Russian Team Wins 2019 WTCC With One Round to Spare

Chinese women become champions as well.

The penultimate eighth round of the 2019 World Team Championships was played in Astana on March 13. In the open section, the Russian team defeated Sweden 3.5-0.5 (Alexander Grischuk, Dmitry Andreikin, and Vladislav Artemiev won, while Sergey Karjakin made draw).

The Russian national team won the Championship with one round to go because its separation from the closest pursuers, England and India, has become three match points. In the eighth round the English team lost to China 1-3, while the match India - USA ended in a draw. 

Head coach of the Russian national men's team, RCF President Andrey Filatov: "It was a tough, very emotional victory. This Championship has showed us that the chess players' level has increased and that any team can give a surprise. Not everything worked well for the rating favorite - the Chinese team, but our chess players were playing brilliantly. We have a real, united team, but our newcomer Vladislav Artemiev made an especially big contribution to the success, because his play was just phenomenal. It is very pleasant to bring gold medals for your country, this is a wonderful feeling!"

Other results: Iran - Azerbaijan 2-2 and Egypt - Kazakhstan 2.5-1.5.

Standings after Round 8:

1. Russia - 14
2-3. India, England - 11
4. China - 10
5-6. Iran, USA - 8
7. Azerbaijan - 6
8-9. Kazakhstan, Sweden - 4
10. Egypt - 3.

Round 9 pairings:
 
England - Sweden, Kazakhstan - China, Azerbaijan - Egypt, USA - Iran, Russia - India. 

Tournament on Chess-Results



In the women's section, Team China defeated USA 3-1 to win the Championship with one round to go.

The Russian team beat Hungary 4-0 (Alexandra Kosteniuk, Valentina Gunina, Aleksandra Goryachkina, and Olga Girya won their games). 

Other results: Armenia - Georgia 2-2, India - Ukraine 1.5-2.5, and Egypt - Kazakhstan 0.5-3.5.

Standings after Round 8:

1. China - 16
2. Russia - 13
3. Ukraine - 12
4. Georgia - 11
5-6. India, Kazakhstan - 8
7. USA - 5
8. Armenia - 4
9. Hungary - 3
10. Egypt - 0.

Round 9 pairings:

USA - Egypt, Ukraine - China, Hungary - India, Georgia - Russia, Kazakhstan - Armenia. 

Tournament on Chess-Results



Tournament page

Official website

Our congratulations to the Russian national team on their successful performance in Astana!