North Urals R7: Stefanova wins, followed by Ushenina, Sebag

by ChessBase
8/3/2008 – It was the strongest women's tournament in history – category 11, Elo average 2522. The round robin North Urals Cup in Krasnoturinsk, Russia, was won by former women's world champion Antoaneta Stefanova, half a point ahead of Anna Ushenina and Marie Sebag. The event was a big disappointment for top seed Koneru Humpy, who played 114 points below her 2622 FIDE rating. Final report.

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Report after round three

The North Urals Cup is took place from July 26th - August 3rd 2008 in Krasnoturinsk, Russia. It was the strongest women's tournament ever, with the players Xu Yuhua (China), Humpy Koneru (India), Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria), Pia Cramling (Sweden), Marie Sebag (France), Anna Muzychuk (Slovenia), Anna Ushenina (Ukraine) and Natalya Pogonina (Russia).

Round 4: Tuesday, July 31st, 2008
Xu Yuhua 
½-½
 Koneru Humpy
Pia Cramling 
½-½
 Natalija Pogonina
Marie Sebag 
½-½
 Anna Ushenina
Anna Muzychuk 
½-½
 Antoaneta Stefanova
Round 5: Friday, August 1st, 2008
Antoaneta Stefanova 
1-0
 Marie Sebag
Natalija Pogonina 
½-½
 Xu Yuhua
Anna Ushenina 
0-1
 Pia Cramling
Koneru Humpy 
½-½
 Anna Muzychuk
Round 6: Saturday, August 2nd, 2008
Anna Muzychuk 
½-½
 Marie Sebag
Pia Cramling 
1-0
 Antoaneta Stefanova
Xu Yuhua 
0-1
 Anna Ushenina
Koneru Humpy 
1-0
 Natalija Pogonina
Round 7: Sunday, August 3rd, 2008
Antoaneta Stefanova 
½-½
 Xu Yuhua
Anna Ushenina 
½-½
 Koneru Humpy
Marie Sebag 
1-0
 Pia Cramling
Natalija Pogonina 
½-½
 Anna Muzychuk

Final standings

Photo gallery by Vadim Smalkov


The playing hall in Krasnoturinsk, at the start of round four


Round four: Anna Ushenina, 2476, vs Marie Sebag, 2530 (draw in 48 moves)


Anna Muzychuk, 2504, from Ukraine/Slovenia


Top seed Koneru Humpy, 2622, India


Former Women's World Champion Antoaneta Stefanova, 2550, Bulgaria


Press conference with Vladimir Georgiev, Antoaneta Stefanova's coach, Pia Cramling and WIM Anna Burtasova


A partial solar eclipse on August 1st, visible through clouds with the naked eye


Round six: Natalija Pogonina vs Koneru Humpy (Humpy won), and Xu Yuhua vs Anna Ushenina (Ushenina won)


IM Anna Ushenina, 2476, Ukraine


IM Marie Sebag, 2529, France


Anna Ushenina vs Koneru Humpy in round seven (draw in 21 moves)


Marie Sebag vs Pia Cramling (Sebag won in 61 moves)

Interview with Natalija Pogonina, “Surely Everybody Wants to Win”

After an exciting game of Pogonina vs Cramling in round four the press attaché of the tournament talked to the only Russian participant and to discuss her opinion on her own play, the impact of the day off on the mood and competition in friendship.

Natalya, today you had a very perspective position.

It deviated from the main line. Probably Pia wanted to play defensively after the defeat. At some moment I played very actively and got the opportunity to sacrifice pawns. Pia somehow lost the thread of the game and I got the advantage. Her position looked doubtful; I mean weak pawns, open king, etc. At some moment I thought I could win.

How do you feel after the day off?


WGM Natalija Pogonina, 2469, Russia

On the one hand everybody waits for the day off as a possibility to have some rest; on the other hand the rhythm changes and it may even bother you. It is difficult to say what impact the day off had on me, as I could have played better today.

At the press conference you were the only to say that you wanted to win the tournament.

I just said what everybody thinks but does not say aloud for some reasons. Of course every participant wants to win. We must be honest. Despite the fact that I had the lowest rating here, I think about victory.

How do you spend your free time in Krasnoturinsk?

I play dices. It is a favourite game of many chess players. It helps to abstract from the tournament, to have some fun.

You know most of your opponents. Does the competition influence personal relationships?

As for me, it has no impact. When you play with somebody, it’s one thing, your contact outside the games is another thing. Even if I lose to somebody it doesn’t mean that I will ignore this person in the evening.

What are your chess plans?

I will play in the team in the national league of Montenegro. Then I will take part in the Intelligent Games in China.

Certainly other participants of the “North Urals Cup” will be there too.

Of course, all of them are the world strongest chess players.

How do you evaluate your play in the tournament so far?

I am balancing but have some strength in reserve. I struggle till the last minute and use all chances, even in bad positions. The fact that I haven’t played for three months probably affects me. I finished the faculty of law in the university. But I think my play is improving.

All photos published with permission of Vadim Smalkov

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