CHESS #1374

The World Junior concluded in Mumbai with Polina Shuvalova (Russia) winning the Girls section with 9.5/11 ahead of Mobina Alinasab (9/11 Iran) and Elizaveta Solzhenskina (8/11 Russia). The Open was won by Evgeny Shtembuliak (Ukraine) with 9/11 ahead of Shant Sargsyan (8.5, Armenia) and Aram Hakobyan (8/11, Armenia). 

Aakanksha Hagawane (8) tied for third -fifth but she had a poor tiebreak. In the Open section, Murali Karthikeyan and Aravindh Chithambaram (both 7.5) edged into shared fourth-eighth spots. The Iranian contingent was as usual, hamstrung by the national federation’s iron rule of refusing to play Israelis, leading to the usual walkovers and withdrawals. 

As many as 17 norms were scored — two GM-norms, four IM-norms, a WGM-norm and ten WIM-norms. The new Russian prodigy, Volodar Murzin, scored his first GM norm. Aronyak Ghosh completed the IM title. Shuvalova receives the WGM title directly by virtue of winning the gold (she also scored a WGM norm). This young lady will soon be a world class player as she racks up experience. 

Meanwhile, four of the eight Candidates spots have been taken by Fabiano Caruana (last challenger), Wang Hao, Teimour Radjabov and Ding Liren. One spot is reserved for the player with the best average Elo rating during February 2019-January 2020. Right now Anish Giri leads, but he could be overtaken by Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov or Ian Nepomniachtchi. Two more spots are available for the top two performers in the Grand Prix. The Hamburg leg of the GP is due to be played in November in Hamburg and Jerusalem. Mamedyarov and Alexander Grischuk have the best shot based on rankings so far. Hamburg has a KO format. 

The European team Championships is in progress with 40 national teams. As with football, this is arguably stronger than the Olympiad. Although China, USA and India are excluded, the Trans-Caucasus Republics of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia, and Israel are part of the European league. Russia leads both sections with five wins and a draw in the Open (11 Match points), followed by Germany (10), Ukraine, Armenia and England (all 9). In the Women’s section, Russia (11) is followed by Georgia (10) and Azerbaijan (9). 

The World Fischer Random Championships is on in Høvikodden, Norway. Magnus Carlsen beat Fabiano Caruana 12.5-7.5 in the semi-finals (best of 20 games) to take on Wesley So, who beat Nepomniachtchi (13-5). This is being played at three controls  — slow and fast rapid and blitz. This is one of those events where anybody can participate with online qualifiers starting six months before the finals. 

The Diagram, White to Play (White: Shuvalova Vs Black: Afonasieva , World Youth 2019) illustrates Shuvalova’s tactical vision. She played 31. Rxg7 Bxg7 32. Qxh7+ Kxh7 33. f6+ Kh6 34. Be3+ Kh5 35. Bf3+ Kh4 36. Bf2+ (1-0).  There’s checkmate with Bg4. 
 

Devangshu Datta is an internationally rated chess and correspondence chess player