30 June 2015
Higher League Round 7 Results
Savina and Guseva are leading the women's event, Motylev remains a sole leader of the men's tournament.
Anastasia Savina (right) and Ekaterina Kovalevskaya
Men's tournament
Alexander Motylev (2643) drew as Black with Ivan Popov (2647), but none of his pursuers were able to win, and Motylev retained the leading position in the tournament. Only two games between front group players ended decisively: Dmitry Gordievsky (2491) lost as White to Ivan Bukavshin (2647), and Mikhail Kobalia (2623) defeated Dmitry Bocharov (2580).
The rating favorite Vladimir Malakhov (2699) was unable to recover, making a draw as White against Evgeny Alekseev (2651). The reigning European champion Evgeniy Najer (2661) also stuck in the +1 group - today he played White, but was unable to break the resistance of Sergey Chekhov (2476).
Former World Champion Alexander Khalifman (2623) had White against Russian women's national team member Olga Girya (2486). Their game ended in a draw. Both players have 3 points after 7 rounds.
Standings after 7 rounds
Motylev 5.5
Kobalia, Khairullin, Dubov, Frolyanov, Popov, Artemiev, Bukavshin, Zvjaginsev 5
Fedoseev, Sjogirov, Riazantsev 4.5
Women's tournament
The women's event is as combative as it gets - all nine top games of the day ended decisively. The leader Alina Kashlinskaya (2432) lost as Black to Anastasia Savina (2422) on the first board. Marina Guseva (2410) defeated Daria Pustovoitova (2351) on the second board.
The rating favorite Ekaterina Kovalevskaya (2461) suffered a defeat as White against Alina Balaian (2261), and her chances to qualify for the Superfinal look very slim at the moment.
Standings after 7 rounds
Savina, Guseva 5.5
Kashlinskaya, Bodnaruk, Drogovoz, Matveeva, Balaian 5
Pustovoitova, Kovanova, Styazhkina, Gritsaeva 4.5
