Day two of the 11th World University Chess Championship proved that students, not especially noted for early-birdliness – in particular not if chess players – сan still be motivated to work in the morning hours. In fact, the second round was marked by such a singular determination and fighting spirit by all 96 participants that only seven draws occurred.
In the men’s tournament Wang Yue easily confirmed his position on the top of the starting list. The former World number 8 from China easily crushed the Swiss IM Oliver Kurmann in a Benoni Defence with a temporary knight sacrifice. Most other grandmasters also managed to impose themselves on their opponents. Second seed Igor Lysyj, who had been struggling on the previous day, won with a beautiful attack in 24 moves.
Meanwhile the women’s tournament saw a major upset. On board one Germany’s Sarah Hoolt was not impressed at all by her opponent’s higher rating. Soon after the opening she played a beautiful positional exchanged sacrifice, followed by a further pawn sacrifice. Masterfully she built up her attack afterwards and when a White pawn had reached the seventh rank it became obvious that Black was in deadly danger. Seven moves later a pretty bishop sacrifice sealed the fate of the game.
In the afternoon the players acted a bit more cautious, but excitement remained high. Wang Yue again seemed to win “hands down”, although closer inspection shows that it was mainly the fault of his opponent who had miscalculated badly on the 26th move, causing an unusual piece loss two moves later. Only Ilya Khmelniker from Israel managed to keep the pace of the Chinese. In both his second and third round games he was offered a pawn sacrifice which he accepted, only to return the gift a couple of moves later, trading it for a victorious attack.
In the women’s tournament Zoja Severiukhina (Russia) scored her third victory in a row in a slow manoeuvring game. She is joined in the lead by the Slovak Zuzana Borosova who beat Sarah Hoolt in a game that bore remarkable similarity to the latter’s spectacular win in the morning round. In both games White offered a long-term exchange sacrifice on the d-file, primarily intended as a means to launch an attack on the enemy king. In both games White later on managed to create a decisive passed pawn in the middle game. Some you win, some you lose.
Results (overview):
Men 2nd round:
GM Wang Yue (China) - IM Kurmann (Sui) 1:0.
GM Nikolov (Bul) - Pacher (Svk) 1:0.
GM Megaranto (Indo) - Darini (Iran) 1:0.
IM Nestorovic (Srb) - IM Miljkovic (Srb) draw. etc.
3rd round:
IM Benidze (Geo) - GM Wang Yue (China) 0:1.
IM Khmelniker (Isr) - GM Nikolov (Bul) 1:0.
IM Jurcik (Svk) - GM Megaranto (Indo) draw.
GM Lysyj (Rus) - IM Pruijssers (Ho) draw. etc.
Leaders:
1. GM Wang Yue (China) and IM Khmelniker (Isr) 3. 3. GM Merganto (Indo), IM Jurcik (Svk), Gundavaa (Mgl), GM Jumabayev (Kas), IM Miljkovic (Srb), Mohajerin (Iran) and GM Ismagambetov (Kas) 2.5 (57 participants).
Women 2nd round:
WIM Hoolt (Ger) - WGM Munguntuul (Mgl) 1:0.
WGM Tsereteli (Geo) - WIM Fuchs (Ger) 1:0.
WGM Guramishvili (Geo) - WIM Yanjindulam draw. etc.
3rd round:
Lkhamsuren (Mgl) - WGM Tsereteli (Geo) remis.
WIM Severiukhina (Rus) - WIM Drljevic (Srb) 1:0.
WIM Borosova (Svk) - WIM Hoolt (Ger) 1:0. etc.
Leaders:
1. WIM Severiukhina (Rus), WIM Borosova (Svk), 3. 3. WGM Tsereteli (Geo), Lkhamsuren (Mgl), 2.5 (39 participants)
Complete results, live games and pictures:
www.wucc2010.ch
Judith Fuchs (GER)
Peter Meier(SEY)
Sarah Holt(GER)
Vislav Kukov(BUL)
Yue Wang(CHN)
Zoja Severiukhina(RUS)
Zuzana Borosova(SVK)
Erdene Ganzorig(MGL)
