Karpov wins match 5-1

Anatoly Karpov wins the match against Miroslav Miljkovic
Six-games match on 3rd and 4th December in Niš, Serbia
Chessdom.com

Former World Champion Anatoly Karpov continued the series of speed-chess events with a six-games match against IM Miroslav Miljkovic (elo 2506), which was played on 3rd and 4th December in Niš, Serbia.

The playing venue was in the Niš City Hall and the Mayor Miloš Simonović opened the match. The City of Niš sponsored the match, the Niš Chess Union was the technical organizer, and TV Bell Amie broadcasted the games live with 4 cameras and expert commentary by IM Zeljko Djukic and Serbian 2009 women champion Sandra Djukic.

Four games were played with the time control of 25 min+10 sec per player while the remaining two were blitz with 5 min+2 sec per player. Anatoly Karpov won the match with the convincing 5-1, but credit is due to Miljkovic who forced complications in several equal games.

The City Hall was packed with visitors, for the event which was recognized as one of the main cultural happenings of the season.

GM Blagojevic wins Belgrade International Open

23rd Belgrade International Open Championship
GM Dragisa Blagojevic from Montenegro takes a clear first place

The 23rd Belgrade International Open Championship took place from 24th November to 2nd December in Obrenovac, near Belgrade. The Championship was played in 9 rounds according to the FIDE Swiss System. 205 players from 12 federations participated, among them an impressive number of 20 Grandmasters and 11 International Masters.

GM Dragisa Blagojevic from Montenegro claims a clear first place by collecting 7.5 points, ahead of the group of six players with 7.0 points each. The absence of the fighting spirit in the last round was rather disappointing, and the top four games finished in quick draws. GM Evgeny Gleizerov battled his way to a victory on the 5th board and eventually reached the second place on best tiebreak score.

International Master Peter Drenchev from Bulgaria earned a Grandmaster norm. More information about the event is available on the official website.

Final standings:

1. GM Blagojevic Dragisa MNE 2482 - 7.5

2-7. GM Gleizerov Evgeny RUS 2572, GM Radulski Julian BUL 2606, IM Drenchev Petar BUL 2507, GM Nikolov Momchil BUL 2565, GM Perunovic Milos SRB 2565 and IM Pap Misa SRB 2502 - 7.0

8-20. GM Stojanovic Mihajlo SRB 2582, GM Szabo Gergely-Andras-Gyula ROU 2540, GM Popovic Dusan SRB 2546, Indjic Aleksandar SRB 2249, IM Bozic Milan SRB 2456, IM Stojanovic Dalibor BIH 2496, GM Pikula Dejan SRB 2533, IM Radlovacki Jovan SRB 2415, GM Jianu Vlad-Cristian ROU 2538, IM Nestorovic Dejan SRB 2397, FM Dragomirescu Robin-Alexandru ROU 2411, GM Barlov Dragan SRB 2467 and FM Sredojevic Ivan SRB 2411 - 6.5

21-37. Stamenkovic Aleksandar SRB 2271, GM Damljanovic Branko SRB 2551, Kadric Denis BIH 2331, FM Podinic Vladimir SRB 2412, FM Bergsson Snorri ISL 2304, GM Jacimovic Dragoljub MKD 2428, GM Cabrilo Goran SRB 2450, GM Milanovic Danilo SRB 2521, GM Drasko Milan MNE 2479, IM Pancevski Filip MKD 2403, Hrzic Ivan SRB 2273, GM Abramovic Bosko SRB 2461, IM Cvetkovic Srdjan SRB 2416, Fernandez Manrique Agustin ESP 2108, GM Rajkovic Dusan SRB 2425, Kovacic Misa SRB 2130 and FM Brujic Bozidar SRB 2188 - 6.0 etc

Karpov takes day 1 match lead

Karpov won with White and drew with Black. He is leading 1.5 - 0.5 with 2 more rapid games and 2 blitz games to play.

Karpov, Anatoly (2619) - Miljkovic, Miroslav (2506)
Rapid Chess Nis, Serbia (1), 2010.12.03

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bg4 5.h3 Bxf3 6.Qxf3 e6 7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.O-O Bd6 9.Nc3 O-O 10.Rd1 Re8 11.Qe2 Qe7 12.Bd2 a6 13.Be1 Rac8 14.Rac1 dxc4 15.Bxc4 c5 16.dxc5 Bxc5 17.Bb3 Nb6 18.Qf3 Red8 19.Ne4 Rxd1 20.Rxd1 Nbd5 21.Nxc5 Qxc5 22.e4 Ne7 23.Bc3 Qg5 24.Bxf6 Qxf6 25.Qxf6 gxf6 26.Rd7 Nc6 27.Rxb7 Na5 28.Rb4 Nxb3 29.Rxb3 Rc2 30.f3 Kg7 31.Kh2 a5 32.a3 a4 33.Rb5 e5 34.h4 Rd2 35.Kh3 Rf2 36.Rb6 Kg6 37.Rb7 Kg7 38.h5 Rd2 39.g3 Rc2 40.Kg4 Rf2 41.Rb4 Rc2 42.f4 exf4 43.gxf4 Rg2+ 44.Kf5 h6 45.Rb6 Rh2 46.Rxf6 Rxb2 47.Ra6 Rh2 48.Kg4 Rg2+ 49.Kh3 Re2 50.Rxa4 Re1 51.Kg2 Re3 52.Kf2 Rh3 53.Ra5 Rb3 54.Kg2 Re3 55.e5 f6 56.Ra7+ Kf8 57.exf6 Re6 58.f7 Re3 59.a4 Ra3 60.a5 Kg7 61.a6 Kf8 62.Kf2 Kg7 63.Ke2 Kf8 64.Kd2 Ra5 65.Ke3 Ra4 66.Kd3 Kg7 67.Kc3 Kf8 68.Kb3 Ra1 69.Kc4 Ra5 70.Kb4 Ra1 71.Kc5 Rc1+ 72.Kd6 Rb1 1-0

Click here to replay game 1.

Official website: http://www.gss-nis.com/gss/index.html

Anatoly Karpov - Miroslav Miljkovic

Anatoly Karpov - Miroslav Miljkovic Match
3rd and 4th December in Niš, Serbia (schedule slightly changed)

Former World Champion Anatoly Karpov continues the series of rapid events with a six-games match against IM Miroslav Miljkovic (elo 2506) on 3rd and 4th December in Niš, Serbia.

The playing venue will be in the Niš City Hall and the Mayor Miloš Simonović will make the ceremonial move. The City of Niš is sponsoring the match and Niš Chess Union is the technical organizer.

Four games will be played with the time control of 25 min+10 sec per player while the remaining two will be blitz with 5 min+2 sec per player (schedule bellow). The games will be broadcasted on the internet and TV Bell Amie will cover the match live.

Schedule

3rd December
17:30 - Press conference in the City Hall
18:15 - 1st rapid game
19:40 - 2nd rapid game

4th December
15:00 - 3rd rapid game
16:30 - 4th rapid game
18:00 - 1st blitz game
18:20 - 2nd blitz game
18:40 - Closing ceremony

Niš (pronounced Nish, Roman: Naisus) is the largest city in southern Serbia and the third-largest city in the country (after Belgrade and Novi Sad). According to the data from May 2009, Niš has 253,077 inhabitants. The city covers an area of about 597 square kilometres, including the urban area, the Niška Banja spa and 68 suburbs.

It is one of the oldest cities in the Balkans, and has from ancient times been considered a gateway between the East and the West. Niš is also notable as the birthplace of Constantine the Great, the first Christian Roman Emperor and the founder of Constantinople, as well as two other Roman emperors, Constantius III and Justin I.

In 2013 the city will host the Ecumenical Assembly of Christian Churches, in honour to 1700 years of Constantine's Edict of Milan.