WYCC 2023: Fierce contest with three rounds to go

Eight tightly contested rounds have been played at the World Youth Championship 2023.

IM Aleksey Grebnev (FIDE, 2500; pictured below) celebrated another victory with white pieces against Indian Ilamparthi A R. in the Open U18 category. Grebnev gained a decisive advantage in the opening and converted it into a full point. With 7.5 points under his belt, Grebnev is the sole leader of the Open U18 category, ahead of Aldiyar Ansat (KAZ, 2418), Tymon Czernek (POL, 2329) and Mark Jay Bacojo (PHI, 2335).

WGM Rochelle Wu (USA, 2228) defeated Polish WFM Martyna Wikar to score 7/8 and grab the sole lead in the U18 category. She will face Hoang Tu Linh Luong from Vietnam, who delivered an excellent performance in Round 8 to take down the top seed, WIM Yelyzaveta Hrebenshchykova and has already increased her rating by 165 points.

Polish players have dominated the Open U16 section so far. In Round 8, IM Jakub Seemann instructively converted his extra pawn in a rook endgame vs. FM Leonardo Costa (GER, 2397).

Seemann is the sole leader with 7.5 points. IM Jan Klimowski (POL, 2520) also showed excellent endgame technique in his game against FM from Armenia, Erik Gasparyan, to maintain the second position with 7 points.

Wang Chuqiao (pictured below) from China pulled off a crucial victory over Izabela Tokarz (POL, 1931) on the top board in the Girls U16 category. She is leading the field with 7.5 points. Her closest rivals are WFM Alexandra Shvedova (FIDE) and Daria Bondar (UKR), sitting on 7 and 6.5 points respectively.

Polish FM Pawel Sowinski (2347) emerged on top in the Open U14 category. He toppled the tournament leader after Round 7, Phaam Tran Gia Phuc from Vietnam. In Round 9, Sowinski will face first seed player IM Savva  Vetochkin (FIDE, 2403) with the black pieces.

Georgian WFM Anastasia Kirtadze (1921) and WFM Afruza Khamdamova (2199) of Uzbekistan jointly lead the Girls section U14 with 7 points. They will clash in Round 9. Kirtadze demonstrated her fighting spirit in the last rounds, beating the first and third-seeded players WFM  Anna Shukhman and WFM Zarina Nurgaliyeva.

Despite missing her first game in the tournament due to the flight cancellation, Khamdamova (pictured above) won seven straight games to tie for the top position.

The last three rounds will be decisive in all six categories at the FIDE World Youth Chess Championship. The games start at 3 pm Central European Time.

Standings after Round 8 Open U18

Standings after Round 8 Open U16

Standings after Round 8 Open U14

Standings after Round 8 Girls U18

Standings after Round 8 Girls U16

Standings after Round 8 Girls U14

Photos: Przemek Nikiel

Official website: worldyouth2023.com/