Cumnor Chess Club

Ever wanted to know which is the oldest chess club in the world? Well, the answer is the Schachgesellschaft Zürich, founded in 1809. In August the club commemorates its 200th anniversary and it gives everyone the opportunity to take part of the jubilee. You can win a seat in a simul against either Anand, Karpov, Kasparov, Korchnoi, Kramnik, Spassky, Ponomariov or Topalov. full story »

Levon Aronian wins 18th Amber after dramatic last round

Levon Aronian won the 18th Amber tournament after a dramatic last round in Nice today. He had a narrow escape in his blindfold game against Topalov and drew his rapid game quickly to secure victory, since both Anand and Carlsen couldn’t catch him anymore. Just like last year the Armenian grandmaster was the strongest player in the combined tournament of blindfold and rapid chess held in Nice, France. full story »

In a press release the organizers of the 4th FIDE Grand Prix announce their tournament, to be held 14th-29th April 2009 in Nalchik, Russia. Akopian (Armenia), Alekseev (Russia), Aronian (Armenia), Bacrot (France), Eljanov (Ukraine), Gelfand (Israel), Grischuk (Russia), Ivanchuk (Ukraine), Kamsky (USA), Karjakin (Ukraine), Kasimdzhanov (Uzbekistan), Leko (Hungary), Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) and Svidler (Russia) will play. full story »

The World Championship match between Anand and Topalov will be delayed until spring 2010, and the UEP bid for organizing the Wch cycle 2010-2011 has been accepted by FIDE. In 2011 there will be either Candidates Matches or a Candidates Tournament with Kamsky, the loser of Anand-Topalov, two players from the Grand Prix, the winner of the World Cup, the two highest rated players not already qualified and a player nominated by the organizer. These are the most important decisions made at the FIDE Presidential Board meeting that was held from March 5th to 8th in Istanbul, Turkey. full story »

For the first time in 25 years, London will have a chess tournament with the world’s best players. From December 10 to 17, 2009 a single round-robin with eight players (five world-class grandmasters and three English players) will be held in the capital of the United Kingdom. The tournament boasts a minimum prize fund of € 100,000 and has applied for membership of the Grand Slam. Initiatior Malcolm Pein: “We’re going to focus on the public and the media.” full story »

SOURCE: www.chessvibes.com

Veselin Topalov defeated Gata Kamsky today to score a 4.5-2.5 win in the Challenger’s Match in Sofia. In doing so, the Bulgarian qualified for a World Championship Match against Viswanathan Anand. full story »

In our very last Corus Chess News we cover the final, thrilling round of the Corus Chess Tournament, in which Karjakin, Caruana and So became the glorious winners. It includes interviews with the three winners as well as parts of the closing ceremony, and finishes like the tournament ended: with Karjakin’s speech. Enjoy! full story »

Before round 12 there were four leaders in the A group, and after it there were… six. In our Corus Chess News we have short clips of Karjakin and Carlsen. Enjoy! full story »

In a sensational last-round fight at Corus, all three main groups were won by youngsters: Ukrainian Sergey Karjakin (who just turned 19) ended clear first in Group A after another tough opposite-castlings fight against Leinier Dominguez. In Group B, young Italian top player Fabio Caruana (16) profited from some rare kind of self-destructiveness by good old Nigel Short and finished clear first as well. Wesley So (15) from the Phillipines reigned supreme in Group C, finishing a point ahead of Anish Giri (14) and Tiger Hillarp Persson. For now the games, results and final standings, later more. full story »

It’s unique in the long history of Corus, and possibly in any big round robin event: with one round to go, no less than six players share the lead with 7 points out of 12 games: Aronian, Carlsen, Dominguez, Karjakin, Movsesian and Radjabov. In the last round, which will start at 12:30 CET tomorrow, everything will be decided. full story »