Kosteniuk Writes Chess History

For the first time in Switzerland’s 113-year chess history, a woman has been able to win both the women’s and men’s national chess titles. Chess Queen™ Alexandra Kosteniuk has conquered the top step on both podiums last week in Grächen, Switzerland. Thanks to her dual Swiss-Russian citizenship, Alexandra Kosteniuk has been invited to fight for the National Swiss Championship for the 5th year in a row. The last 4 years she was close to the top but not quite first, the winners last years have been Grandmasters Viktor Kortchnoi (2009 and 2011), Yannick Pelletier (2010), and Joe Gallagher (2012). This year’s Swiss championship took place...

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India Wins World U-16 Chess

India regained the team title in World Youth (Under-16) Chess Olympiad after a gap of five years with a resounding victory over Iran in the final round in Chongqing, China on Monday. The Indian quartet of S A Gagare, Murali Karthikeyan, Diptayan Ghosh and Sayantan Das beat Iran 3.5-0.5 in the 10th round to top the team standings with 30.5 points ahead of heavyweight Russia, who took second spot with 30 points, and Turkey (third with 26 points).  The Indian team won eight ties while drawing twice. This is India`s third title in this prestigious team event having won it previously in Singapore 2007 and Turkey 2008. International Master...

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Help Slovenia WIM Vesna Rožič

Appeal: 19.7.2013 (via Chessbase) - Vesna Rožic , 27, has played for her country in six Mitropa Cups, four European Championships and four Chess Olympiads. She is the second strongest Slovenian player, after world number four Anna Muzychuk. Now she has been struck by a very serious condition, metastatic peritoneal cancer. Always a fighter Vesna is determined not to give up but to combat the disease. For this she needs our help.  Chessbase received this letter from Rožič's father:Dear Sir,I turn to you with a request for a donation for the cancer treatment of my 26-year-old daughter Vesna Rožič. Vesna is a final year student...

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