2015 Ukraine Ch: Kuzubov takes early lead

by Albert Silver
12/7/2015 – The Ukrainian Championships are underway in Lviv, Ukraine. Both the men’s and women’s events are composed of twelve players, with many of their very best fighting for the title of Ukraine Champion. After four rounds in the men’s event, Kuzubov has stormed into first with 3.5/4, while the Ukrainian Federation still keeps Mariya Muzychuk’s games secret.

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After the technical meeting, the players all pose for a collective photo

The program of events to follow

Yuriy Kuzubov has had a near perfect start with 3.5/4

Alexander Kovchan has also had a great start with 3.0/4

In spite of the highly controversial (and ridiculous) decision to keep her games secret,
Mariya Muychuk is not to blame, and this is exactly the type of event she needs in order
to ready herself for a match against an objectively stronger opponent

Yuriy Kryvoruchko is the top-seed of the competition with 2711 FIDE, but several of his rivals
are no stranger to the 2700-club

Alexander Areschenko topped the scales at 2720 a couple of years ago. In round one, he
overpowered Sergey Fedorchuk in impressive style.

Alexander Areshchenko - Sergey Fedorchuk

[Event "Ukraine Men`s Final - 2015"] [Site "Lviv"] [Date "2015.12.03"] [Round "1.3"] [White "Areshchenko, Alexander"] [Black "Fedorchuk, Sergey A"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A00"] [WhiteElo "2677"] [BlackElo "2641"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "r6k/1p5p/2nQ2pP/p3r3/P1B1P3/1P3q2/1P6/1K2R2R b - - 0 28"] [PlyCount "18"] [EventDate "2015.12.03"] {Black's wide open king position is already of disastrous proportions, and after} 28... Rd8 {White found an elegant way to compound his advantage.} 29. Qxd8+ $3 Nxd8 30. Rhf1 {The point is obviously the back rank mate threat.} Qxf1 (30... Rxe4 31. Rxf3 Rxe1+ 32. Kc2 Re8 33. Kc3 {White's extra queenside pawn, monster bishop, and numerous threats if Black should get careless, ensure an easy win.}) 31. Rxf1 Re8 32. Bd5 Nc6 33. Rf7 Ne7 34. Bxb7 Ng8 35. b4 Nxh6 36. Rc7 Re5 37. Bd5 {In this dead lost position, Black overstepped his time.} 1-0

Men's standings after four rounds

The women's event started two days later, and thus has two fewer rounds played thus far

Among the top two players with 2.0/2 is 17-year-old Iulija Osmak...

...and Myroslava Hrabinska.

It has been a blood event with only one draw out of the first twelve games. While Olga Kalinina
lost her game above against Osmak, she also scored a win against Soloviova.

Women's standings after two rounds

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 a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 13 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.
Born in the US, he grew up in Paris, France, where he completed his Baccalaureat, and after college moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He had a peak rating of 2240 FIDE, and was a key designer of Chess Assistant 6. In 2010 he joined the ChessBase family as an editor and writer at ChessBase News. He is also a passionate photographer with work appearing in numerous publications.