The Piano Tuner

Anna Olehivna Muzychuk – Nana Dzagnidze
Women’s Candidates Tournament; Kazan, June 1, 2019
Sicilian Defence B31

Nana Dzagnidze made her big score today, although not too unexpectedly, since the elder Muzychuk sister did not appear in good shape lately as she was last year. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. 0-0 Bg7 5. c3 Nf6 6. Qe2 0-0 7. d4 d5 8. e5 Ne4 9. Rd1 cxd4 10. cxd4 f6 11. Nc3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 fxe5!? A new move instead of 12. ... Bg4 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. e6 Qa5 as occurred in the game Tokhirjonova – Vantika, 26th International Chess Festival, Abu Dhabi 2018. 13. Nxe5 Qc7 14. Nd3 Bf5 15. Bf4 Qa5 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. Nb4 Rac8 18. Rac1 Be4 19. Bg5. Probably sounder was 19. Qd2!? Rf7!? with rough equaity (19. ... c5 makes now less sense due to 20. dxc5 Qxc5 21. Be3 maintaining control of the centre). 19. ... c5 20. dxc5 Qxc5 21. Be3

21. ... d4! 22. Bxd4. Most engines prefer White playing 22. Na6 Qd5 23. cxd4 Rxc1 24. Rxc1 Bxg2 25. Nb4 Qe4⩱ which, however, results in quite an uncomfortable game, even if defensible. 22. ... Bxd4 23. Qxe4 Bxf2+ 24. Kh1 Qe3 25. Qc2?! The ending ensuing from 25. Qxe3 Bxe3 26. Rc2 Rf2 27. Rxf2 Bxf2 28. Nd5 Bc5 29. g3 Kf7 is certainly not pleasant for White, but definitely defensible. 25. ... Rc5! This attacking Rook lift also prevents White’s next 26. Nd5?? — which was possibly Muzychuk’s idea — due to 26. ... Rxd5! 27. Rxd5 Be1! with mating attack. 26. Nd3? This only helps Black add even more fuel to her Kingside attack. 26. Qb3+ e6 27. c4 Qe4↑ was quite mandatory, if not appealing, for Muzychuk. 26. ... Rg5 27. Qb3+ Kg7 28. Nxf2? Perhaps not good, but 28. Qb4 is also met by 28. ... Rxg2! winning material — and probably not only that. 28. ... Rxg2! 29. Qb7 Rxh2+!? Of course, engines do not miss 29. ... Rgxf2 with mate in ten moves to follow! Dzagnidze’s move, however, is good enough to win. 30. Kxh2 Rxf2+ 31. Qg2 h5 32. Re1 Qd2 33. Qxf2 Qxf2+ 34. Kh1 e5 35. c4 g5 36. c5 g4 37. Rf1 Qh4+ 38. Kg1 Qg3+ 39. Kh1 Qh3+ 40. Kg1 Qe3+ 41. Kh1 Qe4+ 42. Kg1 g3 0 : 1.

Muzychuk, as a result of her uninspired opening, ended up playing into Dzagnidze’s hands. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili.