2019 Russian Championships
Tactics, Games & Blunders
The 2019 edition of the ‘super-finals’ of both the men’s and women’s Russian Championships are taking place in Izhevsk between the 9th and 23rd of August. Always super strong – and VERY competitive – these Russian championships attract world wide interest. Each tournament is organized as a 12-player round robin.
This year’s prize fund is a record 10 million roubles (65% for the men’s section and 35% for the women’s section). As well, the winners will receive Renault Arkana cars each!
Standings with 1 round to go:
Vitiugov and Tomashevsky hold a narrow lead of half a point over 4 players. With one round to go, everything is still wide open and possible. The quality of the games has been very high so far.
Girya holds a half point lead over second place Pogonina. Should be an equally exciting finish. The women’s tournament is particularly competitive this year, with many of the players having made difficult to explain blunders – possibly due to nerves. One particularly painful case was between Girya and Gunina from round 6:
Some tactics
White hopes that Black has nothing better than a perpetual check, as the a-pawn is very fast, but he overlooked something. Black to play and win!
White to play and crush!
Black had just blundered with his Bishop capturing the Knight on g2. White to play and crush!
Some interesting games!
im Charochkina (2350) – Potapova (2335)
10.8.2019 (1-0)
wim Shuvalova (2419) – gm Girya
13.8.2019 (0-1)
