Levon Aronian finished the Amber 2011 event on 15.5/22 a point clear of Magnus Carlsen. This is to be his third first prize for this tournament, already won this in 2008 and 2009. He was undefeated in Blindfold section, while Magnus Carlsen coming second and top the score in Rapid section. This session of Amber Chess sadly the last of the franchise, meaning next year it would be no more (or hopefully changed into another name....). Nakamura finished in middle board, ahead of Kramnik, Topalov etc. Anish Giri is the one in the worst shape and ended last.
Final table as appear in TWIC
Combined :
1. Levon Aronian - 15.5
2. Magnus Carlsen - 14.5
3. Vishy Anand - 13
4. Vassily Ivanchuck - 11
5. Alexander Grischuk - 11
6. Hikaru Nakamura - 10.5
7. Boris Gelfand - 10.5
8. Veselin Topalov - 10.5
9. Vugar Gashimov - 10.5
10. Sergey Karjakin - 10
11. Vlad Kramnik - 8
12. Anish Giri - 7
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Hou Yifan vs Koneru Humpy part II - Women Chess GP Final Standing
In the light of dissapointment of seeing a new pair of Women World Championship duel alike Hou vs Kosintseva or Dzagnidze or else, it is Koneru Humpy who get the other shoot of the World Champion title. The story went like this, in the last round of Doha GP, Elina Danielin who need a win to secure first place only went for a draw and secure her breakthrough first place ... tied.
Marie Sebag who also got a chance, got crushed in Sicilian defence by black side played by Munguntuul, and the last variable need by Humpy was, her needed win and she did it, against Qatar resident GM Zhu Chen. So that concluded the Doha GP and Zhu Chen just put her Chinese comrade Hou Yifan in the greatest danger for her title. Humpy is the reign power in Women chess right now, being top in elo rating for most of the girls (women included...).
We'll see this match to happened only if there will be no drama in the future, Humpy is known to have some miss communication with India fed for sometime, Hou, will always supported by Chinese fed.
Final FIDE Women Grand Prix standing:
Marie Sebag who also got a chance, got crushed in Sicilian defence by black side played by Munguntuul, and the last variable need by Humpy was, her needed win and she did it, against Qatar resident GM Zhu Chen. So that concluded the Doha GP and Zhu Chen just put her Chinese comrade Hou Yifan in the greatest danger for her title. Humpy is the reign power in Women chess right now, being top in elo rating for most of the girls (women included...).
We'll see this match to happened only if there will be no drama in the future, Humpy is known to have some miss communication with India fed for sometime, Hou, will always supported by Chinese fed.
Final FIDE Women Grand Prix standing:
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Qatar Women GP 2011 Elina Danielian Perfect 5/5
Somehow there is no demonstration or riot in Doha, Qatar. Well, unlike his Middle East of North African country who got new hobby in criticizing their king/president, in Qatar thing went normally and they even hosting a chess tournament. About a week after the start of 2011 Women FIDE Grand Prix in Doha, Armenian GM Elina Danielian is smiling wide for her five wins so far. Result from the last round, round 5, is as follow :
Doha 2011 Women GP, Round 5
Chiburdanidze, Maia (GEO) Zhu Chen (QAT) ½-½
Cramling, Pia (SWE) Dzagnidze, Nana (GEO) 1-0
Danielian, Elina (ARM) Xu Yuhua (CHN) 1-0
Munguntuul, Batkhuyag (MGL) Mkrtchian, Lilit (ARM) ½-½
Sebag, Marie (FRA) Koneru, Humpy (IND) ½-½
Stefanova, Antoaneta (BUL) Fierro, Martha (ECU) ½-½
and this put the tentative standing like this:
1. Danielian, Elina 5
2. Cramling, Pia 3
2. Fierro, Martha 3
2. Sebag, Marie 3
5. Koneru, Humpy 2,5
5. Chiburdanidze, Maia 2.5
7. Zhu Chen 2
7. Stefanova, Antoaneta 2
7. Dzagnidze, Nana 2
7. Xu Yuhua 2
11. Mkrtchian, Lilit 1.5
11. Munguntuul, Batkhuyag 1.5
Can Danielian win this GP? As the main player in Women Chess is a bit narrow in selection, it will be a delight surprise. Hou Yifan is the overall GP leader but since she is the Woman Chess World Champion now
and the objective of this GP is to win a ticket against WC, then the second place is the main concern here. Currently Nana Dzagnidze is leading, Koneru and Xu Yuhua are also potential for being the runner up of overall GP, if they land first place in Doha. Official Doha website here.
And Overall FIDE Women Chess Grand Prix up to Ulaan Baatar :
Doha 2011 Women GP, Round 5
Chiburdanidze, Maia (GEO) Zhu Chen (QAT) ½-½
Cramling, Pia (SWE) Dzagnidze, Nana (GEO) 1-0
Danielian, Elina (ARM) Xu Yuhua (CHN) 1-0
Munguntuul, Batkhuyag (MGL) Mkrtchian, Lilit (ARM) ½-½
Sebag, Marie (FRA) Koneru, Humpy (IND) ½-½
Stefanova, Antoaneta (BUL) Fierro, Martha (ECU) ½-½
and this put the tentative standing like this:
1. Danielian, Elina 5
2. Cramling, Pia 3
2. Fierro, Martha 3
2. Sebag, Marie 3
5. Koneru, Humpy 2,5
5. Chiburdanidze, Maia 2.5
7. Zhu Chen 2
7. Stefanova, Antoaneta 2
7. Dzagnidze, Nana 2
7. Xu Yuhua 2
11. Mkrtchian, Lilit 1.5
11. Munguntuul, Batkhuyag 1.5
Can Danielian win this GP? As the main player in Women Chess is a bit narrow in selection, it will be a delight surprise. Hou Yifan is the overall GP leader but since she is the Woman Chess World Champion now
and the objective of this GP is to win a ticket against WC, then the second place is the main concern here. Currently Nana Dzagnidze is leading, Koneru and Xu Yuhua are also potential for being the runner up of overall GP, if they land first place in Doha. Official Doha website here.
And Overall FIDE Women Chess Grand Prix up to Ulaan Baatar :
Monday, February 7, 2011
Alexandra Kosteniuk Queen of Moscow 2011
It is an ex Chess Queen that re-Queening in Young GM Women, Moscow. Seeing the last standing of this event :
1. Kosteniuk, Alexandra 6.5 age 26
2. Munguntuul, Batkhuyag 6.5 age 23
3. Zhao, Xue 5 age 25
4. Gunina, Valentina 5 age 22
5. Girya, Olga 3.5
6. Zawadzka, Jolanta 3.5
7. Kashlinskaya, Alina 3
8. Galojan, Lilit 3
9. Ambartsumova, Karina 2
10. Fominykh, Maria 2
Well, this time they are using a more proper timeline for the term "Young". Understandable, GM Hou Yifan age 16 is not qualified for underage ;p
And the "male" counterpart was taken place as well. This time it was Boris Grachev standing solely on top, ahead of many Young GM from the other world. That' right, again no underage chess wizards the like of Wesley So, Anish Giri, Caruana, Carlsen, or Nyzhnik. Not all Russian player arounds, GM Robert Hess from USA was participating, but so far he is seriously in trouble with the Sicilian Opening. Losing fours of white games to this opening, and this is one of them:
Robert Hess - Sanan Sjugirov
Lots of D,E,F category also taken place in Moscow, and results are here. After this Moscow is preparing for the more famous Aeroflot Open, where Gata Kamsky is top seeded.
1. Kosteniuk, Alexandra 6.5 age 26
2. Munguntuul, Batkhuyag 6.5 age 23
3. Zhao, Xue 5 age 25
4. Gunina, Valentina 5 age 22
5. Girya, Olga 3.5
6. Zawadzka, Jolanta 3.5
7. Kashlinskaya, Alina 3
8. Galojan, Lilit 3
9. Ambartsumova, Karina 2
10. Fominykh, Maria 2
Well, this time they are using a more proper timeline for the term "Young". Understandable, GM Hou Yifan age 16 is not qualified for underage ;p
And the "male" counterpart was taken place as well. This time it was Boris Grachev standing solely on top, ahead of many Young GM from the other world. That' right, again no underage chess wizards the like of Wesley So, Anish Giri, Caruana, Carlsen, or Nyzhnik. Not all Russian player arounds, GM Robert Hess from USA was participating, but so far he is seriously in trouble with the Sicilian Opening. Losing fours of white games to this opening, and this is one of them:
Robert Hess - Sanan Sjugirov
Lots of D,E,F category also taken place in Moscow, and results are here. After this Moscow is preparing for the more famous Aeroflot Open, where Gata Kamsky is top seeded.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Hou Yifan Chinese TV Interview
About a month ago I accidentally came across an interview of Hou Yifan in Chinese TV Channel. I tried to record but with device nearby me, it was only seconds can be recorded. The interview talked a lot about off-chess-topic such as her hobbies and childhood background.
I can understand small portion of it, since my mandarin is really on class room level, and Hou Yifan spoke with her native slang and dialect. Here some translation on this video:
When asked is playing chess give her anxiety or feeling always in rush, when she was on junior / primary school.....
Hou : "Not very so, I still able to do other thing , other relaxing activities"
Is her parents allowed her to watch television...
Hou : "I like watching cartoon. When I back from the school I do chess practicing, daily. After around 6 o'clock (not sure what time she went back from school) I can watch television, I watched when there is a cartoon..."
How about school lesson? Homeworks?
Hou : "It done after I watched tv, not very worry. The homeworks also not many. About in third year I move to "Jing Nan", I take the third and fourth year in Jing nan.
Around age 7, Hou won first place in Jiangsu province junior tournament. Defeating 11 male opponents out of 14. To increase her chess skill, her father take her to Sandong.
Hou : "My parents went back earlier and I stayed in house of chess player friend for one week."
Were you feeling worried at that time? How old are you (at that time)?
Hou : "7 years old. I was worried, but my parents need to work. No choice."
So how did you spend your week there?
Hou : "Not very well, because I was too young I always called back home. Everyday trying to find excuses, like my shoe string broke, feeling not well etc. After a week my mother join me, and until now my mother always accompanied me, never leave me."
How can she do it? (as she need to work also)?
Hou : "Her job (also) have some travelling. The local goverment know my requirement (to travel) so that my mother can have some special permit to do it (so the mother most likely worked in goverment)."
When asked it is chess is "ancient" / oldies sport/games?
Hou : "Yes, it is an ancient stuff. (But) When we like something we will feel interesting to do it. Everyday we must practice, a lot of memorizing, something like from Monday to Friday around 4-5 hours. On weekend it can be shorter period. So not everyday our energy spend on chess"
About activities outside chess.....
Hou : "Reading a book, listening to music, and if there is a time, swimming.
When asked about her favorite book, Hou mentioned some book titles, unfortunately I have no idea on what book it is since they are titled in mandarin.
See captured videos, some waiting for translation, or please let me know if you can translated (and better than mine) :
I can understand small portion of it, since my mandarin is really on class room level, and Hou Yifan spoke with her native slang and dialect. Here some translation on this video:
When asked is playing chess give her anxiety or feeling always in rush, when she was on junior / primary school.....
Hou : "Not very so, I still able to do other thing , other relaxing activities"
Is her parents allowed her to watch television...
Hou : "I like watching cartoon. When I back from the school I do chess practicing, daily. After around 6 o'clock (not sure what time she went back from school) I can watch television, I watched when there is a cartoon..."
How about school lesson? Homeworks?
Hou : "It done after I watched tv, not very worry. The homeworks also not many. About in third year I move to "Jing Nan", I take the third and fourth year in Jing nan.
Around age 7, Hou won first place in Jiangsu province junior tournament. Defeating 11 male opponents out of 14. To increase her chess skill, her father take her to Sandong.
Hou : "My parents went back earlier and I stayed in house of chess player friend for one week."
Were you feeling worried at that time? How old are you (at that time)?
Hou : "7 years old. I was worried, but my parents need to work. No choice."
So how did you spend your week there?
Hou : "Not very well, because I was too young I always called back home. Everyday trying to find excuses, like my shoe string broke, feeling not well etc. After a week my mother join me, and until now my mother always accompanied me, never leave me."
How can she do it? (as she need to work also)?
Hou : "Her job (also) have some travelling. The local goverment know my requirement (to travel) so that my mother can have some special permit to do it (so the mother most likely worked in goverment)."
When asked it is chess is "ancient" / oldies sport/games?
Hou : "Yes, it is an ancient stuff. (But) When we like something we will feel interesting to do it. Everyday we must practice, a lot of memorizing, something like from Monday to Friday around 4-5 hours. On weekend it can be shorter period. So not everyday our energy spend on chess"
About activities outside chess.....
Hou : "Reading a book, listening to music, and if there is a time, swimming.
When asked about her favorite book, Hou mentioned some book titles, unfortunately I have no idea on what book it is since they are titled in mandarin.
See captured videos, some waiting for translation, or please let me know if you can translated (and better than mine) :
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Ivanchuck won Gibraltar Chess 2011
Nigel Short finished the 2011 Tradewise Gibraltar Chess with a lot of wins, eight of them. But really it wasn't enough to win the tournament. Of all ten rounds Short sort of one point to the real tournament winner. He lost to Ivanchuck, which one point higher exactly taken from Nigel Short. Yes, that is Vasily Ivanchuck who didn't really roller coastering in this tournament, a 9/10 point, two draws only with GM Ruben Felgaer (ARG) and GM Victor Mikhalevski.
Nana Dzagnidze is highest woman with 7/9 followed by IM Melia Solome in same score but lesser tie break. Lots of woman playing here, and this is the pictures collection. Fabio Caruana is the highest in standing for youngest GM category, ahead of Richard Rapport and Ray Robson. Viktor Korchnoi is top suspected of highest standing in oldest GM as well. He lost the final round to GM Daniel Fridman, that's all.
Full Standing here.
Game selection: GM Viktor Bologan - GM Alexandr Fier 1-0, E30 Nimzo-Indian Leningrad
Nana Dzagnidze is highest woman with 7/9 followed by IM Melia Solome in same score but lesser tie break. Lots of woman playing here, and this is the pictures collection. Fabio Caruana is the highest in standing for youngest GM category, ahead of Richard Rapport and Ray Robson. Viktor Korchnoi is top suspected of highest standing in oldest GM as well. He lost the final round to GM Daniel Fridman, that's all.
Full Standing here.
Game selection: GM Viktor Bologan - GM Alexandr Fier 1-0, E30 Nimzo-Indian Leningrad
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Nakamura (and Tata Steel Chess 2011)
Well, here we go, some more glorification for GM Hikaru Nakamura. The last round drama, on paper is absolutely stunning anti climax. Naka drew Wang Hao (surprise....) , Anand draw Nepo in a +1 score for Anand Black's sicilian (my first lost of the Sicilian of the Month...), Carlsen draw Grischuk, Aronian draw Smeets, oh, and is it draw for the rest....? But even with a draw... Nakamura won (his first super) tournament, great and Banzai! It is good to see new (ouch..) face for the tournament,and present now, the USA flagship for chess, though they really still need to invite Kamsky next year!
In group B, was also half boring. Li Chao B pointed full score to Tkachiev for the last Asian pride. Hammer get one of his worst tournament performance by losing again to Fressinet. Then the who join the A club battle, saw some drama (yes), David Navara, who actually belong(ed) to elite press really hard to his competitor, GM Luke McShane, but dunno what happened, after 20. Bb6 Qd7 21. Qa4 Qxa4 22. Nxa4 Bd7 23. Nab2 Nc8 24. Rac1 Rf7 25. Bd8 suddenly the score went to 1/2-1/2 . With this Navara lost to McShane in tie break system, and looks clear it will be the Britton to be presented next year, in A team. But overall McShane is okay also, he had done well against elite in London tournament before. Last note on Group B is Wesley So, who wrapped last round with draw, a spiritful middle tournament with 4+ in a row is probably consolidation prize, for fans and himself. Still there's next year, and if only he really make it to elite, the country, region and continent will once again have more name to cheer. Le Quang Liem finished ahead of So in tie break system, very last note.
Waiit, group C. The last battle for B-ticket, Vocatura vs Illya Nyzhnik (yes, without copy paste) is another lost to awesome-Black-win-in-Sicilian , again. The boy is really almost there!, but 32. Nxd6+ Bxd6? is a draw! 33. Qh5 Nf6 34. Rxf6+ Kxf6 35. Qh6+ Kf5 36. Qh7+ Kf6 37. Qh6+ Kf5 38. Qh7+ Kf6 39. Qh6+ ½-½. It was a Q vs Q+R+R+B draw! Congratulation to Vocatura Daniele, queitly, stealthily, trying to slide Caruana in the future. And the awesome Illya boy is a "pending" star as well.
We hope to see more face, especially younger breed for next year, maybe Jorge Cori (no Latin American presentation this year?), and Richard Rapport to compete officially with Nyzhnik. Also Sjugirov of the Kalmykian is great also. And... bring back Ivanchuck.
Vocatura,Daniele - Nyzhnik, Illya
Turnament tahunan super kuat, Tata Steel Chess (dulu Corus Chess) di kota Wijk Aan Zee Belanda usai dengan kemenangan pecatur US GM Hikaru Nakamura di group B. Si darah Jepang membawa pulang tropi dengan setengah angka lebih baik dari pecatur ber-elo banyakan seperti Anand (juara dunia), Carlsen (ex-no.1 rating), Kramnik (ex-juara) dll. Ronde terakhir cukup seru drawnya, semua draw LOL... Dengan ini era USA dengan Hikaru tampaknya resmi dimulai, Hikaru akan mewakili lagi di turnament kuat hadiah dari memenangkan turnament ini, Bilbao Chess master. Turnament ini adalah bagian dari Grand Slam catur, selain itu adalah Dortmund, Linares, M-Tel dan Pearl Spring di Cina.
Di Group B, pertandingan puncak GM David Navara vs Luke McShane juga berakhir remis, walaupun putih seharusnya menekan cukup kuat ke hitam, tapi Navara, yg konon kabarnya mengalami autisme di masa muda, tak cukup kuat mengalahkan si orang Inggris McShane. Posisi akhir adalah McShane yang akan naik divisi ke grup A taon depan. Wesley So musti puas main lagi di grup B tahun depan, dan pecatur Vietnam Le Quang Liem memperbaiki peringkat dan lebih baik tie breaknya dari saingan Philipin nya.
Di Group C, pecatur 14 tahun (coba bayangkan anak lebay Indonesia usia 14 tahun) yg sudah bergelar GM nyaris naik ke divisi B, blunder di pertandingan kritis melawan pecatur 21 tahun Daniele Vocatura (lihat diagram). Hasilnya si bocah cuma mendapat hasil remis akibat di skak abadi putih dan puas di posisi 2. Vocatura akan join dengan Wesley So (dan mungkin Shirov) di group B tahun depan.
Seusai Tata Chess, masih ada turnament seru di Gibraltar. Ronde terakhir menyaksikan Ivanchuck merebut posisi puncak dari Nigel Short, yang sebelumnya tampil ngetop dengan 5/5. LIVE show di Chessbomb dan web resmi.
In group B, was also half boring. Li Chao B pointed full score to Tkachiev for the last Asian pride. Hammer get one of his worst tournament performance by losing again to Fressinet. Then the who join the A club battle, saw some drama (yes), David Navara, who actually belong(ed) to elite press really hard to his competitor, GM Luke McShane, but dunno what happened, after 20. Bb6 Qd7 21. Qa4 Qxa4 22. Nxa4 Bd7 23. Nab2 Nc8 24. Rac1 Rf7 25. Bd8 suddenly the score went to 1/2-1/2 . With this Navara lost to McShane in tie break system, and looks clear it will be the Britton to be presented next year, in A team. But overall McShane is okay also, he had done well against elite in London tournament before. Last note on Group B is Wesley So, who wrapped last round with draw, a spiritful middle tournament with 4+ in a row is probably consolidation prize, for fans and himself. Still there's next year, and if only he really make it to elite, the country, region and continent will once again have more name to cheer. Le Quang Liem finished ahead of So in tie break system, very last note.
Waiit, group C. The last battle for B-ticket, Vocatura vs Illya Nyzhnik (yes, without copy paste) is another lost to awesome-Black-win-in-Sicilian , again. The boy is really almost there!, but 32. Nxd6+ Bxd6? is a draw! 33. Qh5 Nf6 34. Rxf6+ Kxf6 35. Qh6+ Kf5 36. Qh7+ Kf6 37. Qh6+ Kf5 38. Qh7+ Kf6 39. Qh6+ ½-½. It was a Q vs Q+R+R+B draw! Congratulation to Vocatura Daniele, queitly, stealthily, trying to slide Caruana in the future. And the awesome Illya boy is a "pending" star as well.
We hope to see more face, especially younger breed for next year, maybe Jorge Cori (no Latin American presentation this year?), and Richard Rapport to compete officially with Nyzhnik. Also Sjugirov of the Kalmykian is great also. And... bring back Ivanchuck.
Vocatura,Daniele - Nyzhnik, Illya
Turnament tahunan super kuat, Tata Steel Chess (dulu Corus Chess) di kota Wijk Aan Zee Belanda usai dengan kemenangan pecatur US GM Hikaru Nakamura di group B. Si darah Jepang membawa pulang tropi dengan setengah angka lebih baik dari pecatur ber-elo banyakan seperti Anand (juara dunia), Carlsen (ex-no.1 rating), Kramnik (ex-juara) dll. Ronde terakhir cukup seru drawnya, semua draw LOL... Dengan ini era USA dengan Hikaru tampaknya resmi dimulai, Hikaru akan mewakili lagi di turnament kuat hadiah dari memenangkan turnament ini, Bilbao Chess master. Turnament ini adalah bagian dari Grand Slam catur, selain itu adalah Dortmund, Linares, M-Tel dan Pearl Spring di Cina.
Di Group B, pertandingan puncak GM David Navara vs Luke McShane juga berakhir remis, walaupun putih seharusnya menekan cukup kuat ke hitam, tapi Navara, yg konon kabarnya mengalami autisme di masa muda, tak cukup kuat mengalahkan si orang Inggris McShane. Posisi akhir adalah McShane yang akan naik divisi ke grup A taon depan. Wesley So musti puas main lagi di grup B tahun depan, dan pecatur Vietnam Le Quang Liem memperbaiki peringkat dan lebih baik tie breaknya dari saingan Philipin nya.
Di Group C, pecatur 14 tahun (coba bayangkan anak lebay Indonesia usia 14 tahun) yg sudah bergelar GM nyaris naik ke divisi B, blunder di pertandingan kritis melawan pecatur 21 tahun Daniele Vocatura (lihat diagram). Hasilnya si bocah cuma mendapat hasil remis akibat di skak abadi putih dan puas di posisi 2. Vocatura akan join dengan Wesley So (dan mungkin Shirov) di group B tahun depan.
Seusai Tata Chess, masih ada turnament seru di Gibraltar. Ronde terakhir menyaksikan Ivanchuck merebut posisi puncak dari Nigel Short, yang sebelumnya tampil ngetop dengan 5/5. LIVE show di Chessbomb dan web resmi.
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