"He who has a slight disadvantage plays more attentively, inventively and
more boldly than his antagonist, who either takes it easy or aspires after
too much. Thus a slight disadvantage is very frequently seen to convert into
a good, solid advantage."
Lasker
1) Pruess - Zilberstein Match Ends 2-2
A four game match (time control game in 45 minutes) between two of Northern
California's top juniors was held at the Mechanics' on February 2nd and 3rd.
UC Berkeley students Dimity Zilberstein (2414) and David Pruess (2354) traded
wins in games one and two and the remaining games were drawn.
Dutch Leningrad[A81]
Dimity Zilberstein (2414)
David Pruess (2354)
San Francisco (3) 2001
Note this game and Smyslov-Stevens are available in ChessBase format in the
attachment.
2) Spring Tuesday Night Marathon Starts
The Spring Tuesday Night Marathon started last night. Forty-six players are
competing including Masters Kenneth Hills, David Blohm and Russell Wong. The
Marathon runs eight consecutive Tuesday nights. Those who want to play, but
haven't registered, may do so with a half point bye for the first round.
3) Charles Linklater Memorial (February 26-March 8)
The Charles Linklater Memorial, a Category 8 (+2425 FIDE) GM round robin,
honoring the memory of the great Chess Room benefactor, will be held at the
MI beginning February 26. Rounds will be held starting at 10 AM daily.
Spectators are welcome.
Participants and FIDE ratings:
GM Baburin 2598 Ireland
GM Wojtkiewicz 2572 Poland
GM Shulman 2543 Belarus
IM Shahade 2456 USA
FM Altounin 2441 USA
IM Donaldson 2439 USA
FM Lakdawala 2436 USA
FM Mulyar 2428 USA
IM Vucic 2364 USA
WIM Baginskaite 2306 USA
FM Kretchetov 2300 Russia
4) Walter Wood Correspondence IM
Congratulations to Walter Wood of Berkeley for earning his Correspondence IM
title.
5) Vassily Smyslov at the MI
A few Newsletters ago we covered Max Euwe's visit to the MI. Now we skip
ahead of Bobby Fischer's epic simul in 1964 and take a look at the treatment
Vassily Smyslov received on March 20, 1976.
The California Chess Voice reports:
At Mechanics Institute in San Francisco, Smyslov took on 30 players at once,
drawing with nine and losing to three: Victor Baja (2052) of San Francisco,
Randy Fong of Hayward (1921), and Jay Whitehead (2175) of San Francisco. But
the real news here is that all three winners are teenagers - Baja is 16, Fong
17 and Whitehead 14!
One of the draws was with longtime MI member Peter Stevens who kindly
supplied the following game.
Queen's Gambit Declined [D50]
Vassily Smyslov
Peter Stevens
San Francisco (simul) 1976
Note more detailed information on these events can be found by consulting the
MI Chess Room website at (milibrary.org) or e-mailing John Donaldson at
(imwjd@aol.com).
1. Henry Gross Memorial February 24 This one day G/45 , five round Swiss will be rated 1/2 K by the USCF . There
is a $600 prize found based on 25 paid entries. Registration is from 9-9:30
AM on February 24, with the first round starting at 10am and the last
beginning at 6pm. Anthony Corrales (apcorrales@hotmail.com) will direct.
2. Mark Coggins and Patrick Wollf to appear at the MI on February 28
Mark Coggins, author of The Immortal Game, a chess-based mystery set in the
Bay Area, will give a reading on February 28 at 6:15 pm in the MI Members
Lounge on the fourth floor. Coggins will be joined by former US Champion GM
Patrick Wolff.
3. MI WBCA Blitz Tournament
March 4, 4-6 PM (note time change!)
Five double round Swiss or Round Robin as entries dictate
$150 first, $100 second guaranteed, more per entries
100% of all entry fees paid back
FREE TAPE FOR TOP UPSET BY A RATED PLAYER COURTESY OF WALTER BROWNE
Donated book and magazine prizes as well
WBCA membership required
Entry fee: $15 adults, $10 juniors
Note we expect some of the participants from the concurrent GM round robin to
play so this should be an excellent chance to face some stiff competition.