Gelfand applies only small pressure to Anand in World Championship Game 4 draw

World Chess Championship 2012 4 Playoff

Mark Crowther (Tue May 15 18:47:00 2012)

Boris Gelfand didn't achieve very much with white in repeating the opening from Game 2. Gelfand was the first to innovate with 10.Qc2 but slowed down after 16...Re8. Although Anand was slightly critical of his 24...Bd4 (24...Qb6 is better) and both players said 32.Rc6 could have been tried it probably didn't change the assessment that black should draw if he exercises a reasonable amount of care. At the end Anand said once he played 32...Nd5, 33...Ne7 even a symbolic edge had disappeared. Not a terribly thrilling game but the match is still in the early stages. Gelfand said he obviously wasn't going to reveal his match strategy in a press conference, but it could easily be his idea to play solidly for the first few games in order to get into his first World Championship Match before revealing his major weapons. IM Malcolm Pein annotates. Game 5 3pm Moscow time, 12pm BST, Thursday 17th May 2012. Read more ....

• Anand-Gelfand Game 3 the liveliest so far
• Europe-Echecs World Chess Championship 2012 Video Game 4
• World Chess Championship tied at 1-1
• Europe-Echecs World Chess Championship 2012 Video Game 3

US Chess Championships 2012

US Chess Championships 2012 Games and Results

Mark Crowther (Tue May 15 19:00:00 2012)

The US Chess Championships take place in Saint Louis 8th-19th May 2012 (play-off, if required 20th). Hikaru Nakamura returns after missing last year. Defending champion Gata Kamsky, Alexander Onischuk and Yasser Seirawan are also in the 12 player field. Anna Zatonskih is favourite to retain her title with Irina Krush as second favourite in the women's 10 player event. We're back to straight forward all-play-alls for both tournaments. Round 1 Tues 8th May 1pm local time 7pm BST. Live updates of games and results. Read more ....

• Pre-Tourney Favorites Pull Ahead at U.S. Championships
• Nakamura and Kamsky held in second round of US Championship
• Favourites win in round 1 bloodbath at the US Championships
• US Chess Championship 2012 starts

Win a Playstation 3 and PURE Chess Game in Caption Competition

Caption Competition PS3 and Pure Chess

Mark Crowther (Fri May 11 11:03:00 2012)

CHESS Magazine in conjunction with PURE Chess has a fantastic caption competition where the prize is a PlayStation 3 with Pure Chess' new chess software on it. Full details as to how to enter below. Closing date for entries: 31st May 2012. Winner will be announced in early July 2012. Read more ....

Ivanchuk leads Capablanca Memorial at the half way stage

47th Capablanca Memorial 2012 5.2

Mark Crowther (Wed May 9 16:25:00 2012)

Vassily Ivanchuk leads the 47th Capablanca Memorial with 3.5/5 going into the rest day. Ivanchuk completely outplayed Viktor Laznicka in a complex Nimzo Indian. Vladimir Potkin beat Yuniesky Quesada Perez with a conversion to a winning King and Pawn ending that proved deceptive for his opponent. Ian Nepomniachtchi's disappointing play continues with a dull draw against Leinier Dominguez Perez. Read more ....

• Ivanchuk, Dominguez and Laznicka on 2.5/4 at the Capablanca Memorial
• Dominguez and Ivanchuk share lead after 3 rounds of Capablanca Memorial
• Ivanchuk leads the Capablanca Memorial after two rounds
• 47th Capablanca Memorial 2012

20th Sigeman and Co Malmo 2012

20th Sigeman and Co Malmo 2012 Games and Results

Mark Crowther (Wed May 9 16:10:00 2012)

The 20th anniversary of the first Sigeman and Co tournament takes place in Malmo 9th-16th May 2012. Fabiano Caruana, Peter Leko, Li Chao, Anish Giri, Emanuel Berg, Hans Tikkanen, Jonny Hector and Nils Grandelius play in the 7 round tournament. Read more ....