Interview with Elena Tomilova, winner of ACP-ChessBase Women’s KO

 

WGM Elena Tomilova is the winner of the ACP-ChessBase Women’s KO Event. At first, she didn’t want to participate at the tournament but she was persuaded by her husband, GM Dmitry Kryakvin to prepare and to give it a try.

In the 1st Round she won against Arakhamia-Grant 2.5-0.5, but maybe the biggest surprise was in the second round, where we saw 3-0 against Stefanova.

 

 

ET: – I have so many emotions, I can’t believe that I have won!
 

I played on lichess and chess.com training games, took part in the European rapid online championship and Women Speed Chess. 

If you look at the games, I prepared for each match. I played my openings, but somewhere I had some fresh ideas. The most difficult match was against Stefanova. But maybe my lower rating played in my favor – it’s always nice to start with number 9.
 

 

In the games against GM Stefanova, we saw great fight, except in the third game where there was a mouse-slip in the very beginning by Stefanova (2.g4 instead of 2.g3).

 

In the second game of that match (Slav Defense: Modern Line), there was an interesting opportunity with 16…Bxe4  

 

with the following position

 

 

ET: Fantastic! No, I didn't see this option, because the queen is my favorite piece!

In the game, there was a draw with 27…Qg2+ , but Stefanova played 27…Bg2+ instead.

In the third game of the Finals, against Bodnaruk, we saw many twists that came out of the Steinitz Variation in the French Defense, and a missed win in the rook endgame by 68…Rb4!

 

In the final one we have the same decisive moment connected with the g5 square as in the second game against Bulmaga (King’s Indian Attack) where we saw a creative idea with 23.Ng5, with Bxd5 and e6 following in the next moves, but the Black pieces are perfectly placed and White’s king is unsafe. 
 

Bulmaga- Tomilova 

 

Tomilova - Bodnaruk

 

19 ... Rxg5 is a decisive mistake. 

 

 

21.d6! comes very strong.

 

 

The ending is also notable – we see again the Queen's sacrifice for the rook and the pawn advance  (31. Qxe8 and d7), as in the second game against Bulmaga (33…Qxg1 and f2+).

 

 

ET: Here is such a mystique of coincidences! Bad moves on the g5 square and the Queen's sacrifice for a passing pawn! I have solved a lot of tactics - and there's the same theme of combinations.
 

I prefer regular tournaments at the board, but it's great to have online tournaments at this time of pandemic. Sometimes there are so many of them that you can't take part in all of them. I like to play with Zoom, because I see the face of the opponent, her emotions, and watch the reaction - blind it or a trap. It's a bit like playing OTB.

The organization of the tournament is normal, although there were problems for the participants and sometimes, this decided the outcome of the match.

For example, my first qualifying match against Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan, a connection break knocked her out of the program and I got a point.

If I had been knocked out in that match, maybe she would have moved on in the next stage. Pia Cramling had a similar situation – so after such “gifts”, Anastasia and I made it to the final.

It was unusual to play on the playchess platform, but it all turned out well – I look at my games and I still can’t believe that everything turned out this way. 

There were big breaks after each game (10 mins). 

I think it’s better to have a fixed start time for each tour. This is more convenient also for those commentators who stream matches. 

Everyone makes mistakes. I try to forgive myself and always hope that the opponent will make a mistake in return. In many games, I played for a draw, but given my rating, opponents took unacceptable risks and gave me chances to correct mistakes.
 

Complex issue. I guess it's always fair to play and love them. And then the victories will come.
 

Without knowledge, understanding may not help. I like to read books, literature, try to keep up with the theory of openings that I play.
 

My husband always says: We must play all the pieces! My advice-it happens that the first move that comes to mind is the best. So if you see a good move-do it, do not waste time on doubts.

I remember Mikhail Tal's advice: when I play creatively, the tram goes off the rails! It is better for me to play classic.

Winning a chess game can make a person happy! Moreover, it is not necessary to win a super tournament or be a grandmaster.

Chess is inexhaustible! This is a fantastic game that has been, is and will be, despite the advance of computers.

 

You can replay the games here.

 

We wish Elena lots of personal happiness and professional success.