European Individual Chess Championship - Round 9

Nepomniachtchi and Cmilyte take over the helm

The 11th European individual men and women's chess championship is taking place from 5th to 19th of March 2010 in Rijeka, Croatia. The tournaments are qualifiers for the next World Cup, part of the World Championship cycle. According to FIDE regulations and the decision of the ECU Board, 22 players will qualify. Prize fund is 150.000,00 EUR for the men section and 75,000.00 EUR for the women.

Russian star Ian Nepomniachtchi used an original opening system in the ninth round game against the leader Baadur Jobava and claimed a win after 30 moves of sharp struggle, thus taking over the pole position in the race for title, with two rounds to go. Jobava slipped down to shared second, but is still in good position to contest the championship if he quickly recovers after this setback.

Ian Nepomniachtchi

Ivan Sokolov and Zahar Efimenko played a draw on the second board, while Vladimir Akopian, Denis Khismatullin, Artyom Timofeev and Rauf Mamedov all won important games to join the group tied on the second place. The next round will have Russian derby Khismatullin-Nepomniachtchi on the top board.

In the women's championship, IM Viktorija Cmilyte pulls another crucial victory, with black pieces against the then co-leader GM Monika Socko, and takes over a sole elad with 7.5 points.

Viktorija Cmilyte

Former World Champion Antoaneta Stefanova beat Natalia Zhukova, IM Anna Muzychuk took a full point off from GM Hoang Thanh Trang and legendary GM Pia Cramling defeated IM Nino Khurtidze. They all moved ahead to the shared second place. Top round ten encounters are Cmilyte-Muzychuk and Cramling-Stefanova.

Full results can be found on the official website. The games are starting at 15:30 with live relay of the top 60 boards.

ECU President Boris Kutin with agile Rijeka organisers Ivan Mandekic and Srdjan Zelenika

IM Drasko Boskovic representing FC Barcelona