Nankai wins in Nankai!

World Prestigious University Invitational

What does it mean to be a prestigious university? For some, it means excelling at chess. For others, it means placing high on international university rankings. This tournament invited some of the very best chess universities in the world. For example, University of Missouri fielded a team with Grigory Oparin (2660) and Dmitry Gordievskiy (2590). However, the tournament also invited some of the best academic universities in the world (by Times Higher Education rankings) such as University of Oxford (rank 1), Harvard University (rank 6), Princeton University (rank 7), University College London (rank 14), University of Toronto (rank 21). Perhaps of interest is that Japan did not send a specific university’s team, but rather played under the Japanese flag.

Day 1

Continuing from the previous report, the opening ceremony was kicked off by Yang Kexin (Deputy Secretary of CPC Committee of Nankai University), Ye Jiangchuan (Chairman of Chinese Chess Association), and Wang Hong (Deputy Secretary of CPC committee of Tianjin Sports Bureau placing their hands on this giant red ball. If you think it’s random, funny and cool all at the same time, we’re in this together. 😊

Dubbed the “Power Ball”. Perhaps a giant Pokeball? From left to right: Yang Kexin, Ye Jiangchuan, Wang Hong | Photo: Changrong Yu

Before the tournament starts in the morning, Jiaqi Zhou teaches chess to his students from Nankai University, where it is an optional course | Photo: Changrong Yu

Day 2

Since this invitational was played under a 25 min + 10 sec/move format, each day had 3 rounds (apart from the last day). There is a lot of talk about chess becoming faster. This is one of the only rapid tournaments I have played, but I can say with 90% certainty I like this movement. As a current university student operating on a student budget, the usual one-week half to two-week tournaments for most open tournaments and youth/junior championships is far too long (and quite expensive). Even while I was still in high-school, it was very challenging to balance the International Baccalaureate program while playing tournaments.

Of course, it is different for everybody’s case, and some universities obviously put more emphasis on studies, but from talking to a lot of different students from universities like Harvard, Princeton, and my own, most players at this tournament play chess very occasionally.

Chess taught me valuable lessons about time management, and I’m very happy they’re applicable in real life too! Though I had to study for my classes in Nankai, I still very much enjoyed the trip. Nothing could make me reject the temptation to visit China and get the chance to spend some very valuable time with my grandparents who visited me (I personally haven’t had the chance to visit China for a few years, and of course they missed me 😊).

Round 1 started Beijing time at 14:00 sharp. The organizers did an amazing job on making sure each game started exactly at the posted time.

Nankai University Team 1 (the eventual winners) suffered an early loss to St. Louis University, with Nikolas Theodorou drawing against Yue Wang, and boards 2 and 3 on St. Louis winning their games.

All eyes on Wang Yue. Yes, the 2710 Wang Yue | Photo: Changrong Yu

Tournament is underway | Photo: Liu Yi

In Round 2 brings you a crazy game and drama between GM Yue Wang from Nankai University and Harvard University Michael Isakov. See the game below and thoughts by Michael, who managed to pull himself back from a sure loss.

The Catalan: A complete repertoire for White!

The Catalan is one of the most solid openings for White. It forms part of the large and strong fianchetto family in which White builds his strategy mainly around the bishop on g2. Grandmaster Victor Bologan covers all of Black’s replies to the Catalan, some of which can even transpose to other openings such as the Tarrasch System and the Queen’s Indian. Suffice it to say that the Catalan rules!

Wang Yue thinks… | Photo: Changrong Yu

While Isakov tries to save his game | Photo: Changrong Yu

Also, Michael Green from UCL shares his thoughts on an interesting game he played:

Marin's English Love Vol.1 and 2 - A complete repertoire for White after 1.c4

The aim of these Dvd's is to build a repertoire after 1.c4 and 2.g3 for White. The first DVD includes the systems 1...e5, the Dutch and Indian setups. The second DVD includes the systems with 1...c5, 1...c6 and 1...e6.

Day 3

After the rounds each day, there’s still some time to tour around Tianjin!

View from the Tianjin Eye (perhaps named after its London counterpart)
And a view of the Tianjin eye! | Photos: Qiyu Zhou

Your author, representing University of Toronto | Photo: Liu Yi

Day 4

In China, do we call food Chinese food or just food? This is a hotly-debated topic, because in Mandarin, “Zhong can (中餐)” can either mean Chinese food or lunch. Usually, it’s just food though.

The breakfast buffet offers a wide variety of Chinese foods… | Photo: Qiyu Zhou

But some still prefer their choice of butter and bread, and it’s never too early for cake | Photo: Qiyu Zhou

Day 5

The deciding round of the tournament, round 10 saw University of Missouri lose to Nankai University Team 1 by ½-2 ½. On board 1, we saw Grigory Oparin draw Yue Wang, but both boards 2 and 3 lost. Prior to the round, Missouri had a perfect score. However, after the loss, Nankai and Missouri both had 9/10. Both Nankai and Missouri won their last match, but the damage was done and Nankai clinched first place on tiebreaks.

Grigory Oparin plays as his captain Christian Chirila looks on | Photo: Changrong Yu

Take a look at the face off between Grigory and Wang (with comments by your author)!

Closing Ceremony

Some universities came to China to win, some came to find out more about China, and some came to make friends with Chinese university students, as well as each other. In the end, Nankai University narrowly took home first place, with University of Missouri coming second on tiebreaks. 

The first prize goes to Nankai University. The middle 3 players are in the middle: Yankai Li, Wang Yue and Yiyi Xiao | Photo: Changrong Yu

Closing thoughts

Though I missed a lot of social events (unfortunately. due to schoolwork), many other teams toured Nankai with volunteers from the local university, experienced Chinese massages, shopping and karaoke (KTV, as it is affectionally called in China).

UCL, Oxford University and the Japan team enjoy a meal out

It has been a great opportunity for the university students to know each other’s universities and cultures. This event hopes to make China even more open to the world, as well as show that chess is not game for professionals, but can also be enjoyed by amateurs like us. I hope that some universities from different countries will be interested in holding a similar event. Here we all give a shout-out to Nankai, wishing its 100th Anniversary to be a prosperous one, with another 100 years of good fortune to come.

Tianjin has some 15 million people, proving the need for most streets to be as wide as this one! | Photo: Qiyu Zhou

Sipping on boba — bubble tea, now a world phenomenon, is very popular in its birthplace | Photo: Changrong Yu

Two-minute interview with IM Nikolas Theodorou at the Nankai World Prestigious University Invitational

It might not be a good time to interview you after your draw against Nankai University Team 2 today in the 9th round. But could you please tell us whether you have enjoyed this tournament?

Nikolas Theodorou: Even though we’re hoping to be the first, we’re 2nd after the 9th round. It’s not that bad, but we really hope to do better. But I really like to play here, like to see different places, like the food and tournament organization. We went sightseeing with my teammates this morning, it was very exciting for me and my teammates. I also enjoy playing chess with students from different universities all over the world. I am also excited to interact with students from all over the world, close to my age.

Have you ever thought of becoming a professional chess player?

NT: Um, I never really wanted to become a professional chess player. I would rather combine chess with my study. This is why chose to go to St. Louis. Um, which is a great opportunity to do what I wanted.

Do you have any plan for your future? Continue to play chess, or continue your academy after you finish your bachelor’s degree?

NT: I haven’t decided yet, but I don’t think I will ever stop playing chess. I will keep going to tournaments, and after getting my degree, I want to get a job in engineering potentially.

What are the benefits that you have gained from playing chess?

NT: It helps me become initiative for sure. It also helps with my studies, organize my time, and helps me with my logical thinking, which has something to do with math.  I really like math and chess. And my favourite subject in school is math (ODE: ordinary differential equations) if I have to choose one.

IM Nikolas Theodorou (fide rating 2541), originally from Greece, is a 2nd-year student in Physics Engineering | Photo: Changrong Yu

Final team results of all rounds

Links

• University Chess Invitational comes to Nankai China
• Full results (Chess-Results)