Photo. Round 3, game 2
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A press-conference with a member of the Appeals Committee of the Women’s World Championship, Vice-President of the European Chess Union and Vice-President of the Slovakian Chess Federation Eva Repkova:
– Eva, we have just seen a nice video from the simultaneous exhibition you had with local kids. What are your impressions about the venue and your work here in Khanty-Mansiysk?
– The Ugra Chess Academy is a unique place for kids to study and to improve in chess. I must say that I immediately fell in love with all the kids, teachers and the place itself. I wish we had something like this in Slovakia. This is a great inspiration for me to build a similar academy in my country.
I also would like to thank all the people who give us commentaries on the games because their work is often underestimated but it’s a very hard work to sit and comment for many hours so that we can have a nice and pleasant time.
– Speaking about the work of the Appeals Committee, fortunately, there’s not much work for you up to this moment. But what are your impressions about the event and the play of our participants?
– Most of the players here are also my friends. This is a great opportunity for me to talk to them about their needs, their professional life. And I also enjoy their fighting in the games and sometimes I feel sorry when some of my friends has to leave and to go home. It’s a tough life here for them.
– Which game of the tournament is the most exciting one for you up up this point?
– There is no one single game. But I like the young players under 20 here – Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova from Uzbekistan and Zhansaya Abdumalik Kazakhstan. They have great fighting spirit and a big will to win. They have advanced to the third round so they are my personal favorites now.
– And you have just told that you would like to have a similar academy in Slovakia. What is chess live in your country now?
– We have a long way to go. Recently we have started organizing some big international events. My idea is to give something to our society so they can later support us. This year we organized the European Women’s Championship and next year we expect almost three thousand people from fifty counties come to the European Youth Championship. We cooperate with our government and we’re getting support for this big event. And every year the situation for the Chess Federation improves. Every year we get a little bit more money so this work pays off so far.
– As a FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said the women’s chess would be promoted, the prize founds would be increased and the system of the women’s world championship cycle would be changed. Do you personally have any ideas on how to promote women’s chess?
– I talk to many players here and they all are very hopeful about our new President Mr. Arkady Dvorkovich. He promised to improve the situation and the hardest part will be to increase the prize found for women’s events and organize more attractive tournaments for them. And I believe this is the work of FIDE officials to attract more sponsors. I guess it’s not easy but it’s possible with small steps. As I mention we’re all very hopeful about our new president’s activities.
I think it’s very important to come by with some experience and new ideas. Actually I like that many grandmasters are involved in FIDE politics now and I am very hopeful that something very good will come out of it. On the other hand, chess players only cannot do all the work because they often lack some skills, but together we can make it, I believe.
On the other hand, there are things that we can do as well to promote chess such as follow dress code especially for opening and closing ceremonies and also during the tournaments and to be more open to public although most of us are introverts so it might be hard. But we just should try harder to be open.
– Do you think activity in social media like Facebook and Instagram would help to increase interest in women’s chess?
– Of course. In today’s world it’s a necessity if you want to make some positive change. Using these tools is for good of chess.
– The World Championship match has just opened in London. We asked some of our participants on whom they’re supporting, but what is your choice in this match?
– To be honest, I don’t have any favorite but I will follow the match closely and I am looking forward to see very exciting and fighting chess.
– Today the first game between Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana starts in London so the whole chess community will be watching it. What would you say to the fans of chess to make them still keep following this event?
– I think it is a little bit boring to watch one game for many hours so I’m sure they will be switching between our games and the World Championship Match. Besides, sometimes when games are played on the highest level there are no mistakes. It’s much more fun to watch games when things change.
– And actually we have five hour difference between the games so they have chances to watch all the games.
– Sure.
– You said that the most chess players are introverts. Don’t extraverts play chess?
– They can do anything including playing chess (laughing). I did not say that all of the chess players were introverts, but it is just my observation and my experience tell me that more of them are introverts. This is just my opinion and what I see during chess tournaments.
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Alexandra Kosteniuk (Russia) won the match against Ni Shiqun (China) and gave an interview to Eteri Kublashvili.
– Alexandra, how was your encounter with this Chinese player Ni Shiqun?
– It was quite tense actually. In the second game of the classical part, I have already said goodbye to this Championship because I missed 39.b4, and after 39…d5 the endgame that appeared was very unpleasant. And I was so disappointed because there was so drastic change from an absolutely equal position to an unpleasant one that I made a few more inaccurate moves. Then I was on the verge of losing but somehow I managed to survive. So the day of tie-breaks was already good for me because I was still in the game, and it is a good sign in knock-out championships when you still fight. Nothing is over until it’s actually over. So today it was a bit easier for me because I got a very pleasant position with White – we continued our theoretical battle in the Petrov Defense – and I managed to outplay her. In the second game, I was completely dominating but somehow on seconds I gave her some counter chances but I managed to find a very nice trick. All in all, it was a very tense and interesting match.
– Do you know your next rival?
– I’m playing with Harika.
– What is the history of your matches with her?
– I don’t have a very good history. But every game is a new game so we’ll see how it goes.
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Press conference with Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine):
– Anna, you have already won four games in this event and in the second round you defeated Anastasia Bodnaruk from Russia. So please tell us about this match, how did it go?
– Yes, I won all the games but in this tournament it doesn’t matter if we win 2-0 or 1.5-0.5: it’s more important to win the match. Therefore yesterday my win with the black pieces was very important.
– Yesterday you had a very sharp game. Anastasia played an opening with an exchange sacrifice, did it surprise you?
– It was a long and nervous game because we were in a time trouble. We have been playing 5-6 hours. I mean we almost finished last. I didn’t expect this exchange sacrifice from Anastasia but I think that a few moves after that it was only me who was playing for a win. So I am not sure whether it was so good for White.
– And what about the second game, was it easier for you?
– Well, there are no easy games here obviously, every game is difficult and very important. But, of cours,e when you play with White and when draw suits your situation, then it’s easier.
– It looks like a very nice strategic win form your side. Are you happy at this moment with your playing here?
– The first games were quite okay but once again it doesn’t matter so much. The next match is soon.
– After you finished this game were you watching your sister playing?
– Yes, of course I was following her game.
– What was happening there?
– It’s difficult to say because I thought it was lost but then when I saw her position right before coming here I thought she was winning so I am not sure. It was a crazy game . She allowed some attack but somehow she took the upper hand. I don’t know how.
– Tomorrow will be a free day for you. What are you going to do?
– Well, a free day only means that I am not playing but I will prepare for my next opponents. Not for the whole day, but quite some time.
– And who is your next opponent?
– Someone from the pair Stefanova – Saduakassova. I don’t know who as they are still playing.
– Soon the match for the world crown starts in London. Are you going to watch it? Whom are you going to support?
– Of course I will be following it because it is a match you can’t miss. Maybe if I play here longer, I won’t have time to analyze the games as deep as I could do it if I didn’t play in this tournament. It’s not like I will be really rooting for anyone but maybe it will be Magnus.
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Ekaterina Atalik from Turkey won the longest game of the day against Mariya Muzychuk from Ukraine.
– How did you manage to outtrick your opponent in such a position?
– I think the critical moment of the game was after she pushed 22. d5 and. I think she miscalculated something because the endgame bishops and knights is very dangerous for white. I had a very dangerous h-pawn.
– Was it obligatory for her to give up a piece for this h-pawn?
– I think, it was. Maybe she miscalculated something after 33…Bf2, and I think 35…Ne2 was a good move. Then she was forced to give her bishop for the pawn.
– What does usually a chess player feel when he or she is going to play the endgame bishop and knight vs. king?
– Of course, I tried to remember how to checkmate (laughing). Well, actually I repeated it some time ago. I think it is always useful to repeat how to checkmate just in case. But it happened in my career for the second time. So I have little experience.
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An interview with Ju Wenjun of China after Game 1 of Round 2 of Women’s World Championship:
– How was your game today against Irina Krush? It seems to be like a textbook one.
– We played the Queen’s Gambit Accepted, and after the opening we traded the queens. For a long time I think it was equal for both sides. However, after 23…Ne7 24. Nxe7 Rxe7 I felt that I had very good chances to win the game.
– And you managed to do it in a very nice way in this endgame. Have you ever played with Irina Krush before?
– Well, we played rapid and blitz game many games.
– Yesterday you had a free day. How did you spend it?
– I just stayed in the hotel. I prefer to stay at home watching the games of the other participants. Watching their games is a good way of training for me.
– The World Championship Match in London starts very soon. Are you going to watch it?
– I will watch live. It is going to be very exciting.
– Do you support anyone?
– I just try to concentrate on my playing.
– Do you like to play in big cities or in small towns just to concentrate only on chess?
– I think it depends on the playing venue. Usually if it is good I am ok with both of the variants.
– The last question is about cuisine. Do you miss Chinese food when you are abroad?
– Yes, sometimes I do. I mean the food here is fine. But in my country, of course, the choice is bigger. If I am away from home for a long time, I miss the Chinese food.
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Interview with former World Champion Antoaneta Stefanova.
– Antoaneta, you won the tie-break against Sabina-Francesca Foisor. How was your match going on this day?
– Well, it was better than yesterday. It’s always difficult to win tie-breaks because anything can happen in shorter time controls. But I am happy I’m going to the next round.
– You’re a very experienced player in knock-outs, you’re a former World Champion. Do you have any strategy for these events?
– In general, I have strategy but now it is very different because I just had a baby month ago. For quite long time, I’ve been out of chess so I cannot really speak about strategies now. I’m just trying to enjoy chess, remember how the pieces move. And if I get to continue a bit more, it will be nice, but if not, then I will go sooner to my family. So it’s not a big tragedy either ways.
– And how do you like staying here especially now when you have a baby? You cannot say it’s a usual event for you for sure.
– I’ve been here in Khanty many times like most of the players. Of course, this time is different because of the baby and family but I try to do my best while I’m here and, of course, I am doing the best for my family when I’m there. But for the moment. I try to concentrate on my games just one by one.
– Do you have any precise planes for future events?
– I don’t know yet. Let’s see how it goes.
– Thank you, Antoaneta, and good luck to you!
– Thank you.
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– Dinara, congratulations on your victory. How was your match? The tie-break was much more exciting because you had had two draws in the classical part and then you won two very nice tie-break games.
– The first tie-break game was not an easy one. I played with he white pieces but I think we had quite an equal position, and then I just won the pawn after that I could realize it. But the second one was more exciting for me because there was a lot of tactics and I think she missed one of my moves, so I won.
– How many knock-out events have you played before?
– Actually this is my second knock-out championship. I played the first one in Tehran and now I’m here. So I’m just enjoying this moment.
– Do you like playing games with long time control or short one?
– I like to play games with all time controls. I mean the blitz ones also. As for me, rapid and blitz are more exiting for spectators because classical games are quite long.
– How do you get ready before the tie-breaks? Do you walk? Or read something, or listen to music? Or only chess?
– I like to make some walking and also I watch movies. I was watching one yesterday. It works.
– Which one did you watch?
– It’s a series. Some movie. I don’t remember actually but it was nice.
– It distracted you from the chess.
– Yeah, absolutely.
– My next question is not only about this event. Do you usually follow social networks or official mass media during the events, or do you mostly only concentrate on your play?
– I think it depends on the tournament. When I played at the Olympiad in Batumi, of course, I followed some social activities and I posted photos on Instagram . For me it depends on how much time I have. When I get ready for tournaments I don’t have enough time to post anything on Facebook or Instagram.
– We know that you’re very active on promoting chess in your country so please tell us about it.
– Not only chess, because I am also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in Kazakhstan. So for me a social work, social activities are as important as chess career. I’m trying to be a socially active person and a professional chess player. I’m making some chess master classes for people who just love chess, for children mostly, and for me this is an important part of my life because as a chess player I should promote chess.
– You open chess academies, don’t you?
– Yes, I do. We have two academies of my name in Astana, and our children now won some local tournaments. We hope that we will grow new chess champions in our academy.
– Thank you, Dinara! And good luck!
– Thank you.
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