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1) Introduction
2) Olympiad News
3) 3rd Kettler Cup
4) Arnaud Hauchard wins the Herzeliya International
Tournament
5) Krynica Zonal Tournament 1.4
6) Asian Men's Individual Championships
7) European Club Cup
8) 3rd Atom Cup
9) XIE - GALLIAMOVA : FROM BEGINNING TO THE END By Sun
Lianzhi
10) Rosendo Balinas, Jr 1941-1998
11) Upcoming events
12) London Chess Center TWIC offers
Games section
3rd Kettler Cup 8 games Herzeliya International Tournament 66 games Krynica Zonal Tournament 1.4 126 games Asian Men's Individual Championships 111 games European Club Cup 48 games
My thanks to Alon Shulman, Philipp Schlosser, Przemek Jahr, Tim Reilly, Robert Klomp, Laszlo Nagy, Sun Lianzhi, Ignatius Leong, Bretislav Modr SACHinfo, Malcolm Pein and all those who helped with this issue.
We ought to have seen two rounds of the Olympiad but we haven't. The site of the Olympiad is still undergoing extensive building work and the start date of tomorrow looked to untrained eyes an implausible one. However FIDE assure is that indeed they are close to completion and that the chess will finally begin then. The Olympiad has obviously meant that there haven't been many other events going on. But there have been a few interesting events in this week. Let the entertainment in Kalmykia start.... soon.
Hope you enjoy this issue
Mark
The opening ceremony for the 33rd Chess Olympiad took place on Saturday 26th of September in the capital of the Russian Republic of Kalmykia. It was opened by FIDE and Kalmykian President Kirsan Iljumzhinov. There was also a message of welcome from Russian President Evgeny Primakov read by one of the state's representatives to the Russian Duma. The winners were offered four Kalmyk thoroughbred horses as part of the winner's prize, in addition they will compete for the traditional Hamilton-Russell Cup.
If the opening ceremony took place on time, the same cannot be said for the event itself. It became apparant on the arrival of the partipants that the Olympiad certainly couldn't take place in the Chess Palace from the start date of the 27th and amazingly the contingency plans seemed only to be partially formed. The first decision was the reduction of the length of the Olympiad from 14 to 13 rounds. The first round was postponed until the 28th September, tomorrow, at first to take place in alternative venues and then according to a FIDE release today in the Chess Palace. The competitors arrived to find the proposed venue surrounded by scaffolding and with many windows missing. However according to FIDE the work is proceeding at such a miraculous rate that the Palace will be ready tomorrow and the electronic boards will be working in time for the second round the following day. Whilst this assurance seems particuarly firm, in other words come hell or high water they are going to try and fulfill it, some disengenuous statements from FIDE about this Olympiad aswell as eyewitnesses as to the state of the building when the participants arrived leads one to at least have some doubts if this can possibly be the case. Time will tell.
Living accomodation for the top teams seems good, I don't have word on the others. Food and drink seems very available too. Telephone communication to the site seems possible, but I have not seen any sign that internet communications have been possible. There are teams from 108 nations in the men's event and 71 in the women's, in addition there is a blind team and two additional Russian teams.
Coverage will be daily on my pages, as and when the Olympiad starts and results and games become available.
The 3rd Kettler Cup took place in Ceska Trebova, in the Czech Republic. This event which consisted of 25 minute games between a US team of Seirawan and Kavalek, taking on a Czech team of Hracek, Smejkal, the Americans winning easily 6-2. Information from Bretislav Modr SACHinfo, Prague.
USA 1 2 1 Kavalek,L 2520 +290 11 ½1 3.5/4 2 Seirawan,Y 2630 +12 ½0 11 2.5/4 Czech 1 2 1 Hracek,Z 2615 -112 00 ½1 1.5/4 2 Smejkal,J 2525 -190 ½0 00 0.5/4
By Alon Shulman - Tournament Director. (my thanks too to Philipp Schlosser)
IM Arnaud Hauchard (FRA) surprisingly won the cat. 10 Herzeliya (Israel) International tournament, that took place in the "Sharon" hotel, on the beach of the resort city of Herzeliya (10 km. north of Tel-Aviv). Hauchard scored 7/11 and was the only undefeated player. Places 2-4 were shared by the 3 GM's: Peter Wells (ENG), Philipp Schlosser (GER) and Israeli champion Lev Psakhis 6½. 6 G.M's took part in the tournament.
The tournament was held to honor Israel's 50th year of independence and was organized by the Herzeliya Chess Club and It's President Dr. Shlomo Kandelshine, International Arbiter who was the tournament director.
The Prime Minister of Israel Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu was the guest of honor of the tournament, visited the tournament hall, spoke to the players and wished them good luck.
The Herzeliya Open Tournament was won by Israeli G.M Alex Finkel with 4½ out of 5. 68 players took part.
The Herzeliya Chess Club is one of the strongest clubs in Israel. Plays in the National League in Israel and in 1997 has finished 6th. In the European Team Cup Finals that took place in Kazan.
Round 1 (1998.09.06)
Hauchard, Arnaud - Psakhis, Lev 1/2 27 A30 English; 1.c4 c5
Wells, Peter K - Zifroni, Dov 1-0 36 D27 QGA;
Kantsler, Boris - Liss, Eran 1-0 46 A35 English; 1.c4 c5
Bykhovsky, Avigdor - Zilberman, Yaacov 1/2 99 D20 QGA;
Lev, Ronen - Schlosser, Philipp 1/2 41 E38 Nimzo indian
Haimovich, Tal - Afek, Yochanan 1/2 54 E92 Kings indian; Classical
Round 2 (1998.09.07)
Schlosser, Philipp - Haimovich, Tal 1/2 31 D46 Semi-Slav
Zilberman, Yaacov - Psakhis, Lev 1/2 16 E54 Nimzo indian
Bykhovsky, Avigdor - Lev, Ronen 1-0 30 D20 QGA;
Zifroni, Dov - Hauchard, Arnaud 1/2 26 A30 English; 1.c4 c5
Liss, Eran - Wells, Peter K 1/2 41 C90 Ruy Lopez
Afek, Yochanan - Kantsler, Boris 0-1 52 B08 Pirc; Classical
Round 3 (1998.09.08)
Hauchard, Arnaud - Liss, Eran 1-0 60 A35 English; 1.c4 c5
Wells, Peter K - Afek, Yochanan 1/2 25 B78 Sicilian; Dragon
Psakhis, Lev - Zifroni, Dov 1/2 38 E54 Nimzo indian
Kantsler, Boris - Schlosser, Philipp 1/2 10 E47 Nimzo indian
Lev, Ronen - Zilberman, Yaacov 1/2 53 A56 Benoni
Haimovich, Tal - Bykhovsky, Avigdor 0-1 75 D11 Slav defence
Round 4 (1998.09.09)
Schlosser, Philipp - Wells, Peter K 1/2 18 A18 English; 1.c4
Zilberman, Yaacov - Zifroni, Dov 1-0 72 A12 English; 1.c4
Bykhovsky, Avigdor - Kantsler, Boris 1-0 36 B07 Pirc
Liss, Eran - Psakhis, Lev 0-1 25 B80 Sicilian
Lev, Ronen - Haimovich, Tal 1-0 47 D48 Meran Variation
Afek, Yochanan - Hauchard, Arnaud 1/2 44 B13 Caro-Kann
Round 5 (1998.09.10)
Hauchard, Arnaud - Schlosser, Philipp 1-0 24 D45 Semi-Slav
Wells, Peter K - Bykhovsky, Avigdor 1-0 30 D11 Slav defence
Psakhis, Lev - Afek, Yochanan 1-0 48 B39 Sicilian
Kantsler, Boris - Lev, Ronen 0-1 63 A07 Reti (1.Nf3)
Zifroni, Dov - Liss, Eran 0-1 39 A35 English; 1.c4 c5
Haimovich, Tal - Zilberman, Yaacov 1-0 35 D25 QGA;
Round 6 (1998.09.11)
Schlosser, Philipp - Psakhis, Lev 1/2 24 E05 Nimzo indian
Zilberman, Yaacov - Liss, Eran 1/2 35 A37 English; 1.c4 c5
Bykhovsky, Avigdor - Hauchard, Arnaud 1/2 25 E17 Nimzo indian
Lev, Ronen - Wells, Peter K 1/2 28 E32 Nimzo indian
Haimovich, Tal - Kantsler, Boris 1/2 46 A41 Queen's pawn
Afek, Yochanan - Zifroni, Dov 0-1 47 C47 Four knights
Round 7 (1998.09.12)
Hauchard, Arnaud - Lev, Ronen 1-0 51 D20 QGA;
Wells, Peter K - Haimovich, Tal 1-0 53 D48 Meran Variation
Psakhis, Lev - Bykhovsky, Avigdor 1/2 17 D30 Queen's gambit
Kantsler, Boris - Zilberman, Yaacov 1/2 50 A35 English; 1.c4 c5
Zifroni, Dov - Schlosser, Philipp 1/2 46 E47 Nimzo indian
Liss, Eran - Afek, Yochanan 1-0 20 B01 Scandinavian
Round 8 (1998.09.13)
Schlosser, Philipp - Liss, Eran 1-0 36 A31 English; 1.c4 c5
Zilberman, Yaacov - Afek, Yochanan 1-0 58 D02 Queen's pawn
Kantsler, Boris - Wells, Peter K 1-0 37 D46 Semi-Slav
Bykhovsky, Avigdor - Zifroni, Dov 0-1 135 D93 Gruenfeld indian
Lev, Ronen - Psakhis, Lev 1-0 31 E15 Nimzo indian
Haimovich, Tal - Hauchard, Arnaud 1/2 25 E43 Nimzo indian
Round 9 (1998.09.14)
Hauchard, Arnaud - Kantsler, Boris 1/2 23 B07 Pirc
Wells, Peter K - Zilberman, Yaacov 1/2 18 D24 QGA;
Psakhis, Lev - Haimovich, Tal 1-0 42 A25 English; 1.c4 e5
Zifroni, Dov - Lev, Ronen 1/2 16 B06 Modern defence
Liss, Eran - Bykhovsky, Avigdor 1/2 24 C42 Petroff defence
Afek, Yochanan - Schlosser, Philipp 0-1 40 B22 Sicilian; Alapin (2.c3)
Round 10 (1998.09.15)
Wells, Peter K - Hauchard, Arnaud 1/2 9 D10 Slav defence
Zilberman, Yaacov - Schlosser, Philipp 1/2 33 D47 Semi-Slav
Kantsler, Boris - Psakhis, Lev 1/2 10 A30 English; 1.c4 c5
Bykhovsky, Avigdor - Afek, Yochanan 1-0 61 D20 QGA;
Lev, Ronen - Liss, Eran 0-1 30 D91 Gruenfeld indian
Haimovich, Tal - Zifroni, Dov 0-1 51 D13 Slav defence
Round 11 (1998.09.16)
Hauchard, Arnaud - Zilberman, Yaacov 1/2 6 D26 QGA;
Schlosser, Philipp - Bykhovsky, Avigdor 1-0 39 A34 English; 1.c4 c5
Psakhis, Lev - Wells, Peter K 1/2 18 E05 Nimzo indian
Zifroni, Dov - Kantsler, Boris 1/2 66 E90 Kings indian; Classical
Liss, Eran - Haimovich, Tal 1-0 29 C05 French; Tarrasch
Afek, Yochanan - Lev, Ronen 1-0 71 C47 Four knights
Herzeliya ISR (ISR), IX 1998 cat. X (2476)
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2
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1 Hauchard, Arnaud m FRA 2500 * = 1 = = = = = 1 1 = = 7.0 2576
2 Wells, Peter K g ENG 2515 = * = = = 0 1 1 = = 1 = 6.5 2537
3 Schlosser, Philipp g GER 2505 0 = * = = = 1 = 1 = = 1 6.5 2538
4 Psakhis, Lev g ISR 2560 = = = * = = = = 1 0 1 1 6.5 2533
5 Zilberman, Yaacov m ISR 2520 = = = = * = = 1 = = 0 1 6.0 2508
6 Kantsler, Boris m KGZ 2535 = 1 = = = * 0 = 1 0 = 1 6.0 2506
7 Bykhovsky, Avigdor g RUS 2455 = 0 0 = = 1 * 0 = 1 1 1 6.0 2514
8 Zifroni, Dov m ISR 2505 = 0 = = 0 = 1 * 0 = 1 1 5.5 2473
9 Liss, Eran g ISR 2505 0 = 0 0 = 0 = 1 * 1 1 1 5.5 2473
10 Lev, Ronen g ISR 2460 0 = = 1 = 1 0 = 0 * 1 0 5.0 2441
11 Haimovich, Tal ISR 2280 = 0 = 0 1 = 0 0 0 0 * = 3.0 2319
12 Afek, Yochanan m ISR 2375 = = 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 = * 2.5 2274
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Przemek Jahr sends the games and results of the Zone 1.4 zonal tournament.
The final results of Zonal 1.4 Tournament in Krynica (02-10.09.98, 28 participants, 9 rounds): 1-4 Babula, Nisipeanu, Almasi, Macieja -6 pts, all of whom qualified to World Champ in Las Vegas.
Krynica POL (POL), IX 1998
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
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1 Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter g ROM 2575 =16 =23 +22 =12 + 5 + 7 = 4 = 3 = 6 6.0 2681
2 Macieja, Bartlomiej m POL 2490 =17 +14 = 5 =24 =18 +12 = 3 + 7 = 4 6.0 2686
3 Babula, Vlastimil g CZE 2575 +28 =24 +11 = 4 = 9 + 8 = 2 = 1 = 5 6.0 2676
4 Almasi, Zoltan g HUN 2650 =19 +22 +24 = 3 = 7 +18 = 1 = 6 = 2 6.0 2685
5 Kempinski, Robert g POL 2545 + 8 =11 = 2 = 9 - 1 =13 +14 +17 = 3 5.5 2622
6 Hracek, Zbynek g CZE 2615 =13 =10 - 8 =20 +27 +11 +15 = 4 = 1 5.5 2617
7 Ftacnik, Lubomir g SVK 2585 =23 +20 =12 +16 = 4 - 1 + 9 - 2 =11 5.0 2585
8 Acs, Peter m HUN 2500 - 5 +25 + 6 =18 +14 - 3 =10 =11 = 9 5.0 2593
9 Spasov, Vasil g BUL 2595 =20 +19 =16 = 5 = 3 +17 - 7 =10 = 8 5.0 2580
10 Markowski, Tomasz m POL 2525 =18 = 6 =17 -14 +22 +24 = 8 = 9 =15 5.0 2599
11 Istratescu, Andrei g ROM 2540 +25 = 5 - 3 +23 =12 - 6 +18 = 8 = 7 5.0 2580
12 Stefanova, Antoaneta m BUL 2475 =15 +28 = 7 = 1 =11 - 2 =13 =19 +20 5.0 2580
13 Marin, Mihail g ROM 2530 = 6 =18 =23 =17 =19 = 5 =12 =20 =14 4.5 2543
14 Horvath, Csaba g HUN 2540 =27 - 2 +21 +10 - 8 +19 - 5 =15 =13 4.5 2502
15 Georgiev, Vladimir m BUL 2540 =12 -16 =19 +25 =24 +20 - 6 =14 =10 4.5 2521
16 Groszpeter, Attila g HUN 2505 = 1 +15 = 9 - 7 -17 -23 =25 +28 +24 4.5 2538
17 Gdanski, Jacek g POL 2540 = 2 =27 =10 =13 +16 - 9 =24 - 5 =22 4.0 2480
18 Wojtkiewicz, Aleksander g POL 2595 =10 =13 +27 = 8 = 2 - 4 -11 =24 =21 4.0 2473
19 Kaminski, Marcin g POL 2530 = 4 - 9 =15 +21 =13 -14 =26 =12 =28 4.0 2485
20 Badea, Bela m ROM 2530 = 9 - 7 =26 = 6 +23 -15 +22 =13 -12 4.0 2500
21 Todorov, Todor BUL 2420 -22 +26 -14 -19 -28 +25 =23 +27 =18 4.0 2468
22 Chatalbashev, Boris g BUL 2535 +21 - 4 - 1 =27 -10 +28 -20 +26 =17 4.0 2478
23 Vokac, Marek m CZE 2525 = 7 = 1 =13 -11 -20 +16 =21 -25 =26 3.5 2431
24 Nevednichy, Vladislav g ROM 2545 +26 = 3 - 4 = 2 =15 -10 =17 =18 -16 3.5 2465
25 Balogh, Tomas SVK 2425 -11 - 8 +28 -15 =26 -21 =16 +23 =27 3.5 2418
26 Jansa, Vlastimil g CZE 2490 -24 -21 =20 -28 =25 +27 =19 -22 =23 3.0 2372
27 Mrva, Martin m SVK 2445 =14 =17 -18 =22 - 6 -26 +28 -21 =25 3.0 2395
28 Blatny, Pavel g CZE 2520 - 3 -12 -25 +26 +21 -22 -27 -16 =19 2.5 2322
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Tim Reilly sends news of the Asian individual championships which took place in Tehran, Iran 14-27 August and which was won by Rustam Kasimdzhanov. The results are from the games file and are hopefully all correct. The event was a FIDE sanctioned event. Each country was entitled to send one player for free, and to pay for accomodation for additional players. Kasimdzhanov dominated, he and Dao (the strongest players) were by far the youngest players in the event both are about 17 or 18! Kasimdzhanov is outgoing and speaks excellent English. He will be playing in Las Vegas at the end of the year.
Tehran IRA (IRA), VIII 1998
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
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1 Kasimdzhanov, Rustam g UZB 2570 +12 + 7 + 6 = 2 + 3 = 5 +14 + 8 +13 = 4 =11 9.0 /11 2713
2 Barua, Dibyendu g IND 2540 +18 = 5 +14 = 1 =13 = 3 = 4 +10 + 6 + 9 = 8 8.0 /11 2609
3 Dao Thien Hai g VIE 2580 =14 +21 +16 + 6 - 1 = 2 + 5 + 9 + 7 = 8 = 4 8.0 /11 2574
4 Thipsay, Praveen M g IND 2450 - 9 - 8 +20 +18 + 6 =13 = 2 = 7 +14 = 1 = 3 6.5 /11 2495
5 Zagrebelny, Sergey g UZB 2480 +11 = 2 = 8 +16 + 9 = 1 - 3 - 6 +18 +10 - 7 6.5 /11 2487
6 Al-Modiahki, Mohamad m QAT 2505 +15 +10 - 1 - 3 - 4 +20 +16 + 5 - 2 +14 =13 6.5 /11 2511
7 Kakageldyev, Amanmurad m TKM 2475 +22 - 1 +19 = 9 = 8 =14 =13 = 4 - 3 +21 + 5 6.5 /11 2415
8 Saravanan, V IND 2390 =21 + 4 = 5 =13 = 7 =10 = 9 - 1 +20 = 3 = 2 6.0 /11 2442
9 Khamdamov, Suhrob m TJK 2140 + 4 -14 +10 = 7 - 5 +12 = 8 - 3 +17 - 2 +19 6.0 /11 2422
10 Bagheri, Amir m IRI 2405 +17 - 6 - 9 +11 +15 = 8 =18 - 2 +19 - 5 +21 6.0 /11 2321
11 Ghane, Shojaat IRI 2265 - 5 +18 -13 -10 +17 -16 +12 +20 =15 +23 = 1 6.0 /11 2372
12 Mallahi, A f IRI 2370 - 1 +15 =17 -14 +19 - 9 -11 +23 +21 =13 +20 6.0 /11 2264
13 Saltaev, Mihail g UZB 2525 +20 -16 +11 = 8 = 2 = 4 = 7 =14 - 1 =12 = 6 5.5 /11 2423
14 Aliev, Kerim TKM 2385 = 3 + 9 - 2 +12 +16 = 7 - 1 =13 - 4 - 6 +23 5.5 /11 2422
15 Reilly, Tim AUS 2270 - 6 -12 +23 +17 -10 -18 +21 +19 =11 -20 =16 5.0 /11 2209
16 Ghorbani, Mohsen f IRI 2430 +19 +13 - 3 - 5 -14 +11 - 6 -18 +23 -17 =15 4.5 /11 2244
17 Ismail, Ahmad MAS 2040 -10 +23 =12 -15 -11 =19 =20 -21 - 9 +16 +18 4.5 /11 2157
18 Abdulla, Al-Rakib BAN 2350 - 2 -11 +21 - 4 +23 +15 =10 +16 - 5 -19 -17 4.5 /11 2194
19 Azahari, Md Nor MAS 2140 -16 +20 - 7 =21 -12 =17 +23 -15 -10 +18 - 9 4.0 /11 2129
20 Mansour, Sameer JOR 2280 -13 -19 - 4 +23 +21 - 6 =17 -11 - 8 +15 -12 3.5 /11 2105
21 Nirosh, De Silva SRI 2025 = 8 - 3 -18 =19 -20 +23 -15 +17 -12 - 7 -10 3.0 /11 2090
22 Karim, Raad IRQ 2170 - 7 . . . . . . . . . . 0.0 / 1
23 BYE ---- . -17 -15 -20 -18 -21 -19 -12 -16 -11 -14 0.0 /10
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There was another European Club Cup qualifier in Lubniewice and Stilon Gorzow qualified. The games are in the games section but it hasn't been possible to establish the detailed round by round results. My thanks to Przemek Jahr for the games. Robert Klomp reports that Werner Stubbenvoll the director of the event will almost certainly move the final because of the WC in Las Vegas. The proposal of the weekend of 8-10 January 1999 is under consideration. The whole question will be decided only after the Olympiad.
The 3rd Atom Cup is taking place in Paks, Hungary 19th Sept - 2nd Oct. reports Laszlo Nagy. There is a GM-closed tournament with 14 participants, ELO-average 2402, GM-norm 10 points and an IM-tournament with 12 players, ELO-average 2289, IM-norm 8 points. It wasn't possible to be 100% sure that all the names are correct given below, I will try and check them for next week. There is one round 9 result missing from the GM event.
Standings after 9 rounds
GM
Paks HUN (HUN), IX-X 1998 cat. VII (2401)
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4
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1 Karolyi, Tibor jr m HUN 2425 * . = = 1 . = = = . = 1 1 . 6.0 / 9 2503
2 Bunzmann, Dimitrij GER 2455 . * 0 0 = . 1 . = . 1 = 1 1 5.5 / 9 2456
3 Bukal, Vladimir m CRO 2395 = 1 * . . = . = 1 1 0 . 0 = 5.0 / 9 2437
4 Molnar, Bela HUN 2340 = 1 . * . = = . . = = = = = 5.0 / 9 2454
5 Dumitrache, Dragos m ROM 2420 0 = . . * = 0 = . = 1 1 . 1 5.0 / 9 2463
6 Csom, Istvan g HUN 2475 . . = = = * = = 1 . . . = = 4.5 / 8 2419
7 Horvath, Adam m HUN 2455 = 0 . = 1 = * 1 . = = 0 . . 4.5 / 9 2415
8 Vujosevic, Vladimir m YUG 2370 = . = . = = 0 * . . 1 = = = 4.5 / 9 2395
9 Naiditsch, Arkadij f GER 2390 = = 0 . . 0 . . * = = 1 = 1 4.5 / 9 2405
10 Groszpeter, Attila g HUN 2505 . . 0 = = . = . = * . 0 1 1 4.0 / 8 2387
11 Bakre, Tejas f IND 2290 = 0 1 = 0 . = 0 = . * 1 . . 4.0 / 9 2369
12 Gershon, Alik m ISR 2460 0 = . = 0 . 1 = 0 1 0 * . . 3.5 / 9 2325
13 Husari, Sate SYR 2290 0 0 1 = . = . = = 0 . . * = 3.5 / 9 2331
14 Vadasz, Laszlo g HUN 2350 . 0 = = 0 = . = 0 0 . . = * 2.5 / 9 2238
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IM
Paks HUN (HUN), IX-X 1998 cat. III (2305)
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2
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1 Palkovi, Jozsef m HUN 2435 * . = 1 = = 1 . = 1 1 = 6.5 2448
2 Meszaros, Andras m HUN 2350 . * = = = = 1 = . 1 1 1 6.5 2472
3 Krutti, Valer m HUN 2360 = = * . . = 1 = 1 = = 1 6.0 2423
4 Senff, Martin GER 2395 0 = . * = 1 0 1 1 = . 1 5.5 2376
5 Jagodzinski, Andreas GER 2215 = = . = * 1 . = 0 1 = 1 5.5 2383
6 Berkes, Ferenc HUN 2290 = = = 0 0 * . 0 1 . 1 1 4.5 2303
7 Brumen, Dinko f CRO 2355 0 0 0 1 . . * 1 = = = 1 4.5 2311
8 Toth, Andras HUN 2330 . = = 0 = 1 0 * = 0 1 . 4.0 2245
9 Sebe, Razvan ROM 2120 = . 0 0 1 0 = = * . 1 = 4.0 2280
10 Nor, Igor ISR 2280 0 0 = = 0 . = 1 . * 0 0 2.5 2164
11 Sebe, Florin ROM 2235 0 0 = . = 0 = 0 0 1 * . 2.5 2137
12 Sevo, Dusan f YUG 2295 = 0 0 0 0 0 0 . = 1 . * 2.0 2091
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XIE - GALLIAMOVA : FROM BEGINNING TO THE END By Sun Lianzhi. (The original text was published in a Chinese newspaper). Ignatius Leong sends a story about the events leading up to Galliamova defaulting against Xie Jun. Of course it is merely one take on the affair although much of the detail is persuasive.
The Women's Candidates Final Match between Xie Jun and Alisa Galliamova was concluded without any move made on the chessboard. By not turning up for the match Galliamova was forfeited and Xie Jun was declared the winner despite not having a fight and became the challenger for the world championship. As the match started, Xie Jun waited quietly for one hour (according to the FIDE regulations, if either player is absent after one hour from the start of the first match game, the absent player shall be forfeited. The player present shall be declared the winner and the challenger). This match was really short. However, the chess struggle off the chessboard started since February but although the smoke is gone, the clouds are still there.
On 19 February, when we knew that FIDE shall be meeting from 22 & 23 February in Manila for the Presidential Board to discuss the match, we submitted our offer to organise the match from 8 to 23 August in Beijing or another major city in China. We offered a prize fund of US$120,000 surpassing the previous record of US$100,000.
After submitting our offer, we even asked if there was any other offer. The answer was that the Russian Chess Federation was also submitting an offer. So we thought that there would be a repeat of a similar situation 8 years ago when Xie Jun faced Alisa Maric when the match was shared between the two federations. (At that time, the match was played over 8 games; the first part was played in Yugoslavia and the second part in Beijing. Xie won 4.5 to 3.5). On 2 March, FIDE Executive Director informed us of the decision of the Manila Presidential Board. He confirmed with us that the Presidential Board on 22 & 23 February 1998 had decided to award the right to China to organise the Women's Candidates Final Match from 8 to 23 August with a prize fund of US$120,000. The entire match was to be played in China. We even asked about the Russian offer and was told that they did not have sufficient funds and hence had to withdraw their offer. Making an offer only to withdraw it later is quite normal. As long as there are no subsequent problems arising, there is no lost of face.
To be honest, before making our offer, we received interest from several potential sponsors but we did not make any agreement. After successfully clinching the right to organise the match, we faced the uphill task of finding an appropriate sponsor. We started to work on the organisational framework and other details. During the beginning of May, we discussed the possibility with the city of Shenyang to organise the match as the major programme during the 1998 China Shenyang Asian Sports Festival in August. However we had earlier decided to organise the Asian Chess Open during the Sports Festival and felt that it was best to avoid the clash of two major chess events in China. In order to have our best preparations for the match, on 6 May, we requested to postpone the match till November or December. Mr Omuku informed us later that our request was rejected by the Executive Council meeting held on 15 & 16 May in Slovenia. He also said that the Executive Council insisted on the original dates because the world championship between the challenger and world champion Zsuzsa Polgar had to be completed by November. He further confirmed that the match should be played according to the schedule already accepted by the Presidential Board.
After receiving the instructions from FIDE, on 9 June, the Chinese Chess Association proposed to organise the match from 14 to 29 August in Shenyang. The match was rescheduled to start one week later in order to coincide with the opening of the Asian Sports Festival and the Asian Chess Open.
Surprisingly, on 24 June, Mr Omuku faxed us the request of Gallimova to FIDE and added that she did not wish to play the entire match in China. She had appealed to her President of the Republic of Tartarstan to put up another US$120,000 so that half the match could be played in Kazan, in the Republic of Tartarstan, Russia.
In view of the importance and magnitude of the match, and the rights of the players to agree on the venue, Mr Omuku appealed to us to share the match with Kazan as per the dates already set out by us; that is from 14 to 29 August. In addition, the same fax stated that the FIDE President had agreed to our nomination of International Arbiter Ignatius Leong as Chief Arbiter for the entire match.
Upon receiving this fax, we were astonished as well as thought of it as a joke. On 1 July, we faxed FIDE to express our opinion. We stated that in February we had already submitted our offer to organise the match. In May, the Executive Council reconfirmed that China shall organise the entire match. Both players may have the right to agree on the venue but this should be done before FIDE announced the venue and not after. How could the discussion of choosing a venue be done now especially since this decision was taken four months ago. What about the preparatory work already in progress made by Shenyang. And what of the contract made by the Shenyang organisers, the sponsors and the respective departments. The Chinese press had announced that the match to take place in China and all preparations were already in progress. Much damage would be inflicted if all the contracts have to be changed.
We asked that Galliamova respected the decisions of the Presidential Board and the Executive Council and that she come to Shenyang, China to play the match so as to avoid an unpleasant situation.
We realised that maybe FIDE did not wish to reject the Russian request
to share the match and FIDE thought and felt that Mr Leong was the best
person to help resolve the matter. Mr Leong is General Secretary of the
Singapore Chess Federation and International Arbiter. Not too long ago, he
was Administrative Manager of FIDE. He is knowledgeable in FIDE
regulations, and has vast experience in organising competitions and
understood the framework of FIDE. Moreover, he spoke fluent English and
Chinese and at the same understand little Russian. He would be a good
choice to negotiate an agreement between FIDE and China. Taking these
factors into consideration, it was normal for FIDE to seek Mr Leong's help
to negotiate subsequently with us. On one particular conversation, Mr
Leong explained to us that in order to uphold the prestige of FIDE, the
match should go on with the Russians putting up US$120,000 for the prize
fund and that perhaps we could put up less as a form of compromise for us
to share the match with Kazan. In addition, it would be left to us to
decide as to which part of the match we wish to organise; the first or
second part. Subsequently, on 7 July, FIDE faxed us the following message
: After thoroughly discussing Mr Leong's suggestions, the FIDE President
proposes the following:
1. The Republic of Tartarstan shall contribute US$120,000 towards
the prize fund and shall organise part of the match including hosting the
Chinese delegation.
2. The Chinese Chess Association shall have a discount off the prize
fund; that is US$40,000 to be reduced to offset preparatory expenses
incurred so far and for their unexpected travel expenses to Kazan. The
prize fund from China shall be US$80,000.
Shenyang Chess & Bridge Association Chairman Hou Peng had been working on the preparations of the match since the beginning of May and had been shuttling to Beijing three times. After consultations with Mr Hou and Miss Xie Jun, Chinese Chess Association President Chen Zude faxed a letter to Mr Omuku on 10 July. Mr Chen expressed that the Chinese Chess Association had always respected the decisions of FIDE and shall continue to respect the opinions of FIDE on this matter. This was why the Chinese Chess Association had tried its very best to negotiate a compromise with the Shenyang organisers and sponsors to accommodate the requests of FIDE; from not agreeing to agreeing to share the match. From the point of the Shenyang parties, sharing the match and reducing the prize fund by half by Shenyang was a fair compromise. In order to preserve the prestige of FIDE and the match, we proposed that since we had to share the match, we should put up US$60,000 (50% of our original offer) and had the right to organise the second part of the match.
On 16 July, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov issued a new decision. In
view of the request of Galliamova and after reaching a compromise with the
Chinese Chess Association, the FIDE President decided the following :
1. The Women's Candidates Final Match shall be played in Kazan,
Russia and Shenyang, China from 12 to 29 August 1998.
2. The Chinese Chess Association and the sponsor in Shenyang have
agreed to give up one half of the match.
3. The first part shall take place in Kazan from 12 August (arrival)
to 21 August (departure).
4. The second part shall take place in Shenyang from 22 August
(arrival) to 29 August (departure).
5. The Sports Committee of the Republic of Tartarstan and the
Russian Chess Federation shall contribute US$120,000 and the Chinese Chess
Association and the sponsor of Shenyang shall contribute US$60,000 towards
the prize fund.
… the above conditions could be changed only upon the agreement
of both players and the FIDE President.
This fax was transmitted to both the Chinese Chess Association and
the Russian Chess Federation.
On 20 July, we requested Mr Omuku for assistance to request the Russian Chess Federation to issue the official invitation so that we could prepare our travel documents. On 22 July, we faxed to the Russian Chess Federation the names of members of our delegation.
On 23 July, the Russian Chess Federation faxed Mr Omuku indicating the objection of the Republic of Tartarstan Sports Committee towards FIDE's unfair distribution of the prize fund. Since Tartarstan was putting US$120,000, they should have the right to organise the second part - (apparently, they did not wish to realise that the second part could end earlier than scheduled). A copy of this fax was transmitted to us only on 28 July.
With the new problems created by the Russian Chess Federation, the compromise had reached another stalemate.
Maybe by now, FIDE was getting impatient with the Russian Chess Federation. On 29 July, when I was in Shenyang to meet Mr Hou and Shenyang Sports Committee Chairman Sui Lu to discuss the match details, Mr Leong called me late in the night. He said he was asked to relay a message from Mr Omuku. If the Russian Chess Federation and Tartarstan were still unclear about their organising one part of the match, could Shenyang organise the entire match. After informing Mr Hou and Mr Sui, they took a quick and decisive response to organise the entire match. They hoped that whether it was one part or the entire match, once a decision was reached, it should be final so that the preparations could go ahead smoothly. We immediately reached an agreement to organise the match in the scenic spot of Green Island Forest Park. On 31 July, we informed Mr Omuku that due to any reasons Kazan could not organise the match, we were prepared to organise the entire match in Shenyang from 13 August (arrival). The first match game shall start on 15 August; the tenth game on 27 August and should there be a tie, the tiebreak match shall conclude by 31 August.
That same day, Mr Omuku sent us the following fax : According to the Presidential Board and the Executive Council, the Women's Candidates Final match shall take place in Shenyang, China. The schedule shall be 13 August (arrival) and 31 August (closing ceremony and departure). The prize fund shall be US$120,000 guaranteed by the Chinese Chess Association. The FIDE President appointed Mr Ignatius Leong of Singapore as Chief Arbiter; Dr Andrzej Filipowicz of Poland as Deputy Chief Arbiter and Mr Yasuji Matsumoto of Japan as Appeals Chairman.
On 5 August, the Russian Chess Federation faxed us the names of the
Russian delegation:
Player : Galliamova
Coach : Khalifman
Coach : Philippenko
Head of Delegation : Myphtakhov
Reserve Head of Delegation : Khropov
In the same fax, they requested us to send them an invitation to
facilitate their travel documentation for the duration 13 to 31 August.
Upon receiving their fax on 6 August, Chinese Chess Association responded on 7 August with the invitation to the Russian Chess Federation which was also copied to the Chinese Embassy in Moscow.
We thought everything was fine now. However, what was to follow could hardly be understood and made us felt uneasy. Other than Xie Jun and members of the Chinese delegation, the chief arbiter and his deputy, the appeals chairman, the organising committee, the sponsors and many local government officials were present in Shenyang. Before 14 August, the All China Sports Committee Vice Chairman Zhang Faxiang, Shenyang government and Chinese Chess Association officials and more than 40 journalists arrived at Green Island Forest Park. On 15 August, all the guests were present in the playing hall : a venue which offered the conditions suitable for playing the match; behind the stage were two rest rooms specially constructed for the purpose of this chess match); they were waiting eagerly to watch the match take place. The result : what they waited for was an historical result for a women's chess match …
After Chief Arbiter Ignatius Leong declared Xie Jun the winner under FIDE regulations D.I.06.17.6, the Organising Secretary Hou Peng made a statement, on behalf of the Chinese Chess Association and the Organising Committee. He categorically criticised the Russian Chess Federation and Tartarstan for causing so much problems to the Chinese Chess Association, the local organisers and the sponsors. The problems had inflicted financial losses to all parties concerned. He added that they would seek financial compensation from FIDE to offset these financial losses.
Amazingly, on 20 August we received an English version of the fax which the FIDE President wrote to the Russian Chess Federation. The Russian version, dated 17 August, was addressed to Russian Chess Federation President Andre Selivanov. In it, the FIDE President agreed to the proposal of the Russian Chess Federation to include the match on the agenda of the FIDE Congress and to take a final decision at the FIDE General Assembly in October. After reading the fax, Mr Chen Zude was very shocked and angry. On 27 August, we faxed to the FIDE President to remind him that the match was organised according to the decisions of the Presidential Board and Executive Council and the result was taken as per FIDE regulations by the FIDE appointed officials. Their decision was fair and just. Why then was it necessary to place the matter to the FIDE General Assembly for a final decision.
Three months ago, the Chinese Chess Association had requested to postpone the match but was rejected by the same bodies and FIDE. And now, the Russian Chess Federation had proposed to replay the match which already had a conclusive result. How could FIDE now accept such a proposal from the Russian Chess Federation.
As to Tartarstan putting up US$120,000 for the first part of the match and China putting up US$60,000 for the second part of the match, these decisions were finally made by FIDE to accommodate the requests of Galliamova and which were announced in FIDE's letter of 16 July. Agreeing to China contributing less towards the prize fund was made after considering that China accepted to compromise. If both federations were to contribute equal amounts towards the prize fund, then the initial financial costs for the preparations of the match and the unexpected travel costs to Kazan should also be taken into consideration. Moreover, changing the match conditions meant finding new sponsors since the original sponsor agreed to the terms for an entire match in Shenyang. Were the US$60,000 in savings really sufficient to underwrite the losses? After audit, the total expenses were US$360,000 of which another US$160,000 were spent to renovate the playing hall purely for the chess match. Should not the Russian Chess Federation now contribute half of the losses incurred so far.
As to the protest of the Russian Chess Federation, we had appealed to the FIDE President to approach the matter with care and consideration. We have warned the FIDE President that should he thought that the decisions made by the Presidential Board, the Executive Council and himself were not decisive and that a final decision should be taken by the FIDE General Assembly, China shall not send its delegation to participate in a match which was concluded and that China shall reserve its rights to seek a fair judgement from other related organisations.
The stand of the Chinese Chess Association is clear; to preserve and uphold the prestige and image of FIDE, FIDE's decisions, FIDE's regulations and the match result already determined by the chief arbiter.
Should the FIDE President decide to place the matter for a final decision by the FIDE General Assembly, or to reverse the result of the already determined match, the Chinese Chess Association shall henceforth cease to cooperate with FIDE.
Rosendo Balinas Jr, the Philippino GM died of liver cancer 24th September 1998. He was born 10 September1941. A lawyer by profession he became a GM in 1976.
FIRST SATURDAY chess tournaments, Budapest, starting from 3rd of October 1998, GM, IM and ELO-closed and Scheveningen ELO events. First come, first served. For the GM event the organisers need one more GM after the illness of a projected player, contact the organiser if you can play.
Organizer: Nagy, Laszlo, e-mail: chess_first_saturday_hu@compuserve.com Tel-fax: Intl.-/361/-2632859.
IBM Hursley are arranging a chess event where children from local schools will be invited in for the day to play chess against Deep Blue Junior.
The event takes place on November 6th 1998. Further information about where to get the games, photos etc will follow.
The London Chess Center visit
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Catalogue
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