WGP Geneva: four decisive games

by ChessBase
5/12/2013 – Once again we saw fighting chess and some critical games. Leaders Anna Muzycuk and Bela Khotenashvili drew to stay in the joint lead. Tatiana Kosintseva and Kateryna Lahno moved into striking position wins against Olga Girya and Nana Dzagnidze. But the big one was reigning Women's World Champion Anna Ushenina vs Challenger Hou Yifan, which GM Adrian Mikhalchishin has analysed.
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Neva Women's Grand Prix in Geneva

The Neva Foundation in partnership with the Internation Chess Federation (FIDE) has organised the first leg of the official Women's Grand Prix series for the first time in Geneva. From May 3 to May 15, twelve of the best women players featuring current Women World Champion Anna Ushenina from Ukraine, will confront each other at the N'vY Manotel. The tournament is an eleven-round all-play-all at classical time controls.

Round eight report

One of the central games of the tournament was an encounter between Hou Yifan and Anna Ushenina, who in a few months will play the Women's World Championship match in China. The incumbent Anna Ushenina outplayed challenger Hou Yifan with the black pieces in 40 moves. The game is analysed by GM Adrian Mikhalchishin below.

Round 8 on Saturday, May 11th 2013 at 14:00
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk 2491
1-0
 WGM Wenjun Ju 2544
GM Yifan Hou 2617
0-1
 GM Anna Ushenina 2491
GM Nana Dzagnidze 2545
0-1
 GM Kateryna Lagno 2548
GM Tatiana Kosintseva 2517
1-0
 WGM Olga Girya 2463
IM Bela Khotenashvili 2505
½-½
 GM Anna Muzychuk 2585
WGM Tuvshintugs Batchimeg 2298
½-½
 GM Viktorija Cmilyte 2522

The glare: former Women's World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk ...

... at the start of her successful game against Chinese WGM Ju Winjun

Nana Dzagnidze (above right) got a big advantage in the opening against Kateryna Lahno. Her pieces were better placed than opponent's, and she had good play on the queenside. It was possible for her to just increase her advantage step by step, but Nana decided to grab a pawn on the kingside, and after a few inaccurate moves in time pressure the Georgian player had to play for a draw. However she missed the key move (35…Rb3), and after that it was Black who started to play for win.

After 79 moves Katerina Lagno had wrapped up the game and taken the full point.

The game between two leaders, Anna Muzycuk and Bela Khotenashvili finished
in a draw, so that both players stay in the lead before the final free day.

Tatiana Kosintseva (above right) decided to play a new line with 7.Be3 in the Caro-Kann. Olga Girya was not ready for this variation and started to have problems with development.

After 13.c4 Qa5 Olga's position became hopeless and Tatiana took home the full point and now shares the 3-4 place, half a point behind the leaders.

Replay all games of the round

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1.e41,173,50054%2421---
1.d4952,12655%2434---
1.Nf3283,50356%2440---
1.c4183,15556%2442---
1.g319,79656%2427---
1.b314,44254%2427---
1.f45,92148%2377---
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1.b41,77148%2379---
1.a31,23454%2405---
1.e31,07549%2409---
1.d396150%2378---
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1.c343651%2426---
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1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Qb3 Qc7 7.Nh4 Be4 8.f3 Bg6 9.g3 Be7 10.Bd2 Nbd7 11.Rc1 Qb6 12.Qxb6 axb6 13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Nxg6 hxg6 15.a3 Nxc3 16.Bxc3 b5 17.Bd3 Nb6 18.Bd2 g5 19.Ke2 Kd7 20.e4 Ra4 21.Be3 Bf6 22.Bc2 Raa8 23.Bd3 Ra4 24.Bc2 Raa8 25.Bd3 Ra4 26.Bc2 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Khotenashvili,B2505Muzychuk,A2585½–½2013D12Geneva WGP 20138.1
Kosteniuk,A2491Ju,W25441–02013E81Geneva WGP 20138.2
Hou,Y2617Ushenina,A24910–12013B51Geneva WGP 20138.3
Dzagnidze,N2545Lagno,K25480–12013A45Geneva WGP 20138.4
Kosintseva,T2517Girya,O24631–02013B12Geneva WGP 20138.5
Batchimeg,T2298Cmilyte,V2522½–½2013D41Geneva WGP 20138.6

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A full summary of all games is to be found here on the official tournament site.

Current standings

Information and photos supplied by FIDE Press Officer Anastasiya Karlovich

Analysis by Adrian Mikhalchishin

The famous chess trainer, who coached a number of participants of the Geneva Grand Prix from their pre-teen years, provides live commentary during the games. Above Adrian (left) is discussing a round eight game with visiting Australian GM Ian Rogers.

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It was the game of the tournament for both players - in September they will play a match for the World Championship title in home city of Hou Yifan. So this game was a real warming up for the girls, or perhaps we could say 0! Now they really understand the power of the opponent. I would not overestimate or underestimate the result. It can have a different impact on each of the players, and although it is good to win it is not clear what is the best outcome here. Let us wait and enjoy their fantastic fight! 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.d4 Ngf6 5.0-0 cxd4 Deadly dangerous here is materialism: 5...Nxe4 6.Qe2 Nef6 7.dxc5 dxc5 8.Rd1 a6 9.Bc4 e6 10.Ng5 Qb6 11.Bxe6 fxe6 12.Nxe6 Be7 13.Re1 Ng8 14.Bf4+- 1-0 Velicka,P-Johann,C/Passau op 2000 6.Qxd4 g6 The classical way is 6...e5 7.Qd3 h6 8.Nc3 Be7 9.Be3 0-0 7.e5 dxe5 8.Qxe5 Bg7 9.Re1 e6 10.Qd6 a6 11.Bf1 Bf8 Ushenina believed that more proper move here is 11...Qb6 but could not remeber her old analysis. 12.Qd3 Serious attention deserves 12.Qf4 12...Bg7 13.c4 0-0 14.Nc3 b6 Better try was to develop differently in the center 14...Qc7 15.g3 e5 16.Bg5 h6 17.Be3 Re8 18.Qc2 Nc5 15.Bf4 Bb7 16.Rad1 Qc8 17.h3 Rd8 18.Na4? Looks tempting , but this decentralization is a serious mistake. White could keep slight advantage after 18.a3 Nh5 19.Bh2 Bh6 20.Ne5 Nxe5 21.Qxd8+ Qxd8 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8 23.Bxe5 Bf4 24.Bxf4 Nxf4 25.g3 Nh5 26.Na4 Rd6 27.c5 bxc5 28.Nxc5 Bc8 18...b5! An unexpected counterstike. White was ready for the long line 18...Bc6 19.Nxb6 Nxb6 20.Qxd8+ Qxd8 21.Rxd8+ Rxd8 22.Bc7 Rc8 23.Bxb6 Bxf3 24.gxf3 Nd7 25.Be3 Bxb2 26.Rb1 Ba3 but it is not clear what will happen after the blockade on c5. 19.cxb5 White could better hold after 19.Nc3 bxc4 20.Qxc4 Bxf3 21.Qxc8 Rdxc8 22.gxf3 19...axb5 20.Rc1 Nc5 21.Qxb5 Ushenina honestly admitted that she overlooked this move, but eventually Black obtain a very strong initiative White would get worse ending after 21.Rxc5 Rxd3 22.Rxc8+ Rxc8 23.Bxd3 bxa4 24.Ne5 Nd5 21...Rxa4 22.Rxc5 Qa8 23.Bc7 Rc8 24.Ne5 White would get a slightly worse position after the best move 24.Bd6 Rxc5 25.Bxc5 Bxf3 26.gxf3 Ra5 27.Qc4 Nd7 24...Rxa2 25.Nc4 Nd5! Now White's pieces started to become vulnerable. 26.Bg3 It was necessary to try 26.Be5 26...Bc6 27.Qb3 Bd4! A very strong move. Now White's rook is in trouble. 28.Nd6 Rxb2 Very strong was 28...Bxc5 29.Nxc8 Bd4 30.Rb1 Kg7 31.Qc4 Bf6 32.Nd6 Rxb2 29.Qc4 Bxc5 30.Qxc5 Rcb8 Now Rb1 is a threat and it becomes clear that White is in serious trouble. 31.Ne4 Rb1 32.Re2 Rxf1+! 33.Kh2 Immediately losing was 33.Kxf1 Rb1+ 34.Re1 Qa6+ 33...Rbb1 Black has won a rook and White has just few cheap threats. 34.Be5 Rh1+ 35.Kg3 Rhe1 36.Ra2 This brave sacrifice cannot help. Qxa2 37.Qxc6 Qa3+ 38.f3 Rxe4! 39.Bd6 Qxd6+ 40.Qxd6 Reb4 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Hou,Y-Ushenina,A-0–12013B51Fondation Neva Women's Grand Prix8.3

In a form crisis? World Championship challenger Hou Yifan from China

The reigning World Champion Anna Ushenina, Ukraine

Trainings DVDs by Adrian Mikhalchishin in the ChessBase Shop

Schedule and results

Round 1 on Friday, May 3rd 2013 at 14:00
GM Nana Dzagnidze 2545
½-½
 GM Alexandra Kosteniuk 2491
GM Tatiana Kosintseva 2517
½-½
 GM Yifan Hou 2617
IM Bela Khotenashvili 2505
1-0
 WGM Wenjun Ju 2544
WGM Tuvshintugs Batchimeg 2298
½-½
 GM Anna Ushenina 2491
GM Viktorija Cmilyte 2522
½-½
 GM Kateryna Lagno 2548
GM Anna Muzychuk 2585
1-0
 WGM Olga Girya 2463
Round 2 on Saturday, May 4th 2013 at 14:00
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk 2491
½-½
 WGM Olga Girya ½-½
GM Kateryna Lagno 2548
½-½
 GM Anna Muzychuk 1-0
GM Anna Ushenina 2491
½-½
 GM 1-0 2522
WGM Wenjun Ju 2544
1-0
 WGM ½-½ 2298
GM Yifan Hou 2617
1-0
 IM Bela Khotenashvili ½-½
GM Nana Dzagnidze 2545
½-½
 GM Tatiana Kosintseva 0-1
Round 3 on Sunday, May 5th 2013 at 14:00
GM Tatiana Kosintseva 2517
½-½
 GM Alexandra Kosteniuk 2491
IM Bela Khotenashvili 2505
1-0
 GM Nana Dzagnidze 2545
WGM Tuvshintugs Batchimeg 2298
1-0
 GM Yifan Hou 2617
GM Viktorija Cmilyte 2522
½-½
 WGM Wenjun Ju 2544
GM Anna Muzychuk 2585
½-½
 GM Anna Ushenina 2491
WGM Olga Girya 2463
0-1
 GM Kateryna Lagno 2548
Round 4 on Monday, May 6th 2013 at 14:00
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk 2491
0-1
 GM Kateryna Lagno 2548
GM Anna Ushenina 2491
½-½
 WGM Olga Girya 2463
WGM Wenjun Ju 2544
½-½
 GM Anna Muzychuk 2585
GM Yifan Hou 2617
1-0
 GM Viktorija Cmilyte 2522
GM Nana Dzagnidze 2545
1-0
 WGM Tuvshintugs Batchimeg 2298
GM Tatiana Kosintseva 2517
1-0
 IM Bela Khotenashvili 2505
Round 5 on Wednesday, May 8th 2013 at 14:00
IM Bela Khotenashvili 2505
1-0
 GM Alexandra Kosteniuk 2491
WGM Tuvshintugs Batchimeg 2298
½-½
 GM Tatiana Kosintseva 2517
GM Viktorija Cmilyte 2522
½-½
 GM Nana Dzagnidze 2545
GM Anna Muzychuk 2585
1-0
 GM Yifan Hou 2617
WGM Olga Girya 2463
0-1
 WGM Wenjun Ju 2544
GM Kateryna Lagno 2548
½-½
 GM Anna Ushenina 2491
Round 6 on Thursday, May 9th 2013 at 14:00
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk 2491
0-1
 GM Anna Ushenina 2491
WGM Wenjun Ju 2544
½-½
 GM Kateryna Lagno 2548
GM Yifan Hou 2617
½-½
 WGM Olga Girya 2463
GM Nana Dzagnidze 2545
½-½
 GM Anna Muzychuk 2585
GM Tatiana Kosintseva 2517
1-0
 GM Viktorija Cmilyte 2522
IM Bela Khotenashvili 2505
1-0
 WGM Tuvshintugs Batchimeg 2298
Round 7 on Friday, May 10th 2013 at 14:00
WGM Tuvshintugs Batchimeg 2298
0-1
 GM Alexandra Kosteniuk 2491
GM Viktorija Cmilyte 2522
0-1
 IM Bela Khotenashvili 2505
GM Anna Muzychuk 2585
1-0
 GM Tatiana Kosintseva 2517
WGM Olga Girya 2463
0-1
 GM Nana Dzagnidze 2545
GM Kateryna Lagno 2548
0-1
 GM Yifan Hou 2617
GM Anna Ushenina 2491
0-1
 WGM Wenjun Ju 2544
Round 8 on Saturday, May 11th 2013 at 14:00
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk 2491
1-0
 WGM Wenjun Ju 2544
GM Yifan Hou 2617
0-1
 GM Anna Ushenina 2491
GM Nana Dzagnidze 2545
0-1
 GM Kateryna Lagno 2548
GM Tatiana Kosintseva 2517
1-0
 WGM Olga Girya 2463
IM Bela Khotenashvili 2505
½-½
 GM Anna Muzychuk 2585
WGM Tuvshintugs Batchimeg 2298
½-½
 GM Viktorija Cmilyte 2522
Round 9 on Monday, May 13th 2013 at 14:00
GM Viktorija Cmilyte 2522   GM Alexandra Kosteniuk 2491
GM Anna Muzychuk 2585   WGM Tuvshintugs Batchimeg 2298
WGM Olga Girya 2463   IM Bela Khotenashvili 2505
GM Kateryna Lagno 2548   GM Tatiana Kosintseva 2517
GM Anna Ushenina 2491   GM Nana Dzagnidze 2545
WGM Wenjun Ju 2544   GM Yifan Hou 2617
Round 10 on Tuesday, May 14th 2013 at 14:00
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk 2491   GM Yifan Hou 2617
GM Nana Dzagnidze 2545   WGM Wenjun Ju 2544
GM Tatiana Kosintseva 2517   GM Anna Ushenina 2491
IM Bela Khotenashvili 2505   GM Kateryna Lagno 2548
WGM Tuvshintugs Batchimeg 2298   WGM Olga Girya 2463
GM Viktorija Cmilyte 2522   GM Anna Muzychuk 2585
Round 11 on Wednesday, May 15th 2013 at 12:00
GM Anna Muzychuk 2585   GM Alexandra Kosteniuk 2491
WGM Olga Girya 2463   GM Viktorija Cmilyte 2522
GM Kateryna Lagno 2548   WGM Tuvshintugs Batchimeg 2298
GM Anna Ushenina 2491   IM Bela Khotenashvili 2505
WGM Wenjun Ju 2544   GM Tatiana Kosintseva 2517
GM Yifan Hou 2617   GM Nana Dzagnidze 2545

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