Posted By khollister on November 16, 2010
Yesterday, GM Larry Evans, 5-time U.S. Championship winner and Bobby Fischer’s second in the 1972 World Chess Championship, died yesterday due to complications from surgery. He was 78.
Evans was also an author, writing numerous books and chess-related articles, as well as writing several tutorials for the Chessmaster series.
Rest in Peace, Mr. Evans.
Posted By khollister on October 5, 2010
Yes, you read it right… Saturday, October 9 is an official day to celebrate chess!
In recent years, technology has taken over… we now have the internet, cell phones, text messaging, satellite television, and numerous other entertainment options. Unfortunately, chess has gotten a bad rap… by many, it’s considered a tired, boring game that has no appeal.
In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Chess is one of the most popular games in the world, and it’s benefits are numerous. In fact, Benjamin Franklin even wrote an essay, The Morals of Chess, extolling the virtures of this amazing game.
This Saturday, turn off your televisions, computers, cell phones, and other gadgets; sit down at a chessboard and see what you’ve been missing… you’ll be surprised at how much fun you have!
Posted By khollister on July 19, 2010
Irina Krush won her final game against Abby Marshall, thereby winning the 2010 U.S. Women’s Championship with a score of 8 out of 10 points!
Congratulations, Irina!
Irina Krush, 2010 U.S. Women's Champion.
Posted By khollister on July 6, 2010
Nana Dzagnidze (GM, Georgia) has won the 2010 FIDE Women’s Grand Prix with a score of 9 out of 11 points.
Congratulations, Nana!
Posted By khollister on May 26, 2010
Former U.S. Champion Gata Kamksy, playing a unique tiebreaker game against Yury Shulman, tied with Black with just seconds to spare… this makes Kamsky the new U.S. Champion!
Kamsky, who last won the U.S. title in 1991, will receive the grand prize of $35,000; plus an extra $5,000 for winning the tiebreak game.
Congratulations, Gata!
Gata Kamsky, the new U.S. Champion
Posted By khollister on May 26, 2010
Pavel Eljanov won the 2010 FIDE Grand Prix in Astrakhan, Russia with a score of 8 points… a full point over former FIDE World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov.
In the final round, Teimour Radjabov drew against Yue Wang to become the second qualifier for the World Championship Canidates Matches.
Congratulations to both!
Pavel Eljanov, winner of the 2010 FIDE Grand Prix in Astrakhan
Posted By khollister on May 23, 2010
There has been quite a scandal brewing in the Russian Chess Federation…
On May 14, there was a split in the Russian Chess Federation when two separate meetings were held to elect a candidate for president of FIDE. In the first meeting with a majority present, members unanimously voted to support Anatoly Karpov; but in the second meeting, incumbent FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was chosen. Afterwards, RCF deputy president Arkady Dvorkovich, called the vote to support Karpov “illegitmate”.
On May 21st a private security firm, with an order from Dvorkovich, seized the offices of the Russian Chess Federation, and ejected president Aleksandr Bakh.
Some have mentioned that the Kremlin may have a hand in all this, partly because Alexander Zhukov, who was recently appointed to head the Russian Olympic Committee, has vowed to chess an Olympic sport, and also because Karpov has the support of Garry Kasparov, who has long been an outspoken critic of the Kremlin.
Read the full story here.
Posted By khollister on May 20, 2010
Tomorrow is a rest day. On Saturday, Hikaru Nakamura, Gata Kamsky, Alexander Onischuk, and Yury Shulman advance to the final quad for 1st – 4th place. The remainder of the players will play two more rounds in the swiss tournament to decide who takes 5th place.
Good luck to all!
Posted By khollister on May 11, 2010
Viswanathan Anand has retained the World Championship with a score of 6.5 to 5.5, after winning the final game with Black. Topalov, who found himself overwhelmed after blundering, resigned after 56 moves.
Congratulations, Viswanathan!
Posted By khollister on May 8, 2010
It was announced earlier today that the world’s oldest living grandmaster, Andor Lilienthal (born in 1911), passed away today, just 3 days after his 99th birthday.
One of the original 27 grandmasters awarded the title by FIDE in 1950, Lilienthal had played (and won) games against many legendary famous chess players, including Emmanual Lasker, Alexander Alekhine, Max Euwe, Mikhail Botvinnik, and Vasily Smyslov.
Andor Lilienthal (1911 - 2010)