CHESS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Anatoly Karpov of Russia increased his lead to three points over challenger Gata Kamsky of New York in the World Chess Federation (FIDE) world championship in Elista, Russia. Karpov won the sixth and seventh games, then drew the eighth, making the score 5 1/2-2 1/2. The best-of-20-game match ends when one player reaches 10 1/2 points.
Karpov has used the Caro-Kann Defense three times as Black, but he scored a point in Game #6 with his second-line response to 1 e4, the Petroff Defense. Kamsky obtained no advantage from the opening, then failed to switch to defense when Karpov began his counterattack. In the next game, Karpov won a difficult struggle against Kamsky’s King’s Indian Defense. Game #8, far less dramatic, was a quiet Caro-Kann in which Kamsky could not capitalize on a small advantage.
Can Kamsky recover from his slow start? Three points is a big deficit, but don’t count him out. Kamsky has great determination, and he will wear Karpov down by fighting hard in every game.
The match will continue on even-numbered days. FIDE has set up an Internet site (https://chess.jet.msk.su) for live coverage, starting at 5 a.m. PDT.
LOCAL NEWS
Charles Van Buskirk won the 1996 Southern California Chess Federation Candidates tournament in Irvine last weekend. Van Buskirk won his first three games, then drew in the final round to clinch first prize in the 20-player event. Next at 3-1 were Elhami Ibrahim, William Longren, Valdis Saulespurens and Carl Wagner.
The SCCF runs an annual Candidates tournament to select several of the invitees to its round-robin state championship. This year, the top five finishers in the Candidates qualify for the state championship, scheduled July 13-14 and July 20-21 in Irvine. Already seeded are Levon Altounian, former state champion Cyrus Lakdawala and IM Marc Leski. Defending champion Jack Peters declined his invitation.
A second tournament took place at the same site in Irvine. The Region XI Women’s Championship, for players in Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada, attracted 10 entrants. Ivona Jezierska won the title with a perfect 4-0 score. Second at 3-1 was Jennie Frenklakh, who lost only to Jezierska. Barbara McCaleb finished third at 2 1/2-1 1/2, and 10-year-old Marijo Mont-Reynaud received a class prize for her 2-2 score.
The Antelope Valley Chess Club runs G/60 (one hour per player) tournaments every Tuesday evening at VFW Post 7283 at 45541 Sierra Highway in Lancaster. For details, call Dec Cuerdon at (805) 726-1323.