Dresden, Germany, beat out Tallinn, Estonia, in the quest to host the 38th Chess Olympiad in 2008.
(The 37th Chess Olympiad in 2006 will be held in Turin, Italy, in May/June 2006.)
Saturday, October 30, 2004
Friday, October 29, 2004
MGP3 Released
My Great Predecessors, Part 3 by Garry Kasparov is out. This book covers World Champions Petrosian and Spassky (1963-1972) along with Polugaevsky, Portisch, Gligoric and Stein.
Kasparov on Fischer (My Great Predecessors Part 4) is expected next month. In addition to Fischer, it will cover Reshevsky, Najdorf and Larsen (Kasparov has called it a "Best of the West" volume).
Kasparov on Fischer (My Great Predecessors Part 4) is expected next month. In addition to Fischer, it will cover Reshevsky, Najdorf and Larsen (Kasparov has called it a "Best of the West" volume).
36th Chess Olympiad Individual Medal Winners
MEN
Board 1
1 GM Ermenkov Evgenij (2454) - Palestine - 87.5% (10.5/12)
2 GM Rodriguez Andres (2533) - Uruguay - 80.0% (8/10)
3 GM Adams Michael (2740) - England - 76.9% (10/13)
Board 2
1 IM Tissir Mohamed (2394) - Morocco - 83.3% (7.5/9)
2 GM Nguyen Anh Dung (2567) - Vietnam - 77.3% (8.5/11)
3 GM Hatanbaatar Bazar (2427) - Mongolia - 75.0% (9/12)
Board 3
1 GM Vaganian Rafael A (2640) - Armenia - 77.3% (8.5/11)
2 GM Georgiev Vladimir (2512) - Macedonia - 75.0% (9/12)
3 IM Gonzalez Garcia Jose (2447) - Mexico - 75.0% (7.5/10)
Board 4
1 GM Jobava Baadur (2614) - Georgia - 85.0% (8.5/10)
2 GM Kaidanov Gregory S (2611) - United States - 80.0% (8/10)
3 GM Guseinov Gadir (2552) - Azerbaijan - 80.0% (8/10)
Special kudos to IMs Tissir and Gonzalez-Garcia!
WOMEN
Board 1
1 IM Cmilyte Viktorija (2442) - Lithuania - 77.3% (8.5/11)
2 GM Polgar Zsuzsa (2567) - United States - 75.0% (10.5/14)
3 WGM Berend Elvira (2307) - Luxembourg - 75.0% (9/12)
Board 2
1 IM Vajda Szidonia (2369) - Hungary - 75.0% (9/12)
2 IM Peptan Corina-Isabela (2429) - Romania - 75.0% (9/12)
3 WGM Hund Barbara (2240) - Switzerland - 72.7% (8/11)
Board 3
1 WGM Zhao Xue (2487) - China - 83.3% (10/12)
2 Kharisma S Irene (unr) - Indonesia - 83.3% (10/12)
3 WIM Batceceg Tuvshintogs (2209) - Mongolia - 75.0% (9/12)
Special kudos to Zsuzsa Polgar (the only individual medalist who played in all 14 rounds) and Irene Kharisma (the only untitled - actually unrated - player among the medalists)!
Board 1
1 GM Ermenkov Evgenij (2454) - Palestine - 87.5% (10.5/12)
2 GM Rodriguez Andres (2533) - Uruguay - 80.0% (8/10)
3 GM Adams Michael (2740) - England - 76.9% (10/13)
Board 2
1 IM Tissir Mohamed (2394) - Morocco - 83.3% (7.5/9)
2 GM Nguyen Anh Dung (2567) - Vietnam - 77.3% (8.5/11)
3 GM Hatanbaatar Bazar (2427) - Mongolia - 75.0% (9/12)
Board 3
1 GM Vaganian Rafael A (2640) - Armenia - 77.3% (8.5/11)
2 GM Georgiev Vladimir (2512) - Macedonia - 75.0% (9/12)
3 IM Gonzalez Garcia Jose (2447) - Mexico - 75.0% (7.5/10)
Board 4
1 GM Jobava Baadur (2614) - Georgia - 85.0% (8.5/10)
2 GM Kaidanov Gregory S (2611) - United States - 80.0% (8/10)
3 GM Guseinov Gadir (2552) - Azerbaijan - 80.0% (8/10)
Special kudos to IMs Tissir and Gonzalez-Garcia!
WOMEN
Board 1
1 IM Cmilyte Viktorija (2442) - Lithuania - 77.3% (8.5/11)
2 GM Polgar Zsuzsa (2567) - United States - 75.0% (10.5/14)
3 WGM Berend Elvira (2307) - Luxembourg - 75.0% (9/12)
Board 2
1 IM Vajda Szidonia (2369) - Hungary - 75.0% (9/12)
2 IM Peptan Corina-Isabela (2429) - Romania - 75.0% (9/12)
3 WGM Hund Barbara (2240) - Switzerland - 72.7% (8/11)
Board 3
1 WGM Zhao Xue (2487) - China - 83.3% (10/12)
2 Kharisma S Irene (unr) - Indonesia - 83.3% (10/12)
3 WIM Batceceg Tuvshintogs (2209) - Mongolia - 75.0% (9/12)
Special kudos to Zsuzsa Polgar (the only individual medalist who played in all 14 rounds) and Irene Kharisma (the only untitled - actually unrated - player among the medalists)!
36th Chess Olympiad Round 14 Results
The last round of the 36th Chess Olympiad was played today.
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
MEN
Ukraine beat France 3-1, wrapping up the gold. Russia beat China 3-1 and Armenia beat Georgia 3.5-0.5, tying these two teams for second place at 36.5 points. Israel, which was fourth coming into the last round, managed only a 2-2 tie with Cuba, taking them out of the running for a medal. The United States, which were tied with India and Cuba for fifth place coming into the last round, managed a 3.5-0.5 win over Norway but because of the strong results by Ukraine, Russia and Armenia, this was not good enough to close the gap and they ended in fourth place behind the medal winners. (India was taken out of the running when they managed only a 2.5-1.5 win over Bulgaria.)
The tiebreaker for each team was the total number of points scored by the teams they played against. This tiebreak decided silver and bronze between Russia and Armenia by a single point)
Gold: Ukraine – 39.5
Silver: Russia – 36.5 (460)
Bronze: Armenia – 36.5 (459)
Fourth place: United States – 35
WOMEN
China beat Slovakia 2-1. United States beat Vietnam 2.5-0.5 to take sole possession of second place, since Russia only managed a 2-1 victory over France (which was in fifth place coming into the last round), which tied them for third place with Georgia, which beat Ukraine 2.5-0.5. On tiebreaks, Russia took the bronze medal over Georgia.
Gold: China – 31
Silver: United States – 28
Bronze: Russia – 27.5 (346)
Fourth place: Georgia – 27.5 (339)
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
MEN
Ukraine beat France 3-1, wrapping up the gold. Russia beat China 3-1 and Armenia beat Georgia 3.5-0.5, tying these two teams for second place at 36.5 points. Israel, which was fourth coming into the last round, managed only a 2-2 tie with Cuba, taking them out of the running for a medal. The United States, which were tied with India and Cuba for fifth place coming into the last round, managed a 3.5-0.5 win over Norway but because of the strong results by Ukraine, Russia and Armenia, this was not good enough to close the gap and they ended in fourth place behind the medal winners. (India was taken out of the running when they managed only a 2.5-1.5 win over Bulgaria.)
The tiebreaker for each team was the total number of points scored by the teams they played against. This tiebreak decided silver and bronze between Russia and Armenia by a single point)
Gold: Ukraine – 39.5
Silver: Russia – 36.5 (460)
Bronze: Armenia – 36.5 (459)
Fourth place: United States – 35
WOMEN
China beat Slovakia 2-1. United States beat Vietnam 2.5-0.5 to take sole possession of second place, since Russia only managed a 2-1 victory over France (which was in fifth place coming into the last round), which tied them for third place with Georgia, which beat Ukraine 2.5-0.5. On tiebreaks, Russia took the bronze medal over Georgia.
Gold: China – 31
Silver: United States – 28
Bronze: Russia – 27.5 (346)
Fourth place: Georgia – 27.5 (339)
Ukraine wins the men's gold
Ukraine clinched the gold with its match against France, as Ivanchuk and Moiseenko drew with Lautier and Dorfman, respectively. (The other two games are still going on.)
I will post the final results once the round completes.
I will post the final results once the round completes.
Thursday, October 28, 2004
36th Chess Olympiad Round 13 Results
Round 13 was played today.
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
MEN
On top board, Ukraine and Georgia tied 2-2 as all four games were very quickly drawn. Tomorrow, Ukraine will be just one draw away from clinching the gold medal. Israel and the United States also tied 2-2, and also with draws on all four boards although these were not as quick. And France tied with Armenia 2-2 (Lautier beat Akopian on board 1, Fontaine lost to Lputian on board 4, and the other two games were draws), pretty much ending France’s hopes for a medal. Russia defeated Cuba 2.5-1.5 (Svidler beat Bruzon on board 2, and the other three games were drawn), allowing Russia to edge out Armenia for second place.
Other important match-ups this round…
India over Poland 2.5-1.5
Bulgaria over Greece 2.5-1.5
The standings going into the last round…
Ukraine – 36.5
Russia – 33.5
Armenia – 33
Israel – 32.5
WOMEN
China wins the gold!
After three bad rounds, China came back in force to defeat India 2-1 (Zao beat Vijayalakshmi on board 2, and the other two games were drawn), to clinch the gold medal one round before the finish. France and the United States drew 1.5-1.5 (GM Polgar beat IM Skripchenko, IM Krush lost to IM Sebag, and WGMs Zatonskih and Collas drew). Russia defeated Georgia 2-1 (IM Kosteniuk and GM Chiburdanidze drew quickly, IM Kovalevskaya and WGM Dzagnidze played a fought-out draw, and WGM Kosintseva defeated WGM Javakhishvili).
The standings going into the last round…
China – 29
Russia, United States – 25.5
Georgia – 25
See you tomorrow for the 14th and final round.
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
MEN
On top board, Ukraine and Georgia tied 2-2 as all four games were very quickly drawn. Tomorrow, Ukraine will be just one draw away from clinching the gold medal. Israel and the United States also tied 2-2, and also with draws on all four boards although these were not as quick. And France tied with Armenia 2-2 (Lautier beat Akopian on board 1, Fontaine lost to Lputian on board 4, and the other two games were draws), pretty much ending France’s hopes for a medal. Russia defeated Cuba 2.5-1.5 (Svidler beat Bruzon on board 2, and the other three games were drawn), allowing Russia to edge out Armenia for second place.
Other important match-ups this round…
India over Poland 2.5-1.5
Bulgaria over Greece 2.5-1.5
The standings going into the last round…
Ukraine – 36.5
Russia – 33.5
Armenia – 33
Israel – 32.5
WOMEN
China wins the gold!
After three bad rounds, China came back in force to defeat India 2-1 (Zao beat Vijayalakshmi on board 2, and the other two games were drawn), to clinch the gold medal one round before the finish. France and the United States drew 1.5-1.5 (GM Polgar beat IM Skripchenko, IM Krush lost to IM Sebag, and WGMs Zatonskih and Collas drew). Russia defeated Georgia 2-1 (IM Kosteniuk and GM Chiburdanidze drew quickly, IM Kovalevskaya and WGM Dzagnidze played a fought-out draw, and WGM Kosintseva defeated WGM Javakhishvili).
The standings going into the last round…
China – 29
Russia, United States – 25.5
Georgia – 25
See you tomorrow for the 14th and final round.
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
36th Chess Olympiad Round 12 Results
Round 12 was played today.
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
MEN
Ukraine beat Poland 2.5-1.5. Georgia beat Russia 2.5-1.5 and Armenia tied the United States 2-2, so these two teams are now tied for second place, 3.5 points behind Ukraine. Israel beat India 2.5-1.5, keeping its fourth place slot. So the four top seeded teams are currently holding the top four standings, although not in exactly the same order. The maverick result of this round was #18 seed Cuba defeating Slovenia by the margin of 4-0, allowing it to climb into fifth place ahead of both #5 India and the United States (#10).
The standings after 12 rounds…
Ukraine – 34.5
Russia, Armenia – 31
Israel – 30.5
Cuba – 30
WOMEN
China has had a bad three rounds. After losing in round 10 and drawing in round 11, they lost again this round, to Georgia 2-1, so their lead has been cut to 3 points. This marks the third consecutive round in which China has not won a single game. The United States beat Hungary 2.5-0.5 to join Georgia in second place. France beat England 2-1, but Russia beat Slovenia 3-0 to climb into fourth place ahead of France.
The standings after 12 rounds…
China – 27
United States, Georgia – 24
Russia – 23.5
See you tomorrow for round 13.
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
MEN
Ukraine beat Poland 2.5-1.5. Georgia beat Russia 2.5-1.5 and Armenia tied the United States 2-2, so these two teams are now tied for second place, 3.5 points behind Ukraine. Israel beat India 2.5-1.5, keeping its fourth place slot. So the four top seeded teams are currently holding the top four standings, although not in exactly the same order. The maverick result of this round was #18 seed Cuba defeating Slovenia by the margin of 4-0, allowing it to climb into fifth place ahead of both #5 India and the United States (#10).
The standings after 12 rounds…
Ukraine – 34.5
Russia, Armenia – 31
Israel – 30.5
Cuba – 30
WOMEN
China has had a bad three rounds. After losing in round 10 and drawing in round 11, they lost again this round, to Georgia 2-1, so their lead has been cut to 3 points. This marks the third consecutive round in which China has not won a single game. The United States beat Hungary 2.5-0.5 to join Georgia in second place. France beat England 2-1, but Russia beat Slovenia 3-0 to climb into fourth place ahead of France.
The standings after 12 rounds…
China – 27
United States, Georgia – 24
Russia – 23.5
See you tomorrow for round 13.
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
36th Chess Olympiad Round 11 Results
Round 11 was played today.
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
MEN
Ukraine defeated Cuba 3-1 as Ivanchuk, Volotikin and Karjakin beat Dominguez (no relation), Nogueiras and Quezada, respectively. Ukraine’s only loss came on board 2 as Ponomariov lost to Bruzon. Russia defeated the United States 2.5-1.5, as Svidler (2735) beat Onischuk (2653) on board 1 and the other three games (Grischuk-Goldin, Dreev-Novikov, Khalifman-Gulko) were drawn. Armenia defeated Switzerland 2.5-1.5, which put them in third place. Israel defeated Azerbaijan 3-1, which put them in fourth place. India defeated Canada 3.5-0.5, to join the United States in fifth place.
The standings after 11 rounds…
Ukraine – 32
Russia – 29.5
Armenia – 29
Israel – 28
United States, India – 27.5
WOMEN
China and Hungary tied, as all three games ended in draws, which cut China’s lead to 4 points. Georgia beat India 2.5-0.5, jumping into sole second place. The United States beat Slovakia 2-1, joining Hungary in third place. Russia beat Armenia 2-1, but France beat Lithuania 2.5-0.5, allowing them to slip past Russia (and India) in the rankings. England beat Mongolia 3-0, which allowed them to join France in fifth place.
The standings after 11 rounds…
China – 26
Georgia – 22
Hungary, United States – 21.5
France, England – 21
See you tomorrow for round 12.
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
MEN
Ukraine defeated Cuba 3-1 as Ivanchuk, Volotikin and Karjakin beat Dominguez (no relation), Nogueiras and Quezada, respectively. Ukraine’s only loss came on board 2 as Ponomariov lost to Bruzon. Russia defeated the United States 2.5-1.5, as Svidler (2735) beat Onischuk (2653) on board 1 and the other three games (Grischuk-Goldin, Dreev-Novikov, Khalifman-Gulko) were drawn. Armenia defeated Switzerland 2.5-1.5, which put them in third place. Israel defeated Azerbaijan 3-1, which put them in fourth place. India defeated Canada 3.5-0.5, to join the United States in fifth place.
The standings after 11 rounds…
Ukraine – 32
Russia – 29.5
Armenia – 29
Israel – 28
United States, India – 27.5
WOMEN
China and Hungary tied, as all three games ended in draws, which cut China’s lead to 4 points. Georgia beat India 2.5-0.5, jumping into sole second place. The United States beat Slovakia 2-1, joining Hungary in third place. Russia beat Armenia 2-1, but France beat Lithuania 2.5-0.5, allowing them to slip past Russia (and India) in the rankings. England beat Mongolia 3-0, which allowed them to join France in fifth place.
The standings after 11 rounds…
China – 26
Georgia – 22
Hungary, United States – 21.5
France, England – 21
See you tomorrow for round 12.
Monday, October 25, 2004
Kasimdzhanov-Kasparov Prediction
Predictions for Kasimdzhanov-Kasparov, FIDE World Championship 2005
Based on their ratings (Kasparov 2813, Kasimdzhanov 2650), the following probabilities can be calculated for the various possible outcomes of the match.
+4 Kasimdzhanov – 0.1%
+3 Kasimdzhanov – 0.3%
+2 Kasimdzhanov – 0.8%
+1 Kasimdzhanov – 1.4%
Even – 3.4%
+1 Kasparov – 4.8%
+2 Kasparov – 12.2%
+3 Kasparov – 21.6%
+4 Kasparov – 25.4%
+5 Kasparov – 22.0%
+6 Kasparov – 7.4%
+7 Kasparov – 0.5%
If we simplify by assuming a 50-50 chance in tiebreaks, we get the following odds:
Based on their ratings (Kasparov 2813, Kasimdzhanov 2650), the following probabilities can be calculated for the various possible outcomes of the match.
+4 Kasimdzhanov – 0.1%
+3 Kasimdzhanov – 0.3%
+2 Kasimdzhanov – 0.8%
+1 Kasimdzhanov – 1.4%
Even – 3.4%
+1 Kasparov – 4.8%
+2 Kasparov – 12.2%
+3 Kasparov – 21.6%
+4 Kasparov – 25.4%
+5 Kasparov – 22.0%
+6 Kasparov – 7.4%
+7 Kasparov – 0.5%
If we simplify by assuming a 50-50 chance in tiebreaks, we get the following odds:
- Kasimdzhanov keeping the title – 4.3%
- Kasparov winning the title – 95.7%
36th Chess Olympiad Round 10 Results
Round 10 was played today.
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
MEN
The United States tied 2-2 with first-place Ukraine as all four games (Onischuk-Ivanchuk, Shabalov-Volokitin, Goldin-Eljanov, Kaidanov-Karjakin) were drawn. Russia beat France 2.5-1.5, to hang on to second place and close Ukraine’s lead by a half-point. Armenia beat Slovenia 3.5-0.5, to take third place from the United States. #18 Cuba upset #3 India as GM Nogueiras beat GM Kunte on board 3 and the other three games were drawn. Israel (which tied with Switzerland 2-2) and Azerbaijan (which beat Bulgaria 2.5-1.5) round out the top boards.
The standings after 10 rounds…
Ukraine – 29
Russia – 27
Armenia – 26.5
United States – 26
Israel, Cuba, Azerbaijan – 25
WOMEN
China loses!!
The United States beat China 2-1, ending China’s rampage through this Olympiad! GM Xie drew with GM Polgar, WGM Xu lost to IM Krush, and WGM Zhao (2487) v WGM Zatonskih (2440), the last game to finish among all the top boards, ended in a draw.
Hungary defeated Latvia 2.5-0.5 to pull out of the pack into sole second place and reduce China's lead to 4.5 points. India defeated Russia 2-1 to join the United States in third place. Georgia spanked Sweden 3-0, which catapulted Georgia over Russia also into third place and pretty much squashed Sweden’s hopes for a medal. France beat Moldova 2.5-0.5, Slovakia beat Cuba 2.5-0.5, and Armenia beat Poland 2-1, to join Russia in sixth place.
The standings after 10 rounds…
China – 24.5
Hungary – 20
India, Georgia, United States – 19.5
Russia, France, Slovakia, Armenia – 18.5
See you tomorrow for round 11.
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
MEN
The United States tied 2-2 with first-place Ukraine as all four games (Onischuk-Ivanchuk, Shabalov-Volokitin, Goldin-Eljanov, Kaidanov-Karjakin) were drawn. Russia beat France 2.5-1.5, to hang on to second place and close Ukraine’s lead by a half-point. Armenia beat Slovenia 3.5-0.5, to take third place from the United States. #18 Cuba upset #3 India as GM Nogueiras beat GM Kunte on board 3 and the other three games were drawn. Israel (which tied with Switzerland 2-2) and Azerbaijan (which beat Bulgaria 2.5-1.5) round out the top boards.
The standings after 10 rounds…
Ukraine – 29
Russia – 27
Armenia – 26.5
United States – 26
Israel, Cuba, Azerbaijan – 25
WOMEN
China loses!!
The United States beat China 2-1, ending China’s rampage through this Olympiad! GM Xie drew with GM Polgar, WGM Xu lost to IM Krush, and WGM Zhao (2487) v WGM Zatonskih (2440), the last game to finish among all the top boards, ended in a draw.
Hungary defeated Latvia 2.5-0.5 to pull out of the pack into sole second place and reduce China's lead to 4.5 points. India defeated Russia 2-1 to join the United States in third place. Georgia spanked Sweden 3-0, which catapulted Georgia over Russia also into third place and pretty much squashed Sweden’s hopes for a medal. France beat Moldova 2.5-0.5, Slovakia beat Cuba 2.5-0.5, and Armenia beat Poland 2-1, to join Russia in sixth place.
The standings after 10 rounds…
China – 24.5
Hungary – 20
India, Georgia, United States – 19.5
Russia, France, Slovakia, Armenia – 18.5
See you tomorrow for round 11.
Sunday, October 24, 2004
36th Chess Olympiad Round 9 Results
Round 9 was played today.
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
MEN
Ukraine and Armenia tied 2-2 (with Vaganian defeating Ponomariov, Lputin losing to Volokitin, and Akopian-Ivanchuk and Sargissian-Moiseenko ending in draws). Russia defeated India 2.5-1.5 (Morozevich lost to Anand, Svidler drew with Sasikiran, Dreev defeated Harikrishna, and Zvjaginsev defeated Ganguly-Surya), taking sole possession of second place. The United States beat Spain A 3.5-0.5 (Onischuk defeated Shirov, Shabalov and Vallejo drew, Goldin defeated Illescas-Cordoba, and Kaidanov defeated Arizmendi), allowing them to slip past Armenia into sole third place. Israel defeated Kazakhstan 3.5-0.5, to rise to fourth place equal with Armenia.
Other important results this round…
Cuba over Denmark 3.5-0.5
Azerbaijan over the Philippines 3-1
Switzerland over Poland 2.5-1.5
Bulgaria over Germany 2.5-1.5
France over Georgia 2.5-1.5
Slovenia over China 2.5-1.5
The standings after 9 rounds…
Ukraine – 27
Russia – 24.5
United States – 24
Israel, Armenia – 23
India, Switzerland, Bulgaria, France, Slovenia, Azerbaijan, Cuba – 22.5
WOMEN
China skunked Lithuania 3-0, expanding their lead to an incredible 6 points. Russia and Hungary tied 1.5-1.5. India defeated Ukraine and the United States defeated Poland, both 2-1, joining Hungary and Russia in a four-way tie for second place. Latvia defeated Switzerland 3-0, and Sweden defeated Mongolia 2.5-0.5, to round out the top slots tied for sixth place.
China – 23.5
Hungary, Russia, India, United States – 17.5
Latvia, Sweden - 17
See you tomorrow for round 10.
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
MEN
Ukraine and Armenia tied 2-2 (with Vaganian defeating Ponomariov, Lputin losing to Volokitin, and Akopian-Ivanchuk and Sargissian-Moiseenko ending in draws). Russia defeated India 2.5-1.5 (Morozevich lost to Anand, Svidler drew with Sasikiran, Dreev defeated Harikrishna, and Zvjaginsev defeated Ganguly-Surya), taking sole possession of second place. The United States beat Spain A 3.5-0.5 (Onischuk defeated Shirov, Shabalov and Vallejo drew, Goldin defeated Illescas-Cordoba, and Kaidanov defeated Arizmendi), allowing them to slip past Armenia into sole third place. Israel defeated Kazakhstan 3.5-0.5, to rise to fourth place equal with Armenia.
Other important results this round…
Cuba over Denmark 3.5-0.5
Azerbaijan over the Philippines 3-1
Switzerland over Poland 2.5-1.5
Bulgaria over Germany 2.5-1.5
France over Georgia 2.5-1.5
Slovenia over China 2.5-1.5
The standings after 9 rounds…
Ukraine – 27
Russia – 24.5
United States – 24
Israel, Armenia – 23
India, Switzerland, Bulgaria, France, Slovenia, Azerbaijan, Cuba – 22.5
WOMEN
China skunked Lithuania 3-0, expanding their lead to an incredible 6 points. Russia and Hungary tied 1.5-1.5. India defeated Ukraine and the United States defeated Poland, both 2-1, joining Hungary and Russia in a four-way tie for second place. Latvia defeated Switzerland 3-0, and Sweden defeated Mongolia 2.5-0.5, to round out the top slots tied for sixth place.
China – 23.5
Hungary, Russia, India, United States – 17.5
Latvia, Sweden - 17
See you tomorrow for round 10.
Saturday, October 23, 2004
36th Chess Olympiad Round 8 Results
Round 8 was played today.
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
MEN
Second-seed Ukraine continues to cut through the other top teams like a scythe, defeating Bulgaria 3.5-0.5 (Ivanchuk drew with Georgiev; Volokitin, Moissenko and Karjakin all won) and increasing their lead to 3 points. Russia pulled into sole second place by defeating Armenia 2.5-1.5 (Morozevich defeated Akopian, and the other three games were drawn). India pulled into third place ahead of Spain A after defeating them 2.5-1.5 (Harikrishna defeated Illescas-Cordoba and the other three games were drawn).
Other important results this round…
Switzerland over Morocco 4-0
Germany over Argentina 3.5-0.5
Slovenia over Canada 3-1
United States over Azerbaijan 2.5-1.5
Georgia over the Netherlands 2.5-1.5
China over Cuba 2.5-1.5
Poland and France tied 2-2
Israel and Moldova tied 2-2
Serbia-Montenegro and the Czech Republic tied 2-2
The standings after eight rounds…
Ukraine – 25
Russia – 22
India, Armenia – 21
Spain A, Poland, United States – 20.5
Bulgaria, France, Georgia, China, Germany, Slovenia, Switzerland – 20
WOMEN
China beat Poland, and Lithuania beat England, 2-1 in each case, so China’s lead is intact. Hungary beat Bulgaria 2-1, slipping past Poland into third place. Hungary was joined by Russia, which defeated Kazakhstan 2.5-0.5. Poland was joined in fifth place by the United States, India and Ukraine, which defeated Armenia, France and Sweden, respectively (all three of these matches had a 2-1 result).
The standings after eight rounds…
China – 20.5
Lithuania – 16.5
Hungary, Russia – 16
Poland, United States, India, Ukraine – 15.5
See you tomorrow for round 9.
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
MEN
Second-seed Ukraine continues to cut through the other top teams like a scythe, defeating Bulgaria 3.5-0.5 (Ivanchuk drew with Georgiev; Volokitin, Moissenko and Karjakin all won) and increasing their lead to 3 points. Russia pulled into sole second place by defeating Armenia 2.5-1.5 (Morozevich defeated Akopian, and the other three games were drawn). India pulled into third place ahead of Spain A after defeating them 2.5-1.5 (Harikrishna defeated Illescas-Cordoba and the other three games were drawn).
Other important results this round…
Switzerland over Morocco 4-0
Germany over Argentina 3.5-0.5
Slovenia over Canada 3-1
United States over Azerbaijan 2.5-1.5
Georgia over the Netherlands 2.5-1.5
China over Cuba 2.5-1.5
Poland and France tied 2-2
Israel and Moldova tied 2-2
Serbia-Montenegro and the Czech Republic tied 2-2
The standings after eight rounds…
Ukraine – 25
Russia – 22
India, Armenia – 21
Spain A, Poland, United States – 20.5
Bulgaria, France, Georgia, China, Germany, Slovenia, Switzerland – 20
WOMEN
China beat Poland, and Lithuania beat England, 2-1 in each case, so China’s lead is intact. Hungary beat Bulgaria 2-1, slipping past Poland into third place. Hungary was joined by Russia, which defeated Kazakhstan 2.5-0.5. Poland was joined in fifth place by the United States, India and Ukraine, which defeated Armenia, France and Sweden, respectively (all three of these matches had a 2-1 result).
The standings after eight rounds…
China – 20.5
Lithuania – 16.5
Hungary, Russia – 16
Poland, United States, India, Ukraine – 15.5
See you tomorrow for round 9.
Friday, October 22, 2004
36th Chess Olympiad Round 7 Results
Round 7 was played today.
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
MEN
Ukraine extended its lead to two points by defeating India 2.5-1.5 as GM Karjakin defeated GM Kunte on board 4 and the other three games were drawn. The surprise result of this round was a 2.5-1.5 win by #20 Bulgaria over top-seed Russia as on board 3, IM Cheparinov (2576) upset GM Grischuk (2704) and the other three games were drawn. This result allowed Bulgaria to pull even with Russia for second place. Joining them was Armenia, which defeated Israel 3-1. Spain A's victory over Azerbaijan 2.5-1.5 pulled then into sole fifth place. U.S. pulled up in the rankings with a win over Singapore 3.5-0.5 as GM Onischuk drew with GM Wu, and Goldin, Kaidanov and Novikov all won. Rounding out the top boards, Poland defeated the Philippines 3-1, and France defeated Slovakia 2.5-1.5.
Other important results this round…
Moldova over Sweden 3-1
Serbia-Montenegro over Greece 2.5-1.5
China over Argentina 2.5-1.5
The Netherlands over England 2.5-1.5
Georgia and Cuba tied 2-2
The standings after seven rounds…
Ukraine – 21.5
Russia, Bulgaria, Armenia – 19.5
Spain A – 19
India, Poland – 18.5
Azerbaijan, France, United States – 18
Israel, Georgia, Cuba, Serbia-Montenegro, China, Netherlands, Moldova – 17.5
WOMEN
China defeated France 2.5-0.5, extending its lead to four points. All three of the other top match-ups (Russia v Bulgaria, Ukraine v Armenia, USA v India) were drawn 1.5-1.5, putting all six of those teams in a tie for sixth. Joining these teams in sixth place were Sweden (which defeated Iran 2-1) and Kazakhstan (which defeated Belarus 2.5-0.5). Poland (which defeated Cuba 3-0), Lithuania (which defeated Germany 3-0), England (which defeated Spain B 3-0) and Hungary (which defeated Slovakia 2.5-0.5) sneaked past these teams to capture second through fifth places. Definitely the most exciting round so far in the women’s event.
The standings after seven rounds…
China – 18.5
Poland, Lithuania – 14.5
England, Hungary – 14
France, Russia, Ukraine, United States, India, Bulgaria, Armenia, Sweden, Kazakhstan – 13.5
See you tomorrow for round 8.
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
MEN
Ukraine extended its lead to two points by defeating India 2.5-1.5 as GM Karjakin defeated GM Kunte on board 4 and the other three games were drawn. The surprise result of this round was a 2.5-1.5 win by #20 Bulgaria over top-seed Russia as on board 3, IM Cheparinov (2576) upset GM Grischuk (2704) and the other three games were drawn. This result allowed Bulgaria to pull even with Russia for second place. Joining them was Armenia, which defeated Israel 3-1. Spain A's victory over Azerbaijan 2.5-1.5 pulled then into sole fifth place. U.S. pulled up in the rankings with a win over Singapore 3.5-0.5 as GM Onischuk drew with GM Wu, and Goldin, Kaidanov and Novikov all won. Rounding out the top boards, Poland defeated the Philippines 3-1, and France defeated Slovakia 2.5-1.5.
Other important results this round…
Moldova over Sweden 3-1
Serbia-Montenegro over Greece 2.5-1.5
China over Argentina 2.5-1.5
The Netherlands over England 2.5-1.5
Georgia and Cuba tied 2-2
The standings after seven rounds…
Ukraine – 21.5
Russia, Bulgaria, Armenia – 19.5
Spain A – 19
India, Poland – 18.5
Azerbaijan, France, United States – 18
Israel, Georgia, Cuba, Serbia-Montenegro, China, Netherlands, Moldova – 17.5
WOMEN
China defeated France 2.5-0.5, extending its lead to four points. All three of the other top match-ups (Russia v Bulgaria, Ukraine v Armenia, USA v India) were drawn 1.5-1.5, putting all six of those teams in a tie for sixth. Joining these teams in sixth place were Sweden (which defeated Iran 2-1) and Kazakhstan (which defeated Belarus 2.5-0.5). Poland (which defeated Cuba 3-0), Lithuania (which defeated Germany 3-0), England (which defeated Spain B 3-0) and Hungary (which defeated Slovakia 2.5-0.5) sneaked past these teams to capture second through fifth places. Definitely the most exciting round so far in the women’s event.
The standings after seven rounds…
China – 18.5
Poland, Lithuania – 14.5
England, Hungary – 14
France, Russia, Ukraine, United States, India, Bulgaria, Armenia, Sweden, Kazakhstan – 13.5
See you tomorrow for round 8.
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Lasker-Schlecter 1910 match
In an earlier post, I wrote that before Kramnik's win on the October 18th, "only Kasparov (1987) managed to keep the title in a must-win situation in the last game of the match." In fact, there is a lot more to the story of the 1910 match, but I did not want to clutter up my post with it. Here's the whole story...
There was actually a clause in the playing rules that specified that 1-0 and 2-1 were to be considered drawn matches with the champion Lasker keeping the title. Although this thesis is strongly disputed by some chess historians, it seems likely that Lasker was in fact NOT in a must-win situation in the 10th and final game of the 1910 match.
In this case, it would have been Schlecter who was in a must-win situation to obtain a 2-0 result, which would definitely explain the extreme risks he took to win the last game. The standard explanation that he was bound by some sense of honor after winning game 5 from a lost position only because Lasker blundered seems far-fetched to me. While Schlecter was a gentleman, it seems doubtful that he would have been QUITE that sporting.
There was actually a clause in the playing rules that specified that 1-0 and 2-1 were to be considered drawn matches with the champion Lasker keeping the title. Although this thesis is strongly disputed by some chess historians, it seems likely that Lasker was in fact NOT in a must-win situation in the 10th and final game of the 1910 match.
In this case, it would have been Schlecter who was in a must-win situation to obtain a 2-0 result, which would definitely explain the extreme risks he took to win the last game. The standard explanation that he was bound by some sense of honor after winning game 5 from a lost position only because Lasker blundered seems far-fetched to me. While Schlecter was a gentleman, it seems doubtful that he would have been QUITE that sporting.
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
36th Chess Olympiad Round 6 Results
Round 6 was played today.
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
MEN
Ukraine over Uzbekistan 2.5-1.5, so they hold on to first place (and expand their lead to a full point) while Azerbaijan drops into a four-way tie for fifth place. Russia over Israel 3.5-0.5, so Russia climbs to second place (one point behind Ukraine) while Israel also drops to fifth. Bulgaria over Poland 2.5-1.5 and India over Netherlands 3-1, so these two teams are now tied for third place. Armenia over Canada 3.5-0.5 and Spain A over France 2.5-1.5, allowing these two teams to climb into fifth place as well.
Other important results this round…
Greece over Ireland 3.5-0.5
Georgia over Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-1
England over Mexico 3-1
Philippines over Denmark 3-1
Cuba over Uzbekistan 2.5-1.5
China and Slovakia tied 2-2
Serbia-Montenegro and Argentina tied 2-2
The standings after six rounds…
Ukraine – 19
Russia – 18
Bulgaria, India – 17
Israel, Azerbaijan, Spain A, Armenia – 16.5
Georgia, Slovakia, Poland, France, Cuba – 15.5
Serbia-Montenegro, China, England, Netherlands, Argentina, Greece, Philippines – 15
WOMEN
China over Russia 2-1, keeping its three point hold on first place. France over Ukraine 2-1, allowing them to hold second place on their own now. Bulgaria over Israel 2.5-0.5, United States over Georgia 2-1 (GM Polgar beat GM Chiburdanidze, IM Krush beat WGM Dzagnidze, and WGM Zatonskih lost to WGM Javakhishvili) and Armenia over Vietnam 2.5-0.5, allowing these three teams to climb into third place with Russia and Ukraine.
All the other matches between the leading contenders (India v Hungary, Sweden v Germany, Slovakia v Poland) were tied 1.5-1.5.
The standings after six rounds…
China – 16
France – 13
Russia, Ukraine, United States, India, Bulgaria, Armenia – 12
Tomorrow is a rest day, so see you on Friday for round 7.
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
MEN
Ukraine over Uzbekistan 2.5-1.5, so they hold on to first place (and expand their lead to a full point) while Azerbaijan drops into a four-way tie for fifth place. Russia over Israel 3.5-0.5, so Russia climbs to second place (one point behind Ukraine) while Israel also drops to fifth. Bulgaria over Poland 2.5-1.5 and India over Netherlands 3-1, so these two teams are now tied for third place. Armenia over Canada 3.5-0.5 and Spain A over France 2.5-1.5, allowing these two teams to climb into fifth place as well.
Other important results this round…
Greece over Ireland 3.5-0.5
Georgia over Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-1
England over Mexico 3-1
Philippines over Denmark 3-1
Cuba over Uzbekistan 2.5-1.5
China and Slovakia tied 2-2
Serbia-Montenegro and Argentina tied 2-2
The standings after six rounds…
Ukraine – 19
Russia – 18
Bulgaria, India – 17
Israel, Azerbaijan, Spain A, Armenia – 16.5
Georgia, Slovakia, Poland, France, Cuba – 15.5
Serbia-Montenegro, China, England, Netherlands, Argentina, Greece, Philippines – 15
WOMEN
China over Russia 2-1, keeping its three point hold on first place. France over Ukraine 2-1, allowing them to hold second place on their own now. Bulgaria over Israel 2.5-0.5, United States over Georgia 2-1 (GM Polgar beat GM Chiburdanidze, IM Krush beat WGM Dzagnidze, and WGM Zatonskih lost to WGM Javakhishvili) and Armenia over Vietnam 2.5-0.5, allowing these three teams to climb into third place with Russia and Ukraine.
All the other matches between the leading contenders (India v Hungary, Sweden v Germany, Slovakia v Poland) were tied 1.5-1.5.
The standings after six rounds…
China – 16
France – 13
Russia, Ukraine, United States, India, Bulgaria, Armenia – 12
Tomorrow is a rest day, so see you on Friday for round 7.
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
36th Chess Olympiad Round 5 Results
Round 5 was played today.
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
MEN
The big news this round is that the two leaders Ukraine and Israel tied 2-2 as all four games (Ivanchuk-Gelfand, Ponomariov-Sutovsky, Volokitin-Smirin, Eljanov-Avrukh) were drawn. This allowed Azerbaijan and Russia to close some of the gap separating them from the leaders. Also, France, Spain A, India, Bulgaria, Poland and the Netherlands all won their matches, allowing them all to overtake Slovakia, which lost to #1 Russia 2.5-1.5 and therefore dropped in its relative standing. The United States (#10) was upset by Uzbekistan (#30) 2.5-1.5 and therefore dropped from among the leaders. GM Gulko (2600) lost to IM Filippov (2475), while the other three games were drawn. It seems that both Gulko and the U.S. team have been performing below expectations.
Other important results from this round…
Bulgaria over Scotland 3.5-0.5
Netherlands over Vietnam 3.5-0.5
Poland over England 3-1
Azerbaijan over Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-1
Serbia-Montenegro over Kazakhstan 3-1
China over Switzerland 3-1
Spain A over Georgia 2.5-1.5
India over Armenia 2.5-1.5
Canada over Philippines 2.5-1.5
Argentina over Denmark 2.5-1.5
France over Cuba 2.5-1.5
Czech Republic over Greece 2.5-1.5
Croatia and Germany tied 2-2
Chile and Latvia tied 2-2
The standings after five rounds…
Ukraine – 16.5
Israel – 16
Azerbaijan – 15
Russia, Bulgaria – 14.5
Spain A, India, Netherlands, France, Poland – 14
Slovakia – 13.5
Armenia, Cuba, Serbia-Montenegro, Argentina, China, Uzbekistan, Canada – 13
WOMEN
In this round, China spanked England 3-0, while Russia and Ukraine tied their match 1.5-1.5, allowing China to expand its lead from 1.5 points to a full 3 points. The United States tied with Sweden 1.5-1.5, as GM Polgar drew her game with GM Cramling, WGM Zatonskih beat WIM Agrest and WIM Shahade lost to WIM Johansson.
Other important results from this round…
Slovakia over Uzbekistan 2.5-0.5
France over Germany 2-1
Hungary over Vietnam 2-1
Georgia over Latvia 2-1
Cuba over Slovenia 2-1
Belarus over Serbia-Montenegro 2-1
Israel over Romania 2-1
Armenia over Greece 2-1
Poland and India drew 1.5-1.5
Argentina and Netherlands drew 1.5-1.5
The standings after five rounds…
China – 14
Russia, Ukraine, France – 11
India – 10.5
Germany, Poland, United States, Hungary, Georgia, Slovakia, Sweden – 10
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
MEN
The big news this round is that the two leaders Ukraine and Israel tied 2-2 as all four games (Ivanchuk-Gelfand, Ponomariov-Sutovsky, Volokitin-Smirin, Eljanov-Avrukh) were drawn. This allowed Azerbaijan and Russia to close some of the gap separating them from the leaders. Also, France, Spain A, India, Bulgaria, Poland and the Netherlands all won their matches, allowing them all to overtake Slovakia, which lost to #1 Russia 2.5-1.5 and therefore dropped in its relative standing. The United States (#10) was upset by Uzbekistan (#30) 2.5-1.5 and therefore dropped from among the leaders. GM Gulko (2600) lost to IM Filippov (2475), while the other three games were drawn. It seems that both Gulko and the U.S. team have been performing below expectations.
Other important results from this round…
Bulgaria over Scotland 3.5-0.5
Netherlands over Vietnam 3.5-0.5
Poland over England 3-1
Azerbaijan over Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-1
Serbia-Montenegro over Kazakhstan 3-1
China over Switzerland 3-1
Spain A over Georgia 2.5-1.5
India over Armenia 2.5-1.5
Canada over Philippines 2.5-1.5
Argentina over Denmark 2.5-1.5
France over Cuba 2.5-1.5
Czech Republic over Greece 2.5-1.5
Croatia and Germany tied 2-2
Chile and Latvia tied 2-2
The standings after five rounds…
Ukraine – 16.5
Israel – 16
Azerbaijan – 15
Russia, Bulgaria – 14.5
Spain A, India, Netherlands, France, Poland – 14
Slovakia – 13.5
Armenia, Cuba, Serbia-Montenegro, Argentina, China, Uzbekistan, Canada – 13
WOMEN
In this round, China spanked England 3-0, while Russia and Ukraine tied their match 1.5-1.5, allowing China to expand its lead from 1.5 points to a full 3 points. The United States tied with Sweden 1.5-1.5, as GM Polgar drew her game with GM Cramling, WGM Zatonskih beat WIM Agrest and WIM Shahade lost to WIM Johansson.
Other important results from this round…
Slovakia over Uzbekistan 2.5-0.5
France over Germany 2-1
Hungary over Vietnam 2-1
Georgia over Latvia 2-1
Cuba over Slovenia 2-1
Belarus over Serbia-Montenegro 2-1
Israel over Romania 2-1
Armenia over Greece 2-1
Poland and India drew 1.5-1.5
Argentina and Netherlands drew 1.5-1.5
The standings after five rounds…
China – 14
Russia, Ukraine, France – 11
India – 10.5
Germany, Poland, United States, Hungary, Georgia, Slovakia, Sweden – 10
Monday, October 18, 2004
Xiang Qi
If you are interested in learning about Xiang Qi (Chinese Chess), check out my blog on this topic at http://chinesechess.blogspot.com/.
36th Chess Olympiad Round 4 Results
Round 4 was played today.
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
MEN
India over United States 2.5-1.5. Onischuk drew with Anand; Shabalov lost to Harikrishna; Goldin lost to Kunte; and Novikov defeated Sandipan.
Some important results this round...
Spain A over Macedonia 3.5-0.5
Slovakia over Moldova 3.5-0.5
Israel over Bulgaria 3.5-0.5
Denmark over Brazil 3.5-0.5
Vietnam over Turkey 3.5-0.5
France over Norway 3-1
Phillipines over Ireland 3-1
Ukraine over Russia 2.5-1.5
Azerbaijan over Scotland 2.5-1.5
Cuba over Netherlands 2.5-1.5
England over Canada 2.5-1.5
Georgia over Serbia-Montenegro 2.5-1.5
Poland over Greece 2.5-1.5
Argentina Over Romania 2.5-1.5
Uzbekistan over Belarus 2.5-1.5
Bosnia-Herzegovina and Armenia tied 2-2
Standings...
Ukraine - 14.5
Israel - 14
Russia, Azerbaijan, Slovakia - 12
Armenia, France, Spain A, Cuba, India, Bosnia-Herzegovina - 11.5
Bulgaria, England, Georgia, Poland, Scotland - 11
United States, Netherlands, Canada, Argentina, Denmark, Philippines, Vietnam, Uzbekistan - 10.5
WOMEN
Russia over United States 2-1. IM Krush lost to WGM Kosintseva, and the other two games (Kosteniuk-Polgar, Kovalevskaya-Zatonskih) were drawn.
Some important results this round...
China over Germany 2.5-0.5
Ukraine over Hungary 2.5-0.5
England over Slovakia 2.5-0.5
France over Kazakhstan 2.5-0.5
India over Netherlands 2-1
Vietnam Over Bulgaria 2-1
Poland and Sweden tied 1.5-1.5
Standings...
China - 11
Russia, Ukraine, England - 9.5
Germany, India, France - 9
Poland, United States, Vietnam, Sweden - 8.5
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
MEN
India over United States 2.5-1.5. Onischuk drew with Anand; Shabalov lost to Harikrishna; Goldin lost to Kunte; and Novikov defeated Sandipan.
Some important results this round...
Spain A over Macedonia 3.5-0.5
Slovakia over Moldova 3.5-0.5
Israel over Bulgaria 3.5-0.5
Denmark over Brazil 3.5-0.5
Vietnam over Turkey 3.5-0.5
France over Norway 3-1
Phillipines over Ireland 3-1
Ukraine over Russia 2.5-1.5
Azerbaijan over Scotland 2.5-1.5
Cuba over Netherlands 2.5-1.5
England over Canada 2.5-1.5
Georgia over Serbia-Montenegro 2.5-1.5
Poland over Greece 2.5-1.5
Argentina Over Romania 2.5-1.5
Uzbekistan over Belarus 2.5-1.5
Bosnia-Herzegovina and Armenia tied 2-2
Standings...
Ukraine - 14.5
Israel - 14
Russia, Azerbaijan, Slovakia - 12
Armenia, France, Spain A, Cuba, India, Bosnia-Herzegovina - 11.5
Bulgaria, England, Georgia, Poland, Scotland - 11
United States, Netherlands, Canada, Argentina, Denmark, Philippines, Vietnam, Uzbekistan - 10.5
WOMEN
Russia over United States 2-1. IM Krush lost to WGM Kosintseva, and the other two games (Kosteniuk-Polgar, Kovalevskaya-Zatonskih) were drawn.
Some important results this round...
China over Germany 2.5-0.5
Ukraine over Hungary 2.5-0.5
England over Slovakia 2.5-0.5
France over Kazakhstan 2.5-0.5
India over Netherlands 2-1
Vietnam Over Bulgaria 2-1
Poland and Sweden tied 1.5-1.5
Standings...
China - 11
Russia, Ukraine, England - 9.5
Germany, India, France - 9
Poland, United States, Vietnam, Sweden - 8.5
Kramnik-Leko 2004 Match Game 14
Kramnik keeps his Classical Chess Champion title!
Match Game 14 – 10/18/2004
Kramnik (2760) - Leko (2743)
Caro-Kann Defense [B12]
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 [When I made this move during the game, it suddenly occurred to me how absurd it is from the viewpoint of the general logic of opening play; it is strange that during my preparations the move seemed to me to be quite normal. - Kramnik] h6 [4. ... h5 is more popular. - Kramnik] 5. g4 Bd7 [5. ... Bh7? 6. e6! - Kramnik] 6. Nd2! [TN; 6. h5 and 6. c3 were played in the Tal-Botvinnik 1961 match] c5 7. dxc5 [7. c3?! Nc6! - Knaak] e6 8. Nb3 Bxc5 9. Nxc5 Qa5+ [Leko wins the pawn back, but giving a Bishop for a Knight can not be good here. - Knaak] 10. c3 Qxc5 11. Nf3 [11. Be3 - Fritz; Outwardly White's position looks attractive, but in fact it is not easy for him to complete his development without losing his e5 pawn in the process - Kramnik] Ne7 12. Bd3 [12. h5 - Knaak] Nbc6 [12. ... Qc7 is also interesting. - Kramnik] 13. Be3 Qa5 14. Qd2! [14. Qc2? Rc8!, 14. Qe2? Ng6! - Knaak] Ng6 [14. ... d4!? - Kasparov] 15. Bd4! [15. Bg6? - Kramnik] Nxd4 16. cxd4 Qxd2+ 17. Kxd2 [White is clearly better. - Knaak; At this moment I was not very happy with the situation as I realized how difficult it would be to win this endgame against a high-class player. - Kramnik] Nf4 18. Rac1 [18. Bf1? h5! - Kramnik] h5 19. Rhg1! [Maintaining the tension and retaining the dynamics of the position. - Kramnik] Bc6 20. gxh5 Nxh5 21. b4! a6 22. a4! [White opens a second front. - Kramnik] Kd8 [22. ... Bxa4!? - Kasparov; may be the decisive mistake - Kramnik] 23. Ng5 Be8 24. b5! [A very important resource. - Kramnik] Nf4 25. b6! [There is no longer any satisfactory defense. - Kramnik] Nxd3 [25. ... f6 is likewise insufficient.] 26. Kxd3 Rc8 27. Rxc8+ Kxc8 28. Rxc1+ Bc6 29. Nxf7 Rxh4 30. Nd6+ Kd8 31. Rg1 [The most direct way to win. - Kramnik] Rh3+ [31. ... Rh7 would not have offered Black any chances. - Kramnik] 32. Ke2 Ra3 33. Rxg7 Rxa4 34. f4! Ra2+ 35. Kf3 Ra3+ 36. Kg4 Rd3? [36. ... Ra1 was somewhat more tenacious although the endgame is hopeless. - Kramnik] 37. f5 Rxd4+ 38. Kg5 exf5 39. Kf6 Rg4 40. Rc7 Rh4 41. Nf7+ 1-0 [41. ... Ke8 42. Rc8+ Kd7 43. Rd8#]
One of the two best games in the match! With this win, Kramnik ties up the match 7-7 and successfully defends his title from Leko. Previously, only Kasparov (1987) managed to keep the title in a must-win situation in the last game of the match. It was the worst of matches, it was the best of matches. There were some really shabby draws, there were some really exciting games. But overall, the quality was quite high. Thanks to both players!
Match Game 14 – 10/18/2004
Kramnik (2760) - Leko (2743)
Caro-Kann Defense [B12]
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 [When I made this move during the game, it suddenly occurred to me how absurd it is from the viewpoint of the general logic of opening play; it is strange that during my preparations the move seemed to me to be quite normal. - Kramnik] h6 [4. ... h5 is more popular. - Kramnik] 5. g4 Bd7 [5. ... Bh7? 6. e6! - Kramnik] 6. Nd2! [TN; 6. h5 and 6. c3 were played in the Tal-Botvinnik 1961 match] c5 7. dxc5 [7. c3?! Nc6! - Knaak] e6 8. Nb3 Bxc5 9. Nxc5 Qa5+ [Leko wins the pawn back, but giving a Bishop for a Knight can not be good here. - Knaak] 10. c3 Qxc5 11. Nf3 [11. Be3 - Fritz; Outwardly White's position looks attractive, but in fact it is not easy for him to complete his development without losing his e5 pawn in the process - Kramnik] Ne7 12. Bd3 [12. h5 - Knaak] Nbc6 [12. ... Qc7 is also interesting. - Kramnik] 13. Be3 Qa5 14. Qd2! [14. Qc2? Rc8!, 14. Qe2? Ng6! - Knaak] Ng6 [14. ... d4!? - Kasparov] 15. Bd4! [15. Bg6? - Kramnik] Nxd4 16. cxd4 Qxd2+ 17. Kxd2 [White is clearly better. - Knaak; At this moment I was not very happy with the situation as I realized how difficult it would be to win this endgame against a high-class player. - Kramnik] Nf4 18. Rac1 [18. Bf1? h5! - Kramnik] h5 19. Rhg1! [Maintaining the tension and retaining the dynamics of the position. - Kramnik] Bc6 20. gxh5 Nxh5 21. b4! a6 22. a4! [White opens a second front. - Kramnik] Kd8 [22. ... Bxa4!? - Kasparov; may be the decisive mistake - Kramnik] 23. Ng5 Be8 24. b5! [A very important resource. - Kramnik] Nf4 25. b6! [There is no longer any satisfactory defense. - Kramnik] Nxd3 [25. ... f6 is likewise insufficient.] 26. Kxd3 Rc8 27. Rxc8+ Kxc8 28. Rxc1+ Bc6 29. Nxf7 Rxh4 30. Nd6+ Kd8 31. Rg1 [The most direct way to win. - Kramnik] Rh3+ [31. ... Rh7 would not have offered Black any chances. - Kramnik] 32. Ke2 Ra3 33. Rxg7 Rxa4 34. f4! Ra2+ 35. Kf3 Ra3+ 36. Kg4 Rd3? [36. ... Ra1 was somewhat more tenacious although the endgame is hopeless. - Kramnik] 37. f5 Rxd4+ 38. Kg5 exf5 39. Kf6 Rg4 40. Rc7 Rh4 41. Nf7+ 1-0 [41. ... Ke8 42. Rc8+ Kd7 43. Rd8#]
One of the two best games in the match! With this win, Kramnik ties up the match 7-7 and successfully defends his title from Leko. Previously, only Kasparov (1987) managed to keep the title in a must-win situation in the last game of the match. It was the worst of matches, it was the best of matches. There were some really shabby draws, there were some really exciting games. But overall, the quality was quite high. Thanks to both players!
Sunday, October 17, 2004
36th Chess Olympiad Round 3 Results
Round 3 was played today.
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
Men
The United States over Iran 3.5-0.5. GM Onischuk drew with GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami, while Shabalov, Goldin and Gulko all beat their lower-rated opponents.
The results of other match-ups between the leaders were…
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
Men
The United States over Iran 3.5-0.5. GM Onischuk drew with GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami, while Shabalov, Goldin and Gulko all beat their lower-rated opponents.
The results of other match-ups between the leaders were…
- Ukraine over the Czech Republic 4-0
- The Netherlands over Mexico 3.5-0.5
- Poland over Austria 3.5-0.5
- Russia over Sweden 3-1
- Israel over Serbia-Montenegro 3-1
- Bulgaria over Slovakia 3-1
- Armenia over Estonia 3-1
- India over the Philippines 3-1
- England over Denmark 3-1
- France over Singapore 3-1
- Azerbaijan over Canada 2.5-1.5
- Scotland over Norway 2.5-1.5
- Bosnia-Herzegovina over Moldova 2.5-1.5
- Cuba over Latvia 2.5-1.5
- Georgia over China 2.5-1.5
- Spain A over Lithuania 2.5-1.5
- Argentina over Colombia 2.5-1.5
- Greece and Macedonia tied 2-2
Current standings are…
- Ukraine – 12
- Israel, Bulgaria, Russia – 10.5
- Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Scotland – 9.5
- India, Canada, the Netherlands, Cuba, United States – 9
- Georgia, England, Moldova, France, Greece, Serbia-Montenegro, Slovakia, Poland, Norway and Macedonia – 8.5
Women
The United States over Slovenia 2.5-0.5. GM Polgar drew with WIM Muzychuk, while Krush and Zatonshkih beat their lower-rated opponents.
The results of other match-ups between the leaders were…
- China over Latvia 3-0
- Slovakia over Mongolia 3-0
- Germany over Kazahkstan 2.5-0.5
- Hungary over Georgia 2.5-0.5
- England over Moldova 2.5-0.5
- Ukraine over Spain A 2.5-0.5
- Russia over Vietnam 2-1
- Poland over Serbia-Montenegro 2-1
- India over Bulgaria 2-1
- Sweden and the Netherlands tied 1.5-1.5
- Greece and Iran tied 1.5-1.5
Current standings are…
- Germany, China – 8.5
- United States, Russia, Hungary – 7.5
- The Netherlands, Poland, Ukraine, England, Sweden, India and Slovakia – 7
Saturday, October 16, 2004
36th Chess Olympiad Round 2 Results
Round 2 was played today.
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
The men's teams...
The U.S. (#10) faced Lithuania (#35) today. They received a rude awakening as all four games (Rozentalis-Onischuk, Sulskis-Shabalov, Kveinys-Kaidanov, Zagorskis-Novikov) were drawn. This 2-2 result drops the US from the list of leaders in the event.
All the lowest rated teams with a win in the previous round were knocked down today, as well as some of the top-rated teams (Spain A drew with Argentina, and Poland lost, in addition to the USA's draw). The leaders, with 2 team wins each (which are actually only used for tie breaking purposes) unless otherwise indicated, are the following countries, with the number of points so far indicated in parenthesis:
The U.S. (#3) also faced Lithuania (#20) in the women's event and won 2.5-0.5. GM Polgar drew with IM Cmilyte, while IM Krush defeated Batyte, and WGM Zatonskih defeated Ivoskaite.
Here too all the lowest rated teams with a win in the previous round were knocked down today, as well as some of the top-rated teams (Ukraine drew with England, and France lost). The leaders are the following countries:
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
The men's teams...
The U.S. (#10) faced Lithuania (#35) today. They received a rude awakening as all four games (Rozentalis-Onischuk, Sulskis-Shabalov, Kveinys-Kaidanov, Zagorskis-Novikov) were drawn. This 2-2 result drops the US from the list of leaders in the event.
All the lowest rated teams with a win in the previous round were knocked down today, as well as some of the top-rated teams (Spain A drew with Argentina, and Poland lost, in addition to the USA's draw). The leaders, with 2 team wins each (which are actually only used for tie breaking purposes) unless otherwise indicated, are the following countries, with the number of points so far indicated in parenthesis:
- Ukraine and the Czech Republic (8)
- Israel, Bulgaria, Serbia-Montenegro, Slovakia and Canada (7.5)
- Azerbaijan, Moldova, Norway, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Scotland (7)
- Russia, Armenia, Cuba, Greece, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Macedonia and the Philippines (6.5)
- India, Georgia, China and Denmark (6)
- England, Netherlands, France, Spain A, Lithuania, United States, Argentina, Colombia, Iran, Singapore and Mexico (5.5)
The U.S. (#3) also faced Lithuania (#20) in the women's event and won 2.5-0.5. GM Polgar drew with IM Cmilyte, while IM Krush defeated Batyte, and WGM Zatonskih defeated Ivoskaite.
Here too all the lowest rated teams with a win in the previous round were knocked down today, as well as some of the top-rated teams (Ukraine drew with England, and France lost). The leaders are the following countries:
- Germany, Kazahkstan and Latvia (6)
- China, Russia, the Netherlands, Vietnam, Sweden and Slovenia (5.5)
- US, India, Poland, Bulgaria, Serbia-Montenegro and Hungary (5)
- Georgia, Moldova, England, Greece, Iran, Ukraine and Spain A (4.5)
Round 3 is tomorrow.
[edited to correct error in standings]Leko-Kramnik 2004 Match Game 13
Match Game 13 – 10/16/2004
Leko (2743) - Kramnik (2760)
Benoni Defense [A73]
This game was quite interesting, and it was often unclear who was actually better. Fritz certainly seemed to swing back and forth even though there were no moves that could actually be pointed to as gross errors which would cause this swing. Definitely a game of subtle nuances, possibly the best of the match.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. Nd2 Bg7 8. e4 O-O 9. Be2 Na6 10. O-O Ne8 [10. ... Re8, Kramnik-Topalov, Dortmund 2001] 11. Nc4 Nac7 [Kramnik played ...Ne8 and ...Nac7 really fast; I have the feeling we will see a novelty. – Wegerle; More common is the immediate 11. ... f5.] 12. a4 [Preventing ...b5. – Wegerle] f5 13. exf5 [We have a terribly complicated position now. – Wegerle; 13. f3 =, Kramnik-Ivanchuk, Belgrade 1995] Rxf5 [Usual is 13. ... Bxf5.] 14. Bg4 Rf8 [TN; 14. ... Rf7.] 15. Bxc8 Rxc8 16. Qb3 b6!? [Kramnik weakens the light squares on the queenside but why? – Wegerle] 17. Nb5 Nxb5 18. axb5 Rc7 19. Bd2 Rcf7 20. Bc3 Qd7 [20. ... Qg4 21. f3 – Wegerle] 21. f3 g5 [Wow, is Kramnik now over-motivated? – Wegerle; Well, that's what ends up happening when you put yourself in this position by giving up a bunch of lifeless draws while a point behind in a short match.] 22. Ne3 Rf4 [Interesting decision. – Wegerle] 23. Rfe1 h5!? [A move for all or nothing. – Wegerle] 24. Qc2 Qf7 [24. ... Qxb5?? 25. Rxa7 - ChessBase] 25. h3 [Preventing ...g4. – Wegerle] Bd4 26. Bxd4 [26. Ra3! – Fritz] Rxd4 [26. ... cxd4 is another game entirely but Kramnik couldn't find anything at the board. – Crowther] 27. Nf5 [Up to this point Fritz was still giving White a small plus (although down from a larger plus earlier in the game). However, with his last few moves Kramnik had been applying a lot of pressure. The grandmaster consensus seems to be that this is the best move for relieving that pressure. This makes me think that Fritz was wrong and White didn't stand even a little better any more.] Qxf5 28. Qxf5 Rxf5 29. Rxe8+ Kf7 30. Rb8 Rdxd5 31. Rxa7+ Ke6 32. Re8+ Kf6 33. g4?! [33. Rh7! – Crowther] hxg4 34. hxg4 Rd1+ 35. Kf2 Re5 36. Rh8 [I have really no good feeling for Leko, 36. Rxe5 Kxe5 37. Rg7 was maybe also worth thinking about. – Wegerle] Rd2+ 37. Kg3 Ree2 38. Rf8+ Kg6 39. Rg8+ Kf6 40. Rf8+ Ke6 [Some quick moves just to reach the time control.] 41. Re8+ Kd5 42. Rxe2 Rxe2 43. Rg7 Re5 [Leko must find the best moves if he wants to save the half point, Leko starts thinking longer, every move has to be the right one now. – Wegerle] 44. Rb7! c4 [44. ... Kc4 is OK for White. – Wegerle] 45. Rxb6 Re2 46. 46. f4! [Leko found it, but it it's not over yet. – Wegerle] Re3+ 47. Kf2 gxf4 48. Rb8 [After thinking for about 10 minutes over 46. f4, Leko (and Kramnik) banged out these moves in seconds. Fascinating rook endgame. Fritz gives the advantage to Black now, but as before when it gave White an edge, I think it is wrong. With best play, this is already a draw.] Rb3 [48. ... Rg3 – Wegerle] 49. b6!? [49. g5 – ChessBase] Ke4 [49. ... Rxb2+ – Wegerle] 50. Re8+ Kd3 51. Re2! d5 52. Kf3! [It looks like the chances for Leko are better than I thought, maybe there is too little material on the board, it looks like that the game will end in a draw. – Wegerle] d4 53. g5 c3 54. bxc3 dxc3 55. Rg2 Rb2 [A tricky try. – Wegerle] 56. b7 Rxb7 57. Kxf4 Rb2 [Now Fritz sees a draw. – Wegerle] 58. Rg1 c2 59. Rc1 Rb1 60. Rxc2 Kxc2 61. g6 Kd3 62. Kf5 Rb5+ 63. Kf6 Rb6+ 64. Kf7 Rxg6 65. Kxg6 1/2-1/2
A fantastic game; too bad they weren't all like this! Leko leads 7-6 with one game to go; the last game is Monday 10/18/2004 at 3:00 pm Brissago time (9:00 am Eastern Time). Kramnik must win to keep the title (as the current title holder, he keeps it if the match ends in a 7-7 tie), so it should definitely be an exciting game.
[updated; edited with additional analysis]
Leko (2743) - Kramnik (2760)
Benoni Defense [A73]
This game was quite interesting, and it was often unclear who was actually better. Fritz certainly seemed to swing back and forth even though there were no moves that could actually be pointed to as gross errors which would cause this swing. Definitely a game of subtle nuances, possibly the best of the match.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. Nd2 Bg7 8. e4 O-O 9. Be2 Na6 10. O-O Ne8 [10. ... Re8, Kramnik-Topalov, Dortmund 2001] 11. Nc4 Nac7 [Kramnik played ...Ne8 and ...Nac7 really fast; I have the feeling we will see a novelty. – Wegerle; More common is the immediate 11. ... f5.] 12. a4 [Preventing ...b5. – Wegerle] f5 13. exf5 [We have a terribly complicated position now. – Wegerle; 13. f3 =, Kramnik-Ivanchuk, Belgrade 1995] Rxf5 [Usual is 13. ... Bxf5.] 14. Bg4 Rf8 [TN; 14. ... Rf7.] 15. Bxc8 Rxc8 16. Qb3 b6!? [Kramnik weakens the light squares on the queenside but why? – Wegerle] 17. Nb5 Nxb5 18. axb5 Rc7 19. Bd2 Rcf7 20. Bc3 Qd7 [20. ... Qg4 21. f3 – Wegerle] 21. f3 g5 [Wow, is Kramnik now over-motivated? – Wegerle; Well, that's what ends up happening when you put yourself in this position by giving up a bunch of lifeless draws while a point behind in a short match.] 22. Ne3 Rf4 [Interesting decision. – Wegerle] 23. Rfe1 h5!? [A move for all or nothing. – Wegerle] 24. Qc2 Qf7 [24. ... Qxb5?? 25. Rxa7 - ChessBase] 25. h3 [Preventing ...g4. – Wegerle] Bd4 26. Bxd4 [26. Ra3! – Fritz] Rxd4 [26. ... cxd4 is another game entirely but Kramnik couldn't find anything at the board. – Crowther] 27. Nf5 [Up to this point Fritz was still giving White a small plus (although down from a larger plus earlier in the game). However, with his last few moves Kramnik had been applying a lot of pressure. The grandmaster consensus seems to be that this is the best move for relieving that pressure. This makes me think that Fritz was wrong and White didn't stand even a little better any more.] Qxf5 28. Qxf5 Rxf5 29. Rxe8+ Kf7 30. Rb8 Rdxd5 31. Rxa7+ Ke6 32. Re8+ Kf6 33. g4?! [33. Rh7! – Crowther] hxg4 34. hxg4 Rd1+ 35. Kf2 Re5 36. Rh8 [I have really no good feeling for Leko, 36. Rxe5 Kxe5 37. Rg7 was maybe also worth thinking about. – Wegerle] Rd2+ 37. Kg3 Ree2 38. Rf8+ Kg6 39. Rg8+ Kf6 40. Rf8+ Ke6 [Some quick moves just to reach the time control.] 41. Re8+ Kd5 42. Rxe2 Rxe2 43. Rg7 Re5 [Leko must find the best moves if he wants to save the half point, Leko starts thinking longer, every move has to be the right one now. – Wegerle] 44. Rb7! c4 [44. ... Kc4 is OK for White. – Wegerle] 45. Rxb6 Re2 46. 46. f4! [Leko found it, but it it's not over yet. – Wegerle] Re3+ 47. Kf2 gxf4 48. Rb8 [After thinking for about 10 minutes over 46. f4, Leko (and Kramnik) banged out these moves in seconds. Fascinating rook endgame. Fritz gives the advantage to Black now, but as before when it gave White an edge, I think it is wrong. With best play, this is already a draw.] Rb3 [48. ... Rg3 – Wegerle] 49. b6!? [49. g5 – ChessBase] Ke4 [49. ... Rxb2+ – Wegerle] 50. Re8+ Kd3 51. Re2! d5 52. Kf3! [It looks like the chances for Leko are better than I thought, maybe there is too little material on the board, it looks like that the game will end in a draw. – Wegerle] d4 53. g5 c3 54. bxc3 dxc3 55. Rg2 Rb2 [A tricky try. – Wegerle] 56. b7 Rxb7 57. Kxf4 Rb2 [Now Fritz sees a draw. – Wegerle] 58. Rg1 c2 59. Rc1 Rb1 60. Rxc2 Kxc2 61. g6 Kd3 62. Kf5 Rb5+ 63. Kf6 Rb6+ 64. Kf7 Rxg6 65. Kxg6 1/2-1/2
A fantastic game; too bad they weren't all like this! Leko leads 7-6 with one game to go; the last game is Monday 10/18/2004 at 3:00 pm Brissago time (9:00 am Eastern Time). Kramnik must win to keep the title (as the current title holder, he keeps it if the match ends in a 7-7 tie), so it should definitely be an exciting game.
[updated; edited with additional analysis]
Friday, October 15, 2004
36th Chess Olympiad Round 1 Results
Round 1 of the 36th Chess Olympiad took place today.
Story on ChessBase with pictures
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
On the men's side...
On the team level, the U.S. (#10) beat the Dominican Republic (#73) by a score of 3.5-0.5. On the individual level, GM Onischuk (2653) beat IM Mateo (2453), GM Kaidanov (2611) beat IM Dominguez (2353, no relation) and GM Novikov (2588) beat FM Alvarado (2290). GM Gulko (2600) surprisingly was held to a draw by untitled player Puntier (2255).
It's interesting to note that there were absolutely no upsets. Every higher rated team won the match, with the single exception of Croatia (#28) which was held to a 2-2 draw by Iraq (#93). The only other relative failures were India (#5) and England (#6), which only scored 2.5-1.5 over their respective opponents, Uruguay (#68) and Turkey (#69).
On other boards, there were a few (but not many) upsets:
On the women's side...
On the team level, the U.S. (#3) beat Venezuela (#45) by a score of 2.5-0.5. On the individual level, GM Polgar (2567) beat WIM Sanchez-Castillo (2141), WGM Zatonskih (2440) beat Hernandez (2100), and WIM Shahade (2361) drew with WIM Martinez (2201).
There was one upset, with Malaysia (#56) beating Armenia (#14) 2-1. Also, Guatemala (#77) and Colombia (#55) held Mongolia (#31) and Slovakia (#12), respectively, to 1.5-1.5 draws.
The leaders after round 1 would be those teams that dispatched their opponents 3-0. Those teams are Ukraine, France, Bulgaria, Serbia-Montenegro, Hungary, the Netherlands, Germany, Greece, Kazhakstan, Vietnam, Sweden, Moldova, Latvia, England, Slovenia, Argentina, Switzerland, Israel, Croatia, Australia, Spain A, Spain B, Uzbekhistan, Estonia, Ecuador, Iran and Kyrgystan.
You can keep tabs on the Olympiad at http://www.36chessolympiad.com/. In particular, the rules of the event are here.
Story on ChessBase with pictures
Men's Results
Women's Results
All the games (ChessBase file download)
Round Bulletin (PDF download)
On the men's side...
On the team level, the U.S. (#10) beat the Dominican Republic (#73) by a score of 3.5-0.5. On the individual level, GM Onischuk (2653) beat IM Mateo (2453), GM Kaidanov (2611) beat IM Dominguez (2353, no relation) and GM Novikov (2588) beat FM Alvarado (2290). GM Gulko (2600) surprisingly was held to a draw by untitled player Puntier (2255).
It's interesting to note that there were absolutely no upsets. Every higher rated team won the match, with the single exception of Croatia (#28) which was held to a 2-2 draw by Iraq (#93). The only other relative failures were India (#5) and England (#6), which only scored 2.5-1.5 over their respective opponents, Uruguay (#68) and Turkey (#69).
On other boards, there were a few (but not many) upsets:
- GM Azmaiparashvili (2672) lost to FM Mikheev (2332)
- GM Nataf (2565) lost to FM Najjar (2337)
- GM Grigore (2491) lost to untitled player Ferrufino (2231)
- GM Goran (2535) lost to unrated player Salih
- GM Artashes (2584) drew with Gunbayar (2229)
- GM Sveshnikov (2512) drew with Nsubuga (2217)
- GM Campora (2549) drew with unrated player Mungroo
On the women's side...
On the team level, the U.S. (#3) beat Venezuela (#45) by a score of 2.5-0.5. On the individual level, GM Polgar (2567) beat WIM Sanchez-Castillo (2141), WGM Zatonskih (2440) beat Hernandez (2100), and WIM Shahade (2361) drew with WIM Martinez (2201).
There was one upset, with Malaysia (#56) beating Armenia (#14) 2-1. Also, Guatemala (#77) and Colombia (#55) held Mongolia (#31) and Slovakia (#12), respectively, to 1.5-1.5 draws.
The leaders after round 1 would be those teams that dispatched their opponents 3-0. Those teams are Ukraine, France, Bulgaria, Serbia-Montenegro, Hungary, the Netherlands, Germany, Greece, Kazhakstan, Vietnam, Sweden, Moldova, Latvia, England, Slovenia, Argentina, Switzerland, Israel, Croatia, Australia, Spain A, Spain B, Uzbekhistan, Estonia, Ecuador, Iran and Kyrgystan.
You can keep tabs on the Olympiad at http://www.36chessolympiad.com/. In particular, the rules of the event are here.
Chess Olympic Teams
The 36th Chess Olympiad began today in Calvià (Mallorca, Spain). 129 men's and 87 women's teams are participating, with 743 male and 342 female players.
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=1953
Something definitely worth nothing about the "U.S." teams in this event - I've indicated in parenthesis the countries where these players were born and raised.
Men’s Team
1 GM Shabalov Alexander 2608 (Latvia)
2 GM Onischuk Alexander 2653 (Russia)
3 GM Kaidanov Gregory S 2611 (Ukraine)
4 GM Goldin Alexander 2620 (Russia)
5 GM Novikov Igor A 2588 (Russia)
6 GM Gulko Boris F 2600 (Russia)
Women’s Team
1 GM Polgar Zsuzsa 2567 (Hungary)
2 IM Krush Irina 2464 (Ukraine)
3 WGM Zatonskih Anna 2440 (Ukraine)
4 WIM Shahade Jennifer 2361 (USA)
This is the American team??
[edited to revise counts]
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=1953
Something definitely worth nothing about the "U.S." teams in this event - I've indicated in parenthesis the countries where these players were born and raised.
Men’s Team
1 GM Shabalov Alexander 2608 (Latvia)
2 GM Onischuk Alexander 2653 (Russia)
3 GM Kaidanov Gregory S 2611 (Ukraine)
4 GM Goldin Alexander 2620 (Russia)
5 GM Novikov Igor A 2588 (Russia)
6 GM Gulko Boris F 2600 (Russia)
Women’s Team
1 GM Polgar Zsuzsa 2567 (Hungary)
2 IM Krush Irina 2464 (Ukraine)
3 WGM Zatonskih Anna 2440 (Ukraine)
4 WIM Shahade Jennifer 2361 (USA)
This is the American team??
[edited to revise counts]
Thursday, October 14, 2004
Kramnik-Leko 2004 Match Game 12
Match Game 12 – 10/14/2004
Kramnik (2760) - Leko (2743)
Caro-Kann Defense [B19]
Here's the game with some slight commentary by IM Wegerle. Unattributed comments are my own. Additional analysis was added on 12/13/2004 after reading Peter Leko's analysis in New In Chess 2004/8.
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 [10. ... Qc7] 11. Bf4 [11. Bd2] Qa5+ [11. ... Ngf6] 12. Bd2 Qc7 [This position is usually reached a move earlier because the intermediate Bf4 and ...Qa5+ are not played.] 13. O-O-O Ngf6 14. Ne4 O-O-O 15. g3 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 Bd6 [16. ... Nf6, Tal-Hübner, Montreal, 1979] 17. Kb1 [17. c4, Matanovic-Marovic, 1967] Rhe8 [17. ... Nf6, Agopov-Grischuk, ECC 2004] 18. Qh7 [TN; 18. Qe2, Belov-Burmakin, St Petersburg 2003] Rg8 19. c4 c5 20. d5! [The logical follow-up to the previous moves. - Leko] Nf6 [20. ... exd5 – Wegerle] 21. Qc2 exd5 22. cxd5 Qd7 [22. ... Be7 – Fritz] 23. Bc3! Rde8! [White has a slight edge in this position.] 24. Bxf6 gxf6 25. Qd3 [25. Nd2 Rg5 – Wegerle; a strange-looking but very interesting move, since 25. Nh4 Rg5! - Leko] f5 26. Nd2 b5! [Leko prevents Nc4 but weakens his pawn struture on the queenside. – Wegerle; A very committal move which I would have liked to avoid, but Black can't live without this move. - Leko] 27. Rhe1 Kb8! 28. Qc3 Rxe1! 29. Rxe1 c4! [White has missed the best continutation somwhere; this position is now perfectly OK for black.] 30. Nf3! [The correct approach. - Leko] f4! 31. g4!? [In retrospect, this move might be a little more than the postion can stand, 31. gxf4? Qf5+! – Wegerle; Wegerle suggested 31. Ne5 but Leko pointed out that after 31. ... Qf5 32. Ka1 Bxe5 33. Rxe5 Qd3 Black has nothing to worry about.] Bc7! [This move was probably missed by Kramnik, who had most probably expected 31. ... Qg4? - Leko] 32. Qd4 Qxg4 33. Qe4?! [Kramnik goes for all or nothing – Wegerle; 33. Qc5!?; 33. d6!; A mistake, but to me it looked more or less logical and still in the spirit of initiative at any price. - Leko] Qxh5 34. Nd4 Qg6! [Here Leko offered a draw, which Kramnik accepted after 4 minutes thought (at the time of the offer offer both players had 7 minutes on their clocks.)] 1/2-1/2
Leko leads 6.5-5.5 with two games to go; the next game is Saturday 10/16/2004 at 3:00 pm Brissago time (9:00 am Eastern Time). Kramnik can only allow half a point in the next two games, so I think Saturday's game will be exciting. Today's game was not bad at all; I just think they agreed to a draw too quickly.
Kramnik (2760) - Leko (2743)
Caro-Kann Defense [B19]
Here's the game with some slight commentary by IM Wegerle. Unattributed comments are my own. Additional analysis was added on 12/13/2004 after reading Peter Leko's analysis in New In Chess 2004/8.
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 [10. ... Qc7] 11. Bf4 [11. Bd2] Qa5+ [11. ... Ngf6] 12. Bd2 Qc7 [This position is usually reached a move earlier because the intermediate Bf4 and ...Qa5+ are not played.] 13. O-O-O Ngf6 14. Ne4 O-O-O 15. g3 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 Bd6 [16. ... Nf6, Tal-Hübner, Montreal, 1979] 17. Kb1 [17. c4, Matanovic-Marovic, 1967] Rhe8 [17. ... Nf6, Agopov-Grischuk, ECC 2004] 18. Qh7 [TN; 18. Qe2, Belov-Burmakin, St Petersburg 2003] Rg8 19. c4 c5 20. d5! [The logical follow-up to the previous moves. - Leko] Nf6 [20. ... exd5 – Wegerle] 21. Qc2 exd5 22. cxd5 Qd7 [22. ... Be7 – Fritz] 23. Bc3! Rde8! [White has a slight edge in this position.] 24. Bxf6 gxf6 25. Qd3 [25. Nd2 Rg5 – Wegerle; a strange-looking but very interesting move, since 25. Nh4 Rg5! - Leko] f5 26. Nd2 b5! [Leko prevents Nc4 but weakens his pawn struture on the queenside. – Wegerle; A very committal move which I would have liked to avoid, but Black can't live without this move. - Leko] 27. Rhe1 Kb8! 28. Qc3 Rxe1! 29. Rxe1 c4! [White has missed the best continutation somwhere; this position is now perfectly OK for black.] 30. Nf3! [The correct approach. - Leko] f4! 31. g4!? [In retrospect, this move might be a little more than the postion can stand, 31. gxf4? Qf5+! – Wegerle; Wegerle suggested 31. Ne5 but Leko pointed out that after 31. ... Qf5 32. Ka1 Bxe5 33. Rxe5 Qd3 Black has nothing to worry about.] Bc7! [This move was probably missed by Kramnik, who had most probably expected 31. ... Qg4? - Leko] 32. Qd4 Qxg4 33. Qe4?! [Kramnik goes for all or nothing – Wegerle; 33. Qc5!?; 33. d6!; A mistake, but to me it looked more or less logical and still in the spirit of initiative at any price. - Leko] Qxh5 34. Nd4 Qg6! [Here Leko offered a draw, which Kramnik accepted after 4 minutes thought (at the time of the offer offer both players had 7 minutes on their clocks.)] 1/2-1/2
Leko leads 6.5-5.5 with two games to go; the next game is Saturday 10/16/2004 at 3:00 pm Brissago time (9:00 am Eastern Time). Kramnik can only allow half a point in the next two games, so I think Saturday's game will be exciting. Today's game was not bad at all; I just think they agreed to a draw too quickly.
Kasimdzhanov-Kasparov Match in January 2005?
Scooped on my own blog ... maybe.
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=1952
http://www.fide.com/news.asp?id=575
The World Championship Match between FIDE Champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan and the world's highest rated player, Garry Kasparov of Russia, shall be held January 7th-24th, 2005, in Dubai. The winner of this match will play the winner of the Leko-Kramnik match later in 2005 in a reunification match.
Let me make a prediction right now: Kasparov is going to blow through Kasimdzhanov without losing a single game. The match is scheduled for 12 games; it's not going to go the distance. The two players are just not in the same league; Kasparov's rating is 2813 while Kasimdzhanov is #47 with a rating of 2650. (For comparison, Kramnik and Leko are #3 and #6, respectively.)
[This is not as definite as you would be led to believe from reading the FIDE press release; see my blog entry dated 10/29/2004.]
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=1952
http://www.fide.com/news.asp?id=575
The World Championship Match between FIDE Champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan and the world's highest rated player, Garry Kasparov of Russia, shall be held January 7th-24th, 2005, in Dubai. The winner of this match will play the winner of the Leko-Kramnik match later in 2005 in a reunification match.
Let me make a prediction right now: Kasparov is going to blow through Kasimdzhanov without losing a single game. The match is scheduled for 12 games; it's not going to go the distance. The two players are just not in the same league; Kasparov's rating is 2813 while Kasimdzhanov is #47 with a rating of 2650. (For comparison, Kramnik and Leko are #3 and #6, respectively.)
[This is not as definite as you would be led to believe from reading the FIDE press release; see my blog entry dated 10/29/2004.]
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
History of the Chess Olympiads (courtesy of Wikipedia)
| Year | Event | Location | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | 1st unofficial Chess Olympiad The Chess Olympiad (individual) |  Paris | Czechoslovakia 31 | Hungary 30 | Switzerland 29 |
| 1926 | 2nd unofficial Chess Olympiad The Team Tournament (part of FIDE summit) |  Budapest | Hungary 9 | Yugoslavia 8 | Romania 5 |
| 1927 | 1st Chess Olympiad |  London | Hungary 40 | Denmark 38.5 | England 36.5 |
| 1928 | 2nd Chess Olympiad |  The Hague | Hungary 44 | USA 39.5 | Poland 37 |
| 1930 | 3rd Chess Olympiad |  Hamburg | Poland 48.5 | Hungary 47 | Germany 44.5 |
| 1931 | 4th Chess Olympiad |  Prague | USA 48 | Poland 47 | Czechoslovakia 46.5 |
| 1933 | 5th Chess Olympiad | Folkestone | USA 39 | Czechoslovakia 37.5 | Sweden 34 |
| 1935 | 6th Chess Olympiad |  Warsaw | USA 54 | Sweden 52.5 | Poland 52 |
| 1936 | 3rd unofficial Chess Olympiad non-FIDE unofficial Chess Olympiad |  Munich | Hungary 110.5 | Poland 108 | Germany 106.5 |
| 1937 | 7th Chess Olympiad |  Stockholm | USA 54.5 | Hungary 48.5 | Poland 47 |
| 1939 | 8th Chess Olympiad |  Buenos Aires | Germany 36 | Poland 35.5 | Estonia 33.5 |
| 1950 | 9th Chess Olympiad |  Dubrovnik | Yugoslavia 45.5 | Argentina 43.5 | W. Germany 40.5 |
| 1952 | 10th Chess Olympiad |  Helsinki | USSR 21 | Argentina 19.5 | Yugoslavia 19 |
| 1954 | 11th Chess Olympiad | Amsterdam | USSR 34 | Argentina 27 | Yugoslavia 26.5 |
| 1956 | 12th Chess Olympiad |  Moscow | USSR 31 | Yugoslavia 26.5 | Hungary 26.5 |
| 1958 | 13th Chess Olympiad |  Munich | USSR 34.5 | Yugoslavia 29 | Argentina 25.5 |
| 1960 | 14th Chess Olympiad |  Leipzig | USSR 34 | USA 29 | Yugoslavia 27 |
| 1962 | 15th Chess Olympiad |  Varna | USSR 31.5 | Yugoslavia 28 | Argentina 26 |
| 1964 | 16th Chess Olympiad |  Tel Aviv | USSR 36.5 | Yugoslavia 32 | W. Germany 30.5 |
| 1966 | 17th Chess Olympiad |  La Habana | USSR 39.5 | USA 34.5 | Hungary 33.5 |
| 1968 | 18th Chess Olympiad |  Lugano | USSR 39.5 | Yugoslavia 31 | Bulgaria 30 |
| 1970 | 19th Chess Olympiad | Siegen | USSR 27.5 | Hungary 26.5 | Yugoslavia 26 |
| 1972 | 20th Chess Olympiad | Skopje | USSR 42 | Hungary 40.5 | Yugoslavia 38 |
| 1974 | 21st Chess Olympiad | Nice | USSR 46 | Yugoslavia 37.5 | USA 36.5 |
| 1976 | 22nd Chess Olympiad | Haifa | USA 37 | Netherlands 36.5 | England 35.5 |
| 1976 | Against-Israeli Chess Olympiad |  Tripoli | El Salvador | Tunisia | Pakistan |
| 1978 | 23rd Chess Olympiad | Buenos Aires | Hungary 37 | USSR 36 | USA 35 |
| 1980 | 24th Chess Olympiad |  Valletta | USSR 39 | Hungary 39 | USA 35 |
| 1982 | 25th Chess Olympiad | Lucerne | USSR 42.5 | Czechoslovakia 36 | USA 35 |
| 1984 | 26th Chess Olympiad |  Thessaloniki | USSR 41 | England 37 | USA 35 |
| 1986 | 27th Chess Olympiad |  Dubai | USSR 40 | England 39 | USA 38 |
| 1988 | 28th Chess Olympiad | Thessaloniki | USSR 40.5 | England 34.5 | Netherlands 34.5 |
| 1990 | 29th Chess Olympiad | Novi Sad | USSR 39 | USA 35.5 | England 35.5 |
| 1992 | 30th Chess Olympiad |  Manila | Russia 39 | Uzbekistan 35 | Armenia 34.5 |
| 1994 | 31st Chess Olympiad |  Moscow | Russia 37.5 | Bosnia/Herzogovina 35 | Russia II 34.5 |
| 1996 | 32nd Chess Olympiad |  Yerevan | Russia 38.5 | Ukraine 35 | USA 34 |
| 1998 | 33rd Chess Olympiad | Elista | Russia 35.5 | USA 34.5 | Ukraine 32.5 |
| 2000 | 34th Chess Olympiad |  Istanbul | Russia 38 | Germany 37 | Ukraine 35.5 |
| 2002 | 35th Chess Olympiad |  Bled | Russia 38.5 | Hungary 37.5 | Armenia 35 |
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Leko-Kramnik 2004 Match Game 11
Match Game 11 – 10/12/2004
Leko (2743) - Kramnik (2760)
Queen's Indian Defense [E15]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qa4 [Game 9 followed the main line 5. b3.] Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. O-O O-O 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Bf4 a6 11. Rfd1 d6 12. Qc2 [12. Rd2, Zaltsman-Arnason, New York 1986] Qc7 13. Rac1 Rd8 14. Qd2 Nh5 [TN] 15. Bg5 Nf6 16. Bf4 Nh5 17. Bg5 Nf6 1/2-1/2
Another day, another boring game. Leko leads 6-5 with three games to go; the next game is Thursday 10/14/2004 at 3:00 pm Brissago time (9:00 am Eastern Time).
[updated]
Leko (2743) - Kramnik (2760)
Queen's Indian Defense [E15]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qa4 [Game 9 followed the main line 5. b3.] Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. O-O O-O 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Bf4 a6 11. Rfd1 d6 12. Qc2 [12. Rd2, Zaltsman-Arnason, New York 1986] Qc7 13. Rac1 Rd8 14. Qd2 Nh5 [TN] 15. Bg5 Nf6 16. Bf4 Nh5 17. Bg5 Nf6 1/2-1/2
Another day, another boring game. Leko leads 6-5 with three games to go; the next game is Thursday 10/14/2004 at 3:00 pm Brissago time (9:00 am Eastern Time).
[updated]
Sunday, October 10, 2004
Capablanca-Tartakower, New York 1924
This game, from round 6 of the New York 1924 Tournament, was Capa's first win after 4 draws and a loss (against Reti in round 5). I had mentioned it in an earlier post where I recommended the tournament book. The highly challenging and instructive rook endgame from this game is featured in Pal Benko's "Endgame Lab" column in this month's Chess Life magazine. The column includes analysis by Alekhine, Goldin, Kasparov and Zaitsev, as well as insights from Benko himself. A great read, the best column in this month's magazine.
FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
This month's issue of Chess Life arrived in my mailbox yesterday, and I just had a chance to look at it. Very apropos of my last post about the Kasimdzhanov-Kasparov match, Larry Evans (p. 44) has this to say about the FIDE President:
How does professional chess end up with people like this in charge?!
FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov rules Kalmykia with an iron fist and is credibly accused of imprisoning and killing dissidents.I guess trying to mooch some first-class accomodations from the World Championship match organizers is one of the nicer things he's done. This guy makes Florencio Campomanes look like a Boy Scout.
How does professional chess end up with people like this in charge?!
Kasimdzhanov-Kasparov Match?
FIDE has extended its deadline for bids for a 12-game Kasimdzhanov - Kasparov match in 2005, with the winner of this match to play a reunification match against the winner of the Kramnik - Leko match in order to vest the world chess champion title uniquely on one player.
Some of the provisions of the bid regulations . . .
1.4 Organiser shall guarantee a minimum prize fund of USD 1,000,000 plus a minimum of 20% of the prize fund as contribution to FIDE.
8.1 Stipend for the Chairman of the Appeals Committee [who according to 12.2.1 shall be the FIDE President or Deputy President] USD 10,000
12.2.3(a) FIDE President has the right to first class travel by air, sea or rail, at the Organizers' expense.
(b) Accommodation should be reserved for the Principals and other designated FIDE officials in a 5 star hotel. For the FIDE President – A suite of appropriate protocol status.For FIDE Deputy President – a suite.
(c) The President and his Deputy shall be provided with full complimentary service for extras at the hotel, at the expense of the organizers.
(d) For FIDE President, a chauffeur-driven car.
Yeah, good luck with that, buddy. No wonder there's been such difficulty arranging a match!
Some of the provisions of the bid regulations . . .
1.4 Organiser shall guarantee a minimum prize fund of USD 1,000,000 plus a minimum of 20% of the prize fund as contribution to FIDE.
8.1 Stipend for the Chairman of the Appeals Committee [who according to 12.2.1 shall be the FIDE President or Deputy President] USD 10,000
12.2.3(a) FIDE President has the right to first class travel by air, sea or rail, at the Organizers' expense.
(b) Accommodation should be reserved for the Principals and other designated FIDE officials in a 5 star hotel. For the FIDE President – A suite of appropriate protocol status.For FIDE Deputy President – a suite.
(c) The President and his Deputy shall be provided with full complimentary service for extras at the hotel, at the expense of the organizers.
(d) For FIDE President, a chauffeur-driven car.
Yeah, good luck with that, buddy. No wonder there's been such difficulty arranging a match!
Kramnik-Leko 2004 Match Game 10
Match Game 10 – 10/10/2004
Kramnik (2760) - Leko (2743)
Ruy Lopez, Möller Defense [C78]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. c3 b5 [6. ... Ne4 - ECO] 7. Bc2!? d5 8. exd5 Qxd5 9. a4 b4 [TN] 10. d4 exd4 11. Bb3 Qd8 12. Re1+ Be7 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Qxd4! Qxd4 15. cxd4 Bb7 16. Bg5 h6!? 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Nd2 Rg8 19. g3 Rd8 20. Rac1 Rd7 21. Nc4 Rg5 22. Ne3 Kf8 23. h4 Ra5 24. d5?! [24. Bd1! - Lacasa] Rc5 25. Rcd1 c6 26. Nf5 cxd5 27. Rd4 Rdc7 28. Red1 Rc1 29. Bxd5 Rxd1+ 30. Rxd1 Bc8 31. Be4 Bxf5 32. Bxf5 b3 33. Rd3 Rc4 34. Bd7 Rb4 35. Bc6 1/2-1/2
Leko defended extremely well and again hung on to his lead 5.5-4.5; the next game is Tuesday 10/12/2004 at 3:00 pm Brissago time (9:00 am Eastern Time).
Kramnik (2760) - Leko (2743)
Ruy Lopez, Möller Defense [C78]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. c3 b5 [6. ... Ne4 - ECO] 7. Bc2!? d5 8. exd5 Qxd5 9. a4 b4 [TN] 10. d4 exd4 11. Bb3 Qd8 12. Re1+ Be7 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Qxd4! Qxd4 15. cxd4 Bb7 16. Bg5 h6!? 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Nd2 Rg8 19. g3 Rd8 20. Rac1 Rd7 21. Nc4 Rg5 22. Ne3 Kf8 23. h4 Ra5 24. d5?! [24. Bd1! - Lacasa] Rc5 25. Rcd1 c6 26. Nf5 cxd5 27. Rd4 Rdc7 28. Red1 Rc1 29. Bxd5 Rxd1+ 30. Rxd1 Bc8 31. Be4 Bxf5 32. Bxf5 b3 33. Rd3 Rc4 34. Bd7 Rb4 35. Bc6 1/2-1/2
Leko defended extremely well and again hung on to his lead 5.5-4.5; the next game is Tuesday 10/12/2004 at 3:00 pm Brissago time (9:00 am Eastern Time).
Saturday, October 09, 2004
The Capablanca Club
It is well known that Capa lost the least number of games (and the smallest percentage of games played) of any grandmaster, with only 35* losses (23 with Black and 12 with White) over the course of a professional career spanning 30 years and approximately 700 official games. The list of players who defeated Capablanca as an adult (not counting his numerous simultaneous exhibits, of course) numbers 26 . . .
Seven wins
Alexander Alekhine - 1927 Match Games #1,11,12,21,32,34 and AVRO 1938
Two wins
Frank Marshall - 1909 Match Game #7 and Habana 1913
Emmanuel Lasker - Saint Petersburg 1914 and Moscow 1935
Richard Spielmann - Bad Kissingen 1928 and Carlsbad 1929
One win
Roy Black - New York 1911
Akiba Rubenstein - San Sebastian 1911
Charles Jaffe - New York 1913 (**)
David Janowsky - Habana 1913
Arnold Aurbach - 1913 Match Game #1
Eugene Znosko-Borovsky - 1913 Match Game #2
Siegbert Tarrasch - Saint Petersburg 1914
Oscar Chajes - New York 1916
Richard Reti - New York 1924
Alexander Ilyin-Zhenevsky - Moscow 1925
Boris Verlinsky - Moscow 1925
Friedrich Saemisch - Carlsbad 1929
Mir Sultan-Khan - Hasting 1930
George Thomas - Hastings 1934
Andre Lilienthal - Hastings 1934
Nikolai Riumin - Moscow 1935
Samuel Reshevsky - Margate 1935
Salo Flohr - Nottingham 1936
Erich Eliskases - Semmering Baden 1937
Paul Keres - AVRO 1938 (***)
Mikhail Botvinnik - AVRO 1938
Max Euwe - AVRO 1938
(*) The number is often given as 34 with Aurbach's 1913 exhibition match win excluded..
(**) Capablanca and Jaffe played a short informal match in New York in 1912. The first game (10/18/1912) was drawn, and Capablanca won game 2 (10/23/1912) and game 3 (11/9/1912). According to one source I found there was a fourth game that Jaffe won, but I have not been able to obtain a game score or even confirmation of this game's existence.
(***) Keres is the only player with a plus score against Capablanca over more than one game, +1 -0 =5.
Seven wins
Alexander Alekhine - 1927 Match Games #1,11,12,21,32,34 and AVRO 1938
Two wins
Frank Marshall - 1909 Match Game #7 and Habana 1913
Emmanuel Lasker - Saint Petersburg 1914 and Moscow 1935
Richard Spielmann - Bad Kissingen 1928 and Carlsbad 1929
One win
Roy Black - New York 1911
Akiba Rubenstein - San Sebastian 1911
Charles Jaffe - New York 1913 (**)
David Janowsky - Habana 1913
Arnold Aurbach - 1913 Match Game #1
Eugene Znosko-Borovsky - 1913 Match Game #2
Siegbert Tarrasch - Saint Petersburg 1914
Oscar Chajes - New York 1916
Richard Reti - New York 1924
Alexander Ilyin-Zhenevsky - Moscow 1925
Boris Verlinsky - Moscow 1925
Friedrich Saemisch - Carlsbad 1929
Mir Sultan-Khan - Hasting 1930
George Thomas - Hastings 1934
Andre Lilienthal - Hastings 1934
Nikolai Riumin - Moscow 1935
Samuel Reshevsky - Margate 1935
Salo Flohr - Nottingham 1936
Erich Eliskases - Semmering Baden 1937
Paul Keres - AVRO 1938 (***)
Mikhail Botvinnik - AVRO 1938
Max Euwe - AVRO 1938
(*) The number is often given as 34 with Aurbach's 1913 exhibition match win excluded..
(**) Capablanca and Jaffe played a short informal match in New York in 1912. The first game (10/18/1912) was drawn, and Capablanca won game 2 (10/23/1912) and game 3 (11/9/1912). According to one source I found there was a fourth game that Jaffe won, but I have not been able to obtain a game score or even confirmation of this game's existence.
(***) Keres is the only player with a plus score against Capablanca over more than one game, +1 -0 =5.
Alekhine-Capablanca, AVRO 1938
Alekhine-Capablanca
Amsterdam, 11/19/1938 (Capablanca's 50th birthday)
AVRO Tournament Round 9
French Defense [C06]
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 Qb6 8. Nf3 cxd4 9. cxd4 Bb4+?! [9. ... f6 is better. - Kasparov] 10. Kf1!? [This leads to more spirited play, whereas after 10. Bd2 Black can force the exchange of queens. - Alekhine] Be7 [10. ... f6; Spielmann-Stolz 1930] 11. a3 Nf8 [11. ... O-O 12. h4! - Euwe; 11. ... a5!? - ECO] 12. b4 Bd7 13. Be3 Nd8?! [13. ... Rc8 - Panov; 13. ... f5 - Kotov] 14. Nc3 a5 [Kasparov and Alekhine give this move a ?! but suggest nothing better. ECO also provides no alternative move here.] 15. Na4! Qa7 16. b5 b6 17. g3 f5 18. Kg2 [±, ECO] Nf7 19. Qd2! h6 20. h4 Nh7 21. h5! Nfg5 22. Nh4 Ne5 23. Qb2 Kf7?! [23. ... O-O - Kotov] 24. f3 Neg5 25. g4 fxg4 26. Bg6+! Kg8 27. f4! Nf3 28. Bxh7+! Rxh7 29. Ng6 Bd8 30. Rac1! Be8 31. Kg3! Qf7 32. Kxg4 Nh4 33. Nxh4 Qxh5+ 34. Kg3 Qf7 35. Nf3. In this lost position, Capablanca lost on time. [Capa was clearly getting slower as he aged; the only other occasion on which he ever lost on time was in Moscow 1935.]
This game constitutes the only time that Alekhine beat Capablanca outside their 1927 match. It's also the last time these two chess giants met over the board (they both participated in the Buenos Aires 1939 Chess Olympiad but did not face each other), with Capa retiring from professional chess due to ill health just 10 months after this game.
The final tally between these two players was Capablanca 9 wins, Alekhine 7 wins and 33 draws.
Amsterdam, 11/19/1938 (Capablanca's 50th birthday)
AVRO Tournament Round 9
French Defense [C06]
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 Qb6 8. Nf3 cxd4 9. cxd4 Bb4+?! [9. ... f6 is better. - Kasparov] 10. Kf1!? [This leads to more spirited play, whereas after 10. Bd2 Black can force the exchange of queens. - Alekhine] Be7 [10. ... f6; Spielmann-Stolz 1930] 11. a3 Nf8 [11. ... O-O 12. h4! - Euwe; 11. ... a5!? - ECO] 12. b4 Bd7 13. Be3 Nd8?! [13. ... Rc8 - Panov; 13. ... f5 - Kotov] 14. Nc3 a5 [Kasparov and Alekhine give this move a ?! but suggest nothing better. ECO also provides no alternative move here.] 15. Na4! Qa7 16. b5 b6 17. g3 f5 18. Kg2 [±, ECO] Nf7 19. Qd2! h6 20. h4 Nh7 21. h5! Nfg5 22. Nh4 Ne5 23. Qb2 Kf7?! [23. ... O-O - Kotov] 24. f3 Neg5 25. g4 fxg4 26. Bg6+! Kg8 27. f4! Nf3 28. Bxh7+! Rxh7 29. Ng6 Bd8 30. Rac1! Be8 31. Kg3! Qf7 32. Kxg4 Nh4 33. Nxh4 Qxh5+ 34. Kg3 Qf7 35. Nf3. In this lost position, Capablanca lost on time. [Capa was clearly getting slower as he aged; the only other occasion on which he ever lost on time was in Moscow 1935.]
This game constitutes the only time that Alekhine beat Capablanca outside their 1927 match. It's also the last time these two chess giants met over the board (they both participated in the Buenos Aires 1939 Chess Olympiad but did not face each other), with Capa retiring from professional chess due to ill health just 10 months after this game.
The final tally between these two players was Capablanca 9 wins, Alekhine 7 wins and 33 draws.
Capablanca-Alekhine, AVRO 1938
Capablanca-Alekhine
Amsterdam, 11/8/1938, AVRO Tournament Round 2
Queen's Indian Defense [E17]
1. PQ4 NKB3 2. PQB4 PK3 3. NKB3 PQN3 4. PKN3 BN2 5. BN2 BK2 6. O-O O-O 7. QB2 [The main line is 7. NB3.] BK5 8. QN3 [8. QQ2 and 8. QR4 are also options, the latter often transposing back to the main line.] NB3 9. BK3 PQ4 10. QNQ2 PxP 11. QxBP BQ4 12. QB2 [12. QB3!? RB1 is unclear. - Matanovic, Ugrinovic] PKR3 13. KRQ1 RB1 14. BB4 QK1 15. PQR3 NQR4 16. PQB4 NN2 17. NK1 BxB 18. NxB PB4 19. NPxP NPxP 20. QN2 NQR4 21. PxP RxP 22. QRN1 QB3 23. NK1 NQ4 24. BK6 NB6 25. BxN RxB 26. KRB1 RB1 27. RxR QxR 28. PQR4 QxQ 29. RxQ RB8 30. RN1 RB6 31. RN8+ KR2 32. RN5 NB5 33. NxN RxN 34. RN7 BB3 35. NQ3 RxP 36. RxBP PQR4 37. NB5 RR8+ 38. KN2 PR5 39. RR7 PR6 40. NxP BN7 41. NB4 BQ5 42. RR4 BN7 43. PK4 PN4 44. RR7+ KN1 45. NQ5 BQ5 46. RR8+ KB2 47. NN4 RQN8 48. NB2 BxP Draw agreed
Amsterdam, 11/8/1938, AVRO Tournament Round 2
Queen's Indian Defense [E17]
1. PQ4 NKB3 2. PQB4 PK3 3. NKB3 PQN3 4. PKN3 BN2 5. BN2 BK2 6. O-O O-O 7. QB2 [The main line is 7. NB3.] BK5 8. QN3 [8. QQ2 and 8. QR4 are also options, the latter often transposing back to the main line.] NB3 9. BK3 PQ4 10. QNQ2 PxP 11. QxBP BQ4 12. QB2 [12. QB3!? RB1 is unclear. - Matanovic, Ugrinovic] PKR3 13. KRQ1 RB1 14. BB4 QK1 15. PQR3 NQR4 16. PQB4 NN2 17. NK1 BxB 18. NxB PB4 19. NPxP NPxP 20. QN2 NQR4 21. PxP RxP 22. QRN1 QB3 23. NK1 NQ4 24. BK6 NB6 25. BxN RxB 26. KRB1 RB1 27. RxR QxR 28. PQR4 QxQ 29. RxQ RB8 30. RN1 RB6 31. RN8+ KR2 32. RN5 NB5 33. NxN RxN 34. RN7 BB3 35. NQ3 RxP 36. RxBP PQR4 37. NB5 RR8+ 38. KN2 PR5 39. RR7 PR6 40. NxP BN7 41. NB4 BQ5 42. RR4 BN7 43. PK4 PN4 44. RR7+ KN1 45. NQ5 BQ5 46. RR8+ KB2 47. NN4 RQN8 48. NB2 BxP Draw agreed
Leko-Kramnik 2004 Match Game 9
Match Game 9 – 10/9/2004
Leko (2743) - Kramnik (2760)
Queen's Indian Defense [E15]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 Bb7 8. Bg2 d5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. O-O O-O 11. Bf4 Na6 12. Qc2 Re8 13. Rfd1 c6 14. Ne5!? [14. Qb2, Salov-Hjartarson, Rotterdam 1989] h6 15. a3 Nc7 16. e4 Ne6 1/2-1/2
This position was reached in Van der Sterren - Epishin, Newark 1995. I know this happens in professional chess on occasion, but in a world championship match and with a game nine years old?! Come on now! And Leko again let himself get into trouble with only 36 minutes left until the time control on move 40; Kramnik had 1 hour 40 minutes. How could Kramnik NOT push forward given that he's a point behind? Ridiculous! I have followed the match with some interest, but this game in particular is disgusting!
Leko keeps his lead 5-4; the next game is tomorrow Sunday 10/10/2004 at 3:00 pm Brissago time (9:00 am Eastern Time).
[edited to add Van der Sterren - Epishin game]
In Spanish - if I try to change the notation I'll probably fubar it. So, I'll just give you the following handy-dandy translation guide.
T=Rook, A=Bishop, C=Knight, D=Queen, R=King
17.Ae3 Tc8 18.b4 dxe4 19.Cxe4 Cd5 20.Db3 f6 21.Cg6 f5?! 22.Cc3 Af6 23.Cxd5 cxd5 24.Dd3+/= Tc4 25.Ce5 Axe5 26.dxe5 Te4 27.Axe4?! fxe4 28.Db3 Rh8 29.Db2 Te7 30.h4 Td7 31.Ad4 De8 32.De2 Tf7 33.Dh5 Rh7 34.a4 g6 35.Dg4 h5 36.De2 Tf3 37.Ae3 g5 38.hxg5 h4 39.gxh4 Dh5 40.Rf1 Dg4 41.Re1 d4 42.Txd4 Cxd4 43.Axd4 e3 44.Axe3 Dg1+ 45.Df1 Txe3+ 46.fxe3 Dxe3+ 47.De2 Dc3+ 48.Rf2 Dxa1 49.Dd3+ Rg7 50.Dd7+ Rg6 51.Dxb7 Dd4+ 52.Re2 Dc4+ 53.Re3 Dc3+ 54.Rf4 Dd2+ 55.Rf3 Dc3+ 56.Re4 Dc4+ 57.Re3 1/2-1/2
Leko (2743) - Kramnik (2760)
Queen's Indian Defense [E15]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 Bb7 8. Bg2 d5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. O-O O-O 11. Bf4 Na6 12. Qc2 Re8 13. Rfd1 c6 14. Ne5!? [14. Qb2, Salov-Hjartarson, Rotterdam 1989] h6 15. a3 Nc7 16. e4 Ne6 1/2-1/2
This position was reached in Van der Sterren - Epishin, Newark 1995. I know this happens in professional chess on occasion, but in a world championship match and with a game nine years old?! Come on now! And Leko again let himself get into trouble with only 36 minutes left until the time control on move 40; Kramnik had 1 hour 40 minutes. How could Kramnik NOT push forward given that he's a point behind? Ridiculous! I have followed the match with some interest, but this game in particular is disgusting!
Leko keeps his lead 5-4; the next game is tomorrow Sunday 10/10/2004 at 3:00 pm Brissago time (9:00 am Eastern Time).
[edited to add Van der Sterren - Epishin game]
In Spanish - if I try to change the notation I'll probably fubar it. So, I'll just give you the following handy-dandy translation guide.
T=Rook, A=Bishop, C=Knight, D=Queen, R=King
17.Ae3 Tc8 18.b4 dxe4 19.Cxe4 Cd5 20.Db3 f6 21.Cg6 f5?! 22.Cc3 Af6 23.Cxd5 cxd5 24.Dd3+/= Tc4 25.Ce5 Axe5 26.dxe5 Te4 27.Axe4?! fxe4 28.Db3 Rh8 29.Db2 Te7 30.h4 Td7 31.Ad4 De8 32.De2 Tf7 33.Dh5 Rh7 34.a4 g6 35.Dg4 h5 36.De2 Tf3 37.Ae3 g5 38.hxg5 h4 39.gxh4 Dh5 40.Rf1 Dg4 41.Re1 d4 42.Txd4 Cxd4 43.Axd4 e3 44.Axe3 Dg1+ 45.Df1 Txe3+ 46.fxe3 Dxe3+ 47.De2 Dc3+ 48.Rf2 Dxa1 49.Dd3+ Rg7 50.Dd7+ Rg6 51.Dxb7 Dd4+ 52.Re2 Dc4+ 53.Re3 Dc3+ 54.Rf4 Dd2+ 55.Rf3 Dc3+ 56.Re4 Dc4+ 57.Re3 1/2-1/2
Capablanca-Alekhine, Nottingham 1936
Capablanca - Alekhine
Nottingham, 8/11/1936, Round 2
Dutch Defense [A81]
This was the first meeting between the two players since their world championship match in 1927; they had studiously avoided playing in the same tournaments since relations between them had soured in the aftermath of failed negotiations for a return match for the crown.
1. PQ4 PK3 2. NKB3 PKB4 3. PKN3 NKB3 4. BN2 BK2 5. O-O O-O 6. PB4 NK5 [Alekhine's signature continuation] 7. QN3 [Besides this move, Alekhine's opponents also tried 7. QNQ2 (Saemisch-Alekhine, Dresden 1936), 7. NK1 (Flohr-Alehkine, Podebrady 1936) and 7. QB2 (Fine-Alekhine, Amsterdam 1936). However, the correct continuation turns out to be 7. PQ5!, which was found by Reshevsky.] BB3 8. RQ1 QK1 9. NB3 NB3! 10. NQN5 [10. QB2 - Alekhine] BQ1 11. QB2 PQ3 12. PQ5 [12. PQR3 - Alekhine] NN5 13. QN3 NR3 14. PxP N(R3)B4 15. QB2 NxKP 16. KNQ4 [16. BK3 - Alekhine] NxN 17. NxN BB3 18. NN5 [18. BK3 - Alekhine] QK2 19. BK3 QK2 20. NQ4 BQ2 21. QRB1 QRK1 22. PQN4 PQN3 23. NB3? [23. QN3 - Alekhine] NB6 24. RQ3 PB5?
Here Alekhine thought he was winning both exchanges but in fact was trading three minor pieces for two rooks. I must admit the position is quite hypnotic; when analyzing this game, I thought black was up two exchanges in the final position until I actually counted the pieces on the board. This position and its associated error are featured in The Inner Game of Chess by Soltis (a book about accurate calculation in chess). The simple 24. ... BQR5 would have left Black with a superior (but not yet won) position after White's final inaccuracy on the 23rd move. The game continued ...
25. PxP BB4 26. QQ2 BxR 27 PxB PB4? [Still not realizing his error. Black could have abandoned his combinaton with 27. ... NR5 with an inferior (but not yet lost) position.] 28. RxN BxR 29. QxB QB3 [Also the middle game would be hopeless. - Alekhine] 30 QxQ PxQ 31. NQ2! PB4 32. PN5 PQR4 33. NB1 KB2 34. NN3 KN3 35. BB3 RK2 36. KB1 KB3 37. BQ2 KN3
There was a minor incident in this game at adjournment. Alekhine was so absorbed in the position that he made at the board this last move, which should have been sealed since it was 6:15 (adjournment was scheduled for 6:00 for a two-hour dinner break). The tournament director asked Capablanca to seal a move, which he did, 38. PQR4. However, when the game was due to resume, Alekhine resigned without even asking what the sealed move was; his position was clearly lost.
Alekhine was definitely off his game at this tournament. He didn't even finish among the prizewinners, although his score of 9, only 1 point behind the winners, must still be considered a moderate success.
Capa was likewise off to a bad start; besides the slight incident in this game (caused in some part because he was not at the board for the adjournment, as required by the rules), there was a more serious incident in the next round when he lost to Flohr (his only loss of the tourney) and got into an argument with Euwe regarding Euwe's talking as the time control in that game approached. However, he did manage to catch his stride and eventually tied for 1st with Botvinnik at 10 points (his second major tournament win in 1936, after Moscow).
Nottingham, 8/11/1936, Round 2
Dutch Defense [A81]
This was the first meeting between the two players since their world championship match in 1927; they had studiously avoided playing in the same tournaments since relations between them had soured in the aftermath of failed negotiations for a return match for the crown.
1. PQ4 PK3 2. NKB3 PKB4 3. PKN3 NKB3 4. BN2 BK2 5. O-O O-O 6. PB4 NK5 [Alekhine's signature continuation] 7. QN3 [Besides this move, Alekhine's opponents also tried 7. QNQ2 (Saemisch-Alekhine, Dresden 1936), 7. NK1 (Flohr-Alehkine, Podebrady 1936) and 7. QB2 (Fine-Alekhine, Amsterdam 1936). However, the correct continuation turns out to be 7. PQ5!, which was found by Reshevsky.] BB3 8. RQ1 QK1 9. NB3 NB3! 10. NQN5 [10. QB2 - Alekhine] BQ1 11. QB2 PQ3 12. PQ5 [12. PQR3 - Alekhine] NN5 13. QN3 NR3 14. PxP N(R3)B4 15. QB2 NxKP 16. KNQ4 [16. BK3 - Alekhine] NxN 17. NxN BB3 18. NN5 [18. BK3 - Alekhine] QK2 19. BK3 QK2 20. NQ4 BQ2 21. QRB1 QRK1 22. PQN4 PQN3 23. NB3? [23. QN3 - Alekhine] NB6 24. RQ3 PB5?
Here Alekhine thought he was winning both exchanges but in fact was trading three minor pieces for two rooks. I must admit the position is quite hypnotic; when analyzing this game, I thought black was up two exchanges in the final position until I actually counted the pieces on the board. This position and its associated error are featured in The Inner Game of Chess by Soltis (a book about accurate calculation in chess). The simple 24. ... BQR5 would have left Black with a superior (but not yet won) position after White's final inaccuracy on the 23rd move. The game continued ...
25. PxP BB4 26. QQ2 BxR 27 PxB PB4? [Still not realizing his error. Black could have abandoned his combinaton with 27. ... NR5 with an inferior (but not yet lost) position.] 28. RxN BxR 29. QxB QB3 [Also the middle game would be hopeless. - Alekhine] 30 QxQ PxQ 31. NQ2! PB4 32. PN5 PQR4 33. NB1 KB2 34. NN3 KN3 35. BB3 RK2 36. KB1 KB3 37. BQ2 KN3
There was a minor incident in this game at adjournment. Alekhine was so absorbed in the position that he made at the board this last move, which should have been sealed since it was 6:15 (adjournment was scheduled for 6:00 for a two-hour dinner break). The tournament director asked Capablanca to seal a move, which he did, 38. PQR4. However, when the game was due to resume, Alekhine resigned without even asking what the sealed move was; his position was clearly lost.
Alekhine was definitely off his game at this tournament. He didn't even finish among the prizewinners, although his score of 9, only 1 point behind the winners, must still be considered a moderate success.
Capa was likewise off to a bad start; besides the slight incident in this game (caused in some part because he was not at the board for the adjournment, as required by the rules), there was a more serious incident in the next round when he lost to Flohr (his only loss of the tourney) and got into an argument with Euwe regarding Euwe's talking as the time control in that game approached. However, he did manage to catch his stride and eventually tied for 1st with Botvinnik at 10 points (his second major tournament win in 1936, after Moscow).
Friday, October 08, 2004
Capa's worst opening blunder ever
Mentioning Spielmann - Capablanca, Carlsbad 1929, in an earlier post made me think of Capa's other loss in that tournament (Saemisch - Capablanca, round 16), a game which witnessed the worst opening blunder of Capa's career.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 d6 6. f3 e5 7. e4 Nc6 8. Be3 b6 9. Bd3 Ba6?? 10. Qa4! Bb7 11. d5, winning a piece. (Amazingly, Capablanca held on until move 62 but eventually succumbed to the unavoidable.)
This blunder is so unusual and inexplicable that it was featured in Chess Traps, Pitfalls and Swindles by Horowitz & Reinfeld (1954). It remains one of the worst super-grandmaster opening blunders ever. Kasparov in My Great Predecessors Part I claims that Capa was distracted by the unexpected arrival of his wife (because he was having an affair at the time), but I have not found independent confirmation of this story (either part of it).
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 d6 6. f3 e5 7. e4 Nc6 8. Be3 b6 9. Bd3 Ba6?? 10. Qa4! Bb7 11. d5, winning a piece. (Amazingly, Capablanca held on until move 62 but eventually succumbed to the unavoidable.)
This blunder is so unusual and inexplicable that it was featured in Chess Traps, Pitfalls and Swindles by Horowitz & Reinfeld (1954). It remains one of the worst super-grandmaster opening blunders ever. Kasparov in My Great Predecessors Part I claims that Capa was distracted by the unexpected arrival of his wife (because he was having an affair at the time), but I have not found independent confirmation of this story (either part of it).
Thursday, October 07, 2004
Capablanca-Spielmann, 1927
The following game was awarded the prize for the best played game of the New York 1927 Tournament.
Capablanca – Spielmann
New York, 3/9/1927, Round 13
QGD Manhattan Defense [D38]
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Nd7 4. Nc3 Ngf6 5. Bg5 Bb4 6. cxd5 [6. e3 - ECO] exd5 7. Qa4! [In the first round, Capablanca had played 7. Qb3, which led to equality; Alekhine-Vidmar in the same tournament continued 7. e3.] Bxc3+? [7. ... Qe2 or 7. ... c5 - Golombek] 8. bxc3 O-O 9. e3 c5 [9. ... Qe8 10. Qc2! (10. Bd3?) c6 11. Bd3!] 10. Bd3 c4 11. Bc2 Qe7 [11. ... Re8 - Alekhine] 12. O-O [±, Pachman] a6 13. Rfe1 Qe6 [13. ... b5? - Golombek] 14. Nd2 b5 15. Qa5! Ne4 [15. ... Bb7 - Golombek] 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. a4! Qd5 18. axb5! Qxg5 [18. ... Bb7 loses just as quickly. - Golombek] 19. Bxe4 Rb8 20. bxa6! Rb5 21. Qc7 Nb6 22. a7 Bh3 23. Reb1! Rxb1+ 24. Rxb1 f5 25. Bf3 f4 26. exf4! 1-0
The final scores at New York 1927 were Capablanca 14 (undefeated), Alekhine 11.5, Nimzowitsch 10.5, Vidmar 10, Spielmann 8 and Marshall 6.
Spielmann got his revenge for this game by defeating Capa at Bad Kissingen 1928 and in the penultimate round at Carlsbad 1929 (costing him first place on this occasion). The latter game is discussed in chapter 20 of Pachman's Decisive Games in Chess History.
Capablanca – Spielmann
New York, 3/9/1927, Round 13
QGD Manhattan Defense [D38]
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Nd7 4. Nc3 Ngf6 5. Bg5 Bb4 6. cxd5 [6. e3 - ECO] exd5 7. Qa4! [In the first round, Capablanca had played 7. Qb3, which led to equality; Alekhine-Vidmar in the same tournament continued 7. e3.] Bxc3+? [7. ... Qe2 or 7. ... c5 - Golombek] 8. bxc3 O-O 9. e3 c5 [9. ... Qe8 10. Qc2! (10. Bd3?) c6 11. Bd3!] 10. Bd3 c4 11. Bc2 Qe7 [11. ... Re8 - Alekhine] 12. O-O [±, Pachman] a6 13. Rfe1 Qe6 [13. ... b5? - Golombek] 14. Nd2 b5 15. Qa5! Ne4 [15. ... Bb7 - Golombek] 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. a4! Qd5 18. axb5! Qxg5 [18. ... Bb7 loses just as quickly. - Golombek] 19. Bxe4 Rb8 20. bxa6! Rb5 21. Qc7 Nb6 22. a7 Bh3 23. Reb1! Rxb1+ 24. Rxb1 f5 25. Bf3 f4 26. exf4! 1-0
The final scores at New York 1927 were Capablanca 14 (undefeated), Alekhine 11.5, Nimzowitsch 10.5, Vidmar 10, Spielmann 8 and Marshall 6.
Spielmann got his revenge for this game by defeating Capa at Bad Kissingen 1928 and in the penultimate round at Carlsbad 1929 (costing him first place on this occasion). The latter game is discussed in chapter 20 of Pachman's Decisive Games in Chess History.
Capablanca v Alekhine, New York 1927
Alekhine – Capablanca
New York, 2/24/1927, Round 5
Queen’s Indian Defense [E15]
1. PQ4 NKB3 2. PQB4 PK3 3. NKB3 PQN3 4. PKN3 BN2 5. BN2 PB4 6. PQ5! [Pachman] PxP 7. NR4 PN3 8. NQB3 BN2 9. O-O O-O 10. BB4 [10. BN5! - Capablanca-Marshall, Carlsbad 1929; 10. PxP! – Vajda-Monticelli, Budapest 1926] PQ3 11. PxP NR4 12. BQ2 QNQ2 13. PB4? [13. PK4 - Golombek] PQR3 14. BB3? [14. PQR4 - Golombek] N(4)B3 15. PR4 PB5! 16. BK3 QB2 17. PKN4 [17. KR1 - Golombek] NB4 18. PN5 [18. BxN QxB+ 19. KR1 - Golombek] N(3)Q2 19.PB5 [19. NN2 - Golombek] KRK1 20. BB4 BK4 21. BN4 [21. NN2 - Golombek] NN6 22. PxP RPxP 23. RN1 BxN 24. PxB QB4+ 25. PK3 NK4 26. BB3 NQ6! 27. KR1 BxP 28. RxN NxB 29. RQN1 RxP 30. NN2 RxB! 31. RxR NxN 32. KxN RK1 33. KB1 BxR 34. QxB QxP 35. RK1 RxR+ 36. KxR QN8+ 37. KQ2 QxP+ 38. KB1 QK4 39. KN2 KN2 40. QB2 PQN4 41. QN6 PxP 42. QxRP QK7+ White resigns
Capablanca – Alekhine
New York, 3/5/1927, Round 10
QGD Semi-Meran Defense [D47]
1. PQ4 NKB3 2. NKB3 PQ4 3. PB4 PB3 4. PK3 PK3 5. NB3 QNQ2 6. BQ3 PxP [6. … BQ3 (Chigorin) is the main line; 6. … BK2 – Bogoljubow; 6. … BN5 – Romi] 7. BxBP PQN4! 8. BK2 PQR3 9. O-O [9. PK4 – ECO] BN2 [=, ECO] 10. PQR3 PB4 11. PxP NxP 12. PQN4 QxQ 13. RxQ N(4)K5 14. BN2 NxN 15. BxN BK2 16. QRB1 O-O 17. NK5 KRQ1 18. RxR+ RxR 19. BQ4 BQ3 20. BKB3 NQ4 21. NQ3 KB1 22. NB5 BxN 23. BxB+ KK1 24. KB1 RB1 25. KK1 RB2 26. BxN BxB 27. PB3 BB5 28. RQ1 RQ2 Draw agreed
Alekhine – Capablanca
New York, 3/12/1927, Round 14
Caro-Kann Defense [B15]
1. PK4 PQB3 2. PQ4 PQ4 3. NQB3 PxP 4. NxP NB3 [4. … BB4 is known as the Capablanca system.] 5. NN3 [5. NxN+! – Pachman] PK4 6. NB3! PxP 7. QxP [7. NxP – Alekhine-Tartakower, Kecskemet 1927] QxQ 8. NxQ BQB4 9. N(4)B5 O-O 10. BK3 BxB 11. NxB BK3 12. O-O-O QNQ2 [=, ECO] 13. BB4 NB4 14. BxB NxB 15. N(N3)B5 NK5 16. KRB1 PKN3 17. NQ6 NxN 18. RxN KRQ1 19. R(1)Q1 RxR 20. RxR RQ1 21. RxR+ NxR 22. KQ2 KB1 23. KQ3 KK2 24. KQ4 NK3+ 25. KK4 PB3 26. PKB4 NB4+ 27. KQ4 NK3+ 28. KK4 NB4+ Draw by repetition
Capablanca – Alekhine
New York, 3/23/1927, Round 20
French Defense [C11]
1. PQ4 PK3 2. NQB3 PQ4 3. PK4 NKB3 4. BKN5 PxP 5. NxP BK2 6. NxN+ [6. BxN is the main line; this innovation doesn’t get White anything.] BxN 7. BxB QxB 8. NB3 O-O 9. PB3 NQ2 10. BK2 PK4 11. PxP NxP 12. NxN QxN 13. O-O BK3 14. BB3 PQB3 15. QR4 KRK1 16. QRQ1 QQB4 17. KRK1 QB5 18. QxQ BXQ 19. RxR+ RxR 20. PKR4 KB1 21. PQN3 BK7 22. BxB RxB 23. RQ7 RK2 24. RQ8+ RK1 25. RQ7 RK2 26. RQ8+ Draw by repetition
[edited]
New York, 2/24/1927, Round 5
Queen’s Indian Defense [E15]
1. PQ4 NKB3 2. PQB4 PK3 3. NKB3 PQN3 4. PKN3 BN2 5. BN2 PB4 6. PQ5! [Pachman] PxP 7. NR4 PN3 8. NQB3 BN2 9. O-O O-O 10. BB4 [10. BN5! - Capablanca-Marshall, Carlsbad 1929; 10. PxP! – Vajda-Monticelli, Budapest 1926] PQ3 11. PxP NR4 12. BQ2 QNQ2 13. PB4? [13. PK4 - Golombek] PQR3 14. BB3? [14. PQR4 - Golombek] N(4)B3 15. PR4 PB5! 16. BK3 QB2 17. PKN4 [17. KR1 - Golombek] NB4 18. PN5 [18. BxN QxB+ 19. KR1 - Golombek] N(3)Q2 19.PB5 [19. NN2 - Golombek] KRK1 20. BB4 BK4 21. BN4 [21. NN2 - Golombek] NN6 22. PxP RPxP 23. RN1 BxN 24. PxB QB4+ 25. PK3 NK4 26. BB3 NQ6! 27. KR1 BxP 28. RxN NxB 29. RQN1 RxP 30. NN2 RxB! 31. RxR NxN 32. KxN RK1 33. KB1 BxR 34. QxB QxP 35. RK1 RxR+ 36. KxR QN8+ 37. KQ2 QxP+ 38. KB1 QK4 39. KN2 KN2 40. QB2 PQN4 41. QN6 PxP 42. QxRP QK7+ White resigns
Capablanca – Alekhine
New York, 3/5/1927, Round 10
QGD Semi-Meran Defense [D47]
1. PQ4 NKB3 2. NKB3 PQ4 3. PB4 PB3 4. PK3 PK3 5. NB3 QNQ2 6. BQ3 PxP [6. … BQ3 (Chigorin) is the main line; 6. … BK2 – Bogoljubow; 6. … BN5 – Romi] 7. BxBP PQN4! 8. BK2 PQR3 9. O-O [9. PK4 – ECO] BN2 [=, ECO] 10. PQR3 PB4 11. PxP NxP 12. PQN4 QxQ 13. RxQ N(4)K5 14. BN2 NxN 15. BxN BK2 16. QRB1 O-O 17. NK5 KRQ1 18. RxR+ RxR 19. BQ4 BQ3 20. BKB3 NQ4 21. NQ3 KB1 22. NB5 BxN 23. BxB+ KK1 24. KB1 RB1 25. KK1 RB2 26. BxN BxB 27. PB3 BB5 28. RQ1 RQ2 Draw agreed
Alekhine – Capablanca
New York, 3/12/1927, Round 14
Caro-Kann Defense [B15]
1. PK4 PQB3 2. PQ4 PQ4 3. NQB3 PxP 4. NxP NB3 [4. … BB4 is known as the Capablanca system.] 5. NN3 [5. NxN+! – Pachman] PK4 6. NB3! PxP 7. QxP [7. NxP – Alekhine-Tartakower, Kecskemet 1927] QxQ 8. NxQ BQB4 9. N(4)B5 O-O 10. BK3 BxB 11. NxB BK3 12. O-O-O QNQ2 [=, ECO] 13. BB4 NB4 14. BxB NxB 15. N(N3)B5 NK5 16. KRB1 PKN3 17. NQ6 NxN 18. RxN KRQ1 19. R(1)Q1 RxR 20. RxR RQ1 21. RxR+ NxR 22. KQ2 KB1 23. KQ3 KK2 24. KQ4 NK3+ 25. KK4 PB3 26. PKB4 NB4+ 27. KQ4 NK3+ 28. KK4 NB4+ Draw by repetition
Capablanca – Alekhine
New York, 3/23/1927, Round 20
French Defense [C11]
1. PQ4 PK3 2. NQB3 PQ4 3. PK4 NKB3 4. BKN5 PxP 5. NxP BK2 6. NxN+ [6. BxN is the main line; this innovation doesn’t get White anything.] BxN 7. BxB QxB 8. NB3 O-O 9. PB3 NQ2 10. BK2 PK4 11. PxP NxP 12. NxN QxN 13. O-O BK3 14. BB3 PQB3 15. QR4 KRK1 16. QRQ1 QQB4 17. KRK1 QB5 18. QxQ BXQ 19. RxR+ RxR 20. PKR4 KB1 21. PQN3 BK7 22. BxB RxB 23. RQ7 RK2 24. RQ8+ RK1 25. RQ7 RK2 26. RQ8+ Draw by repetition
[edited]
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