Endgame chess tactic

White to move. How should White proceed?

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Chess as Social Initiative of the Year in Ukraine

Chess as Social Initiative of the Year in Ukraine
Friday, 11 April 2014 10:09

The All-Ukrainian Charity Foundation "Chess for Children" was declared "Social Initiative of the Year" at the national award ceremony “Sport Stars – 2013” in Ukraine 

On the 6th of April 2014 the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace was celebrated for the first time in Ukraine. The Day was launched at the General Assembly of the United Nations on the 23rd of August 2013. To celebrate this day in April 2014 the Sport Committee of Ukraine organized festive ceremony “Sport Stars of the Year” for awarding the best sport personalities in 2013.

In the nomination “Social Initiative of the Year" the winner became the All-Ukrainian Charity Foundation "Chess for Children". The Founder and President of the Foundation WIM Olena Boytsun received an award and expressed confidence that the UCF “Chess for Children” together with the Sport Committee of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Chess Federation will continue to implement the projects of the charitable program in the future. Olena also empasized the great work for popularization of sport in Ukraine that is done by the President of the Sport Committee Ilya Shevlyak and his team.

Honorary guests of the ceremony were the President of the Sport Committee of Ukraine Ilya Shevlyak, the First Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport Andrei Vyshnyak, the President of the National Paralympic Committee Valery Sushkevych, Vice-President of the National Olympic Committee Viktor Korzh, famous athletes and sport managers. The ceremony took place at the National Olympic Area in Kyiv.

Photos from the award ceremony are at
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.488558957943267.1073741842.241964169269415&type=1

The All-Ukrainian Charity Foundation “Chess for Children” was founded in Ukraine in November 2012 by WIM Olena Boytsun. The primary purpose of the Foundation activity is to discover the potential of every child through engaging children into a game of chess and to promote chess and healthy lifestyle in the society. In 2013 the Foundation ran 7 projects and implemented 20 events all over Ukraine.

The following projects can be outlined in particular:

The project “Chess Ukraine” supports establishing new chess clubs and schools all over Ukraine as well as providing consultations, chess equipment and literature etc. The cooperation with the regional centers in order to develop children chess in the regions is also part of the project activities. The greatest attention is attracted by a new modern chess club and chess school for children in Krivoy Rog. It was launched in 2013 with the support of the UCF "Chess for Children”. Currently, the school has more than 200 children. At the local art square near the club the highest in the world 5 meter tall chess marble piece is situated.

The “Chess Holiday” project suggests that the Foundation organizes entertaining festivals and events for popularization of chess in the community. For example, in July 2013 the Chess Day Celebration together with the Ukrainian Chess Federation and the Sport Committee of Ukraine took place. During the event young chess players had a chance to show their knowledge of the game of chess by solving quizzes and chess problems, playing blitz games and so on. All together in 2013 the Foundation “Chess for Children” organized 8 chess holidays in Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipropetrovsk and Krivoy Rog.

The project “Award named after Evgeniy Sozonov” is the private national annual award that was established by the Foundation in 2013 with the aim of supporting talented children aged between 10 to 15 years old, who show good results in both chess and school studies. In 2013 the Award was provided for the first time and the winner became Karina Skorobagatko (13 years, Kyiv). In total 38 applications from all over Ukraine was received. In order to announce the establishment of the Award named after Evgeniy Sozonov and to popularize chess in Ukraine in April 2013 the first female advanced chess match was played in Kyiv between the 12th Women World Champion GM Anna Ushenina and the President of the “Chess for Children” Foundation WIM Olena Boytsun. The match ended in a draw and attracted a lot of interest from the community and press.

The project “Chess Competitions” aims at organizing and supporting chess competitions among children in Ukraine as well as providing possibilities for participation in tournaments. In September 2013 in Dnipropetrovsk the chess tournament “Cup of the UCF “Chess for Children” took place. The event brought together 125 participants 14 year old and younger from all over Ukraine. The winners of the event as well as winners in many different categories received prizes and gifts from the Foundation, for example, tablets and e-books. In November 2013 96 players from Ukraine competed in the Ukrainian National Championship among children chess schools and clubs. The winning teams brought for their schools valuable gifts, including laptops and digital cameras.

The "Literary chess" project of the Foundation develops and distributes free books to children with the rules of the game of chess, made in an entertaining style, in order to engage children to play chess. In 2013 the Foundation took part at the Lviv Book Forum and the Frankfurter Book Exhibition with the presentation of the book “Babish Gilzi plays chess” by Olena Boytsun.

Photo-overview of the activities of the UCF “Chess for Children” 2012-2013 in English can be found athttps://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/46750198/2013-ReportsChessforChildren/2013-PhotoOverview-ChessforChildren-eng.pdf

The Charitable program of the All-Ukrainian Charity Foundation for 2013-2015 can be found athttp://chessforchildren.org or at the web-site of the Ukrainian Chess Federation http://ukrchess.org.ua (the English version of the program will follow during April 2014).

Webster U Junior GM Meier to represent Germany at Tromsø Olympiad

Germany set for Chess Olympiad in Tromsø
Apr 11, 2014

German national captain GM Dorian Rogozenco has nominated the teams for the 41st Chess Olympiad in Tromsø, Norway.

The men’s team will consist of GM Arkadij Naiditsch (Elo 2706), GM Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu (Elo 2686), GM Georg Meier (Elo 2636), GM Daniel Fridman (Elo 2616) and GM David Baramidze (Elo 2610).

In the women’s team are IM Elisabeth Pähtz (Elo 2440), WGM Tatjana Melamed (Elo 2389), WGM Zoya Schleining (Elo 2370), WGM Melanie Ohme (Elo 2347) and WGM Sarah Hoolt (Elo 2330).

GM Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu is the newcomer in the team, having completed the transfer from the Romanian Chess Federation. Last year Nisipeanu helped the team as a coach. He stated that – “Playing for Germany is a dream that finally comes true! I am very excited”.

Michael Woltmann, Vizepräsident Verbandsentwicklung

Tiviakovs wins KL International, 2nd GM for young Aravindh

KL Open: It’s Three Times in a Row for Tiviakov
Apr 11, 2014

Sergei Tiviakov and Aravindh Chithambaram drew their game after three hours of play, a result that confirmed that Tiviakov would successfully defend his title and in doing so become a three time winner of the KL International Open.

But for young Chithambaram, it was also a fantastic result as with the draw the 14 year old IM-elect remained unbeaten and also achieved his second GM title norm.

So in first place is Tiviakov with 7/9, and in second to eighth places on 6.5/9 are Chithambaram, the also unbeaten M.K. Venkatesh, Nguyen Duc Hoa, Dzhumaev Marat, Haridas Pascua, Nguyen Anh Dung and Andika Pitra.

For Pascua, this result was his third and final norm to complete the requirements of International Master while for Pitra it was his second International Master title norm.

Tournament website

Many players will continue the Asian tour by participating in the 14th Bangkok Chess Club Open.

La vérité éclate : un accès de franchise de la Banque d’Angleterre démolit les bases théoriques de l’austérité. (The Guardian)

L’argent n’est qu’une reconnaissance de dette...

On dit que dans les années 1930, Henry Ford aurait fait remarquer que c’était une bonne chose que la plupart des Américains ne savent pas comment fonctionne réellement le système bancaire, parce que s’ils le savaient, « il y aurait une révolution avant demain matin ».

La semaine dernière, il s’est passé quelque chose de remarquable. La Banque d’Angleterre a vendu la mèche. Dans un document intitulé « La création de l’argent dans l’économie moderne », co-écrit par trois économistes de la Direction de l’Analyse Monétaire de la banque, ces derniers ont déclaré catégoriquement que les hypothèses les plus courantes sur le fonctionnement du système bancaire sont tout simplement fausses, et que les positions plus populistes, plus hétérodoxes qui sont généralement associées à des groupes comme Occupy Wall Street, sont correctes. Ce faisant, ils ont jeté aux orties les bases théoriques de l’austérité.

Suite de l'article »

Hou Yifan leads Women's Grand Prix by a full point after 3 rounds

http://khantymansiysk2014.fide.com

11th annual SPF Girls' Invitational - Additional prizes for World Youth Qualifiers

Rules & Conditions for the 11th Annual Susan Polgar Foundation Girls' Invitational
(Over $200K in prizes and scholarships)
July 10 – 15, 2014 at Webster University (St. Louis, Missouri)

Webster University will provide complimentary room and meal accommodation on campus for all qualifiers!

The annual Susan Polgar Girls’ Invitational, in its 11th year, is the most prestigious all-girls event in the United States. It will once again be held at Webster University (St. Louis, Missouri).

• There will be an intense training session with Susan Polgar and members of the SPICE team, followed by a 6 round (g/90+30) FIDE rated championship tournament.

• The traditional Blitz, Puzzle Solving, Bughouse events will stay the same as in previous years.

• There will be many chess prizes awarded, as well as scholarships to Webster University.

Each state is allowed one representative to be nominated by May 20, 2014. Official representative alternates may be substituted no later than June 15. (Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee may allow the host state to enter an additional qualified player.) Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee may allow exceptions to the May 20 entry/alternate deadline. Should the state affiliate fail to respond to the notice for this tournament, Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee may determine the candidate from that state.

Players must have been enrolled in a school (up to 12th grade) located in the state they represent, also of the year in which the tournament is held. Home-schooled students who are under the age of 19 on July 10th of the year in which the event is held or students who have never attended college on a full time basis prior to June 1 of the year in which the tournament is held, are eligible to represent the state in which they reside.

Exception: If a player graduates from high school early and is already attending college, she may still represent her state if nominated. This is the decision of each state affiliate.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: The participants of the Susan Polgar Girl’s Invitational DO NOT have to be high school students. Any qualifier under the age of 19 (by July 10th of the year in which the tournament is held) is eligible!

Special invitation for this year only: All past participants of the SPNI and SPFGI (Susan Polgar National Invitational/Susan Polgar Foundation Girls’ Invitational 2004-2013) are invited to participate in the 2014 SPFGI. The idea is to have the past participants learn my method of training so they can go back home and share their knowledge with the younger players. However, registration MUST be made ASAP since space is limited. There will be mutual training sessions for all, however separate section & prizes for alumni participants over the age of 19.

Players are required to furnish the organizer an emergency phone number and the e-mail address of a parent/guardian.

There is no entry fee to participate in the 2014 SPFGI; however, players are responsible for their own travel. For all state representatives, and qualifiers from the SPNO or SPWO, Webster University will provide complimentary room and meal accommodation on campus.

For alumni participants, wild card/special invites, coaches, parents, or other family members, inexpensive accommodations are available for housing and dining on Webster’s campus. Please note that all reservations and registrations MUST be made (and accommodation expenses prepaid) no later than June 15, 2014.

Prizes: Trophies / plaques will be awarded to the winners of the Susan Polgar Foundation Girl’s Invitational Puzzle Solving, Blitz, and the SPFGI Championship. Co-champions are recognized in the case of a tie, with each champion receiving a Champion’s Plaque or Trophy.

The Champion (or Co-Champions) of the main event will automatically be invited to defend her/their title (must meet age requirement).

Champion: Webster University scholarship* (approximately $24,000+ per year x 4 years) Champion's Cup. (In case of a tie, a playoff will used to determine the level of scholarships)

2nd place: Webster University scholarship (approximately $14,000+ per year x 4 years)

3rd place: Webster University scholarship (approximately $12,000+ per year x 4 years)

Brand new additional prizes this year!

Top under 16: $1,000 scholarship to help defray expenses to the 2014 World Youth (if participating**)

Top under 14: $1,000 scholarship to help defray expenses to the 2014 World Youth (if participating**)

Top under 12: $1,000 scholarship to help defray expenses to the 2014 World Youth (if participating**)

Top under 10: $1,000 scholarship to help defray expenses to the 2014 World Youth (if participating**)

* The scholarships to Webster University must be exercised no later than Fall of 2017, and are not transferable. In addition, these scholarships cannot be combined with other academic scholarships, or stacked. If players won scholarships in past events, they can choose to exercise the highest one.

** After flight ticket has been purchased, a $1,000 reimbursement check will be sent to the winners.

The Polgar Committee’s goal is to have all 50 states (including two representatives for California, two for Texas, and two for Missouri) and the District of Columbia represented. We strongly encourage each state and the District of Columbia affiliate to hold a scholastic championship tournament to determine each state’s champion and representative. Failing this, rating criteria may be acceptable. A scholastic girls’ champion or the highest rated girls’ scholastic player in a state who has no state affiliate of the USCF should contact the Polgar Committee as soon as possible.

Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee and its members may elect to award a limited number of wild cards each year for the Susan Polgar Girl’s Invitational.

Special qualifying events: The Polgar Committee will award automatic qualifying spots to the reigning winners in each section of the annual Susan Polgar NO for Girls (New Orleans) and the Susan Polgar World Open for Girls (Chicago).

The SPFGI Chairperson is Martha Underwood (AZ).

NOTICE TO ALL STATE OFFICIALS: Please send the nomination from your state to the Polgar Committee (PolgarCommittee@gmail.com).

Contact info: Polgar Committee (PolgarCommittee@gmail.com)

The Susan Polgar Foundation can be contacted at 806-281-7424 or through info@PolgarFoundation.org.