memorable games which is said to be sourced from Bobby Fischer. It is reported it may contained 12 pages of text from Fischer (which I'm sure will be just great if you like his radio broadcasts) and an additional annotation of game one from Fischer-Spassky II (bulking it up to 100 games with post-1967 games and especially the 1972 match might be worth buying). Its reported Fischer can't touch his fortune at the moment because his original swiss bank wanted to transfer the money to another bank to be rid of his custom. Fischer of course won't have it. Its impossible to feel sorry for a millionaire who would rather be short of money than do this. Also one additional game is hardly anything to write home about. Of course this could also be a scam or the subject of a dispute, its hard to know, or indeed care anymore. My advice don't touch this stuff with a long barge pole.

25) Forthcoming Events and Links

Groningen Chess Festival

The Groningen Chess Festival takes place 21st-30th December 2007.

Further details: http://www.so-on.org/kerst2007/2007eng.html

2nd ACP World Rapid Cup

The PIVDENNY Bank carries out the 2nd ACP World Rapid Cup in Odessa, Ukraine in January 4-7, 2008. The prize fund of the tournament is 136,000$. 16 players are participating. Dmitry Jakovenko, Vassily Ivanchuk, Peter Leko, Teimour Radjabov, Evgeny Najer, Sergey Karjakin, Peter Svidler, Alexander Shabalov, Pavel Eljanov, Ernesto Inarkiev, Boris Savchenko, Alexei Shirov, and Boris Gelfand have qualified via the ACP Tour, while Anatoly Karpov, Judit Polgar, and Yuri Drozdovskij received wild cards from the organizers. The standings for the ACP Tour 2006/07 are available at http://chess-players.org/eng/tour/tour_2006/standings.html. The official site of the event: http://worldcup.pivdenny.com/ru/

Stockholm Ladies Open

The Stockholm Ladies Open tournament takes place 20th-25th March 2008. The prize money is over 100 000 Skr

The Invitation are in english, Dutch and Russian http://www.scandinavian-chess.se/

83rd Hastings International Congress

The Celebration 83rd Hastings International Congress takes place 28 December 2007 to 6 January 2008. This includes a 10 round Master Swiss, and an open FIDE Rated tournament 5-6 January. Celebrating what? The lives of the many people who have died within the past four years, who have so enriched the chess scene with their work.

Full details http://www.hastingschess.org.uk/ Contact: Con Power conpowr@aol.com

Gibtelecom Chess Festival 2008

The 6th edition of Gibraltar's Gibtelecom Chess Festival will be held from 22nd-31st January 2008 at the Caleta Hotel, one of Gibraltar's best hotels. In previous years players of the quality of Alexei Shirov, Michael Adams and Nigel Short have played in the Masters section. Usually the Masters field includes at least 30 grandmasters. In 2008 the first prize in the Masters has gone up to £12,000 and the tournament is so strong at the top that it even offers a £2,000 prize for the best score by a player rated under 2600 (we think that might be unique worldwide) as well as the same amount for other rating categories down to sub-2200. There is also big money to be won in the Under 2250 (£1,500 first prize) and Under 1850 (£1,000 first prize) events. Even the relatively light-hearted evening events (which cost nothing to enter) have a combined prize fund of £1,200.

Full details and entry form: http://www.gibraltarchesscongress.com/

Corus Wijk aan Zee 2008

The field for the 2008 Corus tournament in Wijk aan Zee has been announced at http://www.coruschess.com Five of the top 6 in the world are playing including the new World Champion Anand and new World number 2 Ivanchuk. Also Kramnik and Gelfand who finished 2nd in Mexico City. The full field for all tournaments is now available.

The Corus Chess Tournament 2008 will be held from 11-27 January 2008 in Wijk aan Zee. The tournament venue is the De Moriaan Community Centre

Arnoldo Ellerman Memorial

The Arnoldo Ellerman Memorial takes place in Buenos Aires, Argentina 10th-21st December 2007.

Official site: http://www.argentinodeajedrez.com.ar/ellerman07.htm

Russia vs ROW Correspondence

The Russian Chess Federation is celebrated 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 and ended 27.11.2006. Players included Joop van Oosterom. Final score Rest of the World Score 65½ .Russia 62½.

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

25th Bled Chess Festival

The 25th Chess Festival BLED takes place 23rd February - 2nd March 2008 (the main event finishes 1st March which allows participation in other events around that time).

Details: http://www.sah-zveza.si/bled/2008/

50th Reggio Emilia

The 50th "Torneo di Capodanno" in Reggio Emilia takes place December 29th 2007 - January 6th 2008. The tournament was created by Enrico Paoli, who organized it for many many years. The tournament will be played, as usual, in Hotel Astoria Mercure, with rounds starting at 2.30 pm (last round at 10.30 am). XVI FIDE cathegory, elo 2635 chief director Mrs Franca Dapiran. Main sponsors UNIPOL spa, STUDIO ALFA spa, VANETON srl, and ORLANDINI srl. Official commentator GM Croato Miso Cebalo.

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

13th Euro Chessweek in Leutersdorf

The 13th Euro Chessweek in Leutersdorf (Germany) takes place 3rd-7th February 2008.

http://www.scoberland.de/

Corus Wijk aan Zee 2008

The field for the 2008 Corus tournament in Wijk aan Zee has been announced at http://www.coruschess.com Five of the top 6 in the world are playing including the new World Champion Anand and new World number 2 Ivanchuk. Also Kramnik and Gelfand who finished 2nd in Mexico City.

The Corus Chess Tournament 2008 will be held from 11-27 January 2008 in Wijk aan Zee. The tournament venue is the De Moriaan Community Centre

XXI Benidorm Open

The XXI Open Internacional de Ajedrez Villa de Benidorm 2008 Benidorm organised an international tournament 1977 till 1995 now it has returned second year. The event takes place 25nd April - 4st May 2008 (10 rounds). 35.000 Euros in prizes. Information: Mr. Alfonso Vilches Tel: +34 695 91 56 78. E-mail: open@chessbenidorm.com

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

Chess Classic Mainz 2008

The schedule for Chess Classic Mainz 2008 is now available. The event takes place 21st-28th July 2008 in Mainz/Germany.

In addition there is a Chess Classic Calendar for the next year, which will be available in the first week of December. It is a big format (420 x 594 mm) and shows the stars and the biggest moments of the 14 years tournament history. The copies are limited to 200 (39,- Euro plus delivery) plus 64 with an autograph of World Champion Vishy Anand (48,- Euro plus delivery). Contact for order: juergen.wienecke@chesstigers.de

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

16th Donau Open

The 16th Donau Open takes place 26th-31st December 2007

Further details: http://www.aschach.at/schach/

Icelandic Rapid Championships

The Icelandic Rapid Championships took place 18th-20th October 2007. Bragi and Björn Þorfinnsson will meet in the final in December which be on TV in Iceland.

Official site: http://www.skaksamband.is/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=5661&Itemid=387

Games Festival Halkidiki 2008

Games Festival is a mass event organized for the third year in Halkidiki, Greece 28th April - 6th May 2008. The festival includes series of tournaments & exhibitions in prestigious sports like, chess, billiards, bridge, darts, streetbasketball and popular table games like scrabble, strategic games, pc games etc.

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

28th Bethune Open

The Bethune chess club is preparing his 28th International Open, Hall Olof Palme, Commercial centre La Rotonde, Bethune, France (Pas-de-Calais) from December 26 to 30. 9 rounds The tournament is divided in 2 tournaments: - Tournament A for players whose Elo rating is above or equal to 1600, 1st price : 1500 euros - Tournament B for players strictly below 1900, 1st price : 400 euros, Fischer pace 1h30+30s KO for each game in both tournaments. At least 6000 euros of prices, prices for Elo categories in both tournaments. Inscription fee : 40 euros (adults), 20 euros (youngsters under 20), free for IM, GM and FIDE Masters. Conditions for IM and GM and special conditions for GM>2600, contact us at open@bethunechess.com

For more information visit: http://www.bethunechess.com

Harmonie Chess Tournament

The Harmonie Chess Tournament takes place 21st-30th December 2007.

Official site: http://www.so-on.org/kerst2007/2007eng.html

XVII Pampona International

The XVII Pampona International takes place 21st-29th December 2007.

Details: http://www.chesspamplona.com/

Czech Chess Christmas 2007

The Czech Chess Christmas 2007 tournament takes place in Litomysl (CZE) 26th December 2007 - 1st January 2008

9th christmas chess FIDE tournament, swiss system of 9 round, rate of game 2 x 1,5h + 30s/move, prize fund 64.000 CZK (1st prize 20.000 CZK = 700 EUR), special conditions for IM, WGM and GM, New Year’s Eve programme. Contact: Proclient s.r.o., Jaroslav Fuksik, Svedska 3, 772 00 Olomouc, mobile: +420 608 364 664, e-mail: a64@proclient.cz,

Further details: http://www.a64.cz/tournaments/litomysl2007/

Hungarian Chess Tournaments October 2007 - March 2008

1. 6th-19th of October 2007 FIRST SATURDAY Budapest GM-IM-FM, GM-IM-FM round robins (BERGER), 9 -13 games, GM-IM norm possibilities in Budapest, venue: Hungarian Chess Federation, Falk Miksa Str.10. 2nd floor. Organisation: Nagy Laszlo, FIDE International Chess Organizer /NL/, E-mail: firstsat@hu.inter.net Website: http://www.firstsaturday.hu Other website: http://home.hu.inter.net/~firstsat Phone-fax: +(361)-2632859, cellphone: +(36)-30-230-1914 /From 12:00 a.m. until midnight - Central European Time = GMT+1/

2. 24th-31st of October, HÉVÍZ Open - 200 km West from Budapest, 9 rounds Swiss, org: IM Rigo, http://www.lellechess.tar.hu

3. 22nd-30th of October KECSKEMET, IM Berger tmt, org: Dr.Erdelyi, Tamas, e-mail: postmaster@caissa.t-online.hu

Website: http://www.caissachessbooks.hu Usually also in the second half of the month IM tmt-s in Kecskemet. 100 km South-East from Budapest.

4. 3rd-15th of November, FS GM-IM-FM Budapest, org.:NL

5. 15th-23rd of November, XXXI. TENKES CUP, 9 round Swiss Open, Harkany, 300 km South-West from Budapest, org: Mr.FULOP, Csaba, e-mail: fulopcsa@invitel.hu

Website:http://www.baranyasakk.hu/index.php?cat=naptar&id=3&age=0&vid=15⟨=hu&det=12

6. 1st-13th of December, FS GM-IM-FM, Budapest, org.NL

7. 15th-21st of Dec, Kecskemet, IM tmt

8. 27th Dec- 5th Jan Kecskemet IM tmt,

9. 11th-19th of January 2008 Open in Budapest, Season opening, org: IA FAZEKAS, György, e-mail: srcolonel@freemail.hu

10. 19th-28th of January - IM tmt, Kecskemet

11. 2nd-15th of February - First Saturday Budapest,

12. 16th-25th of February - IM tmt Kecskemet,

13. 1st-13rd of March - First Saturday Budapest,

14. 21st-29th of March - Budapest Spring Festival Open, org.: Nagy Laszlo

Halkidiki Chess Festival 2008

The Halkidiki Chess Festival takes place in Kallithea, 28th April - 5 May 2008.

The Organizing Committee of the Halkdiki Chess Festival 2008. Tel/fax: +30 2310 865778 - e-mail: teotsorb@otenet.gr V.Olgas 285, Thessaloniki, Greece.

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

4th Singapore International Chess Convention

4th Singapore International Chess Convention, 16 - 22 December 2007: - Singapore Masters 2007 - Seminar for Coaches - Seminar for Arbiters The offical website of the organiser is the website of the Singapore Chess Federation:

Official site: http://www.singaporechess.org.sg

Moscow Open 2008

The 4th International Chess Festival Moscow Open 2008 takes place 2nd-10th February 2008. Venue - the Russian State Social University. Minimal gartanted prize fund of full festival is RUR 5 000 000 (nearly EUR 150 000 or USD 200 000, two times more than in 2007!) There are Open “A” (for all, 1st prize RUR 500 000 - also possible to play 6- or 7 days like last two years), Open “B” (<2300, 1st RUR 150 000), Women Open (new! 1st prize RUR 150 000), open tournaments for school chidrens (qualify for World School Ch). Conditions for GMs 2600+ and best rated women GMs will be given probably, for GMs 2550+ it’s still unclear. More details in the middle of September. Some days later (13-22.2) “Aeroflot Open 2008” will start. As preparation to the World Mind Games in China – 2008 there are probably "Moscow Open Mind Games 2008" - Chess 960, Bridge, Go, Shogi, Damen tournaments etc. Some days later (13-22.2) “Aeroflot Open 2008” will start.

Contact: wlct06@gmail.com

Further details: http://www.chess-events.org

Etienne Bacrot's Website

Etienne Bacrot has a website at: http://www.chess22.fr/ giving news about himself, some comments on recent events including the World Championships in Mexico City etc. Worth check out.

1st South Bohemia Open

1st SOUTH BOHEMIA OPEN 2007 International Chess Festival which takes place in one of the most beautiful Czech towns – Cesky Krumlov on 13.-20.10. 2007. Open FIDE, active chess and blitz tournament are part of the festival.

Details: http://www.czechtour.net/south-bohemia-open/

32nd Kings Head Rapidplay

The 32nd Kings Head Rapidplay takes place Saturday 5 April 2008 start time 11:00, details below: 6-round Swiss rapidplay (30 minutes), prize fund £700

The Porchester Hall Porchester Road Bayswater London W2 5HS

Contact: Colin Mackenzie 9 Allan Way Acton London W3 0PW 020 8992 1849 colin.mackenzie@atosorigin.com

Further details; http://www.khcc.org.uk

10th European Senior Team-Championship

10th European Senior Team-Championship take place 11th-19th February 2008 in RAMADA-Hotel in Dresden.

Further info contact: ZMD Schachfestival Dresden e.V., Oskar-Mai-Straße 6, D-01159 Dresden, Fon +49 (0)351 416 16 29, Fax: +49 (0)351 416 16 39 Dr. Gerhard Schmidt, Hepkestraße 131, D-01277 Dresden, Fon +49 (0)351 251 34 20, E-Mail: gerhard.schmidt@schachfestival.de

XXXVII Rilton Cup

XXXVII Rilton Cup takes place 27th December 2007 – 5th January 2008 in Mälarsalen. Münchenbryggeriet, Torkel Knutssonsgatan 2, Stockholm, SWEDEN Stockholm Chess Federation welcomes all chess players to the 37th Rilton Cup. This year’s tournament, with a prize fund of more than SEK 200 000 (about 22 000 euro) will be played in three groups: Rilton Cup, Rilton Elo and Rilton Open (Rilton Open is only open for Nordic players with a rating lower than national 1800). Rilton Cup and Rilton ELO is Elo registrated Rilton Cup and Rilton Elo plays 9 rounds Fide Swiss. The first round starts at 13:00 on the 27th of December and the following rounds start at 11:00 every day until the 5th of January. The 1st of January (New Year’s Day) is free. Send your entry by mail, fax or e-mail, not later than the 17th of December to Stockholm Chess Federation, attention “Rilton Cup”. Mobile telephones or computers are not allowed in the playing hall. Rilton Cup Open for players with an Elo rating or national rating >= 2200. Reflection time: 40 moves in two hours, 20 moves in one hour and 30 minutes for the rest of the game.

Entry fees: 800 SEK, 400 for FM, 300 for players born 1987 or later. IGM and IM free. Prizes (SEK): 1st 20 000 2nd 16 000 3rd 12 000 4th 10 000 5th 8 000 6th 6 000 7:th 5 000 8th 4 000 9th 3 000 10th 3 000 10th 3 000 Rating prizes: 3 000, 2 000 and 1000 (not for GMs and IMs). Prizemoney is not divided. Rilton Elo Open for all players with a n Elo rating or national rating up to 2199. Reflection time: 40 moves in two hours, then one hour for the rest of the game. Entry fees: 600 SEK, 400 for FM, 300 for players born 1987 or later. Prizes (SEK): 1st 8 000 2nd 5000 3rd 3 000 4th 2 000 5th 1 000 6th 500 Rating prizes: 3 000, 2 000 and 1000 Prizemoney is not divided.

Stockholms Schackförbund Hornsgatan 82 118 21 Stockholm Tel: 08-669 36 54 Mobil: 073-613 19 73 Fax: 08-669 64 44 Spellokal: 08-668 21 35 (under turneringen) E-mail:stockholms.schackfrbund@telia.com

Further details: http://www.stockholmschack.nu

Alex Brunetti's TotoScacco Site

Alex Brunetti's TotoScacco Site allows predictions for current chess tournaments. http://e4e6.com/toto

Sydney International Open 2008

The 2008 Sydney International Open takes place at Parramatta Town Hall 25th-29th March 2008. Free accommodation and modest conditions are offered to GMs. All enquiries to the Tournament Organiser, FM Brian Jones, at info@chessaustralia.com.au

Details: http://www.chessaustralia.com.au/

ICC and FICS client for mobile phones

Mats Luthman has written a program that connects to ICC and FICS, compatable with many modern mobile phones. I've been looking for something like this for a while for watching live tournaments if I'm out and about. Its a nice free solution, you can also play but I haven't tried that.

Website: http://www.luthman.nu/Mobi/Mobi.html