2011 Kings v. Queens Tournament

What can I say? The ladies (Queens) got whopped badly.  Can someone, please, wipe that jerk-butt smirk off Nakamura's mug?  Someone needs to slap a "kick me" sign on that young 'man's' back for a few weeks.  Geez!

Kings vs. Queens Tournament

No.	Title	Last Name	First Name	Total Points	Individual Prize	Team Prize	Total Prize	Individual Prizes
1	GM	Nakamura	Hikaru	9.5	$5,500	$4,000	$9,500	1	$5,500
2	GM	Finegold	Ben	7.5	$5,000	$4,000	$9,000	2	$5,000
3	GM	Arnold	Marc	6	$4,250	$4,000	$8,250	3	$4,500
4	IM	Stopa	Jacek	6	$4,250	$4,000	$8,250	4	$4,000
5	NM	Cao	Kevin	2.5	$1,500	$4,000	$5,500	5	$3,500
1	GM	Lahno	Kateryna	5	$3,000	$0	$3,000	6	$3,000
2	GM	Kosteniuk	Alexandra	5.5	$3,500	$0	$3,500	7	$2,500
3	IM	Krush	Irina	3	$2,500	$0	$2,500	8	$2,000
4	IM	Zatonskih	Anna	2.5	$1,500	$0	$1,500	9	$1,500
5	IM	Fierro	Martha	2.5	$1,500	$0	$1,500	10	$1,000

I don't know what all that folderol means about individual prizes, etc.  Obviously, the players on the losing home went home with some money, and I'm glad to see it. 

I'm so happy to see GM Alexandra Kosteniuk was able to pull herself out of her chessplaying funk to lead the Queens with 5.5 points.  Go, Alexandra, Go! 

Onward and upward, ladies.  Forget those male schmucks in St. Louis - and make your plans for revenge.....

St. Louis - Kings v. Queens Tournament

This is a fabulous photo of the five chess femmes comprising the "Queens" team in the St. Louis tournament:

From left to right: IM Irina Krush, GM Alexandra Kosteniuk, GM Kateryna Lahno, IM Martha Fierro, IM Anna Zatonskih.

Report from the second day of the tournament (September 11, 2011), when the ladies stormed back!

The basics, once again, from the CCSCSL:

Queens

• GM Kateryna Lahno (2554) - Ukraine
• IM Anna Zatonskih (2508) - U.S.
• GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (2469) - Russia
• IM Irina Krush (2472) - U.S.
• IM Martha Fierro (2378) - Ecuador

Kings

• GM Hikaru Nakamura (2753) - U.S.
• IM Marc Arnold (2505) - U.S.
• GM Ben Finegold (2489) - U.S.
• IM Jacek Stopa (2482) - Poland
• NM Kevin Cao (2152) - U.S.

The average team rating of both the Queens and Kings is 2476 FIDE. This will be a Scheveningen-paired tournament, in which each of the five team members will play each of the opposing team members twice: once in a Fischer Random (Chess 960) game with a time control of G/25 + 10-second increment and once in a rapid game with a time control of G/25 with a 5-second increment.
The Opening Ceremony for the tournament will take place on September 9, and the first round will begin at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday, September 10.

The winning team of the event will win $20,000, divided equally between each member of that team. In addition, individual prizes will be awarded based on final standings and are are as follows:

• 1st: $5,500
• 2nd: $5,000
• 3rd: $4,500
• 4th: $4,000
• 5th: $3,500
• 6th: $3,000
• 7th: $2,500
• 8th: $2,000
• 9th: $1,500
• 10th: $1,000

So, what happened today???  Unfortunately, the ladies fell flat on their beautiful faces:

Round 3: 3:00 pm, Monday, September 12 (Position:QBNRNKBR | SPID#:108 | Download PGN)				Round 3: 5:00 pm, Monday, September 12 (Download PGN)
IM Jacek Stopa	1-0	IM Anna Zatonskih		IM Anna Zatonskih	0-1	IM Jacek Stopa
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk	0-1	GM Hikaru Nakamura		GM Hikaru Nakamura	1-0	GM Alexandra Kosteniuk
GM Kateryna Lahno	0-1	GM Ben Finegold		GM Ben Finegold	½-½	GM Kateryna Lahno
IM Irina Krush	½-½	IM Marc Arnold		IM Marc Arnold	1-0	IM Irina Krush
Kevin Cao	1-0	IM Martha Fierro		IM Martha Fierro	1-0	Kevin Cao

What the hell happened today?  The Queens are digging such a large hole for themselves, it's a foregone conclusion who will win this tournament.  I'll visit things once it's all over and review the slaughter.

St. Louis - Kings v. Queens Tournament

Round 3:  Ladies take the round 3/2 playing Fischer random chess.  Wins were by Lahno, Fierro and Krush.  Score is now Kings 9: Queens 6. Round 4 coming up - rapid chess.  More later.

St. Louis - Kings v. Queens Tournament

From left to right: GM Alexadra Kosteniuk, IM Irina Krush, IM Anna Zatonski, IM Martha Fierro, GM Kateryna Lahno.

The lovely ladies did not have a good first day.  Scores/standings.  Lahno did well, winning both of her games to score 2 of the ladies' 3 points.  Alexandra Kosteniuk accounted for the other ladies' point by winning her second game (rapid chess).  The men have 7 points with double wins by GMs Finegold and Nakamura and IM Stopa.

Action continues today at 3:00 p.m. from the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis.  Looking at the pairings, I'm confident the ladies will score more points today.

I visited the interior of the premises of the CCSCSL for the first time yesterday and stationed myself in the commentary room in the lower level, where IM Jennifer Shahade and GM Yasser Seirawan were giving live commentary and analysis.  In person it looks like it does on video, except it's a smaller space than I thought it would be.  I didn't get upstairs to the playing area, will try today, but I like it in the commentary room; there I can see what's going on on the boards and the commentary helps me understand what's going on, which at my low level of play and chess understanding is extremely helpful!

Meet Me In St. Louis!

Hola Darlings!

I apologize for not posting as much as I normally do.  I'm still busy shopping.  Cannot put my hands on a perfect black dress to save my life, arrrgggghhhhh!

Anyway, I am going shopping yet one more time - tomorrow - will be dodging thunderstorms but I a desperate.  After deciding to send the beautiful Dillards dresses back that arrived today (one almost fit, one absolutely did not fit at all, could not even get it zipped!), I decided to sew my own.  Then I had second thoughts, so one last desperate gambit - I will try to assemble a suitable look out of off-the-rack separates.  We'll see if a certain sheer chiffon top with embellished neckline and fluttery long sleeves is still on sale and available in my size.  I've had my eye on that top since I first saw it a few weeks ago, but I couldn't imagine ever wearing such a top!  It is so out of my fashion vision!  But now I see myself teetering along on strappy black high heels, a black pencil skirt that ends just below the knee, a lace-trimmed cami and the chiffon overblouse --  who knows, it could work...

Meanwhile, I just saw this over at Facebook, where I was posting today -- I am an irregular poster at best but made an effort today because I had off for my birthday -- that the National Boy Scouts will be instituting a new merit badge - for CHESS!  That is just wonderful news!!!!! 

More information.  Big doings to launch the new merit badge will be held on September 10, 2011, in conjunction with the Chess Collectors International meeting, the grand opening of the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Kings v. Queens Tournament with international superstar chess players hosted at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis!!!! 

Isis and I are going to be very busy in St. Louis!

Kings v. Queens Chess Tournament

Further information on the uncoming event at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis - play begins September 10th! The remaining members of the "Kings'" Team have been announced along with the prize structure.

Meet me in St. Louis, darlings!  Isis and I will be there.

From our friends at Chessdom:

The players, including FIDE ratings and the federation each represents, are as follows:

Queens
GM Judit Polgar (2699) - Hungary
GM Kateryna Lahno (2536) - Ukraine
IM Anna Zatonskih (2522) - U.S.
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (2497) - Russia
IM Irina Krush (2486) - U.S.

Kings
GM Hikaru Nakamura (2770) - U.S.
GM Timur Gareyev (2613) - Uzbekistan
GM Ben Finegold (2488) - U.S.
IM Jacek Stopa (2474) - Poland
IM Marc Arnold (2445) - U.S.

The average team rating of the Queens is 2548 FIDE and the King’s average rating is 2558 FIDE. This will be a Scheveningen-paired tournament, in which each of the five team members will play each of the opposing team members twice: once in a Fischer Random (Chess 960) game with a time control of G/25 + 10-second increment and once in a rapid game with a time control of G/25 with a 5-second increment.

Tony Rich, executive director of the CCSCSL, said it was only fitting to bring out the world’s best for the grand opening of the World Chess Hall of Fame.

“This tournament, the first of its kind, creates an even playing field for the top men and women in chess to do battle,” Rich said. “The format is fitting for the celebratory environment surrounding the opening of the Hall of Fame, and we’re happy to put on a unique event that will be enjoyable for spectators.”

The Opening Ceremony for the tournament will take place on September 9, and the first round will begin at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday, September 10.

The winning team of the event will win $20,000, divided equally between each member of that team. In addition, individual prizes will be awarded based on final standings and are are as follows:

1st: $5,500
2nd: $5,000
3rd: $4,500
4th: $4,000
5th: $3,500
6th: $3,000
7th: $2,500
8th: $2,000
9th: $1,500
10th: $1,000

Individual prizes total $32,500 and, when coupled with the team prize, the total prize fund for this event is $52,500.

GM Yasser Seirawan and WGM Jennifer Shahade will provide live commentary of the event, which will be open to the public. The event also will be broadcast live via the CCSCSL’s Livestream web channel: www.livesteam.com/uschess.

Visit www.saintlouischessclub.org for more information.

Kings v. Queens Chess Tournament

News!  That "Battle of the Sexes" chess tournament I've been hearing about - it's called Kings v. Queens Tournament.  I received notification today from the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis, for which I thank you kindly :)

The tournament will be held at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis September 9 - 16, 2011 with opening ceremonies on September 9th, first round of play on September 10th at 3:00 p.m. 

The Kings side of the event has yet to be fleshed out but will feature GM-in-residence at the CCSCSL Ben Finegold as well as GM Hikaru Nakamura, currently #6 in the world!

And the Queens!  Oh my!  A great line-up:

GM Judit Polgar
GM Kateryna Lahno
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk
IM Anna Zatonskih
IM Irina Krush

The Tournament will be held in conjunction with the grand opening of the newly-located U.S. Chess Hall of Fame and Museum in a remodeled building located directly across the street from the CCSCSL, on September 9, 2011.  You can read about the special exhibits and events scheduled in conjunction with the Grand Opening at the new website. 

Isis and I are looking forward to our "girls only" visit to St. Louis in September to enjoy some of the festivities :)