Annual Survey 2008: a year in videos
December 31, 2008 by Peter Doggers · 8 Comments
2008 was not just another year. It was the year in which Bobby Fischer passed away, it was the end of the Kramnik era, and we saw the birth of both the Grand Prix and the Grand Slam. Like we did on December 31 last year and the year before, here’s our (by now traditional) annual survey, with our best videos of 2008. Read more
Topalov tops January rating list at 2796
December 30, 2008 by Peter Doggers · 7 Comments
He won 5 points in Dresden and although he’s still waiting for his 13 points gained at the Pearl Spring tournament in Nanjing, Veselin Topalov tops the January 2009 FIDE rating list at 2796. In October in Bonn, World Champion Anand won 8 rating points to climb back to 2nd, while Kramnik dropped to 8th place. Behind Ivanchuk (3rd) and Carlsen (4th) there’s Morozevich on 5th (dropping from 2nd), followed by Radjabov and Jakovenko on 6th and 7th place. Read more
Sasikiran wins 18th Ciudad de Pamplona
December 30, 2008 by Peter Doggers · 9 Comments
In a tournament chuck full of great chess games, Indian grandmaster Krishnan Sasikiran won the 8th Ciudad de Pamplona with 5/7 ahead of Malakhov and Vallejo. The Indian’s expected rating change is +17 which will make him a 2711 player in a few days, and in Pamplona he won another 10 points! Read more
Another strong start for Almasi in Reggio Emilia
December 30, 2008 by Peter Doggers · Comments Off
He’s defending his title and he started this year’s Torneo di Capodanno with three wins. Zoltan Almasi leads in Reggio Emilia, ahead of Ni Hua, Dreev and Gustafsson. Read more
Jakovenko, Grischuk and Radjabov share first prize in Elista
December 28, 2008 by Peter Doggers · 10 Comments
All would be decided in the final round, but in the top of the standings nothing changed: Jakovenko (who drew with Alekseev) and Grischuk & Radjabov (who drew with each other) finished shared first at the 3rd Grand Prix in Elista. In the last round Eljanov scored the only win, against Inarkiev. Read more
Kasimdzhanov again only winner in Elista
December 27, 2008 by Peter Doggers · 3 Comments
Even quicker than yesterday the score in Elista saw six draws, and again Kasimdzhanov was the only winner, this time against Cheparinov. Jakovenko, Grischuk and Radjabov still lead going into the final, decisive round. Read more
50th anniversary Europe-Echecs
December 27, 2008 by Peter Doggers · 2 Comments
Not many chess magazines can boast about such a longstanding history as the French monthly Europe Echecs. The January 2009 issue celebrates half a century of chess news and stories in the French language, with 100 pages of looking back. Read more
Weekly Endgame Study (101)
December 27, 2008 by Yochanan Afek · Comments Off
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! Read more
Kasimdzhanov scores only win in 11th round Grand Prix
December 27, 2008 by Peter Doggers · Comments Off
After so much excitement on Thursday, the 11th round of the Elista Grand Prix could be described as the round of missed chances. Many favourable endings were not won and in the end it was only Kasimdzhanov who scored a win, with Black against Inarkiev. Jakovenko, Grischuk and Radjabov still lead with just two rounds to go. Read more
Great win brings Caruana next to Vallejo
December 26, 2008 by Peter Doggers · 9 Comments
Francisco Vallejo Pons and Fabiano Caruana are leading with 2/3 in a strong round-robin that’s currently taking place in Pamplona, Spain. In the third round Caruana beat Vallejo – a great game that deserves a separate post here. Read more
