马拉松 (Marathon)

Anna Yuriyivna Ushenina – 黄茜 (Huáng Qiàn)
43rd Women’s Chess Olympiad; Batumi, September 30, 2018
8/8/5k2/1R3p2/6p1/4K1P1/r7/8 w - - 22 118

Position after 117. ... Ke5-f6

Woman Grandmaster 黄茜 (Huáng Qiàn), also known for being the wife of Grandmaster 卜祥志 (Bǔ Xiángzhì), did miracles today by winning a drawn Rook and Pawn ending against Anna Yuriyivna Ushenina, thus scoring a vital equaliser in China’s crucial match with Ukraine. 118. Rb6+. Another way towards a draw could be 118. Rc5! Rg2 119. Rc3! Rxg3+ 120. Kf4= Rxc3 stalemate. 118. ... Kg5 119. Rb8?? And here is Ushenina’s drama. The White Rook had to stay (and eventually oscillate) on the third rank: 119. Rb3 and if 119. ... Rg2 then 120. Kd4 making Black’s progress virtually impossible. 119. ... Rg2 120. Rg8+ Kf6 121. Rf8+ Kg6. Now the g3-Pawn falls with fatal consequences for White. 122. Kf4 Rf2+ 123. Ke5 Re2+ 124. Kd4 (124. Kf4 Re4 mate) 124. ... Rg2 125. Ke5 Rxg3 126. Rxf5 Rf3! The rest is easy. 127. Rf4 Kg5 128. Ra4 g3 129. Ra8 Re3+ 130. Kd4 Re1 131. Kd3 Kg4 132. Kd2 Re7 133. Rg8+ Kh3 134. Rh8+ Kg2 135. Rg8 Re5 136. Rg7 Kh2 137. Rh7+ Kg1 138. Rg7 g2 139. Rg8 Rh5 140. Ke2 Kh2 141. Kf2 Rf5+ 142. Ke2 g1=Q 143. Rh8+ Kg2 144. Rg8+ Kh1 0 : 1. So angry was Ushenina that walked away denying her opponent the ritual handshake.

Seated, from left to right, are 雷挺婕 (Léi Tǐngjié), 黄茜 (Huáng Qiàn), 沈阳 (Shěn Yáng), and 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn); standing, from left to right, are 田红卫 (Tián Hóngwèi), Chinese Chess Association’s Delegate & Vice General Secretary, and 余少腾 (Yú Shǎoténg), head coach of Chinese women’s chess team. Photo: batumi2018.fide.com.