Viswanathan Anand starts off in style at London Chess Classic 2013

London: Indian ace Viswanathan Anand put the disappointing loss in the World Championship behind him and started his campaign in style by beating local Luke McShane in the first 'A' group game of the London Chess Classic that got underway here.

Anand's victory came after some precise calculation and deft manoeuvres on his 44th birthday, leaving McShane gasping from a point where he thought he had a chance.

The five-time world champion Indian thus started with three points under the Soccer scoring system in place here that gives a three points for a win and one for a draw.

Viswanathan Anand put the disappointing loss in the World Championship behind him and started his campaign in style by beating Luke McShane.

Anand was not the only one to start with full points as Michael Adams of England matched him on points at the expense of Andrei Istratescu of France in the same group.

With 16 players taking part this year, the Classic is divided in to four groups and the top two from each group will reach the knockout stage after a double round robin.

Anand heads the 'A' group on three points after the first round sharing the lead with Adams while McShane and Istratescu are yet to open their account.

Russian Vladimir Kramnik was lucky to score over compatriot Peter Svidler from a seemingly drawn endgame while wild card entrant Jonathan Rowson of England scored over country-mate Matthew Sadler from a similar situation in the 'B' group.

The 'C' group saw local hopeful Gawain Jones holding Hikaru Nakamura of United States to a draw while former world championship challenger Boris Gelfand of Israel got the better of highest rated woman Judit Polgar of Hungary.

In the 'D' group, English duo of Nigel Short and his former protege David Howell played out a draw while rating favourite Fabiano Caruana of Italy shot in to lead defeating Emil Sutovsky of Israel.

Anand played Michael Adams of England in the second round of his group and drew. -- PTI

McShane, L. (2684) - Anand, V. (2773)

Result: 0-1

Site: London ENG

Date: 2013.12.11

[...] 1.e4 c6 2.♘f3 d5 3.♘c3 ♗g4 4.h3 ♗xf3 5.♕xf3 e6 6.♗e2 ♘f6 7.O-O ♗b4 8.e5 ♘fd7 9.♕g4 ♗f8 10.d4 c5 11.♗g5 ♕b6 12.dxc5 ♕xc5 13.♗e3 h5 14.♕g3 d4 15.♘e4 h4 16.♕f3 ♕d5 17.c4 ♕xe5 18.♗f4 ♕f5 19.♗d3 ♕h5 20.♘f6+ gxf6 21.♕xb7 ♘e5 22.♕xa8 ♗d6 23.c5 ♘f3+ 24.♕xf3 ♕xf3 25.gxf3 ♗xf4 26.b4 ♘c6 27.♗b5 ♔d7 28.♖fd1 e5 29.a3 f5 30.♔f1 ♔c7 31.♔e2 e4 32.fxe4 fxe4 33.♗xc6 d3+ 34.♔f1 ♔xc6 35.♔g2 ♔d5 36.♖g1 ♗e5 37.♖ad1 ♖g8+ 38.♔f1 ♖xg1+ 39.♔xg1 f5 40.♔g2 ♔d4 41.c6 f4 42.b5 ♗c7 43.♖b1 d2 44.♔f1 ♔d3 45.a4 e3 46.fxe3 fxe3

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Pro-Celeb Chess Event at London Chess Classic 2013

London Chess Classic Pro-Celebrity Challenge will feature Grandmasters Viswanathan Anand, Peter Svidler and Michael Adams, teamed up with three celebrities: 

The Pro-Celebrity Challenge

The Pro-Celebrity Challenge will see stars of TV, music and sport team up with the Grandmasters and face off against another pro-celebrity team.

Games will be played with 10 minutes and 10 seconds on the clock and broadcast live. Lawrence Trent and Malcolm Pein will officiate. Each winning team receive £5000 for their favourite charity.

- Alex Zane has opted for Community Links
- Shingai Shoniwa has asked for her prize to go to the Philippines appeal
- Edgar Davids has his own foundation @Fountain

Edgar Davids: Dutch footballing legend whose club career took him to Ajax, Juventus and Spurs, and included 74 international caps for Holland. His dreadlocked hair and protective goggles made Davids one of the most recognisable players of his generation.

Alex Zane: Alex is an English television personality and DJ best known for presenting Rube Tube on Channel 4. Alex was a guest at the 2010 London Chess Classic.

Shingai Shoniwa: Singer and bassist for the Noisettes, an English indie rock band from London who are best known for the single “Don't Upset the Rhythm (Go Baby Go)”.

Pairings
Shingai Shoniwa & Peter Svidler | Edgar Davids & Michael Adams | Alex Zane & Vishy Anand | TBC & Hikaru Nakamura

Lots of chess events happening at the London Chess Classic 2013: Check out their website.

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Chess can take Kids off Social Media Madness: Boris Gelfand

Chess could help Indian parents heave a sigh of relief about their children being hooked to social media. Grandmaster Boris Gelfand, World Chess Championship Challenger 2012, has said he believes chess is the solution to many of the technology fixated modern generation.

“The ability to concentrate, focus, think ahead, respect rules and devote yourself to one thing and think deeply — these are all things which are missing in society but which chess has in abundance,” says Boris Gelfand. He was speaking to The JC.com.

According to the 2012 World Chess Championship Challenger, Jews have historically excelled at the game because it was firmly embedded in the life and traditions of the communities of Eastern Europe. He himself is from Belarus. Jewish children played the game as part of an essential element of their intellectual development.

Far from being elitist, he argues chess is the people’s game. “It is low cost. Even if you are poor, you can play without expensive equipment. Gelfand is visiting the UK this weekend to take part in the London Chess Classic tournament. He is also here to promote the Charity Chess in Schools and Communities, which aims to get more primary school pupils playing the game.

He said: “I have met many successful people from different professions — scientists, lawyers, business people. They all say that the values that they learned playing chess as children helped them to achieve in later life.”

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World Chess Champion Carlsen Simul in LA: You Can be Lucky to Play

The chance of a lifetime: World Chess Champion and World`s Number 1 chess player, Magnus Carlsen, will hold a simultaneous exhibition hosted by Nordic Semiconductor during the CES 2014, where Carlsen plays multiple games at a time with 20 other players.




A Nordic Semiconductor press release states, "We invite you to participate in this competition where you have the chance in your lifetime to be one of the lucky twenty that will play one of the most brilliant brains living today. Along with the honor of playing the number 1 chess player in the world, you will be rewarded with a signed chess board among other prizes."

The skills required are not higher than just another hobby player. To participate answer a few simple questions and solve an easy chess puzzle. The lucky winners will be noticed well in advance. Closing date for entry is December 19, 2013, 12:00:00 PST.

The Chess Tournament will take place:Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall Connector, Room S228Thursday January 9, 3-6PM

Enter the chess simul entry contest at the Nordic Semi website.

* Carlsen's sponsors Nordic Semiconductor (Link from our Anand - Carlsen World Chess Championship 2013 coverage website) 

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Real Madrid Wows World Chess Champion with Birthday Gift

Magnus Carlsen took ​​the honorary kick off for the Real Madrid-Valladolid match (The Norwegian, who became world chess champion on 22nd November, turns 23 on Saturday, December 30, and received a shirt and watch as a gift from President Florentino Pérez). The World Chess Champion was personally invited by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.

Magnus Carlsen is known as a Whites fan, took the honorary kick-off in the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Valladolid. The Norwegian, who is the second youngest champion in the chess history after Kasparov, received an ovation from the Bernabéu after winning the title by beating Viswanathan Anand, also a Real Madrid supporter, in Chennai (India). 

Prior to the match, Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez gave him a shirt with his name on and an inscribed watch for his 23rd birthday. -- Courtesy Real Madrid official website (Lots of other photos by Ángel Martínez on this link)

The World Chess Champion wore a Real Madrid shirt with 'Magnus' printed on the back. The home team won the match 4-0 with three goals by Gareth Bale.

"It was super cool, it was great for a football fan," said Carlsen to the Norwegian newspaper VG in the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, late Saturday night. "I had planned to stay home and relax, but this was something I could not say no to."

* Carlsen's first love makes him upset, to throw Mesut Ozil jersey into fireplace 

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3-Second Chess Knights Tour Challenge: Beat Kosteniuk, Win Prizes

Try this chess challenge from the 12th Women's World Chess Champion, Chess Queen™ Alexandra Kosteniuk herself. 

Writing on her blog www.chessqueen.com, GM Kosteniuk says, "I was teaching my daughter how to train moving the chess knight across the board as fast as possible, and she asked me to show how to do it fast. I recorded a short video about how I can do it in about 3 seconds (with slow motion). If there is anybody out there who can do it faster, I’m glad to announce that Chess King has offered several prizes to anybody who can do it faster than me. So practice your knight’s moves and speed, and send me by email the result (video or link to video), and you may win a prize! Good luck!"

Come on India, we are sure some talented Indian chess players can crack the 3-second limit for the chess knight's tour of the chess board! 

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Pak TV Star Fawad Khan plays Chess on Numm! (Wish him Happy Birthday)

For all chess lovers who are also part of the huge fan following of Fawad Khan - the Pakistani TV heart-throb, episode 14 of Numm was a delight. Wali Bakht Khan (played by Fawad Khan) plays chess with Badey Sahab (Usman Peerzada). And, it was not one of those five-second fleeting scenes, but one for several minutes with the chess motif used creatively and so aptly. (All alert readers must note, this was real chess with the board set up correctly.) 

In the scene, Wali beats Badey Sahab in the game, quite a signal that he is going to beat the feudal lord and the restrictive traditions of the region. In fact, Wali has already shown that by resolving the sugar mill dispute he is "playing things" his way... playing to win. 

Fawad Khan excels in his portrayals of a range of characters. He has brought special charisma and glamour to the Pakistan television industry. As Fawad Khan has developed as an actor, his hard work and dedication has become obvious for all to see. It is both inspiring and infectious. 

By the way don't forget to wish Fawad Khan a very happy birthday today, November 29 on the official Facebook Page of Numm. You can also watch the previous episode there.

Fawad Afzal Khan rose to prominence playing the role of Hassan in 2010 serial Dastaan for which he won Pakistan Media Award for Best Actor. Since then he has starred in a number of Pakistani serials, notably Akbari Asghari, Kuch Pyar Ka Pagalpan, Humsafar for which he won Lux Style Awards for Best Actor in 2013, Ashk, Zindagi Gulzar Hai and Numm. 

Khan made his film debut in 2007 with Shoaib Mansoor's Khuda Kay Liye which was the highest-grossing Pakistani film of 2007. Khan went on to win the Lux Style Award for Best Actor. In 2013 Khan appeared in Abdullah Kadwani's Armaan, which earned him Tarang Housefull Award for Best On screen Couple with Aamina Sheikh.

Khan was first known for being the lead singer of Pakistani rock band Entity Paradigm, but the band split up due to life commitments. His songs "Shor Macha" and "Rahguzar" did well in the charts, and was considered a critical and commercial success.

Numm (Urdu: نم‎) is 2013 Pakistani drama serial that portrays social issues. It is Directed by Ahson Talish, produced by Amjad Hashmi and written by Myra Sajid.

The show tells the story of strict customs and rituals of feudal and its impact. The plot revolves around three people Fawad, Sania and Kanza, which shows the effect of unwise traditions and old customs on this triangle relationship. Numm was on-aired on August 24, 2013 worldwide by Geo TV. Before releasing Numm teaser trailers were leaving very deep impact on people, the serial become the most watched serial due to his highly and acclaimed TV starlets cast. Ahson Talish also acted in small scenes as a male protagonist (Fawad Khan) father. The theme song of the drama is also gaining huge popularity among fans and viewers. Currently it is one of the highly rated and most watched serials on Pak television. 

Fawad Khan will be seen in a lead role opposite Sonam Kapoor in the Hindi re-make of 1980s Hrishikesh Mukherjee film Khubsoorat. The film tells the breezy tale of an extrovert – a feisty girl (played by Sonam) who brings about changes in the regimented atmosphere of a household controlled firmly by its overbearing matriarch, according to apunkachoice.com.

While Sonam plays the motor-mouth, Fawad will expectedly play the bachelor who falls for her. We cannot wait to see the on-screen chemistry between these absolutely gorgeous people! Rumour has it that Alia Bhatt was chosen to play the female lead but has now been replaced by Sonam, according to Oye! Times.

The shooting of Khubsoorat has already begun in Rajasthan. The film is being directed by Shashanka Ghosh and produced by Sonam’s father Anil Kapoor. -- Zainab Raza Undulusi

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