Peter Svidler just needs a draw with white against Alexander Grischuk in the final game of the World Cup final. This followed his first draw with black since round 3.1. Svidler avoided the temptation to try and finish things today by exploiting more lunatic clock handling from Grischuk. Most likely the most professional and level-headed approach. Vassily Ivanchuk held the draw after getting in...

Too soon after the conclusion of the British, Tara and I jumped on a plane to LA. Ankit Gupta, the organiser, had persuaded me, rather against my better judgement to act as instructor at a 4-day Chess camp. As I had never done anything remotely similar before, this was to say the least somewhat a [...]

Garry Kasparov as part of promoting his Chess in Schools campaign in Europe held a one day exhibition in Clichy. This was a sell out in the auditorium of the Lyceum Auffray. The event saw Maxime Vachier-Lagrave defeat Laurent Fressinet in a final 5m to 4m sudden death playoff game after two 5m+3spm blitz games (the first one is incomplete) were drawn for the right to play Kasparov. You'd have...

With their draws today Peter Svidler and Vassily Ivanchuk have moved to within draw odds of winning their matches against Alexander Grischuk and Ruslan Ponomariov, respectively. With Black, Svidler drew pretty easily in a Classical Ruy, and is in great shape to win the World Cup tomorrow needing only a draw with White. Ivanchuk had a tougher time of things, despite having the white pieces. Like...

Για τα Ομαδικά Πρωταθλήματατης ΕΣΣΝΑ ορίζονται οι επικεφαλής διαιτητές και υπέυθυνοι κληρώσεων ως εξής: Ομαδικό Πρωτάθλημα Παίδων-Κορασίδων(25/9-30/10) - Βλάχος Ελισσαίος Ομαδικό Πρωτάθλημα Τζούνιορς(25/9-23/10) - Δευτεραίος...

Please excuse the personal note to today’s column but my son Sam (recently turned 9) played in his first tournament yesterday and made a very respectable 3/6. I’m told that this was his best game from the event: I must say that I’m delighted to have managed to interest him in chess because I’m convinced [...]

The 2nd Women's Grand Prix of the 2011-12 series takes place 7th-19th September 2011. The event was pushed back a week from the original start date to give Women's World Champion Hou Yifan the best chance of participation. She was in the FIDE World Cup but was eliminated in the first round. Other participants: Ju Wenjun, Victorija Cmilyte (winner of the Women's Botvinnik Memorial), Zhu Chen, Anna...

Garry Kasparov as part of promoting his Chess in Schools campaign in Europe held a one day exhibition in Clichy. This was a sell out in the auditorium of the Lyceum Auffray. The event saw Maxime Vachier-Lagrave defeat Laurent Fressinet in a final 5m to 4m sudden death playoff game after two 5m+3spm blitz games (the first one is incomplete) were drawn for the right to play Kasparov. You'd have...

There is a two day 10 board match between St Petersburg and Moscow in St Petersburg on Saturday 17th - Sunday 18th September 2011, this traditional event is back after a 5 year break. Interest in chess sponsorship (this time Gazprom) seems to be really quite high in Russia at the moment. Moscow are the Elo favourites. Moscow: 2700+ players Morozevich, Nepomniachtchi, Jakovenko, Dreev, Malakhov...

I haven't covered them (and don't intend to), but that doesn't mean others might not be interested. So here are some ongoing and just-finished events readers might be curious about. 1. Moscow-St. Petersburg: This is a 10-board, 2-day event taking place in Moscow, and it's enormously strong. There are six 2700s participating (Morozevich, Vitiugov, Nepomniachtchi, Jakovenko, Dreev and Malakhov)...

Only blitz, alas, but it's nice to see Garry Kasparov in action again. It was an exhibition in Clichy, France, in two rounds. The first round saw Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Laurent Fressinet battle for the right to play Kasparov in the final round. After a pair of draws, Vachier-Lagrave won the Armaggedon game to advance. In the final, Kasparov won with White, setting up and executing a nice...

So much for the 15th-ranked team in the country! One win down, ten (with the bowl game) to go. Next victim: Pittsburgh (at Pittsburgh). Now for a little celebratory music: (A nice clip, but the end certainly requires an update!)

Peter Svidler edged half a point closer to the World Cup title with a quick draw with white against Alexander Grischuk in game 2 of the World Cup Final. Everybody looked quite tired today as this marathon event enters its last lap. Grischuk may or may not have the strength for a win or bust attempt tomorrow. In the battle for the final Candidates place Ponomariov made it uncharacteristically...

Peter Svidler edged half a point closer to the World Cup title with a quick draw with white against Alexander Grischuk in game 2 of the World Cup Final. Everybody looked quite tired today as this marathon event enters its last lap. Grischuk may or may not have the strength for a win or bust attempt tomorrow. In the battle for the final Candidates place Ponomariov made it uncharacteristically...

Our series on the Ruy Lopez progresses this week with a look at three Black sidelines after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4. The main move is 4...Nf6, but there are alternatives that merit some attention. First, we have a quick look at the Norwegian Variation, characterized by 4...b5 5.Bb3 Na5. Black grabs the bishop pair and hopes to neutralize White's advantages in space and development. Next...