The Week in Chess

Shanghai Masters 2010 - 1

Mark Crowther — Fri Sep 3 07:34:00 2010

The Shanghai Masters takes place 3rd-8th September 2010 just prior to the Olympiad. Wang Hao, as best Chinese player (20th ranked); Alexei Shirov, as best Spanish player (9th ranked); Levon Aronian, as winner of the Final Chess Masters 2009 (5th ranked);and Vladimir Kramnik compete for two places in the Bilbao Masters final after the Olympiad.

Russian Championships Higher League 2010 - 8

Mark Crowther — Fri Sep 3 07:06:00 2010

The 63rd Russian Championships Higher League takes place in Irkutsk, Siberia starting 25th August 2010 (arrival) and running to September 5th . More than 50 GMs play. The top 5 qualify for the final in December. Ian Nepomniachtchi and Evgeny Tomashevsky are amongst the players (a preliminary list says: Alekseev, Riazantsev, Tomashevsky, Khismatullin, Timofeev, Siugirov, Nepomniatchi, Rublevsky, Lastin, Inarkiev, Grachev, Kokarev, I.Popov, Tseshkovsky…).

Live on the Russian Chess Federation website. 7am UK time.

Wrangle over the Fischer Estate - Estate

IM Malcolm Pein — Fri Sep 3 00:11:00 2010

Malcolm Pein reports on the increasingly tiresome legacy of Bobby Fischer who quite predictably left his affairs in a tangled mess on his death.

Hebden wins in Ireland - 9

IM Malcolm Pein — Thu Sep 2 11:08:00 2010

Mark Hebden took first place in the Dun Laoghaire Masters 2010. Malcolm Pein takes a look.

Grand Slam Press Release on Shanghai and Bilbao - Press Release

Mark Crowther — Wed Sep 1 22:56:00 2010

This is a September 1st Press release in advance of the Shanghai Masters that start at the end of the week.

So how ready is Khanty-Mansijsk for the Olympiad? - Preparations

Mark Crowther — Wed Sep 1 22:42:00 2010

The organisers say they are ready, but others are concerned. It seems that FIDE's official in charge of the Olympiad, FIDE Vice-President Israel Gelfer, is under great strain right now. He sent an abusive E-Mail to one of the representatives of the nations that support the current FIDE regime, something regarded as quite out of character for him. It is however the changes to the times of flights to the venue that is causing most concern.

39th Chess Olympiad Khanty-Mansiysk 2010 - Preview

Mark Crowther — Wed Sep 1 11:11:00 2010

The 39th Chess Olympiad takes place in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia 21st September (Round 1) - 3rd October (11th Round) 2010.

Carlsen beats Anand in Arctic Securities Final - Final

IM Malcolm Pein — Wed Sep 1 11:02:00 2010

Malcolm Pein looks at Magnus Carlsen's win against Anand in the rapid tournament in Norway.

Baku Open 2010 - 9

Mark Crowther — Tue Aug 31 14:46:00 2010

The Baku Open took place 23rd-31st August 2010. Gata Kamsky in spite of a loss to Rauf Mamedov secured victory alone with 7.5/9 half a point clear of the field. Games from the final round are not complete.

Additional coverage at www.ulvichess.az with Photos from the event.

Hammer finally nails Carlsen - Day 2

IM Malcolm Pein — Tue Aug 31 11:00:00 2010

Jon Ludvig Hammer and Magnus Carlsen are the same age but it is ten years since Hammer beat Carlsen. However another error from Carlsen was punished this time. Malcolm Pein takes a look.

Final Arctic Stars Video - Final

Europe-Echecs — Mon Aug 30 23:28:00 2010

Europe-Echecs round up the final day of the Arctic Securities Chess Stars won by Magnus Carlsen.

Arctic Securities Chess Stars 2010 - Final

Mark Crowther — Mon Aug 30 15:07:00 2010

The Arctic Securities Chess Stars tournament took place in Kristiansund 28th-30th August 2010. Magnus Carlsen, Viswanathan Anand, Judit Polgar and Jon Ludvig Hammer played in the two stage event. The Double Round Robin between the four players was dominated by Anand. Time control: 20 minutes + 10 seconds a move. Carlsen beat Anand 1.5-0.5 in the final and Hammer beat Polgar to take third place.

Magnus Carlsen wins the Arctic Securities Chess Stars 2010 - Final

Mark Crowther — Mon Aug 30 15:00:00 2010

Magnus Carlsen won the Arctic Securities Chess Stars in Kristiansund. This rapid tournament was covered live on Norwegian Television. He beat World Chess Champion Viswanthan Anand 1.5-0.5 in the final. Anand hadn't played since he retained his title in Sofia in May and was impressive in the group stages winning all his games against Polgar and Hammer. However in the final he was ground down in the first game and made so little headway in the second on the white side of a Ruy Lopez he agreed a draw after just 27 moves. Jon Ludvig Hammer beat Judit Polgar 1.5-0.5 to win the Bronze final.

Carlsen's Lucky Escape - Day 1

IM Malcolm Pein — Mon Aug 30 10:57:00 2010

Malcolm Pein reports on Magnus Carlsen's lucky escape against fellow countryman Jon Ludvig Hammer in a tournament featuring World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand.

Europe-Echecs resume of day 2 of the Arctic Securities Chess Stars - Day 2

Europe-Echecs — Sun Aug 29 23:27:00 2010

Europe-Echecs round up Day 2 of the Arctic Securities Chess Stars with Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand interviews.

Magnus Carlsen Interview after Day 2 - Day 2

Europe-Echecs — Sun Aug 29 23:24:00 2010

Europe-Echecs Interview video with Magnus Carlsen after day 2 concluded.

Dun Laoghaire Masters 2010 - 9

Mark Crowther — Sun Aug 29 20:53:00 2010

The Dun Laoghaire Master tournaments took place in Ireland 20th August 2010 to 29th August 2010. Two all-play-all tournaments, a GM and a Masters. The GM Group was won by Mark Hebden.

News from Alex Baburin whose newsletter Chess Today has run since 2000. You can read the latest issue with coverage of this event by downloading this zip file: Zipped file of PDF, cbv and PGN files of Chess Today 3577

Leko vs Gelfand Rapid Match 2010 - Day 4

Mark Crowther — Sun Aug 29 20:52:00 2010

Boris Gelfand beat Peter Leko 4.5-3.5 in an 8 game rapid match in Miskolc, 25th-29th August 2010. The time control was 25m + 10spm. This was the 6th such match Leko has played in Miskolc since the first one in 2005 (Adams, Karpov, Kramnik, Carlsen and Anand). Arbiter: Zsuzsa Veroci.

Anand and Carlsen to contest the final in Kristiansund - Day 2

Mark Crowther — Sun Aug 29 20:12:00 2010

Anand and Carlsen reach Monday's final of Arctic Securities Chess Stars. Hammer beats Carlsen for his first win against him in nearly 10 years.

Spanish Teams Honor Division 2010 - Concluded

Mark Crowther — Sun Aug 29 08:21:00 2010

The Spanish Chess Championships CECLUB Honor Division took place in Sestao, Vizcaya, 23rd-28th August 2010. 6 Rounds: 10 teams. First 4 rounds a Swiss, Final 2 Rounds settled the final placings. Kasparov Marcote took clear first place by beating Linex Magic 4.5-1.5 in the final. Hosts Setao Naturgas took 3rd place. There was a rapid playoff won by Gros XT to settle 5th place.

The rather messy format has come in for a lot of criticism with round 4 seeing a lot of quick draws, some agreed before play. It seems very likely there will be a change next year.

Shirov, Ponomariov, Caruana, Gashinov, Vallejo, Bacrot, Kasimdzhanov, Navara, Laznicka, Almasi, Harikrishna, Dreev, Krasenkow, Bruzon, Nakamura, Vachier, Short were amongst the high profile players.