Cercle d’Echecs de Monte Carlo and Economist-SGSEU-1 take the European Club Cup
16-24th October in Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Report by Chessdom
Economist-SGSEU-1 achieved the desired result in the last round of the 26th European Club Cup and won the second consecutive title in this competition (after Struga 2009). The Saratov team tied Yugra 3-3 in a match that was closely contested despite the deceiving looks of all six draws.
Top-seeded SOCAR Azerbaijan and ShSM-64 Moscow also played 3-3, with Mamedyarov beating Gelfand on the first board and Riazantsev equalizing by defeating Shirov.German champion Baden-Baden OSG and A DAN DZO & PGMB Chernigiv caught up with the other teams on the shared second place by winning their final matches.
Economist-SGSEU-1 is convincingly first with 13 match points, full two points ahead of the rest of the field. But further bellow was a cluster of four teams who shared the second place by collecting 11 points each. Yugra and A DAN DZO & PGMB Chernigiv had the best sum of individual scores and entered into medal distribution. Ultimately, Yugra counted on better third tiebreak to grab the silver, while the 10th-seeded Chernigiv will be satisfied with bronze.
Results and standings / Photos and videos / PGN
The 15th European Club Cup for Women saw a dramatic finish as three teams were in competition for the prestigious trophy before the last round. In the end, both matches on the top two tables ended in 2-2 tie.
Cercle d’Echecs de Monte Carlo played AVS, who appeared to be without chances for the first place because of the low sum of individual scores. Nevertheless, the Russian team tried their best to defeat the defending champions. WGM Anastasia Savina scored against IM Almira Skripchenko, but Yifan Hou struck back and won against Natalia Pogonina. The other two games were drawn and the match finished 2-2.
St.Petersburg Chess Club and Giprorechtrans also signed a victory each, and the other two games were drawn. Finally, Cercle d’Echecs de Monte Carlo and St.Petersburg Chess Club shared the first place with 10 match points each, but Monte Carlo had a slightly better individual scores and were awarded the winners’ trophy.
Mika Yerevan beat the young Lokomotiv 2000 with a crushing 3.5-0.5, which was just enough to equalise Giprorechtrans’ match and individual points. Only on the third tiebreak criteria Mika edged the opposition and claimed the bronze medal.
Congratulations to the winners!
Results and standings / Photos and videos / PGN
Where’s Ivanchuk.