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Miracle Comeback Clinches Title for Russia

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Miracle Comeback Clinches Title for Russia

A Russian team led by Super-GM Peter Svidler decisively beat China 3.5-0.5 in the final round of the World Team Championship to take first by a half-point over the Chinese team. Russia finished the tournament without a blemish on their record, winning all eight matches.

Going into the final two rounds, China appeared to be in control of the tournament. However, the eighth round saw the Russian team - four points behind the leaders - playing the Chinese women's team, the lowest rated team in the competition. Expecting a sweep, Russia instead settled for a 3-1 win as veteran GM Sergey Rublevsky dropped a game to 16-year-old Shen Yang.

Meanwhile, the Chinese men faced a difficult opponent in Armenia. China suffered their first loss, 2.5-1.5, as Ni Hua lost to Karen Asrian. Despite the loss, China still held a 2.5 point lead on Russia going into their final round clash - meaning China needed just one point to clinch victory.

China seemed headed to victory early in the final match, as Bu Xiangzhi made a quick draw against Peter Svidler on the first board, meaning China needed just one more draw to clinch first. One by one, however, Alexander Grischuk, Evgeny Bareev and Alexander Morozevich won their games for Russia, giving them a 3-1 win - and 22 points for the tournament, edging China's score of 21.5.

Here are the complete final standings:

Russia: 22 points
China (Men): 21.5
Armenia: 18.5
Ukraine: 17.5
USA: 16.5
Israel: 14.5
Georgia: 13.5
Cuba: 13
China (Women): 7

Here's a win by Russia's Alexander Morozevich in the final round.

White: Ni Hua (2603)
Black: Morozevich, A (2707)
World Team Championship, Round 9
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 d6 7. Bc4 Nb6 8. Bb5 Bd7 9. exd6 e6 10. O-O Bxd6 11. Nc3 Ne7 12. Bd3 Bc6 13. Qe2 Nbd5 14. Rd1 O-O 15. Ne5 Bxe5 16. Qxe5 Qb6 17. Qh5 Ng6 18. Bxg6 hxg6 19. Qh4 Nxc3 20. bxc3 Qb5 21. Re1 Rac8 22. Qg3 Rfd8 23. h4 Qf5 24. Bf4 f6 25. a4 Bd5 26. Bd6 Bxg2 27. Be7 Rd7 28. Bxf6 Bd5 29. Be5 Rf7 30. Re3 a5 31. Rc1 Rc4 32. f4 Rxa4 33. Qg5 b5 34. Qxf5 gxf5 35. Kf2 Ra2+ 36. Re2 Ra3 37. Rb2 Rb3 38. Rxb3 Bxb3 39. Ke3 Rd7 40. Ra1 a4 41. Kd2 Ra7 42. Bd6 Ra6 43. Ba3 Kf7 44. Ke3 Ra8 45. Kf2 Rh8 46. Rh1 Bd5 47. Rh3 Be4 48. Ke3 Rh6 49. h5 Ke8 50. Rg3 Rxh5 51. d5 g5 52. dxe6 g4 53. Kd4 Rh3 54. Rg1 g3 55. Ke5 g2 56. Rd1 Rh1 57. Rd7 g1=Q 58. Bd6 Bc6 0-1