Eleven grandmasters and nine woman grandmasters at the World University Chess Championship in Zurich

Less than a month before the start of the 11th World University Chess Championship most of the participants are known. 27 nations have entered and about 100 players of both sexes will participate in the contest which will take place in Zurich, Switzerland, from 5 to 11 September 2010. The men's competition is stronger than ever, featuring 11 grandmasters and almost 20 international masters. The big favourite is 23-year-old Wang Yue from China. With an Elo rating of 2716 points he is the first super grandmaster to participate in a World University Championship. He is the highest-rated Chinese player ever and in May occupied place 8 in the overall international ranking. After suffering a few set-backs since then, he will try to win again in Zurich in order to re-establish himself as one of the World's top ten players. His most dangerous rivals are the Russian Igor Lysyj (Elo 2631) and his compatriot Pavel Ponkratev (Elo 2604). In the last championship in Novokuznetsk, two years ago, Lysyj won the silver medal. The host delegation consists of five players headed by international masters Oliver Kurmann (Elo 2449) and Julien Carron (Elo 2380).

In the women's competition Russia, Georgia and Monolia traditionally feature the strongest players. Top seed is the 23-year-old Mongolian Batkhuyag Munguntuul (Elo 2421) who has already played on the first board for Mongolia in the last three chess Olympiads. Among the nine women grandmasters in the field she is the only one who carries the international master title among men as well. She is studying in Russia and is the winner of the Russian women’s blitz championship 2009. Just like their male compatriots, the two Swiss entrants Monika Seps (Elo 2184) and Maria Heinatz (Elo 1923) will need a special exploit to fight for a place among the first ten.

In the nations' competition (combined results of men and women) Russia is the favourite. But Mongolia, Serbia and Iran also feature very strong delegations, and thus an exciting race is guaranteed to take place.

For more information on the World University Chess Championship, please see www.wucc2010.ch.



Playing hall in the old chemistry building of the Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich


Swiss representative Monika Seps