2008, a busy year at the top. The first of a series of reviews and polls about the year past and the year to come.
December 2008 Archives
Ivanchuk suggests modifications to the candidates cycle in progress.
A few bits about 2800-rated players and ratings.
Happy holidays. Jakovenko, Radjabov, and Grischuk on 6.5/10 with three rounds to play in the Elista Grand Prix.
Veselin Topalov destroys the field in Nanjing, winning with a +4 score and a 1.5-point margin ahead of Aronian and the rest.
Poll about chess software usage.
Topalov and Bu Xiangzhi share lead in Nanjing. Radjabov leads Elista Grand Prix.
Round one begins with wins by Jakovenko and Gashimov. Full cast: Radjabov, Leko, Wang Yue, Jakovenko, Mamedyarov, Grischuk, Cheparinov, Eljanov, Bacrot, Alekseev, Gashimov, Inarkiev, Akopian, Kasimjanov.
Aronian and Bu Xiangzhi lead after three rounds. Round 4: Svidler-Aronian, Bu Xiangzhi-Ivanchuk, Movsesian-Topalov
Supertournament in Nanjing, China starts tomorrow with Aronian, Bu Xiangzhi, China, Ivanchuk, Movsesian, Svidler, Topalov.
Hou Yifan gets GM title. Various tidbits on chess and age.
Ivanchuk and Shirov lead the rapid event in Benidorm with two rounds to play.
Aronian adds his own open letter against Ilyumzhinov's added candidates tournament.
Anand second Peter Heine Nielsen on the origins of the move 14..Bb7 that Anand used to beat Kramnik twice in their Bonn WCh match.
Carlsen withdraws from GP in protest over change in cycle and what seems to be a collapsing Grand Prix series.
Kasparov signing at the London Chess Centre.
The FIDE Grand Prix seems to be falling apart. Magnus Carlsen complaint about the new candidates tournament.
VII Benidorm chess festival in Spain.
Ivanchuk fails to take drug test after final round of Olympiad. Threatened with penalties. Shirov writes open letter on that and new candidates event.
Any mainstream coverage of the Olympiad in your area? Have you written your local media to bug them about more chess please?
