Women’s World Championship: Another fighting draw

In a league of their own

The fact that some of the most important titles in the world of chess have been taken by Chinese representatives has been duly celebrated by the Asian giant. The ‘Middle Kingdom’ has shown that, despite being somewhat disconnected from the Western world, it has the resources and the talent to compete even in sports that are not as traditional for them.

If you have a closer look at the games from the Women’s World Championship match, you have to admit that Ju Wenjun and Lei Tingjie are playing in a league of their own. Currently, there are very few players who would have real chances to break their dominance.

The fourth encounter in Shanghai was again of outstanding quality.

Ju Wenjun2566

½–½

Lei Tingjie2554

WWCCM 2023 Shanghai09.07.2023[Besenthal,Klaus-Günther]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e4 b5 6.e5 Nd5 7.Nxb5 Nb6 8.Be2 Nc6 9.0-0 Be7 10.Be3 0-0 11.Nc3 Rb8 12.b3 cxb3 13.axb3 Bb7 14.Qb1 Nb4 15.Ne4 h6 16.Rxa7 N6d5

Black has given up a pawn, but in return she gets magnificent squares for her minor pieces (d5, b4) and open files for her major pieces (a, b, d). This should be enough compensation, especially since it is a static advantage that will last for a long time. 17.Bd2 Nc6 18.Ra1 Ndb4 19.Be3 Nd5 20.Bc1 But Ju is not so quick to accept the draw. Ra8! This is also strong: the intended occupation of the b-file with the queen requires this exchange of rooks. The f8-rook can then be placed on d8. 21.Rd1 Rxa1 22.Qxa1 Ncb4 23.Nc5 Bc6 24.Bd2 Qb8 25.Qa5 Rd8 26.Rc1 Qb6 27.Qxb6 cxb6 28.Na6 Bb7 29.Nc7 g5

The exchange of queens hasn't changed the fact that Black has the better pieces. For White, meanwhile, it's a matter of holding the extra pawn on the one hand and trying to set up her pieces more actively on the other. The fact that the c-pawn is no longer in the line of the white rook can't hurt either. 30.h3 Nf4 31.Bxf4 gxf4 This pawn is practically unattackable for White, but at least she has been able to exchange her rather bad bishop for one of the lively black knights. 32.Nb5 Bc6 Threatening Rc7. 33.Kf1 Kf8 34.Rd1 Ra8 35.Nc3 Na2 36.Nxa2 Rxa2 This exchange of knights has given the e7-bishop some leeway. 37.Ne1 Rb2 Thus, the following variation had to be considered as well: 37...Bb4 38.Nd3 Bd2= 38.Nd3 Now the f4-pawn falls after all! Rxb3 39.Nxf4 In any case, it's impressive how Ju fights for the advantage here. The phalanx of connected pawns that can potentially be pushed forward is a valuable asset. Ba3 This bishop could try to attack the d4-pawn from behind. 40.d5 But that has now been settled. exd5 41.Nxd5 Bc5

Not much has changed: the black bishop pair stands securely and is geared towards concrete goals. 42.Nf6 Rb2 43.f4 43.Nd7+ Bxd7 44.Rxd7 Rb1+ 45.Rd1 45.Bd1 Rb2 etc. 45...Rxd1+ 46.Bxd1 should lead to a draw. 43...Rb4 44.g3 Rb3 45.Nd7+ Now the extra pawn will fall. Bxd7 46.Rxd7 Rxg3 47.Bg4

But White still has two connected pawns. She hopes to get something from that feature of the position. 47...Re3 48.Kg2 Be7 49.Rb7 f6 50.e6 h5 51.Bf5 h4 52.Bg4 52.Rxb6 yields nothing: Rg3+ 53.Kf1 Rf3+ 54.Ke2 Rxf4= 52...Rg3+ 53.Kf2 Bc5+ Not necessary at all. 53...Rb3 or 53...Rc3 were simpler. 54.Kf1 Be7 55.Ke2 Rb3 56.f5 b5 57.Kd2 b4 58.Rb8+ Kg7 59.Re8 Bd6 60.Rd8 Be7 61.Re8 Bd6 62.Rd8 Be7 63.Re8 ½–½

Improve your chess with Tania Sachdev

On this DVD, well-known Indian WGM Tania Sachdev shows you how to evaluate certain positions and then find the right concepts and plans on the basis of her own games.

Lei Tingjie | Photo: Stev Bonhage

All games

Links

• FIDE website
• Lei Tingjie convincingly wins the Women’s Candidates Final
• Ju Wenjun: An insider's view of the match for the Women's World Championship 2020