Rus SuperFinal 08: Exciting Penultimate Round

The Russian Super Final and the Russian Women's Super Finals, are taking place in Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan. The time control of the event is 90 minutes for 40 moves, 30 minutes until the end of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move one. Participants are not allowed to offer a draw until move 40.

Round Eight

The children that visited the tournament also drew the players!

The tournament leader played some kind of weird Dutch against Nepomniachtchi. His slight advantage was never enough to make any progress and eventually the game was drawn.

Jakovenko had a dangerous advantage in the endgame against Morozevich, but some creative and resourceful defense with the active king saved the game for the Russian. A good example to study for defending bad rook endgames.

Karjakin could not best Svidler who continues on a very solid seven draws and one loss.

Sergey Karjakin in the duel of titans against...

Peter Svidler, with a beautiful background

Khismatullin was the only player to win today after his attack on the kingside quickly became unstoppable after transferring both of his rooks to that side of the board. Vitiugov seemed to play rather planless and was duly punished.

Zvjaginsev did not find anything against his opponent's opening

Zvjaginsev and Grachev provided the "how to find a repetition in under 20 moves" game of the day.

A little rest day for Boris Grachev

Replay Round Eight

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Women's Section

Penultimate round under way

The women continue to provide us with entertainig rounds! Big results at the top as Galliamova won yet again against Kovalevskaya. An unusual three passed pawns vs. three passed pawns endgame proved why bishops are so valuable over knights in these kinds of situations.

Kovalevskaya ended up losing to one of the current tournament leaders: Galliamova

Gunina showed wonderful comprehension of this QGD structure

Gunina played a masterful game cracking down on Pogonina's Lasker Defense. A clean game by Gunina who has recovered wonderfully from her relatively poor start.

Kosteniuk, who has been rather luckless this tournament, smashed Goryachkina, effectively knocking her out of competition for first place.

Alexandra Kosteniuk with a crushing victory

A silly blunder cost Gritsayeva the game against Girya. Without this error the endgame was probably around equal.

A little luck never hurt anyone: Olga Girya

Finally Kashlinskaya forced a perpetual in style:

Black to play and draw (she is worse without this move). Answer in the game!

Round Eight Games

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The action finishes tomorrow at 1 p.m. Moscow time to determine the Russian Super Final Champion in both the Open and Women's section!

Information and pictures provided by Etery Kublashvili

Links Official tournament site The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 12 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.