ChessVibes daily updates

The daily updates are featured on the main Corus page, and also at chessvibes.com.

Kasparov waxes philosophical

...in the forthcoming New York Review of Books:

There is little doubt that different people are blessed with different amounts of cognitive gifts such as long-term memory and the visuospatial skills chess players are said to employ. One of the reasons chess is an "unparalleled laboratory" and a "unique nexus" is that it demands high performance from so many of the brain's functions. Where so many of these investigations fail on a practical level is by not recognizing the importance of the process of learning and playing chess. The ability to work hard for days on end without losing focus is a talent. The ability to keep absorbing new information after many hours of study is a talent. Programming yourself by analyzing your decision-making outcomes and processes can improve results much the way that a smarter chess algorithm will play better than another running on the same computer. We might not be able to change our hardware, but we can definitely upgrade our software.

Online openings tree from Chess Assistant

I did not know this existed: very cool resource for learning chess openings!  Especially for those on a budget....

Phi-Kappa-Blanca - next Saturday, January 30, 2010

GM Amanov has confirmed his participation. G/60+10Sec, 4-SS, University of Chicago, Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 East 59th St, Chicago, IL 60637 SETS ARE PROVIDED, ONLY BRING CLOCKS! EF: $25 pre-entry, $35 at-site entry, $10 off to U of C students, OR $10 special entry — play only (no discount and not eligible for prizes).  Schedule: Registration: 9:00am-9:45am. Round Times: 10am-12:30pm-3:00pm-5:30pm.  Prize fund: $850 b/60 regular paid entries: 1st $300 2nd $200 3rd $100 A $75 B $75 C $50 D/E + below/unr$50; all class prizes based on 4 per section. Info/Preentries: Chris Baumgartner, 9985 Linda Ln Apt 2E, Des Plaines, IL 60016 (please make checks payable to Chris Baumgartner) Phone:               847-609-2987         Email: mcafide@yahoo.com Upcoming tournaments are found at: www.mcafidetournaments.blogspot.com

Nakamura's coming-out party?

Big win against Shirov!

Here's the report from the official website.

And here's Nakamura's post-mortem analysis.

Corus round 7 in progress

Carlsen destroyed Ivanchuk; Nakamura is pressing Shirov; and Kramnik looks like he will survive a scare against Short.  (Links are to the wonderful chesspro.ru site; you don't need to read Russian to enjoy.)

Chicagoland tournaments tomorrow

There's a Game/29 event in Evanston and a Game/45 event in Park Forest.  Get out and play!

Classic Kramnik

Another austerely beautiful endgame combination (Rybka sees it immediately):

Kramnik-Van Wely, Corus 2010
White to move

In the final position, Black can underpromote to a Knight, but it's not enough. (I'm at the office and only have time to gape in awe: possibly I'm missing something?)

Let Rybka think for you

You can follow the Corus games with analysis by Rybka on this site. 

Nakamura-Carlsen in progress

Nakamura-Carlsen

Black to play

It looks drawish, but Nakamura (up a piece for two pawns) is pressing.

Nakamura interview on LA Times sports blog

Link here.

claymation

Today is a rest day for the Corus players....


Hat tip to equestriancdr on the US Chess Forums.

Glenn Panner is back (sorta)

Check it out.! 

We do not expect parents of small children to provide daily updates....

Svidler on Nakamura-Short

At Chess Life Online.  (Where else?)

Wijk aan Zee on Twitter (Corus Round 4)

It's much easier to spell #coruschess , isn't it?

Shirov sits on an amazing 4-0, Nakamura, Chukky, and Carlsen trail by a point.

Ray Robson leads the GM-C section with 3.5 points after 4 games.   US Chess Live continues its prompt daily updates; the photo below is credited to Chicago International Master Jan Van de Mortel.

Anand - Nakamura

Corus Round 3

Sneaking a peek in between clients...

In the GM-A, Shirov leads with 3-0; Nakamura and Carlsen are tied for second with 2.5.

Ray Robson is in a three-way tie for first in the GM-C section, all on 2.5.

Here's the official site!

More nice coverage from Chess Life Online.

Corus round 2

Nakamura wins the best game prize; Robson takes the clear lead in Group C.