Archive for the ‘Chess’ Category

Titled Tuesday – Chess.com

Titled Tuesday is Chess.com's weekly 11-round Swiss tournament for titled players, occurring twice each Tuesday since February 1, 2022 at 8 a.m. PT/17:00 CET and 2 p.m. PT/23:00 CET.

GM Hikaru Nakamura has won the most Titled Tuesday events since October 20, 2020, with 68 total victories. GM Dmitry Andreikin has the second-most with 16.

Since February 1, 2022, Titled Tuesday occurs every Tuesday at 8 a.m. Pacific and then again at 2 p.m.

The format is as follows:

Note For Titled Players

Titled Tuesday requires all players to have their full legal name in their Chess.com profile. Anonymous titled player accounts or accounts found to be using a fake name will not be eligible to win prizes during the event and may be removed from the tournament without notice.

All players must also abide by all rules and site policies found at Chess.com/legal/user-agreement and cooperate fully with Chess.com's fair play detection team. Participants should be prepared to join a Zoom call for proctoring at the arbiter's discretion, and this request may be made between rounds via direct chat in live chess by a Chess.com staff member.

Titled Tuesday debuted on December 30, 2014 as a monthly nine-round event. It became a weekly tournament on April 7, 2020 and permanently expanded to its current length of 11 rounds on October 20, 2020. On and after February 1, 2022, two tournaments are offered each week.

From June 2 through October 13, 2020, Titled Tuesday was part of the Speed Chess Championship qualification cycle and included a knockout section.

Starting January 2, 2024, there will also be cumulative annual standings and prizes as part of the Titled Cup. Titled Tuesday will also return to the Speed Chess Championship qualification cycle in 2024.

11-Round Single-Tournament Era (Oct. 20, 2020Jan. 25, 2022)

Double-Tournament Era (Feb. 1, 2022present)

11-Round Era (Both Single- and Double-Tournament) (since Oct. 20, 2020)

Note: GM Oleksandr Bortnyk scored a perfect 9/9 on October 4, 2016.

While Titled Tuesdays are exclusive for titled players, untitled players from the Chess.com community can play in the Untitled Tuesday community event every week. You can participate by joining our official Community Club. Starting April 2, tournaments will start at the following times:

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Titled Tuesday - Chess.com

Bullet Brawl April 14, 2024: Bortnyk Clutches Bullet Brawl With 28-Game Win Streak – Chess.com

GM Oleksandr Bortnyk won the latest iteration of Bullet Brawl after posting a 28-game winning streak and overtaking GM Jose Martinez in the dying minutes of the two-hour arena. Finishing on 247 points with 68 wins, five draws, and 11 losses, Bortnyk won $400 for his efforts while Martinez andGM Daniel Naroditsky rounded out the podium.

WGM Aleksandra Maltsevskaya won the $100 best women's prize with a score of 103 ahead of FM Anastasia Avramidou and IM Karina Ambartsumova, while "Macmasterr" topped the community event for the second week running.

The next edition of Bullet Brawl will take place on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at noon ET/18:00 CEST.

Standings

Bortnyk was "finally" rewarded for his tenacity during April's second Bullet Brawl after breaking a dry spell that stretches back to the beginning of January. Following a difficult start, which included losses to Peruvian blitzers Martinez and IM Renato Terry, Bortnyk managed to find his feet and establish himself as one of four serious contenders at the top of Saturday's Brawl standings.

Flanked by the likes of Naroditsky, as well as GMs Hans Niemann, Vladimir Fedoseev, and Salem Saleh, Bortnyk battled his way through the 150-strong titled field, missing no opportunity to convert in puzzle-like fashion against any opponent who erred.

For aspiring 3000+ rated bullet and blitz chess players, the next puzzle is an example of why all checks and captures should be considered and calculated.

For most of the event, though, Martinez possessed a healthy lead over Bortnyk. Not until the final 30 minutes did the Ukrainian streamer turn things around, winning a mammoth 28 games in a row to wrest the title from his Peruvian rival.

Two wins against the former European champion GM Matthias Bluebaum and one win against the FIDE World Rapid Championship runner-up Fedoseev were the highlights of the streak which Bortnyk joyfully commentated on his Twitch channel.

For the third week in a row Maltsevskaya, who goes by the handle "Sanyura" on Chess.com, won the best women's prize after scoring 35 wins during the two-hour arena. The Polish WGM's performance was a clinical exhibition of piece harmony, and this was on full display in her game against Hungarian FM Bendeguz Bodrogi.

With this latest victory, Bortnyk has solidified his bronze medal position on the all-time Bullet Brawl leaderboard and has won just over 10 percent of all editions since its inception at the start of 2023.

How to review games? The games from this week's Bullet Brawl can be found here.

Bullet Brawl is an exciting new titled arena that features Chess.com's top bullet specialists and takes place weekly on Saturdays. The format is a two-hour arena with a 1+0 time control; the prize fund is $1,000.

Much like Titled Tuesday and Arena Kings, Bullet Brawl often features top GMs, including Hikaru Nakamura, Daniel Naroditsky, Andrew Tang, Tuan Minh Le, and many more!

Previous coverage:

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Bullet Brawl April 14, 2024: Bortnyk Clutches Bullet Brawl With 28-Game Win Streak - Chess.com

FIDE100 torch relay celebrated in Canada – Chess News | ChessBase

FIDE press release

Despite the cold weather, a sizeable crowd of chess enthusiasts gathered in the center of the city for the unique chess event.

Against the urban backdrop, FIDE Deputy President and former World Champion, Vishy Anand, assumed the role of torchbearer, passing the flame to Vlad Drkulec, President of the Chess Federation of Canada. This symbolic exchange continued as the torch made its way to Jose Carillo Pujol, Continental President for the Americas, and FIDE Vice President Mario Ramirez Barajas, heralding the relay's next leg in Colombia.

Vishy Anand, who is doing the live chess commentary for the Candidates in Toronto, shared his views on the event in Toronto and what it means for him and chess that FIDE is celebrating its first centenary.

"We have had a warm welcome here in Toronto," Anand remarked. "A lot of coincidences 100 years of FIDE, first Candidates in North America and, we managed to do the torch relay which started in India. The experience has been amazing with the fans and the excitement at the venue".

Anand also shared thoughts on the future of the game. "Chess is in a very exciting phase. For the next five to ten years, I would like to see chess becoming more established everywhere. I'd mostly like to see more people from every continent participate, especially more women. "Chess is growing everywhere and that's why I think it's particularly relevant to have these ceremonies, as the torch represents that chess is spreading to every continent," Anand noted.

Accompanying Anand at the ceremony were luminaries of the chess world, including former Women's World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk, Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Deputy Chair of FIDE Management Board (who arrived directly from the United States following the opening of the World Chess Hall of Fame exhibition in St. Louis), Patrick Van Hoolandt, Deputy Chairman of the FIDE Advisory Board and FIDE Vice-Presiden Michael Khodorkovsky.

The festivities in Toronto extended beyond ceremonial gestures, featuring blitz games with fans and an exhibition dedicated to the history of the Candidates.

FIDE100 Chess Torch Relay aims to celebrate the rich history of the game and to bring together the entire chess community as part of marking the centenary of the founding of FIDE.

FIDE...

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FIDE100 torch relay celebrated in Canada - Chess News | ChessBase

Chess Cheating Scandal | Produces a double-edged offspring – Chess.com

Chess Cheating Scandal | Produces a double-edged offspring There has been a rumor spreading around the Chess Community about cheating. As we all know, cheating is a form or a behavior, having the intention of unfair advantage to a player or team. Same is through in cheating in Chess. Theres a deliberate violation to the imposed rules of the game.

Titled Tuesday or Cheating Tuesday?

Over the past few months, the 14th World Chess Champion, and Grand Master Vladimir Kramnik has been recently posting [a lot] on twitter about cheating. He is on a mission unravelling the truth as he smell something fishy about the recent games he had with GM Jos Martnez by investigating everything in excruciating details. Some proofs are noteworthy to take a look and review, while some are just crazy and wild.

Fighting for Fair Play and Anti-Cheating Policy

GM Kramnik is full on his spirit as he is fighting for the right, and for the greater goods of the Chess Community. Although the way he expresses his feelings on social media [twitter] seemed to be a little strong and with frustration, hes simply advocating for the fair play in Chess.

Background of the Accused

GM Jos Eduardo Martnez Alcntara, also known as Jose Martnez, is a Peruvian Chess Grand Master playing under the Mexican Federation. Born on January 31, 1999. On his Chess Career, he was awarded the title Grand Master by FIDE in 2018. His notable win was the U-18 World Championship in 2017 before representing Peru in the 2018 Chess Olympiad.

Titled Tuesday or Cheating Tuesday?

Kramnik said that he will not be playing with Martnez anymore. If their path crossed again, hed play one move and then resigns right away.

As the Title Tuesday once again commence, Vladimir Kramnik and Jos Martnez inevitably paired for a match. Vladimirk Kramnik, being the man of his words, resigned after move one as an act of protest on an official game. He then later received an e-mail from chess.com for committing a violation for resigning a game deliberately (sort of similar to win-trading but with a different cause).

Kramnik even left a statement on his video implying hes done playing chess against Martnez online. He is more inclined playing against him OTB [over the board].

Levy Rozmans take [Gothamchess] on Cheating Scandal

This issue also reached the most famous Chess streamer/content creator Gothamchess [Levy Rozman] as he shares his thought about this specific topic. (watch the link below)

Clash of Claims | A Double-edged Tournament?

The issue spawned a live chess event. Levy Rozman [Gothamchess] announces on his video that he has a direct participation, in organizing the very first live chess event with this kind of theme/type, along with David Martinez and Pepe Cuenca. The Clash of Claims is going to be held at Gran Via Casino, Madrid, Spain. A three-day tournament from June 07, 2024, up until June 09, 2024. Players will play 18-games of OTB game, and another 18-games of online game [still facing each other]. This could redefine the Chess Community; with players proving someones claim is wrong; possibly a more personal hatred-driven match, and somewhat unethical [in Chess World]. A double-edged kind of competition that could make or break the reputation of the players involved.

open ended question/s: What is your take on the Cheating Scandal and on the upcoming event?

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Chess Cheating Scandal | Produces a double-edged offspring - Chess.com

The Inspiring Chronicle of a Blind Champion – Chess.com

The stories of successful people with disabilities have always inspired people due to the individuals being able to pull off personal triumphs over their limitations and achieve high. From the likes of Stephen Hawking, and Helen Keller to Stevie Wonder, each of them broke past their limits and emerged victorious in their respective fields.

In the case of our beloved game chess, there have been many inspirational stories. And in this blog, you will be presented with one of those such stories, about Reginald Bonham, the founder of the International Braille Chess Association and a champion player despite his deteriorating eyesight and visual impairment. If this story doesn't make you an optimistic individual, what will?

Table of Contents

EARLY LIFE

Reginald Walter Bonham was born on January 31, 1906, in St. Neots, Huntingdonshire, Cambridgeshire, England, into a family renowned for its success in the butchery trade. His father, William R Bonham, married to Edith Mary Ann Bonham, was a master butcher. Reginald had three siblings, Howard, Maurice, and Ernest. However, a prevalent condition of declining eyesight was observed in his family.

The census of 1911 did not record any disability for Reginald. Like others in his family, Bonham was born with poor eyesight, which deteriorated further. At sixteen, his vision started to decline noticeably, and his attendance at the local schools was cut short. Therefore, he was unable to attend a mainstream school and attended the Royal Worcester College for the Blind (now known as New College Worcester) between the years 1922-25.

It was during his time at Worcester that he cultivated a keen interest in rowing and chess, which he learned in 1922.

CHESS PARTICIPATION AND TEACHING CAREER

In 1926, Reginald attended Saint Catherine's College at Oxford University, where he participated in rowing for the St. Catherine's Eight team and advanced to the final trials for the Varsity crew. In 1929, he won the Oxford Sighted Chess Championship and was eventually the University Chess Champion.

The same year after becoming the Oxford University Chess Champion, he returned to Worcester, but this time as a teacher of Braille and mathematics. Aside from his pursuits in chess and rowing, he also engaged in amateur dramatics and bridge. Chess, however, was his area of expertise. He could play against 20 opponents without relying on tactile or Braille sets and established dominance in blindfold chess. Reginald effortlessly recalled moves in correspondence games mentally.

Reginald Bonham, affectionately known as 'Bon' among his students, instructed every young male at the Worcester College of the Blind in chess. The college boasted four teams in the local league, as every pupil learned how to play the game. Thanks to Bonham's guidance, the school teams achieved top rankings in the league multiple times.

In 1931, he won the Hastings Reserve Tournament. Reginald continued to teach at Worcester College and was recorded as a Mathematics instructor in the 1939 census until he entered the national chess scene in the late 1940s. He was married to Josephine Bonham and was later an ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Warden and a St. John Ambulance volunteer for the College.

CHESS AS A FULL-TIME PROFESSION

Bonham had a formidable presence in the Worcestershire chess scene, securing the championship title an impressive 20 times. In 1934, he established the Braille Chess Magazine, which he authored and edited for 25 years (until the late 1950s), giving birth to the Braille chess system. Additionally, he played a crucial role as a founding member of the International Braille Chess Association in 1951 and was its president for 23 years.

Braille Chess

Braille chess follows the same fundamental rules of traditional chess but brings along certain adaptations for the visually impaired. The board features raised black squares to differentiate them from the white squares. Each square includes a central indentation to secure the pieces, minimizing the risk of displacement during play. Moreover, to enhance the distinction between black and white pieces, small pins are put on the heads of the black pieces. Players must verbally announce their moves upon executing them.

Post-War Chess Participation

He participated in international events after the war when few British players ventured into Europe. During the Great Britain-Czechoslovakia match in 1947, Bonham faced Czech master Ladislav Alster two times, drawing one of the games but playing handsomely in the other one.

This was seriously a perfect game for our protagonist, a flawless performance indeed. Reginald Bonham executed every move with precision and strategy. All he needed was the slightest of aids from his pieces which marked the collapse of Black's queenside pawns. This is a testament to Bonham's skill that he could produce absolute masterpieces like this despite his worsening eyesight.

'Bon' was not your regular everyday chess enthusiast, holding his own against nationally renowned sighted players. He claimed the Midlands Champion title thrice and secured victory in the Birmingham Post Cup (reserved for title holders in the West Midlands) on two occasions. Moreover, he participated in the British Chess Federation championships five times, achieving his highest score of 5 points.

Living an Author's Life

Together with RD Wormald, a fellow player from Worcester, Reginald Bonham authored two concise, short yet valuable books aimed at enhancing the skill of the reader: Chess Questions Answered" (1945) and "More Chess Questions Answered" (1948), both published by Jordan and Sons in London.

1950s and 1960s: DECADES TO REMEMBER

During the post-war era's initial stages, after establishing the International Braille Chess Association (IBCA), Reginald Bonham took up correspondence chess. He founded the first correspondence chess tournament for the blind in 1951. Before doing so, he was already a three-time British Correspondence Chess Champion (1943, 1947 and 1951).

In 1956, Bonham won the first English Blind Chess Championship. In 1958, Bonham achieved first position in the Inaugural Braille Chess Championship and was now the World Blind Chess Champion, but not before having up-to-the-mark performances in the 1953 and 1955 British Chess Championships.

In 1957-58, the first World Blind Correspondence Championship began. It was eventually won by our protagonist and founder of the prestigious event, Reginald Bonham, who emerged victorious despite facing strong opposition from players in Eastern Europe. He won the event again in 1959, 1961, 1964 (jointly) and 1966 (a total of six times).

The precursor to the Blind Chess Olympiads was a tournament held in Rheinbreitbach, Germany, in 1958. The champion of this tournament was Reginald Bonham, the founder of IBCA. The initial Chess Olympiad for the Blind happened alongside the second IBCA Congress, organized by the West German Chess Association for the Blind, marking the latter's tenth anniversary.

Eight teams of four competitors took part, with Yugoslavia emerging as the winner after a total of 122 games. This event, the largest gathering yet in chess history for the visually impaired, concluded with a celebration that included musical performances. Reginald Bonham was one of the participants as well as one of the most respected individuals on this occasion.

In 1964, the organization of the International Braille Chess Association would be affiliated with FIDE, the governing body overseeing national and international chess organizations globally.

THE LEGACY OF A LEGEND

During the closing ceremony of the 4th Chess Olympiad for the Blind in Pula, Yugoslavia (April 6-18), the International Braille Chess Association bestowed R.W. Bonham with the title of Correspondence Grandmaster of the Blind, in recognition of his achievement of winning the Postal Championship on more than three occasions.

Reginald Walter Bonham died on March 16, 1984, at the age of 78, in Worcester, where he had dedicated many years as a Master at the Royal Worcester College for the Blind. Bonham was a great man with a brilliant mind and a great teacher. Many blind and sighted chess players esteemed him for his chess achievements and his teaching dedication.

Numerous seasoned and veteran players will recall how Bonham methodically handled and contemplated over his unique board before announcing his move and inspecting his clock, with its markers outside the glass face. Apart from his contributions to chess for the blind and teaching methods, he is also remembered for his generosity, enthusiasm, energy, and great passion. Even today, passion appears to be a continuing source of inspiration for players.

Bonham was awarded an MBE for his services to the blind, especially in chess. Bonham has been one of the most famous blind chess players of all time, and to me, one of the greatest as well. One of his students, Peter White, described Bon in his autobiographySee It My Way.

CONCLUSION

Reginald Bonham is one of the most inspirational characters in chess history, and it was my honor to present his story before the chess community. Bonham continues to inspire the present generation of blind and physically disabled chess players, a legend indeed.

This will be the end of this blog, thanks a lot for reading. If you find any loopholes in the blog, for example, regarding information or anything else, feel free to comment in the comments section.

Here are the sources used for writing the blog: British Chess News, Wikipedia, Reading Eagle, A short biography on Reginald Bonham by Ray Collett, and OlimpBase.

Once again, thanks a lot for reading this blog. And to let you all know, I am also pulling a @Nimzo-IndianaJones (if you don't know what I am talking about, read @Nimzo-IndianaJones's latest blog), no cap.

Regards,

@AstroTheoretical_Physics

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The Inspiring Chronicle of a Blind Champion - Chess.com