Giri hits top gear to win Magnus Carlsen Invitational
Anish Giri catapulted himself up the Meltwater Champions Chess leaderboard with a dramatic win in the Magnus Carlsen Invitational today. The Dutch No.1 found his killer instinct to overpower Russian champ Ian Nepomniachtchi in an intensely-tight final that went to tiebreaks. It was 26-year-old Giri’s first tournament victory in the $1.5 million Tour organised by Play Magnus Group. He takes home the top prize of $60,000 and a ticket to the final in September. The match finally exploded after five consecutive draws – four in Set 1 yesterday and the opening game in the decider. Game 1 saw Giri launch a fearsome attack on Nepo but the Russian weathered the storm to steer towards a fifth peaceful resolution by repetition. It looked like something special was needed to separate the pair – and that’s exactly what happened in Game 2. Giri is a player who has in the past been unfairly maligned for racking up too many draws. But in this event, the Dutchman played with a new-found speed and confidence. Giri was relentless as he piled on the pressure and eventually forced Nepo to resign. Finally, a decisive game. With the two-day final resting on this final set, it left the Dutchman just one win away from taking the title while Ian needed a win. Yet the third followed the previous pattern of draws – an exciting game, but neither player able to get a breakthrough. Nepomniachtichi had just one shot to level the score and take the final to tiebreaks. Only needing his alleged speciality – the draw – to seal the match, something happened to Giri. The Dutchman gave his opponent exactly what he needed – a series of small mistakes. The Russian turned the screw and breached Giri’s defences. Giri, so close to the tournament victory, was forced to resign and the set finished 2-2. That meant tiebreaks to decide the tournament. It got worse for Giri as what seemed like a moment of madness in the first blitz tiebreaker saw him give up a knight for a pawn – and little else. But Nepomniachtchi lost his cool and inexplicably blundered for the first time in the match (25…Rh7? instead of winning 25…Rg8). The Russian gave a rueful smile as Giri won the first blitz game, a real rollercoaster. After getting out of jail, Giri also got himself back on track as he refocused to dominate the second blitz game. Giri, a player so often the bridesmaid but rarely the bride, had taken the Magnus Carlsen Invitational title. Both Giri and Nepomniachtchi, wearing his lucky Mickey Mouse throughout, were in red-hot form and playing the best chess of their lives during this event. And in the final perhaps they were inspired by chess legends Judit Polgar and Vladimir Kramnik who joined the broadcast to announce the new Julius Baer Challengers Chess Tour. Meanwhile, in the third-place play-off, World Champion Magnus Carlsen brushed off the challenge of Wesley So – who had beaten him in two finals previously this season – to pick up the valuable Tour points. Having won the first set yesterday, Carlsen took the opening game of the second and then followed it up with two draws to make a comeback for So impossible. Carlsen said: “Third is better than fourth. It’s good to get one over Wesley, that’s for sure. Clearly, he was not 100 percent motivated, and not in his best shape. It’s a lot better than to have lost the last match.” The Norwegian added: “I think overall I played much better in this tournament than in the last one, so it’s a small step forwards, though I would have loved not to have my worst two days in the semis.” The Meltwater Champions Chess Tour returns on April 24 with leg five of 10. For further information, please contact: Leon Watson, PR for Champions Chess Tourleon@chessable.com+44 7786 078 770
Tense final is left on a knife-edge
The final of the Magnus Carlsen Invitational was touched by Hollywood stardust today as it got off to a tense start. Anish Giri and Ian Nepomniachtchi were left level-pegging overnight as the two form horses of the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour event shared the first set. But in between rounds the tournament was visited by Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr., The Jerry Maguire star played the Play Magnus app for charity and lost in 16 moves to Magnus Carlsen aged 10. Meanwhile back in the main event, everything now hangs on tomorrow’s second set – and if that also ends all-square then the final will go to tiebreaks. Today saw four consecutive draws between the two who were both rock-solid and played near error-free chess. And despite no decisive results, there was no shortage of action. Game 1 was dramatic as Giri went three pawns up in the endgame, but Nepomniachtchi pulled off a stunning escape right at the death. “What a save by Ian Nepomniachtchi!” said GM Peter Leko. Game 2 saw a rare stalemate on the board and then in the third and fourth both players pushed but both were also immovable. In the third-place play-off match, World Champion Magnus Carlsen was back to his blistering best as he demolished Wesley So in the first game. The exciting encounter included a rare opening idea and was named “Murder on a Chessboard” on Norwegian TV. The game can be seen here. With the pressure now off, Carlsen smiled when he delivered the final blow. “It was okay,” he said afterward. Carlsen added: “I wasn’t particularly motivated before today, but the 1st game helped immensely!” The Norwegian, who was dramatically dumped out of the event yesterday by Nepomniachtichi, went on to win 3-1 and pick up the valuable points for the Tour leaderboard for finishing third overall. Both matches start again for the final set at 17:00 CET tomorrow. For further information, please contact: Leon Watson, PR for Champions Chess Tourleon@chessable.com+44 7786 078 770
Haik Martirosyan and Anna Sargsyan win individual blitz
Haik Martirosyan and Anna Sargsyan became the first champions of the First FIDE World University Online Blitz Championship after winning the individual titles in blitz. The biggest university chess event that brought together over a thousand participants from all around the world kicked off not the way it was planned. Due to some technical problems the organizers had to nullify the results of the first four rounds played on Saturday, March 13, and restart the blitz championship on Sunday after slightly changing the format. Four groups of 272 participants each of approximately equal strength played 10-round Swiss preliminary tournaments. Two winners and two female winners from each group qualified for the final stage. There were two final stages, one for the overall winners of each group and one for women. All the games were played with the time control 3+2. The finals of the First FIDE World University Online Blitz Championship were played on March 18 with the eight best players from the group stage – GM Mikhail Antipov and GM Iniyan P from group A, GM Grigoriy Oparin and IM Irakli Beradze from group B, GM Haik Martirosyan and GM Xu Yinglun from group C and GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan and IM Yoseph Theolifus Taher from group D – fighting for the title in the open section. Haik Martirosyan, representing the Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture got off to a running start with four straight victories and sealed the title by drawing three subsequent games. The champion had a couple of tough positions along the way but his quickness and resourcefulness bailed him out of trouble. Haik Martirosyan Photo: Maria Emelianova (chess.com) On the contrary, Iniyan P from Bharathiar University slipped in the first round but picked up steam and caught up with Martirosyan at the finish line. Despite his valiant effort he had to settle for silver due to inferior tiebreaks. Mikhail Antipov representing the University of Missouri took bronze despite losing to both top-finishers. Final standings: 1. Haik Martirosyan (ARM Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture) – 5½ 2. Iniyan P (IND Bharathiar University) – 5½3. Mikhail Antipov (RUS University of Missouri) – 4½4. Xu Yinglun (CHN Shanghai University of Finance and Economics) – 45. Hovhannes Gabuzyan (ARM University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) – 3½6. Yoseph Taher (INA Gunadarma University) – 27. Grigoriy Oparin (RUS University of Missouri) – 28. Irakli Beradze (GEO University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) – 1 IM Polina Shuvalova, WIM Julia Antolak, WIM Alicja Sliwicka, IM Iulija Osmak, IM Olga Badelka, WIM Nur Abidah Shanti, IM Stavroula Tsolakidou, WGM Anna Sargsyan qualified for the women’s final. Anna Sargsyan (Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture) lost the direct encounter to Olga Badelka (University of Missouri) but reeled off five straight wins and finished a full point ahead of her main competitor. Three players tied for second place with Olga Badelka and Alicija Sliwicka earning silver and bronze respectively according to Sonneborn-Berger. Anna Sargsayn Photo: David Llada Final standings: 1. Anna Sargsyan (ARM Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture) – 62. Olga Badelka (BLR University of Missouri) – 53. Alicja Sliwicka (POL University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) – 44. Polina Shuvalova (RUS Ural State Mining University) – 45. Iulija Osmak (UKR University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) – 46. Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE Saint Louis University) – 27. Shanti Nur Abidah (INA Gunadarma University) – 1½8. Julia Antolak (POL University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) – 1½ The following four teams have qualified for the FIDE World University Team Online Blitz Cup, which will be held on 27 March on Chess24: University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (USA) University of Missouri (USA) Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture and Sport (ARM) Saint Louis University (USA)
Montenegro Chess Festival goes big
Montenegro Chess Festival organized by Montenegro Chess Federation, in cooperation with the chess club „Elektroprivreda“ stretches from February 26 to March 25 and includes four tournaments held in Nikšić and Podgorica. IM and GM competitions were 10-player round-robin while the mixed tournament attracted 18 participants. The festival brought together twenty-nine players from ten federations (Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Northern Macedonia, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, and Montenegro) including six GMs, eight IMs, five FMs, and one WIM. Two IM and a GM tournament have already been completed, while the mixed tournament is still underway. Montenegro Chess Festival IM 2021/01, February 26th – March 4th 1. Dario Alivodic (MNE) – 6½2. Predrag Nikac (MNE) – 5½3. Nebojsa Nikcevic (MNE) – 5½ Montenegro Chess Festival IM 2021/02, March 5-11th 1. Milos Pecurica (MNE) – 72. Nebojsa Nikcevic (MNE) – 6½3. Predrag Nikac (MNE) – 5 Montenegro Chess Festival GM 2021/01, March 12-18th 1. Nikola Djukic (MNE) – 72. Aleksander Delchev (BUL) – 5½3. Aydin Suleymanli (AZE) – 5½ Milos Pecurica (MNE) earned the IM norm in one of the IM-tournaments, while Gleb Dudin (RUS) completed the GM norm in the Grandmaster event. The pool of participants was a good mix of experienced players and aspiring youngsters: Sanal Vahap (TUR), Aleksandar Delchev (BUL), Thybo Jesper Sondergaard (DEN), Suleymanli Aydin (AZE) just to name a few. It is worth mentioning the participation of the two world champions: Predrag Nikac (IBCA World Champion for Blind 2019) and Vladimir Klasan (ICCD World Chess Champion for Deaf 2012; pictured below). The tournaments were held in strict accordance with all the public health measures related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Thirsty for over-the-board chess all the participants of all the tournaments demonstrated a great fighting spirit and most importantly, every player left Montenegro in good health and with great impressions. The organizers are calling everyone interested in future participation to contact them, emphasizing that these tournaments are going to become traditional. The dates of the forthcoming tournaments are 16-22 April and 23-29 April. Official website: http://sahcg.me/montenegro-chess-festival-mix-2021-1/
Nepomniachtchi and Giri make final
World Champion Magnus Carlsen is out of his namesake tournament after two of his biggest rivals sprung surprises to make the final. On a day of high drama, Dutch No.1 Anish Giri booked his place by beating Meltwater Champions Chess Tour leader Wesley So. But it was Russian star Ian Nepomniachtchi’s nerve-shredding win over Carlsen that sent shockwaves through the $220,000 Magnus Carlsen Invitational event. Carlsen started the day behind and fell further back after losing the second game. Levelling the tie looked like an impossible task as the world number 1 needed to win both remaining games. Yet Carlsen is the master of bouncing back and after throwing everything at his opponent with some risky attacking play, he got back on terms to take the semi to a tiebreaker. At that stage, Carlsen could partly thank Nepomniachtchi who suffered an attack of nerves at the crucial moment to blunder away the final rapid game. Later that would be reversed. With the momentum seemingly with Carlsen, Ian then managed to compose himself again for the blitz play-offs. And after a first-game draw, he took control of the second to book his final place. “Clearly today was a lottery, and I was the one who got the winning ticket,” Nepomniachtchi said afterward. Carlsen added: “Ultimately, what decided the match was that he managed to keep his head in the blitz, and I most certainly did not.” Nepomniachtchi is the only player in world chess to have a positive score against Carlsen in classical games and will face Giri, another big rival of Carlsen. In Giri’s semi, the first three games ended in cagey draws with the Dutchman looking super-solid and showing no weaknesses. It meant So, the US champ, was left needing a win in the last game to take the match to tiebreaks. The pressure got to him, however, and out of nowhere So made a dramatic blunder. It was game, set and match to Giri and the Dutchman was through to his first Meltwater Champions Chess Tour final. “It’s really, really great. I am happy to be in the final!” he said afterward. The two-day final starts tomorrow at 17:00 CET with Carlsen and So also playing in a third-place play-off. For further information, please contact: Leon Watson, PR for Champions Chess Tourleon@chessable.com+44 7786 078 770
Centenary of the French Chess Federation
The French Chess Federation celebrates its centenary today. Jean Olivier Leconte sent us this article where he goes through «The long road to the French Chess Federation», as he titled it. The first attempt to bring together French chess players in a single national association was mentioned in the magazine La Stratégie in 1874. The Chess Chronicler, Alphonse Delannoy, moved to England and wrote in a short article: “It will introduce us to the functioning of the association of chess players in this country; and who knows? Perhaps it will thus help us in the attempts which will be made to found a chess players association in France. “ Indeed, since 1857, British chess players have been united in the British Chess Association. The magazine La Stratégie then published an embryonic statute for a French Chess Players Association. A laudable attempt, but it will remain wishful thinking. Source: BNF La Strategie 1874 In 1882, during the correspondence match between Paris and Vienna, an argument occurred between the best French players, because of a disagreement on moves to be chosen. On one side Arnous de Rivière, Albert Clerc and Edward Chamier, and on the other Samuel Rosenthal. This incident created two distinct groups in French chess. Offensive words were said, and this deep crisis, in which resentments are emerging, does not favour the gathering of chess players in France. Nevertheless, Arnous de Rivière tried again and in 1887 the French Association of Chess Players and Other Combination Games was created. Source: BNF – Gallica Extract from the newspaper “Gil Blas” of July 5, 1887, 161 rue Saint-Honoré corresponds to the address of the Café de la Régence It is difficult to know if this French Association of players of chess and other combination games is the same one mentioned in the magazine La Stratégie in 1900: «The session given on February 17 at the French Chess Association was also a great success. The hall was too small to accommodate all of the visitors who presented themselves. (…) ». But the association has not developed and it is difficult to find more information about it. But the real impetus came in 1914 by Le Cercle Philidor de Paris and its founder Henri Delaire, also owner of the magazine La Stratégie, supported by the Union Amicale des Amateurs de la Régence (U.A.A.R.). Circles outside Paris follow this movement. Thus, in January 1914, still in La Stratégie, Édouard Cavrel, Editor of the Chess column of the “Journal de Rouen”, wrote a long article which began as follows: «A French Federation of chess players what it should be. Chess players associations have been founded abroad for several years. To speak only of those who work in England and in Germany, their action is as fruitful as their life is active. Successively transporting their annual congresses, sometimes to one city, sometimes to another, received with great solemnity by the municipalities, they attract and hold for a moment the public attention constantly requested elsewhere in our turbulent times; throughout the entire country, they rekindle the zeal of amateurs and help, we are convinced, to give rise here and there, especially among young people, vocations which were ignored.» The Cercle Lyonnais des Échecs, an important association of chess players outside Paris, then proposed to organize the 2nd French Amateur Championship, after the first one in Arcachon in 1903, as well as a constitutive assembly of the French Chess Federation. The dates are initially set from July 13 to 19, then finally changed from Sunday, July 26 to Friday, July 31. A change of dates with dire consequences… On June 28, 1914, occurred the Sarajevo attack on Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and events precipitate. The European governors then walk towards warlike sleepwalkers… to use the title of the book by Australian historian Christopher Clark, about the mechanism that precipitated the world towards World War I. France decreed general mobilization on Tuesday, August 1, 1914. The constitutive assembly scheduled for that day was cancelled sine die. It was not until peace had returned to the world that the idea of a French Federation of chess players came back, still at the initiative of the Cercle Philidor in Paris. Source: La Strategie – March 1921 Thanks to Dominique Thimognier and Alain Fayard On Saturday, March 19, 1921, the general assembly, constituting the French Chess Federation, took place as planned, this time in Paris, in the Brasserie / Taverne du Gymnase, 31 boulevard Bonne-Nouvelle. La Strategie – March 1921 « NEWS French Chess Federation The initiative taken by the Cercle Philidor, and in particular by its secretary, Mr. Bourgeois, was finally crowned with success. In a first General Assembly which was held on March 19 at the Brasserie du Gymnase where a dozen organizations were represented, the statutes of 1914, slightly modified, were adopted unanimously and the Federation definitively constituted. The committee for the first year is made up of: President, H. Delaire. Vice-presidents, J. Conti (Paris), R. Gaudin (Bordeaux) and Lavoipierre (Lyon). Administrative secretary, C. Bourgeois. Technical secretary, F. Lazard. Treasurer, D. Bar. Assessors, C. Degraeve (Lille), A. Fabre (Marseille), A. de Gaigneron de Marolles (Nantes), E. Michel (Strasbourg), G. Renaud (Nice), A. Sarrut (Algiers), T. Thomas (Le Havre), and Zani (Besançon). The promoter of the Federation, Mr. Edouard Cavrel, of Rouen, had to decline all functions because of his health. The registered office is located: 85, rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, Paris Xe; Until the publication of a special bulletin, La Strategie will be the newsletter of the Federation. The administrative secretary, Mr. C. Bourgeois, 18, rue Caffarelli Paris IIIe will respond to all requests for statutes; the treasurer, Mr. D. Barreau, 79, rue de Clignancourt, Paris XVIIIe collects the annual contribution of associations, isolated members and donors. We hope that all, chess societies, sections or clubs, isolated players, participating members and donors, in affectionate solidarity, will collaborate with eagerness in the common work founded with the sole concern of increasing the spread of the noble game; everyone will certainly think that the first administration needs to be supported and encouraged and that success can only be assured with the help of all. » The information was officially published on May 22,
Semifinals: Nepomniachtchi and Giri strike first
A thrilling first day of the $220,000 Magnus Carlsen Invitational semi-finals saw the two heavy favourites lose to set up two tense deciding sets tomorrow. Russian champ Ian Nepomniachtchi was back to his powerful best as he wrestled his way into a half-time lead against tournament host Magnus Carlsen. In the other semi, US champ Wesley So couldn’t hold back an inspired performance from Dutch No.1 Anish Giri. Nepomniachtchi, nicknamed the “Speed Demon”, had to use all his trickery to survive a tense Game 1 before breaking through in Game 3 of his clash with old foe Carlsen. A hard-fought draw in the fourth game saw the 30-year-old Russian take the set 2.5-1.5 and seize the initiative in the tie. Carlsen looked stunned and sat emotionless when the result was secured. He has to win tomorrow to take the semi to tiebreaks. Carlsen said: “It’s really, really frustrating because it just feels like a massive own goal in the third game. I had a great position in the opening, I just spent too much time there.” He added that after that he “miscalculated something simple” and “lost the thread”. Nepomniachtchi, one of the favorites to end up challenging Carlsen’s world title later this year, now has a big chance to dump the world champ out of his own namesake tournament. The other semi was even tighter with So, the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour leader, drawing first blood by taking full advantage of a mistake from Giri to win game 1. But after a draw in game 2, the Giri hit back to level the score. It left the set hanging on the final game. So blundered badly initially, yet Giri failed to fully cash in. But despite desperate defense from So, Giri did eventually make the advantage tell to take the deciding game and win the first day’s set 2.5-1.5. It was a stunning comeback. Giri said: “It’s very nice but of course the main battle is going to be tomorrow.” If there is to be a third Carlsen-So final on the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour, both players need to hit back tomorrow to force tiebreaks. For further information, please contact: Leon Watson, PR for Champions Chess Tourleon@chessable.com+44 7786 078 770
A tribute to our veterans
Last week FIDE announced the names of twelve chess seniors who will benefit from FIDE’s support to chess veterans. A total of €30,000 will be distributed among them with each receiving €2,500. As we did on previous occasions, we would pay tribute to these illustrious veterans with a few words about each one of them, summarizing their careers and achievements: Sergey Makarychev (Russia) One of the most talented Moscow players of his generation, Sergey Makarychev (born in 1953) quickly rose in the chess ranks and gained the title of International Master in 1974. Two years later he became Grandmaster. Despite considerable success in tournament chess, he gradually gravitated toward coaching and analytical work and excelled in both. He was Anatoly Karpov’s second in the 1985 World Championship and helped Garry Kasparov in the 1993 PCA World Championship match. Under his guidance USSR team won five Olympiads (1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, and 1992). As a playing coach and a member of the CSKA team, Sergey Makarychev won the USSR Chess Championship and two European Club Cups. Photo: ruchess.ru Sergey Makarichev proved himself as a talented analyst who made a significant contribution to the development of the chess opening theory in the 1970-1990s. His pioneering research in the Sicilian Defense and the Russian Defense gained vast popularity among chess players. The interpretation of the Italian Game with white that became fashionable in the 21st century, was developed and successfully applied by Sergey Makarychev back in the early 1970s. Makarychev is a very popular chess journalist. For many years, together with his wife Marina Makarycheva he authored and presented chess programs on the Russian channel NTV Plus Sport. He is the winner of the 2015 FIDE Awards “Best Chess Journalists in the World” as well as the honorary awards “Kaissa”, “Black King” and “Chess Journalist of Russia 2008” in the TV nomination. His name is included in the FIDE Golden Book. Currently, Makarychev analyses games and discusses chess-related topics on his Russian-language Youtube channel Makarychev Chess. Tamaz Giorgadze (Georgia) A many-time champion of Georgia, Tamaz Giorgadze (born in 1947) made case for himself in the team and student events after showing strong results in the USSR Spartakiad (1967) and Student Olympiad (1969). The 1970 and 1980s were the best period in Giorgadze’s chess career. He won the tournaments in Tbilisi (1974, 1977), Decin (1974 and 1975), Zlin (1976), Dortmund (1978), and participated in four USSR Championships. Giorgadze turned in his best performance in Tbilisi (1978), the city he was born, finishing fourth behind Tal, Tseshkovsky, and Polugaevsky, but ahead of Beliavsky, Romanishin, Geller, Kasparov, and many other strong Soviet players. Photo: RIA-Novosti In the late 1980s, Giorgadze joined the team of Anatoly Karpov in his matches with Garry Kasparov. He also productively worked with Nona Gaprindashvili and Maia Chiburdanidze. Giorgadze demonstrated some good results in tournaments (the victories in Pontevedra, Conta-del-So, and Sevilla speak for themselves) but after moving to Spain in the early 1990s he started training the national team he left competitive chess. Despite a long separation from practical chess “Don Tomazio” (as his friends often call him) successfully competed in the European Senior Chess Championship 2017 taking silver. Hanna Erenska-Barlo (Poland) A five-time Polish champion (1971, 1972, 1977, 1979, 1980) and thrice vice-champion Hanna Ereńska-Barlo (nee Ereńska) represented her country in eight Chess Olympiads (1972–1992). A true legend of Polish chess, Hanna won the individual silver medal in the 5th Chess Olympiad in Skopje 1972 (second board, 7½ points of 9 games), and team and individual bronze at the 9th Chess Olympiad in La Valletta 1980 (first board, 9 points of 13 games). Photo: David Llada Ereńska-Barlo was awarded WGM in 1981 and became the first Polish player to earn this title. She won the European Senior Chess Championship in Bad Homburg (2005) and clinched the 17th World Senior Chess Championship in Gmunden (2007). Honorary Member of Polish Chess Federation, a holder of several state awards (including Order of Polonia Restituta and silver and gold Cross of Merit), and a very respected member of Ethics Commission, Hanna Ereńska-Barlo is always present at the notable General Assemblies. Avigdor Bykhovsky (Israel) Avigdor Bykhovsky has successfully combined the careers of a chess coach and a tournament player throughout his life. A graduate from the Higher School of Trainers at the State Central University of Sport Education and Physical Culture (Moscow) he used to work as a trainer in a famous sport-school #9, then in the Soviet Chess Federation and Chess Federations Association. A long list of his students includes GMs Rozentalis, Postny and Nesterov and WGM Prudnikova. GM since 1993, Avigdor won the Soviet Spartak Club Championship 1991, the tournaments in Copengagen (1990), Tel-Aviv (2002), and took bronze in the Israel Open Championship 2011. Back in 1994, he moved to Israel, and currently, he works as a coach in a club for the visually impaired and blind in Haifa. Juzefs Petkevich (Latvia) Juzefs Petkevich, Latvian GM of Polish origin is a very popular figure in Baltic chess. A regular of Latvian championships he tied for first three times in these competitions (1969, 1974, and 1985). Petkevich holds a unique record in Riga championships winning all 13 games in 1967. Juzefs played for team Latvia in three Olympiads (1994, 1996, and 1998). In 2002 Petkevich won the Seniors World Championship and was awarded a GM title. Anatoly Noskov (Kazakhstan) A hydro-biologist by profession and an author of more than 20 research articles, Anatoly Noskov considered chess as a mere hobby for quite a long time. A member of the Kazakhstani junior team he achieved the master norm in 1966 and became the first player holding this title in Almaty. In 1969 he became the head of the Kazakhstani student team and still works in this capacity. This team won numerous competitions and became a breeding ground for the first Kazakhstani GM Yevgeny Vladimirov and several international masters. Photo: https://kazchess.kz/ Anatoly Noskov fostered Murat Zhunusov, a two-time world champion among the visually impaired (1995 and 2000). A popular chess journalist and author of hundreds of
Survey on visual imagery and chess
FIDE firmly supports the research and publication of studies, papers and surveys related to chess. In particular, topics like the benefits of chess in education, its effect in improving cognitive ageing, or any study that uses chess as a touchstone to measure intellectual performance, are considered priorities worth our full support. Last week, we have been contacted by Laura Zimmermann, a psychology student at the University of Bonn. Mrs. Zimmermann is currently doing her bachelor thesis on the subject of aphantasia, the state of reduced or absent visual imagery. In this context, she is researching the influence of visual imagery on planning ability, using the game to measure the correlation between visual imagery and chess performance. You can support this study by answering an online form, which takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. It contains a diagnostic questionnaire on visual imagery, a query on the most important chess parameters (e.g. standard rating, rapid rating, blitz rating) as well as a short IQ test with the possibility to get feedback on your IQ. The data of the survey will be stored securely. No identifying information will be used in any publications. The anonymity of the participants will remain fully protected. You can find the survey here: https://www.soscisurvey.de/chess/
Carlsen – Nepomnichtchi, So – Giri face off in semis
Magnus Carlsen showed a hunger for success today as he made it into the last four of his own tournament while eating a salad. The World Chess Champion weathered a fightback from Armenian opponent Levon Aronian to take the vital second set in their $220,000 Magnus Carlsen Invitational clash. Carlsen brought out his snack in Game 2, but while tucking into a pot of salad, the champion appeared to lose focus. Carlsen and Aronian drew that game which meant the challenger needed to win both the two remaining games to stay in the match. Aronian kicked back hard in the third suggesting Carlsen’s salad didn’t have the desired effect. Carlsen looked lost but Aronian missed a winning move and the draw took the champion through. Carlsen will now face old foe Ian Nepomniachtchi in the semis after Russia’s top player caused a minor shock by demolishing popular US star Hikaru Nakamura 3-1. The tour leader Wesley So, who beat Carlsen in last month’s Opera Euro Rapid, sparkled yet again as he booked his place in the semis. Having won the first set yesterday, the US Champion brushed aside teen prodigy Alireza Firouzja. So’s second-round demolition of the 17-year-old was a classic – one of the best games seen in the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour. So then overpowered Firouzja again in the third to seal his place without losing a game in the tie. Round 2 had been an eventful stage for all the ties. It was the moment Nepomniachtchi signaled he was in full control of his quarter-final with Nakamura. The pair had been level overnight but the Russian won the first game today and crushed his American opponent with a brutal 28-move win in the second. Ian said afterward he will “hopefully sleep a little” before taking on Carlsen in the semi. Round 2 was also the moment Dutch No.1 Anish Giri took the lead in his tie against the Frenchman Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Anish and Maxime had also been level-pegging overnight but when Giri broke through there was no stopping him. Giri, who is bang in form and must be considered a serious threat, went on to draw the third and win the fourth to go through at a canter. For further information, please contact: Leon Watson, PR for Champions Chess Tourleon@chessable.com+44 7786 078 770