A Breath Away

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Meruert Askarovna Kamalidenova
3rd Women’s Chess World Cup; Round 2; match game 2; Batumi, July 10, 2025
8/1p6/2k1p2R/4K3/5Pr1/8/1P6/8 b - - 0 52

Position after 52. Rh7xh6

Goryachkina, after losing her first game yesterday, had today to win at all costs, but she got nothing but a dead drawn Rook endgame after a loop of 52 moves forth and back from immobilism to immobility. However, luck was on her side as Kamalidenova broke under the burden of her emotions:
52. ... Kd7? As always, passivity does not pay. Black ought to play 52. ... Kc5! 53. Rxe6 b5 with a tablebase draw.
53. Rh7+! Obviously not 53. Rxe6? Rxf4! with a draw.
53. ... Kc6 54. Re7!

54. ... Rg2. If 54. ... b5 then 55. b4!+− (and not 55. Rxe6+? Kc5 transposing to the note after Black’s 52th move).
55. Rxe6+ Kc7 56. b4 Rb2 57. Re7+ Kc6 58. f5 Rxb4 59. f6. The Pawn cannot be stopped by reasonably fair means.
59. ... Rb1. 59. ... Rb5+! 60. Ke4! Rb1 61. f7+− is a technical win for White, while in case of 60. Ke6? (instead of 60. Ke4!) Grandmaster Sergei Yuryevich Shipov analysed a remarkable drawing variation: 60. ... Rb2!! 61. f7 b5 62. Rc7+ Kxc7 63. f8=Q Rc2!! with a fortress (instead, 60. ... Rb1?? and 63. ... Rc1 would lose the Rook by the Queen check at f4).
60. f7 Re1+ 61. Kf6 Rf1+ 62. Kg7 Rg1+ 63. Kf8 b5 64. Re5 Ra1 65. Kg7 Ra7 66. Kg6 1–0.

Goryachkina was one breath away from ruin. Photo: Anna Shtourman/FIDE.

Mad, Sad, Glad

Finally, in a dramatic tie-breaker, Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina won the Women’s Chess World Cup, beating Nurgyul Salimova — the revelation of the tournament — but not without seriously risking a sensational débâcle the day before yesterday, yesterday, and today. It should go without saying that Salimova just missed too many chances, but her greatest mistake was perhaps playing her second tie-break game in her opponent’s hands, i.e., a technical Karpovian vacuum in which Goryachkina most feels at home. Slowly, inexorably, Goryachkina built her web, but then let her opponent off the hook. It is an unimportant detail anyway. A draw appeared imminent, but no. Salimova finally fell apart under the burden of her nerves. Yet since where there is virtue but no happiness: “Throughout the final I did not feel well in health, and thus now there are no special emotions. I’m just glad the tournament is over”, Goryachkina said.

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Nurgyul Salimova

2nd Women’s Chess World Cup; Final tie-break game 2; time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Baku, August 21, 2023

Catalan Opening E05

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 0-0 6. 0-0 dxc4 7. Qc2 b5 8. a4 Bb7 9. axb5 a6 10. Nc3 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nxb5 c5. A questionable line of play, as Black is going to struggle long and hard to show too much of nothing for the Pawn minus. A topical theoretical line is 12. ... Bd5 13. Bf4 c5 14. dxc5 Qa5 15. Nc3 Qxc5 16. Be3 Qa5 17. Bd2 Ba8 18. Nd1 Qc5 19. Ne3 Rc8 20. Rc1 Bd5 21. Nxd5 Nxd5 22. Ne5 Nb6 23. Qe4 Bf6 24. Bc3 N8d7 25. Bd4 Qd6 26. Nxd7 Bxd4 27. Nxb6 Qxb6 28. e3 Bxb2 29. Rxc4 Qa6 30. Rxc8+ Qxc8 31. Qb7 Qxb7 32. Bxb7 g6 33. Kg2 Kg7 34. Ba8 Ba1 35. Bb7 Bb2 36. Ba8 Ba1 37. Bb7 Bb2 ½ : ½ Nepomniachtchi – Radjabov, Candidates Tournament 2022, Madrid 2022.
13. dxc5 Na6 14. Qxc4 Bd5 15. Qc2 Be4 16. Qd1 Bxc5 17. Qxd8 Rxd8 18. Nc3 Bc6 19. Rd1 Rxd1+ 20. Nxd1 Ba4 21. Nc3 Bc2 22. Ne1 Bb3 23. Nd3 Bb6 24. Kf1 Kf8 25. h3 Ke7 26. Ke1 Nd7 27. Bd2 Bc4 28. Na4 Bd4 29. Nb4 Nxb4 30. Bxb4+ Kd8 31. Bc3 e5 32. Bxd4 exd4 33. b4 Kc7 34. Kd2 Kd6 35. Nb2 Bb5 36. Be4 Nf6 37. Bd3 Bd7 38. h4 Nd5 39. Bc4 Nxb4 40. Bxf7 h6 41. Nc4+ Ke7 42. Ne5 Bf5 43. Bc4 Kd6 44. Nf3 Kc5 45. Bd3 Be6 46. Ne1 Nd5 47. Ng2 g5 48. hxg5 hxg5 49. Ne1 Nf6 50. Nf3 g4 51. Ng5 Bd5 52. Bf5 Kd6

53. Nh7? An inaccuracy which allows Black to escape the worst. 53. Kd3 Ke5 54. Bg6 leaves Black a Pawn down in a poor endgame.
53. ... Be4! 54. Nxf6 Bxf5 55. Nh5 Ke5 56. Nf4 Be4 57. Nd3+ Kd6 58. Kc2 Bd5 59. Kb2 Bc4 60. Ka3 Kd5 61. Kb4 Ba6 62. Kb3 Bc4+ 63. Kc2 Ke4 64. Kd2 Bb5 65. Nc5+ Kd5 66. Nb3 Bc4 67. Na1 Ke4 68. Nc2 Ba6. 68. ... Bxe2! would have forced a draw almost immediately.
69. Ne1 Bb5 70. f3+ gxf3 71. exf3+ Kd5

Now here is a tablebase draw, for what it’s worth.
72. Nd3 Bc4 73. Nf2 Ke5 74. Nd3+ Kd5 75. Ne1 Ke5 76. Nc2 Bd5 77. Ne1 Kf5 78. Ke2 Bc4+ 79. Kf2 Ke5 80. Ng2 Bb5 81. Nf4 Bc4 82. Nh3 Bb5 83. Ng5 Bc4 84. Ne4 Bd3 85. Nd2 Bb5 86. Kg2 Kd5 87. g4 Bd3 88. Kg3 Bb5 89. Kf4

89. ... Be2? Curiously enough, the difference between a draw and a loss lies all within one square: the text move loses, while 89. ... Bd3! saves the day.
90. Kf5. Or — as a dual — 90. g5 Bd3 91. Ne4 Bb1 92. Kf5+− and game over.
90. ... Bd3+ 91. Kf6 Bc2 92. g5 Bd3 93. g6 Kc6 94. g7 Bh7 95. Kf7 Kd5 96. f4 d3 97. Ke7! But not 97. g8=Q? Bxg8+ 98. Kxg8 Kd4 with only a draw.
97. ... Kd4 98. f5! Ke3 99. Nc4+ Kd4 100. Nb2 d2 101. f6 Kc3 102. Nd1+ Kc2 103. Nf2 d1=Q 104. Nxd1 Kxd1 105. f7 1 : 0.

And there was a podium for three places. Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova/chess.com.

Through the Fingers

Nurgyul Salimova – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
2nd Women’s Chess World Cup; Final match game 2; Baku, August 20, 2023
Queen’s Gambit Declined D35

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 0-0 8. Bd3 Re8 9. Nge2 c6 10. 0-0 a5 11. f3 b5 12. Qc2 Ba6 13. Rae1 Nbd7 14. Bf2 a4 15. Kh1 Qa5 16. Nf4 b4 17. Nce2 c5 18. Bxa6 Qxa6 19. Qf5 Nf8 20. dxc5 Bxc5 21. Ng3 g6 22. Qd3 Ne6 23. Qxa6 Rxa6 24. Nd3 Rc8 25. Rc1 Rac6 26. Ne2 Ne8 27. Rfd1 Nd6 28. Ne5 R6c7 29. Ng4 Ne8 (29. ... Kg7 30. Bg3 Rc6! 31. Rxd5 f6)

Goryachkina involved herself in perhaps unnecessary complications, which will cost her first a Pawn, and then another, without getting anything back in return.
30. Bg3! Rc6 31. Nxh6+ Kf8 32. Ng4 Ba7 33. Be1 b3 34. axb3 axb3 35. Bb4+ Kg8 36. Bc3 f5 37. Ne5 R6c7 38. Rxd5 Bxe3 39. Rcd1 g5 40. g3 N8g7 41. Rb5 Nc5 42. Nc4 f4 43. gxf4 gxf4 44. Nxe3 fxe3 45. Rd5 Nge6 46. Re5 Kf7 47. Rxe3 Rd7 Rd7 48. Rb4 Nd3 49. Rh4. Being short of time Salimova abstained herself from cashing in the third Pawn. She must have thought that what she had was enough.
49. ... Rg8 50. Ng3 Ndf4 51. Re1 Rgd8

52. Rh7+? Salimova will have a hard time believing that this simplifying move fails to make White convert her two extra Pawns, but yet it’s so true. The winning move was 52. Ne4! with the overwhelming threat of Re1-g1 (and if Black prevents it with 52. ... Rd1 there is 53. Ng5+!).
52. ... Kg6 53. Rxd7 Rxd7 54. Ne4 Kf5 55. h4

55. ... Rd3 56. Ng3+ Kg6 57. h5+ Kh7 58. Rf1 Kh6 59. Kh2 Ng5 60. Nf5+ Kxh5 61. Nd4 Nd5 62. Rf2 Nxc3 63. bxc3 Rxc3. Black has finally won back her two Pawns.
64. Kg2 Rd3 65. Ne2 Kh6 66. Nc1 Rc3 67. Nxb3 Rxb3 68. Rf1 Kg6 69. f4 Ne4 70. f5+ Kg5 71. f6 Rb2+ 72. Kg1 Nxf6 73. Rf2 Rb3 74. Kf1 Ne4 75. Rf8 Rb2 76. Ke1 Nf6 77. Kd1 Kf5 78. Kc1 Rh2 79. Rf7 Ke5 80. Rf8 Nd5 81. Re8+ Kd4 82. Rd8 Rg2 83. Kd1 Ra2 84. Rd7 Ke4 85. Kc1 Ne3 86. Rd8 Nf5 87. Rd2 Ra3 88. Kb2 Rh3 89. Rd8 Nd4 90. Rc8 Rb3+ 91. Ka2 Kd3 92. Rd8 Rb6 93. Rc8 Ne2 94. Ka3 Nc3 95. Rd8+ Ke4. Both 95. ... Kc2 96. Rd2+! Kc1 97. Rc2+! and 95. ... Kc4 96. Rd4+! Kc5 97. Rc4+! would lead to a draw by force.
96. Rd4+ Ke5 97. Rh4 Ne4 98. Rh5+ Kd4 99. Rh4 Rb8 100. Rg4 Kd3 101. Rh4 Rb1 102. Rg4 Kc3 103. Ka4 Rb4+ 104. Ka5 Kb3 105. Rg8 Rb7 106. Rg4 Nd6 107. Ka6 Rd7 108. Rh4 Nc4 109. Kb5 Ne3 110. Rh3 Rd3 111. Kc5 Kc3 112. Rg3 Rd5+ 113. Kc6 Re5 114. Rh3 Kd3 115. Kd6 Rg5 116. Kc6 Ke4 117. Rh4+ Rg4 118. Rxg4+ Nxg4 ½ : ½.

To Nalimova’s disappointment, Goryachkina is saved by awakening just in time from her nightmare. Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova/chess.com.

Paradoxically speaking

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Nurgyul Salimova
2nd Women’s Chess World Cup; Final match game 1; Baku, August 19, 2023
Queen’s Gambit Declined D35

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Bg4!? 8. Qc2. Other continuations are: 8. Qa4+ c6 9. Bd3 0-0 10. h3 Bh5 11. Qc2 c5! (Maghsoodloo – Carlsen, 85th Tata Steel Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 2023) or 8. Qb3 Nbd7! (Assaubayeva – Shuvalova, FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2022–23, 4th stage, Nicosia 2023).
8. ... 0-0 9. h3 Bh5 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Qf5 Bg6 12. Qxd5. Interviewed afterwards, Salimova said she was moving in terra incognita, but also that she thought the whole of her opponent’s plan, culminating in the gain of a Pawn to the detriment of development, looked very suspicious, at least from a human viewpoint.

12. ... c5!? A wild novelty! Black sacrifices a second Pawn for the attack. If one does not want to take such a risk, one can always rely on 12. ... Nc6 13. 0-0-0!? (13. Qxd8 Raxd8 14. 0-0-0 Nxd4!) 13. ... Qe7 with more than enough for the Pawn, Małek – Bartel, 80th PGNiG TERMIKA Polish Championship, Warsaw 2023.
13. Qxd8. Salimova was then shocked to learn that engines evaluated the greedy 13. Qxc5 as very advantageous for White: “I saw 13.Qxc5, of course”, she said, “but I was like, no way a human plays like this”. And, indeed, after 13. Qxc5 Nc6 14. Nf3 Rc8 Black’s advantage in development is manifest, but is it worth two Pawns? Apparently they both thought that yes, it was so.
13. ... Rxd8 14. d5. Salimova thinks that, objectively, Goryachkina did her best to keep it all together somehow, even though at the cost of some positional concession.
14. ... Bxc3+ 15. bxc3 Rxd5

Black has re-established equality of material, emerging with the better Pawns for the endgame.
16. Ne2 Rd6 17. Rd1 Rxd1+ 18. Kxd1 Nc6 19. Kc1 Rd8 20. Nf4 Bf5 21. Be2 g5 22. Nh5 Ne5 23. Rd1 Rxd1+ 24. Kxd1 Be6 25. a3 Nc4 26. Bxc4 Bxc4. With Bishop against Knight and the better Pawns, Black has now the preferable endgame, though it is not clear when and where Nalimova could have done better.
27. Ke1 Kf8. 27. ... Kh7 28. Nf6+ Kg6 29. Nd7 Bd5 30. f3 b6 does not seem to make too much difference.
28. Nf6 b6

29. f4! “This was good for her”, Nalimova sighed.
29. ... Kg7 30. Ne8+ Kf8. If 30. ... Kg6 then 31. f5+! Kh7 (31. ... Kh5?? 32. g3! g4 33. h4 ~ 34. Nf6#) 32. Nd6 Bd5 37. e4 Bc6 with equality.
31. Nf6 Kg7 32. Ne8+ Kf8 33. Nf6 ½ : ½. “Well, a draw is, of course, a good result with Black, but I feel like I was just pressing the whole game”, Nalimova said eventually.

When asked who is her favourite woman player, Nalimova replied, with amused irony: “Actually, it’s Goryachkina”. Photo: Stev Bonhage/FIDE.

The Never Game

No one will ever know whether or not the tie-breaker between Nurgyul Salimova and Anna Olehivna Muzychuk spared the world yet another epitaph of war, and no one will ever say what was sacrificed at the altar of realpolitik. What is sure, at least, is that Salimova’s freshness and brightness are deserving of sympathy and wonder — a novelty and an attraction which may have helped Muzychik in her exit from the scene.

Nurgyul Salimova – Anna Olehivna Muzychuk

2nd Women’s Chess World Cup; Semifinal tie-break game 3; time control: 10 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Baku, August 17, 2023

Queen’s Gambit Accepted D27

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. 0-0 a6 7. Re1 Nc6 8. Nc3 b5 9. Bd3 Bb7 10. a4 b4 11. Ne4 cxd4. 11. ... Na5 12. Nxc5 Bxc5 13. dxc5 Nd7 was the alternative; if 14. c6 there might follow 14. ... Bxc6 15. Nd4 Nc5 16. Bc2 g6 17. Bd2 Qb6 18. Nxc6 Nxc6 19. a5 Qb5 20. Ba4 Nxa4 21. Qxa4 Qxa4 22. Rxa4 Rb8 23. Rc1 Kd7 24. Rc4 ½ : ½ Offenborn – Volodarsky, WS/MN/101, by e-mail, 2013.
12. Nxf6+ gxf6 13. exd4

13. ... Na5? Apparently a novelty, but not a successful one. Intriguingly, a 90-year-old wine was still at its peak: 13. ... Ne7 14. Nh4 Rg8 15. Bf4 Ng6 16. Nxg6 hxg6 17. Qb3 Be7 18. Bc4 Ra7? (18. ... Qxd4 19. Bg3 Kf8 was the critical line, with a situation of dynamic equilibrium; for example: 20. Rad1 Qc5 21. Bxe6 fxe6 22. Qxe6 Re8 23. Bd6 Bxd6 24. Rxe8+ Kxe8 25. Qe6+ Kf8 26. Qxf6+ with perpetual check) 19. Rac1 Rh8 20. Bxe6! fxe6 21. Qxe6 Bd5 (21. ... Kf8 22. Bc7!+−) 22. Qxf6 Kd7 23. Rxe7+ Qxe7 24. Qxh8 Qe4 25. Qh7+ Ke6 26. Qh3+ Kf7 27. Be5 b3 28. Qh7+ Ke6 29. Qg8+ Kf5 30. Qc8+ Be6 31. Qh8 1 : 0 Lisitsin – Sorokin, 8th USSR Chess Championship, Leningrad 1933.
14. Bf4 Rc8? Another wrong move. Black should have hurried on with 14. ... Bd6 15. Bh6 Bf8, though after 16. Bd2 White still keeps the upper hand.
15. Qe2 Bd6 16. Bh6! Nb3? Now after 16. ... Bf8 White can even afford to be greedy with 17. Bxf8 Kxf8 18. Bxa6, thus securing both a material and positional advantage.
17. Rad1 Qa5. Likewise after 18. ... Bf8 18. d5! White irresistibly breaks through.

18. d5! Bxd5 19. Bxa6 Rc5 20. Bb5+ Kd8 21. Be3 Rc7. Leading to a pretty finish, but there were no good moves anymore.

22. Rxd5! exd5 23. Bb6! 1 : 0. For after 23. ... Qxb6 there follows 24. Qe8+ and mate next move.

Her stunning success as the dark horse of the Women’s World Cup is making Salimova feel that she can dream even greater dreams. Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova/chess.com.

Back Then Tomorrow

谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
2nd Women’s Chess World Cup; Semifinal match game 1; Baku, August 15, 2023
Queen’s Gambit Declined D35

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 0-0 7. Bd3 Re8 8. Nge2 c6 9. h3 Nbd7 10. Qc2 a5 11. 0-0 Nf8 12. f3. A questionable novelty, especially because, in connection with 9. h3, it weakens the Kingside dark squares as well as the diagonal e1-h4.
12. ... b5 13. Rae1?! It is highly questionable whether this is the best placement for the Queen’s Rook. Further developments would seem to indicate that it’s not.
13. ... Ba6 14. Ng3 b4 15. Na4 Ne6 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Bxa6. And now, a comment from the Telegram account of the Chess Federation of Russia: “Upon closer examination, it turned out that, after exchanging on f6, White could not take the h7-Pawn (with check!), since the pin on g3 would cost him at least an Exchange”.
17. ... Rxa6 18. Nf5?! A jump into the dark. There was probably nothing better here than 18. Rc1 g6 19. Rfd1 Ra7 20. Nf1 (20. Qxc6? Bg5 21. Nf1 Rc7 22. Qa6 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Nxd4∓) 20. ... Rc7 21. Nc5 Nxc5 22. Qxc5 Rc8 with comfortable equality for Black.

18. ... h5! 19. Rc1 g6 20. Ng3 Qb8?! Much stronger seems 20. ... Ng7!∓ exposing the weakness at e3, for White cannot lightheartedly defend it by putting a Rook on e1 because of ... Bf6-h4.
21. Ne2 Qb5 22. Rcd1 Raa8 23. b3 Rac8 24. Qd3 Kg7 25. Rd2 Qxd3 26. Rxd3 c5. As Tarrasch said, “He who fears an isolated Queen’s Pawn should give up chess”.
27. dxc5 Nxc5 28. Nxc5 Rxc5 29. Nf4?! An inaccuracy, allowing Black to gain ground. Better was 29. Rfd1 Rc2 30. R3d2 Rxd2 31. Rxd2 Rxe3 32. Kf2 d4 33. Nxd4 Bxd4 34. Rxd4 Rc3= with a drawish equality.

29. ... d4! Black’s isolated Pawn suddenly unleashes its hidden strength.
30. e4? But only this is White’s losing mistake. After 30. exd4 Rc2 31. Rf2 Re1+ Black wins back the Pawn with advantage, but no forced win is demonstrable.
30. ... Rc2 31. Rf2 Rec8 32. Rfd2 Rxd2 33. Rxd2 Bg5 34. g3 h4 35. Rxd4 Rc1+ 36. Kh2 Rc2+ 37. Ng2 Rxa2 38. e5 Bd2 39. Rd7

39. ... a4 40. e6 Kf8. 40. ... axb3 41. e7 Be1 42. e8=Q Bxg3+ 43. Kg1 Ra1+ 44. Ne1 Rxe1+ 45. Qxe1 Bxe1 46. Rd1 Bc3 was another way to win.
41. bxa4 b3 42. Rb7 b2 43. f4 fxe6 44. Nxh4 Bb4! 45. Nxg6+ Kg8 0 : 1.

“Today I tried to do what I could do”, Goryachkina said in the post-game interview. “It has been quite a level game, but at some point it felt like my opponent lost control over it — and everything just ended in ruin for her”. Photo: Stev Bonhage/FIDE.

Free Random Variables

Thus Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina saved the honour of the motherland in what otherwise was a meridianus horribilis for Russian chess. At least for today she could not but choose the hardest way — no doubt, such a heavy responsibility to bear, as well as having to deal with the hostility of the non-Russian Slavic communities. In a sense, she shares the anguish that one another of the semifinalists, Anna Olehivna Muzychuk of Ukraine, also endures. Can you imagine what may happen if just the two of them will make it to the final? Will they be let free or will they be sacrificed for the sake of warlords and warmongers?

Dronavalli Harika – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina

2nd Women’s Chess World Cup; Quarterfinal tie-break game 1; time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Baku, August 14, 2023

8/2k2p2/4b1p1/4P2p/1R5P/1p2K1P1/5P2/2rB4 w - - 34 55

Position after 54. ... Rc2-c1

55. Bxb3?? Harika is too much in a hurry to snatch the Pawn — in fact a blunder which costs her a piece. After the correct 55. Kd2 Rb1 56. Bf3 it is difficult to see how any outcome other than a draw could have emerged.
55. ... Rc3+ 56. Kf4 Rxb3 57. Rxb3 Bxb3 58. Kg5 Kd7 59. Kf6 Be6 60. f3 Ke8 61. Kg5 Bd5 62. Kf4 Ke7 63. g4 Ke6 64. gxh5 gxh5 0 : 1.

Speaking to the media afterwards, Goryachkina jokingly warned a reporter not to keep reminding her of the darkest moments in her career: “Be careful, or otherwise I will never grant you an interview as long as I live”. Photo: Stev Bonhage/FIDE.

Not So Simple

Elisabeth Pähtz – Anna Olehivna Muzychuk
2nd Women’s Chess World Cup; Quarterfinal match game 2; Baku, August 13, 2023
4B3/8/4kP1p/pp6/6K1/P2b4/7P/8 w - - 1 41

Position after 40. ... Kd6-e6

The diagram shows the position of the second game of the quarterfinal between Pähtz and Muzychuk after Black’s 40th move. With time control reached, one might think that a draw would be agreed soon — namely, after 41. f7 Ke7 42. Kh5 Kf8 43. Kxh6 b4 44. axb4 axb4 (45. Ba4 Kxf7). Instead, tiredness and nerves play a bad joke on both of them.
41. Kh5?? As Pähtz then admitted, she didn’t even suspect what a tragic mistake the text was.
41. ... Kxf6 42. Kxh6 a4! Strange to say, this move (which threatens ... b5-b4) must have been overlooked by Pähtz.
43. h4

Black to move and win.
43. ... Ke7?? But no. Incredibly enough, Muzychuk fails in courtesy to her opponent, missing the obvious win 43. ... b4! 44. Bxa4 bxa3−+ when White cannot avoid being “zugzwanged”; for example: 45. Bb3 Bg6 46. Ba2 Bf7 47. Bb1 Bb3 48. Kh5 Be6! 49. Kh6 Bf7! 50. Kh7 Bg6+!! finis.
44. Bc6! Kd6 45. Be8 Bc4 46. Bg6 Kc5 47. h5 b4 48. axb4+ Kxb4 49. Kg7 a3 50. Bb1 a2 51. Bxa2 Bxa2 52. h6 Bb1 53. h7 Bxh7 54 Kxh7 ½ : ½.

Two friends, who have to put their friendship to one side, with things in common, sharing a board. Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova/chess.com.

Pedantically speaking

谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) – Bella Khotenashvili
2nd Women’s Chess World Cup; Quarterfinal match game 1; Baku, August 12, 2023
3r3r/p2P1pk1/q1p1p1pp/3b4/P2P4/Q5P1/5PBP/2R1R1K1 w - - 1 30

Position after 29. ... Kf8-g7

The position in the diagram is the climax of the first game of the quarterfinal between 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) and Khotenashvili. White, who has the move, enjoys a dominating position, but, in the middle of a fast and furious “time scramble”, both sides inevitably commit inaccuracies and mistakes.
30. Qd6? Strangely enough, this natural move turns out to be a loss of time. White ought to have continued 30. Bxd5! cxd5 31. Rc7 with a crushing bind.
30. ... Qxa4!? And here 30. ... Bxg2 31. Kxg2 Qb7! was perfectly safe and correct.
31. Bxd5 cxd5 32. Rc7 Qxd4 33. Rxe6!

33. ... Rhf8? The right defence was 33. ... h5! menacing the capture of the Rook at the same time as giving the King an escape square.
34. Re5! Qb6. Now it’s too late for 34. ... h5 as White has time to play 35. h4 (due to the Rook no longer being en prise).
35. Rc6 Qb1+ 36. Kg2 Qd3 37. h4! Rb8 38. h5 Rb1

Threatening the Queen check at f1, but... White comes first.
39. Qxf8+! Kxf8 40. d8=Q+ Kg7 41. Rxg6+!? 1 : 0. Pedantically speaking, 41. Qf6+! would force mate in two moves, but the text also does the job, even if it takes a little longer.

Today 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) shone gloriously and radiantly in her traditional Chinese dress. Photo: Stev Bonhage/FIDE.

Bittersweetly speaking

And, finally, the mother of all tie-breakers. For the first time in their life, the Muzychuk sisters will have no perfect half of a peace-offering. Not at this time. Technically speaking, they might keep drawing all their games over and over till the end of the world, and no one could say anything about it. But there’s no need to rouse the “watchdogs” of the Big Bro. Better to give the Big Bro what the Big Bro wants — one will win and the other will not — and keep for themselves what belongs only to themselves. So, whoever loses, both shall be winners.

Anna Olehivna Muzychuk – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk

2nd Women’s Chess World Cup; round of 16 tie-break game 1; time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Baku, August 11, 2023

6k1/R7/P5p1/6Pp/1r5P/8/6K1/8 b - - 0 45

Position after 45. a5-a6

45. ... Ra4? Of course Black can’t even think about taking the Pawn, as after 45. ... Rxh4?? 46. Rb7 it would be all over. But the text also loses very instructively. One may just wonder whether the head or the heart had anything to do with what, under happier circumstances, would have been a totally drawn endgame. The correct way was 45. ... Rb6! 46. Kf3 (46. Ra8+ Kg7 47. a7 Ra6 is a book draw) 46. ... Re6, cutting off the King and preventing White from making progress.
46. Kf3 Kf8 47. Ke3 Ke8 48. Ra8+ Kf7

49. Kd3. Clearly not 49. a7?? (Δ Ra8-h8) on account of 49. ... Kg7 with a draw.
49. ... Kg7 50. Ra7+ Kf8 51. Kc3 Ke8 52. Ra8+ Kf7 53. Kb3 Ra1 54. Kb2 Ra4 55. Kb3 Ra1 56. Kc4 Ke6 57. a7 Kf5 58. Rf8+ Kg4 59. a8=Q Rxa8 60. Rxa8 Kxh4 61. Kd3 Kxg5 62. Ra4 1 : 0.

As Anna Olehivna Muzychuk emphasized in the post-game interview, “Yes, it was a bittersweet victory”. Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova/chess.com.

Let It Be

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Nino Batsiashvili
2nd Women’s Chess World Cup; round of 16 match game 2; Baku, August 10, 2023
Queen’s Gambit Declined D37

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bf4 Bb4 6. cxd5 exd5 7. e3 Ne4 8. Qc2 g5 9. Be5 Rg8 (9. ... f6 10. Bg3 h5 11. h4!)
10. h3!? A novelty by Goryachkina. If, instead, 10. Bd3 then 10. ... Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 g4 12. Bxe4 dxe4 13. Qxe4 Qe7 14. Qxh7 Rf8 15. Nd2 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Bd7 17. Qe4 0-0-0 18. Nb3 (Osmak – Buksa, 23rd European Women’s Chess Championship, Petrovac 2023) and now 18. ... f5! 19. Qf4 Bb5! would have given Black more than enough compensation for the two Pawns.

10. ... Nb6?! Here Batsiashvili’s trouble begins. 10. ... Nxe5 11. Nxe5 Qe7 seems quite playable for Black.
11. Nd2! Nxd2? Two mistakes are enough for one day. Probably Batsiashvili was not too happy with 11. ... f6 12. Bh2 Bf5 13. Bd3 — and probably rightly so — but it was her best option.
12. Qxh7! A strong zwischenzug which demolishes Black’s defences.
12. ... Rg6 13. Kxd2 Bf5 14. g4! Be4

15. f3! Bxf3 16. Bb5+! c6

17. Raf1! cxb5. The Rook is obviously taboo because of the mate at f7.
18. Rxf3 Nc4+ 19. Ke2 Nxe5 20. Qh8+ Bf8 21. Qxe5+ Re6 22. Qxd5 b4 23. Qxb7 Be7 24. Nd5. Mission accomplished. The rest is a massacre.
24. ... Rc8 25. Rhf1 f6 26. Nxf6+ Bxf6 27. Rxf6 Rxf6 28. Rxf6 Rc2+ 29. Kd1 Qxf6 30. Qe4+ Kd8 31. Kxc2 Qd6 32. Qa8+ Ke7 33. Qxa7+ Kf6 34. Qc5 Qh2+ 35. Kb3 1 : 0.

When asked about her chances of winning first prize in the Women’s World Chess Cup, Goryachkina responded, perhaps out of superstition, “Two years ago I considered myself a greater favourite than now, so I’m just playing and whatever will be, will be”. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili/Chess Federation of Russia.

Algorithms

Anna Olehivna Muzychuk – Anna Yuriyivna Ushenina
2nd Women’s Chess World Cup; round of 32 match game 2; Baku, August 6, 2023
Russian Defence C42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. 0-0 Bf5 8. Re1 0-0 9. Nbd2 Nd6 10. Nf1 c6 11. Bxf5 Nxf5 12. Qd3 Nd6 13. Bf4 Na6 14. h4. Dernier cri.

14. ... Re8. Most usual is 14. ... Nc7 15. Ng5 g6 16. Nh2 Qd7 17. h5 Bxg5 18. Bxg5 Rfe8 19. hxg6 hxg6 20. Bf6 Rxe1+ 21. Rxe1 Re8 22. Rf1 Na6? (⌓ 22. ... Qe6 23. Be5 Re7 Δ ... Nc7-e8) 23. Be5!± Caruana – Mamedyarov, 7th Grand Chess Tour, 1st stage; Superbet Chess Classic, Bucharest 2022.
15. Ng3. Muzychuk said afterwards that maybe she should have played 15. Ne3 instead of 15. Ng3 because, as things went, there wasn’t anything special for White to look for.
15. ... Nc7 16. Nf5 Nxf5 17. Qxf5 g6 18. Qg4 Bf6 19. h5 Ne6 20. Be5

20. ... Bxe5?! This facilitates White’s attack. 20. ... Bg7 21. c3 f6 22. Bh2 Nf8 would have allowed a better defence.
21. Rxe5. Besides doubling the Rooks on the e-file, White could also think of something more direct with h5xg6 followed by g2-g3, Kg1-g2 and Ra1-h1.
21. ... Qf6 22. Rae1 Kf8 23. Qh3? Too hasty. White ought first to consolidate with 23. c3! (and only after 23. ... Qf4 play 24. Qh3).
23. ... Kg7? However, Black misses her best chance, namely 23. ... Nxd4! 24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 25. Rxe8+ Kxe8 26. Qc8+ Ke7 27. Qxb7+ Kd6 with complex but balanced play.

24. Ng5! With the powerful threat of Ng5xh7.
24. ... Nxg5?? Black self-mates, but also after 24. ... gxh5 25. Qxh5 Qg6 26. Qxg6+ hxg6 27. Nxe6+ fxe6 28. Rxe6 the extra Pawn and the domination of the only open file are enough to ensure White’s victory.
25. h6+ Kf8 26. Qa3+! Strange to say, this check was probably overlooked by Ushenina.
26. ... Re7 27. Rxe7 1 : 0.

It was an all-Ukrainian affair, and was not an easy one, but the next one might be even more dramatic. Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova/chess.com.

The Fortress of Solitude

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Divya Deshmukh
2nd Women’s Chess World Cup; round of 32 match game 1; Baku, August 5, 2023
English Opening A13

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 d4 5. 0-0 Nc6 6. d3 Bc5 7. Nbd2 a5 8. Nb3 Be7 9. e3 e5. The alternative is 9. ... dxe3 10. Bxe3 Ng4 11. Bc5 0-0 12. d4 a4 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Nc5 a3 15. bxa3 Rd8 16. Nb3 Nf6 17. Re1 Qxa3 18. Qe2 h6 19. h4 Bd7 20. Ne5 Be8 21. Qe3 Qb4 22. Reb1 Nxe5 23. dxe5 Ng4 24. Qe1 Qxe1+ 25. Rxe1 h5 26. Bxb7 Ra4 with a Pawn up for White, but, as Carlsen then argued, “the position is probably still fine for me. I’m going to make a draw quite easily”, Nepomniachtchi – Carlsen, World Chess Championship 2021, Dubai 2021, match game 9.
10. exd4 exd4 11. Bg5!? A novelty with respect to 11. Re1⩲ Gabuzyan – Bellahcene, 9th Chess World Cup, Krasnaya Polyana 2021, match game 1.
11. ... 0-0 12. Re1 h6 13. Bd2 Re8 14. a4 Ra6 15. Ne5 Nb4 16. c5 Nd7? A disastrous error, which not only loses a Pawn, but also gives White a preponderance on the Queenside. 16. ... Re6 is the engine’s suggestion, after which White might continue 17. Bxb4 axb4 18. Qd2⩲ with a small advantage.

17. Nxa5! Bxc5 18. Nxb7 Bxb7 19. Nxd7! Goryachkina’s elegant linear technique is reminiscent of her mentor Karpov.
19. ... Rxe1+ 20. Bxe1 Qxd7 21. Bxb7 Re6 22. Be4 Na6

23. b4! Clearly not 23. Bf5?? because of 23. ... Rxe1+! 24. Qxe1 Qxf5 and the tables have turned.
23. ... Bf8. Now Black cannot take the Pawn with either Bishop or Knight without losing the Exchange (due to Be1xb4 followed by Be4-f5).
24. b5 Nc5

25. Bc6 Rxc6. Desperation, but otherwise White’s passers are unstoppable.
26. bxc6 Qxc6 27. a5 Qa6 28. Bb4 1 : 0.

With four former Women’s World Champions and the reigning Women’s World Champion still in the field, it is highly probable that Goryachkina will not have an easy life here. Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova/chess.com.

Journeys on Screen

As the curtain falls on the stage of the inaugural Women’s Chess World Cup, the three podium finishers receive applauds and medals for their achievements. Pictured, from left to right, are Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk (gold), Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina (silver), and 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) (bronze). Photo © Anastasia Korolkova.

Last But Not Least

Anna Olehivna Muzychuk – Nana Dzagnidze

1st Women’s Chess World Cup; tie-break game 1; time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Krasnaya Polyana, July 27, 2021

Sicilian Defence B94

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. Bc4 g6?! If a tie-breaker is a war of nerves, then Dzagnidze began to lose now. With the text move she actually transposes to one of the worst versions of the Dragon, which is enough for Muzychuk to secure a win. 8. Qe2 Bg7 9. 0-0-0 0-0 10. f4 Qc7 (10. ... Nb6 11. Bb3 Bg4 12. Nf3 Qc7 13. e5 Ne8 14. exd6 exd6 15. Be7 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Qxc3 17. Bxf8 Kxf8 18. Qd3 Rc8 19. Qxc3 Rxc3 20. Rd3 Rc6 21. Nd4 Rc8 22. f5 Bxf5 23. Nxf5 gxf5 24. Rf1 Rc5 25. g4 f6 26. gxf5 Nd7 27. Rg3 Ne5 28. Rg8+ Ke7 29. Rh8 b5 30. Rxh7+ Kd8 31. Be6 Rc7 32. Rxc7 Nxc7 33. h4 Nxe6 34. fxe6 Ke7 35. Rg1 Kxe6 36. Rg7 Nd7 37. h5 f5 38. Rxd7 1 : 0 Shirov – Orsini, 25-board simultaneous exhibition, Toronto 2010) 11. f5 b5 12. Bb3 Bb7 (12. ... Nb6 13. a3 Re8 14. h4 gxf5 15. exf5 Bb7 16. Rh3 d5 17. Qf3 Kh8 18. Bf4 Qc5 19. Be3 Qc7 20. Rg3 Rg8 21. Bf4 Qc5 22. Rg5 Rad8 23. Qg3 Nbd7 24. Nf3 a5 25. Be5 b4 26. Nxd5 Ne4 27. Qf4 Nxe5 28. Nxe5 Bxd5 29. Bxd5 Nxg5 30. hxg5 Bxe5 31. Qxe5+ Rg7 32. axb4 axb4 33. g6 b3 34. c4 Ra8 35. Kb1 Qa5 36. Kc1 e6 37. gxf7 Rd8 38. fxe6 Qa1+ 39. Kd2 Qa5+ 40. Ke2 1 : 0 Fernández – Tate, 50th U.S. Chess Championship, San Diego 2006) 13. h4 Nc5 14. h5 Nxb3+!? Dzagnidze finally introduces a new move in the (vain) hope to write another story better than 14. ... Nfxe4 15. Nxe4 Bxe4 16. hxg6 hxg6 17. Qf2! Nxb3+ 18. axb3 Rfc8 19. Rd2 d5 20. Qh4+− Qe5 21. Bxe7 f6 22. Qh7+ Kf7 23. Qxg6+ Kxe7 24. Qxg7+ Kd6 25. Rh6 Rf8 26. Rh7 Rfc8 27. b4 Bxf5 28. Qe7+ Qxe7 29. Nxf5+ Ke6 30. Nxe7 Rc4 31. Nxd5 Rg8 32. Re7+ Kd6 33. Ree2 Rgg4 34. Nxf6+ Rgd4 35. Rxd4+ Rxd4 36. Rd2 1 : 0 Berg – Spirin, Manhem Chess Week GM–tournament 2010, Gothenburg 2010. 15. axb3

15. ... Qc5? Allowing White a one-way attack. 15. ... Nxh5 16. Rxh5! gxh5 17. Qxh5 Bxd4 18. Rxd4 (Δ f5-f6) 18. ... f6 19. Bh6 Kh8! was a critical imperative. 16. hxg6 hxg6 17. Qf3 Rfc8 18. Qh3 Qe5 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 20. fxg6 Qxg6 (20. ... fxg6 21. Rdf1+−) 21. Nf5 Qg5+. If 21. ... Kf8 then 22. Qh8+ Bxh8 23. Rxh8+ Qg8 24. Rxg8+ Kxg8 25. Nxe7+ Kg7 26. Nxc8 Rxc8 27. Rxd6 emerging two Pawns ahead. 22. Kb1 Rxc3 23. bxc3 Bxe4 24. Nxg7 Qxg7 25. Rde1 d5

26. Re3? An inaccuracy which gives Black an unexpected possibility of salvation. Of course White ought first to play 26. Qh2! and then lift the Rook to e3. 26. ... e6? (⌓ 26. ... Bxg2! 27. Qh4 Bxh1 28. Rg3 Be4 29. Rxg7+ Kxg7 30. Qxe7 Rc8∞) 27. Rg3 Bg6 28. Re1. Even stronger is 28. Rxg6! fxg6 29. Qxe6+ Qf7 30. Qe5 with a mating attack. 28. ... Re8 29. Qh4 a5 30. Rf1 a4 31. Kb2 Rc8 32. Rf6 axb3 33. cxb3 b4 34. cxb4 Rc2+ 35. Ka3 Re2 36. Rfxg6 fxg6 37. Qd8+ 1 : 0.

Muzychuk eventually won the tie-breaker to get the fourth and final spot in the semifinals. Photo © Eric Rosen.