15 October 2016
Russian Superfinal Opens in Novosibirsk
The robot assisted during the drawing of lots.
The opening ceremony of the Russian Superfinal took place on October 15 in Novosibirsk. The organizers of the event are Russian Chess Federation, Chess Federation of Novosibirsk Region, Elena and Gennady Timchenko Charitable Foundation, government of Novosibirsk Region, and office of mayor of Novosibirsk. RATM Holding is a general partner of the Superfinal.
A press-conference that took place at the Novosibirsk State Museum of Local History preceded the opening ceremony. It was attended by Deputy Governor of Novosibirsk Region Yury Petukhov, Chairman of the Department of Culture, Sport, and Youth Policies of Novosibirsk Anna Tereshkova, General Director of the Timchenko Foundation Maria Morozova, RCF Executive Director Mark Glukhovsky, President of RATM Holding and member of RCF Board of Trustees Eduard Taran, Russian defending champion Evgeny Tomashevsky and multiple-time national champion Valentina Gunina.
The opening ceremony was carried out in the State Concert Hall named after A. Kats. The official part included speeches of Representative of Russian President in Siberian Federal District Sergey Menyailo, Novosibirsk Region Governor Vladimir Gorodetsky, Mayor of Novosibirsk Anatoly Lokot', General Director of the Timchenko Foundation Maria Morozova, RCF Executive Director Mark Glukhovsky, and President of RATM Holding and member of RCF Board of Trustees Eduard Taran. The latter read out the greeting letter from Dmitry Peskov, Chairman of RCF Board of Trustees and Press-Secretary of Vladimir Putin. FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov also sent players and organizers of the championship his greeting address.
During the theatrical part of the ceremony, a short performances based on Through The Looking-Glass And What Alice Found There were showed, featuring Anna Ardova and other actors of Chamber Theater and other theaters of Novosibirsk. The vocal band Voices of Markelov and soloists of Novosibirsk State Opera and Ballet Theater Karen Movsesian and Daria Shuvalova performed pieces of classical music. The magician's show was of some interest, too. The performance part was concluded with a demonstration of a film on chess in Novosibirsk Region.
The drawing of lots was carried out with a help from a robot: Chief Arbiter Maxim Ivakhin read out loud last names of the participants, and the robot, utilizing its random number generator, assigned them a starting number.
Starting numbers, men:
1. Peter Svidler, 2. Vladimir Fedoseev, 3. Evgeny Tomashevsky, 4. Alexander Riazantsev, 5. Dmitry Kokarev, 6. Alexei Goganov, 7. Alexander Grischuk, 8. Dmitry Jakovenko, 9. Dmitry Bocharov, 10. Grigory Oparin, 11. Nikita Vitiugov, 12. Ernesto Inarkiev.
Round 1 pairings:
Svidler-Inarkiev, Fedoseev-Vitiugov, Tomashevsky-Oparin, Riazantsev-Bocharov, Kokarev-Jakovenko, Goganov-Grischuk.
Starting numbers, women:
1. Anastasia Bodnaruk, 2. Daria Pustovoitova, 3. Natalia Pogonina, 4. Alisa Galliamova, 5. Ekaterina Ubiennykh, 6. Daria Charochkina, 7. Valentina Gunina, 8. Alina Kashlinskaya, 9. Olga Girya, 10. Aleksandra Goryachkina, 11. Evgenija Ovod, 12. Alexandra Kosteniuk.
Round 1 pairings:
Bodnaruk-Kosteniuk, Pustovoitova-Ovod, Pogonina-Goryachkina, Galliamova-Girya, Ubiennykh-Kashlinskaya, Charochkina-Gunina.
