10th Dubai Open 2008

All eyes on the 14 year old and current Philippines no.1, GM Wesley So in the ongoing 10th Dubai Open. This is the first tournament GM So is competing since taking over the position as the country's top wood pusher. He won the first round and will play FM Xibin Wu next. Other Filipinos also playing are IM Sadorra, FM Molina, Jobannie Tabada, Ernesto Yap and Robert Arellano.


by Jobannie Tabada

Philippine No.1 GM Wesley So will join the 10th Dubai Open 2008 event along with Singapore-based IM Julio Catalino Sadorra, who is seeking his second GM norm.

GM So arrived with his father William in Dubai at 3:30 this morning, while Sadorra flew in at midnight. They were welcomed at the airport by a delegation from the Filipino Chess Players League-UAE, which consisted of Joey Tibertio, Emman Marbella, Jerry Lababo, Ernie Yap, Willie Laceste and Francis Aldeguer, along with Fide Ratings Administrator Casto "Toti" Abundo, who in coordination with the FCPL facilitated the visiting players' requirements in the UAE. Read Full Story

Kasparov played some games

Last week, Garry Kasparov was to be found behind a chess board again. In Pasching (Austria) and in Hluboka (Czech Republic) he played simultanious exhibitions and of the latter one we have some game fragments.

28th-29th March, Kasparov took part in the “Days of Chess” festival, held in a big shopping centre in Pasching, Austria. On Friday the 28th, it started with the two boxing world champions Vitali and Vladimir Klitschko showing their fondness of the game of chess. Garry Kasparov was then supposed to play Alfred Gusenbauer, but the Austrian Chancellor had to cancel on the last minute. Instead, Garry played one of the spectators (who must have felt the happiest man on earth). Read Full Story>>

The Shortest Chess Game

The shortest chess game recorded lasted for only one move. It was played between Rogoff and Huber in 1972.

The Oldest Chess Book

Luis Ramirez de Lucena (c. 1465 – c.1530) was a leading Spanish chess player. He wrote the oldest existing printed book on chess, Repetición de Amores y Arte de Ajedrez con ci Iuegos de Partido, published in Salamanca in 1497. The book contains analysis of eleven chess openings but contains many elementary errors that led chess historian Harold Murray to suggest that it was prepared in a hurry. The book was written when the rules of chess were taking their modern form (see Origins of modern chess), and some of the 150 positions in the book are of the old game and some of the new. Fewer than a dozen copies of the book exist.

The Lucena position is named after him, even though it does not appear in his book. (It was first published in 1634 by Alessandro Salvio.) The Smothered mate named Philidor's legacy is in the book.

Source: Wikipedia

Kramnik beat Werle and Sebag in simul exhibition match

Kramnik, V (2788) - Werle, J (2581) [E05]
DGT Clock Simul Enschede NED (1), 02.04.2008

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3 0–0 6.0–0 dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.Qxc4 b5 9.Qc2 Bb7 10.Bd2 Ra7 11.a3 Be4 12.Qc1 Nc6 13.e3 Qa8 14.Qd1 Nd5 15.Qe2 e5 16.Re1 exd4 17.exd4 f5 18.Nc3 Nxc3 19.Bxc3 Bf6 20.d5 Bxc3 21.bxc3 Nd8 22.Rad1 Bxd5 23.Ng5 c6 24.Bxd5+ cxd5 25.Qd3 h6 26.Nf3 f4 27.Nh4 fxg3 28.hxg3 Nf7 29.Nf5 Ng5 30.Ne7+ Rxe7 31.Rxe7 Nf3+ 32.Kf1 d4 33.Qg6 Nh2+ 34.Ke1 Nf3+ 35.Ke2 Ng1+ 36.Kf1 Rxf2+ 37.Kxf2 Nh3+ 38.Ke1 1–0

Kramnik, V (2788) - Sebag, M (2521) [D19]
DGT Clock Simul Enschede NED (1), 02.04.2008

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.a4 dxc4 5.Nc3 Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.0–0 0–0 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.Ne5 Nbd7 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.Rd1 Qa5 13.Qc2 c5 14.Na2 cxd4 15.Nxb4 Qxb4 16.Rxd4 Rac8 17.Qe2 Qb6 18.a5 Qc7 19.a6 e5 20.axb7 exd4 21.bxc8Q Rxc8 22.b3 Nb6 23.exd4 Nxc4 24.bxc4 Qxc4 25.Qxc4 Rxc4 26.Be3 Rc7 27.Ra5 Rd7 28.Kf1 Nd5 29.Ke2 f6 30.Kd3 Kf7 31.h3 Ke6 32.Ra6+ Nb6 33.g4 g5 34.f4 gxf4 35.Bxf4 Kf7 36.h4 g5 37.hxg5 Nd5 38.Bd6 fxg5 39.Ke4 Nc3+ 40.Ke5 Nb5 41.Bc5 Rd8 42.Ra5 Rb8 43.d5 Rb7 44.d6 Ke8 45.Ke6 Kd8 46.Be3 Ke8 47.Bc5 Kd8 48.Bxa7 Nxa7 49.Rxg5 1–0

14 year old GM Wesley So is Philippines no.1 chess player

14 year old GM tops the list of Filipino chess masters in 2008 FIDE ratings with 2540. The current worlds youngest Grandmaster and the seventh youngest in history proves himself as the next big thing to come out of Philippine chess. Our hopes and prayers for the new RP chess sensation, GM Wesley So.







Rank Name Rating
1 So, Wesley 2540
2 Paragua, Mark 2537
3 Antonio, Rogelio Jr 2529
4 Torre, Eugenio 2519
5 Sanchez, Joseph 2507
6 Laylo, Darwin 2496
7 Dimakiling, Oliver 2479
8 Gonzales, Jayson 2467
9 Gomez, John Paul 2464
10 Sadorra, Julio Catalino 2455
11 Martinez, Rolly 2453
12 Salvador, Roland 2450
13 Dableo, Ronald 2444
14 Bitoon, Richard 2420
14 Nolte, Rolando 2420
16 Bancod, Ronald 2411
17 Causo, Deniel 2410
18 Elorta, David 2409
19 Ballecer, Dino 2406
20 Barbosa, Oliver 2403
21 Fernandez, Ernesto 2398
22 Nadera, Barlo A. 2397
23 Nouri, Hamed 2392
24 Ranola, Yves 2390
25 De Guzman, Ricardo 2389
26 Garma, Chito 2386
27 Senador, Emmanuel 2383
28 Young, Angelo 2381
29 Donguines, Fernie 2362
30 Sevillano, Voltaire 2358
31 Nava, Roderick 2345
32 Severino, Sander 2344
33 Lluch, Victor 2339
34 Banawa, Jouaquin 2338
35 Del Mundo, Anton Paolo C. 2334
36 Salubre, Jason 2329
37 Bagamasbad, Efren 2322
38 Yap, Kim Steven 2321
39 Makinano, Anthony 2320
40 Ortiz, Eduardo 2316
40 Cabe, Arlan 2316
42 Legaspi, Rhobel 2315
43 Salcedo, Raymond 2312
43 Sales, Jesse Noel 2312
43 Atutubo, Rodrigo 2312
46 Tolentino, Rustum 2304
47 Montoyo, Ted Ian 2297
48 De Ramos, Julius 2290
49 Segarra, Randy 2286
50 Tan, Oscar 2283
51 Pialan, Fernandito 2281
52 Llavanes, Ronald 2271
53 Vuelban, Virgilio 2270
54 Maga, Mirabeau 2267
55 Paulo, James Florendo 2257
56 Castellano, Christopher 2248
56 Milagrosa, Alexander 2248
58 Villanueva, Nelson 2239
59 Perena, Catherine 2234
60 Yadao, Israel 2228
60 Andador, A. 2228
62 Garcia, Jan Emmanuel 2213
63 Branzuela, Ali 2209
64 Cantonjos, Allan 2205
65 Cua, Shercila 2203
66 Andador, Rolando 2201
67 Roque, Merben 2194
68 Panopio, Jr Rodolfo 2187
69 Lomibao, Sheerie Joy 2185
70 Suelo, Roberto Jr. 2183
71 Ochoa, Carl Victor 2182
72 Dela Cruz, Richard 2177
73 Abundo, Casto 2175
74 Pascua, Haridas 2174
75 Diez, Boris Michael 2170
76 Bernardino J., Al 2169
77 Molina, Antonio 2150
78 Adoptante, Roderick 2146
79 Morazo, John Ranel 2144
79 Manon-og, Ramon Jr. 2144
79 Adante, Ibaryu 2144
82 Cunanan, Homer 2133
83 Cua, Sherily 2132
84 Lincoln, Yap 2107
85 Camacho, Chardine Cheradee 2106
86 Mendoza, Beverly 2072
87 Baltazar, Danny 2068
88 Fernandez, Dandel 2066
89 Tabada, Jobannie C. 2057
90 Mariano, Cristine Rose 2054
91 Pimentel, Joel 2050
92 Jose, Rulp Ylem 2044
93 Yap, Ernesto M. 2038
94 Ringor, Rodrigo 2032
95 Arellano, Robert 2023
96 Jacquias, Percival 2013
97 Natividad, Rafael 2012
98 Taopa, Gilbert 2001
99 Salvador, Aices 1998
100 Calacday, Eric 1990

Click below for GM Wesley So's updated FIDE rating card:
http://www.fide.com/ratings/card.phtml?event=5202213

On This Day April 4, 1975

On This Day April 4, 1975: The Times reports on Bobby Fischer being stripped of the world chess champion title

The International Chess Federation (Fide) today declared Anatoly Karpov, the Russian challenger, to be world chess champion after Bobby Fischer, of America, had failed to meet the extended deadline given by Fide within which he had to agree to meet Karpov to defend his title.

“We have sent Karpov a telegram informing him that he has been awarded the title, and congratulating him,” Dr Max Euwe, Fide’s president, said today in Amsterdam. He did not conceal his disappointment, but said that Fide had left no stone unturned in its attempt to negotiate a compromise agreement.

Karpov said today that he was glad the chess crown had returned to the Soviet Union but regretted that he did not get to play Fischer for it. He said he could not understand why Fischer did not play the match. “I wanted this match to take place very much and I think I have done all I could for this.”

There was silence today from South Pasadena, California, where Fischer normally lives. But several other American chess players have been expressing regret over the sequence of events which led to his losing the world title.

“It’s tragic for Fischer, for chess in the world and for Karpov,” Colonel Edmund Edmundson, the director of the American Chess Federation, has said. “Poor Fischer won’t have his title, Karpov will have a paper title, and the world won’t have its match. We’re all losers.”

Source: The Times

Kasparov's blunder

The blunder may not be as bad as it might seem because if the mistake Kasparov made during this match is hopeless, Kasparov may quickly offered his hand in resignation. So what exactly happened here? Kasparov's blunder may only result in a material loss, perhaps a pawn or the move shattered his position. Others believed that Anand took a pawn with his queen which threatened to take away Kasparov's 2 rooks or the queen. Is this true? If anyone had a more accurate allusion of the match, please feel free to share your knowledge with us.

Fool me once shame on you; fool me twice shame on me.

So your's truly, the one who was very "seriously" in responsible for keeping this blog was fooled not once, but twice, on the very first day of April also known as April Fools' Day. Of course the first came as a news about Bobby Fischer's supposed "electronic archives". The whole story or should I say joke started at chessbase.com site which they first published the article of course on April 1st. The entire joke of the supposed "email letters" of Fischer could be find HERE.

Then of course the final blow was the news that Susan's Polgar's is leaving the USCF and the USA to return to Hungary. The joke is HERE. And the relief and laughter ends HERE. And that folks completed my idiocy of that day. LOL!!!

Bobby Fischer, chess genius, heartless son?

Here's another chess news archives I read about Bobby Fischer's past troubled life that I want to share with everyone. Among them was one about letters from his mother, Regina, to a friend describing her difficult relationship with her son. Since Fischer death last January the commemoration and even some degradation of his life continues up until now with varied opinion about the real contribution of Fischer to the world. Is it his contribution to chess that matters most or his compulsive negative remarks on political and social issues few had even despises of. But the fact is the truth about the real Bobby Fischer, the chess genius we all know are beginning to take shape. Sad, and even harrowing truth that slowly shadowed his brilliances on the board. Again, the articles may not be for the fainted hearted for all those who canonized Fischer. It's just another peek to the past life of an individual with a brilliant but troubled mind.

Anand at 2803 Alone on Top in April 2008 FIDE Rating List

No one would doubt now on who's the best in chess at this time. With a rating of 2803 in the 1st April FIDE Rating list, current world champion Viswanathan Anand recaptured top slot alone and to remain the only active player above 2800. Though his below average performance at Amber, a "fun" tournaments that doesn't affect ones rating, his victory of Morelia Linares propelled him at the top of the list. His rival at the top spot for three months, Russian Vladimir Kramnik lost eleven points but still held the second place, 15 points behind Anand. But with an upcoming event in Dortmund, Kramnik is expected to get closer or even catch up with Anand before their championship match later this year.

And oh by the way, perhaps one of the most interesting story is the 32 points surge of the 17 year old wunderkid Magnus Carlsen who is now the worlds 5th best. Meanwhile, other top players in the list includes Morozevich who is now third after winning nine points; he passed Topalov who lost thirteen. Aronian climbed from ten to six; Radjabov from twelve to eight. Svidler, who was fifth, went down to the ninth place. Leko went from eight to ten and Karjakin climbed one spot without playing a rated game.

Here are the new top 100, the female top 50, the juniors top 20 and the girls top 20.

FIDE APRIL 2008 RATING LIST: TOP 100 PLAYERS

Rank	Name	Title	Country	Rating	Games	B-Year
1	Anand, Viswanathan	g	IND	2803	27	1969
2	Kramnik, Vladimir	g	RUS	2788	13	1975
3	Morozevich, Alexander	g	RUS	2774	11	1977
4	Topalov, Veselin	g	BUL	2767	27	1975
5	Carlsen, Magnus	g	NOR	2765	27	1990
6	Aronian, Levon	g	ARM	2763	27	1982
7	Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	g	AZE	2752	13	1985
8	Radjabov, Teimour	g	AZE	2751	27	1987
9	Svidler, Peter	g	RUS	2746	11	1976
10	Leko, Peter	g	HUN	2741	27	1979
11	Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2740	35	1969
12	Shirov, Alexei	g	ESP	2740	14	1972
13	Karjakin, Sergey	g	UKR	2732	0	1990
14	Adams, Michael	g	ENG	2729	13	1971
15	Kamsky, Gata	g	USA	2726	0	1974
16	Gelfand, Boris	g	ISR	2723	13	1968
17	Ponomariov, Ruslan	g	UKR	2719	0	1983
18	Grischuk, Alexander	g	RUS	2716	11	1983
19	Jakovenko, Dmitry	g	RUS	2711	11	1983
20	Alekseev, Evgeny	g	RUS	2711	0	1985
21	Bu, Xiangzhi	g	CHN	2708	16	1985
22	Bacrot, Etienne	g	FRA	2705	13	1983
23	Ni, Hua	g	CHN	2703	28	1983
24	Movsesian, Sergei	g	SVK	2695	29	1978
25	Dominguez Perez, Lenier	g	CUB	2695	15	1983
26	Cheparinov, Ivan	g	BUL	2695	13	1986
27	Rublevsky, Sergei	g	RUS	2695	0	1974
28	Sokolov, Ivan	g	NED	2690	1	1968
29	Milov, Vadim	g	SUI	2690	0	1972
30	Wang, Yue	g	CHN	2689	33	1987
31	Malakhov, Vladimir	g	RUS	2689	5	1980
32	Eljanov, Pavel	g	UKR	2687	13	1983
33	Nakamura, Hikaru	g	USA	2686	17	1987
34	Wang, Hao	g	CHN	2684	25	1989
35	Inarkiev, Ernesto	g	RUS	2684	20	1985
36	Volokitin, Andrei	g	UKR	2684	16	1986
37	Vallejo Pons, Francisco	g	ESP	2684	7	1982
38	Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter	g	ROU	2684	0	1976
39	Kasimdzhanov, Rustam	g	UZB	2681	0	1979
40	Harikrishna, P.	g	IND	2679	30	1986
41	Gashimov, Vugar	g	AZE	2679	18	1986
42	Sasikiran, Krishnan	g	IND	2679	5	1981
43	Bareev, Evgeny	g	RUS	2677	0	1966
44	Van Wely, Loek	g	NED	2676	15	1972
45	Nikolic, Predrag	g	BIH	2674	17	1960
46	Almasi, Zoltan	g	HUN	2674	9	1976
47	Zvjaginsev, Vadim	g	RUS	2674	9	1976
48	Akopian, Vladimir	g	ARM	2673	17	1971
49	Navara, David	g	CZE	2672	9	1985
50	Fedorchuk, Sergey A.	g	UKR	2671	24	1981
51	Motylev, Alexander	g	RUS	2666	18	1979
52	Bologan, Viktor	g	MDA	2665	19	1971
53	Georgiev, Kiril	g	BUL	2665	10	1965
54	Timofeev, Artyom	g	RUS	2664	29	1985
55	Onischuk, Alexander	g	USA	2664	0	1975
56	Efimenko, Zahar	g	UKR	2660	19	1985
57	Short, Nigel D	g	ENG	2660	13	1965
58	Roiz, Michael	g	ISR	2659	9	1983
59	Jobava, Baadur	g	GEO	2658	25	1983
60	Tomashevsky, Evgeny	g	RUS	2658	11	1987
61	Dreev, Alexey	g	RUS	2657	20	1969
62	Lautier, Joel	g	FRA	2657	0	1973
63	Tkachiev, Vladislav	g	FRA	2657	0	1973
64	Fressinet, Laurent	g	FRA	2656	0	1981
65	Karpov, Anatoly	g	RUS	2655	0	1951
66	Korneev, Oleg	g	RUS	2651	44	1969
67	Predojevic, Borki	g	BIH	2651	27	1987
68	Moiseenko, Alexander	g	UKR	2650	27	1980
69	Areshchenko, Alexander	g	UKR	2650	19	1986
70	Postny, Evgeny	g	ISR	2649	16	1981
71	Sakaev, Konstantin	g	RUS	2649	11	1974
72	Ivanisevic, Ivan	g	SRB	2649	0	1977
73	Baklan, Vladimir	g	UKR	2647	0	1978
74	Afromeev, Vladimir	f	RUS	2646	0	1954
75	Socko, Bartosz	g	POL	2644	26	1978
76	Sargissian, Gabriel	g	ARM	2643	20	1983
77	Miroshnichenko, Evgenij	g	UKR	2642	18	1978
78	Beliavsky, Alexander G	g	SLO	2641	26	1953
79	Fridman, Daniel	g	GER	2640	10	1976
80	Zhang, Pengxiang	g	CHN	2640	0	1980
81	Delchev, Aleksander	g	BUL	2639	9	1971
82	Riazantsev, Alexander	g	RUS	2638	18	1985
83	Mchedlishvili, Mikheil	g	GEO	2635	0	1979
84	Tiviakov, Sergei	g	NED	2634	26	1973
85	Nepomniachtchi, Ian	g	RUS	2634	22	1990
86	Shabalov, Alexander	g	USA	2633	22	1967
87	Landa, Konstantin	g	RUS	2633	19	1972
88	Volkov, Sergey	g	RUS	2633	18	1974
89	Avrukh, Boris	g	ISR	2632	9	1978
90	Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	g	FRA	2632	9	1990
91	Asrian, Karen	g	ARM	2630	29	1980
92	Sutovsky, Emil	g	ISR	2630	16	1977
93	Smirin, Ilia	g	ISR	2630	14	1968
94	Solak, Dragan	g	SRB	2630	9	1980
95	Seirawan, Yasser	g	USA	2630	1	1960
96	Tregubov, Pavel V.	g	RUS	2629	16	1971
97	Nielsen, Peter Heine	g	DEN	2629	5	1973
98	Sadvakasov, Darmen	g	KAZ	2629	3	1979
99	Khalifman, Alexander	g	RUS	2628	9	1966
100	Istratescu, Andrei	g	ROU	2628	7	1975

FIDE APRIL 2008 RATING LIST: TOP 100 WOMEN

Title	Country	Rating	Games	B-Year
1	Polgar, Judit	g	HUN	2709	13	1976
2	Koneru, Humpy	g	IND	2603	13	1987
3	Hou, Yifan	wg	CHN	2549	22	1994
4	Cramling, Pia	g	SWE	2539	38	1963
5	Stefanova, Antoaneta	g	BUL	2538	35	1979
6	Zhao, Xue	wg	CHN	2523	17	1985
7	Kosteniuk, Alexandra	g	RUS	2523	0	1984
8	Sebag, Marie	m	FRA	2521	13	1986
9	Zhu, Chen	g	QAT	2521	10	1976
10	Socko, Monika	m	POL	2505	33	1978
11	Xu, Yuhua	g	CHN	2500	0	1976
12	Kosintseva, Tatiana	m	RUS	2497	11	1986
13	Ruan, Lufei	wg	CHN	2495	0	1987
14	Chiburdanidze, Maia	g	GEO	2489	0	1961
15	Muzychuk, Anna	m	SLO	2486	34	1990
16	Krush, Irina	m	USA	2479	34	1983
17	Danielian, Elina	m	ARM	2479	18	1978
18	Lahno, Kateryna	g	UKR	2479	18	1989
19	Hoang Thanh Trang	g	HUN	2477	10	1980
20	Ushenina, Anna	m	UKR	2474	39	1985
21	Pogonina, Natalija	wg	RUS	2470	38	1985
22	Kosintseva, Nadezhda	m	RUS	2468	11	1985
23	Korbut, Ekaterina	m	RUS	2467	11	1985
24	Cmilyte, Viktorija	m	LTU	2466	21	1983
25	Javakhishvili, Lela	m	GEO	2466	18	1984
26	Vijayalakshmi, Subbaraman	m	IND	2464	0	1979
27	Harika, Dronavalli	m	IND	2461	48	1991
28	Galliamova, Alisa	m	RUS	2460	0	1972
29	Zatonskih, Anna	m	USA	2458	0	1978
30	Peng, Zhaoqin	g	NED	2455	15	1968
31	Hunt, Harriet V	m	ENG	2454	7	1978
32	Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan	m	SCO	2452	19	1968
33	Zhukova, Natalia	wg	UKR	2450	9	1979
34	Paehtz, Elisabeth	m	GER	2449	25	1985
35	Dzagnidze, Nana	m	GEO	2443	32	1987
36	Skripchenko, Almira	m	FRA	2443	0	1976
37	Gaponenko, Inna	m	UKR	2442	18	1976
38	Shen, Yang	wg	CHN	2439	17	1989
39	Huang, Qian	wg	CHN	2438	14	1986
40	Ovod, Evgenija	m	RUS	2437	30	1982
41	Bojkovic, Natasa	m	SRB	2434	9	1971
42	Dembo, Yelena	m	GRE	2429	18	1983
43	Tania, Sachdev	m	IND	2423	35	1986
44	Li, Ruofan	wg	SIN	2423	25	1978
45	Kovalevskaya, Ekaterina	m	RUS	2421	20	1974
46	Matveeva, Svetlana	m	RUS	2420	29	1969
47	Shadrina, Tatiana	wg	RUS	2418	11	1974
48	Peptan, Corina-Isabela	m	ROU	2415	9	1978
49	Wang, Pin	wg	CHN	2415	0	1974
50	Melia, Salome	wg	GEO	2413	30	1987
51	Khurtsidze, Nino	m	GEO	2413	21	1975
52	Mkrtchian, Lilit	m	ARM	2413	9	1982
53	Vajda, Szidonia	m	HUN	2413	2	1979

FIDE APRIL 2008 RATING LIST: TOP 20 JUNIORS

Rank	Name	Title	Country	Rating	Games	B-Year
1	Carlsen, Magnus	g	NOR	2765	27	1990
2	Karjakin, Sergey	g	UKR	2732	0	1990
3	Wang, Hao	g	CHN	2684	25	1989
4	Nepomniachtchi, Ian	g	RUS	2634	22	1990
5	Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	g	FRA	2632	9	1990
6	Rodshtein, Maxim	g	ISR	2626	35	1989
7	Caruana, Fabiano	g	ITA	2620	42	1992
8	Mamedov, Rauf	g	AZE	2617	27	1988
9	Kuzubov, Yuriy	g	UKR	2603	18	1990
10	Popov, Ivan	g	RUS	2594	11	1990
11	Lenic, Luka	g	SLO	2584	18	1988
12	Baramidze, David	g	GER	2583	9	1988
13	Li, Chao b	g	CHN	2581	28	1989
14	Zhou, Jianchao	g	CHN	2580	23	1988
15	Andreikin, Dmitry	g	RUS	2580	18	1990
16	Nguyen, Ngoc Truong Son	g	VIE	2579	25	1990
17	Le, Quang Liem	g	VIE	2568	24	1991
18	Zhigalko, Sergei	g	BLR	2568	22	1989
19	Geetha Narayanan Gopal	g	IND	2562	27	1989
20	Amin, Bassem	g	EGY	2558	10	1988

FIDE APRIL 2008 RATING LIST: TOP 20 GIRLS

Rank	Name	Title	Country	Rating	Games	B-Year
1	Hou, Yifan	wg	CHN	2549	22	1994
2	Muzychuk, Anna	m	SLO	2486	34	1990
3	Lahno, Kateryna	g	UKR	2479	18	1989
4	Harika, Dronavalli	m	IND	2461	48	1991
5	Shen, Yang	wg	CHN	2439	17	1989
6	Tairova, Elena	m	RUS	2412	29	1991
7	Muzychuk, Mariya	wg	UKR	2387	18	1992
8	Foisor, Sabina-Francesca	wg	ROU	2375	39	1989
9	Ju, Wenjun		CHN	2374	9	1991
10	Vasilkova, Svetlana	wm	RUS	2373	16	1988
11	Charochkina, Daria	wm	RUS	2361	44	1990
12	Girya, Olga	wf	RUS	2361	20	1991
13	Zhang, Xiaowen	wm	CHN	2361	18	1989
14	Tan, Zhongyi		CHN	2353	0	1991
15	Bodnaruk, Anastasia	wf	RUS	2347	36	1992
16	Paikidze, Nazi	wf	GEO	2347	25	1993
17	Stock, Lara	wm	CRO	2346	0	1992
18	Nebolsina, Vera	wg	RUS	2345	8	1989
19	Nemcova, Katerina	wm	CZE	2344	23	1990
20	Majdan, Joanna	wm	POL	2338	22	1988

For everyone who made it at the top of the world, cheers!

Breaking News: Susan Polgar quits USCF and USA!

I was browsing Susan's Polgar blog early this morning when I suddenly came upon this rather shocking news that the long time US based Hungarian WGM Susan Polgar is actually quiting the USCF and the USA to return to her homeland of Budapest, Hungary. The rest of the story is HERE.

Anand no.1 in the world

Anand rating is currently 2799 , tie with Vladimir Kramnik as world's no.1 chess players. But Anand gains about 5 points to get back above 2800 while both Kramnik (2799-11) and Topalov (2780-13) lost points.

So it looks like Anand (2804) will be #1, followed by Kramnik (2788), Morozevich (2774), Topalov (2767), Carlsen (2765) and Aronian (2763). This were all just rough calculation but Anand seems more likely to break in once again at 2800+.

The Fischer Archives

Two and a half months after the death of the great chess legend Bobby Fischer, the examination of his legal estate has yielded some intriguing information, gleaned from the hard disk of his notebook computer. Apparently the reclusive former World Champion followed the chess activities of his colleagues quite closely, and in fact corresponded with a few of them. Today we received copies of his letters.

Apart from the chess games the hard disk of the notebook also revealed a large number of email communications that were apparently written by Fischer, dating from the mid 70s right up to December 2007. These messages are currently being analysed by experts to see if they address games that were played on the international tournament circuit.

   Date: 15 Jan 1980 22:34:32 -0700
 From: Robert J Fischer <61713.1244@compuserve.com>
 To: [Deleted]
 Subject: European Team Championship

 Manila, 1/15/1980

Hi Tony,

Thank you for your letter. I am feeling great here. I have just
finished my new book, “60 More Memorable Games” and gave it to my
publisher here in the Philippines. I hope he doesn’t lose it, he is
very disorganized. It is my only copy. Read full story>>