But Not Today

谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)

Women’s World Chess Championship 2025; match game 8; 重庆 (Chóngqìng), April 14, 2025

Vienna Game C28

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nc6 4. d3 Bb4 5. Nf3 d6 6. 0-0 Bxc3 7. bxc3 0-0 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 Na5 10. Bb3 Nxb3 11. axb3 Qe7 12. Re1 Qe6 13. d4 Nd7 14. Qd3 a6 15. Rad1 Re8 16. Bg3 b5 17. Nd2 Nf6 18. b4 Nh5 19. Nb3 Qg6 20. dxe5 Nxg3 21. hxg5 Rxe5 22. Na5 Bd7 23. Re3 Rae8 24. Rde1 f5 25. Qd4 Rxe4 26. Rxe4 Rxe4 27. Rxe4 fxe4 28. c4

It had to be revenge, but not yet. After 28 moves 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) was down a Pawn and the one begging for a draw, but once again 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) showed a rather fairy touch:
28. ... e3! 29. Qxe3 Qxc2 30. Qa7 bxc4 31. Qxc7 Bb5 32. Nb7 (32. Qxd6 c3−+)
32. ... c3 33. Nxd6 Qd3 34. Qf7+ Kh7 35. Nf5 Qd7 36. Qxd7 (36. Ne7 Qe8 37. Qf5+ g6 38. Qc5 c2−+)
36. ... Bxd7 37. Nd4 Ba4 38. Ne2 c2 39. f3 Kg6 40. Kf2 Bb5 41. Nc1 h5 42. Ke3 Kg5 43. Kd2

43. ... Bf1! 44. Nb3 Bxg2 45. Nd4 Bxf3!! 46. Nxf3+ Kg4 47. Nd4 Kxg3 48. Nf5+ Kg4 49. Ne3+ Kf3! 50. Nxc2 h4 51. Ne1+ Kg3 52. Ke3 h3 53. Nf3 h2 0–1.

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) won her fourth game in a row and is now just a draw away from the longed-for crown. Photo: Anna Shtourman/FIDE.