Morozevich Wins Higher League In Russia
The 2011 'Higher League' Russian Championships in Taganrog were won by Alexander Morozevich with a score of 8/11 (see previous report here).
It was a welcome return to chess, and good form, for the mercurial Russian who now qualifies for the actual Russian championships (the so-called "Super Finals") which take place in August.
Artyom Timofeev and Alexander Galkin finished just half a point behind the winner, and also qualify for the Super Final.
The women's event was won by Elena Zaiatz with 7½/9. Official website coverage (in Russian) here.
The top standings:
| 1 | Morozevich, Alexander | 2694 | 8 |
| 2 | Timofeev, Artyom | 2665 | 7½ |
| 3 | Galkin, Alexander | 2598 | 7½ |
| 4 | Tomashevsky, Evgeny | 2707 | 7 |
| 5 | Grachev, Boris | 2669 | 7 |
| 6 | Matlakov, Maxim | 2632 | 7 |
| 7 | Volkov, Sergey | 2615 | 7 |
| 8 | Zvjaginsev, Vadim | 2659 | 7 |
| 9 | Rublevsky, Sergei | 2682 | 7 |
| 10 | Inarkiev, Ernesto | 2679 | 7 |
| 11 | Sjugirov, Sanan | 2629 | 7 |
The start of a crucial game in round nine against Sanan Sjugirov
Ernesto Inarkiev failed to qualify despite having his very own cheerleaders!
The top standings in the women's event:
| 1 | Zaiatz, Elena | 2430 | 7½ |
| 2 | Kovanova, Baira | 2361 | 6½ |
| 3 |
Shadrina, Tatiana | 2397 | 6 |
| 4 | Charochkina, Daria | 2320 | 6 |
| 5 | Gunina, Valentina | 2487 | 6 |
| 6 | Girya, Olga | 2394 | 6 |
| 7 | Ovod, Evgenija | 2404 | 5½ |
| 8 | Kovalevskaya, Ekaterina | 2427 | 5½ |
| 9 | Bodnaruk, Anastasia | 2419 | 5½ |
Event photos by Anna Burtasova.
