The 30th Andorra Open took place in Erts-La Massana 21st-29th July 2012. Jon Ludvig Hammer took the title on tie-break ahead of last year's winner Kiril Geogiev, Miguel Illescas Cordoba and Julen Luis Arizmendi Martinez after all scored 7/9. Hammer won a large trophy and wondered how much it would cost to transport on Ryan Air. Local resident David Norwood scored a respectable 6/9.

The finish of the Women's Grand Prix event in Jermuk, Armenia, was most unusual. Hou Yifan led coming into the last round, a point ahead of her countrywomen Ju Wenjun and Ruan Lufei. All three lost! Two players who were a further half point back both won, and thus they - Nadezhda Kosintseva (who defeated Ruan Lufei) and Kateryna Lahno (who defeated Hou Yifan) tied for second. The British...

Judgement rendered by the FIDE Ethics Commission in the case “French Team”, concerning a complaint submitted by the French Chess Federation against Mr. Sébastien FELLER, Mr. Arnaud HAUCHARD and Mr. Cyril MARZOLO, and a report submitted by the FIDE Executive Director, in reference to facts allegedly committed during the 2010 Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk (Russia), [...]

First they came for the arbiters, but I didn't say anything, because I wasn't an arbiter. (Plus their incompetence in properly operating DGT boards didn't really endear them to me.) And then they came for me.... I'm referring to the latest proposal by Turkish Chess Federation President Ali Nihat Yazaci, whose insane slash-and-burn attitudes make one long for the good old days of petty corruption...

The 38th International Chess Open Vila de Sitges was held on 20-28th July at the Casino Prado Theatre Hall in Sitges, Spain. The tournament was organized by the Penya d’Escacs Casino Prado Suburense and Hotels & Apartaments Sunway Playa Golf. Tournament system: FIDE Swiss System 9 rounds in two groups. Group A: Players with FIDE [...]

I was happy to return to the Turkish League for the second time, although the dates selected proved unfortunate for me as they were very unfriendly for both the World Open and the British Championship which I originally planned to play at least one of. My team ISEK Aquamatch was in optimistic mood as in [...]

The 30th Andorra Chess Open took place from 21st to 29th July 2012 at the Hotel Sant Gothard, Ctra. d’Arinsal s/n. Erts (La Massana), Andorra. The 9-round Swiss event was organized by the Federació d’Escacs Valls d’Andorra. The tournament was played according to FIDE rules and is valid for title norms. Grandmasters Jon Ludvig Hammer, [...]

The 6th Open Internacional de Ajedrez A.D. San Juan was held from 23rd to 29th July at the Hotel Iruña Park in Pamplona, Spain. Indian representatives GM Deepan Chakkravarthy and IM Venkatesh M R and FM Juan Carlos Obregon Rivero from Cuba shared the first place with 7 points each. Deepan Chakkravarthy gets the winner’s [...]

Μια εικόνα χίλιες λέξεις… Βλέπουμε το σήμα των ολυμπιακών αγώνων με κομμάτια σκάκι.

My son and I visited the British Championships on Friday and watched much of round 5. It was nice to see old friends and colleagues and the playing conditions were very good. On the other hand it was hardly representative of the real strength of British Chess, at the top there are 7 of the [...]

A look through the FIDE agenda for their 83rd FIDE Congress reveals a proposal by the hosts, the Turkish Chess Federation that the 7 Federations (French, USCF, Ukraine, German, Switzerland, Georgia and the English Chess Federation) that brought 2 legal actions (both lost on technicalities rather than the actual facts of the case) "must be given suspension from FIDE including players, arbiters...

A look through the FIDE agenda for their 83rd FIDE Congress reveals a proposal by the hosts, the Turkish Chess Federation that the 7 Federations (French, USCF, Ukraine, German, Switzerland, Georgia and the English Chess Federation) that brought 2 legal actions (both lost on technicalities rather than the actual facts of the case) "must be given suspension from FIDE including players, arbiters...

The Politiken Cup takes place in Elsinore 28th July to August 5th 2012. 10 Round Swiss with Malakhov, Cheparinov, Dreev, Ivan Sokolov, Erwin L'Ami, Jan Timman, Lajos Portisch etc.

The Politiken Cup takes place in Elsinore 28th July to August 5th 2012. 10 Round Swiss with Malakhov, Cheparinov, Dreev, Ivan Sokolov, Erwin L'Ami, Jan Timman, Lajos Portisch etc.

Gawain Jones and Stephen Gordon were the only players to reach 3/3 at the British Championships. Jones overcame Keith Arkell in a messy game where he was worse at one point after Arkell had grabbed two pawns. Stephen Gordon had more success with pawn grabbing against Hugh Murphy. David Howell won a very nice endgame against Jonathan Hawkins to reach 2.5/3 and plays Danny Gormally.