U.S. Chess Championship 2009 - Standings after 5 Rounds

Standings
No. Name Score

1. GM Shulman, Yury (4).......... 4.0
2. GM Akobian, Varuzhan (7)....4.0

3. GM Kamsky, Gata (1)........... 3.5
4. GM Nakamura, Hikaru (2)....3.5
5. GM Onischuk, Alexander (3)3.5
6. IM Hess, Robert (17)..............3.5
7. GM Benjamin, Joel (9)............3.0
8. GM Friedel, Joshua (15)....... 3.0
9. IM Brooks, Michael (22)....... 3.0
10. GM Kaidanov, Gregory (8)..2.5
11. GM Ehlvest, Jaan (10)......... 2.5
12. GM Khachiyan, Melikset ... 2.5
13. IM Sevillano, Enrico (16).....2.5
14. IM Robson, Ray (18)........... 2.5
15. IM Shankland, Samuel (21).2.5
16. GM Christiansen, Larry (5).2.0
17. GM Becerra, Julio (6).......... 2.0
18. IM Krush, Irina (20)........... 2.0
19. Hughes, Tyler (24).............. 2.0
20. GM Gulko, Boris (12)...........1.5
21. GM Ibragimov, Ildar (13)....1.5
22. GM Shabalov, Alexander ... 1.5
23. Eckert, Doug D (25)..............1.0
24. IM Zatonskih, Anna (19)......0.5
25. Lawton, Charles (23).......... 0.0

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

U.S. Chess Championship 2009 - Round 5 PGN on http://www.jrobichess.com

The PGN data for rounds 1 through 5 of the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship is now online at http://www.jrobichess.com/ in the tournament section on the main page to explore from the comfort of your internet browser.

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

Mtel Masters 2009 - Round 1 Pairings

This year's Mtel Masters is category XXI with the participation of Carlsen, Topalov, Ivanchuk, Wang Yue, Dominguez, and Shirov. Round 1 pairings are

Topalov - Carlsen
Ivanchuk - Shirov
Dominguez - Wang Yue

Extensive tournament coverage will take place live at http://www.chessdom.com with round 1 starting on May 13th.

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

U.S. Chess Championship 2009 - Nakamura and Kamsky set to Battle in Round 5

In round 5 of the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship co-leaders GM Hikaru Nakamura (2757) and GM Gata Kamsky (2798) will face off in what might very well be the major clash so far of the tournament. Both Grandmasters currently share the lead with GM Shulman, GM Akobian, and GM Friedel.

GM Shulman will be facing GM Friedel with the black pieces, and GM Akobian will be facing off against GM Jaan Ehlvest with the black pieces as well. GM Jaan Ehlvest currently has 2.5 points in the tournament. All games will definitely be a tough fight for the points involved, and without a doubt today's round will be one of the most important yet in terms of the road to victory at the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship!

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

U.S. Chess Championship 2009 - Round 4 PGN on http://www.jrobichess.com

The PGN data for rounds 1 through 4 of the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship is now online at http://www.jrobichess.com/ in the tournament section on the main page to explore from the comfort of your internet browser.

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

U.S. Chess Championship 2009 - Round 4 Results

Board White Rating Result Black Rating
1. GM Gata Kamsky (2½) 2798 ½-½ GM Joshua Friedel (2½) 2568
2. GM Yury Shulman (2½) 2697 ½-½ GM Hikaru Nakamura (2½) 2757
3. GM Alexander Onischuk (2) 2736 ½-½ IM Robert Hess (2) 2545
4. GM Varuzhan Akobian (2) 2664 1-0 GM Julio Becerra (2) 2672
5. GM Gregory Kaidanov (1½) 2662 ½-½ GM Jaan Ehlvest (2) 2649
6. IM Michael Brooks (1½) 2419 ½-½ GM Joel Benjamin (1½) 2650
7. GM Melikset Khachiyan (1½) 2632 1-0 IM Irina Krush (1½) 2496
8. IM Enrico Sevillano (1½) 2549 0-1 IM Samuel Shankland (1½) 2464
9. GM Larry Christiansen (1) 2681 ½-½ GM Alexander Shabalov (1) 2620
10. IM Ray Robson (1) 2542 1-0 GM Ildar Ibragimov (1) 2628
11. Tyler Hughes (1) 2293 1-0 Charles Lawton (0) 2350
12. GM Boris Gulko (0) 2631 1-0 FM Doug Eckert (0) 2278

Standings
No. Name Score

1. GM Kamsky, Gata (1)........... 3.0
2. GM Nakamura, Hikaru (2)....... 3.0
3. GM Shulman, Yury (4).......... 3.0
4. GM Akobian, Varuzhan (7)...... 3.0
5. GM Friedel, Joshua (15)....... 3.0
6. GM Onischuk, Alexander (3).... 2.5
7. GM Ehlvest, Jaan (10)......... 2.5
8. GM Khachiyan, Melikset (11)... 2.5
9. IM Hess, Robert (17).......... 2.5
10. IM Shankland, Samuel (21)..... 2.5
11. GM Becerra, Julio (6)......... 2.0
12. GM Kaidanov, Gregory (8)...... 2.0
13. GM Benjamin, Joel (9)......... 2.0
14. IM Robson, Ray (18)........... 2.0
15. IM Brooks, Michael (22)....... 2.0
16. Hughes, Tyler (24)............ 2.0
17. GM Christiansen, Larry (5).... 1.5
18. GM Shabalov, Alexander (14)... 1.5
19. IM Sevillano, Enrico (16)..... 1.5
20. IM Krush, Irina (20).......... 1.5
21. GM Gulko, Boris (12).......... 1.0
22. GM Ibragimov, Ildar (13)...... 1.0
23. IM Zatonskih, Anna (19)....... 0.5
24. Lawton, Charles (23).......... 0.0
25. Eckert, Doug D (25)........... 0.0

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

U.S. Chess Championship 2009 - Round 3 PGN on http://www.jrobichess.com

The PGN data for rounds 1 through 3 of the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship is now online at http://www.jrobichess.com/ in the tournament section on the main page to explore from the comfort of your internet browser. Unfortunately, IM Anna Zatonskih got sick prior to the start of round 3 and her game against GM Gregory Kaidanov has been postponed.

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

U.S. Chess Championship 2009 - Round 3 Results

Board White Rating Result Black Rating
1. GM Yury Shulman (2) 2697 ½-½ GM Gata Kamsky (2) 2798
2. GM Hikaru Nakamura (1½) 2757 1-0 IM Robert Hess (2) 2545
3. GM Alexander Onischuk (1½) 2736 ½-½ GM Jaan Ehlvest (1½) 2649
4. GM Joel Benjamin (1½) 2650 0-1 GM Joshua Friedel (1½) 2568
5. GM Julio Becerra (1) 2672 1-0 Tyler Hughes (1) 2293
6. GM Varuzhan Akobian (1) 2664 1-0 IM Ray Robson (1) 2542
7. IM Samuel Shankland (1) 2464 ½-½ GM Melikset Khachiyan (1) 2632
8. IM Michael Brooks (1) 2419 ½-½ IM Enrico Sevillano (1) 2549
9. GM Ildar Ibragimov (½) 2628 ½-½ GM Larry Christiansen (½) 2681
10. GM Gregory Kaidanov (½) 2662 PPD IM Anna Zatonskih (½) 2503
11. IM Irina Krush (½) 2496 1-0 GM Boris Gulko (0) 2631
12. Charles Lawton (0) 2350 0-1 GM Alexander Shabalov (0) 2620

Unfortunately, IM Anna Zatonskih has been taken ill. Her game against GM Gregory Kaidanov has been postponed until further notice.

Standings
No. Name Score

1. GM Kamsky, Gata (1)........... 2.5
2. GM Nakamura, Hikaru (2)....... 2.5
3. GM Shulman, Yury (4).......... 2.5
4. GM Friedel, Joshua (15)....... 2.5

5. GM Onischuk, Alexander (3).... 2.0
6. GM Becerra, Julio (6)......... 2.0
7. GM Akobian, Varuzhan (7)...... 2.0
8. GM Ehlvest, Jaan (10)......... 2.0
9. IM Hess, Robert (17).......... 2.0

10. GM Kaidanov, Gregory (8)...... 1.5
11. GM Benjamin, Joel (9)......... 1.5
12. GM Khachiyan, Melikset (11)... 1.5
13. IM Sevillano, Enrico (16)..... 1.5
14. IM Krush, Irina (20).......... 1.5
15. IM Shankland, Samuel (21)..... 1.5
16. IM Brooks, Michael (22)....... 1.5

17. GM Christiansen, Larry (5).... 1.0
18. GM Ibragimov, Ildar (13)...... 1.0
19. GM Shabalov, Alexander (14)... 1.0
20. IM Robson, Ray (18)........... 1.0
21. Hughes, Tyler (24)............ 1.0

22. IM Zatonskih, Anna (19)....... 0.5
23. GM Gulko, Boris (12).......... 0.0
24. Lawton, Charles (23).......... 0.0
25. Eckert, Doug D (25)........... 0.0

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

U.S. Chess Championship 2009 - Round 2 PGN on http://www.jrobichess.com

The PGN data for both rounds 1 and 2 of the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship is now online at http://www.jrobichess.com/ in the tournament section on the main page to explore from the comfort of your internet browser. This tournament is definitely full of great play and surprise wins!

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

U.S. Chess Championship 2009 - Round 2 Results

Board White Rating Result Black Rating
1. GM Gata Kamsky (1) 2798 1-0 GM Varuzhan Akobian (1) 2664
2. GM Jaan Ehlvest (1) 2649 ½-½ GM Hikaru Nakamura (1) 2757
3. GM Melikset Khachiyan (1) 2632 0-1 GM Yury Shulman (1) 2697
4. IM Robert Hess (1) 2545 1-0 GM Julio Becerra (1) 2672
5. Tyler Hughes (1) 2293 0-1 GM Alexander Onischuk (½) 2736
6. GM Joshua Friedel (½) 2568 1-0 GM Gregory Kaidanov (½) 2662
7. GM Joel Benjamin (½) 2650 1-0 IM Irina Krush (½) 2496
8. GM Larry Christiansen (0) 2681 ½-½ IM Samuel Shankland (½) 2464
9. IM Ray Robson (0) 2542 1-0 GM Boris Gulko (0) 2631
10. IM Anna Zatonskih (0) 2503 ½-½ GM Ildar Ibragimov (0) 2628
11. GM Alexander Shabalov (0) 2620 0-1 IM Michael Brooks (0) 2419
12. IM Enrico Sevillano (0) 2549 1-0 Charles Lawton (0) 2350

Standings
No. Name Score

1. GM Kamsky, Gata (1)........... 2.0
2. GM Shulman, Yury (4).......... 2.0
3. IM Hess, Robert (17).......... 2.0

4. GM Nakamura, Hikaru (2)....... 1.5
5. GM Onischuk, Alexander (3).... 1.5
6. GM Benjamin, Joel (9)......... 1.5
7. GM Ehlvest, Jaan (10)......... 1.5
8. GM Friedel, Joshua (15)....... 1.5

9. GM Becerra, Julio (6)......... 1.0
10. GM Akobian, Varuzhan (7)...... 1.0
11. GM Khachiyan, Melikset (11)... 1.0
12. IM Sevillano, Enrico (16)..... 1.0
13. IM Robson, Ray (18)........... 1.0
14. IM Shankland, Samuel (21)..... 1.0
15. IM Brooks, Michael (22)....... 1.0
16. Hughes, Tyler (24)............ 1.0

17. GM Christiansen, Larry (5).... 0.5
18. GM Kaidanov, Gregory (8)...... 0.5
19. GM Ibragimov, Ildar (13)...... 0.5
20. IM Zatonskih, Anna (19)....... 0.5
21. IM Krush, Irina (20).......... 0.5

22. GM Gulko, Boris (12).......... 0.0
23. GM Shabalov, Alexander (14)... 0.0
24. Lawton, Charles (23).......... 0.0

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

U.S. Chess Championship 2009 - Round 1 PGN on http://www.jrobichess.com

The PGN data for round 1 of the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship is now online at http://www.jrobichess.com in the tournament section on the main page to explore from the comfort of your internet browser. This tournament is shaping up to be a very good one, with some very dynamic results already coming out of round one.

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

U.S. Chess Championship 2009 - Round 1 Results

GM Yury Shulman (2697) defeats IM Enrico Sevillano (2549) (1-0)
GM Ildar Ibragimov (2628) loses to GM Gata Kamsky (2798) (0-1)
GM Hikaru Nakamura (2757) defeats GM Alexander Shabalov (2620) (1-0)
GM Joshua Friedel (2568) draws GM Alexander Onischuk (2736) ( ½-½ )
IM Robert Hess (2545) defeats GM Larry Christiansen (2681) (1-0)
GM Julio Becerra (2672) defeats IM Ray Robson (2542) (1-0)
IM Anna Zatonskih (2503) loses to GM Varuzhan Akobian (2664) (0-1)
GM Gregory Kaidanov (2662) draws IM Irina Krush (2496) ( ½-½ )
IM Samuel Shankland (2464) draws GM Joel Benjamin (2650) ( ½-½ )
GM Jaan Ehlvest (2649) defeats IM Michael Brooks (2419) (1-0)
Charles Lawton (2350) loses to GM Melikset Khachiyan (2632) (0-1)
GM Boris Gulko (2631) loses to Tyler Hughes (2293) (0-1)

STANDINGS

1. GM Kamsky, Gata..................... 1.0
2. GM Nakamura, Hikaru............. 1.0
3. GM Shulman, Yury.................. 1.0
4. GM Becerra, Julio.................... 1.0
5. GM Akobian, Varuzhan............ 1.0
6. GM Ehlvest, Jaan..................... 1.0
7. GM Khachiyan, Melikset.......... 1.0
8. IM Hess, Robert...................... 1.0
9. Hughes, Tyler.......................... 1.0

10. GM Onischuk, Alexander...... 0.5
11. GM Kaidanov, Gregory......... 0.5
12. GM Benjamin, Joel............... 0.5
13. GM Friedel, Joshua.............. 0.5
14. IM Krush, Irina.................... 0.5
15. IM Shankland, Samuel......... 0.5

16. GM Christiansen, Larry....... 0.0
17. GM Gulko, Boris.................. 0.0
18. GM Ibragimov, Ildar........... 0.0
19. GM Shabalov, Alexander.... 0.0
20. IM Sevillano, Enrico.......... 0.0
21. IM Robson, Ray................. 0.0
22. IM Zatonskih, Anna........... 0.0
23. IM Brooks, Michael........... 0.0
24. Lawton, Charles................ 0.0

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

One on One - Vishwanathan Anand Interview by Riz Khan

Part 1


Part 2

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

Keeping it real tune wise ...

I don't have a particular favorite music genre - if it sounds good I am into it. Here's a great clip of a guy taking a highly produced studio track from the Black Eyed Peas and taking down to a more grass roots level:

Louis Caldera's Scare Force 1: New Yorkers in a Panic as Large Plane and Fighter Jet Fly around Lower Manhattan

I was shocked to find out that Louis Caldera, the head of the United States White House Military Office (Air Force 1) approved a photo shoot mission that involved flying a Boeing 747 with a F-16 fighter plane escort in lower Manhattan, very close to Skyscrapers, frightening New Yorkers and causing a lot of panic and worry.

I have no idea what the purpose of such a photo shoot would be, but it's not hard to imagine how many people were totally freaked out by the experience! Seeing a large passenger plane with a fighter jet close on it's tail in the same general area of 9-11 would be absolutely horrible, especially when the general public had no clue it was just a photo op.

The following YouTube videos show just how much chaos this little operation caused, and I am sure this is just the tip of the iceberg:





The full CNN report on this incident can be read here, along with video and interviews

Unbelievable. I guess common sense is lacking in the White House Military Office, which given its important responsibilities, is quite disturbing.

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

Draws in Chess - A solution to High Draw Percentage in Tournament Play

I posted this back in 2007 and am re-posting it due to the discussion of draws spreading around the chess blogosphere again, namely a recent Chessbase article in which a variety of "solutions" are proposed (such as changing the size of the board, method of play, etc):

It's game 7 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in Hockey. 3rd Period, 2 minutes to go, tie score. A coach calls a time out and walks over the other bench, and offers the other coach a draw, giving each team 3.5 points, and an equal share of the Stanley Cup.

Possible? Not on your life! The fans would drop the sport completely and denounce it as professional competition. Pockets of fans would remain, but the media and news organizations wouldn't bother covering the event any longer. Why bother - draws can be decided before the contest even begins by competitors lacking integrity, and there will never be a sure-fire way to determine if it was rigged way before the contest even began. Why give worthwhile news coverage to events that are questionable before they even start! Such doubts are what destroys competitive sports as soon as fans start to believe deals are being made behind closed doors.

What does this have to do with chess you might be thinking? Well, consider the following scenario:

A group of Grandmaster competitors converge on a highly anticipated tournament. 3 GM's of a field of 12 play their hearts out, with their supporters keeping track on internet blogs and chess servers of their progress. One GM has a score of 11-0, one has 10-1 and the other has 10 and 2. The GM with the score of 11-0 offers the GM with 10-1 a draw fairly early in the match. The GM being offered the draw has lost against the current leader 4 out of their last 5 encounters, and does not want to split the prize fund for second place if he drops to 10-2. Or in some formats, he might simply want to avoid having to fight for second place. He accepts the draw.

The winner claims the prize with a 11.5 point total. Second place claims the prize with a 10.5 point total, and the last GM finished 3rd with 10 points.

Who loses out in this example? The GM's? Maybe the 3rd place GM if it was a format where he would have had a chance at playing to win second place. But honestly, it's the fans of chess that lost out the most along with the credibility of the competition in general.

Now let me say this: Draws and Stalemates are extremely important to chess. But I question their importance in competitive play. If tournament participants reach a draw, it should be at the credit of their good play, but it should not end there. There should be a rematch until a clear winner of that 1 point is determined. If someone can force a stalemate or draw, good for them. They might very well have salvaged a losing position. However, their only reward should be another shot at that 1 point against the same player. While things like Armageddon Blitz might not be indicitive of skill, it's definitely exciting to watch the GM's face off in a blitz game due to an inability to secure the win in the longer time formats of the tournament.

Would it make tournaments longer? Sure - a little bit! Just like overtime in any other professional sports. Fans love it! The media loves it! Everyone is waiting with baited breath to see who will rise above their competitor and finally secure the win! Just take a look at how viral the Armageddon Blitz videos become, and how controversial they are sometimes.

I believe this is where competitive chess needs to go. There can be no doubts, chess is really suffering from a lack of media coverage and exposure. How many newspapers covered the results of recent championships? None around my area, and from what I am reading very few in North America in general. Questionable draws and tournament results over the years have turned many media organizations and people in general away from the following chess. Many believe that results are rigged when draws end up altering the outcome of tournament results - and can we blame them?

If chess is going to gain popularity and media coverage, things have to change. The issue of draws is just one thing, the overall organization of how world champions are selected is another. In its current form, Chess has too many things working against it that is stopping it from reaching a mass audience and an equal share of coverage that chess enthusiasts like us know that it definitely DESERVES!

So in summary, I believe the solution to draws is the following, and it definitely does not include any kind of fundamental game change as proposed in the chessbase article: 1 point for win, 0 points for loss, and when draws happen, let them blitz right after the game in an "overtime" Armageddon Blitz format to see who wins the point with the loser getting nothing.

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

NBA Chess

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

Chess Game Annotation: How would you play?

I recommend not using a chess engine for the first draft of your annotations, and then checking through with the engine after if you have the software to do so. Focus on your thoughts and understanding first and once that's done, double check your thoughts with an engine.

When you're done share your annotated version in the comment section. Feel free to be criticial of either side:

[Event "Friendly Game - Annotation 1"]
[Site "Café"]
[Date "2009.04.25"]
[Round "?"]
[White "?"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A80"]

1. d4 f5 {This is the format you would use to add your comments} 2. e3 Nf6 3.
Nd2 d5 4. Ngf3 g6 5. c4 c6 6. c5 Bg7 7. Ne5 Ne4 8. Ndf3 O-O 9. Bd3 Nd7 10. O-O
Nxe5 11. dxe5 Qc7 12. Qb3 Bxe5 13. Nxe5 Qxe5 14. f3 Nxc5 0-1

Hip Hop Chess Federation's Free Cone Day

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

Chess Tactic - Can you spot the mistake?

I was browsing Grandmaster Nigel Short's game database on http://www.jrobichess.com and GM Peter Nielsen played Ng6 against Short in this 2008 Chess Olympiad game - can you spot the problem with this move? What do you think the plan was before he played it?

[Event "2008 Olympiad"]
[Site "Dresden GER"]
[Date "2008.11.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nigel Short"]
[Black "Peter Heine Nielsen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[BlackElo "2662"]
[ECO "C42"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[WhiteElo "2642"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d3 Nf6 6. d4 d5 7. Bd3 Be7 8. h3
Nc6 9. a3 O-O 10. O-O Re8 11. Nc3 h6 12. Re1 Bf8 13. Bf4 Rxe1+ 14. Qxe1 Bd6 15.
Qd2 Be6 16. Re1 Bxf4 17. Qxf4 Nh5 18. Qe3 Nf6 19. Ne2 Qd6 20. Ng3 Ne7 21. Ne5
Qb6 22. f4 Nc6 23. c3 Re8 24. b4 Ne7 25. f5 Bc8 26. Ng4 Nxg4 27. hxg4 Qd6 28.
g5 hxg5 29. Qxg5 f6 30. Qh4 Bd7 31. c4 Nc8 32. Rxe8+ Bxe8 33. c5 Qe7 34. Kf2 a6
35. Ne2 Bb5 36. Bxb5 axb5 37. Qf4 Qd7 38. g4 Ne7 39. Qf3 Kf7 40. Nf4 c6 41. Qh1
Kg8 42. Qh5 Qc8 43. Kg2 Qb8 44. Ne6 Qc8 45. Qh2 Ng6 46. fxg6 1-0

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.