Chess News, Chess Programs, Databases

Server night: German national team + chess training
13.06.2002 – Two attractive events on the Playchess server today. Starting from 20:30 hours European time, the Playchess community take on the German national team, which won the silver medal at the last Olympiad. At 21:00 h openings theoretician GM Dorian Rogozenko conducts his weekly lecture in the "Training" room. Attendence for both events is free of charge. More

CNN: The Chess Automaton rediscovered
12.06.2002 – It was the Deep Blue of its time, a turban-wearing automaton that defeated all comers. Now a new book about Baron von Kempelen's famous "Turk" has appeared. As CNN reports the author also discovered a reconstruction of the automaton in a magician and prop-maker's workshop in Los Angeles. Read all about the first chess machine here.

It's them vs the rest of us – again
12.06.2002 – Twice before Russia faced off against the rest of the world (in chess): the first time in 1970 in Belgrade and then in 1984 in London. Now FIDE and a Russian news agency have announced a third big match, to be held in Moscow at the beginning of September. More

Are they going to include Vishy Anand after all?
11.06.2002 – Under the title "FIDE may invite Anand" the Indian chess web site Chathurangam is reporting that former FIDE world champion Vishy Anand, who was left out of the reunification treaty signed at Prague last month, "is likely to be" included in the world championship cycle. FIDE President Krisan Ilyumzhinov has promised to put the matter in the upcoming Presidential Board meeting. More

Who says girls can't play chess?
11.06.2002 – We brought you the pictures, now we give you the tactics! There were a lot of fireworks at the European Women's Championship in Varna, Bulgaria, which ended a few days ago. Today we bring you fifteen relatively simple combinations to solve. Some have a dramatic story behind them, which can be found in the solution. Take half an hour off and hone your chess skills on this week's ChessBase tactics page.

Garry Kasparov wins chess "beauty contest"
11.06.2002 – The Chess Oscar, organised by the Russian chess magazine 64-Chess Review, has been won for the eleventh time by Garry Kasparov. The votes cast by over 300 chess journalists from 60 countries gave the ex world champion an easy win with 3943 points, ahead of world champions Kramnik and Ponomariov, both around 80 points behind. Read all about it in John Henderson's daily chess column.

Etti wins European Women's Championship in Varna
09.06.2002 – 23-year-old Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria has won the 3rd international European Women's Championship in Varna. "Etti", as she is known to her friends, scored 9 points in 11 games with a performance of 2671! We bring you the final standings, pictures of Etti and others – and a link to Almira Skripchenko's multimedia report "Girls, girls, girls". More

Lennox Lewis beats Tyson with white (shorts)
09.06.2002 – Last night the British heavy-weight champion Lennox Lewis masterfully defeated Mike Tyson. Lewis is not just physically awesome, he is also a cerebral human being who loves nothing more than a good game of chess. "I see him sitting there for ten minutes thinking four moves ahead before he makes one," says his baffled trainer Emmanuel Steward. A year ago Lewis took on Telegraph editor Dominic Lawson in chess. You will find a vivid description of their two-game fight here.

Yasha, my friend...
08.06.2002 – Do you know this man? There is possibly no other chess player in the world who is more committed to the game than Israeli GM Jacob Murey. He has been called the "Van Gogh of modern chess", for his originality and loneliness. He is also a superb analyst and even has a position in chess endgame theory known after him. Read all about Yasha Murey in this lovely portrait by a close friend.

The Dortmund Candidates tournament begins in one month
07.06.2002 – On July 6 the Einstein Candidates' Tournament kicks off in Dortmund. Eight world class GMs play in two groups, four proceed to the semi-finals and two to the final. The winner earns the right to challenge Vladimir Kramnik for the Classical World Chess Championship. You will find all information on our Dortmund coverage page.

Tournaments on the Playchess server
07.06.2002 – From Monday June 10 we will be holding regular tournaments on the Playchess server. Mondays is blitz (5+0), Tuesdays bullet (1+0), Thursdays three minute blitz and Fridays five minute blitz. Registry is usually fifteen minutes before the tournament begins. You will find all times and conditions listed here.

Ruslan Ponomariov breaks his silence
06.06.2002 – Everbody has had his say about the Prague unification agreement. Kasparov, Kramnik, Anand, Karpov – even Junior, would you believe it? And driving force Yasser Seirawan described in great detail exactly how it came about. Only one person was not present, did not sign anything and hasn't been heard. Until now. Ruslan Ponomariov, the freshly-crowned FIDE champion, gives us his take of current chess affairs. You will find the interview here.