Gaziantep: Muzychuk falters, Gunina wins EIWCC title

by ChessBase
3/14/2012 – It was a thrilling final round. The Slovenian GM Anna Muzychuk was in the lead by a full point, but suffered a defeat at the hands of the Russian IM Valentina Gunina. At the same time a super-aggressive game by Tatiana Kosentseva allowed her to join the top group with 8.5/11 points each. Gunina won the title on tiebreak. The event continues with Rapid and Blitz, so stay tuned.

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The European Individual Women Chess Championships are being held from 2 to 13 March, 2012, in the Anatolian Hotel in Gaziantep, Turkey. The event will be followed by the European Rapid Championship and European Blitz Championship (15-18 of March). The EIWCC consists of eleven games. The rate of is 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move, starting from move one. Games start at 16:00h local time.

Organizers and prize fund: The Turkish Chess Federation, with the sponsorship and support of the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, under the auspices of the City of Gaziantep and the European Chess Union, provided a prize fund of 150,000 Euro for all three events. This is the biggest prize fund in the history of European Women's Chess events. For the first time in the chess history the European Women's Champion will get a higher prize sum, 20,500 Euros, than the Champion of the (Open or "Men's") European Individual Championship, which will be held in Plovdiv after this event.

After ten rounds of the Championship the following players were in contention for first place and the medals:

#
Sd
Ti.
 Name
Rtng
FED
Pts
Perf
BH.
BH.
wins
1
1
GM
 Muzychuk Anna
2583
SLO
8½
2707
56½
61½
7
2
8
IM
 Gunina Valentina
2511
RUS
7½
2628
57½
62
5
3
6
GM
 Kosintseva Tatiana
2513
RUS
7½
2619
56½
61
6
4
7
GM
 Sebag Marie
2512
FRA
7
2582
58
63
6
5
9
GM
 Cmilyte Viktorija
2497
LTU
7
2563
55
60
7
6
21
GM
 Hoang Thanh Trang
2438
HUN
7
2548
56
61
6
7
3
GM
 Lahno Kateryna
2546
UKR
7
2530
54
59
4
8
12
GM
 Danielian Elina
2478
ARM
7
2518
49½
53
5
9
10
IM
 Khotenashvili Bela
2490
GEO
7
2501
49
52½
6
10
2
GM
 Dzagnidze Nana
2559
GEO
7
2500
51½
54½
6

The final (eleventh) round turned out to be as thrilling as expected. All the attention naturally turned to the top boards, which would produce the medallists of the EIWCC and also decide the participants of the World Cup. GM Anna Muzychuk, was leading one point ahead of the nearest pursuers, and was the natural favourite. But she had black against her nearest rival, Russian IM Valentina Gunina.

[Event "EIWCC 2012"] [Site "Gaziantep/Turkey"] [Date "2012.03.13"] [Round "11.1"] [White "Gunina, Valentina"] [Black "Muzychuk, Anna"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D43"] [WhiteElo "2511"] [BlackElo "2583"] [PlyCount "75"] [EventDate "2012.??.??"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 g6 10. O-O Bg7 11. Re1 O-O 12. e4 e5 13. d5 {0.05/0} Rd8 {0.04/0} 14. Re3 {-0.02/0} b5 {-0.14/0} 15. dxc6 {-0.10/0} bxc4 {-0.04/0} 16. Nd5 {-0. 48/0 Black is doing fine and on her way to clinching the title (she needed just a draw).} Qd6 $2 {0.24/0 The Let's Check computers watching the game on Playchess went into mild shock.} ({They had all wanted} 16... Qe6 $1 {expecting } 17. cxd7 Rxd7 {which is quite comfortable for Black.}) 17. cxd7 {0.38/0} Bxd7 {0.30/0} 18. Nd2 {0.62/0} Bb5 {1.29/0} 19. Qc2 {1.00/0} Rab8 {0.48/0} 20. Rc3 { 0.47/0} Qa6 {0.81/0} 21. a4 {0.56/0} Bf8 {0.45/0} 22. Nf1 {0.26/0} (22. Nf3 { would have won a pawn, e.g.} Bg7 23. Nc7 Qa5 24. Nxb5 Rxb5 25. Rxc4) 22... Bc5 $2 {0.84/0} 23. Qc1 $1 {1.34/0 Attacking the undefended h-pawn. See the evaluation curve climb in the graph below the chessboard on the left.} Bc6 {2. 22/0} 24. Nf6+ {1.60/0} Kg7 {2.38/0} 25. Ng4 {1.93/0} g5 {1.37/0} 26. Rxc4 {1. 57/0} Rd1 {1.69/0} 27. Qxd1 {1.68/0} Qxc4 {1.63/0} 28. Qf3 {1.00/0} (28. Ng3 { was more convincing.}) 28... Qxe4 {1.13/0} 29. Rc1 $1 {0.81/0} Qg6 {1.24/0} 30. Qc3 {1.81/0} Qe4 {1.27/0} 31. Qxe5+ {1.29/0} Qxe5 {1.16/0} 32. Nxe5 {1.26/0 White is a healthy pawn up.} Bxf2+ {1.65/0} 33. Kxf2 {1.08/0} Rxb2+ {1.07/0} 34. Ke3 {1.30/0} Bxg2 {1.18/0 and now a minor piece for two pawns.} 35. Ng3 { 1.37/0} Bd5 {1.06/0} 36. Nh5+ {0.95/0} Kf8 {1.00/0} 37. Rd1 Be6 {Oops, that allows a mate in two - which, like Valentina Gunina, you will surely see in an instant.} 38. Rd8+ 1-0

Another important for the final standings game was played between Tatiana Kosintseva and Nana Dzagnidze. The Russian player also needed to win in order to share the first place. Playing with black pieces she started to push h-pawn, destroyed the coordination of white pieces and converted her advantage into full point.

[Event "European Women's Championship"] [Site "GAZIANTEP"] [Date "2012.03.13"] [Round "?.2"] [White "Dzagidze, Nana"] [Black "Kosintseva, Tatiana"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E46"] [PlyCount "106"] [EventDate "2012.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nge2 Re8 6. a3 Bf8 7. d5 d6 8. Ng3 { -0.07/0} g6 {-0.05/0} 9. Be2 {-0.17/0} h5 {-0.24/0} 10. O-O {-0.39/0} exd5 {-0. 24/0} 11. cxd5 {-0.35/0} h4 {-0.22/0} 12. Nh1 {-0.27/0 Black has used her h-pawn agressively to already gain an advantage.} c6 {-0.30/0} 13. f3 {-0.55/0} Nxd5 {-0.57/0} 14. Nxd5 {-0.52/0} cxd5 {-0.46/0} 15. Qxd5 {-0.51/0} Nc6 {-0.57/ 0} 16. Nf2 {-0.40/0} Be6 {-0.77/0} 17. Qd1 {-1.08/0} Bg7 {-1.09/0} 18. Bd2 {-0. 65/0} d5 {-1.09/0} 19. Bc3 {-1.78/0} d4 {-0.91/0} ({A strong alternative suggest by our chess engine:} 19... Qb6 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. Qd2 Bf5 22. Qxd5 Rad8 23. Qb5 Qxe3 {and Black is clearly winning.}) 20. exd4 {-0.99/0} Nxd4 {-1.50/0} 21. Bd3 {-0.93/0} Qb6 {-0.59/0} 22. Qa4 {-1.03/0} h3 $1 {-0.91/0 That nasty little h-pawn!} 23. Rae1 {-1.07/0} hxg2 {-1.36/0} 24. Kxg2 {-1.25/0} Qd8 {-1. 28/0} 25. Be4 {-1.10/0} Bd7 {-0.89/0} 26. Qb4 $2 {-3.12/0} ({The Let's Check computers following the game said the only move for White to stand a drawing chance was} 26. Qd1 {although after} Bb5 27. Bd3 Qg5+ 28. Kh1 Rxe1 29. Rxe1 Rd8 {things still look fairly grim for the Georgian.}) 26... Bb5 $19 {-3.28/0} 27. Bd3 $2 {-6.55/0 Here this is simply a mistake (look at the evaluation graph on the left - the little indicator at the top shows you where we are in the game). } Rxe1 {-1.63/0 Lets her opponent off the hook.} (27... a5 $1 {would have been crushing, e.g.} 28. Rxe8+ Bxe8 29. Qc4 Bb5 30. Qa2 Bxd3 31. Nxd3 Nc2 32. Bxg7 Ne3+ 33. Kg1 Qxd3 34. Qb1 Qxf1+ 35. Qxf1 Nxf1 {and White is a whole rook down.} ) 28. Rxe1 {-1.64/0} Qg5+ {-1.31/0} 29. Kh1 $2 {-3.29/0} (29. Ng4 {would have put up more resistance.}) 29... Bc6 $19 {-3.08/0} 30. Ne4 {-3.06/0} Qf4 {-1.94/ 0} 31. Rf1 $2 {-5.62/0 Played in time trouble.} Be5 $19 {-5.65/0} 32. Rf2 {-5. 54/0} Rd8 {-2.35/0} (32... Qe3 {forking the rook and bishop would have finished White off immediately.}) 33. Qe7 $6 {-3.87/0} Re8 {-2.27/0} 34. Qg5 { -2.47/0} Qxg5 {-1.86/0} 35. Nxg5 {-1.78/0} Nxf3 $1 {-2.67/0 Very nice little combination - would you have seen it?} 36. Nxf3 {-1.92/0} Bxc3 {-1.75/0} 37. bxc3 {-2.49/0} Re3 {-2.34/0} 38. Rd2 {-2.84/0} Rxf3 {-1.87/0} 39. Kg1 {-3.29/0 and Black has a winning endgame.} Kg7 {-2.82/0} 40. Rd1 {-2.20/0} f5 {-3.63/0 The time control has been met, but White can resign.} 41. c4 {-3.84/0} Kf6 {-3. 24/0} 42. c5 {-3.39/0} g5 {-3.27/0} 43. Rd2 {-3.17/0} g4 {-3.89/0} 44. Rd1 {-4. 00/0} Kg5 {-4.43/0} 45. Rd2 {-4.15/0} Rh3 {-4.80/0} 46. a4 {-4.94/0} Bxa4 {-4. 61/0} 47. Bf1 {-5.13/0} Rc3 {-4.42/0} 48. Ra2 {-4.93/0} Bc6 {-4.23/0} 49. Bg2 { -4.93/0} Rxc5 {-4.39/0} 50. Bxc6 {-6.58/0} bxc6 {-6.86/0} 51. Rxa7 {-7.19/0} Rc1+ {-9.87/0} 52. Kf2 {-13.49/0} Rc2+ 53. Kg1 c5 {All rook endings are drawn, except when you have two extra pawns and your opponen's king bottled in. White resigned in this hopeless postion.} 0-1

As a result of these two games Valentina Gunina, Anna Muzychuk and Tatiana Kosintseva all shared first place with 8.5/11 points. But the best performance gave Valentina Gunina the title. Tatiana Kosintseva placed second and Anna Muzychuk third. 14 players qualifed for the World Cup.

Top final standings (after eleven rounds) 

#
Sd
Ti.
 Name
Rtng
FED
Points
Perf
BH1.
BH2.
wins
1
8
IM Gunina Valentina
2511
RUS
8½
2660
70
74½
6
2
6
GM Kosintseva Tatiana
2513
RUS
8½
2649
68½
73
7
3
1
GM Muzychuk Anna
2583
SLO
8½
2631
70
75
7
4
9
GM Cmilyte Viktorija
2497
LTU
8
2592
67½
73
8
5
7
GM Sebag Marie
2512
FRA
7½
2570
71½
77
6
6
5
GM Stefanova Antoaneta
2531
BUL
7½
2544
68½
73½
6
7
3
GM Lahno Kateryna
2546
UKR
7½
2524
67½
72½
4
8
12
GM Danielian Elina
2478
ARM
7½
2515
60½
64
5
9
10
IM Khotenashvili Bela
2490
GEO
7½
2503
61
64½
6
10
17
WGM Pogonina Natalija
2449
RUS
7½
2501
61½
66½
5
11
18
GM Kosteniuk Alexandra
2448
RUS
7½
2437
57
61½
6
12
21
GM Hoang Thanh Trang
2438
HUN
7
2510
69
74½
6
13
20
IM Khurtsidze Nino
2447
GEO
7
2505
66½
71½
6
14
2
GM Dzagnidze Nana
2559
GEO
7
2468
65
69
6
15
30
IM Melia Salome
2400
GEO
7
2461
63½
68
5
16
34
WGM Kovanova Baira
2392
RUS
7
2452
60
64½
6
17
19
IM Javakhishvili Lela
2448
GEO
7
2450
62
66½
4
18
24
IM Romanko Marina
2417
RUS
7
2444
60½
64
5
19
16
IM Ushenina Anna
2458
UKR
7
2429
58
62½
4
20
23
GM Zhukova Natalia
2435
UKR
7
2415
57½
62
4
21
4
GM Kosintseva Nadezhda
2535
RUS
7
2406
61
65
5
22
31
IM Foisor Cristina-Adela
2398
ROU
6½
2509
75
75½
5
23
51
WGM Schleining Zoya
2326
GER
6½
2483
66½
68
4
24
28
WGM Girya Olga
2406
RUS
6½
2448
66
70½
5
25
33
WGM Guramishvili Sopiko
2395
GEO
6½
2446
67
71½
5
26
41
WGM Vojinovic Jovana
2356
MNE
6½
2431
64½
68
5
27
25
IM Gaponenko Inna
2416
UKR
6½
2428
62
66½
5
28
22
WGM Batsiashvili Nino
2438
GEO
6½
2424
63½
69
4
29
14
IM Paehtz Elisabeth
2459
GER
6½
2416
62½
67
5
30
66
WGM Sandu Mihaela
2253
ROU
6½
2404
58½
63
6
31
38
WGM Szczepkowska Karina
2369
POL
6½
2391
57½
61½
6
32
47
WIM Arabidze Meri
2337
GEO
6½
2365
62½
66
5
33
27
IM Bodnaruk Anastasia
2412
RUS
6½
2354
57½
62
5
34
57
WIM Bulmaga Irina
2307
ROU
6
2405
59
63½
5
35
15
IM Mkrtchian Lilit
2458
ARM
6
2396
64
69
5
36
58
IM Dworakowska Joanna
2304
POL
6
2388
59½
63½
6
37
60
WGM Videnova Iva
2301
BUL
6
2382
59½
63
4
38
50
WGM Kursova Maria
2328
ARM
6
2373
62
64½
4
39
40
WGM Zawadzka Jolanta
2358
POL
6
2355
61
64½
5
40
46
WIM Goryachkina Aleksandra
2341
RUS
6
2351
63
64½
3
41
54
WGM Mamedjarova Zeinab
2321
AZE
6
2326
60
64
5
42
48
IM Gvetadze Sofio
2334
GEO
6
2325
62½
65
4
43
29
IM Paikidze Nazi
2406
GEO
6
2325
61½
65½
4
44
49
WIM Mikadze Miranda
2329
GEO
6
2263
54½
57½
5
45
53
WIM Mammadova Gulnar
2324
AZE
5½
2421
67
71½
4
46
61
WIM Ivakhinova Inna
2285
RUS
5½
2415
65½
70
5
47
13
IM Skripchenko Almira
2468
FRA
5½
2377
59½
64½
3
48
44
WIM Ziaziulkina Nastassia
2343
BLR
5½
2363
65½
69½
5
49
37
WGM Charochkina Daria
2371
RUS
5½
2356
62½
66
4
50
11
IM Muzychuk Mariya
2490
UKR
5½
2338
58
63
3
51
64
WIM Rakic Marija
2267
SRB
5½
2326
57
60½
3
52
32
IM Bojkovic Natasa
2395
SRB
5½
2298
60½
64½
4
53
45
WGM Yildiz Betul Cemre
2342
TUR
5½
2285
58
62
3
54
65
WGM Chelushkina Irina
2263
SRB
5½
2257
52½
56½
5
55
39
IM Galojan Lilit
2364
ARM
5½
2254
56½
60½
3
56
62
WGM Mamedjarova Turkan
2284
AZE
5½
2254
50½
54
3
57
73
WIM Umudova Nargiz
2220
AZE
5½
2236
55½
58½
4
58
56
WGM Ozturk Kubra
2314
TUR
5½
2222
53½
57
5
59
52
IM Savina Anastasia
2325
RUS
5½
2203
55
59
3
60
72
WGM Makropoulou Marina
2224
GRE
5½
2201
53½
56
3
61
68
WIM Bronnikova Elizaveta
2252
RUS
5½
2130
49½
51
4

The closing ceremony of the European Individual Women's Chess Championship took place in the Anatolian Hotel in Gaziantep. It was attended by FIDE Vice-President and President of TCF Ali Nihat Yazici, Honorary President of ECU Boris Kutin and the Deputy General Secretary of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Ibrahim Evrim.


The winners Valentina Gunina, Tatiana Kosintseva and Anna Muzychuk (thankfully
flaunting the ECU dress code) were awarded cups, medals and prizes.


TCF President and EIWCC organiser Ali Nihat Yazici shows
that he, too, is quite relaxed about the new dress rules

Remaining schedule

Wednesday   March 14
Departure-Arrival Day  
Thursday March 15
Rapid
Friday March 16
Rapid
Saturday March 17
Blitz
Sunday March 18
Blitz
Monday March 19
Departure Day

All photos by WGM Anastasiya Karlovich, with kind permission of the TCF

Links

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