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.

II Obert Internacional de les Illes Medes

The 2nd Obert Internacional de les Illes Medes is starting tomorrow and goes on until 4 January 2008. There will be 9 rounds played with Swiss tournament system and time control is 90 minutes + 30 sec increment. Polish GM Mateusz Bartel will defend the last year trophy.

Top players (96 registered):
GM Bartel Mateusz (POL 2608), GM Moskalenko Viktor (UKR 2575), GM Buhmann Rainer (GER 2567), GM Lopez Martinez Josep Manuel (ESP 2563), GM Narciso Dublan Marc (ESP 2546), GM Aroshidze Levan (GEO 2523), IM Czakon Jakub (POL 2510), IM Fluvia Jordi (ESP 2508), GM Oms Pallise Josep (ESP 2506), IM Rasmussen Karsten (DEN 2495), FM Rasmussen Allan Stig (DEN 2485), IM Edouard Romain (FRA 2472)


Update: GM Lopez Martinez Josep Manuel won the tournament with 7,5 points


Official website

4th Singapore Masters Open International

The 4th Singapore Masters Open International took place on 16-22 December as part of the Singapore International Chess Convention 2007. GM Zurab Azmaiparashvili and GM Zhang Zhong finished tied on first place among 44 participants.

Standings:
1-2. GM Zurab Azmaiparashvili GEO 2606 and GM Zhang Zhong SIN 2634 - 7; 3. GM Chanda Sandipan IND 2593 - 6.5; 4-9. IM Julio Catalino Sadorra PHI 2414, GM Dao Thien Hai VIE 2530, IM R R Laxman IND 2395, GM Susanto Megaranto INA 2569, IM P D S Girinath IND 2448, GM Wu Shaobin SIN 2449 - 6.0; 10-13. IM Oliver Dimakiling PHI 2491, GM Nguyen Anh Dung VIE 2537, GM Mark Paragua PHI 2514, Lin Chen CHN 2363 - 5.5 etc


Official website

International Open Championship of Croatia

International Open Championship of Croatia was held on 16-22 December in Petrcane, near Zadar. 50 players from Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia and Serbia took participation. Serbian delegation dominated through the event, but Bulgarian GM Aleksander Delchev managed to capture the trophy on better Bucholz coefficient. GM Hrvoje Stević, GM Ognjen Cvitan, GM Alojzije Janković and IM Saša Režan have qualified for the 2008 Croatia individual championship.

Standings:
1-2. GM Aleksander Delchev 2613 BUL and GM Nikola Sedlak 2605 SRB - 6.5
3-8. GM Aleksandar Kovačević 2554 SRB, GM Igor Miladinović 2603 SRB, GM Hrvoje Stević 2531 CRO, GM Robert Zelčić 2578 CRO, GM Ognjen Cvitan 2543 CRO and GM Alojzije Janković 2548 CRO - 6
9-15. IM Saša Režan 2398 CRO, Radoslav Dimitrov 2332 BUL, GM Nenad Ferčec 2487 CRO, FM Saša Martinović 2362 CRO, GM Ognjen Jovanić 2492 CRO, GM Mladen Palac 2567 CRO, IM Ivan Šarić 2466 CRO - 5.5 etc


Official website

Magistral de Elgoibar

The 17th Magistral de Elgoibar was held on 10-16 December 2007. Top seeded GM Kamil Miton took the first place, while juniors from across Spain finished 7-10th. Official website is reporting that FM Mikel Huerga Leache from Navarra province has fulfilled all conditions for title of International Master.

Standings:
1. GM Kamil Miton (POL 2628) 7.0
2-3. GM Dragan Paunovic (SRB 2535) and GM Oleg Korneev (RUS 2587) 6.5
4. GM Azer Mirzoev (AZE 2545) 6.0
5. GM Juan Mario Gomez Esteban (ESP 2490) 5.5
6-7. GM Eric Prie (FRA 2532) and FM Mikel Huerga Leache (ESP 2440) 4.0
8. IM David Larino Nieto (ESP 2428) 3.0
9. FM Santiago Gonzalez de la Torre (ESP 2399) 2.0
10. WGM Sabrina Vega Gutierrez (ESP 2331) 0.5


Tournament website

Chess Festival Groningen

Two groups of Harmonie Open will take place on 21-30 December in Groningen, Netherlands. Open 'A' with 3.000 Euros as top prize is open for players rated above 2100 FIDE, while all the others will battle in the Open 'B' where the first prize is 1.000 Euros.

Strong delegation from Greece is leading the group of Grandmasters: Hristos Banikas (GRE 2591), Stelios Halkias (GRE 2589), Dimitri Mastrovasilis (GRE 2559), Friso Nijboer (NED 2559), Sipke Ernst (NED 2539), Arkadij Rothstein (GER 2534), Dimitri Reinderman (NED 2510), Shilong Li (CHN 2509), Pavel Skatchkov (RUS 2509) and Ahmed Adly (EGY 2494).


Official website

Zong-Yuan Zhao takes GM norm

Young Australian IM Zong-Yuan Zhao took GM norm after finishing tied first at the First Saturday Chess Festival, held on 1-10 December in Budapest.

Standings (9 rounds):
1-2. GM Zlatko Ilincic (SRB 2545) and IM Zong-Yuan Zhao (AUS 2491) 7.0; 3. GM Dragan Kosic (MNE 2482) 6.5; 4. IM Iweta Rajlich (POL 2411) 6.0; 5. IM Vinh Bui (VIE 2461) 4.5; 6. GM Goran Kosanovic (SRB 2400) 3.5; 7. IM Arnaud Payen (FRA 2398) 3.0; 8-10. FM Raymond Kaufman (USA 2393), IM Vitaly Pesotsky (UKR 2384) and IM William Paschall (USA 2352) 2.5

2007 Salona Chess Tournament

15th International grandmaster tournament Salona 2007 is being held on 7-15 December in Solin, Croatia. Two years ago winner was GM Bojan Kurajica, last year's trophy ended with GM Vladimir Malakhov.

Participants: GM Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL 2463), GM Ante Saric (CRO 2441), WGM Natalia Pogonina (RUS 2462), GM Emir Dizdarevic (CRO 2504), GM Michelle Godena (ITA 2535), GM Ante Brkic (CRO 2577), GM Vladimir Georgiev (MKD 2576), IM Yelena Dembo (GRE 2448), GM Bojan Kurajica (CRO 2554) and GM Oleg Romanishin (UKR 2547).


Update: GM Antoaneta Stefanova finished first with 6.5, full point ahead of GM Ante Saric and GM Vladimir Georgiev.


Official website

Podgorica 2007

International chess tournament Podgorica 2007 is taking place on 9-17 December in Podgorica, Montenegro. Average rating is 2414, thus making the event of 7th category. Top rated is 65-years old GM Dusan Rajkovic.

Players: GM Dusan Rajkovic (SRB 2522), GM Dragoljub Jacimovic (MKD 2412), GM Nebojsa Nikcevic (MNE 2421), GM Dragan Kosic (MNE 2482), IM Blazo Kalezic (MNE 2392), IM Bogdan Podlesnik (MNE 2401), FM Boban Bogosavljevic (SRB 2491), Nikola Nestorovic (SRB 2436), Stefan Mijovic (MNE 2228) and Predrag Nikac (MNE 2356).


Official website

2nd PGMA Cup

The 2nd PGMA Cup International Open was held on 22-28 November at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall in Paranaque City, Philippines. There were 64 players but Chinese proved to be too strong and took top 3 places.

Standings:
1-3. GM Li Chao (CHN 2548), GM Ni Hua (CHN 2641) and Zhou Weiqi (CHN 2477) 7.0/9
4-6. GM Zhang Zhong (SIN 2634), Dino Ballecer (PHI 2374) and GM Mark Paragua (PHI 2514) 6.5
7. Rolando Andador (PHI 2199) 6.0
8-16. Rolando Nolte (PHI 2402), IM Wesley So (PHI 2531), IM Ronald Dableo (PHI 2451), WGM Li Ruofan (SIN 2417), IM Oliver Dimakiling (PHI 2491), IM Jayson Gonzales (PHI 2454), WIM Qian Huang (CHN 2416), Voltaire Sevillano (PHI 2250) and Emmanuel Senador (PHI 2356) 5.5 etc


Soon after another 9 round Swiss tournament, the 3rd Pichay Cup International Open, opened on 1 December at the same venue. This time 68 players joined the event.

Results and standings

20th Belgrade Trophy

International Belgrade Open Chess Championship is taking place on 22-30 November in traditional venue "Hotel Obrenovac". There are big delegations from Iceland, Spain, Romania and Macedonia, 226 players are breaking the record in participation. More information on the official website.

Leading with perfect score after 3 rounds: Mihic Bojan (2377 SRB), GM Parligras Mircea (2553 ROU), GM Manolache Marius (2513 ROU), FM Prelevic Dusko (2352 SRB), Radovanovic Dusan (2327 SRB), GM Rajkovic Dusan (2522 SRB), GM Stanojoski Zvonko (2467 MKD), IM Zivanic Marko (2460 SRB), Nestorovic Nikola (2436 SRB), IM Govedarica Radovan (2388 SRB), IM Andrijevic Milan (2357 SRB), Pancevski Filip (2340 MKD), Rajcevic Stevan (2137 SRB), Ivanov Stoijan (2231 BUL), FM Solomunovic Igor (2403 GER), FM Baratosi Daniel (2448 ROU), IM Perunovic Miodrag (2407 SRB), IM Tadic Branko (2484 SRB), IM Cvetkovic Srdjan (2380 SRB) and FM Martic Ivan (2304 SRB).

Gocher Open 2007

28th Gocher Open is taking place on 4-7 October in Goch, Germany. Seven rounds of Swiss system are to be played, prize fund is 4000 Euros. There are 137 participants, top rated are GM Normunds Miezis (LAT 2509), GM Michail Ivanov (RUS 2453), FM Lars Stark (GER 2434), IM Karl-Heinz Podzielny (GER 2412), FM Helge Hintze (FM 2342), IM Maxim Chetverik (RUS 2314) etc

Tournament website

Open Es Vermar

The XX Open Es Vermar is taking place on 30 September - 7 October in Binissalem, Spain. There are 90 participants and prize fund is 6000 Euros. Top rated: GM Vladimir Burmakin (RUS 2581), GM Leonid Gofshtein (ISR 2541), GM Elizbar Ubilava (ESP 2540), GM Karen Movsziszian (ARM 2534), IM Ramon Mateo (DOM 2493), GM Viesturs Meijers (LAT 2483), IM Oleg Gladyszev (RUS 2480), IM Martin Senff (GER 2474), IM Renier Castellanos (CHI 2471), GM Ruslan Pogorelov (UKR 2453), IM Jakob Vang Glud (DEN 2435), IM Alexander Belezky (UKR 2431), IM Sebastian Siebrecht (GER 2431), IM Marc Dutreeuw (BEL 2398) etc


Official website

Open Tatry 2007

Open Tatry 2007 took place on 22-29 September in High Tatras, Slovakia and under organization of Chess Club Slovan Bratislava. Accommodation costs were very cheap and 204 players took participation.

Standings:
1. IM Peter Vavrak (2428 SVK) 8.0 (from 9 rounds)
2-7. IM Anthony Wirig (2487 FRA), Axel Smith (2271 SWE), IM Marian Kantorík (2365 SVK), FM Petr Buchnichek (2333 CZE) Agentura 64 Grygov, FM Vladimír Belunek (2288 CZE) and FM Tomas Vojta (2283 CZE) 7.0
8-13. IM Rafal Antoniewski (2512 POL), IM David S Markosian (2343 ARM), IM Ladislav Dobrovolsky (2382 CZE), Mateusz Kolosowski (2298 POL), FM Zdenek Ramik (2299 CZE) and IM Ladislav Kotan (2279 SVK) 6.5 etc

Essent Chess Tournament 2007

11th Essent Chess Tournament is taking place on 12-20 October in Hoogeveen, Netherlands. The 17th-category Crown group will feature Shakhryar Mamedyarov (AZE 2757), Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR 2706), Loek van Wely (NED 2679) and junior Zaven Andriasyan (ARM 2540). First round is on 14 October.

Essent Open with 7.500 Euros in prizes is already full. 90 players can participate, new entries will be placed on the reserve-list. Amateur tournament will consist of two groups (morning and afternoon) with 80 players each. Afternoon group is full. Youth tournament is also planned.


Essent live coverage

Isle of Man

16th Monarch Assurance Isle of Man International is being held on 22-30 September. GMs Vitali Golod and Michael Roiz are leading with 3.5 points after four rounds and should meet each other in the fifth. A bulk of players with 3.0 points are following.

Official website


Michal Krasenkow - Vitali Golod
1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Nc3 c6 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. Ne5 Nbd7 9. Nxd7 Nxd7 10. O-O O-O 11. e4 Bg6 12. f3 e5 13. Be3 exd4 14. Bxd4 Qa5 15. Qc2 Ne5 16. Be2 Rad8 17. Bf2 f6 18. f4 Nd7 19. Bc4+ Kh8 20. Rad1 Bc5 21. g4 h6 22. h4 Bxf2+ 23. Qxf2 Qb4 24. Qd4 Rde8 25. g5 Nb6 26. b3 Nxc4 27. bxc4 Rd8 28. Qe3 Qxc4 29. gxf6 gxf6 30. f5 Bh7 31. Kh2 Rxd1 32. Rxd1 Rg8 33. Ne2 Qxa4 34. Rd7 Qb5 35. Re7 Qb4 0-1

Michael Roiz - Bartlomiej Heberla
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. g3 Bf5 4. c4 e6 5. Bg2 Nb4 6. O-O Nc2 7. Nh4 Nxa1 8. Nxf5 exf5 9. Nc3 Nf6 10. cxd5 Be7 11. Bf4 O-O 12. Qd3 Qd7 13. Rxa1 c6 14. dxc6 bxc6 15. Qc4 Rac8 16. Na4 Rfd8 17. e3 Ne4 18. Rc1 c5 19. Bxe4 fxe4 20. Nxc5 Bxc5 21. dxc5 Qf5 22. h3 Qxh3 23. c6 Qf5 24. Qe2 Rd3 25. c7 h5 26. Kg2 Qd5 27. Rh1 g6 28. g4 Qd7 29. Rh4 f6 30. Bg3 Kg7 31. gxh5 Rd2 32. Qc4 Qf5 33. h6+ Kh8 34. Rf4 Qd5 35. Qxd5 Rxd5 36. Rxf6 Kh7 37. Bd6 Kxh6 38. Rf8 1-0

Serbian Championship - Final Match

Serbian Chess Championship, which took place back in March, ended in a three-way tie. Serbian Chess Federation and Faculty of Mechanical Engineering are organizing final match to determinate single champion for year 2007.

The event is taking place on 21-23 September with the slightly faster time control. Two games are being played every day, prize fund is 1500 Euros.

Update: Milos Perunovic won the tiebreaks and Serbian Championship. Congratulations!


September 21st:
GM Branko Damljanovic - GM Mihajlo Stojanovic 0.5-1.5



September 22nd:
GM Milos Perunovic - GM Branko Damljanovic 1.5-0.5

September 23rd:
GM Mihajlo Stojanovic - GM Milos Perunovic 0-2

Stojanovic, Perunovic and Damljanovic

World Chess Championship has started

The first round ended a bit too quick...

Alexander Morozevich - Levon Aronian draw
Vishwanathan Anand - Boris Gelfand draw
Vladimir Kramnik - Peter Svidler draw
Alexander Grischuk - Peter Leko draw

Round 2 pairings:
Peter Svidler - Peter Leko
Vladimir Kramnik - Alexander Morozevich
Boris Gelfand - Alexander Grischuk
Levon Aronian - Vishwanathan Anand


Video/commentary/analysis:
ChessVibes on tour
The Week In Chess
WCC Mexico live on Chessdom
ChessOk with GM Shipov


See also Mexico City WCC PR

IV Torneio Internacional de Guimarães

Associação de Xadrez do Distrito de Braga organized the 4th Guimaraes International on 4-9 September. 113 players competed during 7 rounds and prize fund was 2200 Euros.


The standings:
1-3. FM Romain Picard (2309 FRA), Henrique Castro (2186 POR) and WFM Ariana Pintor (2084 POR) 6.0/7
4-6. Jose Carlos Pena Torres (2131 ESP), Carlos Novais (1947 POR) and Rui Jorge Rodrigues Trindade (2014 POR) 5.5/7, followed by a bulk of players with 5.0 points

Tournament website

15th Internacional Ciudad de Albacete

The tournament was held on 2-7 September in Hotel Universidad de Albacete, Spain. Russian GM Vladimir Burmakin won his 2nd tournament this month. There were 108 participants, first prize was 1800 Euros.


The standings:
1. GM Burmakin Vladimir (RUS 2581) 8.0
2-4. FM Perez Mitjans Orelvis (CUB 2412), GM Movsziszian Karen (ARM 2534) and GM Hernandez Carmenates Holden (CUB 2544) 7.0
5-9. GM Lazarev Vladimir (RUS 2498), IM Minzer Claudio Javier (ARG 2410), IM Vassallo Mauricio (ESP 2387), IM Guliev Logman (AZE 2454) and Llavador Moron Juan Jose (ESP 2194) 6.5
10-20. GM Khamrakulov Ibragim S (ESP 2592), GM Babaev Rashad (AZE 2488), FM Vitor Antonio (POR 2373), IM Castellanos Rodriguez Renier (CHI 2471), GM Rivas Pastor Manuel (ESP 2510), FM Valmana Canto Jaime (ESP 2346), Picazo Lopez Juan Antonio (ESP 2198), Fernandez Barrera Victor (ESP 2204), IM Granero Roca Antonio (ESP 2348), IM Saldano Horacio (ESP 2451) and IM Guerra Bastida Diego (ESP 2370) 6.0 etc