Topalov-Kramnik on FAZ front page

I've read somewhere (and lost the link since) that diagram from Topalov-Kramnik, Corus 2008 appeared on the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung front page. Supposedly FAZ is rarely using colors on the cover pages, but note the red squered e5.

Edit: source found, via Veni Markovski blog

King Novak of Australia

Novak Djokovic becomes first Serbian to win single Grand Slam title after conquering Australian Open. Unseeded French Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was fantastic opponent in the finals, but Novak comes on the top 3-1 (4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6).

Earlier today, Nenad Zimonjic won his third doubles Grand Slam, teaming in mixed doubles with China's Tiantian Sun. Ana Ivanovic was third Serbian in the finals, but succumbed in front of strong Russian Maria Sharapova.

Whose predictions were right??

Bye Bye Federer

Novak Djokovic beats tennis king Roger Federer in straight sets (7-5, 6-3, 7-6) to reach the Australian Open final and fight new French hero Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for the trophy.

Ana Ivanovic already qualified to clash with Maria Sharapova in the women final, and Nenad Zimonjic will also play in the mixed doubles final on Sunday. Country without decent tennis courts is conquering Melbourne. Who can stop the surging Serbs?

Who can stop the surging Serbs?

This question opens Abe Kuijl's article on tennis-x.com. Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic have sent sisters Williams, Susan Polgar's favorites, home and Novak Djokovic eliminated Spaniard David Ferrer, all three to reach semifinals at the Australian Open.

Associated Press: ""Serbs Rule in Australia" and "No One Can Stop Us Down Under" read the headlines on Wednesday, after many Serbs stayed up through the night to watch the three players' matches from Melbourne on television...There was no morning rush hour in Belgrade because many people were late to work after watching the overnight matches. State TV news opened with the players' victories..."

Times Online searching for hair in the egg: "Certain rules of journalistic etiquette are being flaunted at the Australian Open because of the ongoing merry march of the Serbian new wave that has brought smiles as well as style to top flight tennis."

Ana Ivanovic interview
Novak Djokovic interview

Belgrade street to be named after Bobby Fischer

Daily newspaper "Novosti" (article in Serbian) is reporting about the initiative to name one of the streets in Belgrade after legendary champion Bobby Fischer. City committee for streets and Grandmasters Borislav Ivkov and Milan Matulovic are wholeheartedly supporting the idea. Random survey in Belgrade confirmed that people do know a lot about Fischer and most are in favor of this initiative.

Shevchenko: Italian football is like chess

Andriy Shevchenko, Chelsea striker: "Italian football is about finishing and logic, like chess, and the English game is based on speed and instinct."

Daily Mail

The Dunderhand Gambit

The title is my pick between a number of names attributed to the yet another chess scandal. Ivan Cheparinov refused to shake hands with Nigel Short before their 8th round game in Corus. Apparently, there is some history between Short and Topalov team.

Video of the incident is breaking all records on YouTube, earning no less than 10 honors so far.

This issue is partly related to Anna Rudolf case. FIDE should finally come out with clear rules.

Read more about the incident on Chessbase, Chessdom and Chessvibes.


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Bobby Fischer passed away

Best chess player of all time has died on Iceland, the national radio reported. Rest in peace, Bobby.

BBC

The Kenilworthian has links to obituaries

The Closet Grandmaster has a list of links about Bobby Fischer

Who Wins Australian Open

As comment to Susan Polgar's prediction

and here is Maria Sharapova in action

CrowdChess

Mr Stan Oleynick sent us introduction of the new website - CrowdChess


CrowdChess is a radically new chess concept where thousands of people play together against each other, creating the ultimate "wisdom of crowds" battlefield and with that a platform that pushes the boundaries of human intelligence.

It is a platform to see what happens when thousands of people from all over the world, with diverse ethnical, cultural and educational backgrounds, of different age and social status, have a common goal in mind and are working in tandem on solving the same problem together and outsmarting and outmaneuvering their opponents. Whose strategy and vision is superior, is the ultimate question.

We plan to organize CrowdChess leagues in heavy chess playing countries such as Russia, India, China, Germany, England, etc and then organize world championships where country vs. country plays for a CrowdChess world championship or when top players and/or champions play against a super computer (let's see who is smarter then... ;) so this idea hopefully has a lot of potential and will be a success. We also plan to organize a grandmaster vs. the world game in the near future so this should be an interesting game too!!


CrowdChess

Musical "Chess"

"Chess" is a musical with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, formerly of ABBA. The story involves a romantic triangle between two players in a world chess championship, and a woman who manages one and falls in love with the other. Although the protagonists were not intended to represent any specific individuals, the characters' personalities are loosely based on those of Victor Korchnoi and Bobby Fischer.

Wikipedia article


Here is youtube video of the "Embassy Lament" act:

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Corus launching today

One of the most important chess tournaments is starting today at 13:30 local time. Here are the pairings:

Corus A:
Kramnik - Van Wely
Radjabov - Anand
Mamedyarov - Carlsen
Eljanov - Leko
Adams - Gelfand
Aronian - Topalov
Ivanchuk - Polgar

Corus B:
Harikrishna - Short
Hou - Bacrot
Stellwagen - Krasenkow
Spoelman - Cheparinov
Movsesian - Sargissian
Smeets - Koneru
Nepomniachtchi - L’Ami

Corus C:
Li - Krush
Ushenina - van der Wiel
Nijboer - Braun
Negi - Carlsson
Peng - Caruana
van der Werf - Grivas
Ruijgrok - Reinderman

Official website
Videos on ChessVibes (redesigned)
Free live commentary on Chessdom

Field for Mtel Masters 2008 announced

Dimitar Naydenov, tournament press officer, sent us information about the incoming Mtel Masters 2008. For the first time Veselin Topalov and Ivan Cheparinov will play one against eachother. Teimour Radjabov, Levon Aronian, Vassily Ivanchuk and Chinese Xiangzhi Bu are forming the outstanding field of fearless fighters. The tournament takes place on 7-18 May in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Chessdom reports that former world champion Boris Spassky will play a simul on the opening day.

Teimour Radjabov Wins 2nd ACP World Rapid Cup

Azeri Grandmaster Teimour Radjabov won the 2nd ACP World Rapid Cup after beating Alexander Grischuk in the final match. Results and PGN files on TWIC. Nice to see Teimour is winning in spite of dirty campaign.

Teimour Radjabov

New Scandal

WIM Anna Rudolf had a successful start at the recent Vandoeuvre Open with perfect result in the first 3 rounds, only to end up accused of cheating by hiding Rybka in her lip balm. Latvian players were leading the charge but they found no support among other players. One of them reportedly refused to shake hands with Anna before the game, which is a violation of FIDE rules.

Read about the latest chess scandal

Interview with WIM Anna Rudolf on Chessdom

The Closet Grandmaster already has a name for the story - Lippygate.

Second ACP World Rapid Cup

Final of the 2nd ACP World Rapid Cup is being organized by Pivdenny Bank on 4-7 January in Odessa, Ukraine. Participants are listed as Dmitry Jakovenko, Vassily Ivanchuk, Teimour Radjabov, Evgeny Najer, Sergey Karjakin, Peter Svidler, Alexander Shabalov, Pavel Eljanov, Ernesto Inarkiev, Boris Savchenko, Alexei Shirov, Boris Gelfand and Yuri Drozdovsky, all of them qualified from the third ACP Tour, and Anatoly Karpov, Judit Polgar, Aleksander Grischuk with wild cards.

The event will be of knockout format and each match will consist of two rapid games (20 min + 5 sec). In case of tie, another two blitz games (3 min + 2 sec) will be played, with Armageddon as the last resort in case of another tie.

First round will take place over 4-5 January, quarterfinals are on the 6th, semis and final on 7th. Total prize fund is $136000 USD, with $40000 USD reserved for the winner.


"More" information on the horrible ACP website and on the official page which has Russian version only.