A safe draw seals the deal
Ju Wenjun won the first game of their semi-final match with Black against Alexandra Kosteniuk. In a French Tarrasch variation, Kosteniuk lost a pawn after a tactical trick and then had to fight for a draw:
This DVD gives you the key to start out with the French Defence. GM Yannick Pelletier is a specialist of this opening, and believes that the most efficient way to understand its ideas, plans, and typical structures is to study classical lines. Kosteniuk vs Ju Wenjun, game 1
After 18...Nxa6 then 19.Rxa6 would fail to 19...Qb7 double attacking the rook and threatening mate on g2. Kosteniuk played 19.Be3 but Black was in control for the rest of the game and won slowly in a minor piece ending.
Kosteniuk vs Ju Wenjun
Ju, therefore, needed only a draw with White today to move into the final. She played in a solid, restrained style, avoiding all complications. Kosteniuk found no way to spice up the game and had to agree to a draw in the rook ending after 73 moves.
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nf3 cxd4 4.Nxd4 b6 5.Nc3 Bb7 6.f3 Nc6 7.e4 e6 8.Be3 Bb4 9.Be2 0-0 10.0-0 Qb8 11.Nxc6 Bxc6 12.Qd3 a6 13.a3 Bd6 14.f4 Bc7 15.Rad1 Qb7 16.Bf3 d6 17.a4 Rad8 18.Qc2 Rc8 19.Rd2 Bb8 20.Qb1 Qc7 21.Rc1 Bb7 22.b3 Nd7 23.g3 Rfd8 24.Bg2 Nf6 25.h3 Rd7 26.Rcd1 Rcd8 27.Qd3 Bc6 28.Qe2 Ba7 29.Kh2 Ne8 30.Qf2 Rb8 31.Qe2 Rdd8 32.Qf2 Rdc8 33.f5 Rb7 34.Bd4 Bb8 35.Rc2 Qe7 36.Re1 Qd8 37.Rf1 e5 38.Be3 b5 39.cxb5 axb5 40.Rfc1 bxa4 41.bxa4 Bc7 42.Bf1 Ra8 43.Bb5 Bxb5 44.Nxb5 Qd7 45.Rc4 Bd8 46.Qc2 g6 47.fxg6 hxg6 48.Rc8 Ra6 49.Qc4 Kg7 50.Rc2 Nf6 51.Nc3 Ra5 52.Qc6 Qxc6 53.Rxc6 d5 54.exd5 Nxd5 55.Nxd5 Rxd5 56.R6c5 Rxc5 57.Bxc5 e4 58.Bd4+ Bf6 59.Bxf6+ Kxf6 60.a5 Ra7 61.Ra2 Ra6 62.Kg2 Ke5 63.Kf2 g5 64.g4 Kf4 65.Ra4 f6 66.Ra2 f5 67.gxf5 Kxf5 68.Ra4 Kf4 69.Ra3 Ke5 70.Ra4 Kf5 71.Ra2 Kf4 72.Ra3 Ke5 ½–½
- Start an analysis engine:
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| Ju,W | 2568 | Kosteniuk,A | 2543 | ½–½ | 2018 | A31 | FIDE WCC 2018 | 5.2 |
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At first glance, the Hedgehog setup might appear somewhat passive but in fact Black is always waiting to launch a counterattack. Let Yannick Pelletier provide you with a complete repertoire against the English and the Reti!
Alexandra Kosteniuk, a former World Champion is out | Photo: Official site
An unspectacular draw
The game between Kateryna Lagno and Mariya Muzychuk was also extremely even throughout. Although Lagno, who played with White, sacrificed an early pawn in an open Spanish, Muzychuk quickly returned the pawn and, by move 24, the position flatlined into a double-rook endgame with opposite-coloured bishops. It took another 30 moves, but the game ended in a draw. The two players will need a Saturday tiebreak to determine who will face Ju in the final.
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.Nbd2 Be7 10.c3 Nc5 11.Nd4 11.Bc2 d4 12.Nb3 d3 13.Bb1 Nxb3 14.axb3 Bf5 15.Be3 0-0 16.Bd4 Qd5 17.Re1 d2 18.Re2 Bxb1 19.Rxb1 Nxd4 20.Nxd4 11...Nxe5 12.Bc2 12...Bg4 13.Qe1N 13.f3 Bd7 14.b4 Ne6 15.N2b3 Nc6 16.Nf5 Bf6 17.Qxd5 Bxc3 18.Bd2 Bxa1 19.Rxa1 13...Ned3 14.Qe3 Nxc1 15.Rfxc1 Bd7 16.Re1 Ne6 17.Qe5 0-0 18.Qxd5 18.Nf5 Bf6 19.Qxd5 Nf4 20.Qe4 Ng6 21.Nf3 18...Nxd4 19.Qxd4 Be6 20.Nf3 20.Nb3 Bxb3 21.Qxd8 Rfxd8 22.axb3 Bf6 23.Be4 20...Qxd4 21.Nxd4 Bc5 22.Nxe6 fxe6 23.Re2 e5 24.Rd1 Bd6 25.g3 g6 26.Kg2 Kg7 27.a4 Kf6 28.Rd5 Rab8 29.b4 Rfd8 30.Bb3 g5 31.Re4 Rf8 32.h4 h6 33.Bc2 Ke6 34.Rd1 34.Rd2 Rbd8 35.Bb3+ Kf5 36.Rd1 c5 37.hxg5 hxg5 38.Re3 34...c5 35.hxg5 hxg5 36.axb5 axb5 37.bxc5 Bxc5 38.Bb3+ Kf5 39.Rde1 Bd6 40.Bc2 Kf6 41.Rd1 Ke7 42.Rg4 Bc5 43.f3 Kf6 44.f4 gxf4 45.Rd5 Rbd8 46.Rxc5 Rd2+ 47.Kf3 Rxc2 48.gxf4 exf4= 49.Rc6+ Ke7 50.Rg7+ Kd8 51.Rd6+ Kc8 52.Rc6+ Kd8 53.Rd6+ Kc8 ½–½ - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
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| Lagno,K | 2556 | Muzychuk,M | 2545 | ½–½ | 2018 | | FIDE WCC 2018 | 5.2 |
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The Open Ruy Lopez gives Black free piece play and chances for the initiative. This sharp and interesting variation has been used by many of the all-time greats, including Anand, Kortschnoi, Botvinnik, Keres, Euwe, Fine and Reshevsky and this is by no means an exhaustive list. White will argue that Black loosens his position in the Open Variation, but if Black takes the time and trouble to learn the ideas and tactical themes that underpin this line, he has every chance to win the game. This will be especially interesting to the club player as it doubtless has been to the grandmasters mentioned above.
Kateryna Lagno | Photo: Official site
Mariya Muzychuk | Photo: Official site
All games
| Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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- Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Translation from German: Macauley Peterson
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