CHESS

CHESS OLYMPIAD

The 31st Chess Olympiad, the mammoth team tournament conducted every two years by the World Chess Federation (FIDE), has begun in Moscow. Chess news, though, has been overshadowed by reports of crime. Several chess players, including Americans Alexander Shabalov and Alex Yermolinsky, have been robbed.

As host country, Russia gets to field two teams. Its second team, composed of teen-age stars, leads the tournament after seven rounds with 19 1/2-8 1/2. Next at 19-9 are Russia-1, Armenia, Bosnia, Estonia and Yugoslavia, followed by Bulgaria, Netherlands and the Philippines at 18 1/2-9 1/2. There are seven rounds to go.

The U.S. men are far behind at 15-13. After defeating South Africa, 3 1/2- 1/2, and Finland, 3-1, the United States only drew Norway and Australia, then lost three straight matches by scores of 1 1/2-2 1/2 to Hungary, Moldova and Kyrgyzstan. Judit Polgar, Hungary’s 18-year-old first board, defeated 1994 U.S. champion Boris Gulko.

LOCAL NEWS

Mark Curameng scored 4-0 to win the 20-player All-American Scholastic last Sunday at All-American Burger in Westwood. August Fairchild finished second with 3 1/2- 1/2. Soheil Safii took the under-800 prize, and Jon Vaughn was best unrated. This was the fifth in the monthly series of All-American Scholastics. The next is scheduled Jan. 8.

The fifth annual S.P.A. Holiday Scholastic takes place Saturday at St. Paul the Apostle School, 1536 Selby Ave. in Westwood. The tournament includes a four-round Advanced section, open to all students in grades K-9, and a five-round Booster section, limited to students in grades K-7 without ratings or with ratings below 900. Organizer John Surlow expects record attendance. For more information, call him at (310) 479-8377.