 "Chess (#1176)")
The European Teams ended in a double gold for Russia. Although the two teams were highly favoured, Russia hasn't always done well at team events. Given the consistent quality of opposition, it was a terrific result. It was a team effort from the Russians. They won several matches by minimum margins.
The Open event was taken by the Russians, who won with 15/18, dropping three draws, including an agreed 2-2 in the last round with Hungary. That followed a violent 2-2 versus Armenia where the teams shared wins and a 2-2 draw against Azerbaijan. Armenia, Hungary and France all scored 13 points to share 2-4. Armenia took silver on tiebreak with Hungary taking bronze. There were multiple 2800-plus performances. Georgia's Levon Pantsulaia led with a 2868 performance on Board 3. Levon Aronian, Gabriel Sargissian, Peter Svidler, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Richard Rapport, Pavel Eljanov all hit 2800-plus.
The women's team had a smoother path to gold. The Russian women scored 17/18, dropping a draw only to the third-seeded Ukraine. They beat top-seeded Georgia in a crucial match. Ukraine (15/18) took silver and Georgia (14/18) took bronze. The young prodigy, Alexandra Goryachkina, scored a brilliant 7/8, which was crucial to Russian results.
Closer to home, the National championships are in play. Joint top seed Vidit Gujrathi leads with 7 from 9 rounds in the open. He is followed by Murali Karthikeyan (6) and P Karthikeyan (5.5). There's some distance to go in the 14-player round robin. In the women's premier, top-seed Padmini Rout won with 8.5/11. She lost two games, but had seven successive wins. Soumya Swaminathan, Bhakti Kulkarni and Swati Ghate shared 2-4, with 7.5 each. Swaminathan and Kulkarni took silver and bronze, respectively.
The diagram, WHITE TO PLAY (White: Grischuk Vs Black: Fressinet, European Teams Reykjavik 2015) sets white problems in extreme time-trouble. Grischuk played 34.Ra3!? This involves sharp calculation. [Instead 34. e7 Kd7 35. Bxd4 Bxd3 36. Kxd3 Be7 37. Bc3 is relatively easy (note the forking themes on f8/f6). The Rh7 may as well not exist. White can play h4, Nhf4, h5, Ke4 as he pleases.]
The game continued 34. - Nxe6 35.fxe6 Bxg6 36.Ra8+ Kb7 37.Rg8 f5 [Or 37...Bb1 38.Rxg7 Rxg7 39.Nxg7 Bxa2 40.Bxf6 and the e-pawn claims a piece] Now white mops up with 38.Bxg7 Bxh5 39.gxh5 Kc6 40.a4! Kb7 The time control is up. The win is trivial after 41.Bf6 Kc6 42.Rg7 Rh8 [Or 42- Rxg7 43.Bxg7 Be7 44.Kf4] and 43.Rxc7+ (1-0). After 43.-Kxc7 44. Bxh8 Kd8 45. Bf6+ Ke8 46. Bg7 Ke7 47. Bxh6 Kxe6 48. Bf4 Bf8 49. Bc7, it's over.
Devangshu Datta is an internationally rated chess and correspondence chess player
The Open event was taken by the Russians, who won with 15/18, dropping three draws, including an agreed 2-2 in the last round with Hungary. That followed a violent 2-2 versus Armenia where the teams shared wins and a 2-2 draw against Azerbaijan. Armenia, Hungary and France all scored 13 points to share 2-4. Armenia took silver on tiebreak with Hungary taking bronze. There were multiple 2800-plus performances. Georgia's Levon Pantsulaia led with a 2868 performance on Board 3. Levon Aronian, Gabriel Sargissian, Peter Svidler, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Richard Rapport, Pavel Eljanov all hit 2800-plus.
The women's team had a smoother path to gold. The Russian women scored 17/18, dropping a draw only to the third-seeded Ukraine. They beat top-seeded Georgia in a crucial match. Ukraine (15/18) took silver and Georgia (14/18) took bronze. The young prodigy, Alexandra Goryachkina, scored a brilliant 7/8, which was crucial to Russian results.
Closer to home, the National championships are in play. Joint top seed Vidit Gujrathi leads with 7 from 9 rounds in the open. He is followed by Murali Karthikeyan (6) and P Karthikeyan (5.5). There's some distance to go in the 14-player round robin. In the women's premier, top-seed Padmini Rout won with 8.5/11. She lost two games, but had seven successive wins. Soumya Swaminathan, Bhakti Kulkarni and Swati Ghate shared 2-4, with 7.5 each. Swaminathan and Kulkarni took silver and bronze, respectively.
The diagram, WHITE TO PLAY (White: Grischuk Vs Black: Fressinet, European Teams Reykjavik 2015) sets white problems in extreme time-trouble. Grischuk played 34.Ra3!? This involves sharp calculation. [Instead 34. e7 Kd7 35. Bxd4 Bxd3 36. Kxd3 Be7 37. Bc3 is relatively easy (note the forking themes on f8/f6). The Rh7 may as well not exist. White can play h4, Nhf4, h5, Ke4 as he pleases.]
The game continued 34. - Nxe6 35.fxe6 Bxg6 36.Ra8+ Kb7 37.Rg8 f5 [Or 37...Bb1 38.Rxg7 Rxg7 39.Nxg7 Bxa2 40.Bxf6 and the e-pawn claims a piece] Now white mops up with 38.Bxg7 Bxh5 39.gxh5 Kc6 40.a4! Kb7 The time control is up. The win is trivial after 41.Bf6 Kc6 42.Rg7 Rh8 [Or 42- Rxg7 43.Bxg7 Be7 44.Kf4] and 43.Rxc7+ (1-0). After 43.-Kxc7 44. Bxh8 Kd8 45. Bf6+ Ke8 46. Bg7 Ke7 47. Bxh6 Kxe6 48. Bf4 Bf8 49. Bc7, it's over.
Devangshu Datta is an internationally rated chess and correspondence chess player