Saturday, September 20, 2008
Check mate! Chess thrives in Idaho grade schools
The elementary school at the edge of this rural town has a playground that boasts little more than a swing set. That's no problem — the hot new game is inside.
Chess, once used as a way to teach war strategy, is now being taught to second- and third-graders across Idaho once a week as part of a plan to make students better at subjects like math and reading.
"At first I thought, 'You've got to be kidding,'" said Penny Lattimer, a Council Elementary School teacher. "We already have so much stuff to teach."
Lattimer didn't know how to play chess until last year, when she and a dozen other Idaho teachers were trained as part of a pilot program to bring chess into public schools.
The state Department of Education has now invested $120,000 into the project, which was tested in 100 schools last year and expanded this fall to 100 more.
Jerry Nash, scholastic director for the United States Chess Federation, said he has worked with public schools nationwide to develop chess programs, but Idaho is the first state to encourage public schools statewide to use the game as part of their curricula in second- and third-grades.
While the federation estimates 500,000 students nationwide in grades K-12 are being taught some aspect of the game through chess clubs, programs, or in the classroom, chess proponents such as Nash consider Idaho a trailblazer for introducing the game on such a large scale.
"What we're hoping is that it will be a great introduction," Nash said. "The more teachers that we have involved, obviously the greater impact we'll make."
Earlier this week at Council Elementary, third-grader Kristen Kruger, 8, played chess across the room from her brother, Tyler, a 9-year-old in the fourth grade. Kruger said the two often challenge one another.
"He's beat me like a hundred times," she said. "I won him once."
Lattimer points out one of her students who she said struggles with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. "In the classroom, he cannot sit still," Lattimer said, "but he sits still for this."
Council Elementary embraced the chance to become one of the first to try the program last year, when the state paid for it. This year, those same schools had to pay $340 per classroom to keep it.
The cash-strapped elementary school has scaled back on teaching aides just to make ends meet, but Principal Bonnie Thompson said it was able to find enough money to keep the program going.
Council doesn't stray far from tradition, she said, but the game has brought a new dimension to life in this former timber town where its 800 people struggle to survive the economic downturns of the logging industry.
"They just don't have that much exposure to culture here," Thompson said. "They do what they've always done in Council. They play football and they go to the park. I've never heard them talk about chess."
The program being taught in Idaho public schools — called First Move — was developed by the America's Foundation for Chess, and was first tested in Seattle-area schools, said foundation Vice President Wendi Fischer.
First Move is now taught in 26 states, with Idaho public schools Superintendent Tom Luna the first to adopt it on such a large scale.
The game can help students develop critical thinking skills that make them better at math, reading and writing, Fischer said. For example, students who become familiar with the vertical and horizontal lines of a chess board and how they are numbered also learn the fundamentals of how maps, graphs and how X and Y coordinates work.
"That's pre-algebra," Fischer said.
Idaho was second only to Utah in the lowest school district spending per student in 2006, according to a 2008 U.S. Census Bureau report based on the most recent data available. The report says Idaho spent about $6,440 per pupil in 2006, compared to the national average of $9,138 per student.
Luna acknowledges there's little hard evidence students actually benefit from playing chess, and it could take a few years before Idaho can gauge whether students who learn chess are more successful in academics.
"But if we're going to encourage innovation and new ideas," Luna said, "we have to give those new ideas time to produce results."
Lattimer said she has noticed students seem more polite after learning a game that requires opponents to shake hands before and after they play.
"You'll see it on the playground," Lattimer said. "The kids are just more kind."
- America's Foundation for Chess: http://www.af4c.org
- United States Chess Federation: http://main.uschess.org
Kearsley coach Mike Skidmore gets inducted into Chess Hall of Fame
But, it wasn't great valor or even a wicked jump shot that landed Mike Skidmore in the Hall of Fame. Instead, it was instead his cunning strategies and all those checkmates.
Skidmore joined earlier this month an elite group of only 14 others named to the Michigan Chess Hall of Fame since its formation 20 years ago by the Michigan Chess Association.
There will be no multimillion dollar contracts, wax figures or Vince Lombardi trophy. Not even a crown for one of chess' kings.
Skidmore will get just a plaque, lifetime membership to the association, and be featured in an article for the association's magazine.
For Skidmore, the honor itself is worth more than any glamorous prize.
For the past 30 years, he's coached the Kearsley High School Chess Team, leading teams to win several state and national championships over the years.
Just as he's shared his knowledge of the game with his students, he also is sharing his honor.
"It's nice because it means some of the people in Michigan chess are recognizing what we do here," Skidmore said. "It's not about the individual honor. It's about the kids, the team and what they do."
The association exists in name only. There are no headquarters or offices. Instead board members meet four or five times a year at different locations.
The organization produces a bi-monthly magazine and bulletin of events and is responsible for organizing state championship events.
Hall of Fame inductees must have made a significant contribution to the growth, development, and prestige of chess in Michigan and the MCA, the selection requirements state.
Skidmore paid his dues by serving two terms on the MCA board, serving as chair of several sub-groups, editor of the magazine and coordinator of the U.S. Open Denker Invitational Tournament of Champions.
Skid, as he's affectionately called by his players, taught himself to play chess in fourth grade and went on to earn himself both local and state titles.
He started his first job coaching chess at Daly Jr. High School in 1973, the year after chess legend Bobby Fischer became the first American to win the World Chess Match igniting enormous interest in the game.
And, now, his students enjoy it when Skidmore occasionally makes rookie mistakes -- allowing them that rare chance to beat him at his own game.
"It's exciting because I know how experienced he is and how many people he's played and beat," said student Zach McComb, a 17-year-old senior.
Skidmore said he wants his students to learn more than just how to be good chess players.
"The kids are learning life skill through this game," Skidmore said. "I tell them to take those chess decision making skills and apply them to your life."
More about 'Skid'
• Name: Mike Skidmore
• Age: 60
• Job: Chess coach and media specialist for Kearsley High School
• Family: Married with adult children
• Nickname: Skid
• How long have you been playing chess? "Since fourth grade. I taught my sister to play so I could beat her."
• How many games have you won? "Too many to count."
• Have you ever lost to any of your students? "Yes, but only when I'm tired or off my game."
Friday, September 12, 2008
Humpy wins against Yifan, match goes to tie-breaker
NALCHIK: Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy rose to the occasion defeating Yifan Hao of China in the return game and forced the mini-match in to a tie-breaker in the ongoing World Women's Chess Championship here.
Humpy, who lost the first game as black, won the second game of the two-game mini-match and will now have to play the tie-break games on Friday.
The highest rated woman player after Judit Polgar of Hungary played imaginatively to beat Yifan, a 14-year-old sensation, who has been training hard and playing well against high opposition for past couple of years.
Meanwhile, in the other semifinal of the day Russian Alexandra Kosteniuk made sure she did not make mistakes in her quest for a berth in the finals and held Pia Cramling of Sweden to a draw to win the match by a 1.5-0.5 margin. In the first game of this semifinal, Kosteniuk had won with white pieces.
Humpy rose back in style to draw level in the second game. Starting with a knight manoeuvre on the first move, the Andhra girl transposed to a position akin to the Accelerated Sicilian Dragon and Yifan was in troubles early looking out for best ways to counter the opening.
While Yifan spent a lot of time in the opening, Humpy saved it for the crucial middle game stage where she had to find some tricky manoeuvre to avoid an equal position. As a result, both players fell in acute time pressure and the nerves played a crucial role.
Yifan could have defended better but the clock was ticking away and it was on the 32nd move that the Chinese blundered decisively and allowed Humpy to get a crushing attack on her king. The game ended just four moves later giving Humpy a chance to remain in the match and now in the tie-break the Indian will be a big favourite to win the match.
In the tie-breaker the players will first play a 2-game rapid match and if the scores are tied there will be two more games under blitz chess rules. If still tied the match will go in the sudden-death stage where white will get a minute extra on the clock with no increment and will have to win in order to qualify to the next stage.
Kosteniuk did many things right in order to gain a draw against Cramling. Her opening choice of Queen's gambit accepted proved correct, the concentration along the central squares was excellent and when the opportunity arose, the calculation was perfect.
Cramling on her part tried hard but Kosteniuk, despite being lower on rating, was simply the better player in this match. The game was eventual drawn vide perpetual checks. If Cramling had tried to avoid that the scoreline would have read 2-0 instead of 1.5-0.5.
For the records this will be Kosteniuk's second appearance in the final of the World Women's Championship. The last time she went to the finals was in 2000 at Moscow, where Zhu Chen of China had beaten her comprehensively to win the crown.
Results of game 2 semifinal with final score in the end: Koneru Humpy (Ind) beat Yifan Hao (Chn) 1-1 goes to tie-breaker; Pia Cramling (Swe) drew with Alexandra Kosteniuk (Rus) 0.5-1.5, Kosteniuk goes to the finals.
Humpy fights her way back, takes match into tie-breaker
Koneru Humpy came back into contention as her young Chinese opponent Hou Yifan blundered in the crucial stage of the Women’s World chess semi-finals Thursday. Humpy won the second game to get back into the match. Humpy, who had lost the first game with white thus equalised with black to send the match into a tie-breaker. He won in 36 moves after an opening in the English Symmetrical.
In the other semi-final Alexandra Kosteniuk (Russia) needing only a draw to get onto the final stage of the Women’s World Chess Championship played a solid game with no surprises or novelties to beat Pia Cramling of Sweden. The game was in Queen’s Gambit declined and lasted 40 moves.
Kosteniuk made the final after seven years and she will now play the winner of Humpy-Yifan match in the final.
The 21-year-old Humpy favourite and top seed here came out with a slight advantage from the opening phase but could not find a strong continuation despite the desperation to win. Yifan pushed the pawn to d5 and gave a chance for exchanging the light pieces which could have been a nice way for a possible draw.
Humpy took her chance and avoided the full exchange and took a risky line but after that her position started to gradually loose momentum and deteriorated.
But her luck into came play as Yifan blundered and provided a chance for White to mate. Hou resigned after a few more moves as Humpy saw the line and went for it.
Humpy and Yifan will now clash in a tie break on Friday.
In the first game, Yifan played maturely to score an upset over the top-seed. Humpy played the first part of the game in her usual manner but out of the blue things changed greatly. Having captured a “poisoned pawn” Humpy lost her way and the game.
So upset was she that she kept sitting at the table for five minutes after the match trying to find a reason for her poor play.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Women World Chess CUP Semifinals:Kosteniuk in the final, Koneru-Hou tie break
What a turn around !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! KONERY HUMPY WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After winning yesterday against Cramling`s French defense, Alexandra Kosteniuk (Russia) needed only a draw to get onto the final stage of the Women`s World Chess Championship. In a solid game with no surprises or novelties but with a strong fight, she made it and after seven years, she will play for the title again.
Koneru (India) came out with a slight advantage from the opening phase but could not find a strong continuation although she had to win after the loss of yesterday. Her Chinese opponent pushed the pawn to d5 and gave a chance for exchanging the light pieces which could have been a nice way for a possible draw. Koneru avoided the full exchange and took the risky Bb5 move after which her position started to gradually loose momentum and deteriorated.
In a worse position, Caissa run in to support her: Hou Yifan made a blunder with Na5, thus the position provided the chance for White to mate in 8 moves and Hou resigned after a few more moves. We are looking for a tie break tomorrow between Koneru, Humpy and Hou, Yifan. Please, follow the line on the official site.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
World Women`s Chess Championship Nalchik 2008 : Round 1
The Presidents of the World and Russian Chess Federations were there, the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and the Kabardino-Balkaria President. But not the Georgian players, and some international participants, who did not attend due to the Russian-Georgian conflict. They lost their games by default. Otherwise most of the top seeds won their first games comfortably.
The Women's World Championship 2008 is taking place from August 28th to September 18th in Nalchik, in the Kabardino-Balkaria region of Russia. 64 players were eligible to play in the knock-out event, which has a prize fund of US $450,000. Due to the tensions in the region the Georgian players and a few others decided not to participate.
After the pre-tournament turmoil, in which the Georgian and other players protested and the FIDE President appealed to them and then to the Georgian president ("Do not mix politics and sport") we had to wait until the start of the first round to see who would turn up and who wouldn't. All the Georgians – Chiburdanidze, Gvetadze, Javakhishvili, Khukhashvili, Khurtsidze, Lomineishvili – were absent, as were a few others: Tea Bosboom Lanchava, Karen Zapata, Marie Sebag, Irina Krush and Ekaterina Korbut. They all lost their first game by default.
In the following table we can see that the top seeds generally won their games. The first upset is to be found on board 13, where 13th seed Natalia Zhukova of Ukraine lost to 52nd seed Katherine Rohonyan of the US. The next: 16th seed Elisabeth Paehtz, former Girl's Junior World Champion from Germany, lost to 49th seed Ilaha Kadimova of Azerbaijan. The defaulted players are shown in red.
| Bd | SNo | Player | Nat. | Result | Player | Nat. |
| 1 | 1-64 | Xu, Yuhua | CHN | 1-0 | Solomons, Anzel | RSA |
| 2 | 63-2 | Alaa El Din, Yorsa | EGY | 0-1 | Koneru, Humpy | IND |
| 3 | 3-62 | Hou, Yifan | CHN | 1-0 | Khaled, Mona | EGY |
| 4 | 61-4 | Zapata, Karen | PER | -+ | Stefanova, Antoaneta | BUL |
| 5 | 5-60 | Cramling, Pia | SWE | 1-0 | Sanchez Castillo, Sarai | VEN |
| 6 | 59-6 | Gasik, Anna | POL | +- | Sebag, Marie | FRA |
| 7 | 7-58 | Zhao, Xue | CHN | 1-0 | Zuriel, Marisa | ARG |
| 8 | 57-8 | Muminova, Nafisa | UZB | 0-1 | Kosintseva, Tatjana | RUS |
| 9 | 9-56 | Kosteniuk, Alexandra | RUS | 1-0 | Pourkashiyan, Atousa | IRI |
| 10 | 55-10 | Golubenko, Valentina | CRO | 0-1 | Cmilyte, Viktorija | LTU |
| 11 | 11-54 | Muzychuk, Anna | SLO | 1-0 | Velcheva, Maria | BUL |
| 12 | 53-12 | Zakurdjaeva, Irina | RUS | 0-1 | Ruan, Lufei | CHN |
| 13 | 13-52 | Zhukova, Natalia | UKR | 0-1 | Rohonyan, Katherine | USA |
| 14 | 51-14 | Nguyen, Thi Thanh An | VIE | +- | Chiburdanidze, Maya | GEO |
| 15 | 15-50 | Hoang Thanh Trang | HUN | 1-0 | Arribas Robaina, Maritza | CUB |
| 16 | 49-16 | Kadimova, Ilaha | AZE | 1-0 | Paehtz, Elisabeth | GER |
| 17 | 17-48 | Ushenina, Anna | UKR | 1-0 | Le Thanh Tu | VIE |
| 18 | 47-18 | Foisor, Sabina-Francesca | ROM | 1/2 | Socko, Monika | POL |
| 19 | 19-46 | Krush, Irina | USA | -+ | Sedina, Elena | ITA |
| 20 | 45-20 | Zhang Jilin | CHN | 1/2 | Gaponenko, Inna | UKR |
| 21 | 21-44 | Javakhishvili, Lela | GEO | -+ | Amura, Claudia | ARG |
| 22 | 43-22 | Nebolsina, Vera | RUS | 0-1 | Harika, Dronavalli | IND |
| 23 | 23-42 | Kosintseva, Nadezhda | RUS | 1-0 | Mohota, Nisha | IND |
| 24 | 41-24 | Gvetadze, Sopio | GEO | - - | Korbut, Ekaterina | RUS |
| 25 | 25-40 | Zatonskih, Anna | USA | + - | Bosboom Lanchava, Tea | NED |
| 26 | 39-26 | Kachiani-Gersinska, K | GER | 1/2 | Shen, Yang | CHN |
| 27 | 27-38 | Mkrtchian, Lilit | ARM | 1/2 | Moser, Eva | AUT |
| 28 | 37-28 | Tan Zongyi | CHN | 1/2 | Tania, Sachdev | IND |
| 29 | 29-36 | Bojkovic, Natasa | SRB | 1/2 | Ju, Wenjun | CHN |
| 30 | 35-30 | Mongontuul, Bathuyang | MGL | 1-0 | Rajlich, Iweta | POL |
| 31 | 31-34 | Lomineishvili, Maia | GEO | - - | Khukhashvili, Sopiko | GEO |
| 32 | 33-32 | Matveeva, Svetlana | RUS | + - | Khurtsidze, Nino | GEO |
Schedule :
| Thursday | 28 | August | Opening Ceremony/Player's Meeting |
| Friday | 29 | August | Round 1, game 1 |
| Saturday | 30 | August | Round 1, game 2 |
| Sunday | 31 | August | Tiebreaks |
| Monday | 01 | September | Round 2, game 1 |
| Tuesday | 02 | September | Round 2, game 2 |
| Wednesday | 03 | September | Tiebreaks |
| Thursday | 04 | September | Round 3, game 1 |
| Friday | 05 | September | Round 3, game 2 |
| Saturday | 06 | September | Tiebreaks |
| Sunday | 07 | September | Round 4, game 1 |
| Monday | 08 | September | Round 4, game 2 |
| Tuesday | 09 | September | Tiebreaks |
| Wednesday | 10 | September | Round 5, game 1 |
| Thursday | 11 | September | Round 5, game 2 |
| Friday | 12 | September | Tiebreaks |
| Saturday | 13 | September | Free Day |
| Sunday | 14 | September | Round 6, game 1 |
| Monday | 15 | September | Round 6, game 2 |
| Tuesday | 16 | September | Round 6, game 3 |
| Wednesday | 17 | September | Round 6, game 4 |
| Thursday | 18 | September | Tiebreaks/Closing Ceremony |
Courtesy : www.chessbase.com
Official WebSite : http://nalchik2008.fide.com/