Today the Essent tournament starts in the Dutch town of Hoogeveen. The Open tournament starts today (top seed Mikhail Gurevich), and the Crown group starts Sunday October 22nd.

Crown Group participants:

Veselin Topalov 2813
Shakhryar Mamedyarov 2728
Judit Polgar 2710
Ivan Sokolov 2670

As always: a World Champion (well, at the time of invitation he was), a Youth World Champion (and already 2700+), the strongest woman, and the strongest Dutch player.

Let's see how Topalov plays, so soon after his lost match against the Ice Man.

Thanks SachBinger!

I almost started this topic yesterday, but got tired and slept once again (Mal's schedule is totally random, but it was on schedule briefly during the WCC '06 games when I found myself awake at 4 AM sharp on the BIG game days).

Let me just add a few further details of interest!

The 10th Annual "Essent Chess Tournament 2006" official website.

An excellent report on ChessBase: "Topalov at the 2006 Essent Chess Tournament" (15.06.2006).

Of special interest to me was this tidbit of info...



The "Crown Group" (in a double round-robin) will be playing all of their games using this special glass chess set. Time trouble will undoubtedly take on an entirely new meaning when the glass pieces are all flying about!

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"Essent Chess Tournament"

October 20 - 28, 2006

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The Tournament Schedule:

Code:

Date ****** Crown Group ** Open Group ** Amateurs

October 20 // opening   // 1st round // 1st round
October 21 // *******   // 2nd round // 2nd round
October 22 // 1st round // 3rd round // 3rd round
October 23 // 2nd round // 4th round // 4th round
October 24 // 3rd round // 5th round // 5th round
October 25 // Rest day  // 6th round // 6th round
October 26 // 4th round // 7th round // 7th round
October 27 // 5th round // 8th round // 8th round
October 28 // 6th round // 9th round // 9th round

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• The Rate of Play: The Crown Group (also the Open Group and Amateur I) is 40 moves in 2 hours, followed by 1 hour extra time for the completion of the game. Amateur II: 36 moves in 105 minutes, followed by 15 minutes extra time for the completion of the game.

• Playing hours: All rounds start at 14.00 hours daily. The final round (October 28th) starts at noon. The Amateur Groups have other starting times: Group I: 14.30 hours (October 28th at 13.00 hours); Group II: 10.00 hours (October 28th at 9.00 hours).

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So, any bets on how 'El Topo' will do?

Will he score + 1 or + 2 over the rest of the field?

Or, will Shak, Judit and Ivan pull out a few surprises of their very own!


- Mal

Well, I think that Topalov should be able to handle that group of chess players without TOO much difficulty, (provided that "El Topo" has mentally and emotionally recovered from his loss to Kramnik!)


Chess Fan

Prediction:

Topa +2
Mamedyarov =
Polgar -1
Sokolov -1

How's that for a safe bet?

Polgar will finish behind Topalov in second place. She has been waiting to pounce for quite some time. But topalov clearly is the best player here. His rating floor is 2600!

I also like how this website is already better than the wcc from FIDE and they have a webcam. My guess is the coverage will be better. Thats nice for us fans!

Ha-Ha-Ha!

I see you've got your hands firmly grasped on the brand
new 'Rybka 1.0' Super GM chess tournament calculator!



Safe on 'first' indeed!


- Mal

PS: You can always tell when it's a Friday night in Berzerkeley...
The local tribes just start randomly yelling & screaming!

Is People Champion ducking?

Ok, my prediction
Topalov +2
Polgar +1
Sokolov -1
Mamedyarov -2

ok, safe prediction of mine

Polgar +1
Sokolov =
Mamedyarov =
Topalov -1

I think Mamedyarov might do very well here and perhaps even pip a tired and troubled Topalov.

Well I'm really glad to see everyone kept their math in check
(pun intended) for all the tourney predictions made above!

One quick comment though:

'El Topo' get pipped?

Nah!


The drawing of the lots has been concluded for the "Crown Group" and this has resulted in the following detailed schedule presented:

____________________________________________


"Essent Chess Tournament"

October 20 - 28, 2006

*************************

The Playing Schedule:

Round 1, Sunday October 22, 14.00 hours
Polgar, Judit - Sokolov, Ivan
Mamedyarov, Shak - Topalov, Veselin

Round 2, Monday October 23, 14.00 hours
Sokolov, Ivan - Mamedyarov, Shak
Polgar, Judit - Topalov, Veselin

Round 3, Tuesday October 24, 14.00 hours
Mamedyarov, Shak - Polgar, Judit
Topalov, Veselin - Sokolov, Ivan

Wednesday October 25 - Rest Day
Note: The Open Section and Amateur Groups
I & II will play their respective rounds on this day.

Round 4, Thursday October 26, 14.00 hours
Sokolov, Ivan - Polgar, Judit
Topalov, Veselin - Mamedyarov, Shak

Round 5, Friday October 27, 14.00 hours
Polgar, Judit - Mamedyarov, Shak
Sokolov, Ivan - Topalov, Veselin

Round 6, Saturday October 28, 12.00 hours
Topalov, Veselin - Polgar, Judit
Mamedyarov, Shak - Sokolov, Ivan


Note: I've shortened the first name of 'Shakhriyar'
to just 'Shak' above.
____________________________________________

See my above post:

• The Rate of Play: The Crown Group (also the Open Group and Amateur I) is 40 moves in 2 hours, followed by 1 hour extra time for the completion of the game. Amateur II: 36 moves in 105 minutes, followed by 15 minutes extra time for the completion of the game.

• Playing hours: All rounds start at 14.00 hours daily. The final round (October 28th) starts at noon. The Amateur Groups have other starting times: Group I: 14.30 hours (October 28th at 13.00 hours); Group II: 10.00 hours (October 28th at 9.00 hours).

____________________________________________

Once again from my above post:

The 10th Annual "Essent Chess Tournament 2006" official website.

An excellent report on ChessBase: "Topalov at the 2006 Essent Chess Tournament" (15.06.2006).
____________________________________________


Here are just a few of the first pics taken from the Opening Ceremony...

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The main participants: Ivan (face obscured),
Shak, Veselin and Judit.



Chess art unveiled!



'El Topo' asking Shak, "Does your contract
really read the same as mine?" :laff:



Veselin studying a "Mate in 8" from the
Problem Competition, "I can mate in 9
moves from this position!"

No it's not a typo I'm just being Mal with
my last two comments! :p
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Ladies and Gentleman (all sections) it's time to start your engines!

Should be of great interest to watch 'El Topo' back in action again. Let's hope that 'Garbage man' keeps a very low key profile and that he doesn't stick his nose in where it doesn't belong (could be he's not even there as no pics of him were found).


- Mal