Chess Brochure 30/11.aw 30/11/09 16:12 Page 1

www.londonchessclassic.com Brochure 30/11.aw 30/11/09 16:12 Page 2

LONDON OLYMPIA

Contents

3 7 12 David Howell 4 8 Grandmasters of tomorrow 13 Luke McShane 5 10 14 Andrew Flintoff 6 11 Michael Adams 15 Schedule –

Contacts and Officials

Tournament Director IM Operations Director Tao Bhokanandh Chief Arbiter Albert Vasse (International Arbiter) Deputy Arbiter David Sedgwick (International Arbiter) Public Relations Pitch Media Ltd www.pitch.co.uk Festival Organiser Adam Raoof (International Organiser) [email protected] Chief Arbiter: FIDE Open Alex McFarlane (International Arbiter) Chief Arbiter: Classic Weekender and Rapidplay Lara Barnes (International Arbiter) Press Room Chief John Saunders [email protected] Webmaster Stephen Connor [email protected] Live Game Transmission David Clayton, Andy Howie Commentary Team GM , GM Stephen Gordon, IM , GM Chris Ward, GM Daniel King Chess Trainers James Coleman, Charlie Storey, Steve James Best Game Prize Judges GM , GM , GM Live Transmission Partners ChessBase, ICC, Telegraph.co.uk Event Consultant Andrew Finan Concept, design, artwork and brochure Create Services www.createservices.co.uk Communications and IT E-Force www.eforce.co.uk Audio Visual Blitz Communications Ltd www.blitzcomm.com

Organised by the London Chess Centre 369 Euston Road, London NW1 3AR Tel: 0207 388 2404 www.chess.co.uk Supporting

Page 8 Max Davidson meets some of the Grandmasters of tomorrow

Images: Getty Images, Mark Huba, Philip Hollis Chess Brochure 30/11.aw 30/11/09 16:12 Page 3

Guest of Honour Welcome from the Viktor Tournament Organiser It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Korchnoi the London Chess Classic, an event that promises to live in the memories of the UK chess and wider communities for many One of the all time years. What started as an opening gambit to greats of world stage a world class tournament in London moved into a complex middle game and after some precision in chess is the the endgame – hardly my forte over the board – we have a tournament’s tournament for UK chess lovers to savour. Guest of Honour. In 46 years of playing, coaching and analysing our great game, the pleasure in bringing the best talent in the world to lock Korchnoi still plays high level chess at the age of 78 horns with the top UK talent on home soil is unbeatable and and recently played on board one for Switzerland at thanks are due to our supporters in the business world and in the European Team Championship. the political arena without whom the London Chess Centre would have been unable to stage an event of this stature. Korchnoi fought two world title matches against The Classic and raft of other events will engage over 1000 in 1978 and 1981 which captured the players of all ages here at Olympia while online our website imagination of the world. A man who had defected londonchessclassic.com is setting new standards in excellence from the USSR and made into a non-person took on and breadth of coverage. I am delighted to have partnered with the might of the Soviet chess machine while his son ChessBase and ICC to ensure that the live transmission will be was imprisoned by the Communist authorities. second to none. However, of equal importance is the chess charity that will Even in defeat Korchnoi has shaped the future of emerge from the event. Chess in Schools and Communities will chess. It should not be forgotten that he sportingly enable youngsters from all backgrounds to learn and develop a agreed to play in a Candidates semi passion for the game. I am delighted that CSC’s first activity is final after the Soviets had refused to allow Kasparov bringing so many schoolchildren to Olympia. to take part in the match originally scheduled to take We know the benefits of chess, how it can help nurture place at Pasadena in 1984. Although he had already youngsters’ creativity, build their confidence and enable them won by default, Korchnoi agreed to play in London to achieve so much through the joy of discovery in the greatest and Kasparov eventually won and went on to defeat of all games. Anatoly Karpov. And it is this passion for chess that CSC strives to harness and with it the next Carlsen or Nakamura who will sit at future Korchnoi’s longevity at the top level, nearly 50 years, classics next to the flag of St George. is unparalleled. Visitors to the London Chess Classic will be able to hear him comment on the games or Enjoy the tournament! take on the great man in simultaneous displays at Malcolm Pein Olympia on Sunday 13th and Monday 14th at 7pm.

A delightful endgame study composed by IM Yochanan Afek for the London Chess Classic. Yochanan Afek – Original White to play and win 1.h6 Kh5 2.h7 And now the direct 2...Kh6 is easily refuted by 3.Nf8 Kg7 4.Nxf7+-; Any hope for Black? He finds a startling defence: 2...Ne7!! The idea behind this amazing resource is: 3.Kxe7? Kh6 4.Nf8 Kg7 5.Nxf7 stalemate! while 3.Nf8? Nd5! followed by 3...Nf6 or 3. Nxf7? Nxg6 4.Ke8 Nh8! 5.Kf8 Kg6 are both evident draws. How should White proceed? 3.Kd8!! Now threatening 4.Nf8! while the more natural-looking alternative would prove premature:3.Ke8? Kh6 4.Nf8 Kg7 5.Nxf7 Ng6! and this is a reciprocal position with White to play! Any of his moves will be followed by an immediate . 3...Kh6 4.Nf8 Kg7 5.Nxf7 Ng6! 6.Ke8!! And here again the same reciprocal zugzwang position has been reached, however this time it is Black to play! 6...Nh8 7.Ng5! 7.Nxh8? Kxh8 is a theoretical draw. Any other move of the knight on f7 would be a waste of time and White will have to return to the same position and play Ng5 after all. Now it’s a rather easy win, for instance: 7...Kf6 8.Nfe6 Ng6 9.Nf4 Nh8 10.Kf8 Kxg5 11.Kg7+- 1–0

www.londonchessclassic.com 3 Chess Brochure 30/11.aw 30/11/09 16:12 Page 4 LONDON CHESS CLASSIC

MAGNUS CARLSEN World Number 1

Norwegian Magnus Carlsen is undoubtedly the hottest property in world chess. The youngest player ever to reach the illustrious 2800 Elo rating (and one of only five players in the history of chess to do so) Carlsen has set the chess world alight with a series of tournament performances making him the world’s number one player.

Marked out as a future world champion from the moment he played his first international event, Carlsen became a at the age of 13 years, four months, and 27 days. At the time he was the youngest ever and was dubbed the ‘Mozart of Chess’.

Carlsen achieved one of the outstanding tournament results of all time at the Pearl Tournament in in September 2009, where he scored a superb 8/10, winning every game with the white pieces. This result drew ready comparisons with Garry Kasparov and in September Kasparov stunned the chess world by announcing he was coming out of chess retirement to train the youngster. In particular Kasparov is going to share his database of opening ideas that he never had the chance to reveal during his 20 years as world number one.

Age 19 At the beginning of his career Carlsen was trained by GM Simen Agdestein at the Norwegian College for top athletes NTG. Agdestein is the only GM to represent a Peak rating 2805 country at both chess and football. Current rating 2805 Carlsen lives just outside Oslo with his mother, father and two sisters who regularly Live World Ranking 1 travel the world with him to tournaments. He is a keen football fan and follows Real Madrid. He also enjoys playing football, skiing and showed some promise at ski jumping before chess took over.

Magnus Carlsen – Pearl Spring Nanjing (5), 02.10.2009 [Malcolm Pein] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.0–0 Nge7 5.c3 a6 6.Ba4 b5 7.Bc2 19...Rc8 [19...Rd7 20.Ra8++-] 20.Nfxd4 Nxb2 21.Qe2 Nc4 Bb7 8.Qe2 d5 9.e5 d4 10.Be4 Qb6 [10...Nd5 Grischuk – 22.Rfc1! Radjabov is three moves behind in development, Kasparov Moscow Rapid 2002 but Garry had surely given something has to give 22...Bc5 [22...Qb8] 23.Nxb5 0–0? Magnus an idea] 11.d3 Like so may perfectly sensible moves, a [23...Bxf2+ 24.Qxf2 Qxb5 25.Qe2 (25.Qd4 0–0 26.Be7 Nc6 novelty at the top level 11...Rd8 [11...Ng6 12.h4 is rather annoying 27.Qc5 Qxc5+ 28.Bxc5 N4xe5 29.Bxf8 Rxf8 Black would have as Ngxe5 loses a piece and ...h5 would be too weakening] 12.a4! good chances to save the game) 25...0–0 26.Nd4 Qxe5 27.Rxc4 Nd5 [12...b4 is met by Nd2-c4] 13.axb5 axb5 14.cxd4 cxd4 Rxc4 28.Qxc4 Qxg5 29.Qxb4 should win] 24.Nxc5 15.Nbd2 Nf4 [15...Be7 16.Nb3 h6 17.Bd2 is only slightly better for White] 16.Qd1 Nb4?! 17.Nb3! Bxe4 [After 17...Ng6 18.Bg5 Rd7 19.Qe2 d4 will be hard to hold] 18.dxe4 Nfd3 19.Bg5

24...Nxe5 [Black loses material in all lines 24...Rxc5 25.Be7! Rxb5 26.Bxf8 Nxe5 27.Bc5 Qb8 28.Qxb5!; 24...Qxb5 25.Qxc4 Qxc4 26.Rxc4] 25.Be7 1–0

4 Chess Brochure 30/11.aw 30/11/09 16:12 Page 5

VLADIMIR KRAMNIK Former World Champion

Vladimir Kramnik, the 14th world champion is a product of the Soviet Chess School having studied under the ‘Patriarch of Soviet Chess’ . He was relatively unknown when, in 1992, at the behest of Garry Kasparov he was selected as reserve for the Russian team that won gold at the in . His selection was controversial as he had not even secured the Grandmaster title but he took an individual gold with a score of 8.5/9.

A meteoric rise followed and having remained unbeaten in a world record eighty six Classical Chess games Kramnik was clearly the man to challenge long-standing incumbent Garry Kasparov. The match took place in 2000 just down the road from Olympia at the Hammersmith Studios and Kramnik won without losing a game to become the only player to have defeated Kasparov in match play.

Age 34 Kramnik successfully defended his world title twice, in matches against Peter Peak rating 2809 Leko in 2004 at Brissago and against at Elista in 2006. His berth at the top of the game was to last another two years, until Current rating 2772 his defeat by of India at Bonn in 2008. Since then, Kramnik World Ranking 5 has shown some signs of returning to form, winning the powerful Dortmund tournament for the ninth(!) time, earlier in 2009 and most recently the in Moscow, one of the strongest events of all time.

Vladimir Kramnik – Garry Kasparov BGN London (10), 24.10.2000 [Malcolm Pein] 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0–0 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.0–0 [14...Bxf6 15.Nb5 Ra8 16.Nd6 Bxf3 17.Qxf3 Bxd4 18.Nxf7 Ne5 cxd4 8.exd4 dxc4 9.Bxc4 b6 10.Bg5 Bb7 11.Re1 Nbd7 12.Rc1 19.Rxe5 Bxe5 20.Nxd8 Rxf3 21.Nxe6 Rff8 22.Nc7+ Kh8 Rc8 13.Qb3 Be7? [13...Bxc3! 14.Rxc3 h6 15.Bh4 Qe8! is best, 23.Nxa8 wins a pawn] 15.Bxe6! fxe6 16.Qxe6+ Kh8 17.Qxe7 not 14...Rc7 15.Ne5 Kh8 16.Rh3 Qa8 17.Nxd7 Rxd7? 18.Bxf6 Bxf3 18.gxf3 Qxd4 19.Nb5! Qxb2 [19...Qf4 20.Rxc8 Rxc8 gxf6 19.Rxh7+! Kxh7 20.Qh3+ Kg7 21.Qg4+ Kh7 22.Re3 wins] 21.Nd6 ] 20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21.Nd6 Rb8?! [21...Ra8 22.Nf7+ Kg8 14.Bxf6! Nxf6 23.Qe6 h6! 24.Nxh6+ Kh7] 22.Nf7+ Kg8 23.Qe6 Rf8 24.Nd8+ Kh8 25.Qe7 1–0

www.londonchessclassic.com 5 Chess Brochure 30/11.aw 30/11/09 16:12 Page 6 LONDON CHESS CLASSIC

HIKARU NAKAMURA ‘H-Bomb’ – US Champion

The reigning US champion and nicknamed ‘H Bomb’ for his explosive and totally uncompromising style of play, Hikaru Nakamura is widely recognised as one of the world’s greatest players, particularly at Blitz Chess where he is the number one player on ICC (Internet ). He is virtually unbeatable at ‘Bullet Chess’ where all the moves have to be played in one minute.

Nakamura always plays for a win either face to face or online and usually refuses draw offers. He became a Grandmaster at the age of 15 and comparisons have already been drawn with the late world champion as Nakamura has often enjoyed success in tournaments where all the other players were Russian speakers. Like Fischer he also likes to train largely on his own.

He spent the summer of 2009 playing a series of tournaments in Europe, and achieved several notable successes. This culminated in an outright victory at San Sebastian ahead of a very strong field. Nakamura then travelled to Mainz in Germany, where he won the unofficial world championship of “Fischerrandom chess”, a form of the game where the pieces are arranged at random on the back row and a form of chess which is a real test of a player’s natural talent. Nakamura won the event in style, crushing world number 4 Lev Age 21 Aronian in the final. Peak rating 2735 Nakamura was home schooled. He plays tennis and spends time studying the financial Current rating 2715 markets. He is interested in maths and history. He is the author of ‘Bullet Chess: One Minute To Mate’. Nakamura’s stepfather is , one of the most successful World Ranking 24 junior chess coaches in the USA.

Hikaru Nakamura – Josh Friedel USA Championship, Saint Louis (9), 17.05.2009 [Malcolm Pein] 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 14.Ba3! Rf4 15.g3 Rd4 16.Nf3 Winning a second pawn or the 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Bd3 Be7 [8...Bc5 9.0–0 0–0 10.Nc3 Bb6 exchange 16...Rxd3 17.cxd3 Qxd3 18.Nxe5 Qf5 19.g4! Gunsberg-Chigorin Havana 1890 and Marusenko-Hebden Fearless, but Black has no threats 19...Qf4 20.d4 Rd8 21.Qe2 Hastings 1998 !] 9.Nc3 0–0 10.0–0 Rb8 [This does not work out Rxd4 22.Bc1! Trapping the 1–0 well 10...h6 11.Nf3 Bg4 12.h3 Bh5 Morozevich-Karjakin 2008] 11.h3 c5 12.b3 Rb4 13.Re1 Bb7

6 Chess Brochure 30/11.aw 30/11/09 16:12 Page 7

NI HUA China

Born in in 1983, Ni Hua learnt to play chess at six. He first drew attention when he scored heavily against Dmitry Schneider and Hikaru Nakamura in the 2001 China-USA match. He became China’s 14th grandmaster in 2003 and (jointly with ) became the second Chinese player to reach the super-elite rating threshold of 2700 in April 2008.

He took an unexpected team silver (which was nearly gold) with China in the 2005 World Team Championship and won the first of his three Chinese national titles in 2006 ahead of four other 2600+ players. He retained that title in 2007 and in Liverpool later that year scored 4/6 – the joint best score for his team – in the China-UK Summit match.

2008 saw significant progress when he was just half a point behind joint first-placed Bu Xiangzhi and Nakamura at the very strong Gibtelecom Masters in and then won his third Chinese title. Ni Hua is the only Chinese player ever to have won three successive national titles. At the end of the year and starting 2009 he achieved a comfortable victory in the Reggio Emilia tournament, scoring 7.5/9.

Ni Hua has proved himself to be a fine team player. He has represented China in four Olympiads winning the team silver medal in 2006 on board five for his team. He has played in six China-Russia matches (from 2001 to 2008), finishing on the winning side on the first Age 26 five occasions. His best team performance was at the 2007 Asian ‘Indoor Games’ Peak rating 2724 Championship when he scored 5.5/6 for a tournament performance rating of 2908.

Current rating 2665 He has a pretty good record against his fellow competitors at the 2009 London Chess Classic, though he has yet to play either Vladimir Kramnik or Magnus Carlsen. Against World Ranking 61 Nakamura he has 2/2; against Short 2/3 against McShane, one win and one draw; against Howell, one draw; against Adams, one loss.

Ni Hua – The first move in a far from obvious sequence. White gains some Chinese Championship, Xinghua Jiangsu (7), 02.06.2009 space in the centre and sacrifices a piece 7...Nc6 8.e5 Bb4 [Stephen Gordon] 9.0–0!? Bxc3 10.bxc3 Ne4 11.Qg4 g6 12.d5 So what is White’s Ni Hua is the least known of the participants. The Chinese Super compensation? Big Centre! Two Bishops! Black’s weakened dark GM’s rating has dropped a bit during recent months, but in April squares! My Rybka is trying to bring me back down to earth, 2009 he was boasting a rating of 2724! Here he finds a very indicating with a little care, Black should be doing very well here aggressive novelty on move 9 and even if not fully sound it is very 12...Qe7 13.Be3 Nxc3 14.Bc4 Qb4 15.Bb3 Ne7 16.a3 h5 17.Qh4 hard to deal with over the board. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 Qe4 18.Bc5 Ne2+ [18...Nexd5 19.Rae1 g5 may be another way to 4.Bb5 The Four Knights is becoming quite popular again as many try and reduce the pressure, planning to answer 20.Qxg5 with players are seeking decent alternatives to heavily theoretical Ruy 20...Qg6] 19.Kh1 d6 [19...Nf5 20.Qf6 Rh7 is the computer’s Lopez lines. Luke McShane is the only one out of the English big suggestion] 20.exd6 Nf5 21.Qf6 0–0 22.dxc7 The strong White four who hasn’t given this a punt with White over the last 12 bishops and the far advanced c and d pawns, add up to a decisive months, so there’s a possibility we’ll see a few Four Knights advantage 22...Bd7 23.Rae1 b6 24.Bxf8 Rxf8 25.d6 games in the Classic 4...Bc5 5.Nxe5 One of the first tricks you are Black is now material taught as a junior...But Ni down with a very loose Hua follows up this position. With Qxg6 seemingly temporary threatened the end is piece sacrifice in a very close.. 25...Kh7 26.Bxf7 creative fashion 5...Nxe5 Nxd6 27.Bxg6+ Qxg6 6.d4 Bd6 7.f4!? 28.Qxf8 1–0 (see diagram). Let’s hope we see a lot of unbalanced, uncompromising games like this one at the Classic

www.londonchessclassic.com 7 Chess Brochure 30/11.aw 30/11/09 16:12 Page 8 A future classic London is about to host its biggest in 25 years. As the game enjoys an internet-inspired renaissance, Max Davidson meets some of the Grandmasters of tomorrow.

Moving up: Chess is enjoying a resurgence in primary schools

Half-past three, and at the Trafalgar Junior School in Twickenham them, they won’t get much benefit. But there is a growing the school chess club is in full swing. “Check!” says Sam Knott, recognition that chess has an invaluable role to play in education. 10, the school’s star player. He has just scooped the under-11 title It is a brain-accelerator, like music.” at the Richmond Junior Chess Congress. Rhiannon Tanner, nine, Beyond the school gates, the game is attracting renewed moves her king. “Check!” says Sam, taking the bishop with his interest in Britain, and not before time. The London Chess Classic rook. “It’s not fair,” Rhiannon mutters. “He’s a year older than me.” at Olympia will be the most high-profile tournament in the country In another part of the room, Marie Gallagher, who runs the for a quarter of a century. after-school club, is giving a demonstration on . “Who You would not recognise any chess stars if you saw them in the knows the difference between an open file and a closed file?” street: it is not that sort of sport. But in an era when other sports Eager young hands shoot up in the air. are under the microscope as never before, their integrity called In state primary schools generally, such chess clubs tend to into question, chess is one of the last bastions of honesty and fair be the exception rather than the rule. But the popularity of this competition. You can’t win a chess game by diving or buying a one – there are 30 regular members and the club is fake blood capsule. You have to rely on your wits. At present, oversubscribed – hints at untapped potential. there is a sense that corporate sponsors underestimate the reach Offer young minds brain-food and, on this showing, they will of chess. Malcolm Pein, organiser of the London Chess Classic devour it as voraciously as they would a Big Mac and fries. (and the Telegraph’s chess columnist), says: “Corporations can’t “Children should only play chess if they want to,” says Gallagher, see much beyond the TV screen but chess is played by more the sister of chess grandmaster Joe Gallagher. “If they are only people than cricket or tennis.” coming to the club because their parents think it will be good for If the London Chess Classic goes well, there is a good chance

8 Chess Brochure 30/11.aw 30/11/09 16:12 Page 9

that the world championship itself – the run-off between the top Chesterfield, father of a child , who has launched a two players in the world – will be held in London in 2012, Olympic programme for distributing free chess sets to schools in year. What a glorious prospect: the finest minds of chess, the Derbyshire. “We’ve had great support from local companies,” he Usain Bolts of their sport, jousting for the world crown, their every says proudly. But would that support have been forthcoming if he move followed online, on iPods and mobile phones, and on huge had not gone knocking on doors? viewing screens. In government circles, the game is probably regarded as elitist: But the superstars of chess are only a tiny part of this heart- the cleverer player wins. But isn’t it the kind of elitism we should warming story. It is the resurgence in interest in the game at the be encouraging? And shouldn’t we, as a society, place greater grassroots level, after years when it suffered, unfairly, from a value on a mind-stretching activity which brings together people rather geeky image, that makes the heart dance. Witness these of all ages in friendly competition? chess-mad pupils at Trafalgar Junior School, some of them as At William Patten school in Hackney – a state primary, like young as seven. Trafalgar Junior – there is a very active chess club, some of There was a time when it looked as if chess might be squeezed whose ex-members compete in the Hackney League and have out by computer gaming and other attractions of the internet age. gone on to become outstanding players. But as the youngsters To outsiders, chess must have seemed outmoded, musty, a relic of the Cold War, the kind of pastime that would only appeal to jowly Russians called Boris and Vladimir. They underestimated “It is the resurgence in the durability of a game of beauty and subtlety whose roots can be traced back to the 15th century and beyond. interest in the game at the Far from killing chess, the internet has given it a shot in the arm. As a spectator sport, chess has never made great television: the time taken between moves is too long. But on the internet, with grassroots level, after years chess fans around the world able to follow a match through online forums, a slow sport has suddenly become lightning-fast, with the when it suffered, unfairly, merits of different moves sparking feverish debate. Fears that chess-playing computers would spoil the game by from a rather geeky image, mastering every possible permutation of moves have also proved unfounded. “Computers enable young players to learn so much faster,” Pein argues. “Twenty years ago I carried as many books that makes the heart dance” as I could manage to tournaments all over the world. Nowadays virtually every game of tournament chess played since 1851 is on find their feet in the game and go from strength to strength, they my laptop and the accumulated knowledge of the great players enjoy nothing like the same logistical and financial support they can be indexed and studied at the touch of a key.” would get if they were, say, swimmers with the potential to win If anything, computers have enhanced the sophistication of Olympic medals. Most Hackney League matches are held in top-flight chess, showing new variations and new winning lines. pubs, not the ideal environment for school-age children. To take a simple example, it used to be drummed into young The William Patten chess club is run by Steve Stanley, a parent chess players that one should castle at the first opportunity, to at the school. “We’re very lucky here. The club has been going for protect one’s king from attack. Now top players are quite more than 10 years thanks to a series of dedicated parents. It is prepared not to castle at all, developing their pieces in different, at secondary school, rather than primary school, that the more dynamic ways. Endgames, in particular, have been problems start.” transformed by computers, which have unearthed new ways to Most pupils at William Patten go on to Stoke Newington School, win or draw matches. the local comprehensive, where there is an embryonic chess club, The final, crowning advantage of modern chess over the pre- which has only been going for a few months. “Older kids tend to internet age is globalisation. Russia used to dominate the sport feel more ambivalent about chess,” Stanley says. “They worry if it because they took chess more seriously, plucking promising is cool or not.” There is an English Primary Schools Chess youngsters out of school and putting them through rigorous Association, but no equivalent at secondary school level. It is a training regimes, much as they did with their ballerinas. Now, postcode lottery, to an extent, whether a British child with an thanks to the break up of the old Soviet Union, and the end of interest in chess gets the chance to develop their skills. large-scale state funding of Grandmasters, that near-monopoly Thanks to the internet, and to showpiece events such as the has been smashed beyond repair. London Chess Classic, the grand old game is in no danger of But, for a game which is such a palpable force for good, with dying out. In fact, it could be on the verge of a glorious, and the potential to challenge and stimulate children from an early overdue, renaissance. age, chess rarely seems to get a look-in when Whitehall departments draw up their budgets, or when other funding bodies are looking for good causes to promote. This is an edited version of the piece which first appeared on the The people who make a difference tend to be chess enthusiasts Daily Telegraph website on 20.11.09 and is reproduced with kind taking initiatives at local level – people like David Bentley from permission of Telegraph Media Group.

www.londonchessclassic.com 9 Chess Brochure 30/11.aw 30/11/09 16:12 Page 10 LONDON CHESS CLASSIC

NIGEL SHORT Number 1

A Grandmaster from the age of 19, Nigel Short was a child prodigy and is Britain’s most recognisable name in the chess world. He has had a distinguished career which includes standing on the edge of the chess summit when he played Garry Kasparov for the world title in 1993 at London’s Savoy Theatre.

More recently Short has reclaimed the British number one spot after some fine performances for the national team and a stunning victory in August over the best of the UK and Holland at Simpson’s in the Strand, the 19 century home of English chess.

As a junior, Short hit the headlines by sensationally defeating renowned Grandmaster Viktor Korchnoi in a simultaneous display at the age of 10. Korchnoi, guest of honour at the London Chess Classic, was later to defect from the USSR and twice challenged for the world title himself. At 14 Short tied for first place in the British Championships and shortly after became Britain’s youngest International Master.

His meteoric rise continued through his teenage years and he took the decision to play professionally. In 1992 Short defeated the legendary Anatoly Karpov to claim the right to challenge for the world crown. Facing Garry Kasparov, the greatest player in the history of Age 44 the game, Short demonstrated some moments of brilliance but was well beaten. Peak rating 2712 Despite this setback, Short has an enviable list of international tournament victories and Current rating 2707 has been a regular fixture for the England Team.

World Ranking 29 Married with two children, in 1999 he was awarded an MBE for Services to Chess, and has written columns and book reviews for a number of Britain’s leading newspapers. Currently ranked well inside the world’s top 50, Short has also found time to coach a number of chess prodigies including David Howell whom he faces in the London Chess Classic.

Nigel Short – Erwin L’Ami 12.Re1+ Be6 13.Nd4 [Black cannot develop, if 13...Be7 14.Nf5 Corus B Wijk aan Zee (3), 19.01.2009 Bxf5 15.Rxe7+] 13...c5 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.Qh5+ g6 16.Qg4 Kf7 [Malcolm Pein] [16...Kd7 17.c4; 16...e5 17.Rad1 with Qf3 to come] 17.c4! d4 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Bb5 Nd4 5.Nxe5 A very old rare 18.Qf3+ Kg8 19.Bf6 1–0 After 19.Bf6 Bg7 20.Qxb7 Bxf6 line which catches Black totally by surprise. White usually retreats 21.Qxa8+ Kg7 22.Qxa7+ wins the bishop 5...Nxb5 6.Nxb5 c6 7.Nc3 Qe7 Necessary to regain the pawn 8.Nf3 Nxe4 9.0–0! Black is terribly exposed on the e file 9...Nxc3 10.dxc3 d5 [10...Qd8 11.Re1+ Be7 12.Qe2] 11.Bg5 Qd6

10 Chess Brochure 30/11.aw 30/11/09 16:12 Page 11

MICHAEL ADAMS England Number 2

Born in 1971 in Truro, Michael Adams, known as Mickey, has a strong claim to being Britain’s best ever chess player. He broke all significant national age records to become a grandmaster and win the British Championship at the age of 17 in 1989.

In the mid 1990s he advanced quickly up the world rankings entering the top 20 in 1994 and the top 10 in 1996. In the new century he joined the absolute elite group of players at the top, demonstrating his remarkable consistency by remaining at fourth spot behind Kasparov, Kramnik and Anand. He also proved highly successful in FIDE’s (and PCA’s) world knock-out championship events, reaching three semi-finals.

His best knock-out world championship performance was in 2004 when he came within half a point of becoming the first British player to win a full world championship title, losing out narrowly to Uzbek grandmaster Rustam Kasimjanov on a tie-break in the final in Libya.

Adams’ list of tournament successes makes proud reading; his best was clear first at Dos Hermanas in 1999 and in recent years he has twice won the Staunton Memorial tournament at London’s Simpson’s in the Strand.

Age 37 He has long been an automatic choice for the England Olympiad team (10 appearances, Peak rating 2755 six as Board One). His performances for England have been consistently high and he has won 10 team/individual medals in major team events including team gold at the 1997 Current rating 2698 European Team Championship and an individual gold in the same competition in 2001.

World Ranking 36 A mild-mannered, unassuming man who prefers to let his pieces do the talking, Mickey also has a way with words in his Saturday column in the Daily Telegraph. He is hugely respected by fellow professionals and chess fans for his impeccable sportsmanship as well as his supreme skills on the board.

Michael Adams – Mikhail Gurevich FIDE World Cup (2) Khanty-Mansiysk [Malcolm Pein] 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 cxd4 5.exd5 Qxd5 6.Bc4 Qd8 17...Bxe4 18.Qxe4 0–0 19.Qh4 Rfd8 [19...f5 20.Rd3 Bxd4 [6...Qd6 is the normal move. This was presumably an attempt to 21.cxd4 forces Black to play 21...f6 22.Re1 Qf7 when he has a take Adams out of his detailed preparation. ] 7.0–0 Nc6 8.Nb3 a6 difficult defence] 20.Qxf6 Bf8 21.Rd3 Bg7 22.Qg5 Qe5 23.Qg4 9.Qe2 b5 10.Bd3 Nf6 11.Rd1 Black cannot hang on to his extra Black’s pawn sacrifice has not eased his plight 23...Rd6 24.Rg3 pawn for long 11...Be7 12.Nbxd4 Nxd4 13.Nxd4 Qc7 [Of course Rc8 25.Qh4 Kh8 26.Qe7 Qc5 Black sets a couple of traps but he not 13...Qxd4 14.Bxb5+] 14.c3 Bc5!? Very risky [14...Bb7 would is lost here 27.Re1 [27.Qxf7?? Bxd4 28.cxd4 Qc1+ 29.Rxc1 be a normal move] 15.Bg5 Bb7 16.Bxf6! gxf6 17.Be4 Typical Rxc1#] 27...Rf8 28.Nxe6! Qe5 [28...fxe6 29.Qxg7#] 29.Rge3! 1–0 Adams, a simple exchange that gives White a clear edge with White has emerged and two pawns ahead safer king and better development

www.londonchessclassic.com 11 Chess Brochure 30/11.aw 30/11/09 16:12 Page 12 LONDON CHESS CLASSIC

DAVID HOWELL England Number 3

The youngest Grandmaster in the UK, Howell qualified for the highest status in chess at the age of 16. He was the youngest player in the world to beat a Grandmaster when he defeated England international John Nunn in a blitz game in 1999.

Howell achieved further media attention when he drew with Vladimir Kramnik in an exhibition game in 2002 to become the youngest player in the world to score against a reigning World Champion. This was the last time the pair met and they will do battle again at the London Chess Classic.

Three-time English Chess Federation Player of the Year, a good performance against the odds at the London Chess Classic will surely earn Howell a record-breaking fourth award. In 2008 Howell came within one game of winning the World Junior Championship and is one of the highest rated juniors in the world. He is also the reigning British champion, having Age 18 outclassed the field in August. Peak rating 2622 David enjoys playing football, along with rugby, squash, and table tennis. Current rating 2597 Reading and Indie bands make up his interests off the board. World Ranking 202

David Howell – Ivan Sokolov 14...Rh4 15.Ne4 Bf5 16.f3 Bxe4 17.fxe4 Kf8 18.g3 Rh7 19.Bc4 7th Staunton Memorial (7) London, 14.08.2009 Intending e4-e5 with a huge advantage 19...Qd6 20.Rhf1 b5 [Malcolm Pein] [20...Rxh2 21.Rf6! Qxg3 22.Rdf1 Rh7 23.Rxf7+! Rxf7 24.Qh8+ 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bb4+ 5.c3 Bc5 6.Be3 Bb6 Ng8 25.Rxf7+ Kxf7 26.d6+ Ke8 27.Qxg8+ Kd7 28.Qf7+ Kxd6 7.Qg4 g6 [7...Qf6 8.Qg3 Qg6 is safer] 8.Nd2 Nge7 9.Qh4 Nxd4 29.Qe6+ Kc5 30.Qd5+ Kb6 31.Qb5#] 21.Bxb5 Rxh2 [21...Qb6 10.cxd4 d5 11.Bg5! [11.Qf6 Rg8 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Bb5+ c6 22.Bc4 Qxd4 23.Rxd4±] 22.Rf6 Qxg3 23.Rdf1 Rh7 24.Bc4 Ke8 14.Bxc6+ bxc6 15.Qxc6++-; 11.Qf6 Rf8 12.0–0–0 also looks 25.Bb5+ [25.d6 wins on the spot 25...cxd6 26.Bxf7+ Kd7 27.Be6+ good] 11...Bxd4 12.0–0–0 h6 13.exd5! hxg5 [13...Bg7 14.Bb5+!] Kc7 28.Kb1] 25...Kf8 26.Bd7 Nc8 [26...Kg8 27.Rxf7 Rxf7 28.Be6 14.Qxd4 Raf8 29.Rh1 wins] 27.R6f3 Qh2 28.Qh8+!!

28...Ke7 [28...Rxh8 29.Rxf7+ Kg8 30.Rf8+ Kg7 31.R1f7+ Kh6 32.Rxh8#] 29.Rxf7+ 1–0 [29.Rxf7+ Rxf7 30.Rxf7+ Kxf7 31.Qxh2]

12 Chess Brochure 30/11.aw 30/11/09 16:12 Page 13

LUKE McSHANE England Number 4

Born in 1984, it wasn’t long before Luke McShane established himself as Britain’s leading chess prodigy. Aged only eight, he won the World Under-10 Championship on a tie-break.

In 1997 he became an IM at 13 and came close to a GM in the same year. In 1998 he shared first place with John Nunn at the Bunratty Masters in Ireland ahead of his coach Jonathan Speelman. He became a grandmaster at 16, surpassing Michael Adams’ age record for a British player.

Continuing to mix top-level chess with his school studies, he represented England in the 2002 Bled Olympiad, scoring 6.5/11. In that year he came close to winning the British Championship and won the silver medal at the World Junior Championship in Goa. In 2003 Luke finished a fifth in a strong tournament in Reykjavík, ahead of Michael Adams. Luke excels at blitz and amongst his successes was the 2003 British Blitz Championship, where he scored 14.5/16.

Luke opted to go up to University College, Oxford to study Philosophy and Mathematics which inevitably slowed his development as a player, but he has continued to play in tournaments and meet strong opposition in the German and UK team leagues, as well Age 25 as representing his university in the annual Varsity chess match. He met world champion Viswanathan Anand three times in the Bundesliga in 2006 and 2007, scoring Peak rating 2656 two draws and one loss. Current rating 2615 In 2007 he joined Goldman Sachs, since then his chess has taken second place to his World Ranking 158 professional career, but inspired by his invitation to the London Chess Classic he has staged something of a comeback in 2009. He scored 3/3 in the 4NCL in May and then took part in the UK versus Netherlands match in August, scoring 4.5/10. In October 2009 he represented England in the European Team Championship in Novi Sad, Serbia, scoring 4.5/8 on board two. He is the UK’s third highest rated player.

Luke McShane – 17th European Team Championships, Novi Sad (3) 24.10.2009 13...Qa6 14.Rf3 Rfc8 15.Rh3 h5 [15...h6 16.f5 g5 17.Bxg5 hxg5 [Malcolm Pein] 18.Qxg5 Nh7 19.Qh4 (19.Qh5 forces a draw as 19...Nf8 20.Bb3! 1.e4 c5 2.d3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 d6 6.0–0 Nf6 7.Qe1 Ne5 21.Rg3 wins) 19...Nf6 20.g4!] 16.f5! Ne5 17.Bg5 Kf8 0–0 8.Qh4 c4 9.Kh1 cxd3 10.cxd3 Bg4 11.Nc3 Bxf3 12.Bxf3 Anticipating Bb3 and fxg6 18.fxg6 fxg6 [18...Nxg6 19.Qg3 Rc5 Qb6 13.Bd1! The bishop will reappear on b3 to attack the 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Bxh5] 19.Bb3! Rf1 or d3-d4 follows 19...Nxd3 black king 20.Rf3! 1–0

The threat is Bxf6 Bxf6 Rxf6+ and Raf1 or Nc3-d5 are coming as well if required.

www.londonchessclassic.com 13 Chess Brochure 30/11.aw 30/11/09 16:12 Page 14

Bowled over by chess

England cricket legend Andrew Flintoff is best known for his heroics as an all-rounder for Lancashire and England. Hard to believe then that the two-times Ashes hero has more medals for chess than cricket.

Everyone is always surprised when I tell them I used to play a lot of chess as a kid. They always see me as this big lad from Preston without any brains, so it’s good to surprise them every so often. My brother Chris and I went to Greenlands Primary School, which was near a rough estate but for some reason had a very strong chess club. If you looked at some of the pupils who went to the school, you’d never guess they could play chess but in fact some of them went on to play for Lancashire and a couple of them even played for England.

When I look back now, I can see that I played chess in a very similar style to the way I play my cricket. I was a bit of a maverick in the way I played and did things off the cuff rather than plan ahead. I would come unstuck from time to time with that strategy, but every so often I would surprise my opponent with a move they didn’t expect! That’s very much the way I approach my cricket even now – I’m an instinctive player rather than someone who thinks hard about

Andrew Flintoff: A sporting icon across the board Getty Images what they are going to do.

I suppose my crowning glory as a chess player was my appearance “When I look back at the Preston Schools championships. I wasn’t expected to even qualify but I had one of those days where everything I tried paid off now, I can see that I and I had to attend the chess presentation night. I probably have more medals and trophies for my chess than I do for my cricket, played chess in a very believe it or not! Although my success at the school championships was one of the similar style to the way highlights, the most satisfying moment of my chess career was a game I had against Michael Atherton on a Lancashire pre-season I play my cricket – a trip to Jamaica. Athers fancied himself as a chess player and got out his board while we were on this coach journey and asked if I wanted bit of a maverick” a game. I was only about 17, but I hammered him – it was a big victory for the lad from the comprehensive school!

Andrew Flintoff has set up the AF Foundation with his wife Rachael. This is a children’s charity raising funds to build, develop and improve Child Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Units throughout the UK. www.affoundation.co.uk

14 Chess Brochure 30/11.aw 30/11/09 16:12 Page 15

Schedule The events below will run in conjunction with the London Classic.

7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Time Venue

Press Conference 13.30am Auditorium Opening Ceremony 13.30 Auditorium

Evening events Chess Metaphors 20.00 Conf. Room Korchnoi Simultaneous 19.00 - 22.00 East Hall Foyer Blitz Prix 19.00 - 21.30 Foyer

The Classic 1 2 3 4 5 6 14.00 - 21.00 Auditorium 7 12.00 - 19.00

FIDE rated Open 1 2 3 14.30 - 19.30 East Hall 4 10.00 - 15.00 5 16.00 - 21.00 6 7 8 14.30 - 19.30 9 11.00 - 16.00

Womens Invitational 1 2 3 14.30 - 19.30 East Hall 4 10.00 - 15.00 5 16.00 - 21.00 6 7 8 14.30 - 19.30 9 11.00 - 16.00

Weekend Classic 1 10.30 - 13.30 East Hall 2 14.30 - 17.30 3 18.00 - 21.00 4 11.00 - 14.00 5 15.00 - 18.00

Schools coaching 10.30 - 12.30 East Hall

English Junior Rapid Chess Championship 11.00 - 19.00 East Hall

Classic Rapidplay 10.30 - 17.45 East Hall

www.londonchessclassic.com 15 Chess Brochure 30/11.aw 30/11/09 16:12 Page 16

London Chess Classic Prize Fund €100,000

SIX MAIN PRIZES

London Chess Classic Winner €25,000, 2nd €15,000, 3rd €10,000, 4th €6,000, 5th €5,000, 6th €3,000

Total: €64,000

Best Game Prize of €10,000

6 x daily Best Game Prizes of €1,000 each

A winners’ pool of €20,000 for each game won. Each win will be of equal value. For example if there are 20 decisive games then the prize will be €1,000 per win.

PRIZE FUND BREAKDOWN

€64,000 Main Prizes + €10,000 Best Game + €6,000 Daily Best Game + €20,000 Winners’ Pool = €100,000

Rules: Classical time control; 40 moves in 2 hours, 20 moves in one hour and then all moves in 15 minutes with a 30 second increment per move. Players score three points for a win and one for a draw.

Magnus CarlsenVladimir KramnikHikaru NakamuraNi Hua Nigel Short Michael AdamsDavid HowellLuke McShane

Magnus Carlsen

Vladimir Kramnik

Hikaru Nakamura

Ni Hua

Nigel Short

Michael Adams

David Howell

Luke McShane

Olympia Conference Centre, Kensington W14 8UX

www.londonchessclassic.com