Nicosia GP: Three co-leaders as Wagner loses to Mammadzada

by André Schulz
5/26/2023 – Dinara Wagner’s undefeated run came to an end in the ninth round of the Women’s Grand Prix in Nicosia. She lost her game with black against Gunay Mammadzada, but remains atop the standings, as she is now sharing the lead with Harika Dronavalli and Tan Zhongyi. Aleksandra Goryachkina, who is in the race to qualify for the Candidates, lost to Bella Khotenashvili. Josie Christodoulou, the Gender Equality Commissioner in Cyprus, made the ceremonial first move. | Photo: FIDE / Mark Livshitz
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Khotenashvili bests Goryachkina

Dinara Wagner’s undefeated run has come to an end in Nicosia. After getting a bit lucky in some games, benefiting from mistakes by her opponents or holding bad positions successfully, she suffered her first defeat in the ninth round of the Women’s Grand Prix. Facing Gunay Mamadzada, the German WGM found herself in a passive position, lost a pawn and could not escape with a draw in an endgame with bishops of opposite colours.

Dinara Wagner

Dinara Wagner | Photo: FIDE / Mark Livshitz

Gunay Mammadzada

Gunay Mamadzada | Photo: FIDE / Mark Livshitz

Aleksandra Goraychkina entered the event with good chances of qualifying for the Women’s Candidates Tournament, but after losing her game against Georgia’s Bella Khotenashvili, she is in danger of being overtaken by Alexandra Kosteniuk in the GP series’ overall standings.

Goryachkina defended a bad endgame with queens and minor pieces for quite a while, but had to throw in the towel on move 86.

Bella Khotenashvili, Aleksandra Goryachkina

Bella Khotenashvili facing Aleksandra Goryachkina | Photo: FIDE / Mark Livshitz

The remaining games ended drawn. With their half points, Tan Zhongyi and Harika Dronavalli caught up with Dinara Wagner at the top of the standings.

FIDE Women's Grand Prix 2023

The playing hall | Photo: FIDE / Mark Livshitz

Results - Round 9

Standings - Round 9

All games

In this Videocourse we deal with different aspects of the middlegame which are important to study and improve your general understanding of chess structures.

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Topics: Gunay Mammadzada, Women's Grand Prix Nicosia 2023
André Schulz started working for ChessBase in 1991 and is an editor of ChessBase News.