World Women Chess Championship

bulletin round 1 and interviews

There is nothing worse in this world than big politics entering the everyday life, when the laws of common sense are resigning in front of power, and destinies of people are sacrificed to fulfill someone’s ambitions. Especially it is not pleasant when the politics interfere with sport as the sportsmen at all times were the messengers of peace and friendship. Yet the Ancient Greeks were stopping the wars for the time of the Olympic Games establishing the sacred peace. The Government of Georgia officially prohibited their representatives, who were the leaders of women’s chess for dozens of years, to participate in the World Championship in Nalchik. The authorities of USA, France and some other countries also “did not recommend” their citizens visiting Russia. Three of six Georgians who had the right to play in this tournament, made their best to appear in Nalchik but could not get round the prohibition. Two brave Americans despite all the recommendations made their flight over the ocean… As a result, only 22 tables of starting 32 found their chairwomen, other ten distracting the eye by their emptiness… Such an accident hasn’t ever happened on the World Championships. Seven players did not find anyone to fight with: Antoaneta Stefanova, Anna Gasik, Thi Thanh An Nguyen, Elena Sedina, Claudia Amura, Anna Zatonskih and Svetana Matveeva. On another two tables the clocks were even not started as both players were missing. But despite all the problems, World Championship has started. It was opened by two presidents: Arsen Kanokov of Kabardino-Balkaria and Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, the head of Kalmykia and FIDE.

The first round is already finished and it could not proceed without sensations. First heroes and first eliminations were established, even a small scandal found its way to appear and claim the attention of the Appeals Committee. It is rare to see a real fight in the first round – usually the favorites easily crush the underdogs. But not in Nalchik! Six pairs here reached the tie-breaks, three of them made it to the blitz stage and the destiny of the victory in the match Socko – Foisor was even decided only after the serious overlook through the FIDE Handbook! Exactly the half of the players is leaving home. Among them is Natalia Zhukova, who can be named the biggest upset of the first round. Having lost the first game to the American Katerine Rohonyan, the Ukrainian managed to win back in the second one, and after what she lost on the tie-break. All the participants eliminated in the first round would get $3,750 on their account. The next step is $5,500. The champion receives $60,000. However, the first thing every player thinks about is becoming a new queen of chess...

Press-conferences at the World Championship are held in a somewhat usual format – the pressofficer of the tournament Peter Rajcsanyi invites several players instead of one. The first press conference featured several players who were considered favorites before the start. The guests of the first press conference are the highest-rated player in the championship Indian Humpy Koneru, ex-European Champions Aleksandra Kosteniuk and Natalia Zhukova, and the strongest Swedish player Pia Cramling.

– What are your impressions of the first day of the Championship and what do you think about the knockout system?

Cramling: Of course, I always want to take a good start from the beginning. However, rarely everything goes as planned. The KO-tournaments give the participants no right for mistakes: if you lose one game, you are already very close to elimination. I played many knock-out events and I like this system. It makes you concentrated and forces to demonstrate your best game. It’s a pity that by now the World Championship is the only tournament played under this system. I would like other tournaments to use it as well.

Kosteniuk: The World Championship is a very special tournament but I disagree with Pia. Knock-out system is interesting and provides the intrigue, but I don’t think it is suitable for establishing the new World Champion. This is the fourth time I participate in a knock-out championship. The most successful was the first one in Moscow in 2001, when I reached the final. I will try to perform my best here, but because of the format of the event it is very difficult to make any guesses.

– A question to Natalia Zhukova. Today you became the author of probably the biggest sensation of the tournament by losing with White in the first game and committing yourself to huge problems with entering the second round. Can you explain what happened?

Zhukova: Yes, my feelings now are not the nicest. After the game and looked at the protocol I noticed that I am almost the only favorite who lost to an underdog. It is always pleasant to be the one and only, but surely not in this case. How it happened? It is difficult to explain; I was pressuring my opponent the whole game and had a big advantage both on the board and on the clock. The pieces of my opponent lacked coordination – it seemed they were thrown here and there on the board. All that I needed was to find a forced win, which was there, as the post-mortem confirmed. The biggest pity is that I saw the winning line at the board, but decided to play another move. My position was still good but not winning anymore, the time started to run out (we both had about 2 minutes), she stroke back and I got confused. In fact the loss was purely psychological: I still had excellent drawing chances but failed to use them.

– Have you ever managed to win back in knock-outs after losing the first game?

– Yes, I encountered similar situation at the European Championship and I even had to retrieve my losses twice: after I equalized the score, I lost the first tie-break game again. The difference is that there I had to strike back with White, while here I have to play for a win as Black. By the way, I ended up winning that European Championship.

– A question to Humpy Koneru. It is already the third time that you start the World Championship as one of the main favorites, but every time there is a player who stops you one step off the final. What do you expect this year?

Koneru: Well, one can never be sure in winning a knock-out event. And the World Championship is a really difficult tournament. It is very important to gain confidence about your game, and that’s what I did today by winning the first game.

– How do you feel about the fact that after the first round you will have three rest days?

– It is in some way unexpected for me. Early in the tournament is not the best moment for relaxation. I enjoy playing chess a lot and I feel pity about having a bye in the second round. However, it can’t be helped.

– A question to Aleksandra Kosteniuk. What do you think about dividing chess into men’s and women’s, is it the right thing to do, or maybe it offends you?

Kosteniuk: I have always looked at chess as sport. All kinds of sports are divided into men’s and women’s. Of course if we compare chess with athletics, women have some kind of advantage as physical strength is not the most important factor in chess, and we can compete with men on equal basis. Why girls play weaker is another question, but in my opinion the division is absolutely legitimate and I don’t feel any offence about it.

Only young talents were presented on the second press conference: the winner of several strong women open tournaments Anna Muzychuk, who represents Slovenia, the Russian champion and the highest rated Russian player Tatiana Kosintseva, the first board of Hungarian national team Hoang Thanh Trang, Harika Dronavalli from India, and one of the strongest players from the «new wave» of Chinese talents, Zhang Jilin.

– A question to Peter Rajcsanyi. We can understand why the players from Georgia are not participating, or we can consider the arguments of Irina Krush, Marie Sebag and Tea Bosboom-Lanchava. But why some of the other participants did not arrive? Was it the question of safety?

Rajcsanyi: The reasons why the players are declining the participation are often private. Maybe they were thinking that it is not safe here. But what is happening now in Nalchik shows that chess players had no any reason for anxiety. Personally I am very happy to see here such a big amount of strong women who coped with all the prejudice.

– A question to Zhang Jilin. The Chinese team is represented at this Championship with many players. Do your have a special plan for this tournament as to make it an open China Championship for instance?

Zhang Jilin: We were not even thinking about special team tactic, especially as some of our girls will lay each other already in the second round. It is doubtful that this tournament can become some kind of an open championship of our country, though we would all try to get the maximum success. Let’s talk about it when the event is over.

– Can you share with us the secret of such numerous successes of Chinese players in recent years? What is the reason for such a fantastic development? And every year the number of strong players keeps growing.

– We don’t have any special secrets which we should hide. We just consider chess being the main thing in our lives; we dedicate all our time to it and constantly improve our game. So our main secret is work, work and work!

– A question to Tatiana Kosintseva. What do you think about the drawing of the tournament and the fact that you are in the same part with Aleksandra Kosteniuk and other top players?

Kosintseva: I guess it did not happen on purpose, it is just a coincidence since the paring depends on the tournament differs from another. ratings. The two strongest Russian players are facing each other in the first half. Well, we’ll see who will go further…

– How did you like the beginning of the tournament? Did you find the playing shape?

– Yes, and it was very important for me because before the Championship I had quite a long break. I will not make any forecasts about the outcome of the tournament, it has just started, let’s see what happens later. In the next round I get much more serious opponent than today – Anna Zatonskih, so we will see how the games will go. Tomorrow my sister and I want to go to the excursion. When we just arrived, the organizers strongly recommended visiting beautiful city surroundings.

– A question to everybody. All of you are young, talented, real stars of your generation. What is more important in this tournament – youth or experience?

Muzychuk: I think that there are some advantages of both qualities as every match at this tournament differs from another.

Kosintseva: Youth and experience have the meaning in totality. Maybe we have more energy but elder participants know what and how they should do things.

Hoang Thanh Trang: I think that it is not the age what is so important, the main thing is to be in a good shape and be able to seek a balance.

Dronavalli: In my opinion one should pay more attention to the preparation, physical condition and in this I agree with Hoang. The tournament is very long so one should be skilled to distribute the energy.

Zhang Jilin: I think neither youth nor experience is important. The beauty of chess is what matters! But on the other hand, playing in tournaments with different systems teaches you different skills. Particularly, in a knock-out one must be ready to show all her strength at any moment, and it is very important to fight till the end in every situation.

– Is there any difference between the World championship and any other tournament in your opinion?

Muzychuk: Of course there is a big difference due to the use of the knock-out formula. Every game is extremely important.

Kosintseva: Indeed, it is the only KO tournament, but the biggest difference is of course in responsibility. You cannot become a World Champion in any other event.

Hoang Thanh Trang: We are all trying to become first whatever the system is because it is! Knock-out has some similarities with other tournaments, but there are many differences. The main of them is that we don’t have the right for a mistake. One mistake, and you are eliminated.

Dronavalli: From my point of view, knock-out system is more complicated but at the same time more interesting, maybe even more fair: if you win, you continue. If you lose, you leave. In a Swiss tournament one has to play with 9 players of more or less random skill.

Zhang Jilin: I like the knock-out system, I think it is the most sportive of all. And nobody would doubt the achievement of the one who beats all the opponents!

– What do you think about those players who did not come to Nalchik?

Muzychuk: I think that the strongest players are here, and those who did not come made their choice.

Kosintseva: It’s a pity that this happened, I don’t have any explanation to this.

Hoang Thanh Trang: It is a big pity that some players did not arrive… but it did not affect the status of the event. We are here and we play.

Dronavalli: I am sorry for this situation. It is their choice. Those who wanted to play, have arrived. As for those who didn’t want – well, it’s their problem!

Zhang Jilin: Pity that some players did not arrive. But on the other hand all the strongest are participating. And let the strongest of all win!

For all the interviews and information download bulletin from the official website.