Sunday, November 3, 2013
Chess — Stephen Dann
The World Championship will start this week in southern India, and already challenger Magnus Carlsen of Norway is a 3-to-1 favorite (in European sports betting) to dethrone Vishy Anand of India. Shades of Red Sox Nation, Anand is now getting millions of new fans from his sponsor’s (NIIT) #Wish4Vishy digital initiative described at www.wish4Vishy.com. Will a match in India give Anand a home field advantage to defend his title?
Tune in for reports at www.chessbase.com, and see the games and commentary in four languages at their online chess server, www.playchess.com, with 269,000 users in 90 countries and 660,000,000 games. The site has free viewing and a paid membership option.
November ratings at www.fide.com put American Hikaru Nakamura in fourth place in international chess ratings. Tuesday he tweeted, “Being recognized by the security personnel at the Athens airport was a famous chessplayer is truly humbling. Time to keep on inspiring!” But it’s Anand vs. Carlsen in the title match starting this Saturday. If Carlsen wins, it will mean the first Western European champion in 75 years, and the first Western Hemisphere titleist since 1972 (American Bobby Fischer).
New England drew Connecticut in round 10, but will repeat this matchup Tuesday as the quarterfinals begin at www.uschessleague.com.The games will again be free to view on www.chess.com. The 16 teams are now eight in the finals brackets. Seattle, last year’s winner, didn’t make the finals. The league has well over 100 masters, with New England being led by GM Sam Shankland, who is fourth in ranking among the 16 teams. See the other nine masters on their roster on the league site.
The second Spiegel Cup Scholastic Qualifier in Marlboro had many local prize winners, with Henry Liu of Northboro winning a blitz playoff to take the top Age 14 & under section. Michael Yu of Acton had a perfect score to sweep the Age 11 & under group. Other winners in lower sections included Nicholas Belous (Age 8 & under), Vignesh Vanchinathan (novice under 800), and Haley Kirouac, who won a playoff over Timmy Guan when both went 4-0 in the novice under 400.
The next scholastic event will be the 3-section, Fall Team Open, next Sunday at the Best Western Hotel in Marlboro and will be USCF rated.
Igor Foygel easily won the Trick or Treat Open at www.metrowestchess.org. There were four sections and 73 players at the October event. Tuesday competition continues at the Natick Senior Center.
A six-round, two-games-per-night event begins Thursday at the Greater Worcester Chess Club; details at www.chesspals.com.
Cliff McLaughlin of North Brookfield topped the sixth WMCA Free Open in Northampton, with Dana Rossi sweeping the Under 1800 section in the 30-player event.
Love this column. Go Red Sox!