Women's Grand Prix in Chengdu: Koneru with strong finish

by André Schulz
7/14/2016 – The Women's Grand Prix in Chengdu had a happy end for Indian Grandmaster Humpy Koneru when she won her last two games to finish shared first with Harika Dronavalli. Both scored 7.0/11 but Harika Dronavalli won the tournament on tie-break. With 6.0/11 Anna Muzychuk, Ju Wenjun and Antoaneta Stefanova shared places three to six. But though Koneru did not win the tournament she gained 145 Grand Prix points and is now first in the overall Grand Prix standings.
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The first move of the last round

In the last two rounds Humpy Koneru played against Mariya Muzychuk and Antoaneta Stefanova. Koneru , who started the tournament as favorite, won both games and now has good chances to win the Grand Prix.

Humpy Koneru

 
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1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 a6 6.c5 b6 7.cxb6 Qxb6 8.Bd3 8.Bd2 a5 9.Na4 Qa7 10.Rc1 Bd6 11.Bd3 Ba6 12.Qe2 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Ne4 14.0-0 0-0 15.Rc2 Rc8 16.Rfc1 Qb7 17.Qb3 Qxb3 18.axb3 Rc7 19.Be1 f6 20.Nc3 f5 21.Na4 f4 22.exf4 Bxf4 23.Ra1 Rb7 24.Ne5 Rxb3 25.Nxc6 Nxc6 26.Rxc6 Kf7 27.g3 Bd2 28.Bxd2 Nxd2 29.Nc5 Rxb2 30.Rc7+ Kf6 31.Ra3 a4 32.Re3 Re8 33.Nxa4 Rb4 34.Nc5 Rxd4 35.Rc6 Rc4 36.Nd7+ Kg5 37.Rcxe6 Rxe6 38.Rxe6 Rd4 39.h4+ Kh5 40.Kg2 Ne4 41.Ne5 Nf6 42.Re7 Kh6 43.f3 Rd1 44.g4 g5 45.Re6 Kg7 46.hxg5 Ng8 47.f4 h6 48.gxh6+ Nxh6 49.Rg6+ Kh7 50.Rd6 d4 51.Rd7+ Kg8 52.Kg3 Kf8 53.Rd8+ Ke7 54.Rxd4 1-0 (54) Sargissian,G (2693)-Stefanova,A (2507) Dubai 2016 8...a5 9.Na4
White tries to control e5 and exploit the weak pawn on c6 - a motif that runs through the whole game. 9...Qa7 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.b3 Ba6 12.Bxa6 Qxa6 13.Qc2 Bd6 14.Bb2 0-0 15.Ne5 Rfc8 16.Nd3 Qa7 17.Rfc1 Qb8 18.h3 Ne4 19.Qd1 Ra7 20.Rc2 Rac7 21.Rac1 Qa7 22.Qe1 f5 23.f3 Bg3 24.Qe2 Nd6 25.Ndc5 Nxc5 26.Nxc5 Re7 27.Nd3 Rec7 28.Ba3 Nb7 29.Bc5 Qa6 30.Qd1 Re8 31.f4 Bh4 32.a4 Bf6 33.Ba3 Nd8 34.Bd6 Rc8 35.Qd2 Nf7 36.Ba3 Rc7 37.Kh2 Qb6 38.Rc3 Rec8 39.Qc2
It is not exaggerated to say that White has c5 firmly under control! 39...Nd8 40.Bc5 Qa6 41.Bd6 Ra7 42.Nc5 Qb6
43.Nxe6!? White's strategic advantage creates tactical opportunities. Nxe6 44.Qxf5 Re8 45.Rxc6 Qxb3 46.R1c3 Qb7 47.Qxd5 Qf7 48.Rc8 Nd8 49.Qb5 Bh4 50.Be5 White has three pawns for the piece and controls the entire board. Qg6 51.f5 Qf7 52.R3c7 Rxc7 53.Rxc7 Be7 54.e4 Qf8 55.Rc8
55...Bd6 Losing a piece - but the position was lost anyway. 56.Qd5+ Nf7 57.Rxe8 Qxe8 58.Bxd6 h5 59.e5 Qxa4 60.e6 Nxd6 61.e7+ Nf7 62.Qa8+ Kh7 63.e8Q Qxd4 64.Qg8+ Kh6 65.Qc6+ 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Koneru,H2575Stefanova,A25121–02016D45Chengdu WGP 201611

Harika Dronavalli finished the tournament with two draws but this was enough to win the tournament on tie-break. The two Indians both finished with 7.0/11 and both gained 145 Grand Prix points, which allowed Koneru to take first place in the overall Grand Prix standings.

Harika Dronavalli

Ju Wenjun won 93.5 Grand Prix points and is now second in the overall Grand Prix standings. However, if she plays well in the final Grand Prix event she might catch Koneru and win the Grand Prix.

Ju Wenjun

Valentina Gunina, who did not play in Chengdu, too, still has theoretical chances to win the Grand Prix, for instance, if she wins the the final Grand Prix event and Ju Wenjun finishes fifth or worse.

After the next World title match the Grand Prix winner has the right to challenge the Women's World Champion for the title.

Organisers and officials

Results of round 10

Board Title Name ELO Res. Title Name ELO
1 GM Mariya Muzychuk 2561 0 - 1 GM Humpy Koneru 2575
2 GM Antoaneta Stefanova 2507 ½ - ½ GM Anna Muzychuk 2555
3 GM Bela Khotenashvili 2470 1 - 0 GM Pia Cramling 2471
4 GM Xue Zhao 2504 ½ - ½ GM Dronavalli Harika 2514
5 WGM Olga Girya 2443 ½ - ½ GM Wenjun Ju 2559
6 WGM Zhongyi Tan 2509 ½ - ½ IM Lela Javakhishvili 2493

Results of round 11

Board Title Name ELO Res. Title Name ELO
1 IM Lela Javakhishvili 2493 ½ - ½ GM Mariya Muzychuk 2561
2 GM Wenjun Ju 2559 ½ - ½ WGM Zhongyi Tan 2509
3 GM Dronavalli Harika 2514 ½ - ½ WGM Olga Girya 2443
4 GM Pia Cramling 2471 0 - 1 GM Xue Zhao 2504
5 GM Anna Muzychuk 2555 1 - 0 GM Bela Khotenashvili 2470
6 GM Humpy Koneru 2575 1 - 0 GM Antoaneta Stefanova 2507

All games

 
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1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 Bg4 4.h3 Bh5 5.g4 Bg6 6.Ne5 Nfd7 7.Nxg6 hxg6 8.c4 c6 9.Qb3 Qc7 10.Nc3 e6 11.e4 e5 12.exd5 exd4 13.Ne2 Na6 14.Bf4 Qa5+ 15.Kd1 Nac5 16.Qf3 cxd5 17.Nxd4 0-0-0 18.Kc2 Nb6 19.Bd2 Qa4+ 20.b3 Qd7 21.cxd5 Qxd5 22.Qxd5 Nxd5 23.Bg2 Be7 24.Rad1 a6 25.Ba5 Nc7 26.b4 Nd7 27.Rhe1 Bf6 28.b5 Nc5 29.Bxc7 Kxc7 30.Nb3 Nxb3 31.Kxb3 axb5 32.f4 Bh4 33.Rxd8 Rxd8 34.Re5 Rd2 35.Bf1 Rf2 36.Bxb5 Rf3+ 37.Kb4 Rxf4+ 38.Bc4 Rf3 39.Bd5 Rf4+ 40.Re4 Rf2 41.Kb5 Bg5 42.a4 b6 43.Rd4 Be7 44.Rd3 Rc2 45.Bc4 f5 46.Re3 Bf6 47.Re6 Rb2+ 48.Ka6 f4 49.Bd5 Rd2 50.Bb7 Rd3 51.Rc6+ Kd7 52.Rxb6 f3 53.Bc6+ Kc7 54.Bb5 Rd1 55.g5 Bxg5 56.Rb7+ Kc8 57.Rxg7 Rd6+ 58.Ka7 Be3+ 59.Ka8 Rf6 60.Re7 Bb6 61.Ba6+ Kd8 62.Re1 Ba5 63.Rd1+ Kc7 64.Bf1 Bb4 65.Rc1+ Kb6 66.Rc8 Rf7 67.Rb8+ Ka5 68.Rb7 Rf8+ 69.Rb8 Rf6 70.Kb7 Kxa4 71.Rc8 Kb3 72.Rc6 Rxc6 73.Kxc6 Kc3 74.Kd5 Kd2 75.Ke4 Ke1 76.Kxf3 Kxf1 77.h4 Bd2 78.Kg4 Bh6 79.Kf3 Ke1 80.Ke4 Bf8 81.Kf4 Be7 82.Kg4 Ke2 83.h5 gxh5+ 84.Kxh5 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Stefanova,A2512Muzychuk,M2545½–½2016D04Chengdu WGP 20161
Khotenashvili,B2454Koneru,H2575½–½2016E06Chengdu WGP 20161
Zhao Xue2510Muzychuk,A2545½–½2016D30Chengdu WGP 20161
Girya,O2444Cramling,P2463½–½2016D21Chengdu WGP 20161
Tan Zhongyi2495Harika,D25260–12016D43Chengdu WGP 20161
Javakhishvili,L2487Ju Wenjun2578½–½2016D37Chengdu WGP 20161
Muzychuk,M2545Ju Wenjun2578½–½2016C42Chengdu WGP 20162
Harika,D2526Javakhishvili,L24871–02016B46Chengdu WGP 20162
Cramling,P2463Tan Zhongyi2495½–½2016D38Chengdu WGP 20162
Muzychuk,A2545Girya,O2444½–½2016B12Chengdu WGP 20162
Koneru,H2575Zhao Xue25101–02016D38Chengdu WGP 20162
Stefanova,A2512Khotenashvili,B2454½–½2016D05Chengdu WGP 20162
Khotenashvili,B2454Muzychuk,M25451–02016B37Chengdu WGP 20163
Zhao Xue2510Stefanova,A25120–12016D15Chengdu WGP 20163
Girya,O2444Koneru,H25750–12016E32Chengdu WGP 20163
Tan Zhongyi2495Muzychuk,A2545½–½2016A87Chengdu WGP 20163
Javakhishvili,L2487Cramling,P2463½–½2016D30Chengdu WGP 20163
Ju Wenjun2578Harika,D2526½–½2016D45Chengdu WGP 20163
Khotenashvili,B2454Zhao Xue2510½–½2016E00Chengdu WGP 20164
Cramling,P2463Ju Wenjun25780–12016A30Chengdu WGP 20164
Muzychuk,A2545Javakhishvili,L2487½–½2016B36Chengdu WGP 20164
Koneru,H2575Tan Zhongyi24951–02016D31Chengdu WGP 20164
Stefanova,A2512Girya,O2444½–½2016A11Chengdu WGP 20164
Muzychuk,M2545Harika,D2526½–½2016B33Chengdu WGP 20164
Ju Wenjun2578Muzychuk,A25451–02016A11Chengdu WGP 20165
Girya,O2444Khotenashvili,B24541–02016D31Chengdu WGP 20165
Tan Zhongyi2495Stefanova,A2512½–½2016D15Chengdu WGP 20165
Zhao Xue2510Muzychuk,M2545½–½2016D30Chengdu WGP 20165
Javakhishvili,L2487Koneru,H2575½–½2016D58Chengdu WGP 20165
Harika,D2526Cramling,P2463½–½2016A30Chengdu WGP 20165
Muzychuk,M2545Cramling,P24631–02016C53Chengdu WGP 20166
Muzychuk,A2545Harika,D2526½–½2016C19Chengdu WGP 20166
Koneru,H2575Ju Wenjun2578½–½2016D37Chengdu WGP 20166
Stefanova,A2512Javakhishvili,L24871–02016A04Chengdu WGP 20166
Khotenashvili,B2454Tan Zhongyi2495½–½2016D38Chengdu WGP 20166
Zhao Xue2510Girya,O2444½–½2016D43Chengdu WGP 20166
Girya,O2444Muzychuk,M2545½–½2016D85Chengdu WGP 20167
Tan Zhongyi2495Zhao Xue2510½–½2016A15Chengdu WGP 20167
Javakhishvili,L2487Khotenashvili,B2454½–½2016D56Chengdu WGP 20167
Ju Wenjun2578Stefanova,A2512½–½2016D10Chengdu WGP 20167
Harika,D2526Koneru,H25751–02016C50Chengdu WGP 20167
Cramling,P2463Muzychuk,A2545½–½2016D85Chengdu WGP 20167
Muzychuk,M2545Muzychuk,A2545½–½2016E32Chengdu WGP 20168
Koneru,H2575Cramling,P2463½–½2016D25Chengdu WGP 20168
Stefanova,A2512Harika,D2526½–½2016A48Chengdu WGP 20168
Khotenashvili,B2454Ju Wenjun2578½–½2016E00Chengdu WGP 20168
Zhao Xue2510Javakhishvili,L2487½–½2016A58Chengdu WGP 20168
Girya,O2444Tan Zhongyi2495½–½2016E32Chengdu WGP 20168
Tan Zhongyi2495Muzychuk,M25450–12016A33Chengdu WGP 20169
Javakhishvili,L2487Girya,O24441–02016A11Chengdu WGP 20169
Ju Wenjun2578Zhao Xue25100–12016E21Chengdu WGP 20169
Harika,D2526Khotenashvili,B2454½–½2016D00Chengdu WGP 20169
Cramling,P2463Stefanova,A2512½–½2016D15Chengdu WGP 20169
Muzychuk,A2545Koneru,H25751–02016C11Chengdu WGP 20169
Muzychuk,M2545Koneru,H25750–12016B07Chengdu WGP 201610
Stefanova,A2512Muzychuk,A2545½–½2016B13Chengdu WGP 201610
Khotenashvili,B2454Cramling,P24631–02016D00Chengdu WGP 201610
Zhao Xue2510Harika,D2526½–½2016D45Chengdu WGP 201610
Girya,O2444Ju Wenjun2578½–½2016E39Chengdu WGP 201610
Tan Zhongyi2495Javakhishvili,L2487½–½2016A22Chengdu WGP 201610
Javakhishvili,L2487Muzychuk,M2545½–½2016D11Chengdu WGP 201611
Ju Wenjun2578Tan Zhongyi2495½–½2016E34Chengdu WGP 201611
Harika,D2526Girya,O2444½–½2016D45Chengdu WGP 201611
Cramling,P2463Zhao Xue25100–12016E15Chengdu WGP 201611
Muzychuk,A2545Khotenashvili,B24541–02016B18Chengdu WGP 201611
Koneru,H2575Stefanova,A25121–02016D45Chengdu WGP 201611

Final standings

Rg. Title Name Elo 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pts. TB
1 GM Dronavalli Harika 2514   1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 7.0 / 11 37.50
2 GM Humpy Koneru 2575 0   0 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 ½ 1 ½ 7.0 / 11 36.00
3 GM Anna Muzychuk 2555 ½ 1   0 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 6.0 / 11 33.25
4 GM Wenjun Ju 2559 ½ ½ 1   ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 6.0 / 11 32.00
5 GM Antoaneta Stefanova 2507 ½ 0 ½ ½   ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 6.0 / 11 31.75
6 GM Bela Khotenashvili 2470 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½   ½ 1 0 ½ ½ 1 5.5 / 11 29.25
7 GM Xue Zhao 2504 ½ 0 ½ 1 0 ½   ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 5.5 / 11 28.50
8 GM Mariya Muzychuk 2561 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½   ½ ½ 1 1 5.5 / 11 27.75
9 WGM Olga Girya 2443 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½   0 ½ ½ 5.0 / 11 27.25
10 IM Lela Javakhishvili 2493 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 1   ½ ½ 5.0 / 11 26.50
11 WGM Zhongyi Tan 2509 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½   ½ 4.0 / 11  
12 GM Pia Cramling 2471 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 0 0 ½ ½ ½   3.5 / 11  

 

Overall Grand Prix standings

 

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André Schulz started working for ChessBase in 1991 and is an editor of ChessBase News.

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