China wins Women's Team Championship by two points

by ChessBase
5/30/2007 – Their oldest player is 22, they are dedicated, determined and physically extremely fit. Nobody could stop the Chinese team, which took the golden trophy in the World Women's Team Championship in Yekaterinburg with consummate ease. Silver and Bronze went to Russia and Ukraine. Our correspondent from the tournament site, WGM Elmira Mirzoeva, provides a spectacular final report.

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First World Women's Team Chess Championship 2007, Russia

This event is taking place from May 19 to 30 in Ekaterinburg, Russia, with women's teams from ten national federations – among them Russia, Ukraine, China, Armenia, Georgia, Netherlands, Poland and Vietnam – participating. The venue is the five-star Atrium Palace Hotel, where the teams are also staying.

Round 7 – 27.5.2007

Most of the major clashes had already taken place, but the players still had to be careful to avoid mistakes and not to let the points slip away. With the exception of the Chinese team, who seem to be winning unfailingly, with good scores. In round seven Zhao Xue outplayed Jana Jackova, Hou Yifan beat Olga Sikorova, and Ruan Lufei took the point from Petra Blazkova. Only Katerina Nemcova survived with a draw against Shen Yang.


Anti-cheating: checking the players for electronic devices


The playing venue of the women's team championship in Yekaterinburg

The encounter between the Russian and Armenian teams lasted longer than any other one on this day. On the first board Nadezhda Kosintseva encountered Elina Danielyan, who sacrificed two light pieces for a rook, after which she was trying to attack the Russian's unprotected king.

Tatiana defended very well and finally after the repetitions of moves they agreed to draw. On the second table Nadezhda Kosintseva was sorting out the relations with her constant opponent Lilit Mkrtchyan. Nadezhda, playing white, got an advantage in the opening but failed to turn it into a full point. On board three Siranush Andriasyan played a very rare line against Ekaterina Kovalevskaya. But that didn’t save the less experienced Armenian player, and Kovalevskaya won. The final encounter of the match between Elena Tairova and Liana Aghabekyan ended in a draw. Russia beat Armenia 2.5:1.5.


Germany vs Botswana, Kachini-Gersinska vs Sabure Tuduetso: 1-0

Georgia
2.5-1.5
Vietnam
Chiburdanidze, Maya
1-0
Le Kieu Thien Kim
Javakhishvili, Lela
½-½
Le Thanh Tu
Khurtsidze, Nino
½-½
Hoang Thi Bao Tram
Gvetadze, Sofio
½-½
Nguyen Thi Thanh An
Ukraine
2.5-1.5
Poland
Lahno, Kateryna
0-1
Socko, Monika
Ushenina, Anna
1-0
Rajlich, Iweta
Gaponenko, Inna
1-0
Szczepkowska, Karina
Vasilevich, Tatiana
½-½
Przezdziecka, Marta
Armenia
1.5-2.5
Russia
Danielian, Elina
½-½
Kosintseva, Tatiana
Mkrtchian, Lilit
½-½
Kosintseva, Nadezhda
Andriasian, Siranush
0-1
Kovalevskaya, Ekaterina
Aghabekian, Liana
½-½
Tairova, Elena
Czech Republic
0.5-3.5
China
Jackova, Jana
0-1
Zhao Xue
Sikorova, Olga
0-1
Hou Yifan
Blazkova, Petra
0-1
Ruan Lufei
Nemcova, Katerina
½-½
Shen Yang
Botswana
0-4
Germany
Sabure Tuduetso
0-1
Kachini-Gersinska, Ketino
Lopang Tshepiso
0-1
Nill, Jessica
Modongo Boikhutso
0-1
Ohme, Melanie
Sabure, Ontiretse
0-1
Schoene, Maria Randi

Round 8 – 28.5.2007

Russia inflicted a heavy 3.5:0.5 defeat on the Czech Republic, with Tatiana Kosintseva, Ekaterina Korbut and Ekaterina Kovalevskaya all scoring full points. Ukraine, battling to catch the Russians, took Georgia down with a 3-1 score. China had the "bye" against Botswana, whom the dutifully defeated 4:0, like everybody else. Germany drew their main rival, Vietnam.


Everyone's favorite: 13-year-old Hou Yifan, best player on board two


China's board three talent: Sheng Yang...


... showing full determination in the match against Botswana


Russia's board three Ekaterina Korbut (no it isn't, just a buckle)


Ukraine's board two Anna Ushenina


Melanie Ohme playing on board four for Germany


Won with black: Germany's top board IM Elisabeth Pähtz


Former women's world champion Maia Chiburdanidze, Georgia

Vietnam
2-2
Germany
Le Thanh Tu
0-1
Paehtz, Elisabeth
Hoang Thi Bao Tram
½-½
Kachiani-Gersinska, Ketino
Nguyen Thi Thanh An
1-0
Nill, Jessica
Pham Le Thao Nguyen
½-½
Ohme, Melanie
China
4-0
Botswana
Hou Yifan
1-0
Sabure Tuduetso
Ruan Lufei
1-0
Modongo Boikhutso
Shen Yang
1-0
Sabure, Ontiretse
Huang Qian
1-0
Pilane Masego Sylvia
Russia
3.5-0.5
Czech Republic
Kosintseva, Tatiana
1-0
Jackova, Jana
Kosintseva, Nadezhda
½-½
Sikorova, Olga
Korbut, Ekaterina
1-0
Blazkova, Petra
Kovalevskaya, Ekaterina
1-0
Nemcova, Katerina
Poland
3-1
Armenia
Socko, Monika
1-0
Danielian, Elina
Rajlich, Iweta
0-1
Mkrtchian, Lilit
Zawadzka, Jolanta
1-0
Aghinian, Nelly
Przezdziecka, Marta
1-0
Aghabekian, Liana
Georgia
1-3
Ukraine
Chiburdanidze, Maya
½-½
Lahno, Kateryna
Javakhishvili, Lela
½-½
Ushenina, Anna
Khurtsidze, Nino
0-1
Gaponenko, Inna
Khukhashvili, Sopiko
0-1
Vasilevich, Tatiana

Round 9 – 29.5.2007

The Chinese team won Gold in the First World Women’s Chess Team Championship. These young ladies, the oldest of whom is 22, struck everybody by their stable play and excellent physical state. The majority of the games they won lasted for about four hours, evidence of their battlelike attitude and a desire to struggle till the very end. A whole team of coaches supported the players in Yekaterinburg. In the last round they faced Germany, looking fresh and vigorous as usual, in spite of the early start of the round. They could have easily gone for a draw in round nine, but instead struggled until the very end in every game. The score against Germany: 2.5:1.5.


The victorious Chinese team: Huang Qian, Zhao Xue, Hou Yefan, Sheng Yang, Ruan Lufei

Meanwhile the Russian took their four points against Botswana and the Silver medal in this event, two match points behind the leaders. The Ukraine team struggled for five hours against Vietnam and won the encounter 3.5:0.5, taking Bronze in the process.

Ukraine
3.5-0.5
Vietnam
Lahno, Kateryna
1-0
Le Kieu Thien Kim
Ushenina, Anna
1-0
Le Thanh Tu
Gaponenko, Inna
1-0
Hoang Thi Bao Tram
Vasilevich, Tatiana
½-½
Nguyen Thi Thanh An
Armenia
2-2
Georgia
Mkrtchian, Lilit
½-½
Chiburdanidze, Maya
Aghinian, Nelly
½-½
Khurtsidze, Nino
Andriasian, Siranush
½-½
Khukhashvili, Sopiko
Aghabekian, Liana
½-½
Gvetadze, Sofio
Czech Republic
0.5-3.5
Poland
Jackova, Jana
0-1
Socko, Monika
Sikorova, Olga
0-1
Zawadzka, Jolanta
Blazkova, Petra
½-½
Szczepkowska, Karina
Nemcova, Katerina
0-1
Przezdziecka, Marta
Botswana
0-4
Russia
Sabure Tuduetso
0-1
Kosintseva, Tatiana
Lopang Tshepiso
0-1
Kosintseva, Nadezhda
Modongo Boikhutso
0-1
Korbut, Ekaterina
Pilane Masego Sylvia
0-1
Kovalevskaya, Ekaterina
Germany
1.5-2.5
China
Paehtz, Elisabeth
½-½
Zhao Xue
Kachiani-Gersinska, Ketino
½-½
Hou Yifan
Ohme, Melanie
½-½
Shen Yang
Schoene, Maria Randi
0-1
Huang Qian

The trophy


Unveiling the spectacular golden trophy

The golden trophy for the first place weighs for about 15 kg, its height is more than 70 cm. It is decorated with 16 precious Urals stones: garnet, corund and lavender pheonite. The sphere is made of optical glass with a laser engraving inside. Ural specialists spent more than a month creating the golden Cup.


Participants, spectators and representatives of mass media admire the Cup


Iz-za ostrova na stryezhyen' – music and song at the end of a great tournament


Don't try this at home: acrobatics at the closing ceremony

Final standings

No. Team
Match
Board
1 China
17
30.5
2 Russia
15
24.0
3 Ukraine
14
23.5
4 Georgia
11
20.0
5 Poland
9
19.5
6 Germany
8
18.0
7 Vietnam
8
16.5
8 Armenia
5
17.0
9 Czech Republic
3
11.0
10 Botswana
0
0.0

The best results on individual boards:

No. Player Country Points
1 Zhao Xue China 6.5
2 Hou Yifan China 7.5
3 Inna Gaponenko Ukraine 7.0
4 Ekaterina Kovalevskaya Russia 6.5

Final cross table

China CHN  RUS  POL  GEO  UKR  ARM  CZE  BOT  GER  VIE  Total
1. Zhao Xue 1 1 0.5 1 0.5 1 0.5 1  
2. Hou Yifan 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0.5 1  
3. Ruan Lufei 1 1 0.5 0.5   1 1   1  
4. Shen Yang   1 1 1 1 0.5 1 0.5 0.5  
5. Huang Qian 1       1   1 1    
 Score 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 17
Russia CHN  RUS  POL  GEO  UKR  ARM  CZE  BOT  GER  VIE  Total
1. Kosintseva, Tatiana 0 0.5 0.5 1 0.5 1 1 0.5 1  
2. Kosintseva, Nadezhda 0 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 1 0.5 0.5  
3. Korbut, Ekaterina 0 0.5   0   1 1 1    
4. Kovalevskaya, Ekaterina     1 0.5 1 1 1 1 1  
5. Tairova, Elena 0 1 1   0.5       1  
 Score 0 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 15
Poland CHN  RUS  POL  GEO  UKR  ARM  CZE  BOT  GER  VIE  Total
1. Socko, Monika 0 0.5 0.5 1 1 1 1 0.5 0  
2. Rajlich, Iweta 0 0.5 0 0 0     0.5 0  
3. Zawadzka, Jolanta 0 0.5 0 0 1 1 1 1 1  
4. Szczepkowska, Karina   0       0.5 1 1    
5. Przezdziecka, Marta 0   0.5 0.5 1 1 1   1  
 Score 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 1 9
Georgia CHN  RUS  POL  GEO  UKR  ARM  CZE  BOT  GER  VIE  Total
1. Chiburdanidze, Maya 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 1   0 1  
2. Javakhishvili, Lela 1 0.5 1 0.5   1 1 0.5 0.5  
3. Khurtsidze, Nino 0.5 0 1 0 0.5   1 1 0.5  
4. Khukhashvili, Sopiko   0   0 0.5 0.5 1 0.5    
5. Gvetadze, Sofio 0   0.5   0.5 0 1   0.5  
 Score 1 0 2 0 1 2 2 1 2 11
Ukraine CHN  RUS  POL  GEO  UKR  ARM  CZE  BOT  GER  VIE  Total
1. Lahno, Kateryna 0 0 0 0.5 0.5 0.5   0.5 1  
2. Ushenina, Anna 0 0.5 1 0.5 1 1 1 0.5 1  
3. Gaponenko, Inna 0.5 1 1 1 1   1 0.5 1  
4. Vasilevich, Tatiana   0.5 0.5 1 0.5 1 1 0.5 0.5  
5. Vozovic, Oksana 0         0.5 1      
 Score 0 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 14
Armenia CHN  RUS  POL  GEO  UKR  ARM  CZE  BOT  GER  VIE  Total
1. Danielyan, Elina 0.5 0.5 0   0.5 1 1 0.5 1  
2. Mkrtchyan, Lilit 0 0.5 1 0.5 0 1   0.5 0.5  
3. Aghinyan, Nelly 0   0 0.5 0 1 1 0.5    
4. Andriasyan, Siranush   0   0.5 0.5   1 0 0  
5. Aghabekyan, Liana 0 0.5 0 0.5   1 1   0  
 Score 0 0 0 1 0 2 2 0 0 5
Czech Republic CHN  RUS  POL  GEO  UKR  ARM  CZE  BOT  GER  VIE  Total
1. Jackova, Jana 0 0 0 0 0.5 0 1 0.5 0.5  
2. Sikorova, Olga 0 0.5 0 0 0 0 1 0 0  
3. Blazkova, Petra 0 0 0.5 0.5 0 0 1 0.5 0.5  
4. Nemcova, Katerina 0.5 0 0 1 0.5 0 1 1 0  
 Score 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 3
Botswana CHN  RUS  POL  GEO  UKR  ARM  CZE  BOT  GER  VIE  Total
1. Sabure, Tuduetso 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  
2. Lopang, Tshepiso   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  
3. Modongo, Boikhutso 0 0       0 0 0 0  
4. Sabure, Ontiretse 0   0 0 0 0 0 0 0  
5. Pilane Masego, Sylvia 0 0 0 0 0          
 Score 0 0 0 0 0 0 0   0 0
Germany CHN  RUS  POL  GEO  UKR  ARM  CZE  BOT  GER  VIE  Total
1. Paehtz, Elisabeth 0.5 0.5 0.5 1 0.5 0.5 0.5   1  
2. Kachiani-Gersinska, K. 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 1 1 0.5  
3. Nill, Jessica   0 0   0.5 0.5 0.5 1 0  
4. Ohme, Melanie 0.5   0 0   1 0 1 0.5  
5. Schoene, Maria Randi 0 0   0.5 0.5     1    
 Score 0 0 0 1 1 2 1 2 1 8
Vietnam CHN  RUS  POL  GEO  UKR  ARM  CZE  BOT  GER  VIE  Total
1. Le Kieu Thien Kim 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.5 1 0  
2. Le Thanh Tu 0 0.5 1 0.5 0 0.5 1 1    
3. Hoang Thi Bao Tram 0 0   0.5 0 1 0.5   0.5  
4. Nguyen, Thi Thanh An 0.5 0 0 0.5 0.5     1 1  
5. Pham Le Thao Nguyen     0     1 1 1 0.5  
 Score 0 0 1 0 0 2 2 2 1 8

Pictures and information supplied by Elmira Mirzoeva,
Press-attaché of the 1st World Women’s Team Championship


Our Correspondent in Yekaterinburg

Elmira Mirzoeva is a sport journalist and TV presenter. She is also a strong chess player, becoming Russian Women's Blitz Champion in 1999 and gaining a Women's Grandmaters title in 2002. She has also been Women's Vice-Champion of Moscow (2000-2002), Moscow Women's Blitz Champion (2002-2004) and played for the French Club "Shalon Champine".

As a journalist Elmira has written more than 100 articles in sports publications since 1998. In 2003 she became a special chess commentator for the channel "7TV", and in 2004 the resident chess commentator for the RTR Sport TV Channel. In 2005 Elmira created Russia's only dedicated TV program for chess, "Shakh or Mat". In 2006 she became the TV presenter of the centeral Moscow channel "Stolica", and also works for the biggest and tha oldest radio station "Mayak", where she has her own chess programm and weekly talks about chess. Elmira has also taken part in developing a childrens chess programme, "A Big Chess Journey", by Media House.

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