THE WEEK IN CHESS 721 1st September 2008 by Mark Crowther

1) Introduction

My thanks to Sinisa Joksic, Dennis Monokroussos, Attila Csonka, Chris Holmes, Chris Holmes, Luiz Roberto Da Costa Jr, Thomas Henrich, Eduardo Serrano Salvador, Gujuan Tzu, Mirjana Medic, Thomas Lemanczyk, Adolivio Capece, John Donaldson, Mitko Iliev, Alfonso Romero Holmes, John Hillery, Scott Freeman, Dinu-Ioan Nicula, Stefan Loeffler, Chirila Radu-Catalin, Gerard Demuydt, and everyone else who helped with the issue.

Another huge week of chess. The Tal Memorial was a triumph for Vassily Ivanchuk who not only took clear first in the main event but also topped it off by winning the strong blitz. The women's world championship got underway missing a number of players especially from Georgia over the Ossetia situation. But elsewhere there has too much chess even to list, in fact I hope it eases off because I can't even enjoy the chess with so much to cover. The large number of summer chess festivals are especially time consuming. The Grand Slam in Bilbao starts on Tuesday and that should prove especially interesting.

Hope you enjoy this issue.

Mark

2) Tal Memorial

The Tal Memorial in Moscow (GUM, Exhibition Hall- very close to Red Square) took place 17th-31st August 2008. Playing days 18th-22nd and 24th-27th August 2008. Then there was a blitz tournament with qualfiers on the 27th and 28th and then the main event on 29th-30th, Magnus Carlsen and Antoly Karpov were amongst the invitees along with the players in the main event.

Vassily Ivanchuk took clear first place in the main category XX event a point clear of the field and then repeated the trick in the blitz tournament. The blitz games contain some errors, I hope that the final standings are also correct. (for instance its hard to understand how Karpov - Leko was a draw or where the error in the gamescore is).

Official site: http://www.russiachess.org/

Also on the spot videos from: http://www.europe-echecs.com/

Tal Memorial Blitz Moscow (RUS), 29-30 viii 2008 Final Round 34 Standings:					cat. XX (2726)
Pl	Name	Ti	NAT	Elo	Pts	TPR
1.	Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2781	23.5	2863
2.	Kramnik, Vladimir	g	RUS	2788	22.5	2839
3.	Carlsen, Magnus	g	NOR	2775	21.0	2810
4.	Svidler, Peter	g	RUS	2738	20.0	2790
5.	Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	g	AZE	2742	20.0	2790
6.	Lékó, Peter	g	HUN	2741	18.0	2746
7.	Grischuk, Alexander	g	RUS	2728	18.0	2747
8.	Karjakin, Sergey	g	UKR	2727	18.0	2747
9.	Kamsky, Gata	g	USA	2723	17.5	2733
10.	Gelfand, Boris	g	ISR	2720	17.5	2733
11.	Ponomariov, Ruslan	g	UKR	2718	17.0	2726
12.	Grachev, Boris	g	RUS	2640	14.5	2681
13.	Alekseev, Evgeny	g	RUS	2708	14.0	2662
14.	Karpov, Anatoly	g	RUS	2651	14.0	2665
15.	Morozevich, Alexander	g	RUS	2788	14.0	2657
16.	Movsesian, Sergei	g	SVK	2723	12.5	2631
17.	Eljanov, Pavel	g	UKR	2716	12.5	2631
18.	Tkachiev, Vladislav	g	FRA	2664	11.5	2612

Tal Memorial Moscow (RUS), 18-27 viii 2008												cat. XX (2745)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2781	*	1	½	½	½	1	1	½	½	½	6	2866
2.	Morozevich, Alexander	g	RUS	2788	0	*	½	1	1	½	0	1	½	½	5	2783
3.	Gelfand, Boris	g	ISR	2720	½	½	*	½	½	½	½	½	1	½	5	2790
4.	Ponomariov, Ruslan	g	UKR	2718	½	0	½	*	½	1	½	½	½	1	5	2791
5.	Kramnik, Vladimir	g	RUS	2788	½	0	½	½	*	½	½	1	½	1	5	2783
6.	Leko, Peter	g	HUN	2741	0	½	½	0	½	*	1	½	½	1	4½	2745
7.	Kamsky, Gata	g	USA	2723	0	1	½	½	½	0	*	½	0	1	4	2704
8.	Alekseev, Evgeny	g	RUS	2708	½	0	½	½	0	½	½	*	1	½	4	2706
9.	Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	g	AZE	2742	½	½	0	½	½	½	1	0	*	0	3½	2665
10.	Shirov, Alexei	g	ESP	2741	½	½	½	0	0	0	0	½	1	*	3	2620

Round 8 (August 26, 2008)
Morozevich, Alexander	- Kamsky, Gata	0-1	69	B12	Caro Kann Advanced
Ponomariov, Ruslan	- Ivanchuk, Vassily	½-½	89	C92	Ruy Lopez Chigorin
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Alekseev, Evgeny	1-0	41	A37	English Symmetrical
Leko, Peter	- Gelfand, Boris	½-½	24	C42	Petroff's Defence
Shirov, Alexei	- Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	1-0	33	B46	Sicilian Paulsen
Round 9 (August 27, 2008)
Ivanchuk, Vassily	- Shirov, Alexei	½-½	12	D27	QGA
Gelfand, Boris	- Morozevich, Alexander	½-½	13	A04	Dutch System
Kamsky, Gata	- Ponomariov, Ruslan	½-½	74	C65	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Alekseev, Evgeny	- Leko, Peter	½-½	25	C53	Giuoco Piano
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	- Kramnik, Vladimir	½-½	22	E15	Queens Indian

Tal Memorial Blitz Moscow (RUS), 29-30 viii 2008 Final Round 34 Standings:					cat. XX (2726)
Pl	Name	Ti	NAT	Elo	Pts	TPR
1.	Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2781	23.5	2863
2.	Kramnik, Vladimir	g	RUS	2788	22.5	2839
3.	Carlsen, Magnus	g	NOR	2775	21.0	2810
4.	Svidler, Peter	g	RUS	2738	20.0	2790
5.	Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	g	AZE	2742	20.0	2790
6.	Lékó, Peter	g	HUN	2741	18.0	2746
7.	Grischuk, Alexander	g	RUS	2728	18.0	2747
8.	Karjakin, Sergey	g	UKR	2727	18.0	2747
9.	Kamsky, Gata	g	USA	2723	17.5	2733
10.	Gelfand, Boris	g	ISR	2720	17.5	2733
11.	Ponomariov, Ruslan	g	UKR	2718	17.0	2726
12.	Grachev, Boris	g	RUS	2640	14.5	2681
13.	Alekseev, Evgeny	g	RUS	2708	14.0	2662
14.	Karpov, Anatoly	g	RUS	2651	14.0	2665
15.	Morozevich, Alexander	g	RUS	2788	14.0	2657
16.	Movsesian, Sergei	g	SVK	2723	12.5	2631
17.	Eljanov, Pavel	g	UKR	2716	12.5	2631
18.	Tkachiev, Vladislav	g	FRA	2664	11.5	2612

Tal Memorial Blitz S/F Moscow (RUS), 27-28 viii 2008 Final Round 18 Standings:
1.	Grischuk, Alexander	g	RUS	2728	12.5	2786
2.	Movsesian, Sergei	g	SVK	2723	12.5	2794
3.	Grachev, Boris	g	RUS	2640	12.0	2768
4.	Karjakin, Sergey	g	UKR	2727	12.0	2754
5.	Eljanov, Pavel	g	UKR	2716	12.0	2753
6.	Mamedov, Rauf	g	AZE	2627	11.5	2792
7.	Sutovsky, Emil	g	ISR	2654	11.5	2708
8.	Smirin, Ilia	g	ISR	2637	11.5	2729
9.	Kasimdzhanov, Rustam	g	UZB	2679	11.5	2704
10.	Nepomniachtchi, Ian	g	RUS	2602	11.0	2754
11.	Gashimov, Vugar	g	AZE	2717	11.0	2709
12.	Rublevsky, Sergei	g	RUS	2699	11.0	2686
13.	Sargissian, Gabriel	g	ARM	2660	11.0	2723
14.	Petrosian, Tigran L	g	ARM	2624	10.5	2697
15.	Tregubov, Pavel V	g	RUS	2658	10.5	2679
16.	Wang Hao	g	CHN	2691	10.0	2650
17.	Efimenko, Zahar	g	UKR	2670	10.0	2651
18.	Dreev, Alexey	g	RUS	2657	10.0	2647
19.	Volokitin, Andrei	g	UKR	2672	9.5	2653
20.	Motylev, Alexander	g	RUS	2674	9.5	2646
21.	Malakhov, Vladimir	g	RUS	2689	9.5	2639
22.	Amonatov, Farrukh	g	TJK	2650	9.5	2630
23.	Popov, Valerij	g	RUS	2524	9.5	2682
24.	Volkov, Sergey1	g	RUS	2636	9.5	2639
25.	Zhou Jianchao	g	CHN	2604	9.5	2689
26.	Ni Hua	g	CHN	2705	9.5	2622
27.	Huzman, Alexander	g	ISR	2589	9.5	2652
28.	Naiditsch, Arkadij	g	GER	2665	9.5	2609
29.	Dlugy, Maxim	g	USA	2518	9.0	2677
30.	Andreikin, Dmitry	g	RUS	2604	9.0	2672
31.	Savchenko, Boris	g	RUS	2578	9.0	2650
32.	Van Wely, Loek	g	NED	2644	9.0	2610
33.	Landa, Konstantin	g	RUS	2615	9.0	2626
34.	Khismatullin, Denis	g	RUS	2613	9.0	2650
35.	Timofeev, Artyom	g	RUS	2650	9.0	2612
36.	Zvjaginsev, Vadim	g	RUS	2663	9.0	2617
37.	Aleksandrov, Aleksej	g	BLR	2574	8.5	2649
38.	Tomashevsky, Evgeny	g	RUS	2646	8.5	2605
39.	Korotylev, Alexey	g	RUS	2609	8.5	2624
40.	Krasenkow, Michal	g	POL	2639	8.5	2586
41.	Kobalia, Mikhail	g	RUS	2618	8.5	2621
42.	Riazantsev, Alexander	g	RUS	2617	8.0	2600
43.	Sakaev, Konstantin	g	RUS	2635	8.0	2604
44.	Rychagov, Andrey	g	RUS	2549	7.5	2571
45.	Vaisser, Anatoly	g	FRA	2542	7.5	2577
46.	Grigoriants, Sergey	g	RUS	2577	7.0	2573
47.	Belov, Vladimir	g	RUS	2561	7.0	2570
48.	Potkin, Vladimir	g	RUS	2629	7.0	2535
49.	Ivanov, Alexander Al	m	RUS	2473	7.0	2536
50.	Najer, Evgeniy	g	RUS	2670	7.0	2528
51.	Khairullin, Ildar	g	RUS	2575	6.5	2535
52.	Rustemov, Alexander	g	RUS	2547	6.5	2545
53.	Bacrot, Etienne	g	FRA	2691	6.5	2489
54.	Bologan, Viktor	g	MDA	2686	6.5	2452
55.	Korobkov, Piotr		UKR	2516	6.0	2509
56.	Dobrov, Vladimir	g	RUS	2519	6.0	2488
57.	Milov, Vadim	g	SUI	2705	5.5	2517
58.	Iordachescu, Viorel	g	MDA	2579	5.5	2455
59.	Deviatkin, Andrei	g	RUS	2567	5.0	2468
60.	Novikov, Stanislav	g	RUS	2535	1.5	2265

3) Women's World Championship

The World Women's Championship 2008 takes place in Nalchik, the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria (Russian Federation), 28th August - 18th September 2008 with a prize fund of 450,000 USD. FIDE and the organisers have stressed that events in Ossetia shouldn't have any impact on the event but a number of players have chosen not to participate. These include all the Georgian players (Maia Chiburdanidze, Lela Javakhishvili, Sopio Gvetadze, Maia Lomineishvili, Sopiko Khukhashvili and Nino Khurtsidze), Tea Bosboom Lanchava, Karen Zapata, Marie Sebag, and Irina Krush all of whom lost by default in the first round and also it looks like Ekaterina Korbut didn't make it either. Two pairings seem to have no players in attendance so there will be byes in round 2.

Sudden Death Playoff regulations: White shall receive 6 minutes, Black shall receive 5 minutes, without any addition. The winner qualifies for the next round. In case of a draw the player with the black pieces qualifies for the next round.

Official site: http://nalchik2008.fide.com

WCh-Women Nalchik (RUS), 28 viii - 18 ix 2008 Round 2 Results 1st-3rd September 2008.
NAT	Name	Rtng	G1	G2	Rp1	Rp2	Bz1	Bz2	SD	Total
Round 2 Match 01
RUS	Matveeva, Svetlana	2412	1							1
CHN	Xu, Yuhua	2483	0							0
Round 2 Match 02
IND	Koneru, Humpy	2622	+	-						2
			-	+						0
Round 2 Match 03
MGL	Mongontuul, Bathuyang	2406	0							0
CHN	Hou, Yifan	2557	1							1
Round 2 Match 04
BUL	Stefanova, Antoaneta	2550	½							½
CHN	Ju, Wenjun	2389	½							½
Round 2 Match 05
CHN	Tan, Zongyi	2387	½							½
SWE	Cramling, Pia	2544	½							½
Round 2 Match 06
POL	Gasik, Anna	2211	½							½
ARM	Mkrtchian, Lilit	2436	½							½
Round 2 Match 07
CHN	Shen, Yang	2445	1							1
CHN	Zhao, Xue	2522	0							0
Round 2 Match 08
RUS	Kosintseva, Tatjana	2511	1							1
USA	Zatonskih, Anna	2446	0							0
Round 2 Match 09
			-	-						0
RUS	Kosteniuk, Aleksandra	2510	+	+						2
Round 2 Match 10
LTU	Chmilyte, Viktorija	2508	½							½
RUS	Kosintseva, Nadezhda	2460	½							½
Round 2 Match 11
IND	Harika, Dronavalli	2461	½							½
SLO	Muzychuk, Anna	2504	½							½
Round 2 Match 12
CHN	Ruan, Lufei	2499	½							½
ARG	Amura, Claudia	2345	½							½
Round 2 Match 13
UKR	Gaponenko, Inna	2468	1							1
USA	Rohonyan, Katerine	2321	0							0
Round 2 Match 14
VIE	Nguyen, Thi Thanh An	2323	½							½
ITA	Sedina, Elena	2344	½							½
Round 2 Match 15
POL	Socko, Monika	2473	½							½
HUN	Hoang Thanh Trang	2487	½							½
Round 2 Match 16
GER	Paehtz, Elisabeth	2481	0							½
UKR	Ushenina, Anna	2476	1							½

WCh-Women Nalchik (RUS), 28 viii - 18 ix 2008 Round 1 Results 29th-31st August 2008.
NAT	Name	Rtng	G1	G2	Rp1	Rp2	Bz1	Bz2	SD	Total
Round 1 Match 01
CHN	Xu, Yuhua	2483	1	½						1½
RSA	Solomons, Anzel	1895	0	½						½
Round 1 Match 02
EGY	Alaa El Din, Yorsa	1959	0	0						0
IND	Koneru, Humpy	2622	1	1						2
Round 1 Match 03
CHN	Hou, Yifan	2557	1	1						2
EGY	Khaled, Mona	2007	0	0						0
Round 1 Match 04
PER	Zapata, Karen	2180	-	-						0
BUL	Stefanova, Antoaneta	2550	+	+						2
Round 1 Match 05
SWE	Cramling, Pia	2544	1	½						1½
VEN	Sanchez Castillo, Sarai	2202	0	½						½
Round 1 Match 06
POL	Gasik, Anna	2211	+	+						2
FRA	Sebag, Marie	2529	-	-						0
Round 1 Match 07
CHN	Zhao, Xue	2522	1	1						2
ARG	Zuriel, Marisa	2231	0	0						0
Round 1 Match 08
UZB	Muminova, Nafisa	2242	0	0						0
RUS	Kosintseva, Tatjana	2511	1	1						2
Round 1 Match 09
RUS	Kosteniuk, Aleksandra	2510	1	1						2
IRI	Pourkashiyan, Atousa	2269	0	0						0
Round 1 Match 10
CRO	Golubenko, Valentina	2271	0	½						½
LTU	Chmilyte, Viktorija	2508	1	½						1½
Round 1 Match 11
SLO	Muzychuk, Anna	2504	1	1						2
BUL	Velcheva, Maria	2281	0	0						0
Round 1 Match 12
RUS	Zakurdjaeva, Irina	2308	0	½						½
CHN	Ruan, Lufei	2499	1	½						1½
Round 1 Match 13
UKR	Zhukova, Natalia	2489	0	1	½	0				1½
USA	Rohonyan, Katerine	2321	1	0	½	1				2½
Round 1 Match 14
VIE	Nguyen, Thi Thanh An	2323	+	+						2
GEO	Chiburdanidze, Maya	2489	-	-						0
Round 1 Match 15
HUN	Hoang Thanh Trang	2487	1	½						1½
CUB	Arribas Robaina, Matza	2323	0	½						½
Round 1 Match 16
AZE	Kadimova, Ilaha	2324	1	0	0	1	0	1	0	3
GER	Paehtz, Elisabeth	2481	0	1	1	0	1	0	1	4
Round 1 Match 17
UKR	Ushenina, Anna	2476	1	½						1½
VIE	Le Thanh Tu	2325	0	½						½
Round 1 Match 18
ROM	Foisor, Sabina-Francesca	2337	½	½	1	0	1	0	0	3
POL	Socko, Monika	2473	½	½	0	1	0	1	1	4
Round 1 Match 19
USA	Krush, Irina	2470	-	-						0
ITA	Sedina, Elena	2344	+	+						2
Round 1 Match 20
CHN	Zhang, Jilin	2344	½	0						½
UKR	Gaponenko, Inna	2468	½	1						1½
Round 1 Match 21
GEO	Javakhishvili, Leta	2461	-	-						0
ARG	Amura, Claudia	2345	+	+						2
Round 1 Match 22
RUS	Nebolsina, Vera	2350	0	0						0
IND	Harika, Dronavalli	2461	1	1						2
Round 1 Match 23
RUS	Kosintseva, Nadezhda	2460	1	1						2
IND	Mohota, Nisha	2354	0	0						0
Round 1 Match 24
GEO	Gvetadze, Sopio	2355	-	-						0
RUS	Korbut, Ekaterina	2459	-	-						0
Round 1 Match 25
USA	Zatonskih, Anna	2446	+	+						2
NED	Bosboom Lanchava, Tea	2358	-	-						0
Round 1 Match 26
GER	Kachiani-Gersinska, Ketino	2374	½	0						½
CHN	Shen, Yang	2445	½	1						1½
Round 1 Match 27
ARM	Mkrtchian, Lilit	2436	½	½	½	½	½	1		3½
AUT	Moser, Eva	2383	½	½	½	½	½	0		2½
Round 1 Match 28
CHN	Tan, Zongyi	2387	½	1						1½
IND	Tania, Sachdev	2432	½	0						½
Round 1 Match 29
SRB	Bojkovic, Natasa	2423	½	½	½	0				1½
CHN	Ju, Wenjun	2389	½	½	½	1				2½
Round 1 Match 30
MGL	Mongontuul, Bathuyang	2406	1	1						2
POL	Rajlich, Iweta	2417	0	0						0
Round 1 Match 31
GEO	Lomineishvili, Maya	2414	-	-						0
GEO	Khukhashvili, Sopiko	2408	-	-						0
Round 1 Match 32
RUS	Matveeva, Svetlana	2412	+	+						2
GEO	Khurtsidze, Nino	2413	-	-						0

4) Grand Slam in Bilbao

The Chess Grand Slam Final takes place in Bilbao 1st-13th September 2008. There are 6 players. The first qualifiers were the winners of Corus 2008, Morelia - Linares 2008, and Mtel Masters 2008 - GM Levon Aronian, GM Viswanathan Anand, and GM Vassily Ivanchuk. Then the 2nd place players also qualified GM Magnus Carlsen and GM Veselin Topalov and finally the best all-round player left Teimour Radjabov.

Round 1 on 2nd September 2008.

Official site for the event: http://www.bilbaofinalmasters.com

5) 3rd NH Chess Tournament

The 3rd NH Chess Tournament took place in Amsterdam August 20th-30th, 2008. The venue of this clash between 'Rising Stars' and 'Experience' is the NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky in the centre of the Dutch capital, at a five minutes’ walk from Central Station.

Wang Yue scored 8.5/10 and qualified for next years Amber tournament. Youth fully outdid Experience winning 33.5-16.5.

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

3rd NH Amsterdam (NED), 20-30 viii 2008 Final Round 10 Standings:
Youth
1.	Wang Yue	g	CHN	2704	8½	2892
2.	Cheparinov, Ivan	g	BUL	2687	7½	2789
3.	Caruana, Fabiano	g	ITA	2630	6½	2706
4.	L'Ami, Erwin	g	NED	2638	6	2668
5.	Stellwagen, Daniël	g	NED	2616	5	2596
Total					33½
Experience
1.	Agdestein, Simen	g	NOR	2583	4	2577
2.	Bareev, Evgeny	g	RUS	2655	4	2577
3.	Ljubojevic, Ljubomir	g	SRB	2520	3½	2539
4.	Korchnoi, Viktor	g	SUI	2602	2½	2456
5.	Jussupow, Artur	g	GER	2587	2½	2456
Total					16½

Round 6 (August 26, 2008)
Wang Yue	- Ljubojevic, Ljubomir	1-0	38	E12	Queens Indian Petrosian
L'Ami, Erwin	- Bareev, Evgeny	½-½	25	D19	Slav Defence
Caruana, Fabiano	- Jussupow, Artur	½-½	19	C72	Ruy Lopez Modern Steinitz
Cheparinov, Ivan	- Agdestein, Simen	½-½	50	A85	Dutch
Stellwagen, Daniël	- Korchnoi, Viktor	0-1	74	C80	Ruy Lopez Open
Round 7 (August 27, 2008)
Bareev, Evgeny	- Stellwagen, Daniël	1-0	41	D45	Anti-Meran Variations
Agdestein, Simen	- Wang Yue	½-½	62	B10	Caro Kann
Jussupow, Artur	- Cheparinov, Ivan	½-½	42	A61	Benoni
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir	- L'Ami, Erwin	0-1	60	A11	Reti Opening
Korchnoi, Viktor	- Caruana, Fabiano	0-1	38	D43	Anti-Meran Gambit
Round 8 (August 28, 2008)
Wang Yue	- Jussupow, Artur	1-0	52	E21	Nimzo Indian 4.Nf3
L'Ami, Erwin	- Agdestein, Simen	½-½	95	A80	Dutch
Caruana, Fabiano	- Bareev, Evgeny	½-½	34	B12	Caro Kann Advanced
Cheparinov, Ivan	- Korchnoi, Viktor	1-0	58	C11	French Defence
Stellwagen, Daniël	- Ljubojevic, Ljubomir	½-½	46	B96	Sicilian Najdorf
Round 9 (August 29, 2008)
Bareev, Evgeny	- Cheparinov, Ivan	½-½	68	E97	King's Indian Classical
Agdestein, Simen	- Stellwagen, Daniël	½-½	75	A07	Barcza System
Jussupow, Artur	- L'Ami, Erwin	½-½	47	D10	Slav Defence
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir	- Caruana, Fabiano	1-0	51	D45	Anti-Meran Variations
Korchnoi, Viktor	- Wang Yue	½-½	51	D15	Slav Defence
Round 10 (August 30, 2008)
Wang Yue	- Bareev, Evgeny	½-½	9	D11	Slav Defence
L'Ami, Erwin	- Korchnoi, Viktor	1-0	35	A15	English counter King's Fianchetto
Caruana, Fabiano	- Agdestein, Simen	1-0	47	B03	Alekhine's Defence
Cheparinov, Ivan	- Ljubojevic, Ljubomir	½-½	84	C10	French Rubinstein
Stellwagen, Daniël	- Jussupow, Artur	½-½	24	C42	Petroff's Defence

6) Akiba Rubinstein International Chess Festival

The Akiba Rubinstein International Chess Festival took place in Polanica Zdroj 19th-28th August, 2008. Alexander Moiseenko won the main GM group with 6½/9. Michal Olszewski edged out Aloyzas Kveinys on tie-break after both scored 8/10. Final round games from the open A not yet available.

Official site: http://www.rubinstein.64pola.pl/

44th Rubinstein Mem GM Polanica Zdroj (POL), 20-28 viii 2008												cat. XIII (2564)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Moiseenko, Alexander	g	UKR	2632	*	½	½	½	½	½	1	1	1	1	6½	2722
2.	Miton, Kamil	g	POL	2580	½	*	½	1	1	½	½	½	½	1	6	2687
3.	Swiercz, Dariusz	m	POL	2456	½	½	*	½	½	1	½	1	½	1	6	2701
4.	Mchedlishvili, Mikheil	g	GEO	2604	½	0	½	*	½	½	1	1	½	½	5	2602
5.	Kuzubov, Yuriy	g	UKR	2578	½	0	½	½	*	1	0	½	1	1	5	2605
6.	Malakhatko, Vadim	g	BEL	2612	½	½	0	½	0	*	½	½	1	1	4½	2558
7.	Gajewski, Grzegorz	g	POL	2575	0	½	½	0	1	½	*	½	½	0	3½	2482
8.	Markos, Jan	g	SVK	2568	0	½	0	0	½	½	½	*	½	1	3½	2483
9.	Moranda, Wojciech	m	POL	2533	0	½	½	½	0	0	½	½	*	½	3	2442
10.	Warakomski, Tomasz	m	POL	2502	0	0	0	½	0	0	1	0	½	*	2	2350

Round 7 (August 26, 2008)
Moiseenko, Alexander	- Markos, Jan	1-0	29	E70	King's Indian Fianchetto
Swiercz, Dariusz	- Gajewski, Grzegorz	½-½	33	E61	King's Indian Defence
Mchedlishvili, Mikheil	- Warakomski, Tomasz	½-½	32	D37	QGD 5.Bf4
Kuzubov, Yuriy	- Miton, Kamil	0-1	54	D11	Slav Defence
Malakhatko, Vadim	- Moranda, Wojciech	1-0	35	E15	Queens Indian
Round 8 (August 27, 2008)
Miton, Kamil	- Moranda, Wojciech	½-½	18	E12	Queens Indian Petrosian
Kuzubov, Yuriy	- Swiercz, Dariusz	½-½	21	A80	Dutch
Gajewski, Grzegorz	- Mchedlishvili, Mikheil	0-1	63	E05	Catalan
Markos, Jan	- Malakhatko, Vadim	½-½	18	D45	Anti-Meran Variations
Warakomski, Tomasz	- Moiseenko, Alexander	0-1	45	B30	Sicilian Rossolimo
Round 9 (August 28, 2008)
Moiseenko, Alexander	- Gajewski, Grzegorz	1-0	41	E70	King's Indian Fianchetto
Swiercz, Dariusz	- Miton, Kamil	½-½	10	D10	Slav Defence
Mchedlishvili, Mikheil	- Kuzubov, Yuriy	½-½	14	D23	QGA
Malakhatko, Vadim	- Warakomski, Tomasz	1-0	30	E32	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Moranda, Wojciech	- Markos, Jan	½-½	46	E92	King's Indian Classical

44th Rubinstein Mem Open A Polanica Zdroj (POL), 19-28 viii 2008 Leading Final Round 10 Standings:
Pl	Name	Title	Fed.	Elo	Total	MBch.	Bch.	Wins	Prog.
1	Olszewski, Michal	IM	POL	2458	8	50.5	64	7	47
2	Kveinys, Aloyzas	GM	LTU	2527	8	47	59	6	43.5
3	Szoen, Dariusz	IM	POL	2477	7.5	46	58	6	38.5
4	Kanarek, Marcel	FM	POL	2349	7.5	45.5	56	6	39
5	Brzeski, Maciej		POL	2208	7	48	60.5	4	39
6	Galazewski, Tomasz		POL	2210	7	44	55.5	6	34.5
7	Owczarzak, Jerzy	FM	POL	2343	6.5	51.5	63	5	44.5
8	Heberla, Bartlomiej	GM	POL	2510	6.5	50.5	64	4	42.5
9	Piorun, Kacper	FM	POL	2445	6.5	49	60.5	5	40
10	Tokarski, Lukasz		POL	2238	6.5	47.5	59	5	40.5
11	Czarnota, Pawel	GM	POL	2526	6.5	47	59.5	5	37.5
12	Szczepkowska-Horowska, Karina	WFM	POL	2285	6.5	45.5	56.5	5	37
13	Tokarski, Bartosz		POL	2157	6.5	44.5	54	5	32
14	Kadziolka, Beata	WGM	POL	2313	6.5	42	51.5	5	34
15	Jaroch, Pawel		POL	2255	6.5	42	51	6	33.5
16	Fistek, Dariusz		POL	2208	6	49.5	61	4	38.5
17	Krzyzanowski, Marcin		POL	2261	6	47	59.5	5	37
18	Hnydiuk, Aleksander		POL	2387	6	45.5	57.5	3	37.5
19	Kozak, Magdalena	WIM	POL	2195	6	45	55.5	4	34
20	Sadzikowski, Daniel		POL	2140	6	43.5	52.5	4	31
21	Stoma, Pawel		POL	2294	6	42	51.5	5	32
22	Mickiewicz, Piotr		POL	2347	6	41.5	52	5	31.5
23	Panocki, Adrian		POL	2338	6	41.5	51	5	30.5
24	Majdan, Joanna	WIM	POL	2323	6	40	48	5	30
25	Dluzniewski, Marcin		POL	2228	6	37.5	47.5	4	31
26	Toma, Katarzyna	WIM	POL	2212	5.5	48	60.5	4	33.5
27	Wcislo, Damian		POL	2216	5.5	47.5	60.5	3	33.5
28	Gralka, Julian	FM	POL	2268	5.5	46.5	58.5	3	36.5
29	Sieciechowicz, Marcin		POL	2311	5.5	45.5	56.5	3	34
30	Litwin, Jozef		POL	2181	5.5	44.5	54.5	5	31
31	Barski, Radoslaw		POL	2154	5.5	43	54.5	5	28.5
32	Banasik, Krzysztof		POL	2215	5.5	42	53	4	32.5
33	Praszak, Michal		POL	2235	5.5	41.5	52	5	31.5
34	Bugalski, Michal		POL	2279	5.5	41.5	50.5	3	32.5
35	Scibior, Adam		POL	2157	5.5	41	51	5	26
36	Leniart, Arkadiusz	FM	POL	2391	5.5	40.5	50	4	32
37	Mucha, Roman		POL	2160	5.5	40	50	4	28.5
38	Swiech, Przemyslaw		POL	2027	5.5	36.5	46.5	4	25
84 players

7) X Sants Hostafrancs Open

The X Sants Hostafrancs Open took place 22nd-31st August 2008. Pablo Lafuente took first place on tie-break from Mateusz Bartel, Diego Di Berardino and Josep Oms Pallisse after all scored 8/10.

Official site: http://www.cotxeres-casinet.org/open/

X Sants Open Barcelona (ESP), 22-31 viii 2008 Leading Final Round 10 Standings:
Rk.	Name	Ti	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	Lafuente Pablo	GM	ARG	2505	8,0	55,5	68,5	45,5
2	Bartel Mateusz	GM	POL	2579	8,0	55,0	66,0	48,0
3	Di Berardino Diego Rafael	IM	BRA	2471	8,0	54,0	67,5	44,5
4	Oms Pallisse Josep	GM	ESP	2514	8,0	52,0	64,5	46,5
5	Lopez Martinez Josep Manuel	GM	ESP	2531	7,5	55,5	69,0	46,0
6	Rodshtein Maxim	GM	ISR	2605	7,5	55,5	67,5	44,0
7	Postny Evgeny	GM	ISR	2661	7,5	55,0	67,0	45,5
8	Radulski Julian	GM	BUL	2516	7,5	54,5	66,5	46,5
9	Hernandez Carmenates Holden	GM	CUB	2582	7,5	54,0	66,5	44,0
10	Guliyev Namig	GM	AZE	2510	7,5	53,5	66,0	44,5
11	Cruz Cristhian	FM	PER	2508	7,5	51,5	62,5	44,5
12	Fier Alexandr	GM	BRA	2558	7,5	50,5	63,0	43,0
13	Mekhitarian Krikor Sevag	IM	BRA	2504	7,5	49,5	61,5	42,5
14	Sumets Andrey	GM	UKR	2534	7,5	49,5	61,0	41,5
15	Salgado Lopez Ivan	GM	ESP	2532	7,5	47,5	59,0	41,0
16	Almeida Quintana Omar	GM	CUB	2525	7,0	55,0	67,0	45,0
17	Lorenzo De La Riva Lazaro	FM	ESP	2367	7,0	54,0	67,0	43,0
18	Diamant Andre	IM	BRA	2393	7,0	53,5	65,0	41,5
19	Nijboer Friso	GM	NED	2564	7,0	51,0	63,5	40,5
20	Lubczynski Rafal	IM	POL	2414	7,0	50,5	63,5	41,0
21	Sundararajan Kidambi	IM	IND	2446	7,0	50,5	61,5	42,5
22	De Vreugt Dennis	GM	NED	2427	7,0	49,5	61,5	41,5
23	Cuartas Jaime Alexander	IM	COL	2495	7,0	49,0	61,0	43,5
24	Aroshidze Levan	GM	GEO	2547	7,0	48,5	60,5	40,5
25	Narciso Dublan Marc	GM	ESP	2525	7,0	47,5	58,5	39,0
26	Vila Gazquez Xavier	IM	ESP	2419	7,0	46,5	57,0	39,0
27	Kleijn Christov		NED	2238	7,0	45,0	56,5	37,0
28	Alonso Rosell Alvar	FM	ESP	2393	7,0	44,5	56,5	38,5
29	Rojas Luis	IM	CHI	2406	7,0	44,5	56,5	36,0
30	Moen Andreas		NOR	2297	7,0	44,5	54,5	37,5
31	Howell David W L	GM	ENG	2561	6,5	53,0	65,5	43,5
32	Gullaksen Eirik	IM	NOR	2387	6,5	52,5	64,0	40,5
33	Hansen Torbjorn Ringdal	IM	NOR	2423	6,5	51,0	64,5	41,0
34	Beinoras Mindaugas		LTU	2426	6,5	50,0	62,5	40,5
35	Panelo Marcelo	IM	ARG	2414	6,5	50,0	62,0	40,5
36	Akesson Ralf	GM	SWE	2480	6,5	48,5	60,5	41,5
37	Recuero Guerra David	FM	ESP	2417	6,5	48,5	60,5	40,0
38	Huerga Leache Mikel	IM	ESP	2433	6,5	48,5	60,5	37,5
39	Rios Parra Mauricio	FM	COL	2349	6,5	48,0	59,0	38,0
40	Hernando Rodrigo Julio A	cm	ESP	2354	6,5	47,0	58,0	38,0
41	Byklum Bjornar	FM	NOR	2308	6,5	47,0	57,5	36,5
42	Alsina Leal Daniel	IM	ESP	2517	6,5	46,5	57,0	36,5
43	Matnadze Ana	IM	GEO	2411	6,5	46,0	58,0	38,5
44	Munoz Pantoja Miguel	IM	PER	2499	6,5	46,0	58,0	34,0
45	Hernandez Ivan	FM	PER	2344	6,5	45,5	58,0	37,5
46	Cuartas Medina Jorge Humberto	FM	COL	2302	6,5	45,5	56,0	37,0
47	Rios Alejandro	IM	COL	2340	6,5	44,5	55,5	37,0
48	Peek Marcel	IM	NED	2370	6,5	43,5	54,0	34,5
49	Van Dongen Patrick	FM	FRA	2362	6,5	42,0	51,5	34,5
50	Cruz Filemon	FM	PER	2416	6,5	42,0	51,5	32,5
51	Pares Vives Natalia	FM	ESP	2321	6,5	41,0	51,0	30,0
322 players

8) Bratto Open

The 28th Bratto Open took place August 22nd-30th 2008. Sergei Tiviakov took first place on tie-break from Carlos Matamoros Franco and Vladimir Burmakin after all scored 7/9.

Adolivio Capece reports that the Italian Women Championship was won by a girl only 14 years old, Marina Brunello. Thanks to this result, Marina will be WFM on next fide list; she got a WIM norm last May in the tournament of Lacona (Isle of Elba). Marina was born in Lovere (near Bergamo) on 16 June 19994. She played the Turin Olympiads 2006 and was in the team 'B'. But now she will play in Dresdan, in the team 'A'! She will also play in Pekino (Bejing).

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

28th Open Bratto (ITA), 22-30 viii 2008 Leading Final Round 9 Standings:
Pos	NAME	Ti	Fed.	Rtg	Pts	Buc1	BucT	ARO
1	Tiviakov Sergei	GM	NED	2644	7	48	53	2466.78
2	Matamoros Franco Car	GM	ECU	2508	7	47.5	51.5	2437.33
3	Burmakin Vladimir	GM	RUS	2625	7	44.5	49	2393.67
4	Epishin Vladimir	GM	RUS	2574	6.5	49	53	2455.56
5	Shytaj Luca	IM	ITA	2467	6.5	42.5	45.5	2341.67
6	Simutowe Amon	IM	ZAM	2459	6	46.5	50.5	2359.78
7	Colovic Aleksandar	IM	MKD	2470	6	46	50.5	2386.89
8	Jaracz Pawel	GM	POL	2501	6	45.5	50	2377.22
9	Vocaturo Daniele	IM	ITA	2417	6	45.5	48	2409.56
10	Drazic Sinisa	GM	SRB	2505	6	45.5	48	2388.22
11	Leon Hoyos Manuel	GM	MEX	2543	6	45	49	2392.56
12	Korneev Oleg	GM	RUS	2631	6	44	48	2372.78
13	Brunello Sabino	IM	ITA	2482	6	44	48	2361.11
14	Bruno Fabio	IM	ITA	2454	6	43	47	2333
15	Horvath Csaba	GM	HUN	2537	6	43	46.5	2336
16	Sax Gyula	GM	HUN	2506	6	42.5	46.5	2357.44
17	Lucaroni Massimilian	FM	ITA	2289	6	42	45	2335.78
18	Efimov Igor	GM	MNC	2458	6	40	43	2305.22
19	Fierro Baquero Marth	IM	ECU	2379	6	36.5	39.5	2286.89
20	Levin Felix	GM	GER	2564	5.5	47	51	2386.56
21	Guido Flavio	FM	ITA	2356	5.5	44	48	2373.78
22	Tjiam Dharma	IM	NED	2372	5.5	44	47	2353
23	Piscopo Pierluigi	IM	ITA	2389	5.5	44	47	2337.67
24	Rombaldoni Denis	IM	ITA	2418	5.5	44	46	2425.78
25	Borgo Giulio	IM	ITA	2442	5.5	43.5	47.5	2328.44
26	Salvador Roland	IM	PHI	2443	5.5	43	47	2382.56
27	Bellia Fabrizio	IM	ITA	2403	5.5	43	46.5	2391.89
28	David Alberto	GM	LUX	2568	5.5	42.5	45	2322.56
29	Narayanan Srinath	FM	IND	2220	5.5	41.5	44	2328.78
30	Mogranzini Roberto	IM	ITA	2422	5.5	41	44.5	2326.89
31	Spassov Liuben	GM	BUL	2428	5.5	41	44	2360.44
32	Manca Federico	IM	ITA	2367	5.5	40	43	2326.22
33	Scalcione Michelange	FM	ITA	2398	5.5	38.5	41.5	2278.89
34	Cebalo Miso	GM	CRO	2523	5.5	37.5	41	2277.11
35	Tomba Ivan	FM	ITA	2309	5.5	37	40.5	2171.89
36	Bentivegna Francesco	FM	ITA	2329	5.5	34.5	37	2193.44
37	Lanzani Mario	IM	ITA	2349	5	45.5	49	2398.67
38	Godena Michele	GM	ITA	2519	5	43.5	48.5	2345.22
39	Klip Hans	FM	NED	2390	5	43	46.5	2357.67
40	Marholev Dimitar	IM	BUL	2366	5	42.5	46.5	2342.67
41	De Haan Eric	FM	NED	2356	5	42	45.5	2353.44
42	Qendro Llambi	IM	ALB	2375	5	40	42.5	2307.56
43	Vezzosi Paolo	IM	ITA	2352	5	40	42	2263
44	Brun Dario	--	ITA	2245	5	39	42.5	2245.44
45	Tatai Stefano	IM	ITA	2372	5	37.5	40	2239.78
46	Gallucci Alessio	--	ITA	2152	5	37	39.5	2275
47	De Santis Alessio	FM	ITA	2295	5	36	36.5	2133.44
48	Madiai Federico	--	ITA	2066	5	34	36.5	2190.89
49	Piasetski Leon	IM	CAN	2314	4.5	45.5	48.5	2363.22
50	Damia Angelo	FM	ITA	2246	4.5	41	43.5	2274.78
322 players

9) Antwerp Tournament

The Antwerp tournament took place 23rd-31st August 2008. Bu Xiangzhi took clear first place with 7/9.

Official site: http://www.inventichess.com the website http://www.schaakfabriek.be will be on the spot.

InventiChess GM Antwerp (BEL), 23-31 viii 2008												cat. XII (2546)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Bu Xiangzhi	g	CHN	2710	*	½	½	1	1	½	1	1	½	1	7	2748
2.	Miroshnichenko, Evgenij	g	UKR	2593	½	*	½	½	½	1	1	½	1	1	6½	2707
3.	Timman, Jan H	g	NED	2562	½	½	*	1	½	½	½	½	1	½	5½	2624
4.	Vaganian, Rafael A	g	ARM	2594	0	½	0	*	1	1	½	½	1	½	5	2584
5.	Gyimesi, Zoltan	g	HUN	2586	0	½	½	0	*	1	½	1	½	1	5	2585
6.	Werle, Jan	g	NED	2591	½	0	½	0	0	*	1	1	½	1	4½	2541
7.	Schebler, Gerhard	g	GER	2453	0	0	½	½	½	0	*	1	1	½	4	2513
8.	Michiels, Bart	m	BEL	2442	0	½	½	½	0	0	0	*	1	1	3½	2478
9.	Lahno, Kateryna	g	UKR	2507	½	0	0	0	½	½	0	0	*	1	2½	2384
10.	Van der Stricht, Geert	m	BEL	2426	0	0	½	½	0	0	½	0	0	*	1½	2286

Round 4 (August 26, 2008)
Bu Xiangzhi	- Miroshnichenko, Evgenij	½-½	76	A28	English Four Knights
Timman, Jan H	- Vaganian, Rafael A	1-0	53	C02	French Advance
Werle, Jan	- Michiels, Bart	1-0	26	D46	Semi-Slav Defence
Schebler, Gerhard	- Lahno, Kateryna	1-0	39	A05	Various
Van der Stricht, Geert	- Gyimesi, Zoltan	0-1	39	D41	Semi-Tarrasch Defence
Round 5 (August 27, 2008)
Miroshnichenko, Evgenij	- Werle, Jan	1-0	25	E15	Queens Indian
Vaganian, Rafael A	- Schebler, Gerhard	½-½	41	B36	Sicilian Maroczy Bind
Gyimesi, Zoltan	- Timman, Jan H	½-½	20	E20	Nimzo Indian
Michiels, Bart	- Van der Stricht, Geert	1-0	38	B90	Sicilian Najdorf Variation
Lahno, Kateryna	- Bu Xiangzhi	½-½	39	B97	Sicilian Najdorf
Round 6 (August 28, 2008)
Bu Xiangzhi	- Vaganian, Rafael A	1-0	35	D31	Semi-Slav Defence
Timman, Jan H	- Schebler, Gerhard	½-½	46	E11	Bogo Indian Defence
Gyimesi, Zoltan	- Michiels, Bart	1-0	54	D43	Anti-Meran Gambit
Werle, Jan	- Lahno, Kateryna	½-½	89	A15	English counter King's Fianchetto
Van der Stricht, Geert	- Miroshnichenko, Evgenij	0-1	56	E55	Nimzo Indian
Round 7 (August 29, 2008)
Miroshnichenko, Evgenij	- Gyimesi, Zoltan	½-½	29	E10	Blumenfeld Counter Gambit
Vaganian, Rafael A	- Werle, Jan	1-0	51	E06	Catalan
Schebler, Gerhard	- Bu Xiangzhi	0-1	35	A07	Barcza System
Michiels, Bart	- Timman, Jan H	½-½	69	C24	Bishop's Opening
Lahno, Kateryna	- Van der Stricht, Geert	1-0	45	B92	Sicilian Najdorf with 6.Be2
Round 8 (August 30, 2008)
Timman, Jan H	- Bu Xiangzhi	½-½	24	D10	Slav Defence
Gyimesi, Zoltan	- Lahno, Kateryna	½-½	25	D97	Gruenfeld Russian
Werle, Jan	- Schebler, Gerhard	1-0	21	E43	Nimzo Indian Rubinstein
Michiels, Bart	- Miroshnichenko, Evgenij	½-½	30	B04	Alekhine's Defence
Van der Stricht, Geert	- Vaganian, Rafael A	½-½	44	D31	Semi-Slav Defence
Round 9 (August 31, 2008)
Bu Xiangzhi	- Werle, Jan	½-½	24	A30	English Symmetrical
Miroshnichenko, Evgenij	- Timman, Jan H	½-½	20	E06	Catalan
Vaganian, Rafael A	- Gyimesi, Zoltan	1-0	70	A13	Reti Opening
Schebler, Gerhard	- Van der Stricht, Geert	½-½	110	A07	Barcza System
Lahno, Kateryna	- Michiels, Bart	0-1	57	C02	French Advance

10) Montreal International

The Tournoi international de Montreal takes place 24th August - 2nd September 2008. The main sponsor is the EMPRESA Group.

Official site: http://perso.b2b2c.ca/lesechecauquebec/tim2008.htm

9th TIM Montreal (CAN), 24 viii-2 ix 2008												cat. XIII (2556)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Shulman, Yuri	g	USA	2623	*	½	½	½	1	1	.	1	.	½	5	2726
2.	Bluvshtein, Mark	g	CAN	2548	½	*	0	½	.	1	½	.	1	1	4½	2662
3.	Akobian, Varuzhan	g	USA	2610	½	1	*	0	0	½	.	1	1	.	4	2615
4.	Nakamura, Hikaru	g	USA	2697	½	½	1	*	½	.	½	.	0	1	4	2586
5.	Nataf, Igor-Alexandre	g	FRA	2534	0	.	1	½	*	½	½	½	½	.	3½	2569
6.	Maze, Sebastien	g	FRA	2553	0	0	½	.	½	*	1	½	.	1	3½	2549
7.	Charbonneau, Pascal	g	CAN	2499	.	½	.	½	½	0	*	0	1	1	3½	2546
8.	Kovalyov, Anton	m	ARG	2548	0	.	0	.	½	½	1	*	½	½	3	2487
9.	Zugic, Igor	m	CAN	2457	.	0	0	1	½	.	0	½	*	½	2½	2458
10.	Roussel-Roozmon, Thomas	m	CAN	2486	½	0	.	0	.	0	0	½	½	*	1½	2330

Round 2 (August 25, 2008)
Bluvshtein, Mark	- Shulman, Yuri	½-½	48	D45	Anti-Meran Variations
Nakamura, Hikaru	- Akobian, Varuzhan	1-0	43	C10	French Rubinstein
Nataf, Igor-Alexandre	- Charbonneau, Pascal	½-½	35	C45	Scotch Game
Kovalyov, Anton	- Maze, Sebastien	½-½	50	E92	King's Indian Classical
Zugic, Igor	- Roussel-Roozmon, Thomas	½-½	16	A15	English counter King's Fianchetto
Round 3 (August 26, 2008)
Shulman, Yuri	- Kovalyov, Anton	1-0	38	E44	Nimzo Indian Rubinstein
Akobian, Varuzhan	- Bluvshtein, Mark	1-0	36	A62	Benoni
Maze, Sebastien	- Nataf, Igor-Alexandre	½-½	30	C50	Giuoco Piano
Charbonneau, Pascal	- Zugic, Igor	1-0	63	C11	French Defence
Roussel-Roozmon, Thomas	- Nakamura, Hikaru	0-1	31	A04	Dutch System
Round 4 (August 27, 2008)
Bluvshtein, Mark	- Roussel-Roozmon, Thomas	1-0	26	D45	Anti-Meran Variations
Nakamura, Hikaru	- Charbonneau, Pascal	½-½	25	C89	Ruy Lopez Marshall
Nataf, Igor-Alexandre	- Zugic, Igor	½-½	36	B96	Sicilian Najdorf
Maze, Sebastien	- Shulman, Yuri	0-1	39	C03	French Tarrasch
Kovalyov, Anton	- Akobian, Varuzhan	0-1	31	D31	Semi-Slav Defence
Round 5 (August 28, 2008)
Shulman, Yuri	- Nataf, Igor-Alexandre	1-0	52	E92	King's Indian Classical
Akobian, Varuzhan	- Maze, Sebastien	½-½	50	A63	Benoni
Charbonneau, Pascal	- Bluvshtein, Mark	½-½	19	C43	Petroff's Defence
Zugic, Igor	- Nakamura, Hikaru	1-0	39	D02	Queen's Pawn Game
Roussel-Roozmon, Thomas	- Kovalyov, Anton	½-½	26	A17	English Opening
Round 6 (August 30, 2008)
Shulman, Yuri	- Akobian, Varuzhan	½-½	17	D41	Semi-Tarrasch Defence
Bluvshtein, Mark	- Zugic, Igor	1-0	35	D81	Gruenfeld Botvinnik
Nataf, Igor-Alexandre	- Nakamura, Hikaru	½-½	32	B94	Sicilian Najdorf with 6.Bg5
Maze, Sebastien	- Roussel-Roozmon, Thomas	1-0	27	C65	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Kovalyov, Anton	- Charbonneau, Pascal	1-0	62	E92	King's Indian Classical
Round 7 (August 31, 2008)
Akobian, Varuzhan	- Nataf, Igor-Alexandre	0-1	38	E92	King's Indian Classical
Nakamura, Hikaru	- Bluvshtein, Mark	½-½	89	E17	Queens Indian
Charbonneau, Pascal	- Maze, Sebastien	0-1	63	C45	Scotch Game
Zugic, Igor	- Kovalyov, Anton	½-½	57	B46	Sicilian Paulsen
Roussel-Roozmon, Thomas	- Shulman, Yuri	½-½	57	C01	French Exchange

11) Ideal Max Euwe

The Ideal Max Euwe International Tournament took place 22nd-31st August 2008. The 10 player round robin, time control 2 hours/40 moves + 1 hour/20 moves + 30 minutes KO (+ 30 seconds/move) features 3 players from BRAZIL + 7 players from another countries. Zhao Zong Yuan and Gilberto Milos finished on 6½/9. The game Watanabe-Milos (8 is missing).

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

2nd Euwe Stimulans Sao Paulo (BRA), 22-31 viii 2008												cat. IX (2454)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Zhao Zong-Yuan	g	AUS	2561	*	½	0	½	1	1	1	1	1	½	6½	2608
2.	Milos, Gilberto	g	BRA	2598	½	*	½	½	1	½	½	1	1	1	6½	2604
3.	Van der Wiel, John	g	NED	2504	1	½	*	½	½	½	½	½	1	½	5½	2528
4.	Matsuura, Everaldo	m	BRA	2463	½	½	½	*	½	½	1	½	0	1	5	2496
5.	El Debs, Felipe de Cresce	f	BRA	2440	0	0	½	½	*	½	½	1	1	1	5	2498
6.	Diaz Hollemaert, Nahuel	m	ARG	2419	0	½	½	½	½	*	0	½	1	1	4½	2458
7.	Zambrana, Oswaldo	g	BOL	2458	0	½	½	0	½	1	*	0	½	1	4	2410
8.	Lujan, Carolina	m	ARG	2361	0	0	½	½	0	½	1	*	0	½	3	2339
9.	Watanabe, Akira	f	JPN	2353	0	0	0	1	0	0	½	1	*	0	2½	2299
10.	Roselli Mailhe, Bernardo	m	URU	2385	½	0	½	0	0	0	0	½	1	*	2½	2295

Round 3 (August 24, 2008)
Milos, Gilberto	- Zhao Zong-Yuan	½-½	14	C27	Vienna Game
Matsuura, Everaldo	- Roselli Mailhe, Bernardo	1-0	70	C43	Petroff's Defence
El Debs, Felipe de Cresce	- Van der Wiel, John	½-½	19	A30	English Symmetrical
Zambrana, Oswaldo	- Lujan, Carolina	0-1	54	B33	Sicilian Sveshnikov
Watanabe, Akira	- Diaz Hollemaert, Nahuel	0-1	25	E94	King's Indian Classical
Round 4 (August 25, 2008)
Zhao Zong-Yuan	- El Debs, Felipe de Cresce	1-0	26	D45	Anti-Meran Variations
Matsuura, Everaldo	- Zambrana, Oswaldo	1-0	53	B93	Sicilian Najdorf with 6.f4
Diaz Hollemaert, Nahuel	- Milos, Gilberto	½-½	24	E67	King's Indian Fianchetto
Lujan, Carolina	- Watanabe, Akira	0-1	70	A04	Dutch System
Roselli Mailhe, Bernardo	- Van der Wiel, John	½-½	19	D59	Queens Gambit Tartakover
Round 5 (August 27, 2008)
Milos, Gilberto	- Lujan, Carolina	1-0	38	B33	Sicilian Sveshnikov
Van der Wiel, John	- Zhao Zong-Yuan	1-0	29	C05	French Tarrasch
El Debs, Felipe de Cresce	- Diaz Hollemaert, Nahuel	½-½	62	E92	King's Indian Classical
Zambrana, Oswaldo	- Roselli Mailhe, Bernardo	1-0	41	C42	Petroff's Defence
Watanabe, Akira	- Matsuura, Everaldo	1-0	25	D30	Queen's Gambit (without Nc3)
Round 6 (August 28, 2008)
Matsuura, Everaldo	- Milos, Gilberto	½-½	22	C82	Ruy Lopez Open Italian Variation
Diaz Hollemaert, Nahuel	- Van der Wiel, John	½-½	14	A30	English Symmetrical
Zambrana, Oswaldo	- Watanabe, Akira	½-½	24	B97	Sicilian Najdorf
Lujan, Carolina	- El Debs, Felipe de Cresce	0-1	55	B29	Sicilian Defence
Roselli Mailhe, Bernardo	- Zhao Zong-Yuan	½-½	44	D31	Semi-Slav Defence
Round 7 (August 29, 2008)
Zhao Zong-Yuan	- Diaz Hollemaert, Nahuel	1-0	66	C99	Ruy Lopez Chigorin
Milos, Gilberto	- Zambrana, Oswaldo	½-½	29	B14	Caro Kann Panov
Van der Wiel, John	- Lujan, Carolina	½-½	21	B30	Sicilian Rossolimo
El Debs, Felipe de Cresce	- Matsuura, Everaldo	½-½	26	D21	QGA
Watanabe, Akira	- Roselli Mailhe, Bernardo	0-1	41	E92	King's Indian Classical
Round 8 (August 30, 2008)
Matsuura, Everaldo	- Van der Wiel, John	½-½	21	B33	Sicilian Sveshnikov
Zambrana, Oswaldo	- El Debs, Felipe de Cresce	½-½	50	B48	Sicilian Paulsen
Lujan, Carolina	- Zhao Zong-Yuan	0-1	49	C45	Scotch Game
Watanabe, Akira	- Milos, Gilberto	0-1
Roselli Mailhe, Bernardo	- Diaz Hollemaert, Nahuel	0-1	101	D36	QGD Exchange
Round 9 (August 31, 2008)
Zhao Zong-Yuan	- Matsuura, Everaldo	½-½	45	D48	Queens Gambit Meran
Milos, Gilberto	- Roselli Mailhe, Bernardo	1-0	37	C42	Petroff's Defence
Van der Wiel, John	- Zambrana, Oswaldo	½-½	21	B33	Sicilian Sveshnikov
Diaz Hollemaert, Nahuel	- Lujan, Carolina	½-½	12	C42	Petroff's Defence

12) Amizade International

The Amizade International at the Clube de Xadrez Sao Paulo took place 23rd-31st August 2008. Giovanni Vescovi won the event with 8/9.

Official site: http://www.fpx.com.br/ : Results: http://chess-results.com/tnr15313.aspx?lan=1

Amizade Open Sao Paulo (BRA), 23-31 viii 2008 Leading Final Round 9 Standings:
Rk.		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	GM	Vescovi Giovanni	BRA	2631	8,0	49,0	438,5	42,0
2	IM	Perdomo Leandro	ARG	2376	7,0	46,5	432,0	38,0
3	FM	Fusco Leonardo	ARG	2392	6,5	49,5	431,5	37,0
4	FM	Tsuboi Edson Kenji	BRA	2356	6,5	46,0	410,0	36,5
5	FM	Rodi Luis Ernesto	ARG	2376	6,5	46,0	409,5	33,5
6	IM	Lebredo Zaragoitia Gerardo	CUB	2245	6,5	44,5	402,0	32,0
7	FM	Aranha Filho Alvaro Z	BRA	2291	6,5	44,0	406,0	32,5
8	IM	De Souza Mauro Guimaraes	BRA	2317	6,5	43,0	419,0	32,0
9		Feliciano Vanessa	BRA	2066	6,5	42,5	400,5	30,5
10	FM	Prates Fabiano Fortes	BRA	2293	6,0	46,5	376,0	31,5
11	FM	Santos Marcus Vinicius Moreira	BRA	2403	6,0	43,0	408,0	32,0
12		Limberg Estacio Vermelho	BRA	2282	6,0	41,5	379,5	30,5
13		Piekarski Atila Balzer	BRA	1969	6,0	39,0	392,5	27,0
14	FM	Teixeira Ricardo Da Silva	BRA	2377	5,5	49,0	404,5	33,0
15		Oliveira Silvio Eduardo	BRA	2323	5,5	47,5	408,0	31,5
16	WFM	Terao Juliana Sayumi	BRA	2094	5,5	47,0	418,5	30,5
17		Bueno Alfeu Junior Varela	BRA	2267	5,5	47,0	417,0	33,0
18		Grellmann Fabricio Stadler	BRA	0	5,5	42,0	390,5	28,5
19		Mariano Marceley Martins	BRA	2002	5,5	41,0	389,0	25,5
20	IM	Trois Francisco R T	BRA	2359	5,5	40,5	382,5	28,5
21		Batista Renato Luiz	BRA	2156	5,5	40,5	381,0	26,5
22		Pereira Silvio Cunha	BRA	2284	5,5	40,0	376,0	28,0
23	FM	Gonzalez Bolivar Ribeiro	BRA	2265	5,5	39,5	381,5	27,0
24		Van Riemsdijk Dirk D	BRA	2222	5,5	39,5	370,0	26,5
25	FM	Olivencia Flavio	BRA	2226	5,5	39,0	386,5	27,5
26		Leal Paulotarcisio Garcia	BRA	2211	5,0	43,5	385,5	28,0
27		Nunes Allan Hurba	BRA	1920	5,0	42,5	377,5	28,0
28		Crespo Antonio Rogerio	BRA	2170	5,0	42,5	348,5	26,0
29	WFM	Delai Paula Fernanda	BRA	2081	5,0	41,0	379,0	27,5
30		Jukemura Leandro	BRA	2113	5,0	40,0	347,5	27,0
31		Madeira Wagner Martins	BRA	2265	5,0	40,0	328,5	25,5
32		Chang Suzana	BRA	2080	5,0	39,0	369,0	22,5
33		Massarioli Felipe Alvarenga	BRA	2047	5,0	38,5	332,0	24,0
34		Cajal Andre	BRA	2081	5,0	38,0	369,5	24,5
35		De Haro Martim Afonso Palma	BRA	2117	5,0	37,5	344,0	23,0
36		Aoyama Edmundo	BRA	1887	5,0	37,0	340,0	22,0
37		Moyses Fo Joao	BRA	2121	4,5	46,0	388,0	27,0
87 players

13) Jessie Gilbert Celebration International

The Jessie Gilbert Celebration International took place in Coulsden Surrey 16th-25th August 2008. Alexander Berelowitsch won with 8/10. My thanks to Scott Freeman.

Official site: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/chessway/JG_Int/jg1.htm

Jessie Gilbert Celebration Int Coulsdon (ENG), 16-25 viii 2008 Leading Final Round 10 Standings:
No	Ti	Name	Fed	Rtg	Tot
1	GM	BERELOVICH, Alex	UKR	2557	8
2	FM	RADOVANOVIC, J	SER	2325	7
3	IM	GERZHOY, Leonid	CAN	2399	7
4	GM	ARKELL, Keith	ENG	2506	7
5	GM	LALIC, Bogdan	CRO	2533	6.5
6	FM	EGGLESTON, David	ENG	2372	6.5
7	GM	JONES, Gawain	ENG	2549	6.5
8		ROBERSON, Peter	ENG	2214	6.5
9	GM	McNAB, Colin	SCO	2450	6
10	IM	RENDLE, Thomas	ENG	2363	6
11		LOCK, Gavin	ENG	2232	6
12	FM	RUDD, Jack	ENG	2345	6
13	FM	SOWRAY, Peter	ENG	2327	6
14		FOSTER, James C	ENG	1948	6
15	IM	MADAN, Augustin	ROU	2415	5.5
16	FM	ALLICOCK, Rawle	ENG	2297	5.5
17		STOREY, Charles	ENG	2268	5.5
18		HODGSON, John	ENG	2208	5.5
19	FM	MARTYN, Rafe	ENG	2302	5
20	FM	FRANKLIN, Michael	ENG	2231	5
21		SNAPE, Ian	ENG	2204	5
22		TYMRAKIEWICZ, Rafal	POL	2280	5
23		KHAMROEV, Ravshan	UZB	2181	5
24		GRIFFITHS, Ryan-Rhys	IRL	2069	5
25		CHAPMAN, Terry	ENG	2262	4.5
26		HEGARTY, Sarah	ENG	1966	4.5
27	CM	TIPPLESTON, C	ENG	2192	4.5
28		PURTON, Ben	ENG	2092	4.5
29		TAVOULARIS, Nicholas	GRE	2160	4.5
30		OSBORNE, Marcus	ENG	2232	4
31		FOWLER, Simon	ENG	2256	4
32		BRISCOE, Chris	ENG	2232	4
33		CALVERT, D Ian	ENG	2054	4
34		WILLIAMS, Samuel	ENG	2246	4
35		KENNEDY, Craig	ENG	2037	4
36		DONOVAN, Nigel	ENG	2110	4
37		JOSSE, Mark	ENG	2006	4
38		WILLIAMS, Peter A	ENG	1867	4
39		PAULMICHL, Martin	ITA	2099	4
40		BARISSEVER, Erdogan	TUR	1957	4
41		THILAGANATHAN, Jess.	ENG	1931	3.5
42		FIELDS, Francis	ENG	1934	3
43		GREY, Nicholas	ENG	1758	3
44		UTTAM, Kumar Saha	IND	2003	2.5
45		PONTING, Andrew	ENG		2
46		VAHIDOV, Manuchehr	UZB	2141	2
47		HOWES, David	ENG	1648	1
48		HALDANE, Robin	ENG	2144	1
49		KARMAKER,Harekrishna	IND		0.5

14) Mislata Open

The XLII Open de Villa de Mislata took place 25th-31st August 2008. Alejandro Franco Alonso won the event with 7.5/9. Mislata is in the Province of Valencia Spain.

Official site: http://www.ajedrezmislata.org/

XLII Open Mislata (ESP), 25-31 viii 2008 Final Round 9 Standings:
Rk.	Name		FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	Franco Alonso Alejandro	IM	ESP	2472	7,5	2454	54,0	45,00
2	Mellado Trivino Juan	IM	AND	2413	7,0	2502	52,5	39,25
3	Gongora Reyes Maikel	IM	CUB	2436	7,0	2472	55,0	42,00
4	Kovacevic Slobodan	IM	SRB	2417	7,0	2447	53,5	40,25
5	Ivanov Jordan	IM	BUL	2421	7,0	2443	50,5	38,75
6	Torres Sanchez Jose		ESP	2264	6,5	2444	54,0	36,50
7	Alonso Moyano Jonathan	IM	ESP	2372	6,5	2440	57,5	40,00
8	Pallardo Lozoya Jose Vicente	FM	ESP	2297	6,5	2425	52,0	36,00
9	Garcia Roman Daniel	IM	ESP	2428	6,5	2421	50,5	31,50
10	Abreu Delgado Aryam	IM	CUB	2502	6,5	2403	54,0	37,75
11	Cabrera Alexis	GM	COL	2513	6,5	2396	53,0	36,50
12	Arizmendi Martinez Julen Luis	GM	ESP	2524	6,5	2394	53,5	37,25
13	Gomez Jurado Luis Alberto	FM	ESP	2299	6,5	2384	52,0	34,50
14	Palencia Wilson	IM	COL	2291	6,5	2382	54,0	37,25
15	Pardo Simon David		ESP	2204	6,5	2378	50,5	35,25
16	Berrocal Jorge	FM	BOL	2320	6,5	2353	50,5	33,00
17	Sospedra Sebastian Juan	FM	ESP	2294	6,5	2352	48,0	29,25
18	Astasio Lopez David		ESP	2258	6,5	2333	47,5	31,75
19	Fenollar Jorda Manuel	FM	ESP	2298	6,5	2332	50,0	33,25
20	Ortega Hermida Daniel	IM	ESP	2414	6,5	2332	49,0	32,75
21	Castella Garcia Fausto	FM	ESP	2337	6,5	2309	46,5	30,25
22	Dolezal Cristian	IM	ARG	2435	6,5	2299	48,0	31,75
23	Tournier Mathieu		FRA	2253	6,5	2276	48,0	32,25
24	Komljenovic Davorin	GM	CRO	2452	6,0	2309	54,0	34,00
25	Carrascoso Morales Abel		ESP	2254	6,0	2185	50,0	30,50
26	Galvan Jesus		PER	2267	6,0	2146	51,0	32,25
27	Huguet Sergio	FM	HON	2109	6,0	2098	44,5	26,25
28	Ballester Llagaria Luis Eduardo		ESP	2040	6,0	2081	45,5	28,00
29	Molina Jorge	FM	BOL	2105	6,0	2070	43,0	22,25
30	Juan Mas Santiago		ESP	2098	6,0	2043	43,0	25,00
31	Ugalde Ezcurra Jose Miguel		ESP	2193	6,0	2039	42,5	23,00
32	Minaya Juan	FM	COL	2296	6,0	1993	42,5	27,50
33	Martinez Villena David		ESP	1997	6,0	1983	45,0	27,75
34	Berbatov Kiprian	FM	BUL	2250	5,5	2190	52,0	28,75
204 players

15) European Senior and Davos Open Games

The 8th European Senior Championship took place 9th-17th August 2008 in the Parkhotel Sunstar in Davos, Switzerland (the was also a normal open alongside 10th-16th August 2008). Mark Tseitlin took the title on tie-break from Vitaly Tsechkovsky after both scored 7.5/9. David Markosian won the open with 6/7 half a point clear of Andrew Bigg. Games from both the Seniors and the open are now available from Sinisa Joksic.

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

16) US Chess League

The 2008 season of the US Chess League started 25th August 2008. The opening match was between the two newest teams in the league, the Arizona Scorpions and the Chicago Blaze. Play takes place on the Internet Chess Club (ICC). The rest of the week's games took place on Wednesday 26th August 2008.

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

US Chess League ICC (INT), 27 viii-31 x 2008 Round 1 (of 10) Standings:
25th August 2008
	Arizona			vs	Chicago
1	IM	Levon Altounian	ARZ	vs	IM	Jan van de Mortel	CHC	1-0
2	FM	Mehmed Pasalic	CHC	vs	IM	Mark Ginsburg	ARZ	1/2
3	FM	Robby Adamson	ARZ	vs	NM	Jon Burgess	CHC	1-0
4		Ilan Meerovich	CHC	vs	NM	Warren Harper	ARZ	1-0
27th August 2008
	New York			vs	Boston
1	GM	Alex Shabalov	NY	vs	SM	Jorge Sammour-Hasbun	BOS	0-1
2	IM	David Vigorito	BOS	vs	SM	Gregory Braylovsky	NY	1/2
3	IM	Jay Bonin	NY	vs	SM	Denys Shmelov	BOS	1/2
4	NM	Ilya Krasik	BOS	vs	NM	Evan Rosenberg	NY	1-0
	Baltimore			vs	New Jersey
1	GM	Sergey Erenburg	BAL	vs	GM	Joel Benjamin	NJ	1-0
2	IM	Dean Ippolito	NJ	vs	IM	Larry Kaufman	BAL	1-0
3	FM	Ray Kaufman	BAL	vs	NM	Mackenzie Molner	NJ	0-1
4	NM	Victor Shen	NJ	vs	FM	Ralph Zimmer	BAL	1-0
	Queens			vs	Philadelphia
1	IM	Dmitry Schneider	QNS	vs	GM	Sergey Kudrin	PHI	1/2
2	IM	Bryan Smith	PHI	vs	IM	Eli Vovsha	QNS	0-1
3	IM	Alex Lenderman	QNS	vs	IM	Richard Costigan	PHI	1-0
4	NM	Elvin Wilson	PHI	vs		Benjamin Katz	QNS	1-0
	Carolina			vs	Tennessee
1	IM	Lev Milman	CAR	vs	IM	Ron Burnett	TEN	1-0
2	FM	Todd Andrews	TEN	vs	FM	Oleg Zaikov	CAR	0-1
3	FM	Ron Simpson	CAR	vs	FM	Peter Bereolos	TEN	1/2
4	NM	Brian McCarthy	TEN	vs	NM	Craig Jones	CAR	1/2
	San Francisco			vs	Dallas
1	GM	Patrick Wolff	SF	vs	IM	Marko Zivanic	DAL	1/2
2	IM	Davorin Kuljasevic	DAL	vs	IM	Josh Friedel	SF	1/2
3	FM	Sam Shankland	SF	vs	FM	Igor Schneider	DAL	1-0
4	WFM	Bayaraa Zogirt	DAL	vs	FM	Daniel Naroditsky	SF	1/2
	Miami			vs	Seattle
1	FM	Bruci Lopez	MIA	vs	GM	Gregory Serper	SEA	1-0
2	IM	Eric Tangborn	SEA	vs	FM	Marcel Martinez	MIA	0-1
3	IM	Blas Lugo	MIA	vs	FM	John Readey	SEA	1/2
4	NM	Josh Sinanan	SEA	vs	NM	Eric Rodriguez	MIA	0-1

US Chess League ICC (INT), 27 viii-31 x 2008 Round 1 (of 10) Standings:
EASTERN DIVISION	W	L	Game Points	Opp Avg Rating	Opps Record
New Jersey	1	0	3.0/4 (75%)	2423	0-0
Boston	1	0	3.0/4 (75%)	2415	0-0
Carolina	1	0	3.0/4 (75%)	2318	0-0
Queens	1	0	2.5/4 (63%)	2393	0-0
Philadelphia	0	1	1.5/4 (38%)	2419	0-0
Baltimore	0	1	1.0/4 (25%)	2452	0-0
New York	0	1	1.0/4 (25%)	2402	0-0
WESTERN DIVISION	W	L	Game Points	Opp Avg Rating	Opps Record
Miami	1	0	3.5/4 (88%)	2381	0-0
San Francisco	1	0	2.5/4 (63%)	2423	0-0
Arizona	1	0	2.5/4 (63%)	2307	0-0
Dallas	0	1	1.5/4 (38%)	2476	0-0
Chicago	0	1	1.5/4 (38%)	2418	0-0
Tennessee	0	1	1.0/4 (25%)	2386	0-0
Seattle	0	1	0.5/4 (13%)	2398	0-0

17) 8th Velika Gorica Open

The 8th Open took place in Velika Gorica 23rd-30th August 2008. Ante Jurkovic took clear first with 7.5/9.

Official site: http://www.crochess.com/turniri/vgorica/08/poredak.shtm

8th Open Velika Gorica (CRO), 23-30 viii 2008
1	Jurkovic Ante	NM	CRO	2343	7,5	37,0	47,5
2	Zaja Ivan	GM	CRO	2457	7,0	46,0	58,5
3	Doric Nenad	IM	CRO	2345	7,0	39,0	49,5
4	Krstic Uros	IM	CRO	2367	7,0	38,5	49,5
5	Martinovic Sasa	FM	CRO	2395	7,0	38,0	49,0
6	Makaj Marko	MK	CRO	2317	6,5	43,5	55,0
7	Mihalinec Damir	MK	CRO	2249	6,5	41,5	52,5
8	Ivekovic Zvonimir	MK	CRO	2177	6,5	37,0	47,0
9	Raljic Mirko	MK	CRO	2145	6,5	34,0	42,5
10	Havas Ladislav	FM	CRO	2290	6,0	37,0	48,0
11	Levar Nenad	FM	CRO	2174	6,0	36,5	47,0
12	Urukalovic Roman	MK	CRO	2276	6,0	36,0	47,0
	Kozarcanin Sead	MK	CRO	2190	6,0	36,0	47,0
14	Frank Vladimir	NM	CRO	2268	6,0	34,0	44,0
15	Raguz Dario	I	CRO	2124	6,0	33,5	43,5
16	Heged Vlado	MK	CRO	2161	6,0	28,5	36,5
17	Slamar Velimir	NM	CRO	2217	5,5	38,5	49,5
18	Purgar Ivona	NM	CRO	2026	5,5	37,5	47,0
19	Kristovic Marijan	FM	CRO	2358	5,5	37,0	47,5
20	Pandurevic Miro	MK	CRO	2257	5,5	36,5	46,5
21	Ðurovic Goran	MK	CRO	2197	5,5	35,5	45,5
22	Krnic Ivan	MK	CRO	2192	5,5	33,5	44,0
23	Franciskovic Vinko	MK	CRO	2101	5,5	33,5	43,5
24	Gujic Vladimir	I	CRO	2004	5,5	32,0	41,0
25	Vukusic Marin	MK	CRO	2146	5,5	31,0	39,0
26	Ivic Mateo	FM	CRO	2282	5,5	29,0	37,0
27	Smuk Zelimir	FM	CRO	2156	5,0	38,5	49,0
28	Ognjacevic Alen	MK	CRO	2083	5,0	36,0	45,5
29	Jakupec Denis	MK	CRO	2191	5,0	35,5	47,0
30	Jelecevic Ivo	MK	CRO	2235	5,0	35,5	45,5
31	Takac Zvonko	MK	CRO	2125	5,0	34,5	44,5
32	Blazeka Matej	I	CRO	1970	5,0	32,5	42,5
33	Tomic-Potrebujes Z		CRO	2032	5,0	32,5	42,0
34	Fernandez Quintero J A		ESP	1958	5,0	32,0	39,5
35	Stocko Josip	I	CRO	2011	5,0	31,5	40,5
36	Hibner Branko	MK	CRO	2080	5,0	30,5	39,5
37	Blazeka Damjan	II	CRO	1932	5,0	30,5	38,5
38	Cupic Lovro	I	CRO	1958	5,0	30,5	38,0
39	Hamer Ivan	I	CRO	2055	5,0	30,0	38,5
40	Peric Davor	II	CRO	1967	5,0	27,0	36,0
97 players

18) 8th Savaria Summer

The 8th Savaria Summer International Chess Tournament takes place 14th-22nd August 2008, Szombathely, Hungary. Yuri Vovk won the GM event with 7/9. My thanks to Attila Csonka for the results and games.

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

8th Savaria Summer GM Szombathely (HUN), 14-22 viii 2008												cat. IX (2470)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Vovk, Yuri	g	UKR	2549	*	0	½	1	½	1	1	1	1	1	7	2681
2.	Czebe, Attila	g	HUN	2480	1	*	½	½	½	½	½	0	½	1	5	2511
3.	Martinovic, Sasa	f	CRO	2395	½	½	*	½	1	½	½	½	½	½	5	2521
4.	Szabo, Krisztian1	m	HUN	2510	0	½	½	*	1	0	½	½	1	1	5	2508
5.	Papp, Gabor	m	HUN	2509	½	½	0	0	*	½	½	1	½	1	4½	2465
6.	Varga, Zoltan	g	HUN	2479	0	½	½	1	½	*	½	0	½	1	4½	2468
7.	Vavrak, Peter	m	SVK	2474	0	½	½	½	½	½	*	1	½	0	4	2426
8.	Prohaszka, Peter2	m	HUN	2508	0	1	½	½	0	1	0	*	½	½	4	2422
9.	Kovacs, Gabor2	m	HUN	2505	0	½	½	0	½	½	½	½	*	1	4	2423
10.	Farkas, Gabor1		SVK	2290	0	0	½	0	0	0	1	½	0	*	2	2269

8th Savaria Summer IM Szombathely (HUN), 14-22 viii 2008												cat. IV (2328)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Torok, Sandor	f	HUN	2320	*	1	0	½	½	0	1	1	1	1	6	2453
2.	Rachela, Milan	f	SVK	2338	0	*	1	½	½	1	1	½	½	1	6	2451
3.	Kislik, Erik Andrew		USA	2302	1	0	*	1	½	1	½	0	1	0	5	2373
4.	Bodo, Norbert	f	HUN	2414	½	½	0	*	1	½	½	1	0	1	5	2361
5.	Pataki, Gyozo	m	HUN	2364	½	½	½	0	*	½	½	½	1	½	4½	2323
6.	Kiss, Attila	m	HUN	2371	1	0	0	½	½	*	½	½	½	1	4½	2322
7.	Mihok, Oliver	f	HUN	2346	0	0	½	½	½	½	*	½	1	1	4½	2325
8.	Majeric, Zoran	m	CRO	2312	0	½	1	0	½	½	½	*	0	1	4	2286
9.	Rapport, Richard		HUN	2275	0	½	0	1	0	½	0	1	*	1	4	2290
10.	Kizilkaya, Mehmet		TUR	2235	0	0	1	0	½	0	0	0	0	*	1½	2065

19) XXV Torneo Abierto de Collado Villalba

The XXV Torneo Abierto de Collado Villalba took place 20th-30th August 2008. Isam Ortiz Suarez won with 7.5/9. Final round games not available. Eduardo Serrano Salvador sent better versions of his games.

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

XXV Torneo Abierto de Collado Villalba (ESP),22-30 viii 2008 Final Round 9 Standings:
1	18	IM	Ortiz Suarez Isam	2392	CUB	7½
2	2	GM	Vazquez Igarza Renier	2540	ESP	7
3	12	GM	Petkov Vladimir	2423	BUL	7
4	3	GM	Suba Mihai	2507	ROU	7
5	11	IM	Sriram Jha	2429	IND	7
6	17	IM	Vassallo Barrochz Mauricio	2398	ESP	7
7	1	GM	Dgebuadze Alexandre	2562	BEL	7
8	14	FM	Gallardo Garcia Andres	2408	ESP	6½
9	7	GM	Pogorelov Ruslan	2459	UKR	6½
10	31		Prieto Martin Alfonso	2175	ESP	6½
11	10	IM	Guliev Logman	2436	AZE	6
12	9	IM	Castellanos Rodriguez Renier	2438	ESP	6
13	8	FM	Pozo Vera Sandro	2454	CUB	6
14	4	GM	Babaev Rashad	2484	AZE	6
15	20	IM	Elissalt Cardenas Hector	2329	CUB	6
16	32		Martinez De Miguel Pedro	2172	ESP	6
17	27		Perez De Aranda A Leonardo I	2233	ESP	6
18	26	FM	Martinez Rodriguez Pablo	2244	ESP	6
19	40		Ivanovitch Balsinde Nicolas	2149	ESP	6
120 players

20) Icelandic Masters

Icelandic Chess Championship 2008 - Masters takes place in Reykjavik 27th August - 4th September 2008. Hannes Stefansson and Henrik Danielsen lead with 4/5.

Results: http://chess-results.com/tnr15339.aspx?lan=1

The organisers homepage was given as: http://www.skaksamband.is/ but I couldn't find any games or coverage there. [Actually after I published the magazine I was sent the Direct Link I'm still not sure how you get there from the home page.]

21) Roza Lallemand 1961-2008

Roza Lallemand 8th August 1961 - 26th August 2008. WGM Roza Lallemand died of a heart attack a few days after finishing competing in the French Women's Championships.

22) Southern California Championship

John Hillery reports: The 2008 Southern California Championship, held August 16th-24th 2008 at the law offices of Cheong, Denove, Rowell & Bennett in Los Angeles, saw defending champion IM Enrico Sevillano and FM Alexandre Kretchetov tie for first with 5-2. Going into the last round, no fewer than five players were in contention for first, but IMs Andranik Matikozyan and Jack Peters played a sharp draw, while Sevillano defeated IM Cyrus Lakdawala in remarkably deep ending. The two winners will share the title, but Sevillano received the trophy on tibereak. John Hillery directed for the Southern California Chess Federation. Crosstables and photos may be found at http://www.westernchess.com/hold/champ08/champ08.html.

ch-SCCF State Los Angeles (USA), 16-24 viii 2008											cat. III (2319)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
1.	Sevillano, Enrico	m	USA	2505	*	1	0	1	1	0	1	1	5	2450
2.	Kretchetov, Alexandre	f	RUS	2355	0	*	1	1	½	½	1	1	5	2471
3.	Matikozian, Andranik	m	ARM	2470	1	0	*	½	½	1	½	1	4½	2399
4.	Peters, Jack	m	USA	2408	0	0	½	*	1	1	1	1	4½	2408
5.	Lakdawala, Cyrus	m	USA	2424	0	½	½	0	*	1	½	1	3½	2304
6.	Tanaka, Christian T		USA	2098	1	½	0	0	0	*	½	½	2½	2248
7.	Landaw, Julian W		USA	2246	0	0	½	0	½	½	*	1	2½	2227
8.	Lawrence, Danyul		USA	2046	0	0	0	0	0	½	0	*	½	1936

23) XVI Albacete International Open

The XVI Albacete (Spain) International Open takes place 1st-6th September 2008.

Official site: http://www.ajedreznd.com/2008/albacete.html

24) Elektroprivreda Day Rapid

The Elektroprivreda Day Rapid Tournament took place in Niksic (Crna Gora) 21st-22nd August 2008. Kiril Georgiev beat Miladinovic 2-1 in the final.

Official site: http://www.cgsah.org/

25) Independence Cup Kyiv

The Independence Cup took place in Kyiv 14th-21st August 2008. Alexander Kovchan took first place on tie-break from Andrey Zontakh after both finished on 6/9. There was an A-tournament aswell.

Official site: http://www.ukrchess.org.ua/turnir/t163.html

Cup Independence G Kyiv UKR (UKR), 14-21 viii 2008												cat. IX (2467)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Kovchan, Alexander	g	UKR	2520	*	½	1	½	1	½	1	½	½	½	6	2586
2.	Zontakh, Andrey	g	UKR	2582	½	*	½	1	½	1	1	0	½	1	6	2579
3.	Nyzhnyk, Illya	f	UKR	2428	0	½	*	½	0	1	½	1	1	1	5½	2551
4.	Kruppa, Yuri	g	UKR	2547	½	0	½	*	1	½	0	1	1	½	5	2501
5.	Pavlov, Sergey2		UKR	2433	0	½	1	0	*	½	½	1	½	1	5	2513
6.	Baryshpolets, Andrey	f	UKR	2413	½	0	0	½	½	*	½	1	1	½	4½	2473
7.	Slugin, Sergey	f	RUS	2425	0	0	½	1	½	½	*	0	½	1	4	2428
8.	Simonian, Hrair	m	ARM	2452	½	1	0	0	0	0	1	*	½	½	3½	2388
9.	Gladyszev, Oleg	m	RUS	2473	½	½	0	0	½	0	½	½	*	1	3½	2386
10.	Khader, Sami	m	JOR	2398	½	0	0	½	0	½	0	½	0	*	2	2254

Independence Cup A Kyiv (UKR), 13-21 viii 2008
1	Dolzhikova, Olga	wg	UKR	2256	8.5	75.5	56.25	57.0	2478
2	Bogdanovich, Stanislav		UKR	2299	8.5	73.0	55.50	49.5	2464
3	Grinev, Valeriy		UKR	2297	8.0	75.5	51.50	52.0	2446
4	Dolzhikova, Kateryna	wm	UKR	2339	7.5	68.5	45.00	42.5	2344
5	Melnichuk, Mikhail		UKR	2290	7.5	67.5	44.50	43.5	2347
6	Shankovsky, Andriy		UKR	2265	7.0	74.5	44.25	47.5	2359
7	Khaetsky, Roman	m	UKR	2400	7.0	72.5	40.75	46.5	2368
8	Ianov, Viktor	m	UKR	2370	7.0	72.5	45.50	44.5	2330
9	Stavroyany, Sergey		UKR	2236	7.0	72.0	42.00	44.5	2361
10	Bortnik, Alexandr		UKR	2189	7.0	71.0	41.50	42.5	2319
11	Manilyk, Andrei		UKR	2139	7.0	69.0	41.50	38.5	2308
12	Danilenko, Dmitriy		UKR	2209	7.0	67.5	40.50	44.0	2340
13	Sivuk, Vitaly		UKR	2324	6.5	72.5	40.00	43.5	2308
14	Karnaukh, Anatolij		UKR	2269	6.5	66.5	37.50	40.0	2229
15	Kernazhitsky, Leonid	m	UKR	2349	6.5	66.0	36.00	41.0	2292
16	Golubka, Petr		UKR	2296	6.5	63.5	35.00	40.0	2199
58 players

26) 1st Dragon Capital Vietnam Chess Open

The 1st Dragon Capital Vietnam Chess Open took place 26th August - 2nd September 2008 in Vung Tau. Le Quang Liem won with 7/9 half a point clear of Zurab Azmaiparashvili and Wesley So. Games from the final round not yet available.

Official site: http://www.vietnamchess.com/Tournament/Inter/2008/dragon1.htm

Results: http://chess-results.com/tnr15291.aspx

1st Dragon Capital Vietnam Chess Open Vung Tau (VIE), 27 viii-1 ix 2008
Rk.	Name		FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1
1	Le Quang Liem	GM	VIE	2577	7,0	49,5
2	Azmaiparashvili Zurab	GM	GEO	2615	6,5	49,0
3	So Wesley	GM	PHI	2577	6,5	48,0
4	Shanava Konstantine	GM	GEO	2522	6,0	49,0
5	Dao Thien Hai	GM	VIE	2489	6,0	46,5
6	Tu Hoang Thong	GM	VIE	2493	6,0	45,0
7	Nolte Rolando		PHI	2522	6,0	44,5
8	Nguyen Duc Hoa	FM	VIE	2319	6,0	39,5
9	Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son	GM	VIE	2579	5,5	46,0
	Tu Hoang Thai	IM	VIE	2395	5,5	46,0
11	Goh Weiming	IM	SIN	2403	5,5	44,5
12	Pham Chuong	FM	VIE	2343	5,5	40,0
13	Bitoon Richard	IM	PHI	2439	5,0	48,0
14	Nguyen Anh Dung	GM	VIE	2499	5,0	47,0
15	Nguyen Van Huy	CM	VIE	2386	5,0	46,5
16	Dzhumaev Marat	GM	UZB	2549	5,0	43,0
17	Nguyen Van Hai	CM	VIE	2232	5,0	37,5
18	Hoang Canh Huan	FM	VIE	2339	5,0	36,5
19	Sadorra Julio Catalino	IM	PHI	2470	4,5	47,0
20	Le Quang Long		VIE	2226	4,5	46,5
21	Le Kieu Thien Kim	WIM	VIE	2286	4,5	42,0
22	Nguyen Hoang Nam	CM	VIE	2310	4,5	41,5
23	Nguyen Manh Truong		VIE	2131	4,5	37,0
	Pham Thi Ngoc Tu		VIE	2065	4,5	37,0
25	Vo Thanh Ninh		VIE	2360	4,5	36,5
26	Tran Ngoc Lan		VIE	2123	4,5	35,0
27	Zaw Oo	FM	MYA	2485	4,0	40,5
28	Nguyen Thi Mai Hung	WFM	VIE	2158	4,0	38,0
29	Nguyen Quynh Anh	WIM	VIE	2098	4,0	37,5
30	Ton That Nhu Tung	FM	VIE	2216	4,0	36,0
31	Phyo Chit	FM	MYA	2500	3,5	43,0
32	Pham Xuan Dat		VIE	0	3,5	38,0
33	Nguyen Van Thanh	CM	VIE	2194	3,5	37,0
34	Sie Thu		MYA	2414	3,5	30,5
35	San Thit Lwin	FM	MYA	2450	3,5	30,0
36	Huynh Mai Phuong Dung		VIE	2099	3,0	40,0
37	Attwood James		AUS	2069	3,0	35,5
38	Hoang Thi Nhu Y	WFM	VIE	2075	3,0	29,5
39	Dang Bich Ngoc	WFM	VIE	2194	2,5	39,5
40	Dong Bao Nghia		VIE	2006	2,5	34,5
41	Phan Trong Binh		VIE	0	2,5	29,5
42	Doan Van Duc		VIE	2160	1,0	33,5

27) Rewal Chess Festival

The Rewal Chess Festival took place in Poland 19th-30th August 2008. Andrey Zhigalko took clear first with 8/9.

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

XIII Konik Morski Open A Rewal (POL), 20-12 viii 2008
Pl	Name	Ti	Fed.	elo	Pkt.	MBch.	Bch.	L.Z.	Prog.
1	ZHIGALKO, Andrey	GM	BLR	2551	8	39.5	50	7	42.5
2	WIECZOREK, Oskar		POL	2232	6.5	42	52	5	36
3	KOZIAK, Vitali	IM	UKR	2489	6.5	40.5	53	5	34.5
4	CYBOROWSKI, Lukasz	GM	POL	2546	6.5	40	53	5	36
5	ORZECH, Dominik		POL	2472	6.5	37	47	5	31.5
6	BUDREWICZ, Krzysztof		POL	2333	6	42	52	4	33.5
7	MATUSZEWSKI, Michal		POL	2233	6	40.5	52	5	32.5
8	PRZYBYLSKI, Wojciech	FM	POL	2363	6	38	49.5	5	33
9	NESTER, Ihor	IM	UKR	2385	6	34.5	44	5	29.5
10	LAHIRI, Atanu	IM	IND	2338	6	34	44.5	4	27.5
11	CHOJNACKI, Krzysztof	FM	POL	2416	6	33.5	43.5	4	29
12	CZERWONSKI, Aleksander	IM	POL	2414	6	33.5	42.5	4	28
13	WIECZOREK, Zbigniew	m	POL	2317	6	33	43	5	28
14	BRONOWICKI, Mateusz	FM	POL	2326	5.5	37.5	47.5	4	30
15	BRODOWSKI, Piotr	m	POL	2424	5.5	36	46	4	29.5
16	NASUTA, Grzegorz	I	POL	1959	5.5	31.5	41	5	26.5
17	ZIERKE, Oliver	FM	GER	2327	5.5	27	34.5	5	18.5
18	BUTKIEWICZ, Lukasz	k	POL	2284	5	38.5	47.5	4	28.5
19	MEYER, Falko	FM	GER	2305	5	36.5	46.5	3	27
20	SWICARZ, Maciej	m	POL	2284	5	34.5	44	4	28
21	SOCHACKI, Wojtek		FRA	2239	5	34	43	4	29
22	RUTKOWSKI, Maciej	IM	POL	2380	5	34	42.5	3	28
23	KUCYPERA, Malgorzata		POL	2081	5	33	42.5	4	23
24	NGUYEN, Piotr		POL	2329	5	31	42.5	4	26
25	DRAGUN, Kamil		POL	2240	5	31	40	4	24
26	JAGODZINSKI, Waldemar		POL	2141	5	30	39	5	20
27	VERDAGUER Muntanya, Marc		ESP	2142	5	29.5	38.5	4	22.5
110 players

28) III Timisoara Cup

The III Timisoara Cup took place 1st-8th August 2008. Zoltan Varga won the GM tournament with 6/9 half a point clear of the field.

Official site: http://www.ajsahtimis.ro/cupa08/index.php

Timisoara Cup GM Timisoara (ROM), 2-8 viii 2008												cat. VIII (2447)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Varga, Zoltan	g	HUN	2479	*	1	½	½	½	1	½	½	½	1	6	2568
2.	Kovacevic, Blazimir	m	CRO	2473	0	*	½	½	½	0	1	1	1	1	5½	2524
3.	Grigore, George-Gabriel	g	ROU	2517	½	½	*	½	1	0	½	1	½	½	5	2482
4.	Ilincic, Zlatko	g	SRB	2519	½	½	½	*	½	1	0	0	1	1	5	2482
5.	Ardeleanu, Alin	m	ROU	2407	½	½	0	½	*	½	½	½	1	1	5	2494
6.	Doncea, Vladimir		ROU	2455	0	1	1	0	½	*	0	1	½	½	4½	2446
7.	Vedmediuc, Serghei	m	MDA	2396	½	0	½	1	½	1	*	0	0	1	4½	2452
8.	Chirila, Ioan Cristian	m	ROU	2425	½	0	0	1	½	0	1	*	½	1	4½	2449
9.	Grunberg, Mihai-Lucian	m	ROU	2400	½	0	½	0	0	½	1	½	*	0	3	2327
10.	Schmidt, Raul		ROU	2400	0	0	½	0	0	½	0	0	1	*	2	2232

Timisoara Cup IM Timisoara (ROM), 2-8 viii 2008												cat. I (2262)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Ogleznev, Alexandr	f	MDA	2285	*	1	½	½	½	½	½	1	1	1	6½	2425
2.	To, Nhat Minh		HUN	2322	0	*	0	1	½	1	1	1	½	½	5½	2335
3.	Nemes, Silviu-Virgil		ROU	2273	½	1	*	0	½	1	0	½	½	1	5	2304
4.	Bogdan, Darya		UKR	1929	½	0	1	*	½	½	1	0	1	½	5	2342
5.	Mrkonjic, Nenad	m	CRO	2394	½	½	½	½	*	½	½	½	½	½	4½	2247
6.	Foisor, Cristina Adela	m	ROU	2344	½	0	0	½	½	*	½	½	1	1	4½	2253
7.	Agafii, Victor	f	MDA	2306	½	0	1	0	½	½	*	½	1	0	4	2214
8.	Sfarlog, Tudor-Vlad		ROU	2288	0	0	½	1	½	½	½	*	0	½	3½	2179
9.	Dragomirescu, Robin-Alexandru		ROU	2232	0	½	½	0	½	0	0	1	*	1	3½	2185
10.	Voiteanu, Gabriel	f	ROU	2251	0	½	0	½	½	0	1	½	0	*	3	2138

29) XV Feria del Orinoco

The XV Feria del Orinoco 9 round Swiss Open takes place in Ciudad Bolivar (Venezuela) 25th-31st August 2008. 281 players. GM Julio Granda was the sole leader with 7,5 points after 8 rounds. Prize Fund is more than US$ 25,000.00. Games are available in the bulletin and some on the blog site but no PGN file at the moment. I will round up the results and hopefully the games next week.

GM Judit Polgar gave a simultaneous at Plaza Bolivar in Ciudad Bolivar (Venezuela) against 30 players (+25=4-1) on 23rd August and also a lecture about "Chess and Woman Today" on 27th August.

Standings after Round 8:

1) GM Julio Granda leads with 7,5/8

2-4) GMs Axel Bachmann, Bartlomiej Macieja and Rubén Felgaer 7,0 points

5-10) GM Nikola Mitkov, IM Guillermo Soppe, GM Yuniesky Quezada, GM Eduardo Iturrizaga, GM Andrés Rodríguez and IM Rafael Prasca 6,5 points

Official site: http://www.ajedrezferiadelorinoco.com/ and additional information at http://www.ajedrezguayana.blogspot.com/

30) Premier League of Montenegro

The Premier League of Montenegro took place in Hercveg Novi 25th-31st August 2008. Buducnost headed by Kiril Georgiev won the title.

Official site: http://www.cgsah.org/ - detailed results: http://chess-results.com/tnr15375.aspx?lan=1

31) Petrovskaya Ladya Chess Festival

The Petrovskaya Ladya Festival took place in Peterhof with an Open 2nd-11th August 2008 this was followed by Round Robins 12th-19th August 2008. Denis Yevseev won the main Category VII GM event.

Official site: http://www.petergofchess.ru

Petrovskaya Ladya GM1 Peterhof (RUS), 12-19 viii 2008												cat. VII (2414)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1
1.	Yevseev, Denis	g	RUS	2510	*	1	½	½	½	½	1	1	½	1	1	7½	2596
2.	Khruschiov, Alexey	g	MDA	2496	0	*	1	0	½	½	1	1	1	1	1	7	2554
3.	Matlakov, Maxim	m	RUS	2484	½	0	*	½	½	1	1	½	½	1	1	6½	2516
4.	Zhidkov, Valery S	m	UKR	2346	½	1	½	*	½	½	½	1	½	½	½	6	2492
5.	Gorovykh, Eduard	m	RUS	2380	½	½	½	½	*	½	0	0	1	1	1	5½	2452
6.	Kasparov, Sergey	g	BLR	2486	½	½	0	½	½	*	½	1	1	½	½	5½	2442
7.	Volodin, Aleksandr	f	EST	2397	0	0	0	½	1	½	*	0	1	½	½	4	2343
8.	Goganov, Aleksey		RUS	2382	0	0	½	0	1	0	1	*	0	1	½	4	2344
9.	Vorobjov, Denis S		RUS	2256	½	0	½	½	0	0	0	1	*	0	1	3½	2319
10.	Zacurdajev, Mikhail	f	RUS	2400	0	0	0	½	0	½	½	0	1	*	½	3	2265
11.	Utkin, Aleksey	f	RUS	2412	0	0	0	½	0	½	½	½	0	½	*	2½	2220

Petrovskaya Ladya GM2 Peterhof (RUS), 12-19 viii 2008												cat. VII (2420)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1
1.	Savchenko, Stanislav	g	UKR	2557	*	½	1	½	½	½	½	1	½	1	1	7	2554
2.	Brodsky, Michail	g	UKR	2548	½	*	1	½	0	½	½	1	1	1	1	7	2555
3.	Levin, Evgeny A	m	RUS	2488	0	0	*	½	1	1	1	1	½	1	1	7	2561
4.	Kim, Alexey	g	KOR	2460	½	½	½	*	1	1	½	½	1	0	1	6½	2525
5.	Ivanov, Andrew		RUS	2335	½	1	0	0	*	1	1	1	½	0	½	5½	2464
6.	Rozum, Ivan	m	RUS	2444	½	½	0	0	0	*	½	½	1	1	1	5	2417
7.	Kosov, Ivan	f	RUS	2405	½	½	0	½	0	½	*	1	1	½	0	4½	2385
8.	Serov, Maksim		RUS	2368	0	0	0	½	0	½	0	*	1	1	1	4	2352
9.	Duzhakov, Ilya		RUS	2267	½	0	½	0	½	0	0	0	*	1	1	3½	2324
10.	Khuseinkhodzhaev, Muhammad		TJK	2402	0	0	0	1	1	0	½	0	0	*	0	2½	2228
11.	Terekhov, Andrey	f	RUS	2342	0	0	0	0	½	0	1	0	0	1	*	2½	2234

Petrovskaya Ladya IM Petergof (RUS), 12-19 viii 2008												cat. II (2293)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1
1.	Kotenko, Pavel	f	RUS	2371	*	1	½	½	1	½	½	½	1	1	1	7½	2478
2.	Fedoseev, Vladimir3	f	RUS	2321	0	*	1	½	½	1	0	1	½	1	1	6½	2400
3.	Frolochkin, Vladimir		RUS	2311	½	0	*	1	0	½	½	½	1	1	1	6	2363
4.	Kazakov, Konstantin		KAZ	2154	½	½	0	*	1	1	1	½	½	½	0	5½	2343
5.	Solovjov, Sergey I	m	RUS	2434	0	½	1	0	*	0	1	1	½	½	½	5	2279
6.	Moiseenko, Vadim		RUS	2225	½	0	½	0	1	*	0	½	½	1	1	5	2300
7.	Urjubdshzirov, Erdni		RUS	2263	½	1	½	0	0	1	*	0	1	0	½	4½	2260
8.	Kaliberda, Vladimir	m	UKR	2328	½	0	½	½	0	½	1	*	½	½	½	4½	2253
9.	Skurygin, Anton	m	KAZ	2252	0	½	0	½	½	½	0	½	*	½	1	4	2225
10.	Bets, Anatolij	m	MDA	2330	0	0	0	½	½	0	1	½	½	*	1	4	2217
11.	Timofeev, Andrei		RUS	2236	0	0	0	1	½	0	½	½	0	0	*	2½	2105

Petrovskaya Ladya Open Peterhof(RUS), 2-10 viii 2008 Final Round 9 Standings:
1. Solovjov, Sergey I	m	RUS	2434	7.0	49.0	38.00	36.5	2467	+0.34
2. Shushpanov, Vladimir	m	RUS	2367	6.5	50.0	35.25	36.0	2412	+0.56
3. Vlassow, Valentin	f	RUS	2379	6.0	47.5	30.00	30.5	2340	-0.48
4. Uliashov, Dmitriy		RUS	2256	6.0	46.5	29.75	29.5	2263	+0.04
5. Duzhakov, Ilya		RUS	2267	6.0	45.0	29.00	29.5	2249	-0.21
6. Dzhangobegov, Vladimir		RUS	2166	6.0	45.0	26.50	31.0	2301	+1.48
7. Skurygin, Anton	m	KAZ	2252	6.0	44.0	28.75	29.5	2326	+0.87
8. Kazakov, Konstantin		KAZ	2154	5.5	50.5	29.25	32.5	2363	+2.26
9. Zhidkov, Valery S	m	UKR	2346	5.5	47.5	26.50	27.5	2235	-1.08
10. Utkin, Alexander		RUS	2187	5.5	41.5	22.00	26.5	2191	+0.10
11. Malofeev, Alex	f	RUS	2255	5.0	46.0	21.75	29.5	2221	-0.40
12. Sychev, Klementy		RUS	2114	5.0	45.5	23.00	28.5	2221	+1.05
13. Mazurov, Georgy		RUS	1553	5.0	43.0	22.75	25.5	2253	+0.50
14. Kuzin, Anton	m	RUS	2463	5.0	43.0	22.00	26.5	2176	-2.38
15. Lagashin, Pavel		RUS	1986	5.0	41.5	20.75	23.0	2229	+1.80
16. Penkov, Aleksey		RUS	2027	5.0	38.0	17.00	21.0	1887	-0.72
17. Sarkisov, Vladimir		RUS	1922	5.0	37.5	18.75	22.0	2160	+2.40
18. Bivol, Alina		RUS	1831	5.0	37.0	16.00	21.0	2051	+1.81
38 players

32) Alan Benson IM Norm Tournament

The Alan Benson IM Norm tournament held August 16-29 at the Mechanics' Institute Chess in San Francisco. Filipino IM Ricardo DeGuzman, who has made his home in Northern California the past decade, ran away with the event. 16-year-old Sam Shankland and reigning World Under 12 Champion Daniel Naroditsky were in contention for the IM norm of 6 1/2 points but fell short. News: John Donaldson.

Alan Benson IM San Francisco USA (USA), 11-19 viii 2008												cat. III (2323)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	De Guzman, Ricardo	m	PHI	2389	*	1	1	1	½	1	1	½	1	1	8	2666
2.	Shankland, Samuel L		USA	2368	0	*	1	½	½	1	½	1	½	1	6	2442
3.	Mezentsev, Vladimir	m	RUS	2400	0	0	*	½	1	½	1	1	1	1	6	2439
4.	Naroditsky, Daniel	f	USA	2313	0	½	½	*	½	1	½	1	1	½	5½	2403
5.	Aigner, Michael USA		USA	2234	½	½	0	½	*	0	1	½	1	0	4	2289
6.	Young, Gregory		USA	2233	0	0	½	0	1	*	½	½	1	½	4	2289
7.	Ganbold, Odondoo	m	MGL	2380	0	½	0	½	0	½	*	1	0	½	3	2191
8.	Grefe, John A	m	USA	2369	½	0	0	0	½	½	0	*	½	1	3	2192
9.	Lobo, Richard		ENG	2261	0	½	0	0	0	0	1	½	*	1	3	2204
10.	Evans, Bela	f	USA	2279	0	0	0	½	1	½	½	0	0	*	2½	2161

33) Pelletier - Huebner

Huebner and Pelletier played a four game match. Two standard time rate games were drawn (given but there were faults at the end of one) this was followed by two more rapid games which aren't available. Huebner won the fourth so final the score was a 2,5-1,5 win for Huebner. News: Thomas Lemanczyk.

Details: http://www.swiss-chess-open.ch/

34) 23rd Teteven Open

The 23rd Teteven Open took place August 16th-22nd 2008.Kalin Karakehajov won with 8/9. The game file is incomplete and I will wait for a more complete one before trying to publish the games.

Official site: http://www.geocities.com/mitko74/teteven23/teteven23.htm

3rd Teteven Open (BUL), 16-22 viii 2008 Provisional team members:
Rank	Name		FED	IRtg	Pts	BG	FIDE
1	Kalin Karakehajov	IM	BUL	2453	8	18.5	18
2	Valeri Lilov	FM	BUL	2382	7.5	13.2	24
3	Metodi Stoinev	NM	BUL	2278	7.5	21.1	23
4	Kiril Badev	FM	BUL	2337	7	8.5	5
5	Georgi Filev	FM	BUL	2395	6.5	-10.8	-10
6	Evgeni Janev	GM	BUL	2502	6.5	-5	-9
7	Sasho Nikolov	IM	BUL	2398	6.5	-7.3	-6
8	Adriana Nikolova	WFM	BUL	2242	6.5	3.4	13
9	Petar Popov	IM	BUL	2290	6.5	21.6	5
10	Momchil Todorov	NM	BUL	2237	6.5	3.9	10
11	Nedelcho Dichev	NM	BUL	2158	6.5	14.5	13
12	Nanko Dobrev	IM	BUL	2423	6.5	-8.7	-8
13	Anatolij Noskov	NM	KAZ	2232	6	19.6	14
14	Hristo Velchev	FM	BUL	2245	6	14.6	16
15	Marian Bojchev	FM	BUL	2406	6	-5.1	-7
16	Nino Vlashki		BUL	2226	6	11.9	7
17	Stojan Ivanov L		BUL	2099	6	6.1	14
18	Ivan Janakiev	IM	BUL	2258	6	0.1	-3
19	Petar Orev	IM	BUL	2207	6	-0.6	-4
20	Steljan Georgiev		BUL	2121	6	-10.2	4
21	Todor Galunov	FM	BUL	2278	6	-10.1	-1
22	Krasimir Bochev	NM	BUL	2123	6	-13.2	-12
23	Plamen Ribarov	NM	BUL	2128	6	-7.8	-16
24	Gokhan Kursuz		TUR	1957	6	27.3	26
136 players

35) Forthcoming Events and Links

5th China vs Russia Chess Match

The 5th China vs Russia Chess Match takes place 18th-27th September 2008, in Ningpo, China. 18th-23rd September standard (90+30), 24th-26th September rapid (25+10), 27th September blitz (3+2), no official site yet.

5th China vs Russia Chess Match Ningpo (CHN), 18-23 ix 2008 Provisional team members:
Russian men's team:
Svidler, Peter	g	2738
Jakovenko, Dmitry	g	2709
Alekseev, Evgeny	g	2708
Inarkiev, Ernesto	g	2675
Timofeev, Artyom	g	2650
Chinese men's team:
Bu Xiangzhi	g	2710
Ni Hua	g	2705
Wang Yue	g	2704
Wang Hao	g	2691
Li Chao b	g	2590
Zhou Jianchao	g	2604
Russian women's team:
Kosteniuk, Aleksandra	g	2510
Kosintseva, Tatjana	m	2511
Kosintseva, Nadezhda	m	2460
Tairova, Elena	m	2417
Pogonina, Natalija	wg	2469
Korbut, Ekaterina		2459
Chinese women's team:
Xu Yuhua	g	2483
Hou Yifan	wg	2557
Zhao Xue	m	2522
Ruan Lufei	g	2498
Shen Yang	g	2445
Huang Qian	g	2430
Tan Zhongyi		2387

Barcelona Tournament

There is a Category XII tournament in Barcelona 8th-14th September, 2008 - 10 players.

Official site: http://www.edami.com/home03.aspx?ID=157

Leon Open

The city of Leon open takes place 26th-28th December 2008.

Details: http://www.openmundialdeleon.com

CECLUB Spanish Club Chess Championship

The CECLUB Spanish Club Chess Championship takes place 3rd-7th September 2008. 25 of the world's top 50 can participate and team rosters include the players: Shirov, Adams, Ponomariov, Cheparinov, Akopian, Gelfand, Kasimdzhanov, Van Wely, Ivanchuk, Carlsen, Alekseev, Motylev, Bareev, Vallejo, Roiz, Rublevsky, Svidler, Mamedyarov, Karjakin, Jakovenko, Harikrishna, Movsesian, Malakhov, Gashimov and Dominguez Perez. Some of those for 2nd division sides.

Preview: http://previews.chessdom.com/ceclub-chess-spain

Official site: http://www.feda.org/

VII Benidorm International Festival

The VII Benidorm International Festival of Chess takes place 29th November - 8th December 2008.

Details: http://www.ajedrezbali.com/

For information contact: E-Mail: eventosdeajedrez@yahoo.es festivaldebenidorm@gmail.com News: Patricia Claros Aguilar.

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

First Saturday September

6th-18th of September GM-IM-FM First Saturday Budapest, org Nagy L, 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.

Places still available. Players and potential players so far:

September 2008 IM tournament FIRST SATURDAY, Budapest IM VÉGH, Endre (HUN), IM LENGYEL, Béla (HUN), IM GALYAS, Miklós (HUN), IM SZALÁNCZY, Emil (HUN), IM FARAGÓ, Sándor (HUN), IM WERNER, Dimo (HUN), FM ISMAIL, Sherif (EGY), MOSKOVIC, David (ENG), LI, Panru (CHN), SOLOMONS, Deon (RSA), RUECKER, Benjamin (GER), TO, Nhat Minh (HUN), FM LYELL, Mark (ENG), PEREZ ALEMAN, Pedro Thomas (ESP), KÖNNYÛ, János (HUN), KISLIK, Erik Andrew (USA), LEHMANN, Holger (GER, 2235). Min 9, max 13 players.

GM tournament FIRST SATURDAY, Budapest IGM KOSIC, Dragan (MNE, 2516), IGM ILINCIC, Zlatko (SRB, 2519), IGM FARAGÓ, Iván (HUN,2482), IM PASCHALL, William (USA), IM NGUYEN, Huynh Minh Huy (VIE, 2477), FM TÓTH, Ervin (HUN, 2409), IM WITTMANN, Walter (AUT, 2272), IM GRAFL, Florian (GER, 2404), IM BÉRCZES, Dávid (HUN,2458), IM SIMUTOWE, Amon (ZAM, 2459), IM KAHN, Evarth Dr (HUN, 2317), IM SAMMALVUO, Tapani (FIN, 2468), IM DUONG, The Anh (VIE, 2445)

Commonwealth Chess Championship

The Commonwealth Chess Championship takes place 28th September - 6th October 2008 in Nagpur, India. Good conditions for GM/WGMs. Contact: Praful Zaveri (prafulzaveri@hotmail.com) for further information.

Further details: http://www.indianchessfed.org/tournamentreports08/ccwealth-at-Nagpur.asp

12th Essent Chess Tournament

The 12th edition of the Essent Chess Tournament takes place October 17th-25th 2008. The location is the city of Hoogeveen. Just like last year there are several competitions: a Crown Group, a strong Essent Open, an Amateur Tournament and an event for youth.

Official site: http://www.essentchess.nl/index2008.htm

Mindsports

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

Official site: http://www.2008wmsg.org/

Further details: http://players.chessdom.com/world-mind-sports-games-participants and http://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/3069-entries-for-1st-world-mind-sports-games

23rd Parla International Open

The 23rd Parla (Spain) International Open takes place 6th-14th September 2008.

Details: http://www.ajedrezenmadrid.com/torneos/torneo.asp?torneo=08090600

Dresden Olympiad

The Olympiad takes place in Dresden 12th-25th November 2008.

Official site: http://dresden2008.de

VI Transcarpathian Rapidtournament Chess Decyk

VI Transcarpathian Rapidtournament "Chess Decyk" Ukraine, Uzhgorod, 28-29.08.2008

Organizers of tournament: Chess Federation of Uzhgorod Organizational committee: B. Borshosh, A. Samoylenko, V. Prokopishin Place: Ukraine, Uzhgorod, Pub-museum "Deca u notaria", Gagarin street, 98 Also Traditional Beer blitz-tournament will take place in Pub-museum "Deca u notaria"! Phone: +380503723900, +380503179153, (+3803122) 2-25-87 E-mail: chessfeduzh@rambler.ru Details: http://www.chessfeduzh.narod.ru

Bradford Chess Congress

The Bradford Chess Congress takes place 12th-14th September 2008.

Entry form: http://www.anno-domini.net/CHESS/BDCACHESS.htm

Ared Open (Romania)

The Ared International Chess Open (Romania) took place in Arad 25th-31st July 2008. Zlatko Ilincic edged out Vlad-Victor Barnaure on tie-break after both finished on 7.5/9. Games may still follow. News: Alin Campeanu.

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

2nd Berkeley Masters

The 2008 Berkeley Masters takes place December 14th-23rd 2008 in Berkeley, California, finishing two days before the start of the North American Open in Las Vegas. It is a 10 round swiss, open to players rated fide 2200+. Space in the tournament and conditions for some Grandmasters are available on a first-come first-serve basis. Prize fund $5000 US. Info at http://dotq.org/chess

British Rapidplay

The British Rapidplay takes place 29th-30th November 2008.

Details: http://www.british-rapidplay.org.uk/

Hungarian Chess Tournaments July 2008 - March 2009

1. 19th-28th of July 2008 KECSKEMET, IM-FM 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. 2nd-14th of August, 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.

3.16th-25th of August, IM-FM tmt, Kecskemet, org: Erdelyi

4.6th-18th of September GM-IM-FM First Saturday Budapest, org Nagy L,

5.20th -29th September IM-FM tmt Kecskemet, org Erdelyi

6.4th-16th of October, GM-IM-FM tmt, First Saturday Budapest, org.Nagy L.

7.18th-30th of October, SAKKAKADEMIA, GM-IM closed, org: WGM Csonkics, Tunde, info: firstsat@hu.inter.net

8.18th-27th of October IM-FM tmt Kecskemet, org Erdelyi.

9.1st-13th of November GM-IM-FM First Saturday Budapest, org Nagy L.

10. 15th-23rd of November, Kecskemet, IM dr.Erdelyi.

11.14th-22nd of November Tenkes Kupa Open, Harkany, 300 km South-West from Budapest, 9 round Swiss, org: Ambrus Lajos, mobile: 36-30-851-4224 e-mail: info@baranyasakk.hu www.baranyasakk.hu

12.6th-18th of December GM-IM-FM tmt, First Saturday Budapest, org Nagy L.

13.27th of Dec - 5th of January IM-FM tmt Kecskemet, org: Erdelyi.

14.9th-17th of January, EVADNYITO Open 9 rounds Swiss, Budapest, org: IA FAZEKAS, info: firstsat@hu.inter.net

15.23rd of January - 2nd of February, BALASSAGYARMAT WINTER, GM-IM closed, 100 km North from Budapest, Org: Nagy Laszlo, info: firstsat@hu.inter.net

16.7th-19th of February, FIRST SATURDAY GM-IM-FM Budapest - org: Nagy Laszlo, www.firstsaturday.hu - info: firstsat@hu.inter.net

17.7th-19th of March, First Saturday, Budapest, GM-IM-FM, org Nagy L.

18.20th-28th of March, 25th BUDAPEST SPRING FESTIVAL 9 rounds Swiss Open, org: Nagy L. - e-mail: firstsat@hu.inter.net

IV Alajuela International

The IV Alajuela International Chess Tournament (Costa Rica) took place 8th-13th July 2008. Rodolfo Arias reports that 17 year old Peruvian talent Emilio Cordova, (considered to be Julio Granda´s succesor) scored 8 wins (including a last round brilliant defensive game against g.m. Victor Mikhalevski) and one loss, to Nº 1 seeded, european champion Sergei Tiviakov of Holland.

Games from the first three rounds only currently available but more should become available.

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

Norwegian Championship

The Norwegian Championship took place 5th-13th July 2008. Jon Ludvig Hammer and Frode Elsness both finished on 6.5/9 and will play off for the title at a date to be announced.

Official site: http://nm2008.sjakkweb.no/

SPICE Cup

The SPICE Cup takes place September 19th-28th 2008 at the Texas Tech Student Union Building. Eugene Perelshteyn is the defending champion.

Official website: http://www.SPICE.ttu.edu

SPICE Cup (RUS), 19-28 ix 2008. Category 15 (2605)
Name	NAT	USCF	FIDE
Alexander Onischuk	USA	2734	2670
Harikrishna Pentala	IND	2724	2668
Leonid Kritz	GER	2667	2610
Varuzhan Akobian	USA	2660	2610
Gregory Kaidanov	USA	2664	2605
Julio Becerra Rivero	USA	2640	2598
Victor Mikhalevski	ISR	2679	2592
Kamil Miton	POL	2703	2580
Hannes Stefansson	ISL	2597	2566
Eugene Perelshteyn	USA	2619	2555

Romgaz Open

The 2nd edition of the "Open Romgaz" takes place 11th-19th September 2008 at the Polytechnical Institute of Bucharest, with a prize fund of 20000 Euro (a record for Romania!). Organizers: Romgaz & ACS "Elisabeta Polihroniade". - Free accomodation for all GM &WGM and full board for GM over 2500 & for WGM. The tournament will be preceded by "Open Romgaz Junior", 5th-11th September 2008 at the same venue, with a prize fund of 3000 Euro.

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

Corus, Wijk aan Zee 2009

The organizers of the 71st Corus Chess Tournament have invited the young Dutch Grandmasters Daniel Stellwagen (1987) and reigning Dutch Champion Jan Smeets (1985) for the Grandmaster group A in 2009. For both players it means a debut on the highest level. Together with Loek van Wely, they will represent the Netherlands in the traditional chess festival, that will be held from Friday January 16th to Sunday 1st of February 2009.

Besides the participation of the above mentioned three Dutch players, the following World Class players have confirmed their participation: Magnus Carlsen (Norway), Alexander Morozevich (Russia), Levon Aronian (Armenia), Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine), Gata Kamsky (United States) and Teymour Radjabov (Azerbaijan). Carlsen, Ivanchuk and Morozevich will be in the Top-6 of the new World Ranking list, that will be published on July 1st 2008.

The young Ukrainian Grandmaster Sergei Karjakin, as well as the winner of last year’s Grandmaster group B, Sergei Movsesian (Slovakia), have also confirmed their participation. The complete field with 14 participants will be presented in October 2008, as well as the names of the participants in the Grandmaster groups B and C.

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

Torino, Italy

The Torino tournament in (Italy) takes place 30th November 2008 - 8th December 2008. 9 Round swiss top group (B Group 7 rounds). Contact for entries and info tornei@scacchisticatorinese.it

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

Hastings Chess Congress

The Hastings Chess Congress takes place 28th December 2008 - 5th January 2009. Contact: Con Power at: conpowr@ol.com

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

European Club Cup

The European Club Cup 2008 (24th European Club Cup for Men, 13th European Club Cup for Women) takes place in Kallithea, Greece 16th-24th October 2008.

Official site: http://ecc2008.chessdom.com/

Chess Study

Do you have an FIDE rating?

Dr. Robert Howard of the University of New South Wales in Australia is carrying out a study of chess skill in internationally rated players. The study looks at effects of amount of practice, coaching and age of starting chess on chess skill and at chess players' views about chess skill. The study involves a short online survey. The survey is for anyone who has, or who ever has had, an FIDE rating.

The survey takes only about 5-10 minutes to complete. All responses are completely confidential. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Russian, and German.

To take part, you must know your exact FIDE ID number, which will be something like "14200887". ID numbers are posted on the FIDE website at http://www.fide.com

A summary and analysis of the study findings will be posted here when it is complete and will be emailed to any participant who requests it.

If you would like to participate, please go to this website: http://education.arts.unsw.edu.au/fidestudy/

For any queries, please contact Dr Robert Howard, University of New South Wales, on rwh@unsw.edu.au

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/

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

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/

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

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

FIDE Grand Prix 2008-9
Surname	First Name	NAT	Elo	1	2	3	4	5	6	Ck	08	Criteria	WRk
Svidler	Peter	RUS	2763	2763	2763		2763		2763	4	2	Pres Nom	5
Mamedyarov	Shakhriyar	AZE	2760	2760		2760	2760		2760	4	2	Rating	6
Leko	Peter	HUN	2753			2753	2753	2753	2753	4	1	Rating	8
Ivanchuk	Vassily	UKR	2751		2751		2751	2751	2751	4	1	Rating	9
Aronian	Levon	ARM	2739		2739		2739	2739	2739	4	1	Rating	10
Gelfand	Boris	ISR	2737		2737		2737	2737	2737	4	1	Rating	11
Radjabov	Teimour	AZE	2735	2735	2735	2735	2735			4	3	Rating	12
Carlsen	Magnus	NOR	2733	2733		2733	2733		2733	4	2	Wcup	13
Karjakin	Sergey	UKR	2732	2732	2732		2732	2732		4	2	Wcup	14
Adams	Michael	ENG	2726	2726		2726		2726	2726	4	2	Reserve	16
Kamsky	Gata	USA	2726	2726	2726		2726	2726		4	2	Matches	15
Jakovenko	Dmitry	RUS	2720		2720	2720		2720	2720	4	2	Hcity	17
Cheparinov	Ivan	BUL	2713	2713	2713	2713			2713	4	3	Pres Nom	19
Grischuk	Alexander	RUS	2711	2711	2711	2711	2711			4	3	Reserve	21
Bacrot	Etienne	FRA	2700	2700		2700	2700	2700		4	2	Pres Nom	22
Wang	Yue	CHN	2698	2698	2698	2698		2698		4	3	Pres Nom	25
Inarkiev	Ernesto	RUS	2681	2681		2681		2681	2681	4	2	Hcity	34
Navara	David	CZE	2680	2680	2680			2680	2680	4	2	Hcity	37
Gashimov	Vugar	AZE	2665	2665	2665	2665		2665		4	3	Hcity	48
Pelletier	Yannick	SWZ	2600			2600	2600	2600	2600	4	1	Hcity	165
Al Modiahki	Mohamad	QTR	2569		2569	2569	2569		2569	4	2	Hcity	274
AVERAGE RATING				2715.9	2709.9	2697.4	2714.9	2707.7	2708.9
Player Count	21		2709.1	14	14	14	14	14	14	84	42

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

Grand Prix 2008-9 Prizes Each Event
Place	EUR	Points
1	30,000	140 + 40 bonus
2	22,500	130 + 20
3	20,000	120 + 10
4	15,000	110
5	12,500	100
6	11,000	90
7	10,000	80
8	8,500	70
9	7,500	60
10	6,000	50
11	5,500	40
12	5,000	30
13	4,500	20
14	4,000	10

Grand Prix 2008-9 Prizes for Final Standings (Best three events)
Pl	Prize (Euros)
1st	75,000
2nd	50,000
3rd	40,000
4th	30,000
5th	25,000
6th	20,000
7th	18,000
8th	16,000
9th	14,000
10th	12,000

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

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.