2011 SPICE Cup Quiz

As part of the tradition each year, I host the SPICE Cup participants at my home during the off day. In addition to plenty of good food and fun, everyone takes part in a chess quiz. Here are the 20 questions this year.

The co-champs are GMs Ben Finegold and GM Yury Shulman. How many can you answer correctly without looking up the answers?

SPICE Cup 2011 QUIZ

1. In which country was the first official World Champion William Steinitz born?
2. Which country won the first ever Chess Olympiad in 1927?
3. Which year was the controversial “unfinished” match between the two Ks played?
4. Who won the World Junior Championship in 1988?
5. What year did the Polgar Sisters (Hungary) win their first Olympic gold?
6. What year was Bobby Fischer born?
7. Who was Botvinnik’s challenger for the WC in 1951?
8. What was Garry Kasparov last tournament before retiring? What year?
9. How many Grandmasters who are women are there in the world? 10+, 20+, or 30+?
10. Which country was GM Benko born in?
11. What is the name of the tragedy that hit Paul Morphy’s birth city?
12. How old was Magnus when he became a GM?
13. For how long did Bobby Fischer live in Hungary after his 2nd match with Spassky?
14. Which GM & WGM couple resorted to hunger strikes to be allowed to leave the Soviet Union?
15. Which British GM has sold his share of his company for multimillion dollars?
16. Who is the famous chess player who used to be married to Ivanchuk?
17. Which three elite Grandmasters are/were also known for their singing?
18. Who won the first 2007 SPICE Cup?
19. How many Russians are there in the top 10 on the current published FIDE World Rating list?
20. When Susan broke the world record of simul in 2005, how many opponents did she have for the official record?