The Proud Family

Anna Muzychuk – Almira Skripchenko
Women’s Grand Prix; third stage; Batumi, April 26, 2016
Sicilian Defence B32

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 d6 6. N1c3 a6 7. Na3 Be7 8. Nc4 b5 9. Ne3 Nf6 10. Bd3 Nb4 11. Be2 Be6 12. a3 Nc6 13. Ned5 Nd4 14. Bd3 0-0 15. Be3 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 Bg5 7. c3 Bxe3 18. Nxe3 Nc6 19. 0-0 Ne7 20. a4 bxa4 21. Rxa4 a5 22. Bc4 Bd7 23. Ra2 Bc6 24. Qd3 Qc7 25. b3 h6 26. f3 Kh8 27. Rd1 Rad8 28. Rda1 Ra8 29. Kh1 f5. Skripchenko becomes impatient and ends up making matters still worse. 30. exf5 d5 31. Bxd5 Bxd5 32. Nxd5 Nxd5 33. Qxd5 Qxc3 34. h3 Rad8 35. Qxa5 Qxb3 36. Qxe5 Rd5 37. Qe6. Europe Échecs’ editor-in-chief Grandmaster Bachar Kouatly writes: “The opening battle in the Sicilian Kalashnikov between Anna Muzychuk and Almira Skripchenko was intense, and they both spent a lot of time on it. Everything was finally settled when approaching the time control. [Now], in an already difficult situation, Almira played”: 37. ... Qb5

38. f6! The elder sister concludes in style. 38. ... Rxf6 39. Ra8+ Kh7 40. Qg8+ Kg6 41. R8a7 Rd7 42. Qe8+ Rff7 43. Qe4+ 1 : 0. “On 43. ... Qf5 (If 43. ... Rf5 44. Rxd7 Qxd7 45. g4 wins a Rook. If, instead, 43. ... Kg5 44. h4+ Kf6 45. R1a6+ soon mating. Finally, if 43. ... Kh5 44. Qg4 mate) 44. R1a6+ Kh7 45. Qxf5+ Rxf5 46. Rxd7 also wins a Rook”, Kouatly pointed out.

Anna Muzychuk (R.) vs. Almira Skripchenko (L.)
Photo: Chess-News.ru ‏(@Chess__News)