Chess / Online chess seeks and claims vital space

Internet chess is not new. Games have been played since the 1970s. If we attempt a historical approach, we can see it as a continuation of matches by mail, by telex (Tal’s simultaneity with Australian players in 1974), by satellite link (Kasparov’s simultaneity with American teenagers in 1984), by telephone, telegraph, fax and other means. In 1970 and 2020 there were Earth-Space chess matches between cosmonauts and players from a space station. In 1945, a historic doubleheader match was played, over the radio, between ten-man teams of the USA and the Soviet Union. The ten Americans playing in New York were considered dominant. After all, the US National Team had come first in four consecutive Olympiads from 1931 to 1937 (but without the participation of the Soviets). The ten playing in Moscow to general surprise (then…) triumphed with 15.5-4.5. Also considered a surprise was the 2-0 victory of the later world champion, but until then unknown in the West, Vasily Smyslov over the great Samuel Reshevsky.

The explosion in online matches was seen in 2020. The pandemic locked people at home, clubs were underperforming and many tournaments were cancelled. Online chess was presented as the only solution. In addition, new fans of the game appeared, which may also be due to the popularity of the Netflix mini-series “The Queen’s Gambit”, which was released in October 2020. In the following month, registrations on chess platforms doubled, while registrations were proportionally larger of women.

Online chess quickly attracted top players. One of the reasons that Norway’s Magnus Carlsen did not defend his title of world champion last year was that, instead of spending his time preparing for the match, he preferred to invest it (with many interpretations of the word) in online tournaments. The most recent was the Chessable Masters, the first of four Champions Chess Tour online tournaments. It was held on the chess.com platform and had a prize pool of $300,000. In the exciting grand final, Carlsen found himself in the very bad position of losing 0-2 to Firouzia. He then achieved a win and a draw. In the rematch, the great Norwegian triumphed 2-0. Carlsen had shut out Shaw (2.5-1.5), Fedoseev (2.5-2.5 with better tiebreaker) and Lazavik (2.5-1-5). Firouzia, after his defeat by Fedoseev (1.5-2.5), reached the grand final from the losers’ matches: victory over Shaw (1.5-0.5), victory over Martinez Alcantara ( 1.5-0.5), qualification in a draw with Nepomniatsi (2-5-2.5) and victory over Lazavik (1.5-0.5).

In the 2nd division, Keimer took the lead, defeating Aronian 2-0 in the grand final. Sarana is first in the 3rd division, with a 2-0 victory in the grand final over Grischuk. The second online for the Champions Chess Tour will be held from 5/8 to 5/15.

The first batch of the repeater:

Carlsen (Norway, 2830) – Turquoise (France, 2759)

1.d4 Iz6 2.Ae5 d5 3.e3 c5 4.Id2 Ig6 5.g3 yxd4 6.exd4 θ6 7.Ath4 Az5 8.Iz3 e6 9.Ae2 Ad6 10.0–0 Bg7 11.An3 Axn3 12.xxn3 θ5 13. Rx1 n6 14.Iz1 Rn4 15.Bd2 0–0–0 16.b4 Rb8 17.a4 r6 18.Ith4 n5 [18…ε5=] 19.Rxz5 exz5 20.Nd3 Ne7 21.z3 Rn6 22.Ke6 Rnz8 23.Pae1 Rn8 24.a5 Rn6 [24…Πδ6 25.α6 βxα6 26.Αxα6 Πγ6] 25.a6! b6 26.Ie3 Bd7 27.Ixd5 Ie4

28.Rxb6+ [28.ζxε4 Βxε6 29.β5 ζxε4] 28…axb6 29.gxe4 Ra7? [29…Ιη4 30.γ4 (30.Ιxβ6 Βγ7=) 30…ζxε4] 30.b5 bxe4 31.Axe4 Bxb5 32.c4 Ba5 33.Ib4 Bg8 34.Ig6+? [34.γ5 Πζε8 35.Αζ3 Βα4 (35…Πxε1+? 36.Βxε1 Πγ7 37.Βε8) 36.Ιγ6+ (36.Αxθ5 Πxε1+ 37.Βxε1 Βδ7) 36…Ρxα6 37.Βδ3+ (όχι 37.Αxθ5? Πxε1+ 38.Βxε1 Πxγ6 με νίκη των μαύρων) 37…Ρβ7 ή 34.Αδ5 Πγ7 35.Ββ2] 34…Bxy6 35.Bxa5 bxa5 36.Axy6 Iz5? [36…Ρxα6 37.γ5 Πβ8] 37.d5! Rxa6 38.c5 Bd8 39.Ke6 Bd4 40.Aa4+ [40.Πxζ6 Ιxγ6 41.δxγ6 Ρβ5 με νίκη των μαύρων] 40…Ra7 [40…Ιxε6? 41.δxε6 Πγ8 42.ε7] 41.Pe7+ [41.Πxζ6 Πxδ5 42.Πζ7+ Ρβ8=] 41…Rp8 42.d6 Rp8 43.Rp4 Rx5 44.Rp2 Rxy5 45.Rp8+ Rp7 46.r7 Rp5 47.r8B Rxr8 48.Rxr8 1-0.

Kalogeris is second in the International University

Another distinction for the National Technical University of Athens in online rapid chess matches. This time the biggest distinction was individual. Student and FIDE meter Ioannis Kalogeris won second place in the University Championship organized for the 4th year by the Kasparov Foundation, collecting 8.5 points in 9 matches. Ukrainian Natalia Zhukova is first with 9 wins. The NTUA team, in which Dimitris Alexakis, Vasilios Kasioumis and Georgios Papidakis also competed, took 13th place among 117 student teams from around the world. Recorded 6 wins and 3 losses. First finished the University of Texas, second the University of Indonesia, third the National University of Kyiv. 494 students took part in the mass event.

Protagonists chess players and children

Online matches are organized by the FIDE Women’s Chess Commission. The first two tournaments held every Wednesday in the FIDE Online Arena have already been completed. Fierro Baquero (Ecuador, 2283) won the first, and world blitz champion Valentina Gunina (Russia, 2437) won the second.

A youth team, based on members of Galaxia Thessaloniki, competes in the European Youth Online National League, at tornelo.com. In the first 4 rounds they have one win, one draw and two defeats against strong teams in England.

Samos-Ikaria-Fourno online matches on chess.com with 80% participation of children in the first qualifier. N. Mathios, G. Tzouanos, D. Menegis, Ev. Mazari. Also qualified were G. Skapetis, St. Lathouras, G. Menegis, El. Mazari, L. Voronin, E. Tatsis, I. Spanou, K. Glarou, G. Yotis, Il. Achladis, S. Tsimpidis. Today is the second qualifying round ([email protected]).

Timeliness

Antonis Pavlidis (2563) strengthens the team SC Remagen Sinzig in the German Bundesliga. His very good results include wins over Croatia’s Brikic (2638) and England’s McShane (2624), as well as draws with Romania’s Russian Motilev (2619) and Azero Mamediarov (2726).

Began in the German resort of Weissenhaus, on the Baltic Sea, Freestyle Chess with Carlsen, Ding Liren, Caruana, Firouzia, Aronian, Gukes, Abdusatorov, Keymer. Games are played with random initial placement of pieces, which require more thought because there is no memorized ‘opening theory’.

In the second phase of the Qualifying Group A of the National Team of North Macedonia and Thrace, Ethnikis Alexandroupolis, S.O. Drama, S.O. Xanthi and Iraklis Kavala. The first two teams were declared champions in the two subgroups and the following, runners-up. The winning team of the second phase will go up to the 1st National League (Trikala, 4-10/7/24).

Results of the 2nd round in the POA Thessaloniki-Halkidiki: S.O. Kalamarias-S.A. Moudanion 5,5-4,5, E.S. Thessaloniki-Chronikon Papafi 7-3, SACH Thessaloniki-E.S. Kalamarias 4-6 (first group), O.S. Triandrias-S.O. Polichnis 3.5-6.5, S.A. “Lefkos Pyrgos” – ASO Polygyrou 8-2, E.S. Municipality of Thermi-S.S. Galaxia Thessaloniki 6-4 (2nd group).

Results of the 3rd round at the POA Attica: S.O. Chalandriou-S.O. N. Philadelphias 4-6, F.O. Ellinikou-ESP Machetis 1-9, N. Psychikou Academy-A.O. Pefkis 7.5-2.5, SAS Koropiou-Panhellenios G.S. 6-4, A.O. Three Stars-A.O. Kifissias 6-4 (APO Kotinos free kick). The derby of today’s 4th round: S.O. N. Philadelphia (6 points) – ESP Mahetis (5).

Rapid chess tournament by the Evia Chess Union on Sundays 2/18 and 3/3 (http://evoikienosiskakiston.blogspot.com/).

The book of the great meter and multi-champion of Greece Vassilis Kotronias entitled “Playing even positions” was published by the Social Cooperative Enterprise “Allos Tropos” (77 Halkidikis, Thessaloniki, 2310-866410, [email protected]).

Editor: Kosmas Kefalos

[email protected]