The Russian Higher League for men and women was held on 19-30th June at the congress hall of business center “President” in Yekaterinburg.
Both groups were played over nine rounds of Swiss system and draw offers were not allowed before the 40th move. Top five finishers from each event qualify for the Russian Championship Super Final.
Ernesto Inarkiev won the men’s Higher League after edging the 2010 Russian Champion Ian Nepomniachtchi on tie-break. Both players finished on 6,5 points.
The third place was shared by Alexander Motylev, Aleksey Goganov, Anton Shomoev, Dmitry Jakovenko and Yuri Eliseev, each finishing with 6,0 points. Motylev, Goganov and Shomoev also qualify for the Super Final.
The winner of the tournament was also promised an invitation to the 2014 Tal Memorial. For a while there was a “scare” that Anton Shomoev, rated “only” 2565, might emerge the winner, but his hopes were ruined with a last round defeat against Nepomniachtchi.
The Russian Championship Super Final will take place in early October. Dmitry Andreikin, Peter Svidler and Sergey Karjakin qualified from the last year Championship, while Vladimir Kramnik and Alexander Grischuk are expected to take their places according to the elo criteria.
In the Higher League for women IM Anastasia Bodnaruk is the convincing winner with 7,5 points. WGM Alina Kashlinskaya and WGM Aleksandra Goryachkina shared the second place with 6,5 points each.
Also qualified for the Super Final are IM Ekaterina Kovalevskaya and WGM Baira Kovanova.
Higher League for men, final top finishers:
1 GM Inarkiev Ernesto 2680 – 6.5
2 GM Nepomniachtchi Ian 2717 – 6.5
3 GM Motylev Alexander 2655 – 6
4 IM Goganov Aleksey 2562 – 6
5 GM Shomoev Anton 2565 – 6
6 GM Jakovenko Dmitry 2713 – 6
7 IM Eliseev Urii 2557 – 6
8 GM Demchenko Anton 2639 – 5.5
9 GM Tomashevsky Evgeny 2709 – 5.5
10 GM Matlakov Maxim 2665 – 5.5
11 IM Prizant Jaroslav 2515 – 5.5
12 GM Alekseev Evgeny 2714 – 5.5
13 GM Dvoirys Semen I. 2533 – 5.5
14 GM Grachev Boris 2683 – 5
15 GM Riazantsev Alexander 2708 – 5
16 GM Vitiugov Nikita 2734 – 5
17 GM Khairullin Ildar 2658 – 5
18 GM Najer Evgeniy 2633 – 5
19 GM Gabrielian Artur 2545 – 5
20 GM Kokarev Dmitry 2639 – 5
21 GM Lysyj Igor 2656 – 5
22 GM Sjugirov Sanan 2647 – 5
23 GM Popov Ivan 2632 – 5
24 IM Artemiev Vladislav 2524 – 5
25 GM Khismatullin Denis 2658 – 4.5
Bravo!