Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina – 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí)
8th Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Almaty, December 27, 2022
2R1r1B1/6p1/p5kp/1p2qp2/1P1n1Q2/P4PP1/4p2P/4K3 w - - 5 45
Position after 44. ... Kh7-g6
As a low-key person in the loud world of chess, 16th Women’s World Chess Champion 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) is too often underestimated. The position in the diagram shows the final details of her game against Gunina, one of the favorites to the title. White (Gunina) is to move and the question is: should she continue or surrender?
45. Rxe8? The question mark is just pro forma, because also 45. Qxe5 Rxe5 46. Rc3 Kf6 followed by the advance of the g-Pawn would have left Black with an easy game to win.
45. ... Nc2+ 46. Kf2 e1=Q+ 47. Kg2 Ne3+. Or 47. ... Q1e2+ 48. Kh3 (otherwise ... Qa5-a1+ follows) 48. ... Qf1+ 49. Kh4+ Qf6+ followed by mate. White might make it a bit longer now, yet not by much, by sacrificing her Queen — but no, Gunina have had enough:
48. Kh3 Qf1+ 0 : 1.
45. Rxe8? The question mark is just pro forma, because also 45. Qxe5 Rxe5 46. Rc3 Kf6 followed by the advance of the g-Pawn would have left Black with an easy game to win.
45. ... Nc2+ 46. Kf2 e1=Q+ 47. Kg2 Ne3+. Or 47. ... Q1e2+ 48. Kh3 (otherwise ... Qa5-a1+ follows) 48. ... Qf1+ 49. Kh4+ Qf6+ followed by mate. White might make it a bit longer now, yet not by much, by sacrificing her Queen — but no, Gunina have had enough:
48. Kh3 Qf1+ 0 : 1.
The question is: how long will 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) delay her return home? Photo: Vladimir Leonidovich Barsky/Chess Federation of Russia. |
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