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It is easily the longest top-level chess league of the year, taking place over five cities, and 18 rounds played throughout the year. In a day and age where the trend is fewer and faster, it is refreshing to see this old-fashioned, protracted competition give such a tribute to the game. Though there were Elo favorites on paper, none of the ten teams had any crushing edge, and after eight months of competition, it was fifth seed Beijing who emerged victorious, mostly by gritty competitive spirit.
Beijing won the Chinese Chess League A for 2011, with GM Danielian (absent), Zhao
Xue, Xiu Deshun, Wang Jue, Yu Yangyi, Li Chao, Wang Yu, and Bai Jinshi.
Beijing receive their reward
In second place came Shanghai
Their lineup was certainly nothing to spit upon, but nor did they sport a single 2700 player, several of whom were playing in the competition. They were one of only two teams in which four of their five boards played all 18 rounds, and considering the vent, it is fitting that their second board, Li Chao, won the men's top board with 13.0/18. The competition awards the highest number of points over the highest performance (Vladimir Malakhov with 7.0/9 and 2734 has that honor), which is also why Ju Wenjun won the best woman's prize with 14.0/18, despite Hou Yifan's higher percentage and performance (82% and 2660 respectively), but scoring fewer points with 11.5/14.
Li Chao and Ju Wenjun scored the most points in the competition
Ju Wenjun has consistently been a top scorer in the Chinese Leagues
Last year Hou Yifan was the top woman, but due to her World Championship commitments
was unable to outscore Ju Wenjun. Her 2660 performance was superb all the same.
Pavel Eljanov faces Wang Hao in a top encounter
GM Wang Yue: now you see him...
...now you don't!
Here is a game by Motylev in which he tendered an amazing trap to his opponent, enticing him to play a 'combination' that ran into a fantastic refutation.
There must be something in this position!
WGM Gu Xiaobing often contributes pictures and reports for our pages
Wang Hao overlooks the game by Ni Hua
No party is complete without a banquet
WGM Shen Yang
They say "the clothes make the man". By that definition GM Zhou Weiqi was the
manliest man of the competition.
GM Elina Danielian
| Rk | Team | Matches |
+ |
- |
= |
TB1 |
TB2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beijing | 18 |
14 |
2 |
2 |
30 |
54.5 |
| 2 | Shanghai | 18 |
11 |
3 |
4 |
26 |
52.0 |
| 3 | Qingdao | 18 |
9 |
4 |
5 |
23 |
47.5 |
| 4 | Shandong | 18 |
8 |
6 |
4 |
20 |
49.5 |
| 5 | Zhejiang | 18 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
16 |
44.0 |
| 6 | Tianjin | 18 |
5 |
9 |
4 |
14 |
43.0 |
| 7 | Jiangsu | 18 |
5 |
9 |
4 |
14 |
41.5 |
| 8 | Chongqing | 18 |
4 |
8 |
6 |
14 |
40.5 |
| 9 | Hebei | 18 |
3 |
8 |
7 |
13 |
41.0 |
| 10 | Sichuan | 18 |
0 |
8 |
10 |
10 |
36.5 |
Tie Break1: Matchpoints (2 for wins, 1 for Draws, 0 for Losses)
Tie Break2: points (game-points)
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 and get immediate access. Or you can get our latest Fritz 13 program, which includes six months free premium membership to Playchess. |
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