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In a dramatic four-game, rapid chess showdown, World Champion Magnus Carlsen beat challenger Sergey Karjakin 3-1 to win the Match and retain his title. The encounter had many heart-stopping moments particularly in Game 2 when Carlsen had not only a winning position but actually a forced mate. Remarkably, with just seconds remaining on his clock, Karjakin squeezed blood out of stone and escaped with a draw. Unphased, Carlsen came back to win the next two games and ice the match with the final score of 9-7.
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Continue reading "Carlsen Wins!" »
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New York is known as the city that doesn't sleep and that's true for the chess activity here as well. There is always chess-related stuff to be had seven days a week. One of this evening's chessic offerings was a lecture given by GM Georgi Kacheishvili at the Marshall Chess Club on some of the games from the World Chess Championship Match. GM Kacheishvili spoke primarily about Games 9 through 11 with some specific observations, general considerations, and even a prediction about the result of the Match.
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Continue reading "GM Georgi Kacheishvili Lectures on WCC Games at Marshall Chess Club" »
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Mark Evgenievich Taimanov, former Soviet Grandmaster and concert pianist, passed away on Monday, November 28th in St. Petersburg, Russia at the age of 90. In 1953, he participated in the Zurich International Tournament in which he finished ninth in front of Averbakh, Boleslavsky, Szabo, Gligoric, Euwe, and Stahlberg. In 1971, he qualified for the Candidates Tournament during which he suffered a career-defining loss at the hands of the future American World Champion Bobby Fischer. After his match with Fischer, Taimanov famously said, "At least I still have my music." In contrast to the current World Champion, Magnus Carlsen, who considers chess primarily as a sport, Taimanov approached the game as an art and played "as an artist."
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Continue reading "In Memory of Mark Taimanov (1926-2016)" »
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One of the quickest World Chess Championship games in history, Game 12 of the 2016 Match was drawn in thirty moves with both players having more time on their clocks than they started with due to the thirty-second increment. Although the result was not so surprising, the rapidity at which the players were banging out their moves and the pace of the impending sterile position did catch us off guard. The Match moves into the final day--Wednesday, November 30th, Magnus Carlsen's twenty-sixth birthday--and the tie breaks.
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Continue reading "WCC R12: Game 12 Drawn in 30 Minutes; The Match Goes to Tie Breaks" »
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We all have our rituals and preferred activities for the rest day. Carlsen said he enjoys getting a massage and going for a walk. Karjakin mentioned that he wanted to take a helicopter tour of the City. For our part, we thought it might be fun to take an illustrated walking chess tour of Manhattan.
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Continue reading "WCC Rest Day: A Walking Chess Tour of Manhattan" »
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Game 11 of the World Chess Championship was drawn before the first time control at move thirty-four. Another 1.e4 Ruy Lopez, this one got interesting when Carlsen essayed 19...d5 and sent Karjakin into a nearly twenty-eight minute think. A pair of bishops and rooks were quickly traded and Black was able to shepherd a pawn to e7. Just after Carlsen cleared the e8 square for his pawn, Karjakin played 34.Qe4+ with a perpetual and the players shook hands on the draw. The final classical game of the match will be played on Monday, November 28th with Carlsen controlling the White pieces.
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Continue reading "WCC R11: Game 11 Drawn; Match Tied at 5.5 with One Game Remaining in Regulation" »
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Magnus Carlsen won Game 10 and has tied the World Championship Match at 5 points apiece. The Match goes into its final two regulation games with the possibility of tie breaks looming on the horizon. From here on in there will be a change in the schedule, namely the players will enjoy a rest day tomorrow and after each of the remaining games. Tie breaks, if necessary, will happen on Wednesday, November 30th.
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Continue reading "WCC R10: Carlsen Wins Make-or-Break Game" »
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Today the players went seventy-four moves before calling it a draw. The position was very dangerous for Carlsen just before the time control but the Champion was able to save the game and go into the final three games trailing by a point. Carlsen will have to pull himself together and play his best chess to keep the title. Game 10 is scheduled for Thanksgiving Day.
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Continue reading "WCC R9: Game 9 Drawn" »
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After seven straight draws, Sergey Karjakin was able to win Game 8 in the World Chess Championship and take a 4.5-3.5 lead in the match with four games to go. In a game that Carlsen's manager called "an emotional roller coaster" both players made game-changing errors in time trouble just before the 40-move time control.
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Continue reading "WCC R8: Karjakin Wins Game 8" »
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Game 7 ended in a thirty-three move draw. Based on his play and his comments as after press conference six it seemed that Carlsen was playing for a draw to get the White pieces in Game 8 after two consecutive Blacks. Carlsen dropped a pawn on move 22, after which only two results were possible, and held on for the draw. The Match goes into the last five games with Carlsen having the first move in tomorrow's game.
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Continue reading "WCC R7: It's a Five Game Match" »
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Holbrook Middle School in Holden, Maine is looking for a chess instructor to guide their chess club and team. The position provides a reasonable stipend. Interested chess coaches should contact Richard Modery at rmodery@rsu63.org
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Continue reading "Holbrook School Seeking Chess Instructor" »
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Thirty-eight players turned out to honor the memory of former University of Maine professor and Maine State Chess Champion International Master Danny Kopec on Saturday, November 19, 2016 in the Bangor Room at the University of Maine Orono Memorial Union. Winners were: Sergio Mejia (Open), Stevie Baston (U2000), and Anthony Freudig (U1550). Here is the illustrated tournament report with USCF crosstables. We would welcome the submission of any games from this event to post on our games link.
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Continue reading "IM Danny Kopec Memorial Tournament Report" »
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After six game in the World Chess Championship Match the score is equal at 3.0 points apiece. Today's game was the quickest of the match at around an hour and a half and thirty-two moves. Tomorrow is a rest day and when the Match continues with Game 7 on Sunday, Carlsen will again have the Black pieces as he did in Game 6. When asked what the players will do on the rest day Karjakin said, "Maybe I will take helicopter!" to which Magnus replied, "I am not going to go in a helicopter, that scares me."
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Continue reading "WCC R6: Match Tied 3-3 at Halfway Point" »
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Carlsen, playing the White pieces in Game 5, opened with the Giuoco Piano an ancient opening first played in the early 16th century. The last time it was played in a World Chess Championship Match was in 1981 during the Karpov-Korchnoi Match. Karjakin was much better at some point and after the game Carlsen said he was lucky to get the draw. It was Karjakin's best game of the match--to procure winning chances after the previous two games, in which he was clearly worse, is a sure sign of his resilience and a harbinger of a great match to come. In the next two games Carlsen will have Black. Game 6 will happen tomorrow, Friday, November 17th.
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Continue reading "WCC R5: Fifth Game Fifth Draw; Karjakin Nearly Converts a Win" »
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The game started, as did Game 2 when Karjakin had the White pieces, with 1.e4 and a Ruy Lopez. The challenger played what he thought was a brilliant move with 18.Bxh6 but after 18...Qc6 Karjakin thought, 'What have I done?' By move 40 there were only two results possible according to GM commentator Judit Polgar: Black wins or the game is drawn. Carlsen pushed the computer evaluation up to a full -2.00 but winning a won position is one of the most difficult tasks in chess. Karjakin again showed his Karpov-like defensive mettle by establishing a fortress and holding on like grim death. Carlsen's King went on a walk to a2 and then to g4 without being able to penetrate White's position. On move 94 the players agreed to a draw. The match is tied at 2.0. Tomorrow is a rest day. Game 5 is scheduled for Thursday.
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Continue reading "WCC R4: Epic 94-Move Draw" »
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The third game in the World Chess Championship match ended in a draw after a back-and-forth battle that looked drawn until Black's 30th and 31st moves Ra2 and c5. Commenters thought these moves were too optimistic and the beginning of Black's problems. When 64...Be7 appeared many observers thought Black was losing. Karjakin then showed why he is the challenger playing 67...Rxh3 and allowing the capture of his Bishop. This led to Carlsen losing his important f-pawn and after making two less-than-perfect Rook moves the evaluation dropped to 0.00. Six moves later the players shook hands and agreed to a draw after nearly seven hours of chess.
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Continue reading "WCC R3: Roller Coaster Games Ends in Draw" »
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You must see this film! Local independent filmmaker Veronica Young chronicles the 2012-2013 season of the most successful scholastic chess program in Maine state history--the Deer Isle-Stonington Mariners. Granted exclusive access to all aspects of the team, Young presents a touching and intimate inside look at the players, parents, coaches, boosters, tournaments, and events that shaped the story of Mariners chess and their legendary coach Dick Powell. A poignant view into the heart and soul of what it means to be a scholastic chess player, this film brought me through a surprising spectrum of emotions. Two enthusiastic thumbs up.
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Continue reading "Film Screening: Chess Champs: An Island's Pride" »
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Established by ChessMaine.net and funded by a generous anonymous donor, the George Cunningham Brilliancy Prize was created to remember and honor one of the most influential figures in Maine chess history and to recognize games played in the state that evoke a certain harmony and aesthetic. The winner of the Prize for the three-month period August - October, 2016 is Roger Morin for his game vs Will Ravn at the National Chess Day Tournament played on October 8th in Brewer. For his efforts Roger will receive a $100 check. Congratulations Roger!
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Continue reading "Roger Morin Wins George Cunningham Brilliancy Prize" »
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That's how challenger Sergey Karjakin described game 2 in the World Chess Championship. The game started as a Ruy Lopez and followed well-trodden main lines until the game entered unchartered territory on Black's 12th move with Re8. Carlsen had an easy time liquidating to an even endgame and at times looked bored with the position. In a match of this nature, draws are very common during the first few games as both players feel each other out and are mostly unwilling to tip their preparation hand too early. The Match is tied at 1 point apiece. Sunday is a rest day. Game 3 will take place on Monday, November 14th.
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Continue reading "WCC R2: A "Completely Normal" Draw" »
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Magnus Carlsen surprised his opponent by playing the Trompowsky (1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5) in the first game of the World Chess Championship and got a lead on the clock as Karjakin had to step carefully in a well-prepared line. After exchanging bishop for knight and doubling Black's pawns on the f-file, White had some advantage throughout the middle game but Karjakin kept his cool and steered the game into safe waters. In the post-game press conference, both players mentioned that they heard crowd noises during the game and at one point during the game Carlsen looked up from the board suddenly and gazed out into the audience.
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Continue reading "WCC R1: An Exciting Trompowsky Ends in a Draw" »
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Thanks to an exclusive partnership with Agon Limited, the organizers of the World Chess Championship, ChessMaine.net is able to bring you free access to the games of the Match and a 10% discount on the Full Access Package including: 360 Video, Virtual Reality, Multi-Camera View, and Live GM Commentary. To take advantage of this offer use Promo Code PAWNE5 at checkout. We hope you enjoy following the games on ChessMaine.net.
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Continue reading "ChessMaine to Broadcast World Championship Games" »
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