2008 WUC Chess: Finals
March 11th, 2008
The Medallists
As it was widely predicted, the hosts took the first prizes in all the major nominations of the World University Chess Championship. Dmitry Bocharov and Irina Vasilevich are the champions in the men’s and women’s tournaments respectively and Russia left the other competitors far behind in the team classification. There were few doubts about the team-winner even before the start of the championship. Four men’s GMs and the imposing girl’s quartet made the chances of the other teams theoretical. The tournament only proved it: in the first six rounds the Russian men lost the points only in the games with each other, the girls answered with a strong finish. In fact the tournament was reduced into a domestic concern. The last two rounds proved to be a trying ordeal. Round 8 began at 9 am, when self-respecting players are still asleep. Yet it did not prevent either Bocharov or Lysyj from beating Pokazanjev and Kuderinov. Nikolai was caught and the top board saw the winner rather soon. As for Kirill he fell victim to his own groundless ambitions. He resigned on move 22 under the threat of inevitable loss of a piece. The third favorite Smirnov played against Zhou Jianchao. The latter had stalled in the beginning but then won a few games in a row. Pavel could not control the game. He got into an unfavorable position of anti-Moscow gambit and then made an error at the crucial point.
After the lunch break the adventures went on. The young Chinese who again had White decided that one win was insufficient and pressed Bocharov. It was the first time in the tournament that Dmitry was on the defensive and his position was getting worse. At the same time Lysyj played very convincingly against Batchuluun, the best of the Mongolian players. His opponent did not have a chance and Igor finished the game before the first time control capturing the enemy queen. So the final positions did not seem so unshakeable any more … But Bocharov managed to escape! Zhou Jianchao felt that he was winning the piece and he rushed things. It was enough for Dmitry. He tried to catch every chance and it was the Chinese player’s turn to lose the piece in two pawns. It looked like a definite draw which made the player from Novosibirsk a champion.
The girls’ tournament remained undecided to the last. It came to the tie for the first place and coefficient count. Four players were in the lead after round 7 – Pogonina, Vasilevich, Wang Yu and Dulamsuren. The Russian players drew away after round 8. Both win rather convincingly, Natalia beat Bensdorp from the Netherlands and Irina beat Dulamsuren. Another Mongolian player Mongontuul left the Chinese in the cold. In the final round both Russian girls made every effort to win, but neither managed it. But if Pogonina had a comfortable “free” advantage against Mongontuul and “tortured” her opponent for a while, then Vasilevich (who had a game against Dauletova) lost a pawn in the opening and her wildest dream was a draw. And she managed to draw the game but not without help on the part of Gulmira, who had no sporting interest then. As it turned out in 30 minutes this half a point meant gold. Natalia who was slightly behind (applying tie-breaking procedures) could not turn her more favorable position in the game to her advantage.
Closing Ceremony
Delegates from the next Organizing Committee (Zürich, SUI) receive the FISU flag
Men - Round 8 Bocharov – Pokazanjev 1-0, Zhou Jianchao – Smirnov 1-0, Kuderinov – Lysyj 0-1, Batchuluun – Zhumabayev Ѕ, Alavi – Maletin 0-1, Battulga – Filippov 1-0, Moosavian – Otte 1-0, etc. Men - Round 9 Zhou Jianchao – Bocharov Ѕ, Lysyj – Batchuluun 1-0, Smirnov – Moosavian 1-0, Maletin – Battulga Ѕ, Zhumabayev – Liang Chong 0-1, Pokazanjev – Alavi 0-1, etc. Final Ranking 1. Bocharov (Russia) 2. Lysyj (Russia) – 7/9 3. Smirnov (Russia) – 6.5 4-5. Maletin (Russia), Zhou Jianchao (China) – 6, 6-9. Zhumabayev (Kazakhstan), Liang, Chong (China), Alavi (Iran), Kuderinov (Kazakhstan) –5.5 etc. Women - Round 8 Dulamsuren – Vasilevich 0-1, Pogonina – Bensdorp 1-0, Mongontuul – Wang Yu 1-0, Zhang Jilin – Kovanova ½, Paridar – Anhchimeg 0-1, Cheremnova – Tashimova, 1-0, etc. Women - Round 9 Pogonina – Mongontuul ½, Vasilevich – Dauletova, ½, Kovanova – Wang Yu 1-0, Bensdorp – Zhang Jilin 0-1, Anhchimeg – Cheremnova 0-1, Dulamsuren – Tajik 1-0, etc. Final Ranking 1. Pogonina (Russia), 2. Vasilevich (Russia) – 6.5, 3. Zhang Jilin (China), 4-6. Dulamsuren, Mongontuul (both – Mongolia), Kovanova (Russia) – 6, etc.
