ICC Newsletter - Friday, May 12, 2006

Vol I Issue XX - May 12, 2006

Bosna 2006 Moves Into Round 7

The 36th Bosnia International tournament began this past Sunday in Bosnia, Sarajevo. This is the 19th traditional international grandmasters super-tournament organized by Chess club "Bosna", and the 36th tournament that has taken place in Sarajevo. The first international tournament was held in 1957. This tournament brings in some of the hottest chess prospects from around the globe.

Playing in the A group are GM Liviu Dieter Nisipeanu (Romania), GM Krishnan Sasikiran (India), GM Vladimir Malakhov (Russia), GM Arkadij Naiditsch (Germany), GM Magnus Carlsen (Norway), and GM Borki Predojevic (Bosnia and Herzegovina). All of these players are in the top 100 chess players in the world with the exception of Predojevic.

Round 1 Results

Nisipeanu    1-0   Sasikiran
Carlsen      1/2   Malakhov
Naiditsch    1/2   Predojevic

Round 2 Results

Sasikiran    0-1   Predojevic
Malakhov     1-0   Naiditsch
Nisipeanu    1/2   Carlsen

Round 3 Results

Carlsen      1/2   Sasikiran
Naiditsch    1/2   Nisipeanu
Predojevic   1/2   Malakhov

Round 4 Results

Sasikiran    1/2   Malakhov
Nisipeanu    1/2   Predojevic
Carlsen      1/2   Naiditsch

Round 5 Results

Naiditsch    0-1   Sasikiran
Predojevic   0-1   Carlsen
Malakhov     1/2   Nisipeanu

Round 6 Results

Sasikiran    0-1   Nisipeanu
Malakhov     1/2   Carlsen
Predojevic   1-0   Naiditsch

Standings after round 6 of 10

4.0  GM Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu (2695)
3.5  GM Magnus Carlsen         (2646)
3.5  GM Vladimir Malakhov      (2691)
3.5  GM Borki Predojevic       (2566)
2.0  GM Krishnan Sasikiran     (2692)
1.5  GM Arkadij Naiditsch      (2664)

This year's event is a 10 round tournament in which all players play each other twice.

The ICC is having live relay coverage of each round. You can find more details on coverage times and time controls on the ICC tournament page.

You can also find a detailed history of the event and past winners on the official web site.

View games played so far in PGN format.

White to mate in two

Problem #1713 **
submitted by Brizzolara

To play this puzzle on the ICC type:
tell trainingbot number 1713

Then type:
play trainingbot

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Anand Leads the Mtel Masters

The Mtel Masters, one of the hottest tournaments of the year, started this week and after two rounds of action GM Vishwanathan Anand leads the pack with 2.0/2.0.

There are some new faces at the boards in this year's event. GM Gata Kamsky from the United States, in his come back to chess, will be battling it out. GM Etienne Bacrot from France will also be in the mix. And the well known GM Peter Svidler of Russia will be one of the challengers to keep an eye on.

Topalov, Anand, and Ponomariov all played here last year with local Bulgarian GM Veselin Topalov being last year's winner, the current FIDE Champion, and perhaps the player on everyone's mind to beat. Missing this year's tournament are GM Vladimir Kramnik of Russia, GM Judit Polgar of Hungary, and GM Michael Adams of England.

Last year's winner GM Veselin Topalov

This tournament has brought a lot of onlookers not only for it's top notch challengers. The tournament has a tight rule for draws. Draw offers will not be accepted unless the players can show that their game is theoretically drawn or a forced draw. All draw offers will be examined by FIDE Vice-President, GM Zurab Azmaiparashvili. Although this tight rule on draws does not prevent draws from ever happening, after all it is part of the game to have a tie, it does leave the floor open for some very exciting fighting chess. This is what the crowd loves to see.

Round 1 Results:

Svidler vs Topalov     1/2
Ponomariov vs Kamsky   1/2
Bacrot vs Anand        0-1

Round 2 Results:

Topalov vs Anand       1/2
Kamsky vs Bacrot       1-0
Svidler vs Ponomariov  0-1

Standings after Round 2:

2.0  GM Anand (2803)
1.5  GM Kamsky (2671)
1.5  GM Svidler (2743)
0.5  GM Ponomariov (2738)
0.5  GM Topalov (2804)
0.0  GM Bacrot (2708)

The ICC is having live relay coverage and live webcast coverage of this tournament. Download the games in PGN format.

You can get more details on this fantastic tournament at the official web site. You can also download the games played so far.

Weekday Blitz Challenge Every week the ICC holds the Weekly Blitz Challenge Series with prizes worth about USD 100 every week! There are two tournaments every weekday (Monday through Friday) beginning at 11:30 EDT ICC time and 13:00 EDT ICC time. Each tournament is a 5-round rated Swiss with a time control of 5 0. Chess Assistant gives a weekly prize to the person who scores most points throughout the week (10 tournaments in total). The prizes are shipped to the winner free of charge. The winner of the weekly series can chose one from the following five products: Chess Assistant 7.1 Total Chess Training Total Chess Training II Great Players Kit (5 CDs: Lasker, Capablanca, Alekhine, Botvinnik, Tal) Comprehensive Chess Endings with Nalimov Tablebases on DVD To find out how you can participate in these fun tournaments visit the tournament details page on the ICC.


Game commentary from IM Malcolm Pein IM Malcolm Pein writes for the Daily Telegraph.
Aronian,L (2752) - Grischuk,A (2717) [B50] Amber Rapid Monte Carlo MNC (8), 26.03.2006 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bd3 A system attributed to the New Yorker IM Danny Kopec. White develops slowly but intends c2-c3 and d2-d4 taking the centre [3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4] 3...Nf6 4.h3 Allowing Bg4 would cede some influence on d4 4...Nc6 5.c3 d5 The game now takes on the character of a French Defence. Although Black has lost a tempo by moving the d pawn twice the White bishop loses more time. [5...e6 6.Bc2 Be7 7.d4] 6.e5 Nd7 [6...Ne4 7.Bc2 Intends d3 embarassing the knight] 7.Bb5 e6 [7...Nb6!? 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 Bf5] 8.0-0 Be7 9.d4 a6 Queenside expansion is attractive but continuing in French Defence style and attacking d4 with Qb6 looks reasonable [9...Qb6] 10.Bd3 b5 11.a3 c4 12.Bc2 a5 13.Re1 White now has a free hand on the kingside with his space advantage and feee development 13...Bb7 14.Qd2! b4 15.Qf4 g6 [15...b3!? 16.Bd1 Qc7 17.Qg3 0-0-0!? (17...Bf8 18.Nbd2 h6 19.Nf1 0-0-0 Was an interesting possiblilty when Black's chances seem no worse)] 16.Nbd2 bxc3?! [16...Qc7 17.Ng5!; 16...b3 17.Bb1] 17.bxc3 a4 To prevent a3-a4 followed by Ba3 when Black's dark squares would become very weak 18.Rb1! Bc8 19.Nf1 Qa5 20.Bd2 Ra7 [20...Bxa3 21.Ra1 Be7 22.Rxa4] 21.N1h2 White's plan is clear, a gradual advance on the kingside with pieces 21...h5 22.Ng5 Nd8 23.Nhf3 Nb6 24.Ra1 Rb7 25.Re3! Na8 idea Nc7-b5 but Aronian now breaks through 26.Nxf7! Nxf7 27.Bxg6 Rf8 28.Ng5 Bxg5 29.Qxg5 Winning a third pawn, taking the dark squares and threatening to queen the h pawn. Black's forces are too disparate to resist long 29...Kd7 30.Qxh5 Kc6 31.Rf3 Rh8 32.Qg4 Rg8 33.Rf6 Nd8 [The ridiculous looking 33...Nh8 was possibly the best defence but then 34.Rxe6+ Kc7 35.Re7+ Kb8 36.Rxb7+ Bxb7 37.Qe6 Rxg6 38.Qe8+ Ka7 39.Qxh8] 34.h4 Qb5 35.h5 Qb2 36.Qd1 Nb6 37.Bc2 Kc7 38.h6 Nd7 39.Rg6 Rh8 40.Rg7 Rb3 41.h7 [41.Bxb3 axb3] 41...Rxc3 42.Bxc3 Qxc3 43.Rg3 Qa5 44.Rg8 Nf7 45.Qf3 [45.Rxh8 Nxh8] 1-0


Endgame Secrets by Christopher Lutz – The endgame is one of the most crucial areas of chess. By explaining the thought processes that influence your choice of plan, grandmaster Christopher Lutz helps you approach this area of the game with confidence. The English Attack by Nick de Firmian & John Fedorowicz – Two American GMs provide a practical yet thorough survey of one of the hottest opening variations around today. In response to Black's ever popular Najdorf Sicilian, White plays 6 f3, which not only supports the centre e-pawn but more importantly prepares to launch a kingside pawn storm against Black's castled king, starting with g4-g5. Victory in the Opening! by Lane – Learn the secrets of a quick victory on the chessboard! The golden rules of successful opening play are all too easily forgotten, even by Grandmasters. Using examples played by contemporary stars such as Fischer, Kasparov, Karpov, Seirawan, Short and Adams, Lane explains how to win your games in short order. Modern Chess Miniatures by Neil McDonald – Every player enjoys defeating their opponents in double quick time. In this boo, IM Neil McDonald presents a varied selection of 'miniature' games (games in which one player or the other wins in under 30 moves) from modern master games. Each game is chosen for its instructive qualities and annotated in detail, and the games are grouped by theme to illustrate how the reader can win more miniatures themselves.

ICC Puzzle Solution

1. Rb4 Ka6 2.Qa4#