Israel
-
Chess Drama at 2013 World Youth
The World Youth Team Championship was held in Al Ain, UAE typically the center of chess tournaments in the Middle East. While it broke records for the largest amount of players (1773), there were a number of issues that dampened an otherwise festive event. There were complaints about the food…
Read More » -
Anand retains Chess Crown!
Kirsan Ilyumzhinov presents Viswanthan Anand with the World Champion wreath at the Closing Ceremonies. Photo by Alexey Yushenkov. Viswanathan Anand has defeated Boris Gelfand to successfully defend his crown. Anand has certainly etched a place in chess history by defending his world title for the 3rd time since unification. He…
Read More » -
WCC2012-12: Backlash on short draw
Gelfand and Anand square off in last game of the match. Tension was high and building before an unexpected ending occurred. Photo by Anastasia Karlovich. The angst was high amongst the fans, commentators and journalists alike and the Anand-Gelfand match ended in another short draw. The defending champion actually offered…
Read More » -
WCC2012-11: Anand holds… last chance
Viswanathan Anand held with a new move in the Nimzo-Indian and put pressure on Boris Gelfand to find precise moves. Gelfand used 35 minutes after 8…Bd7 but waded through the complications and the game was drawn in 24 moves. From the photographs Anand appears to be a bit nervous (or…
Read More » -
WCC2012-10: 25-move draw! Tiebreaks?
There were lots of groans after the tenth game of the 2012 World Championship. Both Viswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand agreed to a draw in 25 moves in a position that seemed to beg for more examination. Anand went back to 1.e4 and after 1…c5 2.Nf3 Nc6, he played the…
Read More » -
WCC2012-9: intense fight… still level
The second half of the World Championship match started with two decisive results and today the world witnessed an elegant ebb and flow with white pressing for a win. In the end, the world champion set up an impenetrable fortress and a draw was agreed in 49 moves. Game 9…
Read More » -
WCC2012-8: Anand evens score!
Wow. Six straight draws and now the second decisive game. With Boris Gelfand winning game seven, many felt he would play solidly and merely try to hold with black. Instead Gelfand went into a wild tactical line and made a huge oversight. Let’s recap. With the match running short and…
Read More » -
WCC2012-7: Gelfand breaks through!
Boris Gelfand finally broke the spate of draws. The finish was impressive.Photo by Alexey Yushenkov. With six draws in a row, we are now pass the “feeling out” phase and now the fireworks should begin… and it did. Boris Gelfand got on the scoreboard for his first win in a…
Read More » -
WCC2012-6: Six Games… Six Draws
Gelfand trying to find a way.Photo by Alexey Yushenkov. Not much in today’s game, but there was an interesting pawn sacrifice after 14…O-O 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 16. Bxd5 Nxd5 17. Rxd5. White immediately gave the pawn back after 17…Rac8 giving black adequate compensation. Gelfand stated that he did not attempt…
Read More » -
WCC2012-5: Drawish Sveshnikov?
GM Evgeny Sveshnikov did not like Gelfand’s handling of the opening named for him. Photo by Alexey Yushenkov. Viswanthan Anand may have sensed the mood of the match and the environment and essayed his former life in 1.e4. Boris Gelfand countered with 1…c5 entered the combative Sveshnikov variation. This meant…
Read More »
