Saturday, December 3, 2011
Fish Men
Coming next May 26 to the Goodman Theatre in Chicago: Fish Men, a play about chess hustlers in Washington Square Park in New York.
Youth Chess Foundation of Chicago event at Rickover Naval Academy
Mike Cardinale of the Youth Chess Foundation of Chicago and Michael Biela (principal of Rickover Naval Academy, a CPS school on the Senn High School campus) hosted a 5-round game/20 event today that drew about 280 players.
I had to leave before the awards ceremony, so I don't have final standings. Unofficially, Abdel Raoul took clear first in the top section with a perfect 5-0. I saw him drop a Fried Liver on Abraham Cornejo in Round 4 and win with good endgame technique.
And here are a few photos of the action in the Senn/Rickover cafeteria. (An iPhone doesn't do the space justice: one would need a wide-angle lens.)
I had to leave before the awards ceremony, so I don't have final standings. Unofficially, Abdel Raoul took clear first in the top section with a perfect 5-0. I saw him drop a Fried Liver on Abraham Cornejo in Round 4 and win with good endgame technique.
And here are a few photos of the action in the Senn/Rickover cafeteria. (An iPhone doesn't do the space justice: one would need a wide-angle lens.)
Mark your calendars for the next YCF event on January 21st, at De La Salle Institute /
St. Columbanus,
3434 S. Michigan Avenue.
London Chess Classic underway
Chicago Blaze manager Daniel Parmet is working the event, and Illinois Chess Association President Tom Sprandel is in London. Maybe we can get some inside info....
The nine grandmasters (including the world's top four: Carlsen, Anand, Aronian, Kramnik) played a fun exhibition game against "the rest of the world" on Twitter. The geniuses won easily, but they missed an amazing combination (checkmate or win of queen) in the position below:
Follow this link for the answer, the entertaining game, and the notes.
Follow Round 1 (right now!) at the official site, WhyChess, The Week in Chess, or your favorite paid provider.
The nine grandmasters (including the world's top four: Carlsen, Anand, Aronian, Kramnik) played a fun exhibition game against "the rest of the world" on Twitter. The geniuses won easily, but they missed an amazing combination (checkmate or win of queen) in the position below:
Black to play and win quickly
Follow this link for the answer, the entertaining game, and the notes.
Follow Round 1 (right now!) at the official site, WhyChess, The Week in Chess, or your favorite paid provider.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Schein-Friedman award
If you're one of the top juniors in the country in your age group, don't overlook this opportunity!
Anand on Fischer
World Champion Viswanathan Anand. Photo: Amit Bhargava/AP
...and other topics in The Guardian.
The London Chess Classic begins tomorrow!
Chicago Latino Championships
Eliza Blancas (age 92) vs. Elizabeth Rivera (age 6)
Keith Ammann informa para la Asociación de Ajedrez de Illinois.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Author, author!
Shiva Maharaj showed me this cute study the other day. I figured out that the theme was domination, but could not find the main line.
So whose study is it? I'll guess Kasparyan. (Duh: the obvious guess.) But if someone with the van der Heijden database would clue me in, I'd appreciate it and will amend to give credit.
So whose study is it? I'll guess Kasparyan. (Duh: the obvious guess.) But if someone with the van der Heijden database would clue me in, I'd appreciate it and will amend to give credit.
"Chess forges friendship, keeps it in check "
"As buddies, Loop lawyer, homeless man seem an unlikely match."
From today's Chicago Tribune.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Illinois Class in Orland Park, December 10-11!
Enough of that. Back to constructive things.
Cribbed from the ICA Tournament Calendar:
Cribbed from the ICA Tournament Calendar:
- Illinois Class Championships
- 12/10/2011 - 12/11/2011
- Orland Park Cultural Center - Orland Park
4SS, G90 + 30 sec. U1000/U700 Sections plays 5SS, G/75 with separate schedule. Orland Park Cultural Center, 14760 Park Lane, Orland Park, 60090 (from I-355 take IL-171 Archer Rd Exit toward 143rd Street (7.5 mi), take West St toward 147th St and follow the curve. From I-55 take US-12E/US-20E/US-45E/ S LaGrange Rd (10 mi); take W 144 PL and follow the curve). Free parking. Prizes $2,000 based on 80 paid entries. In 8 sections; no unrated allowed in Master/Expert section. Master/Expert (2000/up): $250-175-150-100-75. FIDE. Class A (1800-1999/unr): $125-75-50. FIDE. Class B (1600-1799/Unr): $125-75-50. Class C (1400-1599/Unr): $125-75-50. Class D (1200-1399/Unr): $125-75-50. Class E (Under 1200/Unr): $125-75-50. Under 1000 (K-12 only): Trophies to top 5. Under 700 (K-12 only): Trophies to top 5. Rated players may play up one section (additional $10). Unrated prize limit $50 on each section. Top 6 sections EF: Top 6 sections EF: $50 by 11/20, $60 after 11/20; $70 at site. U1000/U700: $25 by 11/20, $30 after 11/20; $40 at site. No credit cards on site! Online reservations and payments at www.intecsus.org Official uschess.org December supplement for ratings will be used if otherwise unrated. Schedule: Reg. on Dec. 10th at 8:30 – 9:30 am Top 6 sections: Sat: 10:00 am & 3:00 pm; Sun: 10:00 am & 3:00 pm U1000/U700 sections: Sat: 10:00 am, 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm; Sun: 10:00 am, 1:00 pm Bye: all, must commit before rd 2 or not have plus score. Boards, Sets, and Clocks will be provided by the North American Chess Association. Organizer supplied equipment must be used. Hotels: Comfort Inn Suites (8800 W 159TH ST Orland Park, IL 60462); HR: $85; Homewood Suites by Hilton (16245 LaGrange Road Orland Park, IL 60467); HR: $135 Both hotels are located in 10-15 minutes drive from the tournament site.
Ent: IntECS, Inc., 63 W 75th St., Willowbrook, IL 60527 www.intecsus.org 630-789-2951
Chess Magnet School JGP.
Before the police were called....
David Heiser sent me a Facebook "friend" request some weeks ago, I turned it down, as I generally do when I get a request from a person I believe to be of low character. But I held my tongue at the time.
Today, I touched David on the shoulder. (In retrospect, a big mistake, I know, as Sheila Heiser had made it clear she had no interest in talking: but I hadn't heard that from David.). David threatened to "lay me on the ground."
As the folks at the office said, "This is all about chess?"
I sincerely believe that the ICA proposal for Chicago Public Schools is far stronger than the Renaissance Knights proposal. But I believe in the transformational power of chess in the schools strongly enough that, for all my misgivings, I'd be willing to back the Renaissance Knights proposal. After all, the children in Chicago Public Schools should come first. That's all I wanted to say.
After the meeting, I'm standing outside City Hall chatting with GM Yury Shulman and Paul Kash, the Whitney Young coach, about ten yards north of the LaSalle Street entrance to City Hall. David and Sheila walk out the door. I motion for them to come to me, without approaching them. They scurry back in:: Sheila yells, "I'm calling the police!"
Today, I touched David on the shoulder. (In retrospect, a big mistake, I know, as Sheila Heiser had made it clear she had no interest in talking: but I hadn't heard that from David.). David threatened to "lay me on the ground."
As the folks at the office said, "This is all about chess?"
I sincerely believe that the ICA proposal for Chicago Public Schools is far stronger than the Renaissance Knights proposal. But I believe in the transformational power of chess in the schools strongly enough that, for all my misgivings, I'd be willing to back the Renaissance Knights proposal. After all, the children in Chicago Public Schools should come first. That's all I wanted to say.
After the meeting, I'm standing outside City Hall chatting with GM Yury Shulman and Paul Kash, the Whitney Young coach, about ten yards north of the LaSalle Street entrance to City Hall. David and Sheila walk out the door. I motion for them to come to me, without approaching them. They scurry back in:: Sheila yells, "I'm calling the police!"
...in appearance and fact
Two questions:
Who are the members of the board of Renaissance Knights Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in Illinois?
Who are the paid employees and independent contractors of Renaissance Knights Foundation (and affiliated entities, if any)? Why didn't David Heiser want to talk about his economic self-interest at today's CPS summit meeting? (OK, make that three questions.)
After all, this is Chicago. And people do have to eat: there's nothing nefarious about having an economic self-interest.
Who are the members of the board of Renaissance Knights Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in Illinois?
Who are the paid employees and independent contractors of Renaissance Knights Foundation (and affiliated entities, if any)? Why didn't David Heiser want to talk about his economic self-interest at today's CPS summit meeting? (OK, make that three questions.)
After all, this is Chicago. And people do have to eat: there's nothing nefarious about having an economic self-interest.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Eric Rosen gets IM Norm at World Youth!
Eric Rosen drew his last-round game to finish in 9th place with 6/9 (+4 =4 -1) in the World Youth Championships (under-18 section) in Caldas Novas, Brazil. His opponents included two GMs, an IM, and four FMs. His only loss was to top-rated GM Samvel Ter-Sahakyan of Armenia, who won the tournament with an undefeated 8-1 score.
Eric started the tournament ranked 27th with a 2305 rating. This apparently gives him his first IM norm, less than 30 days after receiving his FM title! By my calculation, he had a performance rating of 2455. According to the tournament site, he gained 27 rating points, gaining rating points every round except in his one loss. Very impressive. Congratulations, Eric!
Here are his round-by-round results (link here):
1: WIN Vasconcelos, Paulo Cesar Silva (1897) BRA
2: DRAW Zhou, Yang-Fan (IM, 2436) ENG
3: DRAW Grandadam, Nicolas (FM, 2370)
4: WIN Benitez Lozano, Javier (2068) MEX
5: WIN FM Kantans, Toms (FM, 2338) LAT
6: WIN FM Rios Cristhian, Camilo (FM, 2388) COL
7: DRAW Salem, A R Saleh (GM, 2511) UAE
8: LOSS Ter-Sahakyan, Samvel (GM, 2556) ARM
9: DRAW Aghasaryan, Robert (FM, 2331) ARM
Eric started the tournament ranked 27th with a 2305 rating. This apparently gives him his first IM norm, less than 30 days after receiving his FM title! By my calculation, he had a performance rating of 2455. According to the tournament site, he gained 27 rating points, gaining rating points every round except in his one loss. Very impressive. Congratulations, Eric!
Here are his round-by-round results (link here):
1: WIN Vasconcelos, Paulo Cesar Silva (1897) BRA
2: DRAW Zhou, Yang-Fan (IM, 2436) ENG
3: DRAW Grandadam, Nicolas (FM, 2370)
4: WIN Benitez Lozano, Javier (2068) MEX
5: WIN FM Kantans, Toms (FM, 2338) LAT
6: WIN FM Rios Cristhian, Camilo (FM, 2388) COL
7: DRAW Salem, A R Saleh (GM, 2511) UAE
8: LOSS Ter-Sahakyan, Samvel (GM, 2556) ARM
9: DRAW Aghasaryan, Robert (FM, 2331) ARM
Friday, November 25, 2011
Round 8 of World Youth Chess Championship underway
Eric Rosen is playing on Board 1 against GM Samvel Ter-Sahakyan of Armenia. Follow the action here!
Update 9:00 p.m. by Frederick Rhine Alas, Eric lost, leaving him with 5.5/8 (+4 =3 -1) with one round left. I haven't done the math, but according to Jon Burgess on Facebook he can still get an IM norm if he wins or draws tomorrow. Go Eric!! Update 2:05 p.m., courtesy Matt Pullin, who doesn't think it looks good. I agree.Update 12:20 p.m. I've been unable to get moves for some time. Here's the last I saw (obscure opening, still theory):
Here are the round 7 standings: Eric moves into a tie for first if he wins. Awonder Liang of Wisconsin leads the World Under-8 by a full point, while Aydin Turgut has a plus score in the same event!
Update 9:00 p.m. by Frederick Rhine Alas, Eric lost, leaving him with 5.5/8 (+4 =3 -1) with one round left. I haven't done the math, but according to Jon Burgess on Facebook he can still get an IM norm if he wins or draws tomorrow. Go Eric!! Update 2:05 p.m., courtesy Matt Pullin, who doesn't think it looks good. I agree.Update 12:20 p.m. I've been unable to get moves for some time. Here's the last I saw (obscure opening, still theory):
Here are the round 7 standings: Eric moves into a tie for first if he wins. Awonder Liang of Wisconsin leads the World Under-8 by a full point, while Aydin Turgut has a plus score in the same event!
Monday, November 21, 2011
Eric Rosen at World Youth Championship, Caldas Novas, Brazil
Round 5 pairings here! Eric is doing very well so far, with two draws against higher-rated players and two wins.
I found the draws at The Week in Chess. Eric defends a difficult Taimanov Sicilian with skill:
An exciting opening (the Ragozin QGD) fizzles out to a sterile draw:
Andi Rosen will be covering the event for Chess Life Online.
I found the draws at The Week in Chess. Eric defends a difficult Taimanov Sicilian with skill:
An exciting opening (the Ragozin QGD) fizzles out to a sterile draw:
Andi Rosen will be covering the event for Chess Life Online.
Samvel Ter-Sahakyan
GM Samvel Ter-Sahakyan of Armenia leads the event: he finished second in last year's event, held in Greece.At least we got one championship yesterday!
("We"? OK, I'm over 50 and living vicariously.)
NM Sam Schmakel of Whitney Young High School won his third national championship this weekend, the 10th grade section of the K-12 Championships in Dallas, Texas.
These events are not easy for the average 2200 teenager to win: Sam scored 6½-½, including 4½-½ against two fellow NMs and three experts. The event drew 1,182 players from across the nation, including 48 in the 10th-grade section.
Crosstable here! And here's the story on USCF's home page (no mention of Sam, but more on the event).
If only the young master could master the art of being in two places at one time.
NM Sam Schmakel of Whitney Young High School won his third national championship this weekend, the 10th grade section of the K-12 Championships in Dallas, Texas.
These events are not easy for the average 2200 teenager to win: Sam scored 6½-½, including 4½-½ against two fellow NMs and three experts. The event drew 1,182 players from across the nation, including 48 in the 10th-grade section.
Crosstable here! And here's the story on USCF's home page (no mention of Sam, but more on the event).
If only the young master could master the art of being in two places at one time.
"New York Knights extinguish Chicago Blaze in chess championship"
Bummer.
Listen to the podcast of WBEZ's coverage here!
Chicago Blaze (10.0 – 2.0) vs New York Knights (7.5 – 4.5) 
Listen to the podcast of WBEZ's coverage here!
Chicago Blaze (10.0 – 2.0) vs New York Knights (7.5 – 4.5) | Chicago Blaze | New York Knights | ||
| GM Mesgen Amanov: 2576 | 0.0 | 1.0 | GM Giorgi Kacheishvili: 2653 |
| GM Dmitry Gurevich: 2547 | 0.5 | 0.5 | IM Irina Krush: 2560 |
| IM Angelo Young: 2415 | 0.0 | 1.0 | SM Matt Herman: 2426 |
| NM Gopal Menon: 2222 | 1.0 | 0.0 | John Fernandez: 2129 |
| Avg Rating: 2440 | Avg Rating: 2442 | ||
| Chicago Total ------- | 1.5 | 2.5 | ------- New York Total |
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