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"There were quite a few in the chess world who had a sober outlook on life; but while taking this sober look at the world they could not help but start drinking." Viktor Kortchnoi speaking about Anatoly Lutikov's love of the bottle in the Soviet Union. 1) Mechanics' Institute Chess Club News 2) Kasparov-Kasimdzhanov set for January 3) Kramnik-Leko 4) Karpov Tour of US in 2005 5) Western States Open 6) Boris Spassky 7) Burlingame Open 8) USCF Relocation 9) Chess Olympiad to Start 10) Here and There 11) Upcoming Events 1) Mechanics' Institute Chess Club NewsGM Dmitry Gurevich, fresh from his victory in the Midwest Class Championship in Chicago, will be lecturing this evening at the M.I. from 5:15 to 6:30. The talk is free to all and should serve as good inspiration for this weekend's Western States Open. Congratulations to Ariel Mazzarelli and Vincent Mo who both achieved FIDE ratings from the recent Tuesday Night Marathon. Speaking of the next TNM, it will start on October 26, running 9 consecutive Tuesday nights, finishing December 21. Up to three half point byes are available for the first seven rounds. The event will be FIDE rated. Entry fee remains $35 in advance, $45 at the door. Those playing in the upcoming Marathon will be in for a surprise. The main chess room has been undergoing remodeling and in the process of removing the carpeting and installing new flooring it was discovered that the tile that runs from the elevator to the chess room door actually extends to the back stairs. The new look of the club will incorporate this tile, the first time it has seen the light of day in over fifty years. Arthur Ibragimov continued his domination of the Wednesday Night Blitz on October 6 with Jorge Lopez second. There will be no blitz tonight. Play will resume the following Wednesday, October 20. 2) Kasparov-Kasimdzhanov set for JanuaryThe reunification match between FIDE world champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov and Garry Kasparov is scheduled to take place next January in the United Arab Emirates. FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov clinched the deal with Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum in Dubai. The prize sum is US $1.2 million. The news comes at a time when people were just beginning to give up any hope of the Prague reunification process coming to fruition. 3) Kramnik-LekoThree games remain with Leko up by one and Kramnik having White twice. The match has been heavily criticized for the large number of draws. IM David Levy had this to say. "Although one might accept the approach of Kramnik and Leko as being the epitome of professionalism, insofar as they are both trying their very best to end their match as the holder of the World Championship title, this does not mean that at the same time one has to applaud games that are devoid of artistry. Imagine watching a boxing match in which the two antagonists dance around on opposite sides of the ring, afraid to go too near each other more than once every few rounds in case of a lucky blow coming in the opposite direction. If that was the approach of World Heavyweight Championship contenders, how long would boxing last as a spectator sport?" 4) Karpov Tour of US in 2005April 4, 2005, will mark the 30th anniversary of GM Anatoly Karpov's ascendancy to the throne of World Chess Champion. Since that time, GM Karpov has done what no other World Champion has done; he has played in hundreds of Grandmaster level chess tournaments throughout the world, winning a record 154 of these international tournaments. Since GM Karpov became the World Champion, he devoted much of his time advocating for the popularization of chess around the world. In doing so, he opened many Karpov chess schools in his home country, Russia, and abroad. In 2003 Grandmaster Karpov opened the first "Anatoly Karpov International School of Chess" in the United States - in Lindsborg, KS. It is our pleasure to announce that Grandmaster Karpov has agreed to do a promotional tour of the United States during the last week of March and the first week of April, 2005, for the 30th Anniversary of his World Championship title. GM Karpov will be available for lectures, presentations, and simultaneous exhibition games. On April 4-6, 2005 Lindsborg, KS will host the World Championship weekend in honor of GM Karpov's achievements in chess and world peace activities. More information about this event will be presented later this year. To plan GM Karpov's tour of the United States, we would like to ask all interested organizations to contact Dr. Mikhail Korenman, Director, Karpov Chess School in Lindsborg, KS before December 1, 2004. The contact phone: 785-227-2224 or e-mail intecsus@yahoo.com 5) Western States OpenThe Western States Open starts this weekend (details under upcoming tournaments). This is traditionally by far the largest tournament for Northern California (yes, I know it's Reno!) and this year looks like a huge turnout. If you would like to play for the MI team here are the conditions: You must be an MI member. Any prize the team wins goes to the Chess Room to sponsor special events. Masters, Class E and Unrated are not eligible. Last year the MI won a prize that helped bring US Champion Alex Shabalov to the MI. 6) Boris SpasskyThe former World Champion will be a special guest of this year's Western States Open. Spots in the simul are already sold out but there are plenty of chances to hear him speak over the weekend. The last time Spassky was in Northern California/Nevada was at a Paul Masson in the 1970s. Spassky has yet to write a book himself but here are some titles devoted to one of the greatest all around players in the history of the game. Books on Spassky with the author and year it was published: English language - Cozens (1966), Schroeder (1967), Soltis (1973) - this hardback was an expanded version of his 1969 paperback, Cafferty (1972) and Semkov (1998) Serbo Croatian - Bjelica (1977) and Marovic (1981) French - Le Monnier (1965 - the first book on Spassky) Russian - Bondarevsky (1966) and two volume red hardbacks edited by Krogius (2000) Italian - Castelli (1967) 7) Burlingame OpenOrganizer and Tournament Director Richard Koepcke reports that IM Ricardo DeGuzman won the 52-player Burlingame Open last weekend. We hope to have more results for Burlingame and last Sunday's G/60 event at the East Bay Chess Club in the next Newsletter. In the meantime Kerry Lawless and his website Chessdryad (www.ChessDryad.Com) have set a record of sort with 67 photos from the Burlingame event available for viewing! 8) USCF RelocationAs detailed in the past few Newsletters the USCF Executive Board now faces one of the most important decisions in the federation's history, one that is likely to have major consequences for decades to come. Not so long ago the USCF had a paid up building and over 2 million dollars in the bank. A year ago it was in danger of closing its doors. Tremendously increased competition for book and equipment sales and declining adult membership were factors, as was the decline in the stock market, but a number of inept decisions by a series of Executive Boards also bears the blame. Included in this would be some very poor selections for the Executive Director position. With very few exceptions Executive Board members typically have excellent chess-related backgrounds and a long record of devoted service to the federation. What you don't often see are accomplished lawyers, doctors, judges, financial professionals, managers, etc, who generally make up boards across the country and who have a wide breadth of expertise and perspective. This range of skills help them when evaluating business proposals. Now the current Executive Board must choose from several candidates including front-runner Crossville, Tennessee, which hosted the most recent EB meeting a month and made a favorable impression on several members. Last Newsletter I mistakenly wrote that Crossville, which is offering free land would be giving the USCF an interest free loan to construct a building. That is not in fact the case, it would be a normal commercial loan. As mentioned before the Crossville bid does include the use of an existing building, rent-free, while construction is going on. Also still in the mix is an expected offer from Liberty, New York. This bid, which could be the most favorable financially for USCF, offers a 21,000 square foot building and 30 acres of land for $250,000. The building is owned by one of the 40 wealthiest people in the US (Alan Gerry), who is promoting economic and cultural development in his home town. One estimate of the value of the land plus building is over $1,000,000, Lindsborg is offering free land and a building in its downtown. The building requires some renovation which would be covered for the most part by a $72,000 relocation grant from the state of Kansas. In effect the USCF instantly goes from renter to office owner with no mortgage at very little or no cost. That sort of deal certainly doesn't sound bad, especially for an organization whose financial performance a times makes it seem like it would be better served by having a trustee dole out a monthly allowance. As previously mentioned almost the entire Executive Board visited Crossville Only recently have a couple made it to Liberty. Friday a EB member will visit Lindsborg for the first time. First impressions are often powerful, especially when you haven't visited the other two sites, so it is understandable that momentum is in Crossville's favor. Still it would be regrettable if the EB went with the first place they visited without due reflection. If Liberty comes through as expected, the selection of Crossville would be similar to the B & E outsourcing proposal the Board was determined to accept in January, which offered no guarantee, a low percentage commission, and required 72 Chess Life pages free; with further negotiation the USCF later got $350,000 minimum, a higher commission, and ads at cost price. This would seem like one decision it would be prudent not to rush. One where politics should not play a role as there will be only one chance to get it right. 9) Chess Olympiad to StartThe very best of luck to the 2004 US Olympiad Teams which begin play tomorrow in Calvia, Spain. GMs Alex Onischuk, Alexander Goldin, Gregory Kaidanov, Alex Shabalov, Igor Novikov and Boris Gulko will make up the team which will represent the United States with Boris Postovsky as Captain. Zsuzsa Polgar , Irina Krush, Anna Zatonskih and Jennifer Shahade will represent America in the women's competition with Paul Truong serving as Captain. GM-elect Boris Kreiman hopes to have his title confirmed at the concurrent FIDE Congress. Boris will soon begin teaching for Academic Chess in Los Angeles. 10) Here and ThereNew in Chess Magazine's 20th anniversary issue, 2004/7, is currently at the printers and features a nice article by US Womens Champion Jennifer Shahade on Sonja Graf. Shahade recently completed a book on womens chess for IM Jeremy Silman and Gwen Feldman's Siles Press. New from the past - Bagby and Boyette tie in Northern California Chess Championship.
1.-2. Bagby and Boyette 5-1 Chess Life September 20, 1950 The world's longest running annual tournament, Hastings, is trying something very new. "The Hastings Congress 28 December 2004 to 9 January 2005 takes on a unique format this year. The Hastings Premier and Challengers are combined into one knockout tournament. Let us imagine 120 players enter for the event which finishes 6 January. Then 60 players go forward from the first round, with 4 lucky losers. These 64 players play a second round of knockout. The 56 losers play in the Challengers Swiss. The 64 players continue in one game knockouts until there are 8 players left. These 8 play in the Premier of 2 game knockouts. All players knocked out will be contracted to play in the Swiss Challengers, except for the losing finalists. Players when knocked out will carry forward their score in the standardplay games. Of course White would have been a big advantage. Thus White will have 70 minutes and Black 90 in which to make their first 40 moves and 20 minutes for the rest, with the addition of one minute per move cumulatively from the first. Where games are drawn, ties will be resolved first by blitz games, failing that an Armageddon play-off. Players will be able to gain title results from either event. The event will be part of the Association of Chess Professionals GP. The weekend tournament takes place 7-9 January. Full details from Con Power conpowr@aol.com http://www.hastingschess.org.uk Players seeking conditions should contact Stewartreuben@aol.com" GM Dmitry Gurevich won the 13th Annual Midwest Class Championship held October 8-10 in Oakbrook, Illinois, by winning a blitz playoff after tying with GM Alex Wojtkiewicz, IM Stanislav Smetankin (who drew both GMs), IM Angelo Young and John W. Cole at 4-1. The multi-section Continental Chess Association event drew an excellent 299 players.
11) Upcoming EventsUpcoming Tournaments at the MI
Carroll Capps Memorial - November 6-7 Mechanics Institute Scholastic Quads 2004 Tournaments:
October 16, November 13, December 18 Rounds : 10:30am, 12:15pm, 2:00pm Late Registration: 9:30am - 10:15am Open: to the first eighty players Note: Quads based on rating. USCF Rated. Unrated players face each other. You must be a USCF member to play in the quads. Time Control: Game in 45 minutes Entry Fee: $20 / $30 day of tournament/ $15 for MI members Checks payable to Mechanics' Chess Club Prizes: Trophies for the winners of each quad. Northern California Events Oct. 15-17 22nd Annual SANDS REGENCY RENO-WESTERN STATES OPEN GPP: 200 Nevada Special guest for 5 days-former World Champion GM Boris Spassky!!! 6SS, 40/2, 20/1. Sands Regency Hotel/Casino, 345 N. Arlington Ave., Reno, NV 89501. 1-800-648-3553 or (775) 348-2200. $$52,400 b/500, $$33,550 Gtd. G-$5,000-2500-1500-1200-1000-900-800-700-600-500 in Open Section plus 1/2 of all other prizes. 7 Sections: OPEN: EF: GMs & IMs free, Masters $150, (2000-2199) $201, (1999-below) $301. $$ Prizes 1-10 listed above, (2400-2499) $1000, (2300-2399) $1000-600-400, (2299-below) $1000-600-400. If a tie for 1st overall then (G/15) playoff for $100 from prize fund. (Note: GM/IM w/free entry not eligible for class prizes 2499and below, may elect to pay entry fee and become eligible). EXPERT: (2000-2199) EF: $149 $$2,000-1000-500-400-300-200-200-200-200-100-100-100-100-100 (under 2100) $700. "A" Sec. (1800-1999) EF: $148, $$1,900-1000-500-400-300-200-200-200-200-100-100-100-100-100-100. "B" Sec. (1600-1799) EF: $147, $$1,800-1000-500-400-300-200-200-200-200-100-100-100-100-100-100. "C" Sec. (1400-1599) EF: $146, $$ 1,700-1000-500-400-300-200-200-200-100-100-100-100-100-100-100. "D" Sec. (1200-1399 including adult unrateds) EF: $145 (unrated EF: $10 + must join USCF membership for 1 additional year through this tournament ($49 adults). $$1,500-800-500-400-300-200-200-200-100-100-100-100-100-100-100 (top unrated wins 1 yr. USCF membership plus trophy). "E" Sec. (1199-below including unrated Jrs.) EF: $75 (unrated EF: $10 + must join USCF membership for 1 additional yr. through this tournament ($25 Jrs.) (Note: each entry counts as 1/2 paid player towards total prize fund). $$500-400-300-200-100-100-100-100-100-100-100-100-100-100-100; 1st unrated - 1 year USCF membership + trophy. Seniors (65/over) $$500-300-200-100 (Srs not eligible: provisionally rated, unrated, "E" & masters) - Club Championship $$1000-500-300-200 decided by total score of best 10 scores form one club or area (not eligible - masters, unrated and Sec "E") Trophies to Top 3 (A-E Sections). ALL: $11 more if postmarked after 9/27/04 and $22 more if postmarked after 10/10/04 or at site. $20 off EF to Sr 65/over and Jrs 19/under (does not apply to "E" Section or Unrateds) Players may play up. Unrated players not eligible for cash prizes except Open 1-10. Provisionally rated players may win up to 50% of 1st place money except open Section 1-10. CCA ratings may be used. Note pairings not changed for color alternation unless 3 in a row or a plus 3 and if the unlikely situation occurs 3 colors in a row may be assigned. Reg: 5-9pm (10/14), 8:30-10am (10/15) rds 12-7, 10-7, 9:30-6. Byes available any round if requested before 1st round. Side events: 10/14 6-7:30pm GM Larry Evans lecture (free), Blitz (5 min) Tourney ($20) 7:30pm. GM Boris Spassky's schedule: Wed (10/13) "An Evening with Boris" dinner, cocktails & more advanced reservations required $30, 8:30pm. Thurs (10/14 Simul (25 boards) $100 (includes commemorative pen to all players), Spectator fee $5, 7:30pm. Fri (10/15) Book Signing Session 10-11am. Sat (10/16) Clinic - $10 4:30-6pm. Sun (10/17) film "Clash of the Titans" (Boris Spassky & Bobby Fischer) followed by questions & answers with Boris Spassky & Larry Evans, $10, 4-5:30pm. NOTE: All paid players receive free non transferable admission to all Spassky events except Wed dinner. Ent: Make checks payable and send to: SANDS REGENCY (address above) HR: $39 (Sun-Thurs) & $59 (Fri-Sat) + 13.5% tax. Info: Jerry Weikel, 6578 Valley Wood Drive, Reno NV 89523, (775) 747-1405 (wackyykl@aol.com) FIDE, W.
Oct. 30-31 Blacknight October Open Southern California
A Heritage Event! National Events
Oct. 29-31. GPP: 80 South Dakota Mark these two events down on your calendar. The PAN AM Intercollegiate will be held in Kansas right after Christmas.Email Mikhail Korenman for more information at mkorenman@yahoo.com 4th Annual Lindsborg Open December 17-22 GM & IM norms are available; $4,000 guaranteed prize fund! Rapid Knock-out Tournament Lindsborg, Kansas December 23-25, 2004 $11,500 guaranteed prize fund! 9SS; |