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- US Chess Champs Recap after Two Rounds [VIDEO]
- Decisive Results Abound in Round 1 of U.S. Championships
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- Largest Chess Piece in the World Unveiled in Saint Louis
Saint Louis Open
Published April 9, 2012 | 
The Bill Wright Saint Louis Open
Date/Time:
4/14 – 4/15
Early Registration Entry Fee (Annual Members Only):
$50
Standard Entry Fee:
$60
Tournament Format:
Swiss
Number of Rounds:
5
Registration End Time:
9:30 am
Time Control:
G/120
Total Prize Fund:
$4050
Prize Fund Breakdown:
Prize fund: $4,050
Open: $750-$500-$325-$225-$150. Under 2200-$300-$200-$100.
Under 2000 Section: $400-$250-$200. U1800: $225-$175. U1400: $150-$100.
* Winner of each Section qualifies for the 2013 Club Championship.
Round Start Times:
Sat 10, 2:30, 7, Sun 10, 2:30
Entries & Information:
(314) 361-CHESS (2437) or info@saintlouischessclub.org or 4657 Maryland Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63108.
St. Louis 2nd Grand Master Norm Tournament / 2012
Published April 6, 2012 |
The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis is sponsoring their second GM norm tournament from April 9 through April 13 where players will compete to earn norms toward the Grand Master title.
| Rank | Name | Fed. | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Score |
| 1 | GM Margvelashvili, Giorgi | GEO | 2547 | x |
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| 2 | GM Moradiabadi, Elshan | IRI | 2542 |
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| 3 | GM Finegold, Benjamin | USA | 2505 |
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| 4 | IM Sevillano, Enrico | USA | 2502 |
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| 5 | IM Arnold, Marc T | USA | 2502 |
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| 6 | IM Gerzhoy, Leonid | CAN | 2489 |
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| 7 | IM Molner, Mackenzie | USA | 2465 |
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| 8 | IM Brooks, Michael A | USA | 2456 |
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| 9 | IM Yang, Darwin | USA | 2448 |
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| 10 | IM Young, Angelo | PHI | 2321 |
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Time Controls: 40/90, G/30 plus 30 sec. increment from move 1
Average Rating: 2478
Points Needed for GM Norm: 6 points out of 9
Points Needed for IM Norm: 4.5 points out of 9
Prizes: 1st $1,000, 2nd $750, 3rd $500 plus hotel and travel expenses for all players
Collegiate Chess in St.Louis
Published February 10, 2012 | 
St. Louis - Becoming a “Major” Chess Powerhouse..
Webster and Lindenwood Universities , providing scholarships and training while working with the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis are the latest installments of the city’s goal for Chess Superiority.
“We are planning to recruit some of the highest-rated competitors in the world,” said Tim Canavan, Lindenwood’s Director of Student Life Sports…
The Webster team will feature eight grandmasters and two international masters.. Also the new home to GM Susan Polgar and her S.P.I.C.E. program(Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence) .
Go Saint Louis!!
Hua,Margaret (2002) – Cao,Kevin (2233){Thanksgiving Open 2011}
Published November 28, 2011 | 2nd Annual Thanksgiving Open November 25-27 at Chess Club & Scholastic Center of Saint Louis ..
GM Alexander Shabalov won 1st and $1,600. Sam Shankland ending up tying 2nd-3rd with GM Ray Robson.
Nakamura, Polgar Headline Kings vs. Queens Battle
Published July 29, 2011 | Nakamura, Polgar Headline Kings vs. Queens Battle
Tournament to concide with the opening of the World Chess Hall of Fame
SAINT LOUIS, July 25, 2011 — The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis will host a special tournament to concide with the grand opening of the World Chess Hall of Fame, which is set to open to the public on September 9 in Saint Louis. Kings vs. Queens: A Battle of the Sexes will feature some of the top chessplayers in the world in a 5-on-5 team event, which will take place September 9-16.
The Queens field is headlined by the strongest female player in chess history, GM Judit Polgar. US #1 and Rapid specialist GM Hikaru Nakamura will lead the Kings into battle.
The players, including FIDE ratings and the federation each represents, are as follows:
Queens
GM Judit Polgar (2699) – Hungary
GM Kateryna Lahno (2536) – Ukraine
IM Anna Zatonskih (2522) – U.S.
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (2497) – Russia
IM Irina Krush (2486) – U.S.
Kings
GM Hikaru Nakamura (2770) – U.S.
GM Timur Gareyev (2613) – Uzbekistan
GM Ben Finegold (2488) – U.S.
IM Jacek Stopa (2474) – Poland
IM Marc Arnold (2445) – U.S.
The average team rating of the Queens is 2548 FIDE and the King’s average rating is 2558 FIDE. This will be a Scheveningen-paired tournament, in which each of the five team members will play each of the opposing team members twice: once in a Fischer Random (Chess 960) game with a time control of G/25 + 10-second increment and once in a rapid game with a time control of G/25 with a 5-second increment.
Tony Rich, executive director of the CCSCSL, said it was only fitting to bring out the world’s best for the grand opening of the World Chess Hall of Fame.
“This tournament, the first of its kind, creates an even playing field for the top men and women in chess to do battle,” Rich said. “The format is fitting for the celebratory environment surrounding the opening of the Hall of Fame, and we’re happy to put on a unique event that will be enjoyable for spectators.”
The Opening Ceremony for the tournament will take place on September 9, and the first round will begin at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday, September 10.
The winning team of the event will win $20,000, divided equally between each member of that team. In addition, individual prizes will be awarded based on final standings and are are as follows:
1st: $5,500
2nd: $5,000
3rd: $4,500
4th: $4,000
5th: $3,500
6th: $3,000
7th: $2,500
8th: $2,000
9th: $1,500
10th: $1,000
Individual prizes total $32,500 and, when coupled with the team prize, the total prize fund for this event is $52,500.
GM Yasser Seirawan and WGM Jennifer Shahade will provide live commentary of the event, which will be open to the public. The event also will be broadcast live via the CCSCSL’s Livestream web channel: www.livesteam.com/uschess.
Visit www.saintlouischessclub.org for more information
Hikaru Nakamura vs Ruslan Ponomariov
Published May 22, 2011 | by National Master Loal Davis
Hikaru Nakamura
Hikaru Nakamura wins the match against Ruslan Ponomariov by one point. This was a well played game by Nakamura who had Ponomariov tied in knots (DIAGRAM). Both players were not exactly sure where Black faltered, except to say that he didn’t find (or didn’t have) counterplay and could only watch as White finished the game off.
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 c6 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 8. e3 Qg6 9. Qxg6 hxg6 10. b4 a6 11. f3 Nd7 12. Bd3 Ne7 13. Nge2 g5 14. Kf2 Nf6 15. g4 Kd8 16. Kg3 Bd7 17. a4 Nc8 18. h3 Re8 19. Kf2 Nd6 20. a5 Re7 21. Rac1 Nfe8 22. Ng3 g6 23. h4 gxh4 24. Rxh4 f5 25. gxf5 Nxf5 26. Nxf5 gxf5 27. Rh8 Rb8 28. Na4 Kc7 29. Nb6 Be6 30. Rf8 Rf7 31. Rxf7+ Bxf7 32. Bxf5 Nd6 33. Bd3 Rh8 34. Rg1 Kd8 35. Na4 Nc4 36. Nc5 Rh2+ 37. Rg2 Rxg2+ 38. Kxg2 Kc7 39. Bxc4 dxc4 40. Na4 Be8 41. Nc3 b6 42. e4 Kb7 43. Kf2 c5 44. bxc5 1-0
Ray Robson vs Ben Finegold
Published May 22, 2011 | by National Master Loal Davis
Ray Robson
Ray Robson won the match by two points – finishing with a sparkling mating attack which was completely overlooked by Ben Finegold. Finegold could not understand why Robson allowed the apparently crushing attack (DIAGRAM). Alas – there was a Queen sacrifice on move 29 which if taken allowed a checkmate in two moves beginning with Bxf6+. With the loss of the Dragon Bishop coupled with a mating attack, Black resigned.
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8. Bb3 d6 9. f3 Bd7 10. h4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. h5 a5 13. hxg6 hxg6 14. Nd5 Be6 15. Nxf6+ exf6 16. Qd3 d5 17. Qxb5 dxe4 18. O-O-O Bxb3 19. Qxb3 a4 20. Qe3 a3 21. b3 exf3 22. Qxf3 Re8 23. g4 Rc8 24. Kb1 Qe7 25. Qh3 Qe4 26. g5 Qxc2+ 27. Ka1 Re2 28. Qh7+ Kf8 29. Qxg7+ Ke8 30. Qh8+ Kd7 1-0
Ponomariov vs Nakamura / St. Louis Match
Published May 19, 2011 | by National Master Loal Davis
Hikaru Nakamura
Nakamura won the third game equalizing the match. It is now one game apiece. Ponomariov made an interesting (and probably correct) exchange sacrifice before move 20. His 23rd move of Ne4 was most likely a misfire. White got tied in knots and on the bad end of a Queen and Pawn ending. In the final position (DIAGRAM) there is no way for White to avoid the exchange of Queens leading into a lost King and Pawn ending.
2Q5/7p/p1p3p1/3k2q1/8/6K1/P5PP/8 w KQkq – 0 441. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Re1 c6 9. Be3 Ng4 10. Bg5 f6 11. Bh4 Qe8 12. c5 dxc5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 fxe5 15. Bxa6 bxa6 16. Qd6 c4 17. Rad1 Be6 18. Bg3 Rf7 19. Bxe5 Bg4 20. Bxg7 Bxd1 21. Bf6 Bg4 22. e5 Qd7 23. Ne4 Bf5 24. Qb4 Bxe4 25. Rxe4 Re8 26. f3 Rxf6 27. exf6 Rxe4 28. fxe4 Qd4+ 29. Kf1 Qxe4 30. Qb7 Qf5+ 31. Ke2 Qxf6 32. Qb8+ Kf7 33. Qxa7+ Ke6 34. Qb7 Qe5+ 35. Kf3 Qf5+ 36. Ke3 Qc5+ 37. Kf3 c3 38. Qc8+ Kd5 39. bxc3 Qxc3+ 40. Kg4 Qd4+ 41. Kh3 Qe3+ 42. Kh4 Qe7+ 43. Kg3 Qg5+ 0-1860noe7g5
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Re1 c6 9. Be3 Ng4 10. Bg5 f6 11. Bh4 Qe8 12. c5 dxc5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 fxe5 15. Bxa6 bxa6 16. Qd6 c4 17. Rad1 Be6 18. Bg3 Rf7 19. Bxe5 Bg4 20. Bxg7 Bxd1 21. Bf6 Bg4 22. e5 Qd7 23. Ne4 Bf5 24. Qb4 Bxe4 25. Rxe4 Re8 26. f3 Rxf6 27. exf6 Rxe4 28. fxe4 Qd4+ 29. Kf1 Qxe4 30. Qb7 Qf5+ 31. Ke2 Qxf6 32. Qb8+ Kf7 33. Qxa7+ Ke6 34. Qb7 Qe5+ 35. Kf3 Qf5+ 36. Ke3 Qc5+ 37. Kf3 c3 38. Qc8+ Kd5 39. bxc3 Qxc3+ 40. Kg4 Qd4+ 41. Kh3 Qe3+ 42. Kh4 Qe7+ 43. Kg3 Qg5+ 0-1
Ponomariov & Robson / Winners Round 1 / St. Louis Matches
Published May 17, 2011 |
Ruslan Ponomariov
Ray Robson
[Event "Saint Louis Matches"]
[Site "Saint Louis/USA"]
[Date "2011.05.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Ruslan Ponomariov"]
[Black "Hikaru Nakamura"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E99"]
[PlyCount "185"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. Be3 f5 11. f3 f4 12. Bf2 g5 13. g4 h5 14. h3 Rf6 15. Nd3 Rh6
16. Kg2 c5 17. dxc6 Nxc6 18. c5 dxc5 19. Nxc5 Nd4 20. Bc4+ Kh7 21. Nb3 Nf6 22.
Nxd4 exd4 23. e5 hxg4 24. hxg4 Nxg4 25. fxg4 Bxe5 26. Rh1 Qd7 27. Ne4 Rxh1 28.
Qxh1+ Kg7 29. Qh5 Qxg4+ 30. Qxg4 Bxg4 31. Nxg5 d3 32. Bxd3 Rd8 33. Be2 Bf5 34.
Rd1 Rxd1 35. Bxd1 Bxb2 36. Bxa7 Kf6 37. Nf3 Bd3 38. Kf2 Bc1 39. Bb3 Be4 40. Ke2
Ke7 41. Bb8 Be3 42. Be5 Kd7 43. Ng5 Bc6 44. Bc4 Bc1 45. Nf3 Be3 46. Bc3 Kd6 47.
Bb4+ Kc7 48. Ne5 Be8 49. Bd5 Bh5+ 50. Kd3 Bc1 51. Bc5 b5 52. Ke4 Bd2 53. Nf3
Bg6+ 54. Ke5 Be3 55. Bxe3 fxe3 56. Kd4 e2 57. Ke3 Kd6 58. Bg8 Kc5 59. Kxe2 Bh5
60. Ke3 Kb4 61. Nd4 Bg6 62. Kd2 Kc5 63. Nc2 Bf5 64. Kc3 Be4 65. a3 Kb6 66. Nd4
Ka5 67. Bb3 Bg2 68. Bc2 Bf1 69. Nb3+ Ka4 70. Nd2+ Kxa3 71. Bb3 Bd3 72. Kxd3 Kb2
73. Be6 Kc1 74. Nb3+ Kb2 75. Kd2 b4 76. Kd3 Ka3 77. Kc4 Ka4 78. Bf5 Ka3 79. Nc5
Kb2 80. Kxb4 Ka2 81. Kc3 Ka1 82. Nb3+ Ka2 83. Be4 Ka3 84. Bb1 Ka4 85. Nd4 Ka5
86. Kc4 Kb6 87. Nb5 Kb7 88. Bf5 Kc6 89. Bc8 Kb6 90. Bd7 Kb7 91. Kc5 Ka6 92. Nd6
Ka5 93. Nb7+ 1-0
[Event "Saint Louis Matches"]
[Site "Saint Louis/USA"]
[Date "2011.05.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Finegold, Ben"]
[Black "Robson, Ray"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B22"]
[PlyCount "102"]
1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bc4 Nb6 7. Bb3 d5 8. exd6
Qxd6 9. O-O Be6 10. Bxe6 Qxe6 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. cxd4 Qd7 13. Bf4 e6 14. Be5 Qc6
15. Qg4 h5 16. Qe2 Nd5 17. Nc3 f6 18. Nxd5 Qxd5 19. Bf4 Be7 20. Rad1 Kf7 21. a3
Rac8 22. Rfe1 Rc4 23. Be3 Rhc8 24. h3 g6 25. Qd3 Rc2 26. Rd2 Rc1 27. Rxc1 Rxc1+
28. Rd1 Rc4 29. Qb1 a6 30. Rc1 Qc6 31. Rxc4 Qxc4 32. Qd1 Qc6 33. Qd3 b5 34. Bd2
Qc4 35. Qe3 Qc2 36. Bc3 Qb1+ 37. Kh2 Bd6+ 38. g3 h4 39. Qf3 hxg3+ 40. fxg3 Qc2+
41. Kh1 g5 42. d5 e5 43. Qg4 Bc5 44. Be1 Qd3 45. Kg2 Qxd5+ 46. Qf3 e4 47. Qe2
Qd4 48. h4 Qg1+ 49. Kh3 Qh1+ 50. Kg4 Kg6 51. h5+ Qxh5# 0-1
GM Ray Robson Replaces GM Victor Korchnoi
Published May 12, 2011 | GM Ray Robson will fill in for the legendary GM Viktor Korchnoi in a match against GM Ben Finegold next week.
SAINT LOUIS, May 12 — GM Viktor Korchnoi, who was originally scheduled to take on GM Ben Finegold in a 10-game match, has been forced to withdraw due to health concerns. Organizers said the ailment was not serious in nature, but that it impaired Korchnoi’s ability to travel internationally. GM Ray Robson will fill Korchnoi’s legendary shoes.
The CCSCSL will also host a 10-game match (six classical, four rapid) between Saint Louis Grandmaster (GM) Hikaru Nakamura, ranked No. 7 in the world, and GM Ruslan Ponomariov, ranked No. 11 in the world, May 16-25. Nakamura moved up to No. 7 on the live list after GM Veselin Topalov’s rating tumbled following his Candidates Match loss to GM Gata Kamsky.
The players will take part in a live, virtual press conference at 10 a.m. CDT on May 16. Journalists and fans from all over the world can log onto livestream.com/uschess to submit questions to the players and watch their answers streamed live online.
Robson, 16, became the youngest grandmaster in U.S. history in 2009 when he was just 14. He had a solid performance at this year’s U.S. Championship finishing third in his round-robin field of eight, just a half point shy of qualifying for the finals.
“My opponent just got 65 years younger!” joked Finegold.
Round one of the 10-game matches will take place at 1 p.m. CDT on May 17. Commentary for the live games will be provided by IM John Donaldson and WGM Jennifer Shahade. Spectators can watch the action live at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, located in the heart of the Central West End, or see all the action online at saintlouischessclub.org/live.
The schedule of events is as follows:
May 16:
Press Conference and Drawing of Colors at 10:00am
May 17-22:
Classical Rounds Daily at 1:00pm
May 23:
Rest Day
May 24-25:
Rapid Rounds Daily at 1:00pm and 5:00pm
May 25:
Awards Ceremony at 7:00pm
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- Announcement on Grand Prix
- FIDE President at "Maribor for Peace"
- FIDE World Chess Championship Match - Round 5
- FIDE President's working visit to Astana
- Art at the World Chess Championship Match
- "Chess in Schools" in Dharamshala
- U. N. Women meets with FIDE
- Meeting of Dalai Lama the 14th with Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
- Olympiad and Congress Invitation
- Meeting with the President of Bulgaria Mr Georgi Parvanov