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Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013Hi everyone, The 7th Asian Dragons International Chess Tournament 2013 will be held in Taipei, Taiwan, from July 30 to August 6. The Asian Dragons Invitational Tournament was held for the first time in Kaohsiung in 2007 - being the first international chess event held by the Chinese Taipei Chess Association. The purpose of the tournament was to provide opportunity for developing players with ratings below 2200 to compete against players with similar strength, offering them a friendly yet competitive environment. With this purpose in mind, the tournament was played in round-robin format for the Open section and Under 16 section with players coming from the following countries: Macau, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Korea and the host federation, Chinese Taipei. The chess tournament was quite a success and requests poured in for participation. Players have been invited from Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Singapore, and Korea. Starting from 2013, the organisers are opening the invitation to all federations. 1. TOURNAMENT1.1 Swiss System 9 rounds2. TOURNAMENT RULES2.1 System of PlayThe tournament is FIDE rated and will be conducted as per FIDE Laws of Chess. The tournament will be conducted as Swiss system of 9 rounds and will be played according to FIDE regulations.2.2 Time controlThe time control is 90 minutes for each player for the entire game with 30 seconds increment per move from move one.2.3 Tie-breakFIDE Tie-Break Regulations shall be applied. Details of Tie-Break will be announced during Technical Meeting. 2.4 Chief Arbiter shall make announcement accordingly before the start of the games. If a player is not present during the start of the games, he/she shall lose by default.3. ELIGIBILITY & PARTICIPATION3.1 Eligible to participate are all players with Fide rating 1600~2200 for Open Section; Fide rating under 2200 for Youth Under 16 Section. 3.2 The host federation has the right to accept unrated local players to a maximum of one fifth of the total players per section. 3.3 To maintain Asian Dragons original spirit, those invited federations have the rights to send some players without FIDE rating, yet the players shall have approximate strength of the required rating range.4. Registration and entry fee4.1 Participants must pay entry fee of 100 EUR.which includes luncheon, dinner, one banquet and hotel – airport transportation. 4.2 Players with FIDE rating more than 2000 (FIDE rating 2001~2200 according to official FIDE July 2013 rating list) will have entry fees waived and receive 10% discount on Taipei Hero House accommodation.4.3 Invited Federations are eligible to have entry fee waived for two (2) players per section and for one (1) official. 4.4 Deadline for Registration is June 30th 2013In order to provide appropriate tournament conditions, the Federations or players must complete carefully the official registration form and send it back to the organizing committee no later than June 30th, 2013. Organizers reserve the right to refuse or decline late registrations. 5. VenueThe tournament will be held at National Taiwan University which is located at the center of Taipei city. 6. ACCOMMODATION6.1 For invited federations, free boarding and lodging for 2 players per section and 1 official per federation are provided to stay in the official hotel (Taipei Hero House) on a triple room or double room basis from August 01 to August 08. Meals are provided from breakfast of July 30 to breakfast of August 06 2013. Single occupancy or spouse occupancy will not be covered by the host federation.6.2 All accompanying person (including invited federation) and extra player has to pay 35 EUR per day per person for shared triple room or 45 EUR for shared double room at the Taipei Hero House hotel. 6.3 Taipei Hero House hotel – an official 3-Star hotel. Find more details at the Fide website.From Alexandra Kosteniuk'swww.chessblog.comAlso see her personal blog atwww.ch

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There is a good case for filing this under "The Other Talent of..." in the Chess In Art Index. Except that we'd have to say "talents" plural. The subject of today's post has them in buckets, starting with her jazz singing; much acclaimed among those in the know. She is Nette Robinson, but I'm not sure if she has recorded a cover of the Simon and Garfunkel hit on any of her albums. It is not, for example, on the retrospective Remembered Time (a homage to jazz pianist Bill Evans) that she made with the doyen of British jazz, Michael Garrick.Mrs. Robinson and Mr. GarrickPic by Sisi Burn, from hereHmmm...A successful jazz vocalist who is also an aspiring chesser - Nette is a member of Richmond and Twickenham Chess Club - that's a vanishingly small demographic, unlikely to be found elsewhere, and certainly not in the suggestive compilation below, which is hardcore instrumental. Another cover version.As if chess-playing and jazz-singing were not enough to keep her busy, Nette has mixed and matched another of her multi-talents to make jazz art.Left: Coltrane by Nette Robinson. Right: Prestige and Blue Note Album covers As you can see above, Nette's celebrations of the jazz greats are reworkings of images, invariably of solo performers, memorable from album covers such as on the classic Blue Note label. Here her emphatic brushwork and simplified tonality animate Coltrane in soaring flight. It has something of the quality of the grainy footage of his performances in the 60s. You can sense the ecstatic ascension as he surfs the crescent of his favourite thing: a twenty minute solo ("I don't know how to finish," he complained; "Just take the horn out of your mouth" Miles Davis famously suggested). Nette's painted portrait isn't earth-bound either. It, too, breaks free from the bare facts of a photographic image, however artful the latter may be. Re-mix and now we get chess art. Before we continue: yes, that was Nette with an article in the April 2013 issue of Chess.Emanuel Lasker front cover design, based on a painting by Nette Robinson, based on a...If you can't find her in the ECF grading list, it may be because she is there under her married name of Woods (so apologies to Miss. Robinson, or Mrs. Woods, for the small liberty with the title at the top), and very much on the lower reaches of the chess learning curve, as she would be the first to admit. But she clearly knows enough already about the game for it to inform her chess art, her other talent, and the one that interests us in this post.Many readers of Chess were at the private view of her chess art exhibition in the Muse Gallery in London's Portobello Road ten days ago (and now closed), though your blogger had, unfortunately for him, to be elsewhere, embroiled, as Streatham and Brixton CC was, in a crucial London League relegation battle. But a visit to the show the next day provided a chance to see her chess art in the flesh - and there is no substitute for seeing the real thing, paint, brush-marks, actual size, and all.First, let's look at her photo-sourced images of chess players - all well-known. Some are straightforwardly in pencil, delicately done; and there is one of Gary Kasparov, painted Coltrane-style, although it didn't seem to me to be as successful for a chess great as a jazz legend. This style works best, IMHO, when it is called on to do energy, and for this image Gazza models dead-pan.Going a step further in the exploitation of flat tone (white, black and a grey or two), now in defined blocks with the painterly gestures suppressed, Nette has developed a simplified style that has surprising expressive power - less is more indeed - especially with a cropped, raking, assymetric composition; and the familiarity of the subjects does not get in the way, far from it.Mikhail TalThe one that appealed to me the most was of Tigran Petrosian, as recognisable for his hairline as Tal was for his stare. Deep in ThoughtBoth Tal and Tigran, caught in their solitary absorption,

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IM Andrew Martin Presents: 1. ..b6 for Black - Busy Man's Chess OpeningsIM Andrew Martin Presents: 1. ..b6 for Black - Busy Man's Chess OpeningsPosted on May 24,2013 By OnlineChessLessons.NET Contributor in Strategy & Game Review, Chess Openings, All Articles w/ Videos, Beginner's Corner. The Owens Opening with 1. e4 b6 is an extremely exciting defense for black however many players think this eclectic hypermodern opening system is simply bad for bad. In the below chess video excerpt from the 2.5+ hr chess DVD ¨1. ..b6 for Black: Busy Man's Chess Openings¨ IM Andrew Martin is quick to point out that the Owens Opening is a very viable choice for black against 1. e4. Although black contradicts classical opening ideology by refusing [...]The c3 Sicilian - Pawn-Snatching Lines!Posted on May 22,2013 By William in Strategy & Game Review, Chess Openings, All Articles w/ Videos. Crushing Black - the c3 Sicilian is a 5-Volume, 20+ hour chess DVD series produced by experienced chess trainer GM Ron W. Henley. GM Henley's resume as a chess instructor is unquestionable as he has prepared and trained legends like Anatoly Karpov, Hikaru Nakamura, and Irina Krush. In the follow chess video excerpt from the extensive DVD series, Grandmaster Henley presents a very interesting variation in the c3 Sicilian where white snatches the c[...]Devastate White with The Sniper! by GM Ron HenleyPosted on May 20,2013 By William in Strategy & Game Review, Chess Openings, All Articles w/ Videos. The Sniper Opening is an exceptionally versatile weapon for black as it can be played against virtually any set-up by the white pieces. And who better to explain the basic concepts and subtle positional intricacies of the Sniper Opening than the world's leading expert in this effective opening system for black - Grandmaster Ron W. Henley! Not only has GM Henley played the Sniper Opening with incredibly solid results at the Grandmaster level for n[...]Destroy the Grunfeld Defense by GM Rafael LeitãoPosted on May 20,2013 By William in Strategy & Game Review, Chess Openings, All Articles w/ Videos. Although in the early and mid 20th century the Gruenfeld Defense was thought to be a very dry chess opening that black would play to achieve a draw, in today's game it is one of the most dynamic chess openings that black can employ against 1. d4 - played at one time by nearly every leading Grandmaster (Svidler, Caruana, Giri, Topalov, Gelfand, etc..) In the following chess video, viewers are going to receive a special treat as Brazilian Grandmast[...]OnlineChessLessons.net is a producer of thousands of free chess articles and free chess videos by FIDE chess masters. They recently released the renowned Empire Chess series that has been taking the chess world by storm. Please consider checking out their chess blog and chess shop with tons of free updated previews.Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar

Right after the show tonight my wife and I ran out for the 3-D showing of Star Trek: Into Darkness. It was a good movie - we've come a long way in portraying science fiction on the big screen. Ironically I started watching Star Trek about the sam...

Just saw this crazy video. I never knew that squids can be this powerful. Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar

July 5-6-7, 2013. The Greater Midwest Classic and The Billy Colias Memorial Invitational. $21,000 Unconditionally Guaranteed! Prizes: Billy Colias Memorial Invitational Sections A, B, C (FIDE rated): $500-300-200 per section. Classic Sections: U2200 (FIDE rated): Overall - $1500-1200-1000-700; 1951-2100 - $400-200-100; 1800-1950 - $400-200-100; Biggest Upset - $200; U1800: Overall - $1500-1200-1000-700; Top 1551-1700 - $400-200-100; Top 1400-1550 - $400-200-100; Biggest Upset - $200; U1400: Overall - $1500-1200-1000-700; 1151-1300 - $400-200-100; 1150 and below - $400-200-100; Biggest Upset - $200; Billy Colias Memorial Invitational Sections: 5R-RR Game-90 + 30/sec: Fri 5:30pm, Sat-Sun 10am and 3:30pm. Classic Sections: 6R-SS Game-90 + 30/sec: Fri: 12pm and 5:30pm, Sat-Sun 10am & 3:30pm each day. On-site reg: 9:30-11:30am Fri or 8:30-9:30am Sat. Limit 2 byes. Last rd. bye must commit prior to start of Rd 3. Side Events: Grandmaster Simul (9am Fri), Blitz (8:30pm Sat). FREE raffle prizes before round 6 with free entry, free room and free airfare to 2014 tournament. Site: Hyatt Regency O’Hare 9300 Bryn Mawr Ave Rosemont, IL 60018. HR: $99/night – call 847-696-1234 and ask for CHESS rate. Reserve by June 1. Discounted parking – only $5. 10 minute walk from CTA Blue Line. FREE hotel shuttle from/to O’Hare airport. Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, less than one mile away. Entries: If postmarked or online by 06/01 $89; $109 online or postmarked by 06/15; $129 thereafter. Re-entry $50. $25 to play up 1 section only; Credit Cards onsite OK. No checks onsite. Mail entries to: North American Chess Association (payable to) 4957 Oakton Street Suite 113 Skokie, IL 60077. Register online at http://www.nachess.org/classic. Other info: Boards, sets, and clocks provided. None for skittles. Must use organizer provided equipment. Chess store onsite. July rating supplement used. Questions: sevan@nachess.org or 847-423-8626.Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Rules and Conditions for the 10th Annual Susan Polgar Foundation Girls' Invitational (SPGI) July 20 – 25, 2013 at Webster University (St. Louis, Missouri) THIS WILL BE THE STRONGEST AND BIGGEST SPGI EVER! More than 50 players have already registered with many more states to submit names shortly.- Approximately $200,000 in chess scholarships, chess prizes, and iPad mini, etc. (Full tuition and fees scholarship to the top finisher! *)- Webster University will provide complimentary room and meal accommodation on campus for qualifiers! The annual Susan Polgar Girl’s Invitational, the most prestigious all-girls event in the United States, will be held at Webster University (St. Louis, Missouri). • There will be an intense training session with Susan Polgar, followed by a 6 round (g/90+30) FIDE rated championship tournament. • The traditional Blitz, Puzzle Solving, Bughouse events will stay the same as in previous years. • There will be many chess prizes awarded, including iPad mini, and scholarships to Webster University. Each state is allowed one representative to be nominated by June 1, 2013. Official representative alternates may be substituted no later than June 15. (Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee may allow the host state to enter an additional qualified player.) Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee may allow exceptions to the June 1 entry/alternate deadline. Should the state affiliate fail to respond to the notice for this tournament, Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee may determine the candidate from that state. Players must have been enrolled in a school (up to 12th grade) located in the state they represent, also of the year in which the tournament is held. Home-schooled students who are under the age of 19 on July 25th of the year in which the event is held or students who have never attended college on a full time basis prior to June 1 of the year in which the tournament is held, are eligible to represent the state in which they reside. Exception: If a player graduates from high school early and is already attending college, she may still represent her state if nominated. This is the decision of each state affiliate. VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: The participants of the Susan Polgar Girl’s Invitational DO NOT have to be high school students. Any qualifier under the age of 19 (by July 25th of the year in which the tournament is held) is eligible!Special invitation for this year only: All past participants of the SPNI and SPGI (Susan Polgar National Invitational/Susan Polgar Foundation Girls’ Invitational 2004-2012) are invited to participate in the 2013 SPGI. The idea is to have the past participants learn my method of training so they can go back home and share their knowledge with the younger players. However, registration MUST be made ASAP since space is limited. There will be mutual training sessions for all, however separate section & prizes for alumni participants over the age of 19. Players are required to furnish the organizer an emergency phone number and the e-mail address of a parent/guardian. There is no entry fee to participate in the 2013 SPGI; however, players are responsible for their own travel. For all state representatives, and qualifiers from the SPNO or SPWO, Webster University will provide complimentary room and meal accommodation on campus. For alumni participants, wild card/special invites, coaches, parents, or other family members, inexpensive accommodations are available for housing and dining on Webster’s campus. Please note that all reservations and registrations MUST be made (and accommodation expenses prepaid) no later than June 25, 2013. Prizes: Trophies / plaques will be awarded to the winners of the Susan Polgar Foundation Girl’s Invitational Puzzle Solving, Blitz, and the SPGI Championship. Co-champions are

Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) believes the only way to build a successful chess nation is to focus on giving players at grassroots level more exposure and making substructures across the country operational.This is according to the newly elected BCF president Tshenolo Maruatona.In his acceptance speech over the weekend, Maruatona said the federation has done exceptionally well in the senior categories.“Clearly, there is a lot of groundwork that needs to be done at lower levels,” said the newly elected president.With the blessing of his new committee, Maruatona’s commitment is to introduce chess at primary school level across the country.He said his federation has to start on and implement the first phase of this grassroots project before the end of July. The federation needs to capacitate trainers, he said.“Greatest chess players started playing the game at an earlier age and they were put through coordinated programs that saw them to stardom,” he said.For grassroots development to be successful, Maruatona said it is based on the existence of functional structures that work towards a common goal.As provided in their new executive committee, he said they will without failure put in place all the substructures and monitor their performance through continuous engagement.He said the absence of substructures frustrate execution of programs on the ground as the current situation.“Currently our chess teams are disjointed and some of them are not registered.Our league committee is not in place hence the reason we do not have any local chess league,” said Maruatona.It is therefore the new executive committee’s commitment to functionalize structures and capacitate all the members in pursuit of a coherent operational chess body that serves all various functions in the game.Source: http://www.thevoicebw.com Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar