Moscow bids for Anand-Gelfand match (updated)
Ilya Levitov broke two pieces of news Monday. The crucial one was that despite the dark musings of many, and above all the FIDE President himself, we now have at least one bid for the Anand-Gelfand match. The other concerned a unique twist for the Botvinnik Memorial this September.
Morozevich’s commentary on a trademark win
Alexander Morozevich’s return to chess, and form, has been the highlight of the Higher League of the Russian Chess Championship. After Round 9 he provided commentary on his win over Sanan Sjugirov. Meanwhile, Artyom Timofeev kept up the pressure despite his opponent’s female fan club!
FIDE, and new website, to change the face of chess?
Yesterday I tweeted that FIDE was to introduce blitz and rapid ratings from 1 January onwards. The source, Chess-News, gave no details, but it now appears FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was talking in a discussion that marked the launch of a new bilingual website by blitz aficionado, Vladislav Tkachiev.
Ilya Levitov: “For me, classical chess is opera”
And he isn’t an opera buff. If you’re wondering why that matters, it’s because Levitov is one of the most influential men in chess: President of the Russian Chess Federation Board, a FIDE Vice President and part of the new Foundation for Modernisation. He gave his verdict on the current state of chess.
It’s the end of classical chess as we know it (and I feel fine)
Alexander Grischuk was the focus of controversy over the recent Candidates Matches. His route to the final, winning no classical games and sometimes agreeing to short draws with White, seemed to highlight the format’s problems. Grischuk himself, however, welcomed the difficult times for classical chess.
“Who plays better, Ivanchuk in good form or Carlsen?”
Boris Gelfand’s view, in an interview with Chess-News after winning the Candidates Matches in Kazan, was that an in-form Ivanchuk is still the best player in the world. As well as the topic of age in chess, he also talked about preparation, computers, Sofia Rules and the World Championship format.
Ilyumzhinov: Gaddafi “an amateur who knows how the pieces move”
This morning, while being driven through Libya, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov gave a live interview to the Echo of Moscow radio station. He expressed no regret over yesterday’s meeting with Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi, saying “it’s nonsense when people demand he goes”.
Ilyumzhinov plays chess with Gaddafi
FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has just announced he held a two-hour meeting today in Tripoli with the Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi. Libya is currently in a state of civil war, with NATO and allies engaged in bombing raids, and Gaddafi himself accused of war crimes by the International Criminal Court.
GM Levon Aronian answers your questions: Part I
From his answer to the very first question on why people play chess, it was clear that Levon Aronian’s Q&A at Crestbook was going to be an entertaining read: “For pleasure, peace of mind and the moral torture of their neighbour”. Sharp and funny, the Armenian GM lifts the lid on life at the top of the chess pyramid.
Boris Gelfand: A completely happy man
After Boris Gelfand won the Candidates Matches in Kazan he gave numerous interviews that shed light on a player who, despite having been at the top of world chess for 20 years, is perhaps still something of a mystery to chess fans. It’s time for that to change, as an Anand-Gelfand World Championship match awaits!
