WWCC R08: Closing ceremony in Tirana

12/3/2011 – The closing ceremony of the World Women's Championship match was held on the evening of the 30th of November. It was attended by Mikhail Gorbachev, the last head of state of the USSR, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 for "his leading role in the peace process which today characterizes important parts of the international community". Pictorial report.

Master Moves #17

12/3/2011 – All the deepest plans or endgame technique are useless if you fall victim to a shot that leaves you in a lost position. Likewise, sometimes that superior play will only offer a single window of opportunity to deliver that final blow, so it is vital to be ready for it when it does. All the positions are from the 2011 European Team Championship. Bring in the bazookas!

London Classic Rd1: Carlsen wins, McShane escapes Aronian

12/3/2011 – At the start of this year's Classic it was Magnus Carlsen who chalked up a win with a superb attack against David Howell, while Luke McShane pulled off a perpetual when he appeared lost to Aronian. The guest of honour on this first day followed the action with intense interest and actually played two games against the resting Nigel Short. Wimbledon champion Boris Becker, who stole the show.

Long diagonals

12/2/2011 – After 18...Ng4 (diagram) White 'parried' the threat against his king's position with 19.Rd1. Now capturing on f3 followed by 20...Qxh2+ leads to:

A) advantage for Black;
B) advantage for White;
C) roughly even play.

ChessBase Magazine, larger diagram and solution.

Anand in The Guardian: I found Bobby Fischer surprisingly normal and calm

12/2/2011 – A day before the start of the London Chess Classic the broadsheets are picking up on the chess event. For starters there is a nice interview with World Champion Vishy Anand, who is grilled on his preparation, on his most difficult opponents, on his encounter with Bobby Fischer, on his love for Monty Python and on age taking its toll. Entertaining, must-read interview.

The Lewis Chessmen on a Fantasy Iceland

12/2/2011 – Oh dear. The Icelandic-Norwegian war over the origin of the Lewis Chessmen – they are a collection of chess pieces, handcrafted in the 12th century from walrus tusks and whale teeth and discovered on the Isle of Lewis – continues with unabated (academic) vigor. In this installment it is Norway's turn to claim heritage over the chessmen. CCGM Morten Lilleøren explains.

Chess on TV, Take One: American Chess Star

12/1/2011 – Who says chess can't make it on the small screen? Watch American Chess Star, a trailer for a chess reality TV show. The clip is brought to you by the producers of the Xtreme Chess Championships, a made for TV chess competition featuring eight of the top young chessplayers in America, which is coming in December. Videos and studio shots.

Interview with Levon Aronian

12/1/2011 – After his success at the 6th Tal Memorial, edged out by Carlsen by virtue of an odd tiebreak system (most Blacks played - not won), Levon Aronian continues his steady rise and is close to threatening Carlsen for the top ranking. In an interview after the event, he was asked about his thoughts on the draw rate, conditions, and more. Here is the interview by Maria Manakova.

Bishop against Knight in 60 minutes - A review

12/1/2011 – Most players can sum up their knowledge of the bishop against knight struggle as favorable for the bishop with open lines, while closed positions favor the knight. In the new, highly affordable "60 minute" series, only available for download, GM Adrian Mikhalchishin teaches how to recognize which piece is the stronger, and how to play the attacker or defender.

CBM training: Knight tactics, the umbrella, rook's pawn races

11/30/2011 – Here, unusually, is a middle-of-the-week training session from our resident endgame expert, who has a very popular section in ChessBase Magazine. Today GM Karsten Müller has picked three games from the recent 18th European Team Championship, one with a female player showing that, when the opponent stumbles, she could win a pawn race. Look, learn and enjoy.

Kavalek in Huffington: When Bobby Fischer Played Chess Like Misha Tal

11/30/2011 – Reckless sacrifices were not his style, but for one day, one game and one moment in 1959 Bobby Fischer threw caution to the wind, went va banque and played like Mikhail Tal. The Latvian was famous for his flamboyant style, and for half a century "playing like Tal" was the highest accolade you could bestow on attacking players – as GM Lubomir Kavalek explains in his Huffington Post column.

Fritz 13: To buy or not to buy?

11/30/2011 – "Fritz has changed our lives. For many it is an integral aspect of our chess experience. But should we stick with Fritz 12 or buy Fritz 13?" On his web site Carl's Planet, Carl Portman thinks you should: "We may be living in austere times, but I see no reason why Fritz 13 can't alleviate some of the gloom and improve the chess players' lot at the same time." Review.

London Chess Classic – ChessBase, Fischer and astronomy on the free day

11/29/2011 – The free day (December 7th) at this event is filled with special activities: at 2.30 p.m. the ChessBase "Geek in Chief" Nick Murphy gives a workshop; at 4 p.m. there's a screening of the award winning documentary Bobby Fischer against the World; and then at 7 p.m. John Nunn, aided by Vishy Anand will look into the night sky using a telescope in Australia. Details and full pairings.

'Bobby Fischer: Genius and Madman' on BBC Four

11/28/2011 – The movie by Liz Garbus on the life of Bobby Fischer is being broadcast on three days this week by the British TV channel BBC Four. It has a new title, but it is the same film that was premiered in cinemas last April. Since the channel is available to digital television viewers on Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable, the film can be seen all over the world. Catch it if you can.

My Life For Chess - Viktor Korchnoi

11/28/2011 – Viktor Korchnoi hardly needs an introduction. This Methusaleh of chess, whose competitive longevity and endless love for the game even have Kasparov in awe, has competed head-to-head with every world champion since Botvinnik. In his review, Albert Silver explains why these two DVDs are his favorite, and how they not only entertain and instruct, but also inspire from sheer passion.

First International Chess Champion in Duhok, Iraq

11/28/2011 – This rare event was held in the Kurdish corner between Syria, Turkey, Iran and Iraq, not the most peaceful area in the world. Two events were staged: a round robin with a GM, four IMs and four FMs; and an Open Tournament with IMs, FMs and CMs. The former was won by the Iraqi national team trainer GM Merab Gagunashvili with 7.0/9 points. Pictorial report by Salman Mohammed Qaseem.

Ashley in Guadeloupe – Caribbean Chess Tour of a GM

11/28/2011 – GM Maurice Ashley, who in 1999 was the first African-American to attain the coveted title of International grandmaster of chess, has become an ambassador of the game. On his Caribbean Chess Tour, after visiting Martinique, he went on the incredible tropical island of Guadeloupe – and found a similar amount of enthusiasm for the game there. Here is his pictorial report on the trip.

5th Aquaprofit - Polgar Chess Day

11/28/2011 – For the fifth straight year, Aquaprofit sponsored the Polgar Chess Day, a giant chess bonanza designed to promote chess through many activities, with a focus on children, celebrity presences and massive media coverage. The event is spearheaded by Judit Polgar herself, with the collaboration of her sisters Susan and Sofia. With pictures and videos here is the report by Diana Mihajlova.

A funny thing happened on the way to the tournament hall…

11/27/2011 – Vassily Ivanchuk’s recent mugging in Sao Paulo shocked the chess world but it’s far from being the only mishap to befall a chessplayer on the way to or from work. It reminded Steve Giddins of some other off-board misfortunes in the past, from fire on the board (literally) to dog attacks and shootings. It's all in the latest issue of CHESS Magazine's Top Ten Greatest Chess Tournament Mishaps.

Samuel Reshevsky would have turned 100 today

11/26/2011 – On November 26, 1911, in a town near Lódz, Poland, little Sammy was born. He learnt chess at four and at eight was supporting the family, which had moved to the USA, with simuls and games against masters. Samuel Herman Reshevsky went on to a professional chess career spanning seventy years, and was considered by his arch rival Bobby Fischer one of the greatest of all time.

Hou Yifan: The World Champion title did not change me

11/26/2011 – At 14½ years she became the youngest female grandmaster in history; at seventeen she has already played in three world championships, losing one and winning two. She admits to a burning desire to become stronger in chess, but does not want the game to dominate her life. A day after her match in Tirana she the old and new world champion gave our colleagues this indepth interview.

Fritz 13 and Let's Check at the Women's World Championship

11/25/2011 – What do the players in a world chess championship do immediately after their games? Rush off for dinner? No. Check their game with the computer? Warmer. Actually in Tirana the two GMs used, for the first time in such an event, the new feature of Fritz 13, "Let's Check", to see what spectators from all over the world had found in their games. Here's how it is done.

Tal Memorial R9 – Aronian, Carlsen tie for first; Carlsen wins on tiebreak

11/25/2011 – Levon Aronian's dramatic win yesterday made serious ripples, as Vladimir Kramnik tried to cash in on what he expected to be a fragile Peter Svidler, but instead ended up losing. Magnus Carlsen once more showed his stuff when under last-minute pressure by beating Hikaru Nakamura in an opposite-colored bishops ending, snatching first on tiebreak. Final report with GM commentary.

Perpetual?

11/25/2011 – White has given two pieces to expose the enemy king and secure perpetual check. In the diagram position Black's 21...Kh5 wins against both 22.Bd1+ and 22.Qh3+. After 22.Qg7, however, ...
A)... the tables are turned in White's favour;
B)... Black wins anyway;
C)... nothing has changed - drawn!

ChessBase Magazine, larger diagram and solution.