Astana R6: Ukraine beats France 4-0, leads

The city of Astana in Kazakhstan is hosting the Women's World Chess Team Championship from March 2nd to 12 in the Duman Hotel in Astana. Ten best teams in the world are participating: China, Russia, Ukraine, USA, India, France, Turkey, Georgia, Rumania and Kazakhstan. Each team consists of five players, with four playing in each of the nine rounds of this round robin tournament. Time control is 90 minutes per 40 moves and thirty minutes until the end of the game plus 30 seconds increment per move.

Round six

After six rounds Ukraine has taken the sole lead in the World Women’s Team Championship. They proved that they can play uncompromising chess, with only six of the twenty games played so far ending in a draw. The Ukrainian girls, led by GM Mikhail Brodsky, continued to show their fighting spirit and crushed France with a 4:0 score.

GM Kateryna Lahno, 2547, playing on board one ...

... and IM Mariya Muzychuk, rated 2479, on board three for Ukraine

The central match of the sixth round was an encounter between two strong teams: Georgia and Russia. After five hours all participants were still at the boards, and the outcome of the match was unpredictable till the end! Lela Javakhishvilli had an absolutely winning position against Alisa Galliamova, but a few inaccurate moves and a huge mistake in the endgame led to a catastrophe.

On the other board Valentina Gunina miscalculated in the equal endgame against Nana Dzagnidze and the Georgians equalized the score. Bela Khotenashvili defeated Alexandra Kosteniuk (picture above) and the fate of the match was decided in the game Melia-Girya. The Russian player defeated her opponent and the score in this exciting match was 2:2.

The girls from Kazakhstan won their first match in this tournament – they outplayed the Turkish team to occupy the seventh rank. Guliskhan Nakhbayeva and Dinara Saduakassova defeated Betul Yildiz and Kardelen Cemhan respectively, while the games on the other boards were drawn. India came very close to the victory in the match against the USA, but Eesha Karavade missed winning chances in her game against Anna Zatonskikh. China celebrated a 3-1 victory over Romania.

As a result, Ukraine is leading with 11 points; Russia is 1 point behind on the second place. China is on the third place with 8 points. One of the key matches in the seventh round is Ukraine-Georgia.

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Report and photos provided by Anastasiya Karlovich

Astana on the free day

Pictorial by WGM (and player) Alina L'Ami

On the 8th of March, International Women’s Day and the free day, participants the organizers were able to go on a sightseeing trip of the capital of Kazakhstan. The weather was not too friendly, but it was comfortable warm in the excursion buses.

The main point of attraction was the Museum of the First President of Kazakhstan, opened in 2004 in a former capital residence of the head of the country. The “King’s Game” exposition was especially organized for the opening of the chess championship.

The unique chess sets are made of different materials: wood, bone, metal, crystal and gold. They were the presents of the President of Kazakhstan and they reflect the spirit and culture of different times and nations.

During many centuries the chess figures were the subject of inspiration for artists of different countries. The example of this can be the chess from India, Russia, Belarus and China the figures of which are masterpiece.

The above set, with pieces shaped like elephants, were a gift from World Champion Viswanathan Anand to the President of Kazakhstan.

On International Women's Day all participants (above the Ukrainian team, with Natalia Zhukova, Anna Ushenina, Kateryna Lahno, Maria Muzychuk and Inna Yanovska-Gaponenko) received a gift...

A "Kunsulu" porcelain plate based on the works a Kazakh graphic artist named Mukhit. Kunsulu means beautiful like the sun – probably a message to all of the participants.

The Astana Hazrat Sultan Mosque in Astana, completed in 2012, stands on a 27 acre site (18 football fields) and can accommodate 5000 worshippers. Kazakhstan, the largest economy in Central Asia, is predominantly Muslim.

The skyline of the city of Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan since 1997
and the country's second largest city (after Almaty, the former capital)

Astana has some remarkable architecture – take a look on this pictorial page

Our hotel, where the championship is being held

Schedule and results

Links Official tournament site All games in PGN The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 12 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.