2007/07/13

Radjabov and Carlsen to play in Biel

I wrote just yesterday I'm waiting for more excitement. And it will probably arrive by the end of the month, since a couple of strong tournaments will take place in Pardubice (Czech Republic) and, above all, in Biel (Switzerland).
The 18th Festival Czech Open will be held in Pardubice until July 29. World School Teams Championship and European Chess Solving Championship will take place during this year’s festival. For the fourth time the chosen tournaments have been granted the status Open European Amateurs Championship. The festival will be played at Cez Arena and at the exhibition and social centre Ideon starting on Thursday 19. Last year’s grand master tournament had an excellent level and there were record –breaking 29 international fulfilled norms, which were 8 GM, 19 IM and 2 WIM norms. This year organizers will try to continue in this high quality. Full details: http://www.czechopen.net/index.php.
The 40th Biel Chess Festival takes place 21st July-3rd August. The main GM is very strong in spite of defending champion Alexander Morozevich deciding not to play due to health reasons (some treatment he needs and from which he'll need to recuperate before the world championship in Mexico City). Players will be: Teimour Radjabov (AZE 2746), Alexander Grischuk (RUS 2726), Magnus Carlsen (NOR 2710), Judit Polgar (HUN 2707), Bu Xiangzhi (CHN 2685), Loek Van Wely (NED 2679), Alexander Onischuk (USA 2650), Alexander Motylev (RUS 2648), Boris Avrukh (ISR 2645) and local idol Yannick Pelletier (SUI 2591). Official site: http://www.bielchessfestival.ch.
The 2007 Canadian Open Chess Championship takes place 7-15 July 2007 in Ottawa, the capital of Canada. After 7 rounds, GM Suat Atalik of Turkey is in clear first with 6 points, followed by GMs Bu Xiangzhi, Vadim Milov, Kamil Miton, Chanda Sandipan and Hoang Thong Tu. GMs Nigel Short, Sergei Tiviakov and a sleuth of other players are tied for 7-23 with 5 points. Event website: http://www.canchess.ca. Event blog: http://canchess.blogspot.com.
A reminder for Italian players: you can send your games for "The 2007 Queen - June" until July 20 (E-mail: redazione@messaggeroscacchi.it). Official page of the contest is: http://www.messaggeroscacchi.it/regina2007/index.html. The winner of the most voted game sent by a reader will receive a book as prize.
Here is one of the games chosen for June contest by MS editorial staff (me :-) ).

Rombaldoni,D. (2368) - Bonugli,C. (2091) [B08], Arvier 16.6.2007
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.h3 0–0 6.Be3 c6 7.Qd2
7.a4 is more popular.
7...b5 8.Bd3 Bb7
8...Nbd7 is the main alternative.
9.Bh6 e6?
A new (and too passive) move. 9...b4 10.Ne2 c5 11.Bxg7 Kxg7 12.Ng3 Nbd7= has been seen before.
10.e5 dxe5 11.dxe5 Nd5 12.h4 Nxc3 13.bxc3
Now White has a dangerous initiative...
13...Re8?
13...Nd7 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.h5 g5 16.h6+ Kh8 is more stubborn, although after 17.Qe3 f6 18.exf6 Qxf6 19.0–0 Rg8 20.Rfe1 White is better anyway.
14.h5 Bh8 15.Bg5 Qa5
15...Qc7 would lose anyway, e.g.: 16.Bf6 Bxf6 17.exf6 Nd7 18.Qg5 and White has a decisive attack.
16.hxg6 fxg6 17.Bxg6!
First blow!
17...hxg6 18.Rxh8+!
Second blow!
18...Kxh8 19.Bf6+ Kg8 20.Qh6!
Third and last blow. White loses his "a1" Rook, but Black can't survive.
20...Qxc3+ 21.Kf1 Qxa1+ 22.Ke2 1–0
Black can't avoid mate, so he resigned.

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