Asian Zone 3.5 Chess Championships

Asian Zone 3.5 Chess Championships
20th to 28th March in Tianjin, China
Report by chessdom

Asian Zone 3.5 Chess Championships are taking place from 20th to 28th March in Tianjin, China. The Men’s tournament is a qualifier for the 2011 World Chess Cup and top two finishers will book tickets for Khanty Mansiysk. 55 players compete in the 9-round Swiss tournament.

Women’s tournament takes place concurrently and is a qualification for the 2012 Women World Championship. 32 participants compete over 9 rounds of Swiss system. Top four finishers progress in the World Championship cycle.

It is interesting to note that the Chinese Players Selection for the 2011 World Chess Team Tournament, which is set for 15-26th July in Ningbo, China, was played as an 8-player double round robin from 5th to 18th March.

Final standings:

1-3. GM Yu Yangyi 2652, GM Li Chao B 2646 and GM Zhou Weiqi 2592 – 9.0
4. GM Ding Liren 2637 – 8.0
5. GM Zhao Jun 2580 – 6.0
6. Xiu Deshun 2508 – 5.5
7. GM Zhou Jianchao 2660 – 5.0
8. Wan Yunguo 2458 – 4.5

All eight players continue the streak by participating in the Zonal Championship. But that is not all, as Gujuan Tzu informs that immediately after the Zonal, the Chinese Chess Championships 2011 starts from 29th March in Xinghua, Jiangsu, and goes on until 10th April. Busy month on the Chinese chess scene.

Participants in Women’s tournament (top 10 seeds):

1 WGM Ju Wenjun 2519
2 WGM Shen Yang 2443
3 WGM Tan Zhongyi 2428
4 WGM Wang Yu A. 2398
5 WGM Huang Qian 2394
6 WGM Ding Yixin 2376
7 WGM Gu Xiaobing 2369
8 WGM Zhang Xiaowen 2344
9 Guo Qi 2331
10 Wang Jue 2275

Participants in Men’s tournament (top 10 seeds)

1 GM Bu Xiangzhi 2677
2 GM Zhou Jianchao 2660
3 GM Yu Yangyi 2652
4 GM Li Chao B 2646
5 GM Ding Liren 2637
6 GM Zhou Weiqi 2592
7 GM Zhao Jun 2580
8 GM Li Shilong 2520
9 Xiu Deshun 2508
10 Wan Yunguo 2458