Magnus Clear Leader, LCC 2012

6 Dec 2012, Kuala Lumpur – The Week In Chess reported that Magnus Carlsen opened a clear lead after four rounds of the 4th London Chess Class as it goes into the rest day. Carlsen defeated Gawain Jones in a 4.Qxd4 Sicilian where Jones played a creative queen sacrifice for two pieces. The sacrifice might have been sufficient to draw but Jones gradually went wrong and lost.

Michael Adams faced a very unusual sideline of the Queen's Gambit from Hikaru Nakamura. Adams did have slightly the worse of it for a while but held the draw reasonably comfortably. Viswanathan Anand took on Vladimir Kramnik's Berlin Defence and was in danger of being worse at one stage but the blocked nature of the position allowed a draw. Luke McShane was again the last to finish and he ended up losing to Levon Aronian in a grim struggle. McShane blundered and had to give up his queen for what eventually turned out to be Rook, Knight and 3 pawns.

The 5 December 2012 was a rest day at the London Chess Classic. Round 6 is being played tonight as blog post gets published.

Links:

Official website: http://www.londonchessclassic.com

All games | PGN | Replay |

PGN: Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Round 8 Round 9

Replay: Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Round 8 Round 9

Results and Standings

(Picture by Ray Morris-Hill)

Anna Ushenina, the Women’s World Champion 2012

 

6 Dec 2012, Kuala Lumpur – Anna Ushenina, the new Women’s World Champion, receiving her trophy from FIDE President,  Mr. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, during the closing ceremony in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.

The official website reported that 14^th Women World Champion was decided on a tie-break after Antoaneta Stefanova and Anna Ushenina exchanged wins in the 3^rd and 4^th final match games with the classical time control. The first rapid game ended in a draw, and the Ukrainian took the upper hand in the second. Anna Ushenina is a new world champion!

To read more, please visit the official website or click here.

5th National Junior Chess Championship 2012, 18-22 Dec 2012

5 Dec 2012, Kuala Lumpur – As mentioned in an earlier post, the Malaysian Chess Federation is organising an upcoming 5th National Junior Chess Championship at Arthur Tan Chess Center, Wilayah Complex, Kuala Lumpur from 18-22 December 2012.

There will be two categories – Boys U-20 and Girls U-20 with a clasical time control of 90 mins + 30 seconds increment over a 9 round Swiss-System.

Details :

Registration Form:

For further enquiries, contact or email :

Mr Gregory Lau: 017-2898215 - (email: msianchess2010@gmail.com)

Pn. Haslindah Ruslan (email: haslindahr@yahoo.com)

En. Najib Wahab: 016-3382542

Pn.Zuraihah Wazir 017-2837808

5th National Junior Chess Championship

5 Dec 2012, Kuala Lumpur - Latest news: MCF is organizing the 5th National Junior Chess Championship from 18-25th December 2012 at Arthur Tan Chess Center, Wilayah Complex, Kuala Lumpur.

The tournament will be a 9 round Swiss-System and divided into 2 categories, namely Boys U-20 and Girls U-20.

Closing date: 16 Dec 2012.

Please contact Gregory Lau, hp: 017-2898215, email: msian 2010@gmail.com.
Or, Pn Haslindah Ruslan, email: haslindahr@yahoo.com,
Or, En Najib Wahab: 016-3382542,
Or, Pn Zuraihah Wazir, 017-2837808.

Kramnik, Carlsen won in round 2, LCC 2012

3 Dec 2012, Kuala Lumpur – Last night two decisive games with Kramnik and Carlsen winning their respective games of round 2 London Chess Classic 2012. Vishy Anand, the reigning World Champion, drew against McShane and Judit Polgar drew with Gawain Jones.

Here is the round 2 game between Magnus Carlsen of Norway and Levon Aronian in a Ruy Lopez opening. Carlsen won with the white pieces.

 

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White played 59. Rf8+, black resigned.

 

Official website:http://www.londonchessclassic.com/

Classic Links:

All games | PGN | Replay |

PGN: Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Round 8 Round 9

Replay: Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Round 8 Round 9

Results and Standings

(All pictures by Ray-Morris Hill)

London Chess Classic 2012 gets underway

Pix 1. Luke McShane vs Magnus Carlsen, Round 1, London Chess Classic 2012 (Photo by Ray Morris-Hill)

2 Dec 2012, Kuala Lumpur – The London Chess Classic 2012 got underway last night, 1 Dec 2012 in London. Eight players are playing in the Classic section. The first round registered four decisive wins for Magnus, Hikaru, Nakamura and Adams. Vishy Anand had a first round bye. For the first time we have a lady player participating in the London Chess Classic, none other than Judit Polgar of Hungary.

The Week In Chess reported that the 4th London Chess Classic started with a bang with all four games finishing decisively. Vladimir Kramnik has a tremendous record against Judit Polgar with white and he won yet again after Polgar sacrificed a piece for tactical play which seemed to be at best only just sufficient. Kramnik whilst being polite seemed to suggest that he didn't believe that the sacrifice was sound. It did take good accuracy to defuse but in the end it was Polgar who blundered. Magnus Carlsen came closer to breaking Garry Kasparov's 1999 elo peak after defeating Luke McShane with black in the first round.

Here is the round 1 win for Magnus Carlsen of Norway, playing black against the British player, Luke McShane.

 

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Black played 62…g2, white resigned.

Overall Table Standings (after round 1):

Official website:http://www.londonchessclassic.com/

Classic Links:

All games | PGN | Replay |

PGN: Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Round 8 Round 9

Replay: Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Round 8 Round 9

Results and Standings

Ushenina wins tie-breaker, 3.5-2.5, Womens World Championship 2012

1 Dec 2012, Kuala Lumpur – The finals has been decided with Anna Ushenina of Ukraine becoming the new Womens World Chess Championship 2012 after winning the tie-breaker 3.5-2.5 against Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria. They drew in the first tie-breaker game but Ushenina in the second tie-breaker won it with two pawns up and a rook as white against black’s lonely rook.

The Week In Chess reported that 27 year old Ukrainian Anna Ushenina emerged as the 15th World Champion. Ushenina won the second rapidplay game in the final against former champion (2004-6) Antoaneta Stefanova. Ushenina will defend the title against now former champion Hou Yifan in a match next year.

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White played 94. Ke4 and black resigned.

FIDE Womens World Chess Championship 2012 (Khanty-Mansiysk RUS)
Sat 10th Nov 2012 - Sun 2nd Dec 2012 - Official Site - Results - Live

FIDE Women WCh (64 players 6 Rds KO Indiv TC:90m:30m+30spm(1)) - Games in PGN: Games | Live

(Photo from official website)

Stefanova levels score 2-2 with win in fourth, Khanty-Mansiysk Russia

30 Nov 2012, Kuala Lumpur – In Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, Antoaneta Stefanova has even the overall score 2-2 after winning the final fourth classical game against Ushenina of Ukraine.

Chessvibes.com reported that the final of the Women's World Championship in Khanty-Mansiysk between Anna Ushenina and Antoaneta Stefanova will be decided in a rapid tie-break. After four classical games the score is 2-2 with two draws, a win for Ushenina (game 3) and a win for Stefanova (game 4 today).

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FIDE Womens World Chess Championship 2012 (Khanty-Mansiysk RUS)
Sat 10th Nov 2012 - Sun 2nd Dec 2012 - Official Site - Results - Live

FIDE Women WCh (64 players 6 Rds KO Indiv TC:90m:30m+30spm(1)) - Games in PGN: Games | Live

(Photo from official website)

Ushenina ahead 2-1, Finals Womens World Championship 2012

30 Nov 2012, Kuala Lumpur – In Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, Anna Ushenina has won the third game as white, giving her a solid lead at 2-1. She only needs to get a draw in the fourth game to seal the crown as the Womens World Chess Champion 2012.

The Week In Chess reported that Game 3 could not have gone better for Anna Ushenina who completely caught out Antoaneta Stefanova in a sideline of the Chebanenko Slav. Not only did Stefanova clearly not know the line but she also walked straight into the sharpest variation by rather naively playing 15...e5 rather than 15...Kh8 which was more restrained. It was all very grusome after 17.Nxd5 and this win means a draw with black in game 4 will give Ushenina the title.

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White played 37.Rc6, black resigned.

FIDE Womens World Chess Championship 2012 (Khanty-Mansiysk RUS)
Sat 10th Nov 2012 - Sun 2nd Dec 2012 - Official Site - Results - Live

FIDE Women WCh (64 players 6 Rds KO Indiv TC:90m:30m+30spm(1)) - Games in PGN: Games | Live

(Photo from official website)

Stefanova, Ushenina drew 2nd Game, Finals, WWC 2012

 

28 Nov 2012, Kuala Lumpur – In Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, the second game of the Finals of the Womens World Chess Championship 2012 between Anna Ushenina of Ukraine and Antoaneta Stefanova, Bulgaria ended in a quick draw in 17 moves. Both players were cautious in their moves. The Finals consist of four classical games.

Chessdom.com reported that the Bulgarian, playing White, decided to test her opponent’s knowledge in a very sharp opening variation known as the Slav Gambit: White sacrifices a central pawn, but forces Black to keep the king in the center and obtains long-lasting initiative.

Ushenina, however, deviated from the main lines, and by the 10th move the players reached an original position with complicated strategic and tactical pattern.

The position looked more promising for White, but Stefanova possibly misplayed it on the next few moves. Ushenina could sacrifice a pawn for the initiative and try to utilize her development lead. This would create a very sharp game risky for both sides.

However, the Ukrainian preferred a safer path, simplifying the position, and the players agreed to a draw already on the 17th move on a half-empty board.

 

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Black played 17…Bb7, draw agreed.

FIDE Womens World Chess Championship 2012 (Khanty-Mansiysk RUS)
Sat 10th Nov 2012 - Sun 2nd Dec 2012 - Official Site - Results - Live

FIDE Women WCh (64 players 6 Rds KO Indiv TC:90m:30m+30spm(1)) - Games in PGN: Games | Live

(Photos from official website)