Mechanics' Institute Chess Room Newsletter # 96

"He, who ventures, should lose."

"He, who does not venture, loses."

   Tartakower

Honor Roll of Imre Konig Memorial donors: fund raising is now at $14,540 - only $5,460 to go!
Tibor Weinberger, Mark Pinto, Jim Eade, Neil Falconer, John Keker, Toshio Imai, Vince McCambridge, Bryan Bilby, Bear Stearns, Tom Allen, Max Wilkerson, John Cannon, Mervyn Field, Dr. Joe Wagner, Haluk Akol, Mike Goodall, Dr. Ben Gross, Smartchess, Peter Stevens, Kevan Gross and anonymous.

This Saturday the MI hosts the Charles Bagby Memorial which promises to be stronger than usual with out of town Masters Bill Schill (Seattle), Bill Reuter (Houston) and Kenan Zildzic (Sacramento) competing for the first time along with regulars IM Ricardo De Guzman and NM Michael Aigner.

1) US loses narrowly to China
2) Vinay Bhat, GM norm
3) Margulis leads Summer Tuesday Night Marathon
4) FIDE rating list
5) Upcoming events

1) US loses narrowly to China

The US-China Chess Summit took place July 10th-15th, 2002, in Shanghai with games on the 11th, 12th, 14th, and 15th. Each round consisted of 10 games featuring six of the top male players, two of the top female players, and two of the top junior players from each country. The US led until the final round when a 6-4 loss condemned them to a narrow 20½ - 19½ overall loss.

Individual US results:
Goldin 2 ½ - 1 ½
Seirawan 1 - 1
Christiansen 1 ½ - 1 ½
Gulko 1 - 2
Kaidanov 2 - 2
Benjamin 3 - 1
Shabalov 2 ½ - 1 ½
Schneider 2 - 1
Bhat 1 - 2
Nakamura 1 ½ - ½
Krush 1 - 3
J. Shahade 0 - 2
E. Donaldson ½ - 2

The standouts of the American team were top board Alexander Goldin and Joel Benjamin. Goldin, making his debut on the American National Team, scored an undefeated 2 ½ - 1 ½ against China's top, best player Ye Jiangchuan, rated 2676. Benjamin, one of the best team players in American chess history, was top scorer with 3 out of 4.

The American men outscored their more highly rated Chinese counterparts as they did last year in Seattle. This time the margin was 13 ½ - 10 ½ . The US did much better on the Junior boards in 2002, scoring 4 ½ - 3 ½ , partly aided by the fact that last year's Chinese Junior stars, Bu and Ni, were promoted to the men's boards this time around. The difference between the two teams was decided on the women's boards where the hosts prevailed 6 ½ - 1 ½ . The absence of Camilla Baginskaite, who scored 2 ½ out of 4 last year in Seattle, was felt.

2) Vinay Bhat, GM norm

As reported in the last Newsletter, 17-year-old MI member Vinay Bhat of San Jose made his first GM norm in a strong Open preceding the US-China match. Vinay drew with GMs Liang Chang (China) , Harikrishna (India) , Shabalov, Goldin, Kaidanov, Barua (India) and won against GM Zhang Zhong (China), IM Chandra Sandipan (India) and lost to GM Larry Christiansen.

3) Margulis leads Summer Tuesday Night Marathon

National Master Igor Margulis leads the Summer Tuesday Night Marathon with one round to go with a score of 6-1. Right behind him at 5 1/2 are FM Frank Thornally and NMs Michael Aigner and David Blohm.

4) FIDE rating list

The newly released July FIDE rating list shows little change at the top.

Top ten: 1 G Kasparov (Russia) 2838 (=); 2 V Kramnik (Russia) 2807 (-2); 3 V Anand (India) 2755 (+3); 4 M Adams (England) 2752 (+8); 5 V Topalov (Bulgaria) 2745 (=); 6 R Ponomariov (Ukraine) 2743 (=); 7 E Bareev (Russia) 2726 (+2); 8 P Leko (Hungary) 2717 (+10); 9 A Morozevich (Russia) 2716 (-2); 10 V Ivanchuk (Ukraine) 2711 (=).

5) Upcoming events

Note two new additions to the calendar under national listings: the always popular Governor's Cup and a rare opportunity for GM and IM norms this December in Lindsborg, Kansas.

Charles Bagby Memorial: July 20
Vladimir Pafhutieff Memorial: August 17

Both these events are 5-round, G/45, Swiss system events starting at 10 AM.

August 12-16 3rd Annual Mechanics' Institute Chess Camp for Intermediate and Advanced Players (1200-2200)

This is not a camp for players that want to jump two rating classes in five days. You won't learn how to win against the Sicilian every time using the Grand Prix Attack. So why our camp and not others? At the MI camp you will get a look inside a GM's laboratory and get a feel for how they work on their game from the ground up. You will learn not only the importance of analyzing your own games, but also how to do it properly. You will learn to identify the critical points of the game and to understand when and why things went wrong.

You will learn how to use ChessBase and Fritz efficiently as part of a daily training program as well as utilizing resources on the Internet such as TWIC and the Internet Chess Club. Today chess books are cranked out at an incredible rate. Some of them are very good, many are quite bad. We will help students learn to select that which is truly useful.

On the fun side our instructors have unique experience in international competition. Expect to hear stories and anecdotes about what it's like to play against Kasparov and defend first board in a Chess Olympiad. Instructors: Grandmasters Alex Yermolinsky, International Masters John Donaldson and Guillermo Rey, and MI Scholastic Director Anthony Corrales.

Who: Open to all ages from 8 and up.
When : August 12-16, from 9am to 5pm
Where: 57 Post Street, 4th floor (Montgomery BART station)
Cost: $320 for Mechanics' members, $355 for junior (under 21) non-members, $405 for adult non-members. All non-members will receive a one year membership in the MI. There is a limit of 40 players for this camp. If you can't attend the whole camp there is a drop in fee of $80 a day

Regional Events

The John Easterling Memorial - August 3rd and 4th
$1,350 based on 50 paid entries
The Mechanics Bank (Operations Center), 725 Alfred Noble Dr., in Hercules, CA!!
Directions: From SF/Berkeley: take Interstate I-80 East to State Route 4/ Hercules Exit -(willow Rd.). Make right turn off ramp onto Willow Rd. then make another right turn at light onto Sycamore Dr. Then a right turn at light on San Pablo Ave. Then make a left turn on John Muir Parkway, entrance to North Shore Business Park at the intersection of John Muir Parkway and San Pablo Ave. Then make the only right turn onto Alfred Noble Dr. Go up the hill to 725 Alfred Noble Dr. The Mechanics Bank.
From State Hwy 4: Travel East on State HWY 4 to John Muir Parkway Exit. Keep straight into the North Shore Business Park at the intersection of San Pablo Ave. and John Muir Parkway. Then make the only right turn onto Alfred Noble Dr. Go up hill to 725 The Mechanics Bank (Operations Center). From Vallejo/ Napa: take Interstate I-80 West to Willow Rd. Exit. Make Right off interstate and go up to San Pablo Ave.-Make the only left turn. Make a Right turn onto John Muir Parkway at the intersection of State Route 4 and John Muir Pkwy, into the North Shore Business Park. Then make the only right turn on Alfred Noble Dr. Go up hill to 725 The Mechanics Bank. Free Parking / skittles room! See the most beautiful site in the East Bay!!
One Section: 4 Round Swiss, G/2, (Limited to 50 Players)
$350-250-150, Best X $140, Best A $130, Best B $120, Best C $110, Best D/E/Unr. $100.
Pre-entries: $35.00 if postmarked by 7/29/02; $40.00 at site/no checks at site. Make checks payable and send to: Rico Adkins, 15696 Crestwood Dr. #172, San Pablo, CA 94806. Please include your name, address, & USCF number and Exp. Date, and rating with entry. Byes must commit before first round. USCF membership required, membership renewal available at site. Aug. Supplement used. Questions/ Info. (510) 262-9061/e-mail: Fgh348@cs.com. Reg. ends at Sat 10:00 am. Rounds: Sat 10:30am, 3:30pm; Sun 10am 3:00pm. Bring sets, clocks.

Aug. 24-25 GPP: 6 N. California
Frank Harris Memorial Chess Tournament. 4SS, 40/2, SD/30. Vallejo Chess Club, 333 Amador St., Vallejo (From San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland- Berkeley-Sacramento-Fairfield: Take I-80 toward Vallejo, exit on Georgia St., go west toward Central Vallejo, 3 lights make rt on Amador, 1/2 blk. on left). $$b/60 pd. ents. Open: (2000+) $$400-250, Best X $200. Reserve: (1600-1999) $$350-200, Best B $200. Booster: (1599/Unr.) $$300-150, Best D/Unr. $200. EF: $50 by 8/20, $55 later. Reg: 8:30-9:30am Sat. Ent: Cks payable to Maximo Fajardo, 127 Missouri St., Vallejo, CA 94590. 707-980-0311. Bring sets/boards, none supplied!

Aug. 31-Sept. 2 GPP: 15 N. California
2002 CalChess Labor Day Festival. 6SS, 30/90, SD/1 (2-day option rds 1-3 G/60). Golden Geteway Holiday Inn, Van Ness at Pine, San Francisco. $$b/130 pd. adult, 20 paid jr. ents. 7 Sects: Master: $700-$350-$200; U2400, $300. Expert: $400-$200-$100. A: $350-$175-$100. B: $350-$175-$100. C: $350-175-100. D/E: $350-$175-$100; U1200 $225. Unr: Trophy 1st. Trophy to top finisher (State Champion) in ea. sect. All: EF: $60 postmarked by 8/27 (Jrs. $50), 3-day: $59 (Jrs $49), 2-day: $70 at site (Jrs. $55). Unr: $40 in the D/E sect. or may play up to the Master section for the regular fee. $5 disc. to CalChess membs. USCF memb. req'd. May play up 1 sect. for add'l $10 (Jrs $5). GM/IM free ent. Reg: Sat. 8-9:30am, Sun. 8:15-9:15am, Rds: All compete for the same prizes. 3-day: Sat 10-4, Sun 11-4:30, Mon 10-3:30. 2-day schedule Sun 9:30-11:45-2 then merges. 1/2 pt bye(s) any rd(s) if req'd in adv., byes rds 5-6 must be req'd before Rd 1. 2002 August Ratings List, CCA minimums & Directo rs discretion will be used to place players as accurately as possible. Please bring clocks " equipment. HR: Golden Gateway Holiday Inn, 415-441-4000. Info: Richard Koepcke 415-964-2640. Ent: Richard Koepcke, 2047 Montecito Ave #30, Mountain View, CA 94043. No Phone entries. FIDE.

National Events

Dear Chess Friends,

Hope the 7th Governor's Cup Chess Tournament is on your fall calendar--October 11-13--in Sioux Falls, Sourth Dakota. The tourney will be at a new site this year--downtown at the Holiday Inn City Centre at 100 West 8th Street. Once again we will distribute $10,000 in prize money. Call (605) 339-2000 as soon as possible and ask for the $79 chess rate. (Let me know if you have any difficulty making a reservation. I know that the state soccer tourney is in town that same weekend which may be a problem for you if you wait too long to reserve a room.)

The tourney will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday night.

All state chess associations are invited to nominate their current state champion or one of their best to represent their state in this event. Please spread the word to chess association presidents. At this time I do not plan to have the Governor's Office send out invitations like I have done in the past.

The entry fee will be $50 in advance--entries must be postmarked by October 5 to receive this rate. After that entry fees will be $70.

Free entry to all GM's, IM's, and players rated above 2400.

Remember to indicate your section when you register: Open, Premier, or Rserve. (Premier is Under 2000, and Reserve is Under 1600).

2nd Annual
Lindsborg Rotary Open Chess Tournament
Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas
December 17-23 or December 20-23
GM & IM norms are available; FIDE rating and evaluation guaranteed for 7-day option!
$3,000 guaranteed prize fund!
3 sections:
FIDE: 9SS, 40/2, SD/1 (4-day option, rounds 1-5 G/50). First two rounds accelerated pairing.
1st - $800, 2nd - $400, 3rd - $200, 4th - 150, 5th - 100
U2400: $100 - 75; U2200: $100 - 75
Open: 9SS, G/120
1st - $150
U2000: $100 - 75 - 50; U1800: $100 - 75 - 50
U1600: $100 - 75 - 50; U1400: $100 - 75 - 50
Scholastic (12/22): G/30. Trophies for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in each HS, MS, ES categories
Entering fees: GMs & IMs free. Membership at Kansas Chess Association is required (dues can be paid on site).
Before 11/1/02 Before 12/1/02 At site
FIDE Section
FIDE 2300 $70 $80 $90
FIDE, USCF >2200 $80 $90 $100
FIDE 2200 $90 $100 $110
non-FIDE rated, USCF 2200 * $120 $130 $140
Open Section $50 $55 $60
Scholastic Section $15 $20 $25
Credit cards OK. Online entry at www.lindsborg.org/events.htm
* Number of non-FIDE rated players will be limited in this category
Schedules:
FIDE Session:
7-day: 12/17-12/20 1:00 pm; 12/21 & 22 9:00 am & 5:00 pm; 12/23 9:00 am
4-day: 12/20 (G/50) 4:00 pm, 6:30 pm, 9:00 pm; 12/21 9:00 am, 1:00 pm, & 5:00 pm;
12/22 9:00 am & 5:00 pm; 12/23 9:00 am
Open Sessions (G/120):
4-day: 12/20 4:00 pm; 12/21 9:00 am, 1:30 pm, 7:00 pm; 12/22 9:00 am, 1:30 pm, 7:00 pm;
12/23 9:00 am, 1:30 pm
Scholastic Session (G/30):
12/22 10:00 am, 11:30 pm, 2:30 pm, 4:00 pm, 5:30 pm

1/2-pt byes OK at ALL. Limit 3. Last bye must commit before round 5.

Special Event - 12/20 at 8:00 pm GM Igor Novikov will play simul games with 20 people. $20.

Hotel rates: $49 - $80 at Swedish Country Inn (1-800-231-0266), $36 - $56 at Coronado Motel (1-800-747-2793), $65 - $150 at Rosberg House B&B (1-888-215-5234), $65 - $95 at Smoky Valley B & B (1-800-532-4407), and $60 - $120 at C&W Ranch Bed & Breakfast (785-668-2352). Reserve by 11/15 or rates may increase.

Ent: Lindsborg Chamber of Commerce (for the chess tournament), 104 E. Lincoln, Lindsborg, KS 67456. 1-888-227-2227; http://www.lindsborg. org/events.htm For more information please contact Mikhail Korenman at 785-227-3380, ext.8164 or korenman@bethanylb.edu
USCF, FIDE. NS, NC.