The Flight of the Mind

Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk – Zhansaya Daniyarovna Abdumalik

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

3r3r/1p4k1/1p2qp2/1PnRp3/PQ2P2p/2P2BP1/7P/5R1K w - - 0 35

Position after 34. ... h5-h4

After eight rounds (and two days) of the 1st IMSA World Masters Women’s Rapid Chess Championship a trio is leading comprised of Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina, Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk, and 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě). What was most impressive today was the comeback Kosteniuk mounted after drawing with 赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) in Round Five: she beat Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk, Zhansaya Daniyarovna Abdumalik, and Nana Dzagnidze, one after another! In the position of the diagram, with White to move, most engines play for position with 35. g4, but, given the format, Kosteniuk rightly goes for tactics: 35. Rg1!? Threatening g3xh4+ followed by Bf3-g4. 34. ... hxg3? Abdumalik has not time enough to assess the consequences of 35. ... Rxd5 36. exd5 Qf5 37. gxh4+ Kf7 which, in spite of the (temporary) material unbalance, would seem quite tenable for Black: 38. Qg4 Qxg4 39. Bxg4 (or 39. Rxg4 f5 40. Rg5 Kf6 41. Rh5 Ra8=) 39. ... Rxh4 40. d6 Nxa4 41. d7 Rh8 42. Bf5 Nc5 with good drawing chances. Now White’s attack spread its wings: 36. Rxg3+ Kf7 37. Bg4 Qe7 38. Qc4 Ne6. This loses dramatically, but there were no good moves: 38. ... Ke8? 39. Bh5+! leads to mate, whilst after 38. ... Kf8 39. Bf5 Rd6 40. Qa2! Black ends up in zugzawng. 39. Bxe6+ Qxe6 (39. ... Kxe6 40. Rxd8 mate) 40. Qc7+ Qe7 41. Rg7+! 1 : 0.

Kosteniuk deeply concentrating on her game. Photo: International Mind Sports Association.