Σκακιστικά νέα

The 12th Annual Southern Class Championships will be held from March 28-30, 2014, at the Wyndham Orlando Resort (renovated), 8001 International Drive, Orlando, Florida.

The event has 7 sections: Master, Expert, Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D and Class E.

All sections have either 3-day (March 28-30) or 2-day (March 29-30) schedules to play in.

The event has a $12,000 prize fund, based on 185 entries, with $10,000 minimum guaranteed.

In the battle of two former World Champions Viswanathan Anand defeated Veselin Topalov to single out again on the top after his co-leader Levon Aronian lost to Shakhriyar Mamedyarov.

Sergey Karjakin scored a second consecutive victory by beating Vladimir Kramnik, while the other two Russians – Dmitry Andreikin and Peter Svidler, split the point.

After nine rounds of play Anand is leading the race with 6 points, a full point ahead of the second placed Aronian.

The 7th Women Continental Chess Championship of Americas is taking place 21-29 March 2014 in Villa Martelli, Argentina. It is a 9 round swiss tournament with 26 participants from Peru, Cuba, El Salvador, Brazil. Venezuela, Paraguay, Chile, and Argentina.

Among the top seeded players are Daisy Cori, Carolina Lujan, Maritza Arribas Robaina, Paula Paredes Bustamante, Marisa Zuriel, etc.

The winner of the tournament qualifies for the next Women World Chess Cup.

The co-leaders Levon Aronian and Viswanathan Anand shared the point in their round 8 match in the FIDE World Candidates Tournament.

The duo remained in joint lead, but now the possible tie-break at the end of the event would favor Anand (mutual score 1,5-0,5).

Vladimir Kramnik missed a chance to catch the leaders as his opponent Dmitry Andreikin defended very well to deserve half a point.

This is the top 10 of the chess products preferred by the Chessdom Chess Shop customers in the month of March.

1. Chess Insider March

In round 8 of the FIDE Candidates Tournament Levon Aronian stunned the co-leader Viswanathan Anand with an enterprising novelty as early as move 3.

Anand appreciated the strength of Qb3 in various transpositions as it was not easy for him to reach a convenient Catalan or Gruenfeld structure. He finally went for the reversed Benoni even if it included a pawn sacrifice. Black did achieve quick development as compensation.

Stockfish (3133 ELO) and Fire (2984 ELO) lead the second stage of the world’s strongest computer chess championship TCEC. The two engines have 2,5/3, half a point more than Komodo, Hannibal, and Rybka.

An interesting interview with World Champion Magnus Carlsen was posted today on NRK website.

Levon Aronian defeated Sergey Karjakin in round 7 of FIDE World Candidates Tournament to join Viswanathan Anand on the top of the crosstable.

Anand had some advantage with black against Peter Svidler but he couldn’t achieve more than a draw.

Vladimir Kramnik surged ahead by winning a wild game against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. Dmitry Andreikin escaped from the bottom by punishing Veselin Topalov’s over-ambitious play.