Tag: Champion

  • Magnus Carlsen Retains World Chess Title

    Magnus Carlsen Retains World Chess Title

    Magnus Carlsen put the final nail in the coffin for the 2016 World Chess Championship with a [spectacular finish](http://theweekinchess.com/chessnews/events/world-chess-championship-2016/magnus-carlsen-retains-world-championship-title-with-a-spectacular-final-move) in the 25 | 10 rapid tiebreaker. Carlsen had been frustrated throughout the event and fell behind before managing to equalize the standings in Game 10. He went on to win the last two games of the rapid event, which finally put an end to his challengers efforts and solidified his place as World Chess Champion for the next two years. As the main portion of the event drew to its conclusion, many in the chess world began taking note of the precarious position Sergey Karjakin could find himself in against one of the strongest rapid and blitz players in the world.

    The first two tiebreaker games were drawn with Karjakin narrowly escaping a loss in the second game but unable to stop the onslaught that ultimately allowed Carlsen to retain his title.


    Carlsen’s incredible finish to the rapid tiebreaker event.

    The position above is stunning and reaffirms why Magnus Carlsen is the best chess player in the world. With **Qh6+**, Magnus brought his opponent’s bid to become the next world champion to his stunning halt. There were moments throughout the event where it seemed that Sergey Karjakin was poised to overtake Carlsen, but never found a way to convert his opportunities into solid wins. Of course, there were moments throughout the event were Magnus seemed to struggle both with his chess abilities and his ability to keep his emotions in check (no pun intended). Magnus took a little bit of criticism on social media for his outburst following his loss in the classical round, but I have to say that him storming out of the press conference is the kind of stuff that chess needs if it wants to become a popular, respectable, and marketable activity in the United States.

    [pgn]
    [Event “WCh Rapid TB 2016”]
    [Site “New York USA”]
    [Date “2016.11.30”]
    [Round “1”]
    [White “Karjakin, Sergey”]
    [Black “Carlsen, Magnus”]
    [Result “1/2-1/2”]
    [ECO “C84”]
    [WhiteElo “2772”]
    [BlackElo “2853”]
    [PlyCount “74”]
    [EventDate “2016.11.30”]
    [EventType “rapid”]

    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a3
    O-O 9. Nc3 Nb8 10. Ne2 c5 11. Ng3 Nc6 12. c3 Rb8 13. h3 a5 14. a4 b4 15. Re1
    Be6 16. Bc4 h6 17. Be3 Qc8 18. Qe2 Rd8 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20. d4 bxc3 21. bxc3 cxd4
    22. cxd4 exd4 23. Nxd4 Nxd4 24. Bxd4 Rb4 25. Rec1 Qd7 26. Bc3 Rxa4 27. Bxa5
    Rxa1 28. Rxa1 Ra8 29. Bc3 Rxa1+ 30. Bxa1 Qc6 31. Kh2 Kf7 32. Bb2 Qc5 33. f4 Bd8
    34. e5 dxe5 35. Bxe5 Bb6 36. Qd1 Qd5 37. Qxd5 Nxd5 1/2-1/2

    [Event “WCh Rapid TB 2016”]
    [Site “New York USA”]
    [Date “2016.11.30”]
    [Round “2”]
    [White “Carlsen, Magnus”]
    [Black “Karjakin, Sergey”]
    [Result “1/2-1/2”]
    [ECO “C50”]
    [WhiteElo “2853”]
    [BlackElo “2772”]
    [PlyCount “167”]
    [EventDate “2016.11.30”]
    [EventType “rapid”]

    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. a4 a6 7. c3 d6 8. Re1
    Ba7 9. h3 Ne7 10. d4 Ng6 11. Nbd2 c6 12. Bf1 a5 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Qc2 Be6 15.
    Nc4 Qc7 16. b4 axb4 17. cxb4 b5 18. Ne3 bxa4 19. Rxa4 Bxe3 20. Bxe3 Rxa4 21.
    Qxa4 Nxe4 22. Rc1 Bd5 23. b5 cxb5 24. Qxe4 Qxc1 25. Qxd5 Qc7 26. Qxb5 Rb8 27.
    Qd5 Rd8 28. Qb3 Rb8 29. Qa2 h6 30. Qd5 Qe7 31. Qe4 Qf6 32. g3 Rc8 33. Bd3 Qc6
    34. Qf5 Re8 35. Be4 Qe6 36. Qh5 Ne7 37. Qxe5 Qxe5 38. Nxe5 Ng6 39. Bxg6 Rxe5
    40. Bd3 f6 41. Kg2 Kh8 42. Kf3 Rd5 43. Bg6 Ra5 44. Ke4 Rb5 45. h4 Re5+ 46. Kd4
    Ra5 47. Kc4 Re5 48. Bd4 Ra5 49. Bc5 Kg8 50. Kd5 Rb5 51. Kd6 Ra5 52. Be3 Re5 53.
    Bf4 Ra5 54. Bd3 Ra7 55. Ke6 Rb7 56. Kf5 Rd7 57. Bc2 Rb7 58. Kg6 Rb2 59. Bf5
    Rxf2 60. Be6+ Kh8 61. Bd6 Re2 62. Bg4 Re8 63. Bf5 Kg8 64. Bc2 Re3 65. Bb1 Kh8
    66. Kf7 Rb3 67. Be4 Re3 68. Bf5 Rc3 69. g4 Rc6 70. Bf8 Rc7+ 71. Kg6 Kg8 72. Bb4
    Rb7 73. Bd6 Kh8 74. Bf8 Kg8 75. Ba3 Kh8 76. Be6 Rb6 77. Kf7 Rb7+ 78. Be7 h5 79.
    gxh5 f5 80. Bxf5 Rxe7+ 81. Kxe7 Kg8 82. Bd3 Kh8 83. Kf8 g5 84. hxg6 1/2-1/2

    [Event “WCh Rapid TB 2016”]
    [Site “New York USA”]
    [Date “2016.11.30”]
    [Round “3”]
    [White “Karjakin, Sergey”]
    [Black “Carlsen, Magnus”]
    [Result “0-1”]
    [ECO “C84”]
    [WhiteElo “2772”]
    [BlackElo “2853”]
    [PlyCount “76”]
    [EventDate “2016.11.30”]
    [EventType “rapid”]

    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a3
    O-O 9. Nc3 Na5 10. Ba2 Be6 11. b4 Nc6 12. Nd5 Nd4 13. Ng5 Bxd5 14. exd5 Nd7 15.
    Ne4 f5 16. Nd2 f4 17. c3 Nf5 18. Ne4 Qe8 19. Bb3 Qg6 20. f3 Bh4 21. a4 Nf6 22.
    Qe2 a5 23. axb5 axb4 24. Bd2 bxc3 25. Bxc3 Ne3 26. Rfc1 Rxa1 27. Rxa1 Qe8 28.
    Bc4 Kh8 29. Nxf6 Bxf6 30. Ra3 e4 31. dxe4 Bxc3 32. Rxc3 Qe5 33. Rc1 Ra8 34. h3
    h6 35. Kh2 Qd4 36. Qe1 Qb2 37. Bf1 Ra2 38. Rxc7 Ra1 0-1

    [Event “WCh Rapid TB 2016”]
    [Site “New York USA”]
    [Date “2016.11.30”]
    [Round “4”]
    [White “Carlsen, Magnus”]
    [Black “Karjakin, Sergey”]
    [Result “1-0”]
    [ECO “B54”]
    [WhiteElo “2853”]
    [BlackElo “2772”]
    [PlyCount “99”]
    [EventDate “2016.11.30”]
    [EventType “rapid”]

    1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. f3 e5 6. Nb3 Be7 7. c4 a5 8. Be3
    a4 9. Nc1 O-O 10. Nc3 Qa5 11. Qd2 Na6 12. Be2 Nc5 13. O-O Bd7 14. Rb1 Rfc8 15.
    b4 axb3 16. axb3 Qd8 17. Nd3 Ne6 18. Nb4 Bc6 19. Rfd1 h5 20. Bf1 h4 21. Qf2 Nd7
    22. g3 Ra3 23. Bh3 Rca8 24. Nc2 R3a6 25. Nb4 Ra5 26. Nc2 b6 27. Rd2 Qc7 28.
    Rbd1 Bf8 29. gxh4 Nf4 30. Bxf4 exf4 31. Bxd7 Qxd7 32. Nb4 Ra3 33. Nxc6 Qxc6 34.
    Nb5 Rxb3 35. Nd4 Qxc4 36. Nxb3 Qxb3 37. Qe2 Be7 38. Kg2 Qe6 39. h5 Ra3 40. Rd3
    Ra2 41. R3d2 Ra3 42. Rd3 Ra7 43. Rd5 Rc7 44. Qd2 Qf6 45. Rf5 Qh4 46. Rc1 Ra7
    47. Qxf4 Ra2+ 48. Kh1 Qf2 49. Rc8+ Kh7 50. Qh6+ 1-0
    [/pgn]

    #### Viewership Review
    Agon, which has become a *four letter word* In the chess community has refused to release (at least for now) the exact number of people who purchased their premium package for viewing the event, but initial estimates project that less than 10,000 people paid for the premium streaming and commentary package. Personally, I was pleased to be able to follow the games as a premium member of [Chessbase](http://play.chessbase.com), on [ChessBomb](http://www.chessbomb.com), and to watch the exceptional commentary and analysis from some of my favorite people over on [chess24.com](http://www.chess24.com). Still, just a long way to go if it wants to build an American audience to the point where corporations like Pepsi, Red Bull, or other major corporations are willing to sponsor the events. As mentioned in an excellent news [article](http://sports.yahoo.com/news/norwegian-vies-russian-world-chess-championship-231509689–spt.html) published shortly after Carlsen’s victory, chess needs a series of dramatic stories in order to sell itself to the American people. Bobby Fischer made history as the lone genius who challenged the world’s greatest chess power, the Soviet Union, during the Cold War which allowed the American people to relate what was happening on the board to what was happening every day in their news. When professional chess can find a way to bring the drama and excitement of playing the game to people in a way that relates to their everyday struggles and experiences, then it will find itself at a buffet of sponsors and fans. Compelling drama and personal connection sells products, not frivolous litigation.

  • WCC2016 Tied Entering Final Round

    WCC2016 Tied Entering Final Round

    The 2016 World Chess Championship in New York City has been nothing short of a nail biter and will at least come down to determination in the final round scheduled to be played Monday at 1400 EST. Games 7 and 8 offered some tense moments in which Magnus missed opportunities to turn the tide of the tournament against his opponent. However, his over aggressiveness prevented him from capitalizing on these positions as he would normally be able to.

    [pgn]
    [Event “WCh 2016”]
    [Site “New York USA”]
    [Date “2016.11.18”]
    [Round “6”]
    [White “Karjakin, Sergey”]
    [Black “Carlsen, Magnus”]
    [Result “1/2-1/2”]
    [WhiteTitle “GM”]
    [BlackTitle “GM”]
    [WhiteElo “2772”]
    [BlackElo “2853”]
    [ECO “C88”]
    [Opening “Ruy Lopez”]
    [Variation “closed, 7…O-O”]
    [WhiteFideId “14109603”]
    [BlackFideId “1503014”]
    [EventDate “2016.11.11”]

    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
    Bb7 9. d3 d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxe5 Nd4 12. Nc3 Nb4 13. Bf4 Nxb3 14. axb3 c5 15.
    Ne4 f6 16. Nf3 f5 17. Neg5 Bxg5 18. Nxg5 h6 19. Ne6 Qd5 20. f3 Rfe8 21. Re5 Qd6
    22. c3 Rxe6 23. Rxe6 Qxe6 24. cxb4 cxb4 25. Rc1 Rc8 26. Rxc8+ Qxc8 27. Qe1 Qd7
    28. Kh2 a5 29. Qe3 Bd5 30. Qb6 Bxb3 31. Qxa5 Qxd3 32. Qxb4 Be6 1/2-1/2

    [Event “WCh 2016”]
    [Site “New York USA”]
    [Date “2016.11.20”]
    [Round “7”]
    [White “Karjakin, Sergey”]
    [Black “Carlsen, Magnus”]
    [Result “1/2-1/2”]
    [WhiteTitle “GM”]
    [BlackTitle “GM”]
    [WhiteElo “2772”]
    [BlackElo “2853”]
    [ECO “D10”]
    [Opening “QGD Slav defence”]
    [WhiteFideId “14109603”]
    [BlackFideId “1503014”]
    [EventDate “2016.11.11”]

    1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. Bd3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 e6 7. Nf3 c5 8. O-O b5
    9. Be2 Bb7 10. dxc5 Nc6 11. Nd2 Bxc5 12. Nde4 Nxe4 13. Nxe4 Be7 14. b3 Nb4 15.
    Bf3 O-O 16. Ba3 Rc8 17. Nf6+ Bxf6 18. Bxb7 Bxa1 19. Bxb4 Bf6 20. Bxf8 Qxd1 21.
    Rxd1 Rxf8 22. Bxa6 b4 23. Rc1 g6 24. Rc2 Ra8 25. Bd3 Rd8 26. Be2 Kf8 27. Kf1 Ra8
    28. Bc4 Rc8 29. Ke2 Ke7 30. f4 h6 31. Kf3 Rc7 32. g4 g5 33. Ke4 Rc8 1/2-1/2
    [/pgn]

    But everything changed in Game 8 when that over aggressiveness finally backfired and awarded a powerful win to challenger Sergey Karjakin.

    [pgn]
    [Event “WCh 2016”]
    [Site “New York USA”]
    [Date “2016.11.21”]
    [Round “8”]
    [White “Carlsen, Magnus”]
    [Black “Karjakin, Sergey”]
    [Result “0-1”]
    [WhiteTitle “GM”]
    [BlackTitle “GM”]
    [WhiteElo “2853”]
    [BlackElo “2772”]
    [ECO “D05”]
    [Opening “Queen’s pawn game, Rubinstein (Colle-Zukertort) variation”]
    [WhiteFideId “1503014”]
    [BlackFideId “14109603”]
    [EventDate “2016.11.11”]

    1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 c5 5. b3 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Bb2 b6 8. dxc5
    Bxc5 9. Nbd2 Bb7 10. Qe2 Nbd7 11. c4 dxc4 12. Nxc4 Qe7 13. a3 a5 14. Nd4 Rfd8
    15. Rfd1 Rac8 16. Rac1 Nf8 17. Qe1 Ng6 18. Bf1 Ng4 19. Nb5 Bc6 20. a4 Bd5 21.
    Bd4 Bxc4 22. Rxc4 Bxd4 23. Rdxd4 Rxc4 24. bxc4 Nf6 25. Qd2 Rb8 26. g3 Ne5 27.
    Bg2 h6 28. f4 Ned7 29. Na7 Qa3 30. Nc6 Rf8 31. h3 Nc5 32. Kh2 Nxa4 33. Rd8 g6
    34. Qd4 Kg7 35. c5 Rxd8 36. Nxd8 Nxc5 37. Qd6 Qd3 38. Nxe6+ fxe6 39. Qe7+ Kg8
    40. Qxf6 a4 41. e4 Qd7 42. Qxg6+ Qg7 43. Qe8+ Qf8 44. Qc6 Qd8 45. f5 a3 46. fxe6
    Kg7 47. e7 Qxe7 48. Qxb6 Nd3 49. Qa5 Qc5 50. Qa6 Ne5 51. Qe6 h5 52. h4 a2 0-1
    [/pgn]

    Some believed that Magnus would be unable to recover from the loss but managed to pull out a win shortly thereafter in Game 10 to even things up.

    [pgn]
    [Event “WCh 2016”]
    [Site “New York USA”]
    [Date “2016.11.24”]
    [Round “10”]
    [White “Carlsen, Magnus”]
    [Black “Karjakin, Sergey”]
    [Result “1-0”]
    [WhiteTitle “GM”]
    [BlackTitle “GM”]
    [WhiteElo “2853”]
    [BlackElo “2772”]
    [ECO “C65”]
    [Opening “Ruy Lopez”]
    [Variation “Berlin defence”]
    [WhiteFideId “1503014”]
    [BlackFideId “14109603”]
    [EventDate “2016.11.11”]

    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. O-O
    d6 9. Nbd2 Nh5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Nc4 Nf4 12. Ne3 Qf6 13. g3 Nh3+ 14. Kh1 Ne7 15.
    Bc4 c6 16. Bb3 Ng6 17. Qe2 a5 18. a4 Be6 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20. Nd2 d5 21. Qh5 Ng5
    22. h4 Nf3 23. Nxf3 Qxf3+ 24. Qxf3 Rxf3 25. Kg2 Rf7 26. Rfe1 h5 27. Nf1 Kf8 28.
    Nd2 Ke7 29. Re2 Kd6 30. Nf3 Raf8 31. Ng5 Re7 32. Rae1 Rfe8 33. Nf3 Nh8 34. d4
    exd4 35. Nxd4 g6 36. Re3 Nf7 37. e5+ Kd7 38. Rf3 Nh6 39. Rf6 Rg7 40. b4 axb4 41.
    cxb4 Ng8 42. Rf3 Nh6 43. a5 Nf5 44. Nb3 Kc7 45. Nc5 Kb8 46. Rb1 Ka7 47. Rd3 Rc7
    48. Ra3 Nd4 49. Rd1 Nf5 50. Kh3 Nh6 51. f3 Rf7 52. Rd4 Nf5 53. Rd2 Rh7 54. Rb3
    Ree7 55. Rdd3 Rh8 56. Rb1 Rhh7 57. b5 cxb5 58. Rxb5 d4 59. Rb6 Rc7 60. Nxe6 Rc3
    61. Nf4 Rhc7 62. Nd5 Rxd3 63. Nxc7 Kb8 64. Nb5 Kc8 65. Rxg6 Rxf3 66. Kg2 Rb3 67.
    Nd6+ Nxd6 68. Rxd6 Re3 69. e6 Kc7 70. Rxd4 Rxe6 71. Rd5 Rh6 72. Kf3 Kb8 73. Kf4
    Ka7 74. Kg5 Rh8 75. Kf6 1-0
    [/pgn]

    The tournament remains tied and goes into Monday’s final round with the very real possibility of a rapid or blitz playoff being needed to decide the overall winner.

    [pgn]
    [Event “WCh 2016”]
    [Site “New York USA”]
    [Date “2016.11.26”]
    [Round “11”]
    [White “Karjakin, Sergey”]
    [Black “Carlsen, Magnus”]
    [Result “1/2-1/2”]
    [WhiteTitle “GM”]
    [BlackTitle “GM”]
    [WhiteElo “2772”]
    [BlackElo “2853”]
    [ECO “C84”]
    [Opening “Ruy Lopez”]
    [Variation “closed defence”]
    [WhiteFideId “14109603”]
    [BlackFideId “1503014”]
    [EventDate “2016.11.11”]

    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a3 O-O
    9. Nc3 Be6 10. Nd5 Nd4 11. Nxd4 exd4 12. Nxf6+ Bxf6 13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. f4 c5 15.
    Qg4 Qd7 16. f5 Rae8 17. Bd2 c4 18. h3 c3 19. bxc3 d5 20. Bg5 Bxg5 21. Qxg5 dxe4
    22. fxe6 Rxf1+ 23. Rxf1 Qxe6 24. cxd4 e3 25. Re1 h6 26. Qh5 e2 27. Qf3 a5 28. c3
    Qa2 29. Qc6 Re6 30. Qc8+ Kh7 31. c4 Qd2 32. Qxe6 Qxe1+ 33. Kh2 Qf2 34. Qe4+ 1/2-1/2
    [/pgn]

  • Carlsen-Karjakin Tied After Second Round

    Carlsen-Karjakin Tied After Second Round

    The [showdown](http://nyc2016.fide.com) for the title of World Chess Champion between Magnus Carlsen and Sergey Karjakin is tied at 1 point each after rounds one and two ended in a draw. Carlsen drew white for Game One and opened with a homage to recently elected President of the United States Donald Trump with a [combination](https://www.chess.com/explorer?moveList=d4+Nc6+Bg5+d5&ply=4) called the *Trompowsky Attack*, which some have re-branded as the *Trump*owsky Attack (**1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5**). An unusual opening at this level of play, the response from Karjakin neutralized the attack and led to a draw between the two.

    [pgn]
    [Event “WCh 2016”]
    [Site “New York USA”]
    [Date “2016.11.11”]
    [Round “1”]
    [White “Carlsen, Magnus”]
    [Black “Karjakin, Sergey”]
    [Result “1/2-1/2”]
    [WhiteTitle “GM”]
    [BlackTitle “GM”]
    [WhiteElo “2853”]
    [BlackElo “2772”]
    [ECO “A45”]
    [Opening “Trompovsky attack (Ruth, Opovcensky opening)”]
    [WhiteFideId “1503014”]
    [BlackFideId “14109603”]
    [EventDate “2016.11.11”]

    1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 d5 3. e3 c5 4. Bxf6 gxf6 5. dxc5 Nc6 6. Bb5 e6 7. c4 dxc4 8.
    Nd2 Bxc5 9. Ngf3 O-O 10. O-O Na5 11. Rc1 Be7 12. Qc2 Bd7 13. Bxd7 Qxd7 14. Qc3
    Qd5 15. Nxc4 Nxc4 16. Qxc4 Qxc4 17. Rxc4 Rfc8 18. Rfc1 Rxc4 19. Rxc4 Rd8 20. g3
    Rd7 21. Kf1 f5 22. Ke2 Bf6 23. b3 Kf8 24. h3 h6 25. Ne1 Ke7 26. Nd3 Kd8 27. f4
    h5 28. a4 Rd5 29. Nc5 b6 30. Na6 Be7 31. Nb8 a5 32. Nc6+ Ke8 33. Ne5 Bc5 34. Rc3
    Ke7 35. Rd3 Rxd3 36. Kxd3 f6 37. Nc6+ Kd6 38. Nd4 Kd5 39. Nb5 Kc6 40. Nd4+ Kd6
    41. Nb5+ Kd7 42. Nd4 Kd6 1/2-1/2
    [/pgn]

    Game One also had its share of American celebrities on hand as Actor Woody Harrelson made the ceremonial first move to begin the match.


    Woody Harrelson makes the first move in Game One! (Credit: [FIDE](http://nyc2016.fide.com))

    Game Two had some interesting twists and turns throughout, with [Chess24](http://www.chess24.com) demonstrating throughout why it is a revolutionary medium for watching high-level games. Guest commentary by various Grandmasters and assertions that Game Two was boring led to some interesting and entertaining social media exchanges.

    [pgn]
    [Event “WCh 2016”]
    [Site “New York USA”]
    [Date “2016.11.12”]
    [Round “2”]
    [White “Karjakin, Sergey”]
    [Black “Carlsen, Magnus”]
    [Result “1/2-1/2”]
    [ECO “C77”]
    [WhiteElo “2772”]
    [BlackElo “2853”]
    [EventDate “2016.11.11”]

    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 {No Berlin Defence from Carlsen today.} 4. Ba4
    Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 {A quiet approach in the modern style.} b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a3
    O-O 9. Nc3 Na5 (9… Bg4) 10. Ba2 Be6 11. d4 {The fourth most common move in
    my database.} (11. b4) (11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. b4) (11. Bg5) 11… Bxa2 12. Rxa2 Re8
    {Carlsen finally diverges from his game against Topalov from the Grand Chess
    Tour Rapid event in Paris earlier in the year.} (12… Nc6 13. d5 Nb8 14. Qe2
    Nbd7 15. Rd1 Qc8 16. Nh4 g6 17. g3 Ne8 18. Ng2 Ng7 19. Bh6 Nf6 20. Ne3 Qh3 21.
    Bxg7 Kxg7 22. b4 h5 23. a4 a5 24. Rb1 axb4 25. Rxb4 bxa4 26. Raxa4 Ng4 27. Nf1
    h4 28. f3 hxg3 29. hxg3 Nf6 30. Qg2 Qh6 31. Qh2 Qg5 32. Qd2 Qh5 33. g4 Qh8 34.
    Nb5 Nh7 35. Qh2 Rfb8 36. c4 Qd8 37. Ne3 Bg5 38. Qe2 Bf4 39. Ng2 Bg3 40. Qe3 Ng5
    41. Kf1 Qh8 {0-1 (41) Topalov,V (2761)-Carlsen,M (2855) Paris FRA 2016}) 13.
    Ra1 {A novelty but perhaps Karjakin didn’t pay any attention to the only other
    game in this position.} (13. Qd3 exd4 14. Nxd4 Qd7 15. Bg5 g6 16. f4 c5 17. Nf3
    Rad8 18. a4 Nc6 19. Raa1 Nb4 20. Qd2 Qb7 21. axb5 axb5 22. Qe2 Nxe4 23. Qxe4 d5
    24. Nxd5 Nxd5 25. Bxe7 Rxe7 26. Qd3 Rde8 27. f5 Re2 28. Rae1 {1/2-1/2 (28)
    Paravyan,D (2506)-Harutyunian,T (2426) Moscow RUS 2016}) 13… Nc4 14. Re1 (14.
    h3 h6 15. Re1) 14… Rc8 $5 15. h3 (15. b3 Nb6 16. a4 b4 17. a5 Nbd7 {was a
    possible try.}) 15… h6 16. b3 Nb6 17. Bb2 Bf8 18. dxe5 dxe5 19. a4 $11 c6 (
    19… Qxd1 20. Rexd1 {might have been even easier for black.}) 20. Qxd8 Rcxd8
    21. axb5 axb5 22. Ne2 {A tacit draw offer.} Bb4 (22… Nxe4 23. Bxe5 Ng5 24.
    Nxg5 Rxe5 25. Nf3 Re4 {and a draw can be agreed.}) 23. Bc3 Bxc3 24. Nxc3 Nbd7
    25. Ra6 Rc8 26. b4 Re6 (26… c5 {requires a bit of calculation but is also
    just a draw.} 27. Nxb5 cxb4 28. Nd6 Re6 29. Nxc8 Rxa6 30. Rd1 g6 $11) 27. Rb1 (
    27. Rd1) 27… c5 28. Rxe6 fxe6 29. Nxb5 cxb4 30. Rxb4 Rxc2 31. Nd6 Rc1+ {
    Now they bring the game to an end.} 32. Kh2 Rc2 33. Kg1 1/2-1/2
    [/pgn]

    Game Three will be held at 1400 EST on Monday.

  • Nazi Paikidze and Hijab Hubbub

    Nazi Paikidze and Hijab Hubbub

    **Editor’s Note**: I try to keep away from writing about politics, but sometimes the world of chess becomes intimately entangled in the affairs of the world. The battles on the board begin to mimic those of the world around us and something has to be said.

    US Women’s Chess Champion [Nazi Paikidze](http://nazipaikidze.com) rocketed into mainstream fame recently with her [vocal protest](http://www.infowars.com/i-will-not-wear-a-hijab-u-s-chess-star-refuses-to-attend-world-championships-in-iran/) of Iran hosting the 2017 Women’s World Chess Championship due to the country’s strict laws regarding female dress codes and specifically, compulsory wear of the Muslim hijab. Given that Nazi (pronounced *na-SEE*) is an immigrant to the United States herself and with the foundation of our country being that of individual liberty, one would *expect* rousing support for the champion. Yet, that is not the case in a world gone mad.

    Social Justice Warriors Weenies, who seem to insert themselves anywhere they can criticize, ridicule, or otherwise remind others of their professional victim status, [have lashed out](http://heatst.com/world/sjws-attack-white-savior-us-chess-champion-for-anti-iran-womens-rights-campaign/) at Nazi for her protest because she is too *white* to make a difference… As a man who has served with people of all races, genders, nationalities, and sexual orientations, I have reached my wit’s end with the incessant blame game on race, inequality, or *random social condition flavor of the week* used to marginalize the voices of people trying to make a legitimate difference for others. The voices on Twitter and on television crying racism, sexism, or whatever-ism simply do not represent the truth in much of our country.

    One need not look too far to see that Nazi is not alone. Chess champions Garry Kasparov, Nigel Short, and lesser entities like *Campfire Chess* along with thousands of others have voiced their support for the protest because silently accepting the Iranian venue demonstrates a remarkable contempt for women’s rights around the world. You can sign her protest petition [here](https://www.change.org/p/stop-women-s-oppression-at-the-world-chess-championship-by-challenging-fide-s-decision).

    Chess is a game that empowers men and women of all races and all backgrounds to break down the walls that typically restrict them. That is why I am proud of Nazi and her resolve. She represents the best of what our nation was founded on.

  • The Queen of Katwe – A Movie Review

    The Queen of Katwe – A Movie Review

    Too often movies are judged as success or failure simply on the amount of money generated by theater, advertising, and merchandise revenue. With those factors typically making up the outcome measurements for modern films, most chess movies are doomed to commercial failure from the start or face relegation to independent distributors. Last year’s [Pawn Sacrifice](http://www.fandango.com/pawnsacrifice_184071/movieoverview) is a perfect example of the challenges faced by chess films. The film opened to high hopes, received [mixed reviews](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pawn_sacrifice), premiered almost two years after completion, received a [positive review](http://www.campfirechess.com/posts/1830) here on Campfire Chess, but has since disappeared into the abyss of forgotten films and misbegotten biopics. In reflecting on *Pawn Sacrifice* prior to reviewing *The Queen of Katwe*, I realized that *Pawn Sacrifice* simply does not have the creative longevity to remain at the forefront of modern chess cinema. Perhaps some of the early reflections (including my own) were the result of hype and excessive expectations that were ultimately underwhelmed and left disappointed. That is why when I went to see the film reviewed in this article, I was cautiously optimistic about the outcome and determined to guard myself against personal biases.

    #### Cautiously optimistic…
    The Disney biopic [The Queen of Katwe](http://www.fandango.com/queen-of-katwe_189751/movieoverview), which is based on the life story of [Phiona Mutesi](http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=127569), premiered in theaters across America on Friday night and yours truly was there with my beloved to watch the film. I was pleasantly surprised to see that we were among 40-50 moviegoers in the theater for the 1845L showing. In contrast, *Pawn Sacrifice* was less than 15 the night of its local premier. After suffering through a collection of disappointing trailers (and one [about dogs](http://www.fandango.com/adogspurpose_195379/movieoverview) that had me bawling) the movie finally began and we were treated to just over two hours of Disney’s interpretation and dramatization of the life and trials of Phiona Mutesi.

    #### Capturing Ugandan Struggle and Pain
    Because this was a Disney movie, I was interested to see to what lengths the producers would go to portray the depths of pain and suffering endured by Phiona and her family in the Katwe slums. It only took a few minutes to realize that the producers had used subtle nuances present in the daily lives of Kampala’s slum citizens to maintain a sense of vibrancy while showing a deep and resounding pain felt by Phiona and her family. Singing and dancing for personal pleasure soon gave way to singing and dancing in the streets for money to buy dinner. The daily struggles presented throughout the film were never lost in the mixture of chess and personal victories, but those struggles also never whitewashed the sense of achievement and growth brought on by Phiona’s challenges and triumphs.

    Phiona was played expertly by Madina Nalwanga and her coach by David Oyelowo, but it was without a doubt the exceptional Lupita Nyong’o who played Phiona’s mother that stole the show. There were times throughout the film that I wondered if the story was actually about Phiona’s mother and less about Phiona and her brother. Yet, these powerful moments where we were treated to following Phiona’s mother through her daily struggles provided the audience with a wonderful context for the challenges that Phiona would face. Why would a mother hesitate to accept scholarships or growth opportunities for their child? These questions and many others were answered by the unique way in which the filmmakers frame the challenges, failures, and triumphs of Phiona in the parallel worlds of chess and life through the eyes of her mother. It become apparent early on that Phiona is certainly her mother’s child; a woman who refused to roll over or accept that she was not capable of rising to a higher level of achievement.

    #### Are We Still Looking for Bobby?
    It is hard to write a chess film review without comparing said film to the classic [Searching for Bobby Fischer](http://www.fandango.com/search/?q=searching%20for%20bobby%20fischer), but doing so with *The Queen of Katwe* sets a new precedent in chess cinema. That 1991 film staring Joe Mantegna and Max Pomeranc is often seen as a benchmark for chess filmmaking and storytelling. Many people, including myself, hold it dear as one of the best movies about chess ever made. Yet, I could not help but wonder as I watched *The Queen of Katwe* with my wife, if we were not watching what could become the *Searching for Bobby Fischer* of the 21st century.

    Earlier this week I wrote about how the Daily Caller wrote a [hit piece](http://www.campfirechess.com/posts/2727) on Phiona Mutesi quoting anonymous Grandmasters and others leading up to the film’s release. The intent of that article was to paint her as a subpar chess player undeserving of any sort of international attention. Yet, such language and disrespect is not levied at young Josh Waitzkin in press releases for *Searching*. Josh was (and still is) considered a legitimate chess prodigy although he has mostly given it up to pursue other activities. In her native country of Uganda and among the most powerful chess professionals in Africa, Phiona is a chess force to be reckoned with. The hit article certainly weighed on me as I watched the film. Fortunately, I was pleased to see that the filmmakers had treated Phiona and the chess world with an enormous amount of respect.

    Phiona expresses her desire to be a chess master and receives both good and bad advice throughout the film, but never is the idea of rising to the top of the chess world presented as an option to Phiona without an enormous amount of personal commitment and support. Even when Phiona attends the Moscow Olympiad, her defeat becomes the crux of the film’s final act in which she finds herself struggling to play for fear of losing.

    Ultimately, *The Queen of Katwe* exposes something about Phiona Mutesi that is often lost in stats, PGN files, and ELO references: her humanity. The film expertly balances the philosophy and challenges of playing chess but also shows how chess can bring out the truth of human struggle and triumph. Such stories are often overplayed in cinema, but here it is professionally mixed to where the chess victory is never really undermined by the struggles that it seeks to solve.

    #### A Final Verdict…
    *The Queen of Katwe* was much better than I had anticipated and it tugged at the heart strings in a way that only Disney can manage. It was easy to be empathetic with Phiona and her relatives facing daily starvation and deplorable conditions in the Katwe slums. The outstanding performances combined with some great chess scenes that were obviously supervised by chess professionals that cared about how the game was represented on screen, it is a film that is definitely worth seeing. Yet, I think that only time will tell if it has the longevity to remain a classic in chess cinema. The story of Phiona Mutesi is still ongoing, but that is the crux of the film’s entire premise. Life never stops, and those places were are used to are not always the places we are meant to be.

    I only hope that Phiona and this film continue to inspire people to pick up our game.

  • Baku Chess Olympiad is Underway!

    Baku Chess Olympiad is Underway!

    It seems like such a short time ago when chess headlines were adorned with stories of the Tromsø Chess Olympiad in 2014 where visa challenges, bathrooms, and [high food prices](http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2014/08/22/relections-on-tromso-olympiad/) were among the hottest topics leading up to China’s triumphant victory in the event. But here we are looking down the barrels of the 2016 Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan, the home country of former World Champion Garry Kasparov.

    After a breathtaking opening ceremony on Thursday, main tournament play began Friday with my beloved United States team winning all 4 of their first matches against players from Andorra. Hikaru Nakamura, Wesley So, Sam Shankland, and Ray Robson each scored well-earned victory against their opponents to launch the team off to a powerful start in the Olympiad.


    US Champion Fabiano Caruana is leading the US Olympiad Team

    [pgn]
    [Event “Baku Chess Olympiad | Open”]
    [Site “chess24.com”]
    [Date “2016.09.02”]
    [Round “1”]
    [White “Nakamura, Hikaru”]
    [Black “Aloma Vidal, Robert”]
    [Result “1-0”]
    [Board “1”]
    [WhiteID “2016192”]
    [WhiteElo “2789”]
    [WhiteTitle “GM”]
    [WhiteCountry “USA”]
    [WhiteFideId “2016192”]
    [WhiteEloChange “1”]
    [BlackID “2260409”]
    [BlackElo “2482”]
    [BlackTitle “IM”]
    [BlackCountry “AND”]
    [BlackFideId “2260409”]
    [BlackEloChange “-1”]

    1. d4 {[%clk 1:30:54]} Nf6 {[%clk 1:30:43]} 2. Nf3 {[%clk 1:31:19]} e6 {[%clk
    1:29:54]} 3. g3 {[%clk 1:31:39]} b5 {[%clk 1:23:21]} 4. Bg5 {[%clk 1:30:10]} Bb7
    {[%clk 1:15:29]} 5. Nbd2 {[%clk 1:30:35]} c5 {[%clk 1:10:18]} 6. e4 {[%clk
    1:31:01]} cxd4 {[%clk 1:05:01]} 7. Bxb5 {[%clk 1:28:12]} Bb4 {[%clk 0:46:57]} 8.
    a3 {[%clk 1:20:23]} Bxd2+ {[%clk 0:45:52]} 9. Nxd2 {[%clk 1:16:08]} h6 {[%clk
    0:44:11]} 10. Bxf6 {[%clk 1:14:38]} Qxf6 {[%clk 0:43:57]} 11. O-O {[%clk
    1:15:03]} O-O {[%clk 0:43:38]} 12. Qe2 {[%clk 1:14:32]} Nc6 {[%clk 0:40:32]} 13.
    Nb3 {[%clk 1:11:53]} Rab8 {[%clk 0:35:20]} 14. Rad1 {[%clk 1:05:26]} d3 {[%clk
    0:24:49]} 15. cxd3 {[%clk 0:57:15]} Nd4 {[%clk 0:06:49]} 16. Nxd4 {[%clk
    0:56:54]} Qxd4 {[%clk 0:07:17]} 17. b4 {[%clk 0:49:13]} d5 {[%clk 0:06:36]} 18.
    e5 {[%clk 0:46:35]} a6 {[%clk 0:04:56]} 19. Ba4 {[%clk 0:46:49]} a5 {[%clk
    0:04:10]} 20. Rb1 {[%clk 0:47:14]} Ba6 {[%clk 0:03:24]} 21. b5 {[%clk 0:47:40]}
    Qxa4 {[%clk 0:03:13]} 22. bxa6 {[%clk 0:48:05]} Qxa3 {[%clk 0:02:14]} 23. d4
    {[%clk 0:47:53]} Qc3 {[%clk 0:00:56]} 24. a7 {[%clk 0:38:28]} Ra8 {[%clk
    0:00:49]} 25. Rb7 {[%clk 0:38:51]} Qxd4 {[%clk 0:00:38]} 26. Qe3 {[%clk 0:39:18]}
    Qc4 {[%clk 0:00:42]} 27. Qb6 {[%clk 0:38:25]} d4 {[%clk 0:00:33]} 28. Rd7 {[%clk
    0:34:07]} Qb4 {[%clk 0:00:37]} 29. Qxb4 {[%clk 0:33:50]} axb4 {[%clk 0:01:05]}
    30. Rb1 {[%clk 0:34:12]} d3 {[%clk 0:00:36]} 31. Rxb4 {[%clk 0:34:33]} Kh7 {[%clk
    0:00:35]} 32. Rbb7 {[%clk 0:30:08]} Kg6 {[%clk 0:00:44]} 33. Rxd3 {[%clk
    0:30:31]} Rfc8 {[%clk 0:00:38]} 34. Rdd7 {[%clk 0:30:55]} Rf8 {[%clk 0:00:52]}
    35. Rbc7 {[%clk 0:31:06]} h5 {[%clk 0:01:13]} 36. h4 {[%clk 0:31:23]} Rae8 {[%clk
    0:00:57]} 37. Rb7 {[%clk 0:31:36]} Ra8 {[%clk 0:00:58]} 38. Kf1 {[%clk 0:31:14]}
    Rac8 {[%clk 0:01:05]} 39. Ke2 {[%clk 0:31:32]} Ra8 {[%clk 0:00:54]} 40. Kd3
    {[%clk 0:59:47]} Rac8 {[%clk 0:31:18]} 41. Rbc7 {[%clk 0:59:37]} Ra8 {[%clk
    0:30:53]} 42. Kc4 {[%clk 1:00:00]} Rae8 {[%clk 0:31:11]} 43. Kb5 {[%clk 1:00:22]}
    Ra8 {[%clk 0:31:36]} 44. Ka6 {[%clk 1:00:37]} Rae8 {[%clk 0:31:35]} 45. Kb7
    {[%clk 1:00:52]} Ra8 {[%clk 0:31:59]} 46. f3 {[%clk 1:00:48]} 1-0

    [Event “Baku Chess Olympiad | Open”]
    [Site “chess24.com”]
    [Date “2016.09.02”]
    [Round “1”]
    [White “De La Riva Aguado, Oscar”]
    [Black “So, Wesley”]
    [Result “0-1”]
    [Board “2”]
    [WhiteID “6900224”]
    [WhiteElo “2503”]
    [WhiteTitle “GM”]
    [WhiteCountry “AND”]
    [WhiteFideId “6900224”]
    [WhiteEloChange “-2”]
    [BlackID “5202213”]
    [BlackElo “2782”]
    [BlackTitle “GM”]
    [BlackCountry “USA”]
    [BlackFideId “5202213”]
    [BlackEloChange “2”]

    1. e4 {[%clk 1:30:56]} e5 {[%clk 1:30:52]} 2. Nf3 {[%clk 1:30:47]} Nc6 {[%clk
    1:31:16]} 3. d4 {[%clk 1:30:06]} exd4 {[%clk 1:31:40]} 4. Nxd4 {[%clk 1:30:31]}
    Nf6 {[%clk 1:31:47]} 5. Nxc6 {[%clk 1:29:29]} bxc6 {[%clk 1:32:11]} 6. Qe2 {[%clk
    1:28:27]} Rb8 {[%clk 1:32:00]} 7. e5 {[%clk 1:25:35]} Nd5 {[%clk 1:32:20]} 8. c4
    {[%clk 1:25:15]} Bb4+ {[%clk 1:31:18]} 9. Nd2 {[%clk 1:23:59]} Nf4 {[%clk
    1:10:11]} 10. Qe3 {[%clk 1:19:22]} Ng6 {[%clk 1:05:21]} 11. a3 {[%clk 1:04:41]}
    Be7 {[%clk 1:01:51]} 12. Nf3 {[%clk 0:51:00]} c5 {[%clk 0:51:34]} 13. h4 {[%clk
    0:47:05]} Rb6 {[%clk 0:45:24]} 14. h5 {[%clk 0:38:13]} Nf8 {[%clk 0:44:37]} 15.
    Qc3 {[%clk 0:38:37]} f6 {[%clk 0:36:44]} 16. h6 {[%clk 0:28:10]} g6 {[%clk
    0:36:49]} 17. Be3 {[%clk 0:22:11]} Ne6 {[%clk 0:36:30]} 18. Bd3 {[%clk 0:11:27]}
    fxe5 {[%clk 0:36:45]} 19. Qxe5 {[%clk 0:11:51]} O-O {[%clk 0:34:36]} 20. Rd1
    {[%clk 0:08:49]} Bb7 {[%clk 0:30:16]} 21. Rh3 {[%clk 0:07:26]} Bd6 {[%clk
    0:24:25]} 22. Qc3 {[%clk 0:07:51]} Qf6 {[%clk 0:24:52]} 23. Qxf6 {[%clk 0:06:55]}
    Rxf6 {[%clk 0:25:19]} 24. b4 {[%clk 0:07:19]} cxb4 {[%clk 0:25:16]} 25. Bxb6
    {[%clk 0:06:38]} axb6 {[%clk 0:25:08]} 26. axb4 {[%clk 0:06:48]} Bxb4+ {[%clk
    0:19:44]} 27. Kf1 {[%clk 0:07:08]} Bd6 {[%clk 0:20:09]} 28. Rh4 {[%clk 0:03:41]}
    Nf4 {[%clk 0:19:07]} 29. Be2 {[%clk 0:03:45]} Rf5 {[%clk 0:11:57]} 30. Rd4 {[%clk
    0:03:16]} Kf7 {[%clk 0:08:47]} 31. Bd3 {[%clk 0:02:38]} Nxd3 {[%clk 0:05:41]} 32.
    Rxd3 {[%clk 0:03:02]} g5 {[%clk 0:05:14]} 33. Rg4 {[%clk 0:02:01]} Kf6 {[%clk
    0:04:58]} 34. Rgd4 {[%clk 0:01:58]} Bc6 {[%clk 0:05:01]} 35. Rxd6+ {[%clk
    0:00:41]} cxd6 {[%clk 0:05:28]} 36. Rxd6+ {[%clk 0:01:06]} Ke7 {[%clk 0:05:53]}
    37. Rd3 {[%clk 0:01:18]} Bxf3 {[%clk 0:02:22]} 38. gxf3 {[%clk 0:01:44]} Kd8
    {[%clk 0:02:26]} 39. Kg2 {[%clk 0:01:16]} Rf4 {[%clk 0:01:49]} 40. Rb3 {[%clk
    0:30:36]} Kc7 {[%clk 0:31:40]} 41. Re3 {[%clk 0:17:22]} Rh4 {[%clk 0:13:06]} 42.
    Re5 {[%clk 0:10:32]} Rxh6 {[%clk 0:13:31]} 43. Rxg5 {[%clk 0:10:57]} Rg6 {[%clk
    0:13:59]} 44. f4 {[%clk 0:11:20]} Kc6 {[%clk 0:08:08]} 45. Kf3 {[%clk 0:05:22]}
    Rxg5 {[%clk 0:05:36]} 46. fxg5 {[%clk 0:05:44]} d5 {[%clk 0:06:03]} 47. cxd5+
    {[%clk 0:00:34]} Kxd5 {[%clk 0:06:32]} 48. Kg4 {[%clk 0:00:35]} b5 {[%clk
    0:06:52]} 49. f4 {[%clk 0:00:58]} b4 {[%clk 0:07:18]} 50. f5 {[%clk 0:01:18]} b3
    {[%clk 0:07:45]} 0-1

    [Event “Baku Chess Olympiad | Open”]
    [Site “chess24.com”]
    [Date “2016.09.02”]
    [Round “1”]
    [White “Shankland, Samuel L”]
    [Black “Fernandez Lopez, Joan”]
    [Result “1-0”]
    [Board “3”]
    [WhiteID “2004887”]
    [WhiteElo “2679”]
    [WhiteTitle “GM”]
    [WhiteCountry “USA”]
    [WhiteFideId “2004887”]
    [WhiteEloChange “1”]
    [BlackID “6900348”]
    [BlackElo “2142”]
    [BlackCountry “AND”]
    [BlackFideId “6900348”]
    [BlackEloChange “-2”]

    1. e4 {[%clk 1:30:51]} c5 {[%clk 1:30:42]} 2. Nf3 {[%clk 1:31:14]} Nc6 {[%clk
    1:30:51]} 3. d4 {[%clk 1:31:39]} cxd4 {[%clk 1:30:46]} 4. Nxd4 {[%clk 1:32:04]}
    g6 {[%clk 1:30:28]} 5. c4 {[%clk 1:32:26]} Bg7 {[%clk 1:29:59]} 6. Be3 {[%clk
    1:32:48]} Nf6 {[%clk 1:29:47]} 7. Nc3 {[%clk 1:33:12]} d6 {[%clk 1:29:02]} 8. Be2
    {[%clk 1:33:36]} Nxd4 {[%clk 1:27:50]} 9. Bxd4 {[%clk 1:34:00]} O-O {[%clk
    1:27:52]} 10. O-O {[%clk 1:34:23]} a5 {[%clk 1:25:26]} 11. b3 {[%clk 1:25:34]}
    Bd7 {[%clk 1:22:41]} 12. Qd3 {[%clk 1:25:55]} Bc6 {[%clk 1:16:27]} 13. a3 {[%clk
    1:25:40]} Nd7 {[%clk 1:10:07]} 14. Bxg7 {[%clk 1:26:00]} Kxg7 {[%clk 1:10:27]}
    15. b4 {[%clk 1:26:23]} Qb6 {[%clk 1:03:00]} 16. c5 {[%clk 1:21:18]} Qc7 {[%clk
    0:42:46]} 17. cxd6 {[%clk 1:21:11]} exd6 {[%clk 0:30:25]} 18. Qd4+ {[%clk
    1:15:45]} Nf6 {[%clk 0:27:41]} 19. b5 {[%clk 1:16:02]} 1-0

    [Event “Baku Chess Olympiad | Open”]
    [Site “chess24.com”]
    [Date “2016.09.02”]
    [Round “1”]
    [White “Garcia Paolicchi, Raul”]
    [Black “Robson, Ray”]
    [Result “0-1”]
    [Board “4”]
    [WhiteID “6900020”]
    [WhiteElo “2153”]
    [WhiteTitle “FM”]
    [WhiteCountry “AND”]
    [WhiteFideId “6900020”]
    [WhiteEloChange “-2”]
    [BlackID “2023970”]
    [BlackElo “2674”]
    [BlackTitle “GM”]
    [BlackCountry “USA”]
    [BlackFideId “2023970”]
    [BlackEloChange “1”]

    1. d4 {[%clk 1:30:30]} Nf6 {[%clk 1:30:30]} 2. c4 {[%clk 1:30:30]} g6 {[%clk
    1:30:30]} 3. Nc3 {[%clk 1:30:30]} d5 {[%clk 1:30:30]} 4. cxd5 {[%clk 1:30:30]}
    Nxd5 {[%clk 1:30:38]} 5. e4 {[%clk 1:28:50]} Nxc3 {[%clk 1:30:55]} 6. bxc3 {[%clk
    1:29:13]} Bg7 {[%clk 1:31:04]} 7. Bg5 {[%clk 1:29:08]} c5 {[%clk 1:24:09]} 8. Rc1
    {[%clk 1:29:05]} O-O {[%clk 1:22:57]} 9. Nf3 {[%clk 1:27:56]} Bg4 {[%clk
    1:15:42]} 10. d5 {[%clk 1:26:52]} Qd6 {[%clk 1:09:39]} 11. Be2 {[%clk 1:23:58]}
    Nd7 {[%clk 0:56:26]} 12. Nd2 {[%clk 1:10:58]} Bxe2 {[%clk 0:52:43]} 13. Qxe2
    {[%clk 1:11:08]} e6 {[%clk 0:51:51]} 14. dxe6 {[%clk 0:57:18]} Qxe6 {[%clk
    0:51:45]} 15. Rc2 {[%clk 0:56:29]} c4 {[%clk 0:34:00]} 16. O-O {[%clk 0:53:04]}
    Nc5 {[%clk 0:26:20]} 17. Rb1 {[%clk 0:42:35]} h6 {[%clk 0:20:01]} 18. Bf4 {[%clk
    0:34:21]} g5 {[%clk 0:16:50]} 19. Be3 {[%clk 0:29:27]} Nxe4 {[%clk 0:16:06]} 20.
    Qxc4 {[%clk 0:28:17]} Qxc4 {[%clk 0:16:07]} 21. Nxc4 {[%clk 0:28:37]} b6 {[%clk
    0:10:01]} 22. Bd4 {[%clk 0:22:49]} Rac8 {[%clk 0:08:47]} 23. Re1 {[%clk 0:15:31]}
    Rxc4 {[%clk 0:07:02]} 24. Rxe4 {[%clk 0:15:37]} Rd8 {[%clk 0:06:27]} 25. Ree2
    {[%clk 0:12:42]} Bxd4 {[%clk 0:06:16]} 26. cxd4 {[%clk 0:13:04]} Rdxd4 {[%clk
    0:06:29]} 27. f3 {[%clk 0:13:15]} Rxc2 {[%clk 0:06:21]} 28. Rxc2 {[%clk 0:13:38]}
    h5 {[%clk 0:06:18]} 29. Kf2 {[%clk 0:13:04]} Kg7 {[%clk 0:03:04]} 30. Ke3 {[%clk
    0:09:57]} Ra4 {[%clk 0:03:27]} 31. Kd3 {[%clk 0:10:00]} h4 {[%clk 0:02:04]} 32.
    h3 {[%clk 0:09:14]} b5 {[%clk 0:01:20]} 33. Re2 {[%clk 0:09:12]} Kg6 {[%clk
    0:01:24]} 34. Kc3 {[%clk 0:08:23]} a5 {[%clk 0:01:26]} 35. Kb3 {[%clk 0:08:02]}
    Rb4+ {[%clk 0:01:29]} 36. Kc3 {[%clk 0:07:24]} Kf5 {[%clk 0:01:19]} 37. Kd3
    {[%clk 0:04:14]} Kf4 {[%clk 0:01:24]} 38. Rc2 {[%clk 0:04:17]} Rc4 {[%clk
    0:00:41]} 39. Rb2 {[%clk 0:03:43]} Rc5 {[%clk 0:30:43]} 40. Kd4 {[%clk 0:32:04]}
    Re5 {[%clk 0:00:49]} 41. Kd3 {[%clk 0:31:41]} Rd5+ {[%clk 0:25:33]} 42. Ke2
    {[%clk 0:30:30]} Kg3 {[%clk 0:23:38]} 43. Ke3 {[%clk 0:29:17]} b4 {[%clk
    0:23:08]} 44. Rc2 {[%clk 0:21:34]} f5 {[%clk 0:23:00]} 0-1
    [/pgn]

    In the second round, Sam Shankland was the only member of the United States team to not earn a win in the round against Scotland. Caruana, Nakamura, and Robson all earned wins and although it is still early in the event, I would say that the United States team is going to be a team to watch throughout the tournament!

    [pgn]
    [Event “Baku Chess Olympiad | Open”]
    [Site “chess24.com”]
    [Date “2016.09.03”]
    [Round “2”]
    [White “Greet, Andrew N”]
    [Black “Caruana, Fabiano”]
    [Result “0-1”]
    [Board “1”]
    [WhiteID “405817”]
    [WhiteElo “2455”]
    [WhiteTitle “IM”]
    [WhiteCountry “SCO”]
    [WhiteFideId “405817”]
    [WhiteEloChange “-1”]
    [BlackID “2020009”]
    [BlackElo “2808”]
    [BlackTitle “GM”]
    [BlackCountry “USA”]
    [BlackFideId “2020009”]
    [BlackEloChange “1”]

    1. e4 {[%clk 1:30:56]} e5 {[%clk 1:30:54]} 2. Nf3 {[%clk 1:31:06]} Nc6 {[%clk
    1:31:18]} 3. Nc3 {[%clk 1:30:57]} Nf6 {[%clk 1:30:51]} 4. Be2 {[%clk 1:30:57]} d5
    {[%clk 1:25:20]} 5. exd5 {[%clk 1:31:12]} Nxd5 {[%clk 1:25:45]} 6. O-O {[%clk
    1:31:16]} Nxc3 {[%clk 1:25:01]} 7. bxc3 {[%clk 1:31:37]} e4 {[%clk 1:19:57]} 8.
    Ne1 {[%clk 1:30:52]} Bd6 {[%clk 1:14:03]} 9. f3 {[%clk 1:12:12]} f5 {[%clk
    0:44:33]} 10. fxe4 {[%clk 1:09:09]} fxe4 {[%clk 0:44:56]} 11. d4 {[%clk 0:52:40]}
    Be6 {[%clk 0:43:37]} 12. Rb1 {[%clk 0:49:11]} Na5 {[%clk 0:35:04]} 13. g3 {[%clk
    0:38:18]} Qd7 {[%clk 0:29:47]} 14. Rb5 {[%clk 0:29:53]} Nc4 {[%clk 0:18:40]} 15.
    Rxb7 {[%clk 0:11:40]} Nb6 {[%clk 0:18:57]} 16. c4 {[%clk 0:12:00]} Qc6 {[%clk
    0:15:57]} 17. c5 {[%clk 0:10:13]} Qxb7 {[%clk 0:13:32]} 18. cxd6 {[%clk 0:10:24]}
    cxd6 {[%clk 0:13:41]} 19. Bb5+ {[%clk 0:09:46]} Bd7 {[%clk 0:13:16]} 20. Ng2
    {[%clk 0:07:59]} O-O-O {[%clk 0:08:21]} 21. Rf7 {[%clk 0:06:47]} Qd5 {[%clk
    0:08:13]} 22. Ba6+ {[%clk 0:06:44]} Kb8 {[%clk 0:08:38]} 23. Rxg7 {[%clk
    0:06:55]} Qxa2 {[%clk 0:08:26]} 24. Be2 {[%clk 0:05:09]} Ba4 {[%clk 0:07:06]} 25.
    Ne3 {[%clk 0:04:37]} Rc8 {[%clk 0:04:46]} 26. Qe1 {[%clk 0:02:43]} Bxc2 {[%clk
    0:04:24]} 27. Bg4 {[%clk 0:02:11]} Rc6 {[%clk 0:03:41]} 28. Nf5 {[%clk 0:01:07]}
    e3 {[%clk 0:02:23]} 29. Ne7 {[%clk 0:00:39]} Be4 {[%clk 0:01:14]} 30. Nxc6+
    {[%clk 0:01:01]} Bxc6 {[%clk 0:01:40]} 31. Qe2 {[%clk 0:00:38]} Qd5 {[%clk
    0:01:56]} 32. Bxe3 {[%clk 0:00:36]} Rf8 {[%clk 0:01:49]} 33. Bf4 {[%clk 0:00:52]}
    Rxf4 {[%clk 0:01:19]} 34. gxf4 {[%clk 0:00:58]} Qxd4+ {[%clk 0:01:44]} 35. Kf1
    {[%clk 0:00:41]} Qxg7 {[%clk 0:02:03]} 36. f5 {[%clk 0:00:44]} Nd5 {[%clk
    0:01:32]} 37. Bf3 {[%clk 0:00:43]} Qa1+ {[%clk 0:01:42]} 0-1

    [Event “Baku Chess Olympiad | Open”]
    [Site “chess24.com”]
    [Date “2016.09.03”]
    [Round “2”]
    [White “Nakamura, Hikaru”]
    [Black “Shaw, John”]
    [Result “1-0”]
    [Board “2”]
    [WhiteID “2016192”]
    [WhiteElo “2789”]
    [WhiteTitle “GM”]
    [WhiteCountry “USA”]
    [WhiteFideId “2016192”]
    [WhiteEloChange “1”]
    [BlackID “2400553”]
    [BlackElo “2454”]
    [BlackTitle “GM”]
    [BlackCountry “SCO”]
    [BlackFideId “2400553”]
    [BlackEloChange “-1”]

    1. e4 {[%clk 1:30:53]} d5 {[%clk 1:29:24]} 2. exd5 {[%clk 1:31:17]} Qxd5 {[%clk
    1:29:50]} 3. Nc3 {[%clk 1:31:42]} Qd8 {[%clk 1:30:13]} 4. d4 {[%clk 1:32:07]} Nf6
    {[%clk 1:30:23]} 5. Bc4 {[%clk 1:32:31]} a6 {[%clk 1:29:33]} 6. Bg5 {[%clk
    1:32:54]} h6 {[%clk 1:20:29]} 7. Bxf6 {[%clk 1:32:55]} exf6 {[%clk 1:20:37]} 8.
    Nf3 {[%clk 1:33:21]} Bb4 {[%clk 1:09:20]} 9. O-O {[%clk 1:31:15]} Bxc3 {[%clk
    1:09:30]} 10. bxc3 {[%clk 1:31:41]} O-O {[%clk 1:09:46]} 11. Re1 {[%clk 1:30:17]}
    Nc6 {[%clk 1:04:31]} 12. Nh4 {[%clk 1:26:27]} Na5 {[%clk 0:51:18]} 13. Bd3 {[%clk
    1:21:44]} Be6 {[%clk 0:42:32]} 14. Ng6 {[%clk 0:53:48]} Re8 {[%clk 0:37:58]} 15.
    Qh5 {[%clk 0:54:12]} c5 {[%clk 0:20:48]} 16. Nf4 {[%clk 0:52:14]} c4 {[%clk
    0:18:33]} 17. Be4 {[%clk 0:51:59]} Qc7 {[%clk 0:14:56]} 18. g3 {[%clk 0:51:08]}
    Rad8 {[%clk 0:12:23]} 19. Re3 {[%clk 0:48:11]} b6 {[%clk 0:06:38]} 20. Rae1
    {[%clk 0:48:23]} Qd6 {[%clk 0:05:04]} 21. Bd5 {[%clk 0:47:58]} 1-0

    [Event “Baku Chess Olympiad | Open”]
    [Site “chess24.com”]
    [Date “2016.09.03”]
    [Round “2”]
    [White “McNab, Colin A”]
    [Black “Shankland, Samuel L”]
    [Result “1/2-1/2”]
    [Board “3”]
    [WhiteID “2400030”]
    [WhiteElo “2434”]
    [WhiteTitle “GM”]
    [WhiteCountry “SCO”]
    [WhiteFideId “2400030”]
    [WhiteEloChange “3”]
    [BlackID “2004887”]
    [BlackElo “2679”]
    [BlackTitle “GM”]
    [BlackCountry “USA”]
    [BlackFideId “2004887”]
    [BlackEloChange “-3”]

    1. Nf3 {[%clk 1:30:53]} c5 {[%clk 1:30:43]} 2. c4 {[%clk 1:30:30]} Nf6 {[%clk
    1:30:53]} 3. g3 {[%clk 1:30:31]} Nc6 {[%clk 1:31:10]} 4. Bg2 {[%clk 1:30:31]} d5
    {[%clk 1:31:24]} 5. cxd5 {[%clk 1:29:40]} Nxd5 {[%clk 1:31:48]} 6. Nc3 {[%clk
    1:28:59]} Nc7 {[%clk 1:31:59]} 7. b3 {[%clk 1:26:55]} e5 {[%clk 1:31:10]} 8. Bb2
    {[%clk 1:26:55]} f6 {[%clk 1:31:18]} 9. Rc1 {[%clk 1:23:34]} Bg4 {[%clk 1:30:19]}
    10. d3 {[%clk 0:52:42]} Qd7 {[%clk 1:26:19]} 11. Na4 {[%clk 0:52:11]} b6 {[%clk
    1:23:54]} 12. a3 {[%clk 0:51:39]} O-O-O {[%clk 1:00:04]} 13. Qc2 {[%clk 0:45:17]}
    Nd5 {[%clk 0:53:40]} 14. b4 {[%clk 0:31:56]} cxb4 {[%clk 0:37:56]} 15. Qxc6+
    {[%clk 0:29:14]} Qxc6 {[%clk 0:38:24]} 16. Rxc6+ {[%clk 0:29:34]} Kb7 {[%clk
    0:38:52]} 17. Rc4 {[%clk 0:26:34]} Bxf3 {[%clk 0:36:12]} 18. Bxf3 {[%clk
    0:26:50]} b5 {[%clk 0:36:40]} 19. axb4 {[%clk 0:21:17]} bxa4 {[%clk 0:35:41]} 20.
    Kd2 {[%clk 0:08:06]} Ka6 {[%clk 0:31:59]} 21. Bxd5 {[%clk 0:07:46]} Rxd5 {[%clk
    0:32:13]} 22. Bc3 {[%clk 0:08:03]} Kb5 {[%clk 0:29:09]} 23. Rc7 {[%clk 0:05:45]}
    Rd6 {[%clk 0:29:35]} 24. Rc5+ {[%clk 0:05:04]} Kb6 {[%clk 0:27:51]} 25. Ra1
    {[%clk 0:04:54]} Kb7 {[%clk 0:27:22]} 26. Rxa4 {[%clk 0:03:59]} Rb6 {[%clk
    0:27:46]} 27. Rd5 {[%clk 0:03:21]} Bd6 {[%clk 0:27:26]} 28. b5 {[%clk 0:03:30]}
    Rd8 {[%clk 0:27:49]} 29. Rc4 {[%clk 0:02:16]} Be7 {[%clk 0:27:00]} 30. Rxd8
    {[%clk 0:02:18]} Bxd8 {[%clk 0:27:29]} 31. Ba5 {[%clk 0:02:06]} Rd6 {[%clk
    0:27:58]} 32. Bxd8 {[%clk 0:02:26]} Rxd8 {[%clk 0:28:28]} 33. Kc3 {[%clk
    0:02:22]} Kb6 {[%clk 0:27:17]} 34. Kb4 {[%clk 0:02:31]} Rd6 {[%clk 0:27:43]} 35.
    h4 {[%clk 0:02:11]} h5 {[%clk 0:28:01]} 36. g4 {[%clk 0:01:52]} hxg4 {[%clk
    0:24:56]} 37. Rxg4 {[%clk 0:02:16]} Rd5 {[%clk 0:25:19]} 38. Rxg7 {[%clk
    0:02:16]} Rd4+ {[%clk 0:25:46]} 39. Kc3 {[%clk 0:01:49]} Rxh4 {[%clk 0:26:11]}
    40. Rf7 {[%clk 0:30:53]} Rf4 {[%clk 0:56:16]} 41. f3 {[%clk 0:30:49]} Kxb5 {[%clk
    0:56:29]} 42. Rxa7 {[%clk 0:30:53]} Kc6 {[%clk 0:56:56]} 43. Rg7 {[%clk 0:28:57]}
    Kd6 {[%clk 0:56:46]} 44. Rg4 {[%clk 0:28:39]} Rf5 {[%clk 0:57:12]} 45. Ra4 {[%clk
    0:25:16]} Rh5 {[%clk 0:57:22]} 46. f4 {[%clk 0:20:32]} Rh2 {[%clk 0:55:49]} 47.
    Ra6+ {[%clk 0:13:08]} Ke7 {[%clk 0:56:10]} 48. fxe5 {[%clk 0:12:56]} fxe5 {[%clk
    0:56:36]} 49. e4 {[%clk 0:12:47]} Rh8 {[%clk 0:56:49]} 50. Kc4 {[%clk 0:12:43]}
    Rd8 {[%clk 0:57:07]} 51. Rh6 {[%clk 0:11:55]} 1/2-1/2

    [Event “Baku Chess Olympiad | Open”]
    [Site “chess24.com”]
    [Date “2016.09.03”]
    [Round “2”]
    [White “Robson, Ray”]
    [Black “Gourlay, Iain”]
    [Result “1-0”]
    [Board “4”]
    [WhiteID “2023970”]
    [WhiteElo “2674”]
    [WhiteTitle “GM”]
    [WhiteCountry “USA”]
    [WhiteFideId “2023970”]
    [WhiteEloChange “2”]
    [BlackID “2401533”]
    [BlackElo “2393”]
    [BlackTitle “FM”]
    [BlackCountry “SCO”]
    [BlackFideId “2401533”]
    [BlackEloChange “-3”]

    1. e4 {[%clk 1:30:56]} e5 {[%clk 1:30:47]} 2. Nf3 {[%clk 1:31:05]} Nc6 {[%clk
    1:31:03]} 3. Bb5 {[%clk 1:30:18]} a6 {[%clk 1:31:11]} 4. Ba4 {[%clk 1:30:24]} Nf6
    {[%clk 1:31:17]} 5. d3 {[%clk 1:27:45]} d6 {[%clk 1:30:39]} 6. c3 {[%clk
    1:25:44]} g6 {[%clk 1:28:22]} 7. O-O {[%clk 1:22:28]} Bg7 {[%clk 1:22:41]} 8.
    Nbd2 {[%clk 1:21:24]} O-O {[%clk 1:21:33]} 9. Re1 {[%clk 1:18:01]} Re8 {[%clk
    1:14:34]} 10. h3 {[%clk 1:02:54]} h6 {[%clk 0:58:35]} 11. d4 {[%clk 1:01:33]} b5
    {[%clk 0:53:31]} 12. Bc2 {[%clk 0:57:02]} exd4 {[%clk 0:39:44]} 13. cxd4 {[%clk
    0:56:51]} Nb4 {[%clk 0:38:56]} 14. Bb1 {[%clk 0:52:49]} c5 {[%clk 0:37:48]} 15.
    a3 {[%clk 0:40:26]} Nc6 {[%clk 0:37:04]} 16. d5 {[%clk 0:40:36]} Na5 {[%clk
    0:30:39]} 17. Nf1 {[%clk 0:35:24]} Ra7 {[%clk 0:24:24]} 18. Ng3 {[%clk 0:32:42]}
    Rae7 {[%clk 0:22:04]} 19. Bc2 {[%clk 0:29:03]} c4 {[%clk 0:13:59]} 20. Bf4 {[%clk
    0:24:20]} Nb3 {[%clk 0:07:07]} 21. Bxb3 {[%clk 0:22:18]} cxb3 {[%clk 0:07:32]}
    22. Qd3 {[%clk 0:20:57]} Bb7 {[%clk 0:02:47]} 23. Re2 {[%clk 0:17:37]} Qb6 {[%clk
    0:02:16]} 24. Rae1 {[%clk 0:16:36]} Nd7 {[%clk 0:00:56]} 25. Qxb3 {[%clk
    0:16:26]} Nc5 {[%clk 0:01:13]} 26. Qd1 {[%clk 0:11:13]} b4 {[%clk 0:01:18]} 27.
    axb4 {[%clk 0:11:21]} Nd7 {[%clk 0:00:32]} 28. Qd2 {[%clk 0:11:00]} Kh7 {[%clk
    0:00:37]} 29. Be3 {[%clk 0:10:49]} Qc7 {[%clk 0:00:34]} 30. Bd4 {[%clk 0:09:59]}
    Bxd4 {[%clk 0:00:33]} 31. Nxd4 {[%clk 0:10:22]} Qb6 {[%clk 0:00:34]} 32. Ngf5
    {[%clk 0:10:09]} 1-0
    [/pgn]


    The National Gymnastics Arena – the Baku Olympiad venue.

    This year’s Olympiad is being held in the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan. The country has increasingly positioned itself throughout the past few years as a place of intense international sport and competition. Known to the chess community as the birth home of Garry Kasparov, the 42d Chess Olympiad’s host nation continues to impress both players and fans alike.

    Watch the Baku Chess Olympiad live on [Chessbomb](http://www.chessbomb.com), [Chess.com](http://www.chess.com), and [Chess24](http://www.chess24.com).

  • Hou Yifan is Women’s World Chess Champion

    Hou Yifan is Women’s World Chess Champion

    My guess is that an objective chess journalist would be expected not to pick sides or have favorites in tournament matches, but that is the beauty of running my own site and *never* claiming to be an objective chess journalist! Back in April of 2015, GM [Mariya Muzychuk](http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=94551) of the Ukraine shocked the professional chess world by knocking out favored GM [Koneru Humpy](http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=49497) of India and winning the Women’s World Chess Championship title through the somewhat maligned [knockout system](https://www.chess.com/blog/ThomasJEvans/world-chess-championship—a-knockout-format).

    ![mariya](http://www.campfirechess.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/muzychuk.jpg)

    GM Mariya Muzychuk crowned Women’s Champion in April 2015. Image Credit: FIDE)

    Unfortunately, the same politics that has cast a dark cloud on the [2016 Candidates Tournament](http://moscow2016.fide.com/) has also overshadowed a fight to the finish as former champion GM [Hou Yifan](http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=95916) has [outplayed](http://lviv2016.fide.com/) Mariya to *officially* reclaim her position as Women’s World Chess Champion in Lviv, Ukraine. I emphasized the word *officially* because it is clear from the way that many in the professional chess community treated Mariya during her time as champion were not entirely convinced that she was worthy of the honor. Personally, I am sad to see her go because I felt that she brought a special energy to women’s chess. Hou Yifan earns excellent reviews for her friendliness and even more praise for her dominating chess, but it feels as though the professional chess world never really moved on from her as the World Champion when Mariya was awarded the honor in 2015.

    ![wch2016standings](http://www.campfirechess.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/wwch2016-table.gif)

    Despite the fact that Hou was the clear favorite to win the match, Mariya made it apparent early on that she was not going to make it easy. After dropping games 2 and 6, Mariya found herself in an early hole but that was all she surrendered to the dominating Chinese player before Hou reclaimed the title in point increments from drawn games.

    ![yifan](http://www.campfirechess.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/yifan.jpg)

    GM Hou Yifan. Image Credit: New York Times)

    Congratulations to the new Women’s World Chess Champion, GM Hou Yifan of China! An exceptional performance in Lviv caps her return to the highest position in women’s chess. Play through all of the games from the match below:

  • Happy Birthday, GM Robert James Fischer!

    Happy Birthday, GM Robert James Fischer!

    He was obsessive, explosive, rude, and some believe that he was a dangerous psychotic. Yet, countless people both inside and outside of the chess world adore the late [Bobby Fischer](http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ezsearch.pl?search=bobby+fischer). Today is his birthday, he would have been 72 today and we take a moment today to honor the man who inspired countless people to take up chess around the world! In recognition of his birthday, here is the so-called *Game of the Century* played in 1956 against Donald Byrne.

  • Will the Real Irina Krush Please Stand Up?

    Will the Real Irina Krush Please Stand Up?

    The February 24th edition of the *Steve Harvey Show* featured a fantastic game called *Two Lies and a Truth* in which Steve and his guest, career criminal Secretary Hillary Clinton asked questions of three young women to find out which one of them is the real US Women’s Chess Champion, GM Irina Krush.

    ![krushoptions](http://www.campfirechess.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/krus01-.jpg)

    Most of these women are liars. (Credit: YouTUBE/The Steve Harvey Show)

    Each of the women in the game were obviously well-studied in Krush’s life and chess experiences as the *not-Krush*es gave excellent responses to Steve and Hillary’s questions in which they detailed Krush’s immigration from the USSR as a child to her upcoming shot at winning the US Women’s Chess Championship for the **eighth** time. The current record holder is [Gisela Kahn Gresser](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gisela_Kahn_Gresser) who has held the title **nine** times in 1944, 1948, 1955, 1957, and 1965-1970.

    ![realkrush](http://www.campfirechess.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/krush-02.jpg)

    The Real GM Irina Krush. (Credit: YouTUBE/The Steve Harvey Show)

    Of course, for chess aficionados, it was obvious from the beginning who the real Irina Krush was, but it was refreshing to see Steve and Hillary guess correctly and send the audience home with a nice gift. Congrats to Irina for continuing to be a trailblazer in the chess world and good luck to her in the upcoming championship. Here is the clip in its entirety:

    Having problems? View the full clip on [YouTUBE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJhAvo3F5Ms).

    -w.s.

  • Claudia Munoz is 9 Queens Player of the Year

    Claudia Munoz is 9 Queens Player of the Year

    If you follow chess for any length of time online then you have probably run across the name, read the [Twitter feed](https://twitter.com/chesscampeona) or visited the awesome [website](http://claudiamunoz.com/index.php/en/) of Women’s Candidate Master Claudia Munoz. Claudia is a rising star in professional chess and will join the [Texas Tech Red Raiders Chess Team](https://www.depts.ttu.edu/ttuchess/) later this year.

    A testament to her skills on the board in addition to her charm and personality has established her as a trailblazer in the world of chess on social media. You may recall back in November of 2015 when an article circulated the web that cast the negative spotlight on chess social media with the title, [*Chess Players Lose at Social Media*](http://www.campfirechess.com/2015/chess-players-lose-at-social-media-2/). Claudia is often mentioned in these kinds of articles as an enigma, but I think that she is much more than that. It is not only apparent that Claudia has a passion for the art of chess, but also for people in general. Always friendly and willing to show a human side of chess players that is often lost in the (losing) world of chess social media, Claudia is an absolute breath of fresh air in the chess-o-sphere.

    #### New Accolades

    Now, Claudia is adding another feather to her cap by being named the *9 Queens Player of the Year* for 2015. [9 Queens](www.9queens.org) is an organize that was founded by WGM Jennifer Shahade, the editor of [Chess Life Online](www.uschess.org) as a way to empower people through chess.

    ![claudiamunoz](http://www.campfirechess.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/claudiamunoz.jpg)

    Not all scores in Texas are settled with guns. (Credit: Claudia Munoz)

    Claudia will be traveling to Tucson, Arizona in April of this year to receive her well-deserved award and also to serve as the special guest for 9 Queens’ [Chess Fest 2016](https://www.facebook.com/9queens/events?key=events). My very best wishes and loads of congratulations go out to Claudia for this achievement!

    From the 9 Queens announcement:

    > 9 Queens is excited to announce our Special Guest for Chess Fest 2016 and recipient of the 2016 9 Queens Player of the Year Award – Women’s Candidate Master Claudia Munoz!

    > At just 18 years old, Claudia is an accomplished chess player, earning many accolades such as:
    • 2014 United States U-20 Girls Junior Champion at the University of New Hampshire.
    • 2014 Tied for 1st place at the National Girls Invitational Tournament in Florida.
    • 2013 Champion of the All Girls National Championship U-16 in Chicago, Illinois.
    • Winning the gold medal for the United States in the 2007 North American Youth Chess Championship U-10 in Aguascalientes, Mexico earning the Woman Candidate Master title from FIDE.

    > On top of those accomplishments, Claudia is a stellar student and social media powerhouse, with over 2.7 million visits to her bilingual website [www.claudiamunoz.com](www.claudiamunoz.com), and over 7,000 Facebook followers! ([https://www.facebook.com/ChessCampeona](https://www.facebook.com/ChessCampeona))

    > Claudia has this to say about empowerment through chess: “How a person is outside of a chess board is how they are on the chess board, correct them on the board and you changed their lives forever.”

    > We are so excited to welcome WCM Claudia Munoz to Tucson and look forward to having her as our Special Guest at Chess Fest!