The championship is an eleven-round Swiss system in accordance with the ECU Tournament Rules and FIDE Laws of Chess. and is held in Yerevan, Armenia from March 2 (day of arrival) until March 15 (day of departure) 2014. The tournament is held at the Elite Plaza Business Centre.  The rate of play is 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move, starting from move one.

The tournament does not allow players to draw before the 40th move, and the controversial zero-tolerance rule will be in effect. In case of pre-arranged results the Chief Arbiter can decide that the result of the respective game is 0 - 0. If a prize-winner is absent during the closing ceremony, then the money prize will be reduced by 20%.

The total prizefund is 160 thousand Euros, with 20 thousand for first place, 16 thousand for second, down to 1000 for 25th place. There are also prizes for the best overperformer, meaning the player who performs highest over his rating.

The European Individual Championship 2014 is a qualification event for the next World Cup. According to FIDE regulations and the decision of the ECU Board, 23 players will qualify.

Round eight

Yerevan City Hall

It was a strong round, with numerous important results. The foremost was unquestionably on the top board between Alexander Motylev, the sole leader with 6.0/7 and Pavel Eljanov (2723), the second seed and hoping to change the direction the event has taken. No such luck as the Ukrainian played a Sicilian Taimanov against which the Russian chose to play aggressively and reaffirm his claim on the title with energetic play.

A great game, and a demonstration of Motylev’s enormous confidence now. Since the five other players on 5.5/7 drew their respective games, Alexander Motylev takes a full point lead with a staggering 7.0/8 and a 2918 performance with three rounds to go.

Three years can make a big difference as 13-year-old Martirosyan found out as
he faced 16-year-old Artemiev. Artemiev has 5.5/8 and is 25th. It will be a close
race to see whether he can secure a spot in the World Cup.

Since the direct tailgaters could not keep pace, there are now no fewer than thirteen players with 6.0/8, and many more with 5.5/8. The medals are not decided, and it will be a frenetic finish, as the top medals and prizes are fought over, as well as the 23 qualifying spots for the next World Cup.

The great Alexander Beliavsky was a top ten player in the 80s and 90s

In the group of players with 6.0/8 are both 19-year-olds Vladimir Fedoseev and David Anton Guijarro. The Spaniard beat Alexander Shimanov, ending with the following combination:

The top female player is... Judit Polgar (we know, we know... you would never have guessed), currently 21st, and in a healthy, albeit heated, fight for a qualifying seat. Today she finished off Italian IM Danyyil Dvirnyy, after he mistakenly allowed himself to be tempted:

Anton Korobov (2719) just hasn't been able to get his game
together after his first round shock loss

IM Firat Burak from Turkey

Photos by Arman Karakhanyan

Standings after eight rounds

Click for complete standings

Links Official tournament site All games in PGN 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 12 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.