WGP Geneva: Khotenashvili leads alone

by ChessBase
5/15/2013 – It was the round of the Georgians, with GM Nana Dzagnidze beating Chinese IM Ju Wenjun and, more relevantly, IM Bela Khotenashvili defeating one of the tournament favourites, third seed GM Kateryna Lahno. That boosted Bela's performance to 2700+ and her rating to 2531 – which means her GM title is now assured. GM Adrian Mikhalchishin analyses her win in our pictorial report.

ChessBase 17 - Mega package - Edition 2024 ChessBase 17 - Mega package - Edition 2024

It is the program of choice for anyone who loves the game and wants to know more about it. Start your personal success story with ChessBase and enjoy the game even more.

More...

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 ten report

Georgian IM (and soon GM to be) Bela Khotenashvili confidently won her game against Katerina Lagno and is now half a point above Anna Muzychuk, who made a draw against Viktorija Cmilyte. Tatiana Kosintseva drew against Anna Ushenina and remains on the third place before the last round. Nana Dzagnidze defeated Ju Wenjun and shares the fourth place with Anna Ushenina, one point behind of Tatiana Kosintseva. Olga Girya and Tuvshintugs Batchimeg made a relatively quick draw while Alexandra Kosteniuk and Hou Yifan played for six hours to finish their game in a draw too.

Round 10 on Tuesday, May 14th 2013 at 14:00
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk 2491
½-½
GM Yifan Hou 2617
GM Nana Dzagnidze 2545
1-0
WGM Wenjun Ju 2544
GM Tatiana Kosintseva 2517
½-½
GM Anna Ushenina 2491
IM Bela Khotenashvili 2505
1-0
GM Kateryna Lagno 2548
WGM Tuvshintugs Batchimeg 2298
½-½
WGM Olga Girya 2463
GM Viktorija Cmilyte 2522
½-½
GM Anna Muzychuk 2585

Nana Dzagnidze (above) didn’t expect her opponent to choose the Dutch Defence and had prepared mainly for the Kings Indian. However, Ju Wenjun, who won with the Dutch against Anna Ushenina a few rounds ago, chose to play this opening again and got quite a comfortable position with black.

It was not the type of position which Nana enjoys playing, but when Ju Wenjun (above) played 21...b5 and let White’s pieces have more space for maneuvers, the Georgian player found good counterplay and later on managed to transfer the game into a winning endgame with opposite color bishops.

The longest and most complicated game of the round was between two former world champions. After the opening Alexandra Kosteniuk (above right) could not find the right plan and “was choosing strange moves”, as she pointed out during the press conference. She lost a pawn but was hoping to get some counter chances due to the pair of bishops. Chinese GM Hou Yifan missed some opportunities to get huge advantage and later on the players ended up in a very complicated endgame with unbalanced material (two bishops, knight and four pawns against rook, bishop and six pawns). After 95 moves the signed a peace agreement.

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.

[Event "Fondation Neva Women's Grand Prix"] [Site "Geneva"] [Date "2013.05.14"] [Round "10.1"] [White "Khotenashvili, Bela"] [Black "Lagno, Kateryna"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E90"] [Annotator "MIKHALCHISHIN"] [PlyCount "89"] [EventDate "2013.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:20:29"] [BlackClock "0:30:44"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. h3 {Another successfull test of the Makogonov Variation by Bela Khotenashvili in this tournament.} Na6 $6 {This variation is very dubious, as other moves are more serious.} 7. Bg5 c6 8. Be2 ({Generally speaking the logical move here is} 8. Nd2) 8... e5 9. d5 h6 10. Be3 Nh5 11. dxc6 {Very interesting change of the central structure. The other options don't bring White any real advantage:} ({Maybe just} 11. Nh2 Nf4 12. Bf1 cxd5 13. cxd5 Bd7 14. Qd2 f5 15. g3 g5 16. h4 b5 17. hxg5 hxg5 18. f3 Nh5 19. Bxg5 Qb6 20. Be3 Qa5 21. Bh3 {promise something, Timofeev,A (2659) -Kokarev,D (2618)/Tomsk 2012}) 11... bxc6 12. Qd2 Nf4 13. O-O ({A bit dangerous, but castling on the other side was possible} 13. O-O-O $6) 13... Nxe2+ 14. Nxe2 Be6 ({The pawn sacrifice} 14... g5 15. Rad1 d5 16. cxd5 cxd5 17. exd5 f5 18. d6 Be6 {would promise some practical chances.}) 15. Bxh6 Bxc4 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Rfd1 Qc8 $2 {After a long thought Kateryna makes a big mistake.} ({Playable, but slightly worse was} 17... Qf6 18. Ng3 Rfd8 19. Rac1 Bb5 20. b3 Nc5) 18. Ng3 {Now Qg5 threatens to conduct a terrific attack, and Black is forced to sacrifice a pawn.} Be6 ({Easily refuted was} 18... f6 19. Qc3 d5 20. Nxe5 fxe5 21. Qxe5+ Kh7 22. b3) 19. Qxd6 f6 20. Rac1 c5 21. Nxe5 $1 ({ Khotenashvili is very active player and she does not like the slow realization of extra pawn.} 21. b3) 21... fxe5 22. Qxe5+ Kh7 ({Or} 22... Rf6 23. Qg5 Rf7 24. Nh5+ Kh7 25. Nf4 Rxf4 26. Qxf4 {winning easily.}) 23. Rd6 Re8 24. Nh5 $1 { The simplest and most direct continuation of the attack.} gxh5 25. Qxh5+ Kg7 26. Rc3 Rg8 27. Rg3+ ({A much faster win was the unexpected} 27. Rf3) 27... Kf8 28. Rxg8+ Bxg8 29. Rf6+ $6 ({Simpler was} 29. Qh8 Ke7 30. Qf6+ Ke8 31. Qe5+ Kf8 32. Rf6+ Bf7 33. Rh6 Bg8 34. Qf6+ Ke8 35. Qg7 Bf7 36. Qe5+ Kf8 37. Rh8+ Bg8 38. Qf6+) 29... Ke7 30. Qg5 Be6 31. f4 Nc7 {Finally Black was able to return the knight into play - with White's help. But White retains a lot of attacking potential still.} 32. f5 Bf7 33. Re6+ Kf8 34. Rh6 ({An incredibly nice win was } 34. Qe7+ Kg8 35. Rg6+ Bxg6 36. fxg6 Qe6 37. Qh7+ Kf8 38. g7+) 34... Bg8 35. Rf6+ Bf7 36. Rh6 Bg8 37. Qf6+ Ke8 38. Qg7 Qd8 39. Qxg8+ Kd7 40. Qg4 Kc8 41. e5 Qd5 42. Qf4 Kb7 ({The endgame is simply lost} 42... Qd4+ 43. Qxd4 cxd4 44. Rh8+ Kd7 45. Rxa8 Nxa8 46. Kf1 Nb6 47. Ke2 Nc4 48. e6+ Kd6 49. Kd3 Kd5 50. e7 Nd6 51. h4 Ke5 52. g4 Kf6 53. Kxd4 Kxe7 54. Kd5) 43. Rd6 $1 {The decisive winning move.} Qxa2 44. Qe4+ Kc8 45. e6 1-0

Down to 50%: one of the favourites Kateryna Lahno

A new grandmaster: Bela Khotenashvili, with a 2703 performance in Geneva

Full summaries of other games here

Replay all games of the round

Select games from the dropdown menu above the board
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

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
½-½
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk 2491
GM Anna Muzychuk 2585
1-0
WGM Tuvshintugs Batchimeg 2298
WGM Olga Girya 2463
0-1
IM Bela Khotenashvili 2505
GM Kateryna Lagno 2548
0-1
GM Tatiana Kosintseva 2517
GM Anna Ushenina 2491
½-½
GM Nana Dzagnidze 2545
WGM Wenjun Ju 2544
½-½
GM Yifan Hou 2617
Round 10 on Tuesday, May 14th 2013 at 14:00
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk 2491
½-½
GM Yifan Hou 2617
GM Nana Dzagnidze 2545
1-0
WGM Wenjun Ju 2544
GM Tatiana Kosintseva 2517
½-½
GM Anna Ushenina 2491
IM Bela Khotenashvili 2505
1-0
GM Kateryna Lagno 2548
WGM Tuvshintugs Batchimeg 2298
½-½
WGM Olga Girya 2463
GM Viktorija Cmilyte 2522
½-½
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

Links

The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 12 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.


Reports about chess: tournaments, championships, portraits, interviews, World Championships, product launches and more.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register