Half a point behind, with three rounds to go GM Cramling held the white pieces against the leading IM Atalik. It was a chance to pull ahead in the home stretch, and take her chances at first place into her own hands. She did not achieve much of an advantage out of the opening. Despite the presence of dark squared weaknesses on the black kingside, and possession of the only dark squared bishop, no good aggressive opportunities ever presented themselves. But she kept playing, and finally an opportunity did present itself. In the Q+ opposite colored Bishop endgame, Atalik failed to challenge the good squares Cramling had found for her pieces. These two pieces were able to make strong enough threats against the black king to force Atalik to sacrifice a pawn and bail out into a bishop ending, which Cramling converted without difficulty.
1.d4
Nf6
2.Nf3
e6
3.c4
d5
4.Nc3
Bb4
5.cxd5
exd5
6.Bg5
Nbd7
7.e3
c5
8.Bd3
Qa5
9.Qc2
c3 does not actually require defense but Qc2 is a useful enough move, developing and fighting for control of e4.
9...c4
10.Bf5
0-0
11.0-0
Re8
12.Nd2
g6
13.Bxd7
[another approach to the opening would be 13.Bh3
]
13...Nxd7
14.Bh4
preparation for e4 [14.e4?
Bxc3
15.bxc3
dxe4
16.Nxe4?
(16.Be3
Qd5=/+
) 16...Rxe4
17.Qxe4
Qxg5-+
]
14...Nb6
[I think black could radically prevent e4 with the further weakening 14...f5
15.a3
(a cool move would be 15.g4?!
but sadly it lacks in effectiveness. 15...Nb6=/+
(black can probably also take this pawn, but most humans would prefer Nb6 15...fxg4
16.e4
) ) 15...Bxc3
(15...Bf8?
16.b4
cxb3
17.Nxb3
Qc7
18.Bg3+/-
; 15...Bd6
16.b4
cxb3
17.Nxb3
Qc7
18.Bg3+/=
) 16.bxc3
in spite of the many kside weaknesses, it doesn't seem white has any way to get at them soon. this may be an acceptable position for black.]
15.e4
Bxc3
16.bxc3
dxe4
17.Nxe4
Nd5
[17...Bf5?
18.Nf6+
Kh8
(18...Kg7
19.Nxe8+
; 18...Kf8
19.Qd2
) 19.Qd2+-
]
18.Rae1
Bd7
[slightly preferable might be 18...Bf5
19.f3
Kg7
(19...Bxe4!?
20.fxe4
Nxc3
21.Re3
Nb5
22.Qxc4
Nd6
23.Qb3
Qb6
seems very close to equal) 20.g4
Bd7
21.Bg3
f6
is balanced 22.Nc5
Bc6
]
19.f3
Qa3
20.Qd2
Re6
21.Nc5
[the queen on a3 can defend the kingside: 21.Qh6
Qf8
]
21...Rxe1
22.Rxe1
Bc6
23.Ne4
Re8
24.Nf6+
Nxf6
25.Bxf6
Rxe1+
26.Qxe1
h6?!
[26...Qd6+/=
It seems logical to immediately challenge the Bf6 which is hemming in the black king. After this centralization of the black queen, I don't think Katya would have had too much to fear.]
27.Qe5
The white pieces have assumed extremely dominating positions. At some point white will make mate threats against the black king.
27...Qc1+?
[the white pieces must be challenged! this seems like the last chance: 27...Qf8
28.h4
Qe8+/=
and white's advantage is under control]
28.Kf2
Kh7
[black's defenses are probably inadequate now. if she tries: 28...Qd2+
29.Kg3
g5
30.h4
Qf4+
31.Qxf4
gxf4+
32.Kxf4
this endgame will probably be lost, like in the game]
29.h4!
[if 29.Bh8
Qd2+
30.Kg3
Qg5+
31.Qxg5
hxg5
32.Bf6
black is quite likely to save the endgame]
29...Qc2+
30.Kg3
on an indiffere nt move follows Bh8. black no longer has better than to make a very unfavorable exchange of queens. More even than the loss of a pawn, the white king's easy path into the center (supporting the d5 pawn) decides.
30...Qf5
31.Qxf5
gxf5
32.h5!
A doubly virtuous move! White keeps the black king from joining the white king in the center via g6. Also white nails down the Ph6, so that even if the black king eventually went to the center, white might win with Bg7.
32...b5
The black queenside pawns provide minimal counterplay. The other defense would have been:
33.a3
a5
34.Kf4
Kg8
35.Kxf5
b4
[35...Kf8
36.Ke5
b4
look at this variation a little further with the engine]
36.cxb4
axb4
37.axb4
c3
38.d5
c2
39.Bb2
Bxd5
40.b5
Kf8
41.Ke5
Be4
42.Kxe4
1-0