Tweaking Fritz - PART 5

6/2/2008 – The "Training" and "Engine" tabs are the subject of the latest installment in our ChessBase Workshop series on Fritz11 – and this column contains the answer to one of the most frequently asked questions regarding configuring Fritz. You won't want to miss the latest workshop column.

Morozevich approaches escape velocity in Sarajevo

6/1/2008 – After eight out of ten rounds of the six-player double round robin category 18 tournament – average Elo 2694 – in Bosnia Alexander Morozevich is in the lead with 6.5/8 ("plus five"). What does this mean? His performance is 2933 and in the next rating list he will advance to number two in the world. With wins in the last two rounds he could even go after Anand's pole position. Report and games.

Ivanchuk through to the final against Anand

6/1/2008 – The second semifinal of the rapid chess event in León ended in victory for Vassily Ivanchuk. The Ukrainian grandmaster defeated Alexei Shirov of Spain 3-1, virtually settling the outcome in the first two games, which he won. In game three Shirov came very close to narrowing the gap, but overlooked a clear win to draw. The final Anand-Ivanchuk will take place on Sunday. Illustrated report.

Miskolc: Leko narrowly fails to equalise

6/1/2008 – Two exciting draws in the Rapid Chess match in Hungary. Once again local hero Peter Leko had the audience in the National Theatre trembling with anticipation of a white-piece win over Norway's Magnus Carlsen. But once again victory narrowly eluded him, to the anguish of the public. Commentary by GM Zoltán Gyimesi and a new form of pictorial visualisation of the games. Take a look.

Ilyumzhinov guarantees Topalov-Kamsky match in Lvov

6/1/2008 – After a great deal of international bickering the matter is now settled: the special Challengers Match between Gata Kamsky and Veselin Topalov will take place between November 26th and December 14th 2008 in Lvov, Ukraine. This has just been announced by FIDE, with President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov guaranteeing the organiser’s offer of US $750,000 with his personal finances. Press release.

Kamsky answers: I intend to play against Veselin Topalov

5/31/2008 – Yesterday Alexei Shirov published a statement stating that since the World Cup winner, Gata Kamsky, did not wish to play the special candidates match against Topalov in Bulgaria he should forthwith be replaced by runner-up Shirov. Today we received a message from Kamsky's representative repudiating these "disturbing rumours being spread by Shirov". Press statement and latest news.

People and players in Miskolc

5/31/2008 – Halftime at the rapid chess match in Miskolc, Hungary. A good time to step back and take a look at the players. Not just the ones moving the pieces, but those accompanying them. People in the background who made this exciting event possible. Who are responsible for it running smoothly. And those who make the journey to Miskolc to enjoy the chess. Impressions by Diana Mihajlova.

Short leads in Bazna, Mecking and Portisch follow

5/31/2008 – Nigel Short, former World Championship finalist, is leading the Bazna tournament in Romania, with 5.0/7 and a 2735 performance. But we are especially interested to watch the progress of former child prodigy and world-class grandmaster Henrique Mecking of Brazil. He has recovered from serious illness and is playing, in his own words, with divine assistance. Report and games.

Edward Winter's Chess Explorations (2)

5/31/2008 – Josef Krejcik was just one of the figures from the past who caused difficulties for many entrants in the Chess Explorations quiz we published two weeks ago. Here the Editor of Chess Notes presents, with much background information (and, to clarify one tricky position, some analysis specially contributed by Yasser Seirawan), the solutions to the first four positions.

Anand wins first semifinal of León Rapid

5/30/2008 – The XXI Magistral Ciudad de León rapid chess match started today, with four players competing: Vishy Anand, Vassily Ivanchuk, Alexei Shirov and Francisco Vallejo. The first semifinal over four games between Anand and Vallejo ended in a 2-2 tie, so that blitz tie-break games were required. Anand won the first and accepted a draw offer in the second in a totally won position. Illustrated report.

Karpov and Korchnoi in 4th Pivdenny Bank Cup

5/30/2008 – A rare sight: arch rivals Anatoly Karpov, 57, twelfth World Champion, and his three-time challenger Viktor Korchnoi, 77, both in the same event. It is a category 15 tournament being staged in Odessa, Ukraine. After five rounds Yuri Drozdovskij and Ruslan Ponomariov are in the lead with 4.0/5 points, while Karpov and Korchnoi have 1.5/5 each. The draw average is just 35%. Big pictorial report.

Miskolc: First two games drawn

5/29/2008 – The first round of the Miskolc Rapid Chess tournament began with a fast and furious first game, which ended after 36 moves in a draw. After a short pause the second game was started, and this ended in a slightly anticlimatic 18-move draw. The games are being analysed in real time for the public by two chess experts, one of whom has provided us with his notes: commentary by GM Zoltán Gyimesi.

Shirov's press release

5/29/2008 – After numerous extensions of the deadline for bids to stage the special Challengers Match between Gata Kamsky and Veselin Topalov FIDE is now faced with a demand by the next-in-line player to have a chance. Alexei Shirov is willing to play in Bulgaria, something Kamsky balked at. "According to the match regulations he should be replaced by me in this case," Shirov says. Press release.

Don't miss what you may lack

5/29/2008 – The latest issue of ChessBase Magazine focusses on the newest trends in opening theory, from more than one angle, so to say: several top-class games are analysed by stars like Anand, Radjabov and Aronian. Moreover, opening experts examine lines such as the Modern Alekhine with 5...c6, the reloaded Jaenisch Gambit, or new ideas in the Sicilian Dragon. Buy it now or read more.

Miskolc: Carlsen draws first blood

5/29/2008 – An exciting day: game three of the rapid chess match saw Peter Leko attacking, allowing a repetition, which was not claimed, and then missing a clear win to draw after 96 gruelling moves. In the second game it was Magnus Carlsen who did the attacking, and he was able to win in 58 moves, after Leko missed some drawing chances. Full report with special commentary by GM Zoltán Gyimesi.

Monokroussos on Radjabov vs Bu – start of a new series

5/28/2008 – In his Wednesday night Playchess show Dennis Monokroussos often deals with older games. Tonight it is about a very recent classic: Teimour Radjabov vs Bu Xiangzhi in Sofia this month, a game has a bit of everything – and a nice way to kick off a series of weeks on the game's new stars.

Miskolc 2008: the games start today

5/28/2008 – The two world-class players, former chess prodigies, Peter Leko and Magnus Carlsen, begin their eight-game rapid chess match today in Miskolc, Hungary. Yesterday was the traditionally spectacular opening ceremony, with a very impressive drama and dance presentation in Hungarian and Norwegian, including battles of the Vikings and the Huns. As usual we are present in Miskolc.

Morozevich leads in Sarejevo, King's tournament in Bazna

5/27/2008 – The traditional Sahovski Klub tournament is taking place in Sarajevo, Bosnia. After four rounds the draw average is 75%, but of the three wins two were produced by Alexander Morozevich, who leads with 3.0/4. Meanwhile in Bazna the King's Tournament is being held, with eleven famous (and mainly veteran) players. Results, games and links.

Death of a chess original – Bukhuti Gurgenidze, 1933–2008

5/26/2008 – Bukhuti Ivanovich Gurgenidze was one of the most original and striking players of the Soviet era. He won the Championship of his native Georgia eleven (or twelve) times, competed in nine USSR Championship finals, and was the trainer of some of the most successful women players in the game. His name has been applied to variations in the Modern Defence and the Sicilian. In Memoriam.

Stars from the Chinese League

5/26/2008 – China is one of the great emerging chess nations and has been playing an increasingly dominant role in recent international events. The Chinese Chess League has attracted 26 GMs, three IMs, and eleven WGMs. Nobody can afford to ignore these players or their league, and we are grateful to Yaoyao (Crystal) Zhu for providing us with all the necessary introductions.

Tweaking Fritz - PART 4

5/26/2008 – The subject of our latest ChessBase Workshop column is the "Multimedia" tab under "Options" in Fritz11. Learn how to make Fritz talk (or shut him up!), plus the difference between "Talk" and "Chatter". You'll also learn how to make Fritz play music, all in the newest Workshop.

Nielsen, Hector, Klimov win active chess slugfest

5/25/2008 – A strong active chess tournament in Denmark turned into a combative chess event. With more than 90% of all games having a decisive result all participants did their best to hush speculations on chess being a drawish game! The winners were the first, fourth and fifth seeds, the first being birthday boy Peter Heine Nielsen, second of two world champions. Illustrated report.

Shulman wins US Championship; Zatonskih wins Women's Title

5/23/2008 – GM Yury Shulman won the 2008 Frank K. Berry U.S. Championship with 7/9, with IM Johhua Friedel completing his final GM norm. In the Women's Championship IMs Anna Zatonskih and Irina Krush tied for first, then went into dramatic blitz tiebreaks, which Anna won in the last possible second. You can watch the scene in a new version of this dramatic video.

Listen the magician talk through his secrets

5/23/2008 – Going out for a win with the black pieces is a hard task for amateur players like most of us but for top players it is not really better - as long as they play opponents of their own level of course. On his latest DVD Alexei Shirov illustrates in another 13 of his masterpieces what must all be considered in order to achieve one's end here. Buy it now or read more.