Candidate Matches 2011 - Stage III

The Luck Seekers' Game!

Team Grischuk: Alexander Riazantsev, Peter Svidler and Etienne Bacrot
Team Gelfand: Alexander Huzman and Maxim Rodshtein

'The Luck Seekers' Game' continued into the third stage of the Candidates Matches 2011 as well, as happened in the first & second stages! 'THE LUCK SEEKERS' of the final stage Grischuk & Gelfand continued their 'WAIT & WATCH TILL ETERNITY POLICY' intact and playd out 5 successive draws in the match of 6 regular time games & rapid and blitz tie-breakers!

As was the case, Grischuk must have thought that the luck which stood him in good stead in all the 2 previous stages wouldn't have deserted him, come what may! Gelfand, who is the senior most player at the candidates stage, too must have thought somewhat in the same vein! He too avoided anything 'UNSAFE' and played as if 'Luck' would support him, despite knowing how!

The Candidates 2011, where 'Luck' has played the most important role & outplayed all the players in the various Candidates stages, even outplayed Gelfand's most positive preditions & expectations and gave him a victory in the final regular time game, ie game 6! Hence, a 'LUCKY GELFAND' became the 'LUCKY CHALLENGER' of the Reigning World Champion Viswanathan Anand of India, most probably in the first half 2012!

GAME 1
In the first regular time game of stage 3 - Final Round - of the Candidates Matches for FIDE World Championship, Alexander Grischuk, who was playing white, and Boris Gelfand drew after 46 moves and four and a half hours.

GAME 2
Game 2 took 58 moves to reach the NATURAL CONCLUSION - draw!

GAME 3
In game 3, it was proved, beyond any doubt, how easy it is to draw in the candidates final round, in just 14 moves!

GAME 4
After 18 moves and three hours of play they proved a draw in candidates matches - especially @ Kazan - is anybody's business!

GAME 5
One must have wondered if not the draws a defenite & logical outcome of a Kazan Candidate Game as Russian Alexander Grischuk, playing white, and Israeli Boris Gelfand, agreed to share the point on move 39 after a little less than four hours of playing.

GAME 6
An Unlucky Grischuk was caught unawares & before he woke up from his day dreams Lucky Gelfand made sure that he would be the one to challenge the Reigning World Champion from India Viswanathan Anand, in the first half of 2012!

Boris Gelfand - Alexander Grischuk
Round 6 ; 25.05.2011
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.Nc3 Nc6 8.e3 O-O 9.O-O Re8 10.Re1 a5 11.Qe2 Bg4 12.h3 Be6 13.b3 a4 14.Rb1 axb3 15.axb3 Qc8 16.Kh2 Ra5 17.Rd1 Rh5 18.Nh4 Bf6 19.f4 Rd8 20.Qf2 20.Qf2 Bxh4 21.gxh4 Nd5 22.Nxd5 Rhxd5 23.Bb2 Rb5 24.Qe2 Rh5 25.e4 Bxb3 26.Rdc1 Na5 27.d5 b6 28.Be5 c5 29.dxc6 f6 30.Ba1 Rc5 31.Rxc5 bxc5 32.Qb5 Qc7 33.Rxb3 Nxc6 34.e5 Nd4 35.Qc4 1-0

Candidate Matches 2011 - Stage II

In Stage - I of Candidates Matches Levon Aronian, Veselin Topalov, Mamadyarov & Radjabov got eliminated.

The standard of the Candidates Matches -Stage I - looked pretty ordinary as most of the regular time games played ended in 'DRAWS', as a pre-determined goal! Everyone played for a draw in the regular time games & wished for some miracle to happen somehow that they win! And, just that happened in the case of Gelfand & Kamsky as they somehow succeeded to WIN A GAME in the 4 game regular match & hang on to that lead!

But, THE UNLUCKY 4, Kramnik - Radjabov & Aronian - Grischuk headed to the playoff. In the rapid section, only Aronian - Grischuk was decided - in Grischuk's favour; the other 2 extended their 'TRY LUCK FIGHT' into the blitz section & LUCK FAVOURED Kramnik in the form of a 'Broken Clock', on the verge of his elimination! Hence, THE UNLUCKY Radjabov bowed out of 'THE LUCK SEEKERS' CANDIDATES MATCHES 2011!

AS WE - CHESS GM PROJECT! - ARE NOT LOOKING FOR THE RAPID OR BLITZ CANDIDATES MATCHES 2011, we don't go to the rapid & blitz sections of the match, as we feel it unnecessary & unbecoming!

NOW ON TO STAGE II GAMES!

The matchups are:
Kramnik vs. Grischuk
Gelfand vs. Kamsky

IT IS A PITY THAT NO REGULAR TIME GAME PRODUCED ANY DEFINING RESULT IN THE CANDIDATES MATCHES 2011, STAGE II @ KAZAN!

Gata Kamsky - Boris Gelfand
Stage - II ; Game 1 ; 12.05.2011
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nf3 Be7 8.Bc4 O-O 9.O-O Be6 10.Bb3 Nc6 11.Qe2 Na5 12.Rfd1 Nxb3 13.axb3 Qc7 14.Bg5 Nh5 15.Nxe5 Bxg5 16.Qxh5 Bf6 17.Nf3 Bxc3 18.bxc3 Qxc3 19.Nd4 Rfe8 20.Qa5 Rac8 21.f3 Qxa5 22.Rxa5 Rc3 23.Kf2 Kf8 24.Rda1 Rec8 25.Ke1 Ke7 26.Kd2 R3c5 27.R5a4 f5 28.Rb4 R8c7 29.exf5 Bxf5 30.Re1 Kf7 31.Rb6 Rd5 32.c3 Bc8 33.b4 Re7 34.Ra1 Ke8 35.b5 Rc7 36.bxa6 bxa6 And draw was agreed.

Alexander Grischuk - Vladimir Kramnik
Stage - II ; Game 1 ; 12.05.2011
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 O-O 6.e3 Nbd7 7.Qc2 c5 8.Rd1 Qa5 9.Nd2 cxd4 10.exd4 dxc4 11.Nxc4 Qd8 12.Bd3 Nb6 13.O-O Bd7 14.Nxb6 Qxb6 15.d5 Kh8 16.dxe6 Draw Agreed.

Alexander Grischuk - Vladimir Kramnik
Stage - II ; Game 3 ; 14.05.2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.O-O Be7 8.Nc3 Nxc3 9.bxc3 Bg4 10.Re1 O-O 11.Bf4 Bd6 12.Bxd6 Bxf3 13.Qxf3 Qxd6 14.Re3 Rae8 15.Rae1 Re7 16.Rxe7 Nxe7 17.h4 Rd8 18.c4 b6 19.c3 h6 20.cxd5 Nxd5 21.Bc4 c6 22.Re5 Nf6 23.Qf4 Qd7 24.g3 Kf8 25.Bb3 And a draw was agreed.

Boris Gelfand - Gata Kamsky
Stage - II ; Game 4 ; 15.05.2011
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5 Ne4 5.Bh4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 dxc4 7.e3 Be6 8.Nf3 c5 9.Be2 Bg7 10.O-O O-O 11.Rb1 cxd4 12.Nxd4 Bd5 13.Qc2 Qd7 14.Rfd1 Bxd4 15.cxd4 Qe6 16.Bf3 Bxf3 17.gxf3 Nd7 18.Qe4 b6 19.Rdc1 Rac8 20.Rb4 c3 21.Rb3 Nf6 22.Qxe6 fxe6 23.Bxf6 And a draw was agreed.

'THE LUCK SEEKERS' played safe & WAITED FOR THE ILLUSORY LUCK to give them some advantage & win! In some very rare games, the players with advantage miserably failed to convert it to a full point. The HUNT FOR LUCK continued as was the case in STAGE-I, and the players moved forward to Rapid & Blitz forms of tie-breakers TO END THEIR SUFFERING!

'THE LUCK SEEKERS' TIE-BREAKERS!
16-05-11
Grischuk was 'Lucky' not to go to the blitz section as he won game 7 with black and held on with white in game 8 against Clock-Lucky Kramnik, in the rapid section!

Gelfand lost game 7 with white but won game 8 with black in the rapid section to take the match to the blitz stage. He won both the blitz games against 'An Unlucky Kamsky' to earn a berth in the final!

Gelfand will now face Grischuk to decide the spot for challenging World Champion Viswanathan Anand of India, in the first half of 2012!

KAZAN CANDIDATES MATCHES 2011 - STAGE I

KAZAN CANDIDATES MATCHES 2011 - STAGE I

GAME 1
Due to the extra caution taken by all the players all the 4 games were drawn in the first game of the 2011 Candidates Matches in Kazan.

Radjabov and Kramnik were the first to draw, that too in only 25 moves! No 'TRY" from either side.
05.05.2011; Game 1
White : Teimour Radjabov
Black : Vladimir Kramnik
Result 1/2-1/2
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Ne4 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Rc1 c6 10. Be2 Nd7 11. O-O Nxc3 12. Rxc3 dxc4 13. Rxc4 e5 14. Qc2 exd4 15. Nxd4 Nb6 16. Rc5 Rd8 17. Bf3 Be6 18. Rc1 Bd5 19. a3 Nd7 20. Rc3 Nf6 21. Bxd5 Rxd5 22. Rc4 Re8 23. h3 Ne4 24. b4 a5 25. Rb1 1/2-1/2

Topalov held with Black against Kamsky with relative ease. Despite having material advantage Kamsky failed to score the full point!
05.05.2011; Game 1
White : Gata Kamsky
Black : Veselin Topalov
Result 1/2-1/2
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. a4 Nc6 7. a5 e6 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. Bd3 Be7 10. O-O c5 11. Bf4 Qc7 12. Qe2 Bb7 13. e5 Qc6 14. f3 Nh5 15. Bd2 c4 16. Bxc4 dxe5 17. b3 Rd8 18. Rad1 Qc5+ 19. Kh1 Nf4 20. Na4 Nxe2 21. Nxc5 Bxc5 22. Bxe2 Ke7 23. b4 Rxd2 24. Rxd2 Bxb4 25. Rd3 Bd5 26. Rb1 Bxa5 27. Ra3 Bd2 28. Rxa6 Rc8 29. Ra7+ Kf6 30. Bd3 Be3 31. Ra4 h5 32. Rab4 Rc3 33. h4 g6 34. Kh2 Kg7 35. Ra4 f5 36. Re1 Bc5 37. Re2 Kf6 38. Re1 Bf2 39. Re2 Bc5 40. Re1 Bf2 41. Re2 Bc5 1/2-1/2

Mamedyarov had a slight advantage throughout most of the game but Gelfand's solid play earned him half a point.
05.05.2011; Game 1
White : Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
Black : Boris Gelfand
Result 1/2-1/2
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nf3 Be7 8. Bc4 O-O 9. O-O Nc6 10. Re1 b5 11. Bb3 Rb8 12. Bg5 Be6 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Nd5 Bg5 15. Qd3 Bh6 16. Red1 Kh8 17. Nc3 Qb6 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Qxd6 Nd4 20. Qxb6 Nxf3+ 21. gxf3 Rxb6 22. a4 Kg8 23. axb5 axb5 24. Ra5 b4 25. Rb5 Rfb8 26. Rxb6 Rxb6 27. Ne2 Rc6 28. c3 bxc3 29. Nxc3 Bg5 30. Kf1 Rb6 31. Rb1 Be7 32. Ke2 Rb8 33. Kd3 Bc5 34. Na4 Bxf2 35. b4 Ra8 36. Nc5 Kf7 37. Kc4 Ke7 38. Rd1 Bd4 39. Nb3 1/2-1/2

Aronian completely outplayed Grischuk and obtained a winning endgame. But he could not convert the advantage to a full point & the game ended in a draw.
05.05.2011; Game 1
White : Levon Aronian
Black : Alexander Grischuk
Result 1/2-1/2
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O b6 11. dxc5 Qc7 12. Nd4 Ne5 13. Nb5 Qb8 14. Be2 bxc5 15. f4 Ng4 16. Bxc5 a6 17. Na3 Qc7 18. Bd4 e5 19. fxe5 Nxe5 20. Qc1 Bg4 21. Bxg4 Nxg4 22. Qf4 Qxf4 23. Rxf4 Ne5 24. Rb1 Rad8 25. Nc2 Nd3 26. Rff1 Rd7 27. Rfd1 Nf4 28. Kf2 Rc8 29. Ne3 h5 30. Rb6 Ne6 31. Bxg7 Rxd1 32. Nxd1 Kxg7 33. Ke3 Nc5 34. Rd6 a5 35. c4 a4 36. Kd4 Ne6+ 37. Kc3 Rb8 38. Rd5 Nf4 39. Rd2 Ne6 40. Rb2 Rd8 41. Nf2 a3 42. Rd2 Rb8 43. Nd3 Rb1 44. c5 Kf6 45. c6 Ke7 46. Nb4 Rc1+ 47. Kb3 Nc5+ 48. Kxa3 Nxe4 49. Rd4 Nd6 50. Ka4 Ke6 51. Ka5 Rc5+ 52. Ka6 g5 53. a4 Ke5 54. Rd2 Rc4 55. Ka5 f5 56. Rc2 Kd4 57. Rd2+ Ke5 58. Nd3+ Kf6 59. Kb6 Nc8+ 60. Kb7 Nd6+ 61. Kc7 Ne4 62. Ra2 Nc3 63. Rb2 Nxa4 64. Rb4 Rxb4 65. Nxb4 Nc5 66. Kb6 Ne6 67. Nd3 h4 68. h3 Ke7 69. Nc5 Nxc5 70. Kxc5 Kd8 1/2-1/2
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GAME 2
Kamsky scored a big victory against Topalov with Black. All other games were drawn.
Game 2 ; 06.05.2011
White : Veselin Topalov
Black : Gata Kamsky
Result 0-1
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Qb3 Nb6 6. d4 Bg7 7. Bf4 Be6 8. Qa3 Nc6 9. O-O-O Nd5 10. Bg3 Bh6+ 11. e3 a5 12. h4 Ncb4 13. h5 c6 14. hxg6 hxg6 15. Rd2 f6 16. Ne4 b6 17. Be2 Qc8 18. Rh4 Kf7 19. Rd1 g5 20. Rh2 g4 21. Nfd2 c5 22. dxc5 f5 23. Rxh6 Rxh6 24. Ng5+ Kf8 25. Nxe6+ Qxe6 26. Bc4 Rc8 27. Bf4 Rf6 28. e4 Rxc5 29. exd5 Qxd5 30. b3 Qd4 31. Be3 Qc3+ 0-1

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GAME 3
Gelfand scored a critical victory against Mamedyarov with black in game 3. He and Kamsky lead their respective matches by 1 with 1 game to go. All the other 3 games ended in uneventful draws!
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov - Boris Gelfand
Game 3 ; 07.05.2011 ; 0-1
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 b5 8.O-O Be7 9.Qf3 Qc7 10.Qg3 O-O 11.Bh6 Ne8 12.Rad1 Bd7 13.f4 Nc6 14.f5 Nxd4 15.Rxd4 Kh8 16.Be3 Nf6 17.Qh3 d5 18.e5 Qxe5 19.Rh4 Rfc8 20.Kh1 Rxc3 21.bxc3 Qxc3 22.Rd4 a5 23.Rd3 Qc6 24.c3 a4 25.Bc2 e5 26.Bg5 b4 27.Qh4 bxc3 28.Rh3 Kg8 29.Re1 e4 30.g4 Kf8 31.Be3 Qc4 32.g5 Bxf5 33.gxf6 Bxf6 34.Qh5 Bg6 35.Qg4 Qxa2 36.Bb1 Qc4 37.Qg2 a3 38.Ba2 Qc6 39.Rg3 Rb8 Mamedyarov resigned. 0-1
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GAME 4
Topalov was eliminated by Kamsky and Mamedyarov faced the same fate at the hands of Gelfand. In the mean time, Kramnik, Radjabov, Aronian, and Grischuk headed to the playoff.
Vladimir Kramnik - Teimour Radjabov
Game 4 ; 08.05.2011 ; 1/2-1/2
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Be7 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bf4 O-O 6.e3 Nbd7 7.a3 c5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Nxd5 exd5 10.dxc5 Nxc5 11.Be5 Bf6 12.Be2 Bxe5 13.Nxe5 Be6 14.Nf3 Qb6 15.Qd4 Rfc8 16.O-O Nb3 17.Qxb6 axb6 18.Rab1 Bf5 19.Rbd1 Rc2 20.Rxd5 Rxb2 21.Re1 Be6 22.Rb5 Rxa3 23.Rxb6 Raa2 24.Rxb7 g5 25.Bf1 h6 26.Nd4 Nxd4 27.Rxb2 Rxb2 28.exd4 1/2-1/2

KAZAN CANDIDATES CHESS 2011!

:

The fight for the spot to challenge the World Chess Champion from India GM Vishy Anand in 2012 started today, in Kazan, the capital city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia.

The word 'KAZAN' is commonly believed to be coming from the Bulgarian (and also modern Tatar) word qazan, which means 'boiler' or 'cauldron'. Kazan is the eighth most populous city in Russia. Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers in European Russia. It is now a days (from April 2009) branded the "Third Capital" of Russia. In 2009 it was chosen as the "Sports Capital of Russia".The Kazan Kremlin is a World Heritage Site.

The Candidates matches 2011 are played at the modern hotel, shopping, and leisure complex Korston in Kazan. The playing area is the "Balnii" hall, a 1225 square meters uniform open space, with quality light facilities. Lately it has been one of the city's top places for celebrations, conferences, congresses, and shows. The capacity of the playing hall is about 600 to 700 people.

Candidates' Matches - The Participants:

1. Levon Aronian - 2808 (Armenia, winner of the FIDE Grand-Prix 2008-2009)

2. Vladimir Kramnik - 2785 (Russia, qualified by rating)

3. Veselin Topalov - 2775 (Bulgaria, runner up of the previous World Championship)

4. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov - 2772 (Azerbaijan, wild card)

5. Alexander Grischuk - 2747 (Russia, qualification from the FIDE Grand-Prix; substitute due to the non-participation of Magnus Carlsen of Norway)

6. Teimour Radjabov - 2744 (Azerbaijan, qualification from the FIDE Grand-Prix)

7. Boris Gelfand - 2733 (Israel, winner of the FIDE World Cup 2009)

8. Gata Kamsky - 2732 (USA, runner up of the Challengers Match 2009).

Candidates' Matches - The Officials:

Chief Arbiter - Mr. Ignatius Leong

Deputy Chief Arbiter - Mrs. Franca Dapiran

Arbiter for 1st Round - Mr. Alexander McFarlane

Appeals Committee Chairman - Mr. Jorge Vega

Appeals Committee Member - Mr. Ilya Levitov

Appeals Committee Member - Mr. Nizar Elhaj

Medical Commission Chairperson - Dr. Jana Bellin

Press-officer of the Candidates Matches - Mr. Boris Kutin

The pairings for the 1st round of the Candidates Matches:

Topalov (BUL) - Kamsky (USA)

Kramnik (RUS) - Radjabov (AZE)

Aronian (ARM) - Grischuk (RUS)

Gelfand (ISR) - Mamedyarov (AZE)

Akshat Khamparia Wins Sydney Open!

Indian FM Akshat Khamparia won the Sydney International Open 2011 which was held from 27th April to 1st May at the Parramatta Town Hall in Sydney, Australia. With an amaizing five straight wins and four draws in a strong field, he claimed the clear first place with a total of 7 points. He also fulfilled requirements for an IM norm, his second within only a week in Australia. Previously he shared the 4th place at the 2011 Doeberl Cup.

A group of seven players, including 3 GMs, shared the second place with 6.5 points a piece. Among them are FM Christopher Wallis of Australia, who also won an IM norm, GM David Arutinian of Georgia and Doeberl Cup winner GM Andrei Deviatkin of Russia.

The Sydney International Open was held from 27th April to 1st May at the Parramatta Town Hall in Sydney, Australia. The New South Wales Chess Association managed two 9-round tournaments, the Open which allowed all players to enter and the Sydney International Challengers which was designed for players rated under 2000.

The excellent performance from FM Akshat Khamparia clearly shows the strength of Indian Chess Players, who with the inspiration drawn from the World Champion from India GM Vishy Anand, go any length to upgrade their game & perform well at the national & international level.It is a proof of the present day system in place in India which propells even lesser known players like FM Akshat Khamparia to perform excellently in an international tournament & win it!

Open Group Final Standings (top 15):

1 FM Akshat Khamparia IND 2328 - 7
2 GM David Arutinian GEO 2575 - 6.5
3 GM Andrei Deviatkin RUS 2566 - 6.5
4 IM Kevin Goh Wei Ming SIN 2382 - 6.5
5 FM Christopher Wallis AUS 2305 - 6.5
6 IM Stephen J Solomon AUS 2398 - 6.5
7 GM Zhao Zong-Yuan AUS 2579 - 6.5
8 FM Michael Steadman NZL 2217 - 6.5
9 GM Dejan Bojkov BUL 2523 - 6
10 FM Vladimir Smirnov RUS 2395 - 6
11 FM Junta Ikeda AUS 2296 - 6
12 FM Moulthun Ly AUS 2381 - 6
13 FM Max Illingworth AUS 2345 - 6
14 GM Darryl K Johansen AUS 2419 - 5.5
15 FM Gregory Canfell AUS 2313 - 5.5
16 GM Hansen Sune Berg DEN 2603 - 5.5
17 Samar Raul AUS 2236 - 5.5
18 Jason Hu AUS 2190 - 5.5

Final Round Game Of The Winner!
White : GM Zong Yuan Zhao (2579) Australia
Black : FM Akshat Khamparia (2328) INDIA
Round 9 ; Sydney International Open 2011
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.d4 0-0 6.Be2 Bg4 7.Be3 Nfd7 8.0-0 c5 9.d5 Nb6 10.Nd2 Bxe2 11.Qxe2 e6 12.f4 exd5 13.cxd5 f5 14.Nf3 fxe4 15.Ng5 Qe7 16.Rad1 Na6 17.Ne6 Nb4 Draw 0.5-0.5

Anand Reigns Supreme - Retains World Number 1!

The World Chess Champion Vishy Anand of India retained his World No:1 ranking, despite playing any rated game in the last 2 months, in the FIDE May 2011 List! Anand stays where he had seen himself in the February 2011 FIDE List, ie @ 2817!

Among the top players above 2770 only the mighty Ukranian Vasily Ivanchuk has played any rated games in the last 2 months. Playing 9 games in the last 2 months the gusty Ukranian maintained his 5th position intact, just ahead of Sergie Karjakin of Russia, who also has 2776 points as does Ivanchuk!

FIDE MAY 2011 TOP 40 : ABOVE 2700!

Rank-----Name -------------Title ----Country ----Rating---Games---B-Year
1 -- Viswanathan Anand .....g ------- IND ------2817 -----0 -----1969
2 ---Magnus Carlsen .......g --------NOR ------ 2815 -----0 -----1990
3 ---Levon Aronian ........g - -------ARM ------ 2808 -----0 -----1982
4----Vladimir Kramnik .....g --------RUS ------2785 -----0 -----1975
5 ---Vassily Ivanchuk .....g --------UKR ------2776 -----9 -----1969
6---Sergey Karjakin ........g --------RUS ------2776 -----0 -----1990
7---Veselin Topalov ........g --------BUL -------2775 ----0 -----1975
8-- Hikaru Nakamura,.......g --------USA -------2774 ----0------1987
9--Shakhriyar Mamedyarov....g --------AZE -------2772 ----0 -----1985
10-Vugar Gashimov..... .....g --------AZE -------2760 ----6 -----1986
11.Ruslan Ponomariov .......g --------UKR -------2754 ----10-----1983
12-Alexander Grischuk.......g -------- RUS -------2747-----0------1983
13 Teimour Radjabov.........g --------AZE -------2744 ----0------1987
14 Peter Svidler. ..........g --------RUS -------2739 ----28-----1976
15 Nikita Vitiugov.........g --------RUS -------2733 ----31 ----1987
16 Boris Gelfand ...........g --------ISR -------2733 ---- 4 ----1968
17.Dmitry Jakovenko.........g --------RUS -------2732 ----20-----1983
18 Gata Kamsky.. .. ........g --------USA -------2732 -----7 ----1974
19 Wang Hao ................g --------CHN -------2732 -----6 ----1989
20 Maxime Vachier-Lagrave...g --------FRA -------2731 -----5 ----1990
21 Leinier Dominguez Perez..g ---------CUB -------2726 ----12 ----1983
22 Michael Adams ...........g ---------ENG -------2726 ---- 9-----1971
23 Francisco Vallejo Pons...g --------ESP -------2722 -----30 ---1982
24 Radoslaw Wojtaszek.......g --------POL --------2721 -----22----1987
25 Zoltan Almasi ...........g ---------HUN --------2719 ---- 0 ----1976
26 Peter Leko ..............g ---------HUN --------2717-----0 ----1979
27 Arkadij Naiditsch........g --------GER ---------2716 ----35 ---1985
28 Fabiano Caruana .........g --------ITA ---------2714-----21----1992
29 Wang Yue ................g --------CHN --------2714 ----11----1987
30 Eljanov Pavel ...........g --------UKR ---------2712 ----14 ---1983
31 Ian Nepomniachtchi .....g -------- RUS ---------2711 ----20----1990
32 Alexei Shirov ...........g -------- ESP --------2709 -----6 ---1972
33 Evgeny Tomashevsky.......g --------RUS----------2707-----10----1987
34 Etienne Bacrot ..........g --------FRA----------2705 -----21----1983
35 Sergei Movsesian.........g --------ARM----------2705 -----20 ---1978
36 Jobava Baadur ...........g --------GEO----------2704 -----11----1983
37 Vladimir Malakhov........g --------RUS--------- 2704 -----10 ---1980
38 Aleksey Dreev ...........g --------RUS----------2703------19----1969
39 David Navara.............g --------CZE----------2702 -----24----1985
40 Zahar Efimenko ..........g --------UKR----------2701------20----1985

FIDE May 2011 Rating List (Top Women)

Rank ------Name ------------------Title -Country ---Rating-- Games--B-Year
1 -------Judit Polgar .............g -----HUN -------2699-----11 ----1976
2 ------ Koneru Humpy .............g -----IND ------2614-----11 ----1987
3 ------Yifan Hou ................g -----CHN ------2612-----20 ----1994
4 -------Nadezhda Kosintseva.......m -----RUS ------2567 ---- 0 ----1985
5 -------Tatiana Kosintseva........g -----RUS ------2559------0 ----1986
6 ------Nana Dzagnidze............g -----GEO ------2557 -----11 ---1987
7 ------Anna Zatonskih............m -----USA ------2537------27----1978
8 ------Anna Muzychuk ............m -----SLO ------2537------20 ---1990
9 ------Kateryna Lahno............g ----- UKR -----2530----- 10 ---1989

WORLD TOP 100 CLUB HERE!

Top 3 Asian Chess Cities - Shi Jiazhuang, Astana, Tehran!

The Chinese city of Shi Jiazhuang won all their matches to win the Asian Cities Team Championship for the Dubai Cup held from 21st to 29th April, 2011, in Jakarta, Indonesia.The team of GM Yu Yangyi, GM Li Chao, Wan Yunguo, GM Wang Rui and GM Zhang Pengxiang, scored a perfect 18 match points on the basis of 2-1-0 points per match.

The Bangalore Team (with a rating avarage of 2374), from another Asian Super Power India, consisting of IM M.S Tejkumar (2458), G.A Stany (2407), N Sanjay (2335) Arvind Shastry (2297) & Sriram Sarja (2219), which was captained by the seasoned Hanumantha finished 8th with a low profile performance despite being seeded 6th at the beginning of the championship!

The system of play is four board Swiss (all-play-all alternatively if circumstances make it possible) with each team having the right to field up to six players. Each Asian country has the right to send one city team to the championship. In some cases, the organizers may admit one additional city from a federation. The winning city in the Asian Cities Chess Championship is awarded custody of the challenge Dubai Cup.

Asian Chess Federation president Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan awarded the Dubai Cup to the Chinese city of Shi Jiazhuang with the check for $10,000, in the presence of the Senator GM Utut Adianto, Chairman of the Jakarta Asian Cities Organizing Committee.

Final Ranking : Top 10 (Out of a total of 24 teams)!

Rk.--- Team ----------- Win --- Draw--- Loss--- MP--- GP--- TB

1. Shi Jiazhuang ----- 9 -------- 0 ------ 0 --- 18 --- 27.5 --192

2. Astana --------------- 7 -------- 1 ------- 1 ---- 15 -- 25.5 --159.75

3. Tehran --------------- 6 ------- 1 ------- 2 ----- 13 -- 24 -- 132.5

4. Tagaytay ------------- 5 -------- 1 ------- 3 ---- 11 -- 26 -- 96.5

5. Palembang ---------- 5 --------- 1 -------- 3 ---- 11 -- 22.5 -- 105.25

6. Jakarta --------------- 5 --------- 1 ------- 3 ---- 11 -- 22.5 -- 97.75

7. Mashhad ------------ 5 --------- 1 ------ 3 ------ 11 -- 15.5 -- 98.75

8. Bangalore ---------- 5 ---------- 0 ------ 4 ------ 10 -- 23 --- 71

9. Abu Dhabi --------- 5 ---------- 0 ------ 4 ------- 10 -- 19 --- 56

10.Sydney ----------- 4 ---------- 2 ------ 3 -------- 10 -- 18.5 -- 79

Annotation
Tie Break1: Matchpoints (2 for wins, 1 for Draws, 0 for Losses)
Tie Break2: Points (game-points)
Tie Break3: Sonneborn-Berger-Tie-Break (with real points)

MP: Matchpoints (2 for wins, 1 for Draws, 0 for Losses)
GP: points (game-points)

A TEAM INDIA GAME FROM THE LAST ROUND!
White : FM Bilam Lal Shrestha (2129) Team Kathmandu
Black : IM M.S Thejkumar (2458) Team Bangalore
THE 17th ASIAN CITIES CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jakarta ; ROUND 9 ; Board 1
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ gxf6 6.g3 h5 7.Bg2 h4 8.Be3 Be6 9.Ne2 Bd5 10.Bxd5 Qxd5 11.Rg1 hxg3 12.hxg3 e6 13.Nf4 Rh1 14.Rxh1 Qxh1+ 15.Kd2 Qh7 16.Qh5 Qxh5 17.Nxh5 Nd7 18.Rh1 Bd6 19.Bf4 Ke7 20.Bxd6+ Kxd6 21.Nf4 f5 22.c4 b6 23. Rh7 Bf8 24.b4 c5 25.dxc5+ bxc5 26.b5 Nf6 27.Rg7 Ke5 28.Kc2 Ne4 29.f3 Nd6 30.Kc3 Rh8 31.a4 Kf6 32.Nxe6 Kxe6 0–1