Universiade Chess Event: Seven Leaders after Four Rounds

Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone,

The 27th Summer Universiade event is taking place on July 6-17 2013 in Kazan, Russia. Once again, chess has been included among the 27 sports that will be featured. The strong tournament features players from 37 different countries. Among them, we can find 24 GMs and 19 IMs. Three members of the 2700-club are in the lineup: Dmitry Andreikin, Evgeny Alekseev and Wesley So.

After four rounds, seven players share first place with 3.5/4 points. The Chinese representatives are doing a good job as three out of the seven are from the Oriental country – Zhou Jianchao, Li Chao and Ma Qun. Interestingly, they have not been paired against each other in the fifth round.

The biggest surprise in the leading pack is Georgian IM Gaioz Nigalidze, who arrived only as the 26th seeded player with an Elo rating of 2498. He has already defeated two GMs with an Elo over 2600. Favorites Andreikin and Alekseev are lagging with only 2.5 points. (Chessdom.com)

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XXVII Summer Universiade Chess Begins in Kazan

12th Women's World Chess Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Chess Daily News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone, 

 

On June 9 the opening ceremony of chess tournaments of XXVII Summer Universiade took place in the presence of the first President of Tatarstan, FIDE Senior Adviser to FIDE President, Mintimer Shaimiev, and President of FISU, Claude-Louis Gallien.

The chess tournaments are held in Kazan Equestrian Complex from July 9th to July 15th. Mintimer Shaimiev made the first symbolic move at Zhao Xue (CHN) - De Seroux Camille (SUI) board.
Chess debuted at the 2011 Summer Universaide in Shenzhen as an optional sport. This year the chess players from 46 countries participate in Universiade. In his welcome speech Mintimer Shaimiev noted that “due to common efforts chess is a part of Universiade now and this is a good and wise decision. Children play chess from early ages, keep playing chess in school, achieve good results and student period is a chance for them to continue their career as chess players.” 

Calude-Louis Gallien said that he is pleased to be present at the chess tournaments as “chess is not a simple sport where sportsman has to train not only his body but also his brain”. FISU President thanked Mintimer Shaimiev for the development of world students sport as he is one of the founders of Universiade in Kazan.

The opening ceremony was followed by the press conference where present were Mintimer Shaimiev, the first President of Tatarstan, Claude-Louis Gallien, FISU President, Gennady Zakharov, President of Chess Federation of Tatarstan, Alexander Tkachev, Director of chess tournaments at the 2013 Universiade, and Alisa Galliamova, outstanding Russian chess player and Olympic chess champion.

Visit the official website of 2013 Kazan Universiade http://kazan2013.ru/en/sports/10021

Follow live games at the website of Chess Federation of Tatarstan http://www.tat-chess.ru/

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal chess blog
at www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
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Kazan Chess Top Game - Hou-Yildiz 0-1

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Betul Yildiz on an important day in her chess career.

It's not every day that you get to beat a world chess champion - particularly with the Black pieces! Turkey's WGM Betul Yildiz (2333) is the last seed at the Kazan Women's Chess Grand Prix. Reigning women's world chess champion Hou Yifan (2623). Fireworks happened in Round 2.

13.Bb3

The Chinese player sacrificed a piece in a very complicated position and missed a winning variation in time trouble. But, that's the beauty and excitement of chess. Who says women's chess is not powerful enough? Look at the position on the left and think awhile how you would play it. Look at the full game in our Chess King applet.

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