Mechanics' Institute Chess Room Newsletter #54"Your body has to be in top condition. Your chess deteriorates as your body does. You can't separate body from mind."Bobby Fischer 1) 6th Governor's Cup 2) Donnelly Memorial 3) Taxi Cab Drivers Tournament 4) Fall Tuesday Night Marathon 5) Europe versus Asia 6) Upcoming TournamentsSpecial Announcement - Players over 2200 the Bay Area Masters begins this Friday night at the MI. IMs Rey and Shipman are among those already signed up. 1) 6th Governor's CupThe 6th Annual Governor's Cup, held September 21-23 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, saw Grandmasters Yury Shulman and Alex Wojtkiewicz repeat as champions with a score of 4 1/2 - 1/2. Two-time US Champion Patrick Wolff, currently living in Vallejo, ended a three year layoff from the game in Sioux Falls. He tied for third at 4-1 with fellow GM Alex Ivanov, IM John Donaldson and FM Emory Tate. A total of 244 players, including Burlingame Chess Club President Tom Dorsch, participated in the multi-section event organized by De and David Knudson for the Sioux Empire Chess Foundation.2) Donnelly MemorialIM Ricardo DeGuzman of the Philippines won the Howard Donnelly Memorial, held September 22, with a score of 4 1/2 - 1/2. Tying for second in the G/45 event held in honor of the late MI Chess Director, were NMs Mauro Casadei and Victor Ossipov and young talent Daichi Siegrist. A total of 31 players participated in the event directed by Anthony Corrales.3) Taxi Driver's TournamentNational Master Oleg Shaknazarov and Expert Joe Tracy shared first place in the Taxi Driver's Tournament held September 23 at the MI. The two winners each received $232 for their scores of 8-1 in the ten player round robin. Organizer Alan Freberg was third at seven points and Cliff Lundberg was top unrated with a score of 5-4. This event, which was only open to cabdrivers, was made possible by the generosity of local cab companies and the MI. Anthony Corrales directed.4) Fall Tuesday Night MarathonDavid Blohm defeated tournament leader Kenneth Hills to force a six-way tie for first at 3 1/2 - 1/2 with three rounds to go.1-6. David Blohm, Victor Ossipov, Russell Wong, Michael Aigner, Larry Snyder and Igor Margulis. 5) Europe vs. AsiaThe recent Europe vs. Asia Rapid match in Batumi, Georgia, highlighted just how dominant Women's chess is in China, and begs the question just how long will it be before the Chinese men make the big breakthrough for total dominance of the game?Although Europe won the match 58-46, it was, in effect, a tale of two sexes. Whilst the European men - thanks to a Herculean effort of 11/12 on top board from Garry Kasparov - demolished a far from weak Asian line-up 47.5-24.5, the Asian women had an even more impressive score in percentage terms with a 21.5-10.5 annihilation of a Georgian-based European team. The Women's match showed just how far Asian chess has come in the past two decades since China emerged from behind the Bamboo Curtain in 1978 for the first time to compete in the international arena, as it more or less saw the old order coming face to face with the new order. A decade ago the Georgians - apart from the Hungarian genius Judit Polar who deliberately shunned women-only tournaments to become the best female player ever - were the dominant force in the female game; with their famed training methods reaping the rewards of the Women's world title and many Olympic gold's. Now its the Chinese, led by the inspirational figure of their reigning world champion 4 Jun who dominate the women's game - and look likely to be unchallenged into the future - as they now hold all the titles: World Championship, World Cup and Olympic gold.
Xie Jun & N Gurieli 1 e4 e6 2 d3 d5 3 Nd2 c5 4 g3 Nc6 5 Bg2 NFC 6 Ngf3 Be 7 0 - 0 0 - 0 8 Re1 dxe4 9 dxe4 e5 10 c3 h6 11 Qc2 Be6 12 Nf1 c4 13 Rd1 Qa5 14 Ne3 Rad8 15 Re1 b5 16 Nf5 Bxf5 17 exf5 e4 18 Nd2 Bc5 19 Nxe4 Nxe4 20 Qxe4 Rde8 21 Qxe8 Rxe8 22 Rxe8+ Kh7 23 Bxc6 Qb6 24 Bf3 Bxf2+ 25 Kg2 Bg1 26 Re2 a5 27 Bf4 Bc5 28 Rd1 b4 29 Re8 bxc3 30 Rdd8 g6 31 Rh8+ Kg7 32 Be5+ f6 33 Rdg8+ (33 ..Kf7 34 Bd5+ Ke7 35 Rh7#) 1 - 0 Thanks to John Henderson and The Scotsman 6) Upcoming TournamentsBay Area Masters - September 28-30 and October 5-7IM Guillermo Rey is offering something new for Bay Area masters. If you are rated over 2200 and want to face strong opposition without having to take time off work check out his event being held September 28-30 and October 5-7. This event should be just the right start for an active fall schedule that includes the Western States Open in Reno and the American Open (US Championship Qualifier) in Los Angeles in November. Bay Area Masters (6 rounds, open to all over 2200, USCF + FIDE rated, $1000-$500-$200 based on 22 paid entries) For more information contact IM Guillermo Rey (650) 355-0305 or reyg@ix.netcom.com. Full details at www.milibrary.org
October 20
November 9-11
December 1 REGIONAL TOURNAMENTSRico Adkins is running a tournament in an area where few events have been held recently. The location, near the intersection of Interstate 80 and State Highway 4 should make for a very easy drive for players from many parts of Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano and Napa counties. Good luck Rico!The Under 2000 Tournament on Sat. Sept. 29th and 30th for players under 2000. $300-200-100, best B, C, D, $100 35/90 SD/1 based on 40 paid entries, 1 section (Limited to 50 players). 5 round Swiss tournament at the Mechanics Bank Office in the North Shore Business Park at San Pablo Ave. in Hercules, CA at the HWY 4 and HWY 80 connector. Take John Muir parkway from San Pablo into the business Park and make a right turn (The only turn) . Go up hill to 725 Alfred Nobel, The Mechanics Bank. Reg. ends Sat. at 9:00 am Sept. 29th rounds:Sat. 10:00am, 2:00 pm, 6:00 pm, Sun. 10:00 am 2:00 pm. Pre-entries: $35.00 to be sent by 09/22/01 to: Rico B. Adkins, 15684 Crestwood Dr.# 137, San Pablo, CA 94806. Include your USCF I.D.# and current rating with entry. $40. at site/ No checks at site. Must be a USCF member to participate. If not, renewal available at tournament registration. Questions call (510) 262- 9061.
NATIONAL TOURNAMENTSPlayers rated over 2200 should start planning for the following event which will honor one of the great gentleman of chess, the late Eugene Martinovsky.Feb. 28-Mar. 3 GPP: 200 Illinois 2002 U.S. Masters: Eugene Martinovsky Memorial. "The Homecoming of the American Master" 7SS, 40/2, SD/1. Hyatt Regency Oak Brook, 1909 Spring Rd., Oak Brook, IL. 630-573-1234. Free parking. Adjacent to Oak Brook Shopping Ctr. Open to players 2200+ or all who have ever been so rated, plus invited jrs. rated 2000+. EF: $85 rec'd by 2/20; $100 later until 2/25. No site ent's. GMs/IMs play free., confirm IN WRITING by 2/20. $$22,000 Gtd: $6000-4000-2500-1500-1000-700. 2400-2499: $600-350-150; 2300-2399: $600-350-150; 2200-2299: $500-250-100; U2200: $500-250-100. Top non-master jr: $400. Plus $1500 in pt. pool prizes to non-winners of above prizes. $200 Best Game Prize, $150 Best Endgame, $150 Best Combo. HR: $94 sgl./dbl. Mention US Masters & res. by phone/mail by 2/14 for chess rate. 1/2 pt. bye avail. in rds 1 or 2, must commit w/ent. Rds: 2/28 8pm; 3/1 10:30-5; 3/2 10:30-5; 3/3 9:30-4. Sets/boards provided, bring clocks. Ent: Cks payable to Midwest Chess Assoc., Helen Warren, PO Box 305, Western Springs, IL 60558. 630-663-0688, FAX 630-663-0689, apct@aol.com. VISA/MC. NS,NC,W.FIDE. |