Thursday, July 6, 2023

Two Days Gone

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – 雷挺婕 (Léi Tǐngjié)
Women’s World Chess Championship 2023; match game 2; 上海 (Shànghǎi), July 6, 2023
Tarrasch Defence D32

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 c5 5. e3 Nc6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bb5 cxd4 8. exd4 Bd6 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Bg5 Bg4 11. Be2 Be6 12. Re1 h6 13. Bh4


The leitmotif of the second game seems to confirm the trend of the first one and of 雷挺婕 (Léi Tǐngjié)’s inspiration in achieving an easy and straightforward equality. However, only time can tell whether such an “easiness” will consolidate into an actual advantage for the challenger.
13. ... Rc8. Many discussions have been raised as to Black’s 17th move (... g7-g5), and many explanations have been advanced for it or against it. It should be noted, however, that Black’s overall strategy was thematic and systematic, as it is well demonstrated by the following reference (which certainly was not unknown to either the Champ or the challenger): 13. ... g5 14. Bg3 Ne4 15. Nxe4? (⌓ 15. Bxd6) 15. ... dxe4 16. Ne5 Nxe5 17. dxe5? (⌓ 17. Bxe5 Bxe5 18. dxe5 Qb6⩱) 17. ... Bb4 18. Rf1 Qxd1 19. Rfxd1 Rfd8∓ Colón Romero – Parma, International Tournament, San Juan 1969.
14. a3 Re8 15. Bb5 a6 16. Ba4 b5 17. Bc2 g5 18. Bg3 Bxg3 19. hxg3 Qb6 20. Qd2 Bg4 21. Rxe8+ Rxe8 22. Rd1 Kf8 23. Qd3 b4 24. Na4 Qb5 25. axb4 Qxd3 26. Rxd3 Nxb4 27. Rd2 Nd7 28. Bb3 Bf5 29. Nc3 g4 30. Ne5 Nxe5 31. dxe5 Rxe5 32. Nxd5 Nxd5 33. Bxd5 Re1+ 34. Kh2 a5 35. f3 h5 36. Rd4 Kg7 37. Ra4 Re5 38. Rd4 Re1 39. Ra4 Re5 40. Rd4 Re1 ½ : ½.

“My ‘mother sister’ [居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)] and I are both Chinese, and whoever wins will be Chinese”, 雷挺婕 (Léi Tǐngjié) said afterwards. “As for me personally, I will definitely do all I can”. Photo: Stev Bonhage/FIDE.

No comments:

Post a Comment