The Aldhid Road - E88 Sharjah - United Arab Emirates

Phone: (+971) 06 5455888 214 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.shjchessacademy.com Instagram: shjchessacademy Twitter: shjchessacademy

A new journey to be started A new promise to be fullfield A new page to be written

SICA Bulletin ® April 2019 1

The newly established Sharjah International Academy is S cientific entitled and committed to raise the level of chess training in United Arab Emirates to high standards. Experienced and professional coaches, armed with extra-ordinary teaching material, are ready to offer you a different and very effective approach in your chess world. I nterest The programs and the courses are based on a constructive curriculum, created by one of the world’s top coaches and authors (92 books published!), GM Efstratios Grivas. Each course takes 32 lessons to be C apacity fullfield and the Academy offers five different courses for any level! Above these courses, the Academy offers additional 8-hour Thematic courses and also training for the coaches or students with a higher level. Add the blitz training sessions and the chess events sessions and you have A ction the full picture of our offers! Finally, the Academy offers individual lessons by agreement.

The Positive Aspect of Chess Origins & Myths of Chess There are many stories about the origins of chess, most Chess may be helpful in many ways of which are not true. There is some portion of truth in to a child or an adult. Some of these those myths, but often there is also a lot of imagination are: of the people that made them up. ● Decision Making One of the best stories is about a wise Brahman and ● Cultivating Logical Thinking his Maharaja, who lived in India. The Brahman was ● Development of Imagination called Sissa and by order of the Maharaja, designed a ● Personal Responsibility game similar to real battle. This game looked like a false ● Hard Work war and was played on a piece of wood, just like modern ● Constant Learning chessboards. ● Socialisation The Maharaja was so excited that he told the Brahman ● Memory Development and Exercise he could have anything he asked for. To the Maharaja's ● Concentration great astonishment, Sissa did not ask for gold, valuable stones or anything with great value in his kingdom. Sissa just wanted to have some rice, which was and still is part of the basic nutrition in the countries of Eastern Asia. All Sissa wanted was to be paid using the battle field on which the game he created is conducted. He asked for one grain of rice on the first square, two grains of rice on the second square, four grains on the third, eight on the fourth and so on constantly doubling the quantity. The Maharaja was very pleased; because he thought this way he would have a beautiful game at an exceptionally low cost. He told Sissa to go down to the palace store and get paid by his servants immediately. Then Sissa explained that this was not possible, because the total amount of rice grains needed to pay him was 18,446,744,073,709,551,615. This amount of rice did not exist, not only in his kingdom or the other kingdoms of India by that time, but not even in the whole world! Even if it had existed, the whole of the king’s riches would not be enough to buy that much rice. The story tells that the Maharaja did not know what to admire the most, Sissa's invention or his cleverness in being paid! He gave him a big farm and enough presents to live comfortably for the rest of his life. He, however, did not want to leave his Maharaja and stayed with him to advise him in times of trouble. The game made by Sissa was the ancestor of chess. After a few changes in the way the pieces move, which took whole centuries to be accepted, modern chess appeared around 1500, now with many millions of players and fans. Even if Sissa did not actually exist, the ideas of his story are still alive. SICA Bulletin ® April 2019 2 Sharjah Masters International Chess Championships

Lahur Sissa by Tigran Petrosian Cruz 2007 Thiago

FIDE World Champions - Tigran Petrosian

Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian (Russian: Тигра́ н Варта́ нович Петрося́н; Armenian: Տիգրան Պետրոսյան; June 17, 1929 - August 13, 1984) was a Soviet Armenian , and World Chess Champion from 1963 to 1969. He was nicknamed ‘Iron Tigran’ due to his almost impenetrable defensive playing style, which emphasised safety above all else. Petrosian was a Candidate for the World Championship on eight occasions (1953, 1956, 1959, 1962, 1971, 1974, 1977 and 1980). He won the World Championship in 1963 (against Mikhail Botvinnik), successfully defended it in 1966, against and lost it to Spassky in 1969. Thus he was the defending World Champion or a World Championship Candidate in ten conse- cutive three-year cycles. He won the Soviet Championship four times (1959, 1961, 1969, and 1975). Petrosian is widely known for popularising chess in Armenia. The Armenian state recently printed a bank-note of 2.000 Drams, with ‘Iron Tigran’. SICA Bulletin ® April 2019 3 Highlights from the 3rd Sharjah Masters

□ Dimakiling Oliver (2423) □ Le Quang Liem (2715) ■ Matlakov Maxim (2692) ■ Venkatesh M.R. (2517) 3rd Sharjah Masters 23.03.2019 3rd Sharjah Masters 24.03.2019 XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+-tr-mk( 8-+q+rtr-+( 7+-+-+-zpp' 7+-zp-+pvlk' 6p+N+-+q+& 6pzpnzp-+pzp& 5+-+P+p+-% 5+-+-sn-+-% 4-+-+p+-vl$ 4-+P+P+-+$ 3+Q+ntR-sN-# 3+-+-vLNsNP# 2PzP-vL-zPPzP" 2PzPQ+RzPP+" 1tR-+-+-mK-! 1+-+R+-mK-! xabcdefghy xabcdefghy Black overlooked the power of the double White to play performed a great manoeuvre: attack, giving his opponent the chance to 21.Nd2! Nd7 22.Nb1! Nc5 23.Nc3 h5 play 22.Rxd3! exd3 23.Qb4 Qf6 24.Bc3 24.Nd5 and went on to win in 57 moves. 1-0 and win. 1-0 □ Gupta Abhijeet (2602) □ Nasanjargal Urtnasan (2503) ■ Sargissian Gabriel (2689) ■ Maghsoodloo Parham (2673) 3rd Sharjah Masters 26.03.2019 3rd Sharjah Masters 24.03.2019 XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY 8-+rtr-+-+( 8-+-+-+Q+( 7+-+k+-zp-' 7+-+-+-+-' 6-+p+-+-zp& 6-+L+K+-+& 5zp-+-+p+P% 5+-+p+-+-% 4Pvl-zP-+-+$ 4-+-mkp+-+$ 3+-+-vLKzP-# 3+-+n+-+-# 2-+R+-zP-+" 2-+-+-+-+" 1+-tR-+-+-! 1+-+-+q+-! xabcdefghy xabcdefghy White to play took his chances in the ending Black to play, continued with 73...Nc5+?, by transforming his advantage after 39.d5! missing 73...Qh3+ 74.Ke7 Qh4+ 75.Kd6 cxd5 [39...c5 40.Bxc5 Ke8 41.Bd4, Qh2+ 76.Ke7 Qe5+, winning. The game winning] 40.Rxc8 Rxc8 41.Rxc8 Kxc8 ended in a draw by perpetual check after 42.Bd4! Kd7 43.Bxg7 Bd2 44.Ke2 Bc1 74.Ke7 Qf5 75.Qg1+ (92 moves) ½-½ 45.Bc3 1-0

SICA Bulletin ® April 2019 4 Chess as an Educational Sport

For many years, chess, all over the world, taking it. In contrast to other sports, where has grown widely especially among the the responsibility for a bad result may easily youth. Many parents enroll their children to be accredited to others, in chess, where the chess clubs or chess classes at school which factor of luck is almost non-existent, full are a part of extra-curricular activities of responsibility for failure but, of course, for the Parents & Guardians Clubs. success too, belongs exclusively to the chess In some schools, chess is included in the player. It is an individual sport that teaches ‘flexible zone’ or even the school program. fair play as well as respecting the opponent It is now accepted that chess helps in with, as a typical example, the handshake developing character and children's before and after the game. thinking, however all the positive influences 5. Hard Work - chess proves that success of chess on man may not be yet known. in every aspect of life is gained only through There is a lot of evidence that shows chess hard work, patience and hard work. The is a very good and useful tool in children’s chess player learns to pursue recognition education and its contribution to improving only based on his knowledge and abilities. educational performance is significant. While, when at beginner level he may win But what exactly is chess? Some people by chance or thanks to an opponent's illegal say it is an art. Some say it is a science. move, he will soon understand that this kind Above all though, chess is a game. Like of approach will not be helpful against good every other game (e.g. football, basketball opponents. etc.) chess offers the participants feelings of 6. Constant Learning - mistakes are joy, fun, sportsmanship and creativity. always inevitable, but it is very important to However, the main difference from every learn from them and try to improve. The other sport is that it exercises creative chess player learns how to lose, as well. thinking at a much higher level. Loss is inevitable, but what is most Chess may be helpful in many ways to a important is how to handle it. child or an adult. Some of these are: Concerning the causes of a loss, as well as 1. Decision Making - based on reason, as the effort to improve, are factors that help in the sport's nature itself demands the chess the child's general maturity and a chess player to have a scientific approach in their player's in general. way of thinking. 7. Socialisation - as it gets children (but 2. Cultivating Logical Thinking - he must also chess players in general) in contact constantly look for new ideas, analyse each with other children of different ages, position to its individual elements, later nationality, sex, physique and character. combine all these elements to find the right Thus, they acquire social interest and team move, as well as correctly apportion the spirit, when they take part in team games at available time. school or a club. 3. Development of Imagination - which 8. Memory Development and Exercise - as may prove to be an important element in a at the same time it helps develop and game, as it may show the right direction for exercise memory. making a decision in cases where many Chess theory, which children gradually rules may be applied in a position and memorise, as well as the typical positions logical thinking may not give an easy which they recall in their memory and use in answer. their games, result in cultivating memory. Without imagination, chess would be a 9. Concentration - chess is a game that bankrupt field that modern computers would requires constant and absolute have worked out. concentration. A small mistake by an instant 4. Personal Responsibility - as it teaches of inattention or diversion may lead to loss. SICA Bulletin ® April 2019 5 Great Chess Quotes

1. The pin is mightier than the sword - Fred Chess deteriorates as your body does. You Reinfeld. can't separate body from mind - Bobby 2. We cannot resist the fascination of Fischer. sacrifice, since a passion for sacrifices is 16. Of chess it has been said that life is not part of a chess player's nature - Rudolf long enough for it. But that is the fault of Spielmann. life, not chess - William Ewart Napier. 3. All I ever want to do is just play chess - 17. I have added these principles to the law: Bobby Fischer. get the knights into action before both 4. The mistakes are there waiting to be made bishops are developed - . - Savielly Tartakower. 18. Life is like a game of chess, changing 5. A win by an unsound combination, with each move - Chinese proverb. however showy, fills me with artistic horror 19. You cannot play at chess if you are kind- - Wilhelm Steinitz. hearted - French proverb. 6. The chessboard is the world; the pieces 20. It’s just you and your opponent at the are the phenomena of the universe; the rules board and you're trying to prove something - of the game are what we call the laws of Bobby Fischer. Nature. The player on the other side is 21. It is the aim of the modern school, not to hidden from us - Thomas Huxley. treat every position according to one 7. I don't believe in psychology. I believe in general law, but according to the principle good moves - Bobby Fischer. inherent in the position - Richard Reti. 8. Modern chess is too concerned with 22. In order to improve your game, you must things like pawn structure. Forget it, study the endgame before everything else. checkmate ends the game! - Nigel Short. For, whereas the endings can be studied and 9. Life is a kind of chess, in which we have mastered by themselves, the middle game often points to gain, and competitors or and endgame must be studied in relation to adversaries to contend with, and in which the endgame - Jose Raul Capablanca. there is a vast variety of good and ill events 23. Without error there can be no brilliancy - Benjamin Franklin. - Emanuel Lasker. 10. Combinations have always been the most 24. Chess is war over the board - Bobby intriguing aspect of chess. Fischer. The masters look for them, the public 25. Chess is played with the mind and not applauds them, the critics praise them. It is with the hands! - Renaud & Kahn. because combinations are possible that 26. Chess is a mental torture - Garry chess is more than a lifeless mathematical Kasparov. exercise. They are the poetry of the game; 27. The most important feature of chess they are to chess what melody is to position is the activity of the pieces. This is music. They represent the triumph of mind absolutely fundamental in all phases of the over matter - . game: Opening, Middlegame and especially 11. Even the laziest king flees wildly in the Endgame. The primary constraint on a face of ! - Aaron Nimzowitsch. piece’s activity is the pawn structure - 12. I give 98 percent of my mental energy to Michael Stean. Chess. Others give only 2 percent - Bobby 28. You have to have the fighting spirit. You Fischer. have to force moves and take chances - 13. Chess is a fairy tale of 1001 blunders - Bobby Fischer. Savielly Tartakower. 29. Could we look into the head of a chess 14. Only the player with the initiative has player, we should see there a whole world of the right to attack - Wilhelm Steinitz. feelings, images, ideas, emotion and passion 15. Your body has to be in top condition. Your - Alfred Binet. SICA Bulletin ® April 2019 6 Academy Club Groups & Events Weekly Schedule

Day Level Time Coach Beginner Class 15:00-16:30 El Ameir Fathy Saturday Intermediate Class 16:45-18:15 El Ameir Fathy Medium Class 18:30-20:00 El Ameir Fathy

Day Level Time Coach Advanced Class 15:00-16:30 El Adnani Mokhliss Sunday Thematic Class 16:45-18:15 El Adnani Mokhliss Coach Class 18:30-20:00 Efstratios Grivas

Day Level Time Coach Expert Class 15:00-16:30 El Adnani Mokhliss Monday Blitz Tournament 16:45-18:15 Coach Class 18:30-20:00 Efstratios Grivas

Day Level Time Coach Beginner Class 15:00-16:30 El Ameir Fathy Tuesday Intermediate Class 16:45-18:15 El Ameir Fathy Medium Class 18:30-20:00 El Ameir Fathy

Day Level Time Coach Advanced Class 15:00-16:30 El Adnani Mokhliss Wednesday Thematic Class 16:45-18:15 El Adnani Mokhliss Coach Class 18:30-20:00 Efstratios Grivas

Day Level Time Coach Expert Class 15:00-16:30 El Adnani Mokhliss Thursday Thematic Class 16:45-18:15 El Adnani Mokhliss Blitz Tournament 18:30-20:00

Day Level Time Coach 15:00-16:30 Individual Lessons By Agreement Friday 16:45-18:15 Chess Movie & Events 18:30-20:00

In each of the above courses, students will be coached for one hour and then they will have practice for another half hour. Each lesson will last for a total of one-and-a-half hour.

All Classes & Courses are based on Educational Curriculum prepared by the world’s expert Coach & Author Efstratios Grivas

Special Workshops by World’ famous Coaches Lessons in the English language - Arabic & French languages lessons on demand

We are starting on April 1st Make sure that you will be there! Fill-up the Registration Form and return it to our Secretariat by e-mail SICA Bulletin ® April 2019 7 SICA Registration Form

Family Name

Given Name

Gender (M or F)

Birth (DD/MM/YY)

Face-Photo

Nationality

Passport

E-mail

Mobile Number

FIDE-ID Number

Family Data Father Mother

Family Name

Given Name

Birth

Nationality

E-mail

Mobile Number

Profession

SICA Bulletin ® April 2019 8