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ICC Highlights

NH Chess Tournament 2007 Aug 22 - Sep 1 [07:30 EDT | 13:30 CET] The youngest grandmaster in the world, Parimarjan Negi, the youngest grandmaster ever, Sergey Karjakin, and former world champion Alexander Khalifman are only a few of the stars who will compete in the NH Chess Tournament in Amsterdam, August 22 until September 1.

Apart from the prize money on offer, the best player on the ‘Rising Stars’ team (provided he has a positive score) gets an invite to the 2008 Amber Blindfold and Rapid Tournament in Monaco.

The games will be broadcast LIVE on ICC and the official website and also the press conferences after the rounds in streaming video.

	IX Sants Open 2007 Aug 24 - Sep 2 [10:30 EDT | 16:30 CET] The upcoming Catalonia classic, the season-ending Sants Open, will be split into 2 groups. The event takes place in Barcelona, Spain, from August 24 to September 2.

On one side, as previous editions, the main group, formed for all players with federation licenses no matter what Elo Rating points they have. On the other side, a second group of players with Elo lower than 1999 points. For all rating categories and prizes, FIDE rating will be taking into account first, Catalan rating second, and finally, FEDA rating. Local & National ratings will be validated by Tournament Comission.

ICC will have daily LIVE COVERAGE and latin Chess.FM on the last two rounds. Also, visit the official website.

New in Chess.FM

GM Joel Benjamin "Game  of  the  Week"

Only for members. New on ICC Chess.FM! Three-time U.S. Champion GM Joel Benjamin starts his new weekly show every Friday at 15:00 Server Time. Joel is regarded by many as one of the best commentators and analysts' we have in the game today, and each Friday he will be giving us his insight and spin with his selection of Game of the Week.

This is a not-to-be-missed 30-minute video is exclusively for ICC members only -- so if you want to get ahead of the game, get ready to tune-in! By popular demand and requests from members, ALL of Joel Benjamin's GOTW videos will be available now 24/7 by clicking here for his library site archiving all shows. Enjoy!

Click here

John Watson "Chess & Books" with GM Hans Ree

Only for members. New on ICC Chess.FM!Tune-in for The John Watson Chess & Book Show on ICC Chess.FM. Each Tuesday at 21:00 Server Time, John's 90+ minute show will review the latest titles, followed by a discussion of books and other chess topics with his guests.

John's special guest this week (21 August) is Dutch Grandmaster Hans Ree. A four-time champion of the Netherlands, Hans is now a more recognizable figure as one of the game's great writers. He's a columnist and chess writer for the Dutch newspaper NRC Handelblad and also a contributer to the award-winning chess magazine New In Chess. Hans has written many books, though mainly in Dutch, but has written one book in English, The Human Comedy of Chess: A Grandmaster's Chronicles, based on a collection of his insightful articles that delve into the history of the game and its personalities.

This show is one not to be missed and will be made available for 7 days ONDemand for members.

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IM Alex Lenderman's Smith Morra Gambit series

FREE for all. New on ICC Chess.FM! presents part one of IM Alex Lenderman's three-part series on the Smith Morra Gambit, free for everyone to view! Contrary to common belief, the Smith Morra Gambit is a sound and very dangerous weapon against the Sicilian - and fun to play! Alex Lenderman teaches you all the nuances, tricks and newly discovered secrets of the Smith Morra Gambit. Be sure and watch this FREE video!

Parts 2 & 3 - for ICC members only - will be released shortly.

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ChessVibes on tour - Mainz

• David Navara wins Ordix Open. Sunday 19 August 2007. David Navara has won the super strong rapid tournament Ordix Open in Mainz, after dominating the event on the last day.
• Impressie of the FiNet Chess960 Tournament. Sunday 19 August 2007. So much is happening here in the Congress Center in Mainz that the journalists can barely keep up with the pace of events. In the morning the games of the big open rapid tournaments start and quite quickly, thanks to the Gründlichkeit amongst the arbiters, the rounds are being played after each other.
• Anand back in comfort zone. Saturday, August 18th, 2007. Many are slightly relieved now that that funny shuffle chessy thing is finally over and people started playing normal stuff in Mainz. As from today chess players like you and me can try their luck against many grandmasters; the four top players already started last night. The best rapid player in the world, Viswanathan Anand, is clearly back in his comfort zone and scored 2,5 out of 3.
• Aronian world champion Chess960. Friday, August 17th, 2007. In a very exciting final Levon Aronian from Armenia last night became the rapid world champion Chess960. He defeated Viswanathan Anand 3,5-2,5.

ICC Events

Simul with IM Alejo de Dovitiis Saturday [06:00 EDT | 12:00 CET]  El IM Alejo de Dovitiis (dedo2) will be playing a simul against 20 members in channel 71. The time control for this simul is 30 30. For more information on other simuls happening this week visit our weekly event list.

	Simul with IM Alex Lenderman Saturday [08:00 EDT | 14:00 CET]  IM Alex Lenderman (manest) will be playing a simul against 30 members in channel 3. The time control for this simul is 45 30. For more information on other simuls happening this week visit our weekly event list.

	Chess.FM India weekly Show Saturday [09:30 EDT | 19:00 IST]  ICC Chess.FM India Weekly Saturday Show begins At 5.30 p.m IST, with an exclusive interview with WIM Kiran Manisha Mohanty. The weekly Saturday show is hosted by leading Indian Chess journalist Arvind Aaron. Other features in the show include "India this week", "Hot events" & upcoming tournaments across India.

	Simul with IM Vojislav Milanovic Saturday [13:00 EDT | 19:00 CET]  IM Vojislav Milanovic (voja) will be playing a simul against 30 ICC members in channel 3. The time control for this simul is 30 60. For more information on other simuls happening this week visit our weekly event list.

	Take the Ronen Challenge Saturday [20:00 EDT | 02:00 CET]   GM Ronen Har-Zvi (Indiana-Jones) will be playing a series of twice weekly prize simuls against 30 ICC members (2150 ICC rating and below) in channel 3.  The time control will be 45 20.  For full details read our help file.

	ICC Newsletter 31-2007 August 24-31  In the issue 31-2007: Vishy Anand, The Mainz Man. ICC Highligths. Tomato Central. Fun & training and Upcoming events.

All events are free to ICC members unless noted. All times are Eastern Daylight Time. Add 4 hours for GMT. Add 6 hours for CET.

Saturday, August 25   00:45   Tournament Sleepless - 3 tourneys - 5 rounds of 3 0     06:00   Simul IM Alejo de Dovitiis - 30 30 - ch 71     07:00   Tournament Early Morning - 7 rounds of 3 1     07:30   Live Coverage NH Chess Tournament - round 4     08:00   Simul IM Alex Lenderman - 45 30 - U2200 - ch 3     08:00   Webcast Tablero Semanal - IM Alejo de Dovitiis     09:30   Webcast India weekly Show - Arvind Aaron     10:30   Live Coverage IX Sants Open - round 2     12:00   Tournament Monthly Standard - 12/15 rds/month of 15 5     13:00   Tournament League of Losers - 7 rds 1 0, 5 rounds 3 1     13:00   Simul IM Vojislav Milanovic - 30 60 - ch 3     16:00   Tournament Bullet - 9 rounds of 1 0     19:00   Tournament Under 1300 Blitz - 5 rounds of 2 6     19:00   Tournament 1200-1800 Blitz - 7 rounds of 2 6     20:00   Special New! Take the Ronen Challenge     23:00   Tournament Nightly U1500 - 5 rounds of 2 6     23:00   Tournament Nightly O1500 - 7 rounds of 5 0     View this week's entire event list