tag: Astana - Page 1

Astana to host World Team Championships

3/3/2019 – The Open and Women's World Team Championships will take place on March 4th-14th in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana. Both events will be nine-round single round robin tournaments. The open section will have Russia and China as the clear front-runners, while the women's meeting is much harder to call in advance, with rating favourites Russia having to contend against strong squads from Ukraine, China, Georgia and India. | Photo: Official site

Astana wrap up: thoughts of a participant

3/14/2013 – Alina L'Ami was part of the Romanian team at the FIDE Women's World Team Championship, and also our reporter and photographer. In her closing report the 2353 rated WGM searches for explanations for the inconsistency of play in women's chess – which also provides the main ingredient for a very exciting events. Here are Alina's musing and pictorial impressions from the closing day.

Astana R9: Gold for Ukraine, China Silver

3/12/2013 – China defeated India and was poised to take Gold, if only Russia would beat Ukraine. But it was not to be – that match ended 2-2, and Ukraine was first with 16 match points, followed by China and Russia with 15 and 13 match points respectively. France beat Turkey 3½-½ to overtake them at the bottom of the table. Final illustrated report.

Astana R7+8: Ukraine poised to take Gold

3/12/2013 – A surprise win by the US over Russia in round seven, and two clean victories by Ukraine and China, has put the Ukrainian women in pole position to win the Women's World Team Championship. But if they lose to Russia in the final round on Tuesday, and China beats India, it could be the Chinese girls on the top pedestal.  Report after round eight.

Astana R6: Ukraine beats France 4-0, leads

3/10/2013 – They have only six draws in twenty games – and in round six the Ukrainian team crushed the French girls to go into the sole lead at the Women's World Team Championship. Russia is in second, China in third place. Friday was a free day, which was used to tour the remarkable Kazakh capital. We include a pictorial report by Alina L'Ami.

Astana R5: Ukraine beats China, leads with Russia

3/8/2013 – It didn't go completely smoothly, but in the end the Ukrainian ladies scored a 3-1 win over rivals China. Russia trounced France 3½-½, and Georgia did the same to the USA. Russia and Ukraine lead by two point ahead of China and Georgia. In addition there is good news for Salome Melia and her desperately ill daughter. Round five report.

Astana R4: Ukraine catches Russia and China

3/7/2013 – The leading teams from Russia and China faced each other and made a 2-2 result – with two wins for each side. Ukraine was facing a drawn match against Turkey, but after more than 100 moves and six hours of play the talented Turkish WFM Selen Sop simply did not have the physical strength to win the position with a huge advantage. Round four report.

Astana: Salome Melia, a player in need

3/6/2013 – In round three Salome Melia defeated her American rival in a marathon 86-move game. The Georgian IM is not playing only for the honour of her country, but also for money to save the life of her four-month-old daughter. The infant desperately needs a heart operation which cannot be performed in Georgia and would cost €60,000 in Germany (or a million in the US). Can anyone help?

Astana R3: Russia beats Turkey 4-0

3/6/2013 – “The Turkish team came here to learn and gain experience”, the captain and coach of the team, GM Adrian Mikhalchishin (above right). They gained a lot in the 0-4 drubbing they got from the Russian squad. China beat the US team 3½-½ and is now half a board point behind Russia. The two meet in round four on Wednesday. Illustrated round three report.

Astana R2: Russia and China lead

3/5/2013 – The Russian team beat Kazakhstan 3-1 in spite of an accident on board one; and China profited from two howlers by the Georgians to chalk up the same score. Since the start of this event in 2007 the Chinese team won Gold every time, and Russia three times Silver. Both teams are in Astana without their top two players. Big pictorial report with  results and games.

Astana R1: Kazakhstan holds USA 2-2

3/4/2013 – The only surprise of round one was the brave stand put up by the Kazakh squad that almost defeated the higher-ranked team from the USA. India, playing without their three top seed, lost 1-3 to Ukraine, while favourites China and Russia both scored thumping 3½-½ victories over France and Romania respectively. We bring you all the  results, games and pictures.
1