Grandmaster SP Sethuraman of PSPB continues to remain alone at the top with 7.5 points, at the end of the eleventh round of the SIB-CMS Zone 3.7 & 52nd Indian Premier Chess Championship, organised by Kottayam Chess Academy at the college campus, today.

GM Deep Sengupta of PSPB joined Sahaj Grover on the second spot with 7 points each, but Sahaj has to play only one game in the remaining two rounds.

In a Scotch game played by Deep, his team mate and former national champion Abhijit Kunte’s knight sacrifice on 13th move did not yield fruitful results. Though Deep lost exchange and a pawn later, his three connected pawns on the queen side played a vital role. When Deep’s c6-pawn was threatening to gear up to eighth rank by sacrificing two minor pieces for a rook, Abhijit gave up the fight.

Live games with analysis

With a clinical win over GM Abhijit Kunte (right), GM Deep Sengupta moved up to joint second spot

The clash between the only two grandmasters of Railways, RR Laxman and Deepan Chakkravarthy had some exciting moments, before Laxman prevailed over Deepan in a Dutch defence, played by Deepan. Deepan’s miscalculations in attacking Laxman’s queen with his knight backfired and he had no hesitation to resign immediately. It was a sort of consolation and compensation to Laxman, who lost a winning game against Vidit Gujrathi, a few rounds earlier. Deepan had an ignominious hat trick of losses.

GM Deepan Chakkravarthy had a hat trick of losses

The most anticipated clash between the two highest rated players in the tournament GM Vidit Santosh Gujrathi of PSPB and his team mate Sethuraman ended in a tame draw. After exchanging the queens on 22nd move of a French defence adopted by Vidit, they agreed to share the point on 26th move.

Delhi grandmaster Sahaj Grover and Tamil Nadu IM P. Shyam Nikil split the points equally between them in a Spanish opening, extending to 41 moves. In a rook and equal pawns ending, both players failed to make any progress.

Good run by GM Sahaj Grover was halted by IM P. Shyam Nikil

IM PDS Girinath of Railways parried the threats arising from PSPB grandmaster MR Lalith Babu’s Caro Kann defence. Despite the presence of doubled pawns in a rook ending, Girinath defended stoutly to get away with half a point after one move short of a century.

Similarly, the Larsen’s attack by Swayamas Mishra of Orissa against VAV Rajesh of Tamil Nadu also ended without any decisive result. They added half a point each to their kitty, after 26 moves.

R. Anantharam
Chief Arbiter
Councillor, Arbiters’ Commission, FIDE

Round 11 results:
Grover Sahaj (DEL) 7 drew with IM Shyam Nikil P. (TN) 4.5
Laxman R.R. (Rlys) 3.5 beat GM Deepan Chakkravarthy J. (Rlys) 4.5
Swayams Mishra (ODI) 4 drew with IM Rajesh V A V (TN) 2.5
Sethuraman S.P. (PSPB) 7.5 drew with GM Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (PSPB) 6.5
Sengupta Deep (PSPB) 7 beat GM Kunte Abhijit (PSPB) 4.5
Girinath P.D.S. (Rlys) 6 drew with GM Lalith Babu M.R. (PSPB) 2.5

Round 11 standings:
1. GM Sethuraman S.P. 2622 – 7½ (10)
2. GM Sengupta Deep 2566 – 7 (10)
3. GM Grover Sahaj 2505 – 7 (11)
4. GM Vidit Santosh Gujrathi 2625 – 6½ (10)
5. IM Karthikeyan P. 2400 – 6 (10)
6. GM Lalith Babu M.R. 2547 – 6 (11)
7. IM Shyam Nikil P. 2454 – 4½ (10)
8. GM Kunte Abhijit 2480 – 4½ (10)
9. GM Deepan Chakkravarthy J. 2489 – 4½ (10)
10. IM Swayams Mishra 2491 – 4 (10)
11. GM Laxman R.R. 2408 – 3½ (10)
12. IM Rajesh V A V 2408 – 2½ (10)
13. IM Girinath P.D.S. 2333 – 2½ (10)

Martin Metev

The 129th MGU Open 2014 was held on 13-14th December, 2014, at Chess Club MGU, in Sofia, capital and largest city of Bulgaria.

The event was organized in honor of GM Jan Timman (born 14th December 1951 in Amsterdam, NED), in a 6-round Swiss format, open to all players rated below 2200.

Martin Mitev from Chess Club “An Pasan” Sofia claimed the gold with 5/6 points, leaving the runner-up NM Dobrotich Andreev half point behind.

Third place was shared in a three-way tie by IM Petar Orev, Dragan Bozilov and Nikolay Kostov with 4/6 points each.

The brand new tournament sponsor “Zora” Trading Company provided 3 tablets for the winner, the best young player and the first blitz player in the parallel 129th MGU blitz tournament.

You can see the full standings and replay the games below.

Official website

Final standings:

1 Metev Martin BUL 2009 “An Pasan” Sofia 5
2 NM Andreev Dobrotich BUL 1970 “An Pasan” Sofia 4,5
3 IM Orev Petar BUL 2113 “An Pasan” Sofia 4
4 Bozilov Dragan SRB 1924 Bosilegrad 4
5 Kostov Nikolay BUL 1914 “An Pasan” Sofia 4
6 Kolev Nikola BUL 1682 “An Pasan” Sofia 3,5
7 WCM Peycheva Gergana BUL 1829 “An Pasan” Sofia 3,5
8 Mehmed Elif BUL 1548 CSKA Sofia 3,5
9 Timev Anzhelo BUL 1794 “Trjavna 2001″ Trjavna 3
10 Green Moria BUL 1483 “Razvitie” Kyustendil 3
11 Mladenov Andrey BUL 1886 “Han Asparuh” Sofia 3
12 Stanchev Aleksandar BUL 1858 “Dionisopolis” Balchik 2
13 Galyov Yanislav BUL 0 “An Pasan” Sofia 2
14 Petrov Stanislav BUL 0 CSKA Sofia 2
15 Georgiev Nikolay BUL 1640 “An Pasan” Sofia 2
16 Tashev Aleksandar BUL 1780 “Transmariska” Tutrakan 2
17 Mustedjeb Anher BUL 1726 “Fenix” Sofia 2
18 Kosturkov Krasimir BUL 1769 “An Pasan” Sofia 1,5
19 Cholakov Nikolay BUL 1800 CCC Sofia 1,5
20 Punchev Ivan BUL 1761 “An Pasan” Sofia 1
21 Grabcheva Natalia BUL 1573 CCC Sofia 1
22 Marinov Marin St. BUL 0 “Badev” Sofia 0

Buddhika Amarasinghe of Sri Lanka won the Asian Amateur Chess Championship 2014 convincingly with a 7.5/9 score to win by a clear margin.

This event was held from December 5-12, 2014 at the beautiful Citrus Resort Hotel. It was organised by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka on behalf of the Asian Chess Federation.

Ten countries participated in this event: Brunei, India, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Maldives, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates and hosts Sri Lanka participated. Osheen Se Silva (silver) and P.D. Senanayake (bronze) tied with seven points in the Asian Amateur Chess Championship.

Play offs were conducted for finding the Asian Amateur Women and unrated prizes. Sri Lanka Women’s National Champion Dasuni Hansika Mendis won the Championship convincingly.

Naduni Abeywardena of Sri Lanka won the Silver Medal while Miyuni Kavinya Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka won the Bronze Medal. Young Dinithi Panchali Rathnayake, Women Candidate Master from Sri Lanka won the unrated category while Nihaya Ahmed from Maldives won the Silver Medal. Himya Ibrahim won the bronze in unrated category.

Buddhika Amarasinghe receives the trophy

Baimurzin Aitkazy of Kazakhstan was extraordinary in his 8.5 out of 9 score as he became the Asian Senior Championship at Sri Lanka. He ceded a draw to Sawadkuhi Massoud of Iran and won all other games.

Ten countries participated in this event: Brunei, India, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Maldives, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates and hosts Sri Lanka participated in the Asian Amateur and Asian Senior Championships.

FIDE Master Sawadkuhi Massoud of Iran won the second place with 7 points. But, on the regulations he opted for the Asian Senior over 65 years Chess Championships, and he also opted for the second place cash Award.

Ismail Ahmed, 6.5 points of Malaysia won the 3rd place but awarded the silver due to Mr. Massoud opted for Gold in over 65 event.

Women Candidate Master Mrs. Helan Milligan with 6 points opted the Bronze medal instead of the Asian Senior Women Championship with another hope of a title.

TDR Pieris of Sri Lanka tied with Ms Milligan but had to be 4th on the tie breaker.

Abdulla Ibrahim and Ahmed Naeem, both from Maldives won the Silver and Bronze Medals of the Asian Senior Championships 2014 respectively.

Baimurzin Aitkazy receives the trophy from L Wijesuriya

News by Sri Lanka Chess Federation and Arvind Aaron

WGM Atousa Pourkashiyan is 2014 Iranian champion (courtesy of Iranian Chess Federation)

The 2014 Iranian National Chess Championship for women was organized by the Tehran Chess Association on 7-16th December 2014 in Tehran, the capital and largest city of Iran.

The event was an 11-round Swiss tournament with tempo of play 90′ + 30″.

WGM Atousa Pourkashiyan and WIM Mitra Hejazipour tied for the first with 9.5/11 points, but Pourkashiyan prevailed in the direct encounter and lifted the trophy on a superior tie-break score.

20-year-old Hanieh Khalaji finished clear third with 8/11 points, leaving the nearest followers 1.5 point behind. Khalaji had a great tournament, adding 52 Elo points to her rating and drawing against the new Iranian champion. You can see the full standings below.

Official website

Final standings:

1 WGM Pourkashiyan Atousa 2312 9,5
2 WIM Hejazipour Mitra 2297 9,5
3 Khalaji Hanieh 1944 8
4 Hakimifard Raana 2001 6,5
5 Zahedifar Anahita 1952 6,5
6 WFM Derakhshani Dorsa 2188 6
7 Alinasab Mobina 1881 6
8 Alavi Homa 1933 6
9 Alijanzadeh Mohadeseh 1886 6
10 Karimi Yeganeh 1856 6
11 WFM Asadi Motahare 1824 5,5
12 Khachatourians Teni 1698 5,5
13 Hashemi Seyed Fatemeh 1777 5
14 WFM Kalantari Sedigheh 1895 5
15 Ghazizadeh Asana 1865 5
16 Hamedi Nia Vesal 1742 4,5
17 Asghari Mitra 1759 4,5
18 Majidi Kimia 1813 4,5
19 Mobarhani Nazanin 1864 4
20 Jafari Golnaz 1882 4
21 Vagoohian Ramila 1770 4
22 Khalili Atieh 1740 4
23 Ghaderi Farzaneh 1758 3,5
24 Ansari Fateme 1747 2

Grandmaster Pavel Maletin claimed the 2014 Russian Rapid Cup after beating Alexander Riazantsev 2-1 in the final match.

The final Rapid Grand-Prix 2014 – Cup of Russia was held on 13-16th December in Rostov-on-Don. The format was knockout tournament with 16 qualified players.

The time control was 15′+10”. Each match consisted of two games and in case of a tie there was an Armageddon blitz to decide the winner.

Pavel Maletin started the campaign with 1,5-0,5 win over Dmitry Bocharov and then in the next round eliminated the elo-favorite Alexander Morozevich by 2-1.

In the semifinal Maletin outplayed Sanan Sjugirov 1,5-0,5, while Riazantsev defeated Sergei Rublevsky with the same score.

The total prize fund was 1,5 million rubles.

Maletin is also the reigning Russian Rapid Champion.

Official website

Text and photos: IM/ WGM Alina l’Ami

Official website/ More information here/ Basque system LIVE (m)/ Basque system LIVE (w)/ Blitz LIVE (m)/ Blitz LIVE (w)/ Rapid LIVE (m)/ Rapid LIVE (w)

From head to toe, from left to right, up and down and back again…the body, mind and soul of the 32 chess players have been worked out beyond their comfort zone in these hectic seven days spent in Beijing. As the plot thickened, after the Rapid and Blitz, the Basque event brought new and newer challenges, but once again, China and Russia came up roses! Congratulations to Hou Yifan and Ian Nepomniachtchi for their remarkable mental and physical efforts!

To top it all, the techniques and strategies learned the hard way over the years went up in the air in the Basque race, leaving the Grandmasters with serious questions on both: the boards and the ticking clocks. So far no other chess tournaments had been able to avoid wear and tear like the “double simul” event just did, a competition where one could give eyeteeth to at least remember the last move of his opponent! If you believe this should be a piece of cake for these genius minds, we would agree with you, to some extent.

But when the head has to be split in two, dividing the attention on two clocks and two boards and two different colour of pieces, when the seconds are vanishing in thin air, when the chairs cannot physically keep up with the speed of your thoughts, when the hand simply hesitates to make a move and when you do it all for the medals at stake…all of this could drive one out of his mind. Just that chess players are a different species, proving it is humanly possible to juggle with all of it!

Final ranking: Men

Triple Russian flag and anthem! Rapid, Blitz and Basque – Russia has it all
(photo: Vianney Thibaut)

Ian Nepomniachtchi – Pentala Harikrishna

The Basque-event was essentially a one-man show. Ian Nepomniachtchi was leading from start to finish and never let anyone come close. In his 4th round match against Pentala Harikrishna he won a model game with the white pieces. In the diagrammed position White has a decisive positional advantage already but the way Ian fnished off is instructive:

22.Qa4 Nf6 23.Qb5! and that’s it. One of black’s queenside pawns will now fall and the rest, as they say, is ‘ technique’.
Harikrishna overpressed in the 2nd game, got his king rounded up in a mating web which resulted in a 2–0 win for Nepomiachtchi.
1–0

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave – Ian Nepomniachtchi

His 2–0 victory in round 4 ensured Ian a 1,5 lead over number 2: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. A draw would therefore suffice for the Russian to secure the gold. The match was rather even and eventually ended peacefully – the only match that Nepomniachtchi did not win. Your commentators where impressed with:

29…Bxd4!? 30.exd4 Kg7 31.Qe3 Qd6 32.a4 b5! as after the further

33.axb5 axb5 34.Be2 Rxc3 35.Rxc3 Rxc3 36.Qxc3 Qxd5 there is clear equality on the board.

In good spirits before the tournament; Grischuk and Nepomniachtchi
had no idea what Caissa had reserved for them!

Pentala Harikrishna – Teimour Radjabov

The day got even worse for Harikrishna when he also lost 2–0 against Radjabov in round 5. That suddenly propelled the Azeri grandmaster to the 2nd place, right in the moment we were ready to call MVL “Mr. Silver”! The following finish can go straight into the textbooks:

23…Nxh3+! paving the way to the white king.

24.gxh3 Qxh3 25.Nf5 Rg6+ 26.Ng3 Rxg3+ 27.fxg3 Qxg3+ 28.Kh1 Qh3+ 29.Kg1 Re6! White resigned, there is no stopping the combined power of Black’s queen and rook.

0–1

No triple silver for MVL – Teimour Radjabov in 2nd place

Final ranking: Women

Rank	SNo.		Name	Rtg	FED	Pts	Res.	Vict	BL	RtgØ
1	1	GM	Hou Yifan	2600	CHN	8½	0	7	5	2544
2	16	GM	Kosteniuk Alexandra	2577	RUS	7	0	6	5	2491
3	13	GM	Zhao Xue	2485	CHN	6	0	5	5	2550
4	2	GM	Stefanova Antoaneta	2578	BUL	6	0	5	5	2526
5	11	GM	Koneru Humpy	2611	IND	5½	0	5	5	2539
6	12	GM	Ju Wenjun	2555	CHN	5½	0	5	5	2490
7	6	GM	Dzagnidze Nana	2547	GEO	5½	0	4	5	2525
8	9	GM	Muzychuk Anna	2546	UKR	5½	0	4	5	2522
9	4	GM	Gunina Valentina	2552	RUS	5	0	4	5	2515
10	10	GM	Ushenina Anna	2489	UKR	5	0	4	5	2511
11	15	GM	Harika Dronavalli	2421	IND	4½	0	2	5	2524
12	3	GM	Kosintseva Tatiana	2505	RUS	3½	0	3	5	2562
13	7	GM	Cramling Pia	2443	SWE	3½	0	3	5	2498
14	5	IM	Muzychuk Mariya	2445	UKR	3	2	3	5	2499
	8	GM	Khotenashvili Bela	2407	GEO	3	2	3	5	2499
16	14	IM	Paehtz Elisabeth	2485	GER	3	2	3	5	2464

 

Russian silver surrounded by Chinese gold and bronze!
(photo: Vianney Thibaut)

A very good day for Alexandra: silver medal, after defeating Zhao Xue with 2-0!

Hou Yifan – Koneru Humpy

The matchup between the former and current women world champion was a final the spectators could only dream of! And a thrilling final it was indeed! In game 1 Hou Yifan was better throughout but Humpy Koneru was defending stubbornly. Eventually the Indian grandmaster succumbed under the pressure:

40…Kh8? 40…Ne7! would have prevented the knight from reaching f5.

41.Nf5 Qd7 42.Nxh6! Over. Koneru still tried

42…Qh3 but after

43.Nxf7+ Kg7 44.Nxg5 the three pawns proved more than enough.
1–0

Koneru Humpy – Hou Yifan

However, on the other board it was Humpy calling the shots. In the diagrammed position she has just given up her extra pawn in order to set her b-pawn in motion:

35.b6? Too fast! Instead 35.Ke4! Rb3 36.Nd6 followed by Ra8 or, if allowed, b6–b7, would have placed Black in a very difficult situation.

35…Rb3 36.Nd6 Ne5+ 37.Ke4 Nd7! Suddenly winning the b-pawn, and with it, the gold!

38.Ra8 Nxb6 39.Ra7 a3 40.Nf5 Rb4+ 41.Ke5 Ra4!and the a-pawn decided the outcome of the match 2–0 in Hou Yifan’s favour.

0–1

The Ambassadors of the Mind Games gathered for the group shot

The winner and your commentators, Erwin and Alina l’Ami, looking forward to celebrate Christmas

Regretfully, but quite in time for the overstretched body and minds of the chess players, the SportAccord World Mind Games came to an end, not without bringing a lot to chess and its players. For one week, the Olympic stadium looked over the shoulder on our boards, making with its near location and together with the prestige of the Mind Games, all of us feel as true Olympians! Playing in the summer season or in winter time…we don’t mind either; but we do know that chess has proved to be suitable for – TV!

GM S P Sethuraman won the SIB-CMS College 52nd National Premier Chess Championship, organised by Kottayam Chess Academy, with an undefeated score of 8.5 points, at CMS College, Kottayam, in the southern state of Kerala.

Both GM Deep Sengupta of PSPB and IM P. Karthikeyan of ICF, a unit of Railways scored 8 points, but better tiebreak score favoured Deep to finish runner up.

Grandmaster SP Sethuraman

The smile shows as Sethu and Deepan drew their game in 15 moves out of the Ruy Lopez Berlin and Sethuraman to win the National Championship, just in his 3rd attempt. Sethu remained undefeated in his score card of 8.5 points with 5 wins and 7 draws.

From a scotch opening Deep Sengupta and VAV Rajesh of Tamil Nadu were following a game between Anish Giri and David Navara. Anish won the game with 17.Qb5, but Deep varied with 17.Nd5. Unperturbed by the changes Rajesh rallied his knights to defensive post disallowing further attack for the white pieces and the game ended in a draw in 25 moves.

Better tiebreak helped Deep Sengupta to finish second. His final round opponent was IM Rajesh

Catalan was the topic between these two ICF players. White was not interested in reclaiming the sacrificed c4 pawn, allowing black to have a stronghold on the queen side. Laxman unable to revive the position, tried a few tactics which was well averted by Karthik. Laxman resigned on the 41st move, facing the deficit of 2 pawns and no compensation to play for.

From the white side of Rossolimo Sicilian, Girinath played a modest 11.d3 against the highest rated player of the tournament Vidit Santosh Gujrathi of PSPB, instead of the active pawn push in the centre. Interestingly in the middle game both Kings were shielded by pieces and without pawns. Vidit erred with 31…Kh8, which was well used by Girinath who pointed his major pieces successfully towards black king. Vidit threw in the towel on 35th move owing to the irresistible attack by white. Girinath caused a great upset by beating the top seed of the championship.

IM Girinath had a upset win over GM Vidit Santosh Gujrathi

Lalith’s outpost on d5 square did not materialise against Kunte’s Bogo Indian defense. Even the passed centre pawns was unable to create inroads, despite piling of major pieces on the King file by White. The experienced Kunte played the endgame phase innovatively and won the game in 49 moves.

GM Lalith Babu – GM Abhijit Kunte

IM Swayams Mishra of Orissa chose the Rubinstein variation against the Nimzo Indian setup. On the 10th move, his opponent Shyam played out a new move to exchange one of the white’s bishops. Despite Swayams having a good control over the Queen file with array of his major pieces, Shyam’s timely counterattack on white’s king had to be dealt with. Immediately after the defense, both signed a truce in 26 moves.

IM Swayams Mishra – IM Shyam Nikhil

Dr. Babu Sebastin, Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University was the chief guest for the prize distribution function, presided by Dr. Roy Sam Daniel, Principal of the host CMS College in the august presence of Mr. Shelly Joseph, Regional Head & Dy. GM, South Indian Bank, the main sponsor.

Final standings:

1. GM Sethuraman S.P. 2622 – 8.5
2-3. GM Sengupta Deep 2566 and IM Karthikeyan P. 2400 – 8
4-5. GM Vidit Santosh Gujrathi 2625 and GM Grover Sahaj 2505 – 7
6. GM Kunte Abhijit 2480 – 6.5
7. GM Lalith Babu M.R. 2547 – 6
8-9. IM Shyam Nikil P. 2454 and GM Deepan Chakkravarthy J. 2489 – 5.5
10. IM Swayams Mishra 2491 – 5
11. GM Laxman R.R. 2408 – 4
12-13. IM Rajesh V A V 2408 and IM Girinath P.D.S. 2333 – 3.5

Report by R. Anantharam
Chief Arbiter
Councillor, Arbiters’ Commission, FIDE

Grandmaster David Navara won the European Blitz Chess Championship 2014 that was held on 19th December at the Centennial Hall in Wroclaw, Poland.

616 players from 31 European federations (FIDE Zones 1.1 to 1.10), including 176 International title holders, competed in the 11 double-round Swiss event with the time control G-3′+2”.

David Navara finished clear first with 19/22 points, leaving the nearest followers full two points behind. The Czech won ten mini-matches and tied only against GM Marin Bosiocic.

Six players shared the second place with 17/22 points each. According to the additional criteria GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda from Poland claimed the silver medal, while GM Ivan Salgado from Spain took the bronze.

David Navara

Final standings:

1. GM NAVARA David CZE B 2705 – 19,0

2-7. GM DUDA Jan-Krzysztof POL B 2525, GM SALGADO Lopez Ivan ESP B 2522, GM SAVCHENKO Boris RUS B 2733, GM ALEKSEEV Evgeny RUS B 2624, GM ANTON Guijarro David ESP B 2664 and GM EFIMENKO Zahar UKR B 2640 – 17,0

8-13. IM BORTNYK Olexandr UKR B 2679, GM KOROBOV Anton UKR B 2752, GM KOVALENKO Igor LAT B 2682, GM VITIUGOV Nikita RUS B 2695, GM LYSYJ Igor RUS B 2577 and GM BOLOGAN Viktor MDA B 2601 – 16,5

14-19. GM BARTEL Mateusz POL B 2585, GM MATLAKOV Maxim RUS B 2683, IM DOURERASSOU Jonathan FRA B 2523, GM KEMPINSKI Robert POL B 2637, IM GEORGIADIS Nico SUI 2465 and GM GAJEWSKI Grzegorz POL B 2560 – 16,0

20-31. GM MITON Kamil POL B 2621, GM CYBOROWSKI Lukasz POL B 2560, GM KOVALEV Vladislav BLR B 2541, GM SOCKO Bartosz POL B 2632, GM BELOUS Vladimir RUS B 2632, GM KULAOTS Kaido EST B 2560, GM MOISEENKO Alexander UKR B 2607, IM NAGY Gabor HUN B 2472, GM AZAROV Sergei BLR B 2602, GM EDOUARD Romain FRA B 2686, GM BINDRICH Falko GER B 2595 and PUTKA Verners LAT B 2416 – 15,5 etc

Grandmaster Evgeny Postny from Israel won the main section of the 2014 Zadar Open which was held from 14-20th December in Zadar, Croatia.

Postny completed the event with 7,0/9 points, half a point ahead of the Turkish International Masters Ogulcan Kanmazalp and Burak Firat. Kanmazalp earned a GM norm.

Best placed local player GM Ante Šarić qualified for the next Croatian Championship. Standings below.

In the Group B for players U2300 Mate Ribičić emerged winner with 7,5/9 points. Group B had 91 participants.

Replay games with analysis

Falkensteiner Hotels & Resorts Borik

Open A final standings:

1. GM Postny Evgeny ISR 2635 – 7
2. IM Kanmazalp Ogulcan TUR 2433 – 6.5
3. IM Firat Burak TUR 2472 – 6.5
4. GM Šarić Ante CRO 2552 – 6
5. GM Predojević Borki BIH 2610 – 6
6. GM Stević Hrvoje CRO 2601 – 6
7. GM Brkić Ante CRO 2603 – 6
8. GM Zelčić Robert CRO 2534 – 5.5
9. GM Kožul Zdenko CRO 2632 – 5.5
10. IM Žufić Miroslav CRO 2453 – 5.5
11. GM Jovanić Ognjen CRO 2467 – 5
12. FM Deglmann Ludwig GER 2342 – 5
13. IM Režan Saša CRO 2439 – 5
14. IM Schreiner Peter AUT 2433 – 5
15. IM Schachinger Mario AUT 2439 – 5
16. FM Zelić Mladen CRO 2266 – 5
17. Bratkovic Sham SLO 2181 – 5
18. FM Yurtseven Melih TUR 2372 – 5
19. FM Halvax Georg AUT 2314 – 5
20. FM Biliškov Vjekoslav CRO 2342 – 4.5
21. IM Kreisl Robert AUT 2420 – 4.5
22. GM Cebalo Mišo CRO 2392 – 4.5
23. IM Bilobrk Franjo CRO 2384 – 4.5
24. FM Spalir Jernej SLO 2377 – 4.5
25. FM Marjanovic Dejan BIH 2339 – 4.5
26. NM Pećnik Leo CRO 2289 – 4.5
27. FM Burovic Ismet BIH 2387 – 4
28. GM Martinović Saša CRO 2535 – 4
29. IM Plenković Zdenko CRO 2386 – 4
30. FM Matko Ognjen CRO 2286 – 4
31. WIM Frančišković Borka CRO 2330 – 4
32. FM Tomazini Aljosa SLO 2314 – 4
33. FM Jakić Ivan CRO 2376 – 4
34. Šutković Damir BIH 2322 – 4
35. IM Jakovljević Vlado BIH 2411 – 3.5
36. MK Krsnik Čohar Ivan Vihor CRO 2197 – 3.5
37. FM Veleski Robert MKD 2343 – 3.5
38. FM Piskur Mitja SLO 2295 – 3.5
39. IM Jušić Zdenko CRO 2288 – 3.5
40. FM De Francesco Klaus GER 2256 – 3.5
41. FM Sokač Marko CRO 2315 – 3.5
42. FM Cela Shkelqim ALB 2299 – 3
43. GM Ferčec Nenad CRO 2480 – 3
44. FM Brigljević Milan CRO 2206 – 2.5
45. FM Glavaš Dragan CRO 2283 – 2

Open B final standings:

1. MK Ribičić Mate CRO 2203 – 7.5
2. NM Ćurić Dražen CRO 2236 – 7
3. FM Kljako Damir CRO 2152 – 7
4. IM Medančić Rikard CRO 2212 – 6.5
5. WFM Deur Šarić Zrinka CRO 2154 – 6.5
6. Orehek Spela SLO 2069 – 6.5
7. MK Hladnić Emanuel CRO 1935 – 6.5
8. FM Balenović Zvonimir CRO 2185 – 6
9. WFM Kolaric Spela SLO 2094 – 6
10. MK Mihalinec Damir CRO 2214 – 6
11. MK Valković Kristian CRO 2054 – 6
12. Debevec Blaz SLO 2128 – 6
13. MK Pavić Filip CRO 2197 – 6
14. Burovic Rijad BIH 2127 – 6
15. Vidic Teja SLO 2015 – 6
16. I Glavičić Tino CRO 2013 – 6
17. Ivanov Stojan Emilov BUL 2224 – 5.5
18. FM Božinović Bogdan CRO 2281 – 5.5
19. Hadzialic Benjamin BIH 1899 – 5.5
20. WIM Šarić Kristina CRO 2173 – 5.5
21. MK Stipić Marko CRO 2195 – 5.5
22. Kejžar Petra SLO 2046 – 5.5
23. MK Cvitković Filip CRO 2113 – 5.5
24. WIM Berke Ana CRO 2075 – 5.5
25. I Mandarić Ante CRO 2123 – 5
26. I Buhin Denis CRO 1951 – 5
27. I Seferović Relja CRO 2038 – 5
28. MK Vidović Ante CRO 2172 – 5
29. Shpati Ted ALB 1806 – 5
30. MK Sorić Romeo CRO 2081 – 5
31. Saradjen Janko SLO 2062 – 5
32. II Luetić Ante CRO 1995 – 5
33. Znidaric Anze SLO 1983 – 5
34. MK Brkić Ivica CRO 2144 – 5
35. Bombek Miha SLO 1906 – 5
36. MK Bubičić Josip CRO 2017 – 5
37. I Džaja Martin Zorislav CRO 1921 – 5
38. WFM Švaljek Radmila CRO 1973 – 5
39. Skok Joze SLO 1973 – 5
40. I Lulić Igor CRO 2051 – 5
41. Novak Anze SLO 1637 – 5
42. Toefferl Heimo AUT 2087 – 4.5
43. MK Cajzler Hinko CRO 2161 – 4.5
44. MK Jelečević Ivo CRO 2138 – 4.5
45. III Smodlaka Ante CRO 1786 – 4.5
46. II Totić Željko CRO 1954 – 4.5
47. II Perić Davor CRO 1859 – 4.5
48. III Šaravanja Matija CRO 1631 – 4.5
49. Rozman Monika SLO 1780 – 4.5
50. III Lazaneo Đani-Ivan CRO 1854 – 4.5
51. I Maroja Slobodan CRO 1929 – 4.5
52. Maric Sanja BIH 1812 – 4.5
53. II Lučić Grgo CRO 1835 – 4.5
54. MK Bukvić Marinko CRO 0 – 4.5
55. II Novak Ivo CRO 1842 – 4
56. I Kolanović Kažimir CRO 1886 – 4
57. I Turbuk Vladan CRO 1965 – 4
58. Metzner Carsten GER 0 – 4
59. Waldmann Gerald AUT 2064 – 4
60. II Petričević Petar CRO 1897 – 4
61. I Baljak Jadranko CRO 1896 – 4
62. Began Branko CRO 1786 – 4
63. IV Vučić Mate CRO 1857 – 4
64. II Popović Ivan CRO 1797 – 4
65. II Mezak Damir CRO 1722 – 4
66. Baumann Willi AUT 0 – 4
67. MK Martinović Ferdo CRO 1936 – 3.5
68. Ladisic Alex-Sacha FRA 2007 – 3.5
69. II Jambrešić Jurica CRO 1799 – 3.5
70. III Kolanović David CRO 1576 – 3.5
71. IV Grbeša Jakov CRO 1777 – 3.5
72. Janković Antonio CRO 1365 – 3.5
73. III Petković Nenad CRO 1821 – 3.5
74. III Fresl Matija CRO 0 – 3.5
75. Skoblar Mate CRO 0 – 3.5
76. I Malešević Elvino CRO 1871 – 3.5
77. Ljubičić Mario CRO 0 – 3
78. Vuljanić Ana CRO 1370 – 3
79. Čordaš Mislav CRO 0 – 3
80. III Bedić Noemi CRO 0 – 3
81. I Antulov Marta CRO 1706 – 2.5
82. Mijić Karlo CRO 0 – 2.5
83. Birkić Josip CRO 0 – 2.5
84. Šagi Kotlar Mario CRO 0 – 2
85. Vrkić Marko CRO 0 – 2
86. Pedišić Ema CRO 0 – 2
87. Viduka Kristijan CRO 0 – 1.5
88. Vučenović Damian CRO 0 – 1.5
89. Jakšić Josip CRO 0 – 1.5
90. Vlahov Andrija CRO 0 – 1
91. I Katulić Zlatko CRO 1781 – 0

The first round of the Generations “Shchelkunchik 2014″ Tournament was played today at the Botvinnik Chess Club in Moscow.

The younger Russian generation “The Princes” shocked their more experienced colleagues “The Kings” to take an early lead 5-3.

Alexei Shirov opened the score for the Kings by defeating Daniil Dubov. But Grigoriy Oparin immediately struck back in the game against Alexander Morozevich.

Alexey Dreev saved a difficult position against Vladislav Artemiev, and then Vladimir Fedoseev secured the advantage for the Princes by winning a seven-hour long game with Peter Leko.

Live games with analysis

The classical part of the tournament takes place on 20-23rd December. The win is awarded with two points and draw with one point. The rapid games will be played on 24-25th December.

Round 2 pairings: V. Artemiev – A. Shirov, G. Oparin – Dreev A., A. Morozevich – Fedoseyev, P. Leko – D. Dubov.

Shchelkunchik 2014 (The Nutcracker) is organized by the Russian Chess Federation, businessman Oleg Skvortsov and Chess Support Fund.

Official website / Photos by Vladimir Barsky

Anatoly Karpov attended the opening ceremony

Oleg Skvortsov making the first move

The 2014 Montenegro Chess Championships took place from 10-20th December in the country capital Podgorica as part of the “December Days of Chess”.

The men’s tournament event was a 12-player round-robin, held in the hall of the National Library “Radosav Ljumovic”, gathering the members of the Montenegro Olympic team, as well as the promising young players.

Grandmaster Nikola Djukic convincingly won the men’s championship with 8,5/11 poins, leaving IM Luka Draskovic a full point behind. This is Djukic’s fourth consecutive and fifth overall title.

Replay games with analysis

The new women’s champion is Nina Delević, in her first competition after a four-year hiatus.

FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and ECU President Zurab Azmaiparashvili attended the Championships’ awarding ceremony.

Final standings:

1. GM Djukic Nikola 2512 – 8.5
2. IM Draskovic Luka 2419 – 7.5
3. GM Blagojevic Dragisa 2504 – 7
4-6. GM Drasko Milan 2431, GM Nikcevic Nebojsa 2415 and Potpara Nikola 2290 – 6
7-8. GM Kosic Dragan 2497 and IM Kalezic Blazo 2422 – 5.5
9. Draganic Veljko 2291 – 5
10. Pecurica Milos 2235 – 4
11. IM Kontic Djordjije 2346 – 3.5
12. Krstonijevic Stjepan 2093 – 1.5

The 16-years old Polish Grandmaster Jan-Krzysztof Duda won the European Rapid Chess Championship 2014 that was held on 20-21st December at the Centennial Hall in Wroclaw, Poland.

783 players from 32 European federations (FIDE Zones 1.1 to 1.10) competed in the 11-round Swiss event with the time control G-15′+10”. The field included 73 Grandmasters and 192 international title holders.

Eventually four players shared the first place with 9,5 points each: Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Andrei Volokitin, Grzegorz Gajewski and Vladislav Kovalev.

Duda had the best tie-break score and is declared Champion. Volokitin took the silver medal, Gajewski is awarded with bronze.

Monika Socko is the best placed woman, while GM Wlodzimierz Schmidt is top senior.

Final standings:

1-4. GM DUDA Jan-Krzysztof POL R 2467, GM VOLOKITIN Andrei UKR R 2643, GM GAJEWSKI Grzegorz POL R 2633 and GM KOVALEV Vladislav BLR R 2618 – 9,5

5-9. GM WOJTASZEK Radoslaw POL R 2684, IM WARAKOMSKI Tomasz POL R 2491, GM KOROBOV Anton UKR R 2673, GM LYSYJ Igor RUS R 2613 and GM NEIKSANS Arturs LAT R 2581 – 9,0

10-29. IM BORTNYK Olexandr UKR R 2559, GM KOVALENKO Igor LAT R 2721, GM VALLEJO PONS Francisco ESP R 2689, GM MOISEENKO Alexander UKR R 2670, FM ALEKSEENKO Kirill RUS R 2520, GM INARKIEV Ernesto RUS R 2653, GM FEDORCHUK Sergey A. UKR R 2664, GM NAVARA David CZE R 2633, GM DEVIATKIN Andrei RUS R 2587, GM MATLAKOV Maxim RUS R 2684, GM BARTEL Mateusz POL R 2674, GM SWIERCZ Dariusz POL R 2609, GM KEMPINSKI Robert POL R 2584, GM SOCKO Monika POL R 2441, GM KANEP Meelis EST R 2464, IM BERZINSH Roland LAT R 2470, GM AZAROV Sergei BLR R 2611, IM KANTANS Toms LAT R 2477, GM BINDRICH Falko GER 2610 and GM KRASENKOW Michal POL R 2559 – 8,5 etc

Earlier GM David Navara won the European Blitz Chess Championship 2014

Al Ain has already made a significant contribution to high class chess events in the Gulf region. Currently it is hosting their third international open tournament, Al Ain Classic, on 18-27 December.

Al Ain Classic had started as a side event to the 2012 World Cities Chess Team Championship. On that occasion, it had introduced a unique format: players eliminated from the knock-out team competition could join carrying over their points to the individual Swiss.

The following year, the Al Ain Classic ran along the World Youth Championship, at the impressive Al Ain football stadium. Being always annexed, as a shadow, to a bigger chess event, the Al Ain Classic may have died out if its Tournament Director, Tarek Al Taher, had not persevered to convince the authorities to give it a go as a separate chess competition, to run in its own right, as an individual international open tournament.

Tarek Al Taher, the Al Ain Classic’s Tournament Director

The first two days of the tournament contained all signs that Al Ain Classic is going to become a leader among the strong open tournaments in the region, on par with the already established Dubai Open, Abu Dhabi Chess Festival and the recently incepted Qatar Masters.

An impeccable organisation brought together an impressive field of 43 Grandmasters, 14 International Masters and 9 Woman Grandmasters among the 153 players, from 27 countries, vying for a chunk of a $50,000 prize fund, the top prize being $11,000.

The tournament is a 9-round Swiss System.

After the host country, India has the largest delegation with 31 players, followed by Azerbaijan, 23 and Ukraine and Iran, 11 each.

17 players are in the high rating category above 2600, namely Ukrainians Yuriy Kryvoruchko, Kuzubov Yuriy, Alexander Areshchenko, Mikhailo Oleksienko, Evgenij Miroshnichenko and Vladimir Onischuk, Armenians Tigran L. Petrosian and Arman Pashikian, Indians Abhijeet Gupta and Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, Rauf Mamedov (AZE), Sergei Zhigalko (BLR), Ivan Sokolov (NED), Samuel Shankland (USA), Constantin Lupulescu (ROU), Mikheil Mchedlishvili (GEO) and Viorel Iordachescu (MDA).

The tournament is held under the patronage of the Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan, who is President of the Al Ain Culture and Chess Club and also of the Asian Chess Federation.

Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan at the press conference before the final preparations of the big chess event. With (on the left) Dr. Rashed Al Dhaheri, chairman of the UAE Chess Federation Constitutional Commission and Dr. Saif Al Nuaimi, General Secretary of the Al Ain Chess Club (Photo: Al Ain Chess Club archive)

Diana Mihajlova and Indian grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta, winner of the last year’s edition, at the airport in Dubai, met by representatives of the Organization of the Al Ain Classic.

The break of day on the road from Dubai to Al Ain

Away from the bustling opulence of Dubai, approaching Al Ain, we are already met with a quiet, typical architecture of residential buildings, neatly preserving the tradition of Islamic geometric art, with the usual wall-fence surrounding the house.

Not Dubai but Al Ain, the true UAE

Al Ain is at 120 km south of Dubai. It is the second largest city in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the fourth largest city in the United Arab Emirates. It is known as the Garden City due to its greenery. It is actually the biggest Oasis in the region with thousands of date palms.

Al Ain is the birth place of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the first president of the United Arab Emirates.

A panorama of Al Ain, as seen from my hotel window

The official hotel, where the playing venue is also found, is the 5-star Hili Rotana.

Hili Rotana hotel in Al Ain

The spacious hotel’s lobby displays a giant Christmas tree to meet their international clients

The facilities, elegance and hospitality the Hili Rotana hotel provides will be long remembered by the participants at the 3rd Al Ain Classic. For ten days, they will live in the lap of luxury coupled with exemplary hospitality and kindness of the personnel who would attain to any whim of their guests.

Probably the most memorable will be the restaurant and its abundant, delicious, varied buffet food – a real feast, three times a day.

The restaurant at Rotana caters for all tastes

The desert section is rich with delicacies, among whom the national pudding – ‘ummali’. It is the favourite desert of our tournament director, Tarek, who told me a folk story about how it came to existence; actually, one of many versions connected to the making of ‘ummali’: a poor family had an unexpected distinguished visitor. They welcomed him and shared their food with him, but the wife was dismayed that she had nothing to offer as a sweet. So, the resourceful woman used the most basic ingredients found at their home: bread and milk. She concocted a sweet, baked bread and milk pudding, with some nuts. The satisfied guest inquired who made the excellent to which the proud husband replied: ‘Umm Ali’, the mother of Ali, their child.

Ummali

Adjacent to the hotel is the Hili mall with many shops, boutiques, restaurants and banks. Its entrance is covered with a huge banner with the UAE past and present leaders’ portraits to mark the National Day, 2nd December, when the Emirati nation celebrates their independence from Great Britain and the spirit of the union.

Hili Mall

A high end boutique for handmade, unique dresses for women

A shop assistant is displaying a handmade dress, Emirati fashion

A place of worship in the close vicinity of our hotel

The tournament’s office headed by the tournament’s director, Tarek AlTaher

On the first day, 18 December, a 7-round rapid tournament was held. Seventy players from 17 countries participated including 25 Grandmasters. As Tarek said, it was to serve as a tester, to make sure everything functions properly before the start of the main tournament the following day.

The symbolic first move before the start of the rapid tournament was performed by the organisers Tarek AlTaher and Dr. Rashed Al Dhaheri (Photo: Al Ain Chess Club archive)

Ashot Vardapetyan

The organisers with the chief arbiter, Ashot Vardapetyan, who also arbitrated at the 2013 World Championship Match, Carlsen-Anand.

GM Salem A.R. Saleh from the UAE, winner of the Al Ain Rapid (6/7)

A group photo of all the winners of the rapid tournament and the organisers

A group photo of all the winners of the rapid tournament and the organisers (standing from left): Dr. Rashed Al Dhaheri, GM Ter-Sahakyan (ARM), 2nd place, GM A.R. Saleh (UAE), winner, GM Oleksienko (UKR), 6th place, Tarek AlTaher, the arbiter Vardapetyan, Esam Amir (front row from left) Mokal Amruta Sunil, best woman prize, Mchedlishvili (GEO), 4th, GM Kryvoruchko (UKR) 3rd, Martin Kravtsiv (UKR), 7th, GM Babujian (ARM) 5th and GM Moskalenko, 8th (Photo: Al Ain Chess Club archive)

The Opening Ceremony

A grand Opening ceremony took place in the hotel’s garden, by the swimming pool, on 19 December, before the start of the first round.

Video projections depicting the UAE culture and history, children’s performances, poetry reciting, wonderful traditional songs and dances were performed on a purpose built stage.

Traditionally clad young men were offering plenty and varied sweets and teas to the large audience throughout the evening.

School children took to the stage to express national heritage values through dance and song

Armchairs reserved for the dignitaries have covers with printed portraits of the founders of the nation

Le-ge-matt (sticky syrup dough balls), a famous national sweet

Aisha and Meitha, the ‘mascots’ of the evening, wearing dresses and accessories in the Emirati national colours

On this occasion, I have learned about the Arabic ‘stick dance’ or ‘cane dance’, which is performed by a group of men, positioned in line, who sing and make short rhythmical movements holding long sticks with a hook at the end, resembling a cane (‘assaya’). The music is only vocal.

A performer with a cane which is used in the Emirati folk dance

The man, who later appeared on the stage as the main singer, is showing the dagger used in the dance as a symbol for love for freedom

The men create a line to sing and dance in chorus

At one point, teenage, long haired girls joined the stage and started gyrating their heads, their hair flowing freely up and down in rhythm with the music. It was a powerful image to behold. The long-hair-dance is an old tradition symbolising female beauty and power.

I would warmly recommend listening to the following extraordinary musical number:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBh_i7a4-Gg

Geoffrey Borg, the FIDE Chief Executive Officer and Elmira Mirzoeva

Mariam Hamad AlShamsi

Mariam Hamad AlShamsi, a school principal by profession, was responsible for the very enjoyable, high level Opening Ceremony through which we got acquainted with some elements of the Emirati culture for the first time.

The Opening Ceremony was attended by representatives of the Royal Family, delegated by the Sheikh Sultan as he was prevented, at the last moment, to attend the ceremony in person.

After watching the performances and observing the Emirati National Anthem, the Royal Family representatives made the 1st move, thus officially opening the 3rd Al Ain Classic. On the board, the highest seed GM Kryvoruchko (UKR) and the Emirati young chess hope FM Mayed Alrashedi (Photo: Al Ain Chess Club archive)

Diana Mihajlova with the brother of the Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan

Official tournament site

Live games

Live video commentaries

Report by Diana Mihajlova

The 1st Sunway Sitges International Chess Festival 2014 took place on 13-21st December, 2014, at the luxurious Sunway Playa Golf Sitges Hotel & Spa, situated on the Promenade of Sitges (40 km. south of Barcelona), in front of the sea and beside the golf club, in the residential quarter of Sitges.

The 9-round Swiss event was split into two sections:
- Group A open to all players and valid for title norms
- Group B reserved for U2000 players

Ukrainian GM Vladimir Baklan emerged a clear winner of the Master Section with 7/9 points and grabbed the first prize of 2000 €.

Second place in Open A was shared in a four-way tie by GM Sebastian Maze (France), GM Ildar Ibragimov (USA), GM Tomas Oral (CZE) and FM Rail Makhmutov with 6.5/9 points each.

Andres Cami Navarro Gutierrez wins Open B with 7/9 points. You can see the full standings in Open A and Open B below.

Official website

Open A final standings:

1 GM BAKLAN Vladimir UKR 2655 Ukraine 7
2 GM MAZE Sebastien FRA 2564 França 6,5
3 GM IBRAGIMOV Ildar USA 2548 Estats Units 6,5
4 GM ORAL Tomas CZE 2498 República Txeca 6,5
5 FM MAKHMUTOV Rail RUS 2428 Rússia 6,5
6 IM SKOMOROKHIN Roman RUS 2364 Rússia 6
7 GM AROSHIDZE Levan GEO 2537 Banyoles 6
8 GM ROMANOV Evgeny RUS 2638 Rússia 5,5
9 GM NARCISO DUBLAN Marc CAT 2515 Barberà 5,5
10 FM MARTINEZ ALCANTARA Jose Eduar PER 2448 Cerdanyola del Vallès 5,5
11 IM BAILET Pierre FRA 2484 França 5,5
12 IM DUCARMON Quinten NED 2488 Sant Josep De Badalona 5,5
13 WGM CHAROCHKINA Daria RUS 2370 Izmailovo Sports School 5,5
14 FM AKBARINIA Sayed Arash IRI 2366 Iran 5,5
15 IM RODRIGUEZ LOPEZ Rafael ESP 2277 Universidad de Vigo 5,5
16 FM DELORME Alban FRA 2328 França 5,5
17 GM PERALTA Fernando ARG 2582 Sant Josep De Badalona 5
18 IM DELORME Axel FRA 2502 Barcelona UGA 5
19 IM TERRIEUX Kevin FRA 2425 França 5
20 FM SORM Daniel CZE 2319 República Txeca 5
21 FM GOMEZ JURADO Luis Alberto CAT 2349 Montcada 5
22 IM VALDES ROMERO Leonardo CRC 2402 Mollet 5
23 IM MEISTER Peter GER 2408 FC Bayern München 5
24 DE ROVER Yong Hoon NED 2315 Sc Purmerend 5
25 HAUG Johannes NOR 2121 Øbro Skakforening 5
26 GM ROMANISHIN Oleg M UKR 2487 Ucraïna 4,5
27 GM PEREZ MITJANS Orelvis CAT 2463 Sant Josep de Badalona 4,5
28 GUIX TORRES David CAT 2065 Les Franqueses 4,5
29 FM KOKSAL Ege TUR 2328 Turquia 4
30 FM SADYKOV Ramil RUS 2403 Rússia 4
31 VAARALA Eric SWE 2281 Suècia 4
32 ARYAN Chopra IND 2337 Índia 4
33 FM CHALMETA UGAS Ramon CAT 2222 Sant Boi 4
34 FM AYAS FERNANDEZ Antonio CAT 2265 Sitges 4
35 GM POGORELOV Ruslan UKR 2326 Ucraïna 4
36 KUGLER Florian GER 2208 Hamburger Sk 1830 4
37 IM CRUZ Filemon PER 2404 Tres Peons 4
38 WIM LEITE Catarina POR 2136 Portugal 4
39 LOW Zhen Yu Cyrus SIN 2028 Singapur 4
40 MK FERNANDEZ FUENTES Fco. Javier CAT 2131 Reus Deportiu 4
41 VELEZ ROMERO Juan Luis CAT 1966 Les Franqueses 4
42 MK PARALS MARCE Luis CAT 1972 Figueres 4
43 LAURITSEN Niels DEN 2216 Dinamarca 4
44 SOTO BALASTEGUI Victor CAT 1842 Terrassa 4
45 OSUNA MUNOZ Javier CAT 2089 Castelldefels 3
46 BENET MORANT Damia CAT 2052 Reus Deportiu 3
47 MK CASTELLS BRIONES Miquel CAT 2029 Barcelona UGA 3
48 MK GUTIERREZ ANSO Jose CAT 2029 Tres Peons 3
49 NEAGOS Raul-Alexandru ROU 2081 CSM Cluj-Napoca 3
50 MK BENET CATALA Antonio CAT 2245 Reus Deportiu 3
51 MK PRATS RODRIGUEZ Juan Bosco CAT 2065 Sant Boi 3
52 GUASCH MURTRA Josep Maria CAT 1964 Espluga de Francolí 2,5
53 TARDIO FRAN Emilio CAT 1835 Tres Peons 2,5
54 IM LACASA DIAZ Jose Antonio CAT 2411 Sitges 2
55 CLANCHET OLLE Josep CAT 1710 Martorell 1

Open B final standings:

1 NAVARRO GUTIERREZ Andres Cami CAT 1940 7
2 ABUL Qasem BAN 1968 6,5
3 KENANI Dariush SWE 1990 6,5
4 PEREZ RUIZ Santiago CAT 1887 6
5 BARBA RIOS Enric CAT 1956 6
6 GRAU FERRER Carles CAT 1991 6
7 CATALAN ESCALE Enric CAT 1998 6
8 CARDENAS Fernando Adrian CAT 1947 6
9 COLOM ANDRES Xavier CAT 1949 6
10 FLORES MENDOZA Jose Antonio CAT 0 5,5
11 CASTRILLON OTERO Javier CAT 1958 5,5
12 PALACIOS PENA Gerardo CAT 1841 5,5
13 ELNAAMI Hashem A.K. LBA 1878 5
14 ALNAMI Salaheddin LBA 1846 5
15 NADAL FAJARDO Ricard CAT 1910 5
16 APREA Daniele ITA 1943 5
17 RIOS TORONDELL Jaume CAT 1901 5
18 MAGALLANES Gustavo ARG 1986 5
19 TERRONES HERNANDEZ Jonathan CAT 1763 5
20 HUMANES BESPIN Ivan CAT 1965 5
21 MOLANO LAFUENTE Ismael CAT 1929 5
22 SANZ BASTOS Fernando CAT 1954 4,5
23 FABREGAT PLANELLA Joaquim CAT 0 4,5
24 WALTER TRAVELLA German CAT 1920 4,5
25 DELGADILLO TORRICO Felipe CAT 1910 4,5
26 AALBERSBERG KROON Pedro CAT 1838 4
27 ELFETURI Melad LBA 1892 4
28 VALAREZZO RICARD Pedro CAT 1860 4
29 BOSCH ROMAY Jaume CAT 1975 4
30 SERRANO MARTINEZ Francisco Jo ESP 1881 4
31 GARCIA ESPELTA Josep CAT 1938 4
32 PARAYRE SOGUERO Jordi CAT 1908 4
33 ORTEGA LOPEZ Jose CAT 1577 3,5
34 MOLINA WHEATLEY Emilio CAT 1314 3,5
35 VARGAS DRECHSLER Carlos CAT 1835 3,5
36 AYMAT SATUE Joan CAT 1756 3,5
37 PEREDO CLAROS Luis Gabriel BOL 1794 3,5
38 RIBON CALABIA Mariano ESP 1832 3
39 EMPEZ GARCIA Manuel CAT 1655 3
40 GRASA SOLANAS Oscar ESP 1527 2,5
41 GYLAND Stig NOR 1464 2,5
42 ENRIQUEZ ALVARO Adria CAT 1354 2,5
43 FEBRERO PEREZ Lluis CAT 1581 2,5
44 LUQUE MAROTO Rafael CAT 0 1

Julio Granda Zuniga

The 10th International Rapid Chess Tournament of Valladolid took place on 21st December, 2014, at the Holtel Novotel (Valladolid) in the northwestern Spain’s biggest city.

The event was an 8-round tournament with tempo of play 15′ + 15″ and gathered 100 participants from 10 different countries.

The top seeded GM Julio Granda Zuniga (Peru) was impressive with 7.5/8 points, drawing only against IM Slobodan Kovacevic in the third round and finishing with the amazing 5/5.

GM Ilmars Starostis (Latvia) and IM Alberto Andres Gonzales (Spain) shared second place with 6.5 points, but Starostis prevailed on a superior tie-break score and took the silver. You can see the full standings below.

Official website

Final standings:

1 GM Granda Zuniga Julio E PER 2654 7,5
2 GM Starostits Ilmars LAT 2445 6,5
3 IM Andres Gonzalez Alberto ESP 2515 6,5
4 FM Alvarez Fernandez Enrique ESP 2345 6
5 GM Cifuentes Parada Roberto ESP 2461 6
6 GM Strikovic Aleksa SRB 2528 6
7 GM Hoffman Alejandro ARG 2474 6
8 IM Zlotnik Boris A RUS 2433 6
9 GM Paunovic Dragan SRB 2473 6
10 IM Barria Zuñiga Daniel CHI 2414 6
11 GM Campora Daniel H. ARG 2449 6
12 FM Andres Gonzalez Ivan ESP 2360 5,5
13 IM Kovacevic Slobodan SRB 2350 5,5
14 GM Del Rio De Angelis Salvador G ESP 2519 5,5
15 Rodriguez Garcia Carlos ESP 2214 5,5
16 Garcia Garcia Adrian Antonio ESP 2084 5,5
17 Ferreira Hugo Miguel Da Costa POR 1961 5,5
18 Gonzalez Diez Ruben ESP 2113 5
19 FM Cabezas Ayala Ivan ESP 2324 5
20 Campora Perez Daniel ESP 2130 5
21 Mota Cossio Alberto ESP 1972 5
22 FM Perez Yosvanny ESP 0 5
23 FM Garcia Lopez Miguel Angel ESP 2307 5
24 Sebastian Cantarino Adrian ESP 1899 5
25 Boado Rodriguez Martin ESP 2162 5
26 Fernandez De La Fuente Jose A ESP 1791 5
27 Delgado Anton Jose Ignacio ESP 1835 5
28 De La Cruz Revilla Miguel ESP 2043 5
29 Molina Perez Jesus ESP 2137 5
30 Rodriguez Garcia Manuel Fco. ESP 2174 4,5
31 Santos Martinez Guillermo ESP 1935 4,5
32 Bazan Solera Manuel ESP 1941 4,5
33 Esteban Romo Francisco J. ESP 2061 4,5
34 Castro Arguello David ESP 0 4,5
35 Garcia Gonzalez Omar ESP 1960 4,5
36 Galvan Prieto Albano ESP 1886 4,5
37 De Lucas Bello Federico ESP 1933 4,5
38 Srdoc Nenad FRA 1927 4,5
39 Martin Manzanas Antonio ESP 1724 4,5
40 Gonzalez Lopez Luis ESP 1734 4,5
41 Barrenechea Bahamonde Gustavo ESP 2142 4,5
42 Garcia Corada Pedro ESP 1984 4,5
43 Leonor Velasco David ESP 1598 4,5
44 Avila Santiago Miguel Angel ESP 0 4,5
45 Sanchez Campos Luis Antonio ESP 1757 4
46 Acero Solis Alberto ESP 1990 4
47 Cernuda Orejas Victor Manuel ESP 1940 4
48 Gallo Restrepo German ESP 1870 4
49 Gago Gonzalves Jose Fernando ESP 1678 4
50 Cobos Ceballos Cristofer ESP 1909 4
51 Andres Zamorano Cayo ESP 1583 4
52 Caceres De La Calle Eduardo ESP 1629 4
53 Rodriguez Garcia Miguel ESP 1741 4
54 Marcos Lomo Francisco ESP 1512 4
55 Gutierrez Guillen Alvaro Jose ESP 1401 4
56 Rodriguez Dominguez Ramon Antonio ESP 1611 4
57 Morchon Araujo Daniel ESP 1663 3,5
58 Duran Caballero Moises ESP 0 3,5
59 Fernandez Velasquez Julian Fe ESP 1852 3,5
60 Torralbo Asagra Jaime Andres ESP 1712 3,5
61 Sevillano Garcia Joaquin ESP 1862 3,5
62 Ampudia Asensio Jose Luis ESP 1682 3,5
63 Costache Bogdan Alexandru ESP 1780 3,5
64 Leonor Velasco Manuel ESP 1382 3,5
65 Platero Manteca Javier ESP 1719 3
66 Martinez Palacios Fernando ESP 0 3
67 Sanz Garcia Ramon ESP 1706 3
68 Gomez Olmedo Julio ESP 1651 3
69 Garcia Fernandez Sergio ESP 0 3
70 Mateo Mateo Angel ESP 0 3
71 Juanes Paniagua Alberto ESP 1321 3
72 Muñoz Navarro Francisco Javier ESP 1333 3
73 Quintana Toribio Felix ESP 1455 3
74 Melado Barba Victor ESP 1419 3
75 Sanz Arranz Victor Manuel ESP 1574 3
76 Rodriguez Martinez Jose Luis CTL 0 3
77 Calvo Muro Roberto Saturio ESP 0 3
78 Torrego Diez Ignacio ESP 0 3
79 Alonso Prieto Victor ESP 0 3
80 Rodriguez Perez Miguel Angel ESP 0 2,5
81 Garcia Garcia David ESP 0 2,5
82 Martinez Iglesias Pablo ESP 0 2,5
83 Hernando Santiago Alberto ESP 0 2,5
84 Alonso Ubeda Gabriela Fenghen ESP 0 2,5
85 Rodriguez Cantero Pedro ESP 0 2
86 Rodriguez Perez Marta ESP 0 2
87 Cabanas Sanchez Victor ESP 0 2
88 Melado Barba Paula ESP 0 2
89 Gutierrez Guillen Alfonso ESP 0 2
90 Izquierdo Perez Pedro ESP 0 2
91 Gonzalo Mariño Gonzalo ESP 0 2
92 Macias De Castro Alberto ESP 0 2
93 Cabrero De Diego Alfonso ESP 0 1,5
94 Aguirre Urrutia Juan Jose ESP 1713 1
95 Alonso Jato Iria ESP 0 0
96 Lozano Fernandez Diego ESP 0 0
97 Alonso Jato Daniel ESP 0 0
98 FM Hernando Pertierra Jose C. ESP 2382 0
Montiel Miguelez Manuel ESP 1860 0
100 Alonso Las Heras Alejandro ESP 0 0

The 33rd Annual Empire City Open is taking place from December 26-28, 2014, at the New Yorker Hotel, 481 Eighth Ave at 34th St, across from Penn Station, New York.

The event has 5 sections: Open, Under 2200, Under 1900, Under 1600 and Under 1300. All sections have either 3-day (December 26-28) or 2-day (December 27-28) schedules to play in.

Top rated players are GM Gata Kamsky 2750 NY, GM Alexander Shabalov 2631 PA, GM Zviad Izoria 2622 NY, GM Sergey Kudrin 2584 CT, GM Robert Hungaski 2545 NY and GM Michael A Rohde 2504 NY.

The event has a $12,000 prize fund, unconditionally guaranteed.

Open Section: $1200-600-300-200, top Under 2300 or unrated $500-250.
Under 2200 Section: $1000-500-250-150, top U2000 or unrated $500-250.
Under 1900 Section: $1000-500-250-150, top U1700 (no unrated) $400-200.
Under 1600 Section: $800-400-200-100, top U1400 (no unrated) $300-150.
Under 1300 Section (note change): $300-200-100, plaques to top 3.

The 24th Annual North American Open is taking place from 26-30th December at Bally’s Casino Resort, 3645 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, Nevada.

The event has 7 sections: Open, Under 2300, Under 2100, Under 1900, Under 1700, Under 1500 and Under 1250.

The Open section is a 5-day schedule (December 26-30) with FIDE GM and IM norms available, while all other sections have either 4-day (December 26-29) or 3-day (December 27-29) schedules to play in.

The Open section has 94 participants. Top rated are:
GM Wesley So 2762 MN, GM Xiangzhi Bu 2691 CHN, GM Varuzhan Akobian 2637 CA, GM Timur Gareyev 2621 NV, GM Sergey Erenburg 2601 VA, GM Jianchao Zhou 2587 CHN, GM Julio J Becerra 2546 FL, GM Mackenzie Molner 2522 AZ, GM Alex Yermolinsky 2519 SD, GM Vladimir Georgiev 2517 MKD, GM Maxim Dlugy 2494 NY, GM Nikola Mitkov 2482 MKD, GM Enrico M Sevillano 2465 CA, WGM Qian Huang 2464 CHN and GM Reinaldo L Vera 2445 CUB.

Bally’s Casino Resort

The event has a $120,000 prize fund, based on 600 paid entries, with $90,000 minimum guaranteed.

Open Section: $10000-5000-2500-1200-1000-800-600-500-400-400, clear winner or 1st on tiebreak bonus $200, top FIDE Under 2500/Unr $2400-1200
Under 2300: $7000-4000-2000-1200-800-600-500-500-400-400
Under 2100: $7000-4000-2000-1200-800-600-500-500-400-400
Under 1900: $7000-4000-2000-1200-800-600-500-500-400-400
Under 1700: $6000-3000-1500-1000-800-600-500-500-400-400
Under 1500: $5000-2500-1300-1000-700-600-500-400-300-300
Under 1250: $3000-1500-1000-800-600-500-400-400-300-300, top Under 1000 (no unr) $1000-500

North American Open 2013

The 2014 Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship is underway at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, in South Padre Island, a resort town in Texas, United States.

Almost 200 players from 45 different teams take part in the event, including many Grandmasters.

Top seeded teams are:
- Webster University - GM Liem Le, GM Illia Nyzhnyk, GM Ray Robson, GM Vasif Durarbayli (Average Rating: 2733.5)
- UT Dallas - GM Conrad Holt, GM Giorgi Margvelashvili, GM Leonid Kritz, IM David Berczes, IM Denis Kadric (Average Rating: 2623.5)
- Texas Tech - GM Yaroslav Zherebukh, GM Elshan Moradiabadi, IM Andrey Gorovets, GM Samy Shoker, IM Alexander Battey  (Average Rating: 2618.5)
- University at Texas at Brownsville - GM Anton Kovalyov, GM Andrey Stukopin, GM Holden Hernandez, WGM Katerina Nemcova, WIM Aura Cristina Salazar (Average Rating: 2592.3)
- University of MD - GM Niclas Huschenbeth, IM Tanguy Ringoir, IM Levan Bregadze, WGM Nazi Paikidze, GM Akshayraj Kore (Average Rating: 2578.8)

You can see the individual standings after round 1 and replay the games below.

Official website/ LIVE games with analysis

Individual standings after Round 1:

1 GM Le, Liem 14744920 2760 WEBSTA M M MO VIE W99 1
2 GM Nyzhnyk, Illia I 15477488 2743 WEBSTA M M MO UKR W103 1
3 GM Robson, Ray 12847250 2743 WEBSTA M M MO USA W113 1
4 GM Zherebukh, Yaroslav 15105277 2721 TXTEKA M M UKR W98 1
5 GM Stukopin, Andrey 15492511 2714 UTBR-A M M TX RUS W115 1
6 GM Kovalyov, Anton 15196087 2688 UTBR-A M M TX CAN W100 1
7 GM Durarbayli, Vasif 15491606 2688 WEBSTA M M MO AZE W124 1
8 GM Kritz, Leonid 13388170 2643 UTDALA M M TX GER W114 1
9 GM Moradiabadi, ElshaN 14821464 2642 TXTEKA M M TX IRI W105 1
10 GM Holt, Conrad 12937909 2635 UTDALA M M KS USA W102 1
11 GM Hess, Robert L 12749774 2629 YALE-A M M NY USA W139 1
12 GM Huschenbeth, Niclas 14965043 2627 UMBC-A M M MD GER W107 1
13 GM Margvelashvili, Giorgi 13405153 2625 UTDALA M M TX GEO W122 1
14 IM Gorovets, Andrey 15229287 2615 TXTEKA M M TX BLR W123 1
15 IM Kadric, Denis [Alt 1] 15377240 2590 UTDALA M M TX BIH W106 1
16 GM Hoyos, Manuel Leon 12881259 2579 WEBSTB M M MO MEX W138 1
17 GM Corrales Jimenez, 14958890 2578 WEBSTB M M MO USA W120 1
18 IM Kannappan, Priyadharshan 14955836 2572 LIND-A M M MO IND W110 1
19 IM Bregadze, Levan 14955795 2566 UMBC-A M M MD GEO W127 1
20 IM Ringoir, Tanguy 15491021 2564 UMBC-A M M MD BEL W121 1
21 IM Drozdowski, Kacper 15489455 2553 UTDALB M M TX POL W112 1
22 GM Boros, Denes 12894483 2536 WEBSTB M M MO HUN W118 1
23 GM Diamant, Andre 14255502 2534 WEBSTB M M MO BRA W143 1
24 IM Jayaram, Ashwin 15484820 2512 WEBSTC M M MO IND W101 1
25 IM Vovsha, Eli 12841701 2510 COLUMA M M NY ISR W126 1
26 IM Shen, Victor C 12809707 2510 COLUMA M M NJ USA W116 1
27 GM Shoker, Samy 15496384 2496 TXTEKA M M EGY W128 1
28 IM Panjwani, Raja 12833312 2487 YALE-A M M ON CAN W142 1
29 IM Korley, Kassa 12832679 2471 DUKE-A M M NY USA W111 1
30 FM Griffith, Kyron W 12860484 2463 COLUMA M M CA USA W132 1
31 Ivanov, Misha 15324781 2444 TORONA M M ON CAN W147 1
32 IM Neimer, Vitaly 14455555 2439 WEBSTC M M MO ISR W125 1
33 FM Shvartsman, Andrew 12812851 2432 NYU-A M M NJ USA W119 1
34 FM Gusev, Nikita 12943282 2427 TORONA M M ON CAN W140 1
35 FM Rosen, Eric S 12853959 2411 UILL-A M M IL USA W117 1
36 FM Getz, Alec S 12805454 2391 UTDALB M M NY USA W130 1
37 FM Breckenridge, Steven 12877419 2389 TXTEKB M M TX USA W150 1
38 WGM Sharevich, Anna [Alt 1] 14690848 2373 WEBSTC M F MO USA W158 1
39 FM Banawa, Jouaquin C 12780583 2361 WEBSTC M M MO PHI W177 1
40 WGM Nemcova, Katerina 14723368 2357 UTBR-A M F TX USA W134 1
41 WGM Paikidze, Nazi [Alt 1] 14995723 2348 UMBC-A M F MD USA W133 1
42 IM Calugar, Arthur 14688456 2346 UTDALB M M TX CAN W170 1
43 WIM Danelia, Mariam 15212450 2336 UTDALC M F TX GEO W109 1
44 LM Aripov, Iskandar 13743512 2336 UILL-A M M MO UZB W129 1
45 NM Mo, Kevin 12928398 2334 DUKE-A M M PA USA W148 1
46 WIM Camacho, Chardine 13943502 2327 UTDALC M F TX PHI W137 1
47 Padhya, Saumil 15519518 2291 UILL-A M M IND W136 1
48 WIM Yuan, Yuanling 12920524 2277 YALE-A M F CT CAN W144 1
49 NM Richter, Alex 14481855 2274 LIND-A M M MO USA W131 1
50 Iyer, Venkat 12907690 2268 NYU-A M M CA USA W163 1
51 NM Wang, Eigen 12867312 2267 COLUMA M M NY USA W160 1
52 Luo, Xin 15019828 2262 UILL-A M M IL CHN W164 1
53 NM Cooklev, Steven 13302856 2258 UCHI-A M M IN USA W145 1
54 NM Bu, Kevin 12913951 2244 DUKE-A M M MN USA W156 1
55 NM Auger, Michael W. 12860543 2242 UILL-B M M IL USA W141 1
56 NM Karlow, Nick W 12827792 2239 WASSLA M M MO USA W146 1
57 Gershenov, Ben 12831900 2238 NYU-A M M NY USA W135 1
58 NM Fabbri, Alexander 13348351 2229 COLUMB M M NY USA W108 1
59 WGM Heredia, Carla 13935235 2216 TXTEKB M F ECU W151 1
60 NM Hendrickson, Nolan 13547552 2212 LIND-A M M WI USA W154 1
61 WFM Labedz, Patrycja A 14698961 2211 UTDALC M F TX POL W153 1
62 NM Indusekar, Akshay 14640961 2210 UILL-B M M IL USA W149 1
63 NM Rosenthal, Nicholas 13075378 2205 LIND-A M M FL USA W178 1
64 Alexandrov, Olzhas 14725680 2160 TXTEKC X M TX USA W162 1
65 Tang, Lihong 14449861 2155 DUKE-A X M AZ USA W175 1
66 Zhao, Jim Canadian 2128 TORONA X M CAN W152 1
67 Winter, Curtis A 12875460 2125 UCHI-A X M MD USA W165 1
68 Pagan, Jonathan J 13524020 2092 COLUMB X M NY USA W167 1
69 Chen, Jianqiu Canadian 2086 TORONA X M CAN W173 1
70 Modlin, Trey 12803731 2080 TXTEKC X M OH USA W172 1
71 Richman, Jonathan 13799893 2077 UILL-B X M NY USA W159 1
72 Fan, Zheyuan 14576517 2068 STAN-A X M IL USA W97 1
73 Coyne, Theodore 13848228 2067 COLUMB X M NJ USA W168 1
74 Eisen, Zane S [Alt 1] 12854033 2059 UCHI-A X M OH USA W169 1
75 Meduri, Aakaash 12834788 2050 UILL-B X M IL USA W155 1
76 Fennessey, Joseph W. [Alt 2] 14779403 2045 UCHI-A X M IL USA W176 1
77 Lung, James 12910964 2033 WASSLA X M MA USA W157 1
78 Cassidy, Brian H. 13314431 2007 TXTEKC X M TX USA W174 1
79 Dubin, Joshua 12765381 2004 WASSLA X M IL USA W161 1
80 Silva, Ben 13765417 1947 FLST-A A M FL USA W96 1
81 Nandula, Alekhya 13976805 1887 UTDALC A M CA USA W166 1
82 Bommannan, Aswath 13223531 1761 UILL-D B M IL USA W104 1
83 Sun, Xiuwen 15565257 unr. COLUMB U M NY W171 1
84 Wu, Hengyi 12923294 2156 NYU-A X M NY USA X— 1
85 Dutta, Suvobrata 15504337 1120 TAMK-B E M TX B— 1
86 Hussain, Arafat 15400232 1078 TAMK-B E M TX B— 1
87 Wise, William Denn 15053742 996 OBER-B F M OH USA X186 1
88 Tuck, Jeffery J 15357377 310 TAMK-B I M TX B— 1
89 Thummarakoti, Sai Rohith 15612487 unr. TAMK-B U M B— 1
90 GM Hernandez, Holden 15169615 2610 UTBR-A M M TX USA D94 0.5
91 GM Kosintseva, Nadezhda 15212465 2543 UTDALB M F TX RUS D93 0.5
92 IM Torres, Luis Carlos 15268233 2355 TXTEKB M M TX MEX D95 0.5
93 LM Griggs, Walker Kyl 14079634 2325 OBER-A M M OH USA D91 0.5
94 Gupta, Saagar 13950446 1880 UILL-C A M IL USA D90 0.5
95 Kadioglu, Cem 14895128 1758 STAN-A B M CA TUR D92 0.5
96 LM Heimann, Mark 12802899 2447 WASSLA M M PA USA L80 0
97 NM Aleskerov, Faik 13669090 2417 TXTEKB M M TX AZE L72 0
98 Chang, Derek 12926166 2120 UTAUSB X M TX USA L4 0
99 Vasquez III, Simon 12857760 2112 UTBR-B X M TX USA L1 0
100 Shepherd, Duncan 14749466 2104 UILL-C X M IL USA L6 0
101 Mc Namara, Tanner 12826477 2101 CARLET X M MD USA L24 0
102 Chandra, Kevin 12918855 2100 UTAUSA X M TX USA L10 0
103 Serna, Jeffrey M. 12867105 2100 UTBR-B X M TX USA L2 0
104 Divine, Josh 13238005 2088 YALE-A X M CO USA L82 0
105 Infuehr, Jakob 15514884 2081 UTAUSB X M TX AUT L9 0
106 Kalyan, Suchinder 13493931 2075 UTAUSA X M TX USA L15 0
107 Naylor, Nicholas 13090140 2068 LIND-B X M VA USA L12 0
108 Leos, Christian 14137362 2065 TAMK-A X M TX L58 0
109 Leano, Bryan B 12973804 2064 UTAH-A X M UT USA L43 0
110 Rodriguez, Jose 15312243 2061 MIAMID X M FL USA L18 0
111 Garza, Joshua 15503361 2055 UTPANA X M TX L29 0
112 Stern, Benjamin P 14468050 2030 OBER-A X M OH USA L21 0
113 Cortez, Armando 14816642 2029 UTBR-B X M TX MEX L3 0
114 Thangirala, Avinash 12958237 2029 UTAUSA X M TX USA L8 0
115 Dahiya, Anuj S 14384382 2020 UILL-C X M IL USA L5 0
116 Balakrishnan, Naveen K. 13479723 2009 BROWNA X M RI USA L26 0
117 Flores, Sergio 14324711 2008 NJIT-A X M NJ USA L35 0
118 Kane, William Daniel 12852546 2005 WASSLB X M NY USA L22 0
119 Kitaygorodsky, Alex 15058582 2003 TORONB X M ON CAN L33 0
120 Aldrich, Daniel Fr 12810273 2000 WASSLB X M DC USA L17 0
121 Nesham, William 13135370 1994 LIND-B A M MO USA L20 0
122 Fang, Zhou 13131376 1990 UTAUSA X M TX USA L13 0
123 Yang, Sylvia 12909161 1989 UTAUSB A F TX USA L14 0
124 WIM De La Parra, Daniela 13654425 1964 UTBR-B A F TX MEX L7 0
125 Manber, Devon 12820664 1930 CARLET A M WA USA L32 0
126 Wiener, Alexandra 12873148 1930 BROWNA A F CT USA L25 0
127 Losee, Micah 14570194 1919 LIND-B A M WA USA L19 0
128 Chen, Danny 12912139 1917 UTAUSB A M TX USA L27 0
129 Flores, Jeyson 14574820 1898 NJIT-A A M NJ L44 0
130 Diaz, Linda 12908194 1891 OBER-A A F NY USA L36 0
131 Zerquera, Thomas F 14965875 1886 MIAMID A M FL USA L49 0
132 Delamerced III, Amador V. 13077547 1884 BROWNA A M OH USA L30 0
133 Poppante, Leo 12897405 1846 LIND-B B M NC USA L41 0
134 Coppa, Aaron 12847027 1846 UILL-C A M NY L40 0
135 Mahoney, Ian Canadian 1844 TORONB A M CAN L57 0
136 Aisoni, Jonathan P 14673165 1824 NJIT-A A M NJ USA L47 0
137 Garcia, Jose 12938145 1813 UTAH-A A M UT USA L46 0
138 Cheung, Alexander 14944198 1809 WASSLB A M MA L16 0
139 Duda, Justin 12883269 1809 UILL-D A M NY USA L11 0
140 Marreddy, Seetharam Reddy 15486660 1809 TXTEKD A M TX IND L34 0
141 Flores, Brandon M 13510941 1794 UTBR-C B M TX USA L55 0
142 Beauchamp, Nathan 13592166 1778 UILL-D B M IL L28 0
143 Lung, Timothy 12910965 1778 WASSLB B M MA L23 0
144 Waechter, Mark 14264396 1764 UILL-D B M IL USA L48 0
145 WCM Pitcher, Stephanie 12805367 1751 UT-LAW B F UT USA L53 0
146 Gorby, Roderick Be 13680710 1718 FLST-A B M FL USA L56 0
147 Villanueva, Susana 12626095 1692 TXTEKD B F TX USA L31 0
148 Flores, Carlos J. 12847471 1680 UTPANA B M TX L45 0
149 Rovelo, Benjamin 12890014 1673 UTBR-C B M TX USA L62 0
150 Rodriguez, Andrew 14687165 1638 STAN-A B M CA L37 0
151 Puri, Indira 12856308 1635 STAN-A B F NC USA L59 0
152 Metzler, Shane D. 14138228 1629 TXTEKD B M TX USA L66 0
153 Geisler, Dietrich 12910304 1615 UTAH-A A M UT USA L61 0
154 Rodriguez, Raul 14172252 1592 MIAMID C M FL USA L60 0
155 Bocardo III, Rigoberto 12883491 1588 UTBR-C C M TX L75 0
156 Reyes, Bjorn 12874110 1534 UTPANA C M TX USA L54 0
157 Herbst, Zachary Pa 15279673 1532 FLST-A C M FL USA L77 0
158 McElroy, Raul A. 13413771 1438 CARLET C M MN L38 0
159 Cohen, Matthew A. 13020315 1434 UTBR-C C M TX L71 0
160 Iachan, Daniel R 12927738 1409 BROWNA C M MD L51 0
161 Benitez, Jhon Jairo 15363344 1391 FLST-A D M FL L79 0
162 Pierre, Terrence 14628126 1385 OBER-B D M NY L64 0
163 Venner, John Canadian 1335 TORONB D M CAN L50 0
164 Demarco, Bobby 15300460 1329 NJIT-A D M NJ L52 0
165 Curtis, Chad 15300516 1323 UT-LAW D M UT L67 0
166 O’Connor, Sean Taro 14480721 1282 UTAH-A D M UT L81 0
167 Kyishna Chaitanya 15288682 1253 TAMK-A D M TX USA L68 0
168 Anzaldua, Estanislao 12889645 1132 TAMK-A E M TX USA L73 0
169 Wang, Minna 13867591 1122 UT-LAW E F UT L74 0
170 Parish, Kalind D.S. 15053763 1072 OBER-A E M OH USA L42 0
171 Gonzalez Jr, Jorge 15313032 955 TAMK-A F M TX USA L83 0
172 Ellsworth, Patrick 12921960 665 OBER-B G M DC USA L70 0
173 Alizada, Farhan Dr. 15582224 unr. TXTEKD U M L69 0
174 Chanoff, Eli K 12898987 unr. OBER-B U M OH L78 0
175 Parra, David 15607383 unr. UTPANA U M L65 0
176 Driggs, John New unr. UT-LAW U M L76 0
177 Liu, Junxiong [Alt 1] 15355810 unr. CARLET U M MN CHN L39 0
178 Torres, Adel A. [Alt 2] 15471232 unr. MIAMID U M FL L63 0
179 GM Berczes, David 13714735 2591 UTDALA M M TX HUN U— 0
180 GM Kore, Akshayraj 15220637 2558 UMBC-A M M MD IND U— 0
181 IM Battey, Alexander [Alt 1] 12684269 2318 TXTEKA M M VA USA U— 0
182 WIM Salazar, Aura Cristina [Alt 1] 14932462 2194 UTBR-A X F TX COL U— 0
183 Qi, Eric [Alt 1] 13409554 2124 DUKE-A X M AZ U— 0
184 Kakutani, Yuta 12873621 2091 UCHI-A X M NY JPN U— 0
185 Linde, Darcy James 12875185 2080 UCHI-A X M GA USA U— 0
186 Osbourn, Joshua D. 13340505 2074 TXTEKC X M KY USA F87 0
187 Deland, Rebecca 13470414 1749 CARLET B F NM USA U— 0
188 James, Jefferson [Alt 1] 14100510 1668 UILL-D B M IL U— 0
189 Vilahu, Vilmelys 14597728 1507 MIAMID C F FL CUB U— 0
190 Coleman, Marcus [Alt 2] 12867810 1280 DUKE-A D M NC U— 0
191 Reyna, Carla G. [Alt 1] 13005283 1220 UTBR-C D F TX U— 0
192 Kolcz, Matthew E. [Alt 1] 15278821 1184 FLST-A E M FL U— 0
193 Rios, Jamie Emiliano 15586391 unr. UTPANA U M U— 0
194 Quintana-Iglesias, J. [Alt 1] 15582287 unr. MIAMID U M U— 0
195 Alvarez-Alvarado, Manuel [Alt 1] 15593575 unr. NJIT-A U M U— 0
196 Garcia Ramon, Lorena 15575468 unr. UTPANA U F TX U— 0

Gata Kamsky won the 2014 Empire City Open after edging fellow Grandmaster Robert Hungaski on tie-break. The two players finished with 5,0/6 points each and earned 900 USD apiece.

Kamsky recovered from the round two setback against IM Colomban Vitoux and won the remaining games. Hungaski dropped the point by taking two byes.

The 33rd Annual Empire City Open was held from December 26-28, 2014, at the New Yorker Hotel, 481 Eighth Ave at 34th St, across from Penn Station, New York.

The event had 5 sections: Open, Under 2200, Under 1900, Under 1600 and Under 1300. The total prize fund was 12,000 USD.

Open section final standings:

1-2. GM Gata Kamsky 2750 NY and GM Robert Hungaski 2545 NY – 5,0
3-5. GM Zviad Izoria 2622 NY, GM Sergey Kudrin 2584 CT and IM Colomban Vitoux 2500 NY – 4,5
6-9. IM Jay Richard Bonin 2423 NY, Christopher Wu 2362 NJ, John Michael Burke 2339 NJ and Brian Tarhon 2146 GA – 4,0
10-12. IM Justin Sarkar 2463 NY, FM Leif Pressman 2433 NY and Joseph Han 2166 CT – 3,5 etc (42 players)

The 4th Women Grandmaster Chess Tournament Memorial of Krystyna Holuj-Radzikowska took place on 10-18th December, 2014, at the Chess Club KSz Polonia Wrocław, in Wroclaw, the largest city in western Poland.

The tournament was organized by the Polish Chess Federation, Chess Club KSz Polonia Wrocław and Lower Silesian Chess Federation in a 10-player female round-robin format with an average Elo rating 2406.

The lowest rated WGM Klaudia Kulon, 2014 University world chess champion for women, emerged a clear winner with 6/9 points, fulfilling her second IM norm. Klaudia had an impressive 3/3 finish to lift the trophy.

Another Polish player WGM Karina Szczepkowska-Horowska took the second position with 5,5 points after leading throughout the whole tournament.

Third place was shared in a three-way tie by IM Lilit Mkrtchian (Armenia), IM Nastassia Ziaziulkina (Belarus) and GM Monika Socko (Poland) with 5/10 points each, but Mkrtchian prevailed on a better tie-break score and took the bronze. You can see the full standings and enjoy the photo report below.

Tournament website/ More information about the participants/ Round 1 report + photos from Wroclaw

The opening ceremony included wooden pawns that represented the numbers for drawing of lots

The tournament was inaugurated by Polish dignitaries, who made the first move in the game Lilit Mkrtchian – Jolanta Zawadzka

The game Kulon – Socko finished in favor of the tournament winner. However, every player received SPARK jewelries made with Swarovski elements right before the round

The closing ceremony took place during the 2014 European Rapid & Blitz Chess Championship for men, that was also held in Wroclaw. Polish GM Mateusz Bartel introduced the players and the guests of honor

Kulon, Szczepkowska and Mkrtchian took the best three prizes, together with a chess piece trophy

However, every participants was satisfied with the tournament, because of the friendly spirit and excellent organization

The champion is given an interview…

… and was awarded one more prize for becoming WGM during the last FIDE Congress – SPA weekend in one of the most famous Polish resorts

Final standings:

1. WGM Kulon Klaudia 2332 POL 6
2. WGM Szczepkowska-Horowska Karina 2398 POL 5.5
3. IM Mkrtchian Lilit 2450 ARM 5
4. IM Ziaziulkina Nastassia 2427 BLR 5
5. GM Socko Monika 2470 POL 5
6. WGM Videnova Iva 2379 BUL 4.5
7. WGM Zawadzka Jolanta 2419 POL 4
8. IM Vega Gutierrez Sabrina 2405 ESP 3.5
9. IM Matnadze Ana 2411 ESP 3.5
10. WGM Bartel Marta 2366 POL 3