European Women's Ch: Kashlinskaya tops five-way tie

Stefanova takes five straight to join winners

Russia's Alina Kashlinskaya had led the field quite confidently until the eighth round, but she stumbled in round nine, thanks to poor handling of the endgame against Inna Gaponenko. With 7½ points, Gaponenko was in sole first place. But in Monday's final round eleven, it was Gaponenko's turn to falter, allowing Kashlinskaya, Marie Sebag, Elisabeth Paehtz and Antoaneta Stefanova to pull equal.

After round nine, Marie Sebag from France trailed in second with 7 points after beating Bela Khotenashvili (Georgia). Another half point back was the German number one, Elisabeth Paehtz, who won her game against Polish Zawadzka.

Top results of Round 9

A Classical Guide to the French Defence

This DVD gives you the key to start out with the French Defence. GM Yannick Pelletier is a specialist of this opening, and believes that the most efficient way to understand its ideas, plans, and typical structures is to study classical lines.

Inna Gaponenko took the sole lead

In the tenth round, Gaponenko and Sebag drew on board one, giving Gaponenko a half point lead heading into the final round. Her qualification to the World Cup was assured.

Kashlinskaya bounced back from her loss by beating fellow-Russian IM Anastasia Bodnaruk in a rook and bishop endgame.

Antoaneta Stefanova scored her fourth win in a row, beating IM Maria Guseva with Black.

Material is equal, but White's rook on a2 is awkwardly placed in defence. Guseva tried to activate it at the cost of the b2 pawn with 32.♖a1. Now 32...♜xb2 would allow 33.♖d1, so Stefanova correctly played 32...♜ad8 first, when after 33.♖e1 ♜xb2 comes with the other rook prepared to double on the second rank. White's days are numbered.

Top results of Round 10

In Monday morning's final round, Gaponenko played a French Defence against Stefanova, who gradually built up a better position, and won a pawn, before expanding her advantage thanks to a nice tactic:

Stefanova liquidated into a winning queen ending with 30.♖xd6 ♛xd6 31.♘xf5 ♛xd3 32.♘xe7+ ♚f7 33.♕xf4.

Elisabeth Paehtz was the other player with a win on the top boards, capping a strong 3½/4 points run. She kept her wits about her in a tense rook and bishop endgame, to capitalize on a slip up from Ekaterina Atalik.

Black would be better after 51...♜d2, preparing to get behind the passed a-pawn, but Atalik tried 51...♝e5 to target the h-pawn, only to reverse course when she realized after 52.a5 that the pawn is quite quick. 52...♜d5 and the game turned in Paehtz's favour. 

How to exchange pieces

Learn to master the right exchange! Let the German WGM Elisabeth Pähtz show you how to gain a strategic winning position by exchanging pieces of equal value or to safely convert material advantage into a win.

Elisabeth Paehtz

Top results of Round 11

All players with 7½ safely qualified to the Women's World Cup.

Final standings (top 25)

All available games

Klaus Besenthal contributed reporting

Links

• European Championship for Women starts in Antalya
• Rounds 1-3: Fighting chess
• Rounds 4-6: Kashlinskaya takes the lead
• Rounds 7-8: Gaponenko catches Kashlinskaya in the lead
• Official site
• Tournament Brochure
• Full results (Chess-Results)