ContentNIC'S CAFÉ O, TO BE IN HASTINGS
Why is it that so many chess players keep returning to Hastings to spend their New Year there? Chris Ward has been a regular visitor to the wind-swept south coast of England and he knows that it's because of the friendly atmosphere and the magic of a tradition that dates back to 1895. This time all eyes were on 12-year-old whizkid Sergey Karjakin and glamour girl Alexandra Kosteniuk, but the real star was Denmark's Peter Heine Nielsen. KASPAROV-KARPOV REVISITED
You can't turn back the clock or can you? In New York Joel Benjamin saw a highly competitive rapid match between Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov. A match with an extra dimension, as this time Karpov won. MEMORIES OF '62
The Caribbean island of Curaçao commemorated the legendary 1962 Candidates' tournament with a nostalgic Open. Guest of honour Viktor Kortchnoi reminisced, still got worked up about Petrosian's tricks and in passing also claimed first prize. The winner analysed his best game and in a candid talk with Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam he explains: 'This was not only a plot against Fischer!' A CHESS TOURIST IN STOCKHOLM
For various reasons Joe Gallagher decided to spend his New Year at the Rilton Cup. Enjoying a most generous dose of luck, Swedish IM Jonas Barkhagen won first prize. And what about Joe? He'll tell you. DEATH OF A SALESMAN
Genna Sosonko remembers the late Eduard Gufeld. CHESS ON THE BEACH
The Dominican Republic is not a popular destination for chess players, but this may well change thanks to the efforts of the Nazir Atallah Foundation. Their most ambitious event so far, the 'Los Immortales' tournament, ended in a fine victory for Igor Khenkin. ORIGINALITY AND BEAUTY VS. EFFICACY
Emil Sutovsky may have been the most creative player at the 2002 Israeli championship, but top seed Ilya Smirin became the new champion. THE MIRACLE MOVE
Who doesn't dream of a queen sacrifice on an empty g8 square? SOS: TAIMANOV'S SURPRISE SAC A SUNNY LIFE
In a recent lecture Hans Ree tried to convince staunch amateurs that the life of the chess professional is brighter than they thought. SADLER ON BOOKS
Matthew Sadler explains why he is deeply impressed by Svetozar Gligoric's opening ideas. LAJOS PORTISCH
With carefully chosen examples Jan Timman demonstrates that Lajos Portisch is much more than 'only' a solid strategist. JUST CHECKING
Any idea who is Alexander Onischuk's favourite player of all time?
Did they play your opening?In this issue games with the following openings were annotated by world class players: Sicilian
Sutovsky-Smirin, by Sutovsky
Morozevich-Svidler, by Bosch
Kosashvili-Macieja, by Timman
Jonkman-Milov, by Jonkman Pirc
Gallagher-Nybäck, by Gallagher
Flear-Tseshkovsky, by Ward French
Molander-Kortchnoi, by Timman
Glek-Volkov, by Volkov
Couso-Berg, by Gallagher Caro-Kann
Sutovsky-Erenburg, by Sutovsky Alekhine
Zapata-Timman, by Timman Petroff
Kasparov-Karpov (2 games), by Benjamin Ruy Lopez
McShane-Nielsen, by Ward
Sax-Portisch, by Timman Slav
Sokolov-Vallejo, by Timman
Portisch-Johannessen, by Timman Queen's Gambit Accepted
Nielsen-Karjakin, by Ward Nimzo-Indian
Kortchnoi-Macieja, by Kortchnoi Grünfeld-Indian
Zhao Xue-Harika, by Zhao Xue
Khenkin-Krasenkow, by Khenkin
Karpov-Kasparov (2 games), by Benjamin King's Indian
Aronian-McShane, by Aronian Benoni
Portisch-Benjamin, by Timman English Opening
Avrukh-Sutovsky, by Greenfeld
| 
