Closing Ceremony in Kazan

by Eteri Kublashvili
12/9/2014 – After nine tough rounds, Lysyj took the gold. He led the event most of the way, though he was far from the pre-tournament favorite. In the women's section one of the favorites, Gunina, started the tournament on the wrong foot, but she turned things around and won the tournament. Eteri Kublashvili brings us her impressions of the final round and the closing ceremony from Kazan.

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The Russian Chess Championship Super Final, the 67th for men and the 64th for women, took place from November 27th until December 8th in the city of Kazan, in a branch of the State Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of Tatarstan (the Khazine Gallery). The Super Final is the main individual competition in the Russian chess calendar: it pitches together the country's strongest male and female chess player. The tournament is a follow-up of the Chess in Museums project, an international programme run by the Russian Chess Federation (RCF) in conjunction with the Elena and Gennady Timchenko Charitable Foundation.

The Super Final's participants were playing in a hall hosting an exposition of paintings by Nicolai Fechin, a famous artist born in Kazan. The works exhibited in the hall include the famous pictures Slaughterhouse and Showering with Water. Students of the Fechin Kazan Art School were attending the tournament every day to do sketches of the players. The jury awarded prizes to the best works.

Final Round

In the final round of the men's tournament, Nikita Vitiugov destroyed Ian Nepomniachtchi with Black. The opponents played out a complex opening line in which Black was in a very promising position. White failed to castle and Black launched a powerful central attack. Vitiugov won major material and soon drove the point home.

A close call for Khismatullin against...

Jakovenko, who tried hard to play for the win

Peter Svidler outplayed Vadim Zvjaginsev in a long duel. The latter sacrificed a pawn in the middlegame but did not obtain any serious compensation. The extra pawn had its say in the endgame and Peter finished the tournament on a winning note.

The games B. Grachev – I. Lysyj, D. Khismatullin – D. Jakovenko and A. Morozevich – S. Karjakin ended in draws.

Igor Lysyj became the Russian Champion with 5.5 points in 9 games. The silver medalist was Dmitry Jakovenko, who lagged behind the winner by half a point. Denis Khismatullin took third place, gaining 4.5 points, like four other participants, but staying ahead of them in terms of additional indicators.

In the women’s tournament, it all boiled down to one game: the match between the leaders Alisa Galliamova and Valentina Gunina, which ended in the latter’s favour. Valentina sacrificed a pawn in the opening and obtained compensation. During time trouble, the game swung like a pendulum and, at one point, White had a decisive edge. But then Galliamova made a blunder and the advantage swung back to Black. Valentina Gunina brought the game to a ruthless conclusion and became the Russian Champion for the second time in a row. Alisa Galliamova won the silver.

Valentina Gunina and Alisa Galliamova in the decisive round

The round also saw a sensational defeat of Alexandra Kosteniuk, playing Black, by Superfinal first-timer Oksana Gritsayeva.

Anastasia Bodnaruk, who had also done very badly in the tournament, outplayed Olga Girya, who had been among the leaders for nearly the entire event. Olga made a mistake in a better endgame and Anastasia achieved a win.

In a lengthy tug-of-war, Alina Kashlinskaya gradually outsmarted Natalija Pogonina with Black.

Ekaterina Kovalevskaya and Aleksandra Goriachkina drew. The 16-year-old Aleksandra took third place, overcoming Olga Girya in terms of additional indicators.

Final results:

Final Results women:

The Superfinal’s closing ceremony was held at the Khazine Gallery on the same day. The participants received congratulations and awards from Vladimir Leonov, Tatarstan Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports; Igor Baradachev, Deputy General Director of the Elena and Gennady Timchenko Charitable Foundation; Gennady Zakharov, President of the Tatarstan Chess Federation; and Mark Glukhovsky, Chairman of the Management Board of the Russian Chess Federation.

Alexander Khalifman, Pavel Tregubov and Sergei Rublevsky before the closing ceremony

Valentina Gunina, new Russian Champion,
was interviewed seconds after she was done with her game

Commentator Sergei Shipov and second place Alisa Galliamova

The prizes ready to be handed out

In good spirits! Vitiugov, Svidler and Jakovenko

Anastasia Bodnaruk, Alina Kashlinskaya and her mother

The winner! Igor Lysyj with his second, IM Nikolai Oglobin

Aleksandray Goryachkina achieved third place

Bronze and Silver: Goryachkina and Galliamova

Valentina Gunina doesn't have enough things to hold,
so she was awarded the album "Chess in museums around world"

Khismatullin's last round draw got him the third place

Winners in the open: Khismatullin, Jakovenko and Lysyj

Prizes were also awarded to students of the Kazan Art School, who had been sketching the players during the event. Ulyana Babakayeva won the third-place prize, whereas the second prize went to Ksenia Vlasova and the first to Elvina Sabirova.

The winning pieces

The artists with their own awards

Gennadiy Zakharov organizers presented a book about Nicolai Fechin

Andrey Filatov, President of the Russian Chess Federation, summed up the event: “The Kazan Superfinal has been a real feast for both participants and fans and has yet again showcased Russia’s outstanding chess talent. I congratulate with all my heart Russian Champions Igor Lysyj and Valentina Gunina on this great victory.

On behalf of the Russian Chess Federation, I would like to thank the first President of the Republic of Tatarstan, head of the Organising Committee of the Superfinal Mintimer Shaimiev, thanks to whose personal involvement the competition was held at the highest standard; head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin for the opportunity to hold the tournament at one of Russia’s best regional museums; and our loyal partner ‒ the Elena and Gennady Timchenko Charitable Foundation.

As part of the Chess in Museums project, we were able to combine chess and art once again. This combination not only provides an impressive backdrop to the dramatic chess matches, but also brings new audiences to museum halls. The Superfinal gave chess fans a unique opportunity to enjoy the participants’ good play and to familiarise themselves with works by the great Russian-American artist Nicolai Fechin. The RCF and the Elena and Gennady Timchenko Charitable Foundation will continue this project and I am confident that a large number of impressive games held in Russian and the world’s best museums are still ahead of us.”

Deputy General Director of the Elena and Gennady Timchenko Charitable Foundation Igor Baradachev said: "To conclude another Russian Championship Superfinal jointly held by the RCF and the Timchenko Foundation as part of the Chess in Museums project, I would like to thank everyone who has made a huge contribution to making this event happen at the highest level here in Kazan. I hope that the participants and the audience have truly enjoyed the harmony of beauty, art, elegance and sport on the chess boards and the easels. For the first time, a synergy of chess and art has given us not only chess champions, but also nice paintings drawn during the game, their authors receiving well-deserved awards."

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1.e41,157,09954%2422---
1.d4940,74255%2434---
1.Nf3279,27256%2441---
1.c4180,87056%2443---
1.g319,62256%2427---
1.b314,03354%2427---
1.f45,81948%2377---
1.Nc33,70851%2384---
1.b41,73148%2378---
1.a31,17753%2402---
1.e31,05448%2407---
1.d392750%2376---
1.g464846%2360---
1.h443852%2371---
1.c341851%2423---
1.h326055%2413---
1.a410159%2476---
1.Nh38866%2510---
1.f38247%2435---
1.Na33862%2477---
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Be3 Nc6 9.Qf3 Rc8 10.0-0-0 Nb4 11.Kb1 Qc7 12.a3 Nxc2 13.Kxc2 Qc6 14.Nd2 d5 15.exd5 Nxd5 16.Nc4 Nxc3 17.Qxc6+ Rxc6 18.bxc3 Bxc4 19.Bxc4 Rxc4 20.Rd5 Be7 21.Rb1 Rc7 22.Rxe5 0-0 23.Bb6 Rd7 24.Rbe1 Bf6 25.R5e4 h5 26.c4 Kh7 27.Rd1 Rxd1 28.Kxd1 Rc8 29.Kc2 Kg8 30.Kb3 Kf8 31.a4 Be7 32.c5 Ke8 33.Kc4 Rc6 34.Re5 g6 35.Ba5 Rf6 36.Bb4 Kd7 37.f3 Rc6 38.Rd5+ Ke8 39.Bc3 b6 40.Bb4 Rc8 41.g4 hxg4 42.hxg4 Rc6 43.g5 f6 44.f4 fxg5 45.fxg5 Re6 46.Kd3 Rc6 47.Kd4 Re6 48.Ba3 Kf7 49.Rd7 Ke8 50.Ra7 bxc5+ 51.Bxc5 Bxc5+ 52.Kxc5 Re5+ 53.Kd6 Rxg5 54.Rxa6 Kf7 55.a5 Rg1 56.Rb6 Ra1 57.a6 Kf6 58.Kc7+ Kf5 59.Rb5+ Kf4 60.Kb6 Rxa6+ 61.Kxa6 g5 62.Rb8 g4 63.Kb5 g3 64.Kc4 g2 65.Rg8 Kf3 66.Kd3 Kf2 67.Rf8+ Ke1 68.Re8+ Kf2 69.Rf8+ ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Karjakin,S2770Khismatullin,D2679½–½2014B9067th ch-RUS 20141.1
Grachev,B2669Svidler,P2743½–½2014D7967th ch-RUS 20141.2
Jakovenko,D2745Nepomniachtchi,I2714½–½2014A3467th ch-RUS 20141.3
Zvjaginsev,V2655Morozevich,A2724½–½2014C0767th ch-RUS 20141.4
Vitiugov,N2738Lysyj,I26860–12014A4667th ch-RUS 20141.5
Lysyj,I2686Svidler,P2743½–½2014D8267th ch-RUS 20142.1
Nepomniachtchi,I2714Karjakin,S27701–02014A0367th ch-RUS 20142.2
Khismatullin,D2679Zvjaginsev,V26550–12014A0467th ch-RUS 20142.3
Morozevich,A2724Grachev,B26691–02014B8567th ch-RUS 20142.4
Vitiugov,N2738Jakovenko,D2745½–½2014D3767th ch-RUS 20142.5
Svidler,P2743Morozevich,A27240–12014A0567th ch-RUS 20143.1
Jakovenko,D2745Lysyj,I26861–02014D3067th ch-RUS 20143.2
Zvjaginsev,V2655Nepomniachtchi,I2714½–½2014B2267th ch-RUS 20143.3
Karjakin,S2770Vitiugov,N2738½–½2014A0767th ch-RUS 20143.4
Grachev,B2669Khismatullin,D2679½–½2014E1867th ch-RUS 20143.5
Lysyj,I2686Morozevich,A27241–02014E1167th ch-RUS 20144.1
Jakovenko,D2745Karjakin,S2770½–½2014E1567th ch-RUS 20144.2
Nepomniachtchi,I2714Grachev,B2669½–½2014B4667th ch-RUS 20144.3
Khismatullin,D2679Svidler,P2743½–½2014A0467th ch-RUS 20144.4
Vitiugov,N2738Zvjaginsev,V26551–02014A4067th ch-RUS 20144.5
Morozevich,A2724Khismatullin,D26790–12014B9067th ch-RUS 20145
Karjakin,S2770Lysyj,I26860–12014A3067th ch-RUS 20145
Svidler,P2743Nepomniachtchi,I2714½–½2014A3467th ch-RUS 20145
Grachev,B2669Vitiugov,N2738½–½2014D1167th ch-RUS 20145
Nepomniachtchi,I2714Morozevich,A2724½–½2014A0567th ch-RUS 20146.2
Jakovenko,D2745Grachev,B2669½–½2014C1167th ch-RUS 20146.3
Vitiugov,N2738Svidler,P2743½–½2014E6067th ch-RUS 20146.4
Karjakin,S2770Zvjaginsev,V26551–02014B0967th ch-RUS 20146.5
Jakovenko,D2745Morozevich,A2724½–½2014A4067th ch-RUS 20148.2
Karjakin,S2770Svidler,P2743½–½2014C8867th ch-RUS 20148.3
Vitiugov,N2738Khismatullin,D26790–12014A2967th ch-RUS 20148.4
Zvjaginsev,V2655Grachev,B2669½–½2014B2267th ch-RUS 20148.5
Khismatullin,D2679Jakovenko,D2745½–½2014D4567th ch-RUS 20149
Nepomniachtchi,I2714Vitiugov,N27380–12014C1967th ch-RUS 20149
Morozevich,A2724Karjakin,S2770½–½2014C4767th ch-RUS 20149
Svidler,P2743Zvjaginsev,V26551–02014B3567th ch-RUS 20149
Zvjaginsev,V2655Lysyj,I26861–02014A0867th ch-RUS 20147.1
Svidler,P2743Jakovenko,D2745½–½2014A0367th ch-RUS 20147.2
Khismatullin,D2679Nepomniachtchi,I2714½–½2014A3167th ch-RUS 20147.3
Morozevich,A2724Vitiugov,N2738½–½2014B1167th ch-RUS 20147.4
Grachev,B2669Karjakin,S2770½–½2014E1567th ch-RUS 20147.5

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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Kovalevskaya,E2439Kosteniuk,A25410–12014A13ch-RUS Superfinal w 20141.1
Kashlinskaya,A2439Galliamova,A24711–02014D94ch-RUS Superfinal w 20141.2
Gritsayeva,O2335Bodnaruk,A24110–12014A41ch-RUS Superfinal w 20141.3
Girya,O2457Pogonina,N24801–02014D37ch-RUS Superfinal w 20141.4
Gunina,V2522Goryachkina,A24380–12014C67ch-RUS Superfinal w 20141.5
Kosteniuk,A2541Bodnaruk,A24111–02014B07ch-RUS Superfinal w 20142.1
Goryachkina,A2438Kashlinskaya,A24391–02014D85ch-RUS Superfinal w 20142.2
Galliamova,A2471Girya,O24571–02014D10ch-RUS Superfinal w 20142.3
Kovalevskaya,E2439Gunina,V25221–02014B11ch-RUS Superfinal w 20142.4
Pogonina,N2480Gritsayeva,O2335½–½2014A43ch-RUS Superfinal w 20142.5
Gunina,V2522Kosteniuk,A25411–02014D41ch-RUS Superfinal w 20143.1
Girya,O2457Goryachkina,A24381–02014D12ch-RUS Superfinal w 20143.2
Gritsayeva,O2335Galliamova,A2471½–½2014B40ch-RUS Superfinal w 20143.3
Bodnaruk,A2411Pogonina,N24800–12014C65ch-RUS Superfinal w 20143.4
Kashlinskaya,A2439Kovalevskaya,E2439½–½2014A58ch-RUS Superfinal w 20143.5
Kosteniuk,A2541Pogonina,N24801–02014D37ch-RUS Superfinal w 20144.1
Goryachkina,A2438Gritsayeva,O23351–02014E15ch-RUS Superfinal w 20144.2
Kovalevskaya,E2439Girya,O24570–12014B11ch-RUS Superfinal w 20144.3
Galliamova,A2471Bodnaruk,A24111–02014E20ch-RUS Superfinal w 20144.4
Gunina,V2522Kashlinskaya,A24391–02014A48ch-RUS Superfinal w 20144.5
Bodnaruk,A2411Goryachkina,A24380–12014C26ch-RUS Superfinal w 20145
Gritsayeva,O2335Kovalevskaya,E24390–12014B22ch-RUS Superfinal w 20145
Girya,O2457Gunina,V25220–12014E11ch-RUS Superfinal w 20145
Pogonina,N2480Galliamova,A24710–12014C60ch-RUS Superfinal w 20145
Kosteniuk,A2541Galliamova,A24710–12014D10ch-RUS Superfinal w 20146.2
Kovalevskaya,E2439Bodnaruk,A24111–02014B48ch-RUS Superfinal w 20146.3
Gunina,V2522Gritsayeva,O23351–02014A55ch-RUS Superfinal w 20146.4
Kashlinskaya,A2439Girya,O24570–12014E53ch-RUS Superfinal w 20146.5
Gunina,V2522Pogonina,N24801–02014D56ch-RUS Superfinal w 20148.2
Kosteniuk,A2541Goryachkina,A24381–02014C65ch-RUS Superfinal w 20148.3
Girya,O2457Gritsayeva,O23351–02014A41ch-RUS Superfinal w 20148.4
Kashlinskaya,A2439Bodnaruk,A2411½–½2014E60ch-RUS Superfinal w 20148.5
Girya,O2457Kosteniuk,A2541½–½2014E10ch-RUS Superfinal w 20147.2
Pogonina,N2480Kovalevskaya,E2439½–½2014A58ch-RUS Superfinal w 20147.3
Bodnaruk,A2411Gunina,V25220–12014C26ch-RUS Superfinal w 20147.4
Gritsayeva,O2335Kashlinskaya,A24390–12014B55ch-RUS Superfinal w 20147.5
Bodnaruk,A2411Girya,O24571–02014B12ch-RUS Superfinal w 20149
Goryachkina,A2438Kovalevskaya,E2439½–½2014A58ch-RUS Superfinal w 20149
Gritsayeva,O2335Kosteniuk,A25411–02014B30ch-RUS Superfinal w 20149
Pogonina,N2480Kashlinskaya,A24390–12014E60ch-RUS Superfinal w 20149

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Eteri Kublashvili is a chessplayer and reports and photographs from all official tournaments for the Russian Chess Federation.

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