Big surprises in Beijing

The gold medal for reigning world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk, which she won in the blitz event at the World Mind Sports Games in Beijing, was not a big surprise. But what about Ukrainian GM Martyn Kravtsiv winning the men’s blitz, or Ecuador winning the blitz for pairs? full story »

World Mind Sports Games kick off today

A whole new and huge event starts today, and chess is involved: the World Mind Sports Games. After the Summer Olympics athletes and the Paralympics sportsmen now approximately 3,000 Bridge, Chess, Go, Draughts, and Xiangqi players from over 150 countries have travelled to Beijing. full story »

Topalov tops new FIDE ratings, now officially

For the first time since January 1 (or rather March 31) 2007, Veselin Topalov is the highest rated player in the world. On the new FIDE rating list, published yesterday, Magnus Carlsen is number 4 and not 3 as in Hans Arild Runde’s live list.
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Bulgarian Chess Federation: “Mr Ilymzhinov, please inform us” (UPDATE)

On June 1st, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov personally guaranteed the prize fund for the match Topalov-Kamsky scheduled, for November this year. Since then it has been quiet around this match - a bit too quiet, says Stefan Sergiev, President of the Bulgarian Chess Federation, in an open letter - its translation has been corrected now. full story »

Is it safe to play the Women World Championship? (2ND UPDATE)

Yesterday a number of participants of the upcoming Women World Championship expressed their worries, as the event is supposed to be held August 28 - September 18 in Nalchik, a city in the Caucasus region of southern Russia. Today, FIDE President Ilyumzhinov replied. Update: reply by Boris Kutin. 2nd Update: Georgian players withdraw. full story »

Sochi R12: Svidler wins, Aronian retains lead

In a textbook example of endgame play, Svidler won a very nice knight versus bishop ending against Jakovenko. Six other draws in the 12th round meant that Levon Aronian is still in sole lead at the 2nd Grand Prix in Sochi, with one round to go. full story »

FIDE: Lviv it will be (UPDATE)

Last Friday the money wasn’t there yet, and the issue would be discussed during the Presidential Board meeting this weekend. As it turns out, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov is offering his own wallet once and again, to guarantee the Kamsky-Topalov prize fund. full story »

Kamsky-Topalov bid still not confirmed

This week the chess media were full of the bid for the match Kamsky-Topalov, to be organized in Lviv, Ukraine with a prize fund of US $750,000. However, so far this news has been covered highly inaccurately. Quoting Chesspro, Chessbase inaccurately reports that the bid has been “confirmed”. 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 »

R11: Wang Yue joins Grischuk again

This morning it was nice and sunny again in Baku. However, ain’t no sunshine for Etienne Bacrot, who today played probably the worst move ever in his entire career, against Ernesto Inarkiev. The only other decisive result was Wang Yue-Svidler (1-0) and so the Chinese GM has joined Alexander Grischuk once again in the tournament standings. full story »

A rainy day in Baku

It was raining cats, dogs and half points today in Baku. Six, to be exact. When I took this photo a cheerful Radjabov said: “Romantic isn’t it?” but later he would be the only player to lose his game today, against Cheparinov. full story »

Grischuk back in sole lead

By beating his compatriot Ernesto Inarkiev, Alexander Grischuk has taken sole lead again today in Baku, since Gashimov and Wang Yue both drew their games, against Cheparinov and Bacrot respectively. full story »

Inarkiev & Mamedyarov win

After yesterday’s drama we witnessed a much more quiet round today in Baku. Five draws didn’t change anything in the top of the standings. Inarkiev avoided timetrouble and beat Navara in a good game. Mamedyarov defeated Karjakin, who blundered a pawn in the early middlegame. full story »

Kamsky joins the leaders

After their first rest day, most players obviously were full of energy again, and it showed. A good round with nice games and three decisions, one of them scored by Cheparinov - he beat Inarkiev. Svidler won a nice game against Karjakin and Kamsky the joined tournament leaders Wang Yue and Grischuk by defeating Adams. full story »

Wang Yue & Grischuk share lead

Not much happened in the fifth round of Baku 2008, except for the fact that Wang Yue, not exactly the favorite for tournament victory, climbed up to a shared first place. And Cheparinov scored his first half point by the way. Now with videos too! full story »

Press conferences Baku - like at Corus!

The press conferences with demoboard are always a big hit during Corus, and we’ve done the same twice now in Baku. So today more of this top material - enjoy! full story »

Round 3: Grischuk takes lead

In the third round was lots of fighting chess with no less than five decisive games. After beating David Navara with the black pieces, it’s Alexander Grischuk who has taken the lead with 2.5/3. He’s followed by Karjakin, Radjabov, Gashimov, Carlsen and Kamsky who are on 2. The unfortunate Cheparinov has lost three games in a row. Many photos today! full story »

Back to start: round 2

And before we know it, another day has passed. Much has happened, much I learnt, and changed my mind. I’ll publish my round reports here as well anyway, so that even more peope will read what I’m writing in Baku. full story »

Notes from Baku

The first day in Baku was a bit of a chaotic one, which stayed unnoticed for the players by the way, which is good. As a content manager slash webmaster of both grandprix.fide.com and baku2008.fide.com I’ve learnt the hard way why “first days” are so infamous… full story »

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