Chess Notes

“I’ve always found the World Open a bit odd. Multiple schedules, re-entries allowed and so forth. So what to make of Hikaru Nakamura’s tournament? Turns up one day, plays five G/45 minute games to get in contention, plays two proper games the following day (quick draw and a win), then takes two half-point byes in the final two rounds to share first place and is already flying to Donostia before the tournament ends. I guess my main reaction is ‘What kind of tournament is this?’ ’’

The answer is that this is the monster Swiss system in this country, more the rule than the exception for notable tournaments. It attracts players from all over the earth. It accommodates locals and others for short weekends and those who would like ample time to think on their clock for the three-day jaunt.

Some have said the short weekenders are less talented and that until the two groups merge, the G/45 grandmasters have the edge. Still, the arrangement is convenient for many players and is a permanent fixture in American chess.

The World Open, held in Philadelphia over the July Fourth weekend, was won by Evgeny Najer (7 points), a Russian grandmaster, by defeating Jaan Ehlvest, now of New York, in the last round. Gata Kamsky fell a half-point short with four others. Up to this point he was the top-rated US player, having 26 US rating points over Nakamura, but he is being crowded for top-rated player by Nakamura. Continental Chess, which runs the World Open, requires a tiebreaker at accelerated time controls to determine a single winner, but with Nakamura gone, Najer simply held the title. Najer had lost to Nakamura in the 7th round.

In any event, to pick up Nakamura’s trail, his first opponent in the San Sebastian tourney was former world champion Anatoly Karpov, who plays rarely in major tournaments these days. Nakamura won a bruising 65-move game against Karpov, who had the Black pieces. Nakamura had previously defeated Karpov in the Cap D’Agde tournament in 2008 (which Nakamura won).

Meanwhile, Karpov’s ancient foe, former world champion Garry Kasparov was in a way playing chess by meeting with President Obama following the president’s negotiation with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Kasparov said he was happy with his meeting. In his new political role, Kasparov can use the patience learned in chess, as he has perhaps a decade or two of wait before he can seriously contend for office in Russia.

Brevity: Spraggett v. Smyslov, 1985 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 a5 5.Nc3 0--0 6.e3 d6 7.Qc2 Nbd7 8.Bd3 e5 9.0--0 Re8 10.e4 exd4 11.Nxd4 c6 12.Rae1 Ne5 13.h3 Bc5 14.Be3(?) Bxh3 (0-1) (as 15.gxh3 Bxd4 16.Bxd4 Nf3+ 17.Kg2 Nxd4 wins a pawn. He could have played on but Spraggett chose to resign against the great Smyslov.)

Coming events: July 24-26 or 25-26, 14th Annual Bradley Open, www.chesstour.com/brad09.htm; July 24: Waltham Summer Sizzler G/60, Waltham Chess Club, www.walthamchessclub.org; July 25, Boylston CC, Holland Ave. Octads, www.boylstonchessclub.org; July 26, 37th Chelmsford Burger King (Scholastic) Chess Tournament, matthewgosselin@comcast.net; July 26, BCC Scholastic Cash Quads, www.boylstonchessclub.org