Spring tulips blooming at 中山公园 (Zhōngshān Park) in 北京 (Běijīng), China. Photo: Adek Berry/AFP/Getty Images. |
Monday, April 27, 2026
Tulips and Irises
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Friday, April 24, 2026
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
A Desert in Bloom
We had a stop for a coffee on the freeway Florence-Pisa-Livorno service area Q8 Titignano Nord. We always stop there when we go through such lands just to greet Maria, and to admire her orchids, which she, and only she succeeds in making bloom lushly all year round. |
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Monday, April 20, 2026
Once Upon a Time in the West
Grammar of the West
Giorgio Agamben, Quodlibet, April 20, 2026
In a 1942 essay, Louis Renou could assert that “Indian thought has as substructure reasonings of a grammatical nature”. The three categories into which, according to Indian philosophy, all reality is articulated — substance, quality, action — unquestionably derive from the grammatical analysis of language: noun, adjective, verb. Pāṇini’s Sanskrit grammar and Patanjali’s commentary, indeed predate most Indian philosophical texts.
One may wonder to what extent this also applies to the Greek philosophy that underlies our culture. This hypothesis seems to be countered by the tradition which attributed to Plato and Aristotle the discovery of the parts of speech and, consequently, the invention of grammar. The contrast fades and disappears as soon as one understands that what was being suggested was that, in order to be philosophers, Plato and Aristotle had first had to be grammarians.
The West is, from beginning to end, a grammatical civilisation, which has made the analysis of language and its construction in a grammar the basis of its knowledge of the world and its dominion over nature. Science, which has become the religion of the West, indeed presupposes, like every religion, a named world, in which ontology — that is, the fact that being is expressed and ordered in language — is subdivided into regions, each of which is taken charge of by a particular science. The destiny of the West is thus inscribed in Indo-European grammar, with its cases and logical-syntactic connections of hierarchical dependence in which, along with its language, it articulates its thought.
Perhaps it will be by looking to China — a culture which has not analysed and constructed its own language within a grammar, but sees in it monosyllables without any grammatical articulation — that will arise, if not a new thought, at least a way out of the dark fates that, without our realising it, the logical analysis of language, which is not coincidentally taught to us in elementary school, has inevitably assigned us.
Giorgio Agamben, Quodlibet, April 20, 2026
In a 1942 essay, Louis Renou could assert that “Indian thought has as substructure reasonings of a grammatical nature”. The three categories into which, according to Indian philosophy, all reality is articulated — substance, quality, action — unquestionably derive from the grammatical analysis of language: noun, adjective, verb. Pāṇini’s Sanskrit grammar and Patanjali’s commentary, indeed predate most Indian philosophical texts.
One may wonder to what extent this also applies to the Greek philosophy that underlies our culture. This hypothesis seems to be countered by the tradition which attributed to Plato and Aristotle the discovery of the parts of speech and, consequently, the invention of grammar. The contrast fades and disappears as soon as one understands that what was being suggested was that, in order to be philosophers, Plato and Aristotle had first had to be grammarians.
The West is, from beginning to end, a grammatical civilisation, which has made the analysis of language and its construction in a grammar the basis of its knowledge of the world and its dominion over nature. Science, which has become the religion of the West, indeed presupposes, like every religion, a named world, in which ontology — that is, the fact that being is expressed and ordered in language — is subdivided into regions, each of which is taken charge of by a particular science. The destiny of the West is thus inscribed in Indo-European grammar, with its cases and logical-syntactic connections of hierarchical dependence in which, along with its language, it articulates its thought.
Perhaps it will be by looking to China — a culture which has not analysed and constructed its own language within a grammar, but sees in it monosyllables without any grammatical articulation — that will arise, if not a new thought, at least a way out of the dark fates that, without our realising it, the logical analysis of language, which is not coincidentally taught to us in elementary school, has inevitably assigned us.
(English translation by I, Robot)
Avigdor Arikha, Anne with Hand on Mouth, 1970. Courtesy of WikiArt. |
Sunday, April 19, 2026
A Thousand Blue Bubbles
Spent Sunday in Rignano sull’Arno, Metropolitan City of Florence, Italy, with Mado Flynn, volunteering in favour of the A.M.A. (Friends of Animal World) Cat Pound. |
Saturday, April 18, 2026
Friday, April 17, 2026
Two Queens in One Realm
Wadim Alexandrowitsch Rosenstein, CEO of WR Group and deus ex machina of the homonymous elite chess circuit, announces:
“We are happy to introduce the beginning of a new chapter for women in chess — the WR Women’s Chess Tour!”. |
With the patronage and involvement of two queens, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk, the inaugural WR Women’s Chess Tour is aimed at bringing together the best of women’s chess and will be contested across four continents: Asia (June 5–8, 2026), Americas (June 30–July 3, 2026), Africa (August 20–23, 2026), and Europe (August 24–27, 2026) for a total prize fund of $200,000.
Further details will follow when they are available. For more information, click here.
Further details will follow when they are available. For more information, click here.
From left: Kosteniuk, Rosenstein, and 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). Photo: Lennart Ootes via WR Chess. |
Thursday, April 16, 2026
The River Dragon
Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and Grandmaster 叶江川 (Yè Jiāngchuān) enjoy a night’s philosophical talk on a boat along the 黄河 (Yellow River) in 兰州 (Lánzhōu), 甘肃省 (Gānsù province), China, Wednesday, October 22, 2025. |
By and By
Footage of the promotional tour by four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and her long-time mentor, Grandmaster 叶江川 (Yè Jiāngchuān), at schools and centres in 兰州 (Lánzhōu), 甘肃省 (Gānsù province), China, on October 21–22, 2025. |
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
India and China
Rameshbabu Vaishali – Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 15, 2026
r7/5pbk/2q3p1/3Rp3/4Q1P1/1P6/rBP4P/1K1R4 w - - 5 36
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 15, 2026
r7/5pbk/2q3p1/3Rp3/4Q1P1/1P6/rBP4P/1K1R4 w - - 5 36
Position after 35. ... Ra6-a2
The position in the diagram is the outcome of a Dragon gone quite wrong for Black. No attack ever came to compensate for her early Pawn sacrifice, and now it is White who launches the assault.
36. g5! Qb6 37. Qh4+ Kg8 38. Qe4 R8a4!?? White has a Pawn ahead and a dominating position — enough of a nightmare to make Black go for broke with a last desperate effort of attack. If, instead, 38. ... Kh7 then White would have to find 39. Rd7 Qa5 40. Kc1!! neutralising all threats (or else, alternatively, 40. c4!?, which seems much more within the reach of a human mind).
39. Rd8+ Kh7 40. c4! The only move, but also a winning one!
40. ... Rxc4. Black could well resign here.
41. Qxc4 Rxb2+ 42. Kxb2 e4+ 43. Kb1 Qf2 44. R8d2 Qf5 45. Qd5 Qf3 46. Rc2 Qf4 47. Re1 e3 48. Qg2! 1–0.
36. g5! Qb6 37. Qh4+ Kg8 38. Qe4 R8a4!?? White has a Pawn ahead and a dominating position — enough of a nightmare to make Black go for broke with a last desperate effort of attack. If, instead, 38. ... Kh7 then White would have to find 39. Rd7 Qa5 40. Kc1!! neutralising all threats (or else, alternatively, 40. c4!?, which seems much more within the reach of a human mind).
39. Rd8+ Kh7 40. c4! The only move, but also a winning one!
40. ... Rxc4. Black could well resign here.
41. Qxc4 Rxb2+ 42. Kxb2 e4+ 43. Kb1 Qf2 44. R8d2 Qf5 45. Qd5 Qf3 46. Rc2 Qf4 47. Re1 e3 48. Qg2! 1–0.
“Taking up yoga and meditation and seeking help from a sports psychologist is what Grandmaster R. B. Ramesh believes has helped Vaishali Rameshbabu to turn the tables at the Candidates and thus earn the right to challenge for the World Championship”, says The Indian Express of April 16. Photo: Niki Riga/FIDE. |
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Thinky Thoughts
朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 14, 2026
5rk1/2p3p1/2Nqb1Pp/1P2R3/2PP4/p4P2/Q4K2/8 b - - 7 51
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 14, 2026
5rk1/2p3p1/2Nqb1Pp/1P2R3/2PP4/p4P2/Q4K2/8 b - - 7 51
Position after 51. Re4-e5
With her last move, 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr), who wanted to win at all costs, went seriously overboard, and Goryachkina didn’t let the opportunity slip away.
51. ... Kh8! A brilliant example of attacking prophylaxis, in the best style of Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov. Now Black actually threatens ... Be6-g4, with no longer fear of a check after c4-c5.
52. Ke3. Suddenly the White King finds itself in a sea of trouble. Needless to say, the text is not a good one, but 52. Kg2 Rf6! is not cheerful either.
52. ... Bd7! 53. Re4 Bxc6 54. bxc6 Qg3 55. Qf2 Qxg6 56. d5 Qf6 57. Qe2
51. ... Kh8! A brilliant example of attacking prophylaxis, in the best style of Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov. Now Black actually threatens ... Be6-g4, with no longer fear of a check after c4-c5.
52. Ke3. Suddenly the White King finds itself in a sea of trouble. Needless to say, the text is not a good one, but 52. Kg2 Rf6! is not cheerful either.
52. ... Bd7! 53. Re4 Bxc6 54. bxc6 Qg3 55. Qf2 Qxg6 56. d5 Qf6 57. Qe2
57. ... a2! 0–1. For if 58. Qxa2 then 58. ... Qc3+! 59. Ke2 Qxf3+ winning the Rook.
It is always too late — when one understands that half a point is better than none. Photo: Michał Walusza/FIDE. |
Paradise Lost
Adam’s childhood
Giorgio Agamben, Quodlibet, April 13, 2026
One cannot comprehend our culture’s conception of the human being without remembering that at its foundation is a man without childhood: Adam. According to the Genesis narrative, the man that the Lord creates and puts in the Garden of Eden is an adult, to whom He speaks and gives commands, and for whom He creates a companion so that he will not be alone. And an adult only, certainly not an infante, could give a name to all animals in the garden.
It is not surprising that a being without childhood cannot remain innocent and is fatally doomed to guilt and sin. Perhaps the pessimism that condemns the Christian West to always postpone happiness and fulfillment to the future stems from this singular deficiency, which makes Adam a being constitutively devoid of childhood. And it is perhaps because of this lack, more original of any sin, that, on the one hand, childhood is for each of us the place of nostalgia for impossible happiness and, on the other, a defective condition in social organisation, which must be disciplined and educated at all costs. And if psychoanalysis sees the child as the hidden subject of every neurosis, this is perhaps just because the Adamic paradigm of a man without childhood acts somewhere within us.
This means that the recovery from the West’s disease — that is, an adult culture that, by repressing childhood, ends up condemning itself to puerility — shall be possible only if we will able to give Adam back his childhood.
Giorgio Agamben, Quodlibet, April 13, 2026
One cannot comprehend our culture’s conception of the human being without remembering that at its foundation is a man without childhood: Adam. According to the Genesis narrative, the man that the Lord creates and puts in the Garden of Eden is an adult, to whom He speaks and gives commands, and for whom He creates a companion so that he will not be alone. And an adult only, certainly not an infante, could give a name to all animals in the garden.
It is not surprising that a being without childhood cannot remain innocent and is fatally doomed to guilt and sin. Perhaps the pessimism that condemns the Christian West to always postpone happiness and fulfillment to the future stems from this singular deficiency, which makes Adam a being constitutively devoid of childhood. And it is perhaps because of this lack, more original of any sin, that, on the one hand, childhood is for each of us the place of nostalgia for impossible happiness and, on the other, a defective condition in social organisation, which must be disciplined and educated at all costs. And if psychoanalysis sees the child as the hidden subject of every neurosis, this is perhaps just because the Adamic paradigm of a man without childhood acts somewhere within us.
This means that the recovery from the West’s disease — that is, an adult culture that, by repressing childhood, ends up condemning itself to puerility — shall be possible only if we will able to give Adam back his childhood.
(English translation by I, Robot)
萧云从 (Xiāo Yúncóng), 女娲 (Nǚwā) repairing the pillar of heaven, 1645. Courtesy of
Wikimedia Commons. |
Sunday, April 12, 2026
Another Spring
Spent Sunday at the Spring Festival flower market in Calenzano, Metropolitan City of Florence, in tow of my friend Mado Flynn, and even this year I took the chance to meet and play chess with Giacomo in memory of happy times spent at Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”. |
朱锦尔来了！
Rameshbabu Vaishali – 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr)
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 12, 2026
4kn1Q/1q2bp2/p3p1r1/3nP3/P2B3p/1p3N2/5PP1/1RN4K b - - 1 36
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 12, 2026
4kn1Q/1q2bp2/p3p1r1/3nP3/P2B3p/1p3N2/5PP1/1RN4K b - - 1 36
Position after 36. Ne2-c1
White’ last move was a bad mistake, as it allows her opponent to unleash a killer attack:
36. ... h3! 37. Nxb3 (37. Qxh3 Nf4−+)
37. ... hxg2+ 38. Kh2 (38. Kg1 Nf4−+)
38. ... g1=Q+! 39. Nxg1 Nc3! 0–1.
36. ... h3! 37. Nxb3 (37. Qxh3 Nf4−+)
37. ... hxg2+ 38. Kh2 (38. Kg1 Nf4−+)
38. ... g1=Q+! 39. Nxg1 Nc3! 0–1.
朱锦尔来了！ Photo: Niki Riga/FIDE.
Saturday, April 11, 2026
A Void
Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Rameshbabu Vaishali
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 11, 2026
Queen’s Pawn Opening D02
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 11, 2026
Queen’s Pawn Opening D02
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c3 e6 4. Bf4 c5 5. e3 Qb6 6. Qb3 Bd7 7. Nbd2 Be7 8. Be2 0-0 9. 0-0 Rc8 10. Ne5 Be8
11. Bg5 Nc6 12. f4 Na5
13. Qxb6 axb6 14. f5 h6 15. Bh4 exf5 16. Rxf5 Nc6 17. a3 Bd8 18. Raf1 Nxe5 19. Rxe5 Bc6 20. Ref5 Rc7 21. h3 Rd7 22. Bg3 Bc7 23.
Bxc7 Rxc7 24. Re5 Re8
25. Rff5?! A bit too artificial. White could simply exchange Rooks on e8.
25. ... Rxe5 26. Rxe5 g6! Suddenly Black threatens ... Kg8-f8 followed by ... Nf6-d7 trapping the Rook in the middle of the board.
27. dxc5 bxc5 28. c4 Kf8 29. cxd5 Bxd5 30. Bc4?? Oblivious to the net closing around her, Goryachkina falls straight into Vaishali’s trap. 30. Bf3? Be6! also gives White a hard time, but 30. a4! Be6 31. Bc4 Nd7 32. Re4 Bf5 33. Rf4 Ne5 should still be tenable.
30. ... Bc6!
25. ... Rxe5 26. Rxe5 g6! Suddenly Black threatens ... Kg8-f8 followed by ... Nf6-d7 trapping the Rook in the middle of the board.
27. dxc5 bxc5 28. c4 Kf8 29. cxd5 Bxd5 30. Bc4?? Oblivious to the net closing around her, Goryachkina falls straight into Vaishali’s trap. 30. Bf3? Be6! also gives White a hard time, but 30. a4! Be6 31. Bc4 Nd7 32. Re4 Bf5 33. Rf4 Ne5 should still be tenable.
30. ... Bc6!
The Rook is in the sac.
31. Rxc5 b6 32. Rxc6 (32. Re5 Nd7−+)
32. ... Rxc6 33. Bb5 Rc2 34. Nc4 Nd5 35. b3 Rc3 36. Ba4 Nxe3 37. Nxb6 Rc2 38. Bb5 Rxg2+ 39. Kh1 Rb2 40. Nd7+ Ke7 41. Nc5 Kd6 42. Nb7+ Kd5 43. b4 Ke4 44. Nc5+ Kf3 45. Bd3 f5 0–1.
31. Rxc5 b6 32. Rxc6 (32. Re5 Nd7−+)
32. ... Rxc6 33. Bb5 Rc2 34. Nc4 Nd5 35. b3 Rc3 36. Ba4 Nxe3 37. Nxb6 Rc2 38. Bb5 Rxg2+ 39. Kh1 Rb2 40. Nd7+ Ke7 41. Nc5 Kd6 42. Nb7+ Kd5 43. b4 Ke4 44. Nc5+ Kf3 45. Bd3 f5 0–1.
As they say, “Never look back. It distracts from the now!”. Photo: Niki Riga/FIDE. |
Friday, April 10, 2026
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Late But Not Last
Divya Deshmukh – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 9, 2026
8/8/1Pk4p/6p1/p1N2p2/P6P/2b2KP1/8 w - - 0 56
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 9, 2026
8/8/1Pk4p/6p1/p1N2p2/P6P/2b2KP1/8 w - - 0 56
Position after 55. ... f5-f4
From an absolute point of view, in the situation of the diagram, the Bishop is stronger than the Knight, but material is too reduced to allow Black any hope of a win.
56. g3? A first faux pas. Right was 56. h4!, in order to liquidate Black’s Kingside Pawns and then eventually sacrifice the Knight at a4.
56. ... fxg3+ 57. Kxg3 Bb3? Goryachkina too hesitates. She ought to have played 57. ... h5! at once, winning as in the game.
58. Nb2? Deshmukh misses her chance of salvation. 58. Ne5+! Kxb6 59. h4! would have ensured a draw.
58. ... h5! White is not given a second chance.
59. Kf3 (59. h4 g4−+)
59. ... Kxb6 60. Ke4 Bc2+ 61. Kd4 Kc7 62. Kd5 g4! 0–1. For after 63. hxg4 h4−+ the Pawn queens.
0–1.
56. g3? A first faux pas. Right was 56. h4!, in order to liquidate Black’s Kingside Pawns and then eventually sacrifice the Knight at a4.
56. ... fxg3+ 57. Kxg3 Bb3? Goryachkina too hesitates. She ought to have played 57. ... h5! at once, winning as in the game.
58. Nb2? Deshmukh misses her chance of salvation. 58. Ne5+! Kxb6 59. h4! would have ensured a draw.
58. ... h5! White is not given a second chance.
59. Kf3 (59. h4 g4−+)
59. ... Kxb6 60. Ke4 Bc2+ 61. Kd4 Kc7 62. Kd5 g4! 0–1. For after 63. hxg4 h4−+ the Pawn queens.
0–1.
Finally, Goryachkina also tasted the thrill of victory. Photo: Michał Walusza/FIDE. |
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
At Sea
朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) – Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 8, 2026
English Opening A13
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 8, 2026
English Opening A13
1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. b3 c5 4. Bb2 e6 5. Be2 Nc6 6. 0-0 Bd6 7. d4 b6 8. c4
Bb7 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Nc3 0-0 11. Rc1
Re8 12. exd4 12. Nb5 Bf8 13. dxc5 bxc5 14.
Bxf6 gxf6 15. Bd3 Ne5 16. Re1 Qd7 17. Nc3 Qg4 18. Nxe5 Qxd1 19. Rexd1 fxe5
20. e4 dxe4 21. Bxe4 Bxe4 22. Nxe4 Red8 23. Kf1
23. ... Rxd1+? The decisive mistake, which loses a Pawn and the game. After 23. ... Rd4! 24. Re1 Rc8 Black appears to hold her own in the endgame.
24. Rxd1 a5 25. Rd5 a4 26. Rxe5 axb3 27. axb3 Rb8 28. Rg5+ Kh8 29. Rg3 h6 30. Ke2 Rb4 31. Nd2 Bd6 32. Rd3 Be5 33. Nc4 Bg7 34. Nd6 Kg8 35. Rg3 Kh7 36. Nxf7 Rb6 37. f4 Re6+ 38. Re3 Rf6 39. Nd8 Rxf4 40. Re7 Rb4 41. Ne6 Kg6. Desperation, but 41. ... Rg4 42. Rxg7+! Rxg7 43. Nxg7 Kxg7 44. Kd3 is an elementary win for White.
42. Nxg7 Rxb3 43. Ne8 c4 44. Rg7+ Kf5 45. Nd6+ Kf6 46. Rc7 1–0.
24. Rxd1 a5 25. Rd5 a4 26. Rxe5 axb3 27. axb3 Rb8 28. Rg5+ Kh8 29. Rg3 h6 30. Ke2 Rb4 31. Nd2 Bd6 32. Rd3 Be5 33. Nc4 Bg7 34. Nd6 Kg8 35. Rg3 Kh7 36. Nxf7 Rb6 37. f4 Re6+ 38. Re3 Rf6 39. Nd8 Rxf4 40. Re7 Rb4 41. Ne6 Kg6. Desperation, but 41. ... Rg4 42. Rxg7+! Rxg7 43. Nxg7 Kxg7 44. Kd3 is an elementary win for White.
42. Nxg7 Rxb3 43. Ne8 c4 44. Rg7+ Kf5 45. Nd6+ Kf6 46. Rc7 1–0.
朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) took advantage with an irreproachable technique of the only major mistake Lagno made in the endgame. Photo: Michał Walusza/FIDE. |
One By Two
Rameshbabu Vaishali – Divya Deshmukh
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 8, 2026
Catalan Opening E01
Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026; Pegeia, April 8, 2026
Catalan Opening E01
1. Nf3 d5 2. b3 Nf6 3. Bb2 e6 4. c4 Bd6 5. g3 0-0 6. Bg2 c6 7. 0-0 Nbd7 8.
d4 a5 9. Nc3 Ne4 10. Nxe4. A tough nut. 10. a4 f5 11. e3 b6 12. cxd5 Nxc3 13. Bxc3 cxd5 is comfortably equal for Black, Daneshvar – Bjerre, 4th FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament, Samarkand 2025
10. ... dxe4 11. Ne5 f5 12. f4!? (12. f3)
12. ... Nf6 (12. ... exf3 13. Nxf3 Nf6)
13. e3 Qe8. Deserving consideration was 13. ... Bd7 intending ... Bd7-e8-h5.
14. h3 b5 15. Rf2 Ba6 16. Rc1 bxc4 17. bxc4
10. ... dxe4 11. Ne5 f5 12. f4!? (12. f3)
12. ... Nf6 (12. ... exf3 13. Nxf3 Nf6)
13. e3 Qe8. Deserving consideration was 13. ... Bd7 intending ... Bd7-e8-h5.
14. h3 b5 15. Rf2 Ba6 16. Rc1 bxc4 17. bxc4
17. ... Nd7? Admittedly a miscalculation. 17. ... c5 18. Bf1 gives White a pleasant game, but nothing transcendental.
18. Nxc6! Rc8. Black intended 18. ... Nb6 19. d5 Nxc4, but at the last moment noticed that White could play 20. Rxc4! Bxc4 21. Qd4 threatening both mate and the Bishop.
19. d5 Nc5 20. Qd4 Rf6?! Better was 20. ... Rf7 21. Rd2 exd5 22. cxd5 Nd3 23. Bf1⩲ with White’s advantage still within reasonable proportions.
21. Rd2 Rg6? Once again, 21. ... exd5 22. cxd5 Nd3 23. Bf1 was Black’s last chance to hang on to her seat.
22. Kh2 Nd3
18. Nxc6! Rc8. Black intended 18. ... Nb6 19. d5 Nxc4, but at the last moment noticed that White could play 20. Rxc4! Bxc4 21. Qd4 threatening both mate and the Bishop.
19. d5 Nc5 20. Qd4 Rf6?! Better was 20. ... Rf7 21. Rd2 exd5 22. cxd5 Nd3 23. Bf1⩲ with White’s advantage still within reasonable proportions.
21. Rd2 Rg6? Once again, 21. ... exd5 22. cxd5 Nd3 23. Bf1 was Black’s last chance to hang on to her seat.
22. Kh2 Nd3
23. Rxd3! exd3 24. c5 Rxc6. If the Bishop retreats to either b8 or f8, then 25. d6 is deadly.
25. dxc6 Bc7 26. Qd7 Qb8
25. dxc6 Bc7 26. Qd7 Qb8
27. Be5! Bxe5 28. Rb1! The pointe. The Rook is taboo because of mate on e8.
28. ... Qf8 29. fxe5 h5 30. Qd6 Qf7 31. Rb7! 1–0.
28. ... Qf8 29. fxe5 h5 30. Qd6 Qf7 31. Rb7! 1–0.
“Vaishali’s victory over compatriot Divya Deshmukh means that she remains in joint lead of the tournament — sharing the top spot with China’s 朱锦尔 (Zhū Jǐn’ěr) on 5½ points — with just five rounds left in Cyprus”, Amit Kamath wrote in The Indian Express of April 9. Photo: Michał Walusza/FIDE. |
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