Vassily Ivanchuk beat Ruslan Ponomariov 2.5-1.5 in the 3rd-4th play off to qualify as a Candidate for the first time since 1991. Malcolm Pein takes a look at Ivanchuk's win against Alexander Grischuk in a losing cause in the semi-finals and the brilliant rapid loss he suffered to Arthur Yusupov 20 years ago.

Vassily Ivanchuk beat Ruslan Ponomariov 2.5-1.5 in the 3rd-4th play off to qualify as a Candidate for the first time since 1991. Malcolm Pein takes a look at Ivanchuk's win against Alexander Grischuk in a losing cause in the semi-finals and the brilliant rapid loss he suffered to Arthur Yusupov 20 years ago.

Sometimes life is a bowl of cherries - just remember to discard the pits. Something similar will happen today with Notre Dame enjoying the good life, and discarding Pitt on the rubbish pile of a lost season. (What could possibly go wrong? Who can remember as far back as two weeks ago? - That's the distant past.) The beat-down starts at noon today (in about two and a half hours), and will be...

Not today - today's "action" is limited to the opening ceremonies. Which is good, because it leaves us - especially those of us in the U.S. - more time for the subject of the next post. (Yes, your fears are warranted and you all know what's coming next...)

The internet can be a dangerous place because you never know who’s out there. And the anonymity it offers is used by all sorts of people, including a number of GMs. I like to play a bit on the net but these days I always go incognito. It’s a great way to keep the rust [...]

Garry Kasparov along with Jan Callewaert and Silvio Danailov went to the European Parliament to make the case for chess to be part of the education curriculum in schools. Malcolm Pein who runs the charity CHESS in Schools & Communities in the UK reports from Brussels.

Garry Kasparov along with Jan Callewaert and Silvio Danailov went to the European Parliament to make the case for chess to be part of the education curriculum in schools. Malcolm Pein who runs the charity CHESS in Schools & Communities in the UK reports from Brussels.

Σκάκι στους “Τρεις Σωματοφύλακες” που πρόκειται να προβληθεί σε λίγες μέρες στους κινηματογράφους. Είναι η πολλοστή φορά που το πασίγνωστο μυθιστόρημα του Αλέξανδρου Δουμά θα γνωρίσει μία κινηματογραφική...

It’s not in the Soviet coaching manuals but I finally discovered how to interest my son in going through chess games. Basically I have to have an ongoing dialogue between the pieces and they should be quite rude to each other! Occasionally there should be flare ups into violence with pieces knocking each other over [...]

ΘΕΣΣΑΛΟΝΙΚΗ Πάρκο Νέας Ελβετίας 22/9/2011-25/9/2011Γίνεται και αλλιώς , καλλιεργούμε και δημιουργούμεγια καλύτερη ποιότητα ζωής . Για την Πανελλαδικη γιορτη οικολογικης γεωργιας και χειροτεχνιας Ο θεσμός των...

Mark Hebden won the Sunningdale e2-e4 Open beating Peter Wells in the final round.

Mark Hebden won the Sunningdale e2-e4 Open beating Peter Wells in the final round.

And all evidenced by the same game! More on this momentarily. First, the background. The 100th edition of the New in Chess Yearbook (a misnomer, as it comes out several times a year - it didn't start in 1912!) has been published, and they've included some nice bonuses. The marquee feature is a theoretical article by Garry Kasparov, offering the "final word" on the Zaitsev Ruy Lopez - or at least...

A nice interview, recapping his success at the 2011 World Cup, here. (HT: Thomas)

Here's an attractive endgame study from the late great Georgian study composer, on the 100th anniversary of his birth: Nadareishvili 1952; White to move and draw His intended solution works, but after the first move there's a second, completely different but equally successful way to achieve the draw. I'd say more, but the hint would be too big! When you're ready to see one (or both) solutions...