THE WEEK IN CHESS 685 24th December 2007 by Mark Crowther

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Contents

1) Introduction
2) Anand - Kramnik World Championship Match
3) Russian Championship Superfinals
4) XX Carlos Torre Memorial
5) XVII Pampona International
6) Groningen Chess Festival
7) 3rd Bosnian Championship
8) International Open Championship of Croatia
9) Warsaw - Buenos Aires - Kolkata Match
10) 74th Brazilian Championship
11) South African Championship
12) 4th Singapore International Chess Convention
13) Central Serbian Championships
14) Podgorica International
15) Hafnarfjordur Championship
16) VI Memorial Pereyra Puebla
17) Arnoldo Ellerman Memorial
18) Russia vs ROW Correspondence
19) Forthcoming Events and Links

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Games Section
Russian Championship Superfinals 72 games
XX Carlos Torre Memorial 169 games
XVII Pampona International 34 games
Groningen Chess Festival 75 games
3rd Bosnian Championship 35 games
Open Championship of Croatia 225 games
Warsaw - Buenos Aires - Kolkata Match 24 games
74th Brazilian Championship 42 games
South African Championship 66 games
4th Singapore International Convention 190 games
Central Serbian Championships 228 games
Podgorica International 45 games
Hafnarfjordur Championship 43 games
Russia vs ROW Correspondence 128 games
1380 games

1) Introduction

My thanks to Jesper Norgaard Welen, Nick Barnett, Gary Suffield, Luiz Roberto Da Costa Jr, Sinisa Joksic, Adolivio Capece, Bartlomiej Macieja, Rolf Behovits, Carsten Hensel, Goran Urosevic, Snorri G. Bergsson and everyone else who helped with the issue.

There really can be no better news that Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik have signed up to play a match for the World Chess Championship in Bonn, Germany in October. For Anand the chance to retain his title against Kramnik will leave little or nothing left for him to prove. Similarly for Kramnik who has already beaten Kasparov and Topalov only needs Anand to complete the set of the dominant forces of his era. I certainly won't have any trouble selling this as the most important match for many a long year and I think we can be very hopeful that it may garner the kind of mass media coverage World Championship Matches of old used to generate, particularly as its being held somewhere that isn't dangerous to travel to. Also its highly unlikely to be scarred by the kind of off the board rubbish that all but ruined the Kramnik - Topalov match last year, although I've no doubt there will be tensions because they almost invariably happen. I wish the match was longer than 12 games but you can't have everything in life. Have a great Christmas, there can't be many better presents.

Hope you enjoy this issue.

Mark

2) Anand - Kramnik World Championship Match

A Press release from UEP Promotions announces that Viswanathan Anand will defend his World title against Vladimir Kramnik in Bonn, Germany October 11th–30th October, 2008. Main sponsor Evonik Industries AG and prizemoney 1,5 Million Euro. The match will be 12 games followed by playoffs if required. The contract was signed by both players 18th December 2007.

Website: http://www.uep-worldchess.com/

3) Russian Championship Superfinals

The Russian Championship Superfinals take place 17th-30th December 2007. Alexander Morozevich leads with 4.5/6 half a point clear of Alexander Grischuk, Peter Svidler, Farrukh Amonatov and Evgeny Tomashevsky are a further half point behind.

Official site: http://www.russiachess.org/

60th ch-RUS Superfinal Moscow RUS (RUS), 18-30 xii 2007 cat. XVII (2656)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2
1. Morozevich, Alexander g RUS 2755 * . . . 1 1 . 0 . 1 ½ 1 4½ 2817
2. Grischuk, Alexander g RUS 2715 . * . 1 1 . ½ ½ ½ . ½ . 4 2769
3. Svidler, Peter g RUS 2732 . . * ½ . 0 1 1 ½ . ½ . 3½ 2682
4. Amonatov, Farrukh g TJK 2637 . 0 ½ * . ½ 1 . ½ . . 1 3½ 2705
5. Tomashevsky, Evgeny g RUS 2646 0 0 . . * ½ . 1 . 1 . 1 3½ 2700
6. Rychagov, Andrey g RUS 2528 0 . 1 ½ ½ * ½ . . ½ . . 3 2668
7. Dreev, Alexey g RUS 2607 . ½ 0 0 . ½ * . 1 . 1 . 3 2666
8. Vitiugov, Nikita g RUS 2594 1 ½ 0 . 0 . . * . ½ . 1 3 2686
9. Inarkiev, Ernesto g RUS 2674 . ½ ½ ½ . . 0 . * ½ . ½ 2½ 2603
10. Sakaev, Konstantin g RUS 2634 0 . . . 0 ½ . ½ ½ * 1 . 2½ 2594
11. Jakovenko, Dmitry g RUS 2710 ½ ½ ½ . . . 0 . . 0 * 1 2½ 2623
12. Timofeev, Artyom g RUS 2637 0 . . 0 0 . . 0 ½ . 0 * ½ 2268


60th ch-RUS Superfinal Moscow RUS (RUS), 18-30 xii 2007 cat. XVII (2656)
Round 1 (December 18, 2007)
Svidler, Peter - Rychagov, Andrey 0-1 51 C13 French Classical
Amonatov, Farrukh - Timofeev, Artyom 1-0 32 B89 Sicilian Sozin Attack
Dreev, Alexey - Grischuk, Alexander ½-½ 22 E39 Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Vitiugov, Nikita - Tomashevsky, Evgeny 0-1 43 E20 Nimzo Indian
Inarkiev, Ernesto - Sakaev, Konstantin ½-½ 40 C65 Ruy Lopez Berlin
Jakovenko, Dmitry - Morozevich, Alexander ½-½ 69 C11 French Defence
Round 2 (December 19, 2007)
Morozevich, Alexander - Vitiugov, Nikita 0-1 71 B48 Sicilian Paulsen
Grischuk, Alexander - Amonatov, Farrukh 1-0 55 B90 Sicilian Najdorf Variation
Svidler, Peter - Dreev, Alexey 1-0 36 B63 Sicilian Rauzer
Rychagov, Andrey - Tomashevsky, Evgeny ½-½ 52 E15 Queens Indian
Sakaev, Konstantin - Jakovenko, Dmitry 1-0 41 E18 Queens Indian
Timofeev, Artyom - Inarkiev, Ernesto ½-½ 64 C78 Ruy Lopez Moeller Defence
Round 3 (December 20, 2007)
Amonatov, Farrukh - Svidler, Peter ½-½ 25 B46 Sicilian Paulsen
Tomashevsky, Evgeny - Morozevich, Alexander 0-1 44 A09 Reti Opening
Dreev, Alexey - Rychagov, Andrey ½-½ 34 D36 QGD Exchange
Vitiugov, Nikita - Sakaev, Konstantin ½-½ 28 D17 Slav Defence
Inarkiev, Ernesto - Grischuk, Alexander ½-½ 38 D44 Anti-Meran Gambit
Jakovenko, Dmitry - Timofeev, Artyom 1-0 39 B35 Sicilian Defence
Round 4 (December 22, 2007)
Grischuk, Alexander - Jakovenko, Dmitry ½-½ 38 A30 English Symmetrical
Svidler, Peter - Inarkiev, Ernesto ½-½ 51 C88 Ruy Lopez Closed
Rychagov, Andrey - Morozevich, Alexander 0-1 50 E15 Queens Indian
Dreev, Alexey - Amonatov, Farrukh 0-1 59 A65 Benoni
Sakaev, Konstantin - Tomashevsky, Evgeny 0-1 37 E18 Queens Indian
Timofeev, Artyom - Vitiugov, Nikita 0-1 60 B91 Sicilian Najdorf with 6.g3
Round 5 (December 23, 2007)
Morozevich, Alexander - Sakaev, Konstantin 1-0 59 D10 Slav Defence
Amonatov, Farrukh - Rychagov, Andrey ½-½ 59 C09 French Tarrasch
Tomashevsky, Evgeny - Timofeev, Artyom 1-0 38 A13 Reti Opening
Vitiugov, Nikita - Grischuk, Alexander ½-½ 59 E58 Nimzo Indian
Inarkiev, Ernesto - Dreev, Alexey 0-1 41 D43 Anti-Meran Gambit
Jakovenko, Dmitry - Svidler, Peter ½-½ 37 C89 Ruy Lopez Marshall
Round 6 (December 24, 2007)
Grischuk, Alexander - Tomashevsky, Evgeny 1-0 45 E15 Queens Indian
Svidler, Peter - Vitiugov, Nikita 1-0 30 B60 Sicilian Rauzer
Amonatov, Farrukh - Inarkiev, Ernesto ½-½ 41 C45 Scotch Game
Rychagov, Andrey - Sakaev, Konstantin ½-½ 39 D43 Anti-Meran Gambit
Dreev, Alexey - Jakovenko, Dmitry 1-0 45 E32 Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Timofeev, Artyom - Morozevich, Alexander 0-1 36 B50 Sicilian Defence


57th ch-RUS w Moscow RUS (RUS), 18-30 xii 2007 cat. VII (2415)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2
1. Kosintseva, Tatiana m RUS 2492 * . 1 ½ ½ . . ½ . 1 1 . 4½ 2613
2. Pogonina, Natalija wg RUS 2462 . * . 1 . . ½ ½ ½ 1 1 . 4½ 2601
3. Tairova, Elena m RUS 2391 0 . * . ½ 1 1 1 . . . 1 4½ 2612
4. Korbut, Ekaterina m RUS 2443 ½ 0 . * . . . . 1 1 1 1 4½ 2605
5. Matveeva, Svetlana m RUS 2433 ½ . ½ . * ½ 0 1 1 . . . 3½ 2472
6. Ovod, Evgenija m RUS 2386 . . 0 . ½ * 1 ½ ½ . ½ . 3 2415
7. Shadrina, Tatiana wg RUS 2379 . ½ 0 . 1 0 * . . ½ . 1 3 2394
8. Kosintseva, Nadezhda m RUS 2469 ½ ½ 0 . 0 ½ . * . . . 1 2½ 2363
9. Stepovaia, Tatiana wg RUS 2375 . ½ . 0 0 ½ . . * ½ . 1 2½ 2346
10. Girya, Olga wf RUS 2338 0 0 . 0 . . ½ . ½ * 1 . 2 2308
11. Kovalevskaya, Ekaterina m RUS 2448 0 0 . 0 . ½ . . . 0 * ½ 1 2140
12. Gunina, Valentina wf RUS 2359 . . 0 0 . . 0 0 0 . ½ * ½ 2016

4) XX Carlos Torre Memorial

The XX Carlos Torre Memorial took place in Mérida, Yucatán, México 15th-23rd December 2007. Vassily Ivanchuk added to his wins in 2004 and 2006 to retain his title. He beat 3rd seed Pentala Harikrishna in the final 3-1 after two rapid playoffs. My thanks to Jesper Norgaard Welen for his help with the games.

Official site: http://www.carlostorre.org.mx/ or http://www.idey.gob.mx/ct2008.htm

XX Carlos Torre Wimbledon Merida (MEX), 19-22 xii 2007
1/8 Final
No Ti Name FED Rating P1 P2 D1 D2 TB MS
1 GM Ivanchuk, Vassily UKR 2787 1 ½       1.5
16 GM Bruzón, Lazaro CUB 2607 0 ½       0.5
8 GM Almeida, Omar CUB 2502 ½ 1       1.5
9 GM Gonzalez, José MEX 2541 ½ 0       0.5
4 IM León Hoyos, Manuel MEX 2495 0 0       0
13 GM Quezada, Yuniesky CUB 2546 1 1       2
5 GM Hernandez, Holder CUB 2566 0 0       0
12 GM Graf, Alexander GER 2576 1 1       2
2 GM Dominguez Perez, Lenier CUB 2683 ½ ½ 1 0 0 2
15 GM Nogueiras, Jesús CUB 2549 ½ ½ 0 1 1 3
7 IM Cordova, Emilio PER 2493 1 1       2
10 GM Zapata, Alonso COL 2495 0 0       0
3 GM Harikrishna, Pentala IND 2668 1 ½       1.5
14 GM Hernandez, Gilberto MEX 2536 0 ½       0.5
6 GM Meier, Georg GER 2558 0 1 0 1 1 3
11 GM Tregubov, Pavel RUS 2609 1 0 1 0 0 2
1/4 Final
No Ti Name FED Rating P1 P2 D1 D2 TB MS
1 GM Ivanchuk, Vassily UKR 2787 1 ½       1.5
8 GM Almeida, Omar CUB 2502 0 ½       0.5
13 GM Quezada, Yuniesky CUB 2546 ½ 0       0.5
12 GM Graf, Alexander GER 2576 ½ 1       1.5
15 GM Nogueiras, Jesús CUB 2549 1 1       2
7 IM Cordova, Emilio PER 2493 0 0       0
3 GM Harikrishna, Pentala IND 2668 1 ½       1.5
6 GM Meier, Georg GER 2558 0 ½       0.5
1/2 Final
No Ti Name FED Rating P1 P2 D1 D2 TB MS
1 GM Ivanchuk, Vassily UKR 2787 1 0 ½ 1   2.5
12 GM Graf, Alexander GER 2576 0 1 ½ 0   1.5
15 GM Nogueiras, Jesús CUB 2549 ½ 0       0.5
3 GM Harikrishna, Pentala IND 2668 ½ 1       1.5
Final
No Ti Name FED Rating P1 P2 D1 D2 TB MS
1 GM Ivanchuk, Vassily UKR 2787 1 0 1 1   3
3 GM Harikrishna, Pentala IND 2668 0 1 0 0   1

XX Carlos Torre Magistral Merida (MEX), 15-22 xii 2007
1 16 Bachmann, Axel 7 IM PAR 35 49 37
2 4 Hernandez Carmenates, Hold 6.5 GM CUB 36 52.5 37.75
3 11 Hernandez Guerrero, Gilber 6.5 GM MEX 34.5 51 35.75
4 2 Bruzon Batista, Lazaro 6.5 GM CUB 34 52 36.5
5 17 De La Paz Perdomo,Frank 6.5 GM CUB 34 48 31.75
6 14 Zapata, Alonso 6.5 GM COL 34 48.5 33.5
7 5 Arencibia Rodriguez, Walte 6 GM CUB 32 52.5 33.25
8 20 Perez Garcia, Rodney 6 IM CUB 31 44.5 28.5
9 19 Perez Rodriguez, Luis Manu 6 IM CUB 31 45 26
10 22 Ibarra Chami, Luis Fernand 6 IM MEX 30.5 45.5 28
11 13 Vera Gonzalez-Quevedo, Rey 6 GM CUB 30.5 46 29.75
12 26 Huerta, Dayron 6 FM CUB 30 45 27
13 23 Dominguez Aguilar, Guiller 6 FM MEX 29 43 26
14 35 Sanchez Enriquez, Oscar Ge 6   MEX 27.5 41 24.25
15 1 Tregubov, Pavel V. 5.5 GM RUS 33.5 55 33.25
16 10 Gonzalez Garcia, Jose 5.5 GM MEX 33 51.5 30.75
17 27 Blanco Fernandez, Alvaro 5.5 IM MEX 30 48 26.75
18 25 Capo Vidal, Uriel 5.5 FM MEX 28.5 44 24
19 7 Gonzalez Zamora, Juan Carl 5.5 GM MEX 28 45 27.25
20 30 Alford, Jason 5.5 FM MEX 27 42.5 22.5
21 21 Almeida Saenz, Alfonso 5 IM MEX 29 44 19.75
95 players

5) XVII Pampona International

The XVII Pampona International takes place 21st-29th December 2007.

Official site: http://www.chesspamplona.com/

Magistral Pamplona (ESP), 22-29 xii 2007 cat. XVII (2652)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1. Vallejo Pons, Francisco g ESP 2660 * . . . . 1 1 . 2
2. Beliavsky, Alexander G g SLO 2646 . * . ½ . . . 1 1½ 2864
3. Rodshtein, Maxim m ISR 2615 . . * . ½ . . 1 1½ 2881
4. Movsesian, Sergei g SVK 2670 . ½ . * . ½ . . 1 2645
5. Wang Yue g CHN 2703 . . ½ . * . ½ . 1 2609
6. Jobava, Baadur g GEO 2644 0 . . ½ . * . . ½ 2472
7. Khamrakulov, Ibragim S g ESP 2604 0 . . . ½ . * . ½ 2488
8. Sargissian, Gabriel g ARM 2673 . 0 0 . . . . * 0


Open Pamplona (ESP), 22-29 xii 2007 cat. XVII (2652) Round 2 Standings
Rank SNo. Name Rtg FED Club Pts BH.
1 1 GM GRANDA ZUÑIGA, Julio E. 2592 PER Can 3 4
2 4 GM SAN SEGUNDO CARRILLO, Pablo 2536 ESP Can 3 4
3 5 IM LAFUENTE, Pablo 2489 ARG 3 4
4 10 GM POGORELOV, Ruslan 2411 UKR Ara 3 4
5 7 IM SALGADO LOPEZ, Ivan 2460 ESP Gal 3 4
6 14 IM ESTREMERA PAÑOS, Sergio 2400 ESP Cat 3 4
7 12 FM RECUERO GUERRA, David 2407 ESP Ast 3 3½
8 2 GM LI, Chao B 2553 CHN 3 3
9 9 IM LLANEZA VEGA, Marcos 2426 ESP Ast 2½ 4½
10 11 IM MELLADO TRIVIÑO, Juan 2410 ESP Cat 2½ 4½
11 15 FM NAVARRO CIA, Miguel 2359 ESP Nav 2½ 4½
12 42 IGNACZ, Rozsa 2079 HUN 2½ 4
13 6 GM KRIVOSHEY, Sergei 2484 UKR Can 2½ 4
14 30 BARRANTES MUÑOZ, Hugo Pedro 2170 ESP And 2½ 4
15 33 PUERTO TRAVER, Juan Manuel 2130 ESP Val 2½ 4
16 25 SANCHEZ ROMERO, Miguel Angel 2252 ESP Val 2½ 3½
17 13 IM MARTINEZ MARTIN, David 2400 ESP Mad 2½ 3½
18 32 ROS OCTAVIO DE TOLEDO, Eduardo 2166 ESP Nav 2½ 3½
19 17 FM RUBIO MEJIA, Luis Ignacio 2327 ESP Mad 2½ 3½
20 18 FM RIVERO OJEDA, Jesus Carmelo 2326 ESP Cat 2½ 3½
21 8 FM HUERGA LEACHE, Mikel 2440 ESP Nav 2½ 3
22 27 MINDEGUIA GURUCEAGA, Juan Jesus 2224 ESP Nav 2½ 3
131 players

6) Groningen Chess Festival

The Groningen Chess Festival include the Harmonie Open A which takes place 21st-30th December 2007.

Official site: http://www.so-on.org/kerst2007/2007eng.html

Harmonie Open A Groningen (NED), 21-30 xii 2007 Round 3 Standings:
Rank Name Fed. Rating Score BH
1 GM Li, Shilong CHN 2509 3.0 4.5
2 GM Banikas, Hristos GRE 2591 2.5 4.0
3 GM Halkias, Stelios GRE 2589 2.5 5.0
4 GM Nijboer, Friso NED 2559 2.5 4.5
5 GM Ernst, Sipke NED 2539 2.5 5.5
6 IM Brandenburg, Daan NED 2483 2.5 4.0
7 IM Hoffmann, Michael GER 2471 2.5 5.0
8 GM Mastrovasilis, Dimitrios GRE 2559 2.0 6.0
9 GM Reinderman, Dimitri NED 2510 2.0 4.0
10 GM Adly, Ahmed EGY 2494 2.0 5.0
11 IM Lobzhanidze, Davit GEO 2489 2.0 4.5
12 IM Simutowe, Amon ZAM 2446 2.0 4.0
13 IM Spoelman, Wouter NED 2445 2.0 5.0
14 IM Swinkels, Robin NED 2433 2.0 5.5
15 IM Pruijssers, Roeland NED 2408 2.0 6.5
16 IM Hendriks, Willy NED 2402 2.0 3.0
17 Geurink, Jasper NED 2339 2.0 3.5
18 Michielsen, Joost NED 2309 2.0 4.0
19 Ringoir, Tanguy BEL 2236 2.0 6.5
20 FM Heemskerk, Wim NED 2230 2.0 6.0
21 Van Den Berg, Harmen NED 2167 2.0 4.0
50 players

7) 3rd Bosnian Championship

3rd Bosnian Championship takes place in Sarajevo 18th-26th December 2007.

Official site: http://www.bihchess.com/sarajevo07/index.htm

3rd ch-BIH Sarajevo (BIH), 18-26 xii 2007 cat. X (2498)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
1. Nikolic, Predrag g BIH 2657 * ½ ½ . 1 1 ½ ½ 1 . 5 2658
2. Saric, Ibro g BIH 2541 ½ * ½ 1 . 1 ½ . ½ 1 5 2658
3. Predojevic, Borki g BIH 2645 ½ ½ * ½ . ½ . 1 1 1 5 2638
4. Runic, Zoran m BIH 2417 . 0 ½ * 1 0 1 . 1 ½ 4 2539
5. Jakovljevic, Vlado m BIH 2461 0 . . 0 * ½ ½ 1 1 1 4 2525
6. Bogut, Zeljko m BIH 2458 0 0 ½ 1 ½ * ½ ½ . . 3 2479
7. Stojanovic, Dalibor m BIH 2510 ½ ½ . 0 ½ ½ * ½ . ½ 3 2436
8. Vukic, Milan g BIH 2474 ½ . 0 . 0 ½ ½ * 0 ½ 2 2348
9. Nurkic, Sahbaz m BIH 2415 0 ½ 0 0 0 . . 1 * ½ 2 2355
10. Dumpor, Atif m BIH 2399 . 0 0 ½ 0 . ½ ½ ½ * 2 2336

8) International Open Championship of Croatia

The International Open Championship of Croatia took place in Zadar 16th-22nd December 2007. Aleksander Delchev edged out Nikola Sedlak on tie-break after both finished on 6.5/9. The top 4 Croatian players qualified for the 2008 closed Championship.

Official site: http://www.crochess.com/turniri/zadar/07/index_e.shtm

Open A Zadar CRO (CRO), 16-22 xii 2007
Place SBr. Ti Name Rtg FED Club Pts BH. BH. Cum
1 1 GM Delchev Aleksander 2613 BUL Šk Casper, Zadar 6½ 38½ 49 32½
2 2 GM Sedlak Nikola 2605 SRB Šk Mladost, Ernestinovo 6½ 37½ 48 34
3 7 GM Kovac(evic' Aleksandar 2554 SRB Šk Slaven, Vukovar 6 39½ 50 36
4 3 GM Miladinovic' Igor 2603 SRB Šk Junior, Rijeka 6 37 47½ 32½
5 13 GM Stevic' Hrvoje 2531 CRO Šk ?akovo, ?akovo 6 36½ 46½ 33
6 4 GM Zelc(ic' Robert 2578 CRO Šk Zagreb, Zagreb 6 36 45½ 27
7 12 GM Cvitan Ognjen 2543 CRO Šk Rijeka, Rijeka 6 35½ 43½ 32
8 11 GM Jankovic' Alojzije 2548 CRO Šk Liburnija, Rijeka 6 28 35 22½
9 29 IM Režan Saša 2398 CRO Šk Goran, Bibinje 5½ 37 47½ 30½
10 40 Dimitrov Radoslav 2332 BUL 5½ 37 46½ 28½
11 16 GM Ferc(ec Nenad 2487 CRO Šk Pula, Pula 5½ 35½ 45½ 27½
12 35 FM Martinovic' Saša 2362 CRO Šk Zadar, Zadar 5½ 34 44½ 24½
13 15 GM Jovanic' Ognjen 2492 CRO Šk Liburnija, Rijeka 5½ 34 43½ 26
14 6 GM Palac Mladen 2567 CRO Šk Zagreb, Zagreb 5½ 33½ 42 28
15 23 IM Šaric' Ivan 2466 CRO Šk Petar Sedlar-Pepe, Kaš 5½ 32 40½ 25½
16 5 GM Brkic' Ante 2577 CRO Šk ?uro ?akovic' Holding, 5 36 45½ 28
17 9 GM Popovic' Dušan 2552 SRB Šk Belišc'e, Belišc'e 5 32½ 42½ 25½
18 33 IM Feletar Darko 2367 CRO Gšk Požega, Požega 5 30 37 22½
19 8 GM Kurajica Bojan 2554 CRO Gšk Mravince-Dalmacijacem 4½ 39½ 49 29½
20 10 GM Cebalo Mišo 2550 CRO Šk Osijek, Osijek 4½ 36 45 26
21 20 IM Rusev Krasimir 2479 BUL 4½ 35 45 25½
22 48 FM Zelic' Mladen 2286 CRO Šk A1 Split, Split 4½ 33½ 42 24
23 14 GM Rogic' Davor 2505 CRO Šk ?uro ?akovic' Holding , 4½ 32 41½ 24
24 21 IM Doric' Darko 2471 CRO Šk Liburnija, Rijeka 4½ 32 40½ 25
25 24 IM Dimitrov Pavel 2453 BUL 4½ 31½ 41 20½
26 18 IM Ljubic(ic' Filip 2480 CRO Šk A1 Split, Split 4½ 31½ 40½ 24
27 26 GM Šaric' Ante 2441 CRO Šk Liburnija, Rijeka 4½ 31 39 20
28 44 Sutkovic Damir 2318 BIH 4½ 30½ 39½ 24
29 41 FM Milchev Nikolay 2328 BUL 4½ 29½ 37 19
30 17 IM Kovac(evic' Blažimir 2482 CRO Šk Vukovar ' 91, Vukovar 4½ 28½ 35½ 22½
31 49 Yordanov Nikolay 2257 BUL 4½ 24 30 14½
32 22 GM Žaja Ivan 2467 CRO Šk Zagreb, Zagreb 4 34 44 23½
33 27 IM Živkovic' Vjekoslav 2426 CRO Šk ?uro ?akovic', Slavonsk 4 32½ 42½ 22
34 32 IM Hoelzl Franz 2374 AUT 4 32 41 19½
35 28 IM Franic' Milan 2401 CRO Šk Pula, Pula 4 28½ 38 18
36 34 FM Arnaudov G Petar 2366 BUL 4 28½ 37½ 17½
37 39 IM Armanda Ivica 2340 CRO Šk Petar Sedlar-Pepe, Kaš 4 26½ 34 17
38 36 FM Plenkovic' Zdenko 2347 CRO Šk A1 Split, Split 3½ 33 42 18½
39 43 FM Mihalj Miroslav M 2323 SRB 3½ 30 39½ 17½
40 30 FM Ašc(ic' Pero 2394 CRO Šk ?uro ?akovic' Holding, 3½ 28½ 37½ 18
41 19 IM Sakelšek Tadej 2479 SLO Šk Vukovar ' 91, Vukovar 3½ 27½ 35½ 17½
42 38 FM Orak Ljubomir 2340 CRO Šd Varaždin, Varaždin 3½ 26½ 35½ 14½
43 45 FM Krištovic' Marijan 2316 CRO Šk I N A, Zagreb 3½ 26½ 33 16
44 46 FM Badev Kiril 2302 BUL 3½ 25 32 14
45 47 FM Ivic' Mateo 2293 CRO Šk Vis, Vis 3½ 24 30 13½
46 31 IM Stupavski Zdenko 2392 SRB 3 29½ 38 16
47 25 IM Žufic' Miroslav 2452 CRO Šk Pula, Pula 3 25½ 33 16½
48 42 FM Biliškov Vjekoslav 2326 CRO Šk Goran, Bibinje 2½ 26 33½ 13
49 50 FM Titz Heimo 2223 AUT 2 27 34 9½
50 37 IM Majeric' Zoran 2345 CRO Šk Slaven, Vukovar 1½ 31 39 8½

9) Warsaw - Buenos Aires - Kolkata Match

A three city match between Warsaw, Buenos Aires and Kolkata took place before the European Individual Rapid Championship in Warsaw I reported last week. The Kolkata team won all three of its matches to finish clear of the 1st team from Warsaw.

Official site: http://www.poloniachess.pl

Warsaw-Buenos Aires-Kolkata Match Warsaw (POL), 11-13 xii 2007
Place SNo. Team Fed. Local Match Points Total B.1 B.2 B.3
1 3 Kolkata IND 2522 6.0 7.5 1.5 2.0 2.0
2 2 Warsaw Team 1 POL 2614 4.0 7.5 2.0 2.0 1.0
3 1 Buenos Aires ARG 2535 2.0 5.0 0.5 1.0 2.0
4 4 Warsaw Team 2 POL 2449 0.0 4.0 2.0 1.0 1.0

Warsaw-Buenos Aires-Kolkata Match Warsaw (POL), 11-13 xii 2007
Place SNo. Title Name Fed. FIDE Local Total MBch. Bch. Wins Prog.
1 4 GM Kempinski, Robert POL 2596 2596 2.5 1.50 3.50 2 4.5
2 1 GM Socko, Bartosz POL 2646 2646 2.0 1.50 4.00 1 4.0
2 1 IM Olszewski, Michal POL 2424 2424 2.0 1.50 4.00 1 4.0
2 4 IM Roy Chowdhury, Saptarshi IND 2418 2418 2.0 1.50 4.00 1 4.0
5 3 GM Barua, Dibyendu IND 2491 2491 2.0 1.00 4.00 1 4.5
5 3 GM Felgaer, Ruben ARG 2539 2539 2.0 1.00 4.00 1 4.5
7 2 GM Ganguly, Surya Shekhar IND 2585 2585 2.0 1.00 4.00 1 4.0
7 2 GM Macieja, Bartlomiej POL 2606 2606 2.0 1.00 4.00 1 4.0
9 4 IM Lafuente, Pablo ARG 2489 2489 1.5 2.00 4.50 1 3.5
10 1 GM Sandipan, Chanda IND 2593 2593 1.5 2.00 4.50 1 2.5
11 2 IM Socko, Monika POL 2473 2473 1.0 2.00 5.00 0 2.0
11 2 GM Peralta, Fernando ARG 2546 2546 1.0 2.00 5.00 0 2.0
13 3 GM Bartel, Mateusz POL 2608 2608 1.0 2.00 5.00 0 1.5
13 3 FM Leniart, Arkadiusz POL 2329 2329 1.0 2.00 5.00 0 1.5
15 1 IM Flores, Diego ARG 2566 2566 0.5 2.00 5.50 0 1.5
16 4   Brzeski, Maciej POL 2307 2307 0.0 2.00 6.00 0 0.0
17 5 IM Lahiri, Atanu IND 2290 2290 0.0 1.50 1.50 0 0.0

10) 74th Brazilian Championship

The 74th Brazilian Championship took place in Rio de Janeiro 14th-22nd December, 2007. 12 players Prize Fund US$ 6.000,00. Giovanni Vescovi took clear first with 9/11.

Official site: http://www.fexerj.com.br/brasileiro2007/

ch-BRA Rio de Janeiro BRA (BRA), 14-22 xii 2007 cat. VIII (2428)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2
1. Vescovi, Giovanni g BRA 2617 * ½ ½ 1 1 1 ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 9 2672
2. Leitao, Rafael g BRA 2601 ½ * ½ 1 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 1 8½ 2623
3. Milos, Gilberto g BRA 2592 ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 0 1 1 7 2514
4. Mekhitarian, Krikor Sevag m BRA 2428 0 0 ½ * ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 6½ 2492
5. Di Berardino, Diego Rafael m BRA 2430 0 0 ½ ½ * ½ 0 1 1 1 ½ 1 6 2463
6. Van Riemsdijk, Herman C m BRA 2391 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ 0 1 1 ½ 5½ 2431
7. Molina, Roberto Junio Brito f BRA 2322 ½ 0 0 0 1 ½ * ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 5½ 2437
8. Matsuura, Everaldo m BRA 2511 ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ * ½ 1 0 1 5 2384
9. Bittencourt, Jorge f BRA 2448 0 ½ ½ 0 0 1 ½ ½ * 0 1 1 5 2389
10. Diamant, Andre m BRA 2395 0 0 1 ½ 0 0 0 0 1 * 1 ½ 4 2328
11. Santiago, Yago de Moura BRA 2185 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 0 1 0 0 * ½ 2 2187
12. Miranda, Roberto Calheiros de BRA 2213 0 0 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 0 ½ ½ * 2 2185

11) South African Championship

The South African Championship took place in the ChessCube Centre in Milnerton 14th-22nd December 2007.

Nick Barnett reports "South African Championship ended on Saturday. The winner, Henry Steel, 17, was the youngest competitor. The tournament was marred by the late withdrawal of Kenneth Willenberg and Deon Solomons, so that Steel did not have an opponent in the two final rounds. Since he demolished the top half of the table he is a worthy winner, but IM Watu Kobese may have caught him. The top three Steel, IM Kobese and IM Mabusela are automatic selections for the SA team to the Olympiad. Steel now travels to Gilbraltar where he hopes to gain a Fidé title, then on to Budapest and France. SA¹s top woman player WIM Melissa Greeff follows the same itinerary, but first to Malawi where she will contest the African junior ‹ in the boys section ‹ before the SA Women¹s closed in a couple of weeks time! She is determined to get her second WGM norm."

Official site: http://www.chessa.co.za

ch-RSA Milnerton (RSA), 14-22 xii 2007
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2
1. Steel, Henry Robert RSA 2241 * 1 ½ 1 1 ½ ½ 1 1 0 1 1 8½ 2443
2. Kobese, Watu m RSA 2389 0 * ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 8 2394
3. Van den Heever, Donovan RSA 2202 ½ ½ * 0 1 1 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 6½ 2301
4. Mabusela, Johanne Mayedi m RSA 2277 0 ½ 1 * 1 0 0 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 6½ 2294
5. Ophoff, Ja RSA 2260 0 0 0 0 * ½ 1 1 1 1 1 1 6½ 2296
6. Solomon, Kenny m RSA 2332 ½ ½ 0 1 ½ * 1 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ 6 2260
7. Cawdery, Daniel RSA 2254 ½ 0 1 1 0 0 * ½ ½ ½ 1 1 6 2267
8. Klaasen, Calvin Jong RSA 1982 0 ½ ½ 0 0 1 ½ * ½ 1 1 1 6 2292
9. Gluckman, David m RSA 2306 0 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ 1 4½ 2161
10. Mosetlhe, Kgaugelo RSA 2144 1 0 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ * 0 1 3½ 2108
11. Solomons, Deon RSA 2231 0 0 ½ ½ 0 0 0 0 ½ 1 * 1 3½ 2100
12. Willenberg, Kenneth Sean RSA 2183 0 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 0 0 * ½ 1768

12) 4th Singapore International Chess Convention

The 4th Singapore International Chess Convention took place 16th-22nd December 2007. The main masters event saw Zurab Azmaiparashvili edge out Zhang Zhong on tie-break after both finished on 7/9.

Official site: http://www.singaporechess.org.sg

4th Singapore Masters 17-21 xii 2007
Rk.   Name FED Rtg Pts. TB1 TB2 TB3
1 GM Azmaiparashvili Zurab GEO 2606 7,0 50,0 37,00 39,5
2 GM Zhang Zhong SIN 2634 7,0 48,0 37,50 33,5
3 GM Sandipan Chanda IND 2593 6,5 50,0 35,00 34,5
4 IM Sadorra Julio Catalino PHI 2414 6,0 48,5 30,75 34,0
5 GM Dao Thien Hai VIE 2530 6,0 48,5 29,75 32,5
6 IM Laxman R R IND 2395 6,0 47,0 28,25 31,0
7 GM Megaranto Susanto INA 2569 6,0 45,5 28,50 30,0
8 IM Girinath P D S IND 2448 6,0 43,5 26,50 31,5
9 GM Wu Shaobin SIN 2449 6,0 42,5 25,50 29,5
10 IM Dimakiling Oliver PHI 2491 5,5 46,5 25,25 30,0
11 GM Nguyen Anh Dung VIE 2537 5,5 43,5 26,50 28,0
12 GM Paragua Mark PHI 2514 5,5 43,5 24,00 27,0
13   Lin Chen CHN 2363 5,5 41,0 21,25 27,5
14 IM Paciencia Enrique SIN 2431 5,0 48,5 24,00 28,0
15   Wan Yunguo CHN 2393 5,0 44,5 23,00 29,0
16 WGM Gu Xiaobing CHN 2300 5,0 42,0 19,50 23,0
17 IM Jayson Gonzales PHI 2454 5,0 41,5 20,75 23,5
18 IM Sitanggang Salor INA 2410 5,0 41,5 19,25 27,0
19 WIM Sukandar Irine Kharisma INA 2275 5,0 39,0 16,50 22,5
20   Wang Li CHN 2318 4,5 48,5 23,25 26,5
21 IM Mas Hafizulhelmi MAS 2372 4,5 40,0 19,75 21,0
22 IM Nadanian Ashot ARM 2436 4,5 38,5 16,25 23,0
23   Shen Siyuan CHN 2337 4,0 46,0 20,00 24,0
24 WGM Li Ruofan SIN 2417 4,0 42,5 14,50 24,0
25 FM Lim Yee Weng MAS 2336 4,0 42,5 14,50 17,5
26   Jia Haoxiang CHN 2193 4,0 41,0 15,00 20,0
27 WGM Corke Anya HKG 2210 4,0 38,5 12,00 21,0
28 WGM Nguyen Thi Thanh An VIE 2324 4,0 37,0 13,00 19,0
29   Andador Rolando PHI 2199 4,0 37,0 11,50 15,0
30   Chan Wei Xuan Timothy SIN 2231 4,0 32,5 14,25 14,5
31 CM Teo Wei Xing SIN 2191 4,0 32,5 12,75 14,0
32 FM Chua Zheng Yuan Terry SIN 2096 3,5 37,0 11,75 16,5
33 CM Chan Yi Ren Daniel SIN 2137 3,5 34,0 11,00 14,0
34 FM Simanjuntak Sebastian INA 2271 3,5 33,5 11,00 16,0
35   Kuznetsov Kirill RUS 2252 3,0 37,0 8,50 17,0
36 FM Lo Kin Mun Dominic SIN 2151 3,0 36,5 11,25 16,0
37   Koh Jonathan SIN 2090 3,0 31,5 7,50 14,5
38 FM Chua Xing Jian Graham SIN 2065 2,5 38,5 5,50 15,5
39 FM Fernandez Daniel Howard SIN 2102 2,5 31,5 7,50 11,5
40   Tahmankar Mandar IND 2141 2,5 30,0 5,75 7,0
41 CM Neubronner Jarred SIN 2097 2,5 28,5 7,25 10,0
42   Dotsenko Viacheslav RUS 2132 2,0 33,5 6,00 10,5
43 WFM Liu Yang SIN 2056 0,5 41,0 2,50 4,5
44 FM Nava Roderick PHI 2351 0,0 38,0 0,00 0,0

13) Central Serbian Championships

The 2007 Central Serbian Championships took place in Vrnjacka Banja on 10th-16th December 2007. GM Pikula and GM Drazic qualified for the main 2008 Serbian Men Championship. Games from the final round are missing.

Official site: http://www.sah-centralnasrbija.com/2007/prvcs07/prvcs07.htm and final standings at http://www.sah-centralnasrbija.com/2007/prvcs07/muskarci_prvcs07/tab_prvcs 07m.html.

The women's championship had only 5 players because the WGMs preferred to play in the men's event. The winner was WFM Marija Urosevic with 2nd place for Sandra Djukic.

ch-Central Serbia Vrnjacka Banja SRB (SRB), 10-16 xii 2007
1 5 GM Pikula Dejan 2494 SRB 7 41
2 6 GM Drazic Sinisa 2493 SRB 7 39½
3 8 GM Todorovic Goran M 2470 SRB 6½ 40
4 1 GM Savic Miodrag R 2539 SRB 6½ 39½
5 9 IM Arsovic Zoran 2459 SRB 6 42
6 14 GM Kostic Vladimir G 2402 SRB 6 38½
7 17 WGM Chelushkina Irina 2351 SRB 6 38
8 32 Zivkovic Ivan B 2222 SRB 6 37
9 4 GM Cabrilo Goran 2497 SRB 6 37
10 10 IM Vratonjic Slobo 2453 SRB 6 36
11 7 IM Arsovic Goran 2478 SRB 6 34
12 16 FM Sredojevic Ivan 2357 SRB 6 32½
13 12 GM Tosic Miroslav 2422 SRB 5½ 37½
14 2 GM Lajthajm Borko 2512 SRB 5½ 36½
15 15 IM Maksimovic Branimir 2367 SRB 5½ 33½
16 22 Biljanic Ljubomir 2291 SRB 5½ 32½
17 11 Bozic Milan 2435 SRB 5 41½
18 3 GM Abramovic Bosko 2508 SRB 5 36½
19 18 WGM Benderac Ana 2328 SRB 5 34½
20 13 FM Kojovic Dragan 2413 SRB 5 33½
21 26 Stojanovic Zlatko 2245 SRB 5 33½
22 28 Pantelic Sasa 2237 SRB 5 33
23 21 GM Nikolic Stanimir 2297 SRB 5 33
24 29 Colovic Zoran 2234 SRB 5 30½
25 20 Mrsevic Miroslav 2313 SRB 5 30
26 24 FM Spiric Igor 2278 SRB 5 30
27 23 FM Djosic Slavoljub 2280 SRB 4½ 33½
28 35 Radovanovic Slavko 2200 SRB 4½ 33
29 25 FM Radosavljevic Slobodan D 2256 SRB 4½ 32
30 34 Boskovic Zlatomir 2207 SRB 4½ 31½
31 42 Ilic Slobodan S 2166 SRB 4½ 31½
32 27 FM Milicevic Miodrag 2243 SRB 4½ 30
33 38 Vasic Vladimir 2185 SRB 4½ 29
34 37 Radenkovic Dragan 2188 SRB 4½ 26½
35 49 Karaklajic Milutin 2099 SRB 4 32½
36 31 Savic Dragan 2229 SRB 4 30½
37 48 Manojlovic Selimir 2110 SRB 4 30½
38 43 Dodic Dragan 2162 SRB 4 30
39 44 Antic Dragan 2158 SRB 4 30
40 33 Marcetic Predrag 2219 SRB 4 28
41 47 Pantovic Dragan M 2137 SRB 4 27½
42 36 Pantic Ivica 2192 SRB 4 26
43 19 IM Misailovic Nebojsa 2318 SRB 3½ 30½
44 46 Simic Milan 2140 SRB 3½ 30
45 59 Pavicevic Jovan 0 SRB 3½ 29½
46 39 Tasic Zoran 2178 SRB 3½ 29
47 40 Jokic Miodrag 2174 SRB 3½ 27½
48 51 Simic Vladica 2082 SRB 3½ 27
49 41 Dorontic Zoran 2167 SRB 3½ 23½
50 52 Jovanovic Miroslav V 2052 SRB 3 31
51 45 Draskovic Dragan 2154 SRB 3 30½
52 56 Boskovic Maksimilijan 1850 SRB 3 23½
53 58 Matejic Dragoljub 0 SRB 3 22½
54 54 Filipovic Tomislav 2010 SRB 2½ 27½
55 55 Gagic Miroljub 1930 SRB 2 25
56 57 Lisanin Ivica 0 SRB 1 24
57 50 Lecic Predrag 2089 SRB 1 14
58 53 Grujicic Zoran 2044 SRB ½ 13
59 30 Misojcic Miroslav 2232 SRB ½ 2½

14) Podgorica International

City of Podgorica, capitol of Montenegro, restored international tournament after a 20 year hiatus. Junior Stefan Mijovic earned IM norm, other two juniors FM Boban Bogosavljevic and Nikola Nestorovic missed their GM and IM norms.

PGN at http://www.cgsah.org/2007/velemajstorski/velemajstorski.htm, crosstable at http://www.cgsah.org/2007/velemajstorski/tab.html

It Podgorica (MNE), 9-17 xii 2007 cat. VII (2414)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
1. Bogosavljevic, Boban f SRB 2491 * ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 0 1 5½ 2485
2. Kalezic, Blazo m MNE 2392 ½ * ½ 0 1 ½ 1 1 ½ ½ 5½ 2496
3. Kosic, Dragan g MNE 2482 0 ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 5½ 2486
4. Rajkovic, Dusan g SRB 2522 ½ 1 ½ * ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 1 5 2445
5. Mijovic, Stefan MNE 2228 ½ 0 ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ 1 1 5 2477
6. Jacimovic, Dragoljub g MKD 2412 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ 4½ 2414
7. Nikcevic, Nebojsa g MNE 2421 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ 4 2370
8. Nestorovic, Nikola SRB 2436 0 0 0 1 ½ ½ ½ * 1