The Eye of Zeus

Humpy Koneru – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

2nd Tech Mahindra Global Chess League; Group Stage; Mumba Masters – Alpine SG Pipers; time control: 20 minutes per player without increment; London, October 5, 2024

English Opening A17

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e3 a6 5. b3 b6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. g3 Bb7 8. Bg2 Bd6 9. Bb2 0-0 10. 0-0 Re8 11. d3 c5 12. d4 c4 13. a4 Nbd7 11. Rc1 Re8 12. d3 c5 13. d4 c4 14. a4 Rc8 15. Nd2 cxb3 16. Qxb3 Ne4 17. Ncxe4 dxe4 18. Rxc8 Qxc8 19. Rc1 Qd8 20. Ba3 Bxa3 21. Qxa3 Nf6 22. Nc4 Bd5 23. Ne5 h5 24. h4 Ng4 25. Bh3 Nxe5 26. dxe5 Be6 27. Bg2 Qd5 28. Qd6 b5 29. Qxa6 b4 30. Qb5 Qxb5 31. axb5 Bd5 32. Rd1 Rxe5 33. Rd4 b3 34. Rb4 Re8 35. b6 Rc8 36. Bf1 Kf8 37. Bb5 Ke7 38. Ba4 Kd6

39. b7. 39. Bxb3 Kc5 transposes.
39. ... Rb8 40. Bxb3 Kc5 41. Bxd5 Kxb4 42. Bxe4 Kc5 43. Kg2 Kd6 44. Kf3 Re8. A simpler way to draw was 44. ... Ke5 45. Bc6 Kd6.
45. Kf4 Kc7 46. f3 Rd8 47. g4 hxg4 48. fxg4 Rd2 49. h5 Rf2+ 50. Kg3 Re2 51. Kf4 Rf2+ 52. Kg3 Re2 53. Kf4

Now, however, a draw was once again within reach...
53. ... Rb2? But no! It is hard to say why she did not repeat moves with 53. ... Rf2+.
54. g5! Rh2 55. Kg4 Re2 56. Kf4 Rh2 ½–½.

Koneru contented herself with a draw after all, when, instead, with more time to think, she could have won with facility by 57. Bf3.

Maybe 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) didn’t play the best game of her life, but played well enough to catch the attention of Magnus Carlsen, which can well be worth more than any victory! Photos: Lennart Ootes/Tech Mahindra Global Chess League.