12th Rector Cup in Kharkov – the strongest ever in Ukraine
Text and pictures: Anastasiya Karlovich
The traditional chess tournament “Rector Cup” took place from
March 26 to 29 in the Palace of Students of the National Law Academy of Ukraine
named after Yaroslav the Wise. In the previous years the event consisted of
a match between the two strongest Ukrainian chess clubs “PVK Kievchess”
and “Law Academy”. This year the organizers decided to change the
format and stage instead the strongest international woman tournament in the
modern Ukrainian history. Eight ladies from four different countries took part
in the round robin tournament. The time control was 45 minutes per game + 10
seconds per move for each player.
Bells, whistles, mouse tracks and stars – the official web site Flash
graphics
The winner of the tournament is a well-known Ukrainian IM and Olympic Champion
Anna Ushenina. Second was Inna Gaponenko, while Armenian IM and the vice-champion
of Europe Lilit Mkrtchian took the third place, ahead of Russian WGM Anna Burtasova
on tiebreak.
Picture gallery
The symbol of Kharkov: “Zerkalnaya Struya”. It was built in
1947 and
commemorated the victory of Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War
The traditional sand sculptures in the central city square
A monument dedicated to "sweethearts"
The playing venue in the Student Palace
The drawing ceremony using famous Ukrainian chocolate “Crown”
Ukrainian IM Anna Ushenina, 6.0/7, 1.5 points ahead of the second place...
...of teammate Inna Gaponenko, 4.5 out of 7
The rating favorite Lilit Mkrtchian from Armenia finished third with four
points
Russian WGM Anna Burtasova lost to Lilit on tiebreak and appeared on the
forth place
The leader of the national woman team of Israel, Masha Klinova, 5th place, 3.5/7
The current Ukrainian champion Evgeniya Dolikhanova, finished in seventh
place
Ukrainian WIM Liza Soloviova, eighth place
A game between two leaders Anna Ushenina and Inna Gaponenko
The last game between Masha Klinova and Evgeniya Dolukhanova gathered many
spectators.
No game in the last round was drawn! It proves once again the fighting spirit
of women's chess.
Young players from the local chess club fallowing the game of Anna Burtasova
A young spectator with the press kit of the tournament
Alexander Kriukov providing live broadcasting of games on the official
tournament site
Evgeniya Dolukhanova, Elena Eljanova (wife of Pavel Eljanov) and Raya Korshenko
Spanish-Ukrainian Olga Alexandrova came to watch her friend Inna Gaponenko
Liza Soloviova reads a book about Chess Olympiad in Dresden
Masha Klinova and her mother Tamara
The orchestra at the closing ceremony, which included speeches, music and
the prize giving
The honorable presidium of the tournament
The President of the chess club “Law Academy”, Anatoliy Getman,
and the head of the department of preparation to Euro-2012, Viktor Khristoev,
present the Rector Cup to the winner Anna Ushenina
The famous Ukrainian singer Garry Sitian with his charming voice makes any closing
ceremony unforgettable
From right to left: Evgeniya Dolukhanova, Lilit Mkrtchan, Inna Gaponenko, Maria
Klinova amd Anna Ushenina during the clothing ceremony
Picture of all participants of the tournament with the organizers
Links
The games were 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! |
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