Alexandra Kosteniuk won the 2nd FiNet Chess960 Women’s Rapid World Championship, beating Ukrainian GM Kateryna Lahno in the final of this shuffle chess variante. On the second day of the computer Chess960 world championship Rybka scored nine points out of twelve games, easily qualifying for the final against Shredder (6.5/12).

Reports and games.

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The Second FIDE Grand Prix Tournament is taking place in the Russian Black Sea resort city of Sochi, from July 30 to August 15, 2008, with 14 players from ten different countries. The field is dominated by Ukrainian GM Vassily Ivanchuk, who is 37 point ahead of the next highest ranked player in the field. In the first round it was Alexander Grischuk and Teimour Radjabov who scored. Illustrated report.

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The Grenkeleasing Rapid Chess World Championship begins on Friday. The record winner, Vishy Anand, is the favourite to win it again. Or is he? Magnus Carlsen, who is developing faster than anyone else; Alexander Morozevich, the most dangerously unorthodox player; and Judit Polgar, the most uncompromising – Anand weighs his chances against these opponents. Indepth interview.

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Pairings for Round 6. 2008 Polgar: Polgar 2008

Bd Res White Player Name Res Black Player Name

1 Courtney Jamison (2046 : W : 5.0) - Linda Diaz (1726 : W : 4.5)
2 Ashley Carter (1877 : W : 4.0) - Michelle Xue Chen (1762 : B : 4.0)
3 Rebekah Liu (1699 : W : 4.0) - Sylvia S Yang (1911 : B : 3.5)
4 Amelia Wheeless (1711 : B : 3.5) - Rita Mirchandani (1813 : B : 3.5)
5 Eve Zhurbinskiy (1747 : W : 3.5) - Angel Bohannon (1700 : B : 3.5)
6 Nisha Deolalikar (1726 : B : 3.5) - Taylor Bailey (1650 : B : 3.5)
7 Fiona Lam (1727 : B : 3.0) - Alexandra Wiener (1560 : B : 3.5)
8 Rheanna English (1713 : W : 3.0) - Leanne Hwa (1436 : B : 3.0)
9 Brianna Conley (1573 : W : 3.0) - Melanie Newell (1198 : W : 3.0)
10 Ashbea Oyadomari (900 : W : 3.0) - Michelle Farell (1506 : B : 3.0)
11 Janice Chen (1772 : W : 2.5) - Rebecca Lelko (1595 : B : 2.5)
12 Elizabeth Oliver (1322 : W : 2.5) - Shinan Jin (1686 : B : 2.5)
13 Sayaka Foley (1652 : W : 2.5) - WCM Claudia Munoz (1324 : B : 2.5)
14 Hannah Hellwig (1333 : W : 2.5) - Sonya Vohra (1621 : B : 2.5)
15 Jamie Olsen-Mills (1617 : W : 2.5) - Joanna Gossell (1255 : B : 2.5)
16 Mira Ensley-field (1258 : W : 2.0) - Sorel Edes (1098 : B : 2.5)
17 Ananya Roy (1683 : W : 2.0) - Alexa Lasley (1141 : B : 2.0)
18 Autumn Douthitt (1154 : W : 2.0) - Emily Tallo (1349 : B : 2.0)
19 Annie Wang (879 : W : 2.0) - Erica Barkell (1315 : B : 2.0)
20 Katrina Pritchard (1008 : W : 2.0) - Sarah Garza (1244 : B : 2.0)
21 Dhrooti Vyas (1117 : W : 2.0) - Rebecca Deland (1166 : B : 2.0)
22 Hannah Whatley (669 : W : 1.5) - Susan Lynn Brown (969 : W : 1.5)
23 Alisha Chawla (819 : W : 1.0) - Georgia Olvera (1292 : W : 1.0)
24 Ann Marie Fitch (893 : B : 1.0) - Morgan Mahowald (994 : B : 1.0)
25 Kaitlynn Loos (734 : W : 1.0) - Crystal Qian (924 : B : 1.0)
26 Catherine Oliver (719 : W : 1.0) - Faith A Munoz (0 : B : 0.0)

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Standings 2008 Polgar:

# Name ID Rtng Post St Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Rd 4 Rd 5 Tot

1 Courtney Jamison 12746751 2046 2054 TX W32 W26 W22 W14 W7 5.0
2 Linda Diaz 12908194 1726 1744 NY D27 W46 W17 W6 W10 4.5
3 Rebekah Liu 12933645 1699 1716 CA W31 W19 D6 D4 W18 4.0
4 Michelle Xue Chen 12918779 1762 1775 MA W45 D23 W9 D3 W16 4.0
5 Ashley Carter 12862296 1877 1872 MI W24 L22 W29 W26 W14 4.0
6 Angel Bohannon 12782586 1700 1697 TX W35 W15 D3 L2 W24 3.5
7 Rita Mirchandani 12864067 1813 1814 FL W36 W28 D21 W8 L1 3.5
8 Alexandra Wiener 12873148 1560 1610 CT W47 W16 W25 L7 D13 3.5
9 Taylor Bailey 12824524 1650 1669 OR W49 D11 L4 W27 W25 3.5
10 Amelia Wheeless 12806981 1711 1712 NC W39 D17 W23 W21 L2 3.5
11 Sylvia S Yang 12909161 1911 1896 TX W30 D9 L14 W23 W21 3.5
12 Nisha Deolalikar 12760636 1726 1707 CA L15 W27 W38 D24 W22 3.5
13 Eve Zhurbinskiy 12878963 1747 1731 NJ W40 L21 W36 W32 D8 3.5
14 Brianna Conley 12821777 1573 1615 OH W51 W18 W11 L1 L5 3.0
15 Melanie Newell 12780447 1198 1374 MS W12 L6 W28 L16 W33 3.0
16 Rheanna English 12807166 1713 1692 TX W38 L8 W42 W15 L4 3.0
17 Michelle Farell 12848136 1506 1519 OK W44 D10 L2 D33 W37 3.0
18 Fiona Lam 12963876 1727 1704 MD W37 L14 W45 W30 L3 3.0
19 Ashbea Oyadomari 13734242 900 1118 HI W20 L3 L33 W40 W32 3.0
20 Leanne Hwa 13956075 1436 1386 WA L19 L35 W47 W41 W34 3.0
21 Rebecca Lelko 12851444 1595 1609 OH W34 W13 D7 L10 L11 2.5
22 Sayaka Foley 12918743 1652 1663 AZ W43 W5 L1 D25 L12 2.5
23 Jamie Olsen-Mills 12715484 1617 1610 UT W50 D4 L10 L11 W42 2.5
24 WCM Claudia Munoz 13481236 1324 1343 TX L5 W43 W34 D12 L6 2.5
25 Janice Chen 12756646 1772 1740 UT W42 W29 L8 D22 L9 2.5
26 Shinan Jin 12888704 1686 1670 PA W41 L1 W37 L5 D30 2.5
27 Joanna Gossell 13093568 1255 1274 MO D2 L12 W44 L9 W43 2.5
28 Sonya Vohra 12902778 1621 1585 IL W48 L7 L15 W35 D29 2.5
29 Elizabeth Oliver 12933425 1322 1341 NE W52 L25 L5 W31 D28 2.5
30 Hannah Hellwig 12860260 1333 1349 AL L11 W49 W46 L18 D26 2.5
31 Sorel Edes 12833199 1098 1186 ME L3 D33 W39 L29 W45 2.5
32 Emily Tallo 13526540 1349 1331 IN L1 W41 W35 L13 L19 2.0
33 Ananya Roy 12921220 1683 1620 GA L46 D31 W19 D17 L15 2.0
34 Annie Wang 13919214 879 990 CA L21 W40 L24 W38 L20 2.0
35 Dhrooti Vyas 12897244 1117 1152 IA L6 W20 L32 L28 W46 2.0
36 Erica Barkell 12772627 1315 1289 ID L7 W48 L13 D43 D39 2.0
37 Mira Ensley-field 12895734 1258 1255 WI L18 W51 L26 W46 L17 2.0
38 Rebecca Deland 13470414 1166 1139 NM L16 W47 L12 L34 W48 2.0
39 Autumn Douthitt 12840938 1154 1131 TN L10 D44 L31 W49 D36 2.0
40 Sarah Garza 13226614 1244 1189 TX L13 L34 W48 L19 W47 2.0
41 Katrina Pritchard 13933202 1008 1024 KS L26 L32 W50 L20 W49 2.0
42 Alexa Lasley 13658407 1141 1162 CO L25 W52 L16 W45 L23 2.0
43 Susan Lynn Brown 12818234 969 986 VA L22 L24 W51 D36 L27 1.5
44 Hannah Whatley 13269020 669 681 SC L17 D39 L27 L50 W52 1.5
45 Georgia Olvera 13227926 1292 1240 TX L4 W50 L18 L42 L31 1.0
46 Morgan Mahowald 12595465 994 1011 MN W33 L2 L30 L37 L35 1.0
47 Kaitlynn Loos 13302437 734 727 SD L8 L38 L20 W52 L40 1.0
48 Catherine Oliver 12933426 719 741 NE L28 L36 L40 W51 L38 1.0
49 Crystal Qian 13469135 924 893 AR L9 L30 W52 L39 L41 1.0
50 Ann Marie Fitch 12980822 893 852 DE L23 L45 L41 W44 L51 1.0
51 Alisha Chawla 13341232 819 798 CA L14 L37 L43 L48 W50 1.0
52 Faith A Munoz 13999788 unr. 284 TX L29 L42 L49 L47 L44 0.0

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After winning the last round’s game to catch Dominguez, GM Alekseev continued his fine streak by winning the playoff by the score of 2.5-1.5 to capture the Biel title.

Congratulations to Evgeny!

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Past champions:

• 2007: Julia Kerr (New York) and Eunice Rodriguez (Florida)
• 2006: Abby Marshall (Virginia)
• 2005: Anya Corke (California), Alisa Melekhina (Pennsylvania), Abby Marshall (Ohio)
• 2004: Roza Eynullayeva (Massachusetts)

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Chess: Bulgaria’s Veselin Georgiev becomes world champion
31 July 2008 22:17 FOCUS News Agency

Zurich. Veselin Georgiev of Bulgaria is world chess champion for people with impaired hearing, Chessdom.bg announced.Georgiev won the title at the world championship in Switzerland without a single loss. The Bulgarian chess player finished 9,5/11, 8 victories and 3 draws. This is Georgiev’s latest title. He won the highest chess title in 2000 and 2004 in Poland and Germany respectively. Georgiev is also gold-medal winner at many European championships and open tournaments.

Source: FOCUS News

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This is a crucial round. Only one player has a perfect 4-0 score and 3 players with 3.5 points are trying to catch up.

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While Dominguez lost, Alekseev won to tie for first in Biel. Carlsen could not crack through against Onischuk and had to settle for 3rd place, 1/2 point behind Dominguez and Alekseev.

1. Dominguez Perez, Leinier g CUB 2708 6½
2. Alekseev, Evgeny g RUS 2708 6½

3. Carlsen, Magnus g NOR 2775 6
4. Bacrot, Etienne g FRA 2691 5½
5. Onischuk, Alexander g USA 2670 4
6. Pelletier, Yannick g SUI 2569 1½

GM Alekseev (2708) - GM Pelletier (2569) [D81]
31.07.2008 / Biel - Final Round

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Qb3 dxc4 5.Qxc4 Bg7 6.e4 0–0 7.Be2 a6 8.Be3 b5 9.Qb3 Bb7 10.f3 Nfd7 11.Nh3 Nc6 12.Rd1 Nb6 13.d5 Na5 14.Qc2 Nac4 15.Bxc4 Nxc4 16.Bc5 Re8 17.0–0 Qc8 18.b3 Nd6 19.Nf4 c6 20.Kh1 Be5 21.Nfe2 Qc7 22.dxc6 Bxc6 23.Bd4 Bxd4 24.Rxd4 Rac8 25.Qd2 Red8 26.Rd1 Nb7 27.Qe3 Rxd4 28.Nxd4 Rd8 29.h4 b4 30.Nxc6 Rxd1+ 31.Nxd1 Qxc6 32.Qd4 Qc2 33.Kh2 Nd6 34.Ne3 Qf2 35.Nf5 Qxd4 36.Nxd4 Nb5 37.Nc6 a5 38.Nxe7+ Kf8 39.Nc6 Nc3 40.Nxa5 Nxa2 41.Kg3 Ke7 42.Kf4 Kd6 43.Kg5 White wins 1–0

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Bacrot after a horrendous start had an amazing second half. He defeated tournament leader Dominguez in the final round and prevented him from winning clear first.

GM Bacrot (2691) - GM Dominguez (2708) [D27]
31.07.2008 / Biel - Final Round

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 a6 6.0–0 c5 7.Bb3 cxd4 8.exd4 Nc6 9.Nc3 Be7 10.Bg5 0–0 11.Qd2 Na5 12.Bc2 b5 13.Rad1 b4 14.Qd3 g6 15.d5 exd5 16.Nxd5 Qxd5 17.Qxd5 Nxd5 18.Rxd5 Bxg5 19.Nxg5 Nb7 20.Rd4 h6 21.Nf3 a5 22.Be4 Rb8 23.Rc1 Be6 24.h4 Bxa2 25.Ne5 Be6 26.Rc7 Nd8 27.Ra7 Rb5 28.Nd7 Bxd7 29.Rdxd7 Kg7 30.Ra6 Kg8 31.Bd5 Kg7 32.g4 Re8 33.Kf1 Rc5 34.Ra8 Rc1+ 35.Kg2 Rc2 36.Bxf7 White wins 1–0

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The 2nd Grand Prix is taking place in Sochi from July 31 to August 14, 2008.

Official Sochi Grand Prix website: http://sochi2008.fide.com/. Excellent videos by Europe Echecs here: http://www.europe-echecs.com/

2nd FIDE Grand Prix in Sochi

Svidler, Peter - Kamsky, Gata ½-½
Navara, David - Ivanchuk, Vassily ½-½
Radjabov, Teimour - Al-Modiahki, Mohamad *
Wang Yue - Aronian, Levon ½-½
Cheparinov, Ivan - Gashimov, Vugar *
Gelfand, Boris - Jakovenko, Dmitry *
Grischuk, Alexander - Karjakin, Sergey *

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Tom Braunlich takes a comprehensive look at various methods to break ties, and includes thoughts from an all-star roster of organizers and players, including GMs Joel Benjamin, Sergey Kudrin and USCL commissioner IM Greg Shahade.

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Round 4 results:

Xu Yuhua - Koneru, Humpy ½-½
Muzychuk, Anna - Stefanova, Antoaneta ½-½
Sebag, Marie - Ushenina, Anna ½-½
Cramling, Pia - Pogonina, Natalija ½-½

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Active Day-off of Active Players

After the third playing day organizers of the super tournament decided to give participants some rest to gain strength for the remaining four rounds. But the day-off in the “North Urals Cup” means the active leisure.

During the day all participants joined the Russian tradition to throw coins into the water for the possibility to come back to the place they like. Now coins from eight different countries were added to the river Turya. And the girls were glad that it will let them come to the hospitable Ural land again.

A bit later all participants and guests were invited to the banquet to the restaurant “Yasa” where real fun began. The table full of food, karaoke, and disco were prepared. Even guests from far India and China did not sit aside and actively participated in the friendly festival.

Xu Yuhua even had to taste Russian vodka. Antoaneta Stefanova said the last toast, “All participants thank the organizers for this wonderful tournament”.

Translation: Olesya Aleynikova
Anna Burtasova,
Press-attache of the “North Urals Cup 2008”
Anna_burtasova(at)hotmail.com

Photo-report here: http://www.northuralscup.ru/2008/gallery6eng.shtml

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Biel wrapped up with Alekseev taking a playoff against Dominguez while Onsichuk drew Carlsen, keeping him out of the winner’s circle. Gata Kamsky started the Sochi Grand Prix using accurate defense in the Caro to draw against Peter Svidler.

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White to move and mate in 3.

Blackburne - NN (Blindfold, 1863), presented by Andreas

r3Bb1r/pQ6/2p2p1p/k3q3/4P3/2N1B3/PP4PP/6K1 w - - 0 1

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2008 SPNI Bughouse Championship

24 teams took part in the 2008 Bughouse Championship! After 5 double rounds, the Texas team of Jamison / Yang and Mirchandani (FL) / Carter (MI) tied for first with the score of 8 /10! Congratulations to Courtney, Sylvia, Rita and Ashley!

1 Jamison-Yang 8.0
2 Mirchandani-Carter 8.0
3 Ballom-Foley 7.0
4 Wheeless-Roy 7.0
5 Oliver-Diaz 7.0
6 Bailey-Lam 6.0
7 Mills-Chen 6.0
8 Barkell-Deolalikar 6.0
9 Whatley-Farell 6.0
10 Chen-Hwa 5.0
11 Zhurbinskiy-Pritchard 5.0
12 Field-Liu 5.0
13 Deland-Gossell 5.0
14 Lasley-Ashbea 5.0
15 English-Qian 4.0
16 Tallo-Brown 4.0
17 Garza-Olvera 4.0
18 Vyas-Munoz 4.0
19 Chawla-Wang 3.5
20 Jin-Gohannon 3.0
21 Edes-Loos 3.0
22 Mahowald-Fitch 3.0
23 Newell-Oliver 3.0
24 Newell-Newell 2.5

Big thanks to Chess Dads Mahowald and Qian for running this exciting and fun event!

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What a turn of events! Russian GM Evgeny Alekseev caught the leader, Cuban GM Leinier Dominguez, who had been coasting to sole victory. Alekseev beat Pelletier, while Dominguez succumbed to revitalised French GM Etienne Bacrot. Magnus Carlsen was unable to overcome Alexander Onischuk’s defence. In the tiebreak Alekseev won the second blitz game to take overall victory. Express report.

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Three arduous rounds of chess, one nice day of rest, but not by any means of inactivity. The eight participants of the strongest women’s chess tournament of all time made a trip to the river, where you throw in coins to ensure your return. Then a festive dinner. Speeches. Then Karaoke. Then some dance moves. Free day report, richly illustrated with pictures by Vadim Smalkov.

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Chess960 is a form of Fischer Random Chess, where the pieces are shuffled (symmetrically) for the starting position of the game. At the Chess Classic in Mainz the Women’s Rapid World Championship Alexandra Kosteniuk, Russia, and Kateryna Lahno, Ukraine have qualified for the final. In the computer championship Rybka and Naum lead. Full reports and games.

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The main sponsors of the World Chess Championship from October 14 to November 2 in Bonn, Germany, are: Evonik Industries, which operates in chemicals, energy and real estate and turns over 14.4 billion Euros per year; and Gazprom, the world’s largest gas company, with a capitalization of over US $300 billion (it is one of the world’s three largest energy companies). Full details.

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Russian GM Evgeny Alekseev took a full point from Alexander Onischuk, USA, to join Magnus Carlsen in second place. Cuban grandmaster Leinier Dominguez, who in round nine had good chances against top seed Carlsen, is still a full point ahead and assured at least joint first in the tournament. The final round begins an hour earlier to accommodate possible tiebreaks. Round nine report.

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Pairings for Round 5

2008 Polgar: Polgar 2008

Bd Res White Player Name Res Black Player Name

1 Rita Mirchandani (1813 : b : 3.5) - Courtney Jamison (2046 : b : 4.0)
2 Amelia Wheeless (1711 : w : 3.5) - Linda Diaz (1726 : b : 3.5)
3 Brianna Conley (1573 : WW : 3.0) - Ashley Carter (1877 : b : 3.0)
4 Michelle Xue Chen (1762 : w : 3.0) - Rheanna English (1713 : b : 3.0)
5 Alexandra Wiener (1560 : w : 3.0) - Eve Zhurbinskiy (1747 : b : 3.0)
6 Fiona Lam (1727 : w : 3.0) - Rebekah Liu (1699 : b : 3.0)
7 Sylvia S Yang (1911 : w : 2.5) - Rebecca Lelko (1595 : BB : 2.5)
8 Taylor Bailey (1650 : b : 2.5) - Janice Chen (1772 : b : 2.5)
9 Nisha Deolalikar (1726 : WW : 2.5) - Sayaka Foley (1652 : w : 2.5)
10 Angel Bohannon (1700 : w : 2.5) - WCM Claudia Munoz (1324 : BB : 2.5)
11 Shinan Jin (1686 : w : 2.0) - Hannah Hellwig (1333 : b : 2.0)
12 Melanie Newell (1198 : WW : 2.0) - Ananya Roy (1683 : b : 2.0)
13 Sonya Vohra (1621 : w : 2.0) - Elizabeth Oliver (1322 : BB : 2.0)
14 Michelle Farell (1506 : w : 2.0) - Mira Ensley-field (1258 : b : 2.0)
15 Leanne Hwa (1436 : w : 2.0) - Annie Wang (879 : b : 2.0)
16 Emily Tallo (1349 : w : 2.0) - Ashbea Oyadomari (900 : BB : 2.0)
17 Alexa Lasley (1141 : w : 2.0) - Jamie Olsen-Mills (1617 : b : 1.5)
18 Erica Barkell (1315 : w : 1.5) - Autumn Douthitt (1154 : b : 1.5)
19 Joanna Gossell (1255 : w : 1.5) - Susan Lynn Brown (969 : b : 1.5)
20 Sorel Edes (1098 : w : 1.5) - Georgia Olvera (1292 : b : 1.0)
21 Sarah Garza (1244 : w : 1.0) - Kaitlynn Loos (734 : b : 1.0)
22 Rebecca Deland (1166 : w : 1.0) - Catherine Oliver (719 : b : 1.0)
23 Morgan Mahowald (994 : w : 1.0) - Dhrooti Vyas (1117 : b : 1.0)
24 Crystal Qian (924 : w : 1.0) - Katrina Pritchard (1008 : b : 1.0)
25 Ann Marie Fitch (893 : w : 1.0) - Alisha Chawla (819 : w : 0.0)
26 Faith A Munoz (0 : WW : 0.0) - Hannah Whatley (669 : b : 0.5)

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Standings 2008 Polgar:

Polgar 2008 # Name ID Rtng Post St Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Rd 4 Tot

1 Courtney Jamison 12746751 2046 2051 TX W24 W22 W14 W5 4.0
2 Rita Mirchandani 12864067 1813 1818 FL W36 W31 D13 W6 3.5
3 Amelia Wheeless 12806981 1711 1724 NC W39 D21 W34 W13 3.5
4 Linda Diaz 12908194 1726 1733 NY D35 W41 W21 W15 3.5
5 Brianna Conley 12821777 1573 1632 OH W51 W10 W17 L1 3.0
6 Alexandra Wiener 12873148 1560 1605 CT W47 W11 W16 L2 3.0
7 Rebekah Liu 12933645 1699 1703 CA W37 W26 D15 D9 3.0
8 Ashley Carter 12862296 1877 1868 MI W18 L14 W25 W22 3.0
9 Michelle Xue Chen 12918779 1762 1765 MA W40 D34 W19 D7 3.0
10 Fiona Lam 12963876 1727 1717 MD W32 L5 W40 W27 3.0
11 Rheanna English 12807166 1713 1701 TX W43 L6 W29 W23 3.0
12 Eve Zhurbinskiy 12878963 1747 1735 NJ W44 L13 W36 W24 3.0
13 Rebecca Lelko 12851444 1595 1615 OH W30 W12 D2 L3 2.5
14 Sayaka Foley 12918743 1652 1675 AZ W38 W8 L1 D16 2.5
15 Angel Bohannon 12782586 1700 1692 TX W42 W23 D7 L4 2.5
16 Janice Chen 12756646 1772 1754 UT W29 W25 L6 D14 2.5
17 Sylvia S Yang 12909161 1911 1892 TX W27 D19 L5 W34 2.5
18 WCM Claudia Munoz 13481236 1324 1348 TX L8 W38 W30 D20 2.5
19 Taylor Bailey 12824524 1650 1652 OR W46 D17 L9 W35 2.5
20 Nisha Deolalikar 12760636 1726 1695 CA L23 W35 W43 D18 2.5
21 Michelle Farell 12848136 1506 1514 OK W50 D3 L4 D28 2.0
22 Shinan Jin 12888704 1686 1679 PA W45 L1 W32 L8 2.0
23 Melanie Newell 12780447 1198 1312 MS W20 L15 W31 L11 2.0
24 Emily Tallo 13526540 1349 1358 IN L1 W45 W42 L12 2.0
25 Elizabeth Oliver 12933425 1322 1327 NE W52 L16 L8 W37 2.0
26 Ashbea Oyadomari 13734242 900 1044 HI W33 L7 L28 W44 2.0
27 Hannah Hellwig 12860260 1333 1336 AL L17 W46 W41 L10 2.0
28 Ananya Roy 12921220 1683 1640 GA L41 D37 W26 D21 2.0
29 Alexa Lasley 13658407 1141 1168 CO L16 W52 L11 W40 2.0
30 Annie Wang 13919214 879 1008 CA L13 W44 L18 W43 2.0
31 Sonya Vohra 12902778 1621 1592 IL W48 L2 L23 W42 2.0
32 Mira Ensley-field 12895734 1258 1263 WI L10 W51 L22 W41 2.0
33 Leanne Hwa 13956075 1436 1379 WA L26 L42 W47 W45 2.0
34 Jamie Olsen-Mills 12715484 1617 1608 UT W49 D9 L3 L17 1.5
35 Joanna Gossell 13093568 1255 1267 MO D4 L20 W50 L19 1.5
36 Erica Barkell 12772627 1315 1297 ID L2 W48 L12 D38 1.5
37 Sorel Edes 12833199 1098 1133 ME L7 D28 W39 L25 1.5
38 Susan Lynn Brown 12818234 969 993 VA L14 L18 W51 D36 1.5
39 Autumn Douthitt 12840938 1154 1119 TN L3 D50 L37 W46 1.5
40 Georgia Olvera 13227926 1292 1264 TX L9 W49 L10 L29 1.0
41 Morgan Mahowald 12595465 994 1026 MN W28 L4 L27 L32 1.0
42 Dhrooti Vyas 12897244 1117 1140 IA L15 W33 L24 L31 1.0
43 Rebecca Deland 13470414 1166 1135 NM L11 W47 L20 L30 1.0
44 Sarah Garza 13226614 1244 1181 TX L12 L30 W48 L26 1.0
45 Katrina Pritchard 13933202 1008 1012 KS L22 L24 W49 L33 1.0
46 Crystal Qian 13469135 924 908 AR L19 L27 W52 L39 1.0
47 Kaitlynn Loos 13302437 734 732 SD L6 L43 L33 W52 1.0
48 Catherine Oliver 12933426 719 744 NE L31 L36 L44 W51 1.0
49 Ann Marie Fitch 12980822 893 881 DE L34 L40 L45 W50 1.0
50 Hannah Whatley 13269020 669 678 SC L21 D39 L35 L49 0.5
51 Alisha Chawla 13341232 819 769 CA L5 L32 L38 L48 0.0
52 Faith A Munoz 13999788 unr. 334 TX L25 L29 L46 L47 0.0

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White to move. How should White proceed? Is it a win, draw or loss?

Bianchetti, 1925, presented by Andreas

8/8/K1p1p3/8/3k1P2/1P6/8/8 w - - 0 1

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ANATOLY KARPOV INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF CHESS
106 SOUTH MAIN, LINDSBORG, KANSAS 67456

CONTACT: Wes Fisk 785-342-1009 or 785-227-4121
Kansan Wins U.S. Junior Chess Championship

A second Kansan has captured one of the coveted national chess titles within the last 60 days. Maxx Coleman, Derby, narrowly won the U.S. Junior Open Championship trophy over Timothy Moroney from Michigan. Sunday afternoon, Coleman and Moroney were tied going into the last round at Smoky Valley High School. Both players went on to win their final games, which left them with identical scores of 5.5 out of a possible 6 points. Coleman and Moroney were declared co-champions, but when Karpov Chess School Director Tom Brownscombe calculated the tie-breaks, he awarded the 1st place trophy to Coleman. “I was very pleased to see Maxx win it,” said Brownscombe. Coleman is a veteran of the chess school, having played here many times.

Coleman’s win culminated three days of intense competition that drew players from as far away as Tennessee and Michigan. “We have been wanting to come to Lindsborg ever since we saw on the news that Gorbachev was here for the Chess for Peace event,” said Kerry Sernel, Germantown, Tennessee. “We decided to come to the chess camp and stay over for the Junior Open.” Her sons, Kenner, 6, and Ragan, 9, are regulars on the national chess circuit that includes major tournaments in Houston, Texas; Nashville, Tennessee; and St. Louis, Missouri. Ragan Sernel took home the 3rd place trophy in the section for those under 11.

Preceding Maxx Coleman’s win was that of Conrad Holt, Andover, who won the U.S. Cadet Championship that was held in June at the Karpov Chess School in Lindsborg. Coleman, by virtue of his win, will be invited to play in next year’s U.S. Junior Championship, which unlike the Junior Open is by invitation only.

The young hopefuls came to Lindsborg to try to win bragging rights, because the U.S. Junior Open is considered one of major U.S. chess events for young people. “When I told my son we were going to go to the U.S. Junior Open in Lindsborg, he got all excited,” said Raghu Kurella. His son, Nikith, 7, had recently been to a major chess tournament in Dallas. And what did Nikith think about this tournament. “It’s awesome; it’s big!”

Garret Wirka, Wahoo, Nebraska, outdistanced Kenny Lin from Tulsa, Oklahoma to win 1st place in the section for those under 15 years old. Charles Kinzel, McPherson, took home the 3rd place trophy.

The entrants got a special treat when Grandmaster Var Akobian played a simultaneous exhibition with many of the players before the start of the tournament. Afterward, he mingled with the young players, signing autographs, and posing for photographs with them. Akobian often sat with the players after their games were finished and went over their games play by play to help them better understand their strengths and weaknesses. Akobian stayed over in Lindsborg after holding two weeks of chess camps at the Karpov Chess School. Akobian has met and played Karpov in tournaments. “Karpov is one of my heroes,” said Akobian. Akobian will be going to Beijing, China this fall to represent the United States in the China Mind Games. In December, he will be part of a five-person team that will represent the United States in the Chess Olympiads that will be played in Dresden, Germany.

Joseph Stafford, Memphis, Tennessee, won the 1st place trophy in the section for players under 11 years of age. Zach Surch, a Kansan, won 2nd, and Ragen Sernel, Germantown, Tennessee, placed 3rd.

Kevin Nyberg, Garden City, was the assistant tournament director. “I considered this the calmest and most cordial scholastic chess tournament I have ever experienced in 30 years. I attribute this partially to the pleasantness of the tournament location, accommodations, and the friendliness of local volunteers,” said Nyberg. Volunteers stepped forward and worked the long hours in the concession stand at the high school.

The U.S. Chess Federation awarded the bid for the event to Lindsborg when organizers in New York failed to arrive at an agreement with the owners of the proposed site. Lindsborg also hosted the event in 2004. The U.S. Chess Federation, the Kansas Department of Commerce, and the Anatoly Karpov School of Chess made funding for the event possible.

The chess school hosts social chess every first and third Thursday of the month. It’s free and beginners are welcome. Additional details and photos of this event and other chess events can be found on the Karpov Chess School Web site: http://www.anatolykarpovchessschool.org/ ###

World Champion Anatoly Karpov International School of Chess 106 South Main Street Lindsborg, Kansas 67456 (785) 227-2224 http://www.anatolykarpovchessschool.org/

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Round 9 results:

Dominguez Perez, Leinier - Carlsen, Magnus ½-½
Onischuk, Alexander - Alekseev, Evgeny 0-1
Pelletier, Yannick - Bacrot, Etienne ½-½

Standings after 9 rounds:

1. Dominguez Perez, Leinier g CUB 2708 6½
2. Alekseev, Evgeny g RUS 2708 5½
3. Carlsen, Magnus g NOR 2775 5½
4. Bacrot, Etienne g FRA 2691 4½
5. Onischuk, Alexander g USA 2670 3½
6. Pelletier, Yannick g SUI 2569 1½

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GM Dominguez (2708) - GM Carlsen (2775) [B35]
30.07.2008 / Biel - Round 9

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.Nc3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 0–0 8.Bb3 d6 9.f3 Bd7 10.Qd2 Rc8 11.0–0–0 Ne5 12.Kb1 a6 13.h4 h5 14.g4 hxg4 15.h5 Nxh5 16.Bh6 e6 17.Rdg1 Qf6 18.fxg4 Bxh6 19.Qxh6 Qg7 20.Qe3 Nf6 21.g5 Nh5 22.Nde2 a5 23.Rxh5 gxh5 24.Nf4 Ng4 25.Qh3 Qd4 26.Nce2 Qxe4 27.Qxh5 a4 28.Rh1 Qxh1+ 29.Qxh1 axb3 30.axb3 Bc6 31.Qh4 Be4 32.Nc3 Bf5 33.Nh5 f6 34.Ng3 Rc7 35.Nxf5 exf5 36.gxf6 Nxf6 37.Qg5+ Kf7 38.Qxf5 Re7 39.b4 Re5 40.Qf2 Rd8 41.b3 Rd7 42.Kb2 Rde7 43.Qb6 Rd7 44.Qd4 Ke7 45.Qd3 Kf7 46.Nb5 Ke7 47.Nd4 Kf7 48.Qf3 Rh5 49.Nf5 Ke6 50.Nd4+ Kf7 51.Nf5 Ke6 52.Nd4+ Game drawn ½–½

Click here to replay the game.
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GM Onischuk (2670) - GM Alekseev (2708) [E15]
30.07.2008 / Biel - Round 9

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Bg2 d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.0–0 0–0 10.Nc3 Bb7 11.Bf4 Na6 12.Ne5 Re8 13.Rc1 h6 14.Nb5 Bf8 15.Nc6 Qd7 16.Nbxa7 Rxa7 17.Nxa7 Ra8 18.Qc2 c5 19.a3 Rxa7 20.Rfd1 Qe6 21.Qd3 Ra8 22.Qb5 Nd7 23.Qd3 Nf6 24.Qb5 Ne8 25.Qd3 Nac7 26.a4 Rc8 27.Qe3 Nf6 28.dxc5 bxc5 29.Qxe6 Nxe6 30.Be5 Rd8 31.e3 Ba8 32.Rd3 Ne8 33.Rcd1 N8c7 34.f4 Na6 35.Bc3 Nec7 36.Ba5 Rb8 37.Rc3 Bd6 38.Rdc1 Kf8 39.Kf2 Ne8 40.Bf1 Nac7 41.Bg2 Na6 42.Bf1 Nb4 43.Bb5 Na2 44.Rxc5 Nxc1 45.Rxc1 Ke7 46.Ke2 Bb7 47.Kd3 Bc8 48.e4 dxe4+ 49.Kxe4 Ba3 50.Re1 Nd6+ 51.Kd5+ Be6+ 52.Kc6 Rc8+ Black wins 0–1

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Some of the players from the SPNI had a chance to show case their talents on the basketball earlier today.

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GM Dominguez (2708) - GM Carlsen (2775) [B35]
30.07.2008 / Biel - Round 9

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.Nc3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 0–0 8.Bb3 d6 9.f3 Bd7 10.Qd2 Rc8 11.0–0–0 Ne5 12.Kb1 a6 13.h4 h5 14.g4 hxg4 15.h5 Nxh5 16.Bh6 e6 17.Rdg1 Qf6 18.fxg4 Bxh6 19.Qxh6 Qg7 20.Qe3 Nf6 21.g5 Nh5 22.Nde2 a5 23.Rxh5 gxh5 24.Nf4 Ng4 25.Qh3 +=

Carlsen is playing for a win and Dominguez is not back off. There are plenty of fireworks in this game.

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GM Alexander Onischuk is having a tough time in the second half of Biel, where Dominguez is poised to take first. As Biel wraps up, American chess fans can watch GM Gata Kamsky pick up the torch at Sochi Grand Prix (July 31-Aug.15).

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GM Alexander Stripunsky took top honors at the Continental Open (July 25-27, Sturbridge, MA). Check out game highlights, photos and learn how how reading Chess Life helped author Chris Bird earn his first FIDE rating.

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Humpy Koneru, “The Climate Here Is Perfect!”

Humpy Koneru managed to win Pia Cramling in the third round and thus to go up the last line of the tournament table. She told why she always travels with her father, what is the emblem sewed on her blouse and why she likes Russian climate.

Was it difficult for you to collect yourself after two defeats and to win?

Humpy Koneru: It was a difficult game because I made mistakes in time trouble. But then I managed to pull me up. Concerning defeats it is the first time in my career when I lose two games one after another in the women tournament.

You do not often take part in women competitions. Why?

I often play in open tournaments and prefer playing with men because I do it better. But it happens not because there is a difference between play with men and women. It just happens so.

What are your plans for the near future?

I am going to take part in the World Women Championship that will begin at the end of August in Nalchik. So I will come to Russia again.

How do you feel in Krasnoturinsk?

It is my second time here and I like it very much. The climate is super. But it has been raining for the second day. Yes, I prefer cool weather. It is always too hot in India.

Would you like to visit Russia in winter?

I played in the world championship in March in Russia. It was still snowing. And it was a very interesting experience for me.

You have an interesting emblem on your blouse. What is it?

It is the emblem of the national gas corporation that is my sponsor already more than one year and a half.

Your father accompanies you here. Do you always travel together?

My father taught me to play chess and he is still my coach. That’s why we are always together.

How will you spend your day-off?

I didn’t think about it. But I heard that the organizers prepared something interesting for us.

Translation: Olesya Aleynikova
Anna Burtasova,
Press-attache of the “North Urals Cup 2008”
Anna_burtasova(at)hotmail.com

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