Ivanchuk Is The New World Rapid Chess Champion--Grischuk Second

Carlsen finished third losing one game today as White in spectacular fashion.

[Event "World Rapid 2016"]
[Site "Doha QAT"]
[Date "2016.12.28"]
[Round "11.1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Korobov, Anton"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2840"]
[BlackElo "2692"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 3. e3 Nc6 4. c3 Nf6 5. Nd2 e6 6. Ngf3 Bd6 7. Bg3 O-O 8. Bb5
Ne7 9. Bd3 b6 10. e4 Bxg3 11. hxg3 dxe4 12. Nxe4 Ng6 13. dxc5 Bb7 14. Nxf6+
Qxf6 15. cxb6 e5 16. Bxg6 hxg6 17. Qd7 Qxb6 18. Ng5 Bxg2 19. O-O-O Rab8 20. b3
Qxf2 21. Qg4 Rfc8 22. Kb1 Rxc3 23. Qb4 Rcc8 0-1

Ivanchuk Leads At World Rapid Championship After Round 10

Ivanchuk Leads World Rapid Championship by 1/2 Point After en Rounds.
Here are two of his wins from today. The first is his win as White against a Caro Kahn. The second is his win over Carlsen.
[Event "World Rapid 2016"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"]
[Site "Doha QAT"]
[Round "4.4"]
[Annotator ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[Date "2016.12.26"]
[WhiteElo "2747"]
[BlackElo "2689"]
[PlyCount "97"]

1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. d3 dxe4 4. dxe4 Qxd1+ 5. Kxd1 Bg4 6. Be3 Nd7 7. Nbd2 e5 8. Bc4 Bc5 9. Ke2 Bxe3 10. Kxe3 Ngf6 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Nxf3 Ke7 13. Rhd1 Nb6 14. Nxe5 Nfd7 15. Rxd7+ Nxd7 16. Nxf7 Rhf8 17. Ng5 b5 18. Bb3 a5 19. a3 Ne5 20. Ne6 Rfb8 21. Nxg7 a4 22. Nf5+ Kf6 23. f4 axb3 24. fxe5+ Kxe5 25. cxb3 c5 26. Rc1 c4 27. Nd4 Rc8 28. b4 c3 29. bxc3 Rxa3 30. Nxb5 Ra2 31. Rf1 Rxg2 32. Rf5+ Ke6 33. Rh5 Rg7 34. Nd4+ Kf6 35. Rf5+ Ke7 36. Kd3 Rg3+ 37. Rf3 Rxf3+ 38. Nxf3 Rg8 39. h4 Rg3 40. Ke3 Rg4 41. c4 h5 42. c5 Kd8 43. b5 Kc7 44. e5 Rc4 45. Nd4 Rc3+ 46. Ke4 Rh3 47. Nf5 Rb3 48. b6+ Kb7 49. e6 1-0

[Event "World Rapid 2016"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Site "Doha QAT"]
[Round "7.1"]
[Annotator ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[Date "2016.12.27"]
[WhiteElo "2747"]
[BlackElo "2840"]
[PlyCount "103"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Qc2 e6 5. Nbd2 dxc4 6. Nxc4 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3 0-0 9. b4 Be7 10. Bb2 Qc7 11. Rc1 Nbd7 12. e4 b5 13. Na5 Qxc2 14. Rxc2 Nxe4 15. Bxb5 Nd6 16. Bc6 Rb8 17. 0-0 Nb6 18. Rd1 Rd8 19. Ne5 f6 20. Bf3 fxe5 21. Nc6 Bb7 22. Nxe7+ Kf8 23. Bxe5 Nbc4 24. Bxd6 Nxd6 25. Nc6 Bxc6 26. Rxc6 Nb5 27. Rxd8+ Rxd8 28. Ra6 Rc8 29. h4 Rc7 30. Bg4 e5 31. Ra5 Nd6 32. Rxe5 Nc4 33. Rf5+ Ke7 34. Rf3 Ne5 35. Re3 Kd6 36. Be2 h6 37. f4 Rc1+ 38. Kf2 Nd7 39. Bf3 Rc2+ 40. Kg3 Ra2 41. Rd3+ Ke7 42. Rc3 Kd8 43. Kg4 Rd2 44. Rc6 Rd3 45. Ra6 Nf6+ 46. Kf5 Rd7 47. g4 Ne8 48. g5 hxg5 49. hxg5 Nd6+ 50. Kg6 Nb5 51. Ra5 Nd4 52. Bg4 1-0

All the games can be found at chessbase

http://en.chessbase.com/post/rapid-world-championship-vassily-ivanchuk-strikes

Even GMs Make Blunders Like Mortals

Luke McShane played ...Rd1 leading to a back rank mate.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/dec/23/valentina-gunina-wesley-so-super-rapidplay

Kavalek Looks Back on 50 Years

http://en.chessbase.com/post/lubomir-kavalek-nailed-to-the-chessboard-for-50-years

Weekly Chess Starting in Danville, Tuesday, January 17 from 6PM until 9PM

Mike Chadburn has tentatively agreed to a 1/17/2017 start of chess at his new place of business in Danville, VT. on Rt. 2 in the VT Liquor Store -- North side of the road just before the intersection with the traffic light as one drives West from St. Johnsbury.

We will be incorporating as Kingdom Chess Association, Ltd., which we hope to have qualified with the IRS as a 501 (c)3 charitable organization. Mike Chadburn, Melissa Manseau and I will be the incorporators and directors. There will be some basic costs to the club as a US Chess affiliate that includes annual affiliation fee and liability insurance (you never know when someone might lose and turn their wood board into a weapon of mass destruction). Thus, after several free visits, we will likely have the option of an annual association fee, probably in the range of $25 a year, or people can play for perhaps $5 a visit. The annual amount is the clear bargain and will help to meet costs.

Mike is in the process of obtaining appropriate food and beverage licenses to allow us to eat and drink wine or beer/ale from his Growler Bar. We may have something similar to the chess pub night done in Toronto once a month where anyone can attend and for an "pub fee" have a sandwich, a Pint and hear a talk by a well-regarded chess player or play a simul, perhaps against someone like David Carter.

A central part of our mission will be to grow adult chess in Vermont in partnership with the Vermont Chess Association and in the Northeast Kingdom with any number of groups that might find chess a way of helping the overall community.

Please join us for chess, conversation and community building in Danville, starting 1/17/2017. Good chess to all.

New Vermont Chess Club Is Forming Based In Danville Vermont

   A soon to be non-profit organization affiliated with US Chess, the national governing body for tournament chess in the United States. We will be meeting at Mike Chadburn's new place of business in Danville, VT on Tuesday evenings from 6PM until 9PM beginning in mid-January.

   All levels of chess expertise are welcome, from absolute beginners to the World Champion should Magnus pass through the area. 

   Good chess to all!  Visit us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/700339456802664/?ref=bookmarks

The London Chess Classic Has Begun With An Interesting So Win Over Nakamura

Wesley so leads the overall Grand Prix chess series. His win over Nakamura is a sweet one. Pgn is below with analysis by Fritz 12.

[Event "8th London Classic 2016"]
[Site "London ENG"]
[Date "2016.12.09"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nakamura, Hi"]
[Black "So, W."]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[Annotator "Fritz 12 (15m)"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]

{D85: Exchange Grünfeld: Unusual White 7th moves and lines with 7 Nf3} 1. d4
Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8. Rc1 O-O
9. Qd2 e5 {last book move. Black threatens to win material: e5xd4} 10. d5 {
White has a new protected passed pawn: d5} (10. Nf3 exd4 11. cxd4 cxd4 12. Nxd4
Qe7 $11) 10... Nd7 (10... Qd6 11. Bd3 $11) 11. c4 {Black's piece can't move: c8
} (11. f3 Qc7 $14) 11... f5 $11 {Black threatens to win material: f5xe4} 12.
Bg5 {White threatens to win material: Bg5xd8} (12. exf5 $5 {is worth
consideration} gxf5 13. Bg5 $11) 12... Nf6 $15 {Black threatens to win
material: Nf6xe4} 13. Ne2 $2 (13. exf5 $142 $5 {is an interesting idea} Bxf5
14. Bd3 Bxd3 15. Qxd3 $15) 13... Nxe4 $17 14. Bxd8 Nxd2 15. Be7 Rf7 16. Bxc5
Nxf1 17. Rxf1 b6 18. Bb4 Ba6 19. f4 (19. f3 Rc8 20. c5 bxc5 21. Rxc5 Rxc5 22.
Bxc5 Rc7 $19) 19... Rc8 $19 20. fxe5 $2 (20. c5 $142 bxc5 21. Rxc5 (21. Bxc5 $4
Rfc7 22. Be3 Rxc1+ 23. Bxc1 exf4 $19) 21... Rxc5 22. Bxc5 $19) 20... Bxe5 21.
Rf3 Bxc4 (21... Rxc4 {might be the shorter path} 22. Rxc4 Bxc4 23. Re3 Bxh2 24.
d6 $19) 22. Re3 Bg7 (22... Bxh2 $6 23. a4 a6 24. g3 $17) 23. Nf4 Rd7 24. a4 Bh6
25. g3 Bxf4 26. gxf4 Rxd5 27. Re7 Rd4 28. Bd2 Kf8 29. Bb4 (29. Be3 Rd3 30. Re5
Kf7 $19) 29... Re8 (29... Re8 30. Rxe8+ Kxe8 $19) 0-1

2018 World Chess Championship Slated For Asia According to Kirsan

The Next World Chess Championship Match is to be Held in Asia.
China or North Korea anyone? I think the Great Leader in Pyongyang is capable of tightening his citizens' belts to fund a WCC sanctioned by an organization led by a man under US sanctions. The Great Leader likely will jump at the opportunity, especially if Kirsan can arrange a ride for him in an alien spacecraft. James Franco could host the event on Agon Television with Seth Rogan and Randall Park helping with color commentary. 
http://tass.com/sport/915798

Carlsen Retains His Classical Chess Title In Rapid Tiebreaks

Carlsen Wins In The Rapid Games after falling into a stalemate in a winning position in game 2. Here are the pgns for the decisive games 3 and 4.

[Event "Carlsen-Karjakin World Chess Championsh"]
[Site "chess24.com"]
[Date "2016.11.30"]
[Round "15.1"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2853"]
[Annotator "Fritz 12 (10m)"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Norway"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "NOR"]

{C84: Closed Ruy Lopez: Unusual White 6th moves} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6
4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a3 O-O 9. Nc3 $146 (9. c3 Na5 10.
Ba2 c5 11. Nbd2 Qc7 12. Re1 Re8 13. Nf1 h6 14. Ng3 c4 15. d4 Bd7 16. d5 Bc8 17.
h3 Nh7 18. Be3 Rf8 19. Qd2 Nb7 20. Bb1 Nc5 21. Bc2 Rb8 22. Rad1 Rd8 23. Qe2 a5
{Osmanovic,F (2138)-Kryukova,I (2249)/Marianske Lazne 2008/CBM 122 Extra/1/2-1/
2}) (9. Nbd2 Na5 10. Ba2 c5 11. Re1 Nc6 12. Nf1 Be6 13. Bxe6 (13. Ne3 Bxa2 14.
Rxa2 d5 15. exd5 Nxd5 16. Ra1 Qd7 17. Nxd5 Qxd5 18. Qe2 f6 19. Qe4 Rfd8 20. Bd2
Rac8 21. Qxd5+ Rxd5 22. Re2 g5 23. h3 h5 24. g4 Kf7 25. Kg2 Kg6 26. Re4 Nd4 27.
Ne1 hxg4 {Magyar,A (2248)-Jurcik,M (2367)/Banska Stiavnica 2007/CBM 119 ext/
0-1 (36)}) 13... fxe6 14. c3 Qd7 15. Ng3 c4 16. b4 cxd3 17. Qxd3 Nd8 18. c4 Nf7
19. Bd2 Rac8 20. cxb5 Qxb5 21. Qb3 Qc4 22. Qxc4 Rxc4 23. Rac1 Rfc8 {Anand,V
(2792)-Aronian,L (2750)/Mainz 2007/CBM 120/1/2-1/2}) 9... Na5 (9... Bg4 10. h3
Bxf3 11. Qxf3 $11) 10. Ba2 Be6 11. b4 {White threatens to win material: b4xa5}
Nc6 12. Nd5 Nd4 (12... a5 13. Bd2 $11) 13. Ng5 (13. Nxd4 exd4 14. Bb2 c5 $14)
13... Bxd5 $11 14. exd5 {White has the pair of bishops} Nd7 (14... h6 15. Nf3
$11) 15. Ne4 $14 f5 {Black threatens to win material: f5xe4} 16. Nd2 f4 {Wins
material} 17. c3 {White threatens to win material: c3xd4} Nf5 18. Ne4 {A sound
move} Qe8 19. Bb3 (19. Qg4 h5 20. Qh3 Qg6 $11) 19... Qg6 $15 20. f3 Bh4 21. a4
Nf6 22. Qe2 a5 23. axb5 axb4 24. Bd2 bxc3 25. Bxc3 Ne3 {Black threatens to win
material: Ne3xf1. Praise the knight!} 26. Rfc1 Rxa1 {Black has a mate threat} (
26... Nfxd5 $2 {doesn't work because of} 27. Qxe3 $5 {Double attack: a8/g8}
fxe3 28. Bxd5+ Kh8 29. Rxa8 Rxa8 30. Bxa8 $16) 27. Rxa1 Qe8 (27... Nfxd5 $4 {
the pawn is something Black will choke on} 28. Qa2 $18) 28. Bc4 Kh8 29. Nxf6
Bxf6 30. Ra3 e4 (30... Qb8 31. Ra6 $11) 31. dxe4 $14 Bxc3 32. Rxc3 Qe5 {Black
threatens to win material: Qe5xc3} 33. Rc1 Ra8 34. h3 {Consolidates g4} (34.
Qd2 Kg8 $11) 34... h6 (34... Qd4 35. Kh1 $11) 35. Kh2 Qd4 36. Qe1 (36. Ba2 Ra7
$11) 36... Qb2 $15 {Black has a mate threat} ({Worse is} 36... Nxc4 37. Qb4 $16
) 37. Bf1 Ra2 38. Rxc7 $4 (38. Rb1 $142 {was much better} Qf6 39. Be2 $15)
38... Ra1 $19 (38... Ra1 39. Qxa1 Qxa1 $19) 0-1

[Event "Carlsen-Karjakin World Chess Championsh"]
[Site "chess24.com"]
[Date "2016.11.30"]
[Round "16.1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B55"]
[WhiteElo "2853"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Fritz 12 (15m)"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[WhiteTeam "Norway"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "NOR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

{B55: Sicilian: 2...d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 f3} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. f3 e5 6. Nb3 Be7 7. c4 a5 8. Be3 a4 9. Nc1 (9. N3d2 Qa5 10. Be2
(10. Nc3 O-O 11. Be2 Bd7 12. O-O Na6 13. Kh1 Nc7 14. Rb1 Ne6 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16.
cxd5 Nc5 17. Nc4 Qc7 18. Qd2 b5 19. Na3 Qb7 20. Rbc1 Rfc8 21. Rfd1 Bd8 22. Qe1
Ba5 23. Qf1 Rab8 24. Rc2 Bb4 {Nyzhnyk,I (2504)-Damljanovic,B (2587)/Budva 2009/
CBM 130/1-0 (79)}) 10... Bd8 11. Nc3 a3 12. b4 Qxb4 13. Nb5 O-O 14. Rb1 Qa5 15.
Nxd6 Qc7 16. Nb5 Qc6 17. Nc3 Nh5 18. g3 Qg6 19. Nd5 Nc6 20. f4 Nxf4 21. gxf4
exf4 22. Bf2 Re8 23. Nxf4 Qd6 {Zvjaginsev,V (2635)-Novikov,I (2590)/Luzern
1997/CBM 062/1-0 (55)}) 9... O-O $146 {Black castles and improves king safety}
(9... Nc6 10. Bd3 Qa5+ 11. Qd2 Bd8 12. Ne2 Be6 13. Na3 Bb6 14. Qxa5 Bxa5+ 15.
Nc3 Ke7 16. Ke2 Nd7 17. Nd5+ Bxd5 18. cxd5 Nd4+ 19. Bxd4 exd4 20. Bb5 Ne5 21.
Rhc1 Bb6 22. f4 Ng4 23. Nc4 Bc5 24. h3 {Mastrovasilis,D (2567)-Vouldis,A (2521)
/Ermioni 2006/CBM 113 ext/1-0 (39)}) 10. Nc3 {White threatens to win material:
Nc3xa4} Qa5 11. Qd2 Na6 (11... Nc6 $5 $15) 12. Be2 Nc5 13. O-O Bd7 14. Rb1 Rfc8
(14... Ne6 $5 $11) 15. b4 $14 axb3 16. axb3 (16. Nxb3 Qa6 $14) 16... Qd8 (16...
Ne6 17. b4 Qd8 18. g3 $11) 17. Nd3 $11 Ne6 18. Nb4 {White has an active
position} Bc6 (18... Qa5 19. Nc2 $11) 19. Rfd1 (19. Nbd5 Bxd5 20. cxd5 Nd4 21.
Bxd4 exd4 22. Qxd4 Nd7 $16) 19... h5 20. Bf1 h4 21. Qf2 {White threatens to
win material: Qf2xh4} Nd7 22. g3 {Controls f4} Ra3 {White has an active
position} 23. Bh3 Rca8 24. Nc2 R3a6 25. Nb4 {White threatens to win material:
Nb4xa6} Ra5 (25... Ra3 26. Bxe6 fxe6 27. Nc2 $14) 26. Nc2 b6 {Covers c5} 27.
Rd2 Qc7 (27... Kh7 $5 $11) 28. Rbd1 $14 Bf8 29. gxh4 Nf4 (29... R5a7 30. h5
Ndc5 31. b4 $18) 30. Bxf4 exf4 31. Bxd7 Qxd7 32. Nb4 Ra3 33. Nxc6 Qxc6 34. Nb5
Rxb3 35. Nd4 Qxc4 36. Nxb3 Qxb3 37. Qe2 Be7 {Black threatens to win material:
Be7xh4} 38. Kg2 Qe6 39. h5 Ra3 40. Rd3 Ra2 41. R3d2 {White threatens to win
material: Rd2xa2} Ra3 42. Rd3 {Twofold repetition} Ra7 (42... Ra2 43. R1d2 Ra7
$16) 43. Rd5 $16 Rc7 (43... Ra3 44. R1d3 Ra4 45. Qd2 $16) 44. Qd2 $18 Qf6 45.
Rf5 Qh4 (45... Qh6 46. Qxf4 Rc2+ 47. Kg3 $18) 46. Rc1 Ra7 $2 (46... Rxc1 47.
Qxc1 Bf6 48. Qxf4 Qxf4 49. Rxf4 $18) 47. Qxf4 (47. Rc8+ $142 {finishes off the
opponent} Bd8 48. h6 gxh6 49. Rxf4 Qe7 50. Rg4+ Kh7 $18) 47... Ra2+ 48. Kh1 Qf2
$4 {Black falls apart} (48... Qxf4 49. Rxf4 f6 $18) 49. Rc8+ Kh7 (49... Bf8 {
a fruitless try to alter the course of the game} 50. Rxf8+ $1 {Decoy: a5} Kxf8
51. Rxf7+ Ke8 52. Rf8+ Kd7 53. Qf5+ Kc6 54. Rc8+ Kb7 55. Qd7+ Ka6 56. Ra8#) 50.
Qh6+ $3 {Deflection: f7} (50. Qh6+ Kxh6 51. Rh8#) 1-0