Valentina Gunina Wins FIDE World Women's Blitz Championship in Samarkand
Magnus Carlsen becomes the champion in the open section.
Saturday, December 30, the FIDE World Blitz Championship finished in Samarkand. It was played to the Swiss system with 3+2 time control; 21 rounds were played in the open section and 17 in the women's event.
Valentina Gunina of Russia was in the lead throughout the entire tournament (day one brought her 8.5 out of 9 points) and went on to take an unshared first place with 14 out of 17 points. Alexandra Kosteniuk (Switzerland) came in half a point behind. Third place belongs to Zhu Jiner (China) with 12.5 points.
President of the Chess Federation of Russia Andrey Filatov, "Valentina Gunina has made a great New Year's present to all Russian chess fans and, of course, to herself by winning the title of the World Women's Blitz Champion. The Russians V. Gunina and A. Bodnaruk have two top honours in the women's competition in Samarkand. We are proud of our players, who have showed excellent results to glorify the Russian school of chess".
Results of some of our other chess players: Kateryna Lagno - 11.5 points, Aleksandra Goryachkina and Polina Shuvalova - 11 points.
Tournament on Chess-Results
In the open section, Magnus Carlsen (Norway) took an unshared first place with 15.5 out of 21 points. Daniil Dubov finished half a point behind and Vladislav Artemiev (both of Russia) - one point behind; they won the silver and bronze medals respectively.
The results of some of our other chess players: Ian Nepomniachtchi - 14 points, Alexander Grischuk, Dmitry Andreikin, and Rudik Makaryan - 13.5 points, Volodar Murzin, Zhamsaran Tsydypov, Peter Svidler, and Evgeny Tomashevsky - 13 points.
CFR Executive Director Alexander Tkachev, "I congratulate our players Daniil Dubov and Vladislav Artemyev on winning silver and bronze medals at the World Blitz Championship! They lost only to the strongest chess player in the world - Magnus Carlsen, so this is a great result and a great joy for the Russian chess fans".
Tournament on Chess-Results
The closing ceremony of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships took place in the evening of the same day. Winners and medallists were awarded by the 15th World Champion, FIDE Deputy President Vishy Anand, FIDE Vice-President Mahir Mammedov, and President of the Chess Federation of Uzbekistan Alisher Sadullayev. The festive part of the evening included musical and dancing performances.
Photo album of Eteri Kublashvili (round)
Photo album of Eteri Kublashvili (closing ceremony)
Official website
Tournament page
Photos by Vladimir Barsky and Eteri Kublashvili
