Unfortunately I don't see much talent coming from our country, and this is scaring for me, as we shall not get any younger. Some of the players in this team already played in 1994, so you need some new blood at some point and at the moment I can't see who can bring some new resources to the team.

GM Vladimir Kramnik

1) Mechanics' Institute Chess Room News
2) Gata Kamsky wins Active chess tournament in New York
3) GM Varuzhan Akobian annotates
4) USCF Elections
5) Lubomir Ftacnik wins South Carolina Open
6) Beatriz Marinello reponds
6) Upcoming Events

1) Mechanics' Institute Chess Room News

Boris Spassky to visit the Mechanics' Institute!

Former World Champion Boris Spassky will be the guest of the Mechanics' Institute for four days in late September and early October. During this time Spassky will give a 25 board simul and several talks and book signings. Spassky will later be a guest of the Western States Open but he will only being giving a simul at the Mechanics'. Full details of Spassky's visit will be given in the next MI Newsletter. He will join Lasker, Capablanca, Alekhine, Euwe, Smyslov, Petrosian, Fischer and Karpov on the list of World Champions who have visited the MI.

Four rounds into the Summer Tuesday Night Marathon WIM Batchimeg Tuvshintugs is the only remaining perfect score and will play top seed SM Craig Mar ( 3 1/2) in round five. This game will not only likely determine the winner but be the first time Oakland's top two players have met over the board.

Congratulations to Batchimeg who won the Under 21 section of Susan Polgar tournament at the National Open with a score of 5.5 from 6.

Congratulations also go to 10-year-old Daniel Naroditsky (USCF rating 2055) who will represent the United States in the Pan American Youth Championships scheduled for August 1-10 in Ecuador.

This weekend the Mechanics' Institute will be hold the 6th Annual Charles Bagby Memorial. The five round event has a time control of G/45.

2) Gata Kamsky wins Active chess tournament in New York

This past weekend the strongest active chess tournament ( G/ 25 with 5 sec delay) ever held in the United States was played at the prestigious NY Athletic Club just south of Central Park on June 25th and 26th. The event was sponsored and organized by the Susan Polgar Foundation in collaboration with the NY City Sports Commission and the Office of Mayor Bloomberg. NY City Sports Commissioner. Ken Podziba was on hand at the closing ceremony to present the Mayor's Cup and Mayor's Medals.

Final standings: 1. GM Gata Kamsky (2736) 6.5 / 10 (#1 in the US)
2. GM Susan Polgar (2557) 6.0 / 10 (#1 woman in the US)
3. GM Alexander Onischuk (2704) 5.5 / 10 (reigning US Champion)
4. GM Boris Gulko (2659) 5.0 / 10 (Former USSR and US Champion)
5. GM Ildar Ibragimov (2704) 4.0 / 10 (Olympic Bronze Medalist)
6. GM Alexander Stripunsky (2659) 3.0 / 10 (Former US Open Co-Champion)

Chief Arbiter: Frank Berry
Assistant Arbiter: Jim Berry
Average USCF Rating: 2665+
Average FIDE Rating: 2622.5

3) GM Varuzhan Akobian annotates

Here is the second of three games that Los Angeles GM Varuzhan Akobian has sent us.

The games come from the super strong San Marino Open where Varuzhan tied for first with Vadim Milov.

Varuzhan Akobian (2575) - Alexander Areshchenko (2660)
2nd San Marino Open (5), 08.06.2006
Grunfeld D92

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Be5 Nf6 8.e3 c5 9.dxc5 Nbd7 10.Bd4 Re8 11.e4!

Not 11.Bb5? which fails tactically to 11...e5 12.Bxe5 (relatively best is 12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.Bxe8 Qxe8 14.0-0 keeping the disadvantage to a minimum) 12...Nxe5 13.Qxd8 Nxf3+ 14.gxf3 Rxd8 winning a piece. Two interesting alternatives to the text were 11.Na4!? and 11.Ne5.

11...e5 12.Be3 Ng4 13.Bg5 f6 14.Qd5+! Kh8 15.h3?

15.Bd2! was better and would have given White the advantage. For example 15...Qe7 16.h3 Nh6 (if 16...Nxc5 then 17.b4 is winning) 17.b4 f5 18.Qb3 Nf6 19.Bg5 Qf8 20.Bb5 with a nice edge.

15...Nxf2 16.Kxf2 fxg5 17.Bb5 a6?!

Better was 17...Nf6 18.Qxd8 Rxd8 19.Rad1 Rf8 20.Rd6 and White is only slightly better.

18.Bxd7 Bxd7 19.Rad1

19.Rhd1! was better.

19...Bc6 20.Qxd8 Raxd8 21.Nxg5 Rd4 22.Nf7+ Kg8 23.Nd6 Rf8+ 24.Ke2 Bf6 25.Rhf1

25.Rxd4 would have allowed 25... exd4 26.Nd5 Bh4 with dangerous counterplay.

25...Rxd1 26.Rxd1 Bh4 27.Rf1

Another good possibility was 27.Rd2 Bf2 28.b4 Bd4 29.Nd5 with a clear advantage.

27...Rxf1 28.Kxf1 Be7 29.Nc4 Bxc5 30.Nxe5 Be8 31.Ke2 Kg7 32.Kd3 g5 33.Kc4 Be3 34.Kd5 Bc1 35.Nd3 Bd2 36.Kd6+- Bg6 37.Nc5 b6 38.Ne6+ Kh6 39.e5 Bc1 40.b4 Kh5

Or 40...Ba3 41.Nd5 a5 42.Nd4 axb4 43.Nb3 Kh5 44.g3 Kh6 45.e6 g4 46.h4 Bb2 47.e7 Kg7 48.Nc7 Bc3 49.Nc1 Be1 50.Ne2 and White is winning.

41.g3! g4 42.h4 Bd2 43.Nd5 Bf7 44.Nef4+ Kh6 45.e6 Be8 46.Ke7! Ba4 47.Kf7 1-0

4) USCF Elections

West Coast USCF adult members ( age 16 and over) should finally be receiving their election ballots this week. Voters will be asked to select members for the USCF Executive Board and Delegates for Northern California. There are five candidates running for the EB for one 3 year term and one 1 year term. The candidates are Mike Goodall ( a Mechanics' member for 45 years who has directed hundreds of USCF rated tournaments including several US Championships), Randy Hough ( a Southern California tournament director who has been a key player with the American Open and other major Southland tournaments for over two decades and worked in the USCF office in the 1980s), Grant Perks ( a Columbus, Ohio, tournament director who formerly served as the USCF's CPA), Ernest Schlich ( a Virginia tournament director who has worked for the USCF, assisting on ratings and FIDE title application) and Sam Sloan of Brooklyn ( a well-known chess activist). Don't forget to vote!

5) Lubomir Ftacnik wins South Carolina Open

Slovak GM and principal ChessBase gardener Lubomir Ftacnik won the South Carolina Open, held June 23-25 in Greenville with a 5-0 score. Ftacnik, who had tied for first in the National Open the previous week, defeated his principal rival, IM Ron Burnett, in round 4. Burnett was joined in a tie for second at 3.5 with veteran South Carolina master Klaus Pohl. The five section event attracted 72 players.

6) Beatriz Marinello reponds

Beatriz Marinello has sent the following letter (slightly edited), responding to references to her in the #296 Newsletter.

Dear Mechanics' Institute Chess Club Newsletter recipients,

As a former USCF President and current member of the Executive Board, I believe it is necessary to clarify the comments made about me by John Donaldson and others in the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club Newsletter #296. I believe that his comments came from a lack of knowledge or from a biased personal perspective.

1.- Since 2002, I have held the post of FIDE General Secretary of the Americas. My role has been to serve as a bridge between the other nations in the Continent from Canada to Argentina. The vision is to work for the development of chess in the Americas and build a united block of nations for the purpose of advancing our agendas in FIDE. This particular vision paid off since all American Countries voted to elect Mr. William Kelleher as a FIDE Vice-President. For our federation it was extremely important to have a representation on the FIDE Presidential Board. In addition, we have been expressing our strong support for the concept of preserving the Zonal Structure in FIDE. This is particularly relevant for our players in the US since the USCF has it own zone which provides more opportunities for our representatives to be part of the World Championship Cycle.

2.- My position in the past FIDE Presidential election was neutral. I did not campaign for any candidate. Mr. Donaldson said in the newsletter that I defied the USCF position supporting Kok in the election. This is wrong. I requested to remain neutral and since this was not acceptable to the board they decided to cancel their endorsement of me for reelection to the FIDE Americas General Secretary's position. I thought this action was undemocratic and I requested the FIDE General Assembly to refer the issue to the Americas. I believe that people have the right to fight for fairness. This is the basis for many of the civil rights that we currently have in our country. I was unfairly treated. The Americas gave me their strong support and ratified my election for this position. In addition, I was elected to the FIDE Verification Committee obtaining 97 votes from FIDE Delegates from all over the world.

3.-....The dinner in Calvia was done on the initiative of board member Don Schulz, and I supported it because I saw the importance of building a strong coalition in the Americas. I truly appreciate the fact that players made sacrifices in order to play for the USCF Olympic Team. Concerning my personal expenses, in 2002 I paid my own expenses to attend the FIDE Congress, as I did this year. The only time the USCF paid for my expenses was in Calvia 2004 while I was President. Concerning my trips related to the FIDE Americas General Secretary position, the USCF only paid for my airfare to Mexico while I was President, besides this I paid all my other trips from my personal money. Summarizing, I have been expending time, energy and money for the USCF. I hope Mr. Donaldson as a historian will review my points and set the record straight....

Yours for Chess,
Beatrice Marinello
Past USCF President

The above is run in fairness to Ms. Marinello, and doing so does not necessarily indicate agreement with everything stated in her letter.. This ends the Newsletter's coverage of this matter. Readers seeking further information, or wishing to contribute their comments, on this subject, or on USCF or FIDE politics in general, may resort to the Chess Forum at the USCF Internet website uschess.org for this purpose.

7) Upcoming Events

Mechanics' Events

Charles Bagby - July 1
Vladimir Pafnutieff - August 5
Bernardo Smith Amateur - August 19 and 20

July 1-4 46th Annual Pacific Southwest Open GPP: 30 S. California 7SS, LAX Radisson, 6225 W. Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045. $$8,000 b/240, half of all prize guaranteed. Choice of 2 schedules: 3½ day schedule plays all rounds at 40/2, SD/1. 2½ day schedule plays first 3 rds at G/1, others at 40/2, SD/1. 2 sections: Open, $$1400-700-400-300-200, U2200 $600-300-150, U2000 $600-300-150. Amateur, open to U1800/Unr, $$600-300-150, U1600 500-250-150, U1400 400-250, U1200 150, Unr. 150. Unr. may win Unrated prize only. All, EF: $59 if rec'd by 6/29, $69 at site. SCCF memb. req'd of So. Californians ($14, jrs. U18 $9, includes Rank & File magazine). Reg: 9-10 a.m. (3½ day), 9-9:30 a.m. Sunday (2½ day). Rds: 10:30-4:30, 10:30-4:30, 7, 10-4:30 (2½ day sched. plays Rds 1, 2, 3 at 10, 12, 2 Sunday, then merges). One or two 1/2-pt. byes rds. 1-5 with advance notice. HR: $99, (310) 670-9000 or toll-free at (800) 333-3333, mention Pacific Southwest Open, on line at www.radisson.com, use promotional code CHESS. Parking $5/day. Info: admin@westernchess.com. On-line ent: www.westernchess.com. Ent: SCCF, c/o John Hillery, 835 N. Wilton Pl. #1, Los Angeles CA 90038. NS. NC. F. State Championship Qualifier.

July 7-9 2006 Sacramento Chess Championship GPP: 6 California, Northern 5SS, Full-K. SITE: Best Western Expo Inn, 1413 Howe Avenue, Sacramento, CA. ON-SITE REG: 7/7 - 5:15-6pm; 7/8 - 8:45-9:45am. RDS: 3-day: 7/7 - 6:15pm, 7/8 - 10 & 4, 7/9 - 10 & 3:30. 2-day: 7/8 - 10, 1, & 4, 7/9 - 10 & 3:30. TC: 3-day: 30/90 G/1. 2-day: Rounds 1-2, G/75, Rounds 3-5, 30/90 G/1. 5-second delay on all time controls. SECTIONS: Master/Expert (above 1999), Reserve (Under 2000) EF: 3-day $65 (Juniors $35) postmarked by 6/30. $75 (Juniors $40) after 6/30. 2-day $66 (Juniors $36) postmarked by 6/30. $76 (Juniors $41) after 6/30. IMs/GMs free. Entrants may play up one section for $10. $5 discount to CalChess members. Reentry after round 1 of the 3-day schedule: $40. PRIZES: 1st Place in each section $325 & trophy (1st prize guaranteed in the Master/Expert section). Prize fund of $2570 based on 75 full paid adult entries and 10 full paid junior entries overall (with 60 full paid adult entries and 10 full paid junior entries, the prize fund will be $1,900). HR: Best Western Expo Inn, (916) 922-9833 or 1-800-643-4422. Ask for the Sacramento Chess Club rates. ADV. ENT. & INFO: John McCumiskey (TD), 6700 50th St, Sacramento, CA 95823-1306; e-mail: sactochess@sacramentochessclub.org; phone: (916) 524-9479, checks payable to Sacramento Chess Club. Full flyer and advance entries: http://sacramentochessclub.org under Weekend Events. OTHER INFO: NS, NC, W. 06/06 rating list only. Please bring clocks and equipment. Maximum of two ½ point byes and are available in all rounds, maximum 2 byes per entry. ½ point byes for rds 4 & 5 must be requested prior to rd 1.

July 20-23, 21-23 or 22-23 11th Annual Pacific Coast Open GPP: 100 S. California 6SS, 40/2, SD/1 (2-day option, rds 1-3 G/60). Renaissance Agoura Hills Hotel, 30100 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills CA 91301 (US-101 to Reyes Adobe Road exit). Adjacent to the Santa Monica Mountains, 26 miles west of Burbank, 12 miles from Malibu, 28 miles from Ventura. Free parking. Prizes $30,000 based on 280 paid entries (unrateds, U1200 Section players, re-entries count as half entries), minimum $20,000 (2/3 each prize) guaranteed. In 7 sections. Open: $3000-1500-700-500-300, 2300-2399 $1200, U2300/Unr $1200. FIDE. Under 2200: $2000-1000- 500-300-200. Under 2000: $2000-1000-500-300-200. Under 1800: $2000-1000-500-300-200. Under 1600: $2000-1000-500-300-200. Under 1400: $1700-900-500-300-200. Under 1200: $1000-500-250-150-100. Unrated may play in any section, with maximum prize U2200 $1200, U2000 $1000, U1800 $800, U1600 $600, U1400 $400 U1200 $200; balance goes to next player(s) in line. Top 6 sections EF: 4-day $144, 3-day $143, 2-day $142 mailed by 7/12, all $141 online at chesstour.com by 7/17, $150 phoned by 7/17 (406-896-2038, entries only, no questions), $160 (no checks, credit cards OK) at tmt. SCCF membership ($14, jrs $9) required for rated Southern CA residents. Special EF: All $60 less for rated players in U1200 Section. All $90 less to unrateds in any section U1200 through U2200. Re-entry (except Open) $80. Advance EF $10 less if paid with $49 USCF dues. 4-day schedule: Reg Thu to 6:30pm, rds Thu 7 pm, Fri 7 pm, Sat 12-7, Sun 10-4:30. 3-day schedule: Reg. Fri to 11am, rds Fri 12-7, Sat 12-7, Sun 10-4:30. 2-day schedule: Reg Sat to 9 am, rds Sat 10-1-4-7, Sun 10-4:30. All schedules: Bye all, limit 2, Open Section must commit before rd 2, other schedules before rd 4. HR: $78-78-78-78, 818-707-1220, reserve by 7/6 or rate may increase. Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633. Ent: Continental Chess, PO Box 249, Salisbury Mills NY 12577. $10 charge for refunds. Questions: www.chesstour.com, 845-496-9648. Advance entries posted at chesstour.com

3rd California Classic Championship! South Bay - Cupertino, CA July 29: Blitz, Bug; July 29-30: 2-Day Adult; July 30: 1-Day AdultNote: This is not a scholastic event! However, Juniors may sign up provided they can observe the decorum of adult tournaments.20085 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino, CA TDs: Salman Azhar, Jason Gurtovoy Sponsored by USF Chess Club, Alan KirshnerPLACE: University of San Francisco, 2nd floor, 20085 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, CA (between De Anza Blvd & Wolfe Rd) DIRECTIONS: From I-280 N/S take De Anza exit & go South; Take left on Stevens Creek; U-turn @ Blaney & arrive 20085 Stevens Creek. Enter from the parking lot side (North) of the building. AMPLE PARKING AVAILABLEEVENT & SCHEDULE: Three sections: Expert (above 2000), Reserve (U2000) and Amateur (U1600) in a one or two-day schedule. USCF rated four-round Swiss. Ratings will be based only on the June 2006 USCF rating supplement. Registration: 7/29 - 8:30 am - 9:30 am. 7/30 - 7:30am - 8:30am.Rounds: 2-day: 7/29 - 10 & 3:00, 7/30 - 1:30 & 6:30, 1-day: 7/30 - 9, 11:10, 1:30, & 6:30. (1-day and 2-day events merge in round 3).Time controls: 2-day, 30/90 G/60 all rounds. 1-day, Rounds 1-2, G/60; Rounds 3-4, 30/90, G/60. ENTRY FEE: $49 postmarked by 7/24/2006; $64 postmarked after 7/24/2006 & on-site. IMs/GMs free. USCF membership required. Entrants may play up one section for $10. Reentry after round 2 of the 2-day schedule into the 1-day schedule: $20. $5 discount for Juniors (U18) or Seniors (65+). $5 discount for postmark before 7/14. Team: Four or more individuals may compete for a club, team, or school. Multiple club teams allowed. Team discount of $5 per entry. All (four or more) entries must be in 1 package or not counted. Teams may form on-site, but won't receive discount. BYES: ½ point byes available in any round and must be requested before the start of round 1. Maximum one ½ point bye per entry. PRIZES: Expert (2000 and up): 1st - $400 , 2nd - $150, 3rd - $100 Reserve (U2000): 1st - $400 , 2nd - $150, U1900 - $50, U1800 - $50 - U1700 - $50Amateur (U1600): 1st - $400 , 2nd - $150, U1500 - $50, U1400 - $50 - U1300 - $50Club or Team 1st- 3rd receive Club TrophyTop Junior (U18) Highest Score between Juniors - $50 for main event. Blitz Prize 1st - $50, 2nd - $35, U2000 - $20, U1800 - $20, U1600 - $20, U1400 - $20Bughouse Prize 1st - $50, 2nd - $40, 3rd- -$30 4th - $20 (per team) Overall prize fund based on 70 fully paid adult entries. Blitz prize fund based on fully paid 20 entries. Bughouse prize fund based on fully paid 12 teams. Prize fund and/or number of prizes will be increased or decreased based on total entries in each event. Additional Events-Blitz: Blitz Championship (Open) in a 5 round Swiss format. Each game will be played with both colors (10 games played total). Both sides will have 5 minutes to make all moves. This is a G/5 rated event. Event will start following the conclusion of 2nd round play or 8:00pm. Bughouse: Bughouse Championship (Open) in 5 round swiss. Each game will played with both colors (10 games played total). Both sides will have 5 minutes to make all moves. Unrated Event will start following conclusion of Blitz or 9:00pm. (May Sign up individually and td will partner to avoid late fee) (You may pay in advance and then form a team at the tournament.) OTHER: Bring chess clocks and sets (Black chooses equipment); few provided!! Registration will close as scheduled to allow round 1 to start on time. Late entries will be given a ½ point bye or paired against another late entry at the TD's discretion. No computer entries accepted. Wheelchair access to site. USCF rated. MORE INFO: E-mail: sfchessclassic@yahoo.com 2006 California Classic Entry FormName: USCF ID # Rating: . Address: Expiration Date: . City & State: Zip: Phone: ( ) - . E-mail Address: Requested ½ point bye (if any), round . Circle the section being entered: o Expert o Reserve o AmateurMark all that apply: 2-day: $49 postmarked by 7/24/2006 , $64 postmarked after 7/24/2006 & on-site 1-day: $49 postmarked by 7/24/2006 , $64 postmarked after 7/24/2006 & on-site Play up one section for $10. Discount (maximum 2 discounts [$10] per entry) Team Discount of $5 per member. Team Name: ! $5 discount for Juniors (U18) or Seniors (65+). $5 discount Early Registration Postmarked by 7/14/2006 for main event. $10 Bughouse Championship Entry Partner: postmarked by 7/24/2006, $20 after & on-site $15 Blitz Championship Entry postmarked by 7/24/2006, $25 postmarked after 7/24/2006 & on-site Re-Entry 1-day schedule for $20. TOTAL (Make checks payable to Jason Gurtovoy)Mail entries to: Jason Gurtovoy, 34249 Fremont Blvd. #158 Fremont, CA 94555