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There has been no lack of entertainment in the fourth edition of the Cairns Cup. In the seventh round, 4 out of 5 games ended decisively, with Tan Zhongyi and Alexandra Kosteniuk grabbing wins to become the clear frontrunners in the race for tournament victory.
Nonetheless, the three players standing a half point behind second-placed Kosteniuk still have chances of winning the event with two rounds to go. Sharing third place are Mariya Muzychuk, Nana Dzagnidze and Harika Dronavalli.
It could have been a round with all decisive results on Thursday, had Anna Muzychuk made the most of her outside passed pawn while playing white against Harika.
Black threatens to give a check from f3, but she must be careful not to allow White to promote her passer on the h-file. The position is winning for White after 37.h7 or even after the more cautious 37.Re2. However, Muzychuk went for 37.Rd8 Kc7 38.Rg8, apparently manoeuvring skilfully to make way for her pawn.
The problem for White in this variation is that after 38...Rd2 39.h7, Black gets to escape with a draw by suddenly giving perpetual check.
39...Nf3+ must be followed by 40.Kf1, since 40.Kh1 fails to 40...Rh2#. And Black can give checks endlessly with 41.Nh2+ Kg1 42.Nf3+, etcetera.
The decisive results of the round saw Tan beating Elisabeth Paehtz in style, Alexandra Kosteniuk outplaying Anna Zatonskih in a wild struggle, Nana Dzagnidze getting the better of Irina Krush and Mariya Muzychuk scoring a 38-move victory over Alice Lee.
Results - Round 7
Mariya Muzychuk | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Analysis by André Schulz
A smiling Tan Zhongyi | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Analysis by André Schulz
Anna Zatonskih v. Alexandra Kosteniuk | Photo: Lennart Ootes
