Astana GP: Four decisive results, four co-leaders

by André Schulz
9/19/2022 – Four decisive games in the second round of the Astana Grand Prix left four players tied for first place on 1½/2 points. Bibisara Assaubayeva, Alina Kashlinskaya and Zhu Jiner won to join Aleksandra Goryachkina in the lead, while Polina Shuvalova bounced back from her loss on Sunday to return to a fifty-percent score. | Photos: FIDE / Anna Shtourman
Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

An eventful round

The first stage of the Women’s Grand Prix was supposed to take place in Nur-Sultan and is now being played in Astana — the same place, following a name change that was made effective a few days ago. Kazakhstan is currently experiencing an upswing in general, and in women’s chess in particular. The Kazakh women’s team was one of the favourites at the Chess Olympiad in Chennai and just missed out on a medal, finishing in fifth place.

Germany is set to host one of the tournaments in this Grand Prix series, as one of the four tournaments will take place in Munich in February, and has thus been given a wildcard. Dinara Wagner gained the right to receive the wildcard and joined Elisabeth Paehtz in the German contingent. The two Germans met in the first round, with Paehtz getting the better of her young compatriot. Unfortunately for the Germans, they both lost in the second round.

While two games finished decisively in the first round, four encounters got decisive results in the second. Bibisara Assaubayeva, Alina Kashlinskaya and Zhu Jiner won to join Aleksandra Goryachkina in the lead, while Polina Shuvalova bounced back from her loss on Sunday by beating Paehtz.

 

Zhu Jiner, Dinara Wagner

Zhu Jiner defeated Dinara Wagner with the white pieces

Paehtz, who had won on Sunday, was defeated by Shuvalova, who had lost in the first round. Thus, both contenders returned to a fifty-percent score. 

 
Shuvalova, Polina25101–0Paehtz, Elisabeth2484
FIDE Womens Grand Prix-I 2022-23
Nur-Sultan19.09.2022[Schulz,A]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Be2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.f4 The Scheveningen Variation is somewhat out of fashion. e5 The main variation is 9...a6 10.Qe1 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 12.a3 Bb7 10.Nxc6 Here we often see 10.Nb3 exf4 11.Bxf4 Be6 and Black has a very solid position. 10...bxc6 11.Qd2 White is probably out of the book after Black's surprising opening choice. After 11.fxe5 dxe5 12.Qe1 Be6 Black has achieved good results. 11...exf4 12.Rxf4 Be6= 13.Rff1 Re8 13...Ng4!? 14.h3 Nd7 15.Nd1 Ne5 16.Nf2 a5 16...Nc4!? 17.Bxc4 Bxc4 and Black has the bishop pair. 17.b3 a4 18.Bd4 c5 19.Bc3 Bg5 Black has taken the initiative. 20.Qd1 Qb6 20...c4!? 21.Kh1 Be3?! White finds counterplay after this move. 21...Qc6!? 22.bxa4! Bd4 22...Rxa4? 23.Rb1 Qc7 24.Bb5+- 23.Rb1 Qa7 24.Bxd4 cxd4 25.Bb5 Rec8 26.Rb4 Bc4 26...Bxa2!? 27.Qxd4 Qxd4 28.Rxd4 Rxc2 29.Rxd6 h6 30.Kg1 Bc4 with counterplay. 26...Nc6!? 27.Bxc6 Rxc6 28.Rxd4 h6= 27.Nd3 Bxa2 28.Rf2 Be6 29.Rd2
29...Rc3!? The decisive phase. In the skirmishes that follow, Black has an inferior position. 29...Rab8!? 30.Ne1 h6 31.Rbxd4 Bc4 32.Rxd6 Qe7 with counterplay. White cannot make good use of the extra pawns. 30.Nf4 d3?! Intending to penetrate with the queen along the dark squares. But this only costs time, and the black queen will not infiltrate in the remainder of the game. Better was 30...Nc6 31.cxd3 Qe3 32.Nxe6 fxe6 33.Rb1 White now consolidates her position. Rf8 34.Qe1 Qf4
35.Re2?! Not the best either. 35.a5!? Ra3 36.a6 35...Ra3 36.Qd2 Qg3 37.Re3 Qf4? After 37...Rf2 38.Rxg3 Rxd2= the g3-rook is out of play. The white pieces are suddenly completely uncoordinated. 38.Rbe1 Rf6? 39.Qc1 Ra2 40.Qc8+ Kf7 40...Kf7 41.Qe8# 1–0

Polina Shuvalova

21-year-old Polina Shuvalova

Standings after round 2

Loading Table...

All games

 
Loading...
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.

Links

André Schulz started working for ChessBase in 1991 and is an editor of ChessBase News.
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.