Ivanchuk on 4/4

And he did it again: Vassily Ivanchuk is now on 4/4 in Sofia after he beat Cheparinov today. This way he extended his lead since Radjabov-Topalov and Bu Xiangzhi-Aronian both ended in a draw. full story »

Four leaders at Limburg Open

After three rounds, only four players still have a 100% score at the ENCI Limburg Open: IM Robin Swinkels, IM Sergey Klimov, GM Vladimir Epishin and GM Friso Nijboer. We have a video introducing the tournament. full story »

Ivanchuk wins again, and so does Topalov

In the third round of the Mtel Masters Ivanchuk scored his third point; his opponent Bu Xiangzhi blundered already on move seven. Topalov beat Cheparinov and Radjabov-Aronian was drawn. full story »

Weekly Endgame Study (70)

Every Saturday an endgame study is published at ChessVibes, selected by IM Yochanan Afek: player, trainer, endgame study composer and writer. A week later the solution is published. Good luck with the instructional occupation of solving a study! full story »

Ivanchuk on 2/2

Vassily Ivanchuk is the only player on 2 /2 in Sofia after he beat Veselin Topalov today. Bu Xiangzhi-Radjabov and Aronian-Cheparinov were drawn. full story »

Berg & Kotronias favorites in Limburg

This weekend ChessVibes will be covering the 2nd Limburg Open tournament, which involves almost 400 participants and no less than 25 titled players. GMs Emanuel Berg & Vassilios Kotronias are the favorites. full story »

Take Black out of his stride with 1.b4!

If you are interested in taking your opponent out of his comfort zone at the very first move, then the new book Play 1.b4! may be just the ticket for you.

With this aggressive pawn lunge you avoid the many theoretical landmines of main line opening theory and you force Black to think for himself.

Ukranian IM Yury Lapshun, the main author, is an expert in this rare system and the book is illustrated with dozens of high-level games.

It provides options against all of Black’s main defences, and highlights key ideas and tactics for both sides.

If you are adventurous and ambitious, please have a look here.

Good start Mtel Masters

The organizers of the Mtel Masters in Sofia couldn’t have hoped for a better start of their 2008 tournament. Both Topalov and Cheparinov won; against Aronian and Bu respectively. Ivanchuk defeated Radjabov. full story »

The primaries and Kasparov

For years, Kasparov has claimed that life imitates chess. Until now, I’ve had a difficult time believing this, if only because life was here before chess, and because chess is a model of life rather than the other way around. full story »

And then there was Mtel already

Baku 2008 isn’t over yet and the third Grand Slam tournament of 2008 already starts: the Mtel Masters. Cheparinov and Radjabov fly from Baku to Sofia and face Aronian, Topalov, Ivanchuk, and Bu Xiangzhi. First round tomorrow. full story »

Carlsen, Gashimov & Wang Yue win Baku

By beating Bacrot, Carlsen caught the tournament leaders and together with the two surprises of the tournament, Gashimov & Wang Yue, he won Baku 2008. full story »

R12: Gashimov beats Grischuk

And then, after a few less interesting days, the penultimate round in Baku was suddenly full of excitement, with great openings, great fights and great… results!? full story »

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