
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
