11/24/2009 – The two big names that will leave Khanty-Mansiysk after the first round are Emil Sutovsky of Israel and Gabriel Sargissian of Armenia. The were knocked out by Chinese GMs Li Chao and Zhou Weiqi respectively (but not respectfully). Promising youngsters Parimarjan Negi and Hou Yifan are also out, while Dominguez, Navara and Bacrot made it to the next round. Illustrated report.

11/23/2009 – The big names – Gelfand, Gashimov, Svidler, Morozevich, Radjabov, Ivanchuk, Ponomariov, Grischuk, Jakovenko, Eljanov, Karjakin, Mamedyarov, Shirov – all are through after two rounds of play in Khanty-Mansiysk. Biggest upset so far: Chinese GM Yu Yangyi, 113th seed and rated 2527, knocked out 16th seed Sergei Movsesian, rated 2718. Day two report.

11/22/2009 – Ruslan Ponomariov, who picked up from his compatriot Ivanchuk and played in an anti-viral mask, was only able to draw against Essam El Gindy of Egypt, while Alexander Grischuk did the same against Indian IM Jha Sriram. Those were two of the handful of surprises on day one of the FIDE World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Illustrated report with games and results.

11/22/2009 – ... versus an attack in the g- and f-file was featured in the following game, where after 30...f4 31.Qxg5 Rxg5 the queens were exchanged, but Black now was able to put the double threat 32...fxe3 and ...f3 in the balance. What is your comment on this situation?
A) The passed pawns are not advanced far enough yet, so Black wins; 
B) with best play a positional draw is the logical consequence;
C) White remains victorious.
The solution is here, but first ponder over it with a  larger version of the diagram.

11/21/2009 – Suffering from withdrawal after Nanjing and the Tal Memorial? Do not worry, the next top tournament has just started. It is the FIDE World Cup in Central Russia, a seven-stage knockout with 128 players in the starting ranks and a total prize fund of US $1.6 million. The event is an integral part of the World Championship Cycle 2009-2011. Participants and schedule.

11/21/2009 – "For the greatest part of my life I have been fighting the three K’s – Karpov, Kasparov and Kramnik," says Vishy Anand on Moscow radio. "I have played no fewer than a hundred games with each of them." The World Champion talks about the Russian school, chess as an Olympic sport, computer cheating and the world championship format. Interview with WGM Elmira Mirzoeva.

11/16/2009 – Another pot pourri is presented by the Editor of Chess Notes. A prediction about Garry Kasparov made when he was only 11, a curious Lilienthal reference in a chess poem, an almost unknown player who reportedly challenged Alekhine for the world title in 1927, and an oft-published nineteenth-century miniature which is spurious. A further visit to the wonderful world of chess lore...

11/16/2009 – World Champion Vishy Anand, who turns forty in just under a month, is leading this event with 12.0/14 points, two more than his nearest rival Magnus Carlsen. Behind the Norwegian we find a big surprise figure (hint: he is almost twenty years older than Anand), followed by Vladimir Kramnik and Alexander Grischuk. A photo report will follow, here for now are the results and games.

11/15/2009 – We received a number of baffled letters asking us why we did not, as is usually our habit, include large numbers of pictures in our daily reports on the Tal Memorial. Well, our usual photographers unfortunately took ill, and it was only in the final round that WGM Yana Melnikova arrived at the venue and sent us a bunch of photos from the end of the tournament. Here is her report.

11/14/2009 – Aronian beats Anand with the black pieces, Carlsen did the same to Leko, Ponomariov beat Morozevich, while Kramnik drew against Ivanchuk. The result: Kramnik wins the tournament, with 6.0/9 and a 2883 performance. Ivanchuk and Carlsen share 2nd-3rd, with the young Norwegian trainee of Garry Kasparov going to number one in the world in the unofficial live rankings. Final round report.

11/13/2009 – Four draws today, in 23, 31, 36 and 40 moves, with Morozevich holding Anand to a draw and preventing the World Champion from catching up with his predecessor Kramnik. The game of the day was Ivanchuk-Gelfand, two winners of round six. There was only one winner today: Vassily Ivanchuk, who moves up to share second with Anand. Report plus an interview with Alexander Morozevich.

11/13/2009 – ... were the issue in this position where the first player had sacrificed an exchange to occupy the 7th rank and drive the black king to g6. Yet after 25...Rad8 an idea was required. What do you think, is the best continuation a move...
A) with the queen; 
B) with a bishop; 
C) or with a pawn?

The solution is here, but first ponder over it with a  larger version of the diagram.