Polish GM Darius Swiercz took gold in the World Junior with a last round win to catch Armenian GM Robert Hovhannisyan who only managed a draw. Both scored 10.5 from 13 rounds but Swiercz had the better tiebreak. Sahaj Grover took clear third with 9.5 and a 13-round GM norm. Early leader Girish Koushik fell away, scoring only 0.5 in the last 4 rounds.
In the WJ Girls, WGM Deysi Cori won gold with 11. Olga Girya of Russia (10.5) lost in the last round to Padmini Rout (9) and took silver. Nazi Paikidze of Georgia (9.5) managed third place. It was a disappointing tournament for the hosts with only one medal and that, a bronze.
Peter Svidler took the Russian Super Championship, with 5.5 from 7 and a TPR of 2871. That included a last round loss to "Weird Al" Morozevich who took silver with 4.5. This is Svidler's sixth Russian title - an amazing record for the cricket fan from Leningrad. Karjakin, Kramnik and Grishchuk all scored 4 while Nepomniachtchi, Galkin and Timofeev trailed with minus scores. Moro has maintained 2800+ TPR in three successive tournaments since his health stabilised. He won the Russian qualifier, came second to Carlsen at Biel and now, second to Svidler.
World champion Hou Yifan won the Rostov Grand Prix with a commanding 8 points from 11. She started with 5.5/6 and coasted through the second half, losing a game to Katerina Lahno, who slid into second with 7. Anna Muzychuk and Tatiana Kosintseva shared 3-4 with 6.5. Title Challenger Koneru Humpy scored a lacklustre 5.5.
In the Diagram, WHITE TO PLAY, (Svidler Vs Kramnik, Russia Super Final 2011) Black has given a piece for unclear complications. Play went 16.dxe4 Qc7 17.Rf4 Rde8 18.fxg6 hxg6 19.Nhf3 Qb6 20.e5! Nxe5 21.Nxe5 Bxe5 22.Rf3 Nh7 23.c4 ?! This may be an error. Machines say 23.h4!? or 23. Rf1 Ng5 24. Nf3 Nxh3 25. Bxh3 Rxh3 26. Nxe5 Rxe5.
The attack revived with 23. - Ng5 24.cxd5 cxd5 The normal 24. Rf1? is hit by 24. --Bh2+! 25. Kxh2 Rxe3 so white must return material to defend e3 with 25.Nf1 Kb8 26.b4 d4 27.Bd2 Re7 28.Rc1 dxe3? Both players have to calculate Nxf3 and its consequences on every move. Now it's time. Either 28. - Nxf3+ 29. Qxf3 Rd8 or 28. - d3! 29. Qxd3 Nxf3+ 30. Bxf3 Rxh3 looks okay.
After 29.Bxe3 Bd4? Last chance - 29. - Nxf3+ 30. Qxf3 Qf6 is an inferior but defensible endgame for black. Now the extra piece wins after 30.Rg3! Bxe3+ 31.Nxe3 Rhe8 32.Rc3 a6 33.Qf2 f6 34.Nc2 Qxf2+ 35.Kxf2 Re2+ 36.Kf1 Rd2 37.Rgd3 Ree2 38.Rxd2 Rxd2 39.Ne3 Ne6 40.Nc4 Rd1+ 41.Kf2 Nf4 42.Bf3 Ra1 43.h4 g5 44.h5 (1-0).
Devangshu Datta is an internationally rated chess and correspondence chess player
