Games from Obrenovac

Round 8 of 18th Trophy of Belgrade is now in progress. I'll post final report tomorrow evening. For now, few games...



GM Igor Miladinovic (2609) - IM Tomas Petrik (2473)
1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 dxe4 6. Qg4 Nf6 7. Qxg7 Rg8 8. Qh6 Nbd7 9. a4 c5 10. a5 Qc7 11. Qd2 Nf8 12. Ne2 Bd7 13. Qf4 Qxf4 14. Bxf4 Rc8 15. dxc5 Bc6 16. a6 N8d7 17. axb7 Bxb7 18. Rxa7 Nxc5 19. Bd6 Nfd7 20. Nd4 Ra8 21. Rxa8+ Bxa8 22. Bb5 Kd8 23. O-O Rg5 24. c4 e5 25. Ra1 Bb7 26. Nc6+ Kc8 27. h4 Rh5 28. Ne7+ Kd8 29. Rd1 Ne6 30. c3 f5 31. c5 1-0


FM Dragan Kojovic (2313) - GM Dejan Antic (2519)
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 d6 7. Be3 Nf6 8. O-O Be7 9. f4 O-O 10. Qe1 Bd7 11. Nb3 b5 12. a3 Qb8 13. Rd1 b4 14. axb4 Nxb4 15. Qd2 Rc8 16. Bf3 e5 17. Ra1 Be6 18. Na5 Bd8 19. f5 Bd7 20. Kh1 Bb6 21. Bg5 Ne8 22. Be2 Qc7 23. Nc4 Bd4 24. Ra3 Rab8 25. Nd1 Bb5 26. b3 f6 27. Be3 Nc6 28. Nc3 Bxe3 29. Qxe3 Nd4 30. Bd3 Qd8 31. Ra2 Nc7 32. Na4 Qe7 33. h3 Rd8 34. Ncb6 Bxa4 35. Bc4+ Kh8 36. Nxa4 d5 37. exd5 Nxd5 38. Qe4 Nb4 39. Rb2 Nb5 40. c3 1-0


IM Vlado Jakovljevic (2385) - IM Slavisa Brenjo (2465)
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. Nc3 c6 7. O-O Bg4 8. h3 Bxf3 9. Bxf3 Nbd7 10. e4 a6 11. Be3 Rc8 12. Bg2 e5 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. c5 Qe7 15. Na4 Rfd8 16. Qc2 Nf8 17. Rad1 Ne6 18. b4 h5 19. h4 Ng4 20. Bh3 Nxe3 21. fxe3 Bh6 22. Qf2 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Rd8 24. Rxd8+ Qxd8 25. Nb2 Nc7 26. Nc4 Ne8 27. Kh2 f6 28. Qd2 Qxd2+ 29. Nxd2 Bxe3 30. Nc4 Bc1 31. Bc8 Nc7 32. Bxb7 Kf8 33. Bxc6 Ke7 34. Bb7 g5 35. hxg5 fxg5 36. Nxe5 h4 37. Nd3 hxg3+ 38. Kxg3 Bd2 39. Kg4 a5 40. bxa5 Bxa5 41. Kxg5 Bc3 42. Bd5 Nb5 43. e5 Bd2+ 44. Kf5 Nc3 45. Bb3 Ne2 46. Ke4 1-0


IM Srdjan Cvetkovic (2408) - Miroslav Maksimovic (2182)
1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. e4 d6 4. d4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. h3 e5 7. d5 a5 8. Be3 Na6 9. Nd2 Ne8 10. g4 Nc5 11. Nb3 Nxb3 12. axb3 f5 13. b4 Qh4 14. gxf5 gxf5 15. Rg1 f4 16. Bc1 Kh8 17. Rxa5 Rxa5 18. bxa5 Nf6 19. Qf3 Bd7 20. Nb5 Be8 21. Nxc7 Bh5 22. Qd3 Bg6 23. Bg2 f3 24. Bxf3 Nxe4 25. Qe2 Nc5 26. Rxg6 hxg6 27. Ne6 Rxf3 28. Qxf3 Qxc4 29. Be3 Nd3+ 30. Kf1 e4 31. b3 Ne5+ 32. bxc4 exf3 33. Nxg7 Kxg7 34. Bd4 Kf7 35. Bxe5 dxe5 36. c5 1-0


IM Misa Pap (2399) - Srdjan Dimitrijevic (2282)
1. e4 g6 2. d4 c6 3. h3 d5 4. Nd2 Bg7 5. Ngf3 Nh6 6. c3 O-O 7. Bd3 f6 8. O-O Nf7 9. c4 e6 10. Re1 Nd7 11. Nf1 dxe4 12. Bxe4 e5 13. Bc2 f5 14. b3 e4 15. N3h2 c5 16. Be3 Qf6 17. dxc5 f4 18. Bd2 Nxc5 19. Qe2 f3 20. Qe3 fxg2 21. Ng3 Ng5 22. Rad1 Nxh3+ 23. Kxg2 Qxf2+ 24. Kh1 Bd4 25. Qe2 Qxg3 26. Rf1 Rf2 27. Rxf2 Nxf2+ 28. Qxf2 Qxf2 0-1

World Chess Cup

FIDE World Chess Cup has started in Khanty Mansyisk, Russia. The competition will be held on 26th November - 18th December for a prize fund of 1.572.000 USD. There are 128 participants.

Few interesting results in the first round. Tough Ukranian junior Andrei Volokitin (2666) was knocked of by Hungarian Sang Cao (2538) while US champion Hikaru Nakamura (2662) was sent home by Surya Sekar Ganguly (IND 2562). US Open winner Vadim Milov (SUI 2652) lost to Georgian Levan Pantsulaia (2578).

Serbia & Montenegro's Robert Markus (2579) holds even with famous Mikhail Gurevich (TUR 2652) after two games. They move to playoff now.



GM Gata Kamsky (2690) - GM Zhao Jun (2500)
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c4 b4 12. Nc2 a5 13. Be2 Bg5 14. O-O O-O 15. Qd3 Be6 16. Rad1 Ra7 17. h3 g6 18. Bg4 Qb8 19. Nde3 Be7 20. b3 h5 21. Bxe6 fxe6 22. g3 g5 23. Nf5 exf5 24. Qd5+ Kh7 25. Qxc6 f4 26. gxf4 gxf4 27. Kh2 Qa8 28. Qxa8 Rfxa8 29. Rd5 Rc8 30. Kg2 Kg7 31. Rfd1 Kf7 32. Ne1 Rc5 33. Rxc5 dxc5 34. Rd5 a4 35. Nd3 axb3 36. axb3 Ra3 37. Nxe5+ Ke6 38. Nd3 Rxb3 39. Nxf4+ Kf7 40. Rxh5 Kg7 41. Rd5 Kf7 42. Rd7 Ke8 43. Rb7 Rb2 44. Ng6 Bg5 45. e5 1-0


GM Alexander Grischuk (2720) - Gaston Needleman (2381)
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8. O-O-O Ng4 9. Bf4 Nge5 10. Bg3 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 f6 12. f4 Bc5 13. Qd2 Nf7 14. e5 f5 15. Bf2 Bxf2 16. Qxf2 b5 17. g4 fxg4 18. h3 Bb7 19. Bg2 g3 20. Qxg3 b4 21. Ne2 g5 22. Bxb7 Qxb7 23. Nd4 Qe4 24. f5 Qxe5 25. Qxe5 Nxe5 26. Rhe1 d6 27. Nxe6 Ke7 28. Nxg5 Rhf8 29. Ne4 Rxf5 30. Nxd6 1-0


GM Vadim Milov (2652) - GM Levan Pantsulaia (2578)
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. dxc5 f5 9. Qc2 O-O 10. e4 fxe4 11. fxe4 Nf4 12. Be3 Qc7 13. Qd2 Nd7 14. Qd6 Qa5 15. Rc1 e5 16. Nf3 Rf6 17. Qe7 Qa4 18. Nd2 Rf7 19. Qd8+ Rf8 20. Qc7 Kh8 21. g3 Ne6 22. Qd6 Nf6 23. Qd3 Ng4 24. Bg1 Qxa3 25. Rb1 Rd8 26. Qc4 Ng5 27. Qb3 Qa5 28. Be2 Nh3 29. Nc4 Qc7 30. Nd6 Rf8 31. Qd5 Nxg1 32. Rxg1 Be6 33. Rxb7 Qa5 34. Qd2 Qxc5 35. Rf1 Rfd8 36. Bxg4 Rxd6 37. Qg5 Qxc3+ 38. Kf2 Rf8+ 39. Kg2 Qc2+ 40. Kg1 Qc5+ 41. Kg2 Qc2+ 42. Kg1 Rxf1+ 43. Kxf1 Bc4+ 0-1


GM David Navara (2646) - GM Predrag Nikolic (2584)
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. d4 Bg4 10. Be3 Bh5 11. h3 Bg6 12. Nbd2 exd4 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 c5 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Bd5 Rb8 17. f4 h6 18. a4 b4 19. Qf3 Kh8 20. Nc4 Qc7 21. Kh1 a5 22. g3 Bh7 23. Re3 Bg8 24. Rd3 Rfd8 25. g4 Be7 26. g5 Bf8 27. h4 bxc3 28. bxc3 Rb3 29. Nxa5 Rxc3 30. Rxc3 Qxa5 31. Rg1 Qxa4 32. gxh6 gxh6 33. Qg2 Bh7 34. Rg3 Be7 35. Rg7 1-0


GM Mikhail Gurevich (2652) - GM Robert Markus (2579)
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. a3 cxd4 7. axb4 dxc3 8. bxc3 d6 9. Nf3 e5 10. e4 Be6 11. Bg5 Nbd7 12. Nd2 h6 13. Bh4 Qc7 14. Ra5 b6 15. Ra3 a5 16. O-O axb4 17. Rxa8 Rxa8 18. cxb4 Ra2 19. Nb1 Rb2 20. Qe1 Qa7 21. Qc3 Qa2 22. Rd1 Bg4 23. Re1 Be2 24. Bxe2 Rxe2 25. Rxe2 Qxe2 26. f3 Qd1+ 27. Qe1 Qd4+ 28. Bf2 Qxc4 29. Qc3 Qe2 30. Qb3 g5 31. Na3 g4 32. Nc4 d5 33. Nd6 Qd2 34. h3 gxh3 35. gxh3 Kg7 36. Nf5+ Kh7 37. Ne3 Kg6 38. exd5 e4 39. fxe4 Nxe4 40. Qc2 Qxc2 41. Nxc2 Nc3 42. Ne3 f5 43. d6 Ne4 44. Nd5 b5 45. Nc7 Nxd6 46. Bg3 Ne4 47. Be1 Nd6 48. Bg3 Ne4 49. Be1 Nd6 draw

Young Knights

The bright future of Serbia & Montenegro chess



Young participants of the 18th Trophy of Belgrade(from the left): IM Dusan Popovic (2480), Nikola D.Nestorovic (2328) and Aleksandar Toth (2295)

First Chess Prodigy

This is good day to refresh memories on the great chess player. GM Samuel Herman Reshevsky was born on 26th November 1911 in Ozerkovo, Poland. He started to play chess when he was 4 years old and at the age of 5 he was already giving simuls to adults. Famous masters Rubinstein and Salve were amazed with the kid's capabilities.

After the "Big War" he started to win the tournaments across the Europe - Berlin, Wien, Paris, London... In 1920 Reshevsky family is moving to New York, US. He didn't show up big interest for the science, chess was his first love. Samuel wins Western States Championship in 1931 and then on 1934 he wins Syracuse tournament. Soon he became first man to outplay famous Franck Marshall and win US Championship after 27 years of Franck's domination.

He is participating in the world's strongest tournaments, 1936 he finished 3rd-5th in Nottingham and in 1938 he tied for 4th place in AVRO super-tourney. After Alekhine's death, five players are gathering in Hague to determinate new world champion. Botvinnik grabs the title while Reshevsky is sharing 3rd-4th with Paul Keres.

Later he was playing 1953 candidates tournament and Interzonals on 1964 and 1967. He has won US Championship 5 times total.

Samuel Reshevsky has passed away on 4th April 1992.


Samuel Reshevsky - Jose Raul Capablanca, Margate 1935
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. e3 Be7 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Qc2 c5 9. Nf3 c4 10. Bf5 Re8 11. O-O g6 12. Bh3 Nf8 13. Bxc8 Rxc8 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. b3 Qa5 16. b4 Qd8 17. Qa4 a6 18. b5 Re6 19. Rab1 Rb8 20. Rb2 Be7 21. bxa6 Rxa6 22. Qc2 Ne6 23. Rfb1 Ra7 24. a4 Nc7 25. Ne5 Qe8 26. f4 f6 27. Ng4 Qd7 28. h3 Kg7 29. Nf2 Ba3 30. Ra2 Bd6 31. Nfd1 f5 32. Nb5 Ra5 33. Nxc7 Bxc7 34. Nc3 Qd6 35. Qf2 b6 36. Qf3 Rd8 37. Rab2 Qe7 38. Rb4 Rd7 39. Kh1 Bd8 40. g4 fxg4 41. hxg4 Qd6 42. Kg1 Bc7 43. Kf2 Rf7 44. g5 Bd8 45. Ke2 Bxg5 46. Rxb6 Qa3 47. Kd2 Be7 48. Rb7 Rxa4 49. Qxd5 Ra5 50. Qxc4 Rh5 51. Kd3 Qa8 52. Qe6 Qa3 53. Rd7 Rhf5 54. Rb3 Qa1 55. Rxe7 Qf1+ 56. Kd2 1-0

Emanuel Lasker - Samuel Reshevsky, Nottingham 1936
1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. Nc3 a6 7. O-O b5 8. Bd3 cxd4 9. exd4 Bb7 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Qe2 O-O 12. Rad1 Nbd7 13. Ne5 Nd5 14. Bc1 Nxc3 15. bxc3 Nf6 16. a4 Qd5 17. Nf3 Rfc8 18. Bb2 Ne4 19. Rc1 Ng5 20. axb5 axb5 21. Bxb5 Nxf3+ 22. gxf3 Qg5+ 0-1

Mikhail Botvinnik - Samuel Reshevsky, Hague/Moskow 1948
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Nc6 7.Bd3 O-O 8.Ne2 b6 9.e4 Ne8 10.Be3 d6 11.O-O Na5 12.Ng3 Ba6 13.Qe2 Qd7 14.f4 f5 15.Rae1 g6 16.Rd1 Qf7 17.e5 Rc8 18.Rfe1 dxe5 19.dxe5 Ng7 20.Nf1 Rfd8 21.Bf2 Nh5 22.Bg3 Qe8 23.Ne3 Qa4 24.Qa2 Nxg3 25.hxg3 h5 26.Be2 Kf7 27.Kf2 Qb3 28.Qxb3 Nxb3 29.Bd3 Ke7 30.Ke2 Na5 31.Rd2 Rc7 32.g4 Rcd7 33.gxf5 gxf5 34.Red1 h4 35.Ke1 Nb3 36.Nd5+ exd5 37.Bxf5 Nxd2 38.Rxd2 dxc4 39.Bxd7 Rxd7 40.Rf2 Ke6 41.Rf3 Rd3 42.Ke2 0-1

Samuel Reshevsky - Miguel Najdorf, San Salvador 1952
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 a6 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bb3 c5 9.O-O Bb7 10.Qe2 Nbd7 11.Rd1 Qb6 12.d5 e5 13.a4 c4 14.Bc2 Rc8 15.axb5 axb5 16.Nxb5 Qxb5 17.Ba4 Qc5 18.Nxe5 Qc7 19.Nxd7 Nxd7 20.Qg4 h5 21.Qh3 Bd6 22.Bd2 Ra8 23.Bc3 f6 24.Bc6 Rxa1 25.Rxa1 Bxc6 26.Qe6+ Kf8 27.dxc6 Nb8 28.Ra8 Qe7 29.Qd5 g6 30.Bb4 1-0

Belgrade Trophy Report

This tournament has 204 participants from Serbia & Montenegro, Albania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Russia, Germany, France, Ukraine, Croatia, Macedonia, Iceland, Romania, England, Greece and Bosnia & Herzegowina. Five players are having 4 points after 4 rounds: GM Igor Miladinovic (SCG 2609), IM Dusan Popovic (SCG 2480), FM Borivoje Vujacic (SCG 2377), IM Branko Stanojevic (SCG 2302) and IM Tomas Petrik (SVK 2473).

GM Igor Miladinovic, highest rated player

Still dancing on the razor blade - GM Dragoljub Velimirovic

GM Dejan Antic 2519 - IM Vlado Jakovljevic 2385
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Nc6 8. a3 Bxc5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Be2 Be6 11. O-O h6 12. Rc1 Rc8 13. Nb5 Ne4 14. Nfd4 Qb6 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. b4 Be7 17. Bg4 Qxb5 18. Bxe6+ Kh8 19. Bxc8 Rxc8 20. Qg4 Rf8 21. f3 Nf6 22. Qe6 Re8 23. Qf5 a6 24. Rcd1 Bd8 25. Rfe1 Ne7 26. Qc2 Qc6 27. Qb1 Qe6 28. g4 Bb6 29. Kg2 Nxg4 30. fxg4 Qxg4+ 31. Bg3 Nf5 32. Rf1 Nxe3+ 33. Kh1 Qe2 0-1


MK Aleksandar Toth 2295 - MK Ivan Sarenac 2115
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. Bxc6+ bxc6 5. O-O e5 6. c3 Nf6 7. Re1 Qc7 8. d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 Be7 10. Nc3 O-O 11. Bg5 Bg4 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Qe2 Rab8 14. b3 Qa5 15. Na4 Rfd8 16. Nb2 h6 17. Nc4 Qb5 18. Bh4 Bb4 19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. Red1 Bc3 21. Rac1 Bd4 22. h3 Bh5 23. g4 Bg6 24. Nxd4 exd4 25. f4 Bh7 26. f5 h5 27. Qf2 c5 28. Nb2 Re8 29. Qf3 Qc6 30. Rxd4 Rbd8 31. Rxd8 Rxd8 32. Rd1 Re8 33. Re1 Qa6 34. a4 Qa5 35. Re2 Qb4 36. Kg2 Rd8 37. Nc4 Rd4 38. Rc2 Qe1 39. Re2 Qb1 40. Rd2 Rxe4 41. Rd8+ Kg7 42. Nd2 1-0


GM Bosko Abramovic 2482 - FM Atif Dumpor 2309
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nc3 d6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O e5 8. d5 Ne7 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. e4 f5 11. Nd3 h6 12. f4 exf4 13. Nxf4 Nc5 14. exf5 Bxf5 15. g4 Bd7 16. Ne4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 g5 18. Ne6 Bxe6 19. dxe6 c6 20. Be3 d5 21. Rxf8+ Qxf8 22. cxd5 cxd5 23. Bc2 Bxb2 24. Qd3 Qg7 25. Rb1 Be5 26. Rxb7 Rc8 27. Rxa7 Qf6 28. Kg2 Qxe6 29. Qh7+ Kf8 30. Bf5 Nxf5 31. gxf5 1-0

Future champions:

Barbara Dizdarevic (1772)

Dejan D.Zivkovic (2047)

Lazar Nestorovic (2011)

I owe you this

In my practical examples post I have asked "How should Black react here?". Since there were no takers I can only think that either my blog is boring or, even worse, the question was too hard.




1.Qe4 Qf5!!

Paradoxical move. But on second thought very logical. White Queen will be far away from the main events after taking Ra8. So Black can also use his Queen to break into enemies fort. The main difference is that Black King can easily run into the castle while his White opponent is stuck in the center because his pieces are undeveloped.

2.Qa8 Qc2 3.Qb8 Bc3 4.bc3 Qc3 5.Kd1 Qd1 6.Kd2 c3 7.Kd3 0-0

Black King goes into safety and soon Bc8 comes into the game with devastating effects. White has no time to close both diagonals.

8.g4 Ba6! 9.Qa7 b4 10.Ke3 c2 and 0-1, Aseev-Novikov, Vilnus 1984.

GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov is U20 World Champion

GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2674) of Azerbaijan has won the U20 World Chess Championship with clear point ahead of the opposition. His start was impressive and at one point he had a 2950 performance! Later he used "Topalov tactic" and drew all the games till the end while no one was able to catch him. Shakhriyar was also champion for the year 2003. Other Azeri, GM Vugar Gashimov (2608) finished 4th. These two, together with Radjabov and Guseinov, are members of the fantastic U20 Azeri generation which have kicked older from the national Olympic team.


Mamedyarov (2674) - Krivokapic (2361)
1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. d4 d5 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. Bg5 c5 6. e3 a6 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Nbd7 9. a4 b4 10. Ne4 Bb7 11. Rc1 cxd4 12. exd4 Be7 13. Qe2 O-O 14. O-O Nxe4 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. Bxe4 Nf6 17. Bxb7 Qxb7 18. Rc5 Rac8 19. Ne5 Qe4 20. Qxe4 Nxe4 21. Rc6 Rcd8 22. Nf3 a5 23. Re1 Nf6 24. Rec1 Rd5 25. Ra6 Ne4 26. h4 h6 27. Rc7 g5 28. hxg5 hxg5 29. Raa7 g4 30. Ne5 Rxd4 31. Nxf7 Nf6 32. Nh6+ Kh8 33. g3 Rd2 34. Nxg4 1-0

Babujian (2429) - Mamedyarov (2674)
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 g6 7. Nbd2 Bg7 8. Nf1 O-O 9. Ng3 Nd7 10. O-O Nc5 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. d4 Ne6 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Be3 a5 15. Qa4 Ba6 16. Rfd1 Qb8 17. Rd2 Qb5 18. Qc2 a4 19. Ng5 Nf4 20. Rad1 Rab8 21. h4 Qc4 22. Bxf4 exf4 23. Ne2 Qxa2 24. Nxf4 Bc4 25. Re1 Rfd8 26. e5 a3 27. e6 axb2 28. e7 Re8 29. Qe4 Qa1 30. Kh2 Qxe1 31. Qxe1 Ba2 32. Qd1 b1=Q 0-1

Mamedyarov (2674) - Heberla (2465)
1. d4 c5 2. dxc5 Na6 3. e4 Nxc5 4. Nc3 d6 5. Be3 e6 6. Nf3 a6 7. Qd4 Ne7 8. Rd1 Nc6 9. Qd2 b5 10. a3 Be7 11. Bf4 e5 12. Be3 Be6 13. Be2 O-O 14. O-O Rc8 15. h3 Qc7 16. Rfe1 Rfd8 17. Ng5 Bxg5 18. Bxg5 f6 19. Be3 Ne7 20. Bg4 Bxg4 21. hxg4 Qc6 22. Bxc5 Qxc5 23. g5 f5 24. Qd3 fxe4 25. Nxe4 Qc4 26. Qh3 Rc6 27. g6 Nxg6 28. b3 Qf7 29. Ng5 Qf6 30. Qxh7+ Kf8 31. Ne4 Qe6 32. Rd3 d5 33. Rf3+ Ke8 34. Ng5 Qe7 35. Rf5 Rf6 36. Qg8+ Kd7 37. Qxd5+ Kc7 38. Qf3 Rdf8 39. Rxf6 gxf6 40. Ne4 f5 41. Qc3+ Kb8 42. Qc6 1-0

Mamedyarov (2674) - Gashimov (2608)
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qa4 c5 6. Bg2 Bb7 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. O-O O-O 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Rd1 Na6 11. Bf4 Nc5 12. Qc2 Qc8 13. Rd4 d5 14. cxd5 Nxd5 15. Bg5 Bxg5 16. Nxg5 Nf6 17. Bxb7 Nxb7 18. Rad1 Rd8 19. Nge4 Nxe4 20. Rxd8+ Nxd8 21. Qxe4 h6 22. Nb5 a6 23. Nd6 Qc6 24. Qxc6 Nxc6 25. Rc1 Nd4 26. Rc7 Nb5 27. Rc8+ Rxc8 28. Nxc8 Nd4 29. Nxb6 Nxe2+ 30. Kf1 Nc1 31. a4 Kf8 32. Ke1 Ke7 33. Kd2 Nb3+ 34. Kc3 Nc5 35. b4 Nb7 36. Nc4 Kd8 37. Kd4 Kc7 38. h4 f6 39. h5 Kc6 40. f4 Kd7 41. b5 axb5 42. axb5 Kc7 43. f5 e5+ 44. Kd5 Kd7 45. g4 Nd8 46. Nd6 Ke7 47. Ne4 Nf7 48. Kc6 Kd8 49. b6 Kc8 50. b7+ Kb8 51. Nc5 Nd8+ 52. Kb6 1-0

Alekseev (2632) - Mamedyarov (2674)
1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. e4 d6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Nge2 c5 7. d3 Nc6 8. O-O a6 9. h3 Rb8 10. a4 Bd7 11. Be3 Ne8 12. d4 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nc7 14. Kh2 Ne6 15. Nde2 Na5 16. b3 b5 17. cxb5 axb5 18. b4 Nc4 19. Ba7 bxa4 20. Bxb8 Qxb8 21. Nd5 Re8 22. Ra2 Nd8 23. Qc2 e6 24. Ndf4 Nb6 25. Rc1 Nc6 26. Nd3 Na7 27. Qd2 Bb5 28. Nc3 Bc4 29. Nxa4 Bxa2 30. Qxa2 Nd7 31. Nab2 h5 32. h4 Nb5 33. Nc4 Nf6 34. Kg1 Rc8 35. Qd2 Ng4 36. Na5 Bc3 37. Qd1 Rc7 38. Bf1 Qa7 39. Qa4 Nxf2 40. Nxf2 Qe3 41. Qd1 Bd4 42. Rc2 Qxg3+ 43. Bg2 Be3 44. Nb3 Rxc2 45. Qxc2 Bxf2+ 46. Qxf2 Qxb3 0-1

18th Trophy of Belgrade

This traditional event is being held on November 22-30th in Obrenovac again. The tournament promoter is legendary GM Svetozar Gligoric and the format is 9 rounds of Swiss system with prize fund of 5250 Euros. There are 204 participants and quite a bunch of GM's among them.

Congratulations Mr.Plaskett!

GM James Plaskett had an impressive run in the English quiz "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?". This was his third time participating and he finally made an significant score. James has won a total of 250.000 pounds!

Anand (2788) - Kasimdzhanov (2670), WCC (11), 10.10.2005

Yet again, thanks to courtesy of Mr.Karim Abdul, I have the pleasure of posting an annotated game from the World Chess Championship. Karim is "Chess Chronicle"owner and this is just a sample of the bi-weekly ezine (which usualy has 40-50 pages).



Anand (2788) - Kasimdzhanov (2670)
WCC (11), 10.10.2005
Comments by GM Alex Finkel

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Be3 Nbd7 9.Qd2 b5 10.0-0-0 Nb6 11.Qf2 Nc4 12.Bxc4 bxc4 Another popular line of Najdorf variation has been played, but in the following position Anand deviates from the most popular 13.Nc5 in favor of a move in the game, which was first tried a month ago by Moldavian grandmaster Bologan. 13.Na5!? 13...Rc8 Very logical continuation. White's idea is to bring the knight to b4 via c6, so it makes sense to deprive him of this possibility. [13...Nd7 14.Nc6 Qc7 15.Nb4 Qb7 16.Nbd5 Rb8 17.b3 cxb3 18.cxb3 Be7 19.Kb2 Bd8 20.Rd3 0-0 21.g4 Kh8 22.Rc1 Ba5 Bologan,V-Gelfand,B/Merida 2005] 14.Bb6 Qd7 15.g3 g6 As White is going to play f4 later on black bishop is better placed on g7 than on e7, not to mention it's important to take square f5 under control. [15...Be7 16.f4( 16.h3!? 0-0 17.f4 Bxh3? 18.fxe5 Ng4 19.Qf3 Nxe5 20.Qh5+-) 16...Bh3 17.Rd2 0-0 18.Rhd1 Qe8] 16.Rd2 Bh6 17.f4 Ng4?! The knight has nothing to do on g4, so it was more in the spirit of the position to play [17...0-0 18.Rhd1 Ne8 19.Be3 Bg7 with good counterchances.] 18.Qf3 Rb8 19.h3! 19...Nf6? This move is the decisive mistake, even though Black's position is quite dangerous anyway. [19...Rxb6 20.hxg4 Bxg4 21.Qe3 Rb8 22.Nxc4 Bf8 23.Nxe5+-; It was necessary to try 19...Nh2 20.Qe3 ( 20.Rhxh2 Rxb6 21.Nd5 Bxd5 22.Rxd5 exf4 23.gxf4 Qc7÷) 20...Nf3 21.Nd5] 20.Bc5+- Not just winning a pawn, but keeping black king in the center. 20...exf4 [20...dxc5 21.Rxd7 Nxd7 22.Nd5+-] 21.gxf4 Rc8 22.Bxd6 Qd8 23.Bb4 [Not so bad was 23.Nb7 Qb6 24.Nc5 Rxc5 25.Na4 Qa5 26.Nxc5 Qxa2 27.Qa3+-] 23...Qb6 24.a3 Nh5 25.Kb1 [Once again white had a choice between a move in the game and 25.Nd5 Bxd5 26.exd5 Kd7 (26...Bxf4 27.Qe4++-) 27.Re1 Rhe8 28.Rde2 Bxf4+ 29.Kb1+-] 25...Bxf4 26.Nd5 Bxd5 [26...Qb8 27.Qxh5! gxh5 28.Nf6#] 27.Rxd5 Bb8 28.Rhd1 c3 [28...Qe6 29.Qc3 f6 30.Nxc4+-] 29.Rd7 1-0

In Memoriam

GM Dragutin Sahovic has passed away of aneuryzmae at the age 66. Born on 08.08.1940 in Kraljevo, he spent his childhood in Nis and later moved to Belgrade where he lived for the rest of his life.

Sale or Sah was big chess enthusiast. Interesting, his last name was quite symbolic - "Sah" (pronounced Shach) is serbian word for chess. He was great practical player and has won more then 100 tournaments in Yugoslavia, Italy, France, USSR, Germany, Bulgaria, USA, Greece...

His other love was literature. Unfortunetly he wrote two novels only - "Tamerlan" and "Destiny on the chess board". He was also editor of chess column in "Nin", one of the two most popular weekly magazines.

May his soul rest in piece.


Here is his fine win over Geler in Novi Sad.

Geler-Sahovic, Novi Sad 1978
1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Bd3 e6 4.Nf3 c5 5.O-O cxd4 6.Nxd4 Bc5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Nc3 Nc6 9.Qg4 g6 10.Qg3 Nf6 11.Bh6 Nh5 12.Qe3 d6 13.Be2 Nf6 14.Rad1 a6 15.f4 Qc7 16.e5 dxe5 17.fxe5 Nd7 18.Qf4 Ndxe5 19.Ne4 f5 20.Bg7 Rg8 21.Nf6+ Bxf6 22.Bxf6 Rc8 23.Qh4 Rf8 24.Rfe1 Kf7 25.Bxa6 Bxa6 26.Bxe5 Nxe5 27.Rxe5 Kg8 28.Rxe6 Qxc2 29.Rd2 Qc4 30.Qxc4 Bxc4 31.Rxb6+ Rfe8 32.Kf2 Re4 33.Rb4 Rf4+ 34.Kg3 Rg4+ 35.Kh3 Re8 36.Nd4 Re3+ 37.Nf3 Rxf3!+ 0-1




GM Igor Ivanov (born on 1947) has passed away on Thursday, November 17 at 1:00 pm in St. George, Utah.

Homage from IM Brian Hartman

I played Igor around 12 times in varous events in the mid-80s. We also travelled to several CDN and US tournaments and competed in same. During the 1987 CDN Closed in Baie Comeau (btw, the best run event I have ever attended), Igor was watching soap operas on TV to improve his English - I visited him one afternoon at his room ,and he asked "Hartman, what does it mean "nonchalant"- The ironic point was I always thought of Igor in that term. During the same event, he was showing me some games from the recently completed Russian Championship - in one particularly difficult endgame, I suggested an idea to Igor - he exclaimed "Hartman, this is not the Canadian Championship!".

The funniest time was when Igor and I (it was his idea) played in both the 1985 CDN Closed and Opens simultaneously in Edmonton to maximize our potential earnings (it worked). We would play a move in one end of the hall in the Closed, then go to the Open game, etc. Amazingly, Igor tied for first in both! I vividly remember Igor struggling in the first few rounds of the Open, all the while trying to solve the expanded Rubik's cube...the next morning I arrived at my games, and saw the Rubik's cube at Igor's board solved! He started winning game after game thereafter...

From my perspective, Igor was the most talented chessplayer I have ever met and had the pleasure of analysing with. His visualization in the endings was incomparable.

I have lost two great chess comrades, Bryon Nickoloff and Igor Ivanov....it will never be the same.



Igor Ivanov became famous over his win against World Champion Karpov in USSR team competition

Ivanov,Igor (2415) - Karpov,Anatoly (2705) [B43]
Spartakiada Moscow (1), 1979

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 b5 6.Bd3 Bb7 7.O-O Ne7 8.Kh1 Nec6 9.Nxc6 Nxc6 10.Qg4 h5 11.Qe2 Ne5 12.f4 Ng4 13.Rf3 Qh4 14.h3 Bc5 15.Bd2 g6 16.Raf1 Qe7 17.a3 f5 18.Re1 Qf8 19.b4 Bd4 20.a4 Rc8 21.Nd1 Qf6 22.c3 Ba7 23.axb5 axb5 24.exf5 gxf5 25.Bxb5 Bxf3 26.Qxf3 Rc7 27.c4 Bd4 28.Qd5 Kd8 29.Qd6 Nf2+ 30.Nxf2 Bxf2


31.Be3! Bxe3 32.Rxe3 Qe7 33.Qd2 Ke8 34.Qd4 Rg8 35.Qb6 Qg7 36.Qxe6+ Kd8 37.Qd5 Ra7 38.Rd3 Ra1+ 39.Kh2 Ra2 40.Bc6 Ra7 41.Qc5 Rc7 42.Qb6 1-0

Incoming Dallas Tournament

The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) will host international chess tournament on 6th-14th December. UTD has one of the strongest college teams and this tourney will be good preparation for its members for the "Pan American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship".


List of participants(with FIDE ratings):
1. GM Igor Novikov (2580)
2. GM Alexander M. Goldin (2600)
3. GM Varuzhan Akobian (2600)
4. GM Magesh Chandran Panchanathan (2495)
5. IM Dmitry Schneider (2490)
6. IM Amon Simutowe (2458)
7. IM Marko Zivanic (2454)
8. IM Drasko Boskovic (2433)
9. IM Peter M. Vavrak (2387)
10. IM Davorin Kuljasevic (2381)
11. FM John D. Bartholomew (2407)
12. FM Michal Kujovic (2346)

In an effort to reach out to the local community and promote greater interest in UTD’s Chess Program, tournament organizers have decided to hold this year’s UTD Grandmaster Invitational at the Richardson Civic Center, 411 W. Arapaho Road, and the First Bank of Canyon Creek, 429 Belle Grove, instead of on the university campus, where the previous events were held.

Friends from WCN

WorldChessNetwork is the best online chess community. Members are very friendly, probably because most of them are using their real names. I want to post a few photos.




Jim Nix from Florida. Big fan of Morphy, Alekhine and Fischer. He has scorred brilliant wins over IM Rychagov and IM Navrotescu. With the hat and moustaches - a Russian IM alike.





Jonathon Zaczek from Manitoba is one of the best Canadian juniors. He insists on his brilliancy and wants to be called The Nikachu.





Todd Shannon from LA, California. Photographer and proud father of two sons. Better known over his nick Che Ssaholic and live audio broadcasts addiction. Dont get tricked with the photo, Todd is one of the most friendliest people we have met in the WCN chat room.

New Chess Super Power

The World Team Championship has ended on November 11th. In a dramatic last round Russia took the title after winning 3.5-0.5 against China, who were leading the tournament from its start.

GM Alex Finkel was broadcasting and commenting this event for WorldChessNetwork. After the tensions have dropped, he wrote a nice summary.

What a tournament it was! It had it all: top class chess games, a lot of tension and drama, underdog leading the field from the very beginning, head to head clash for the title in the last round, when the very last game of the championship was to decide a winner...

I would like to see this

There was a rumour, awhile back, that Lennox Lewis challenged Vladimir Kramnik to combined boxing and chess match. By the way, "Volodja" is tall and well built guy.

The format supposed to be as following: First they meet in the ring for 30(!) secs. If Vladimir avoids knockout, they move to battle it over the chessboard. When asked about this proposal during an interview, Vladimir said: "Sounds interesting, but I wouldn't feel very comfortable in a 30 secs clinch with Lennox."

African Chess Championship

The Continental Championship was held in Lusaca, Zambia on 4th-15th November. There were 35 participants and tournament had swiss format with 9 rounds. New African champion is GM Ahmed Adly (EGY 2480).


Final Standings:
1. GM Ahmed Adly (EGY 2480) with 7 points
2-4. GM Slim Belkhodja (TUN 2490), FM Ali Frhat (EGY 2306) and Stanley Chumfwa (ZAM 2303) with 6,5 each,
5-6. IM Fouad El Taher (EGY 2482) and IM Watu Kobese (RSA 2403) 6,
7-10. IM Essam El Gindy (EGY 2524), IM Aimen Rizouk (ALG 2499), IM Pedro Aderito (ANG 2288) and Ignatius Njobvu (BOT 2201) 5,5 etc.


White: IM Simutowe 2458
Black: GM Adly 2480
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3 Nbd7 9. g4 Nb6 10. g5 Nfd7 11. Qd2 h6 12. O-O-O hxg5 13. Bxg5 Qc7 14. h4 Be7 15. Bxe7 Kxe7 16. f4 Nf6 17. Bh3 Bxb3 18. axb3 Rxh4 19. fxe5 dxe5 20. Qf2 Rah8 21. Bg2 Rxh1 22. Bxh1 Nbd7 23. Bg2 Qc6 24. Qg3 Qe6 25. Rd2 g6 26. b4 Kf8 27. b3 Kg7 28. Qd3 Qe7 29. Na2 Nb8 30. b5 axb5 31. Qxb5 Nc6 32. Kb2 Ra8 33. c3 Ra5 34. Qb6 Ra6 35. Qb5 Qa3+ 36. Kb1 Nd7 37. b4 Qb3+ 38. Rb2 Qd1+ 39. Nc1 Ra3 40. Qd5 Qa4 41. Na2 Nb6 42. Qd3 Nd4 43. Bf3 Nb5 44. Kc1 Rxa2 45. Rxa2 Qxa2 46. Qxb5 Nc4 47. Qd7 Qb2+ 48. Kd1 Qxc3 49. Bg4 Ne3+ 50. Ke2 Nxg4 51. Qxg4 Qxb4 0-1

Smyslov in the Opera

Ex-World Champion Vassily Smyslov is great singer. Closing ceremonies of countless events have heard his "Volga, Volga, Russian river.." performance. Bellow is photo of Vassily singing in the opera.

Practical examples

White's plan is consisting on limitation of opponent's pair of Bishops.



30.e5 f5

The threat was 31.Ne4 storming on Black's weak dark squares. Now Bg4 drops out from the game and White has a chance to break into the opponent's camp.

31.Qg2 Rb8 32.Kg3!? (King can be active piece as well!) 32...Rd8 33.Nf3 Rd7 34.Rb2 Qa5 35.Qd2! (Idea is to trade Black's only active piece - Qa5) 36...Qc3 36.Bg2 Rd8 37.Rb3 Qa1 38.Rb7 Kh8 39.Qe1 Qc3 40.e6 Qe1 41.Ne1 1-0

Black has no good answer against 42.e7 Re8 43.Bc6. This example is taken from the game Karpov-Savon, Moscow 1973.



In the following position White has taken premature action with Qe4. How should Black react here?

GM Simen Agdestein is Norway Champion

GM Simen Agdestein and GM Magnus Carlsen have tied for the first place in Norway championship, played in Sandnes on 2nd-9th July. Few days ago they finally had chance for playoff match to decide title holder.

The result was 1-1 after two games in regular time control so they have started with rapid (25/10) session. Agdestein finally clinched the match after holding 5th game with Black pieces and then winning 6th game in Queens indian.


Simen Agdestein 2582 - Magnus Carlsen 2570
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Nf3 Bb7 8. e3 d5 9. b4 Nbd7 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Qb2 Qc8 12. Bd2 c5 13. Rc1 Ba6 14. dxc5 Bxf1 15. Rxf1 bxc5 16. bxc5 Rb8 17. Qc2 Qc6 18. e4 N5f6 19. Nd4 Qa6 20. f4 e5 21. Nf5 exf4 22. c6 Ne5 23. Rf3 Rbe8 24. Bb4 Nxe4 25. Ne7+ Rxe7 26. Bxe7 Re8 27. Qxe4 Rxe7 28. c7 Re8 29. Kd1 Qc8 30. Rd3 Kf8 31. Qb4+ Kg8 32. Qe4 Kf8 33. Rd4 Ng6 34. Qd5 Qg4+ 35. Kc2 Ne7 36. Qf3 Qg6+ 37. Kd2 Qb6 38. Qxf4 Qa5+ 39. Rc3 Nf5 40. Rdd3 1-0

Magnus Carlsen 2570 - Simen Agdestein 2582
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3 d4 11. Bxe6 Nxe6 12. cxd4 Ncxd4 13. a4 Be7 14. Nxd4 Qxd4 15. axb5 Qxe5 16. bxa6 O-O 17. Nf3 Qb5 18. a7 Bc5 19. Be3 Bxe3 20. fxe3 Qb6 21. Qa4 Qxe3+ 22. Kh1 Rfd8 23. Rfe1 Qb6 24. Ne5 c5 25. Rf1 Rd4 26. Qa2 Qc7 27. Nxf7 c4 28. Qa6 Nc5 29. Qa5 Rd7 30. Qb5 Nb3



31. Ne5 Re7 32. Qd5+ 1-0

Useless information?

From Wicked Thoughts:

The word "Checkmate" in chess comes from the Persian phrase "Shah Mat," which means "the king is dead."

True. But useless? Not to chess nerds.

"Chess Chronicle" sample

Mr. Karim Abdul gave me the permission to post a sample from the latest issue of Chess Chronicle magazine. I have decided to post Peter Leko - Rustam Kasimdzhanov from the last round of the World Chess Championship, with the excellent analyses by young Canadian IM Thomas Roussel-Roozmon. Enjoy


Leko,P (2763)- Kasimdzhanov,R (2670)
WCC (14), 14.10.2005
Comments by IM Roussel-Roozmon Thomas

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 The Kan Sicilian, a slightly surprising opening
choice from the Uzbek GM since he had been cheering for the Najdorf all tournament long (5 games with black!). 5.Bd3 The main line and the most critical move. [5.Nc3 b5!? 6.Bd3 Qb6 is the other sharp variation.] 5...Bc5 6.Nb3 Ba7 [6...Be7 leading to Hedgehog type of position is also very popular.] 7.Qe2 The logical follow-up. White is intending to play a quick Be3 in order to neutralize the black bishop on a7 and therefore to be able to play f4 and 0-0 after. 7...Nc6 8.Be3 d6 9.f4 [9.Nc3 is more popular, in order to keep open the option of queenside castling. 9...Nge7 10.0-0-0 b5 11.f4 b4 12.Na4 0-0 E.Shaposhnikov-A.Iljin/ch-RUS Semi-Final, Kazan 2005] 9...Qc7 That appears to be a novelty, though not a very significant one; 9...Nf6 or 9...Nge7 are the normal moves. [9...Nf6 10.Bxa7 Rxa7 11.c4 0-0 12.Nc3 b6 13.0-0 Nd7 14.Rad1 Nc5 15.Bb1 Rd7 S.Karjakin-S.Rublevsky/Mainz Ordix rpd 2004] 10.0-0 Nf6 11.Bxa7 Rxa7 12.Nc3 b5 13.a4! A deep and very good move. Leko is fixing the queenside structure before regrouping his pieces to start an attack on the other wing. 13...b4 14.Nd1 This knight is heading to g4 in order to be traded for his counterpart on f6. 14...a5 15.Ne3 0-0 16.Kh1 Bb7 17.Ng4! White is starting some concrete actions on the kingside. First of all, Leko trades the main black defender in that area, the Nf6. 17...Nxg4 [17...Nd7!? in order to keep the knights on board was also to be considered, but after 18.f5!‚ white's attack looks very dangerous, with the pawn-ram soon going to f6, and the black king is starting to feel slightly uncomfortable.] 18.Qxg4 Raa8 19.Rae1! This rook is about to join the attack via the 3rd rank. 19...Qe7 20.Re3 [20.e5!? was also interesting, but black could probably neutralize white's initiative with 20...dxe5 21.fxe5 Ba6! trading the dangerous Bd3.] 20...g6 21.Qg3 Rfe8 22.Bb5 A very good square for the white bishop. From there it puts some pressure on black's queenside while keeping the a4-pawn protected. 22...Rac8 23.c3! Once again very good prophylactics move from Leko. He is placing his weak c-pawn on the 3rd rank so that it is strongly protected by his rook and queen. It is interesting to note the accurate defensive pawn moves (13.a4! and 23.c3!) that Leko played on the queenside, making sure his opponent would not have any counterplay,
before starting his attack on the kingside. 23...Red8 24.f5!‚ With this move white is clearly taking over the initiative. The arrival of this pawn on f6 is definitely some bad news for the Uzbek GM. 24...bxc3 25.bxc3 [25.Rxc3 was the other option, but white's plan is clearly to keep a pawn on c3 in order to control the critical b4-d4 squares and to block the c-file from an eventual black rook invasion.] 25...Ra8 Not a very joyful move to play as black, but for the moment he is restricted to passive defence. 26.f6± Now that guy is really a pain in the ass for the black king. 26...Qf8 As if it was not enough, the black queen is now paralyzed on f8 in order to prevent mating threats on g7. 27.Qf4 h6?! A somewhat weakening move played without being forced to. Maybe black should just try to improve his pieces, put some pressure on the c-file and wait to see what white's plan is. Of course that is all very easy to say. But still, as long as the black queen stands f8, it doesn't seem so simple for white to finish it off on the kingside. And if white goes for Rh3 followed by Qh4, then it will always be time to play h6, but with white having lost a few tempos in order to provoke it. [27...Ne5!? might have been a better defensive try. 28.Rh3 (28.c4!? intending c4-c5 to force the knight away from e5 is also interesting) 28...Rdc8 29.Qh4 h6! 30.Qf4 and white had to spend two extra tempos with his queen in order to force the same weakening as in the game.] 28.Rh3 g5 [Forced, since if black tries to protect the pawn with 28...Kh7 then white goes 29.Qg5! threatening a deadly rook lift Rf1-f4-h4. After the subsequent only move 29...e5 white can proceed with the execution: 30.Rh4! followed by Rf3-h3 and black can resign (any...Bc8 try will simply be met by g4).] 29.Qe3 Ne5 30.Rh5! We can now see the consequences of black's inaccuracy on move 27 ; with the newly weakened black kingside, white is able to create strong threats very quickly. For now 31.h4 and 31.Qh3 are the most serious ones. 30...Ng6 31.Qh3! The e4-pawn is not of any significance, white is just focusing on his mating attack. 31...Bxe4 32.Nd2 Bc2 [32...Bf5 wouldn't help black, since after 33.g4! (white is not afraid of weakening his position, as black is nowhere near creating any threats on his king) 33...Bc2 34.Rxh6 Nh4 35.Rh5+- the g5-pawn falls next and black is completely lost.] 33.Rxh6 Rac8! That rook is going to c5 in order to defend the crucial 5th rank. [Black could try to take advantage of the awkward placement of white's rook on h6 by playing 33...g4!? but that wouldn't change much of the result as after 34.Qe3 Rdc8 35.Nc4! (threatening Nb6) 35...Rc7 36.Rc1 Bf5 37.Rh5! (threatening Nxd6 followed by Qh6 with forced mate) 37...Rd8 38.Nxa5+- white is winning.] 34.Rh5 [34.Be2!? is a very interesting move, intending to play Rh7-g7, since with the bishop on e2 there's no g5-g4 problem after the rook moves to h7. 34...Nh4 The only plausible defence, otherwise black would just have to give up his queen in order to avoid mate. A) The exchange sacrifice 35.Rxh4!? is interesting, but most likely not enough. 35...gxh4 36.Qxh4 (36.Rf4? Qh6!-+ followed by ...Kf8 and black wins)) 36...Rxc3 37.Qg5+ Kh8 (37...Bg6?! 38.Ne4! Rc7 39.Bh5!) 38.Rf4!? ( 38.Qh5+ forces a draw.) 38...Bh7 39.Qh5!? (threatening Rh4) 39...Rc5 The only defence, but it is enough for black to survive. 40.Qh3! White still has some pressure, coming with Rh4 and Bd3. 40...Qg8 41.Bd3 Rc1+ 42.Nf1 Rd1! 43.Rh4 Rxd3! 44.Qxd3 d5 and the position is anything but clear.; B) 35.Rh5! The simplest. 35...Rc5 36.Qg4! Bf5 ( 36...Ng6 37.Rh3!+- (followed by Qh5 and white wins)) 37.Qg3! Ng6 38.Nb3! Re5 39.Nd4 Be4 40.Rxg5 Qh6! 41.Rxe5 dxe5 42.Nb3 Qh4 and black is getting some counterplay, although white should still be somehow winning because of his extra pawns on the queenside.] 34...Rc5 35.Rc1 [35.c4!?± Looked more to the point, considering that black could have taken that pawn two moves later. Following: 35...d5 36.Rxg5 dxc4 37.Rxc5 Qxc5 38.Nxc4 Rd4 39.Qh6 Qf8 40.Qc1 Bb3 41.Nb6± white is still enjoying an extra pawn and a strong initiative thanks to his powerful f6-gem.] 35...g4 The only move, otherwise the bishop was lost. [35...Bf5 36.g4+-] 36.Qxg4 36...Bf5? The decisive mistake. [Black could still fight on after the courageous 36...Rxc3! 37.Qd4 Rcc8 38.Ba6 Rc5! amazingly these strange rook moves are just enough to save black from disaster (the rook goes to c5 once the a4-pawn isn't protected anymore). 39.Rxc5 dxc5 40.Qe3 Bxa4 41.Ne4 Bc6 42.Nxc5 Qd6÷ and black is right back in the game.] 37.Qg3+- Now that the c3-pawn is strongly protected, white is just enjoying an extra pawn and a huge positional advantage. From now on it is just a matter of technique, which won't be a problem for the Hungarian GM. 37...d5 [37...Rdc8 38.Nb3+-] 38.Nb3 Rcc8 39.Nd4 [39.Nxa5+- was also an easy win.] 39...Be4 40.Nc6 Winning an exchange and clearly enough to clinch the game, but white could have forced mate with some fritzaccuracy! [40.Rf1!!+- would have won much more elegantly; white is intending Rh3, followed by a queen transfer to h5 and then mate on h7. Strangely enough, Black seems to be completely helpless against this rather slow but powerful threat. The point of playing Rf1 before Rh3 is to keep control over the f4-square and thus to prevent black from defending with the Qd6-f4 manoeuver.] 40...Rxc6 A desperate exchange sacrifice. [40...Rd7 wouldn't help much, though. 41.Ne5! Rdc7 42.Nd7! Qa3 43.Qg5 Qxc1+ 44.Qxc1 Rxc3 45.Qg1 Rc1 46.Bf1 R8c2 ( 46...Rb1 47.h3! Rcc1 48.Kh2 Rxf1 49.Qa7+-) 47.Rg5! Rb2 48.h3! Rbb1 49.Kh2 Rxf1 50.Rxg6+! Bxg6 51.Qc5+-] 41.Bxc6 Qd6 42.Qg5! Threatening 43.Qh6; so white is forcing a queen swap under good conditions for him. 42...Qf4 43.Qxf4 Nxf4 44.Rg5+ Kh7 45.Bb5 The endgame an exchange down is completely hopeless for black. 45...Kh6 46.h4 Nxg2? Kasim has seen enough, and he decides to give up his knight before going back home. [46...Rc8 would allow black to fight a few more moves, but after 47.c4!+- the opening of lines will soon tell with white enjoying an extra exchange.] 47.Rxg2 Rg8 48.Rcc2

A very impressive display of technique and accuracy from the Peter Leko. His opponent
didn't make any obvious mistakes in the middlegame, but Leko just slowly improved his advantage with accurate positional moves and converted convincingly without allowing any counterplay. 1-0



Thank you Thomas and Karim for presenting this nice article. Soon I'll post a part of "Tactical corner", a regular column of GM Alex Finkel.

The solution

Few days ago I have asked for the best move in this position




The answer is 15...d5! Thanks to this clumsy Qd3 Black will earn nice development of Bc8 and Ra8. Now if 16.Bb3 de4 17.Qe4 Bf5 18.Qf3 e5! Black has active pieces and good chances to gain the advantage. 16.ed5 Bf5 leads to comfortable game for Black.

Cash for blog?

According to Technorati now you can evaluate How Much is Your Blog Worth. Dane Carlson even wrote the formula, all it takes is to type your blog URL in.

I still dont know what to think about this business. Perhaps DG of Boylston Chess Club Weblog, the guru of chess blogosphere, can share his opinion. Chess News and Events is worth $3,387.24, while the most popular chess blogs are valued between $20.000 and $25.000.

Alien Resurrection is next?

I'm sure this name is not assigned to any chess opening, yet. US champion Hikaru Nakamura recently introduced Matrix attack (1.e4 e5 2.Qh5) to top level practice. Thanks to Michael Goeller from the Kenilworth Chess Club you can now inform yourself about The Apocalypse Attack in the Caro-Kann Defense. Michael also made a nice list of resources on this opening.

Kasimdzhanov - Mamedyarov blitz match

This blitz match was arranged as a part of celebration in the honour of Azerbaijan Independence Anniversary. It was played on 4th November for a 5000 euros prize fund.

The match was thrilling and it ended in Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE 2674) favor 5,5-4,5. Apparently, there is chess festival going to happen in Baku, capitol of Azerbaijan. I will make a post if I can find the info.

9th memorial tournament "Dario 2005"

This rapid chess tournament was played on weekend in Livno, Bosnia and Herzegovina. There were 78 participants.

Final standings:
1. GM Dragisa Blagojevic (SCG 2541) with 7,5 points out of 9 rounds
2-4. GM Milan Vukic (SCG 2467), GM Milan Drasko (SCG 2528) and IM Branko Rogulj (CRO 2393) with 7 points
5-9. IM Ibro Saric (BIH 2441), FM Efim Muratovic (BIH 2361), IM Ante Saric (CRO 2437), IM Vlado Jakovljevic (SCG 2385) and FM Zeljko Bogut (BIH 2419) 6,5 etc.

Big surprise in Corsica Masters!

Mediterranean island Corsica hosted hundreds of chess players in the last couple of weeks. The festival had clinical finish as Vadim Milov manage to beat Vishy Anand in the Corsica Masters final with the score of 3-1!


Viswanathan Anand (2788) - Vadim Milov (2652)
9th Corsica Masters (KO-1) Bastia, Corsica, 05.11.2005
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Bd3 c5 8. Be3 Bd7 9. dxc5 Qc7 10. b4 b6 11. c4 bxc5 12. b5 Be7 13. O-O O-O 14. Bg5 Rad8 15. Qc2 h6 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Rad1 Bc8 18. a4 Bd4 19. Nxd4 Rxd4 20. Bh7+ Kh8 21. Rxd4 cxd4 22. Bd3 Qc5 23. a5 e5 24. f4 e4 25. Bxe4 d3+ 26. Qf2 Qxc4 27. Bf3 Qxb5 28. Qxa7 Ba6 29. Qb6 Qc4 30. Rd1 Re8 31. h3 Re6 32. Qd8+ Kh7 33. f5 Re3 34. f6 Qf4 35. fxg7 Kxg7 36. Qa8 d2 37. Qxa6 Re1+ 38. Qf1 Qd4+ 39. Kh2 Rxf1 40. Rxf1 Qe5+ 41. Kg1 Qc5+ 42. Kh1 Qxa5 43. Rd1 Qe5 44. Kg1 Qe1+ 45. Kh2 Kf6 46. Bh5 Kg5 47. Bf3 Kf4 48. Bh5 f6 49. Bf3 Ke3 50. Bh5 Kd3 0-1


Viswanathan Anand (2788) - Vadim Milov (2652)
9th Corsica Masters (KO-4) Bastia, Corsica, 05.11.2005
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Bd3 Ngf6 6. Qe2 c5 7. Nf3 cxd4 8. O-O Nxe4 9. Bxe4 Nc5 10. Rd1 Be7 11. Nxd4 Nxe4 12. Qxe4 O-O 13. Bf4 Qb6 14. a4 Bd7 15. a5 Qa6 16. c4 Qxc4 17. Qxb7 Qc8 18. a6 Qe8 19. Nf5 exf5 20. Rxd7 Bc5 21. Rc1 Qe2 22. Rd2 Qe6 23. Qd5 Bb6 24. Qxe6 fxe6 25. Rd7 Rac8 26. Rb7?? Rxc1+ 27. Bxc1 Rd8 0-1

Chess player and horse race

I was wondering the same - what is the link? Read the entry by The Closet Grandmaster to find out.

Find the move!

Not sure if I mentioned that I am chairman of the local chess club. Club is owned by city authorities but they dont want to finance it, so players are paying for bills and expenses.

We are currently participating in the Pomoravlje regional league. My players deserve to be named: MK Dragan Gajovic, MK Miroslav Milenkovic (72-years old, former champion of Paris, France), MK Goran Urosevic, I Dragan Novakovic, Sasha Gmitrovic, Dr Goran Gajic, Dejan Pantic, Vladan Stanisavljevic, Ana Milovanovic, Jelena Novakovic and junior Aleksandar Dimitrijevic.

Last sunday we were playing "Jedinstvo" (eng. United) from Duboka. Final result was nice 6,5-1,5

I was playing on the 2nd board and this is position after 15.Nd1. Now, find the best move for Black here...