Women’s Grand Prix round 2

The FIDE Women’s Grand Prix second round started on 17 September. Ankara is very hot these days but the participants seem to get accustomed to the weather conditions and came to the playing hall in good mood. TCF board member Askin Keles made the first symbolic move in the game between Tatiana Kosinsteva and Antoaneta Stefanova. He chose move 1.d4 which impressed both players very much as Tatiana normally doesn’t play it. After small discussion Mr. Keles made the move 1.e4 and game continued.

The game Humpy Koneru – Zhao Xue finished in a draw after three-time repetition comparatively quickly. The acting Olympic Champion Tatiana Kosintseva made the second draw in a row against the former World Champion Antoaneta Stefanova. Another draw of the second round was in the game Anna Muzychuk of Slovenia against the Mongolian Munguntuul Batkhuyag. A surprising victory of the Turkish chess player Betul Yildiz against the Latvian Grandmaster and rating favorite in the match Viktoria Cmilyte was followed later on. Another Turkish player Kubra Ozturk was defeated by Chinese player Ju Wenjun. Polish player Monica Socko was trying to hold worse endgame but after long struggle was outplayed by Chinese player Ruan Lufei.

Humpy Koneru – Zhao Xue 1/2-1/2

Humpy Koneru: It was complicated position with many different possibilities. I was trying to prepare e5 but my opponent chose the rights move and it was tactically impossible to do it. I had some space advantage but at the same time my position was a bit shaky as I my pawns could become weak. In the final position I could not find the proper plan to continue the game, so I decided not to take the risk.

Zhao Xue: I agree with Humpy that she had slightly better position because of space advantage, so I had to play carefully. I’m not sure if I played good or not. I didn’t prepare to this position exactly because I know I cannot prepare to Humpy as she always tries to surprise me (laughs). I was just trying to rest before the game and I think draw is a good result today.

Tatiana Kosintseva – Antoaneta Stefanova 1/2-1/2

Antoaneta Stefanova: I was thinking a lot in the position when I chose to go for ed4 and d5. I could have chosen something more quite but I had feeling that this was the right moment if I wanted to play those moves. Afterwards I thought that position could be slightly better for black but maybe my plan with a5 was too fast. Maybe I could have tried to put my bishop on d5, played g5 in one moment and then maybe to play a5. After a5 Tania immediately got some activity by playing Nc4 and Qb4.

Tatiana Kosintseva: I didn’t get any advantage in the opening. Nf1 is not precise move – I think Bc2 was better. This move would not allow making that plan with ed4 and d5. So Black managed to equalize the position and until the end it was more or less equal.

Viktoria Cmilyte – Betul Yildiz 0-1

The position we got in the opening is quite known. Just I think b3 was not accurate as f5 is a good move and I don’t have Qb3 anymore. I don’t think that g4 is a good move but my position was ok after until I started to play badly. Ne2 was a bad move because after Bd6 black has many threats and it’s very difficult to defend.

Betul Yildiz: I thought white could have defended more precisely in one moment. Maybe that could have tried 24.Bh7 and 25.e4 instead of 24. Bf3.

Anna Muzychuk – Munguntuul Batkhuyag 1/2-1/2

Anna Muzychuk: We’ve repeated the game which Batkhuyag was playing yesterday. The position which appeared today was more or less the same, just yesterday rook was placed on d1 and today on e1. It’s not easy to prepare to this line as there are so many different choices. I thought the position was quite normal but when she started to attack I started to worry of course. In the endgame I thought that white should keep both rooks on the boards in order to have contra play, otherwise my opponent could get into troubles.

Munguntuul Batkhuyag: I think Anna improved the variation today as she has played Rd8 instead of Bf8. I had feeling that the position of white is quite good but at the same time if I don’t move black will consolidate by playing Rd8, Bc8, so that’s why I decided to play actively.

Monica Sochko – Ruan Lufei 0-1

Monica Socko: I think I played more or less normal in the opening. Just later on I think 21…Bc6 was a mistake. I could have chosen 21…Rfe8 and position would be equal. I was slightly worse during the game but the crucial mistake was 33…g5 but I didn’t want to wait which was better actually. I could have played 33…Kf6 and just wait. I don’t think its easy to find good plan for white even my position is worse.

Ruan Lufei: I didn’t prepare for the opening but I also agree that white has slightly better position because of isolated pawn d5. I didn’t see the winning plan and in the time troubles I just wanted to make some moves and wait. I agree that after g5 whote is better because f5-pawn became my target and after I won it was not easy for black to defend any more.

Official website: http://ankara2012.fide.com