The final result, with China winning, would have created a sensation ten years ago, but China was a clear favorite going into this match based on FIDE ratings measuring past performance. Much like Russia in the past, China has ambitious plans to rise to the top of World Chess.
Chen Zu De, president of the Chinese Chess Association, that now numbers more than 3,000,000 (compared to 80,000 in the United States Chess Federation) had this to say:
"Russia is the strongest nation. We have to catch up with them," he declared. To that end, he explained that China's government was offering substantial material help, with children being a special target. "We recognize chess," he explained, "as an educational tool. Chess and education mutually benefit each other. When the players are in school, they go to their chess training school once a week."
Chinese juniors now dominate the Fide ratings for children under twelve years of age. The top ten players born after August 1988 are all Chinese with ratings in the 2200s. The United States doesn't have a single player at this level.
It's all a far cry from when Women's World Champion Xie Jun was a junior. "She is the heroine of China," said Chen Zu De. "Everybody knows her." Paying tribute to their world champion at the opening ceremony, China's Consul General, Wang Yunxiang, said: "Before Xie Jun there was only around 30,000 chess players in China. Now, thanks solely to her, that number has risen - and continues to rise - to over 3,000,000."
The USA-China match, organized by the Seattle Chess Foundation , attracted widespread media attention. The Seattle Post Intelligencer and Seattle Times both gave it front page coverage. Next year's match will be held in China.
For more information on the US-China match go to http://www.seattlechessfoundation.org
1. NM Wong 6/7 2. Todortsev 5.5 3-6. NM Blohm, Grey, Ossipov and Cortinas 5.
5 Rounds 76 Players MI Team 11th of 28 teams 1. Ryan Lee 571 5.0
5 Rounds MI Team 1st of 32 teams 122 Players 3. Anthony Ferrer Unr 5.0 5. Emilia Krubnik 703 4.5 9. Alan Hwang 761 4.0 16. Davis Xu 959 4.0 78. Eli Baldwin 622 3.0 109. Killian Liebst Fa 963 1.0
6 Rounds 120 Players MI Team 15th of 41 teams 41.Kellen Wohl 846 3.5 81. Erica Brett 806 2.5
6 Rounds 85 Players MI Team 1st of 29 teams 1. Alexander Setzepfandt 1864 5.5 5. Nicolas Yap 1253 5.0 6. Drake Wang 1850 5.0 12. Anand Kesavaraju 1298 4.0 21. Shaun Tse 1062 4.0 28. Ben Laufer 1147 3.5; 1st Fifth Grade 61. Emilia Krubnik 2.5
6 Rounds 89 Players 83. Farrens Brenton Unr 1.0
6 Rounds 70 Players MI Team 1st of 23 teams 2.Michael Pearson 1876 5.0 4. Mathew Ho 2007 5.0 6. Jared Wood 1293 4.5 9. Oren Gazit 1278 4.0 11. Jamie Brett 1195 4.0 37. Teresa Haun 3.0
6 Rounds 90 Players MI Team 14th of 32 teams 53. Travis Wood 855 2.5 61. Tony Roca 900 2.0
6 Rounds 105 Players MI Team 2nd of 34 teams 4. Ben Haun 1794 5.0 11. Monty Peckham 1750 4.5 22. Gary Huang 1882 4.0 26. Alex Kwan 1135 4.0 42. Alex Karnazes 1764 3.0 60. Zachary Karnazes 1707 3.0 74. Ewelina Krubnik 1373 2.0
April 7
Imre Konig Memorial (5 rounds G/45 at ½ K)
April 28-29
Walter Lovegrove Senior Open (players 50 and over)
May 13
Charles Powell Memorial (G/60)
June 2
William Addison Open (5 rounds G/45 at ½ K)
June 8-10
Arthur Stamer Memorial
July 21
Charles Bagby Memorial (G/29- QC)
August 18
Vladimir Pafnutieff Memorial (5 rounds G/45 at ½ K)
More details on these events can be found at the MI Chess Room website http://www.chessclub.org
If you have trouble reading any part of this newsletter it can be found in its entirety at the MI Chess Room website.