CLOSE FINISH IN BIEL PLAY-OFF

Alekseev beats Dominguez in a close play-off 2.5-1.5.
After 3 draws Alekseev gets the deciding win which wins the 41st Biel International Grandmaster tournament.
I give the deciding game.

A TIE IN BIEL PLAY-OFF NEEDED

The last round of the Biel tournament produced a tie for first place between GM's Leinier Dominguez and Evgeny Alekseev both finished on 6.5 points.
Dominquez lost his last round game all he needed was a draw to win the tournament outright.

1. GM Leinier Dominguez (CUB, 2708) 6.5
=GM Evgeny Alekseev (RUS, 2708) 6.5
3. GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR, 2775) 6.0
4. GM Etienne Bacrot (FRA, 2691) 5.5
5. GM Alexander Onischuk (USA, 2670) 4.0
6. GM Yannick Pelletier (SUI, 2569) 1.5

A play-off is now under way of 2 15 minutes games then if needed 2 blitz games and 1 Armageddon.
To watch these quick games CLICK HERE

BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP MY CHOICE OF BEST GAME FROM 2nd ROUND

I watched the games of round 2 of the British championship from Liverpool, live or delayed live on the internet.
One game stuck out from the rest Zhou V GM Nigel Davis i think you will enjoy this.



To follow the games live at Liverpool CLICK HERE

For all championship news CLICK HERE

GM DOMINGUEZ STILL IN LEAD AT BIEL

After 8 rounds of the Biel grandmaster tournament GM Dominguez of cuba still leads.
Today he had a fine win over GM Evgeny Alekseev.
Table after 8 rounds.

1. GM Leinier Dominguez (CUB, 2708) 6.0
2. GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR, 2775) 5.0
3. GM Evgeny Alekseev (RUS, 2708) 4.5
4. GM Etienne Bacrot (FRA, 2691) 4.0
5. GM Alexander Onischuk (USA, 2670) 3.5
6. GM Yannick Pelletier (SUI, 2569) 1.0

Round 8 results are:

Evgeny Alekseev - Leinier Dominguez 0 - 1
Etienne Bacrot - Magnus Carlsen ½ - ½
Yannick Pelletier - Alexander Onischuk ½ - ½
For round 9 lives games CLICK HERE

NEW LEADER IN BIEL

After the dust of round 7 has settled in Biel we have a new tournament leader,GM Leinier Dominguez on 5 points. After his win against bottom place Yannick Pelletier.
Alekseev win against Calsen brings him to equal 2nd place with Calsen on 4.5 points.
Table after round 7

1. GM Leinier Dominguez (CUB, 2708) 5.0
2. GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR, 2775) 4.5
= GM Evgeny Alekseev (RUS, 2708) 4.5
4. GM Etienne Bacrot (FRA, 2691) 3.5
5. GM Alexander Onischuk (USA, 2670) 3.0
6.GM Yannick Pelletier (SUI, 2569) 0.5

I give all the games from this excellent round.

Game 1 Magnus Carlsen - Evgeny Alekseev 0 - 1



Game 2 Leinier Dominguez - Yannick Pelletier 1 - 0



Game 3 Alexander Onischuk- Etienne Bacrot 0 - 1




Round 8 tommorrow hopefully will be just as good.
Watch the games CLICK HERE

BRITISH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2008 IN LIVERPOOL

The British chess championship starts today in Liverpool.
Some people have belittled the championship of late because the big names like Micky Adams or Nigel Short do not play.
I think we will get a better closer championship without them.

The live games start at 14:15 to watch them CLICK HERE

To keep up with the championship news CLICK HERE

ROUND 7 IN BIEL TODAY

Round 7 starts today in the Biel tournament, GM Magnus Carlsen has half a point lead over GM Leinier Dominguez.
Watch the live games CLICK HERE
The standings after 6 rounds.

Points
1. GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR, 2775) 4.5
2. GM Leinier Dominguez (CUB, 2708) 4.0
3. GM Evgeny Alekseev (RUS, 2708) 3.5
4. GM Alexander Onischuk (USA, 2670) 3.0
5. GM Etienne Bacrot (FRA, 2691) 2.5
6. GM Yannick Pelletier (SUI, 2569) 0.5

STILL VERY CLOSE IN BIEL

After 5 rounds of play in the Grandmaster tournament in Biel
The top of the tournament table is very close with GM Magnus Carlsen
sharing the lead with GM Evgeny Alekseev both on 3.5 points.

Here is the best game so far it is Carlsens win over Etienne.




To keep up with the tournament news CLICK HERE

ONE OF MY FAVORITE CAPABLANCA GAMES

This is one of my favorite Capablanca games of all times.
It took place in Moscow 1914 the wow factor of capablanca's 29th move fantastic.



I can play over this game time and again and never tire of it.

BEST PLAYER OF ALL TIME?

This is a photo of the first Grandmasters of chess a title given to them by the Tsar of Russia 1914.
In the photo L to R Lasker,alekhine,Capablnca,Marshall and Tarrasch.
The current world champion and 2 future world champions.

Who was the best player of all time?
Can this question be answered?
Was Capablanca best or alekhine or Fischer or is Kasparov the best.
What makes a great chess player.
Is talent is training is it both.
I think capablnca was the best because he had talent by the bucket full,but
he was lazy in somuch as he did not need to train, as he was just better than most of his rivals at the time.
But when he came across better prepard players (who where less talented than him)
he struggled.
Alekhine to follow.

ALL CLOSE IN BIEL AFTER 2 ROUNDS

After 2 rounds of the Grandmaster Tournament in Biel 2 players tie for first place on 1.5 points.

1. GM Evgeny Alekseev (RUS, 2708) 1.5
GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR, 2775) 1.5
3. GM Leinier Dominguez (CUB, 2708) 1.0
GM Alexander Onischuk (USA, 2670) 1.0
5. GM Yannick Pelletier (SUI, 2569) 0.5
GM Etienne Bacrot (FRA, 2691) 0.5
Although only 2 rounds have been played, as you would expect it is going to be a close tournament perhaps only a couple of points between first and last place.
Today sees the 3rd round games take place Carlsen plays Alekseev.

To watch the games live CLICK HERE

LAKE SEVAN WON BY GM ARMAN PASHIKIAN

GM Arman Pashikian won the Lake Sevan tournament with an underfeated 6.5 points,half a point in front of second place GM Jiancho Zhou.

Full details on tournament website CLICK HERE

CHESS FESITIVAL IN BIEL

A chess fesitival takes place in Biel, it has many tournaments rapid,bliz and youth.

But the main focus will be on the Grandmaster torunament.

Magus Carlsen norway's number 1 player and with an elo rating of 2775 the world number 6 is pre tournament favorite.
Carlsen (pictured) won't have an easy passage in this tournament but should finish in 1st place.

For the tournament news CLICK HERE

CAN YOU SOLVE 5 CHECKMATES

This video has 5 checkmates for you to find.



Video from chess network for more CLICK HERE

AN INTERVIEW FROM ALEXANDER ALEKHINE

A rare sound track of an interview by Former World Chess champion Alexander Alekhine.

NATIONAL SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIP GET NEW SPONSOR

The National Schools championship gets a new sponsor,Yateley Manor School.
"Yateley Manor has a long history of supporting junior chess and we are delighted to provide this sponsorship". Says HeadTeacher Francis Howard.

IM Andrew Martin, the ECF Manager of Coaching, has been on the staff at Yateley Manor for some 17 years, teaching chess to children from age 5 to age 13. The South of England Junior Chess Championships and the English Junior Closed Championships are also held at the School.

Speaking on behalf of the English Chess Federation, Andrew Martin said: "We look forward to an excellent tournament in 2008/9 with many new schools participating and we anticipate working with Yateley Manor for many years to come.

ALAN TATE WINS 115th SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP

Alan Tate wins the 115th Scottish Chess championship on a tie break from IM Andrew Muir. Both on 6.5 points.

2008 SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP

On board 2 we have big brother, International Master Sabino Brunello, playing little sister Marina




The tournament hall.

The 115th 2008 Scottish Championship end today in Glasgow.
In the joint lead are GM Jan Markos,Tautvydas Vedrickas and Scotlands very own Alan Tate all on 6.5 points.

For the lastest news and games CLICK HERE

LAKE SEVAN 2008

Some players enjoying a game.

The Lake Sevan tournament from 10th-20th July is well under way.

For games and news CLICK HERE

Kramnik fails in Dortmund

Peter Leko left against Naiditsch during the last round.
Vladimir Kramnik comes first from last in the Dortmund international tournament.
He also lost 2 games drew 3 but only won once.
With the World Championship in october is this a blip or a lack of form.
Peter Leko won the tournament with 4.5 points 2 wins and 5 draws.



For all Dortmund 2008 news and games click here

Here goes my first blog,my favorite player

Capablanca is my all time favorite chess player. He found chess easy very easy indeed,in the end this was his down fall.
While other players studied he just played from his own talent.
Here is a video of Capablanca in Moscow 1925.