Parr and Sandler Win Elections

Why did the NSWCA have its AGM out in the middle of nowhere in Rooty Hill? Could it be because they like to stop as many people attending and ensure that only friends turn up? Who knows?

But the far distance certainly didn't stop regular ACF and NSWCA critic Peter Parr from getting himself voted in as next year's NSWCA boss. He did so, according to Aussie chess big wig Brian Jones, by bringing along a number of his loyal mates and signing them up as members on the day of the AGM. This is amazing stuff. That's democracy for ya - New South Wales style.

Meanwhile, down south in Victoria, the chess businessman David Cordover, who talks like a Harvard MBA and Anthony Robbins in one, failed in his bid to become Chess Victoria president. The huff and puff of his much hyped PR campaign turned out to be pointless. What probably didn't help his cause were some unexpected salvos from up north across the border!

So, congrats to my mate IM Leonid Sandler for bagging the presidency and to GM Daryl Johansen the veep position. As to what these guys have in mind for 2010, well, that's for our southern friends to worry about.

Kamsky Goes Home

Last night GM So sent another superstar, this time Kamsky, back to the comforts of home. It's quite evident that one reason for their demise at the hands of Wesley So is that they've simply underestimated the young Filipino.

Kamsky on his defeat: "Everything is clear: my opponent was better prepared and I was always choosing the wrong openings. In the first game I played recklessly and got a problematic position. I thought I could manage to beat this fellow on class. But he turned out to be very serious chess player."

In a must-win situation, the American managed just a draw. With that, So proceeds to the next phase of the World Cup.

World Cup 2009
So, Wesley
Kamsky, Gata
A87

1. c4 f5 2. d4 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Nf3 d6 7. O-O Qe8 8. Re1 e5 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. e4 f4 11. gxf4 Bg4 12. Nd5 Na6 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. Qd5+ Be6 15. Qxb7 Nc5 16. Qb5 Nd3 17. Qxe8 Raxe8 18. Rd1 Nxf4 19. Bxf4 exf4 20. e5 Bg7 21. Nd4 Kh8 22. Bc6 Re7 23. Bd5 Bh3 24. Rd3 Rxe5 25. Rxh3 Rg5+ 26. Kf1 Bxd4 27. Re1 Bc5 28. Re6 Bd6 29. Rb3 Rh5 30. h3 Kg7 31. Rb7 Kh6 32. Bf3 Rxh3 33. Kg2 Rh4 34. Rb5 Rf7 35. Rd5 Bf8 36. c5 Bg7 37. b4 Bc3 38. a3 Bb2 39. Ra6 Re7 40. Rxa7 Re1 41. Rd1 Rxd1 42. Bxd1 1/2-1/2

Ivanchuk Sulks

Meanwhile, GM Ivanchuk cries like a baby. Chessbase quotes him: "To my mind I should leave professional chess now. Chess will become hobby for me from now on. As for the signed contracts, yes, I will play in all tournaments which I have to. Perhaps I will even participate in a tournament before the new year. I should win something! And that will be the end. No serious plans, no professional goals."

He's still one my fave players around, but Jeez, man up man. This is just hopeless. So you lost to some kid who, by the way, is not so unknown.

Now you know! It's Wesley So.

Kamsky - So, 0-1

Yesterday's talk among the Pinoys in Town Hall was, of course, none other than Wesley So. He might never be as rich as another of our other heroes, Manny Pacquiao, but Wesley already deserves to be as equally venerated, I think. Whatever happens now in the ongoing World Cup, the young Pinoy's accomplishments are just wonderful and amazing.

Last night I left his game against American powerhouse super GM Gata Kamsky after 24...f6 and thought, well, this should at least be a draw, although according to my engines he had a slight plus. I wake up this morning and it's, it's, yes, Wesley won!

World Cup 2009
Kamsky, Gata
So, Wesley
C11

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 Qb6 8. a3 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bc5 10. Na4 Qa5+ 11. c3 Bxd4 12. Bxd4 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 b6 14. Be2 Ba6 15. Bd1 Qb5 16. b4 Rc8 17. Nb2 Qc6 18. Rc1 O-O 19. a4 Bc4 20. Bg4 Bb3 21. O-O Bxa4 22. f5 Bb5 23. Rfe1 Rfe8 24. Re3

Position after 24. Re3

24...f6 25. fxe6 Nxe5 26. Bf5 g6 27. Bh3 Qd6 28. Rd1 Rcd8 29. Rd2 Qe7 30. Rf2 Nc6 31. Qd2 d4 32. Re4 dxc3 33. Qxc3 Rf8 34. g4 Rd6 35. Bg2 Ne5 36. g5 Rxe6 37. gxf6 Rfxf6 38. Rxf6 Qxf6 39. Re3 Bc6 40. Nd1 Qg5 41. Rg3 Qf4 42. Nf2 Bxg2 43. Kxg2 Nc4 44. Qd3 Ne3+ 45. Kg1 Nf5 46. Qd5 Qc1+ 47. Nd1 Kf7 48. Rc3 Qg5+ 49. Kf2 Qf4+ 50. Kg2 Qg4+ 51. Kf2 Qe2+ 52. Kg1 Qe1+ 53. Kg2 Kg7 0-1

In this interview on the official site, Wesley is quoted as saying, "I am 16 and the greatest achievement for me so far is the second place in one tournament with average rating about 2700. At the moment my rating is 2640. I dream that sooner or later I will come to the magical point 2700. I don't know how much time I will need for that."

Oh, he'll get there. No doubt about it.

Where's the NSWCA AGM?

According to the NSWCA website, the AGM and the state lightning championships will be held tomorrow. Unlike the Victorian AGM, the NSWCA version looks to be a fairly boring affair this year. Probably the only gossip I can share that is midly interesting is that Peter Parr may attempt another try at forming some sort of ticket. I got that from an old mate of mine whom I ran into a couple of days ago. We'll see.

Now if you're wondering where this AGM will be, I can't tell you. The NSWCA website still says 'TBA'.

Ivanchuk Falls to Pinoy

And GM Ivanchuk bombs out.

World Cup 2009
So, Wesley
Ivanchuk, Vassily
D13

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 a6 7. Rc1 Bf5 8. e3 e6 9. Qb3 Ra7 10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. Bxe5 Nd7 12. Bg3 Be7 13. Be2 O-O 14. O-O Qa8 15. Nb1 Rc8 16. Bd3 Bxd3 17. Qxd3 Rc6 18. Rc2 Nb6 19. Rfc1 Nc4 20. Nd2 Nxd2 21. Qxd2 a5 22. Qd3 a4 23. f3 Raa6 24. e4 Qd8 25. Rxc6 Rxc6 26. Rxc6 bxc6 27. Bf2 h5 28. Be3 Qa5 29. Kf2 h4 30. g4 h3 31. Kg3 Qe1+ 32. Kxh3 dxe4 33. Qxe4 Qf1+ Chessvibes reckons that 33...Qe2 would have given Ivanchuk some hopes. 34. Kg3 Bd6+ 35. Bf4 Bb4 36. g5 Be1+ 37. Kg4 Qg2+ 38. Bg3 Bxg3 39. hxg3 Qxb2 40. Qxc6 Qxd4+ 41. f4 g6 42. Qc2 a3 43. Kf3 e5 44. fxe5 Qxe5 45. Qd3 Qb2 46. Qd5 1/2-1/2

Wesley So Beats Chukky

As is only natural, the Philippines, unlike Australia, still has hopes in the World Cup. It is none other than in the powerful GM Wesley So. Smerdon was very lucky not to have faced the young Pinoy in the first round, I have to say. Otherwise, the Australian might have had to come home much sooner.

Not surprisingly, GM So has made it into the next stage of the World Cup. He accounted for GM Gadir Guseinov in the first round, dropping just a single game and winning 4-1.

In the second round, then, So had to face off against the very powerful superstar of world chess, GM Ivanchuk. A walk in the park for the Ukrainian, you reckon? No bloody way!

World Cup 2009
Ivanchuk, Vassily
So, Wesley
C01

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. Nge2 O-O 7. O-O Bg4 8. f3 Bh5 9. Nf4 Bg6 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. Bg5 c6 12. f4 Qb6 13. Na4 Qxd4+ 14. Kh1 Ne4 15. c3 Nf2+ 16. Rxf2 Qxf2 17. cxb4 f6 18. Qg4 fxg5 19. Qe6+ Kh8 20. Nc5 Qxb2 21. Qh3+ Kg8 22. Qe6+ Kh8 23. Rf1 Qf6 24. Qh3+ Kg8 25. g3 Re8 26. Nxb7 gxf4 27. Rxf4 Re1+ 28. Kg2 Qe6 29. Qxe6+ Rxe6 30. Nc5 Re7 31. b5 Nd7 32. Nxd7 Rxd7 33. bxc6 Rd6 34. Bb5 Re8 35. Rd4 Kf7 36. Rf4+ Ke6 37. Rg4 Ke5 38. Kf3 Rf6+ 39. Ke3 0-1

The two other Pinoy reps, GMs Antonio and Laylo, are en route back to RP after both lost to Kamsky and Navara respectively.

Smerdon Bows Out of Siberia

GM David Smerdon bows out of the World Cup, but not before giving Cuban maestro Leinier Dominguez one hec of a big scare. The Australian held the 2719-rated Cuban, who won the World Blitz championship last year, to draws in the two long games and three rapids, a pretty wonderful feat!

Then this happened:

World Cup 2009
Dominguez Perez, Leinier
Smerdon, David
B73

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O Nc6 9. Qd2 Bd7 10. Rfd1 Rc8 11. f3 a6 12. a4 Ne5 13. Nd5 e6 14. Nxf6+ Bxf6 15. b3 d5 16. f4 Nc6 17. e5 Bg7 18. Nxc6 Bxc6 19. Bd4 f6 20. exf6 Bxf6 21. Qe3 Bxd4 22. Rxd4 Qf6 23. Re1 Kg7 24. Bd3 Rce8 25. g3 Kg8 26. Qe5 Qxe5 27. Rxe5 Kf7 28. h4 h5 29. Kf2 Kf6 30. Ke3 a5 31. c3 Rb8 32. c4 b6 33. cxd5 Bxd5 34. Bc4 Bxc4 35. bxc4 Rfd8 36. Rb5 Rxd4 37. Kxd4 Rd8+ 38. Kc3 Rd6 39. c5 bxc5 40. Rxc5 Rd1 41. Rxa5 Ra1 42. Kb2 Rg1 43. Rg5 Rg2+ 44. Kb3 Rg1 45. a5 Ra1 46. Kb4 Rb1+ 47. Kc5 Ke7 48. a6 1-0

In his latest blog entry, Smerdon says, "Well folks, I write to you on our last night in Khanty-Mansiysk. My dream run has come to an end, after I lost the final rapid game to go down in the tie-break 2.5-1.5. Painfully, the loss was due to a brain explosion right at the death, while the ‘obvious’ move would have seen a probable draw and progression into the blitz play-offs. And wouldn’t that have been something – blitz tiebreaks against the former world blitz champion!"

Melburnian Bags World Title

Ex-Kiwi Bobby Cheng has just become a world champ. Cheng, who now plays under the Aussie flag, scored 9 points and topped outright the field of 142 players in the U12 section of the World Youth Chess Championships. Among his wins were these two nice ones.

WORLD YOUTH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP 2009 U12
Cheng, Bobby
Mousavi, Seyed Khalil
A70

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 d6 4. Nc3 g6 5. e4 Bg7 6. h3 O-O 7. Bd3 e6 8. Nf3 exd5 9. cxd5 b5 10. Bxb5 Nxe4 11. Nxe4 Qa5+ 12. Nfd2 Qxb5 13. Nxd6 Qa6 14. N2c4 Rd8 15. Bf4 Bf8 16. Qe2 Bb7 opting to follow Schandorff - Berg, 0-1, Politiken Cup 2007. 17. Nxb7 Qxb7 18. O-O Here, Schandorff castled long and his king quickly came under pressure. 18...Rxd5 19. Rad1 Rxd1 20. Rxd1 Nc6 21. Qf3 Rd8 22. Rxd8 Nxd8 23. Qxb7 Nxb7 24. Kf1 f6 25. Ke2 Kf7 26. Kd3 Ke6 27. b3 g5 28. Bd2 Be7 29. g4 f5 30. Ne3 fxg4 31. hxg4 Nd6 32. Nc4 Ne8 33. Bc3 Bd8 34. Be5 Kd5 35. Bc3 Ke6 36. Be5 Kd5 37. Bb8 a6 38. Ne3+ Kc6 39. Ke4 Be7 40. Be5 Bd8 41. Kf5 Nd6+ 42. Bxd6 Kxd6 43. Nc4+ Kd5 44. Ne5 Be7 45. Nf7 Kd4 46. Nxg5 h6 47. Nf7 Kc3 48. Ke4 Kb2 49. Kd3 Kxa2 50. Kc2 Bf8 51. f4 Ka3 52. Kc3 Bg7+ 53. Kc4 Kb2 54. Ne5 Kc2 55. Nd7 Kd2 56. f5 Ke3 57. f6 Bh8 58. f7 Bg7 59. Nxc5 Bf8 60. Ne6 Be7 61. g5 hxg5 62. Nxg5 Kd2 63. Ne6 Kc2 64. f8=Q Bxf8 65. Nxf8 Kb2 66. Kb4 a5+ 67. Ka4 1-0

The next is from the eleventh round and how fitting that Cheng should front up against the top seed, the 2344-rated, Suri Vaibhav of India.

WORLD YOUTH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP 2009 U12
Vaibhav, Suri
Cheng, Bobby
C05

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ndf3 cxd4 8. cxd4 a5 9. Bd3 a4 10. a3 Nb6 11. Ne2 Na5 12. O-O g6 13. Qc2 Nb3 14. Rb1 Bd7 15. g4 Rc8 16. Nc3 Nc4 17. f5 Nxd4? What is this? This is just bluff I reckon. 18. Nxd4 Bc5

Position after 18...Bc5

19. fxg6? Why not 19. Qf2? 19...Bxd4+ 20. Kh1 hxg6 21. Bxg6 Nxe5 22. Bh5 Bc6 23. Qe2 Bxc3 24. bxc3 d4+ 25. Kg1 Qd5 26. cxd4 Rxh5 27. gxh5 Nd3 0-1

Smerdon Draws in World Cup

Unlike the singularly most useless group of Australian sportsmen, the Wallabies, GM David Smerdon is giving some local chess fans plenty of reason to be jolly. The Canberra resident drew his first game in the ongoing World Cup against Leinier Dominguez. With black no less!

The return match will see Smerdon hold the white pieces, so hopes are high that he can cause an upset. Here's the first round encounter.

World Cup 2009
Dominguez Perez, Leinier
Smerdon, David
B76

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. O-O-O d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bd4 Nxc3 13. Qxc3 Bh6+ 14. Be3 Bxe3+ 15. Qxe3 Qb6 16. Qxe7 Be6 17. Bd3 Qe3+ 18. Rd2 Rfe8 (18... c5) 19. Qh4 Bxa2 20. Qf2 Qe5 21. Be4 Rab8 22. Qd4 Qa5 23. Rd3 Qg5+ 24. Rd2 Red8 25. Qc3 Rxd2 26. Qxd2 Qf6 27. c3 Rd8 28. Qe3 Qe5 29. g3 Bb3 30. Re1 Qa5 31. Bb1 Qa1 32. Qe7 Qa5 33. Qe3 Qa1 34. Qe7 Qa5 1/2-1/2

As an added bonus to his fans, GM Smerdon actually has a blog. Head over to www.davidsmerdon.com to follow his adventures!