China defends chess team world title
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E-mail Xinhua, June 27, 2017
China defended FIDE team world title at the FIDE World Team Championship in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia on Monday.
China led Russia by one point before the ninth round. If China wanted to retain the title , the team need to get at least 2.5 points in all four games against Poland.
Grandmaster Li Chao played key role again during the final round. He tore apart opponent Bartel Mateusz's Slav defence and nailed the only win for China by pushing up heavy strikes on King's side.
Li Chao also gave a hand to his teammate. Yu Yangyi, who failed to catch his rhythm in recent games, was ambushed by Jan Krzysztof Duda in the same opening.
"I was sure that Li Chao must have prepared for this opening, so I followed him in the first part of my game," said Yu afterwards.
Yu Yangyi missed chances to threat his rival after Rook d1 and tied with Duda.
China took the title with 16 points while Russia followed with 15 points. Poland stepped on the podium of open session of World Team Championships for the first time.
Russia claimed women's world team title with 16 points. China won the runners-up after a sluggish start. Georgia edged India and Ukraine on the crosstable to gain the bronze medal.
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