ICC Newsletter - Friday, July 7, 2006

Vol I Issue XXVIII - July 7, 2006

Kamsky Wins World Open on Tie Breaks

GM Gata Kamsky(USA 2697) won the 34th Annual World Open this week on a tie break blitz playoff. There was an incredible nine way tie for first place between GM Gata Kamsky, GM Ildar Ibragimov, GM Jaan Ehlvest, GM Vadim Milov, GM Leonid Yudasin, GM Alexander Ivanov, GM Giorgi Kacheishvili, GM Aleks Wojtkiewicz, and GM Joel Benjamin.

All players finished the tournament with 7.0 points out of 9.0. All nine players received $6,000 USD for their achievement, splitting the first place prize.

The tie break blitz playoff, with a time control of 5 0, was played between Kamsky and Milov. Kamsky had the white pieces and opened with 1.e4. Milov responded with 1...e6 moving into a French Defense. Kamsky gained a pawn advantage in a Rook and Bishop endgame. On move 49 Kamsky sealed the win trapping the black king on the 8th rank. You can view the game in PGN format.

The World Open is held every year Philadelphia, PA and is one of the hottest U.S. tournaments attracting master level players from all over. This year's open section attracted 237 players including 46 GMs, 26 IMs, 5 WGMs, 1 WIM, 38 FMs, and 4 WFM'S.

Final Standings After Round 9

1-9    7.0  Kamsky Ibragimov Ehlvest Milov Yudasin
            Ivanov Kacheishvili Wojtkiewicz 
            Benjamin
10-19  6.5  Chanda Moiseenko Yusupov Nakamura 
            Izoria Shabalov Shulman Stocek 
            LB.Hansen Ganguly
20-40  6.0  Fressinet Stripunsky Akobian Finegold 
            Vescovi Sadvakasov Perelshteyn 
            Gagunashvili Fishbein Cordova Sevillano 
            Sharavdorj Browne Muhammad Tate Bercys 
            Lenderman Mandizha Habu Ly Gulamali

The ICC had live relay coverage of the event. You can find more details about the tournament on the ICC tournament page or on the official web site.

You can also download all of the games played in the tournament.

White to mate in three

Problem #236 **
submitted by theconquerer

To play this puzzle on the ICC type:
tell trainingbot number 236

Then type:
play trainingbot

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Roman Forum - Dzindzi Indian Defense - Video

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Blitz Turnier Clock - Clock

Winning Chess Brilliancies - Book

Check out the new $10 section !

Chess for Success $12.95 - by Maurice Ashley
	GM Maurice Ashley recounts his journey through the professional chess world while also serving up compelling and triumphant anecdotes about how chess has positively affected young players. While telling these stories, he offers tips on technique, how to make the game fun for children of all ages and levels, and how to overcome the myth that chess isn't cool.

Tactics in the Chess Openings, Part 4: Queen's Gambits, Trompowsky & Torre $20.95 - by Friso Nijboer and Geert
	Part 4 of the successful series introducing opening tactics for casual chess players and club players. It teaches how to recognize opportunities to attack early in the game, and how to avoid standard pitfalls in the opening. This book explains in more than 230 carefully selected and annotated games, all the tactical themes and typical traps of all the main lines in the Queen's Gambit, Slav, Tarrasch, Trompowsky, Torre and Colle.

Chess Openings for White, Explained $27.95 - by Lev Alburt, Roman Dzindzichashvili & Eugene Perelshteyn
	This is a must read for every player who wants a reliable and easy to learn opening repertoire. Chess Openings for White, Explained gives you just that and shows you how to win with White using Bobby Fischer's favorite first move, 1.e4, "Best by Test". The authors have helpfully included material on the other important openings from White's perspective, even those not in the recommended lines.


The Search for Chess Perfection II by CJS Purdy – The 400 page "The Search for Chess Perfection II" is coming very soon--a book everyone has been waiting and clamoring for. Thinkers' Press Inc. first edition came out in 1997 and completely sold out within 18 months. There have been a number of additional features and improvements in this edition. Chess Brilliancy by Iakov Damsky – What do we understand by brilliancy in chess? The author delves back into history to examine how this concept has developed, before presenting a dazzling array of brilliant games from the past few decades - the prize-winners as selected by grandmaster panels for each issue of the Yugoslav Chess Informator between 1968 and 1998, all of which have been subjected to a critical, computer-based analysis. Excelling at Positional Chess by Jacob Aagard – Positional chess remains a mystery to many and yet an understanding of the finer points of the game so often makes the difference between two equally matched players. Improve your positional play and you will see chess in a totally new dimension! In this unique book, International Master, Jacob Aagaard selects many original examples of positional chess, the creme de la creme of those that he uses for training and study. Aagaard also delves deeply into the ideas of positional evaluation and analysis. Unusual Queen's Gambit Declined by Chris Ward – In the unusual Queens Gambit, GM Chris Ward covers three offbeat but nevertheless important defences to this ancient opening. The Chigorin Defence (1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6) creates dynamic imbalance in the position. White often ends up with a big centre but Black's active pieces can create havoc. The Albin Counter Gambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5) is a tricky tactical line which can be deadly against an unprepared White player. The final variation (1.d4 d5 2.c4 Bf5) is an interesting way to solve immediately the age old problem of how to develop the queen bishop in the QGD.

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


Last Chance Special: ICC Membership Offer
As of August 1, 2006, the annual adult membership fee for the Internet Chess Club will change, for the first time since 1995, to $59.95 ($29.95 for students). During the month of July, you may join or renew at the old rate of $49 and add up to four additional years for just $40 each! Beginning this past year, ICC has renewed its commitment to bring you the best chess service on the Internet with a considerable investment in additional content, improved software, and a generally better user experience. For example, ICC is giving its members: Increased coverage of chess events around the world, including more ICC Webcast audio and new video coverage--all for ICC members only. For instance, ICC sent a representative to the World Chess Championship in San Luis, Argentina for on-the-spot reporting and player interviews. Special events with the world's top players, such as a simul by former FIDE World Champion Vishy Anand last year that raised $8,000 for charity. Coming up on July 25, World Champion Vladimir Kramnik will be conducting a simul on ICC for qualifying members (watch for details). More online tournaments of every variety than ever before, including qualifying events for major OTB tournaments like Dos Hermanas and the U.S. Championship. Over the next year, watch for new opportunities to play OTB-rated games on ICC. New content and easier access to existing content through the new ICC weekly newsletter, new ICC Web window in BlitzIn, the new event list, and ongoing improvements to the ICC web site. A major new interface called Dasher to be launched in coming weeks ("looks impressive," says TWIC), which features a dramatically improved look and feel and a long list of new features, such as a built-in chess engine for game analysis and off-line play, a new tournament interface, and extensive customization. Improved support for a diversified member community, beginning with the addition of Spanish-speaking members from Chess21. We have added more Spanish-speaking helpers, more Spanish-language activities and coverage, Spanish radio, a Spanish newsletter, a Spanish ICC Web, and, this week, Spanish lectures! Coming soon are Spanish Trivia, full Spanish-translation of server messages, Spanish input, and improved Spanish client support. To help fund all of the new activities, ICC has decided to raise its price for the first time since its inception in 1995--just $11 after 11 years! However, we know that the success of the Internet Chess Club depends upon the continued support of our most loyal members. Therefore we are offering the opportunity to renew now at the $49 rate for the first year ($24.50 for students) and up to four more years are just $40 each (adults only), one-third less than the new rate! This offer is good through midnight, July 31. New members are welcome, too, so be sure to tell your friends that now is the time to join ICC. I want to tell you about one more change that will be happening at the same time. As of August 1, we will no longer allow anonymous guests to chat or play games on ICC, although they may still talk with admins for technical support or other assistance. Free trials will continue to be available for those who want to try out the full service. We are announcing this change now to give any guests who would like to join an opportunity to take advantage of the lower prices this month. If you have any questions, please direct your email to icc@chessclub.com. Thank you for your support. Regards, Joel Berez President Internet Chess Club

GM Sergei Shipov Passes Carlsen To Win Midnight Sun
In our last report, GM Magnus Carlsen (2646) of Norway and GM Sergei Shipov (2576) of Russia were leading the Midnight Sun Chess Challenge in Tromsø, Norway after six rounds of play with 7.0 points each. In round seven Shipov defeated Carlsen in their match up giving him the lead! Carlsen went on to win his final two games but it was not enough to take first place. Shipov took a draw against GM Leif Erlend Johannessen (NOR 2555) in round eight and clinched first place in his last round game with a win over GM Kjetil A. Lie (NOR 2523).
Midnight Sun Chess Challenge
Final Top 10 Standings 1 7.5 Shippov 2-3 7.0 Carlsen Johanessen 4 6.5 Johnsen 5-12 6.0 Akesson Dworakowska Gullaksen Krasenkow Lie Pettersen Rozentalis Soraas The ICC is having live relay coverage of the event. You can find more details about the tournament on the ICC tournament page. You can also download all of the games played so far.


Live Coverage: Miami Open The ICC will be having live coverage of the Miami Open taking place in Miami, FL USA. Titled players include GM Nikola Mitkov, GM Vladimir Georgiev, GM Julio Becerra, GM Alexander Shabalov, IM Alejandro Moreno, and WFM Yulia Cardona. Times controls for this event are 90 minutes. Add 60 minutes after move 30. Coverage Times: Round 1 20:00 EDT Friday July 7 Round 2 13:00 EDT Saturday July 8 Round 3 19:00 EDT Saturday July 9 Round 4 09:00 EDT Sunday July 9 Round 5 16:00 EDT Sunday July 9 You can get more details on ICC's coverage of the event on the ICC tournament page and the tournament's official web site.


Game commentary from IM Malcolm Pein IM Malcolm Pein writes for the Daily Telegraph.
Rublevsky,S (2687) - Mamedyarov,S (2699) [C48] Aerosvit GM Foros UKR (1), 17.06.2006 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Nd4 [4...Bb4 5.0-0 0-0 6.d3 Bxc3 7.bxc3 d6 8.Re1 Qe7 9.Bg5 Nd8 Is the solid alternative, for an exquisite example of Black's play in this line see the crucial 4NCL last round game between Fressinet and Adams in DT online chess archive] 5.Ba4 c6 Offering a pawn to game time and exploit the badly placed Ba4 6.Nxe5 d5 7.d3 [7.exd5 Bd6 8.Nc4 0-0 9.0-0 (9.Nxd6 Qxd6 10.0-0 b5 11.Bb3 a5 12.a3 cxd5 13.Ba2 Bf5 with more than enough for a pawn) 9...Bxh2+ 10.Kxh2 Ng4+ 11.Kg3 h5 12.Rh1 h4+ 13.Rxh4 Nf5+ 14.Kxg4 Qxh4+ 15.Kf3 Re8] 7...Bd6 8.f4 Bc5 Now White has problems with his king 9.exd5 0-0 10.Ne4 [10.dxc6 bxc6 11.Nxc6 Nxc6 12.Bxc6 Bg4 13.Qd2 Rc8 14.Be4 Re8 and now Kf1 is forced] 10...Nxe4 11.dxe4 Qh4+! 12.g3 Qh3 13.Be3 Qg2 14.Rg1 Qxe4 15.Kf2 Re8 Threat Rxe5 and Bg4 with total carnage 16.Qd3 Rxe5! 17.fxe5 Qf3+ 18.Ke1 Bf5 19.Rf1! Bb4+! [19...Bxd3 20.Rxf3 Nxf3+ 21.Kf2 winning back a piece] 20.c3 Bxd3 21.Rxf3 Nxf3+ 22.Kf2 Nxh2 23.cxb4 Ng4+ 24.Kf3 Nxe5+ 25.Kf4 Ng6+ 26.Kf3 cxd5 two pawns ahead Black converted his advantage into a win 27.Rc1 Ne5+ 28.Kf4 Ng6+ 29.Kf3 b5 30.Bb3 Bc4 31.Bc2 Ne5+ 32.Kf4 f6 33.Rd1 Bxa2 34.b3 Rc8 35.Bc5 a5 36.Bf5 Bxb3!! 37.Rb1 [37.Bxc8 Bxd1 38.bxa5 Nd3+] 37...Bc2! 38.Be6+ Kh8 39.Ra1 Re8 40.bxa5 Nd3+ 41.Kf3 Nxc5 42.Bxd5 b4 43.a6 Nxa6 0-1

ICC Puzzle Solution

1.Nf7+ Kg8 2.Nd8+ Kh8 3.Rf8#