Chinese Chess League Division A
The Youngor Chinese Chess League Division A has begun and started on April 16 in Ningbo, China, and will end in December. The Chinese Chess Association and China's renowned company "Youngor" are co-organizing this tournament, with 10 teams in the A league playing under a double round-robin system. The rounds will be played in the cities of Ningbo, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou and Beijing. Please note that the Chinese Chess League Division A appeared in the Shanghai World Expo from July 23-26, and also in one of the new venues built for 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou.
The Chinese Chess League Division A pursued its course as rounds 10-12 were played in Guangzhou in one of the venues especially built for the 16th Asian Games. After twelve of eighteen rounds, Team Shandong continues to steam roll its way to victory with a massive eleven wins and one draw. Although top-seeded with a 2565 Elo average, compared to second-rated Shanghai with 2537, its combination of Bu Xiangzhi as top board for the men, with Hou Yifan as top female, has proven untouchable this year. Hou Yifan has overtaken Ju Wenjun for top scoring laurels with 10.5/12, while Alexander Motylev (2705) continues his terror streak with 8.0/9 and hefty 2848 performance.
We bring you some highlights to test your skills.
Position 1 - Wang Hao - Jia Haoxiang
Ironically, it is White who will exploit the a8-h1 diagonal
and not Black. White to play and win.
Position 2 - Yu Yangyi - Zeng Chongsheng
White to play and win.
Position 3 - Liu Qingnan - Wang Chen
White took the knight with Rxe7 and Black
replied d2. How does
White win?
Position 4 - Ni Hua - Wang Chen
White to play and win.
Position 5 - Yu Ruiyuan - Xiu Deshun
Black just played Bd6, to which White found a spectacular
and quite hard to see reply. Can you do as well?
Position 6 - Motylev - Ma Qun
Motylev's move requires considerable precise calculation.
Try to work out some of the variations. White to play and win.
[Click here for solutions]
Team rankings after twelve rounds (of 18)
Rk. |
Team |
Games |
+ |
= |
– |
TB1 |
TB2 |
1 |
Shangdong Linglong |
12 |
11 |
1 |
0 |
23 |
41,5 |
2 |
Beijing Aigo |
12 |
7 |
1 |
4 |
15 |
37,5 |
3 |
Shanghai Jianqiao |
12 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
15 |
33,5 |
4 |
Zhejiang |
12 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
14 |
34,0 |
5 |
China Mobile Chongqing |
12 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
14 |
34,0 |
6 |
Hebei |
12 |
7 |
0 |
5 |
14 |
30,0 |
7 |
Lanpo Jiangsu |
12 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
12 |
30,0 |
8 |
Tianjin Nan Kai |
12 |
3 |
2 |
7 |
8 |
24,0 |
9 |
Guangdong Huateng |
12 |
2 |
0 |
10 |
4 |
21,0 |
10 |
Beijing Rendafuzhong |
12 |
0 |
1 |
11 |
1 |
14,5 |
Here are some pictures of the latest rounds at the new venue:
Bu Xiangzhi scored 2.5/3 in the latest rounds for top team
Shangdong.
GM Zhao Jun (2575) is second board for Shangdong.
GM Zhou Weiqi (2584)
11-year-old Wei Yi (2244) facing GM Liang Jinrong (2462)
The playing hall at Guangzhou
Young fans watch the action from above.
Chinese prodigy Hou Yifan forgoes on her signature attire and comes dressed to kill.
WGM Zhang Xiaowen (2437)
GM Zhao Xue (2490) against WGM Ning Chunghong (2367)
Guo Qi (2167)
Alexander Motylev (2705) is on a streak of seven straight wins.
Pictures by Wang Liang and Ni Feng
Links
The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the
chess server Playchess.com.
If you are not a member you can download the free PGN reader ChessBase
Light, which gives you immediate access. You can also use the program
to read, replay and analyse PGN games. New and enhanced: CB Light 2009! |
|
Copyright
ChessBase