A Special Thanks To Our March 2008 Donors – Your Support Helps Us Make a Difference !

Remember, thanks to your donations we can provide Programs/Resources for the chess community!

HERITAGE DONORS ($500 or more)

Erlend Millikan

Associates ($50 or more)

Jorge Calderon
Ed Epp
Todd Luna
L.J. Lyell
Don Schultz
L.J. Lyell
Mark Schein

CONTRIBUTORS ($25 or more)

Garrett Scott

In Memory of George Krauss

Blaine and Carol Asbrock
Richard Cheshire
Robert Lardon
Wayne Rahe
Edward and Loretta Sytnik
Gabriel and Joann Trotta

Thanks to everyone for your continued support!

The Chess Collectors International which promotes the collection of chess sets, will be auctioning chess sets and boards on May 1st, 2008 at 2 p.m. (Eastern time). The aution will be taking place at the Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches in South Florida.Chess lovers and collectors can view the full catalog and bid on these items at http://agopb.com/

Official Press Release from CCI

Exotic chess sets from around the world will cross the block May 1 when Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches hosts the CCI Auction.

(WEST PALM BEACH, FL) – In conjunction with Chess Collectors International’s 13th Biennial Convention in Boca Raton April 29 – May 4, 2008.

Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches will host the CCI Biennial Auction of chess sets, memorabilia and related ephemera from around the world on May 1, 2008.

This will be the first major chess set auction in the United States since the last CCI Convention in the U.S. in Philadelphia in 2002.

This Convention and auction will be will be held in conjunction with U.S. Seniors Open Chess Tournament to be held in Boca Raton.

The sale will consist of over 140 lots of antique and modern chess sets and related items consigned by members of CCI and members of the public.

Consignment is open to the public as is the auction. The inventory will include lots like an 18th century Burmese carved figural set, an English 19th century turned ivory set , a 19th century English bone traveling set and an elaborate 18th/19th century French/German Dieppe style carved bone figural set with leather hats.

Also included will be a Russian carved mammoth ivory “Knights” figural chess set by Russian sculptor Oleg Raikis, a J. Jaques boxwood and ebony tournament play set from Frank Marshall, U.S. Chess Champion from 1909 to 1936, an exotic Egyptian carved ivory “Pharaoh” figural set, a rare Dominican carved amber “Medieval” figural set, a German 19th century wood, plaster and lead “medieval” figural set and a 19th/20th century Chinese export carved ivory figural set.

The sale will be carried live online by LiveAuctioneers.com and Auction owner Brian Kogan says this may turn out to be one of the largest online chess related sales in history.

Extra phone lines will be installed and absentee bids are welcomed.

Preview for the sale will be April 29 – May 1 at the Gallery located at 1609 South Dixie Hwy, Suite 5, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401. A catalog with approximately forty illustrations will be available.

For more information about this sale call (561) 805-7115, email info@agopb.com or visit the website at http://www.agopb.com

Written by: Fred Taylor

An Exclusive U.S. Chess Trust Interview with Nick de Firmian by Jim Eade

CT: How did you learn to play chess?  How old were you, and who were you biggest influences?

NdF: I learned to play chess one day when I was 5 years old and sick. My Uncle Phil came over that day and showed me the rules and patiently tried to play with me. Playing with my Uncle and family was all I did for many years, though later there were some games and even a small kid’s tournament at the YMCA.

CT: When you first started, where could you play?  What was the organized chess scene like back when you first got involved?  Where there multiple chess clubs or hang-outs?

NdF: I went to the Junior High chess club in Santa Barbara, and then when I was 15 years old I learned about the Santa Barbara chess club and the USCF. The reason was that Bobby Fischer was playing Boris Spassky for the World Championship, so all of America was learning about chess.

CT: When did you begin to suspect a life long love for the game was in the works, and what was it that attracted you to chess?

NdF: The Santa Barbara chess club was a great place and in 1972 there was a lot of activity. By 1973 I was winning class prizes consistently in the USCF tournaments. This seemed more fun than digging ditches and helping out at my father’s construction sites. Also some of us juniors were able to get beer in the chess club, so that was a pretty good deal.

I found chess fascinating and perhaps addictive. There was a good weekend tournament scene in Southern California and an active chess club in Santa Barbara. I loved seeing the games of Tal and Fischer and trying to find new ideas in the openings. So in 2 or 3 years I became a master and then went off to college.

CT: I have you finishing first in the US Championship in 1987, 1995. 1998 and 2002.  Is that correct?

NdF: For the US Championships, I tied for first in 1987 and 1995, sole first 1998, in 2002,  I tied for highest score but lost the blitz playoff to Larry C. and thus took no part of the title.

CT: You played on some successful Olympiad teams.  What was that experience like?  What was it like to play against a formidable team such as the old USSR ones?  How did the competition change over the years, if it did?

NdF: Yes, it used to be great fun in the Olympiads. We Americans almost always did better than our ranking, with several silver and bronze medal finishes. The match with the Soviet Union was always a great event, as they were by far the best team and also still the “evil empire.”  I won my individual game a couple of times in these encounters and sometimes the US would score a team upset of the Soviets. Now there is no single super team, though the Russians are still very strong.

CT: You decided to turn pro after college, and you have been a successful one.  If you hadn’t, what do you think you’d be doing today?  What would your advice be to a talented young player today faced with the decision of whether to turn pro?

NdF: Going pro after college wasn’t something I had planned, but it was so interesting and so much fun to travel around the world playing chess that I just fell into it. Today it’s harder to suggest a young man should choose chess as a profession as there seems to be less money or opportunity in America for a chess player. Still, if one can break into the top 10 in the world then it’s a good lifestyle.

CT: What was your most memorable game?

NdF: My most memorable game is my game against Miles in the 1990 Manila Interzonal for which I won the brilliancy prize. I like games with lots of sacrifices and action, like the player that inspired me when I was a teenager, Mikhail Tal.

(652401) Miles, Anthony J  (2595) – De Firmian, Nick E (2560) [E38]
Manila Interzonal Manila (6), 1990

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 c5 5.dxc5 Na6 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.Qxc3 Nxc5 8.f3 d5 9.cxd5 b6 10.b4 Na4 11.Qb3 b5 12.e4 a6 13.Ne2 0–0 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bh4 exd5 16.e5 Re8 17.f4 g5 18.Bf2 Ne4 19.Bd4 Be6 20.Qf3 Rc8 21.f5 Bd7 22.Ng3 Rxe5 23.Be2 Qe8 24.Nh5 Rxf5 25.Qe3 Rc3 26.Bxc3 Naxc3 27.Bg4 d4 28.Qxd4 Nc5+ 29.Kd2 Nb3+ 30.Kxc3 Nxd4 31.Bxf5 Qe3+ 32.Bd3 Bf5 33.Rad1 Ne2+ 34.Kc2 Qe5 35.Kd2 Qb2+ 36.Ke3 Bg4 37.Rd2 Qd4# 0–1

CT: If you had to choose one chess book as your favorite, which would it be?

NdF: Either “My System” or Fischer’s “My 60 Memorable Games.”

CT: You end up spending so much time with other American GMs over the years, I assume you end up with friendships, or at least mutual respect.  What is it like playing against a friend over and over again in top competitions?

NdF: One makes good friends through chess – from all over the world. My fellow American players from the Olympic team – Christiansen, Benjamin, Fedorowicz, Seirawan- became good friends. One starts out in the early days as a competitor, but you quickly learn mutual respect.

CT: Has technology (Internet, databases etc.) fundamentally changed the game?  Has it made life easier or more difficult for you as a professional?

NdF: Preparing for chess tournaments has become more structured and technical over the years with databases and programs. The world in general is more computerized. These days I don’t play so often. I still go to the Olympiads to coach the Bermuda team (and mix the rum swizzle). I spend a lot of time teaching young players in the New York area.

CT: How does it feel to be elected into the Hall of Fame?  What are your future plans in chess?

NdF: I’m very happy to be elected to the hall of fame. I look forward to seeing friends there and drinking to some toasts!

Who Will Represent the U.S. Olympic Teams?

The chess Olympiad is the world wide major team tournament in chess. This year’s event will be held in the city of Dresden, Germany, from November 12 – 25, 2008.

Germany is organizing the chess Olympiad for the fifth time and for a country with great chess traditions and organization, this event promises to be a memorable occasion.

This brings to mind this question:  Who Are the Players That Will Represent the USA’s Teams?

The selection process includes residency and activity requirements, plus the following:

FIDE Olympiad and FIDE Women’s Olympiad (Each team is composed by five players each)

Average of the:

1) current published USCF rating at time of invitation

2) current published FIDE rating at time of invitation;

3) average of peak published USCF rating and peak published FIDE rating, both going back 24 months from time of invitation.

There are other factors to take into consideration, such as the rules that were used to allow the current U.S. Champions to qualify directly to the Olympic team.

Additionally, there are bonus points based on age which the players get as an aim to allow younger players into the team.

Based on the current information (not necessarily the information which will be used for the invitation) the following players have a chance to become members of the U.S. Olympic Teams.

ELO FIDE  April 2008 (overall)

1 Kamsky, Gata g USA 2726
2 Nakamura, Hikaru g USA 2686
3 Onischuk, Alexander g USA 2664
4 Shabalov, Alexander g USA 2633
5 Seirawan, Yasser g USA 2630
6 Shulman, Yuri g USA 2606
7 Ehlvest, Jaan g USA 2603
8 Akobian, Varuzhan g USA 2601
9 Ibragimov, Ildar g USA 2597
10 Kaidanov, Gregory S g USA 2596

U.S. Chess Federation’s Rating List April 2008 (overall)

1 Kamsky, Gata NY USA 2757
2 Nakamura, Hikaru NY USA 2740
3 Onischuk, Alexander VA USA 2728
4 Shabalov, Alexander PA USA 2711
5 Kaidanov, Gregory KY USA 2697
6 Ehlvest, Jaan NY USA 2687
7 Christiansen, Larry M MA USA 2670
8 Akobian, Varuzhan CA USA 2666
9 Shulman, Yury IL USA 2664
10 Ibragimov, Ildar CT USA 2656

The top four players are the same in the FIDE and USCF list. The fifth spot is still open, which makes it more interesting.

ELO FIDE April 2008 (Top USA Women’s players)

1 Krush, Irina m USA 2479
2 Zatonskih, Anna m USA 2458
3 Goletiani, Rusudan wg USA 2383
4 Baginskaite, Camilla wg wg USA 2309
6 Rohonyan, Katerina wg wg USA 2309
7 Abrahamyan, Tatev wf wf USA 2239
8 Tuvshintugs, Batchimeg wm wm USA 2278
9 Melekhina, Alisa wf wf USA 2208
10 Ross, Laura R wf wf USA 2179

U.S. Chess Federation Rating List April 2008 (Top Women’s Players)

1 Krush, Irina NY USA 2515
2 Zatonskih, Anna NY USA 2490
3 Goletiani, Rusudan NY USA 2384
4 Baginskaite, Camilla CA USA 2342
5 Rohonyan, Katerine MD USA 2318
6 Abrahamyan, Tatev CA USA 2296
7 Tuvshintugs, Batchimeg CA USA 2295
8 Battsetseg, Tsagaan MD USA 2251
9 Melekhina, Alisa PA USA 2246
10 Ross, Laura R NY USA 2216

WHAT IS YOUR PREDICTION?

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Allen Kaufman
(718) 544-5036
AllenKauf@aol.com

For the first time in its twenty-two year history, two full Samford Fellowships have been awarded in a single year. The applicants this year included an unusually large number of highly qualified chessmasters. Because two of them, Irina Krush and Vinay Bhat, are in their last year of eligibility (both are 24) it was decided to award both the 2008 and 2009 Samford Fellowships this year.

The winners were chosen by the Samford Fellowship Committee, consisting of Frank P. Samford III (son of Samford Fellowship founder Frank P. Samford, Jr.), former U.S. Chess Champion Grandmaster Arthur Bisguier and International Master John Donaldson. The winner’s potential was determined based on his chess talent, work ethic, dedication and accomplishments.

The late Frank P. Samford, Jr. of Birmingham, Alabama, was a distinguished attorney and CEO of Liberty National Life Insurance Company (now Torchmark). Mr. Samford was active in civic, business, political, educational and cultural affairs. He was also an enthusiastic competitor in chess tournaments.

Mr. Samford created the Samford Fellowship to identify and assist the best American chessmasters under the age of twenty-five by providing top-level coaching, strong competition and access to study materials. The Fellowship also provides a monthly stipend for living expenses so that the winners may devote themselves entirely to chess without having financial worries.

The total value of the two-year Fellowship is approximately $32,000 annually.

Generous contributions from Mrs. Virginia Samford and Torchmark Corporation support the Fellowship.

The Samford Fellowship is a fitting memorial to an extraordinary man. The dedication, creativity and achievement that marked Mr. Frank P. Samford, Jr.’s life are examples for all chessplayers to admire and emulate.

International master (IM) Irina Krush is the reigning U.S. Women’s Champion, with a USCF rating of 2515 and a FIDE rating of 2479. Irina has represented the U.S. in numerous international competitions since the age of seven, receiving medals in both World Youth and World Junior Championships. She became a master at age twelve, and an International Master at age sixteen. She has been an integral part of the U.S. Women’s Olympiad Team since the age of fourteen, helping the U.S. win a historic silver medal at the 2004 Olympiad in Mallorca, Spain.

At just fourteen, she won her first U.S. Women’s title with the convincing score of 8.5/9. At seventeen, she tied for first place with GM Igor Novikov in the NYC Mayor’s Cup and earned her first grandmaster norm. Irina is also active in the chess community as a writer, photographer, teacher, and manager of the U.S. Chess League team, the New York Knights.

Vinay Bhat learned how to play chess when he was six-and-a-half years old. At the age of ten-and-a-half he set the then-current record for becoming the youngest national master, breaking Bobby Fischer’s record by two years. That record was since broken by Hikaru Nakamura, and most recently, by Nicholas Nip.

Vinay also played extensively internationally, representing the US in nine different World Youth competitions with top five finishes on five different occasions.Vinay completed his IM title in 2000. From 2002 through 2006, he attended the University of California at Berkeley, graduating with degrees in Statistics and Political Economy, and then went on to work at Cornerstone Research in Menlo Park, California.

While working he has gotten back to playing chess and won his third and final GM norm in July 2007. Later that year, FIDE granted him the GM title conditional on his FIDE rating crossing 2500.

Magnus Carlsen On The Road to Success

The FIDE’s top 100 list provides us with very interesting information!

World Champion Viswanathan Anand gained 4 ELO points, placing him on top of the list, plus crossing the 2800 mark , which is a remarkable accomplishment.

GM Kramnik, after losing his # 1 position, is still holding a solid # 2 in the world ranking.

17 year old Norwegian GM Magnus Carlsen jumped to position # 5, after gaining 32 ELO points. Magnus is showing all the characteristics of a future World Champion, if he continues on this path!

Top 100 Players

1 Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2803
2 Kramnik, Vladimir g RUS 2788
3 Morozevich, Alexander g RUS 2774
4 Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2767
5 Carlsen, Magnus g NOR 2765
6 Aronian, Levon g ARM 2763
7 Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar g AZE 2752
8 Radjabov, Teimour g AZE 2751
9 Svidler, Peter g RUS 2746
10 Leko, Peter g HUN 2741
11 Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2740
12 Shirov, Alexei g ESP 2740
13 Karjakin, Sergey g UKR 2732
14 Adams, Michael g ENG 2729
15 Kamsky, Gata g USA 2726
16 Gelfand, Boris g ISR 2723
17 Ponomariov, Ruslan g UKR 2719
18 Grischuk, Alexander g RUS 2716
19 Jakovenko, Dmitry g RUS 2711
20 Alekseev, Evgeny g RUS 2711
21 Polgar, Judit g HUN 2709
22 Bu, Xiangzhi g CHN 2708
23 Bacrot, Etienne g FRA 2705
24 Ni, Hua g CHN 2703
25 Movsesian, Sergei g SVK 2695
26 Dominguez Perez, Lenier g CUB 2695
27 Cheparinov, Ivan g BUL 2695
28 Rublevsky, Sergei g RUS 2695
29 Sokolov, Ivan g NED 2690
30 Milov, Vadim g SUI 2690
31 Wang, Yue g CHN 2689
32 Malakhov, Vladimir g RUS 2689
33 Eljanov, Pavel g UKR 2687
34 Nakamura, Hikaru g USA 2686
35 Wang, Hao g CHN 2684
36 Inarkiev, Ernesto g RUS 2684
37 Volokitin, Andrei g UKR 2684
38 Vallejo Pons, Francisco g ESP
39 Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter g ROU 2684
40 Kasimdzhanov, Rustam g UZB 2681
41 Harikrishna, P. g IND 2679
42 Gashimov, Vugar g AZE 2679
43 Sasikiran, Krishnan g IND 2679
44 Bareev, Evgeny g RUS 2677
45 Van Wely, Loek g NED 2676
46 Nikolic, Predrag g BIH 2674
47 Almasi, Zoltan g HUN 2674
48 Zvjaginsev, Vadim g RUS 2674
49 Akopian, Vladimir g ARM 2673
50 Navara, David g CZE 2672
51 Fedorchuk, Sergey A. g UKR 2671
52 Motylev, Alexander g RUS 2666
53 Bologan, Viktor g MDA 2665
54 Georgiev, Kiril g BUL 2665
55 Timofeev, Artyom g RUS 2664
56 Onischuk, Alexander g USA 2664
57 Efimenko, Zahar g UKR 2660
58 Short, Nigel D g ENG 2660
59 Roiz, Michael g ISR 2659
60 Jobava, Baadur g GEO 2658
61 Tomashevsky, Evgeny g RUS 2658
62 Dreev, Alexey g RUS 2657
63 Lautier, Joel g FRA 2657
64 Tkachiev, Vladislav g FRA 2657
65 Fressinet, Laurent g FRA 2656
66 Karpov, Anatoly g RUS 2655
67 Korneev, Oleg g RUS 2651
68 Predojevic, Borki g BIH 2651
69 Moiseenko, Alexander g UKR 2650
70 Areshchenko, Alexander g UKR 2650
71 Postny, Evgeny g ISR 2649
72 Sakaev, Konstantin g RUS 2649
73 Ivanisevic, Ivan g SRB 2649
74 Baklan, Vladimir g UKR 2647
75 Afromeev, Vladimir f RUS 2646
76 Socko, Bartosz g POL 2644
77 Sargissian, Gabriel g ARM 2643
78 Miroshnichenko, Evgenij g UKR 2642 (5) 18 (-4)
79 Beliavsky, Alexander G g SLO 2641
80 Fridman, Daniel g GER 2640
81 Zhang, Pengxiang g CHN 2640
82 Delchev, Aleksander g BUL 2639
83 Riazantsev, Alexander g RUS 2638
84 Mchedlishvili, Mikheil g GEO 2635
85 Tiviakov, Sergei g NED 2634
86 Nepomniachtchi, Ian g RUS 2634
87 Shabalov, Alexander g USA 2633
88 Landa, Konstantin g RUS 2633
89 Volkov, Sergey g RUS 2633
90 Avrukh, Boris g ISR 2632
91 Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime g FRA 2632
92 Asrian, Karen g ARM 2630
93 Sutovsky, Emil g ISR 2630
94 Smirin, Ilia g ISR 2630
95 Solak, Dragan g SRB 2630
96 Seirawan, Yasser g USA 2630
97 Tregubov, Pavel V. g RUS 2629
98 Nielsen, Peter Heine g DEN 2629
99 Sadvakasov, Darmen g KAZ 2629
100 Khalifman, Alexander g RUS 2628
101 Istratescu, Andrei g ROU 2628

UPDATE !

(10:05 am) 9 Wins and 1 Draw for San Francisco star Nicholas Nip who played a 10 board simul this morning on ‘Live with Regis and Kelly’. Check back later for more info and clips. Congratulations Nicholas !

(6:00 am) Don’t Forget: Tune In to Watch San Francisco Chess star Nicholas Nip who will appear today on ‘Live with Regis and Kelly’  at 9:00 am.

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Nicholas became America’s youngest chess master ever, at age 9 years and 11 months breaking a record set ten years ago by GM Hikaru Nakamura who became a U.S. Chess Master at age 10 years and 79 days.

GM Hikaru Nakamura appeared with Regis Philbin back in 1998.

Now, young Nicholas Nip has the chance to demonstrate his abilities and genius on national television.

The U.S. Chess Trust’s Managing Director, Barbara DeMaro, made this special arrangement after months of communicating with the producers of the show.

Our congratulations to Nicholas, who most likely will become one of our future American Top players.

For more information about Nicholas Nip,  please check the following link from Calchess.