Per Emil Sutovsky in Facebook today--"FIDE announces plans to stage the Olympiad in Riyadh, players praise the high level of organization, chess journalists are excited about many aspects of the event... What an idyllic picture. Somewhere in a parrallel world, Israeli players barred from the participation, Muzychuks' decision to boycott the tournament is supported by hundreds of thousands all over the World, mass media are raging, and ACP launches Tournament of the Year contest not listing the event in Riyadh, as the official Championship where eligible players are not allowed in does not deserve it."
What will the US Chess position be on the selection of this country as the Olympiad site absent a guarantee that all countries will be allowed to participate and that women will not be harassed with head covering requirements?
Saturday, December 30, 2017
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Remembering IM Josef Vatnikov
This is the book that IM Josef Vatnikov self-published in 2005. I met him and bought the book when I played in my first simul. He autographed it for me.....after he crushed me in the simul. The forward is written by Vassily Smyslov. Smyslov writes that Vatnikov was the coach and head of the Moscow State University chess club for 25 years. There is a photo of the two of them standing in a transport car at the mouth of a coal mine ready to go down into the mine on the invitation of the miners, presumably to play a simul. (I'll copy and scan that photo) Vatnikov fought and was wounded in the Battle of Stalingrad. The book is dedicated to his parents, grandparents and two others, Riva and Chaim, who died at the hands of the Nazis during WWII.
Israeli Chess Federation Replies to FIDE Press Release
I would hope that the Israelis take FIDE before CAS in Switzerland. FIDE does not have the best track record before that tribunal.
The text of the Israeli reply follows:
December 26, 2017
To : FIDE Attention - Mr. G. Makropoulos
FIDE'S Offensive and unacceptable behavior about the World Championship - Saudi Arabia December 25 - 30, 2017
We have read with astonishment the press release published on December 25th on FIDE website and which reads : "FIDE secured visas for Qatar and Iran ".
It is not surprising that this press release is not even signed, as it is not only an insult to simple logic but also a shame for FIDE.
There is not even a word in it about the issue of visas to Israeli players, and the "record" of the "logic" of this document comes towards its end : " As everybody clearly understands from the above , FIDE and Saudi organizer are always ready to welcome any participant " ... On such sentences we say : " To read and not to believe " !
This sentence means that in the eyes of FIDE Israeli players are not included in the list of "any participant " .
Let me state very clearly that the agreement signed with Sadia Arabia federation about the event is totally illegal , contradicting FIDE statutes - Article 1.2. a , not having an official form which every bidder for an event in FIDE should fill, and therefore should be immediately cancelled.
I am aware of the fact that it is impractical to cancel the event today , but before considering taking legal actions against FIDE and / or against those who signed this contract I am demanding , in the name of the Israeli Chess Federation the following :
1. As mentioned, to cancel immediately the contract with Sadia Arabia federation about organizing the same event in 2018 - 2019 .
2. To compensate the Israeli players who were denied visas and could not participate in the event .
3. To declare that such a case , which ignores the FIDE statutes , will not repeat itself .
I would appreciate an answer to this letter in the coming days .
Dr. Zvika Barkai
Chairman of The Israeli Chess Federation
The text of the Israeli reply follows:
December 26, 2017
To : FIDE Attention - Mr. G. Makropoulos
FIDE'S Offensive and unacceptable behavior about the World Championship - Saudi Arabia December 25 - 30, 2017
We have read with astonishment the press release published on December 25th on FIDE website and which reads : "FIDE secured visas for Qatar and Iran ".
It is not surprising that this press release is not even signed, as it is not only an insult to simple logic but also a shame for FIDE.
There is not even a word in it about the issue of visas to Israeli players, and the "record" of the "logic" of this document comes towards its end : " As everybody clearly understands from the above , FIDE and Saudi organizer are always ready to welcome any participant " ... On such sentences we say : " To read and not to believe " !
This sentence means that in the eyes of FIDE Israeli players are not included in the list of "any participant " .
Let me state very clearly that the agreement signed with Sadia Arabia federation about the event is totally illegal , contradicting FIDE statutes - Article 1.2. a , not having an official form which every bidder for an event in FIDE should fill, and therefore should be immediately cancelled.
I am aware of the fact that it is impractical to cancel the event today , but before considering taking legal actions against FIDE and / or against those who signed this contract I am demanding , in the name of the Israeli Chess Federation the following :
1. As mentioned, to cancel immediately the contract with Sadia Arabia federation about organizing the same event in 2018 - 2019 .
2. To compensate the Israeli players who were denied visas and could not participate in the event .
3. To declare that such a case , which ignores the FIDE statutes , will not repeat itself .
I would appreciate an answer to this letter in the coming days .
Dr. Zvika Barkai
Chairman of The Israeli Chess Federation
Tuesday, December 26, 2017
The Situation In Saudi Arabia: An Incomplete and Self-Serving FIDE Statement
Word from ACP President Emil Sutovsky this morning is that at the Rapid and Blitz World Championships in Saudi Arabia, women are not being required to wear any head covering in the playing hall or the hotel where the even is taking place. They must wear head covering out side of these places.
FIDE issued a statement declaring that visas have been issued for players from Iran and Qatar to enter Saudi Arabia and play in this event.
Per FIDE, "FIDE has been working very hard and in a discreet manner to organise and safeguard the process of entry visas for all participants of the event. For the first time, ground-breaking special arrangements have been made to issue visas upon arrival for over 200 persons, including the players of Iran and Qatar..............As everybody clearly understands from the above, FIDE and the Saudi organisers are always ready to welcome any participant."[Emphasis Added]
"Any participant" does not include Israeli players. Gens Una Sumus------NOT!
http://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/10587-fide-secured-visas-for-qatar-and-iran.html
FIDE issued a statement declaring that visas have been issued for players from Iran and Qatar to enter Saudi Arabia and play in this event.
Per FIDE, "FIDE has been working very hard and in a discreet manner to organise and safeguard the process of entry visas for all participants of the event. For the first time, ground-breaking special arrangements have been made to issue visas upon arrival for over 200 persons, including the players of Iran and Qatar..............As everybody clearly understands from the above, FIDE and the Saudi organisers are always ready to welcome any participant."[Emphasis Added]
"Any participant" does not include Israeli players. Gens Una Sumus------NOT!
http://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/10587-fide-secured-visas-for-qatar-and-iran.html
The President of the Association of Chess Professionals Protests FIDE Championship in Saudi Arabia
The FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championship begins today Saudi Arabia with visas not being granted to players from Israel, Iran and Qatar. It's not clear if women players will be required to wear the hijab.
ACP President Emil Sutovsky has called out players who, whilst not attending the event, did so with the rather lame excuse that they were otherwise engaged. Bravo and Brava to those players boycotting the event by stating their opposition to the policies of the repressive Saudi state.
Emil Sutovsky write this morning on Facebook:
"I call upon Western journalists and bloggers to stop with this hypocricy: "only Nakamura and Muzychuk boycotted, all others had their reasons and another plans". Nearly all US players skip the event. More than half of the top Russian players did the same. Giri, Radjabov, Adams, Topalov, Wojtaszek, Navara, two dozens of 2650+ players who had a personal right to play decided not to go. Other plans? Come on, stop with this rubbish. Professionals don't skip a 2 million World Championship because they have other plans. You have an event with the best financial conditions in history of chess, and about 40% of the top players are skipping it. Other plans, really? True - most of the players avoided making loud statements. But "other plans"? Come on, be serious."
ACP President Emil Sutovsky has called out players who, whilst not attending the event, did so with the rather lame excuse that they were otherwise engaged. Bravo and Brava to those players boycotting the event by stating their opposition to the policies of the repressive Saudi state.
Emil Sutovsky write this morning on Facebook:
"I call upon Western journalists and bloggers to stop with this hypocricy: "only Nakamura and Muzychuk boycotted, all others had their reasons and another plans". Nearly all US players skip the event. More than half of the top Russian players did the same. Giri, Radjabov, Adams, Topalov, Wojtaszek, Navara, two dozens of 2650+ players who had a personal right to play decided not to go. Other plans? Come on, stop with this rubbish. Professionals don't skip a 2 million World Championship because they have other plans. You have an event with the best financial conditions in history of chess, and about 40% of the top players are skipping it. Other plans, really? True - most of the players avoided making loud statements. But "other plans"? Come on, be serious."
Friday, December 22, 2017
New Logo Proposal for FIDE
In view of the logo developed for the World Chess Championship 2018 in London, I propose this as the new logo for FIDE. IMO, it is in line with the screwing FIDE gives the chess world on a daily basis.
(c) 2017 Brian Lafferty
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Pirc of the Pirc Defense Born 110 Years Ago
There is a nice article by GM Hort about Pirc in Chessbase.
https://en.chessbase.com/post/vlastimil-hort-birthday-vasja-pirc
https://en.chessbase.com/post/vlastimil-hort-birthday-vasja-pirc
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
The Kama Sutra World Chess Championship to London in 2018
The just released logo of the 2018 London WCC.
The logo appears to depict the Gemini position
Sunday, December 17, 2017
Kingdom Chess Club Launches New Web Site
Based at Cobleigh Library in Lyndonville, VT, Kingdom Chess Club has a new web site that can be found at the following link:
https://kingdomchessvt.org/
https://kingdomchessvt.org/
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
The Future of International Chess--FIDE, the Grand Chess Tour, Universal Rating System and the Power of Money
The URS has much to do with Rex Sinquefield, Gary Kasparov, the Grand Chess Tour and Jeff Sonas of Chessmetrics, Mark Glickman, J. Isaac Miller and Maxime Rischard. The research and creation of the system resulted from a collaborative research project funded by the Grand Chess Tour, the Kasparov Chess Foundation and the Chess Club of Saint Louis.* There is now a good deal of money behind the use of URS because of the events and prize lists involved with the GCT. Should the GCT decide to totally ignore FIDE ratings in selecting qualifiers for the GCT, that could set up a power struggle between FIDE on the one hand and the GCT with its quite wealthy backers on the other.
Another related aspect of such a power struggle could arise if Caruana becomes the challenger for the WCC in 2018. Enter Rex and his billions once again. It has been reported that if Cauruana is the challenger, Rex may seek to have the WCC match moved to St. Louis.** Might there be a battle of the billionaires for control of international chess? Would a well funded alternative international organization be able, with significant prize money on offer, to draw enough of the self-motivated elite chess masters to its event as opposed to financially struggling FIDE. What if Magnus and Fabio, for the right amount of money, agree to play in St. Louis for the championship under GCT/URS sanction and not FIDE sanction. Money talks......how, after all, did Fabio come to switch his national affiliation? How much money would it take to draw the top women to a GCT backed Women's World Championship, not in Iran or Saudi Arabia, but in London, Paris or St. Louis?
As to US Chess and other national federations as they now exist, it's been said that what they offer is little more than rating systems in return for membership dollars. URS is free to use. What happens to US Chess if organizers here in the US start dual rating their events. What if clubs start using URS to rate club events, matches between clubs, between states.
It's mostly about money and power. Relatively speaking, I don't think it would take all that much money to take over international chess in a defacto way making FIDE a dunsel organization. That could be quite a legacy for an aging Rex to leave the world of chess.......and still have $1billion+ to leave to others in his Last Will and Testament.
* The rating algorithm was designed and developed by a research team which consisted of Maxime Rischard, J. Isaac Miller, Mark Glickman and Jeff Sonas. This team conducted extensive testing before finalizing the rating algorithm and found that the URS™ consistently predicted game results better than the existing ELO system used by the World Chess Federation. The superior results were observed “on a consistent basis, from year to year, and across all three rating categories”.
Another major draw-card of the URS™ rating system is that it will be free to use for any local organizers or chess federations that wish to make use of it. This is expected to be a major attraction as it will allow scholastic players and locally based amateur players to quickly achieve a URS™ rating by simply playing in their local events.
http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/chess-launch-universal-rating-system-opens-doors-global-chess-community#stream/0
** Leonard Barden recently wrote: "The actual venue has yet to be announced although the organisers say they have several short-listed options. The prize fund is the world body Fide’s minimum of $1m, which could yet present a problem if Fabiano Caruana wins the eight-man candidates in Berlin in March. In that case the billionaire Rex Sinquefield, who has made his home city of St Louis into a global chess capital and who could easily fund a much larger purse, may try to have the match switched to the US."
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/dec/01/london-confirmed-for-magnus-carlsen-title-defence
(c) 2017 Brian Lafferty
Another related aspect of such a power struggle could arise if Caruana becomes the challenger for the WCC in 2018. Enter Rex and his billions once again. It has been reported that if Cauruana is the challenger, Rex may seek to have the WCC match moved to St. Louis.** Might there be a battle of the billionaires for control of international chess? Would a well funded alternative international organization be able, with significant prize money on offer, to draw enough of the self-motivated elite chess masters to its event as opposed to financially struggling FIDE. What if Magnus and Fabio, for the right amount of money, agree to play in St. Louis for the championship under GCT/URS sanction and not FIDE sanction. Money talks......how, after all, did Fabio come to switch his national affiliation? How much money would it take to draw the top women to a GCT backed Women's World Championship, not in Iran or Saudi Arabia, but in London, Paris or St. Louis?
As to US Chess and other national federations as they now exist, it's been said that what they offer is little more than rating systems in return for membership dollars. URS is free to use. What happens to US Chess if organizers here in the US start dual rating their events. What if clubs start using URS to rate club events, matches between clubs, between states.
It's mostly about money and power. Relatively speaking, I don't think it would take all that much money to take over international chess in a defacto way making FIDE a dunsel organization. That could be quite a legacy for an aging Rex to leave the world of chess.......and still have $1billion+ to leave to others in his Last Will and Testament.
* The rating algorithm was designed and developed by a research team which consisted of Maxime Rischard, J. Isaac Miller, Mark Glickman and Jeff Sonas. This team conducted extensive testing before finalizing the rating algorithm and found that the URS™ consistently predicted game results better than the existing ELO system used by the World Chess Federation. The superior results were observed “on a consistent basis, from year to year, and across all three rating categories”.
Another major draw-card of the URS™ rating system is that it will be free to use for any local organizers or chess federations that wish to make use of it. This is expected to be a major attraction as it will allow scholastic players and locally based amateur players to quickly achieve a URS™ rating by simply playing in their local events.
http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/chess-launch-universal-rating-system-opens-doors-global-chess-community#stream/0
** Leonard Barden recently wrote: "The actual venue has yet to be announced although the organisers say they have several short-listed options. The prize fund is the world body Fide’s minimum of $1m, which could yet present a problem if Fabiano Caruana wins the eight-man candidates in Berlin in March. In that case the billionaire Rex Sinquefield, who has made his home city of St Louis into a global chess capital and who could easily fund a much larger purse, may try to have the match switched to the US."
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/dec/01/london-confirmed-for-magnus-carlsen-title-defence
(c) 2017 Brian Lafferty
Monday, December 11, 2017
Caruana Wins the London Chess Classic
Fabio Caruana has won the London Chess Classic by winning his final round game to tie Nepomniachtchi and force a tiebreak. Caruana won the tiebreak against Nepomniachtchi, 1 1/2 - 1/2.
Now, on to the candidates' tournament.
Now, on to the candidates' tournament.
Sunday, December 10, 2017
Nepomniachtchi Defeats Carlsen and Leads the London Chess Classic
[Event "9th London Chess Classic 2017"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2017.12.10"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[ECO "A04"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:3600+30"]
[WhiteElo "2837"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2017.12.10"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[ECO "A04"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:3600+30"]
[WhiteElo "2837"]
1. Nf3 {1} 1... c5 {35} 2. c3 {30} 2... d5 {30} 3. d4 {30} 3... cxd4 {30} 4.
cxd4 {30} 4... Nc6 {30 } 5. Nc3 {30} 5... Nf6 {30} 6. Bf4 {30} 6... Nh5 {30}
7. Bd2 {65} 7... Nf6 {30} 8. e3 {199} 8... e6 {251} 9. Bd3 {234} 9... Bd6 {264}
10. e4 {192} 10... dxe4 {76} 11. Nxe4 {30} 11... Be7 {30} 12. O-O {39} 12...
O-O {149} 13. Qc2 {655} 13... h6 {225} 14. Rad1 {36} 14... Bd7 {33} 15. a3
{252} 15... Rc8 {30} 16. Nc3 {62} 16... a6 {254} 17. Qc1 {371} 17... Re8 {30}
18. Rfe1 {928} 18... Bf8 {122} 19. Bf4 {342} 19... b5 {71} 20. Qd2 {57} 20...
b4 {112} 21. axb4 {264} 21... Nxb4 {60} 22. Ne5 { 396} 22... Nxd3 {472} 23.
Qxd3 {30} 23... a5 {53} 24. Qf3 {908} 24... Bb4 {279} 25. Re3 {82} 25... Bxc3
{414} 26. bxc3 {169} 26... Ba4 {30} 27. Ra1 {57} 27... Bc2 {30} 28. h3 {263}
28... Bf5 {243} 29. g4 {268} 29... Bh7 {30} 30. c4 {73} 30... Nd7 {657} 31.
Nc6 {75} 31... Qf6 {161} 32. Nxa5 {183} 32... Nb6 {70} 33. c5 {85} 33... Rxc5
{176} 34. dxc5 {241} 34... Qxa1+ {30} 35. Kh2 {30} 35... Qxa5 {51 } 36. Qc6
{30} 36... Qa4 {73} 37. Qxa4 {30} 37... Nxa4 {30} 38. c6 {30} 38... Nb6 {266}
39. c7 { 30} 39... f6 {36} 40. Rb3 {108} 40... Nc8 {3630} 0-1
cxd4 {30} 4... Nc6 {30 } 5. Nc3 {30} 5... Nf6 {30} 6. Bf4 {30} 6... Nh5 {30}
7. Bd2 {65} 7... Nf6 {30} 8. e3 {199} 8... e6 {251} 9. Bd3 {234} 9... Bd6 {264}
10. e4 {192} 10... dxe4 {76} 11. Nxe4 {30} 11... Be7 {30} 12. O-O {39} 12...
O-O {149} 13. Qc2 {655} 13... h6 {225} 14. Rad1 {36} 14... Bd7 {33} 15. a3
{252} 15... Rc8 {30} 16. Nc3 {62} 16... a6 {254} 17. Qc1 {371} 17... Re8 {30}
18. Rfe1 {928} 18... Bf8 {122} 19. Bf4 {342} 19... b5 {71} 20. Qd2 {57} 20...
b4 {112} 21. axb4 {264} 21... Nxb4 {60} 22. Ne5 { 396} 22... Nxd3 {472} 23.
Qxd3 {30} 23... a5 {53} 24. Qf3 {908} 24... Bb4 {279} 25. Re3 {82} 25... Bxc3
{414} 26. bxc3 {169} 26... Ba4 {30} 27. Ra1 {57} 27... Bc2 {30} 28. h3 {263}
28... Bf5 {243} 29. g4 {268} 29... Bh7 {30} 30. c4 {73} 30... Nd7 {657} 31.
Nc6 {75} 31... Qf6 {161} 32. Nxa5 {183} 32... Nb6 {70} 33. c5 {85} 33... Rxc5
{176} 34. dxc5 {241} 34... Qxa1+ {30} 35. Kh2 {30} 35... Qxa5 {51 } 36. Qc6
{30} 36... Qa4 {73} 37. Qxa4 {30} 37... Nxa4 {30} 38. c6 {30} 38... Nb6 {266}
39. c7 { 30} 39... f6 {36} 40. Rb3 {108} 40... Nc8 {3630} 0-1
A New Rating System to Render FIDE Obsolete?
New ratings system backed by a billionaire in St. Louis and Gary Kasparov.......leading to......replacement of FIDE's rating system......leading to.........a new way of creating a ranking for the number one player(s) in the world.......leading to......FIDE becoming a dunsel organization with no need to exist.......leading to a new world governing/sanctioning body in private hands with no need of FIDE? One can hope and dream........
https://en.chessbase.com/post/new-format-for-grand-chess-tour-2018
https://en.chessbase.com/post/new-format-for-grand-chess-tour-2018
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Brave New World--Artificial Intelligence Comes to Chess
I don't think there is much of a threat to people playing and keeping popular games such as Go and chess. Humans will accept that they can't defeat a computer program with or without AI. The problem is centered on how we as humans living and working in a variety of cultures (corporate, democratic, religious, etc) use or allow AI to be used. There is tremendous positive potential in many areas (medical research?), but also tremendous possibilities for mischief and, dare I say it, evil.
https://en.chessbase.com/post/the-future-is-here-alphazero-learns-chess
https://en.chessbase.com/post/the-future-is-here-alphazero-learns-chess
Saturday, December 2, 2017
World Chess Championship in London or St. Louis?
"The actual venue has yet to be announced although the organisers say they have several short-listed options. The prize fund is the world body Fide’s minimum of $1m, which could yet present a problem if Fabiano Caruana wins the eight-man candidates in Berlin in March. In that case the billionaire Rex Sinquefield, who has made his home city of St Louis into a global chess capital and who could easily fund a much larger purse, may try to have the match switched to the US."--Leonard Barden
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/dec/01/london-confirmed-for-magnus-carlsen-title-defence
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/dec/01/london-confirmed-for-magnus-carlsen-title-defence
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