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"Chess is a kind of mental alcohol. Unless a man has supreme self-control. It is better that he should not learn to play chess. I have never allowed my children to learn it, for I have seen too much of its evil results." J.H. Blackburne 1) DeGuzman wins 4th Annual Donnelly Memorial 2) Five-way tie in Robert Jordan TNM 3) A. Ibragimov tops Wednesday Night Blitz 4) Pruess tops in East Bay Chess Club Swiss 5) Burnett, McHugh, Ginsburg and Zaikov advance in AF4C US Ch Qualifier 6) Polgar - Karpov 3-3 tie 7) USCF No-Confidence Motion in King Kirsan 8) HB Global Chess Challenge 9) Hans Ree Interview 10) ACP Time Control Survey 11) Here and There 12) Upcoming Events DeGuzman wins 4th Annual Donnelly MemorialIM Ricardo DeGuzman continued his winning ways scoring 5-0 to take home the first prize in the 4th Annual Howard Donnelly Memorial held September 18. WGM Camilla Baginskaite made a welcome return to the tournament arena, winning her first four games before taking a last round bye. Her score of 4.5 was good for second, a half point behind were Experts Batsaikan Tserendorj, Alexander Levitan and Dmitry Vayntrub. Vinzaent Davies, rated only 1288, had an excellent result scoring 3.5 from 5 while playing up every round. Anthony Corrales direct the 37-player event for the Mechanics' 2) Five-way tie in Robert Jordan TNMIM Ricardo DeGuzman narrowly escaped against teenager Nicolas Yap last night, saving a lost ending. This draw and the bye taken by the other leader, NM Russell Wong, enabled FM Frank Thornally and NM Igor Margulis to join these three players in first place at 5-1 with two rounds to go in the Frank Jordan Tuesday Night Marathon. 3) A. Ibragimov tops Wednesday Night BlitzArthur Ibragimov won the Wednesday Night Blitz last week with David Ray second. Play starts tonight at 7pm following Alex Yermolinsky's lecture. 4) Pruess tops in East Bay Chess Club SwissSM David Pruess scoring 3.5 from 4 (one half point bye) to win the 19-player East Bay Chess Club September Swiss held September 18-19. Salar Jahedi was second at 3 with Andy Lee, Ariel Mazzarelli, Craig Andries, George Matchen, Corey Chang, Bleys Rose and Tatsuro Yamamura sharing Third/U2200,U2000,U1800,U1600 at 2.5.Go to http://www.eastbaychess.com/ for more information about this chess club located in North Berkeley. 5) Burnett, McHugh, Ginsburg and Zaikov advance in AF4C/ICC US Ch QualifierIM Ron Burnett (Tennessee) and NM Edward McHugh (Connecticut) will represent the East and IM Mark Ginsburg (Arizona) and NM Oleg Zaikov (Oregon) the West in a G/60 knockout this weekend on the ICC with the last US Championship spot up for grabs. First round pairings are Arizona vs Connecticut and Tennessee vs Oregon. Zaikov is a rapidly improving junior and McHugh is looking for a breakthrough, but the smart money will probably be on IM Ron Burnett, the highest rated player in the field, to advance. Veterans will root for University of Arizona professor Mark Ginsburg who has been trying to qualify for the 2004 US Championship for much of the past two years. It seems like in every event Mark started slowly, battled back, then lost the qualifier spot on tiebreak. Here is hoping his luck changes. Go Mark! The four finalists emerged from two 9 round blitz tournaments (3 minutes with one-second increment), each made up of approximately 20 state champions, including Northern California representative John Donaldson who was fourth in the West. This first time event, the AF4C repechage if you will, was ably run by ICC administrator Duncan Oxley (autobot on the ICC). One improvement for next year would be to have standings available after each round so the players don't have to guess how they are doing. It wasn't readily apparent that West favorite IM Kong Deng of Los Angeles who got confused with the starting time, wasn't playing until after the event was over.
CofC-Tennessee - CofC-Connecticut [B40] 6) Polgar - Karpov 3-3 tieHere is a brief report from Paul Troung. If you go to ChessBase.com you will find a complete report with many pictures (http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=1918) of yet another first class event organized by Mikhail Korenman.
Rapid: Karpov 1.5 - Polgar .5 Progressive score:
Karpov 1/2 1 0 1 1/2 0 = 3 There were about 2,000 at the Champions Parade. 176 new USCF memberships were signed up. There were about 500 people in the audience the first day and about 800 combine for both days. Nearly 100 had the opportunity to dine with Polgar and Karpov on Saturday evening. The entire event was a true spectacle to promote US Chess at the highest level. Polgar went for the win in each game, sacrificing material in just about every game. In game 5, Karpov offered a draw with only 10 seconds left on the clock and no increment. However, the position was clearly even and Polgar graciously accepted. There were plenty of media and the players were warmly greeted. GM Shulman, IMs Charbonneau, Krush and Zatonskih were on hand to help out and promote chess to kids. Approximately 200 kids participated in the Champions Cup tournament. 7) USCF No-Confidence Motion in King KirsanIf you go to the front page of the USCF website (uschess.org) you will find a link to letter that President Beatriz Marinello and Executive Board Don Schultz wrote asking FIDE put a no-confidence motion on its agenda for the Congress to be held during the Olympiad in Spain this fall. The motivation for this action seems to be Kirsan's attempt to whitewash a recent report by the FIDE Verification Committee which was scathing in its criticism of the FIDE czar. Its not clear what sort of support the USCF initiative has or how aggressively it is lobbying other disgruntled national federations. Going it alone will definitely not produce results as the USCF is not a major player in FIDE. Former American Zonal President and MI Chess Room Director Jim Eade raises some good points on the effectiveness of the no-confidence measure on his blog at http://journals.aol.com/jimeade/JimEadesWeblog . The author of the best-selling Chess for Dummies is due out with a new book, The Chess Player's Bible, later this year. "I have mixed feelings about the USCF's latest FIDE initiative. As you know, I consider the current state of affairs a complete mess, but I am not confident that the problem has been correctly identified. My concern is that there will be posturing and chest thumping, but no real reform. I am weary of empty rhetoric. Don Schultz once passed a motion that the USCF's WEB site would be "second to none." However, there was never any intention of committing the resources necessary to make that happen. Fixing FIDE requires more than mere words. The first question to ask is whether FIDE, or something like FIDE is necessary. When Kasparov was unable to secure a return match against Kramnik, I believe his reluctant conclusion was that it is. Yet, FIDE as an organization is extremely complex. I would submit that any international organization governed by a General Assembly, and Executive Board, a Presidential Board and a President is bound to experience some difficulties. If I told you that the organization's Treasurer was not a full time paid employee, you'd probably think I was joking. The real joke would be on us. FIDE's audit and verification processes cannot withstand scrutiny. One must question the independence and qualifications of those involved. Until these systemic problems are addressed there will be no real reform in FIDE. Reform is needed, but a vote of no confidence in the President, is only for show. Demand a full time Chief Financial Office. Insist on Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Engage an independent auditor. And, oh by the way, tell me how these things will be paid for. It is difficult to take these demonstrations seriously, however well intended they may be." 8) HB Global Chess ChallengeJust when it looked like it was all doom and gloom for US Chess GM Maurice Ashley has made a fantastic move, landing a sponsor who will be organizing the biggest prize fund Swiss event ever next May. Well-done Maurice! With a guaranteed prize fund of $500,000, Generation Chess is pleased to announce the richest open chess tournament in history. This event will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota from May 18-22, 2005.
HB Global Chess Challenge LARGEST EVER OPEN CHESS TOURNAMENT TO BE HELD IN U.S. IN MAY 2005, ATTRACTING TOP PLAYERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD HB Foundation posts $500,000 prize fund for the HB Global Chess Challenge, a Maurice Ashley-led event expected to bring more than 4,000 participants to Minneapolis, Minnesota Announcing that the world of chess is about to be transformed, Grandmaster Maurice Ashley revealed that the HB Foundation is sponsoring the largest open tournament ever, the HB Global Chess Challenge, which is expected to attract more than 4,000 players from around the globe. The HB Foundation has established a guaranteed prize fund of $500,000 for the tournament, which will be held May 18-22, 2005 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. "An event like the HB Global Chess Challenge has been the dream of players for years, a tournament that will offer very substantial cash prizes and be 'fan friendly' for both the professional and amateur," said Ashley, the CEO of Generation Chess, LLC, the company organizing the event for the HB Foundation. He noted that first place in the Open section has a cash prize of $50,000, and that overall more than 50 others will receive cash prizes for their performances. Ashley, the world's first, and only, African American grandmaster, said the HB tourney is a "massive step forward for chess." HB Global Chess Challenge/page two "We are proud to be making chess history and most pleased that we will be helping to build awareness of how children benefit from chess," said Brian Molohon, the executive director of the HB Foundation. The non-profit foundation promotes the cognitive and academic benefits that children and youth gain from learning, and practicing, chess. The HB Global Chess Challenge will have multiple side events, including lectures, simultaneous exhibitions, autograph signings by leading GMs, live game analysis of the top boards, musical entertainment, silent and live auctions, drawings, and gift memberships in the U.S. Chess Federation. In addition, there will be a children's tournament on the Saturday of tournament week. "The whole world of chess needs to get behind this effort," says Ashley, who will be providing some of his ESPN-style commentary at the event. "The HB tournament gives us all a chance to come together and play the game we love in a way that respects all chess players, and it will help kids. How can you beat that?" The tournament, to be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center, is expected to draw thousands of competitors from around the world, shattering all previous participation records. The first place prize of $50,000 in the Open section is certain to attract many of the world's best players, while a large number of non-professionals will jump at the chance to compete in their various sections for first place prizes of $20,000. HB Global Chess Challenge/page three There will be 56 cash winners in the Open section, with most of the other sections giving away up to 50 cash prizes. Overall, there will be a minimum of 326 winners going home with a cash prize in their pocket. The U.S. Chess Federation and the Association of Chess Professionals have endorsed the HB Global Chess Challenge. The entire Twin Cities area is prepared to welcome the visiting chess competitors, and the array of restaurants, sporting events, theaters, music venues and shops are sure to please. Visits to the Mall of America, the nation's largest shopping center, are also planned. "The entire area will be ready to welcome our visiting chess players, throwing the doors wide open to welcome the participants and their families," said Molohon of the HB Foundation, which is based in Minnesota. "Mark your calendars now," says Ashley. "This is the tournament that you will be telling your grandkids about. No matter what happens, there will never again be another first."
For more information, visit: www.hbfoundation.org
PRIZE FUND: $500,000 absolutely guaranteed 9) Hans Ree InterviewWhen one thinks of the best chess magazines in the world New In Chess and Schach are two names that come to mind, but a challenger is GM Alex Baburin's online daily Chess Today ( http://www.chesstoday.net/) which at cost of around $45 a year offers you 365 issues filled with recent news, annotated games, book reviews and interviews. There is a team of editors, but I particularly enjoy the work of GM Mikhail Golubev who recently interviewed the famous Dutch chess writer Hans Ree .Here are a few exceprts. You are particularly critical of Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. Do you see any positive results of his leadership in FIDE? - None whatsoever. As you wrote yourself, even ten Kasparovs cannot generate the sponsorship that Kirsan chases away from chess on his own. I cannot imagine any other big international organisation where a person like him would be allowed to rule. - Whom would you like to see in FIDE President's place? - Bessel Kok, who in the past organised great tournaments, hosted the Prague agreement which was supposed to create a universally recognized World Championship, and then was ruthlessly dumped, so that it will all come to nothing. -In the latest New in Chess Magazine 6/2004 you discussed highly controversial topics: Fischer & Spassky. You supported Fischer's liberation. Should, basically, the chess world forgive its main heroes such sins as publicly expressed anti-Semitism? Alekhine wasn't forgiven by his colleagues at his time... - Forgiving or not is a personal matter, commenting on the fact if somebody should end up in jail is something else. I think there is a difference between Alekhine and Fischer. At a time when Jews where persecuted and murdered Alekhine joined the murderers with his articles on Jewish and Aryan chess. Fischer joins nobody and it is easier to forgive him because he is obviously mentally disturbed. Anyway, the case against him is not his anti-Semitism, but the fact that he played against Spassky in Yugoslavia in 1992. I didn't like him playing there, for money from a shady Serbian arms dealer who later also proved to be a fraudulent banker. But I don't think he deserves a prison sentence. - When did you decide that you should be a Grandmaster? And to what extent have you fulfilled your goals in chess? - I never had any long-time goals in chess. I was studying mathematics and I expected to become a professional mathematician, but then when I had finished my studies I realized that the life of a chess-player was much more attractive. No alarm clock waking you up, but freedom and travel. I never really decided to become a chess professional, I just decided not to take a job. 10) ACP Time Control SurveyPolish Grandmaster B. Macieja recently published the results of a survey down by the Association of Chess Professionals which points once again to dissatisfaction among top players of the G/90 with 30 second increment favored by King Kirsan. Statistics of the participants
- 86 ACP Members and 68 non-ACP Members, Final conclusions and recommendations: 161 players have taken part in the survey about the time control. 7 completed surveys have been excluded, as the players are neither ACP members nor WIM/WGM/IM/GM. The Remaining 154 completed surveys clearly show, that a majority of the players disagree with the current official FIDE time control and prefer to come back to 7-hour time control. At the same time, a majority of the players prefer to play with an increment of 30 seconds. Taking into account the results of the survey, we ask FIDE and continental federations not to ignore the players' point of view and come back to 7-hour rounds with an increment of 30 seconds. We propose the following time control: (100'/40+50'/20+10'/SD)+30 [100 minutes for 40 moves + 50 minutes for 20 moves + 10 minutes to the end of the game + 30 seconds per move (added from move 1)], which was chosen by the players as best for use in official events like the World Championships, Continental Championships, and Zonal Tournaments. 11) Here and ThereSergey Kudrin drew with fellow GM Ildar Ibragimov in the last round to win the 2nd Annual Eastern Chess Congress held September 17 - 19, 2004, in Stamford, Connecticut. Kudrin's score of 4.5 from 5 was good for $800. Tying for second at 4 were Ibragimov and GM Alex Wojtkiewicz. 129 players competed in the multi-section event run by the Continental Chess Association. Congratulations to David Pruess of Berkeley who is now officially a Senior Master (2438 USCF) after winning the the Mark Pinto INternational at the MI this summer. Pruess needs one more IM norm for the title. The latest issue of the Davenport, Iowa, produced Squares magazine has a very interesting article by Michael Negele and the Bay Area's own Andy Ansel on great American chess book collectors, focusing on Albrecht Buschke. 12) Upcoming EventsUpcoming Tournaments at the MI
J.J Dolan Memorial - October 2 Mechanics Institute Scholastic Quads 2004 Tournaments:
September 25, October 16, November 13, December 18 Rounds : 10:30am, 12:15pm, 2:00pm Late Registration: 9:30am - 10:15am Open: to the first eighty players Note: Quads based on rating. USCF Rated. Unrated players face each other. You must be a USCF member to play in the quads. Time Control: Game in 45 minutes Entry Fee: $20 / $30 day of tournament/ $15 for MI members Checks payable to Mechanics' Chess Club Prizes: Trophies for the winners of each quad Northern California Events
East Bay Chess Club Fischer Random Swiss
Time control: 30 moves in 90 minutes, followed by Sudden Death in 1 hour.
Prizes: (Based on 25 full entries)
Directors: David Pruess, Vinay Bhat, Andy Lee
Sept. 25-26 3rd Frank Harris Memorial Chess Tournament
Oct. 9, 10 Burlingame Open Oct. 15-17 22nd Annual SANDS REGENCY RENO-WESTERN STATES OPEN GPP: 200 Nevada Special guest for 5 days-former World Champion GM Boris Spassky!!! 6SS, 40/2, 20/1. Sands Regency Hotel/Casino, 345 N. Arlington Ave., Reno, NV 89501. 1-800-648-3553 or (775) 348-2200. $$52,400 b/500, $$33,550 Gtd. G-$5,000-2500-1500-1200-1000-900-800-700-600-500 in Open Section plus 1/2 of all other prizes. 7 Sections: OPEN: EF: GMs & IMs free, Masters $150, (2000-2199) $201, (1999-below) $301. $$ Prizes 1-10 listed above, (2400-2499) $1000, (2300-2399) $1000-600-400, (2299-below) $1000-600-400. If a tie for 1st overall then (G/15) playoff for $100 from prize fund. (Note: GM/IM w/free entry not eligible for class prizes 2499and below, may elect to pay entry fee and become eligible). EXPERT: (2000-2199) EF: $149 $$2,000-1000-500-400-300-200-200-200-200-100-100-100-100-100 (under 2100) $700. "A" Sec. (1800-1999) EF: $148, $$1,900-1000-500-400-300-200-200-200-200-100-100-100-100-100-100. "B" Sec. (1600-1799) EF: $147, $$1,800-1000-500-400-300-200-200-200-200-100-100-100-100-100-100. "C" Sec. (1400-1599) EF: $146, $$ 1,700-1000-500-400-300-200-200-200-100-100-100-100-100-100-100. "D" Sec. (1200-1399 including adult unrateds) EF: $145 (unrated EF: $10 + must join USCF membership for 1 additional year through this tournament ($49 adults). $$1,500-800-500-400-300-200-200-200-100-100-100-100-100-100-100 (top unrated wins 1 yr. USCF membership plus trophy). "E" Sec. (1199-below including unrated Jrs.) EF: $75 (unrated EF: $10 + must join USCF membership for 1 additional yr. through this tournament ($25 Jrs.) (Note: each entry counts as 1/2 paid player towards total prize fund). $$500-400-300-200-100-100-100-100-100-100-100-100-100-100-100; 1st unrated - 1 year USCF membership + trophy. Seniors (65/over) $$500-300-200-100 (Srs not eligible: provisionally rated, unrated, "E" & masters) - Club Championship $$1000-500-300-200 decided by total score of best 10 scores form one club or area (not eligible - masters, unrated and Sec "E") Trophies to Top 3 (A-E Sections). ALL: $11 more if postmarked after 9/27/04 and $22 more if postmarked after 10/10/04 or at site. $20 off EF to Sr 65/over and Jrs 19/under (does not apply to "E" Section or Unrateds) Players may play up. Unrated players not eligible for cash prizes except Open 1-10. Provisionally rated players may win up to 50% of 1st place money except open Section 1-10. CCA ratings may be used. Note pairings not changed for color alternation unless 3 in a row or a plus 3 and if the unlikely situation occurs 3 colors in a row may be assigned. Reg: 5-9pm (10/14), 8:30-10am (10/15) rds 12-7, 10-7, 9:30-6. Byes available any round if requested before 1st round. Side events: 10/14 6-7:30pm GM Larry Evans lecture (free), Blitz (5 min) Tourney ($20) 7:30pm. GM Boris Spassky's schedule: Wed (10/13) "An Evening with Boris" dinner, cocktails & more advanced reservations required $30, 8:30pm. Thurs (10/14 Simul (25 boards) $100 (includes commemorative pen to all players), Spectator fee $5, 7:30pm. Fri (10/15) Book Signing Session 10-11am. Sat (10/16) Clinic - $10 4:30-6pm. Sun (10/17) film "Clash of the Titans" (Boris Spassky & Bobby Fischer) followed by questions & answers with Boris Spassky & Larry Evans, $10, 4-5:30pm. NOTE: All paid players receive free non transferable admission to all Spassky events except Wed dinner. Ent: Make checks payable and send to: SANDS REGENCY (address above) HR: $39 (Sun-Thurs) & $59 (Fri-Sat) + 13.5% tax. Info: Jerry Weikel, 6578 Valley Wood Drive, Reno NV 89523, (775) 747-1405 (wackyykl@aol.com) FIDE, W.
Oct. 30-31 Blacknight October Open Southern California Events
Sept. 24-26 Los Angeles Open GPP: 50 S. California National Events Sept. 3, 4, 5, 6 23rd North American FIDE Open GPP: 150 Oklahoma 8SS, G/90+30 sec, Holiday Inn (Holidome) 2515 W. 6th Ave (Hwy-51) Stillwater, OK 1-405-372-0800. HR: 60-60-60-60. EF: $50. Free to FIDE rated players. Reg: Fri 11am-12:30pm. Rds: 1-6, 11-4, 11-4, 9-2. $$G 9,900 will not be lowered. $$G$1,500, $1,300, $1,100, $900, $700, $500. 11 plaques. $$G 600 each class X-E & below. Unr $200-$100. 2 byes rds 1-6. OCF req. Free Parking. Ent: Jim Berry PO Box 351 Stillwater, OK 74076. 1-405-624-2281. jaberrycg@aol.com. LS, W. FIDE. Acc pairings may be used
Oct. 29-31. GPP: 80 South Dakota Mark these two events down on your calendar. The PAN AM Intercollegiate will be held in Kansas right after Christmas.Email Mikhail Korenman for more information at mkorenman@yahoo.com 4th Annual Lindsborg Open December 17-22 GM & IM norms are available; $4,000 guaranteed prize fund! Rapid Knock-out Tournament Lindsborg, Kansas December 23-25, 2004 $11,500 guaranteed prize fund! 9SS; |