THE WEEK IN CHESS 719 18th August 2008 by Mark Crowther

1) Introduction

My thanks to Bela Lengyel, Steve Giddins, Herman Van de Wynkele, Dennis Monokroussos, Luis Scalise, Luiz Roberto Da Costa Jr, Miklos Orso, Spiros Ilandzis, Chris Bird, George Mirijanian, Boris Zlender, Gerard Demuydt, Lubomir Ftacnik, John Henderson, Patricia Claros Aguilar, Haroon Or Rashid, Imre Fancsy and everyone else who helped with the issue.

After some months of uncertain results Levon Aronian played himself into form just in time for the Grand Slam in Bilbao. He took clear first place in Sochi with 8½/13 half a point clear of Teimour Radjabov. Wang Yue finished in joint 3rd with Gata Kamsky and played some impressive chess along the way. The elite chess continues with the start of the Tal Memorial with Vladimir Kramnik hoping to find some form for his world title challenge against Viswanathan Anand in October. Kramnik got off to a good start by beating Alexei Shirov.

Hope you enjoy this issue.

Mark

2) 2nd FIDE Grand Prix Event Sochi

The 2nd FIDE Grand Prix Tournament took place in Sochi 31st July - 14th August 2008. Levon Aronian took clear first place with 8.5/13 half a point clear of Teimour Radjabov.

Official site: http://sochi2008.fide.com/. The official videos will be compiled by http://www.europe-echecs.com/ and on the spot reports from http://www.chessvibes.com/

2nd FIDE GP Sochi (RUS), 31 vii-14 viii 2008														cat. XIX (2708)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4
1.	Aronian, Levon	g	ARM	2737	*	½	½	½	½	½	½	0	½	1	1	1	1	1	8½	2816
2.	Radjabov, Teimour	g	AZE	2744	½	*	0	½	0	½	1	½	½	½	1	1	1	1	8	2792
3.	Wang Yue	g	CHN	2704	½	1	*	½	½	½	½	½	½	½	½	1	½	½	7½	2765
4.	Kamsky, Gata	g	USA	2723	½	½	½	*	½	½	½	1	½	½	0	½	1	1	7½	2764
5.	Svidler, Peter	g	RUS	2738	½	1	½	½	*	1	0	0	1	½	0	½	½	1	7	2735
6.	Jakovenko, Dmitry	g	RUS	2709	½	½	½	½	0	*	½	½	1	½	1	½	½	½	7	2737
7.	Karjakin, Sergey	g	UKR	2727	½	0	½	½	1	½	*	½	½	0	1	½	½	1	7	2735
8.	Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2781	1	½	½	0	1	½	½	*	½	½	½	0	½	½	6½	2702
9.	Gashimov, Vugar	g	AZE	2717	½	½	½	½	0	0	½	½	*	½	½	½	1	1	6½	2707
10.	Grischuk, Alexander	g	RUS	2728	0	½	½	½	½	½	1	½	½	*	0	½	½	½	6	2677
11.	Cheparinov, Ivan	g	BUL	2687	0	0	½	1	1	0	0	½	½	1	*	½	½	½	6	2681
12.	Gelfand, Boris	g	ISR	2720	0	0	0	½	½	½	½	1	½	½	½	*	½	½	5½	2650
13.	Navara, David	g	CZE	2646	0	0	½	0	½	½	½	½	0	½	½	½	*	0	4	2572
14.	Al-Modiahki, Mohamad	g	QAT	2556	0	0	½	0	0	½	0	½	0	½	½	½	1	*	4	2579

Round 11 (August 12, 2008)
Aronian, Levon	- Gelfand, Boris	1-0	26	E15	Queens Indian
Wang Yue	- Kamsky, Gata	½-½	44	D80	Gruenfeld 4.Bg5
Jakovenko, Dmitry	- Gashimov, Vugar	1-0	52	A61	Benoni
Karjakin, Sergey	- Cheparinov, Ivan	1-0	54	B12	Caro Kann Advanced
Ivanchuk, Vassily	- Radjabov, Teimour	½-½	37	E61	King's Indian Defence
Navara, David	- Grischuk, Alexander	½-½	55	B43	Sicilian Paulsen
Al-Modiahki, Mohamad	- Svidler, Peter	0-1	42	B12	Caro Kann Advanced
Round 12 (August 13, 2008)
Radjabov, Teimour	- Aronian, Levon	½-½	26	C45	Scotch Game
Wang Yue	- Navara, David	½-½	69	D86	Gruenfeld Simagin
Kamsky, Gata	- Gashimov, Vugar	½-½	47	A30	English Symmetrical
Svidler, Peter	- Jakovenko, Dmitry	1-0	80	D37	QGD 5.Bf4
Grischuk, Alexander	- Ivanchuk, Vassily	½-½	25	E21	Nimzo Indian 4.Nf3
Cheparinov, Ivan	- Al-Modiahki, Mohamad	½-½	74	B67	Sicilian Rauzer
Gelfand, Boris	- Karjakin, Sergey	½-½	26	E35	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Round 13 (August 14, 2008)
Aronian, Levon	- Grischuk, Alexander	1-0	42	D47	Queens Gambit Meran
Jakovenko, Dmitry	- Cheparinov, Ivan	1-0	50	C67	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Karjakin, Sergey	- Radjabov, Teimour	0-1	52	B78	Sicilian Modern Dragon
Ivanchuk, Vassily	- Wang Yue	½-½	41	C43	Petroff's Defence
Gashimov, Vugar	- Svidler, Peter	0-1	75	C92	Ruy Lopez Chigorin
Navara, David	- Kamsky, Gata	0-1	40	D87	Gruenfeld Botvinnik
Al-Modiahki, Mohamad	- Gelfand, Boris	½-½	20	B51	Sicilian Rossolimo

3) Tal Memorial

The Tal Memorial in Moscow (GUM, Exhibition Hall- very close to Red Square) takes place in 17th-31st August 2008. The players are: Vladimir Kramnik, Alexander Morozevich, Evgeny Alekseev, Vassily Ivanchuk, Alexei Shirov, Gata Kamsky, Ruslan Ponomariov, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Peter Leko and Boris Gelfand.

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

Tal Memorial Moscow (RUS), 18-27 viii 2008												cat. XX (2745)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2781	*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	1	.	1
2.	Kramnik, Vladimir	g	RUS	2788	.	*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	1	1
3.	Morozevich, Alexander	g	RUS	2788	.	.	*	.	.	.	.	1	.	.	1
4.	Gelfand, Boris	g	ISR	2720	.	.	.	*	.	.	½	.	.	.	½	2718
5.	Leko, Peter	g	HUN	2741	.	.	.	.	*	½	.	.	.	.	½	2742
6.	Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	g	AZE	2742	.	.	.	.	½	*	.	.	.	.	½	2741
7.	Ponomariov, Ruslan	g	UKR	2718	.	.	.	½	.	.	*	.	.	.	½	2720
8.	Alekseev, Evgeny	g	RUS	2708	.	.	0	.	.	.	.	*	.	.	0
9.	Kamsky, Gata	g	USA	2723	0	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	*	.	0
10.	Shirov, Alexei	g	ESP	2741	.	0	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	*	0

Round 1 (August 18, 2008)
Ivanchuk, Vassily	- Kamsky, Gata	1-0	36	D92	Gruenfeld 5.Bf4
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Shirov, Alexei	1-0	46	D47	Queens Gambit Meran
Morozevich, Alexander	- Alekseev, Evgeny	1-0	40	A45	Trompowsky
Leko, Peter	- Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	½-½	29	B90	Sicilian Najdorf Variation
Ponomariov, Ruslan	- Gelfand, Boris	½-½	43	C42	Petroff's Defence

4) Staunton Memorial

The Staunton Memorial took place in Simpsons in the Strand in London August 7th-18th 2008. Michael Adams secured first place with a quick draw against his closest rival Loek van Wely in the final round. I was a day out with the dates of the early rounds so I give all the games again.

Official site: http://www.howardstaunton.com/hsmt2008/index.shtml

Steve Giddins Round by Round Reports

Round 11 - Round 10 - Round 9 - Round 8 - Round 7 - Round 6 - Round 5 - Round 4 - Round 3 - Round 2 - Round 1

6th Staunton Memorial London (ENG), 7-18 viii 2008														cat. XIII (2558)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2
1.	Adams, Michael	g	ENG	2735	*	½	1	1	½	½	1	½	1	½	½	1	8	2716
2.	Van Wely, Loek	g	NED	2644	½	*	½	½	½	½	1	½	1	½	1	1	7½	2683
3.	Smeets, Jan	g	NED	2593	0	½	*	½	0	1	½	1	½	1	1	1	7	2656
4.	Timman, Jan H	g	NED	2562	0	½	½	*	½	½	½	1	1	½	½	1	6½	2622
5.	L'Ami, Erwin	g	NED	2610	½	½	1	½	*	½	0	½	½	½	½	1	6	2589
6.	Sokolov, Ivan NED	g	NED	2658	½	½	0	½	½	*	½	½	½	½	1	1	6	2584
7.	Speelman, Jon S	g	ENG	2524	0	0	½	½	1	½	*	½	½	½	½	1	5½	2561
8.	Short, Nigel D	g	ENG	2655	½	½	0	0	½	½	½	*	½	½	1	1	5½	2549
9.	Werle, Jan	g	NED	2591	0	0	½	0	½	½	½	½	*	1	1	1	5½	2555
10.	Wells, Peter K	g	ENG	2526	½	½	0	½	½	½	½	½	0	*	½	1	5	2524
11.	Cherniaev, Alexander	g	RUS	2431	½	0	0	½	½	0	½	0	0	½	*	1	3½	2436
12.	Wade, Robert G	m	ENG	2167	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	*	0

Round 1 (August 7, 2008)
Van Wely, Loek	- Speelman, Jon S	1-0	59	D36	QGD Exchange
Smeets, Jan	- Adams, Michael	0-1	28	C45	Scotch Game
Timman, Jan H	- Wade, Robert G	1-0	23	B12	Caro Kann Advanced
L'Ami, Erwin	- Short, Nigel D	½-½	35	E32	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Sokolov, Ivan NED	- Wells, Peter K	½-½	30	D38	QGD Ragozin
Werle, Jan	- Cherniaev, Alexander	1-0	32	E94	King's Indian Classical
Round 2 (August 8, 2008)
Adams, Michael	- Werle, Jan	1-0	40	C99	Ruy Lopez Chigorin
Sokolov, Ivan NED	- Van Wely, Loek	½-½	42	D31	Semi-Slav Defence
Speelman, Jon S	- Smeets, Jan	½-½	29	D10	Slav Defence
Short, Nigel D	- Timman, Jan H	0-1	40	C67	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Wells, Peter K	- Wade, Robert G	1-0	35	B07	Pirc Defence
Cherniaev, Alexander	- L'Ami, Erwin	½-½	47	C15	French Winawer
Round 3 (August 9, 2008)
Van Wely, Loek	- Wells, Peter K	½-½	33	E35	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Smeets, Jan	- Sokolov, Ivan NED	1-0	45	C92	Ruy Lopez Chigorin
Timman, Jan H	- Cherniaev, Alexander	½-½	31	E18	Queens Indian
L'Ami, Erwin	- Adams, Michael	½-½	26	E37	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Werle, Jan	- Speelman, Jon S	½-½	24	E49	Nimzo Indian
Wade, Robert G	- Short, Nigel D	0-1	53	A47	Queen's Indian without c2-c4
Round 4 (August 10, 2008)
Adams, Michael	- Timman, Jan H	1-0	49	C83	Ruy Lopez Open
Van Wely, Loek	- Smeets, Jan	½-½	47	D19	Slav Defence
Sokolov, Ivan NED	- Werle, Jan	½-½	33	E12	Queens Indian Petrosian
Speelman, Jon S	- L'Ami, Erwin	1-0	62	D11	Slav Defence
Wells, Peter K	- Short, Nigel D	½-½	25	D07	Tchigorin Defence
Cherniaev, Alexander	- Wade, Robert G	1-0	37	C41	Philidor's Defence
Round 5 (August 11, 2008)
Smeets, Jan	- Wells, Peter K	1-0	39	C91	Ruy Lopez
Timman, Jan H	- Speelman, Jon S	½-½	15	A14	Reti Opening
L'Ami, Erwin	- Sokolov, Ivan NED	½-½	65	D10	Slav Defence
Short, Nigel D	- Cherniaev, Alexander	1-0	30	B01	Centre Counter
Werle, Jan	- Van Wely, Loek	0-1	34	D43	Anti-Meran Gambit
Wade, Robert G	- Adams, Michael	0-1	40	A47	Queen's Indian without c2-c4
Round 6 (August 12, 2008)
Adams, Michael	- Short, Nigel D	½-½	20	B04	Alekhine's Defence
Van Wely, Loek	- L'Ami, Erwin	½-½	21	E04	Catalan
Smeets, Jan	- Werle, Jan	½-½	15	C49	Four Knights Metger
Sokolov, Ivan NED	- Timman, Jan H	½-½	17	E11	Bogo Indian Defence
Speelman, Jon S	- Wade, Robert G	1-0	37	A41	Modern Defence
Wells, Peter K	- Cherniaev, Alexander	½-½	32	B30	Sicilian Rossolimo
Round 7 (August 14, 2008)
Timman, Jan H	- Van Wely, Loek	½-½	47	D44	Anti-Meran Gambit
L'Ami, Erwin	- Smeets, Jan	1-0	41	D19	Slav Defence
Short, Nigel D	- Speelman, Jon S	½-½	42	B19	Caro Kann
Werle, Jan	- Wells, Peter K	1-0	27	D39	QGD Ragozin
Cherniaev, Alexander	- Adams, Michael	½-½	81	C28	Vienna Game
Wade, Robert G	- Sokolov, Ivan NED	0-1	55	C00	French Defence
Round 8 (August 15, 2008)
Van Wely, Loek	- Wade, Robert G	1-0	51	D35	QGD Exchange
Smeets, Jan	- Timman, Jan H	½-½	134	B19	Caro Kann
Sokolov, Ivan NED	- Short, Nigel D	½-½	64	A40	Unusual Replies to 1.d4
Speelman, Jon S	- Cherniaev, Alexander	½-½	15	D02	Queen's Pawn Game
Werle, Jan	- L'Ami, Erwin	½-½	20	C42	Petroff's Defence
Wells, Peter K	- Adams, Michael	½-½	23	C65	Ruy Lopez Berlin
Round 9 (August 16, 2008)
Adams, Michael	- Speelman, Jon S	1-0	40	B14	Caro Kann Panov
Timman, Jan H	- Werle, Jan	1-0	35	C42	Petroff's Defence
L'Ami, Erwin	- Wells, Peter K	½-½	27	A19	English Opening
Short, Nigel D	- Van Wely, Loek	½-½	27	B23	Sicilian Closed
Cherniaev, Alexander	- Sokolov, Ivan NED	0-1	39	C27	Vienna Game
Wade, Robert G	- Smeets, Jan	0-1	29	D45	Anti-Meran Variations
Round 10 (August 17, 2008)
Van Wely, Loek	- Cherniaev, Alexander	1-0	30	A81	Dutch Leningrad
Smeets, Jan	- Short, Nigel D	1-0	35	C96	Ruy Lopez
L'Ami, Erwin	- Timman, Jan H	½-½	19	E36	Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Sokolov, Ivan NED	- Adams, Michael	½-½	44	E21	Nimzo Indian 4.Nf3
Werle, Jan	- Wade, Robert G	1-0	31	D52	Queens Gambit Cambridge Springs
Wells, Peter K	- Speelman, Jon S	½-½	15	E07	Catalan
Round 11 (August 18, 2008)
Adams, Michael	- Van Wely, Loek	½-½	15	B52	Sicilian Rossolimo
Timman, Jan H	- Wells, Peter K	½-½	17	C95	Ruy Lopez Breyer
Speelman, Jon S	- Sokolov, Ivan NED	½-½	39	D26	QGA
Short, Nigel D	- Werle, Jan	½-½	25	C68	Ruy Lopez Exchange
Cherniaev, Alexander	- Smeets, Jan	0-1	33	B22	Sicilian Alapin
Wade, Robert G	- L'Ami, Erwin	0-1	39	B50	Sicilian Defence

5) World Juniors

Abhijeet Gupta took the title after beating David Howell with black in the final round, finishing alone on 10/13. Parimerjan Negi drew in the final round and secured the silver on 9.5/13 alone. Harika Dronavalli took a quick draw to take the gold medal in the girls event on 10.5/13 alone.

Official site: http://wjcc2008.tsf.org.tr/

WCh-Junior Gaziantep (TUR), 3-15 viii 2008 Final Round 13 Standings:
Rank	SNo.		Name	Rtg	FED	Pts
1	19	GM	GUPTA Abhijeet	2551	IND	10
2	26	GM	NEGI Parimarjan	2529	IND	9½
3-7	23	IM	BRAUN Arik	2533	GER	9
	14	GM	HOWELL David	2561	ENG	9
	28	GM	SAFARLI Eltaj	2527	AZE	9
	16	WGM	HOU Yifan	2557	CHN	9
	13	GM	AMIN Bassem	2561	EGY	9
8-14	2	GM	RODSHTEIN Maxim	2605	ISR	8½
	11	GM	SO Wesley	2577	PHI	8½
	9	GM	NGUYEN Ngoc Truong Son	2579	VIE	8½
	29	IM	MELKUMYAN Hrant	2507	ARM	8½
	8	GM	ZHIGALKO Sergei	2583	BLR	8½
	33	GM	WEN Yang	2487	CHN	8½
	21	IM	SJUGIROV Sanan	2545	RUS	8½
15-19	10	GM	LE QUANG Liem	2577	VIE	8
	17	IM	KRAVTSIV Martyn	2555	UKR	8
	1	GM	MAMEDOV Rauf	2627	AZE	8
	4	GM	LAZNICKA Viktor	2601	CZE	8
	53	IM	DURARBEYLI Vasif	2413	AZE	8
20-36	6	GM	LI Chao B	2590	CHN	7½
	20	GM	POPOV Ivan	2549	RUS	7½
	24	GM	RAMIREZ Alejandro	2531	CRC	7½
	52		LIN Chen	2417	CHN	7½
	3	GM	ANDREIKIN Dmitry	2604	RUS	7½
	22	GM	LEON HOYOS Manuel	2543	MEX	7½
	36	IM	BOROS Denes	2472	HUN	7½
	31	IM	ARUN Prasad Subramanian	2492	IND	7½
	30	IM	HAMMER Jon Ludvig	2494	NOR	7½
	37	IM	CAN Emre	2460	TUR	7½
	35	FM	NECHEPURENKO Roman	2476	RUS	7½
	12	GM	GEETHA Narayanan Gopal	2572	IND	7½
	40	IM	SENGUPTA Deep	2454	IND	7½
	44	IM	ASHWIN Jayaram	2436	IND	7½
	5	GM	BARAMIDZE David	2593	GER	7½
	55	IM	KARTHIKEYAN Pandian	2402	IND	7½
	88		SIRIN Atakan	2107	TUR	7½
37-50	25	GM	BRKIC Ante	2530	CRO	7
	34	IM	SANIKIDZE Tornike	2486	GEO	7
	7	GM	LENIC Luka	2584	SLO	7
	27	GM	RAGGER Markus	2527	AUT	7
	15	GM	ITURRIZAGA Bonelli Eduardo Pat	2561	VEN	7
	18	IM	KHAMRAKULOV Dzhurabek	2554	UZB	7
	47	IM	KALASHIAN David	2432	ARM	7
	48	FM	TOUFIGHI Tamijani Homayoon	2425	IRI	7
	41	IM	PRUIJSSERS Roeland	2452	NED	7
	46	FM	BARATOSI Daniel	2433	ROU	7
	56	IM	KORE Akshayraj	2392	IND	7
	65	FM	DJURAEV Sokhib	2324	TJK	7
	68		YAKSIN Oleg	2307	RUS	7
	61		KULAKOV Viacheslav	2360	RUS	7
51-68	50	FM	ROMBALDONI Denis	2418	ITA	6½
	39	IM	SWIERCZ Dariusz	2456	POL	6½
	49	IM	POTAPOV Pavel	2418	RUS	6½
	58	FM	NARMONTAS Matas	2369	LTU	6½
	42	IM	TOMCZAK Jacek	2451	POL	6½
	45	FM	RONCHETTI Niccolo	2434	ITA	6½
	57	FM	BENIDZE Davit	2389	GEO	6½
	66		ABDULOV Orkhan	2318	AZE	6½
	32	IM	PAPADOPOULOS Ioannis	2490	GRE	6½
	43	FM	GEORGESCU Tiberiu	2442	ROU	6½
	70	FM	DRAGICEVIC Drazen	2302	SWE	6½
	54		CASPI Israel	2412	ISR	6½
	75		RZAYEV Bahruz	2245	AZE	6½
	59		ENCHEV Ivajlo	2367	BUL	6½
	62		ANTON Teodor	2353	ROU	6½
	84		HARIDAS Pascua	2174	PHI	6½
	76		NUKIN Askhat	2244	KAZ	6½
	69	FM	GROVER Sahaj	2306	IND	6½
69-78	38	IM	STUPAK Kirill	2458	BLR	6
	60	FM	PACHER Milan	2361	SVK	6
	51	IM	VOCATURO Daniele	2417	ITA	6
	82		ALVAREZ RAMIREZ Miguel Angel	2194	MEX	6
	73		MIJOVIC Stefan	2289	MNE	6
	72	FM	MARTINS Vinicius Tine	2292	BRA	6
	74		SARENAC Ivan	2289	SRB	6
	85		HUGHES Tyler B.	2161	USA	6
	78		MCPHILLIPS Karl	2221	IRL	6
	89		ILIC Slavisa	2081	BIH	6
79-89	90		LORTKIPANIDZE Nodar	2080	GEO	5½
	67		NEIMER Vitaly	2316	ISR	5½
	63		VISHNU Prasanna Vasanthan Peru	2341	IND	5½
	77		CONSTANTINOU Peter	2225	ENG	5½
	79		VAVRIC Pavel	2218	MDA	5½
	81		OLIVER Gareth	2196	AUS	5½
	83		APAYDIN Fethi	2187	TUR	5½
	80		NIEMI Mikko	2214	FIN	5½
	71		PLENCA Julijan	2295	CRO	5½
	107		SALIHOVIC Amar	0	BIH	5½
	93		GURCAN Eray	1955	TUR	5½
90-100	64	FM	KJARTANSSON Gudmundur	2328	ISL	5
	92		DERUNI Berc	2032	TUR	5
	86		ERTAN Can	2149	TUR	5
	87		SOUSA Ricardo	2133	POR	5
	91		AYDOGDU Ataman	2050	TUR	5
	94		KOBAYASHI Atsuhiko	1936	JPN	5
	97		ACARBAY Aydin	1825	TUR	5
	108		ULUDOGAN Lutfullah	0	TUR	5
	95		ZUBAIDULLIN Rustam	1929	RUS	5
	105		OZTOSUN Cinar	0	TUR	5
	109		UNLU Ahmet Turan	0	TUR	5
1001-104	96		VURAL Ozge	1853	TUR	4½
	98		RAMSURRUP Pratish	1809	RSA	4½
	104		OZOGLU Berker	0	TUR	4½
	99		OZDOVER Mustafa Berkay	1768	TUR	4½
105-106	103		JAISWAL Raushan Kumar	0	NEP	4
	100		GOKCEK Ekrem Bugra	0	TUR	4
107	106		OZTOSUN Gorkem	0	TUR	3
108	101		GOKCEK Metehan	0	TUR	2
109	102		GUNGOR Ali Güvenç	0	TUR	1

WCh-Junior Girls Gaziantep (TUR), 3-15 viii 2008 Final Round 13 Standings:
Rank	SNo.		Name	Rtg	FED	Pts
1	1	IM	HARIKA Dronavalli	2461	IND	10½
2-5	2	WGM	MUZYCHUK Mariya	2413	UKR	9
	31	WFM	OZTURK Kubra	2188	TUR	9
	7	WIM	GOMES Mary Ann	2316	IND	9
	14	WFM	PAIKIDZE Nazi	2277	GEO	9
6-10	18	WIM	MIKADZE Miranda	2258	GEO	8½
	12	WGM	MAMEDJAROVA Turkan	2284	AZE	8½
	4	WGM	NEMCOVA Katerina	2372	CZE	8½
	38		KAZIMOVA Narmin	2148	AZE	8½
	3	WFM	BODNARUK Anastasia	2394	RUS	8½
11-13	10	WIM	SOUMYA Swaminathan	2293	IND	8
	8	WFM	SEVERIUKHINA Zoja	2300	RUS	8
	25	WIM	NADIG Kruttika	2241	IND	8
14-23	33	WFM	NAKHBAYEVA Guliskhan	2170	KAZ	7½
	13	WFM	ABRAHAMYAN Tatev	2277	USA	7½
	23	WFM	NIKOLOVA Adriana	2242	BUL	7½
	48		GUO Qi	2048	CHN	7½
	24		MUMINOVA Nafisa	2242	UZB	7½
	26	WIM	YILDIZ Betül Cemre	2236	TUR	7½
	5	WGM	FOISOR Sabina-Francesca	2337	ROU	7½
	16	WIM	POURKASHIYAN Atousa	2269	IRI	7½
	11	WIM	DAULYTE Deimante	2288	LTU	7½
	34	WFM	SGIRCEA Silvia-Raluca	2167	ROU	7½
24-29	17	WIM	DAULETOVA Gulmira	2267	KAZ	7
	6	WIM	MAJDAN Joanna	2323	POL	7
	60		ALAVI Hour Homa	1723	IRI	7
	19	WIM	PADMINI Rout	2257	IND	7
	20	WGM	CORKE Anya	2255	HKG	7
	39	WIM	HAMRAKULOVA Yulduz	2145	UZB	7
30-40	22	WIM	IVAKHINOVA Inna	2248	RUS	6½
	27	WFM	PERTLOVA Sona	2217	CZE	6½
	9	WFM	HOOLT Sarah	2298	GER	6½
	21	WFM	BOROSOVA Zuzana	2254	SVK	6½
	29		ISGANDAROVA Khayala	2207	AZE	6½
	28	WFM	GASIK Anna	2211	POL	6½
	47		KALASHYAN Varduhi	2049	ARM	6½
	41	WFM	ERIC Jovena	2111	SRB	6½
	52		HEGARTY Sarah	1966	ENG	6½
	36	WFM	TOTH Sarolta	2151	HUN	6½
	56		MISOVIC Sanja	1914	MNE	6½
41-48	32		PREETHI Rajkumar	2183	IND	6
	15	WIM	TSATSALASHVILI Keti	2271	GEO	6
	37	WFM	KLIMETS Elena	2150	BLR	6
	43	WFM	SHAMIMA Akter	2099	BAN	6
	45		IKONOMOPOULOU Maria	2074	GRE	6
	50	WFM	BAYRAK Asli	2013	TUR	6
	51		ALBANO Jeremias Bianca	1990	POR	6
	53	WFM	WIID Daleen	1931	RSA	6
49-58	30	WFM	LEKS Hanna	2198	POL	5½
	35	WFM	DAVLETBAYEVA Madina	2155	KAZ	5½
	40	WFM	TJOLSEN Katrine	2121	NOR	5½
	49	WFM	CHIERICI Marianna	2037	ITA	5½
	46		MIDDELVELD Martine	2073	NED	5½
	42	WFM	BERKE Ana	2100	CRO	5½
	44	WFM	EFROIMSKI Marsel	2091	ISR	5½
	62		KARAYAYLALI Pinar	1597	TUR	5½
	59		GARCIA Liria Caetano	1792	BRA	5½
	57		BOYARCHENKO Marie	1895	LUX	5½
59-62	54		ACAR Gizem	1931	TUR	5
	63		KAYA Sena Nur	1529	TUR	5
	61		ANTON Sarah	1681	AUS	5
	55		BUKOVEC Tina	1929	SLO	5
63	58		ANTONOVA Nadezhda	1883	TJK	4½
64-65	67		OZMUT Perinisa	0	TUR	4
	65		DAI Irmak	0	TUR	4
66-67	68		SALATIC Milica	0	BIH	2½
	64		BOSNJAK Antonija	0	BIH	2½

6) BDO Haarlam

The BDO Chess tournament took place in Haarlam 9th-17th August 2008. Vladimir Burmakin was the dominant winner of the Premier event with 8/9, Andrea Rombaldoni won the Challengers with 7/9.

Official site: http://www.hwphaarlem.nl/index.php

BDO Premier Haarlem (NED), 9-17 viii 2008												cat. VIII (2447)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Burmakin, Vladimir	g	RUS	2625	*	1	1	1	1	1	½	1	1	½	8	2778
2.	Spraggett, Kevin	g	CAN	2601	0	*	½	1	½	1	½	1	1	1	6½	2595
3.	Janssen, Ruud	m	NED	2503	0	½	*	1	1	0	½	1	1	1	6	2565
4.	Siebrecht, Sebastian	m	GER	2453	0	0	0	*	½	1	½	1	1	1	5	2489
5.	Peng Zhaoqin	g	NED	2462	0	½	0	½	*	1	1	½	½	0	4	2402
6.	Willemze, Jeroen		NED	2420	0	0	1	0	0	*	1	1	0	1	4	2407
7.	Ris, Robert	m	NED	2415	½	½	½	½	0	0	*	0	½	1	3½	2370
8.	Rombaldoni, Axel	f	ITA	2374	0	0	0	0	½	0	1	*	1	1	3½	2375
9.	Kuipers, Stefan	f	NED	2321	0	0	0	0	½	1	½	0	*	½	2½	2295
10.	Van Vliet, Jeffrey		NED	2296	½	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	½	*	2	2243

BDO Challenger Haarlem (NED), 9-17 viii 2008
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Rombaldoni, Andrea		ITA	2219	*	1	0	1	0	1	1	1	1	1	7	2419
2.	Overeem, Marc	f	NED	2288	0	*	1	1	1	1	½	0	½	1	6	2316
3.	Klein, David		NED	2135	1	0	*	0	½	1	1	1	½	1	6	2333
4.	Rubingh, Otto	f	NED	2267	0	0	1	*	1	0	½	1	1	1	5½	2274
5.	Duchene, Rene		NED	2221	1	0	½	0	*	0	0	1	½	1	4	2156
6.	De Groot, Marco		NED	2157	0	0	0	1	1	*	1	½	½	0	4	2163
7.	Lathouwers, Rob		NED	2214	0	½	0	½	1	0	*	1	0	1	4	2157
8.	Polak, Indra		NED	2172	0	1	0	0	0	½	0	*	1	1	3½	2124
9.	Croese, Cor		NED	2363	0	½	½	0	½	½	1	0	*	0	3	2058
10.	Van der Lende, Ilias		NED	1978	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	*	2	2006

7) 1st Chambery Masters

The 1st Chambery Masters took place 2nd-10th August 2008. Mikhail M Ivanov won the event with 6½/9.

Official site: http://festivaldechambery.over-blog.com/

1st Masters Chambery FRA (FRA), 2-10 viii 2008												cat. IX (2455)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Ivanov, Mikhail M	g	RUS	2489	*	½	½	1	½	1	½	½	1	1	6½	2617
2.	H('o)rvath, J('o)zsef	g	HUN	2551	½	*	1	½	½	0	½	1	1	1	6	2569
3.	Solodovnichenko, Yuri	g	UKR	2541	½	0	*	½	1	½	1	1	1	½	6	2570
4.	Calzetta, Monica	wg	ESP	2264	0	½	½	*	½	0	1	1	1	1	5½	2556
5.	Charnushevich, Aliaksei	m	FRA	2522	½	½	0	½	*	1	½	½	0	1	4½	2447
6.	Brunner, Nicolas	m	FRA	2429	0	1	½	1	0	*	½	0	½	½	4	2414
7.	Philippe, Christophe	m	FRA	2442	½	½	0	0	½	½	*	½	1	0	3½	2376
8.	Luther, Thomas	g	GER	2570	½	0	0	0	½	1	½	*	½	½	3½	2362
9.	Olivier, Jean-Christophe	m	FRA	2358	0	0	0	0	1	½	0	½	*	1	3	2340
10.	Moser, Eva	m	AUT	2383	0	0	½	0	0	½	1	½	0	*	2½	2296

8) First Saturday August

The First Saturday GM, IM and FM tournaments for August took place in Budapest, 2nd-15th 2008. Dragan Kosic won the main GM group.

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

FSGM August Budapest (HUN), 2-17 viii 2008													cat. VIII (2426)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3
1.	Kosic, Dragan	g	MNE	2516	*	½	½	1	½	½	½	½	1	1	½	½	½	7½	2513
2.	Duong The Anh	f	VIE	2445	½	*	½	0	½	½	1	½	½	½	½	1	1	7	2481
3.	Vera Gonzalez-Quevedo, Reynaldo	g	CUB	2493	½	½	*	½	½	½	½	1	½	½	½	½	½	6½	2449
4.	Hansen, Torbjorn Ringdal	m	NOR	2423	0	1	½	*	½	½	1	½	0	1	½	½	½	6½	2455
5.	Fogarasi, Tibor	g	HUN	2429	½	½	½	½	*	½	½	½	½	½	½	½	1	6½	2454
6.	Cabrera Trujillo, Jorge	f	ESP	2423	½	½	½	½	½	*	0	½	1	1	½	½	½	6½	2455
7.	Dinger, Florian	f	GER	2333	½	0	½	0	½	1	*	½	½	½	1	1	0	6	2433
8.	Nguyen Huynh Minh Huy	f	VIE	2477	½	½	0	½	½	½	½	*	½	½	1	0	½	5½	2392
9.	Hirneise, Tobias	f	GER	2481	0	½	½	1	½	0	½	½	*	½	½	½	½	5½	2392
10.	Genutis, Mindaugas	f	LTU	2317	0	½	½	0	½	0	½	½	½	*	1	½	1	5½	2405
11.	Eisenbeiser, Amadeus	m	GER	2434	½	½	½	½	½	½	0	0	½	0	*	½	1	5	2368
12.	Lorscheid, Gerhard	f	GER	2348	½	0	½	½	½	½	0	1	½	½	½	*	0	5	2375
13.	Rajlich, Iweta	m	POL	2417	½	0	½	½	0	½	1	½	½	0	0	1	*	5	2369

FSIMA August Budapest (HUN), 2-12 viii 2008												cat. III (2310)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1
1.	Torma, Robert	f	HUN	2347	*	½	½	½	1	½	½	1	1	1	½	7	2455
2.	Hujbert, Florian		HUN	2258	½	*	½	1	0	1	½	½	½	½	1	6	2386
3.	Miltner, Arndt	f	GER	2354	½	½	*	0	½	½	½	½	1	1	1	6	2377
4.	Beck, Frederik	f	GER	2335	½	0	1	*	1	½	½	1	½	0	½	5½	2343
5.	Lorand, Norbert		HUN	2273	0	1	½	0	*	½	1	½	½	½	1	5½	2349
6.	Werner, Dimo	m	GER	2329	½	0	½	½	½	*	1	½	½	½	0	4½	2271
7.	Humphrey, Jonathan	f	AUS	2289	½	½	½	½	0	0	*	1	½	1	0	4½	2275
8.	Szeberenyi, Adam	m	HUN	2318	0	½	½	0	½	½	0	*	½	1	1	4½	2272
9.	Adams, Nick A		USA	2222	0	½	0	½	½	½	½	½	*	½	½	4	2246
10.	Szalanczy, Emil	m	HUN	2388	0	½	0	1	½	½	0	0	½	*	1	4	2229
11.	Strunski, Andreas		GER	2294	½	0	0	½	0	1	1	0	½	0	*	3½	2201

FSIMB August Budapest (HUN), 2-10 viii 2008												cat. II (2293)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Csirik, Andras		HUN	2272	*	1	½	1	1	½	1	½	1	1	7½	2567
2.	Kahn, Evarth	m	HUN	2317	0	*	1	½	1	½	0	½	1	½	5	2332
3.	Moen, Andreas		NOR	2297	½	0	*	0	1	0	½	1	1	1	5	2335
4.	Lengyel, Bela	m	HUN	2286	0	½	1	*	½	½	0	1	1	½	5	2336
5.	Kislik, Erik Andrew		USA	2302	0	0	0	½	*	1	½	1	½	1	4½	2291
6.	Vegh, Endre	m	HUN	2298	½	½	1	½	0	*	1	0	0	½	4	2249
7.	Leviczky, Tibor	f	HUN	2335	0	1	½	1	½	0	*	0	0	1	4	2244
8.	Schloetzer, Waldemar		GER	2280	½	½	0	0	0	1	1	*	½	½	4	2251
9.	Henris, Luc	f	BEL	2268	0	0	0	0	½	1	1	½	*	0	3	2170
10.	Farago, Sandor	m	HUN	2271	0	½	0	½	0	½	0	½	1	*	3	2170

9) French Championship

The French Championship takes place in Pau 11th-23rd August 2008.

Official site: http://www.echecs.asso.fr/

83rd ch-FRA Pau (FRA), 11-23 viii 2008													cat. XIII (2574)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2
1.	Fressinet, Laurent	g	FRA	2673	*	½	.	1	1	½	.	1	1	½	.	.	5½	2790
2.	Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	g	FRA	2681	½	*	.	.	½	.	1	.	½	1	1	1	5½	2788
3.	Bacrot, Etienne	g	FRA	2691	.	.	*	.	½	½	½	1	1	1	½	.	5	2703
4.	Abergel, Thal	m	FRA	2499	0	.	.	*	½	.	1	0	.	½	1	1	4	2606
5.	Sokolov, Andrei1	g	FRA	2561	0	½	½	½	*	.	.	.	½	1	.	½	3½	2591
6.	Bauer, Christian	g	FRA	2583	½	.	½	.	.	*	½	½	.	½	½	½	3½	2575
7.	Maze, Sebastien	g	FRA	2553	.	0	½	0	.	½	*	1	½	.	1	.	3½	2576
8.	Feller, Sebastien	g	FRA	2523	0	.	0	1	.	½	0	*	.	.	½	1	3	2527
9.	Nataf, Igor-Alexandre	g	FRA	2534	0	½	0	.	½	.	½	.	*	½	.	½	2½	2501
10.	Vaisser, Anatoly	g	FRA	2542	½	0	0	½	0	½	.	.	½	*	.	.	2	2445
11.	Degraeve, Jean-Marc	g	FRA	2523	.	0	½	0	.	½	0	½	.	.	*	½	2	2420
12.	Apicella, Manuel	g	FRA	2521	.	0	.	0	½	½	.	0	½	.	½	*	2	2399

83rd ch-FRA w Pau (FRA), 11-23 viii 2008													cat. I (2259)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2
1.	Milliet, Sophie	wg	FRA	2357	*	½	1	.	.	½	.	1	.	½	1	1	5½	2475
2.	Leconte, Maria	wg	FRA	2346	½	*	0	1	.	½	.	.	.	1	1	1	5	2430
3.	Collas, Silvia	m	FRA	2370	0	1	*	.	½	.	1	.	½	½	1	.	4½	2332
4.	Skripchenko, Almira	m	FRA	2463	.	0	.	*	½	1	½	1	1	.	.	½	4½	2326
5.	Delorme, Laurie		FRA	2155	.	.	½	½	*	½	½	½	1	.	.	1	4½	2373
6.	Congiu, Mathilde	wf	FRA	2196	½	½	.	0	½	*	½	.	1	.	½	.	3½	2266
7.	Lallemand, Roza	wg	FRA	2285	.	.	0	½	½	½	*	1	.	0	.	1	3½	2265
8.	Guichard, Pauline	wm	FRA	2284	0	.	.	0	½	.	0	*	.	1	1	1	3½	2254
9.	Verot, Melanie		FRA	2125	.	.	½	0	0	0	.	.	*	1	½	1	3	2193
10.	Benmesbah, Natacha	wf	FRA	2210	½	0	½	.	.	.	1	0	0	*	0	.	2	2113
11.	Flear, Christine	wm	FRA	2133	0	0	0	.	.	½	.	0	½	1	*	.	2	2111
12.	Muller, Anne	wm	FRA	2179	0	0	.	½	0	.	0	0	0	.	.	*	½	1865

83rd ch-FRA National B Pau (FRA), 11-23 viii 2008													cat. IX (2460)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2
1.	Vitoux, Colomban	f	FRA	2454	*	0	½	.	½	.	½	.	1	.	1	1	4½	2580
2.	Edouard, Romain	m	FRA	2508	1	*	.	0	1	½	.	½	½	½	.	.	4	2491
3.	Cossin, Sebastien	m	FRA	2466	½	.	*	½	.	½	.	1	½	½	½	.	4	2507
4.	Bricard, Emmanuel	g	FRA	2453	.	1	½	*	½	.	.	.	½	½	½	½	4	2517
5.	Govciyan, Pavel	m	FRA	2411	½	0	.	½	*	.	0	1	1	.	.	1	4	2526
6.	Shoker, Samy	m	FRA	2365	.	½	½	.	.	*	1	0	.	1	0	½	3½	2475
7.	Le Roux, Jean-Pierre	m	FRA	2490	½	.	.	.	1	0	*	.	0	½	1	½	3½	2445
8.	Lazarev, Vladimir	g	FRA	2482	.	½	0	.	0	1	.	*	.	½	1	½	3½	2447
9.	Kosten, Anthony C	g	FRA	2507	0	½	½	½	0	.	1	.	*	.	.	½	3	2410
10.	Benitah, Yohan	m	FRA	2416	.	½	½	½	.	0	½	½	.	*	½	.	3	2420
11.	Prie, Eric	g	FRA	2526	0	.	½	½	.	1	0	0	.	½	*	.	2½	2344
12.	Collas, Didier	m	FRA	2439	0	.	.	½	0	½	½	½	½	.	.	*	2½	2349

10) 35th Manresa International Open

35th Manresa (Spain) International Open takes place 12th-20th August 2008.

Official site: http://www.escacscatalonia.org/. Further details: http://www.ajedreznd.com/2008/manresa.html

Results: http://chess-results.com/tnr14996.aspx?lan=1

35th Open Manresa (ESP), 12-17 viii 2008 Round 6 (of 9) Standings:
Rk.	Name	Ti	FED	RtgI	Pts.	TB1
1	GULIEV Logman	IM	AZE	2436	5,5	17,0
2	BRUZON BATISTA Lazaro	GM	CUB	2592	5,0	16,5
3	BABAEV Rashad	GM	AZE	2484	5,0	16,0
4	KONGUVEL Ponnuswamy	IM	IND	2415	5,0	16,0
5	MEKHITARIAN Krikor Sevag	IM	BRA	2504	5,0	15,5
6	CORRALES JIMENEZ Fidel	IM	CUB	2504	5,0	14,5
7	FIER Alexandr	GM	BRA	2558	4,5	17,0
8	DIAMANT Andre	IM	BRA	2393	4,5	16,5
9	SUNDARARAJAN Kidambi	IM	IND	2446	4,5	14,5
10	ALMEIDA QUINTANA Omar	GM	CUB	2524	4,5	14,0
11	CAMPOS CAYUELAS Marc		ESP	2058	4,5	13,5
12	DI BERARDINO Diego Rafael	IM	BRA	2471	4,0	16,5
13	PERPINYA ROFES Lluis Maria	FM	ESP	2385	4,0	14,5
14	LORENZO DE LA RIVA Lazaro	FM	ESP	2367	4,0	14,0
15	RYAN Joseph	FM	IRL	2331	4,0	14,0
16	FERREIRA Henrique Camara		BRA	2151	4,0	13,5
17	GIL Ludovic		FRA	1901	4,0	13,5
18	BANOS Oscar	CM	ARG	2271	4,0	13,5
19	VEHI BACH Victor Manuel	IM	ESP	2411	4,0	13,5
20	MOLANO LAFUENTE Ismael		ESP	2107	4,0	13,0
21	COLL ENRIQUEZ Lluis	CM	ESP	2148	4,0	12,0
22	ESCOFET MARTIN David		ESP	2138	4,0	12,0
23	ORTELLS PEREZ Victor		ESP	2096	4,0	12,0
24	SANPERA BONET Juan Carlos	CM	ESP	2158	4,0	12,0
25	GOMEZ Gustavo Pizzocaro		BRA	2076	4,0	11,5
26	VILAISARN Akkhavanh		FRA	2231	4,0	11,0
27	TORNER PLANELL Josep Ramon		ESP	2133	3,5	15,5
28	RODRIGUEZ SORRIBES Jordi		ESP	2139	3,5	14,5
29	DURAN BURNIOL Joan		ESP	1974	3,5	14,5
30	HUMEAU Cyril		FRA	2170	3,5	14,0
91 players

11) Stare Mesto Open

The Stare Mesto Open took place 8th-16th August 2008. Marian Jurcik won the event with 8.5/10.

Official site: http://www.fera.hitech.cz/

Results: http://chess-results.com/tnr14986.aspx?tnr=14986&art=2&rd=10&lan=1&m=-1

Open Stare Mesto (CZE), 8-16 viii 2008
Rk.	Name		FED	RtgI	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	Jurcik Marian	FM	SVK	2378	8,5	8,5	64,0	52,0
2	Vokac Marek	GM	CZE	2451	8,0	8,0	69,0	56,0
3	Klima Lukas	IM	CZE	2439	8,0	8,0	68,5	54,5
4	Brokken Dennis		NED	2266	8,0	8,0	63,0	50,5
5	Rojicek Vojtech	FM	CZE	2346	7,5	7,5	70,5	57,0
6	Camarena Gimenez Rufino	IM	ESP	2416	7,5	7,5	67,5	55,0
7	Tibensky Robert	IM	SVK	2416	7,5	7,5	62,0	50,0
8	Sosna Jan	IM	CZE	2379	7,5	7,5	61,0	49,5
9	Zolnierowicz Krzysztof	IM	POL	2272	7,5	7,5	60,5	48,5
10	Lahiri Atanu	IM	IND	2338	7,0	7,0	64,5	51,5
11	Jurcik Martin	FM	SVK	2352	7,0	7,0	62,0	48,5
12	Ponizil Cyril	FM	CZE	2284	7,0	7,0	61,0	49,5
13	Chetverik Maxim	IM	RUS	2321	7,0	7,0	61,0	49,0
14	Roubalik Jakub		CZE	2168	7,0	7,0	61,0	48,0
15	Karhanek Pavel		CZE	2196	7,0	7,0	60,5	48,0
16	Vavruska Antonin		CZE	2129	7,0	7,0	58,5	47,0
17	Vrana Frantisek	FM	CZE	2310	7,0	7,0	57,0	45,5
18	Jakubek Peter		SVK	2160	7,0	7,0	56,0	45,5
19	Dauth Benjamin	FM	GER	2269	7,0	7,0	55,0	44,0
20	Golcman Evgeny		RUS	2255	6,5	6,5	62,5	50,0
200 players

12) RC Sport Open Ceska Trebova

The Ceska Trebova RC Sport Open took place 8th-15th August 2008. Robert Cvek took first place on tie-break from Jan Krejci after both scored 7/9.

Results: http://chess-results.com/Tnr14983.aspx?tnr=7509&art=4&lan=1

Open Ceska Trebova (CZE), 8-15 viii 2008
Rk.	Name	FED	RtgI	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	Cvek Robert	GM	CZE	2532	7,0	41,0	51,5
2	Krejci Jan	FM	CZE	2305	7,0	37,0	47,5
3	Plischki Sebastian	IM	GER	2402	6,5	41,5	52,5
4	Blomqvist Erik		SWE	2322	6,5	40,0	50,0
5	Tikkanen Hans	IM	SWE	2417	6,5	38,5	47,5
6	Plat Vojtech	FM	CZE	2398	6,5	36,5	47,0
7	Sabol Marian	FM	CZE	2345	6,5	36,0	46,0
8	Zeberski Jakub	IM	POL	2396	6,0	42,0	53,5
9	Grandelius Nils	FM	SWE	2366	6,0	40,5	51,5
10	Bernasek Jan	IM	CZE	2491	6,0	40,5	51,5
11	Bronowicki Mateusz	FM	POL	2326	6,0	40,0	51,0
12	Kireev Aleksei	IM	RUS	2387	6,0	37,5	48,5
13	Smith Axel		SWE	2427	6,0	37,5	47,0
14	Jackova Jana	IM	CZE	2358	6,0	36,5	46,5
15	Vukovic Ivo	FM	CRO	2274	6,0	36,5	46,0
16	Vojta Tomas	FM	CZE	2411	6,0	35,0	45,5
17	Voloshin Leonid	GM	CZE	2449	5,5	40,5	52,0
18	Semcesen Daniel	FM	SWE	2387	5,5	40,5	52,0
19	Manik Mikulas	GM	SVK	2453	5,5	39,5	50,5
20	Jedlicka Ales		CZE	2277	5,5	38,5	49,0
	Cerveny Martin	FM	CZE	2285	5,5	37,5	48,0
22	Michenka Jozef	IM	CZE	2396	5,5	37,0	47,5
23	Folkova Martina		CZE	2171	5,5	37,0	46,0
24	Cedikova Katerina	WIM	CZE	2151	5,5	34,5	45,0
25	Novotny Michal		CZE	2282	5,5	34,5	44,5
26	Valenta Vit		CZE	2211	5,5	34,5	44,5
27	Bejtovic Jasmin	FM	BIH	2335	5,5	33,5	43,0
28	Skoda Martin		CZE	1978	5,5	33,0	42,5
29	Bylino Oleg	FM	UKR	2170	5,5	31,5	41,0
30	Votava Petr		CZE	2128	5,5	31,5	40,0
31	Vrana Jan		CZE	2234	5,5	30,0	38,5
32	Vymazal Bronislav		CZE	2274	5,0	36,5	46,5
97 players

13) Jirasek Memorial Rakovnik

The Jirasek Memorial took place in Rakovnik 9th-16th August 2008. Petr Neuman edged out Jiri Stocek on tie-break after both finished on 6½/9.

Rakovnik is a small city (pop 17.000) some 60 km west of Prague, but the chess club and traditions are respectable. The city organized championship of Bohemia-Moravia in 1940 (the protectorate during the war, without Slovakia), there was a tournament book about it penned by Karel Opochensky. This year the club celebrated a 100 years of organised chess in Rakovnik and the 20th edition of two smaller opens dedicated to the deceased local chess organizer Jirasek and a category 8 GM event with special guest Vlastimil Hort (born in Kladno, some 40 km away) who gave a lecture. The tournament produced a surprise performance by Petr Neuman (born very close in Jesenice and "chess educated" in Rakovnik), who made his 2nd GM norm. Also Jan Sodoma from Prague made an IM norm. News: Lubo Ftacnik.

Official site: http://www.czfree-ra.net/sachy/ and results at: http://chess-results.com/tnr12055.aspx

Jirasek mem Rakovnik CZE (CZE), 9-16 viii 2008												cat. VIII (2444)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
1.	Neuman, Petr	m	CZE	2444	*	½	1	½	½	½	1	½	1	1	6½	2609
2.	Stocek, Jiri	g	CZE	2559	½	*	0	½	1	½	1	1	1	1	6½	2597
3.	Sergeev, Vladimir	g	UKR	2508	0	1	*	½	½	1	0	1	1	1	6	2561
4.	Ftácnik, Lubomir	g	SVK	2544	½	½	½	*	½	½	½	1	1	1	6	2557
5.	Lechtynsky, Jiri	g	CZE	2451	½	0	½	½	*	½	½	1	½	1	5	2486
6.	Sodoma, Jan		CZE	2379	½	½	0	½	½	*	½	½	½	1	4½	2451
7.	Langrock, Hannes	f	GER	2398	0	0	1	½	½	½	*	½	½	½	4	2406
8.	Jirka, Jiri	m	CZE	2457	½	0	0	0	0	½	½	*	½	1	3	2317
9.	Cernousek, Lukas	m	CZE	2436	0	0	0	0	½	½	½	½	*	½	2½	2278
10.	Palek, Miroslav		GER	2263	0	0	0	0	0	0	½	0	½	*	1	2113

14) New England Masters

The New England Masters was held from August 11-15, 2008 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA. The event was won by GM Sergey Erenburg of Israel who finished with 7.5/9. GM Timur Gareev finished in second and IM Eli Vovsha in third. American Parker Zhao and Canadian Victor Kaminski both achieved their first ever IM norms. News Chris Bird.

Full standings, results, photographs and reports can be found at: http://www.newenglandmasters.com/ and http://www.blackstonechess.com/event88g.htm for the festival.

Preview of the tournament by Chris Bird

New England Masters Pawtucket (USA), 11-17 viii 2008
No	Name	Fed	Ti	Elo	Pts
1	Erenburg, Sergey	ISR	g	2563	7.5
2	Gareev, Timur	UZB	g	2570	7.0
3	Vovsha, Eli	ISR	m	2461	6.5
4	Kritz, Leonid	GER	g	2610	6.0
5	Friedel, Joshua E	USA	m	2524	6.0
6	Stopa, Jacek	POL	m	2440	6.0
7	Zhao, Parker	USA		2242	6.0
8	Ippolito, Dean J	USA	m	2445	5.5
9	Liu, Elliott	USA	f	2250	5.5
10	Kaminski, Victor	CAN		2212	5.5
11	Arkell, Keith C	ENG	g	2506	5.0
12	Bercys, Salvijus	USA	m	2429	5.0
13	Sarkar, Justin	USA	m	2416	5.0
14	Hungaski, Robert	USA	m	2407	5.0
15	Vigorito, David	USA	m	2382	5.0
16	Bournival, Braden	USA	f	2303	5.0
17	Puntier, William	DOM	f	2298	5.0
18	Thavandiran, Shiyam	CAN	f	2288	5.0
19	Hansen, Eric	CAN		2268	5.0
20	Melekhina, Alisa	USA	wf	2265	5.0
	Masse, Hugues	CAN		2196	5.0
22	Sammour-Hasbun, Jorge	PLE		2463	4.5
23	Panjwani, Raja D	CAN	f	2310	4.5
24	Haessel, Dale R	CAN		2149	4.5
25	Jiang, Louie	CAN		2135	4.5
26	Kleiman, Jake	USA	f	2353	4.0
27	Shmelov, Denys	UKR		2349	4.0
28	Schuyler, James	USA	f	2346	4.0
29	Esserman, Marc R	USA		2295	4.0
30	MacIntyre, Paul	USA	f	2290	4.0
31	Battaglini, Gabriel	FRA		2341	3.5
32	Enkin, Max	USA		2262	3.5
33	Yanayt, Eugene	USA	f	2254	3.5
34	Belliard, Luis	DOM		2226	3.5
35	Reverby, Miro	USA		2190	3.5
36	Rosenberg, Evan S	USA		2182	3.5
37	Wasiolek, Rory E	USA		2112	3.5
38	Galofre, Charles A	USA	f	2320	3.0
39	Hortillosa, Andres	USA		2100	3.0
40	Kazmaier, Daniel	CAN		2134	2.5
41	Meredith, Matthew	USA		2100	2.5
42	Harmon, Luke	USA		2100	2.0
43	Castaneda, Nelson	USA	f	2314	1.5
44	Harris, David	USA		2102	1.5
45	Harmon, Carl	USA		2100	0.0

15) Acropolis Open

The 23rd Acropolis 2008 International Open Chess Tournament took place in Athens, Greece, 9th-17th August 2008. Ilya Smirin edged out Mircea Parlgras on tie-break after both scored 7/9.

Spiros Ilandzis adds: Israeli Grandmaster Ilia Smirin was the winner of the "Acropolis" international tournament for the second consecutive year. This time he tied for first place with Romanian GM Mircea Parligras, but had superior tie-breaks (average rating of opponents). In the games of the 9th and final round Smirin preferred not to take any risk against Bulgarian GM Atanas Kolev, while Parligras played a quite double-edged game against Moldavian GM Dmitry Svetushkin, which eventually ended in a draw after many adventures.

Half a point behind the leaders were Kolev, German GM Alexander Graf (who beat Zubarev in the last rd.) and two female players, Georgian IM Nana Dzagnidze and Armenian IM Elina Danielian, who beat Maric and Kotanjian respectively. Dzagnidze finished third on tie-breaks, while her victory today secured her a (male) grandmaster norm.

Official site: http://www.chessfed.gr/acropolis2008

Acropolis Open Athens (GRE), 9-17 viii 2008 Final Round 9 Standings:
Rk	Name	SNo.	FED	Rtg	Pts	Res.	RtgØ	Fide	BH.
1	Smirin Ilia	GM	ISR	2637	7	½	2523	38½	51½
2	Parligras Mircea	GM	ROU	2588	7	½	2513	39	48
3	Dzagnidze Nana	IM	GEO	2458	6½	0	2449	33	46½
4	Graf Alexander	GM	GER	2621	6½	0	2448	32½	49½
5	Danielian Elina	IM	ARM	2495	6½	0	2429	32½	46
6	Kolev Atanas	GM	BUL	2565	6½	0	2391	32	46
7	Salgado Lopez Ivan	GM	ESP	2532	6	0	2460	34	50½
8	Banikas Hristos	GM	GRE	2572	6	0	2442	33	48
9	Svetushkin Dmitry	GM	MDA	2587	6	0	2432	31	47½
10	Managadze Nikoloz	IM	GEO	2444	6	0	2378	29	41½
11	Mastrovasilis Dimitrios	GM	GRE	2563	6	0	2354	28	43½
12	Rakhmanov Aleksandr	GM	RUS	2489	5½	0	2483	31½	50½
13	Zubarev Alexander	GM	UKR	2517	5½	0	2464	32½	49½
14	Zhukova Natalia	WGM	UKR	2489	5½	0	2433	30½	45½
15	Atakisi Umut	IM	TUR	2388	5½	0	2429	29½	47
16	Maric Alisa	IM	SRB	2412	5½	0	2428	31½	46
17	Romanishin Oleg M	GM	UKR	2530	5½	0	2426	32	50½
18	Caselas Cabanas Jacobo	IM	ESP	2418	5½	0	2385	30	41½
19	Rasmussen Allan Stig	IM	DEN	2519	5½	0	2381	30	43
20	Kotanjian Tigran	GM	ARM	2578	5½	0	2379	29½	46
21	Dembo Yelena	IM	GRE	2431	5½	0	2374	29½	45
22	Roy Chowdhury Saptarshi	IM	IND	2411	5½	0	2356	26	42
23	Secer Ata	FM	TUR	2320	5½	0	2341	26½	42
24	Zawadzka Jolanta	WGM	POL	2389	5½	0	2336	26½	41½
25	Tirard Hugo	IM	FRA	2461	5½	0	2277	24	37
26	Gelashvili Tamaz	GM	GEO	2612	5	0	2474	32	53½
27	Melia Salome	IM	GEO	2416	5	0	2388	28	44½
28	Mastrovasilis Athanasios	GM	GRE	2518	5	0	2366	29	45½
29	Karagiannis Athanasios	IM	GRE	2357	5	0	2317	26	44½
30	Astaneh Lopez Alex	FM	IRL	2357	5	0	2288	22½	37½
31	Pavlidis Anastasios		GRE	2270	5	0	2260	19½	38½
32	Pavlidis Antonios		GRE	2266	5	0	2253	18	34½
33	Kourousis Epaminondas		GRE	2221	5	0	2252	19	35½
34	Sandalakis Angelos		GRE	2341	4½	0	2402	25½	46½
35	Aggelis Nikolaos		GRE	2271	4½	0	2390	22	45
36	Rudolf Anna	WGM	HUN	2337	4½	0	2380	26½	46½
37	Georgiou Kostantinos		GRE	2236	4½	0	2377	23½	43½
38	Kanakaris Georgios		GRE	2284	4½	0	2351	21	39½
39	Aloma Vidal Robert	FM	ESP	2388	4½	0	2349	27½	44
40	Georgiadis Ioannis	IM	GRE	2373	4½	0	2347	24	43½
41	Sigalas Frangiskos		GRE	2242	4½	0	2347	23	44½
42	Simeonidis Ioannis		GRE	2275	4½	0	2346	21½	41
43	Sergeev Aleksander	FM	KAZ	2354	4½	0	2337	24½	40½
44	Makropoulou Marina	WGM	GRE	2244	4½	0	2324	21½	42
45	Velcheva Maria	WGM	BUL	2281	4½	0	2319	22½	40
46	Makka Ioulia	WIM	GRE	2225	4½	0	2316	20	42½
47	Galopoulos Nikolaos		GRE	2270	4½	0	2313	21	38½
48	Stiri Alexandra	WIM	GRE	2149	4½	0	2310	22	38½
49	Nikolaidis Konstantinos	FM	GRE	2279	4½	0	2286	22½	39
50	Grigoriadis Alexandros	IM	GRE	2417	4½	0	2280	22	37½
51	Kostopoulos Evangellos		GRE	2150	4½	0	2272	19	39½
52	Sandu Mihaela	WIM	ROU	2288	4½	0	2253	22	37½
53	Grapsa Georgia		GRE	2104	4½	0	2224	14½	31
84 players

16) Ptuj Open

The Ptuj Open took place 9th-16th August 2008. Robert Markus took clear first place with 7.5/9 a point clear of the field. News: Boris Zlender.

Official site: http://www.sah-drustvo-ptuj.si/Open/open.htm

Ptuj Open (SLO), 9-16 viii 2008 Final Round 9 Standings:
Pl	Name	Ti	Fed	ELO	Pts	MBuch
1	Markus,Robert	GM	SRB	2557	7.5	39.5
2	Mazi,Leon	IM	SLO	2350	6.5	41
3	Sebenik,Matej	IM	SLO	2485	6.5	40.5
4	Kovacevic,Blazimir	IM	CRO	2473	6.5	40
5	Zupe,Miran	IM	SLO	2346	6.5	40
6	Sakelsek,Tadej	IM	SLO	2390	6.5	39.5
7	Loncar,Robert	IM	CRO	2446	6.5	39
8	Kolar,Srecko	FM	SLO	2139	6	36
9	Kukovec,Borut	MK	SLO	2228	6	34
10	Podkriznik,Gregor	FM	SLO	2370	5.5	41
11	Kokol,Peter	MK	SLO	2253	5.5	39.5
12	Sitnik,Igor	M	SLO	2251	5.5	38.5
13	Biti,Ozren	IM	CRO	2384	5.5	38
14	Slamar,Velimir	M	CRO	2217	5.5	36.5
15	Polajzer,Danilo	IM	SLO	2365	5.5	36
16	Jeraj,Zlatko	MK	SLO	2155	5.5	34.5
17	Belsak,Zan	II	SLO		5.5	34.5
18	Cojhter,Karl	MK	SLO	2095	5.5	31.5
19	Roskar,Robert	FM	SLO	2280	5.5	30
20	Premuzic,Zoran	III	CRO	2010	5.5	28
21	Crepan,Marjan	FM	SLO	2363	5	37.5
22	Krumpacnik,Domen	IM	SLO	2376	5	36
23	Purgar,Ivona	WM	CRO	2026	5	35.5
24	Biti,Ana	WFM	SLO	2102	5	35
25	Skok,Joze	MK	SLO	2056	5	32.5
26	White,Kevin D		ENG	2064	5	31
27	Vujec,Ivan	I	CRO	1959	5	31
28	Djurkovic,Maks	MK	SLO	2108	5	30
29	Napast,Viktor	I	SLO	2076	5	30
30	Licina,Milos	I	SLO		5	29
66 players

17) European Senior Championship

The European Senior Championship took place 9th-17th August 2008 in the Parkhotel Sunstar in Davos, Switzerland (the was also a normal open alongside 10th-16th August 2008). Mark Tseitlin took the title on tie-break from Vitaly Tsechkovsky after both scored 7.5/9. David Markosian won the open with 6/7 half a point clear of Andrew Bigg. No games available.

Official site: http://www.beochess.ch

European Seniors Davos (SUI), 9-17 viii 2008 Final Round 9 Standings:
Rg.	Name		FED	Elo	Pkt.	Wtg1	Wtg2	Wtg3	Rp
1	Tseitlin Mark D	GM	ISR	2438	7,5	50,0	6	0,5	2619
2	Tseshkovsky Vitaly	GM	RUS	2519	7,5	49,5	6	0,5	2617
3	Cebalo Miso	GM	CRO	2523	6,5	48,5	5	0,0	2483
4	Chernikov Oleg L	GM	RUS	2406	6,5	48,0	5	0,0	2456
5	Rukavina Josip	IM	CRO	2414	6,5	47,0	5	0,0	2446
6	Werner Clemens	FM	GER	2315	6,5	46,5	5	0,0	2384
7	Ivkov Borislav	GM	SRB	2411	6,5	45,0

THE WEEK IN CHESS 719 18th August 2008 by Mark Crowther

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