World Junior & Girls Chess Championships under way

The SDAT–RAMCO 50th World Junior & 29th Junior Girls Chess Championships 2011 This event is taking place from August 1st to 16th in Chennai, India. It is one of the strongest WJCC ever, featuring over 80 titled players among the juniors and girls. Top seeds in the Open Section are Russian GMs Maxim Matlakov (2632) and Sanan Sjugirov (2629), Spanish GM Ivan Salgado Lopez (2626) and fifteen more GMs. In the Girls' Section there are five WGMs led by Nazi Paikidze (2416, GEO), Anastasia Savina (2398, RUS), Deysi Cori (2376, PER), Olga Girya (2371, RUS) and Rout Padmini (2348, IND).

History of World Junior and Girls U-20 Championships

The idea was the brainchild of William Ritson-Morry, who organized the 1951 inaugural event in England. Borislav Ivkov was the first champion. It was held every two years until 1973, when an annual schedule was adopted. The first tournament was 11-round Swiss, but from 1974 finals a 13-round Swiss event was adopted. This year's event started on August 2nd and ends on August 15, with Monday, August 8th being a free day.

Junior Champions from the past who went on to become World Champions are Boris Spassky, Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov and Viswanathan Anand, while the World Junior Girls Champion Zhu Chen became the World Women Champion. Indian players have figured prominently in the competition: the current World Champion Viswanathan Anand became India's first World Junior Champion in 1987. Since then Pentala Harikrishna (2004), and GM Abhijeet Gupta (2008) won the title. The current World Women’s Champion contender GM Koneru Humpy became the first Indian girl to win the World Junior Girls Championship in 2002. After her Dronavalli Harika (2008), and Soumya Swaminathan (2010) emerged as Champions.

The Legislative Assembly Speaker of Tamil Nadu, Shri D. Jayakumar, inaugurating the Championships. Left to right are World Champion Viswanathan Anand, DV Sundar, FIDE Vice President, Bharat Singh, Hon Secretary, All India Chess Federation, M. Vijayakumar, IAS Member Secretary, Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, K.Muralimohan, Championship Director WJCC 2011, General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu State Chess Association.

Anand has found a brilliant reply to the Speaker's novelty: 1.e3 e5 2.h4!? Nf6!!

In his chief guest address Anand said, "I won my world junior title after four attempts, but experience always helps in handling tougher situations. The Tamil Nadu Government has been a constant supporter to chess in the state and this time it has gone up one step and may as well host the world championship against Gelfand." Incidentally, there are 63 players (of 126) from India in the Open Section and 30 (of 69) in the Girls' Section. See what you did, Vishy?

Traditional Indian (actually Tamil Nadu) dance form – Bharatha Natyam

Bharata Natyam is a 'fire dance' – the mystic manifestation of the metaphysical element of fire in the human body. It is mainly performed with the hands, eyes and face. In contrast to the Western ballet, where the dancers are trying to create the illusion that they are weightless and defying gravity, Bharata Natyam is "down to earth" and contains heavy stamping.

Mohini Attam is the dance form of Kerala (a Southern India state on the other coast). The name translates to "dance of the enchantress", and it is performed with subtle gestures and footwork. The performers use their eyes in a very coy yet sensual manner, the purpose being to enchant the mind without enticing the senses.

A Spanish-themed presentation for Ivan Salgado Lopez, the only Spaniard in the event...

...and this is a Japanese presentation, for the 195 international participants.

Round one

FIDE Master V.A.V. Rajesh stole the limelight by holding top seed Russian GM Maxim Matlakov to a draw. Also snatching half a point from grandmasters were R. Ashwath, Sayantan Das, R.A. Pradeep Kumar and S.L. Narayanan. This young Indian trio drew with GMs Robert Hovhannisyan (Armenia), Swiercz Dariusz (Poland), Adhiban Baskaran and S.P.Sethuraman (both India).

The girls section saw higher rated Indian star Kulkarni Bhakti being held to a draw by WIM Emma Guo of Australia. Fifth seed and medal favourite Padmini Rout nursed an extra pawn, defeating Roberta Brunello of Italy.

Top seed WGM Nazi Paikidze of Georgia scored over Armenian Gevorgyan Maria

Round 1 Results (Open) (Indians unless specified)
V A V Rajesh (India) 0.5 drew with Maxim Matlakov (Russia) 0.5, Sjugirov Sanan (Russia) 1 beat Rojas Alarcon Julian Antonio (Mexico) 0, Aaron Deepak (USA) 0 lost to Salgado Lopez Ivan (Spain) 1, Shimanov Aleksandr (Russia) 1 beat Tomazini Zan (Slovenia), Kozganbayev Erken (Kazakhastan) 0 lost to Tamir Nabaty (Israel) 1, Ter-Sahakyan Samvel (Armenia) 1 beat Botta Gabriele (Armenia) 0, R Ashwath 0.5 drew with Hovhannisyan Robert (Armenia) 0.5, Ray Robson (USA) 1 beat Hemant Sharma 0, Das Sayantan 0.5 drew with Swiercz Dariusz (Poland) 0.5, Baskaran Adhiban 0.5 drew with R A Pradeep Kumar 0.5, S P Sethuraman 0.5 drew with S L Narayanan 0.5

Round 1 Results (Girls) (Indians unless specified)
Paikidze Nazi (Georgia) 1 beat Gevorgyan Maria (Armenia) 0, Edes Zsofia (Slovakia) 0 lost to Savina Anastasia (Russia) 1, Cori T Deysi (Peru) 1 beat Pratyusha Bodda 0, Michelle Catherina P 0 lost to Girya Olga (Russia) 1, Padmini Rout 1 beat Brunello Roberta (Italy) 0, Guo Emma (Australia) 0.5 drew with Kulkarni Bhakti 0.5, Mammadova Gulnar Marfat Qizi (Azerbaijan) 0.5 drew with Ivana Maria Furtado 0.5, Martinez Ayelen (Argentina) 0 lost to Bulmaga Irina (Romania) 1, Kazimova Narmin Niazami Qizi (Azerbaijan) 1 beat C H Savetha 0, A Akshaya 0 lost to Eric Jovana (Serbia)

Round two

13-year-old S.L. Narayanan (photo above), studying in St. Thomas Residential School, Trivandrum, was the hero of the day, defeating local favourite GM Adhiban Baskaran. The game started off in a Sicilian Najdorf and Narayanan managed to obtain equality out of the opening. Into the queen, rook and minor piece ending, Adhiban overlooked an enterprising sacrifice from the Kerala boy on move 31, and the game wound up in favour of Narayanan 15 moves later. With 1.5 points from two rounds facing the Grandmasters, Narayanan has made a dream start, and is poised for another high rated opponent in the next round.

Another boy who made the big news was Mumbai youngster Aditya Udeshi who defeated Russian GM Aleksandr Shimanov (Elo 2586). The hero of yesterday, VAV Rajesh of India who held the top seed Russian Grandmaster Matlakov to a draw held Armenian Grandmaster Robert Hovhannisyan in 60 moves.

In the girls section, India's Woman Grandmaster Padmini Rout and along with Andhra girl G Lasya led the pack of leaders with two points.

Round 2 Results (Open) (Indians unless specified)
Getz Nicolai (Norway) 2 beat Sanan Sjugirov (Russia) 1, Salgado Lopez Ivan (Spain) 2 beat Swayams Mishra (1), Udeshi Aditya (2) beat Shimanov Aleksandr (Russia) 1, Nabaty Tamir (Israel) 2 beat K Priyadharshan (1), Grandelius Nils (Sweden) 2 beat Ikeda Junta (Australia) 1, S Nitin (1.5) drew with Sasha Martinovic (Croatia) 1.5, Niclas Huschenbeth (Germany) 2 beat C R G Krishna (1), Maxim Matlakov (Russia) 1.5 beat S Prasannaa 0.5, Robert Hovhannisyan (Armenia) 1 drew with V A V Rajesh (1), S L Narayanan (2) beat B Adhiban 0.5, R A Pradeep Kumar 0.5 lost to S P Sethuraman (1.5), Cori Jorge (Peru) 1.5 beat Das Sayantan 0.5

Round 2 Results (Girls) (Indians unless specified)
Fataliyeava Ulviyya Hsaill Qizi (Azerbaijan) 1 lost to Paikidze Nazi (Georgia) 2, Savoma Anastasia (Russia) 1 lost to Forestier Carole (France) 2, P V Nandhidhaa (1) lost to Cori T Deysi (Peru) 2, Girya Olga (Russia) 2 beat Imeeva Aisa (Russia) 1, Pon N Krithika 1 lost to Padmini Rout 2, Bulmaga Irina (Romania) 2 beat Heredia Serrano Carla (Ecuador) 1, Bala Kannamma P (1) lost to Kazimova Narmin Nizami Qizi (Azerbaijan) 2, Eric Jovana (Serbia) 1 lost to G Lasya (2), Ozturk Kubra (Turkey) 2 beat Hema Priya N (1), J Sahari (1) lost to Elena Semenova (Russia) 2.0

Round three

Michelle Catherina (photo), a student of Good Shepard Convent, Chennai, defeated WGM Ananstasia Savina of Russia. Michelle said, "I was a bit lucky today, as Savina blundered in a position that tilted the game in my favour". Third seed Grandmaster Ivan Salgado Lopez of Spain, along with Italian Rombaldoni Axel and Polish Grandmaster Piorun Kacper led the field with 3.0 points after as many rounds. The girls section saw WGM Paikidze Nazi (Georgia), Cori T Deysi (Peru), Padmini Rout (India), Girya Olga (Russia), Bulmaga Irina (Romania) and Kazimova Narmin Nizami Qizi (Azerbaijan) sharing the lead with 3.0 points.

Round 3 Results (Open) (Indians unless specified)
Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (2) lost to Salgado Lopez Ivan (Spain) 3, Aleksey Goganov (Russia) 2.5 drew with Tamir Nabaty (Israel) 2.5, Rombaldoni Axel (Italy) 3 beat Grandelius Nils (Sweden) 2, G A Stany (2.5) drew with Rasulov Vugar Ural Oglu (Azerbaijan) 2.5, Nicolai Getz (Norway) 2.5 drew with Sahaj Grover 2.5, Ray Robson (USA) 2.5 beat Aditya Udeshi (2.5), Debashis Das (2) drew with Maxim Matlakov (Russia) 2, S P Sethuraman (2) drew with Narayanan Srinath (2), M R Lalith Babu (2.5) beat S L Narayanan (1.5), Patil Pratik (1.5) lost to Roganovic Milos (Serbia) 2.5, Kovalev Vladislav (Belarus) 2.5 beat Thavindaran Shiyam (Canada) 1.5

Round 3 Results (Girls) (Indians unless specified)
Paikidze Nazi (Georgia) 3 beat Ozturk Kubra (Turkey) 2, Cori T Deysi (Peru) 3 beat Semenova Elena (Russia) 2, Padmini Rout (3) beat Terao Juliana Sayumi (Brazil) 2, Forestier Carole (France) 2 lost to Bulmaga Irina (Romania) 3, Kazimova Narmin Nizami Qizi (Azerbaijan) 3 beat G Lasya 2, Lkhamsuren Uuganbayar (Mongolia) 2 drew with Bhakti Kulkarni (2), Romero Echeverria Abigail (Ecuador) 2.5 lost to Nakhbayeva Guliskhan (Kazakhastan) 2.5, Inna Agrest (Sweden) 2 drew with Ani Krumova (Bulgaria) 2, P Michelle Catherina (2) beat Anastasia Savina (Russia) 1.

Top rankings after three rounds

Links Official tournament site All games in zipped PGN: Open – Girls A selection of 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 11 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.

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