
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