Chess Room Newsletter #644

Mechanics’ Institute Chess Club Newsletter #644
September 25, 2013

This is chess, it’s not about money, it’s about objectivity. If you stand better, you have an obligation to yourself and to the game of chess to make the maximum out of the position.

—Levon Aronian, in reference to his last-round draw offer to Magnus Carlsen.

After the game, which Carlsen won 23 moves later, Aronian explained that he never expected his opponent to accept. http://www.uschess.org/content/view/12360/141/

1) Mechanics’ Institute Chess Club News

NM Hayk Manvelyan, by beating Expert Igor Traub in round eight, has assured himself of no worse than a tie for first in the Neil Falconer Tuesday Night Marathon, with one round to go. The 19-year old Fremont youth, who is now rated over 2350, is trying to make it back-to-back TNM victories, but he will face a tough opponent in the last round in FM Paul Whitehead.

IM Elliott Winslow is clear second, a point back of Hayk with 6½ from 8, while FM Andy Lee is third with 6 points. There is a large group on 5½, including Whitehead and NMs Natalia Tsodikova and Albert Rich.

Go to www.chessclub.org to check out the Mechanics’ chess club website. You will find archived issues of the Newsletter going back over 10 years, as well as extra features such as tactical exercises from the current Tuesday Night Marathon.

Black to move (Whitehead−Doyle after 44 Qf3)	White to move (Veksler−Steger after 11...Nxd5)
Black to move (Manvelyan−Sherwood after 19 Ne5)	Black to move (Nyangar−Olson after 23 Rxf7)
	For the solutions, see the game scores for round 8.
White to move (Frank−Morgan after 56...Kf5)

The Mechanics’ entry in the US Chess League continues to lead the Pacific division.

Grandmaster Jesse Kraai will read from his newly-published book on Tuesday, October 22 from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. Jesse writes: “Lisa is the story of a young girl’s path in the chess world. It is set right here in the Bay Area and features the Mechanics Chess Club.”

The Wednesday Night Blitz Chess Tournament, by Jules Jelinek

In memory of Jay Whitehead, during the month of October 2013 the prize fund is guaranteed to be at least $70 every week.
Enter tournament between 6:20 pm-6:40 pm.
Tournament games start at 6:40 pm.
Open to non-members
Round-robin in groups of up to 12 players. If two groups, first- and second-place players from each group will play for overall prizes. Otherwise, only first-place players from each group will play off for prizes.
Mechanics’ Institute 4th Floor Chess Club, 57 Post Street, San Francisco
Time control: G/3 min (with 2 sec increment) preferred, if supported by clock being used; otherwise G/5 min (no increment).
Tournament will follow WBCA rules.
Entry Fee: Members, $7 with clock; $8 without clock. Non-members, $9 with clock; $10 without clock.
Prizes (All players eligible to win): 1st place 50% (>=$35); 2nd place 30% (>=$21); 3rd place 20% (>=$14) of all base entry fees ($7 per player; guaranteed during October 2013 to be at least $70 in memory of Jay Whitehead) collected.
Top-scoring player that brought a clock wins the extra $1 collected from players entering without clocks. Any prizes not claimed before the blitz tournament the following Wednesday will then be added to that week’s prize fund. No byes given.

If you want more information, or to receive the weekly email about the event, contact Jules Jelinek at [email protected]

Top scores in the Wednesday Blitz of September 18 were

1st - Jules Jelinek
2nd/3rd - Hans Niemann and Joe Urquhart

2) Berkeley Chess Club News, by Marc Newman

The BCC is starting a monthly G/45 4-round Saturday tournament. The first one is October 12th and the second is November 10th. Location is Hillside School, at 1581 Le Roy Avenue, about six blocks north of UC-Berkeley. It’s an easy bus or taxi ride from downtown Berkeley BART. The tournament runs from 11 am to 6 pm.

Here’s the signup for Oct. 12:

https://www.berkeleychessschool.org/signups/signup/639

The BCC’s most recent six-week tournament concluded September 6th, with Expert Uyanga Byambaa taking clear first with a 6-0 score. Ethan Chamberlain and William Li came next with 4 from 6.

We’re already seeing people returning from summer vacation and expect a good turnout for the new six-week series, which began last Friday, the 13th.

Everyone is welcome, with half-point byes for weeks you miss.

Full details are here: https://www.berkeleychessschool.org/signups/signup/647.

3) Magnus Smith–Charles Blake match (Part one)
by Eduardo Bauza Mercere

Editor—Before there was Magnus Carlsen there was another Magnus. In this two-part article noted Argentine chess historian and researcher Eduardo Bauza Mercere looks at a match involving the Icelandic-born Magnus Smith, who was Canadian champion from 1899 to 1906. You will find all of the games of this match except the 10th.

Those wanting to learn more about the life of Magnus Smith should check out the article by Myron Samsin, which can be found at www.chesscafe.com/text/skittles322.pdf.

1905
Winnipeg m
17 NOV–13 DEC

 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1Smith, Magnus 0 1 1 = 1 0 0 1 1 - 1 6½Blake, Charles W. 1 0 0 = 0 1 1 0 0 - 0 3½

The 10th game was adjourned in a favorable position for Smith, and left unfinished.

Source: Winnipeg Free Press, 20 NOV 1905, 21 NOV 1905, 23 NOV 1905, 27 NOV 1905, 30 NOV 1905, 4 DEC 1905, 5 DEC 1905, 7 DEC 1905, 11 DEC 1905, 14 DEC 1905, 18 DEC 1905

Blake,Charles W–Smith,Magnus [C27]
Winnipeg m Manitoba (1), 17.11.1905

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxe4 4.Qh5 Nd6 5.Bb3 Nc6 6.Nb5 g6 7.Qf3 Nf5 8.g4 Nh6 9.d3 Nd4 10.Nxd4 exd4 11.Bxh6 Qe7+ 12.Kf1 Bxh6 13.Re1 Qxe1+ 14.Kxe1 0-0 15.h4 c6 16.Ne2 Bg7 17.g5 a5 18.c3 dxc3 19.bxc3 d5 20.h5 Bf5 21.Kd2 f6 22.h6 Bh8 23.Nd4 Bd7 24.Re1 Rf7 25.Qg3 fxg5 26.Ne6 Re7 27.Ng7 Rxe1 28.Kxe1 Bxg7 29.hxg7 Re8+ 30.Kd2 Kxg7 31.Qxg5 b5 32.Bd1 Bf5 33.Bg4 Rf8 34.Qe7+ Rf7 35.Qe5+ Kh6 36.Bxf5 Rxf5 37.Qh2+ Kg7 38.Qc7+ Kh6 39.Ke3 Rf6 40.Qxa5 Re6+ 41.Kf3 Rf6+ 42.Kg2 Rf4 43.Qc7 Rf6 44.Qe7 Kg5 45.f4+ 1-0

source: Manitoba Free Press, 21 NOV 1905, p. 6

Smith,Magnus–Blake,Charles W [C63]
Manitoba m Manitoba (2), 18.11.1905

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.exf5 e4 6.Nh4 d5 7.d3 d4 8.Nxe4 Nxe4 9.Qh5+ g6 10.Nxg6 Nf6 11.Qh4 hxg6 12.Qxh8 Bxf5 13.Bg5 Kf7 14.0-0-0 Be6 15.Rde1 Bxa2 16.Re4 Bg7 17.Qxd8 Rxd8 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Bxc6 bxc6 20.b3 Be7 21.Kb2 Bb4 22.Ra1 Bc3+ 23.Kxa2 Bxa1 24.Kxa1 Rd5 25.Kb2 c5 26.f4 Rh5 27.h3 Rh4 28.Re5 Rxf4 29.Rxc5 Kf6 30.Rxc7 Rf2 31.Rxa7 Rxg2 32.Rd7 Ke5 33.b4 Rh2 34.Rh7 Kd5 35.Rh6 Rg2 36.Rh4 Rg3 37.Rg4 Rxh3 38.Rg5+ Kc6 39.Rxg6+ Kd5 40.Rg5+ Kc6 41.Kb3 Rh2 42.Rc5+ Kd6 43.Ka4 Rh8 44.Kb5 Rh2 45.Kb6 Rh7 46.Rc6+ Kd5 47.b5 Rg7 48.Rc5+ Kd6 49.Rc4 Kd5 50.Ka6 1-0

source: Manitoba Free Press, 20 NOV 1905, p. 6

Blake,Charles W–Smith,Magnus [D53]
Manitoba m Manitoba (3), 22.11.1905

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.e3 c6 6.Nf3 Be7 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.Be2 N5f6 10.e4 0-0 11.0-0 Rd8 12.Qc2 Nf8 13.Rad1 b6 14.Ne5 Bb7 15.Bc4 c5 16.Nf3 cxd4 17.Nxd4 Qc5 18.Na4 Qe5 19.Qd3 Qxe4 20.Qxe4 Bxe4 21.f3 Bd5 22.Bxd5 Nxd5 23.Nc6 Rd7 24.Rfe1 Ng6 25.Nc3 Rc7 26.Nxd5 Rxc6 27.Nc3 Rc7 28.Rd2 Rac8 29.Kf2 Kf8 30.Red1 Ne5 31.Nb5 Rc2 32.Nxa7 Rxd2+ 33.Rxd2 Ra8 34.Nb5 Rxa2 35.Na3 Rxb2 36.Rxb2 Nd3+ 37.Ke3 Nxb2 38.Kd2 Ke7 39.Kc3 Na4+ 40.Kb4 Nc5 41.Nc4 Nd7 42.Kb5 g5 43.Kc6 h5 44.Nd6 Nb8+ 45.Kc7 Na6+ 46.Kc6 Nb4+ 47.Kc7 Nd5+ 48.Kc6 Kf6 49.Nc4 Kf5 50.Nd6+ Kg6 51.Nc4 f5 52.Kd6 Kf6 53.Ne5 f4 54.Nd7+ Kf5 55.Nf8 Ne3 56.Nxe6 Nf1 57.Nd4+ Kf6 58.Kd5 Ne3+ 59.Ke4 Nf1 60.h3 Ng3+ 61.Kd5 Nh1 62.Ne2 h4 63.Kc6 Nf2 64.Ng1 Ke5 65.Kxb6 Kd4 66.Kc6 Ke3 67.Kd5 Nd3 68.Ke6 Kf2 69.Kf5 Kxg1 70.Kxg5 Kxg2 71.Kxh4 Ne5 72.Kg5 Kxf3 0-1

source: Manitoba Free Press, 23 NOV 1905, p. 7

Smith,Magnus–Blake,Charles W [C10]
Manitoba m Manitoba (4), 25.11.1905

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Bd3 c5 6.Be3 cxd4 7.Bxd4 Nc6 8.Bc3 e5 9.Nf3 Bg4 10.h3 Bh5 11.0-0 Be7 12.Ng3 Qd5 13.Re1 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 Qxf3 15.gxf3 Nd7 16.Nf5 g6 17.Nxe7 Kxe7 18.f4 f6 19.fxe5 fxe5 20.f4 Rhf8 21.fxe5 Rf3 22.Kg2 Raf8 23.Re2 Nc5 24.Bc4 Ne6 25.Bxe6 Kxe6 26.Rd1 R3f5 27.Rd6+ Ke7 28.Rxc6 bxc6 29.Bb4+ Ke6 30.Bxf8 Rxf8 31.Re3 Rf5 32.Rc3 Kd5 33.Ra3 Rxe5 34.Rxa7 Re2+ 35.Kf3 Rxc2 36.b3 Ke5 37.Rxh7 Rxa2 38.Rc7 Rc2 39.Kg4 ½-½

source: Manitoba Free Press, 27 NOV 1905, p. 7

Blake,Charles W–Smith,Magnus [C44]
Manitoba m Manitoba (5), 29.11.1905

1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.c3 dxc3 6.Nxc3 d6 7.Bg5 Nge7 8.a3 h6 9.Bh4 0-0 10.Qd2 Be6 11.Bd5 Qd7 12.0-0-0 Ng6 13.Ne2 b5 14.Ng3 b4 15.a4 Na5 16.Qc2 b3 17.Qc3 Bxd5 18.Qxa5 Be6 19.Nh5 f6 20.Bg3 Qc6 21.Qc3 Qxa4 22.Nd2 Bd4 0-1

source: Manitoba Free Press, 30 NOV 1905, p. 7; Lasker Chess Magazine, 12/1905, p. 68

4) London Chess Classic by John Henderson

WIN YOUR WAY TO THE SUPER SIXTEEN!

Chess in Schools and Communities is delighted to announce today a novel way for any chess player, of any rating, to have their dream come true and compete alongside the World’s Elite and the Best of British at the 5th London Chess Classic, running from Saturday 7th December to Sunday 15th December 2013.

This year the LCC FIDE Open will qualify the two highest-scoring players after four rounds into the Super Sixteen’ Rapidplay that features an all-star cast headed by World Champion Viswanathan Anand and the former champion Vladimir Kramnik. If more than two players are tied at the end of round four, the spots will be decided on a rating tie-break (the two players with the highest rating going forward). Anyone transferred will not lose out financially, as the lowest prize in the Super Sixteen is greater than the top prize in the FIDE Open.

This means there are now 15 spots accounted for in the Super Sixteen. And we are also announcing today that the final slot will be decided by a Wild card’ selection to be announced by the organizers of the London Chess Classic in late November 2013.

The London Chess Classic FIDE Open is fast becoming one of the must-play Swiss Events on the international calendar—and this year, it will have a bumper prize-fund of over 10,000 (!), as well as the guaranteed participation of a minimum of 12 Grandmasters.

The 5th London Chess Classic will again be the largest Chess Festival held in the UK. Apart from the headlining Super Sixteen and the FIDE Open, there will also be a smorgasbord of side events catering for players of all ages and all ratings: a FIDE Weekday Tournament, 2 Weekend Tournaments, 4 Rapidplay Tournaments, 4 Blitz Tournaments and 3 Grandmaster Simultaneous Displays from past British Champions Julian Hodgson, John Nunn and Jon Speelman.

It promises to be the best chess you’ll play or see all year! The 5th London Chess Classic will run from Saturday 7th December to Sunday 15th December at the Olympia Conference Centre in Kensington. For more information and to enter online: www.londonclassic.com. For ticket and tournament related queries, call our hotline now: 020 7486 7015.