THE WEEK IN CHESS 176 - 22nd March 1998 by Mark Crowther

Sponsored by the London Chess Center

E-Mail          mdcrowth@netcomuk.co.uk
Tel or fax      01274 882143 [Bradford England]
http://www.chesscenter.com/twic/twic.html

1) Introduction
2) 7th Amber Blindfold and Rapid tournament
3) New York Open
4) XVIII Reykjavik International
5) Golden Cleopatra Festival
6) Chucholov wins Computerij weekend tournament in Zwolle
7) First Saturday Tournament March
8) Torneo Magistral Internacional Esucomex
9) Polish Championships
10) Belgrade 53rd Yugoslav Championships
11) Golden Jubilee International Chess tournament
12) Upcoming Events

Games section

7th Amber                    72 games
New York Open               214 games
Reykjavik Open              127 games
Golden Cleopatra Festival    70 games
Cairo Open                  135 games
Zwolle                       18 games
First Saturday               12 games
Esucomex                    231 games
Polish Championships         72 games
Belgrade 53rd Yugoslav Ch    48 games

1) Introduction

My thanks to Carol Jarecki, Sinisa Joksic, Laszlo Nagy, Jeroen van den Berg, Eric van der Schilden (and TASC), Daði Örn Jónsson's Chess in Iceland pages, Hassan Khaled, Michael Atkins, Henri Spijkerman, Pablo Rodriguez, Artur Zaremba, V Krishnaswamy, H.-W. Schmitt and all those who helped with this issue.

More Amber, the New York Open, Hungarian and Polish Championships, Reykjavik, sometimes its a wonder there are enough players to go round. Also news of Frankfurt's Chess Classic which will see Kasparov, Kramnik, Anand and Karpov meet in rapidchess in June. Its been a busy week.

Hope you enjoy this issue

Mark

2) 7th Amber Blindfold and Rapid tournament

The "Seventh Amber Blindfold and Rapid Chess Tournament" will be held at the Metropole Palace hotel at the casino square in Monaco, from March 12 until March 27 1998.

There is full coverage at:
http://www.tasc.nl/amber7 the games will also be available on twic's pages.

Play started on March 13. The play starts at 1 p.m. until approximately 8 p.m. Rest days, March 16, 20 and 24. The 11th and last round is on March 26. The players will play one rapid game and one blindfold game with reversed colours against the same opponent. An incremental time rate will be used.

After nine of the eleven rounds Vladimir Kramnik heads the over all standings by a point from Shirov and Ivanchuk. Kramnik also leads the blindfold event with 7 points above Anand and Topalov. The rapidplay event is lead by Alexei Shirov and Vassily Ivanchuk just above Karpov and Kramnik. Ljubojevic also has has some excellent results and has the two back markers to come.

Mostly the most interesting chess was in the rapid event. In round 4 Anand's double piece sacrifice against Lautier proved only enough to draw. Matthew Sadler played a nice combination to finish off Loek Van Wely. Round 5 saw Shirov unleash a genuine novelty against Anand with 16. Qe3 in a Sicilian and Anand resigned on move 20. Round 6 saw Anand beat in form Matthew Sadler after getting a nice bind with 15. d6. Round 7 saw a high quality game between Kramnik and Ivanchuk. Anand lost to Van Wely when the Dutchman launch a fine late attack. Round 8 saw Karpov beat Vladimir Kramnik in a satisfying game, Shirov-Topalov was also a good struggle, Ljubojevic found a creative way to beat Van Wely. Kramnik moved back into form in round 9 beating Ljubojevic 2-0. Piket won a quite brutal game starting with his unusual 5. h4. In the blindfold Sadler after scoring his first draw the previous day scored a full point against Karpov who just blundered away his Queen.


Amber Rapidplay
---------------

Round 4 (1998.03.17)

Ivanchuk, Vassily     -  Karpov, Anatoly       0-1   67  B12  Caro-Kann
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir  -  Shirov, Alexei        1/2   29  D15  Slav defence
Sadler, Matthew       -  Van Wely, Loek        1-0   38  D43  Semi-Slav
Piket, Jeroen         -  Kramnik, Vladimir     0-1   67  D37  Queen's gambit
Anand, Viswanathan    -  Lautier, Joel         1/2   22  B49  Sicilian
Topalov, Veselin      -  Nikolic, Predrag      1/2   44  E11  Bogo indian

Round 5 (1998.03.18)

Shirov, Alexei        -  Anand, Viswanathan    1-0   20  B65  Sicilian
Karpov, Anatoly       -  Ljubojevic, Ljubomir  1-0   51  E35  Nimzo indian
Kramnik, Vladimir     -  Sadler, Matthew       1/2   55  D34  Queen's gambit
Van Wely, Loek        -  Topalov, Veselin      1/2   41  D32  Queen's gambit
Lautier, Joel         -  Ivanchuk, Vassily     0-1   63  D82  Gruenfeld indian
Nikolic, Predrag      -  Piket, Jeroen         1/2   40  D41  QGD; Tarrasch Defence

Round 6 (1998.03.19)

Shirov, Alexei        -  Kramnik, Vladimir     1/2   35  B33  Sicilian; Sveshnikov
Ivanchuk, Vassily     -  Topalov, Veselin      1-0   59  B92  Sicilian; Najdorf
Karpov, Anatoly       -  Nikolic, Predrag      1-0   61  D20  QGA;
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir  -  Piket, Jeroen         1/2   53  A47  Queen's pawn
Anand, Viswanathan    -  Sadler, Matthew       1-0   47  A40  Queen's pawn
Lautier, Joel         -  Van Wely, Loek        0-1   38  D85  Gruenfeld indian

Round 7 (1998.03.21)

Kramnik, Vladimir     -  Ivanchuk, Vassily     1/2   33  D85  Gruenfeld indian
Sadler, Matthew       -  Ljubojevic, Ljubomir  0-1   57  D58  QGD;
Van Wely, Loek        -  Anand, Viswanathan    1-0   40  E66  Kings indian
Piket, Jeroen         -  Lautier, Joel         1/2   22  D32  Queen's gambit
Topalov, Veselin      -  Karpov, Anatoly       1-0   43  D37  Queen's gambit
Nikolic, Predrag      -  Shirov, Alexei        1/2   45  E63  Kings indian

Round 8 (1998.03.22)

Shirov, Alexei        -  Topalov, Veselin      1-0   71  B81  Sicilian
Ivanchuk, Vassily     -  Nikolic, Predrag      1-0   46  C07  French; Tarrasch
Karpov, Anatoly       -  Kramnik, Vladimir     1-0   29  D46  Semi-Slav
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir  -  Van Wely, Loek        1-0   34  E92  Kings indian; Classical
Anand, Viswanathan    -  Piket, Jeroen         1/2   35  C78  Ruy Lopez
Lautier, Joel         -  Sadler, Matthew       1-0   46  B24  Sicilian; Closed

Round 9 (1998.03.23)

Kramnik, Vladimir     -  Ljubojevic, Ljubomir  1-0   41  A30  English; 1.c4 c5
Sadler, Matthew       -  Karpov, Anatoly       1/2   34  E42  Nimzo indian
Van Wely, Loek        -  Ivanchuk, Vassily     0-1   62  D41  QGD; Tarrasch Defence
Piket, Jeroen         -  Shirov, Alexei        1-0   22  A16  English; 1.c4
Topalov, Veselin      -  Lautier, Joel         1/2   37  D41  QGD; Tarrasch Defence
Nikolic, Predrag      -  Anand, Viswanathan    0-1   42  D43  Semi-Slav


Monte Carlo MON (MON), III 1998                       cat. XVIII (2680)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 1 Shirov, Alexei        g ESP 2710  * 1 1 = = . . 0 1 = 1 =  6.0  2813
 2 Ivanchuk, Vassily     g UKR 2740  0 * 0 = 1 . 1 . = 1 1 1  6.0  2813
 3 Karpov, Anatoly       g RUS 2735  0 1 * 1 1 = . . = = 0 1  5.5  2773
 4 Kramnik, Vladimir     g RUS 2790  = = 0 * 1 = 1 1 . . = =  5.5  2741
 5 Ljubojevic, Ljubomir  g YUG 2565  = 0 0 0 * 1 1 = 1 1 . .  5.0  2734
 6 Sadler, Matthew       g ENG 2650  . . = = 0 * 1 1 0 0 = 1  4.5  2673
 7 Van Wely, Loek        g NED 2605  . 0 . 0 0 0 * 1 1 1 = 1  4.5  2678
 8 Piket, Jeroen         g NED 2575  1 . . 0 = 0 0 * = = 1 =  4.0  2635
 9 Anand, Viswanathan    g IND 2770  0 = = . 0 1 0 = * = . 1  4.0  2608
10 Lautier, Joel         g FRA 2645  = 0 = . 0 1 0 = = * = .  3.5  2596
11 Topalov, Veselin      g BUL 2740  0 0 1 = . = = 0 . = * =  3.5  2596
12 Nikolic, Predrag      g BIH 2635  = 0 0 = . 0 0 = 0 . = *  2.0  2481
-----------------------------------------------------------------------


Amber Blindfold
---------------

Round 4 (1998.03.17)

Kramnik, Vladimir     -  Piket, Jeroen         1-0   55  E97  Kings indian; Main line
Shirov, Alexei        -  Ljubojevic, Ljubomir  1/2   63  C10  French
Lautier, Joel         -  Anand, Viswanathan    1/2   29  E55  Nimzo indian
Van Wely, Loek        -  Sadler, Matthew       1-0   33  A08  Reti (1.Nf3)
Karpov, Anatoly       -  Ivanchuk, Vassily     1/2   58  D02  Queen's pawn
Nikolic, Predrag      -  Topalov, Veselin      0-1   69  A41  Queen's pawn

Round 5 (1998.03.18)

Anand, Viswanathan    -  Shirov, Alexei        1/2   56  C67  Ruy Lopez
Topalov, Veselin      -  Van Wely, Loek        1-0   46  D41  QGD; Tarrasch Defence
Ivanchuk, Vassily     -  Lautier, Joel         1-0   53  B44  Sicilian
Piket, Jeroen         -  Nikolic, Predrag      1/2   28  D24  QGA;
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir  -  Karpov, Anatoly       1/2   24  B17  Caro-Kann
Sadler, Matthew       -  Kramnik, Vladimir     0-1   35  B22  Sicilian; Alapin (2.c3)

Round 6 (1998.03.19)

Kramnik, Vladimir     -  Shirov, Alexei        1/2   46  E97  Kings indian; Main line
Topalov, Veselin      -  Ivanchuk, Vassily     1-0   26  B56  Sicilian
Van Wely, Loek        -  Lautier, Joel         1-0   34  B13  Caro-Kann
Piket, Jeroen         -  Ljubojevic, Ljubomir  1-0   43  D37  Queen's gambit
Nikolic, Predrag      -  Karpov, Anatoly       1/2   27  E15  Nimzo indian
Sadler, Matthew       -  Anand, Viswanathan    0-1   40  E60  Kings indian

Round 7 (1998.03.21)

Anand, Viswanathan    -  Van Wely, Loek        1-0   36  B85  Sicilian
Ivanchuk, Vassily     -  Kramnik, Vladimir     1-0   29  E06  Nimzo indian
Shirov, Alexei        -  Nikolic, Predrag      1-0   38  C19  French; Winawer
Lautier, Joel         -  Piket, Jeroen         1/2   58  C68  Ruy Lopez; Exchange
Karpov, Anatoly       -  Topalov, Veselin      1-0   55  A34  English; 1.c4 c5
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir  -  Sadler, Matthew       1-0   55  A06  Reti (1.Nf3)

Round 8 (1998.03.22)

Kramnik, Vladimir     -  Karpov, Anatoly       1/2   56  D37  Queen's gambit
Topalov, Veselin      -  Shirov, Alexei        0-1   66  B80  Sicilian
Van Wely, Loek        -  Ljubojevic, Ljubomir  1/2   90  E12  Nimzo indian
Piket, Jeroen         -  Anand, Viswanathan    1-0   60  D87  Gruenfeld indian
Nikolic, Predrag      -  Ivanchuk, Vassily     0-1   51  D45  Semi-Slav
Sadler, Matthew       -  Lautier, Joel         1/2   34  B23  Sicilian; Closed

Round 9 (1998.03.23)

Anand, Viswanathan    -  Nikolic, Predrag      1-0   31  E00  Nimzo indian
Ivanchuk, Vassily     -  Van Wely, Loek        1/2   41  E17  Nimzo indian
Shirov, Alexei        -  Piket, Jeroen         1-0   49  C67  Ruy Lopez
Lautier, Joel         -  Topalov, Veselin      0-1   64  B22  Sicilian; Alapin (2.c3)
Karpov, Anatoly       -  Sadler, Matthew       0-1   13  D02  Queen's pawn
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir  -  Kramnik, Vladimir     0-1   49  B57  Sicilian


Monte Carlo MON (MON), III 1998                       cat. XVIII (2680)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 1 Kramnik, Vladimir     g RUS 2790  * . 1 0 = . 1 1 = 1 1 1  7.0  2881
 2 Anand, Viswanathan    g IND 2770  . * . 1 = = 1 0 = = 1 1  6.0  2776
 3 Topalov, Veselin      g BUL 2740  0 . * 1 0 1 1 1 0 . 1 1  6.0  2801
 4 Ivanchuk, Vassily     g UKR 2740  1 0 0 * 1 1 = . = = 1 .  5.5  2768
 5 Shirov, Alexei        g ESP 2710  = = 1 0 * 0 . 1 1 = 1 .  5.5  2768
 6 Lautier, Joel         g FRA 2645  . = 0 0 1 * 0 = 1 1 . =  4.5  2676
 7 Van Wely, Loek        g NED 2605  0 0 0 = . 1 * 1 . = = 1  4.5  2678
 8 Piket, Jeroen         g NED 2575  0 1 0 . 0 = 0 * . 1 = 1  4.0  2635
 9 Karpov, Anatoly       g RUS 2735  = = 1 = 0 0 . . * = = 0  3.5  2613
10 Ljubojevic, Ljubomir  g YUG 2565  0 = . = = 0 = 0 = * . 1  3.5  2611
11 Nikolic, Predrag      g BIH 2635  0 0 0 0 0 . = = = . * 1  2.5  2535
12 Sadler, Matthew       g ENG 2650  0 0 0 . . = 0 0 1 0 0 *  1.5  2400
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Overall Standings
-----------------

Monte Carlo MON (MON), III 1998                                   cat. XVIII (2680)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1 Kramnik, Vladimir     g RUS 2790 ** == =0 .. =1 0= 11 11 .. 11 =1 =1  12.5  2802
 2 Shirov, Alexei        g ESP 2710 == ** 10 1= 11 11 .. == =0 01 .. =1  11.5  2790
 3 Ivanchuk, Vassily     g UKR 2740 =1 01 ** =0 10 0= 1= 1= 11 .. .. 11  11.5  2790
 4 Anand, Viswanathan    g IND 2770 .. 0= =1 ** .. == 01 0= == =0 11 11  10.0  2694
 5 Topalov, Veselin      g BUL 2740 =0 00 01 .. ** 10 =1 .. =1 01 =1 =1   9.5  2697
 6 Karpov, Anatoly       g RUS 2735 1= 00 1= == 01 ** .. 1= =0 .. =0 1=   9.0  2693
 7 Van Wely, Loek        g NED 2605 00 .. 0= 10 =0 .. ** 0= 11 11 01 1=   9.0  2678
 8 Ljubojevic, Ljubomir  g YUG 2565 00 == 0= 1= .. 0= 1= ** 10 =0 11 ..   8.5  2670
 9 Lautier, Joel         g FRA 2645 .. =1 00 == =0 =1 00 01 ** == 1= ..   8.0  2633
10 Piket, Jeroen         g NED 2575 00 10 .. =1 10 .. 00 =1 == ** 01 ==   8.0  2635
11 Sadler, Matthew       g ENG 2650 =0 .. .. 00 =0 =1 10 00 0= 10 ** 10   6.0  2548
12 Nikolic, Predrag      g BIH 2635 =0 =0 00 00 =0 0= 0= .. .. == 01 **   4.5  2508
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3) New York Open

The New York Open started on Monday 16th March finishing March 22nd. There were 65 GMs and Michael Atkins covered the event on the internet.

Artashes Minasian the 31st seed for the event won the New York Open after scoring 6 consecutive wins to round up the event. In fact the whole event looked like a victory for Armenian chess with Lputian taking clear second and Akopian a share of 3rd. Prizes started at 1st $14,000 (+ another $1000 for being clear winner) and dive to 2nd $7,000, etc.) also the winner took a porcelan chess set with a beautiful inlaid wooden board valued at $2000. In the final half Minasian took out Ziatdinov in round 5, Alexsandrov in round 6, Shabalov in round 7, Mikhail Gurevich in round 8 and Kiril Georgiev in the final round for a performance of 2837.

The American presence was weakened by the absense of DeFirmian and Christiansen in Reykjavic with Shabalov putting up their best performance. Evgeny Bareev was undefeated but never got into the kind of win mode to win this style of event.

George Sikharulidze, of Georgia, gained an IM norm with a defeat of IM Lugo Blas in the final round, Yurij Lapshun (USA), Jorge Clavijo (COL), Emory Tate (USA) and Ilye Figler (USA) also scored norms

Statistics: Total players for all sections in the tournament was 804. 146 titled players participated including 64 grandmasters, 40 international masters, 42 FIDE masters and 1 WGM. 42 Federations were represented in the International Open section alone, this certainly being a new record. A large contingent came from Spain, a group from Romania included the youngest player, 10-year-old Traian Tasu.

(Much of the above based on the report by Arbiter Carol Jarecki, my thanks to her.)

Full coverage, reports and pictures at: http://w-w-w.com/nyopen/results.htm

Final Standings
New York USA (USA), III 1998
-------------------------------------------
  1 Minasian, Artashes      g ARM 2570  8.0
  2 Lputian, Smbat G        g ARM 2610  7.5
  3 Akopian, Vladimir       g ARM 2660  7.0
  4 Epishin, Vladimir       g RUS 2590  7.0
  5 Bareev, Evgeny          g RUS 2675  6.5
  6 Georgiev, Kiril         g BUL 2675  6.5
  7 Gurevich, Mikhail       g BEL 2635  6.5
  8 Milov, Vadim            g SUI 2635  6.5
  9 Granda Zuniga, Julio E  g PER 2630  6.5
 10 Aleksandrov, Aleksej    g BLR 2615  6.5
 11 Shabalov, Alexander     g USA 2615  6.5
 12 Hracek, Zbynek          g CZE 2610  6.5
 13 Onischuk, Alexander     g UKR 2610  6.5
 14 Movsesian, Sergei       g CZE 2595  6.5
 15 Smirin, Ilia            g ISR 2590  6.5
 16 Comas Fabrego, Luis     m ESP 2520  6.5
 17 Sulskis, Sarunas        g LTU 2485  6.5
 18 Chernin, Alexander      g HUN 2645  6.0
 19 Tiviakov, Sergei        g RUS 2640  6.0
 20 Nenashev, Alexander     g UZB 2625  6.0
 21 Ehlvest, Jaan           g EST 2610  6.0
 22 Filippov, Valerij       g RUS 2595  6.0
 23 Atalik, Suat            g TUR 2595  6.0
 24 Ibragimov, Ildar        g RUS 2590  6.0
 25 Pigusov, Evgeny         g RUS 2575  6.0
 26 Yakovich, Yuri          g RUS 2570  6.0
 27 Kudrin, Sergey          g USA 2565  6.0
 28 Kharlov, Andrei         g RUS 2560  6.0
 29 Schmaltz, Roland        m GER 2470  6.0
 30 Khalifman, Alexander    g RUS 2660  5.5
 31 Yermolinsky, Alex       g USA 2660  5.5
 32 Benjamin, Joel          g USA 2595  5.5
 33 Sutovsky, Emil          g ISR 2595  5.5
 34 Vaisser, Anatoli        g FRA 2595  5.5
 35 Gulko, Boris F          g USA 2585  5.5
 36 Bologan, Viktor         g MDA 2580  5.5
 37 Rogers, Ian             g AUS 2570  5.5
 38 Spraggett, Kevin        g CAN 2565  5.5
 39 Blatny, Pavel           g CZE 2560  5.5
 40 Asrian, Karen           m ARM 2555  5.5
 41 Novikov, Igor A         g UKR 2550  5.5
 42 Ivanov, Alexander       g USA 2545  5.5
 43 Gurevich, Dmitry        g USA 2540  5.5
 44 Serper, Grigory         g USA 2540  5.5
 45 Anastasian, Ashot       g ARM 2540  5.5
 46 Magem Badals, Jorge     g ESP 2535  5.5
 47 Agrest, Evgenij         g SWE 2525  5.5
 48 Campora, Daniel H       g ARG 2520  5.5
 49 Fishbein, Alexander     g USA 2510  5.5
 50 San Segundo, Pablo      g ESP 2505  5.5
 51 Miezis, Normunds        g LAT 2505  5.5
 52 Fedorowicz, John P      g USA 2495  5.5
 53 Arizmendi Martinez, J     ESP 2480  5.5
 54 Stripunsky, Alexander   m UKR 2475  5.5
 55 Waitzkin, Joshua        m USA 2465  5.5
 56 Kreiman, Boris          m USA 2445  5.5
 57 Shliperman, Igor        m USA 2425  5.5
 58 Kaufman, Larry C        m USA 2410  5.5
 59 Delaune, Richard K      m USA 2365  5.5
 60 Assmann, Thomas         f GER 2345  5.5
 61 Jimenez, Paco                       5.5
 62 Sikharulidze, George                5.5
194 players

4) XVIII Reykjavik International

The XVIII Reykjavik International which is part of the VISA Nordic Grand Prix 1998-9 is took place March 10th-18th. Larry Christiansen took the XVIII Reykjavik International with 7.5/9 half a point from American compatriot Nick DeFirmian. He in turn was half a point clear from the top Nordic player Curt Hansen.

Full coverage can be found on Daði Örn Jónsson's excellent Chess in Iceland pages: http://www.vks.is/skak/indexe.html

Reykjavik ISL (ISL), III 1998
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1 Christiansen, Larry M      g USA 2575  +38 +10 +16 +25 = 2 +18 + 3 = 8 = 4  7.5 /9  2785
 2 De Firmian, Nick E         g USA 2590  +41 + 8 =13 +22 = 1 + 4 =11 +15 = 5  7.0 /9  2702
 3 Hansen, Curt               g DEN 2595  =24 =39 +55 +20 = 8 +16 - 1 +18 +11  6.5 /9  2582
 4 Sokolov, Ivan              g BIH 2625  +33 =18 -14 +24 +29 - 2 +21 +17 = 1  6.0 /9  2592
 5 Rausis, Igors              g LAT 2520  +37 =32 +19 =18 =11 =14 =20 +30 = 2  6.0 /9  2544
 6 Davies, Nigel R            g ENG 2515  +59 =30 -22 +27 +34 =17 =10 +20 = 7  6.0 /9  2524
 7 Hall, Jesper               m SWE 2460  =44 =24 +63 =15 +25 =23 +12 =11 = 6  6.0 /9  2538
 8 Akesson, Ralf              g SWE 2505  +61 - 2 +50 +39 = 3 =15 +22 = 1 =10  6.0 /9  2553
 9 Kindermann, Stefan         g GER 2565  =40 +42 =17 =30 =22 -27 +34 +32 +24  6.0 /9  2465
10 Ward, Christopher          g ENG 2480  +63 - 1 +36 -12 +40 +32 = 6 +23 = 8  6.0 /9  2535
11 Westerinen, Heikki M.J     g FIN 2410  +43 +15 =31 =13 = 5 +21 = 2 = 7 - 3  5.5 /9  2581
12 Miles, Anthony J           g ENG 2595  =34 =28 +46 +10 =16 =13 - 7 +22 =14  5.5 /9  2491
13 Olafsson, Helgi            g ISL 2505  +35 +57 = 2 =11 =14 =12 =17 =27 =19  5.5 /9  2482
14 Thorhallsson, Throstur     g ISL 2480  +48 =25 + 4 =31 =13 = 5 -15 +40 =12  5.5 /9  2553
15 Agdestein, Simen           g NOR 2570  +50 -11 +37 = 7 +33 = 8 +14 - 2 =16  5.5 /9  2482
16 Hector, Jonny              g SWE 2505  +45 +27 - 1 +32 =12 - 3 +33 =19 =15  5.5 /9  2526
17 Van der Weide, Karel       f NED 2450  =51 +54 = 9 +26 =23 = 6 =13 - 4 +31  5.5 /9  2519
18 Gallagher, Joseph G        g SUI 2490  +62 = 4 +34 = 5 +31 - 1 =19 - 3 +30  5.5 /9  2535
19 Gunnarsson, Jon Viktor       ISL 2390  +56 =21 - 5 =51 +36 +31 =18 =16 =13  5.5 /9  2464
20 Cicak, Slavko              m SWE 2480  -57 +61 +35 - 3 +42 +56 = 5 - 6 +33  5.5 /9  2370
21 Gausel, Einar              g NOR 2555  +47 =19 =32 =33 +30 -11 - 4 +67 +27  5.5 /9  2441
22 Jonsson, Bjorgvin          m ISL 2380  =49 +44 + 6 - 2 = 9 +26 - 8 -12 +47  5.0 /9  2492
23 Stefansson, Hannes         g ISL 2540  =42 +40 =30 +28 =17 = 7 =27 -10 =29  5.0 /9  2435
24 Olsen, Heini                 FAI 2270  = 3 = 7 =59 - 4 =45 +37 +56 +26 - 9  5.0 /9  2408
25 Nijboer, Friso             g NED 2580  +55 =14 +29 - 1 - 7 +52 -30 =39 +40  5.0 /9  2413
26 Mortensen, Erling          m DEN 2510  =58 +52 =28 -17 +38 -22 +42 -24 +39  5.0 /9  2323
27 Hillarp Persson, Tiger     m SWE 2410  +66 -16 +57 - 6 +37 + 9 =23 =13 -21  5.0 /9  2426
28 Bradbury, Neil H           m ENG 2360  +60 =12 =26 -23 =52 =51 -40 +54 +42  5.0 /9  2304
29 Conquest, Stuart           g ENG 2480  =54 +58 -25 +59 - 4 -34 +43 +51 =23  5.0 /9  2327
30 Ivanov, Mikhail M          g RUS 2440  +64 = 6 =23 = 9 -21 +46 +25 - 5 -18  4.5 /9  2453
31 Djurhuus, Rune             g NOR 2510  +36 +46 =11 =14 -18 -19 =50 +52 -17  4.5 /9  2340
32 Vidarsson, Jon G           f ISL 2380  +53 = 5 =21 -16 +62 -10 +38 - 9 =37  4.5 /9  2349
33 Richardson, John R         f ENG 2315  - 4 +51 +38 =21 -15 +53 -16 +34 -20  4.5 /9  2375
34 Halldorsson, Bragi           ISL 2285  =12 +49 -18 +60 - 6 +29 - 9 -33 +52  4.5 /9  2343
35 Halldorsson, Jon Arni        ISL 2185  -13 +53 -20 -56 =54 +57 =46 =38 +51  4.5 /9  2252
36 Edvardsson, Kristjan         ISL 2205  -31 +65 -10 +43 -19 =41 =53 =46 +54  4.5 /9  2205
37 Rasmussen, Rogvi W           FAI 2115  - 5 +56 -15 +54 -27 -24 +60 +58 =32  4.5 /9  2247
38 Gunnarsson, Arinbjorn        ISL 2240  - 1 +64 -33 +63 -26 +44 -32 =35 +53  4.5 /9  2241
39 Karason, Askell O            ISL 2260  =52 = 3 +43 - 8 -56 +59 =51 =25 -26  4.0 /9  2327
40 Bjornsson, Tomas           f ISL 2235  = 9 -23 =60 +57 -10 +62 +28 -14 -25  4.0 /9  2366
41 Kristjansson, Stefan         ISL 2255  - 2 -63 =54 +48 =44 =36 -52 =53 +57  4.0 /9  2147
42 Fridjonsson, Julius          ISL 2215  =23 - 9 =44 +49 -20 +60 -26 +56 -28  4.0 /9  2152
43 Olafsson,Thorvardur F            ----  -11 +47 -39 -36 =61 +49 -29 =45 +59  4.0 /9  2179
44 Kjartansson, David           ISL 2100  = 7 -22 =42 =45 =41 -38 -59 +64 +58  4.0 /9  2202
45 Briem, Stefan                ISL 2185  -16 -60 +64 =44 =24 -50 =55 =43 +56  4.0 /9  2182
46 Dewenter, Ulf                GER 2245  +65 -31 -12 +61 =51 -30 =35 =36 =48  4.0 /9  2201
47 Finnlaugsson, Gunnar         SWE 2215  -21 -43 -56 +66 =57 +48 =58 +59 -22  4.0 /9  2262
48 Petermann, Hubert            GER 2125  -14 -50 =53 -41 +64 -47 +65 +55 =46  4.0 /9  2148
49 Jonatansson,Helgi E              ----  =22 -34 =52 -42 -58 -43 +66 +65 +62  4.0 /9  2106
50 Bjornsson, Bjorn Freyr       ISL 2240  -15 +48 - 8 -62 +63 +45 =31  .   .   3.5 /7  2313
51 Einarsson, Einar Kristinn    ISL 2085  =17 -33 +58 =19 =46 =28 =39 -29 -35  3.5 /9  2240
52 Schmied, Andreas             GER 2155  =39 -26 =49 +55 =28 -25 +41 -31 -34  3.5 /9  2289
53 Baldursson,Hrannar               ----  -32 -35 =48 +58 +55 -33 =36 =41 -38  3.5 /9  2158
54 Thorfinnsson, Bjorn          ISL 2100  =29 -17 =41 -37 =35 +61 +62 -28 -36  3.5 /9  2183
55 Lehikoinen, Pertti Ilari     FIN 2250  -25 +62 - 3 -52 -53 +63 =45 -48 +60  3.5 /9  2175
56 Palsson,Halldor                  ----  -19 -37 +47 +35 +39 -20 -24 -42 -45  3.0 /9  2132
57 Ragnarsson, Johann           ISL 2110  +20 -13 -27 -40 =47 -35 +64 =61 -41  3.0 /9  2155
58 Gunnarsson, Arnar            ISL 2195  =26 -29 -51 -53 +49 +65 =47 -37 -44  3.0 /9  1977
59 Bjornsson, Sigurbjorn        ISL 2210  - 6 +66 =24 -29 =60 -39 +44 -47 -43  3.0 /9  2113
60 Steindorsson,Sigurdur P          ----  -28 +45 =40 -34 =59 -42 -37 +66 -55  3.0 /9  2038
61 Wiese, Hans-Joachim          GER 2165  - 8 -20 +65 -46 =43 -54 =63 =57 =64  3.0 /9  2005
62 Leosson, Torfi               ISL 2160  -18 -55 +66 +50 -32 -40 -54 +63 -49  3.0 /9  2104
63 Asgeirsson, Heimir           ISL 2140  -10 +41 - 7 -38 -50 -55 =61 -62 +65  2.5 /9  2030
64 Schubert, Hans-Joach         AUT 2070  -30 -38 -45 =65 -48 +66 -57 -44 =61  2.0 /9  1773
65 Omarsson,Hjalti Runar            ----  -46 -36 -61 =64 +66 -58 -48 -49 -63  1.5 /9  1741
66 Valgardsson,Gudjon H             ----  -27 -59 -62 -47 -65 -64 -49 -60 +67  1.0 /9      
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5) Golden Cleopatra Festival

Hassan Khaled sends a report from an event which has just finshed in Egypt.

The Egyptian Chess Federation organized the Golden Cleopatra Festival , sponsored by Eastern Company Club in Cairo. The event is underway and runs 11-22-March 1998.

The main event was a Scheveningen System Event where two groups of ten played each other. Group A consisted of 10 top Egyptian players with an average rating of 2339. They played against Group B which has ten players from a number of countries (Ukraine, Hungary, Rumania and Mexico) with an average rating of 2432. There were 3 GMs Sax, Csom and Ghitescu. This made it a Category 8 event for the Egyptions with a GM norm set at 7.5 and an IM norm at 5.5. In the end the top score for the Egyptian players was 5 points achieved by 3 players who are already IMs. Maher Himdan, Sayed Barakat Hassan, and Walaa Sarwat. Sergei Ovsejevitsch scored 8.5/10 for the foreign players for a performance of 2635. Alexander Goloshchapov and Isvan Csom, on 7.5 both too scored excellent results. Less good was Gyula Sax's 6.5.

In addition there was a second event an Open Swiss System tournament, also of 10 Rounds. There were 106 players (32 Fide Rated players ) most of whom were from Egypt except for Vaysman,A (2345) from the Ukraine and Najjar,A (2265) from LIB and also 3 unrated players from LIB. The event was won by Ramadan Abdel Aziem of Egypt with 8.5/10.

Final Standings
Scheveningen System Event
Cairo EGY (EGY), III 1998

Group A
------------------------------------------------------
 1 Himdan, Maher              m EGY 2300  5.0  2431
 2 Hassan, Sayed Barakat      m EGY 2325  5.0  2431
 3 Sarwat, Walaa              m EGY 2310  5.0  2431
 4 Mohamed, Esam Ahmed Nagib  m EGY 2485  4.5  2395
 5 Labib, Ibrahim Hasan       f EGY 2305  4.0  2359
 6 Hamed, Ahmed               m EGY 2320  3.5  2321
 7 Yasseen, Aly               m EGY 2325  2.5  2238
 8 El Ghazali, Youssef M      m EGY 2385  2.5  2238
 9 Afifi, Assem               m EGY 2345  1.5  2135
10 Mohamed, Farag Amrou       f EGY 2290  1.5  2135
------------------------------------------------------
Group B
------------------------------------------------------
 1 Ovsejevitsch, Sergei       m UKR 2475  8.5  2635
 2 Goloshchapov, Alexander    m UKR 2400  7.5  2532
 3 Csom, Istvan               g HUN 2460  7.5  2532
 4 Surjadnji, Aleksei         m UKR 2420  7.0  2488
 5 Sax, Gyula                 g HUN 2535  6.5  2449
 6 Cherevatenko, Roman        m UKR 2385  6.5  2449
 7 Khmelnitsky, Sergei          UKR 2420  6.5  2449
 8 Ghitescu, Theodor          g ROM 2355  5.5  2375
 9 Estrada Nieto, Julian      m MEX 2395  5.0  2339
10 Stoockalov, Vladimir L     m UKR 2470  4.5  2303

Cairo EGY (EGY), III 1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  10 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1 Ovsejevitsch, Sergei       m UKR 2475  +18 +11 +20 =17 +16 = 9 +10 +15 =13 +19  8.5  2635
 2 Goloshchapov, Alexander    m UKR 2400  = 9 -18 +17 +11 +19 +20 =16 +10 =15 +13  7.5  2532
 3 Csom, Istvan               g HUN 2460  -13 =15 +16 =10 +20 +19 +17 +11 +18 = 9  7.5  2532
 4 Surjadnji, Aleksei         m UKR 2420  -11 +17 + 9 +20 -10 +18 +15 =13 +19 =16  7.0  2488
 5 Sax, Gyula                 g HUN 2535  =10 -16 +13 =19 =11 +15 +18 + 9 +20 -17  6.5  2449
 6 Cherevatenko, Roman        m UKR 2385  =16 +19 =15 =13 +18 +10 = 9 =20 +17 -11  6.5  2449
 7 Khmelnitsky, Sergei          UKR 2420  +20 - 9 +11 =18 -13 +17 +19 +16 -10 +15  6.5  2449
 8 Ghitescu, Theodor          g ROM 2355  =19 +13 =10 -15 = 9 =16 +20 =17 -11 +18  5.5  2375
 9 Himdan, Maher              m EGY 2300  = 2 + 7 - 4 =12 = 8 = 1 = 6 - 5 +14 = 3  5.0  2431
10 Hassan, Sayed Barakat      m EGY 2325  = 5 +14 = 8 = 3 + 4 - 6 - 1 - 2 + 7 =12  5.0  2431
11 Sarwat, Walaa              m EGY 2310  + 4 - 1 - 7 - 2 = 5 +12 =14 - 3 + 8 + 6  5.0  2431
12 Estrada Nieto, Julian      m MEX 2395  +17 =20 =18 = 9 =15 -11 -13 +19 =16 =10  5.0  2339
13 Mohamed, Esam Ahmed Nagib  m EGY 2485  + 3 - 8 - 5 = 6 + 7 -14 +12 = 4 = 1 - 2  4.5  2395
14 Stoockalov, Vladimir L     m UKR 2470  -15 -10 =19 +16 =17 +13 =11 =18 - 9 =20  4.5  2303
15 Labib, Ibrahim Hasan       f EGY 2305  +14 = 3 = 6 + 8 =12 - 5 - 4 - 1 = 2 - 7  4.0  2359
16 Hamed, Ahmed               m EGY 2320  = 6 + 5 - 3 -14 - 1 = 8 = 2 - 7 =12 = 4  3.5  2321
17 Yasseen, Aly               m EGY 2325  -12 - 4 - 2 = 1 =14 - 7 - 3 = 8 - 6 + 5  2.5  2238
18 El Ghazali, Youssef M      m EGY 2385  - 1 + 2 =12 = 7 - 6 - 4 - 5 =14 - 3 - 8  2.5  2238
19 Afifi, Assem               m EGY 2345  = 8 - 6 =14 = 5 - 2 - 3 - 7 -12 - 4 - 1  1.5  2135
20 Mohamed, Farag Amrou       f EGY 2290  - 7 =12 - 1 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 8 = 6 - 5 =14  1.5  2135
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Open

Rating Results Table after round 10 of Golden
 nr Name                       nat T  rating  Rat-ID  tot  Rc   N  W    W-We
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1  Abdel Aziem,Ramadan        EGY     2155 10600485  8.5 2200  6  4.5 +1.86
 2  Tahan,Sabri                EGY     2200 10600701  8.0 2227  5  4   +1.70
 3  Abdel Fadil,Mohamed        EGY     2190 10600965  7.5 2242  5  3   +0.85
 4  Vaysman,Aleksander         UKR     2345 14101408  7.5 2178  4  3   +0.12
 5  Mokhtar,Ahmed              EGY     2180 10600698  7.5 2224  4  1.5 -0.26
 6  Hamed,Mohamed              EGY     0000           7.5 2254  7  4.5 +1.00
 7  Ezat,Mohamed               EGY     0000           7.5 2223  6  3.5 +0.50
 8  Elsayed,Moustafa           EGY     2230 10600434  7.0 2173  5  2.5 -0.40
 9  Mousa,Ahmed                EGY     0000           7.0 2221  8  5   +1.00
 10 Ahmed,Ehab                 EGY     2285 10600337  7.0 2170  4  2   -0.64
 11 Taher,Yusri                EGY     0000 10600671  7.0 2226  5  2    2154
 12 Amin,Ashraf                EGY     2250 10600418  7.0 2140  1  0.5 -0.15
 13 Abdel Razek,Khaled         EGY     0000           6.5 2229  8  4.5 +0.50
 14 Abo Elnasr,Mohamed         EGY     2165 10600540  6.5 2199  4  1.5 -0.30
 15 Abo Nar,Mohamed            EGY     2210 10600400  6.5 2211  4  2.5 +0.50
 16 Hamam,Reda                 EGY     2215 10600493  6.5 2212  5  1.5 -1.00
 17 Zayan,Osama                EGY     0000           6.5 2243  6  2.5  2186
 18 Mohamed Ahmed,Esam         EGY     0000           6.5 2234  4  1    2041
 19 Georg,Magdy                EGY     2330 10600230  6.5 2040  1  1   +0.16
 20 Abdel Samee,Mohamed        EGY     2185 10600957  6.0 2183  4  2   +0.00
 21 Lotfy,Abdel Rahman         EGY     0000           6.0 2286  7  5   +1.50
 22 Tork,Mohamed               EGY     2150 10600574  6.0 2220  5  2.5 +0.50
 23 Yusry,Salah                EGY     0000           6.0 2229  4  2    2229
 24 Abdelrahman,A.K.           EGY     2140 10600515  6.0 2293  3  0.5 -0.40
 25 Sameeh,Hany                EGY     2255 10600876  6.0 2203  2  1   -0.14
 26 Yousry,Mohamed             EGY     2265 10600353  6.0 2145  1  0   -0.66
 27 Ibrahim,Hatim              EGY     0000           6.0 2211  4  1    2018
 28 Fatehi,Ahmed               EGY     2145 10600566  6.0 2200  2  1.5 +0.66
 29 Abdel Fatah,Mohamed        EGY     0000           6.0 2214  4  1    2021
 30 Moustafa,Talaat            EGY     2265 10600825  6.0    0  0  0   +0.00
 31 Elgabry,Mohsen             EGY     2280 10600531  6.0 2150  1  0.5 -0.18
 32 Naby,Saii A.               EGY     2170 10600850  6.0 2255  1  0.5 +0.12
 33 Abdel Bary,Khaled          EGY     0000           6.0 2235  6  3    2235

106 players

6) Chucholov wins Computerij weekendtournament in Zwolle

Henri Spijkerman reports on the 7th annual Computerij-weekendtournament in Zwolle was won by IGM Vladimir Chuchelov with 5.5 points out of six games. Dutch IM Erik van den Doel came in as unshared second with 5 points. Chuchalov and Van den Doel were the players with the highest elo and considering this fact it was no coincidence that both met in the last round to battle for first prize. Although Van den Doel did his best to win the game Chuchalov managed to draw in an relatively easy manner.

Zwolle NED (NED), III 1998
-------------------------------------------
 1 Chuchelov, Vladimir    g BEL 2545    5.5 /6
 2 Van den Doel, Erik     m NED 2485    5.0 
 3 De Waal, Mark            NED 2245    4.5 
   Ernst, Sipke             NED 2300    4.5
   De Niet, Gert Michiel    NED 2210    4.5
 6 Van Wessel, Rudy       f NED 2315    4.0
   Pel, Bonno               NED 2140    4.0
42 players

7) First Saturday Tournament March

This months First Saturday Tournament started on the 7th of March in the tournament halls of the Hungarian Chess Federation. It ran until March 17th. This was a category II. event with an average rating of 2299 and an IM-norm set at 8 points. There was also a Scheveningen system tournament. The event saw Todor Todorov score his first IM norm.

Between 4th-17th of April there will be a cat.VII. GM-event, a Cat. II IM event and a Scheveningen system tournament. Contact Laszlo Nagy for more details: Tel-fax: int-(361)-263-28-59 or 100263.1700@compuserve.com

Round 9 (Postponed game)

Karatorossian, David     -  Ferencz, Istvan          1-0   49  A15  English; 1.c4

Round 10 (1998.03.16)

Senff, Martin            -  Dudas, Janos             0-1   38  B80  Sicilian
De Gleria, Francesco     -  Farago, Sandor           0-1   40  B04  Alekhine defence
Rodriguez Lopez, Rafael  -  Todorov, Todor           0-1   34  C41  Philidor defence
Grabics, Monika          -  Ferencz, Istvan          1/2   52  B33  Sicilian; Sveshnikov
Goczo, Melinda           -  Karatorossian, David     1-0   42  E62  Kings indian
Bordas, Gyula            -  Kahn, Evarth             1/2   41  B79  Sicilian; Dragon

Round 11 (1998.03.17)

Todorov, Todor           -  Senff, Martin            1/2   13  C55  Two knights
Karatorossian, David     -  Rodriguez Lopez, Rafael  0-1   48  A30  English; 1.c4 c5
Dudas, Janos             -  De Gleria, Francesco     1/2   12  E92  Kings indian; Classical
Farago, Sandor           -  Bordas, Gyula            1/2    0
Kahn, Evarth             -  Grabics, Monika          1/2   14  A38  English; 1.c4 c5
Ferencz, Istvan          -  Goczo, Melinda           1/2   20  C02  French; Advance


Budapest HUN (HUN), III 1998                                cat. II (2299)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1 Todorov, Todor             BUL 2405  * = 0 0 1 1 1 = 1 1 1 1  8.0  2464
 2 Senff, Martin              GER 2430  = * = = 0 = = 1 1 = 1 1  7.0  2388
 3 Karatorossian, David       ARM 2375  1 = * 1 = 0 = 1 0 0 1 1  6.5  2356
 4 De Gleria, Francesco       GER 2245  1 = 0 * = 0 0 1 1 1 = 1  6.5  2368
 5 Dudas, Janos             m HUN 2405  0 1 = = * 0 = = = 1 1 1  6.5  2354
 6 Rodriguez Lopez, Rafael  f ESP 2285  0 = 1 1 1 * 0 0 = = 1 =  6.0  2336
 7 Farago, Sandor           m HUN 2285  0 = = 1 = 1 * = = 0 = 1  6.0  2336
 8 Grabics, Monika         wm HUN 2345  = 0 0 0 = 1 = * = 1 1 =  5.5  2294
 9 Kahn, Evarth             m HUN 2330  0 0 1 0 = = = = * = = 1  5.0  2259
10 Goczo, Melinda             HUN 2170  0 = 1 0 0 = 1 0 = * 0 =  4.0  2208
11 Bordas, Gyula              HUN 2165  0 0 0 = 0 0 = 0 = 1 * 1  3.5  2177
12 Ferencz, Istvan            HUN 2145  0 0 0 0 0 = 0 = 0 = 0 *  1.5  2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

8) Torneo Magistral Internacional Esucomex

Pablo Rodriguez reports from Santiago, Chile. The XIV "Torneo Magistral Internacional Esucomex" was held in Santiago, Chile, February 27th - March 8th. This is the most important open tournament played in Chile and this year included two IMs from Argentina and three strong bolivian masters. The winner was the argentinian IM Guillermo Llanos with a score of 8 point on 9 rounds. Llanos only defeat was on round 6 against chilean FM Daniel Barria who from then on allowed three draws finishing in an undefeated second place shared with IM Rodrigo Vasquez. Vasquez, the winner of the two previous versions, scored 7.5, the same as before, but it was not enough this time. Fourth place was shared by argentinian IM Claudio Minzer and chilean FMs Christian Michel, Marcelo Duarte, Julio Cortes and Cristhian Montero. There were also prizes for the best senior, David Godoy, best lady, WIM Giovanna Arbunic and best under 14, Miguel Lobos. The brillancy prize was awarded to young Rodrigo Retamal for his game against Fernando Rosa. The 2nd National Blitz was played on the "rest" day and was clearly won by Rodrigo Vasquez (8.5/9), a full point ahead of GM Roberto Cifuentes (who did not play the open) and FM Marcelo Duarte. The tournament was organized and directed by Mr. Carlos Molina with IA Lorenginis Berti as Chief Arbiter.

MAGISTRAL INTERNACIONAL ESUCOMEX 1998
Final Standings
 
  1. LLANOS GUILLERMO         ARGENTINA               8.0         51.5  
  2. BARRIA DANIEL            SANTIAGO                7.5         52.0  
  3. VASQUEZ RODRIGO          SANTIAGO                7.5         49.0  
  4. MINZER CLAUDIO           ARGENTINA               7.0         51.5  
  5. MICHEL CHRISTIAN         SANTIAGO                7.0         51.5  
  6. DUARTE MARCELO           SANTIAGO                7.0         50.5  
  7. CORTES JULIO             SANTIAGO                7.0         45.5  
  8. MONTERO CRISTHIAN        SANTIAGO                7.0         43.0  
  9. ROJAS LUIS               SANTIAGO                6.5         59.5  
 10. FLORES PATRICIO          ARICA                   6.5         51.5  
 11. ARANCIBIA EDUARDO        SANTIAGO                6.5         50.5  
 12. BARBOSA MANUEL           SANTIAGO                6.5         49.5  
 13. ARAYA RICARDO            ILLAPEL                 6.5         48.0  
 14. SEPULVEDA ANDRES         SANTIAGO                6.5         45.5  
 15. GODOY DAVID              SANTIAGO                6.5         44.5  
 16. LLORENS MARCELO          SANTIAGO                6.5         44.5  
 17. GUERB LEONID             RUSIA                   6.5         43.0  
 18. SCHWEITZER JUAN P.       SANTIAGO                6.5         39.5  
 19. VELASQUEZ CESAR          SANTIAGO                6.0         52.5  
 20. LOBOS MIGUEL             SANTIAGO                6.0         51.5  
 21. TOLOZA PABLO             CORONEL                 6.0         50.5  
 22. BOMBARDIERE EDUARDO      SANTIAGO                6.0         47.5  
 23. ATENAS PEDRO             SANTIAGO                6.0         46.0  
 24. BACCELLIERE MARIO        SANTIAGO                6.0         46.0  
 25. DUMAS ALEJANDRO          SANTIAGO                6.0         45.0  
 26. QUEIROLO MANUEL          SANTIAGO                6.0         44.0  
 27. BODY JUAN                SANTIAGO                6.0         44.0  
 28. MORALES HUGO             SANTIAGO                6.0         40.0  
 29. VALLEJOS JOSE            BOLIVIA                 6.0         36.0  
 30. ALFARO VICTOR            ANTOFAGASTA             6.0         35.5  
 31. CUETO JOHNNY             BOLIVIA                 5.5         52.5  
 32. FUENTES CARLOS           OVALLE                  5.5         51.5  
 33. RETAMAL RODRIGO          GRANEROS                5.5         49.5  
 34. ARAYA GONZALO            SANTIAGO                5.5         48.5  
 35. JORQUERA MARCELO         SANTIAGO                5.5         47.0  
 36. ARIAS ELADIO             ANTOFAGASTA             5.5         47.0  
 37. PESCIO SERGIO            SANTIAGO                5.5         46.0  
 38. RIOSECO JOSE             VINA DEL MAR            5.5         44.5  
 39. BALTAZAR SAMUEL          SANTIAGO                5.5         44.0  
 40. SEPULVEDA NORMAN         SANTIAGO                5.5         43.5  
 41. HERNANDEZ JUAN           PUERTO MONTT            5.5         43.0  
 42. MIRANDA DANIEL           SANTIAGO                5.5         42.5  
 43. ARBUNIC GIOVANNA         SANTIAGO                5.5         42.0  
 44. VERA SERGIO              OSORNO                  5.5         42.0   
 45. BRITO JAIME              SANTIAGO                5.5         41.5   
 46. RIOSECO FERNAN           VINA DEL MAR            5.5         41.0   
 47. RODRIGUEZ PABLO          SANTIAGO                5.5         39.5   
 48. CARMONA JOSE LUIS        TEMUCO                  5.5         37.0   
 49. CANTUARIAS CARLOS        SANTIAGO                5.5         37.0   

Total: 160 players.

9) Polish Championships

Artur Zaremba sends news of the Polish Championships 11-25th March 1998 underway in Ksiaz which is being led by Robert Kempinski and Bartlomiej Macieja after 11 of the 13 rounds.

Round 1 (1998.03.12)

Markowski, Tomasz     -  Kempinski, Robert     0-1   39  A16  English; 1.c4
Gdanski, Jacek        -  Kuczynski, Robert     1/2   16  B93  Sicilian; Najdorf
Sosnicki, Michal      -  Palus, Ryszard        1-0   38  D85  Gruenfeld indian
Urban, Klaudiusz      -  Hnydiuk, Aleksander   1-0   38  E05  Nimzo indian
Sapis, Witalis        -  Macieja, Bartlomiej   1/2   16  D85  Gruenfeld indian
Grabarczyk, Miroslaw  -  Kaminski, Marcin      1/2   14  A48  Queen's pawn
Cyborowski, Lukasz    -  Grabarczyk, Bogdan    1/2   49  A27  English; 1.c4 e5

Round 2 (1998.03.13)

Kempinski, Robert     -  Hnydiuk, Aleksander   1/2   74  D28  QGA;
Macieja, Bartlomiej   -  Cyborowski, Lukasz    1-0   36  B17  Caro-Kann
Markowski, Tomasz     -  Gdanski, Jacek        0-1   47  A09  Reti (1.Nf3)
Kaminski, Marcin      -  Urban, Klaudiusz      1/2   22  C47  Four knights
Kuczynski, Robert     -  Sapis, Witalis        1/2   44  B01  Scandinavian
Grabarczyk, Bogdan    -  Sosnicki, Michal      1/2   54  C33  Kings gambit
Palus, Ryszard        -  Grabarczyk, Miroslaw  1-0   39  E12  Nimzo indian

Round 3 (1998.03.14)

Gdanski, Jacek        -  Kempinski, Robert     1/2   37  B85  Sicilian
Sosnicki, Michal      -  Macieja, Bartlomiej   0-1   32  E42  Nimzo indian
Urban, Klaudiusz      -  Palus, Ryszard        1/2   23  A07  Reti (1.Nf3)
Sapis, Witalis        -  Markowski, Tomasz     1/2   48  E63  Kings indian
Grabarczyk, Miroslaw  -  Grabarczyk, Bogdan    1/2   10  D36  Queen's gambit
Cyborowski, Lukasz    -  Kuczynski, Robert     0-1   33  D42  Semi-Tarrasch Defence.
Hnydiuk, Aleksander   -  Kaminski, Marcin      1/2   78  C18  French; Winawer

Round 4 (1998.03.15)

Kempinski, Robert     -  Kaminski, Marcin      1/2   10  A39  English; 1.c4 c5
Macieja, Bartlomiej   -  Grabarczyk, Miroslaw  1-0   44  C69  Ruy Lopez; Exchange
Markowski, Tomasz     -  Cyborowski, Lukasz    1-0   30  B20  Sicilian
Gdanski, Jacek        -  Sapis, Witalis        1/2   14  B01  Scandinavian
Kuczynski, Robert     -  Sosnicki, Michal      1/2   20  C10  French
Grabarczyk, Bogdan    -  Urban, Klaudiusz      1/2   50  C41  Philidor defence
Palus, Ryszard        -  Hnydiuk, Aleksander   1-0   46  A80  Dutch defence

Round 5 (1998.03.16)

Sosnicki, Michal      -  Markowski, Tomasz     0-1   56  A44  Queen's pawn
Urban, Klaudiusz      -  Macieja, Bartlomiej   1/2   57  A36  English; 1.c4 c5
Kaminski, Marcin      -  Palus, Ryszard        1-0   31  B84  Sicilian
Sapis, Witalis        -  Kempinski, Robert     0-1   40  E67  Kings indian
Grabarczyk, Miroslaw  -  Kuczynski, Robert     1/2   53  D45  Semi-Slav
Cyborowski, Lukasz    -  Gdanski, Jacek        1/2   38  A40  Queen's pawn
Hnydiuk, Aleksander   -  Grabarczyk, Bogdan    0-1   51  B51  Sicilian

Round 6 (1998.03.18)

Kempinski, Robert     -  Palus, Ryszard        1-0   35  D97  Gruenfeld indian
Macieja, Bartlomiej   -  Hnydiuk, Aleksander   1-0   57  B22  Sicilian; Alapin (2.c3)
Markowski, Tomasz     -  Grabarczyk, Miroslaw  1/2   47  E08  Nimzo indian
Gdanski, Jacek        -  Sosnicki, Michal      1/2   21  C02  French; Advance
Sapis, Witalis        -  Cyborowski, Lukasz    1/2    8  E70  Kings indian
Kuczynski, Robert     -  Urban, Klaudiusz      1/2   12  B08  Pirc; Classical
Grabarczyk, Bogdan    -  Kaminski, Marcin      1/2   13  B03  Alekhine defence

Round 7 (1998.03.19)

Sosnicki, Michal      -  Sapis, Witalis        1/2   50  D16  Slav defence
Urban, Klaudiusz      -  Markowski, Tomasz     1/2   24  B07  Pirc
Kaminski, Marcin      -  Macieja, Bartlomiej   1/2   55  B47  Sicilian
Grabarczyk, Miroslaw  -  Gdanski, Jacek        1-0   48  A90  Dutch defence
Palus, Ryszard        -  Grabarczyk, Bogdan    1-0   58  A80  Dutch defence
Cyborowski, Lukasz    -  Kempinski, Robert     1/2   23  D79  1.d4 d5 2.c4 g6
Hnydiuk, Aleksander   -  Kuczynski, Robert     0-1   71  B91  Sicilian; Najdorf

Round 8 (1998.03.20)

Kempinski, Robert     -  Grabarczyk, Bogdan    1-0   49  D20  QGA;
Macieja, Bartlomiej   -  Palus, Ryszard        1/2   57  A16  English; 1.c4
Markowski, Tomasz     -  Hnydiuk, Aleksander   1-0   36  A81  Dutch defence
Gdanski, Jacek        -  Urban, Klaudiusz      1/2   21  C60  Ruy Lopez
Sapis, Witalis        -  Grabarczyk, Miroslaw  1/2   41  E32  Nimzo indian
Kuczynski, Robert     -  Kaminski, Marcin      1/2   18  B01  Scandinavian
Cyborowski, Lukasz    -  Sosnicki, Michal      0-1   24  C46  Unknown

Round 9 (1998.03.21)

Sosnicki, Michal      -  Kempinski, Robert     1-0   72  E91  Kings indian; Classical
Urban, Klaudiusz      -  Sapis, Witalis        1/2   75  A11  English; 1.c4
Kaminski, Marcin      -  Markowski, Tomasz     1/2   17  B27  Sicilian; Closed
Grabarczyk, Miroslaw  -  Cyborowski, Lukasz    1/2   36  D78  1.d4 d5 2.c4 g6
Grabarczyk, Bogdan    -  Macieja, Bartlomiej   1/2   53  B76  Sicilian; Dragon
Palus, Ryszard        -  Kuczynski, Robert     1/2   18  A88  Dutch defence
Hnydiuk, Aleksander   -  Gdanski, Jacek        1/2   34  C18  French; Winawer

Round 10 (1998.03.22)

Kempinski, Robert     -  Macieja, Bartlomiej   1-0    
Markowski, Tomasz     -  Palus, Ryszard        1-0    
Gdanski, Jacek        -  Kaminski, Marcin      1/2    
Sosnicki, Michal      -  Grabarczyk, Miroslaw  1/2    
Sapis, Witalis        -  Hnydiuk, Aleksander   1/2    
Kuczynski, Robert     -  Grabarczyk, Bogdan    0-1    
Cyborowski, Lukasz    -  Urban, Klaudiusz      1/2    

Round 11 (1998.03.24)

Macieja, Bartlomiej   -  Kuczynski, Robert     1-0    
Urban, Klaudiusz      -  Sosnicki, Michal      1/2    
Kaminski, Marcin      -  Sapis, Witalis        0-1    
Grabarczyk, Miroslaw  -  Kempinski, Robert     1/2    
Grabarczyk, Bogdan    -  Markowski, Tomasz     0-1    
Palus, Ryszard        -  Gdanski, Jacek        0-1    
Hnydiuk, Aleksander   -  Cyborowski, Lukasz    1-0    


Ksiaz POL (POL), III 1998                                    cat. IX (2456)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1 Kempinski, Robert     g POL 2520  * 1 1 = 0 . = 1 . = 1 1 = =  7.5  2578
 2 Macieja, Bartlomiej   m POL 2485  0 * . . 1 = = = 1 1 = = 1 1  7.5  2576
 3 Markowski, Tomasz     m POL 2505  0 . * 0 1 = = = . = 1 1 1 1  7.0  2548
 4 Gdanski, Jacek        g POL 2520  = . 1 * = = = = = 0 . 1 = =  6.0  2486
 5 Sosnicki, Michal        POL 2385  1 0 0 = * = . = = = = 1 1 .  6.0  2500
 6 Urban, Klaudiusz      m POL 2480  . = = = = * = = = . = = = 1  6.0  2479
 7 Kaminski, Marcin      g POL 2535  = = = = . = * 0 = = = 1 . =  5.5  2458
 8 Sapis, Witalis        m POL 2375  0 = = = = = 1 * = = . . = =  5.5  2472
 9 Kuczynski, Robert     g POL 2485  . 0 . = = = = = * = 0 = 1 1  5.5  2443
10 Grabarczyk, Miroslaw  m POL 2505  = 0 = 1 = . = = = * = 0 = .  5.0  2422
11 Grabarczyk, Bogdan    f POL 2425  0 = 0 . = = = . 1 = * 0 = 1  5.0  2424
12 Palus, Ryszard          POL 2385  0 = 0 0 0 = 0 . = 1 1 * . 1  4.5  2407
13 Cyborowski, Lukasz    m POL 2425  = 0 0 = 0 = . = 0 = = . * 0  3.0  2283
14 Hnydiuk, Aleksander     POL 2355  = 0 0 = . 0 = = 0 . 0 0 1 *  3.0  2292
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

10) Belgrade 53rd Yugoslav Championships

Sinisa Joksic reports. The 53th Yugoslav Championship take place in Belgrade in the hotel "Jugoslavija" from March 14.-30. Tournament is 10th cat. (2495). Norms g=10, m=7. Mirislav Markovic a 25 years old, international master continues with his excellent results. He has made the fantastic score of 8 out of 9 - 89 percent! He needs only 2 points from 6 for a GM norm. Markovic is the only undefeated player. Djuric and Ilincic follow the leader at a distance of two points. Ilincic hasn't yet drawn. Gligoric, Velimirovic and Ivanisevic scored some nice wins.

Round 3 (1998.03.16)

Markovic, Miroslav      -  Velimirovic, Dragoljub  1-0   40  B31  Sicilian
Djuric, Stefan          -  Tosic, Miroslav         1-0   58  D72  1.d4 d5 2.c4 g6
Ilincic, Zlatko         -  Knezevic, Bojan         1-0   36  E15  Nimzo indian
Gligoric, Svetozar      -  Drasko, Milan           1/2   23  D27  QGA;
Popovic, Petar          -  Kontic, Djordje         1/2   46  B70  Sicilian; Dragon
Ivanisevic, Ivan        -  Damljanovic, Branko     1/2    9  E95  Kings indian; Classical
Barlov, Dragan          -  Kovacevic, Aleksandar   1-0   55  B50  Sicilian
Pavlovic, Milos         -  Petronic, Jovan         1/2   49  B14  Caro-Kann

Round 4 (1998.03.17)

Damljanovic, Branko     -  Pavlovic, Milos         1/2   22  D02  Queen's pawn
Velimirovic, Dragoljub  -  Ivanisevic, Ivan        1-0   84  B14  Caro-Kann
Kovacevic, Aleksandar   -  Knezevic, Bojan         1/2   35  B57  Sicilian
Barlov, Dragan          -  Gligoric, Svetozar      1/2   35  E12  Nimzo indian
Drasko, Milan           -  Popovic, Petar          1/2   13  D78  1.d4 d5 2.c4 g6
Tosic, Miroslav         -  Ilincic, Zlatko         0-1   39  B95  Sicilian; Najdorf
Petronic, Jovan         -  Djuric, Stefan          0-1   40  B07  Pirc
Kontic, Djordje         -  Markovic, Miroslav      0-1   29  B76  Sicilian; Dragon

Round 5 (1998.03.18)

Markovic, Miroslav      -  Drasko, Milan           1-0   26  C18  French; Winawer
Djuric, Stefan          -  Damljanovic, Branko     1-0   61  A07  Reti (1.Nf3)
Ilincic, Zlatko         -  Petronic, Jovan         1-0   38  A50  Benoni
Gligoric, Svetozar      -  Kovacevic, Aleksandar   1/2   29  A70  Modern Benoni
Popovic, Petar          -  Barlov, Dragan          1-0   33  B84  Sicilian
Ivanisevic, Ivan        -  Kontic, Djordje         1/2   37  A40  Queen's pawn
Knezevic, Bojan         -  Tosic, Miroslav         0-1   39  B42  Sicilian
Pavlovic, Milos         -  Velimirovic, Dragoljub  1-0   42  A65  Modern Benoni

Round 6 (1998.03.19)

Damljanovic, Branko     -  Ilincic, Zlatko         1-0   65  E95  Kings indian; Classical
Velimirovic, Dragoljub  -  Djuric, Stefan          1/2   46  B43  Sicilian
Gligoric, Svetozar      -  Popovic, Petar          1/2   72  E97  Kings indian; Main line
Kovacevic, Aleksandar   -  Tosic, Miroslav         1-0   47  C67  Ruy Lopez
Barlov, Dragan          -  Markovic, Miroslav      0-1   37  A49  Queen's pawn
Drasko, Milan           -  Ivanisevic, Ivan        1-0   59  D02  Queen's pawn
Petronic, Jovan         -  Knezevic, Bojan         1/2   15  D42  Semi-Tarrasch Defence.
Kontic, Djordje         -  Pavlovic, Milos         0-1   79  B12  Caro-Kann

Round 7 (1998.03.20)

Markovic, Miroslav      -  Gligoric, Svetozar      1/2   32  C68  Ruy Lopez; Exchange
Djuric, Stefan          -  Kontic, Djordje         1-0   21  B40  Sicilian
Ilincic, Zlatko         -  Velimirovic, Dragoljub  0-1   39  A63  Modern Benoni
Popovic, Petar          -  Kovacevic, Aleksandar   1/2   11  B72  Sicilian; Dragon
Ivanisevic, Ivan        -  Barlov, Dragan          1-0   44  E10  Nimzo indian
Tosic, Miroslav         -  Petronic, Jovan         1-0   60  A46  Queen's pawn
Knezevic, Bojan         -  Damljanovic, Branko     1/2   43  B57  Sicilian
Pavlovic, Milos         -  Drasko, Milan           1/2   32  D29  QGA;

Round 8 (1998.03.21)

Damljanovic, Branko     -  Tosic, Miroslav         1-0   42  B70  Sicilian; Dragon
Velimirovic, Dragoljub  -  Knezevic, Bojan         1-0   55  B89  Sicilian
Gligoric, Svetozar      -  Ivanisevic, Ivan        0-1   37  E94  Kings indian; Classical
Kovacevic, Aleksandar   -  Petronic, Jovan         1/2   72  B14  Caro-Kann
Popovic, Petar          -  Markovic, Miroslav      0-1   30  B76  Sicilian; Dragon
Barlov, Dragan          -  Pavlovic, Milos         1-0   38  B17  Caro-Kann
Drasko, Milan           -  Djuric, Stefan          1/2    8  A05  Reti (1.Nf3)
Kontic, Djordje         -  Ilincic, Zlatko         0-1   52  B20  Sicilian

Round 9 (1998.03.22)

Markovic, Miroslav      -  Kovacevic, Aleksandar   1-0    58      Sicilian
Djuric, Stefan          -  Barlov, Dragan          1/2    50      Sicilian
Ilincic, Zlatko         -  Drasko, Milan           1-0    36      QGA
Ivanisevic, Ivan        -  Popovic, Petar          1/2    45      KID
Tosic, Miroslav         -  Velimirovic, Dragoljub  1/2    44      Pirc
Knezevic, Bojan         -  Kontic, Djordje         1/2    40      Sicilian
Pavlovic, Milos         -  Gligoric, Svetozar      0-1    42      Queens Indian
Petronic, Jovan         -  Damljanovic, Branko     0-1    39      Sicilian


Belgrade YUG (YUG), III 1998                       cat. IX (2474)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
                                      1234567890123456
-----------------------------------------------------------------
 1 Markovic, Miroslav      m YUG 2540 *..=1=11.11...11  8.0  2837
 2 Djuric, Stefan          g YUG 2520 .*01=....==1=.11  6.0  2608
 3 Ilincic, Zlatko         g YUG 2565 .1*00.0...111.11  6.0  2606
 4 Damljanovic, Branko     g YUG 2540 =01*...==..1==1.  5.5  2543
 5 Velimirovic, Dragoljub  g YUG 2535 0=1.*=.=1..=10..  5.0  2510
 6 Gligoric, Svetozar      g YUG 2480 =...=*==0==..1.1  5.0  2498
 7 Kovacevic, Aleksandar   m YUG 2515 0.1..=*=.0=1=.=.  4.5  2498
 8 Popovic, Petar          g YUG 2525 0..====*=1=....=  4.5  2489
 9 Ivanisevic, Ivan        m YUG 2460 ...=01.=*10=..==  4.5  2485
10 Barlov, Dragan          g YUG 2490 0=...=100*=..1.1  4.5  2452
11 Drasko, Milan           g YUG 2515 0=0..===1=*..=..  4.0  2433
12 Tosic, Miroslav         m YUG 2505 .000=.0.=..*111.  4.0  2423
13 Knezevic, Bojan         f YUG 2420 .=0=0.=....0*1==  3.5  2381
14 Pavlovic, Milos           YUG 2190 ...=10...0=00*=1  3.5  2393
15 Petronic, Jovan         m YUG 2450 0000..=.=..0==*.  2.0  2252
16 Kontic, Djordje         m YUG 2330 000..0.==0..=0.*  1.5  2192
-----------------------------------------------------------------

11) Golden Jubilee International Chess tournament

V Krishnaswamy reports on the Category 10 Golden Jubilee International Chess tournament in Kozhikode, Kerala (India). There are five GMs and seven IMs GM norm is set at 7.5/11. You can contact him at: swamy@giasdl01.vsnl.net.in

Category 10 Golden Jubilee International Chess tournament
Venue: Kozhikode, Kerala (India)
Dates: March 5 -16, 1998 (rest day March 11)
Play time: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.;
Final round: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Round 5

Moldovan Grandmaster Viktor Komliakov went into sole lead with four points after five rounds of the Indian Independence Golden Jubilee Grandmaster chess tournament. India's Abhijit Kunte and K.Sasikiran were still in with the chance of making Grandmaster norms by drawing their games. They have 3.5 points each and need four points from remaining six games. Komliakov defeated D.V.Prasad using the Rossolimo attack against the Sicilian defence.

Round 6

Abhijit Kunte beat Viktor Komliakov to take sole lead after six rounds. All the three foreign grandmasters lost their games. Pravin Thipsay, who is having a bad tournament defeated Kirgystan GM Leonid Yurtayev and Bangladesh IM Ziaur Rahman triumphed over Indonesian GM Utut Adianto. Dibyendu Barua escaped defeat by P.Konguvel. Kunte now has 4.5 points and needs three points from the remaining five games to achieve his GM norm. Sasikiran was held to a draw by Murugan. Sasi shares the second spot with Komliakov. They have four points each. Kunte played a fine game to beat Viktor Komliakov. Kunte played for the exchange of queens on the fifth move of a Pirc Defence. Komliakov had isolated, doubled pawns on e6 and e5. Kunte gradually won two pawns. Kunte slowly but steadily outplayed Komliakov with a mature performance. Indonesian Utut Adianto went down to Bangladesh IM Ziaur Rahman. Utut sacrificed a bishop on the 28th move feeling he had a winning counter-attack. He followed up the sacrifice with a rook offer. Zia did not accept the rook, took back his queen and kept his extra bishop. Gradually Utut's queen was trapped. Zia kept out of traps and finally had Utut resign on the 41 st move. Pravin Thipsay comprehensively outplayed Yurtayev with the Ruy Lopez in 58 moves.

Round 7

Abhijit Kunte and K Sasikiran's GM norm chances suffered a setbacks as both lost their seventh round games. But Dibyendu Barua held Zia ur Rahman with a bishop against a queen. Despite the loss, Kunte leads by half a point. He has 4.5 points. There are six players tied for the second spot, just half a point behind Kunte. It was Barua's escape against Zia that was the highlight. With black pieces, Barua played poorly in an English Opening. Barua gave up his queen for a bishop. Barua still fought on. He had a rook and bishop for Zia's rook and queen. But the Indian GM used his pawn at h2 to engineer defensive threats and stay on. After 67 moves, Barua even gave glimpses of achieving an incredible win when Zia through perpetual took a draw. Lanka Ravi played his best game of this tournament to topple Kunte. It was a Queens Indian Defence. Kunte gave up on the 30th move. P. Konguvel played a great game to score over K. Sasikiran. Against Sasikiran's Sicilian Defence, Konguvel won in 49 moves.

Round 8

Abhijit Kunte hit back with a fine victory over Kirgystan GM Leonid Yurtayev. Kunte leads the field 5.5 points and now needs only two points from three games for his second GM norm. Half a point behind Kunte are GM Adianto of Indonesia and Ziaur Rahman of Bangladesh. Against Kunte's Ruy Lopez Yurtayev played the Archangelsk Variation When the position looked level Kunte offered a draw but Yurtayev rejected the offer and carried on. Kunte turned the tide in his favour after cleaning out Yurtayev's connected passed pawns on e3 and f4. With a superb end game Kunte won a pawn and went on to win. Teenager Sasikiran was held to a draw by GM Dibyendu Barua. Barua played the Panov Botwinnik Attack against the Caro Kann which transposed it to a position in the Queens Gambit Declined. Barua, who has won just one games is only undefeated player. Ziaur Rahman of Bangladesh played a good draw against Komliakov.

Round 9

Abhijit Kunte took a quick 10-move draw with K Murugan and assured himself a nine-round Swiss norm. After nine rounds Kunte continues to lead with 6 points. He is followed half a point behind by Sasikiran and Ziaur Rahman both of whom must win their remaining games to make Grandmaster norms. Kunte's norm is a nine-game Swiss norm. He still has a chance for a 11-game round robin norm if he scores 1.5 points in the last two rounds. The Swiss norm can be calculated by finding the average rating of the players the player has played and finding the appropriate category. If Kunte loses next game or cannot get 1.5 points in two rounds, his Swiss norm will be held valid. This is Kunte's second norm. He got one from winning the Asian Junior Championship in Jaipur in October, 1997. Sasikiran had a win over Pravin Thipsay and must now win his last two rounds against D.V.Prasad and Kunte for a GM norm. Sasi won in 45 moves. Komliakov after three rounds finally won against Dibyendu Barua. This was Barua's first defeat. Ziaur Rahman missed a win against IM Lanka Ravi and drew the game. Yurtayev inflicted on Utut Adianto, the highest rated player, his second defeat in the tournament.

Round 10

Abhijit Kunte, with a Swiss norm secure went further ahead as he increased his lead. But the 17-year-old K Sasikiran lost his chances for a GM norm. Sasikiran was held to a draw by former national champion D.V. Prasad and Zia shared the point with GM Leonid Yurtayev. Kunte defeated P. Konguvel to reach seven points. This win now means he has a 10-game Swiss norm. A win or even a draw in last round will give him a 11-game round robin norm. Kunte and Konguvel began with a Sicilian Alapin, but it transposed to a French Defence. Konguvel gave up his queen and lost on the 33rd move.

Round 11

Title and GM norm for Abhijit Kunte Indian national and Asian junior champion, Abhijit Kunte scored his best title win with a last round draw against another promising Indian K Sasikiran in Golden Jubilee Grandmaster tournament Kunte and Sasikiran drew in Kunte finished with 7.5 points in the category 10 Tournament. This gave him a 11-game round robin norm. He already has a a nine-game Swiss norm From the Asian juniors at Jaipur. One more GM norm will make him India's fourth Grandmaster after Vishy Anand, Dibyendu Barua and Pravin Thipsay. In the last game the 21-year-old Kunte played the Nimzo-Indian and was content to draw by repetition of moves. Sasikiran seemed upset with his endgame. The win gave Kunte the first prize of Rs. 80,000 (approximately 2,000 US dollars). Ziaur Rahman won a surprising last round though Murugan had the edge after a good knight sacrifice which Zia could not accept. Zia came up with a mating combination and won. He finished with seven points and was second to win Rs. 48,000 (approximately 1,200 US dollars). Yurtayev and Sasikiran tied for third and got Rs. 28,000 (US dollars 700 each).

Round 5 (1998.03.10)

Rahman, Ziaur            -  Kunte, Abhijit           1/2    
Yurtaev, Leonid          -  Sashikiran, Krishnan     1/2    
Adianto, Utut            -  Barua, Dibyendu          1/2    
Ravi, Lanka              -  Thipsay, Praveen M       1-0    
Komliakov, Viktor        -  Prasad, Devaki V         1-0    
Murugan, Krishnamoorthy  -  Konguvel, Ponnuswamy     1/2    

Round 6 (1998.03.11)

Kunte, Abhijit           -  Komliakov, Viktor        1-0    
Sashikiran, Krishnan     -  Murugan, Krishnamoorthy  1/2    
Barua, Dibyendu          -  Konguvel, Ponnuswamy     1/2    
Adianto, Utut            -  Rahman, Ziaur            0-1    
Prasad, Devaki V         -  Ravi, Lanka              1/2    
Thipsay, Praveen M       -  Yurtaev, Leonid          1-0    

Round 7 (1998.03.12)

Rahman, Ziaur            -  Barua, Dibyendu          1/2    
Yurtaev, Leonid          -  Prasad, Devaki V         1-0    
Konguvel, Ponnuswamy     -  Sashikiran, Krishnan     1-0    
Ravi, Lanka              -  Kunte, Abhijit           1-0    
Komliakov, Viktor        -  Adianto, Utut            0-1    
Murugan, Krishnamoorthy  -  Thipsay, Praveen M       1/2    

Round 8 (1998.03.13)

Kunte, Abhijit           -  Yurtaev, Leonid          1-0    
Rahman, Ziaur            -  Komliakov, Viktor        1-0    
Barua, Dibyendu          -  Sashikiran, Krishnan     1/2    
Adianto, Utut            -  Ravi, Lanka              1-0    
Prasad, Devaki V         -  Murugan, Krishnamoorthy  0-1    
Thipsay, Praveen M       -  Konguvel, Ponnuswamy     1-0    

Round 9 (1998.03.14)

Sashikiran, Krishnan     -  Thipsay, Praveen M       1-0    
Yurtaev, Leonid          -  Adianto, Utut            1-0    
Konguvel, Ponnuswamy     -  Prasad, Devaki V         1/2    
Ravi, Lanka              -  Rahman, Ziaur            1/2    
Komliakov, Viktor        -  Barua, Dibyendu          1-0    
Murugan, Krishnamoorthy  -  Kunte, Abhijit           1/2    

Round 10 (1998.03.15)

Kunte, Abhijit           -  Konguvel, Ponnuswamy     1-0    
Rahman, Ziaur            -  Yurtaev, Leonid          1/2    
Barua, Dibyendu          -  Thipsay, Praveen M       1/2    
Adianto, Utut            -  Murugan, Krishnamoorthy  1-0    
Komliakov, Viktor        -  Ravi, Lanka              0-1    
Prasad, Devaki V         -  Sashikiran, Krishnan     1/2    

Round 11 (1998.03.16)

Sashikiran, Krishnan     -  Kunte, Abhijit           1/2    
Yurtaev, Leonid          -  Komliakov, Viktor        1-0    
Konguvel, Ponnuswamy     -  Adianto, Utut            1-0    
Ravi, Lanka              -  Barua, Dibyendu          0-1    
Thipsay, Praveen M       -  Prasad, Devaki V         1/2    
Murugan, Krishnamoorthy  -  Rahman, Ziaur            0-1    


Kozhikode IND (IND), III 1998                                cat. X (2478)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1 Kunte, Abhijit           m IND 2460  * = = 1 = 1 1 0 1 = 1 =  7.5  2613
 2 Rahman, Ziaur            m BAN 2485  = * 0 = = 1 1 = 1 0 1 1  7.0  2579
 3 Sashikiran, Krishnan     f IND 2470  = 1 * = = = 0 1 = = 1 =  6.5  2544
 4 Yurtaev, Leonid          g KGZ 2520  0 = = * = 1 0 1 1 1 0 1  6.5  2539
 5 Barua, Dibyendu          g IND 2520  = = = = * = = 1 0 = = 1  6.0  2510
 6 Adianto, Utut            g INA 2615  0 0 = 0 = * 0 1 1 1 1 1  6.0  2501
 7 Konguvel, Ponnuswamy     m IND 2430  0 0 1 1 = 1 * = 0 = 0 =  5.0  2446
 8 Ravi, Lanka              m IND 2405  1 = 0 0 0 0 = * 1 = 1 =  5.0  2449
 9 Komliakov, Viktor        g MDA 2510  0 0 = 0 1 0 1 0 * 1 = 1  5.0  2439
10 Prasad, Devaki V         m IND 2400  = 1 = 0 = 0 = = 0 * = 0  4.0  2383
11 Thipsay, Praveen M       g IND 2515  0 0 0 1 = 0 1 0 = = * =  4.0  2373
12 Murugan, Krishnamoorthy  m IND 2410  = 0 = 0 0 0 = = 0 1 = *  3.5  2351
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12) Upcoming Events

5. Frankfurt Chess Classic '98

The speed chess event of the year. 17.-21. June in the1998 Stadthalle Frankfurt-Zeilsheim. On the 17th-19th there will be two exceptionally strong speed events. The Giants event will have Kasparov, Kramnik, Anand and Karpov playing. The Masters is also very strong with Timman, Korchnoi, Yusupov, Portisch, Hubner, Beim, Smyslov and Adorjan. Following this on the 20th and 21st the ORDIX open will be held along with a Leko simul. More details H.-W. Schmitt, Alte Ziegelei 5, 65 812 Bad Soden, Tel.: 06196/22726 Fax: 22796

First Saturday April Tournament

The next First Saturday tournament in Budapest will run 4th-17th of April with a GM and an IM event. In addition from 4th-12th of April there will be a Scheveningen system tournament. At the moment the lineup for the GM event looks like this:

IGM GLEK (RUS, 2565), IGM CSOM (HUN, 2460), IGM SHERZER (USA,2490) IM MIKHALETZ (UKR,2435), IM ESTRADA (MEX, 2395), IM SCHEBLER (GER,2450), IM FOGARASI (HUN, 2440), BUNZMAN (GER,2390), IM CLADOURAS (GER,2355), ACS (HUN, 2450), WGM HOANG,T. (VIE,2350), IM RUCK, R. (HUN,2450) NAIDITSCH,A. (GER,2255). with an average rating of 2422, category VII.

There may be changes to the lineup and one more player is required: rated about 2350 or above it is an opportunity to reach a GM or IM-title or rise his/her rating.

The participant list of the FIRST SATURDAY 4th-17th of April IM-tournament: IM Kahn, Evarth (HUN, 2330),IM Eperjesi, László (HUN, 2345), IM Dudás,János (HUN, 2405),Belotelov, Dmitri (RUS, 2305), FM Rodriguez, Rafael (ESP, 2270),FM Murzin,Lenar (RUS, 2240), Karatorossian,David (ARM, 2375),Hera,Imre jr. (HUN, 2245), Breier,Andreas (GER, 2195),Dolgener, Tobias (GER, 2270), Mensch,Etienne (FRA, 2225),Handke, Florian (GER,2260), Gara,Anita (HUN, 2285).

Again there are 13 players currently averaging ELO 2288 now, category II. There is a place for a 2200 or above rating player.

Drawing ceremony and first round: at 2:00 p.m. at 4th of April in the Hungarian Chess Federation, Budapest, Falk Miksa Str.10. 2nd floor.

For the SCHEVENINGEN system event the ELO-average is about 2150, who wish to get guaranteed 9 games with 9 ELO-rated players to reach his first rating or rise the existing one, welcome. More info: Nagy, Laszlo e-mail: chess_first_saturday_hu@compuserve.com webpage: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/chess_first_saturday_hu/

Zepter World - open" (April,25 - May,3

VI INTERNATIONAL CHESS FESTIVAL "MINSK-1998" "Zepter World - open" (April,25 - May,3)

The Ministry of sport and tourism of the Republic of Belarus, Belarus Chess Federation, General Sponsor "Zepter International" in the Republic of Belarus invite you to open-tournament, Swiss system, 9 rounds; April,25 - arrival, opening ceremony 1st and 2nd rounds - April,26 10.00-14.00 and 17.00-21.00 (2 hours each player per game). 3rd - 8th rounds - every day 15.00-21.00, 9th round - 9.00-16.00 (2 hours - 40 moves + 1 hour for the rest of the game). Closing ceremony - May,3 at 17.30. Place of games is National Center of Chess and Draugts (K.Marks str.,10). Accomodation - "Yunost" hotel complex - 22$ per person per day, single room with TV, WC, shower + three-times food (full pansion + sighting). For kids under 12 years - 50% discount.

Entry fees: international grandmasters (ELO > 2525) - no entry fee, organizers provide board and lodging (if agreed upon); rest grandmasters and international masters (ELO > 2475) - no entry fee, organizers provide lodging (if agreed upon); international masters and chess-players (ELO > 2400)- no entry fee, organizers provide board and lodging with special prizes for citizens of Belarus (if agreed upon), chess-players (ELO 2350-2400) - 20$, ELO 2275-2345 - 30$, ELO 2200-2270 - 40$, ELO < 2200 and unrated - 50$; women, seniors (elder 60 years), boys and girls under 18 - 50% of entry fee. PRIZE FOUND - 10,000 $! 1 - 2000$, 2 - 1500$, 3 - 1000$, 4 - 800$, 5 - 700$, 6 - 600$, 7 - 500$, 8 - 400$, 9 - 300$, 10 - 200$, 11-15 - 100$, 16-20 - 50$. Special prizes - 800$: for women, girls and boys under 18 years, seniors (elder 60 years), unrated: 1-200$, 2-150$, 3-100$.

For player who will take last place - surprise! All prizes are guaranteed! For players with same points (1-20 places) all prizes are divided by Hort system. Special prizes are added to main prizes. Application forms for "ZEPTER WORLD - OPEN" should be send to Belarus Chess Federation, 220050, Minsk,K.Marks str., 10. Tel/fax 375-172-274788 Mochalov Evgeny (State trainer), Strelets Igor (chief trainer), Poley Vladimir (President of Belarus Chess Federation) - tel 375-172-201017 (from 10 till 22h.),fax 375-172-272258.

Application forms should be received latest April,10. Please, use fax or tel. In the application write name, surname, ELO-rating, federation, do You need hotel reservation, until which date. Players which haven't confirmed us about participation before April,10 should pay 10$ extra. Only 200 players can take part in our tournament.