Chinese rule 12th WUC Chess

GUIMARAES – The 12th World University Chess Championship hosted in Guimarães, Portugal was dominated by the Chinese student-chess players. In the final round of the event, played on August 25^th, the attention was focused on table one where Xiangzhi Bu (CHN) was facing Nikita Matinian (RUS). Bu, with seven points and current leader of the board at that time, won the match. Another important table was the tray where Krzysztof Bulski (POL) and Oliver Kurmann (SUI) couldn’t get a better result than a draw. And with those games ending, the medal podium was decided. Xiangzhi Bu (CHN) pocketed the gold medal, while Krzysztof Bulski (POL) took the silver and his compatriot Marcin Tazbir the bronze.

In the women’s tournament Chinese Zhongyi Tan faced and defeated Klaudia Kulon from Poland, while Alina Kashlinskaya from Russia tied with Altanulzii Enkhtuul from Mongolia. Two games that decided the fate on the ranking board. The women’s gold went also to China with the victory of Zhongyi Tan (CHN) whereas Alina Kashlinskaya (RUS) and Sarah Hoolt (GER) got the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

In the evening, the closing ceremony took place at the sports hall at University of Minho in Guimarães. Representatives of FISU, FIDE and Organizing Committee were present in this event organize to give the medals to the winner of this WUC Chess 2012.

“The closing ceremony is made with and for the athletes”

Zizina Cristin, vice-president social and cultural activities and ceremonies of the Organizing Committee (COL) shows her satisfaction for the work developed during the week of the WUC Chess 2012. “We didn’t have any logistical or technical problems and that is very important and positive for a championship like this one”, explained the vice-president. Zizina Cristino enhanced also that “Guimarães is a very welcoming city and the feedback of the participants has been really good”. Zizina is responsible for the organization of the opening and closing ceremonies. This last one, happened on the 25^th August around 22.30pm after the end of the games, when the results were known. To organize a ceremony, either opening or closing, is essential, according to the vice-president of COL, “idealize the space where the event will happen to create an appealing space for the audience”. Zizina Cristino is clear in what concerns with the rules to follow during a ceremony, “there is not much we can change because the ceremonies are under FISU’s protocol, which a really big help when we have any doubts”. For the Organizing Committee the main goal of this ceremony is show to the athletes that “this is a evening made with and for them”. The vice-president for social and cultural activities and ceremonies highlighted that “the effort of an excellent team cohesive and always available is the secret to achieve the success in this kind of events”.

More info of the event can be found on the website of the OC at

(Source: Rita Magalhães, OC)

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