ICC Newsletter - Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Vol I Issue XIII - March 22, 2006

FIDE Women's Championship

Women's World Championship Reaches The Finals

The FIDE Women's World Championship, which started out with 64 of the top women players in the world, has come down to the finals in Ekaterinburg, Russia. The two top players this year Alisa Galliamova of Russian and Xu Yuhua of China!

In the first half of the semi-finals, which took place on Monday, Viktorija Cmilyte and Alisa Galliamova played out to a 41 move draw. In Tuesday's second half of the semi-finals action Galliamova moved onto the white pieces and was able to score the win and place in the finals. In the other semi-final action Svetlana Matveeva took on Xu Yuhua. This battle came down to a bishops of opposite color endgame in the first half of their semi-final match up which ended in a draw on move 80. In Tuesday's second half of the semi-finals action Xu Yuhua proved that the earlier draw with black would give her good odds with White. Xu Yuhua defeated Svetlana Matveeva on move 56 when Matveeva resigned a pawn down in a queen and pawn endgame.

The finals will take place on March 23-26. The finals are two games with a time control of 90 30. If the games are tied then they play two games with a time control of 5 10. If, still tied, then they'll go into a 6/5 Armageddon black wins the match on a draw!

Semi Final Results

Name Rtng G1 G2 Rp1 Rp2 Bz1 Bz2 SD Tot.

Round 5 Match 01

Cmilyte 2475 ½ 0 0,5

Galliamova 2467 ½ 1 1,5

Round 5 Match 02

Matveeva 2428 ½ 0 0,5

Xu 2502 ½ 1 1,5

Download the two games from the semi-finals at this year's FIDE Women's Championship.

White to mate in three

Problem #731 **
submitted by IBNofool

To play this puzzle on the ICC type:
tell trainingbot number 731

Then type:
play trainingbot

The World's Best Chess Shop

Special Offers from the ICC store

Chess Informant 89-91 - CD

Transition to the Middlegame - DVD

Blunting the D4 Dagger - Video

Bobby Fischer Complete Games - Book

Total Chess Training II (5 CDs) - Software

Ultimate Dragon Volume 1 - Book

Tournament Chess Kit - Chess Set

Kingpin #37 - Magazine

Batsford Book of Chess Records - Book

Master Preparation - Video

Quality Hard-Cover Scorebook - Supplies

Shirov! (Shirov-Kramnik 1998) - DVD

Excalibur King Arthur - Computer

Chess Endings - Essential Knowledge - Software

Informator 92 - Book

Check out the new $10 section !

Advance and other Anti-French Variations $21.95 - by Lev Psakhis
	The French Defence has been and still is a popular choice against White's king's pawn opening, with top-class grandmaster's such as Korchnoi, Morozevich, Bareev and Short continuing to practise it with success. Since the publication of the Complete French by Lev Psakhis in 1992 - a highly acclaimed standard work - the volume of theory has increased to such an extent that the author has now produced four volumes to cover it all.

Queens Indian: Kasparov System $10.00 - by Mikhail Gurevich
	One of the leading exponents of the Kasparov system over the last few years is Mikhail Gurevich, who presents here a fascinating insight into this highly fashionable opening. The emphasis is on the explanation of critical ideas, using complete games to demonstrate typical themes from the opening, middlegame and endgame. Each defensive scheme is thoroughly analysed and appraised, with an assessment of its prospects in future years.

The Symmetrical English $22.95 - by Carsten Hansen
	Following his recent book on 1. c4 e5, young Danish FIDE master Carsten Hansen now provides detailed coverage of all variations arising from 1 c4 c5, including the Rubinstein variation, the Hedgehog and the Anti-Benoni. Each chapter is prefaced with a quick summary indicating the current status of the main variations.

See these and many more new books IM John Watson's book reviews at TWIC, updated regularly.

Dos Hermanas Has Reached The Finals

The qualifying rounds for the 7th Annual Dos Hermanas Internet Tournament have completed! Over 1,600 players registered to play in what is clearly one of the most exciting Internet chess tournaments in the world. The total prize fund for this year's event is a whopping 6.100 euros with 1.800 euros going to the top place finisher.

VII Ciudad de Dos Hermanas

The following players have qualified for the finals:

All the action is taking place on the ICC where you can get more information on this exciting tournament. You can also visit the ICC Dos Hermanas tournament page where there are grids for each round and downloadable PGN files!

Finals:
The first two knockout rounds of 32 and 16 will be taking place on March 24, at 14:00 EST. The quarterfinals, the semifinals, and the finals will be taking place on March 25, at 14:00 EST.


New ICC members get a free issue of New in Chess! That's right! Sign-up as a new member of the ICC and you will receive a free issue of New In Chess magazine. New In Chess is one of most popular chess magazines with excellent analysis and commentary from some of the top grandmaster's in the world. Join ICC. Read more about New In Chess magazine.

Live Coverage: 15th Amber Tournament The ICC is having live relay coverage and live audio coverage of the 15th Amber Tournament from Monaco. Coverage started on March 18 and is continuing until March 31. Live audio coverage is on ICC webcast with live commentary from GM Gregory Kaidanov, GM Varuzhan Akobian, IM Bill Paschall, and NM Brian Wall. The prize fund for the tournament this year is a fantastic 216,000 euros (263,500 USD)! Standings after round 6 of 11: Blind Rapid Total Anand 4.0/7 4.5/6 8.5/13 +4 Morozevich 5.5/7 3.0/6 8.5/13 +4 Topalov 3.5/7 3.0/6 6.5/13 =0 Vallejo 4.0/7 3.5/6 7.5/13 +2 Aronian 3.0/6 3.0/6 6.0/13 -1 Gelfand 3.0/6 3.0/6 6.0/12 =0 Leko 4.5/6 2.5/6 7.0/12 +1 Grischuk 3.5/7 2.5/6 6.0/13 -1 Nielsen 3.0/7 3.0/6 6.0/13 -1 Ivanchuk 2.5/7 2.5/6 5.0/13 -3 Svidler 2.5/7 2.5/6 5.0/13 -3 van Wely 2.0/6 3.0/6 5.0/12 -2 For more information on ICC's coverage of this event visit the ICC Amber tournament page.

Relay Coverage: 6th Karpov Tournament The ICC is having live relay coverage of the 6th Karpov Tournament from Poikovsky, Russia. Some of the top players from around the world have gathered for this nine round tournament. GM Ruslan Ponomariov, GM Sergei Rublevsky, GM Alexei Shirov, GM Evgeny Bareev, GM Alexey Dreev, GM Evgeniy Najer, GM Ivan Sokolov, GM Vadim Zvjaginsev, GM Alexander Onischuk, and GM Viorel Bologan are all in on the battle. Live relay coverage starts at 05:00 EST March 18-25 and at 04:00 EST starting on March 26. Be sure to log into the ICC for this exciting relay coverage.

Game commentary from IM Malcolm Pein IM Malcolm Pein writes for the Daily Telegraph.
Ivanchuk,V (2729) - Svidler,P (2765) [D80] XXIII SuperGM Morelia/Linares MEX/ESP (6), 25.02.2006 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5 Ne4 5.Bh4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 dxc4 7.e3 Be6 8.Qb1 c5 A very bold and unusual move particularly as Qd5 and b6 are thought to be adequate 9.Qxb7 Bd5 10.Qb5+ Nd7 11.Nf3 Rb8 12.Qa4 cxd4 13.cxd4 Svidler has overlooked something because he is just losing the c4 pawn 13...Qc8 14.Rc1 e6 15.Bxc4 Rb4 16.Qa6! Perhaps this was it 16...Bb7 [16...Rxc4 17.Qxc8+ Rxc8 18.Rxc8#] 17.Qa5 f6 Not a pretty move but if [17...Bd5!? 18.Ne5 Nxe5 (18...Bxg2 19.Rg1 Bd5 20.Bf6 Rg8 21.Nxd7 Qxd7 22.Bxd5 exd5 23.Rg5) 19.Bb5+ wins] 18.Nd2 Bxg2 19.Rg1 [19.Bxf6 Bxh1 20.Bxh8 was also strong] 19...Qc6 20.Rxg2! Qxg2 21.Bxe6 The Black king is hopelessly exposed with Rc8 and Rc7 threatened. 21...Bd6 22.Rc8+ Ke7 23.Rxh8 Kxe6 24.Qd8 Threat Re8+ and Qxd7. There is an odd symmetry with both kings under pressure from queen and rook and defended by bishop and knight but White's king is safe 24...Qg1+ 25.Ke2 [25.Ke2 Qg4+ 26.f3 Qg2+ 27.Bf2; 25.Ke2 Qg4+ 26.f3 Qxh4 27.Re8+ Kf5 28.Qxd7+ Kg5 29.Qxd6] 1-0


Chess Under the Microscope by Motwani – The latest of Paul Motwani's critically acclaimed works in which he presents beautiful and instructive chess in an entertaining and witty style. Secrets of the Sicilian Dragon by Gufeld/Schiller – The mighty Dragon Variation of the Sicilian Defense is one of the most exciting openings in chess. Everything from the opening piece formation to the endgame, including key strategic and tactical ideas, is covered conceptual detail. Soft Pawn by Bill Hartston – All good clean(ish) fun, Soft Pawn can cure anyone's addiction to hardcore chess theory, and in the process introduce you to a cast of cowboys, detectives, Russian spies and even a handsome frog. Your Chess Questions Answered by Lalic – Everything you ever wanted to know about chess but were afraid to ask! Players who first take up the game often find the chess world a daunting, forbidding place.

ICC Puzzle Solution

1.Ne7+ Kh8 2.Rxh7+ Kxh7 3.Rh1#