18 September 2016
Russian Schoolchildren Defeated Chinese Team in the Match of Friendship
Hou Yifan defeated Ernesto Inarkiev 7.5 to 6.5.
The team of the strongest Russian schoolchildren defeated the Chinese team in the 3rd Match of Friendship that took place in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia. The final score is 51.5-12.5.
The grandmaster match that was played alongside the junior event ended in favor of Hou Yifan, who defeated Ernesto Inarkiev 7.5-6.5.
Hou Yifan won the rapid part of the match 2.5-1.5, then on the next day took the lead in blitz – 3-2, however, Inarkiev managed to turn the tables. He could win the blitz part and equalize the overall match score, had he won the final blitz game. However, despite having serious winning chances, he failed to find the right way to proceed, and forced a draw with a move repetition. The final score of the blitz part is 5-5.
Ernesto Inarkiev: “I was a favorite before the match, so I am a little bit disappointed by the outcome. Still, it is only blitz and rapid, and one needs to be on top of his form to win, especially against such a strong opponent as Hou Yifan. I haven't played in competitions for a month and was little rusty. The World Champion had a different problem, obviously, as she arrived after the Olympiad in Baku, so I admire her play and congratulate her with the victory.”
On the final day of the festival, the two grandmasters and grandmaster Sergey Shipov will give simuls to the young players of the visiting teams and local sports school.
Information and photos provided by Sergey Legen'ko
