NEWSLETTER 63 (February 20, 2012)

HISTORICAL SUCCESS FOR THE EUROPEAN CHESS

The ECU project “Chess in school” had a historical success in the European Parliament. The needed number of MEPs' signatures (378 signatures – 50%+1 from the total number of 754 MEPs) was almost gained during the session of the Parliament which was held in Strasbourg, France, on February 13-16, 2012. Just a few signatures left for the next session in March.

L-R: MEP Slavi Binev, Garry Kasparov, Silvio Danailov

The European Parliament in Strasbourg, France One of the two halls for the seminars concerning Chess in School presentation

The joint project of the European Chess Union and Kasparov Chess Foundation Europe was supported by the MEPs from all parties represented in the European Parliament.

“We are very close to the full success. After the acceptance of the Written Declaration, the EU Commission will start to work on the project “Chess in school.”- commented Silvio Danailov, the President of the ECU and continued: ” I always say that besides being a popular sport, the game of chess is also a science, education and part of the cultural heritage of the European nations. This is a historical moment for the European chess. From now on the game of chess will have totally new position and acceptance among the European society. And we shall see all the benefits from this new position of our favorite game in the near future.”

MEPs are signing the Written Declaration no. 50/2011 Spanish MEPs strongly support the “Chess in school” about the “Chess in school” project project

The President of the European Chess Union Silvio Danailov and the most legendary chess player Garry Kasparov arrived to Strasbourg to promote many educational benefits from the implementation of chess as an obligatory subject in the European schools. They participated in seminars dedicated to the program "Chess in school" and had many meetings with MEPs. Garry Kasparov played a simultaneous chess sessions against children and European deputies.

MEP Milan Zver (Slovenia) & Mr. Silvio Danailov

Mr. Silvio Danailov & MEP Slavi Binev Mr. Silvio Danailov & MEP Ivaylo Kalfin

All activities and events connected to the project “Chess in school” were held under the high patronage of the previous President of the European Parliament, prof. Jerzy Buzek and the MEP from Bulgaria, Mr. Slavi Binev, who is the main supporter of the project.

Mr. Silvio Danailov & Prof. Jerzy Buzek

During his visit, ECU President Silvio Danailov met with the previous President of the European Parliament, prof. Jerzy Buzek and they discussed the future development of the game of chess and the project “Chess in school”. Professor Buzek strongly supports this ECU program.

Official web site: www.europechess.net

NEW SECTIONS ON THE ECU WEBSITE

We introduced two new subsections in the RESOURCES section, in order that the visitors of the ECU web site could have the access to the archive of all the web site content:

- „Newsletters‟ which contains all issues, starting from Newsletter 1 (October 11th, 2010) up to now- http://www.europechess.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=arti cle&id=132&Itemid=24

-„Past events‟ which contains all the links to the past competitions, organized by the ECU- http://www.europechess.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=130&Itemid=22

Web site: www.europechess.net

IULIAN BALTAG AND SVETLANA PETRENCO ARE THE NEW MOLDOVAN CHESS CHAMIPONS

Iulian Baltag and Svetlana Petrenco are the new Moldovan Chess Champions. Iulian Baltag won the title with the final result of 8.0 points from possible 11. Vladimir Hamitevici was second with 7.5 points, Serghei Vedmediuc was third on a half point distance.

The Championship of Moldova was held in Kishinev on February 07-17, 2012. The tournament was played in 11 rounds with time control 90 minutes for the entire game+30 seconds increment per move.

Final Ranking-MEN

Rk. Name ELO Pts. 1. Baltag, Iulian 2404 8.0 2. Hamitevici, Vladimir 2436 7.5 3. Vedmediuc, Serghei 2468 7.0 4. Soltanici, Ruslan 2385 7.0 5. Golub, Dan 2207 6.5 6. Bets, Anatolij 2255 6.0 7. Sanduleac, Vasile 2423 5.0 8. Bargan, Serghei 2290 4.5 9. Gostev, Serghei 2361 4.5 10. Postolache, Viorel 2131 4.0 11. Nevednichy, Boris 2264 3.5 12. Eletskikh, Alexandr 2283 2.5

In the women section, the winner is Svetlana Petrenco, who became the Moldovan Chess Champion for the 7th time. She finished with the result of 8.0 points from possible 9. Second is Olga Hincu with 7.5 points, third – Gabriela Cazacu with 6 points.

The Women Championship was played in 9 rounds with time control 90 minutes for the entire game+30 seconds increment per move. It was held on February 07-15, 2012.

Final Ranking-WOMEN

Rk. Name ELO Pts.

1. Petrenco, Svetlana 2239 8.0 2. Hincu, Olga 1909 7.5 3. Cazacu, Gabriela 1794 6.0 4. Crigan, Galina 1929 5.0 5. Golban, Ludmila 1872 5.0 6. Lesnic, Galina 1439 3.5 7. Coada, Elena 1791 3.0 8. Corotcova,Anastasia 1595 2.5 9. Ursu, Ana-Maria 1901 2.5 10. Daicu, Diana 1578 2.0 Official web site: www.chessfederation.md

WGM MIRJANA MEDIC WON THE CROATIAN CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP‟2012

WGM Mirjana Medic won the Croatian Chess Championship’2012 with the final result of 6 points. WIM Rajna Sargac finished second with the same score, third was WIM Borka Franciskovic with 5 points. The Croatian Chess Championship was held in Topusko, Croatia on February 05-12, 2012. Chief-Arbiter of the tournament was IA Mate Ivancic.

Final ranking after 9 rounds

Rk. Title Name Pts. TB1 TB2 TB3 TB4 TB5 1 WGM Medić Mirjana 6 3,5 21,5 0 5 2 2 WIM Šargač Rajna 6 3 19,3 0 5 2 3 WIM Frančišković Borka 5 3 18 0 2 0 4 WFM Berke Ana 5 1,5 15,5 0 4 2 5 WFM Deur Šarić Zrinka 4 2,5 13 0 3 1 6 WFM Bažaj Boćkai Snježana 4 1,5 12 0 3 3 7 NM Iveković Ana 3 2 11,3 0 1 1 8 NM Iveković Tihana 3 1,5 8,5 0 1 0 9 MK Ljikar Tamara 1 0 1,5 0 0 0

The Championship was played in 9 rounds with time control 90 minutes for 40 moves+30 minutes for the rest of the game+30 seconds increment per move, starting from move one.

Official web site: www.crochess.com

GM TIGRAN PETROSIAN WON THE ARMENIAN RAPID CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP‟2012

GM Tigran Petrosian won the Armenian Rapid Chess Championship’2012 with 6.5 points. GM Hrair Simonian who finished with the same result took the silver medal, FM Robert Aghasaryan finished third with 6 points.

The Armenian Rapid Chess Championship was held on 18 February, 2012 in Yerevan. Chief-Arbiter was IA Samvel Vardanyan. Thirty seven chess players took part in the competition.

Final ranking after 8 rounds-first 10 positions

Rk. Title Name Pts. TB1 TB2 TB3 1 GM Petrosian Tigran L. 6,5 36 39 4 2 GM Simonian Hrair 6,5 33 35 3 3 FM Aghasaryan Robert 6 37 42 4 4 IM Kalashian David 6 32 34 4 5 IM Hayrapetian Ovik 6 31 33 4 6 GM Andriasian Zaven 5,5 38 42 4 7 IM Nadanian Ashot 5 37 39 5 8 FM Gabuzyan Hovhannes 5 36 40 4 9 Dilanyan Grigor 5 31 32 4 10 IM Hayrapetian Arman A. 5 30 32 4 Official web site: www.chessfed.am

GEORGIAN CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP-U18 FOR BOYS AND GIRLS

The Georgian Chess Championship –U18 for boys and girls was held in Tbilisi, Georgia on February 02-10, 2012. In the boys’ section, the winner was Shalva Nadirashvili with 7 points, second – Nikoloz Kumsiashvili with 6.5 points, Kakhaber Tsereteli finished third with the same score.

In the girls’ section, the winner was Ana Shamatava with the final result of 8.5 points. Second finished Nato Imnadze with 8 points, third was Mariam Choladze with 6.5 points.

Final Ranking-U18-BOYS-first 10 Final Ranking-U18-GIRLS-first 10 positions positions

Rk. Name Rtg Pts. TB1 TB2 Rk. Name Rtg Pts. TB1 TB2 1 Nadirashvili Shalva 2122 7 35 0 1 Shamatava Ana 2025 8,5 42 0 2 Kumsiashvili Nikoloz 2064 6,5 33 0 2 Imnadze Nato 2024 8 42 0 3 Tsereteli Kakhaber 2028 6,5 31 0 3 Choladze Mariam 1859 6,5 34 0 4 Beradze Irakli 2323 6 37 0 4 Unapkoshvili Nani 1984 6 28 0 5 Sibashvili Giorgi 2013 6 32 0 5 Kuchava Ana 2014 5,5 29 0 6 Khomeriki Nino 1909 6 28 0 6 Macharashvili Tekla 1845 5 28 0 7 Ebralidze Alexandre 1956 5 27 0 7 Kakutia Ada 1839 5 27 0 8 Keleptrishvili Irakli 1959 5 26 0 8 Gogishvili Dea 1906 5 26 0 9 Chkuaseli Revaz 1870 5 25 0 9 Javakhishvili Mariam 1485 5 25 0 10 Burduli Guga 1929 5 23 0 10 Kokhreidze Tatia 1610 5 22 0

Chief-Arbiter of the Championship, organized by the Georgian Chess Federation was IA Margarita Tandashvili.

Official web site: www.gcf.org.ge

GM ALEXANDER MOROZEVICH WON MEMORIAL VLADIMIR PETROV

The Russian GM Alexander Morozevich won Memorial Vladimir Petrov with 5 points score. GM Alexei Shirov (LAT) who had a half point less won the silver medal, third was GM Igor Kovalenko from Ukraine with 4.5 points.

The Memorial, organized by the Latvian Chess Federation, was held in Jurmala, Latvia on February 15-20, 2012.

Total prize fund was 4050 EURO, rate of play: 15 minutes + 6 seconds increment.

Chief-Arbiter of the tournament was IA Cimins Alberts.

Participants in the final of the Memorial Vladimir Petrov were: GMs Alexander Morozevich (RUS), Alexei Shirov (LAT), Igor Kovalenko (UKR), Ildar Khairullin (RUS), Daniel Fridman (GER), Vassily Ivanchuk (UKR), Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE) and Michal Krasenkow (POL). Fifty eight players took part in the qualifications which were held in Jurmala City Museum on February 16-17.

Final Ranking after 7 rounds

Rk. Title Name FED Pts. TB1 TB2 TB3 1 GM Morozevich Alexander RUS 5 16 4 0 2 GM Shirov Alexei LAT 4,5 15,3 3 0 3 GM Kovalenko Igor UKR 4,5 13 3 0 4 GM Khairullin Ildar RUS 3,5 11,8 2 0 5 GM Fridman Daniel GER 3 10 2 0 6 GM Ivanchuk Vassily UKR 3 9,5 1 0 7 GM Mamedyarov Shakhriyar AZE 2,5 6,5 2 0 8 GM Krasenkow Michal POL 2 8 0 0 Official web site: www.sahafederacija.lv

GM MATEUSZ BARTEL WON AEROFLOT OPEN IN MOSCOW

GM Mateusz Bartel from Poland won Aeroflot Open in Moscow with 6.5 points. With the same result, second finished GM Anton Korobov (UKR) and GM Pavel Eljanov (UKR).

Aeroflot Open was held in Moscow, Russia on February 07-15, 2012.

The total prize fund of the tournament was 150,000 EURO (with blitz tournament included). It was played in 9 rounds, according to the Swiss system with the rate of play: 100 minutes for 40 moves+50 minutes for additional 20 moves+15 minutes until the end of game+30 seconds increment per move, starting from move one. Eighty six players took part in Group A of the tournament.

Final Ranking-first 15 positions

Rk. Name FED Pts. Rating W-We Col.Bal. Rat-HiLo

1 GM Bartel, Mateusz POL 6.5 2658 +1.97 -1 2656.7

2 GM Korobov, Anton UKR 6.5 2660 +1.94 1 2657.1

3 GM Eljanov, Pavel UKR 6.5 2690 +1.41 1 2642.4

4 GM Khalifman, Alexander RUS 6.0 2632 +1.67 -1 2650.9

5 GM Rodshtein, Maxim ISR 6.0 2634 +1.80 1 2670.7

6 GM Caruana, Fabiano ITA 6.0 2736 +0.41 1 2644.6

7 GM Melkumyan, Hrant ARM 6.0 2620 +1.64 1 2637.3

8 GM Andreikin, Dmitry RUS 6.0 2688 +0.61 1 2619.3

9 GM Sasikiran, Krishnan IND 5.5 2700 +0.05 -1 2623.4

10 GM Bu, Xiangzhi CHN 5.5 2670 +0.27 -1 2613.4

11 GM Tukhaev, Adam UKR 5.5 2537 +1.55 -1 2595.3

12 GM Shomoev, Anton RUS 5.5 2570 +1.19 -1 2592.0

13 GM Iordachescu, Viorel MDA 5.5 2651 +0.34 -1 2590.0

14 GM Ragger, Markus AUT 5.5 2655 -0.13 -1 2572.9

15 GM Zherebukh, Yaroslav UKR 5.5 2594 +1.92 1 2679.3

In the blitz section of Aeroflot the winner is Sergey Karjakin (RUS) with the final result of 15 points from possible 18. Second finished GM Alexander Grischuk (RUS) with 14.5 points, third was GM Yangyi Yu (CHN) with 13.5 points.

Final Ranking-Aeroflot Blitz-first 10 positions

Rk. Title Name FED Rating Pts. MBch. Bch. Wins 1 GM Karjakin, Sergey RUS 2769 15.0 81.50 104.50 7 2 GM Grischuk, Alexander RUS 2761 14.5 75.00 93.00 7 3 GM Yu, Yangyi CHN 2631 13.5 72.50 91.50 6 4 GM Popov, Ivan RUS 2599 13.5 68.50 87.00 6 5 GM Shimanov, Aleksandr RUS 2549 13.0 81.00 100.00 6 6 GM Jumabayev, Rinat KAZ 2573 13.0 69.50 87.00 6 7 GM Dreev, Aleksey RUS 2698 12.5 81.50 105.50 6 8 GM Andreikin, Dmitry RUS 2688 12.5 80.50 104.50 5 9 GM Tomashevsky, Evgeny RUS 2740 12.5 73.50 94.50 5 10 GM Caruana, Fabiano ITA 2736 12.5 72.50 93.00 4 Aeroflot Blitz was held at the same venue as the Open section on February 16. The blitz tournament was played in 9 rounds (with two games per round), according to the Swiss system with time control 3 minutes for the entire game+2 seconds increment per move.

Official web site: http://aeroflotchess.org