 |
Prize fund: 90.000€ (24.000 - 17.500 - 12.500 - 11.000 - 9.000 - 7.500 - 4.000 - 2.500) |
This year's Russian Championship Super Final also marks a special edition: the 64th. Oddly though, instead of some mega event with more, the tournament has been cut down from last year's eleven-round edition with twelve players to a mere seven rounds and eight players. Still, don't think that makes it a lesser event by any means, as it also brings together a fantastic field with Kramnik, Karjakin, Grischuk, Morozevich, Svidler, Nepomniachtchi, and Galkin for a 2715 average rating. Once more the Russian Federation hosts the championship at a level that few can rival, with high resolution video broadcasting and of course grandmaster commentary. Round one through four will be commented by GM Sergey Makarichev, while rounds five through seven will be commented on by world-famous coach Mark Dvoretsky.
As last year, the tournament is being held in the Moscow Central Club on Gogol Blvd.
The Sholokhov Memorial on Gogol Boulevard, in tribute to Mikhail Sholokhov, winner
of the 1965 Nobel Prize in literature, and his most famous book, "And Quiet Flows the Don".
The famed club is currently under renovation
A view of some of the finalized work displaying a gorgeously done stairway
Inside one of the main halls where portraits of the greats can be seen on the walls
The playing area with cameras positioned for the broadcast, and screens to display
the board positions for the spectators.
Grischuk, Svidler, and Karjakin during the opening ceremony
In the background is Kramnik, while in the fore is the chief
arbiter Edward Dubov.
The drawing of lots was more than simply a number from a hat and a picture. Before
drawing their number, the players were shown a position from a previous game and
asked to comment on the novelty they played.
A video of the ceremony made by Eugene Potemkin. Further videos and interviews (in Russian)
can be found at the site.
Alexander Galkin draws a four
Ayrton Timofeev was forced to explain that he had in fact played his 'novelty' before
Reigning champion Ian Nepomniachtchi
Five-time champion Peter Svidler
Alexander Morozevich
has been having a fantastic comeback
Alexander Grischuk
2010 runner-up Sergey Karjakin, vying with Kramnik for the title
of Top Russian.
Vladimir Kramnik fresh from a fantastic result in Dortmund
Photographs by Vladimir Barsky (Russiachess.org)
In such a short tournament, a strong start or a weak one can decide the event from the beginning as there is little time to play catch-up. Astonishingly, the only decisive result came from Vladimir Kramnik, fresh from a fantastic tournament in Dortmund just weeks ago, but it was a shock loss to Peter Svidler. All other games ended in draws.
LinksThe 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 11 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs. |
|
