INTERNATIONAL NEWS

One of the world’s oldest grandmasters defeated the youngest in a match in Albert, France. Viktor Korchnoi, 66, of Switzerland, beat Etienne Bacrot, 14, of France, by a score of 4-2. Korchnoi won the first, fourth and sixth games, and Bacrot won the third.

It’s no surprise that Korchnoi, one of the world’s best players for 40 years, won the match, but there’s no way to know what to expect from the amazing Bacrot. The prodigy won a similar match in 1996 against former world champion Vassily Smyslov by an overwhelming 5-1 score, and he defeated Korchnoi in a tournament game earlier this year.

The World Chess Federation (FIDE) has announced that only four players declined their invitations to FIDE’s 100-player world championship tournament, scheduled to begin Dec. 8 in Groningen, Netherlands. The four who declined are Garry Kasparov of Russia, Gata Kamsky of New York, women’s world champion Zsuzsa Polgar of Hungary and Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria.

When FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov first proposed a bizarre 100-player world championship tournament, with two-game knockout matches, few took the idea seriously. Now it appears that the tournament will take place, and grandmasters are beginning to complain about some obvious inequities. Karpov, a fading star but nominally FIDE’s world champion, gets favored treatment. He will be seeded into the final round, which means that he is guaranteed $768,000 to play one six-game match. Most of the leading contenders will receive first-round byes, but they must win five matches to meet Karpov in the final.

Ilyumzhinov wants to make the 100-player championship an annual event. An organization that he founded has pledged $50 million to FIDE to fund the tournament for the next 20 years. Ilyumzhinov is also campaigning for chess to become an Olympic sport.

LOCAL NEWS

The fifth annual Pacific Coast Open, a five-round tournament run by Continental Chess, takes place Sept. 26-28 in the Wyndham Hotel, 6225 W. Century Blvd. in Los Angeles. There will be nine separate sections, each guaranteeing substantial prize money, so that entrants will only play similarly rated opponents. For more details, call Continental Chess at (914) 496-9658.

The La Palma Chess Club, which meets Friday evenings in Central Park, 7821 Walker St. in La Palma, will host a simultaneous exhibition by IM Jeremy Silman on Sept. 26. The cost to play is $12 per board in advance, and $15 at the door. Silman has promised to give a copy of his book, “How to Reassess Your Chess,” to anyone who defeats him. The exhibition will begin soon after 7 p.m., after a brief question-and-answer session with the always entertaining master. To reserve a board, call Brian Scanlon at (714) 523-2550.

The Wilshire Chess Society will conduct its monthly quad tournament Sept. 28 in the Community Room (third floor, near the food court) of the Westside Pavilion, Pico at Overland in Los Angeles. It’s three rounds of 45-minute games, beginning at 11 a.m. Register at the site before 10:45 a.m., or call Michael Jeffreys at (310) 473-6291.

Expert Julio Cesar Marin will teach a chess course beginning Oct. 2 at East Los Angeles College, 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez in Monterey Park. The course, titled “Chess Preparation for Club/Tournament Play,” will meet at 4:30 p.m. on six consecutive Thursdays. For more details, call Oscar Paez at (213) 265-8851. To register, call the community services office at (213) 265-8793.

Chess Palace is offering free copies of all of the games of the 1997 U.S. Championship. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Chess Palace, 4336 Katella Ave., Los Alamitos, CA 90720.