Olga Girya Strengthens Leadership in Russian Women's Championship Superfinal

Evgeny Tomashevsky and Nikita Vitiugov head the open event.

 
The eighth round of the Russian Championships Superfinals was played in Izhevsk on August 19. Before the start of the round, the organizers congratulated Elena Tomilova on her birthday. Deputy Executive Director of the Russian Chess Federation Alexander Tkachev presented Chief Arbiter Elena Polovina with a diploma and pin of the International Arbiter. 

In the open tournament, Vladislav Artemiev developed a dangerous attack upon Vladimir Fedoseev's king and finally checkmated his opponent. Nikita Vitiugov defeated Alexandr Predke in a sharp battle.

The games Inarkiev - Matlakov, Motylev - Tomashevsky, Jakovenko - Dreev, and Alekseenko - Sarana were drawn.



Standings after Round 8:

1-2. Evgeny Tomashevsky, Nikita Vitiugov - 5
3-5. Ernesto Inarkiev, Maxim Matlakov, Kirill Alekseenko - 4.5
6-8. Alexander Motylev, Alexey Dreev, Alexandr Predke - 4
9-10. Vladislav Artemiev, Alexey Sarana - 3.5
11.  Vladimir Fedoseev - 3 
12. Dmitry Jakovenko - 2.

Round 9 pairings:

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

In the women's event, Daria Charochkina defeated Zarina Shafigullina. Alexandra Kosteniuk destroyed the pawns on the kingside of Natalija Pogonina and converted the edge in the endgame. Valentina Gunina delivered a veiled blow upon Polina Shuvalova and won the game with an extra pawn. Olga Girya strengthened her leadership having beaten Elena Tomilova. Alina Kashlinskaya outplayed Anastasia Bodnaruk in a continuous endgame.  

The longest game of the round Potapova - Goryachkina ended in a draw. 



Standings after Round 8:

1. Olga Girya - 7
2-3.  Natalija Pogonina, Alina Kashlinskaya - 5.5
4-5. Aleksandra Goryachkina, Valentina Gunina - 5
6-7. Margarita Potapova, Alexandra Kosteniuk - 3.5
8-9. Anastasia Bodnaruk, Daria Charochkina - 3
10-11. Polina Shuvalova, Elena Tomilova - 2.5
12. Zarina Shafigullina - 2.

Round 9 pairings:

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

Tournament on Chess-results

Tournament page

Photos by Dmitry Kryakvin