The Superfinals of the 74th Russian Championship and the 71st Russian Women’s Championship is ongoing in Ufa, the largest city in the Republic of Bashkortostan.
Maxim Matlakov (left) takes on Nikita Vitiugov during the 74th Russian Superfinals. Photo by Eteri Kublashvili.
The average rating in the Open Section is 2676 while in the Ladies Section it is 2421.
An interesting observation of the 74th Russian Superfinals is the fact that WGM Aleksandra Goryachkina is playing in the Open Section!
Valentina Gunina (left) takes on Natalija Pogonina during the 71st Russian Women’s Championship. Photo by Eteri Kublashvili.
Prize Fund
The total guaranteed prize fund is RUB 7 million (or USD 100,000) in the Open Section and RUB 4 million (USD 56,000) in the Ladies Section.
It is interesting to note that the US Chess Championship is also currently taking place at The Saint Louis Chess Club in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. The prize fund in this event is USD 194,000 in the Open Section and USD 100,000 in the Ladies Section.
Dance around d6
I found an interesting game from round 1 between Alina Kashlinskaya and Alisa Galliamova. For about 30 moves in the game all the pieces seem to dance around the d6 square!
Alina Kashlinskaya v Alisa Galliamova
Alina Kashlinskaya in action during the 71st Russian Women’s Championship. Photo by Eteri Kublashvili.GMs Evgenij Miroshnichenko and Alexandr Shimanov are the English commentators for the 74th Russian Superfinals and the 71st Russian Women’s Championship. Photo by Eteri Kublashvili.
Nikita Vitiugov was leading at the end of round 9 with 7 points in the Open Section while Valentina Gunina was leading in the Ladies Section.
Charming natives from Ufa at the opening ceremony of the 74th Russian Superfinals and the71st Russian Women’s Championship. Photo by Eteri Kublashvili.
Kirill Alekseenko v Nikita Vitiugov
Alexander Motylev v Vladimir Fedoseev
Singer at the opening ceremony of the 74th Russian Superfinals and the71st Russian Women’s Championship. Photo by Eteri Kublashvili.
Ufa
Ufa is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Bashkortostan in Russia. The city lies at the confluence of the Belaya and Ufa rivers. It has a population of just over 1 million residents and is the 11th most populous city in Russia.
The city was founded in 1574, when a fortress was built on the site of the city by order of Ivan the Terrible.
“You are so far, my fatherland! I would return home, but alas, I am in chains, my Bashkirs! The road home may be obscured by snow, But come spring it shall melt – I’m not dead yet, my Bashkirs!”
Other details
The tournaments are 11-round all-play-all events. The match days are 9-14 and 16-20 October. The rest day is on the 15th of October. The games will start at 3 PM local time (GMT +5).
The time control is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from the 1st.
