WWch Semis TB: Oh the humanity!

Tournament conditions

The Women's World Chess Championship takes place from March 17 – April 7 in Sochi, Russia. The knock-out tournament is attended by 64 players, including the former World Champions Alexandra Kosteniuk (Russia), Anna Ushenina (Ukraine), and Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria), the three-time Russian champion Valentina Gunina, the World Vice-Champion Humpy Koneru (India), as well as other leading grandmasters. Unfortunately, the reigning champion Hou Yifan was unable to come for personal reasons, but as the winner of the FIDE Grand Prix she will still be able to challenge the new champion to a match.

The first five rounds consist of mini-matches of two games played at 90 minutes for 40 moves followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game and a 30-second increment per move. The final match will consist of four games.

In the event of a tie, the winner will be determined by a series of tiebreak games: two rapid games of 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move. If the score remains equal, the players then proceed to two more games played at 10 minutes plus 10 seconds per move. If the score continues tied a final mini-match will be played of two blitz games of 5 minutes plus 3 seconds per move. Finally, an Armageddon game will be played to decide the winner in which White has five minutes and Black has four minutes, with a three-second increment per move after move 61. Black will be declared the victor if the game is drawn.

Round five - tiebreak

This is yet another event at Sochi, but as can be seen behind Sergey Rublevski, it is hardly eye-sore

Natalia Pogonina vs Pia Cramling

In their first 25-minute game Cramling and Pogonina continued the theoretical discussion in the Queen's Gambit started in the first classical game. The Swedish player was first to deviate and got a considerably better game, but after some strange time-wasting moves, she appeared to lose the thread of the game and suddenly forced a repetition before things got out of hand.

Prior to the start, even the comeback queen shows her concern

With a look of all business, the games revealed just how tense the players really were

In the second rapid game the players once again repeated their classical match opening – the Sicilian Paulsen. Pogonina soon got a dream setup versus her opponent's hedgehog with full control of the center and well-placed pieces. Nerves began to creep up on both players very quickly, and with missed wins by White, constantly and chronically, it was a war of nerves and attrition. The game lasted as long as it did entirely thanks to the increments, and it took a full 116 moves for Natalia Pogonina to force Pia Cramling to capitulate and secure the first spot in the World Championship final.

A disappointed Pia Cramling absorbs the moment

The sheer size of her accomplishment begins to sink in, as Pogonina begins to smile uncontrollably

Eteri Kublashvili, the tournament press officer, shares some pictures with Natalia Pogonina

The spectators enjoying the live commentary of Sergey Shipov are also treated to a
larger-than-life display of the action

Harika Dronavalli vs Mariya Muzychuk

Both Mariya Muzychuk and Harika Dronavalli put on their war faces

In the second tiebreak, Harika Dronavalli and Mariya Muzychuk exchanged blows in rapid games, both winning with black. The first game saw wild complications: Harika, playing White, sacrificed a rook and created a strong attack, but in the time trouble did not find the winning maneuver. Mariya found the defense, parried all White's threats and kept the decisive material advantage. The return game was very stressful and erratic. First Black made a mistake that cost a pawn, then White returned the favor, allowing her opponent to create dangerous counterplay. The Indian developed powerful piece activity and tied the score in a sharp game.

A supportive Anna Muzychuk can be seen in the background watching
her younger sister

The first ten-minute game was probably a key to the match. Dronavalli outplayed her opponent and transposed to a queen ending with two extra pawns, which was completely winning for White.

It is completely winning for White and the Indian will now secure her spot
into the finals. Qg7+ and there is nothing to it. Suddenly she plays 83.Qe3??
and after ...Qxe3 the resulting pawn endgame is a draw. Oh the humanity!

This lucky draw clearly inspired Mariya Muzychuk, and the Ukrainian handled the next game with great confidence and won convincingly, securing her seat in the final.

A devastated Harika realizing it is over

Mariya receives the warmest of congratulations from sister...

...and Evgeny Miroshnichenko, commentator, supporter, and friend.

On his Facebook page, Gata Kamsky, who like much of the chess world, has followed the thrilling event thus far, posted:

"Considering the current political situation. It must be really ironic that the finals of the Women's World Championship have a Russian player vs. a Ukrainian player. Chess as a peacemaker is doing its job and leading by the example. But, very exciting chess still and thanks to all the participants for the tremendous fighting spirit displayed. Looking forward to watching the finals."

April 1st is a rest day and the final match, with four classical games, will start on Thursday, April 2nd, between Natalia Pogonina and Mariya Muzychuk.

Report by Albert Silver and Eteri Kublashvili
Photos by Eteri Kublashvili, Anastasia Karlovich, and Vladimir Barsky

Semifinal pairings / results

Schedule

Links Official tournament site All games in PGN The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 13 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.