Russian Team Wins Friendship Match in Jinan

Hou Yifan excelled in rapid, Vladimir Fedoseev defeated her in blitz.

The final part of the China - Russia Friendship Match was held in Jinan on December 13. The youth teams played 4 more rounds of rapid chess. The encounter finished with an equal score of 32-32, but the Russian team won the match thanks to the superior tiebreak. 
 
Hou Yifan defeated Vladimir Fedoseev in rapid 2.5-1.5 but lost in blitz 1-7.  
 
After the match, the grandmasters gave simuls to children. Hou Yifan was playing against the Russian team, while Vladimir Fedoseev examined the young players of China. All grandmasters' opponents put up a tough resistance.   
 
Meanwhile, Head coach of the Russian youth chess team grandmaster Mikhail Kobalia and Head of the Russian delegation Ekaterina Vasilchenko visited the local private chess club, the owner of which is the tournament's sponsor from the Chinese side. The guests were impressed by the club's infrastructure and its work in promoting chess. 

General Secretary of the Chinese Chess Association Tian Hongwei, Deputy General Director of the Shandong Chess Center Wang Wei, and Ekaterina Vasilchenko gave speeches at the closing ceremony, which took place on the same day. 

All teams and players were presented with medals and cups for the first and second places. Hou Yifan and Vladimir Fedoseev were given the cups from the CFR and the traditional Chinese trophies made of clay.  
 
All children got souvenirs from the Chinese Chess Association - branded plates with Jinan's main sights.

The day was concluded with a farewell dinner, during which an entertaining quiz was organized. Also, the guests got acquainted with the traditional Chinese tea-drinking. 
 
On December 14, the Russian team will have a sightseeing tour around Jinan and then the grandmasters will give a simul to the local schoolchildren as part of support of the Chess in Schools programme. 
 

Information by Ekaterina Vasilchenko, photos by Ekaterina Murzina