CHESS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

World champion Garry Kasparov of Russia returned to form with an impressive performance in the Intel Grand Prix tournament, which concluded last Sunday in Paris. Kasparov won four straight mini-matches of 25-minute games against grandmasters to collect the first prize of $30,000.

In the first three rounds, Kasparov defeated Alexander Morozevich (Russia), Kiril Georgiev (Bulgaria) and Viswanathan Anand (India) by 2-0 scores. The first meeting between Anand and Kasparov since their recent Professional Chess Assn. world championship did not occur as scheduled, because Anand was delayed by a traffic jam, arrived late and had to forfeit the first game. Kasparov won the second game in normal fashion.

Kasparov’s only scare came in the final, when he lost the first game to Vladimir Kramnik of Russia. With a bit of luck, Kasparov won the second game to tie the match, then scored a win and a draw in two tiebreaking five-minute games. Kramnik, who earlier defeated the overall leader in the Grand Prix standings, Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine, and two French stars, world under-12 champion Etiene Bacrot and Joel Lautier, received the second prize of $20,000.

Intel, the computer chip manufacturer that sponsors the Grand Prix for the PCA, contributed $160,000 in prize money for each of the four Grand Prix tournaments, plus $100,000 in bonus money for the top scorers in the 1995 series. Kasparov, who also won the New York Grand Prix in June, pushed past Ivanchuk to finish first in the overall standings. Kramnik was third and Anand fourth.

LOCAL NEWS

State co-champion Cyrus Lakdawala and GM Rosendo Balinas shared first prize in the Open section of the San Diego County Championship last weekend in San Diego. Each scored 3 1/2- 1/2, including their drawn encounter in the third round. Next, at 3-1, were Stephen Booth and top experts Thomas Nelson and Mittchell Vergara.

Horace Keesey swept the Reserve (under 2,000) section with a 5-0 score, a half-point ahead of Hemmige Varadarajan. Class prizes went to Henry Chiu, best under 1,800 at 4-1; Roberto Mercado, best under 1,600 at 3 1/2-1 1/2; Sergei Alayev, best under 1,400 at 3-2; and John Badger and Eugene Contreras, best unrated at 3 1/2-1 1/2.

Alina Markowski of the sponsoring San Diego Chess Club was pleased with the turnout of 66 players.

Matthew Beelby, Randy Hough and Russell Laidman tied for first at 4 1/2- 1/2 in the 50-player Oak Tree Open, the latest tournament at the Arcadia Chess Club. Roy Kamen and Ray Sollars (top Class B), Pete Sotos (top “C”) and Juan Rodriguez (best unrated) earned class prizes.

The Mike Green Memorial, a five-round tournament on Monday evenings, begins Nov. 20 at the Arcadia Chess Club. The club meets at 6:30 p.m. Mondays in the Senior Citizens Building, 405 S. Santa Anita Ave. in Arcadia. For information, call Fred Brock at (818) 331-1638.

The 31st annual American Open starts Thursday at the Renaissance Hotel, 9620 Airport Blvd. in Los Angeles. The eight-round tournament, always one of the greatest of the year, guarantees at least $18,200 in prizes. Entrants who do not want to play on Thanksgiving may choose the three-day option, playing four one-hour games on Friday, then two slow games on Saturday and two more on Sunday.

Extra attractions at the American Open are a blitz championship (7:30 p.m. Wednesday), scholastic open (10:00 a.m. Saturday), quick chess tournament (8:00 p.m. Saturday) and beginner’s event (11:00 a.m. Sunday). Spectators may view all of the games, attend chess lectures and watch showings of chess movies, all for free. For complete information, call Jerry Hanken at (213) 257-9839 or Randy Hough at (818) 282-7412.