Women's SCC: Shuvalova stuns Hou, Vaishali beats Kosteniuk

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
9/3/2024 – The first two matches of the quarterfinals in the Women's Speed Chess Championship took place on Monday. Polina Shuvalova (pictured) and Vaishali Rameshbabu advanced to the semifinals after knocking out two former women's world champions, Hou Yifan and Alexandra Kosteniuk, respectively. Both matches were really hard-fought, with Shuvalova only beating Hou in the bullet tiebreaker. | Photo: FIDE / Lennart Ootes
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Close matches

The quarterfinals of the Women's Speed Chess Championship kicked off with two exciting matches. Polina Shuvalova defeated Hou Yifan in tiebreaks after winning the fourth and final bullet game on time (in a losing position). Later in the day, Vaishali Rameshbabu knocked out Alexandra Kosteniuk after scoring three consecutive wins in the final encounters of the bullet section to get an overall 9-8 victory.

In both cases, the eventual winner had lost against the exact same opponents in the previous edition of the event, as noted by Dani Sharon on X. Last year, Hou and Kosteniuk - two former women's world champions - had defeated Shuvalova and Vaishali by 13½-7½ and 13-8 scores respectively.

The two remaining quarterfinal matches will take place on Tuesday: Ju Wenjun v. Alice Lee will start at 15.30 CEST, while Kateryna Lagno v. Valentina Gunina will kick off at 18.00 CEST. The semifinals and final will be played on Wednesday and Thursday, a day before the start of the Speed Chess Championship main event - featuring the much anticipated Magnus Carlsen v. Hans Niemann match in Paris.

Women's Speed Chess Championship 2024

Women's Speed Chess Championship 2024

Hou's king hunt

3-minute game

Shuvalova, Polina27400–1Hou, Yifan2779
Julius Baer Women's Speed Chess Champion
Chess.com02.09.2024[CC]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 One of the sharpest continuations out of the Nimzo-Indian Defence. Caruana used it with white to beat Aronian in a rapid game earlier this year. c5 The Caruana-Aronian game went 4...d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.dxc5 Qa5 9.e4 which is a deep, well-known theoretical line - now Aronian deviated from the main variation with Nc7 5.d5 0-0 6.e4 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 d6 8.g4
This is where the position became completely wild. Shuvalova plays a tough-to-justify novelty, and Hou quickly finds the refutation. Normal is 8.Bd3 Nbd7 9.Ne2 Ne5 10.0-0 8...exd5 9.cxd5 Bxg4 The only way to refute White's intrepid idea! 10.fxg4 Nxe4 11.Nf3 Re8 It is already difficult to find a continuation for White. Black still needs to keep a cool head to make the most of her advantage. 12.Be3 This is already a major mistake. A better defensive try is 12.Qd3 Qf6 13.Bg2 Nxc3+ 14.Be3 12...Qf6
13.Bg2 Qxc3+ 14.Ke2 The king hunt begins. Qb2+ 15.Kf1 Nc3 16.Qe1 The bishop remains pinned - now because of the queen on e1. Rxe3 17.Qxe3 Qxa1+ 18.Kf2 Qb2+ Now Black is even material up - she still has to develop her queenside pieces though. 19.Kg3 Nd7 20.Qe7 Ne2+ 21.Kh4 Nf4 22.Qxd7 White is doomed, but Shuvalova grabs the knight just in case. Now it is only a matter of finding the mating attack for Hou. Qxg2
23.Ng5 Ng6+ Hou misses 23...Qf2# 24.Kh5 Ne5 25.Qxd6 Qxg4# But checkmate comes quite quickly still. 0–1

All games - Quarterfinals

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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Qe7 5.e3 b6 6.Bd3 Bxd2+ 7.Qxd2 Bb7 8.Nc3 c5 9.Qe2 d5 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Bb5+ Kf8 12.0-0 cxd4 13.Nxd5 Bxd5 14.Nxd4 g6 15.e4 Bb7 16.Rac1 Kg7 17.Rfd1 a6 18.Ba4 b5 19.Bb3 e5 20.Nf3 Nc6 21.Bd5 Rac8 22.a3 Na5 23.h3 Rhd8 24.Rxc8 Rxc8 25.Bxb7 Nxb7 26.Rd5 Rc5 27.Qd2 Rxd5 28.Qxd5 f6 29.Qc6 Nd6 30.Qxa6 Qc7 31.Nd2 Qc1+ 32.Nf1 Qc5 33.b4 Qd4 34.Qc6 Nxe4 35.Ne3 Qa1+ 36.Kh2 Nxf2 37.Qc7+ Kh6 38.Qc2 Qh1+ 39.Kg3 f5 40.Kxf2 e4 41.Qd2 Kh5 42.Qd7 Kh6 43.Qd6 Kh5 44.Qe7 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Gunina,V2676Divya Deshmukh26091–02024Main Event1.1
Hou,Y2780Bodnaruk,A26281–02024Main Event1.1
Ju,W2648Sargsyan,A26751–02024Main Event1.1
Kosteniuk,A2710Narva,M26931–02024Main Event1.1
Lagno,K2797Nurman,A26761–02024Main Event1.1
Lee,A2813Khademalsharieh,S2583½–½2024Main Event1.1
Tan,Z2702Shuvalova,P27010–12024Main Event1.1
Vaishali,R2687Roebers,E2657½–½2024Main Event1.1
Bodnaruk,A2623Hou,Y27851–02024Main Event1.2
Divya Deshmukh2603Gunina,V26821–02024Main Event1.2
Khademalsharieh,S2588Lee,A28081–02024Main Event1.2
Narva,M2685Kosteniuk,A27181–02024Main Event1.2
Nurman,A2671Lagno,K28021–02024Main Event1.2
Roebers,E2658Vaishali,R26860–12024Main Event1.2
Sargsyan,A2666Ju,W2657½–½2024Main Event1.2
Shuvalova,P2709Tan,Z26940–12024Main Event1.2
Gunina,V2672Divya Deshmukh2613½–½2024Main Event1.3
Hou,Y2774Bodnaruk,A2634½–½2024Main Event1.3
Ju,W2657Sargsyan,A26661–02024Main Event1.3
Kosteniuk,A2709Narva,M2694½–½2024Main Event1.3
Lagno,K2791Nurman,A2682½–½2024Main Event1.3
Lee,A2796Khademalsharieh,S26001–02024Main Event1.3
Tan,Z2702Shuvalova,P27011–02024Main Event1.3
Vaishali,R2693Roebers,E2651½–½2024Main Event1.3
Bodnaruk,A2637Hou,Y27710–12024Main Event1.4
Divya Deshmukh2614Gunina,V26710–12024Main Event1.4
Khademalsharieh,S2596Lee,A2800½–½2024Main Event1.4
Narva,M2694Kosteniuk,A2709½–½2024Main Event1.4
Nurman,A2684Lagno,K27891–02024Main Event1.4
Roebers,E2652Vaishali,R26920–12024Main Event1.4
Sargsyan,A2658Ju,W26650–12024Main Event1.4
Shuvalova,P2693Tan,Z27100–12024Main Event1.4
Gunina,V2678Divya Deshmukh26071–02024Main Event1.5
Hou,Y2776Bodnaruk,A26321–02024Main Event1.5
Ju,W2673Sargsyan,A2650½–½2024Main Event1.5
Kosteniuk,A2709Narva,M26941–02024Main Event1.5
Lagno,K2779Nurman,A2694½–½2024Main Event1.5
Lee,A2796Khademalsharieh,S26000–12024Main Event1.5
Tan,Z2718Shuvalova,P2685½–½2024Main Event1.5
Vaishali,R2699Roebers,E26450–12024Main Event1.5
Bodnaruk,A2627Hou,Y27810–12024Main Event1.6
Divya Deshmukh2601Gunina,V26841–02024Main Event1.6
Khademalsharieh,S2612Lee,A2784½–½2024Main Event1.6
Narva,M2686Kosteniuk,A27171–02024Main Event1.6
Nurman,A2696Lagno,K27770–12024Main Event1.6
Roebers,E2654Vaishali,R26900–12024Main Event1.6
Sargsyan,A2651Ju,W26720–12024Main Event1.6
Shuvalova,P2686Tan,Z27171–02024Main Event1.6
Gunina,V2674Divya Deshmukh26111–02024Main Event1.7
Hou,Y2786Bodnaruk,A26221–02024Main Event1.7
Ju,W2680Sargsyan,A26431–02024Main Event1.7
Kosteniuk,A2708Narva,M26951–02024Main Event1.7
Lagno,K2783Nurman,A2690½–½2024Main Event1.7
Lee,A2780Khademalsharieh,S26160–12024Main Event1.7
Tan,Z2708Shuvalova,P26951–02024Main Event1.7
Vaishali,R2697Roebers,E26471–02024Main Event1.7
Bodnaruk,A2617Hou,Y27910–12024Main Event1.8
Divya Deshmukh2604Gunina,V26810–12024Main Event1.8
Khademalsharieh,S2628Lee,A27691–02024Main Event1.8
Narva,M2687Kosteniuk,A27161–02024Main Event1.8
Nurman,A2692Lagno,K2781½–½2024Main Event1.8
Roebers,E2640Vaishali,R27041–02024Main Event1.8
Sargsyan,A2636Ju,W26870–12024Main Event1.8
Shuvalova,P2687Tan,Z27161–02024Main Event1.8
Gunina,V2687Divya Deshmukh25980–12024Main Event1.9
Hou,Y2769Bodnaruk,A26321–02024Main Event1.9
Ju,W2694Sargsyan,A2629½–½2024Main Event1.9
Kosteniuk,A2707Narva,M26961–02024Main Event1.9
Lagno,K2779Nurman,A2694½–½2024Main Event1.9
Lee,A2758Khademalsharieh,S26391–02024Main Event1.9
Tan,Z2722Shuvalova,P2701½–½2024Main Event1.9
Vaishali,R2695Roebers,E2649½–½2024Main Event1.9
Bodnaruk,A2627Hou,Y27741–02024Main Event1.10
Divya Deshmukh2688Gunina,V25560–12024Main Event1.10
Khademalsharieh,S2534Lee,A28320–12024Main Event1.10
Narva,M2501Kosteniuk,A2705½–½2024Main Event1.10
Nurman,A2696Lagno,K27771–02024Main Event1.10
Roebers,E2629Vaishali,R2753½–½2024Main Event1.10
Sargsyan,A2630Ju,W26930–12024Main Event1.10
Shuvalova,P2701Tan,Z27221–02024Main Event1.10
Gunina,V2567Divya Deshmukh26770–12024Main Event1.11
Hou,Y2763Bodnaruk,A26380–12024Main Event1.11
Ju,W2700Sargsyan,A26231–02024Main Event1.11
Kosteniuk,A2701Narva,M25051–02024Main Event1.11
Lagno,K2703Nurman,A25970–12024Main Event1.11
Lee,A2834Khademalsharieh,S25321–02024Main Event1.11
Tan,Z2714Shuvalova,P27090–12024Main Event1.11
Vaishali,R2750Roebers,E26320–12024Main Event1.11
Bodnaruk,A2649Hou,Y27521–02024Main Event1.12
Divya Deshmukh2683Gunina,V25610–12024Main Event1.12
Khademalsharieh,S2530Lee,A28361–02024Main Event1.12
Narva,M2501Kosteniuk,A27051–02024Main Event1.12
Nurman,A2607Lagno,K26930–12024Main Event1.12
Roebers,E2643Vaishali,R27391–02024Main Event1.12
Sargsyan,A2565Ju,W26100–12024Main Event1.12
Shuvalova,P2717Tan,Z2706½–½2024Main Event1.12
Gunina,V2572Divya Deshmukh26721–02024Main Event1.13
Hou,Y2742Bodnaruk,A26590–12024Main Event1.13
Ju,W2617Sargsyan,A25581–02024Main Event1.13
Kosteniuk,A2693Narva,M25130–12024Main Event1.13
Lagno,K2699Nurman,A26011–02024Main Event1.13
Lee,A2822Khademalsharieh,S2544½–½2024Main Event1.13
Tan,Z2706Shuvalova,P2717½–½2024Main Event1.13
Vaishali,R2729Roebers,E26531–02024Main Event1.13
Divya Deshmukh2662Gunina,V25820–12024Main Event1.14
Khademalsharieh,S2549Lee,A28170–12024Main Event1.14
Narva,M2525Kosteniuk,A26810–12024Main Event1.14
Nurman,A2595Lagno,K27050–12024Main Event1.14
Roebers,E2647Vaishali,R2735½–½2024Main Event1.14
Sargsyan,A2551Ju,W2624½–½2024Main Event1.14
Ju,W2622Sargsyan,A25531–02024Main Event1.15
Kosteniuk,A2686Narva,M25200–12024Main Event1.15
Lagno,K2711Nurman,A25891–02024Main Event1.15
Lee,A2820Khademalsharieh,S2546½–½2024Main Event1.15
Khademalsharieh,S2551Lee,A28151–02024Main Event1.16
Narva,M2532Kosteniuk,A26740–12024Main Event1.16
Sargsyan,A2547Ju,W26281–02024Main Event1.16
Kosteniuk,A2679Narva,M25270–12024Main Event1.17
Lee,A2802Khademalsharieh,S25641–02024Main Event1.17
Khademalsharieh,S2561Lee,A2805½–½2024Main Event1.18
Kosteniuk,A2715Narva,M26881–02024Main Event1.18
Khademalsharieh,S2634Lee,A27630–12024Main Event1.19
Hou,Y2795Shuvalova,P27240–12024Main Event2.1
Kosteniuk,A2715Vaishali,R26940–12024Main Event2.1
Shuvalova,P2734Hou,Y27850–12024Main Event2.2
Vaishali,R2702Kosteniuk,A27070–12024Main Event2.2
Hou,Y2792Shuvalova,P27270–12024Main Event2.3
Kosteniuk,A2715Vaishali,R2694½–½2024Main Event2.3
Shuvalova,P2736Hou,Y2783½–½2024Main Event2.4
Vaishali,R2694Kosteniuk,A2715½–½2024Main Event2.4
Hou,Y2782Shuvalova,P27371–02024Main Event2.5
Kosteniuk,A2715Vaishali,R26941–02024Main Event2.5
Shuvalova,P2730Hou,Y2789½–½2024Main Event2.6
Vaishali,R2686Kosteniuk,A27231–02024Main Event2.6
Hou,Y2788Shuvalova,P27310–12024Main Event2.7
Kosteniuk,A2714Vaishali,R26951–02024Main Event2.7
Shuvalova,P2740Hou,Y27790–12024Main Event2.8
Vaishali,R2687Kosteniuk,A27220–12024Main Event2.8
Hou,Y2699Shuvalova,P26930–12024Main Event2.9
Kosteniuk,A2668Vaishali,R2733½–½2024Main Event2.9
Shuvalova,P2701Hou,Y26910–12024Main Event2.10
Vaishali,R2732Kosteniuk,A26691–02024Main Event2.10
Hou,Y2699Shuvalova,P2693½–½2024Main Event2.11
Kosteniuk,A2662Vaishali,R27390–12024Main Event2.11
Shuvalova,P2693Hou,Y26990–12024Main Event2.12
Vaishali,R2745Kosteniuk,A26561–02024Main Event2.12
Hou,Y2707Shuvalova,P26850–12024Main Event2.13
Shuvalova,P2694Hou,Y26981–02024Main Event2.14
Hou,Y2690Shuvalova,P27021–02024Main Event2.15
Shuvalova,P2694Hou,Y2698½–½2024Main Event2.16
Hou,Y2698Shuvalova,P26940–12024Main Event2.17

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Carlos Colodro is a Hispanic Philologist from Bolivia. He works as a freelance translator and writer since 2012. A lot of his work is done in chess-related texts, as the game is one of his biggest interests, along with literature and music.
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