Wall Chart. 2009 CalChess State Grade Level: Kindergarten (standings) # Name/Rtng/ID Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Rd 4 Rd 5 Tot 1 Jack Chin B 16 W 6 B 4 B 2 W 5 unr. 14288146 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 5.0 2 Gia Peterson B 18 Continue reading "2009 CalChess Grade Level Championship: Part 2"
CalChess Grade Level Championship
This weekend I am enjoying my duties as a coach at the CalChess Grade Level Championship in Stockton. I will be posting tournament crosstables, games and photos both nights of the tournament. This blogger is extremely grateful that Calchess President Tom Langland performed the chief tournament director duties. Below is a very instructional game playedContinue reading "CalChess Grade Level Championship"
Tal Memorial 2009: Round 7
In round 7 Vassily Ivanchuk punishes Boris Gelfand's small inaccuracies with authority. Now Ivanchuk and Anand are just a half game behind Kramnik. Below is Ivanchuk's win followed by a game where the opening line was first played. [Event "Tal Memorial"] [Site "1:06:33-0:46:33"] [Date "2009.11.12"] [EventDate "?"] [Round "7"] [Result "1-0"] [White "Ivanchuk"] [Black "Gelfand"]Continue reading "Tal Memorial 2009: Round 7"
2009 Tal Memorial: Round 6
Today Kramnik was able to win his game multiple times do to inaccurate play on both his and Ponomariov's part. I am in shock that the same Kramnik that missed 19.Qxh7+ played such a precise endgame. Thanks to Ponomariov, Kramnik was able to pull ahead of Anand and is now in first place all byContinue reading "2009 Tal Memorial: Round 6"
Tal Memorial: Anand vs. Leko
One of the strongest chess tournaments ever assembled moved to Russia's Red Square today. Viswanathan Anand demonstrated to the world that he is not satisfied to "rest on his laurels" but is willing to use whatever means necessary to defeat his challengers at the Tal Memorial. The first 21 moves are considered book. It isContinue reading "Tal Memorial: Anand vs. Leko"
Kramnik vs. Svidler: 2009 Tal Memorial
Below is Kramnik's win over Svidler in a Gruenfeld Defense: Exchange Variation. A lot could be stated about the opening theory as Kramnik tried a new move successfully with 12. h4. However, I do not believe Kramnik's courageous new move is to blame for Svidler's failure. Instead, Svidler seemed to have forgotten that "Knight's onContinue reading "Kramnik vs. Svidler: 2009 Tal Memorial"
FIDE Top 100
Below is the FIDE top 100 list for November(source http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/). Vugar Gashimov broke into the top 10 for the first time in his career. Born in 1986, Mr. Gashimov hails from Azerbaijan and is known for his extreme skill in one minute chess. Below is a recent example of his Brilliant play against American grandmasterContinue reading "FIDE Top 100"
Fremont Achiever Chess Team
Today was the start of the Fremont Achiever Chess Team. Our group will meet every Saturday from 1:00 until 3:00 at the Achiever Institute in Fremont. This program is aimed at the serious young chess player who aspires to improve his/her game through hard work and practice. Each week we will play one rated gameContinue reading "Fremont Achiever Chess Team"
Summer Chess Camp
Today was the start of the TCAMA Summer Chess Camp at Mission San Jose Elementary School in Fremont. So far we have over 30 students signed up for this three week camp. The camp which runs from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm features instruction from TCAMA chess coaches Joe Lonsadale, Tans Hylkema, and Chris Torres.Continue reading "Summer Chess Camp"
The Most Violent Chess Game Ever Played!
This fantastic game from 1880 is perhaps the most violent chess game ever played. [Event "Jerome Gambit"] [Site "England"] [Date "1880.??.??"] [EventDate "?"] [Round "?"] [Result "0-1"] [White "NN"] [Black "Joseph Henry Blackburne"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "?"] [BlackElo "?"] [PlyCount "28"] 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ {Note - d4 alsoContinue reading "The Most Violent Chess Game Ever Played!"
National Chess Champions to Host Summer Chess Camp
Mission San Jose Elementary School Summer Chess Camp Come and train with the 2009 National Champions! June 22 – June 25, June 29 – July 2, & July 6 – July 9 This class is brought to you by the Torres Chess and Music Academy, a non-profit corporation. The Torres Chess and Music Academy, aContinue reading "National Chess Champions to Host Summer Chess Camp"
National Scholastic Chess Champions
I have received several inquiries as to why this blog has not been updated as frequently. In answer to these questions, I have responded with a seemingly lame excuse of "devoting all my time to teaching future chess champions." Now for the proof: The chess players at the Mission San Jose Elementary School chess club achieved resultsContinue reading "National Scholastic Chess Champions"
Upcoming Chess Events
Dear Chess Parents, The next two weekends contain many exciting scholastic chess events that your children will benefit from attending. On Saturday April 25th, I will be hosting a chess tournament at Mission San Jose Elementary School, a TCAMA school in Fremont which just won the National Chess Championship in the K-6 division. This tournament will allowContinue reading "Upcoming Chess Events"
Anand-Kramnik: Game 6 from the 2008 World Championship of Chess
The championship chess board in Bonn has become a form of torture for Vladimir Kramnik. After loosing game 6, Kramnik has just six games left and is down three full points. A loosing streak against a world champion is very hard to fix. In Kramnik's case, achieving a win against Anand must seem like aContinue reading "Anand-Kramnik: Game 6 from the 2008 World Championship of Chess"
Anand-Kramnik: Game 5 from the 2008 World Championship of Chess
Kramnik must be feeling miserable. Anand has beaten him with the black pieces once again. Now down two full points with 7 games to go, Kramnik must take considerable risks if he is to have any chance at becoming world champion again. Taking these risks could easily backfire and have the effect of causing thisContinue reading "Anand-Kramnik: Game 5 from the 2008 World Championship of Chess"
Anand Kramnik 2008: A Special Report Looking Back at the World Chess Championship 1858
"Morphy...I think everyone agrees...was probably the greatest of them all." (Bobby Fischer) This years chess match between Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik takes place 150 years after one of the greatest world championship matches in history. In 1858, the two best chess players in the world, Paul Morphy and Adolph Anderssen, battled in Paris toContinue reading "Anand Kramnik 2008: A Special Report Looking Back at the World Chess Championship 1858"
Anand-Kramnik: Game 4 from the 2008 World Championship of Chess
It was back to the "drawing" board in game 4 from Bonn, Germany. Defending champion Viswanathan Anand played the white side in the solid Queen's Gambit Declined. Kramnik ended up with the ubiquitous isolated queen's pawn and allowed Anand no opportunities for victory. 3. Nf3 Anand decides to avoid a repeat of game 2's Nimzo-Indian.Continue reading "Anand-Kramnik: Game 4 from the 2008 World Championship of Chess"
Anand-Kramnik: Game 3 from the 2008 World Chess Championship
In game 3 from the 2008 World Chess Championships, Viswanathan Anand put on a tactical display using his fiery attacking style to beat Vladimir Kramnik into submission. Below is the game that has put Anand ahead in the match: 2...c6 Anand chooses the Slav again. 4. Nc3 Kramnik chooses not to play the exchange Slav asContinue reading "Anand-Kramnik: Game 3 from the 2008 World Chess Championship"
TCAMA to Offer Chess at Former “Know Chess!” Schools
For immediate release: As many parents abruptly found out this last week, Know Chess! has closed down due to unspecified reasons. Thousands of young Bay Area chess players are now faced with the possibility of not having a school chess club. The Torres Chess and Music Academy is prepared to offer its services to save chess at these schools. The Torres Chess andContinue reading "TCAMA to Offer Chess at Former “Know Chess!” Schools"
Anand-Kramnik: Game 2 from the 2008 World Chess Championship
The second game from the 2008 World Chess Championship ended in a draw. In an attempt to show off some of his preparation for playing white against the Slav(1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6), Anand decided to use 1.d4 instead of his favorite 1.e4. Kramnik avoided the technical Slav lines in game 1 and chose to use theContinue reading "Anand-Kramnik: Game 2 from the 2008 World Chess Championship"