In round 5 of the Asian Club Chess Champions League, Sport Club KPRF secured a shutout against Uzbekistan Chess Club to share the lead with the Ugra Chess Academy who beat Airports Authority of India. Astana proved stronger than Zandanshatar Chess Club, while Ugra and Hangzhou of China settled for a draw.
The fifth day of the Asian Club Chess Champions League has concluded. This round treated us to stunning combinations, unexpected performances, and fascinating tactical maneuvers. The tournament follows a round-robin format, with players allotted 90 minutes per game plus a 30-second increment per move starting from the first. A win earns a team two match points, a draw one match point, and a loss zero match point.
The key and most spectacular showdown took place between the Ugra Chess Academy and the Airports Authority of India. For three rounds straight, the Indian team had been the undisputed leaders of the competition but lost their advantage. The players fought for winning positions as if on a battlefield. The thrilling clash ended in a 3:1 victory for the juniors.
“I was prepared for any scenario but made a mistake somewhere. My opponent played really well—I had no chance to defend my position”, shared Indian grandmaster Harikrishnan. His opponent, Savva Vetokhin, added, it wasn’t an easy game: “The opponent tried to surprise me with an unusual tactic. India is a very strong team, so I prepared thoroughly, and that was the key to victory”.
The Ugra vs. Hangzhou of China clash proved extraordinary. Following Alexei Pridorozhni’s quick victory, the Chinese team ramped up pressure, getting on their experienced opponents nerves. Battles on boards three and four evolved into protracted, grueling affairs, culminating in mutually agreed draws – the teams split points amicably at 2:2.
Astana, after yesterday’s defeat against Ugra, launched an aggressive offensive against Zandanshatar Chess Club. The Mongolians ultimately failed to secure their first match points, conceding victory to Kazakhstan after fierce resistance.
KPRF Sports Club faced Uzbekistan’s chess team. Daniil Dubov unleashed a dazzling opening on board one, driving Ulugbek Tillyaev into defensive mode. Matlakov and Artemiev likewise seized the initiative on their boards. The Uzbek athletes lacked the experience to outmaneuver the tournament’s rating favorites, culminating in another commanding 4:0 victory for KPRF.
“Today’s game was very difficult. Dubov played a good opening for himself, and I found myself in a complicated situation. By the middle of the game, we were in equal positions, when we could have played for a draw, but there were time troubles, and I made some mistakes”, said Ulugbek Tillyaev, an International Master from Uzbekistan.
Based on the results of the matches played, the lead remains with the KPRF team. The juniors of the Ugra Chess Academy are ready to fight for the championship with them. The Airports Authority of India is on the third place. The Astana team is one line below, and the Ugra team does not want to give in to it. Uzbekistan and China are playing head-to-head. And the Mongolia team is still on the last place.
Players of the competition have two more rounds ahead. The battle for the champion’s title will take place on June 24. The team that scores the most points will be the winner of the Asian Club Chess Champions League. There will also be determined the winners in the individual standings.
Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings. Follow live broadcast on Lichess.
You can follow the tournament in the official community of the Ugra Chess Academy on the social network ‘VKontakte’ (https://vk.com/chessugra). The tournament is being commented on by international grandmaster Sergey Shipov.
Source: Ugra Chess Academy