 Hikaru
Rocks
 Bobby
Fischer may be gone, but the game in America is still
alive and kicking after some tremendous results from their
top two players who have been blazing a trail in recent
months.
U.S. No.1, Gata Kamsky, staged
a remarkable comeback to the game late last year by beating
Alexei Shirov to win the FIDE World Cup, and with
it came the glittering prize of a world title eliminator
match this year with Veselin Topalov.
Hikaru “H-Bomb” Nakamura,
the player who beat every Fischer age group record, save
for being the youngest U.S. champion, had a sensational
end to 2007 by winning three successive tournaments: the
Casino de Barcelona, the Corsican Masters, and the Las Vegas
Open.
 And
Nakamura’s winning streak has continued into 2008,
as he staged an amazing fight-back to win yet another major
event in Europe last week by capturing the Gibtelecom
Masters title in Gibraltar. After a below par 3/5 start,
Nakamura hit back with a late rally of five wins to tie
for first on 8/10, then defeated early front-runner Bu
Xiangzhi of China 2-0 in a dramatic rapid play-off (pictured
opposite) for the title and near $24,000 first prize.
Armenian GM Tigran Petrosian,
who won an ICC qualifier a few months back for an all-expenses
paid trip to the rock of Gibraltar to play in the Gibtelecom
Masters, finished 16th, just a point behind Hikaru and Bu
on 7/10.
ICC would like to thank John Saunders
of www.gibraltarchesscongress.com
for sending us photos from the event - top pictures shows
winner Hikaru Nakamura, flanked by Manuel Weeks and Gibtelecom
CEO Tim Bristow. Please take the time to visit the
official site where you will find some entertaining reports, videos
and a full list of prize winners.
Corus
Round-up
 The
Corus Wijk aan Zee extravaganza is over for another
year, with the big news from the 2008 edition being the
continual rise of Norway’s Magnus Carlsen, who
sensationally beat Vladimir Kramnik in the penultimate
round and then drew with Teimour Radjabov to share
first place with Armenia’s Levon Aronian on
8/13.
ICC’s Chess.FM team had unrivaled
move-by-move action each round from our top GM commentary
team of Joel Benjamin, Larry Christiansen,
Nick De Firmian, Jon Speelman, John Fedorowicz,
Gregory Kaidanov, Ronen Har-Zvi, and our special
last round guest, Peter Svidler. The Chess.FM team
will be back in action soon to cover Morelia-Linares,
the first leg of which runs 15-23 February in Mexico, and
then concludes with the Linares leg in Spain, running 28
February through to 8 March.
Until then, please view all of our Game
of the Day videos and Macauley videos direct from Corus.
FREE Videos - Macauley Peterson
FREE Video "Game of the Day" Rounds
Group A - Final crosstable after round
13 | cat. XX (2742)
| N |
NAME |
FED |
ELO |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
PTS |
| 1 |
Aronian |
ARM |
2739 |
|
½ |
½ |
1 |
½ |
½ |
½ |
0 |
1 |
½ |
½ |
½ |
1 |
1 |
8 |
| 2 |
Carlsen |
NOR |
2733 |
½ |
|
0 |
½ |
0 |
½ |
½ |
1 |
½ |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
½ |
8 |
| 3 |
Anand |
IND |
2799 |
½ |
1 |
|
0 |
½ |
½ |
½ |
½ |
1 |
1 |
½ |
½ |
½ |
½ |
7½ |
| 4 |
Radjabov |
AZE |
2735 |
0 |
½ |
1 |
|
½ |
½ |
½ |
½ |
½ |
½ |
½ |
1 |
½ |
1 |
7½ |
| 5 |
Leko |
HUN |
2753 |
½ |
1 |
½ |
½ |
|
½ |
½ |
½ |
0 |
½ |
1 |
½ |
½ |
½ |
7 |
| 6 |
Ivanchuk |
UKR |
2751 |
½ |
½ |
½ |
½ |
½ |
|
½ |
½ |
½ |
½ |
½ |
1 |
½ |
½ |
7 |
| 7 |
Adams |
ENG |
2726 |
½ |
½ |
½ |
½ |
½ |
½ |
|
½ |
½ |
0 |
½ |
½ |
1 |
½ |
6½ |
| 8 |
Kramnik |
RUS |
2799 |
1 |
0 |
½ |
½ |
½ |
½ |
½ |
|
0 |
½ |
½ |
1 |
½ |
½ |
6½ |
| 9 |
Topalov |
BUL |
2780 |
0 |
½ |
0 |
½ |
1 |
½ |
½ |
1 |
|
½ |
½ |
0 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
| 10 |
Polgar |
HUN |
2707 |
½ |
0 |
0 |
½ |
½ |
½ |
1 |
½ |
½ |
|
½ |
0 |
½ |
1 |
6 |
| 11 |
Mamedyarov |
AZE |
2760 |
½ |
0 |
½ |
½ |
0 |
½ |
½ |
½ |
½ |
½ |
|
½ |
1 |
½ |
6 |
| 12 |
Eljanov |
UKR |
2692 |
½ |
0 |
½ |
0 |
½ |
0 |
½ |
0 |
1 |
1 |
½ |
|
½ |
0 |
5 |
| 13 |
Van Wely |
NED |
2681 |
0 |
0 |
½ |
½ |
½ |
½ |
0 |
½ |
1 |
½ |
0 |
½ |
|
½ |
5 |
| 14 |
Gelfand |
ISR |
2737 |
0 |
½ |
½ |
0 |
½ |
½ |
½ |
½ |
0 |
0 |
½ |
1 |
½ |
|
5 |
|
More information
|
GM Ronen Har-Zvi: "New Ideas in the Slav and Semi-Slav Defences" part VII
 |
|
In a series of new opening videos for ICC Chess.FM, GM Ronen Har-Zvi investigates the latest developments and trends that will keep you up-to-date in the rock-solid Slav and Semi-Slav Defences.
Click "Play Video" for a free 5 minute preview of both of Ronen's latest videos. To listen to the full videos, sign
up for membership!
Sneak preview of part 8. |
"Chess Talk" with IM John Watson
 Tune-in
for Chess Talk with IM John Watson on ICC Chess.FM. John's weekly 60+ minute show (members only) will feature an interview with leading chess personalities.
In a specially extended edition of Chess Talk (2 hours worth!), following the recent death of Bobby Fischer, John and his guest, GM Andy Soltis, will be reviewing the life and times of the controversial former world champion,
who died last week at the age of 64.
Apart from being a grandmaster, Andy Soltis is a leading journalist for The New York Post and columnist for Chess Life, where his popular column, Chess to Enjoy, is one of the longest running in the magazine. He has
authored (or co-authored) around 30 books; and one of his most recent being the 2003 critically acclaimed Bobby Fischer Rediscovered.
As a special ICC tribute to Fischer, this show can be accessed for FREE for non-members (and displayed on web sites) by clicking here.
Find below a selection of free 5 minute preview of John's latest shows. To listen to the full shows, sign up for membership!
Attack with LarryC!
 New
at ICC Chess.FM - Attack With LarryC! A weekly 30 min+ show on Wednesdays at 15:00 EST (and available on-demand thereafter for members), featuring three-time U.S. Champion Larry Christiansen, one of the most dangerous
and respected attacking players of his generation.
Larry is a feared competitor and attacker who authored two popular books that showcase his aggressive style: Storming the Barricades and Rocking the Ramparts. And each week on his show, Larry will feature various
attacking motifs and themes and showing you how best to play for mate.
Click "Play Video" for a free 5 minute preview of Larry's latest video. This video is just one of the many benefits of being a
full member of ICC - so, sign up for membership!
Ask the Renaissance Man
 |
|
Tune-in for "Ask the Renaissance Man" with National Master Dan Heisman every Thursday at 21:00 EST. You send in the questions and Dan provides the answers every week on his Q&A
show. Questions on tournament rules, opening play, chess books, chess politics, current events, and more!
Click "Play Video" for a free 5 minute preview of Dan's latest show. To listen to the full show, sign
up for membership! |
Boris Alterman's Gambit Guide
 |
|
New at ICC Chess.FM - In his new weekly video lecture series for ICC, Boris Alterman's Gambit Guide, Boris will investigate gambits old and new and show that, while some may not be actively played on the grandmaster
circuit these days, they are all exciting to play and at the same time instructive as they teach us all about natural development of the pieces and tactics in chess.
Click "Play Video" for a free 5 minute preview. To listen to the full show, sign
up for membership! |
Israeli GM Boris Alterman is best known as a leading chess advisor for the multi-title winning chess software program (Deep) Junior, where he specialized in developing its opening book.
GM Joel Benjamin "Game of the Week"
 Three-time
U.S. Champion GM Joel Benjamin starts his weekly show every Friday at 15:00 Server Time. Click "Play Video" for a free 5 minute preview
of Joel's latest show. To listen to the full show, sign up for membership!
Joel is regarded by many as one of the best commentators and analysts' we have in the game today, and each Friday he will be giving us his insight and spin with his selection of Game of the Week.
This is a not-to-be-missed 30-minute video is exclusively for ICC members only -- so if you want to get ahead of the game, get ready to tune-in! By popular demand and requests from members, ALL
of Joel Benjamin's GOTW videos are available. Enjoy! |
Xiangzhi-Nakamura, Gibraltar '08
Black mates in 1
To watch the game on the ICC type:
"examine Gibraltar08 %63"
ICC Quiz #3336
White mates in 2
To play this puzzle on the ICC type:
tell trainingbot number 3336
Then type: play trainingbot
| 
|
|
|
ICC Quiz #3205
White mates in 2
To play this puzzle on the ICC type:
tell trainingbot number 3205
Then type: play trainingbot
ICC Quiz #2985
White mates in 3
To play this puzzle on the ICC type:
tell trainingbot number 2985
Then type: play trainingbot
|
Secrets of Opening Surprises Volume 7 - Bosch
 The
highly acclaimed SOS series provides intermediate
chess players with perfectly playable, easily digestible
opening ideas: deviations from main line opening theory
in a very early stage of the game (usually before
move six). Anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of
the chess opening will be able to apply these SOS-ideas
in an actual game. There is no need to study large
quantities of stuffy theory, but there is an almost
immediate return on the investment of a limited amount
of time. Readers of SOS will baffle their opponents,
gain crucial time, and stand a good chance to get
an advantage in the game. 144 pages
Price $21.95 - 
Buy
now!
Play the English - Pritchett
 The
English opening - It's flexible and diverse and White
can play either aggressively or quietly, and positions
are rich in both strategy and tactics.
In Play the English, Craig Pritchett
provides an active repertoire for White, offering
answers to Blacks key defences both in the main lines
and sidelines. Drawing upon his wealth of experience
in this opening from both sides of the board, Pritchett
highlights the positional and tactical ideas for White
and Black, and the subtle move-order nuances so important
in the modern game. This book contains all you need
to know to play the English with confidence in your
own games
189 pages, Published by Everyman
Price $22.95 - Buy
now!
|
|
|
|
School of Future Champions 2: Secrets of Opening Preparation - Dvoretsky and Yusupov
 The
second volume explains the basic principles of the
opening, discusses how to build an opening repertoire
and produce opening novelties, and explores the connection
between the opening and the later stages – the
middlegame and the endgame.
Edition Olms, 276 pages
Price $38.95 - Buy
now!
Samisch King's Indian Uncovered, The - Cherniaev & Prokuronov
 The
Sämisch King's Indian is a popular weapon for
White both at club level and with the world's elite.
World Champions Botvinnik, Tal, Petrosian, Spassky,
Karpov, Kasparov and Kramnik have all utilized the
Sämisch at one time or another, a testimony to
the strong reputation of this opening.
In this book, opening experts
Alexander Cherniaev and Eduard Prokuronov present
an up-to-date study of the Sämisch and its many
offshoots. Using illustrative games, they look at
the traditional main lines, the trendy alternatives
and the tricky sidelines, while outlining the typical
tactical and positional ideas for both White and Black.
A study of this book will allow the reader to begin
playing either side of the Sämisch with confidence
in his or her own games.
175 pages. Published by Everyman
Price $22.95 - Buy
now!
|
|
Solution to Xiangzhi-Nakamura, Gibraltar '08
68. ... Ne4#
Xiangzhi-Nakamura, Gibraltar '08, 0-1
Solution to ICC Quiz #3336
1.Nf6+ gf 2.Bxf7#
Buckley-N.N. London, 1840
|
|
|
|
Solution to ICC Quiz #3205
1.Qh2+ Qh4 2.Qxh4#
Humster-mysterywhiteboy, ICC 2003
Solution to ICC Quiz #2985
1.Ne7+ N(any)xe7 2.Bxf7+ Rxf7 3.Qxf7#
Brody-Banya, Budapest 1901
|
|
|
|
