Women’s Candidates: Lei grinds down Tan and ties the match

by Michael Rahal
3/31/2023 – Employing impressive technique in the second game, Lei Tingjie relentlessly jumped back into the match at the Women’s Candidates Final in Chongqing. After nearly six hours of play and seventy gruelling moves, with everything pointing towards a draw, a last-minute mistake by Tan Zhongyi in severe time trouble put the 1-1 result on the scoreboard. | Photos: FIDE

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Great technique

Published originally on FIDE’s website

Employing impressive technique in today’s second game, Lei Tingjie relentlessly jumped back into the match, and with four games to go, the Women’s Candidates Final is once again completely open.

After nearly six hours of play and seventy gruelling moves, with everything pointing towards a draw, a last-minute mistake by Tan Zhongyi in severe time trouble put the 1-1 result on the scoreboard.

The second game of the match began as usual at 3 pm local in Chongqing. Trailing her opponent by a full point on the scoreboard, the onus was on Lei Tingjie to showcase her skills with the white pieces.

Lei Tingjie

Lei Tingjie

She opened the game with 1.d4, and both players went for the fashionable Queen’s Gambit. On move three, Tan Zhongyi opted for 3…dxc4, and a few moves down the line, the position transposed into one of the most exciting lines of the Semi-Slav Defence, in which White sacrifices a pawn for the initiative.

According to my database, Lei Tingjie usually plays it safe in the opening — therefore, maybe Tan was slightly surprised by this turn of events. One can never know for sure, but there is a possibility that both players ended up in a position somewhat unknown to them in their wish to sidestep their opponent’s preparation.  

Women's Chess Candidates 2023

The first major deviation from theory was played by Tan Zhongyi. Her choice, 7…Qb6, is fairly unknown at the top level, whereas 7…a5 would lead to the trendy Noteboom Variation. Sensing the danger, she intelligently gave back her extra pawn to finish development and castle.

A few moves later, after an inaccuracy by her opponent, Lei Tingjie missed a golden opportunity to strike first with 21.Nxb4 Qxb4 followed by 22.Qc2.

 

According to the engines, the threats on b4, f6, and e6 would have offered White excellent chances to bring home the full point.

Nonetheless, Lei Tingjie continued pressing her small positional advantage: two bishops and a slightly favourable pawn structure gave her a decent edge in the late middlegame and early stages of the endgame.

Although Tan Zhongyi displayed excellent defensive skills, Lei Tingjie pushed on, understanding that her opportunity might arrive in time trouble.

Finally, they reached an opposite-colour bishop endgame, which is generally well-known for its drawing tendency.

 

Fate struck on move 7. Tan Zhongyi could have held the draw with 71.Be8, but instead she played 71…Bg4? and after White’s 72.Kg6! she was forced to exchange her h-pawn for the opponent’s f-pawn allowing Lei Tingjie to win the game by advancing her two connected passed pawns.

Commentating live from the venue, GM Alik Gershon summarized the situation fantastically:

Very impressive technique by Lei. Slightly unfortunate for Tan, but this is how you can lose these types of positions. White can make many small mistakes and still have chances, while Black can’t make any mistakes because she can lose immediately.

Co-commentator WIM Qiu Mengjie agreed:

If White makes a mistake, she will always have the draw at hand.

The third game of the match will be disputed tomorrow, March 31st. Tan Zhongyi will play with the White pieces.

All games

 
 

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Born in England in 1970, Michael Rahal is an International Master and a FIDE trainer. Currently living in Barcelona (Spain), Michael is fluent in English and Spanish and has been coaching chess players of all ages and levels for more than 25 years. More recently he has developed his career as a chess broadcaster, covering both online and on-site many top events on Playchess and the ICC, including a leg of the recent FIDE Grand Prix. You can also follow him on Youtube where more than 10.000 subscribers enjoy his instructive chess videos.