Calling the lineups eclectic is not an exaggeration, and adds to the unusual character of this competition. Seeing national leagues with top players is hardly unique of course, and citing the numerous competitions for local fans and players such as Budesliga, the French League, Russian League and many more is not really necessary. What stands out here is that amidst the teams with grandmaster lineups, are teams with barely a single player over 2100.
Launching the tournament with the symbolic first move
The opening ceremony
WFM Nezihe Ezgi Menzi playing board eight of her team Deniz Su Aquamatch
And who is board one? Wesley So no less!
Obviously for teams such as these, it is the sheer pleasure of facing and watching top players one-on-one. That said, don't think for an instant the top guns are playing it safe against each other. Here is a spectacular demolition by Wesley So against Sergey Volkov in round two.
[Event "TCh-TUR Super League 2015"] [Site "Kigali"] [Date "2015.08.05"] [Round "2.1"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Volkov, Sergey"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C11"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2589"] [PlyCount "45"] [EventDate "2015.08.04"] [EventType "team-schev"] [EventRounds "13"] [EventCountry "TUR"] [WhiteTeam "Deniz Su Aquamatch Satranc Genclik Ve Sports "] [BlackTeam "Kocaeli Buyuksehir Belediyesi Kagit Sports Cl"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 8. Qd2 b5 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Bd3 Qb6 11. Bf2 Bb7 12. O-O Rc8 13. Rae1 g6 {[#]} ({Needless to say, with 20/20 hindsight,} 13... Ne7 {was necessary to prevent f5. Black thought g6 succeeded in this but missed the battering ram So employed. Ne7 not only covers f5 but opens the lines for the Bb7 and the Qb6.}) 14. f5 $3 gxf5 15. Bxf5 Bxf2+ ({What happens if Black takes?} 15... exf5 16. e6 $1 fxe6 (16... Ne7 17. exd7+ Kxd7 18. Ne5+ Ke8 19. Nd3 Bxf2+ 20. Rxf2 Rc7 21. b4 $1 {followed by Nc5.}) 17. Rxe6+ Kd8 18. Nxd5 Bxf2+ 19. Rxf2 Qc5 20. Qg5+) 16. Rxf2 Na5 17. Qh6 d4 $2 {The final mistake after which there is no recovery.} (17... exf5 $2 18. e6 $1) ({The engines explain that the cold-blooded} 17... Kd8 $1 {is necessary here to try to have the king make a run for it via c7.}) 18. Ne4 exf5 19. Nd6+ Kd8 20. Nxf7+ Kc7 21. e6 Bxf3 22. Qf4+ $1 {Precise to the end.} Kb7 23. exd7 1-0
It's great to see the teams managed to get backing from significant sponsors
Being a team event, it is often necessary to strategize according to the results of other boards
Fifteen-year-old Sinem Gundogan (is this the secret twin sister of my colleague?)
Pentala Harikrishna is the second seed and top gun of his team, followed by the talented Turkish
player, Alexander Ipatov, also a frequent contributor to our new page
The lush playing hall: spacious and elegant
Standings after four rounds
