Chess, potpourri and nonsense!

by · December 24, 2015

Al Ain tournament underway!

Organizing Committee Chairman Dr. Saif Al Nuami making ceremonial opening moves with former World Championship Challenger Alexey Shirov assisted by Tournament Director Tarek Al Taher (right) and Chief Arbiter Ashot Vardapetyan (photo by Enkhtuul Altanuzlii)

The Al Ain Chess Classic started several days ago and continues until the 31st. One of the strongest open tournaments underway right now. My friend Alexi Shirov is participating and I consider him the favourite, but it won’t be easy as many of the top Eurpean players are participating. A total of 52 GMs and 2 WGMs are participating. More than 31 countries are represented. More information can be found HERE. The games LIVE can be found at the first link above.

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XMAS HUMOUR

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I.S. OIL SPILLS ON THE RCF!

MOSCOW , December 23. /TASS/. Russian Chess Federation has expressed concern over the reports in Turkish mass media on the ostensible operations of the federation President, Andrei Filatov, a press release issued by the organization said.

A number of media quoted the son of Turkish President Tayyip Recep Erdogan earlier, who said Ankara suspected Filatov of purchasing oil from the Islamic State terrorist grouping and further resales.

“The Federation has gotten down to scrutinizing the situation together with experts from the Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan international law firm to verify the source of this false information and the precision of a translation of Erdogan Jr.’s statements,” the report said.

“The President of the Federation, Andrei Filatov, plans to take all the legal steps to defend his rights, interests and business reputation,” it said. “The Federation warns that any further spread of the deceptive report will bring up legal consequences.”

LINK

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