NEWSLETTER 60 (January 23, 2012)

ECU PRESIDENT SILVIO DANAILOV VISITED STRASBOURG FROM JANUARY 16-19 IN ORDER TO ASSIST DURING THE SESSION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Mr. Danailov, together with the Chairman of the ECU Chess in School Commission Mr. Jan Callewaert, was collecting signatures for the Written Declaration 50/2011 on the introduction of chess in the educational system of the European Union. Together with their team, they collected new 126 MEPs' signatures.

Now the Declaration has 238 signatures in total and needs 143 more to succeed.

The deadline is 15th of March.

Having visited Strasbourg, Silvio Danailov also visited Tata Steel Tournament in Wijk aan Zee (Holland). There he had a working meeting with the representatives of the Dutch Chess Federation, the Delegate Mr. Herman Hamers and Tournament Director Jeroen Bosch.

The ECU President officially opened Round 6 of the prestigious Tata Steel Chess Tournament.

Official web site: www.europechess.net

GM TIGRAN PETROSIAN IS THE NEW ARMENIAN CHESS CHAMPION

GM Tigran Petrosian won the 72nd Armenian Chess Championship with final result of 7 points from possible 11 and became the new Armenian Chess Champion. GM Robert Hovhannisyan won the silver medal, he earned 6.5 points, GM Samvel Ter-Sahakyan finished third with 6

points.

In the women section, the winner is WGM Maria Kursova who earned 9 points. Second is WIM Anna Hairapetian with 8.5 points, WGM Evgeniya Doluhanova finished third with 6.5 points. The Armenian Chess Championship’2012 took place from 11th - 22nd of January in Yerevan, Armenia.

Final Ranking after 11 Rounds-MEN

Rk. Name Pts. TB1 TB2 TB3 1 GM Petrosian Tigran L 7 33,8 0 5 2 GM Hovhannisyan Robert 6,5 30 0 5 3 GM Ter-Sahakyan Samvel 6 28,3 0 3 4 GM Andriasian Zaven 5,5 25,5 0 2 5 GM Pashikian Arman 5,5 25 0 3 6 GM Melkumyan Hrant 5 24,3 0 3 7 IM Grigoryan Karen H 4,5 20 0 4 8 GM Minasian Artashes 4 20 0 2 9 GM Grigoryan Avetik 4 19,8 0 0 10 GM Simonian Hrair 3,5 19 0 0 11 GM Babujian Levon 3,5 15 0 3

Chief-Arbiters of the men and women championships were IA Juleta Nahatakyan and IA Armen Nikoghosyan.

Final Ranking after 11 Rounds-WOMEN

Rk. Name Pts. TB1 TB2 TB3 TB4 1 WGM Kursova Maria 9 38,8 5 0 8 2 WIM Hairapetian Anna 8,5 36,8 5 0 7 3 WGM Doluhanova Evgeniya 6,5 22,8 5 0 5 4 Sargsyan Shushanna 6 22,5 5 0 4 5 WIM Aghabekian Liana 5,5 22,5 5 0 5 6 WIM Gasparian Narine 5,5 19,5 6 0 4 7 WFM Kharatyan Anahit 5 18 5 0 4 8 WFM Martirosyan Lia 4 13,3 6 0 3 9 WGM Movsisian Naira 2,5 5,75 4 0 2 10 Ghambaryan Hasmik 1,5 2,25 6 0 1 11 Gevorgyan Maria 1 5,5 3 0 1 12 WGM Aginian Nelly 0 0 1 0 1

Official web site: www.chessfed.am

GM SERGEI ZHIGALKO WON THE BELARUSIAN CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

GM Sergei Zhigalko won the Belarusian Chess Championship with the final result of 8 points from possible 11. His brother Andrey Zhigalko finished second with 7.5 points, third is Vladislav Kovalev with the same result. The 78th Belarusian Chess Championship for Men took place in Minsk, Belarus from 11-22 January. 12 players competed for the title the Belarusian Chess Champion.

In the women section the winner is Anastasia Zezyulkina with the final result of 8 points from possible 9. Tatiana Revo finished second with the same result, third is Anna Sharevich with 6 points. 56th Belarusian Chess Championship for Women took place in Minsk, Belarus from 10-18 January.

10 players competed for the title the Belarusian Chess Champion.

Final Ranking-first 10 positions-MEN Final Ranking-WOMEN

Rk. Name Pts. Rk. Name Pts.

1. Sergei Zhigalko 8.0 1. Anastasia Zezyulkina 8.0

2. Andrey Zhigalko 7.5 2. Tatiana Revo 8.0

3. Vladislav Kovalev 7.5 3. Anna Sharevich 6.0

4. Kiril Stupak 7.0 4. Lanita Stecko 6.0

5. Alexei Fedorov 7.0 5. Maria Neveselaia 5.0

6. Andrei Gorovec 5.5 6. Ekaterina Kasperovich 4.0

7. Vitaliy Teterev 4.5 7. Raisa Eidelson 3.0

8. Dmitriy Bulanov 4.5 8. Marina Tereshkova 2.5

9. Alexander Kocheev 4.0 9. Ekaterina Beinenson 2.0

10. Roman Grib 3.5 10. Ekaterina Morgaenko 0.5

Official web site: www.openchess.by

CROATIAN CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP-MEN

The Croatian Chess Championship for men is being held in Opatija, Croatia from 16-27 January. Leaders in the ranking are GMs Mladen Palac and Davorin Kuljasevic who earned 5 points. GMs Marin Bosiocic and Zdenko Kozul are on a half point distance from them with 4.5 points.

The Championship, organized by the Croatian Chess Federation and Chess Club Rijeka, is held according to the Berger system with rate of play: 90 minutes for 40 moves+30 minutes for the rest of the game+30 seconds increment per moves, starting from move one. The total prize fund of the tournament is 10.000 EURO.

Ranking after 7 rounds

Rk. Name Pts. TB1 TB2 TB3 1 GM Palac Mladen 5 0 19,8 0 2 GM Kuljasevic Davorin 5 0 13 0 3 GM Bosiocic Marin 4.5 0 16,8 0 4 GM Kozul Zdenko 4.5 0 11 0 5 GM Saric Ivan 4 0 12,3 0 6 GM Zelcic Robert 4 0 11,5 0 7 GM Sulava Nenad 3 0 12,3 0 8 GM Brkic Ante 3 0 8,5 0 9 GM Jovanovic Zoran 2.5 0 7,5 0 10 GM Jankovic Alojzije 2.5 0 5,75 0 11 GM Saric Ante 2 0 7,75 0 12 GM Stevic Hrvoje 2 0 7 0 The Tournament Director is Ervin Sindik and the Chief-Arbiter is Nenad Doric. Official web site: www.crochess.com

AZERBAIJANI CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP’2012 FOR MEN

The Azerbaijani Chess Championship 2012 for men is being held from 22-30 January, 2012. 10 players are competing for the title of the Azerbaijani Chess Champion. The Chief-Arbiter of the tournament is IA Namig Ismayilov.

After 2 rounds three chess players are on the top with the result of 1.5 points: FM Kanan Izzat, GM Azer Mirzoev and GM Vugar Rasulov.

Ranking after 2 rounds

Rk. Name Rtg Pts. TB1 TB2 TB3 1 FM Izzat Kanan 2309 1,5 0 1 1,5 2 GM Mirzoev Azer 2523 1,5 0 1 1,3 3 GM Rasulov Vugar 2537 1,5 0 1 1 4 IM Mammadov Zaur Fazahir 2368 1 1 1 1 5 GM Guliev Sarhan 2523 1 0 1 0,5 GM Durarbeyli Vasif 2542 1 0 1 0,5 7 GM Mamedov Nidjat 2601 1 0 0 1,5 8 GM Abbasov Farid 2551 0,5 0 0 0,8 9 Rzayev Bahruz 2308 0,5 0 0 0,3 GM Ibrahimov Rasul 2550 0,5 0 0 0,3 Official web site: www.azerichess.az

AUSTRIAN CHESS BUNDESLIGA’2012

The Austrian Chess Bundesliga 2012 started in Vienna, Austria last weekend. The first three rounds of the season were played on January 20-22. It will be finished on 22 April, 2012.

Twelve teams are competing in the Austrian Bundesliga, three of which will have to relegate to the second league. Approximately half of the chess players in the league are GMs. Some of the top players are: Jobava Baadur, Mateusz Bartel, Andrei Volokitin, Igor Kurnosov, Jan Gustafsson, Alexander Beliavsky, Bartosz Socko, etc.

Ranking after 3 rounds

Rk. Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 TB1 TB2 TB3 3 1 SK Advisory Invest Baden * 5 5 ½ 6 13,5 0 3 4 2 SK Sparkasse Jenbach * ½ ½ 4 6 12 0 4 3 ASVÖ Wulkaprodersdorf * 3 ½ 5 5 12,5 0 2 3 4 SK Hohenems * ½ ½ 4 4 10 0 3 2 3 5 ASVÖ Fundermax St. Veit/Glan ½ * ½ ½ 4 9,5 0 2 3 6 SIR Bernhard Glatz 3 ½ ½ * 3 9 0 2 2 3 7 SK Sparkasse Fürstenfeld ½ ½ * ½ 2 8,5 0 2 8 SK MPÖ Maria Saal 1 * ½ 4 2 7,5 0 1 3 9 SK Zwettl ½ 2 ½ * 2 7 0 1 10 ASVÖ Pöchlarn/Mauerbach 1 ½ * 3½ 2 6 0 2 2 11 SV Raika Rapid Feffernitz ½ 2 ½ * 0 7 0 2 12 SpGem. Kufstein Wörgl 1 2 ½ * 0 5,5 0 The team composition of SK Advisory Invest Baden team, the first in the ranking was: GMs Jobava Baadur (GEO), Balogh Csaba (HUN), Socko Bartosz (POL), Bartel Mateusz (POL), Beliavsky Alexander (SLO), Jankovic Alojzije (CRO), Ruck Robert (HUN), Shengelia David (AUT), Siebrecht Sebastian (GER), IM Loeffler Stefan (GER), FM Bawart Markus (AUT), IM Lendwai Reinhart (AUT), WGM Schneider Veronika (HUN), Herndlbauer Martin (AUT), Trippold Denise (AUT) and Varga Johannes (AUT). The tournament is organized by the Austrian Chess Federation, the Chief- Arbiter in the first 3 rounds was IA Werner Stubenvoll.

Official web site: http://live.schachbundesliga.at

FOUR NATIONS CHESS LEAGUE

The second weekend of the 2011-2012 season of the Four Nations Chess League took place in Hinckley Island & Wychwood Park, UK on 14-15 January, 2012. The title deciding match took place in Pool 1A in round 4 between Guildford and Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher (WGHK), where WGHK won against its opponent with 5.5-2.5 points. On the top board David Howell beat Nigel Short with white pieces.

Ranking

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 GP Pts

1 Wood Green Hilsmark 1 5½-2½ 5½-2½ 8-0 5-3 24 8

2 Guildford 1 2½-5½ 6½-1½ 5½-2½ 7½-½ 22 6

3 Barbican 4NCL 2 3-5 4½-3½ 5-3 5½-2½ 18 6

4 e2e4.org.uk 1 2½-5½ 5-3 4½-3½ 4½-3½ 16½ 6

5 The AD's 0-8 1½-6½ 4-4 5-3 10½ 3

6 Blackthorne Russia 2½-5½ 3½-4½ 3½-4½ 4½-3½ 14 2

7 Bristol 1 3-5 3½-4½ 4-4 3½-4½ 14 1

8 Anglian Avengers 1 3-5 ½-7½ 2½-5½ 3-5 9 0

Divisions 1 and 2 of the League consist of 16 teams each. The rate of play of the tournament was: 2 hours for 40 moves+1 hour for 20 moves+30 minutes to the end of the game.

Rounds 5 and 6 of the Division 1 and 2 will take place at De Vere Sunningdale Park, Ascot on February 11-12, 2012.

Official web site: www.4ncl.co.uk

TRADEWISE GIBRALTAR CHESS FESTIVAL 2012-MASTERS

The 10th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival 2012-Masters starts today on 24 January and it will end on 02 February, 2012. 246 chess players will compete in the Masters’ section. Some of the top rated participants are: Peter Svidler (RUS), Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE), Michael Adams (ENG), Judit Polgar (HUN), Alexei Shirov (LAT), Viktor Laznicka (CZE), Emil Sutovsky (ISR), Sergei Movsesian (ARM), Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA), Hou Yifan (CHN), Humpy Koneru (IND), Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL), etc. 57 Grand Masters participate in the tournament, 11 of which are rated 2700 and over.

Rate of play: 100 minutes for 40 moves + 50 minutes for 20 moves + 15 minutes for the rest of the game+30 seconds increment per move, starting from move one.

Board Pairings-1st Round–first 10 positions

Bo. Name Rtg - Name Rtg 1 GM Svidler Peter 2749 - IM Houska Jovanka 2414 2 IM Molina Roberto Junio Brito 2415 - GM Mamedyarov Shakhriyar 2747 3 GM Adams Michael 2724 - GM Zhukova Natalia 2426 4 IM Aloma Vidal Robert 2431 - GM Almasi Zoltan 2717 5 GM Le Quang Liem 2714 - IM Karim Ismael 2405 6 IM Astaneh Lopez Alex 2414 - GM Polgar Judit 2710 7 GM Shirov Alexei 2710 - IM Lyrberg Patrik 2435 8 GM Bellon Lopez Juan Manuel 2422 - GM Laznicka Viktor 2704 9 GM Sutovsky Emil 2703 - IM Hanley Craig A 2421 10 IM Lund Silas 2414 - GM Movsesian Sergei 2700 The Tournament Director at the Chess Festival is Stuart Conquest and the Chief- Arbiter is Laurent Freyd. Official web site: www.gibraltarchesscongress.com