Euro Teams: Russia in the sole lead, Firouzja closing on 2800

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
11/19/2021 – After six rounds, the Russian teams are sole leaders in both sections of the European Team Championships. In the open, a victory by Daniil Dubov on board 2 allowed them to defeat Hungary, while the women’s team easily defeated Greece. Meanwhile, France’s top board Alireza Firouzja has collected 5½ out of 6 points so far in Slovenia, and is now less than 4 points shy from crossing the 2800 rating barrier. | Photos: ECU Press
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Firouzja grabs fifth win

With three rounds to go at the European Championships in Slovenia, the rating favourites are leading the standings tables in both sections — Russia in both cases.

Meanwhile, the highest-rated player participating in the open (according to the players’ live ratings) is having an outstanding tournament. Alireza Firouzja, currently rated 2796.3, won his fifth game of the event, which means there are good chances that he will finish the tournament as the number two in the world ranking — and perhaps the only player other than Magnus Carlsen to have a 2800+ rating in FIDE’s official list for December.  

On Thursday, the 18-year-old beat Greece’s Dimitrios Mastrovasilis with the white pieces. The Greek grandmaster faltered on move 39.

 
Firouzja vs. Mastrovasilis

Black is two pawns down and his bishop is currently under attack, but he also has plenty of counterplay with his central pawns and active king. At this point, Mastrovasilis had a powerful recourse in 39...Rh7, giving up the bishop but entering a forced sequence that would lead to a draw. Most likely under some time pressure, the Greek opted for 39...Be8, which resulted in a winning position for Firouzja.

In the line that led to a draw, after 39...Rh7 40.Rxb5, Black needs to play 40...Rh1+ 41.Kd2 e3+ 42.Kd2 Rh2+ 43.Kf1 followed by the precise 43...Ke4

 
Analysis diagram

Now it is White who needs to find an only move to draw the game — 44.Nc6, which would be followed by a perpetual check with the rook.

Interestingly, the point behind 43...Ke4 instead of the immediate 43...Rh1+ is that after the latter White can allow Black to promote his e-pawn, in fact getting a better position — 44.Kg2 e2 45.Kf3

 
Analysis diagram

Promoting to a queen with 45...e1Q loses to 46.Nb3 Kc4 47.Rc5#. Black can promote to a knight though, but after 45...e1N+ 46.Kf2 Nxc2, he will need to defend a tough rook and knight endgame two pawns down. A most interesting imbalanced endgame position!

European Team Chess Championships 2021

Following the sanitary protocol

Six teams were sharing the lead after round 5, but only Russia scored a win on Thursday, with Azerbaijan drawing with Armenia and Ukraine drawing the Netherlands.

All these four teams are now a point behind the sole leaders, much like Spain, which obtained a 2½-1½ victory over Romania thanks to Alexei Shirov’s second win of the event — not surprisingly, he got it in an entertaining tactical fight against Bogdan-Daniel Deac.

All games - Round 6

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.h3 Bb7 9.d3 d5 C88: Closed Ruy Lopez: Anti-Marshall Systems. 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nbd2 Recently 11.a4 got a lot of attention. Nd4 The position is equal. 12.c3 Nxb3 13.Nxb3 c5 14.Nxe5 Qc7 15.Bd2 Bd6
16.d4N Predecessor: 16.Nf3 Rfe8 17.a4 Rxe1+ 18.Qxe1 Nf6 19.Qd1 Re8 20.axb5 axb5 21.c4 bxc4 22.dxc4 0-1 (63) Mazur,S (2386)-Timoscenko,G (2502) Banska Stiavnica 2011 16...c4 17.Nc5 Bxc5 18.dxc5 Rae8 19.Nf3 Qxc5 20.Nd4 Rxe1+ 21.Qxe1 Nb4 22.cxb4 Qxd4 23.Bc3 Qe4
23...Qb6 feels hotter. 24.Qe2 Rd8 25.Qe7 f6 26.Re1 Bd5 24.f3 Qxe1+ 24...Qg6 looks sharper. 25.Qe3 h6 26.Re1 f6 27.Kh1 Qf7 25.Rxe1= Endgame KRB-KRB f6 26.Re6 Rf7 27.Kf2 Rc7 28.g4 Kf7 29.Rb6 Ke8 30.h4 Kd8 31.h5 h6 32.Rd6+ Ke7 33.Rb6 Kd8 34.Rd6+ Weighted Error Value: White=0.04/Black=0.03 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Grischuk,A2773Berkes,F2676½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.1
Banusz,T2607Dubov,D27140–1202123rd ETCC Open 20216.2
Artemiev,V2699Gledura,B2635½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.3
Kantor,G2566Esipenko,A2713½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.4
Mamedyarov,S2765Sargissian,G2664½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.5
Martirosyan,H2624Radjabov,T2763½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.6
Mamedov,R2673Hovhannisyan,R2622½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.7
Ter-Sahakyan,S2615Abasov,N2634½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.8
Korobov,A2684Giri,A2774½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.9
Van Foreest,J2701Volokitin,A2656½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.10
Shevchenko,K2647Warmerdam,M2608½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.11
Van den Doel,E2594Onyshchuk,V2622½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.12
Deac,B2651Shirov,A26730–1202123rd ETCC Open 20216.13
Anton Guijarro,D2669Lupulescu,C2624½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.14
Parligras,M2576Santos Latasa,J2633½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.15
Santos Ruiz,M2603Gavrilescu,D2514½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.16
Firouzja,A2770Mastrovasilis,D26191–0202123rd ETCC Open 20216.17
Banikas,H2592Vachier-Lagrave,M2766½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.18
Bacrot,E2647Pavlidis,A25361–0202123rd ETCC Open 20216.19
Kelires,A2535Moussard,J2632½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.20
Navara,D2699Duda,J2756½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.21
Wojtaszek,R2700Nguyen,T2594½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.22
Zilka,S2593Piorun,K2634½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.23
Moranda,W2623Plat,V25481–0202123rd ETCC Open 20216.24
Indjic,A2612Agopov,M24301–0202123rd ETCC Open 20216.25
Koykka,P2353Ivic,V26200–1202123rd ETCC Open 20216.26
Ivanisevic,I2604Nyysti,S23251–0202123rd ETCC Open 20216.27
Ronka,E2321Perunovic,M2541½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.28
Jobava,B2582Yilmaz,M26261–0202123rd ETCC Open 20216.29
Dastan,M2572Paichadze,L2551½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.30
Dastan,M2572Paichadze,L2551202123rd ETCC Open 20216.30
Pantsulaia,L2571Can,E2570½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.31
Sanal,V2590Quparadze,G2475½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.32
Nisipeanu,L2651Subelj,J24581–0202123rd ETCC Open 20216.33
Tisaj,D2369Keymer,V26390–1202123rd ETCC Open 20216.34
Bluebaum,M2647Brilej,J23411–0202123rd ETCC Open 20216.35
Stevanic,D2318Svane,R26280–1202123rd ETCC Open 20216.36
Bogner,S2574McShane,L2667½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.37
Jones,G2654Pelletier,Y25641–0202123rd ETCC Open 20216.38
Georgiadis,N2553Howell,D2648½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.39
Haria,R2497Kurmann,O2458½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.40
Christiansen,J2582Pechac,J25621–0202123rd ETCC Open 20216.41
Druska,J2508Urkedal,F2569½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.42
Hauge,L2490Petenyi,T24581–0202123rd ETCC Open 20216.43
Sahidi,S2432Notkevich,B24711–0202123rd ETCC Open 20216.44
Saric,I2665Laurusas,T25531–0202123rd ETCC Open 20216.45
Kazakouski,V2490Brkic,A25991–0202123rd ETCC Open 20216.46
Bosiocic,M2545Klabis,R2353½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.47
Brazdzionis,A2356Martinovic,S2542½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.48
Mikhalevski,V2559Vocaturo,D2632½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.49
Moroni,L2580Smirin,I26160–1202123rd ETCC Open 20216.50
Postny,E2557Sonis,F2536½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.51
Lodici,L2529Boruchovsky,A25421–0202123rd ETCC Open 20216.52
Dardha,D2525Thybo,J26041–0202123rd ETCC Open 20216.53
Bjerre,J2569Beukema,S24081–0202123rd ETCC Open 20216.54
Verstraeten,R2386Rasmussen,A2577½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.55
Hansen,S2543Hovhannisyan,M24191–0202123rd ETCC Open 20216.56
Ragger,M2668Lenic,L2633½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.57
Borisek,J2595Dragnev,V2548½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.58
Blohberger,F2490Skoberne,J2562½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.59
Sebenik,M2509Shengelia,D2513½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.60
Grandelius,N2669Gretarsson,H2574½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.61
Stefansson,H2519Blomqvist,E25421–0202123rd ETCC Open 20216.62
Johansson,L2479Hjartarson,J24831–0202123rd ETCC Open 20216.63
Kjartansson,G2443Seo,J2455½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.64
Djukic,N2519Saraci,N2486½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.65
Uruci,E2322Draskovic,L2469½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.66
Blagojevic,D2467Makolli,P22451–0202123rd ETCC Open 20216.67
Saraci,K2149Nikcevic,N2385½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.68
Pancevski,F2490Kanyamarala,T2321½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.69
Jessel,S2297Nikolovski,N2401½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.70
Lazov,T2393Nemeth,Z2163½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.71
Kanyamarala,T2089Risteski,E2315½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.72
Toczek,G2296Tate,A23421–0202123rd ETCC Open 20216.73
Bremner,A2204Pleasants,A2001½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.74
Garcia,J2028Muir,A2254½–½202123rd ETCC Open 20216.75
Gordon,F1739Davis,L19721–0202123rd ETCC Open 20216.76

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Standings after round 6

Rk. Team  TB1 
1 Russia 10
2 Azerbaijan 9
3 Ukraine 9
4 Spain 9
5 Armenia 9
6 Netherlands 9
7 Hungary 8
8 Georgia 8
9 France 8
10 Serbia 8
11 Poland 8
12 Romania 7
13 Germany 7
14 Norway 7
15 England 7

...39 teams

Shuvalova’s perfect score

After getting close wins in rounds 4 and 5, the Russian women’s team continued their perfect run in Slovenia by getting a clear 3½-½ victory over Greece. Given the round-6 results in the open section, there is now a real chance that the Russians will repeat their double gold from the 2019 Championships in Batumi.

While Aleksandra Goryachkina and Alina Kashlinskaya have very impressive 4½/5 scores so far in the tournament, it is fourth board Polina Shuvalova who has the best performance of the team, having won all five of her games, four of which were played with the white pieces.

Against Ekaterini Pavlidou on Thursday, Shuvalova got a devastating position on the kingside. Pavlidou resigned on move 35.

 
Shuvalova vs. Pavlidou

35.Bxh6 was game over.

Polina Shuvalova

Polina Shuvalova

Georgia are in sole second place, two points behind the Russians, after beating Poland by the smallest of margins in round 6. Azerbaijan and Armenia are sharing third and fourth places after also winning their matches by a 2½-1½ score. Azerbaijan will get a chance to take down the favourites in round 7.

The 28th seeds from Lithuania are having a great tournament, as they come from beating three higher-rated teams in a row, and all by 2½-1½ scores. Curiously, none of their representatives has scored more than 3½/6 points, but somehow the squad has been finding ways to get just the necessary wins to accumulate match points for the overall standings table.

All games - Round 6

 
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1.d4 8 d5 8 2.c4 13 c6 0 3.cxd5 1:05 cxd5 14 4.Bf4 18 Nc6 18 5.e3 23 Nf6 37 6.Nc3 30 a6 2:23 7.Be2 3:36 Bf5 2:41 8.Nf3 54 e6 9:40 9.Qb3 1:33 Bd6 16:30 10.Bxd6 1:05 Qxd6 14 11.Qxb7 1:36 0-0 6:36 12.Qb3 25 Rfb8 0 13.Qa3 49 Qxa3 9:17 14.bxa3 48 Na7 1:53 15.a4 2:15 Nc6 6:38 16.0-0 5:05 Rb2 7:47 17.Rfc1 9:55 h6 0 18.h3 8:36 g5 10:04 19.Bf1 6:21 Nb4 11:31 20.a3 2:39 Nd3 1:37 21.Bxd3 0 Bxd3 5 22.Ne5 4:21 Bc2 30 23.a5 1:21 Ne8 2:00 24.Ra2 12:04 Rxa2 6 25.Nxa2 3 Ba4 39 26.Nc3 1:47 Rc8 25 27.Nd3 40 Bb3 0 28.Nc5 3:41 Bc4 11 29.Rb1 34 e5 52 30.Rb6 4:50 Kg7 6 31.g4 0 Nf6 2:47 32.f3 4:34 Rc7 28 33.Kf2 59 h5 31 34.Nd1 3:59 Re7 0 35.dxe5 3:11 Rxe5 4 36.Rxf6 0 Kxf6 4 37.Nd7+ 5 Ke6 3 38.Nxe5 8 Kxe5 3 39.gxh5 11 Kf6 20 40.Kg3 1:07 Kg7 49 41.Kg4 0 Kh6 31:53 42.Nc3 1:07 Bb3 0 43.h4 0 gxh4 0 44.Kxh4 0 f5 0 45.Ne2 0 Ba4 0 46.Nd4 0 Bd7 0 47.f4 0 Bc8 0 48.Nc6 0 Bd7 0 49.Nb4 0 Bc8 0 50.Nxd5 0 Bb7 0 51.Nf6 0 Ba8 0 52.Ng8+ 0 Kg7 0 53.Ne7 0 Kf6 0 54.h6 0 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Goryachkina,A2604Tsolakidou,S23771–0202123rd ETCC Women 20216.1
Avramidou,A2217Lagno,K2550½–½202123rd ETCC Women 20216.2
Shuvalova,P2515Pavlidou,E21721–0202123rd ETCC Women 20216.3
Markantonaki,H2174Kashlinskaya,A24820–1202123rd ETCC Women 20216.4
Zawadzka,J2429Dzagnidze,N2524½–½202123rd ETCC Women 20216.5
Javakhishvili,L2446Cyfka,K24161–0202123rd ETCC Women 20216.6
Kiolbasa,O2403Arabidze,M2441½–½202123rd ETCC Women 20216.7
Melia,S2371Socko,M2393½–½202123rd ETCC Women 20216.8
Brunello,M2359Mammadzada,G2459½–½202123rd ETCC Women 20216.9
Mammadova,G2395Zimina,O2339½–½202123rd ETCC Women 20216.10
Gueci,T2242Balajayeva,K2369½–½202123rd ETCC Women 20216.11
Fataliyeva,U2309Movileanu,D22141–0202123rd ETCC Women 20216.12
Osmak,I2423Danielian,E2450½–½202123rd ETCC Women 20216.13
Mkrtchian,L2379Buksa,N2410½–½202123rd ETCC Women 20216.14
Gaponenko,I2339Sargsyan,A23851–0202123rd ETCC Women 20216.15
Ghukasyan,S2168Zhukova,N2331½–½202123rd ETCC Women 20216.16
Paehtz,E2485Lazarne Vajda,S23451–0202123rd ETCC Women 20216.17
Gara,T2331Heinemann,J2336½–½202123rd ETCC Women 20216.18
Klek,H2343Gaal,Z2336½–½202123rd ETCC Women 20216.19
Terbe,J2318Lubbe,M23111–0202123rd ETCC Women 20216.20
Terbe,J2318Lubbe,M2311202123rd ETCC Women 20216.20
Repkova,E2307Zaksaite,S22500–1202123rd ETCC Women 20216.21
Baginskaite,K2100Hagarova,Z2292½–½202123rd ETCC Women 20216.22
Sucikova,S2197Simkunaite,G19620–1202123rd ETCC Women 20216.23
Sibajeva,M1946Mrvova,A21740–1202123rd ETCC Women 20216.24
Sebag,M2447Injac,T2387½–½202123rd ETCC Women 20216.25
Eric,J2253Guichard,P2409½–½202123rd ETCC Women 20216.26
Milliet,S2418Manakova,M22891–0202123rd ETCC Women 20216.27
Gajcin,M2198Benmesbah,N22561–0202123rd ETCC Women 20216.28
Bulmaga,I2405Shvayger,Y23510–1202123rd ETCC Women 20216.29
Klinova,M2264Cosma,E2281½–½202123rd ETCC Women 20216.30
Sandu,M2244Shapir,M22561–0202123rd ETCC Women 20216.31
Katkov,M2059Ciolacu,A22630–1202123rd ETCC Women 20216.32
Peng,Z2351Cramling,P2457½–½202123rd ETCC Women 20216.33
Agrest,I2258Roebers,E23040–1202123rd ETCC Women 20216.34
Ratsma,R2272Zaritovskaja,M20401–0202123rd ETCC Women 20216.35
Cramling Bellon,A2035Lanchava,T22150–1202123rd ETCC Women 20216.36
Georgescu,L2262Pilsova,K22811–0202123rd ETCC Women 20216.37
Petrova,K2275Hakimifard,G2267½–½202123rd ETCC Women 20216.38
Stoeri,L2130Miturova,M2248½–½202123rd ETCC Women 20216.39
Richterova,N2185De Seroux,C21251–0202123rd ETCC Women 20216.40
Hrescak,I2138Garcia Martin,M23240–1202123rd ETCC Women 20216.41
Matnadze,A2418Kolaric,S21781–0202123rd ETCC Women 20216.42
Ruzic,P2049Eizaguerri Floris,M23281–0202123rd ETCC Women 20216.43
Calzetta Ruiz,M2201Hercog,N19831–0202123rd ETCC Women 20216.44
Novkovic,J2082Goossens,H2126½–½202123rd ETCC Women 20216.45
Barbier,W1964Hapala,E21390–1202123rd ETCC Women 20216.46
Froewis,A2079Vanduyfhuys,D19331–0202123rd ETCC Women 20216.47
Dierckens,S1795Mayrhuber,N20910–1202123rd ETCC Women 20216.48
Unuk,L2353Ptacnikova,L2200½–½202123rd ETCC Women 20216.49
Thorsteinsdottir,H2010Urh,Z23320–1202123rd ETCC Women 20216.50
Janzelj,L2150Johannsdottir,J19521–0202123rd ETCC Women 20216.51
Acevedo Mendez,L1803Krivec,J22270–1202123rd ETCC Women 20216.52
Atalik,E2430Stojkovska,M20661–0202123rd ETCC Women 20216.53
Bejatovic,B2031Caglar,S22500–1202123rd ETCC Women 20216.54
Kocyigit,B2034Trajkovska,S1960½–½202123rd ETCC Women 20216.55
Manova,I1809Aydin,G21141–0202123rd ETCC Women 20216.56
Toma,K2261Cvitan,E22341–0202123rd ETCC Women 20216.57
Medic,M2196Emelianova,M21131–0202123rd ETCC Women 20216.58
Bayat,S2091Radikovic,A2124½–½202123rd ETCC Women 20216.59
Vujnovic,P2151Varney,Z19551–0202123rd ETCC Women 20216.60

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Standings after round 6

Rk. Team  TB1 
1 Russia 12
2 Georgia 10
3 Azerbaijan 9
4 Ukraine 9
5 Greece 8
6 Lithuania 8
7 Italy 7
8 Poland 7
9 Romania 7
10 Netherlands 7
11 Hungary 7
12 Germany 7
13 France 6
14 Armenia 6
15 Slovakia 6

...31 teams

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Carlos Colodro is a Hispanic Philologist from Bolivia. He works as a freelance translator and writer since 2012. A lot of his work is done in chess-related texts, as the game is one of his biggest interests, along with literature and music.

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