21 players advance to the second round of Women’s World Championship

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The second games of the first round of the Women’s World Championship were played in the Ugra Chess Academy on November 4.

The following players advanced to the 2nd round with the perfect score: Ju Wenjun, Anna and Mariya Muzychuk, Kateryna Lagno, Humpy Koneru, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Nana Dzagnidze, Nino Batsiashvili, Zhao Xue, Zhai Mo, and Zhu Jinner. The last two players defeated the higher rated Olga Girya and Lela Javakhishvili respectively.

Valentina Gunina, Tan Zhongyi, Monika Socko, Jolanta Zawadzka, Aleksandra Goryachkina, Natalija Pogonina, Anna Ushenina, and Bela Khotenashvili won their matches 1.5 to 0.5. Alina Kashlinskaya did not manage to come back after the defeat yesterday, and Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova also advanced to the next round with a draw in their second game. Mobina Alinasab caused the biggest upset of the championship so far, holding to a draw against Elisabeth Paehtz and thus advancing to the second round.

The rest of the players will face the tie-breaks on November 5:

Lei Tingjie-Gara, Saduakassova-Matnadze, Krush-Gaponenko, Zhukova-Ni Shiqun, Atalik-Cori, Foisor-Stefanova, Harika-Khukhashvili, Vera Gutierrez-Bodnaruk,Padmini-Abdumalik, Nakhbayeva-Galliamova, and Hoang Thanh Trang-Danielian.

The tie-break will start with two games with rapid time control: 25 minutes plus 10 second per move. If the match is still tied, it will continue with two slow blitz games – 10 minutes plus 10 seconds per move. After that, if the winner is still not determined, two 5+3 blitz games will follow. Finally, those matches that are still tied, will proceed to the Armageddon game.

Results

Photos

Videos

Round 1, game 2. Jolanta Zawadzka: I am getting support from whose who are important for me

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An interview with Jolanta Zawadzka of Poland after Game 2 of Round 1 of Women’s World Championship:

– Jolanta, you have outplayed Marina Guseva of Russia in the first round of Women’s World Championship. How was your match going on?

– The second game was very well, my opponent fell into my preparation in the position that I still knew and I had one hour more on the clock. Probably, I didn’t play precisely because it wasn’t clear how to continue one moment but in her time-trouble, my opponent went wrong and I picked some pawns and then I converted the advantage.

– Marina Guseva is a strong player. How do you usually start knock-out tournaments? Is it good or bad to start them with a strong player?

– Well, this is only my second time I play in a knock-out tournament. In the first one, I lost in the very first round so it is really difficult to say how it will continue  and what is better. But I am very happy to beat my opponent. We were very close on the ratings. When the pairs were made I had a bigger rating and now, when the list is updated she has a bigger rating. So the match was very tough and I knew that I would have to play better than in recent events to continue the tournament.

– Do you like to play knock-outs? Do you feel pressure or not?

– As this is my second time (the first one was in 2010) I don’t have much experience. There’s some pressure, of course, but I just have to do my best and try to prepare well. And if I do well, maybe with some luck, I can continue.

– Do you know who is your next rival?

– I think I will play Humpy Koneru because she is #2 and she won her match. I guess so. Well I didn’t even think about the second round before. One round at a time.

– When you are playing chess during tournaments, do you follow social media and get messages of support from your fans from Poland and other countries?

– Well, I am not really active on social media and not really involved with the general public. I am getting support from whose who are important for me – my family and my fiance, close friends, and also here I have my friend Monika Socko. She also won her first match so we will continue supporting each other together.

– What do you think about organization of this tournament?

– The playing hall is very good, as well as the conditions for players. Hotel is the same we stayed in during the World Team Championship. The food was disappointing but I hope it will get better.

Ju Wenjun: Changes in World Championship cycle are good for women

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Press conference with the reigning women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun.

– Wenjun, please tell us about your first match against Kathryn Hardegen from Australia.

– This is my first time playing against Hardegen. And I feel she has a very fighting spirit, but in a time pressure she made some mistakes and I won both games.

– So the first match was tough for you, wasn’t it?

– Yes, because I think that after the opening White had some chances to get some advantage but she didn’t find it, and the endgame was like winning to me.

– It’s not your first time in Khanty-Mansiysk. Can we say that this place is a lucky one for you?

– I think if I am correct I am here for the fourth time. I won the Women’s Grand Prix leg in 2016 here so this event became a very historic tournament for me and I enjoy playing here.

– After winning Grand Prix you have qualified for the World Championship match and then you have won the World Championship Match. Does the title impose any extra pressure on you here?

– I feel some pressure during this tournament but the title is not the cause.

– What do you think about the future changes in the system of Women’s Chess World Championship?

– I think it’s good for women.

– Recently, both the open and women’s Chinese teams have won the World Chess Olympiad in Batumi. Did you get any rewards from your country?

– After we won, both men and women, we got to CCTV1 – the most important TV-channel in China and we feel very proud. But it’s been only one month since that time and now we’re here. So, so far we’ve just been preparing for the Championship but I think when we are back we will get some awards.

– You’re not playing tomorrow, so how are you going to spend your day?

– Most of the time I will be staying in the hotel. Also I want to go for a walk. It’s minus here but it’s not so cold for me.

– There are many Chinese players participating in this championship, and chess is very strong in China in general. Do you think one of the China players has to be considered the favorite of this event?

– It’s a knock-out system and I think everyone has a chance here. It’s not only about the level it’s also about your performance and a lot of other things. I don’t think about the favorites because everyone has good chances.

Round 1, game 2. Mariya Muzychuk: We can only play with Anna in the final

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An interview with Mariya Muzychuk after Game 2 of Round 1 of Women’s World Championship:

– Mariya, you have defeated Shahenda Wafa from Egypt 2-0 in the first round of Women’s World Championship. How was your first match here?

– I won 2-0 but I cannot say that it was a very easy match. Especially in the second game when my opponent tried to play actively and with a loss of tactics. Of course, it is a right decision because this was the only chance to win. But I think it wasn’t in her style to play tactically so, let’s say, I won quite obviously.

– Have you ever played with Shahenda Wafa before?

– Yes, I remember I played against her during World Team Championship and I won that game. That was three years ago and that was just one game. So it is hard to say that this statistics is very important for me.

– In a knock-out event you have a great chance to see your sister Anna as an opponent. Have you thought before the event about such possibility?

– Of course, it is possible but we can only play with Anna in the final. But I just play round by round and don’t think about it yet.

 

Round 1, game 2. Valentina Gunina: Knock-out tournament is a very nervous thing

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An interview with Valentina Gunina after the second game of Round 1 of the Women’s World Championship:

– Valentina, you won the match against Ingrid Aliaga Fernandez from Peru. What was in the match?

– Yesterday I played with Black and I was lucky to win. When you win in such a tournament with Black this is really a good chance. You just need to make a draw with White the next day. That’s what I did today. So I was lucky.

– In how many knock-out championships have you played in your career?

– If I am not mistaken, this is my fourth time. But I am not sure. I was kicked out from the third round I guess. This was my best result by now.

– Of course, everybody here is determined to win the World Championship. And what is your idea about the changes in the system of the Women’s World Championship cycle?

– I want this changes very much because knock-out tournament is a very nervous thing. One mistake and it is over. I would prefer to play in a round-robin event such as Women’s Candidates Tournament.

First games of Women’s World Championship played in Khanty-Mansiysk

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Prior to the start of the first round, the official flag of FIDE was raised in front of the Ugra Chess Academy. This very flag was presented to Ugra Chess Federation President Vassily Filipenko during the closing ceremony of the Chess Olympiad in Batumi. As Khanty-Mansiysk will host the next Chess Olympiad in 2020, for the next two years the flag of FIDE will remain in the capital of Ugra.

Varvara Tsaregorodtseva, the 9-year-old student of the Ugra Chess Academy, U9 champion of Ugra among girls, made a symbolic first move in the game between Zhai Mo from China and the Ugra representative Olga Girya.The result of this game, however, was disappointing for local fans, as Olga Girya lost in sharp struggle.

Most rating favorites won their games, however, there was a couple of upsets. Elisabeth Pazhtz lost as White to Mobina Alinasab, a player rated significantly lower than the German. Maili-Jade Ouellet made a draw with Aleksandra Goryachkina.

A number of decisive games among closely rated players was quite high. Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova defeated Alina Kashlinskaya, Anna Ushenina won against Lilit Mkrtchian, Ni Shiqun lost to Natalia Zhukova, Monika Socko proved stronger than Yuliya Shvayger, and Lela Javakhishvili lost to Zhu Jineer.

The following games ended in a draw: Krush-Gaponenko, Vega Gutierrez-Bodnaruk, Foisor-Stefanova, Saduakassova-Matnadze, Harika-Khukhashvili, Vo Thi Kim Phung-Khotenashvili, Guseva-Zawadzka, Padmini-Abdumalik, Atalik-Cori, Hoang Thanh Trang-Danielian, Nakhbayeva-Galliamova, and Lei Tingjie-Gara.

The second games of the first round are played on Sunday, November 4. Any match that ends 1-1 will proceed to a tie-break on the next day.

Results

Photos

Videos

Natalia Zhukova: Tomorrow I need to play normal chess forgetting about the result of the first game

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A press-conference with Natalia Zhukova after the first game of Round 1 of the Women’s World Championship:

– Natalia, how was your game today?

– It was a very tough game. Of course, I didn’t expect an easy promenade in the World Championship. I tried to equalize the game and I hope that I managed to do it with some precise moves. So I think it was more or less equal all the time. My opponent was slightly better but nothing special, I think. My opponent made a mistake in the end, and I won.

– How do you get ready before the second game when you win the first one at knock-out tournaments?

– It happened to me not so often but as I know that I need to play normal chess just forgetting about the result of the first one. It doesn’t matter with which color I play. Tomorrow it will be white but it really doesn’t matter. I remember that in 2004 I defeated Nadezhda Kosintseva with Black in the first game and I tried to make a draw at any cost and I lost. So that was a bad idea.

– You have travelled a lot and have had so many events recently. How do you feel here? Are you not tired?

– No, I am not tired at all. Every tournament was so interesting that I couldn’t decline any of them. There were World Chess Olympiad, European Club Cup, Isle of Man  –  I have no idea which tournament I could skip.

– You have started jogging. Why? Does it help you to keep fit?

– To do jogging you need to love it. It doesn’t matter why I’ve started I just started to love it. It just happened to me this summer, I met some people who showed me how to do it and to enjoy it.

– Thank you, Natalia, and good luck!

– Thank you.

Round 1, game 1. Interview with Kateryna Lagno

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An interview with Kateryna Lagno after the first game of Round 1 of Women’s World Championship:

– Kateryna, how was your game today? 

– It was an interesting game, I think. My opponent made a mistake in the opening and lost a pawn. She got some compensation but still a pawn is a pawn. And with a precise moves I hold it and finally I won.

– Was this game the first one with this opponent for you? 

– Yes, it was.

– How do you get ready for the knock-out events? Do you try to invent some strategy for the pairings, or do you just play round by round? 

– Well, I will not tell you everything, of course. But I think like everybody you prepare for your first opponent and then you see how it goes. Just like this. Just try to play your best chess – the only miracle thing you can do.

– Do you have plans after this event? Where are you going to play next? 

– I don’t know. I don’t know about the competition in China. Because normally we play in December in World  Mind Sports Games. I’d love to play there. And I’d love to play in the World Rapid and Blitz Championships but I don’t know whether it will be organized or not. I hope so, but we’ll see.

– What can you say about the organization here? Did you like the opening ceremony? The playing hall? 

– The Opening ceremony was nice – it was short and good. So nobody got tired. The rest is okay. We’re used to play here and used to have good conditions here, so everything is fine.

Round 1, game 1. Interview with Anna Muzychuk

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An interview with Anna Muzychuk after the first game of Round 1 of Women’s World Championship:

– Anna, please tell us about your game today.

– This is the first game I won here. I can say it wasn’t so tough because I’ve got an advantage from the opening and then I think I was winning already somewhere on move 20  but we continued the game.

– What can you say about the organization of the tournament so far?

– It is not my first time here, I’ve been many times in Khanty-Mansiysk. I knew where I was going and what to expect. So far everything’s ok.

– And what about the opening ceremony?

– I liked the opening ceremony. It wasn’t long and it wasn’t short but I think it was interesting for the players.

– Before such knock-out events do you usually try to forecast and to see who are your next opponents and to make some plans?

– As for me, usually I am preparing for the first round and also since there are two possible opponents for the second round I also get ready for them as well.

Symbolic first move played at the World Сhampionship

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The first round of the Women’s World Сhampionship took off.

Prior to the start of the first round, the official flag of FIDE was raised in front of the Ugra Chess Academy. This very flag was presented to Ugra Chess Federation President Vassily Filipenko during the closing ceremony of the Chess Olympiad in Batumi. As Khanty-Mansiysk will host the next Chess Olympiad in 2020, for the next two years the flag of FIDE will reside in the capital of Ugra.

“Raising the flag of FIDE symbolizes a countdown to the 2020 Chess Olympiad, which will take place in Khanty-Mansiysk”, said Vassily Filipenko. “Our city hosts the Women’s World Championship for the second time. It is a great honour and responsibility. Ugra has rich history of organizing major international competitions, and not only in chess. I am very happy to see our young students and future chess champions from Ugra attending this ceremony, while today’s champions are getting ready for their battle in the Ugra Chess Academy.”

Varvara Tsaregorodtseva, the 9-year-old student of the Ugra Chess Academy, U9 champion of Ugra among girls, made a symbolic first move in the game between Zhai Mo from China and the Ugra representative Olga Girya.

Chess club opens in regional office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs

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A ceremonial opening of a chess club took place in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area Office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The club was opened as a part of the “Remove Blank Spots from Ugra Map” project. The event was attended by Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President, Dmitry Kuzmenko, Chief Federal Inspector for Ugra, Yury Yuzhakov, Deputy Governor of Ugra, Galina Kovaleva, Rector of the Ugra Chess Academy, and Olga Girya, grandmaster from Ugra and participant of the World championship.

After the ribbon was cut, a simultaneous display took place. Olga Girya, grandmaster, participant of the World championship, member of the Russian National Team, winner of Chess Olympiads, played against local policemen, while Alexander Sibryaev, FIDE Master, who paricipated in the 2005 World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk, faced veterans of the law enforcement.

“Chess has become a significant part of everyday life of our office”, says Vassily Ivanovich Romanitsa, Head of the Ugra Office of the MIA. “The new club will give our colleagues an opportunity to sharpen their skill. Chess teaches us to predict actions of our opponents several moves ahead, which is a critically important quality for a policeman.”