Fall Poster Roll-out
The U.S. Chess Scoop #5 from DIM mak films on Vimeo.
Robson earns 2nd GM Norm!
In the 23rd FIDE Invitational (click here for photos and analysis from earlier today) IM Ray Robson won consecutive games in rounds 7 and 8 
against two of the top IMs in the country, Sam Shankland and Ben Finegold. Robson now stands as the sole leader with 6.5/8 and (Update, 8/26/09) clinched his second norm with a round to go! He earned his first earlier this month in Norway. Mackenzie Molner also secured an IM norm after eight rounds, and will play Robson on board one. Michael Thaler needs a win over FM Jake Kleiman for his IM norm. Good luck to all our young talents and keep checking CLO for more in-depth analysis of the critical games.
IM Ben Finegold told CLO about his game with Robson: “I was sure I was winning, but, maybe I was ONLY clearly better 
….When we got down to less than 5 minutes each, I simply made too many errors. It was VERY complicated– The spectators and other players were enthralled. ”
Read the entire story at the USCF Website.
THE MOST VALUABLE SKILLS IN CHESS
Assuming no knowledge of chess beyond the rules, Maurice Ashley guides you on an inspirational journey through the world of chess tactics. He brings the pieces to life by examining their fundamental characteristics, and shows how their powers can be put to use to win pieces or give checkmate – the building-blocks upon which all chess skills are based.
Ashley writes: “the approach is unique because it is basically me: the way I teach, the way I talk about chess, the way I think. You’ll find my love for martial arts in these pages, as well as my ridiculous love for sports, story-telling and teaching.” But his approach is not just entertaining: teams under Ashley’s guidance have won six national junior championships. His charismatic teaching methods are the stuff of legend – and are to be the subject of a movie. This book makes his ideas and material available to all: teachers and students alike.
He has been called the Tiger Woods of chess. In 1999, Maurice Ashley became the first African-American
to qualify for the elite Grandmaster title, an achievement that was widely reported in the international media, including Time magazine, USA Today, New York Times, Sports Illustrated and The Times (London). Ashley is one of the highest-profile figures in American chess, and has commentated on the game for ESPN and Channel Four Television (UK). He sees chess as playing a role in helping at-risk youth, 
and has coached a number of junior teams to victory in national championships, most famously the Raging Rooks of Harlem, whose achievement is planned to be the subject of a feature film. In 2003 he was named Grandmaster of the Year by the US Chess Federation.
Download a pdf file with a sample from the book.
Zurich Jubilee 2009: Areshchenko and Avrukh victorious
Super-talents Hou Yifan and Anish Giri, both 15 and both full GMs, in the blitz tournament
Alexander Donchenko
It was bear hugs in the final round: GMs Alexander Areshchenko Boris Avrukh had the black pieces but squeezed the life out of top contenders GMs Yuriy Kuzubov (30 moves in a Meran) and Alexander Morozevich (55 moves in a QGA) to take equal first at this strong event. We bring you more picture portraits by Georg Kradolfer of interesting players and faces in our final report.
The activities of the 200-year anniversary celebrations of the Schachgesellschaft Zürich have begun with the Jubilee Open at the Kongresshaus Zürich. For seven days, some 600 chess enthusiasts – world class players among them – are competing for CHF 100,000 in prize money. The Jubilee-Open, which lasts from 9 –15 August 2009 and takes place in the Kongresshaus Zürich, has brought participants from 43 countries together. In the Alois Nagler Memorial (Master Tournament) 45 grandmasters und 48 International Masters are competing for CHF 75,000 in prize money offered by the Alois Nagler Foundation. The event is open to the
public, and the top games are being broadcast live over the Internet and on Playchess.com.
Zurich Jubilee 2009 – final report
“A big bear hugged one and then there were two,” certainly seems apt for the turn of events in this final round of the Zurich Jubilee. In a mere thirty moves, our bear, GM Alexander Areshchenko, squeezed the life out of GM Yuriy Kuzubov in the Meran System of the Semi-Slav.