THE WEEK IN CHESS 789 21st December 2009 by Mark Crowther

1) Introduction

My thanks to Luiz Roberto Da Costa Jr, Miklos Orso, Adolivio Capece, Jovan Petronic, Sandra Angarita, Nemeth Gheorghe, Gunnar Bjornsson, Uwe Staroske, Bartlomiej Macieja and everyone else who helped with the issue.

The London Chess Classic was a wonderful tournament that takes us into the Christmas period. Magnus Carlsen took clear first place and with this win he will be World Number one in January. After an impressive win against Vladimir Kramnik he did start to look a little tired after a very busy year. Later in the tournament he started to make small calculation errors, but he was still good enough to take first place. Carlsen announced that he will continue to work with Garry Kasparov next year, this shows his continued ambition to improve, it's frightening to think that the new number one is still very much work in progress.

The Russian Championships is the top current event which takes us into the busy Christmas period.

Seasonal greetings to everyone.

Hope you enjoy this issue.

Mark

2) London Chess Classic

The London Chess Classic took place in the Olympia Conference Centre 7th-15th December 2009. Magnus Carlsen took clear first with 13/21 (3 points for a win, 1 for a draw) undefeated a point clear of Vladimir Kramnik who he beat in the first round in what turned out to be the decisive game. Carlsen rode his luck, especially against Michael Adams who had a winning position in Round 6. Carlsen's score ensures that he will be world number one in January. Kramnik was impressive after his first round loss and he will also gain rating points and with his win in the Tal Memorial in Moscow looks nearly back to his best. David Howell was the top finishing English player with 6 draws and a win (with black) a superb result in by far the strongest event he has ever appeared in. Michael Adams also finished on +1 and if he had beaten Magnus Carlsen, as he had the chance to do, it would have been even more impressive. Luke McShane was the main beneficiary of the scoring system his two wins and four losses and just one draw netting him 7 points. If he returns to full time chess there should be more to come. Ni Hua did not seem at his best but his single win took him to 6 points. Hikaru Nakamura lost just one game and drew the rest. He didn't seem quite at his best but he still came up with some interesting ideas, the final round against Vladimir Kramnik was a complex battle for instance. Nigel Short never seemed to quite recover from his 163 move loss in Round 1, he had chances in the next few rounds but a futher loss left him in the basement. Hopefully he'll have a bit more luck in Wijk aan Zee.

The event was a triumph for my sponsor Malcolm Pein. He looked at something like 37 venues before choosing the Olympia Conference Centre and the space he had proved ideal for the tournament and the organisation as a whole drew wide praise. The sponsors too were very happy and there is to be another event next year and plans with their Chess in Schools and Communities charity and they are also looking into the possibility of bringing the World Chess Championships to London in 2012.

Full details at: http://www.londonchessclassic.com

1st London Chess Classic (ENG), 8-16 xii 2009. Cat XVIII (2696.25). Venue: Olympia Conference Centre. Final Standings: (3pts for a win 1 for a draw)
Nr	Ti	Name	Elo	Fed	Sco	+	=	-	TPR	Tie break
1	GM	Carlsen, Magnus	2801	NOR	13	3	4	0	2839
2	GM	Kramnik, Vladimir	2772	RUS	12	3	3	1	2787
3	GM	Howell, David W L	2597	ENG	9	1	6	0	2760	Win with black
4	GM	Adams, Michael	2698	ENG	9	1	6	0	2746	Win with white
5	GM	McShane, Luke J	2615	ENG	7	2	1	4	2606
6	GM	Ni, Hua	2665	CHN	6	1	3	3	2599	One game won
7	GM	Nakamura, Hikaru	2715	USA	6	0	6	1	2644	No games won
8	GM	Short, Nigel D	2707	ENG	5	0	5	2	2593

Chess Classic London (ENG), 8-15 xii 2009											cat. XVIII (2696)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
1.	Carlsen, Magnus	g	NOR	2801	*	1	½	½	1	1	½	½	13	2839
2.	Kramnik, Vladimir	g	RUS	2772	0	*	½	½	1	1	½	1	12	2787
3.	Howell, David W L	g	ENG	2597	½	½	*	½	½	1	½	½	9	2760
4.	Adams, Michael	g	ENG	2698	½	½	½	*	1	½	½	½	9	2746
5.	McShane, Luke J	g	ENG	2615	0	0	½	0	*	0	1	1	7	2605
6.	Ni Hua	g	CHN	2665	0	0	0	½	1	*	½	½	6	2598
7.	Nakamura, Hikaru	g	USA	2715	½	½	½	½	0	½	*	½	6	2643
8.	Short, Nigel D	g	ENG	2707	½	0	½	½	0	½	½	*	5	2592

Round 1 (December 8, 2009)
Carlsen, Magnus	- Kramnik, Vladimir	1-0	43	A29	English Four Knights
Howell, David W L	- Adams, Michael	½-½	45	C45	Scotch Game
Nakamura, Hikaru	- Ni Hua	½-½	46	D11	Slav Defence
McShane, Luke J	- Short, Nigel D	1-0	163	C45	Scotch Game
Round 2 (December 9, 2009)
Carlsen, Magnus	- McShane, Luke J	1-0	61	E94	King's Indian Classical
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Ni Hua	1-0	48	D10	Slav Defence
Adams, Michael	- Nakamura, Hikaru	½-½	60	C03	French Tarrasch
Short, Nigel D	- Howell, David W L	½-½	44	C42	Petroff's Defence
Round 3 (December 10, 2009)
Howell, David W L	- Carlsen, Magnus	½-½	79	B22	Sicilian Alapin
Nakamura, Hikaru	- Short, Nigel D	½-½	43	E44	Nimzo Indian Rubinstein
McShane, Luke J	- Kramnik, Vladimir	0-1	36	C24	Bishop's Opening
Ni Hua	- Adams, Michael	½-½	36	C89	Ruy Lopez Marshall
Round 4 (December 12, 2009)
Carlsen, Magnus	- Nakamura, Hikaru	½-½	45	D17	Slav Defence
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Adams, Michael	½-½	46	D37	QGD 5.Bf4
Short, Nigel D	- Ni Hua	½-½	64	C11	French Defence
McShane, Luke J	- Howell, David W L	½-½	40	A15	English counter King's Fianchetto
Round 5 (December 13, 2009)
Adams, Michael	- Short, Nigel D	½-½	43	C80	Ruy Lopez Open
Howell, David W L	- Kramnik, Vladimir	½-½	53	C42	Petroff's Defence
Nakamura, Hikaru	- McShane, Luke J	0-1	55	E94	King's Indian Classical
Ni Hua	- Carlsen, Magnus	0-1	42	B51	Sicilian Rossolimo
Round 6 (December 14, 2009)
Carlsen, Magnus	- Adams, Michael	½-½	61	E46	Nimzo Indian Rubinstein
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Short, Nigel D	1-0	40	D38	QGD Ragozin
Howell, David W L	- Nakamura, Hikaru	½-½	41	C03	French Tarrasch
McShane, Luke J	- Ni Hua	0-1	80	C07	French Tarrasch
Round 7 (December 15, 2009)
Adams, Michael	- McShane, Luke J	1-0	46	C95	Ruy Lopez Breyer
Nakamura, Hikaru	- Kramnik, Vladimir	½-½	34	D38	QGD Ragozin
Short, Nigel D	- Carlsen, Magnus	½-½	71	B76	Sicilian Modern Dragon
Ni Hua	- Howell, David W L	0-1	40	C77	Ruy Lopez Anderssen

London Classic FIDE Open London (ENG), 8-15 xii 2009 Final Round 9 Standings:
Rank	Name	Ti	Fed.	Rating	Score	TPR	W-We
1	Hammer, Jon Ludvig	GM	NOR	2588	8	2756	1.46
2	Williams, Simon K	GM	ENG	2550	7	2616	0.78
3	Hebden, Mark L	GM	ENG	2522	7	2610	1.02
4	Houska, Jovanka	IM	ENG	2391	7	2520	1.51
5	Wells, Peter K	GM	ENG	2489	6.5	2504	0.3
6	Cherniaev, Alexander	GM	RUS	2465	6.5	2465	0.26
7	Arkell, Keith C	GM	ENG	2464	6.5	2440	-0.13
8	McDonald, Neil	GM	ENG	2412	6.5	2481	0.91
9	Pcola, Pavol	IM	SVK	2386	6.5	2434	0.76
10	Conquest, Stuart C	GM	ENG	2563	6	2380	-1.64
11	Berzinsh, Roland	IM	LAT	2424	6	2404	-0.11
12	Barle, Janez	IM	SLO	2420	6	2368	-0.49
13	Loeffler, Stefan	IM	GER	2416	6	2419	0.04
14	Ferguson, Mark	IM	ENG	2410	6	2365	-0.44
15	Crawley, Gavin	IM	ENG	2407	6	2369	-0.33
16	Gullaksen, Eirik	IM	NOR	2400	6	2394	0.04
17	Buckley, Graeme N	IM	ENG	2388	6	2396	0.25
18	Ansell, Simon T	IM	ENG	2387	6	2325	-0.6
19	Rendle, Thomas E	IM	ENG	2382	6	2492	1.42
20	Cox, John J	IM	ENG	2377	6	2423	0.56
21	Lagerman, Robert	FM	ISL	2358	6	2312	-0.33
22	Collyer, Curt D		USA	2294	6	2335	0.64
23	Rowe, Duane		JAM	2194	6	2299	1.06
24	Summerscale, Aaron P	GM	ENG	2449	5.5	2321	-1.32
25	Quillan, Gary	IM	ENG	2394	5.5	2231	-1.67
26	Hennigan, Michael T	IM	ENG	2385	5.5	2400	0.34
27	Crouch, Colin S	IM	ENG	2346	5.5	2298	-0.41
28	Piper, Matthew S		ENG	2304	5.5	2394	1.05
29	Aikhoje, Odion	IM	NGR	2252	5.5	2383	1.62
30	Coleman, David J	CM	ENG	2244	5.5	2203	-0.34
31	Roberson, Peter T		ENG	2236	5.5	2338	1.39
32	Osborne, Marcus E		ENG	2232	5.5	2259	0.5
33	Hodgson, John H		ENG	2189	5.5	2134	-0.5
34	Friedland, Jon S	CM	ENG	2162	5.5	2158	0.13
35	Tozer, Philip		ENG	2106	5.5	2218	0.78
36	Slavin, Alexei	FM	RUS	2392	5	2244	-1.59
37	Rudd, Jack	IM	ENG	2296	5	2294	0.05
38	Storey, Charles H	FM	ENG	2292	5	2106	-1.55
39	Sinanan, Joshua C		USA	2249	5	2221	-0.31
40	Dimitrijeski, Boris		GER	2236	5	2198	-0.25
41	Anderton, Matthew N		ENG	2232	5	2309	0.83
42	Stephan, Axel		GER	2225	5	2351	1.52
43	Chapman, Terry P D		ENG	2222	5	2220	-0.03
44	Regan, Natasha K	WIM	ENG	2170	5	2091	-0.63
45	Pedersen, Carsten		DEN	2155	5	2188	0.35
46	Yeo, Michael J		ENG	2153	5	2119	-0.4
47	Player, Edmund C		ENG	2149	5	2187	0.46
48	Fegan, Chris		ENG	2078	5	2236	1.26
49	Healey, Michael W		ENG	2058	5	2237	2.09
50	Har-Even, Abir		ISR	2045	5	2194	1.11
51	Lenier, Jude		ENG	1828	5	2224	3.21
52	Britton, Richard L	FM	ENG	2254	4.5	2101	-1.67
125 players

London Classic Women London (ENG), 8-15 xii 2009
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Caoili, Arianne	wm	AUS	2206	*	0	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	8	2421
2.	Lalic, Susan K	m	ENG	2310	1	*	0	1	0	½	1	½	1	1	6	2183
3.	Van Weersel, Arlette	wm	NED	2193	0	1	*	1	0	½	½	1	1	½	5½	2151
4.	Ikonomopoulou, Maria		GRE	2065	0	0	0	*	1	1	1	1	1	0	5	2128
5.	De Seroux, Camille		SUI	1989	0	1	1	0	*	½	1	1	0	0	4½	2094
6.	Winkelmann, Elena		GER	2119	0	½	½	0	½	*	½	0	1	1	4	2036
7.	Yurenok, Maria S	wf	ENG	1968	0	0	½	0	0	½	*	1	½	1	3½	2016
8.	Smith, Olivia	wf	WLS	2026	0	½	0	0	0	1	0	*	½	1	3	1965
9.	Chevannes, Sabrina L	wf	ENG	2042	0	0	0	0	1	0	½	½	*	1	3	1963
10.	Frick, Denise	wm	RSA	1920	0	0	½	1	1	0	0	0	0	*	2½	1936

3) Russian Championships 2009

The Russian Championships run 20th-30th December 2009. Both men's and women's events are 10 player round robins. Peter Svider, Alexander Grischuk and Dmitry Jakovenko star in the men's tournament.

The venue is the Central Chess House on Gogolevsky Boulevard in Moscow. The prizefund is $100,000.

After two rounds Peter Svidler and Alexander Grischuk are on 1.5/2.

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

62nd ch-RUS Moscow (RUS), 20-29 xii 2009												cat. XVIII (2691)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Grischuk, Alexander	g	RUS	2736	*	.	½	.	.	.	.	1	.	.	1½	2894
2.	Svidler, Peter	g	RUS	2754	.	*	½	.	.	.	1	.	.	.	1½	2861
3.	Vitiugov, Nikita	g	RUS	2694	½	½	*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	1	2745
4.	Timofeev, Artyom	g	RUS	2651	.	.	.	*	½	½	.	.	.	.	1	2725
5.	Alekseev, Evgeny	g	RUS	2715	.	.	.	½	*	.	.	.	.	½	1	2631
6.	Jakovenko, Dmitry	g	RUS	2736	.	.	.	½	.	*	.	.	½	.	1	2656
7.	Khismatullin, Denis	g	RUS	2643	.	0	.	.	.	.	*	.	1	.	1	2707
8.	Tomashevsky, Evgeny	g	RUS	2708	0	.	.	.	.	.	.	*	.	1	1	2674
9.	Riazantsev, Alexander	g	RUS	2661	.	.	.	.	.	½	0	.	*	.	½	2496
10.	Sjugirov, Sanan	g	RUS	2612	.	.	.	.	½	.	.	0	.	*	½	2518

Round 1 (December 20, 2009)
Grischuk, Alexander	- Tomashevsky, Evgeny	1-0	75	C78	Ruy Lopez Moeller Defence
Svidler, Peter	- Vitiugov, Nikita	½-½	51	C11	French Defence
Timofeev, Artyom	- Jakovenko, Dmitry	½-½	46	D15	Slav Defence
Khismatullin, Denis	- Riazantsev, Alexander	1-0	41	E21	Nimzo Indian 4.Nf3
Sjugirov, Sanan	- Alekseev, Evgeny	½-½	76	C97	Ruy Lopez
Round 2 (December 21, 2009)
Vitiugov, Nikita	- Grischuk, Alexander	½-½	41	A29	English Four Knights
Alekseev, Evgeny	- Timofeev, Artyom	½-½	62	B40	Sicilian Classical
Khismatullin, Denis	- Svidler, Peter	0-1	44	E60	King's Indian without Nc3
Tomashevsky, Evgeny	- Sjugirov, Sanan	1-0	77	D11	Slav Defence
Riazantsev, Alexander	- Jakovenko, Dmitry	½-½	30	D37	QGD 5.Bf4

59th ch-RUS w Moscow (RUS), 20-29 xii 2009												cat. VIII (2439)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Galliamova, Alisa	m	RUS	2460	*	.	.	.	.	1	.	.	.	1	2
2.	Kosintseva, Nadezhda	m	RUS	2518	.	*	.	1	.	.	.	.	.	1	2
3.	Pogonina, Natalija	wg	RUS	2501	.	.	*	.	.	.	.	1	1	.	2
4.	Gunina, Valentina	wf	RUS	2446	.	0	.	*	1	.	.	.	.	.	1	2445
5.	Bodnaruk, Anastasia	wg	RUS	2372	.	.	.	0	*	.	1	.	.	.	1	2484
6.	Zaiatz, Elena	m	RUS	2390	0	.	.	.	.	*	.	.	1	.	1	2402
7.	Kosintseva, Tatiana	m	RUS	2522	.	.	.	.	0	.	*	½	.	.	½	2217
8.	Romanko, Marina	m	RUS	2449	.	.	0	.	.	.	½	*	.	.	½	2318
9.	Manakova, Maria	wg	SRB	2344	.	.	0	.	.	0	.	.	*	.	0
10.	Stepovaia, Tatiana	wg	RUS	2384	0	0	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	*	0

Round 1 (December 20, 2009)
Galliamova, Alisa	- Stepovaia, Tatiana	1-0	63	E09	Catalan
Kosintseva, Nadezhda	- Gunina, Valentina	1-0	54	B12	Caro Kann Advanced
Pogonina, Natalija	- Romanko, Marina	1-0	30	B60	Sicilian Rauzer
Bodnaruk, Anastasia	- Kosintseva, Tatiana	1-0	34	C48	Four Knights Rubinstein
Manakova, Maria	- Zaiatz, Elena	0-1	29	C45	Scotch Game
Round 2 (December 21, 2009)
Pogonina, Natalija	- Manakova, Maria	1-0	54	B32	Sicilian Labourdonnais
Gunina, Valentina	- Bodnaruk, Anastasia	1-0	42	A48	King's Indian Defence /c2-c4
Zaiatz, Elena	- Galliamova, Alisa	0-1	38	D11	Slav Defence
Romanko, Marina	- Kosintseva, Tatiana	½-½	45	B89	Sicilian Sozin Attack
Stepovaia, Tatiana	- Kosintseva, Nadezhda	0-1	38	B67	Sicilian Rauzer

4) 9th Amplico Life Warsaw 2009

The 9th Amplico Life rapid tournament took place in Warsaw 19th-20th December 2009. Vladimir Malakhov held off the challenge of Vassily Ivanchuk by beating Alexei Shirov with black in the final round. This European Rapid tournament always has a tremendous and deep field. My thanks to Bartlomiej Macieja for the game file.

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

9th Amplico Life Warsaw (POL), 19-20 xii 2009 Leading final Round 13 Standings:
Pl	Name	Ti	Fed.	Elo	Pkt.	MBch.
1	Malakhov, Vladimir	GM	RUS	2706	11.5	103
2	Ivanchuk, Vassily	GM	UKR	2739	11	102
3	Wojtaszek, Radoslaw	GM	POL	2637	10.5	89.5
4	Movsesian, Sergei	GM	SVK	2718	10.5	98.5
5	Fridman, Daniel	GM	GER	2649	10.5	96.5
6	Dreev, Alexey	GM	RUS	2655	10.5	98.5
7	Krasenkow, Michal	GM	POL	2656	10	98
8	Shirov, Alexei	GM	ESP	2719	10	95.5
9	Zubov, Alexander	IM	UKR	2581	10	95.5
10	Hracek, Zbynek	GM	CZE	2624	10	95.5
11	Rozentalis, Eduardas	GM	LTU	2611	10	95
12	Kurnosov, Igor	GM	RUS	2666	10	92
13	Neiksans, Arturs	IM	LAT	2487	10	91
14	Warakomski, Tomasz	IM	POL	2485	10	86.5
15	Gashimov, Vugar	GM	AZE	2758	9.5	103.5
16	Stupak, Kirill	IM	BLR	2456	9.5	99
17	Bartel, Mateusz	GM	POL	2618	9.5	98.5
18	Gritsak, Orest	GM	UKR	2521	9.5	97
19	Tomczak, Jacek	IM	POL	2500	9.5	96
20	Moranda, Wojciech	GM	POL	2579	9.5	95.5
21	Muzychuk, Anna	IM	SLO	2532	9.5	95
22	Dziuba, Marcin	GM	POL	2573	9.5	94
23	Socko, Bartosz	GM	POL	2643	9.5	93.5
24	Miton, Kamil	GM	POL	2586	9.5	93.5
25	Czarnota, Pawel	GM	POL	2528	9.5	93
26	Aleksandrov, Aleksej	GM	BLR	2617	9.5	91.5
27	Macieja, Bartlomiej	GM	POL	2627	9.5	91.5
28	Heberla, Bartlomiej	GM	POL	2515	9.5	90.5
29	Schmidt, Wlodzimierz	GM	POL	2395	9.5	89.5
30	Grabarczyk, Miroslaw	GM	POL	2475	9.5	89
31	Swiercz, Dariusz	GM	POL	2493	9.5	89
32	Sergeev, Vladimir	GM	UKR	2428	9.5	88.5
33	Manik, Mikulas	GM	SVK	2435	9.5	88.5
34	Tiviakov, Sergei	GM	NED	2664	9.5	86.5
35	Markowski, Tomasz	GM	POL	2629	9	96.5
36	Szelag, Marcin	IM	POL	2456	9	95
37	Maiorov, Nikita	GM	BLR	2511	9	94.5
38	Piorun, Kacper	IM	POL	2475	9	94
39	Kempinski, Robert	GM	POL	2617	9	94
40	Paehtz, Elisabeth	IM	GER	2480	9	93.5
41	Rajlich, Iweta	IM	POL	2457	9	92.5
42	Yemelin, Vasily	GM	RUS	2584	9	92.5
43	Vovk, Andrey	GM	UKR	2512	9	91
44	Sakalauskas, Vaidas	IM	LTU	2418	9	91
45	Vovk, Yuri	GM	UKR	2546	9	90.5
46	Nedilko, Vasily		UKR	2400	9	90
47	Marchlewicz, Kamil	I+	POL	2030	9	89
48	Najbar, Marcin	k+	POL	2222	9	88
49	Lubczynski, Rafal	IM	POL	2428	9	87.5
50	Drozdowski, Kacper	I++	POL	2198	9	87.5
51	Strzemiecki, Zbigniew	FM	POL	2333	9	86
52	Czerwonski, Aleksander	IM	POL	2385	9	85
53	Paterek, Michal	FM	POL	2272	9	85
54	Laurusas, Tomas		LTU	2242	9	81.5
55	Kukula, Pawel	k+	POL	2261	9	81.5
56	Szymanski, Marcin	IM	POL	2411	9	80.5
57	Sotsky, Alexander	IM	RUS	2410	9	80.5
58	Kantans, Toms		LAT	2281	9	79.5
59	Castaldo, Folco	FM	ITA	2401	9	78.5
60	Olszewski, Michal	GM	POL	2541	8.5	96.5
697 games

5) Spassky - Korchnoi Match

Boris Spassky vs Viktor Korchnoi is an 8 game Match Elista, Russia, 17th-27th Dec, 2009. 400th Aniversary Kalmykia - Russia. Prize Fund US$ 20.000. Time control 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move.

Match Kalmykia
Korchnoi, Viktor	-	Spassky, Boris V	1-0	47	E21	Nimzo Indian 4.Nf3
Spassky, Boris V	-	Korchnoi, Viktor	½-½	46	C00	French Defence
Korchnoi, Viktor	-	Spassky, Boris V	½-½	50	E21	Nimzo Indian 4.Nf3
Spassky, Boris V	-	Korchnoi, Viktor	½-½	22	C14	French Classical

Match Kalmykia (RUS), 19-27 ix 2009
Name	Ti	NAT	Rtng	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Total	Perf
Korchnoi, Viktor	g	SUI	2567	1	½	½	½	.	.	.	.	2½	2643
Spassky, Boris V	g	FRA	2548	0	½	½	½	.	.	.	.	1½	2480

6) 19th Pamplona tournament

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

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

XIX Magistral Pamplona (ESP), 21-29 xii 2009												cat. XIII (2575)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Alsina Leal, Daniel	m	ESP	2523	*	.	.	.	.	?	.	.	.	.	0
2.	Georgiev, Kiril	g	BUL	2672	.	*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	?	0
3.	Granda Zuniga, Julio E	g	PER	2640	.	.	*	.	?	.	.	.	.	.	0
4.	Huerga Leache, Mikel	m	ESP	2435	.	.	.	*	.	.	?	.	.	.	0
5.	Laznicka, Viktor	g	CZE	2637	.	.	?	.	*	.	.	.	.	.	0
6.	Lopez Martinez, Josep Manuel	g	ESP	2589	?	.	.	.	.	*	.	.	.	.	0
7.	Meier, Georg	g	GER	2653	.	.	.	?	.	.	*	.	.	.	0
8.	Mirzoev, Azer	g	AZE	2617	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	*	?	.	0
9.	Recuero Guerra, David	m	ESP	2494	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	?	*	.	0
10.	Reinaldo Castineira, Roi	m	ESP	2488	.	?	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	*	0

Round 1 (December 21, 2009)
Georgiev, Kiril	- Reinaldo Castineira, Roi	*
Laznicka, Viktor	- Granda Zuniga, Julio E	*
Lopez Martinez, Josep Manuel	- Alsina Leal, Daniel	*
Meier, Georg	- Huerga Leache, Mikel	*
Recuero Guerra, David	- Mirzoev, Azer	*

7) First Saturday December

The First Saturday GM-IM all-play-all tournaments took place Budapest 5th-16th of December 2009. Attila Turzo and Ervin Toth finished on 8/11.

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

FSIM December Budapest (HUN), 5-20 xii 2009													cat. II (2288)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2
1.	Turzo, Attila	m	HUN	2276	*	½	½	1	½	½	½	1	½	1	1	1	8	2464
2.	Toth, Ervin	m	HUN	2388	½	*	½	1	1	1	0	0	1	1	1	1	8	2454
3.	Parkanyi, Attila	m	HUN	2317	½	½	*	1	0	0	1	1	1	0	1	1	7	2387
4.	Paschall, William M	m	USA	2386	0	0	0	*	½	½	1	1	1	1	1	1	7	2381
5.	Kislik, Erik Andrew	f	USA	2349	½	0	1	½	*	½	0	1	1	1	½	½	6½	2347
6.	Stigar, Petter	f	NOR	2269	½	0	1	½	½	*	½	1	0	½	½	1	6	2326
7.	Lengyel, Bela	m	HUN	2271	½	1	0	0	1	½	*	½	0	½	1	1	6	2325
8.	Szalanczy, Emil	m	HUN	2295	0	1	0	0	0	0	½	*	1	1	1	1	5½	2287
9.	Erdei, Andras		HUN	2146	½	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	*	½	0	1	4	2199
10.	Denisov, Ivan		RUS	2241	0	0	1	0	0	½	½	0	½	*	½	1	4	2190
11.	Adams, Nick A		USA	2236	0	0	0	0	½	½	0	0	1	½	*	½	3	2118
12.	Chan, Mark	f	SIN	2286	0	0	0	0	½	0	0	0	0	0	½	*	1	1905

8) 4th Edmonton International

The 4th Edmonton International takes place 17th-21st December 2009.

Official site: http://www.albertachess.org/EICF2009/EICF_Games.html

4th Int Edmonton (CAN), 17-21 xii 2009												cat. VII (2412)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Friedel, Joshua E	g	USA	2551	*	1	½	.	½	1	½	1	.	1	5½	2614
2.	Mikhalevski, Victor	g	ISR	2607	0	*	.	1	½	.	1	1	1	1	5½	2615
3.	Esserman, Marc	m	USA	2408	½	.	*	½	1	½	½	.	1	1	5	2573
4.	Kraai, Jesse	g	USA	2509	.	0	½	*	½	½	1	1	1	.	4½	2521
5.	Antal, Gergely	m	HUN	2495	½	½	0	½	*	.	.	½	1	1	4	2446
6.	Hansen, Eric	f	CAN	2409	0	.	½	½	.	*	½	½	1	1	4	2423
7.	Porper, Edward	m	CAN	2445	½	0	½	0	.	½	*	½	.	1	3	2351
8.	Haessel, Dale R	f	CAN	2201	0	0	.	0	½	½	½	*	½	.	2	2326
9.	Pechenkin, Vladimir	f	CAN	2372	.	0	0	0	0	0	.	½	*	½	1	2084
10.	MacKinnon, Keith		CAN	2125	0	0	0	.	0	0	0	.	½	*	½	2047

Round 1 (December 17, 2009)
Esserman, Marc	- Antal, Gergely	1-0	40	B12	Caro Kann Advanced
Kraai, Jesse	- Haessel, Dale R	1-0	30	A46	Queen's Pawn Opening
Hansen, Eric	- Pechenkin, Vladimir	1-0	35	A55	Old Indian Defence
Porper, Edward	- Friedel, Joshua E	½-½	44	E17	Queens Indian
MacKinnon, Keith	- Mikhalevski, Victor	0-1	81	C77	Ruy Lopez Anderssen
Round 2 (December 18, 2009)
Friedel, Joshua E	- Haessel, Dale R	1-0	37	A34	English Symmetrical
Mikhalevski, Victor	- Kraai, Jesse	1-0	31	A62	Benoni
Antal, Gergely	- MacKinnon, Keith	1-0	55	B51	Sicilian Rossolimo
Porper, Edward	- Hansen, Eric	½-½	41	D87	Gruenfeld Botvinnik
Pechenkin, Vladimir	- Esserman, Marc	0-1	65	A03	Bird's Opening
Round 3 (December 18, 2009)
Esserman, Marc	- Porper, Edward	½-½	61	B03	Alekhine's Defence
Kraai, Jesse	- Antal, Gergely	½-½	37	A16	English Opening
Hansen, Eric	- Friedel, Joshua E	0-1	46	E46	Nimzo Indian Rubinstein
Haessel, Dale R	- Mikhalevski, Victor	0-1	43	E06	Catalan
MacKinnon, Keith	- Pechenkin, Vladimir	½-½	53	B04	Alekhine's Defence
Round 4 (December 19, 2009)
Friedel, Joshua E	- Mikhalevski, Victor	1-0	60	C95	Ruy Lopez Breyer
Antal, Gergely	- Haessel, Dale R	½-½	35	C42	Petroff's Defence
Hansen, Eric	- Esserman, Marc	½-½	37	D90	Gruenfeld Flohr
Porper, Edward	- MacKinnon, Keith	1-0	37	E15	Queens Indian
Pechenkin, Vladimir	- Kraai, Jesse	0-1	36	A03	Bird's Opening
Round 5 (December 19, 2009)
Mikhalevski, Victor	- Antal, Gergely	½-½	55	D90	Gruenfeld Flohr
Esserman, Marc	- Friedel, Joshua E	½-½	46	C87	Ruy Lopez
Kraai, Jesse	- Porper, Edward	1-0	34	D12	Slav Defence
Haessel, Dale R	- Pechenkin, Vladimir	½-½	31	A90	Dutch Classical
MacKinnon, Keith	- Hansen, Eric	0-1	31	B67	Sicilian Rauzer
Round 6 (December 20, 2009)
Friedel, Joshua E	- Antal, Gergely	½-½	61	B12	Caro Kann Advanced
Esserman, Marc	- MacKinnon, Keith	1-0	28	B01	Centre Counter
Hansen, Eric	- Kraai, Jesse	½-½	42	A77	Benoni
Porper, Edward	- Haessel, Dale R	½-½	34	D37	QGD 5.Bf4
Pechenkin, Vladimir	- Mikhalevski, Victor	0-1	64	A03	Bird's Opening
Round 7 (December 20, 2009)
Mikhalevski, Victor	- Porper, Edward	1-0	49	D15	Slav Defence
Kraai, Jesse	- Esserman, Marc	½-½	53	A34	English Symmetrical
Antal, Gergely	- Pechenkin, Vladimir	1-0	30	B03	Alekhine's Defence
Haessel, Dale R	- Hansen, Eric	½-½	29	E63	King's Indian 6...Nc6
MacKinnon, Keith	- Friedel, Joshua E	0-1	20	C57	Two Knights Defence Fritz's Var

9) 16th Zadar Open

The 16th Zadar Open took place 13th-19th December 2009. Robert Zelcic took clear first place with 6.5/9.

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

Results: http://chess-results.com/tnr28251.aspx

16th Open A Zadar (CRO), 13-19 xii 2009
Rk.	Name	Ti	FED	RtgI	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	Zelcic Robert	GM	CRO	2545	6.5	35	44.5	34
2	Saric Ivan	GM	CRO	2575	6	39	50	32
3	Drasko Milan	GM	MNE	2527	6	37.5	47	31.5
4	Brkic Ante	GM	CRO	2560	6	37	47.5	31
5	Saric Ibro	GM	BIH	2553	6	36.5	47	31
6	Delchev Aleksander	GM	BUL	2635	5.5	37.5	48.5	30.5
7	Ragger Markus	GM	AUT	2565	5.5	37.5	48.5	30
8	Jovanovic Zoran	GM	CRO	2532	5.5	37	46	31.5
9	Martinovic Sasa	IM	CRO	2483	5.5	35	44	28.5
10	Drazic Sinisa	GM	SRB	2519	5.5	34.5	44	29
11	Jovanic Ognjen	GM	CRO	2552	5.5	33	43	26.5
12	Sedlak Nikola	GM	SRB	2576	5	37.5	48	31
13	Milanovic Danilo	GM	SRB	2546	5	34	43	28
14	Platzgummer Fabian	FM	AUT	2380	5	33.5	42.5	24.5
15	Saric Ante	GM	CRO	2471	5	32	41.5	27
16	Dimitrov Radoslav	IM	BUL	2380	5	31.5	41	21
17	Nikolov Sasho	IM	BUL	2410	5	31	38.5	25.5
18	Gagarin Vasilij	IM	RUS	2422	5	27.5	34.5	20.5
19	Bukal Vladimir Jr.	IM	CRO	2387	5	27	36	17.5
20	Feletar Darko	IM	CRO	2379	4.5	34	44	23.5
21	Kreisl Robert	IM	AUT	2380	4.5	32.5	41	23
22	Franic Milan	IM	CRO	2399	4.5	31.5	39.5	23.5
23	Paljusaj Edmond	NM	CRO	2297	4.5	30.5	38.5	20
24	Lekic Dusan	IM	MNE	2387	4.5	30	38	22
25	Baumegger Siegfried	IM	AUT	2456	4.5	29	37.5	17
26	Zivkovic Vjekoslav	IM	CRO	2397	4.5	29	36.5	20.5
27	Kovacevic Blazimir	IM	CRO	2430	4.5	28	36	20.5
28	Rezan Sasa	IM	CRO	2428	4.5	27.5	35	22
29	Schachinger Mario	FM	AUT	2339	4	33.5	42	21.5
30	Biliskov Vjekoslav	FM	CRO	2290	4	32.5	39.5	16.5
31	Brulic Denis	FM	CRO	2323	4	32	42.5	23.5
32	Zufic Miroslav	IM	CRO	2453	4	32	42	25
33	Mazi Leon	IM	SLO	2352	4	32	41.5	17
34	Blagojevic Dragisa	GM	MNE	2557	4	30	38.5	20
35	Orak Ljubomir	FM	CRO	2339	4	30	38	18
36	Hoelzl Franz	IM	AUT	2339	4	30	37.5	15
37	Stojanovic Andjelija	WGM	SRB	2329	4	28.5	35.5	17
38	Armanda Ivica	IM	CRO	2343	4	27.5	35	18
39	Titz Heimo	FM	AUT	2263	3.5	34.5	45	21.5
40	Dimitrov Pavel	IM	BUL	2371	3	27	34.5	16.5
41	Halvax Georg		AUT	2294	3	26	33	10.5
42	Tomazini Aljosa		SLO	2239	2.5	27	34.5	16
43	Matejovic Juraj		SVK	2239	2	26	33	11.5

16th Open B Zadar (CRO), 13-19 xii 2009
Rk.	Name		FED	RtgI	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	Pandurevic Miro	NM	CRO	2277	7.5	40.5	53	36.5
2	Medancic Rikard	IM	CRO	2251	7.5	39.5	51	42
3	Mihalj Miroslav M	FM	SRB	2278	6.5	39	51	33.5
4	Ivanov Borislav		BUL	2103	6.5	37	48	32
5	Pasalic Enio	I	CRO	2068	6.5	32.5	42	30.5
6	Jelecevic Ivo	MK	CRO	2187	6	39.5	50.5	30.5
7	Sutkovic Damir		BIH	2297	6	38.5	49.5	32
8	Ivic Mateo	FM	CRO	2244	6	38	49.5	34
9	Solic Kristina	WIM	CRO	2190	6	36	46.5	32.5
10	Curic Drazen	MK	CRO	2202	6	36	45.5	30.5
11	Djurovic Goran	FM	CRO	2294	6	34.5	44.5	28.5
12	Franciskovic Vinko	MK	CRO	2108	5.5	39.5	49.5	29.5
13	Medic Miljenko	FM	CRO	2256	5.5	39	50	32
14	Brkic Ivica	MK	CRO	2191	5.5	36.5	46.5	28.5
15	Music Tomislav	I	CRO	2021	5.5	35.5	45	25.5
16	Kljako Damir	FM	CRO	2162	5.5	33	42	28
17	Tomazini Zan		SLO	2157	5	38.5	49	30
18	Draskovic Luka		MNE	2113	5	37.5	47	27.5
19	Sadikovic Jasmin		BIH	2054	5	36	43.5	27
20	Sevo Igor	MK	CRO	2235	5	35.5	47	28.5
21	Solomun Ivica	MK	CRO	2007	5	34	43.5	24
22	Jeraj Zlatko		SLO	2137	5	32	42	26.5
23	Seferovic Relja	I	CRO	2071	5	32	41	25.5
24	Bilus-Gagic Ante	II	CRO	2012	5	28.5	38.5	20
25	Tisma Nebojsa	I	CRO	2085	5	28.5	36	24
26	Borin Fabio		ITA	2104	4.5	34	43.5	25
27	Vidovic Ante	MK	CRO	2079	4.5	33.5	42	24.5
28	Logar Metod		SLO	2071	4.5	33	41.5	23.5
29	Ciglar Milan	MK	CRO	0	4.5	32.5	42.5	20
30	Petrusic Toni	MK	CRO	2044	4.5	32.5	41.5	24.5
31	Prusac Miljenko	MK	CRO	1988	4.5	32	42	21
32	Deur Zrinka	NM	CRO	2089	4.5	30	41	22.5
33	Bradaric Ratomir	MK	CRO	2104	4.5	30	38.5	22
34	Malesevic Elvino	I	CRO	0	4.5	30	38	18.5
35	Svaljek Radmila	WFM	CRO	1994	4.5	29	38.5	20
36	Kolega Marin	II	CRO	2050	4.5	29	37.5	19
37	Martinovic Ferdo	MK	CRO	1956	4.5	26	33.5	20
38	Pesusic Boris	III	CRO	1944	4	34.5	43	22.5
39	Popovic Darko		BIH	2081	4	34	42.5	25
40	Soric Romeo	MK	CRO	2153	4	31.5	39	24
41	Totic Zeljko	III	CRO	0	4	31.5	38	21
42	Glavicic Tino	I	CRO	0	4	30.5	39	17.5
43	Jambresic Jurica	II	CRO	1895	4	30.5	37.5	18
44	Saric Branko	II	CRO	1904	4	29.5	37	17.5
45	Kozina Zdenko	II	CRO	1983	4	28.5	35.5	18
46	Sindija Filip	II	CRO	1960	4	28	36	20.5
47	Zezelj Vladislav	MK	CRO	2097	3.5	31.5	41	21.5
48	Sindija Jerolim	III	CRO	0	3.5	29	36	14
49	Peric Davor	II	CRO	1940	3.5	28.5	36.5	19
50	Vrankovic Ivan	III	CRO	1776	3.5	28.5	36	16
51	Stancic Kresimir	III	CRO	1842	3.5	27	34.5	15.5
52	Novak Ivo		CRO	0	3.5	25	34	15.5
53	Plenca Jadranko	IV	CRO	0	3.5	25	32	12
54	Dunatov Kresimir	II	CRO	1853	3	30	37.5	17
55	Sagi Kotlar Mario		CRO	0	3	25.5	31.5	12
56	Mileusnic Slobodan	I	CRO	0	3	24.5	31	14.5
57	Stipic Marko	MK	CRO	2212	2.5	32.5	42.5	20.5
58	Kolanovic Kazimir	IV	CRO	1673	2.5	28.5	36	14
59	Colak Dominik	IV	CRO	0	2.5	28.5	35.5	9.5
60	Glavan Marko	III	CRO	1803	2.5	25	33.5	14
61	Gumzej Zara	II	CRO	0	2.5	23.5	29.5	7.5
62	Kolanovic David		CRO	0	2.5	21	29	8.5
63	Miletic Karla		CRO	0	1.5	23.5	30.5	7.5

10) Antalya Championship

The Antalya Championship took place 5th-6th and 12th-13th December 2009. Two teenagers (Melih Yurtseven and Ufuk Sezen Arat) won the event.

Official Site: http://www.satranc07.com/

Antalya Championship (TUR), 5-13 xii 2009
Pl	Name	NRtg	IRtg	Pts	BH.	BH.	SB.	vict
1	Yurtseven Melih	2017	1892	6½	28½	24½	29,75	6
2	Arat Ufuk Sezen	2043	1884	6½	27	23½	28,25	6
3	Reyhan Zeynel	1884	0	5	30	26	18,50	5
4	Kemaloglu Kadri Yavuz	2095	2061	5	25	21	20,00	5
5	Ertekin Ramazan	1992	1918	5	22½	20	17,00	5
6	Burcu Cagatay	1906	1754	4½	28	25½	15,25	4
7	Kutlu Turgut Can	1675	0	4½	28	24½	12,75	4
8	Arayici Ozkal	1881	0	4½	24	21½	11,75	4
9	Sari Yasin	1886	1794	4½	23½	20	15,75	4
10	Tekeli Taylan Can	1959	1863	4½	23	19½	15,75	4
11	Avci Adem	1922	1746	4	30½	27	14,00	4
12	Unal Onur	1680	0	4	28	24½	15,00	3
13	Durmaz Ayca Fatma	1935	1838	4	24	21	13,00	4
14	Taner Harun	1807	0	4	22½	20	8,50	4
15	Barik Ertunc Bahadir	1677	0	4	20	18½	8,50	4
16	Demir Zeki	1985	1951	4	19½	17	11,00	4
17	Ilbilgi Bulut	1807	0	3½	27	24	13,00	3
18	Bener Berk Alperen	1628	0	3½	23½	21	8,75	3
19	Uyar Mehmet Ali	1569	0	3½	22½	20	11,25	3
20	Canbek Ragib	1692	0	3½	22	19½	9,75	2
21	Ozturk Fikri	1747	0	3½	22	19½	8,75	3
22	Ay Erhan	1455	0	3½	20½	18	9,25	2
23	Demirlioglu Cihan	1628	0	3	23	20	8,00	3
24	Aydin Sukru Ozgur	1676	0	3	22½	20	1,50	2
25	Yazici Huseyin	1454	0	3	21½	19	6,50	3
26	Yuksel Hasan	1558	0	3	20½	18	3,00	3
27	Sahiner Altug	1417	0	3	18	16	5,00	3
28	Aligil Fadli	1930	0	2½	25½	21½	9,75	2
29	Oztuzun Esat Can	1681	0	2½	22	19½	4,75	2
30	Cimen Serdar	1676	0	2	20½	18½	3,00	2
31	Gulebay Tolga Mert	1526	0	2	19	17	2,00	2
32	Kutlu Gokcen	1319	0	2	16	13½	1,00	1
33	Tasdogen Tansel	1529	0	2	15½	14	3,00	2
34	Ertugrul Mehmet Fatih	1425	0	1	19½	17½	0,00	0
35	Varol Ozgur	1344	0	1	16½	14	2,00	1
36	Kara Karahan	1328	0	1	14½	12½	0,00	0
37	Dogan Erdogan	1190	0	½	19	16	2,00	0
38	Yolcu Abdullah Erkan	1351	0	0	16½	14	0,00	0

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 are now available. I give the games again as there are one or two corrections.

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

Open Pilsen (CZE), 5-12 xii 2009
Rk.	Name	Ti	FED	RtgI	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	Plischki Sebastian	IM	GER	2347	7	51	39.5	2177
2	Szablowski Pawel		POL	2217	7	44.5	35	2055
3	Gunajew Rafal		POL	2225	6.5	49	38	2155
4	Nguyen Piotr		POL	2353	6.5	48	37.5	2130
5	Golcman Evgeny		RUS	2290	6	52	40	2146
6	Stachanczyk Jacek		POL	2242	6	50	38.5	2160
7	Blecha Miroslav		CZE	2218	6	46	36	2056
8	Folkova Martina		CZE	2106	5.5	49	38.5	2120
9	Palek Miroslav		GER	2233	5.5	48.5	38	2133
10	Folk Petr		CZE	2197	5.5	48.5	38	2094
11	Suder Ryszard		POL	2176	5.5	47	37.5	2110
12	Zakharchenko Arnold	IM	UKR	2206	5.5	46.5	36	2075
13	Turner Radek		CZE	2079	5.5	45.5	37	2099
14	Stolarczyk Anna		POL	2065	5.5	39.5	32.5	1959
15	Mikulas Dusan	FM	SVK	2210	5	49	38	2089
16	Janocko Petr		CZE	2077	5	48	37.5	2055
17	Renkowski Piotr		POL	1793	5	41	33	1982
18	Hubka Roland		CZE	2017	5	41	31.5	1890
19	Paldus Petr		CZE	2041	5	41	31	1966
20	Jiruse Josef		CZE	2074	5	40	31.5	1929
21	Vacha Jaroslav		CZE	1919	5	38	29.5	1939
22	Horyna Josef		CZE	1927	4.5	44.5	34	2029
23	Wojcieszyn Zdzislaw		POL	2037	4.5	41.5	31	1866
24	Cecil Pavel		CZE	2010	4.5	41	32	1938
25	Skokan Frantisek		CZE	1909	4.5	38.5	30.5	1823
26	Ufimtsev Egor		RUS	1753	4.5	36	28.5	1899
27	Kantor Jozef		SVK	1939	4.5	35.5	28.5	1858
28	Hruby Vaclav		CZE	1782	4.5	34	26	1842
29	Strzelczyk Anna		POL	1826	4	47.5	36	2075
48 players

12) Slovenian Team League

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

ZSK Maribor (Predojevic, Kozul etc) won the event by a point from SD Tehcenter Ptuj (Beliavsky, Kryvoruchko etc).

Official site: http://www.sah-zveza.si/rez/0912/si09lgdm/

TCh-SLO League (SLO), 11-16 xii 2009
Pl	Team	MT	Tock	MTB
1.	ZSK Maribor	17	38	232.0
2.	SD Tehcenter Ptuj	16	34.5	235.5
3.	SK Branik ZM Maribor	9	28	242.0
4.	SD Radenska Pomgrad MS	9	26	244.0
5.	LSK Metalka Trgovina Lj.	9	25.5	244.5
6.	SD Vrhnika	9	25.5	244.5
7.	SK Triglav Krsko	9	25.5	244.5
8.	SK Nova Gorica	6	24.5	245.5
9.	Celjski SK	4	22.5	247.5
10.	SD dr. Milan Vidmar Lj.	2	20	250.0

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 are now available.

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/

Dutch League (NED), 26 ix 2009 - 18 iv 2010 Round 3 Standings:
Pl	Team	Mp	Bp	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
1	Groningen 1/Hotels.nl	8	24½	x	.	6	.	.	.	6	6	6.5	.
2	HSG	6	28½	.	x	.	8.5	7	8.5	.	.	4.5	.
3	Schrijvers Rotterdam	6	23½	4	.	x	.	.	5.5	6.5	.	7.5	.
4	Utrecht	5	21	.	1.5	.	x	5	.	.	.	7.5	7
5	LSG	5	21	.	3	.	5	x	.	.	7.5	.	5.5
6	Homburg Apeldoorn	4	22	.	1.5	4.5	.	.	x	.	8	.	8
7	HMC Calder	2	16½	4	.	3.5	.	.	.	x	3	.	6
8	Braceland ESGOO	2	15½	4	.	.	.	2.5	2	7	x	.	.
9	SMB	2	14	3.5	5.5	2.5	2.5	.	.	.	.	x	.
10	HWP Sas van Gent	0	13½	.	.	.	3	4.5	2	4	.	.	x

Dutch League (NED), 26 ix 2009 - 18 iv 2010 Round 3 Standings:
Round 1 - 26 September
01	SMB	-	Schrijvers Rotterdam	2½	-	7½
02	Groningen 1/Hotels.nl	-	Braceland ESGOO	6	-	4
03	HMC Calder	-	HWP Sas van Gent	6	-	4
04	Homburg Apeldoorn	-	HSG	1½	-	8½
05	LSG	-	Utrecht	5	-	5
Round 2 - 31 October
01	Utrecht	-	SMB	7½	-	2½
02	HSG	-	LSG	7	-	3
03	HWP Sas van Gent	-	Homburg Apeldoorn	2	-	8
04	Braceland ESGOO	-	HMC Calder	7	-	3
05	Schrijvers Rotterdam	-	Groningen 1/Hotels.nl	4	-	6
Round 3 - 21 November
01	SMB	-	Groningen 1/Hotels.nl	3½	-	6½
02	HMC Calder	-	Schrijvers Rotterdam	3½	-	6½
03	Homburg Apeldoorn	-	Braceland ESGOO	8	-	2
04	LSG	-	HWP Sas van Gent	5½	-	4½
05	Utrecht	-	HSG	1½	-	8½
Round 4 - 12 December
01	HSG	-	SMB	4½	-	5½
02	HWP Sas van Gent	-	Utrecht	3	-	7
03	Braceland ESGOO	-	LSG	2½	-	7½
04	Schrijvers Rotterdam	-	Homburg Apeldoorn	5½	-	4½
05	Groningen 1/Hotels.nl	-	HMC Calder	6	-	4
Round 5 - 9 January
01	SMB	-	HMC Calder		-
02	Homburg Apeldoorn	-	Groningen 1/Hotels.nl		-
03	LSG	-	Schrijvers Rotterdam		-
04	Utrecht	-	Braceland ESGOO		-
05	HSG	-	HWP Sas van Gent		-
Round 6 - 6 February
01	HWP Sas van Gent	-	SMB		-
02	Braceland ESGOO	-	HSG		-
03	Schrijvers Rotterdam	-	Utrecht		-
04	Groningen 1/Hotels.nl	-	LSG		-
05	HMC Calder	-	Homburg Apeldoorn		-
Round 7 - 6 March
01	SMB	-	Homburg Apeldoorn		-
02	LSG	-	HMC Calder		-
03	Utrecht	-	Groningen 1/Hotels.nl		-
04	HSG	-	Schrijvers Rotterdam		-
05	HWP Sas van Gent	-	Braceland ESGOO		-
Round 8 - 27 March
01	Braceland ESGOO	-	SMB		-
02	Schrijvers Rotterdam	-	HWP Sas van Gent		-
03	Groningen 1/Hotels.nl	-	HSG		-
04	HMC Calder	-	Utrecht		-
05	Homburg Apeldoorn	-	LSG		-
Round 9 - 18 April
01	LSG	-	SMB		-
02	Utrecht	-	Homburg Apeldoorn		-
03	HSG	-	HMC Calder		-
04	HWP Sas van Gent	-	Groningen 1/Hotels.nl		-
05	Braceland ESGOO	-	Schrijvers Rotterdam		-

14) Commonwealth Chess Championships

The 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. Apparently the sponsor I mentioned last week didn't end up sponsoring the event.

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

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

Commonwealth Chess Championships Singapore (IND), 9-15 xii 2009
Rk.	Ti	Name	Typ	sex	FED	RtgI	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	IM	Paciencia Enrique			SIN	2424	7,5	46,0	35,5	25,5
2	IM	Ashwin Jayaram			IND	2448	6,5	47,0	36,0	26,0
3	CM	Illingworth Max			AUS	2211	6,0	49,0	37,5	26,5
4	FM	Chan Wei Xuan Timothy			SIN	2384	6,0	46,5	35,5	25,5
5	IM	Gokhale Chandrashekhar			IND	2259	5,5	43,5	35,0	25,0
6	FM	Fernandez Daniel Howard			SIN	2230	5,5	43,5	35,0	24,5
7	IM	Lim Yee-Weng			MAS	2336	5,0	41,5	30,5	21,0
8		Dole Anant			RSA	2068	5,0	38,0	29,0	20,5
9	IM	Konguvel Ponnuswamy			IND	2444	5,0	36,5	29,0	20,5
10	FM	Sauravh Khherdekar			IND	2274	4,5	48,0	36,5	26,0
11	IM	Mas Hafizulhelmi			MAS	2419	4,5	45,0	34,0	23,5
12		Lee Kim Han Edward			MAS	2114	4,5	43,0	33,5	24,0
13		Phadke Sohan			IND	2214	4,5	39,5	30,0	21,0
14		Tan Weiliang			SIN	2168	4,5	34,0	27,0	20,0
15	FM	Lo Kin Mun Dominic			SIN	2174	4,5	33,0	27,0	20,0
16	CM	Neubronner Jarred			SIN	2215	4,0	42,0	33,5	24,0
17	FM	Chua Zheng Yuan Terry			SIN	2256	4,0	41,0	31,5	22,5
18		Lazarus Ben			AUS	2168	4,0	39,5	32,0	22,5
19		Thakur Akash			IND	2368	4,0	38,0	29,5	20,5
20		Stojic Dusan			AUS	2201	4,0	37,0	30,0	21,5
21		Koh Jonathan			SIN	2211	4,0	32,0	26,0	19,5
22	WFM	Mitali Madhukar Patil		W	IND	2007	2,5	33,0	26,5	19,5
23	WIM	Solomons Anzel		W	RSA	1954	1,5	31,0	24,5	18,5
24	FM	Mishra Soumyaranjan			IND	2273	1,0	44,5	35,0	25,0
25		Vaibhav Suri			IND	2344	0,0	40,5	31,5	22,5

15) Anand - Topalov World Championship is in Sofia in April/May 2010

The World Chess Championship takes place in Sofia, Bulgaria 23 April (1st round) to 12 May 2010 (possible tiebreaks). The match is between World Champion Viswanathan Anand and Veselin Topalov. An agreement was signed by FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and the President of the Bulgarian Chess Federation Stefan Sergiev on the 16th December 2009. This was in the presence of the Prime Minister of Bulgaria Mr Boiko Borisov who is guaranteeing the match.

16) Linares 2010

The Linares tournament takes place in Spain (a pairing with Dubai fell through) 12th-25th February 2010. Players invited so far are: Veselin Topalov, Levon Aronian, Alexander Grischuk, Francisco Vallejo Pons and for the first time in a super-tournament Vugar Gashimov who deserves his chance in this company. (Source ChessDom who also speculate that Boris Gelfand will make up the field).

17) Groningen Chess Festival 2009

The Groningen Chess Festival takes place 21st-30th December 2009.

There are a number of open events with the A-Group having Vladimir Baklan, Sipke Ernst, Anish Giri, Dmitri Reinderman etc

After Christmas there is a four game challenge match between Jan Timman and Robin van Kampen.

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

18) Forthcoming Events and Links

Asian Team Championship

The Asian Team Championship takes place in Kolkata, India 20th-29th December 2009.

Official site: http://www.asianteamchess09.com

International Correspondence Chess Federation

The International Correspondence Chess Federation has announced the Preliminary Sections of the World Correspondence Chess Championship will start on March 10th. 2010.

Also Slovenia's 15 Years Membership of ICCF tournament semi-finals.

Details on the ICCF Official site: http://www.iccf.com/content/index.php

Reykjavik Open

The Reykjavík Open 2010 takes place 24th February - 3rd March 2010.

Details: http://www.chess.is and the contact e-mail of the organize commitee is reykjavikopen2010@gmail.com.

FIDE World Amateur Chess Championship

FIDE World Amateur Chess Championship - an Official FIDE World Chess Championship! 9R-SS G/90 + 30/sec increment. Holiday Inn Hotel: 5300 W Touhy Ave Skokie, IL 60077. 847.679.8900. $20,000 Guaranteed. Open to players with no FIDE title and rated under 2000 FIDE. All players compete in a single section. Please see tournament website for more detailed rating regulations.

Prizes: Overall: $3000-2000-1600-1400; Top Women: $1000-600-400-200; (1799-1600): $1000-600-400-200; (1599-1400): $1000-600-400-200; (U1400): $1000-600-400-200; (Unrated): $1000-600-400-200;

EF: $120 by 6pm 02/15, $150 by 6pm 03/15; $200 thereafter and onsite. No re-entries allowed. No half-point byes allowed (zero point byes only). Onsite registration from 3-5pm 03/19.

Rds: 3/19 - 6:30pm; 3/20-21 - 12pm and 6:30pm per day; 3/22-25 - 6:30pm per night.

Mail entries with registration information to: North American Chess Association (make checks payable to) 4957 Oakton Street, Suite 113, Skokie, IL 60077.

More information and online registration available at: http://www.worldchesschamps.com. Questions via email only: sevan@worldchesschamps.com

Satu Mare Blitz Romania

Gheorghe Nemeth a chess player of Satu Mare (Transylvania, Romania) is organsing a blitz tournament commemorating the fall of the communist regime in 1989. The event is in Satu Mare on Sunday 27th December 2009. The event is organised by his Foundation for the Rebirth of Satu Mare’s chess.

Contact: nemethgheorghe@gmail.com

Details: http://www.frsah.ro/alte_turnee.htm

Schachbundesliga 2009-10

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

Rounds 8 and 9 are on 6th and 7th of February 2010. Baden-Baden are the only team left on 100%.

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

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

52nd Reggio Emilia (ITA), 28 xii 2009 - 6 i 2010					cat. XV
Ti	Player	NAT	Elo Nov	WRk	DoB
GM	Zoltan Almasi	HUN	2704	33	1976
GM	Baadur Jobava	GEO	2696	39	1983
GM	Gata Kamsky	USA	2695	41	1974
GM	Viktor Bologan	MDA	2692	43	1971
GM	Baadur Jobava	GEO	2696	39	1983
GM	Konstantin Landa	RUS	2664	63	1972
GM	Fabiano Caruana	ITA	2652	81	1992
GM	Eltaj Safarli	AZE	2592	220	1992
GM	Michele Godena	ITA	2537	504	1967
IM	Sabino Brunello	ITA	2507	723	1989
GM	Daniele Vocaturo	ITA	2500	785	1989

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/.

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.

Corus A Wijk aan Zee (NED), 15-31 i 2010				cat. XIX (2720)
Ti	Player	NAT	Elo Sept	WRk	DoB
GM	Viswanathan Anand	IND	2788	2	1969
GM	Magnus Carlsen	NOR	2772	4	1990
GM	Vladimir Kramnik	RUS	2772	5	1975
GM	Peter Leko	HUN	2762	6	1979
GM	Vassily Ivanchuk	UKR	2756	8	1969
GM	Hikaru Nakamura	USA	2735	16	1987
GM	Alexei Shirov	ESP	2730	18	1972
GM	Sergey Karjakin	RUS	2722	20	1990
GM	Leinier Dominguez Perez	CUB	2719	22	1983
GM	Nigel Short	ENG	2706	29	1965
GM	Sergey Tiviakov	NED	2670	57	1973
GM	Fabiano Caruana	ITA	2662	71	1992
GM	Loek van Wely	NED	2650	86	1972
GM	Jan Smeets	NED	2642	101	1985

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.

Corus B Wijk aan Zee (NED), 15-31 i 2010			cat. XVI (2627)
Ti	Player	NAT	Elo Sept	DoB
GM	Ni Hua	CHN	2692	1983
GM	Arkadij Naiditsch	GER	2685	1985
GM	Emil Sutovsky	ISR	2676	1977
GM	Pentala Harikrishna	IND	2673	1986
GM	Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu	ROM	2664	1976
GM	Wesley So	PHI	2644	1993
GM	Varuzhan Akobian	USA	2637	1983
GM	David Howell	ENG	2624	1990
GM	Parimarjan Negi	IND	2615	1993
GM	Tomi Nyback	FIN	2615	1985
GM	Erwin l'Ami	NED	2606	1985
GM	Dimitri Reinderman	NED	2572	1972
GM	Anish Giri	NED	2552	1994
WGM	Anna Muzychuk	SLO	2533	1990

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

Hastings Chess Congress (ENG), 28 xii 2009 - 4 i 2010 Leading Entries
DRODZOVSKIJ Yuri	UKR	gm	2627
EDOUARD Roman	FRA	gm	2620
HOWELL David	ENG	gm	2620
STRATESCU Andrei	ROM	gm	2620
WILLIAMS Simon	ENG	gm	2520
HEBDEN Mark	ENG	gm	2500
ARKELL Keith	ENG	gm	2478
PHILIPPE Christophe	FRA	im	2430
ZDEBSKAJA Natalia	UKR	wgm	2410
KOLBUS Dietmar	GER	im	2355
MARUSENKO Petr	UKR	im	2300
RUDD Jack	ENG	im	2296

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

Gibtelecom Masters (ENG), 26 i - 4 ii 2010 Leading Entries
Zhu Chen	QTR	GM	2473
Al-Modiahki Mohamad	QTR	GM	2570
Cmilyte Victorja	LTU	IM	2475
Zhukova Natalia	UKR	WGM	2465
Skripchenko Almira	FRA	IM	2450
Fressinet Laurent	FRA	GM	2667
Zatonskih Anna	USA	IM	2466
Fridman Daniel	GER	GM	2665
Dzagnidze Nana	GEO	GM	2536
Krush Irina	USA	IM	2458
Zozulia Anna	BEL	IM	2341
Malakhatko Vadim	BEL	GM	2573
Cramling Pia	SWE	GM	2531
Bellon Juan	ESP	GM	2430
Sachdev Tania	IND	IM	2410
Muzychuk Mariya	UKR	IM	2441
Houska Jovanka	ENG	IM	2380+
Roiz Michael	ISR	GM	2662
Golod Vitali	ISR	GM	2592
Calzetta Monica	ESP	WGM	2344
Koneru Humpy	IND	GM	2611
Siebrecht Sebastian	GER	GM	2456
Hoffmann Michael	GER	GM	2513
Stefanova Antoaneta	BUL	GM	2522
Dronavalli Harika	IND	IM	2449
Kruttika Nadig	IND	WGM	2264
Karavade Eesha	IND	WGM	2391
Mohota Nisha	IND	WGM	2336
Speelman Jon	ENG	GM	2525
Agdestein Simen	NOR	GM	2570
Arakhamia Ketevan	SCO	GM	2500
Sedina Elena	ITA	IM	2335
Adams Michael	ENG	GM	2682
Romain Edouard	FRA	GM	2622
Istratescu Andrei	ROU	GM	2624
Movsesian Sergey	CZE	GM	2711
Kosteniuk Alexandra	RUS	GM	2516
Gopal Naravanyan	IND	GM	2586
Sandipan Chandra	IND	GM	2585
Vitiugov Nikita	RUS	GM	2689
Romanov Evgeny	RUS	GM	2591

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

Contact: GM Alfonso Romero Holmes, Tournament Director aromero64@yahoo.es

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