QUEENS GAMBIT
Russian chess queens beat India to win World Women’s Team Championship
Competing under the banner of the Chess Federation of Russian (CFR) in the tournament in the Catalan town of Sitges, Russia ran out winners 2.5-1.5 in the first game and 3-1 in the second to see off their Indian rivals.
The CFR team was represented by stars Aleksandra Goryachkina, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Kateryna Lagno, Alina Kashlinskaya, and Polina Shuvalova.
Russia had previously romped through the pool stage of the competition before seeing off the FIDE Americas team in the quarterfinal and then Ukraine in the semifinal.
India had reached the final by overcoming Kazakhstan and Georgia in the knockout stages but came up against an insurmountable challenge in the form of Russia’s formidable stars.
The Indian players were still hailed for a first-ever women's medal at this level.
Others to take part in the tournament were Azerbaijan, Armenia, Germany, Spain, Poland, and France.
The triumph is the second time Russia’s women have been crowned world team champions, after their victory on home soil in Khanty-Mansiysk in 2017.
This year’s victory also makes up for the heartache of losing to China in the final in 2019.
China – who have won the title a record four times – were not among the contenders in Spain this time round.
Andrey Filatov, president of the Chess Federation of Russia and head coach of the Russian national men's chess team, was among those to congratulate the team.
“My congratulations to our outstanding chess players and coaches on this confident victory at the World Women’s Team Championship and to all the Russian chess fans and amateurs on this magnificent achievement!” said Filatov.
“The Russian athletes, who have recently won the second FIDE Online Olympiad as members of the national team, once again confirmed their highest class and a professional level of the country’s chess school, having won gold medals so convincingly. Bravo!”
India Lose to Russia in Final
India bagged a silver medal at the FIDE World Women's Team Chess Championship. (FIDE Photo)
India clinched a silver medal after going down 2-0 to Russia in the final of the FIDE World Women's Team Chess Championship.
LAST UPDATED:OCTOBER 03, 2021, 08:55 IST
India clinched a silver medal after going down 0-2 to Russia in the final of the FIDE World Women’s Team Chess Championship here on Saturday. After losing the first match 1.5.-2-5 despite a brilliant win for D Harika on the board, the Indians were outclassed 3-1 in the second as a strong Russian team stormed to a title triumph. It was India’s first ever medal in the world team chess championship.
In the second match, Harika held Goryachkina to a draw as did R Vaishali (Elo 2149) against the higher rated Alexandra Kosteniuk (Elo 2517). However, Tania Sachdev and Mary Ann Gomes went down to higher rated Katernya Lagno and Polina Shuvalova to give Russia a comprehensive victory and the gold. Sacheva fought well before losing to Lagno in 53 moves and Gomes, who has been in good form throughout the tournament, succumbed to defeat in 48 moves against Shuvalova in a Sicilian Kann Variation game.
Earlier, India lost the first match despite Harika (Elo 2450) pulling off a superb win over Goryachkina (Elo 2520) on the first board despite the gulf in Elo ratings. Gomes drew against Alina Kashlinskaya on the fourth board. For Russia, former world champion Kosteniuk beat young Vaishali on the second board while Bhakti Kulkarni’s poor form hurt India as she lost to Lagno. India, who had done well to finish second in the preliminary Pool A by winning three matches and drawing one while losing to Russia, came into the final after a win over a strong Georgian team.
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