Vera Nebolsina
Encyclopedia
Vera Nebolsina is a Russia
n chess player
with the title Woman Grandmaster (WGM).
in western Siberia, but nowadays her family reside in Novosibirsk
. Her mother Tatiana taught the infant Nebolsina the basic moves at the age of four and introduced her to other board games too, such as Draughts
and Go
. Inspired to develop her chess skills further, she was then coached by her father Valery, himself a master chess player, and by the age of six was playing in formal tournaments. Comfortably forging ahead of her peers, she regularly played in categories above her age group. This had the effect of accelerating her progress and subsequent successes included winning the Russian Girls (under 8) Championship (at 7 years), and the World Youth Championship
for Girls (under 10) in Oropesa del Mar
1998 (at 8 years).
By the time she was twelve years old, Nebolsina was playing the Russian Women's 1st league, a very high standard of competition. There followed her most valuable victory to date, when she won the World Junior Championship
for Girls (under 20) at Yerevan
in 2007 (aged only 17). This result qualified her for the WGM title; previously, she had become a Woman International Master (WIM) in 2004.
Her highest junior ranking was achieved in January 2008, when she was listed by FIDE as number 13 among the world's top 20 girl players. However, FIDE's rating website also gives statistics for her recent games and these reveal a weakness that needs to be addressed if her future progress is not to be impaired. Specifically, her record with the black pieces of +30%, =27%, -42% requires substantial improvement to match that of her closest rivals.
When questioned in interviews, Nebolsina describes herself as a positional player, who can also be a tactician. The game given below ably demonstrates that she is alert to tactical possibilities.
, where she studies English and Chinese. A natural talent for languages also extends to speaking French.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n chess player
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
with the title Woman Grandmaster (WGM).
Biography
She was raised near TomskTomsk
Tomsk is a city and the administrative center of Tomsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Tom River. One of the oldest towns in Siberia, Tomsk celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2004...
in western Siberia, but nowadays her family reside in Novosibirsk
Novosibirsk
Novosibirsk is the third-largest city in Russia, after Moscow and Saint Petersburg, and the largest city of Siberia, with a population of 1,473,737 . It is the administrative center of Novosibirsk Oblast as well as of the Siberian Federal District...
. Her mother Tatiana taught the infant Nebolsina the basic moves at the age of four and introduced her to other board games too, such as Draughts
Draughts
Draughts is a group of abstract strategy board games between two players which involve diagonal moves of uniform pieces and mandatory captures by jumping over the enemy's pieces. Draughts developed from alquerque...
and Go
Go (board game)
Go , is an ancient board game for two players that originated in China more than 2,000 years ago...
. Inspired to develop her chess skills further, she was then coached by her father Valery, himself a master chess player, and by the age of six was playing in formal tournaments. Comfortably forging ahead of her peers, she regularly played in categories above her age group. This had the effect of accelerating her progress and subsequent successes included winning the Russian Girls (under 8) Championship (at 7 years), and the World Youth Championship
World Youth Chess Championship
The World Youth Chess Championship is a chess competition for girls and boys under the age of 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18.The first predecessor of the youth championship was the Cadet Championship. It started off unofficially in 1974 in France for players under 18. The 1975 and 1976 editions were also...
for Girls (under 10) in Oropesa del Mar
Oropesa del Mar
Oropesa del Mar is a municipality in the comarca of Plana Alta in the Valencian Community, Spain....
1998 (at 8 years).
By the time she was twelve years old, Nebolsina was playing the Russian Women's 1st league, a very high standard of competition. There followed her most valuable victory to date, when she won the World Junior Championship
World Junior Chess Championship
The World Junior Chess Championship is an under-20 chess tournament organized by the World Chess Federation ....
for Girls (under 20) at Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
in 2007 (aged only 17). This result qualified her for the WGM title; previously, she had become a Woman International Master (WIM) in 2004.
Her highest junior ranking was achieved in January 2008, when she was listed by FIDE as number 13 among the world's top 20 girl players. However, FIDE's rating website also gives statistics for her recent games and these reveal a weakness that needs to be addressed if her future progress is not to be impaired. Specifically, her record with the black pieces of +30%, =27%, -42% requires substantial improvement to match that of her closest rivals.
When questioned in interviews, Nebolsina describes herself as a positional player, who can also be a tactician. The game given below ably demonstrates that she is alert to tactical possibilities.
Personal life
For purely ideological reasons, Nebolsina is a vegetarian and this is typical of her disciplined and strong-willed approach to life. She is in her final year at Moscow State UniversityMoscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
, where she studies English and Chinese. A natural talent for languages also extends to speaking French.
Notable game
Although the following game contains some imperfections, Nebolsina's play shows the importance of piece mobility over pawn moves, of which there are few. Despite spirited defence from her opponent, Nebolsina finds a pleasing queen sacrifice to conclude matters.Vera Nebolsina - Iulia Gromova, Russian Team Championship, SochiSochiSochi is a city in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, situated just north of Russia's border with the de facto independent republic of Abkhazia, on the Black Sea coast. Greater Sochi sprawls for along the shores of the Black Sea near the Caucasus Mountains...
2007, Caro-KannCaro-Kann DefenceThe Caro-Kann Defence is a chess opening —a common defense against the King's Pawn Opening characterised by the moves:The usual continuation isfollowed by 3.Nc3 , 3.Nd2 , 3.exd5 , or 3.e5 . The classical variation has gained much popularity...
, Panov-Botvinnik Attack 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bb5+ Nc6 8. Nf3 Bg7 9. Qb3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 0-0 11. 0-0 a6 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Ba3 Be6 14. Qb4 Bf6 15. Ne5 c5 16. Qxc5 Rc8 17. Nc6 Qc7 18. Nxe7+ Bxe7 19. Qxe7 Qxc3 20. Bc5 Rfe8 21. Qh4 Bd5 22. Be7 Qc6 23. f3 Qb6 24. Rfe1 Rc2 25. Bc5 Qc6 26. Rxe8+ Qxe8 27. Re1 Qc8 28. Qe7 h5 29. Qg5 Bxa2 30. Re5 a5 31. h4 a4 32. Qh6 Bb3 33. Be7 Rc6 34. d5 Ra6 35. Ba3 Ra8 36. Bb2 Qc5+ 37. Kh1 Qf8 38. Qh8+ 1-0 After 38. ... Kxh8, then, 39. Rxh5++ Kg8 40. Rh8 checkmate