Dortmund Round 4

After a rather boring result in round 3 where all the game ended in a draw, Round 4 promising a good show by the player when all the underdog (Carlsen, Naiditsch and Alekseev) show some promise in their game against the favourits ( Kramnik Anand, Leko).



Game 1:Gelfand – Mamedyarov
[[White "*GM_Gelfand"]
[Black "*GM_Mamedyarov"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. e4 d6 3. c4 Bg7 4. d4 Bg4 5. Be2 Nc6 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 Bxf3 8. Bxf3
Nd4 9. O-O c5 10. dxc6 bxc6 11. Bxd4 exd4 12. Nd2 Ne7 13. c5 dxc5 14. Rc1 d3 *


Game 2 :Alekseev -Leko
[White "*GM_Alexeev"]
[Black "*GM_Leko"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Qb3 {makes it hard for black to stay within
Slav territory. Black has some good non-Slav options like 4...e6} dxc4 5. Qxc4{The game tranpose into a Queen Gambit Accepted} Bf5 6. Nc3 e6 7. g3 Nbd7 8.
Bg2 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 Ne4 11. Qb3 Qb6 12. Nh4 Qxb3 13. axb3 Bb4 14. Nxf5
exf5 15. Bxe4 fxe4 16. Bd2 Rfe8 17. Nxe4 Rxe4 18. Bxb4 Rxd4 19. Bc3 Rd6 20.
Red1 Rxd1+ 21. Rxd1 Nc5 22. b4 Na4 23. Bd4 Rd8 24. e3 Nxb2 25. Ra1 *



Game 3:Anand – Naiditsch
[White "*GM_Anand"]
[Black "*GM_Naiditsch"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. c3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. d4
Bb6 9. a4 Bg4 10. h3 Bh5 11. axb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 Qxa8 13. d5 Na5 14. Bc2 c6 15.
dxc6 Qxc6 16. Re1 h6 17. Qe2 O-O 18. Na3 Nc4 19. Nxc4 bxc4 20. g4 Bg6 21. Nh4
d5 22. exd5 Nxd5 *



Game:4 Kramnik-Carlsen

[White "*GM_Kramnik"]
[Black "*GM_Carlsen"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4
b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Nc6 11. e3 Nb4 12. Bxb4 Bxb4 13. a3 Be7 14. Nbd2 Rc8 15.
b4 a5 16. Ne5 Nd5 17. Nb3 axb4 18. Na5 Ba8 19. Nac6 Bxc6 20. Nxc6 Qd7 21. Bxd5
exd5 22. axb4 Rfe8 23.Ra5 Bf8 24.Ne5 Qe6 25.Rxb5 Rb8 26.Rxb8 Rxb8 27.Qxc7 Bd6 28.Qa5 Bxb4?? This move simply a mistake because after 29.Rb1!..carlsen should simply resign! 29.Rb1 Qb6 30.Qxd5 Qc7 31.Nc6 *

Shake Hand Or Else...!!!!

25 June 2007- The FIDE Presidential Board decided on setting up strict rules regarding unacceptable social behaviour of players toward their opponent or officials, journalists etc.

The FIDE Presidential Board –at the suggestion of President Ilyumzhinov- decided on setting up strict rules regarding such behaviour.Any player who does not shake hands with the opponent (or greets the opponent in a normal social manner in accordance with the conventional rules of their society) before the game starts in a FIDE tournament or during a FIDE match (and does not do it after being asked to do so by the arbiter) or deliberately insults his/her opponent or the officials of the event, will immediately and finally lose the relevant game!

I give you a good tip- practise shaking hand at the mirror before games to make sure you does not forget it ..or else....

Read the full press release at http://www.fide.com/news/download/TallinPB-PlayersBehavior.pdf

Karjakin Leader,Sasikiran Blunder!

The Aerosvit tournament in Foros, Ukraine, takes place from 17th-30th June 2007. The participants is

1.Karjakin, Sergey UKR 2686 ,
2. Ivanchuk, Vassily UKR 2729 ,
3. Shirov, Alexei gESP 2699
4. Svidler, Peter RUS 2736
5. Onischuk, Alexander USA 2663
6. Dominguez Perez, Lenier CUB 2678
7. Rublevsky, Sergei RUS 2680
8. Jakovenko, Dmitry RUS 2708
9. Van Wely, Loek NED 2674
10. Eljanov, Pavel UKR 2686
11. Sasikiran, Krishnan IND 2690
12. Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter ROM 2693

After 7 Round, Karjakin emerges as a sole leader with 5 points . India No.2 player, Sasikiran, Krishnan is at the bottom with 2.5 points.

In round 7 , Sasikirin reach a winning position in his game with Shirov after move 35.
[White "*GM_Sasikiran"]
[Black "*GM_Shirov"]
[ECO "E15"]
Round 7, Aerosvit 2007


Unfortunetly, in no time pressure he blundered with...
36. Ba6 (36. Bxc8 simply-I could find this move :) Rxc8 37. Kc3 Kf8 38. Kxb3 Ke7 39. Kc4 Kd7
40. Kd5 Rf8 41. c8=Q+ Rxc8 42. Rxc8 Kxc8 43. Ke5 Kd7 44. Kf6 Ke8 45. f4 Kf8 46.
f5 gxf5 47. Kxf5 Ke7 48. Kg5 Ke6 49. Kxh5 Kf5 (49... Kf6 50. g4 Kg7 51. Kg5 +-
) 50. Kh6 Kg4 51. h5 Kxg3 52. Kg5 {And the h pawn march to queen first.}) 36...
b2 37. Kc2 Re6 38. Rxe6 Rxc7+ 39. Kxb2 fxe6 40. Kb3 Rc1 0-1

Similiar building!

I've read one of the Susan Polgar article http://susanpolgar.blogspot.com/2007/06/view-from-home-of-my-family.htmlregarding her visit to her homeland in Budapest. He show one of a building in the Budapest, Hungary (photo above) and i noticed it is similiar with the Prime Minister Office (photo below) in Putrajaya, Malaysia. Have a look!

World Champion (Kramnik) versus World No.1(Anand)!

Photo from chessvibes.com

That is my title : World Champion Vladimir Kramnik versus World No.1 Player -Viswanathan Anand . It could be too early for both giant to meet in the first round but i believe every chess fan would eager to watch the encounter.

Kramnik won the World title from Topalov last year in the famous toiletgate controversy in Elista. Veselin Topalov, through his manager Silvio Danialov, has cast suspicion on the behaviour of Vladimir Kramnik, who is leading 3-1 in their world championship match. The Bulgarian team has examined the video recordings from the rest rooms and notes that Kramnik is visiting the bathroom, which has no video surveillance, unreasonably often.
Full story here http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3377

Anand also didn't escape from controversy, his top spot in FIDE rating where taken by Topalov in the 1st list April rating release by FIDE . Everybody expect the Indian would become the world number one on FIDE charts after he won the Morelia-Linares tournament in Spain early this year. But the FIDE list showed Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria still on the top, 13 points ahead of Anand, without including the points earned or lost in the Morelia-Linares tournament. This made chaos among chess fan especially Anand fans. FIDE at last, amend the April rating after a strong complaint from Anand fans all over the world!
Full story here http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3771

Tonight both player will meet each other in the 1st round of Super-GM tournament in Dortmund. This is a Category 20 event which includes the world's top ranked player, Viswanathan Anand, and other stars like Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Peter Leko, Boris Gelfand and 16-year-old Magnus Carlsen.


GM_Kramnik (2772) - *GM_Anand (2786)
Round 1, Dortmund 2007

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 [This is black direct and logical response. Since white can’t generate any real short term threats against d5 and b7, the bishop is simply well placed on f5, where it frustrates White’s smooth development. 4...e6 5.Bd3 dxc4 6.Bxc4 c5 will transpose into Queen Gambit Accepted. Anand follow a fimiliar opening Kramnik used succesfully in games 9 Topalov vs Kramnik in World Championship Elista, 2006.] 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Bg6 7.Be2 [7.Nxg6 hxg6 8.a3 Was Topalov succesfull novelty in The 9th game in WCh Elista 2006.] 7...Nbd7 8.0-0 [8.Rb1 and; 8.a3 was played by Topalov in game 9 and 11 Elista, World Championship 2006.] 8...Bd6 9.g3 0-0 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.Qc2 Qe7 12.Bd2 dxc4 13.Bxc4 c5 14.dxc5 Nxc5 15.Rfd1 Rac8 16.Be1 a6 17.Rac1 Rc7 18.Qb1 Rfc8 19.Bf1 Ncd7 20.Bg2 Ne5 21.Ne4 Rxc1 22.Rxc1 Rxc1 23.Qxc1 Nxe4 24.Bxe4 Bb4 25.Qc8+ Kh7 26.Bc3 Bxc3 27.Qxc3 Capablanca 's Theorem mention that queen and knight are better than queen and bishop. How far is that true is argueable. John Watson in his book Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy concluded that majority cases in this type of ending resulting in a draw except in case where one side have an obvious advantage. 27...Ng4 28.Bf3 Nf6 29.Qc8 Nd5 30.a3 a5 31.h4 b6 32.Qc6 Qd8 33.Bxd5 exd5 34.Qc3 Qd7 35.Kg2 1/2-1/2

Alexandra Kosteniuk - Blitz Marathon in Cureglia

Watch the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcnJ2moP-K0
Below is one of her blitz game. looks how he trash the Sicilian Dragon!

[Event "Blitz:5'"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alexandra Kosteniuk"]
[Black "????"]
[Result "1-0"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 The guy got irritiated by Kosteniuk quick moves and holds his 5...g6 move for a few second! 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0–0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.0–0–0 Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Be6 11.Kb1 Qc7 12.h4 Rfc8 13.h5 Qa5 14.a3 [14.hxg6 is another alternative] 14...Rab8 15.g4 b5 16.h6 b4 17.Nb5 According to Kosteniuk, this is all theory!!! 17...Bh8 [17...Rxb5 is the only way for black to get some counterplay. 18.Bxb5 Qxb5 19.hxg7 bxa3 20.Qd3 Qc6 21.b3 a5 22.Qd2 a4 23.Bxf6 exf6 24.Rxh7] 18.Qxb4 Kosteniuk simply tranpose into a win endgame! 18...Qxb4 19.axb4 a6 20.Na7 Rc7 21.b5 axb5 22.Nxb5 Bc4?? 1-0

Nice sacrfiece by Kaushal

Below are nice game played by Kaushal at the 8th ASEAN AGE - OPEN 18 Pattaya, Thailand .
He made an interesting exchange sacrifiece on move 20.

Lam,Kwok-Foong - Kaushal,Khandhar [C02]
8th ASEAN AGE - OPEN 18 Pattaya, Thailand (5), 16.06.2007

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Nh6 6.a3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Bd7 8.Nc3 f6 9.exf6 Qxf6 10.Bg5 Qf7 11.Bd3 Nf5 12.Bxf5 Qxf5 13.0-0 Bd6 14.Re1 0-0 15.Nb5 Bb8 16.Rc1 a6 17.Nc3 Ba7 18.Bh4 Qg4 19.h3 Qh5 20.Bg3

20...Rxf3 21.gxf3 (21. Qxf3 Qxf3 22. gxf3 Nxd4 and black will have a strong initiative) Nxd4 22.Kg2 Rf8 23.f4 Qf7 24.Ne2 Nb5 25.a4 Nd6 26.Nd4 Bb8 27.Nf3 Ne4 28.Qb3 Bc6 29.Ng5 Nxg5 30.fxg5 d4+ 31.Rxc6 bxc6 32.Qxe6 Qxe6 33.Rxe6 Bxg3 34.fxg3 Rc8 35.Rd6 c5 36.Rd5 Kf7 37.Kf3 Ke6 38.Ke4 Rc7 39.g4 Rc8 40.a5 Rc7 41.h4 g6 42.h5 Rc8 43.b4 cxb4 44.Rxd4 Rb8 45.Rd2 Rb5 46.Rb2 Rxa5 47.Kf4 Rb5 48.Rb3 Kd5 49.Re3 b3 50.Re5+ Kc4 51.Re4+ Kc3 52.Re3+ Kd2 53.Rh3 b2 0-1

Bishop versus knight!

I've played a blitz game against genegilmerry in Internet Chess Club (ICC) last night. I managed to draw a difficult (losing)bishop+pawn versus knight +pawn ending with pawn on both side . I carelessly change the battle from two side to only one side of the board.

This give more chance to the Knight side to win the game because all of the pawns are on one side .

As IM Jerimy Silman mention in his book The Amateur's Mind-The Battle Between Bishops and Knights:

...."Knights are superior to Bishops in an endgame if all the pawns are on one side of the board. This is because the Bishop's long-range powers no longer have meaning while the Knight's ability to go to either colour square means that there is no safe haven for the enemy Kings or pawns"....

genegilmeryy (1945) - hairulov (1932)

ICC Internet Chess Club, 23.06.2007[Blitz-5 minutes]

........55.gxh3+- Ke5 56.h4 Ke6 57.h5 Ke5 Two pawn down, my position is lost but....

58.h6? [ genegilmeryy made mistake. He/she should have played 58.Nh6+- and later Ng4 and win the game] 58...Bxh6= 59.Nxh6 [59.Kxh6 will lose the knight on f5 and later the f- pawn] Kf4 1/2-1/2

* anybody knows what's the correct way to copy and paste a 3d chess diagram on Paint ?- i don't know how to avoid copying the menu box

Rook Belong Behind Passed Pawn!

Last night i played a blitz game against Federico Garcia (photo above) in the Internet Chess Club (ICC). He is a composer and music teacher. Currently teach at Chatam College in Pittsburgh, and offer private piano and music theory lessons. His website is http://www.fedegarcia.net/main.html

The game were totally hopeless for me right from the start but i managed to win on time although being 2 pawn down in rook endings with pawns.

The final position was evaluate equal by "my best friend" Mr. Fritz. This proved that rooks should always belong behind passed pawn !


[Event "ICC"]
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2007.06.21"]
[White "hairulov"]
[Black "Federook "]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "1873"]
[BlackElo "1812"]

59. ... Rc3+ [59...a2 60.f6 Rb2 61.f7 Rb1 62.f8Q Rxg1 63.Qh8+ Kg6 64.Qg8+ Kf6 65.Qxg1 +-] 60. Kf4 Rc4+ 61. Ke5 1-0 white won on time

Karpov sacrifiece Queen!

Karpov finished third at the Gorenje tournament in Valjevo, Serbia.The 12th world champion Anatoly Karpov scored 5.5/9 points. Israeli GM Michael wins Gorenje 2007, followed by GM Suat Atalik of Turkey. Both have the same score but Roiz have the better tiebreak.

One of Karpov beautiful game is on round 8 where he sacrifice the queen for a mating attack. Below and the game and the position.

[Event "Gorenje GM"]
[Site "Valjevo SRB"]
[Date "2007.06.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Karpov, Ana"]
[Black "Stojanovic, Mih"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2668"]
[BlackElo "2588"]
[EventDate "2007.06.13"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bd7 5. Nf3 Bc6 6. Bd3 Nd7 7. O-O Ngf6 8.
Ng3 Be7 9. Re1 O-O 10. Qe2 b6 11. Ba6 Rb8 12. c4 Bb7 13. Bxb7 Rxb7 14. Ne5 Qc8
15. Nc6 Re8 16. Bg5 Bf8 17. Bxf6 Nxf6 18. Nh5 Nd7 19. Qg4 Kh8 20. Re3 Nb8 21.
Rg3 f5 22. Qh4 Nxc6 23. Nf6 h6

24. Qxh6+ gxh6 25. Rg8# 1-0

Who's right ? Kramnik or Topalov?

As you all know, both World and Former World Champion, Vladimir Kramnik and Veselin Topalov accusing FIDE for favouring their opponent in World Championship Cyle 2006 held at Elista . Recently Kramnik mention in an interview with chessbase.com that FIDE doing all the thing to favour Topalov request , where as Danialov (Topalov manager-photo above) in an interview with chessdom.com acusing FIDE for favouring Kramnik

This is excerpt from both interview :-

Kramnik (photo left) interview with chessbase:-

…………………….

Humanly I think it can be understood, because it was clear from the very beginning that they had started to violate the contract. We had a contract, an agreement – and I am not even talking about a gentleman’s agreement, which would have been for me already enough. But we had a clear contract. The Appeals Committee, based on the friends of Danailov, were violating this contract day after day. We were telling them, people, sorry, you are violating the contract, this is a call, this is a call, you are violating the contract. They didn’t care at all. And then all this already started to get on my nerves. You know that during a world championship match you are very tense in general, it is a tension, nervous tension. Such things slowly get on your nerves. I felt during this match completely helpless, I felt like okay, what can I do? This Appeals Committee is just made of friends of Danailov, and they are doing whatever they want, and they have the final word on everything. According to FIDE rules the decision of the Appeals Committee is final. They are making decisions, violating the contract. Of course it is clear that after the match I can sue them. But this would be after the match. I want to play a match and I want to play it on the board.

Read full interview at http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3912


Danialov (Topalov manager) interview with chessbase:-

Why don't you challenge the winner of Mexico?

This is the problem, we would like to do that, but in the meantime FIDE changed the regulations, which was not legal. They can't change the WCC regulations during the same cycle. FIDE have broken unilaterally point 2.8. from the contract with Topalov for WCC match in Elista signed personally by Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. And I will show them this contract in Tallinn because probably they forgot what they signed. But this is not the worse, FIDE changed the regulations for the second time giving the guaranteed rematch for Kramnik with the winner of Mexico, no matter what happens there. This is really incredible! They break the rules for the second time in the same cycle which is not legal at all, but the worse is that they obviously try to harm Topalov and give all kind of privileges to Kramnik. What kind of serious organization can do this? This is a unique case in the history of any sport, without any precedent!
On the other hand, this case has its moral side. The World Championship is the face of FIDE and can't be hostage of political games and unclear interests. All the best players have to play there because everybody wants to know who is the best player in the world. FIDE has big responsibility in front of the world chess community and needs to think about the interests of chess before everything. If they exclude Topalov on purpose it will become obvious that something is wrong.
…………………..

Read full interview at http://interviews.chessdom.com/silvio-danailov-interview


…so who are right in this case? You judge yourself…!!!

8th ASEAN AGE-GROUP CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS

This is some of Malaysian players game's at the 8th ASEAN AGE-GROUP CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS held at Jomtien Thani Hotel, Pattaya, Thailand from. 13-23 June, 2007.

8th ASEAN AGE-GROUP CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS
13-23 June, 2007 in Jomtien Thani Hotel, Pattaya, Thailand


Kaushal,Khandhar - Le,Quang Long [B51]
8th ASEAN AGE - OPEN 18 Pattaya, Thailand (1), 14.06.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.0–0 Ngf6 5.Re1 e6 6.d4 cxd4 7.Qxd4 Be7 8.Nc3 0–0 9.Bg5 Qb6 10.Qd2 Ne5 11.Be3 Qc7 12.Rad1 a6 13.Bf1 b5 14.Bf4 Bb7 15.Qd4 Nxf3+ 16.gxf3 e5 17.Qd2 exf4 18.Kh1 Qc5 19.Qxf4 Qxf2 20.Re2 Qc5 21.Rg2 g6 22.Bd3 Qe5 23.Qh6 Nh5 24.Rdg1 Kh8 25.Ne2 Rg8 26.Rg4 d5 27.Ng3 Nxg3+ 28.R1xg3 dxe4 0–1

Amir,Fakhry Haji Sulaima - Kaushal,Khandhar [C06]
8th ASEAN AGE - OPEN 18 Pattaya, Thailand (2), 14.06.2007
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Bd3 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Ne2 cxd4 8.cxd4 f6 9.exf6 Nxf6 10.Nf3 Bd6 11.0–0 0–0 12.Bf4 Bxf4 13.Nxf4 Qd6 14.g3 e5 15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.dxe5 Qxe5 17.Qb3 Kh8 18.Rfe1 Qd6 19.Rac1 Bd7 20.Qxb7 Rfb8 21.Qc7 Qxc7 22.Rxc7 Rxb2 23.Nxd5 Nxd5 24.Rxd7 Nf6 25.Rc7 Rxa2 26.Ree7 Nd5 27.Be4 Nxc7 28.Bxa8 Rc2 29.Re5 g6 30.Be4 Rc4 31.f3 Ra4 32.h4 Kg8 33.h5 Kf7 34.Kf2 Kf6 35.Rc5 Ne8 36.hxg6 hxg6 37.Rc6+ Ke5 38.Bxg6 Ra2+ 39.Rc2 Rxc2+ 40.Bxc2 Nd6 41.f4+ Kf6 42.g4 Nc4 43.g5+ Ke6 44.Bb3 1–0


Kaushal,Khandhar - Poompong,Wiwatanadate [B19]
8th ASEAN AGE - OPEN 18 Pattaya, Thailand (4), 16.06.2007
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Qc7 11.Rh4 e6 12.Bf4 Bd6 13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.Ne4 Qe7 15.Qb3 0–0–0 16.0–0–0 Ngf6 17.Nxf6 gxf6 18.Rd3 Nb6 19.Nd2 Rhg8 20.Rg3 Rg5 21.Rxg5 fxg5 22.Re4 Nd5 23.Qa4 Kb8 24.c3 Nf4 25.Nc4 Nxg2 26.Ne5 Nf4 27.Kc2 Qc7 28.Re1 f6 29.Ng4 Nxh5 30.Rxe6 Qh7+ 31.Kb3 Qf5 32.d5 Rxd5 33.Qe4 Qxe4 34.Rxe4 Rf5 35.Nxh6 Rxf2 0–1



Lam,Kwok-Foong - Kaushal,Khandhar [C02]
8th ASEAN AGE - OPEN 18 Pattaya, Thailand (5), 16.06.2007
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Nh6 6.a3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Bd7 8.Nc3 f6 9.exf6 Qxf6 10.Bg5 Qf7 11.Bd3 Nf5 12.Bxf5 Qxf5 13.0–0 Bd6 14.Re1 0–0 15.Nb5 Bb8 16.Rc1 a6 17.Nc3 Ba7 18.Bh4 Qg4 19.h3 Qh5 20.Bg3 Rxf3 21.gxf3 Nxd4 22.Kg2 Rf8 23.f4 Qf7 24.Ne2 Nb5 25.a4 Nd6 26.Nd4 Bb8 27.Nf3 Ne4 28.Qb3 Bc6 29.Ng5 Nxg5 30.fxg5 d4+ 31.Rxc6 bxc6 32.Qxe6 Qxe6 33.Rxe6 Bxg3 34.fxg3 Rc8 35.Rd6 c5 36.Rd5 Kf7 37.Kf3 Ke6 38.Ke4 Rc7 39.g4 Rc8 40.a5 Rc7 41.h4 g6 42.h5 Rc8 43.b4 cxb4 44.Rxd4 Rb8 45.Rd2 Rb5 46.Rb2 Rxa5 47.Kf4 Rb5 48.Rb3 Kd5 49.Re3 b3 50.Re5+ Kc4 51.Re4+ Kc3 52.Re3+ Kd2 53.Rh3 b2 0–1



Tran,Ngoc Son - Tan,Ken Wei [B25]
8th ASEAN AGE - OPEN 16 Pattaya, Thailand (1), 14.06.2007
1.d3 c5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.e4 d6 6.Nge2 e6 7.0–0 Nge7 8.f4 Rb8 9.a3 b5 10.Be3 Nd4 11.Bxd4 cxd4 12.Na2 Qb6 13.Kh1 Bb7 14.Qd2 0–0 15.c3 dxc3 16.Naxc3 Rfd8 17.Rac1 d5 18.e5 Nf5 19.d4 h5 20.a4 b4 21.Nd1 Ba6 22.Bf3 Rdc8 23.Ne3 Bxe2 24.Bxe2 Qxd4 25.Qxd4 Nxd4 26.Ba6 Rxc1 27.Rxc1 Rb6 28.Bd3 Rc6 29.Rxc6 Nxc6 30.Nc2 Bf8 31.Kg2 Bc5 32.Kf3 Kf8 33.h3 Ke7 34.g4 hxg4+ 35.hxg4 Na5 36.f5 gxf5 37.gxf5 exf5 38.Bxf5 Nc4 39.b3 Nxe5+ 40.Kf4 f6 41.Ne1 Nc6 42.Bc2 Bd6+ 43.Ke3 Be5 44.Nf3 Kd6 0–1




Tan,Ken Wei - Rian,Kapriaga [B27]
8th ASEAN AGE - OPEN 16 Pattaya, Thailand (2), 14.06.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Bb5 a6 6.e5 axb5 7.exf6 exf6 8.Nc3 Nc6 9.Qf4 Bg7 10.0–0 0–0 11.Nxb5 d5 12.Be3 Ne5 13.Bc5 Re8 14.Nfd4 b6 15.Ba3 Ba6 16.Rfe1 Qd7 17.Nc3 Rac8 18.Rad1 Rc4 19.Qd2 f5 20.b3 Rxd4 21.Qc1 Rxd1 22.Rxd1 Nf3+ 23.gxf3 Bxc3 0–1

Tan,Ken Wei - Nguyen,Ngoc Hiep [B53]
8th ASEAN AGE - OPEN 16 Pattaya, Thailand (4), 16.06.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Bxc6 Bxc6 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.0–0–0 Qa5 11.Kb1 Rg8 12.Nh4 0–0–0 13.Rhe1 Rd7 14.Re3 e6 15.Ne2 d5 16.Qxf6 Bg7 17.Qf4 d4 18.Ra3 Qb5 19.Rxa7 Be5 20.a4 Qc5 21.Ra8+ Kc7 0–1

Chua,Zheng Yuan Terry - Muhammad,Izz Saifuddin [B22]
8th ASEAN AGE - OPEN 14 Pattaya, Thailand (1), 14.06.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.c3 d6 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 Nc6 7.Be2 e6 8.0–0 Be7 9.Na3 0–0 10.Nc4 Qc7 11.exd6 Bxd6 12.Nxd6 Qxd6 13.Qd2 h6 14.b3 b6 15.Bb2 Bb7 16.Ne5 Nxe5 17.dxe5 Qe7 18.Rac1 Rfd8 19.Rc4 Ba6 20.Rg4 Nf4 21.Qxf4 Bxe2 22.Rg3 Bxf1 23.Qxh6 Qf8 24.Kxf1 Rd1+ 25.Ke2 Rad8 26.Bc3 a5 27.Qg5 g6 28.Qf6 Qg7 29.Qf4 Qf8 30.Qf6 Qc5 31.Rxg6+ fxg6 32.Qxg6+ Kf8 33.Qf6+ Ke8 ½–½




Muhammad,Izz Saifuddin - Dang,Duy Linh [A40]
8th ASEAN AGE - OPEN 14 Pattaya, Thailand (2), 14.06.2007
1.Nf3 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.c4 c5 4.d5 d6 5.g3 Qa5+ 6.Nbd2 a6 7.Bg2 b5 8.0–0 Nf6 9.Qc2 0–0 10.h3 Nbd7 11.e4 Rb8 12.Re1 Ne8 13.a3 Ne5 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.Nf3 bxc4 16.Bd2 Qb5 17.Nxe5 dxe5 18.Bc3 f6 19.f4 exf4 20.gxf4 Nd6 21.e5 Nf5 22.e6 Bb7 23.Rad1 Rfd8 24.Be4 Qe8 25.Bxf5 gxf5 26.Qxf5 Qg6+ 27.Qxg6+ hxg6 28.d6 Rxd6 29.Rxd6 exd6 30.Bxf6 Re8 31.Kf2 Bc8 32.e7 Kf7 33.Bg5 Bxh3 34.Rd1 Ke6 35.Rc1 d5 36.Re1+ Kd6 37.Rh1 Bf5 38.Ke1 Bd7 39.Rh7 Rb8 40.Bf6 Ke6 41.Be5 Rb3 42.Rg7 Be8 43.Kd2 Rd3+ 44.Kc2 Ba4+ 45.b3 Rxb3 46.Rxg6+ Kd7 47.Rxa6 Rxa3+ 48.Kb2 Rb3+ 49.Ka2 Bb5 50.Ra7+ Ke8 51.Rc7 d4 52.Rxc5 d3 53.f5 0–1

Muhammad,Izz Saifuddin - Nicholas,Rahman [E01]
8th ASEAN AGE - OPEN 14 Pattaya, Thailand (3), 15.06.2007
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.g3 e6 5.Qc2 Bd6 6.Bg2 Nbd7 7.0–0 0–0 8.b3 dxc4 9.bxc4 e5 10.Bb2 Qe7 11.e4 Re8 12.Nbd2 exd4 13.Nxd4 Nf8 14.Rfe1 Bc5 15.h3 Be6 16.Rad1 Rad8 17.N2b3 Bb4 18.Re2 Ba3 19.Bxa3 Qxa3 20.Red2 Qe7 21.e5 N6d7 22.f4 Nc5 23.Kh2 Bc8 24.Nxc5 Qxc5 25.Qc3 Qe7 26.Qa5 Rd7 27.Nf5 Qe6 28.Nd6 Red8 29.Qxa7 f6 30.Qa5 fxe5 31.Qxe5 Qxe5 32.fxe5 Re7 33.Nf5 Red7 34.Rxd7 Rxd7 35.Rxd7 Bxd7 36.Nd6 b6 37.g4 Ng6 38.e6 Bxe6 39.Bxc6 Ne5 40.Bd5 ½–½

Choo,Zhong-Sheng Amos - Muhammad,Izz Saifuddin [B22]
8th ASEAN AGE - OPEN 14 Pattaya, Thailand (4), 16.06.2007
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.Qxd4 e6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Qe4 Qc7 8.Bd3 Ncb4 9.0–0 Nxd3 10.Qxd3 d6 11.exd6 Bxd6 12.b3 h6 13.Bb2 0–0 14.c4 Nf4 15.Qc2 b5 16.Na3 Ba6 17.cxb5 Qxc2 18.Nxc2 Bxb5 19.Rfd1 Rfd8 20.Ncd4 Ne2+ 21.Kh1 Nxd4 22.Nxd4 Be8 23.Nf3 Rac8 24.Rac1 Bf4 25.Rxd8 Rxd8 26.Re1 Bc6 27.Nd4 Bb7 28.Ne2 Bg5 29.Bc3 h5 30.h3 Rd3 31.Kh2 Bd5 32.Bb4 Bc6 33.a3 Bd5 34.Rb1 Rxb3 35.Rxb3 Bxb3 36.Nd4 Bd5 0–1



Muhammad,Izz Saifuddin - Angelo,Ezekiel P. Nuestro [E65]
8th ASEAN AGE - OPEN 14 Pattaya, Thailand (5), 16.06.2007
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 d6 5.g3 0–0 6.Bg2 c5 7.d5 Na6 8.0–0 Bd7 9.h3 Nc7 10.a4 Rb8 11.e4 Qc8 12.Kh2 a6 13.a5 b5 14.axb6 Rxb6 15.Nd2 Qa8 16.f4 Qa7 17.e5 Nfe8 18.Qe2 a5 19.Kh1 Bc8 20.b3 e6 21.Bb2 Bb7 22.Rxa5 Qxa5 23.Ra1 Qxa1+ 24.Bxa1 Ba6 25.Na4 Rb4 26.Bc3 Rb8 27.exd6 Bxc3 28.dxc7 Nxc7 29.Nxc3 exd5 30.Nxd5 Nxd5 31.Bxd5 Rfd8 32.Qe7 Re8 33.Qxf7+ Kh8 34.Qf6# 1–0

Rybka is the new 2007 World Computer Chess Champion!

Rybka is the new 2007 World Computer Chess Champion, with the fantastic score of 10 out of 11. The nearest rival Zappa trail behind with 8 point. The event were held at Science Park Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands from 11-18 June to 2007.


Full story here http://www.grappa.univ-lille3.fr/icga/news_item.php?id=25

The participant is Rybka , Zappa, Loop, Shredder, GridChess,Deep Sieng, Jonny,Diep, The Baron, IsiChess, The King and Micro-Max.

It’s interesting to note that two chessbase program Fritz and Junior didn’t participate in the event. Every chess fan would eager to watch both chess programs fight with Rybka to determine the "undisputed" World Chess Champion. Recently Junior and Fritz compete with each other in the Ultimate Computer Chess Challenge held together with the Candidate 2007 at Elista . Junior won that match. The final result of the match is 4-2 in favor of Junior. see http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3924

Rybka author Vasik Rajlich a Fide Master propose a controversial challenge to FIDE President Kirsan N. Ilyumzhinov, the sponsored of the Ultimate Computer Chess Challenge by offering a $100,000 computer chess challenge from Rybka to FIDE, who will be represented by the winner of the Ultimate Computer Chess Challenge 2007. The challenge consists of a 24 game match, at classical time controls, on unlimited hardware and with unlimited opening books, held at 2 games per day over twelve days, with Rybka giving a handicap of one point plus draw odds and thus requiring a score of 13 out of 24 or better to win the match. The prize fund of $100,000 should be a winner-takes-all, loser-pays-all proposition.
See the proposal from Rybka at http://rybkachess.com/docs/ChallengeToFIDE.htm

It is interesting to note that chessbase.com didn’t cover this year computer event at all although one of it program, Shredder took part. In the past, they always cover the event for example last year event won by Junior! see http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3277


Rybka final round game against Shredder:-

Rybka - Shredder , World Chess Championship 2007,
Amsterdam 18.06.2007, B97: Sicilian Najdorf: Poisoned Pawn

Analyze by Fritz and Hairulov

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6 (The famous Poision Pawn Variation use by Bobby Fischer against Spassky in World Championship 1972. Spassky manage to trap Fischer queen ) 8.Qd2 Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.e5 (Spassky played 10.Bxf6 in the famous game against Fischer who found her queen being trap on move 24! - 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Be2 h5 12.0–0 Nc6 13.Kh1 Bd7 14.Nb1 Qb4 15.Qe3 d5 16.exd5 Ne7 17.c4 Nf5 18.Qd3 h4 19.Bg4 Nd6 20.N1d2 f5 21.a3 Qb6 22.c5 Qb5 23.Qc3 fxg4 24.a4 h3 (if 24...Qe2 25.Rae1!)

....1-0 Spassky-Fischer 1972 World Championship)

10...dxe5 11.fxe5 Nfd7 12.Ne4 h6 13.Bh4 Qxa2 14.Rd1 Qd5 [14...Nxe5? doesn't work because of 15.Nb5 Theme: Clearance for d2-d8 15...f5 16.Nbd6+ Bxd6 17.Nxd6+ Kf8 18.Nxc8+-] 15.Qe3 Qxe5 [15...Nxe5 is clearly inferior 16.Nb3 Qxd1+ 17.Kxd1+-] 16.Be2 Bc5 17.Bg3 Bxd4 18.Rxd4 Qa5+ 19.Rd2 0-0 20.Bd6 Re8 21.0-0 f5 22.Qg3 fxe4 [22...Kh8 23.Bc7 Qb4 24.Nd6 Qxd2 25.Nxe8-/+] 23.Qg6 Rd8 [23...Qxd2 24.Qxe8+ Kh7 25.Bh5 Qe3+ 26.Rf2 Qc1+ 27.Rf1 Qe3+ 28.Rf2 Qe1+ 29.Rf1 Qe3+=] 24.Rf7 Qc3 [24...Qa1+ 25.Rd1 Qc3=] 25.Bg4= Nf8 26.Bxf8 Increases the pressure on g7. The isolani on e6 becomes a target 26...Qa1+? [>=26...Rxf8 is the best chance 27.Rxf8+ Kxf8+/=] 27.Rf1+- Qxf1+ 28.Kxf1 Rxf8+ 29.Rf2 Nc6 30.Bh5 Rxf2+ 31.Kxf2 Ne5 32.Qe8+ Kh7 photo: Vasik Rajlich 33.Ke3 b5 34.Kf4 Bb7 35.Qe7 Bd5 36.Kxe5 (Shredder should have resign here) 36...a5 37.g4 e3 38.g5 hxg5 39.Qxg5 Kg8 40.Qxe3 Rf8 41.Be2 b4 [41...Ba2 doesn't change the outcome of the game 42.Qb6 Rf5+ 43.Kd6+-] 42.Bd3 Rf3 [42...b3 hardly improves anything 43.cxb3 Rf3 44.Qd2+-] 43.Qg5 [43.Qa7!? makes it even easier for White 43...b3+-] 43...b3 44.Bg6 Rf6 45.Qh5 Rxg6 46.Qxg6 b2 47.Qe8+ Kh7 48.Qb5 Kh6 49.Qxb2 Ba8 50.Qc1+ Kh5 51.Qf4 Bd5 52.c4 Bc6 53.Qf7+ Kg4 54.Qxe6+ Kf3 55.Qxc6+ Ke3 1-0

Kasparov vs Karpov , World Championship ,Sevilla 1987 : KARPOV BLUNDER!

watch Video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VMwLRg8RE0

Just revisited game 11 in The World Chess Championship Match Kasparov - Karpov 1987, Sevilla, Spain where Karpov as white and a pawn up blunder on move 35 and have to give his rook for black bishop.

The most interesting part is Kasparov face reaction to Karpov blunder! Watch.

[Event "Wch Sevilla 1987"]
[White "Anatoli Karpov"]
[Black "Garry Kasparov"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D87"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8.
Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12. Bxf7+ Rxf7 13. fxg4 Rxf1+ 14.
Kxf1 Qd6 15. Kg1 Qe6 16. Qd3 Qc4 17. Qxc4+ Nxc4 18. Bf2 cxd4 19. cxd4 e5 20. d5
Bh6 21. h4 Bd2 22. Rd1 Ba5 23. Rc1 b5 24. Rc2 Nd6 25. Ng3 Nc4 26. Nf1 Nd6 27.
Ng3 Nc4 28. g5 Kf7 29. Nf1 Nd6 30. Ng3 Nc4 31. Kf1 Ke7 32. Bc5+ Kf7 33. Rf2+
Kg7 34. Rf6 Bb6
35. Rc6 ?? 35. Bf2! should retain the advantage 35...Na5 36. Bxb6 Nxc6 37. Bc7 Rf8+ 38. Ke2 Rf7 39. Bd6 Rd7
40. Bc5 Na5 41. Nf1 Rc7 42. Bd6 Rc2+ 43. Kd3 Rxa2 44. Ne3 Kf7 45. Ng4 Nc4 46.
Nxe5+ Nxe5+ 47. Bxe5 b4 48. Bf6 b3 49. e5 Rxg2 50. e6+ Kf8 51. d6 b2 52. d7
b1=Q+ 0-1

Svenderlunk Vs. Nakamura

Watch video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcnJ2moP-K0
Yeah, this is another Youtube video showing Nakamura magic in blitz game. Although his opponent looks like a patzer like me but look at move 16. where Nakamura made a serious mistake that nearly cost him the game! watch and enjoy.

[Event "Blitz"]
[White "Svenderlunk "]
[Black "Nakamura"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B10"]


1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. d4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Be2 Bf5 7. O-O e6 8. Qd2 Bd6 9. Qd1 Just fooling around to gain time but it looks like Nakamura just play instantly! O-O 10. Qd2 Ne4 11. Qd1 g5 12. Qe1 g4 13. Nd2 Nxd4 14. Ndxe4 dxe4 15. Be3 Nf3+ 16. gxf3 Qh4 ?
Nakamura made a big mistake by playing this move he should have played 16...exf3 and win easily but Svenderlunk neveoursly think that his position was hopeless and played 17. fxe4 Where as 17. f4 ! will get a large
advantage a there is no imideate checkmate for black and white is a piece up! 17... Qxh2# 0-1

Karpov Playing In Gorenje 2007 (Valjevo, Serbia)!

Anatoly Karpov, former World Champion is playing at Gorenje 2007 (Valjevo, Serbia). It have been quite a long time for him to play in serious robin tournament with classical time control since Essent 2003.


The list of Players:

1. Anatoly Karpov (RUS 2668)
2. Kiril Georgiev (BUL 2653)
3. Predrag Nikolic (BIH 2631)
4. Michael Roiz (ISR 2616)
5. Ivan Ivanisevic (SRB 2614)
6. Mihajlo Stojanovic (SRB 2588)
7. Viorel Iordachescu (MDA 2587)
8. Branko Damljanovic (SRB 2585)
9. Suat Atalik (TUR 2584)
10. Dusko Pavasovic (SLO 2567)

Karpov draw all 3 games he played so far. Tonight he are playing with Gorgiev. Below is the update game

Karpov (2665) - Gorgiev (2653) [E37] Round 4, Gorenje 2007

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 Ne4 7.Qc2 c5 8.dxc5 Nc6 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Nf3 Qf6 this appears to be a novelty by Georgiev. Most common moves were Bf5 and Qa5, 11.e3 Bg4 12.Be2 0-0 13.Bd2 Rfe8 14.Bc3 14. Bc3 Black threten 14...d4, ripping apart White's position. 14...Nxc3 15.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 16.bxc3 Rac8 17. Rb1 is expected as Karpov might be eyeing b7 pawn. Georgiev will re-route his Knight Nc6-d8-e6 and insert Re8-e7 (protecting b7) to capture on c5, or he will take on c5 with his Rc8 and press White weak pawn on c3. 17.Rb1 Nd8 18.Kd2 Re7 19.Rb4 Be6 20.Nd4 The knight is not easily driven from d4 20...Rxc5 21.a4 Bd7 [21...b6!?+/=] 22.Ra1+/- g6 23.a5 a6 24.Bf3 Re5 25.Rb6 Truly Karpov style - he settle with small but permanent advantage and never let it go. That's why his style iof play is like a tycoon- slowlly but surely grip and weaken the enemies! 25...Kf8 26.g4 Ke8 27.h4 Rc7 28.Be2 Re7 29.Rd6 Re5 30.Rb6 [30.f4 could be better 30...Re7+-] 30...Re7 31.Rd6 Gaining time for the time control. Karpov could afford this because black have no serious counterplay [31.g5 Nc6+/-] 31...Ne6 [31...Re5 32.f4 Re7+-] 32.Rxd5 Nc5 33.f3 Be6 34.Re5 [Not 34.Nxe6 Nb3+ 35.Kd3 fxe6-/+ when the table turn.; 34.Rd6? would be met by 34...Bxg4 35.fxg4 Ne4+] 34...f6 35.Nxe6 Nb3+ 36.Ke1 The king heading for kingside pawn majority. 36...fxe5 37.Nxc7+ Rxc7 38.Ra3 Nc5 [38...Rxc3?? a poisoned pawn 39.Kf2+- and the knight will be doom.] 39.g5 Karpov fixing the black pawn on light square and will try to exploit it later with his bishop 39...h6 40.gxh6 Rh7 41.Kf2 Rxh6 42.Kg3 Rh7 43.Ra1 Nb3 44.Ra3 Nc5 45.Ra2 Rc7 46.Kg4 Ke7 47.c4 Kf6 48.Rd2 Rd7?

49.Rxd7+- Nxd7 50.Bd3 b6 51.axb6 Nxb6 52.c5 Nd5 53.e4 Nc7 54.Bc4 a5 55.f4 a4 56.f5 gxf5+? [56...Ne8 will hold a little bit longer. 57.fxg6 Kxg6 58.h5+ Kf6+-] 57.exf5 e4 58.h5 e3 [58...a3 doesn't get the bull off the ice 59.h6+- e3 60.Kf3!] 59.h6 Na6!? a nice trick to confuse mater. [59...e2 60.Bxe2 a3+- 61.Bc4] 60.c6 [60.Bxa6 and White still win although black queen first. a) 61...a2 62.h7 a1Q (62...Kg7 63.f6+) 63.h8Q+ Ke7 64.Qxa1; b) 61...a2; ] 60...a3 61.Kf3 Nc7 62.Kxe3 [62.Kxe3 Nb5 63.Bg8+-] 1-0

After 4 round, Karpov is leading Gorenje 2007 with Iordachescu, Roiz and Atalik after they tied with 2.5 points each.

National Open Blitz 2007 - Akobian vs Nakamura

Watch the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZo8O-p9qy4

This is a fascinating blitz game between GM Varuzan Akobian - GM Hikaru Nakamura in National Open Blitz Championship, Las Vegas, USA. 7.06.2007.

In the starting position as you seen in this video, Nakamura a blitz expert hold a slight advantage due to his passed pawn on a4 . Although Akobian also have a passed pawn on d6, it is not as dangerous as Nakamura passed pawn.

The most interesting moment when Akobian play the move 11.Ra6 and take the spare queen confidently as he will win the game. Nakamura annoyed with Akobian grabbed a spare queen and stare at Akobian seriously!

.....1.Bxd7 Rxb3 2.Nxb3 Nxd7 3.g3 fxg3 4.hxg3 a4 5.Nd4 Rb2 6.Ra1 Rb4 7.Nc2 Re4 8.Ne3 Kf7 9.Rc1 Ke7 10.Rc6 f5 11.Ra6 f4 12.d6+ Ke6 13.gxf4 Rxf4 14.Kg2 h5 15.Kg3 g5 16.Ra5 h4+ 17.Kg2 Ne5 18.d7 Rd4 19.d8Q Rxd8 20.Rxa4 Rf8 21.Ng4 Nd3 22.Re4+ Kd5 23.Re3 Nf4+ 24.Kg1 Kd4 25.Re7 Nh3+ 26.Kg2 Nf4+ 27.Kg1 Nd3 28.Ne3? Nxf2 29.Nc2+ Kd3 30.Ne1+ Kd2 31.Ng2 Ng4 32.Rd7+ Ke2 33.Re7+ Kf3 34.Ne1+ Kg3 0-1

Grischuk-Rublevsky Round 2 Tie-Break : Grischuk Qualified for Mexico!

Grischuk face Rublevsky today to determine a player to fill one more spot in the 2007 World Championship in Mexico City. Aronian, Leko and Gelfand are already qualified to play with Kramnik, Anand, Morozevich and Peter Svidler in September 2007 for the ultimate title : World Chess Champion!.

Analysis by Fritz

GM_Rublevsky - *GM_Grischuk,

Round 2 Tiebreak Game 1, Candidate 2007

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nxc6 Qf6 6.Qf3 bxc6 7.Qg3 h5 8.h4 Nh6 9.f3 d5 10.Nc3 Bd4 11.Bd2 Rb8 12.0-0-0 Be5 13.f4 Bd4 14.Qd3 Bg4 15.e5 Bxc3 16.Qxc3 Qe6 17.Re1 0-0 18.Be3 Rfd8 19.Qc5 a5 20.Kb1 a4 21.Bd3 Bf5 22.Rc1 Bxd3 23.cxd3 Nf5 24.Bf2 Rb5 25.Qxc6 Rdb8 26.Qxe6 Rxb2+ 27.Ka1 fxe6 28.Rb1 a3 29.Bc5 Nxh4! here's the full point 30.Rxb2? [30.Rxh4 Theme: Deflection from b1 30...Rxb1# The nicest combinations are those leading to mate] 30...axb2+ 31.Kb1 Nxg2 32.f5 [32.Rf1 does not improve anything 32...h4-+] 32...Nf4 [>=32...exf5!? and Black can already relax 33.e6 g6 34.Rf1-+] 33.fxe6 Nxd3 34.Ba3 [34.Ba7 cannot change destiny 34...Rb7 35.Be3 c5 36.Rxh5 Rb8-+] 34...Nxe5 35.Kc2 [35.e7 hardly improves anything 35...Nc4 36.Bb4 c5 37.Rxh5 Kf7 (‹37...cxb4 38.Rxd5 Re8 39.Rd4-+) 38.Rf5+ Kxe7 39.Bxc5+ Kd7-+] 35...Nc4 36.Bc5 Nd2 [>=36...h4 seems even better 37.a4-+] 37.a4 [37.Kxd2 hoping against hope 37...b1Q 38.Rxb1 Rxb1 39.Be7-+] 37...b1Q+ 38.Rxb1 Nxb1 39.a5 [39.Bf2 doesn't change anything anymore 39...Na3+ 40.Kd3 Re8-+] 39...Rb5 [39...Rb5 40.Be7 c5-+; 39...h4!? might be the shorter path 40.Bg1 c5 41.Kd3-+] 0-1

GM_Grischuk - *GM_Rublevsky

Round 2, Tiebreak Game 2 Candidate 2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 Qc7 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Be3 Be7 9.f4 d6 10.a4 0-0 11.Kh1 Re8 12.Bf3 Bf8 13.Qd2 Rb8 14.Rad1 e5 15.Nde2 b5 16.axb5 axb5 17.f5 b4 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.Qxd5 Ba6 20.Qd2 Nd4 21.Bxd4 exd4 22.Rfe1 Bxe2 23.Qxe2 Be7 24.Rxd4 Bf6 25.Rc4 Qa5 26.c3 bxc3 27.bxc3 d5 28.Rc6 Bxc3 29.Rd1 Bf6 30.Qc2 Qb4 31.e5 Bxe5 32.Bxd5 Qh4 33.g3 Bxg3 34.Bxf7+ Kxf7 35.Qa2+ Kf8 36.Qa3+ Re7 37.Qxg3 Qe4+ 38.Qg2 Rb1 39.Rcc1 Qe1+ 40.Qg1 Qe4+ 41.Qg2 Qxg2+ 42.Kxg2 Rb2+ 43.Kg3 Rb3+ 44.Kf4 Rb4+ 45.Kg3 Re3+ 46.Kf2 Re5 47.Rc8+ Ke7 48.Rc7+ Kf6 49.Rd6+ Kxf5 50.Rf7+ Ke4 51.Rxg7 Rf5+ 52.Ke2 Rb2+ 53.Rd2 Rxd2+ 54.Kxd2 Rf2+ 55.Ke1 Rxh2 56.Kf1 Ke5 1/2-1/2

GM_Rublevsky - *GM_Grischuk,

Round 2 Tiebreak Game 3, Candidate 2007

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nb3 Bb6 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Qe2 d6 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bh4 g5 10.Bg3 Qe7 11.h4 Rg8 12.hxg5 hxg5 13.0-0-0 Be6 14.Rh6 0-0-0 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 Ne5 17.Bxe5 dxe5 18.Qf3 Rd6 19.Nd2 Ne8 20.Rh5 Nf6 21.Qf5+ Kb8 22.Rh6 Ne8 23.Qh7 Qf8 24.Rh1 Nf6 25.Qf5 Nxd5 26.Ne4? This move will lose a pawn with 26...Ne7 27.Qh7?! another bad move. (27. Qf3 is better... Rxd1+ 28.Qxd1 f5 29.Nc3 Bxf2] ) 27...Rxd1+ 28.Kxd1 f5 29.Bc4 fxe4 30.Bxg8 Nxg8 31.Qxe4 a6 32.Rh8 Ka7 33.Qxe5 Qf7 34.Qxg5 Nf6 35.f3 Qd7+ 36.Qd2 Qb5 37.c3 Nd5 38.Rh1 Be3 0-1

Shirov-Aronian and Rublevsky-Grischuk Live !

This is the final classical time control game for the games Shirov-Aronian and Rublevsky-Grischuk. Shirov is in a do or die situiation where as he has to win this game to have a chance to play in the tie break and to proceed to Mexico. This must be interesting because Shirov have the character of a fighter and his games are always full of sacrifieces!Aronian only need a draw.

GM_Aronian (2759) - GM_Shirov analisa (2699)

Game 6, Round, Candidate 2007

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.d3 d6 9.c3 [9.a3 Na5 10.Ba2] 9...Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.Nbd2 Nc6 12.Nf1 Re8 13.a3 h6 14.b4 Be6 (15.d4 Is critical according to GM Speelman in ChessFM because it force black to exchange the centre pawn or d5 will fork the black bishop and knight on c6 and e6. 15...cxd4 16.cxd4 Nxd4 [16...d5 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.dxe5+-] 17.Nxd4 exd4 18.Bb2 ) 15.Ng3 d5 [15.... Nxd5 17.Bb2 c4 (17...cxb4 18.axb4 f6) 18.dxc4 bxc4 19.Qd2; 15.d4 Is critical according to GM Speelman in ChessFM because it force black to exchange the centre pawn or d5 will fork the black bishop and knight on c6 and e6. 15...cxd4 16.cxd4 Nxd4 (16...d5 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.dxe5+-) 17.Nxd4 exd4 18.Bb2]16.exd5 Qxd5 17.Be3 Rac8 18.Nd2 *

18...Nb8 A good knight retreat because it defend pawn on c6 and c5. 19.Nge4 Nbd7 20.Bb3 Qxd3 21.Bxe6 fxe6 22.Qf3 cxb4 23.axb4 Nxe4 24.Nxe4 Nf6 25.Nxf6+ Bxf6 26.Rxa6 Qxc3 27.Rb1 Shirov in serious time trouble, he has only 71/2 minutes to reach move 40 whereas Aronian have about 50 minutes!....1/2-1/2 game draw. What a surprise desicion by Shirov! He obviously can stay playing because the position are still unclear!

Rublevsky has the slight edge playing white against Grischuk in game 6.

GM_Rublevsky (2680) - *GM_Grischuk (2717) [C45]Candidate 2007

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nxc6 Qf6 6.Qf3 bxc6 7.Qg3 h5 8.h4 Nh6 9.f3 d5 10.Nc3 Bd4 11.Bd2 Rb8 12.0-0-0 Be5 (13.f4 This move has a drawback that it lost control over g4 square. 13...Bd4 14.exd5 [14.Qg5 dxe4 15.Qxf6 Bxf6 16.b3 Bf5 17.Nxe4 Bxe4 18.Re1 0-0 19.Rxe4 Ng4 20.Ra4 Looks good for white.] 14...0-0 15.Bc4 Bg4 ) 13.Qg5 [13.f4 This move has a drawback that it lost control over g4 square. 13...Bd4 14.exd5 0-0 15.Bc4 cxd5 (15...Bg4) 16.Bxd5] 13...Qd6 14.exd5 0-0 15.Bc4 cxd5 16.Bxd5 Qxd5 [16...Rxb2 17.Kxb2 Qxd5 18.Rhe1 (18.f4 Qb7+ 19.Kc1 f6 20.Qxh5 Bg4 21.Qg6 Bf5 22.Qh5 Rb8) 18...Bf5 19.Rb1 Bd4 20.Kc1 Qc4 21.Rb3] 17.Nxd5 Bxb2+ 18.Kb1 Bc3+ 19.Kc1 Bb2+ 20.Kb1 Bc3+ 1/2-1/2

Draw by repitition. Grischuk and Rublevsky will meet again tommorow for tie break.

Dissapointing games in round 5!

Games 5 in round 2 proved to be the most boring games so far. 3 games ( Aronian-Shirov, Leko-Bareev and Grischuk- Rublevsky) ended in a draw . The game Kamsky is still on with Kamsky down a pawn so far. (update:Kamsky lost to Gelfand)

Game 1 : Aronian-Shirov

Both players rapidly excute their move and they reach 20+ move by only using less than 15 minutes both. It looks like both are playing their preparation and Aronian

Game 2 : Leko-Bareev

Bareev trailing by 2 points didn't achieve much in this game end agree to pack his bag early by agreeing for a draw against Leko.

Game 3 : Grischuk- Rublevsky
Grischuk seems confident to draw this game although he have to play with the black piece tomorrow. What a gamble!?

Game 4 : Kamsky-Gelfand

Kamsky simply down a pawn and try his best defending endgame with much difficulty.

Kamsky fighting spirit proved not enough and he lost to Gelfand .

Leko and Gelfand will go to Mexico where as Aronian, Shirov, Grischuk and Rublevsky will fight tommorow to fight for two more seat to Mexico. Four places available in the September World Championship in Mexico

The Old Bull Still Bite !

LAS VEGAS INTERNATIONAL CHESS FESTIVAL 2007 (7-11 June) just end yesterday. Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura finished a clear first to take home the Edmondson Cup . The festival attract many strong GM and title players such as GM Hikaru Nakamura, GM Jaan Ehlvest, ,GM Alexander Shabalov, GM Gregory Serper, GM Varuzhan Akobian, GM Dmitry Gurevich, GM Julio Becerra, GM Melikset Khachiyan, GM Emil Anka, , GM Merab Gagunashvili, GM Bosko Abramovic, IM Ben Finegold, IM Irina Krush, IM Amon Simutowe, IM David Vigorito, IM Mark Ginsburg and many more.

However, i don't want to highlight much on the champion instead i think that the main focus is on Korchnoi second placing. This is an interesting achievement considering his age. This old bull still bite !

Viktor Lvovich Korchnoi born March 23, 1931 in Leningrad, USSR, is currently the oldest active grandmaster on the world tournament circuit. Korchnoi famous for his three lost matches against Anatoly Karpov for the World Chess Championship (two official matches in 1978 and 1981, and the 1974 Candidates' Final .

He is a four-time USSR chess champion (1960, 1962-63, 1964-65, 1970), two-time winner of the Interzonal tournaments, winner of two Candidates Tournaments (1977, 1980) and a five-time European champion. He also was a six-time member of Soviet teams that won the Chess Olympiad. In September 2006 he became the World Senior Chess Champion.

By the way, Korchnoi began the tournament with a surprising result on board one, as he only managed to escape with a draw from a losing position against the young Erkin Gurbauzade from Azerbaijan. Korchnoi was down a piece with very little compensation. Korchnoi a greatest fighters steer the game into drawish rook ending endgame.

Korchnoi - Erkin Gurbauzade , Round 1, 8.6.2007, Las Vegas International.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Nge2 Nbd7 7.Bg5 c5 8.Qd2 Re8 9.d5 a6 10.a4 Qa5 11.Ra3 Ne5 12.Nc1 e6 13.Be2 exd5 14.cxd5 Qc7 15.0-0 c4 16.Kh1 b6 17.N1a2 Bb7 18.Nb4 Rac8 19.Nc2 Nfd7 20.Bh6 Bh8 21.f4 Nd3 22.Ne3 b5 23.axb5 axb5 24.Nxb5 Qb6 25.Nxc4 Rxc4 26.Qxd3 Rcxe4 27.Nc3 Re3 .....

Korchnoi-Erkin Gurbauzade 1/2-1/2- 1st round. Photo from susanpolgar.blogspot.com

.....the game continue and after 41.f5 gxf5 42.Bf4 Rc8 43.Ra7 fxg4 44.Bxd6 Bf5 45.hxg4 Bxg4 46.Bc7 [46.Bxc5 Rxc5 47. d6 Kf8-+ (47...Rxc4?! 48. d7 Bxd7 49 .Rxd7-+) ] 46...Be2 [46...Ne4-+ Erkin miss this move winning move which could ends the debate!] 47.Bb6 Bxc4 48.d6 Be6 Korchnoi an experience player knows that the winning chances decrease only for rook's and bishop's pawn pawns that are not connected ( a+c pawn and f+h pawn)in endgame with rook+2 pawns versus rook. So he willingly play for that position where as Erkin may not aware about the theory. ( Same with me, i refer this theory in rooks ending book :) ) 49.Bxc5 Rxc5 50.d7 Bxd7 51.Rxd7 Rg5 52.Kh3 Rg7 and the game enden in a draw on move 82.

However below is how Viktor Korchnoi dispatched GM Sharavdorj Dashzegve
with impressive isolated queen pawn play on round 5.

Sharavdorj - Korchnoi [D26] Round 5,

Las Vegas International 2007

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 e6 3.c4 dxc4 4.e3 c5 5.Bxc4 Nf6 6.0-0 Nc6 7.Qe2 cxd4 8.Rd1 Be7 9.Nxd4 Nxd4 10.exd4 Bd7 11.Bg5!? 0-0 12.Nc3 Re8 13.Rd3 Rc8 14.Bb3 Bc6 15.Rad1 Nd5 16.Bxd5 Bxd5 17.Bxe7 Rxe7 18.Qh5 Rd7 19.Rh3 h6 20.Qe5 Qf8 21.Rg3 Rcd8 22.Rdd3 f6 23.Qh5 Bc4 24.Rdf3? Rxd4 25.h3 Kh8 26.Rg6 Bd3 27.Rxd3 Rxd3 28.Ne4 R8d4 0-1

Dress code !

Photo from chessbase.com

It seems that the participant of this Candidate event have their own taste in term of their appearance during play. For example in his 4th game against Bareev, Leko wear a full suite with tie where as Kamsky settle with a cap and round neck t-shirt in his 4th round against Gelfand!

Some may argue that they were ask by the organiser to wear the t-shirt but what about the cap?

In my opinion, FIDE should imposed a standard dressing code especially in serious and important tournament such as the Candidate. Sponsors may have their negative perception by looking improper attire by the professional players .

There is a questions asked to Gata Kamsky about the cap he wear during his match against Boris Gelfand . Read it http://globalchess.eu/main.php?id=71

Rublevsky Strikes Back!!!

Rublevsky strikes back by beating Grischuk on round 5 to level the score. Rublevsky trailing a point after his lost on game 1. Grischuk mistake probally occur on move 14...0-0 where as he should play 14...Nf5 first.

Here's the game.

GM_Rublevsky - *GM_Grischuk ,

Round 2, Game 5, Elista Candidate , 11.06.2007

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nxc6 Qf6 6.Qf3 bxc6 7.Qg3 h5 8.h4 Nh6 9.f3 d5 10.Nc3 Bb4 11.Bd2 dxe4 12.0-0-0 e3 13.Bxe3 Bxc3 14.bxc3 0-0 15.Qg5 Nf5 16.Qxf6 gxf6 17.Bf4 Be6 18.Ba6 Nd6 19.Bxd6 cxd6 20.Rxd6 Rab8 21.Rxc6 Bxa2 22.Kd2 Rfd8+ 23.Bd3 Be6 24.Ra1 Rd7 25.Rc5 f5 26.Ke3 Re7 27.Kf4 Rb2 28.g3 Kg7 29.Kg5 Rd7 30.Ra3 Rb1 31.Rca5 Re1 32.Rxa7 Rd8 33.Ra1 Re5 34.R1a5 Re1 35.Bxf5 Bd5 36.Kf4 Rf1 37.Be4 Bxe4 38.Kxe4 Re1+ 39.Kf4 Rc8 40.Rg5+ Kf6 41.Ra6+ Ke7 42.Re5+ Rxe5 43.Kxe5 Rxc3 44.Ke4 Rxc2 45.Ra5 Rc4+ 46.Kd3 Rc1 47.Rxh5 Rg1 48.g4 Rh1 49.Re5+ Kf6 50.Rf5+ Kg7 51.h5 Re1 52.Rf4 Ra1 53.Ke3 Ra3+ 54.Kf2 Ra2+ 55.Kg3 Ra1 56.Rf5 Rh1 57.Kf4 Rh3 58.Kg5 Rh1 59.f4 Rh2 60.Rd5 Ra2 61.h6+ Kg8 62.Rd8+ Kh7 63.Rd7 Kg8 64.h7+ Kh8 65.Rxf7 Ra7 66.Rf8+ 1-0

Gelfand-Kamsky (Draw)

Kamsky down in material but manage to set a fotress and draw the game.

Bareev - Leko (Draw)

Leko has the better game but couldn't convert his extra pawn advantage in 2 rooks + 6 pawns versus 2 rooks + 5 pawns endgame.

Shirov - Aronian (the clock in my PC show 0054 and i should go to sleep)

Shirov should win this game. He has 2 pawns advantage in Rook+Bishop+5 pawns versus Rook+Knight+3 pawn.

Latest result

Aronian managed to escaped from losing position by drawing a difficult game 4 against Shirov . Shirov should blame himself for not winning this game especially when he is trailing a point and he has to 2 more game to play.

He can’t afford to lose a single game in the remaining 2 rounds.

Fascinating Draw by The Computers!

Although in my previous post http://hairulovchessmaniacs.blogspot.com/2007/06/deep-junior-vs-deep-fritz-formula-1-vs.html i mention that the duel between both chess programme were like a formula 1 car competing with formula 3 car, but in game 5, both shows what they sometimes capable for- producing beautiful game.

Usually you watch computer winning boring games and most of the game are plain and dry without any exchange sacrifice or long term strategic plans, but in game 5 of the Ultimate Chess Challenge, you saw a very different kinds of chess by the computers.

Both play a very entertaining games with imbalances position with sacrifice for initiative - not what you usually saw in computer chess games... especially when both playing each other but watch this game:-

*Deep_Junior(C) - *Deep_Fritz(C) Ultimate Chess Challange 10.06.2007, Round 5

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.d4 c6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Ne5 Bg7 12.Nxd7 Nxd7 13.Bd6 [13.e5 0-0=] 13...a6 [13...e5 14.d5 Nb6 15.dxc6 Bxc6 16.b3=] 14.a4 e5 15.Bg4? [15.axb5 is the best option White has 15...axb5 16.d5 Black centre will be destroy and his king will have a hard time in the centre.] 15...exd4-+ 16.e5! Mantaining the initiative!. This is better then the passive [16.Nb1] 16...c5 [16...dxc3 17.e6 Nf6=/+ 18.Bh5! Nxh5 19.Qxh5 Qf6 20.exf7+ Kd7 21.Rad1!] 17.Bf3=/+ Nxe5 [17...Ra7!? should be considered 18.Bxb7 Rxb7 19.axb5 dxc3=( a) 19...Bxe5 20.Re1 dxc3 21.bxc3+- (21.Bxe5?! 0-0 22.bxa6 cxb2 23.axb7 bxa1R 24.Bxa1 Nb8+/- b) 19...Nxe5?! 20.Ne4 axb5 21.Re1=) 19...axb5 20.Qf3 Qc8 21.Nd5+-; ] 18.Bxb7+/= Qxd6 19.Bxa8 0-0 20.Ne4 [20.Be4!? might be a viable alternative 20...f5 21.Bd5+ Kh8 22.axb5 axb5 23.Ba8=] 20...Qc7 21.axb5 Rxa8 22.f4 [22.Qa4!?+/= should be examined more closely] 22...gxf4=/+ 23.Qh5 Ra7 24.Rxa6 Rxa6 25.bxa6 Qc6 26.Qf5 Qxa6 27.Rxf4 Qg6 28.Nxc5 d3 A strong pawn 29.Ne4 Qxf5 30.Rxf5 Ng4 31.Rb5 Bd4+ 32.Kf1 Ne3+ 33.Ke1 f5 34.Nd2 Nxg2+ 35.Kd1 Ne3+ 36.Kc1 f4 37.Rb7 Ng4 38.h3 Nh2 39.Rd7 Be3 40.Kd1 f3 41.Ne4 Kf8 42.Nf6 Bg5 43.Ne4 Ke8 [43...Bh4!? looks like a viable alternative 44.Rd4 Ke7 45.Rxc4 f2 46.Nxf2 Bxf2=/+] 44.Rd4= Be3 45.Rxc4 f2 46.Nxf2 Bxf2 47.Rf4 Bg3 48.Rd4 1/2-1/2

Deep Junior vs Deep Fritz = Formula 1 vs Formula 3 !

Deep Junior leading 3-1 after beating Deep Fritz on game 3 and 4. It looks like the game would be won by Deep junior especially when Junior have the "advantage". Deep Fritz is running on an eight-core machine and searching 13-14 million nodes per second, reaching a search depth of 20-21 ply. Deep Junior is employing the latest Intel Server technology with 16 cores. The program is running at 24 million nodes per second and consistently reaching search depths of 24 ply.

I'm not an expert in IT but i think this mean that Deep Fritz can look two time faster than Deep Fritz. It is like a race between Alex Yoong driving Formula 1 car and Schumacher or Alonso, or Hamilton or Raikonenn or etc.etc driving Formula 3 car ..... Alex will win it!

May be next time it will be more challenging if both competitor be given the same hardware specification and rely only on their original chess programmed software :) . That i think will be fair for both party.

Fritz vs Junior – Game three
Junior - Fritz [B97]
President Cup Elista (3), 08.06.2007

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6 8.Qd2 Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.e5 h6 11.Bh4 dxe5 12.fxe5 Nfd7 13.Ne4 Qxa2 14.Rd1 Qd5 15.Qe3 Qxe5 16.Be2 Bc5 17.Bg3 Bxd4 18.Rxd4 Qa5+ 19.Rd2 0-0 20.Bd6 Re8. 21.0-0 f5 22.Qg3 Nc6 23.Qg6 Qd8 24.Bc4 Kh8 25.Ng5 Qxg5 26.Qxe8+ Kh7 27.Bf4 Qg6 28.Qxg6+ Kxg6 29.Bxe6 Nf6. 30.Bc4 Kh7 31.Bc7 a5 32.Ra1 a4 33.Bb5 Ne4 34.Rd3 Nb4 35.Rd8 a3 36.Bd7 Nxc2. 37.Rf1! Bxd7 38.Rxa8 Be6 39.Be5 Ng5 40.Rf2 Bb3 41.Rxf5 Kg6 42.Rf1 a2 43.Ra7 Ne3 44.Rxb7 Bd5 45.Rxg7+ Kh5 46.Rc1 Nxg2 47.Kf2 Nh3+ 48.Ke2 Nh4 49.Ba1 Be4 50.Rc4 Bb1 51.Rg3 Ng5 52.Rb3 Nf5 53.Kd1 Ne4 54.Kc1 Kg5 55.Rf3 Kg4 56.Ra3 Kf4 57.Rc8 Nf2 58.Rcc3 Ne4 59.Rf3+ Kg4 60.h3+ Kg5 61.Ra5 Ned6 62.Ra4 Ne4 63.Rb4 Nfd6 64.Kb2 Nf5 65.Rb5 Ned6 66.Rc5 Nb7 67.Rc4 Nbd6 68.Rg4+ Kh5 69.Rgf4 Kg6 70.Kc1 Kg5 71.Rg4+ Kh5 72.Ra4 Kg6 73.Rff4 Nc8 74.Ra5 Ncd6 75.h4 Kf7 76.Re5 Kg6 77.Kb2 Kf6 78.Kb3 Kf7 79.Ra4 Kg6 80.Ra6 Kf7 81.h5 Kf6 82.Kb4 Kf7 83.Ra7+ Kf6 84.Rd7 Kg5 85.Rxd6 1-0.



(DEEP FRITZ - DEEP JUNIOR [D85]
Ultimate Computer Challenge Elista RUS (4), 09.06.2007
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Rb1 0-0 9.Be2 Nc6 10.d5 Ne5 11.Nxe5 Bxe5 12.Qd2 e6 13.f4 Bc7 14.0-0 exd5 15.exd5 Ba5 16.f5 Bxf5 17.Rxb7 Qd6 18.Bc4 Qe5 19.Rf3 Rab8 . 20.Rxa7 Bb6 21.Ra4 Bc7 22.g3 Rb1 23.Re3 Qf6 24.Ra6 Bd6 25.Re1 Rfb8 26.Bf1 h5 27.a4 c4 28.Rc6 Ra1 29.Bxc4 Bd7 30.Rf1 Qe7 31.Rxd6 Qxd6 32.Qf2 Qb6 33.Bf4 Qxf2+ 34.Kxf2 Rb2+ 35.Ke3 Rxa4 36.Bd3 Rxh2 37.c4 Ra3 38.Kd4 h4 39.g4 Rh3 40.Be2 Rhb3 41.Ke5 Rb2 42.Re1 Raa2 43.Bd1 Ra6 44.Bc1 Rb8 45.Rg1 h3 46.Rh1 f6+ 47.Kd4 Ra1 48.Bc2 g5 49.c5 Bxg4 50.c6 Kf7 51.Rf1 Rh8 52.d6 h2 53.d7 Ke7 0-1

IM Jimmy Liew vs IM Ruben Gunawan : Merdeka Team Open 1997!

While browsing the bulletin of Merdeka Team Open 1997 helds at Wisma Belia, Kuala Lumpur (photo), i found a nice game between IM Jimmy Liew and IM Ruben Gunawan in round 3. The game were full with exchange sacrifiece and at the end , the game ended in a draw.

photo from chess.maribelajar.com

IM Jimmy Liew (above) is former Malaysia no. 1 and he's not active anymore. Before my office move to Putrajaya, i frequently saw him at Pusat Bandar Damansara during lunch hour. I believe he's working there but i never approach him. He always concentrate with what ever he do. May be that's why he manage to become Malaysia first International Master.

IM Ruben Gunawan ( he become Grand Master later) was among Indonesia top players in the late 90's and he even played in strong tournament in Bali in 2000 . He died at the Calvia Olympiad 2005 when representing his country Indonesia.

Here is the game.

IM Jimmy Liew - IM Ruben Gunawan [E42]Merdeka Team Open 1997 31.08.1997 E42:

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 5.Nge2 cxd4 6.exd4 0-0 7.a3 Be7 8.d5 ( this will lead into a double isolated queen pawn position(IQP). Other alternative is 8.Nf4) exd5 9.cxd5 Bc5 10.b4 Bb6 11.Na4 d6 12.Nxb6 Qxb6 [12...axb6] 13.Be3 Qd8 14.h3 Nbd7 15.Nc3 Ne5 16.Be2 Bf5 17.Rc1 Rc8 18.Qd4 a6 19.f4 Ng6 20.g4 Rxc3?! 21.Rxc3 (Not 21.Qxc3 Nxd5 22.Qd4 Nxe3 23.Qxe3 Re8-/+ 24.Qd2 Bd3 25.Qxd3 Nxf4 26.Qd2 Nxe2 27.Qxe2 and after taking the white queen, black will have the upper hand) Be4 22.0-0 Nxd5 23.Rcc1 [23.Rb3! is better because it protect the e3 bishop and support white queenside pawn advance later.] 23...Re8 Now black is back in the game. 24.Bf3? Ndxf4 25.Bxf4 Nxf4 26.Kh2 d5 27.Bxe4 Rxe4 28.Rxf4 [28.Qb6! and White hangs on 28...Qe8 29.Rc2=/+] 28...Rxd4-+ 29.Rxd4 h5 30.Rcd1 Qc7+ 31.Kg2 h4 [31...Qe5!? 32.R1d3 Qe2+ 33.Kg1 hxg4 34.hxg4 g5-/+] 32.R1d3 Qc2+ 33.Kg1 g6 34.Rxd5 Qe2 35.Rd8+ Kg7 36.R8d7 [36.g5 Qe1+ 37.Kg2 Qe4+ 38.Kg1 Qc4=/+] 36...b6 [36...Kh6 37.Rb3-/+] 37.Rd8 [37.g5!?=/+ should be examined more closely] 37...Kh6-/+ 38.Rb3 Kg5 39.Rd4 f6 40.Rbd3 Qb2 41.Rd5+ Kh6 42.R5d4 Qe2 43.Rb3 Kg5 [43...Qe1+ 44.Kg2-/+] 44.Rbd3 f5 45.gxf5 gxf5 46.Rd5 b5 47.R5d4 Qe5 [47...Qb2 48.Kf1-/+] 48.Rd6 Qa1+ 49.Kg2 Qb2+ 50.Kg1 [50.Kf1!?-/+] 50...Kf4-+ 51.R6d4+ Ke5 52.Rd5+ Ke4 53.Rd8 Qc1+ [53...Qb1+!? 54.Rd1 Qb3 55.Re8+ Kf4-+] 54.Kg2-/+ Qc2+ 55.Rd2 Qc3 [55...Qb3!? 56.Re2+ Kf4 57.Rf2+ Ke5 58.Re8+ Kf6-/+] 56.Re8+= Kf4 57.Rf2+ Kg5 58.Rg8+ Kh6 [58...Kf6 59.Rg4=] 59.Rxf5= Qc2+ 60.Rf2 Qe4+ 61.Rf3 Qc2+ 62.Rf2 Qe4+ 63.Rf3 1/2-1/2

Read my previous article about Merdeka Open 1997 at http://hairulovchessmaniacs.blogspot.com/2007/06/merdeka-team-open-1997.html

Interview with Woody Harrelson !

Woodrow Tracy "Woody" Harrelson (born July 23, 1961) is an American Emmy Award winning and Academy Award nominated actor.

Although he is best known for his role as Woody Boyd in the popular 1980s sitcom Cheers ( i love this sitcom ), he has also earned acclaim for his roles in films such as as Natural Born Killers, The People vs. Larry Flynt and, recently, A Prairie Home Companion.

He also played one to one exhibition game with "former" World Champion Gary Kasprov back in 1999 at Prague. The game ended with a draw but for your info....Garry graciously allow Woody to "consider several choices at various juncture". Here are the game.

Woody Harrelson - GM Garry KasparovPrague Exhibiton, July 1997

1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 ( US Champion Hikaru Nakumara played this move in serious game against strong GM ,Pentala Harikrishna at Sigeman & Co. Chess Tournament in Copenhagen 2005, ... so you can't blame Woody totally for playing this move against a World Champion!) Nc6 3.Bc4 Qe7 (Garry decided not to end the game in 4 moves!) 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Qh4 d6 6.d3 h6 7.h3 Be6 8.Nc3 Bxc4 9.dxc4 Nd4 10.Nxd4 exd4 11.Ne2 c5 12.f3 ( he first played 12.f4 but being convinced by the crowd that the e4 pawn is important) d5 13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Qxe7+ Nxe7 15.Bd2 0-0-0 16.0-0-0 g6 17.Nf4 Bg7 18.c4 dxc3 19.Bxc3 Bxc3 20.bxc3 b6 21.c4 Rhe8 22.Rxd8+ (at this point Woody tell the crowd not to help Garry!!!) Rxd8 23.Nd5 Nc6 24.Kb2 Kd7 25.a4 Ke6 26.f4 Nd4 27.Rd1 h5 28.Kc3 Ne2+ 29.Kc2 Nd4+ 30.Kc3 Ne2+ 1/2-1/2

read the full interview with Woody at http://www.nbcsports.com/sports/1609124/detail.html

source : Wikipedia

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