Women’s GP round 2 report

Women’s Grand Prix round 2 report

After the second round there are two chess players with absolute result: Nana Dzagnidze and Elina Danielian were stronger in their games against Munguntuul Batkhuyag and Maia Chiburdanidze accordingly.

Marie Sebag created the strong attack on her opponent’s king and won an impressive game against Xu Yuhua.

As it happened in the first round, the only one game was drawn today between Zhu Chen and Pia Cramling. After the games participants came to the press centre and answered to the journalist’s questions.

Playing with Black, Batkhuyag Munguntuul equalized after the opening which happened to be Reti System. In the symmetrical pawn structure Black created some weaknesses which were used by White afterwards.

Munguntuul Batkhuyag:

I think the position was equal after the opening. Playing with Black I was satisfied with the position I’ve got. I thought that position was near to equal all the time, with some chances for White of course, but I think It’s possible to hold it. Maybe I didn’t need to play f5 and I didn’t have to play 36.b5 for sure in the end (diagram). After that my pawn on a6 became weak, her knight got a comfortable location on c5 square.

Dzagnidze Nana:

I also believe Black didn’t have any problems after the opening. At the same moment I think it was more comfortable to play this position with White, so I just continued playing it. Afterwards my opponent created the weaknesses by herself. I also agree that 36. b5 was a crucial mistake, it was difficult to play for Black after that.

It often happens with me that I prepare one variation before the start of the game but afterwards I see another idea and I follow it. It’s typical for me and it happened in the game today. Of course my couch was not satisfied with that.

Zhu Chen – Pia Cramling 1/2 : 1/2

In the game Zhu Chen – Cramling White played the solid line with Qc2 against Nimzo-Indian. White managed to get small advantage after the opening but could not turn it into a full point.

Pia Cramling:

In the opening it became quite sharp and I decided to go to the endgame with an equal position. My pieces were standing a little bit strange so I had to be careful and finally we went into the repetition. In one moment I had to make a decision – to go for complications or play what I finally played in the game.

Zhu Chen:

I think I made a mistake in the opening and I had some problems. But afterwards I was trying to put my pieces more protective. After Black decided to exchange some pieces I think White got a good position. Maybe I had some slight chances but during time trouble I didn’t find how to improve my position.

Elina Danielian – Maia Chiburdanidze 1:0

After some moves the game was transformed into a well known position from Queens Indian. Playing aggressively Black got the equal chances in the game.

Maia Chiburdanidze:

I’ve got a good position after the opening. Elina provoked me, with her move 14. Nf4, to play g5 and g4. I think the position was about equal all the time but after 34. Ra8 and 35. Qc8 my position became better. I think I should not play Be7, it was too fast, of course I saw the sacrifice 39.Rc7 (diagram) but I thought I had normal position after 42. Nf8. But Elina calculates very well, so she found the chances how to improve her position. I think it’s not easy to defend the position in the end.

Elina Danielian:

I think Maia could have played better after she pushed her pawns on f5, g4. Instead of this she closed the centre and position became equal. After I doubled my rooks on the h-file, I made a foolish thing, just simply forgot to play Rh6 (I played Kf1 instead) and let Maia to play h5 and close the line. And I think after that Black has good position because my rooks do nothing on the “h” line. But of course when Maia gave me a chance to sacrifice a piece I moved on. I think it was my only chance and I also thought during the game it would be easier for me to play that position (with tree pawns against a piece) in the time trouble. Black could win this position only playing very accurately but in time trouble I was able to activate all pieces and it was a decisive factor. Still I believe there were many mistakes from the both sides…

Full article here.