Rus Team Champ: SHSM wins Women's section

The incredibly strong Russian Team Championship is under way in Sochi, Russia. The single round robin tournament features the strongest Russian squads. The matches are 6v6, with each team having six player in their line-up plus two reserves.

Siberia Novisibirsk had no problems wrapping up the tournament. They rested their top two players, Aronian and Kramnik, and still had no issue winning 4.5-1.5 against the relatively weak team of Yamal, who finished in last place.

Meanwhile the exciting race for second place proved to be somewhat disappointing. Six draws in games that did not seem particularly hard fought gave University of Belorechensk second place while Bronze Horsemen from Saint Petersburg clinched third.

All darws in Saint Petersburg vs. University of Belorechensk

Ian Nepomniachtchi scored a slightly disappointing 3.0/7

Alexander Grischuk only played four games, but scored three points

Peter Svidler for Saint Petersburg

If there was a brilliancy prize, it was probably this very game pictured above. Najer playing black against Motylev. This was the pretty ending to this attacking miniature:

Goryachkina scored 3.5/7 playing third board for Yamal

Final Standings

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Women's Section

Meanwhile in the Women's section things were a little more interesting. The matches were 4v4 instead of 6v6. In this section SHSM was the clear favorite, basically fielding the Russian Women's Olympic team:

The second rated team was Yugra

However the big surprise of the tournament was the team from Saint Petersburg:

Amazing performances by Balaian and Bodnaruk, with 5.5/7 each, allowed the Saint Petersburg team to really fight for first place. They beat SHSM in round two and the top team had to play catch-up for the rest of the tournament. All the Saint Petersburg team needed in the last round was a 2.5-1.5 score against the weak team of Donchanka. However disaster struck, and they only managed a 2-2 draw.

SHSM took full advantage of their gift: they destroyed the University of Belorechensk 3.5-1.5, caught up to Saint Petersburg on match points and surpassed them with the better tie break (game points).

Perhaps a disappointing last round for the team from Saint Petersburg, but an excellent tournament nonetheless for them. Yugra took clear third with 10.0/14.

Natalia Pogonina playing for Yugra

Llit Mrktchian

Alexandra Kosteniuk had a rough showing, losing 10 rating points

Anastasia Bondaruk had a fantastic tournament

Karina Ambartsumova

Their getting used to winning when playing next to each other: Valentina Gunina and Olga Girya

Final Standings

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All pictures in this report were taken by Maria Fominykh

The photographer with a beautiful background in Sochi

WIM Maria Fominykh is a former u16 European Champion and is
now, besides a strong chess player, a chess journalist

Links Official tournament site Download all Open games Download all Women games 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 a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 13 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.