Good Luck Vishy, says Modi

World Chess Championship 2014 in Sochi between five-time World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand and reigning World Chess Champion Magnus Carlse: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today extended his good wishes to Indian chess wizard Viswanathan Anand as he prepared to reclaim the World Championships title from Norwegian Magnus Carlsen in Sochi, Russia from tomorrow. 

 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with five-time World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand. Press photo from the Gujarat Swarnim Chess Mahotsav, 2010.

"Good Luck Vishy! Conveying my best wishes to our pride, Viswanathan Anand for the World Chess Championship in Sochi," Modi tweeted.

The much-awaited clash will conclude on November 28 during which Anand will take on Carlsen in a repeat of the 2013 World Championships.

The Indian had been outwitted on his home turf of Chennai by Carlsen the last time around. Anand earned a shot at the title by winning Candidate's Tournament earlier this year. -- PTI

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Sunday Photo Chess Trivia: Name the Girls Challenging Magnus Carlsen

Here are two photos of the very talented World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen across the chess board with two very interesting (and talented young ladies). Can you name the girls?

The first photo is by Espen Agdestein (World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen's manager) and the second photo is by Tata Steel Chess Press from the tournament earlier this year. For the answers, just select with your cursor (horizontally) the white space after this colon:  Liv Tyler and Hou Yifan.  Hope you are also following our special articles at www.worldchesschampionship2013.com on the 2013 World Chess Championship Match Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen coming up in November. Carlsen leads our online poll so far and you can vote at the site as well for your choice of the World Chess Champion 2013!

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Kasparov for a Powerful New Image to Chess Minus Kirsan

Garry Kasparov Updates from Mosow, Franfurt and New York: The Frankfurter Allgemeine story about legendary 13th World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov´s commitment to ousting FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov from in the 2014 elections is now online at the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sports Section. The interview was conducted by Stefan Loffler in Moscow on the sidelines of the recently-concluded 2012 Anand-Gelfand World Chess Championship Match. 

Kasparov´s emphasis is on replacing the current FIDE

President. His own candidacy is quite possible but far from a
certainty. The day the interview was published (June 14) in the print edition of FAZ, FIDE announced another meeting of Kirsan Ilyumzhinov with members of the Syrian regime.

Kasparov is quoted in the interview as saying, Ilyumzhinov has damaged the image of chess because the moment you google Fide, all you come up with is Assad, Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein so no international sponsor would like to connect with Fide. 

Kasparov has reiterated that the Sports Page is not enough and Chess needs a powerful new image for its educational value. 

Also Read on B&W:

Kasparov Clarifies Remarks About Fide Presidency Candidature

Breaking Chess News: Kasparov Committed to Ousting Fide Chief Ilyumzhinov

World Chess Fed: Karpov Says Major Leadership Changes Required

Kasparov with Michael Khodarkovsky, president of the Kasparov Chess Foundation. (Mig Greengard)

Meanwhile, on June 16, the Garry Kasparov Foundation celebrated their 10th anniversary in New York. There is a detailed report in The Daily Beast. Kasparov spoke about the political regime in Russia and its excesses, chess in schools, Fide president and links with dictators, etc. A detailed article that's a must read.

For the occasion, Kasparov was honored with a cake, and students from all over the area gathered for a “friendly tournament.” Michael Khodarkovsky, the director of the foundation and a longtime friend of Kasparov from their days on the chess circuit in the Soviet Union, explained that all the kids would be getting a medal for just participating.

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Media Blitz, Corporate Strategy to Make Chess Super-Popular!

Andrew Paulson - Chess Vision

Leading design agency Pentagram has been hired to rebrand the World Chess Championships, after the World Chess Federation (FIDE) accorded the commercial rights to the sport to technology entrepreneur Andrew Paulson.

Mr Paulson struck the deal with Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, president of FIDE, to host the championships and provide long-term commercial structure for the game, with an increased prize fund of 5.4 million euros, according to a latest press release.

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World Chess Championship 2013 - Who Will Challenge Vishy? Will Chennai be the Venue?

Boris Gelfand-Viswanathan Anand Photo:
Official World Chess Championship 2012 Website.

World Chess Championship 2012 in Moscow generated enough excitement that chess lovers already want to know details of the next world chess championship! For now, the latest update is that the World Chess Championship 2013 could be held by Fide in October-November 2013.

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Super Chess Radio Show The Full English Breakfast Episode 22

Give it to the British for fine humour and surreal chess... Now, you can add a must-listen chess radio show as well to the list. 

Folks, if you are not listening to the Full English Breakfast, there's something seriously wrong with your chess diet! Episode number 22 speaks about how to check draws in world chess championship matches, Hikaru Nakamura interview soundbites from the US Chess Championship, and Viswanathan Anand press conference from the World Chess Championship 2012! Use the flash player below to hear the show, or head to The Full English Breakfast website. You can watch a previous B&W post for the full video interview with Hikaru Nakamura conducted by Jennifer Shahade.
   

   
   
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Don't go to sleep tonight without listening to The Full English Breakfast Chess Radio Show number 22.

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Is Anand Afraid of Gelfand @ 2012 World Chess Championship, Asks Israeli Newspaper

Eli Shvidler, writing in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz has an interesting analysis to write. The report titled 'Armaggedon beckons for Gelfand and Anand' discusses the tiebreak format first. Then, it takes up the statistics.

Shvidler writes: The dry statistics are very heavily in Anand's favor. In lightning games, he holds an 8-1 advantage over Gelfand. However, Anand's last victory over his Israeli rival was in 2007; since then, they each have one victory.

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Anand, Gelfand Game 7 Moves at 2012 World Chess Championship; Israel's Gelfand Wins, Leads 4-3

Game 7 of World Chess Championship 2012
in Moscow between Viswanathan Anand
and Boris Gelfand. Photo: Fide.

Game 7 Result Gelfand-Anand: 1-0

Match Score Gelfand-Anand: 4.0-3.0

The seventh game proved to be the first decisive game of the Anand Gelfand World Chess Championship 2012 in Moscow. The challenger seemed to have come prepared for Anand's Slav Defense that had stood by the world champion in previous games with Black in the world chess championship so far. The match is not over yet. The one question everyone has is how will reigning world chess champion Vishy Anand win back tomorrow?

Tomorrow, on May 21, Viswanathan Anand plays White Game 8 of the 2012 World Chess Match. Today, the 12th World Chess Champion Anatoly Karpov was the honoured guest at the match. 


The World Chess Championship 2012 is being staged in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, between the current World Champion Viswanathan Anand of India and the winner of the Candidates tournament Boris Gelfand of Israel. The match includes 12 games and lasts from May 11-30. The prize fund is US $2.55 million, the winner getting $1.53 million (60%), the loser $1,02 million (40%). You can check the complete world chess championship schedule and format here.


Replay Anand Gelfand 2012 World Chess Championship Game 7 Moves with in chess game applet Chess King.

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Dream Chess Lineup for Any World Championship Format

Saturday May 19 is rest day at the Anand Gelfand 2012 world chess championship being played in Moscow. Here is a fun post for the rest day. Maybe, if there were a chess tournament to decide the strongest chess player in the world, we could invite a dream line-up. No statistics whether this is a recommended format or something. This is just a fun idea. Of course, we are leaving out Viswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand because they are already playing. You might imagine the chess we would witness as fans if such a tournament were to take place!


Dream Chess Lineup for Any World Championship Tournament

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Kasparov Comments Anand Gelfand 2012 Game 6 at Moscow World Chess Championship - Anand, Gelfand Remarks Updated

Gary Kasparov was in the Anand Gelfand 2012 World Chess Championship commentary room on Friday in Moscow during the sixth game. Of course you could view the complete recording of the live broadcast of the Anand Gelfand Match 6 at the official website. (Photo: Fide)

Here are excerpts of all the Gary Kasparov comments made during Game 6 with commentators GM Peter Svidler and New in Chess editor Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam.

Click to read Gary Kasparov Anand Gelfand 2012 Game 6 Comments compiled by B&W.

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Gary Kasparov Press Conference Video Anand Gelfand 2012 World Chess Championship (Missing video comments transcript updated)

Eugene Potemkin recorded this press conference at the Anand Gelfand 2012 World Chess Championship in Moscow on May 18 during Game 6. As always it is worth hearing what legendary chess-player-turned politician has to say. A recording is also available at the official website.

Another video by popular Indian chess journalist Vijay Kumar.

Abridged transcript of press conference comments by Gary Kasparov at Anand Gelfand 2012 World Chess Championship in Moscow via the official website: Click here

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