Leko and Karjakin wins at Wijk aan Zee

By Frank “Boy” Pestaño
Chessmoso

Traditionally one of the most awaited chess event of the year is the Corus tournament at Holland‘s famous north sea beach resort Wijk aan Zee held last January 14-30 .

There were three main tournaments all 14 players round -robin. The super GM group A had players ranked 2-9 in the world ( Kasparov, the world no. 1 , would have played given the opportunity) and an Elo average of 2721 for a category 19 tournament. Peter Leko of Hungary was the only player who did not lose a game and his win over last year‘s champion Anand was the deciding factor.

Group B was composed mostly of very young players ( average age 23 ), among them several teenagers namely Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Magnus Carlsen, Ivan Cheparinov, Sergey Karjakin, Alejandro Ramirez, Jan Smeets and Daniel Stellwagen. Also playing in the group is the reighning world women champion Antoanetta Stefanova and the European women champion Alexandra Kosteniuk, the “ Anna Kournikova of chess”. Group B was a categotry13 with players having an average Elo rating of 2564. 15 year old Sergey Karjakin of Ukraine, who said he would be world champion someday ,was a full point winner over Smeets and former junior champion Mamedyarov.

This tournament also marked the return of Judit Polgar, the strongest woman chess player ever, who was inactive for 15 months after taking a maternity leave. To recall, Judit was not listed in Fide‘s top players released last month.

Bobby Fischer applies for Icelandic Citizenship. Bobby Fischer has applied for citizenship at the small republic of Iceland as part of his strategy to escape being extradited to the United State from Japan. A special law would have to be passed to accommodate the former world champion.

Einar S. Einnarson, head of the Robert Fischer Committee in Iceland confirmed that Bobby‘s handwritten letter was presented to Mr. Halldor Blondar, president of the Icelandic parliament and that the reaction was positive and cordial. Later the letter was submitted to the Directorate commission of the parliament which will discuss the matter in about two weeks time.

In his letter Bobby thanked Iceland for its offer to grant him resident status and blamed the collusion between Japan and the US regarding his detention. “Unfortunately, the Icelandic authorities offer of residence and entry to Iceland without a passport has not sufficed the hardheaded and hardhearted Japanese authorities / kidnappers to let me go to your excellent country.”

It is expected that Bobby will be given citizenship but will it be enough reason for the Japanese to let him go? There is apparently an agreement at the highest level on both the US and Japanese authorities to prosecute Bobby at all cost despite the worldwide uproar on his arrest.

Iceland is under intense US pressure to drop plans to offer residence to Bobby but the Icelandic authorities has stated that its offer “will not be withdrawn despite pressure from the US.”

Iceland has a special heart and affection for Bobby Fischer as it was there that Bobby defeated Boris Spassky in the greatest chess match of all time.

After that match chess and Iceland was forever changed.

Arguelles January winner. Dante Arguelles won the first monthly tournament of Cepca taking advantage of the absence of several strong players . 2ND place went to Danny Pestano while 3rd was Joe atillo. Fourth place was won by 11 year old Yves Fiel , son of member Percival Fiel. We allow children of members to join our tournaments as part of their training.