Women's GP round 9 report

Round 9 report 

In the 9th round both games between Chinese players finished with score - Hou Yifan defeated Ruan Lufey and Ju Wenjun was stronger in the game against Zhao Xue. After four draws in a row Anna Muzychuk managed to win against Viktorija Cmilyte. Elina Danielian was very close to catch a full point in the game against Betul Yildiz as well but made a mistake and game was drawn. Ekaterina Kovalevsklaya and Tan Zhongyi had good chances in the endings but had to be satisfied with a draw results in the games against Munguntuul Bathhuyagh and Zhu Chen accordingly. After 9 games Hou Yifan keeps the leading position in the tournament one point ahead of Anna Muzychuk who placed second. Ju Wenjun and Zhao Xue share the third place.

Viktorija Cmilyte - Anna Muzychuk 0-1

Viktorija Cmilyte: Bg6 is a long forced line but I`m not sure now because after Kg7 I didn’t see a normal move, so maybe Qe4 was a mistake. Maybe Qd2 was better. Basically it was very hard to remember all lines because the position was extremely complicated. One mistake can cost a lot for both sides.

Anna Muzychuk: Yes I prepared these lines and was ready to go for it. I had to check lots of variations today because usually I don’t play Slav Defense. I remember this line in my analyses. It seems to me that after Bg6 computer showed that this position is equal. I was calculating only Rfc8 but then during the game I decided to take with another rook. For some reasons I didn’t calculate 21.b4, I was thinking about 21.Rd1 only.Qe7 22.Rd4 and I can not take the bishop and play Nf6 instead and I could not estimate this position. If I take a bishop it can be very dangerous, White could have at least perpetual and in some variations they can really fight for more.

Ju Wenjun - Zhao Xue 1-0

Ju Wenjun: After Bf5 I think White got an advantage – they had two bishops and d5 pawn is weak. I played a new variation today, I had never played it before.

Zhao Xue: I was not really surprised because I’ve played many game in that opening from both sides. I missed her move Bb2 after I played Rd6. I answered Qd8 and it should be a very bad move. I think I could have some activity on the King side but I didn’t know how to play and improve my position.

Ruan Lufei – Hou Yifan 0-1

Ruan Lufei: I think White had slightly better position. After 20…Kh8 I should have played Re1 she can answer Rfe8 and then Qd3. Maybe this changing of moves was better. Also gf was a mistake, I should have played Nd5 Qd6 and Qb4…

Hou Yifan: …but here I can play Bc6 and it’s still complicated. I think after f6 White are still a little bit better but Black can hold the position. It seems just unclear for me. Maybe gf is not really good move because I have a pawn up after that. This endgame is still not easy for me to win. Of course her last move is just a blunder.

Elina Danielian – Betul Yildiz 1/2 – 1/2

Betul Yildiz: I’ve played this opening two times before and we prepared it with my coach today. I think I didn’t play it successfully. I was ready till her move g3 I had a feeling she is going to play this variation. The first mistake was Na5.

Elina Danielian: What can I say? The position was completely winning for me today! I think even Be5 is completely winning I should not play Bd6 after but of course Rdd8 was just winning a rook.

Ekaterina Kovalevskaya – Munguntuul Bathhuyagh 1/2 – 1/2 

Ekaterina Kovalevskaya: I think I had a completely winning endgame but I didn’t manage to win it. I was calculating Ng6 instead of Nc3 but I thought I did not have time. If she plays Ke8 I can play Re7 take her knight and give a rook for her pass pawn after. But I was not sure about Kg8.
Munguntuul Bathhuyagh: I was also not sure about Ng6 it seems I could hold the position and my pass-pawn is very dangerous. Maybe also White could have played Kg1 instead of Ke1.

Tan Zhongyi – Zhu Chen 1/2 – 1/2

Zhu Chen I’ve got quite normal position in the opening but then I played terrible move Nf5. If I take gf I don’t think I have problems. After Nf5 she played Ne4 and the position became just worse. In the opening I could play Qa5 instead of Nd6 but she could play back Nc4 and make a repetition but I wanted to play more. I think till the end she had better position and she was trying to win it. After 34…Rd8 I thought I could keep my position and after 41… Rd1 I thought I was going to survive. My opponent was playing very fast maybe there were some better chances for her.

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