The Chess Players Society of Nigeria

Nigel Short, former World Championship finalist, is leading the Bazna tournament in Romania, with 5.0/7 and a 2735 performance. But we are especially interested to watch the progress of former child prodigy and world-class grandmaster Henrique Mecking of Brazil. He has recovered from serious illness and is playing, in his own words, with divine assistance. Report and games.

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Josef Krejcik was just one of the figures from the past who caused difficulties for
many entrants in the Chess Explorations quiz we published two weeks ago. Here the Editor of Chess
Notes presents, with much background information (and, to clarify one tricky
position, some analysis specially contributed by Yasser Seirawan), the solutions to the first four positions.

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Nigel Short, former World Championship finalist, is leading the Bazna tournament in Romania, with 5.0/7 and a 2735 performance. But we are especially interesed to watch the progress of former child prodigy and world-class grandmaste Henrique Mecking of Brazil. He has recovered from serious illness and is playing, in his own words, with divine assistance. Report and games.

[Read more →]

Halftime at the rapid chess match in Miskolc, Hungary. A good time to step back and take a look at the players. Not just the ones moving the pieces, but those accompanying them. People in the background who made this exciting event possible. Who are responsible for it running smoothly. And those who make the journey to Miskolc to enjoy the chess. Impressions by Diana Mihajlova.

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Yesterday Alexei Shirov published a statement stating that since the World Cup winner, Gata Kamsky, did not wish to play the special candidates match against Topalov in Bulgaria he should forthwith be replaced by runner-up Shirov. Today we received a message from Kamsky’s representative repudiating these “disturbing rumours being spread by Shirov”. Press statement and latest news.

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A rare sight: arch rivals Anatoly Karpov, 57, twelfth World Champion, and his three-time challenger Viktor Korchnoi, 77, both in the same event. It is a category 15 tournament being staged in Odessa, Ukraine. After five rounds Yuri Drozdovskij and Ruslan Ponomariov are in the lead with 4.0/5 points, while Karpov and Korchnoi have 1.5/5 each. The draw average is just 35%. Big pictorial report.

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The XXI Magistral Ciudad de León rapid chess match started today, with four players competing: Vishy Anand, Vassily Ivanchuk, Alexei Shirov and Francisco Vallejo. The first semifinal over four games between Anand and Vallejo ended in a 2-2 tie, so that blitz tiebrake games were required. Anand won the first and accepted a draw offer in the second in a totally won position. Illustrated report.

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After numerous extensions of the deadline for bids to stage the special Challengers Match between Gata Kamsky and Veselin Topalov FIDE is now faced with a demand by the next-in-line player to have a chance. Alexei Shirov is willing to play in Bulgaria, something Kamsky balked at. “According to the match regulations he should be replaced by me in this case,” Shirov says. Press release.

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After numerous extensions of the deadline for bids to stage the special Challengers Match between Gata Kamsky and Veselin Topalov FIDE is now faced with a demand by the next-in-line player to have a chance. Alexei Shirov is willing to play in Bulgaria, something Kamsky balked at. “According to the match regulations he should be replaced by me in this case,” Shirov says. Press release.

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It was an exciting day in the eastern Hungarian town. Game three of the rapid chess match saw Peter Leko attacking, allowing a repetition, which was not claimed, and then missing a clear win to draw after grueling 96 moves. In the second game it was Magnus Carlsen who did the attacking, and he was able to win in 58 moves, after Leko missed some drawing chances. Express report.

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