THE WEEK IN CHESS 113 06/01/97 Mark Crowther --------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- E-Mail mdcrowth@netcomuk.co.uk www http://www.tcc.net/gmtchess.html Tel or fax 01274 882143 [Bradford England] Produced for Thoth Communications Corporation part of Grandmaster Technologies Incorporated. --------------------------------------------------- 1) Introduction 2) Hastings International Chess Congress. 3) Reggio Emelia 1996-97 4) GM open from Groningen 5) Omsk Tournament. 1996 Russian Cup 3rd Leg. 6) XXVI Rilton Cup 1996-1997 Stockholm, Sweden 7) 5th Raiffeisen Danube Open in Aschach/Danube by Gunter and Harald Grafenhofer 8) 8th International Tournament of Ano Liosia 9) Tapolca Open Hungary by Laszlo Nagy 10) Results from Switzerland by Gilles Terreaux 11) 1996 Canadian Junior Chess Closed by David Ottosen 12) A Year in Chess with thanks. 13) Theoretical Corner By Marco R. Martini (ITA) GAMES SECTION --------------------- Premier, Hastings ENG 1996-7 45 Challengers, Hastings ENG 1996 4 Rilton Cup, Stockholm SWE 1996 122 Russian Cup 1996 90 Open A, Aschach AUT 1996 133 Open B, Aschach AUT 1996 24 Groningen Open Games 335 games Also the theoretical section from Marco R. Martini. 1) Introduction --------------- My thanks to Bob Wade, John Henderson of Channel 4 Teletext, Chess Assistant, Anjo Anjewierden, Dadi Jonsson, Massimiliano Orsi, Gunter, Harald Grafenhofer, Argiris Kotsis, Gilles Terreaux, Marco R. Martini, David Ottosen and everyone else who helped this week. A New Year and perhaps an exciting one. In this issue I round up some of the more well known Christmas and New Year events and take a look at last year's chess. Happy New Year everyone. Mark 2) Hastings International Chess Congress. ----------------------------------------- The 1996 Hastings Chess Congress took place between December 28th and January 5th. The main events were the Hastings Premier, Hastings Challengers and the World Amateur Championships. My thanks to Bob Wade who sent me all the games and information about the various tournaments. Also to John Henderson of Channel 4 Teletext for four games from the Challengers event. Hastings Premier. The shock of the Hastings Premier was Michael Adams' exceptionally poor start. Not only did he start with 0/3 but he should have lost his fourth round game too. Glenn Flear missed several checkmates in two moves at the end of the game in repeating the position. Adams did in the end have some measure of recovery to get back to 50% and the explanation for his poor start was that he had flu. The event proved to be a close fight. Mark Hebden took the lead from John Nunn by beating him in the penultimate round. In turn Hebden was beaten by Eduardas Rozentalis to catch him in the final round. Nunn drew leaving a three way tie. Sergei Movsesian scored his final GM norm. Round 1 (1996.12.28) Hebden, Mark - Adams, Michael 1-0 64 B07 Pirc Nunn, John D M - Rozentalis, Eduardas 1/2 17 C24 1.e4 e5 Movsesian, Sergei - Motwani, Paul 1/2 40 C80 Ruy Lopez Xie Jun - Flear, Glenn C 1-0 28 C22 1.e4 e5 Conquest, Stuart - Lalic, Bogdan 0-1 46 E31 Nimzo indian Round 2 (1996.12.29) Lalic, Bogdan - Hebden, Mark 1/2 25 C68 Ruy Lopez; Exchange Adams, Michael - Nunn, John D M 0-1 44 B22 Sicilian; Alapin (2.c3) Xie Jun - Movsesian, Sergei 1-0 35 B42 Sicilian Motwani, Paul - Conquest, Stuart 0-1 44 C00 French Flear, Glenn C - Rozentalis, Eduardas 0-1 44 E05 Nimzo indian Round 3 (1996.12.30) Rozentalis, Eduardas - Adams, Michael 1-0 50 B13 Caro-Kann Hebden, Mark - Motwani, Paul 1-0 36 A46 Queen's pawn Nunn, John D M - Lalic, Bogdan 1/2 36 B04 Alekhine defence Movsesian, Sergei - Flear, Glenn C 1-0 85 C54 Italian game Conquest, Stuart - Xie Jun 1-0 28 A45 Queen's pawn Round 4 (1996.12.31) Lalic, Bogdan - Rozentalis, Eduardas 1/2 15 A17 English; 1.c4 Movsesian, Sergei - Conquest, Stuart 1-0 46 B11 Caro-Kann Xie Jun - Hebden, Mark 1/2 18 C89 Ruy Lopez Motwani, Paul - Nunn, John D M 0-1 36 E73 Kings indian Flear, Glenn C - Adams, Michael 1/2 60 E00 Nimzo indian Round 5 (1997.01.01) Rozentalis, Eduardas - Motwani, Paul 1/2 19 C67 Ruy Lopez Hebden, Mark - Movsesian, Sergei 1/2 17 B30 Sicilian Nunn, John D M - Xie Jun 1-0 54 C90 Ruy Lopez Adams, Michael - Lalic, Bogdan 1/2 26 B70 Sicilian; Dragon Conquest, Stuart - Flear, Glenn C 1/2 38 A06 Reti (1.Nf3) Round 6 (1997.01.02) Movsesian, Sergei - Nunn, John D M 1/2 67 C91 Ruy Lopez Xie Jun - Rozentalis, Eduardas 1/2 63 C43 Petroff defence Motwani, Paul - Adams, Michael 1/2 10 C48 Four knights Conquest, Stuart - Hebden, Mark 1/2 63 C48 Four knights Flear, Glenn C - Lalic, Bogdan 1/2 27 E04 Nimzo indian Round 7 (1997.01.03) Rozentalis, Eduardas - Movsesian, Sergei 0-1 67 B22 Sicilian; Alapin (2.c3) Hebden, Mark - Flear, Glenn C 1-0 63 D29 QGA; Nunn, John D M - Conquest, Stuart 1-0 32 B01 Scandinavian Lalic, Bogdan - Motwani, Paul 1/2 24 E39 Nimzo indian Adams, Michael - Xie Jun 1-0 22 A45 Queen's pawn Round 8 (1997.01.04) Hebden, Mark - Nunn, John D M 1-0 38 D00 Queen's pawn Movsesian, Sergei - Adams, Michael 0-1 103 C78 Ruy Lopez Xie Jun - Lalic, Bogdan 1/2 37 B76 Sicilian; Dragon Conquest, Stuart - Rozentalis, Eduardas 0-1 30 A13 English; 1.c4 Flear, Glenn C - Motwani, Paul 1/2 47 A32 English; 1.c4 c5 Round 9 (1997.01.05) Rozentalis, Eduardas - Hebden, Mark 1-0 63 C68 Ruy Lopez; Exchange Nunn, John D M - Flear, Glenn C 1/2 24 C45 Scottish Lalic, Bogdan - Movsesian, Sergei 1/2 13 E69 Kings indian Adams, Michael - Conquest, Stuart 1-0 34 C73 Ruy Lopez Motwani, Paul - Xie Jun 1/2 12 C45 Scottish Hastings (ENG), XII 1996 - I 1997 cat. XIII (2565) ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Rozentalis, Eduardas g LTU 2610 * 1 = = 0 1 = = 1 1 6.0 2685 2 Hebden, Mark g ENG 2530 0 * 1 = = 1 = 1 = 1 6.0 2693 3 Nunn, John D M g ENG 2605 = 0 * = = 1 1 1 1 = 6.0 2685 4 Lalic, Bogdan g CRO 2565 = = = * = = = = 1 = 5.0 2608 5 Movsesian, Sergei m ARM 2635 1 = = = * 0 0 = 1 1 5.0 2600 6 Adams, Michael g ENG 2685 0 0 0 = 1 * 1 = 1 = 4.5 2551 7 Xie Jun g CHN 2510 = = 0 = 1 0 * = 0 1 4.0 2528 8 Motwani, Paul g SCO 2490 = 0 0 = = = = * 0 = 3.0 2448 9 Conquest, Stuart g ENG 2585 0 = 0 0 0 0 1 1 * = 3.0 2437 10 Flear, Glenn C g ENG 2435 0 0 = = 0 = 0 = = * 2.5 2413 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Hastings Challengers -------------------- The Hastings Challengers was won by Igors Rausis from long time leader Jim Plaskett and Colin McNab. Both Rausis and Plaskett both qualify for next year's Premier tournament. 1. Rausis, Igors................... g LAT 2495 7.5 2. Plaskett, Jim................... g ENG 2455 7.0 McNab, Colin A.................. g SCO 2465 7.0 4. Buckley, Graeme................. m ENG 2370 6.5 Emms, John M.................... g ENG 2500 6.5 Kristensen, Bjarke.............. m DEN 2420 6.5 Pelletier, Yannick.............. m SUI 2440 6.5 Schoen, Wolfram................. m GER 2420 6.5 FMs John Pigott (2360) of England and Richard Forster (2320) of Switzerland both scored IM norms. Young English star Luke McShane needed a win in the final round for an IM norm but only drew. II World Amateur Championships. ------------------------------- The introduction of the World Amateur Championships in the Hastings Centenary Year could turn out to be one of the great successes of the next 100. Open to players who are unrated it attracted entries from 19 countries. This year it was won by Olev Schults of Estonia. 1. Olev Schults (EST) 8.5/9 2. Merab Tkhalidze (GEO) 8.0/9 3. Nikolos Khechikashvili (GEO) 7.0/9 4. Michael Cook (ENG) 6.5/9 5. Martin Page (ENG) 6.5/9 6. Vanik Zakarian (ARM) 6.5/9 There were 84 entries from 19 countries. Michael Cook won the Harry Baines Trophy for the highest placed English player. The highest placed women in the event were: 1. Catherine Dewitte (FRA) 5.0/9 2. Olga Oberlander (GER) 4.5/9 3. Cornelia Klein (GER) 3.5/9 3) Reggio Emelia 1996-97 ---------------------- Massimiliano Orsi sends the results from Reggio Emelia. The event was won by Michal Krasenkow from Viktor Bologan. Reggio Emelia (ITA), XII 1996 - I 1997 cat. XI (2511) ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Krasenkow, Michal g POL 2605 * 1 = = 1 = = 1 1 1 7.0 2720 2 Bologan, Viktor g MDA 2600 0 * 1 1 = = = 1 1 1 6.5 2667 3 Komarov, Dimitri g UKR 2595 = 0 * = = 1 = = 1 1 5.5 2581 4 Romanishin, Oleg M g UKR 2555 = 0 = * = = 1 1 1 = 5.5 2586 5 Efimov, Igor g ITA 2510 0 = = = * = 1 = 1 1 5.5 2591 6 Razuvaev, Yuri S g RUS 2560 = = 0 = = * = = 1 1 5.0 2548 7 Godena, Michele m ITA 2550 = = = 0 0 = * = = = 3.5 2426 8 Belotti, Bruno m ITA 2400 0 0 = 0 = = = * 0 = 2.5 2357 9 Tatai, Stefano m ITA 2375 0 0 0 0 0 0 = 1 * 1 2.5 2360 10 Mantovani, Renzo m ITA 2360 0 0 0 = 0 0 = = 0 * 1.5 2254 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Average elo: 2511 <=> Category: 11 gm = 5.76 m = 3.96 4) GM open from Groningen --------------------------------- In the games section are the games from the GM open section. Anjo Anjewierden compiled the www page at: http://www.noord.bART.nl/~ssg/ Norm results GM result: Reinderman (11), Leitao (11), Tseitlin (11); IM result: Kachiani (11), Holzke (11), Lobzhanidze (11), Lytchak (11), Meins (11), Jonkman (11), Hausrath (9), Van der Weide (11). The players on level scores were seperated by Bucholz tie-break and then by rating result, which I can't produce in a table. (table was in TWIC last week) For instance Philipp Schlosser won the cup for third place from those tied on 3rd-9th. 5) Omsk Tournament. 1996 Russian Cup 3rd Leg. ----------------------------------------------- The 3rd leg of the Russian Cup a Grand Prix of open tournaments in Russia took place in Omsk 13th-23rd December. The event was won by Semen Dvoiris and up and coming star Valerij Fillipov. Information from the ChessAssistant www page. http://pc701-20.cs.msu.su/ Final standings 1. Dvoiris Semen RUS GM 2590 6.5 2. Fillipov Valerij RUS GM 2510 6.5 3. Starosek Konstantin RUS 2475 6.0 4. Sherbakov Vladimir RUS 2370 6.0 5. Burmakin Vladimir RUS GM 2530 6.0 6. Vaulin Alexander RUS GM 2490 6.0 7. Sherbakov Ruslan RUS GM 2580 6.0 8. Landa Konstantin RUS GM 2570 6.0 9. Mukhametov Eldar RUS IM 2460 6.0 10. Makarov Marat RUS GM 2545 6.0 11. Kotsur Pavel KAZ GM 2480 6.0 12. Yandemirov Valeri RUS IM 2500 5.5 13. Korneev Oleg RUS GM 2590 5.5 14. Hachian Melik ARM IM 2465 5.5 15. Volkov Sergey RUS NM 2480 5.5 16. Fominyh Alexander RUS GM 2545 5.5 ... 52 players 6) XXVI Rilton Cup 1996-1997 Stockholm, Sweden -------------------------------------------- December 27th 1996- January 5th 1997 Rilton Cup 1996-7 There was a three way tie between Joel Benjamin, Johann Hjartarson and Yuri Yakovich at the end of the 1996-7 version of the Rilton Cup. This event was part of the VISA Nordic Grand Prix. Information from the excellent Chess in Iceland pages http://www.vks.is/skak/indexe.html No. Rank Player Fed. Rating Title Total N Rc W We W-We Perf. 1 1-3 Benjamin, Joel USA 2555 g 7 9 2415 7 6.21 0.79 2631 2 Hjartarson, ISL 2585 g 7 9 2364 7 7.02 -0.02 2580 Johann 3 Yakovich, Yuri RUS 2575 g 7 8 2420 6 5.68 0.32 2613 4 4-11 Hansen, Curt DEN 2605 g 6½ 9 2470 6.5 6.12 0.38 2637 5 Degerman, Lars SWE 2480 m 6½ 9 2454 6.5 4.86 1.64 2621 6 Agrest, RUS 2460 m 6½ 9 2459 6.5 4.50 2.00 2626 Evgenij 7 Gausel, Einar NOR 2530 g 6½ 9 2451 6.5 5.49 1.01 2618 8 Hellers, SWE 2585 g 6½ 9 2401 6.5 6.66 -0.16 2568 Ferdinand 9 Wedberg, Tom SWE 2480 g 6½ 9 2387 6.5 5.67 0.83 2554 10 Djurhuus, Rune NOR 2530 g 6½ 8 2325 5.5 6.08 -0.58 2463 11 Elsness, Frode NOR 2330 6½ 9 2327 6.5 4.50 2.00 2494 12 12-21 Ehlvest, Jaan EST 2635 g 6 9 2454 6 6.66 -0.66 2576 13 Gleizerov, RUS 2545 g 6 9 2452 6 5.67 0.33 2574 Evgeny 14 DeFirmian, USA 2575 g 6 7 2429 4.5 4.90 -0.40 2532 Nick E 15 Hellsten, SWE 2485 m 6 8 2421 5 4.72 0.28 2513 Johan 16 Ulibin, RUS 2555 g 6 9 2368 6 6.66 -0.66 2490 Mikhail 17 Khenkin, Igor ISR 2575 g 6 9 2372 6 6.84 -0.84 2494 18 Taimanov, Mark RUS 2425 g 6 9 2287 6 6.21 -0.21 2409 E 19 Furhoff, Johan SWE 2335 f 6 9 2288 6 5.13 0.87 2410 20 Engqvist, SWE 2345 m 6 8 2318 5 4.32 0.68 2410 Thomas 21 Akesson, Ralf SWE 2515 g 6 9 2291 6 7.02 -1.02 2413 22 22-35 Astrom, Robert SWE 2450 m 5½ 9 2431 5.5 4.77 0.73 2511 23 Tisdall, NOR 2490 g 5½ 9 2344 5.5 6.30 -0.80 2424 Jonathan D 24 Gretarsson, ISL 2470 g 5½ 9 2423 5.5 5.13 0.37 2503 Helgi Ass 25 Brynell, SWE 2445 m 5½ 8 2411 4.5 4.40 0.10 2454 Stellan 26 Johansson, Jan SWE 2365 m 5½ 7 2470 3.5 2.52 0.98 2470 27 Johansen, NOR 2230 5½ 8 2304 4.5 3.20 1.30 2347 Terje 28 Stefansson, ISL 2555 g 5½ 9 2366 5.5 6.75 -1.25 2446 Hannes 29 Schandorff, DEN 2510 g 5½ 9 2374 5.5 6.12 -0.62 2454 Lars 30 Berg, Klaus DEN 2410 m 5½ 8 2344 4.5 4.72 -0.22 2387 31 Hector, Jonny SWE 2500 g 5½ 7 2266 3.5 5.53 -2.03 2266 32 Antonsen, DEN 2410 m 5½ 9 2280 5.5 6.12 -0.62 2360 Mikkel 33 Smyslov, RUS 2500 g 5½ 9 2273 5.5 7.11 -1.61 2353 Vassily 34 Niemela, Antti FIN 2240 5½ 6 2276 3.5 2.70 0.80 2334 35 Solin, Niclas SWE 2250 f 5½ 8 2317 4.5 3.28 1.22 2360 36 36-50 Raud, Rainer EST 2350 5 9 2415 5 3.69 1.31 2455 37 Shulman, Yuri BLR 2555 g 5 8 2384 4 5.84 -1.84 2384 38 Sjoberg, Mats SWE 2430 m 5 9 2345 5 5.58 -0.58 2385 39 Ingbrandt, SWE 2370 f 5 7 2409 3 3.15 -0.15 2359 Johan 40 Burwick, Malte SWE 2245 5 7 2434 3.5 1.75 1.75 2434 41 Sandstrom, SWE 2345 5 8 2302 4 4.48 -0.48 2302 Ludvig 42 Astrom, Goran SWE 2300 f 5 8 2320 4 3.76 0.24 2320 43 Carlson, Mats SWE 2290 f 5 8 2298 4 3.92 0.08 2298 44 Olsson, SWE 2360 5 8 2313 5 4.56 0.44 2405 Krister 45 Sorsa, Nuutti FIN 2270 5 8 2283 4 3.84 0.16 2283 46 Manninen, FIN 2380 m 5 8 2328 4 4.56 -0.56 2328 Marko 47 Nieminen, Kari FIN 2215 5 8 2248 4 3.60 0.40 2248 48 Borge, Nikolaj DEN 2405 m 5 9 2246 5 6.39 -1.39 2286 49 Engsner, SWE 2245 5 5 2185 3 2.90 0.10 2258 Joakim 50 Wieweg, Johnny SWE 2270 f 5 8 2146 5 5.36 -0.36 2238 ...120 players 7) 5th Raiffeisen Danube Open in Aschach/Danube by Gunter and Harald Grafenhofer ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is the the fifth edition of the Raiffeisen Danube Open in Aschach held between the 26th and 31st of December 1996. The event was a seven round Swiss event. Aschach/Danube is a small village about 25km west from Linz/Austria. 189 chess players from different countries took part. There were two groups as last year. In the A-tournament 76 participants - 4 GMs, 5 IMs and 6 FMs - played for a prize fund of ATS 80.000. The highest rated players were GM Beim Valeri (2570) from Israel, GM Lanka Zigurds (2545) from Latvia and GM Teske Henrik (2520) from Germany. In the first round one of the tournament favorites GM Lanka was beaten by the unknown Austria player Obermayr (2110). This showed that the tournament favorites wouldn't have things all their own way. Also GM Beim could only draw in rounds two and three. With GM Teske also not managing to convert his winning positions (see his game against FM Piven Igor especially) the leadership after six rounds was held by IM Nanad Sulava (2430) and FM Peter Staller (2530) with 5 points, two players who were not favorites to do well at the beginning of the tournament. IM Nenad Sulava secured first prize (ATS 19.000) with a convincing win in the final round against Staller. Valeri Beim lost against Balinov Ilia in the final round. He was the exchange up and seemed to have found a spectacular Queen sacrifice to win the game. After a long thought Balinov found he could prevent the check-mate with the surprising move 47. ... Rxf4. This moment of rashness left Beim without a prize. The best Austrian player was FM Kranzl Peter (2215) who drew against GM Teske in the final round. Final table A-tournament Rg Ti NAME ELO Land Pkte BH SB Lstg Elods 1 IM SULAVA Nenad 2430 CRO 6,0 30,0 25,75 2500 2286 2 IM MAHDI Khaled 2390 AUT 5,5 31,5 23,75 2488 2317 3 BALINOV Ilia 2385 BUL 5,5 29,0 22,25 2439 2268 4 GM LECHTYNSKY Jiri 2415 CZE 5,5 27,0 21,00 2418 2247 5 FM PIVEN Igor 2385 UKR 5,0 31,5 20,25 2394 2266 6 FM STALLER Peter 2350 GER 5,0 31,5 20,00 2408 2280 7 GM TESKE Henrik 2520 GER 5,0 30,0 20,75 2406 2278 8 FM KRANZL Peter 2215 AUT 5,0 28,0 19,25 2366 2238 9 GM LANKA Zigurds 2545 LAT 5,0 26,5 18,75 2273 2145 10 FM LEHNER Oliver 2320 AUT 4,5 30,0 18,25 2387 2302 11 IM KLUNDT Klaus 2365 GER 4,5 29,0 16,25 2265 2180 12 ALTUKHOV Sergei 2350 UKR 4,5 28,5 16,00 2338 2253 13 GM BEIM Valeri 2570 ISR 4,5 28,0 16,75 2351 2266 14 KARNER Christ 2180 AUT 4,5 26,5 14,25 2249 2164 15 IM ORSAG Milan 2430 CZE 4,5 25,5 15,00 2255 2170 16 ENNSBERGER Ul 2211 AUT 4,5 25,0 15,75 2159 2074 17 DJURKOVIC M 2095 SLO 4,5 25,0 13,25 2234 2149 18 TODOR Razvan 2120 AUT 4,5 23,0 14,50 2143 2058 19 MENDL Manuel 2155 AUT 4,5 23,0 13,75 2132 2047 76 players The B tournament was only for players below 1950 ELO - 113 players took part. Rg Nr NAME ELO Land Pkte BH SB Lstg Elods 1 11 KALABIC Slobodan 1888 BIH 6,5 33,5 31,25 2017 1760 2 9 PLENCNER Christian 1896 AUT 6,0 30,0 25,75 1965 1751 3 8 POSCH Roland 1898 AUT 6,0 27,5 23,50 1882 1688 4 22 HIMMELBAUER Wolfgang Dr 1828 AUT 5,5 31,0 22,00 1895 1724 5 3 STURMAYR Dietmar 1922 AUT 5,5 30,5 23,75 1926 1755 6 20 DOBERSBERGER Werner 1846 AUT 5,5 29,5 21,50 1883 1712 7 6 DOPPELHAMMER Herbert 1919 AUT 5,0 33,0 22,25 1908 1780 8 7 LEHNER Erich 1904 AUT 5,0 32,0 21,00 1908 1780 9 13 PRACHERSTORFER Ch 1876 AUT 5,0 30,5 19,50 1881 1753 10 10 BAUMGARTNER Martin 1893 AUT 5,0 30,5 19,50 1890 1762 11 4 KERSCHENBAUER Franz 1920 AUT 5,0 30,0 19,75 1859 1731 12 29 LODERBAUER Gerhard 1777 GER 5,0 29,5 20,00 1908 1811 13 26 ZIMMER Christian 1794 AUT 5,0 29,0 18,50 1846 1718 14 37 REICHEL Rolf 1718 GER 5,0 28,5 19,00 1835 1707 15 12 STULIK Jiri DI 1883 AUT 5,0 27,5 18,75 1835 1707 16 18 LANG Christian 1857 AUT 5,0 27,0 19,00 1798 1701 17 25 BINDER Erich 1807 AUT 5,0 25,5 15,25 1770 1642 113 players 8) 8th International Tournament of Ano Liosia ------------------------------------------------------------------- Argiris Kotsis sends news that the 8th International Tournament of Ano Liosia (11-19/01/1997) will be live on the internet. (Time:17:00) http://www.compulink.gr/chess/tourn/1997/ano_liosia_97/index.html 9) Tapolca Open Hungary by Laszlo Nagy --------------------------------------------- The 3rd of January in Budapest, Hungary saw the start of the Tapolca Open. The event is sponsored by the minicipality of Tapolca which is 150 km West from Budapest. There are 87 participants in the 9 round Swiss event held in the tournament halls of the Hungarian Chess Federation. Falk Miska Str.10, close to the Parliament. This is normally the venue of the FIRST SATURDAY tournaments as well. The participants are from 7 countries, besides of Hungary: RUS, UKR, CRO, YUG, CAN, GER. There are 4 IM-s KUSTAR Sandor HUN 2380, IM PORTISCH F. 2370, IM HORVATH, Imre 2340, IM ISTVANDI, Lajos 2285, 67 players wish FIDE RATING and 20 others. The duration of the tournament will be from the 3rd until 11th of January 1997. The time limits: 2/40, 1/20 and then adjourment game. The organizer of the tournament is: PAREJ, Jozsef a sports official of the town TAPOLCA municipality. News from Laszlo Nagy <100263.1700@CompuServe.COM> There is a First Saturday Homepage: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/chess_first_saturday_hu/ 10) Results from Switzerland by Gilles Terreaux ------------------------------------------- Ambassador Open Berne (26.12.96-30.12.96) --------------------------------- Final Standings (7 rounds - 143 participants) 1-2 Barbero, Oratowsky 6 3-10 Raetsky, Kallai, Gerber, Wirthensohn, Klauser, Sutter, Bucher, Chenaux 5.5 11-20 Kaenel, Joksic, Rufener, Gast, Fejzullahu, Salzgeber, Meyer, Haldemann, Harber, Mottas, Bex 5 Nova Park Zürich Masters (26.12.96-29.12.96) ---------------------------------------- Final Standings (7 rounds - 67 participants) 1-2 Siegel, Djuric 6 3-8 Tukmakow, Ivanisevic, Kelecevic, Illijin, F. Maeser, Roemer 5 9-17 Mikavica, Glauser, Hugentobler, Weindl, Krähenbühl, Sherwin, Wildi, Jenni, Kuchen 4.5 Nova Park Zürich TG (26.12.96-29.12.96) ------------------------------------------- Final Standings (7 rounds - 220 participants) 1 Gojani 6.5 2-6 Nyffenegger, Mutzner, Mella, W. Eggenberger, Schultheiss 6 Nova Park Zurich Active Chess (26.12.96-29.12.96) ---------------------------------------- Final Standings (7 rounds - 102 participants) 1 Bojic 6.5 2-3 Heeb, Rakazovic 6 Nova Park Zurich Blitz ---------------------------- Final Standings (82 participants) 1 Vulevic 9.5 2-3 Siegel, Djuric 8.5 4-8 Tukmakow, Paulsen, Krähenbühl, Ivanisevic, Haas 8 1. Activ Chess Verbier (29.12.96 - 59 participants) --------------------------------------------------- 1. Walti 2. Di Stefano 3. Allegro 4. Domont 5. Paladini News from Gilles Terreaux's page http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/9666/ 11) 1996 Canadian Junior Chess Closed by David Ottosen -------------------------------------------------- David Ottosen send a small report on the Canadian Junior which is being held currently in Edmonton Alberta Canada. After 7 rounds, masters Andrew Ho from British Columbia and Danny Goldenberg from Quebec are leading with 6/7. Having already played their individual games, both players are closely scrutinizing the list of each other's remaining opponents and spending a reasonable amount of time attempting to convince those players that they can and will beat them. Round seven turned out to be a critical one, as the top 4 scores played each other, with Andrew Ho grinding down Lefong Hua in a Kings Indian and Goldenberg beating off Peter Marshall's sacrificial attack to both win. On paper, it is difficult to say who has a tougher remaining schedule, as both have two masters remaining to play. In fact, there is a definite possibility that either Hua or Igor Zugic could catch them from behind! Other tournament highlights have included a simultaneous exhibition by IM Yan Teplitsky, who scored +16 -0 =2, a blitz tournament also won by Teplitsky (with Hua the top junior), and a siamese tournament, won by Ottosen/Hua. In the games of the tournament, some of the more spectacular crushed have included Hua-Wu, Hua-Marshall, Nabi-Gulati, and of course, the epic 123 move Kings Gambit between Wu and Dutton! In fact, there has been some question as to whether this could have been the longest kings gambit in the history of recorded chess..can anyone out there help? For a complete crosstable and complete game scores for the first 7 rounds, check the web page at: http://www.ualberta.ca/~dottosen/cdnjr.html 12) A Year in Chess with thanks. ------------------------------ My thanks to everyone who helped over this year. Here are just some of the people who contributed to chess coverage on the internet and this magazine in particular over the last year. My thanks to Adam Raouf, Adolivio Capece (L'Italia Scacchistica), Adriano Von Pfuhl Rodrigues, Adrien Hervais, Al Tomalty, Alan Rawlings, Alek Safarian, Alessandro Miotto, Jos Uiterwijk, Andras Adorjan, Anjo Anjewierden, Antonio Bento, Argiris Kotsis, Art Pomeroy, Arthur J. Bieker, Arthur Pomeroy, Arvind Aaron, Asbjorn Nejman, B J Blakmoor, Bas Van den Burg, BCF, Bertrand Weegenaar, Bjarke Kristensen, Bob Wade, Bobby Ang, Bosko Grove, Bretislav Modr, Brian Stephenson, Carlos H. Taboada, Carol Jarecki, Cathy Rogers, Charles de Villiers, Chern Seng Pau, Chess Assistant, Chess Planet (http://www.chessweb.com/), ChessAssistant, ChessBase WWW page, ChessTreasure, Chia Chee Seng, Christoph Pfrommer, Christophe Bouton, Compuserve, Dadi Jonsson, Dagobert Kohlmeyer, Damien Andre, Daniel Edelman, Danny Mozes (ChessTreasure), Ganesan, David Ottosen, Derek Jones, Douglas Bryson, Dr. Andrzej Polozowski, Dr. Ulrich Potthoff, Edward Kroeze, Egon Madsen, Einar Karlsson, Einar S. Einarsson, Eric Peterson, Eric Schiller, Eric van der Schilden (TASC), Eugeni K. Grigorian, Frank Kroeze, Frederic Friedel, Gabriel Sanchez, Gary Bekker, Gerald Schendal, Gerhard Hund, Graham Burgess, Graziano Ottolini, Guil Russek, Hal Bogner, Hal Terrie, Henri Spijkerman, Herman Claudius Van Riemsdijk, Horacio Neto, Hugh Brodie, Ian Murray, Ian Rogers, IBM, ICC, Igor Travenec, IM Manuel Aaron, IM V.Saravanan, J Portela, Jaan Narva, James Eade, Jan Vavrak, Janda, Jason Luchan, Javier Portela, Jeorg Harm, Jeroen van den Berg, Jim Bach, Jim Kerr, Jiri Matyska, Jo Zahner, Joerg Harm, John Henderson (Channel 4 Teletext Chess), John Hurley, Johs. Kjeken, Jon Speelman, Jonathan Tisdall, Jose Alberto, Jose Mariano Acosta, Jouke Algra, Juan S. Morgado, Juergen Daniel, Jussi Tella, Karlheinz Zoechling, Kevin O'Connell, Khaled Chehab, Komputer Korner, Larry Bevand Fillippo, Lars Zwisler, Laszlo Nagy, Leonid Bass (NET64 in Madrid), Li Riemersma, Lothar Karrer, Loukas Zahilas, Luc Enderli, Luis Santos, Manuel Lopez, Marcel Lafosse, Marco R. Martini, Margeir Petursson, Mark Pinkhour, Mart Tarmak, Martin Bennedik, Martin Pribyl, Martin Raubal, Massimiliano Orsi, Matthias Berndt, Michael Atkins, Michael Greengard, Michael Niermann's, Miguel Hemzo, Mike Shepherd, Mitch White, Monica Vann, Moshe Shaked, Nadejda Kymenov, Nasser Abbasi, Norbert Friedrich, Orozco Mendez, Osvaldo, Otto Borik (editor Schach Magazin 64), Pablo Ruibal, Patrick Rasenburg, Paul Hodges, Paul Onstad (for Normal.exe), Per Rasmussen (Under Uret), Peter Ballard, Phil Haley, Philippe Boulet, Piotr Kaczorowski, Piotr Nestorow, Planet Chess, Ram Soffer, Ricardo A. Fridman, Rob van Aurich, Roberto Alvarez, Roberto Messa, Robin Mackley, Rod McShane, Rodolfo Arias, Roger Ken Hogkvist, Rudi Van Kemenade, Rune Djurhuus, Sam Sloan, Sean Press, Shay Bushinsky, Sinisa Joksic, Sklavounos Panagiotis, Soeren-Bech Hansen, SS Quah, Steven Rix, Sylvain Landry, Szabo Zsolt, Tasc B.V., Tom Crain, Tom Furstenberg, Tony Hedlund , Tony Mantia, Under Uret, USCF WWW site, Vadim Kaminsky, Vincent Branger, Vojin Vujosevic, Werner Stubenvoll, Willy Iclicki, Wolfgang Haar, Wolfram Schneider, Yves Casaubon, Yvette Nagel and Zeljko Kartal. The Year in Chess I have collected together some of the most important results of the year along with the top ten ELO ratings below. Highlights were: Topalov's excellent run of results in the super-tournaments. Karpov beating Kamsky in the long delayed FIDE World Championship Match. Kasparov beating IBM's Deep Blue in the most high profile chess event in recent years. Las Palmas, the strongest tournament of the year. Lowpoints: The re-election of Kirsan Iljumzhinov as FIDE President. The final disintegration of the World Championships Gata Kamsky's decision to retire from chess Performances of the year ----------------------- Veselin Topalov was the tournament star of the year. He played almost continually in May, June and July of the year and displayed his emmense stamina and appitite for the game. Such a level of activity did catch up on him but there is good reason to believe he will continue to perform at this level next year. 3rd in Wijk aan Zee, 1st= in the VSB tournament in Amsterdam, 1st= in Madrid, 1st= in Dos Hermanas, 1st= in Leon Spain, 6th= in Dormund, 1st in Novgorod, 1st= in Vienna and finally 3rd= in Las Palmas. His drop from 2750 in July to 2725 must be put down mostly to a very poor Olympiad. Viswanathan Anand took the World Number 2 spot. If his PCA results had been taken into consideration he may well have reached this position a few years ago. Losses in World Title matches can have a depressing effect on a players form but Anand rediscovered his touch after his match against Kasparov with a steady 2nd place in Wijk aan Zee at the start of the year. He followed this with 3rd= in the last VSB tournament in Amsterdam, 3rd= in Dos Hermanas, 1st= in Dortmund and 2nd in Las Palmas. Vladimir Kramnik had a very patchy year. At his best he can beat anyone but he can get depressed when things aren't going his way. He inflicted a truely breathtaking defeat on Kasparov with the black pieces in Dortmund. 5th= in the VSB tournament in Amsterdam was brought about by some terrible results at the end of the event. 1st= in Dos Hermanas and Dortmund. 4th= (and last) in Novgorod, 4th= in Vienna, 50% in the Olympiad was a dismal result for him but he finished with a solid 3rd= in Las Palmas. If he can cut out the mostly self-inflicted bad results he could be in for an excellent year. Vassily Ivanchuk is an even more uneven performer than Kramnik. He has a wonderfully classical style which can score very heavily if the mood takes him. All too often he is victim to his moods and nerves. He sometimes withdraws from events at the last minute (such as in the VSB tournament) and other times he merely turns up and plays without ambition. If he is in the mood he plays wonderfully. He started with a 1st place in Wijk aan Zee, then 8th in Dos Hermanas, 2nd in Novgorod, 1st= Donner Memorial, Ivanchuk scored 8.5/11 in the Olympiad and was playing excellently in Las Palmas until the last few rounds. Short, Shirov and Gelfand all had excellent results which keep or maintain them in the top ten in the World. Anatoly Karpov continues to win tournaments and maintain an exceptionally heavy schedule although many were in rapidplay and exhibition events. He retained his FIDE World Championship in his match against Gata Kamsky. This match ended an unbelievably protracted FIDE World Championships cycle. Gata Kamsky played with determination but his form had declined due to the uncertainty surrounding the timing and venue of the match (Bagdad was seriously considered as the venue). Rustam Kamsky complained about the proximity of the press room to the playing area and the possibility that Karpov was receiving opening advice. Karpov looked vulnerable throughout the year but was a convincing winner in this match in the end. Elsewhere Karpov came 1st in Biel, 1st= in Vienna, 6th= in Tilburg and last in Las Palmas. However all these results were achieved with performances with less than expected scores. Kamsky came 6th= in Dos Hermanas and 3rd= in the Donner Memorial in Amsterdam. Rustam Kamsky was interviewed in Inside Chess which indicates that Gata intends to train as a Doctor and will retire from chess. This story seems to be confirmed by his withdrawal from Wijk aan Zee. This remains to be seen but the loss of a very individual chess stylist would be a great shame. Kasparov is still the man to beat. He can no longer destroy his closest rivals and his rivals Anand, Topalov, Kramnik and Ivanchuk give him trouble. Yet his consistancy and pragmatism keep him very much on top. Especially after the Las Palmas tournament. 1st= in the VSB tournament in Amsterdam, 3rd= in Dos Hermanas, 7/9 in the winning Russian team at the Olympiad was an excellent performance and his victory in Las Palmas will have brought him great pleasure. He was less impressive in the ACM Man-Machine challenge. When he and the computer Deep Blue renew their acquaintance later this year I hope that he will use the pragmatism with which he plays chess generally this year. Next year will be another key one for chess. I have said this in a roundup of results year after year but the root problems have not been solved. The FIDE Presidential elections in Yerevan re-elected Kirsan Iljumzhinov. The reasoning for this seemed to boil down to the belief that only someone who is rich can save FIDE from immediate financial catastrophe. However the cancelling of the traditional World Chess Championships calls into question their committment to the game, or any understanding of its traditions. Their projected annual World Championship Knockout where 100 players will compete in an event of 2 game matches plus a playoff is no way to establish the best player in the World. The imperitive for its introduction has more to do with FIDE's finances than any care or administration of chess. It seems to me to be a fantasy that the finance exists even for the first event, nevermind for its annual continuation. I very much question its attractiveness as an event. I would be at least partically convinced if it was the result of some sort of research of general public and media opinion suggesting that it will raise the profile of the game rather than an idea seemingly plucked out of the air. It has a reasonable chance of being held in Kalmykia and, if the money is as projected, with many of the top players, but after that I predict a quick death. Kasparov will play Deep Blue in probably the highest profile event of the year. Later in the year it seems certain he will play Karpov, outside all organisations for their self-styled World Championships. Self-styled in the sense that they are writing the terms and conditions as to their status after the match. However the unification of the most credible claims to the World title is something to be thankful for. After that the Champion, if magnanimous may suggest a system in which his title may be challenged. How this will pan out is anyone's guess. It is a matter for serious regret that the Interzonal we should have had this year and the Candidates we should have had next year have been cancelled. This is real chess. Any way of reinstituting a testing qualification system, even if it is at the behest of the recognised best player, is far better than nothing. I hope for another good year of top class chess and a small wish is for top class events to move up to 14 or more rounds. Its a vague hope given the miracles some organisers go to extreme lengths to bring us the excellent tournaments they do, but the longer events are a better test of skill. FIDE List Jan 1996. 1. Kramnik, Vladimir g RUS 2730 31 25.06.75 M 2775 42 2. Kasparov, Gary g RUS 2795 26 13.04.63 M 2775 19 3. Karpov, Anatoly g RUS 2775 37 23.05.51 M 2770 12 4. Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2740 36 18.03.69 M 2735 39 5. Kamsky, Gata g USA 2735 16 02.06.74 M 2735 0 6. Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2725 10 11.12.69 M 2725 0 7. Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2640 40 15.03.75 M 2700 40 8. Gelfand, Boris g BLR 2685 29 24.06.68 M 2700 24 9. Shirov, Alexei g ESP 2695 61 04.07.72 M 2690 38 10. Polgar, Judit (GM) g HUN 2635 31 23.07.76 F 2675 29 Wijk aan Zee (NED), I 1996. cat. XVII (2656) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2735 * = 1 = = 1 = 1 1 = = = = 1 9.0 2791 2 Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2725 = * 0 1 = 0 1 1 = 1 1 = = = 8.0 2738 3 Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2700 0 1 * = = 0 = 1 = = = 1 1 = 7.5 2710 4 Adams, Michael g ENG 2660 = 0 = * 1 1 0 = 0 = = 1 1 = 7.0 2685 5 Dreev, Alexey g RUS 2670 = = = 0 * = = 0 1 = 1 = 1 = 7.0 2684 6 Sokolov, Ivan g BIH 2665 0 1 1 0 = * 1 0 = = 0 1 1 = 7.0 2684 7 Tiviakov, Sergei g RUS 2625 = 0 = 1 = 0 * 1 = = = = = 1 7.0 2687 8 Piket, Jeroen g NED 2570 0 0 0 = 1 1 0 * 1 = = = 1 = 6.5 2663 9 Shirov, Alexei g ESP 2690 0 = = 1 0 = = 0 * = 1 1 0 1 6.5 2653 10 Leko, Peter g HUN 2625 = 0 = = = = = = = * = = = = 6.0 2629 11 Gelfand, Boris g BLR 2700 = 0 = = 0 1 = = 0 = * = = = 5.5 2596 12 Huebner, Robert g GER 2635 = = 0 0 = 0 = = 0 = = * = 1 5.0 2571 13 Van Wely, Loek g NED 2570 = = 0 0 0 0 = 0 1 = = = * 1 5.0 2576 14 Timman, Jan H g NED 2620 0 = = = = = 0 = 0 = = 0 0 * 4.0 2518 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- February Much as I hate to say this the ACM Man Machine Challenge captured the popular imagination and the internet played a large part in that. The event had a great boost as Kasparov lost the first game of the match. It remained close for much of the contest until game five. Kasparov offered a draw in a sterile position but the operators turned it down. Deep Blue played unbelievably badly to have a lost position a few moves later. The final game showed that anti-computer chess can bring good results. If Kasparov plays like this against Deep Blue this year the computer will have no chance, however Kasparov tends to try and take the machines on head on. Philadelphia USA (USA), II 1996. -------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 -------------------------------------------------------------- Kasparov, Gary g RUS 2775 0 1 = = 1 1 4.0 Deep Blue ---- 1 0 = = 0 0 2.0 2650 -------------------------------------------------------------- Belgrade was the host to an unfinished tournament. Karpov lost a good game to Bareev but because of travel and financial problems the projected two cycle, ten round event became just five rounds. I believe the event was not rated in the end. Bareev won the event above Valery Salov. Nigel Short won the Category 18 Keres Memorial in Parnu Estonia. This was the start of a very good year for him. Parnu EST (EST), II 1996. cat. XVII (2655) --------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 --------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Short, Nigel D g ENG 2665 ** =1 =1 10 1= == 6.5 2763 2 Khalifman, Alexander g RUS 2650 =0 ** == 1= == =1 5.5 2692 3 Ehlvest, Jaan g EST 2660 =0 == ** =1 == == 5.0 2654 4 Hracek, Zbynek g CZE 2650 01 0= =0 ** 01 11 5.0 2656 5 Oll, Lembit g EST 2640 0= == == 10 ** =0 4.0 2586 6 Sokolov, Ivan g BIH 2665 == =0 == 00 =1 ** 4.0 2581 --------------------------------------------------------------- Xie Jun's tenure of the World Championships ended when Zsuzsa Polgar demolished her in the World Title match in Jaen Spain. The event was scarred by some disgraceful behaviour from Rentero the match organiser who threatened to fine the players after draws in games two and three. Both players were upset but Zsuzsa Polgar reacted better. Rentero got his decisive results, but not good games. Jaen ESP (ESP), I-II 1996. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Polgar, Zsuzsa g HUN 2550 0 = = 1 1 = 1 1 = = 1 0 1 . . . 8.5 2640 Xie Jun g CHN 2530 1 = = 0 0 = 0 0 = = 0 1 0 . . . 4.5 2440 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The last VSB tournament was the first of an amazing series of strong tournaments. Amsterdam (NED), III 1996. cat. XVIII (2679) ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2700 * 1 0 1 0 1 = 1 1 1 6.5 2842 2 Kasparov, Gary g RUS 2775 0 * = 1 1 = 1 1 1 = 6.5 2834 3 Short, Nigel D g ENG 2665 1 = * 0 = 0 = 1 = 1 5.0 2723 4 Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2725 0 0 1 * 1 = = = = 1 5.0 2716 5 Kramnik, Vladimir g RUS 2775 1 0 = 0 * = 1 = = = 4.5 2668 6 Lautier, Joel g FRA 2630 0 = 1 = = * 0 1 0 1 4.5 2684 7 Seirawan, Yasser g USA 2630 = 0 = = 0 1 * 0 1 = 4.0 2641 8 Gelfand, Boris g BLR 2700 0 0 0 = = 0 1 * 1 = 3.5 2596 9 Piket, Jeroen g NED 2570 0 0 = = = 1 0 0 * = 3.0 2566 10 Timman, Jan H g NED 2620 0 = 0 0 = 0 = = = * 2.5 2519 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Madrid (ESP), V 1996. cat. XVII (2652) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2700 * 1 = 0 = = 1 1 1 1 6.5 2812 2 Illescas Cordoba, Miguel g ESP 2635 0 * = = 1 = 1 1 1 1 6.5 2819 3 Shirov, Alexei g ESP 2690 = = * 1 0 = = 1 1 1 6.0 2772 4 Salov, Valery g RUS 2670 1 = 0 * 0 = 1 1 1 1 6.0 2775 5 Gelfand, Boris g BLR 2700 = 0 1 1 * = = 0 = 1 5.0 2689 6 Azmaiparashvili, Zurab g BIH 2660 = = = = = * = = 1 = 5.0 2694 7 Adams, Michael g ENG 2660 0 0 = 0 = = * = = 1 3.5 2571 8 Morozevich, Alexander g RUS 2625 0 0 0 0 1 = = * 1 0 3.0 2530 9 Korchnoi, Viktor g SUI 2645 0 0 0 0 = 0 = 0 * 1 2.0 2432 10 San Segundo, Pablo g ESP 2535 0 0 0 0 0 = 0 1 0 * 1.5 2392 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Dos Hermanas (ESP), V-VI 1996. cat. XIX (2715) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Kramnik, Vladimir g RUS 2775 * = 1 1 = = = 1 = = 6.0 2832 2 Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2700 = * = = = 1 1 = = 1 6.0 2841 3 Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2725 0 = * = 1 0 1 1 1 = 5.5 2793 4 Kasparov, Gary g RUS 2775 0 = = * = = 1 = 1 1 5.5 2787 5 Illescas Cordoba, Miguel g ESP 2635 = = 0 = * = = = 1 = 4.5 2723 6 Kamsky, Gata g USA 2735 = 0 1 = = * 0 = = = 4.0 2669 7 Gelfand, Boris g BLR 2700 = 0 0 0 = 1 * 1 0 1 4.0 2673 8 Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2735 0 = 0 = = = 0 * 1 = 3.5 2632 9 Shirov, Alexei g ESP 2690 = = 0 0 0 = 1 0 * = 3.0 2592 10 Polgar, Judit g HUN 2675 = 0 = 0 = = 0 = = * 3.0 2593 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Leon (ESP), VI 1996. cat. XVII (2659) ------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 ------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2700 ** 01 1= == 3.5 2702 2 Polgar, Judit g HUN 2675 10 ** == 1= 3.5 2710 3 Leko, Peter g HUN 2625 0= == ** 1= 3.0 2670 4 Illescas Cordoba, Miguel g ESP 2635 == 0= 0= ** 2.0 2541 ------------------------------------------------------------- June 1996 FIDE rating list. Top 10 players ---------------------------------------------- 1 Kasparov, Gary g RUS 2775 19 13.04.63 18 2785 2 Karpov, Anatoly g RUS 2770 12 23.05.51 12 2775 3 Kramnik, Vladimir g RUS 2775 42 25.06.75 22 2765 4 Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2700 40 15.03.75 40 2750 5 Kamsky, Gata g USA 2735 0 02.06.74 20 2745 6 Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2725 0 11.12.69 31 2735 7 Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2735 39 18.03.69 22 2730 8 Short, Nigel D. g ENG 2665 37 01.06.65 25 2695 9 Adams, Michael g ENG 2660 29 17.11.71 65 2685 10 Shirov, Alexei g ESP 2690 38 04.07.72 41 2685 FIDE World Chess Championships. ------------------------------- Elista RUS (RUS), VI-VII 1996. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Karpov, Anatoly g RUS 2770 1 0 = 1 = 1 1 = 1 0 = = = 1 = 0 = = . . 10.5 2792 Kamsky, Gata g USA 2735 0 1 = 0 = 0 0 = 0 1 = = = 0 = 1 = = . . 7.5 2713 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dortmund GER (GER), VII 1996. cat. XVIII (2676) ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2735 * = = = 1 = 1 1 1 1 7.0 2889 2 Kramnik, Vladimir g RUS 2765 = * = 1 1 1 = 1 1 = 7.0 2886 3 Gelfand, Boris g BLR 2665 = = * = = 1 = = 1 1 6.0 2802 4 Adams, Michael g ENG 2685 = 0 = * 0 = 1 = = 1 4.5 2675 5 Polgar, Judit g HUN 2665 0 0 = 1 * = 1 0 1 = 4.5 2677 6 Shirov, Alexei g ESP 2685 = 0 0 = = * = 1 0 1 4.0 2632 7 Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2750 0 = = 0 0 = * = 1 1 4.0 2624 8 Huebner, Robert g GER 2595 0 0 = = 1 0 = * = = 3.5 2605 9 Lobron, Eric g GER 2585 0 0 0 = 0 1 0 = * = 2.5 2520 10 Leko, Peter g HUN 2630 0 = 0 0 = 0 0 = = * 2.0 2461 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Novgorod (RUS), VII 1996. cat. XIX (2712) ------------------------------------------------------------ 1 2 3 4 5 6 ------------------------------------------------------------ 1 Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2750 ** =0 == == =1 11 6.0 2776 2 Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2730 =1 ** == == 10 01 5.5 2744 3 Short, Nigel D g ENG 2695 == == ** =1 == =0 5.0 2715 4 Gelfand, Boris g BLR 2665 == == =0 ** =1 =0 4.5 2685 5 Kramnik, Vladimir g RUS 2765 =0 01 == =0 ** 1= 4.5 2665 6 Polgar, Judit g HUN 2665 00 10 =1 =1 0= ** 4.5 2685 ------------------------------------------------------------ Biel (SUI), VII-VIII 1996. cat. XVI (2630) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 S-B ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Karpov, Anatoly g RUS 2775 * = = = 1 = = 1 = 1 1 = 7.5 2749 (38.50) 2 Milov, Vadim g SUI 2565 = * = 0 = 1 1 1 = 1 = 1 7.5 2768 (38.25) 3 Ehlvest, Jaan g EST 2660 = = * = = = 1 1 1 0 = 1 7.0 2728 4 Andersson, Ulf g SWE 2640 = 1 = * 0 1 = = 0 1 = = 6.0 2664 (33.25) 5 Almasi, Zoltan g HUN 2655 0 = = 1 * = = 0 = = 1 1 6.0 2663 (29.75) 6 Lautier, Joel g FRA 2620 = 0 = 0 = * = = 1 = 1 1 6.0 2666 (28.75) 7 Glek, Igor V g RUS 2670 = 0 0 = = = * = = 1 1 1 6.0 2661 (27.75) 8 Portisch, Lajos g HUN 2600 0 0 0 = 1 = = * 1 = 1 = 5.5 2632 9 Tukmakov, Vladimir B g UKR 2580 = = 0 1 = 0 = 0 * 1 = 0 4.5 2569 10 Romanishin, Oleg M g UKR 2555 0 0 1 0 = = 0 = 0 * = = 3.5 2503 (19.00) 11 Onischuk, Alexander g UKR 2605 0 = = = 0 0 0 0 = = * 1 3.5 2498 (17.25) 12 Miles, Anthony J g ENG 2630 = 0 0 = 0 0 0 = 1 = 0 * 3.0 2454 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Vienna (AUT), VIII 1996. cat. XVIII (2690) ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Gelfand, Boris g BLR 2665 * 1 = = = = = = = 1 5.5 2772 2 Karpov, Anatoly g RUS 2775 0 * = = = 1 1 = = 1 5.5 2760 3 Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2750 = = * 0 = = 1 = 1 1 5.5 2762 4 Leko, Peter g HUN 2630 = = 1 * 0 = = 1 = = 5.0 2739 5 Polgar, Judit g HUN 2665 = = = 1 * 0 = = 1 = 5.0 2735 6 Kramnik, Vladimir g RUS 2765 = 0 = = 1 * 0 = 1 1 5.0 2724 7 Shirov, Alexei g ESP 2685 = 0 0 = = 1 * = 1 = 4.5 2690 8 Jussupow, Artur g GER 2665 = = = 0 = = = * 0 = 3.5 2612 9 Ehlvest, Jaan g EST 2660 = = 0 = 0 0 0 1 * = 3.0 2567 10 Korchnoi, Viktor g SUI 2635 0 0 0 = = 0 = = = * 2.5 2529 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Donner Memorial Tournament -------------------------- Amsterdam (NED), VIII 1996. cat. XVI (2629) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Granda Zuniga, Julio E g PER 2610 * = 1 1 1 = 0 0 1 = = 1 7.0 2732 2 Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2730 = * = = = = 1 = = 1 = 1 7.0 2721 3 Kamsky, Gata g USA 2745 0 = * = = 1 1 1 0 0 1 = 6.0 2654 4 De Firmian, Nick E g USA 2575 0 = = * = 1 = = 0 1 = 1 6.0 2669 5 Piket, Jeroen g NED 2580 0 = = = * = = = = = 1 1 6.0 2669 6 Salov, Valery g RUS 2675 = = 0 0 = * 1 = 1 1 0 = 5.5 2624 7 Hodgson, Julian M g ENG 2550 1 0 0 = = 0 * 1 = 0 1 1 5.5 2635 8 Adianto, Utut g INA 2605 1 = 0 = = = 0 * = = 1 0 5.0 2594 9 Van Wely, Loek g NED 2605 0 = 1 1 = 0 = = * = = 0 5.0 2594 10 Sokolov, Ivan g BIH 2670 = 0 1 0 = 0 1 = = * = = 5.0 2589 11 Timman, Jan H g NED 2590 = = 0 = 0 1 0 0 = = * 1 4.5 2567 12 Morozevich, Alexander g RUS 2610 0 0 = 0 0 = 0 1 1 = 0 * 3.5 2497 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Olympiad in Yerevan Russia took the Olympiad with Kasparov scoring 7/9. Vladimir Kramnik was less impressive drawing all 9 of his games. In second place were the Ukraine. Their performance was powered by Vassily Ivanchuk who scored 8.5/11 on board 1. The United States scored an exceptional result in taking the Bronze medal, just edging out England. Alexei Shirov scored a fine result on board one for Spain (2731) whereas Veselin Topalov played his worst chess of the year in scoring 5.5/10 for a 2631 performance. Georgia took the women's event with 30.0 points. China took silver above Russia on tie-break, both were on 28.5 Tilburg NED (NED), X 1996. cat. XVI (2648) ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 Gelfand, Boris g BLR 2665 * = 1 = = = 1 1 = = = = 7.0 2748 2 Piket, Jeroen g NED 2580 = * 1 1 = = = = = = 1 = 7.0 2756 3 Shirov, Alexei g ESP 2685 0 0 * 0 1 = 1 = 1 1 = 1 6.5 2710 4 Van Wely, Loek g NED 2605 = 0 1 * = 1 = 0 1 = = = 6.0 2688 5 Leko, Peter g HUN 2630 = = 0 = * 0 = = = 1 1 1 6.0 2686 6 Karpov, Anatoly g RUS 2775 = = = 0 1 * = = 0 = 1 = 5.5 2636 7 Adams, Michael g ENG 2685 0 = 0 = = = * 1 = = = 1 5.5 2645 8 Sutovskij, Emil m ISR 2565 0 = = 1 = = 0 * = = 0 1 5.0 2619 9 Almasi, Zoltan g HUN 2655 = = 0 0 = 1 = = * = = 0 4.5 2582 10 Svidler, Peter g RUS 2650 = = 0 = 0 = = = = * = = 4.5 2583 11 Lautier, Joel g FRA 2620 = 0 = = 0 0 = 1 = = * = 4.5 2585 12 Polgar, Judit g HUN 2665 = = 0 = 0 = 0 0 1 = = * 4.0 2544 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Las Palmas (ESP), XII 1996 cat. XXI (2757) ------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 ------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Kasparov, Gary g RUS 2785 ** == == 1= =1 =1 6.5 2861 2 Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2735 == ** =0 == 1= =1 5.5 2797 3 Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2750 0= == ** =1 01 == 5.0 2758 4 Kramnik, Vladimir g RUS 2765 == =1 =0 ** 01 == 5.0 2755 5 Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2730 =0 0= 10 10 ** == 4.0 2690 6 Karpov, Anatoly g RUS 2775 =0 =0 == == == ** 4.0 2681 ------------------------------------------------------------- Groningen (NED), XII 1996 - I 1997 cat. XVI (2634) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Short, Nigel D g ENG 2695 * 1 = = 0 = = = 1 = 1 1 7.0 2730 2 Timman, Jan H g NED 2590 0 * = 1 1 1 = = 0 1 = = 6.5 2703 3 Gelfand, Boris g BLR 2665 = = * = = = 1 = 1 = = = 6.5 2696 4 Leko, Peter g HUN 2630 = 0 = * = 1 = = = 1 = = 6.0 2670 5 Shirov, Alexei g ESP 2685 1 0 = = * 0 = = = = 1 1 6.0 2665 6 Van Wely, Loek g NED 2605 = 0 = 0 1 * = 1 0 = 1 1 6.0 2672 7 Svidler, Peter g RUS 2650 = = 0 = = = * = 1 = 0 1 5.5 2632 8 Onischuk, Alexander g UKR 2605 = = = = = 0 = * 1 0 = 0 4.5 2571 9 Hodgson, Julian M g ENG 2550 0 1 0 = = 1 0 0 * = 1 0 4.5 2576 10 Akopian, Vladimir g ARM 2630 = 0 = 0 = = = 1 = * = 0 4.5 2569 11 Sokolov, Ivan g BIH 2670 0 = = = 0 0 1 = 0 = * 1 4.5 2565 12 Korchnoi, Viktor g SUI 2635 0 = = = 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 * 4.5 2569 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- January 1997 FIDE rating list. Top 10 players ---------------------------------------------- 1 Kasparov, Gary....................g RUS 2795 11 13.04.63 2 Anand, Viswanathan................g IND 2765 9 11.12.69 3 Karpov, Anatoly...................g RUS 2760 52 23.05.51 4 Kramnik, Vladimir.................g RUS 2740 41 25.06.75 5 Ivanchuk, Vassily.................g UKR 2740 32 18.03.69 6 Topalov, Veselin..................g BUL 2725 44 15.03.75 7 Kamsky, Gata......................g USA 2720 29 02.06.74 8 Gelfand, Boris....................g BLR 2700 52 24.06.68 9 Shirov, Alexei....................g ESP 2690 49 04.07.72 10 Short, Nigel D....................g ENG 2690 22 01.06.65 13) Theoretical Corner By Marco R. Martini (ITA) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Email: avvmartini@mailbox.icom.it WWW : htpp://www.icom.it./user/scac There are some additional theoretical lines in the THEO113.CBF section also. Rogers,I (2575) - Speelman,J (2625) [E18] ESP-tt, Oropesa del Mar ESP (05), 1996 [Notes by Martini,Marco] 1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.0-0 0-0 7.Nc3 Ne4 8.Bd2 Bf6 9.Rc1 c5 10.d5 exd5 [10...Nxc3?! 11.Bxc3 Bxc3 12.Rxc3 exd5 13.Nh4 +/-Speelman,J-Gulko,B Hastings 1988] [10...Bxc3 11.Bxc3 exd5 12.cxd5 d6 13.Nd2 +=] [10...Nxd2 11.Nxd2 e5?! 12.Nde4 d6 13.Nxf6+ Qxf6 14.Ne4 Qe7 15.f4 +/- ] 11.cxd5 Nxc3 [11...Nxd2 12.Nxd2 (12.Qxd2 d6 13.Ne4 Be7=) d6 A) 13.Nde4 A1) 13...Be7 14.f4 Nd7 (14...Na6?! 15.f5 Bf6 16.Nxf6+ Qxf6 17.Ne4 Qe5 18.f6 +/-Pinter,J-Beliavsky,A WchT Luzern 1985)( 14...Bc8 15.e3 Nd7 16.g4 Nf6 17.g5 Nxe4 18.Nxe4 f6 19.h4 g6 20.Ng3 Bd7 21.Qd3 a6 22.Rf2 fxg5 23.hxg5 Bxg5 24.fxg5 Rxf2 25.Kxf2 Qxg5 26.Ne4 Qh4+ 27.Kg1 Bf5 28.Rf1 Re8 29.Rf4 Qe1+ 30.Kh2 Re5 31.Qc3 +=Shneider,A-Karpman,V URS 1988)(14...f5?! 15.Nd2 Nd7 16.e4 Bf6 17.Bh3 b5 18.Nxb5 Ba6 19.a4 Bxb5 20.axb5 Bxb2 21.Rb1 Bd4+ 22.Kh1 +/-Dilabie,J-Mori,T corr 1992) 15.g4 a6 (15...h6 16.e3 a6 17.Ng3 Re8 18.Nce4 Nf6 19.Nf2 Bf8 20.g5 hxg5 21.fxg5 Nh7 22.h4 g6 23.Qf3 Ra7 24.Rc4 Re5 25.Rd1 Bc8 26.Rf4 Bg7 27.Nfe4 Qf8 28.Rf1Ð Magerramov,E-Gagarin,V Smolensk op 1991) 16.a4 (16.g5 b5 17.Ng3 Re8 18.h4 Nb6 19.e4 b4 20.Nce2 a5 21.f5 Ba6?! 22.e5! Nc4 23.Rxc4! Bxc4 24.f6 Bxe2 25.Nxe2 Bf8 26.e6 +/-Alterman,B-Tsesarsky,I Israel 1992) b5 ( 16...Rb8?! 17.g5 Bc8 18.Qd2 b5 19.axb5 axb5 20.f5 f6 21.gxf6 gxf6 22.Ng3 Ne5 23.Nce4 Kh8 24.Nh5 Qe8 25.Qh6 Qf7 26.Rf4Ð Van der Sterren,P-de Firmian,N Wijk 1986)(16...Re8 17.g5 Bf8 18.Kh1 b5 19.axb5 axb5 20.Nxb5 Qb6 21.Nbc3 Qb4 22.Qd3¼ Nb6 23.Qg3 Kh8 24.Rcd1 Nc4 25.b3! Nb6 26.g6! fxg6 27.f5 gxf5 28.Rxf5 Nd7 29.Rdf1 Ne5 30.R5f4 +/-Karpov,An-Salov,V Linares 1993)( 16...h6!? 17.Ng3!? +=) 17.axb5 axb5 18.Nxb5 Qb6 19.Nbc3 Ba6 20.Rb1 Rfb8 21.g5 f5 Kiss,P-Zagrebelny,S Gyula 1991 22.gxf6 Bxf6 (22...Nxf6 23.Qd2 Ng4 24.Kh1 c4 25.Rf3 +/-) 23.Kh1 +=Zagrebelny ; A2) 13...Be5 14.Qd2 Ba6 15.Rfe1 g6 16.Qh6 (16.f4 Bd4+ 17.e3 Bg7 ->Brenninkmeijer,J-van der Wiel,J Nederland 1991 18.Ng5 Nd7 19.e4¼) Bg7 17.Qf4 Be5 18.Qh6 Bg7 «-« Lagunow,A-Kharlov,A/ Rehhag cup Bern SUI (4) 1996; B) 13.a4 Ba6 14.Re1 g6 15.b3 Bg7 16.e4 Bd4 17.Nf3 Bxc3 18.Rxc3 Nd7 19.Nd2 Re8 20.f4 b5 21.axb5 Bxb5 22.Rce3 Qc7 23.e5 dxe5 24.d6 Qxd6 25.Bxa8 Rxa8 26.fxe5 Qd4 27.Ne4 Bc6 28.Nf2 Re8 29.e6 Qxd1 30.Rxd1 Rxe6 31.Rxe6 fxe6 32.Rd6 Bb5 33.Rxe6 Kf7 34.Re4 Nf6 35.Re5 Nd7 36.Rg5 Bc6 37.h4 Bf3 Stangl, M-Wu Shaobin/S.T.Lee Cup, Beijing (7) 1995/1-0 (55); C) 13.a3 Na6 14.Nc4 Nc7 15.b4 cxb4 16.axb4 Ba6 17.Ne4 +=Browne,W-Greenfeld,Y Lone Pine 1979; D) 13.Nc4 Ba6 14.Qb3 Bxc4 15.Qxc4 a6 16.Qb3 (16.a4 Nd7 17.e3 Qe7! 18.Qe2 Rfb8= Vyzmanavin,A-Khalifman,A Lvov 1990) b5 17.Ne4 Be5 18.Kh1 Qb6 19.e3 g6 20.Bh3 Re8 21.Nd2 Qa5 22.Nf3 Bf6 23.a3 Ra7 24.Qc2 Rc7 25.Rfd1 Ree7 26.Bg4 Nd7 27.Bxd7 Rexd7 28.h4 Re7 29.Kg2 h5 30.Kh3 Rb7 31.Nd2 Qd8 32.Kg2 Qe8 33.e4 Bg7 34.Re1 f5 35.Kf1 Qf7 36.Rcd1 Barus,C-Zagrebelny,S/Asian tt Singapore (8) 1996/1-0 (55) ] 12.Bxc3 d6 13.Nd2 Re8 [13...Nd7 14.Nc4 Qc7 15.a4 a6 16.Bxf6 Nxf6 17.b4 +/ -Barlov,D-Abramovic,B Jugoslavija-ch 1985] 14.Ne4 Be7 15.g4 b5 16.b3 Nd7 17.f4 b4 18.Ba1 Nb6 19.g5 Nxd5 20.Qd2 Bf8 21.Nf6+ gxf6 22.Bxd5 Bxd5 23.Qxd5 Rxe2 24.gxf6 Qe8 25.Rf3 Re1+ 26.Rxe1 Qxe1+ 27.Kg2 Qe2+ 28.Rf2 Qe6 29.Qxa8 1/2-1/2