The World Chess Federation Candidates tourney ends today in Russia (www.candidates2014.fide.com), and as of Thursday's round 12, none of the four Russian GMs (half the field) seemed to be in contention with just two rounds to go. Vishy Anand of India had a commanding 7.5-4.5 lead, and was one of four players to win three games, but was the only undefeated one.

According to www.chessvibes.com on Thursday, the U.S. Championship 12-player field (May 7-20 in St. Louis) is set, and there is an annotated game from the recent Sturbridge Eastern Class among two of them, Gata Kamsky of New York defeating Sam Shankland of California, now studying at Brandeis University in Waltham. We are told that the game and tournament coverage will also appear in the s pring issue of MACA's (www.masschess.org) Chess Horizons magazine.

Carissa Yip, 10, of Chelmsford won the George O'Rourke Memorial at Fitchburg State University. Roger Cappallo of Groton and Larry Gladding of Leominster tied for second. Complete results at www.wachusettchess.org. Carissa has won 10 club games in a row. Details of the April 2-30 Evert Siiskonen Memorial are also online.

Igor Foygel of Brookline topped the Metrowest CC's Vernal Equinox Open, attracting 89 in four sections in Natick. Full results, games and details of Tuesday's April event can be found at www.metrowestchess.org.

New events will begin Thursday at the Greater Worcester CC; details at www.chesspals.com.

This writer endorses Joel Johnson's "Positional Attacks" 500-page softcover manual, and readers will learn a number of reasons why in coming weeks via positions. Yet again, Johnson had 500-plus diagrams with all kinds of exercises for amateur players. The book was born from chapters left over from Johnson's earlier works, and there are many references to his former home state of Massachusetts in each of his works.

Tops next weekend is the One Fund Benefit, Saturday and Sunday at New England Sports Academy, 345 University Ave., Westwood (www.nesacademy.com). The rated and unrated sections are open to both adults and kids. The tribute event brings memories of dozens of tournaments run close by last year's marathon crime scenes of Boston, Cambridge, Watertown and North Dartmouth. Just Boylston Street in Boston saw hundreds of events from Chinatown to the Prudential Center, including the 1938 and 1964 U.S. Opens, and the speed tournament of the 1970 U.S. Open, the main event that year at the Parker House Hotel.

Answer to quiz: Another Colorado position from www.tacticstime.com. Black amazed and amused spectators with 1. ... Qxh2ch 2. KxQ f3ch 3. Kh3 Rh1 mate. Never give up even when faced with a mate in one.