History of a Brief Time

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – Nana Dzagnidze
Women’s Grand Prix 2019–2020; 3rd stage; Lausanne, March 11, 2020
Queen’s Gambit Declined D37

In yesterday’s Round 9, Georgian Grandmaster Nana Dzagnidze not only shattered all 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)’s illusions of a comeback, but also took the sole lead in the tournament with two rounds yet to go. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Qc2 Be7 8. e3 0-0 9. Bd3 Re8 10. h3 Nf8 11. Bf4 Ng6 12. Bg3 Bd6 13. Bxd6 Qxd6 14. 0-0-0 b5 15. g4 a5 16. g5 b4 17. Na4 Ne4 18. Rdg1!? Who knows, perhaps the first deviation from theory occurrs here: 18. Kb1 Ba6 19. Bxa6 Rxa6 20. h4⩲ 彭肇勤 (Péng Zhàoqín) – Berkes, First Saturday GM June 2001, Budapest 2001. 18. ... Ba6 (18. ... Nf4 19. exf4 Qxf4+ 20. Nd2 Nxf2 21. Nb6 g6∞) 19. Bxa6 Rxa6 20. Kb1 Ra7 21. h4 Rc7 22. h5 Nf8 23. Nh4 Qe6 24. f3 Nd6 25. Re1 Nd7 26. Re2 c5 27. dxc5. 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) has achieved nothing, and indeed must do her best to keep herself on track. 27. Ng2 Qf5 was also very comfortable for Black. 27. ... Rec8

28. g6?! White is still hoping for favourable complications. Objectively speaking, she should have contented herself with 28. Qd1! Nc4 29. e4 Nxc5 30. exd5 Qd7 31. d6 Qxd6 32. Qxd6 Nxd6 33. Nb6 Re8 34. Rc2 Ne6 35. Rxc7 Nxc7= with equality. 28. ... Nxc5 29. gxh7+? 29. Nb6 Nce4 30. Qd3 Ng3 was still rather unclear — in spite of its being somewhat better for Black. In any case, it was the only consistent way for White to give a sense to her own previous move. The rest is not too difficult, but not so easy to be omitted: 29. ... Kh8 30. Nxc5 Rxc5 31. Qd3 Qf6 32. Qd4 Qxd4 33. exd4 Rc4 34. Rd1 R4c7 35. Rg1 Kxh7 36. Reg2 f6 37. Re2 a4 38. Re6 Nc4 39. Re2 Nd6 40. Re6 Nc4 41. Re2 a3 42. bxa3 bxa3 43. Ng6 Nd6 44. Nf4 Nf5 45. Ne6 Rb8+ 46. Ka1 Re7 47. Rb1 Rbe8 48. Rbe1 Kh6 49. Nf4 Rxe2 50. Rxe2 Rxe2 51. Nxe2 Kxh5 52. Kb1 Ne3 53. Kc1 g5 54. Kd2 Nc4+ 55. Kd3 Kh4 56. Nc3 Nb6 57. Nb5 Kg3 58. Ke2 f5 59. Nxa3 f4 60. Nc2 Na4 61. a3 Nc3+ 62. Kd3 Kxf3 63. Kxc3 Ke2 64. Nb4 f3 65. Nd3 g4 66. Nf4+ Ke1 67. Nd3+ Kf1 68. Ne5 g3 69. Nxf3 g2 70. Kb4 Kf2 71. Ng5 Kg3 72. Kc5 g1=Q 73. Kxd5 Qh1+ 74. Kd6 Kf4 75. Ne6+ Ke4 76. d5 Qh2+ 77. Kc6 Ke5 78. Nc7 Qc2+ 79. Kd7 Qa4+ 80. Ke7 Qxa3+ 81. Kd7 Qd6+ 82. Kc8 Qe7 0 : 1.

Dzagnidze has been in good shape lately. Photo © David Llada.