In one of his games he was in a must-win situation and played Black. He chose the Caro-Kann defense but could achieve only a draw. When a reporter asked about the choice of such a quiet opening and something sharp like the Sicilian defense Tal responded: ˜I play the Sicilian Defense when I need a draw, but when I want to win, I play the Caro-Kann defense!
GM Gregory Serper, Chess Life – September 2007, page 33
1) Mechanics' Institute Chess Club News
2) Americans Abroad
3) November FIDE Ratings
4) World Cup Pairings
5) The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - a chess song?
6) CalChess Website News
7) Special Election For Two USCF Executive Board Seats
8) Upcoming Events
1) Mechanics's Institute Chess Club News
The Mechanics' Institute finished the regular season with a draw against two-time defending USCL Champions the Dallas Destiny. Sometimes the final score doesn't give a good indicator of a match but this was fairly close all the way. Yian got the better of a theoretical Dragon battle with, Bayaraa Zorigt, one of the League's all-time great board fours, and defeated her in a nice game. Vinay was the next to finish with a solidly played draw with IM Salvijus Bercys. At this point things were looking pretty good as our rival for second in the West, Arizona, was losing to Miami. We clinched second when Daniel drew a well-played game against Keaton Kiewra. This left Patrick in the sort of odd situation of playing a game that didn't have any effect on the standings as Seattle had drawn with Chicago clinching first in the West. His opponent, IM Daniel Ludwig, finally won in an up and done struggle in which the advantage changed hands several times.
This leaves the Mechanics' facing Arizona in round one of the playoff with draw odds. The team meet in a rematch of round seven of the regular season where Arizona won 2.5-1.5 in a crazy match that could have gone either way. Arizona, which is sort of two teams in one with players drawn from Phoenix and Tucson usually playing along side those from their own city, has benefited immensely from the addition of former Dallas Destiny team member GM Alejandro Ramirez. He played a key role in leading Arizona to a second half resurgence which included wins over the two teams with the best regular season records - New Jersey and Seattle. One of the best run teams in the league with extensive sponsorship ( Chess.com from Silicon Valley among them), Arizona will be a formidable foe.
Congratulations go to the New Jersey Knockouts whose regular season record of 8-2 was the best in the league and and only half a point shy of the all-time record set by the Mechanics' 2006 team. Curiously the team with the season winner has had mixed success in the post season with New York in 2005 and Carolina, Queens and Miami in 2008 failing to make the final. San Francisco managed to get the job done in 2006 but only after defeating New York in a blitz playoff. The form charts only held in 2007 when the two teams with the best season records, Dallas and Boston met in the final with the former winning the championship in another dramatic blitz playoff.
One of the most interesting lineup decisions will be made by Seattle manager Eddie Chang who will have to decide whether to go with his 1-2 punch of GMs Nakamura and Serper with NM Howard Chen on board four or a more balanced lineup with SM Mikhailuk on board two and 2300 NM Josh Sinanan. The thought at the beginning of the season was that the two GM lineup would be rolled out as the first option, but the unavailability of Chen, who rumor has it had high school tennis matches on Wednesdays, nixed that plan. Milhailuk and Sinanan rose to the challenge for much of the season ( Slava defeating GM Shabalov) before cooling off. Sinanan, one of the USCL's premier fourth boards, lost his last two matches, but the results are a little deceiving as the loss in round 9 was in a position where he had to decline a draw because his team was losing in the match, but in doing so immediately found himself in a losing position. Against Chicago he was doing well but stumbled and lost again - but in a situation where his result was unimportant for the team as they had already clinched the top seed in the West.
It's also not entirely clear who will be board three. Going into the season SM Michael Lee was the clear choice but a combination of some difficult games and possible unavailability led to Canadian ex-pat Marcel Milat being inserted into the lineup and he has performed well. All USCL team managers would love to have to ponder the choices that manager Chang faces. One thing that no doubt help him sleep well at night is that if Seattle makes it to the championship match and it ends in 2-2 he will have Hikaru for the blitz.
Boston, having come so close two years in a row, will be hungry as will New Jersey whose 1-2 punch of GMs Joel Benjamin and Boris Gulko have been near perfect this season. The West has won the league title three seasons running but either of these teams could bring the title back East.
Those who like underdogs might consider New York and Miami. Neither team had exceptional regular season records but both have a tradition of playing well come the playoffs.
Dallas Destiny (3.0 - 6.0) vs San Francisco Mechanics
(6.0 - 3.0)
All Time Series Record: (San Francisco leads 5 -
4)
Starts at 8:45 PM ET Time
Control - Game in 75 with 30 second increment
|
Dallas Destiny |
|
|
San Francisco Mechanics |
|
1.0 |
0.0 |
||
|
0.5 |
0.5 |
||
|
0.5 |
0.5 |
||
|
0.0 |
1.0 |
||
|
Avg Rating: 2421 |
|
|
Avg Rating: 2412 |
|
Dallas Total ------- |
2.0 |
2.0 |
------- San Francisco Total |
Ludwig,Daniel (2543) - Wolff,Patrick (2623)
[A21]
USCL Dallas vs San Francisco 2009
1.d4
d6
2.c4
e5
3.Nf3
e4
4.Ng5
f5
5.Nc3
c6
6.f3
Be7
7.Nh3
Nf6
8.Bg5
0-0
9.Nf4
Na6
10.e3
Re8
11.Bxf6
Bxf6
12.fxe4
Bg5
13.g3
Bxf4
14.gxf4
Qh4+
15.Kd2
fxe4
16.Qe1
Qf6
17.Qg3
c5
18.d5
Nc7
19.Qg5
Qxg5
20.fxg5
Re5
21.h4
b5
22.b3
bxc4
23.bxc4
Rb8
24.Kc2
Ba6
25.a3
Na8
26.Na4
Rf5
27.Kc3
Rf2
28.Rg1
Nc7
29.Rg4
Bc8
30.Rg2
Rf3
31.Re1
Bd7
32.Nb2
Rh3
33.Rf2
Rxh4
34.Rf4
Rh2
35.Re2
Rxe2
36.Bxe2
Re8
37.Nd1
Re5
38.Nf2
Rxg5
39.Nxe4
Re5
40.Nxd6
Rxe3+
41.Kd2
Re7
42.Bd3
g5
43.Rf1
Ne8
44.Ne4
Rxe4
45.Bxe4
Nd6
46.Kd3
Kg7
47.Rb1
h5
48.Rb8
Bh3
49.Rd8
Bf1+
50.Ke3
Nxc4+
51.Kf2
Nd2
52.d6
Bb5
53.Bf5
Kf6
54.d7
Bxd7
55.Rxd7
Nc4
56.Bd3 1-0
Bhat,Vinay (2504) -
Bercys,Salvijus (2503) [D37]
USCL Dallas vs San
Francisco 2009
1.d4
d5
2.c4
e6
3.Nc3
Be7
4.Nf3
Nf6
5.Bf4
0-0
6.e3
Nbd7
7.c5
c6
8.Bd3
b6
9.b4
a5
10.a3
Ba6
11.0-0
Qc8
12.h3
Qb7
13.Rb1
axb4
14.axb4
Bxd3
15.Qxd3
Ra3
16.Qc2
Rfa8
17.Rfc1
b5
18.Nd2
Bd8
19.Nb3
R3a6
20.f3
Nh5
21.Bh2
Bc7
22.g4
Nhf6
23.f4
g6
24.Rf1
h5
25.Qg2
hxg4
26.hxg4
Kg7
27.Qf3
Rh8
28.Bg3
Ra3
29.Kg2
Qa8
30.Bf2
1/2-1/2
Kiewra,Keaton (2365) - Naroditsky,Daniel (2371) [B99]
USCL Dallas
vs San Francisco Internet Chess Club 2009
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.Bd3 h6 11.Bh4 g5 12.fxg5 Ne5 13.Qe2 Nfg4 14.h3 hxg5 15.Bg3 Nf6 16.Rhf1 Bd7 17.Kb1 b5 18.a3 Rb8 19.Na2 Nh5 20.Bh2 Nf4 21.Qd2 a5 22.Bxf4 gxf4 23.Qxf4 b4 24.axb4 axb4 25.Nb3 Ba4 26.Qf2 Rf8 27.Qd4 Nxd3 28.Rxd3 Bb5 29.Nxb4 Bxd3 30.Nxd3 Rc8 31.Qf2 f5 32.Qe2 fxe4 33.Rxf8+ Bxf8 34.Nf4 Qc4 35.Qxc4 Rxc4 36.Nxe6 e3 37.Ned4 Bg7 38.Ne2 Rb4 39.Ka2 Ra4+ 40.Kb1 Rb4 41.Ka2 Be5 42.c3 Rb7 43.Nbc1 Rg7 44.g4 Rh7 45.Kb3 Rxh3 46.Kc4 Rh4 47.Kd3 Rxg4 48.Kxe3 Kd7 49.Nd3 Ke6 50.Nb4 Rh4 51.Kd3 Rh3+ 52.Kc4 Rh2 53.Kd3 d5 54.Nc6 Kd6 55.Nb4 Bf6 56.Nf4 d4 57.cxd4 Rxb2 58.Nc2 Bg5 59.Ne2 Rb3+ 60.Kc4 Rb8 61.Nc3 Rc8+ 62.Kd3 Be7 63.Ne3 Kd7 64.Nc4 Rh8 65.Ke4 Bf6 66.Kd5 Ke7 67.Ne5 Rc8 68.Nb5 Rd8+ 69.Ke4 Bxe5 70.dxe5 Rb8 71.Nd4 Rb1 72.Nf5+ Kd7 73.Nd4 Re1+ 74.Kd5 Rd1 75.Ke4 Re1+ 1/2-1/2
Liou,Yian (2149) -
Zorigt,Bayaraa (2270) [B76]
USCL Dallas vs San Francisco Internet Chess
Club 2009
1.e4
c5
2.Nf3
d6
3.d4
cxd4
4.Nxd4
Nf6
5.Nc3
g6
6.Be3
Bg7
7.f3
0-0
8.Qd2
Nc6
9.0-0-0
d5
10.Kb1
Nxd4
11.e5
Nxf3
12.gxf3
Nh5
13.Qxd5
Qc7
14.f4
Bg4
15.Be2
Bxe2
16.Nxe2
Rfd8
17.Qc5
Qxc5
18.Bxc5
Bh6
19.Be3
Rac8
20.b3
f6
21.exf6
exf6
22.Bxa7
Rxd1+
23.Rxd1
Re8
24.Ng3
Nxf4
25.a4
f5
26.a5
Ng2
27.b4
f4
28.Nf1
Bf8
29.c3
Bg7
30.Kc2
g5
31.b5
g4
32.Bf2
Ra8
33.Bb6
h5
34.Rd8+
Rxd8
35.Bxd8
Be5
36.b6
Ne1+
37.Kd1
g3
38.hxg3
fxg3
39.Nxg3
Bxg3
40.Bc7
Bf2
41.Ke2
Nd3
42.Kxd3
h4
43.Ke2
Bc5
44.a6
bxa6
45.b7
Ba7
46.b8Q+
Bxb8
47.Bxb8
Kf7
48.Kf3
Ke6
49.Ke4
Kd7
50.Kd5
Kc8
51.Bh2
Kb7
52.Kc5
Ka7
53.Kc6
h3
54.Bg1+
Ka8
55.Kb6
a5
56.Kxa5
Kb7
57.Kb5
Kc7
58.Bh2+
Kb7
59.c4
Ka8
60.c5
Kb7
61.c6+
Kc8
62.Kb6
1-0
2009 Final Regular
Season Standings
|
EASTERN DIVISION |
W |
L |
Game Points |
Opps Avg Rating |
Opps Record |
|
8.0 |
2.0 |
26.0/40 (65%) |
2402 |
43.5-42.5 (51%) | |
|
7.5 |
2.5 |
23.5/40 (59%) |
2401 |
39.5-46.5 (46%) | |
|
5.0 |
5.0 |
22.0/40 (55%) |
2405 |
48.5-37.5 (56%) | |
|
4.5 |
5.5 |
18.5/40 (46%) |
2400 |
38.5-47.5 (45%) | |
|
4.0 |
6.0 |
17.5/40 (44%) |
2398 |
40.5-45.5 (47%) | |
|
3.5 |
6.5 |
17.0/40 (43%) |
2402 |
45.5-40.5 (53%) | |
|
2.0 |
8.0 |
13.5/40 (34%) |
2410 |
41.5-44.5 (48%) |
|
WESTERN DIVISION |
W |
L |
Game Points |
Opps Avg Rating |
Opps Record |
|
7.5 |
2.5 |
23.5/40 (59%) |
2392 |
41.0-45.0 (48%) | |
|
6.5 |
3.5 |
22.5/40 (56%) |
2403 |
42.5-43.5 (49%) | |
|
6.0 |
4.0 |
22.5/40 (56%) |
2399 |
48.5-37.5 (56%) | |
|
6.0 |
4.0 |
22.0/40 (55%) |
2400 |
43.0-43.0 (50%) | |
|
4.0 |
6.0 |
18.5/40 (46%) |
2405 |
43.5-42.5 (51%) | |
|
3.5 |
6.5 |
17.0/40 (43%) |
2412 |
44.5-41.5 (52%) | |
|
2.0 |
8.0 |
16.0/40 (40%) |
2405 |
41.5-44.5 (48%) |
Arthur Ismakov won the Mechanics' Wednesday Night Blitz last evening scoring 9 from 9! A distant second in the ten player field at 6 was Yefim Bukh with Romy Fuentes third at 5.5.
A third of the way into the nine round Winter Tuesday Night Marathon five players remain with perfect scores: NM Oleg Shakhnazarov and Experts Igor Traub (who upset top-seed NM Michael Pearson last round), Steven Gaffagan, Evan Sandberg and Igor Margulis.
This Saturday and Sunday the Mechanics' will host the 39th Carroll Capps Memorial.
2) Americans Abroad
French GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave won
the World Junior Championship held in Argentina on tiebreak. American
GM-elect Alex Lenderman did very well tying for third. The other American in
the tournament, US Junior Champion and GM-elect Ray Robson,
finished in 18th, but turned a respectable 2552 performance rating that gives
some indication of how tough this 84-player event was.
1-2. GMs Vachier-Lagrave (FRA 2718) and S. Zhigalko (BLR, 2646) -
10½/13,
3-5. GMs Olszewski (POL, 2544) and I. Popov (RUS, 2582), IM Lenderman
(USA, 2542) – 9
Jude Acers played very strongly for much of the 2009 World Senior Championship in northern Italy. Here is a nice win as Black over a Ukrainian IM.
Kernazhitsky - Acers, 2009 World Senior
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 a6 6. g3 b5 7. Bg2 Bb7 8. O-O e6 9. Bf4 Qb6 10. Qe2 Bd6 11. Bxd6 cxd6 12. Nd1 O-O 13. Ne3 Rc8 14. c3 Nbd7 15. a4 Be4 16. a5 Qb7 17. Nd2 Bxg2 18. Nxg2 e5 19. Ne3 g6 20. Nc2 Re8 21. Qf3 e4 22. Qf4 Re6 23. f3 Nd5 24. Qh4 e3 25. Ne4 f6 26. Rae1 Nf8 27. Nxe3 Nxe3 28. Rxe3 Kg7 29. Ree1 Qe7 30. d5 Re5 31. g4 Re8 32. Rd1 g5 33. Qf2 Ng6 34. Ng3 Nh4 35. f4 Re3 36. fxg5 fxg5 37. Nh5 Kh8 38. Qf7 Qxf7 39. Rxf7 Nf3 40. Kh1 Ne5 41. Rf5 Nxg4 42. Rdf1 Re1 43. Rf8 Rxf8 44. Rxe1 Ne5 45. Kg2 h6 46. Rf1 Rxf1 47. Kxf1 Nc4 48. b4 Ne3 49. Ke2 Nxd5 50. Kd3 Kh7 51. Kd4 Nc7 52. Nf6 Kg6 53. Nd5 Ne6 54. Ke4 h5 55. Ne3 Nc7 56. Nf5 Ne8 57. Ne7 Kf7 58. Nd5 Ke6 59. Kd4 h4 60. h3 Kd7 61. Ke4 Ke6 62. c4 bxc4 63. b5 c3 64. Nxc3 d5 65. Ke3 Ke5 66. Kf3 d4 67. b6 Nd6 68. Ne4 Nb7 69. Nxg5 Nxa5 70. Kg4 d3 71. Nf3 Ke4 72. Nd2 Ke3 73. Nb1 d2 74. Nc3 Kd3 75. Nd1 Nb7 76. Kxh4 a5 [0:1]
3) November FIDE Ratings
1. Topalov - 2810
2. Carlsen -
2801
3. Anand - 2788
4. Aronian - 2786
5. Kramnik - 2772
6. Gashimov
- 2758
7. Gelfand - 2758
8. Svidler - 2754
9. Leko - 2752
10.
Morozevich - 2750
11. Radjabov - 2748
12. Ivanchuk - 2739
13.
Ponomariov - 2739
14. Grischuk - 2736
15. Jakovenko - 2736
16. Wang Yue
- 2734
17. Eljanov - 2729
18. Karjakin - 2723
19. Mamedyarov -
2719
20. Shirov - 2719
Top US Players
1. Nakamura 2715
2. Kamsky 2695
3. Onischuk 2672
4. Seirawan 2649
5. Akobian 2624
6. Shulman 2623
7-8. Ehlvest and Shabalov 2608
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4) World Cup Pairings
FIDE has publishing the pairings of the 1st round of the World Cup 2009. The 10 American entrants ( from a 128 player field) are highlighted below.
|
World Cup 2009 Round 1 | |||||||||
|
Table |
White |
|
Fed |
|
Black |
|
Fed | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
GM |
Gelfand, Boris |
ISR |
- |
128 |
IM |
Obodchuk, Andrei |
RUS |
|
2 |
2 |
GM |
Gashimov, Vugar |
AZE |
- |
127 |
IM |
Sarwat, Walaa |
EGY |
|
3 |
3 |
GM |
Svidler, Peter |
RUS |
- |
126 |
IM |
Hebert, Jean |
CAN |
|
4 |
4 |
GM |
Morozevich, Alexander |
RUS |
- |
125 |
IM |
Abdel Razik, Khaled |
EGY |
|
5 |
5 |
GM |
Radjabov, Teimour |
AZE |
- |
124 |
IM |
Ezat, Mohamed |
EGY |
|
6 |
6 |
GM |
Ivanchuk, Vassily |
UKR |
- |
123 |
GM |
Bezgodov, Alexei |
RUS |
|
7 |
7 |
GM |
Ponomariov, Ruslan |
UKR |
- |
122 |
GM |
El Gindy, Essam |
EGY |
|
8 |
8 |
GM |
Grischuk, Alexander |
RUS |
- |
121 |
IM |
Sriram, Jha |
IND |
|
9 |
9 |
GM |
Jakovenko, Dmitry |
RUS |
- |
120 |
GM |
Rizouk, Aimen |
ALG |
|
10 |
10 |
GM |
Wang, Yue |
CHN |
- |
119 |
GM |
Kabanov, Nikolai |
RUS |
|
11 |
11 |
GM |
Eljanov, Pavel |
UKR |
- |
118 |
GM |
Al Sayed, Mohamad N. |
QAT |
|
12 |
12 |
GM |
Karjakin, Sergey |
UKR |
- |
117 |
GM |
Rodriguez Vila, Andres |
URU |
|
13 |
13 |
GM |
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar |
AZE |
- |
116 |
GM |
Kosteniuk, Alexandra |
RUS |
|
14 |
14 |
GM |
Shirov, Alexei |
ESP |
- |
115 |
GM |
Kunte, Abhijit |
IND |
|
15 |
15 |
GM |
Dominguez Perez, Leinier |
CUB |
- |
114 |
GM |
Smerdon, David |
AUS |
|
16 |
16 |
GM |
Movsesian, Sergei |
SVK |
- |
113 |
GM |
Yu, Yangyi |
CHN |
|
17 |
17 |
GM |
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime |
FRA |
- |
112 |
GM |
Yu, Shaoteng |
CHN |
|
18 |
18 |
GM |
Alekseev, Evgeny |
RUS |
- |
111 |
IM |
Pridorozhni, Aleksei |
RUS |
|
19 |
19 |
GM |
Tomashevsky, Evgeny |
RUS |
- |
110 |
GM |
Ivanov, Alexander |
USA |
|
20 |
20 |
GM |
Wang, Hao |
CHN |
- |
109 |
GM |
Friedel, Joshua E |
USA |
|
21 |
21 |
GM |
Navara, David |
CZE |
- |
108 |
GM |
Laylo, Darwin |
PHI |
|
22 |
22 |
GM |
Malakhov, Vladimir |
RUS |
- |
107 |
GM |
Amin, Bassem |
EGY |
|
23 |
23 |
GM |
Bacrot, Etienne |
FRA |
- |
106 |
GM |
Nijboer, Friso |
NED |
|
24 |
24 |
GM |
Rublevsky, Sergei |
RUS |
- |
105 |
GM |
Morovic Fernandez, Ivan |
CHI |
|
25 |
25 |
GM |
Jobava, Baadur |
GEO |
- |
104 |
IM |
Robson, Ray |
USA |
|
26 |
26 |
GM |
Motylev, Alexander |
RUS |
- |
103 |
GM |
Hess, Robert L |
USA |
|
27 |
27 |
GM |
Kamsky, Gata |
USA |
- |
102 |
GM |
Antonio, Rogelio Jr |
PHI |
|
28 |
28 |
GM |
Vitiugov, Nikita |
RUS |
- |
101 |
GM |
Gupta, Abhijeet |
IND |
|
29 |
29 |
GM |
Bologan, Viktor |
MDA |
- |
100 |
GM |
Adly, Ahmed |
EGY |
|
30 |
30 |
GM |
Naiditsch, Arkadij |
GER |
- |
99 |
GM |
Hou, Yifan |
CHN |
|
31 |
31 |
GM |
Bu, Xiangzhi |
CHN |
- |
98 |
GM |
Pelletier, Yannick |
SUI |
|
32 |
32 |
GM |
Polgar, Judit |
HUN |
- |
97 |
GM |
Pavasovic, Dusko |
SLO |
|
33 |
33 |
GM |
Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter |
ROU |
- |
96 |
GM |
Lupulescu, Constantin |
ROU |
|
34 |
34 |
GM |
Sargissian, Gabriel |
ARM |
- |
95 |
GM |
Li, Chao b |
CHN |
|
35 |
35 |
GM |
Onischuk, Alexander |
USA |
- |
94 |
GM |
Flores, Diego |
ARG |
|
36 |
36 |
GM |
Cheparinov, Ivan |
BUL |
- |
93 |
GM |
Kryvoruchko, Yuriy |
UKR |
|
37 |
37 |
GM |
Efimenko, Zahar |
UKR |
- |
92 |
GM |
Milos, Gilberto |
BRA |
|
38 |
38 |
GM |
Sutovsky, Emil |
ISR |
- |
91 |
GM |
Zhou, Weiqi |
CHN |
|
39 |
39 |
GM |
Najer, Evgeniy |
RUS |
- |
90 |
GM |
Ghaem Maghami, Ehsan |
IRI |
|
40 |
40 |
GM |
Tiviakov, Sergei |
NED |
- |
89 |
GM |
Iturrizaga, Eduardo |
VEN |
|
41 |
41 |
GM |
Areshchenko, Alexander |
UKR |
- |
88 |
GM |
Corrales Jimenez, Fidel |
CUB |
|
42 |
42 |
GM |
Sasikiran, Krishnan |
IND |
- |
87 |
GM |
L'Ami, Erwin |
NED |
|
43 |
43 |
GM |
Smirin, Ilia |
ISR |
- |
86 |
GM |
Ehlvest, Jaan |
USA |
|
44 |
44 |
GM |
Baklan, Vladimir |
UKR |
- |
85 |
GM |
Shabalov, Alexander |
USA |
|
45 |
45 |
GM |
Ganguly, Surya Shekhar |
IND |
- |
84 |
GM |
Filippov, Anton |
UZB |
|
46 |
46 |
GM |
Fier, Alexandr |
BRA |
- |
83 |
GM |
Khalifman, Alexander |
RUS |
|
47 |
47 |
GM |
Fressinet, Laurent |
FRA |
- |
82 |
GM |
Sjugirov, Sanan |
RUS |
|
48 |
48 |
GM |
Meier, Georg |
GER |
- |
81 |
GM |
Petrosian, Tigran L. |
ARM |
|
49 |
49 |
GM |
Grachev, Boris |
RUS |
- |
80 |
GM |
Bartel, Mateusz |
POL |
|
50 |
50 |
GM |
Caruana, Fabiano |
ITA |
- |
79 |
GM |
Bruzon Batista, Lazaro |
CUB |
|
51 |
51 |
GM |
Sokolov, Ivan |
NED |
- |
78 |
GM |
Fedorchuk, Sergey A. |
UKR |
|
52 |
52 |
GM |
Milov, Vadim |
SUI |
- |
77 |
GM |
Negi, Parimarjan |
IND |
|
53 |
53 |
GM |
Timofeev, Artyom |
RUS |
- |
76 |
GM |
Leitao, Rafael |
BRA |
|
54 |
54 |
GM |
Inarkiev, Ernesto |
RUS |
- |
75 |
GM |
Gustafsson, Jan |
GER |
|
55 |
55 |
GM |
Savchenko, Boris |
RUS |
- |
74 |
GM |
Shulman, Yuri |
USA |
|
56 |
56 |
GM |
Kobalia, Mikhail |
RUS |
- |
73 |
GM |
Sandipan, Chanda |
IND |
|
57 |
57 |
GM |
Tkachiev, Vladislav |
FRA |
- |
72 |
GM |
Le, Quang Liem |
VIE |
|
58 |
58 |
GM |
Tregubov, Pavel V. |
RUS |
- |
71 |
GM |
Akobian, Varuzhan |
USA |
|
59 |
59 |
GM |
So, Wesley |
PHI |
- |
70 |
GM |
Guseinov, Gadir |
AZE |
|
60 |
60 |
GM |
Granda Zuniga, Julio E |
PER |
- |
69 |
GM |
Sakaev, Konstantin |
RUS |
|
61 |
61 |
GM |
Laznicka, Viktor |
CZE |
- |
68 |
GM |
Papaioannou, Ioannis |
GRE |
|
62 |
62 |
GM |
Andreikin, Dmitry |
RUS |
- |
67 |
GM |
Nyback, Tomi |
FIN |
|
63 |
63 |
GM |
Mamedov, Rauf |
AZE |
- |
66 |
GM |
Zhou, Jianchao |
CHN |
|
64 |
64 |
GM |
Amonatov, Farrukh |
TJK |
- |
65 |
GM |
Volkov, Sergey |
RUS |
5) The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - a chess song?
IM James Rizzitano, is one of the strongest players ever to have been born in New England, and a well known chess author. He also happens to have a very good ear.
Recently, while traveling to work, he had the radio on when the song The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down by J. R.( Robbie) Robertson came on and caught his attention.
The first few lines might suggest that the song is about the Civil War and the fall of the South.
Virgil Caine is the
name, and I served on the Danville train,
'Til Stoneman's cavalry came and
tore up the tracks again.
In the winter of '65, We were hungry, just barely
alive.
By May the tenth, Richmond had fell, it's a time I remember, oh so
well,
(Chorus)
But listen longer and what do you hear but a line that could have been the mantra for many a starving chess pro.
“Now I don't mind choppin' wood, and I don't care if the money's no good."
6) CalChess Website
News
Tom Langland, CalChess President, writes:
As many of you have observed
the CalChess website (www.calchess.org)
has suffered a major malware
attack. From what I can gather, the www.calchess.org web site was possibly
penetrated several weeks ago, and has since been hit critically.
This is not the first time the site has been attacked and penetrated, but one of
several. The current location appears to provide insufficient protection
against outside attacks. I also continue to receive 40-50 spam messages a
day.
My attempts to remedy the situation have met with extreme
resistance, and the current environment is untenable. This was a
position I thought was regrettably forthcoming.
To that end, I have been
working on a long-term project to improve the site, and due to the above
situation, I am releasing it ahead of
my intended
schedule.
So...
I am announcing the new
official Calchess website located at:
http://www.norcalchess.org
The new site is still a work in progress, and
I am looking forward to feedback. I do not have any plans to maintain the
"old" site.
Bay area organizer Salman Azhar writes:
I have posted the latest
tournament announcements I have at http://bayareachess.com/events/norcal to
serve as an unofficial reference until Tom recovers the
calchess.org
site. I have marked the differences in yellow highlight along with the reasons
if I could recall.
7) Special Election For Two USCF Executive Board Seats
Due to the revocation of the memberships of Susan Polgar and Paul Truong which took place at the USCF delegates’ meeting this past August, there will be a special election in June to elect two board members to one-year terms. Deadline for receipt of nominating petitions is midnight, January 11, and they should be sent to Cheryle Bruce at the USCF office, P.O. Box 3967, Crossville, TN 38557. Petitions must include 30 signatures of USCF voting members, and the filing fee is $250.
8) Upcoming
Events
Mechanics' Institute
Carroll Capps Memorial - November
7- 8
Pierre Saint-Amant Memorial -
November 21
Guthrie McClain Memorial - December
5
Northern California
Oct. 31-Nov. 1, San Jose Open
Swiss 4SSx30/90 G/60 at BayAreaChess Center, 4423
Fortran Ct., Ste 160, San Jose, CA 95134.
Schedule: 11am-4pm. Free lunch – donations welcome.
2 sections: 1800+, u1800.
EF: $55 bef 10/17. $63 bef 10/27. $71 onsite.
Prizes: $2,002 based on 66 paid entries. 2 sections.
Over 1800: $300-200-100-60-60 (u2000: 150-100-55-55)
u1800: $200-150-101-60 (u1600: 100-55, u1400: 100-55, u1200: 100-55).
ENT: BayAreaChess, 4423 Fortran Ct., Ste 160, San Jose, CA 95134.
More info: BayAreaChess.com/events/09oct.
Contact: contact@BayAreaChess.com. 408-786-5515
NS NC W.
A State Championship Event!
Nov. 27-29 or 28-29, GPP: 40 California Northern
CalChess Annual State Championship 2009
6SS 40/2 G/1 (2-day option, rounds 1-3 G/60).
Hotel: Hyatt Regency Santa Clara, 5101 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara,
CA 95054. 4-star rooms @ $99. Free parking.
Prizes: $8,010 based on 166 paid entries. 7 sections.
Master/Open (FIDE rated): $$ Gtd. 1000-500-300-200 (top 4 guaranteed),
(u2300 $201-101)
EXPERT: $500-200-100-100 (u2100: 201-101)
A: $500-200-100-100 (u1900: 201-101)
B: $500-200-100-100 (u1700: 201-101)
C: $500-200-100-100 (u1500: 201-101)
D/E: $300-200-100-100 (u1200: 201-100).
Unrated may enter any section but prize limit of $200 in all u2000 sections;
balance goes to next player(s) in line.
EF: $85 3-day, $79 2-day mailed or online by 11/13. Add $15 for 11/14-11/25,
add $25 onsite, add $19 for play-up, and subtract $45 for BayAreaChess Pass.
GMs & IMs free before 11/7 (entry fees deducted from prize).
Re-entry $39. TD may assign ratings.
3-day schedule: Reg.: Fri 10-10:30a, Fri/Sat 11a 5:15p, Sun 10a, 4:15p.
2-day sched: Reg.: Sa 9-9:30a, Sat 10, 12:15, 2:30, 5:15p. Sun 10am, 4:15pm.
Byes must commit before rd 3. Max 2 byes.
Hotel $99 BayAreaChess rate, 800-233-1234. reserve by 11/13 or rate may increase.
Ent: BayAreaChess, 4423 Fortran Ct., Ste. 160, San Jose, CA 95134.
$20 service charge for refunds.
Questions: contact@BayAreaChess.com, Tel 408-786-5515.
Info & Entries: BayAreaChess.com/events/ccc09.
NS NC W
WCL JGP
Jan. 1-3 or 2-3, GPP: 30 California Northern
NorCal Open 2010 6SS 30/90 G/60 (2-day option, rounds 1-3 G/60).
Hotel: Hyatt Regency Santa Clara, 5101 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara, CA 95054. 4-star rooms @ $99. Free parking. Prizes: $6,007 129 paid entries.
7 sections.
Master/Open (FIDE rated): $$ Gtd. 700-300-201 (u2300: 200 100)
EXPERT: $400-200-101 (u2100: 100-100)
A: $400-200-101 (u1900: 100-100)
B: $400-200-101 (u1700: 100-100)
C: $400-200-101 (u1500: 100-100)
D/E: $400-200-101 (u1200: 100-100).
Unrated may enter any section but prize limit of $200 in all u2200 sections;
balance goes to next player(s) in line.
EF: $85 3-day, $79 2-day mailed or online by 12/20. Add $5 for 12/21-23, 12/24-26 $15
(no mailed entries after 12/26), add $25 onsite, add $19 for play-up, subtract $45 for BayAreaChess Pass.
GMs & IMs free before 12/20 (entry fee deducted from prize).
Re-entry $39. TD may assign ratings.
3-day schedule: Reg.: Fri 10-10:30a, Fri/Sat 11:30a 4:45p, Sun 10a, 3:15p.
2-day sched: Reg.: Sa 9-9:30a, Sat 10, 12:10, 2:20, 4:45p. Sun 10a, 3:15p.
Byes must commit before rd 3. Max 2 byes.
Hotel $99 BayAreaChess rate, 800-233-1234. reserve by 12/18 or rate may increase.
Ent: BayAreaChess, 4423 Fortran Ct., Ste. 160, San Jose, CA 95134.
$20 service charge for refunds.
Questions: contact@BayAreaChess.com, Tel 408-786-5515.
Info & Entries: BayAreaChess.com/events/10norcal
NS NC W
WCL JGP
---
Salman Azhar,
Ph.D. |
Email me at
Salman@BayAreaChess.Com | Email
Contact@BayAreaChess.com for all chess
administrative communications | Tel 408-786-5515
Executive Director BayAreaChess
2008-present - Chief Organizer CalChess State Scholastics 2008 to
2012
More info at www.BayAreaChess.com > After-School, Tournaments, Coaching
Connect with me at http://www.linkedin.com/in/salmanazhar or
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=sazhar
BayAreaChess programs are provided by the contributions from people like you... Thank you
Jan. 15-18, 16-18 or 17-18 Golden State Open GPP: 200 Enhanced California Northern
7SS, 40/2, SD/1 (3-day option rds. 1-2 G/75, 2-day option rds. 1-4 G/35, no 2-day Open Section.) Under 900 Section plays separate 2-day schedule Jan 17-18 only, G/35. At Concord Hilton Hotel, 1970 Diamond Blvd., Concord, CA 94520 (I-680 Willow Pass Rd exit). Free shuttle between hotel and Concord BART station. Free parking. $$60,000 based on 450 paid entries (re-entries & U900 Section count as 1/3 entries), minimum guarantee $40,000 (2/3 each prize). Open, open to all. $$4000-2200-1300-1000-800-700-600-500-400-400, clear or tiebreak winner $300, top U2400 $2000-1000. FIDE. Under 2200: $3000-1500-800-700-600-500-400-300-200-200. Under 2000: $3000-1500-800-700- 600-500-400-300-200-200. Under 1800: $3000-1500-800-700-600-500-400-300-200-200. Under 1600: $2500-1300-700-600-500-400-300-300-200-200. Under 1400: $2000-1000-700-500-400- 300-200-200. Under 1200: $2000-1000-700-500-400-300-200-200. Under 900: $800-400-200-150-100-80-70. Prize limits: 1) Unrated (0-3 lifetime games rated) may enter any section, with maximum prize U900 $200, U1200 $400, U1400 $600, U1600 $900, U1800 $1200, U2000 $1500. 2) Players with under 26 lifetime games rated may not win over $400 in U900, $800 in U1200 or $1200 in U1400. 3) If more than 30 points above section maximum on any list 1/09-12/09, prize limit $1000. 4) Balance of any limited prize goes to next player(s) in line. Top 7 sections EF: 4-day $174, 3-day $173, 2-day $172 mailed by 1/7, all $175 online at chesstour.com by 1/12, $180 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 1/12 (entry only, no questions), $200 at site. GMs free; $150 deducted from prize. Under 900 Section EF: $52 mailed by 1/7, $55 online at chesstour.com by 1/12 (entry only, no questions), $60 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 1/12, $70 at site. All: Special 1 yr USCF dues with Chess Life if paid with entry: online at chesstour.com $30; mailed, phoned or paid at site $40. Re-entry (except Master) $60. Mailed EF $5 less to rated CalChess members. 4-day schedule: Reg. ends Fri 6:15 pm, rds. Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 11 & 6, Mon 10 & 4:30. 3-day schedule: Reg. Sat to 10:15 am, rds Sat 11, 2:30 & 6, Sun 11 & 6, Mon 10 & 4:30. 2-day schedule: Reg Sun to 9:15 am, rds Sun 10-12-2-4-6, Sun 10-4:30, not available for Open Section. Under 900 schedule: Reg. Sun to 9:15 am, rds. Sun. 10-12-2-4, Mon. 10-12-2. Byes: OK all; Open must commit before rd 2, others before rd 4; limit 3 byes in Open. Unofficial uschess.org ratings based on 4 or more games usually used if otherwise unrated. Foreign player ratings: See chesstour.com. HR: $99-99-109, 925-827-2000, reserve by 1/1 or rate may increase. Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633. Questions: chesstour.com, 845-496-9658. Ent: Continental Chess, c/o Goichberg, Box 661776, Arcadia, CA 91066. $15 service charge for withdrawals. Advance entries posted at chesstour.com. WCL JGP.