Magnus Carlsen Wins 7th Mikhail Tal Chess Memorial 2012

It seems chess goddess Caissa is particularly kind to world chess #1 Norway's Magnus Carlsen as not only did the talented genius pull off a crucial last-round victory, but the overnight leader Italy's Fabiano Caruana lost as well giving Magnus Carlsen the 7th Mikhail Tal Memorial Chess Tournament title late in Moscow on Monday. A fantastic victory for the Mozart of Chess - in all probability the would-be world chess champion one day - Magnus Carlsen!

7th Mikhail Tal Chess Memorial 2012 winners
(from left) Teimour Radjabov, third;
Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana, second.

Fabiano Caruana got taken in by Levon Aronian's home prep. Carlsen left nothing to chance by convincingly beating Luke McShane for a clear first. Teimour Radjabov drew against Hikaru Nakamura and had to settle for third behind Fabiano Caruana on tiebreak. Caruana actually needed only a draw to manage shared first at least.

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Tal Chess Memorial Round 8: Fabiano Caruana Takes Lead

Italy's Fabiano Caruana shot into the lead with a nice win over Russia's Vladimir Kramnik in the eight round at the Tal Chess Memorial on Sunday. Kramnik not only lost a pawn, but in self-destruct mode, committed an endgame blunder as well. What has been amazing at the tournament is that leader from the beginning, Alexander Morozevich has suddenly lost three games in a row. Vladimir Kramnik, who joined Morozevich in the lead, has lost two games in a row.

This is how they cheer chess players in Moscow...

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Kazan Chess Round 7: Armenia's Elina Danielian Holds on to Lead

Armenia's Elina Danielian has got a strong hold over the Kazan Women's Chess Grand Prix by the end of Round 7. Danielian drew with former women's world chess champion to maintain her lead. Her depth of understanding an endgame defence in a complicated situation against a former world chess champion was evident. 

Viktorija Cmilyte

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Tal Chess Memorial Round 7: Both Overnight Leaders Morozevich, Kramnik Lose

The seventh round at the 7th Tal Memorial saw two upsets - both the joint overnight leaders losing their games! Not only did Alexander Morozevich lost his second game in a row to last seed Evgeny Tomashevsky, but joint leader and former world chess champion Vladimir Kramnik lost to Luke McShane as well. This allowed five players now in joint lead.

The pawns must be fed on tea or coffee regularly

So, that's the strategy...

Must be careful about strategy stealers

For Heaven's Sake Don't Move the Queen

Results:

1. Radjabov - Caruana draw

2. Aronian - Grischuk draw

3. Nakamura - Carlsen draw

4. Tomashevsky - Morozevich 1-0

5. McShane - Kramnik 1-0

Standings:1-5. Morozevich, Carlsen, Radjabov, Kramnik, Caruana - 4

6. Nakamura - 3.5

7-9. Grischuk, Aronian, McShane - 3

10. Tomashevsky - 2,5

The Tal Chess Memorial is being held at the Pashkov House in Moscow with 10 of the world's top players from June 8-18. You can watch the games live at the official website from India time 7.30 pm. Rest days were June 11 and 15. The time control is 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. Draw offers are not allowed until after the first time control. The prize fund is 100,000 euros.  (Photos by Eteri Kublashvili official website of the Russian Chess Federation.)

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Kazan Chess Round 6: Armenia's Elina Danielian Maintains Sole Lead With Win Over Nadezhda Kosintseva

Armenia's Elina Danielian is on a roll at the Women's Chess Grand Prix Series 2011-2012 in Kazan. Scoring back to back victories, she maintains her sole lead after six rounds. Anna Muzychuk, who had caught up with Danielian in joint lead, could only score a draw in the sixth round against a very determined former women's world chess champion Alexandra Kosteniuk. The tense game could only end in a draw.

 

Tatiana Kosintseva - Elina Danielian 0-1 

Antoaneta Stefanova-Hou Yifan 0-1

Meanwhile, Katerina Lahno playing with Black tried her best to gain advantage of Alisa Galliamova's badly placed Knight and scored the win with the latter coming under time pressure. Tatiana Kosintseva scored the first win for herself by beating Betul Yildiz. Yildiz's only win in the tournament has actually come against top seed women's world chess champion Hou Yifan. The Turkish player underestimated Black’s Queenside attack.

In the other games, women's world chess champion China's Hou Yifan obtained a better middlegame position against former women's world chess champion Bulgaria's Antoaneta Stefanova. Yifan then went on to implement a decisive attack and win. Another tense game, Koneru-Cmilte, finished in a draw.

After six rounds of play, Elina Danielian leads with 4.5 points. Katerina Lahno and Anna Muzychuk share the second place with half a point behind. Hampy Koneru and Viktorija Cmilyte are sharing 4th – 5th places with 3.5 points, followed by Nadezhda Kosintseva and Hou Yifan who are placed 6-7 with 3 points each. Alexandra Kosteniuk, Tatiana Kosintseva and Antoaneta Stefanova are at 8 – 10 spots with 2.5 points. Alisa Galliamova is currently eleventh with 2 points, followed by Betul Yildiz with 1 point. 

You can watch the Kazan chess games live at the official website from India time 4.30 pm. (Photos by Rashit Shiriyazdanov and Anastasiya Karlovich/Kazan Women's Chess Grand Prix official website.)

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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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