Alexander Morozevich brought his participation in the 2011 World Cup to a conclusion with an early draw offer on move 12 against Alexander Grischuk to lose the match 1.5-0.5. Grischuk was as surprised as anyone. "My first idea was that I misheard him." He refused to speculate on why Morozevich did this saying that it was up to journalists "this is part of your job". My guess, Morozevich was...

Alexander Morozevich brought his participation in the 2011 World Cup to a conclusion with an early draw offer on move 12 against Alexander Grischuk to lose the match 1.5-0.5. Grischuk was as surprised as anyone. "My first idea was that I misheard him." He refused to speculate on why Morozevich did this saying that it was up to journalists "this is part of your job". My guess, Morozevich was...

Judit Polgar eliminated top seed Sergei Karjakin from the World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk. The Hungarian drew here second game with the black pieces comfortably to reach a score of 1.5-0.5. Alexander Morozevich, who needed to win his white game against Alexander Grischuk, surprised his opponent and the rest of the chess world by offering a [...]

Every week we present you an endgame study selected by IM Yochanan Afek: player, trainer, endgame study composer and writer. A week later the solution is published. Good luck solving! –> IM Yochanan Afek’s Official Website S. Hornecker & S. Didukh 2010 White to play and win Next week the solution. Solution last week I. [...]

Gawain left early this morning and he is now currently playing his 1st Round game against WIM Vesna Rozic is some kind of French. Live games are available to watch. The website is here and it should be updated in due course. Hope you enjoy the games

There were some real surprises today, and they ran from one end of the pairing table to the other. On board 1, the top seed is out. Sergey Karjakin lost to Judit Polgar yesterday, and was unable to make any headway on the white side of an Open Ruy today. Polgar played well, drew comfortably, and advanced to the round of 16. On board 2, Emil Sutovsky reminded us of two things: first, why we love...

Of we went, for a trip over the imaginary border to Wales. We had no real plans except to visit Caernarfon in North Wales. A lovely place to visit, even with grey weather and the Castle was amazing (be warned there is a lot of climbing). This is in fact an English Castle built to [...]

Ο Steve Giddins συνεχίζει τα άρθρα του στην Chessbase σχετικά με τις σκακιστικές συνθέσεις.Στο άρθρο του στις 16 Αυγούστου γράφει για παρεμβολές : http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=7460.Το κείμενο είναι αγγλικό, αλλά μπορείτε να δείτε τα...

It pays to think for yourself in chess rather than follow particular fashions. Here we see Nicolai Rossolimo playing 3.Bb5 against the Sicilian before everyone else realized what an interesting move it is and he wins a most exquisite game: That doesn’t mean that we should now rush out and play 3.Bb5 ourselves as times [...]

Viswanathan Anand continued his winning ways on the second day of the elite rapid event of the Botvinnik Memorial, following up a draw with Vladimir Kramnik by defeating Levon Aronian and Magnus Carlsen. He wound up with an undefeated 4.5/6 score, a full point and a half more than Vladimir Kramnik and Levon Aronian. Kramnik beat Carlsen in round 5 while Aronian beat Carlsen in round 4; finally...

What an amazing collection of blunders by UND - and they still almost won. Terrible! Next week, Notre Dame sets the world right by crushing Michigan. Stay tuned.

The first game of the 3rd round of the FIDE World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk took place on Saturday 3rd September. Judit Polgar beat top seed Sergey Karjakin on the white side of a Berlin Defence where she surprised him with a side-line. Emil Sutovsky beat Vassily Ivanchuk after the latter went astray in time trouble. Gata Kamsky beat Ian Nepomniachtchi in an ending from a Gruenfeld as white. ...

The first game of the 3rd round of the FIDE World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk took place on Saturday 3rd September. Judit Polgar beat top seed Sergey Karjakin on the white side of a Berlin Defence where she surprised him with a side-line. Emil Sutovsky beat Vassily Ivanchuk after the latter went astray in time trouble. Gata Kamsky beat Ian Nepomniachtchi in an ending from a Gruenfeld as white. ...

But it's not so great for chess. Rapids are often fun, the lack of time and impact on the rating list allow the players to take creative liberties they might otherwise shy away from. But mostly it's a simple equation of less time to think resulting in inferior moves. Rapid is probably at its best in casual events like the Botvinnik Memorial show that just completed in Moscow. Its worst aspects...

Viswanathan Anand dominated the Botvinnik Memorial with a score of 4.5/6. World number one Magnus Carlsen lost all his games on the second day and finished last with 1.5/6. Kramnik and Aroniain tied for 2nd on 3/6. I don't know if the players were asked to be more enterprising but the quality of play was, for me, quite low on day 2 with only Aronian's win against Kramnik in the final round...