International Chess Olympiad for the Blind in Chennai from Aug 9

The International Braille Chess Association (IBCA) www.ibca-info.org and the All India Chess Federation For The Blind (AICFB) www.aicfb.in are organising the 14th IBCA Chess Olympiad for the blind at Hotel ‘Le Royal Méridien’ in Chennai, India from August 9-20. The Hotel ‘Le Royal Méridien’ is one of the best five star deluxe hotels of the city and is known for its sprawling and landscaped lawns. Once a tiny fishing village, Chennai (formerly Madras) is now an international metropolis, the home town of World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand, and a cultural centre. 

Read more »

Stefanova Leads Women's World Chess Blitz in Batumi after 9 Rounds; Kosteniuk, Koneru, Harika Right Behind

Fantastic Chess continued on the third of the Batumi Women's World Rapid Chess Championship on Saturday in Georgia. Overnight joint leaders Antoaneta Stefanova and Koneru Humpy had varying fortunes. Stefanova is now sole leader after nine rounds with 7.5 points as she drew with Koneru Humpy, beat Nino Khurtsidze and Kateryna Lahno. Humpy, on the other hand, after drawing with Stefanova, lost to Kateryna Lahno and beat Guo Qi. That dropped Humpy to joint third with Kateryna Lahno and Anna Muzychuk.


Opening ceremony of the Batumi
Women's World Chess Championship.
In hot pursuit behind Stefanova is the very talented 12th Women's World Chess Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk. Her fiery attacks and sharp play fetched her a draw against Huang Qian, plus two superlative wins over Elisabeth Paehtz and Tan Zhongyi.

Read more »

Women's World Rapid Chess Championship in Batumi: Koneru Humpy Leads with Stefanova; Alexandra Kosteniuk Upsets Top Seed Muzychuk

Exciting chess is defining the Women's World Rapid Chess Championship currently on in Batumi, Georgia. The first six rounds have been played and already the 12th Women's World Chess Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk has beaten top seed Anna Anna Muzychuk of Slovakia. The attacking champion is in joint second place after six rounds even as India's Koneru Humpy and Bulgaria's Antoaneta Stefanova lead just a half point more. Apart from Humpy, India's other player Harika Dronavalli is doing pretty well too. Here are great video reports of the proceedings so far:








The top standings at the Women's World Rapid Chess Championship 2012 after six rounds is as follows:

1		GM	Koneru Humpy	IND	2589	5.0	17.0	24.5	2708
2		GM	Stefanova Antoaneta	BUL	2518	5.0	14.5	21.5	2720
3		GM	Kosteniuk Alexandra	RUS	2457	4.5	15.5	23.0	2714
4		WGM	Huang Qian	CHN	2417	4.5	15.0	22.5	2716
5			Wang Jue	CHN	2364	4.5	12.5	20.0	2706
6		GM	Lahno Kateryna	UKR	2546	4.5	12.5	18.5	2623
7		GM	Zhao Xue	CHN	2549	4.0	16.0	24.0	2596
8		GM	Cramling Pia	SWE	2478	4.0	15.5	21.5	2588
9		GM	Muzychuk Anna	SLO	2598	4.0	13.0	19.0	2510
10		IM	Paehtz Elisabeth	GER	2491	4.0	12.5	17.5	2545

Three rounds would be played on Saturday - 7,8, and 9. The top pairings for Saturday include Stefanova-Humpy, Lahno-Jue, Kosteniuk-Huang, Muzychuk-Cramling, and Zhongyi-Harika.


You can watch the Batumi chess championship live from India time 4.30 pm onwards at the official website. 

Read more »