Radjabov wins - earlier Jakovenko, Radjabov, Grischuk, Karjakin in ACP rapid

Update:
--------------------------------------------
Radjabov won the ACP world rapid chess championship. He beat Grischuk 2.5-1.5 in the final.
--------------------------------------------
The semi-finalists in the world cup rapid championships were spotted. Jakovenko beat giant-killer Inarkiev, Radjabov upset Ivanchuk, Grishchuk defeated Svidler and Karjakin eliminated Gelfand.

In a tournament graced by ex-world champion Karpov and Judit Polgar, who lost earlier, the youngsters are surely grabbing the limelight.

Results of the Quarterfinals:

Jakovenko, Dmitry vs Inarkiev, Ernesto 1.5-0.5
Radjabov, Teimour vs Ivanchuk, Vassily 3-2
Svidler, Peter vs Grischuk, Alexander 0.5-1.5
Karjakin, Sergey vs Gelfand, Boris 3-1

Wijk aan Zee Chess records

Vishwanathan Anand holds the record for most wins at Corus, formerly Hoogovens. He's won 5 titles so far. Max Euwe, Viktor Korchnoi, and Lajos Portisch are next with 4 tournament wins each. Kasparov won it three times and Karpov twice.

Here's the leading list.

Tournament wins, Name

5 Anand, Viswanathan
4 Euwe, Max
4 Korchnoi, Viktor
4 Portisch, Lajos
3 Garry Kasparov
3 Donner, Johannes
3 Geller, Efim
3 Nunn, John D.M.
2 Karpov, Anatoly
2 Larsen, Bent
2 Nigel Sort
2 Nikolic, Predrag
2 Olafsson, Fridrik
2 Polugaevsky, Lev
2 Salov, Valery
2 Jan Timman
2 Veselin Topalov
2 Sosonko, Gennadi, others

Roustam Kamsky resurfaces

Roustam (Rustam?) Kamsky, the father of the World Cup Champion 2007, Gata Kamsky has reappeared on the chess scene. In a letter appealing for "moral and financial support" from the US federation and the mayor of New York, Bloomberg, Kamsky has written a long letter justifying the actions that the Kamskys took right from the days of the Soviet Union to his defection, quitting chess and playing again. This appeal is apparently to garner support for Gata to prepare to win the World Chess Championship of chess.

In the letter, the senior Kamsky accuses Kasparov and Karpov of trying to sabotage his son's career.

The letter is available on the chess blog of Fernando Arrabal here :
http://chessarrabal.blogspot.com/

Karpov denied a visit to Kasparov in jail

Anatoly Karpov was today denied a chance to visit Garry Kasparov in jail. Kasparov will be released on Thursday but it was a noble gesture by one ex-world champion towards another.

Karpov openly agreed that he does not believe in Kasparov's political ideology, but that doesn't mean he can't be human enough. It is nice to see Karpov in the limelight these days. He is playing again and also doing something for social causes.
Using one's clout never harmed anyone. Especially if it can benefit another by at least getting attention. Wonder what would have transpired between them if they had really met ! Gruenfeld or the Slav ? :-)