LABIRINTI E CASEMATTE: Anna Ushenina

Showing posts with label Anna Ushenina. Show all posts

Monday, June 27, 2016

龍門 (Dragon Gate)

The 1st Silk Road Women’s International Tournament to be held on 17-21 July 2016 in 韩城 (Hánchéng), 陕西省 (Shǎnxī province), China. It was reported by sinochess (@sinachess) that 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), Humpy Koneru, Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk, Mariya Muzychuk, Antoaneta Stefanova, and Anna Ushenina will enter the lists.

韩城 (Hánchéng), 陕西省 (Shǎnxī province)
Photo: TripAdvisor

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Finding Dory

Gabriel Turcu, Anna Ushenina a câștigat Campionatul European feminin de șah de la Mamaia (Anna Ushenina wins the 17th European Women’s Individual Chess Championship in Mamaia), Telegraf, June 7, 2016

14th Women’s World Chess Champion Anna Ushenina from Ukraine showed to anyone that ”being European” is worth the whole world. Photo: Telegraf.

Woman Grandmaster Sabrina Neide Vega Gutiérrez from Spain – indeed, looking like a portrait of happiness! – won the silver medal. Photo: Telegraf.

10th Women’s World Chess Champion Antoaneta Stefanova from Bulgaria contented herself with the bronze medal, that after so many kingdoms conquered, is worth the crown of a queen. Photo: Telegraf.

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

One Shining Summer

Chess-News.ru (@Chess__News)

Anna’s shining summer. Did anyone expected it? Anna Ushenina is the new European Women’s Chess Champion! See http://chess-news.ru/node/21608.

Anna Ushenina
Photo: Chess-News.ru

Sunday, June 5, 2016

Stone staircases

Anna Ushenina – Monika Soćko
17th European Women’s Individual Chess Championship; Mamaia, June 5, 2016
Nimzo-Indian Defence E39

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 0-0 5. Nf3 c5 6. dxc5 Na6 7. g3 Nxc5 8. Bg2 d5 9. 0-0 dxc4 10. Rd1. For 10. Ne5 Nd5 11. Nxc4 Bxc3 12. bxc3 b6 see Lysyj – Dragun, European Blitz Chess Championship, Warsaw 2013. 10. ... Qa5 11. Bd2 Bd7 12. Ne5 Rfd8 13. Nxc4 Qa6 14. Ne5 Be8 15. Ne4 Ncxe4 16. Bxb4 Rdc8? It looks to me that Black uses the wrong Rook to occupy the open c-file, but I have no objective argument demonstrating it – just an impression. If it was right, then 16. ... Rac8 should be preferred. 17. Qd3 Qa4 18. Be7 Rc7 19. Bd8 Bb5 20. Qd4 Rc2 21. Qxa4 Bxa4 22. b3 Bb5 23. Bxf6 Nxf6 24. e3 Ba6? After all, Black somehow managed to hold together her own, and without this fearful move she could have hoped to survive: 24. ... Rc5! 25. f4 Nd5 indeed appears tenable. 25. a4 Rac8? Humanum est peccare, diabolicum perseverare. Black was still in time for 25. ... Rc5 26. f4 Nd5. 26. b4! Now Black’s Queenside miserably collapses and the two White connected passed Pawns won’t be stoppable. 26. ... Be2 27. Bxb7 Rb8 28. Nc6 Bxd1 29. Nxb8 Be2 30. Nc6 Bg4 31. b5 Kf8 32. a5 Nd7 33. b6 a6 34. Nb4 Rb2 35. Nxa6 Ke7 36. Bg2 Be2 37. Nc7 Rc2 38. Be4 Rc5 39. Bg2 h5 40. h3 g5 41. Re1 Rc2 42. b7 Ra2 43. Na8 Ba6

44. Nb6! Very pretty. Black ended up in a comical Zugzwang. 44. ... Nb8 45. Rd1 Bb5. Also after 45. ... Rxa5 46. Nd7! White must win. 46. Rc1 Rd2 47. Rc7+ Ke8 48. Rc8+ Rd8 49. Bf1 Ba6 50. Bxa6 Nxa6 51. Ra8 1 : 0.

Anna Ushenina
Photo: dynamo.ua

Saturday, June 4, 2016

Walls and Bridges

Antoaneta Stefanova – Anna Ushenina
17th European Women’s Individual Chess Championship; Mamaia, June 4, 2016
Réti Opening A06

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. b3 d5 3. Bb2 c5 4. e3 e6 5. Ne5 Nbd7 6. f4 Be7 7. Bd3 Qc7 8. 0-0 b6 9. Qf3 0-0 10. c4. For 10. Qh3 Ne4 see Fauland – Sandhöfner, 56th Austrian Chess Championship, Feldkirch 2013. 10. ... Bb7 11. Qh3 dxc4 12. bxc4 Be4 13. Be2 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Qd7 15. d4 cxd4 16. exd4 Bb7 17. Nc3 g6 18. Rad1 Rfd8 19. Qh6. Here, probably, Stefanova misses her golden time. 19. Rd3! appeared very, very strong, causing Ushenina to face a plethora of powerful threats. 19. ... Ne8 20. d5 Bf8 21. Qh4 Qe7 22. Qg3 f6 23. Bd4 Bg7 24. Bf3. Another major error. 24. Qe3 still seems good enough for claiming an advantage. 24. ... Nd6 25. Bg4. And this is decidly a serious mistake, allowing Unshenina to liquidate for maximum positional gain. 25. ... f5 26. Be2 exd5 27. cxd5 Bxd4+ 28. Rxd4 Rac8 29. Ra4 Ba8 30. Ba6 Rc5 31. Qd3 Kg7 32. h3 Re8 33. Rf3 Kh6 34. Kh2 Ne4 35. d6. The first fallen Pawn. 35. ... Nxd6 36. Rg3

Europe Échecs’ editor-in-chief Grandmaster Bachar Kouatly writes: “It’s not always necessary to play the strongest move, but the move most suitable for your own goal. Thus Anna Ushenina defeated Antoaneta Stefanova. In the position shown in diagram (after 36. Rg3), both 36. ... Qc7! and 36. ... b5! are regarded as very strong by computer, but Ushenina prefers the liquidation by 36. ... Rxc3 37. Qxc3 Ne4 38. Qe1 Nxg3 39. Qxg3 Rd8 to combine her Queenside majority with a direct attack on the Kingside, finally forcing her opponent’s resignation at move 59”. 36. ... Rxc3 37. Qxc3 Ne4 38. Qe1 Nxg3 39. Qxg3 Rd8 40. Be2 Rd2 41. Bf3 Bxf3 42. Qxf3 a5 43. Qg3 Qc7 44. Ra3 Rd4 45. Rf3 Kg7 46. h4 h5 47. Qf2 Qd6 48. a3 Kh7 49. Qe3 b5 50. Kg3 b4 51. axb4 axb4 52. Qe8 Qc7 53. Kh3 Re4 54. Qf8 Qe7 55. Qc8 Re1 56. g3 Qe2 57. Qb7+ Kh6 58. Rb3 Qd1 0 : 1.

Antoaneta Stefanova vs. Anna Ushenina
Photo: Federația Română de Șah

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Breathless

Notes by Alina l’Ami

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Anna Ushenina

4th SportAccord World Mind Games; Women’s Blitz Event; 北京 (Beijīng), December 14, 2014

Sicilian Defence B23

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 a6 3. g3 b5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. Nge2 e6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 b4 8. Na4 Qa5 9. b3 Nc6 10. 0-0 Nf6 11. Re1 Nxd4 12. Qxd4 e5 13. Qd3 Be7 14. a3 Qb5 15. axb4 Qxd3 16. cxd3 Bxb4 17. Rd1 Rc8 18. Bg5 h6 19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. d4 Ke7 21. Nb6 Rc7 22. dxe5 fxe5 23. Nd5+ Bxd5 24. Rxd5 d6 25. Rxa6 Rc1+ 26. Bf1 Bc5 27. Ra2 Rb8 28. Rd3 Rb4 29. Kg2 Rxe4 30. Rf3 d5 31. Ra6 Ree1 32. Bb5 e4 33. Rf5 d4 34. Rc6 Bd6 35. Bc4 f6 36. Rd5 Be5 37. Rb5 Kd7 38. Ra6 Ra1 39. Rab6 Ra7 40. Rd5+ Ke7 41. f4 exf3+ 42. Kxf3 Re3+ 43. Kg4 Rd7 44. Rxd7+ Kxd7 45. Rb7+ Kc6 46. Rb5 Re1 47. Rd5 Rh1 48. Kh3 h5 49. Kg2 Re1 50. Rd8 Rc1 51. Kf3 Rh1 52. Kg2 Rc1 53. Rh8 Rc2+ 54. Kh3 Kc5 55. Rxh5 Kb4 56. Rh8 Kc3 57. Rd8 Rd2 58. Rd7 d3 59. Ba6 Rd1 60. Rxd3+ Rxd3 61. Bxd3 Kxd3 62. Kg4 Kc3 63. Kf5 Kxb3. After an intense game with mutual chances, Hóu Yìfán must have thought the game would quickly end in a draw:

64. h4 Bd6?! But this is already a step in the wrong direction after which Black’s position holds by a thread. 64. ... Bxg3 65. h5 Bd6 66. h6 Bf8 67. h7 Bg7 would secure the draw, just in time! 65. h5 Bf8? Mistakes don't came alone! But 65. ... Kc4! was indeed a tough move to find. 66. Kxf6. Now the Pawns easily decide: 66. ... Kc4 67. g4 Kd5 68. g5 Ke4 69. h6 Bd6 70. g6 Bf4 71. g7 Be5+ 72. Kf7 1 : 0. (Notes by Alina l’Ami).

12月14日，2014年北京世界智力精英运动会国际象棋超快棋赛热战中。摄影：王亮
侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) vs. Anna Ushenina
北京 (Beijīng), December 14, 2014
Photos: 王亮 (Wáng Liàng)

Friday, December 12, 2014

荣誉勋章

北京 (Beijīng), December 12, 2014. 4th SportAccord World Mind Games; Women’s Rapid Event Medal Ceremony. From the left: 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (Silver), Valentina Gunina (Gold) and Anna Ushenina (Bronze). Photo: sports.sina.com.cn.

Closing ceremony with the winners of two sections: Chess and Draughts
Photo: Alina l’Ami

再戰明天......
Photo: Alina l’Ami

Thursday, December 11, 2014

第一

Anna Ushenina – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

4th SportAccord World Mind Games; Women’s Rapid Event; 北京 (Beijīng), December 11, 2014

Queen’s Indian Defence E14

1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 c5 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bd3 b6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. b3 Bb7 7. Bb2 0-0 8. c4 Nc6 9. Nbd2 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 d5 12. Qe2 Qd6 13. Rfd1 Rfd8 14. Nf3 dxc4 15. Bxc4 Qa3 16. Ne5 h6 17. h3 Rac8 18. Qb2 Ne4 19. Qe2 Bh4 20. Rf1 Bf6 21. Nf3 Nc3 22. Qc2 Bxd4 23. Nxd4 Ba6 24. Bxa6 Qxa6 25. Qb2 Qd3 26. Kh1 e5 27. Nf3 f6 28. Rac1 Ne2 29. Rcd1 Qxd1 30. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 31. Kh2 Nc3

32. Qc2 Rdd8 33. Qg6 Nd5 34. Qg4 Ne7 35. Qe6+ Kf8 36. Nh4 Rc2 37. f4 exf4 38. exf4 Rdd2 39. f5 Re2 40. Qd7 Kf7 41. Qxa7 Rxa2 42. Qxb6 Re5 43. Qb7 Ree2 44. b4 Rab2 45. Kh1 Re1+ 46. Kh2 Ree2 47. Kh1 Rb1+ 48. Kh2 Rbb2 49. Kh1 Re1+ 50. Kh2 Ree2 51. Kh1 Re1+ ½ : ½.

Anna Ushenina vs. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
Photos: 谷笑冰 (Gǔ Xiàobīng)

Sunday, August 31, 2014

三劍客

赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) – Humpy Koneru
Sharjah; August 31, 2014
Bogo-Indian Defence E11

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 b6 5. a3 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 0-0 7. e3 Bb7 8. Be2 Ne4 9. Qc2 f5 (9. ... Nbd7) 10. 0-0 d6 (10. ... Qe7) 11. b4 Rf6?! A compromising move! On 11. ... a5 12. Bb2 Nd7 13. d5 e5 14. Nd2 Nxd2 15. Qxd2 White holds a slight edge. Best is probably 11. ... Nd7!?, e.g. 12. Bb2 Qe8 13. d5 exd5 14. cxd5 Bxd5 15. Qxc7 (15. Rad1 c6 16. Nd4 Ne5 17. f3 Qg6 18. b5 Nc5∞) 15. ... Rc8 16. Qxa7 Ra8= (Ivanchuk’s analysis).

12. d5! Rg6. No better is 12. ... exd5 13. Bb2 Rg6 14. cxd5 Nd7 (else 14. ... Bxd5 15. Rfd1 Bb7 16. Ne5 Re6 17. f3 Nf6 18. Qxf5 with a powerful initiative) 15. Rac1 Rc8 16. Rfd1 with clear advantage to White, Ivanchuk – Moiseenko, Sochi 2005. 13. Nd4. White’s position is already imposing. 13. ... exd5 14. cxd5 Bxd5 15. f3 Ng5 16. Nxf5 Nd7 17. Bc4 Bxc4 18. Qxc4+ Nf7 19. f4 Qf6?? A palpable oversight. In any case, after 19. ... Nf6 20. Qc6 White holds the grip. 20. Qe4. The coup de grâce. White is threatening both Qe4xa8+ and Nf5-e7+. 20. ... Rd8. On 20. ... Qxa1 21. Qxa8+ Nf8 22. Ne7+ and mate next move. 21. Ne7+ Kf8 22. Nxg6+ hxg6 23. Ra2 Nh6 24. Qc6 1 : 0.

赵雪 (Zhào Xuě) vs. Humpy Koneru
Sharjah; August 31, 2014
Photo: Maria AlekseevnaEmelianova

Anna Ushenina – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
Sharjah; August 31, 2014
Nimzo-Indian Defence E35

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 c5 7. dxc5 h6 8. Bh4 0-0 9. e3 Be6 10. Nf3 Nbd7 11. Be2 Rc8 12. a3. A brilliant “stereotype” is 12. 0-0 Rxc5 13. Nd4 Qc8 14. Ndb5 Bxc3 15. Nxc3 Ne4 16. Be7 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Rxc3 18. Qa4 Re8 19. Bb4 Rc2 20. Bd3 Rc7 21. Qxa7 Ne5 22. Bb5 Bh3 23. Qd4 Nf3+ 24. gxf3 Re4 25. Qxd5 Rxb4 26. Rfd1 Rxb5 27. Qxb5 Rc5 28. Rd8+ Qxd8 29. Qxc5 Qf6 0 : 1 Matlakov – Eljanov, Saint Petersburg 2013. The text is not much better. 12. ... Bxc3+ 13. Qxc3 g5 14. Bg3 Nxc5 15. 0-0 Nfe4 16. Qc2 Bd7 17. a4. A careless move, which compromises White’s Queenside. Possibly better is 17. Rac1 Qe7 and White’s game appears tenable. 17. ... Qb6. Threatening ... Nc5-b3. 18. Qd1. After 18. a5 Qb4 19. Nd4 Na4 Black’s game is much easier. We cannot share, however, Anna’s decision to sacrifice a Pawn against a superb endgame player such as 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). White fails to demonstrate any compensation for the Pawn and slowly but surely the Women’s World Champion convert her advantage into a win.18. ... Qxb2 19. Be5 Qb3 20. Bb5 Qxd1 21. Rfxd1 Bc6 22. Bb2 Nb3 23. Rab1 Rfd8 24. Rd3 Nbc5 25. Ra3 a6 26. Bxc6 bxc6 27. Bd4 Rb8 28. Rd1 Nd7 29. h3 f6 30. Nh2 Kf7 31. Nf1 Nd6 32. Nd2 c5 33. Bc3 Ne5 34. Bxe5 fxe5 35. Rc1 c4 36. e4 Rb2 37. Nf3 Nxe4 38. Nxe5+ Ke6 39. Nc6 Rc8 40. Nd4+ Ke5 41. Nf3+ Kd6 42. Re3 Nxf2 43. Ne5 Ne4 44. Nxc4+ Rxc4 45. Rxc4 Rb1+ 46. Kh2 dxc4 47. Rxe4 Kd5 48. Re8 c3 49. Rc8 Kd4 50. Rc6 Rb4 0 : 1.

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – Alina l’Ami
Sharjah; August 31, 2014
King’s Indian Defence E62

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 0-0 5. Nc3 d6 6. Nf3 c6 7. 0-0 Bf5 8. Ne1 Be6 9. b3 d5 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 cxd5 12. e3 Nc6 13. Nd3 Bf5 14. Nf4 e5 15. dxe5 Bxe5 16. Ba3 Re8 17. Nxd5 Qa5 18. Bd6 Rad8 19. b4 Qa3 20. Bxe5 Rxe5 21. b5 Rexd5 22. Bxd5 Ne5 23. Qb3 Qxb3 24. Bxb3 Nf3+ 25. Kg2 Be4 26. Rfd1 Nd2+ 27. Kg1 Nf3+ 28. Kf1 Nxh2+ 29. Ke1 Bd3 30. f4 Rd7 31. Bc4 Bf5 32. Rxd7 Bxd7 33. Rd1 Bf5 34. Be2 Kf8 35. Rd8+ Ke7 36. Ra8 Kd7 37. Rxa7 Kc7 38. Ra8 Ng4 39. Bxg4 Bxg4 40. Kd2 Bd7 41. Rf8 Be6 42. a4 b6 43. Kc3 h5 44. Kb4 Bd5 45. a5 bxa5+ 46. Kxa5 Kb7 47. b6 1 : 0.

Saturday, May 3, 2014

卡波尔瑙 (Edicola)

国际棋联大奖赛第七轮侯逸凡 1-0 乌什尼娜

国际棋联大奖赛结束第七轮，侯逸凡面对老对手-前棋后乌什尼娜，在西西里防御里走出最新的流行变化3.Bb5+ Bd7，面对这一改变，乌什尼娜很快应以3…Bd7，但白方接下来的4.c4，乌什尼娜思考了2分钟来确定出动王翼的马，4…Nf6之后，白方立即 5.Nc3，5…g6这步棋让黑方思考了4分半钟，尽管在2013年卡尔亚金和斯维德尔等顶尖选手都曾经走过类似的变化，但明显乌什尼娜赛前没有花太多时间来准备。10步之后，局面几乎和流行的马罗茨变化一样，唯一不同的是白方象在b5而不是e2。

黑方由于在8…Nc6及10…Nxd4上花费时间过多（超过40分钟），只剩下半个小时。侯逸凡充分利用了这一小小的"优势"，继续给黑方施加压力，不过随着双方兑掉后进入车马兵残局，白方似乎没有太大优势。

关键时刻，白方利用黑方急于将位置不好的马投入战斗而走出缓着，果断出击。把马兑掉之后，双方进入车兵残局，不过此时白方多一兵，并且后翼形成通路联兵，黑方急于走成和棋局面，被侯逸凡把优势扩大，并成功把b兵冲至次底线，随后黑方尝试了长将失败后停钟认输，侯逸凡顺利取得1分，并在总积分榜上领先第二名扎格尼泽1分进入第八轮。本轮其他对局中，另一位中国棋手赵雪后手输给了斯洛文尼亚棋手安娜·穆兹丘克。俄罗斯棋手吉尔娅先手击败同胞科斯坚纽克，另一名俄罗斯棋手小科辛采娃先手弈和保加利亚棋手斯坦芳诺娃，蒙古棋手巴特其木格先手负于乌兹别克棋手穆米诺娃，格鲁吉亚棋手扎格尼泽先手弈和乌克兰棋手拉戈诺。

Smartchess

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

侯逸凡的挽歌

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

月光石 (Pietra di Luna)

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Anna Ušenina

Rodi, 22 ottobre 2013

Siciliana B33

1. e4 c5 2. Cf3 Cc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Cxd4 Cf6 5. Cc3 e5 6. Cdb5 d6 7. Ag5 a6 8. Ca3 b5 9. Cd5 Ae7 10. Axf6 Axf6 11. c4 b4 12. Cc2 0-0 13. g3 a5 14. Ag2 Ag5 15. 0-0 Ae6 16. Dd3 Axd5. Dopo 16. ... Ce7 17. Cce3 Axe3 18. Cxe3 Dc7 19. Tad1 Tfd8 20. b3 Cc6 21. Cc2 a4 22. Td2 axb3 23. axb3 Db6 24. h4 Ta2 25. Tb1 h6 26. Rh2 Dc5 27. Ah3 Tda8 28. Rg2 Ce7 29. Axe6 fxe6 30. Tbd1 Tf8 31. Ce3 Ta6 32. h5 Rh8 33. Cg4 Cg8 34. De3 il Nero è nei guai, Nepomniashchi – Timofeev, Irkutsk 2010. 17. cxd5 Cb8 18. a3 (18. h4 Ah6!) 18. ... Ca6 19. axb4 Cxb4 20. Cxb4 axb4 21. h4 Ah6. Il Nero confida negli Alfieri di colore contrario, ma... come pontificò Siegbert Tarrasch: “Prima del finale, gli Dèi hanno messo il mediogioco”. 22. Dc4. 22. Ah3 Db6 23. Ad7 b3 24. Ac6 Ta2 25. Txa2 bxa2 26. Da3 Tb8 27. Dxa2 ½ : ½ Anand – Gelfand, Mosca 2012, 5ª del match. 22. ... Txa1? Se 22. ... Db6 allora 23. Dc6! (Shipov), ma è interessantissimo il sacrificio di Pedone 22. ... b3!? 23. Dxb3 Ad2! onde trasferire l’Alfiere sulla diagonale a7-g1. 23. Txa1 Db8 24. Ah3 g6 25. Ta6 Td8 26. Rg2 Ad2 27. Dc6 b3 28. Tb6 Da7 29. Tb7 Dd4? Addio alle armi. Più pervicace era 29. ... Dc5 30. Dxc5 dxc5 31. Txb3±. 30. Ae6!! Elegante e disgregante! 30. ... Dxe4+. L’Alfiere è tabù: 30. ... fxe6 31. Dc7+-. 31. Rh2 Tf8 32. Txf7! Mamma mia! 32. ... Txf7 33. De8+ Rg7 34. Dxf7+ Rh6 (34. ... Rh8 35. Df6 matto) 35. Df8+ Rh5 36. De7. Oppure 36. g4+! Rxh4 37. De7+! g5 38. Af5+-. 36. ... Rh6 37. Df8+ Rh5 38. Ah3 Dc2 39. Ag4+! Rxg4 40. f3+ Rh5 41. Rh3 1 : 0. Una chiusa elegante: 41. ... g5 (oppure 41. ... Df5+ 42. g4+ e matto alla prossima) 42. g4+ Rg6 43. h5 matto.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) vs. Anna Ušenina
Foto: Chessdom.com

Dronavalli Harika vs. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
Rodi, 21 ottobre 2013
Foto: Chessdom.com

Monday, October 21, 2013

The Take Back

Ian Rogers, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) Crowned Women’s World Champion: GM Rogers on 泰州 (Tàizhōu), Chess Life Online, September 23, 2013

Ushenina declined an interview request but Khalifman made himself available to talk immediately after lunch. I had read Khalifman’s comments on a Russian bulletin board and was prepared with the hard questions — this would be Frost/Nixon Mark II, blowing open the true reasons behind 侯 (Hóu)’s comprehensive victory over Ushenina.
Khalifman seemed more than ready to spill the beans as we sat down, but then he started...
“侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) played very well in this match; she was very well prepared. In general the score speaks for itself, a very convincing victory for 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) though in complicated strategical positions where there are no direct tactics, Anna is not worse. Opening preparation wasn’t the point, the match was decided in general play”. [Read more].

Anna Yuriyivna Ushenina in 泰州 (Tàizhōu), China. Photo courtesy of the United States Chess Federation.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Commodate

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Anna Yuriyivna Ushenina

Women’s World Chess Championship match game 5; 泰州 (Tàizhōu), September 17, 2013

Sicilian Defence B90

Notes by Grandmaster Ian Rogers. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4 h6 8. h4 Nc6 9. Nxc6. The latest fashion, even though the idea was first tried by Gilberto Milos 18 years ago. 9. Rg1 would be standard. 9. ... bxc6 10. Qf3 h5. As played in the original Milos – Sunye game. 10. ... Rb8 11. 0–0–0 Qa5 has also been tried but after 12. Bc4, White’s King will be safer than Black’s. 11. gxh5 Nxh5 12. 0–0–0 Rb8 13. Bc4 Df6! Original and effective. 14. Qg2 Nf4 15. Qg5. 15. Qg3 e5 offers White nothing, so Hóu looks for an endgame, slightly better than the one she could have had two moves earlier. 15. ... e5! 16. Qxf6 gxf6 17. Bxf4 exf4 18. Ne2 Rb4 19. Bd3 f5! 20. exf5 f3 21. Nc3?! 21. Ng1 was necessary but “I thought I would be worse after 21. ... Rbxh4 22. Rxh4 Rxh4 23. Nxf3 Rf4”, said Hóu.

21. ... Bh6+?! 21. ... Rbxh4 22. Rxh4 Rxh4 was simple and strong. After 23. Be4 d5 24. Bxf3 Bxf5 Black’s Bishops will rule the board. 22. Kb1 d5 23. a3 Rf4 24. Rde1+ Kd8 25. Nd1! Just in time the White Knight finds a useful square, Black now tries to keep chances alive but with White’s extra h-Pawn always a threat she must tread careully. 25. ... a5 26. Ne3 Rg8 27. h5 Bd7 28. Reg1 Rxg1+ 29. Rxg1 Rh4 30. Ng4 Rxh5 31. Ne5! Eliminating the light-squared Bishop, after which a draw could be agreed at any time. 31. ... f6. 31. ... Be8?! 32. Rg8 Ke7 33. f6+ is certainly not a winning try. 32. Nxd7 Kxd7 33. Rg3 Rh2 34. Rxf3 Bg5 35. Ka2 Bh4 36. Kb3 Bxf2 37. Ka4 Bb6 38. b4 axb4 39. axb4 Kd6 40. Rg3 Rh1 41. c3 Bf2 42. Rf3 Rh2 43. Kb3 Ke5 44. Bc2 Kd6 45. Bd3 Kd7 46. Bc2 Rg2 47. Rd3 Rg4 48. b5 Rf4 49. bxc6+ Kxc6 50. Rd1 Rf3 51. Bd3 Bg3 52. Kc2 Kc5 53. Rf1 Re3 54. Ra1 Be5 55. Ra5+ Kc6 56. Ra6+ Kc5 57. Ra5+ Kc6 58. Ra6+ Kc5 59. Ra5+ Kc6 60. Ra6+ Kc5 61. Ra5+ ½ : ½.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) vs. Anna Yuriyivna Ushenina. Photo: Anastasiya Karlovich.

夜访吸血鬼 (Interview with the Vampire)

Ian Rogers, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) Crowned Women’s World Champion: GM Rogers on 泰州 (Tàizhōu), Chess Life Online, September 23, 2013

“For me where I play is not a big deal but here [in my home prefecture] I can be more comfortable with the food and the location, the environment. The conditions were very nice”. [Read more].