Xie Jun favors China despite early setback

Former world women's chess champion Xie Jun expects China to rally from an early setback at the 3rd China-Russia Chess Contest held at the newly constructed Mongolian Camp, near the Chinese side of the border with Russia.

Russia, the winners of the first edition in 2001, led 15.5-14.5 points over China, which won the second event in 2004, after the third round on Saturday.

Xie Jun, the chief umpire of the competition, said the Chinese women's team holds a clear advantage over their Russian counterparts while the men's side isn't on the same par with the visitors.

"If the Chinese men don't lose too many games in later rounds and let the Russians run too far away, the Chinese team will very likely win the competition," said Xie.

The China-Russia Chess Contest opened last Thursday and will end on August 20, with 20 grandmasters from the two countries facing off against each other.

China sent a five-member men's team composed of Bu Xiangzhi, Zhang Zhong, Wang Yue, Zhang Pengxiang and Ni Hua, and a women's team with Hou Yifan, Shen Yang, Zhao Xue, Wang Yu and Huang Qian.

Russian men's team boasts world number 22 Vladimir Malakhov, 33rd-ranked Vadim Zvjaqinsev, Dmitry Jakovenko, Alexey Dreev and Evgeniy Najer, while their women's team includes Tatiana and Nadezhda Kosintseva, ranked world No. 9 and No. 12 respectively, as well as the 18-ranked Ekaterina Kovalevskaya.

The contest, widely reckoned as an event of the traditional tycoon versus a rising power, was initiated in 2001 with Russia winning on 41.5 points against China's 30.5 in Shanghai, before the Chinese team took a revenge in the second edition in Moscow in 2004, beating Russia 37.5-34.5.

With three Chinese women crowned the world champions and the Chinese men's team finishing twice runners-up in the World Cup and World Olympian Team Championships, China's chess chief Wang Runan is expecting a victory.

"I believe China is strong enough to win this competition," said Wang last Thursday.

The Chinese women beat the Russian rivals 3-2 to win the third straight round on Saturday, totaling nine points against Russia's three, while the Chinese men lost the third outing 4-1, gathering 5.5 points vs Russia's 9.5.

Source: Xinhua