THE WEEK IN CHESS 708 2nd June 2008 by Mark Crowther

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1) Introduction

My thanks to Jonathan Rowson, Radu-Catalin Chirila, Manuel Weeks, Olivier Breisacher, Louis Caruana, Jozsef Horvath, Zenon Franco Ocampos, Jeroen Noomen, Frank Berry, Charles Milton Ling, Roland Wimmer, Doug Bake, Alexei Shirov, Jon Speelman, Luis Scalise, Luiz Roberto Da Costa Jr, Laszlo Nagy, Volfango Rizzi, Chris Bird, George Mirijanian and everyone else who helped with the issue.

If its possible to have too much chess, then this was the week. There were at least 4 events that could have headlined the issue. I went with Alexander Morozevich's win in Sarajevo that at one point looked like taking him up to the 2800 level in one go but he will again gain rating points. Vassily Ivanchuk continued his hot streak by winning the Leon tournament beating Alexei Shirov and world champion Viswanathan Anand in rapid matches. Magnus Carlsen also kept in the news by beating Peter Leko 5-3 in their 8 game rapid match. Nigel Short has won the King's Tournament in Bazna, he in fact has already finished but the rest of the players have a final round 11 to play but can't catch Short. Then there was the Pivdenny Bank Chess Cup which saw a photo finish and Pavel Tregubov emerge as first. Team events in France and the Ukraine also saw elite players compete. Plenty to get your teeth into and its perfectly possible I may have missed things this week as me and my new pair of glasses aren't getting on that well at the moment.

Hope you enjoy this issue.

Mark

2) Bosnia Sarajevo

The traditional Bosnia Sarajevo tournament took place 23rd May - 2nd June 2008. Alexander Morozevich finished clear first with 7.5/10.

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

3) Leko - Carlsen Match

There was an 8 game rapid match between Peter Leko and Magnus Carlsen 28th May - 1st June 2008 in Miskolc, Hungary. Magnus Carlsen won the match 5-3.

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

4) Magistral Ciudad de Leon

The 21st edition of the "Magistral Ciudad de Leon" took place May 29th - June 2nd 2008 in Leon, Spain. Vassily Ivanchuk won the final 2.5-1.5.

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

Final 1st June 2008. Anand - Ivanchuk

Gm1 Anand, Viswanathan - Ivanchuk, Vassily 0-1 40 B85 Sicilian Scheveningen
Gm2 Ivanchuk, Vassily - Anand, Viswanathan 0-1 26 B90 Sicilian Najdorf Variation
Gm3 Anand, Viswanathan - Ivanchuk, Vassily 1/2 56 B47 Sicilian Paulsen
Gm4 Ivanchuk, Vassily - Anand, Viswanathan 1-0 16 E55 Nimzo Indian

1st Semi-Final 30th May 2008. Anand 3.5-2.5 Vallejo

Gm1 Vallejo Pons, Francisco - Anand, Viswanathan 1/2 56 C65 Ruy Lopez Berlin
Gm2 Anand, Viswanathan - Vallejo Pons, Francisco 1-0 46 B13 Caro Kann Exchange
Gm3 Vallejo Pons, Francisco - Anand, Viswanathan 1-0 27 B12 Caro Kann Advanced
Gm4 Anand, Viswanathan - Vallejo Pons, Francisco 1/2 18 A09 Reti Opening
Tie-Break
Gm5 Vallejo Pons, Francisco - Anand, Viswanathan 0-1 58 B35 Sicilian Defence
Gm6 Anand, Viswanathan - Vallejo Pons, Francisco 1/2 29 B19 Caro Kann

2nd Semi-Final 31st May 2008. Ivanchuk 3-1 Shirov

Gm1 Ivanchuk, Vassily - Shirov, Alexei 1-0 45 B30 Sicilian Rossolimo
Gm2 Shirov, Alexei - Ivanchuk, Vassily 0-1 33 B96 Sicilian Najdorf
Gm3 Ivanchuk, Vassily - Shirov, Alexei 1/2 76 C78 Ruy Lopez Moeller Defence
Gm4 Shirov, Alexei - Ivanchuk, Vassily 1/2 29 B96 Sicilian Najdorf

5) 4th Pivdenny Bank Chess Cup

The 4th Pivdenny Bank Chess Cup took place in Odessa 30th May - 2nd June 2008. There was a four way tie on 9/14 with Pavel Tregubov taking first on tie-break from Yuri Drozdovskij, Boris Gelfand and Ruslan Ponomariov. They were half a point clear of Anatoly Karpov.

Official site: http://www.worldcup.pivdenny.com

6) King's Tournament Bazna

The King's Tournament takes place in Bazna, Romania 24th May - 4th June 2008.

Official site: http://www.clubulregilor.ro/

7) Guillermo Garcia Memorial

The Guillermo Garcia Memorial took place in Santa Clara  (Cuba) 19th-27th May, 2008. ELO (2513) - Cat. XI. Sadly like the Capablana Memorial there are still no games available.

Results: http://www.ajedrezactual.com/guillermo0508.html

8) Catalan Championship

The Campeonato Absoluto de Cataluna 2008 took place 17th-24th May 2008. The knockout event was won by Jordi Magem Badals who won the final after winning a rapid playoff 1.5-0.5 against Jorge Fluvia Poyatos. Playoff blitz games now complete.

Official site: http://www.escacs.cat/circulars/circulars2008/circular21.htm

9) XXVII Zalakaros Chess Festival

The XXVII Zalakaros Chess Festival took place 22nd-30th May 2008. Zoltan Medvegy won.

Official site: http://www.csutisk.extra.hu

10) 17th Chicago Open

Official site: http://chesstournamentservices.com/chicago/2008/ - Report: http://www.chesstournamentservices.com/chicago/2008/report007.htm

11) Capo d'Orso Open

The Capo d'Orso Open took place in Porto Mannu Palau 17th-24th May 2008. Jonathan Rowson won the event with 7.5/9 a point clear of the field.

Official site: http://asd.caissa.it/portomannu2008/

12) 82nd Argentine Championship

The 82nd Argentine Championship took place in Mendoza 20th-31st May 2008. There was a playoff after there was a triple tie for first won by Ruben Felgaer.

Official site: http://www.ajedrez.com.ar/

13) French League

The final pool stages (Haute and Basse) of the French League took place 29th May - 1st June 2008 in Evry. Clichy took the title by a point from Cannes. In the games section Fontaine-Philippe and Meier-Palac are identical so one of them has to be wrong.

Official site: http://www.echecs.asso.fr

14) Ukrainian Team Championships

The Ukrainian Team Championships took place in Alushta 21st-28th May 2008. Some very strong players took part. PVK Kiev won the event.

Official site: http://www.ukrchess.org.ua/turnir/t156.htm

15) Mitropa Cup

The 2008 Mitropa Cup takes place May 24th - June 4th 2008. Some games now available.

Official web site: http://www.federscacchi.it/mitropa_cup_2008.php

16) Mostoles Bicentenary Open

The Mostoles Bicentenary Open took place 20th-30th May 2008. Azer Mirzoev won the event with 7.5/9. Games from the final two rounds are currently unavailable.

Official site: http://ajedrezmostoles.miarroba.com/

17) OCF FIDE North American Open

The 2008 OCF FIDE North American Open took place in Stillwater, Oklahoma 23rd-26th May 2008.

36 players from 8 states and two federations (USA and Hungary) showed up for the 26th annual NAO held in Stillwater, Oklahoma USA. Organizers blamed low attendance on higher prices of petrol which was set that week at $$ US 3.85 a USA gallon. 15 players were FIDE rated. They played 2 games a day at G-90 plus 30 sec increment. I thank Frank K. Berry for this report.

18) 8th ICT Computer Tournament

The 8th ICT computer chess tournament took place in Leiden, the Netherlands. The event was won by Rybka with 8.5/9, in 2nd place was Deep Sjeng with 8/9 and in 3rd place Hiarcs with 6.5/9. News: Jeroen Noomen.

Official site: http://www.csvn.nl/

19) 77th Massachusetts Open

George Mirijanian resports: The 77th Massachusetts Open took place May 24th-26th 2008 at the Holiday Inn in Boxborough, Massachusetts, USA. National master Denys Konstantinovic Shmelov, 21, of Pepperell, Mass., formerly of Ukraine, tallied 5-1 to win the coveted state championship title. He is the first non-FIDE-titled master to win the Mass. Open since 1999. Capturing second place with a score of 4.5-1.5 was IM Igor Foygel, 60, of Brookline, Mass., who was held to a draw by Shmelov in the fifth and penultimate round. Tying for third place with 4-2 results were national masters Christopher Williams, 19, of Brighton, Mass., Alex Cherniack, 44 of Watertown, Mass., and 76-year-old FIDE master John Curdo of Auburn, Mass., who holds the Mass. Open record for the most championship victories with 17. The tournament was directed by U.S. Chess Federation-certified senior TD Ken Ballou of Framingham, Mass., with assistance from Robert Messenger of Nashua, New Hampshire, George Mirijanian of Fitchburg, Mass., and Nicholas Sterling of Needham, Mass.

Complete crosstables are available at http://masschess.org

20) Kamsky - Topalov match in Ukraine

After recent speculation FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov announced in a press release on 1st June 2008 that he will guarantee the prize for the Kamsky - Topalov match in the Ukraine. Earlier Alexei Shirov had a press release saying that this issue should be cleared up as there was a potential that he, as first reserve, might be involved and everyone needs to make plans. He later expressed to me that he was satisfied that the matter was cleared up so quickly.

http://www.chessdom.com/news/chess-topalov-kamsky-in-lviv reports in addition that Bessel Kok has left Global Chess and his shares have passed to someone called David Kaplan.

FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has announced that the World Championship Challenger Match between Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria) and Gata Kamsky (USA) will take place in Lvov, Ukraine in November 2008.

The organiser offered a prize fund of 750,000 USD and to hold the match on the "neutral" territory of Ukraine, as the players wanted to avoid Bulgaria or the USA. FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov guarantees the organiser’s offer by backing the event from his personal finances.

FIDE Presidential Board acknowledged the offer as well as the guarantee and assigned FIDE Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos to conclude the final contracts and to check the availability of the finances. The Match will be held in dates between November 26th and December 14th 2008.

21) Forthcoming Events and Links

41st Biel International Chess Festival

The 41st Biel International Chess Festival takes place 19th July - 1st August 2008.

Details of all events including the open and other tournaments: http://www.bielchessfestival.ch/

XVI Barlinek Chess Festival

The XVI International Chess Festival Emanuel Lasker Memorial takes place in Barlinek (Poland), 30th May - 8th June 2008.

Official site: http://www.barlinek.caissa.com.pl/

First Saturday June

The First Saturday GM closed tournament takes place in Budapest 7th-19th June. At the last minute they need a GM with around 2450-2550 ELO. Contact Laszlo Nagy: firstsat@hu.inter.net

Lipetsk

"There will be an international chess festival called "King's Gambit" in Lipetsk, Russia, between July 8 (arrival day) and July 19, 2008. The festival consists of two round-robin tournaments (one with GM norm and one with IM norm) and an open for FIDE rating. Opening ceremony: 2.30 p.m. on July 9, 1st round at 3 p.m. Festival director: Zimmerman, Yuri . Tel.: +7-4742-720064, or +7-919-255-9764. E-mail: zimmerman@lipetsk.ru."

Illescas - Deep Junior Rapid Match

There is a match between Miguel Illescas Cordoba and Deep Junior in a two game rapid match at the CosmoCaixa in Barcelona on 5th June 2008. Illescas will be aided by the single processor version of Junior 9. Games at 18.00 h and 19.00 h will be broadcast live on the internet and on ICC.

Official site: http://obrasocial.lacaixa.es/centros/cosmocaixabcn_es.html

Marshall Chess Club International

The Marshall Chess Club New York International takes place 21th-25th June 2008. 9 round swiss.

Details: http://www.marshallchessclub.org/

Olomouc Chess Summer

Details: http://www.czechtour.net/olomouc-chess-summer/regulations/

5th Highlands Open

The 5th International Chess Festival Highlands Open 2008, takes place in the town of Zdar nad Sazavou 20th-28th September 2008.

Details: http://www.czechtour.net/highlands-open/regulations/

World Championship Match Anand vs Kramnik in Bonn

The World Championship match where Viswanathan Anand will defends his World title against Vladimir Kramnik in Bonn, Germany will now take place October 14th-2nd November, 2008. The main reason for the slight change in dates is to fit in with the sponsors and politicians ability to attend the opening. The main sponsor is Evonik Industries AG and the prizemoney 1,5 Million Euro. The contract was signed by both players 18th December 2007.

Dates for the match: Gm1: Oct 14th, Gm2: Oct 15th, Gm3: Oct 17th, Gm4: Oct 18th, Gm5: Oct 20th, Gm6: Oct 21st, Gm7: Oct 23rd, Gm8: Oct 24th, Gm9: Oct 26th, Gm10: Oct 27th, Gm11: Oct 29th, Gm12: Oct 31st, Tiebreak Nov 2nd.

Advanced booking for the World Chess Championship 2008 between Viswanathan Anand (India) and Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) has started. The tickets are available at the price of 35 Euro per day. The following benefits are included: - entrance to the playing hall - entrance to the commentary room with analysis by prominent grandmasters. The tickets are available at all ticket agencies in Germany. You can also buy tickets for the match in advance via BONNTICKET: http://www.bonnticket.de tickets@bonnticket.de. Tel. +49-(0)-180/5001812. Tickets for a possible tiebreak on November 02, 2008, will be available after the 12th game. Exclusive VIP tickets are also available. Details at the website below along with features on the leadup to the championships.

Website: http://www.uep-worldchess.com/

Porto Carras, Greece

3rd International Open Chess Tournament "Summer Cup 2008", takes place in Porto Carras, Greece 12th-19th July 2008

Further details: http://www.greekchess.com/cup2008

Panevezys Open

The 21st International Panevezys Open 2008 takes place in Panevezys, Lithuania 12th-18th August 2008. Two Open A and Open B and two closed norm tournaments second woman WGM and GM takes place in chess Festival program this year.

More details: http://www.chesslyga.lt/panevezys2008

For information e-mail: chessfanas@gmail.com

Open "Mediterranean 2017" Rijeka

The Open "Mediterranean 2017" Rijeka (CRO) takes place 29th November - 6th December 2008.

Details: http://www.mediteran2013.com/en/default.asp

Baltic Sea Cup 2008

The Baltic Sea Cup 2008 (Bornholm Summer Chess) takes place in Denmark 29th July - 6th August 2008. 10 round swiss. Top players already signed up include: GM Michael Roiz 2659, GM Sergei Tiviakov 2635, GM Igor Khenkin 2609, itali Golod 2606, GM Yuriy Kuzubov and GM Zoltan Gyimesi 2600.

Details: http://www.balticseacup.dk

Hungarian Chess Tournaments May - December 2008

1. 16th-21th of May 2008 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.

2. 7th-19th of June 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 Phone-fax: +(361)-2632859, cellphone: +(36)-30-230-1914 /From 12:00 a.m. until midnight - Central European Time = GMT+1/

3. 22nd-30th of May, ZALAKAROS Open, 9 rounds Swiss, 1st prize 500,000 Ft (brutto 2 thousand EURO), org: IM Horvath, Tamas, e-mail: mssz@zalaszam.hu Mobile: 36-20-9777003

4.13th-21st of June, Balatonlelle Open, GM-IM round robin, org: IM Rigo, e-mail: me-ri@t-online.hu

5.21st-30th of June IM tmt Kecskemet, org: Mr. Erdelyi

6.5th-17th of July, GM-IM-FM, First Saturday Budapest, org: Nagy Laszlo

7.19th-28th of July IM Kecskemet, org Erdelyi,

8.23rd-27th of July, 32nd AGRIA chess festival, Open 9 rounds Swiss, EGER, 100 km North East from Budapest, org: rauch@freemail.hu www.eurochess.hu

9.2nd-14th of August GM-IM-FM First Saturday Budapest, org Nagy Laszlo

10.16th-25th of August, IM tmt, Kecskemet, org: Erdelyi

11.6th-18th of September GM-IM-FM First Saturday Budapest, org Nagy Laszlo,

12.20th -29th September IM tmt Kecskemet, org Erdelyi

13.4th-16th of October, GM-IM-FM tmt, First Saturday Budapest, org.Nagy L.

14.18th-27th of October IM tmt Kecskemet, org Erdelyi.

15.1st-13th of November GM-IM-FM First Saturday Budapest, org Nagy L.

16.14th-22nd of November Tenkes Kupa Open, Harkany, 300 km South-West from Budapst, 9 round Swiss, org: Ambrus Lajos, mobile: 36-30-851-4224 e-mail: info@baranyasakk.hu www.baranyasakk.hu

17.6th-18th of December GM-IM-FM tmt, First Saturday Budapest, org Nagy L.

18.27th of Dec 5th of January IM-FM tmt Kesckemet, org: Erdelyi.

Blackstone Chess Festival

Blackstone Chess Festival incorporating the New England Masters - 11th-17th August 2008.

The New England Masters will take place at the Blackstone Chess Academy, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA, from August 11-15, 2008. The event will be a 9 round Swiss with GM/IM norm opportunities and a prize fund of $3,300. The Masters is open to a maximum of 50 players rated FIDE 2100 or higher. Please visit http://www.NewEnglandMasters.com for more info.

The Masters event will be followed by the Blackstone Open on August 16-17, 2008, at the same location. This event will be a 4 round Swiss, split into two sections, an Open (minimum rating USCF 1600) and an Under 1900 Section. The total prize fund is $4,000. Please visit http://www.blackstonechess.com/event88g.htm for more info.

I Masters of Olalachess Academy Training Camp

The I Masters of Olalachess Academy Training Camp takes place in Salou, Spain 1st-7th September 2008.

Details: http://www.masters.olalachess.com

Aerosvit Tournament

The Aerosvit-2008 tournament takes place in Foros, Crimea 7th-20th June 2008.

Official site: http://www.ukrchess.org.ua/aerosvit2008/index_e.htm

European U18 Team championships

The European U18 Team championships take place 13th-22nd June 2008 in Szeged, Hungary. Szeged is a major town on the South of Hungary on the river Tisza.

Invitation, registration form, bank account number, list of entries and other important information can be found at: http://www.chess.hu/u18etc

13th Pannonia Cup

The 13th Pannonia Cup takes place in Balatonalmádi (Hungary) 30th July - 3rd August 2008 International Open for FIDE ratings (without age limit)

Contact details: Fáncsy Imre: 8222. Balatonalmádi, Gábor Áron u. 15.; HUNGARY E-mail: almadikupa@freemail.hu

Details: http://fancsyimi.fw.hu

VI Gyorgy Marx Memorial

The VI.Gyorgy Marx Memorial takes place in Paks, Hungary 24th July - 4th August, 2008.

Players: Acs Peter, Aleksander Beliavsky, Berkes Ferenc, Gabriel Sargissian, Daniel Stellwagen, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave average:2617 cat XV.

Alongside is the XII.Paks Open 30th Julybv- 3rd August, 2008, 7 rounds, rapid, blitz and children tournaments Apply and information:Vidéki Sándor videkis2001@yahoo.com

Official site: http://www.ase.hu/marxgy

2nd Queenstown Chess Classic 2009

Queenstown Chess Classic takes place in Queenstown, South Island of New Zealand 15th-24th January 2009.

This will be the second such event, the first was held in Jan 2006.

The Tournament promoter is GM Murray Chandler. Over $50,000 (NZ) is being offered in prizes with additional prizes in the Rapid and Blitz events being held on January 25th-26th 2009.

Full details: http://www.queenstownchess.com

GM Boris Alterman's Chess Lessons

GM Boris Alterman has a blog with free chess lessons on it.

Website: http://chesslessons.wordpress.com/

19th Czech Open

The 19th Czech Open takes place 10th-27th July 2008 (Pardubice, CEZ Arena and Ideon)

THE BIGGEST INTERNATIONAL CHESS AND GAMES FESTIVAL IN THE WORLD (5908 starts of players from 50 countries in CZECH OPEN 2007!). Open grand master tournament (ELO FIDE >= 2200), Open European Amateurs Championships ( 1800,  2000,  2200), hundreds of other tournaments in chess and also in other games

Contacts: AVE-KONTAKT s.r.o., Sukova 1556, 530 02 Pardubice, Czech Republic, tel./fax +420 - 466 535 200, mobile phone + 420 - 608 203 007, e-mail: j.mazuch@avekont.cz,

Further information: http://www.czechopen.net

8th Savaria Summer

The 8th Savaria Summer International Chess Tournament takes place 14th-22nd August 2008, Szombathely, Hungary

Details: http://sakk.savaria.hu/main.php?Lang=EN

Chess Classic Mainz 2008

The schedule for Chess Classic Mainz 2008 is now available. The event takes place 27th July - 3rd August 2008 in Mainz/Germany. Anand , Morozevich, Carlsen and Polgar play.

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

Voronezh Chess Festival

12th Voronezh traditional chess festival takes place 10th-21st June 2008.

Details: http://www.relex.ru/~xuser/voronezh_open

Arctic Chess Challenge

The Arctic Chess Challenge 2008 takes place August 2nd - 10th in Tromsø, Norway. Contact address: simsim64@gmail.com

Details: http://www.arcticchess.org

Ikaros Chess Festival

The main event of the Ikaros Chess Festival, the International Aegean Open Championship takes place from 12th-20th July 2008. It is a 9 round swiss event with prize fund 3000 Euros in total (1st prize 800 Euros, special money prizes for ladies and veterans). Special conditions for GMs/IMs and WGMs/WIMs are provided. The URL of Ikaros Chess Festival is: http://www.chess.gr/ikaros . Our e-mail is: ikaros@chess.gr while to contact us on the phone one can try: +30 6932 478386 or +30 210 5010871 (Mr. Savas Kyriakou). For general information about the island of Ikaria one can also check at: http://www.island-ikaria.com

European Union Championships, Liverpool 2008

This years European Union Championships takes place in Liverpool, England 9th - 18th September 2008. The prize fund is 30,000 pounds with 6000 pounds first prize. Already 29 Grandmasters have entered including Michael Adams, Nigel Short, Alexander Beliavsky, Sergei Tiviakov and Maxim Vachier-Lagrave.

Details:  http://www.liverpoolchessinternational.co.uk            

8th Brno Chess Festival

The 8th Brno Chess Festival 2008 takes place 27th or 29th June - 6th July 2008) in the luxury hotel BOBYCENTRUM****. Two open tournaments (FIDE and national) and closed tournaments (one grandmaster and 2-3 masters) are proposed. More details at: http://www.skduras.cz/en

VII Benidorm International Chess Festival 2008

The VII Benidorm International Chess Festival takes place 28th November - 8th December 2008. For information contact: E-Mail: eventosdeajedrez@yahoo.es festivaldebenidorm@gmail.com News: Patricia Claros Aguilar.

Dvoretsky-Jussupow Chess School in Paris

The Dvoretsky-Jussupow Chess School will hold lessons in Paris in June.

The first stage will be held in the "Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris" 11th-15th June 2008. The training sessions (3 hours with Dvoretsky and 3 hours with Jussupow)are given in english (with possible translation into french), and the trainers will deliver written lessons (available both in English and French).

Groups : limited to 16 persons a day, groups of 8 persons maximum for each trainer.

Charges : 220 Euro per day.

Wednesday : under 1700 elo.

Thursday :1700-2100

Friday :1800-2199

Saturday :+2200

Sunday :+2200

Send your reservations to : L’Ecole Parisienne du jeu d’Échecs, 2 rue des Goncourt, 75011 Paris, France (cheque 220 Euro, order E.P.J.E.). The lessons will be delivered in la Cité Internationale Universitaire, Maison internationale, 19 Bd Jourdan, 75014 Paris. From 10h to 13h and from 14h to 17h. Further information: eneiman@free.fr or phone: +33 6 81 48 64 58

Official site (in French): http://epje.free.fr/

FIDE Grand Prix Events

The line ups for the FIDE Grand Prix events have been announced. The top four players in the world, along with players such as Morozevich and Shirov are missing. It seems that in the case of Kramnik and Topalov that they believe that the event doesn't have big enough prize money (according to quotes in Chess Today). All this was more or less known beforehand. However the players who have signed up make this a very attractive and interesting series of events. The grand prix is organised by Global Chess which is headed by Bessel Kok.

Details: http://www.fide.com/news.asp?id=1607

Event 1 April 20th - May 6th 2008, Baku, Azerbaijan
Event 2 July 30th - August 15th 2008, Sochi, Russia
Event 3 December 13th - 29th, 2008, Doha, Qatar
Event 4 April 14th - 28th, 2009, Montreux, Switzerland
Event 5 August 8th - 24th, 2009, Elista, Russia
Event 6 December 7th - 23rd, 2009, Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic

British Chess Championships 2008

The 95th Championships of The British Isles organised by the English Chess Federation takes place Sunday 27th July - Saturday 9th August 2008 in St. George's Hall, Liverpool.

Details: http://www.englishchess.org.uk/events/bc2008/index.html

Canadian Open

The Canadian Open takes place in Montreal July 19th-27th 2008.

Further details: Fédération québécoise des échecs

Cidade de Ferrol International

XXIII International Chess tournament Cidade de Ferrol Prizes : 14750 euros (different sections) Dates : 15th-20th July 2008 Time rate : 90’ + 30 Secunden Accomodation : 24,5 euros Full board in a Student house. There other posibilities. Entry: 30 euros . contact e-mail: xanrei@arrakis.es Other tournaments: Bernasque 3/7-12/7. Circuito Galego From 22/7 to 30/9

Further info: http://www.cfxadrez.org

X Sants Open

The X International Open of Sants, Hostafrancs and la Bordeta (Barcelona - Spain) takes place 22nd-31st August 2008. 10 round swiss system tournament with + 12.000 euros in prizes.

Other activities include a blitz tournament and rapid chess tournament with 1500 euros in prizes. Last year: 500 players from 40 countries including 70 titled players competed. There were 2 GM and 5 IM norms.

Yerevan Open Rapid Chess Tournament 2008

The Chess Federation of Armenia is organizing an International Open Rapid Chess Tournament which takes place June 12th-15th, 2008, in Yerevan, Armenia. The event is organized simultaneously with the tournament "Chess Giants Yerevan 2008" with the participation of the world's top grandmasters.

The total prize fund of the open rapid tournament is 33000 USD with the following breakdown.

Grandmasters and chess players with an Elo above 2450 will pay no entry fee. For the other participants the following fees are fixed: International Masters with an Elo up to 2450 30 USD Chess players with an Elo from 2301 to 2450 50 USD Chess players with an Elo from 2151 to 2300 70 USD Chess players with an Elo up to 2150 and without an Elo 100 USD The board and lodging costs will be covered by the participants. The following accommodation options are offered: Ani Plaza Hotel Single room - 80 Euro Double room - 50 Euro Breakfast is included in the prices. Optionally lunch - 10 Euro, dinner - 10 Euro Erebuni Hotel Single room - 60 Euro Double room - 35 Euro Breakfast is included in the prices.

For further information please contact: Mr. Gaguik Oganessian General Secretary, Armenian Chess Federation President, FIDE Zone 1,5
Tel.: (374)10-554923
Fax: (374)10-570758
E-Mail armchess@arminco.com

The 8th European Senior Championship

The "Swiss Chess Tour 2008" will present the 7th Chess Summer Festival in Davos from August 9th to 17th, 2008. The main event will be the 8th European Individual Senior Championship. The second tournament will be traditional, 7th Davos Open.

8th European Individual Senior Championship, August 9th to 17th 2008. "Sunstar Park Hotel" (4 stars) will be host festival in 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 rating: FIDE, Swiss (SSB) and German (DWZ). Seniors: men born 1947 and earlier; women born 1957 and earlier. Prize (men): 2.500/1.700/1.000/700/600/500/2x400/2x300 CHF. 3-4 group rating prize (200/150/100 CHF). Women: 400/300/3x200 CHF; Entry fee 80 CHF; at the door 20 CHF more. Time table: Rounds 1 15.00-21.00 August 9th; Round 2/8 9.30-15.30 August 10th-16th; Round 9 9.30-15.30 August 17th.

7th Davos Open, 7 rounds and the games will last a maximum of 5 hours (40 moves for 2 hours and 30 minutes till the end). Prize are: 1.000 SF, 800, 600, 400, 300, 200, 2x150 CHF. Natural prizes for 4 and more points. Entry fee 130 CHF, FMs and juniors 60 CHF, GMs and IMs free; juniors lodging at Sunstar Park Hotel free; at the door 20 CHF more. Time table: Rounds 1 15.00-21.00 August 10th; Round 2/7 16.00-22.00 August 10th-16th. Venue: "Sunstar Park Hotel" Congress Center. Closing ceremony August 17th, 4 p.m. Info Beochess: +41+62+9654-650 (Robert Spoerri) Email beochess@bluewin.ch or read the website: http://www.beochess.ch

Paleochora International Open 2008

The Paleochora (southern Crete) International Open takes place 21st-28th July 2008.

Further details: http://www.chaniachess.gr

The Battle of Senta 1697 Chess Festival 2008

12th International Chess Festival "The Battle of Senta 1697" will be held 18th-25th. July 2008. in Senta (the Vojvodina /Serbia).

Further details: http://www.chess-senta.org.yuand in English: http://www.chess-senta.org.yu/select.php?lang=3&xid=2

XXVI International Chess Open of Andorra

The XXVI International Chess Open of Andorra takes place 19th-27th July 2008. Contact: open@escacsandorra.com FEVA - Tel/Fax: 00.376.824465

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

Alushta Diary 2008

GM Norm events: 23.05 - 1.06, 2.06 - 12.06, 15.06 - 25.06, 2.09 - 12.09, 14.09 - 24.09, 26.09 - 6.10, IM Norm: 23.05 - 1.06, 2.06 - 12.06, 15.06 - 25.06, 2.09 - 12.09, 14.09 - 24.09, 26.09 - 6.10, Rating tournament: 4.06 - 12.06, 22.06 - 27.06, Open tournament (under 16 years) First prize - 200$ 3.06 - 11.06, 13.06 - 21.06, Alushta Swiss 9 rounds Open tournament First prize - 1000$ First prize (woman) - 500$ 28.06 - 6.07, Alushta Swiss 9 rounds Blitz tournament 7.07, Alushta Swiss 9 rounds Open tournament (rapid chess) 8.07 - 9.07, Alushta Session of school of Gennadi Kuzmin 21.06 - 27.06 Individual and group studying. phone +38 (06560)5-05-32,

Further information: http://www.kaissa.com.ua

Pula Open 2008

The Pula Open 2008 takes place 21st-28th June 2008 in Pula, Croatia. Contact e-mail: pulaopen@globalnet.hr

Further details: http://www.skpula.hr

Anand - Kramnik World Championship Match

A Press release from UEP Promotions announces that Viswanathan Anand will defend his World title against Vladimir Kramnik in Bonn, Germany October 11th-30th October, 2008. Main sponsor Evonik Industries AG and prizemoney 1,5 Million Euro. The match will be 12 games followed by playoffs if required. The contract was signed by both players 18th December 2007.

Website: http://www.uep-worldchess.com/

Mindsports

The World Mindsports games takes place in Beijing, China after the Olympics 3rd -18th October 2008.

Details: http://www.worldbridge.org/competitions/Calendar/files/WorldMindSportsGames2007.pdf.

Etienne Bacrot's Website

Etienne Bacrot has a website at: http://www.chess22.fr/ with his analysis and news. Very worth while, especially when he's playing.

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