Two Halves

Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk
2nd Cairns Cup; Saint Louis, February 14, 2020
Sicilian Defence B30

Also this evening Gunina showed up in bad shape, and almost risked to get mated soon after the opening. Muzychuk did not dare such a thing, but maybe that was just what it took for her to restore her self-confidence. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. b3 Ne7 6. Bb2 d6 7. 0-0 e5 8. Nh4? An imprudent adventure. 8. c3 followed by d2-d4 was proper. 8. ... g5! 9. Nf3 Ng6 10. Ne1 Bg7 11. d3 0-0 12. Nd2 f5 13. exf5 Bxf5 14. Ne4 Nf4 15. g3? A further mistake in an already demoralising situation.

15. ... Ne6. Maybe there’s nothing wrong with it, but it’s hard to think that after 15. ... Nh3+ 16. Kg2 g4−+ White may survive another dozen moves. 16. Ng2 d5 17. Nd2 Qd6 18. Qh5 Bg6 19. Qe2 Rae8 20. Rae1 Nd4 21. Bxd4 cxd4 22. h4 h6? This gives White new life and energy, thereby letting her escape. 22. ... Qc5 23. Rc1 (or 23. Qd1 g4!) 23. ... e4 seems much stronger. 23. hxg5 hxg5 24. Qg4 Qf6 25. f4! gxf4 26. gxf4 e4 27. Nh4 Bh7 28. dxe4 Bxe4 (28. ... dxe4 29. f5 d3∞) 29. Nxe4 Rxe4 30. Ng6 Rfe8 31. Rxe4 Rxe4 32. Rf2 Qe6 33. Qxe6+ Rxe6 34. f5 Re1+ 35. Kg2 Kf7 36. Nf4 Re4 37. Ne6 Kf6 38. a3 Bh6 39. b4 Be3 40. Rf3 Rg4+ 41. Kh3 Rg1 42. Nc5 Rh1+ 43. Kg4 Rh7 44. Kg3 Rg7+ 45. Kh2 Rh7+ 46. Kg2 Rg7+ 47. Rg3 Rxg3+ 48. Kxg3 Kxf5 49. Kf3 Bc1 50. a4 Bd2 51. Nb3 Bc3 52. b5 cxb5 53. axb5 d3 54. cxd3 Ke5 55. Ke2 Kd6 56. Kf3 Be5 57. Kg4 Kc7 58. Nc5 Ba1 59. Na4 Bd4 60. Kf5 Kd6 61. Kf4 Ke6

62. Kf3? Gunina’s farewell to arms. 62. Kg4! (62. Kg5! also draws) 62. ... Ke5 63. Kf3 would have yielded the draw. 62. ... Ke5 63. Kg3 Bb6. Clearing the way for Black’s King. 64. Kf3 Kd4 65. Ke2 Ba5 66. Nb2 Kc5 67. Ke3? Kxb5 68. Kd4 Kc6 69. Na4 Bb4 70. Nb2 a5 71. Ke3 Bc3 72. Na4 d4+ 73. Ke2 Ba1 0 : 1.

After surviving a disastrous opening and somehow holding the middlegame, Gunina finally blundered an almost drawn endgame. Photo: Crystal Fuller/Saint Louis Chess Club.