World Youth Championship: heroes and heartbreak

World Youth Chess Championship 2013

17-29 December 2013, Al Ain, UAE

The 2013 World Youth Chess Championship is nearing the end, and interestingly only two gold medals have been decided, and in both cases, it is also the only two cases where 100% scores took place: in the Open under-8 the young Indian Praggnanandhaa ran away with the championship with 10.0/10 and in the Open under-10 the towering FM Awonder Liang has also scored an imperial 10.0/10. Curiously the waters surrounding the silver and bronze medals in both these sections have more piranha than the Amazon river as exactly eleven players in each can realistically consider they are in contention.

India has also had the overall best campaign of any nation as they have no fewer than eight players in the top five spread throughout the various sections. In second is Russia, with seven, and third is China, with five. Of special note is Iran, not exactly a power nation in chess, who have four athletes in the top five, and more impressively two of whom are leading their respective sections.  In the Girls under-16, WGM Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, also top seed with 2298 FIDE, is in sole lead with 8.5/10, a half a point ahead of two rivals, and in the Open under-18, IM Pouya Idani, ranked only 14th, is also in sole lead with 8.0/10 with a superb 2669 performance.

IM Pouya Idan from Iran has been having the result of his
life. Just one more good round is needed for a historic gold.

Several sections have four or more tied for first, with more a half point behind, and the last round promises to be extremely bloodthirsty. Heroes will be praised and hearts will be broken.

For some, it can be heart-wrenching...

... while others can barely keep.... their... eyes.... zzzzzzz

The parents are all there...

...to give the children support

Don't eat the badge dearie, let me get you some popcorn instead

Inspired by Rybka, AKA "little fish"?

I will hold my breath until he resigns

Sara Masud Jabbari from Kurdistan Region of Iraq. She is from
Erbil city and with the Iraq Chess National Team. Thanks to
Mohamed Ali Baba Jabbari.

Team Zimbabwe with Canadian Ashley Tapp, the chess girl

South African under-12 player Ananta Reddy fought for five hours and forty five
minutes to draw an endgame a pawn down and succeeded. Last players left!

Sometimes a little help is needed

Team South Africa was kind enough to label some of the top boards and players, and a warm thank you is extended their way. See more of their excellent pictures at their Facebook page.

So what was the result?

Stylish play

This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship

The championship has played ten of eleven rounds, and here are the standings for each category:

Girls Results:

WYCC U8 Girls Classic

The Girls under-8 will be a girl-eat-girl in the final round

WYCC U10 Girls Classic

WYCC U12 Girls Classic

WYCC U14 Girls Classic

Russian Anna Vasenina leads her group going into the last round

Estonian Mai Narva has been the surprise second place, and
is overperforming her rating by nearly 300 Elo

WYCC U16 Girls Classic

WYCC U18 Girls Classic

Lidia Tomnikova from Russia and...

...Nastassia Ziaziulkina from Belarus are tied for first in the
Girls under-18.

Open Results:

WYCC U8 Open Classic

WYCC U10 Open Classic

Ten-year-old FM Awonder Liang lived up to his favoritism and rating

WYCC U12 Open Classic

WYCC U14 Open Classic

In round nine, Li Di (2091) beat IM Aryan Tari (2418), right after beating FM
Aravindh rated 2415 in round eight

WYCC U16 Open Classic

Indian IM Murali Karthikeyan, one of the leaders

WYCC U18 Open Classic

IM Pouya Idani vs top-seed GM Jorge Cori. Draw.

Links Official tournament site All games in PGN The games will be 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.