ChessBase Magazine Online

'Fide will not be held hostage'
18.01.2003 – As we reported FIDE recently threatened Ruslan Ponomariov with disqualification if he did not to sign the contract to play Garry Kasparov as part of the reunification plan agreed in Prague. Ponomariov, currently playing in Wijk aan Zee, reacted with an open letter to FIDE. Now the Executive Director of the world chess organisation, Emmanuel Omuku (photo), has written a long and detailed reply to Ponomariov's complaints. It is definitely worth a read.
 

Fritz comes second, just behind Deep Fritz
17.01.2003 – The Swedish Svenska schackdatorföreningen (SSDF, Chess Computer Association) has released its latest computer ranking list, based on over 90,000 games played by 250 computers. As usual (for about four years now) Fritz is at the top, with the multiprocessor version Deep Fritz 7 outstripping its single-processor sibling – on identical hardware. The level of play of the leader, by the way, is 2755.
 

Einstein: the players have all been paid!
17.01.2003 – "We are disappointed that ChessBase neglected to check with us before posting the artícle," wrote Steve Timmins, CEO of the Einstein Group. He was referring to the press release of Jan. 15 in which Madame Nahed Ojjeh announced she was breaking ties with Einstein for non-payment of some participants at the Dortmund Chess Tournament, which she had sponsored. Timmins tells us that all participants have now been paid. More
 

The Chess Goddess
17.01.2003 – It's not us, going ga-ga over her again. This time it's Newsweek, which has devoted an unprecedented two-page spread to our favourite chess babe. "Sexy, speedy young players like Alexandra Kosteniuk are helping Russia reclaim its reputation as a world chess power," says the subtitle, while a box quote proclaims "Bombshell: smitten fans have proposed matches – as well as marriage". There's also a nice Fischer-Spassky foto to ogle. You can read the full text here.
 

Anand wins, Kramnik loses, Shirov in the lead
16.01.2003 – They have played at least 82 games against each other, Vishy Anand has scored 58% against the legendary world champion Anatoly Karpov. Today Anand chalked up one more with a fine win in Wijk. Meanwhile the bitter anthagonists Shirov and Kramnik fought it out in a complicated game, which the former won to take the lead in the tournament. Young Radjabov and Loek van Wely also scored their first wins. Read all about it in Mig Greengard's round five report.
 

Rogozenko presents Ponomariov
16.01.2003 – At 18 Ruslan Ponomariov is one of the youngest top ten players of all times. Last year he won the FIDE world title, and just a few days ago he beat Braingames world champion Kramnik in Wijk aan Zee. In his training session tonight, GM Dorian Rogozenko will present some typical games of the young champ with the mature style. The lesson is free of charge and starts at 21.00 CET on our server at Playchess.com
 

Korchnoi vs Sadvakasov in Astana
16.01.2003 – Veteran chess GM Viktor Korchnoi is currently playing a match in Astana City, Kazakhstan, against the talented local GM Darmen Sadvakasov (23, Elo 2534). The long trip appears to have been too taxing for the 71-year-old Korchnoi, who atypically dropped two out of the six games played so far. There is a report in quaint English and transcribed Kazakh on the official web site.
 

There's sex in them thar chess pieces!
16.01.2003 – Actor Hugh Grant says the co-star of his latest film, Sandra Bullock, reminds him of his former love Elizabeth Hurley. So what is the chess connection in this story? Well, our sleaze watch picked up the following tidbit: Hugh presented Bullock with an obscene chess set, made of figures in Kama Sutra positions. Quite appropriate, actually, since the movie includes a game of strip chess that gets down to underwear.
 

Chess and the twisted radio show
16.01.2003 – What do chess players do on a rest day? Well rest they don't. Some give simuls for children, others take part in costume chess battles. Jennifer Shahade appeared on a classical rock radio station ("Bob Rivers and Twisted Radio") and humourously answered questions about whether she undid a few buttons on her blouse before playing against men. Read all about it in our latest report on the US championship in Seattle.
 

You watching this, Garry Kasparov?
16.01.2003 – The many-times world computer champion Deep Shredder 7 was in great form in its second game against former Russian champion Sergey Volkov. The 2642-GM from Saransk played very ambitiously but ran into serious problems in development. Once the game was opened Shredder put on the pressure and ended won for an it all in a final elegant flurry. Overall score: 2-0 for the computer. More.
 

Dear Judit, I hope you win this tournament!
16.01.2003 – A fantastic black win against Anatoly Karpov put Judit Polgar into the sole lead in the Wijk aan Zee tournament. With clever tactics and continues hammer blows the world's strongest woman trounced the former world champion in 33 moves. We would like to join a fan from France in fervently wishing Judit full victory in this tournament. Read his letter and Mig Greengard's round four report here.
 

Madame Ojjeh say NAO to Einstein
15.01.2003 – She came with high hopes of reunifying the chess world. Nahed Ojjeh, Syrian-born multi-millionaire, created the NAO chess club and joined forces with the British Einstein Group and even put up the prize fund of the 2002 Einstein "Candidates Tournament" in Dortmund. Apparently some of the monies did not go to the players, and Einstein stopped answering enquiries. Now Madame Ojjeh has broken all relations with the Einstein Group. More.