ECF about the 95th British Chess Championships

The English Chess Federation (ECF) will provide appearance fees for Grandmasters and top female players who decide to take participation in the upcoming 95th British Chess Championships.

It was announced today the 95th British Chess Championships celebrating the contribution by Mike O’Hara to British chess administration will take place in St George’s Hall, Liverpool Sunday 27 July to Saturday 9 August. The showpiece of this event, which will attract about 900 entries, is the British Championship. The English Chess Federation has decided to make funds available for start money for the leading players. The provision of fees for the grandmasters and leading women players is very welcome news. This will mean the British Championship will be an event worthy of the magnificent St George’s Hall and be a major part of the 08 Liverpool European Capital of Culture.

The 95th Championships of The British Isles is organized by the English Chess Federation and scheduled to take place on 27th July - 9th August at the St. George's Hall, Liverpool.

ACP Blasting at ECU

For omitting to specify precise entry fees in the tournament regulations of the recently ended European Individual Championship in Plovdiv, European Chess Union (ECU) officers gave one of the most bizarre excuses ever - "We forgot to include it!"

Association of Chess Professionals (ACP) reacted angrily to this scandalous behavior and published a statement on their website. Key quotes here:

According to the Tournament Regulations, published on the official website of the Championship www.eicc2008.com, all participants had to pay an organization fee of 50 €. In Plovdiv, however, the ECU demanded one more fee of 65 € (the ECU fee) to be paid by the players. This one was not mentioned in the Tournament Regulations.

The ECU, thus, proves unable to find decent sponsorship for its most prestigious event and takes advantage of the huge number of participants, who are attracted only by FIDE qualification spots. Nevertheless, even under these circumstances, the ECU feels entitled to retain 20% of the prize fund. In addition to this, the ECU traditionally collects the ECU fee of 65€ from all participants. In our opinion, it is already too much.

When writing the Tournament Regulations, the ECU included the new organization fee, but omitted the usual ECU fee. Excuses given by the ECU, like "We forgot to include it", can not be taken seriously. Participants of the event were definitely misled: considering the Tournament Regulations, it seemed clear that would be only one fee. However, the ECU insisted on all players having to pay the ECU fee of 65 €, and threatened to expel from the event all those who would not comply with this.

The explanation given by the ECU, that this fee was mentioned in a circular letter sent to all national federations a long time ago, does not change anything for players who could not even be aware of this letter. It is easy to hide one’s own errors by putting the responsibility on national federations. But if an error in the Tournament Regulations has occurred, nothing can be done, as the official Tournament Regulations always remain the prevailing reference. Otherwise, very important information concerning a tournament can easily be hidden intentionally in different Internet corners, old letters etc. One should not be forced to look for essential details in numerous sources.

The threat to expel players from the tournament was outrageous and shameful, as players did not break any point of Tournament Regulations.

Players, who were not aware of the ECU fee in advance and were forced to pay it under the threat of expulsion, should get their money back.

.

Capablanca Memorial 2008

The 43rd edition of this memorial event was held on 8-17 May in Habana. Top Cuban player Lenier Dominguez Perez is set to break 2700 elo mark.


Final standings:
1. Lenier Dominguez Perez (CUB 2695) 6.0
2-3. Farrukh Amonatov (TJK 2649) and Igor Khenkin (GER 2609) 5.5
4. Holden Hernandez Carmenates (CUB 2568) 5.0
5-6. Sergei Tiviakov (NED 2635) and Radoslaw Wojtaszek (POL 2625) 4.5
7. Jesus Nogueiras Santiago (CUB 2559) 4.0
8-9. Yuniesky Quezada Perez (CUB 2567) and Walter Arencibia Rodriguez (CUB 2534) 3.5
10. Lazaro Bruzon Batista (CUB 2608) 3.0

.

Ever Though of Goalkeeper Career?

Vassily Ivanchuk is not only storming through the 2008 Mtel Masters, but he also proved to be a class goalkeeper. In the football match between PFC Levski and Chess United, which Levski won 3:2, Ivanchuk with his brilliant saves was a star of the game, earning himself prestigious "Man of the match" title.

Starting lineups

Vassily Ivanchuk receiving golden pen

.

Teimour Radjabov: Football only because I am obliged to

Yesterday I coppied Mtel Masters press release "Levski – Chess United to be replayed on 13 May".

Now Chessdom informs us that Radjabov is not really eager to run:

Teimour Radjabov will play on Mtel Masters 2008 for the first time. At the press conference he said, "I will play in the Chess United vs Levski match only because I am obliged to. I haven't played soccer since I was 14" After the sack of the coach of Levski Stanimir Stoilov and the statement by Radjabov, the match that last year created so much interest is in danger.

By the way, pairings are also up on Chessdom, 1st round will see Aronian - Topalov, Cheparinov - Bu, Radjabov - Ivanchuk

.

Levski – Chess United to be replayed on 13 May

From Dimitar Naydenov, Press Center of M-Tel Masters


The international chess and football federations are firm in their statements that the game Levski – Chess United will be replayed on 13 May at 12:30 local time. This became clear after official announcements from the two organizations.

On 15 May last year the chess players lost, but they submitted a letter of complaint right after the last whistle of the referee – the CEO of M-Tel Josef Vinatzer, because of the scandalously disallowed goal of Ivan Cheparinov in the last seconds of the game. Back then for the Blues played the executive director of the team Nasko Sirakov and the head coach Stanimir Stoilov, while Kiprian Berbatov, a cousin of the Tottenham star Dimitar, got his name on the score sheet for Chess United.

"I am pleased with the decision of FIDE and FIFA which is a triumph of justice," shared the coach of the chess players Silvio Danailov. - "The boys will give their all to take a worthy revenge".

2 hours before the end of the transfer window Chess United managed to obtain the services of the man who swam the La Manche channel for a world record time – Petar Stoychev. It is expected that the 7-time World Cup winner in swimming marathon will reinforce the defense of the Grandmasters. The skipper Veselin Topalov will lead on the pitch a lineup including Vassily Ivanchuk from Ukraine, Bu Xiangzhi from China, Levon Aronian from Armenia, Teimour Radjabov from Azerbaijan and Ivan Cheparinov. All of them are participants in the fourth edition of the super chess tournament M-Tel Masters.

Traditionally the coach of PFC Levski Stanimir Stoilov will announce his lineup two hours before the first referee whistle.

The two teams will play two halves of 10 minutes on a small football field.

Chess and nationalism

We all know how Armenian and Azeri journalists tend to use chess to "claim victories" over each other. Here enters Macedonia/FYROM:

At the European Chess Championship in Plovdiv (Bulgaria), Macedonian chess players continued their dominance over our southern neighbour.

International master Vanco Stamenkov and Fide Master Dejan Dinev beat Konstantinos Kokolijas and Efstratios Fradatis of Greece, thus continuing Macedonian chess dominance over the southern neighbor for 17 years and counting. Superb chess was also displayed by Stojanoski, who with black figures defeated Romanian Fide Master Tiberiu Gorgesku.

Greece has a lot to learn in order for it to have a chance against Macedonia in this Antic Sport.

From MINA agency


Now those games between lower rated players do have factual results, but this hardly supports the claim from the title "Macedonian chess players dominate (Greece)". Anyone who actually follows the game and news, as this "journalist" is obviously clueless, knows that Greek chess community is slightly better organized, to put it mildly. See FIDE country ranks.

Interesting Stuff

IM Mark Ginsburg analysed games from 2008 Dos Hermanas. There is another interesting post about the Manhattan Chess Club, with all copyrights reserved. The timeline is interesting, but nothing more, why would anyone bother to steal the text.

Michael Goeller of The Kenilworthian wrote a fantastic review of Joel Benjamin's "American Grandmaster"

Kevin from the RookHouse blog is wondering if Bobby Fischer really planned to play at the 1980 US Championship.

Susan Polgar is filming a DVD named "Mastering the French Defense"

Streatham & Brixton Chess Club's blog is writing about resignations from the ECF board

The Closet Grandmaster is compiling a list of the Most Influential Chess People


Finally, Veselin Topalov is playing a quick chess game while taking a loan from the bank:

GM Joel Benjamin About Online Coaching

Your question about Internet versus face-to-face lessons is especially meaningful in today’s chess environment. The Internet Chess Club (Editor's Note: The Internet Chess Club's sister service, World Chess Live (WCL) has recently partnered with the USCF, and now offers free six-month memberships to USCF members.) has excellent tools for chessboard communication and Skype eliminates the expense of long-distance calls. An abundance of teaching talent can be found on the ICC, reducing the disadvantages of living outside the chess hotbeds. I can recommend lessons over the Internet for teens and adults.

Read the entire article