SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
THE WORLD IS A DANGEROUS PLACE…
It should be an interesting week as many uncontrollable factors come into play! Might we not recognize the world come Friday? With the mysterious death of Berezovsky this past weekend, another meterorite flying into our atmosphere just a couple of days ago–undetected until it was almost upon us–and Cyprus threatening to unravel the global banking system, our world has become an unpredictable place…who really has zest to concentrate on the London Candidates Tournament in the manner that it deserves to be concentrated on?
The late-Oligarch is reputed to have financed many of the more high-profile, media-blitzing anti-Putin campaigns in recent years, including (allegedly) that of Kasparov and PUSSY-RIOT. Kasparov has publically denied this, but Berezovsky is entirely believable:
It will be interesting to see what changes, if any, Kasparov’s political strategy will see in the near future. With one of the most vociferous–if not THE most–enemies of Putin’s Russia now just a part of historical-lore, will the Kremlin’s security services step up the pressure on the more visible dissidents? If Kasparov decides to hide in his house for the next couple of days, he should not be criticized too harshly. I would be worried too, if I was him…
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KRAMNIK GAINS MOMENTUM
The ex-world champion demonstrated high class yesterday as he ground down Peter Svidler in another of his favourite openings –this time the Grunfeld. (It has been tough going for the popular Svidler, who had seen his favourite Spanish Opening dismantled the day before by Carlsen) Up to now Kramnik had been playing very well, but had failed to score. With his first victory, it is entirely possible that Kramnik’s confidence has been restored and we will see the second half of the London Candidates Tournament feature a come-from-behind race to determine the next world champion challenger!
[Event “FIDE Candidates”]
[Site “London ENG”]
[Date “2013.3.24”]
[Round “8.3”]
[White “Kramnik, Vladimir”]
[Black “Svidler, Peter”]
[Result “1-0”]
[Eco “D85”]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8.
Be3 Qa5 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. Rc1 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2 O-O 13. d5 Rd8 14.
Kc2 Ne5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. Bc4 Bd7 17. f4 Bd6 18. Kb3 f6 19. a4 Rdc8 20. h4
Rab8 21. Bb5 Bxb5 22. axb5 a6 23. b6 Kf7 24. h5 Rxc1 25. hxg6+ Kxg6 26. Bxc1
Rg8 27. g4 h6 28. Rh5 Kf7 29. e5 Bc5 30. e6+ Kf8 31. Rh4 Kg7 32. f5 Rd8 33.
Bxh6+ Kg8 34. Kc4 Bxb6 35. g5 Bf2 36. Rg4 Kh7 37. gxf6 exf6 38. e7 Rc8+ 39.
Kb3 Bc5 40. Rc4 1-0
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MORE VINTAGE CHESS PHOTOS
Doctor I. A. Tikhomirov playing chess with a wounded patient at the Winter Palace, Petrograd, 1915-17.
”In the initial stages of the war, Russia endured heavy losses at the Masurian Lakes and Tannenburg and it was to the Winter Palace that many of the wounded returned. Rechristened the Tsarevich Alexey Nikolayevich Hospital, from October 1915, the palace was a fully equipped hospital, its staterooms transformed into hospital wards. The Fieldmarshals’ Hall became a dressing station, the Armorial Hall an operating theatre. The small throne room became a doctor’s mess room, while more lowly staff were accommodated in the Nicholas Hall and the Anteroom. Nurses were housed in the more intimate apartments once reserved for members of the extended Romanov family. The 1812 Gallery became a store room, the vestibule of the Jordan staircase the hospital’s canteen, and its landings offices.”
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KERES’ SIMUL IN MONTREAL 1975
From an old CFC magazine (1975). Keres played a clock simul against some of the best players in Montreal at the Sun Life Building. I recognize Emil Schlosser (upper right) and then going left: Gilles Brodeur, Leo Williams, Jacques Labelle. I don’t recognize any other participants, though I think Leon Piasetski and my brother Grant also took part.
I also recognize, amongst the spectators, George Levtchouk (hand on his chin) , back row on the left, next to the gentleman with the glasses. Over on the right hand side, (very right) it looks like Larry Bevand (holding his nose) and right behind him his old girlfriend Vivianne.
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Artist’s depiction of male human brain waves during the above game of chess
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UPSET!
Congrats to R.Churm (rated 2169) for defeating grandmaster Hebden this weekend at the 4NCL team championship! That is quite an upset…400 points or so! It took Churm some 77 moves to do it, but the conclusion is worth taking a look at:
gm HEBDEN
CHURM,R (2169)
Mark is doing his best to create practial drawing chances, the reduced material certainly giving him reason for hope. I like very much how Mark is put away:
74.h7! Kg7
WHITE TO PLAY AND MATE IN SIX MOVES!
Solution:
75.h8(Q)+! KxQ 76.Bh6!
Followed by B-f8; then K-g5-h6 and finally mate on g7.
(NOTE: Mr. Churm played a bit differently, but essentially the same thing, starting with 75.Bh6+, Bf8, Kg7 etc.)
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