Winner of the Chigorin Memorial interviewed

Alexander Ipatov - What are your highest achievements in chess?

Eltaj Safarli - I am many times Champion and medalist of the European and World Youth Chess Championships. I was also the winner of the international tournaments like Hoogeven 2007, Benasque 2010, Chigorin Memorial 2010. The Champion of the Higher League of Azerbaijan 2010.

Full interview

The New York Times about Steven Zierk

Steven Zierk, a 17-year-old from Los Gatos, Calif., is on top of the chess world.
Saturday, he won the under age 18 section of the World Youth Chess Championships, in Halkidiki, Greece, finishing a full point ahead of the field. It was a surprising result as he was ranked No. 26 at the start behind more established players, including five grandmasters and 10 international masters.

Zierk is the first American to win the under 18 section, but not the first to win a title at the youth championships, whose origins go back to the 1970’s.

Full article

Magnus Carlsen withdraws from Candidates

The purpose of this letter is to inform you of my decision not to take part in the planned Candidate Matches between March and May 2011.

After careful consideration I’ve reached the conclusion that the ongoing 2008–2012 cycle does not represent a system, sufficiently modern and fair, to provide the motivation I need to go through a lengthy process of preparations and matches and to perform at my best.

Full letter on Chessbase

English Chess Federation losing funds

The English Chess Federation will no longer receive any government support. Following the Public Spending Review, the ECF received a letter from Jonathan Hughes, Head of Sport at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport which confirmed that the DCMS grant to the English Chess Federation will cease from 31st March 2011.

The letter also emphasised that the cuts were designed to protect Olympic sports. Government support for chess has been pitiful ove r the years and the grant was only £45,000, but it will still create problems for the ECF which has a very small annual budget of below £ 200,000.

From TWIC