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Three teams share first place in the open section of the European Club Cup following Thursday's sixth (and penultimate) round in Budva.
Defending champions SuperChess Romania and Novy Bor Chess Club drew their direct encounter 3–3, allowing top seeds Bayegan Pendik Chess Sports Club to catch them with a narrow 3½–2½ victory over Tuxera Aquaprofit Nagykanizsai.
All three teams enter the final round with 11/12 match points, while four clubs remain in contention for medals with 10 points.
Sveti Stefan, a small island connected to the mainland by a narrow tombolo, is situated approximately 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) southeast of Budva - Bobby Fischer and Boriss Spassky played the first 11 games of their 1992 rematch on the island | Photo: Gerd Densing
The encounter between SuperChess and Novy Bor featured four decisive games, with both teams holding the advantage at different stages. On the top board, Nodirbek Abdusattorov defeated his namesake and teammate Nodirbek Yakubboev to give the Romanian club an important point. Nihal Sarin responded by beating Jorden van Foreest on board two.
Bogdan-Daniel Deac subsequently put SuperChess ahead by defeating Nils Grandelius, while David Navara overcame Daniel Dardha on the sixth board to restore equality. Notably, Dardha came from winning all five of his previous games in Budva. The remaining two encounters ended drawn.
Novy Bor v. SuperChess | Photo: Gerd Densing
Select an entry from the list to switch between games
While the top match saw the co-leaders split the match points, Bayegan Pendik secured a crucial victory over fifth seeds Tuxera Aquaprofit Nagykanizsai. The Turkish representatives overcame an individual defeat on the top board, where Indian grandmaster Pranesh M defeated Anish Giri. It was Giri's second loss in four appearances at the tournament.
Victories by Amin Tabatabaei against Andrei Volokitin and Volodar Murzin against Maksim Chigaev proved sufficient for Bayegan Pendik to win the match.
Anish Giri and Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus playing on the top two boards for Bayegan Pendik | Photo: Gerd Densing
Elektroprivreda, the sixth seeds, missed an opportunity to join the leaders after being held to a 3–3 draw by second seeds Alkaloid. Elektroprivreda, representing Montenegro, nevertheless remain just one match point behind the leading trio. They are joined on 10/12 by Rishon LeZion A, Marseille Echecs and Cheddleton Savills Caterling.
Friday's final round will see Bayegan Pendik face SuperChess in a direct encounter between two of the leaders, while Novy Bor take on Elektroprivreda. Cheddleton will meet Rishon LeZion A, while Marseille Echecs face Alkaloid.
Arjun Erigaisi, Wei Yi (not in the photo) and Yu Yangyi lead Alkaloid, the second seeds in Budva | Photo: Gerd Densing
| Rk. | Team | Games | + | = | - | TB1 | TB2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SuperChess Romania | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 212,5 | |
| 2 | Bayegan Pendik Chess Sports Club | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 186 | |
| 3 | Novy Bor Chess Club | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 181 | |
| 4 | Elektroprivreda | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 177 | |
| 5 | Rishon LeZion A | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 160,5 | |
| 6 | Marseille Echecs | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 144 | |
| 7 | Cheddleton Savills Caterling | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 132 | |
| 8 | Alkaloid | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 167,5 | |
| 9 | Tuxera Aquaprofit Nagykanizsai | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 165 | |
| 10 | Ashdod chess club | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 160 | |
| 11 | Aix-en-Provence | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 143,5 | |
| 12 | Beer Sheva Chess Club | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 140,5 | |
| 13 | SK Rockaden team 1 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 138,5 | |
| 14 | SK K CERO INVEST Nitra | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 131,5 | |
| 15 | MTK Budapest 1 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 124,5 | |
| 16 | SK Dunajska Streda | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 122,5 | |
| 17 | Vugar Gashimov | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 148 | |
| 18 | Pausa Chess Club | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 134,5 | |
| 19 | TJ Slavia CAISSA Cadca | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 131 | |
| 20 | C.A Silla Integrant Col-lectius | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 127 |
The women's competition also has three teams tied for first place ahead of Friday's final round. CE Gambit Bonnevoie, who had won all five of their previous matches, suffered their first defeat against fifth seeds Odlar Yurdu, while defending champions Cercle d'Echecs de Monte-Carlo narrowly defeated SuperChess Romania.
The results leave all three teams on 10/12 match points, with Sirmium Sremska Mitrovica, Crvena Zvezda and Davit Jojua's Chess Club following on 8/12. Since none of the co-leaders face each other (they have already played each other in previous rounds), the three chasers have a very small theoretical chance of creating a six-way tie at the top if all three score wins.
The penultimate round in progress | Photo: Gerd Densing
Gambit Bonnevoie entered the sixth round with a two-point advantage over their closest pursuers, having already defeated the three highest-rated teams in the competition. However, the Luxembourg-based club could not extend their winning streak against Azerbaijan's Odlar Yurdu, who secured a 2½–1½ victory.
The decisive point came on the fourth board, where Khanim Balajayeva defeated Aleksandra Maltsevskaya. The remaining three games ended in draws. The victory allowed Odlar Yurdu to catch their opponents in the standings.
Anna Ushenina facing Ulviyya Fataliyeva on the top board | Photo: Gerd Densing
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Monte-Carlo joined the leading group by defeating third seeds SuperChess Romania 2½–1½. Stavroula Tsolakidou scored the only victory of the match, beating Deimante Daulyte-Cornette on board three.
The encounter was particularly demanding for Monte-Carlo on the remaining boards. Cramling managed to save a difficult position against Marsel Efroimski, while Humpy Koneru defended a pawn-down endgame against Dinara Wagner in a 95-move game. Koneru finally secured the half-point that gave her team the match victory.
Monte-Carlo's Aleksandra Goryachkina and Humpy Koneru | Photo: Gerd Densing
Elsewhere, 11-year-old English star Bodhana Sivanandan recorded her fourth individual win in Budva, defeating Arina Budiak of Klaipeda. Representing She Plays To Win Lionesses A, Sivanandan has collected 4½/6 points, with her only defeat coming against Aleksandra Goryachkina (the highest-rated player in the field) in the opening round.
The final round will see Monte-Carlo face 15th seeds Davit Jojua's Chess Club, while Odlar Yurdu take on second seeds Sirmium Sremska Mitrovica. Gambit Bonnevoie will meet seventh seeds Crvena Zvezda. As mentioned above, none of the three leaders will face each other.
Bodhana Sivanandan defeated Arina Budiak | Photo: Gerd Densing
| Rk. | Team | Games | + | = | - | TB1 | TB2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CE Gambit Bonnevoie | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 109 | |
| 2 | Cercle d'Echecs de Monte-Carlo | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 106,5 | |
| 3 | Odlar Yurdu | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 94 | |
| 4 | Sirmium Sremska Mitrovica | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 92,5 | |
| 5 | Crvena Zvezda | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 85 | |
| 6 | Davit Jojua's chess club | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 72 | |
| 7 | SuperChess Romania | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 76,5 | |
| 8 | Gambit ASEE | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 67 | |
| 9 | Club Ajedrez Linares | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 65 | |
| 10 | SG 1871 Loeberitz | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 46 | |
| 11 | Klub Kolner Schachfreunde | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 46 | |
| 12 | Velikova Chess Club | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 41 | |
| 13 | GASCO Pardubice | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 32 | |
| 14 | She Plays To Win Lionesses A | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 47,5 | |
| 15 | Zenski sahovski klub NAPREDAK Zenica | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 42 | |
| 16 | Wasa SK | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 26 | |
| 17 | Gostivar | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 39 | |
| 18 | SK Radnicki | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 19 | |
| 19 | Oslo Schakselskap | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 29 | |
| 20 | She Plays To Win Lionesses B | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 24,5 | |
| 21 | Klaipeda | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 17,5 | |
| 22 | Accademia Scacchistica Romana | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 14 |
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