Above is a picture from Elista
Post away……… Still have more to say about the World Championship? Want to discuss something else? Have a question? The forum is yours!
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
- About Us
- Chess Improvement
- Chess Puzzles
- Chess Research
- College Chess
- General News
- Home
- Major Tournaments
- News
- Polgar Events
- Privacy Policy
- Scholastic Chess
- SPICE / Webster
- Susan’s Personal Blog
- Track your order
- USA Chess
- Videos
- Women’s Chess
- Contact Us
- Daily News
- My Account
- Terms & Conditions
- Privacy Policy
I am reading a book entitled Across the Board by Watkins. It is about graph theory but uses the chess board and peices to illustrate some mathmatical theories. My question to you is…Do you ever study topics outside of chess in order to improve your game or prepare for a certain match?
Susan,
An idea for your blog … I think you could video tape short snippets of commentary/analysis/training, etc. and make the video available on a daily basis. It would offer another method for you to spread the influence of this wonderful blog, and your audio/video skills are obviously excellent. The video snippets could be used to promote whatever is of interest to you at the moment.
For example, you are in Philly for a simul … video 5 minutes of the simul, and you would voice over explaining to chess fans how you go about playing, fitness needed for a simul, etc.
Other video topics might be: quick interviews by you of GMs or dignitaries visiting Polgar Chess Center; you playing a blitz game with a visiting GM; you narrating over shots of a city your are visiting; you sitting at the chessboard giving a lesson on endgames … the possibilities are endless.
There would be a daily (or regular) 5 minute video that could add another dimension to your noble quest of broading chess in the U.S.
Respectfully,
Mike D.
Simple question: In which language do you dream or think? English or Hungarian?
Susan:
Thanks for the great coverage on the World Championship match.
The World Youth Championship are set to start this coming week in Batumi, Georgia.
I have seen very little about it on the internet. The Kenilwothian reports that 24 youngsters from the US will compete at http://www.kenilworthchessclub.org/kenilworthian/
but that’s about it.
Do you know who will be representing the US. I think this will be a tournament worth following as well.
thx,
Regarding the problem of short draws.
Recently, on the KasparovChess forum GM Sergey Shipov suggested that to motivate players to fight and to give up comfortable short draws, organizers might distribute the prize fund according to the points accumulated. This way, every game result would actually matter.
This sounds like a great idea to me and I’d like to know what others think about it.
Plyers should not be allowed to offer a draw unless there are 10 pieces or less on the board.
Question: Who do you think are the best home grown chess talents in the US currently? Ofcourse Kamsky, Kaidanov, Gulko, yourself are no less of an American now but all of you are product of foreign systems (Russia/east-Europe) who moved to the US later. Home grown talents indicate the level of interest and consciousness for chess in the country.
Susan,
Is there any news on the Fischer-Karpov Gothic match? Also, since I heard about this, I downloaded a copy of Gothic vortex, but it absolutely hammers me. Are there any openings you would recommend as a Gothic Chess player?
Hi Susan
thanks again for the great live commentary throughout the World Championship. Do you happen to know of any video feeds from either the end of the match or the press conferences afterwards? I haev hunted around but can’t find any! I’d love to be able to watch the moment when Kramnik celebrated his victory. Thanks again.
Veselin Topalov has landed on Sofia Airport from Elista, FOCUS Agency reporter announced. “I’m glad that everything ended. I’m sure that whole Bulgaria supported me. What happened in Elista could have happened everywhere but we were ready. I shouldn’t say I lacked experience from international matches. The rules are the same everywhere. It’s strange that Kramnik’s violation remained unseen but my manager Silvio Danailov will give you more details on the case”, were Topalov’s fist words when he landed
“Recently, on the KasparovChess forum GM Sergey Shipov suggested that to motivate players to fight and to give up comfortable short draws, organizers might distribute the prize fund according to the points accumulated. This way, every game result would actually matter.
This sounds like a great idea to me and I’d like to know what others think about it.”
Some players are not much interested in the price fund I guess. They already get money for starting in the tournament 😉
Generally I think that offering a draw even after 15 moves is part of the game. Not very exciting for the audience, but it’s okay with me.
Here is Ray Keene’s provocative article, which I have just posted on the Impala Publications blog
http://www.impalapublications.com/blog/
I have much appreciated your coverage of the ELISTA MATCH. Thanks very much, Susan! Szepen kosonom!
-James O’Fee, Impala Publications blog
Saturday, October 14. 2006
Justice triumphs, by Ray Keene
Justice triumphs
Vladimir Kramnik’s victory in the Reunification Championship will be welcomed by 99% of chess fans. the vast majority have been outraged by the false allegations of cheating with a computer during restrooom breaks, hurled against Kramnik during the contest by the Bulgarian delegates.
Fans have also been horrified by the blatantly biassed stance of FIDE, the World Chess Federation. Disgracefully, the organising body, led by its spaceship-travelling President, Kirsan Ilumzhinov, who doubles as President of Kalmykia itself, bent over backwards to support their own champion, Bulgarian grandmaster Veselin Topalov. This included unilateral alteration of match regulations during the contest, and appointing to the Appeals Committee the representative of a federation, Azerbaijan, which had openly come out in support of Topalov!
Before the match, most commentators had dismssed the eccentric Kalmykian President as a basket case. Uniquely amongst chess commentators, I had perceived a glimmer of hope that his billions might still be put to good use in the promotion of chess, and articulated that view. However, the pessimists were right and FIDE proved yet again that it is not fit to stage anything as important as a trip to the zoo, let alone the World Chess Championship.
Let me digress with a brief history lesson. During the mid-1980’s and early 1990’s, FIDE under its corrupt then President Florencio Campomanes, continuously broke its own rules to obstruct the path of the young genius Garry Kasparov. Indeed, Campomanes was later to be indicted by the anti-corruption court, the SANDIGANBAYAN, in his home country of the Philippines.
When Britain’s Nigel Short qualified to challenge Kasparov for his title in 1993 , FIDE’s disregard for its own rules became so blatant that the duo broke away from the world body’s jurisdiction to arrange their own match for supremacy in chess. Since then the world championship has been split, with Kasparov recognised as champion by the world at large, but with FIDE promoting its own anaemic version of the title, at one time held incongruously by a player ranked number 40 in the world.
In 2000 in London Kasparov lost to Kramnik, and the genuine succession of champion, extending back to Steinitz in 1886, passed to the young Russian, then 25 years old. In Switzerland four years later, Kramnik defended his title against Peter Leko of Hungary; but in 2005, Kasparov, still ranked number one player in the world, retired from chess ‘to boldly go’ into the bearpit of Russian politics. His rewards so far have been a couple of physical assaults (he has been hit over the head with a chessboard by a political opponent) and very few votes.
Be that as it may, Kasparov’s withdrawal from the chess arena made it possible after 13 years of schism to stage a meaningful contest for the unified title between Kramnik and FIDE’s own champion, Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria. The venue – Elista, capital city of Kirsan Ilumzhinov’s Kalmykia and the epicentre of the empire of the FIDE president himself.
Kramnik could hardly have imagined the weight of official force which would be mustered against him when he agreed to play under FIDE’s jurisdiction. When he moved into an unexpected lead, as if by pre-arranged plan, Topalov sprang into action with a whole series of allegations, all of them patently groundless, which, however, were ratified by the stacked Appeal Committee appointed by Kirsan.
Kramnik forfeited Game Five under protest but was never given this stolen point back. Many grandmasters supported him openly or advised him to walk away from this farce.
Pro-Kramnik comments poured in from Karpov, Spassky, [two former World Champions-Ed], Korchnoi, Short, [two former Championship Candidates-Ed] and reigning British Champion, Jonathan Rowson. While prominent tournament oranisers called for a future sanctions against Topalov. even the Bulgarian Prime Minister, in a vain appeal for fair play, urged Topalov to reconsider his decision to take the fifth game by forfeit.
Chess websites around the world were swamped with record levels of encouragement for Kramnik and, if cosmic karma alone could have secured victory, then Kramnik’s success was assured.
In spite of the tsunami of sentiment in his favour, Kramnik collapsed in Games 8 and 9, having suffered the further strain of unprecedentedly having to defend with black three times in a row. Fortunately Kramnik emerged from his selva obscura*, won Game 10 and then clinched the title in the playoff.
FIDE now expect Kramnik to enter their world championship tournament in Mexico next year. After his experience in Elista, I doubt Kramnik will want anything more to do with this revolting crew and will prefer instead to go for a match which upholds the ancient traditions of the chess championship, perhaps against Anand or even our own Michael Adams.
What is Kramnik’s position amongst the pantheon of champions after this success? He has survived three title matches and en route defeated the highest-ranked player in the history of the game. He will be champion for at least 8 years.
In my opinion he is now in the same league as Botvinnik, Petrosian, Capablanca and Karpov, having already surpassed the achievements as champion of Euwe, Smyslov , Tal , Fischer and Spassky. If he fulfills his potential he may even go on to rival Alekhine, Steinitz , Lasker and Kasparov himself, the most outstandingly successful of the great champions.
Here is the text of Ray Keene’s provocative article which I have just posted on the Impala Publications blog
http://www.impalapublications.com/blog/
Thanks very much, Susan, for your excllent coverage of the Elista match! Kosonom szepen!
James O’Fee, Editor Impala blog
Saturday, October 14. 2006
Justice triumphs, by Ray Keene
Justice triumphs
Vladimir Kramnik’s victory in the Reunification Championship will be welcomed by 99% of chess fans. the vast majority have been outraged by the false allegations of cheating with a computer during restrooom breaks, hurled against Kramnik during the contest by the Bulgarian delegates.
Fans have also been horrified by the blatantly biassed stance of FIDE, the World Chess Federation. Disgracefully, the organising body, led by its spaceship-travelling President, Kirsan Ilumzhinov, who doubles as President of Kalmykia itself, bent over backwards to support their own champion, Bulgarian grandmaster Veselin Topalov. This included unilateral alteration of match regulations during the contest, and appointing to the Appeals Committee the representative of a federation, Azerbaijan, which had openly come out in support of Topalov!
Before the match, most commentators had dismssed the eccentric Kalmykian President as a basket case. Uniquely amongst chess commentators, I had perceived a glimmer of hope that his billions might still be put to good use in the promotion of chess, and articulated that view. However, the pessimists were right and FIDE proved yet again that it is not fit to stage anything as important as a trip to the zoo, let alone the World Chess Championship.
Let me digress with a brief history lesson. During the mid-1980’s and early 1990’s, FIDE under its corrupt then President Florencio Campomanes, continuously broke its own rules to obstruct the path of the young genius Garry Kasparov. Indeed, Campomanes was later to be indicted by the anti-corruption court, the SANDIGANBAYAN, in his home country of the Philippines.
When Britain’s Nigel Short qualified to challenge Kasparov for his title in 1993 , FIDE’s disregard for its own rules became so blatant that the duo broke away from the world body’s jurisdiction to arrange their own match for supremacy in chess. Since then the world championship has been split, with Kasparov recognised as champion by the world at large, but with FIDE promoting its own anaemic version of the title, at one time held incongruously by a player ranked number 40 in the world.
In 2000 in London Kasparov lost to Kramnik, and the genuine succession of champion, extending back to Steinitz in 1886, passed to the young Russian, then 25 years old. In Switzerland four years later, Kramnik defended his title against Peter Leko of Hungary; but in 2005, Kasparov, still ranked number one player in the world, retired from chess ‘to boldly go’ into the bearpit of Russian politics. His rewards so far have been a couple of physical assaults (he has been hit over the head with a chessboard by a political opponent) and very few votes.
Be that as it may, Kasparov’s withdrawal from the chess arena made it possible after 13 years of schism to stage a meaningful contest for the unified title between Kramnik and FIDE’s own champion, Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria. The venue – Elista, capital city of Kirsan Ilumzhinov’s Kalmykia and the epicentre of the empire of the FIDE president himself.
Kramnik could hardly have imagined the weight of official force which would be mustered against him when he agreed to play under FIDE’s jurisdiction. When he moved into an unexpected lead, as if by pre-arranged plan, Topalov sprang into action with a whole series of allegations, all of them patently groundless, which, however, were ratified by the stacked Appeal Committee appointed by Kirsan.
Kramnik forfeited Game Five under protest but was never given this stolen point back. Many grandmasters supported him openly or advised him to walk away from this farce.
Pro-Kramnik comments poured in from Karpov, Spassky, [two former World Champions-Ed], Korchnoi, Short, [two former Championship Candidates-Ed] and reigning British Champion, Jonathan Rowson. While prominent tournament oranisers called for a future sanctions against Topalov. even the Bulgarian Prime Minister, in a vain appeal for fair play, urged Topalov to reconsider his decision to take the fifth game by forfeit.
Chess websites around the world were swamped with record levels of encouragement for Kramnik and, if cosmic karma alone could have secured victory, then Kramnik’s success was assured.
In spite of the tsunami of sentiment in his favour, Kramnik collapsed in Games 8 and 9, having suffered the further strain of unprecedentedly having to defend with black three times in a row. Fortunately Kramnik emerged from his selva obscura*, won Game 10 and then clinched the title in the playoff.
FIDE now expect Kramnik to enter their world championship tournament in Mexico next year. After his experience in Elista, I doubt Kramnik will want anything more to do with this revolting crew and will prefer instead to go for a match which upholds the ancient traditions of the chess championship, perhaps against Anand or even our own Michael Adams.
What is Kramnik’s position amongst the pantheon of champions after this success? He has survived three title matches and en route defeated the highest-ranked player in the history of the game. He will be champion for at least 8 years.
In my opinion he is now in the same league as Botvinnik, Petrosian, Capablanca and Karpov, having already surpassed the achievements as champion of Euwe, Smyslov , Tal , Fischer and Spassky. If he fulfills his potential he may even go on to rival Alekhine, Steinitz , Lasker and Kasparov himself, the most outstandingly successful of the great champions.
“Mexico is going to get a candidate’s match (including Topalov) and the winner plays in a match against Kramnik. This does make sense.”
Spot on. I’m a Kramnik fan but excluding Topalov from Mexico will be insane. It should be a candidates’ tournament to determine the challenger of Kramnik. Deciding world champion in tournament format will be insane.
Susan, is there anything that can be done to ensure these tournaments are just qualifier to play the World Champion in a match as just occured every two years? This was very exciting and I think better for chess than keeping these silly Kirsan FIDE World Champion tournaments going. Make them Qualifiers to play the Champion! They should do this for Women’s title also!
In his Saturday column in the Greek newspaper “Eleftherotipia” George Makropoulos says that now that the match is over we will hear alot about what went on behind the scene during the match.
At least Deep Fritz won’t file a complaint about Kramnick’s bathroom habits!
Hi Susan:
Since you compiled a list of celebrities who play chess, I thought you might like to add actor Michael Vartan (from TV’s “Alias”) to the list.
He’s pictured playing in the following links:
http://www.deadmanscurve.com/images/chesmike.jpg
http://www.deadmanscurve.com/images/chessboys.jpg
And here’s Carmen Kass, supermodel and president of the Estonian chess federation playing vishy Anand.
http://www.chessbase.com/images2/2004/kass02.jpg
After the dust has settled
I AM REALY DOWN AND OUT THAT
TOPALOV LOST..I WANTED HIM TO WIN SO MUCH…BUT THEN THERES THE LOSSERS CORNER
In all honesty Kramnik was Just to good
Well anything Ray Keene says is soaked in self interest and twisted history.
Kramnik started the cycle of deliberate psychological disruptions by demanding the glass barrier (an insult to Topalov). He also deliberately showed off dozens of times a game by going the toilet that if wanted to cheat he could and noone could do anything about it.