Congratulation Yeoh Li Tian !

Yeoh Li Tian

Photo from ChessEuHong .Net

Yeoh Li Tian (Malaysia) finish 4th place with 8 1/2 points in Boys under 8 in The World Youth Chess Championship 2007 which has taking place in Kemer-Antalya, Turkey from 17-29 November 2007 . Konstantin Savenkov from Russia finished 1st place followed by Qasimov Chingiz (Azerbaijan) and 3rd place Sinyanskiy Maxim (Russia).

I think this is the best ever result for any Malaysian in World Youth Championship. The best ever result before is from Mas Hafizul and Ooi Chern Eee who finish 5th in the past. Congratulation Yeoh!

Li Tian has beat among others, India under-7 champion Harshal Shahi (photo right) - the youngest internationally rated chess player in India.

Below are their games.

Analyse by Hairulov and Fritz.

Yeoh,Li Tian - Shahi,Harshal (1708) [B22]WYC 2007 U08b Kemer/Antalya (9.3), 26.11.2007

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Sicilian Alapin Variation 3...d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 Bg4 7.Nc3 Qd6?! [7...Bxf3 8.gxf3 Qxd4 9.Qxd4 Nxd4 10.Nb5 Nxb5 11.Bxb5+ Kd8 12.Bf4 Will give white a strong attack; 7...Qa5 is probaly better 8.d5 0-0-0] 8.d5 Nb8 This move is too passive [8...Ne5!?+/-] 9.Bd3 [9.Qb3!? Is better. Attacking the b7 pawn. 9...Nd7 (9...b6 10.Nb5 Qd8 11.Qc4 Bxf3 12.gxf3 Na6? 13.Qc6+) 10.Nb5 Qb8+- White has strong initiative.] 9...Nf6 10.Bg5 g6? This move is too slow. Black should develop quickly with [10...Nbd7!? 11.Nb5 Qb6+/=] 11.0-0 [Li tian missed stronger move 11.Nb5! Qd7 (11...Qd8 12.Qa4!) 12.Bxf6 exf6 13.Qe2+ Kd8+-] 11...Bg7+/- 12.Rc1?! [12.Qa4+ Bd7 13.Qd4 Is better.] 12...a6? Too slow. [12...0-0 13.Nb5 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 Qxd5 15.Nc7 Qxg5 16.Qxb7+/= Is a wild continution suggest by Fritz.] 13.h3 [13.Qa4+!? Bd7 14.Qd4+-] 13...Bxf3+/- 14.Qxf3 0-0 Black is behind in development. 15.Ne4 Nxe4 16.Qxe4 Re8 [16...Be5!?+/= must definitely be considered] 17.Bf4 Qd8 18.Rc2 [18.Bc7 Qd7+/-] 18...Qb6? [18...Nd7 19.Bc4+/=] 19.d6 ?! Li Tian should have play 19.Rc7 and the scales will tip in his favour 19...Bf6 20.b4+- White controling more space.] 19...Nc6+/= 20.Re1 [20.dxe7 Qd4+/=] 20...e5 [20...Qd8!?= is an interesting alternative] 21.Be3+/- Qa5 22.Bd2 [22.Rd1!?+/- White should protected the d pawn.] 22...Qd8 23.Bb4 Bf8 24.h4? [24.Rd1!?=] 24...Bxd6 25.Bd2 Black is a pawn up but white pieces are more active. 25...Qb6 [25...f5 26.Qd5+ Kh8 27.Bc4] 26.Be3 Qb4 27.Bh6 [27.Rd1!?= is worth looking at] 27...Qxe4-/+ 28.Bxe4 Black has nothing to worry anymore after the queen have been traded. 28...Rac8 [28...Nd4 is better.] 29.g4 [29.Rec1 Re7=] 29...Rc7 [29...Nd4 30.Rxc8 Rxc8 31.Be3=/+] 30.a3 Rec8 31.Rec1 Bf8 [31...Nd8 32.Rxc7 Rxc7 33.Rxc7 Bxc7 34.Kg2=] 32.Be3= Be7 33.g5 White wins space 33...f5?? Black open his king shelter Unnecessarily [33...Kg7!?= is worthy of consideration] 34.Bd5++/- Kg7 35.Bb6 Rd7 36.Be6 Rcd8 37.Bxd7 White gain material. 37...Rxd7 38.Be3 f4 39.Rd2 Rxd2 40.Bxd2 [40.Bxd2 h5 41.Kg2+/-] 1-0

Majalah Catur ( Chess Magazine) !

I feel so delighted when i read Mr Yusof article about Majalah Catur (Chess Magazine) in his blog . I have two issue of the Majalah Catur . I have read the remaining issue from my friend collection Mr. Nuruddin . I’m not sure whether Nuruddin or anyone still have the copies but i’m willing to buy it -of course if the price were right:) .

Personally the “over the board” or hard copy magazine was and still have sentimental value for me. I’ve read it from time to time although it have been about 12 years since i bought it. The magazines has survive the climate change and old paper sell for that particular periods - An excellent achievement for a magazine to survive!

Majalah Catur contain local chess issue that is “impossible” to get in those pre-internet age accept chess news from local newspaper with limited space and published once a week. Chess coverage of local tournament involving local players, local annotated chess game and local chess stories (critics/humour) is something that every local chess addicts is dreaming for.

For me personally, another interesting things about the magazine is my photo against one UKM player was publish in one off the issue . The photo was taken at Shah Alam during the inter matriculation team tournament. I was playing for Kolej MARA Kulim and our team achieve 4th placing and I score 100% in 1st board but unfortunately there is no board price for best board. At that time I was so happy to have my photo in a chess magazine circulated all over the country.

Personally even today i would love to have any hard copy chess magazine compare to online magazine or e-magazine/books/blog etc. simply because it’s handy . You can’t bring your PC or laptop!? to toilet and read chess article but it’s possible with a hard copy chess magazine. You can read it anywhere , just name it-bus station, LRT , plane, bed, kitchen, living room, toilet..etc. One more thing is it is not comfortable for your eyes to read long article online. It just not good for your eyes. But don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean that hard copy magazine is better then online magazine/blog/website but I think both should exist and have their own advantage an disadvantage. Online chess publication is faster, interactive and flexible to publish compare to hard copy mainly because of his front name, (hard) so it is hard to publish it!

I would support anybody who like to produced a local hard copy chess magazine in the future. I would be the first person to subscribe it -if the price is reasonable, of course :)
But in this online ages i should warn you that hard copy publication is having a challenging time in the future. Even now as Andrew Gilachess has mention in his article, online advertisement has overtake printed advertisement this year and for coming years. Even Chess life the US chess magazine hard copy has a difficult time and are going online .

Anyway for a sentimental persons and i know there’s still plenty of sentimental spices like me, local hard copy chess magazine still something that can be enjoyable to read and I’m looking forward to have it!

Game Replayer

Hi guys,

I'm trying a new features for my blog. A game replayer. It's from http://www.chessvideos.tv/

Below are my game from Selangor Open 2003. A draw game against Tan Hong Ghee.

What Chess And Boxing Have In Common?

According to the Associated Press (AP), Garry Kasparov, former world chess champion are sentenced to five days in jail by a Moscow court for leading an opposition protest.
“The former chess champion was forced to the ground and beaten, his assistant Marina Litvinovich said in a telephone interview from outside the police station where Kasparov was held.”Read full news here


I don’t know if there is a proper record for World Chess Champions sentences to jail but i think Kasparov were the second one after Bobby Fischer famous arrest in Japan a few years ago !

Bobby Fischer (left) "former" World Chess Champion was arrested on July 2004 at Narita Airport in Tokyo, for attempting to leave the country on an invalidated.



And if i'm not mistaken, chess and boxing is the only sports that have their World Champions being jailed-twice. Boxing has Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali and chess- Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov!


Muhammad Ali (right)- former three-time World Heavyweight Champion was famously stripped of his title in 1967 and jailed after refusing to be drafted into the US army to fight in Vietnam .





"Iron" Mike Tyson (left) was arrested in July 1991 for the rape of Miss Black Rhode Island, Desiree Washington, in an Indianapolis hotel room. Tyson was convicted on the charge on February 10, 1992.He was given a sentence of six years and was released on March 1995 after serving three years.



What a coincident , I just write an article here about chess boxing-a new hybrid sports invention . Now both game show they are equal in term of how many times their World Champions been sentences for jail!

World Cup Round 1: Interesting fact !

The 1st round of World Cup 2007 held at Khanty Mansiysk, Russia produced many upset result. Strong player were beaten by "less" strong player. For example White Essam El Gindy beat former FIDE World Champion- Ruslan Ponomariov. IM Ismagambetov of Kazakhstan beat Russian Champion- GM Alekseev (2716) , England super GM Michael Adams only managed to draw with Igor Zugic of Canada and newly crowned World Junior Champion Ahmed Adly from EGypt held Amercan Gata Kamsky for a draw.

Another interesting fact is from 2 player that have produced an upset, IM Ismagambetov (photo left) and Igor Zucic (photo right) , both have lost once to our Fide Master Lim Yee Weng. Igor Zugic lost to Yee Weng (photo middle) in Olympiad Turin 2006 and Yee Weng beat Ismagambetov of Kazakhstan at the recent Asian Indoor Games (Team Classical Chess) in Macau . See here for for the game.

World Blitz 2007 . Ivanchuk - Adams : 0-1

Video from europe-echecs.com

Vassily Ivanchuk were ground down by England top GM Mickey Adams in round 31

Analysis by hairulov and Fritz

Ivanchuk,V (2787) - Adams,Mi (2729) [E18]World Blitz Moscow RUS (31), 22.11.2007

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 b6 4.g3 Bb7 Nowadays top GMs prefer 4...Ba6 as the main line. 5.Bg2 Be7 6.Nc3 0-0 7.0-0 [7.Qc2 aiming for 8.e4 is an alternative but black has a good reply with 7...c5! 8.d5! exd5 9.Ng5 h6 10.Nxd5 Setting a small trap. 10...Bxd5= (10...hxg5?? Would be a blunder 11.Nxe7+ Qxe7 12.Bxb7 Black will down material.) ] 7...Ne4 This move prevent white from dominating the center. 8.Bd2 At first this move looks like a passive bishop move but white is willing to trade his passive dark square bishop for black active knight at e4! [8.d5?! is bad because after 8...Nxc3 9.bxc3 white will have weak double pawn.] 8...f5 [8...Nxc3?! Just helped white development. 9.Bxc3; 8...Nxd2?! 9.Qxd2 Black has lost control over e4.] 9.Qc2 Bf6 10.Rad1 Nxc3 11.Bxc3 Be4 12.Qc1 d6 I noticed that Mickey always like to play the hedghong formation e6-d6-b6 and later break with c5. Joshua Waitzkin famaous American IM said that he once have to play against Michael Adams and when he study Adams games, he noticed that he often seemed to play obsolutely no heed to the center. Usually the first principal a young chess player learns is "control the center" and here was a world class GM Ignoring it altogether! After many days of studying his games, Waitzkin began to understand that Adams was controlling the center with complete detachment. He had made the circles so small, you couldn't see them...but they were there.In fact, Adams often had complete central domination while seeming to ignore it al together.13.Ne1 Ivanchuk is willing to trade his light square bishop to increase his chance for e4 break later. 13...Qe8 14.f3 Bb7 15.e4 Nd7 [15...Qa4!? Would win a pawn on c4 or a2. Maybe Adams will play it in longer time control but in blitz the initiatiave is far more important then material advantage!] 16.Nd3 fxe4 17.fxe4 e5 18.d5 White gets more space. 18...Bc8 Adams relocate his light square bishop. On b7 it's doesn't have much prospect due to white center blocked. 19.Bh3 Ivanchuk decide to trade black light square bishop and exploite black weaness on light square. 19...Nc5 20.Bxc8 Nxd3 21.Rxd3 Rxc8 22.Rdf3 Qg6 23.Rf5 h6 24.Qd1 Be7 25.Qa4 Ivanchuk decided to go for black abandond quenside. 25...Rxf5 26.exf5 Qe8?! [26...Qg5 Is more active. 27.Be1 Rf8 28.Qc2+/=] 27.Qxa7+/- Bg5 28.Kg2? A mistake by Ivanchuk and gave Adams initiative with 28...Qh5 [28.Qb7!] 28...Qh5! 29.Qb7 Qe2+ 30.Rf2 Qe4+ 31.Kh3 [31.Rf3!? should not be overlooked 31...Qe2+ 32.Rf2 Qe4+ 33.Rf3 Qe2+ 34.Rf2=] 31...Rf8-/+ 32.Qxc7 Be3 [32...Rf6=/+] 33.Rf1?? A blunder. Ivanchuk should have played 33.f6 gxf6 And now black rook can't joint the attack because th f file is close. (33...Rxf6 34.Qc8+ Kh7 35.Rxf6 gxf6 36.Qd7+) 34.Re2 Qf5+ 35.Kg2 Qd3=] 33...Qd3? [33...h5! and Black takes home the point 34.Be1 Qg4+ 35.Kg2 h4-+] 34.Rf3= Qe4 35.Rf1?? releasing the pressure on the opponent [35.f6 gxf6 36.Rxe3 Qxe3 37.Qxd6 Qf3=] 35...Qd3? [35...h5 and Black can celebrate victory 36.Be1 Qg4+ 37.Kg2 h4-+] 36.Rf3= Qe4 37.Rf1?? Ivanchuk taught Mickey would go for a draw by repeating move. [37.f6 would bring relief 37...gxf6 38.Rxe3 Qxe3 39.Qxd6=] 37...h5-+ At last Mickey found the winning move ! 38.Re1 [38.Be1 otherwise it's curtains at once 38...Qg4+ 39.Kg2 Qe2+ 40.Bf2 Rxf5 41.Qc8+ Rf8 42.Qxf8+ Kxf8 43.a3-+] 38...Qxf5+ 0-1

Chess boxing : A Genius or Mad Hybrid Invention!?

Chess boxing
I’ve found that Chess boxing is getting in the main news recently. The hybrid of two different sports- one intellectual game and another one a pure physical and brainless game is truly a magnificent or rather crazy invention in this millennium. One off the main reason of the combination is to mix intellectual and physical aspect in sportsman.
The basic idea in chess boxing is to combine the #1 thinking sport and the #1 fighting sport into a hybrid that demands the most of its competitors – both mentally and physically.
In a chess boxing fight two opponents play alternating rounds of chess and boxing. The contest starts with a round of chess, followed by a boxing round, followed by another round of chess and so on.
A contest consists of 11 rounds, 6 rounds of chess, 5 rounds of boxing. A round of chess takes 4 minutes. Each competitor has 12 minutes on the chess timer.

A round of boxing takes 3 minutes. Between rounds there is a 1 minute pause, during which competitors change their gear. The contest is decided by: checkmate (chess round), exceeding the time limit (chess round), retirement of an opponent (chess or boxing round), KO (boxing round), or referee decision (boxing round). If the chess game ends in a stalemate, the opponent with the higher score in boxing wins. If there is an equal score, the opponent with the black pieces wins.- Mad or Genius ? – you judge yourself !

The World Youth Chess Championship 2007

The World Youth Chess Championship 2007 is taking place in Kemer-Antalya, Turkey, from 17th-29th November2007 . Malaysian players were represent by players such as Yap Eng Chiam, Nur Nabila Azman ( daughter of Azman Hisham my MAKSAK team mate who is accompanying his daughter at Turkey!) and others.

Below is one of the unsuccesfull game by Yap Eng Chiam.

Idani,Pouya - Yeap,Eng Cheam [B78]
WYC 2007 U12b Kemer/Antalya (2.9), 19.11.2007

Analysis by hairulov and Fritz

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 Eng Chiam choose a sharp opening : Sicilian Dragon! 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0–0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.0–0–0 Rc8 11.Bb3 a6

Personally i didn't like this a6 variation. In my opinion, this move is rather too slow for Dragon player. As you all know, in Sicilian Dragon especially Yugoslav variation, a tempo is crucial enough to decided the game. [11...Ne5 The main line is preferable.] 12.h4 Na5 13.h5 Nc4 14.Bxc4 Rxc4 15.hxg6 fxg6 16.Kb1 Rf7 [16...Qc7 17.Nb3 b5 18.e5 dxe5 19.Nd5] 17.Nb3 [17.e5!? dxe5 18.Ne6+-] 17...b5 18.Bh6 Bh8 19.g4 [19.Ne2 Rc8] 19...Qc7 20.Ne2 b4 21.Bg5 [21.Nf4 e5 22.Nh3 a5 23.Qxd6 Qxd6 24.Rxd6 a4±] 21...Bc6 22.Ned4 Ba4 [22...Bd7 23.Ne2 Ne8 24.Be3=] 23.e5 dxe5 24.Ne6 Qc8 25.Bxf6 Bxf6? [25...exf6 26.Qd8+ Be8] 26.Qd8++- Be8 27.Nbc5! doomsday 27...Rxc5 A deflection [27...Qcxc5 Deflection from e8 28.Qxe8 The nicest combinations are those leading to mate] 28.Nxc5 Qxc5 29.Qxe8+ Rf8 30.Qd7 Rc8 31.Rh2 Qc6 32.Qd3 Qc4 [32...Bg5 33.Qb3+ e6 34.Qxb4+-] 33.Qd2 Qd4 [33...g5 34.Qd7 Kg7 35.Re1+-] 34.Qe2 Qc4 [34...Qc5+-] 35.Rd8+!! a strong sacrifice 35...Kg7 [35...Rxd8+ Theme: Deflection from c4 36.Qxc4] 36.Rxh7+!! another strong sacrifiece by Idani 36...Kxh7 Decoy to h7 37.Qh2+ Bh4 [37...Kg7 38.Qh8+ Kf7 39.Qg8#] 38.Qxh4+ Kg7 39.Qxe7+ Kh6 [39...Qf7 does not improve anything 40.Qxe5+ Kh6 41.Rxc8 Qg7 42.Qh2+ Kg5 43.Rc5+ Kf6 44.Qe5+ Kf7 45.Rc7+ Kf8 46.Qxg7+ Ke8 47.Qe7#] 40.Qh4+ Kg7 41.Rd7+ [41.Qh8+ Kf7 42.Qf8+ Ke6 43.Rd6#] 41...Kg8 [41...Qf7 42.Rxf7+ Kxf7+-] 42.Qh7+ Kf8 43.Qh8+ [43.Qg7+ Is quicker. 43...Ke8 44.Qe7#] 43...Qg8 44.Qf6+ Ke8 [44...Qf7 doesn't change anything anymore 45.Qxf7#] 45.Qe7# 1–0

Ivanchuk beat Anand to become World Blitz 2007 Champion!

What a tremendous ending. No director can create a better drama ending when Ivanchuk meet Vishy Anand in the final round of the World Blitz 2007 Champion in Moscow. Both have same points but Anand was the favourites as he has to play white but Ivanchuk silence his critics -amongst them from Garry Kasparov-about his nerve stability by winning the final game against the World Classical Champion-Anand!

[Event "World Blitz"Moscow RUS"]
[Round "38"]
[White "Anand, V."]
[Black "Ivanchuk, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Ba7 7. Qe2 Nc6 8.
Be3 d6 9. N1d2 Nf6 10. f4 O-O 11. Bxa7 Rxa7 12. g4 b5 13. O-O-O Rc7 14. Rhg1
Qe7 15. Kb1 Nd7 16. g5 Bb7 17. Rg3 Nb4 18. Rh3 g6 19. Qg4 Rfc8 20. Qh4 Nf8 21.
a3 Nxd3 22. cxd3 h5 23. gxh6 Qxh4 24. Rxh4 Nh7 25. Nd4 Nf6 26. N2f3 Re8 27. Ng5 e5 28. fxe5 dxe5

29. Ndf3

? Anand played this natural move quickly. If he spent some times he should probaly find the winning move 29. h7+ !Kh8 (29... Nxh7 30. Nxh7 exd4 31. Nf6+ Kf8
32. Rh8+ Ke7 (32... Kg7 33. Nxe8+ Kxh8 34. Nxc7) 33. Nxe8) (29... Kg7 30. Nge6+
fxe6 31. Nxe6+ Kh8 (31... Rxe6 32. h8=Q+) 32. Nxc7) 30. Rf1 exd4 31. Rxf6)
29... Nh5 30. Rg1 Kh8 31. Nh3 Bc8 32. Nf2 Nf4 33. Nxe5 Ne2 34. Re1 Nd4

35. Neg4 ? a mistake in difficult position (35. Nfg4 Bxg4 36. Nxg6+ fxg6 37. Rxg4 Kh7 is more resielence.) 35... Nf3 36. Nf6 Rd8 37. Nd5 Rb7 0-1

Rizal Ahmad Kamal Blog !

My friend Rizal Ahmad Kamal(photo above) have create his own chess blog. The blog is mainly about first and second hand chess books, DVD's, CD's and training equipment for sale but he has also annotated his memorable games. You can visit his blog here

Rizal is an expert in opening. He know all the variations in his pet openings. That explain why he has many chess books to sell. When you play him, you need to survive the opening phase if you want to beat him!

Nice Combination!

I've won an interesting blitz game against FM Jif in the Internet Chess Club (ICC).

Watch my do or die attack starting at move 23.

Hairulov - FM Jif [A46]

Internet Chess Club (ICC) 22.11.2007

23.Be5 !? i found an interesting attacking idea against black weak spot at g7 and h6
23...f6 24.Rg3 g5 25.Qh5?? weakening the position [25.Bf4 bxc3 26.bxc3 Bf8+/=] 25...Rf8?? there were better ways to keep up the pressure [25...fxe5 Black missed this excellent chance 26.Qf7+ Kh8-+] 26.h4+/- fxe5 27.hxg5 Bxg5 28.Rxg5 Rg8?? [28...Rf6 saving the game 29.Rxe5 bxc3 30.bxc3 Rxc3+/=] 29.Qf7+ Kh8 30.Rh5 [30.Rh5 Rxg2+ 31.Kh1 Rg6 32.Qxg6 Qc7 33.Rxh6+ Qh7 34.Rxh7#] 1-0

Bacrot-Mamedyarov 0-1 : World Bltiz 2007

Bacrot,E (2695) - Mamedyarov,S (2752) [A05]
World Blitz Moscow RUS (3), 21.11.2007
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.b4 Bg7 4.Bb2 d6 5.Bg2 c5 6.bxc5 dxc5 7.c4 0–0 8.0–0 Nc6 9.d3 Bg4 10.Ne5 Nxe5 11.Bxe5 b6 12.Nc3 Qd7 13.Bxa8 Rxa8 14.d4 Rd8 15.dxc5 Qc8 16.Qa4 Qxc5 17.Bxf6 exf6 18.Rfd1 Rc8 19.Qxa7 f5 20.Rac1 Bd4 21.Rf1 Qxc4 22.Nb5 Bxf2+ 23.Kxf2 Qxe2+ 24.Kg1 Qe3+ 25.Kg2 Rxc1 26.Rxc1 Qd2+ 0–1

Karpov - Bacrot 1-0 ! World Blitz 2007

This is interesting Karpov domination display over Bacrot.

Karpov - Bacrot
World Blitz 2007, 21.11.2007

1...Nh5 2.Nfxd6 Re6 3.c5 Nf4 4.Qa2 Rg6 5.Kh1 Nh3 6.Qe2 Nf4 7.Qd2 Ne6 8.f4 Ng4 9.f5 Rh6 10.h3 Qc6 11.fxe6 Bxe6 12.Nd4 Qd7 13.N4f5 Rh5 14.Kg1 Nf6 15.g4 Rh6 16.Nxh6+ gxh6 17.Qf4 Bg7 18.Rd2 Qa4 19.Nf5 Bxf5 20.Rd8+ Bf8 21.Qxf5 Nxe4 22.Rd7 Ng5 23.Rd3 Qa2 24.h4 Ne6 25.Rf3 Nd4 26.Rf2 Qa1 27.Qxf7+ [27.Qxf7+ Kh8 28.Qxf8#] 1–0

Kramnik _Anand 1-0 ! World Blitz 2007

Kramnik won a physcology battle against Vishy Anand over their incoming World Championship Match after effortlessly beating Anand in 21 move in the 11 round of World Blitz Championship held in Moscow last night. Below are the game.

Kramnik,V (2785) - Anand,V (2801) [D13]
World Blitz Moscow RUS (11), 21.11.2007
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 cxd5 Slav Defence: Exchange variation 5.d4 Nc6 6.Bf4 a6 7.Rc1 Bf5 8.e3 Rc8 9.Be2 e6 10.0–0 Be7 11.Qb3 Na5 12.Qa4+ Nc6 13.Bxa6 Ra8 14.Bxb7 Rxa4 15.Bxc6+ Kf8 16.Nxa4 Ne4? [16...Bd3!? 17.Rfe1 Bb4±] 17.Bb7+- Nd6?? the position was bad, and this mistake simply hastens the end [17...g5 18.Be5 Nd6 19.Bxh8 Nxb7+-] 18.Bxd6 Qxd6 19.Rc6 Qd7 20.Rc8+ Bd8 21.Ne5 [21.Ne5 Qxa4 22.Rxd8+ Ke7 23.Rxh8 Qxa2 24.g4+-] 1–0

A trip to Pasir Mas and Pangkor Island!

Hi guys,

Starting from this Saturday-17th November, this blog will take a “vacation” due to my trip to Pasir Mas, Kelantan for my officer wedding on Sunday 18th November. From there I will proceed to Pangkor Island(photo right) at Perak-one of the beautiful island in Malaysia for a three days meeting until Wednesday 21th November. I’m expecting an enjoyable trip. As usual I’ll bring my chess set plus camera and camcorder -hoping to play chess with anybody who’s interested !!! Photo left - The view from 2nd floor of Siti Khatijah Market, famous tourist spot in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

Geurt Gijssen leg broken!

Chief arbiter of the Tal Memorial 2007 Geurt Gijssen (photo right) was hospitalised for a broken leg. The famous arbiter spmehow fall on the sliperry ground. He will face an operation and expected to stay at Moscow for weeks.

Geurt Gijssen is a regular chess arbiter for many top internatioanal chess tournaments.
here is his regular colum at chesscafe.com

source : magnuscarlsen blog

"Topalov brings toliets and computer cheating onto the front pages of every newspaper in the world"

Last night i followed the online live game of Kramnik-Shirov (Round5) Tal Memorial 2007 at the Internet Chess Club (ICC). I've read an interesting quote by retired IM Kim Commons (handle-Kingway) regarding the contribution of World Champion Vishy Anand and former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik and Veselin Topalov to the popularity of chess .

"Kingway(IM) kibitzes: amongst the top GMs, I would put Anand as the one whose has done the most to make chess more popular. Topalov the most to hurt the popularity of chess. Kramnik doesn't score either on the plus or minus side
Kingway(IM) kibitzes: Anand, on the plus side, for making chess wildly popular in India.

Kingway(IM) kibitzes: Topalov for bringing toliets and computer cheating onto the front pages of every newspaper in the world"

KIM S COMMONS(born Jul-23-1951) United States of America
Kim Steven Commons was born in Lancaster, California in 1951. In 1972, he won the California State Championship. He was awarded the IM title in 1976 and in that year won three international tournaments in Bulgaria: Plovdiv, Primorsko (1st=) and Odessos.
IM Kim Commons was a member of the victorious USA team at the Haifa Olimpiad in 1976. In fact, he had the best score of the entire event! Unfortunetly i can't found his photo anywhere.

Below is his victory over the young GM John Nunn In Haifa Olympiad 1976!

John Nunn - Kim S Commons [B94]
Haifa ol (Men) Haifa (7), 11.1976
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 Nc6 7.Bxf6 gxf6 8.Be2 Qb6 9.Nb3 f5 10.Nd5 Qd8 11.exf5 Bxf5 12.0–0 Bg7 13.Bd3 Bg6 14.f4 e6 15.Ne3 Qb6 16.Qf3 Bxd3 17.cxd3 Nd4 18.Nxd4 Bxd4 19.Rae1 Qxb2 20.f5 e5 21.Kh1 Bxe3 22.Qxe3 Rg8 23.Rf2 Qb4 24.Qc1 Rd8 25.f6 Rg6 26.Re4 Qb6 27.Rf3 Kd7 28.Rc4 Rdg8 29.Rc2 Rg4 30.d4 Rxd4 31.Rfc3 Rb4 32.Rc7+ Ke6 33.Qf1 Rf4 34.Qe2 Kxf6 35.h3 Kg7 36.g3 Kh8 37.Rc1 Rf2 38.Qd3 Qb2 39.R1c2 Rxc2 0–1

The Mikhail Tal Memorial Updated

The second Mikhail Tal Memorial Tournament has entered the 4th round so far. There's few interesting games played. The 3rd round clash between "former" World Champion, Vladimir Kramnik (photo left) with his former challenger Peter Leko ended in favour of the big Vlad. He proved loyal with his beloved Catalan. He has used it succesfully for quite sometimes especially since the Mexico World Championship 2007. Below are the3rd round game with Peter Leko .


Kramnik,V (2785) - Leko,P (2755) [E05]
Tal Mem Moscow RUS (3), 12.11.2007
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.0-0 dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.Qxc4 b5 9.Qc2 Bb7 10.Bd2 Ra7 (in Mexico World Championship leko choose 10...Be4 unsuccesfully although the move were not to blamed because Leko made a mistake in the end of the game.) 11.Rc1 ( Kramnik choose the move 11. a3!? in Mexico 2007 against Grischuk but he only managed to draw the game) 11...Be4 12.Qb3 Nc6 13.e3 Qa8 14.Qd1 b4 15.Qf1 (when you are World Champion (or former! ) you could afford this kind af manuever and won the game against the top ten! The queen has travel to c2-c4-c2-b3-d1-and f1 just to protected the g2 bishop!) 15...Bd5 16.Be1 Rc8 17.Nbd2 Na5 18.Ne5 c5 19.dxc5 Bxc5 20.Nd3 Bf8 21.Bxd5 Nxd5 22.e4 Nb6 23.Rxc8 Qxc8 24.Nf3 Qb7 25.Nxb4 Qxe4 26.Qd3 Qxd3 27.Nxd3 ( the position looks equal but strategically speaking, Kramnik has an easier plan of manuvering his queenside pawn majority 2 against 1 compare to Leko majority in Kingside 4 against 3 that looks too slow if Leko decided to use it) 27...Nac4 28.b3 Nd6 29.Rc1 Nd5 30.Rc6 Nf5 31.Ba5 Ra8 32.Nfe5 Nfe7 33.Rd6 Nf6 34.b4 Ned5 35.Rc6 Be7 36.a4 g6 37.Nc4 Kf8 38.Nc5 Bxc5 39.bxc5 Now Kramnik has a dangerous passed pawn ! 39...Ke8 40.f3 Ng8 41.Nb6 Nge7 42.Rd6 Rb8 43.Nxd5 Nxd5 44.Rxa6 Rc8 45.Bb6 Nb4 46.Ra7 Nc6 47.Rb7 Ra8 48.Rc7 Nd4 49.a5 Nxf3+ 50.Kf2 Nxh2 51.c6 Ng4+ 52.Kf3 Nf6 53.Rb7 Nd5 54.Ke4 Nb4 55.c7 Rc8 56.Kd4 Kd7 57.Kc5 Nc6 58.a6 h5 59.a7 f5 60.a8Q! Rxa8 61.c8Q+ Kxc8 62.Kxc6 1-0.



Mamedyarov (photo right) the 2 times World Junior Champion ( 2003 and 2005) produced a stunning sacrifiece in his 3rd round victory against Vasilly Ivanchuk.

Mamedyarov,S (2752) - Ivanchuk,V (2787)

[D43]Tal Mem Moscow RUS (3), 12.11.2007

This is the position after 32 move.

Mamedyarov played the powerful 33.Bf7! and winning the game 6 moves later.

Kramnik-Carlsen : Tal Memorial 2007 Round 1

Round 1: Kramnik-Carlsen 1/2-1/2

Photo fromEurope-Echecs.com

Kramnik,V (2785) - Carlsen,M (2714) [E05]
Tal Memorial Moscow RUS (1), 10.11.2007

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.d4 Black can choose to avoid d4 and play the Reti opening with b3 and later Bb2. 4...Be7 5.Bg2 0–0 6.0–0 dxc4 This move was popularized by Karpov in the 70's.He showed that black's smooth active development of the queenside pieces puts him close to equality. Black justification is white have to spend a few moves to recover back the pawn and black will use it develop his position. [6...Nbd7 and ; 6...c6 is another alternative.] 7.Qc2 a6 8.Qxc4 [White can prevent Black's ...b5 by 8.a4 but results have shown that there's two reason why top GM doesn't favor it anymore. 1. it permanently weaken the b4 square and 2. ...b5 by black is welcome because it can lead to a slight but permanent weakening of Black's queenside.] 8...b5 9.Qc2 Bb7 10.Bd2 A sophisticated idea, introduced by Dutch GM Sosonko. White plans to immobilize the c pawn by the pin after a Ba5. In the past, black's most reliable response is 10...Be4 and then after 11.Qc1, either the retreat 11...Bb7 or the developmental 11...Nbd7 but Kramnik himself show that 11...Qc8 is better as his victory against Leko in Mexico 2007. [10.Bg5 is another alternative.] 10...Bd6 This move was second time played and popularized by Anand in his 7th round draw against Gelfand at Mexico 2007. Black prepares in advance the thematic central break ...e5. [ Grischuk choose 10...Ra7 at the World Championship 2007, Mexico and Kramnik replied with a rare move 11.a3!?; ] 11.Bg5 Nbd7 It's interesting to note that Kramnik is willing to lose a tempo with 11.Bg5 because this variation can also arise from the variation 10.Bg5 Nbd7 . Probaly Kramnik assume that the extra tempo 10..Bd6 doesn't prove any better compare then the bishop at e7. 12.Nbd2 Rc8 13.Nb3 c5 14.Bxf6 Nxf6 15.Nxc5 Be4 16.Qc3 e5 17.e3 Bxc5 18.dxc5 Qd5 After 18.... Qd5 Magnus considered black to be at least OK.19.Rad1 Qa8 [19...Qxc5 20.Qxe5 Bxf3 21.Qxc5 Rxc5 22.Bxf3 Rc2 23.Rd6 Rxb2 24.Rxa6] 20.Nh4 Bxg2 21.Nxg2 Ne4 22.Qxe5 Rxc5 23.Qd4 Rc4 24.Qd3 Ng5 25.b3 [25.f4!? is an interesting alternative 25...Ne4] 25...Rc5 26.h4 This move look a little bit weakening the kingside but Krmanik's king need some space to breath! 26...Nf3+ 27.Kh1 Qc8 Threatening mate in one with 28...Qh3++! 28.Nf4 (if 28.Qd7 Magnus thought he would be equal or better after 28...Rc2.) Qg4 29.Qd7 Rf5 30.Rd5 Rxf4 31.exf4 [31.gxf4?? would be a greaves mistake because 31...f5 32.Qe6+ Kh8 33.Qxf5 Qxh4+ (33...Rxf5?? 34.Rd8+ Rf8 35.Rxf8#) 34.Kg2 Rxf5–+ There's no checkmate with 35.Rd8+ because simply 34...Qxd8!] 31...f5 32.Qe6+ Now it all force 32...Kh8 33.Qxf5 [33.Kg2 Is a quick way to draw the game 33...Nxh4+ 34.Kh2 (34.Kh1 Qf3+ 35.Kh2 Qg2#) 34...Nf3+ 35.Kg2 Nh4+] 33...Qxf5 [33...Rxf5?? 34.Rd8+ Rf8 35.Rxf8#] 34.Rxf5 Rxf5 35.Rd1 g5 36.hxg5 Black is a piece up but his knight has no escape route and white pawn is too many. Carlsen gave it back to reach a drawn rook endgame pawn down. 36...Nxg5 37.fxg5 Rxf2 38.a4 bxa4 39.bxa4 Ra2 40.Rd4 ½–½

Tal Memorial 2007 Opening Ceremony: Ivanchuk Wear His Favourites Pink Pant!!!

Watch ( starting at point 40 seconds and then from 1 minutes 26 second) Ivanchuk famous pink pants during the drawing lots.

The Tal Memorial Tournament has kicked off. The 1st round produce only one decisive game that's Leko win over Shirov. Other games ended in a draw. However, Kramnik as white almost lost to the Norwegian prodigy Magnus Carlsen but he managed to hold Carlsen mating attack and convert to a draw rook endgame. The event takes place in Moscow from 9th-19th November 2007. This event will be followed by the FIDE approved World Blitz Championship which will be a double round robin starting from November 21st-22nd 2007.

For me, the most interesting thing happen at the opening ceremony is about Ivanchuk - wearing his favourites pink pant. I've mention about his famous pink pant before. Is it his main secret behind his recent succes of being no. 2 in the world ranking behind the World Champion Vishy Anand?

You can see Ivanchuk wearing his favourite pants in others tournaments in my previous article here

Peter Leko Nearly Cut Off His Finger!

Super GM Peter Leko (photo left) had one bad experience in 2003. He was gardening at his house in Szeged, Hungary when he nearly cutt off his little finger in a lawn moving accident. He had to rush to the hospital to have the loosely hanging finger sewn back on to his hand and he arrived in Dortmund 2003 Tournament with a big white dressing around his little finger.

Source : CHESS (magazine) November 2003

Puzzle 2 - solution!

Black to move

The above postion arise after Karpov 28.g4?

Ponamariov reply with the 28...Qh4!!!

Anatoly Karpov (2670) - Ponomariov,R (2705)

[D12]Chess Champions League Vitoria Gasteiz ESP (3), 04.11.2007

29.gxh5 Rxh5 30.f6+?? the pressure is too much, White crumbles [30.Bd7 Rg5+ 31.Kh1-+] 30...Kh7 31.Kh1 [31.Bd7 Rg5+ 32.Kh1 Rd8 33.Rg1 Bg3; 31.Be2 Rg5+ 32.Kh1 Rg3] 31...Bg3 [31...Qxh3+?! is clearly worse 32.Qxh3 Rxh3+ 33.Kg1 Rxb3 34.Bc6-+] 32.Bd7 Rd8 33.Rg1 Bf4 [33...Rg5 makes it even easier for Black 34.Rc2 Rxd7 35.Rh2-+] 34.Rg4 [34.Qe1 a last effort to resist the inevitable 34...Rxd7 35.Qxh4 Rxh4 36.Kg2 Bxc1 37.Rxc1-+] 34...Bxe3 [34...Rxd7? is seductive, but 35.Rxf4 Qg5 36.Kh2+-] 35.Rxh4 Rxh4 [35...Rxd7?! is much weaker 36.Rxh5+ gxh5 37.Re1-+] 36.Rc7 [36.Re1 Bf2 37.Re2 Rxd7 38.Rxf2 Rxh3+ 39.Kg2 Rxb3-+] 36...Bf4 37.Rb7 Rxd7! Eliminates the defender d7 [37...Rxd7 38.Rxd7 Rxh3+ 39.Kg2 Rxb3 40.Rxf7+ Kh6-+] 0-1

Dutch Chess Player Banned For Using Pocket Fritz!

Chessbase.com here and Chessvibes.com here release an article regarding a recent incident happen in the match between Bergen op Zoom vs AAS in Dutch League 2C last Saturday. The player (team captain) were caught using a PDA with Pocket Fritz (photo left) although he later explained that he actually "just" entering his game in his database. Photo right is actually GM Raymond Keene using Pocket Fritz correctly!

The player were heavilly punished with a banned till 2010. What a punishment! but i think (and vote! - in chessvibes.com poll about the ban ) the ban by the Dutch Federation is appropriate and should be a lesson to any chessplayer in the future.

So lesson of the day guys...use Pocket Fritz only at home...as what John Nunn have done below!

read the full article of GM John Nunn using pocket fritz at chessbase.com here

Puzzle 2

Below is a position arise from recent tournament. Try to find black best move and workout the remaining continuation.

Black to move

The "Chess Champions League – Playing for a better world"

The Cabin.

Photo from chessbase.com

The "Chess Champions League" (Jesus de Lafuente memorial) is taking place from 1st-15th November 2007 in Vitoria Gasteiz, Spain.

The event is called the "Chess Champions League - Playing for a better world". It was called the Champion League because at first, only former world players were invited to take place - plus Judit Polgar , as the best woman ever but unfortunetly former World Champion- Alexander Khalifman was replaced by Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu at the last minute after the latter had to admitted to the hospital for a surgery .

The purpose of this tournament is to get funds for a Hospital in Mbuji-Mayi, one of the poorest regions in Congo.

The main features of this tournaments is the players a playing inside a glass cabin. Below are excerpt from Chessbase.com

...."The main intention of this glass cabin," organiser David Llada tells us, "is to save the spectators from being in silence during the long hours of game: the chess fans can talk, they can ask questions, they can participate, the can listen to interviews... and everything within a few meters distance from the great players. The players are isolated from the public, as the glass can muffle any noise up to 60 decibels; which means that if you put this glass cabin in the middle of a traffic roundabout, the wouldn't hear any noise from the cars around them."

There is another advantage to the setup: "The players are also visually isolated: due the special lighting, they can barely see anything further than the second row of spectators – apart from shadows." For this reason the organisers did not think it necessary to provide any additional anti-cheating features. In consideration was the use of a cell-phone "inhibitor", a device that block all telephone frecuencies and – sadly – is commonly used in the Basque Country to protect public buildings (Banks, Town Halls...) from terrorist attacks by ETA"...

Full article in chessbase.com can be read here

Russian State Symphony Orchestra.

Photo from chessbase.com

Russian State Symphony also contribute by performing a series of concerts in Vitoria. The benefits will be channel to the construction of a hospital in Congo.