Mechanics' Institute Chess Club Newsletter #433

 
 
 

The goal of analysis is to arrive at a position that is not "critical' but "settled' in character.

 

Isaac Lipnitsky, Questions of Modern Chess Theory (page 90)

 

 

 
1) Mechanics' Institute Chess Club News
2) Topalov-Kamsky
3) Aeroflot Open
4) Cozianu wins Washington State Championship
5) Haessler wins Oregon State Championship
6) Upcoming Events
 
1) Mechanics' Institute Chess Club News
 
Larry Snyder, Igor Margulis, Oleg Shaknazarov and Evan Sandberg tied for first at 6-2 in the Winter Tuesday Night Marathon which concluded yesterday evening. The Spring TNM, an 8-round USCF and FIDE rated Swiss, starts March 17.
 
John Blackstone points out that the Brooklyn Chess Chronicle for 1884 has more information on Zuckertort's visit to San Francisco. On August 15, 1884, on page 161 it reports:
 
On the 3rd of July , Zuckertort contested 7 blindfold games at the Mechanics' Library, winning 6 and losing 1. On the 8th he gave another blindfold exhibition, meeting 12 opponents simultaneously. The Doctor won 9 games, drew 1 with Mr. Walstein, and lost 2 to Messrs. Welsh and Redding.
 
Dr. Zuckertort left San Francisco for China on the 26th of July. During the last week of his stay he played 11 blindfold simultaneous games against Messrs. Krouse, Levy, Jacobi, SCammel, Gates, Reis, Halweigen, McCrea, Wilhern, Richard and J.D. Condon, winning all of them. He also played a match of 5 games with Mr. J.D. Redding, with the condition that Mr. Redding should have the move on every game and would play the Evans Gambit. The Doctor backed himself, giving his opponent the odds of 5 to 1. Mr. Redding lost all the games.
 
A month (page 178) later the BCC writes that Zuckertort, who did not go to China but returned to the Eastern US, played 12 games with Mr. Fritz Peipers . Six games even and six games with the odds of a Knight. The result was that of the even games the Doctor won 4 and Mr. Peipers 1; of the odds games Mr. Peipers won 5 and lost 1.
 
 
2) Topalov-Kamsky
 
Veselin Topalov leads Gata Kamsky 3.5-2.5 with two games remaining in their match. One interesting aspect about it is the time control with the increment only kicking in for the last time control. Time Control: 120 minutes for the first 40 moves  : add 60 minutes after move 40   : add 15 minutes plus 30 seconds inc. after move 60. This seems like the best of both worlds using the traditional time limit for the first two controls and the increment only at the end of the game.
 
 
3) Aeroflot Open
 
Congratulations to GM Melik Khachian of Los Angeles who turned in a near 2700 performance to tie for first in the second group of the Aeroflot Open with a 7-2 score. Jann Ehlvest was the top scoring American in the A group with 5 from 9 followed by Alex Onischuk at 4.5 and Varuzhan Akobian at 4. 15-year-old Ray Robson had an eventful tournament. He had only 1 draw in rounds 1-3 and 7-9 but in the middle of the tournament he beat three 2600 players in consecutive rounds.
 
 
4) Cozianu wins Washington State Championship
 
Top seed FM Costin Cozianu (USCF 2566), formerly of Romania, came from behind in the last round to win the Washington State Championship with a 7-2 score. NM Michael Lee (2374) was leading throughout but lost his last game to US Womens Olympiad team member WGM Katerine Rohonyan in the event held in mid February at the Microsoft Campus in Redmond, Washington. Players competed for $3500 prize fund in the annual round robin which dates back to 1932. Defending champion GM Gregory Serper did not play.
 
Top scores in the 10-player round robin
 
1.FM Cozianu 7; 2-3. NMs Lee and Curt Collyer 6.5; 4-5. NM Josh Sinanan and Howard Chen 6; 6. WGM Rohanyan 5.

 
5) Haessler wins Oregon State Championship
 
NM Carl Haessler won the Oregon Championship, held in the middle of February with a 7-2 score. Roger Martin was second at 6 with Radu Roua, Steve Breckenridge and Mike Pendergast sharing third on 5 points. Neil Dale directed the event the 10-player round robin for the Oregon Chess Federation.
 
 
6) Upcoming Events
 

MI Events - full details at www.chessclub.org

A.J. Fink Amateur Championship - March 14-15
Max Wilkerson Open - March 28
Walter Lovegrove Senior Open - April 4-5
Imre Konig Memorial - April 18

Northern California 

Mar. 6-8 or 7-8   Western Chess Congress   GPP: 100 Enhanced   California Northern

5SS, 40/2, SD/1 (2-day option, rds. 1-2 G/75; U1100 & U900 sections are 6SS, 3/7-8 only, G/65). Concord Hilton Hotel, 1970 Diamond Blvd, Concord CA 94520 (I-680 Willow Pass Rd exit). Free shuttle between hotel and Concord BART station. Free parking. In 8 sections. $$G 20,000. Premier, open to all over 1950 and juniors under 18 over 1800: $1600-900-500-300, clear or tiebreak winner $100, top U2300 $800-400. FIDE. Under 2100: $1400-700-400-300. Under 1900: $1400-700-400-300. Under 1700: $1400-700-400-300. Under 1500: $1200-600-300-200. Under 1300: $1200-600-300-200. Under 1100: $600-300-200-100. Under 900: $600-300-200-100. Unrated must play in U1900 or below with maximum prize U1900 $600, U1700 $500, U1500 $400, U1300 $300, U1100 $200, U900 $100; balance goes to next player(s) in line. Top 6 sections EF: 4-day $119, 3-day $119, 2-day $118 mailed by 2/26, all $120 online at chesstour.com by 3/3, $125 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 3/3 (entry only, no questions), $140 at site. U1100, U900 Sections EF: $57 mailed by 2/26, $60 online at chesstour.com by 3/3 (entry only, no questions), $65 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 3/3, $70 at site. All: FREE TO UNRATED. Unofficial uschess.org ratings based on 4 or more games usually used if otherwise unrated. Special 1 yr USCF dues with Chess Life if paid with entry: online at chesstour.com $30; mailed, phoned or paid at site $40. Re-entry (except Master) $60. Mailed EF $7 less to rated CalChess members. 3-day schedule: Reg. Fri to 6:30 pm, rds Fri 7:30, Sat 11-6, Sun 9-3:30. 2-day schedule: Reg Sat to 10 am, rds Sat 11-2:30-6, Sun 9:30-4. U1100 & U900 schedule: Reg. Sat to 11:30 am, rds. Sat. 12-3-6, Sun. 9-12:30-3:30. All schedules: Byes OK all, limit 2, must commit before rd 3 and have under 2 pts. HR: $99-99-109, 925-827-2000, reserve by 2/20 or rate may increase. Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633. Questions: chesstour.com, 845-496-9658. Ent: Continental Chess, c/o Goichberg, Box 661776, Arcadia CA 91066. $15 service charge for withdrawals. Advance entries posted at chesstour.com. WCL JGP.

Mar. 21-22   Hans Poschmann Memorial 4-SS, 30/90; SD/60 Fremont Adult School, 4700 Calaveras Ave., Fremont, CA 94538. $$B 80 paid entries (not counting unrated entries) Three Sections: Open: $350-225 U2200 $220-115; A/B (1999-1600): A $220-115 B $220-115; Reserve (U1600): C $220-115 U1400 $220-115 Unr: Trophy First. All, EF: postmarked by 3/16 $50, $60 at site. Unrateds $20 in the Reserve section or may play up to the Open section for the regular fee. USCF memb. req'd. May play up for add'l $10 per section. Reserve players in the A/B section compete for the B prize. Reg.: Sat 3/21 9:00-9:45am. RDS.: Sat 10:00-3:30; Sun 10:00-3:30; One 1/2 pt bye available if requested in advance (bye in rds 3 or 4 must be requested before rd 1). 2009 March Ratings List, CCA minimums and Directors discretion will be used to place players as accurately as possible. Please bring clocks and equipment. INFO: Ken Zowal (510)-623-9935 Email: kenneth.zowal@sbcglobal.net or richardkoepcke@yahoo.com Ent: Ken Zowal, P.O. Box 3211, Fremont, CA 94539. No Phone entries. WCL JGP.