Report from ChessVibes

 

In a slightly worse position that was probably holdable, Gata Kamsky blundered horribly today dropping a healthy pawn. He then decided to try his luck in a queen endgame two pawns down, but the American had to resign at move 51. In the Challenger’s Match in Sofia, Veselin Topalov now leads 3-2.

The Kamsky-Topalov World Championship Semi-Final Match takes place February 16th to 28th in theNational Palace of Culture in Sofia, Bulgaria. The Challenger’s Match consists of eight games and possible tie-breaks and has a prize find of US $250,000 which will be shared equally by the players. The winner qualifies for a World Championship Match against Viswanathan Anand.

Game 5
To the surprise of many chess fans and journalists, Topalov played with the white pieces today, and not Kamsky. Even after the fifth game had finished, match regulations on the official website still quoted the rule:

“The colors shall be reversed after game 4. (The player getting the white color in game 1 shall play game 5 with the black color).”

This idea was borrowed from the Anand-Kramnik match of last year, the idea being that there wouldn’t be just one player profiting from a White game after a rest day.

However, during the negotiations that took place in November in Dresden, this idea was abandonded for being too complicated for such a short match, and so an amendment to the rules had been signed by all parties prior to the match, but this hadn’t (and still hasn’t) made it to the official website.

A funny consequence of all this was that online commentator Sergey Shipov, who always annotates the game live in Russian at Crestbook, had mixed up the names of the players and was discussing reasons for Topalov to chose the French, and recognizing the style of Sutovsky in Kamsky’s handling of that opening! 

Unfortunately there’s not much more to say about the game than what you’ve already read in the intro. Just when the worst was over for Kamsky, he blundered a pawn and then he had to make a choice between two evils: continuing with a pawn down in a hopelessly passive position or going for a queen ending with two pawns down. He chose the latter, but this was clearly lost too, as was shown by Topalov, who finished the game off accurately.

A huge setback for the Kamsky team, who again have to deal with the situation of being one down. But on the positive side, they have two Whites to work on against just one left for the Topalov team.

February 23rd, 2009 | Category: News, frontpage | Leave a comment

Chessdom preview before the challengers match in Sofia

As the Challengers match Topalov - Kamsky is approaching, more and more news sources and chess fans put Topalov as the clear favorite. The rating difference, the strong play by Topalov in Nanjing and Bilbao, and the host city being Sofia provide a first impression that everything is going to be fine for Topalov. All around the internet he is being pointed as the heavy favorite, even Levon Aronian stated for Armenia media that he is sure in the Bulgarian GM success.

Do not get misled though, it will be an exciting match, but the outcome is far from clear. Both players have their chances and it is not possible to point out a favorite before the start of the event. Here are a few reasons why.

The format of the match

Gata Kamsky can be considered a match specialist with solid experience. He has played heavy weight matches against Anand, Short, Kramnik, Salov, Karpov. What’s more, the short format of the match seems not to bother him. During the World Cup he showed he can jump on every little opportunity and downed players such as Adly, Avrukh, Kiril Georgiev, Svidler, Ponomariov, Carlsen, and Shirov in the mini matches.

Topalov also has a successful experience with short matches. In a recent 4 games event he downed the European champion GM Nisipeanu in a convincing manner. In Tripoli 2004 he had a good series of mini match victories against Abulhul, Delchev, Movsesian, and Kozul.

The format of the upcoming match in Sofia puts a theoretical question on the table. Both players have shown they are comfortable with the risky format, but one of them has to prove he is better.

Psychology

The psychological state of the players will have a major role on the outcome of the match. It will be the factor allowing or hindering the players to show their full preparation and skill. Topalov has the support of the home crowd. That brings the so called home advantage, but also puts him under pressure. Every draw will be accepted as a loss by the local fans. The hopes of the media and fans will be very demanding for Topalov and he will have to cope with the difference of expectations if he has a calmer and solid match strategy.

Kamsky is not having a home crowd to cheer for him, however, he will have the privilege to start as the underdog. This will let him concentrate fully on his games, disconnect from public reactions, and focus on his performance.

Recent results not a factor

Topalov has had a fantastic run, winning the Grand Slam Final in Bilbao and the first Grand Slam tournament of 2009 in Nanjing. He has been in top form in the end of last year, but that in no way can be counted on as an advantage. The question now is has Topalov managed to keep his form? Every player has ups and downs, and if this is a down period for Topalov, then American GM shot at the title is very realistic.

On the other hand, Kamsky has clearly hidden his preparation during the Corus tournament and was playing just to fulfill his contract and not lose many rating points. Without much effort he managed to make it to the middle of the table. Adding to this his title from the European Club Cup hints his intentions for a victory.

February 13th, 2009 | Category: News, frontpage | Leave a comment

International Research Conference
Chess in the Russian and world educational system

Russian State Social University (RSSU), February 1-3, 2009

During the International “Moscow Open 2009″ festival that takes place at Russian State Social University, the International Research Conference “Chess in the Russian and world educational system” was held at the same place and time. Among the participants of the conference were professor Uvencio Blanco (VEN), FIDE “Chess in School” Committee Chairman; Elisabeta Polihroniade (ROM), FIDE honorary member; professor N. Weisman (ISR); professor Fornal-Urban (POL); Boris Hristov (BUL), president of the National Children Chess Foundation “Morsko Konche”; GM Yuri Razuvaev, Chairman of the FIDE Trainers Committee; I. Suhin, doctor of education sciences (the Head of development of chess overall education WEB projects); Galina Kovaleva, CEO of Internet Chess Mastership Center of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous District; Boris Shaidullin, CEO of the Tomsk Chess Academy; Alexander Kostyev, Head of Chess Chair; A. Timofeev, a Doctor of economic sciences; E. Umanskaya, a vice-principal of Moscow school № 758; V. Martinov (KOLOMNA), a teacher of extended education; Yurij Remizov (Chita), a chess Coach and other teachers and experts.

The participants of International Research conference “Chess in the Russian and world educational system” have discussed the problem of including “Chess”, as a subject, in School Essential Program. It is supposed that chess will be a powerful tool for children. Therefore some practical recommendation has been made already.

Experience has shown that bringing chess lessons in International schools (Venezuela, Spain, the USA, Canada, Sweden, China, Slovenia, India and others) and Russian schools (Republic of Kalmykia, Republic of Sakha, the Tomsk and Pskov Regions, Khanty-Mansiisk autonomous district, Moscow and other Russian regions) allows to skyrocket the level of children logical reasoning, forces children make decision by themselves, develops ability to study and to make actions “in mind”. Finally these upsides increase children’ school educational progress in basic essential school program. This step is to be necessary now because lots of countries show their discontent with the educational system. Also a search of new educational subjects is capable to make the quality of education grow up.

On the basis of the above-mentioned, the CONFERENCE APPLIES FOR REQUEST:

To the World Chess Federation (FIDE):
1. to consider the president of FIDE, K. Ilyumzhinov’s initiatives about invasion of “Chess” subject in School Essential Program as guide to action of national committees “Chess in school”.
2. To hold in 2010, during the 39th Chess Olympiad, International Congress concerning Chess Education problems

To Russian Federation Government:
1. to innovate in the state classifier a new post called “first grade chess teacher”
2. to assign the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation to work out educational standard of “Chess” subject within Federal state educational standard of new generation education.

To the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation:
1. To consider “Chess” subject as instrument for education system modernization.
2. To allow “Chess” subject teaching in Russian schools within the general educational program in the first half of the day (as a subject at the choice of children)
3. To recommend for distribution the experience of RSSU creation of the chess chair, which trains chess teachers-organizers for work in schools and children clubs.

To Russian Chess Federation:
1. To work out the training conception for teachers of schools on the basis of extended education system with the help of distance methods of teachers training. 
2. To ask region executive authorities, interested in chess education system creation and development, to hold in 2009-2010 regional conferences on chess education using the materials of the science practical conferences held in Tomsk (2008) and Moscow (2009).

February 9th, 2009 | Category: News, frontpage | Leave a comment

International Research Conference
Chess in the Russian and world educational system

Russian State Social University (RSSU), February 1-3, 2009

During the International “Moscow Open 2009″ festival that takes place at Russian State Social University, the International Research Conference “Chess in the Russian and world educational system” was held at the same place and time. Among the participants of the conference were professor Uvencio Blanco (VEN), FIDE “Chess in School” Committee Chairman; Elisabeta Polihroniade (ROM), FIDE honorary member; professor N. Weisman (ISR); professor Fornal-Urban (POL); Boris Hristov (BUL), president of the National Children Chess Foundation “Morsko Konche”; GM Yuri Razuvaev, Chairman of the FIDE Trainers Committee; I. Suhin, doctor of education sciences (the Head of development of chess overall education WEB projects); Galina Kovaleva, CEO of Internet Chess Mastership Center of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous District; Boris Shaidullin, CEO of the Tomsk Chess Academy; Alexander Kostyev, Head of Chess Chair; A. Timofeev, a Doctor of economic sciences; E. Umanskaya, a vice-principal of Moscow school № 758; V. Martinov (KOLOMNA), a teacher of extended education; Yurij Remizov (Chita), a chess Coach and other teachers and experts.

The participants of International Research conference “Chess in the Russian and world educational system” have discussed the problem of including “Chess”, as a subject, in School Essential Program. It is supposed that chess will be a powerful tool for children. Therefore some practical recommendation has been made already.

Experience has shown that bringing chess lessons in International schools (Venezuela, Spain, the USA, Canada, Sweden, China, Slovenia, India and others) and Russian schools (Republic of Kalmykia, Republic of Sakha, the Tomsk and Pskov Regions, Khanty-Mansiisk autonomous district, Moscow and other Russian regions) allows to skyrocket the level of children logical reasoning, forces children make decision by themselves, develops ability to study and to make actions “in mind”. Finally these upsides increase children’ school educational progress in basic essential school program. This step is to be necessary now because lots of countries show their discontent with the educational system. Also a search of new educational subjects is capable to make the quality of education grow up.

On the basis of the above-mentioned, the CONFERENCE APPLIES FOR REQUEST:

To the World Chess Federation (FIDE):
1. to consider the president of FIDE, K. Ilyumzhinov’s initiatives about invasion of “Chess” subject in School Essential Program as guide to action of national committees “Chess in school”.
2. To hold in 2010, during the 39th Chess Olympiad, International Congress concerning Chess Education problems

To Russian Federation Government:
1. to innovate in the state classifier a new post called “first grade chess teacher”
2. to assign the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation to work out educational standard of “Chess” subject within Federal state educational standard of new generation education.

To the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation:
1. To consider “Chess” subject as instrument for education system modernization.
2. To allow “Chess” subject teaching in Russian schools within the general educational program in the first half of the day (as a subject at the choice of children)
3. To recommend for distribution the experience of RSSU creation of the chess chair, which trains chess teachers-organizers for work in schools and children clubs.

To Russian Chess Federation:
1. To work out the training conception for teachers of schools on the basis of extended education system with the help of distance methods of teachers training. 
2. To ask region executive authorities, interested in chess education system creation and development, to hold in 2009-2010 regional conferences on chess education using the materials of the science practical conferences held in Tomsk (2008) and Moscow (2009).

February 9th, 2009 | Category: News, frontpage | Leave a comment

Today FIDE has finalised the bid procedure for the Candidates 2010 and World Championship Match 2011 and is pleased to announce that it has received an offer from Universal Event Promotion GmbH to organise the Candidates.

The main elements of the offer are as follows :

UEP is ready, firstly, to organize an 8-player Candidate event:

• The event shall commence in September 2010
• UEP intends to organise the event in Bonn, Germany.
• UEP prefers a format of knock-out matches,
• UEP is not fixed on knock-out format but ready to discuss a different one with the FIDE World Championship Cycle Committee
• UEP guarantees a prize fund of 430,000 euros free of any applicable taxes.

Secondly, UEP have offered to host the World Championship match in September 2011 between the winner of the 2010 Candidates event and the current World Champion.

• UEP intends to organise the event in Bonn, Germany.
• UEP guarantees a prize fund of 1,000,000 euros free of any applicable taxes.

More details will be forthcoming in the next few days.

February 6th, 2009 | Category: News, frontpage | Leave a comment

TURIN – ITALY, 25th – 27th FEBRUARY 2009
CHESS: A GAME TO GROW UP WITH
A WORLD CONFERENCE ON CHESS IN SCHOOLS

The Role of Chess in the Development of Personality and Cognitive Capacities
Teaching Chess in schools: a comparison among different methods and Experiences
Working Language: English

DRAFT PROGRAMME
(Please download Draft Programme in PDF format)

25th February 2009

9.30/10.00 Welcome Address

- by Avv. Mariastella Gelmini, Italian Minister of Education, t.b.c. (or by a representative of Italian Ministry of Education)
- by Prof. Mercedes Bresso, President of Piedmont Region, t.b.c. (or by a representative of Piedmont Region)
- by Mr. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, President of World Chess Federation (FIDE), President and Head of Republic of Kalmykia
- by Mr. Gianpietro Pagnoncelli, President of Italian Chess Federation (FSI)
- by Mr. Flavio Brugnoli, Coordinator of the institutional activities of the Compagnia di San Paolo
- by Prof. Roberto Rivello, President of the Piedmont Committee of Italian Chess Federation

10.00/10.20 Introductive Remarks

- by Mr. Francesco De Sanctis, Direttore generale dell’Ufficio scolastico regionale del Piemonte (Piedmont Scholastic Office)
- by Ms. Giovanna Pentenero, Assessore all’Istruzione e alla Formazione professionale, Piedmont Region
- by Mr. Luigi Saragnese, Assessore alle risorse educative, City of Turin
- by Gianfranco Porqueddu, President of the Piedmont Committee of the CONI, tbc
- by Mr. Gianfrancesco Lupatelli, President of the MSP – Italia

Plenary Session 1 – The role of chess in the development of personality

Time: 10.20 – 11.00, 11.20 – 13.00 (11.00/11.20: Coffee Break)

Chair: prof. Roberto Rivello (University of Turin, President of the FSI Piedmont Committee, Chairman of the FIDE Ethics Commission)

Keynote Speakers

- Dr. Sulaiman Abul Kareem Mohammad Al-Fahim (President of the United Arab Emirates Chess Federation, CEO of Hydra Properties, component of The Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment that bought Manchester City Football Club on 2008, IIMSAM Goodwill Ambassador), The Development of Chess in Schools in Arabian Countries. The Role of Learning Chess for the Education of Arabian Girls

- IGM Maurice Ashley (1st African-American International Grandmaster, he was the coach of the “Raging Rooks” and of the “Dark Knights” of Harlem, winners of many U.S.A. National Junior High School Championships), Chess for Success - Using an Old Game to Build New Strengths in Children and Teens

Plenary Session 2 – Teaching Chess in Schools: a Comparison among different Methods and Experiences – I

Time: 14.30 – 16.00, 16.30 – 19.00 (16.00 - 16.20: Coffee Break)

Chair: Damir Levacic (International Master, Member of the ECU Board, President of the Mediterranean Chess Association)

Keynote Speakers:

- Umberto Magnoni (I.T.E.R. Director – City of Turin), Chess in Schools, the Turin Experience
- Marcello Perrone (Italian Chess Federation), Chess in Schools, the Italian Experience
- Ali Nihat Yazici (President of Turkish Chess Federation, FIDE Vice-President), Chess in Schools, the Turkish Experience
- Léo Battesti (President of the “Ligue Corse”, Corsican Chess Federation), Chess in Schools, the Corsican Experience
- Damir Levacic (French Chess Federation) and Jérôme Mauffras (Académie de Créteil - France), Chess in Schools, the French Experience
- Alessandro Dominici (Italian Chess Federation), Chess in Schools, the Piedmont Experience
- Paola Russo (FSI Instructor), Chess for very young Students: a Psicomotricity Experience

26th February 2009

Plenary Session 3 – The role of chess in the development of cognitive capacities

Time: 9.30 – 11.00, 11.20 – 13.00 (11.00/11.20: Coffee Break)

Chair: prof. Uvencio BLANCO H. (Chairman of the FIDE Committee on Chess in Schools)

Keynote Speakers

- prof. Fernand Gobet (Professor of Cognitive Psychology and Director of the Centre for the Study of Expertise at Brunel University, West London)
- prof. Roberto Trinchero (Professor of Experimental Pedagogy at the Faculty of Forming Sciences of the University of Turin)
- prof. Domenico Parisi (Chairman of the Italian Association of Cognitive Sciences, works at the Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies of the CNR - Rome)
- prof. Philippe Chassy (Researcher on Psychology – University of Toulouse)
- dott. comm. Piero Angela (Scientific Journalist – RAI) (video contribution from Rome)

Plenary Session 4 – Teaching Chess in Schools: a Comparison among different Methods and Experiences – I

Time: 14.30 – 16.30

Chair: Damir Levacic

Keynote Speakers

- Boris Shedulin (Russian Chess Federation), Chess in Schools, the Siberian Experience of distance learning
- Rikard Medancic (Croatian Chess Federation), Chess in Schools, the Croatian Experience
- Daniel Yarur (President of the Chilean Chess Federation), Chess in Schools, the Chilean Experience
- Walter Radler (President of the German Chess in Schools Foundation) and Patrick Wiebe (German Chess Federation), Chess in Schools, the German Experience

16.30 – 16.45 Coffee Break

Parallel Sessions A - B – Teaching Chess in Schools: a Comparison among different Methods and Experiences – III

Time: 16.45 – 19.00

A. Italian Experiences (Chair: Maurizio Perrone)
B. International Experiences (Chair: Uvencio Blanco)

Keynote Speakers

- Sebastiano Paulesu (FSI Instructor), The Ideographic Method
- Carlo Alberto Cavazzoni (FSI Instructor), The Castle of Chess
- Alexander Wild (FSI Instructor), Basic Chess Teaching

27th February 2009

Conclusive Plenary Session

Time: 9.30 – 11.00, 11.20 – 13.00 (11.00/11.20: Coffee Break)

Keynote Speakers

- Valery Bovaev (Vice President of the Russian Chess Federation, President of the Kalmyk Chess Federation, Vice Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Kalmykia), Chess in Schools in Kalmykia
- Tian Hongwei (Chinese Chess Federation), Chess in Schools, the Chinese Experience
- Prof. Filippo Spagnolo (University of Palermo) – Giuliano d’Eredità (University of Palermo), Chess and Mathematics Education
- Michel Noir (former Minister of the French Government, organiser of the 1990 World Chess Championship in Lyon, expert and author of publications on Brain Training), Chess and Brain Training

Conclusive Remarks: Uvencio Blanco, Marcello Perrone,Roberto Rivello

For more detailed information please visit the Official Site.

February 6th, 2009 | Category: News, frontpage | Leave a comment

Topalov and his team under pressure before the match with Kamsky

interview with Silvio Danailov for Standartnews

An extensive interview with Silvio Danailov, where he shares his worries about the upcoming match, he talks about Anand, Kramnik, Sutovsky, global chess processes, Wijk Aan Zee, Linares.

read more

February 6th, 2009 | Category: News, frontpage | Leave a comment

Dear Mr. Serzh Sargsian,

On behalf of the World Chess Federation and on my personal behalf I cordially congratulate you on the re-election to the position of President of Armenian Chess Federation.

The last election is the evidence of the high-level of your professional knowledge and administrative competence.The experience of our successful cooperation inspires the confidence that your activity on the post will continue to contribute to further strengthening the traditionally close and mutually beneficial relations between FIDE and Armenian Chess Federation.

Thanks to your support, chess has become one of the foundations of mass sports and the sports movement in Armenia. Your chess players have won on the world stage the glory of unconquerable chess players. Olympic gold of men’s team at the World Chess Olympiads in Turin and Dresden proofs it.

You made an outstanding contribution to the popularization of chess in Armenia. Without exaggeration, you opened the way to the world of chess to thousands of people. We wish you success in your work, in realization of the sports and social programs of the federation aimed at development and promotion of professional and amateur chess and promotion of healthy lifestyle.

FIDE cordially congratulates and wishes you success in all your affairs and endeavors as well as good health to you and your family.

Best regards,
FIDE President
Head of Republic of Kalmykia
Kirsan Ilyumzhinov

Please download the Congratulation letter (Russian).

January 30th, 2009 | Category: News, frontpage | Leave a comment

It is the start of the year today (Monday 26 January 2009) if following the lunar calendar and so we wish everyone a happy (and prosperous) Chinese New Year and welcome the Year of the Ox!

January 25th, 2009 | Category: News, frontpage | Leave a comment