Six Lewis Chess Pieces to Go Home to Scotland!

The Lewis Chessmen are one of the most fascinating and oldest chess sets in the world. They are currently houses in the British Museum. But, now at least six of these famous chess pieces would return to the find a permanent home at the new Museum and Archive at Lews Castle when it opens in 2014 after a £13.5m revamp project.

Scotland Western Isles MP MacNeil has called for the return of all the 82 pieces. Some 11 pieces are housed in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Former culture minister in Scotland Linda Fabiani had visited London to make a public case for the return of the complete set of the Lewis Chessmen back to Scotland. But, the appeal was turned down as it could trigger further such demands for the return of precious antiques and artefacts.

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Tal Chess Memorial Round 5: Morozevich in Sole Lead; Teimour Tries Scotch and Loses to Carlsen

World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen

Alexander Morozevich - In Sole Lead

The fifth day of game play at the 7th Tal Chess Memorial currently being played at the Pashkov House in Moscow saw two decisive games. Alexander Morozevich capitalised on Aronian's piece sacrifice for several pawns as the latter drifted into a loss. Magnus Carlsen continued with his out-for-a-win attack and won over overnight joint leader Teimour Radjabov. The other games were a draw, but not without efforts by all players. The 7th edition of the Tal Chess Memorial includes 10 players vying for the title over a round-robin format from June 8 to 18. Rest days are June 11 and 15. Time control: 100 minutes for the first 40 moves, 50 minutes for the next 20 moves, and 15 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move one. Games can be viewed live online at the official website. The prize fund is 100,000 Euros.

Round 5: Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Alexander Grischuk-Fabiano Caruana 1/2-1/2
Teimour Radjabov-Magnus Carlsen 0-1
Levon Aronian-Alexander. Morozevich 0-1
Hikaru Nakamura-Vladimir Kramnik 1/2-1/2
Evgeny Tomashevsky-Luke McShane 1/2-1/2

Standings after Round 5
1. Morozevich - 4

2-4. Carlsen, Radjabov, Kramnik - 3

5. Caruana - 2,5

6-9. Grischuk, Aronian, Nakamura, McShane - 2

10. Tomashevsky - 1,5

You can view the Carlsen-Radjabov game in our Chess King applet by expanding this post. (Photos by Eteri Kublashvili/Official website.)

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Kazan Chess Grand Prix Round 3: Muzychuk, Danielian Lead

Hou Yifan versus Tatiana Kosintseva
in Round 3 of Kazan Chess Grand Prix

Fighting chess continued at the Fide Women's Chess Grand Prix in Kazan Round 3. There were four decisive games on the third day of play. Alexandra Kosteniuk and Alisa Galliamova lost their games in tough fights against Nadezhda Kosintseva and Viktorija Cmilyte respectively. Viktorija Cmilyte went for fireworks and beat the Russian. Kosteniuk was in a comfortable position and could have pulled off a draw in an entertaining game, but tried a risky line as usual fighting for 78 moves - the longest game of the third round. Elina Danielian lost to Betul Yildiz and Hou Yifan beat Tatiana Kosintseva with black.

Standings after Round 3 
1-3. Anna Muzychuk, Elina Danielian 2
4-10. Viktorija Cmilyte, Nadehda Kosintseva, Antoaneta Stefanova, Kateryna Lahno, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Koneru Humpy, Alisa Galliamova 1.5
11-12. Betul Yildiz, Tatiana Kosintseva 1

You can watch the Kazan Chess Grand Prix for Women Live at the official website daily from India time 4.30 pm.

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Fischer-Spassky 1972 World Chess Championship Chess Board, Table, Pieces to be Auctioned this Thursday in Copenhagen

The Drawing of Lots Ceremony in
Laugardalshöll Arena in 1972:
GM Harry Golombek (UK) to the left introducing the contestants. Fischer has arrived at long last, standing next to Golombek. In the middle stands Gudmundur G. Thorarinsson, chairman of the Organizing Committee, and Spassky can be seen beside him. On the stage behind the contestants are GM Efim Geller (USSR), GM Bill Lombardy (USA) and GM Nikolai Krogius (USSR). The two arbiters Lother Schmid (Germany) and G. Arnlaugsson (Iceland) were also present on the stage, but cannot be seen in the photo.

Bruun Rasmussen, Copenhagen, would auction Bobby Fischer chess memorabilia on June 14, Thursday, in Copenhagen. The auction is being held on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the greatest chess match in history - the 1972 Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer World Championship. 

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Carlsen Crazy Chess Game Against Grischuk - Tal Chess Memorial Round 4

Magnus Carlsen - the world No. 1 - can be the talk of the chess world even when he plays a draw. That's the most fascinating aspect of this genius chess player. Playing at the Tal Chess Memorial in Round 4 in Moscow on Tuesday, Magnus Carlsen went all out to fetch a win against Alexander Grischuk. However, the Russian Grandmaster was up to the challenge. A great fireworks game that must be viewed. The game ended in a draw, but not without new chess ideas and lots of excitement. You must watch it in our Chess King game applet.

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Tal Chess Memorial Round 4: Radjabov, Morozevich Hold on to Lead

The draws in the fourth round of the 7th Tal Memorial don't tell the whole story. Magnus Carlsen  with three draws in the previous rounds - went all out to try crazy stuff against Alexander Grischuk. The game ended in a draw after some amazing ideas from the World No. 1. 

 

Morozevich and Radjabov - the overnight leaders - chose to play out a draw. Fabiano Caruana got a win over Evgeny Tomashevsky. 

The 7th Tal Chess Memorial is a 10-player round robin taking place in the beautiful Pashkov House in Moscow from June 8-18. The next rest day will be on June 15. Time control: 100 minutes to complete 40 moves and 50 minutes for 20 moves, followed by 15 minutes for the rest of the moves. There is a 30-second increment from the first move. You can watch the games live on the official website. Draw offers are not allowed before the first time control. The Tal Chess Memorial prize fund is 100,000 euros.

 

Round 4: Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Fabiano Caruana - Evgeny Tomashevsky 1-0
Luke McShane - Hikaru Nakamura 1/2-1/2
Vladimir Kramnik - Levon Aronian 1/2-1/2
Alexander Morozevich - Teimour Radjabov 1/2-1/2
Magnus Carlsen - Alexander Grischuk 1/2-1/2

Round four standings1-2. Morozevich, Radjabov – 3

3. Kramnik – 2.5

4-6. Aronian, Carlsen, Caruana – 2

7-9. Grischuk, McShane, Nakamura - 1.5

10. Tomashevsky – 1 

(Photos: Eteri Kublashvili/Russian Chess Federation.)

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