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Wayne Mendryk's Blog

May, 2007:
Updated July 1, 2007

Posted June 11, 2007:
Zonal 2.3 (Women's) 
May 29 - June 10, 2007 
Santo Domingo
Here are the final standings from the Women's event: 

zt 2.3 w Santo Domingo DOM (DOM), 30 v-10 vi 2007 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Arribas Robaina, Maritza wg CUB 2335 * = 1 = 1 = 1 1 1 1 1 1 = 1 11.0 2379 

2. Mateus, Martha COL 2130 = * = 1 1 0 1 1 1 = 1 1 1 1 10.5 2350 

3. Pina Vega, Sulennis wg CUB 2322 0 = * = 1 1 = 1 = 1 1 1 = 1 9.5 2259 

4. Zepeda, Lorena wm ESA 2167 = 0 = * 0 1 = 1 1 1 = 1 1 = 8.5 2206 

5. Guerrero Rodriguez, Alejandra wm MEX 2126 0 0 0 1 * 1 0 0 1 1 1 = 1 1 7.5 2157 

6. Han, Irene wm VEN 2072 = 1 0 0 0 * = 0 1 0 = 1 1 1 6.5 2104 

7. Zepeda, Sonia wf ESA 2040 0 0 = = 1 = * = = = = 0 1 1 6.5 2106 

8. Estrada Gaspar, Nelly Massiel MEX 2079 0 0 0 0 1 1 = * 0 1 = = = 1 6.0 2074 

9. Franco, Angela wf COL 2124 0 0 = 0 0 0 = 1 * = 1 1 1 = 6.0 2071 

10. Sanchez,Celsa VEN ---- 0 = 0 0 0 1 = 0 = * 1 = = 1 5.5 2052 

11. Han, Ingrid VEN ---- 0 0 0 = 0 = = = 0 0 * 1 = 1 4.5 1999 

12. Rincon,Drina VEN ---- 0 0 0 0 = 0 1 = 0 = 0 * 1 1 4.5 1999 

13. De la Cruz, Mercedes wf DOM 2093 = 0 = 0 0 0 0 = 0 = = 0 * = 3.0 1891 

14. Munoz, Dorisbel DOM 1938 0 0 0 = 0 0 0 0 = 0 0 0 = * 1.5 1778

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hamburg International 
May 26 - June 3, 2007 
Hamburg, Germany
Official site 
The event (38 players) was won by GM Konstantin Landa (RUS 2608) with 8.0/9.  Only one chess femme participated, WGM Shadi Paridar (IRI 2225), who finished in 21st place with 4.5. 

Added July 1, 2007: 
Lina Grumette Memorial Day Classic
May 26 -28, 2007
(Open - 43 players) The Open was won by IM Enrico Sevillano (2566) with 5.0/6; (1) Tatev Abrahamyan (2289), 3.5; (23) Vanessa A. West (2062), 2.5.

Okie Chess Festival 
May 26 - 28, 2007 
Tulsa, Oklahoma (USA) 
Official site 
Three round robins and an Open, sponsored by Frank and Jim Berry (the 2007 U.S. "Men's" Chess Championship was sponsored by Frank Berry, as is the upcoming Women's Championship in July).  Okie Masters: Won by Movsisyan, Movses f USA 2280, 5.5/7; 7. Bayaraa, Zorigt wf MGL 2155. 2/5/  Okie A: no chess femmes participated.  Okie B:  1. Holliman, Bob USA 2143, 6.0; 2. Mokriak, Liudmila wm UKR 2167, 6.0.  Open:  No list of players was provided, so I have no idea if any chess femmes participated.

Added July 1, 2007: 
Baile Felix Chess Open 
May 25 - 31, 2007 
(85 players) 1. Grunberg, Mihai-Lucian m ROM 2442 6.5/9;  20. Olarasu, Gabriela wg ROM 2274 5.5;  26. Bulmaga, Irina wf MDA 2149 5.5;  30. Videnova, Iva BUL 2203 5.0;  50. WFM Maria-Eugenia Ursente 2010 4.0;  67.  Elena Bulmaga (MDA 401), 3.5; 83.  Daniela Balauz (ROM 457), 1.0; 84.  Dorina Inasel (ROM 500), 1.0.

Added July 1, 2007:
Limburg Open 
May 25 - 28, 2007
(Group A - 108 players, FIDE rated) (1) GM Leonid Kritz (GER 2593), 6.0/7; (33) Elena Winkelmann (GER 2114), 4.0; (37) WIM Arlette Van Weersel (NED 2156), 4.0; (90) Lisa Schut (NED 1918), 2.5.

Chicago Open 
May 25 - 28, 2007 
Chicago, Illinois (USA) 
The CCA hosted one of those enormous US opens with endless sections that it takes forever to scroll through to see if any chess femmes played.  Usually I find a few, so it's a labor of love for women's chess!  So, here we go:

Open:  As far as I can tell, only one chess femme participated in the 65-player open (7 round Swiss):  C. Kay Stanley (USA 1114), who finished in 60th place with 1.5.  Grandmaster Vadim Milov beat Grandmaster Yury Shulman in the Armageddon playoff to take first place with 6.0.

Under 2300 (7 round Swiss, 81 players):  won by Craig W. Jones (USA 2278) with 6.0.  Chess femmes who participated in this event:  (17) Elizabeth Vicary (USA 2123), 4.5; (39) Chouchanik Airapetian (USA 2173), 3.0; (42) Palina Churun (USA 2076), 3.0; (60) Louiza Livschitz (USA 1968), 2.0; (65) Pamela Ruggiero (USA 1961), 1.5; (67) Jennifer T. Acon (USA 1785), 1.5.

Under 2100 (7 round Swiss, 145 players): won by Patrick Lacey (USA 2097) with 6.0.  Chess femmes who participated in this event:  (20) Faye Z. Abouel-Komsan (USA 1982), 5.0; (145) Simone Sobel (USA 1855), 0.0.

Under 1900 (7 round Swiss, 123 players):  won by Dmitri Barabanov (USA 1902), 6.0.  Chess femmes who participated in this event:  (43) Eunice Rodriguez (USA 1697), 4.0; (100) Stephanie Ballom (USA 1634), 2.0; (105) Simone Sobel (USA 1834), 1.5 (I don't know if this is the same Simone Sobel who played in the Under 2100 event, the rating is slightly different).

Posted May 31, 2007:

World Chess Championship Candidates' Matches 
May 27 - June 14, 2007 
Elista, Russia

Round 4 results for Judit:  Bareev (1) v. Polgar (0).  Judit lost behind the black pieces today.  Bareev now leads the match 3-1.  She needs to win the last two games in order to tie Bareev and force a play-off.  I don't really see that happening.  Judit's game in PGN:

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Qc2 Nxc3 9. Qxc3 c5 10. Rd1 d6 11. b3 Nd7 12. Bb2 Nf6 13. d5 exd5 14. cxd5 Re8 15. e4 Bf8 16. Nd2 b5 17. a4 b4 18. Qc2 g6 19. a5 Ba6 20. Bf1 Bxf1 21. Rxf1 Bh6 22. f4 Bg7 23. Rfe1 Qd7 24. Nc4 Nh5 25. Rad1 Bxb2 26. Qxb2 Ng7 27. Qg2 Rad8 28. g4 f6 29. h3 g5 30. fxg5 fxg5 31. e5 dxe5 32. d6 Qf7 33. Qd5 e4 34. Qxg5 Qf3 35. Qd5+ Re6 36. Re3 Rdxd6 37. Rxf3 Rxd5 38. Rxd5 exf3 39. Kf2 Re2+ 40. Kxf3 Rc2 41. Rd8+ Kf7 42. Rd7+ Kg6 43. Rxa7 Ne6 44. Ke4 Nd4 45. h4 Rh2 46. a6 Nxb3 47. Kd5 Kf6 48. Rxh7 Ra2 49. a7 Nc1 50. Ne5 Rd2+ 51. Kxc5 Ra2 52. Nd7+ Kg6 53. Nf8+ Kf6 54. Kxb4 1-0

Posted May 29, 2007:

First Women's World Team Chess Championship - results (final) Round 9 and table (by team) of individual results.

World Chess Championship Candidates' Matches 
May 27 - June 14, 2007
Elista, Russia

Round 3 results for Judit:  Polgar (White) 1/2 - Bareev (Black) 1/2.  Bareev leads the match 2-1.  Judit's game in PGN:

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 dxc4 7.Bxc4 Qxd4 8.Qxd4 Nxd4 9.0-0-0 e5 10.f4 Judit tries a very sharp line but its been analysed extensively and Bareev certainly knew how to handle it. Black equalises and keeps the lead 10...Bg4 11.Nf3 Nxf3 12.gxf3 Be6 13.Bd3 Be7 14.f5 Bd7 15.Rhe1 0-0-0 16.Rxe5 Bd6 17.Re2 Bc6 18.Ne4 Be5 19.Bh4 Rd5 20.Nxf6 gxf6 21.Be4 Rxd1+ 22.Kxd1 Bxe4 23.fxe4 Rg8 24.Kc2 Kd7 25.Kd3 Rg4 26.Be1 Rg1 27.Bf2 Rd1+ 28.Kc2 Rh1 29.Bxa7 h5 30.Bd4 Bxd4 31.Rd2 Kc7 32.Rxd4 Rxh2+ 33.Kc3 h4 34.a4 Rh1 35.Rd3 Kc6 36.Kc4 b6 37.Rc3 Kb7 38.Rd3 Ka6 39.b4 h3 40.Kd5 Rh2 41.Kd6 Re2 42.Rxh3 Rxe4 43.Rh8 Rxb4 44.Ke7 Rxa4 45.Kxf7 Kb5 46.Kxf6 Ra1 47.Rc8 Kb4 48.Kg6 Rg1+ 49.Kf7 b5 50.f6 Ka3 51.Ra8+ Kb3 52.Rg8 Rf1 53.Rg5 b4 54.Ke6 Kc4 55.f7 Rxf7 56.Kxf7 b3 1/2-1/2

Posted May 28, 2007:

First Women's World Team Chess Championship - results from Round 8

World Chess Championship Candidates' Matches 
May 27 - June 14, 2007
Elista, Russia

Round 2 results for Judit (black) v. Bareev (white):  0.0 - 1.0.  Well, this is interesting.  Earlier today I published a result 1/2 - 1/2 based on the report at the official website.  Guess I won't rely on them any more!  Tonight I checked the results at The Week in Chess and saw that Judit lost her game today.  Damn!  Judit's game in PGN:

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qc2 c5 6. d5 exd5 7. cxd5 Bb7 8. Bg2 Nxd5 9. O-O Be7 10. Rd1 Nc6 11. Qf5 Nf6 12. e4 d6 13. e5 Qd7 14. Qxd7+ Nxd7 15. exd6 Bf6 16. Re1+ Kf8 17. Nc3 Nb4 18. Bg5 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Rd8 20. Bxf6 Nxf6 21. Re7 Nc2 22. Rd1 Nd4 23. Kg2 g6 24. Rxa7 Rxd6 25. Be2 Kg7 26. Bc4 Rd7 27. Rxd7 Nxd7 28. Re1 Kf8 29. a4 h5 30. Nd5 h4 31. g4 g5 32. Nc7 Nf6 33. h3 Kg7 34. Re5 Kh6 35. f4 Nh7 36. f5 Nc6 37. Rd5 Kg7 38. f6+ Kh6 39. Bb5 Nb4 40. Rd6 Rb8 41. Na6 Nxa6 42. Bxa6 Nf8 43. Bc4 Rb7 44. Kf3 Nd7 45. Ke4 Kg6 46. Bd3 c4 47. Bxc4 Nxf6+ 48. Kd4 Kg7 49. Bb5 Re7 50. Rxb6 Re4+ 51. Kd3 Rb4 52. Kc2 Nxg4 53. Kc3 Re4 54. hxg4 h3 55. Rd6 h2 56. Rd1 Rxg4 57. Rh1 Rg3+ 58. Kb4 Rg2 59. Kb3 g4 60. a5 g3 61. Bc6 Re2 62. a6 Re7 63. Ra1 Ra7 64. Bg2 1-0

Posted May 27, 2007:

World Chess Championship Candidates' Matches 
May 27 - June 14, 2007
Elista, Russia  

In Round 1, Judit Polgar is white against Evgeny Bareev - 1/2 - 1/2.  Tomorrow, Judit has black against Bareev.  Judit's game in PGN:

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 11.Bf4 Qa5+ 12.Bd2 Qc7 13.0–0–0 0–0–0 14.Ne4 Ngf6 15.g3 Nxe4 16.Qxe4 Nf6 17.Qe2 Rd5 18.Ne5 Rxd4 19.Bf4 Re4 20.Qd3 Bc5 21.Ng6 Rxf4 22.Nxf4 Qa5 23.f3 Qxa2 24.c3 Bb6 25.Kc2 Qa5 26.Kb1 Qg5 27.Ne2 Rd8 28.Qc2 Rxd1+ 29.Rxd1 Qxh5 30.g4 Qc5 31.Qd3 Qd5 32.Kc2 Qxd3+ 33.Kxd3 h5 34.gxh5 Nxh5 35.b4 a6 36.c4 Bc7 37.Rh1 g6 38.c5 a5 39.bxa5 Bxa5 40.Ra1 Bc7 41.Kc4 Nf6 42.Rh1 b6 43.cxb6 Bxb6 44.Nc3 Kd7 45.Rh8 Kd6 46.Kd3 Ba5 47.Ne4+ Nxe4 48.Kxe4 Bb4 49.Rb8 Ba3 50.Rd8+ Ke7 51.Ra8 Bc5 52.Rb8 f6 53.Rb7+ Kd8 54.f4 Be7 55.Ra7 Ke8 56.Rc7 c5 57.Rb7 Kf8 58.Rb8+ Kf7 59.Rb7 Kf8 60.Rb8+ Kg7 61.Rb6 Kf7 62.Rb7 Ke8 63.Rb6 ½–½

First Women's World Team Chess Championship - Results from Rounds 6 and 7.

Added July 1, 2007: 
Uzhgorod Spring Open
May 24 -27, 2007
(24 players) The event was won by IM Ladislav Kotan with 5.5/7.0.  Only one chess femme participated in the event, Olga Yushko, who finished in 20th place with 2.5

Posted May 24, 2007:

First Women's World Team Chess Championship - Round 5 results.

Added June 8, 2007:
1st International Festival "Capo d´Orso"
May 19 - 26, 2007 
Porto Mannu, Sardegna,  Italy
The 149 player Capo d'Orso was won by IM Hedinn Steingrimsson (ISL 2482) with 7.5.  Chess femmes who participated in this event and their final standings:  (19) WIM Irina Luiza Marin (ROM 2166), 6.0; (22) IM Martha Fierro-Baquero (ECQ 2339), 6.0; (31) FM Petra Schuurman (NED 2279), 5.5; (64) Anania Casale (ITA 1722), 5.0; (97) Tatiana Milu (BO 1431), 4.0; (147) Ida Tateo (USA 1440), 2.0.

Added June 4, 2007:
Capablanca Memorial 
May 18 - 28, 2007 
While the "elite" tournament was being won in convincing fashion by GM Vassily Ivanchuk with a performance rating of 2877, the "Open" (87 players) was also taking place, and some chess femmes participated.  The Open was won by GM Csaba Horvath (HUN 2538) with 7.5 (impressive);  even more impressive was second place finisher, also with 7.5, IM Disasmany Otero (CUB 2366).  The chess femmes finished as follows:  

Added June 8, 2007: 
Georgian Boys and Girls Under 20 Championships 
May 17 - 25, 2007 
The "Boys'" event was won by Gaioz Nigalidze (2350) with 7.0.  Several under 20 females participated in the event, here are their standings:  (6) wf 2267 Guramishvili, Sopiko 5.5; (18) wf 2056 Danelia, Mariam 5.

Here's the cross table for the Girls' Event:

----------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Rank N Fed Tit Rating Name Total Tie-Break
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
1) 3 GEO wm 2301 F Khotenashvili, Bela 7.5
2) 4 GEO wf 2260 F Mikadze, Miranda 6.5 
3) 1 GEO m 2348 F Purtseladze, Maka (wg) 6.5 
4) 2 GEO wm 2317 F Batsiashvili, Nino 6 
5) 7 GEO 2140 F Khazhomia, Salome 5.5 
6) 6 GEO 2161 F Tsatsalashvili, Keti 5.5  
7) 5 GEO wm 2175 F Gavasheli, Ana 5 
8) 8 GEO wf 2102 F Bokuchava, Madona 5 
9) 15 GEO 1956 F Siradze, Salome 5 
10) 13 GEO 1976 F Beridze, Tinatin 5 
11) 9 GEO 2096 F Gurchumalidze, Teona 5
12) 17 GEO 1932 F Jalabadze, Natia 4.5 
13) 16 GEO 1945 F Ugulava, Lela 4.5 
14) 20 GEO 1785 F Geldiashvili, Irma 4.5 
15) 23 GEO 2102 F Meskhi, Teona 4 
16) 10 GEO 2062 F Butskhrikidze, Ana 4 
17) 21 GEO Chakvetadze, Dea 4 
18) 11 GEO 2035 F Zarkua, Elisabed 3.5 
19) 14 GEO 1960 F Rizhamadze, Patman 3.5 
20) 18 GEO 1918 F Anakidze, Nino 3 
21) 19 GEO 1910 F Khazhomia, Anuki 3 
22) 22 GEO Paresishvili, Teona 1 
23) 12 GEO 1978 F Kalandadze, Nino 1 
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted May 23, 2007:

First Women's World Team Chess Championship - news here.

U.S. Chess Championship (Men's) 
May 15-23, 2007 
It's over for this year.  Here are the final standings for the chess femmes after Round 9.  Unfortunately, IM Krush did not make 4.5 (and I was so sure she would), so she does not earn a spot in the Women's World Chess Championship zonal (three spots total).  (24) IM Irina Krush (2488), 4.0; (32) WFM Iryna Zenyuk (2229), 2.5; and (36) WFM Chouchanik Airapetian (2188), 1.5.  Oh, for those of you wondering who won, it was GM Alexander Shabalov (2671), with a win today he scored 7.0/9 and was 1/2 point clear of the rest of the field.  Two chess hommes also scored IM norms (a good thing): FM Michael Langer (Stillwater, Oklahoma) and FM Joseph Bradford (Austin, Texas).

Aigner's Chessblog (he was one of the players in the event) 
Mig's Daily Dirt 
Coverage at USCF 

Posted May 22, 2007:

U.S. Chess Championship (Men's) 
May 15 - 23, 2007 
Here are the results for the women players in Round 8:

Yermolinsky, Alex vs Krush, Irina 1/2-1/2 
Zenyuk, Iryna vs Aigner, Michael 0-1 
Airapetian, Chouchanik vs Sarkar, Justin 0-1

Queen of the Chess Board (by Jen Rivett, May 20, 2007, this is hampshire.net) 
Nine-year old Hannah Thomas (Hampshire, England) has qualified for the southern regional finals in the British Land Chess Challenge to be held in July.  Hannah, who played 6 games and was tired by the end of the event (she said it was from using her brain power), is now preparing for the upcoming challenge.  Way to go, Hannah!  

Posted May 21, 2007:

U.S. Chess Championship (Men's)
May 15 - 23, 2007 
Here are the results for the women players in Round 7:

Krush, Irina vs Gulko, Boris 0-1 
Pruess, David vs Zenyuk, Iryna 1-0 
Bonin, Jay vs Airapetian, Chouchanik 1-0 

Posted May 20, 2007:

U.S. Chess Championship (Men's) 
May 15 - 23, 2007 
Here are the results for the women players in Round 6:

Friedel, Joshua vs Krush, Irina 0-1 
Zenyuk, Iryna vs Robson, Ray 0-1 (I think she messed up on move 40) 
Airapetian, Chouchanik vs Movsisyan, Movses 0-1 

Posted May 19, 2007:

World Women's Team Championship 
May 19 - 30, 2007 
Ekaterinburg, Russia 
Separate page for this event here.

U.S. Chess Championship (Men's) 
May 15 - 23, 2007 
Here are the results for the women players in Round 5: 

Perelshteyn, Eugene vs Krush, Irina 1/2-1/2 
Kudrin, Sergey vs Zenyuk, Iryna 1-0 
Aigner, Michael vs Airapetian, Chouchanik 0-1

U.S. Chess Championship (Men's)
May 15 - 23, 2007 
Here are the results for the women players in Round 4:

Krush, Irina vs Kudrin, Sergey 1/2-1/2 
Zenyuk, Iryna vs Friedel, Joshua 1-0 (I watched the last part of this game.  Darlings, I'm FAR from an expert but it seemed to me that Iryna kept her cool under what appeared to be time pressure [if one can trust the 'time' shown on the clocks at the MonRoi website where I was watching the game in 'real time'] and outplayed IM Friedel until she finished with a 2 pawn advantage.  Brilliant!  But then, I'm biased toward the chess femmes).  
Airapetian, Chouchanik vs Robson, Ray 0-1 (I thought she had him, but something went wrong in the last 10 moves or so - don't ask me what; I thought Airapetian should have won this game).

2007 Frank Berry U.S. Women's Chess Championships 
July 16 - 20, 2007
Because I expect to do extensive coverage on this event, I've started a separate page for it here.

Posted May 17, 2007:

U.S. Chess Championship (Men's)
May 15 - 23, 2007 
Here are the results for the women players in Round 3:

Krush, Irina vs Mulyar, Michael 1-0 
Zenyuk, Iryna vs Movsisyan, Movses 1-0 
Braunlich, Tom vs Airapetian, Chouchanik 1/2-1/2

Susan Polgar and Paul Truong Wed 
For those of you who don't read Susan Polgar's chess blog (is there anyone who doesn't?) - she announced a few days ago that she and Paul Truong, her business manager for several years and close friend for even longer, have married.  Details were not provided.  Evidently SP felt it incumbent to make a public announcement before she and PT were ready to do so, because of - well, I'm not sure, exactly, and I'm sure I don't want to know - perhaps caused by pressure from certain quarters who are against SP's and PT's bids for seats on the United States Chess Federation Executive Board, voting takes place in June. In any event, my felicitations and best wishes to the couple.   

Posted May 16, 2007:

U.S. Chess Championship (Men's)
May 15 - 23, 2007 
Here are the results for the women players in Round 2:  

Shulman, Yury vs Krush, Irina 1-0 
Sarkar, Justin vs Zenyuk, Iryna 1-0  
Smith, Bryan vs Airapetian, Chouchanik 1-0

Posted May 15, 2007:

U.S. Chess Championship (Men's)
May 15 - 23, 2007 
Here are the results for the chess femmes who are playing in this event in Round 1 of the 2007 U.S. Chess Championship (They aren't calling it this, but it is the "Men's" championship, as the women will have their own championship sometime in July):

Krush, Irina vs Kaidanov, Gregory 1/2-1/2 
Gurevich, Dmitry vs Zenyuk, Iryna 1-0 
Airapetian, Chouchanik vs Sevillano, Enrico 0-1 

It is inexcusable that the top female chessplayers in the United States are not playing in this (what I have dubbed the "Men's" event).  Now we find out, thanks to a post done at Susan Polgar's chess blog earlier this evening, that the reigning U.S. Women's Chess Champion, Anna Zatonskih, has been insulted by the United States Chess Federation in it's failure to consult with her in arranging for dates for the (allegedly) upcoming U.S. Women's Chess Championship to be held!  What's even worse, allegedly the USCF has shown favoritism toward one U.S. woman player - who was unnamed in the email.  Here is the post:

Today, I was copied on another email by the reigning US Women's Champion. Here are some parts of this important email:

"At the moment there is no official information from USChess Federation, although, according to some other sources, the female US Championship could start as early as mid-July. As far as I understood, this event is going to be held 16-20th of July, which means we would have to play two rounds a day.

I believe these dates to be unacceptable from every point of view: firstly it is an important event and WCh. Qualification, and secondly, this tough schedule would make my own participation almost impossible (for reasons you are well aware of). Furthermore, it is made clear, that this schedule was partly created to fit into plans of a certain player and exact days were never discussed with other participants.

Another major point I would like to mention is that the idea to give places in World Women Championship from US Men Championship sounds to me both absurd and incorrect; absurd because women have to qualify having played other women; and incorrect, because nothing ofthe kind was initially mentioned in the contracts.

Furthermore, some players would thus get two chances to qualify and others only one. I think it is in everybody’s interests that USCF makes an official statement clarifying all this, so that all the people involved could discuss the situation. I don’t believe that decisions, taken at the last moment, or even, as it happened in 2004 with WCh. Qualifications, after the events, help us to develop chess in USA."

Best regards,
Anna Zatonskih
US Women’s Champion

What on earth is going on with the USCF and what - really - is going on with the 2007 U.S. Women's Chess Championship?  I would like to know!

EWS Cup
(Added June 16, 2007) May 15 - 22, 2007
Jakarta
Official Website 

EWS Cup Jakarta INA (INA), 15-22 v 2007               cat. I (2273)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

                                        1  2  3  4  5  6 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

1 Pokorna, Regina          wg SVK 2343 ** 0= 10 == 11 11  6.5  2368

2 Krivec, Jana             wm SLO 2341 1= ** 01 1= =0 =1  6.0  2330

3 Sukandar, Irine Kharisma wf INA 2217 01 10 ** == 10 11  6.0  2355

4 Karlovich, Anastazia     wg UKR 2266 == 0= == ** == =1  5.0  2273

5 Zdebskaja, Natalia       wg UKR 2335 00 =1 01 == ** 1=  5.0  2260

6 Lindiawati, Evi             INA 2133 00 =0 00 =0 0= **  1.5  2004

-------------------------------------------------------------------  

Posted May 13, 2007:

Happy Mothers' Day!  Yesterday there was big news about Susan Polgar.  She gave two commencement speeches at Texas Tech University and in-between the speeches, she was awarded an honorary doctorate degree.  Then, an announcement was made that Texas Tech will be home to the newly-formed Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence.  SP will be the Director and chief coach, and Paul Truong will be the business manager and assistance coach.  From the description in various news articles, SPICE promises to be a major force for chess research and development in the United States.  Polgar and Truong will be locating from New York City to Lubbock, Texas.  Polgar stated at her blog that she will keep the Polgar Chess Center open and will continue to organize and sponsor chess championships for girls and boys.  Wow. What a major, life-changing event.  Congratulations to Susan Polgar and Paul Truong.

Added May 25, 2007: 
Liechtenstein Open 
May 11 - 19, 2007 
1. Baburin, Alexander g IRL 2545 7,5/9; 15. Foisor, Cristina Adela m ROM 2384 6,0; 16. Repkova, Eva wg SVK 2328 6,0; 19. Vijayalakshmi, Subbaraman m IND 2424 6,0; 20. Sedina, Elena m ITA 2352 6,0; 

Posted May 9, 2007:  

New York Women's State Chess Championship 
Some results of the New York State Women's Chess Chamionship were reported at Susan Polgar's blog today: (1) Elizabeth Vicary, 3.5; (2 -4) with 3.0 Darrian Robinson, Alena Kuzniatsova and Rochelle Ballantyne.  Congratulations to Elizabeth Vicary.  Here is a recent news article about Darrian:

Darrian Robinson is 12 years old, ranked third in the United States among girls under 13.  Last year, Darrian represented the United States at the World Youth Chess Tournament in 2006 in the Democratic Republic of Georgia. She was the only Black from the United States, which it is common for her to be in competitions. At nationals, boys can outnumber girls at least 15-to-1. At invitationals, such as the World Youth Chess Tournament, girls and boys are equally represented.  Read Darrian's story.

Added May 25, 2007: 
Grand Prix Open Galatzi 
May 8 - 15, 2007 
Romania 
Official website 
9 round Swiss, 65 players.  1. Jianu Vlad-Cristian IM 2506 7.5.  24. Cosma Elena Luminita WGM 2373 5.0.  37. Sterpu Constanta-Andreea 1024 4.5.  53.  Costache Valerica 684 3.0.  59. Veduta Anastase 401 2 1/2.  60.  Costea Ghita 415 2 1/2.  61.  Mastacan Camelia 556 2.0.  

Posted May 8, 2007:  

Watch out Grandmasters! 
World School Chess champ Sweety wants to become youngest grandmaster 
Malaysia Sun
Tuesday 8th May, 2007  
(ANI)
Eight year old Sweety Patel of Gujurat (Surat), India, won the Under-9 category World School Chess Championship held in Greece on May 6.  Now she has her sights set on becoming the world youngest GM.

Posted May 7, 2007:

Ostravsky Konik 
April 28 - May 6, 2007 
Czech Republic
There was a GM event and an Open.  One chess femme participated in the Open event (35 players): 33 WFM Leks Hanna 2175 POL 5,5.  The event was won by IM Sergeev Vladimir 2449 UKR with 7.0.  

This was news to me.  I found the report in a Vietnamese newspaper article:

World Women's Team Championship to run from May 19-30 in Ekaterinburg, Russia
According to the world's chess governing body FIDE, the ten best women's teams are eligible to attend the first edition of the tournament to be held at four-year intervals, including four continental team champions, five top teams at world Olympiad, and a host.  

According to the world's chess governing body FIDE, the ten best women's teams are eligible to attend the first edition of the tournament to be held at four-year intervals, including four continental team champions, five top teams at world Olympiad, and a host.

Among the participants are Ukraine, Russia, China, Armenia, Georgia, Netherlands, Poland, Vietnam, Botswana, and the tenth team to represent the American continent to be decided later.

The World Chess Team Championship for Women is the sequel to the Women's Continental Team Championships and the Women's Chess Olympiad.

Source: FIDE, Tuoi Tre - Compiled by Minh Phat

Who will be the team representing America? The 2006 Women's Olympiad Team was WGM Anna Zatonskih, IM Irina Krush, WGM Rusudan Goletiani, WGM Camilla Baginskaite.  Krush will be playing in the 2007 U.S. Championship that begins May 15th and runs through the 23rd; Zatonskih is not playing in that event because she recently gave birth to her first child.  Susan Polgar said at her blog that Goletiani would not be playing in the U.S. Championship for personal reasons.  Baginskaite must have turned them down, because she's much higher rated than the other two women who will be playing in Stillwater so perhaps she is not available either.

Even if all of the players were available, the USCF can't afford to pay for the women to go to Ekaterinburg to play!  Amazing that Vietnam can afford to send its team, but the USA cannot.

As per usual, there is not a word of this anywhere at the USCF website.

Wunderkind Wu 
Washington Post, May 7, 2007, Page 10C
A striking victory by an 11-year-old Virginia girl over an experienced local master, rated more than 600 points above her! Kathrine Wu is a sixth-grader at Louise Archer Elementary School in Vienna.  In March in Chicago, she won the Under-12 National All-Girls Championship.

At the George Mason Open, played April 28-29 in Arlington, Wu lost the first game but recovered remarkably, winning the next four games.  In the end she tied for third place, one point behind the winner, International Master Oladapo Adu, who won all five games. (This was not a scholastic event).  

The highlight of the event was Wu's defeat of the veteran master John Meyer, who chose to defend with the Najdorf Sicilian. Wu's fearless play was extraordinary.

Wu-Meyer

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e6 7.Be3 b5 8.Qd2 Bb7 9.0-0-0 Nc6 10.g4 Rc8 11.h4 Qa5 12.Nb3 Qc7 13.Kb1 Ne5 14.Be2 Be7 15.h5 h6 16.g5 hxg5 17.Bxg5 b4 18.Na4 Bxe4 19.Nd4 Bb7 20.h6 gxh6 21.Bxh6 d5 22.Bg7 Rxh1 23.Rxh1 Ng6 24.Bd3 Kd7 25.Bxg6 fxg6 26.Bxf6 Bxf6 27.Rh7+ Be7 28.Qxb4 Ke8 29.Rh8+ Kf7 30.Rh7+ Kf6 31.Qe1 Qd6 32.Qh4+ g5 33.Rh6+ Ke5 34.Rxe6+ Qxe6 35.Qe1+ Kxd4 36.Qxe6 Black resigned. 

Posted May 6, 2007:

The Kerela (India) State Women's Chess Championship will be held May 7-9, 2007.  Four spots are at stake in the National "B" Tournament later this year.  

Humpy Walks Untrodden Chess Path 
A brief feature article about the Indian star.  

Chess Princess Justine Brown 
Justine, age 10, is the new chess champion of her school district in Laconia, New Hampshire.  

Added May 21, 2007:
Luigi G. Amalfi Festival 
May 6 - 13, 2007 
Elba Island, Italy 
The event was won by GM Miso Cebalo (CRO 2491) with 8.5/9.  Chess femmes who participated in this event and their final standings:  21 4.5  BRUNELLO Marina (ITA 1924); 32 3.5 WFM SCHMITZ Manuela (GER 2048).

Added May 21, 2007:  
First Saturday 
May 5 - 15, 2007 
The FSIM event was won by Galyas, Miklos m HUN 2444 with 9.5/11.  Only one chess femme participated in this event, Vazirova, Karina wf RUS 2150, who finished in 4th place with 6.0.  

Posted May 17, 2007: 

IX Open Internacional d'Escacs Vila de Salou 
May 3- 11, 2007 
65 players.  The event was won by GM Kbragim Khamrakulov (ESP 2545), with 7.5/9.  Chess femmes who participated and their final standings:  (20 Im Ana Matnadze (GE) 2384), 5.0; (40) Ana Maria Vargas Ramirez (COL 1763), 4.0; (47) Ia Macharashvili (GEO 1700), 3.5; (52) Francisca Pino Munoz (ESP 1686), 3.0; (55) Pilar Sogues Tena (ESP 1742), 3.0; and (64) Lilia Markina (RUS 1700), 3.0.

Posted May 1, 2007:  
IM/WGM Viji Subbaraman (IND 2425) has earned her third GM norm and, once she gets her ELO to 2500, will become India's second woman to have earned a GM title.  The story was reported at The Hindu.  Congratulations to Viji!

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