An option held by a London group for the match had expired and the World Chess Federation (FIDE) put up the event for bids. It turned out, however, that Chennai was bested in its bid by the Russian Federation. FIDE announced that the latter had bid $2.55 million for the tournament, edging out the Indian offer, backed by the Indian Chess Federation and the Indian government, by $300,000. The disappointment in India was no doubt deep, but placated in part by the award of an option for the championship in 2013. The catch: Will Anand still be champion then? He is favored to win, but Gelfand is a veteran with prodigious experience and staying power.
The prize fund (the $2.55 million from Russia’s winning bid) is split 60-40 between the winner and loser of the championship. No matter who is victorious, the money will be a blessing for Gelfand, who has struggled financially over his career.
In other chess news, Alexander Morozevich, who has said he intended to retire, won the 2011 Russian Higher League Championship, which gained him an entry into the Russian Super Final, or the “Real’’ Russian championship. The field for this eight-player round-robin were former world champion Vladimir Kramnik, Peter Svidler, Sergey Karjakin, last year’s champion Ian Nepomniachtchi, Alexander Grischuk, Alexander Galkin, and Artyom Timofeev. Kramnik, the favored player, started out under an unlucky star, dropping two of his first three games, but bounced back winning two games and not losing again. Svidler, a five-time Russian champion, won again with a score of 5-2, a half a point ahead of Morozevich.
Brevity: N. Padevsky vs. V. Korchnoi (1956) 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Qa4+ Bd7 6.Qb3 Bc6 7.e4 dxc4 8.Bxc4 0-0 9.d5 b5 10.dxc6 bxc4 11.Qb7 Nxe4 12.Rd1 Qc8 13.Qxa8 Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 Nxc3 15.Bh6 Qe6+ 16.Kf1 Nxd1 17.Bxf8 Qf5 18.Nf3 Qb1 19.Qb7 Ne3+; 0-1. (if 20.Ke2 , Qd3 21. Ke1, Qd1 mate).
Winners: Metrowest Independence Day Swiss: 1st-2d, Vadim Martirosov and Lawyer Times: 3.5-5; Boylston CC Reubens Landey (a qualifier for the club’s championship.) 1st: Simon Warfield, 4.0, 2d-3d, Jonathan Lee and Kenneth Ho: 3-1.
Coming Events: 71st New England Open Sept. 3-5, Four Points by Sheraton, 99 Erdman Way, Leominister, info@masschess.org; Boylston Grand Prix Series, Saturday, 240B Elm St., Somerville; www.boylstonchessclub.org
