Basque Chess at World Mind Games: Gold for Hou, Silver for Kosteniuk

Hello chess blog friends, chess can be strenuous, particularly if you you play Basque Chess. Beijing World Mind Games chess section concluded with the Basque chess version that has players take on their opponent with both White and Black at the same time over two boards in each round!

Men’s: 1. Nepomniachtchi Ian (RUS) 2. Radjabov Teimour (AZE) 3. Vachier-Lagrave Maxime (FRA)
Women’s: 1. Hou Yifan (CHN) 2. Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS) 3. Zhao Xue (CHN)

The Russians seem to be quite at good at this version of hectic chess picking up two medals - Ian Nepomniachtchi picked up the gold in the open section and ChessQueen Alexandra Kosteniuk took the silver in the women's section.

“I feel much better now that I’ve won a medal, I couldn’t show my best in the beginning and this was frustrating” stated Nepomniachtchi. The 24-year-old Russian, living in Moscow arrived at the World Mind Games just after playing in the national championships back home. Koneru Humpy - the golden girl of Indian chess - was pitted against Hou Yifan in the last round and the result could have gone either way, but eventually it was Zhao Xue who got the bronze.

You can find lots of photos and videos on the official site. The FIDE website of the SportAccord World Mind Games also has great reports and photographs by Alina L'Ami.

SportAccord World Mind Games is a multi-sport event centred on the gymnasium of the mind and highlighting the great value of the mind sports. The 2014 edition will take place from 11-17 December. As well as the first, second and third editions in 2011, 2012, and 2013 the event includes five mind sports of great popularity and influence worldwide - Bridge, Chess, Draughts, Go and Xiangqi (Chinese Chess). The event is a showcase of some top-level mind games performances with the world's best players. The Cultural and Social Programme is an integral part of the event and through a series of activities, it aims at increasing and improving mind sports' influence and practice in schools. 

Ever more countries and regions integrate the mind sports as an important part of their education programmes. Mind sports suit well a wide range of people not only in terms of age; these sports can be equally played by people with certain physical disability. The characteristics of the mind games themselves, make these sports particularly appropriate for the use of various resources, such as new technologies. 

The launch of a new media platform is the springboard for the organisation of online tournament and encourage to practice these sports through the Internet – players from all over the world are able to compete and win attractive prizes! These traditional games, where intelligence, strategy and intuition are protagonists, combined with innovative and modern elements, can create and bring new and unique experiences to a large and highly diversified group of people.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
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