Evgeny Tomashevsky Takes the Lead in Russian Championship Superfinal

Olga Girya heads the women's event.

 
The seventh round of the Russian Championships Superfinals was played in Izhevsk on August 17.

In the open tournament, Evgeny Tomashveky demonstrated a deep preparation in his game versus Vladislav Artemiev. White got an advantage and outplayed his opponent in spite of the lack of time: Black resigned on move 38. 

The games Alekseenko - Inarkiev, Sarana - Jakovenko, Dreev - Predke, Vitiugov - Motylev, and Fedoseev - Matlakov were drawn.



Standings after Round 7:

1. Evgeny Tomashevsky - 4.5
2-6. Ernesto Inarkiev, Maxim Matlakov, Alexandr Predke, Kirill Alekseenko,  Nikita Vitiugov - 4
7-8. Alexander Motylev, Alexey Dreev - 3.5
9-10. Vladimir Fedoseev, Alexey Sarana - 3
11. Vladislav Artemiev - 2.5
12. Dmitry Jakovenko - 2.

August 18 is the tournament's free day. 

Round 8 pairings:

Inarkiev - Matlakov, Artemiev - Fedoseev, Motylev - Tomashevsky, Predke - Vitiugov, Jakovenko - Dreev, Alekseenko - Sarana. 

Olga Girya defeated Zarina Shafigullina in the women's section. White sacrificed the exchange but didn't get enough compensation. The leader was precise and achieved a decisive edge. 

Girya's closest pursuer Natalija Pogonina also won her game. Polina Shuvalova lost the exchange and didn't manage to save the game. 

Alexandra Kosteniuk, who had White against Alina Kashlinskaya, missed a blow in a better position and lost material. Black converted her advantage and won. 

Valentina Gunina outplayed Daria Charochkina in a tough fight. Black was defending a position "rook and bishop vs. queen" for a long time but mage a mistake on move 85 and resigned.  

The games Tomilova - Potapova and Goryachkina - Bodnaruk were drawn. 



Standings after Round 7:

1. Olga Girya - 6
2.  Natalija Pogonina - 5.5
3-4. Aleksandra Goryachkina, Alina Kashlinskaya - 4.5
5. Valentina Gunina - 4
6-7. Margarita Potapova, Anastasia Bodnaruk - 3
8-10. Alexandra Kosteniuk, Polina Shuvalova, Elena Tomilova - 2.5
11-12. Daria Charochkina, Zarina Shafigullina - 2.

Round 8 pairings:

Kashlinskaya - Bodnaruk, Potapova - Goryachkina, Girya - Tomilova, Charochkina - Shafigullina, Shuvalova - Gunina, Kosteniuk - Pogonina.

Tournament on Chess-results

Tournament page

Photos by Eteri Kublashvili