Tonight I attempt to defend Vladimir Kramnik from those who cast stones at the former World Chess Champion. I believe the upcoming 2008 World Chess Championship will be an exciting event played between two outstanding chess players who are wonderful ambassadors for the game of chess. Below are my opinions about the three most common critical myths that hauntContinue reading "Unfair Criticism of Kramnik"
Kramnik vs. Anand 2008 (preview game revisited)
Seven Days until the Anand vs. Kramnik 2008 World Championship Match. I am revisiting a game they played in 2007 at the request of several fans of my blog. Kramnik-Anand 9/13/2007 was a Moscow variation of the Semi-Slav Defense. The Moscow variation which starts after 5...h6 can lead to very sharp play especially because Anand gambits aContinue reading "Kramnik vs. Anand 2008 (preview game revisited)"
Bakersfield Chess Teacher
Here is a nice recomendation I received from a distinguished Disctrict Superintendent. The Torres Chess and Music Academy offers schools in California the very best chess experience possible. For more information please visit http://www.ChessandMusic.com 8 July 2008 Letter of Recommendation for Chris Torres For the past 2 years Chris Torres has worked with VinelandContinue reading "Bakersfield Chess Teacher"
Bakersfield Chess Tournaments
Date Title Location Address October 25 Fall Chess Classic Sunset Elementary 8301 Sunset Blvd. Bakersfield CA 93307 November 29 Thanksgiving Chess Extravaganza University Square 2000 "K" Street Bakersfield CA 93301 December No Tournament Scheduled January 31 Super Bowl of Chess American Elementary 800 Verdugo Lane Bakersfield CA 93312 FebruaryContinue reading "Bakersfield Chess Tournaments"
Rybka Proves It Is Still The Best
Rybka finished first in the 16th ICGA World Computer Chess Championship held in Beijing, China with a score of 8/9 with no losses. For much of the tournament Hiarcs was keeping pace with Rybka but when the two engines played, Rybka was victorious. The other key game for Rybka was against Junior (2006 World Computer Chess Champion.)Continue reading "Rybka Proves It Is Still The Best"
Kramnik vs. Anand
Just ten days until the Anand vs. Kramnik World Chess Championship match of 2008! Tonight I present another preview game for the upcoming World Chess Championship match between Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik. The game I chose is a recent example of the two contenders going head to head in a major event. My analysis is aboveContinue reading "Kramnik vs. Anand"
World Computer Chess Championships 2008
On 9/28/2008 the 16'th World Computer Chess Championships began in Beijing, China. The IGCA has scheduled an eleven round accelerated swiss tournament format for the top chess engines in the world to compete for the the title of World Computer Chess Champion 2008. The accelerated swiss structure strikes me as odd being that there are onlyContinue reading "World Computer Chess Championships 2008"
India in the Chess Spotlight
The sub-continent that invented the game of chess in the sixth century is now becoming the focus of chess in the twenty-first century. Viswanathan Anand, the current World Chess Champion, has ignited a nationalistic enthusiasm for the "Game of Kings" not seen since the Soviet era. Anand has received rock star status in hisContinue reading "India in the Chess Spotlight"
The 2700 Club Is Becoming Crowded!
The October 2008 FIDE Rating List now has 32 players with ratings above 2700. Here they are in order of ranking: Rank Name Country Rating 1Topalov, VeselinBUL 2791 2Morozevich, AlexanderRUS 2787 3Ivanchuk, VassilyUKR 2786 4Carlsen, Magnus NOR 2786 5Anand, Viswanathan IND 2783 6Kramnik, VladimirRUS 2772 7Aronian, Levon ARM 2757 8Radjabov, TeimourAZE 2751 9Leko, Peter HUN 2747Continue reading "The 2700 Club Is Becoming Crowded!"
Can Kramnik Win With The Black Pieces? Will It Matter?
Between 1989 and 2008 Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik played 51 head-to-head games under classical conditions. The results below show that Kramnik has yet to win a game as black when up against Anand. This is a remarkable statistic based on the number of match-ups these two chess players have had. Vladimir Kramnik's win with white and draw with blackContinue reading "Can Kramnik Win With The Black Pieces? Will It Matter?"
15 Days Until The World Chess Championships
Tonight we look at another brilliancy from the current World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand. This game was played before Anand was World Champion and after his opponent Anatoly Karpov had lost his title to Garry Kasparov. Once again we see Anand's desire to be adventurous in the opening by playing the off-beat line 4. e4Continue reading "15 Days Until The World Chess Championships"
Astronaut vs. Earth Chess Match
International Space Station flight engineer and science officer Greg Chamitoff has no problem playing chess in zero gravity while traveling at 5 miles per second. In fact, he made short work out of defeating the NASA Mission Control Center crew in his spare time while in orbit on the International Space Station. Now comes the real challenge.Continue reading "Astronaut vs. Earth Chess Match"
Vladimir Kramnik in Germany
The upcoming World Championship Chess Match against Viswanathan Anand is not Vladimir Kramnik's first chess match in Germany. In July of 2000 Kramnik played another high profile match in Deutschland. This time his opponent was the highly touted computer program Deep Junior. Because his opponent was a computer, Kramnik used anti-computer strategy that would not workContinue reading "Vladimir Kramnik in Germany"
Earn Money Teaching Chess to Children in After School Programs!
Earn money teaching chess to children in after school programs!The Torres Chess & Music Academy, a nonprofit organization, is currently looking for outgoing individuals who work well with kids. Our schools are located in the Cupertino, Palo Alto, Fremont and San Bruno areas. Join our team now! There is plenty of room for advancement withinContinue reading "Earn Money Teaching Chess to Children in After School Programs!"
Kramnik vs. Anand 2008 preview: A 1996 game played by Kramnik
Just 18 days until Anand plays Kramnik for the title of World Chess Champion in Bonn, Germany. Below I continue with my preview for this historic match by examining a timeless game played by Kramnik in 1996. Enjoy! In 1996 Vladimir Kramnik played an exceptionally brilliant game as black verses a very strong opponent namedContinue reading "Kramnik vs. Anand 2008 preview: A 1996 game played by Kramnik"
Missed A Post
My five month old daughter, Rosaleia Jane Torres has acquired a terrible head cold. Yesterday, instead of posting to this site, I was rocking her to sleep over and over again. I really need to start bragging about my daughter more as most of my students' families have no idea I am a father. Here goes:Continue reading "Missed A Post"
Anand vs. Kramnik: Backround Information
Anand vs. Kramnik should provide the most entertaining chess we have seen in quite some time. Below is a comparison of the achievements of these two chess titans. Vladimir Kramnik's achievements (source: http://www.vladimirkramnik.com * 1990 Russian Championship, Kuibyshev (classical) I * 1991 World Championship (U18), Guarapuav (classical) I * 1992 Chalkidiki (classical) 7.5/11Continue reading "Anand vs. Kramnik: Backround Information"
Viswanathan Anand
Viswanathan Anand was born on December 11, 1969 in Madras India. At the age of 14, Vishy won the 1983 National Sub-Junior Chess Championship with a score of 9/9. A year later he became India's youngest player ever to achieve the International Master title. In 1987, Anand became the first Indian to win the World JuniorContinue reading "Viswanathan Anand"
Countdown until Anand vs. Kramnik
In 22 days Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik will face off in Bonn, Germany for the title of World Chess Champion. According to my database these two elite chess players have faced each other in 127 official games. On these occasions, Anand beat Kramnik 19 to 15, with 93 draws. Below is VladimirContinue reading "Countdown until Anand vs. Kramnik"
Nigel Short Forfeited By Cell Phone
The European Union Open Championships took place from September 9th to 18th September 2008 in Liverpool, England. Hometown hero and former world chess champion contender Nigel Short was penalized in this event for allowing his cell phone to ring. Before his game against Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant, Nigel Short turned off his brand new Nokia cell phoneContinue reading "Nigel Short Forfeited By Cell Phone"