THE WEEK IN CHESS 697 17th March 2008 by Mark Crowther

1) Introduction

My thanks to Juhász Gergely, Peter Doggers, Arvind Aaron, Petr Pisk, Harald Grafenhofer, Luiz Roberto Da Costa Jr, Frits Agterdenbos, Steffen Pedersen, Brian Jones, Miklos Orso, Varlam Vepkhvishvili, Rustam Najafov, Csaba Jergler, Vincent Broman, Özgür Akman, Emin Gashimov, Benny Asman, Askell Karason, Dave Clayton, Henri Koskinen and everyone else who helped with the issue.

The Amber tournament is the main tournament of the week. The early rounds see World Champion Viswanathan Anand in good form. Elsewhere there are many national championships and team events to report. Plenty to keep you busy.

Hope you enjoy this issue.

Mark

2) Amber Rapid and Blindfold Tournament

The 17th Amber Rapid and Blindfold Chess Tournament takes place March 14th-28th, 2008 at the Hotel Palais de la Mediterranée on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. Twelve grandmasters from ten different countries will take part and the total prize-fund is 216,000 Euro.

Official site: http://www.amberchess2008.com

Amber Blindfold Results

Amber Blindfold Nice FRA (FRA), 15-27 iii 2008													cat. XXI (2752)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2
1.	Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2751	*	.	1	.	.	.	.	.	.	½	½	.	2	2842
2.	Morozevich, Alexander	g	RUS	2765	.	*	.	½	.	.	.	.	1	.	.	½	2	2889
3.	Carlsen, Magnus	g	NOR	2733	0	.	*	.	.	.	1	.	.	.	1	.	2	2846
4.	Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	g	AZE	2760	.	½	.	*	½	½	.	.	.	.	.	.	1½	2787
5.	Anand, Viswanathan	g	IND	2799	.	.	.	½	*	½	.	.	½	.	.	.	1½	2779
6.	Kramnik, Vladimir	g	RUS	2799	.	.	.	½	½	*	.	.	.	.	.	½	1½	2770
7.	Karjakin, Sergey	g	UKR	2732	.	.	0	.	.	.	*	½	.	1	.	.	1½	2736
8.	Aronian, Levon	g	ARM	2739	.	.	.	.	.	.	½	*	.	½	½	.	1½	2716
9.	Topalov, Veselin	g	BUL	2780	.	0	.	.	½	.	.	.	*	.	.	1	1½	2772
10.	Gelfand, Boris	g	ISR	2737	½	.	.	.	.	.	0	½	.	*	.	.	1	2615
11.	Van Wely, Loek	g	NED	2681	½	.	0	.	.	.	.	½	.	.	*	.	1	2616
12.	Lékó, Peter	g	HUN	2753	.	½	.	.	.	½	.	.	0	.	.	*	1	2656

Round 1 (March 15, 2008)
Anand, Viswanathan	- Kramnik, Vladimir	½-½	23	C42	Petroff's Defence
Carlsen, Magnus	- Ivanchuk, Vassily	0-1	53	C80	Ruy Lopez Open
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	- Morozevich, Alexander	½-½	71	D07	Tchigorin Defence
Aronian, Levon	- Van Wely, Loek	½-½	31	D39	QGD Ragozin
Gelfand, Boris	- Karjakin, Sergey	0-1	46	A11	Reti Opening
Topalov, Veselin	- Lékó, Peter	1-0	45	E05	Catalan
Round 2 (March 16, 2008)
Ivanchuk, Vassily	- Gelfand, Boris	½-½	57	C48	Four Knights Rubinstein
Anand, Viswanathan	- Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	½-½	46	B04	Alekhine's Defence
Morozevich, Alexander	- Topalov, Veselin	1-0	34	D31	Semi-Slav Defence
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Lékó, Peter	½-½	25	B10	Caro Kann
Karjakin, Sergey	- Aronian, Levon	½-½	49	C65	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Van Wely, Loek	- Carlsen, Magnus	0-1	26	E36	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Round 3 (March 17, 2008)
Carlsen, Magnus	- Karjakin, Sergey	1-0	44	B92	Sicilian Najdorf with 6.Be2
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	- Kramnik, Vladimir	½-½	29	C43	Petroff's Defence
Aronian, Levon	- Gelfand, Boris	½-½	53	D13	Slav Exchange
Van Wely, Loek	- Ivanchuk, Vassily	½-½	26	D46	Semi-Slav Defence
Lékó, Peter	- Morozevich, Alexander	½-½	32	B44	Sicilian Paulsen
Topalov, Veselin	- Anand, Viswanathan	½-½	59	E05	Catalan

Amber Rapid Results

Amber Rapid Nice FRA (FRA), 15-27 iii 2008													cat. XXI (2752)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2
1.	Anand, Viswanathan	g	IND	2799	*	.	½	.	.	.	.	.	1	1	.	.	2½	3052
2.	Aronian, Levon	g	ARM	2739	.	*	.	0	.	1	.	.	.	.	1	.	2	2841
3.	Topalov, Veselin	g	BUL	2780	½	.	*	.	.	.	.	½	.	.	.	1	2	2897
4.	Gelfand, Boris	g	ISR	2737	.	1	.	*	0	½	.	.	.	.	.	.	1½	2740
5.	Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2751	.	.	.	1	*	.	½	.	.	.	0	.	1½	2717
6.	Karjakin, Sergey	g	UKR	2732	.	0	.	½	.	*	1	.	.	.	.	.	1½	2736
7.	Carlsen, Magnus	g	NOR	2733	.	.	.	.	½	0	*	.	.	.	1	.	1½	2721
8.	Lékó, Peter	g	HUN	2753	.	.	½	.	.	.	.	*	.	0	.	1	1½	2781
9.	Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	g	AZE	2760	0	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	*	1	.	½	1½	2787
10.	Kramnik, Vladimir	g	RUS	2799	0	.	.	.	.	.	.	1	0	*	.	.	1	2645
11.	Van Wely, Loek	g	NED	2681	.	0	.	.	1	.	0	.	.	.	*	.	1	2616
12.	Morozevich, Alexander	g	RUS	2765	.	.	0	.	.	.	.	0	½	.	.	*	½	2491

Round 1 (March 15, 2008)
Ivanchuk, Vassily	- Carlsen, Magnus	½-½	62	B22	Sicilian Alapin
Karjakin, Sergey	- Gelfand, Boris	½-½	46	C24	Bishop's Opening
Lékó, Peter	- Topalov, Veselin	½-½	38	B12	Caro Kann Advanced
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Anand, Viswanathan	0-1	43	E15	Queens Indian
Van Wely, Loek	- Aronian, Levon	0-1	34	D94	Gruenfeld Closed
Morozevich, Alexander	- Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	½-½	42	B07	Pirc Defence
Round 2 (March 16, 2008)
Aronian, Levon	- Karjakin, Sergey	1-0	51	A29	English Four Knights
Topalov, Veselin	- Morozevich, Alexander	1-0	48	E97	King's Indian Classical
Gelfand, Boris	- Ivanchuk, Vassily	0-1	73	D46	Semi-Slav Defence
Carlsen, Magnus	- Van Wely, Loek	1-0	30	D43	Anti-Meran Gambit
Lékó, Peter	- Kramnik, Vladimir	0-1	38	A29	English Four Knights
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	- Anand, Viswanathan	0-1	42	B20	Sicilian Wing Gambit
Round 3 (March 17, 2008)
Anand, Viswanathan	- Topalov, Veselin	½-½	47	B19	Caro Kann
Gelfand, Boris	- Aronian, Levon	1-0	55	C03	French Tarrasch
Ivanchuk, Vassily	- Van Wely, Loek	0-1	67	B14	Caro Kann Panov
Karjakin, Sergey	- Carlsen, Magnus	1-0	40	B04	Alekhine's Defence
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	0-1	39	A52	Budapest Defence Main Line
Morozevich, Alexander	- Lékó, Peter	0-1	56	D45	Anti-Meran Variations

Amber Combined Results

Amber Combined Nice FRA (FRA), 15-27 iii 2008																										cat. XXI (2752)
					1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		11		12
1.	Anand, Viswanathan	g	IND	2799	*	*	½	½	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	½	1	.	.	.	.	½	1	.	.	.	.	4	2904
2.	Topalov, Veselin	g	BUL	2780	½	½	*	*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	0	1	.	.	1	½	.	.	3½	2829
3.	Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2751	.	.	.	.	*	*	.	.	1	½	.	.	.	.	½	1	.	.	.	.	.	.	½	0	3½	2774
4.	Aronian, Levon	g	ARM	2739	.	.	.	.	.	.	*	*	.	.	½	1	.	.	½	0	.	.	.	.	.	.	½	1	3½	2773
5.	Carlsen, Magnus	g	NOR	2733	.	.	.	.	0	½	.	.	*	*	1	0	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	1	1	3½	2778
6.	Karjakin, Sergey	g	UKR	2732	.	.	.	.	.	.	½	0	0	1	*	*	.	.	1	½	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	3	2736
7.	Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	g	AZE	2760	½	0	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	*	*	.	.	½	½	½	1	.	.	.	.	3	2787
8.	Gelfand, Boris	g	ISR	2737	.	.	.	.	½	0	½	1	.	.	0	½	.	.	*	*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	2½	2683
9.	Morozevich, Alexander	g	RUS	2765	.	.	1	0	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	½	½	.	.	*	*	.	.	½	0	.	.	2½	2707
10.	Kramnik, Vladimir	g	RUS	2799	½	0	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	½	0	.	.	.	.	*	*	½	1	.	.	2½	2713
11.	Lékó, Peter	g	HUN	2753	.	.	0	½	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	½	1	½	0	*	*	.	.	2½	2724
12.	Van Wely, Loek	g	NED	2681	.	.	.	.	½	1	½	0	0	0	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	*	*	2	2616

3) Reykjavic Open

The Reykjavic Open took place 3rd-11th March 2008. Wang Hao finished first with the better tie-break from Hannes Stefansson and Wang Yue after all finished on 7/9.

Official site for the Reykjavic Open

Alongside the open was the Bobby Fischer Memorial. Boris Spassky and William J. Lombardy were special guests, Lajos Portisch and Vlastomil Hort finished with 4/6 in the special 6 round double round robin event (these results were taken from the games).

Official site: http://www.skaksamband.is

XXIII Open Reykjavik (ISL), 3-11 iii 2008 Leading Final Round 9 Standings:
Rk.	Name	Ti	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	Rp
1	Wang Hao	GM	CHN	2665	7,0	40,0	2721
2	Stefansson Hannes	GM	ISL	2564	7,0	38,5	2679
3	Wang Yue	GM	CHN	2698	7,0	38,0	2684
4	Kveinys Aloyzas	GM	LTU	2521	6,5	39,5	2664
5	Caruana Fabiano	GM	ITA	2598	6,5	38,5	2679
6	Meier Georg	GM	GER	2570	6,5	35,0	2583
7	Halkias Stelios	GM	GRE	2580	6,0	39,5	2629
8	Mikhalevski Victor	GM	ISR	2632	6,0	39,0	2603
9	Stefanova Antoaneta	GM	BUL	2464	6,0	37,5	2550
10	Malakhatko Vadim	GM	BEL	2600	6,0	37,0	2601
11	Lie Kjetil A	GM	NOR	2556	6,0	36,0	2568
12	Dizdar Goran	GM	CRO	2564	6,0	36,0	2557
13	Grover Sahaj	FM	IND	2242	6,0	34,0	2478
14	Thorfinnsson Bjorn	FM	ISL	2364	6,0	33,0	2562
15	Danielsen Henrik	GM	ISL	2506	6,0	32,5	2483
16	Thorfinnsson Bragi	IM	ISL	2406	6,0	31,0	2469
17	Carlsson Pontus	GM	SWE	2501	5,5	37,5	2517
18	Gaponenko Inna	IM	UKR	2422	5,5	37,5	2587
19	Al-Modiahki Mohamad	GM	QAT	2569	5,5	35,5	2481
20	Lie Espen	IM	NOR	2428	5,5	34,5	2597
21	Nyzhnyk Illya	FM	UKR	2405	5,5	34,0	2424
22	Gunnarsson Jon Viktor	IM	ISL	2429	5,5	34,0	2499
23	Kristjansson Stefan	IM	ISL	2476	5,5	33,5	2434
24	Tania Sachdev	IM	IND	2417	5,0	36,5	2487
25	Simutowe Amon	IM	ZAM	2457	5,0	36,0	2424
26	Robson Ray	FM	USA	2389	5,0	36,0	2470
27	Hillarp Persson Tiger	GM	SWE	2535	5,0	35,5	2481
28	Paehtz Elisabeth	IM	GER	2420	5,0	35,5	2500
29	Jankovic Alojzije	GM	CRO	2541	5,0	34,5	2416
30	Malisauskas Vidmantas	GM	LTU	2489	5,0	34,0	2397
31	Grandelius Nils	FM	SWE	2371	5,0	33,5	2439
32	Moradiabadi Elshan	GM	IRI	2506	5,0	33,0	2414
33	Hammer Jon Ludvig	IM	NOR	2441	5,0	32,5	2412
34	Arngrimsson Dagur	FM	ISL	2359	5,0	30,0	2312
35	Lagerman Robert	FM	ISL	2348	5,0	30,0	2355
36	Thomassen Joachim	FM	NOR	2308	5,0	29,5	2426
37	Nemcova Katerina	WIM	CZE	2342	5,0	29,5	2325
38	Bergsson Snorri	FM	ISL	2333	5,0	29,5	2388
39	Kjartansson David	FM	ISL	2288	5,0	27,5	2368
91 players

Bobby Fischer Memorial Rapid Reykjavik (ISL) 10-11 iii 2008									cat. IX (2464)
					1		2		3		4
1.	Portisch, Lajos	g	HUN	2530	*	*	½	½	½	1	½	1	4	2566
2.	Hort, Vlastimil	g	GER	2477	½	½	*	*	½	½	1	1	4	2584
3.	Olafsson, Fridrik	g	ISL	2440	½	0	½	½	*	*	½	½	2½	2414
4.	Benko, Pal C	g	USA	2408	½	0	0	0	½	½	*	*	1½	2289

4) World University Chess Championship

The World University Chess Championship took place in Novokuznetsk, Russia 3rd-11th March 2008.

Official site: http://www.wucc2008.org/

10th WCh-University Novokuznetsk (RUS) 3-11 iii 2008
RANK	TEAM	SCORE
1	Russia	4	7	9	13	16.5	18.5	21	24.5	27
2	China	3.5	5	8.5	11.5	14	16.5	17.5	20	22.5	142.5
3	Mongolia	3.5	6	8.5	10.5	12.5	14.5	18	20.5	22.5	134.5
4	Kazakhstan	3	5.5	7	10.5	12	14.5	17	18.5	20.5
5	Iran	3	5.5	8.5	9	11	12.5	15.5	17	19.5
6	Netherlands	2	4.5	5.5	8.5	9.5	11.5	14	14	16
7	Switzerland	1	3.5	5.5	5.5	6.5	8	9	10	11
8	Brazil	1	2	2.5	3	4.5	5	5	7	8
9	Portugal	0	0	1	2	3	3.5	4.5	5.5	7
10	Japan	0	1	2	2	2.5	3.5	4	5	6
11	Republic of South Africa	0	1	1	1.5	2.5	2.5	3	3.5	4	52
12	Uzbekistan	0.5	1.5	1.5	2.5	3	4	4	4	4	34.5

10th WCh-University Men Novokuznetsk (RUS) 3-11 iii 2008
Nr	Pno	Title	Name	Fed	Rating	Score	WPhl	WP	PS	RC	TPR	W-WE
1	1	GM	Bocharov, Dmitry	RUS	2600	7	39.5	51	37.50	2459	2679	0.91
2	3	GM	Lysyj, Igor	RUS	2593	7	38.5	49	34.50	2452	2672	0.91
3	2	GM	Smirnov, Pavel	RUS	2599	6.5	40	50.5	36.00	2464	2630	0.45
4	4	GM	Maletin, Pavel	RUS	2573	6	39.5	50	32.50	2446	2571	0.07
5	5	GM	Zhou, Jianchao	CHN	2551	6	33.5	43.5	27.00	2382	2575	0.44
6	10	IM	Zhumabayev, Rinat	KAZ	2436	5.5	38	46.5	31.00	2441	2521	1.11
7	12	IM	Kuderinov, Kirill	KAZ	2416	5.5	36	46.5	27.00	2430	2571	1.68
8	7	GM	Liang, Chong	CHN	2488	5.5	31.5	41.5	27.50	2395	2438	-0.44
9	18		Battulga, Namhai	MGL	2306	5.5	30.5	40.5	22.50	2342	2422	1.32
10	8	IM	Alavi, Sayed Javad	IRI	2461	5.5	30.5	40	27.00	2373	2453	-0.02
11	14	FM	Moosavian, S.Hamed	IRI	2349	5	34.5	43.5	29.00	2400	2443	1.04
12	9	IM	Mekhitarian, Krikor Sevag	BRA	2456	5	34	44	25.00	2331	2374	-0.93
13	16		Gundavaa, Bayarsaihan	MGL	2320	5	33.5	43.5	28.00	2429	2472	1.6
14	11	FM	Batchuluun, Cegmed	MGL	2432	5	33.5	43.5	26.50	2354	2397	-0.34
15	15	FM	Yurkov, P	KAZ	2332	5	28	36	20.50	2288	2288	-0.47
16	13	IM	Pokazanjev, Nikolai	RUS	2405	4.5	36.5	47	26.00	2399	2399	-0.03
17	24		Bilegt, Batkhorol	MGL	2211	4.5	33.5	43	21.50	2368	2368	1.74
18	23		Noroozi, Omid	IRI	2222	4.5	30.5	39	20.50	2348	2348	1.3
19	26		Otte, Marijn	NED	2192	4.5	29.5	37.5	18.00	2326	2283	0.8
20	29		Viela, Marco	POR	2161	4.5	28	34	16.00	2229	2186	0.21
21	6	IM	Filippov, Anton	UZB	2502	4	34.5	44	25.00	2336	2293	-2.37
22	32		Baimoldinov, Aidar	KAZ	0	4	27.5	35.5	17.50	2319	2269	2269
23	25		Kojima, Shinya	JPN	2205	4	27	34.5	15.00	2249	2162	-0.58
24	20		Van Eijk, Sander	NED	2283	3.5	33.5	42	19.50	2373	2293	-0.03
25	19	FM	Vuilleumier, Alexandre	SUI	2285	3.5	29.5	39	20.00	2330	2189	-1.09
26	31		Akhanov, Dauren	KAZ	2135	3.5	29.5	38	20.00	2328	2241	0.9
27	22	FM	Soozankar, A.M.	IRI	2253	3.5	28	35.5	16.50	2290	2149	-1.16
28	17	FM	Hindermann, Felix	SUI	2307	3.5	28	35	19.00	2332	2102	-1.79
29	21		Van Assendelft, Floris	NED	2282	3.5	27.5	35.5	17.50	2299	2141	-1.39
30	28		Widmer, Simon	SUI	2176	3.5	26.5	33.5	14.50	2285	2144	-0.35
31	33		Mohale, T	RSA	0	3.5	26	33	17.50	2253	2023	2023
32	30		Castro, Francisco	POR	2152	2.5	25	31.5	10.50	2257	1984	-1.16
33	27		Wyss, Jonas	SUI	2181	2	22.5	29.5	10.00	2247	1925	-2.33

10th WCh-University Women Novokuznetsk (RUS) 3-11 iii 2008
Nr	Pno	Title	Name	Fed	Rating	Score	WPhl	WP	PS	RC	TPR	W-WE
1	4	IM	Vasilevich, Irina	RUS	2378	6.5	36	46	32.00	2277	2443	0.81
2	1	WGM	Pogonina, Natalija	RUS	2476	6.5	35	44.5	33.00	2289	2455	-0.11
3	6	WGM	Zhang, Jilin	CHN	2345	6	38	49	34.00	2295	2420	0.94
4	5	WGM	Kovanova, Baira	RUS	2348	6	37	48	30.00	2297	2422	0.92
5	3	WGM	Mongontuul, Bathuyag	MGL	2389	6	35.5	45.5	28.50	2297	2438	0.58
6	10	WIM	Yanjindulam, Dulamsuren	MGL	2256	6	35	45	31.50	2218	2343	1.17
7	15	WFM	Cheremnova, Tamara	RUS	2156	5.5	28.5	38	22.50	2113	2254	1.07
8	2	IM	Wang, Yu A.	CHN	2391	5	39.5	49.5	30.50	2299	2342	-0.53
9	8	WIM	Dauletova, Gulmira	KAZ	2261	5	38	48	25.50	2261	2304	0.53
10	11	WIM	Anhchimeg, Bayanmonh	MGL	2245	5	33	40	25.00	2168	2168	-0.73
11	9	WIM	Bensdorp, Marlies	NED	2259	4.5	41	50.5	28.00	2276	2276	0.28
12	17	WFM	Tashimova, Nadiya	KAZ	2073	4.5	35	43	23.50	2190	2147	0.65
13	12	WGM	Paridar, Shadi	IRI	2225	4.5	30.5	38.5	23.00	2224	2181	-0.49
14	16	WFM	Salman, Mahini Mona	IRI	2085	4.5	30.5	37.5	21.50	2173	2130	0.35
15	18		Dagiisuren, Jargalsaikhan	MGL	2045	4.5	24	30.5	14.50	2085	2085	0.32
16	7	WIM	Seps, Monika	SUI	2264	4	32	40.5	21.00	2176	2089	-1.78
17	20		Tajik, Sareh	IRI	1992	4	31	40	19.00	2128	2085	1.01
18	13	WIM	Kharashuta, Ekaterina	RUS	2222	3.5	31.5	38.5	17.00	2180	2039	-1.89
19	19		Springelkamp, Henriet	NED	1992	3.5	29.5	36	18.00	2194	1964	-0.26
20	21		Hemmatizadeh, N	IRI	1915	3.5	28	34.5	16.50	2100	1870	-0.47
21	14	WFM	Imanbaeva, Aigul	KAZ	2205	3.5	27	33.5	15.50	2135	1905	-2.6
22	22		Coelho, Tatiane Cristina	BRA	1799	3	26	31	13.00	2069	1839	0.23
23	24		Uchida, Narumi	JPN	0	2	26.5	31.5	11.00	2065	1814	1814
24	23		Sebola, Modjadji Sarah	RSA	0	0.5	26	33	1.50	2064	1329	1329

5) First Saturday March

The First Saturday February GM-IM-FM closed tournaments took place in Budapest 1st-14th March 2008. Nguyen Huynh Minh Huy, Thomas Roussel-Roozmon and Zlatko Ilincic all finished with 8/13 in the main GM group.

Official site: http://www.firstsaturday.hu

FSGM March Budapest HUN cat. VIII (2448)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4
1.	Nguyen Huynh Minh Huy	f	VIE	2398	*	½	1	½	½	½	½	1	½	½	½	½	1	½	8	2539
2.	Roussel-Roozmon, Thomas	m	CAN	2442	½	*	½	1	½	½	½	½	½	½	½	½	1	1	8	2535
3.	Ilincic, Zlatko	g	SRB	2561	0	½	*	0	½	1	½	½	½	1	1	1	½	1	8	2526
4.	Szabo, Krisztian1	m	HUN	2500	½	0	1	*	½	½	1	½	½	½	½	½	½	1	7½	2501
5.	Varga, Zoltan	g	HUN	2506	½	½	½	½	*	½	1	½	½	½	½	½	½	1	7½	2500
6.	Garbisu de Goni, Unai	m	ESP	2464	½	½	0	½	½	*	1	1	½	1	½	½	½	½	7½	2504
7.	Bui Vinh	m	VIE	2482	½	½	½	0	0	0	*	1	½	0	1	1	1	1	7	2474
8.	Kosic, Dragan	g	MNE	2511	0	½	½	½	½	0	0	*	½	½	½	1	1	1	6½	2443
9.	Fodor, Tamas jr	f	HUN	2407	½	½	½	½	½	½	½	½	*	0	½	1	0	½	6	2422
10.	Llaneza Vega, Marcos	m	ESP	2445	½	½	0	½	½	0	1	½	1	*	½	0	½	0	5½	2391
11.	Wang Puchen	m	NZL	2383	½	½	0	½	½	½	0	½	½	½	*	1	0	½	5½	2396
12.	Antal, Gergely	m	HUN	2467	½	½	0	½	½	½	0	0	0	1	0	*	1	1	5½	2389
13.	Rajlich, Iweta	m	POL	2437	0	0	½	½	½	½	0	0	1	½	1	0	*	0	4½	2339
14.	Porat, Ido	f	ISR	2272	½	0	0	0	0	½	0	0	½	1	½	0	1	*	4	2320

FSIM March Budapest HUN, 1-14 iii 2008 cat. II (2285)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3
1.	Duong The Anh	f	VIE	2381	*	1	½	½	0	1	1	½	½	1	1	1	1	9	2470
2.	To, Nhat Minh		HUN	2293	0	*	½	½	½	1	½	1	0	½	1	1	1	7½	2379
3.	Szamoskozi, Gabor		HUN	2280	½	½	*	½	½	0	½	½	½	1	1	1	½	7	2342
4.	Werner, Dimo	m	GER	2293	½	½	½	*	½	1	½	½	½	½	0	½	1	6½	2313
5.	Gara, Anita	wg	HUN	2325	1	½	½	½	*	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	1	6½	2310
6.	Balla, Tamas	f	ROU	2341	0	0	1	0	1	*	½	0	1	½	1	½	1	6½	2309
7.	Schmidt, Raul		ROU	2160	0	½	½	½	1	½	*	0	1	1	0	½	½	6	2295
8.	Llaneza Vega, Patricia	wm	ESP	2281	½	0	½	½	0	1	1	*	0	0	1	1	½	6	2285
9.	Lengyel, Bela	m	HUN	2261	½	1	½	½	0	0	0	1	*	½	½	0	1	5½	2258
10.	Szegi, Tomas		SVK	2293	0	½	0	½	1	½	0	1	½	*	1	½	0	5½	2255
11.	Lorand, Norbert		HUN	2259	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	0	½	0	*	½	1	5	2230
12.	Szeberenyi, Adam	m	HUN	2350	0	0	0	½	0	½	½	0	1	½	½	*	½	4	2154
13.	Porat, Maya		ISR	2190	0	0	½	0	0	0	½	½	0	1	0	½	*	3	2100

6) 65th Georgian Women's Championship

The 65th Georgian Women's Championship took place in Tbilisi 28th February - 12th March 2008. Nana Dzagnidze beat Salome Melia in a playoff after they both finished on 9/12. The Rapid games were 25m + 10s a move and the blitz 5m + 10s a move. News: Varlam Vepkhvishvili, games entered by Marika Japaridze my thanks for her help. Sopio Gvetadze withdrew and her games did't count towards the final standings.

65th ch-GEO w Tbilisi GEO 28 ii-12 iii 2008 cat. IV (2328)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3
1.	Dzagnidze, Nana	m	GEO	2429	*	½	½	1	1	1	1	1	1	0	1	0	1	9	2512
2.	Melia, Salome	wg	GEO	2362	½	*	½	1	½	½	½	1	1	1	1	½	1	9	2517
3.	Khukhashvili, Sopiko	m	GEO	2387	½	½	*	1	1	1	½	½	1	½	0	½	½	7½	2417
4.	Khotenashvili, Bela	wg	GEO	2271	0	0	0	*	½	½	1	0	1	½	1	1	1	6½	2361
5.	Charkhalashvili, Inga	wg	GEO	2369	0	½	0	½	*	½	1	½	½	1	0	1	½	6	2324
6.	Lomineishvili, Maia	m	GEO	2410	0	½	0	½	½	*	0	1	0	½	1	1	1	6	2320
7.	Tsatsalashvili, Keti	wf	GEO	2214	0	½	½	0	0	1	*	½	½	1	½	½	½	5½	2308
8.	Guramishvili, Sopiko	wm	GEO	2300	0	0	½	1	½	0	½	*	1	0	1	½	½	5½	2300
9.	Tereladze, Sopiko	wm	GEO	2195	0	0	0	0	½	1	½	0	*	1	½	1	1	5½	2309
10.	Khurtsidze, Nino	m	GEO	2441	1	0	½	½	0	½	0	1	0	*	0	1	½	5	2261
11.	Khurtsilava, Inga	wm	GEO	2312	0	0	1	0	1	0	½	0	½	1	*	½	½	5	2271
12.	Nikoladze, Sopio	wm	GEO	2251	1	½	½	0	0	0	½	½	0	0	½	*	1	4½	2246
13.	Batsiashvili, Nino	wm	GEO	2317	0	0	½	0	½	0	½	½	0	½	½	0	*	3	2135

7) Ataturk International Women Masters

The Ataturk International Women Masters takes place 10th-20th March 2008.

Official site: http://awm2008.tsf.org.tr/

Isbank Ataturk Women's Masters Istanbul TUR (TUR), 11-20 iii 2008												cat. IX (2461)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Cramling, Pia	g	SWE	2524	*	½	1	½	1	½	.	1	1	.	5½	2677
2.	Hou Yifan	wg	CHN	2527	½	*	.	½	½	1	.	1	1	1	5½	2688
3.	Atalik, Ekaterina	m	TUR	2408	0	.	*	.	1	½	½	1	1	1	5	2609
4.	Zhao Xue	wg	CHN	2517	½	½	.	*	½	.	0	1	0	1	3½	2459
5.	Harika, Dronavalli	m	IND	2455	0	½	0	½	*	.	1	½	.	1	3½	2448
6.	Krush, Irina	m	USA	2473	½	0	½	.	.	*	½	0	1	½	3	2402
7.	Javakhishvili, Lela	m	GEO	2470	.	.	½	1	0	½	*	0	½	½	3	2391
8.	Yildiz, Betul Cemre	wm	TUR	2207	0	0	0	0	½	1	1	*	.	.	2½	2380
9.	Zhu Chen	g	QAT	2548	0	0	0	1	.	0	½	.	*	½	2	2328
10.	Ushenina, Anna	m	UKR	2484	.	0	0	0	0	½	½	.	½	*	1½	2255

8) Ukrainian u20 Championships

The Ukrainian under-20 Championships for boys and girls took place in Odessa 5th-15th March 2008.

Official site: http://www.ukrchess.org.ua/turnir/t149.htm

ch-UKR Boys u20 Odessa UKR (UKR), 5-15 iii 2008													cat. V (2355)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2
1.	Kravtsiv, Martyn	m	UKR	2516	*	1	0	½	1	1	1	1	½	0	1	1	8	2515
2.	Ipatov, Alexander		UKR	2323	0	*	½	1	1	½	½	1	1	1	½	1	8	2533
3.	Tukhaev, Adam	g	UKR	2524	1	½	*	0	0	1	½	1	1	1	1	1	8	2515
4.	Kononenko, Dmitry1	g	UKR	2484	½	0	1	*	1	0	1	½	1	1	1	½	7½	2476
5.	Borsuk, Konstantin		UKR	2297	0	0	1	0	*	½	½	1	1	1	½	1	6½	2425
6.	Bogdanovich, Stanislav		UKR	2286	0	½	0	1	½	*	1	½	½	0	½	0	4½	2296
7.	Kovalenko, Igor		UKR	2450	0	½	½	0	½	0	*	½	0	1	½	1	4½	2281
8.	Grinev, Valeriy		UKR	2266	0	0	0	½	0	½	½	*	1	½	½	1	4½	2298
9.	Bagrationi, Alexander		UKR	2178	½	0	0	0	0	½	1	0	*	1	½	½	4	2269
10.	Polyakov, Maxim		UKR	2305	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	½	0	*	½	½	3½	2227
11.	Tishin, D	m	UKR	2260	0	½	0	0	½	½	½	½	½	½	*	0	3½	2231
12.	Grekh, Andrey	f	UKR	2376	0	0	0	½	0	1	0	0	½	½	1	*	3½	2220

ch-UKR Girls u20 Odessa UKR (UKR), 5-15 iii 2008
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2
1.	Muzychuk, Mariya	wg	UKR	2357	*	½	½	1	1	1	1	½	1	1	1	1	9½	2427
2.	Dolzhikova, Kateryna	wm	UKR	2308	½	*	½	1	1	1	½	1	1	½	1	1	9	2385
3.	Huda, Maryana	wg	UKR	2278	½	½	*	0	1	1	1	1	1	½	1	1	8½	2336
4.	Andrenko, Irina		UKR	2216	0	0	1	*	0	1	½	½	1	½	1	1	6½	2196
5.	Maiko, Alina		UKR	2053	0	0	0	1	*	½	½	1	0	1	1	1	6	2182
6.	Chulivska, Vita	wm	UKR	2291	0	0	0	0	½	*	1	1	1	1	0	1	5½	2124
7.	Zingaylo, Anastasiya		UKR	2090	0	½	0	½	½	0	*	1	0	½	1	½	4½	2077
8.	Tsirulnik, Maritsa		UKR	2060	½	0	0	½	0	0	0	*	1	1	1	½	4½	2080
9.	Kalinina, Marianna		UKR	1717	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	*	1	1	½	4½	2111
10.	Stasenko, Julia		UKR	1961	0	½	½	½	0	0	½	0	0	*	½	0	2½	1943
11.	Kalinina, Olga		UKR	2231	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	½	*	1	2½	1919
12.	Orlyanskaya, Darya	wf	UKR	2100	0	0	0	0	0	0	½	½	½	1	0	*	2½	1931

9) Russian u20 Championships

The Russian under-20 Championships for boys and girls takes place in St-Petersburg 8th-18th March 2008. News Boris Yeshan.

The winners qualify to participate in the World Championships under 20.

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

ch-RUS Boys u20 St Petersburg (RUS), 8-18 iii 2008 cat. X (2500)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2
1.	Chadaev, Nikolai	m	RUS	2471	*	.	1	.	½	½	1	1	1	½	½	1	7	2730
2.	Sjugirov, Sanan	m	RUS	2491	.	*	½	½	1	1	1	½	0	1	1	.	6½	2674
3.	Ponkratov, Pavel	m	RUS	2489	0	½	*	1	.	1	1	½	.	1	1	½	6½	2655
4.	Lintchevski, Daniil	m	RUS	2440	.	½	0	*	½	½	1	½	½	.	1	1	5½	2589
5.	Andreikin, Dmitry	g	RUS	2573	½	0	.	½	*	1	½	.	½	½	½	1	5	2538
6.	Romanov, Evgeny	g	RUS	2543	½	0	0	½	0	*	½	1	.	.	1	1	4½	2492
7.	Shimanov, Aleksandr	m	RUS	2441	0	0	0	0	½	½	*	1	1	1	.	.	4	2457
8.	Papin, Vasily	m	RUS	2475	0	½	½	½	.	0	0	*	½	1	.	1	4	2440
9.	Rakhmanov, Aleksandr	g	RUS	2524	0	1	.	½	½	.	0	½	*	0	0	1	3½	2413
10.	Nechepurenko, Roman V	f	RUS	2495	½	0	0	.	½	.	0	0	1	*	½	1	3½	2421
11.	Popov, Ivan RUS	g	RUS	2595	½	0	0	0	½	0	.	.	1	½	*	½	3	2373
12.	Lovkov, Roman	f	RUS	2457	0	.	½	0	0	0	.	0	0	0	½	*	1	2160

ch-RUS Girls u20 St Petersburg RUS (RUS), 8-18 iii 2008 cat. I (2275)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2
1.	Bodnaruk, Anastasia	wf	RUS	2317	*	1	.	½	1	0	1	1	0	1	.	1	6½	2439
2.	Charochkina, Daria	wm	RUS	2383	0	*	.	1	1	1	0	.	1	½	1	1	6½	2429
3.	Gunina, Valentina	wf	RUS	2295	.	.	*	0	0	0	1	1	1	1	1	1	6	2381
4.	Girya, Olga	wf	RUS	2342	½	0	1	*	½	.	0	1	.	½	1	1	5½	2341
5.	Savina, Anastasia		RUS	2202	0	0	1	½	*	½	1	½	.	.	1	1	5½	2367
6.	Vasilkova, Svetlana	wm	RUS	2359	1	0	1	.	½	*	1	0	½	0	½	.	4½	2265
7.	Severiukhina, Zoja	wf	RUS	2199	0	1	0	1	0	0	*	.	½	1	1	.	4½	2293
8.	Ivakhinova, Inna	wm	RUS	2250	0	.	0	0	½	1	.	*	1	½	1	0	4	2231
9.	Shlakich, Anna		RUS	2244	1	0	0	.	.	½	½	0	*	1	0	½	3½	2199
10.	Tarasova, Viktoriya	wm	RUS	2267	0	½	0	½	.	1	0	½	0	*	.	1	3½	2209
11.	Ambartsumova, Karina	wf	RUS	2228	.	0	0	0	0	½	0	0	1	.	*	1	2½	2110
12.	Meleshko, Anna	wm	RUS	2215	0	0	0	0	0	.	.	1	½	0	0	*	1½	2007

10) Blackpool Chess Congress

The Blackpool Chess Congress took place 7th-9th March 2008. Alexandre Dgebuadze won the event with 4.5/5. Extra final round games now available. My thanks to Dave Clayton.

Official site: http://www.blackpoolchess.org.uk/

Reports: http://www.bcfservices.org.uk/livechess/blackpool/2008/index.htm

Open Blackpool (ENG), 7-9 iii 2008 Leading Final Round 5 Standings:
1	Dgebuadze, Alexandre	g	BEL	2512	4½
2	Rausis, Igor	g	CZE	2520	4
3	Radovanovic, Jovica	f	SRB	2340	4
4	Eggleston, David J	f	ENG	2346	4
5	Davies, Nigel R	g	ENG	2480	4
6	Mason, Donald J		ENG	2246	3½
7	Wolstencroft, Darryl		ENG	2173	3½
8	Kilpatrick, Callum		ENG	2201	3½
9	Lund, D Brett		ENG	2269	3½
10	Salem, Ihab		PLE	2189	3½
11	Pedersen, Nicolai Vesterb	m	DEN	2425	3½
12	Poobalasingam, Peter S		ENG	2165	3
62 players

11) Belgian Interteams

The Belgian Interteams took place 30th September 2007 - 6th March 2008.

Leaders Bredene beat second placed CREC Charleroi in the last round to secure the title. In the relegation zone Eynatten 2 and Boey Temse were already relegated. My thanks to Valery Maes throughout the season. All games except Temse - Namur are available.

Websites with further information: http://users.pandora.be/vmaes/interclub/ and also the http://www.frbe-kbsb.be/Interclubsnationaux.php

Belgian Interteams Round 11 Results
KSK47-Eynatten 1	KGSRL 1	20 - 12
KSK47-Eynatten 2	CRELEL 1	22 - 10
Bredene 1	CREC 1	20 - 12
Borgerhout 1	SK Rochade 1	13 - 19
Boey Temse 1	Namur 1	12 - 20
Brussels 1	KBSK 1	19 - 13

Belgian Interteams Final Round 11 Standings
Pl	Team	BP	MP
1	Bredene 1	209	9.5
2	SK Rochade	197	9.5
3	CREC 1	196	8.5
4	KSK47-Eynatten 1	184	6.5
5	KGSRL 1	176	6
6	CRELEL 1	173	4.5
7	KBSK 1	172	5.5
8	Brussels 1	168	4
9	Namur 1	164	5
10	Borgerhout 1	162	4.5
11	KSK47-Eynatten 2	158	2
12	Boey Temse 1	145	0.5

12) Dutch Team Championship

The Dutch Team Championships take place 15th September 2007 - 17th May 2008. Round 8 is on 29th April 2008.

Results: Schrijvers Rotterdam - HMC Calder 7-3; ESGOO - HWP Sas van Gent 5-5; LSG - Homburg Apeldoorn 4-6; HSG - Utrecht 7.5-2.5; LSG 2 - Hotels.nl 3.5-6.5.

Details available from http://www.schakers.info/.

Links: Dutch Chess Federation: http://www.schaakbond.nl/- Meesterklasse Games side bar at: http://www.schakers.info/ and also photo coverage at: http://www.chessvista.com/

Dutch Team Championships Round 7 Standings
Pl	Team	Mp	Bp
1	HSG	14	51
2	Hotels.nl	11	40
3	Schrijvers Rotterdam	10	40
4	HMC Calder	8	35
5	ESGOO	7	34½
6	Homburg Apeldoorn	6	38
7	Utrecht	6	32½
8	LSG 1	5	34
9	HWP Sas van Gent	3	28½
10	LSG 2	0	16½

13) Finnish Team Championships

The final two rounds of the Finnish Team Championship took place 8th-9th March 2008. After four consecutive silver medals Matinkylä finally managed to get its first Championship since 1993. Defending Champion OpusCapita got silver and HSK Helsinki with topboard GM Dr R.Huebner was third. FM P.Kekki made his final IM-norm. News:Henri Koskinen.

Games, individual results etc. can be found on the website: http://www.shakki.net/pelaaminen/turnaukset/liiga.html. Games are in the magazine this week.

Finnish Team Championships Final Standings
1	MatSK, Espoo	16	23
2	OpusCapita, Tampere	14	16
3	HSK, Helsinki	11	8
4	JoeSK, Joensuu	10	4
5	Velhot, Helsinki	9	-4
6	EtVaS, Vantaa	8	1
7	Aatos, Helsinki	8	-7
8	JyS, Jyväskylä	6	-12
9	SalSK, Salo	4	-9
10	TuTS, Turku	4	-20

14) Lendas do Xadrez tournament

The Lendas do Xadrez (Legends of Chess) tournament took place February 29th - March 9th 2008 and was organised by the chess club ALEX (Associación Leopoldinense de Xadrez), in the city of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), their first international round robin tournament. Diego Di Berardino won with 8/9 two points clear of the field. The gap would have been only one point but Teixeira-Mascarenhas (6) was awarded as a win to black on appeal in a losing position, there is no explanation on the website as far as I can see but they give a table with the arbiters decision ignored as well as with the appeal result. I give just the one with the appeal decision.

Official site: http://www.lendasdoxadrez.kit.net/

Lendas do Xadrez Rio de Janeiro (BRA), 29 ii-9 iii 2008
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Di Berardino, Diego Rafael	m	BRA	2430	*	½	1	1	1	1	1	½	1	1	8	2605
2.	Teixeira, Ricardo da Silva	f	BRA	2394	½	*	½	½	½	0	1	1	1	1	6	2383
3.	Perdomo, Leandro	m	ARG	2354	0	½	*	0	1	1	1	½	1	1	6	2387
4.	Cramling, Dan	m	SWE	2425	0	½	1	*	0	1	1	1	0	1	5½	2334
5.	Fontes, Carlos Henrique Batista		BRA	2232	0	½	0	1	*	½	0	½	1	0	3½	2196
6.	Mascarenhas, Alberto Pinheiro	f	BRA	2263	0	1	0	0	½	*	½	½	½	½	3½	2192
7.	Bottari, Raimondo		ITA	2178	0	0	0	0	1	½	*	½	½	1	3½	2202
8.	Ferreira, Kleber Victor		BRA	2105	½	0	½	0	½	½	½	*	½	0	3	2165
9.	Maia, Jose Eduardo Bastos O		BRA	2149	0	0	0	1	0	½	½	½	*	½	3	2160
10.	Chauca, Jose		PER	2186	0	0	0	0	1	½	0	1	½	*	3	2156

15) 40th Belgrade Women's International

The 40th Belgrade Women's International took place 3rd-11th. March 2008. Natasa Bojkovic completely outclassed the field finishing with 8/9 a full two and a half points clear of the field.

Official site: http://www.beochess.org.yu

40th WGM Belgrade (SCG), 3-11 iii 2008 cat. IV (2339)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Bojkovic, Natasa	m	SRB	2408	*	½	½	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	8	2682
2.	Petrenko, Svetlana	m	MDA	2282	½	*	½	½	½	1	0	½	1	1	5½	2425
3.	Matveeva, Svetlana	m	RUS	2433	½	½	*	½	½	0	1	1	½	1	5½	2408
4.	Houska, Jovanka	m	ENG	2393	0	½	½	*	½	½	1	1	½	1	5½	2412
5.	Rakic, Marija		SRB	2218	0	½	½	½	*	½	½	½	½	1	4½	2352
6.	Benderac, Ana	wg	SRB	2324	0	0	1	½	½	*	½	½	½	½	4	2297
7.	Makropoulou, Marina	wg	GRE	2250	0	1	0	0	½	½	*	½	½	½	3½	2268
8.	Foisor, Cristina Adela	m	ROU	2412	0	½	0	0	½	½	½	*	1	½	3½	2250
9.	Stojanovic, Andjelija	wg	SRB	2310	0	0	½	½	½	½	½	0	*	1	3½	2261
10.	Chelushkina, Irina	wg	SRB	2357	0	0	0	0	0	½	½	½	0	*	1½	2063

16) Bobby Fischer Memorial

The Bobby Fischer Memorial takes place in Villa Martelli Buenos Aires, Argentina, 11th-19th March 2008. Players: GM Oscar Panno, GM Andrés Rodríguez, GM Sergio Slipak, MI Diego Flores, MI Diego Valerga, MI Mauricio Flores Rios, MI Krikor Mekhitarian, MI Luis Coelho, Raul Claverie, etc.

Official site: http://ajedrezmartelli.org.ar/

Bobby Fischer mem Villa Martelli ARG (ARG), 11-19 iii 2008												cat. IX (2457)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Flores Rios, Mauricio	f	CHI	2391	*	½	.	1	.	1	.	½	1	1	5	2757
2.	Valerga, Diego	m	ARG	2478	½	*	½	½	.	.	1	1	.	½	4	2563
3.	Panno, Oscar	g	ARG	2429	.	½	*	½	1	½	.	½	½	.	3½	2551
4.	Lemos, Damian

THE WEEK IN CHESS 697 17th March 2008 by Mark Crowther

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