On the Way to Damascus

Anna Olehivna Muzychuk – Pyotr Veniaminovich Svidler
4th Gideon Japhet Cup (25+10); Jerusalem, July 2, 2018
Sicilian Defence B51

The Muzychuk sisters stopped at Jerusalem, Israel under the ACP (Association of Chess Professionals) umbrella. Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk plays the 4th Gideon Japhet Memorial ACP Open Chess Tournament (classical time control), while Anna Olehivna Muzychuk tries her luck in the 4th Gideon Japhet Cup (rapid time control). Today, Anna Olehivna came very close to win in her first round game with eight-time Russian Chess Champion Pyotr Veniaminovich Svidler. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+. Muzychuk likes this line. 3. ... Nd7 4. 0-0 a6 5. Bd3 Ngf6 6. c3 b5 7. a4 c4 8. Be2 Bb7 9. axb5 axb5 10. Rxa8 Bxa8 11. Na3 Bxe4. The alternative is 11. ... Qb8 12. d3 cxd3 13. Bxd3 Bxe4 14. Nxb5 d5 15. Bg5 e5 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Bxe4 dxe4 18. Qa4 exf3 19. Nc7+ Kd8 20. Rd1+ Kxc7 21. Qc4+ Kb6 22. Qb3+ Kc7 23. Qc4+ Kb6 24. Qb3+ Kc7 25. Qc4+ Kb6 ½ : ½ A. Muzychuk – Raja, 16th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival, Catalan Bay 2018. 12. Nxb5 d5 13. b3! A significant improvement on 13. d3 cxd3 14. Bxd3 Bxd3 15. Qxd3 e5 16. Re1 e4 17. Nfd4 Bc5 18. Qg3 0-0 19. Bg5 Qb6 20. b4 Bxd4 21. Nxd4 Ra8 22. Nf5 g6 23. Nh6+ Kg7 24. Ng4 Nxg4 25. Qxg4 Qc6 26. Qg3 Rc8 27. Bd2 f6 28. h4 Ne5 29. h5 Nc4 30. Bf4 g5 31. Qg4 Re8 32. Ra1 ½ : ½ A. Muzychuk – P. Cramling, ACP European Women’s Rapid Chess Championship, Tbilisi 2018. 13. ... cxb3 14. Ba3 e6 15. Qxb3 Nc5 16. Qa2. 16. Qb4 could well be considered. 16. ... Bxf3 17. Bxf3 Be7. Svidler doesn’t succeed in “normalising” his position, seriously risking to lose the game. He ought to have played 17. ... Qa5(!) 18. Qb1 Be7 with a perfectly playable game. 18. c4 d4. This worsens the prognosis for Black. 18. ... 0-0 19. d4 Nce4 seems comparatively best.

19. Bc6+ Kf8 20. Bb4. Stockfish gives 20. Qa1 g6 (trying to keep the Pawn with 20. ... d3 21. Rb1! does not help at all) 21. Nxd4 Kg7 22. Bf3 which leaves White a Pawn up with the better game. Muzychuk’s choice, however, is not bad either. 20. ... g6 21. Qa7. 21. Qa3 would have been extremely unpleasant for Black, but Muzychuk, hard pressed by the lack of time, contents herself with a draw by repetition. 21. ... Nb3 22. Qa4 Nc5 23. Qa7 Nb3 ½ : ½.

Anna Olehivna Muzychuk (right) vs. Pyotr Veniaminovich Svidler (left). Photo: Vladimir Barsky.