THE WEEK IN CHESS 130 - 5th May 1997 by Mark Crowther

E-Mail          mdcrowth@netcomuk.co.uk
www             http://www.tcc.net/gmtchess.html
Tel or fax      01274 882143 [Bradford England]
Produced for Thoth Communications Corporation part 
of Grandmaster Technologies Incorporated.



1) Introduction
2) Kasparov vs. Deep Blue
3) European Team Championships. Start May 6th
4) 6th Amber Tournament
5) 3 way tie at the St-Petersburg tournament
6) REYNALDO VERA, NEW CUBAN CHAMPION
7) Aruna Grandmaster Tournament 1997
8) First Saturday Tournaments May
9) Four Nations Chess League final results
10) Bundesliga final results by Gerald Schendel
11) Nord Balt 97, Tallinn 26-27.04.1997
12) Upcoming events
13) Theoretical Corner by Marco R. Martini (ITA)

Games Section

IBM Man Machine, New York USA 1997   2
6th Amber Tournament                 24
It, St Petersburg RUS 1997           66
ch-CUB, Matanzas 1997                91
Aruna, Copenhagen DEN 1997           15

1) Introduction

My thanks to Jon Tisdall, Gerald Schendel, Alexander Khalifman, TASC, Lars Zwisler,Damir Medak, Roberto Alvarez & Francisco Acosta Ruiz, Laszlo Nagy, John Henderson, Jussi Tella, William Doyle, John Hartmann, Marco R. Martini.and all those who helped with this issue.

Another mad week which I hope hasn't made the news section too ragged. I started by trying to prepare material on the IBM Kasparov-Deep Blue match and ended with a rush of material for this issue. Apologies to various contributors whose material has been left out but there is much of interest. The Kasparov match will obviously dominate our thoughts, especially as he appears to have cracked at the end of the 2nd game in New York. Analysis from John Hartmann attempts to prove the point. My comment to Kasparov, anti-computer chess is necessary but not totally at the expense of good chess.

Hope you enjoy this issue

Mark

2) Kasparov vs. Deep Blue

Kasparov, Gary  -  DEEP BLUE       1-0   45  A07  Reti (1.Nf3)
DEEP BLUE       -  Kasparov, Gary  1-0   45  C93  Ruy Lopez

New York  (USA), V 1997
---------------------------------------------------------------
                             1   2   3   4   5   6 
---------------------------------------------------------------
DEEP BLUE             ----    0   1   .   .   .   .   1.0  2795
Kasparov, Gary  g RUS 2795    1   0   .   .   .   .   1.0      
---------------------------------------------------------------

Deep Hype or Deep Trouble?

Talk to almost any top player and they will tell you this is all hype. Kasparov is in it for the money, the machine is a poor player and he is taking IBM for a ride. The first two games can't answer the question about the true strength of Deep Blue but they have revealed everything about Kasparov's attitude. He believes everything about the machine's prowess. He is treating the machine with exaggerated respect and as a result may be causing himself untold trouble. He was reported to be exhausted after the first game, one that he played with impressive control, even though it looked a total triumph of strategy over tactics. Whereas in the first game he played anti-computer chess, the second was a direct theoretical encounter. 18 moves of book in a Ruy Lopez in order to reach a passive and inferior position seems a very strange way to play to human strengths. Deep Blue looked extremely good in the game, it played both plans which were available in the position control of the a-file and a break with f4. Kasparov appeared to play without a plan at all during the game, whilst Joel Benjamin has said that any human would be proud to play such a game (which is true) it is also true that Kasparov's top level opponents would have been astonished to see him play so feebly. To cap it all Kasparov resigned in a position which is very possibly drawn, something I don't believe he has ever done in his career. Let's get this straight, Kasparov would not have been champion at all never mind champion for ten years playing like he did in game two. Just forget he's playing a computer and look at the moves. There is no substitute for good chess, even against computers.

Some indicative analysis of the first two games.

Game 1

Whether Kasparov loses this match or not Kasparov's victory in game one of the 6 game challenge match between the computer Deep Blue and himself should end talk of any major breakthrough for computer chess (something I still believe after digesting game 2).

His opening choice meant that the position, whilst tactical, never became completely open. Even when in trouble his understanding was too much. He laughed at the computer's 22. ....g4 even though it isn't clear that it was that bad.

Kasparov's real victory was in keeping the position such that it didn't open up completely until he had a major advantage. The tactics that followed were extremely tough to keep under control and one should not underestimate the degree of skill Kasparov excercised. The question about how much knowledge the computer had gained in the last year was answered. Deep Blue was not recognisably better than the best PC programs positionally, in fact it might have been a little worse than those. However with white it should be able to get more open positions which should favour it. The difference between respectability and a rout will be its play with white.

Kasparov,G (2795) - DEEP BLUE [A07] (1)

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Bg4 3.b3 Nd7 4.Bb2 e6 5.Bg2 Ngf6 6.0-0 c6 7.d3 Bd6 8.Nbd2 0-0 9.h3 Bh5 10.e3 Kasparov sets up a solid position with white. Deep Blue's opening book has clearly ended now. 10...h6 11.Qe1 Qa5 12.a3 Bc7?! Protecting the Queen, probably to prevent Ne4 with a slight deterioration in pawn structure, the threat isn't that real. 13.Nh4 g5 14.Nhf3 e5 15.e4 Rfe8 16.Nh2 Qb6 17.Qc1 a5 18.Re1 Bd6 19.Ndf1 dxe4 20.dxe4 Bc5 21.Ne3 Rad8 22.Nhf1 g4!? Now the game enters a tactical phase from Kasparov emerges with a winning advantage. However its not clear that everything was totally under control. 23.hxg4 Nxg4 24.f3 Nxe3 25.Nxe3 Be7!? Kasparov is reported to have missed this. Deep Blue wins the exchange but at a very high price. 26.Kh1 Bg5 27.Re2 a4?! This doesn't achieve anything. 28.b4 f5 29.exf5 e4 30.f4 Bxe2 The position is winning for white. The alternative 30. ....Bxf4 also loses. [30...Bxf4 31.gxf4 Bxe2 32.Qd2] 31.fxg5 Ne5 32.g6 Bf3 33.Bc3 Qb5 34.Qf1 Qxf1+ 35.Rxf1 h5 36.Kg1 Kf8 37.Bh3 b5 38.Kf2 Kg7 39.g4 Kh6 40.Rg1 hxg4 41.Bxg4 Bxg4 42.Nxg4+ Nxg4+ 43.Rxg4 Rd5 44.f6 Rd1 45.g7 1-0

Game 2 Analysis John Hartmann

John Hartmann has collected together internet analysis (on ICC and elsewhere) on game 2 especially the crucial final position where Kasparov appears to have resigned in a drawn position. He has checked and collated it into a ChessBase file which appears in the game section.

DeepBlue - Kasparov (2795) [C93]

Match (2), 1997

[John Hartmann + ICC Analysis Crew]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 h6 10.d4 Re8 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.Nf1 Bd7 13.Ng3 Na5 14.Bc2 c5 15.b3 Nc6 16.d5 Ne7 17.Be3 Ng6 [17...Ng6 18.Qd2 Qc8 19.Kh2 Qb7 20.a4 Reb8 21.a5 Rc8 22.b4 Rc7 23.Rac1 Re8 24.Bb1 Qc8 25.Red1 Kh8 26.Ba2 Kg8 27.Bb1 Qb8 28.Ba2 Rec8 29.Kg1 Be8 30.Bb1 Bd7 31.Ba2 Be8 32.Bb1 ½-½ Knezevic, Bojan - Djuric, Stefan/Ch Paris (open), IV- 1995] 18.Qd2 Nh7 19.a4 Nh4 20.Nxh4 Qxh4 21.Qe2 Qd8 22.b4 Qc7 23.Rec1 c4 24.Ra3 Rec8 25.Rca1 Qd8 26.f4 Nf6 27.fxe5 [27.f5!?] 27...dxe5 28.Qf1 Ne8 [28...a5 29.axb5 axb4 30.Rxa8 Rxa8 31.Rxa8 Qxa8 32.Qxc4 Qa1+ 33.Nf1 Qxc3 34.Qxc3 bxc3 35.b6 Bc8] 29.Qf2 Nd6 30.Bb6 Qe8 31.R3a2 Be7 32.Bc5 Bf8 33.Nf5 Bxf5 34.exf5 f6 35.Bxd6 Bxd6 36.axb5 [36.Qb6 A) 36...Qe7 37.axb5 Rab8 38.Qxa6 e4 Securitron "scary fantasy line" 39.Re1 e3 40.Be4 Bxb4 (40...Qxe4 41.Qxd6 Qxf5 42.Qe6+ Qxe6 43.dxe6 Rxb5 44.Rxe3 Re8) 41.cxb4 Qxe4 42.Qe6+ Qxe6 43.fxe6 Rxb5 44.d6 Re5 45.e7 Rd5 46.Rxe3 Kf7 47.Ra6 Ke8 48.Re4; B) 36...Bc7 37.Qe6+ Qxe6 38.fxe6 Rab8 39.Rd1 Bb6+ 40.Kf1 Re8 41.Bg6] 36...axb5 37.Be4 [37.Rxa8 Rxa8 38.Rxa8 Qxa8 39.Qb6 Qa1+ 40.Kh2 Qxc3 41.Qxd6 Qd4 Biblos] 37...Rxa2 38.Qxa2 [38.Rxa2 Ra8 39.Rxa8 Qxa8 40.Qb6 Qa1+ (40...Qb8 41.Qxb8+ Bxb8 42.d6 Bxd6 43.Bc6 e4) 41.Kh2 Qxc3 42.Qxd6 Qd4 Schroer/Biblos 43.Bf3 Qf4+ 44.Kg1 Qc1+ 45.Kf2 Qd2+ 46.Kg1 Qc1+=] 38...Qd7 39.Qa7 Rc7 40.Qb6 [40.Qb8+ Rc8 41.Ra7 Rxb8 42.Rxd7 Rb6 43.Bf3 with the idea Bf3-h5-g6! Biblos] 40...Rb7 41.Ra8+ [41.Qc6 Ra7 42.Rxa7 Qxa7+ 43.Kh1 Qa1+ 44.Kh2 Qxc3 45.Qxd6 Qe3 46.Bf3 Qf4+ 47.Kg1 Qc1+ 48.Kf2 Qd2+] 41...Kf7 42.Qa6! [42.Rd8=] 42...Qc7 43.Qc6 Qb6+ 44.Kf1 Rb8 45.Ra6 [45.Ra6 Qe3! A) 46.Qd7+ Kg8 (46...Be7 47.Qe6+ Kf8 48.d6 Qf4+ 49.Bf3 Qc1+ 50.Kf2) 47.Qxd6 (47.Qe6+; 47.Ra7 Bf8) 47...Rf8 48.Qe6+ Kh7 A1) 49.Ra1 Qxe4 50.d6 Qd3+ (50...Ra8 51.Rxa8 Qf4+ 52.Ke2 Qe4+ 53.Kf2 Qf4+= Aries) 51.Kg1 Qxc3 Wilde; A2) 49.Qe7 49...Rg8! (49...Qc1+ 50.Ke2 Qb2+ 51.Kd1 Qxc3 52.Qxf8 Qd4+ 53.Kc1 Qe3+ 54.Kd1 Qd4+ 55.Ke2 Qxe4+ 56.Kf1 Qxf5+ 57.Kg1 Qb1+ 58.Kh2 Qc1 59.Ra2 Qf4+ 60.g3 Qf3; 49...Qxe4) 50.Bf3 Qc1+ 51.Kf2 Qd2+ 52.Kg1 Qc1+ 53.Kf2 Qd2+ 54.Kg1 Qc1+ 55.Kh2 Qf4+ 56.Kg1 Qc1+ 57.Kf2 Qd2+=; B) 46.Qxd6 46...Re8 B1) 47.Qc7+ Re7 48.d6 Rxc7 (48...Qf4+) 49.Bd5+ (49.dxc7 Qf4+ 50.Kg1 Qc1+ 51.Kh2 Qf4+ 52.g3 Qxe4 53.c8Q Qe2+= Ferret/Schroer) 49...Ke8 50.dxc7 Kd7 51.Rc6 Qc1+ 52.Kf2 Qd2+ 53.Kg1 Qc1+ 54.Kh2 Qf4+ 55.g3 Qd2+ 56.Bg2 Kc8= Wilde; B2) 47.Qe6+ Rxe6 48.fxe6+ Ke7 49.Bg6 Qc1+ 50.Ke2 e4 (50...Qg1 51.g4 Qg2+ 52.Ke1) 51.Bxe4 Qb2+ 52.Kf1 Qc1+ 53.Ke2 Qb2+ 54.Kf3 Qxc3+; B3) 47.h4!? h5! (47...Qxe4 48.Ra7+ Kg8 49.Qd7 Qf4+ 50.Kg1 Qe3+ 51.Kh2 Qf4+ 52.Kh3 Qe3+ 53.g3+-) 48.Bf3 Qc1+ B3a) 49.Kf2 Qd2+ 50.Be2 Qf4+ 51.Ke1 Novikov (51.Kg1 Ferret 51...Qe3+ 52.Kh1 Qxe2 53.Ra7+ Kg8 54.Qd7 Qe1+ 55.Kh2 Qxh4+ 56.Kg1 Qe1+=) 51...Qc1+ 52.Bd1 Qxc3+ (52...Qe3+?! 53.Kf1 Qc1) 53.Kf1 Qc1 54.Ra7+ Kg8 55.Ke2 Qb2+ 56.Kf1 Qc1=; B3b) 49.Ke2 49...Qc2+ 50.Kf1 Qc1+ 51.Kf2 (51.Ke2 Qc2+ 52.Kf1) 51...Qd2+ 52.Be2 Qf4+ 53.Ke1 Qc1+ 54.Bd1 Qxc3+ 55.Kf1 Qc1 56.Ra7+ Kg8 57.Ke2 Qb2+ 58.Kf1 (58.Ke1 c3) 58...Qb1=;

B4) 47.Qd7+ Re7 48.Qxb5 Qxe4 (48...Qf4+?! 49.Bf3 Qc1+ 50.Kf2 Qd2+ 51.Be2 Qf4+ 52.Ke1 Qc1+ 53.Bd1 Qxc3+ 54.Kf1 Qd3+ 55.Be2 Qxf5+ 56.Kg1) 49.Ra1 (49.Qc5 Qb1+ 50.Kf2 Qc2+ 51.Kg1 Qc1+ 52.Kh2 Qf4+) 49...Qxf5+ 50.Kg1 Qd3 (50...e4?! 51.Qxc4 e3 52.d6+ Re6 53.d7 Qf2+ 54.Kh1 e2 55.d8N+ Kg6 56.Qg4+ Kh7 57.Nxe6 e1Q+ 58.Rxe1 Aries, Angel, Wilde 58...Qxe1+ 59.Kh2 Qe5+ 60.g3+-) 51.d6 Qxd6 52.Qxc4+ Kg6 53.Qe4+ f5 54.Qe3 Kh7=; B5) 47.Qc5 Qxe4 48.d6 (48.Kg1 BPF 48...Qb1+ 49.Kh2 Qxf5 50.Ra2 Qf4+ 51.g3 Qf3 52.d6 Qd3 53.Qxb5 Qxc3 54.Qb7+ Kf8 55.d7 Rd8 56.Qc8 Ke7 57.Qc5+ Kf7) B5a) 48...Qxf5+ 49.Kg1 Qb1+ 50.Kh2 Qc1 51.Ra2 (51.Qd5+ Kf8 52.Ra7 Qf4+ 53.g3 Qf2+-+) ; B5b) 48...Qb1+ 49.Kf2; B6) 47.Bf3 47...Qc1+ 48.Kf2 Qd2+ B6a) 49.Kg1 Qc1+ 50.Kh2 Qf4+ 51.g3 Qxf3 52.Ra2 Qxf5 (52...e4? 53.Qd7+ Re7 54.Qxb5 Qxc3 55.d6 Re5 56.Qb8 Rxf5) 53.Qc5 Qb1 54.Ra7+ Kg8 55.Qxb5 Qc2+ 56.Kg1 Qd1+ 57.Kg2 Qe2+ 58.Kg1 Qe3+ 59.Kg2 Qe2+=; B6b) 49.Be2 49...Qf4+ 50.Ke1 Qc1+ 51.Bd1 Qxc3+! (51...Qe3+?? 52.Kf1 Qf4+ 53.Kg1 Qe3+ 54.Kh1 Qe1+ 55.Kh2+- Novikov 55...Qh4 56.Ra7+ Kg8 57.Qd7 Qf4+ 58.Kg1 Qe3+ 59.Kh1 Qxa7 60.Qxe8+ Kh7 61.Bh5 g6 62.fxg6+ Kg7 63.d6 f5+-) 52.Kf1 Qc1 53.Ke2 Qb2+ (53...c3 ekw) B6b1) 54.Kf3 Qc3+ 55.Kg4 Qe3! (55...Qd4+?! 56.Kh5 Qxd1+ 57.g4 Qd2 58.h4 Re7 ekw) ; B6b2) 54.Ke1 54...Qc3+ 55.Kf1 Qc1= Schroer/Securitron] 1-0

David Levy wins the Loebner prize

As a sideline to the IBM match David Levy wins AI prize.

The chess master David Levy (Intelligent Research Ltd., London) was the winner of an annual contest: the Loebner Prize Contest (established in 1990 by Hugh Loebner and the Cambridge/Massachusetts Center for Behavioral Studies), this year held April 29 in Salmagundi Club, New York.

The Loebner Prize Medal and a cash award is awarded annually to the designer of the computer system that best succeeds in passing a variant of the Turing Test.

Alan Turing wrote:

"We may hope that machines will eventually compete with men in all purely intellectual fields. But which are the best ones to start with? Even this is a difficult decision. Many people think that a very abstract activity, like the playing chess, would be best. It can also be maintained that it is best to provide the machine with the best sense organs that money can buy, and teach it to understand and speak English. This process could follow the normal teaching of a child." [A. M. Turing, "Computing Machinery and Intelligence," MIND, LIX, 1950, p. 460]

According to the current issue of the German news magazine "DER SPIEGEL" (19/97), Intelligent Research has worked almost 8 years on the conversation program "Converse". David Levy's program (who once played "Deep Thought") starts the conversation with: "Hi, my name is Catherine, what's yours?"

One of Turing's question has been: "If a computer could think, how could we know?" Turing's suggestion was, that if the responses from the computer were indistinguishable from that of a human being, the computer could be said to be thinking.

Complete transcripts of the conversations at http://acm.org/~loebner/loebner-prize.htmlx

3) European Team Championships. Start May 6th.

The European Team Championships start on May 6th. The event will be covered at this excellent site. This promises to be the most exciting GM event of the week.

4) 6th Amber Tournament

Viswanathan Anand won the 6th Amber tournament in convincing style winning both the blindfold event and the rapidplay. In second place was Vassily Ivanchuk (3rd last year) and in third was Veselin Topalov. In fourth place was Anatoly Karpov who recovered from a modest start. The surprise this year was Vladimir Kramnik in 5th who seemed to be thrown badly off course after losing 2-0 to Anand. In particular he scored poorly in the blindfold event which he dominated last year. The result is one of Anand's best in a rapidplay event and confirms his reputation as possibly the best at this time-rate.

(Last year the final standings were Overall 1. Kramnik 16 2. Anand 3. Ivanchuk. Blindfold: 1. Kramnik 9 2. Anand 7.5 Ivanchuk 7. Rapidplay 1. Anand 7½ 2. Ivanchuk 7½ 3. Piket 7 Kramnik 7

Blindfold final standings

Monaco      IV-V 1997                                  cat. XVIII (2685)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 1 Anand, Viswanathan    g IND 2765  * 0 = = 1 1 = = 1 1 1 1  8.0  2852
 2 Ivanchuk, Vassily     g UKR 2740  1 * = = 1 0 = 1 = = 1 1  7.5  2812
 3 Topalov, Veselin      g BUL 2725  = = * = 1 1 = 1 1 1 0 0  7.0  2782
 4 Karpov, Anatoly       g RUS 2760  = = = * 0 0 1 = 1 = 1 1  6.5  2742
 5 Nikolic, Predrag      g BIH 2655  0 0 0 1 * = 1 1 = 1 1 =  6.5  2752
 6 Kramnik, Vladimir     g RUS 2740  0 1 0 1 = * 0 = 0 1 = 1  5.5  2679
 7 Shirov, Alexei        g ESP 2690  = = = 0 0 1 * 0 = = 1 1  5.5  2684
 8 Piket, Jeroen         g NED 2640  = 0 0 = 0 = 1 * 1 0 = =  4.5  2623
 9 Lautier, Joel         g FRA 2630  0 = 0 0 = 1 = 0 * = = 1  4.5  2624
10 Ljubojevic, Ljubomir  g YUG 2570  0 = 0 = 0 0 = 1 = * 0 1  4.0  2593
11 Andersson, Ulf        g SWE 2655  0 0 1 0 0 = 0 = = 1 * 0  3.5  2554
12 Van Wely, Loek        g NED 2645  0 0 1 0 = 0 0 = 0 0 1 *  3.0  2513
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Rapidplay final standings

Monaco      IV-V 1997                                  cat. XVIII (2685)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 1 Anand, Viswanathan    g IND 2765  * 1 1 = = = 1 1 = 0 = 1  7.5  2810
 2 Ivanchuk, Vassily     g UKR 2740  0 * = = 1 = 1 = = 1 = 1  7.0  2781
 3 Kramnik, Vladimir     g RUS 2740  0 = * = = 1 = 1 1 = = 1  7.0  2781
 4 Karpov, Anatoly       g RUS 2760  = = = * = 1 = 0 = 1 1 =  6.5  2742
 5 Topalov, Veselin      g BUL 2725  = 0 = = * = 1 1 0 = 1 1  6.5  2745
 6 Shirov, Alexei        g ESP 2690  = = 0 0 = * 1 0 1 = 1 1  6.0  2720
 7 Van Wely, Loek        g NED 2645  0 0 = = 0 0 * 1 1 1 1 1  6.0  2724
 8 Ljubojevic, Ljubomir  g YUG 2570  0 = 0 1 0 1 0 * 1 = = 1  5.5  2695
 9 Nikolic, Predrag      g BIH 2655  = = 0 = 1 0 0 0 * 1 = 1  5.0  2651
10 Piket, Jeroen         g NED 2640  1 0 = 0 = = 0 = 0 * 1 =  4.5  2623
11 Lautier, Joel         g FRA 2630  = = = 0 0 0 0 = = 0 * 1  3.5  2556
12 Andersson, Ulf        g SWE 2655  0 0 0 = 0 0 0 0 0 = 0 *  1.0  2304
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Overall final standings.
Monaco      IV-V 1997                                   cat. XVIII (2685)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1 Anand, Viswanathan    g IND 2765  * 0 = = 1 = 1 1 = 1 1 1  15.5  2826
 2 Ivanchuk, Vassily     g UKR 2740  1 * = = 0 = 1 = 1 1 = 1  14.5  2796
 3 Topalov, Veselin      g BUL 2725  = = * = 1 = 1 1 1 0 1 0  13.5  2760
 4 Karpov, Anatoly       g RUS 2760  = = = * 0 1 0 = = 1 1 1  13.0  2742
 5 Kramnik, Vladimir     g RUS 2740  0 1 0 1 * 0 = 1 = 1 0 =  12.5  2729
 6 Shirov, Alexei        g ESP 2690  = = = 0 1 * 0 = 0 1 = 1  11.5  2698
 7 Nikolic, Predrag      g BIH 2655  0 0 0 1 = 1 * 1 1 = = 1  11.5  2701
 8 Ljubojevic, Ljubomir  g YUG 2570  0 = 0 = 0 = 0 * 1 1 = 0   9.5  2645
 9 Piket, Jeroen         g NED 2640  = 0 0 = = 1 0 0 * = 1 =   9.0  2623
10 Van Wely, Loek        g NED 2645  0 0 1 0 0 0 = 0 = * 0 1   9.0  2623
11 Lautier, Joel         g FRA 2630  0 = 0 0 1 = = = 0 1 * =   8.0  2587
12 Andersson, Ulf        g SWE 2655  0 0 1 0 = 0 0 1 = 0 = *   4.5  2447
------------------------------------------------------------------------

5) 3 way tie at the St-Petersburg tournament

Alexander Khalifman sends the games and results from the Category 14 tournament in St. Petersburg. He comments:

"It's a pity that it got less publicity than it deserved. I explain this by the lack of organisers' experience but not poor quality of the players. A Category 14 is no surprise now days but it would be higher because Russian players being discriminated by the Western tournament organisers and getting very little chances to play in good tournaments and they are still underrated. One may compare for example the results and ratings of K.Aseev and S.Ivanov and probably agree with this.The final results are quite logical and also symbolic: the hard clash ended with three-way tie by the living legend of chess 66-years old Viktor Korchnoi,member of "elite" club Valery Salov and current St.Petersburg and Russian champion yours truly who was first on tie-break."

St Petersburg (RUS), IV 1997                             cat. XIV (2588)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 1 Khalifman, Alexander  g RUS 2650  * 1 = 1 = = = = = 1 = =  7.0  2683
 2 Korchnoi, Viktor      g SUI 2635  0 * = = = 1 1 1 = = = 1  7.0  2685
 3 Salov, Valery         g RUS 2665  = = * = = = = = 1 = 1 1  7.0  2682
 4 Aseev, Konstantin N   g RUS 2530  0 = = * = = = 1 1 = 1 =  6.5  2657
 5 Ivanov, Sergey        g RUS 2515  = = = = * = 1 0 = 1 = =  6.0  2630
 6 Epishin, Vladimir     g RUS 2600  = 0 = = = * = = 1 = = =  5.5  2586
 7 Sakaev, Konstantin    g RUS 2580  = 0 = = 0 = * = = = 1 1  5.5  2588
 8 Svidler, Peter        g RUS 2640  = 0 = 0 1 = = * = = = =  5.0  2546
 9 Komarov, Dimitri      g UKR 2615  = = 0 0 = 0 = = * = = 1  4.5  2520
10 Sosonko, Gennadi      g NED 2515  0 = = = 0 = = = = * = 0  4.0  2492
11 Yudasin, Leonid       g ISR 2600  = = 0 0 = = 0 = = = * =  4.0  2484
12 Tseitlin, Mark D      m ISR 2505  = 0 0 = = = 0 = 0 1 = *  4.0  2493
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

6) REYNALDO VERA, NEW CUBAN CHAMPION

by Roberto Alvarez & Francisco Acosta Ruiz 

After 13 very difficult games, sharing the top places during all the time with several masters, and before long years waiting for, GM Reynaldo Vera obtained, for first time, the "king of the cuban chess" tittle.

Finishing unbeaten, with a closed sharing at 9 points with GM Amador Rodriguez, Vera's win comes to show that his recent presentations in Spain were not casual, and he is enjoing one of his better times.

The championship was held in the "Ciudad de Matanzas" public library, and an important group of masters (including GM's) played the event, to build a Category VII tournament.

It was not a good time for the former cuban champion IM Irisberto Herrera, who suffer 5 lost finishing in the last group of players. Lazaro Bruzon, a boy only 14 years old, played his first National Championship, and despite he obtained only 4 points, it shows the Cuban chess continues producing chess talents.

Matanzas, March 16th to 29th 

G = 10;  N = 7,5.

Matanzas (CUB), III 1997                             cat. VII (2406)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          12345678901234
-------------------------------------------------------------------
 1 Vera, Reynaldo              g CUB 2510 *==1=11===1=1=  9.0  2556
 2 Rodriguez, Amador           g CUB 2555 =*====1===1111  9.0  2552
 3 Becerra Rivero, Julio       m CUB 2510 ==*==1=1=1011=  8.5  2526
 4 Borges Mateos, Juan         m CUB 2500 0==*==1=1=1=1=  8.0  2489
 5 Arencibia, Walter           g CUB 2560 ====*0=1=11=01  7.5  2522
 6 Larduet, Carlos             f CUB 2310 0=0=1*==1===11  7.5  2477
 7 Pecorelli Garcia, Humberto  m CUB 2460 00=0==*1=111=1  7.5  2492
 8 Perez, Rodney               f CUB 2385 ==0=0=0*=10=11  6.0  2385
 9 Vazquez, Renier               CUB 2260 ===0=0==*==01=  5.5  2365
10 Rivera, Alberto             m CUB 2440 ==0=0=00=*110=  5.0  2380
11 Gomez, Felix                f CUB 2365 00100=01=0*110  5.0  2318
12 Herrera, Irisberto          m CUB 2450 =00===0=100*=1  5.0  2349
13 Bruzon,L                          ---- 000010=0010=*1  4.0  2296
14 Gonzalez, Renier            f CUB 2385 =0==0000==100*  3.5  2284
-------------------------------------------------------------------

40 moves in 2 hours, then 20 each hour
1* win by FF  0* lost by FF

7) Aruna Grandmaster Tournament 1997

Organized by the K.41 Chess Club Copenhagen, Denmark May 2nd-11th 1997

Jóhann Hjartarson won his game against IM Sune Berg Hansen in round 3 and shares the lead with IM Sokolov. They have both scored 2½ points. Margeir Pétursson won easily with black against Flemming Fuglsang and is in 3rd-4th place with 2 points. IM Keitlinghaus also has 2 points Lars Zwisler reports. The event is covered on the internet.

English version: http://www.vks.is/skak/aruna97.html

Round 1 (1997.05.02)

Hjartarson, Johann      -  Keitlinghaus, Ludger    1-0   55  C45  Scottish
Hansen, Sune Berg       -  Mortensen, Erling       ½   19  B44  Sicilian
Hillarp Persson, Tiger  -  Petursson, Margeir      ½   24  E32  Nimzo indian
Aagaard, Jacob          -  Danielsen, Henrik       ½   47  D41  QGD; Tarrasch Defence
Fuglsang, Flemming      -  Sokolov, Andrei         0-1   51  A43  Queen's pawn

Round 2 (1997.05.03)

Sokolov, Andrei         -  Aagaard, Jacob          ½   38  C10  French
Petursson, Margeir      -  Hjartarson, Johann      ½   15  E15  Nimzo indian
Keitlinghaus, Ludger    -  Fuglsang, Flemming      1-0   39  C02  French; Advance
Hansen, Sune Berg       -  Hillarp Persson, Tiger  1-0   40  B50  Sicilian
Mortensen, Erling       -  Danielsen, Henrik       0-1   40  B11  Caro-Kann

Round 3 (1997.05.04)

Hjartarson, Johann      -  Hansen, Sune Berg       1-0   56  E15  Nimzo indian
Hillarp Persson, Tiger  -  Mortensen, Erling       1-0   25  E94  Kings indian; Classical
Danielsen, Henrik       -  Sokolov, Andrei         0-1   45  D45  Semi-Slav
Aagaard, Jacob          -  Keitlinghaus, Ludger    0-1   47  C34  Kings gambit
Fuglsang, Flemming      -  Petursson, Margeir      0-1   24  B74  Sicilian; Dragon


Copenhagen DEN (DEN), V 1997                            cat. X (2478)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------
 1 Hjartarson, Johann      g ISL 2585  * . = 1 1 . . . . .  2.5  2801
 2 Sokolov, Andrei         m LAT 2480  . * . . . . 1 = . 1  2.5  2674
 3 Petursson, Margeir      g ISL 2565  = . * . . = . . . 1  2.0  2570
 4 Keitlinghaus, Ludger    m GER 2515  0 . . * . . . 1 . 1  2.0  2558
 5 Hansen, Sune Berg       m DEN 2505  0 . . . * 1 . . = .  1.5  2503
 6 Hillarp Persson, Tiger  m SWE 2475  . . = . 0 * . . 1 .  1.5  2506
 7 Danielsen, Henrik       g DEN 2490  . 0 . . . . * = 1 .  1.5  2456
 8 Aagaard, Jacob            DEN 2440  . = . 0 . . = * . .  1.0  2370
 9 Mortensen, Erling       m DEN 2450  . . . . = 0 0 . * .  0.5  2217
10 Fuglsang, Flemming        DEN 2275  . 0 0 0 . . . . . *  0.0      
---------------------------------------------------------------------

8) First Saturday Tournaments May

Laszlo Nagy reports:

We have begun the traditional FIRST SATURDAY tournaments in Budapest in Hungary. The IM tournament is category III, 14 players from 7 countries. The ELO average is 2308, the IM-norm is 9,5 points.

The most famous player is the Bulgarian woman International master Maria Velcheva /2285 rating/, who won the title of European champion under 20 two years ago in Zanka, Hungary. She has not so many chances in this group, because the men are very strong as well.

The participants of the tournament by their drawing numbers:
1. KARATOROSSIAN, David /ARM, 2235/
2. ABBASOV, Farid /AZE, 2220/,
3. KAHN, Evarth /HUN, 2370/,
4. FM STILLGER, Bernhardt /GER, 2315/,
5. JETZL, Joerg /AUT, 2245/,
6. FM KOCH, Wolfgang /GER, 2355/,
7. FM BAUMEGGER, Siegfried /AUT, 2360/,
8. TOTH, Andras /HUN, 2245/,
9. LAUBER, Arndt /GER, 2360/,
10.LOPUSHNOY, Denis /RUS, 2290/,
11. IM EPERJESI, Laszlo /HUN, 2340/,
12. IM CZEBE, Attila /HUN, 2325/,
13. FM RICHARDSON, John /ENG, 2360/,
14. WIM VELCHEVA, Maria /BLG, 2285/.

           FIRST SATURDAY 97 MAY IM tournament

Round 1  3. 5.1997

  1  Karatorossian, David - Velcheva, Maria          1:0 
  2  Abbasov, Farid       - Richardson, John         ½ 
  3  Kahn, Evarth         - Czebe, Attila            ½ 
  4  Stillger, Bernhard   - Eperjesi, Laszlo         ½ 
  5  Jetzl, Joerg         - Lopushnoy, Denis         0:1 
  6  Koch, Wolfgang       - Lauber, Arnd             0:1 
  7  Baumegger, Siegfried - Toth, Andras             1:0 



Second round in the FIRST SATURDAY tournament in Budapest

           FIRST SATURDAY 97 MAY IM tournament

Round 2 4. 5.1997

  1  Velcheva, Maria      - Toth, Andras             ½ 
  2  Lauber, Arnd         - Baumegger, Siegfried     0:1 
  3  Lopushnoy, Denis     - Koch, Wolfgang           ½ 
  4  Eperjesi, Laszlo     - Jetzl, Joerg             1:0 
  5  Czebe, Attila        - Stillger, Bernhard       1:0 
  6  Richardson, John     - Kahn, Evarth             1:0 
  7  Karatorossian, David - Abbasov, Farid           1:0 

First Saturday Web Page

Organiser Laszlo Nagy has started a news page for Hungarian Chess. It will be updated at least once a week on a Saturday and possibly more frequently. The news will be available at his web site: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/chess_first_saturday_hu/

You can contact Laszlo Nagy in the following ways:

Postal address: H-1101 Budapest, Hungaria krt. 5.-7. XI.ep.I.em.7. Tel-fax: int-(361)-263-28-59

E-mail address: chess_first_saturday_hu@compuserve.com or 100263.1700@compuserve.com

Web site: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/chess_first_saturday_hu/

9) Four Nations Chess League final results

John Henderson reports: "Midland Monarchs dramaticaly snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the last round to take the 1996/97 4NCL title. Monarchs looked as if they had handed the title to Invicta Knights as they were soundly beaten in the last round by Slough, last years winners. Some games will follow next week.

However, a catalogue of errors from Invicta Knights allowed BCM to draw a lost match, giving the league title to the Monarchs."

Final Table

        4NCL                    P        W  D   L       MP      GP
 1      Midland Monarchs        12      10  1   1       21      62.5
 2      Invicta Knights         12       9  2   1       20      59.0
 3      Slough                  12      10  1   1       20      64.0
 4      Northumbria             12       9  2   1       20      61.5
 5      Barbican                12       9  1   2       19      57.0
 6      BCM                     12       8  1   3       17      53.0
 7      Bristol                 12       7  0   5       14      47.5
 8      North West Eagles       12       6  1   5       13      51.5
 9      Wood Green              12       6  0   6       12      53.0
10      South Wales Dragons     12       5  1   6       11      43.0
11      Guildford               12       5  0   7       10      45.0
12      Richmond                12       4  1   7       9       44.5
13 R    Wessex                  12       4  0   8       8       45.5
14 R    Croydon 1859            12       3  1   8       7       42.5
15 R    Na Fianna               12       3  0   9       6       38.0
16 R    Witney                  12       2  0  10       4       37.5
17 R    Hertford                12       2  0  10       4       32.5
18 R    Celtic Knights          12       0  0  12       0       24.5

R = Relegated to Division 2.

Matches

Round 11

                Midland Monarchs                Witney  
1       w       K. Arkell       2545    ½-½     S. Ansell       2420
2       b       M. Hebden       2530    0 - 1   C. Cobb         2260
3       w       M. Turner       2425    1 - 0   R. Haydon       2220
4       b       A. Webster      2415    1 - 0   M. Truran       2255
5       w       M. Ferguson     2385    1 - 0   P. Cooksey      2150
6       b       A. Collinson    2380    ½-½     M. Rose         2165
7       w       H. Hunt         2315    1 - 0   T. Dickinson    2165
8       b       N. Regan        2155    0 - 1   J. Houska       2115
                                        5 - 3           

                Invicta Knights                 Slough  
1       w       M Sadler        2615    ½-½     J. Speelman     2625
2       b       N. McDonald     2500    0 - 1   M. Adams        2695
3       w       C. Ward         2460    ½-½     B. Lalic        2565
4       b       Ivanov A        2435    0 - 1   J. Hodgson      2550
5       w       D Kumaran       2495    0 - 1   P. K. Wells     2495
6       b       D Gormally      2300    ½-½     A. Kosten       2525
7       w       N. Dickenson    2305    1 - 0   S. Lalic        2365
8       b       H Richards      143     0 - 1   A. P. Smith     2265
                                        2½-5½           

                BCM                     Wood Green      
1       w       M. Chandler     2550    1 - 0   J Levitt        2435
2       b       J. Mestel       2510    0 - 1   J. Emms 2500
3       w       R. Bellin       2375    ½-½     P. Littlewood   2440
4       b       S Giddins       2345    1 - 0   A. Law  2370
5       w       D Friedgood     2270    1 - 0   P. Sowray       2350
6       b       B Cafferty      2240    0 - 1   N Pert  2195
7       w       J. Bellin       2215    ½-½     R Pert  2165
8       b       R Edwards       2200    ½-½     S Jackson       2150
                                        4½-3½           


                North West Eagles               South Wales Dragons 
1       w       G. Quillan      2320    1 - 0   D. Cummings     2375
2       b       D B Lund        2260    ½-½     J Saunders      2240
3       w       J. Littlewood   2275    1 - 0   C Morris        2215
4       b       D. Tebb         2320    ½-½     S Zeidler       2265
5       w       R. Sheldon      2230    1 - 0   A. Spice        2185
6       b       D James         2250    ½-½     F Rayner        2185
7       w       W Giblin        198     ½-½     A Dyce          2135
8       b       R Taylor        162     0 - 1   J. Richmond     2180
                                        5 - 3           

                Barbican                        Richmond        
1       w       C. Pritchett    2325    ½-½     L McShane       2385
2       b       P Lehtivaara    2365    1 - 0   S. Williams     2350
3       w       S Dishman       2300    0 - 1   G Wall          2305
4       b       A. Plueg        2310    1 - 0   M Franklin      2255
5       w       M Twyble        2310    1 - 0   D Tan           175
6       b       A P Lewis       2320    1 - 0   J Bass          168
7       w       G Kenworthy     2275    1 - 0   R Bates 
8       b       H. Lang         2065    1 - 0   D Buckley       
                                        6½-1½           

                Guildford                       Hertford        
1       w       A. Kinsman      2400    1 - 0   S. Swanson      2265
2       b       N. Povah        2375    ½-½     C. Duncan       2340
3       w       C. Kennaugh     2290    1 - 0   A Hanreck       2275
4       b       R Abayasekera   2255    0 - 1   P. Byway        2230
5       w       I Thompson      2300    1 - 0   B Cheal 
6       b       R Granat        202     1 - 0   J. Denton       176
7       w       M Anderton      2175    1 - 0   J. Angus        
8       b       A. Ashby        2110    1 - 0           
                                        6½-1½           

                Bristol                 Wessex  
1       w       C W Baker       2370    0 - 1   P. Rossiter     2370
2       b       C. Beaumont     2300    1 - 0   J. Poulton      2360
3       w       G. Burgess      2290    1 - 0   A. Corkett      2285
4       b       G Copeland      2335    ½-½     D. Neil         2295
5       w       K. Mah          2245    1 - 0   M. Yeo          2205
6       b       R Cole          2215    1 - 0   R. Noyce        2205
7       w       R. Phillips     2120    ½-½     A Brameld       199
8       b       M. Buckley      2040    1 - 0   E. Howard       163
                                        6 - 2           

                Na Fianna                       Croydon 1859    
1       w       J Donaldson     2405    ½-½     J. Wilson       2285
2       b       S Berry         219     ½-½     C Dunworth      2335
3       w       M Lyell         2200    1 - 0   S Ledger        2250
4       b       R. McMichael    2200    ½-½     A. Harley       2265
5       w       C. MacKenzie    187     ½-½     G Moore         2250
6       b       R. Pearce       185     ½-½     D. Gunter       2155
7       w       S. Connelly     155     0 - 1   J. McGrath      186
8       b       M. O'Siochru    160     1 - 0   S. Turvey       128
                                        4½-3½           

                Northumbria                     Celtic Knights  
1       w       C. McNab        2465    1 - 0   L. Williams     2135
2       b       A. Ledger       2415    1 - 0   C. Walsh        2180
3       w       T. Wall         2320    1 - 0   A. Musson       162
4       b       S Bell          2365    1 - 0   A. Sheehan       
5       w       A Whitely               1 - 0   G Sinnett       
6       b       I. Timmermans   2275    ½-½     R S Jones       
7       w       D. Ledger       2235    1 - 0   R Moore 
8       b       L Barnes                0 - 1   J. Wilson       
                                        6½-1½           


Round 12

                Witney                  Wood Green      
1       w       S. Ansell       2420    0 -1    J. Emms         2500
2       b       C. Cobb         2260    ½-½     P. Littlewood   2440
3       w       T. Headlong     2250    ½-½     A. Law          2370
4       b       M. Truran       2255    0 - 1   J Levitt        2435
5       w       P. Cooksey      2150    0 - 1   P. Sowray       2350
6       b       M. Rose         2165    0 - 1   R Pert          2195
7       w       T. Dickinson    2165    ½-½     N Pert          2165
8       b       J. Houska       2115    ½-½     S Jackson       2150
                                        2 - 6           

                Midland Monarchs                        Slough  
1       w       K. Arkell       2545    ½-½     M. Adams        2695
2       b       M. Hebden       2530    0 - 1   J. Speelman     2625
3       w       J Parker        2470    0 - 1   B. Lalic        2565
4       b       A Dunnington    2445    0 - 1   A. J. Miles     2565
5       w       M Turner        2425    ½-½     A. Kosten       2525
6       b       M. Ferguson     2385    ½-½     P. K. Wells     2495
7       w       A. Webster      2415    ½-½     S. Lalic        2365
8       b       H. Hunt         2315    0 - 1   A. P. Smith     2265
                                        2- 6            

                Invicta Knights                 BCM     
1       w       M Sadler        2615    1 - 0   M. Chandler     2550
2       b       D Kumaran       2495    0 - 1   J. Mestel       2510
3       w       C. Ward         2460    0 - 1   R. Bellin       2375
4       b       N. McDonald     2500    ½-½     S Giddins       2345
5       w       Ivanov A        2435    1 - 0   D Friedgood     2270
6       b       P Morris        2375    1 - 0   B Cafferty      2240
7       w       D Gormally      2300    ½-½     J. Bellin       2215
8       b       H Richards      143     0 - 1   R Edwards       2200
                                        4 - 4           


                South Wales Dragons             Croydon 1859    
1       w       D. Cummings     2375    ½-½     J. Wilson       2285
2       b       J Cooper        2370    0 - 1   C Dunworth      2335
3       w       S Zeidler       2265    ½-½     A. Harley       2265
4       b       A. Spice        2185    0 - 1   S Ledger        2250
5       w       J Saunders      2240    ½-½     D. Gunter       2155
6       b       F Rayner        2185    ½-½     G Moore         2250
7       w       A Dyce          2135    1 - 0   J. McGrath      186
8       b       J. Richmond     2180    1 - 0   S. Turvey       128
                                        4 - 4           

                Bristol                         Richmond        
1       w       C W Baker       2370    1 - 0   S. Williams     2350
2       b       C. Beaumont     2300    1 - 0   L McShane       2385
3       w       G. Burgess      2290    0 - 1   G Wall          2305
4       b       R Cole          2215    0 - 1   P Johnstone     2295
5       w       K. Mah          2245    1 - 0   M Franklin      2255
6       b       R. Phillips     2120    ½-½     D Tan           175
7       w       D Collier       2225    ½-½     J Bass          168
8       b       M. Buckley      2040    ½-½     R Bates 
                                        4½-3½           

                Barbican                        Na Fianna       
1       w       P Lehtivaara    2365    ½-½     J Donaldson     2405
2       b       C. Pritchett    2325    ½-½     S Berry         219
3       w       A. Plueg        2310    1 - 0   C O'Shaughnessy 2260
4       b       D Sands         2260    ½-½     M Lyell         2235
5       w       M Twyble        2310    0 - 1   R. McMichael    2200
6       b       G Kenworthy     2275    1 - 0   C. MacKenzie    187
7       w       J Moore         2065    ½-½     S. Connelly     155
8       b       H. Lang         2065    ½-½     M. O'Siochru    160
                                        4½-3½           

                Celtic Knights                  Guildford       
1       w       L. Williams     2135    0 - 1   A. Kinsman      2400
2       b       C. Walsh        2180    0 - 1   N. Povah        2375
3       w       A. Musson       162     0 - 1   C. Kennaugh     2290
4       b       A. Sheehan              0 - 1   R Abayasekera   2255
5       w       G Sinnett               0 - 1   I Thompson      2300
6       b       R S Jones               1 - 0   R Granat        202
7       w       R Moore                 0 - 1   M Anderton      2175
8       b       J. Wilson               0 - 1   A. Ashby        2110
                                        1 - 7           

                Wessex                  North West Eagles       
1       w       P. Rossiter     2370    1 - 0   J. Littlewood   2275
2       b       J. Poulton      2360    ½-½     D. Tebb         2320
3       w       A. Corkett      2285    ½-½     G. Quillan      2320
4       b       D. Neil         2295    0 - 1   D B Lund        2260
5       w       M. Yeo          2205    1 - 0   D James         2250
6       b       R. Noyce        2205    0 - 1   R. Sheldon      2230
7       w       A Brameld       199     ½-½     W Giblin        198
8       b       E. Howard       163     0 - 1   R Taylor        162
                                        3½-4½           

                Northumbria                     Hertford        
1       w       A. Ledger       2415    1 - 0   C. Duncan       2340
2       b       C. McNab        2465    ½-½     S. Swanson      2265
3       w       S Bell          2365    1 - 0   P. Byway        2230
4       b       T. Wall         2320    1 - 0   B Cheal 
5       w       I. Timmermans   2275    1 - 0   J. Denton       176
6       b       A Whiteley      2255    1 - 0   M Waltham       
7       w       D. Ledger       2235    1 - 0   T Hugendubel    
8       b       L Barnes                1 - 0   Default
                                        7½-½

10) Bundesliga final results by Gerald Schendel

The winner of the German team championships 1996/97 (1st Bundesliga) were Solinger SG. This was after 15 rounds.

4 teams are relegated from the 1st Bundesliga. The winning teams of the 4 groups of the 2nd Bundesliga a 9 round event are promoted to the 1st Bundesliga for the 1997/98 season.

Northern group:	1. SF Neukolln        41 :31   14- 4
Western group:	1. SVG Plettenberg    45½:26½  16- 2
Eastern group:	1. USG Chemnitz       41 :31   14- 4
Southern group:	1. SK Zahringen       42½:29½  14- 4

Bundesliga round 14

Solinger SG        5½-2½  SK Passau 
PSV Wuppertal      4 - 4  SV Erfurt West 
SV Werder Bremen   3½-4½  Hamburger SK 
SK Delmenhorst     4½-3½  USC Magdeburg 
SCA St. Ingbert    3 - 5  SG Koeln Porz 
SC Eppingen        3 - 5  Turm Duisburg 
SG Bochum          5 - 3  Dresdner SC 
Castrop Rauxel     2½-5½  SV Empor Berlin 

results

Solinger SG        5½-2½  SK Passau  

  2  Yusupov       ½ : ½  Ribli          1 
  5  Gabriel       1 : 0  Schlosser      2 
  6  Chandler      0 : 1  Smejkal        3 
  7  Bischoff      1 : 0  Wells          4 
  9  Lau           1 : 0  Schmidt        5 
 10  Podzielny     1 : 0  Pichler        6 
 11  Schaefer      ½ : ½  Schlingensie  11 
 12  Reeh          ½ : ½  Goetz         12 


PSV Wuppertal      4 - 4  SV Erfurt West 

  2  Emms          ½ : ½  McShane        1 
  4  Ward          1 : 0  Casper         3 
  6  Schebler      1 : 0  Renner         4 
  7  Hausrath      0 : 1  Voekler        6 
 13  Schiffer      0 : 1  Mueller        8 
 16  Fischdick     ½ : ½  Troyke        10 
 17  Kistella      ½ : ½  Brueggemann   11 
 18  Dresen        ½ : ½  Fuhrmann      12 


SV Werder Bremen   3½-4½  Hamburger SK

  1  Hracek        ½ : ½  Wahls          1 
  2  Kindermann    ½ : ½  Ftacnik        2 
  3  Knaak         1 : 0  Mueller        3 
  4  Blatny        0 : 1  Movsziszian    4 
  5  Meins         1 : 0  Michaelsen     5 
  6  Heissler      ½ : ½  Heinemann     10 
 10  Hedke         0 : 1  Wilhelmi      13 
 12  Meyer         0 : 1  Gustafsson    14 


SK Delmenhorst     4½-3½  USC Magdeburg 

  1  Rogers        0 : 1  Onischuk       1 
  2  Stohl         1 : 0  Slobodjan      2 
  4  Breutigam     ½ : ½  Rogozenko      3 
  5  Beckemeyer    ½ : ½  Naumann        5 
  9  Hermann       ½ : ½  Proehl         6 
 10  Jugelt        ½ : ½  Stolz          7 
 11  Schlemermeye  ½ : ½  Kapischka      8 
 12  Gisbrecht     1 : 0  Darnstaedt     9 


SCA St. Ingbert    3 - 5  SG Koeln Porz

  1  Dautov        ½ : ½  Lutz           2 
  4  Kohlweyer     ½ : ½  Hort           4 
  5  Ristic        0 : 1  Christiansen   5 
  6  Kachiani-Ger  0 : 1  Vaganian       6 
  7  Werner        1 : 0  Stangl         7 
  8  Gross         ½ : ½  Van Wely       8 
  9  Becker        ½ : ½  Vogt           9 
 10  Kummerow      0 : 1  Mainka        12 


SC Eppingen        3 - 5  Turm Duisburg

  2  Kabatianski   0 : 1  Sax            8 
  3  Arnold        0 : 1  Enders        11 
  4  Miltner       ½ : ½  Kraut         12 
  5  Mann          ½ : ½  Thesing       13 
  6  Donev         0 : 1  Pirrot        14 
 11  Reinhardt     1 : 0  Prang         15 
 12  Dudek         0 : 1  Schmitz       16 
 13  Staiger       1 : 0  Groth         20 


SG Bochum          5 - 3  Dresdner SC

  2  Georgiev      1 : 0  Maiwald        6 
  5  Schmittdiel   1 : 0  Borriss        7 
  6  Bosch         0 : 1  Goldberg       8 
  7  Reschke       ½ : ½  Heinatz,T      9 
 10  Ellers        ½ : ½  Prochnow      13 
 11  Buenermann    ½ : ½  Wichmann      14 
 13  De Gleria     1 : 0  Roos          16 
 16  Boehle        ½ : ½  Karius        19 


Castrop Rauxel     2½-5½  SV Empor Berlin

  1  Van der Ster  ½ : ½  Hickl          7 
  4  Hoffmann      ½ : ½  Boensch        8 
  5  Watson        0 : 1  Tischbierek    9 
  7  Libeau        ½ : ½  Volke         11 
 10  Dinstuhl      0 : 1  Poldauf       12 
 13  Sehner        0 : 1  Muse          13 
 16  Hermesmann    ½ : ½  Thinius       15 
 17  Hille         ½ : ½  Kimpinsky     18 

Bundesliga round 15 (last round):


SK Passau          4 - 4  PSV Wuppertal 
SV Erfurt West     1½-6½  Solinger SG 
Hamburger SK       6 - 2  SK Delmenhorst 
USC Magdeburg      3½-4½  SV Werder Bremen 
SG Koeln Porz      6 - 2  SC Eppingen 
Turm Duisburg      3½-4½  SCA St. Ingbert 
Dresdner SC        2½-5½  Castrop Rauxel 
SV Empor Berlin    3½-4½  SG Bochum 

results

SK Passau          4 - 4  PSV Wuppertal 

  1  Ribli         ½ : ½  Emms           2 
  2  Schlosser     0 : 1  Ward           4 
  3  Smejkal       1 : 0  Schebler       6 
  4  Wells         1 : 0  Hausrath       7 
  5  Schmidt       1 : 0  Schiffer      13 
  6  Pichler       0 : 1  Florath       15 
 11  Schlingensie  ½ : ½  Kistella      17 
 12  Goetz         0 : 1  Dresen        18 


SV Erfurt West     1½-6½  Solinger SG 

  1  McShane       ½ : ½  Piket          4 
  3  Casper        ½ : ½  Gabriel        5 
  4  Renner        0 : 1  Chandler       6 
  6  Voekler       ½ : ½  Bischoff       7 
  8  Mueller       0 : 1  Lau            9 
 10  Troyke        0 : 1  Podzielny     10 
 11  Brueggemann   0 : 1  Schaefer      11 
 12  Fuhrmann      0 : 1  Reeh          12 


Hamburger SK       6 - 2  SK Delmenhorst  

  1  Wahls         ½ : ½  Rogers         1 
  2  Ftacnik       ½ : ½  Stohl          2 
  3  Mueller       1 : 0  Breutigam      4 
  4  Movsziszian   1 : 0  Beckemeyer     5 
  5  Michaelsen    ½ : ½  Hermann        9 
 10  Heinemann     1 : 0  Jugelt        10 
 13  Wilhelmi      1 : 0  Schlemermeye  11 
 14  Gustafsson    ½ : ½  Gisbrecht     12 


USC Magdeburg      3½-4½  SV Werder Bremen

  1  Onischuk      0 : 1  Hracek         1 
  2  Slobodjan     ½ : ½  Kindermann     2 
  3  Rogozenko     ½ : ½  Knaak          3 
  5  Naumann       ½ : ½  Blatny         4 
  6  Proehl        ½ : ½  Meins          5 
  7  Stolz         ½ : ½  Heissler       6 
  8  Kapischka     ½ : ½  Hedke         10 
  9  Darnstaedt    ½ : ½  Meyer         12 


SG Koeln Porz      6 - 2  SC Eppingen

  2  Lutz          ½ : ½  Kabatianski    2 
  4  Hort          0 : 1  Miltner        4 
  5  Christiansen  ½ : ½  Mann           5 
  6  Vaganian      1 : 0  Donev          6 
  7  Stangl        1 : 0  Schneider      9 
  8  Van Wely      1 : 0  Bosbach       10 
  9  Vogt          1 : 0  Schulte       14 
 12  Mainka        1 : 0  Wenner        16 


Turm Duisburg      3½-4½  SCA St. Ingbert 

  8  Sax           0 : 1  Dautov         1 
 11  Enders        1 : 0  Kohlweyer      4 
 12  Kraut         ½ : ½  Ristic         5 
 13  Thesing       ½ : ½  Kachiani-Ger   6 
 14  Pirrot        ½ : ½  Werner         7 
 15  Prang         ½ : ½  Gross          8 
 16  Schmitz       ½ : ½  Becker         9 
 20  Groth         0 : 1  Kummerow      10 


Dresdner SC        2½-5½  Castrop Rauxel

  6  Maiwald       ½ : ½  Van der Ster   1 
  7  Borriss       0 : 1  Watson         5 
  8  Goldberg      ½ : ½  Appel          6 
  9  Heinatz,T     ½ : ½  Libeau         7 
 13  Prochnow      0 : 1  Dinstuhl      10 
 14  Wichmann      0 : 1  Hennig        12 
 16  Roos          ½ : ½  Sehner        13 
 19  Karius        ½ : ½  Hermesmann    16 


SV Empor Berlin    3½-4½  SG Bochum 

  7  Hickl         0 : 1  Georgiev       2 
  8  Boensch       ½ : ½  Schmittdiel    5 
  9  Tischbierek   ½ : ½  Bosch          6 
 11  Volke         ½ : ½  Reschke        7 
 12  Poldauf       0 : 1  Ellers        10 
 13  Muse          1 : 0  Buenermann    11 
 15  Thinius       1 : 0  De Gleria     13 
 16  Kleeschaetzk  0 : 1  Boehle        16 


 1. Solinger SG       15 77 :43   30- 0
 2. SG Koeln Porz     15 78 :42   25- 5
 3. SV Empor Berlin   15 69½:50½  20-10
 4. SCA St. Ingbert   15 63 :57   19-11
 5. SG Bochum         15 61½:58½  19-11
 6. SV Werder Bremen  15 64 :56   18-12
 7. Castrop Rauxel    15 61½:58½  16-14
 8. Hamburger SK      15 60½:59½  14-16
 9. Turm Duisburg     15 60½:59½  13-17
10. Dresdner SC       15 55½:64½  13-17
11. SV Erfurt West    15 53 :67   13-17
12. SK Passau         15 54 :66   10-20
13. USC Magdeburg     15 56 :64    9-21
14. PSV Wuppertal     15 50½:69½   9-21
15. SK Delmenhorst    15 49 :71    9-21
16. SC Eppingen       15 46½:73½   3-27

source: http://members.aol.com/SchachBL/BED/bl15.htm

11) Nord Balt 97, Tallinn 26-27.04.1997

Mr. Peter Hlawatsch and Scandinavian Chess Tournament organization arranged a rapid chess tournament in Tallinn, Estonia. All Nordic and Baltic countries participated in the tournament, that was played in nice spirit: players were invited to some cultural happenings, for example Tallinn tour and Varietee show.

Also some special chess happenings were presented: two young players, Per Hedlund from Sweden and Nikolai Danilov from Estonia played a exhibition macth, called Marabou Chess Cup, with chocolate chess pieces. According to rules you had to eat the captured pieces before you could press the clock. Game ended in peaceful draw, after almost all the pieces were off the board.

Results of the tournament

(20+20 minutes rapid chess, players arranged by random numbers in the first round)

1. IM Mihail Rytsagov (EST) 7.5/9
2. Sergei Zjukin (EST) 7.0
3. Roman Sergejev (EST) 7.0
4. IM Daniel Fridman (LAT) 7.0
5. GM Jaan Ehlvest (EST) 7.0
6. IM Evgenij Agrest (SWE) 7.0
7. GM Ralf Åkesson (SWE) 6.5
8. GM Heikki Westerinen (FIN) 6.5
9. Emmanuel Berg (SWE) 6.0
10. Igor Svyrov (EST) 6.0
11. IM Riho Liiva (EST) 6.0
12. WIM Johanna Paasikangas (FIN) 6.0 --- best lady player
13. Juri Zitin (EST) 6.0
14. GM Aloyzas Kveinys (LTU) 6.0
15. GM Jouni Yrjölä (FIN) 6.0
16. Matias Nilsson (SWE) 6.0
17. WIM Leili Parnpuu (EST) 6.0
18. Tarvo Seeman (EST) 5.5
19. FM Jussi Tella (FIN) 5.5
20. Oivind Johansen (NOR) 5.5
21. WIM Ilse Rubene (LAT) 5.5
22. Frode Elsness (NOR) 5.5
23. Johan Eksmyr (NOR) 5.5
24. IM Kalle Kiik (EST) 5.5
25. IM Olav Sepp (EST) 5.5
... 90 players 


Jussi Tella, Jussi.Tella@hut.fi, 28.04.1997

12) Upcoming events

Politiken Cup '97

Homepage: http://inet.uni-c.dk/kbhsu/index.htm

The Copenhagen Chess Union proudly invites you to participate in the Copenhagen Open from the 5th of July to the 16th of July 1997. The by now classical Open will for the first time ever be open to Grandmasters and amateurs alike. Another improvement is the movement of the event from late June to mid-July which, hopefully, makes it possible for even more players to enjoy the biggest and best Open tournament in Scandinavia. And the pleasant Danish summer! As usual you'll find some of the best rating group prizes - as well as high number of title- and ELO-rated players, which will make it within many players reach to score anything from a GM-norm to your first ELO-rating or a significiant rating group prizes. So if you like to experience a genuine Open with 11 days of exciting and serious chess, then don't miss it - visit wonderful Copenhagen!

DATES & FORMAT

11 round from July 5.-16. '97. Rest day on Friday the 11th of July.

Open to all players with or without an ELO-rating.

Opportunities to make both IM- & GM-norms.

Good chances to get an ELO-rating.

PLAYING SITE

Egmont Kollegiet, Ncrre Alle 75, Kcbenhavn (Local train station: Ryparken or Nordhavn St. Bus: 10 min. from the center of town - Radhuspladsen.)

PLAYING TIME

Daily from 13:00 to 20:00

Timerate: 2 hours/40 moves; 1 hour/20 moves; .5 hour/rest.

PRIZES

1. prize: 15.000 Dkr. (roughly 2.500 US-dollars) (additional prizes depending on number of participants)

RATING-PRIZES

(To groups of about each 20 players below 2400 ELO)

1st prize: 3.000 Dkr. 3rd prize: 1.000 Dkr.

2nd prize: 2.000 Dkr. 4th prize: 750 Dkr.

ENTRY

No later than June 28th to Copenhagen Chess Union (Kcbenhavns Skak Union).

Lars Bech Hansen, Saksen D2, 3. mf.tv,2630 Taastrup, DENMARK

Telefon & fax: 43 99 25 41

E-mail: ( kbhsu@inet.uni-c.dk).

ENTRY FEE

GMs: Contact organizer for possible conditions.

IMs: Free.

ELO +2300: 500 Dkr.

ELO 2000-2295: 600 Dkr.

Non-ELO-rated: 750 Dkr. (Please notice: Players younger that 20 years only 50 percent!)

WAY TO PAYMENT Postal giro: 269-7289 or by bank check.

NOTICE

Daily bulletin to all - free! Competent commentators. New improved Chess Cantina & Cafe. Excellent conditions for postmortem analysis.

Robecchetto chess festival

June 26-29

Robecchetto con Induno, Milan (ITA), 3rd Summer International Chess Festival.

Site: Scuole Elementari, via Pascoli, Robecchetto con Induno (Milan).

4 groups (A) >1899, (B) 1700-1899, (C) 1500-1699 and (D) <1500

6-round swiss, 25/75+G/60, GM/IM special conditions, entry fee 50,000 LIT

Prizes: total 3,305,000 LIT

(A) 750,000 600,000 450,000 300,000 200,000 150,000

(B)+(C)+(D) 100,000 75,000 60,000 50,000

Rounds: (1) 26/6 h 19.30-24; (2) 27/6 h 19.30-24; (3) 28/6 h 9.30-14;

(4) 28/6 h 15-19.30; (5) 29/6 h 9.30-14; (6) 29/6 h 15-19.30.

Info: Graziano Ottolini g.ottolini@usa.net

AGRIA CHESS FESTIVAL EGER ( Hungary ) 19 - 27. July 1997.

I. Round Tournament

40 moves in 2 hours, subsequently 20 moves per hour. Planned category : 3/4 IM NORM possible.

Prizefund: about 30.000 Ft Entry fee : / without FIDE ELO under 2200/ 160 DM

Opening : 19. July 1997. 13.30

II. Tournament Open "A "

9 rounds in Swiss system with possibility of getting ELO. 40 moves in 2 hours + 1-1 hours /K.O/

Prizefund :80.000 ; 50.000 ; 30.000 ; 20.000 ; 15.000 ; 10.000 ; 3x6.000 ; 4.000 Ft.

Entry fee: without FIDE ELO 80 DM

2000-2200 60 DM

2205-2400 40 DM

Opening : 19. July 1997 . 13.30 p.m.

III. Tournament Open " B " 20 - 26. July 1997.

(Childrengroup under 15 year of age )

7 rounds in Swiss system.

Entry fee : 10 DM

Many chessprizes

Opening : 20. July 1997. 10.00 a.m.

Lcation of the tournament : Hotel Flora*** Eger Furd÷ ut 5

Hotel: Hotel Flora*** with breakfast 9 nights 360 DM

Deadline of entry 1. July

Ferenc Rauch H- 3304 Eger Alvegi ut 15

Tel: in English all the day (36)-36/421- 003

Club HMO SE EGER

13) Theoretical Corner by Marco R. Martini (ITA)

Special section in the games section
Email: avvmartini@mailbox.icom.it
WWW  : http://www.icom.it./user/scac