Leaving Linares: Closing ceremony, simul and Grand Slam

3/13/2007 – Wrapping up our reports on this year's exciting Morelia/Linares Super-GM event we bring you pictures of the closing ceremony in Linares, which included a whirlwind visit by FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, a simultaneous exhibition with giant chess pieces and a meeting of the Grand Slam Association. Report with pictures and videos.

Edward Winter presents: Unsolved Chess Mysteries (2)

3/12/2007 – We bring you a further selection of intriguing chess mysteries from Chess Notes, including the origins of the Marshall Gambit, a game ascribed to both Steinitz and Pillsbury and the bizarre affair of an alleged blunder by Capablanca in Chess Fundamentals. Once again our readers are invited to join the hunt for clues.

Chess playing boxer Klitschko retains heavyweight title

3/12/2007 – Vladimir Klitschko is a Ukrainian IBF heavyweight world boxing champion with a PhD in sports science and an avid interest in chess. On Saturday he fought American challenger Ray Austin and dropped him with a flurry of left hooks 87 seconds into the second round. Next people hope to see a unification fight against WBC champion Nikolai Valuev. Watch Saturday's fight.

Linares R14: Annotation by GM Mihail Marin

3/11/2007 – In our express weekend reports we brought you a general summary of the overall results – now it is time to look at the last-round games through the eyes of our GM trainer. Alexander Morozevich won yet another game, his third in a row, and Peter Leko scored his maiden victory in this event to climb up to Topalov at the end of the table. Commentary and pictures.

FIDE to ACP on cheating: problem recognized

3/11/2007 – "During the last Presidential Board in Antalya FIDE officers were tasked with identifying measures and reviewing ideas for the improvements sought to reduce opportunities to cheat," FIDE says in reaction to the ACP letter we published a few days ago. Further suggestions are welcome.

D.P. Singh has survived his 'Agni Pariksha’

3/11/2007 – In his article two months ago Praful Zaveri gave a first-hand account of the IM Diwakar Prasad Singh saga, leading to the question: “Is Diwakar a supreme chess talent or a flawed genius?” The answer could only be given by time, in what the Indians call an “Agni Pariksha”, a trial (pariksha) by fire (agni). It appears that Singh has received a clean chit. Report and reader feedback.

Linares R14: Anand wins Morelia/Linares by a full point

3/10/2007 – With a final-round draw over Vassily Ivanchuk Indian superstar Vishy Anand clinched victory in the Morelia/Linares Super-GM tournament. Carlsen lost to Leko and Morozevich beat Svidler, so that in the end (would anyone have expected this after his disastrous start?) Alexander Morozevich shared second with Magnus Carlsen. Final results and statistics.

Linares R13: Morozevich beats Topalov

3/9/2007 – Another unpleasant surprise for the former FIDE world champion: Veselin Topalov suffered his third defeat in this event, while Alexander Morozevich, who started very badly, has now caught Aronian at 50%. With the other three games drawn Anand remains in the lead ahead of Carlsen. On Saturday the final standings will be decided. Report with analysis.

Linares R12: Morozevich and Svidler win with black

3/8/2007 – Peter Svidler defeated the luckless Peter Leko for his first win in this tournament. Since he hadn't lost any games either it moved him to third place. Alexander Morozevich beat Vassily Ivanchuk to join him at places 6-7. Magnus Carlsen held Veselin Topalov and his second place. Anand still leads with half a point. Full report with analysis and video.

Uncompromising Chess in Bretagne

3/8/2007 – The ladies section saw the bloodiest chess ever – just six draws in eight rounds. And the draws all came after long, tough play. Similarly exciting the men's section. Perhaps because of a special rule that forbade draw offers until move 31. And how about Condi Chess, where the clock is ten meters away from the board. Illustrated report.

Man vs Machine, Zap!Chess vs Erwin L'Ami 1:1

3/8/2007 – Dutch GM Erwin L'Ami's opponent in the two-game match was was the American computer program Zap!Chess, the 2005 computer world champion that has recently been upgraded and now tops the computer lists. The games were played with time odds: the computer got 30 minutes (and no thinking on the opponent's time), vs 4½ hours for the human. Report and annotated games.

ACP to FIDE: do something about cheating in chess!

3/8/2007 – The subject simply won't go away. Realizing the gravity of the situation the Association of Chess Professionals has demanded that FIDE take immediate action to find a solution to the problem of cheating in general. Meanwhile new accusations have been raised against an Indian IM. Press release.

ACP's position on the FIDE World Championship format

3/7/2007 – Recently the world chess federation (FIDE) announced its decision on a new world championship format. Now the Association of Chess Professionals (ACP) has published its position on the FIDE decision. Press release.

Andras Adorjan and the Hedgehog formation

3/7/2007 – The Hungarian grandmaster, a former world championship candidate and outstanding theoretician and polemicist, is famous for his “Black is OK!” slogan. In his Thursday night Playchess lecture Dennis Monokroussos shows us how in 1979 Adorjan used the Hedgehog to rout Tony Miles in 32 moves.

Geeks, Oddballs and Geniuses

3/7/2007 – When one or America's top sports writers takes on chess, we sit up an take notice. Michael Weinreb, who writes for the New York Times and Newsday, describes a year spent with a Brooklyn High School chess team as it strives for a national championship. This description of the cultural milieu of the modern chess world makes for a fascinating read.

Andrew Martin and the Pain of Losing

3/6/2007 – "I don't know about you, but I see a lot of truth in the saying that the pain of losing far exceeds the joy of winning," writes our Playchess.com trainer IM Andrew Martin. "Maybe that's why I'm not as strong as I should be?" Perhaps you would like to discuss the subject with him on his Wednesday night lecture.

Morelia/Linares: the players at play

3/6/2007 – Monday was a rest day in Linares. On such days some Super-GMs simply relax with a good book or a good snooze. Other need to expend surplus energy that has accumulated over the rounds with vigorous sporting activity. So for instance during the first leg of the tournament in Morelia. Pictorial report.

Linares R11: Carlsen beats Ivanchuk

3/6/2007 – Magnus Carlsen continues his extraordinary performance with a further victory in Linares, taking veteran Vassily Ivanchuk to the cleaners on the white side of an Exchange Grunfeld. Anand drew Morozevich with black and leads by half a point ahead of Carlsen. Svidler, Aronian and Ivanchuk follow. Full report with analysis.

Fifth International Chess Festival in Nancy

3/5/2007 – Nancy is a French town with 300,000 inhabitants, located between Paris and Strasbourg. The annual tournament there has been steadily growing, from 60 participants in 2003 to 130 this year. Play was in 13 groups of ten players each. Apart from regular chess there were some interesting experiments. Report by IM Christophe Philippe.

Linares R10: Anand beats Carlsen, leads field

3/5/2007 – India's superstar Vishy Anand scored a fine victory over young Norwegian Magnus Carlsen, who was relegated to equal second with Vassily Ivanchuk, a point behind the leader. Peter Leko got into trouble with the white pieces against Veselin Topalov, but managed to salvage a draw. Monday is a rest day. Full report with pictures and analysis.

Garry Kasparov marches on

3/5/2007 – 2000 protesters were announced, over 5000 turned up. They were confronted by 3000 riot police, over 100 were beaten and detained. This biggest protest rally against the current regime in Russia was organized by former chess world champion Garry Kasparov and former Russian prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov. The movement is growing.

FIDE decides on World Championship format

3/3/2007 – In a nutshell: if Kramnik does not win the Mexico City, as ex world champion he gets to play the winner in 2008. If he does win he has to play former world champion Topalov. After that the champion will face a challenge from the winner of the World Cup in odd years. No more world championship tournaments, always matches. Ilyumzhinov has decided.

Complexity and Beauty in the Game of Chess

3/3/2007 – Artist Justin Michael Jenkins has a style that some have compared to Escher, Bosch and Dali, with his own unique flair that borders on the a psychedelic style of surrealism and pop art. Justin has completed a collection of chess drawings that attempt to dissect the elements of the game and portray them in connection with life itself. Take a look.

Linares R9: Morozevich beats Leko

3/3/2007 – Topalov managed to save a white game against the clearly superior Ivanchuk, who got into time trouble and had to concede a draw. Peter Leko lost badly to Alexander Morozevich to join him at the tail-end of the cross table, with Topalov half a point clear. The other games were drawn. Full report with pictures and analysis.