Europe's rapid and blitz champs: Muzychuk and Kosteniuk

by André Schulz
10/28/2017 – Last weekend, in Monte-Carlo, the European Women's Rapid Chess Championship was held. Anna Muzychuk, already World Champion in this discipline, won. The Blitz Championship followed, and there the Russian Chess Federation celebrated a threefold success as Alexandra Kosteniuk, Kateryna Lagno and Valentina Gunina finished in the top three spots. | Photo: Nadja Wittman
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Rapid and blitz in Monte Carlo

Monaco was host to the European ACP Women's Rapid and Blitz Championships, played between October 20th and 24th at the Novotel Hotel in Monaco. The rapid competition saw the participation of 91 women, a bit more than completed the blitz 77. The favorite in both disciplines was the current World Rapid and Blitz champ, Anna Muzychuk (rapid Elo 2594 and blitz 2663), of Ukraine, followed closely by the former world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk (rapid Elo 2612 and bitz 2477), of Russia.

Other notable grandmaster names included the former European Champion Valentina Gunina, Kateryna Lagno, former world champion Antoaneta Stefanova and current European Champion Nana Dzagnidze.

Almost a stone's throw from the Mediterranean Sea

The tournament was held under the auspices of the European Chess Union (ECU), however the Association of Chess Professionals (ACP) increased the prize fund by € 5,000 (euro) and thus became the main sponsor of the championship. And there's a catch — only premium members (annual dues of € 100) of the ACP (functioning a bit like a players union) could benefit from the extra prize money.

The rapid tournament, including the ACP bonus yielded the following top three prizes:

1st prize: € 2,000 
2nd prize: € 1,400 
3rd prize: € 1,000 

The blitz tournament meanwhile had a prize fund of € 5,800 euro, with € 1,250 for the first place.

Muzychuk's moment

Tournament logo

Muzychuk's impressive final tally in the rapid was 9 points out of 11 games, played at a rate of 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move for the whole game. The Ukrainian gave up four draws, against Almira Skripchenko, Marie Sebag, Monika Socko and Olga Girya — three of them coming in a row in the middle of the tournament. As a result, after the fourth draw in the 7th round, she had fallen back as far as eighth place. Valentina Gunina had leaped out to a lead with 6½ from 7 after winning her first five games. Natalia Pogonina followed with 6 points.

Alexandra Kosteniuk, started poorly. After dropping a half point against WGM Pauline Guichard in the second round, she then then lost in very direct fashion to the young and little known Estonian WIM Mai Narva, in the third round. After a further draw against Andreea-Cristiana Navrotescu and with that, Kosteniuk was already far behind in the race for the title.

Expect to hear more about Mai Narva in the near future. The 18-year-old was the U16 European champion in 2016 and won the Estonian Women's Championships in 2014, 2016 and 2017. She is now the best player in her country. Her father is a FIDE master, her mother a correspondence chess Grandmaster. Other prominent victims of Narva in Monaco were Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant and Alina Kashlinskaya. Narva finished in 20th position.

Behind Anna Muzychuk, Kateryna Lagno was second a half point back. Russian rising star Aleksandra Gorychkina, with 8 points, finished third ahead of against Pauline Guichard and Alexandra Kosteniuk. For Frenchwoman Guichard, whose starting rank put her at number 24, this is a raid success.

Standings after 11 rounds (top 40)

1
 
 GM Muzychuk Anna 2594 UKR 9,0
2
 
 GM Lagno Kateryna 2577 RUS 8,5
3
 
 WGM Goryachkina Aleksandra 2462 RUS 8,0
4
 
 WGM Guichard Pauline 2285 FRA 8,0
5
 
 GM Kosteniuk Alexandra 2612 RUS 8,0
6
 
 GM Socko Monika 2390 POL 7,5
7
 
 WGM Pogonina Natalija 2447 RUS 7,5
8
 
 IM Savina Anastasia 2376 RUS 7,5
9
 
 WGM Girya Olga 2405 RUS 7,5
10
 
 IM Paehtz Elisabeth 2457 GER 7,5
11
 
 WGM Kulon Klaudia 2296 POL 7,5
12
 
 WFM Gvanceladze Anna 2225 RUS 7,5
13
 
 GM Gunina Valentina 2577 RUS 7,0
14
 
 IM Skripchenko Almira 2423 FRA 7,0
15
 
 GM Dzagnidze Nana 2528 GEO 7,0
16
 
 GM Stefanova Antoaneta 2536 ECX 7,0
17
 
 IM Gaponenko Inna 2383 UKR 7,0
18
 
 IM Milliet Sophie 2375 FRA 7,0
19
 
 WIM Navrotescu Andreea-Cristiana 2130 FRA 7,0
20
 
 WIM Narva Mai 2155 EST 7,0
21
 
 IM Collas Silvia 2269 FRA 7,0
22
 
 WIM Boric Elena 2236 BIH 7,0
23
 
 GM Sebag Marie 2452 FRA 6,5
24
 
 WGM Dornbusch Tatiana 2302 MNC 6,5
25
 
 IM Cornette Deimante 2310 LTU 6,5
26
 
 WGM Maisuradze Nino 2287 FRA 6,5
27
 
 WFM Haussernot Cecile 2254 FRA 6,5
28
 
 WGM Leconte Maria 2196 FRA 6,5
29
 
   Ivanova Tatiana 2078 RUS 6,5
30
 
 WGM Srebrnic Ana 2143 SLO 6,5
31
 
 IM Kashlinskaya Alina 2385 RUS 6,0
32
 
 IM Szczepkowska Karina 2271 POL 6,0
33
 
 GM Arakhamia-Grant Ketevan 2437 SCO 6,0
34
 
   Shivacheva Donika 1746 ECX 6,0
35
 
 WCM Pribylova Sofie 1968 CZE 6,0
36
 
   Kolba Anastasiya 2011 UKR 6,0
37
 
 WIM Zvereva Marija 2159 RUS 6,0
38
 
 WGM Agababean Naira 2161 MDA 6,0
39
 
 WFM Choisy Mathilde 2162 FRA 6,0
40
 
   Muetsch Annmarie 2118 GER 6,0

...91 players

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1.e4 d6 2.d4 g6 3.Nc3       Bg7 4.Be3 a6 5.Nf3 b5 6.a4 b4 7.Nd5 B06: Modern Defence 7.Ne2 Bb7 8.Ng3 Nf6 9.Bd3 Nbd7 10.c3 c5 11.0-0 0-0 12.h3 Qa5 13.Bd2 bxc3 14.bxc3 Qc7 1-0 (41) Zhigalko, S (2655)-Petrosian,T (2625) Minsk 2015 7...Bb7 LiveBook: 3 Games 8.Bc4 a5N 8...e6= 9.Nxb4 a5 Predecessor: 8...e6 9.Nxb4 Bxe4 10.0-0 a5 11.Nd3 Nf6 12.Ng5 Bb7 13.Nf4 d5 14.Bb5+ c6 1-0 (54) Jelecevic,I (2168) -Curic,D (2191) Mali Losinj 2016 9.Ng5 9.Nf4 e6 10.d5 9...e6!= 10.Qf3 Don't go for 10.Bb5+? c6-+ 10...Nh6?
10...Nf6= 11.Bb5+ c6 12.Nxf6+ 12.e5? exd5 13.Be2 dxe5-+ 12...Qxf6 11.Nf4!+- aiming for Nfxe6! Nf5? 11...Qd7± is tougher. 12.d5 exd5 13.Nxd5 0-0 12.Nxf7! Qe7 13.Nxh8 Bxh8 14.Nxe6 Nxe3 15.fxe3 Nc6 16.0-0 Kd7 17.Qh3
White threatens Nc5+ and mate. 17...Nd8 18.Nc5+ Kc6 19.Bd5+ Kb6 20.Nxb7 Nxb7 21.Rf7 Qg5 22.Qd7 Qxe3+ 23.Kh1 Precision: White = 75%, Black = 23%. 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Kosteniuk,A2552Ivanova,T21251–02017B06European-ch Rapid Women 20171
Kosteniuk,A2552Ivanova,T21251–02017B06European-ch Rapid Women 20171
Stefanova,A2506Kosc,R19901–02017A81European-ch Rapid Women 20171
Gunina,V2502Kolba,A19891–02017B30European-ch Rapid Women 20171
Sebag,M2495Narva,T21271–02017C41European-ch Rapid Women 20171
Goryachkina,A2478Pribylova,S19720–12017B50European-ch Rapid Women 20171
Arakhamia-Grant,K2369Jose Polanco,K18801–02017B37European-ch Rapid Women 20171
Dengler,D2025Muzychuk,A25760–12017A80European-ch Rapid Women 20171
Narva,R1995Dzagnidze,N25200–12017B20European-ch Rapid Women 20171
Horvath,M1991Lagno,K25410–12017D85European-ch Rapid Women 20171
Sekhposjan,M1974Skripchenko,A23990–12017A16European-ch Rapid Women 20171
Kordzadze,N1928Paehtz,E24530–12017A10European-ch Rapid Women 20171
Olsson,L1735Pogonina,N24660–12017C68European-ch Rapid Women 20171
Muzychuk,A2576Maisuradze,N22401–02017B28European-ch Rapid Women 20172
Lagno,K2541Szczepkowska,K24061–02017C84European-ch Rapid Women 20172
Dzagnidze,N2520Haussernot,C21691–02017D33European-ch Rapid Women 20172
Pogonina,N2466Sebag,M24950–12017D47European-ch Rapid Women 20172
Paehtz,E2453Boric,E21761–02017A80European-ch Rapid Women 20172
Skripchenko,A2399Choisy,M21621–02017B51European-ch Rapid Women 20172
Doluhanova,E2328Stefanova,A25060–12017C47European-ch Rapid Women 20172
Collas,S2288Gunina,V25020–12017A30European-ch Rapid Women 20172
Guichard,P2285Kosteniuk,A2552½–½2017A20European-ch Rapid Women 20172
Narva,M2211Arakhamia-Grant,K23691–02017B40European-ch Rapid Women 20172
Leconte,M2208Goryachkina,A24780–12017B02European-ch Rapid Women 20172
Agababean,N2161Gvanceladze,A22961–02017D10European-ch Rapid Women 20172
Kosteniuk,A2552Narva,M22110–12017B52European-ch Rapid Women 20173
Stefanova,A2506Kashlinskaya,A2455½–½2017A49European-ch Rapid Women 20173
Gunina,V2502Girya,O25051–02017B10European-ch Rapid Women 20173
Sebag,M2495Kulon,K23581–02017C73European-ch Rapid Women 20173
Socko,M2479Lagno,K25410–12017B00European-ch Rapid Women 20173
Goryachkina,A2478Cornette,D24041–02017C44European-ch Rapid Women 20173
Gaponenko,I2433Dzagnidze,N2520½–½2017B28European-ch Rapid Women 20173
Turova,I2422Paasikangas-Tella,J22430–12017D10European-ch Rapid Women 20173
Skripchenko,A2399Muzychuk,A2576½–½2017B31European-ch Rapid Women 20173
Milliet,S2377Paehtz,E2453½–½2017C50European-ch Rapid Women 20173
Sirotkina,N2175Savina,A23500–12017A41European-ch Rapid Women 20173
Ivanova,T2125Pogonina,N24660–12017D37European-ch Rapid Women 20173
Muzychuk,A2576Kashlinskaya,A24551–02017C11European-ch Rapid Women 20174
Lagno,K2541Sebag,M2495½–½2017B90European-ch Rapid Women 20174
Dzagnidze,N2520Milliet,S23771–02017A37European-ch Rapid Women 20174
Girya,O2505Choisy,M2162½–½2017E73European-ch Rapid Women 20174
Pogonina,N2466Gunina,V25020–12017E10European-ch Rapid Women 20174
Paehtz,E2453Gaponenko,I2433½–½2017D00European-ch Rapid Women 20174
Cornette,D2404Zvereva,M21541–02017B24European-ch Rapid Women 20174
Savina,A2350Stefanova,A25061–02017D45European-ch Rapid Women 20174
Guichard,P2285Skripchenko,A23990–12017A15European-ch Rapid Women 20174
Paasikangas-Tella,J2243Arakhamia-Grant,K23691–02017A48European-ch Rapid Women 20174
Narva,M2211Goryachkina,A24780–12017B03European-ch Rapid Women 20174
Agababean,N2161Socko,M24790–12017A46European-ch Rapid Women 20174
Gunina,V2502Goryachkina,A24781–02017C01European-ch Rapid Women 20175
Sebag,M2495Muzychuk,A2576½–½2017B30European-ch Rapid Women 20175
Socko,M2479Savina,A23501–02017B00European-ch Rapid Women 20175
Kashlinskaya,A2455Doluhanova,E23280–12017E47European-ch Rapid Women 20175
Gaponenko,I2433Collas,S22881–02017B07European-ch Rapid Women 20175
Szczepkowska,K2406Pogonina,N2466½–½2017D37European-ch Rapid Women 20175
Skripchenko,A2399Lagno,K2541½–½2017C47European-ch Rapid Women 20175
Dornbusch,T2302Narva,M22111–02017D53European-ch Rapid Women 20175
Gvanceladze,A2296Kulon,K23581–02017C68European-ch Rapid Women 20175
Paasikangas-Tella,J2243Dzagnidze,N25200–12017A46European-ch Rapid Women 20175
Maisuradze,N2240Paehtz,E2453½–½2017D02European-ch Rapid Women 20175
Haussernot,C2169Cornette,D24040–12017C41European-ch Rapid Women 20175
Muzychuk,A2576Socko,M2479½–½2017B18European-ch Rapid Women 20176
Kosteniuk,A2552Maisuradze,N22401–02017B22European-ch Rapid Women 20176
Lagno,K2541Dornbusch,T23021–02017C84European-ch Rapid Women 20176
Dzagnidze,N2520Gunina,V2502½–½2017A05European-ch Rapid Women 20176
Girya,O2505Sirotkina,N21751–02017A56European-ch Rapid Women 20176
Goryachkina,A2478Gvanceladze,A22961–02017B18European-ch Rapid Women 20176
Pogonina,N2466Gaponenko,I24331–02017E04European-ch Rapid Women 20176
Paehtz,E2453Paasikangas-Tella,J22431–02017B01European-ch Rapid Women 20176
Cornette,D2404Sebag,M2495½–½2017B53European-ch Rapid Women 20176
Savina,A2350Milliet,S2377½–½2017A50European-ch Rapid Women 20176
Doluhanova,E2328Skripchenko,A23990–12017A45European-ch Rapid Women 20176
Guichard,P2285Turova,I24221–02017E19European-ch Rapid Women 20176
Girya,O2505Muzychuk,A2576½–½2017A81European-ch Rapid Women 20177
Gunina,V2502Lagno,K25411–02017B53European-ch Rapid Women 20177
Sebag,M2495Guichard,P22850–12017B06European-ch Rapid Women 20177
Socko,M2479Paehtz,E2453½–½2017B28European-ch Rapid Women 20177
Pogonina,N2466Dzagnidze,N25201–02017D30European-ch Rapid Women 20177
Gaponenko,I2433Doluhanova,E2328½–½2017B22European-ch Rapid Women 20177
Szczepkowska,K2406Kosteniuk,A2552½–½2017E10European-ch Rapid Women 20177
Skripchenko,A2399Goryachkina,A2478½–½2017B04European-ch Rapid Women 20177
Milliet,S2377Narva,M2211½–½2017B30European-ch Rapid Women 20177
Arakhamia-Grant,K2369Cornette,D24041–02017C55European-ch Rapid Women 20177
Dornbusch,T2302Collas,S22881–02017A46European-ch Rapid Women 20177
Haussernot,C2169Savina,A23500–12017C41European-ch Rapid Women 20177
Muzychuk,A2576Dornbusch,T23021–02017B04European-ch Rapid Women 20178
Kosteniuk,A2552Paasikangas-Tella,J22431–02017B01European-ch Rapid Women 20178
Lagno,K2541Girya,O25051–02017B18European-ch Rapid Women 20178
Dzagnidze,N2520Socko,M24790–12017A13European-ch Rapid Women 20178
Goryachkina,A2478Pogonina,N24661–02017C45European-ch Rapid Women 20178
Kashlinskaya,A2455Szczepkowska,K24061–02017E52European-ch Rapid Women 20178
Paehtz,E2453Skripchenko,A23991–02017A41European-ch Rapid Women 20178
Kulon,K2358Turova,I24221–02017A20European-ch Rapid Women 20178
Savina,A2350Arakhamia-Grant,K23691–02017E90European-ch Rapid Women 20178
Guichard,P2285Gunina,V25021–02017A05European-ch Rapid Women 20178
Maisuradze,N2240Sebag,M24950–12017D02European-ch Rapid Women 20178
Narva,M2211Gaponenko,I24330–12017B67European-ch Rapid Women 20178
Girya,O2505Doluhanova,E23281–02017E11European-ch Rapid Women 20179
Gunina,V2502Muzychuk,A25760–12017D84European-ch Rapid Women 20179
Sebag,M2495Kashlinskaya,A2455½–½2017C07European-ch Rapid Women 20179
Socko,M2479Kulon,K2358½–½2017C59European-ch Rapid Women 20179
Goryachkina,A2478Guichard,P2285½–½2017C44European-ch Rapid Women 20179
Pogonina,N2466Lagno,K25410–12017A48European-ch Rapid Women 20179
Gaponenko,I2433Kosteniuk,A25520–12017C47European-ch Rapid Women 20179
Skripchenko,A2399Cornette,D2404½–½2017A05European-ch Rapid Women 20179
Arakhamia-Grant,K2369Collas,S22880–12017C41European-ch Rapid Women 20179
Savina,A2350Paehtz,E24531–02017D20European-ch Rapid Women 20179
Boric,E2176Dzagnidze,N25200–12017B53European-ch Rapid Women 20179
Haussernot,C2169Stefanova,A2506½–½2017C54European-ch Rapid Women 20179
Muzychuk,A2576Goryachkina,A24781–02017C11European-ch Rapid Women 201710
Kosteniuk,A2552Skripchenko,A23991–02017C41European-ch Rapid Women 201710
Lagno,K2541Savina,A23501–02017C41European-ch Rapid Women 201710
Dzagnidze,N2520Girya,O25050–12017D10European-ch Rapid Women 201710
Stefanova,A2506Milliet,S23771–02017D05European-ch Rapid Women 201710
Kashlinskaya,A2455Pogonina,N24660–12017D35European-ch Rapid Women 201710
Paehtz,E2453Dornbusch,T2302½–½2017B03European-ch Rapid Women 201710
Szczepkowska,K2406Gaponenko,I24330–12017D45European-ch Rapid Women 201710
Cornette,D2404Sirotkina,N21751–02017B01European-ch Rapid Women 201710
Kulon,K2358Gunina,V25021–02017A15European-ch Rapid Women 201710
Collas,S2288Sebag,M2495½–½2017A11European-ch Rapid Women 201710
Guichard,P2285Socko,M24791–02017A13European-ch Rapid Women 201710
Lagno,K2541Kosteniuk,A2552½–½2017C42European-ch Rapid Women 201711
Gunina,V2502Savina,A2350½–½2017B31European-ch Rapid Women 201711
Sebag,M2495Gvanceladze,A22960–12017B12European-ch Rapid Women 201711
Socko,M2479Cornette,D24041–02017C59European-ch Rapid Women 201711
Goryachkina,A2478Kulon,K23581–02017C44European-ch Rapid Women 201711
Pogonina,N2466Girya,O2505½–½2017E09European-ch Rapid Women 201711
Gaponenko,I2433Stefanova,A2506½–½2017C60European-ch Rapid Women 201711
Skripchenko,A2399Collas,S2288½–½2017C80European-ch Rapid Women 201711
Dornbusch,T2302Dzagnidze,N25200–12017A46European-ch Rapid Women 201711
Guichard,P2285Muzychuk,A25760–12017A37European-ch Rapid Women 201711
Narva,M2211Kashlinskaya,A2455½–½2017C02European-ch Rapid Women 201711
Haussernot,C2169Paehtz,E24530–12017C54European-ch Rapid Women 201711

The Modern Pirc is actually a mixture of the Caro-Kann and the Pirc. In many lines Black combines the ideas of the classical Pirc in which the fianchettoed bishop is important with the Caro-Kann idea to fight for the center with c6-d5.

Kosteniuk tops Russian blitz trio

Alexandra Kosteniuk was the top seed in the Rapid category, yet Anna Muzychuk won. The Blitz Championship reversed the roles. Anna Muzychuk was the Elo favorite, by some distance, ahead of Kateryna Lahno. Kosteniuk was ranked just seventh, and yet she won the title.

This time it was a 13 rounds Swiss (just two more than the rapid competition) played at a rate of 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move for each game. The top places went to the troika of Russian champions Alexandra Kosteniuk, Kateryna Lagano and Valentina Gunina.

Kosteniuk took 10½ out of 13 possible points and only dropped a single game.

Video highlights

Final Standings

Rg. Name Pkt.  Wtg1 
1 Kosteniuk Alexandra 10,5 91,5
2 Lagno Kateryna 10,0 92,0
3 Gunina Valentina 9,5 97,0
4 Haussernot Cecile 9,0 96,5
5 Paehtz Elisabeth 9,0 87,5
6 Dzagnidze Nana 8,5 93,0
7 Stefanova Antoaneta 8,5 90,5
8 Gaponenko Inna 8,5 89,5
9 Sebag Marie 8,5 88,5
10 Kulon Klaudia 8,5 88,0
11 Kashlinskaya Alina 8,5 85,5
12 Turova Irina 8,5 82,5
13 Goryachkina Aleksandra 8,5 82,0
14 Srebrnic Ana 8,5 76,5
15 Muzychuk Anna 8,0 92,5
16 Savina Anastasia 8,0 89,5
17 Szczepkowska Karina 8,0 88,0
18 Skripchenko Almira 7,5 90,5
19 Collas Silvia 7,5 87,0
20 Pogonina Natalija 7,5 86,5
21 Girya Olga 7,5 86,0
22 Milliet Sophie 7,5 84,5
23 Leconte Maria 7,5 84,0
24 Narva Mai 7,5 84,0
25 Arakhamia-Grant Ketevan 7,5 81,0
26 Cornette Deimante 7,5 77,5
27 Navrotescu Andreea-Cristiana 7,5 73,0
28 Socko Monika 7,0 88,0
29 Cramling Pia 7,0 84,0
30 Maisuradze Nino 7,0 81,0
31 Narva Triin 7,0 77,5
32 Dornbusch Tatiana 7,0 75,5
33 Gvanceladze Anna 7,0 75,5
34 Zvereva Marija 7,0 74,0
35 Froewis Annika 7,0 70,5
36 Doluhanova Evgeniya 6,5 86,0
37 Sirotkina Nina 6,5 82,5
38 Muetsch Annmarie 6,5 80,0
39 Soubirou Oriane 6,5 77,0
40 Lomandong Noela-Joyce 6,5 73,0
41 Agababean Naira 6,5 70,0
42 Dengler Dijana 6,5 66,5

All games

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.0-0 0-0 6.d3 d6 7.Ne2 Ne7 8.c3 Ba5 9.Ng3 C49: Four Knights: 4 Bb5 Bb4 c6 10.Ba4 Ng6 11.h3 11.d4 Re8 12.Bc2 Bb6 13.Be3 d5 14.dxe5 Nxe4 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Bxe4 Nxe5 17.Nxe5 Rxe5 18.Bxb6 Qxb6 19.Re1 Bf5 20.Bxf5 Rxf5 1/2-1/2 (43) Wei,Y (2738)-Naiditsch,A (2712) Danzhou 2017 11...h6 12.d4 Be6 LiveBook: 3 Games 13.Re1 exd4N Predecessor: 13...Qc7 14.Bd2 Rad8 15.Qc1 Kh7 16.Bc2 Rfe8 0-1 (48) Ojas, K (2351)-Leenhouts,K (2486) Dieren 2017 14.Nxd4 Re8 15.f4 Threatens to win with f5. Bd7 16.Bb3 Bb6 ...c5 is the strong threat. 17.Kh1 Qc7 18.Bd2 18.Bc2 18...a5 Black should try 18...c5= 19.Ndf5 Bxf5 20.exf5 Rxe1+ 21.Qxe1 Re8 19.Qc2 19.Bc2 19...Nh4 20.a4 20.Qd3 stays ahead. 20...Ba7? 20...c5! 21.Nb5 Bxb5 22.axb5 c4 21.Re2 Re7 22.Rae1 Rae8 23.Qd3 b6 24.Bc1 Bb8 25.Bd2 Ba7! 26.Bc2 Bb8 27.Nf3 27.c4+- 27...Nxf3 28.Qxf3 28.gxf3 Hoping for e5! Bxh3 29.Rh2 28...Ba7? 28...b5± 29.c4+- b5
30.b3 30.Bc3!+- has better winning chances. Black must now prevent Bxf6. Nh7 31.cxb5 30...bxa4
30...Bd4± 31.bxa4 31.Bc3!+- and the rest is easy. 31...Bc5? 31...Bd4± might work better. 32.Bc3 Rb8? 32...Re6 33.Qd3 Rd8 34.Bxf6 Rxf6 33.Bxf6 gxf6 34.Nh5 Threatening mate with Qg3+. Bd4 35.Qg3+ White mates. Kf8 36.Qg7+ Ke8 37.Qg8# Precision: White = 42%, Black = 20%. 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Muzychuk,A2576Froewis,A20561–02017C49European-ch Blitz Women 20171
Kosteniuk,A2552Kordzadze,N1928½–½2017C24European-ch Blitz Women 20171
Gunina,V2502Soubirou,O20771–02017C00European-ch Blitz Women 20171
Sebag,M2495Lomandong Noela-Joyce20621–02017B06European-ch Blitz Women 20171
Gaponenko,I2433Kolba,A19891–02017B30European-ch Blitz Women 20171
Skripchenko,A2399Pribylova,S19721–02017B51European-ch Blitz Women 20171
Uta,A2141Dzagnidze,N25200–12017B90European-ch Blitz Women 20171
Narva,T2127Arakhamia-Grant,K23690–12017B31European-ch Blitz Women 20171
Nicoara,M2097Lagno,K25410–12017D91European-ch Blitz Women 20171
Mira,H2064Stefanova,A25060–12017D15European-ch Blitz Women 20171
Dengler,D2025Paehtz,E24530–12017A41European-ch Blitz Women 20171
Narva,R1995Goryachkina,A24780–12017B02European-ch Blitz Women 20171
Lagno,K2541Milliet,S23771–02017C41European-ch Blitz Women 20172
Dzagnidze,N2520Cornette,D24041–02017A05European-ch Blitz Women 20172
Stefanova,A2506Narva,M22111–02017D05European-ch Blitz Women 20172
Goryachkina,A2478Sirotkina,N2175½–½2017B01European-ch Blitz Women 20172
Paehtz,E2453Doluhanova,E23280–12017A01European-ch Blitz Women 20172
Cramling,P2450Sebag,M24950–12017D11European-ch Blitz Women 20172
Arakhamia-Grant,K2369Leconte,M2208½–½2017C11European-ch Blitz Women 20172
Savina,A2350Gunina,V25020–12017E48European-ch Blitz Women 20172
Collas,S2288Muzychuk,A25760–12017A10European-ch Blitz Women 20172
Paasikangas-Tella,J2243Kosteniuk,A2552½–½2017A46European-ch Blitz Women 20172
Maisuradze,N2240Gaponenko,I24331–02017D02European-ch Blitz Women 20172
Muetsch,A2133Skripchenko,A23990–12017C41European-ch Blitz Women 20172
Muzychuk,A2576Kashlinskaya,A24550–12017C11European-ch Blitz Women 20173
Kosteniuk,A2552Szczepkowska,K24061–02017C55European-ch Blitz Women 20173
Girya,O2505Stefanova,A2506½–½2017D11European-ch Blitz Women 20173
Gunina,V2502Turova,I2422½–½2017C50European-ch Blitz Women 20173
Sebag,M2495Kulon,K23580–12017C90European-ch Blitz Women 20173
Socko,M2479Lagno,K25410–12017C54European-ch Blitz Women 20173
Pogonina,N2466Maisuradze,N22401–02017A61European-ch Blitz Women 20173
Skripchenko,A2399Dornbusch,T23021–02017B04European-ch Blitz Women 20173
Doluhanova,E2328Dzagnidze,N2520½–½2017B90European-ch Blitz Women 20173
Leconte,M2208Goryachkina,A24781–02017C00European-ch Blitz Women 20173
Sirotkina,N2175Arakhamia-Grant,K23691–02017A48European-ch Blitz Women 20173
Haussernot,C2169Paasikangas-Tella,J22431–02017B01European-ch Blitz Women 20173
Lagno,K2541Pogonina,N2466½–½2017C78European-ch Blitz Women 20174
Dzagnidze,N2520Girya,O25051–02017A13European-ch Blitz Women 20174
Stefanova,A2506Doluhanova,E23281–02017D05European-ch Blitz Women 20174
Kashlinskaya,A2455Skripchenko,A23990–12017A41European-ch Blitz Women 20174
Paehtz,E2453Sirotkina,N2175½–½2017B01European-ch Blitz Women 20174
Turova,I2422Leconte,M22080–12017A91European-ch Blitz Women 20174
Kulon,K2358Gunina,V25020–12017A14European-ch Blitz Women 20174
Maisuradze,N2240Muzychuk,A25760–12017A48European-ch Blitz Women 20174
Navrotescu,A2225Gaponenko,I24330–12017A13European-ch Blitz Women 20174
Srebrnic,A2196Socko,M24790–12017A05European-ch Blitz Women 20174
Haussernot,C2169Kosteniuk,A25521–02017B45European-ch Blitz Women 20174
Muetsch,A2133Sebag,M24950–12017B90European-ch Blitz Women 20174
Muzychuk,A2576Kulon,K23580–12017C48European-ch Blitz Women 20175
Kosteniuk,A2552Dornbusch,T23021–02017C24European-ch Blitz Women 20175
Gunina,V2502Haussernot,C2169½–½2017B53European-ch Blitz Women 20175
Sebag,M2495Collas,S2288½–½2017C41European-ch Blitz Women 20175
Socko,M2479Cramling,P24501–02017B51European-ch Blitz Women 20175
Pogonina,N2466Stefanova,A25060–12017D10European-ch Blitz Women 20175
Gaponenko,I2433Savina,A2350½–½2017B07European-ch Blitz Women 20175
Skripchenko,A2399Lagno,K25410–12017C50European-ch Blitz Women 20175
Milliet,S2377Paehtz,E24530–12017B06European-ch Blitz Women 20175
Doluhanova,E2328Goryachkina,A2478½–½2017D00European-ch Blitz Women 20175
Narva,M2211Kashlinskaya,A24550–12017C65European-ch Blitz Women 20175
Leconte,M2208Dzagnidze,N25200–12017B90European-ch Blitz Women 20175
Lagno,K2541Stefanova,A25061–02017C60European-ch Blitz Women 20176
Dzagnidze,N2520Skripchenko,A23990–12017A37European-ch Blitz Women 20176
Goryachkina,A2478Nicoara,M20971–02017B03European-ch Blitz Women 20176
Kashlinskaya,A2455Gunina,V25020–12017E47European-ch Blitz Women 20176
Paehtz,E2453Haussernot,C21690–12017A46European-ch Blitz Women 20176
Turova,I2422Girya,O2505½–½2017D31European-ch Blitz Women 20176
Szczepkowska,K2406Sebag,M2495½–½2017D45European-ch Blitz Women 20176
Kulon,K2358Socko,M24790–12017A15European-ch Blitz Women 20176
Savina,A2350Pogonina,N24661–02017D35European-ch Blitz Women 20176
Collas,S2288Kosteniuk,A25520–12017A28European-ch Blitz Women 20176
Leconte,M2208Gaponenko,I24330–12017B53European-ch Blitz Women 20176
Muetsch,A2133Muzychuk,A25760–12017B01European-ch Blitz Women 20176
Muzychuk,A2576Szczepkowska,K24061–02017A02European-ch Blitz Women 20177
Kosteniuk,A2552Savina,A23501–02017B07European-ch Blitz Women 20177
Stefanova,A2506Gaponenko,I2433½–½2017D04European-ch Blitz Women 20177
Girya,O2505Paehtz,E2453½–½2017A40European-ch Blitz Women 20177
Gunina,V2502Lagno,K2541½–½2017B53European-ch Blitz Women 20177
Sebag,M2495Gvanceladze,A22961–02017B12European-ch Blitz Women 20177
Socko,M2479Maisuradze,N22401–02017B30European-ch Blitz Women 20177
Cramling,P2450Kashlinskaya,A2455½–½2017A13European-ch Blitz Women 20177
Skripchenko,A2399Kulon,K2358½–½2017C55European-ch Blitz Women 20177
Milliet,S2377Goryachkina,A24780–12017B04European-ch Blitz Women 20177
Doluhanova,E2328Turova,I2422½–½2017C47European-ch Blitz Women 20177
Haussernot,C2169Dzagnidze,N25200–12017B42European-ch Blitz Women 20177
Lagno,K2541Kosteniuk,A25520–12017B62European-ch Blitz Women 20178
Stefanova,A2506Haussernot,C21690–12017A46European-ch Blitz Women 20178
Girya,O2505Pogonina,N2466½–½2017D37European-ch Blitz Women 20178
Goryachkina,A2478Sebag,M24951–02017B50European-ch Blitz Women 20178
Kashlinskaya,A2455Doluhanova,E23281–02017E47European-ch Blitz Women 20178
Paehtz,E2453Socko,M24791–02017A46European-ch Blitz Women 20178
Gaponenko,I2433Muzychuk,A25760–12017B40European-ch Blitz Women 20178
Turova,I2422Cramling,P2450½–½2017E32European-ch Blitz Women 20178
Szczepkowska,K2406Leconte,M22081–02017E11European-ch Blitz Women 20178
Skripchenko,A2399Gunina,V25020–12017C65European-ch Blitz Women 20178
Kulon,K2358Dzagnidze,N25200–12017A20European-ch Blitz Women 20178
Savina,A2350Arakhamia-Grant,K23691–02017E90European-ch Blitz Women 20178
Muzychuk,A2576Skripchenko,A2399½–½2017B00European-ch Blitz Women 20179
Dzagnidze,N2520Lagno,K25410–12017A37European-ch Blitz Women 20179
Gunina,V2502Kosteniuk,A25520–12017E18European-ch Blitz Women 20179
Sebag,M2495Maisuradze,N22401–02017B28European-ch Blitz Women 20179
Socko,M2479Sirotkina,N21751–02017B01European-ch Blitz Women 20179
Pogonina,N2466Muetsch,A2133½–½2017E11European-ch Blitz Women 20179
Szczepkowska,K2406Stefanova,A25060–12017D45European-ch Blitz Women 20179
Milliet,S2377Gaponenko,I24330–12017B54European-ch Blitz Women 20179
Kulon,K2358Paehtz,E24530–12017A10European-ch Blitz Women 20179
Savina,A2350Kashlinskaya,A2455½–½2017E48European-ch Blitz Women 20179
Narva,M2211Turova,I24221–02017C63European-ch Blitz Women 20179
Haussernot,C2169Goryachkina,A24781–02017B03European-ch Blitz Women 20179
Kosteniuk,A2552Muzychuk,A25761–02017C54European-ch Blitz Women 201710
Lagno,K2541Haussernot,C21691–02017B90European-ch Blitz Women 201710
Dzagnidze,N2520Gunina,V25020–12017A15European-ch Blitz Women 201710
Stefanova,A2506Savina,A23501–02017A41European-ch Blitz Women 201710
Goryachkina,A2478Narva,M22111–02017B50European-ch Blitz Women 201710
Kashlinskaya,A2455Pogonina,N24660–12017D35European-ch Blitz Women 201710
Paehtz,E2453Sebag,M24950–12017D00European-ch Blitz Women 201710
Gaponenko,I2433Cramling,P24501–02017B30European-ch Blitz Women 201710
Arakhamia-Grant,K2369Kulon,K23581–02017C55European-ch Blitz Women 201710
Collas,S2288Shivacheva,D19571–02017A25European-ch Blitz Women 201710
Sirotkina,N2175Skripchenko,A23990–12017A41European-ch Blitz Women 201710
Muetsch,A2133Socko,M24790–12017B18European-ch Blitz Women 201710
Muzychuk,A2576Lagno,K2541½–½2017C68European-ch Blitz Women 201711
Girya,O2505Maisuradze,N22401–02017A61European-ch Blitz Women 201711
Gunina,V2502Stefanova,A25061–02017C50European-ch Blitz Women 201711
Sebag,M2495Kosteniuk,A2552½–½2017C42European-ch Blitz Women 201711
Socko,M2479Goryachkina,A2478½–½2017B03European-ch Blitz Women 201711
Pogonina,N2466Dzagnidze,N25200–12017D25European-ch Blitz Women 201711
Cramling,P2450Kolba,A19891–02017D26European-ch Blitz Women 201711
Szczepkowska,K2406Kashlinskaya,A24550–12017C00European-ch Blitz Women 201711
Skripchenko,A2399Paehtz,E24530–12017B28European-ch Blitz Women 201711
Kulon,K2358Collas,S22881–02017A20European-ch Blitz Women 201711
Savina,A2350Turova,I24220–12017A81European-ch Blitz Women 201711
Haussernot,C2169Gaponenko,I24330–12017B67European-ch Blitz Women 201711
Kosteniuk,A2552Gaponenko,I2433½–½2017B76European-ch Blitz Women 201712
Lagno,K2541Collas,S22881–02017C80European-ch Blitz Women 201712
Dzagnidze,N2520Sebag,M24951–02017D10European-ch Blitz Women 201712
Stefanova,A2506Cramling,P24501–02017A46European-ch Blitz Women 201712
Goryachkina,A2478Muzychuk,A2576½–½2017C44European-ch Blitz Women 201712
Kashlinskaya,A2455Girya,O25051–02017D31European-ch Blitz Women 201712
Paehtz,E2453Gunina,V25021–02017B13European-ch Blitz Women 201712
Turova,I2422Socko,M24791–02017E32European-ch Blitz Women 201712
Navrotescu,A2225Narva,M22110–12017A21European-ch Blitz Women 201712
Srebrnic,A2196Pogonina,N24661–02017D02European-ch Blitz Women 201712
Haussernot,C2169Skripchenko,A23991–02017C41European-ch Blitz Women 201712
Muetsch,A2133Kulon,K23580–12017C55European-ch Blitz Women 201712
Muzychuk,A2576Haussernot,C21690–12017B51European-ch Blitz Women 201713
Kosteniuk,A2552Dzagnidze,N25201–02017B42European-ch Blitz Women 201713
Girya,O2505Leconte,M2208½–½2017A84European-ch Blitz Women 201713
Sebag,M2495Narva,M22111–02017B53European-ch Blitz Women 201713
Socko,M2479Savina,A23500–12017B31European-ch Blitz Women 201713
Kashlinskaya,A2455Stefanova,A2506½–½2017D15European-ch Blitz Women 201713
Paehtz,E2453Lagno,K2541½–½2017A01European-ch Blitz Women 201713
Gaponenko,I2433Gunina,V25020–12017C67European-ch Blitz Women 201713
Turova,I2422Goryachkina,A2478½–½2017D35European-ch Blitz Women 201713
Kulon,K2358Cornette,D24041–02017A10European-ch Blitz Women 201713
Collas,S2288Srebrnic,A21960–12017A10European-ch Blitz Women 201713
Narva,T2127Szczepkowska,K24060–12017C25European-ch Blitz Women 201713

Like a fine wine, the Four Knights only improves with age, establishing itself as an extremely effective way of meeting 1...e5. On the outside this opening seems deceptively quiet, yet apparently natural moves can often lead to some devastating attacks.

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Translation from German: Macauley Peterson

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André Schulz started working for ChessBase in 1991 and is an editor of ChessBase News.

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