Four pairings in round 1 of the Munich Grand Prix had compatriots facing each other, as two representatives from China, Germany, India and Ukraine have made their way to the Bavarian capital. In the case of the Ukrainian contest, the players are not only compatriots but also sisters — Anna and Mariya Muzychuk unsurprisingly drew their game.
While Harika Dronavalli and Humpy Koneru also drew, the all-Chinese and all-German matchups did see one of the players prevailing on Thursday. Tan Zhongyi defeated Zhu Jiner and Elisabeth Paehtz got the better of Dinara Wagner. In both cases, the more experienced player managed to defeat her younger opponent.
Paehtz and Tan were not the only winners of the day, though, as Alexandra Kosteniuk and Nana Dzagnidze also scored full points in their first games of the tournament. Kosteniuk defeated Alina Kashlinskaya in what would have been an all-Russian encounter a year ago (Kashlinskaya, who was born in Russia, transferred to Poland last year), while Dzagnidze defeated the often-streaky Zhansaya Abdumalik.
The main sponsor of the event, Roman Krulich, played the first move in the game between the Muzychuk sisters. Krulich’s real estate company not only supports chess in Munich, but also sponsors the ‘Powergirls’ program, which helps young female players from Germany to make the most of their potential.
Roman Krulich playing Mariya Muzychuk’s first move | Photo: David Llada
Long-standing German number one in the women’s ranking, Elisabeth Paehtz, prepared a poisonous opening with white, which worked even better than she had probably hoped.
Elisabeth Paehtz and Dinara Wagner | Photo: David Llada
In a fierce tactical battle, Nana Dzagnidze defeated Zhansaya Abdumalik from the black side of a Sicilian. Abdumalik missed a chance to miraculously save a draw, though!
Nana Dzagnidze | Photo: David Llada
While under pressure on the kingside, Alina Kashlinskaya blundered on move 31, allowing Alexandra Kosteniuk to show her great tactical eye with a good-looking manoeuvre.
31...Ne7 gave way to the merciless 32.Rf6, and after 32...Qe8 White grabs a piece with 33.Rxe6, since the rook cannot be captured due to the mate threat on g7. Black resigned.
Alexandra Kosteniuk | Photo: David Llada
