Russian Youth Championships - Paving the future

30.04.2011 – Although the Russians still hold the greatest number of grandmasters and masters, the key is in the renovation. The 2011 Russian Youth Championships just took place, crowning not only the new champions, but also designating those who will represent Russia in the next World and European Youth Championships. Here is a beautiful panoply of pictures by Anna Burtasova. The Russian Youth Championship (Premier League) recently took place for boys and girls in the sub-10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 years-old categories. Parallel to it was the slightly lower All-Russian Youth competition, which is essentially the lower category of the same event. The tournament was held in the AquaLoo Hotel, in the Krasnodar Territory, from April 15 to 24. There was also a rapid and blitz championship held from April 24-26. The tournaments were held on the swiss system, nine rounds, played in g/90 with a 30-second increment as of move one. The winners of the championship of Russia will be entitled to participate in the Youth World Championship in 2011, and silver medalists - in the European Youth Championship. The winners of the sub-18 tournaments will be able to play in the Russian Premier League championship, and finally players who place in the top four of the All-Russian will receive the right to participate in next year's Premier League of the Russian Youth Championship. Final standings of Russian Youth Championship Age group Boys Girls under 10 Zahar Alexandrov Alexandera Obolentseva under 12 Semyon Khanin Dinara Dordzhieva under 14 Arsene Kuhmazov Ljubov Kosticina under 16 Vladislav Terentyev Irina Barayev under 18 Vladimir Fedoseev Daria Pustovoitova All in all the competitions drew a total of 1305 children. Anna Burtasova was at the venue and provided many lovely pictures of the event: Young ladies in the Girl's under-10 championship Their male counterparts Deep battle and full concentration What on earth is she doing? I wouldn't play that if I were her.... Alina Beshukova - Under-10 player 9-year-old Xenia Strukova The arbiter is the only adult allowed The parents are forced to stay in the waiting area Sometimes the temptation and curiosity is too strong to resist The beginning of the round of the Boy's under-14 Last minute advice And last minute rest A madonna waiting for her opponent to play 13-year-old Eugene Khozenkov 13-year-old FM Vladislav Artemev 13-year-old Catherine Kolosova Ljubov Mihajlova in the Girl's Under-18 Ah... the wonders of braiding 11-year-old Daria Maksimova takes it to the next level The shirt says it all Semyon Khanin was the Boy's Under-12 champion with an impressive 8.0/9 The Boy's under-10 round just started And the Girls under-10 with participants already scrutinizing their opponents' play Since the event was held at a known tourist point, the children had numerous activities open to them. Some could enjoy the seaside... ...while others could enjoy active sports... ...but nothing quite like a gentle rest on the swing. Vladimir Matveev from the Boy's Under-18 Ilya Ilyushenok greets IM Vladimir Fedoseev (left) and Alexander Predke from the Boys Under-18. IM Vladimir Fedoseev (2519) was the Russian Under-18 champ The penultimate round of the Girls Under-16 event WFM Irina Barayev, Girl's Under-16 champion Ekaterina Smirnova, third in the Girl's Under-16 A last round victory by Marie Severin over the tourney winner, secured second in the Girl's Under-16, and the right to represent Russia in the European Youth Championships. Some of the champions posing with their trophies and diplomas Photographs by Anna Burtasova (Russiachess.org) Copyright ChessBase