World Junior 2008
Someone asked me to ’start a thread’ on the world juniors in the shoutbox. Funny that this blog is becoming more like a forum 
Anyway here’s a mention to the World’s Junior 2008:-
It’s Under-20 for those not familiar. Taking place on August 2-16 in Gaziantep, Turkey.
In the Women’s World Junior, notable names are WGM Yifan Hou (yeah she is not yet a GM), WGM Vera Nebolsina, and WIM Katerina Nemcova.
The boy’s section include name such as GM Li Chao, GM Luka Lenic, GM Sergei Zhigalko and GM Le Quang Liem.
Some results from Chessdom
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Comments
Li Chao is in sole lead at 5.5/6 after beating Le Quang Liem. Hou Yifan at joint 4th. a point behind. Wonder if Li Chao will play in Arthur Tan this year if he wins World Junior.
Li Chao is in joint first after defeating American GM Howell David, the overnight joint leader. Arik Braun who beat Li Chao earlier drew with Safarli and is level with Li Chao on 6.5/8.
What is very special about Li Chao vs Howell, a game they will probably remember for the rest of their lives :-
1. It was a 137 moves marathon between 2 GM’s fighting for the title lead, with both players playing the last 80-100 moves with just a couple of tens of seconds each on many occasions. Just like how you see Ronnie plays!
2. It was a continuous King hunt for 80% of the game, by both sides and not just by the winner.
2. A pawn on the 7th rank that could not promote until 13 moves later.
3. There were 30 WK moves and 27 BK moves.
4. There were 23 consecutive checks on WK before he could wriggle out and White won the game.
5. White could only win nearly 30 moves after getting a 2nd. Queen despite and open BK.
6. The 50 move rule and perpetual check rules came dangerously close to being applied.
I followed the game with Fritz 11 and for most of the game until the very end, White was mostly just slightly better. In fact, both players seemed to play no worse under such tremendous time pressure.
Maybe GilaChess can publish the game for everyone’s enjoyment.
After 11 rounds:-
1. Braun 8.5
2-7. Rodshtein 8
Howell
Safarli
Nguyen
Gupta
Negi
Looks like Li Chao has been eliminated.
Who do you think will be World Junior Champion?
After 12 rounds with 1 to go:-
Gupta 9, Negi 9, Braun 8.5, Safarli 8.5, with unfinished Rodschtein vs Howell on 8.
A very tight finish with leaders changing every round. I think it is likely an INDIAN winner, but victor of Rodshtein/Howell has a chance also.
Yeah thanks to Colin + Jimmy for the report.
Hou Yifan is playing in the Boy’s section, as befitting her strength. She has been regularly playing overseas against very strong GM’s and there is no reason for her to play in the much weaker Girl’s section. Li Chao is in joint lead with 4.5/5 and plays Li Quang Liem, another familiar face to Malaysians. Hou Yifan is among the leaders.