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OLD FRONT PAGE STORIES 2008
 
May
April
March
February
January
June
King's Tournament Bazna

The King's Tournament took place in Bazna, Romania 24th May - 4th June 2008. Nigel Short won the event with 7/10 with Lajos Portisch with his best result in years and Ulf Andersson taking second a point and a half behind.

Official site: http://www.clubulregilor.ro/

Games in PGN

King's Tournament Bazna (ROM), 24 v-3 vi 2008 cat. XIII (2573)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
1. Short, Nigel D g ENG 2660 * ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 ½ 7 2713
2. Portisch, Lajos g HUN 2523 ½ * 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 5½ 2613
3. Andersson, Ulf g SWE 2537 0 1 * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 5½ 2612
4. Suba, Mihai g ROU 2487 ½ ½ ½ * 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 5 2581
5. Beliavsky, Alexander G g SLO 2641 ½ ½ ½ 0 * ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 5 2566
6. Khalifman, Alexander g RUS 2628 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 5 2567
7. Mecking, Henrique g BRA 2565 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ * 0 ½ 1 1 5 2573
8. Murariu, Andrei g ROU 2483 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 * ½ ½ 1 5 2581
9. Sokolov, Andrei1 g FRA 2596 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ 0 4 2498
10. Vaganian, Rafael A g ARM 2617 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ * 0 4 2496
11. Timman, Jan H g NED 2565 ½ 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 0 1 1 * 4 2501
 
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French Top 16

The winners Clichy
The winners Clichy. Photo © http://www.europe-echecs.com

The final pool stages (Haute and Basse) of the French League took place 29th May - 1st June 2008 in Evry. Clichy took the title by a point from Cannes. In the games section Fontaine-Philippe and Meier-Palac are identical so one of them has to be wrong.

Top scorers in the league as a whole by board: 1st Nakamura Hikaru (Antibes) 8,5/11 2nd Nisipeanu Liviu (Clichy) 6/8 3rd Kazhgaleyev Murtas (Cannes) 8,5/11 4th Tregubov Pavel (Clichy) 6/7 5th Philippe Christophe (Vandoeuvre) 8/11 6th Libiszewski Fabien (Montpellier) 8/11 7th Cornette Matthieu (Cannes) 5,5/8 8th Skripchenko Almira (Clichy) 9/10

Final Pool Games in PGN (Poule Basse Games from round 11 are missing)

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


French Team Championship Final Standings (FRA), 29 v - 1 vi 2008
1Clichy321140455
2Cannes311131409
3Montpellier2611133421
4Evry Grand Roque2611163115
5Gonfreville l'Orcher251162923
6Vandoeuvre2111-32427
7Mulhouse Philidor2111-161733
8Metz Fischer2011-62632
9Marseille Echecs2611133017
10Noyon221122624
11Strasbourg221142420
12Antibes201152823
13Bois-Colombes1911-92534
14Bischwiller1711-171835
15Hyères1311-351045
16Marseille Duchamps711-48452
 
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National Open

The National Open took place in Las Vegas USA 5th-8th June 2008. 6 players finished on 5/6 no news on any tie-breaks.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.vegaschessfestival.com//

National Open Las Vegas (USA), 6-8 vi 2008
No. Ttl Name NAT Rate Pts
1 GM Kamsky, Gata USA 2782 5.0
2 GM Fressinet, Laurent FRA 2706 5.0
3 GM Petrosian, Tigran L ARM 2666 5.0
4 GM Kolev, Atanas BGR 2620 5.0
5 IM Finegold, Ben USA 2594 5.0
6 IM Friedel, Josh USA 2504 5.0
7 GM Erenburg, Sergey ISR 2613 4.5
8 GM Khachiyan, Melikset USA 2566 4.5
9 IM Robson, Ray USA 2433 4.5
10 GM Nakamura, Hikaru USA 2747 4.0
11 GM Gurevich, Dmitry USA 2594 4.0
12 GM Paragua, Mark C PHI 2588 4.0
13 GM Yermolinsky, Alex USA 2584 4.0
14 IM Altounian, Levon USA 2531 4.0
15 IM Bradford, Joseph USA 2477 4.0
16 IM Pruess, David USA 2471 4.0
17 GM Laylo, Darwin PHI 2452 4.0
18 IM Vucic, Mladen USA 2415 4.0
19 FM Rensch, Daniel USA 2373 4.0
20 FM Adamson, Robby USA 2368 4.0
21 IM Tate, Emory A USA 2367 4.0
22 Schuyler, James USA 2357 4.0
23 FM Yanayt, Eugene USA 2280 4.0
24 GM Akobian, Varuzhan USA 2666 3.5
100 players
 
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May
MTel Masters

Closing ceremony image
Round 10. Ivanchuk needed just a draw to take the tournament but instead destroyed Cheparinov with the black pieces to finish on 8/10. Closing ceremony Photo © http://www.chessdom.com

http://www.europe-echecs.com had Videos of the event.

M-Tel Masters took place 7th-18th May 2008 in the Central Military Club in the Bulgarian capital Sofia. The event is a 10 round double round robin with a 5 hour time control.

Ivanchuk secured first place with a massive 8/10 score. He started with 5/5 in the first half. He slowed down with four draws in the second half before destroying Cheparinov with the black pieces in the final round. Topalov also scored a fine 6.5/10 to finish a point and a half behind. Teimour Radjabov was a further point behind. World number 6 Levon Aronian had a catastrophic 3/10 score in finishing joint last with Bu Xiangzhi. Cheparinov only lost a few points in finishing with 4/10.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.mtelmasters.com
Other coverage: http://www.chessvibes.com/, http://www.chessclub.com/ with on the spot videos and photo reports - http://en.chessfish.com/ and http://www.chessdom.com

4th M-Tel Masters Sofia (BUL), 8-18 v 2008 cat. XX (2738)
1 2 3 4 5 6
1. Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2740 * * 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 ½ 1 ½ 8 2977
2. Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2767 0 ½ * * ½ ½ 1 1 1 0 1 1 6½ 2841
3. Radjabov, Teimour g AZE 2751 0 ½ ½ ½ * * ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 5½ 2770
4. Cheparinov, Ivan g BUL 2696 0 0 0 0 ½ ½ * * 1 1 ½ ½ 4 2673
5. Bu Xiangzhi g CHN 2708 0 ½ 0 1 ½ 0 0 0 * * ½ ½ 3 2594
6. Aronian, Levon g ARM 2763 0 ½ 0 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ * * 3 2583
 
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Cez Chess Trophy

Navara - Kramnik in Prague
Navara - Kramnik press conference in Prague. Photo © http://www.praguechess.cz

Vladimir Kramnik beat David Navara 5.5-2.5 to win the Cez Chess Trophy. The match of 8 games in rapid chess was the main event of the festival CEZ CHESS TROPHY 2008 and will take place in the Czech Republic in Prague 14th-18th May 2008.

Vladimir Kramnik 5-1 David Navara.

Day 1 14th May 2008
Gm1 Kramnik, Vladimir - Navara, David 1-0 33 E04 Catalan
Gm2 Navara, David - Kramnik, Vladimir 0-1 62 C43 Petroff's Defence
Day 2 15th May 2008
Gm3 Kramnik, Vladimir - Navara, David 1-0 64 A37 English Symmetrical
Gm4 Navara, David - Kramnik, Vladimir 1/2 68 E46 Nimzo Indian Rubinstein
Day 3 17th May 2008
Gm5 Kramnik, Vladimir - Navara, David 1/2 36 B70 Sicilian Dragon
Gm6 Navara, David - Kramnik, Vladimir 0-1 36 D43 Anti-Meran Gambit
Day 4 18th May 2008
Gm7 Kramnik, Vladimir - Navara, David 1/2 44 A34 English Symmetrical
Gm8 Navara, David - Kramnik, Vladimir 1-0 41 D43 Anti-Meran Gambit

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.praguechess.cz

 
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FIDE Grand Prix Baku


Grischuk couldn't overcome Gashimov in round 12. Photo © http://www.chesspro.ru

The 1st FIDE Grand Prix took place in Baku, Azerbaijan 20th April - 6th May 2008. Vugar Gashimov, Wang Yue and Magnus Carlsen shared first place on 8/11.

Games in PGN

Malcolm Pein Commentary

Soltis Variation of the Sicilian Dragon
Michael Adams and Gata Kamsky in Baku
Fragments from Baku and Plovdiv

Official site: http://baku2008.fide.com/ and the site for the Grand Prix series as a whole http://grandprix.fide.com/ Also Daily live coverage with GM comments in Russian at http://www.chesspro.ru

FIDE GP Baku (AZE), 21 iv-5 v 2008 cat. XIX (2717)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4
1. Gashimov, Vugar g AZE 2679 * ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 8 2807
2. Wang Yue g CHN 2689 ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ 8 2806
3. Carlsen, Magnus g NOR 2765 ½ ½ * 0 ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 8 2800
4. Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar g AZE 2752 ½ ½ 1 * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 0 1 1 0 7½ 2771
5. Grischuk, Alexander g RUS 2716 0 ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 7½ 2774
6. Adams, Michael g ENG 2729 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ * 1 ½ 0 0 1 1 ½ ½ 6½ 2716
7. Svidler, Peter g RUS 2746 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 * ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 6½ 2715
8. Radjabov, Teimour g AZE 2751 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ * 1 ½ 0 0 1 ½ 6 2685
9. Kamsky, Gata g USA 2726 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 0 0 * ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 6 2687
10. Karjakin, Sergey g UKR 2732 ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ 1 0 ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ 1 6 2687
11. Cheparinov, Ivan g BUL 2696 ½ 0 ½ 1 0 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ * 0 0 1 5½ 2661
12. Navara, David g CZE 2672 ½ ½ ½ 0 0 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 * ½ 0 5½ 2663
13. Bacrot, Etienne g FRA 2705 ½ ½ 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ * 0 5 2631
14. Inarkiev, Ernesto g RUS 2684 ½ ½ 0 1 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 0 0 1 1 * 5 2632
 
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Argentine Championship

The 82nd Argentine Championship took place in Mendoza 20th-31st May 2008. There was a playoff after there was a triple tie for first won by Ruben Felgaer.

Games in PGN - Playoff Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.ajedrez.com.ar/

82nd ch-ARG Playoff Mendoza ARG (ARG), 1-1 vi 2008 cat. XII (2534)
1 2 3
1. Felgaer, Ruben g ARG 2574 * * 1 ½ 1 ½ 3 2707
2. Peralta, Fernando g ARG 2546 0 ½ * * 1 . 1½ 2543
3. Valerga, Diego m ARG 2482 0 ½ 0 . * * ½ 2291

82nd ch-ARG Mendoza ARG (ARG), 20-31 v 2008 cat. IX (2453)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2
1. Felgaer, Ruben g ARG 2574 * 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 0 7 2544
2. Peralta, Fernando g ARG 2546 0 * 1 1 0 1 ½ 1 1 0 ½ 1 7 2546
3. Valerga, Diego m ARG 2482 ½ 0 * ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 7 2552
4. Ricardi, Pablo g ARG 2515 ½ 0 ½ * ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 6½ 2512
5. Flores, Diego m ARG 2548 0 1 ½ ½ * 0 0 1 1 1 ½ 1 6½ 2509
6. Lemos, Damian m ARG 2458 ½ 0 0 ½ 1 * ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 6 2488
7. Real de Azua, Ernesto m ARG 2417 0 ½ ½ 0 1 ½ * ½ 0 ½ 1 1 5½ 2456
8. Alonso, Salvador m ARG 2420 ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ 1 5 2420
9. Liascovich, Lucas m ARG 2419 ½ 0 ½ 0 0 ½ 1 ½ * ½ ½ 1 5 2420
10. Salguero, Francisco ARG 2320 ½ 1 0 ½ 0 0 ½ ½ ½ * 0 1 4½ 2400
11. Mahia, Gustavo f ARG 2432 0 ½ 0 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 * 1 4½ 2390
12. Luconi, Cristian ARG 2306 1 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 * 1½ 2157
 
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Capablanca Memorial

The 43rd Torneo Capablanca In Memoriam took place in La Habana (Cuba) 8th - 17th May 2008, category 15 average 2602. Top seed Lenier Dominguez Perez took clear first with 6/9.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.inder.cu/capablanca/

43rd Capablanca Memorial Havana CUB (CUB), 8-17 v 2008 cat. XV (2605)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
1. Dominguez Perez, Lenier g CUB 2695 * ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 ½ 6 2719
2. Amonatov, Farrukh g TJK 2649 ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 5½ 2680
3. Khenkin, Igor g GER 2609 ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 5½ 2684
4. Hernandez Carmenates, Holden g CUB 2568 ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ 1 0 1 5 2652
5. Tiviakov, Sergei g NED 2635 ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 4½ 2601
6. Wojtaszek, Radoslaw g POL 2625 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ 1 4½ 2602
7. Nogueiras Santiago, Jesus g CUB 2559 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ 1 4 2567
8. Quezada Perez, Yuniesky g CUB 2567 ½ ½ 0 0 ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ 3½ 2529
9. Arencibia Rodriguez, Walter g CUB 2534 0 0 0 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ 3½ 2532
10. Bruzon Batista, Lazaro g CUB 2608 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 0 ½ ½ * 3 2479
 
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US Championship

The 2008 FKB US Chess Championship took place in Tulsa, OK, May 13th-21st 2008. Yuri Shulman took the men's title with 7/9 alone. Anna Zatonskih took the women's title by beating Irina Krush after an armageddon playoff game (they'd already drawn a rapid playoff 2-2).

Games in PGN Men - Games in PGN Women - Games in PGN Women's Playoff

Official site: http://monroi.com/the-2008-fkb-us-chess-championship-home.html

Frank K Berry ch-USA Tulsa (USA), 13-21 v 2008
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1. Shulman, Yuri g USA 2606 =12 +17 +10 =2 +11 +3 +7 =6 =4 7 2760
2. Onischuk, Alexander g USA 2664 =16 +21 +6 =1 =3 =7 +11 =5 +12 6½ 2707
3. Kudrin, Sergey g USA 2549 +24 +8 =11 +5 =2 -1 +13 =4 =6 6 2672
4. Friedel, Joshua E m USA 2484 -11 +23 =8 +10 =7 =6 +14 =3 =1 5½ 2614
5. Akobian, Varuzhan g USA 2601 =21 =16 +14 -3 =15 +18 +9 =2 =7 5½ 2596
6. Perelshteyn, Eugene g USA 2552 =18 +20 -2 =12 +17 =4 +15 =1 =3 5½ 2559
7. Becerra Rivero, Julio g USA 2575 =17 +12 +15 =11 =4 =2 -1 =13 =5 5 2597
8. Ivanov, Alexander g USA 2560 +19 -3 =4 -15 +22 =10 -12 +17 +16 5 2517
9. Finegold, Benjamin m USA 2539 =20 =18 =16 =17 +23 =13 -5 +15 =11 5 2508
10. Gulko, Boris F g USA 2559 +22 =15 -1 -4 =19 =8 +20 =16 +21 5 2501
11. Kaidanov, Gregory S g USA 2596 +4 +14 =3 =7 -1 =15 -2 =12 =9 4½ 2545
12. Fedorowicz, John P g USA 2459 =1 -7 +19 =6 -13 +23 +8 =11 -2 4½ 2543
13. Shabalov, Alexander g USA 2633 -15 +22 =18 =16 +12 =9 -3 =7 =14 4½ 2487
14. Gurevich, Dmitry g USA 2513 +23 -11 -5 =22 =20 +19 -4 +24 =13 4½ 2429
15. Yermolinsky, Alex g USA 2518 +13 =10 -7 +8 =5 =11 -6 -9 =19 4 2514
16. Kraai, Jesse g USA 2509 =2 =5 =9 =13 -18 =17 +24 =10 -8 4 2465
17. Pruess, David m USA 2425 =7 -1 +21 =9 -6 =16 +18 -8 =22 4 2455
18. Ludwig, Daniel USA 2357 =6 =9 =13 =19 +16 -5 -17 =23 =24 4 2423
19. Vigorito, David m USA 2405 -8 +24 -12 =18 =10 -14 =21 =20 =15 3½ 2351
20. Langer, Michael f USA 2254 =9 -6 -22 =24 =14 =21 -10 =19 +23 3½ 2352
21. Ippolito, Dean m USA 2425 =5 -2 -17 -23 +24 =20 =19 +22 -10 3½ 2342
22. Kaufman, Larry C m USA 2365 -10 -13 +20 =14 -8 =24 +23 -21 =17 3½ 2353
23. Shankland, Samuel L USA 2296 -14 -4 +24 +21 -9 -12 -22 =18 -20 2½ 2237
24. Galant, Sergey USA 2235 -3 -19 -23 =20 -21 =22 -16 -14 =18 1½ 2135

Frank K Berry ch-USA w Tulsa (USA), 13-21 v 2008 cat. I (2251)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
1. Krush, Irina m USA 2479 * ½ ½ 1 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 7½ 2498
2. Zatonskih, Anna m USA 2458 ½ * 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 7½ 2500
3. Rohonyan, Katerina wg USA 2309 ½ 0 * 0 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 6 2369
4. Abrahamyan, Tatev wf USA 2239 0 0 1 * 0 1 1 1 1 1 6 2376
5. Tuvshintugs, Batchimeg wm USA 2278 0 1 0 1 * 0 ½ 1 1 1 5½ 2327
6. Battsetseg, Tsagaan wm USA 2254 0 0 ½ 0 1 * ½ ½ 1 1 4½ 2250
7. Zenyuk, Iryna wf USA 2233 ½ 0 0 0 ½ ½ * 1 0 1 3½ 2172
8. Epstein, Esther wm USA 2184 0 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 * 1 ½ 2 2037
9. Airapetian, Chouchanik wf USA 2092 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 * 1 2 2048
10. Jamison, Courtney USA 1979 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 * ½ 1836
 
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III President's Cup

The III President's Cup took place 11th-21st May 2008 in Baku, Azerbaijan dedicated to the memory of Haydar Aliyev and had a prize fund of $85000. Evgeniy Najer took clear first with 7.5/9.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.chessclub.az/kubok3/regulations.htm

III President's Cup Baku (AZE), 11-21 v 2008
Final Leading Round 9 Standings
1 9 GM Najer Evgeniy 2627 RUS 7,5 53,0 50,0 45,5 6
2 28 GM Abbasov Farid 2528 AZE 7,0 54,5 51,0 46,0 5
3 10 GM Guseinov Gadir 2625 AZE 7,0 54,5 50,0 45,0 6
4 13 GM Lastin Alexander 2622 RUS 7,0 54,5 50,0 45,0 5
5 1 GM Milov Vadim 2690 SUI 7,0 53,0 49,0 43,5 6
6 19 GM Aleksandrov Aleksej 2582 BLR 7,0 53,0 48,5 44,0 5
7 12 GM Gelashvili Tamaz 2622 GEO 7,0 52,5 48,5 43,5 5
8 5 GM Jobava Baadur 2658 GEO 7,0 52,5 47,5 42,5 5
9 4 GM Short Nigel D 2660 ENG 7,0 51,5 46,5 41,5 5
10 23 GM Dzhumaev Marat 2557 UZB 6,5 54,5 50,0 44,5 6
11 7 GM Fridman Daniel 2640 GER 6,5 51,5 47,5 42,5 5
12 2 GM Sokolov Ivan 2690 NED 6,5 51,5 47,0 42,0 5
13 11 GM Naiditsch Arkadij 2624 GER 6,5 51,0 47,0 41,5 6
14 21 GM Timman Jan H 2565 NED 6,5 48,5 45,0 41,5 5
15 15 GM Kazhgaleyev Murtas 2617 KAZ 6,5 48,5 45,0 40,0 4
16 24 GM Stefanova Antoaneta 2538 BUL 6,5 48,0 45,0 40,5 6
17 51 FM Agaragimov Djakhangir 2343 AZE 6,5 42,0 39,5 36,0 5
18 18 GM Korchnoi Viktor 2598 SUI 6,0 53,0 49,0 44,0 5
19 14 GM Malakhatko Vadim 2621 BEL 6,0 53,0 49,0 44,0 4
20 29 GM Safarli Eltaj 2524 AZE 6,0 52,0 48,0 43,0 4
21 8 GM Mchedlishvili Mikheil 2635 GEO 6,0 51,5 47,5 42,5 3
22 47 IM Durarbeyli Vasif 2384 AZE 6,0 51,0 47,0 43,0 5
23 16 GM Mamedov Rauf 2617 AZE 6,0 51,0 46,5 42,0 4
24 6 GM Beliavsky Alexander G 2641 SLO 6,0 50,5 46,0 41,5 5
25 32 GM Guliev Sarhan 2487 AZE 6,0 49,0 45,5 41,5 5
26 31 IM Sulashvili Malkhaz 2491 GEO 6,0 49,0 45,5 41,5 4
27 35 IM Sanikidze Tornike 2458 GEO 6,0 49,0 45,5 41,0 5
28 37 IM Esen Baris 2451 TUR 6,0 49,0 45,0 40,5 5
29 36 Nigalidze Gaioz 2455 GEO 6,0 48,0 45,0 41,0 5
30 33 GM Babaev Rashad 2482 AZE 6,0 48,0 43,5 39,0 5
31 25 GM Ibrahimov Rasul 2535 AZE 6,0 46,5 43,0 38,5 5
32 72 Rzayev Bahruz 2225 AZE 6,0 45,5 43,0 38,5 5
33 22 GM Savchenko Stanislav 2560 UKR 6,0 45,5 42,0 38,0 4
34 57 Bayramov Vugar 2306 AZE 6,0 45,0 42,5 38,5 6
35 3 GM Van Wely Loek 2677 NED 6,0 44,0 40,5 37,0 5
36 53 Mammadov Ayaz 2333 AZE 6,0 43,5 40,0 36,0 6
179 players
 
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Moscow Championship

The Final tournament of the Moscow Chess Championship took place 12th-18th May 2008. Boris Savchenko took clear first with 5/7.

6 grandmasters and 2 international masters will play by the round robin system. Live games are available.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.chessmoscow.ru/index.php?topicID=442/ and http://www.chessmoscow.ru/index.php?topicID=442&offPage=10

ch-Moscow Moscow RUS (RUS), 12-18 v 2008 cat. XI (2516)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1. Savchenko, Boris g RUS 2569 * ½ 0 ½ 1 1 1 1 5 2665
2. Vorobiov, Evgeny E g RUS 2536 ½ * 1 ½ 0 ½ 1 1 4½ 2614
3. Gabrielian, Artur m RUS 2494 1 0 * ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 4 2568
4. Rustemov, Alexander g RUS 2552 ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ 1 4 2560
5. Deviatkin, Andrei m RUS 2568 0 1 ½ ½ * ½ ½ 1 4 2558
6. Rychagov, Andrey g RUS 2565 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ 1 3½ 2508
7. Konovalov, Nikolay m RUS 2426 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ * 1 3 2478
8. Gorbatov, Alexej m RUS 2414 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 * 0
 
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European Individual Championship


Champion Sergei Tiviakov. Photo © http://www.chessvista.com/

The IX European Individual Chess Championship took place in Plovdiv, Bulgaria 20th April - 4th May 2008. Sergei Tiviakov took the men's title with 8.5/11 half a point clear of the field, Sergei Movsessian took the silver after beating Sergey Volkov in the playoffs. Kateryna Lahno won the women's event also with 8.5/11 half a point clear. Viktorija Cmylite beat Anna Ushenina in the playoffs to take the silver.

Games in PGN and Women's Games in PGN Rd1-11

Men's Playoff Games in PGN and Women's Playoff Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.eicc2008.com/en/

IX EICC Plovdiv (BUL), 21 iv-2 v 2008
Final Round 11 Standings
1 GM Tiviakov Sergei 2634 NED 8.5 58.5 71.5 6 51.5 22.2
2 GM Volkov Sergey 2633 RUS 8.0 64.0 78.0 5 51.0 17.2
3 GM Tregubov Pavel V 2629 RUS 8.0 63.5 77.0 5 52.5 19.9
4 GM Movsesian Sergei 2695 SVK 8.0 59.5 72.5 5 54.5 10.7
5 GM L'Ami Erwin 2600 NED 8.0 59.5 72.5 5 48.0 16.7
6 GM Vachier-Lagrave Maxime 2632 FRA 8.0 58.0 71.0 6 48.5 16.6
7 GM Grachev Boris 2610 RUS 8.0 58.0 70.5 5 48.5 17.4
8 GM Baklan Vladimir 2647 UKR 8.0 57.0 69.5 5 47.0 12.8
9 GM Kryvoruchko Yuriy 2612 UKR 8.0 56.5 70.0 6 48.5 16.6
10 GM Nyback Tomi 2587 FIN 8.0 56.0 68.5 6 46.0 25.3
11 GM Sutovsky Emil 2630 ISR 7.5 64.5 78.0 5 55.0 16.1
12 GM Laznicka Viktor 2578 CZE 7.5 63.5 75.5 4 49.0 19.8
13 GM Pavasovic Dusko 2595 SLO 7.5 62.0 75.0 5 47.0 20.9
14 GM Efimenko Zahar 2660 UKR 7.5 61.5 75.0 5 48.0 8.9
15 GM Papaioannou Ioannis 2566 GRE 7.5 61.0 73.0 4 47.5 25.4
16 GM Khalifman Alexander 2628 RUS 7.5 60.0 74.0 4 48.0 10.6
17 GM Najer Evgeniy 2627 RUS 7.5 59.5 72.0 5 47.0 10.7
18 GM Mamedov Rauf 2617 AZE 7.5 58.0 71.0 6 49.5 13.8
19 GM Akopian Vladimir 2673 ARM 7.5 56.5 70.0 4 46.0 5.3
20 GM Areshchenko Alexander 2650 UKR 7.5 56.0 69.0 5 45.5 8.7
21 GM Fressinet Laurent 2656 FRA 7.5 56.0 69.0 5 44.5 7.1
22 GM Smirin Ilia 2630 ISR 7.5 56.0 68.5 6 45.0 9.4
23 GM Lupulescu Constantin 2558 ROU 7.5 56.0 67.5 6 45.5 19.4
24 GM Bologan Viktor 2665 MDA 7.5 55.5 69.0 6 44.0 6.0
25 GM Khismatullin Denis 2584 RUS 7.5 55.0 67.0 6 44.0 14.3
26 GM Galkin Alexander 2606 RUS 7.5 55.0 67.0 6 43.0 5.5
27 GM Gustafsson Jan 2603 GER 7.5 54.5 66.5 5 45.5 12.4
28 GM Sargissian Gabriel 2643 ARM 7.5 53.5 65.5 5 43.5 7.7
29 GM Andreikin Dmitry 2580 RUS 7.5 53.5 65.0 5 45.5 13.8
30 GM Hracek Zbynek 2613 CZE 7.5 52.5 65.0 5 46.0 11.6
31 GM Roiz Michael 2659 ISR 7.5 52.5 65.0 4 43.0 5.2
32 GM Vajda Levente 2582 ROU 7.5 52.5 64.0 6 42.5 8.3
33 GM Markowski Tomasz 2598 POL 7.5 52.0 63.5 6 44.0 9.8
34 GM Gurevich Mikhail 2611 TUR 7.5 51.5 63.5 5 43.5 6.7
337 players
 
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FIDE Grand Prix

The line ups for the FIDE Grand Prix events have been announced. The top four players in the world, along with players such as Morozevich and Shirov are missing. All this was more or less known beforehand. However the players who have signed up make this a very attractive and interesting series of events. The grand prix is organised by Global Chess which is headed by Bessel Kok.

Details: http://www.fide.com/news.asp?id=1607

See the full table of events and entrants: The Week in Chess 696

Event 1 April 20th - May 6th 2008, Baku, Azerbaijan
Event 2 July 30th - August 15th 2008, Sochi, Russia
Event 3 December 13th - 29th, 2008, Doha, Qatar
Event 4 April 14th - 28th, 2009, Montreux, Switzerland
Event 5 August 8th - 24th, 2009, Elista, Russia
Event 6 December 7th - 23rd, 2009, Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
 
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April
16th Sigeman & Co Chess Tournament


Ralf Akesson. Photo © http://www.sigeman-chess.com

The 16th Sigeman & Co Chess Tournament took place 22nd - 30th April 2008 in Malmo,Sweden. Tiger Hillarp Persson took clear first place with 7.5/9 a point clear of Daniel Stellwagen.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.sigeman-chess.com

XVI Sigeman & Co Malmo (SWE), 22-30 iv 2008 cat. XII (2539)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
1. Hillarp Persson, Tiger g SWE 2491 * ½ ½ 1 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 7½ 2817
2. Stellwagen, Daniël g NED 2621 ½ * ½ 0 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 6½ 2696
3. Hansen, Lars Bo g DEN 2563 ½ ½ * 1 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 6 2661
4. Akesson, Ralf g SWE 2466 0 1 0 * ½ ½ 1 0 1 1 5 2590
5. Timman, Jan H g NED 2565 0 0 0 ½ * ½ 1 1 1 1 5 2579
6. Agrest, Evgenij g SWE 2567 0 0 ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ 1 1 4½ 2536
7. Kotronias, Vasilios g GRE 2611 ½ ½ ½ 0 0 ½ * 0 ½ ½ 3 2406
8. Lie, Kjetil A g NOR 2558 0 0 0 1 0 ½ 1 * 0 ½ 3 2412
9. Smith, Axel SWE 2428 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 ½ 1 * ½ 2½ 2385
10. Portisch, Lajos g HUN 2523 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 ½ ½ ½ * 2 2321
 
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Russian Team Championship 2008

The Russian Team Championship took place in Dagomys, Sochi 1st-14th April 2008. A very strong field competed. The winners with a round to spare were Ural - Ekaterinburg the only team with an average rating above 2700 (Radjabov, Shirov, Kamsky, Grischuk, Malakhov, Akopian, Dreev and Motylev). My thanks to Jonathan Berry for the final crosstable.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.russiachess.org/. Additional coverage: http://www.chessdom.com/

TCh-RUS Dagomys (RUS), 2-13 iv 2008
Final Round 11 Standings
# Team url ec1 tps fiG spa sha 64 shm tom plt sUr ec2 M G
1 Ural - Ekaterinburg X 2 1 1 2 1 0 2 2 2 2 2 17 39½
2 Economist 1 - Saratov 0 X 1 0 2 2 0 2 2 2 2 2 15 37
3 TPS - Saransk 1 1 X 1 2 2 1 0 2 0 2 2 14 37
4 FINEK Gasprom 1 2 1 X 1 0 2 2 0 1 2 2 14 35½
5 Spasio - Moscow 0 0 0 1 X 1 2 1 2 1 2 2 12 34½
6 Shatar - Buryatia 1 0 0 2 1 X 1 2 2 2 0 1 12 34
7 64 - Moscow 2 2 1 0 0 1 X 1 0 1 1 2 11 32
8 ShCM - Moscow 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 X 0 2 2 2 10 33½
9 Tomsk 400 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 2 X 0 2 2 10 31
10 Polit - Nizhni Tagil 0 0 2 1 1 0 1 0 2 X 0 2 9 31
11 South Ural - Chelya. 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 2 X 0 5 27½
12 Economist 2 - Saratov 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 X 3 23½
 
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Dutch Championship 2008

Jan Smeets
Jan Smeets just after winning the 2008 Dutch Championship. Photo © http://www.chessvista.com/

The Dutch Championship took place takes place 2nd - 13th April 2008 in a television studio (Studio 2) in Hilversum Media Park. First prize was EUR 10.000. Jan Smeets took the title with a final round win against Daniel Stellwagen. Peng Zhaoqin dominated the women's event and won with 8/9.

http://www.schaakbond.nl/nk2008/ and photos and reports at: http://www.chessvista.com/

Games in PGN and Women's Games in PGN

ch-NED Hilversum NED (NED), 2-13 iv 2008 cat. XII (2536)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2
1. Smeets, Jan g NED 2578 * ½ 1 ½ ½ 0 1 ½ 1 1 ½ 1 7½ 2665
2. Reinderman, Dimitri g NED 2526 ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 7 2639
3. Stellwagen, Daniël g NED 2621 0 ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 ½ 1 7 2630
4. Ernst, Sipke g NED 2559 ½ ½ ½ * ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 0 ½ 1 6½ 2599
5. L'Ami, Erwin g NED 2600 ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 0 6½ 2595
6. Nijboer, Friso g NED 2558 1 ½ ½ 0 ½ * 0 1 1 0 1 ½ 6 2570
7. Tiviakov, Sergei g NED 2634 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 * ½ 0 1 ½ 1 6 2563
8. Visser, Yge g NED 2477 ½ ½ 0 0 ½ 0 ½ * ½ 1 1 1 5½ 2541
9. De Jong, Jan-Willem m NED 2474 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 0 1 ½ * ½ ½ ½ 4 2440
10. Janssen, Ruud m NED 2504 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 ½ * ½ 1 4 2437
11. Brandenburg, Daan m NED 2435 ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ * ½ 3½ 2412
12. Bosboom, Manuel m NED 2471 0 0 0 0 1 ½ 0 0 ½ 0 ½ * 2½ 2331

Round 11 (April 13, 2008)
Smeets, Jan - Stellwagen, Daniël 1-0 45 B82 Sicilian Scheveningen
Reinderman, Dimitri - Brandenburg, Daan 1-0 38 E70 King's Indian Fianchetto
L'Ami, Erwin - Bosboom, Manuel 0-1 37 E94 King's Indian Classical
Nijboer, Friso - Visser, Yge 1-0 66 C18 French Winawer
De Jong, Jan-Willem - Tiviakov, Sergei 1-0 61 E38 Nimzo Indian 4.Qc2
Janssen, Ruud - Ernst, Sipke 1-0 50 A17 English Opening
 
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XIV Dos Hermanas tournament

The XIV Dos Hermanas tournament took place 18th-20th April 2008. The knockout featured four players Veselin Topalov, Alexei Shirov, Judit Polgar and Paco Vallejo. There were four game rapid matches of 20 minutes + 10 seconds a move. Tie blitz games of 5 minutes + 3 seconds a move followed by a final sudden death game were not required.

In the Semi-Finals Francisco Vallejo Pons beats Alexei Shirov 3-1 on the first day. Veselin Topalov beat Judit Polgar 3,5-2.5 but had already made sure of qualifying before the fourth game. Topalov won the final 2.5-1.5 against Vallejo after winning the first game and drawing the rest.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.doshermanas.net
 
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II Ruy Lopez Chess Festival

The II Ruy Lopez International Chess Festival took place in Merida, Spain 4th-13th April 2008. The main event was a category XV all-play-all won by Michael Adams with 5.5/7.

Games in PGN

Official web page http://ruylopez.juntaextremadura.net/modules/news/

II Ruy Lopez Masters Merida ESP (ESP), 5-11 iv 2008 cat. XV (2616)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1. Adams, Michael g ENG 2726 * ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 1 5½ 2826
2. Zhang Pengxiang g CHN 2640 ½ * 0 ½ 1 1 1 1 5 2767
3. Sargissian, Gabriel g ARM 2676 ½ 1 * ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 4½ 2706
4. Koneru, Humpy g IND 2612 0 ½ ½ * 1 1 ½ 1 4½ 2715
5. Caruana, Fabiano g ITA 2598 0 0 0 0 * ½ 1 1 2½ 2513
6. Granda Zuniga, Julio E g PER 2588 ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ * 0 ½ 2 2458
7. Hou Yifan wg CHN 2527 0 0 ½ ½ 0 1 * 0 2 2467
8. Perez Candelario, Manuel m ESP 2537 0 0 ½ 0 0 ½ 1 * 2 2465

Round 7 (April 11, 2008)
Zhang Pengxiang - Granda Zuniga, Julio E 1-0 27 B47 Sicilian Paulsen
Sargissian, Gabriel - Adams, Michael ½-½ 18 E17 Queens Indian
Caruana, Fabiano - Koneru, Humpy 0-1 40 C42 Petroff's Defence
Perez Candelario, Manuel - Hou Yifan 1-0 39 B96 Sicilian Najdorf

 
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Gausdal Chess Classic

The Gausdal Chess Classic took place 8th-16th April 2008.

Official site: http://www.bergensjakk.no/gausdal/classics2008/index.htm

Games in PGN

Gausdal Classics GMA Gausdal (NOR), 8-16 iv 2008 cat. XI (2517)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
1. Kaidanov, Gregory S g USA 2596 * ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 7 2729
2. Gopal, G.N g IND 2562 ½ * ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ 1 6 2638
3. Kotronias, Vasilios g GRE 2611 0 ½ * ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 5½ 2588
4. Ikonnikov, Vyacheslav g RUS 2578 ½ ½ ½ * 0 ½ 1 0 1 1 5 2554
5. Macieja, Bartlomiej g POL 2599 ½ ½ 0 1 * 0 ½ ½ 1 1 5 2552
6. Sandipan, Chanda g IND 2585 ½ 0 0 ½ 1 * 0 1 1 1 5 2554
7. Lie, Kjetil A g NOR 2558 0 0 ½ 0 ½ 1 * 1 1 ½ 4½ 2514
8. Krush, Irina m USA 2479 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ 0 0 * ½ ½ 3½ 2442
9. Hole, Oystein m NOR 2387 0 ½ ½ 0 0 0 0 ½ * 1 2½ 2367
10. Moskow, Eric USA 2229 0 0 0 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 * 1 2199
 
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10th Dubai Open

The 10th Dubai Open took place 6th-15th April 2008. Wesley So took first place on tie-break from Merab Gagunashvili, Ehsan Ghaem Maghami and Li Chao B after all finished with 7/9.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.arabfide.com/dubaiopen2008/

Rk. Name FED Rtg Pts.  TB1   TB3 
1 GM So Wesley PHI 2540 7,0 20234 39,5
2 GM Gagunashvili Merab GEO 2553 7,0 20085 39,0
3 GM Ghaem Maghami Ehsan IRI 2604 7,0 19789 35,0
4 GM Li Chao B CHN 2581 7,0 19605 37,0
5 GM Gupta Abhijeet IND 2521 6,5 20400 36,0
6 GM Drozdovskij Yuri UKR 2581 6,5 20135 36,0
7 IM Laxman R R IND 2488 6,5 19794 33,0
8 GM Neverov Valeriy UKR 2568 6,5 19658 34,0
9 GM Arutinian David GEO 2593 6,5 19546 34,5
10 GM Ibrahimov Rasul AZE 2535 6,5 19533 33,0
11 GM Guseinov Gadir AZE 2625 6,5 19527 31,0
12 GM Guliev Sarhan AZE 2487 6,5 18570 31,0
13 FM Salem A R Saleh UAE 2429 6,0 19985 36,0
14 GM Kuzubov Yuriy UKR 2603 6,0 19690 32,0
15 GM Kotanjian Tigran ARM 2570 6,0 19663 32,5
16 GM Adly Ahmed EGY 2578 6,0 19634 33,0
17 GM Ibrayev Nurlan KAZ 2507 6,0 19370 32,5
18 IM Sachdev Tania IND 2423 6,0 19184 29,5
19 FM Wu Xibin CHN 2351 6,0 19137 27,0
20 Zhou Weiqi CHN 2560 6,0 19088 32,5
21 IM Ashwin Jayaram IND 2446 6,0 18905 29,5
22 GM Negi Parimarjan IND 2514 6,0 18872 30,0
23 IM Guliev Logman AZE 2434 6,0 18559 29,5
24 GM Kotsur Pavel KAZ 2568 5,5 19920 33,5
25 GM Gelashvili Tamaz GEO 2622 5,5 19831 32,5
26 IM Frhat Ali EGY 2392 5,5 19669 30,5
27 GM Ramesh R B IND 2472 5,5 19625 29,5
28 GM Safarli Eltaj AZE 2524 5,5 19410 30,0
29 IM Ismagambetov Anuar KAZ 2492 5,5 19317 30,5
30 IM Tissir Mohamed MAR 2440 5,5 19257 29,5
31 FM Soozankar A M IRI 2221 5,5 19111 26,0
32 Noroozi Omid IRI 2274 5,5 18938 26,0
33 IM Durarbeyli Vasif AZE 2384 5,5 18811 28,0
34 Shiven Khosla IND 2086 5,5 18802 24,5
35 IM El Taher Fouad EGY 2486 5,5 18578 28,5
36 Wang Li CHN 2406 5,5 18392 27,0
37 IM Nedochetov Mikhail RUS 2355 5,5 18237 25,0
38 Praveen Kumar C IND 2287 5,5 18122 24,5
39 FM Somoff Abdo LIB 2278 5,5 16181 26,5
40 GM Gleizerov Evgeny RUS 2556 5,0 19386 30,5
132 players
 
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March
Morelia/Linares 2008

Viswanathan Anand against Veselin Topalov in round 14.
Viswanathan Anand against Veselin Topalov in round 14. Photo © ChessVibes.

The Morelia - Linares tournament took place 15th-23rd February (Mexican half) and then 28th February - 7th March 2008 (Spanish half). Viswanathan Anand took clear first half a point clear of Magnus Carlsen.

Index to TWIC videos, stories and annotations from Morelia and Linares 2008

PGN Games

Official site (Linares part): http://www.soloajedrez.com/ciudaddelinares/ and http://www.ajedrezmorelialinares.com.mx/

XXV SuperGM Morelia/Linares (MEX/ESP), 15 ii-7 iii 2008.
cat. XXI (2756)
1. Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2799 8½ 2829
2. Carlsen, Magnus g NOR 2733 8 2808
3. Aronian, Levon g ARM 2739 7½ 2787
4. Topalov, Veselin