Photo Irina Krush

by Jennifer Shahade

Our top ranked male GM, Gata Kamsky and recently crowed U.S. women's champ Irina Krush, are currently competing in the Montreal International Chess Festival. Newly crowned U.S. Women's champion Irina started the eight-player women's grand prix (July 21-30) with two draws, while Gata has joint lead in the ten-player Empresa (July 19-30) along with Pavel Eljanov and Vassily Ivanchuk.


Montreal International Empresa
Standings after Four rounds

1-3- Pavel Eljanov, Gata Kamsky and Vassily Ivanchuk- 3.0
4-6- Pentala Harikrishna, Sergei Tiviakov, Mark Bluvshtein- 2.5
7- Kamil Miton-2
8- Emil Sutovsky- 1
9- Pascal Charbonneau- .5
10- Nigel Short- 0

Monroi International Women's Grand Prix
Standings after two rounds
1. Joanna Houvska -2
2. Pia Cramling-1.5
3-8- Irina Krush, Ketavan Arakhamia-Grant, Lela Javakhishvili, Cristina Adela Foisor-1
9. Iweta Rajlich- .5
10. Myriam Roy-0

Kamsky school

Gata won both his games with White in clear-cut, instructive style although he took very different opening approaches in each. Against Kamil Miton, he played the Panov-Botvinnik, achieved the classic Isolated queen pawn breakthrough with d5, found some middlegame tactics. He converted the exchange for two pawns easily because of the great placement of his rooks.

918

Against Tiviakov, Gata played the London, which should lessen the criticism he got forchoosing this system against Gelfand in the Candidates.

919

His Na7-c6- manouever to win the two bishops and gain control of the game, worked out well. 29.Bf4 threatened Rxh6!, hence the weakening 29...g5. The backward bishop move 38.Bd3 was a nice touch to force Sergei's resigination and allow Gata to join Ivanchuk and Eljanov in a tie for first.

Look for a final report on Montreal from Irina Krush.