A Sense of Duty

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk – 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě)

1st IMSA World Masters Women’s Rapid Chess Championship (15+10); 衡水 (Héngshuǐ), May 16, 2019

Alekhine Defence B03

At the end of the 1st IMSA World Masters Women’s Rapid Chess Championship Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk tied for third place with 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí), but actually finished third by the Sonnenborg-Berger points. Her ninth round win against 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) made many things happen that otherwise never would have ended that way. 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 c6 5. c4 Nb6 6. exd6 exd6 7. Bd3 Be7 8. h3!? d5 9. c5 N6d7 10. 0-0 b6 11. cxb6. On 11. b4 a5 would be Black’s most natural rejoinder. 11. ... axb6 12. Re1 0-0 13. Nc3 Nf6 14. Ne5 c5. Not 14. ... Nfd7? on account of 15. Qh5! g6 16. Bxg6! with devastating attack. 15. Bg5↑ Bb7 16. Bc2 Nbd7. 16. ... Nc6 17. Nxc6 Bxc6 18. Qd3 g6 19. Qf3 was not appealing at all either. 17. Qd3 c4 18. Qf3 Ra5. That looks very artificial, but it’s hard to give Black good advices. 19. Re3 Nxe5 20. Rxe5 Bc8? 20. ... h6 21. Bh4 Qd7 (clearing the d8-square for the Bishop) seems the only way to go on, at least until it lasts. 21. Rae1 Be6. Probably due to time pressure they both now appear to take a breath: 22. Bf5? (22. Qg3!+−) 22. ... Nd7? (22. ... h6!) 23. Bxe7 Qxe7 24. R5e3 Qh4? Losing by force. However, if 24. ... Nc5 25. dxc5 d4 then 26. Nd5 Qxc5 27. Nf6+! Kh8 28. Re5 winning very easily. Comparatively best was 24. ... Qf6 25. Rxe6! fxe6 26. Bxe6+ Qxe6! 27. Rxe6 Rxf3 28. gxf3 leaving White with only a Pawn up and the better ending.

25. Rxe6! fxe6 26. Bxe6+ Kh8 27. Bxd7 Raa8 28. Qe3 Qf6 29. Re2 Rad8 30. Bg4 h6 31. Bf3 Qf7 32. Qe6 Qf4 33. Qe5 Qc1+ 34. Kh2 Rde8 35. Qxe8 Rxe8 36. Rxe8+ Kh7 37. Nxd5 Qxb2 38. Be4+ g6 39. Re7+ Kg8 40. Nf4 1 : 0.

15th Women’s World Chess Champion Muzychuk playing with 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě). Photo: 樊璐璐 (Fán Lùlù).