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To commemorate the 80-year anniversary of the well-known among chess players SGSEU University, a super tournament called The Governors Cup will be staged in Saratov from October 7 to 20, 2011. Most of the participants are or were members of the SGSEU-Economist team (winner of the European Club Cup in 2009 & 2010), but other famous grandmasters were also invited:
Player
Federation
FIDE Rating
World Rank
Ruslan Ponomariov
UKR
2758
8
Alexander Morozevich
RUS
2737
17
Peter Leko
HUN
2728
20
Nikita Vitiugov
RUS
2726
21
Alexander Moiseenko
UKR
2726
22
Alexei Shirov
ESP
2713
31
Evgeny Tomashevsky
RUS
2710
36
Dmitry Andreikin
RUS
2705
44
Pavel Eljanov
UKR
2683
60
Ni Hua
CHN
2670
75
Michael Roiz
ISR
2668
78
Evgeny Alekseev
RUS
2662
85
Pogonina.com will be following this exciting round robin event, especially given the fact that Saratov is the city where Natalia Pogonina currently lives.
We often hear or say ourselves that I got tired, and my brain went dead; I was tired and blundered, I didnt have enough energy left for the last few rounds. Standard time control tournaments are especially demanding, as they last a few days, and are important for a persons chess career. Rapid chess and blitz can also be tiresome if you play a lot of games per day. Another factor is that many people play one event after another, which is quite tough. A tired player has problems with calculation, and that results in a lower performance than usual. Mental activity requires a lot of energy, but chess is different from other sports in the sense that you get tired in another way. We dont run marathons, but still sometimes feel completely exhausted. Why does fatigue haunt chess players? How do we avoid getting tired and maximize our energy during tournaments?
One of the critical factors of fatigue is lack of control over our own emotions. Over the board a player should avoid all distracting thoughts and toss fears aside. This will allow you to channel your creative energy on the game. Unrelated thoughts and fears lead to a mental block and make us play constrainedly. Lots of energy is wasted, and we get tired more quickly. After one game you might not notice that, but over the course of a tournament, fatigue and tension can build up. One of our worst enemies is dwelling on our losses or mistakes after the game. Previously I have written a column on how to avoid mourning over ones losses, so I wont talk about this now. Likewise, excessive celebrating of victories also leads to hollowing out. By the way, anxiety can relate not only to chess, but to external factors: your work, family issues, financial problems, etc. An overemotional person gets tired quickly, but a stone-cold robot also lacks creativity. Try to aim for the golden middle.
Other factors are also important: proper nutrition, optimal daily routine. These issues have also been addressed before. I would like to remind you that the strength of your play is positively correlated with sleeping and eating well. By daily routine I mean a healthy sleep, taking walks and other physical activity and, if possible, avoiding distractions (e.g. coming to the game after a day of work). To ensure a sufficient rest, one has to spare enough time for it and avoid becoming a victim of ones own emotions. The importance of taking a walk before a game has been cultivated by Mikhail Botvinnik. Boris Gelfand is a fan of this approach, and at last years Gibraltar tournament I saw Viktor Korchnoi on his promenade before the round. Fresh air fills our blood with oxygen and stimulates our thinking processes. Other popular choices are swimming or going to the gym. But dont overdo it, train in safe mode!
Chess games and tournaments should bring you joy, not disappointment and fatigue.
Under the surveillance of cameras and spectators
Today I will share with you annotations to a game vs ex-World Womens Chess Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk that took place at the recent Russian Superfinal. As this match was important in the tournament sense, I was too emotional over the board, used up a lot of time and energy, and eventually got very tired. This resulted in missing a few strong and simple continuations.
In a rare variation of the Petroff I didnt get any substantial advantage. Black was doing ok until Alexandra played 15...Bd7. After that Black had to start playing defensively. Then mutual mistakes followed. The game transformed into a major piece ending, where I had a better position due to having a nail pawn on h6. Black failed to solved the problems, and, after some chess adventures, White won.
SOCAR (Azerbaijan): Teimour Radjabov (2752), Alexander Grischuk (2757), Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2746), Emil Sutovsky (2690), Andrei Volokitin (2686), Rustam Kasimdzhanov (2678), Rauf Mamedov (2660), Eltaj Safarli (2627)
Bronze medalists, 11 MPs, 31.5 boards points
Novy Bor (Czech Republic): Viktor Laznicka (2701), Radoslaw Wojtasjzek (2704), Mateusz Bartel (2627), Zbynek Hracherk (2627), Jan Markos (2596), Robert Cvek (2518), Petr Haba (2502)
Last year's winner, Economist-SGSEU, shared 4-7 on MPs with SHSM-64, OSG Baden Baden and Bosna Saraevo. This was a result of pairings that made the leaders clash with each other, while Novy Bor comfortably wiped out a relatively weak team Haladras VSE 5.5-0.5 and got bronze on board points.
Pogonina-Galliamova in Top-10 Best Games August 2011
Written by Administrator
Saturday, 01 October 2011
Photo by WGM Anna Burtasova, russiachess.org
ChessPro has published a monthly list of best games played in the world in August 2011. Due to most players being involved in the European Club Cup, the panel of judges was less numerous than usual: GM Konstantin Sakaev, GM Konstantin Landa, GM Dmitry Kryakvin, GM Evgeny Gleizerov, GM Sergey Zagrebelny, WGM Olga Alexandrova, WGM Tatiana Grabuzova, IM Vladimir Barsky.
Women's games are usually strongly underrepresented in such rankings, but this time Natalia's win against Alisa Galliamova made it to place 8 of the list.
I have been playing chess professionally from my childhood, and most of my friends are also pros. Quite often amateurs send me emotional messages stating they are willing to start training intensively in order to become a grandmaster, and even move to Russia to ensure best results!
Lets try to objectively review the pros and cons of such intentions.
Why is being a professional chess player great?
Strong character. To turn into a skilled chess player, you will have to work a lot not only on your chess, but on psychology. Become hard-working, persistent, self-confident, patient, accurate, objective; improve your memory and analytical skills, as well as develop other important personal qualities.
Free schedule. This doesnt mean that you can afford to do nothing at all. However, you wont have to go to the office each day and put up with your boss demands.
Sightseeing. As a rule, most pros travel a lot. Those who dont like to spend too much time in one place and love new impressions would likely appreciate the so-called chess tourism.
Professional longevity. Unlike in most other sports, one can play chess at top level even at 40+. The upcoming WC match between Anand (42) and Gelfand (43) is a bright proof. Older grandmasters are not in contention for the title, but they can still remain eminent figures on the chess landscape. 80-year old Viktor Korchnoi, who is still playing quite actively and well, is the best example.
Cons
Financial problems. Most chess players dont have regular earnings, neither do they make much money. When you are young and successful and (possibly) supported by your parents or college, things may look bright. If something goes wrong, life can become tough. Of course, as I have already mentioned, you can keep playing as long as youre alive. Often its a forced step to take, as chess players dont have pensions or retirement programs. Neither are they (with a few exceptions) as financially successful as top soccer, basketball or hockey stars, who can save up millions during their prime years.
Severe competition. Its very hard to reach a level at which you can play chess for a living. Normally it takes decades, and you have to start very early. Otherwise, its very hard to catch up.
Health issues. Professional sports are often dangerous for ones health, and chess is no exception. Eyes, back and state of mind suffer most. This is connected with the tension during games and having to spend lots of time in front of the PC or otb. One has to monitor the state of ones health, pay attention to physical training, proper nutrition, etc.
If you are a parent who is considering choosing chess as a career for your kid, try not to force matters. Let her try. If she is interested, has outstanding results, wants to keep on training, you can go ahead and support her. Try to avoid making the kid play chess if she doesnt like it. Dont attempt to self-realize via her successes in chess if you love the game, but havent become a strong player for some reason.
A different advice goes to adults who would like to switch to being a chess pro. So far by chess professional we implied a person who plays chess for a living. However, this is not the only possible definition. For example, one can talk about professional attitude towards something or professionalism, i.e. diligently and regularly studying chess and improving ones game. Dont rush. If you fall in love with chess, dont quit your job right away and offer all your money to a chess coach. Start off by playing tournaments for some time during vacations. This will put your feelings towards chess to a test, and help estimate your potential. Before becoming a chess professional its advisable to become financially secure and come up with a backup plan. If you can afford taking risks and know that you can always rewind, the venture of chess professionalism would be much safer for you and your family.
Todays game will feature my confrontation from the Russian Superfinal11 with Alisa Galliamova, two-times runner-up at the Womens World Chess Championship and one of the most experienced, professional and strongest female players in the world.
Womens World Chess Champion Hou Yifan absolutely dominated the Shenzhen FIDE Women Grand Prix 2011 which took place on September 7th-19th, going undefeated to win clear first place by a full point over fellow female prodigy 21 year-old IM Anna Muzychuk. Hou followed up her 2697 performance rating in the 1st Grand Prix in August 2011with a 2649 performance rating in the 2nd Grand Prix in Shenzhen, pragmatically dominating the opposition to ensure the tournament win. Yifans level of chess has been fantastic in 2011, mixing thorough opening preparation with practical game-time decisions based on her tournament standing. The 17 year-old Chinese superstar is exceeding expectations at an incredible rate, and it will be a pleasure to the chess world to witness her climb even higher in the coming years. The 3rd leg of the 2011 Female Chess Grand Prix will begin promptly in Nalchik, Russia on October 8th.
Ju Wenjun continues to dominate
Ju Wenjun Continues to Play Well in 2011. Ju Wenjun tried to recover from a lukewarm start to press Yifan towards the end of the tournament, however Wenjun was unable to catch up to the lead and finished the tournament sharing 3rd with WGM Tan Zhongyi. Wenjun has had a great 2011 thus far, having dominated the 1st Hangzhou Women Chess Tournament to earn her 1st GM norm with a 6.5/9 score and close to a 2700 performance rating.
Watch Zhu Chen vs Ju Wenjun
In this game Zhu Chen opened with d4 and Wenjun responded with the sharp Kings Indian Defense, rapidly creating complications with an attack against whites king. This game was a classic reflection of the aggressive KID ideology, as black first defended against whites queenside pressure and later completely abandoned that side of the board to direct her entire energy towards a decisive kingside attack. In the midst of extreme complications, Wenjun struck with 40. ...Bh3! after which Zhu Chen was unable to recover against blacks onslaught. Blacks Q + 2N combination worked wonders on whites defenseless king, leading to Chens resignation after 48. ...Nh3+
In the men's tournament there were no real fights and sensations, as all the rating leaders won their matches.
Meanwhile, the match between AVS and SHSM-RGSU was a thriller. At first Valentina Gunina obtained an active position against Viktoria Cmilyte and converted her advantage with a few powerful tactical shots, 1-0. On the other boards the situation looked grim for AVS as well since Antoaneta Stefanova got a somewhat suspicious position with White out of the opening against Alexandra Kosteniuk, Natalia Pogonina seemed to be playing for her opponent's time and also didn't get much of an advantage vs Olga Girya; Maria Muzychuk was struggling against Alina Kashlinskaya's two powerful bishops. Then in time trouble the whole picture has changed: in complications Stefanova won a pawn and obtained a dominant position, Pogonina got a totally winning rook endgame, and Muzychuk snatched a central pawn and also had winning chances. Now the question was whether AVS will win or just draw. Unfortunately, Natalia has spent quite a lot of time and then made a few nearly only moves to draw the game instead of winning, Muzychuk didn't find a way to pose problems before her opponent, and Stefanova went all-in and got a hopeless position which Kosteniuk failed to convert. One loss and three draws for AVS, and at the end of the day SHSM-RGSU is the winner...
