Black Friday came early this year for fans of chess. Three games in round three of the 2011 Tal Memorial were won by black with the remaining two games being drawn. For the uninitiated, playing white in chess is akin to having the serve in Tennis. It is an extremely rare occasion to have blackContinue reading "Tal Memorial 2011: Round 3"
National K-12 Chess Championship 2011, Day 1
The first day of the National K-12 Chess Championship is in the books and more than half the field of players can no longer contend for a National Championship. Two California six-year-olds are still in contention to bring home the ultimate prize. Both Rishith Susarla and Milind Maiti scored a perfect two wins out ofContinue reading "National K-12 Chess Championship 2011, Day 1"
World Youth Chess Championship 2011: Round 1
Play got underway today at the 2011 World Youth Chess Championship in the resort town of Caldas Novas, Brazil. Over a thousand of the world's best young chess players took to the playing hall before 4:00 p.m. to make the first move toward winning a World Championship. For many of these young prodigies, this isContinue reading "World Youth Chess Championship 2011: Round 1"
Tal Memorial 2011: Round 2
Round 2 of the 2011 Tal Memorial demonstrated exactly why the majority of the world views chess as a dull game. Considering the number of stars in the event, I had hoped to see new ideas tested and inspiring play. Instead we are getting an Anand who wants to save his best ideas for aContinue reading "Tal Memorial 2011: Round 2"
Women’s World Chess Championship 2011: Round 2
The struggle continued in Tirana, Albania with Hou Yifan and Koneru Humpy playing to a second draw in as many rounds. In round two, Koneru Humpy was once again on the attack but Hou Yifan was able to simplify into an early endgame. Even when the position looked equal, Koneru Humpy tried in vain toContinue reading "Women’s World Chess Championship 2011: Round 2"
National K-12 Chess Championship 2011
Dallas, Texas is being bombarded by young chess players with dreams of national championships. Texans should not be alarmed by children armed with weighted chess pieces because November 18 - 20 is the 2011 United States Chess Federation's National K-12 Chess Championships. The USCF National K-12 Chess Championship is the premier grade-level chess tournamentContinue reading "National K-12 Chess Championship 2011"
Tal Memorial 2011: Round 1
The first round of the 2011 Tal Memorial featured two decisive games and plenty of hard fought draws. Ian Nepomniachtchi, the lowest rated player in the tournament, used the black pieces to secure a win against the former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik. Vassily Ivanchuk started another tournament with a win by punishing Peter Svidler's inaccuraciesContinue reading "Tal Memorial 2011: Round 1"
Women’s World Chess Championship 2011: Round 1
Game one of the 2011 Women's World Chess Championship concluded in a draw. Koneru Humpy played the Catalan with the white pieces and demonstrated a great understanding of a Catalan middle game. Hou Yifan blunted Humpy's attack by sacrificing a pawn at the perfect moment to reach an endgame she could play into a draw.Continue reading "Women’s World Chess Championship 2011: Round 1"
Women’s World Chess Championship 2011
The 2011 Women's World Chess Championship is taking place from November 14 - 30 in Tirana, Albania. 17-year-old Grandmaster Hou Yifan of China is defending her title against Grandmaster Koneru Humpy of India. The winner of this ten game match will be the first woman to reach 5.5 points and the new Women's World ChessContinue reading "Women’s World Chess Championship 2011"
Tal Memorial 2011
The 2011 Tal Memorial is taking place in Moscow, Russia from November 16 - 25. For the first time in history four chess players with ratings over 2800 will be competing in the same tournament. The format for the 2011 Tal Memorial is a ten-player round robin which assures that chess enthusiasts will get toContinue reading "Tal Memorial 2011"
World Youth Chess Championship 2011
This November the world's most talented players who are eighteen years and younger will converge upon Caldas Novas, Brazil in order to compete in the 2011 World Youth Chess Championship. These extraordinary chess talents will do battle for nine rounds in hopes of placing in the top three for their age group. Those fortunate enoughContinue reading "World Youth Chess Championship 2011"
Ben is the Best at Chess
On 10/30/2011 Ben Rood again proved that he is the best chess player under the age of eight by producing a perfect score at the 2011 U.S. National Junior Chess Congress in Santa Clara, California. Ben was the overwhelming favorite in the 2011 U.S. Junior Chess Congress and he did not disappoint his fans. InContinue reading "Ben is the Best at Chess"
Maiti is Magnificent at Chess
Milind Maiti achieved another perfect score in a chess tournament at the 2011 U.S. National Junior Chess Congress. Milind, who is only 6, bested a field comprised of 8 and 9 year olds. The victory was extra sweet for Milind Maiti do to the fact that he won his first national chess title in SantaContinue reading "Maiti is Magnificent at Chess"
United States G/30 National Chess Championship: Francisco Anchondo
Francisco Anchondo demonstratated his usual tactical bravado in the fourth round of the 2011 National G/30 Chess Championship. His opponent, Eric Schiller, attempted to play a rather dull carro-kann but Francisco steered the game into a violent fantasy variation. I was glad to see such an exciting game take place in the open section andContinue reading "United States G/30 National Chess Championship: Francisco Anchondo"
Eric Schiller vs Ted Castro
Eric Schiller had a rough time of it at this year's U.S.C.F. National G/30 Chess Championship. Because he is a gentleman and a scholar, I felt bad about publishing one of his losses. I hope reposting this win over Ted Castro will improve his mood. [Event "St. Amant Memorial"] [Site "San Francisco CA USA"] [DateContinue reading "Eric Schiller vs Ted Castro"
United States G/30 National Chess Championship
California is set to host the U.S. G/30 Chess Championship on October Second, 2011. Having a U.S.C.F. National Championship in the Bay Area is a rare treat and many of my chess students are eager to win another national title. I will report live from the Santa Clara Convention Center and provide complete coverage ofContinue reading "United States G/30 National Chess Championship"
United States G/60 National Chess Championship
The Bay Area will be hosting the U.S. G/60 Chess Championship on October First, 2011. It is a rare pleasure to have a U.S.C.F. National Championship located in Northern California and many of my students look forward to this extra opportunity to add to their credentials. Tomorrow, I will report live from the Santa ClaraContinue reading "United States G/60 National Chess Championship"
Send Ben Rood to Brazil
This November local super star Ben Rood will be representing the United States in the World Youth Chess Championship to be held in Caldas Novas, Brazil. Seven year old Ben would like to have his family there to support him as he battles the best eight year olds in the world for the title. AllContinue reading "Send Ben Rood to Brazil"
Ben Rood’s Chess Accomplishments are the Talk of the Town in Walnut Creek
The Walnut Creek Patch just ran a wonderful article detailing Ben Rood's rise to chess fame. The Walnut Creek Patch is Ben Rood's hometown newspaper so I know this will help raise community awareness of his incredible chess accomplishments. Below is an exerpt from the article by Jonathan Hawthorne of the Walnut Creek Patch: TheContinue reading "Ben Rood’s Chess Accomplishments are the Talk of the Town in Walnut Creek"
Fremont Summer Chess Camp 2011: Day 2
The second day of the Fremont Summer Chess Camp was equally as successful as day one. Our beginner class, coached by Tans Hylkema, has already learned the most important opening, middle game and end game concepts. Tomorrow they will continue to work on spotting check mates and improving their tactics. Below is an excitingContinue reading "Fremont Summer Chess Camp 2011: Day 2"