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The one decisive game in round 4 of the Tbilisi Women's Grand Prix saw Alexandra Kosteniuk inflicting a third loss on Sara Khadem, who played a one-move blunder in a simplified position with a queen, a bishop and a rook per side.
The position was close to equal before Khadem faltered with 31...f6, which allowed 32.Qa7+, and after 32...Bf7 there is 33.Bxg6 (diagram), winning - note that 32...Kg8 fails to 33.Rd8#, which is available now that the queen on g5 is no longer protecting the d8-square.
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Khadem resigned, since White was ready to play Rd1-g1, grabbing the queen.
With this win, Kosteniuk joined Stavroula Tsolakidou and Bibisara Assaubayeva in the lead. The three co-leaders have +1 scores. Six players stand a mere half point back.
Alexandra Kosteniuk v. Sara Khadem | Photo: FIDE / Anna Shtourman
In the longest game of the day (and the longest of the tournament so far), Anna Muzychuk failed to make the most of her material advantage while facing Nana Dzagnidze with the white pieces. A bold sacrifice by Dzagnidze in the middlegame created a permanent imbalance in the position.
Black tried to take advantage of her opponent's kingside weakness by playing 20...Bxf2 21.Kxf2 Qh4+ 22.Ke2, but failed to find the most accurate continuation at this point - Dzagnidze went for 22...Qxh3, when 22...Rb6 was the way to go.
Muzychuk got a key tempo to play 23.Qf3, and after 23...Rfe8+ she managed to get a bit of shelter for her king via 24.Be3 Qh2+ 25.Kf1
Following simplifications, Black emerged with three pawns (triplets on the f-file, in fact) for White's bishop.
White has a clear advantage, but converting it into a win is no trivial task. By move 63, Muzychuk had given up her bishop - but she had the much more advanced passed pawns in a pure queen endgame.
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Muzychuk continued to show correct technique until a mistake on move 78 led to a balanced position. Dzagnidze still had to play precisely - until move 102 - to secure the draw.
Anna Muzychuk | Photo: FIDE / Anna Shtourman
Nana Dzagnidze | Photo: FIDE / Anna Shtourman
