Mechanics' Institute Chess Room Newsletter #30

1) Reyes and Peckham tie for first in A.J. Fink Memorial

Osmundo Reyes and rapidly improving Berkeley high school student Monty Peckham tied for first place at 4 1/1 - 1/2 in the A. J. Fink Memorial Amateur Championship held March 30-April 1 at the MI. The two players each won $250 for their efforts. 54 player competed in the event held to honor native San Franciscan and longtime MI member A.J. Fink (1880-1956) . Fink, along with Dr. Walter Lovegrove, was one of the two strongest MI members for close to fifty years starting in the 1890s. He was recognized as a world class problemist and published frequently in leading chess magazines through out his life.

2) New FIDE Ratings Out

The April 2001 FIDE rating list has appeared with two players over 2800 for the first time on a single rating list. FIDE finally decided to rate last fall's match between Garry Kasparov and Vladimir Kramink, which gave Kramnik the push he needed to cross 2800. FIDE titleholder Viswanathan Anand is not far behind with a big gap between him and #4 Michael Adams.

Top ten: 1 G Kasparov (Russia) 2822; 2 V Kramnik (Russia) 2802; 3 V Anand (India) 2794; 4 M Adams (England) 2750; 5 A Morozevich (Russia) 2749; 6 P Leko (Hungary) 2739; 7 V Ivanchuk (Ukraine) 2731; 8 A Shirov (Spain) 2727; 9 B Gelfand (Israel) 2712; 10 E Bareev (Russia) 2709.

3) Patrick Wolff Simul

Former US Champion Patrick Wolff's simul at the Burlingame Chess Club last Thursday night was a great success. The Grandmaster scored 41 wins, one loss and three draws. Among those splitting the point with Wolff was 11-year-old MI member Alex Setzepfandt (at 1am!). The exhibition lasted five hours and Patrick played games with both Black and White in an impressive performance..

Setzepfandt-Wolff 

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O e5 8. d5 
Nb4 9. fxe5 dxe5 10. Be2 Ne8 11. a3 Na6 12. Bxa6 bxa6 13. Qe2 Nd6 14. Bg5 f6 
15. Bh4 Qe8 16. Rae1 Kh8 17. Bg3 a5 18. Nd2 a4 19. Qe3 Ba6 20. Rf2 Qd7 21. 
Qc5  Rfb8 22. Qa5 Bb5 23. Nxb5 Qxb5 24. Qxc7 Rd8 25. b3 Rac8 26. Qxa7 Rxc2 
27. bxa4  Qe8 28. Qb6 Rxd2 29. Rxd2 Nc4 30. Qb4 Nxd2 31. Qxd2 Qxa4 32. Qb4 
Qa8 33. Qc3 Rc8 34. Qf3 Qa6 35. Rd1 Rd8 36. Bh4 Kg8 37. Qd3 Qd6 38. Rc1 Ra8 
39. Rc3  Draw

4) Imre Konig Memorial this Saturday

This Saturday the MI will host a one day G/45 event starting at 10am. The last tournament held with this format, the Henry Gross in late February, was a great success with a turnout of around thirty players including three rated over 2450! This event offers good chances to face strong competition and not take up your whole weekend. E-mail imwjd@aol.com or call (415) 421-2258 for more information.

5) April-May Tuesday Night Marathon to start next Tuesday (4/10)

The April-May Tuesday Night Marathon starts this coming Tuesday . Entry fee for the eight round event is $30 and up to three byes are available in the first six rounds. E-mail imwjd@aol.com or call (510) 421-2258.

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