FEBRUARY, 2004

THIRD AEROFLOT FESTIVAL: RUBLEVSKY WINS ON TIE-BREAKS

The 3rd Aeroflot Open, which took place in Moscow from the 17^th to 26^th of February, boasted an incredibly powerful field. When the smoke cleared, Sergey Rublevsky had won on tie-breaks ahead of Rafael Vaganian and Valerij Filippov (all had seven points).

Van Wely - Romanishin [D20]
Aeroflot Open, 2004
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 e5 4.Nf3 Bb4+ 5.Nc3 exd4 6.Nxd4 Ne7 7.Bxc4 Nbc6 8.Be3 Nxd4 9.Bxd4 0–0 10.a3 Ba5 11.0–0 Bb6 12.Bxb6 axb6 13.f4 Ng6 14.Qxd8 Rxd8 15.Rad1 Rxd1 16.Rxd1 Bg4 17.Rf1 Bd7 18.Nd5 Kf8 19.Rd1 Bg4 20.Rc1 Rd8 21.h3 Bd7 22.f5 Ne5 23.Nxc7 Bc6 24.Nd5 Nxc4 25.Rxc4 Bxd5 26.Rd4 Ke7 27.exd5 Kf6 28.Rb4 Rd6 29.Rb5 Ke5 30.Kf2 h5 31.g4 Ke4 32.Kg3 g6 33.fxg6 Rxg6 34.d6 Rxd6 35.Rf5 f6 36.Kh4 Kd3 37.Kxh5 Kc2 38.Rb5 Kb1 39.Kg6 Ka2 40.Rb4 Rc6 41.Kf7 Kb1 42.a4 Kc2 43.Kg6 Kc1 44.Rf4 Kxb2 45.Rxf6 Ka3 46.g5 Rc7 47.Rf4 Rc6+ 48.Kh5 Rc5 49.Kh4 b5 50.axb5 Rxb5 51.g6 Rb6 52.g7 Rg6 53.Rg4 Rxg7 54.Rxg7 b5 55.Ra7+ Kb3 56.Kg3 b4 57.Kf2 Kc2 58.Ke2 b3 59.Rc7+ Kb1 60.Kd2, 1–0.

Sasikiran - Korotylev [E32]
Aeroflot Open, 2004
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0–0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 b6 7.Bg5 Bb7 8.f3 h6 9.Bh4 d5 10.e3 Nbd7 11.Nh3 c5 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Bxd8 Nxc3 14.Be7 Rfe8 15.Bh4 Nd5 16.Bb5 g5 17.Bf2 N5f6 18.dxc5 Rec8 19.e4 Nxc5 20.Rd1 Bc6 21.Bxc6 Rxc6 22.Bd4 Nh7 23.Nf2 h5 24.h4 g4 25.fxg4 hxg4 26.Nxg4 Nxe4 27.0–0 Kf8 28.Rxf7+ Kxf7 29.Ne5+ Ke8 30.Nxc6 Rc8 31.Nxa7 Rc2 32.Re1 Ng3 33.Bf2 Ne2+ 34.Kf1 Nf4 35.g3 Nd3 36.Rxe6+ Kf7 37.Re2 Rc1+ 38.Kg2 Nf6 39.Nb5 Ng4 40.Bxb6 Kg6 41.Nd4 Rb1 42.Nf3 Kf5 43.Bd4 Ra1 44.Bc3, 1–0.

Rublevsky - Timoshenko [B51]
Aeroflot Open, 2004
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.0–0 Bd7 5.Re1 Nf6 6.c3 a6 7.Bf1 Bg4 8.d3 e6 9.Nbd2 Be7 10.h3 Bh5 11.g4 Bg6 12.Nh4 Nd7 13.Nxg6 hxg6 14.f4 Bh4 15.Re2 g5 16.f5 Nde5 17.Re3 0–0 18.Bg2 d5 19.exd5 exd5 20.Nf3 Nxf3+ 21.Qxf3 d4 22.Re4 dxc3 23.bxc3 Qf6 24.Bb2 Rad8 25.Rd1 Qd6 26.d4 Qd5 27.f6 Qxa2 28.fxg7 Kxg7 29.Re2 f6 30.Qf5 Qf7 31.Ba3 Rfe8 32.Rxe8 Rxe8 33.Bxc5 Ne7 34.Qd7 Ng6 35.Qxf7+ Kxf7 36.Bxb7 Nf4 37.d5 Ne2+ 38.Kg2 Nxc3 39.Rc1 Ne2 40.Rd1 Nc3 41.Rc1 Ne2 42.Ra1 Nf4+ 43.Kf1 Re2 44.d6 Rd2 45.Bxa6 Ke6 46.Bc8+ Ke5 47.d7 Ne6 48.Be3 Rd5 49.Ke2 Nf4+ 50.Kf3 Ne6 51.Ra6 Nd8 52.Bb6 Ne6 53.Ra5 Rxa5 54.Bxa5 f5 55.d8Q Nf4, 1–0.

Vaganian - Postny [D10]
Aeroflot Open, 2004
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5.Nf3 b5 6.b3 Bg4 7.Be2 e6 8.0–0 Bd6 9.h3 Bh5 10.Bb2 0–0 11.Ne5 Bxe2 12.Nxe2 Nfd7 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.Rc1 Ra7 15.Nf4 Rc7 16.Qd2 Qc8 17.Nfd3 Qb7 18.Rxc7 Bxc7 19.Rc1 Bxe5 20.dxe5 Rc8 21.Qb4 Rxc1+ 22.Bxc1 Qc8 23.Ba3 Qf8 24.Qa5 Qc8 25.Bd6 Nc6 26.Qc3 Qb7 27.a4 bxa4 28.bxa4 h6 29.Nc5 Nxc5 30.Qxc5 Kh7 31.Kh2 Kg8 32.h4 h5 33.a5 Kh7 34.Qb6 Qxb6 35.axb6 Na5 36.f3 Nb7 37.g4 hxg4 38.fxg4 Kg6 39.h5+ Kh6 40.Bf8 Na5 41.Kg3 Nb7 42.Kf3 Nd8 43.Ke2 Nb7 44.e4 dxe4 45.Ke3 Kh7 46.Be7 Kh6 47.Kxe4 Kh7 48.Kf4 Kh6 49.Bf8 Nd8 50.Kg3 Nb7 51.Kh4 Nd8 52.Ba3 Nb7 53.Bc1+ Kh7 54.Kg5 Kg8 55.Ba3 Kh7 56.h6 Kg8 57.Be7 Na5 58.Bf8 Nc6 59.b7 gxh6+ 60.Bxh6 a5 61.Kf6 a4 62.Bc1 Kf8 63.Ba3+ Ke8 64.Bd6, 1–0.

Lautier - Kotronias [E81]
Aeroflot Open, 2004
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0–0 6.Be3 c5 7.Nge2 Nc6 8.d5 Ne5 9.Ng3 e6 10.Be2 exd5 11.cxd5 a6 12.a4 h5 13.0–0 Nh7 14.Qd2 h4 15.Nh1 f5 16.Nf2 Re8 17.Kh1 Rb8 18.Rg1 Kh8 19.g4 fxe4 20.Ncxe4 b5 21.axb5 axb5 22.Bh6 Bxh6 23.Qxh6 Qe7 24.f4 Nc4 25.Qxg6 Bb7 26.Bxc4 bxc4 27.Rad1 Rbd8 28.g5 Qf8 29.Rg4 Qg8 30.Qxg8+ Kxg8 31.g6 Nf8 32.f5 Re5 33.Rf4 Kg7 34.Rg1 Bxd5 35.f6+ Kg8 36.g7 Ng6 37.Rxg6 Kf7 38.Rgg4 h3 39.Kg1 Ra8, 1–0.

Rublevsky - Asrian [B12]
Aeroflot Open, 2004
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c4 cxd4 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Nxd4 e6 7.Nc3 Bb4 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.Bd3 d4 10.a3 Ba5 11.b4 Bc7 12.Ne4 Bxe5 13.Qh5 Qc7 14.f4 Bd6 15.Bb2 Ne7 16.0–0 Bxf4 17.Bxd4 Nf5 18.Bc5 Ba6 19.Rxf4 Qxf4 20.Rf1 Qh6 21.Rxf5 Qxh5 22.Nd6+ Kd7 23.Rxh5 Raf8 24.b5 Bc8 25.Rh4 Kc7 26.Nxc8 Rxc8 27.Bxa7 Rhd8 28.Be4 Rd1+ 29.Kf2 Rcd8 30.Rxh7 R8d2+ 31.Kg3 Ra2 32.Bc5 Rc1 33.b6+ Kb7 34.Rxg7, 1–0.

ANDREW MARTIN MAKES NEW WORLD RECORD!

International Chess Master, Andrew Martin (author of jeremysilman.com's BITS & PIECES COLUMN), achieved a new World Record last Saturday, 21st February, at Wellington College Crowthorne, when he played 321 chess players all at the same time. The previous world record for the highest number of simultaneous chess games was 310, achieved 8 years ago in Sweden. To qualify for the world record Andrew had to beat at least 80% of his opponents. His score on the day was 294 wins, 26 draws and just one loss. The only opponent to beat Andrew was Talal Shakerchi, an executive with one of the event's sponsors, Meditor Capital Management Ltd.

The attempt proved to be both mentally and physically demanding for the Chess Master. Andrew started the record attempt at 09.27 and did not finish until 02.18 next day. During this 16 hour 51 minute marathon, he walked over 5 miles and played over 7,000 moves in total. Andrew recorded his first win at 10.45, reached his 80% target wins at 00.55 and the final opponent to be beaten was Crowthorne Chess Club veteran, pensioner Gordon Ironside. One boy, 6 years old, was one of the last to be beaten at 02.05. Players came from all over England, Scotland and one lady, Charlotte Richardson, flew in from Minnesota USA just to play in the event.

Commenting on the day, Andrew Martin said, “With the degree of concentration I required, I lost all sense of time. It is almost like losing a day out of my life. But it was worth it for the wonderful sense of fulfillment and achievement. Every single opponent seemed to be playing at their very best and there were hundreds of difficult games.”

Challengers were asked to raise sponsorship money as their entry into the world record attempt and all received a tee-shirt and certificate to commemorate the part they played in setting the new world record. In addition, schools and junior chess clubs that entered 10 or more players received £150 towards books. Early indications are that over £6,000 will have been raised for local charities and youth activities.

The event would not have been possible without the generous support of Fujtsu, Baxter Newman, British Chess Federation, Meditor Capital Management, Wellington College & Sports Club, Virgin Retail, UCI, Chess & Bridge Ltd, Eversley Cricket Club and Camberley Chess Club.

For more details contact: Andrew Martin on 01252 870235 or Terry Lynch on 01252 871688 or see www.chessworldrecord.co.uk

17^th WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TO BE HELD IN LIBYA!?

After FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov met with Moammar Gaddafi, word has spread that the next FIDE knockout World Championship tournament will be held in Tripoli, Libya (May 8 to June 2, 2004).

Questions, of course, remain. How will the world chess community react? What of the Israeli players?

We'll keep you informed when the news is finalized either way.

12^th VALLE D'AOSTA OPEN: NISIPEANU TAKES CLEAR FIRST

Held in St-Vincent, Italy from Feb. 8^th to the 15^th, Nisipeanu took clear first with 7.5/9. He was half a point ahead of M. Gurevich, Roiz and Golod.

Nisipeanu - Neri [D30]
Saint Vincent Open, 2004
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 c6 3.c4 e6 4.Nbd2 f5 5.g3 Nd7 6.Bg2 Bd6 7.0–0 Ne7 8.b3 0–0 9.Bb2 h6 10.Rc1 g5 11.Ne5 Rf6 12.f4 Nf8 13.fxg5 hxg5 14.e4 Rh6 15.exd5 exd5 16.Ndf3 Ne6 17.Qd2 Bxe5 18.Nxe5 Kg7 19.cxd5 cxd5 20.Ba3 f4 21.gxf4 Nxf4 22.Rxf4 gxf4 23.Qxf4 Be6 24.Rc3 Ng6 25.Rg3 Qf6 26.Bc1 Rah8 27.Qxf6+ Kxf6 28.Bg5+ Kg7 29.Bxh6+ Rxh6 30.Nxg6 Rxg6 31.Kf2 Kf6 32.Rxg6+ Kxg6 33.Kg3 Kf6 34.Kf4 a5 35.a3 Bg8 36.h4 b5 37.b4, 1–0.

Gurevich  - Zhukova [D45]
Saint Vincent Open, 2004
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nc3 a6 6.c5 Nbd7 7.b4 g6 8.Bd3 Bg7 9.0–0 0–0 10.e4 dxe4 11.Nxe4 Nxe4 12.Bxe4 a5 13.Bg5 Nf6 14.a3 h6 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.Qd2 Rd8 17.Qe3 Rxd4 18.Nxd4 Qxd4 19.Rad1 Qxe3 20.Rd8+ Kh7 21.fxe3 f5 22.b5 cxb5 23.Bd3 Bf6 24.Re8 b4 25.axb4 a4 26.Bc4 a3 27.Bxe6 Bxe6 28.Rxa8 Bb2 29.Ra7 Bd5 30.Rd1, 1–0.

Naumkin - Guido [E15]
Saint Vincent Open, 2004
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Nc3 0–0 8.Bg2 c6 9.0–0 d5 10.Qc2 Nbd7 11.e4 dxc4 12.bxc4 Bxc4 13.Rfd1 Ba6 14.h4 Re8 15.e5 Nd5 16.Ne4 Be2 17.Neg5 Nf8 18.Re1 Bxf3 19.Bxf3 c5 20.dxc5 Bxc5 21.Be4 g6 22.Rad1 Qc7 23.Kg2 Rad8 24.Qb3 Rd7 25.Bd3 Red8 26.Bb5 Qb7 27.Kg1 Rc7 28.h5 a6 29.Bf1 Rcd7 30.hxg6 hxg6 31.Qf3 b5 32.Bg2 Qb6 33.Re4 Nh7 34.Nxh7 Kxh7 35.Bg5 Rh8 36.Bf6 Bxf2+ 37.Kf1 Ne3+ 38.Ke2, 1–0.

Nisipeanu - Gurevich [C05]
Saint Vincent Open, 2004
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Bd3 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Ngf3 g6 8.0–0 Bg7 9.Re1 0–0 10.Nf1 cxd4 11.cxd4 Qb6 12.Bc2 f6 13.exf6 Nxf6 14.Bb3 Bd7 15.h3 Ne4 16.Be3 a5 17.Rb1 Rxf3 18.gxf3 Nd6 19.Ba4 Nf5 20.f4 Rf8 21.Ng3 Nfxd4 22.Kg2 Qd8 23.Bxd4 Nxd4 24.Bxd7 Qxd7 25.Qd2 e5 26.fxe5 Nf3 27.e6 Nxd2 28.exd7 Nxb1 29.Rxb1 Rd8 30.Ne2 Rxd7 31.Nf4 Be5 32.Nd3 Bd6 33.Rc1 Rc7 34.Rxc7 Bxc7 35.b3 Kf7 36.f3 Ke6 37.Kf1 Bd6 38.Ke2 Kf5 39.Kf2 Bb8 40.Kf1 Bg3 41.Kg2 Bh4 42.Kf1 h6 43.Kg2 Bd8 44.Kf1 Bc7 45.Kg2 Bd6 46.Kf1 Kf6 47.Kf2 Kg5 48.Kf1 Kf5 49.Kg2 g5 50.Kf1 b6 51.Kg2 Bc5 52.Kf1 Bd4 53.Kg2 Be3 54.Kf1 Ke6 55.Ke2 Bg1 56.Kf1 Be3 57.Ke2 d4 58.Kf1 h5 59.Kg2 h4 60.Kh1 Kd5 61.Kg2 Bf4 62.Kf2 Bd6 63.Ke2 Bg3 64.Kf1 g4 65.fxg4 Ke4 66.Ke2 Bd6 67.g5 Be7 68.g6 Bf6 69.Ne1 Kf4 70.Kf2 Bg7 71.Nd3+ Ke4 72.Ke2 Bh6 73.Ne1 Kf4 74.Kf2 Kg5, 1/2-1/2.

Efimov – O'Cinneide [E11]
Saint Vincent Open, 2004
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2 b6 5.a3 Bxd2+ 6.Bxd2 Bb7 7.Bg5 d6 8.e3 Nbd7 9.Be2 h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 Ne4 12.d5 h5 13.h4 g4 14.Qd4 Ndf6 15.Ng5 Nxg3 16.fxg3 Qe7 17.0–0 e5 18.Qd3 Bc8 19.Rf2 Bd7 20.Raf1 Rh6 21.Bd1 0–0–0 22.b4 c6 23.c5, 1–0.

3^rd AEROFLOT FESTIVAL: THREE TIED AFTER THREE ROUNDS

This wonderful event, taking place at the Hotel Russia in Moscow (Feb. 17th-26^th), being led (after three rounds) by Loek Van Wely, Rustemov, and Filippov, all with perfect scores. Log-jammed at 2.5 points are: Sakaev, Ehlvest, Malakhov, Dreev, Volokitin, Bacrot, Yakovich, Kotronias, Sasikiran, Dvoirys, Mamedyarov, Ulibin, Graf, Tregubov, Shariyazdanov, Jakovenko, Lastin, Inarkiev, Mamedov, Timofeev, Berkes, Kulaots, Fedorov, Bluvshtein, and Asrian.

STELLWAGEN vs. BARAMIDZE MATCH: STELLWAGEN WINS

A four game “Complete Chess” Match has ended between two young talents: sixteen-year-old Daniel Stellwagen of The Netherlands and fifteen-year-old David Baramidze of Germany. Held in Maastricht, the players were allowed to use computers and were free to use ChessBase software during the game. The time control was 40 moves in 2 hours and 20 moves in 1 hour. Thereafter, 15 minutes and 30 seconds per move.

Baramidze drew first blood, Stellwagen avenged himself in the second game, and a draw followed. That left the result dependent on the final game, which was won by Stellwagen.

Baramidze - Stellwagen  [B76]
Maastricht, NED (1), 2004
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 Nc6 8.Qd2 0–0 9.0–0–0 Bd7 10.g4 Ne5 11.h4 Rc8 12.h5 Qa5 13.hxg6 fxg6 14.Kb1 b5 15.Bxb5 Bxb5 16.Ncxb5 Qxd2 17.Bxd2 Rb8 18.Nc3 Nc4 19.b3 Nxg4 20.fxg4 Bxd4 21.Nd5 Nxd2+ 22.Rxd2 Bf6 23.Nxf6+ Rxf6 24.e5 Re6 25.exd6 exd6 26.c4 Rb6 27.Kc2 Re4 28.Rg2 a5 29.Kd3 Re5 30.Rf2 a4 31.Rb1 axb3 32.axb3 h5 33.gxh5 Rxh5 34.b4 Rh3+ 35.Ke4 Rh4+ 36.Rf4 Rxf4+ 37.Kxf4 Kf7 38.Ke4 Ke6 39.b5 Rb8 40.Rh1 Rg8 41.Rh6 Kd7 42.Rh7+ Kc8 43.Kd5 g5 44.b6, 1–0.

Stellwagen - Baramidze [B31]
Maastricht, NED (2), 2004
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.0–0 Bg7 5.c3 Nf6 6.Re1 0–0 7.h3 e5 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 Nxd4 10.Nxd4 exd4 11.Qxd4 a6 12.Ba4 d5 13.e5 Ne4 14.Nd2 Qa5 15.Nf3 Be6 16.Bb3 Rac8 17.Bf4 Nc5 18.Bg5 Qb5 19.Re3 Nxb3 20.axb3 Bf5 21.Bf6 Bxf6 22.exf6 Rfe8 23.Ne5 Qc5 24.Qf4 d4 25.Ree1 Rcd8 26.g4 Be6 27.Re4 Qf8 28.Rxd4 Rxd4 29.Qxd4 Bxb3 30.Re1 Be6 31.Rd1 Qh6 32.Qd8 Rxd8 33.Rxd8+ Qf8 34.Rxf8+ Kxf8 35.f4 Ke8 36.Kf2 b6 37.Ke3 a5 38.Kd4 Bb3 39.Kc3 Bd5 40.Kd4 Be6 41.Nc4, 1–0.

Baramidze - Stellwagen  [B49]
Maastricht, NED (3), 2004
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2 a6 7.0–0 Nf6 8.Be3 Bb4 9.Na4 Be7 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Nb6 Rb8 12.Nxc8 Qxc8 13.Bd4 c5 14.Be5 Rb6 15.Qd3 d6 16.Bc3 0–0 17.b3 d5 18.e5 Nd7 19.f4 c4 20.bxc4 Rc6 21.Qh3 Nb6 22.Bd3 g6 23.Rf3 Re8 24.Rg3 Qc7 25.Bd4 Nxc4 26.c3 Nb2 27.f5 Nxd3 28.fxg6 hxg6 29.Rxd3 Bc5 30.Bxc5 Rxc5 31.Rf1 Qxe5 32.Rxf7 Kxf7 33.Qh7+ Kf6 34.Rf3+ Qf5 35.Qh4+ Kf7, 1/2-1/2.

Stellwagen - Baramidze [C42]
Maastricht, NED (4), 2004
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Bf4 0–0 8.Qd2 Nd7 9.0–0–0 Re8 10.Kb1 Nc5 11.Be3 c6 12.Nd4 d5 13.f3 Qb6 14.h4 Bd6 15.Bf4 Qc7 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.g4 Ne6 18.Nxe6 Qxe6 19.Bd3 Qf6 20.Rdf1 Bd7 21.g5 Qe5 22.f4 Qd6 23.f5 f6 24.gxf6 gxf6 25.c4 Kh8 26.cxd5 cxd5 27.Rhg1 Rg8 28.a3 Rxg1 29.Rxg1 Rg8 30.Rxg8+ Kxg8 31.Be4 Kg7 32.h5 b6 33.h6+ Kf8 34.Bd3 Qg3 35.Qb4+ Kf7 36.Ka2 Qg5 37.Qd6 Bxf5 38.Qc7+ Kg6 39.Qg7+ Kh5 40.Qxa7 Bxd3 41.cxd3 Kxh6 42.Qxb6 Qf5 43.a4 Qxd3 44.Qxf6+ Kh5 45.Qc6 Qd2 46.Qb5 Kg5 47.a5 Qd4 48.a6 h5 49.Qa5, 1–0.

FRANCE vs. CHINA MATCH: CHINA WINS

An eight round match between France and China was thoroughly dominated by China, who won 22 1/2 - 9 1/2.

Guidarelli - Bu Xiangzhi [B23]
Cannes, 2004
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 g6 3.f4 Bg7 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bb5 Nd4 6.Bd3 d6 7.Nxd4 cxd4 8.Ne2 Nf6 9.0–0 0–0 10.c3 dxc3 11.dxc3 e5 12.h3 d5 13.Ng3 Qb6+ 14.Kh1 exf4 15.Rxf4 Re8 16.Qg1 dxe4 17.Nxe4 Nh5 18.Rf3 Qc6 19.Ng3 Nxg3+ 20.Rxg3 Be6 21.Bf4 Bd5 22.Re1 Rxe1 23.Qxe1 Bxa2 24.Re3 Bd5 25.Be4 Bxe4 26.Rxe4 Bf8 27.Be5 Re8 28.Re3 Qb5 29.Bd4 Rxe3 30.Qxe3 a5 31.c4 Qf5 32.c5 h5 33.b3 Qd5 34.Qc3 Bh6 35.Bg1 Kh7 36.Qxa5 Qxb3 37.Qc7 Qd5 38.Bf2 Bg5 39.Bg1 Bf6 40.Qf4 Be5 41.Qh4 Kg7 42.Qe7 Bf6 43.Qc7 g5 44.Qg3 Qe4 45.Be3 Kg6 46.Bg1 g4 47.Qb3 gxh3 48.Qxh3 Qh4, 0–1.

Sebag - Xu Yuanyuan [B10]
Cannes, 2004
1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Ne5 Nc6 5.d4 Nf6 6.Bb5 Qb6 7.c4 dxc4 8.Nc3 e6 9.Qa4 Bd7 10.Nxd7 Nxd7 11.Be3 Rd8 12.d5 Nd4 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.0–0–0 Bc5 15.Bxd7+ Rxd7 16.Qxc4 Qc7 17.Bxd4 Qf4+ 18.Kb1 Bxd4 19.Qxe6+ Re7 20.Qxe7+, 1–0.

Ni Hua - Sebag [C78]
Cannes (2), 2004
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.a4 Bb7 8.d3 0–0 9.Nc3 b4 10.Ne2 d5 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.a5 Nde7 13.Ng5 Nf5 14.Ng3 Nxg3 15.hxg3 Be7 16.Ne4 Nd4 17.Bc4 Bd5 18.Nd2 f5 19.Re1 Bf6 20.c3 bxc3 21.bxc3 Ne6 22.d4 e4 23.Qb3 c6 24.Nf1 Nc7 25.Bf4 Bxc4 26.Qxc4+ Qd5 27.Qa4 Qd7 28.Ne3 Nd5 29.Nxd5 Qxd5 30.Red1 Rfd8 31.Rab1 Rd7 32.Rb6 c5 33.c4 Qf7 34.dxc5 Rxd1+ 35.Qxd1 Qxc4 36.c6 g5 37.c7 Rf8 38.Qb3, 1–0.

Bu Xiangzhi - Guidarelli [D12]
Cannes (2), 2004
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c6 3.d4 d5 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Be4 7.f3 Bg6 8.Qb3 Qc7 9.Bd2 Nbd7 10.0–0–0 Be7 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.h3 dxc4 13.Bxc4 b5 14.Be2 a6 15.Ne4 Nxe4 16.fxe4 c5 17.Kb1 c4 18.Qc2 e5 19.b3 Rc8 20.bxc4 bxc4 21.Bc3 0–0 22.h4 Nf6 23.Ka1 Bd6 24.g4 Rfe8 25.Bf3 Rb8 26.g5 Nh5 27.Rhg1 Bb4 28.Bxh5 gxh5 29.g6 fxg6 30.Rxg6 Bxc3+ 31.Qxc3 exd4 32.Rxd4 Qb7 33.Rg1 Re6 34.Rdd1 Rxe4 35.Rd4 Rxe3 36.Qxc4+ Kh8 37.Rd2 Qe7 38.Qd4 Re4 39.Qc3 Re1+ 40.Rd1 Rxd1+ 41.Rxd1 Qxh4 42.Rg1 Qe7 43.a3 Re8 44.Kb1 Qe5, 0–1.

OSMAND PALOS: 1949-2004

(Story by Donaldson)
International Master Osmand Palos died Saturday, February 7, at the age of 54 in Chicago. The cause was lung cancer. Palos, who suffered from diabetes for many years, had been in poor health for some time. He leaves behind his sons Robert and Davor.

Osman Palos was born October 29, 1949, in Gracanica, Yugoslavia. He was the strongest player in Tuzla, the second largest city in Bosnia, for many years until he left in the late 1980s. His best years as a chess player were in the mid-1980s. During this time he received the IM title in 1985 and achieved his peak FIDE rating of 2440 in 1987. His best ever result was winning the Pula Open in 1986 with a GM norm performance score of 10 from 11. Two other good results were 8.5 from 13 in a Category 4 (2328) round robin in Tuzla in 1991 and = 2nd with GM Ikonnikov behind GM Klinger at the 138 player Werfen Open in 1992. Palos was a regular participant in Yugoslav Team Championships in the 1980s, winning the gold medal on board 5 in 1982 with a score of 6 from 9.

Osmand played often in Germany, Austria and Switzerland in the late 1980s and early 1990s, collecting many GM scalps including those of Ikonnikov, Kudrin, Vukic, Kupreichik and Khenkin among others. Palos was a big fighter when healthy and not one to respect reputations. To get an idea of his persistence, play over his 107-move draw with GM Eingorn from Graz 1987.

Palos loved to play blitz and could often be found between rounds indulging in his favorite pastime. He was an inconsistent but dangerous opponent who could pose a danger to anyone. One example: his 2-0 score versus GM Krasenkov in the 1997 New York City Blitz Championship.

For much of his life Osman worked as a businessman, only becoming a full-time chess professional when things started to deteriorate in Yugoslavia. One of his last important duties in his old town was directing the Women's Interzonal in Tuzla in 1987. Fleeing the Balkans he spent several years playing in Western Europe before talking a position as a chess trainer in the United Arab Emirates in 1993.

Palos first arrived in Chicago in late 1996, quickly establishing himself not only as one of the top players in the city but also one of the best chess coaches. Neil Gleason of Madison, Wisconsin, remembers: "In early 1999, I spent an evening arguing politics with him. The next morning, he gave me a 10-minute lesson in the exchange Caro Kann ("play simple chess") over breakfast, whereupon I proceeded to use it with white to notch 2 convincing victories that same day in a quick tournament. He was a skillful instructor who would readily demonstrate that chess is a very simple game."

Palos was already in poor health by the time he arrived in the United States but he still managed to hold a USCF rating over 2400 until the last few years of his life, peaking at 2477. He was especially proud of his two wins over GM Goldin, one of the best players in the US. His last major event was the Lindsborg Rotary Open in December of 2002 where he scored a respectable fifty percent against a field averaging 2442 FIDE.

Osman Palos will be remembered as a warm, modest and intelligent man who gave his life to chess.

Unfortunately only 329 of Osmand's games are available in Mega 2004, representing probably less than 10 percent of those he played during his career. Here is a small selection covering three decades.

Palos - Hazai  [E73]
Tuzla, 1983
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.g4 c5 7.d5 e6 8.g5 Ne8 9.h4 exd5 10.exd5 Nc7 11.h5 b5 12.Qd3 Re8 13.Qg3 Nd7 14.hxg6 hxg6 15.Bf4 Ne5 16.0-0-0 Bf5 17.Nf3 bxc4 18.Nxe5 Rxe5 19.Bxe5 Bxe5 20.f4 Bg7 21.Bxc4 Rb8 22.Rh4 Rb4 23.b3 Qb8 24.Bd3 Rxb3 25.axb3 Qxb3 26.Bxf5 Nb5 27.Qe3 Kf8 28.Bd7 Qa3+ 29.Kc2, 1-0.

Kupreichik - Palos [C02]

Cattolica, 1993
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Ne7 5.Bd3 Nec6 6.Be3 Nd7 7.a3 a5 8.Nf3 Be7 9.h4cxd4 10.cxd4 Nb6 11.Nbd2 Bd7 12.Ng5 Bxg5 13.Bxg5 Ne7 14.h5 Bc6 15.Qg4 Kd716.Rh3 Qf8 17.Ke2 f6 18.exf6 gxf6 19.Bh4 Qh6 20.Re3 f5 21.Qf3 Nc4 22.g4 f4 23.Re5 Nxe5 24.dxe5 Rhf8 25.Kf1 Ng6 26.hxg6 Qxh4 27.gxh7 Rf7 28.Nb3 Rxh729.Bxh7 Qxh7 30.Rd1 Rh8 31.Nd4 Qh2 32.Ke2 Rh3 33.g5 Rxf3 34.Nxf3 Qh5 35.Rg1 d4, 0-1.

Palos - Kaufman [A13]
Philadelphia, 2001
1.c4 e6 2.Qa4 Nf6 3.Nc3 c5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.e3 d6 6.d4 Bd7 7.Qd1 cxd4 8.exd4 Rc8 9.Bd3 Be7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Be3 e5 12.d5 Na5 13.Nd2 Ng4 14.Bxa7 b6 15.Na4 Bxa4 16.Qxa4 Qc7 17.b4 e4 18.Bxe4 Nxc4 19.Nxc4 Qxc4 20.Bf5 Ra8 21.Qd7 Nh6 22.Bxb6 Bf6 23.Rab1 Qxd5 24.Bh3 Rxa2 25.b5 Rb2 26.Rxb2 Bxb2 27.Qc6 Qe5 28.Bc7 Ba3 29.b6 Bc5 30.b7 Ba7 31.Bxd6 Qf6 32.Qc7 Re8 33.g3 Nf5 34.Bxf5 Qxf5 35.Qc6 Qe6 36.Rc1 h5 37.Qxe8+ Qxe8 38.Rc8, 1-0.

GERMAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: GRAF WINS THE TITLE

The 75th German Championships, which took place in Höckendorf and had forty-six players competing over nine rounds, saw Alexander Graf win the title with a score of 7.5/9, a full point ahead of Jan Gustafsson.

Wisnewski - Graf [C26]
75th German Championship, 2004
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 Bc5 5.Nge2 a6 6.0–0 d6 7.h3 h5 8.d3 h4 9.Bg5 hxg3 10.Nxg3 Nd4 11.Nh5 Ne6 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Nd5 Kf8 14.Kh2 c6 15.Ne3 Ng5 16.Nf5 Bxf5 17.exf5 Qd7 18.Qg4 Ke7 19.f4 Rag8 20.Rae1 Ne4 21.Qh4 Qxf5 22.fxe5 Qxe5+ 23.Qf4 Qxh5 24.Rxe4+ Kf8 25.d4 d5 26.Re3 Rg4 27.Qxf6 Bxd4 28.Qd6+ Kg7 29.Rxf7+ Qxf7 30.Re7 Rg6 31.Rxf7+ Kxf7 32.Qd7+ Kf6 33.Qd6+ Kf5 34.Qd7+ Kf4 35.Qf7+ Rf6 36.Qg7 Rhf8 37.h4 Ke5 38.Bh3 R8f7 39.Qg3+ Rf4 40.Qg5+ Kd6 41.Qd8+ Kc5 42.Be6 Rg7 43.Qa5+ Kd6 44.Bh3 Rf2+ 45.Kh1 Be5 46.Qd8+ Kc5 47.Qa5+ b5 48.Qa3+ b4 49.Qa5+ Kc4 50.Qxa6+ Kd4 51.Qd3+ Kc5 52.Qe3+ Bd4 53.Qe1 Rxc2 54.Bg4 Rxg4 55.Qe7+ Kb5, 0–1.

Luther - Dausch [C63]
75th German Championship, 2004
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.exf5 Nd4 6.Nxe5 c6 7.Ba4 d6 8.Ng4 Bxf5 9.Ne3 Bg6 10.Ne2 Nxe2 11.Qxe2 Be7 12.0–0 Qd7 13.d4 d5 14.c4 dxc4 15.Nxc4 Qxd4 16.Rd1 Qe4 17.Qxe4 Nxe4 18.Ne5 Bc5 19.Be3 Bxe3 20.fxe3 Bf5 21.Bc2 Ke7 22.g4 Ke6 23.Nf3 Bg6 24.Bxe4 Bxe4 25.Ng5+ Ke5 26.Nf7+ Ke6 27.Ng5+ Ke5 28.Nf7+ Ke6 29.Nxh8 Rxh8 30.Rd4 Bd5 31.a3 c5 32.Rf4 h5 33.Raf1 hxg4 34.Rxg4 Rh7 35.Rff4 Bc6 36.Rh4 Rxh4 37.Rxh4 g5 38.Rg4 Kf5 39.Rc4 b6 40.Kf2, 1–0.

Graf - Naiditsch [E02]
75th German Championship, 2004
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.d4 dxc4 5.Qa4+ Nbd7 6.Bg2 a6 7.Nc3 Rb8 8.Qxc4 b5 9.Qd3 Bb7 10.0–0 Bd6 11.Ng5 Bxg2 12.Kxg2 Be7 13.Bf4 Nh5 14.Nce4 Nxf4+ 15.gxf4 Nb6 16.Rac1 h6 17.Nf3 Nd5 18.e3 Rb6 19.Rfd1 g5 20.Nc3 f5 21.Ne5 gxf4 22.e4 Nxc3 23.Rxc3 Qa8 24.f3 Rd6 25.exf5 Bf6 26.fxe6 Rg8+ 27.Kf1 Bxe5 28.Qf5 Rf8 29.Qh5+ Kd8 30.Qxe5 Re8 31.d5, 1–0.

Naiditsch - Breutigam [C63]
75th German Championship, 2004
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 4.Nc3 Nd4 5.Bd3 Nf6 6.0–0 Nxf3+ 7.Qxf3 f4 8.Bc4 Bc5 9.Na4 d6 10.Nxc5 dxc5 11.b4 cxb4 12.Bb2 Qe7 13.d4 Bg4 14.Qb3 Nd7 15.f3 Bh5 16.a3 Bf7 17.axb4 Bxc4 18.Qxc4 Nb6 19.Qb5+ Kf7 20.dxe5 Qe6 21.Qc5 Rhd8 22.Rfd1 Rac8 23.Rd3 Rxd3 24.cxd3 g5 25.d4 g4 26.d5 Qg6 27.e6+ Ke8 28.Kh1 c6 29.Rxa7 gxf3 30.gxf3 Qh5 31.Qc3 cxd5 32.Qh8+ Ke7 33.Rxb7+ Kd6 34.Rxb6+ Kc7 35.Rc6+ Kxc6 36.Qxc8+ Kb5 37.Qc5+, 1–0.

ANAND vs. TOPALOV BLITZ EXHIBITION: ANAND WINS

On Feb. 1, Anand and Topapov played a two game televised blitz exhibition in Sofia, Bulgaria. The time control was 15 minutes each with no increments. Anand won the first game and drew the second, thus winning the match.

Topalov - Anand [B48]
Sofia, 2004
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Qd2 Nf6 8.0–0–0 Bb4 9.f3 Na5 10.Nb3 d5 11.Kb1 Nxb3 12.axb3 dxe4 13.Nb5 Qe7 14.Nc7+ Qxc7 15.Qxb4 Nd5 16.Qxe4 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 Bd7 18.Qd4 e5 19.Qb4 0–0–0 20.Bd3 Be6 21.Rhe1 f6 22.Bc4 Bf5 23.g4 Bg6 24.h4 h5 25.Be6+ Kb8 26.Bf5 Bf7 27.Be4 hxg4 28.fxg4 Be6 29.Bf3 a5 30.Qe4 Rxd1+ 31.Rxd1 Rxh4 32.Rd8+ Bc8 33.Rd3 Rh8 34.b4 a4 35.Qe3 Rd8 36.Rc3 Qd6 37.Qe4 Qb6 38.Rc4 Be6 39.Rc5 Rd4 40.Qe3 Rxb4 41.Qc3 Rb5 42.Rxb5 Qg1+, 0–1.

Topalov - Anand [B33]
Sofia, 2004
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Nd5 Bg7 11.c3 f5 12.exf5 Bxf5 13.Nc2 0–0 14.Nce3 Be6 15.Bd3 f5 16.0–0 Kh8 17.Qh5 e4 18.Bc2 Ne7 19.Rad1 Rc8 20.f3 Bf7 21.Qh3 Nxd5 22.Nxd5 b4 23.fxe4 bxc3 24.bxc3 Bxd5 25.exd5 Rxc3 26.Bd3 Bd4+ 27.Kh1 Qg5 28.Rxf5 Rxf5 29.Qxf5 Qxf5 30.Bxf5 Be3 31.g3 Rc1, 1/2-1/2.

FIRST CHENNAI INTERNATIONAL OPEN: VAKHIDOV & HUMPY WIN

This tournament, held in Madras, India and organized by the Saranya Chess Center, took place from Jan. 21 to Feb. 1. By scoring last round wins in the 13^th round, both Tahir Vakhidov and Humpy Koneru were able to overtake Fominyh, who led most of the way.

Final results: 1^st and 2^nd (with 10 points): Tahir Vakhidov, Humpy Koneru; 3^rd through 7^th (with 9.5 points): Alexandre Fominyh, Sergei Iskusnyh, Pavel Smirnov, Rahman Ziaur, Shukhrat Safn.

GIB TELECOM CHESS FESTIVAL: SHORT TAKES CLEAR FIRST

The GibTelecom Chess Festival (which boasted an exceptionally strong field) took place January 26th to February 5th, 2004 at the 4 star Caleta Hotel in Gibraltar. Nigel Short took clear first by winning his final game against Ernesto Inarkiev. to end up with an impressive 8 - 2 score.

In the following game, White's 33.e6! makes a pleasing impression.

Vijayalakshmi - Rowson [B30]
Gibraltar Masters, 2004
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.0–0 Nge7 5.c3 a6 6.Ba4 b5 7.Bc2 Bb7 8.Re1 Rc8 9.d4 cxd4 10.cxd4 Nb4 11.Bb3 Rxc1 12.Qxc1 Nd3 13.Qe3 Nxe1 14.Qxe1 Ng6 15.Nc3 Be7 16.d5 0–0 17.Rd1 Qb8 18.e5 Bb4 19.Qe4 Bxc3 20.bxc3 Re8 21.Qe3 Ne7 22.d6 Nf5 23.Qf4 Qc8 24.Nd4 g6 25.Rd3 Nxd4 26.cxd4 Qc6 27.Rf3 Rf8 28.d5 exd5 29.h4 h5 30.Qf6 a5 31.Rg3 Qc1+ 32.Kh2 a4 33.e6 dxe6 34.d7 Qc7 35.Bc2 Qxc2 36.d8Q Rxd8 37.Qxd8+ Kg7 38.Qe7 d4 39.Qxb7 Qxa2 40.Rf3 e5 41.Qxb5 Qe6 42.Qxa4 Qg4 43.Qe8 Qxh4+ 44.Kg1 Qe4 45.Rxf7+ Kh6 46.Qf8+ Kg5 47.Qe7+, 1–0.

Short - Pogorelov [B48]
Gibraltar Masters, 2004
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qc7 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be3 a6 7.Qd2 b5 8.0–0–0 Nxd4 9.Bxd4 Ne7 10.Kb1 Nc6 11.Be3 Ne5 12.f4 Nc4 13.Bxc4 Qxc4 14.Bd4 f6 15.g4 Be7 16.g5 0–0 17.b3 Qc6 18.gxf6 Bxf6 19.Rhg1 b4 20.Nd5 exd5 21.e5 Be7 22.e6 Rf6 23.f5 dxe6 24.Rxg7+ Kxg7 25.Qg5+ Kf7 26.Rg1 Bf8 27.Qxf6+ Ke8 28.Rg8 Qd6 29.fxe6 Qe7 30.Qh6 Rb8 31.Bf6 Qxe6 32.Rxf8+ Kd7 33.Qg7+ Kc6 34.Be5 Rb7 35.Qh8, 1–0.