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Yinzhou Cup World Women Teams 2009

The Women's World Team Championship took place in Yingbo, China 2nd-11th September 2009. China met bottom placed Vietnam in the final round and drew 2-2 but this was a hard fought draw with long games (although there have now been questions asked as to whether the match was fixed as a draw in advance, Vietnam had a big advantage on board one and a winning advantage on board four when the draws were agreed). This draw allowed them to pip Russia on tie-break. Sadly, for them, long term leaders Poland lost for a second time in row and ended up 6th.

Games in PGN

2nd WTeam w Ningbo (CHN), 2-11 ix 2009 Final Round 9 Standings:
Rk.	Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	TB1	TB2
1	China Team One	*	2	1	3½	3½	2½	3	1	3	2	12	21,5
2	Russian Team	2	*	2	2½	2	2	1½	3	3	3	12	21,0
3	Ukrain	3	2	*	1	2½	2	2½	2	2	3½	12	20,5
4	Georgian Team	½	1½	3	*	1½	3	3	3	2	2½	11	20,0
5	Armenian Team	½	2	1½	2½	*	3½	2	½	2½	3½	10	18,5
6	Poland Team	1½	2	2	1	½	*	3	2½	2½	2½	10	17,5
7	India Team	1	2½	1½	1	2	1	*	3	2½	3	9	17,5
8	American Team	3	1	2	1	3½	1½	1	*	1½	2	6	16,5
9	China Team Two	1	1	2	2	1½	1½	1½	2½	*	3	6	16,0
10	Vietnam Team	2	1	½	1½	½	1½	1	2	1	*	2	11,0

2nd WTeam w Ningbo (CHN), 2-11 ix 2009
Round 1 2nd September 2009
Bo.	1	Poland Team	Rtg	-	10	American Team	Rtg	2½:1½
1.1	IM	Rajlich Iweta	2465	-	IM	Krush Irina	2458	1 - 0
1.2	WGM	Zawadzka Jolanta	2414	-	IM	Zatonskykh Anna	2462	½ - ½
1.3	IM	Dworakowska Joanna	2345	-	IM	Goletiani Rusudan	2391	½ - ½
1.4	WGM	Majdan Joanna	2361	-	WFM	Abrahamian Tatev	2275	½ - ½
Bo.	2	Vietnam Team	Rtg	-	9	Georgian Team	Rtg	1½:2½
2.1	WGM	Hoang Thi Bao Tram	2265	-	GM	Dzagnidze Nana	2535	½ - ½
2.2	WIM	Pham Le Thao Nguyen	2301	-	IM	Javakhishvili Lela	2472	0 - 1
2.3	WFM	Hoang Thi Nhu Y	2114	-	IM	Khukhashvili Sopiko	2451	1 - 0
2.4	WFM	Pham Bich Ngoc	2145	-	IM	Lomineishvili Maia	2378	0 - 1
Bo.	3	China Team Two	Rtg	-	8	China Team One	Rtg	1 : 3
3.1	WIM	Zhang Xiaowen	2391	-	GM	Zhao Xue	2542	½ - ½
3.2	IM	Wang Yu A	2380	-	WGM	Shen Yang	2453	0 - 1
3.3	WFM	Ding Yixin	2321	-		Ju Wenjun	2443	½ - ½
3.4		Wang Xiaohui	2223	-	WGM	Huang Qian	2424	0 - 1
Bo.	4	Ukrain	Rtg	-	7	Russian Team	Rtg	2 : 2
4.1	IM	Ushenina Anna	2448	-	IM	Kosintseva Tatiana	2536	½ - ½
4.2	WGM	Zhukova Nataliya	2457	-	IM	Kosintseva Nadezhda	2493	0 - 1
4.3	IM	Gaponenko Inna	2438	-	IM	Kovalevskaya Ekaterina	2436	1 - 0
4.4	WGM	Zdebska Natalia	2410	-	IM	Romanko Marina	2453	½ - ½
Bo.	5	India Team	Rtg	-	6	Armenian Team	Rtg	2 : 2
5.1	IM	Dronavalli Harika	2474	-	IM	Danielian Elina	2489	1 - 0
5.2	IM	Sachdev Tania	2405	-	IM	Mkrtchian Lilit	2468	0 - 1
5.3	WGM	Karavade Eesha	2391	-	WGM	Galojan Lilit	2326	1 - 0
5.4	WGM	Mary Ann Gomes	2396	-	WGM	Aginian Nelli	2307	0 - 1
Round 2 3rd September 2009
Bo.	10	American Team	Rtg	-	6	Armenian Team	Rtg	3½: ½
1.1	IM	Krush Irina	2458	-	IM	Danielian Elina	2489	1 - 0
1.2	IM	Zatonskykh Anna	2462	-	IM	Mkrtchian Lilit	2468	½ - ½
1.3	IM	Goletiani Rusudan	2391	-	WGM	Aginian Nelli	2307	1 - 0
1.4	WFM	Abrahamian Tatev	2275	-	WIM	Andriasian Siranush	2234	1 - 0
Bo.	7	Russian Team	Rtg	-	5	India Team	Rtg	1½:2½
2.1	IM	Kosintseva Tatiana	2536	-	IM	Dronavalli Harika	2474	½ - ½
2.2	IM	Kosintseva Nadezhda	2493	-	IM	Sachdev Tania	2405	1 - 0
2.3	IM	Romanko Marina	2453	-	WGM	Karavade Eesha	2391	0 - 1
2.4	WFM	Gunina Valentina	2437	-	WGM	Mary Ann Gomes	2396	- - +
Bo.	8	China Team One	Rtg	-	4	Ukrain	Rtg	1 : 3
3.1	GM	Hou Yifan	2585	-	IM	Ushenina Anna	2448	½ - ½
3.2	GM	Zhao Xue	2542	-	WGM	Zhukova Nataliya	2457	½ - ½
3.3	WGM	Shen Yang	2453	-	IM	Gaponenko Inna	2438	0 - 1
3.4		Ju Wenjun	2443	-	IM	Muzychuk Mariya	2443	0 - 1
Bo.	9	Georgian Team	Rtg	-	3	China Team Two	Rtg	2 : 2
4.1	GM	Chiburdanidze Maia	2506	-		Tan Zhongyi	2435	½ - ½
4.2	GM	Dzagnidze Nana	2535	-	WIM	Zhang Xiaowen	2391	1 - 0
4.3	IM	Javakhishvili Lela	2472	-	IM	Wang Yu A	2380	½ - ½
4.4	IM	Lomineishvili Maia	2378	-	WFM	Ding Yixin	2321	0 - 1
Bo.	1	Poland Team	Rtg	-	2	Vietnam Team	Rtg	2½:1½
5.1	IM	Rajlich Iweta	2465	-	WGM	Hoang Thi Bao Tram	2265	½ - ½
5.2	WGM	Zawadzka Jolanta	2414	-	WFM	Hoang Thi Nhu Y	2114	0 - 1
5.3	WGM	Majdan Joanna	2361	-	WFM	Pham Bich Ngoc	2145	1 - 0
5.4	WIM	Szczepkowska-Horowska Karina	2321	-	WFM	Vo Thi Kim Phung	2078	1 - 0
Round 3 4th September 2009
Bo.	2	Vietnam Team	Rtg	-	10	American Team	Rtg	2 : 2
1.1	WGM	Hoang Thi Bao Tram	2265	-	IM	Krush Irina	2458	1 - 0
1.2	WIM	Pham Le Thao Nguyen	2301	-	IM	Goletiani Rusudan	2391	½ - ½
1.3	WFM	Hoang Thi Nhu Y	2114	-	WIM	Melekhina Alisa	2220	½ - ½
1.4	WFM	Vo Thi Kim Phung	2078	-	WFM	Abrahamian Tatev	2275	0 - 1
Bo.	3	China Team Two	Rtg	-	1	Poland Team	Rtg	1½:2½
2.1		Tan Zhongyi	2435	-	IM	Rajlich Iweta	2465	1 - 0
2.2	WIM	Zhang Xiaowen	2391	-	WGM	Zawadzka Jolanta	2414	0 - 1
2.3	IM	Wang Yu A	2380	-	IM	Dworakowska Joanna	2345	0 - 1
2.4	WFM	Ding Yixin	2321	-	WGM	Majdan Joanna	2361	½ - ½
Bo.	4	Ukrain	Rtg	-	9	Georgian Team	Rtg	1 : 3
3.1	WGM	Zhukova Nataliya	2457	-	GM	Chiburdanidze Maia	2506	½ - ½
3.2	IM	Gaponenko Inna	2438	-	GM	Dzagnidze Nana	2535	0 - 1
3.3	IM	Muzychuk Mariya	2443	-	IM	Javakhishvili Lela	2472	0 - 1
3.4	WGM	Zdebska Natalia	2410	-	IM	Khukhashvili Sopiko	2451	½ - ½
Bo.	5	India Team	Rtg	-	8	China Team One	Rtg	1 : 3
4.1	IM	Dronavalli Harika	2474	-	GM	Hou Yifan	2585	½ - ½
4.2	IM	Sachdev Tania	2405	-	GM	Zhao Xue	2542	0 - 1
4.3	WGM	Karavade Eesha	2391	-		Ju Wenjun	2443	½ - ½
4.4	WGM	Mary Ann Gomes	2396	-	WGM	Huang Qian	2424	0 - 1
Bo.	6	Armenian Team	Rtg	-	7	Russian Team	Rtg	2 : 2
5.1	IM	Danielian Elina	2489	-	IM	Kosintseva Tatiana	2536	½ - ½
5.2	IM	Mkrtchian Lilit	2468	-	IM	Kosintseva Nadezhda	2493	½ - ½
5.3	WGM	Galojan Lilit	2326	-	IM	Kovalevskaya Ekaterina	2436	1 - 0
5.4	WIM	Andriasian Siranush	2234	-	WFM	Gunina Valentina	2437	0 - 1
Round 4 5th September 2009
Bo.	10	American Team	Rtg	-	7	Russian Team	Rtg	1 : 3
1.1	IM	Krush Irina	2458	-	IM	Kosintseva Tatiana	2536	½ - ½
1.2	IM	Zatonskykh Anna	2462	-	IM	Kosintseva Nadezhda	2493	½ - ½
1.3	IM	Goletiani Rusudan	2391	-	IM	Romanko Marina	2453	0 - 1
1.4	WFM	Abrahamian Tatev	2275	-	WFM	Gunina Valentina	2437	0 - 1
Bo.	8	China Team One	Rtg	-	6	Armenian Team	Rtg	3½: ½
2.1	GM	Hou Yifan	2585	-	IM	Danielian Elina	2489	1 - 0
2.2	GM	Zhao Xue	2542	-	IM	Mkrtchian Lilit	2468	½ - ½
2.3		Ju Wenjun	2443	-	WGM	Galojan Lilit	2326	1 - 0
2.4	WGM	Huang Qian	2424	-	WGM	Aginian Nelli	2307	1 - 0
Bo.	9	Georgian Team	Rtg	-	5	India Team	Rtg	3 : 1
3.1	GM	Chiburdanidze Maia	2506	-	IM	Dronavalli Harika	2474	½ - ½
3.2	GM	Dzagnidze Nana	2535	-	WGM	Karavade Eesha	2391	½ - ½
3.3	IM	Javakhishvili Lela	2472	-	WGM	Mary Ann Gomes	2396	1 - 0
3.4	IM	Khukhashvili Sopiko	2451	-	WGM	Nadig Kruttika	2273	1 - 0
Bo.	1	Poland Team	Rtg	-	4	Ukrain	Rtg	2 : 2
4.1	IM	Rajlich Iweta	2465	-	IM	Ushenina Anna	2448	½ - ½
4.2	WGM	Zawadzka Jolanta	2414	-	WGM	Zhukova Nataliya	2457	0 - 1
4.3	IM	Dworakowska Joanna	2345	-	IM	Muzychuk Mariya	2443	1 - 0
4.4	WGM	Majdan Joanna	2361	-	WGM	Zdebska Natalia	2410	½ - ½
Bo.	2	Vietnam Team	Rtg	-	3	China Team Two	Rtg	1 : 3
5.1	WGM	Hoang Thi Bao Tram	2265	-		Tan Zhongyi	2435	½ - ½
5.2	WIM	Pham Le Thao Nguyen	2301	-	WIM	Zhang Xiaowen	2391	0 - 1
5.3	WFM	Hoang Thi Nhu Y	2114	-	WFM	Ding Yixin	2321	0 - 1
5.4	WFM	Pham Bich Ngoc	2145	-		Wang Xiaohui	2223	½ - ½
Round 5 6th September 2009
Bo.	3	China Team Two	Rtg	-	10	American Team	Rtg	2½:1½
1.1		Tan Zhongyi	2435	-	IM	Zatonskykh Anna	2462	½ - ½
1.2	WIM	Zhang Xiaowen	2391	-	IM	Goletiani Rusudan	2391	1 - 0
1.3	WFM	Ding Yixin	2321	-	WIM	Melekhina Alisa	2220	0 - 1
1.4		Wang Xiaohui	2223	-	WFM	Abrahamian Tatev	2275	1 - 0
Bo.	4	Ukrain	Rtg	-	2	Vietnam Team	Rtg	3½: ½
2.1	IM	Ushenina Anna	2448	-	WGM	Hoang Thi Bao Tram	2265	1 - 0
2.2	WGM	Zhukova Nataliya	2457	-	WIM	Pham Le Thao Nguyen	2301	1 - 0
2.3	IM	Gaponenko Inna	2438	-	WFM	Hoang Thi Nhu Y	2114	1 - 0
2.4	WGM	Zdebska Natalia	2410	-	WFM	Pham Bich Ngoc	2145	½ - ½
Bo.	5	India Team	Rtg	-	1	Poland Team	Rtg	1 : 3
3.1	IM	Dronavalli Harika	2474	-	IM	Rajlich Iweta	2465	0 - 1
3.2	IM	Sachdev Tania	2405	-	WGM	Zawadzka Jolanta	2414	0 - 1
3.3	WGM	Karavade Eesha	2391	-	IM	Dworakowska Joanna	2345	½ - ½
3.4	WGM	Nadig Kruttika	2273	-	WIM	Szczepkowska-Horowska Karina	2321	½ - ½
Bo.	6	Armenian Team	Rtg	-	9	Georgian Team	Rtg	2½:1½
4.1	IM	Danielian Elina	2489	-	GM	Dzagnidze Nana	2535	0 - 1
4.2	IM	Mkrtchian Lilit	2468	-	IM	Javakhishvili Lela	2472	1 - 0
4.3	WGM	Galojan Lilit	2326	-	IM	Khukhashvili Sopiko	2451	1 - 0
4.4	WGM	Aginian Nelli	2307	-	IM	Lomineishvili Maia	2378	½ - ½
Bo.	7	Russian Team	Rtg	-	8	China Team One	Rtg	2 : 2
5.1	IM	Kosintseva Tatiana	2536	-	GM	Hou Yifan	2585	0 - 1
5.2	IM	Kosintseva Nadezhda	2493	-	GM	Zhao Xue	2542	1 - 0
5.3	IM	Romanko Marina	2453	-		Ju Wenjun	2443	½ - ½
5.4	WFM	Gunina Valentina	2437	-	WGM	Huang Qian	2424	½ - ½
Round 6 7th September 2009
Bo.	10	American Team	Rtg	-	8	China Team One	Rtg	3 : 1
1.1	IM	Krush Irina	2458	-	GM	Hou Yifan	2585	1 - 0
1.2	IM	Zatonskykh Anna	2462	-	WGM	Shen Yang	2453	0 - 1
1.3	IM	Goletiani Rusudan	2391	-		Ju Wenjun	2443	1 - 0
1.4	WIM	Melekhina Alisa	2220	-	WGM	Huang Qian	2424	1 - 0
Bo.	9	Georgian Team	Rtg	-	7	Russian Team	Rtg	1½:2½
2.1	GM	Chiburdanidze Maia	2506	-	IM	Kosintseva Tatiana	2536	½ - ½
2.2	GM	Dzagnidze Nana	2535	-	IM	Kosintseva Nadezhda	2493	½ - ½
2.3	IM	Javakhishvili Lela	2472	-	IM	Romanko Marina	2453	½ - ½
2.4	IM	Khukhashvili Sopiko	2451	-	WFM	Gunina Valentina	2437	0 - 1
Bo.	1	Poland Team	Rtg	-	6	Armenian Team	Rtg	½ :3½
3.1	IM	Rajlich Iweta	2465	-	IM	Danielian Elina	2489	0 - 1
3.2	WGM	Zawadzka Jolanta	2414	-	IM	Mkrtchian Lilit	2468	0 - 1
3.3	IM	Dworakowska Joanna	2345	-	WGM	Galojan Lilit	2326	0 - 1
3.4	WGM	Majdan Joanna	2361	-	WGM	Aginian Nelli	2307	½ - ½
Bo.	2	Vietnam Team	Rtg	-	5	India Team	Rtg	1 : 3
4.1	WGM	Hoang Thi Bao Tram	2265	-	IM	Dronavalli Harika	2474	½ - ½
4.2	WIM	Pham Le Thao Nguyen	2301	-	IM	Sachdev Tania	2405	0 - 1
4.3	WFM	Hoang Thi Nhu Y	2114	-	WGM	Karavade Eesha	2391	½ - ½
4.4	WFM	Pham Bich Ngoc	2145	-	WGM	Mary Ann Gomes	2396	0 - 1
Bo.	3	China Team Two	Rtg	-	4	Ukrain	Rtg	2 : 2
5.1		Tan Zhongyi	2435	-	IM	Ushenina Anna	2448	1 - 0
5.2	WIM	Zhang Xiaowen	2391	-	WGM	Zhukova Nataliya	2457	½ - ½
5.3	IM	Wang Yu A	2380	-	IM	Gaponenko Inna	2438	0 - 1
5.4		Wang Xiaohui	2223	-	WGM	Zdebska Natalia	2410	½ - ½
Round 7 9th September 2009
Bo.	4	Ukrain	Rtg	-	10	American Team	Rtg	2 : 2
1.1	IM	Ushenina Anna	2448	-	IM	Krush Irina	2458	½ - ½
1.2	WGM	Zhukova Nataliya	2457	-	IM	Zatonskykh Anna	2462	1 - 0
1.3	IM	Gaponenko Inna	2438	-	IM	Goletiani Rusudan	2391	0 - 1
1.4	IM	Muzychuk Mariya	2443	-	WIM	Melekhina Alisa	2220	½ - ½
Bo.	5	India Team	Rtg	-	3	China Team Two	Rtg	2½:1½
2.1	IM	Dronavalli Harika	2474	-		Tan Zhongyi	2435	½ - ½
2.2	WGM	Karavade Eesha	2391	-	WIM	Zhang Xiaowen	2391	½ - ½
2.3	WGM	Mary Ann Gomes	2396	-	WFM	Ding Yixin	2321	1 - 0
2.4	WGM	Nadig Kruttika	2273	-		Wang Xiaohui	2223	½ - ½
Bo.	6	Armenian Team	Rtg	-	2	Vietnam Team	Rtg	3½: ½
3.1	IM	Danielian Elina	2489	-	WGM	Hoang Thi Bao Tram	2265	1 - 0
3.2	IM	Mkrtchian Lilit	2468	-	WIM	Pham Le Thao Nguyen	2301	½ - ½
3.3	WGM	Galojan Lilit	2326	-	WFM	Hoang Thi Nhu Y	2114	1 - 0
3.4	WGM	Aginian Nelli	2307	-	WFM	Vo Thi Kim Phung	2078	1 - 0
Bo.	7	Russian Team	Rtg	-	1	Poland Team	Rtg	2 : 2
4.1	IM	Kosintseva Tatiana	2536	-	IM	Rajlich Iweta	2465	½ - ½
4.2	IM	Kosintseva Nadezhda	2493	-	WGM	Zawadzka Jolanta	2414	½ - ½
4.3	IM	Kovalevskaya Ekaterina	2436	-	WGM	Majdan Joanna	2361	0 - 1
4.4	WFM	Gunina Valentina	2437	-	WIM	Szczepkowska-Horowska Karina	2321	1 - 0
Bo.	8	China Team One	Rtg	-	9	Georgian Team	Rtg	3½: ½
5.1	GM	Zhao Xue	2542	-	GM	Chiburdanidze Maia	2506	½ - ½
5.2	WGM	Shen Yang	2453	-	GM	Dzagnidze Nana	2535	1 - 0
5.3		Ju Wenjun	2443	-	IM	Javakhishvili Lela	2472	1 - 0
5.4	WGM	Huang Qian	2424	-	IM	Lomineishvili Maia	2378	1 - 0
Round 8 10th September 2009
Bo.	10	American Team	Rtg	-	9	Georgian Team	Rtg	1 : 3
1.1	IM	Krush Irina	2458	-	GM	Chiburdanidze Maia	2506	½ - ½
1.2	IM	Goletiani Rusudan	2391	-	GM	Dzagnidze Nana	2535	0 - 1
1.3	WIM	Melekhina Alisa	2220	-	IM	Khukhashvili Sopiko	2451	½ - ½
1.4	WFM	Abrahamian Tatev	2275	-	IM	Lomineishvili Maia	2378	0 - 1
Bo.	1	Poland Team	Rtg	-	8	China Team One	Rtg	1½:2½
2.1	IM	Rajlich Iweta	2465	-	GM	Hou Yifan	2585	½ - ½
2.2	WGM	Zawadzka Jolanta	2414	-	GM	Zhao Xue	2542	0 - 1
2.3	IM	Dworakowska Joanna	2345	-	WGM	Shen Yang	2453	1 - 0
2.4	WGM	Majdan Joanna	2361	-	WGM	Huang Qian	2424	0 - 1
Bo.	2	Vietnam Team	Rtg	-	7	Russian Team	Rtg	1 : 3
3.1	WGM	Hoang Thi Bao Tram	2265	-	IM	Kosintseva Tatiana	2536	0 - 1
3.2	WIM	Pham Le Thao Nguyen	2301	-	IM	Kosintseva Nadezhda	2493	½ - ½
3.3	WFM	Hoang Thi Nhu Y	2114	-	IM	Romanko Marina	2453	½ - ½
3.4	WFM	Pham Bich Ngoc	2145	-	WFM	Gunina Valentina	2437	0 - 1
Bo.	3	China Team Two	Rtg	-	6	Armenian Team	Rtg	1½:2½
4.1		Tan Zhongyi	2435	-	IM	Danielian Elina	2489	1 - 0
4.2	WIM	Zhang Xiaowen	2391	-	IM	Mkrtchian Lilit	2468	0 - 1
4.3	IM	Wang Yu A	2380	-	WGM	Galojan Lilit	2326	0 - 1
4.4		Wang Xiaohui	2223	-	WGM	Aginian Nelli	2307	½ - ½
Bo.	4	Ukrain	Rtg	-	5	India Team	Rtg	2½:1½
5.1	IM	Ushenina Anna	2448	-	IM	Dronavalli Harika	2474	½ - ½
5.2	WGM	Zhukova Nataliya	2457	-	IM	Sachdev Tania	2405	½ - ½
5.3	IM	Gaponenko Inna	2438	-	WGM	Karavade Eesha	2391	½ - ½
5.4	WGM	Zdebska Natalia	2410	-	WGM	Mary Ann Gomes	2396	1 - 0
Round 9 11th September 2009
Bo.	5	India Team	Rtg	-	10	American Team	Rtg	3 : 1
1.1	IM	Dronavalli Harika	2474	-	IM	Krush Irina	2458	½ - ½
1.2	IM	Sachdev Tania	2405	-	IM	Zatonskykh Anna	2462	1 - 0
1.3	WGM	Karavade Eesha	2391	-	IM	Goletiani Rusudan	2391	1 - 0
1.4	WGM	Nadig Kruttika	2273	-	WIM	Melekhina Alisa	2220	½ - ½
Bo.	6	Armenian Team	Rtg	-	4	Ukrain	Rtg	1½:2½
2.1	IM	Danielian Elina	2489	-	IM	Ushenina Anna	2448	1 - 0
2.2	IM	Mkrtchian Lilit	2468	-	WGM	Zhukova Nataliya	2457	½ - ½
2.3	WGM	Galojan Lilit	2326	-	IM	Gaponenko Inna	2438	0 - 1
2.4	WGM	Aginian Nelli	2307	-	WGM	Zdebska Natalia	2410	0 - 1
Bo.	7	Russian Team	Rtg	-	3	China Team Two	Rtg	3 : 1
3.1	IM	Kosintseva Tatiana	2536	-		Tan Zhongyi	2435	½ - ½
3.2	IM	Kosintseva Nadezhda	2493	-	WIM	Zhang Xiaowen	2391	1 - 0
3.3	IM	Kovalevskaya Ekaterina	2436	-	WFM	Ding Yixin	2321	½ - ½
3.4	WFM	Gunina Valentina	2437	-		Wang Xiaohui	2223	1 - 0
Bo.	8	China Team One	Rtg	-	2	Vietnam Team	Rtg	2 : 2
4.1	GM	Hou Yifan	2585	-	WGM	Hoang Thi Bao Tram	2265	½ - ½
4.2	GM	Zhao Xue	2542	-	WIM	Pham Le Thao Nguyen	2301	½ - ½
4.3		Ju Wenjun	2443	-	WFM	Hoang Thi Nhu Y	2114	½ - ½
4.4	WGM	Huang Qian	2424	-	WFM	Pham Bich Ngoc	2145	½ - ½
Bo.	9	Georgian Team	Rtg	-	1	Poland Team	Rtg	3 : 1
5.1	GM	Chiburdanidze Maia	2506	-	IM	Rajlich Iweta	2465	1 - 0
5.2	GM	Dzagnidze Nana	2535	-	WGM	Zawadzka Jolanta	2414	1 - 0
5.3	IM	Javakhishvili Lela	2472	-	IM	Dworakowska Joanna	2345	½ - ½
5.4	IM	Lomineishvili Maia	2378	-	WGM	Majdan Joanna	2361	½ - ½

Higher League of the 62nd Russian Championship 2009

The Higher League of the 62nd Russian Championship 1st September 2009 took place in Ulan Ude, the capital of the Republic of Buryatia. 11 round Swiss, 1st round 2nd Sept - Final round 13th September 2009.

Evgeny Tomashevsky took clear first with 8/11. Nikita Vitiugov, Alexander Riazantsev and Denis Khismatullin finished on 7.5/11. Artyom Timofeev finished 5th.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.russiachess.org/

Live coverage was at: http://www.russiachess.org/online/index.htm

ch-RUS HL Ulan Ude (RUS), 2-13 ix 2009
Rank	Name	Ti	Fed.	Score	Rating	TPR	W-We
1	Tomashevsky, Evgeny	GM	RUS	8	2688	2794	1.47
2	Vitiugov, Nikita	GM	RUS	7.5	2681	2737	0.83
3	Riazantsev, Alexander	GM	RUS	7.5	2646	2746	1.37
4	Khismatullin, Denis	GM	RUS	7.5	2614	2740	1.9
5	Timofeev, Artyom	GM	RUS	7	2668	2713	0.64
6	Landa, Konstantin	GM	RUS	7	2655	2672	0.24
7	Lastin, Alexander	GM	RUS	7	2648	2703	0.8
8	Zvjaginsev, Vadim	GM	RUS	7	2635	2722	1.28
9	Sjugirov, Sanan	GM	RUS	7	2585	2725	2.08
10	Kurnosov, Igor	GM	RUS	6.5	2669	2651	-0.25
11	Inarkiev, Ernesto	GM	RUS	6.5	2664	2635	-0.4
12	Dreev, Alexey	GM	RUS	6.5	2662	2639	-0.29
13	Kokarev, Dmitry	GM	RUS	6.5	2630	2660	0.46
14	Vorobiov, Evgeny E.	GM	RUS	6.5	2606	2658	0.83
15	Maslak, Konstantin	GM	RUS	6.5	2551	2669	1.81
16	Najer, Evgeniy	GM	RUS	6	2681	2644	-0.6
17	Tregubov, Pavel V.	GM	RUS	6	2649	2605	-0.7
18	Amonatov, Farrukh	GM	TJK	6	2643	2610	-0.55
19	Volkov, Sergey	GM	RUS	6	2616	2592	-0.38
20	Potkin, Vladimir	GM	RUS	6	2606	2660	0.8
21	Khairullin, Ildar	GM	RUS	6	2604	2637	0.48
22	Frolyanov, Dmitry	GM	RUS	6	2557	2653	1.42
23	Motylev, Alexander	GM	RUS	5.5	2710	2560	-2.16
24	Grachev, Boris	GM	RUS	5.5	2684	2513	-2.25
25	Andreikin, Dmitry	GM	RUS	5.5	2659	2549	-1.59
26	Savchenko, Boris	GM	RUS	5.5	2638	2534	-1.55
27	Nepomniachtchi, Ian	GM	RUS	5.5	2632	2584	-0.74
28	Lysyj, Igor	GM	RUS	5.5	2612	2567	-0.66
29	Galkin, Alexander	GM	RUS	5.5	2608	2591	-0.23
30	Bocharov, Dmitry	GM	RUS	5.5	2607	2620	0.2
31	Burmakin, Vladimir	GM	RUS	5.5	2599	2628	0.44
32	Romanov, Evgeny	GM	RUS	5.5	2588	2605	0.29
33	Popov, Ivan	GM	RUS	5.5	2582	2657	1.14
34	Maletin, Pavel	GM	RUS	5.5	2576	2591	0.24
35	Gabrielian, Artur	IM	RUS	5.5	2513	2542	0.43
36	Shimanov, Aleksandr	GM	RUS	5.5	2508	2627	1.78
37	Belov, Vladimir	GM	RUS	5	2624	2406	-2.89
38	Yudin, Sergei	IM	RUS	5	2599	2495	-1.5
39	Matlakov, Maxim	IM	RUS	5	2574	2612	0.62
40	Yemelin, Vasily	GM	RUS	5	2570	2609	0.53
41	Shomoev, Anton	GM	RUS	5	2566	2550	-0.17
42	Shaposhnikov, Evgeny	GM	RUS	5	2545	2549	0.07
43	Nikolenko, Oleg	GM	RUS	5	2533	2563	0.47
44	Anisimov, Pavel	IM	RUS	5	2518	2557	0.61
45	Bryzgalin, Kirill	GM	RUS	5	2480	2595	1.7
46	Badmatsyrenov, Oleg	FM	RUS	5	2437	2487	0.58
47	Popov, Valerij	GM	RUS	4.5	2595	2484	-1.62
48	Rakhmanov, Aleksandr	GM	RUS	4.5	2588	2534	-0.82
49	Papin, Vasily	IM	RUS	4.5	2529	2523	-0.12
50	Zabotin, Alexander	IM	RUS	4.5	2512	2443	-0.97
51	Sharafiev, Azat	FM	RUS	4.5	2400	2454	0.55
52	Kornev, Alexei	GM	RUS	4	2527	2371	-2.09
53	Yaksin, Oleg		RUS	4	2385	2370	-0.27
54	Pushkarev, Dmitry	FM	RUS	3.5	2429	2322	-1.37
55	Belous, Vladimir		RUS	3.5	2426	2343	-1.05
56	Sek, Konstantin		RUS	3.5	2420	2383	-0.45
57	Yuzhakov, Oleg		RUS	3.5	2360	2335	-0.39

4th Kolkata Grandmaster Open 2009

The 4th Kolkata Grandmaster Open took place 1st-10th September 20009. 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move.

Le Quang Liem took clear first place with 8/10, he drew fairly quickly with Satyapragyan Swayangsu in the final round.

Elo favourite Shakhriyar Mamedyarov recovered from a slow start to finish on 7.5/10 (a final round win against Viktor Laznicka helped) level with Anton Filippov who beat Ni Hua in the final round. Nigel Short was a further half point back handing out a fairly brutal beating to Mikheil Mchedlishvili in the final round.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.indianchessfed.org/ - Live coverage Monroi.

4th Kolkata Open Kolkata (IND), 1-10 ix 2009 Leading Final Round 10 Standings:
Rk.	Name	Ti	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	Le Quang Liem	GM	VIE	2602	8	64	59	54
2	Mamedyarov Shakhriyar	GM	AZE	2721	7.5	59	55	50
3	Filippov Anton	GM	UZB	2595	7.5	56	53	48.5
4	Sandipan Chanda	GM	IND	2611	7	66	60.5	55
5	Short Nigel D	GM	ENG	2706	7	61.5	57.5	52
6	Laznicka Viktor	GM	CZE	2634	7	60.5	56.5	52
7	Satyapragyan Swayangsu	IM	IND	2439	7	60.5	56	51
8	Ganguly Surya Shekhar	GM	IND	2634	7	60.5	56	50.5
9	Aleksandrov Aleksej	GM	BLR	2639	7	54.5	50.5	46
10	Safarli Eltaj	GM	AZE	2587	6.5	60.5	56	51
11	Rahman Ziaur	GM	BAN	2554	6.5	56.5	52.5	48
12	Mamedov Rauf	GM	AZE	2626	6.5	54.5	50.5	45.5
13	Postny Evgeny	GM	ISR	2651	6.5	54	50	46
14	Negi Parimarjan	GM	IND	2615	6.5	54	50	45.5
15	Gupta Abhijeet	GM	IND	2584	6.5	53	48.5	43.5
16	Geetha Narayanan Gopal	GM	IND	2598	6.5	51.5	48	44
17	Hillarp Persson Tiger	GM	SWE	2577	6.5	47.5	43.5	39.5
18	Panchanathan Magesh Chandran	GM	IND	2532	6	61.5	56.5	51.5
19	Khusnutdinov Rustam	GM	KAZ	2506	6	60.5	56	51
20	Gagunashvili Merab	GM	GEO	2564	6	59.5	55	50
21	Mchedlishvili Mikheil	GM	GEO	2613	6	59	54.5	49.5
22	Laxman R R	IM	IND	2486	6	58.5	55	50
23	Himanshu Sharma	IM	IND	2471	6	58	54.5	50
24	Malakhatko Vadim	GM	BEL	2569	6	56.5	51.5	46.5
25	Ni Hua	GM	CHN	2692	6	55	51	46.5
26	Guseinov Gadir	GM	AZE	2667	6	52.5	48.5	44.5
27	Kunte Abhijit	GM	IND	2515	6	52	51.5	47
28	Abhishek Das		IND	2263	6	51.5	47.5	42.5
29	Sriram Jha	IM	IND	2497	6	50.5	47	43
30	Tkachiev Vladislav	GM	FRA	2669	6	50	46	42
31	Kostenko Petr	GM	KAZ	2491	6	48.5	45	41
32	Ismagambetov Anuar	GM	KAZ	2528	6	48	44.5	40.5
33	Anwesh Upadhyaya		IND	2339	6	45.5	44	41
34	Reefat Bin-Sattar	GM	BAN	2461	6	45.5	42	38
35	Adhiban B	IM	IND	2490	5.5	60.5	57	52
36	Grover Sahaj	FM	IND	2288	5.5	60.5	56.5	51
37	Sengupta Deep	IM	IND	2494	5.5	57	52	47
38	Shivananda B S		IND	2388	5.5	55.5	52.5	48
39	Markos Jan	GM	SVK	2565	5.5	54.5	50.5	46.5
40	Shyam Nikil P	FM	IND	2410	5.5	53.5	50	46.5
41	Deepan Chakkravarthy J	GM	IND	2524	5.5	53.5	50	46
42	Bakre Tejas	GM	IND	2465	5.5	53	49.5	45.5
43	Sundararajan Kidambi	GM	IND	2516	5.5	52.5	50	45.5
44	Sethuraman S P	IM	IND	2443	5.5	52.5	49	45
45	Saptarshi Roy	IM	IND	2389	5.5	50.5	47.5	44
46	Lalith Babu M R	IM	IND	2477	5.5	49.5	45.5	41
47	Vishnu Prasanna V	FM	IND	2342	5.5	47.5	44	40.5
48	Palit Somak		IND	2388	5.5	47	46.5	43
49	Akshat Khamparia	FM	IND	2263	5.5	47	43	39
50	Ankit R Rajpara		IND	2259	5.5	46.5	42.5	38.5
51	Arun Karthik R		IND	2303	5.5	46	44.5	40.5
52	Vidit Santosh Gujrathi	FM	IND	2423	5	61	57.5	52
116 players

10th Montreal International

10th Montreal International took place 27th August - 7th September 2009.

Games in PGN

Official site; http://www.echecsmontreal.ca/part2009.htm

TIM Montreal CAN (CAN), 27 viii-7 ix 2009													cat. XV (2614)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2
1.	Naiditsch, Arkadij	g	GER	2697	*	½	½	1	½	1	0	1	1	½	1	½	7½	2739
2.	Bacrot, Etienne	g	FRA	2721	½	*	½	½	1	½	½	½	½	½	1	1	7	2706
3.	Maze, Sebastien	g	FRA	2546	½	½	*	½	0	½	1	½	½	1	½	1	6½	2685
4.	Kovalyov, Anton	g	ARG	2557	0	½	½	*	1	½	½	1	½	½	½	½	6	2655
5.	Tiviakov, Sergei	g	NED	2674	½	0	1	0	*	½	½	0	1	1	½	1	6	2644
6.	Bluvshtein, Mark	g	CAN	2558	0	½	½	½	½	*	½	½	1	1	½	0	5½	2619
7.	Akobian, Varuzhan	g	USA	2626	1	½	0	½	½	½	*	½	½	½	0	½	5	2576
8.	Bhat, Vinay S	g	USA	2473	0	½	½	0	1	½	½	*	0	0	1	1	5	2590
9.	Onischuk, Alexander	g	USA	2699	0	½	½	½	0	0	½	1	*	1	½	½	5	2570
10.	Moiseenko, Alexander	g	UKR	2682	½	½	0	½	0	0	½	1	0	*	½	1	4½	2542
11.	Shulman, Yuri	g	USA	2648	0	0	½	½	½	½	1	0	½	½	*	½	4½	2545
12.	Roussel-Roozmon, Thomas	m	CAN	2487	½	0	0	½	0	1	½	0	½	0	½	*	3½	2492

NH Chess Tournament Rising Stars vs. Experience

Round 1 (August 20, 2009) Experience 3 Rising Stars 2
Svidler, Peter	- Hou Yifan	1-0	64	C11	French Defence
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir	- Nakamura, Hikaru	½-½	60	A81	Dutch Leningrad
Nielsen, Peter Heine	- Stellwagen, Daniel	1-0	26	E60	King's Indian without Nc3
Van Wely, Loek	- Caruana, Fabiano	½-½	22	A29	English Four Knights
Beliavsky, Alexander G	- Smeets, Jan	0-1	68	A11	Reti Opening
Round 2 (August 21, 2009) Experience 3 Rising Stars 2
Smeets, Jan	- Nielsen, Peter Heine	½-½	21	B92	Sicilian Najdorf with 6.Be2
Caruana, Fabiano	- Beliavsky, Alexander G	½-½	42	C91	Ruy Lopez
Hou Yifan	- Ljubojevic, Ljubomir	0-1	87	B45	Sicilian Classical
Nakamura, Hikaru	- Van Wely, Loek	½-½	79	B90	Sicilian Najdorf Variation
Stellwagen, Daniel	- Svidler, Peter	½-½	27	B43	Sicilian Paulsen
Round 3 (August 22, 2009) Experience 2.5 Rising Stars 2.5
Nielsen, Peter Heine	- Caruana, Fabiano	½-½	25	E21	Nimzo Indian 4.Nf3
Svidler, Peter	- Smeets, Jan	½-½	22	D45	Anti-Meran Variations
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir	- Stellwagen, Daniel	1-0	46	D19	Slav Defence
Van Wely, Loek	- Hou Yifan	½-½	31	E15	Queens Indian
Beliavsky, Alexander G	- Nakamura, Hikaru	0-1	34	E97	King's Indian Classical
Round 4 (August 23, 2009) Experience 1.5 Rising Stars 3.5
Smeets, Jan	- Ljubojevic, Ljubomir	1-0	30	B45	Sicilian Classical
Caruana, Fabiano	- Svidler, Peter	½-½	31	D11	Slav Defence
Hou Yifan	- Beliavsky, Alexander G	1-0	39	C41	Philidor's Defence
Nakamura, Hikaru	- Nielsen, Peter Heine	½-½	41	D31	Semi-Slav Defence
Stellwagen, Daniel	- Van Wely, Loek	½-½	36	B81	Sicilian Keres Attack
Round 5 (August 24, 2009) Experience 3.5 Rising Stars 1.5
Nielsen, Peter Heine	- Hou Yifan	½-½	37	E06	Catalan
Svidler, Peter	- Nakamura, Hikaru	1-0	61	B12	Caro Kann Advanced
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir	- Caruana, Fabiano	½-½	73	A32	English Symmetrical
Van Wely, Loek	- Smeets, Jan	½-½	38	D19	Slav Defence
Beliavsky, Alexander G	- Stellwagen, Daniel	1-0	62	E71	King's Indian 5.h3
Round 6 (August 26, 2009) Experience 2.5 Rising Stars 2.5
Smeets, Jan	- Beliavsky, Alexander G	1-0	40	B07	Pirc Defence
Caruana, Fabiano	- Van Wely, Loek	½-½	38	B84	Sicilian Scheveningen
Hou Yifan	- Svidler, Peter	½-½	18	B06	Modern Defence
Nakamura, Hikaru	- Ljubojevic, Ljubomir	0-1	48	B35	Sicilian Defence
Stellwagen, Daniel	- Nielsen, Peter Heine	½-½	27	C64	Ruy Lopez Classical
Round 7 (August 28, 2009) Experience 3.5 Rising Stars 1.5
Nielsen, Peter Heine	- Smeets, Jan	1-0	36	D19	Slav Defence
Svidler, Peter	- Stellwagen, Daniel	½-½	41	B12	Caro Kann Advanced
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir	- Hou Yifan	½-½	62	D38	QGD Ragozin
Van Wely, Loek	- Nakamura, Hikaru	½-½	59	A40	Unusual Replies to 1.d4
Beliavsky, Alexander G	- Caruana, Fabiano	1-0	25	E12	Queens Indian Petrosian
Round 8 (August 29, 2009) Experience 2.5 Rising Stars 2.5
Smeets, Jan	- Svidler, Peter	½-½	29	C78	Ruy Lopez Moeller Defence
Caruana, Fabiano	- Nielsen, Peter Heine	½-½	60	C64	Ruy Lopez Classical
Hou Yifan	- Van Wely, Loek	½-½	47	B84	Sicilian Scheveningen
Stellwagen, Daniel	- Ljubojevic, Ljubomir	1-0	110	B30	Sicilian Rossolimo
Nakamura, Hikaru	- Beliavsky, Alexander G	0-1	71	C50	Giuoco Piano
Round 9 (August 30, 2009) Experience 2 Rising Stars 3
Nielsen, Peter Heine	- Nakamura, Hikaru	½-½	89	A88	Dutch Leningrad
Svidler, Peter	- Caruana, Fabiano	0-1	43	C80	Ruy Lopez Open
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir	- Smeets, Jan	½-½	17	D47	Queens Gambit Meran
Beliavsky, Alexander G	- Hou Yifan	1-0	53	E06	Catalan
Van Wely, Loek	- Stellwagen, Daniel	0-1	47	E97	King's Indian Classical
Round 10 (August 31, 2009) Experience 3.5 Rising Stars 1.5
Smeets, Jan	- Van Wely, Loek	½-½	18	B84	Sicilian Scheveningen
Caruana, Fabiano	- Ljubojevic, Ljubomir	½-½	34	C11	French Defence
Stellwagen, Daniel	- Beliavsky, Alexander G	½-½	45	C41	Philidor's Defence
Nakamura, Hikaru	- Svidler, Peter	0-1	32	E60	King's Indian without Nc3
Hou Yifan	- Nielsen, Peter Heine	0-1	50	C53	Giuoco Piano

NH Chess Tournament Amsterdam (NED), 20-31 viii 2009 Final Round 10 Standings
Experience								27.5
1	Nielsen,PH	2680	|					6.5/10
2	Svidler,P	2739	|	|				6.0/10
3	Ljubojevic,L	2553	|	|	|			5.5/10
4	Beliavsky,A	2662	|	|	|	|		5.0/10
5	Van Wely,L	2655	|	|	|	|	|	4.5/10
Rising Stars								22.5
1	Smeets,J	2632	½0	½½	1½	11	½½	6.0/10
2	Caruana,F	2670	½½	½1	½½	½0	½½	5.0/10
3	Stellwagen,D	2630	0½	½½	01	0½	½1	4.5/10
4	Hou Yifan	2584	½0	0½	0½	10	½½	3.5/10
5	Nakamura,Hi	2710	½½	00	½0	10	½½	3.5/10

FIDE Grand Prix tournament in Jermuk

The FIDE Grand Prix tournament in Jermuk took place 8th-24th August 2009. The event was a memorial to former world champion Tigran Petrosian.

Vassily Ivanchuk won the tournament with 8.5/13.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://jermuk2009.fide.com/

5th FIDE GP Jermuk (ARM), 9-23 viii 2009														cat. XIX (2719)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4
1.	Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2703	*	½	1	½	½	1	½	½	½	½	½	1	½	1	8½	2830
2.	Aronian, Levon	g	ARM	2768	½	*	1	0	½	1	½	0	½	1	1	½	1	½	8	2802
3.	Gelfand, Boris	g	ISR	2755	0	0	*	1	1	½	½	½	½	½	½	1	1	1	8	2803
4.	Kasimdzhanov, Rustam	g	UZB	2672	½	1	0	*	½	½	½	½	½	½	½	½	1	1	7½	2779
5.	Leko, Peter	g	HUN	2756	½	½	0	½	*	½	1	½	½	½	½	½	1	1	7½	2773
6.	Alekseev, Evgeny	g	RUS	2714	0	0	½	½	½	*	½	1	½	1	½	½	1	1	7½	2776
7.	Karjakin, Sergey	g	UKR	2717	½	½	½	½	0	½	*	½	1	½	½	1	½	½	7	2748
8.	Eljanov, Pavel	g	UKR	2716	½	1	½	½	½	0	½	*	½	0	½	½	½	1	6½	2719
9.	Bacrot, Etienne	g	FRA	2721	½	½	½	½	½	½	0	½	*	½	1	½	0	½	6	2689
10.	Kamsky, Gata	g	USA	2717	½	0	½	½	½	0	½	1	½	*	0	½	1	½	6	2690
11.	Jakovenko, Dmitry	g	RUS	2760	½	0	½	½	½	½	½	½	0	1	*	½	0	0	5	2628
12.	Akopian, Vladimir	g	ARM	2712	0	½	0	½	½	½	0	½	½	½	½	*	½	½	5	2632
13.	Inarkiev, Ernesto	g	RUS	2675	½	0	0	0	0	0	½	½	1	0	1	½	*	½	4½	2612
14.	Cheparinov, Ivan	g	BUL	2678	0	½	0	0	0	0	½	0	½	½	1	½	½	*	4	2581

Russia vs China Match

There is a match in Sochi between Russia and China 14th-24th August 2009. The match was split between a men's match over 5 boards and a women's match over 5 boards. There were 5 classical games, 10 rapid games and 10 blitz games.

Results:

Men

Standard China 12 - Russia 13, Men Rapid China 21 Russia 29, Men Blitz China 20 Russia 30 Men's Match finishes China 53, Russia 72.

Women

Women Standard China 13.5 - Russia 11.5 Women Rapid China 25 Russia 25 Women Blitz China 28 Russia 22

Women's Match finishes China 66.5 Russia 58.5.

Total: China 119.5 - Russia 130.5

Classical Games in PGN - Women's Classical Games in PGN

Rapid Games in PGN - Women's Rapid Games in PGN

Blitz Games in PGN - Women's Blitz Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.russiachess.org/

Total Men China 12 - Russia 13
Round 1 (August 15, 2009) China 2.5 - Russia 2.5
Ding Liren	- Tomashevsky, Evgeny	½-½	37	E17	Queens Indian
Nepomniachtchi, Ian	- Ni Hua	½-½	30	B33	Sicilian Sveshnikov
Timofeev, Artyom	- Zhou Jianchao	½-½	24	A22	English Opening
Vitiugov, Nikita	- Bu Xiangzhi	½-½	34	E53	Nimzo Indian
Wang Yue	- Malakhov, Vladimir	½-½	21	D15	Slav Defence
Round 2 (August 16, 2009) China 2 - Russia 3
Ni Hua	- Timofeev, Artyom	1-0	44	B53	Sicilian Hungarian
Tomashevsky, Evgeny	- Wang Yue	1-0	41	A29	English Four Knights
Bu Xiangzhi	- Malakhov, Vladimir	½-½	33	B36	Sicilian Maroczy Bind
Nepomniachtchi, Ian	- Ding Liren	½-½	32	C10	French Rubinstein
Zhou Jianchao	- Vitiugov, Nikita	0-1	64	D38	QGD Ragozin
Round 3 (August 17, 2009) China 3 Russia 2
Tomashevsky, Evgeny	- Bu Xiangzhi	½-½	16	D94	Gruenfeld Closed
Ding Liren	- Vitiugov, Nikita	1-0	41	D45	Anti-Meran Variations
Malakhov, Vladimir	- Ni Hua	1-0	36	D45	Anti-Meran Variations
Wang Yue	- Timofeev, Artyom	1-0	63	A84	Dutch
Zhou Jianchao	- Nepomniachtchi, Ian	½-½	27	D43	Anti-Meran Gambit
Round 4 (August 18, 2009) Russia 2.5 China 2.5
Malakhov, Vladimir	- Zhou Jianchao	½-½	58	A16	English Opening
Bu Xiangzhi	- Nepomniachtchi, Ian	½-½	43	A22	English Opening
Vitiugov, Nikita	- Wang Yue	½-½	36	D39	QGD Ragozin
Ni Hua	- Tomashevsky, Evgeny	½-½	13	C84	Ruy Lopez Centre Attack
Timofeev, Artyom	- Ding Liren	½-½	40	C10	French Rubinstein
Round 5 (August 19, 2009) Russia 3 China 2
Ding Liren	- Malakhov, Vladimir	0-1	37	D15	Slav Defence
Nepomniachtchi, Ian	- Wang Yue	½-½	22	B33	Sicilian Sveshnikov
Ni Hua	- Vitiugov, Nikita	½-½	22	B52	Sicilian Rossolimo
Zhou Jianchao	- Tomashevsky, Evgeny	½-½	17	A38	English Symmetrical
Timofeev, Artyom	- Bu Xiangzhi	½-½	17	E25	Nimzo Indian Saemisch

Women Total China 13.5 - Russia 11.5
Round 1 (August 15, 2009) China 3.5 - Russia 1.5
Gunina, Valentina	- Xu Yuhua	1-0	36	E15	Queens Indian
Huang Qian	- Tairova, Elena	1-0	45	D44	Anti-Meran Gambit
Ju Wenjun	- Kosintseva, Nadezhda	1-0	64	E05	Catalan
Shen Yang	- Romanko, Marina	1-0	57	E97	King's Indian Classical
Kosintseva, Tatiana	- Zhao Xue	½-½	52	C99	Ruy Lopez Chigorin
Round 2 (August 16, 2009) China 2 - Russia 3
Huang Qian	- Gunina, Valentina	1-0	60	D16	Slav Lasker/Smyslov
Romanko, Marina	- Ju Wenjun	1-0	45	B52	Sicilian Rossolimo
Tairova, Elena	- Shen Yang	1-0	26	C50	Giuoco Piano
Kosintseva, Nadezhda	- Zhao Xue	1-0	41	C95	Ruy Lopez Breyer
Xu Yuhua	- Kosintseva, Tatiana	1-0	76	C92	Ruy Lopez Chigorin
Round 3 (August 17, 2009) China 3.5 - 1.5
Romanko, Marina	- Huang Qian	½-½	65	B01	Centre Counter
Xu Yuhua	- Kosintseva, Nadezhda	½-½	50	B19	Caro Kann
Zhao Xue	- Tairova, Elena	1-0	27	D15	Slav Defence
Gunina, Valentina	- Ju Wenjun	0-1	30	D75	Gruenfeld 3.g3
Kosintseva, Tatiana	- Shen Yang	½-½	55	C65	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Round 4 (August 18, 2009) China 2.5 Russia 2.5
Ju Wenjun	- Kosintseva, Tatiana	1-0	43	B38	Sicilian Maroczy Bind
Shen Yang	- Gunina, Valentina	1-0	50	D16	Slav Lasker/Smyslov
Tairova, Elena	- Xu Yuhua	1-0	61	C10	French Rubinstein
Kosintseva, Nadezhda	- Huang Qian	½-½	48	B97	Sicilian Najdorf
Zhao Xue	- Romanko, Marina	0-1	45	E97	King's Indian Classical
Round 5 (August 19, 2009) Russia 3 China 2
Huang Qian	- Kosintseva, Tatiana	½-½	50	D38	QGD Ragozin
Romanko, Marina	- Xu Yuhua	0-1	61	C00	French Defence
Tairova, Elena	- Ju Wenjun	½-½	40	B20	Sicilian Wing Gambit
Shen Yang	- Kosintseva, Nadezhda	0-1	40	D85	Gruenfeld Defence
Gunina, Valentina	- Zhao Xue	1-0	27	A46	Queen's Pawn Opening

Russia - China Match Standard Sochi (RUS), 15-19 viii 2009 Final Round 5 Standings
China								12
1	Wang Yue	2736	|					2.5/5
2	Bu Xiangzhi	2702	|	|				2.5/5
3	Ni Hua	2701	|	|	|			2.5/5
4	Ding Liren	2530	|	|	|	|		2.5/5
5	Zhou Jianchao	2623	|	|	|	|	|	2.0/5
Russia								13
1	Malakhov,V	2707	½	½	1	1	½	3.5/5
2	Tomashevsky,E	2689	1	½	½	½	½	3.0/5
3	Vitiugov,N	2681	½	½	½	0	1	2.5/5
4	Nepomniachtchi,I	2632	½	½	½	½	½	2.5/5
5	Timofeev,Arty	2681	0	½	0	½	½	1.5/5

Russia - China Match Rapid Sochi (RUS), 21-22 viii 2009 Final Round 10 Standings
Russia								29
1	Nepomniachtchi,I	2632	|					8.0/10
2	Tomashevsky,E	2689	|	|				7.0/10
3	Timofeev,Arty	2681	|	|	|			5.0/10
4	Vitiugov,N	2681	|	|	|	|		4.5/10
5	Malakhov,V	2707	|	|	|	|	|	4.5/10
China								21
1	Wang Yue	2736	10	1½	½½	1½	½½	6.0/10
2	Ni Hua	2701	½0	½0	½½	11	0½	4.5/10
3	Bu Xiangzhi	2702	½0	½0	½½	½0	½1	4.0/10
4	Ding Liren	2530	00	½0	½½	0½	½1	3.5/10
5	Zhou Jianchao	2623	00	00	10	01	½½	3.0/10

Russia - China Match Blitz Sochi (RUS), 23 viii 2009 Final Round 10 Standings
China								20
1	Ni Hua	2701	|					5.0/10
2	Ding Liren	2530	|	|				4.5/10
3	Wang Yue	2736	|	|	|			4.0/10
4	Zhou Jianchao	2623	|	|	|	|		3.5/10
5	Bu Xiangzhi	2702	|	|	|	|	|	3.0/10
Russia								30
1	Tomashevsky,E	2689	11	01	11	01	½1	7.5/10
2	Malakhov,V	2707	½1	0½	½1	11	10	6.5/10
3	Vitiugov,N	2681	½0	10	10	11	11	6.5/10
4	Nepomniachtchi,I	2632	½0	11	½0	½1	11	6.5/10
5	Timofeev,Arty	2681	0½	01	01	00	½0	3.0/10

Russia - China Match Women Standard Sochi (RUS), 15-19 viii 2009 Final Round 5 Standings
Russia								11.5
1	Kosintseva,N	2482	|					3.0/5
2	Tairova,E	2450	|	|				2.5/5
3	Romanko,M	2447	|	|	|			2.5/5
4	Gunina,V	2437	|	|	|	|		2.0/5
5	Kosintseva,T	2539	|	|	|	|	|	1.5/5
China								13.5
1	Ju Wenjun	2443	1	½	0	1	1	3.5/5
2	Huang Qian	2424	½	1	½	1	½	3.5/5
3	Xu Yuhua	2485	½	0	1	0	1	2.5/5
4	Shen Yang	2453	0	0	1	1	½	2.5/5
5	Zhao Xue	2544	0	1	0	0	½	1.5/5

Russia - China Match Women Rapid Sochi (RUS), 21-22 viii 2009 Final Round 10 Standings
China								25
1	Ju Wenjun	2443	|					7.0/10
2	Xu Yuhua	2485	|	|				6.5/10
3	Huang Qian	2424	|	|	|			5.0/10
4	Zhao Xue	2544	|	|	|	|		4.0/10
5	Shen Yang	2453	|	|	|	|	|	2.5/10
Russia								25
1	Kosintseva,T	2539	11	½1	11	01	11	8.5/10
2	Kosintseva,N	2482	½0	½½	1½	01	1½	5.5/10
3	Romanko,M	2447	½0	00	½0	11	11	5.0/10
4	Gunina,V	2437	00	01	10	½0	11	4.5/10
5	Tairova,E	2450	00	00	00	½1	00	1.5/10

Russia - China Match Women Blitz Sochi (RUS), 23 viii 2009 Final Round 10 Standings
Russia								22
1	Gunina,V	2437	|					6.0/10
2	Kosintseva,N	2482	|	|				5.5/10
3	Kosintseva,T	2539	|	|	|			5.0/10
4	Romanko,M	2447	|	|	|	|		3.0/10
5	Tairova,E	2450	|	|	|	|	|	2.5/10
China								28
1	Xu Yuhua	2485	01	10	01	11	11	7.0/10
2	Ju Wenjun	2443	10	½0	11	11	½1	7.0/10
3	Zhao Xue	2544	10	10	11	10	1½	6.5/10
4	Huang Qian	2424	10	01	00	10	10	4.0/10
5	Shen Yang	2453	00	10	00	½½	½1	3.5/10

Zuerich Chess Club 200th Anniversary

The Zuerich Chess Club 200th Anniversay Jubilee started with an open tournament 9th-15th August 2009. Alexander Morozevich, Evgeny Miroshnichenko, Pentala Harikrishna, Emil Sutovsky etc played for a prize fund of CHF 100.000 guaranteed prize money and many other attractive prizes. The open tournament was the Alois Nagler Memorial. The leaders on 6.5 points played in the final round. Alexander Morozevich was beaten by Boris Avrukh and Yuriy Kuzubov beaten by Alexander Areshchenko. Areshchenko took the title with a superior tie-break.

Open Games in PGN

Champions Rapid Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.sgzurich2009.ch

Results: http://chess-results.com/tnr24443.aspx

Live coverage: http://www.sgzurich2009-live.ch/live.htm

On Saturday, 22 August 2009, 200 amateurs played against eight champions who have left indelible marks on chess in the past 50 years: Viswanathan Anand, Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov, Viktor Korchnoi, Vladimir Kramnik, Boris Spassky, Ruslan Ponomariov and Veselin Topalov. Each of them will play against 25 amateurs, 200 games altogether, one for every year of the club's history. The event begins at 2 p.m. and is expected to finish around 6.30 p.m.

On Sunday, 23 August 2009, another group of eight champions -- Viswanathan Anand, Werner Hug, Anatoly Karpov, Alexander Khalifman, Vladimir Kramnik, Judit Polgar, Ruslan Ponomariov and Veselin Topalov -- will play against one another in an attractive rapid chess format. Judit Polgar is the strongest female chess player ever. The event begins at 11.00 am, each of the seven rounds begins on the hour. Ranking announcements and prize awards are expected to take place around 6 p.m.

Vladimir Kramnik won edging out Viswanathan Anand, both were undefeated. Games now complete.

Champions Rapid Zuerich (SUI), 23 viii 2009											cat. XVIII (2685)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
1.	Kramnik, Vladimir	g	RUS	2759	*	½	1	½	1	½	½	1	5	2832
2.	Anand, Viswanatdan	g	IND	2788	½	*	½	½	½	½	1	1	4½	2772
3.	Topalov, Veselin	g	BUL	2813	0	½	*	1	1	½	½	½	4	2717
4.	Ponomariov, Ruslan	g	UKR	2727	½	½	0	*	½	½	1	1	4	2729
5.	Khalifman, Alexander	g	RUS	2612	0	½	0	½	*	1	½	½	3	2645
6.	Polgar, Judit	g	HUN	2687	½	½	½	½	0	*	½	0	2½	2583
7.	Hug, Werner	m	SUI	2453	½	0	½	0	½	½	*	½	2½	2616
8.	Karpov, Anatoly	g	RUS	2644	0	0	½	0	½	1	½	*	2½	2589

Round 1 (August 23, 2009)
Anand, Viswanathan	- Topalov, Veselin	½-½	30	C67	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Khalifman, Alexander	- Hug, Werner	½-½	20	E91	King's Indian Classical
Polgar, Judit	- Kramnik, Vladimir	½-½	35	B01	Centre Counter
Karpov, Anatoly	- Ponomariov, Ruslan	0-1	48	A40	Unusual Replies to 1.d4
Round 2 (August 23, 2009)
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Khalifman, Alexander	½-½	67	D38	QGD Ragozin
Anand, Viswanathan	- Karpov, Anatoly	1-0	44	C67	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Topalov, Veselin	- Hug, Werner	½-½	36	E62	King's Indian 6...Nc6
Ponomariov, Ruslan	- Polgar, Judit	½-½	49	E18	Queens Indian
Round 3 (August 23, 2009)
Khalifman, Alexander	- Ponomariov, Ruslan	½-½	24	B92	Sicilian Najdorf with 6.Be2
Polgar, Judit	- Anand, Viswanathan	½-½	56	B19	Caro Kann
Hug, Werner	- Kramnik, Vladimir	½-½	22	A46	Queen's Pawn Opening
Karpov, Anatoly	- Topalov, Veselin	½-½	37	A30	English Symmetrical
Round 4 (August 23, 2009)
Anand, Viswanathan	- Khalifman, Alexander	½-½	24	B82	Sicilian Scheveningen
Topalov, Veselin	- Kramnik, Vladimir	0-1	61	E04	Catalan
Ponomariov, Ruslan	- Hug, Werner	1-0	29	E91	King's Indian Classical
Karpov, Anatoly	- Polgar, Judit	1-0	32	E32	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Round 5 (August 23, 2009)
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Ponomariov, Ruslan	½-½	47	A40	Unusual Replies to 1.d4
Khalifman, Alexander	- Karpov, Anatoly	½-½	23	D37	QGD 5.Bf4
Polgar, Judit	- Topalov, Veselin	½-½	43	C48	Four Knights Rubinstein
Hug, Werner	- Anand, Viswanathan	0-1	38	B20	Sicilian Wing Gambit
Round 6 (August 23, 2009)
Anand, Viswanathan	- Kramnik, Vladimir	½-½	18	B01	Centre Counter
Topalov, Veselin	- Ponomariov, Ruslan	1-0	51	E01	Catalan
Polgar, Judit	- Khalifman, Alexander	0-1	50	B83	Sicilian Scheveningen
Karpov, Anatoly	- Hug, Werner	½-½	23	E71	King's Indian 5.h3
Round 7 (August 23, 2009)
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Karpov, Anatoly	1-0	17	E05	Catalan
Ponomariov, Ruslan	- Anand, Viswanathan	½-½	27	D91	Gruenfeld 5.Bg5
Khalifman, Alexander	- Topalov, Veselin	0-1	39	E67	King's Indian Fianchetto
Hug, Werner	- Polgar, Judit	½-½	42	D03	Queen's Pawn Game

Zuerich Chess Club 200th Jubilee Open (SUI), 9-15 viii 2009 Leading Final Round 9 Standings:
Rg.	Name		Elo	FED	Pkt.	BH
1	Areshchenko Alexander	GM	2651	UKR	7½	50
2	Avrukh Boris	GM	2641	ISR	7½	47
3	Dreev Alexey	GM	2660	RUS	7	50
4	Mikhalevski Victor	GM	2631	ISR	7	48
5	Morozevich Alexander	GM	2751	RUS	6½	51½
6	Kuzubov Yuriy	GM	2635	UKR	6½	50
7	Sutovsky Emil	GM	2675	ISR	6½	49
	Golod Vitali	GM	2599	ISR	6½	49
9	Meier Georg	GM	2658	GER	6½	48
10	Pelletier Yannick	GM	2574	SUI	6½	47½
	Hess Robert L.	GM	2560	USA	6½	47½
12	Sandipan Chanda	GM	2585	IND	6½	47
	Geetha Narayanan Gopal	GM	2575	IND	6½	47
	Bosiocic Marin	GM	2551	CRO	6½	47
15	Gharamian Tigran	GM	2615	FRA	6½	46½
16	Fridman Daniel	GM	2665	GER	6½	45
17	Miroshnichenko Evgenij	GM	2696	UKR	6½	44½
	Hou Yifan	GM	2584	CHN	6½	44½
	Bischoff Klaus	GM	2551	GER	6½	44½
20	Bauer Christian	GM	2602	FRA	6½	44
21	Bromberger Stefan	IM	2510	GER	6½	42½
22	Hirneise Tobias	IM	2429	GER	6½	40½
23	Ivanisevic Ivan	GM	2629	SRB	6½	36
272 players

French Championships

The French Championships took place in Nimes, 10th-22nd August 2009.

Vladislav Tkachiev took the men's title and Sophie Milliet the women's.

Games in PGN (National A) - Games in PGN (National B) - Games in PGN (Women)

Official site: http://www.echecs.asso.fr/Default.aspx?Cat=15

Video coverage at: http://www.echecs.com

ch-FRA National A Nimes (FRA), 10-21 viii 2009													cat. XIV (2584)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2
1.	Tkachiev, Vladislav	g	FRA	2650	*	½	½	½	½	1	1	1	1	½	1	1	8½	2788
2.	Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	g	FRA	2703	½	*	1	½	½	½	1	½	½	1	1	1	8	2748
3.	Fressinet, Laurent	g	FRA	2667	½	0	*	½	½	0	½	½	½	1	1	1	6	2612
4.	Cornette, Matthieu	g	FRA	2578	½	½	½	*	½	1	½	½	0	½	½	½	5½	2584
5.	Hamdouchi, Hicham	g	FRA	2589	½	½	½	½	*	½	0	½	½	½	½	1	5½	2583
6.	Edouard, Romain	g	FRA	2597	0	½	1	0	½	*	½	½	0	1	1	½	5½	2582
7.	Degraeve, Jean-Marc	g	FRA	2559	0	0	½	½	1	½	*	1	½	½	½	½	5½	2586
8.	Sokolov, Andrei1	g	FRA	2570	0	½	½	½	½	½	0	*	1	½	½	1	5½	2585
9.	Feller, Sebastien	g	FRA	2576	0	½	½	1	½	1	½	0	*	0	0	1	5	2548
10.	Cossin, Sebastien	m	FRA	2486	½	0	0	½	½	0	½	½	1	*	1	½	5	2556
11.	Maze, Sebastien	g	FRA	2546	0	0	0	½	½	0	½	½	1	0	*	½	3½	2454
12.	Le Roux, Jean-Pierre	m	FRA	2485	0	0	0	½	0	½	½	0	0	½	½	*	2½	2381

Round 1 (August 10, 2009)
Fressinet, Laurent	- Sokolov, Andrei1	½-½	32	B83	Sicilian Scheveningen
Hamdouchi, Hicham	- Maze, Sebastien	½-½	19	C47	Four Knights
Degraeve, Jean-Marc	- Cornette, Matthieu	½-½	17	C07	French Tarrasch
Feller, Sebastien	- Edouard, Romain	1-0	31	A40	Unusual Replies to 1.d4
Cossin, Sebastien	- Tkachiev, Vladislav	½-½	48	A41	Modern Defence
Le Roux, Jean-Pierre	- Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	0-1	42	B96	Sicilian Najdorf
Round 2 (August 11, 2009)
Tkachiev, Vladislav	- Maze, Sebastien	1-0	41	D76	Gruenfeld 3.g3
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	- Degraeve, Jean-Marc	1-0	20	B12	Caro Kann Advanced
Cornette, Matthieu	- Hamdouchi, Hicham	½-½	70	B90	Sicilian Najdorf Variation
Edouard, Romain	- Fressinet, Laurent	1-0	67	D43	Anti-Meran Gambit
Sokolov, Andrei1	- Le Roux, Jean-Pierre	1-0	30	B89	Sicilian Sozin Attack
Cossin, Sebastien	- Feller, Sebastien	1-0	29	B81	Sicilian Keres Attack
Round 3 (August 12, 2009)
Fressinet, Laurent	- Cossin, Sebastien	1-0	51	E92	King's Indian Classical
Hamdouchi, Hicham	- Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	½-½	16	B96	Sicilian Najdorf
Degraeve, Jean-Marc	- Sokolov, Andrei1	1-0	56	B48	Sicilian Paulsen
Feller, Sebastien	- Tkachiev, Vladislav	0-1	32	C95	Ruy Lopez Breyer
Maze, Sebastien	- Cornette, Matthieu	½-½	20	C03	French Tarrasch
Le Roux, Jean-Pierre	- Edouard, Romain	½-½	41	E04	Catalan
Round 4 (August 13, 2009)
Tkachiev, Vladislav	- Cornette, Matthieu	½-½	19	E06	Catalan
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	- Maze, Sebastien	1-0	23	C67	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Edouard, Romain	- Degraeve, Jean-Marc	½-½	40	B04	Alekhine's Defence
Sokolov, Andrei1	- Hamdouchi, Hicham	½-½	13	B90	Sicilian Najdorf Variation
Feller, Sebastien	- Fressinet, Laurent	½-½	16	D38	QGD Ragozin
Cossin, Sebastien	- Le Roux, Jean-Pierre	½-½	15	D45	Anti-Meran Variations
Round 5 (August 14, 2009)
Fressinet, Laurent	- Tkachiev, Vladislav	½-½	28	D45	Anti-Meran Variations
Cornette, Matthieu	- Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	½-½	16	B40	Sicilian Classical
Hamdouchi, Hicham	- Edouard, Romain	½-½	11	B94	Sicilian Najdorf with 6.Bg5
Degraeve, Jean-Marc	- Cossin, Sebastien	½-½	58	B53	Sicilian Hungarian
Maze, Sebastien	- Sokolov, Andrei1	½-½	63	E04	Catalan
Le Roux, Jean-Pierre	- Feller, Sebastien	0-1	60	D39	QGD Ragozin
Round 6 (August 15, 2009)
Tkachiev, Vladislav	- Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	½-½	16	D76	Gruenfeld 3.g3
Fressinet, Laurent	- Le Roux, Jean-Pierre	1-0	38	D45	Anti-Meran Variations
Edouard, Romain	- Maze, Sebastien	1-0	33	C84	Ruy Lopez Centre Attack
Sokolov, Andrei1	- Cornette, Matthieu	½-½	16	C67	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Feller, Sebastien	- Degraeve, Jean-Marc	½-½	45	E94	King's Indian Classical
Cossin, Sebastien	- Hamdouchi, Hicham	½-½	25	D92	Gruenfeld 5.Bf4
Round 7 (August 17, 2009)
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	- Sokolov, Andrei1	½-½	42	B48	Sicilian Paulsen
Cornette, Matthieu	- Edouard, Romain	1-0	94	B60	Sicilian Rauzer
Hamdouchi, Hicham	- Feller, Sebastien	½-½	22	C65	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Degraeve, Jean-Marc	- Fressinet, Laurent	½-½	42	B07	Pirc Defence
Maze, Sebastien	- Cossin, Sebastien	0-1	44	D44	Anti-Meran Gambit
Le Roux, Jean-Pierre	- Tkachiev, Vladislav	0-1	16	D73	Gruenfeld 3.g3
Round 8 (August 18, 2009)
Tkachiev, Vladislav	- Sokolov, Andrei1	1-0	38	D37	QGD 5.Bf4
Fressinet, Laurent	- Hamdouchi, Hicham	½-½	27	B37	Sicilian Maroczy Bind
Edouard, Romain	- Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	½-½	32	B42	Sicilian Paulsen
Feller, Sebastien	- Maze, Sebastien	0-1	48	A63	Benoni
Cossin, Sebastien	- Cornette, Matthieu	½-½	15	E35	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Le Roux, Jean-Pierre	- Degraeve, Jean-Marc	½-½	22	B04	Alekhine's Defence
Round 9 (August 19, 2009)
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	- Cossin, Sebastien	1-0	51	B92	Sicilian Najdorf with 6.Be2
Cornette, Matthieu	- Feller, Sebastien	0-1	30	C10	French Rubinstein
Hamdouchi, Hicham	- Le Roux, Jean-Pierre	1-0	46	B10	Caro Kann
Degraeve, Jean-Marc	- Tkachiev, Vladislav	0-1	38	B06	Modern Defence
Sokolov, Andrei1	- Edouard, Romain	½-½	10	B52	Sicilian Rossolimo
Maze, Sebastien	- Fressinet, Laurent	0-1	42	D19	Slav Defence
Round 10 (August 20, 2009)
Tkachiev, Vladislav	- Edouard, Romain	1-0	66	D29	QGA
Fressinet, Laurent	- Cornette, Matthieu	½-½	18	D38	QGD Ragozin
Degraeve, Jean-Marc	- Hamdouchi, Hicham	1-0	36	B22	Sicilian Alapin
Feller, Sebastien	- Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	½-½	37	E99	King's Indian Classical
Cossin, Sebastien	- Sokolov, Andrei1	½-½	46	E35	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Le Roux, Jean-Pierre	- Maze, Sebastien	½-½	39	A47	Queen's Indian without c2-c4
Round 11 (August 21, 2009)
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	- Fressinet, Laurent	1-0	45	C83	Ruy Lopez Open
Cornette, Matthieu	- Le Roux, Jean-Pierre	½-½	44	B12	Caro Kann Advanced
Hamdouchi, Hicham	- Tkachiev, Vladislav	½-½	20	C65	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Edouard, Romain	- Cossin, Sebastien	1-0	35	E86	King's Indian Saemisch
Sokolov, Andrei1	- Feller, Sebastien	1-0	69	C54	Giuoco Piano
Maze, Sebastien	- Degraeve, Jean-Marc	½-½	43	E62	King's Indian 6...Nc6

Baltic Queen

The Baltic Queen Tournament took place in St Petersburg 11th-20th August 2009.

Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant won with 6/9 half a point clear of Ekaterina Atalik.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://totalchess.spb.ru/kalend/2009/baltq-en.html

Baltic Queen St Petersburg (RUS), 11-20 viii 2009												cat. VIII (2445)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan	g	SCO	2506	*	1	1	½	0	1	1	0	1	½	6	2562
2.	Atalik, Ekaterina	m	TUR	2434	0	*	1	½	1	½	½	1	½	½	5½	2525
3.	Paehtz, Elisabeth	m	GER	2474	0	0	*	1	1	1	½	½	½	½	5	2484
4.	Cramling, Pia	g	SWE	2525	½	½	0	*	1	½	0	1	½	1	5	2478
5.	Cmilyte, Viktorija	m	LTU	2470	1	0	0	0	*	½	1	1	½	1	5	2484
6.	Bodnaruk, Anastasia	wg	RUS	2388	0	½	0	½	½	*	½	½	1	1	4½	2450
7.	Zhukova, Natalia	wg	UKR	2465	0	½	½	1	0	½	*	½	½	½	4	2399
8.	Demina, Julia	wg	RUS	2378	1	0	½	0	0	½	½	*	½	½	3½	2371
9.	Turova, Irina	m	RUS	2387	0	½	½	½	½	0	½	½	*	½	3½	2370
10.	Peng Zhaoqin	g	NED	2418	½	½	½	0	0	0	½	½	½	*	3	2322

Round 1 (August 11, 2009)
Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan	- Cramling, Pia	½-½	41	B48	Sicilian Paulsen
Atalik, Ekaterina	- Cmilyte, Viktorija	1-0	34	A63	Benoni
Paehtz, Elisabeth	- Demina, Julia	½-½	43	B11	Caro Kann Two Knights
Bodnaruk, Anastasia	- Peng Zhaoqin	1-0	67	C11	French Defence
Zhukova, Natalia	- Turova, Irina	½-½	13	D26	QGA
Round 2 (August 12, 2009)
Cmilyte, Viktorija	- Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan	1-0	31	E63	King's Indian 6...Nc6
Bodnaruk, Anastasia	- Paehtz, Elisabeth	0-1	47	C18	French Winawer
Demina, Julia	- Zhukova, Natalia	½-½	24	E42	Nimzo Indian Rubinstein
Turova, Irina	- Atalik, Ekaterina	½-½	14	E39	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Peng Zhaoqin	- Cramling, Pia	0-1	23	E16	Queens Indian
Round 3 (August 13, 2009)
Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan	- Turova, Irina	1-0	46	C42	Petroff's Defence
Atalik, Ekaterina	- Demina, Julia	1-0	78	D10	Slav Defence
Paehtz, Elisabeth	- Peng Zhaoqin	½-½	37	C09	French Tarrasch
Cramling, Pia	- Cmilyte, Viktorija	1-0	69	D94	Gruenfeld Closed
Zhukova, Natalia	- Bodnaruk, Anastasia	½-½	73	E63	King's Indian 6...Nc6
Round 4 (August 14, 2009)
Paehtz, Elisabeth	- Zhukova, Natalia	½-½	21	C07	French Tarrasch
Bodnaruk, Anastasia	- Atalik, Ekaterina	½-½	17	C24	Bishop's Opening
Demina, Julia	- Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan	1-0	73	E63	King's Indian 6...Nc6
Turova, Irina	- Cramling, Pia	½-½	27	E39	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Peng Zhaoqin	- Cmilyte, Viktorija	0-1	42	A90	Dutch Classical
Round 5 (August 15, 2009)
Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan	- Bodnaruk, Anastasia	1-0	40	B90	Sicilian Najdorf Variation
Atalik, Ekaterina	- Paehtz, Elisabeth	1-0	66	A41	Modern Defence
Cramling, Pia	- Demina, Julia	1-0	63	D11	Slav Defence
Cmilyte, Viktorija	- Turova, Irina	½-½	21	D24	QGA
Zhukova, Natalia	- Peng Zhaoqin	½-½	58	D16	Slav Lasker/Smyslov
Round 6 (August 17, 2009)
Paehtz, Elisabeth	- Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan	0-1	59	B23	Sicilian Closed
Bodnaruk, Anastasia	- Cramling, Pia	½-½	42	B48	Sicilian Paulsen
Zhukova, Natalia	- Atalik, Ekaterina	½-½	42	E12	Queens Indian Petrosian
Demina, Julia	- Cmilyte, Viktorija	0-1	40	A30	English Symmetrical
Peng Zhaoqin	- Turova, Irina	½-½	18	D39	QGD Ragozin
Round 7 (August 18, 2009)
Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan	- Zhukova, Natalia	1-0	43	C19	French Winawer
Atalik, Ekaterina	- Peng Zhaoqin	½-½	43	D10	Slav Defence
Cramling, Pia	- Paehtz, Elisabeth	0-1	34	D17	Slav Defence
Cmilyte, Viktorija	- Bodnaruk, Anastasia	½-½	41	E63	King's Indian 6...Nc6
Turova, Irina	- Demina, Julia	½-½	23	D10	Slav Defence
Round 8 (August 19, 2009)
Atalik, Ekaterina	- Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan	0-1	37	A56	Old Indian Defence
Paehtz, Elisabeth	- Cmilyte, Viktorija	1-0	41	B03	Alekhine's Defence
Bodnaruk, Anastasia	- Turova, Irina	1-0	62	C28	Vienna Game
Zhukova, Natalia	- Cramling, Pia	1-0	65	E16	Queens Indian
Peng Zhaoqin	- Demina, Julia	½-½	55	D10	Slav Defence
Round 9 (August 20, 2009)
Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan	- Peng Zhaoqin	½-½	8	C11	French Defence
Cramling, Pia	- Atalik, Ekaterina	½-½	19	E12	Queens Indian Petrosian
Cmilyte, Viktorija	- Zhukova, Natalia	1-0	71	E59	Nimzo Indian
Demina, Julia	- Bodnaruk, Anastasia	½-½	36	E63	King's Indian 6...Nc6
Turova, Irina	- Paehtz, Elisabeth	½-½	23	A41	Modern Defence

7th Howard Staunton Memorial

The 7th Howard Staunton Memorial took place 7th (opening ceremony) - 17th August 2009. This year saw a UK vs The Netherlands double round Scheveningen match and an interesting Category IX all-play-all. The UK had a small Elo rating advantage in the Scheveningen match but the teams were well matched almost all the way through, until the UK found a decisive advantage with a 4-1 win in round 9. The tournament took place in its usual venue - Simpson's In The Strand. Nigel Short's 8/10 will take him back over 2700 and allow him to take back the England number one spot from Michael Adams for the first time in many years.

Games in PGN - Main Scheveningen Section

Games in PGN - GM Section

Official site: http://howardstaunton.com/index.shtm

Steve Giddins Reports

Round 10 report - Round 9 report - Round 8 report - Round 7 report - Round 6 report - Round 5 report - Round 4 report - Round 3 report - Round 2 report - Round 1 report - Preview

Round 1 (August 8, 2009) Netherlands 3 - UK 2
Short, Nigel D	- Werle, Jan	1-0	41	C77	Ruy Lopez Anderssen
Adams, Michael	- Van Wely, Loek	½-½	32	B85	Sicilian Scheveningen
Howell, David W L	- Smeets, Jan	½-½	52	C24	Bishop's Opening
Jones, Gawain C B	- L'Ami, Erwin	0-1	41	C45	Scotch Game
McShane, Luke J	- Sokolov, Ivan	0-1	34	C54	Giuoco Piano
Round 2 (August 9, 2009) Netherlands 2 - UK 3
Sokolov, Ivan	- Howell, David W L	½-½	57	D90	Gruenfeld Flohr
Van Wely, Loek	- Jones, Gawain C B	1-0	31	E94	King's Indian Classical
L'Ami, Erwin	- McShane, Luke J	½-½	52	E94	King's Indian Classical
Smeets, Jan	- Short, Nigel D	0-1	31	B04	Alekhine's Defence
Werle, Jan	- Adams, Michael	0-1	40	D58	Queens Gambit Tartakover
Round 3 (August 10, 2009) UK 3 Netherlands 2
Short, Nigel D	- Sokolov, Ivan	1-0	31	C58	Two Knights Defence
Howell, David W L	- L'Ami, Erwin	½-½	22	B12	Caro Kann Advanced
McShane, Luke J	- Van Wely, Loek	1-0	43	B21	Sicilian Morra Gambit
Adams, Michael	- Smeets, Jan	0-1	49	C42	Petroff's Defence
Jones, Gawain C B	- Werle, Jan	½-½	59	D35	QGD Exchange
Round 4 (August 11, 2009) Netherlands 3 UK 2
L'Ami, Erwin	- Short, Nigel D	½-½	28	E08	Catalan
Smeets, Jan	- Jones, Gawain C B	1-0	41	B76	Sicilian Modern Dragon
Van Wely, Loek	- Howell, David W L	1-0	39	D76	Gruenfeld 3.g3
Sokolov, Ivan	- Adams, Michael	½-½	17	E46	Nimzo Indian Rubinstein
Werle, Jan	- McShane, Luke J	0-1	60	E94	King's Indian Classical
Round 5 (August 12, 2009) Netherlands 2.5 UK 2.5
Short, Nigel D	- Van Wely, Loek	½-½	39	B84	Sicilian Scheveningen
McShane, Luke J	- Smeets, Jan	½-½	50	C42	Petroff's Defence
Adams, Michael	- L'Ami, Erwin	½-½	23	B12	Caro Kann Advanced
Howell, David W L	- Werle, Jan	1-0	49	C45	Scotch Game
Jones, Gawain C B	- Sokolov, Ivan	0-1	54	C63	Ruy Lopez Schliemann
Round 6 (August 13, 2009) Netherlands 2.5 UK 2.5
Smeets, Jan	- Howell, David W L	1-0	31	C99	Ruy Lopez Chigorin
Sokolov, Ivan	- McShane, Luke J	1-0	37	E70	King's Indian Fianchetto
Van Wely, Loek	- Adams, Michael	½-½	22	E15	Queens Indian
L'Ami, Erwin	- Jones, Gawain C B	0-1	88	E94	King's Indian Classical
Werle, Jan	- Short, Nigel D	0-1	49	D63	Queens Gambit Main Line with 7.Rc1
Round 7 (August 14, 2009) UK 3.5 Netherlands 1.5
Jones, Gawain C B	- Van Wely, Loek	½-½	60	B23	Sicilian Closed
Howell, David W L	- Sokolov, Ivan	1-0	29	C45	Scotch Game
McShane, Luke J	- L'Ami, Erwin	1-0	44	B11	Caro Kann Two Knights
Adams, Michael	- Werle, Jan	½-½	66	C49	Four Knights Metger
Short, Nigel D	- Smeets, Jan	½-½	16	C42	Petroff's Defence
Round 8 (August 15, 2009) UK 1.5 Netherlands 3.5
L'Ami, Erwin	- Howell, David W L	1-0	51	D93	Gruenfeld 5.Bf4
Van Wely, Loek	- McShane, Luke J	1-0	65	E94	King's Indian Classical
Werle, Jan	- Jones, Gawain C B	½-½	54	E94	King's Indian Classical
Smeets, Jan	- Adams, Michael	½-½	11	C64	Ruy Lopez Classical
Sokolov, Ivan	- Short, Nigel D	½-½	29	D53	Queens Gambit
Round 9 (August 16, 2009) UK 4 Netherlands 1
Short, Nigel D	- L'Ami, Erwin	1-0	41	B11	Caro Kann Two Knights
Jones, Gawain C B	- Smeets, Jan	1-0	30	C45	Scotch Game
Adams, Michael	- Sokolov, Ivan	½-½	59	C63	Ruy Lopez Schliemann
Howell, David W L	- Van Wely, Loek	1-0	34	B22	Sicilian Alapin
McShane, Luke J	- Werle, Jan	½-½	38	C54	Giuoco Piano
Round 10 (August 17, 2009) UK 2.5 Netherlands 2.5
Smeets, Jan	- McShane, Luke J	1-0	34	C67	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Werle, Jan	- Howell, David W L	½-½	44	D98	Gruenfeld Smyslov
Van Wely, Loek	- Short, Nigel D	0-1	44	E34	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
L'Ami, Erwin	- Adams, Michael	½-½	19	E04	Catalan
Sokolov, Ivan	- Jones, Gawain C B	½-½	21	E70	King's Indian Fianchetto

7th Staunton Memorial Scheveningen London (ENG), 8-17 viii 2009 Final Round 10 Standings
UK								26.5
1	Short,Nigel D	2684	|					8.0/10
2	Howell,David W L	2614	|	|				5.0/10
3	Adams,Michael	2699	|	|	|			5.0/10
4	McShane,Luke J	2620	|	|	|	|		4.5/10
5	Jones,Gawain C B	2554	|	|	|	|	|	4.0/10
Netherlands								23.5
1	Smeets,Jan	2632	0½	½1	1½	½1	10	6.0/10
2	Sokolov,Ivan	2655	0½	½0	½½	11	1½	5.5/10
3	Van Wely,Loek	2655	½0	10	½½	01	1½	5.0/10
4	L'Ami,Erwin	2593	½0	½1	½½	½0	10	4.5/10
5	Werle,Jan	2575	00	0½	0½	0½	½½	2.5/10

7th Staunton Memorial GM London (ENG), 8-17 viii 2009															cat. IX (2463)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Timman, Jan H	g	NED	2569	*	½	0	1	1	1	1	½	1	1	7	2670
2.	Cherniaev, Alexander	g	RUS	2428	½	*	1	½	½	1	1	½	½	1	6½	2632
3.	Korchnoi, Viktor	g	SUI	2561	1	0	*	½	0	½	1	1	1	1	6	2576
4.	Davies, Nigel R	g	ENG	2493	0	½	½	*	1	½	½	0	1	1	5	2502
5.	Hendriks, Willy	m	NED	2444	0	½	1	0	*	½	0	½	1	1	4½	2464
6.	Wiersma, Eelke	m	NED	2403	0	0	½	½	½	*	½	1	½	1	4½	2469
7.	Williams, Simon K	g	ENG	2527	0	0	0	½	1	½	*	1	½	1	4½	2455
8.	Wells, Peter K	g	ENG	2498	½	½	0	1	½	0	0	*	½	1	4	2415
9.	Trent, Lawrence	m	ENG	2471	0	½	0	0	0	½	½	½	*	0	2	2241
10.	Chapman, Terry P D		ENG	2232	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	*	1	2137

Hungarian Championships

The Hungarian Championships took place in Szeged, 9th-17th August 2009. Zoltan Almasi and Ferenc Berkes tied on 6/9 with Almasi taking the title with a superior Berger-Sonneborn score. Zoltan Medvegy took 4th on tie-break because he had the most wins amongst those tied on 5 points.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://dodicsek.unsoft.hu/2009/0809ferfi/hunmench2009.htm

59th ch-HUN Szeged (HUN), 9-17 viii 2009												cat. XIV (2576)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1	Almasi, Zoltan	g	HUN	2684	*	½	½	½	½	½	1	½	1	1	6	2688
2	Berkes, Ferenc	g	HUN	2647	½	*	½	½	½	½	½	1	1	1	6	2692
3	Balogh, Csaba	g	HUN	2595	½	½	*	1	½	½	½	½	½	1	5½	2653
4	Medvegy, Zoltan	g	HUN	2547	½	½	0	*	½	½	½	½	1	1	5	2622
5	Gyimesi, Zoltan	g	HUN	2591	½	½	½	½	*	½	1	½	½	½	5	2617
6	Erdos, Viktor	g	HUN	2565	½	½	½	½	½	*	½	1	½	½	5	2620
7	Groszpeter, Attila	g	HUN	2541	0	½	½	½	0	½	*	1	½	½	4	2536
8	Berczes, David	g	HUN	2519	½	0	½	½	½	0	0	*	½	½	3	2457
9	Ruck, Robert1	g	HUN	2561	0	0	½	0	½	½	½	½	*	½	3	2452
10	Prohaszka, Peter	m	HUN	2508	0	0	0	0	½	½	½	½	½	*	2½	2417

Kasparov vs Karpov Match in September

The newspaper Marca (journalist Jesus J. Boyero) broke the news that Kasparov and Karpov will play a 12 game (4 Rapid and 8 blitz) match in Valencia 21st-24th September 2009. The match is on the 25th Anniversary of the start of their infamous first aborted match in Moscow in 1984-5, this was followed by an epic series of close World title matches which ended in Lyon 1990.

Their World Championship record summarises as: Kasparov 21 wins - Karpov 19 wins and 104 games were drawn.

Moscow 1984-5 Karpov-Kasparov (+5 -3 =40) (aborted match)
Moscow 1985 Kasparov-Karpov (+5 -3 =16)
London - Leningrad 1986 Kasparov-Karpov (+5 -4 =15)
Seville 1987 Kasparov-Karpov (+4 -4 =16)
New York - Lyon 1990 Kasparov-Karpov (+4 -3 =17)

They also had a battle for the GMA World Cup series (1988-9) which was won by a small margin by Kasparov over 6 tournaments. They were unrivalled as the top two players for about a decade. Even after this, even though Karpov clearly wasn't world number two he held the governing body FIDE's World Championship 1993-1999 after Kasparov organised his own world title events. He also won the Linares 1994 by a big margin over Kasparov which he used to suggest he was the real champion. I've always thought Karpov was a little lucky in this tournament, there was some appalling play from some of his opponents (I remember particularly that Bareev's play in the ending of his game against Karpov, even at this number of years after, was spectacularly bad) which explains much of the margin of victory.

Apparently there were long negotiations over the match and offers from two other European cities and one in South America. Kasparov has been retired since 2005, devoting his time to opposing the Russian goverment and especially Vladimir Putin. He has always been open to playing exhibition events and I don't expect this will mark a return to top level chess. Karpov is in danger of falling out of the world's top 100 and doesn't seem to have worked on his game for a long time. In spite of all this the match should get a lot of publicity in the mainstream press. I believe Kasparov is the favourite, not least on the grounds of age, Kasparov is 46, Karpov 58. I wonder if at least in part Kasparov has in mind his only match loss to Karpov, the x3dworld rapid match in New York in 2002 which Karpov won 2.5-1.5. Since then they have played just three blitz tournament games, (one in Reykjavik 2004 and two in Zurich 2006) all drawn.

Official sitehttp://www.matchkarpovkasparov.com/

Inventi Chess Tournament 2009

The Inventi Chess tournament takes place in Antwerp. 9 round round-robin with Bacrot, Sargissian, Sasikiran, Sutovsky, Howell, Timman and some other 2600+-players.

Official site: http://inventi.info/

Live: http://www.schaakfabriek.be

British Championships

Round 10 Stewart Conquest against David Howell. Photo © Dave Clayton

The 96th British Chess Championships took place 26th July - 8th August 2009 in Torquay. David Howell lead by a point from Hebden and Williams going into the final round. He drew against Gary Lane in 19 moves and secured the title. Simon Williams beat Stephen Gordon and Mark Hebden beat Gawain Jones to finish half a point behind.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.britishchess09.com/

Blog: http://www.britishchess.blogspot.com/

96th ch-GBR Torquay (ENG), 26 vii - 8 viii 2009 Leading Final Round 11 Results 7th August 2009 2-15pm
1	Howell, David W L	2614	(8½)	½-½	Lane, Gary	2379	(6½)
2	Jones, Gawain C	2554	(7)	0-1	Hebden, Mark	2468	(7½)
3	Williams, Simon K	2527	(7½)	1-0	Gordon, Stephen	2537	(6½)
4	Palliser, Richard JD	2413	(7)	1-0	Wells, Peter	2498	(7)
5	Greet, Andrew N	2443	(6½)	vs	Conquest, Stuart	2572	(6½)
6	Rendle, Thomas	2377	(6½)	0-1	Gormally, Daniel	2490	(6½)
7	Constantinou, Peter	2264	(6)	1-0	Arkell, Keith C	2521	(6)
8	Trent, Lawrence	2471	(6)	1-0	Houska, Jovanka	2392	(6)
9	Summerscale, Aaron	2454	(6)	1-0	Zhou, Yang-Fan	2265	(6)
10	Cobb, James	2432	(6)	0-1	Rudd, Jack	2326	(6)
11	Buckley, Graeme	2398	(6)	0-1	Hawkins, Jonathan	2325	(6)
12	Storey, Charles	2279	(6)	1-0	Sugden, John N	2217	(5½)
13	Fitzsimons, David	2167	(5½)	0-1	Littlewood, Paul E	2358	(5½)
14	Eggleston, David J	2341	(5½)	1-0	Khandelwal, Ankush	2160	(5½)
15	Salimbeni, George	2115	(5½)	½-½	Hanley, James L	2277	(5½)

96th ch-GBR Torquay (ENG), 26 vii - 8 viii 2009 Leading Final Round 11 Standings:
Pl	Player	NAT	ti	Elo	Sc
1	Howell, David W L	ENG	g	2614	9
2	Hebden, Mark	ENG	g	2468	8½
3	Williams, Simon K	ENG	g	2527	8½
4	Palliser, Richard JD	ENG	m	2413	8
5	Conquest, Stuart	ENG	g	2572	7½
6	Gormally, Daniel	ENG	g	2490	7½
7	Constantinou, Peter	ENG		2264	7
8	Hawkins, Jonathan	ENG	f	2325	7
9	Jones, Gawain C	ENG	g	2554	7
10	Lane, Gary	AUS	m	2379	7
11	Rudd, Jack	ENG	m	2326	7
12	Summerscale, Aaron	ENG	g	2454	7
13	Trent, Lawrence	ENG	m	2471	7
14	Wells, Peter	ENG	g	2498	7
15	Addison, Bret C	ENG		2266	6½
16	Eggleston, David J	ENG	f	2341	6½
17	Gordon, Stephen	ENG	g	2537	6½
18	Greet, Andrew N	ENG	m	2443	6½
19	Littlewood, Paul E	ENG	m	2358	6½
20	Rendle, Thomas	ENG	m	2377	6½
21	Sugden, John N	ENG		2217	6½
22	Arkell, Keith C	ENG	g	2521	6
23	Buckley, Graeme	ENG	m	2398	6
24	Cobb, James	WLS	m	2432	6
25	Hanley, James L	ENG		2277	6
26	Houska, Jovanka	ENG	m	2392	6
27	Lewis, Andrew P	ENG	f	2281	6
28	Salimbeni, George	ENG		2115	6
29	Shaw, Peter	ENG		2123	6
30	Storey, Charles	ENG		2279	6
31	White, Michael J R	ENG	f	2259	6
32	Zhou, Yang-Fan	ENG		2265	6
76 players

Chess Classic Mainz

The Chess Classic Mainz took place 27th July - 2nd August 2009 in the Rheingoldhalle in Mainz. Levon Aronian lost his Chess960 Rapid World Championship to Hikaru Nakamura but was more than compensated by winning the 14th Grenkeleasing Rapid World Championship instead. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov won a keenly fought Ordix Open with a record equalling score of 10/11.

Official site: http://www.chesstigers.de

14th GRENKELEASING Rapid World Championship

Final Games in PGN

3rd-4th Games in PGN

Prelim Games in PGN

14th WCh-Rapid Final Mainz
Aronian, Levon	-	Nepomniachtchi, Ian	1-0	62	A29	English Four Knights
Nepomniachtchi, Ian	-	Aronian, Levon	0-1	34	C65	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Aronian, Levon	-	Nepomniachtchi, Ian	½-½	57	D75	Gruenfeld 3.g3
Nepomniachtchi, Ian	-	Aronian, Levon	½-½	25	C22	Centre Gambit

14th WCh-Rapid Final Mainz (GER), 2-2 viii 2009
Name	Ti	NAT	Rtng	1	2	3	4	Total	Perf
Aronian, Levon	g	ARM	2768	1	1	½	½	3	2825
Nepomniachtchi, Ian	g	RUS	2632	0	0	½	½	1	2575

14th WCh-Rapid 3rd-4th Mainz
Anand, Viswanathan	-	Naiditsch, Arkadij	½-½	26	C55	Two Knights Defence
Naiditsch, Arkadij	-	Anand, Viswanathan	½-½	34	C95	Ruy Lopez Breyer
Anand, Viswanathan	-	Naiditsch, Arkadij	½-½	23	C65	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Naiditsch, Arkadij	-	Anand, Viswanathan	½-½	27	C64	Ruy Lopez Classical

14th WCh-Rapid 3rd-4th Mainz (GER), 2-2 viii 2009
Name	Ti	NAT	Rtng	1	2	3	4	Total	Perf
Anand, Viswanathan	g	IND	2788	½	½	½	½	2	2697
Naiditsch, Arkadij	g	GER	2697	½	½	½	½	2	2788

14th WCh-Rapid Prelim Mainz (GER), 31 vii-1 viii 2009									cat. XIX (2721)
					1		2		3		4
1.	Aronian, Levon	g	ARM	2768	*	*	½	½	1	½	1	1	4½	2898
2.	Nepomniachtchi, Ian	g	RUS	2632	½	½	*	*	1	½	1	0	3½	2808
3.	Anand, Viswanathan	g	IND	2788	0	½	0	½	*	*	1	½	2½	2642
4.	Naiditsch, Arkadij	g	GER	2697	0	0	0	1	0	½	*	*	1½	2536

Round 1 (July 31, 2009)
Nepomniachtchi, Ian	- Naiditsch, Arkadij	1-0	59	C65	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Anand, Viswanathan	- Aronian, Levon	0-1	41	D11	Slav Defence
Round 2 (July 31, 2009)
Aronian, Levon	- Naiditsch, Arkadij	1-0	49	E59	Nimzo Indian
Anand, Viswanathan	- Nepomniachtchi, Ian	0-1	56	B97	Sicilian Najdorf
Round 3 (July 31, 2009)
Nepomniachtchi, Ian	- Aronian, Levon	½-½	32	C53	Giuoco Piano
Naiditsch, Arkadij	- Anand, Viswanathan	0-1	52	B12	Caro Kann Advanced
Round 4 (August 1, 2009)
Aronian, Levon	- Anand, Viswanathan	½-½	74	D90	Gruenfeld Flohr
Naiditsch, Arkadij	- Nepomniachtchi, Ian	1-0	60	B90	Sicilian Najdorf Variation
Round 5 (August 1, 2009)
Nepomniachtchi, Ian	- Anand, Viswanathan	½-½	106	B13	Caro Kann Exchange
Naiditsch, Arkadij	- Aronian, Levon	0-1	49	C60	Ruy Lopez
Round 6 (August 1, 2009)
Aronian, Levon	- Nepomniachtchi, Ian	½-½	35	A29	English Four Knights
Anand, Viswanathan	- Naiditsch, Arkadij	½-½	34	D37	QGD 5.Bf4

16th ORDIX Open Mainz

The 16th ORDIX Open took place 1st-2nd August 2009. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov took clear first place with 10/11. Half a point behind was Arkadij Naiditsch finished second, impressive as he also is playing in the main event that followed play in this tournament.

Games in PGN

16th ORDIX Open Mainz (GER), 1-2 viii 2009 Final Round 11 Standings:
Pl	Player	Ti	Land	TWZ	+	=	-	Pts	PktSum	MiBuch
1	Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	GM	AZE	2717	9	2	0	10	62.5	71
2	Naiditsch, Arkadij	GM	GER	2697	9	1	1	9.5	60.5	69
3	Akopian, Vladimir	GM	ARM	2712	8	3	0	9.5	58.5	67.5
4	Gashimov, Vugar	GM	AZE	2740	9	1	1	9.5	56	69
5	Moiseenko, Alexander	GM	UKR	2682	8	2	1	9	55.5	68.5
6	Guliyev, Namig	GM	AZE	2555	9	0	2	9	53	62
7	Riazantsev, Alexander	GM	RUS	2647	8	2	1	9	51.5	63
8	Nakamura, Hikaru	GM	USA	2710	8	1	2	8.5	59.5	71.5
9	Sargissian, Gabriel	GM	ARM	2683	8	1	2	8.5	57	70
10	Bacrot, Etienne	GM	FRA	2721	7	3	1	8.5	56	70.5
11	Grachev, Boris	GM	RUS	2669	8	1	2	8.5	55.5	66.5
12	Lysyj, Igor	GM	RUS	2617	8	1	2	8.5	55	67
13	Jovanovic, Zoran	GM	CRO	2539	7	3	1	8.5	54.5	68.5
14	Malakhov, Vladimir	GM	RUS	2707	8	1	2	8.5	54.5	66.5
15	Khalifman, Alexander	GM	RUS	2635	8	1	2	8.5	53	64
16	Azarov, Sergei	GM	BLR	2630	7	3	1	8.5	52.5	64.5
17	Najer, Evgeniy	GM	RUS	2663	8	1	2	8.5	52	66
18	Almasi, Zoltan	GM	HUN	2691	7	3	1	8.5	52	66
19	Horvath, Adam	GM	HUN	2506	8	1	2	8.5	52	64
20	Stevic, Hrvoje	GM	CRO	2624	7	3	1	8.5	52	63
21	Lalic, Bogdan	GM	CRO	2517	7	3	1	8.5	51.5	62.5
22	Erdoes, Viktor	GM	HUN	2565	8	1	2	8.5	51	58
23	Grischuk, Alexander	GM	RUS	2733	7	2	2	8	56.5	71.5
24	Navara, David	GM	CZE	2709	7	2	2	8	56	68.5
25	Shomoev, Anton	GM	RUS	2580	6	4	1	8	54.5	65.5
26	Potkin, Vladimir	GM	RUS	2619	7	2	2	8	54	65
27	Sokolov, Ivan	GM	BIH	2655	7	2	2	8	53.5	67
28	Meier, Georg	GM	GER	2658	6	4	1	8	53.5	65
29	Movsesian, Sergei	GM	SVK	2716	7	2	2	8	53	69
30	Zvjaginsev, Vadim	GM	RUS	2635	6	4	1	8	53	66.5
694 players

6th Chess960 Rapid World Championship

The 6th Chess960 Rapid World Championship took place 28th-30th July 2009 with Aronian, Bologan, Nakamura and Movsesian. In the preliminaries Aronian (who scored 3/3 on day 1 and 1/3 on day 2) and Nakamura finished on 4/6. They then met in the final where Nakamura was the convincing winner standing 3-0 after the first three games before a final draw and thus taking the title 3.5 - 0.5. Aronian had won the previous editions of the event.

6th Chess960 Rapid World Championship Prelims Mainz (GER), 28-29 vii 2009 Final Preliminary Standings:
Pl	Name	Ti	NAT	Elo	1		2		3		4		Sco	S/B
1	Aronian, Levon	g	ARM	2768	*	*	1	0	1	0	1	1	4/6	10.00
2	Nakamura, Hikaru	g	USA	2710	0	1	*	*	1	1	0	1	4/6	10.00
3	Bologan, Viktor	g	MDA	2689	0	1	0	0	*	*	1	0	2/6	6.00
4	Movsesian, Sergei	g	SVK	2716	0	0	1	0	0	1	*	*	2/6	6.00

6th Chess960 Rapid World Championship Final Mainz (GER), 28-29 vii 2009
Pl	Name	Ti	NAT	Elo	1	2	3	4	Score
1	Nakamura, Hikaru	g	USA	2710	1	1	1	½	3½
2	Aronian, Levon	g	ARM	2768	0	0	0	½	½

42nd Biel International Chess Festival

Morozevich failed to finish off his fine play and lost a winning position against Vachier Lagrave in Round 8, in retrospect this was the key game of the tournament. Photo © http://www.bielchessfestival.ch

The 42nd Biel International Chess Festival took place 18th-31st July 2009. Undefeated Maxime Vachier-Lagrave took clear first place after all the final round games were drawn.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.bielchessfestival.ch

GM Biel (SUI), 19-30 vii 2009											cat. XIX (2716)
					1		2		3		4		5		6
1.	Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	g	FRA	2703	*	*	½	1	½	½	½	½	½	½	½	1	6	2790
2.	Morozevich, Alexander	g	RUS	2751	½	0	*	*	½	1	1	0	1	1	0	½	5½	2745
3.	Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2703	½	½	½	0	*	*	½	½	½	½	1	1	5½	2754
4.	Alekseev, Evgeny	g	RUS	2714	½	½	0	1	½	½	*	*	½	½	½	½	5	2716
5.	Gelfand, Boris	g	ISR	2755	½	½	0	0	½	½	½	½	*	*	½	½	4	2636
6.	Caruana, Fabiano	g	ITA	2670	½	0	1	½	0	0	½	½	½	½	*	*	4	2653

57th Hungarian Women's Championship

The 57th Hungarian Women's Championship took place in Eger 21st-29th August 2009. Anita Gara took the title by virtue of the most wins, from her sister Ticia. Both finished on 7/9.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://dodicsek.unsoft.hu/2009/0821noi/hunwomench2009.htm

57th ch-HUN w Eger HUN (HUN), 21-29 viii 2009												cat. I (2270)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Gara, Anita	m	HUN	2353	*	½	0	1	½	1	1	1	1	1	7	2481
2.	Gara, Ticia	wg	HUN	2354	½	*	1	1	½	½	1	½	1	1	7	2480
3.	Papp, Petra		HUN	2159	1	0	*	0	1	½	1	1	½	½	5½	2362
4.	Medvegy, Nora	m	HUN	2344	0	0	1	*	½	½	1	1	½	1	5½	2342
5.	Lakos, Nikoletta	wg	HUN	2310	½	½	0	½	*	½	½	1	½	1	5	2308
6.	Vajda, Szidonia	m	HUN	2375	0	½	½	½	½	*	½	½	1	1	5	2301
7.	Rudolf, Anna	wg	HUN	2313	0	0	0	0	½	½	*	1	1	1	4	2222
8.	Dudas, Eszter	wf	HUN	2141	0	½	0	0	0	½	0	*	1	1	3	2159
9.	Toth, Sarolta	wf	HUN	2236	0	0	½	½	½	0	0	0	*	½	2	2054
10.	Csatari, Mariann	wm	HUN	2117	0	0	½	0	0	0	0	0	½	*	1	1936

Round 1 (August 21, 2009)
Gara, Ticia	- Csatari, Mariann	1-0	54	B78	Sicilian Modern Dragon
Papp, Petra	- Gara, Anita	1-0	77	B01	Centre Counter
Lakos, Nikoletta	- Medvegy, Nora	½-½	36	B42	Sicilian Paulsen
Vajda, Szidonia	- Toth, Sarolta	1-0	37	B22	Sicilian Alapin
Rudolf, Anna	- Dudas, Eszter	1-0	37	B47	Sicilian Paulsen
Round 2 (August 22, 2009)
Gara, Anita	- Dudas, Eszter	1-0	54	C02	French Advance
Papp, Petra	- Gara, Ticia	0-1	51	B80	Sicilian Scheveningen
Medvegy, Nora	- Rudolf, Anna	1-0	90	C04	French Tarrasch
Toth, Sarolta	- Lakos, Nikoletta	½-½	32	A14	Reti Opening
Csatari, Mariann	- Vajda, Szidonia	0-1	40	D15	Slav Defence
Round 3 (August 23, 2009)
Gara, Ticia	- Gara, Anita	½-½	14	B33	Sicilian Sveshnikov
Lakos, Nikoletta	- Csatari, Mariann	1-0	31	B50	Sicilian Defence
Vajda, Szidonia	- Papp, Petra	½-½	39	B85	Sicilian Scheveningen
Rudolf, Anna	- Toth, Sarolta	1-0	42	B46	Sicilian Paulsen
Dudas, Eszter	- Medvegy, Nora	0-1	42	B22	Sicilian Alapin
Round 4 (August 24, 2009)
Gara, Ticia	- Vajda, Szidonia	½-½	32	C67	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Gara, Anita	- Medvegy, Nora	1-0	79	B42	Sicilian Paulsen
Papp, Petra	- Lakos, Nikoletta	1-0	42	B78	Sicilian Modern Dragon
Toth, Sarolta	- Dudas, Eszter	0-1	28	A30	English Symmetrical
Csatari, Mariann	- Rudolf, Anna	0-1	32	E14	Queens Indian
Round 5 (August 25, 2009)
Medvegy, Nora	- Toth, Sarolta	½-½	16	B42	Sicilian Paulsen
Lakos, Nikoletta	- Gara, Ticia	½-½	28	B52	Sicilian Rossolimo
Vajda, Szidonia	- Gara, Anita	0-1	36	B53	Sicilian Hungarian
Rudolf, Anna	- Papp, Petra	0-1	93	B85	Sicilian Scheveningen
Dudas, Eszter	- Csatari, Mariann	1-0	19	B01	Centre Counter
Round 6 (August 26, 2009)
Gara, Ticia	- Rudolf, Anna	1-0	18	C03	French Tarrasch
Gara, Anita	- Toth, Sarolta	1-0	57	B42	Sicilian Paulsen
Papp, Petra	- Dudas, Eszter	1-0	35	C18	French Winawer
Vajda, Szidonia	- Lakos, Nikoletta	½-½	19	B22	Sicilian Alapin
Csatari, Mariann	- Medvegy, Nora	0-1	44	E30	Nimzo Indian Leningrad
Round 7 (August 27, 2009)
Medvegy, Nora	- Papp, Petra	1-0	67	B90	Sicilian Najdorf Variation
Lakos, Nikoletta	- Gara, Anita	½-½	55	B27	Sicilian Early Fianchetto
Rudolf, Anna	- Vajda, Szidonia	½-½	20	B87	Sicilian Sozin Attack
Dudas, Eszter	- Gara, Ticia	½-½	60	B87	Sicilian Sozin Attack
Toth, Sarolta	- Csatari, Mariann	½-½	44	A11	Reti Opening
Round 8 (August 28, 2009)
Gara, Ticia	- Medvegy, Nora	1-0	30	B47	Sicilian Paulsen
Gara, Anita	- Csatari, Mariann	1-0	28	B53	Sicilian Hungarian
Papp, Petra	- Toth, Sarolta	½-½	34	C54	Giuoco Piano
Lakos, Nikoletta	- Rudolf, Anna	½-½	77	C03	French Tarrasch
Vajda, Szidonia	- Dudas, Eszter	½-½	45	B49	Sicilian Paulsen
Round 9 (August 29, 2009)
Medvegy, Nora	- Vajda, Szidonia	½-½	25	C41	Philidor's Defence
Rudolf, Anna	- Gara, Anita	0-1	74	B70	Sicilian Dragon
Dudas, Eszter	- Lakos, Nikoletta	0-1	38	B06	Modern Defence
Toth, Sarolta	- Gara, Ticia	0-1	38	B14	Caro Kann Panov
Csatari, Mariann	- Papp, Petra	½-½	31	D48	Queens Gambit Meran

Vyacheslav Osnos 1935-2009

International Master Vyacheslav Osnos has passed away. Born 24th July 1935 - Died 27th August 2009. Osnos played in the Soviet championships 1963-1968 and was two time Leningrad Champion. He was a coach to Viktor Korchnoi and an author of books on the Reti and the Rauzer-Richter Sicilian.

News in Russian: http://www.totalchess.spb.ru/ - short bio in English: http://gmchess.com/gmschool/

9th United Insurance & United Leasing Grandmasters

The 9th United Insurance & United Leasing Grandmasters Chess Tournament took place 21st - 29th August in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A total 40 players including 11 GM's, 2 IM's, 11 FM's and IWFM participated in the event. Dibyendu Barua took clear first place with 7.5/10 half a point clear of the field. My thanks to Haroon or Rashid for the news and games.

Games in PGN

9th UIL&UL GM Dhaka (BAN), 21-29 viii 2009 Leading Final Round 10 Standings:
Rank	Name	Ti	FED	Rtg	Pts	RSum
1	Barua Dibyendu	GM	IND	2473	7½	22120
2	Mchedlishvili Mikheil	GM	GEO	2592	7	22274
3	Gagunashvili Merab	GM	GEO	2574	7	21973
4	Hasan Mehdi	FM	BAN	2236	6½	22382
5	Rausis Igor	GM	CZE	2512	6½	22282
6	Bakre Tejas	GM	IND	2453	6½	21581
7	Bitan Banerjee		IND	2306	6	22138
8	Reefat Bin-Sattar	GM	BAN	2486	6	21983
9	Praveen Kumar C		IND	2363	6	21716
10	Neelotpal Das	GM	IND	2474	6	21663
11	Khusnutdinov Rustam	GM	KAZ	2506	6	21633
12	Hossain Enamul	GM	BAN	2531	6	21507
13	Abdulla Al-Rakib	GM	BAN	2532	6	20861
14	Lahiri Atanu	IM	IND	2361	5½	22269
15	Grover Sahaj	FM	IND	2310	5½	21248
16	Vinoth Kumar M	FM	IND	2208	5½	21105
17	Rahman Md Taibur	FM	BAN	2316	5½	20955
18	Ismagambetov Anuar	GM	KAZ	2531	5½	20788
19	Ahmed Sk Nasir	FM	BAN	2291	5	20752
40 players

Dutch Open

Open Netherlands Championship Dieren (NED), 21-30 vii 2009 Leading Final Round 9 Standings:
Rk	Name	Ti	Rating	Pts	TPR	W-We	BH	SB
1	L'Ami, Erwin	GM	2593	7.5	2732	1.48	51	40.5
2	Giri, Anish	GM	2518	7	2689	1.97	56.5	42.75
3	Timman, Jan H	GM	2569	7	2624	0.72	54.5	41.5
4	Miedema, Roi	FM	2432	7	2673	2.83	50.5	38.5
5	Brandenburg, Daan	IM	2463	6.5	2566	1.3	51.5	34.75
6	Ernst, Sipke	GM	2598	6.5	2547	-0.37	49.5	34.75
7	Ootes, Lars		2261	6.5	2596	3.88	49.5	33.75
8	Lalith, Babu M.R.	IM	2472	6	2496	0.35	51.5	30
9	Visser, Yge	GM	2464	6	2531	0.86	50	30.75
10	Ikonnikov, Vyacheslav	GM	2556	6	2497	-0.56	48.5	29.5
11	Vovk, Andrey	GM	2506	6	2456	-0.46	46.5	27.75
12	Bitalzadeh, Ali	IM	2434	6	2484	0.66	46	28.75
13	Burg, Twan	FM	2422	6	2530	1.35	45	28.25
14	Bezemer, Arno	FM	2332	6	2456	1.52	42.5	24.25
15	Nijboer, Friso	GM	2552	5.5	2447	-1.08	51	29
16	Adhiban, B.	IM	2481	5.5	2446	-0.27	50	28
17	Reinderman, Dimitri	GM	2565	5.5	2427	-1.39	49.5	27.75
18	Swinkels, Robin	GM	2516	5.5	2433	-0.88	49	28.25
19	Wohl, Aleksandar H.	IM	2387	5.5	2506	1.47	46.5	26
20	Pruijssers, Roeland	IM	2401	5.5	2372	-0.24	46.5	24.75
21	Van Delft, Merijn	IM	2360	5.5	2483	1.53	44	24.75
22	Hoeksema, Erik	IM	2309	5.5	2397	1.15	43.5	24
23	Tondivar, Babak	FM	2372	5.5	2333	-0.35	43	24.5
24	Karthikeyan, P.	IM	2478	5.5	2354	-1.27	41	23.75
25	Motoc, Alina	WGM	2315	5.5	2297	-0.08	41	23
26	Haast, Anne		2158	5.5	2393	2.67	41	22
27	Harini, S.		1986	5.5	2287	3.48	35.5	21.5
28	Vovk, Yuri	GM	2567	5	2433	-1.5	53	27.5
93 players

XXIV Villarrobledo International Rapid Tournament

The XXIV Villarrobledo International Rapid Tournament took place 25th - 26th July 2009. Arkadij Naiditsch took clear first place with 7.5/9. He started with 6/6 and in spite of losing to Vadim Milov in round 8 he wrapped things up with a win against Ruslan Ponomariov in the final round to take first place alone.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.ajedrezenvillarrobledo.es/ - Results: http://www.chess-results.com/tnr23929.aspx - Live coverage

XXIV Rapid Villarrobledo (ESP), 25-26 vii 2009 Leading Final Round 9 Standings:
Rk.	Name	Ti	FED	RtgI	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	Naiditsch Arkadij	GM	GER	2697	7.5	51	55.5	41.5
2	Grischuk Alexander	GM	RUS	2733	7	50	55	36.5
3	Moiseenko Alexander	GM	UKR	2682	7	48.5	53.5	36.5
4	Shirov Alexei	GM	ESP	2732	7	48.5	53	35.5
5	Ni Hua	GM	CHN	2701	7	48.5	52.5	38
6	Milov Vadim	GM	SUI	2659	7	48	51.5	37.5
7	Fridman Daniel	GM	GER	2665	7	45.5	49.5	34.5
8	Bacrot Etienne	GM	FRA	2721	6.5	51	54.5	36.5
9	Khenkin Igor	GM	GER	2634	6.5	47	51	33.5
10	Strikovic Aleksa	GM	SRB	2523	6.5	45.5	47	33.5
11	Ponomariov Ruslan	GM	UKR	2727	6	49.5	54.5	35.5
12	Larino Nieto David	IM	ESP	2455	6	48.5	53	33.5
13	Hou Yifan	GM	CHN	2584	6	48.5	52.5	34
14	Milchev Nikolay	IM	BUL	2351	6	48.5	52	33
15	Ljubojevic Ljubomir	GM	SRB	2553	6	48	52.5	33.5
16	Tkachiev Vladislav	GM	FRA	2650	6	48	51.5	36
17	Ibrahimov Rasul	GM	AZE	2543	6	46.5	50.5	34
18	Paunovic Dragan	GM	SRB	2533	6	46	49.5	32.5
19	Guliyev Namig	GM	AZE	2555	6	45.5	50	34
20	Rusev Krasimir	GM	BUL	2543	6	45.5	49.5	31
21	Lalic Bogdan	GM	CRO	2517	6	44	48	32.5
22	Pogorelov Ruslan	GM	UKR	2441	6	44	47	30.5
23	Potkin Vladimir	GM	RUS	2619	6	43.5	48	31.5
24	Torres Sanchez Jose		ESP	2322	6	43.5	46	29.5
25	Cifuentes Parada Roberto	GM	ESP	2539	6	43	45.5	31
26	Ubilava Elizbar	GM	ESP	2547	6	42	46	31.5
27	Ninov Nikolai	IM	BUL	2562	6	41	45	26
28	Granero Roca Antonio	IM	ESP	2433	6	41	44.5	29
29	San Segundo Carrillo Pablo	GM	ESP	2570	6	41	44	29.5
30	Ibarra Jerez Jose Carlos	IM	ESP	2517	5.5	44	46.5	31.5
31	Zhukova Natalia	WGM	UKR	2465	5.5	43.5	47.5	31
32	Mirzoev Azer	GM	AZE	2559	5.5	42.5	46.5	30.5
33	Pedersen Nicolai Vesterbaek	IM	DEN	2431	5.5	42	45	27.5
34	Vazquez Igarza Renier	GM	ESP	2570	5.5	41.5	45	27.5
35	Melnikova Yana	WGM	RUS	2285	5.5	41.5	44.5	28.5
36	Arnaudov G Petar	IM	BUL	2443	5.5	41	44.5	28
37	Abul Qasem		ESP	2022	5.5	40	43.5	24.5
38	Fernandez Barrera Victor	FM	ESP	2309	5.5	37.5	40.5	25.5
39	Djuric Stefan	GM	SRB	2437	5.5	36.5	39.5	27
40	Rivas Pastor Manuel	GM	ESP	2525	5	43.5	46.5	30.5
93 players

Politiken Cup

The Politiken Cup took place in Helsingor (25 miles north of Copenhagen) 18th-26th July 2009. Parmerian Negi edged out Boris Avrukh on tie-break after both finished on 8.5/10.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.ksu.dk/politiken_cup//default.aspx?la=en&aar=2009

Lars Grahn reports on the event at: http://larsgrahn.blogspot.com/ (he is also publishing some of the older photos from his large collection amassed during his time as editor of Schacknytt 1969-1990)

Politiken Cup (DEN), 18-26 vii 2009 Leading Final Round 10 Standings:
Pl.	Name	NAT	ELO	Po	MiBu	SoBer
1	Parmerian Negi	IND	2590	8.5	57	57
2	Boris Avruk	ISR	2641	8.5	53	54.5
3	Vladimir Malakhov	RUS	2707	8	57	54.75
4	Gabriel Sargissian	ARM	2667	8	57	54.75
5	Peter Heine Nielsen	DEN	2680	8	56.5	53.5
6	Evgeny Postny	ISR	2647	8	54	52.75
7	Sergei Tiviakov	NED	2674	8	53	51.75
8	Jonny Hector	SWE	2556	7.5	54.5	49.25
9	Emanuel Berg	SWE	2610	7.5	54.5	47.75
10	Jon Ludvig Hammer	NOR	2583	7.5	52.5	46.5
11	S.P.Sethuraman	IND	2455	7.5	52.5	45.75
12	Daniel Alsina Leal	ESP	2529	7.5	51.5	46.75
13	Viktorija Cmilyte	LIT	2470	7.5	51	44.75
14	Evgeny Agrest	SWE	2590	7	53	43
15	Sune Berg Hansen	DEN	2554	7	52.5	43.75
16	Alexey Dreev	RUS	2660	7	52.5	42.5
17	Tiger Hillarp-Persson	SWE	2596	7	52.5	42.25
18	Yuri Kuzubov	UKR	2635	7	52	42
19	Allan Stig Rasmussen	DEN	2536	7	51	42.75
20	Joachim Thomassen	NOR	2300	7	50	40.5
21	Lars Schandorff	DEN	2510	7	48.5	41
22	Klaus Berg	DEN	2432	7	48.5	40.75
23	Marcin Tazbir	POL	2500	7	48.5	40
24	Andreas Bruehl	GER	2360	7	48.5	39.25
25	Daniel Semcesen	SWE	2418	7	47	38.5
26	Krzysztof Bulski	POL	2392	7	46.5	39
27	Stellan Brynell	SWE	2471	7	46	37.5
28	Jens Kristiansen	DEN	2435	7	44	37.75
29	Mladen Gajic	SWE	2249	7	44	37
30	Mads Andersen	DEN	2336	7	44	36.5
31	Robert Aloma Vidal	ESP	2418	6.5	51	37.25
32	Marie Sebag	FRA	2531	6.5	50	39.75
33	Jens Ove Fries Nielsen	DEN	2439	6.5	50	38.25
34	Benjamin Arvola	NOR	2144	6.5	50	36.25
35	Jonathan Carlstedt	GER	2309	6.5	49	36.75
36	Esben Lund	DEN	2412	6.5	49	35.75
37	Mikkel Antonsen	DEN	2438	6.5	48.5	39
38	Kassa Korley	USA	2143	6.5	48	34.75
39	Mikael Rolvag	NOR	2196	6.5	47.5	36.25
40	Henrik Lindberg	SWE	2240	6.5	47.5	36.25
41	Steffen Pedersen	DEN	2435	6.5	47.5	36
42	Bo Jacobsen	DEN	2303	6.5	47.5	35
43	Tom Petri Petersen	DEN	2310	6.5	47.5	33
44	Arne Matthiesen	DEN	2324	6.5	47	37
45	Jacob Carstensen	DEN	2330	6.5	46	36.25
46	Joachim Solberg	NOR	2222	6.5	45.5	35.5
47	Yrjo A. Rantanen	FIN	2376	6.5	45.5	35
48	Peter Nicolai Skovgaard	DEN	2258	6.5	45	34
49	Jorgen Karlsson	SWE	2118	6.5	44.5	32.75
50	Martin Matthiesen	DEN	2305	6.5	43.5	34.25
51	Jakob Aabling-Thomsen	DEN	2344	6.5	41	32.5
52	Peter Flermoen	NOR	2027	6.5	41	25.75
53	Bjarni Jens Kristinsson	ISL	1985	6.5	40.5	29
54	Matthias Bach	GER	2307	6	51.5	34.75
307 players

Najdorf Memorial in Warsaw

The Najdorf Memorial in Warsaw took place 18th-26th July 2009. Radoslaw Wojtaszek won the GMA event with 6/9 half a point clear of the field.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.poloniachess.pl/najdorf2009/index.php - English

Najdorf Mem GMA Warsaw (POL), 18-26 vii 2009												cat. XV (2610)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Wojtaszek, Radoslaw	g	POL	2637	*	½	½	½	½	1	1	½	½	1	6	2732
2.	Rozentalis, Eduardas	g	LTU	2588	½	*	½	½	1	½	½	1	½	½	5½	2692
3.	Macieja, Bartlomiej	g	POL	2612	½	½	*	½	½	½	½	½	1	½	5	2652
4.	Aleksandrov, Aleksej	g	BLR	2616	½	½	½	*	0	½	½	1	½	½	4½	2609
5.	Krasenkow, Michal	g	POL	2631	½	0	½	1	*	½	1	½	0	½	4½	2607
6.	Sasikiran, Krishnan	g	IND	2669	0	½	½	½	½	*	½	1	1	0	4½	2603
7.	Socko, Bartosz	g	POL	2656	0	½	½	½	0	½	*	½	½	1	4	2561
8.	Olszewski, Michal	g	POL	2559	½	0	½	0	½	0	½	*	1	1	4	2572
9.	Nyback, Tomi	g	FIN	2627	½	½	0	½	1	0	½	0	*	½	3½	2528
10.	Abasov, Nijat Azad	m	AZE	2505	0	½	½	½	½	1	0	0	½	*	3½	2541

XXVII Andorra International Chess Open

The XXVII Andorra International Chess Open took place 18th-26th July 2009. Edouard Romain took clear first place with 7.5/9.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.escacsandorra.com

XXVII Andorra International Open (AND), 18-26 vii 2009 Leading Final Round 9 Standings:
Rk.	Name	Ti	FED	Elo	Pts.	Des 1	Des 2	Des 3
1	Edouard Romain	GM	FRA	2597	7.5	7.5	2728	456.5
2	Marin Mihail	GM	ROU	2583	7	7	2658	453
3	Lopez Martinez Josep Manuel	GM	ESP	2555	7	7	2652	449.5
4	Damljanovic Branko	GM	SRB	2551	7	7	2575	435
5	Balogh Csaba	GM	HUN	2595	6.5	6.5	2601	453.5
6	Wegerle Joerg	IM	GER	2430	6.5	6.5	2569	439.5
7	Peralta Fernando	GM	ARG	2574	6.5	6.5	2568	441.5
8	Arizmendi Martinez Julen Luis	GM	ESP	2528	6.5	6.5	2527	438
9	Spraggett Kevin	GM	CAN	2606	6.5	6.5	2497	431
10	Kogan Artur	GM	ISR	2542	6.5	6.5	2486	437
11	Shytaj Luca	IM	ITA	2455	6.5	6.5	2474	427
12	Vehi Bach Victor Manuel	IM	ESP	2387	6.5	6.5	2466	420
13	De La Riva Aguado Oscar	GM	AND	2532	6.5	6.5	2453	417
14	Vega Gutierrez Sabrina	WGM	ESP	2352	6.5	6.5	2434	409
15	Dvirnyy Daniyyl	FM	ITA	2440	6.5	6.5	2396	405
16	Rodriguez Lopez Rafael	IM	ESP	2304	6.5	6.5	2328	400.5
17	Movsziszian Karen	GM	ARM	2570	6	6	2482	423
18	Vila Gazquez Xavier	IM	ESP	2457	6	6	2423	416.5
19	Raznikov Danny		ISR	2270	6	6	2399	388.5
20	Bok Benjamin	FM	NED	2360	6	6	2388	415.5
21	Narciso Dublan Marc	GM	ESP	2553	6	6	2324	402.5
22	Karavade Eesha	WIM	IND	2386	6	6	2311	401.5
23	Berkovich Mark A	IM	ISR	2419	6	6	2273	388.5
24	Demuth Adrien	FM	FRA	2339	5.5	5.5	2421	410
160 players

Grand Slam Masters Final Bilbao

The 2nd edition of the Grand Slam Masters Final takes place in Bilbao, September 5-12th 2009. The winners of the Nanching Pearl Spring, Corus-Wijk aan Zee, Ciudad de Linares and Mtel Masters-Sofia tournaments will play in the final.

Official site: http://www.bilbaofinalmasters.com

Grand Slam Masters Final Bilbao (ESP), 5-12 ix 2009. Cat XX (2749) Players list (July ratings)
No	Name	Ti	NAT	July Elo	DoB
1	Topalov, Veselin	g	BUL	2813	1975
2	Grischuk, Alexander	g	RUS	2733	1983
3	Shirov, Alexei	g	ESP	2732	1972
4	Karjakin, Sergey	g	UKR	2717	1990

Grand Slam Masters Final Bilbao. 5th-12th September 2009
5th September 2009	Drawing of lots	Time
6th September 2009	1st Round	17:00 CET
7th September 2009	2nd Round	17:00 CET
8th September 2009	3rd Round	17:00 CET
9th September 2009	Rest day
10th September 2009	4th Round	17:00 CET
11th September 2009	5th Round	17:00 CET
12th September 2009	6th Round	16:00 CET
12th September 2009	closing ceremony

Donostia Chess Festival 2009

The Donostia Chess Festival took place 7th-16th July 2009. Hikaru Nakamura won a blitz playoff 2-0 against Ruslan Ponomariov to win the main event of the Donostia (San Sebastian) Chess Festival after both finished on 6.5/9.

Games in PGN - Group A

Playoff Games in PGN - Group A - Game 2 now complete

Official site: http://www.donostiachess.com/en/

City of Culture GM Donostia (ESP), 7-16 vii 2009												cat. XVIII (2682)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Nakamura, Hikaru	g	USA	2710	*	½	½	½	1	½	1	½	1	1	6½	2845
2.	Ponomariov, Ruslan	g	UKR	2727	½	*	½	½	1	1	1	1	½	½	6½	2843
3.	Svidler, Peter	g	RUS	2739	½	½	*	½	½	½	1	½	½	1	5½	2755
4.	Kasimdzhanov, Rustam	g	UZB	2672	½	½	½	*	½	½	0	1	½	1	5	2726
5.	Vallejo Pons, Francisco	g	ESP	2693	0	0	½	½	*	½	½	1	1	1	5	2723
6.	Movsesian, Sergei	g	SVK	2716	½	0	½	½	½	*	½	½	½	1	4½	2678
7.	Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	g	FRA	2703	0	0	0	1	½	½	*	½	1	1	4½	2679
8.	Granda Zuniga, Julio E	g	PER	2647	½	0	½	0	0	½	½	*	1	½	3½	2606
9.	San Segundo Carrillo, Pablo	g	ESP	2570	0	½	½	½	0	½	0	0	*	½	2½	2528
10.	Karpov, Anatoly	g	RUS	2644	0	½	0	0	0	0	0	½	½	*	1½	2413

Dortmund Chess Meeting

The Dortmund Chess Meeting took place 2nd-12th July 2009. Vladimir Kramnik won the Dortmund tournament for the 9th time. He resumes his almost unbroken success at this event after a poor score last year. Kramnik won two out of the last three rounds and had at least one chance with black in round 9. The event saw very hot weather and with that some tame draws but Kramnik played excellently towards the end and deserved his win a point clear of Peter Leko, Magnus Carlsen and Dmitry Jakovenko.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.sparkassen-chess-meeting.de/cms/

Malcolm Pein Chess Columns on Dortmund

View and download annotated games by Malcolm Pein

15th July 2009 - Sparkassen Dortmund Chess Festival 2009 Kramnik wins the tournament for the 9th time
13th July 2009 - Sparkassen Dortmund Chess Festival 2009 Round 8 Kramnik defeats Carlsen
9th July 2009 - Sparkassen Dortmund Chess Festival 2009 Round 5
8th July 2009 - Sparkassen Dortmund Chess Festival 2009 Round 4
6th July 2009 - Sparkassen Dortmund Chess Festival 2009 Round 2
4th July 2009 - Sparkassen Dortmund Chess Festival 2009 Carlsen takes the lead in Round 1
3rd July 2009 - Sparkassen Dortmund Chess Festival 2009 Round 1 Pairings

Sparkassen GM Dortmund (GER), 2-12 vii 2009											cat. XX (2744)
					1		2		3		4		5		6
1.	Kramnik, Vladimir	g	RUS	2759	*	*	½	½	½	1	½	½	½	½	1	1	6½	2851
2.	Leko, Peter	g	HUN	2756	½	½	*	*	½	½	½	½	1	½	½	½	5½	2777
3.	Carlsen, Magnus	g	NOR	2772	½	0	½	½	*	*	1	½	½	½	1	½	5½	2774
4.	Jakovenko, Dmitry	g	RUS	2760	½	½	½	½	0	½	*	*	½	1	1	½	5½	2777
5.	Bacrot, Etienne	g	FRA	2721	½	½	0	½	½	½	½	0	*	*	½	½	4	2676
6.	Naiditsch, Arkadij	g	GER	2697	0	0	½	½	0	½	0	½	½	½	*	*	3	2604

116th Scottish Chess Championships (International Open)

The strongest ever Scottish Championship was the International Open 116th Scottish Chess Championships ( International Open) - 11th to 19th July 2009 Prestigious central venue, Edinburgh City Chambers, hosted the strongest ever Scottish Chess Championships 2009 from 11th to 19th July. One of the oldest continually running chess events in the world, this international open event will welcome strong players from countries as diverse as India and Slovakia. In the Year of Homecoming Scotland, Belgium-based GM Paul Motwani and London-based GM Jonathan Rowson will be among the favourites.

S Arun Prasad defeated Magesh Chandran Panchanathan in the final round (in one of the last games to finish) to take clear first place on 7.5/9. Joint leader Mark Hebden drew, held by early leader Gudmundur Kjartansson. Iain Gourlay was the top finishing Scotsman so he took the national title.

Round 9 by Keith Ruxton

The three players tied at the top (Prasad, Panchanathan and Hebden) knew that only a win would guarantee them first place so short draws were definitely not on the agenda. The two Indian players were paired against one another and it didn't take long for the drama to begin as Black (Panchanathan) blundered an exchange on move 11 in a well known opening trap. As soon as he made his blunder your reporter was besieged by players from the U-1500 section asking 'Why can't White just play 12. Ng5?' Well, he can, and he did! (1-0).

This meant that English GM Hebden had to win his game to tie for first place. Mark was paired against the in-form Icelandic FM Kjartansson who only needed a draw to secure a Grandmaster norm. A wild game delighted the spectators once more but, despite Hebden's best efforts, Gudmundur managed to hold the draw and get his norm.

With Prasad winning the Open title there was still the matter of who would win the Scottish Championship. Five players were tied at the top going into this round but with Shaw and Thomson losing and then Keti Arakhamia-Grant losing on time on move 39l, it all came down to the game Iain Gourlay versus Jonathan Grant. FM Gourlay played a very confident and well controlled game to win his first Scottish title - congratulations Iain!

Games in PGN - to Round 9

Official site: http://www.scottishchesschampionship.com

116th Scottish Chess Championships (International Open) Edinburgh (SCO), 11-19 vii 2009. Leading Final Round 9 Standings:
Rank	Name	Ti	Fed.	Score	Rating	TPR	W-We
1	S. Arun Prasad	GM	IND	7.5	2556	2656	1.11
2	Jan Markos	GM	SLO	7	2555	2638	0.96
3	Mark Hebden	GM	ENG	7	2468	2615	1.8
4	Magesh Chandran Panchanath	GM	IND	6.5	2493	2537	0.7
5	Aaron Summerscale	GM	ENG	6.5	2454	2395	-0.39
6	Andrew Greet	IM	ENG	6.5	2443	2395	-0.19
7	Gudmundur Kjartansson	FM	ICE	6.5	2356	2586	2.81
8	Iain Gourlay	FM	SCO	6.5	2349	2435	1.21
9	Jonathan Rowson	GM	SCO	6	2591	2467	-1.14
10	Paul Motwani	GM	SCO	6	2503	2435	-0.59
11	Colin McNab	GM	SCO	6	2474	2430	-0.3
12	David Eggleston	FM	ENG	6	2341	2309	-0.16
13	Manfred Herbold		GER	6	2159	2323	1.63
14	Keti Arakhamia-Grant	GM	SCO	5.5	2506	2364	-1.32
15	John Shaw	GM	SCO	5.5	2462	2288	-1.59
16	Craig Thomson	FM	SCO	5.5	2320	2325	0.26
17	Neil Berry	FM	SCO	5.5	2313	2219	-0.77
18	Mark Lyell	FM	ENG	5.5	2288	2164	-1.2
19	Jonathan Grant		SCO	5.5	2254	2216	-0.31
20	Neil Farrell		SCO	5.5	2191	2215	0.32
21	Paul Roberts	CM	SCO	5.5	2176	2295	0.96
22	Mike Surtees		ENG	5.5	2149	2123	-0.21
23	Martin Mitchell		SCO	5.5	2147	2338	1.86
24	Walter Buchanan		SCO	5.5	2128	2125	-0.12
25	Dominic Foord		ENG	5.5	2069	2234	1.43
26	Graham Morrison	FM	SCO	5	2366	2282	-0.87
27	Michael White	FM	ENG	5	2259	2276	0.3
28	Ravshan Khamroev		UZB	5	2225	1944	-1.83
29	Peter Poobalasingam		ENG	5	2224	2197	-0.21
30	Andrew D Green		SCO	5	2203	2087	-1.12
31	Daniel McGowan		SCO	5	2098	2156	0.25
32	George Neave		SCO	5	2090	2188	0.8
33	Graeme Kafka		SCO	5	2077	2096	0.04
34	Walter Burnett		SCO	5	2018	2164	1.24
35	James Doyle		SCO	5	1909 *	1990	0.5
36	Alan Tate		SCO	4.5	2195	2049	-0.97
37	Fan Zhang		GER	4.5	2058	2049	-0.17
89 players

Canadian Open 2009

The Canadian Open took place in Edmonton, Alberta Canada July 11th-19th 2009. In the final round Mark Bluvshtein beat Theo Hommeles with black whilst pre-event favourites Shirov and Adams were held. Then in a notable win Edward Porper beat Surya Ganguly. This meant Bluvstein and Porper finished ahead of the field with an impressive score of 7.5/9. Mark Bluvshtein took the title on tie-break.

Games in PGN

Details: http://monroi.com/2009-canadian-open-chess-championship-home.html

Canadian Open Final Round 9 Results
1	GM	Alexei Shirov	1/2	GM	Eugene Perelshteyn
2	IM	Irina Krush	1/2	GM	Michael Adams
3	IM	Edward Porper	1-0	GM	Surya Ganguly
4	FM	Theo Hommeles	0-1	GM	Mark Bluvshtein
5	FM	Jonathan Tayar	1/2	GM	Xue Zhao
6	FM	John C Yoos	1-0	FM	Eric Hansen
7		Victor Plotkin	0-1	GM	Hua Ni
8	GM	Victor Mikhalevski	1-0		Jeff Reeve

Canadian Open Edmonton 11-19 vii 2009 Leading Final Round 9 Standings:
#	Name	Ti	Rtng	Tot
1	Mark Bluvshtein	GM	2598	7.5
2	Edward Porper	IM	2510	7.5
3	Alexei Shirov	GM	2748	7
4	Michael Adams	GM	2699	7
5	Eugene Perelshteyn	GM	2588	7
6	Irina Krush	IM	2481	7
7	John C Yoos	FM	2442	7
8	Jonathan Tayar	FM	2392	7
9	Hua Ni	GM	2701	6.5
10	Surya Ganguly	GM	2637	6.5
11	Victor Mikhalevski	GM	2631	6.5
12	Artiom Samsonkin	IM	2612	6.5
13	Anton Kovalyov	GM	2586	6.5
14	Xue Zhao	GM	2544	6.5
15	Leonid Gerzhoy	IM	2530	6.5
16	Zhe Quan	IM	2465	6.5
17	Dmitry Zilberstein	IM	2437	6.5
18	Raja Panjwani	FM	2418	6.5
19	Theo Hommeles	FM	2412	6.5
20	Michael Barron	FM	2357	6.5
21	Avinaash Sundar		2210	6.5
22	Eric Hansen	FM	2472	6
23	Leon Piasetski	IM	2406	6
24	Vladimir Pechenkin	FM	2366	6
25	Michael Langer	FM	2313	6
26	Victor Plotkin		2310	6
27	Zhichao Li		2264	6
28	Nicholas Moloney		2230	6
29	Noam Davies		2214	6
30	William Doubleday		2198	6
31	Dina Kagramanov	WFM	2140	6
32	Tanraj S Sohal		2072	6
33	Richard Huang		1952	6
34	Ian Mackay	FM	2328	5.5
35	Alisa Melekhina	WIM	2315	5.5
203 players

18th Maccabiah Games 2009

The 18th Maccabiah Games took place July 12th-23rd 2009.

Rapid Games in PGN - Note that the games Golod-Gelfand and Fridman-Sutovsky could in fact be the other way round as they are unlabeled on the website. I've worked hard on the games but there will inevitably be problems.

Blitz Games in PGN - A number of games are missing or incomplete.

Official site: http://mchess.co.il/

The main Richard Riordan Chess Festival (Mayor of the City of Los Angeles 1993-2001) saw a Rapid Chess (15m/game + 5s per move) tournament July 12th-14th 2009.

In spite of final round problems Evgeniy Najer won the Richard Riordan GM Rapid with 9.5/12. In the final round Najer was lost after only 15 moves against Emil Sutovsky who lost almost every other round. Fortunately for him Ian Nepomniachtchi, the only player in a position to catch him was also completely busted at the same time. They both lost in short order. Nepomniachtchi still took clear 2nd on 8.5/12.

Richard Riordan GM Rapid Natanya (ISR), 12-14 vii 2009													cat. XVII (2664)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3
1.	Najer, Evgeniy	g	RUS	2663	*	½	1	1	1	½	1	1	1	1	½	1	0	9½	2893
2.	Nepomniachtchi, Ian	g	RUS	2632	½	*	1	½	0	1	1	½	1	0	1	1	1	8½	2824
3.	Beliavsky, Alexander G	g	SLO	2662	0	0	*	1	½	½	½	1	0	1	½	1	1	7	2720
4.	Gelfand, Boris	g	ISR	2755	0	½	0	*	½	1	1	½	1	½	½	½	½	6½	2684
5.	Eljanov, Pavel	g	UKR	2716	0	1	½	½	*	½	0	1	0	½	½	1	1	6½	2688
6.	Smirin, Ilia	g	ISR	2650	½	0	½	0	½	*	0	1	1	½	½	1	1	6½	2693
7.	Polgar, Judit	g	HUN	2687	0	0	½	0	1	1	*	0	½	½	1	½	1	6	2661
8.	Rodshtein, Maxim	g	ISR	2623	0	½	0	½	0	0	1	*	½	1	½	1	1	6	2666
9.	Roiz, Michael	g	ISR	2658	0	0	1	0	1	0	½	½	*	1	½	0	1	5½	2635
10.	Avrukh, Boris	g	ISR	2641	0	1	0	½	½	½	½	0	0	*	½	1	1	5½	2636
11.	Golod, Vitali	g	ISR	2599	½	0	½	½	½	½	0	½	½	½	*	0	1	5	2611
12.	Fridman, Daniel	g	GER	2665	0	0	0	½	0	0	½	0	1	0	1	*	½	3½	2505
13.	Sutovsky, Emil	g	ISR	2675	1	0	0	½	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	½	*	2	2389

Richard Riordan GM Blitz Natanya (ISR), 16-16 vii 2009													cat. XVII (2664)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3
1.	Fridman, Daniel	g	GER	2665	*	½	½	1	1	½	1	1	1	1	½	½	1	9½	2893
2.	Gelfand, Boris	g	ISR	2755	½	*	0	0	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	½	9	2848
3.	Polgar, Judit	g	HUN	2687	½	1	*	1	0	1	0	0	1	½	1	1	1	8	2786
4.	Eljanov, Pavel	g	UKR	2716	0	1	0	*	½	½	1	1	0	1	0	1	1	7	2716
5.	Rodshtein, Maxim	g	ISR	2623	0	0	1	½	*	½	1	0	½	½	0	1	1	6	2666
6.	Roiz, Michael	g	ISR	2658	½	0	0	½	½	*	0	1	1	½	1	½	½	6	2664
7.	Smirin, Ilia	g	ISR	2650	0	0	1	0	0	1	*	½	½	1	1	0	½	5½	2635
8.	Nepomniachtchi, Ian	g	RUS	2632	0	0	1	0	1	0	½	*	0	½	½	1	1	5½	2637
9.	Najer, Evgeniy	g	RUS	2663	0	0	0	1	½	0	½	1	*	0	1	0	1	5	2606
10.	Sutovsky, Emil	g	ISR	2675	0	0	½	0	½	½	0	½	1	*	0	1	1	5	2605
11.	Beliavsky, Alexander G	g	SLO	2662	½	0	0	1	1	0	0	½	0	1	*	0	0	4	2538
12.	Golod, Vitali	g	ISR	2599	½	0	0	0	0	½	1	0	1	0	1	*	0	4	2543
13.	Avrukh, Boris	g	ISR	2641	0	½	0	0	0	½	½	0	0	0	1	1	*	3½	2507

Lake Sevan GM 2009

The Lake Sevan GM tournament took place in Martuni, Armenia 10th-18th July 2009. Arman Pashikian won the tournament with 7/9.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.sevan.chessacademy.am/

Lake Sevan GM Martuni (ARM), 10-18 vii 2009												cat. XIV (2580)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Pashikian, Arman	g	ARM	2650	*	½	½	½	1	½	1	1	1	1	7	2792
2.	Berkes, Ferenc	g	HUN	2647	½	*	½	1	1	1	½	1	0	1	6½	2738
3.	Zhigalko, Sergei	g	BLR	2621	½	½	*	½	1	0	1	1	½	0	5	2618
4.	Ter-Sahakyan, Samvel	g	ARM	2480	½	0	½	*	½	½	½	½	1	1	5	2633
5.	Grigoryan, Avetik	g	ARM	2504	0	0	0	½	*	1	½	½	1	1	4½	2588
6.	Lysyj, Igor	g	RUS	2617	½	0	1	½	0	*	0	½	1	½	4	2532
7.	Babujian, Levon	m	ARM	2515	0	½	0	½	½	1	*	1	0	0	3½	2507
8.	Li Chao2	g	CHN	2634	0	0	0	½	½	½	0	*	1	1	3½	2493
9.	Kotanjian, Tigran	g	ARM	2580	0	1	½	0	0	0	1	0	*	½	3	2454
10.	Jumabayev, Rinat	m	KAZ	2550	0	0	1	0	0	½	1	0	½	*	3	2458

Championship of Egypt

The finals of the Championship of Egypt took place in Cairo 8th-16th July 2009. Ahmed Adly won with 7/9.

Games in PGN

Results and games: http://chess-results.com/tnr23612.aspx

ch-EGY Cairo (EGY), 8-16 vii 2009												cat. VII (2417)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Adly, Ahmed	g	EGY	2548	*	1	½	½	½	1	1	½	1	1	7	2622
2.	Ezat, Mohamed	m	EGY	2459	0	*	1	½	1	0	½	1	1	1	6	2537
3.	Amin, Bassem	g	EGY	2551	½	0	*	½	1	1	½	1	½	1	6	2527
4.	Frhat, Ali	m	EGY	2397	½	½	½	*	1	1	½	½	1	0	5½	2499
5.	Wageih, Kareim	m	EGY	2253	½	0	0	0	*	1	½	1	1	½	4½	2435
6.	Abou el Zein, Eid Mahmoud	m	EGY	2357	0	1	0	0	0	*	½	½	1	1	4	2380
7.	El Gindy, Essam	g	EGY	2501	0	½	½	½	½	½	*	0	½	½	3½	2327
8.	El Ghazali, Youssef M	m	EGY	2362	½	0	0	½	0	½	1	*	0	1	3½	2343
9.	Amin, Ashraf		EGY	2357	0	0	½	0	0	0	½	1	*	1	3	2298
10.	Sadek, Sameh		EGY	2384	0	0	0	1	½	0	½	0	0	*	2	2200

Greek League

The Greek League took place in Kallithea 3rd-11th July 2009. The tournament is 9 round swiss 31 teams.

Available Games in PGN

Spiros Ilandzis reports: The Greek League ended with a victory for the team of S.O. Kavalas, for the 4th time in its history (previous wins: 1999, 2005 and 2008)

Unfortunately, the top two matches of the last round ended in 6-6, after a "package agreement" of 12 draws. The team of S.O. Kavalas had already secured the title, before the last round, having scored 8 wins in its first 8 matches!

Top-players for S.O. Kavalas were: GM Tomashevsky (2689) 4 p. in 7 g., GM Papaioannou (2624) 5/8, GM Halkias (2564) 6/8, GM Skembris (2452) 7,5/9, Ant. Pavlidis (2360) 8.5/9! and WGM Botsari (2298) 6,5/9.

P.S. Peristeri (Ivanchuk, Macieja, Tzermiadianos, Gavrilakis) were 2nd, with 14 match-points (6 wins, two draws, one loss - to S.O. Kavalas) and E.S. Thessalonikis (Miroshnichenko, Wojtaszek, Mastrovasilis brothers) were 3rd, also with 14 m-p.

The bottom 11 of the 31 partcipating teams were relegated (but they'll have the chance to qualify for next year's A League, through preliminary matches).

The best scorers on 1st board were GMs Azmaiparashvili (2626) with 7/9, Navara (2687), 6,5/9, Radulski (2539), 6,5/9, Lenic (2565) 6,5/9 and Bologan (2689), 6/8.

Official site: http://www.chessfed.gr/teams2009/default.asp

Bangladesh Championship 2009

The Mercantile Bank 35th National Chess Championship-2009, took place 30th June - 12th July 2009 in Dhaka, Bangladesh 4 GM's 3FM's and 7 rated players participated in round-robin system event. Niaz Murshed has withdrew after three rounds. Ziaur Rahman won the event with 11/13. News: Haroon or Rashid.

Games in PGN

ch-BAN Dhaka (BAN), 29 vi-12 vii 2009													cat. II (2283)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3
1.	Rahman, Ziaur	g	BAN	2523	*	½	½	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	11.0	2663
2.	Reefat, Bin-Sattar	g	BAN	2486	½	*	½	0	1	½	½	1	1	½	1	1	1	8.5	2423
3.	Hossain, Enamul	g	BAN	2531	½	½	*	0	1	1	½	0	1	½	1	1	1	8.0	2386
4.	Abu Sufian, Shakil	f	BAN	2378	0	1	1	*	0	1	½	1	½	0	1	1	½	7.5	2369
5.	Bhuiyan, Golam Mostafa		BAN	2135	0	0	0	1	*	1	0	1	½	0	1	1	1	6.5	2323
6.	Mohammad, Ali		BAN	2253	0	½	0	0	0	*	1	1	1	1	½	0	1	6.0	2285
7.	Rahman, Md. Taibur	f	BAN	2325	0	½	½	½	1	0	*	½	0	1	½	1	0	5.5	2250
8.	Mohammad, Javed	f	BAN	2207	0	0	1	0	0	0	½	*	½	1	½	1	1	5.5	2259
9.	Chatterjee, Debaraj		BAN	2248	0	0	0	½	½	0	1	½	*	1	0	1	1	5.5	2256
10.	Hasan Md, Emam		BAN	2135	0	½	½	1	1	0	0	0	0	*	½	1	0	4.5	2207
11.	Ahmed, Mahtabuddin		BAN	2220	0	0	0	0	0	½	½	½	1	½	*	0	1	4.0	2162
12.	Ahmed, Jamal		BAN	2088	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	*	1	3.0	2105
13.	Islam, Aminul Polash		BAN	2145	0	0	0	½	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	*	2.5	2064

World Open

The World Open Chess Tournament took place June 29th - July 5th 2009 in Philadelphia.

The Official site reports: GM Evgeny Najer beat GM Jaan Ehlvest to secure a 1st place tie with GM Hikaru Nakamura, who had taken two half-point byes on the final day as he jetted off to another tournament. GMs Ilya Smirin and Varuzhan Akobian agreed to a draw a little earlier, missing out on the chance to join the winners while GM Victor Mikhalevski, who could also catch the leaders with a win, lost to GM Jiri Stocek.

Games in PGN

There would normally be an Armageddon blitz play-off to decide the overall Champion and for a little extra money but with Nakamura no longer in Philadelphia, unfortunately this will not happen and thus Najer will once again be crowned World Open Champion having won the title last year.

Norm Update: IMs Alex Lenderman and Leonid Gerzhoy both secured the draws they needed in the final round to each earn a GM norm. This was Lenderman's final GM norm he needed and since he has already achieved the required 2500 FIDE rating he should become America's next GM. IM norms were achieved by FM Bindi Cheng and FM Michael Lee.

I've always found the World Open a bit odd. Multiple schedules, re-entries allowed and so forth. So what to make of Hikaru Nakamura's tournament? Turns up one day plays 5 g/45 minute games to get in contention, plays two proper games the following day (quick draw and a win), then takes two half point byes in the final two rounds to share first place and is already flying to Donostia before the tournament ends. I guess my main reaction is "What kind of tournament is this?"

Official site: http://www.worldopen.com/

Twitter from the World Open

http://twitter.com/chess4lesscom

1st Big Slick Chess tournament

The 1st Big Slick Chess tournament took place at the Big Slick Poker Club, Purley (near Croydon). 10-player all-play-all section Saturday 27th June - Sunday 5th July 2009 and a 5-round FIDE-rated open Friday 26th June - Sunday 28th June 2009. Keith Arkell and Alexander Cherniaev finished on 6½/9 but Arkell received two points by default (one hour default time).

Games in PGN

Simon Williams is organising a GM all-play-all event and a FIDE open in London. There is a GM all-play-all and Jonathan Rowson is top seed of the FIDE open. There are places in both events.

Details: http://www.gingergm.com/big-slick-chess/

1st Big Slick GM London (ENG), 27 vi-5 vii 2009												cat. VI (2388)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Arkell, Keith C	g	ENG	2517	*	½	½	½	1	½	1	1	1	½	6½	2539
2.	Cherniaev, Alexander1	g	RUS	2423	½	*	1	½	½	½	½	1	1	1	6½	2550
3.	Slavin, Alexei		RUS	2308	½	0	*	½	½	½	1	1	½	1	5½	2476
4.	Poobalasingam, Peter S		ENG	2240	½	½	½	*	½	½	0	1	1	½	5	2447
5.	Galego, Luis	g	POR	2454	0	½	½	½	*	½	1	½	½	1	5	2423
6.	Gormally, Daniel W	g	ENG	2487	½	½	½	½	½	*	½	0	½	1	4½	2377
7.	Rudd, Jack	m	ENG	2357	0	½	0	1	0	½	*	0	1	1	4	2348
8.	Ansell, Simon T	m	ENG	2394	0	0	0	0	½	1	1	*	½	½	3½	2307
9.	Kjartansson, Gudmundur	f	ISL	2388	0	0	½	0	½	½	0	½	*	½	2½	2222
10.	Eames, Robert S	f	ENG	2312	½	0	0	½	0	0	0	½	½	*	2	2176

III Kings' Tournament in Bazna

The III Turneul Regilor (Kings' Tournament) took place in Bazna Romania 14th-25th June 2009. 10 rounds 6 player double round robin. Vassily Ivanchuk returned to his best and won the tournament by a point from Boris Gelfand. Teimour Radjabov and Alexei Shirov, who won his final round, finished half a point further back.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.turneulregilor.com

III Kings' Tournament Bazna (ROM), 14-24 vi 2009										cat. XX (2729)
					1		2		3		4		5		6
1.	Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2746	*	*	½	½	½	½	½	1	1	½	1	1	7	2874
2.	Gelfand, Boris	g	ISR	2733	½	½	*	*	½	½	1	½	½	½	1	½	6	2800
3.	Radjabov, Teimour	g	AZE	2756	½	½	½	½	*	*	½	½	½	1	½	½	5½	2759
4.	Shirov, Alexei	g	ESP	2745	½	0	0	½	½	½	*	*	1	1	½	1	5½	2762
5.	Kamsky, Gata	g	USA	2720	0	½	½	½	½	0	0	0	*	*	½	½	3	2582
6.	Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter	g	ROU	2675	0	0	0	½	½	½	½	0	½	½	*	*	3	2591

France - Armenia Match

A French team faced Olympiad Champions Armenia (2006 and 2008). in an 8 round rapid match. Time control: 15 mins + 10 seconds. The match took place June 24th-25th 2009 in the Hotel Castille in Paris. Armenia were convincing winners with the returning Joel Lautier struggling particularly badly.

Official site: http://www.echecs.asso.fr/ - Further details: http://www.europe-echecs.com/actualites/actualites-match-france-armenie-1896.html

Games in PGN

Team	NAT	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Total
Armenia	ARM	3	1½	2	3	2½	2½	2½	2½	19½
France	FRA	1	2½	2	1	1½	1½	1½	1½	12½

Round 1 (June 24, 2009) France 1 Armenia 3
Aronian, Levon	- Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	½-½	38	D87	Gruenfeld Botvinnik
Sargissian, Gabriel	- Bauer, Christian	½-½	47	D94	Gruenfeld Closed
Lautier, Joel	- Akopian, Vladimir	0-1	50	A29	English Four Knights
Fressinet, Laurent	- Petrosian, Tigran L	0-1	68	D34	Tarrasch Defence, Main Line
Round 2 (June 24, 2009) France 2.5 Armenia 1.5
Akopian, Vladimir	- Bauer, Christian	½-½	41	B01	Centre Counter
Petrosian, Tigran L	- Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	0-1	73	B43	Sicilian Paulsen
Lautier, Joel	- Aronian, Levon	½-½	53	B10	Caro Kann
Fressinet, Laurent	- Sargissian, Gabriel	½-½	69	E15	Queens Indian
Round 3 (June 24, 2009) France 2 Armenia 2
Akopian, Vladimir	- Fressinet, Laurent	½-½	56	C65	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Petrosian, Tigran L	- Lautier, Joel	½-½	34	B23	Sicilian Closed
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	- Sargissian, Gabriel	½-½	37	C65	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Bauer, Christian	- Aronian, Levon	½-½	46	C54	Giuoco Piano
Round 4 (June 24, 2009) France 1 Armenia 3
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	- Akopian, Vladimir	½-½	46	C99	Ruy Lopez Chigorin
Aronian, Levon	- Fressinet, Laurent	1-0	53	D11	Slav Defence
Bauer, Christian	- Petrosian, Tigran L	0-1	42	D00	Queen's Pawn Game
Sargissian, Gabriel	- Lautier, Joel	½-½	52	D38	QGD Ragozin
Round 5 (June 25, 2009) France 1.5 Armenia 2.5
Akopian, Vladimir	- Lautier, Joel	1-0	20	B46	Sicilian Paulsen
Petrosian, Tigran L	- Fressinet, Laurent	1-0	48	C59	Two Knights Defence
Bauer, Christian	- Sargissian, Gabriel	1-0	31	C54	Giuoco Piano
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	- Aronian, Levon	½-½	42	C60	Ruy Lopez
Round 6 (June 25, 2009) France 1.5 Armenia 2.5
Sargissian, Gabriel	- Fressinet, Laurent	1-0	55	A29	English Four Knights
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	- Petrosian, Tigran L	½-½	31	B36	Sicilian Maroczy Bind
Aronian, Levon	- Lautier, Joel	½-½	54	E15	Queens Indian
Bauer, Christian	- Akopian, Vladimir	½-½	33	A25	English Sicilian Attack
Round 7 (June 25, 2009) France 1.5 Armenia 2.5
Aronian, Levon	- Bauer, Christian	1-0	44	D94	Gruenfeld Closed
Fressinet, Laurent	- Akopian, Vladimir	1-0	68	D45	Anti-Meran Variations
Sargissian, Gabriel	- Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	½-½	84	A16	English Opening
Lautier, Joel	- Petrosian, Tigran L	0-1	31	A27	English Dutch System
Round 8 (June 25, 2009) France 1.5 - Armenia 2.5
Petrosian, Tigran L	- Bauer, Christian	1-0	58	B01	Centre Counter
Fressinet, Laurent	- Aronian, Levon	1-0	60	D46	Semi-Slav Defence
Akopian, Vladimir	- Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	½-½	29	D72	Gruenfeld 3.g3
Lautier, Joel	- Sargissian, Gabriel	0-1	39	B10	Caro Kann

FRA-ARM Rapid Match Paris (FRA), 24-25 vi 2009 Final results
Armenian team			19.5
g	Levon Aronian	2754	4.5
g	Vladimir Akopian	2696	4.5
g	Gabriel Sargissian	2660	4.5
g	Tigran Petrossian	2600	6
French team			12.5
g	Maxime Vachier-Lagrave	2684	4.5
g	Laurent Fressinet	2664	3.0
g	Joel Lautier	2658	2.0
g	Christian Bauer	2605	3.0

Kingpin has a new website

The humourous and satirical chess magazine Kingpin has a new website.

New website address: http://www.kingpinchess.net

III Ruy Lopez International Chess Festival

The main event of the Festival was the master Tournament 13th-19th June 2009 with the participation of Adams, Cheparinov, Pia Cramling, Koneru, Granda, Larino, Caruana and Candelario. The games were transmitted on Internet with commentaries by Leontxo Garcia who will be present in the analysis room (open to all fans).

Ivan Cheparinov took clear first place with 5/7.

Games in PGN

There is a Children's Tournament (13th and 14th June) and the III Open "Ruy Lopez Opening" (20th and 21st June 2009) where all the games will start in the following order:- 1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 with more than 11,000 Euros in prizes.

Official site: http://ruylopez.juntaextremadura.net/modules/news/

III Ruy Lopez Zafra (ESP), 13-19 vi 2009											cat. XIV (2595)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
1.	Cheparinov, Ivan	g	BUL	2678	*	½	½	½	1	1	½	1	5	2740
2.	Adams, Michael	g	ENG	2703	½	*	0	½	1	1	½	1	4½	2681
3.	Larino Nieto, David	m	ESP	2464	½	1	*	1	1	0	0	0	3½	2613
4.	Granda Zuniga, Julio E	g	PER	2610	½	½	0	*	0	1	½	1	3½	2592
5.	Caruana, Fabiano	g	ITA	2649	0	0	0	1	*	½	1	1	3½	2586
6.	Cramling, Pia	g	SWE	2528	0	0	1	0	½	*	1	½	3	2554
7.	Perez Candelario, Manuel	m	ESP	2513	½	½	1	½	0	0	*	0	2½	2504
8.	Koneru, Humpy	g	IND	2612	0	0	1	0	0	½	1	*	2½	2490

44th Capablanca in Memoriam

The 44th Capablanca in Memoriam took place in La Habana 8th-18th June 2009. The Elite group is Category XVII (2657).

Elite Games in PGN - Premier Games in PGN - Open Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.capablanca.co.cu/ (although at the moment there is precious little there that is useful). Games for the first four rounds turned up at: http://www.chessbase.com/espanola/newsdetail2.asp?id=7213

Detailed daily coverage by Osmani Pedraza Ledon in the Cuban Newspaper Vanguardia

Cuban journalist Miguel E.Gomez Masjuan covers the event daily at: http://columnadeportiva.wordpress.com

XLIV Capablanca Memorial Elite Havana (CUB), 8-18 vi 2009											cat. XVII (2657)
					1		2		3		4		5		6
1.	Dominguez Perez, Leinier	g	CUB	2721	*	*	1	½	½	1	½	½	½	½	1	½	6½	2754
2.	Savchenko, Boris	g	RUS	2655	0	½	*	*	½	½	½	½	1	½	½	1	5½	2693
3.	Meier, Georg	g	GER	2641	½	0	½	½	*	*	½	½	½	½	1	½	5	2660
4.	Khenkin, Igor	g	GER	2630	½	½	½	½	½	½	*	*	½	½	½	0	4½	2626
5.	Bruzon Batista, Lazaro	g	CUB	2617	½	½	0	½	½	½	½	½	*	*	½	½	4½	2628
6.	Timofeev, Artyom	g	RUS	2677	0	½	½	0	0	½	½	1	½	½	*	*	4	2580

Round 1 (June 8, 2009)
Dominguez Perez, Leinier	- Bruzon Batista, Lazaro	½-½	20	C92	Ruy Lopez Chigorin
Khenkin, Igor	- Meier, Georg	½-½	12	D13	Slav Exchange
Timofeev, Artyom	- Savchenko, Boris	½-½	25	A31	English Symmetrical
Round 2 (June 9, 2009)
Dominguez Perez, Leinier	- Khenkin, Igor	½-½	53	C66	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Meier, Georg	- Timofeev, Artyom	1-0	29	A34	English Symmetrical
Bruzon Batista, Lazaro	- Savchenko, Boris	0-1	40	A33	English Symmetrical
Round 3 (June 10, 2009)
Savchenko, Boris	- Meier, Georg	½-½	54	C10	French Rubinstein
Khenkin, Igor	- Bruzon Batista, Lazaro	½-½	12	E12	Queens Indian Petrosian
Timofeev, Artyom	- Dominguez Perez, Leinier	0-1	40	A36	English Botvinnik
Round 4 (June 11, 2009)
Dominguez Perez, Leinier	- Savchenko, Boris	1-0	73	B56	Sicilian Defence
Bruzon Batista, Lazaro	- Meier, Georg	½-½	16	D37	QGD 5.Bf4
Khenkin, Igor	- Timofeev, Artyom	½-½	37	D30	Queen's Gambit (without Nc3)
Round 5 (June 12, 2009)
Savchenko, Boris	- Khenkin, Igor	½-½	20	B39	Sicilian Maroczy Bind
Meier, Georg	- Dominguez Perez, Leinier	½-½	30	A34	English Symmetrical
Timofeev, Artyom	- Bruzon Batista, Lazaro	½-½	61	B92	Sicilian Najdorf with 6.Be2
Round 6 (June 13, 2009)
Bruzon Batista, Lazaro	- Dominguez Perez, Leinier	½-½	14	B92	Sicilian Najdorf with 6.Be2
Round 7 (June 14, 2009)
Savchenko, Boris	- Bruzon Batista, Lazaro	½-½	33	D59	Queens Gambit Tartakover
Khenkin, Igor	- Dominguez Perez, Leinier	½-½	17	D85	Gruenfeld Defence
Timofeev, Artyom	- Meier, Georg	½-½	36	C10	French Rubinstein
Round 8 (June 15, 2009)
Dominguez Perez, Leinier	- Timofeev, Artyom	½-½	43	B33	Sicilian Sveshnikov
Meier, Georg	- Savchenko, Boris	½-½	10	C68	Ruy Lopez Exchange
Bruzon Batista, Lazaro	- Khenkin, Igor	½-½	12	C67	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Round 9 (June 16, 2009)
Savchenko, Boris	- Dominguez Perez, Leinier	½-½	48	A36	English Botvinnik
Meier, Georg	- Bruzon Batista, Lazaro	½-½	42	E05	Catalan
Timofeev, Artyom	- Khenkin, Igor	1-0	38	B15	Caro Kann
Round 10 (June 17, 2009)
Dominguez Perez, Leinier	- Meier, Georg	1-0	56	C10	French Rubinstein
Bruzon Batista, Lazaro	- Timofeev, Artyom	½-½	11	D31	Semi-Slav Defence
Khenkin, Igor	- Savchenko, Boris	½-½	9	A43	Old Benoni
Round 6 (June 18, 2009)
Savchenko, Boris	- Timofeev, Artyom	1-0	41	B48	Sicilian Paulsen
Meier, Georg	- Khenkin, Igor	½-½	12	C08	French Tarrasch

XLIV Capablanca Memorial Premier Havana (CUB), 8-18 vi 2009											cat. XIV (2580)
					1		2		3		4		5		6
1.	Delgado Ramirez, Neuris	g	CUB	2572	*	*	½	½	½	0	1	½	1	½	1	1	6½	2691
2.	Potkin, Vladimir	g	RUS	2621	½	½	*	*	½	1	½	½	1	0	1	½	6	2643
3.	Cordova, Emilio	g	PER	2543	½	1	½	0	*	*	½	½	½	½	1	½	5½	2623
4.	Quezada Perez, Yuniesky	g	CUB	2596	0	½	½	½	½	½	*	*	½	1	0	½	4½	2540
5.	Hernandez Carmenates, Holden	g	CUB	2573	0	½	0	1	½	½	½	0	*	*	½	½	4	2509
6.	Corrales Jimenez, Fidel	m	CUB	2574	0	0	0	½	0	½	1	½	½	½	*	*	3½	2471

Round 1 (June 8, 2009)
Delgado Ramirez, Neuris	- Cordova, Emilio	½-½	45	C04	French Tarrasch
Potkin, Vladimir	- Quezada Perez, Yuniesky	½-½	52	E14	Queens Indian
Corrales Jimenez, Fidel	- Hernandez Carmenates, Holden	½-½	11	C42	Petroff's Defence
Round 2 (June 9, 2009)
Cordova, Emilio	- Potkin, Vladimir	½-½	105	D43	Anti-Meran Gambit
Hernandez Carmenates, Holden	- Quezada Perez, Yuniesky	½-½	25	E14	Queens Indian
Corrales Jimenez, Fidel	- Delgado Ramirez, Neuris	0-1	49	B65	Sicilian Rauzer
Round 3 (June 10, 2009)
Delgado Ramirez, Neuris	- Hernandez Carmenates, Holden	1-0	52	B51	Sicilian Rossolimo
Potkin, Vladimir	- Corrales Jimenez, Fidel	1-0	54	E56	Nimzo Indian
Quezada Perez, Yuniesky	- Cordova, Emilio	½-½	33	C11	French Defence
Round 4 (June 11, 2009)
Delgado Ramirez, Neuris	- Potkin, Vladimir	½-½	19	B82	Sicilian Scheveningen
Hernandez Carmenates, Holden	- Cordova, Emilio	½-½	51	E32	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Corrales Jimenez, Fidel	- Quezada Perez, Yuniesky	1-0	22	B48	Sicilian Paulsen
Round 5 (June 12, 2009)
Potkin, Vladimir	- Hernandez Carmenates, Holden	1-0	55	E17	Queens Indian
Cordova, Emilio	- Corrales Jimenez, Fidel	1-0	32	D43	Anti-Meran Gambit
Quezada Perez, Yuniesky	- Delgado Ramirez, Neuris	0-1	53	B63	Sicilian Rauzer
Round 6 (June 13, 2009)
Cordova, Emilio	- Delgado Ramirez, Neuris	1-0	45	D55	Queens Gambit Old Lasker Variation
Round 7 (June 14, 2009)
Delgado Ramirez, Neuris	- Corrales Jimenez, Fidel	1-0	29	B40	Sicilian Classical
Potkin, Vladimir	- Cordova, Emilio	1-0	57	E10	Blumenfeld Counter Gambit
Quezada Perez, Yuniesky	- Hernandez Carmenates, Holden	1-0	66	B52	Sicilian Rossolimo
Round 8 (June 15, 2009)
Cordova, Emilio	- Quezada Perez, Yuniesky	½-½	64	E14	Queens Indian
Hernandez Carmenates, Holden	- Delgado Ramirez, Neuris	½-½	28	D35	QGD Exchange
Corrales Jimenez, Fidel	- Potkin, Vladimir	½-½	10	C01	French Exchange
Round 9 (June 16, 2009)
Potkin, Vladimir	- Delgado Ramirez, Neuris	½-½	46	D37	QGD 5.Bf4
Cordova, Emilio	- Hernandez Carmenates, Holden	½-½	50	E11	Bogo Indian Defence
Quezada Perez, Yuniesky	- Corrales Jimenez, Fidel	½-½	12	C92	Ruy Lopez Chigorin
Round 10 (June 17, 2009)
Delgado Ramirez, Neuris	- Quezada Perez, Yuniesky	½-½	11	B52	Sicilian Rossolimo
Hernandez Carmenates, Holden	- Potkin, Vladimir	1-0	33	C07	French Tarrasch
Corrales Jimenez, Fidel	- Cordova, Emilio	½-½	9	C01	French Exchange
Round 6 (June 18, 2009)
Quezada Perez, Yuniesky	- Potkin, Vladimir	½-½	14	B48	Sicilian Paulsen
Hernandez Carmenates, Holden	- Corrales Jimenez, Fidel	½-½	11	C69	Ruy Lopez Exchange

Poikovsky Tournament

The 10th Karpov tournament took place in Poikovsky Russia 3rd-12th June 2009. Alexander Motylev finished with 7/9 a point clear of Vugar Gashimov who he beat in the penultimate round. Emil Sutovsky and Ernesto Inarkiev were a point further back.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.admoil.ru/chess2009/index_chess_2009.htm

10th Karpov Poikovsky (RUS), 3-12 vi 2009												cat. XVIII (2695)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Motylev, Alexander	g	RUS	2677	*	1	1	½	1	½	½	1	½	1	7	2916
2.	Gashimov, Vugar	g	AZE	2730	0	*	½	½	½	1	1	1	½	1	6	2815
3.	Sutovsky, Emil	g	ISR	2660	0	½	*	1	½	1	½	½	½	½	5	2741
4.	Inarkiev, Ernesto	g	RUS	2676	½	½	0	*	0	½	½	1	1	1	5	2739
5.	Rublevsky, Sergei	g	RUS	2702	0	½	½	1	*	½	½	1	0	½	4½	2693
6.	Bologan, Viktor	g	MDA	2690	½	0	0	½	½	*	½	1	1	½	4½	2695
7.	Onischuk, Alexander	g	USA	2684	½	0	½	½	½	½	*	0	1	1	4½	2695
8.	Naiditsch, Arkadij	g	GER	2700	0	0	½	0	0	0	1	*	1	1	3½	2614
9.	Efimenko, Zahar	g	UKR	2682	½	½	½	0	1	0	0	0	*	½	3	2571
10.	Shirov, Alexei	g	ESP	2745	0	0	½	0	½	½	0	0	½	*	2	2469

XXII Leon Tournament

The XXII Leon tournament was a rapid knockout tournament 4 games at 20 minutes plus 10 seconds a move, two 5' blitz playoff and finally an Armageddon games which took place 5th-7th June 2009.

Magnus Carlsen beat Vassily Ivanchuk 4-3 after a blitz playoff in the final.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.advancedchessleon.com/

XXII Rapid KO Leon
Ivanchuk, Vassily	-	Morozevich, Alexander	1-0	45	D38	QGD Ragozin
Morozevich, Alexander	-	Ivanchuk, Vassily	½-½	51	E32	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Ivanchuk, Vassily	-	Morozevich, Alexander	½-½	38	A20	English Opening
Morozevich, Alexander	-	Ivanchuk, Vassily	½-½	27	E32	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2

XXII Rapid KO Leon (ESP), 5-7 v 2009
Name	Ti	NAT	Rtng	1	2	3	4	Total	Perf
Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2746	1	½	½	½	2½	2846
Morozevich, Alexander	g	RUS	2751	0	½	½	½	1½	2659

XXII Rapid KO Leon
Carlsen, Magnus	-	Wang Yue	½-½	81	A30	English Symmetrical
Wang Yue	-	Carlsen, Magnus	1-0	45	D82	Gruenfeld 4.Bf4
Carlsen, Magnus	-	Wang Yue	1-0	23	E55	Nimzo Indian
Wang Yue	-	Carlsen, Magnus	½-½	38	E06	Catalan
Carlsen, Magnus	-	Wang Yue	½-½	47	D17	Slav Defence
Wang Yue	-	Carlsen, Magnus	0-1	53	E06	Catalan

XXII Rapid KO Leon (ESP), 5-7 v 2009
Name	Ti	NAT	Rtng	1	2	3	4	5	6	Total	Perf
Carlsen, Magnus	g	NOR	2770	½	0	1	½	½	1	3½	2795
Wang Yue	g	CHN	2738	½	1	0	½	½	0	2½	2713

XXII Rapid KO Leon
Ivanchuk, Vassily	-	Carlsen, Magnus	½-½	51	B76	Sicilian Modern Dragon
Carlsen, Magnus	-	Ivanchuk, Vassily	½-½	38	D35	QGD Exchange
Ivanchuk, Vassily	-	Carlsen, Magnus	1-0	63	B76	Sicilian Modern Dragon
Carlsen, Magnus	-	Ivanchuk, Vassily	1-0	61	D31	Semi-Slav Defence
Carlsen, Magnus	-	Ivanchuk, Vassily	½-½	48	D52	Queens Gambit Cambridge Springs
Ivanchuk, Vassily	-	Carlsen, Magnus	½-½	100	B33	Sicilian Sveshnikov
Carlsen, Magnus	-	Ivanchuk, Vassily	1-0	61	A70	Benoni

XXII Rapid KO Leon (ESP), 5-7 v 2009
Name	Ti	NAT	Rtng	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total	Perf
Carlsen, Magnus	g	NOR	2770	½	½	0	1	½	½	1	4	2796
Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2746	½	½	1	0	½	½	0	3	2720

Leko - Anand Rapid in Miskolc

Peter Leko was defeated 5-3 by World Champion Viswanathan Anand in his traditional rapid match in Miskolc, Hungary 3rd-7th June 2009.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.lekoanand.hu/

Video coverage from Europe-Echecs

Rapid Match Miskolc
Leko, Peter	-	Anand, Viswanathan	½-½	28	D97	Gruenfeld Russian
Anand, Viswanathan	-	Leko, Peter	1-0	46	D85	Gruenfeld Defence
Anand, Viswanathan	-	Leko, Peter	½-½	28	D47	Queens Gambit Meran
Leko, Peter	-	Anand, Viswanathan	½-½	56	D97	Gruenfeld Russian
Leko, Peter	-	Anand, Viswanathan	0-1	58	D97	Gruenfeld Russian
Anand, Viswanathan	-	Leko, Peter	½-½	51	D45	Anti-Meran Variations
Anand, Viswanathan	-	Leko, Peter	½-½	27	D43	Anti-Meran Gambit
Leko, Peter	-	Anand, Viswanathan	½-½	42	B12	Caro Kann Advanced

Rapid Match Miskolc (HUN), 3-7 v 2009
Name	Ti	NAT	Rtng	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Total	Perf
Anand, Viswanathan	g	IND	2783	½	1	½	½	1	½	½	½	5	2846
Leko, Peter	g	HUN	2751	½	0	½	½	0	½	½	½	3	2696

Sigeman & Co Chess Tournament 2009

The Sigeman & Co Chess Tournament 2009 took place 3rd - 7th June 2009.

Games in PGN

For 17 years in a row the tournament has been played in Malmo, Sweden and this time will be no different. The tournament was played at the classical Hipp Theater in central Malmo, for the twelfth time. Nigel Short lived up to his pre-event promise to play fighting chess. He finished on an impressive 4.5/5.

Official site: http://www.sigeman-chess.com

Sigeman & Co Chess Tournament Final Round 5.

17th Sigeman & Co Malmo (SWE), 3-7 vi 2009											cat. XV (2620)
					1	2	3	4	5	6
1.	Short, Nigel D	g	ENG	2674	*	1	1	1	½	1	4½	2974
2.	Grandelius, Nils	m	SWE	2491	0	*	½	1	½	1	3	2717
3.	Nyback, Tomi	g	FIN	2655	0	½	*	½	½	1	2½	2612
4.	Sokolov, Ivan NED	g	NED	2669	0	0	½	*	1	1	2½	2609
5.	Hillarp Persson, Tiger	g	SWE	2618	½	½	½	0	*	0	1½	2470
6.	Berg, Emanuel	g	SWE	2610	0	0	0	0	1	*	1	2381

Round 1 (June 3, 2009)
Short, Nigel D	- Berg, Emanuel	1-0	39	B42	Sicilian Paulsen
Nyback, Tomi	- Grandelius, Nils	½-½	40	D86	Gruenfeld Simagin
Hillarp Persson, Tiger	- Sokolov, Ivan NED	0-1	59	A09	Reti Opening
Round 2 (June 4, 2009)
Grandelius, Nils	- Sokolov, Ivan NED	1-0	61	C80	Ruy Lopez Open
Nyback, Tomi	- Short, Nigel D	0-1	37	E06	Catalan
Berg, Emanuel	- Hillarp Persson, Tiger	1-0	84	B97	Sicilian Najdorf
Round 3 (June 5, 2009)
Short, Nigel D	- Grandelius, Nils	1-0	28	B90	Sicilian Najdorf Variation
Sokolov, Ivan NED	- Berg, Emanuel	1-0	35	E70	King's Indian Fianchetto
Hillarp Persson, Tiger	- Nyback, Tomi	½-½	79	C53	Giuoco Piano
Round 4 (June 6, 2009)
Short, Nigel D	- Hillarp Persson, Tiger	½-½	56	B92	Sicilian Najdorf with 6.Be2
Grandelius, Nils	- Berg, Emanuel	1-0	43	C91	Ruy Lopez
Nyback, Tomi	- Sokolov, Ivan NED	½-½	29	D11	Slav Defence
Round 5 (June 7, 2009)
Sokolov, Ivan NED	- Short, Nigel D	0-1	54	E12	Queens Indian Petrosian
Hillarp Persson, Tiger	- Grandelius, Nils	½-½	71	C50	Giuoco Piano
Berg, Emanuel	- Nyback, Tomi	0-1	44	C92	Ruy Lopez Chigorin

Chinese Championship 2009

The Chinese Championship took place in Xinghua Jiangsu, China 26th May - 6th June 2009.

Liren Ding won the Championship after long time leader Wang Hao lost in the final round. However the story is more dramatic than that. Ding won his final round game by default after his opponent arrived late, I can't even imagine what impact this had on Wang's frame of mind. This follows the round 8 default where Hou Yifan arrived 5 seconds late against Liang Chong. I can't begin to say how idiotic these new FIDE regulations are.

Games in PGN - Women's Games in PGN

Official site: http://live.chinaqiyuan.com/chess.html

Results: http://chess-results.com/tnr22320.aspx and http://chess-results.com/tnr22318.aspx

Chinese blog on Chess (in English): http://blog.sina.com.cn/chessnews

ch-CHN Xinghua Jiangsu (CHN), 26 v-6 vi 2009													cat. XIV (2588)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2
1.	Ding Liren		CHN	2458	*	1	½	½	½	1	½	1	1	½	1	1	8½	2811
2.	Wang Hao	g	CHN	2696	0	*	½	1	1	1	1	1	½	0	1	1	8	2753
3.	Bu Xiangzhi	g	CHN	2704	½	½	*	½	1	½	1	½	½	1	½	½	7	2679
4.	Zhou Weiqi	g	CHN	2563	½	0	½	*	½	½	1	½	½	1	½	1	6½	2655
5.	Li Chao B	g	CHN	2643	½	0	0	½	*	½	½	½	1	1	½	1	6	2619
6.	Ni Hua	g	CHN	2724	0	0	½	½	½	*	½	1	0	1	1	1	6	2612
7.	Ji Dan		CHN	2342	½	0	0	0	½	½	*	½	1	1	½	0	4½	2545
8.	Zhou Jianchao	g	CHN	2635	0	0	½	½	½	0	½	*	1	1	½	0	4½	2519
9.	Zhang Pengxiang	g	CHN	2638	0	½	½	½	0	1	0	0	*	½	½	½	4	2481
10.	Liang Chong	g	CHN	2511	½	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	½	*	1	1	4	2493
11.	Hou Yifan	g	CHN	2590	0	0	½	½	½	0	½	½	½	0	*	½	3½	2455
12.	Li Shilong	g	CHN	2557	0	0	½	0	0	0	1	1	½	0	½	*	3½	2458

Round 1 (May 26, 2009)
Ding Liren	- Bu Xiangzhi	½-½	37	D95	Gruenfeld Closed
Ni Hua	- Li Chao B	½-½	44	B53	Sicilian Hungarian
Ji Dan	- Li Shilong	0-1	51	A31	English Symmetrical
Zhang Pengxiang	- Wang Hao	½-½	20	A45	Trompowsky
Liang Chong	- Zhou Jianchao	0-1	39	D87	Gruenfeld Botvinnik
Hou Yifan	- Zhou Weiqi	½-½	57	B19	Caro Kann
Round 2 (May 27, 2009)
Wang Hao	- Ni Hua	1-0	28	D17	Slav Defence
Bu Xiangzhi	- Liang Chong	1-0	28	D45	Anti-Meran Variations
Li Chao B	- Hou Yifan	½-½	42	B81	Sicilian Keres Attack
Ji Dan	- Ding Liren	½-½	30	C01	French Exchange
Zhou Jianchao	- Zhang Pengxiang	1-0	49	D15	Slav Defence
Li Shilong	- Zhou Weiqi	0-1	60	D47	Queens Gambit Meran
Round 3 (May 28, 2009)
Ding Liren	- Li Shilong	1-0	39	E94	King's Indian Classical
Zhou Weiqi	- Li Chao B	½-½	30	D76	Gruenfeld 3.g3
Ni Hua	- Zhou Jianchao	1-0	46	B53	Sicilian Hungarian
Zhang Pengxiang	- Bu Xiangzhi	½-½	53	D14	Slav Exchange
Liang Chong	- Ji Dan	0-1	52	D53	Queens Gambit
Hou Yifan	- Wang Hao	0-1	59	B81	Sicilian Keres Attack
Round 4 (May 29, 2009)
Ding Liren	- Liang Chong	½-½	60	D37	QGD 5.Bf4
Wang Hao	- Zhou Weiqi	1-0	25	D24	QGA
Bu Xiangzhi	- Ni Hua	½-½	37	D17	Slav Defence
Ji Dan	- Zhang Pengxiang	1-0	59	A08	Barcza System
Zhou Jianchao	- Hou Yifan	½-½	60	D38	QGD Ragozin
Li Shilong	- Li Chao B	0-1	31	B96	Sicilian Najdorf
Round 5 (May 30, 2009)
Zhou Weiqi	- Zhou Jianchao	½-½	39	B53	Sicilian Hungarian
Li Chao B	- Wang Hao	0-1	63	B85	Sicilian Scheveningen
Ni Hua	- Ji Dan	½-½	57	B90	Sicilian Najdorf Variation
Zhang Pengxiang	- Ding Liren	0-1	41	C10	French Rubinstein
Liang Chong	- Li Shilong	1-0	61	E25	Nimzo Indian Saemisch
Hou Yifan	- Bu Xiangzhi	½-½	67	C42	Petroff's Defence
Round 6 (June 1, 2009)
Ding Liren	- Ni Hua	1-0	35	D85	Gruenfeld Defence
Bu Xiangzhi	- Zhou Weiqi	½-½	26	D45	Anti-Meran Variations
Ji Dan	- Hou Yifan	½-½	53	B53	Sicilian Hungarian
Zhou Jianchao	- Li Chao B	½-½	27	D89	Gruenfeld Alekhine
Liang Chong	- Zhang Pengxiang	½-½	10	D10	Slav Defence
Li Shilong	- Wang Hao	0-1	35	E32	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Round 7 (June 2, 2009)
Wang Hao	- Zhou Jianchao	1-0	35	E16	Queens Indian
Zhou Weiqi	- Ji Dan	1-0	32	D37	QGD 5.Bf4
Li Chao B	- Bu Xiangzhi	0-1	20	C42	Petroff's Defence
Ni Hua	- Liang Chong	1-0	28	C48	Four Knights Rubinstein
Zhang Pengxiang	- Li Shilong	½-½	13	B33	Sicilian Sveshnikov
Hou Yifan	- Ding Liren	0-1	66	C11	French Defence
Round 8 (June 3, 2009)
Ding Liren	- Zhou Weiqi	½-½	26	D38	QGD Ragozin
Bu Xiangzhi	- Wang Hao	½-½	19	D39	QGD Ragozin
Ji Dan	- Li Chao B	½-½	51	B55	Sicilian Rauzer
Zhang Pengxiang	- Ni Hua	1-0	56	A45	Trompowsky
Liang Chong	- Hou Yifan	1-0	0
Li Shilong	- Zhou Jianchao	1-0	43	D26	QGA
Round 9 (June 4, 2009)
Wang Hao	- Ji Dan	1-0	46	B96	Sicilian Najdorf
Zhou Weiqi	- Liang Chong	1-0	63	A41	Modern Defence
Li Chao B	- Ding Liren	½-½	33	C13	French Classical
Ni Hua	- Li Shilong	1-0	52	B85	Sicilian Scheveningen
Zhou Jianchao	- Bu Xiangzhi	½-½	31	D12	Slav Defence
Hou Yifan	- Zhang Pengxiang	½-½	34	B45	Sicilian Classical
Round 10 (June 5, 2009)
Ding Liren	- Wang Hao	1-0	49	D45	Anti-Meran Variations
Ni Hua	- Hou Yifan	1-0	30	B53	Sicilian Hungarian
Ji Dan	- Zhou Jianchao	½-½	52	B55	Sicilian Rauzer
Zhang Pengxiang	- Zhou Weiqi	½-½	28	D14	Slav Exchange
Liang Chong	- Li Chao B	0-1	72	D00	Queen's Pawn Game
Li Shilong	- Bu Xiangzhi	½-½	38	D18	Slav Defence
Round 11 (June 6, 2009)
Wang Hao	- Liang Chong	0-1	68	C96	Ruy Lopez
Bu Xiangzhi	- Ji Dan	1-0	33	D53	Queens Gambit
Zhou Weiqi	- Ni Hua	½-½	14	C92	Ruy Lopez Chigorin
Li Chao B	- Zhang Pengxiang	1-0	48	B48	Sicilian Paulsen
Zhou Jianchao	- Ding Liren	0-1	0
Hou Yifan	- Li Shilong	½-½	43	B85	Sicilian Scheveningen

ch-CHN w Xinghua Jiangsu (CHN), 26 v-6 vi 2009													cat. IV (2346)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2
1.	Shen Yang	wg	CHN	2420	*	½	½	1	½	½	1	1	1	1	1	1	9	2601
2.	Zhao Xue	g	CHN	2531	½	*	1	1	0	½	½	1	1	1	1	1	8½	2540
3.	Tan Zhongyi		CHN	2436	½	0	*	½	1	½	1	1	½	1	1	1	8	2513
4.	Zhang Xiaowen	wm	CHN	2340	0	0	½	*	1	½	1	0	1	1	1	1	7	2448
5.	Wang Yu A	m	CHN	2364	½	1	0	0	*	1	½	½	½	1	1	½	6½	2409
6.	Ju Wenjun		CHN	2454	½	½	½	½	0	*	½	½	½	1	1	1	6½	2401
7.	Gu Xiaobing	wg	CHN	2336	0	½	0	0	½	½	*	1	1	½	1	1	6	2383
8.	Ding Yixin	wf	CHN	2281	0	0	0	1	½	½	0	*	1	½	1	1	5½	2352
9.	Wang Xiaohui		CHN	2265	0	0	½	0	½	½	0	0	*	½	½	1	3½	2220
10.	Zhang Jilin	wg	CHN	2335	0	0	0	0	0	0	½	½	½	*	½	½	2½	2136
11.	Xu Tong	wm	CHN	2231	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	½	½	*	1	2	2094
12.	Wang Jue		CHN	2162	0	0	0	0	½	0	0	0	0	½	0	*	1	1980

French League Top 16

The French Team Championship (TOP 16) took place in Mulhouse (group A) and Chalons-en-Champagne (group B) 30th April - 3rd May 2009. The Poule Haute and Basse took place 28th-31st May 2009 in Marly. Evry Grand Roque emerged top of the Poule Haute with Svidler, Vachier Lagrave and Nakamura leading the way.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.echecs.asso.fr/Equipes.aspx

Detailed coverage: http://www.europe-echecs.com/actualites/actualites-evry-grand-roque-au-top-1807.html

Poule Haute Marly (FRA), 28-31 v 2009 Results:
Round 8
Vandoeuvre	0	-	4	Evry Grand Roque
Chalons en Champagne	0	-	4	Clichy
Montpellier Echecs	1	-	3	Mulhouse Philidor
Cannes	5	-	0	Noyon
Round 9
Evry Grand Roque	3	-	3	Chalons en Champagne
Clichy	4	-	1	Vandoeuvre
Mulhouse Philidor	3	-	2	Cannes
Noyon	1	-	4	Montpellier Echecs
Round 10
Cannes	1	-	4	Evry Grand Roque
Montpellier Echecs	0	-	5	Clichy
Chalons en Champagne	4	-	2	Mulhouse Philidor
Vandoeuvre	6	-	1	Noyon
Round 11
Evry Grand Roque	5	-	1	Montpellier Echecs
Clichy	3	-	1	Cannes
Mulhouse Philidor	0	-	3	Vandoeuvre
Noyon	1	-	4	Chalons en Champagne

Poule Haute Marly (FRA), 28-31 v 2009 Final Standings:
Pl.	Equipe	Pts	j.	d.	p.	c.
1	Evry Grand Roque	32	11	44	52	8
2	Clichy	31	11	34	45	11
3	Chalons en Champagne	25	11	13	38	25
4	Montpellier Echecs	25	11	7	29	22
5	Vandoeuvre	24	11	11	33	22
6	Cannes	24	11	13	31	18
7	Mulhouse Philidor	24	11	3	26	23
8	Noyon	19	11	-17	20	37

Poule Basse Marly (FRA), 28-31 v 2009 Results:
Round 8
Marseille Echecs	3	-	1	Antibes
Drancy	2	-	2	Grasse
Lutece Echecs	1	-	6	Metz Fischer
Bois-Colombes	1	-	4	Strasbourg
Round 9
Grasse	2	-	3	Marseille Echecs
Antibes	1	-	2	Drancy
Strasbourg	5	-	1	Lutece Echecs
Metz Fischer	6	-	1	Bois-Colombes
Round 10
Marseille Echecs	0	-	0	Strasbourg
Drancy	1	-	3	Metz Fischer
Lutece Echecs	2	-	5	Grasse
Bois-Colombes	0	-	4	Antibes
Round 11
Metz Fischer	1	-	3	Marseille Echecs
Strasbourg	1	-	0	Drancy
Antibes	2	-	1	Lutece Echecs
Grasse	3	-	2	Bois-Colombes

Poule Basse Marly (FRA), 28-31 v 2009 Final Standings:
Pl.	Equipe	Pts	j.	d.	p.	c.
9	Marseille Echecs	25	11	6	23	17
10	Metz Fischer	25	11	11	34	23
11	Strasbourg	22	11	0	21	21
12	Drancy	18	11	-12	19	31
13	Antibes	15	10	-12	15	27
14	Grasse	13	10	-29	15	44
15	Lutece Echecs	12	10	-35	15	50
16	Bois-Colombes	10	10	-37	7	44

1st GM Lublin Poland

The 1st GM tournament in Lublin took place 29th May - 6th June 2009. Boris Grachev won the event with 6/9.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.lzszach.lublin.pl/arc2009/info.html

1st GM Lublin (POL), 29 v-6 vi 2009												cat. XV (2612)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Grachev, Boris	g	RUS	2652	*	½	½	0	½	½	1	1	1	1	6	2732
2.	Roiz, Michael	g	ISR	2635	½	*	½	1	½	½	½	½	1	½	5½	2689
3.	Wojtaszek, Radoslaw	g	POL	2630	½	½	*	½	½	½	½	1	1	½	5½	2690
4.	Socko, Bartosz	g	POL	2637	1	0	½	*	½	1	½	½	½	½	5	2652
5.	Zhigalko, Sergei	g	BLR	2622	½	½	½	½	*	½	0	1	½	½	4½	2611
6.	Khenkin, Igor	g	GER	2630	½	½	½	0	½	*	1	½	0	½	4	2567
7.	Dziuba, Marcin	g	POL	2535	0	½	½	½	1	0	*	0	½	1	4	2577
8.	Gajewski, Grzegorz	g	POL	2571	0	½	0	½	0	½	1	*	½	1	4	2573
9.	Bartel, Mateusz	g	POL	2601	0	0	0	½	½	1	½	½	*	1	4	2570
10.	Malakhatko, Vadim	g	BEL	2610	0	½	½	½	½	½	0	0	0	*	2½	2446

Cez Trophy 2009 Navara vs Ivanchuk Rapid

GM Vassily Ivanchuk beat GM David Navara in a rapid match of 8 games in Prague 27th-31st May 2009 by a margin of 5.5-2.5.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.praguechess.cz/en/poradane_akce.php?nazev_akce=20

Cez Trophy Results
Navara, David	-	Ivanchuk, Vassily	½-½	31	B73	Sicilian Dragon
Ivanchuk, Vassily	-	Navara, David	1-0	44	D97	Gruenfeld Russian
Navara, David	-	Ivanchuk, Vassily	½-½	38	D16	Slav Lasker/Smyslov
Ivanchuk, Vassily	-	Navara, David	1-0	43	D30	Queen's Gambit (without Nc3)
Navara, David	-	Ivanchuk, Vassily	1-0	51	D76	Gruenfeld 3.g3
Ivanchuk, Vassily	-	Navara, David	1-0	49	C69	Ruy Lopez Exchange
Navara, David	-	Ivanchuk, Vassily	0-1	28	D76	Gruenfeld 3.g3
Ivanchuk, Vassily	-	Navara, David	½-½	56	B80	Sicilian Scheveningen

Cez Trophy Prague (CZE), 14 x - 2xi 2009
Name	Ti	NAT	Rtng	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Total	Perf
Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2746	½	1	½	1	0	1	1	½	5½	2795
Navara, David	g	CZE	2654	½	0	½	0	1	0	0	½	2½	2605

5th M-Tel Masters

The 5th M-Tel Masters took place in Sofia 12th-23rd May 2009 (rest day 18th May). In the best result of his career Alexei Shirov took clear first place after defeating Magnus Carlsen in the final round. Carlsen took 2nd place on tie-break from Veselin Topalov, both won three games but Carlsen beat Topalov in one of their individual games.

Games in PGN

Malcolm Pein on Round 10 Topalov held - Malcolm Pein on Round 10 - Malcolm Pein on Round 9 - Malcolm Pein on Round 9 - Malcolm Pein on Round 7 - Malcolm Pein on Round 6 - Malcolm Pein on Round 5 - Malcolm Pein on Round 3-4 - Malcolm Pein on Round 2 - Malcolm Pein on Round 1

Also some other events: Gelfand wins the 3rd ACP Grand Prix 4NCL Stephen Gordon makes GM norm in the 4NCL - FIDE Grand Prix in Nalchik Malcolm Pein on Karjakin - Kamsky

Also some US Championship Malcolm Pein on Round 7 US Championships - Malcolm Pein on Round 9 US Championships

The Grand Slam Chess Association have a Press Release announcing that Bilbao will be the venue of the final again this year. The event will be in September.

The Category XXI event saw Veselin Topalov, Magnus Carlsen, Vassily Ivanchuk, Wang Yue, Leinier Dominguez Perez and Alexei Shirov play in a double round robin format. The games were played in a glass pavilion on the square in front of the National Theatre Ivan Vazov.

The time control was 90 minutes for 40 moves per player and 60 minutes per player till the end of the game. The maximum period for a single game is 5 hours. "Sofia rules" were used. They are that: Opponents cannot communicate during the games and cannot offer a draw. Proposals for a draw can be made only through the Chief Arbiter in three cases: triple repetition, eternal chess and theoretical draw position. When making the decisions the Chief Arbiter will be consulted by Zurab Azmaiparashvili, Vice President of FIDE.

Official site: http://www.mtelmasters.com - including live coverage.

Preview: http://previews.chessdom.com/mtel-masters-2009

3rd ACP World Rapid Cup

Peter Svidler defeated former World Champion Anatoly Karpov after a blitz playoff. Boris Gelfand advanced against Evgeniy Najer. Svidler and Gelfand advanced all the way to the final where Gelfand won 3-1. Photos © Boris Bukhman and the Official site: http://worldcup.pivdenny.com

The 3rd ACP World Rapid Cup organised by the Pivdenny Bank in Odessa, Ukraine took place 22nd-24th May 2009. Boris Gelfand took clear first place with a 3-1 victory over Peter Svidler in the final. Svidler however blew two winning positions in the final two games, losing both instead.

Games in PGN

The venue was the Odessa National Academy of Law. AKO tournament with 16 participants. There were two-game matches at all stages, prior to the final. In the final there were four games. The time control is 20 minutes per game with an increment of 5 seconds per move. Tiebreak time rate: 3 min + 2 sec per move. If tiebreak ends 1-1, then Armageddon will be played: 5 min White, 4 min Black, White must win.

The prize fund is USD $57,000. The winner receives USD $10,000. There will be a special prize, named after the Odessa IM Mikhail Podgaets who passed away on 14 May 2009.

Live coverage: http://worldcup.pivdenny.com

3rd ACP World Rapid Cup.

3rd ACP World Rapid Cup (UKR), 22-24 v 2009. Cat XVIII (2693)
1/8 22 v 2009		1/4 23 v 2009		1/2 23 v 2009		Final 24 v 2009		Winner
A.Grischuk (W)	2
19:30		A.Grischuk	1.5
P.Eljanov (B)	0
				A.Grischuk	0.5
A.Moiseenko (W)	1.5
19:30		A.Moiseenko	0.5
E. Bacrot (B)	0,5
						P.Svidler	1
S.Movsesian (W)	1.5
12:00		S.Movsesian	1.5
P.Tregubov (B)	0.5
				P.Svidler	1.5
A.Karpov (W)	1.5
12:00		P.Svidler	2.5
P.Svidler (B)	2.5
								B.Gelfand
M.Gurevich (W)	0.5
17:00		D.Jakovenko	3
D.Jakovenko (B)	1.5
				D.Jakovenko	2
Y.Drozdovskij (W)	1
17:00		A.Naiditsch	2
A.Naiditsch (B)	3
						B.Gelfand	3
E.Najer (W)	0.5
14:30		B.Gelfand	2
B.Gelfand (B)	1.5
				B.Gelfand	3
V.Gashimov (W)	1.5
14:30		V.Gashimov	0
Z.Efimenko (B)	0.5

3rd ACP World Rapid Cup (UKR), 22-24 v 2009. Cat XVIII (2693)
Schedule of rounds:
Date	Round	Time
22 May	1/8 final matches	from 12:00; 14:30; 17:00; 19:30
23 May	1/4 final matches	from 12:00; 14:30
23 May	1/2 final matches	from 18:00
24 May	Final	from 12:00
The local time is GMT +3.

3rd ACP World Rapid Cup (UKR), 22-24 v 2009. Cat XVIII (2693) Players list
GM	Dmitry Jakovenko	RUS	2753
GM	Alexander Grischuk	RUS	2748
GM	Sergei Movsesian	SVK	2747
GM	Boris Gelfand	ISR	2733
GM	Vugar Gashimov	AZE	2730
GM	Etienne Bacrot	FRA	2728
GM	Peter Svidler	RUS	2726
GM	Arkadij Naiditsch	GER	2700
GM	Pavel Eljanov	UKR	2693
GM	Alexander Moiseenko	UKR	2690
GM	Zahar Efimenko	UKR	2682
GM	Evgeniy Najer	RUS	2669
GM	Anatoly Karpov	RUS	2644
GM	Pavel Tregubov	RUS	2628
GM	Mikhail Gurevich	TUR	2613
GM	Yuri Drozdovskij	UKR	2603

Media contact: Mikhail Golubev, gmi@europe.com +38-050.4957046

Hikaru Nakamura wins the US Championship in Saint Louis

The 2009 US Chess Championship took place in Saint Louis, United States, May 7th-17th 2009. 24 players competed. Hikaru Nakamura won the US Championship beating Josh Friedel in the final round. Robert Hess couldn't overcome a drawish bishops of opposite colour ending against Akobian and had to settle for a draw. Alexander Onischuk tied with Hess on 6.5/9. Gata Kamsky was a further half point back.

Games in PGN [I've corrected the games to the versions give in the official bulletin]

The women's championship takes place 2nd-12th October 2009 at the same venue.

Round 9 Press release -- Round 8 Press release -- Round 7 Press release -- Round 6 Press release -- Round 5 Press release - - Round 4 Press release - - Round 3 Press release - Round 2 Press release and video - - Round 1 Press release and video -

Official site: http://www.saintlouischessclub.org/US-Championship-2009.

Chess.FM's YouTube channel for Hi-Def version: http://www.youtube.com/user/ICCchessFM

ch-USA Saint Louis (USA), 8-17 v 2009
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
1.	Nakamura, Hikaru	g	USA	2701	+14	=10	+2	=7	=4	=3	+5	+16	+6	7	2807
2.	Hess, Robert L	m	USA	2485	+9	+18	-1	=3	+22	=4	+6	+7	=5	6½	2789
3.	Onischuk, Alexander	g	USA	2684	=6	+19	=10	=2	+21	=1	+7	=4	+11	6½	2699
4.	Kamsky, Gata	g	USA	2720	+8	+5	=7	=6	=1	=2	+12	=3	=10	6	2725
5.	Akobian, Varuzhan	g	USA	2612	+25	-4	+11	+18	+10	=7	-1	+12	=2	6	2709
6.	Friedel, Joshua E	g	USA	2516	=3	+13	+12	=4	-7	+16	-2	+10	-1	5	2650
7.	Shulman, Yuri	g	USA	2632	+17	+22	=4	=1	+6	=5	-3	-2	=13	5	2640
8.	Ibragimov, Ildar	g	USA	2586	-4	=25	=9	-11	=15	+19	+22	=13	+16	5	2557
9.	Christiansen, Larry M	g	USA	2588	-2	=21	=8	=14	=20	-11	+23	+19	+17	5	2490
10.	Ehlvest, Jaan	g	USA	2606	+16	=1	=3	=13	-5	=17	+20	-6	=4	4½	2584
11.	Robson, Ray	m	USA	2465	-18	+15	-5	+8	=13	+9	-16	+17	-3	4½	2579
12.	Benjamin, Joel	g	USA	2583	=21	+20	-6	=16	+19	+22	-4	-5	=14	4½	2506
13.	Kaidanov, Gregory S	g	USA	2595	=20	-6	+25	=10	=11	+21	-17	=8	=7	4½	2520
14.	Shabalov, Alexander	g	USA	2569	-1	-16	+24	=9	-17	+23	=15	+20	=12	4½	2460
15.	Gulko, Boris F	g	USA	2561	-19	-11	-20	+23	=8	+24	=14	=18	+21	4½	2403
16.	Brooks, Michael A	m	USA	2463	-10	+14	=17	=12	+18	-6	+11	-1	-8	4	2529
17.	Sevillano, Enrico	m	USA	2520	-7	+24	=16	-21	+14	=10	+13	-11	-9	4	2441
18.	Becerra Rivero, Julio	g	USA	2609	+11	-2	+19	-5	-16	-20	+24	=15	=22	4	2380
19.	Hughes, Tyler B		USA	2230	+15	-3	-18	+24	-12	-8	+21	-9	+23	4	2438
20.	Krush, Irina	m	USA	2452	=13	-12	+15	-22	=9	+18	-10	-14	=24	3½	2437
21.	Shankland, Samuel L	m	USA	2446	=12	=9	=22	+17	-3	-13	-19	=24	-15	3	2353
22.	Khachiyan, Melikset	g	USA	2546	+24	-7	=21	+20	-2	-12	-8	-23	=18	3	2327
23.	Eckert, Doug D	f	USA	2275	.	.	.	-15	+24	-14	-9	+22	-19	2	2290
24.	Lawton,Charles		USA	----	-22	-17	-14	-19	-23	-15	-18	=21	=20	1	2116
25.	Zatonskih, Anna	m	USA	2461	-5	=8	-13	.	.	.	.	.	.	½	2324

Bosna Sarajevo Tournament

The 39th Bosna tournament in Sarajevo took place May 8th-18th 2009. 6 player double round robin. Pavel Eljanov dominated and took clear first place with 7/10.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.skbosna.ba/?jezik=bos&x=47

39th Bosna Sarajevo (BIH), 8-18 v 2009											cat. XVIII (2691)
					1		2		3		4		5		6
1.	Eljanov, Pavel	g	UKR	2693	*	*	½	½	1	½	½	½	1	½	1	1	7	2839
2.	Predojevic, Borki	g	BIH	2652	½	½	*	*	½	½	1	0	½	1	½	½	5½	2734
3.	Wang Hao	g	CHN	2696	0	½	½	½	*	*	0	1	½	1	½	1	5½	2725
4.	Movsesian, Sergei	g	SVK	2747	½	½	0	1	1	0	*	*	½	½	½	½	5	2679
5.	Harikrishna, P	g	IND	2686	0	½	½	0	½	0	½	½	*	*	½	1	4	2619
6.	Sokolov, Ivan NED	g	NED	2669	0	0	½	½	½	0	½	½	½	0	*	*	3	2545

42nd Biel International Chess Festival

The 42nd Biel International Chess Festival takes place 18th-31st July 2009. There will be around 10 different Tournaments (Open, Rapid, Blitz, Youth and for the first time Chess 960). The main Category IXX tournament sees Morozevich, Ivanchuk, Gelfand, Alekseev, Vachier-Lagrave and Caruana compete.

Official site: http://www.bielchessfestival.ch

Biel Grandmaster Tournament (SUI), 18-31 vii 2009 cat. IXX (2713)
Name	NAT	Elo points	W Rank	Age	Past results
Alexander Morozevich	RUS	2751	No 8	32	Winner in Biel in 2003, 2004, 2006
Vassily Ivanchuk	UKR	2746	No 12	40	Winner in Biel in 1989
Boris Gelfand	ISR	2733	No 15	41	Winner in Biel in 1993 (Interzonal Tournament), 2005
Evgeny Alekseev	RUS	2716	No 25	23	Winner in Biel in 2008
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave	FRA	2684	No 47	18	1st time in Biel
Fabiano Caruana	ITA	2649	No 78	16	1st time in Biel

Asian Open

The Asian Open and Women's Championships starts 12th May in Subic Freeport, Philippines. Same as in the previous cycle, to the World Cup scheduled 20th Nov. to 15 Dec. 2009 in Khanty Mansiysk, Russia and to the Women's World Championship next year.

86 Players from 15 Coutries include 40 GM's , 15 IM's and 8 FM's compete in Open Section and 45 Players from 11 countries include 1GM, 13 WGM's, 1 IM, 8 WIM and 10 WFM compete in Women Section .

Games, Pairings and photo's publish on http://www.asia-chess.com

UEP and FIDE fail to reach agreement on World Championship cycle

FIDE Press Release / 12-5-2009

FIDE announces that the negotiations with Universal Event Promotion (UEP), the original bidder for organising the final stages of the World Championship cycle 2009-2011 (Candidates Tournament and Final Match), did not reach a final agreement. FIDE is already in contact with other organisers and sponsors interested in holding these events.

Released by the FIDE Secretariat - 12 May 2009

Negotiations with FIDE failed. UEP Press Release 13th May 2009

The negotiations over the organisation of the forthcoming World Championship cycle 2010-2011 (Candidates Tournament 2010 and World Chess Championship Match 2011) between Universal Event Promotion (UEP) and FIDE have failed.

Due to different agendas relating to organisational sovereignty and commercial rights, the parties failed to reach an agreement. Aggravating circumstances included FIDE's financial expectations beyond the original tender details. UEP - the only bidder for the tender - believes that under such circumstances a permanent and successful marketing of the World Chess Championship will be questionable.

The negotiations ended by mutual agreement. Media contact: georgios.souleidis@uep-worldchess.com (UEP news service 13th of May 2009)

Azerbaijan vs the World Rapid Match

The FIDE World team beat Azerbaijan in Baku as part of the "President's Cup 7th-9th May 2009. The players had 25 minutes per game. The FIDE World team were comfortable winners 21.5-10.5.

Malcolm Pein on day 1.

Games in PGN Games section now complete.

Official site: http://presidentcup.az/defaultEn.html

Round 1 (May 7, 2009) Azerbaijan 2.5 - World 1.5
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Gashimov, Vugar	½-½	40	A34	English Symmetrical
Karjakin, Sergey	- Guseinov, Gadir	½-½	62	B27	Sicilian Early Fianchetto
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	- Shirov, Alexei	1-0	73	D70	Gruenfeld Defence
Radjabov, Teimour	- Anand, Viswanathan	½-½	26	C54	Giuoco Piano
Round 2 (May 7, 2009) Azerbaijan 1 - World 3
Anand, Viswanathan	- Gashimov, Vugar	1-0	41	A32	English Symmetrical
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	- Karjakin, Sergey	½-½	75	D45	Anti-Meran Variations
Shirov, Alexei	- Guseinov, Gadir	1-0	28	B72	Sicilian Dragon
Radjabov, Teimour	- Kramnik, Vladimir	½-½	53	C42	Petroff's Defence
Round 3 (May 8, 2009) Azerbaijan 1.5 - World 2.5
Anand, Viswanathan	- Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	½-½	30	B85	Sicilian Scheveningen
Shirov, Alexei	- Radjabov, Teimour	½-½	80	E99	King's Indian Classical
Gashimov, Vugar	- Karjakin, Sergey	½-½	37	C65	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Guseinov, Gadir	- Kramnik, Vladimir	0-1	46	C43	Petroff's Defence
Round 4 (May 8, 2009) Azerbaijan 1 - World 3
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	1-0	27	A16	English Opening
Karjakin, Sergey	- Radjabov, Teimour	1-0	69	C00	French Defence
Gashimov, Vugar	- Shirov, Alexei	½-½	24	C65	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Mamedov, Rauf	- Anand, Viswanathan	½-½	40	B18	Caro Kann
Round 5 (May 8, 2009) Azerbaijan 1 - World 3
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Guseinov, Gadir	1-0	35	B27	Sicilian Early Fianchetto
Karjakin, Sergey	- Gashimov, Vugar	1-0	84	A70	Benoni
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	- Anand, Viswanathan	½-½	43	D27	QGA
Radjabov, Teimour	- Shirov, Alexei	½-½	38	C54	Giuoco Piano
Round 6 (May 9, 2009) Azerbaijan 1.5 - World 2.5
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Radjabov, Teimour	½-½	18	B32	Sicilian Labourdonnais
Karjakin, Sergey	- Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	½-½	32	B46	Sicilian Paulsen
Gashimov, Vugar	- Anand, Viswanathan	0-1	45	B19	Caro Kann
Guseinov, Gadir	- Shirov, Alexei	½-½	32	C65	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Round 7 (May 9, 2009) Azerbaijan 0.5 - World 3.5
Anand, Viswanathan	- Radjabov, Teimour	½-½	18	B45	Sicilian Classical
Shirov, Alexei	- Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	1-0	26	B46	Sicilian Paulsen
Gashimov, Vugar	- Kramnik, Vladimir	0-1	22	C43	Petroff's Defence
Guseinov, Gadir	- Karjakin, Sergey	0-1	24	C65	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Round 8 (May 9, 2009) Azerbaijan 1.5 - World 2.5
Anand, Viswanathan	- Mamedov, Rauf	1-0	56	B35	Sicilian Defence
Shirov, Alexei	- Gashimov, Vugar	½-½	43	C42	Petroff's Defence
Radjabov, Teimour	- Karjakin, Sergey	1-0	35	A07	Barcza System
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	- Kramnik, Vladimir	0-1	58	D37	QGD 5.Bf4

AZE vs World Rapid Baku (AZE), 7-9 v 2009
1	Kramnik, Vladimir	g	RUS	2759	6.5 /8	2968
2	Anand, Viswanathan	g	IND	2783	5.5 /8	2855
3	Karjakin, Sergey	g	UKR	2721	5.0 /8	2812
4	Shirov, Alexei	g	ESP	2745	4.5 /8	2760
FIDE World					21.5
1	Radjabov, Teimour	g	AZE	2756	4.0 /8	2752
2	Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	g	AZE	2725	3.0 /8	2665
3	Gashimov, Vugar	g	AZE	2730	2.0 /8	2559
4	Guseinov, Gadir	g	AZE	2659	1.0 /6	2468
5	Mamedov, Rauf	g	AZE	2645	0.5 /2	2590
Azerbaijan					10.5

7th Howard Staunton Memorial 2009 fields announced

The 7th Howard Staunton Memorial takes place 7th (opening ceremony) - 17th August 2009. This year there will be a UK vs The Netherlands double round Scheveningen match and an interesting Category IX all-play-all. The UK has a small Elo rating advantage in the Scheveningen match but the teams are well matched. The tournament is taking place in its usual venue - Simpson's In The Strand. The opening ceremony will take place on the evening of Friday 7th August. The final rounds and the closing ceremony will take place on Monday 17th August.

The organisers are hoping that the tournament will be a big media event with the Chinese and the Dutch Ambassadors hoping to attend the opening ceremony and surprise guest visits from other chess loving celebrities throughout. They thank their generous benefactor.

There will be live coverage of the games this year.

Official site: http://howardstaunton.com/index.shtm.

7th Staunton Memorial Scheveningen London (ENG), 8-17 viii 2009
UK			NETHERLANDS
GM	Michael Adams	2703	GM	Ivan Sokolov	2669
GM	Nigel Short	2674	GM	Jan Smeets	2626
GM	David Howell	2613	GM	Loek Van Wely	2622
GM	Jonathan Rowson	2589	GM	Erwin L'ami	2598
GM	Gawain Jones	2550	GM	Jan Werle	2583
UK	Elo Ave.	2626	NED	Elo Ave.	2620

7th Staunton Memorial International Challenge London (ENG), 8-17 viii 2009 - cat. IX (2460)
GM	Jonathan Speelman	ENG	2534
GM	Jan Timman	NED	2566
GM	Peter Wells	ENG	2489
GM	Victor Korchnoi	SUI	2552
GM	Nigel Davies	ENG	2487
IM	Willy Hendriks	NED	2447
	Terence Chapman	ENG	2232
IM	Eelke Wiersma	NED	2406
IM	Laurence Trent	ENG	2466
GM	Alex Cherniaev	RUS	2423

FIDE Grand Prix in Nalchik

Aronian beat Leko to take clear first place. Photo © http://www.chessvibes.com/ who are on the spot with daily video reports.

The FIDE Grand Prix Series Tournament took place in Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia 14th-29th April 2009. Levon Aronian took clear first place by a point after beating his co-leader in the final round. Peter Leko and Vladimir Akopian finished in joint 2nd place. Alexander Grischuk and Etienne Bacrot were a further half point behind.

Official website: http://www.nalchik2009.fide.com

Games in PGN

4th FIDE GP Nalchik (RUS), 15-29 iv 2009														cat. XIX (2725)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4
1.	Aronian, Levon	g	ARM	2754	*	1	1	½	½	½	½	½	0	½	1	1	½	1	8½	2832
2.	Leko, Peter	g	HUN	2751	0	*	1	½	½	½	1	½	½	½	½	½	1	½	7½	2780
3.	Akopian, Vladimir	g	ARM	2696	0	0	*	½	1	½	½	1	1	½	½	½	½	1	7½	2784
4.	Grischuk, Alexander	g	RUS	2748	½	½	½	*	1	1	1	0	½	½	0	0	1	½	7	2752
5.	Bacrot, Etienne	g	FRA	2728	½	½	0	0	*	1	½	½	1	½	1	½	½	½	7	2753
6.	Alekseev, Evgeny	g	RUS	2716	½	½	½	0	0	*	½	½	1	½	½	½	½	1	6½	2725
7.	Gelfand, Boris	g	ISR	2733	½	0	½	0	½	½	*	½	1	½	1	½	1	0	6½	2724
8.	Kamsky, Gata	g	USA	2720	½	½	0	1	½	½	½	*	0	1	½	½	½	0	6	2696
9.	Karjakin, Sergey	g	UKR	2721	1	½	0	½	0	0	0	1	*	1	½	½	½	½	6	2696
10.	Svidler, Peter	g	RUS	2726	½	½	½	½	½	½	½	0	0	*	0	1	½	1	6	2696
11.	Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	g	AZE	2725	0	½	½	1	0	½	0	½	½	1	*	½	½	½	6	2696
12.	Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2746	0	½	½	1	½	½	½	½	½	0	½	*	0	½	5½	2666
13.	Kasimdzhanov, Rustam	g	UZB	2695	½	0	½	0	½	½	0	½	½	½	½	1	*	½	5½	2670
14.	Eljanov, Pavel	g	UKR	2693	0	½	0	½	½	0	1	1	½	0	½	½	½	*	5½	2670

French Teams Top 16

Top 16 Chalons en Champagne. . Photo © Gerard Demuydt http://www.echecs.com

The French Team Championship (TOP 16) took place in Mulhouse (group A) and Chalons-en-Champagne (group B) 30th April - 3rd May 2009. The Poule Haute and Basse take place 28th-31st May 2009. The top 4 teams in each group take forward the three results against each other and play off against the teams from the other group to produce a final winner.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.echecs.asso.fr/Equipes.aspx

French Team Championship Group A (FRA), 20 iii-3 v 2009
Pl.	Equipe	Pts	j.	d.	p.	c.
1	Evry Grand Roque	21	7	33	36	3
2	Clichy	19	7	20	29	9
3	Mulhouse Philidor	16	7	5	18	13
4	Noyon	15	7	-1	17	18
5	Marseille Echecs	14	7	1	14	13
6	Drancy	11	7	-10	14	24
7	Lutece Echecs	9	7	-23	11	34
8	Bois-Colombes	7	7	-25	5	30

French Team Championship Group B (FRA), 20 iii-3 v 2009
Pl.	Equipe	Pts	j.	d.	p.	c.
1	Montpellier	19	7	15	23	8
2	Cannes	18	7	14	22	8
3	Vandoeuvre	16	7	10	23	13
4	Chalons en Champagne	16	7	12	27	15
5	Metz Fischer	15	7	1	18	17
6	Strasbourg	11	7	-8	11	19
7	Antibes	10	7	-13	9	22
8	Grasse	7	7	-31	6	37

4NCL Final Weekend

Lorin D'costa against Michael Adams in the final round. Photo © Dave Clayton

The 4NCL takes place 4th October 2008 - 4th May 2009. Rounds 9-11 took place 2nd-4th May 2009 in the De Vere Venues in Staverton near Daventry.

Leading games from rounds 9 and 10 in PGN

Official site: http://www.4ncl.co.uk

Live coverage: http://www.bcfservices.org.uk/livechess/4ncl/0809/index.htm

Anand vs Morovic Rapid Match

World Champion Viswanathan Anand played a two game rapid match against Ivan Morovic Fernandez in Santiago, Chile. The time rate was 25 minutes plus 30 seconds a more. Anand won the match 2-0.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.fundaciondeajedrez.cl/index.php

Anand vs Morovic Rapid Match 26th April 2009
Gm1	Morovic Fernandez, Ivan	- Anand, Viswanathan	0-1	49	E12	Queens Indian Petrosian
Gm2	Anand, Viswanathan	- Morovic Fernandez, Ivan	1-0	33	C41	Philidor's Defence

Rapid Match Santiago (CHI), 26 iv 2009
					1	2
1	Anand, Viswanathan	g	IND	2783	1	1	2
2	Morovic Fernandez, Ivan	g	CHI	2551	0	0	0

Akobian vs Shulman Rapid Match

Varuzhan Akobian took on Yuri Shulman in a four day rapid and blitz match in California USA April 22nd-25th 2009. There were 6 rapid games over three days followed by 10 blitz games on the final day. Games were broadcast live on ICC. Akobian won the rapid section 3.5-2.5 before smashing Shulman 6-2 in the blitz on the final day.

Rapid Games in PGN - Blitz Games in PGN - Game 4 missing.

Official site: http://www.chessmastered.com/

Day 1 Rapid 22nd April 2009
Akobian, Varuzhan	- Shulman, Yuri	1-0	30	E61	King's Indian Defence
Shulman, Yuri	- Akobian, Varuzhan	½-½	56	E11	Bogo Indian Defence
Day 2 Rapid 23rd April 2009
Akobian, Varuzhan	- Shulman, Yuri	0-1	33	E61	King's Indian Defence
Shulman, Yuri	- Akobian, Varuzhan	0-1	43	D11	Slav Defence
Day 3 Rapid 24th April 2009
Akobian, Varuzhan	- Shulman, Yuri	1-0	35	D35	QGD Exchange
Shulman, Yuri	- Akobian, Varuzhan	1-0	62	E04	Catalan

Day 4 Blitz 25th April 2009
Shulman, Yuri	- Akobian, Varuzhan	0-1	39	D12	Slav Defence
Akobian, Varuzhan	- Shulman, Yuri	1-0	35	D35	QGD Exchange
Shulman, Yuri	- Akobian, Varuzhan	1-0	60	D12	Slav Defence
Akobian, Varuzhan	- Shulman, Yuri	0-1			Missing
Shulman, Yuri	- Akobian, Varuzhan	0-1	50	A40	Unusual Replies to 1.d4
Akobian, Varuzhan	- Shulman, Yuri	1-0	33	D63	Queens Gambit Main Line with 7.Rc1
Shulman, Yuri	- Akobian, Varuzhan	0-1	27	D34	Tarrasch Defence, Main Line
Akobian, Varuzhan	- Shulman, Yuri	1-0	55	A80	Dutch

16th Asian Cities

The 16th Asian Cities Team Championship for the Dubai Cup saw 20 teams competing 15th-23rd April 2009 in Beirut, Lebanon. The powerhouse Iranian chess team, with three Grandmasters. is the heavy favorite to win the Dubai Cup.

Coverage at: http://www.asia-chess.com also http://chess-results.com/Tnr21079.aspx?lan=1

Russian Team Championship

The Russian Team Championship took place in Dagomys 4th-10th April 2009.

Tomsk-400 (Jakovenko, Timofeev, Inarkiev, Tiviakov etc) with 11/14 points was the clear winner ahead of ShSM-64 (Gelfand, Wang etc), Ural (Grischuk, Shirov etc) and Economist-SGSEU (Moiseenko, Alekseev etc) who all finished on 8/11. SPbChFed from St Petersburg (Svidler, Movsesian etc) were a further point behind.

Spartak of Vidnoye (Stefanova, two Kosintsevas, Lahno, Ovod) just edged out AVS (Xu Yuhua, Muzychuk) on board count after they tied on 11/14. They were a point clear of Economist-SGSEU - 1 of Saratov (Zhao Xue, Ushenina etc). Polytechnik of Nizhny Tagil (Kokarev, Maletin etc) topped the Higher League.

Europe-Echecs Video.

Premier League Games in PGN. Rd1-7 [Complete] - Women's League Games in PGN Rd1-7 [Complete] - Higher League Games in PGN. [Complete]

Official site: http://www.russiachess.org

16th Russian Club Cup, Premier League Dagomys (RUS), 4-10 iv 2009 Final Round 7 Standings:
Place	SNo.	Team	Fed.	Local	Match Points	Total	vs+	Wins	B.1
1	6	Tomsk-400	RUS	2685	11.0	23.5	4;5;8;1;2;	5	4.0
2	7	ShSM-64	RUS	2672	9.0	24.5	2;4;6;	3	3.5
3	3	Ural	RUS	2701	9.0	24.0	4;5;	2	2.5
4	8	Economist-SGSEU - 1	RUS	2699	9.0	23.5	1;2;4;	3	2.5
5	1	SPbChFed	RUS	2684	8.0	23.0	4;5;7;	3	4.5
6	5	TPS	RUS	2645	6.0	20.5	4;2;	2	3.0
7	2	Eurasia-Logistic	RUS	2566	4.0	19.5	4;	1	4.5
8	4	M.Chigorin CC	RUS	2459	0.0	9.5		0	3.5

16th Russian Club Cup, Higher League Dagomys (RUS), 2-10 iv 2009 Final Round 9 Standings:
Place	SNo.	Team	Fed.	Local	Match Points	Total	vs+	Wins	B.1
1	6	Polytechnik	RUS	2565	14.0	32.0	5;7;8;9;1;2;3;	7	5.0
2	10	Economist-SGSEU - 2	RUS	2574	13.0	31.0	6;7;3;4;9;5;	6	4.0
3	8	Yugra	RUS	2574	13.0	30.5	3;4;5;7;10;1;	6	5.5
4	9	BelGU	RUS	2518	10.0	29.5	2;4;5;7;8;	5	4.5
5	2	Etude-Contact	RUS	2529	10.0	28.0	10;4;5;	3	5.5
6	3	Perspektiva	RUS	2518	9.0	30.0	9;1;4;5;	4	4.5
7	4	ZAO "OMZ"	RUS	2477	8.0	27.5	7;1;5;6;	4	3.0
8	1	SC MEPhI	RUS	2481	7.0	23.0	5;9;	2	5.5
9	7	Grifon	RUS	2507	6.0	26.0	5;3;	2	3.0
10	5	Gostinaya Dvorkovicha	RUS	2333	0.0	12.5		0	4.5

10th Russian Club Cup, Women's League Dagomys (RUS), 2-10 iv 2009 Round 4 (of 7) Standings:
Place	SNo.	Team	Fed.	Local	Match Points	Total	vs+	Wins	B.1
1	8	Spartak	RUS	2510	11.0	18.0	1;5;2;6;7;	5	3.5
2	5	AVS	RUS	2486	11.0	17.0	4;6;7;1;2;	5	4.5
3	3	Economist-SGSEU - 1	RUS	2439	10.0	18.5	6;2;4;	3	5.5
4	7	SPb Chess Fed	RUS	2432	9.0	16.0	2;4;6;1;	4	4.5
5	1	AFGANVET-PetroDom	RUS	2380	6.0	14.0	2;6;	2	3.0
6	4	ShSM	RUS	2425	5.0	11.5	2;8;	2	2.5
7	6	Economist-SGSEU - 2	RUS	2360	4.0	11.5	4;2;	2	3.5
8	2	M.Chigorin CC	RUS	2300	0.0	5.5		0	1.0

Foxwoods Open

Yuri Shulman - Photo © Betsy Dynako (http://www.betsydynako.com/)

The Foxwoods Open took place 8th-12th April 2009 in Connecticut. Darmen Sadvakasov won the tournament by drawing with black in an Armageddon blitz playoff against US champion Yury Shulman. Shulman won their individual game convincingly in round 4.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.foxwoodsopen.com/

Foxwoods Open Ledyard (USA), 8-12 iv 2009 Leading Round 9 Standings:
#	Name	Ti	Rtng	Post	Tot
1	Yury Shulman	GM	2697	2751	7½
2	Darmen Sadvakasov	GM	2611	2663	7½
3	Loek Van Wely	GM	2730	2738	7
4	Julio J Becerra	GM	2672	2664	6½
5	Jaan Ehlvest	GM	2649	2651	6½
6	Alexander Shabalov	GM	2625	2639	6½
7	Alex Lenderman	IM	2603	2621	6½
8	Joshua E Friedel	GM	2568	2603	6½
9	Jay Bonin	IM	2378	2398	6½
10	Farai Mandizha	FM	2343	2362	6½
11	Giorgi Kacheishvili	GM	2647	2632	6
12	Jorge Sammour Hasbun		2611	2600	6
13	Alex Yermolinsky	GM	2582	2587	6
14	Pascal Charbonneau	GM	2556	2562	6
15	Robert L Hess	IM	2545	2588	6
16	David Vigorito	IM	2453	2482	6
17	Tegshsuren Enkhbat	FM	2411	2430	6
18	Toshiyuk Moriuchi		2405	2399	6
19	Daniel A Yeager	FM	2383	2384	6
20	Jake Kleiman	FM	2372	2383	6
21	Eugene Perelshteyn	GM	2599	2597	5½
22	Jacek Stopa	IM	2557	2550	5½
23	Ray Robson	IM	2542	2545	5½
24	Dean J Ippolito	IM	2515	2519	5½
25	Samuel Shankland	IM	2477	2496	5½
26	Justin Sarkar	IM	2452	2459	5½
27	Shinsaku Uesugi		2348	2363	5½
28	Miles F Ardaman	FM	2330	2333	5½
29	Iryna Zenyuk	WIM	2315	2326	5½
30	Darwin Yang	FM	2313	2326	5½
31	Steven C Zierk		2311	2327	5½
32	Jonatdan L Hilton		2270	2286	5½
33	Ilye Figler	FM	2269	2282	5½
34	Hikaru Nakamura	GM	2757	2743	5
35	Varuzhan Akobian	GM	2664	2655	5
36	Alexander Ivanov	GM	2596	2599	5
37	Bryan G Smitd	IM	2549	2527	5
38	Michael Lee	FM	2385	2383	5
39	Nikiita Kraiouchkine		2340	2328	5
40	Dov Gorman	FM	2337	2331	5
41	Oladapo Oluto Adu	IM	2331	2321	5
42	Roman Sapozhnikov		2327	2317	5
43	Alisa Melekhina	WIM	2322	2314	5
44	Eric Rodriguez		2321	2326	5
45	Teddy Coleman	FM	2313	2318	5
46	Paul Mac Intyre	FM	2300	2306	5
47	Erik F Santarius		2286	2300	5
48	Ali Morshedi	FM	2284	2281	5
49	Alec Getz	FM	2282	2285	5
50	Macon A Shibut	FM	2269	2287	5
51	Allen J Weiss		2204	2209	5
52	Emory A Tate	IM	2395	2375	4½
53	Alex Betaneli	FM	2325	2320	4½
127 players

II Gedeon Barcza Memorial

The II Gedeon Barcza Memorial was supposed to take place in Budapest 6th-17th April 2009. However after just one round, the event was cancelled. Eduardas Rozentalis says that the organiser Gabor Pali didn't have the money to pay the Ramada Resort Hotel nor the players. According to Rozentalis after two days of hospitality and patience by the managers of the hotel, in spite of not being paid any money, they eventually refused to believe further promises and the tournament was cancelled. After that, according to Rozentalis, the players were promised their expenses, but several deadlines were exceeded and on April 8th the players had no choice but to book flights at their own expense and leave Budapest.

Robert Ris' open letter on the cancelled event which left him very out of pocket

Games in PGN

II Gedeon Barcza Mem Budapest (HUN), 4-12 iv 2009													cat. XIII (2562)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2
1.	Papp, Gabor	m	HUN	2524	*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	1	1
2.	Sokolov, Ivan NED	g	NED	2669	.	*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	1	.	1
3.	Almasi, Zoltan	g	HUN	2685	.	.	*	½	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	½	2572
4.	Gopal, Geetha Narayanan	g	IND	2572	.	.	½	*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	½	2685
5.	Postny, Evgeny	g	ISR	2648	.	.	.	.	*	.	.	.	.	½	.	.	½	2511
6.	Recuero Guerra, David	m	ESP	2459	.	.	.	.	.	*	.	½	.	.	.	.	½	2501
7.	Ris, Robert	m	NED	2432	.	.	.	.	.	.	*	.	½	.	.	.	½	2595
8.	Romanishin, Oleg M	g	UKR	2501	.	.	.	.	.	½	.	*	.	.	.	.	½	2459
9.	Rozentalis, Eduardas	g	LTU	2595	.	.	.	.	.	.	½	.	*	.	.	.	½	2432
10.	Prohaszka, Peter2	m	HUN	2511	.	.	.	.	½	.	.	.	.	*	.	.	½	2648
11.	Llaneza Vega, Marcos	m	ESP	2522	.	0	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	*	.	0
12.	Mikhalevski, Victor	g	ISR	2625	0	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	*	0

Round 1 (April 6, 2009)
Gopal, Geetha Narayanan	- Almasi, Zoltan	½-½	40	C67	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Postny, Evgeny	- Prohaszka, Peter2	½-½	41	B14	Caro Kann Panov
Recuero Guerra, David	- Romanishin, Oleg M	½-½	30	C68	Ruy Lopez Exchange
Ris, Robert	- Rozentalis, Eduardas	½-½	31	E18	Queens Indian
Llaneza Vega, Marcos	- Sokolov, Ivan NED	0-1	39	C45	Scotch Game
Mikhalevski, Victor	- Papp, Gabor	0-1	50	E09	Catalan

FIDE Rating list April 2009

Veselin Topalov tops the rating list for the 3rd time in a row. World Champion Viswanathan Anand is 2nd in the world. Magnus Carlsen moves up to three in the world in spite of some up and down performances recently. A funny indication as to what has happened in this list is Kramnik's move from 8 to 4 in the world without playing a rated game. Radjabov is up from 6 to 5 in the world but losing rating points. Alexander Morozevich dropped 20 points, Vassily Ivanchuk drops 33 points and out of the top 10, a real drop in form and consistancy for him. Alexander Grischuk goes into the top 10.

April 2009 Rating List top 100 in full

San Sebastian

There is a tournament in San Sebastian July 6th-16th 2009.

GMA San Sebastian (ESP), 6-16 vii 2009 cat. XVIII (average elo: 2687)
Sergei Movsesian	2747	SVK
Peter Svidler	2726	RUS
Rustam Ponomariov	2726	UKR
Hikaru Nakamura	2701	USA
Rustam Kasimzhanov	2695	UZB
Francisco Vallejo	2688	SPA
Maxime Vachier-Lagraeve	2684	FRA
Anatoly Karpov	2644	RUS
Julio Granda	2610	PER
Pablo San Segundo	2560	SPA

Prizes in Euros: 1.- 9.000 2.- 6.000 3.- 4.000 4.- 3.500 5.- 3.000 6.- 2.500 7.- 2.000 8.- 1.500 9.- 1.000 10.- 500

There will be also a B tournament (cat. XI), C tournament (cat. VIII), and D tournament (female players). The games will be played in the same hall that held the historic tournament in 1911 won by Capablanca and the organisers are hoping for a special event to commemorate the centenary. News David Llada. Website to be announced.

Final Bundesliga Weekend

The last two rounds of the Schachbundesliga took place 28th - 29th March 2009. OSG Baden-Baden retained their title beating Solingen and Wattenscheid 6-2. The team from the Southwest of Germany needed only two points to celebrate it's fourth title in a row. The teams of Solingen, Tegernsee, Eppingen and Bremen fought for two qualification places for the European Club Cup. Tegernsee and Bremen seemed to have the best chances thanks to their easier schedule on the final weekend and thus it proved to be (although it seems Tegernsee has withdrawn from the league next season so perhaps Eppingen will pick up the place). Because of the aforementioned Tegernsee withdrawal for the next season only three sides are relegated, Dresden, Trier and Munich.

Round 15 Games in PGN

Round 14 Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.schachbundesliga.de

Bundesliga 2008-9 (GER), 2 x 2008 - iii 2009 Final Round 15 Standings:
1.	OSG Baden-Baden	15	28	88,0
2.	Werder Bremen	15	24	69,5
3.	TV Tegernsee	15	23	71,0
4.	SC Eppingen	15	23	69,5
5.	SV Muelheim-Nord	15	22	74,0
6.	SG Aljechin Solingen	15	22	69,0
7.	SC Kreuzberg	15	15	63,0
8.	Hamburger SK	15	15	60,5
9.	SV Wattenscheid	15	14	60,0
10.	SC Remagen	15	14	60,0
11.	SF Katernberg	15	12	60,0
12.	SK Turm Emsdetten	15	10	50,5
13.	SF Berlin	15	8	46,0
14.	SG Trier	15	6	49,5
15.	FC Bayern Muenchen	15	4	41,5
16.	USV TU Dresden	15	0	28,0

Bundesliga 2008-9 (GER), 2 x 2008 - iii 2009
Home Team: Baden-Baden
Round 14 Saturday, 28th March 2009, 2 pm
OSG Baden-Baden	6-2	Aljechin Solingen
SC Eppingen	5,5-2,5	SV Wattenscheid
Round 15 Sunday, 29th March 2009, 10 am
Aljechin Solingen	4-4	SC Eppingen
SV Wattenscheid	2-6	OSG Baden-Baden
Home Team: Werder Bremen
Round 14 Saturday, 28th March 2009, 2 pm
Werder Bremen	5,5-2,5	SF Berlin
SK Turm Emsdetten	3-5	Hamburger SK
Round 15 Sunday, 29th March 2009, 10 am
SF Berlin	3,5-4,5	SK Turm Emsdetten
Hamburger SK	3,5-4,5	Werder Bremen
Home Team: Remagen
Round 14 Saturday, 28th March 2009, 2 pm
SC Remagen	4,5-3,5	TV Tegernsee
SG Trier	4,5-3,5	Bayern Muenchen
Round 15 Sunday, 29th March 2009, 10 am
TV Tegernsee	5-3	SG Trier
Bayern Muenchen	3-5	SC Remagen
Home Team: Muelheim
Round 14 Saturday, 28th March 2009, 2 pm
SV Muelheim Nord	4,5-3,5	SC Kreuzberg
SF Katernberg	7,5-0,5	USV TU Dresden
Round 15 Sunday, 29th March 2009, 10 am
SC Kreuzberg	3-5	SF Katernberg
USV TU Dresden	2,5-5,5	SV Muelheim Nord

Amber Blindfold and Rapid tournament 2009

The 18th Amber Blindfold and Rapid tournament took place March 14th (first round) - March 26 (last round) at the five-star hotel Palais de la Mediterranee, splendidly located on the famous Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France. The event was organised by the Association Max Euwe in Monaco.

Levon Aronian tied for first in both Blindfold and Rapid events and took the combined title by half a point from Vladimir Kramnik and World Champion Viswanathan Anand.

Games in PGN Blindfold - Games in PGN Rapid

Malcolm Pein on Amber

19th March Column

17th March Column

The total prize-fund was - 216,000 Euros.

Official website: http://www.amberchess2009.com

On the spot video: http://www.chessvibes.com

18th Amber Blindfold Nice (FRA), 14-26 iii 2009													cat. XXI (2759)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2
1.	Kramnik, Vladimir	g	RUS	2759	*	1	½	0	1	1	½	0	1	½	1	½	7	2860
2.	Carlsen, Magnus	g	NOR	2776	0	*	½	1	1	½	1	½	0	½	1	1	7	2859
3.	Aronian, Levon	g	ARM	2750	½	½	*	½	½	0	½	1	1	½	1	1	7	2861
4.	Anand, Viswanathan	g	IND	2791	1	0	½	*	0	1	½	½	1	1	½	½	6½	2820
5.	Morozevich, Alexander	g	RUS	2771	0	0	½	1	*	½	1	0	½	1	1	1	6½	2822
6.	Leko, Peter	g	HUN	2751	0	½	1	0	½	*	1	1	½	0	½	½	5½	2759
7.	Topalov, Veselin	g	BUL	2796	½	0	½	½	0	0	*	½	½	1	1	1	5½	2755
8.	Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2779	1	½	0	½	1	0	½	*	1	0	0	½	5	2720
9.	Radjabov, Teimour	g	AZE	2761	0	1	0	0	½	½	½	0	*	1	½	1	5	2722
10.	Karjakin, Sergey	g	UKR	2706	½	½	½	0	0	1	0	1	0	*	½	½	4½	2698
11.	Wang Yue	g	CHN	2739	0	0	0	½	0	½	0	1	½	½	*	½	3½	2627
12.	Kamsky, Gata	g	USA	2725	½	0	0	½	0	½	0	½	0	½	½	*	3	2586

Round 1 (March 14, 2009)
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Morozevich, Alexander	1-0	45	D93	Gruenfeld 5.Bf4
Carlsen, Magnus	- Kamsky, Gata	1-0	34	D15	Slav Defence
Aronian, Levon	- Ivanchuk, Vassily	1-0	43	D97	Gruenfeld Russian
Anand, Viswanathan	- Leko, Peter	1-0	36	C95	Ruy Lopez Breyer
Radjabov, Teimour	- Topalov, Veselin	½-½	19	C42	Petroff's Defence
Karjakin, Sergey	- Wang Yue	½-½	39	D19	Slav Defence
Round 2 (March 15, 2009)
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Radjabov, Teimour	1-0	26	B54	Sicilian Rauzer
Morozevich, Alexander	- Wang Yue	1-0	53	C42	Petroff's Defence
Leko, Peter	- Aronian, Levon	1-0	18	C63	Ruy Lopez Schliemann
Topalov, Veselin	- Karjakin, Sergey	1-0	77	C65	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Ivanchuk, Vassily	- Carlsen, Magnus	½-½	32	D37	QGD 5.Bf4
Kamsky, Gata	- Anand, Viswanathan	½-½	44	C88	Ruy Lopez Closed
Round 3 (March 16, 2009)
Aronian, Levon	- Kamsky, Gata	1-0	49	A16	English Opening
Anand, Viswanathan	- Carlsen, Magnus	0-1	34	B51	Sicilian Rossolimo
Leko, Peter	- Ivanchuk, Vassily	1-0	57	B82	Sicilian Scheveningen
Radjabov, Teimour	- Morozevich, Alexander	½-½	35	B14	Caro Kann Panov
Karjakin, Sergey	- Kramnik, Vladimir	½-½	27	D37	QGD 5.Bf4
Wang Yue	- Topalov, Veselin	0-1	34	D30	Queen's Gambit (without Nc3)
Round 4 (March 17, 2009)
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Wang Yue	1-0	36	D17	Slav Defence
Carlsen, Magnus	- Leko, Peter	½-½	26	B12	Caro Kann Advanced
Anand, Viswanathan	- Aronian, Levon	½-½	72	C88	Ruy Lopez Closed
Morozevich, Alexander	- Topalov, Veselin	1-0	44	E36	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Radjabov, Teimour	- Karjakin, Sergey	1-0	67	C55	Two Knights Defence
Kamsky, Gata	- Ivanchuk, Vassily	½-½	52	B90	Sicilian Najdorf Variation
Round 5 (March 19, 2009)
Aronian, Levon	- Carlsen, Magnus	½-½	28	E20	Nimzo Indian
Leko, Peter	- Kamsky, Gata	½-½	66	B00	Owen or Nimzowitsch Defence
Topalov, Veselin	- Kramnik, Vladimir	½-½	45	D12	Slav Defence
Ivanchuk, Vassily	- Anand, Viswanathan	½-½	28	B19	Caro Kann
Karjakin, Sergey	- Morozevich, Alexander	0-1	46	B12	Caro Kann Advanced
Wang Yue	- Radjabov, Teimour	½-½	17	E94	King's Indian Classical
Round 6 (March 20, 2009)
Carlsen, Magnus	- Morozevich, Alexander	1-0	47	D97	Gruenfeld Russian
Aronian, Levon	- Karjakin, Sergey	½-½	52	D15	Slav Defence
Anand, Viswanathan	- Radjabov, Teimour	1-0	64	B31	Sicilian Rossolimo
Leko, Peter	- Topalov, Veselin	1-0	24	B19	Caro Kann
Ivanchuk, Vassily	- Wang Yue	0-1	29	D15	Slav Defence
Kamsky, Gata	- Kramnik, Vladimir	½-½	129	D11	Slav Defence
Round 7 (March 21, 2009)
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Aronian, Levon	½-½	35	D85	Gruenfeld Defence
Morozevich, Alexander	- Leko, Peter	½-½	49	A00	Irregular Openings
Topalov, Veselin	- Ivanchuk, Vassily	½-½	39	E04	Catalan
Radjabov, Teimour	- Kamsky, Gata	1-0	41	B01	Centre Counter
Karjakin, Sergey	- Anand, Viswanathan	0-1	33	B12	Caro Kann Advanced
Wang Yue	- Carlsen, Magnus	0-1	49	D44	Anti-Meran Gambit
Round 8 (March 22, 2009)
Carlsen, Magnus	- Topalov, Veselin	1-0	69	A33	English Symmetrical
Aronian, Levon	- Radjabov, Teimour	1-0	37	E61	King's Indian Defence
Anand, Viswanathan	- Kramnik, Vladimir	1-0	30	C43	Petroff's Defence
Leko, Peter	- Wang Yue	½-½	69	C67	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Ivanchuk, Vassily	- Morozevich, Alexander	1-0	50	C92	Ruy Lopez Chigorin
Kamsky, Gata	- Karjakin, Sergey	½-½	26	B52	Sicilian Rossolimo
Round 9 (March 24, 2009)
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Ivanchuk, Vassily	0-1	73	D82	Gruenfeld 4.Bf4
Morozevich, Alexander	- Aronian, Levon	½-½	48	D10	Slav Defence
Topalov, Veselin	- Anand, Viswanathan	½-½	27	B12	Caro Kann Advanced
Radjabov, Teimour	- Leko, Peter	½-½	24	B18	Caro Kann
Karjakin, Sergey	- Carlsen, Magnus	½-½	41	B30	Sicilian Rossolimo
Wang Yue	- Kamsky, Gata	½-½	59	D15	Slav Defence
Round 10 (March 25, 2009)
Carlsen, Magnus	- Kramnik, Vladimir	0-1	20	E32	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Aronian, Levon	- Wang Yue	1-0	67	D12	Slav Defence
Anand, Viswanathan	- Morozevich, Alexander	0-1	25	B07	Pirc Defence
Leko, Peter	- Karjakin, Sergey	0-1	56	D43	Anti-Meran Gambit
Ivanchuk, Vassily	- Radjabov, Teimour	1-0	83	E62	King's Indian 6...Nc6
Kamsky, Gata	- Topalov, Veselin	0-1	33	B43	Sicilian Paulsen
Round 11 (March 26, 2009)
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Leko, Peter	1-0	36	D43	Anti-Meran Gambit
Morozevich, Alexander	- Kamsky, Gata	1-0	85	E32	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Topalov, Veselin	- Aronian, Levon	½-½	46	D43	Anti-Meran Gambit
Radjabov, Teimour	- Carlsen, Magnus	1-0	54	C53	Giuoco Piano
Karjakin, Sergey	- Ivanchuk, Vassily	1-0	111	A61	Benoni
Wang Yue	- Anand, Viswanathan	½-½	85	D12	Slav Defence

18th Amber Rapid Nice (FRA), 14-26 iii 2009													cat. XXI (2759)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2
1.	Anand, Viswanathan	g	IND	2791	*	1	½	½	½	½	½	½	0	1	1	1	7	2857
2.	Kamsky, Gata	g	USA	2725	0	*	1	½	0	1	1	½	1	½	1	½	7	2863
3.	Aronian, Levon	g	ARM	2750	½	0	*	0	1	1	½	1	1	1	½	½	7	2861
4.	Kramnik, Vladimir	g	RUS	2759	½	½	1	*	½	½	½	0	1	½	½	1	6½	2823
5.	Karjakin, Sergey	g	UKR	2706	½	1	0	½	*	0	1	1	½	1	0	½	6	2799
6.	Carlsen, Magnus	g	NOR	2776	½	0	0	½	1	*	½	½	½	½	1	1	6	2793
7.	Topalov, Veselin	g	BUL	2796	½	0	½	½	0	½	*	1	½	½	½	½	5	2719
8.	Morozevich, Alexander	g	RUS	2771	½	½	0	1	0	½	0	*	0	½	½	1	4½	2692
9.	Leko, Peter	g	HUN	2751	1	0	0	0	½	½	½	1	*	0	½	½	4½	2694
10.	Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2779	0	½	0	½	0	½	½	½	1	*	½	½	4½	2691
11.	Radjabov, Teimour	g	AZE	2761	0	0	½	½	1	0	½	½	½	½	*	0	4	2656
12.	Wang Yue	g	CHN	2739	0	½	½	0	½	0	½	0	½	½	1	*	4	2658

Round 1 (March 14, 2009)
Kamsky, Gata	- Carlsen, Magnus	1-0	49	B73	Sicilian Dragon
Topalov, Veselin	- Radjabov, Teimour	½-½	40	B30	Sicilian Rossolimo
Morozevich, Alexander	- Kramnik, Vladimir	1-0	43	D11	Slav Defence
Leko, Peter	- Anand, Viswanathan	1-0	68	D11	Slav Defence
Ivanchuk, Vassily	- Aronian, Levon	0-1	39	B13	Caro Kann Exchange
Wang Yue	- Karjakin, Sergey	½-½	52	D11	Slav Defence
Round 2 (March 15, 2009)
Anand, Viswanathan	- Kamsky, Gata	1-0	49	C95	Ruy Lopez Breyer
Aronian, Levon	- Leko, Peter	1-0	29	E15	Queens Indian
Karjakin, Sergey	- Topalov, Veselin	1-0	46	C43	Petroff's Defence
Carlsen, Magnus	- Ivanchuk, Vassily	½-½	45	E33	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Radjabov, Teimour	- Kramnik, Vladimir	½-½	26	C42	Petroff's Defence
Wang Yue	- Morozevich, Alexander	0-1	44	A15	English counter King's Fianchetto
Round 3 (March 16, 2009)
Kamsky, Gata	- Aronian, Levon	1-0	51	D02	Queen's Pawn Game
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Karjakin, Sergey	½-½	30	D11	Slav Defence
Carlsen, Magnus	- Anand, Viswanathan	½-½	38	B12	Caro Kann Advanced
Topalov, Veselin	- Wang Yue	½-½	76	D18	Slav Defence
Morozevich, Alexander	- Radjabov, Teimour	½-½	46	B32	Sicilian Labourdonnais
Ivanchuk, Vassily	- Leko, Peter	1-0	59	C53	Giuoco Piano
Round 4 (March 17, 2009)
Aronian, Levon	- Anand, Viswanathan	½-½	32	A31	English Symmetrical
Karjakin, Sergey	- Radjabov, Teimour	0-1	74	B31	Sicilian Rossolimo
Topalov, Veselin	- Morozevich, Alexander	1-0	43	C92	Ruy Lopez Chigorin
Leko, Peter	- Carlsen, Magnus	½-½	58	E60	King's Indian without Nc3
Ivanchuk, Vassily	- Kamsky, Gata	½-½	59	C95	Ruy Lopez Breyer
Wang Yue	- Kramnik, Vladimir	0-1	49	D45	Anti-Meran Variations
Round 5 (March 19, 2009)
Anand, Viswanathan	- Ivanchuk, Vassily	1-0	47	C19	French Winawer
Kamsky, Gata	- Leko, Peter	1-0	96	C85	Ruy Lopez Steenwijker Defence
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Topalov, Veselin	½-½	54	D37	QGD 5.Bf4
Carlsen, Magnus	- Aronian, Levon	0-1	98	C88	Ruy Lopez Closed
Morozevich, Alexander	- Karjakin, Sergey	0-1	68	E37	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Radjabov, Teimour	- Wang Yue	0-1	41	C43	Petroff's Defence
Round 6 (March 20, 2009)
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Kamsky, Gata	½-½	46	A15	English counter King's Fianchetto
Karjakin, Sergey	- Aronian, Levon	0-1	66	C67	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Topalov, Veselin	- Leko, Peter	½-½	59	C90	Ruy Lopez
Morozevich, Alexander	- Carlsen, Magnus	½-½	25	D37	QGD 5.Bf4
Radjabov, Teimour	- Anand, Viswanathan	0-1	74	B13	Caro Kann Exchange
Wang Yue	- Ivanchuk, Vassily	½-½	69	E12	Queens Indian Petrosian
Round 7 (March 21, 2009)
Anand, Viswanathan	- Karjakin, Sergey	½-½	61	B90	Sicilian Najdorf Variation
Kamsky, Gata	- Radjabov, Teimour	1-0	61	B32	Sicilian Labourdonnais
Aronian, Levon	- Kramnik, Vladimir	0-1	41	A13	Reti Opening
Carlsen, Magnus	- Wang Yue	1-0	39	D16	Slav Lasker/Smyslov
Leko, Peter	- Morozevich, Alexander	1-0	40	B17	Caro Kann
Ivanchuk, Vassily	- Topalov, Veselin	½-½	32	C85	Ruy Lopez Steenwijker Defence
Round 8 (March 22, 2009)
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Anand, Viswanathan	½-½	15	E32	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Karjakin, Sergey	- Kamsky, Gata	1-0	52	C95	Ruy Lopez Breyer
Topalov, Veselin	- Carlsen, Magnus	½-½	28	D37	QGD 5.Bf4
Morozevich, Alexander	- Ivanchuk, Vassily	½-½	43	D35	QGD Exchange
Radjabov, Teimour	- Aronian, Levon	½-½	57	C55	Two Knights Defence
Wang Yue	- Leko, Peter	½-½	31	E21	Nimzo Indian 4.Nf3
Round 9 (March 24, 2009)
Anand, Viswanathan	- Topalov, Veselin	½-½	17	C65	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Kamsky, Gata	- Wang Yue	½-½	22	D56	Queens Gambit Lasker's Defence
Aronian, Levon	- Morozevich, Alexander	1-0	36	E04	Catalan
Carlsen, Magnus	- Karjakin, Sergey	1-0	62	D43	Anti-Meran Gambit
Leko, Peter	- Radjabov, Teimour	½-½	34	B30	Sicilian Rossolimo
Ivanchuk, Vassily	- Kramnik, Vladimir	½-½	65	A29	English Four Knights
Round 10 (March 25, 2009)
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Carlsen, Magnus	½-½	60	D82	Gruenfeld 4.Bf4
Karjakin, Sergey	- Leko, Peter	½-½	41	D45	Anti-Meran Variations
Topalov, Veselin	- Kamsky, Gata	0-1	30	B42	Sicilian Paulsen
Morozevich, Alexander	- Anand, Viswanathan	½-½	28	E32	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Radjabov, Teimour	- Ivanchuk, Vassily	½-½	28	B22	Sicilian Alapin
Wang Yue	- Aronian, Levon	½-½	46	D11	Slav Defence
Round 11 (March 26, 2009)
Anand, Viswanathan	- Wang Yue	1-0	61	D15	Slav Defence
Kamsky, Gata	- Morozevich, Alexander	½-½	48	B12	Caro Kann Advanced
Aronian, Levon	- Topalov, Veselin	½-½	17	E10	Blumenfeld Counter Gambit
Carlsen, Magnus	- Radjabov, Teimour	1-0	37	B30	Sicilian Rossolimo
Leko, Peter	- Kramnik, Vladimir	0-1	43	B42	Sicilian Paulsen
Ivanchuk, Vassily	- Karjakin, Sergey	0-1	52	D43	Anti-Meran Gambit

18th Amber Combined Nice (FRA), 14-26 iii 2009																				cat. XXI (2759)
					1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		11		12
1.	Aronian, Levon	g	ARM	2750	*	*	½	0	½	½	½	1	½	1	½	½	½	1	1	0	0	1	1	1	1	½	1	½	14.0	2861
2.	Kramnik, Vladimir	g	RUS	2759	½	1	*	*	0	½	1	½	1	0	½	½	½	½	½	½	1	1	0	½	1	½	1	1	13.5	2838
3.	Anand, Viswanathan	g	IND	2791	½	½	1	½	*	*	0	½	0	½	½	½	1	½	½	1	1	0	½	1	1	1	½	1	13.5	2835
4.	Carlsen, Magnus	g	NOR	2776	½	0	0	½	1	½	*	*	1	½	1	½	½	1	1	0	½	½	½	½	0	1	1	1	13.0	2822
5.	Morozevich, Alexander	g	RUS	2771	½	0	0	1	1	½	0	½	*	*	1	0	1	0	1	½	½	0	0	½	½	½	1	1	11.0	2757
6.	Topalov, Veselin	g	BUL	2796	½	½	½	½	½	½	0	½	0	1	*	*	1	0	1	0	0	½	½	½	½	½	1	½	10.5	2741
7.	Karjakin, Sergey	g	UKR	2706	½	0	½	½	0	½	½	0	0	1	0	1	*	*	½	1	1	½	1	1	0	0	½	½	10.5	2749
8.	Kamsky, Gata	g	USA	2725	0	1	½	½	½	0	0	1	0	½	0	1	½	0	*	*	½	1	½	½	0	1	½	½	10.0	2725
9.	Leko, Peter	g	HUN	2751	1	0	0	0	0	1	½	½	½	1	1	½	0	½	½	0	*	*	1	0	½	½	½	½	10.0	2723
10.	Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2779	0	0	1	½	½	0	½	½	1	½	½	½	0	0	½	½	0	1	*	*	1	½	0	½	9.5	2706
11.	Radjabov, Teimour	g	AZE	2761	0	½	0	½	0	0	1	0	½	½	½	½	1	1	1	0	½	½	0	½	*	*	½	0	9.0	2693
12.	Wang Yue	g	CHN	2739	0	½	0	0	½	0	0	0	0	0	0	½	½	½	½	½	½	½	1	½	½	1	*	*	7.5	2643

Reykjavik Open

The Reykjavik Open takes place 24th March - 1st April 2009.

Official site: http://www.skaksamband.is/. Results: http://www.chess-results.com/tnr18947.aspx?lan=1 and blog: http://reykjavikchess.blogspot.com/

Various Team Events

4NCL

The 4NCL takes place 4th October 2008 - 4th May 2009. Rounds 7-8 take place 21st-22nd March 2009 in the Barcelo Hotel, Hinckley Island.

Official site: http://www.4ncl.co.uk - Live coverage: http://www.bcfservices.org.uk/livechess/4ncl/0809/index.htm

French League Top 16

The French Team Championship (TOP 16) takes place in 4 towns (Clichy, Cannes, Metz, Mulhouse). 3 Rounds : Friday, Saturday and Sunday 20th-22nd March 2009

Official site: http://www.echecs.asso.fr/Equipes.aspx

Austrian League

The Austrian League is into a final long week-end. 40 grandmasters are expected to play in Ansfelden near Linz, including Movsesian, Nakamura, Sutovsky, Gelfand, Socko... 19th-22nd March 2009.

Results so far: http://www.chess-results.com/tnr12353.aspx and Live broadcast http://www.chess.at/live

Danish League

The Danish League takes place 21st-22nd March 2009. Live coverage at the official site.

Official site: http://www.divisionsskak.dk/holdarkiv/div0809/

127th Varsity Match

The 127th Varsity Oxford vs Cambridge match took place in the RAC Club, Pall Mall, London on 14th March 2009. Oxford won 5-3 to take the over all score to 56 to Cambridge and 52 to Oxford with 19 drawn matches. My thanks to John Saunders for the news and games.

Games in PGN

127th Varsity Match London (ENG), 14 iii 2009
		Oxford			5-3	Cambridge
1	w	A Tsanas	GRE	2276	1/2	A Pixton	USA	2462
2	b	A Kangur	EST	2231	1-0	Zi Jing Wong	MAS	2410
3	w	C Bicknell		2140	1-0	G Pinter	HUN	2355
4	b	S Schaper	GER	2115	0-1	Li Wu		2341
5	w	R Heaton		2095	1-0	P Roberson		2221
6	b	M Healey		2016	1-0	M Tyomkin	GER	2055
7	w	Ti Chen	CHN	2035	0-1	S Robertson		2050
8	b	A Salputra	LAT	1800	1/2	J Kourtseva	CYP	1800

10th European Individual Budva Montenegro

The 10th European Individual Budva took place in Montenegro 6th-17th March 2009. Evgeny Tomashevsky took the title after a day of playoffs, he beat Vladimir Malakhov 2-1 in the final.

Games in PGN Rd1-11

Games in PGN Playoffs
[There are at least a couple of games I'm not sure about but most should be OK]

Official site: http://www.eurobudva2009.com

10th ch-EUR Budva (MNE), 6-19 iii 2009 Final Round 11 Standings (playoffs determined the medals):
Rank	SNo.		Name	Rtg	FED	Pts	BH.	BH.	vict	Fide
1	19	GM	Sokolov Ivan	2657	NED	8	63	76½	5	51
2	20	GM	Inarkiev Ernesto	2656	RUS	8	62½	76	6	54½
3	3	GM	Naiditsch Arkadij	2693	GER	8	62½	76	5	49
4	17	GM	Tomashevsky Evgeny	2664	RUS	8	62	75½	5	49
5	33	GM	Navara David	2638	CZE	8	60½	74	6	49
6	4	GM	Malakhov Vladimir	2692	RUS	8	60½	73½	5	47
7	21	GM	Grachev Boris	2655	RUS	8	60	73	6	48
8	15	GM	Jobava Baadur	2669	GEO	8	59½	71½	7	49½
9	36	GM	Kobalia Mikhail	2634	RUS	8	59	72	5	50
10	18	GM	Guseinov Gadir	2661	AZE	8	57½	70	5	47½
11	31	GM	Nyback Tomi	2644	FIN	8	54½	66½	6	48½
12	53	GM	Meier Georg	2608	GER	7½	63½	76½	5	51
13	101	GM	Nijboer Friso	2559	NED	7½	62	74	5	44½
14	38	GM	Fedorchuk Sergey A	2633	UKR	7½	61½	75½	6	49½
15	13	GM	Timofeev Artyom	2671	RUS	7½	61½	74	4	47½
16	98	GM	Sjugirov Sanan	2562	RUS	7½	61½	73½	6	50
17	64	GM	Bartel Mateusz	2594	POL	7½	60½	73½	4	48
18	32	GM	Mamedov Rauf	2638	AZE	7½	59½	72½	4	47½
19	12	GM	Areshchenko Alexander	2673	UKR	7½	59	70½	5	45½
20	68	GM	Stevic Hrvoje	2592	CRO	7½	59	70½	5	45
21	7	GM	Vitiugov Nikita	2687	RUS	7½	58½	71½	4	44½
22	5	GM	Dreev Alexey	2688	RUS	7½	58	71	4	44½
23	6	GM	Bologan Viktor	2687	MDA	7½	58	70½	5	46
24	62	GM	Kurnosov Igor	2602	RUS	7½	57½	70½	5	47½
25	52	GM	Lupulescu Constantin	2608	ROU	7½	57½	69	4	46
26	51	GM	Papaioannou Ioannis	2609	GRE	7½	56½	69	5	47½
27	54	GM	Mikhalevski Victor	2608	ISR	7½	56	69	6	46
28	10	GM	Motylev Alexander	2676	RUS	7½	56	68½	5	42
29	46	GM	Pashikian Arman	2621	ARM	7½	55	67	5	42½
30	11	GM	Nisipeanu Liviu-Dieter	2675	ROU	7½	53½	66	5	42
31	44	GM	Petrosian Tigran L	2623	ARM	7½	52½	63½	6	42½
32	66	GM	Svetushkin Dmitry	2593	MDA	7½	51½	62½	5	39
33	49	GM	Sakaev Konstantin	2619	RUS	7½	51	63	4	43½
34	22	GM	Savchenko Boris	2654	RUS	7½	50	61	7	37½
35	9	GM	Cheparinov Ivan	2679	BUL	7	62½	76	5	46½
36	71	GM	Hillarp Persson Tiger	2586	SWE	7	61	74	4	46½
37	2	GM	Akopian Vladimir	2700	ARM	7	59	72	4	43½
38	16	GM	Fressinet Laurent	2666	FRA	7	57½	70	4	43
39	115	GM	Lopez Martinez Josep Manuel	2540	ESP	7	56½	68½	5	40½
40	70	GM	Zhigalko Sergei	2587	BLR	7	56	68½	5	42½
41	23	GM	Postny Evgeny	2652	ISR	7	55½	66½	5	40½
42	35	GM	Georgiev Kiril	2634	BUL	7	55	68½	4	44½
43	89	GM	Perunovic Milos	2568	SRB	7	54½	66½	5	42
44	59	GM	Kotronias Vasilios	2603	GRE	7	54	67	6	42
45	63	GM	Azarov Sergei	2599	BLR	7	54	66½	4	44
46	39	GM	Ivanisevic Ivan	2628	SRB	7	54	66	5	40
47	45	GM	Khalifman Alexander	2622	RUS	7	53	64½	3	41
48	47	GM	Lysyj Igor	2620	RUS	7	52	64½	5	43½
49	28	GM	Beliavsky Alexander G	2646	SLO	7	51	62	4	38½
50	14	GM	Volokitin Andrei	2671	UKR	6½	63	76	5	49
306 players

10th ch-EUR Budva (MNE), 6-19 iii 2009 Playoffs for Qualification
			g15m+10s		g5m+2s		g5/4m	Sc
19	GM	Areshchenko Alexander	0	0				0
34	GM	Savchenko Boris	1	1				2
			g15m+10s		g5m+2s		g5/4m	Sc
33	GM	Sakaev Konstantin	1	0	1	1		3
20	GM	Stevic Hrvoje	0	1	0	0		1
			g15m+10s		g5m+2s		g5/4m	Sc
21	GM	Vitiugov Nikita	1	½				1½
32	GM	Svetushkin Dmitry	0	½				½
			g15m+10s		g5m+2s		g5/4m	Sc
31	GM	Petrosian Tigran L	½	1				1½
22	GM	Dreev Alexey	½	0				½
			g15m+10s		g5m+2s		g5/4m	Sc
24	GM	Kurnosov Igor	½	0				½
30	GM	Nisipeanu Liviu-Dieter	½	1				1½
			g15m+10s		g5m+2s		g5/4m	Sc
29	GM	Pashikian Arman	0	0				0
25	GM	Lupulescu Constantin	1	1				2
			g15m+10s		g5m+2s		g5/4m	Sc
27	GM	Mikhalevski Victor	0	0				0
28	GM	Motylev Alexander	1	1				2

10th ch-EUR Budva (MNE), 6-19 iii 2009 Playoffs for Medals
March 18th, 2009 - 1st Round - start at 09.30
				g15m+10s		g5/4m	Sc
A	11	GM	Nyback Tomi	0	½		½
	6	GM	Malakhov Vladimir	1	½		1½
				g15m+10s		g5/4m	Sc
B	7	GM	Grachev Boris	0	1	0	1
	10	GM	Guseinov Gadir	1	0	1	2
				g15m+10s		g5/4m	Sc
C	9	GM	Kobalia Mikhail	1	0	0	1
	8	GM	Jobava Baadur	0	1	1	2
March 18th, 2009 - 2nd Round - start at 11.45
				g15m+10s		g5/4m	Sc
D	8	GM	Jobava Baadur	1	1		2
	1	GM	Sokolov Ivan	0	0		0
				g15m+10s		g5/4m	Sc
E	2	GM	Inarkiev Ernesto	½	½	1	2
	10	GM	Guseinov Gadir	½	½	0	1
				g15m+10s		g5/4m	Sc
F	6	GM	Malakhov Vladimir	½	½	½	1½
	3	GM	Naiditsch Arkadij	½	½	½	1½
				g15m+10s		g5/4m	Sc
G	4	GM	Tomashevsky Evgeny	½	1		1½
	5	GM	Navara David	½	0		½
March 18th, 2009 - 3rd Round - start at 14.30
				g15m+10s		g5/4m	Sc
H	8	GM	Jobava Baadur	1	0	0	1
	4	GM	Tomashevsky Evgeny	0	1	1	2
				g15m+10s		g5/4m	Sc
I	6	GM	Malakhov Vladimir	1	½		1½
	2	GM	Inarkiev Ernesto	0	½		½
March 18th, 2009 - 4th Round - start at 16.40
Final				g15m+10s		g5/4m	Sc
	6	GM	Malakhov Vladimir	0	1	0	1
	4	GM	Tomashevsky Evgeny	1	0	1	2
3rd place				g15m+10s		g5/4m	Sc
	8	GM	Jobava Baadur	1	½		1½
	2	GM	Inarkiev Ernesto	0	½		½

FIDE Women's Grand Prix Istanbul

The FIDE Women's Grand Prix took place in Istanbul 5th-20th March 2009. There was a three way tie on 7.5/10 going into the final round but only Humpy Koneru won, beating Marie Sebag with black and thus she took clear first place. Hou Yifan couldn't overcome fellow countrywoman, Shen Yang. Elina Danielian even defeated Zhao Xue in that top group to overtake her.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://istanbul2009.fide.com/

FIDE Women's Grand Prix Instanbul (TUR), 7-19 iii 2009													cat. X (2481)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2
1.	Koneru, Humpy	g	IND	2621	*	1	0	½	1	1	1	1	1	1	½	½	8½	2679
2.	Danielian, Elina	m	ARM	2496	0	*	½	1	1	1	½	1	1	½	½	1	8	2654
3.	Hou Yifan	wg	CHN	2571	1	½	*	0	½	1	1	1	½	1	½	1	8	2647
4.	Zhao Xue	g	CHN	2508	½	0	1	*	0	1	1	½	½	1	1	1	7½	2611
5.	Sebag, Marie	g	FRA	2529	0	0	½	1	*	1	½	0	½	1	½	1	6	2512
6.	Fierro Baquero, Martha L	m	ECU	2403	0	0	0	0	0	*	1	½	1	1	1	1	5½	2488
7.	Cramling, Pia	g	SWE	2548	0	½	0	0	½	0	*	1	1	½	1	1	5½	2475
8.	Stefanova, Antoaneta	g	BUL	2557	0	0	0	½	1	½	0	*	½	1	½	1	5	2438
9.	Chiburdanidze, Maia	g	GEO	2516	0	0	½	½	½	0	0	½	*	1	1	1	5	2441
10.	Mamedjarova, Zeinab	wg	AZE	2362	0	½	0	0	0	0	½	0	0	*	1	½	2½	2280
11.	Shen Yang	wg	CHN	2448	½	½	½	0	½	0	0	½	0	0	*	0	2½	2273
12.	Yildiz, Betul Cemre	wm	TUR	2214	½	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	½	1	*	2	2243

10th European Individual Women's Championship

The hall in round 9. Photo © http://www.europe-echecs.com

The 10th European Individual Women's Chess Championship took place March 7th - 21st 2009 in St. Petersburg, Russia. Anna Muzychuk (2540) was the top seed.

European Champion: Tatiana Kosintseva. Silver medal: Lilit Mkrtchian. Bronze medal: Natalia Pogonina. Games from the final round and playoffs to follow.

Games in PGN Rd1-11

Tie-Break Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.wiecc2009.com/

On the spot photo and video reports: http://www.europe-echecs.com/actualites/actualites-chp.-d-europe-individuel-feminin-1763.html

10th EICC w St Petersburg (RUS), 8-19 iii 2009 Final Standings after playoffs:
Rank	Pno	Title	Name	Elo	Fed	Score	TPR	Rc	W	W-We	MBuch	Buch	Wins	PS
I	5	IM	Kosintseva, Tatiana	2497	RUS	8,5	2551	2340	8,5	0,76	60,0	73,0	7	46,5
II	11	IM	Mkrtchian, Lilit	2460	ARM	8,5	2598	2387	8,5	1,94	64,5	78,0	7	53,0
III	9	WGM	Pogonina, Natalija	2467	RUS	8	2540	2365	8	1,07	60,5	73,5	5	49,5
4	15	GM	Socko, Monika	2449	POL	8	2565	2390	8	1,64	66,5	81,0	6	53,0
5	24	WGM	Shadrina, Tatiana	2416	RUS	8	2552	2377	8	1,97	63,0	76,0	7	49,5
6	17	IM	Lomineishvili, Maia	2437	GEO	8	2520	2345	8	1,14	61,0	74,0	5	49,5
7	16	IM	Kovalevskaya, Ekaterina	2442	RUS	8	2550	2375	8	1,52	60,5	74,0	6	52,0
8	27	IM	Rajlich, Iweta	2399	POL	8	2552	2377	8	2,2	59,5	73,0	5	50,5
9	18	IM	Ovod, Evgenija	2430	RUS	8	2504	2329	8	1,02	56,0	68,5	8	48,0
10	8	GM	Hoang Thanh Trang	2483	HUN	7,5	2526	2393	7,5	0,68	63,5	76,5	5	53,5
11	13	WGM	Romanko, Marina	2451	RUS	7,5	2482	2349	7,5	0,51	61,5	75,5	7	47,5
12	28	WGM	Kovanova, Baira	2386	RUS	7,5	2490	2357	7,5	1,66	59,5	72,0	5	48,0
13	32	IM	Turova, Irina	2379	RUS	7,5	2485	2352	7,5	1,61	57,5	71,0	5	45,5
14	12	IM	Paehtz, Elisabeth	2455	GER	7,5	2457	2324	7,5	0,09	57,0	70,0	5	45,0
15	29	WGM	Zawadzka, Jolanta	2385	POL	7,5	2490	2357	7,5	1,66	56,5	69,0	6	46,5
16	23	IM	Khukhashvili, Sopiko	2416	GEO	7,5	2485	2352	7,5	1,06	56,5	69,0	5	46,5
17	1	IM	Muzychuk, Anna	2540	SLO	7,5	2463	2330	7,5	-0,88	55,5	68,0	5	43,5
18	19	IM	Muzychuk, Mariya	2427	UKR	7,5	2450	2317	7,5	0,37	53,0	65,5	5	43,5
19	46	IM	Vasilevich, Irina	2340	RUS	7,5	2414	2281	7,5	1,17	51,5	65,0	7	40,5
20	25	IM	Foisor, Cristina-Adela	2412	ROU	7	2478	2376	7	1,05	64,0	77,5	4	50,0
21	21	IM	Melia, Salome	2422	GEO	7	2474	2372	7	0,77	63,0	75,5	5	51,0
22	2	GM	Dzagnidze, Nana	2518	GEO	7	2479	2377	7	-0,54	61,5	75,0	6	46,5
23	30	WFM	Bodnaruk, Anastasia	2384	RUS	7	2473	2371	7	1,31	60,0	73,5	6	47,0
24	22	IM	Khurtsidze, Nino	2421	GEO	7	2469	2367	7	0,72	59,0	72,0	5	46,5
25	3	IM	Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan	2500	SCO	7	2445	2343	7	-0,76	58,5	71,0	5	44,5
26	57	WFM	Girya, Olga	2315	RUS	7	2441	2339	7	1,89	57,5	70,0	6	41,5
27	42	IM	Dworakowska, Joanna	2352	POL	7	2423	2321	7	1,08	57,0	69,0	6	43,5
28	48	WGM	Grabuzova, Tatiana	2332	RUS	7	2438	2336	7	1,6	56,5	68,5	6	44,5
29	43	WIM	Majdan, Joanna	2351	POL	7	2420	2318	7	1,03	55,0	68,0	5	43,0
30	56	WIM	Paulet, Iozefina	2315	ROU	7	2395	2293	7	1,19	55,0	67,5	6	40,5
31	61	WIM	Chasovnikova, Eugenia	2302	RUS	7	2383	2281	7	1,23	54,5	67,0	6	38,0
32	14	IM	Gaponenko, Inna	2450	UKR	7	2404	2302	7	-0,66	54,5	66,5	5	42,0
33	10	GM	Peng, Zhaoqin	2461	NED	7	2352	2250	7	-1,41	51,0	62,5	6	36,5
34	6	WGM	Zhukova, Natalia	2490	UKR	7	2357	2255	7	-1,7	50,0	60,5	3	37,5
35	7	GM	Lahno, Kateryna	2488	UKR	6,5	2416	2351	6,5	-1	63,0	76,5	4	46,5
36	4	IM	Ushenina, Anna	2499	UKR	6,5	2410	2345	6,5	-1,24	58,5	71,0	3	44,5
37	40	WGM	Demina, Julia	2361	RUS	6,5	2394	2329	6,5	0,63	58,0	70,0	6	45,0
38	53	WIM	Charochkina, Daria	2316	RUS	6,5	2374	2309	6,5	0,91	56,0	69,0	5	40,5
39	51	WIM	Solovjova, Valentina	2324	RUS	6,5	2361	2296	6,5	0,62	54,0	67,0	6	41,5
40	69	WGM	Botsari, Anna-Maria	2289	GRE	6,5	2319	2254	6,5	0,63	54,0	65,5	6	38,5
41	100		Lelekova, Olga	2222	RUS	6,5	2339	2274	6,5	1,76	51,5	62,5	6	34,5
42	26	IM	Peptan, Corina-Isabela	2401	ROU	6,5	2316	2251	6,5	-1,18	51,0	62,5	4	36,5
43	95	WIM	Tsatsalashvili, Keti	2231	GEO	6,5	2352	2287	6,5	1,82	50,5	62,0	5	33,0
44	34	IM	Gvetadze, Sopio	2377	GEO	6,5	2326	2261	6,5	-0,61	50,5	61,0	6	39,0
45	55	WGM	Kochetkova, Julia	2315	RUS	6,5	2282	2217	6,5	-0,32	50,0	61,0	6	37,5
46	86	WIM	Fakhiridou, Ekaterini	2256	GRE	6,5	2220	2155	6,5	-0,29	48,5	59,5	5	35,0
47	83	WIM	Andriasian, Siranush	2262	ARM	6,5	2260	2195	6,5	0,15	47,0	57,5	4	35,0
48	58	WGM	Nebolsina, Vera	2312	RUS	6	2353	2317	6	0,65	58,5	70,0	6	42,0
49	71	WIM	Guramishvili, Sopiko	2281	GEO	6	2364	2328	6	1,27	58,0	69,5	3	39,5
50	63	WFM	Tomilova, Elena	2300	RUS	6	2345	2309	6	0,72	57,5	69,5	4	40,5
168 players

XXVI Linares 2009

Play in the final round.

The XXVI Linares 2009 tournament took place only in Spain this year (their co-operation with Morelia in Mexico was ended last year and now they have an agreement to play half the event in the UAE from next year). The tournament took place 18th February - 8th March 2009 and had 314,000 Euros in prizes. There were no appearance fees for the players. The winner took 100,000 Euros and the trophy 2nd and 3rd take 75,000 and 50,000 Euros.

Alexander Grischuk took first place from Vassily Ivanchuk by the tie-break of winning more games after both tied on 8/11.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.ajedrez.ciudaddelinares.es/index.htm

XXVI SuperGM Linares (ESP), 19 ii-7 iii 2009											cat. XXI (2756)
					1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8
1.	Grischuk, Alexander	g	RUS	2733	*	*	½	½	½	0	½	½	1	½	1	½	1	½	½	½	8	2809
2.	Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2779	½	½	*	*	½	½	½	½	½	½	½	½	1	1	½	½	8	2802
3.	Carlsen, Magnus	g	NOR	2776	½	1	½	½	*	*	1	½	½	½	½	0	½	0	½	1	7½	2781
4.	Anand, Viswanathan	g	IND	2791	½	½	½	½	0	½	*	*	1	½	1	½	0	½	½	½	7	2750
5.	Radjabov, Teimour	g	AZE	2761	0	½	½	½	½	½	0	½	*	*	½	½	½	1	½	½	6½	2726
6.	Wang Yue	g	CHN	2739	0	½	½	½	½	1	0	½	½	½	*	*	½	½	½	½	6½	2729
7.	Aronian, Levon	g	ARM	2750	0	½	0	0	½	1	1	½	½	0	½	½	*	*	1	½	6½	2727
8.	Dominguez Perez, Leinier	g	CUB	2717	½	½	½	½	½	0	½	½	½	½	½	½	0	½	*	*	6	2711

41st Belgrade Women's Tournament

The 41st Belgrade Women's Tournament took place in Belgrade, Slavija Hotel, 3rd-11th March 2009. Anna Benderac took first place from Irina Chelushkina on tie-break after both scored 6/9.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.beochess.rs/2009/8mart2009/8mart2009en.html

41st WGM Belgrade (SRB), 3-11 iii 2009												cat. II (2281)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Benderac, Ana	wg	SRB	2304	*	½	½	1	1	½	½	1	½	½	6	2403
2.	Chelushkina, Irina	wg	SRB	2359	½	*	0	0	1	1	1	½	1	1	6	2397
3.	Maksimovic, Suzana	wg	SRB	2284	½	1	*	0	½	½	1	½	1	½	5½	2361
4.	Petrenko, Svetlana	m	MDA	2251	0	1	1	*	0	½	½	1	1	½	5½	2364
5.	Rakic, Marija		SRB	2284	0	0	½	1	*	½	1	1	½	1	5½	2361
6.	Cosma, Elena Luminita	wg	ROU	2343	½	0	½	½	½	*	½	½	1	½	4½	2274
7.	Voiska, Margarita	wg	BUL	2339	½	0	0	½	0	½	*	1	½	1	4	2231
8.	Meenakshi, Subbaraman	wg	IND	2327	0	½	½	0	0	½	0	*	1	1	3½	2196
9.	Djukic, Sandra		SRB	2196	½	0	0	0	½	0	½	0	*	1	2½	2124
10.	Eric, Jovana	wf	SRB	2126	½	0	½	½	0	½	0	0	0	*	2	2078

25th Cappelle la Grande

The 25th Cappelle la Grande Open took place 28th February - 7th March 2009. Yuri Vovk won the tournament with 7.5/9. My thanks to Emmanuel Variniac for his help.

Games in PGN

Results, games and live coverage at: http://www.cappelle-chess.fr

25th Open Cappelle la Grande (FRA), 28 ii-7 iii 2009 Leading final standings:
Place	Name	Titre	FED	Elo	Points	Perf
1	Vovk, Yuri	GM	UKR	2545	7.5	2814
2	Zakhartsov, Viacheslav	GM	RUS	2529	7	2714
3	Dzhumaev, Marat	GM	UZB	2529	7	2700
4	Jaracz, Pawel	GM	POL	2518	7	2652
5	Jojua, Davit	IM	GEO	2484	6.5	2717
6	Miroshnichenko, Evgenij	GM	UKR	2667	6.5	2688
7	Gelashvili, Tamaz	GM	GEO	2622	6.5	2686
8	Hammer, Jon ludvig	IM	NOR	2532	6.5	2676
9	Dvoirys, Semen i	GM	RUS	2547	6.5	2670
10	Mamedov, Nidjat	GM	AZE	2607	6.5	2659
11	Balogh, Csaba	GM	HUN	2604	6.5	2647
12	Olszewski, Michal	IM	POL	2518	6.5	2645
13	Rozentalis, Eduardas	GM	LTU	2590	6.5	2639
14	Sveshnikov, Evgeny	GM	LAT	2535	6.5	2623
15	Rychagov, Andrey	GM	RUS	2514	6.5	2612
16	Bobras, Piotr	GM	POL	2554	6.5	2607
17	Geetha Narayana, Gopal	GM	IND	2555	6.5	2607
18	Zubarev, Alexander	GM	UKR	2566	6.5	2606
19	Solodovnichenko, Yuri	GM	UKR	2571<