THE WEEK IN CHESS 700 7th April 2008 by Mark Crowther

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1) Introduction

My thanks to Frank Berry, Luis Blasco de la Cruz, Bela Lengyel, Ian Rogers, Jonathan Berry, Peter Svidler, Luiz Roberto Da Costa Jr, Laszlo Nagy, Miklos Orso, Dimitris Skyrianoglou, Marius Fraenzel, Philip Feeley, Michael Rahal, Sinisa Joksic, Lennarth Eriksson, John D. Thornton, Anders Hansen, Frits Agterdenbos, Viktor Novotný, Dragan Babic and everyone else who helped with the issue.

Another milestone in 700 issues up. I never know what to really feel as these issues really just come along. I suppose in another year the 750 will probably feel like a bigger milestone but its nice to be still here and have readers. There is plenty of good chess, especially from Russia with their very strong team event with many of the world's best players, but there is other interesting material, the Dutch Championships, the Ruy Lopez tournament in Spain, a Kramnik clock simul and even a new game from Kasparov. Just another week, but for all that not a bad one.

Hope you enjoy this issue.

Mark

2) Russian Team Championships

The Russian Team Championship takes place in Dagomys, Sochi 1st-14th April 2008. A very strong field competes.

Official site: http://www.russiachess.org/. Additional coverage: http://www.chessdom.com/

3) II Ruy Lopez International Chess Festival

The II Ruy López International Chess Festival takes place in Mérida, Spain (not Mexico!) 4th-13th April 2008. The main event is a category XV all-play-all.

Official web page http://ruylopez.juntaextremadura.net/modules/news/

4) Dutch Championships

The Dutch Championship takes place takes place 2nd - 13th April 2008 in a television studio (Studio 2) in Hilversum Media Park. First prize is EUR 10.000. It is a 12 player Round Robin with 2007 champion Sergei Tiviakov (GM 2634), Daniël Stellwagen (GM 2621), Erwin L’Ami (GM 2600), Jan Smeets (GM 2578), Sipke Ernst (GM 2559), Friso Nijboer (GM 2558), Dimitri Reinderman (GM 2526), Ruud Janssen (IM 2504), Yge Visser (GM 2477), Jan-Willem De Jong (IM 2474), Manuel Bosboom (IM 2471) and Daan Brandenburg (IM 2435).

http://www.schaakbond.nl/nk2008/ and photos and reports at: http://www.chessvista.com/

5) 10th Dubai Open

The Dubai Open takes place 5th-15th April 2008 at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Coverage should appear at: http://www.arabfide.com/

6) Serbian Women's Championships

The Women's Serbian Championships takes place in Kac 15th-28th March 2008.

Official site: http://www.serbiachess.net/

7) 3rd Kolkata Open

The 3rd Kolkata Open Grandmaster Chess Tournament took place 24th March - 2nd April 2008. Viktor Laznicka won on tie-break from Krishnan Sasikiran after both scored 8.5/10.

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

8) Turkish Championship

The Turkish Championship took place 23rd March - 4th April 2008. Mikhail Gurevich won the event 11.5/13 half a point clear of Suat Atalik.

Official site: http://www.tsf.org.tr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1547&Itemid=98

9) Belgrade Spring Open

The Belgrade Spring Open took place 25th March - 2nd April 2008 in Belgrade. Sasa Jovanovic won on tie-break from Nenad Ravic after both finished on 7.5/9.

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

10) 20th Lenk International Chess Festival

The great jubilee, 20th Lenk International Chess Festival part of the "Swiss Chess Tour 2008" continued in Lenk March 20th-24th 2008. Florian Jenni took clear first with 6.5/7.

Sinisa Joksic reports: Lenk International Chess Festival The "Swiss Chess Tour 2008" took place in Lenk with the 20th "Kreuz-Open" March 20th-24th 2008. 7 rounds (40 moves for 2 hours and 30 minutes till the end). Florian Jenni won jubilee, the 20th Lenk Open convincingly. Jenni won first 6 games and drew only in the last round with Stojanovic. Probably he wanted to celebrate tranquil his 28th birthday. Surprise was second placing junior Marco Lehmann (17). Last three money prizes took Serbian, IM Benkovic, GM Stojanovic and GM Pavlovic. Special prizes (200, 150, 100 CHF): Lady WGM Sedina (ITA), Sabrina Roelli (SUI), De Seroux (SUI); senior Maurer (SUI),Lavanchy (SUI), Moise Del Val (SUI); junior (1988-91) Marco Lehmann (SUI), Lukas Muheim (SUI), Andreas Lehmann (SUI); schoolboys (1992) Kambez Nuri (SUI), Sebastian Muheim (SUI), Gaehwiler (SUI); amateurs (under 2000) Frey (SUI), Nico Georgiadis (SUI), Kaspar Stucki (SUI). Gold serial (more then 10 times, 300, 200, 150 CHF) Curien (SUI), FM Mueller (NAM), FM Kolly (SUI); Silver serial (6-9 times 200, 150, 100 CHF) GM Jenni (SUI), Marco Lehmann (SUI), Broennimann (SUI). The event took place in Hotel "Kreuz", with 82 players competed. Tournament director and the main organizer was Robert Spoerri. Arbiter, your reporter, Sinisa Joksic. "It was easy to be arbiter on tournament with so many gentlemen." Young but famous pianist, Jean-Jacques Schmid, from Bern, also chessplayer, gave a wonderful concert for chess colleagues, playing Mozart and Chopen. The 21st Lenk Open will take place April 9th-13th, 2009.

Official site: http://www.beochess.ch for more details.

11) Cinco Soles Pinamar

The Magistral Internacional Cinco Soles Pinamar Apart Hotel Cinco Soles, Pinamar, took place 25th March - 2nd April 2008. Max Cornejo edged out Luis Rodi after both finished on 6.5/9.

Official site: http://www.utopiasdepinamar.com.ar/5soles08.htm

12) Frank K Berry US Championship Qualifier

Seven GMs led the very strong field of 104 players (included 60+ USCF masters) through seven rounds of intense competition for seven qualification slots in the upcoming Frank K. Berry U.S. Championship. Winning qualifier spots were GM Jesse Kraai, GM Alex Yermolinsky, GM John Fedorowicz, and IM Dean Ippolito (all with 5½/7, tying with GM Julio Becerra for first), plus IM David Pruess, 17-year-old FM Daniel Ludwig, and surprising 16-year-old National Master Sam Shankland (5/7). The latter three beat out “local” favorites IM Michael Brooks (MO), IM Joe Bradford (TX), and FM Todd Andrews (TN) who also scored 5/7 but lost out on tiebreak points. WFM Iryna Zenyuk of NYC won the spot in the FKB U.S. Women’s Championship.

It was also confirmed at this tournament that five other players would be seeded into the U.S. Championship based on rating: GM Julio Becerra, GM Alexander Ivanov, GM Eugene Perelshteyn, GM Sergey Kudrin, and IM Ben Finegold. All five of them played in this Qualifier Open because at the time of the entry deadline they were unsure whether they would be seeded automatically.

The FKB USA Championship Qualifier Open was one of strongest open tournaments ever held in the Southwest and was enthusiastically approved by the players. Many masters remarked that they appreciated the opportunity this kind of event offered them for both great competition and the realistic chance to win a spot in the upcoming prestigious championship scheduled for this May 13 – 23 in Tulsa. Most players enjoyed the G-90 + 30 sec increment time control. Of course most players were from the USA but other players had FIDE federations of UKR, LTU, MGL and CAN.

Young phenoms FM Ray Robson (2433) and FM Daniel Naroditsky (2242) had solid performances but finished just out of the top tier with 4½/7. Robson was stopped by veteran fide master John Bick of Louisiana in round 5, and Naroditsky could “only” get draws against IM Brooks and IM Blas Lugo in the final two rounds.

Larry Cohen of Chicago won the U-2200 prize and Jaime Fernandez of Wichita won the U-2000 prize. Assistant Organizer was Tom Braunlich and Assistant Arbiters were Steve Wharry and IO Jon Haskel. My thanks to IA/IO Frank Berry for this report.

Website: http://okchess.org/

Games will follow next week as I ran out of time to process them this week.

13) Welsh Championships

The Welsh Championship was a 7-round FIDE rated event held over the Easter weekend closed to Welsh qualified players. It was won jointly by IM Leighton Williams and FM James Cobb on 6/7 with Tim Kett in 3rd place on 5.5/7. I give the games and table again as I didn't identify Richard S Jones correctly. News: John D. Thornton.

Official site: http://www.welshchessunion.co.uk/

14) IX Internet Chess Tournament Ciudad de Dos Hermanas

Jorge Sammour-Hasbun wins for the second time in a row

(Internet Chess Club (ICC), March 28th-April 5th 2008)

IM Michael Rahal (EDAMI, Barcelona)

For the second time in a row, ex-prodigy Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (aka NECF-InSchools on ICC) has won clearly the 9th Dos Hermanas Internet Chess Tournament 2008, which has been played on the ICC Internet Chess Club (http://www.chessclub.com). A total of 2167 players have participated with 5455 in the 12 qualifiers.

The KO final stage, with the 32 qualifiers, was specially exciting this year, as more than half the players were seasoned GM's, with special attention going to Blitz American Hikaru Nakamura (2670), one of the fastest players on the planet.

In the end, with a spectacular result of 15/17 points), Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (2460), an ex-prodigy kid, with 28 years old, from Massachusetts (USA) was the only untitled player of the 8 finalists. He had to defeat consecutively IM Anton Kovalyov (2.5-0.5), GM Timur Gareev (3-0), favourite GM Baadur Jobava (3-0), in semifinals GM Dmitry Kononenko (2.5-0.5) and in the final he defeated his friend GM Ronen Har-Zvi, 4-1, thus keeping the title that he won in 2007, and winning the 2.000 euros first prize. Har-Zvi finished second, earning a 1.300 euros prize, while Kononenko and GM Zaven Andriasian (eliminated by Har-Zvi in the other semi-final) shared 3rd/4th winning 700 euros each.

After the final finished, Har-Zvi congratulated his opponent and interviewed him during 30 minutes in the following video http://webcast.chessclub.com/DosHermanas/2008/DosHermanas.html in which both players discuss the Dos Hermanas tournament and analyze some of the most interesting games of the final.

Jorge (Zamora) Sammour-Hasbun was a chess child prodigy. He won the Under 10 World Championship in 1988, the same year and at the same venue that one Alexei Shirov became Under 16 World Champion, and he also became under 12 world champion a couple of years later. Jorge’s family emigrated from Palestine to America and there, at the age of 15 he already had a USCF rating of 2500 and an over-the-board defeated of Gata Kamsky.

Alongside the prizes for the main winners, this year the tournament direction established several other cash prizes for amateurs for rating sections, bad on accumulate scores. The most important are:

a) Best ICC Amateur member from all over the world (<1800 ICC blitz rating).

1. (250 EUR) OxidisedLizard // William Taylor (GBR)
2. (150 EUR) Intelectual // Giovanni Gonzales (COL)

b) Best ICC FIDE Rated members (No FIDE title) from all over the world

1. (250 EUR) Baltimora // Mike Gough (GBR)
2. (150 EUR) fito // Juan Pablo Demaria (ARG)

c1) - Special prize to the best ICC Spanish amateur member (<1800 ICC Blitz rating): two nights full accommodation to come to Dos Hermanas (Spain) from April 17th to 21st to see the Top 4-player event with tour of the best players in the world, plus 250 euros cash for travel.

WINNER: metaxas // Gustavo Gaviria (ESP)

c2) - Best "Peón de Rey" magazine Spanish amateur subscriber (<1800 ICC Blitz rating): two nights full accommodation to come to Dos Hermanas (Spain) from April 17th to 21st to see the Top 4-player event with tour of the best players in the world, plus 250 euros cash for travel.

WINNER: "MrCamel" // Manuel Iglesias Novo (ESP)

Dos Hermanas is a Spanish City 15 km south if Seville, with nearly 115.000 residents. Chess has always been an important sport there, and they have organized many important tournaments, with the best players in the world. A new edition of this event, this year with rapid games, will be held from the 18th to the 21st of April, with the participation of Topalov, Shirov, Polgar and Paco Vallejo.

The complete classifications, games in PGN format, and other interesting information can be found at the official Dos Hermanas website. http://www.doshermanas.net

15) First Saturday April

The First Saturday tournaments takes place 5th-17th April 2008

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

16) Krush - Mkrtchian

The 1st North American Match Challenge took place between Irina Krush (USA) and Lilit Mkrtchian (ARM) March 31st - April 3rd, 2008. Irina Krush won 2.5-1.5.

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

17) Kramnik DGT Chess Exhibition

Vladimir Kramnik won a clock simul at DGT, Enschede on Wednesday April 2nd 2008. Kramnik beats Marie Sebag from France and Jan Werle from The Netherlands. Time control 90mins + 30 seconds a move.

Official site: http://dgtprojects.nl/april2008/uk/index.html

18) Kasparov exhibitions in Pasching and Hluboka

Garry Kasparov took part in two major chess exhibitions in Austria and the Czech Republic.

First of all Kasparov was in Pasching Austria for the "Days of Chess" 28th-29th March 2008. He was there with the chess playing boxing brothers Vitali and Vladimir Klitschko and Judit Polgar who also gave a simul. Kasparov played against Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer and then played a 32 board simul, as did Judit Polgar.

Kasparov moved on to a chess exhibition in Hluboka, Czech Republic on 30th March 2008. He played a single game against Martin Vaculík which was recorded and then a simul against 26 opponents, all of which he won.

It does seem a shame to me that all the games were not recorded in this day and age for the historical record. One of my first chess books was the "Unknown Capablanca" which had a lot of his simul games and I'm sure someone in the future is going to wonder where the games are.. As it is there is just the game against Martin Vaculík and a couple of fragments at: http://www.chess.cz/

A nice photo report of the Austrian Pasching event is available at: http://www.chessbase.de/nachrichten.asp?newsid=7601. Maybe something more will appear at: http://www.chess.at/

Full reports on all at http://www.nss.cz>www.nss.cz

19) Doeberl Cup and Sydney International

More games from both the Doeberl Cup and the Sydney International. My thanks to Ian Rogers for his help.

Doeberl Cup

The Doeberl Cup Premier took place March 20th-24th 2008, Varuzhan Akobian won with 7.5/9. Games from the first four rounds only are currently available.

Official site: http://www.doeberlcup.com.au/

Sydney International Open

The 2008 Sydney International Open took place at Parramatta Town Hall 25th-29th March 2008. Surya Shekhar Ganguly, Zhang Zhong, Gawain Jones and Zhao Zong-Yuan all finished on 7/9.

Official site: http://www.chessaustralia.com.au/

20) Stockholm Ladies Open

The Stockholm Ladies Open tournament took place 20th-25th March 2008. The prize money was over 100 000 Skr. Anna Muzychuk took first place on tie-break from Sopiko Khukhashvili and Elina Danielian after all finished on 7/9. More games available.

Official site: http://www.scandinavian-chess.se/

21) Jacob Aagaard at the London Chess Centre 15th April 2008

The London Chess Centre are pleased to announce that GM Jacob Aagaard, the 2007 British Chess Champion and acclaimed author will be signing copies of his latest book, The Attacking Manual 1. This is a fantasic opportunity for you to meet one of the foremost writers of his generation in what should be a lively and entertaining evening. His previous works include the award-winning Excelling at Chess series, Practical Chess Defence, Experts Vs the Sicilian and five DVDs in the Fritz Media series.

Timetable of Events (to be held at Chess & Bridge, 369 Euston Road, London, NW1 3AR)

Tuesday 15th April 2008

4pm - 5.45pm - Book signing and photo opportunities. FREE ENTRY

6.15pm - 7.30pm - Lecture based on Jacob’s best-ever game of chess. (REQUIRES TICKET!)

7.30pm - 8pm (approx) - Your chance to quiz the champion on all things chess. (REQUIRES TICKET!)

Tickets for this event cost £5 - however Jacob’s books will be on sale at a £5 discount on the night, effectively making the lecture free to all those who buy a copy of one of his books.

Full details and tickets

22) Forthcoming Events and Links

6th Solingen Chess Weeks

The 6th Solingen Chess Weeks will be held at Solingen (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany) between May, 9th and May, 17th 2008.

The main events of the chess festival are the two opens between June, 9th and 12th, both 7 rounds swiss, 2h/40+30 min/all.

The A-open is an Elo tournament open for all players; the top prizes are 800/500/300 euros. IM and GM are free of entry fee.

The B-open is for players rated below 1900 DWZ (nat