THE WEEK IN CHESS 788 15th December 2009 by Mark Crowther

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1) Introduction

My thanks to Luiz Roberto Da Costa Jr, Miklos Orso, Adolivio Capece, Jan Mazuch, Ian Rogers, Jesus Mena, Lou Caruana and everyone else who helped with the issue.

This is very much a speedy review of the week's chess as I'm at the London Chess Classic reporting round by round on this exciting event and very busy! With a round to go Magnus Carlsen leads and a draw will guarantee him top place in the FIDE rating list in January. Just behind him is Vladimir Kramnik and these two have very much dominated proceedings. Most rounds have been very exciting with most of the games being very competitive. I may be a bit biased as the organiser is Malcolm Pein who supports TWIC through the London Chess Centre but the organisation has been wonderful and the layout for the visiting public and those playing in the side events are also very good. The FIDE World Cup also came to a conclusion today when Boris Gelfand triumphed in a blitz playoff in the final against Ruslan Ponomariov. This earns him a place in the FIDE World Chess Championship cycle.

Hope you enjoy this issue.

Mark

2) London Chess Classic

The London Chess Classic takes place in the Olympia Conference Centre 7th-15th December 2009

A star studded field comprising England's four leading Grandmasters; Nigel Short, Michael Adams, Luke McShane and David Howell, former world champion Vladimir Kramnik, 18 year old Magnus Carlsen widely seen as a future champion, one of China's finest players; Ni Hua and the US Champion Hikaru Nakamura completes the field.

Full details at: http://www.londonchessclassic.com or call the London Chess Center on 0207 388 2404.

3) FIDE World Cup 2009

The World Cup took place in Khanty-Mansiysk 20th November - 15th December 2009. The event is part of the next world championship cycle. 7 rounds of knockout chess produce the winner Boris Gelfand who beat Ruslan Ponomariov in the final.

FIDE World Cup Khanty-Mansiysk (Khantiy Mansiysk RUS)

Fri 20th Nov 2009 - Tue 15th Dec 2009 - Official Site

World Cup (128 players 7 Rds KO Indiv TC:90m:30m+30spm(1) Rapid TC:25m:5spm(1) Blitz TC:5m:3spm(1))

4) Schachbundesliga 2009-10

The Schachbundesliga in Germany is the strongest league in the world.

Rounds 5 and 6 were on the 12th and 13th of December 2009. Baden-Baden are the only team left on 100%.

Official site: http://www.schachbundesliga.de/

5) Indian Premier National A Championship

The 47th National Premier Championship took place in Mumbai 1st-14th December 2009. B Abhidan took clear first place with 10/13 a point and a half clear of the rest of the field.

Official site: http://www.indianchessfed.org/. Results: http://chess-results.com/tnr27773.aspx

6) Brazilian Championships

The Brazlilan Championships took place 2nd-11th December 2009. Giovanni Vescovi took clear first place with 8.5/11 half a point clear of Gilberto Milos.

Official site: http://www.fpx.com.br/2009/bra2009/infos2009.htm - Games: http://www.fpx.com.br/visor2009/brasileiro2.html

7) US Chess League

The US Chess League took place August 31st - 7th December 2009. Yet again the event went to a blitz tie-break in the final. The New York Knights took first place. The time control for regular games was 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move.

Irina Krush on the final

http://www.uschessleague.com/

8) Milan Crespi Memorial

The Milan Crespi Memorial took place in Milan (Italy), December 5th-13th 2009. This was the 30th edition of the tournament. Vadim Shishkin took first place from Sinisa Drazic, Andrey Sumets, Vladimir Malaniuk, Miroljub Lazic and Ivan Farago on tie-break after all finished on 6.5/9.

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

9) First Saturday December

The First Saturday GM-IM all-play-all tournaments take place Budapest 5th-16th of December 2009.

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

10) Commonwealth Chess Championships

The Masterskill Commonwealth Chess Championships took place 9th-15th December 2009 in conjunction with the 6th Singapore International Chess Festival. Enrique Paciencia took clear first place with 7.5/9.

Blog: http://commonwealthchampionships2009.blogspot.com/

Results: http://www.chess-results.com/tnr27873.aspx?lan=1

11) Pilsen Open

The Pilsen Open took place 5th-12th December 2009. Sebastian Plischki won on tie-break from Pawel Szablowski after both finished from 7/9. Games from the final 3 rounds not yet available.

Official site: http://www.czechtour.net/pilsen-open/results-and-games/

12) Slovenian Team League

Slovenian Team League takes place 11th-16th December in Rogaska Slatina. There are 29 GM’s and 24 IM’s registered for 10 teams (6 players), top 10 are: Berkes Ferenc, Predojevic Borki, Beliavsky Alexander, Markuc Robert, Stevic Hrvoje, Kozul Zdenko, Nikolic Predrag, Kryvoruchko Yuriy, Lenic Luka, Pavasovic Dusko.

All games will be broadcast live at http://www.sah-zveza.si/rez/0912/si09lgdm/,

13) Dutch League

The Dutch League takes place 26th September 2009 - 18th April 2010. Round 4 took place on the 12th December 2009, the games should be available next week.

Rounds: Round 1 - 26th September, Round 2 - 31 October, Round 3 - 21st November, Round 4 - 12th December 2009. Round 5 - 9th January Round 6 - 6th February, Round 7 - 6th March, Round 8 - 27 March, Round 9 - 18 April 2010.

Official site: http://www.schaakbond.nl/wedstrijdschaak/knsb-competitie.

Further info: http://www.schakers.info/

14) Italian Championship

The Italian Championship took place in Sarre 23rd November - 4th December 2009. Lexy Ortega took first place after a playoff against Michele Godena, Carlo D'Amore took 3rd place from Denis Rombaldoni and Fabio Bruno after a playoff (round robin, 3rd place was the only one that was important so once he secured victory the remaining games weren't played).

Official site: http://www.federscacchi.it/cia2009/index.php

15) New Sponsorship Deal for Australian Junior Chess

New Sponsorship Deal for Australian Junior Chess 15th December 2009

Australian junior chess, already feting their first World Champion in Melbourne’s Bobby Cheng, has a new reason to celebrate with the signing of a new sponsor for the national chess Junior Elite Training Squad, JETS.

The JETS squad, founded in 2000, features 30 of the best junior players from around Australia, with an emphasis on developing the skills of young talents of 14 years or less. Johns-Putra Limited has agreed to fully fund the 2010 JETS squad, including the national camp in Sydney in July.

Managing Director of Johns-Putra Limited, Geraldine Johns-Putra expressed her pleasure at the agreement struck with the Australian Junior Chess League, the organiser of the JETS squad; "As someone who has benefited tremendously from chess as a junior, I feel privileged to be in a position to do something for Australian juniors today. Many of the opportunities I gained through chess would not have been possible without the support of individuals who donated time and money. I wish all of the juniors in the JETS squad the best and hope that they learn and grow as much as they can from this wonderful initiative. "

Johns-Putra Limited is a London-based boutique legal consulting practice focussing on cross-border China mergers and acquisitions. Its mission is to help clients build bridges between China and the West and to secure success across cultures. It is committed to advancing cross-cultural business in China and is one of the few boutique legal consulting practices in cross-border corporate transactions in China.

The Australian Junior Chess League is dedicated to organising and promoting chess among young people around Australia. In January the AJCL will be backing the Australian Junior Championships in Hobart and later in 2010 will select players to represent Australia at the Asian and World Junior Championships.

For more information, please contact Geraldine Johns-Putra, on +44 (0)20 7286 7664 or at geraldine@johns-putra.com, or Ian Rogers, Deputy President AJCL, on +61 (0)416599230 or GMIanRogers@gmail.com ."

16) Forthcoming Events and Links

52nd Reggio Emilia Tournament

The 52nd Reggio Emilia Tournament, category XV, takes place 28th December 2009 - 6th January 2010. The tournament will consist of 10 players in a round robin at the 4-star Mercure Grand Hotel Astoria in the center of Reggio Emilia. January 1st will be a rest day.

Official website: http://www.ippogrifoscacchi.it/default.asp

19th Pamplona tournament

19th Pamplona tournament takes place 21st-29th December 2009.

Official site: http://www.chesspamplona.com/English.html

9th Amplico Life Warsaw 2009

The 9th Amplico Life rapid tournament takes place in Warsaw 19th-20th December 2009. Ivanchuk and Shirov head the entries.

Official site; http://www.poloniachess.pl/amplico2009/

Bermuda open

2010 BERMUDA INTERNATIONAL OPEN 5th-7th February 2009, Cocktail party & Blitz on the 4th Fairmont Southampton Resort & C.C.

FIDE event with FIDE ratings available; 60 GP pts. PRIZES: 1st $1,000; 2nd $800; 3rd $600; 4th $400; 5th $200; U2200, U2000, U1800, U1600: $250, $150, $100 each group

Also airfare from NY area and hotel for 2011 to 1st overall and 1st untitled player Trophy for first place in each category. Entry fee $100 on site only. Rds. Fri 8pm, S&S 9 & 3 Sunday evening free dinner buffet & bar for all players and spouses Hotel 1-800-441-1414; $179+tax

Contacts: Nigel Freeman nigelfreeman@fide.com, C. Jarecki carolj10280@yahoo.com

South Lakes Congress

The South Lakes Congress is taking place on w/e of 11-13th June 2010 at The Grand Hotel, Grange-over-Sands. The contact for the event is: Trevor Blower, 18 Blackbutts Lane, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria LA14 3AP. email: trevor.blower@talktalk.net, Phone No 01229 472100.

Austrian Bundesliga

The first weekend of the Austrian Bundesliga (11 rounds) took place 6th-8th November 2009 in Jenbach, Austria.

Time control: 100 minutes for 40 moves an additional 50 minutes with 30 seconds per move starting from move 1.

Remaining fixtures: 14th-17th January 2010 in Graz and 27th-30th March 2010 in Baden.

Official site: http://www.chess.at/staatsligen/stl_a.htm

Results: http://www.chess-results.com/tnr21147.aspx

Two Hungarian events

1. 26th of Nov until 4th of Dec.Tenkes Cup, Harkany, Link to: http://baranyasakk.hu/index.php?cat=naptar&id=3&age=0&vid=15&lang=en&det=12 - Open 9 rounds Swiss, 250 km West from Budapest, free thermal bathes, Organizer: Mr. Fulop, Csaba e-mail address: fulopcsa@invitel.hu First rize: bruttó 1800 Euros (in HUF)

2,5th-16th of December Budapest, First Saturday GM-IM-FM ELO tournaments, 9...11 rounds, Org: Nagy Laszlo, e-mail: firstsat@hu.inter.net - link to: http://www.firstsaturday.hu

Czech Tour 2009-10

5.-12.12. 2009 1st PILSEN OPEN (Central hotel) - http://www.czechtour.net/pilsen-open/

8-15.1. 2010 9th PRAGUE OPEN (TOP HOTEL Praha) - http://www.czechtour.net/prague-open/

16-23.1. 2010 9th MARIENBAD OPEN (Kossuth hotel) - http://www.czechtour.net/marienbad-open/

13-20.2. 2010 1st NOVY BOR OPEN (Grandhotel Prazak) - http://www.czechtour.net/novy-bor-open/

The registration deadline for 3rd SOUTH BOHEMIA OPEN, which takes place 14.-21.11. 2009 in the town of Cesky Krumlov (http://www.czechtour.net/south-bohemia-open/), which is one of the most beautiful places in the Czech Republic, has been prolonged without extra fee for the late enrolment till 9.11. 2009.

Preliminary starting lists on 4.11. 2009 should be found at http://www.czechtour.net/news/.

Spassky - Korchnoi Match

Boris Spassky vs Viktor Korchnoi 8 game Match Elista, Russia, 17th-27th Dec, 2009. 400th Aniversary Kalmykia - Russia. Prize Fund US$ 20.000

Rilton Cup 2009-10

The XXXIX Rilton Cup takes place 27th December 2009 - 5th January 2010.

The 39th Rilton Cup has a prize fund of more than SEK 200 000 (about 22 000 euro) and will be played in three groups: Rilton Cup, Rilton Elo and Rilton Open (Rilton Open is only open for Nordic players with a rating lower than national 1800). Rilton Cup and Rilton Elo is Elo registrated and play 9 rounds FIDE-Swiss.

Send your entry with name, address, country, Elo rating and Elo ID by mail, fax or e-mail, no later than the 17th of December to: Stockholm’s Chess Federation, att.: "Rilton Cup". Pg 25 79 58-9 or Bg 822-1301.

Mobile telephones (cell phones) are not allowed in the playing hall! Playing hall: Malarsalen, Münchenbryggeriet, Torkel Knutssonsgatan 2, Stockholm, SWEDEN

Details: http://www.rilton.se - http://www.rilton.se/invitation0910.asp - http://www.rilton.se/players.asp

Corus Wijk aan Zee 2010

The field for the 2010 Corus tournament in Wijk aan Zee has been announced. Dates Friday 15th January 2010 - Sunday 31st January 2010.

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

The A-Group is category XIX and once again is a pretty exciting field.

The B-Group is a not too shabby category 16 and once again they have a mixed field of youth and experience that should provide some real entertainment.

There will also be a C-Group, the field will be announced later.

Hastings Chess Congress 2009-10

The Hastings Chess Congress takes place 28th December 2009 - 5th January 2010.

Contact details conpowr@aol.com

Official site: http://www.hastingschess.org.uk

Gibtelecom Masters 2010

The Gibtelecom Masters takes place 26th January - 4 February 2010.

Contact details: hotel conf.banq@caletahotel.gi; technical stewartreuben@aol.com.

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

Moscow Non-Stop Chess Events of the World Chess Tour

Following round-robin tournaments (GM. IM. rating) of the "World Chess Tour 2009/10" series. Autumn / Winter 2009/10:

2009: 18-28.11, 29.11-10.12, 13-22.12.

2010: 2-13.01, 17-28.01, 9-19.02, 20.02-3.03 etc.

Since November 2009 also "Non-stop" events are available. in different formats (depending of participant's wish: 1) 5-6 days 2) 7-8 days 3) 9-11 days 4) 12-15 days 5) 16-21 days 6) 22-31 days 7) more than 1 month.

Contact: GM Igor Glek. Phone mobile: Russia: (7)903-5593052, (7)926-0523889 Germany: (49)152-04014194 Phone/Fax (Russia): (7)495-4336634 Skype: Prinzflorisel E-mail: wlct06@gmail.com, worldchesstour@gmail.com

Official site: http://www.chess-events.org/

Official site: www.chess-events.org/en_US/rr-tur.html

II World Chess Open In Leon

The II WORLD CHESS OPEN in Leon (Spain) takes place 1st-3rd January 2010, from Friday to Sunday.

31st December 2009 sees a special dinner and a party, which will be of course optional for the players and companion and which will have an special price. We hope that all chess legends invited by the organisation will come and enjoy this celebration.

1st day of January first game starts at 17.00 pm and ches players who cannot arrive in time can ask 2 byes for both games of 1st of january (2 half points).

Total Prizes are around 30.000€, and first is 5000€. Prizes for players below 2350 ELO FIDE (10 prizes and 1st is 1000 €), below 2200 ELO FIDE, and below 2000 ELO FIDE.

TIME CONTROL: Players will have 35 minutes plus 3 additional seconds per move so they are not so rapid games as usual.

Amongst the players who can be invited by the organisation this time are Nigel Short, Robert Hubner, Mark Taimanov, Vlastimil Hort, Henrique Mecking, Bent Larsen, Eugene Torre, Jan Elhvest, Borislav Ivkov, Svetozar Gligoric, Maia Chiburdanidze, Oleg Romanishin, Lev Psakhis, Gyula Sax, Gheorguiu, Uhlmann, Sveshnikov, Smejkal, Vasiukov, Vaganian, Unzicker, Kurajica, Suba, Lilienthal…We will invite 8-10 players.

Official web page, http://www.openmundialdeleon.com

8th Nancy Chess Festival

The 8th Nancy (France) Chess Festival takes place 22nd-28th February 2010.

Website (with english informations page) : http://echecs54.free.fr Contact : philippe.chr@free.fr

Serie of closed tournaments round-robins 10 players each : Group A for GM-norm (in 2009 : category 13, average 2557, winner Harikrishna), group B for IM-norms, group C for 10 players over 2200 elo, group D for 10 players over 2100 elo, group E for 10 players over 2000 elo, group F for 10 players over 1900 elo ...etc...18 groups with 174 players in 2009. 9 rounds 90min/40moves+30min(+30sec). Entry fee : adult 56 euros young 28 euros. Possibilities of hotels with special chess prices : see tournament website.

Icelandic Teams

The Icelandic Team Championship takes place 25th September 2009 - 3rd March 2010. Rounds 1-4 have taken place.

Results: http://chess-results.com/tnr25745.aspx

Official site in Icelandic: http://www.skaksamband.is

4NCL

The 4NCL starts Sat 24th Oct - Sun 25th Oct. 2009.

Official site: http://www.4ncl.co.uk/index.htm

Live games: http://www.bcfservices.org.uk/livechess/4ncl/0910/index.htm

Sydney International and Doeberl Cup

Entries are invited for the 2010 Sydney International Open and Challengers Chess Tournaments, to be held 7-11 April 2010.

The organisers have received financial support from a variety of sources and the principal sponsor for 2010 is GM Murray Chandler.

The venue is again the historic Parramatta Town Hall in Western Sydney and free hotel accommodation (twin share room) is offered to International Chess Grandmasters. There are two nine-round FIDE-rated swiss tournaments, the Sydney International Open (SIO) and the Sydney International Challengers (SIC). Cash prizes exceed A$16,000 and visas can be arranged on request for overseas players (please provide passport details). More Information is available at http://www.chessaustralia.com.au/index.cfm?site=open

For those players that want even more chess, the Doeberl Cup will be held in Canberra from 1-5 April 2010. See http://www.doeberlcup.com.au Transport from Canberra to Sydney on Tuesday 6 April 2010 will be provided free of charge for all overseas players.

18th Donau Open

The 18th Donau Open takes place in Aschach, Austria, 26th-31st December 2009.

Details: http://www.aschach.at/schach/

Contact: Guenter Mitterhuemer, Seebach 19, 4070 Eferding Tel.: 07272 / 4398 (Vorwahl Österreich: 0043) Email: guenter.mitterhuemer@schach.at

Cappelle-la-Grande 2010

The 26th International Open of Cappelle-la-Grande will take place 13th-20th February 2010.

For every players wishing to be invited, please contact Mr GOUVART at the following address: stephanegouvart@gmail.com phone: +33671624629

Official site : http://www.cappelle-chess.fr/

Czech Chess Christmas 2009-10

Czech Chess Christmas 2009 Litomysl (CZE) 26th December - 2nd January 2010

11th christmas chess FIDE tournament, swiss system of 9 round, rate of game 2 x 1,5h + 30s/move, prize fund 64.000 CZK (1st prize 20.000 CZK = 800 EUR), special conditions for IM, WGM and GM, New Year’s Eve programme.

Contact: Proclient s.r.o., Jaroslav Fuksik, Svedska 3, 772 00 Olomouc, mobile: +420 608 364 664, e-mail: a64@proclient.cz, web: http://www.a64.cz/tournaments/litomysl2009/

Hungarian Tournaments October 2009 - April 2010

First Saturday chess tournaments, GM-IM-FM sections, 50-60-70 players usually out of 10-15 countries, for 9...14 days here.

Upcoming tournaments:

1. 3rd-15th of October, GM-IM-FM First Saturday Budapest, org: Nagy Laszlo, firstsat@hu.inter.net,

2. 23rd-31st of October, GM tmt, Pecs, 250 km West from Budapest,

3. 7th-19th of November, GM-IM-FM, First Saturday, Budapest, 4. 26th of Nov-3rd of Dec, Harkany Open, 250 km South-West from Budapest, org: Mr.Fulop, e-mail to: fulopcsa@invitel.hu

5. 5th-17th of December, GM-IM-FM, First Saturday, Budapest,

6. 8th-16th of January 2010 Perenyi memorial Open, 9 rounds Swiss, Budapest, info: Nagy Laszlo,

7. 6th-18th of February 2010 FS GM-IM-FM, Budapest,

8. 6th-18th of March 2010, FS GM-IM-FM Budapest,

9. 19th-28th of March 2010 26th Budapest Spring Festival, 9 rounds Swiss Open, org: Nagy Laszlo

10.3rd-16th of April 2010 FS GM-IM-FM Budapest

Contact: Nagy, Laszlo International chess organizer, member of the FIDE organizers' committee, "GENS UNA SUMUS" ET "PACTA SUND SERVANDA" http://www.firstsaturday.hu

Possible in the website online chat also... Mobile: +36-30-230-19-14 Phone-fax: +36-1-263-28-59 E-mail: firstsat@hu.inter.net ICC, SKYPE, YAHOO, MSN, www.chess.com nickname: mrfirstsaturday

Mundial Chess Internet Tournament

The organising Committee Mundial Chess invites all the players (from the amateurs to Grandmasters) to take part in the 1st Internet tournament with the prize fund of more than 130.000 EUR in cash and many special prizes. The 1st prize in the main tournament will be not less than 10.000 EUR.

Registration (and information in English) in the tournament is possible following the link - http://www.mundialchess.com/chess-online/en/zvfdxt6 Registration and information in Spanish - http://www.mundialchess.com/chess-online/es/zvfdxt6 Registration and information in Russian - http://www.mundialchess.com/chess-online/ru/zvfdxt6

Ajedrez 21 English site

Ajedrez 21 now has an English site: http://www.ajedrez21.com/en/

Kingpin Magazine

The humourous and satirical chess magazine Kingpin has a new website.

New website address: http://www.kingpinchess.net

Torch Real Estate Cup

The Chinese team competition the Torch Real Estate Cup started in Chengdu China on 4th May 2009. I'm hoping for a full game file.

Live games: http://live.chinaqiyuan.com/chess/tfd.htm

Official site: http://chess.sport.org.cn/

Results: http://chess-results.com/tnr21650.aspx

Historical Elo Ratings

http://www.shakki.net/history/elotop.htm has a list of historical top ten FIDE lists. The text is in Finnish but is understandable anyhow.

Reno Far West Open

The Far West Open Chess Tournament took place April 10th-12th 2009 in Reno Nevada. Sergey Kudrin edged out Enrico Sevillano and Gergerly Antal who finished on 5/6. Games should follow.

Official site: http://www.renochess.org/fwo/index.html

European Union Website

The European Chess Union Website ECU website has changed address to http://www.europechess.org

Alushta Diary 2009

Alushta Diary 2009:

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, 5.09 - 13.09, Open tournament (under 16 years) 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, 10.07 - 18.07, 20.07 - 28.07, 22.08 - 30.08, Alushta Swiss 9 rounds Blitz tournament 7.07, 19.07, 29.07, Alushta Swiss 9 rounds Open tournament (rapid chess) 8.07 - 9.07, 30.07 - 31.07, Alushta Session of school of Gennadi Kuzmin 21.06 - 27.06, 15.07 - 24.07. Individual and group studying Further information: http://www.kaissa.com.ua phone +38 (06560)5-05-32, +380505828911 (for Russian speaking), + 380506692604 (for English speaking) e-mail: info@kaissa.com.ua

Chess Study

Dr Robert Howard is making a study of rated chess players.

The full article: http://education.arts.unsw.edu.au/fidestudy/results

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