International
Master A.Enkhtuul won the gold medal in the under-17 women’s group at the Sixth
World School Chess Championship, organized by the World Chess Federation (FIDE),
and held in Turkey. Enkhtuul defeated Jorayeva Govher of Turkmenistan at her
final match on August 31.

Previously
A.Enkhtuul won a gold medal in the Team World School Chess Championship in
2006.

She
played 10 matches in this championship, winning eight, drawing one and losing one.
More than 600 chess players from 35 countries participated.

B.Bayarmaa
won fourth place in the under-15 category.

A.Enkhtuul
was interviewed on her return to Mongolia on Sunday.

Congratulations. How was
the championship?

Thank
you. There were over 600 contestants, including 11 of us from Mongolia.  The competition was intense. I faced stiff
competition in my age group.  

Your last match was very
important as a defeat would have lost you a medal. . How did you play?

My
opponent was well known for her skills but my earlier success against two
strong Russians, who ended up with the silver and bronze medals, had given me
extra confidence in myself. My victory won me the right to compete in the under-18
world cup at the end of the year.

Eight victories in 10 matches
is a very good record. What about the match that you lost?

I
lost to Sop Selen of Turkey. I failed to exploit my position of advantage. I should
have watched the table more carefully before movung ny Queen. In the match
against Imeeva Aisa, I offered a draw but she refused. In the end, I defeated
her.

How many tournaments
have you played this year?

This
was my third. I headed for Turkey not long after returning from the Asian
Junior Championship. Before that, I competed in an international competition in
Bangladesh where I gained five points out of a maximum six for the title of Grand
Master.

When do you hope to get
that title?

I
need three more points and also to take my ELO rating to 2300. It has now crossed  2200 thanks to the victory in Turkey. It was
2151 when I went there. I should be able to get the necessary points if I play
well  at  the 39^th Chess Olympics in Russia
in September.

Were you given cash
awards?

No.
I was awarded a cup, the gold medal, a certificate and a laptop worth USD 2000.
Silver medalists received cameras and bronze medalists got chess tables that
can be connected to the internet.

The youngest player
competing in World Grand Prix of FIDE in Mongolia, Hou Yifan, is your close
friend, no?

Yes.
I have to work as a guide during the tournament.  I am happy that such a high level tournament
is being held in Mongolia. It will contribute to Mongolia’s development in chess.
Yifan is a close friend of mine and a good player. She is the silver medalist
of world championships among adults. She’s here with her mother. We used to
hang out together in Beijing and also played against each other. We met in
2007. Since she is here in Mongolia, I will invite them to my home.

Do you know any other
players competing in the tournament?

I
am good friends with all the Chinese players. But except for Hou Yifan, all of
them are older. Generally, I know all the players who have come to Mongolia. I
have met Maia Chiburdanidze before. She is truly a legend. She has leg
problems. There cannot be more than 15 steps to the table at a tournament and
FIDE sends special steps for her. I am also close to Zhu Chen of Qatar.

When did you last meet
B.Munguntuul?

Before
the tournament. She trained in Mongolia in July. She’s working with a Russian
coach for the Grand Prix. I want to wish all success to B.Munguntuul and Hou
Yifan. I am also happy that I’ll get a chance to see great players in action.

Who is the player you
admire most?

It
is Maia Chiburdanidze of Georgia. She is a legend. I first met her in the
Dresden Olympiad. I greeted her and had a photo taken with her. She remembers
me from there.