ETCC 2007 Round 9 - Russia gets the gold, twice!

Comprehensive photo and round report

Russia triumphed with both men and women teams taking the golden medals at the 16 th European Team Chess Championship 2007. Men team had an impressive run of eight consecutive wins and only one drawn, claimed the title even before the last round, and most of their players took medals for individual scores as well.

Russia vs. Bulgaria

Silver medals go to the 2006 Olympiad winners - Armenia. This ultra solid team took a slow start, but broke through to the second place with the series of narrow wins. Quite the opposite happened to the bronze medalists, the explosive team of Azerbaijan. They started furiously in the first few rounds until they were stopped by the Russians. Still, the third place is a fantastic achievement for this young team.

Armenia and Israel are fighting for the second place in the tournament

France and Azerbaijan...

... made two early draws on board one and three

Ukraine in team uniforms: GM Ivanchuk, GM Karjakin, GM Volokitin and GM Areshchenko

Russia women were having a tough race with the title defenders from Poland. Only in the 8th round Poland succumbеd and Russia routinely drove the ship into the safe harbor. Just like men, most of the Russian ladies also earned individual medals.

Russia vs. Urkaine on the top table for the women section

Poland still managed to capture the silver medals on better tie-breaks/individual points. Armenian female team resisted famous Georgians in the last round, and after Ukraine didn't win against Russia, girls from Erevan started celebrating bronze medals.

The female teams of Armenia and Georgia are trying to get into the medals

Georgia men play with Italy

GM Magnus Carlsen

GM Shirov won for Spain today

GM Grischuk and GM Georgiev in a post-mortem of the game on board two won by the Bulgarian, GM Svidler discussing the game

Mr. Mihailov and GM Stefanova after her draw for Bulgaria on board one against France today

GM Andrei Volotkin (who won against GM Hebden from England) after his interview for Chessdom

A post-morthem marathon at the Analysis hall

GM Ivanisevic, who had just won against GM Carlsen, and the team coach of Serbia - Mihajlo Stojanovic

Armenia managed to outplay Israel 2.5:1.5 and won the silver medals in the men section. Congratulations to Aronian and co.

Men Section

Highest rating performance

1. Svidler 2989
2. Morozevich 2855
3. Roiz 2855
4. Adams 2800
5. Mamedyarov 2798
6. Topalov 2797
7. Navara 2792
8. Vallejo Pons 2782
9. Bacrot 2781
10. Alekseev 2760

Most rating gain

1 Carlsson, Pontus +24,7
2 Keskinen, Sauli +24,0
3 Stanojoski, Zvonko +20,1
4 Svidler, Peter +20,0
5 Liiva, Riho +19,9
6 Antoniou, Antonis +19,5
7 Lenic, Luka +19,0
8 Roiz, Michael +18,2
9 Hammer, Jon Ludvig +17,7
10 Gengler, Pierre +17,3

Women Section

Highest rating performance,women

1 Peng, Zhaoqin 2597
2 Kosteniuk, Alexandra 2587
3 Danielian, Elina 2573
4 Rajlich, Iweta 2573
5 Socko, Monika 2561
6 Nemcova, Katerina 2548
7 Kosintseva, Tatiana 2517
8 Lahno, Kateryna 2506
9 Kosintseva, Nadezhda 2494
10 Hoang, Thanh Trang 2490

Most rating gain, women

1 WIM Nemcova, Katerina +48,6
2 Misovic, Sanja +35,5
3 WGM Aginian, Nelly +29,9
4 WGM Srebrnic, Ana +24,9
5 WGM Borsuk, Angela +24,9
6 WIM Fakhiridou, Ekaterini +24,8
7 WGM Mamedjarova, Turka +23,6
8 WIM Heinatz, Dr Gundula +22,4
9 WIM Bashkite, Viktoria +22,1
10 GM Peng, Zhaoqin +21,7

It was a fantastic event, the motivated players gave us aesthetic pleasure with wonderful games and our kind hosts in Creta Maris provided excellent playing and lodging conditions.