THE WEEK IN CHESS 724 22nd September 2008 by Mark Crowther

1) Introduction

My thanks to Aben Rudy, Gujuan Tzu, Jesus Mena, Bela Lengyel, Luiz Roberto Da Costa Jr, Mikhail Golubev, John Saunders, Miklos Orso, Thomas Henrich, Wolfgang Perner and everyone else who helped with the issue.

24 year old Aleksandra Kosteniuk saw the challenge of 14 year old Hou Yifan to take the women's world championship title. Kosteniuk dominated the final but Hou was remarkably difficult to put away saving a very bad position in game 2. Both players were originally supposed to be playing for Russia against China in their 5th challenge match before they reached the final. Although the Russian women are holding their own the men have fallen behind after four of the five standard time rate games. There will be rapid and blitz games to follow. 24 year old Jan Werle won the European Union Championships in Liverpool half a point clear of Viktor Laznicka, Michael Adams and Nigel Short who recovered from a default when his mobile phone made a noise (it seems some Nokia phones can turn themselves on to tell you their batteries are running low, this doesn't seem like a feature but it does seem like something worth testing for professional players).

Hope you enjoy this issue.

Mark

2) 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.

Games and results are available at: http://www.russiachess.org/

5th China vs Russia Chess Match Ningpo (CHN), 18-23 ix 2008 Round 4 Standings:
Chinese Men
1	Wang Hao	g	CHN	2691	3.0	2885
2	Wang Yue	g	CHN	2704	2.5	2786
3	Li Chao2	g	CHN	2590	2.5	2779
4	Ni Hua	g	CHN	2705	2.0	2700
5	Bu Xiangzhi	g	CHN	2710	2.0	2707
					12.0
Chinese Women
1	Shen Yang	wg	CHN	2445	3.5	2804
2	Ruan Lufei	wg	CHN	2499	2.0	2468
3	Xu Yuhua	g	CHN	2483	2.0	2466
4	Zhao Xue	m	CHN	2522	1.5	2387
5	Huang Qian	wg	CHN	2430	1.0	2262
					10.0
Chinese Total					22.0
Russian Men
1	Tomashevsky, Evgeny	g	RUS	2646	2.0	2672
2	Alekseev, Evgeny	g	RUS	2708	2.0	2677
3	Svidler, Peter	g	RUS	2738	1.5	2615
4	Jakovenko, Dmitry	g	RUS	2709	1.5	2587
5	Inarkiev, Ernesto	g	RUS	2675	1.0	2480
					8.0
Russian Women
1	Kosintseva, Nadezhda	m	RUS	2460	2.5	2578
2	Pogonina, Natalija	wg	RUS	2469	2.5	2569
3	Kovalevskaya, Ekaterina	m	RUS	2435	2.0	2464
4	Korbut, Ekaterina	m	RUS	2459	2.0	2470
5	Kosintseva, Tatiana	m	RUS	2511	1.0	2294
					10.0
Russian Total					18.0

5th China vs Russia Chess Match Ningpo (CHN), 18-23 ix 2008 Results:
Round 1 (September 18, 2008)
Wang Hao	- Jakovenko, Dmitry	1-0	43	E15	Queens Indian
Tomashevsky, Evgeny	- Ni Hua	½-½	46	D11	Slav Defence
Kovalevskaya, Ekaterina	- Xu Yuhua	½-½	68	A28	English Four Knights
Li Chao2	- Alekseev, Evgeny	1-0	46	C67	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Pogonina, Natalija	- Ruan Lufei	1-0	44	C65	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Wang Yue	- Inarkiev, Ernesto	½-½	40	E93	King's Indian Classical
Korbut, Ekaterina	- Shen Yang	0-1	36	C24	Bishop's Opening
Huang Qian	- Kosintseva, Nadezhda	½-½	48	E32	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Zhao Xue	- Kosintseva, Tatiana	½-½	21	E15	Queens Indian
Svidler, Peter	- Bu Xiangzhi	½-½	41	B90	Sicilian Najdorf Variation
Round 2 (September 19, 2008)
Shen Yang	- Pogonina, Natalija	1-0	44	A59	Volga Gambit
Ni Hua	- Svidler, Peter	1-0	40	B51	Sicilian Rossolimo
Kosintseva, Nadezhda	- Zhao Xue	1-0	73	C88	Ruy Lopez Closed
Kovalevskaya, Ekaterina	- Huang Qian	1-0	37	C00	French Defence
Jakovenko, Dmitry	- Bu Xiangzhi	1-0	55	C43	Petroff's Defence
Li Chao2	- Tomashevsky, Evgeny	0-1	44	C91	Ruy Lopez
Xu Yuhua	- Korbut, Ekaterina	0-1	24	B52	Sicilian Rossolimo
Alekseev, Evgeny	- Wang Yue	½-½	27	D15	Slav Defence
Inarkiev, Ernesto	- Wang Hao	0-1	49	E15	Queens Indian
Ruan Lufei	- Kosintseva, Tatiana	½-½	42	B69	Sicilian Rauzer
Round 3 (September 20, 2008)
Shen Yang	- Kovalevskaya, Ekaterina	½-½	40	E33	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Tomashevsky, Evgeny	- Wang Hao	½-½	47	E46	Nimzo Indian Rubinstein
Ni Hua	- Jakovenko, Dmitry	½-½	12	C54	Giuoco Piano
Kosintseva, Nadezhda	- Ruan Lufei	½-½	43	C78	Ruy Lopez Moeller Defence
Inarkiev, Ernesto	- Li Chao2	½-½	27	D77	Gruenfeld 3.g3
Zhao Xue	- Korbut, Ekaterina	½-½	63	D16	Slav Lasker/Smyslov
Svidler, Peter	- Wang Yue	½-½	15	D17	Slav Defence
Kosintseva, Tatiana	- Xu Yuhua	0-1	46	C11	French Defence
Bu Xiangzhi	- Alekseev, Evgeny	½-½	62	D38	QGD Ragozin
Huang Qian	- Pogonina, Natalija	0-1	53	A59	Volga Gambit
Round 4 (September 21, 2008)
Wang Hao	- Svidler, Peter	½-½	20	B42	Sicilian Paulsen
Wang Yue	- Tomashevsky, Evgeny	1-0	42	A63	Benoni
Pogonina, Natalija	- Zhao Xue	½-½	83	B04	Alekhine's Defence
Alekseev, Evgeny	- Ni Hua	1-0	28	C11	French Defence
Ruan Lufei	- Kovalevskaya, Ekaterina	1-0	59	B30	Sicilian Rossolimo
Korbut, Ekaterina	- Huang Qian	½-½	46	C07	French Tarrasch
Xu Yuhua	- Kosintseva, Nadezhda	½-½	21	B52	Sicilian Rossolimo
Bu Xiangzhi	- Inarkiev, Ernesto	1-0	43	E63	King's Indian 6...Nc6
Jakovenko, Dmitry	- Li Chao2	0-1	45	A29	English Four Knights
Kosintseva, Tatiana	- Shen Yang	0-1	32	C92	Ruy Lopez Chigorin

3) Women's World Championship

The World Women's Championship 2008 took place in Nalchik, the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria (Russian Federation), 28th August - 18th September 2008 with a prize fund of 450,000 USD. Aleksandra Kosteniuk defeated Hou Yifan in the final, which she dominated more than the 2.5-1.5 score suggests, with winning positions in at least two of the other games. The 24 year old Russian succeeds Xu Yuhua who went out in the second round of the knockout contest. In recent years China has dominated the event and Kosteniuk is the first Russian women's champion since Elisabeth Bykova (champion 1958-1962).

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

http://www.chessdom.com/ has live blog coverage.

World Championship Women - Results
Hou Yifan	-	Kosteniuk, Alexandra	0-1	48	C90	Ruy Lopez
Kosteniuk, Alexandra	-	Hou Yifan	½-½	57	C07	French Tarrasch
Hou Yifan	-	Kosteniuk, Alexandra	½-½	72	C88	Ruy Lopez Closed
Kosteniuk, Alexandra	-	Hou Yifan	½-½	56	B45	Sicilian Classical

WCh-Women Nalchik (RUS), 28 viii - 18 ix 2008 Final 14th-18th September 2008
Name	Ti	NAT	Rtng	G1	G2	G3	G4	Rp1	Rp2	Bz1	Bz2	SD	Total	Perf
Kosteniuk, Alexandra	g	RUS	2510	1	½	½	½	.	.	.	.	.	2½	2652
Hou Yifan	wg	CHN	2557	0	½	½	½	.	.	.	.	.	1½	2423

4) European Union Championships, Liverpool

This years European Union Championships took place in Liverpool, England 9th - 18th September 2008. The prize fund was 30,000 pounds with 6000 pounds first prize.

Jan Werle secured first place with a quick draw in the final round to finish on 8/10 after Adams drew early too. Short won in the final round to finish level with Adams half a point behind the winner along with Viktor Laznicka.

Official site: http://www.liverpoolchessinternational.co.uk

European Union Championships Liverpool (ENG), 9-18 ix 2008 Final Round 10 Standings:
Pos	Player	NAT	t	Elo	A	D	TB
1	WERLE, Jan	NED	g	2591	8	2474	61
2	LAZNICKA, Viktor	CZE	g	2601	7½	2489	64
3	ADAMS, Michael	ENG	g	2735	7½	2538	63
4	SHORT, Nigel D	ENG	g	2655	7½	2457	59½
5	DAVID, Alberto	LUX	g	2568	7	2524	63½
6	L'AMI, Erwin	NED	g	2610	7	2479	63
7	VACHIER-LAGRAVE, Maxime	FRA	g	2681	7	2498	62½
8	FRIDMAN, Daniel	GER	g	2637	7	2481	62
9	BERG, Emanuel	SWE	g	2592	7	2511	60½
10	BACROT, Etienne	FRA	g	2691	7	2495	59½
11	HOWELL, David W L	ENG	g	2561	7	2442	59½
12	TIVIAKOV, Sergei	NED	g	2645	7	2482	59
13	LUTHER, Thomas	GER	g	2570	7	2436	57
14	SMEETS, Jan	NED	g	2593	7	2463	57
15	BELIAVSKY, Alexander G	SLO	g	2606	7	2435	56
16	ABERGEL, Thal	FRA	m	2499	6½	2510	64
17	MEIER, Georg	GER	g	2556	6½	2524	63½
18	MIEZIS, Normunds	LAT	g	2540	6½	2502	61½
19	D`COSTA, Lorin A R	ENG	f	2414	6½	2436	60½
20	SULSKIS, Sarunas	LTU	g	2562	6½	2444	59
21	HILLARP PERSSON, Tiger	SWE	g	2526	6½	2386	56
22	CARLSSON, Pontus	SWE	g	2514	6½	2341	54
23	CONQUEST, Stuart C	ENG	g	2536	6	2481	62
24	EDOUARD, Romain	FRA	m	2508	6	2457	60½
25	ARAKHAMIA-GRANT, Ketevan	SCO	m	2448	6	2490	60
26	SPOELMAN, Wouter	NED	m	2448	6	2452	60
27	SHAW, John	SCO	g	2469	6	2440	59½
28	WELLS, Peter K	ENG	g	2526	6	2447	59½
29	JONES, Gawain C B	ENG	g	2549	6	2456	58½
30	HEBDEN, Mark L	ENG	g	2520	6	2413	58
31	DEMBO, Yelena	GRE	m	2431	6	2398	57
32	GODENA, Michele	ITA	g	2519	6	2459	57
33	HASLINGER, Stewart G	ENG	g	2511	6	2421	56
34	MCNAB, Colin A	SCO	g	2450	6	2419	56
35	DGEBUADZE, Alexandre	BEL	g	2562	6	2397	55½
36	BARAMIDZE, David	GER	g	2593	6	2358	55
37	PRIBORSKY, Jan	CZE		2344	6	2384	55
38	GORDON, Stephen J	ENG	m	2508	6	2379	54½
39	PILECKIS, Emilis	LTU		2443	6	2390	54
40	ARKELL, Keith C	ENG	g	2506	6	2418	52½
41	RAUSIS, Igor	CZE	g	2486	6	2420	52½
42	HOUSKA, Jovanka	ENG	m	2405	6	2298	52
43	KOTRONIAS, Vasilios	GRE	g	2574	6	2409	50
44	WILLIAMS, Simon K	ENG	g	2496	6	2481	45½
45	ANDERSSON, Ulf	SWE	g	2562	6	2417	44½
46	LANGROCK, Hannes	GER	f	2398	5½	2474	60
47	SEBENIK, Matej	SLO	m	2485	5½	2436	58½
48	BITALZADEH, Ali	NED	f	2310	5½	2429	58
49	GORMALLY, Daniel W	ENG	g	2504	5½	2460	56½
50	TRENT, Lawrence	ENG	m	2470	5½	2452	56½
51	ESTREMERA PANOS, Sergio	ESP	m	2394	5½	2446	55½
52	RIS, Robert	NED	m	2415	5½	2420	55½
53	ASTANEH LOPEZ, Alex	IRL	f	2357	5½	2429	54
54	COLLINS, Sam E	IRL	m	2412	5½	2351	54
55	DAVIES, Nigel R	ENG	g	2478	5½	2404	53½
56	EGGLESTON, David J	ENG	f	2372	5½	2388	53
57	RINGOIR, Tanguy	BEL		2321	5½	2393	52½
58	CALZETTA, Monica	ESP	wg	2264	5½	2347	49½
59	CARLETON, John J	ENG		2305	5½	2259	49
60	MOSER, Eva	AUT	m	2383	5½	2399	49
61	RODRIGUEZ LOPEZ, Rafael	ESP	m	2312	5½	2326	49
62	LIMONTAITE, Simona	LTU	wf	2200	5½	2388	48½
63	DALY, Colm	IRL	f	2311	5½	2409	47½
64	MOTOC, Alina	ROM	wg	2303	5½	2311	47
65	WHITE, Michael J R	ENG	f	2289	5½	2325	47
66	MEIJERS, Viesturs	LAT	g	2496	5½	2307	46
67	HORNER, Jeff	ENG	m	2372	5½	2356	45½
68	LOGOTHETIS, Sotirios	GRE	f	2318	5	2411	56
69	CONSTANTINOU, Peter	ENG		2225	5	2433	54
70	STOREY, Charles H	ENG		2268	5	2356	53½
71	FOWLER, Simon A	ENG		2256	5	2325	52½
72	PEEK, Marcel	NED	m	2370	5	2400	52½
73	BRISCOE, Chris	ENG		2232	5	2357	52
74	RUDD, Jack	ENG	f	2345	5	2309	50
75	GARCIA CASTRO, Pablo	ESP	m	2390	5	2295	48½
76	LASINSKAS, Povilas	LTU	f	2269	5	2338	48½
77	BLACKBURN, Joathan Lb	WLS		2196	5	2237	48
78	LAWSON, Andrew	ENG		2200	5	2247	47½
79	RADOVANOVIC, Jovica	SRB	f	2325	5	2240	47
80	WILSON, Alexandra	SUI	wf	2059	5	2276	41½
81	NASLUND, Mikael	SWE	f	2243	5	2110	38½
82	KETT, Tim	WLS		2247	4½	2237	52½
83	LAM, Paul G M	ENG		2104	4½	2278	51½
84	WILLIAMSON, Roger G	ENG		2169	4½	2282	50
85	TEBB, David J	ENG		2215	4½	2262	49½
86	CRUZ ALVAREZ DE RON, Dan	ESP		2278	4½	2263	49
87	SURTEES, Mike J	ENG		2182	4½	2185	49
88	ZHOU, Yang-Fan	ENG		2259	4½	2330	48½
89	REDMOND, John P	IRL		2188	4½	2274	47½
90	YEO, Michael J	ENG		2110	4½	2299	47½
91	GROFFEN, Hans	NED		2228	4½	2194	44
92	COATES, David H	ENG		2037	4½	2222	42½
93	ROBERTSON, David J				4½	2192	42½
94	CANNON, Raymond C	ENG		2041	4½	2123	41½
95	BENNETT, Patrick	WLS		2120	4½	2112	41
96	BENSON, Oisin P	IRL		1852	4½	2091	41
97	BENNION, David	WLS		2063	4½	2095	40½
98	BROWN, Martin	ENG		2072	4	2236	47
99	VAZNONIS, Vytautas	LTU	f	2407	4	2199	46½
100	CZAJA, Wojciech	POL		2103	4	2149	45½
101	PAULET, Iozefina	ROM	wm	2275	4	2186	45½
102	DORAN, Chris				4	2220	44½
103	JAMES, David	WLS	f	2177	4	2186	44½
104	DE COVERLY, Roger D	ENG		2082	4	2275	43½
105	FOX, Anthony	IRL		2068	4	2205	41½
106	PHILLIPS, Owen S				4	2145	41½
107	TURNER, John M				4	2184	40½
108	WELLS, Daniel J	ENG		2016	4	2224	40½
109	O'ROURKE, Ray	IRL		2062	4	2155	40
110	TASKER, Michael W	ENG		2062	4	2264	40
111	HAWKINS, James N H	ENG		2013	4	2199	38
112	VAN KEMENADE, Rudy	WLS		1971	4	2091	38
113	CAFOLLA, Peter	IRL		2055	3½	2266	45½
114	MAJER, Chris E	ENG		2091	3½	2198	41
115	DI MICHELE, Rocco	ITA		2096	3½	2082	40½
116	STANCAK, Andrej				3½	2127	40½
117	RINGOIR, Guy	BEL		1944	3½	2086	39½
118	ROY, Ali	SCO		1693	3½	2014	39
119	GROVES, David				3½	2094	38
120	GORMAN, John A	ENG		1937	3½	2115	37
121	PEACOCK, Malcolm R	ENG		2101	3½	2332	37
122	GROVES, Barry				3½	2012	36
123	CAMPBELL, Ian	ENG		2031	3½	2197	34
124	FRASER-MITCHELL, Jeremy N	ENG		2018	3	2228	46
125	ELLIS, Mark				3	2275	37½
126	EWART, Brian R	ENG		1902	3	2145	37½
127	POTTER, Steven				3	2111	37
128	CROSS, Ian K				3	2059	33
129	HULLIGAN, Steve	ENG		1822	3	2069	32½
130	BENTLEY, Emma J				3	2080	28
131	RIZZI, Volfango	ITA		1855	2½	2112	42
132	MCCARTHY, Jim	IRL		2084	2½	2226	35
133	SOIKKELI, Raino	FIN		1738	2½	2038	33½
134	KENNAUGH, Charles W	ENG	f	2281	2½	2217	33
135	BURGE, Steve J				2½	2043	29½
136	TAYLOR, Edward H	ENG		2067	2	2069	35
137	BENSON, Nicola				2	1967	29½
138	AMLANI, Parual				2	2011	26
139	OWEN, Dennis	ENG		2095	1½	2236	26½
140	WOOD, Michael				1	2109	27½
141	WEEKS, Manuel	AUS	f	2174	1	2101	3½
141 players

5) Geller Memorial

The Geller Memorial took place in Odessa, Ukraine 8th-18th September 2008. Yuri Drozdovskij won the event on tie-break from Eduard Andreev, Igor Smirnov, Yaroslav Zherebukh and Roman Kozel after all finished on 7/9. 74 players.

Official site: http://ukrchess.org.ua/turnir/t165.html

IV Geller Memorial Odessa (UKR), 9-18 ix 2008
1	Drozdovskij, Yuri	g	UKR	2587	7.0	52.5	39.75	36.5	2619
2	Andreev, Eduard UKR	g	UKR	2455	7.0	52.5	39.00	36.0	2576
3	Smirnov, Igor UKR	g	UKR	2504	7.0	50.0	38.50	36.0	2584
4	Zherebukh, Yaroslav	m	UKR	2432	7.0	49.5	36.00	34.5	2551
5	Kozel, Roman	m	UKR	2387	7.0	48.5	34.75	35.0	2571
6	Tukhaev, Adam	g	UKR	2498	6.5	55.0	38.00	36.0	2585
7	Lushenkov, Mikhail	m	RUS	2452	6.0	50.5	30.25	35.5	2517
8	Golubev, Mikhail	g	UKR	2480	6.0	50.0	30.50	33.5	2492
9	Bogdanovich, Stanislav		UKR	2299	6.0	49.0	29.00	33.0	2446
10	Sharapov, Evgeny	m	UKR	2431	6.0	48.0	29.25	32.0	2433
11	Fingerov, Dmitry	m	UKR	2365	6.0	45.5	26.50	29.0	2420
12	Shilin, Denis	m	UKR	2393	6.0	44.5	28.25	30.5	2362
13	Garifulin, Alexander		UKR	2288	6.0	43.5	25.25	28.5	2369
14	Chudinovskikh, Alexander M	m	RUS	2371	6.0	39.0	26.00	28.0	2289
15	Jakimov, Vladimir		UKR	2447	5.5	49.0	28.00	31.5	2397
16	Lutsko, Igor	g	BLR	2399	5.5	44.0	25.00	28.0	2364
17	Kutsykh, Mikle		UKR	2268	5.5	43.5	21.75	27.5	2346
18	Khachatryan, Vahag H		ARM	2102	5.5	42.0	23.50	26.5	2430
19	Stets, Dmitry	m	UKR	2419	5.5	42.0	24.75	25.5	2263
20	Pavlov, Sergey2		UKR	2433	5.5	41.0	23.25	28.5	2354
21	Kurayan, Ruslan		UKR	2155	5.0	47.5	23.50	26.5	2340
22	Shevtsov, Nikoliy	m	UKR	2325	5.0	46.5	24.50	29.5	2368
23	Dmitriev, Igor	m	RUS	2364	5.0	46.5	23.00	27.0	2316
24	Goreskul, Alyona	wg	UKR	2200	5.0	43.0	21.25	24.5	2357
25	Loy, Konstantin		UKR	2104	5.0	43.0	22.00	24.0	2328
26	Grekh, Andrey	f	UKR	2362	5.0	42.5	20.75	26.0	2253
27	Bernadskiy, Vitaliy		UKR	2214	5.0	41.0	21.00	22.0	2306
28	Tishin, D	m	UKR	2271	5.0	40.5	20.50	26.0	2249
29	Miljutin, Oleg		UKR	2167	5.0	40.5	19.50	21.0	2279
30	Polyakov, Maxim		UKR	2283	5.0	39.5	18.75	24.5	2273
31	Kostiukova, Liubov	m	UKR	2224	5.0	39.5	18.25	22.5	2254
32	Molnar, Peter SVK	f	SVK	2306	5.0	39.0	19.50	23.5	2228
33	Ostrovskiy, Andrey	m	UKR	2445	4.5	46.5	22.25	25.5	2266
34	Makarov, Pavlo		UKR	2161	4.5	45.0	19.00	22.0	2214
35	Martemianov, Iaroslav	f	MDA	2371	4.5	44.0	19.50	25.0	2239
36	Dolzhikova, Kateryna	wm	UKR	2339	4.5	43.0	19.75	23.0	2197
37	Lomakin, Viktor		UKR	2082	4.5	41.5	19.75	23.5	2313
38	Stets, Vasilij	m	UKR	2265	4.5	41.5	18.50	21.5	2138
39	Romcovici, Victor	m	MDA	2222	4.5	40.5	15.75	21.5	2148
40	Golovlev, Nikolay		UKR	2332	4.5	40.0	18.25	26.5	2199
41	Volovikov, Anton		UKR	2248	4.5	40.0	17.00	22.0	2200
42	Novikova, Margarita		UKR	2055	4.5	34.5	15.50	17.0	2204
43	Daryev, Sergey		UKR	2037	4.5	32.5	13.75	15.5	2228
44	Rymskyy, Aleksander		UKR	2151	4.0	49.0	19.25	26.0	2328
45	Stolpovsky, Sergei		UKR	2133	4.0	47.0	16.50	26.0	2273
46	Demidiukov, Eugene		UKR	2165	4.0	44.5	17.50	23.0	2272
47	Fiodorov, Mikhail		UKR	2230	4.0	43.5	16.50	21.5	2167
48	Khazankin, Moisei		UKR	2106	4.0	37.5	13.00	19.0	2167
49	Prociuc, Evgenii		MDA	2109	4.0	37.0	12.00	18.0	2119
50	Zaichuk, Vitaliy		UKR	1953	4.0	35.5	13.50	16.5	2117
51	Sodol, Georgiy		UKR	2378	4.0	34.5	14.00	20.5	2082
52	Aliferenko, Aleksei		UKR	2253	4.0	34.0	11.00	18.0	2059
53	Afanasjev,Anatoly		UKR	0000	4.0	34.0	10.50	16.0	2113
54	Shteinberg, Boris	m	RUS	2230	4.0	33.0	12.50	15.5	1994
55	Elkin, Maxim		BLR	2242	3.5	42.0	11.50	22.5	2084
56	Bondar, Wladimir		UKR	2131	3.5	38.5	12.25	18.0	2188
57	Hrinchuk, Vladimir		UKR	2136	3.5	37.5	11.50	19.5	2151
58	Andrenko, Irina		UKR	2213	3.5	35.5	9.75	15.5	1999
59	Kolodiy, Taras		UKR	1925	3.5	29.5	8.25	14.0	1939
60	Mamedov, Aflatun		UKR	2094	3.0	37.5	11.25	16.0	2073
61	Varchenko, Grigory		UKR	2162	3.0	36.5	9.25	15.5	1951
62	Chernetskiy, Mykola		UKR	2120	3.0	35.0	12.00	18.0	2043
63	Smolkin, Alexander		UKR	1919	3.0	33.5	7.50	12.0	1914
64	Funtikov,Mikhail		UKR	0000	3.0	31.5	7.50	13.0	1965
65	Tropin,Vladimir		UKR	0000	3.0	27.0	6.50	10.0	1662
66	Izmailov,Viktor		UKR	0000	3.0	26.0	3.75	8.0	1435
67	Reshetkov, Kirill		UKR	2138	2.5	43.5	17.25	19.5	2303
68	Pervakov, Sergey		UKR	2202	2.5	40.0	8.25	15.5	2029
69	Andreev, Volodymyr		UKR	1968	2.5	33.5	6.25	13.0	1719
70	Kalinin, A3	m	UKR	2442	2.5	31.5	7.50	11.5	1919
71	Varanitsa, Yuru		UKR	1973	2.5	26.5	4.50	9.0	1438
72	Tkachova, Anastasia		UKR	1800	2.0	32.0	6.25	9.5	1889
73	Stepanenko,Dmitri		UKR	0000	2.0	27.5	3.75	9.5	1853
74	Sechin,Yuriy		UKR	0000	1.0	25.5	0.25	3.0	1333

6) 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 Lubbock USA (USA), 19-28 ix 2008												cat. XV (2605)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Kritz, Leonid	g	GER	2610	*	.	.	.	.	.	1	½	.	1	2½	2848
2.	Mikhalevski, Victor	g	ISR	2592	.	*	.	½	.	½	.	.	1	.	2	2764
3.	Akobian, Varuzhan	g	USA	2610	.	.	*	½	.	.	.	1	½	.	2	2726
4.	Onischuk, Alexander	g	USA	2670	.	½	½	*	½	.	.	.	.	.	1½	2600
5.	Becerra Rivero, Julio	g	USA	2598	.	.	.	½	*	½	½	.	.	.	1½	2647
6.	Harikrishna, P	g	IND	2668	.	½	.	.	½	*	.	.	.	½	1½	2585
7.	Kaidanov, Gregory S	g	USA	2605	0	.	.	.	½	.	*	.	.	1	1½	2591
8.	Perelshteyn, Eugene	g	USA	2555	½	.	0	.	.	.	.	*	½	.	1	2475
9.	Miton, Kamil	g	POL	2580	.	0	½	.	.	.	.	½	*	.	1	2460
10.	Stefansson, Hannes	g	ISL	2566	0	.	.	.	.	½	0	.	.	*	½	2354

7) 3rd PGMA Cup

The 3rd President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (PGMA) Cup took place in Manila, Philippines 6th-13th September 2008. Eugene Torre (in his best result for years), Li Chao (China), Zhao. Zhong (Singapore) took first with 7/9. Games now available.

Official site: http://chessasia.net/ - Results: http://www.chess-results.com/tnr15758.aspx?lan=1 - FIDE report

3rd PGMA Cup (PHI), 6-13 ix 2008
Rk.	Name	Ti	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2
1	TORRE Eugene	GM	PHI	2524	7,0	2572	2590
2	LI Chao	GM	CHN	2590	7,0	2533	2544
3	ZHANG Zhong	GM	SIN	2632	7,0	2532	2551
4	MCHEDLISHVILI Mikheil	GM	GEO	2604	6,5	2497	2512
5	KAZHGALEYEV Murtas	GM	KAZ	2641	6,0	2520	2527
6	GHAEMMAGHAMI Ehsan	GM	IRI	2597	6,0	2487	2501
7	PARAGUA Mark	GM	PHI	2523	6,0	2450	2457
8	DZHUMAEV Marat	GM	UZB	2549	6,0	2428	2456
9	WANG Li		CHN	2392	5,5	2544	2551
10	GOMEZ John Paul	IM	PHI	2457	5,5	2523	2542
11	SADORRA Julio Catalino	IM	PHI	2470	5,5	2498	2532
12	ZHOU Weiqi		CHN	2556	5,5	2491	2507
13	NGUYEN Anh Dung	GM	VIE	2499	5,5	2484	2512
14	WEN Yang	GM	CHN	2487	5,5	2473	2500
15	NGUYEN Ngoc Truong Son	GM	VIE	2579	5,5	2463	2471
16	DAO Thien Hai	GM	VIE	2489	5,5	2436	2458
17	CAUSO Deniel		PHI	2410	5,5	2393	2419
18	IULDASHEV Saidali	GM	UZB	2520	5,5	2375	2386
19	NADERA Barlo	IM	PHI	2401	5,5	2366	2532
20	YANG Kaiqi		CHN	2366	5,0	2523	2530
21	LAYLO Darwin	GM	PHI	2504	5,0	2480	2507
22	SHANAVA Konstantine	GM	GEO	2522	5,0	2459	2479
23	LI Shilong	GM	CHN	2511	5,0	2438	2461
24	VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura	GM	PHI	2469	5,0	2430	2447
25	SO Wesley	GM	PHI	2577	5,0	2424	2431
26	GOH Weiming	IM	SIN	2403	5,0	2420	2444
27	MEGARANTO Susanto	GM	INA	2532	5,0	2420	2437
28	HOANG Canh Huan	FM	VIE	2339	5,0	2414	2451
29	ZHANG Ziyang		CHN	2441	5,0	2406	2425
30	XIU Deshun		CHN	2410	5,0	2403	2456
31	GONZALES Jayson	GM	PHI	2524	5,0	2398	2405
32	ELORTA David		PHI	2405	5,0	2397	2424
33	NGUYEN Van Huy	CM	VIE	2386	5,0	2359	2380
34	BALLECER Dino		PHI	2419	5,0	2339	2363
35	NOLTE Rolando		PHI	2522	5,0	2338	2346
36	DABLEO Ronald	IM	PHI	2444	5,0	2330	2347
37	MALLAHI Amir	IM	IRI	2393	5,0	2323	2344
38	DIMAKILING Oliver	IM	PHI	2479	5,0	2271	2285
39	BITOON Richard	IM	PHI	2439	4,5	2397	2432
72 players

8) 4th Prospero Pichay Jr. Cup

The 4th Prospero Pichay Jr. Cup International Open Chess Championship took place 14th-19th September 2008. Li Shilong took clear first with 7.5/9.

Results: http://chess-results.com/tnr15935.aspx?lan=2

4th Prospero Pichay Jr. Cup (PHI), 14-19 ix 2008
Rk.	Ti	Nombre	FED	Elo	Pts.	Des 1	Des 2
1	GM	LI Shilong	CHN	2503	7,5	2566	2589
2	GM	IULDASHEV Saidali	UZB	2520	6,5	2545	2565
3	GM	ZHANG Zhong	SIN	2632	6,5	2539	2549
4	GM	GHAEM MAGHAMI Ehsan	IRI	2597	6,5	2484	2500
5	GM	SO Wesley	PHI	2577	6,0	2511	2528
6	GM	MCHEDLISHVILI Mikheil	GEO	2604	6,0	2510	2520
7	GM	VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura	PHI	2469	6,0	2490	2523
8	IM	BITOON Richard	PHI	2439	5,5	2518	2561
9	GM	PARAGUA Mark	PHI	2523	5,5	2506	2523
10	GM	SHANAVA Konstantine	GEO	2522	5,5	2476	2493
11	GM	KAZHGALEYEV Murtas	KAZ	2641	5,5	2474	2485
12	GM	LAYLO Darwin	PHI	2504	5,5	2467	2480
13	GM	NGUYEN Ngoc Truong Son	VIE	2579	5,5	2464	2475
14		XIU Deshun	CHN	2410	5,5	2460	2496
15	GM	MEGARANTO Susanto	INA	2532	5,5	2453	2464
16		ZHOU Weiqi	CHN	2556	5,5	2442	2451
17		PASCUA Haridas	PHI	2174	5,5	2439	2448
18	GM	GONZALES Jayson	PHI	2524	5,5	2436	2446
19	GM	DAO Thien Hai	VIE	2489	5,5	2431	2450
20	IM	SADORRA Julio Catalino	PHI	2470	5,5	2423	2445
21		NOLTE Rolando	PHI	2522	5,5	2416	2426
22	IM	DIMAKILING Oliver	PHI	2479	5,5	2384	2406
23	GM	NGUYEN Anh Dung	VIE	2499	5,5	2373	2401
24		WAN Yunguo	CHN	2471	5,0	2490	2521
25	IM	ROCA Petronio	PHI	2356	5,0	2476	2490
26	IM	GOMEZ John Paul	PHI	2457	5,0	2467	2497
27	GM	WEN Yang	CHN	2487	5,0	2443	2481
28		ZHANG Ziyang	CHN	2441	5,0	2419	2446
29		YANG Kaiqi	CHN	2366	5,0	2399	2426
30	FM	HOANG Canh Huan	VIE	2339	5,0	2383	2407
31		WANG Li	CHN	2392	5,0	2257	2408
32	IM	BANCOD Ronald	PHI	2375	4,5	2512	2522
68 players

9) US Chess League

The 2008 season of the US Chess League started 25th August 2008. The fourth round took place on 15th and 17th September 2008.

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

US Chess League ICC (INT), 27 viii-31 x 2008 Round 4 (of 10) Results:
15th September 2008
	Baltimore			vs	Queens
1	GM	Pawel Blehm	BAL	vs	IM	Eli Vovsha	QNS	1-0
2	IM	Alex Lenderman	QNS	vs	FM	Tegshsuren Enkhbat	BAL	1-0
3	FM	Ralph Zimmer	BAL	vs	NM	Parker Zhao	QNS	0-1
4	NM	Michael Thaler	QNS	vs		Ian Harris	BAL	1-0
	Seattle			vs	Chicago
1	GM	Hikaru Nakamura	SEA	vs	GM	Nikola Mitkov	CHC	1-0
2	IM	Jan van de Mortel	CHC	vs	GM	Gregory Serper	SEA	1/2
3	NM	Michael Lee	SEA	vs	IM	Emory Tate	CHC	0-1
4		Adam Strunk	CHC		vs	Andy May	SEA	0-1
17th September 2008
	New Jersey			vs	Boston
1	GM	Joel Benjamin	NJ	vs	GM	Larry Christiansen	BOS	1-0
2	SM	Denys Shmelov	BOS	vs	IM	Dean Ippolito	NJ	0-1
3	NM	Mackenzie Molner	NJ	vs	NM	Charles Riordan	BOS	1-0
4	NM	Marc Esserman	BOS	vs		Jayson Lian	NJ	1-0
	Carolina			vs	New York
1	IM	Lev Milman	CAR	vs	GM	Alex Shabalov	NY	1-0
2	IM	Justin Sarkar	NY	vs	FM	Oleg Zaikov	CAR	0-1
3	FM	Ron Simpson	CAR	vs	IM	Jay Bonin	NY	1-0
4	WFM	Iryna Zenyuk	NY	vs	NM	Craig Jones	CAR	0-1
	Dallas			vs	Miami
1	IM	Davorin Kuljasevic	DAL	vs	GM	Julio Becerra	MIA	1-0
2	FM	Marcel Martinez	MIA	vs	IM	John Bartholomew	DAL	1/2
3	FM	Igor Schneider	DAL	vs	FM	Osmany Perea	MIA	1/2
4		Matan Prilleltensky	MIA	vs	WFM	Karina Vazirova	DAL	1/2
	Philadelphia			vs	San Francisco
1	GM	Sergey Kudrin	PHI	vs	GM	Patrick Wolff	SF	1/2
2	IM	Josh Friedel	SF	vs	IM	Bryan Smith	PHI	1-0
3	IM	Richard Costigan	PHI	vs	FM	Sam Shankland	SF	0-1
4	FM	Daniel Naroditsky	SF	vs	NM	Elvin Wilson	PHI	1-0
	Tennessee			vs	Arizona
1	GM	Jaan Ehlvest	TEN	vs	IM	Rogelio Barcenilla	ARZ	1-0
2	IM	Mark Ginsburg	ARZ	vs	IM	Ron Burnett	TEN	1/2
3	FM	Todd Andrews	TEN	vs	FM	Robby Adamson	ARZ	0-1
4	NM	Joel Johnson	ARZ	vs	FM	John Bick	TEN	1-0

US Chess League ICC (INT), 27 viii-31 x 2008 Round 4 (of 10) Standings :
EASTERN DIVISION	W	L	Game Points	Opp Avg Rating	Opps Record
Queens	4	0	11.5/16 (72%)	2385	6.5-5.5 (54%)
New Jersey	2.5	1.5	9.0/16 (56%)	2424	7.5-4.5 (63%)
Carolina	2	2	9.0/16 (56%)	2400	2.5-9.5 (21%)
Boston	2	2	8.5/16 (53%)	2407	6.5-5.5 (54%)
Baltimore	1	3	6.5/16 (46%)	2400	6.5-5.5 (54%)
Philadelphia	1	3	5.5/16 (34%)	2436	6.5-5.5 (54%)
New York	1	3	4.5/16 (28%)	2408	4.0-8.0 (33%)
WESTERN DIVISION	W	L	Game Points	Opp Avg Rating	Opps Record
San Francisco	3.5	0.5	10.5/16 (66%)	2406	7.0-5.0 (58%)
Dallas	3	1	9.5/16 (59%)	2429	8.5-3.5 (71%)
Miami	2	2	10.0/16 (63%)	2408	7.5-4.5 (63%)
Arizona	2	2	7.0/16 (44%)	2374	7.0-5.0 (58%)
Seattle	2	2	7.0/16 (44%)	2379	4.5-7.5 (38%)
Chicago	1.5	2.5	9.0/16 (56%)	2408	5.5-6.5 (46%)
Tennessee	0.5	3.5	4.5/16 (28%)	2392	4.0-8.0 (33%)

10) First Saturday September

The First Saturday tournaments took place 6th-18th of September 2008. David Berczes and Dragan Kosic finished with 6½/9 in the main GM group. To, Nhat Minh and Janos Konnyu scored 7½/9 in the IMA Group. Miklos Galyas won the B-Group.

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

FSGM September Budapest (HUN), 6-14 ix 2008												cat. VII (2415)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Berczes, David	m	HUN	2458	*	½	½	1	½	1	½	1	1	½	6½	2576
2.	Kosic, Dragan	g	MNE	2516	½	*	½	½	½	½	1	1	1	1	6½	2569
3.	Farago, Ivan	g	HUN	2482	½	½	*	½	½	½	½	½	1	1	5½	2487
4.	Ilincic, Zlatko	g	SRB	2519	0	½	½	*	½	½	1	1	1	½	5½	2483
5.	Paschall, William M	m	USA	2330	½	½	½	½	*	½	½	½	½	1	5	2467
6.	Nguyen Huynh Minh Huy	f	VIE	2477	0	½	½	½	½	*	½	1	½	0	4	2364
7.	Grafl, Florian	m	GER	2404	½	0	½	0	½	½	*	0	1	½	3½	2336
8.	Wittmann, Walter	m	AUT	2272	0	0	½	0	½	0	1	*	0	1	3	2305
9.	Szalanczy, Emil	m	HUN	2388	0	0	0	0	½	½	0	1	*	1	3	2292
10.	Kislik, Erik Andrew		USA	2302	½	0	0	½	0	1	½	0	0	*	2½	2261

FSIMA September Budapest (HUN), 6-16 ix 2008												cat. I (2264)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1
1.	To, Nhat Minh		HUN	2322	*	1	0	1	½	½	1	½	1	1	1	7½	2451
2.	Konnyu, Janos		HUN	2314	0	*	½	1	1	1	½	1	1	½	1	7½	2451
3.	Parkanyi, Attila	m	HUN	2393	1	½	*	1	½	½	½	1	0	1	1	7	2400
4.	Lyell, Mark	f	ENG	2232	0	0	0	*	½	½	1	1	1	1	1	6	2339
5.	Vegh, Endre	m	HUN	2298	½	0	½	½	*	½	½	0	1	1	1	5½	2296
6.	Werner, Dimo	m	GER	2329	½	0	½	½	½	*	½	0	1	½	1	5	2257
7.	Lengyel, Bela	m	HUN	2286	0	½	½	0	½	½	*	1	½	½	½	4½	2225
8.	Csirik, Andras		HUN	2272	½	0	0	0	1	1	0	*	½	½	½	4	2191
9.	Perez Aleman, Pedro Tomas		ESP	2210	0	0	1	0	0	0	½	½	*	½	½	3	2120
10.	Kang Kai		CHN	----	0	½	0	0	0	½	½	½	½	*	0	2½	2097
11.	Simonyi, Zoltan	f	SRB	2247	0	0	0	0	0	0	½	½	½	1	*	2½	2072

FSIMB September Budapest (HUN), 6-15 ix 2008										cat. II (2290)
					1		2		3		4		5		6
1.	Galyas, Miklos	m	HUN	2463	*	*	½	½	½	½	½	1	½	1	1	½	6½	2365
2.	Moskovic, David M		ENG	2293	½	½	*	*	½	1	½	½	1	0	1	½	6	2361
3.	Petran, Pal	m	HUN	2361	½	½	½	0	*	*	1	½	½	½	1	1	6	2347
4.	Ruecker, Benjamin		GER	2246	½	0	½	½	0	½	*	*	1	½	½	1	5	2298
5.	Farago, Sandor	m	HUN	2271	½	0	0	1	½	½	0	½	*	*	1	0	4	2221
6.	Li Panru		CHN	2104	0	½	0	½	0	0	½	0	0	1	*	*	2½	2133

11) Polish ExtraLeague

The Polish ExtraLeague took place 6th-14th September took place in Karpacz. Strong players including David Navara took part.

Official site: http://www.kszstilon.pl/ekstraliga_seniorow_2008.htm

Polish ExtraLeague Karpacz (POL), 6-14 ix 2008
M-ce	Nr	Druzyna	Rank.	PKT	Pkt.	vs+	Sz.1	Sz.2
1	4	WASKO HetMaN Szopienice	2527	15.0	34.5	8;9;2;3;10;5;6;	5.5	6.5
2	8	AZS UMCS Lublin	2511	14.0	33.0	3;5;7;10;1;2;	6.0	5.0
3	3	Polonia Warszawa	2593	14.0	33.0	9;1;2;10;5;6;7;	4.0	6.5
4	6	KS Polonia Votum Wroclaw	2495	11.0	30.5	10;7;9;2;	5.0	5.0
5	7	PTSz Plock	2435	11.0	29.0	4;5;9;1;2;	5.5	4.0
6	1	JKSz MCKiS Jaworzno	2444	8.0	27.0	10;2;5;	5.5	3.5
7	9	Javena Hancza Suwalki	2391	7.0	23.5	2;10;1;	4.5	4.0
8	5	BKSz PROKONEX Brzeg	2364	7.0	22.0	9;2;10;	2.0	4.0
9	2	DRAKON - SKOK Chmielewskiego Lublin	2334	2.0	18.5	10;	4.5	2.5
10	10	Zelmer SMAK-EKO Górno	2387	1.0	19.0	a	2.5	4.0

12) Polish First League

The Polish First League took place 6th-14th September 2008 in Ustron.

Official site: http://1liga2008.to.pl/

Polish First League Ustron (POL), 6-14 ix 2008
1	LKS Pasjonat Dankowice	14.0	32.5
2	Pocztowiec Poznan	14.0	31.0
3	ASSz Miedz Legnica	13.0	28.5
4	Odrodzenie Kozuchów	12.0	29.5
5	AZS WSB Wroclaw	12.0	29.5
6	OTSz Ostrów Wielkopolski	9.0	27.0
7	Stilon Gorzów Wielkopolski	7.0	25.5
8	AKSz Hetman Koszalin	4.0	25.0
9	Silesia Racibórz	3.0	21.5
10	Baszta Znin	2.0	20.0

13) Vladimir Open

The Vladimir Open A took place 12th-22nd August .8.2008. Aleksej Aleksandrov took clear first with 8.5/10. I don't have a definitive final table, the FIDE site gives standings without rated games being taken into account and a crosstable that isn't in finishing order. I couldn't make the final table work from the official site. I give a table created from the games below.

Official site: http://www.vladchess.ru/files/soft.html and Results: http://ratings.fide.com/view_source.phtml?code=16054

Open A Vladimir (RUS), 12-22 viii 2008
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
1.	Aleksandrov, Aleksej	g	BLR	2574	+44	=20	+62	=13	+15	+16	+6	=2	+4	+7	8½	2749
2.	Shaposhnikov, Evgeny	g	RUS	2558	+29	+11	=16	=31	+30	=12	+21	=1	+19	-5	7	2580
3.	Kokarev, Dmitry	g	RUS	2582	+36	=12	+23	=16	+31	=7	=4	=8	=11	+19	7	2593
4.	Krapivin, Alexander	g	RUS	2471	=50	-15	+51	+53	+44	+24	=3	+6	-1	+16	7	2581
5.	Demchenko, Anton	m	RUS	2495	+47	=62	-20	+46	=17	=18	+35	+21	=12	+2	7	2544
6.	Popov, Valerij	g	RUS	2524	+43	+10	=21	=20	+18	+13	-1	-4	=14	+12	6½	2545
7.	Zabotin, Alexander	f	RUS	2491	+53	+18	-13	+17	+20	=3	-12	+22	+8	-1	6½	2551
8.	Voitsekhovsky, Stanislav	g	RUS	2513	+42	-17	=37	+27	=23	+10	+31	=3	-7	+22	6½	2516
9.	Danin, Alexandre	m	RUS	2469	=27	+41	-12	+54	=19	=29	+37	=16	+25	=11	6½	2473
10.	Kupreichik, Viktor D	g	BLR	2403	+45	-6	-30	+56	+26	-8	+39	=25	+28	+21	6½	2437
11.	Lavrik, Dmitry	f	RUS	2387	+55	-2	=53	+48	-14	+41	+38	+15	=3	=9	6½	2503
12.	Belous, Vladimir		RUS	2409	+59	=3	+9	+24	=13	=2	+7	-19	=5	-6	6	2549
13.	Ziatdinov, Raset	g	USA	2433	+49	+30	+7	=1	=12	-6	-19	=33	+42	=14	6	2495
14.	Bagirov, Rufat	g	AZE	2492	-37	=26	+42	+41	+11	-21	=33	+20	=6	=13	6	2436
15.	Krylov, Mikhail RUS	m	RUS	2462	=26	+4	=27	+49	-1	=30	+29	-11	=33	+31	6	2439
16.	Mikkelsen, Nikolaj	f	DEN	2430	+60	+32	=2	=3	+21	-1	=22	=9	+24	-4	6	2529
17.	Anoshkin, Alexander A	f	RUS	2362	+61	+8	=25	-7	=5	-22	+27	=31	=23	+34	6	2474
18.	Skomorokhin, Roman	m	RUS	2378	+56	-7	+26	+22	-6	=5	=25	=23	=31	+33	6	2477
19.	Zablotsky, Sergei	m	RUS	2514	-46	=51	+61	+43	=9	+20	+13	+12	-2	-3	6	2455
20.	Kovalenko, Igor	m	UKR	2415	+57	=1	+5	=6	-7	-19	+30	-14	=37	+42	5½	2457
21.	Gavrilov, Alexei1	m	RUS	2447	+48	+37	=6	+25	-16	+14	-2	-5	+29	-10	5½	2463
22.	Konovalov, Nikolay	m	RUS	2440	-32	+39	+46	-18	+28	+17	=16	-7	+30	-8	5½	2387
23.	Andreev, Eduard UKR	g	UKR	2455	+39	=46	-3	+50	=8	=35	=24	=18	=17	=26	5½	2423
24.	Kornev, Alexei	g	RUS	2523	+54	+33	=31	-12	+25	-4	=23	+26	-16	=27	5½	2426
25.	Ivanov, Oleg V	m	UKR	2467	+51	+35	=17	-21	-24	+42	=18	=10	-9	+37	5½	2420
26.	Bykov, Alexey1		RUS	2272	=15	=14	-18	+40	-10	+32	+36	-24	+47	=23	5½	2438
27.	Matinian, Nikita		RUS	2291	=9	+50	=15	-8	-38	+48	-17	+39	+36	=24	5½	2435
28.	Trifonov, Pavel		RUS	2213	-31	+34	=29	=33	-22	=40	+43	+44	-10	+35	5½	2419
29.	Pesotsky, Vitaly	m	UKR	2338	-2	+55	=28	=52	+32	=9	-15	+47	-21	+38	5½	2386
30.	Derbenev, Andrey		RUS	2302	+38	-13	+10	+32	-2	=15	-20	=35	-22	+40	5	2421
31.	Gorbatov, Alexej	m	RUS	2423	+28	+52	=24	=2	-3	+47	-8	=17	=18	-15	5	2407
32.	Mikheev, Stanislav	m	RUS	2244	+22	-16	+36	-30	-29	-26	=40	=50	+54	+47	5	2346
33.	Romanko, Marina	wg	RUS	2374	+63	-24	=48	=28	+39	=38	=14	=13	=15	-18	5	2355
34.	Dudukin, Ilya	f	RUS	2407	-52	-28	+55	-47	=48	+51	+53	=37	+45	-17	5	2250
35.	Domogaev, Sergey	m	RUS	2364	+58	-25	-49	+63	+52	=23	-5	=30	+46	-28	5	2256
36.	Molchanova, Tatjana	wm	RUS	2349	-3	+59	-32	-39	+63	+49	-26	+52	-27	+48	5	2255
37.	Svetlov, Dmitry	f	RUS	2306	+14	-21	=8	-38	+61	+44	-9	=34	=20	-25	4½	2373
38.	Mihajlovskij, Sergei		BLR	2484	-30	-48	+57	+37	+27	=33	-11	-42	+44	-29	4½	2276
39.	Savina, Anastasia		RUS	2269	-23	-22	+58	+36	-33	+54	-10	-27	+49	=45	4½	2253
40.	Balashov, Yuri S	g	RUS	2407	-41	-49	+59	-26	=56	=28	=32	+60	+43	-30	4½	2197
41.	Schepetkova, Margarita		RUS	2173	+40	-9	=44	-14	+43	-11	-54	-46	+59	+60	4½	2315
42.	Bojarinov, Victor A		RUS	2313	-8	=61	-14	+51	+50	-25	+60	+38	-13	-20	4½	2333
43.	Potapov, Alexey		RUS	2329	-6	+45	=60	-19	-41	+56	-28	+51	-40	+52	4½	2244
44.	Girya, Olga	wf	RUS	2350	-1	+57	=41	+60	-4	-37	+50	-28	-38	+53	4½	2293
45.	Uraev, Ivan		RUS	2150	-10	-43	-47	+58	-55	+63	+48	+54	-34	=39	4½	2199
46.	Orlov, Oleg		RUS	2315	+19	=23	-22	-5	=60	-52	=49	+41	-35	=51	4	2267
47.	Charochkina, Daria	wm	RUS	2309	-5	-56	+45	+34	+49	-31	+52	-29	-26	-32	4	2213
48.	Kolmakov, Pavel		RUS	2263	-21	+38	=33	-11	=34	-27	-45	+57	+50	-36	4	2267
49.	Chulivska, Vita	wm	UKR	2238	-13	+40	+35	-15	-47	-36	=46	=53	-39	+61	4	2253
50.	Simonov, Vladimir		RUS	2301	=4	-27	+56	-23	-42	+61	-44	=32	-48	+58	4	2170
51.	Stukopin, Andrey	f	RUS	2277	-25	=19	-4	-42	+59	-34	+57	-43	+61	=46	4	2253
52.	Maevsky, Nikolay		RUS	2171	+34	-31	=54	=29	-35	+46	-47	-36	=53	-43	3½	2235
53.	Yarysh, Grigorij	f	RUS	2304	-7	+58	=11	-4	=54	=60	-34	=49	=52	-44	3½	2187
54.	Borisova, Elizaveta		RUS	2316	-24	+63	=52	-9	=53	-39	+41	-45	-32	=55	3½	2138
55.	Maximov, Anton		RUS	2146	-11	-29	-34	=59	+45	-57	=56	-58	+63	=54	3½	2091
56.	Kutepov, Alexander		RUS	2114	-18	+47	-50	-10	=40	-43	=55	-59	=57	=63	3	2120
57.	Kurukin, Dmitry		RUS	2201	-20	-44	-38	-61	+58	+55	-51	-48	=56	=59	3	2067
58.	Timofeev, Mikhail		RUS	1876	-35	-53	-39	-45	-57	+59	+61	+55	-60	-50	3	2074
59.	Ruchkin, Ivan		RUS	2188	-12	-36	-40	=55	-51	-58	+63	+56	-41	=57	3	2049
60.	Vdovin, Sergei		RUS	2263	-16	.	=43	-44	=46	=53	-42	-40	+58	-41	2½	2111
61.	Babayan, Armine		ARM	2047	-17	=42	-19	+57	-37	-50	-58	+63	-51	-49	2½	2049
62.	Gagarin, Vasilij	m	RUS	2399	.	=5	-1	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	½	2341
63.	Ayzatulin, Rostislaw		RUS	2034	-33	-54	.	-35	-36	-45	-59	-61	-55	=56	½	1783

14) II ROMGAZ Open

The II ROMGAZ Open took place in Bucharest 11th-19th September. Alexei Fedorov edged out Dmitry Kononenko and Evgenij Miroshnichenko on tie-break after they all finished on 7.5/9.

Official site: http://www.turneulregilor.com and the results at: http://chess-results.com/tnr15672.aspx?lan=2

II ROMGAZ Open Bucharest (ROU), 11-19 ix 2008
Rank	Name	Ti	Rtg	FED	Pts	Res.
1	Fedorov Alexei	GM	2560	BLR	7½	1½
2	Kononenko Dmitry	GM	2502	UKR	7½	1
3	Miroshnichenko Evgenij	GM	2593	UKR	7½	½
4	Zubarev Alexander	GM	2517	UKR	7	0
5	Gelashvili Tamaz	GM	2612	GEO	7	0
6	Mamedov Nidjat	GM	2564	AZE	7	0
7	Lupulescu Constantin	GM	2589	ROU	7	0
8	Filippov Anton	GM	2531	UZB	7	0
9	Azarov Sergei	GM	2605	BLR	6½	0
10	Nisipeanu Liviu-Dieter	GM	2692	ROU	6½	0
11	Szabo Gergely-Andras-Gyula	IM	2514	ROU	6½	0
12	Savchenko Stanislav	GM	2558	UKR	6½	0
13	Grigore George-Gabriel	GM	2517	ROU	6½	0
14	Neverov Valeriy	GM	2573	UKR	6½	0
15	Gleizerov Evgeny	GM	2549	RUS	6½	0
16	Ulibin Mikhail	GM	2520	RUS	6½	0
17	Kurnosov Igor	GM	2617	RUS	6	0
18	Bachmann Axel	GM	2511	PAR	6	0
19	Suba Mihai	GM	2507	ROU	6	0
20	Jianu Vlad-Cristian	GM	2522	ROU	6	0
21	Nevednichy Vladislav	GM	2577	ROU	6	0
22	Zinchenko Yaroslav	GM	2523	UKR	6	0
23	Bonte Andrei-Mihai		2301	ROU	6	0
24	Malakhatko Vadim	GM	2612	BEL	6	0
25	Abasov Nijat Azad Oglu		2369	AZE	6	0
26	Cosma Ioan	IM	2457	ROU	6	0
27	Grunberg Mihai-Lucian	IM	2400	ROU	6	0
28	Petrenko Svetlana	IM	2283	MDA	6	0
29	Valeanu Eduard-Andrei		2440	ROU	6	0
30	Manea Alexandru	IM	2357	ROU	6	0
31	Sergeev Vladimir	GM	2508	UKR	5½	0
174 players

15) I Tancats Magistrals Vila de Canovelles

The I Tancats Magistrals Vila de Canovelles tournament took place 13th-21st September 2008. Omar Almdeida Quintana won the GM group with 7.5/9. Enrique Fernandez Aguado won the IM group. I give the IM group games again as I misidentified Raul Omar Gonzalez.

Official site: http://www.flancderei.com/index.php/archives/tag/i-tancat and results and games at: http://chess-results.com/tnr15849.aspx?tnr=15849&art=2&lan=2&flag=30&m=-1

I Tancats A Canovelles (ESP), 13-21 ix 2008												cat. VIII (2443)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Almeida Quintana, Omar	g	CUB	2524	*	0	1	1	½	1	1	1	1	1	7½	2707
2.	Cruz, Cristhian	f	PER	2508	1	*	½	½	½	1	½	½	1	1	6½	2602
3.	Rodriguez Vila, Andres	g	URU	2531	0	½	*	0	1	½	1	1	1	½	5½	2513
4.	Larino Nieto, David	m	ESP	2426	0	½	1	*	0	½	1	½	½	1	5	2488
5.	Pogorelov, Ruslan	g	UKR	2459	½	½	0	1	*	½	0	1	0	1	4½	2441
6.	Hernando Rodrigo, Jose Maria	m	ESP	2377	0	0	½	½	½	*	1	0	1	½	4	2407
7.	Cruz, Filemon	f	PER	2416	0	½	0	0	1	0	*	1	½	1	4	2403
8.	Lorenzo de la Riva, Lazaro	f	ESP	2367	0	½	0	½	0	1	0	*	1	½	3½	2371
9.	Rojas, Luis	m	CHI	2414	0	0	0	½	1	0	½	0	*	1	3	2321
10.	Jerez Perez, Alfonso	m	ESP	2410	0	0	½	0	0	½	0	½	0	*	1½	2173

I Tancats B Canovelles (ESP), 13-21 ix 2008												cat. IV (2327)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Fernandez Aguado, Enrique	f	ESP	2337	*	½	1	1	1	½	1	0	1	½	6½	2492
2.	Gonzalez, Raul Omar	f	ESP	2318	½	*	½	½	½	1	1	0	1	1	6	2453
3.	Panelo, Marcelo	m	ARG	2414	0	½	*	½	1	½	1	1	0	1	5½	2398
4.	Munoz Pantoja, Miguel	m	PER	2499	0	½	½	*	½	½	1	½	1	1	5½	2388
5.	Almeida Toledano, Daniel		ESP	2303	0	½	0	½	*	½	½	1	½	½	4	2287
6.	Randazzo, Adrian		ITA	2224	½	0	½	½	½	*	.	½	½	½	3½	2303
7.	Avila Jimenez, Javier		ESP	2286	0	0	0	0	½	.	*	1	1	1	3½	2303
8.	Rios, Alejandro	m	COL	2340	1	1	0	½	0	½	0	*	0	½	3½	2246
9.	Garcia Jimenez, Francisco Javier	f	ESP	2297	0	0	1	0	½	½	0	1	*	½	3½	2251
10.	Llaneza Vega, Patricia	wm	ESP	2260	½	0	0	0	½	½	0	½	½	*	2½	2169

16) Hungarian Championship

The 58th Hungarian Championship takes place in Nyiregyhaza (220 km east from Budapest) 12th-23rd September 2008.

The championship is an 16 participant, KO-system event with Zoltan Almasi (6 times Hungarian Champion) and Gyula Sax (Gold medalist of the Buenos Aires Olympiad, 1978).

Csaba Balogh and Zoltan Almasi are tied 1-1 in the final and have a rapid playoff tomorrow as do Gabor Kovacs and Robert Ruck in the 3rd-4th playoff.

Official site: http://www.hotelpagony.hu/ or more directly http://dodicsek.unsoft.hu/2008/0912ferfiko/menkoch2008.htm.

58th ch-HUN KO Nyiregyhaza (HUN), 12-23 ix 2008
Round 1						Round 2		Semi-Final		Final		Winner
Seed	Name	Ti	NAT	Elo	Score	Name	Score	Name	Score	Name	Score	Name
1	Almasi, Zoltan	g	HUN	2668	1½
						Almasi, Zoltan	2½
16	Papp, Gabor	m	HUN	2509	½
								Almasi, Zoltan	1½
8	Medvegy, Zoltan	g	HUN	2556	½
						Cao, Sang	1½
9	Cao, Sang	g	HUN	2491	1½
										Almasi, Zoltan	1
5	Erdos, Viktor	g	HUN	2576	0
						Gonda, Laszlo	1½
12	Gonda, Laszlo	m	HUN	2501	2
								Ruck, Robert	½
4	Ruck, Robert	g	HUN	2574	3½
						Ruck, Robert	2½
13	Szabo, Krisztian	m	HUN	2510	3½

3	Balogh, Csaba	g	HUN	2624	3
						Balogh, Csaba	2½
14	Czebe, Attila	g	HUN	2480	1
								Balogh, Csaba	2½
6	Groszpeter, Attila	g	HUN	2554	2½
						Sax, Gyula	1½
11	Sax, Gyula	g	HUN	2506	3½
										Balogh, Csaba	1
7	Horvath, Csaba	g	HUN	2537	½
						Horvath, Adam	2
10	Horvath, Adam	g	HUN	2513	1½
								Kovacs, Gabor	1½
2	Kovacs, Gabor	m	HUN	2505	1½
						Kovacs, Gabor	2
15	Gyimesi, Zoltan	g	HUN	2586	½

17) 7th Georgiev - Kesarovski Memorial

The 7th Georgiev - Kesarovski Memorial took place in Sunny Beach, Bulgaria 8th-14th September 2008. Krasimir Rusev won the event with 8/9. Final two rounds still aren't available although I managed to get three games from the viewer from round 9.

Official site: http://www.sunnybeach-chess.com/

18) European Youth Chess Championship

European Youth Chess Championship 2008 takes place in Herceg Novi (Montenegro) 14th-25th September 2008. 9 Round Swiss.

Official site: http://www.euroyouth2008.com/

European Youth Championships Herceg Novi (MNE), 14-25 ix 2008
B18 Rank after Round 6
Rk.	Name		FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1
1	Swiercz Dariusz	IM	POL	2456	5,0	14,5
2	Can Emre	IM	TUR	2460	5,0	14,0
3	Salgado Lopez Ivan	GM	ESP	2532	4,5	15,5
4	Stupak Kirill	IM	BLR	2458	4,5	15,5
5	Chirila Ioan Cristian	IM	ROU	2425	4,5	14,5
6	Benidze Davit	FM	GEO	2389	4,5	14,0
7	Piorun Kacper	FM	POL	2445	4,5	13,5
8	Vila Gazquez Xavier	IM	ESP	2419	4,5	13,5
9	Rozum Ivan	IM	RUS	2444	4,5	13,0
10	Kopylov Alexander A	FM	RUS	2421	4,5	13,0
11	Panocki Adrian		POL	2338	4,0	16,5
12	Anton Teodor		ROU	2353	4,0	16,0
13	Burg Twan	FM	NED	2359	4,0	15,0
14	Saric Ivan	IM	CRO	2511	4,0	15,0
15	Nabaty Tamir		ISR	2431	4,0	14,0
16	Recuero Guerra David	FM	ESP	2417	4,0	13,5
17	Volodin Aleksandr	IM	EST	2397	4,0	13,0
18	Rasulov Vugar	FM	AZE	2392	4,0	11,5
19	Shukh Nikolai	FM	RUS	2370	4,0	11,0
20	Krejci Jan	FM	CZE	2305	3,5	16,0
75 players
B16 Rank after Round 6
Rk.	Name		FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1
1	Ter-Sahakyan Samvel	FM	ARM	2480	5,0	18,0
2	Grandelius Nils	FM	SWE	2366	5,0	16,0
3	Prohaszka Peter	IM	HUN	2509	5,0	15,0
4	Sivuk Vitaly		UKR	2324	5,0	15,0
5	Nyzhnyk Illya	FM	UKR	2428	5,0	14,0
6	Yilmaz Mustafa	FM	TUR	2362	5,0	13,5
7	Ketzetzis Georgios		GRE	2099	4,5	17,0
8	Pavlidis Antonios		GRE	2266	4,5	15,0
9	Kanarek Marcel	FM	POL	2349	4,5	14,0
10	Witek Tomasz		POL	2125	4,5	13,0
11	Mazur Stefan		SVK	2237	4,5	12,5
12	Firat Burak		TUR	2219	4,5	12,0
13	Rombaldoni Axel	FM	ITA	2374	4,5	11,5
14	Strunski Andreas		GER	2294	4,5	11,5
113 players
B14 Rank after Round 6
Rk.	Name		FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1
1	Grigoryan Karen H	CM	ARM	2097	5,0	16,0
2	Fedoseev Vladimir	FM	RUS	2321	5,0	15,0
3	Bajarani Ulvi	FM	AZE	2202	5,0	15,0
4	Kovalev Vladislav	FM	BLR	2315	5,0	14,0
5	Bukavshin Ivan	FM	RUS	2350	5,0	14,0
6	Grib Roman		BLR	2033	4,5	15,0
7	Mammadov Zaur Fazahir Oglu		AZE	2114	4,5	14,5
8	Lagarde Maxime	FM	FRA	2322	4,5	14,0
9	Sochacki Christophe		FRA	2221	4,5	12,5
10	Mokhov Vladimir		RUS	2201	4,5	11,0
11	Galopoulos Panagiotis	FM	GRE	2200	4,5	11,0
12	Eranyan Khachatur		ARM	1963	4,0	15,5
13	Dragun Kamil		POL	2240	4,0	14,0
14	Seegert Kristian		DEN	2024	4,0	14,0
15	Nikologorskiy Konstantin	FM	RUS	2174	4,0	13,5
16	Baboyan Eduard		RUS	2125	4,0	13,5
17	De Filomeno Simone		ITA	2102	4,0	13,5
18	Handler Lukas		AUT	0	4,0	13,5
19	Juhasz Kristof		HUN	2175	4,0	13,5
20	Wieczorek Oskar		POL	2232	4,0	13,0
21	Pardo Simon David		ESP	2204	4,0	13,0
22	Hager Joshua Aarash		GER	2128	4,0	13,0
23	Sanchez Ibern Marc		ESP	2161	4,0	13,0
24	Pasiev Rakhim		RUS	2178	4,0	13,0
25	Kezin Roman		RUS	2235	4,0	13,0
26	Moiseenko Vadim		RUS	2225	4,0	13,0
27	Straka Josef Jr		SVK	2122	4,0	13,0
28	Van Der Lende Ilias		NED	1978	4,0	13,0
110 players
B12 Rank after Round 6
Rk.	Name		FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1
1	Dubov Daniil		RUS	2237	6,0	15,0
2	Berbatov Kiprian	FM	BUL	2250	5,0	16,5
3	Beradze Irakli		GEO	2097	5,0	16,5
4	Eliseev Urii		RUS	2244	5,0	15,5
5	Tomsia Kamil		POL	2075	5,0	15,0
6	Mindlin Alon		ISR	1885	5,0	13,5
7	Flermoen Peter		NOR	1936	5,0	13,0
8	Santos Latasa Jaime		ESP	2052	5,0	13,0
9	Bortnik Alexandr		UKR	2189	4,5	17,5
10	Khamidov Komil		POL	1932	4,5	15,0
11	Nikolov Mihail		BUL	1815	4,5	14,0
12	Cabarkapa Novak		SRB	1971	4,5	13,5
13	Kulas Szymon		POL	1845	4,5	13,5
14	Uusitupa Antti		FIN	0	4,5	13,0
15	Yuffa Daniil	CM	RUS	2109	4,5	10,5
128 players
B10 Rank after Round 6
Rk.	Name		FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1
1	Ali Marandi Cemil Can	CM	TUR	1809	5,5	14,0
2	Vetoshko Volodymyr		UKR	1930	5,0	17,5
3	Antal Tibor Kende		HUN	2036	5,0	16,5
4	Vavulin Maksim		RUS	1862	5,0	15,5
5	Vorontsov Pavlo		UKR	0	5,0	15,5
6	Grinberg Eyal		ISR	0	5,0	14,0
7	Emdin Mark		RUS	1832	5,0	12,0
8	Steinberg Nitzan		ISR	1959	4,5	17,0
9	Valev Valentin		BUL	1721	4,5	16,0
10	Duda Jan-Krzysztof		POL	1939	4,5	15,5
11	Mamedov Elmin		RUS	1793	4,5	14,5
12	Bellahcene Bilel		FRA	1717	4,5	14,5
13	Sheremet Anton		BLR	0	4,5	14,0
14	Sanal Vahap	CM	TUR	1814	4,5	13,0
15	Sadikhov Ulvi		AZE	1896	4,5	12,5
120 players
G18 Rank after Round 6
Rk.	Name		FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1
1	Girya Olga	WFM	RUS	2350	5,0	15,0
2	Fuchs Judith		GER	2197	5,0	14,5
3	Ozturk Kubra	WFM	TUR	2188	5,0	14,0
4	Nemcova Katerina	WGM	CZE	2372	5,0	13,5
5	Pavlidou Ekaterini		GRE	2034	4,5	15,5
6	Danelia Mariam	WFM	GEO	2185	4,5	14,0
7	Guadamuro Torrente Anabel	WFM	ESP	2105	4,0	16,0
8	Ohme Melanie	WFM	GER	2245	4,0	14,5
9	Demidowicz Maria		POL	2032	4,0	14,0
10	Kalashyan Varduhi		ARM	2049	4,0	14,0
11	Nowak Malgorzata		POL	2052	4,0	12,5
12	Agrest Inna		SWE	2206	4,0	12,5
13	Tsirulnik Maritsa		UKR	2110	4,0	12,5
14	Ni Viktorija	WFM	LAT	2129	4,0	12,0
15	Gosciniak Maria		POL	2096	4,0	11,0
16	Baptista Ana Filipa	WFM	POR	2137	4,0	10,5
17	Traistaru Teodora		ROU	2162	3,5	14,0
18	Manyoki Anna		HUN	2053	3,5	13,5
19	Mader Manuela	WFM	GER	2155	3,5	13,5
20	Rakic Marija		SRB	2276	3,5	13,0
21	Exler Veronika		AUT	2011	3,5	12,5
22	Novosadova Kristyna		CZE	2038	3,5	10,0
55 players
G16 Rank after Round 6
Rk.	Name		FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1
1	Tsatsalashvili Keti	WIM	GEO	2271	5,5	13,5
2	Repina Varvara	WFM	RUS	2201	5,0	16,0
3	Shvayger Yuliya		UKR	2151	5,0	13,5
4	Paikidze Nazi	WFM	GEO	2277	4,5	14,0
5	Gvanceladze Anna	WFM	RUS	2017	4,5	13,5
6	Suslova Alena	WFM	RUS	2184	4,5	13,0
7	Iordanidou Zoi		GRE	2060	4,5	13,0
8	Schut Donna		NED	2069	4,5	12,5
9	Abdulla Khayala Mardan Qizi		AZE	2029	4,5	11,0
10	Savina Anastasia		RUS	2269	4,0	15,5
11	Papp Petra		HUN	2118	4,0	15,0
12	Bulatkhanova Bika	WFM	RUS	1976	4,0	13,5
13	Homiakova Elena		BLR	2078	4,0	13,5
14	Zakoscielna Kinga	WFM	POL	2125	4,0	13,5
15	Adamowicz Katarzyna		POL	2063	4,0	13,0
16	Stetsko Lanita		BLR	2022	4,0	13,0
17	Forgues Valerie		FRA	1999	4,0	12,0
73 players
G14 Rank after Round 6
Rk.	Name		FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1
1	Arabidze Meri	WFM	GEO	2152	5,5	13,5
2	Baciu Diana		MDA	2016	5,0	16,0
3	Samigullina Diana	WFM	RUS	2102	5,0	16,0
4	Jalabadze Natia		GEO	2018	5,0	15,0
5	Foisor Mihaela-Veronica		ROU	2090	4,5	14,5
	Chrzaszcz Malvina		POL	1986	4,5	14,5
7	Kluchik Julia		RUS	1956	4,5	13,0
8	Lach Aleksandra	WFM	POL	2035	4,5	13,0
9	Efroimski Marsel	WFM	ISR	2091	4,0	17,5
10	Unapkoshvili Nani		GEO	1897	4,0	16,5
11	Sasmazel Burcu		TUR	1837	4,0	16,0
12	Azimova Karina		RUS	1908	4,0	16,0
13	Vasina Olena		UKR	1988	4,0	15,5
14	Vince Andrea		SRB	2082	4,0	13,5
	Revo Tanya		BLR	1954	4,0	13,5
16	Neuhauser Salome		FRA	1924	4,0	13,0
17	Papathanasiou Ageliki		GRE	1675	4,0	13,0
18	Klek Hanna-Marie		GER	1964	4,0	13,0
19	Aranaz Murillo Amalia		ESP	1959	4,0	12,5
20	Rakhmangulova Anastasiya		UKR	2053	4,0	12,5
21	Zmarzly Aleksandra		POL	1929	4,0	12,0
22	Lezhepekova Veronika		RUS	1889	4,0	11,0
82 players
G12 Rank after Round 6
Rk.	Name		FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1
1	Styazhkina Anna	WFM	RUS	1898	5,5	17,5
2	Navrotescu Andreea Cristiana		FRA	1740	5,5	15,5
3	Gogishvili Dea		GEO	1878	5,0	13,0
4	Fataliyeva Ulviyya Hasil Qizi	WCM	AZE	2000	4,5	15,5
5	Bivol Alina		RUS	1831	4,5	15,0
6	Dziodzio Angelika		POL	1704	4,5	15,0
7	Osmanodja Filiz		GER	1936	4,5	13,0
8	Bellaiche Elise		FRA	1769	4,5	13,0
9	Tantsiura Marja		UKR	1976	4,5	12,5
10	Cyboran Katarzyna		POL	1714	4,5	12,5
11	Milutinovic Stefana		SRB	1627	4,5	11,5
12	Lachowicz Judyta		POL	1651	4,0	17,0
13	Kostitsina Liubov		RUS	0	4,0	15,5
14	Marikova Jana		CZE	1789	4,0	13,5
15	Belova Olga		RUS	0	4,0	13,0
16	Visanescu Daria-Ioana	WFM	ROU	1802	4,0	12,5
17	Zarkovic Mila		SRB	1812	4,0	12,5
18	Khazieva Elza		RUS	1739	4,0	12,0
19	Rigolot Lucie		FRA	1709	4,0	10,0
80 players
G10 Rank after Round 6
Rk.	Name		FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1
1	Osmak Iulija		UKR	0	6,0	16,5
2	Harazinska Ewa		POL	0	5,0	15,0
3	Paramzina Anastasya		RUS	0	5,0	14,5
4	Katanova Marina		RUS	0	5,0	14,5
5	Kisteneva Liza		RUS	0	5,0	14,0
6	Hojjatova Aydan Hikmat Qizi		AZE	0	5,0	12,5
7	Rodionova Daria		RUS	0	4,5	14,0
8	Vasenina Anna		RUS	0	4,5	13,5
9	Zamalova Ramilya		RUS	0	4,5	13,5
10	Fedosenko Rogneda		BLR	0	4,5	12,5
77 players

19) Miami Chess Open

The Miami Chess Open took place September 10th-14th 2008 at the Hyatt Regency - Miami Convention Center. Ray Robson took the title after an Armaggeddon playoff following a tie on 7/9 with Darmen Sadvakasov.

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

Miami Open (USA), 10-14 ix 2008
#	Rtng	Name	Tot	Prize
1	Darmen Sadvakasov	GM	7	3750
2	Ray S Robson	IM	7	3750
3	Victor Mikhalevski	GM	6.5	850
4	Julio J Becerra	GM	6.5	850
5	Davorin Kuljasevic	IM	6.5	850
6	Salvijus Bercys	IM	6.5	850
7	Marc R Esserman		6.5	850
8	Jacek Stopa	IM	6	325
9	Andrei Co Florean	IM	6	325
10	Renier Gonzalez	IM	5.5	108.33
11	John Bartholomew	IM	5.5	108.33
12	Vinay S Bhat	IM	5.5	108.33
13	Dean J Ippolito	IM	5.5	108.33
14	David Pruess	IM	5.5	108.33
15	Keaton Kiewra	FM	5.5	108.33
16	Eric Rodriguez		5.5	1500
17	Alexander Ivanov	GM	5
18	Joshua Ed Friedel	IM	5
19	Irina Krush	IM	5
20	Dionisio Aldama	IM	5
21	Justin Sarkar	IM	5
22	Marcel Martinez	FM	5
23	Kazim Gulamali	FM	5
24	Ernesto Alvarez		5	550
25	Ryan Joseph Moon		5	550
26	Alexander Shabalov	GM	4.5
27	Jaan Ehlvest	GM	4.5
28	Marko Zivanic	IM	4.5
29	Gildardo J Garcia	GM	4.5
30	Tautvydas Vedrickas		4.5
31	Patrick Scharrer		4.5
32	Victor Kaminski		4.5
33	Artem Edm Ruppert		4.5
34	Troy Daly		4.5
35	Gregory J Kimmel		4.5
36	Drasko Boskovic	IM	4
61 players

20) Schwarzach Open

The Schwarzach Open 2008 took place 16th-24th August in Schwarzach/Austria.

The main tournament was won by GM Zoran Jovanovic followed by GM Mladen Palac and GM Robert Zelcic all with 7.0 points out of nine rounds. News: Wolfgang Perner

Official site: http://www.chess-results.com/tnr13060.aspx?tnr=13060&art=1&lan=0&flag=30&m=-1

23rd Open Schwarzach (AUT), 16-24 viii 2008
Rg.	Name		FED	Elo	Pkt.	Wtg1	Wtg2	Wtg3
1	Jovanovic Zoran	GM	CRO	2557	7,0	49,0	40,25	2381
2	Palac Mladen	GM	CRO	2587	7,0	48,0	39,75	2327
3	Zelcic Robert	GM	CRO	2593	7,0	46,5	38,00	2273
4	Krivoborodov Egor	IM	RUS	2414	6,5	48,0	37,25	2344
5	Semcesen Daniel	FM	SWE	2387	6,0	48,0	31,75	2352
6	Smith Axel		SWE	2427	6,0	46,0	33,00	2289
7	Bejtovic Jasmin	FM	BIH	2335	6,0	45,5	31,25	2245
8	Franciskovic Borka	WIM	CRO	2251	6,0	44,5	29,75	2268
9	Grandelius Nils	FM	SWE	2366	6,0	44,5	28,75	2236
10	Reefschläger Helmut	IM	GER	2310	6,0	43,5	28,25	2274
11	Tikkanen Hans	IM	SWE	2417	6,0	43,0	29,50	2234
12	Zakharchenko Arnold	IM	UKR	2271	6,0	42,5	28,00	2243
13	Baldauf Marco		GER	2313	6,0	42,0	29,25	2209
14	Durakovic Alman		BIH	2151	6,0	38,0	24,25	2162
15	Womacka Mathias	IM	GER	2437	5,5	47,5	30,25	2305
16	De Marchi Olivier		FRA	2214	5,5	46,5	27,25	2329
17	Schulenburg Fabian		GER	2163	5,5	43,5	26,00	2252
18	Ljubic Juro		CRO	2222	5,5	43,0	26,75	2148
19	Hager Joshua Aarash		GER	2128	5,5	43,0	24,50	2233
20	Raykhman Alexander		GER	2267	5,5	42,5	25,00	2204
21	Fiderer Lukas		GER	2099	5,5	40,0	24,50	2197
22	Popa Claudio	CM	ITA	2173	5,5	40,0	20,75	2245
23	Jens Jelmer	IM	NED	2397	5,5	39,5	26,25	2117
24	Billing Christian		GER	2155	5,5	35,5	20,50	2159
25	Legahn Dirk		GER	2190	5,0	45,0	25,00	2238
92 players

21) Torre Normanna Hotel Village

Torre Normanna Hotel Village international chess festival took place 8th-14th September 2008. Arkadij Rotstein edged out Evgeny Sveshnikov on tie-break after both scored 7.5/9. No games available.

Official site: http://www.centroscacchi.it/torrenormanna/

Torre Normanna International (ITA), 8-14 ix 2008
Pos	NAME	T	Fed	Rtg	Pts	Buc1	BucT
1	ROTSTEIN Arkadij	GM	GER	2500	7.5	46	50.5
2	SVESHNIKOV Evgeny	GM	LAT	2510	7.5	45	46.5
3	SVESHNIKOV Vladimir	FM	LAT	2413	6.5	46.5	50.5
4	PISCOPO Pierluigi	IM	LE	2389	6.5	44.5	45
5	LJUBISAVLJEVIC Zivoj	IM	SRB	2261	5.5	47.5	52
6	GENOCCHIO Daniele	FM	TV	2420	5	46	50.5
7	ANTKOWIAK Grzegorz	--	POL	2186	5	46	49.5
8	PASCUCCI Marco	CM	PA	2009	5	42	45
9	GANCI Fabrizio	CM	PA	2208	5	39	42.5
10	PALAZZOTTO Giuseppe	1N	PA	1873	4.5	42	43.5
11	VALGUARNERA Girolamo	-M	PA	2168	4.5	42	42.5
12	FERRANTE Marco	CM	PA	2142	4.5	38.5	41.5
13	SALAFIA Andrea	CM	PA	1959	4.5	37	40
14	TONDO Salvatore	CM	SR	1873	4.5	36	36.5
15	FIDUCIOSO Marco	CM	TP	2103	4.5	35	36.5
16	PULEO Diego	1N	PA	1914	4	35.5	36
17	PALMITESSA Chiara	2N	BA	1743	4	31	32.5
18	DI MISA Salvatore	1N	PA	1900	4	31	31.5
46 players

22) 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/

23) XXI Moratalaz International Open

XXI Moratalaz International Open takes place in Barakaldo (Spain) 20th-28th September 2008. Top seed Alexander Fier.

Results: http://chess-results.com/tnr15989.aspx?lan=2

24) XXI Trofeo Ayuntamiento de Barakaldo

The XXI Trofeo Ayuntamiento de Barakaldo takes place 19th-26th September 2008.

Official site: http://www.terra.es/personal4/cabarakaldo/home.htm?

25) 12th Tehran Chess Ramadan Cup

The 12th Tehran Chess Ramadan Cup took place 10th-18th September 2008. Elshan Mordiabadi took clear first with 8/9. No games available.

Results: http://chess-results.com/tnr15844.aspx?lan=2

12th Tehran Chess Ramadan Cup (IRI), 10-18 ix 2008
Rk.	Number	Ti	FED	Elo	Pts.	Des 1	Des 2	Des 3
1	Moradiabadi Elshan	GM	IRI	2497	8,0	52,0	46,0	44,5
2	Sharbaf Mohsen	FM	IRI	2417	7,5	53,5	48,5	46,0
3	Darban Morteza	IM	IRI	2390	7,5	51,5	46,5	43,5
4	Dalir Alireza		IRI	2089	7,5	49,5	45,5	42,0
5	Mahjoob Morteza	GM	IRI	2502	7,0	51,0	46,0	43,5
6	Shafee H.		IRI	2132	7,0	50,0	45,0	42,5
7	Sadeghi M A		IRI	2199	7,0	49,5	45,5	42,0
8	Abedi Ali		IRI	2241	7,0	47,5	42,5	39,5
9	Vahidi Mohammad	FM	IRI	2183	7,0	47,0	44,5	39,0
10	Bolourchifard Farzad		IRI	1915	7,0	47,0	42,5	40,0
11	Mahmoody M Sadegh		IRI	2181	7,0	45,5	41,5	38,5
12	Dalir Faradj		IRI	2187	7,0	45,5	41,5	38,0
13	Zarepisheh Gholamreza		IRI	2113	7,0	42,0	38,0	35,0
14	Idani Pouya		IRI	1937	6,5	52,0	47,0	44,0
15	Doostkam P		IRI	2155	6,5	48,0	43,5	41,0
16	Lavasani Hossein		IRI	1868	6,5	46,0	42,0	38,0
17	Maesoumi Mahdi		IRI	0	6,5	44,5	40,5	37,0
18	Pourhassannedjad Arash		IRI	2007	6,5	43,5	39,0	36,5
19	Khalesi Vahid		IRI	2219	6,5	41,5	37,0	35,0
20	Pajoum Tajani Farbod		IRI	1822	6,5	35,5	33,0	30,0
188 players

26) 3rd Riviera dei Cedri International

3rd Riviera dei Cedri International Chess Festival took place in Belvedere 8th-14th September 2008. Tigran Gharamian took clear first place with 7/9. No games available.

Official site: http://scacchi.rivieradeicedri.it/

3rd Riviera dei Cedri International (ITA), 8-14 ix 2008
Pos	NAME	T	Fed	Rtg	Pts	Buc1	BucT	ARO
1	Gharamian Tigran	IM	FRA	2560	7	46.5	50.5	2414.33
2	Sikula Vaszilij	IM	UKR	2540	6.5	47	52	2462.89
3	Simutowe Amon	IM	ZAM	2458	6.5	46.5	50.5	2404.33
4	Buhmann Rainer	GM	GER	2561	6.5	46.5	49	2424.11
5	Naumkin Igor	GM	RUS	2502	6	44	47.5	2355
6	VOCATURO Daniele	IM	ITA	2417	5.5	45	48.5	2350.67
7	ROMBALDONI Denis	IM	ITA	2418	5.5	44.5	48.5	2355.67
8	Marholev Dimitar	IM	BUL	2366	5.5	43.5	47	2286.22
9	Wirig Anthony	IM	FRA	2456	5.5	42.5	46.5	2350.22
10	Ninov Nikolai	IM	BUL	2515	5.5	40.5	45	2354.56
11	Andonov Bogomil	IM	BUL	2326	5.5	38	41.5	2207.33
12	BLASCO Domenico	-M	ITA	2015	5.5	33.5	36.5	2060.78
13	Maiorov Nikita	GM	BLR	2535	5	47	51.5	2408.11
14	Spassov Liuben	GM	BUL	2428	5	43	46	2303.89
15	SCHACHER Gerd	-M	ITA	2291	5	42.5	47.5	2388.33
16	Okhotnik Vladimir	IM	FRA	2468	5	41	44	2246
17	Borsos Bogdan	IM	UKR	2377	5	39	41.5	2197
18	CAPPAI Davide	CM	ITA	2122	5	38.5	41.5	2187.78
19	Paniagua Roberto	--	PAN	2285	5	33.5	36	2070
20	Motuz Karol (W)	FM	SVK	2339	4.5	44	48	2342.75
21	Damia Angelo	FM	ITA	2247	4.5	38	41	2181
22	PIENABARCA Nicola	CM	ITA	2101	4.5	38	41	2051.11
23	Hasanli Sirus Ibarat	--	AZE	1970	4.5	36.5	40	2108.89
24	Piccoli Vincenzo	--	ITA	1932	4.5	36	38.5	2068.78
25	Pagano Sergio	--	ITA	2033	4.5	32.5	36	2000
46 players

27) XXI Trofeo Ayuntamiento de Barakaldo

The XXI Trofeo Ayuntamiento de Barakaldo takes place 19th-26th September 2008. Juan Mario Gomez Esteban is top seed.

Official site: http://www.terra.es/personal4/cabarakaldo/home.htm?

28) National Chess League Argentina

The National Chess League started in Villa Martelli on the 9th August. Coverage below. I will round up the games at the conclusion of the event.

Official site: http://www.lna.org.ar/liga08/lna2008.htm

National Chess League Argentina (ARG), 9 viii - ? 2008 Leading Round 7 Standings:
Rank	Equipo	Part.	+	=	-	Pts.	BUC
1	Martelli - Vte. Lopez	7	4	2	1	15½	82½
2	Municipalidad de Moreno	7	5	0	2	14½	83½
3	Asociados Credicoop	7	4	1	2	13½	84
4	TorreBlanca - ChesShop	7	4	2	1	13	83
5	T & E - San Martin	7	3	2	2	13	71½
6	CAM 3 - Tres de Febrero	7	4	1	2	12	82½
7	Calice - Liguria	7	2	4	1	11½	87
8	GEBA	7	4	2	1	11½	84
9	Circulo Patagonico	7	2	3	2	11½	73
10	San Isidro Perfil Jaque	7	3	1	3	11	75½
11	Miguel Tal - Malvinas	7	3	1	3	10	73
12	Art/Chess	7	4	1	2	10	63
13	Ventajedrez - Plastigal	7	2	0	5	9½	77½
14	Najdorf - Polvorines	7	3	0	4	9½	65
15	Mar del Plata Los lobos	7	4	0	3	9½	53
	Pergamino	7	4	0	3	9½	53
17	Ferro	7	2	2	3	8½	61½
18	Rondi - Mupas	7	3	0	4	8½	51½
19	M. Parrinello	7	2	2	3	8	76
20	Los Ranqueles	7	2	0	5	5½	55½
21	Edifiko - AAAC	7	1	0	6	5	51½

29) Forthcoming Events and Links

8th Winterthur Chess Week

The 8th Winterthur (SUI) Chess Week takes place 3rd-12th October 2008. The tournament comprises two opens (Masters Open (Elo > 1899) / General Open (Elo < 2001)), the ACCENTUS Young Masters, a Youth Open and two blitz (individual and team) events.

The tournament homepage is located at http://www.schachwoche.org where the top four boards of the masters open will be broadcasted live during the tournament.

Leon Open

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

Details: http://www.openmundialdeleon.com

North American FIDE Invitationals

North American FIDE Invitationals. Are you on the hunt for your GM or IM norms? Visit http:/www.nachess.org/fide for the tournament schedule or contact Sevan A. Muradian at info@nachess.org for more information.

II Magistral do Circulo Militar

The II Magistral do Circulo Militar takes place Sao Paulo, 1st-9th October 2008.

Official site: http://www.comunic.com.br/xadrez/

Villa Martelli

There is a new Villa Martelli chess festival 9th-28th October 2008.

Official site: http://www.ajedrezmartelli.org.ar/

So - Torre Match 2009

14-year-old Wesley So and 56-year-old Eugene Torre play a 12 game match starting February 10, 2009 at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City. Two games each will be played in Quezon City, Davao and Iloilo, and if the match remains undecided, the protagonists will return to Quezon City and finish the match. A knockout game will be played if the duel ends up 6-6. The winner will take home P600,000 while the loser will earn P400,000.Another P100,000 goes to the winner of each provincial leg while the loser will get P50,000.

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.

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

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/

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

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

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

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

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/

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.