Munich GP: Kosteniuk beats Tan, extends her lead

“Usually it doesn’t work so well”

A level-headed Alexandra Kosteniuk was very critical of her play so far at the Munich Grand Prix after scoring a fourth consecutive win on Sunday. Talking to press officer Michael Rahal, she noted that she was fortunate to get three whites in the first four games, and confessed that “even though the result is great, I have to consolidate”. Kosteniuk expanded, referring to her round-4 victory over Tan Zhongyi:

Making the right decisions in chess - Fundamentals

In a total of 6 chapters, we look at the following aspects: the right decision based on tactical factors, decisions in exchanges and moves, complex and psychological decisions in longer games and in defence.

Of course the result is very nice, but I wasn’t happy at all. I know how this creativity usually backfires because when I started to play with white in such a creative way from move 4 on, usually it doesn’t work so well. [...] She found a way to equalize when I decided to go for something that I didn’t analyse at all.

In the last round before the rest day, Kosteniuk will play black against Harika Dronavalli, who comes from drawing her first four games in Munich.

A 3-player chasing pack stands a whole 1½ points behind the runaway leader, all with three draws and a single win to their names. Besides Nana Dzagnidze, who won her first game in the event, round-4 winners Mariya Muzychuk and Humpy Koneru comprise this group. On Sunday, Muzychuk defeated Zhu Jiner, while Humpy got the better of Mariya’s sister, Anna.

Harika Dronavalli held Elisabeth Paehtz to a draw with the black pieces — later on, they shared what seems to be a fun conversation | Photo: David Llada

Creative from the word go

Alexandra Kosteniuk facing Tan Zhongyi | Photo: David Llada

Humpy goes for imbalances, wins

3.h4 against the King's Indian and Grünfeld

It's a great idea to take Grunfeld and King’s Indian players out of their comfort-zone right from the start! Let’s go 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 first and now play 3.h4!?

Jolly Kunjappu, a performance artist and philosopher, played the first move in Humpy Koneru vs Anna Muzychuk | Photo: David Llada

Mariya’s maiden win in Munich

Mariya Muzychuk | Photo: David Llada

Results - Round 4

Standings - Round 4

All games

Links

• Tournament page
• Kateryna Lagno wins Astana Women’s Grand Prix