It was a stunner: Vladimir Kramnik played the new move in a Semi-Slav, saw some promising moments and then went down with flying colours in 31 moves to Alexander Morozevich. Peter Leko scored his first victory, against the luckless Alexei Shirov, who has zero points so far. Kamsky had a win against Gelfand but spoiled it to a draw. Round three report.

Four years ago Nigel Short, while winning the Commonwealth Championship, ran into some problems: “In the second round I drew with some 15-year-old boy from some very obscure place, some village somewhere. I think his name was Abhijeet Gupta.” Last week nineteen-year-old Abhijeet won the prestigious World Junior Championship in Gaziantep, Turkey. Interview.

Recently a number of participants in the World Women’s Championship appealed to FIDE to have it moved away from a region of armed conflict. FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, the ECU and the organisers have appealed to the player not to politicize the event. Now Ilyumzhinov gives further assurances. Here’s his latest message and letters from participants and readers.

Recently a number of participants in the World Women’s Championship appealed to FIDE to have it moved away from a region of armed conflict. FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, the ECU and the organizers have appealed to the players not to politicize the event. Now Ilyumzhinov gives further assurances. Here’s his latest message and letters from participants and readers.

Earlier this month, we introduced Mr Jones, a bookshop owner who is commendably eager to stock only the very best books. Readers have made
many suggestions, and the Editor of Chess
Notes now sets out a representative selection. It may also be regarded as
a check-list of books which, as the cliché goes, should be in every chess lover’s library.

Four games were drawn today in Moscow, one game resulted in a traumatic second loss for firebrand Alexei Shirov, who sacrificed a pawn unsuccessfully against US grandmaster Gata Kamsky. Yesterday’s winners Ivanchuk, Morozevich and Kramnik lead with 1.5/2. Express report.

For the third time the Tromsø Chess Club staged an International Open in the Arctic Circle. It ran from August 2nd to 10th 2008, with sky high prizes, by Norwegian standards (total prize fund 11,000 Euros). The venue is spectacular, the atmosphere warm and generous. And the place is full of Carlsens: Magnus, Henrik, Sigrun, Ellen, Ingrid and Signe. Part one of our big pictorial report.

For the third time the Tromsø Chess Club staged an International Open in the Arctic Circle. It ran from August 2nd to 10th 2008, with sky high prizes, by Norwegian standards (total prize fund 11,000 Euros). The venue is spectacular, the atmosphere warm and generous. And the place is full of Carlsens: Magnus, Henrik, Sigrun, Ellen, Ingrid and Signe. Part one of our big pictorial report.

Michael Adams justified his position as the top seed in the 2008 Staunton Memorial, by winning the tournament for the second successive year. He can be justifiably happy with his result, as can all six of the Dutch players, who dominated the team event once again. Bob Wade, who is in his late 80s, battled wonderfully, but ultimately came up empty-handed. Final report.

We repeat the previous Staunton Memorial headline. Top British GM Michael Adams drew a highly complicated game against Peter Wells in round eight, and then beat Jonathan Speelman in round nine to score 7.0/9 point, one more than his nearest rival Loek van Wely. Jan Timman follows with 5.5, behind him Short and Smeets with 5.0 each. Rounds 8-9 reports.

Round six of the Staunton Memorial saw a major outbreak of peace, with five draws out of six games. But then came the free day, which in the case of our reporter was filled with mushrooms sauteed in pink champagne, some exquisite 1975 port in solid silver, monogrammed goblets, and Wagner’s “Ring Cycle”. Life does not get a great deal better, says Steve Giddins, in his round 6-7 reports.

In reply to a recent appeal by a number of participants to move the forthcoming World Chess Championship from Nalchik to a safer location, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov writes: “In the current situation I appeal to all not to mix politics and sport, and not to involve FIDE and the world chess community into political, territorial and other disputes.” Statement by Ilyumzhinov.

Breaking news: Armenian GM Levon Aronian defeated Alexander Grischuk to take clear first in the Grand Prix tournament, finishing with 8.5/13 points and a performance of 2816. Second is Teimour Radjabov, who beat his main rival Sergey Karjakin with the black pieces. Kamsky beat Navara, two games are still under way. Express report.

It obviously did them good: the players at the Second FIDE Grand Prix Tournament in Sochi came back in a fighting mood. Two fighting draws and five decided games provided great entertainment for the spectators. After the dust had settled four GMs were in the lead, with three lurking half a point behind. We bring you results, videos and highlights from the games.

This is Michael Adams’ third appearance in the Staunton Memorial, and his cumulative score with the white pieces are 11.5/13! In this year’s edition Adams is leading with 4.5/5 points and has displayed a stunning performance of 2886. Second is Dutch GM Loek van Wely with 3.5/5, followed by Smeets, Timman and Short with 3.0/5 each. 87-year-old Bob Wade still has to score. Rounds 3-5 reports.

After drawing all his games in the first seven rounds Chinese GM Wang Yue suddenly galvanised into action, beating Boris Gelfand (with the black pieces) in round eight and then the tournament leader Teimour Radjabov, who fell into 3-7th place. Wang joins Ivan Cheparinov in the plus two lead, with four rounds to go in this event. Sunday is a free day. Report after round nine.