Last Update: Friday 3rd July 2009. 20:00 GMT

Current Events

Dortund 2009

The Dortmund 2009 tournament starts on July 2nd 2009. Round 1 Carlsen beat Jakovenko in the only decisive game. Round 2 Jakovenko returns quickly to 50% with a win over Naiditsch in the only decisive game of the day.

World Open 2009.

The World Open is under way. Different schedules are being played. Bareev already played a couple of rounds. Kamsky has now started his tournament. Twitter feed with on the spot reports.

Malcolm Pein writes.

Malcolm Pein writes on some recent tournaments including the current Dortmund tournament

FIDE Rating list for July 2009.

1st Big Slick Chess tournament, London 2009

Round 7 update.

The London Chess Classic 2009.

David Howell final player to confirm participation. Venue to be announced shortly. Carlsen, Kramnik, Ni Hua, Nakamura, Adams, Short, Howell and McShane play.

Pula Open 2009.

King's Gambit Chess Festival 2009.

Bazna Tournament

Radjabov, Ivanchuk, Shirov, Gelfand, Kamsky and Nisipeanu play.

Final Round 10. Vassily Ivanchuk drew with black against Teimour Radjabov in the first game to finish to secure first place alone. Boris Gelfand took clear second place. Alexei Shirov's final round win allowed him to catch Teimour Radjabov.

France - Armenia Rapid Match 2009

Armenia won 19½ - 12½.

New Kingpin website

Dortmund Chess Meeting

The Dortmund Chess Meeting takes place 2nd-12th July 2009. Players: Kramnik, Leko, Carlsen, Jakovenko, Bacrot, and Naiditsch play.

Games in PGN

Official site: http://www.sparkassen-chess-meeting.de/cms/

Dortmund GM Round 2

Today's Games in PGN

Click on the pairings at the top of the board to reveal a drop down list of all the games. Games will automatically update. Boards by Martin Bennedik (bennedik@gmx.net), all rights reserved.


Sparkassen GM Dortmund (GER), 2-12 vii 2009 cat. XX (2744)
1 2 3 4 5 6
1. Carlsen, Magnus g NOR 2772 * * ½ . . . . . 1 . . . 2951
2. Leko, Peter g HUN 2756 ½ . * * ½ . . . . . . . 1 2765
3. Kramnik, Vladimir g RUS 2759 . . ½ . * * ½ . . . . . 1 2738
4. Bacrot, Etienne g FRA 2721 . . . . ½ . * * . . ½ . 1 2728
5. Jakovenko, Dmitry g RUS 2760 0 . . . . . . . * * 1 . 1 2734
6. Naiditsch, Arkadij g GER 2697 . . . . . . ½ . 0 . * * ½ 2547

Round 1 (July 2, 2009)
Carlsen, Magnus - Jakovenko, Dmitry 1-0 49 C67 Ruy Lopez Berlin
Leko, Peter - Kramnik, Vladimir ½-½ 24 E04 Catalan
Naiditsch, Arkadij - Bacrot, Etienne ½-½ 42 C89 Ruy Lopez Marshall
Round 2 (July 3, 2009)
Leko, Peter - Carlsen, Magnus ½-½ 25 A32 English Symmetrical
Kramnik, Vladimir - Bacrot, Etienne ½-½ 30 E15 Queens Indian
Jakovenko, Dmitry - Naiditsch, Arkadij 1-0 62 B90 Sicilian Najdorf Variation
Dortmund Chess Meeting GM Dortmund (GER), 2-12 vii 2009
Round 1 2nd July, 14 BST
Leko, Peter-Kramnik, Vladimir
Carlsen, Magnus-Jakovenko, Dmitry
Naiditsch, Arkadij-Bacrot, Etienne
Round 2 3rd July, 14 BST
Kramnik, Vladimir-Bacrot, Etienne
Jakovenko, Dmitry-Naiditsch, Arkadij
Leko, Peter-Carlsen, Magnus
Round 3 4th July, 14 BST
Carlsen, Magnus-Kramnik, Vladimir
Naiditsch, Arkadij-Leko, Peter
Bacrot, Etienne-Jakovenko, Dmitry
Round 4 5th July, 14 BST
Naiditsch, Arkadij-Kramnik, Vladimir
Bacrot, Etienne-Carlsen, Magnus
Jakovenko, Dmitry-Leko, Peter
Round 5 6th July, 14 BST
Kramnik, Vladimir-Jakovenko, Dmitry
Leko, Peter-Bacrot, Etienne
Carlsen, Magnus-Naiditsch, Arkadij
Round 6 8th July, 14 BST
Kramnik, Vladimir-Leko, Peter
Jakovenko, Dmitry-Carlsen, Magnus
Bacrot, Etienne-Naiditsch, Arkadij
Round 7 9th July, 14 BST
Bacrot, Etienne -Kramnik, Vladimir
Naiditsch, Arkadij-Jakovenko, Dmitry
Carlsen, Magnus-Leko, Peter
Round 8 10th July, 14 BST
Kramnik, Vladimir-Carlsen, Magnus
Leko, Peter-Naiditsch, Arkadij
Jakovenko, Dmitry-Bacrot, Etienne
Round 9 11th July, 14 BST
Jakovenko, Dmitry-Kramnik, Vladimir
Bacrot, Etienne-Leko, Peter
Naiditsch, Arkadij-Carlsen, Magnus
Round 10 12th July, 12 BST
Kramnik, Vladimir-Naiditsch, Arkadij
Carlsen, Magnus-Bacrot, Etienne
Leko, Peter-Jakovenko, Dmitry
Dortmund Chess Meeting GM Dortmund (GER), 2-12 vii 2009cat. XX (2744)
Carlsen, Magnus g NOR 2772 1990
Jakovenko, Dmitry g RUS 2760 1983
Kramnik, Vladimir g RUS 2759 1975
Leko, Peter g HUN 2756 1979
Bacrot, Etienne g FRA 2721 1983
Naiditsch, Arkadij g GER 2697 1985

World Open

The World Open Chess Tournament takes place June 29th - July 5th 2009 in Philadelphia.

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

Twitter from the World Open

http://twitter.com/chess4lesscom

View the World Open Games

Available Games in PGN (note that due to the multiple schedules the dates of some games will be wrong)

Click on the pairings at the top of the board to reveal a drop down list of all the games. Games will automatically update. Boards by Martin Bennedik (bennedik@gmx.net), all rights reserved.

Malcolm Pein Columns

4th July 2009 - Sparkasse Dortmund Chess Festival 2009 Carlsen takes the lead in Round 1
3rd July 2009 - Sparkasse Dortmund Chess Festival 2009 Round 1 Pairings
2nd July 2009 - Big Slick Poker Club Tournament 2009 Early Action
1st July 2009 - What's your Kasparov Number?
30th June 2009 - London Chess Classic 2009 Field completed
29th June 2009 - Tournament of Kings Bazna 2009 Ivanchuk wins
27th June 2009 - Tournament of Kings Bazna 2009 Ivanchuk almost home
26th June 2009 - Taby Stockholm 2009 Rozentalis against the Sicilian
25th June 2009 - British Championships Torquay 2009 Leading Entries
24th June 2009 - Tournament of Kings Bazna 2009 Ivanchuk takes charge
23rd June 2009 - Ruy Lopez Tournament in Zafar 2009 Cheparinov wins
22nd June 2009 - Tournament of Kings Bazna 2009 Round 5
20th June 2009 - Blig Slick Poker Club Tournament 2009 GM Lineup
19th June 2009 - 10th Karpov tournament in Poikovsky 2009 Motylev examined
18th June 2009 - British Chess Problem Solving Championship Starter Problem
17th June 2009 - Ruy Lopez Tournament in Zafra 2009 Adams loses in Round 1
16th June 2009 - 10th Karpov Tournament in Poikovsky 2009 Motylev wins
15th June 2009 - Golders Green Quickplay 2009 Chris Ross
13th June 2009 - 10th Karpov Tournament in Poikovsky 2009 Shirov crashes
12th June 2009 - XXII Ciudad de Leon Rapid 2009 Carlsen leaves it late
11th June 2009 - 10th Karpov Tournament in Poikovsky 2009 Petroff Defence
10th June 2009 - 10th Karpov Tournament in Poikovsky 2009 Shirov's bad start
9th June 2009 - 17th Sigeman and Co tournament in Malmo 2009 Short wins
8th June 2009 - 17th Sigeman and Co tournament in Malmo 2009
6th June 2009 - Many nice events under way
5th June 2009 - French Top 16 Final 2009
4th June 2009 - Navara - Ivanchuk Rapid Match
3rd June 2009 - Navara - Ivanchuk Rapid Match
2nd June 2009 - Scottish Championships 2009
1st June 2009 - Sardinia Open Conquest Wins
30th May 2009 - Kamsky - Karjakin revisited
29th May 2009 - 4NCL Stephen Gordon
28th May 2009 - Bank Pivdenny Rapid Gelfand wins
27th May 2009 - Mtel Final Round

FIDE Rating list July 2009

The July rating list sees Veselin Topalov hold firm as number one with an increase of a point. World Champion Viswanathan Anand has a couple of games and gains 5 points. Magnus Carlsen holds at three. Levon Aronian jumps to 4 in the world and Dmitry Jakovenko to 5 ahead of Vladimir Kramnik who didn't play in this quarter. Peter Svidler jumps back up to 12 in the world, a position formally held by Vassily Ivanchuk who had a catastrophic quarter dropping to 30 in the world. His win in Bazna is hopefully a sign of a return to form and that will be included next time. I saw some discussion that they were discussing changing the calculation of the list involving the k-factor (FIDE had a meeting recently) but apparently this didn't go through. It is a bit astonishing that 2635 would have been enough to be in the top 100 last time, now this mark has risen to 2641. Karpov has dropped from 86 to 98 in the world without playing a game. Towards the middle of the list the changes don't seem so dramatic however. Apparently the most likely explanation is a blip. They are moving to a list coming out every two months either now or very shortly.

July 2009 Rating List top 100 in full

1st Big Slick Chess tournament

The 1st Big Slick Chess tournament takes place at the Big Slick Poker Club, Purley (near Croydon). 10-player all-play-all section Saturday 27th June - Sunday 5th July 2009 and a 5-round FIDE-rated open Friday 26th June - Sunday 28th June 2009.

Games in PGN

Simon Williams is organising a GM all-play-all event and a FIDE open in London. There is a GM all-play-all and Jonathan Rowson is top seed of the FIDE open. There are places in both events.

Details: http://www.gingergm.com/big-slick-chess/

1st Big Slick GM London (ENG), 27 vi-5 vii 2009 cat. VI (2388)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
1. Cherniaev, Alexander1 g RUS 2423 * . ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 . 1 1 5 2556
2. Slavin, Alexei RUS 2308 . * ½ ½ ½ . 1 1 ½ 1 5 2538
3. Galego, Luis g POR 2454 ½ ½ * . ½ ½ ½ 1 . 1 2462
4. Arkell, Keith C g ENG 2517 ½ ½ . * ½ ½ . 1 1 ½ 2461
5. Poobalasingam, Peter S ENG 2240 ½ ½ ½ ½ * ½ 1 . . ½ 4 2463
6. Gormally, Daniel W g ENG 2487 ½ . ½ ½ ½ * 0 ½ ½ . 3 2346
7. Ansell, Simon T m ENG 2394 0 0 ½ . 0 1 * 1 ½ . 3 2329
8. Rudd, Jack m ENG 2357 . 0 0 0 . ½ 0 * 1 1 2306
9. Kjartansson, Gudmundur f ISL 2388 0 ½ . 0 . ½ ½ 0 * ½ 2 2241
10. Eames, Robert S f ENG 2312 0 0 0 ½ ½ . . 0 ½ * 2153

The London Chess Classic in December

Cream of world chess to play in new London tournament. [Press release 25th June 2009]

The London Chess Centre is pleased to announce that the line up for the London Chess Classic 2009 is complete after GM David Howell of England accepted his invitation. This creates a balance to the event, an eight player all play all, with four world class players pitched against England's four highest rated Grandmasters. Using the latest available ratings and information supplied by the players on their recent successes, the tournament rating average is currently well above 2690 and may reach 2700 by December.

Nigel Short and Hikaru Nakamura are both in great shape. Nigel recently dominated the Sigeman tournament at Malmo and Hikaru won the US Championship held at St Louis. Vladimir Kramnik was top scorer at the Azerbaijan v Rest of the World match with 6.5/8.

Play begins Tuesday December 8th and runs until Tuesday December 15th 2009.

The venue for what will be the most prestigious chess tournament in the capital for 25 years will be announced shortly.

Malcolm Pein (IM) Director London Chess Centre

Notes for editors: All communications to Malcolm Pein IM at London Chess Centre: 020 7388 2404. E-Mail: info@chess.co.uk. Website: www.chess.co.uk

1st London Chess Classic (ENG), 8-16 xii 2009. Cat XVIII (2695) Players list (July ratings)
NoName Ti NAT July Elo DoB
1Carlsen, Magnus g NOR 2772 1990
2Kramnik, Vladimir g RUS 2759 1975
3Nakamura, Hikaru g USA 2710 1987
4Ni, Hua g CHN 2701 1983
5Adams, Michael g ENG 2699 1971
6Short, Nigel D g ENG 2684 1965
7McShane, Luke J g ENG 2620 1984
8Howell, David W L g ENG 2614 1990
Dates of the London Chess Classic. 7th-16th December 2009
Monday 7th December 2009 Press Conference and drawing of lots
Tuesday 8th December 2009 Round 1
Wednesday 9th December 2009 Round 2
Thursday 10th December 2009Round 3
Friday 11th December 2009 Rest day
Saturday 12th December 2009 Round 4
Sunday 13th December 2009 Round 5
Monday 14th December 2009 Round 6
Tuesday 15th December 2009 Round 7 + Closing ceremony, charity simultaneous

23rd Pula Open

The 23rd International Chess Tournament "Pula Open 2009" takes place 27th June - 4th July 2009 in Pula, Croatia.

Details: http://www.skpula.hr/

King's Gambit Chess Festival

The King's Gambit chess festival called takes place in Lipetsk, Russia, June 22nd (arrival day) - July 3rd, 2009. The festival consists of two round-robin tournaments (one with GM norm and one with IM norm) and an open for FIDE rating.

Official site: http://www.obninskchess.ru/alltur/alltur09/lip09/

III Kings' Tournament in Bazna

The III Turneul Regilor (Kings' Tournament) took place in Bazna Romania 14th-25th June 2009. 10 rounds 6 player double round robin. Vassily Ivanchuk returned to his best and won the tournament by a point from Boris Gelfand. Teimour Radjabov and Alexei Shirov, who won his final round, finished half a point further back.

Games in PGN

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

III Kings' Tournament Bazna (ROM), 14-24 vi 2009 cat. XX (2729)
1 2 3 4 5 6
1. Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2746 * * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 1 7 2874
2. Gelfand, Boris g ISR 2733 ½ ½ * * ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 6 2800
3. Radjabov, Teimour g AZE 2756 ½ ½ ½ ½ * * ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 2759
4. Shirov, Alexei g ESP 2745 ½ 0 0 ½ ½ ½ * * 1 1 ½ 1 2762
5. Kamsky, Gata g USA 2720 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 0 0 * * ½ ½ 3 2582
6. Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter g ROU 2675 0 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ * * 3 2591

France - Armenia Match

A French team faced Olympiad Champions Armenia (2006 and 2008). in an 8 round rapid match. Time control: 15 mins + 10 seconds. The match took place June 24th-25th 2009 in the Hotel Castille in Paris. Armenia were convincing winners with the returning Joel Lautier struggling particularly badly.

Official site: http://www.echecs.asso.fr/ - Further details: http://www.europe-echecs.com/actualites/actualites-match-france-armenie-1896.html

Games in PGN

TeamNAT12345678Total
ArmeniaARM32319½
FranceFRA12112½
Round 1 (June 24, 2009) France 1 Armenia 3
Aronian, Levon - Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime ½-½ 38 D87 Gruenfeld Botvinnik
Sargissian, Gabriel - Bauer, Christian ½-½ 47 D94 Gruenfeld Closed
Lautier, Joel - Akopian, Vladimir 0-1 50 A29 English Four Knights
Fressinet, Laurent - Petrosian, Tigran L 0-1 68 D34 Tarrasch Defence, Main Line
Round 2 (June 24, 2009) France 2.5 Armenia 1.5
Akopian, Vladimir - Bauer, Christian ½-½ 41 B01 Centre Counter
Petrosian, Tigran L - Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime 0-1 73 B43 Sicilian Paulsen
Lautier, Joel - Aronian, Levon ½-½ 53 B10 Caro Kann
Fressinet, Laurent - Sargissian, Gabriel ½-½ 69 E15 Queens Indian
Round 3 (June 24, 2009) France 2 Armenia 2
Akopian, Vladimir - Fressinet, Laurent ½-½ 56 C65 Ruy Lopez Berlin
Petrosian, Tigran L - Lautier, Joel ½-½ 34 B23 Sicilian Closed
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime - Sargissian, Gabriel ½-½ 37 C65 Ruy Lopez Berlin
Bauer, Christian - Aronian, Levon ½-½ 46 C54 Giuoco Piano
Round 4 (June 24, 2009) France 1 Armenia 3
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime - Akopian, Vladimir ½-½ 46 C99 Ruy Lopez Chigorin
Aronian, Levon - Fressinet, Laurent 1-0 53 D11 Slav Defence
Bauer, Christian - Petrosian, Tigran L 0-1 42 D00 Queen's Pawn Game
Sargissian, Gabriel - Lautier, Joel ½-½ 52 D38 QGD Ragozin
Round 5 (June 25, 2009) France 1.5 Armenia 2.5
Akopian, Vladimir - Lautier, Joel 1-0 20 B46 Sicilian Paulsen
Petrosian, Tigran L - Fressinet, Laurent 1-0 48 C59 Two Knights Defence
Bauer, Christian - Sargissian, Gabriel 1-0 31 C54 Giuoco Piano
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime - Aronian, Levon ½-½ 42 C60 Ruy Lopez
Round 6 (June 25, 2009) France 1.5 Armenia 2.5
Sargissian, Gabriel - Fressinet, Laurent 1-0 55 A29 English Four Knights
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime - Petrosian, Tigran L ½-½ 31 B36 Sicilian Maroczy Bind
Aronian, Levon - Lautier, Joel ½-½ 54 E15 Queens Indian
Bauer, Christian - Akopian, Vladimir ½-½ 33 A25 English Sicilian Attack
Round 7 (June 25, 2009) France 1.5 Armenia 2.5
Aronian, Levon - Bauer, Christian 1-0 44 D94 Gruenfeld Closed
Fressinet, Laurent - Akopian, Vladimir 1-0 68 D45 Anti-Meran Variations
Sargissian, Gabriel - Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime ½-½ 84 A16 English Opening
Lautier, Joel - Petrosian, Tigran L 0-1 31 A27 English Dutch System
Round 8 (June 25, 2009) France 1.5 - Armenia 2.5
Petrosian, Tigran L - Bauer, Christian 1-0 58 B01 Centre Counter
Fressinet, Laurent - Aronian, Levon 1-0 60 D46 Semi-Slav Defence
Akopian, Vladimir - Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime ½-½ 29 D72 Gruenfeld 3.g3
Lautier, Joel - Sargissian, Gabriel 0-1 39 B10 Caro Kann
FRA-ARM Rapid Match Paris (FRA), 24-25 vi 2009
Final results
Armenian team 19.5
gLevon Aronian27544.5
gVladimir Akopian26964.5
gGabriel Sargissian26604.5
gTigran Petrossian26006
French team12.5
gMaxime Vachier-Lagrave26844.5
gLaurent Fressinet26643.0
gJoel Lautier26582.0
gChristian Bauer26053.0

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