Friday, September 30, 2016
Thursday, September 29, 2016
FIDE, Human Rights and International Law
FIDE, by it own principles, should never have an event for a World Championship in a country that violates norms of international law and human rights. To do so is itself a violation of international law. No human being should be placed in the position of having to choose to protect their rights by avoiding that which they have, in good faith, made their careers and livelihood.
The women who face being forced to comply with Iran's religious code that discriminates both against their religious/personal beliefs and against them because of their sex (men don't have to wear head cover as the women do) must not, as a matter of international law, be placed in such a position by FIDE. What FIDE is allowing and helping the Islamic Republic of Iran, a signatory to the UN Charter and Universal Declaration of Human Rights, do is to destroy the fundamental rights of these women chess players who do not want to wear the hijab. Any of these women or any national chess federation could take FIDE before CAS for monetary and injunctive relief. This is, unfortunately, not an inexpensive process. Any affected national federation could file a complaint with the IOC, with which FIDE has a formal relationship. Those are possible short term solutions.
The long term answer, IMO, is for chess professionals and their federations to unite and form a successor organization to FIDE. If the female and male GMs and IMs, including Carlsen, refuse to play another FIDE sanctioned, game, tournament or match until there is meaningful reform, things would change quite rapidly. If not, they could form a true democratic, transparent organization. But, as NIgel Short pointed out in an interview at the Olympiad, chess players are presently sheep with no backbone to do, not only what's morally right, but what is actually in their long term best interests. Baaaaaaa, Baaaaaaa
Brian Lafferty, Esq.
The women who face being forced to comply with Iran's religious code that discriminates both against their religious/personal beliefs and against them because of their sex (men don't have to wear head cover as the women do) must not, as a matter of international law, be placed in such a position by FIDE. What FIDE is allowing and helping the Islamic Republic of Iran, a signatory to the UN Charter and Universal Declaration of Human Rights, do is to destroy the fundamental rights of these women chess players who do not want to wear the hijab. Any of these women or any national chess federation could take FIDE before CAS for monetary and injunctive relief. This is, unfortunately, not an inexpensive process. Any affected national federation could file a complaint with the IOC, with which FIDE has a formal relationship. Those are possible short term solutions.
The long term answer, IMO, is for chess professionals and their federations to unite and form a successor organization to FIDE. If the female and male GMs and IMs, including Carlsen, refuse to play another FIDE sanctioned, game, tournament or match until there is meaningful reform, things would change quite rapidly. If not, they could form a true democratic, transparent organization. But, as NIgel Short pointed out in an interview at the Olympiad, chess players are presently sheep with no backbone to do, not only what's morally right, but what is actually in their long term best interests. Baaaaaaa, Baaaaaaa
Brian Lafferty, Esq.
The US Chess Non-Response to FIDE's Egregious Treatment of Women Chess Players In Iran
From Allen Priest, a member of the US Chess Executive Board posted on the US Chess Issues Forum.
We have had issues with Americas events held in Columbia, for example.
We have had issues with locations selected by FIDE for events before, and we have expressed those. Generally the response is that we are being paranoid.
As an organization we cannot endorse sending our citizens, particularly our minors, to places where our government as issued major travel warnings. At the same time we do not control what individual members do.
We have had issues with Americas events held in Columbia, for example.
And there is a real issue that as Americans we may have difficulties in areas that others may not. Some other countries experience the similar problems.
It is not encouraging when a chair of the women's committee who is based in the US seems to think this location is just fine. FIDE folks do not consider that she des not represent US Chess in any way, and some will consider her comments as an endorsement from us when they clearly are not - nor, in fairness, do I think she meant them that way.
Comment
Safety is ONE issue. The issue that has WOMEN upset is being forced to wear Muslim head attire at all times or face arrest and imprisonment in Iran. The requirement to wear head garb for religious reasons flies in the face of FIDE and the IOC's position prohibiting discrimination against women based on religion. Our own women's national champion has forcefully stated the issue in public and has been quoted in the UK press for starters, to wit, ""It is absolutely unacceptable to host one of the most important women's tournaments in a venue where, to this day, women are forced to cover up with a hijab.
I understand and respect cultural differences. But, failing to comply can lead to imprisonment and women's rights are being severely restricted in general."
US Chess must grow some cajones and take a stand here to protect the rights of it's women players and all women players to unbiased treatment that respects their religious AND social values. This is mandated by the IOC and FIDE's rules. Filing a complaint against FIDE with the IOC is the minimum that US Chess should do. To do nothing is unacceptable, PERIOD.
As for Susan Polgar---she's little more than FIDE's sock puppet.
Religious Sexism Rears Its Ugly Head With FIDE
I hope US Chess and other Western chess federations will call foor a boycott of this event with its offensive religious discrimination against non-Muslim women participants. Our women's national champion is apparently not going to participate. Brava!!!
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Anand Beats Back A Speculative Piece Sacrifice By Mamedyarov At The Tal Memorial
Mamedyarov sacrifices a piece for three pawn, but Anand plays well and wins. From Chessbase.
[Event "10th Tal Mem 2016"]
[Site "Moscow RUS"]
[Date "2016.09.27"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Anand, V."]
[Black "Mamedyarov, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 exd4 12. cxd4 Nd7 13. Nf1 Na5 14. Bc2 Bf6 15.
Rb1 c5 16. d5 Nc4 17. b3 Nce5 18. N3h2 Ng6 {As Svidler mentioned on commentary,
this is all following the game between Giri-Svidler, a crucial victory for the
Russian in the World Cup last year!} 19. Ne3 (19. Ng3 Bc8 (19... Bc3 $5 {Was
perhaps an improvement by Bu against Hou Yifan in July.}) 20. Rf1 {
Giri-Svidler, 2015.}) 19... Bc8 (19... Bc3 {was played in Macieja-Berczes,
2015. The Hungarian player, Berczes, won at the end.}) 20. Bd2 b4 21. Nhg4 a5
22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. g3 a4 {Anand didn't understand this move. He was happy to
see a4.} (23... Nde5 24. f4 (24. Nf5 $5) 24... Nxf4 25. gxf4 Qxf4 26. Nf1 Qh4
27. Re3 Bxh3 {is similar to the game, but without the a4 pawn sacrifice. More
analysis will be needed to determine the differences.}) 24. bxa4 Nde5 25. f4 {
It is clear that after this move Black must sacrifice his piece. Anand
considers this version to be better for White than without the a4 break.
Thorough analysis will be found in a future ChessBase Magazine edition, but
for now it seems that the former World Champion is correct.} Nxf4 26. gxf4 Qxf4
27. Nf1 Qh4 28. Re3 Bxh3 {Vishy thought it was hard to collect a4 in this
position.} 29. Qe2 Qg4+ {A surprising decision, to exchange queens in this
material balance.} (29... h5 30. a3 $1 {Is a nice break that activates White's
pieces.}) 30. Qxg4 Bxg4 31. a3 Nf3+ 32. Kf2 Nd4 33. Rb2 bxa3 34. Rxa3 Nxc2 35.
Rxc2 Rxe4 36. a5 {Even though Black has three pawns for the pieces, the
combination of the power of the passed a pawn and the possibility for White's
pieces to activate give him an almost winning advantage.} Bc8 37. Re3 {Based
on a miscalculation.} (37. Rb2 $1 {was easier.}) 37... Rf4+ 38. Rf3 (38. Kg3
Rg4+ 39. Kf3 h5 40. Re8+ Kh7 $16 {is not that clear just yet.}) 38... Re4 39.
Rb2 Ba6 40. Bc3 h5 41. Ng3 Rh4 42. Rb6 Rh2+ 43. Kg1 Rc2 44. Nf5 Bc4 45. Re3 $1
Kh7 46. Rxd6 $1 {The start of a study-like win.} Rb8 47. Rb6 Rxb6 48. axb6 Bxd5
49. Nxg7 Rg2+ (49... h4 50. Nh5 Kh6 51. Nf4 Bc6 52. Bf6 {and Black is in an
annoying mating net.}) 50. Kf1 Rg6 51. Nxh5 Bc4+ 52. Kf2 Rxb6 53. Nf6+ {The
point of the combination. Both king moves lose to different things.} Kh6 (53...
Kg6 54. Nd7 {and Black cannot defend the rook and check on e5, taking the
bishop, which incidentally also cannot be defended.}) 54. Rg3 {Nothing to to
against impeding mate but sacrifice the rook, so Mamedyarov called it quits.} (
54. Rg3 Rd6 55. Be5 Rd2+ 56. Ke1 Re2+ 57. Kd1 Rxe5 58. Ng4+ Kg5 59. Nxe5+ Kf4
60. Rg4+ $18) 1-0
[Event "10th Tal Mem 2016"]
[Site "Moscow RUS"]
[Date "2016.09.27"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Anand, V."]
[Black "Mamedyarov, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 exd4 12. cxd4 Nd7 13. Nf1 Na5 14. Bc2 Bf6 15.
Rb1 c5 16. d5 Nc4 17. b3 Nce5 18. N3h2 Ng6 {As Svidler mentioned on commentary,
this is all following the game between Giri-Svidler, a crucial victory for the
Russian in the World Cup last year!} 19. Ne3 (19. Ng3 Bc8 (19... Bc3 $5 {Was
perhaps an improvement by Bu against Hou Yifan in July.}) 20. Rf1 {
Giri-Svidler, 2015.}) 19... Bc8 (19... Bc3 {was played in Macieja-Berczes,
2015. The Hungarian player, Berczes, won at the end.}) 20. Bd2 b4 21. Nhg4 a5
22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. g3 a4 {Anand didn't understand this move. He was happy to
see a4.} (23... Nde5 24. f4 (24. Nf5 $5) 24... Nxf4 25. gxf4 Qxf4 26. Nf1 Qh4
27. Re3 Bxh3 {is similar to the game, but without the a4 pawn sacrifice. More
analysis will be needed to determine the differences.}) 24. bxa4 Nde5 25. f4 {
It is clear that after this move Black must sacrifice his piece. Anand
considers this version to be better for White than without the a4 break.
Thorough analysis will be found in a future ChessBase Magazine edition, but
for now it seems that the former World Champion is correct.} Nxf4 26. gxf4 Qxf4
27. Nf1 Qh4 28. Re3 Bxh3 {Vishy thought it was hard to collect a4 in this
position.} 29. Qe2 Qg4+ {A surprising decision, to exchange queens in this
material balance.} (29... h5 30. a3 $1 {Is a nice break that activates White's
pieces.}) 30. Qxg4 Bxg4 31. a3 Nf3+ 32. Kf2 Nd4 33. Rb2 bxa3 34. Rxa3 Nxc2 35.
Rxc2 Rxe4 36. a5 {Even though Black has three pawns for the pieces, the
combination of the power of the passed a pawn and the possibility for White's
pieces to activate give him an almost winning advantage.} Bc8 37. Re3 {Based
on a miscalculation.} (37. Rb2 $1 {was easier.}) 37... Rf4+ 38. Rf3 (38. Kg3
Rg4+ 39. Kf3 h5 40. Re8+ Kh7 $16 {is not that clear just yet.}) 38... Re4 39.
Rb2 Ba6 40. Bc3 h5 41. Ng3 Rh4 42. Rb6 Rh2+ 43. Kg1 Rc2 44. Nf5 Bc4 45. Re3 $1
Kh7 46. Rxd6 $1 {The start of a study-like win.} Rb8 47. Rb6 Rxb6 48. axb6 Bxd5
49. Nxg7 Rg2+ (49... h4 50. Nh5 Kh6 51. Nf4 Bc6 52. Bf6 {and Black is in an
annoying mating net.}) 50. Kf1 Rg6 51. Nxh5 Bc4+ 52. Kf2 Rxb6 53. Nf6+ {The
point of the combination. Both king moves lose to different things.} Kh6 (53...
Kg6 54. Nd7 {and Black cannot defend the rook and check on e5, taking the
bishop, which incidentally also cannot be defended.}) 54. Rg3 {Nothing to to
against impeding mate but sacrifice the rook, so Mamedyarov called it quits.} (
54. Rg3 Rd6 55. Be5 Rd2+ 56. Ke1 Re2+ 57. Kd1 Rxe5 58. Ng4+ Kg5 59. Nxe5+ Kf4
60. Rg4+ $18) 1-0
Monday, September 26, 2016
Vermont Open Chess Tournament 10/29-10/30
Vermont Open
Date: October 29-30, 2016
Location: Contois Auditorium, Burlington City Hall, Burglington, VT
Organizer: Vermont Chess Association
Summary: Three sections, top Vermonter becomes State Champion. See details here: http://www.uschess.org/tlas/16972.ctla
Date: October 29-30, 2016
Location: Contois Auditorium, Burlington City Hall, Burglington, VT
Organizer: Vermont Chess Association
Summary: Three sections, top Vermonter becomes State Champion. See details here: http://www.uschess.org/tlas/16972.ctla
Sunday, September 25, 2016
REMINDER--Lyndonville, VT Quick Rated Tournament 10/2, One Week From Today
US Chess quick rated only, 6 rounds, G-25 d3, at The Grindstone Cafe, 102 Depot Street, Lyndonville, VT.
http://www.relyeachess.com/flyers/Lyndonville%20Oct2016.pdf
http://www.relyeachess.com/flyers/Lyndonville%20Oct2016.pdf
Saturday, September 24, 2016
"Chess is just a bitch that bites you in the arse.”
And the girls prefer rugby players anyway............
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/sep/14/truth-beauty-and-annihilation-a-life-in-chess
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/sep/14/truth-beauty-and-annihilation-a-life-in-chess
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Samuel Lipschütz--Gone, But No Longer Forgotten
A new biography of this Manhattan Chess Club champion from the 1880's and 1890's is available from the specialty publisher McFarland. It looks like an excellent biography. An interesting review can be found here:
http://www.kingpinchess.net/2016/08/the-forgotten-american/
http://www.kingpinchess.net/2016/08/the-forgotten-american/
Kirsan Ilyumzhinov Seeks United States Citizenship From Obama
As if that might be Obama's to grant him. As reported in TASS, Comrades..........
** I can find no filing by Ilyumzhinov in any Federal Court in the United States
BAKU, September 11. /TASS/. President of the International Chess Federation [FIDE] Kirsan Ilyumzhinov in a letter to the U.S. President Barack Obama asked for the U.S. citizenship.
Earlier, he sent a letter to the U.S. president and received a notification it was registered.
"I have asked the U.S. president for the U.S. citizenship for me, so that my case - regarding putting me on the sanctions list of the U.S. Department of Treasury - could be considered at a local court," he told FIDE members in Baku (Azerbaijan) on Sunday. "I want my case to be considered in the U.S., under the U.S. legislation."
The FIDE president said he would claim compensation from the U.S. Department of Treasury.
"If the U.S. officials are not right, I shall claim apologies and paying of compensation," he said. "I promise to use that money for development of chess."
In late November, 2015, the United States Department of Treasury imposed sanctions against Ilyumzhinov stating that he had been "materially assisting and acting for, or on behalf of the Government of Syria, Central Bank of Syria." Ilyumzhinov denied the allegations saying he had no commercial interests in Syria.
"I am bewildered as to what grounds there are for my inclusion on that sanction list," Ilyumzhinov stated to journalists. "All they have is an interview with Garry Kasparov, an article from the Guardian daily and nothing else."
"We were expecting pictures, documents on the purchase of weapons and oil, connections with the [terrorist organization] Islamic State [outlawed in Russia]," he explained. "But all they have are copies of Internet articles and nothing else, all totaling 40 pages. This is what comprises my administrative case."
The FIDE president filed a lawsuit in May against the United States Department of Treasury. According to earlier reports from TASS, Ilyumzhinov is suing for restitution of $50 billion and seeks apologies for his ungrounded inclusion on the sanction list.**
He planned to personally express his protest to the Treasury Department and intended to fly to New York from Moscow on Thursday. However, upon arriving at the airport gate, he was not allowed to board the flight.
Ilyumzhinov announced in spring his plans to go to New York for the 2016 FIDE World Chess Championship in November and hoped that the US-imposed sanctions would have been lifted by that time.
Russian businessman and longtime FIDE President Ilyumzhinov was re-elected to this post in August 2014 beating former world chess champion, Garry Kasparov. Ilyumzhinov won 110 votes, while Grandmaster Kasparov garnered 61 FIDE mandates. In 2010, Ilyumzhinov faced a similar challenge by another former world champion, Anatoly Karpov, Kasparov's long-time rival. Ilyumzhinov plans to run for re-election again in 2018.
The 54-year-old FIDE president, who has headed the federation since 1995, promised to put chess into the Winter Olympics’ program.
** I can find no filing by Ilyumzhinov in any Federal Court in the United States
Monday, September 12, 2016
US Defeats Georgia 2 1/2--1 1/2 At Baku Olympiad
One round to go. Here is the final position from Shankland's win over Sanikidze. Black to move. White mates in 5. Can you find it?
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Abject Stupidity By Olympiad Arbiters or An Attempt To Save China From A Loss?
From Chessbase:
This last point saw its effects during the game between Nigel Short and Li Chao. That a player is searched before or after a game is quite understandable, but unless there is a genuine belief a player is cheating, this should never happen during a game. To the Englishman’s disbelief, while playing a do-or-die position with the time control closing in, the arbiters decided this was the perfect time to ask him to step away from the board and subject himself to a full search. Short was appalled, and was having none of it. He outright refused. The rules stated that this could lead to a forfeit if he did so, and in his case, it could mean the 3-1 victory by England, could become a 2-2 tie. In the end, fortunately, nothing more than an official warning was issued to him, but one would have thought some common sense would have avoided this episode altogether.
This last point saw its effects during the game between Nigel Short and Li Chao. That a player is searched before or after a game is quite understandable, but unless there is a genuine belief a player is cheating, this should never happen during a game. To the Englishman’s disbelief, while playing a do-or-die position with the time control closing in, the arbiters decided this was the perfect time to ask him to step away from the board and subject himself to a full search. Short was appalled, and was having none of it. He outright refused. The rules stated that this could lead to a forfeit if he did so, and in his case, it could mean the 3-1 victory by England, could become a 2-2 tie. In the end, fortunately, nothing more than an official warning was issued to him, but one would have thought some common sense would have avoided this episode altogether.
Friday, September 9, 2016
The US Defeats Olympiad Leader India in Baku!!
[Event "42nd Olympiad Baku 2016 Open"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.09"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Adhiban, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2789"]
[BlackElo "2671"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[WhiteTeam "United States"]
[BlackTeam "India"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "IND"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]
1. c4 {0} e5 {0} 2. Nc3 {0} Bb4 {0} 3. Nd5 {0} Bc5 {0} 4. Nf3 {19} c6 {0} 5.
Nc3 {4} d6 {0} 6. e3 {72} Bb4 {0} 7. d4 {7} e4 {0} 8. Nd2 {11} Nf6 {37} 9. Qc2
{7} Qe7 {155} 10. a3 {36} Bxc3 {14} 11. Qxc3 {16} a5 {258} 12. b3 {206} O-O {8}
13. Bb2 {119} Re8 {710} 14. h3 {354} d5 {618} 15. a4 {318} b6 {17} 16. Ba3 {91}
Qd8 {7} 17. Be2 {118} Ba6 {14} 18. Nf1 {1272} Nbd7 {346} 19. Ng3 {6} g6 {18}
20. O-O {9} h5 {44} 21. Rfc1 {118} Rc8 {446} 22. Rc2 {13} b5 {363} 23. cxb5 {
502} cxb5 {23} 24. Qd2 {6} Rxc2 {383} 25. Qxc2 {17} Qb8 {132} 26. Qd2 {20} h4 {
211} 27. Nf1 {230} Re6 {424} 28. Qxa5 {14} bxa4 {12} 29. Bxa6 {4} Qa8 {25} 30.
Bd6 {70} axb3 {144} 31. Qa3 {51} b2 {272} 32. Qxb2 {18} Rxd6 {2} 33. Bb7 {6}
Qd8 {111} 34. Ra8 {57} Nb8 {4} 35. Bxd5 {20} Rb6 {21} 36. Bb3 {4} Kg7 {129} 37.
Qc3 {599} Qe7 {78} 38. Nd2 {193} Rc6 {30} 39. Bc4 {22} Nbd7 {24} 40. Ra7 {0}
Rb6 {0} 41. Bb3 {421} Qd6 {359} 42. Qc4 {317} Qf8 {177} 43. Rc7 {139} Rb4 {77}
44. Qa6 {735} Rb8 {574} 45. Qc4 {133} Ra8 {184} 46. Nxe4 {790} Nxe4 {252} 47.
Rxd7 {28} Ra1+ {43} 48. Kh2 {3} Kh6 {108} 49. Qc7 {87} Ng5 {483} 50. Qf4 {70}
Qe8 {16} 51. Rxf7 {113} Qe4 {12} 52. Bd5 {29} Qxf4+ {98} 53. Rxf4 {5} 1-0
[Event "42nd Olympiad Baku 2016 Open"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.09"]
[Round "7.3"]
[White "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2669"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[WhiteTeam "India"]
[BlackTeam "United States"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "IND"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]
1. Nf3 {0} d5 {0} 2. d4 {0} Nf6 {0} 3. c4 {1} e6 {0} 4. g3 {15} Bb4+ {0} 5. Bd2
{8} Be7 {1} 6. Bg2 {11} O-O {6} 7. O-O {8} c6 {4} 8. Qc2 {18} b6 {4} 9. Ne5 {
357} Bb7 {858} 10. Rd1 {1022} Nfd7 {545} 11. Nd3 {287} Nf6 {953} 12. a4 {1089}
c5 {743} 13. dxc5 {482} bxc5 {196} 14. Be3 {376} Qc7 {548} 15. Bf4 {505} Qc8 {
51} 16. cxd5 {23} Nxd5 {212} 17. Bxb8 {63} Rxb8 {50} 18. Nd2 {162} Ba6 {294}
19. Nc4 {177} Nb4 {143} 20. Nxb4 {258} cxb4 {63} 21. b3 {24} Bxc4 {5} 22. Qxc4
{8} Qxc4 {4} 23. bxc4 {1} Rfc8 {265} 24. Rd7 {162} Bf6 {358} 25. Rb1 {2} a5 {73
} 26. Ra7 {113} Bd8 {275} 27. Rc1 {424} b3 {47} 28. Rb7 {16} b2 {119} 29. Rb1 {
206} Bf6 {20} 30. Rxb8 {45} Rxb8 {0} 31. Bc6 {137} Rb3 {64} 32. Kg2 {28} Ra3 {2
} 33. c5 {15} Ra1 {43} 34. Be4 {7} Rxa4 {1} 35. Bd3 {24} Rb4 {285} 36. c6 {176}
Rb6 {57} 37. Be4 {2} Be5 {22} 38. f4 {33} Bc7 {22} 39. Bc2 {207} Kf8 {32} 40.
Kf3 {0} Rb4 {0} 41. Ke3 {214} a4 {237 Kd4} 0-1
[Event "42nd Olympiad Baku 2016 Open"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.09"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Harikrishna, P."]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C80"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[WhiteTeam "India"]
[BlackTeam "United States"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "IND"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]
1. e4 {0} e5 {0} 2. Nf3 {0} Nc6 {0} 3. Bb5 {0} a6 {0} 4. Ba4 {0} Nf6 {0} 5. O-O
{0} Nxe4 {0} 6. d4 {23} b5 {3} 7. Bb3 {4} d5 {4} 8. dxe5 {7} Be6 {4} 9. Nbd2 {
12} Nc5 {14} 10. c3 {7} Be7 {7} 11. Bc2 {5} d4 {5} 12. Nb3 {19} d3 {8} 13. Bb1
{9} Nxb3 {6} 14. axb3 {4} Bf5 {6} 15. b4 {8} O-O {50} 16. Bf4 {7} Qd7 {130} 17.
h3 {22} Rfd8 {131} 18. g4 {59} Bg6 {181} 19. Bg3 {21} Kh8 {1112} 20. Re1 {140}
Qc8 {311} 21. Nd2 {1633} a5 {90} 22. bxa5 {355} Rxa5 {640} 23. Rxa5 {80} Nxa5 {
49} 24. f4 {70} f5 {217} 25. exf6 {249} Bxf6 {13} 26. Ba2 {479} Nc4 {1227} 27.
Bxc4 {1217} bxc4 {8} 28. g5 {9} Qxh3 {17} 29. Qf3 {6} Bh5 {759} 30. Qf2 {8} Be2
{19} 31. gxf6 {141} gxf6 {4} 32. Qg2 {273} Qe6 {489} 33. Kh2 {391} Rg8 {163}
34. Ra1 {281} Rg6 {500} 35. Qe4 {152} Qxe4 {146} 36. Nxe4 {36} Bf3 {4} 37. Nf2
{593} d2 {138} 38. Ra7 {157} Rh6+ {32} 39. Bh4 {5} d1=Q {51} 40. Nxd1 {0} Bxd1
{0} 41. Kg3 {182} Kg8 {152} 42. f5 {213} Bc2 {44} 43. Rxc7 {17} Bd3 {17} 44.
Rc5 {365} Rh5 {75} 45. Bxf6 {76} Rxf5 {5} 46. Rxf5 {9} 1/2-1/2
[Event "42nd Olympiad Baku 2016 Open"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.09"]
[Round "7.4"]
[White "Shankland, Samuel L"]
[Black "Sethuraman, S P."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2679"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "150"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[WhiteTeam "United States"]
[BlackTeam "India"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "IND"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]
1. d4 {0} d5 {0} 2. c4 {0} c6 {0} 3. Nf3 {11} Nf6 {0} 4. e3 {25} Bg4 {0} 5.
cxd5 {13} cxd5 {153} 6. Nc3 {65} e6 {180} 7. Qa4+ {9} Nbd7 {599} 8. Ne5 {9} a6
{362} 9. f3 {11} Bf5 {165} 10. g4 {5} Bg6 {79} 11. h4 {60} b5 {17} 12. Qd1 {46}
b4 {130} 13. h5 {1187} Bxh5 {774} 14. Nxd7 {135} Nxd7 {228} 15. Rxh5 {8} bxc3 {
7} 16. bxc3 {4} Qc7 {286} 17. Bd2 {136} Bd6 {613} 18. Bd3 {277} Nb6 {142} 19.
Ke2 {148} h6 {634} 20. g5 {266} Kd7 {259} 21. gxh6 {75} gxh6 {40} 22. Rb1 {913}
Rag8 {122} 23. Bxa6 {75} Rg2+ {52} 24. Kd3 {7} Ra8 {92} 25. Bb5+ {312} Kd8 {333
} 26. Rxh6 {899} Rxa2 {18} 27. Rh8+ {13} Ke7 {92} 28. Re8+ {3} Kf6 {3} 29. Be1
{5} Kg7 {90} 30. f4 {249} f5 {69} 31. Qb3 {3} Qf7 {647} 32. Qd1 {4} Nc4 {52}
33. Rd8 {68} Be7 {62} 34. Rd7 {80} Rab2 {61} 35. Bxc4 {28} dxc4+ {5} 36. Kxc4 {
3} Qe8 {15} 37. Rxb2 {56} Rxb2 {4} 38. Qa1 {127} Rb8 {7} 39. Qa7 {35} Kf8 {3}
40. Kd3 {0} Ra8 {0} 41. Qb7 {119} Rb8 {41} 42. Qh1 {60} Qxd7 {253} 43. Qh8+ {6}
Kf7 {8} 44. Qxb8 {3} Qc6 {12} 45. Qb2 {474} Qe4+ {10} 46. Kd2 {5} Qg2+ {49} 47.
Kc1 {4} Qf1 {31} 48. Kd1 {51} Qd3+ {65} 49. Qd2 {67} Qc4 {38} 50. Qe2 {108}
Qa4+ {35} 51. Qc2 {14} Qc4 {14} 52. Kd2 {41} Qf1 {55} 53. Qd3 {28} Qh1 {62} 54.
Qe2 {90} Qe4 {51} 55. Qh2 {766} Qb7 {84} 56. Ke2 {119} Qb2+ {33} 57. Bd2 {4}
Qb5+ {18} 58. Kf2 {91} Kg6 {52} 59. Qg2+ {92} Kf7 {6} 60. Qf3 {93} Bh4+ {19}
61. Kg2 {8} Qd3 {21} 62. Qh5+ {256} Kf8 {69} 63. Qd1 {279} Kg7 {67} 64. Qg1 {99
} Qxd2+ {227} 65. Kh3+ {0} Kf8 {43} 66. Kxh4 {3} Qxc3 {4} 67. Kh5 {98} Qc6 {450
} 68. Kh6 {86} Qf3 {74} 69. Qg7+ {38} Ke8 {5} 70. Qe5 {48} Kd7 {13} 71. Kg7 {
134} Qg4+ {214} 72. Kf8 {6} Qh4 {31} 73. Qg7+ {11} Kd6 {17} 74. Ke8 {20} Qh5+ {
55} 75. Qf7 {6} Kd5 1-0
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.09"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Adhiban, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2789"]
[BlackElo "2671"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[WhiteTeam "United States"]
[BlackTeam "India"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "IND"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]
1. c4 {0} e5 {0} 2. Nc3 {0} Bb4 {0} 3. Nd5 {0} Bc5 {0} 4. Nf3 {19} c6 {0} 5.
Nc3 {4} d6 {0} 6. e3 {72} Bb4 {0} 7. d4 {7} e4 {0} 8. Nd2 {11} Nf6 {37} 9. Qc2
{7} Qe7 {155} 10. a3 {36} Bxc3 {14} 11. Qxc3 {16} a5 {258} 12. b3 {206} O-O {8}
13. Bb2 {119} Re8 {710} 14. h3 {354} d5 {618} 15. a4 {318} b6 {17} 16. Ba3 {91}
Qd8 {7} 17. Be2 {118} Ba6 {14} 18. Nf1 {1272} Nbd7 {346} 19. Ng3 {6} g6 {18}
20. O-O {9} h5 {44} 21. Rfc1 {118} Rc8 {446} 22. Rc2 {13} b5 {363} 23. cxb5 {
502} cxb5 {23} 24. Qd2 {6} Rxc2 {383} 25. Qxc2 {17} Qb8 {132} 26. Qd2 {20} h4 {
211} 27. Nf1 {230} Re6 {424} 28. Qxa5 {14} bxa4 {12} 29. Bxa6 {4} Qa8 {25} 30.
Bd6 {70} axb3 {144} 31. Qa3 {51} b2 {272} 32. Qxb2 {18} Rxd6 {2} 33. Bb7 {6}
Qd8 {111} 34. Ra8 {57} Nb8 {4} 35. Bxd5 {20} Rb6 {21} 36. Bb3 {4} Kg7 {129} 37.
Qc3 {599} Qe7 {78} 38. Nd2 {193} Rc6 {30} 39. Bc4 {22} Nbd7 {24} 40. Ra7 {0}
Rb6 {0} 41. Bb3 {421} Qd6 {359} 42. Qc4 {317} Qf8 {177} 43. Rc7 {139} Rb4 {77}
44. Qa6 {735} Rb8 {574} 45. Qc4 {133} Ra8 {184} 46. Nxe4 {790} Nxe4 {252} 47.
Rxd7 {28} Ra1+ {43} 48. Kh2 {3} Kh6 {108} 49. Qc7 {87} Ng5 {483} 50. Qf4 {70}
Qe8 {16} 51. Rxf7 {113} Qe4 {12} 52. Bd5 {29} Qxf4+ {98} 53. Rxf4 {5} 1-0
[Event "42nd Olympiad Baku 2016 Open"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.09"]
[Round "7.3"]
[White "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2669"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[WhiteTeam "India"]
[BlackTeam "United States"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "IND"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]
1. Nf3 {0} d5 {0} 2. d4 {0} Nf6 {0} 3. c4 {1} e6 {0} 4. g3 {15} Bb4+ {0} 5. Bd2
{8} Be7 {1} 6. Bg2 {11} O-O {6} 7. O-O {8} c6 {4} 8. Qc2 {18} b6 {4} 9. Ne5 {
357} Bb7 {858} 10. Rd1 {1022} Nfd7 {545} 11. Nd3 {287} Nf6 {953} 12. a4 {1089}
c5 {743} 13. dxc5 {482} bxc5 {196} 14. Be3 {376} Qc7 {548} 15. Bf4 {505} Qc8 {
51} 16. cxd5 {23} Nxd5 {212} 17. Bxb8 {63} Rxb8 {50} 18. Nd2 {162} Ba6 {294}
19. Nc4 {177} Nb4 {143} 20. Nxb4 {258} cxb4 {63} 21. b3 {24} Bxc4 {5} 22. Qxc4
{8} Qxc4 {4} 23. bxc4 {1} Rfc8 {265} 24. Rd7 {162} Bf6 {358} 25. Rb1 {2} a5 {73
} 26. Ra7 {113} Bd8 {275} 27. Rc1 {424} b3 {47} 28. Rb7 {16} b2 {119} 29. Rb1 {
206} Bf6 {20} 30. Rxb8 {45} Rxb8 {0} 31. Bc6 {137} Rb3 {64} 32. Kg2 {28} Ra3 {2
} 33. c5 {15} Ra1 {43} 34. Be4 {7} Rxa4 {1} 35. Bd3 {24} Rb4 {285} 36. c6 {176}
Rb6 {57} 37. Be4 {2} Be5 {22} 38. f4 {33} Bc7 {22} 39. Bc2 {207} Kf8 {32} 40.
Kf3 {0} Rb4 {0} 41. Ke3 {214} a4 {237 Kd4} 0-1
[Event "42nd Olympiad Baku 2016 Open"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.09"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Harikrishna, P."]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C80"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[WhiteTeam "India"]
[BlackTeam "United States"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "IND"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]
1. e4 {0} e5 {0} 2. Nf3 {0} Nc6 {0} 3. Bb5 {0} a6 {0} 4. Ba4 {0} Nf6 {0} 5. O-O
{0} Nxe4 {0} 6. d4 {23} b5 {3} 7. Bb3 {4} d5 {4} 8. dxe5 {7} Be6 {4} 9. Nbd2 {
12} Nc5 {14} 10. c3 {7} Be7 {7} 11. Bc2 {5} d4 {5} 12. Nb3 {19} d3 {8} 13. Bb1
{9} Nxb3 {6} 14. axb3 {4} Bf5 {6} 15. b4 {8} O-O {50} 16. Bf4 {7} Qd7 {130} 17.
h3 {22} Rfd8 {131} 18. g4 {59} Bg6 {181} 19. Bg3 {21} Kh8 {1112} 20. Re1 {140}
Qc8 {311} 21. Nd2 {1633} a5 {90} 22. bxa5 {355} Rxa5 {640} 23. Rxa5 {80} Nxa5 {
49} 24. f4 {70} f5 {217} 25. exf6 {249} Bxf6 {13} 26. Ba2 {479} Nc4 {1227} 27.
Bxc4 {1217} bxc4 {8} 28. g5 {9} Qxh3 {17} 29. Qf3 {6} Bh5 {759} 30. Qf2 {8} Be2
{19} 31. gxf6 {141} gxf6 {4} 32. Qg2 {273} Qe6 {489} 33. Kh2 {391} Rg8 {163}
34. Ra1 {281} Rg6 {500} 35. Qe4 {152} Qxe4 {146} 36. Nxe4 {36} Bf3 {4} 37. Nf2
{593} d2 {138} 38. Ra7 {157} Rh6+ {32} 39. Bh4 {5} d1=Q {51} 40. Nxd1 {0} Bxd1
{0} 41. Kg3 {182} Kg8 {152} 42. f5 {213} Bc2 {44} 43. Rxc7 {17} Bd3 {17} 44.
Rc5 {365} Rh5 {75} 45. Bxf6 {76} Rxf5 {5} 46. Rxf5 {9} 1/2-1/2
[Event "42nd Olympiad Baku 2016 Open"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.09"]
[Round "7.4"]
[White "Shankland, Samuel L"]
[Black "Sethuraman, S P."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2679"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "150"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[WhiteTeam "United States"]
[BlackTeam "India"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "IND"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]
1. d4 {0} d5 {0} 2. c4 {0} c6 {0} 3. Nf3 {11} Nf6 {0} 4. e3 {25} Bg4 {0} 5.
cxd5 {13} cxd5 {153} 6. Nc3 {65} e6 {180} 7. Qa4+ {9} Nbd7 {599} 8. Ne5 {9} a6
{362} 9. f3 {11} Bf5 {165} 10. g4 {5} Bg6 {79} 11. h4 {60} b5 {17} 12. Qd1 {46}
b4 {130} 13. h5 {1187} Bxh5 {774} 14. Nxd7 {135} Nxd7 {228} 15. Rxh5 {8} bxc3 {
7} 16. bxc3 {4} Qc7 {286} 17. Bd2 {136} Bd6 {613} 18. Bd3 {277} Nb6 {142} 19.
Ke2 {148} h6 {634} 20. g5 {266} Kd7 {259} 21. gxh6 {75} gxh6 {40} 22. Rb1 {913}
Rag8 {122} 23. Bxa6 {75} Rg2+ {52} 24. Kd3 {7} Ra8 {92} 25. Bb5+ {312} Kd8 {333
} 26. Rxh6 {899} Rxa2 {18} 27. Rh8+ {13} Ke7 {92} 28. Re8+ {3} Kf6 {3} 29. Be1
{5} Kg7 {90} 30. f4 {249} f5 {69} 31. Qb3 {3} Qf7 {647} 32. Qd1 {4} Nc4 {52}
33. Rd8 {68} Be7 {62} 34. Rd7 {80} Rab2 {61} 35. Bxc4 {28} dxc4+ {5} 36. Kxc4 {
3} Qe8 {15} 37. Rxb2 {56} Rxb2 {4} 38. Qa1 {127} Rb8 {7} 39. Qa7 {35} Kf8 {3}
40. Kd3 {0} Ra8 {0} 41. Qb7 {119} Rb8 {41} 42. Qh1 {60} Qxd7 {253} 43. Qh8+ {6}
Kf7 {8} 44. Qxb8 {3} Qc6 {12} 45. Qb2 {474} Qe4+ {10} 46. Kd2 {5} Qg2+ {49} 47.
Kc1 {4} Qf1 {31} 48. Kd1 {51} Qd3+ {65} 49. Qd2 {67} Qc4 {38} 50. Qe2 {108}
Qa4+ {35} 51. Qc2 {14} Qc4 {14} 52. Kd2 {41} Qf1 {55} 53. Qd3 {28} Qh1 {62} 54.
Qe2 {90} Qe4 {51} 55. Qh2 {766} Qb7 {84} 56. Ke2 {119} Qb2+ {33} 57. Bd2 {4}
Qb5+ {18} 58. Kf2 {91} Kg6 {52} 59. Qg2+ {92} Kf7 {6} 60. Qf3 {93} Bh4+ {19}
61. Kg2 {8} Qd3 {21} 62. Qh5+ {256} Kf8 {69} 63. Qd1 {279} Kg7 {67} 64. Qg1 {99
} Qxd2+ {227} 65. Kh3+ {0} Kf8 {43} 66. Kxh4 {3} Qxc3 {4} 67. Kh5 {98} Qc6 {450
} 68. Kh6 {86} Qf3 {74} 69. Qg7+ {38} Ke8 {5} 70. Qe5 {48} Kd7 {13} 71. Kg7 {
134} Qg4+ {214} 72. Kf8 {6} Qh4 {31} 73. Qg7+ {11} Kd6 {17} 74. Ke8 {20} Qh5+ {
55} 75. Qf7 {6} Kd5 1-0
Thursday, September 8, 2016
US Defeats Ukraine in Round 6 of the Olympiad in Baku
Three games were tied, but Caruana came through with a win on Board #1
Here's the game:
[Event "42nd Olympiad Baku 2016 Open"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.08"]
[Round "6.5"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Deep Fritz 14 x64 (10m)"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[WhiteTeam "United States"]
[BlackTeam "Ukraine"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "UKR"]
{B31: Sicilian: 2...Nc6 3 Bb5 g6} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 {
Black has the pair of bishops} 5. O-O Bg7 6. Re1 Nh6 7. c3 {Consolidates d4}
O-O 8. h3 {Prevents intrusion on g4} f5 9. e5 Nf7 10. d3 Rb8 11. Na3 Ba6 12.
Nc4 Bxc4 13. dxc4 d6 14. e6 Ne5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. Bh6 Bg7 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Rb1
Qa5 19. a4 Rf6 20. Re3 Qa6 21. b3 Qc8 22. Qe1 a5 23. b4 axb4 24. cxb4 cxb4 25.
Rxb4 Ra8 26. Qa1 (26. c5 dxc5 27. Rc4 Qa6 $11) 26... f4 (26... Kg8 27. c5 Rxe6
28. Qe1 Rxe3 29. Qxe3 dxc5 30. Qxc5 $15) 27. Re4 $11 f3 28. g4 Kg8 {Black king
safety improved} 29. Qd1 Rxe6 30. Qxf3 Rxe4 31. Qxe4 Qc7 32. c5 dxc5 33. Qc4+ {
White forks: c5} Kg7 34. Qc3+ Kg8 35. Qc4+ Kg7 {Twofold repetition} 36. Qxc5
Qd6 37. Qc3+ Qf6 {Black threatens to win material: Qf6xc3} 38. Qe3 Rf8 39. Re4
Rf7 (39... Re8 40. a5 $16) 40. Re5 Qd6 (40... h5 41. gxh5 gxh5 42. Re6 Qa1+ 43.
Kh2 $18) 41. a5 $18 Qd1+ 42. Kg2 Qa1 43. Qe2 e6 (43... Qd4 44. f3 Kg8 45. a6
$18) 44. a6 Qd4 (44... Re7 45. Rc5 $18) 45. Rxe6 c5 (45... Qd5+ 46. Kg3 c5 $18)
46. Re7 Qd5+ (46... c4 {does not help much} 47. a7 Qd5+ 48. Kg1 $18) 47. f3 c4
(47... Kf8 {there is nothing else anyway} 48. Rxf7+ Kxf7 $18) 48. Rxf7+ Qxf7 (
48... Kxf7 {doesn't get the bull off the ice} 49. Qa2 Kf8 50. a7 $18) 49. Qe5+
Kh6 50. Qe3+ (50. f4 Qd7 51. Kg3 Qd1 52. Kh4 Qe1+ 53. Qxe1 g5+ 54. fxg5+ Kg6
55. Qe7 h5 56. a7 c3 57. a8=B hxg4 58. Be4#) 50... Kg7 51. Qd4+ Kh6 52. a7 Qb7
53. h4 (53. h4 Qe7 54. g5+ Qxg5+ 55. hxg5+ Kxg5 56. a8=Q Kh6 57. Qad8 Kh5 58.
Q8h4#) 1-0
Here's the game:
[Event "42nd Olympiad Baku 2016 Open"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.08"]
[Round "6.5"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Deep Fritz 14 x64 (10m)"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[WhiteTeam "United States"]
[BlackTeam "Ukraine"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "UKR"]
{B31: Sicilian: 2...Nc6 3 Bb5 g6} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 {
Black has the pair of bishops} 5. O-O Bg7 6. Re1 Nh6 7. c3 {Consolidates d4}
O-O 8. h3 {Prevents intrusion on g4} f5 9. e5 Nf7 10. d3 Rb8 11. Na3 Ba6 12.
Nc4 Bxc4 13. dxc4 d6 14. e6 Ne5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. Bh6 Bg7 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Rb1
Qa5 19. a4 Rf6 20. Re3 Qa6 21. b3 Qc8 22. Qe1 a5 23. b4 axb4 24. cxb4 cxb4 25.
Rxb4 Ra8 26. Qa1 (26. c5 dxc5 27. Rc4 Qa6 $11) 26... f4 (26... Kg8 27. c5 Rxe6
28. Qe1 Rxe3 29. Qxe3 dxc5 30. Qxc5 $15) 27. Re4 $11 f3 28. g4 Kg8 {Black king
safety improved} 29. Qd1 Rxe6 30. Qxf3 Rxe4 31. Qxe4 Qc7 32. c5 dxc5 33. Qc4+ {
White forks: c5} Kg7 34. Qc3+ Kg8 35. Qc4+ Kg7 {Twofold repetition} 36. Qxc5
Qd6 37. Qc3+ Qf6 {Black threatens to win material: Qf6xc3} 38. Qe3 Rf8 39. Re4
Rf7 (39... Re8 40. a5 $16) 40. Re5 Qd6 (40... h5 41. gxh5 gxh5 42. Re6 Qa1+ 43.
Kh2 $18) 41. a5 $18 Qd1+ 42. Kg2 Qa1 43. Qe2 e6 (43... Qd4 44. f3 Kg8 45. a6
$18) 44. a6 Qd4 (44... Re7 45. Rc5 $18) 45. Rxe6 c5 (45... Qd5+ 46. Kg3 c5 $18)
46. Re7 Qd5+ (46... c4 {does not help much} 47. a7 Qd5+ 48. Kg1 $18) 47. f3 c4
(47... Kf8 {there is nothing else anyway} 48. Rxf7+ Kxf7 $18) 48. Rxf7+ Qxf7 (
48... Kxf7 {doesn't get the bull off the ice} 49. Qa2 Kf8 50. a7 $18) 49. Qe5+
Kh6 50. Qe3+ (50. f4 Qd7 51. Kg3 Qd1 52. Kh4 Qe1+ 53. Qxe1 g5+ 54. fxg5+ Kg6
55. Qe7 h5 56. a7 c3 57. a8=B hxg4 58. Be4#) 50... Kg7 51. Qd4+ Kh6 52. a7 Qb7
53. h4 (53. h4 Qe7 54. g5+ Qxg5+ 55. hxg5+ Kxg5 56. a8=Q Kh6 57. Qad8 Kh5 58.
Q8h4#) 1-0
Saturday, September 3, 2016
What Might US Chess Do About FIDE and Its Increasingly Obvious Connections To Russian Oligarchs Close to Vladimir Putin?
Reform of FIDE has proved virtually impossible given the one nation/one vote governance system used by FIDE to elect its leadership. If the US and Western European federations demanded reform
away from the one nation/one vote system and threatened to form a new
international organization there might be change. The problem is organizing and
obtaining the solidarity needed. Still, I recall Bill Hall, the late Executive Director of US Chess telling me around
2009 or 2010 that there were some tentative talks relating to this going on in
which Kasparov was involved. Of course, nothing ever came of it.
That said, the sanctions leveled against Kirsan Ilyumzhinov by the US
Dept. of the Treasury have sent a chill into the air near FIDE's leadership. The long delay
in announcing the main sponsor of the November WCC match and Agon's bringing in
PhosAgro with its history of ownership by people with direct ties to Putin, tells me that Agon had a great deal of trouble finding, and did not find, a
major sponsor here in the US. Recall that last November, just before the
sanctions hit Kirsan Ilyumzhinov he was scheduled to fly to NYC to sign contracts for
venue and sponsors. We may never know who the sponsors may have been or where
the match was going to take place, but I doubt the Fulton Fish Market was in the
picture.
That said, I think it's safe to assume that FIDE and Agon,
Ltd are on the radar of the Treasury Dept. and Homeland Security. That Ilyumzhinov was not allowed to board a Delta Airlines flight from Moscow to NYC on August
25th is telling. Will the Mayor of NYC be seen with FIDE officials, Agon's
Merenzon or PhosAgro's Guryev and Litvinenko (Putin's old campaign manager).
There are enough connected Democrat chess players in NYC that I have to think
the Mayor's Office and Corporation Counsel have been clued in so as to not
potentially embarrass themselves with these questionable Russians. Whilst Trump
Tower was floated as a possible venue, that seems to have gone nowhere which is
not surprising given the issues affecting the Trump campaign with campaign
manager Manafort's Ukraine business connections and Trump's praise of Putin.
The real action of this championship might not be at the Fulton Fish Market
building, but in Customs at Kennedy International.
What should US
Chess' position be on FIDE and Agon? What can US Chess do to leverage its
position as one of the strongest chess nations (ELO-wise) to help save our
wonderful game from corrupt Russian oligarchs? I'm not certain what, if
anything, US Chess can do, but I hope the issue is discussed by the US Chess
Executive Board with a view toward doing the right thing.
Thursday, September 1, 2016
The Rise Of Russian Oligarchs With Ties To Vladimir Putin, FIDE and The World Chess Championship
Opinion
This year, international chess at the highest level has seen the emergence of a seediness that seemed impossible just a few years ago. Yes, we've known for years that FIDE's president, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov serves chess at the behest of Putin and the Kremlin running errands for Putin by meeting with the likes of Saddam Hussein, Muammar Gaddafi and Bashar al Assad under cover of delivering chess sets to the needy of the Third World. Those who try to dig for the truth behind his financial fortune and the specifics of his leadership of the autonomous Kalmykian republic do so at their peril. The murder in 1998 of opposition newspaper reporter Larisa Yudina by associates of Ilyumzhinov illustrates the risk level.
On August 25th in Moscow, Ilyumzhinov was barred from boarding a Delta Airlines flight departing Moscow for NYC. The reason is that he is still on the U.S. Dept. of the Treasury sanctions list for alleged dealings in oil between Assad's Syria and ISIS.
Enter Agon ,Ltd. to which FIDE has contracted promotional rights to the World Chess Championship and other major chess events like the Candidates' tournament to choose the challenger for the WCC. Agon was formed by Andrew Paulson, an expat American living in Moscow. Ilyumzhinov is purported to be secret owner of Agon. Agon's relationship to the off-shore corporation Chess Lane, which acquired certain FIDE promotional rights from Ilyumzhinov and his ownership interest in Global Chess, BV has recently come to light with the leaking of the Panama Papers. Paulson sold Agon to its present owner Ilya Merenzon who runs the corporation as its CEO. (It is still unclear what financial interest, if any, Ilyumzhinov has is Agon) Paulson and Merenzon's business dealings date back to at least 2007 when Paulson and Merenzon founded Russia! magazine. Both have brought their dealings to NYC, perhaps most notably in the company of NY Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov and the Snob crowd of Global Russians in NYC. http://nymag.com/news/features/66287/ http://mprokhorov.com/media/inthenews/137/
Overviews of these complex, often semi-hidden, dealings can be found in two Guardian articles:
And now Phosagro, the Moscow based company with Russian oligarchic ties to Vlad Putin has been named the sponsor of the WCC match scheduled for November. The first owner of PhosAgro was Mikhail Borisovich Khodorkovsky, the formerly close ally of Vladimir Putin who had a falling out with Putin over the matter of Yukos Gas in Russia. In 2011 it was reported that Russian billionaire and London resident Andrey Grigoryevich Guryev owned 71% of PhosAgro. Vladimir Stefanovich Litvinenko, Putin’s former campaign manager is reported to be a 10% owner of PhosAgro. (The ownership interests of Guryev and Litvinenko were confirmed on the London Stock exchange in 2011 when PhosAgro was floated on that exchange)
Our ancient, beautiful game,chess, deserves better than this. Unless and until national chess federations that respect the rule of law act to reform FIDE or break away to form an honest, non-suspect international governing body chess will not be more than the international laughing stock it is rapidly becoming.
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