Kasparov Explains Why his "Algorithm Will Work for Change in FIDE"

Former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov announced his candidacy for the FIDE election 2014 in Tallinn, Estonia yesterday. You can keep track of Kasparov's team and campaign at the official website: http://kasparov2014.com/. Here's an exclusive Chess.com video interview (must-watch at that) right after the Kasparov candidacy announcement.  

Read more »

Breaking: Kasparov to Contest FIDE Presidency Election 2014

Former World Chess Champion Anatoly Karpov had, in June this year, said in an interview to Swiss newspaper 'Nasha Gazeta' that he thought Garry Kasparov would run for FIDE presidency in 2014. 

A few minutes back, Kasparov formally made the announcement at the 84th 84th FIDE Congress in Tallinn. The news is already all over the Internet and we first picked it up via the Chess-News.ru twitter. The current President of FIDE Kirsan Ilymzhinov had already announced his candidature earlier in the morning session of the Congress. Ilyumzhinov also announced that he would be further putting in one million euros for the Chess In School program. 

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has been President of FIDE since 1995. He won a second time in 2010 after defeating Anatoly Karpov with 95 votes to 55. Later, Karpov and Ilyumzhinov had supposedly buried their "differences".  

Garry Kasparov became the World Chess Champion in 1985 after beating Anatoly Karpov. Kasparov announced his ticket on Monday and his team as including Rex Sinquefield, Ignatius Leong, Afrika Msimang, Jan Callewaert and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Ahmed Al Hamed.

Karpov had, in June, said: "I... (hesitates). You know, I am so fed up with Ilyumzhinov's team that... I have a good relationship personally with Ilyumzhinov, but his team is totally corrupt, absolutely useless in managing chess. They, however, set up a system that struck on the image of the International Olympic Committee in Salt Lake City, as well as on the image of different federations. I think exactly this system has reached its peak in chess. Unfortunately, this isn't actively discussed and covered, but something has to be done with the current situation - apart from making useless decisions, they also intervene with chess rules, which is intolerable."

In another question by 'Nasha Gazeta' on whether Kasparov could count on support in Russia, Karpov had said, "No, he can't. Moreover, the Russian Chess Federation will work against him, this is obvious. When I was running for FIDE presidency, against Ilyumzhinov, the federation first voted for me. Russia supported me and then "changed" the position of federation under wild pressure."

The FIDE Chess game begins and we thought all the excitement would end with the Anand vs Carlsen World Chess Championship 2013 in Chennai.  

Read more »

Russian Chess Super Final Begins, Watch Live India Time 4.30 pm

How many World Chess Champions and how many Grandmasters can you spot? Photos: Eteri Kublashvili

Which chess country can boast of the strongest national chess tournament in the world? It has to be Russia. The Russian Chess Superfinal opening ceremony was held in Nizhny Novgorod today. The event was attended by the sponsor of the tournament Gennady Timchenko, the Chairman of the Board of RCF Ilya Levitov and Deputy Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region, Dmitry Svatkovsky, Olympic champion in 2000 on the Olympic pentathlon.

Gennady Timchenko and Ilya Levitov told the audience that the project "Chess in museums" will continue, and the Russian Chess Federation, together with the charitable foundation "Ladoga" and will continue to promote chess in the Russian regions. Former World Chess Champion Vladimir Kramnik said so far he has not won the Russian national chess championship and that will be a strong incentive for him to fight for first place. 

Dmitry Svatkovsky welcomed the guests to Nizhniy Novgorod expressed the hope that the Super Final will help promote chess in his hometown.

After the press conference, the draw was held for the Round 1 pairings:

Men.

Kramnik - A. Shomo, P. Svidler - Ya Nepomnyashchii, D. Andrejkin - S. Karjakin, A. Goganov - Vitiugov N. and A. Motylev-E. Inarkiev.

Women.
D. Charochkina - Kosintzeva T., A. Bodnaruk - Kashlinskaya A., V. Gunina - Goryachkina A., B. Kovanova - Kosteniuk, A. and N. Pogonina - E. Kovalevskaya.

After the draw, a concert was organised with performances by Honored Artist of Russia, pianist Nikolai Lugansky and outstanding cellist Alexander Knyazev.

The live broadcast of the event will be held daily at the official Russian Chess Federation website from India time 4.30 pm. 

Read more »