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Timman among the leaders after 3 rounds at the Dutch Open
Official website: http://onk.schaakbond.nl
Leaders after 3 rounds:
Rank Name Score M/F Rating
1 GM Giri, Anish 4.0 M 2518
2 GM Timman, Jan H 3.5 M 2569
3 GM Nijboer, Friso 3.5 M 2552
4 FM Miedema, Roi 3.5 M 2432
5 GM Ernst, Sipke 3.0 M 2598
6 GM L'Ami, Erwin 3.0 M 2593
7 GM Vovk, Yuri 3.0 M 2567
8 GM Reinderman, Dimitri 3.0 M 2565
9 GM Ikonnikov, Vyacheslav 3.0 M 2556
10 GM Swinkels, Robin 3.0 M 2516
11 GM Vovk, Andrey 3.0 M 2506
12 IM Adhiban, B. 3.0 M 2481
13 GM Visser, Yge 3.0 M 2464
14 IM Brandenburg, Daan 3.0 M 2463
15 IM Hendriks, Willy 3.0 M 2444
16 IM Bitalzadeh, Ali 3.0 M 2434
17 FM Burg, Twan 3.0 M 2422
18 IM Shyam, Sundar M. 3.0 M 2415
19 IM Wohl, Aleksandar H. 3.0 M 2387
20 FM Tondivar, Babak 3.0 M 2372
21 FM Van Eijk, Sander 3.0 M 2338
22 FM Bezemer, Arno 3.0 M 2332
23 FM Otte, Marijn 3.0 M 2298
24 Ootes, Lars 3.0 M 2261
Sunday, July 26, 2009
22nd Annual North American FIDE Invitational Tournament
Day 1 of the 22nd North American FIDE Invitational kicked off with a bang as crucial early games were won.
Round 1 results:
IM Pasalic - Burgess: 1 - 0
FM Morales - FM Szmetan: 1 - 0
FM Felecan - IM Barbosa: 1 - 0
WIM Melekhina - FM Shankar: 0 - 1
IM Vishnuvardhan - Loncarevic: 1/2 - 1/2
Round 2 results:
FM Shankar - IM Barbosa: 1 - 0
WIM Melekhina - IM Pasalic - 1 - 0
FM Szmetan - FM Felecan: 1/2 - 1/2
Burgess - IM Vishnuvardhan: 0 - 1
Loncarevic - FM Morales: 0 - 1
Standings after 2 rounds
1st - 2nd: FM Shankar, FM Morales - 2/2
3rd - 4th: FM Felecan, IM Vishnvuardhan - 1.5 / 2
5th - 6th: WIM Melekhina, IM Pasalic: 1/2
7th - 8th: Loncarevic, FM Szmetan - .5/2
9th - 10th: Jon Burgess, IM Barbosa - 0 / 2
You can follow live updates on Twitter. Create an account (it’s free) and follow NACHESS on Twitter. Go to http://www.twitter.com
Good Chess to All,
Sevan A. Muradian
FIDE Arbiter and International Organizer
North American Chess Association
Round 1 results:
IM Pasalic - Burgess: 1 - 0
FM Morales - FM Szmetan: 1 - 0
FM Felecan - IM Barbosa: 1 - 0
WIM Melekhina - FM Shankar: 0 - 1
IM Vishnuvardhan - Loncarevic: 1/2 - 1/2
Round 2 results:
FM Shankar - IM Barbosa: 1 - 0
WIM Melekhina - IM Pasalic - 1 - 0
FM Szmetan - FM Felecan: 1/2 - 1/2
Burgess - IM Vishnuvardhan: 0 - 1
Loncarevic - FM Morales: 0 - 1
Standings after 2 rounds
1st - 2nd: FM Shankar, FM Morales - 2/2
3rd - 4th: FM Felecan, IM Vishnvuardhan - 1.5 / 2
5th - 6th: WIM Melekhina, IM Pasalic: 1/2
7th - 8th: Loncarevic, FM Szmetan - .5/2
9th - 10th: Jon Burgess, IM Barbosa - 0 / 2
You can follow live updates on Twitter. Create an account (it’s free) and follow NACHESS on Twitter. Go to http://www.twitter.com
Good Chess to All,
Sevan A. Muradian
FIDE Arbiter and International Organizer
North American Chess Association
Saturday, July 25, 2009
USCF Moves to Ban GM Susan Polgar
The Executive Board held a snap meeting in early July and passed a motion in "open session" to begin the process of suspending the USCF memberships of Susan Polgar and Paul Truong. SP and PT have 30 days to respond; then the EB will take final action. SP and PT may appeal this termination of their USCF memberships to the Delegates at the annual meeting next month.
This means that Susan will not be allowed to play in any USCF tournaments. Her FIDE status may be affected; it is unclear whether she may be banned from world chess altogether. Of immediate importance, as non-members, Susan and Paul will be removed from the EB without the Goichberg faction having to go to the trouble of recall votes at the Delegates Meeting and then to the membership.
The timing here allows the EB to oust them just after the annual Delegates meeting, forcing them to wait a full year before their appeal can be heard.
This action is unprecidented in USCF history. Past players have been expelled for cheating, either as players or as tournament officials, but never over political differences.
On the lawsuit front, a mediation session is scheduled next week. This action may be designed to put additional pressure on SP and PT in that.
This means that Susan will not be allowed to play in any USCF tournaments. Her FIDE status may be affected; it is unclear whether she may be banned from world chess altogether. Of immediate importance, as non-members, Susan and Paul will be removed from the EB without the Goichberg faction having to go to the trouble of recall votes at the Delegates Meeting and then to the membership.
The timing here allows the EB to oust them just after the annual Delegates meeting, forcing them to wait a full year before their appeal can be heard.
This action is unprecidented in USCF history. Past players have been expelled for cheating, either as players or as tournament officials, but never over political differences.
On the lawsuit front, a mediation session is scheduled next week. This action may be designed to put additional pressure on SP and PT in that.
Chairman of RJF Committee reacts to My 61 Memorable Games
From: Einar S Einarsson
Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 5:09 PM
Subject: RE: Edward A Trice
Sorry to hear about all of this
which pisses me and all Icelanders off totally.
What an absurd extreme and nonsense.
I contacted both F.Friedel at Chessbase.com
and D.J.t Guesendam at NIT and they do not want
dignify and publish anything about this rubbish hoax
and blog which has sunken below all common sense.
Still what Ed Trice says or asserts about me and
others of Bobby´s fair friends does not bother us a bit.
End of story.
Sincerely
Einar S. Einarsson
Chairman RJF Committee
Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 5:09 PM
Subject: RE: Edward A Trice
Sorry to hear about all of this
which pisses me and all Icelanders off totally.
What an absurd extreme and nonsense.
I contacted both F.Friedel at Chessbase.com
and D.J.t Guesendam at NIT and they do not want
dignify and publish anything about this rubbish hoax
and blog which has sunken below all common sense.
Still what Ed Trice says or asserts about me and
others of Bobby´s fair friends does not bother us a bit.
End of story.
Sincerely
Einar S. Einarsson
Chairman RJF Committee
Friday, July 24, 2009
Chess: The Musical
Why Chess in Concert?
The story of Chess (the Musical) is a turbulent one. It is a lesson in how not to produce a hit show. One day I may write a book about it, or even a musical. There is more than enough material: suspense and drama, lashings of tears and heartbreak, a galaxy of sparkling personalities (to put it tactfully) and a bunch of terrific tunes.
http://www.chessinconcert.com
For now suffice it to say that all went swimmingly with the original recording and concerts which took place in 1984. The album and two singles were substantial hits around the world and theatrical producers were soon fighting like ferrets in a sack to get hold of the stage rights. This eventually led to a West End production in May 1986, which ran for the best part of three years but was never quite the artistic nor commercial success the enthusiasm for the recordings had indicated it would be. Part of the reason for this was sheer bad luck (our original director had to abandon the show through illness shortly before the first rehearsal) and part was sheer – collective - incompetence. Recouping the then massive £4 million cost of the show in London was nevertheless a reasonable achievement.
It had never been our intention to stage the work exactly as it was on the original album. We made certain additions and alterations for the production at the Prince Edward Theatre, most of which worked. However the enforced uneasy combination of two distinguished directors’ viewpoints made for a slightly muddled version that was still being fixed way beyond opening night. Eventually it was clear that there was little point in endless tinkering with the show, which was just about holding its own – better to start again with a totally new concept for Broadway.
So drastic alterations were made, some for reasons that, at this distance, seem quite bewildering. An American book-writer joined the team (although “team” was soon to prove a less than accurate term), the operatic nature of the work thus eliminated, the storyline was changed substantially and the set was completely redesigned. Characters changed nationalities and even names; there was a different World Chess Champion at the end of the show; Merano, both song and venue, bit the dust; and a slew of new songs were added, many of which had been subtracted by opening night, with the notable exception of a new song for Florence, Someone Else’s Story, which more than held its own with the rest of the score.
Chess lasted a mere eight weeks on Broadway. Normally, that would be that for the long-term future of a humiliated show, but for some reason this one has refused to roll over and die, even in America. The reason was of course the songs, which even our misconceived Broadway escapade had not managed to destroy. Actors and singers still wanted to have a bash at the wonderful melodies, especially in auditions, and directors felt that they could put up with the confusion of the plot (a) because every few minutes another great tune turns up and (b) they could re-write chunks of the story themselves as no-one allegedly in control of the show seemed to know what the official version was anymore.
I certainly didn’t. During the past 20 years I have seen Chess on dozens of occasions in many different countries, and no two versions have been the same. Sometimes Freddie wins, sometimes Anatoly wins. Sometimes the whole show is set in the Tirol, sometimes entirely in Bangkok. One (rather good) version was set in 1960s New York, and another backstage at a Chess concert in which the actors played actors putting on a Chess concert. By far the best and most successful foreign production (not surprisingly) was the Stockholm show in 2002 - 03.
In recent years I have become more and more determined to oversee an English language version of Chess that I would be happy to recommend to all future producers and directors. I doubt whether it will be possible to prevent yet more hybrid treatments surfacing around the globe but if anybody wants to know which version has my official seal of approval then my intention is that the show unveiled at the Royal Albert Hall is it.
I accept that the plot is complex – I prefer intelligent, or sophisticated, but I would say that, wouldn’t I? I know for sure that contrary to the views of some critics way back then, the story is certainly more than plausible. Many in the real world of chess have told me it is not complex enough, as any study of chess and politics over the past 50 years will illustrate – as will a quick look at the life and antics of the late Bobby Fischer.
With the great help and support of Hugh Wooldridge, I have returned to the original album as the basis of what I hope will be the definitive version, both in story and style. There are no more than a few lines of spoken dialogue. Some songs and scenes that were added for the London and even for the Broadway stagings have been retained, and I have tweaked the odd line here and there to make the plot clearer.
The most satisfying performances of Chess any of the authors have seen were the concerts we staged across Europe at the time of the album’s release. While we hope that the work will be staged theatrically, or filmed, on as many occasions as possible, Hugh and I decided that to do full justice to the score for this important new presentation, the demands of the music had to be paramount – but of course with Wooldridge at the helm, visual and dramatic elements will be more than evident.
But in essence, Chess is as it was back in 1984. With the passing of time it is now, to its advantage, more clearly a period piece. To think that the magnificent music of Bjorn and Benny had only been known to the world for ten years when we embarked upon Chess is extraordinary; the world now knows that their music is timeless and lasting. I hope that the work I was fortunate enough to create with them will one day be recognized as a full part of their brilliant legacy.
TIM RICE
May 2008
The story of Chess (the Musical) is a turbulent one. It is a lesson in how not to produce a hit show. One day I may write a book about it, or even a musical. There is more than enough material: suspense and drama, lashings of tears and heartbreak, a galaxy of sparkling personalities (to put it tactfully) and a bunch of terrific tunes.
http://www.chessinconcert.com
For now suffice it to say that all went swimmingly with the original recording and concerts which took place in 1984. The album and two singles were substantial hits around the world and theatrical producers were soon fighting like ferrets in a sack to get hold of the stage rights. This eventually led to a West End production in May 1986, which ran for the best part of three years but was never quite the artistic nor commercial success the enthusiasm for the recordings had indicated it would be. Part of the reason for this was sheer bad luck (our original director had to abandon the show through illness shortly before the first rehearsal) and part was sheer – collective - incompetence. Recouping the then massive £4 million cost of the show in London was nevertheless a reasonable achievement.
It had never been our intention to stage the work exactly as it was on the original album. We made certain additions and alterations for the production at the Prince Edward Theatre, most of which worked. However the enforced uneasy combination of two distinguished directors’ viewpoints made for a slightly muddled version that was still being fixed way beyond opening night. Eventually it was clear that there was little point in endless tinkering with the show, which was just about holding its own – better to start again with a totally new concept for Broadway.
So drastic alterations were made, some for reasons that, at this distance, seem quite bewildering. An American book-writer joined the team (although “team” was soon to prove a less than accurate term), the operatic nature of the work thus eliminated, the storyline was changed substantially and the set was completely redesigned. Characters changed nationalities and even names; there was a different World Chess Champion at the end of the show; Merano, both song and venue, bit the dust; and a slew of new songs were added, many of which had been subtracted by opening night, with the notable exception of a new song for Florence, Someone Else’s Story, which more than held its own with the rest of the score.
Chess lasted a mere eight weeks on Broadway. Normally, that would be that for the long-term future of a humiliated show, but for some reason this one has refused to roll over and die, even in America. The reason was of course the songs, which even our misconceived Broadway escapade had not managed to destroy. Actors and singers still wanted to have a bash at the wonderful melodies, especially in auditions, and directors felt that they could put up with the confusion of the plot (a) because every few minutes another great tune turns up and (b) they could re-write chunks of the story themselves as no-one allegedly in control of the show seemed to know what the official version was anymore.
I certainly didn’t. During the past 20 years I have seen Chess on dozens of occasions in many different countries, and no two versions have been the same. Sometimes Freddie wins, sometimes Anatoly wins. Sometimes the whole show is set in the Tirol, sometimes entirely in Bangkok. One (rather good) version was set in 1960s New York, and another backstage at a Chess concert in which the actors played actors putting on a Chess concert. By far the best and most successful foreign production (not surprisingly) was the Stockholm show in 2002 - 03.
In recent years I have become more and more determined to oversee an English language version of Chess that I would be happy to recommend to all future producers and directors. I doubt whether it will be possible to prevent yet more hybrid treatments surfacing around the globe but if anybody wants to know which version has my official seal of approval then my intention is that the show unveiled at the Royal Albert Hall is it.
I accept that the plot is complex – I prefer intelligent, or sophisticated, but I would say that, wouldn’t I? I know for sure that contrary to the views of some critics way back then, the story is certainly more than plausible. Many in the real world of chess have told me it is not complex enough, as any study of chess and politics over the past 50 years will illustrate – as will a quick look at the life and antics of the late Bobby Fischer.
With the great help and support of Hugh Wooldridge, I have returned to the original album as the basis of what I hope will be the definitive version, both in story and style. There are no more than a few lines of spoken dialogue. Some songs and scenes that were added for the London and even for the Broadway stagings have been retained, and I have tweaked the odd line here and there to make the plot clearer.
The most satisfying performances of Chess any of the authors have seen were the concerts we staged across Europe at the time of the album’s release. While we hope that the work will be staged theatrically, or filmed, on as many occasions as possible, Hugh and I decided that to do full justice to the score for this important new presentation, the demands of the music had to be paramount – but of course with Wooldridge at the helm, visual and dramatic elements will be more than evident.
But in essence, Chess is as it was back in 1984. With the passing of time it is now, to its advantage, more clearly a period piece. To think that the magnificent music of Bjorn and Benny had only been known to the world for ten years when we embarked upon Chess is extraordinary; the world now knows that their music is timeless and lasting. I hope that the work I was fortunate enough to create with them will one day be recognized as a full part of their brilliant legacy.
TIM RICE
May 2008
Michael Jackson Bought an 80,000 Dollar Chess Set
By Stephen Dann
It’s easy to question the value of buying an $80,000 chess set these days, as the late Michael Jackson did a few years ago while shopping in Hollywood.
Jackson taught his son Prince to play chess at age 3 on the gold and marble chess set, according to a comprehensive story that appeared July 10 at www.chessbase.com, which offers many in-depth news stories on the game.
Today, the purchase of a chess set in a dollar store may be questioned. Difficult decisions are being made every day as Americans cope with perhaps the most trying economic downturn since the 1930s. And such was the backdrop of the formation of the U.S. Chess Federation in 1939. As one historian put it, “a number of chess groups merged, as none had the money to do much on their own.”
The St. Louis Chess Club purchased Bobby Fischer’s entire library recently, also for $80,000. In advance, the New York auction firm estimated the value of the lot at $50,000. This was an investment in both historical preservation and education, according to the club patron who donated the funds to purchase the collection, put together from the 1950s through Fischer’s departure from the United States in 1992.
But this writer sees the economic conditions forcing every family, town, school, library and business to weigh the value of chess as a sport, recreational pursuit or teaching tool. Does one have time to “indulge” in a game when there is so much other work to be done?
Chess won out during the 1930s in a number of large U.S. cities as a form of recreation on playgrounds, in schools and probably in libraries. Boston-born George Sturgis (1891-1944), founder of both the Mass. Chess Association and U.S. Chess Federation, promoted all kinds of programs in his 1939 Masta Chess News, two copies of which this writer has been exhibiting at major chess events for decades. It’s a shame the size and condition of these publications does not permit scanning to create a PDF file for mass viewing.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the USCF ( www.uschess.org) and the 40th anniversary of MACA’s own Chess Horizons magazine, conceived by a high school student from Worcester.
It’s easy to question the value of buying an $80,000 chess set these days, as the late Michael Jackson did a few years ago while shopping in Hollywood.
Jackson taught his son Prince to play chess at age 3 on the gold and marble chess set, according to a comprehensive story that appeared July 10 at www.chessbase.com, which offers many in-depth news stories on the game.
Today, the purchase of a chess set in a dollar store may be questioned. Difficult decisions are being made every day as Americans cope with perhaps the most trying economic downturn since the 1930s. And such was the backdrop of the formation of the U.S. Chess Federation in 1939. As one historian put it, “a number of chess groups merged, as none had the money to do much on their own.”
The St. Louis Chess Club purchased Bobby Fischer’s entire library recently, also for $80,000. In advance, the New York auction firm estimated the value of the lot at $50,000. This was an investment in both historical preservation and education, according to the club patron who donated the funds to purchase the collection, put together from the 1950s through Fischer’s departure from the United States in 1992.
But this writer sees the economic conditions forcing every family, town, school, library and business to weigh the value of chess as a sport, recreational pursuit or teaching tool. Does one have time to “indulge” in a game when there is so much other work to be done?
Chess won out during the 1930s in a number of large U.S. cities as a form of recreation on playgrounds, in schools and probably in libraries. Boston-born George Sturgis (1891-1944), founder of both the Mass. Chess Association and U.S. Chess Federation, promoted all kinds of programs in his 1939 Masta Chess News, two copies of which this writer has been exhibiting at major chess events for decades. It’s a shame the size and condition of these publications does not permit scanning to create a PDF file for mass viewing.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the USCF ( www.uschess.org) and the 40th anniversary of MACA’s own Chess Horizons magazine, conceived by a high school student from Worcester.
USCF Membership Levels
As reported from Chessnews.org:
Should we be alarmed about losing 3209 members in only three months? March 1 to June 1 is historically a seasonally weak period for USCF membership numbers, as the following records show:
USCF membership losses, March 1-June 1
2003 Lost 4751 members
2004 Lost 3906 members
2005 Lost 4130 members
2006 Lost 3268 members
2007 Lost 2349 members
2008 Lost 2422 members
2009 Lost 3209 members
So the loss this year was greater than 2007 or 2008, but not enormously so, and smaller than each of the previous four years. And there is good reason to believe the main cause is cutbacks in school chess programs, as adult membership during this period has declined only by 97 members.
The year 2006-2007 was a fairly good one for USCF. However, it is false that USCF showed losses in every other year since 1995. In each of 2003-2004 and 2004-2005, USCF had a surplus of over $200,000, and that's without including the building sale and land gift recorded in 2004-2005, which if included would have dramatically increased that surplus.
Should we be alarmed about losing 3209 members in only three months? March 1 to June 1 is historically a seasonally weak period for USCF membership numbers, as the following records show:
USCF membership losses, March 1-June 1
2003 Lost 4751 members
2004 Lost 3906 members
2005 Lost 4130 members
2006 Lost 3268 members
2007 Lost 2349 members
2008 Lost 2422 members
2009 Lost 3209 members
So the loss this year was greater than 2007 or 2008, but not enormously so, and smaller than each of the previous four years. And there is good reason to believe the main cause is cutbacks in school chess programs, as adult membership during this period has declined only by 97 members.
The year 2006-2007 was a fairly good one for USCF. However, it is false that USCF showed losses in every other year since 1995. In each of 2003-2004 and 2004-2005, USCF had a surplus of over $200,000, and that's without including the building sale and land gift recorded in 2004-2005, which if included would have dramatically increased that surplus.
2009 USCF Election Results
The results of the 2009 Executive Board Election are in. 11.1% of the eligible voters cast ballots. The four candidates who were elected to four year terms on the Executive Board are Jim Berry, Bill Goichberg, Ruth Haring and Mike Atkins. Jim and Bill were incumbents, Ruth and Mike will take office at the conclusion of the 2009 Delegates Meeting, replacing Randy Hough, who chose not to run for another term, and Joel Channing, who had resigned.
Totals in Order of Rank
Jim Berry: 3030
Bill Goichberg:3014
Ruth Haring:2952
Michael Atkins: 2672
Michael Korenman: 822
Mike Nietman:732
Eric Hecht: 717
Blas Lugo: 657
Sam Sloan:588
Brian Lafferty:576
Brian Mottershead:435
There were also 123 Write-in ballots. A total of 4379 ballots were received.
Regional Breakdown
Reg. Hecht Atkins Lugo Niet Goich Berry Mott Laff Sloan Koren Haring
I 46 203 40 29 230 232 31 34 36 41 227
II 82 325 62 71 389 373 39 54 88 82 361
III 81 499 61 83 455 422 61 80 81 80 423
IV 90 281 112 60 310 309 44 75 62 90 302
V 71 216 59 68 249 245 35 48 51 79 252
VI 23 79 21 95 88 97 19 18 15 30 87
VII 65 192 65 79 246 240 41 56 44 94 239
VIII 27 112 27 32 122 138 25 28 21 35 118
IX 21 70 20 22 86 93 15 17 25 31 80
X 73 158 62 64 218 262 41 43 48 84 206
XI 88 418 75 89 473 468 56 80 80 112 497
XII 37 100 32 31 114 125 25 29 24 40 120
Other 13 19 21 9 34 26 3 14 13 24 40
Totals in Order of Rank
Jim Berry: 3030
Bill Goichberg:3014
Ruth Haring:2952
Michael Atkins: 2672
Michael Korenman: 822
Mike Nietman:732
Eric Hecht: 717
Blas Lugo: 657
Sam Sloan:588
Brian Lafferty:576
Brian Mottershead:435
There were also 123 Write-in ballots. A total of 4379 ballots were received.
Regional Breakdown
Reg. Hecht Atkins Lugo Niet Goich Berry Mott Laff Sloan Koren Haring
I 46 203 40 29 230 232 31 34 36 41 227
II 82 325 62 71 389 373 39 54 88 82 361
III 81 499 61 83 455 422 61 80 81 80 423
IV 90 281 112 60 310 309 44 75 62 90 302
V 71 216 59 68 249 245 35 48 51 79 252
VI 23 79 21 95 88 97 19 18 15 30 87
VII 65 192 65 79 246 240 41 56 44 94 239
VIII 27 112 27 32 122 138 25 28 21 35 118
IX 21 70 20 22 86 93 15 17 25 31 80
X 73 158 62 64 218 262 41 43 48 84 206
XI 88 418 75 89 473 468 56 80 80 112 497
XII 37 100 32 31 114 125 25 29 24 40 120
Other 13 19 21 9 34 26 3 14 13 24 40
Monday, July 06, 2009
Man selling Fake Fischer Book at World Open ordered to Stop!
Reports are that someone was trying to sell five copies of "My 61Memorable Games" from a borrowed corner of a skittles table outside of the booksellers area at the World Open in Philly. Bill Goichberg, USCF President and event organizer, told the person they were not authorized to sell the book at the event. The person in question demanded to see a contract saying he couldn't. At that point Mr. Goichberg informed the person that not only did he not have to show him a contract, he could have him ejected and barred from returning.
The individual then put the books away and didn't return on Sunday to the event.
"My 61 Memorable Games" is a suspected book fraud claiming it's author to be the late chess champion, Bobby Fischer.
The individual then put the books away and didn't return on Sunday to the event.
"My 61 Memorable Games" is a suspected book fraud claiming it's author to be the late chess champion, Bobby Fischer.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Bobby Fischer Buried in Iceland
Reclusive chess genius Bobby Fischer was buried Monday in a private ceremony at a churchyard in southern Iceland, a television station reported.
Fischer, who died of kidney failure on Thursday at the age of 64, was interred at Laugardaelir church outside the town of Selfoss, Iceland's Channel 2 reported, citing the parish priest.
The Rev. Kristinn Agust Fridfinnsson told the TV station the ceremony was arranged so hastily he did not arrive until after the ceremony was over.
The funeral was attended by only a handful of people, including Fischer's longtime companion, Miyoko Watai, and friend and spokesman Gardar Sverrisson, the TV station reported.
Sverrisson did not return a call seeking comment late Monday.
A troubled chess genius, Fisher gained global fame in 1972 when he defeated the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky in Reykjavik to become the first officially recognized world champion born in the United States.
The showdown, played out at the height of the Cold War, took on mythic dimensions as a clash between the world's two superpowers. Fischer lost his world title in 1975 after refusing to defend it against Anatoly Karpov. He dropped out of competitive chess and largely out of view, spending time in Hungary and the Philippines and emerging occasionally to make outspoken and often outrageous comments, sometimes attacking the United States.
Fischer — born in Chicago and raised in New York — was arrested in Japan in 2004 and threatened with extradition to the U.S. to face charges he broke international sanctions against the former Yugoslavia by going there to play a chess match in 1992.
Fischer renounced his U.S. citizenship and spent nine months in custody before the dispute was resolved when Iceland granted him citizenship.
Fischer, who died of kidney failure on Thursday at the age of 64, was interred at Laugardaelir church outside the town of Selfoss, Iceland's Channel 2 reported, citing the parish priest.
The Rev. Kristinn Agust Fridfinnsson told the TV station the ceremony was arranged so hastily he did not arrive until after the ceremony was over.
The funeral was attended by only a handful of people, including Fischer's longtime companion, Miyoko Watai, and friend and spokesman Gardar Sverrisson, the TV station reported.
Sverrisson did not return a call seeking comment late Monday.
A troubled chess genius, Fisher gained global fame in 1972 when he defeated the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky in Reykjavik to become the first officially recognized world champion born in the United States.
The showdown, played out at the height of the Cold War, took on mythic dimensions as a clash between the world's two superpowers. Fischer lost his world title in 1975 after refusing to defend it against Anatoly Karpov. He dropped out of competitive chess and largely out of view, spending time in Hungary and the Philippines and emerging occasionally to make outspoken and often outrageous comments, sometimes attacking the United States.
Fischer — born in Chicago and raised in New York — was arrested in Japan in 2004 and threatened with extradition to the U.S. to face charges he broke international sanctions against the former Yugoslavia by going there to play a chess match in 1992.
Fischer renounced his U.S. citizenship and spent nine months in custody before the dispute was resolved when Iceland granted him citizenship.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Friday, October 05, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Susan Polgar Chess Blog: Which pair would you choose?
Susan Polgar Chess Blog: Which pair would you choose?
Morphy vs Pillsbury?
Lasker vs Fischer?
Alekhine vs Tal?
WHo would you like to see play in a match?
Morphy vs Pillsbury?
Lasker vs Fischer?
Alekhine vs Tal?
WHo would you like to see play in a match?
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Affairs of Chess: Match Rybka vs. Zappa
Affairs of Chess: Match Rybka vs. Zappa
Zappa Holds a one point lead and may upset the defending champion, Rybka!
Zappa Holds a one point lead and may upset the defending champion, Rybka!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Sunday, September 09, 2007
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