Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010
Call me the Russian National Champion again: GM Alisa Galliamova
You can find great photos of the champion at www.chesspics.com
Hello Everyone,
Grandmaster Alisa Galliamova has become the Russian women's national chess champion for the second time after beating Natalija Pogonina in the speed chess tie-break in Moscow on Saturday.
Galliamova drew the first blitz game as White but won the second one with Black as her e pawn took her home to the championship title all the way to the seventh rank!
The last two rounds at the Russian Women's Superfinal lived up to the excitement that we witnessed throughout the tournament. In the penultimate round, Tatiana Kosintseva and Nazi Paikidze drew level with defending champion Alisa Galliamova to notch up a total score of 6.5 points each.
This happened because Tatiana beat Olga, Paikidze drew with Nadezhda and Galliamova lost to Gunina in the ninth round.
But the last round witnessed further ups and down like every round has. The eleventh and the last round ended with three players tied at 7 points. This happened because Galliamova and Tatiana drew their match while Paikidze lost to Nebolsina. On the other hand, Shadrina lost to Pogonina.
The three-way tie witnessed a blitz tie-break between Galliamova and Pogonina to decide the champion. Tatiana took the third place.
Final standings after Round 11
1-2. Pogonina, Galliamova 7
3. Kosintseva, Tatiana 7
4. Paikidze, Nazi 6.5
5. Kosteniuk, Alexandra 5.5
6-10. Gunina, Nadezhda, Shadrina, Nebolsina, Anastasia 5
11. Girya, Olga 4.5
12. Matveeva, Svetlana 3.5
You can find all the great games, photos and other details at the official website of www.russiachess.org.
Congratulations to Alisa Galliamova for a fine victory. Congratulations to all the lovely women who participated in this tournament, who gave us such exciting chess and who make Russia such a strong chess nation.
From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
Also see her personal blog at
Congratulations to Alisa. Congratulations to you too Chess Queen. It was a bad tournament so you finished fifth - that means an average tournament gets you first place so what does an excellent tournament get you? I bet the World Championship. Stay on course lady.
ReplyDeleteWow great chess all around. Thanks Chess Queen for all the updates in English. My computer Russian translator doesn't work too efficiently.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great photos at www.chesspics.com. I didn't know you had a site full of such fantastic photos too.
ReplyDeleteChess Queen stay all revved up for the World Championship. Eat well, sleep well and W.I.N. and defend your title well like Galliamova has. All the best. I am sure you will. And, remember that I wrote first on your blog that you will again win the World Chess title.
ReplyDeleteMy motto for 2011: Never agree to play chess with a Russian woman. Even the worst play like killers.
ReplyDeleteOh I will miss Moscow - why cannot they have the championship for the World Title in Moscow only?
ReplyDeleteLook at the final standings - gosh - three tie for first, then five tie for fifth... what strong chess. It could have been anyone's game by a whisker. Great girls, great chess and great blog. Keep it up Alexandra. Love you.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous No I said I loved Alexandra first. So, you're second. And no ties because this is not chess. In any case, I write the most comments on this blog so it's me first.
ReplyDeleteTo all the girls in Moscow Superfinal, with love from Paris, Peter Kastro
ReplyDeleteFolks there are great photos at www.russiachess.org and some great comments about their games by Pogonina, Paikidze and others. Do check.
ReplyDeleteGoodbye Moscow but thankfully chess goes on. I was worried I would get withdrawal symptoms when the tournament ended. Oh I want some big chess transmission every day otherwise my body refuses to get to work.
ReplyDeleteLondon is cold, Moscow is colder but chess keeps us warm.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Galliamova and good show Chess Queen. You did great.
ReplyDeleteChess Queen please write a sequel to Diary of a Chess Queen.
ReplyDeleteEast or West, Chess Queen Alexandra Kosteniuk is the best. Loads of luck and good wishes for defending your title in the coming days. Don't let the nerves get you.
ReplyDeleteThunderous applause for Galliamova and all the other girls of the Superfinal.
ReplyDeleteIt's always women with names beginning with A and ending in A win titles.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Galliamova and Congratulations Chess Queen for real super game against Nadezhda. And, sad about Paikidze game that you lost but I read a comment on the official website where Paikidze herself said - quote unquote - that the game was not a win for her in any way possible. Cheers Chess Queen and all the best for World Championship.
ReplyDeleteVery nice. Congratulations. The lead changed every round virtually. What a tournament. Congratulations to Galliamova.
ReplyDeleteGreat games all around. Absolute sitters some of them. Brilliant. Great show. Congrats Alisa.
ReplyDeleteI support the idea of Russia vs Rest of the World Match.
ReplyDeleteGreat tournament. Congrats Galliamova.
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ReplyDeleteVery fighting chess - hardly any draws. Congrats Galliamova, Pogonina, Kosintseva. Good job Chess Queen. You almost were in the top but for unlucky losses. Even your opponents said so. Guess you have a great World Championship ahead.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun... the entire team has now packed their bags and is heading for the World Championship. heh heh spending more than a month seeing the same faces. Quite a chess family this.
ReplyDeleteYeah I loved the roll of the e pawn. In the end when Galliamova had two minor pieces for a rook, I thought no way she would be able to hold that. But it was one theoretical lesson - the White Rook was on e1 when it should have been behind the pawn to prevent it from queening. Cool. And the way the Bishop and the Knight guarded the e1 square so the White King couldn't do much. I liked the blitz game - as powerful as any regular game. Congratulations Galliamova.
ReplyDeleteActually it was very close. It could have gone either way. Congrats to all winners.
ReplyDeleteI loved all the chess played in the Superfinal. I was so impressed by everyone that by the end of it didn't know whom to shout for. Tough to be a fan ha.
ReplyDeleteI agree.
ReplyDeleteGreat tournament. I loved all the games even the one in which the Kosintseva sisters drew - did you guys see it?
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for the World Championship. It is sure to be fireworks like never before.
ReplyDeleteMy bags are packed I am leaving on a jet plane. Internet is a real boon for chess fans. I get to watch all the high-level tournaments at home. This was not possible a few years ago. Now they even have high resolution videos. Chess rocks.
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