Nicosia GP: Harika beats Kiolbasa to join the lead

Goryachkina draws Lagno with black

The crucial encounter between Kateryna Lagno and Aleksandra Goryachkina was played in round 5 of the Nicosia Women’s Grand Prix. Two of the three frontrunners to get the two coveted spots in the Candidates granted by the series signed a 30-move draw. Lagno is one of the three co-leaders in Cyprus, while Goryachkina stands a half point behind after bouncing back from her first-round loss with wins over Nana Dzagnidze and Oliwia Kiolbasa, both with the white pieces.

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Standing on 2 out of 5, a full point behind Goryachkina, is Alexandra Kosteniuk, the third player who entered the event with good chances to finish among the top two in the series’ overall ranking. After drawing Harika Dronavalli in round 4, Kosteniuk told Michael Rahal:

[It has been] four very hard games, and three very long ones — five hours each — and still two rounds to go before the free day, so quite a complicated start. But as I mentioned several times, these tournaments can go either way, so as long as I am in a fighting mood it’s fine.

Harika, on her part, went on to join the leaders by winning her round-5 game against Kiolbasa, who has been struggling in Nicosia. Harika, playing black, grabbed the initiative in the middlegame and was ruthless in conversion. The Indian GM will face Lagno with black in the last round before Monday’s rest day.

Dinara Wagner held Alexandra Kosteniuk to a draw in round 5 | Photo: FIDE / Mark Livshitz

Goryachkina 1 - 0 Kiolbasa

Analysis from round 4 by Karsten Müller

Attacking with the Jobava London System

The Jobava London System is a minor form of the London System. White tries to play Lf4 quickly followed by Nc3.

Aleksandra Goryachkina | Photo: FIDE / Mark Livshitz

Dzagnidze ½ - ½ Assaubayeva

Analysis from round 5 by Karsten Müller

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Nana Dzagnidze | Photo: FIDE / Mark Livshitz

Results - Round 5

Standings - Round 5

All games

Understanding Middlegame Strategies Vol.1-6

In this Videocourse we deal with different aspects of the middlegame which are important to study and improve your general understanding of chess structures.

Links

• Tournament page
• Kateryna Lagno wins Astana Women’s Grand Prix
• Kosteniuk wins Women’s Grand Prix in Munich
• Goryachkina, Zhu and Assaubayeva tie for first at New Delhi Grand Prix