Archive for June 22nd, 2009

On June 11-12, FIDE held a special meeting in Athens, Greece to discuss the implications of changes to the FIDE rating system, especially the increase of the K-factor. Ratings experts from around the world (including John Nunn and GM Bartlomiej Macieja) were brought together to recommend a course of action to the Presidential Board.  Jeff Sonas reports on the meeting.

Playing a quiet move with the enemy king being completely exposed can be very
difficult, and even an absolute attacking artist like World Champion Mikhail
Tal often could not resist the temptation of giving check. In this position
White had just gone for 34.Rf1-f2. How would you assess this move? A) Just the
right thing to do, White is not in a hurry and will safely rake in the full
point after this. B) A mistake allowing the opponent a spectacular draw. C)
This blunders the game – now a double attack decides for Black. The solution
is here, but first ponder
over it with a larger
version of the diagram. larger version of the diagram.

Vassily Ivanchuk chalked up the third win in succession at the Romgaz Turneul Regilor in Romania, beating Alexei Shirov in a beautifully entertaining game. The Ukrainian, who came last in the Sofia Super-GM in May, with a performance of 2610, is now playing at 2946! Teimour Radjabov scored his first victory in this event against Gata Kamsky, who is having a really bad tournament. Round seven report.