24.03.2006	Maya Chiburdanidze: “ Every match in its time”
Today Maya Chiburdanidze is a symbol of charm, intellect, quick mind and talent – everything that characterizes modern women chess. That’s why she is a real decoration of every tournament. - Maya, please tell us about yourself, what are you doing now? Why do you perform so rarely? MC: Because I have many other interests but for chess. Chess is my hobby though the most serious one. In fact I’ve been thinking of leaving sports. But I still can’t do it , you see (laughing). Read more...
23.03.2006	Svetlana Matveeva: «Not seeking for easy ways!»
img src=/images/mat1.jpg align="left" vspace=10 hspace=10>After the 3rd round the GM Svetlana Matveeva who managed to outplay her opponents –Irina Vasilevich from Moscow, Karen Zapata (Peru) and Zhaokin Peng representing the Netherlands - agreed to become the guest of our press-centre. - Svetlana, could you please tell us about today’s game and your previous opponents? SM: Yesterday the game wasn’t that successful, we both were tired, and nobody decided to start fighting. And today my opponent has continued not in a better way. She managed to advantage in the beginning, and then she has probably decided –now or never –and started to attack, sacrificing too many pawns. I captured all of them and was ready to mate and it turned out not that difficult with 2 pawns in store. In fact, I have very convenient pairings. In the first round I met an interesting girl from Moscow – Ira Vasilevich. I have already once won her at the Moscow Championship a year ago. Then we were equal in strength. In round 2 I had been planning to meet very strong Kateryna Lahno, but I was lucky, because Karen Zapata managed to somehow overplay her. Although she wasn’t the strongest opponent I felt very nervous; at some moment she managed to advantage but failed to find the best way out during time –trouble – it can be explained by her being of lower rank Read more...
23.03.2006	Desire to win lead to defeat.
Today brought great disappointment to Russian fans. Xu Yuhua advanced in the final match of the WWCC. In the first game she played Black in the French defence and defeated her opponent. Russian Alisa Galliamova chose not the best continuation of the opening and got just a little advantage. But a great desire to win prevailed and she made some active moves in Queen ending which lead to the weakening of pawns' position on King's side. The Chinese took the benefit from it. The position of White was getting worse with every passing move and soon the destiny of the game was at risk. Black advantaged with one pawn up. The Russian player admitted her defeat after move 64. Read more...
22.03.2006	Nino Khurtsidze: “Enjoying tennis less than chess”
The Georgian Nino Khurtsize being managed to pass 3 previous rounds of the Championship fell a victim to her own fault in the quarterfinal match against Alisa Galliamova and surrendered. Charming Nino, even being tired after an intense game, agreed to take part in our traditional press - conference and answer the questions of journalists and fans. - Nino, please tell us about yourself: where did you study and when did you take up chess? NK: My story is a typical one: I took up chess being a young girl. At 7 I took part in my first tournament. My father was my first coach. Read more...
22.03.2006	GM Ye Jiangchuan: «Keepers of Go secrets choose chess…»
This Championship as expected brought new discoveries and surprises. Young Chinese chess player Hou Yifan who managed to defeat experienced Natalia Zhukova turned out such a discovery. A convincing success of GM Xu Yhua , one of real challengers for win, delighted her compatriots as well. That’s why we couldn’t but communicate with the person who supports the development of chess in China. A famous Chinese coach, GM Ye is the guest of our press-centre. Read more...
22.03.2006	Hou Yifan: “Dreaming of a house in Paris”
The rising star on the chess sky Hou Yifan is a real discovery of the Championship. She has recently celebrated her 12th birthday and in the nearest future we can probably expect the emergence of a new name in the top list of women chess players. It’s noticeable that young Hou absorbed the best traditions of Chinese communication culture and she managed to prove this fact at the press-conference, which is laconic as well as informative. - Where are you from? Who was your first coach? YH: I was born in the Chinese town Jiangsu, but now I live with my mother in Beijing- the seat of the National Chess Centre with a boarding school for young talented players from all over the country. My coach is GM Ye. Read more...
21.03.2006	Russia vs. China: year of friendship and fight
The final match for the Champion’s title will see Alisa Galliamova and Xu Yuhua. In 1999 Russian player already met Chinese Xie Jun fighting for the Champion’s Title. At that time the latter won the victory. Semi-finals displayed the importance of playing White. Yesterday at the first day of semifinals Alisa Galliamova and Xu Yuhua managed to draw their first games and today White took the iitiative and made the opponents defend. Matveeva had chances to draw in Rook ending but relinquished winning positions. A complicated Queen endgame made Svetlana lose the Queen and deprived her, to her fans’ greatest disappointment, of winning chances. Read more...
20.03.2006	A game of four
Today saw the first battles for the Champion's Title ended in a draw. Winning the first game in the short match of 2 meetings gives a great advantage. That’s why the opponents decided to attack from the fist minutes of the game. According to the drawing Viktoria Cmilyte played White against Alisa Galliamova. Up to some moment the opponents imitated the game Khurtsidze – Galliamova (in the quarterfinals), but White found a new decision and got the winning position. However Galliamova performed as a talented defender and though sacrificing Rook managed to force a draw with perpetual check. In the second match between Matveeva and Xu Yuhua , Svetlana refused to repeat moves in the middle game. The game transferred to a complicated ending and the opponents’ chances were quite equal. With exchanging pieces they lost the opportunities for new moves and it resulted in a draw after move 80. Read more...
20.03.2006	Marie Sebag: Not afraid of strong opponents!
-How do you like Yekaterinburg, did you manage to walk about the city? What do you think of the Championship’s organization? MS: I really like Yekaterinburg and the way I am received here. By the way, I have a friend Karina living in Yekaterinburg. We got acquainted at one of the chess tournaments then emailed and finally I managed to visit her. I’d like to thank Karina and her parents for their hospitality. I am quite satisfied with the Championship’s organization. -Please share your impressions on your opponents. MS: My opponents were very strong: in round 1 I met a very experienced Russian player Elena Zaiatz, in the 2nd – a top seated player Humpy Koneru and in round 3 I played against Chinese player Qin Janying. Read more...
19.03.2006	Russia claims for the crown.
Late at night March 19 learnt the names of the World Chess Championship’s semi-finalists. The results of 2 normal games provided the representatives of Russia – Alisa Galliamova and Svetlana Matveeva with tickets to the semi-final. Viktoria Cmilyte (Lithuania) and Xu Yuhua (China) snatched a victory on tie-breaks. Galliamova managed to outplay the Georgian chess player Nino Khurtsidze with 2:0. In the second game she applied new continuation, recaptured the initiative and won a convincing victory. In the return match of the quarter final Svetlana Matveeva played back as well. Russian player managed to advantage and made Sebag defend. The French didn’t perform as a successful defender and soon black passed pawns provided the necessary result of the game and the match on the whole (1,5 : 0,5). Read more...
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