Games of the WWC 2017, Tehran

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Games of the WWC 2017, Tehran

Games of the WWC 2017, Tehran

February 20, 2017

Round Four

The cumulative results of the matches on the second day of Round Four:

1. Tan, Zhongyi – Ju, Wenjun 1.5-0.5
2. Harika, Dronavalli – Dzagnidze, Nana 1-1
3. Muzychuk, Anna – Stefanova, Antoaneta 1.5-0.5
4. Ni, Shiqun – Kosteniuk, Alexandra 0.5-1.5

This means that Zhongyi Tan, Anna Muzychuk and Alexandra Kosteniuk go through to the semi-final on Thursday, Feb. 23.

Dronavalli Harika and Nana Dzagnidze must undergo the play-off round tomorrow to see who will join the other three.

Wenjun Ju and Shiqun Ni had a very good tournament and we look forward to their progress toward the next championship.

Games:

WWCC 2017 Tehran
Round 4.2, Feb. 21, 2017
Ju, Wenjun – Tan, Zhongyi
E04 Catalan, open

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.Bg2 c5 6.O-O Nc6 7.Qa4 Bd7 8.Qxc4 b5 9.Qd3 c4 10.Qd1 Rc8 11.Re1 Be7 12.e4 O-O 13.d5 exd5 14.exd5 Nb4 15.Ne5 Bf5 16.g4 Bc2 17.Qf3 Be4 18.Rxe4 Nxe4 19.Qxe4 Bd6 20.Bd2 Re8 21.f4 f6 22.Bxb4 Bxb4 23.d6 Qxd6 24.Qd5+ Qxd5 25.Bxd5+ Kf8 26.Nc6 Re1+ 27.Kf2 Rce8 28.Nxb4 R8e2+ 29.Kf3 Rxb2 30.Nc6 c3 31.Nxc3 Rxa1 32.Ke3 Re1+ 33.Kf3 Rd2 34.Be4 a6 35.h4 Rc1 36.Ne2 Rc4 37.Ke3 Rxe2+ 0-1

Round 4.2, Feb. 21, 2017
Stefanova, Antoaneta – Muzychuk, Anna
E60 King’s Indian Defence

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 e6 4.e4 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Nc3 dxe4 7.fxe4 Bb4 8.Bd3 c5 9.a3 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 cxd4 11.Nf3 dxc3 12.Qc2 Bg4 13.O-O Nbd7 14.Qxc3 Rc8 15.Qb4 Bxf3 16.Rxf3 Ne5 17.Rxf6 Nxd3 18.Qa4+ Qd7 19.Qxd7+ Kxd7 20.Bg5 h6 21.Rxf7+ Ke6 22.Re7+ Kd6 23.Bf6 Rhe8 24.Rxb7 Rxe4 25.Rd1 Re1+ 26.Rxe1 Nxe1 27.Kf2 Nd3+ 28.Ke3 Ne5 29.Bxe5+ Kxe5 30.Re7+ Kf5 31.Rxa7 Rc2 32.Ra5+ Kg4 33.Ra4+ Kh5 34.g3 g5 35.Ke4 Rxh2 36.Kf3 Rc2 37.Re4 Ra2 38.Re3 Ra1 39.Rc3 Ra2 40.Rb3 Ra1 41.Kg2 Ra2+ 42.Kf3 Ra1 43.Rc3 1/2-1/2

Round 4.2, Feb. 21, 2017
Kosteniuk, Alexandra – Ni, Shiqun
C42 Petrov, Three Knights game

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nxe5 O-O 5.Be2 Re8 6.Nd3 Bxc3 7.dxc3 Nxe4 8.O-O d6 9.Re1 Nd7 10.Bf3 Ndf6 11.c4 h6 12.b3 Bf5 13.Bb2 Rb8 14.h4 Qd7 15.Qc1 Bh7 16.Qf4 b6 17.Nb4 a5 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.cxd5 Qf5 20.Qxf5 Bxf5 21.Re2 Nc5 22.Rae1 Rxe2 23.Rxe2 Kf8 24.a3 Bd7 25.b4 axb4 26.axb4 Na6 27.c3 Re8 28.Rxe8+ Bxe8 29.Be2 Nb8 30.g4 g5 31.Kg2 f6 32.Kg3 Bg6 33.f4 Be4 34.hxg5 hxg5 35.fxg5 fxg5 36.Bc1 Bxd5 37.Bxg5 Nc6 38.Kf4 Kf7 39.Bh4 Bh1 40.b5 Na7 41.Bc4+ d5 42.Bd3 c6 43.bxc6 Nxc6 44.Bf2 Na5 45.Bxb6 Nc4 46.Bd4 Nd6 47.Bh7 Bg2 48.Be5 Nc8 49.Bd3 Ne7 50.Bd4 Ng6+ 51.Kg5 Ne7 52.Bc5 Nc6 53.Kf4 Nd8 54.Be3 Nc6 55.g5 Ne7 56.Ke5 Ng6+ 57.Kd6 Ne7 58.Bc2 Nc8+ 59.Ke5 Ne7 60.Bc1 Nc6+ 61.Kd6 Ne7 62.Bb3 Nf5+ 63.Ke5 Ne7 64.Bd1 Ng6+ 65.Kd6 Be4 66.Bg4 Nf8 67.Bh5+ Ng6 68.Be3 Kg7 69.Bd4+ Kf7 70.Bf6 Bg2 71.Bg4 Kf8 72.Be5 Ne7 73.Ke6 Ng6 74.Kf6 Be4 75.Be6 Nh4 76.Bf7 Nf5 77.g6 1-0

Round 4.2, Feb. 21, 2017
Dzagnidze, Nana – Harika, Dronavalli
A14 English, Neo-Catalan

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.b3 d5 4.Bb2 Be7 5.g3 O-O 6.Bg2 c5 7.O-O Nc6 8.e3 b6 9.d4 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Bb7 11.Nc3 Nxd4 12.Qxd4 Bc5 13.Qd3 Ba6 14.Rfd1 Rc8 15.Qb1 Qe7 16.a3 Rfd8 17.cxd5 exd5 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.Rxd5 Rxd5 20.Bxd5 Rd8 21.Qe4 Qxe4 22.Bxe4 g6 23.Bf6 Rd6 24.Bc3 Rd7 25.a4 Bf8 26.Bd4 Bg7 27.Rd1 Bb7 28.Bxb7 Rxb7 29.Kf1 Rc7 30.Ke2 Bxd4 31.Rxd4 Rc2+ 32.Rd2 Rc3 33.Rb2 b5 34.axb5 Rc5 35.Kd3 Kf8 36.e4 Rxb5 37.b4 Ke7 38.f4 Rb6 39.Kc4 f6 40.b5 Rb7 41.Ra2 Rc7+ 42.Kb4 Kd8 43.Ra6 Re7 44.Kc5 Ke8 45.Kd6 Rb7 46.Ke6 Rxb5 47.Kxf6 Rb7 48.e5 Rf7+ 49.Kg5 Rf5+ 50.Kg4 Rf7 51.h4 Kf8 52.h5 Kg7 53.Kh4 Kh6 54.Ra4 Kg7 55.g4 Kh6 56.hxg6 hxg6 57.Kg3 Kg7 58.Ra6 Kh7 59.Kf3 Rb7 60.f5 g5 61.Ke4 Kg7 62.Rg6+ Kf8 63.f6 a5 64.Rh6 Kg8 65.e6 a4 66.f7+ Kg7 67.Rh7+ 1-0

The four semi-finalist will play two classical games on Feb. 23 and 24th. If required, there will be a play-off on Feb. 25.

Then there is a rest day and the two finalists will play a four-game match Feb. 27-March 2 (incl) and a play-off on March 3, if required.

Live Ratings of Top Five Women

1 Hou Yifan 2649.0
2. Ju Wenjun 2595.3
3. Muzychuk, A. 2580.2
4. Koneru 2557.0
5. Kosteniuk 2546.5

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Games of the WWC 2017, Tehran

Games of the WWC 2017, Tehran

February 22, 2017

Round Four

Play-offs

The semi-final play-offs were today with only two players: Nana Dzagnidze and Dronavalli Harika. Nana is four years older than Dronavalli (30 vs 26). Their ratings are about equal.

Dronavalli has the harder road to travel in this tournament. This is thirteenth straight day that she has been playing.

WWCC 2017, Tehran
Round 4.3, Feb. 22, 2017
25+10
Harika, Dronavalli – Dzagnidze, Nana
B41 Sicilian, Kan, Maroczy bind

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Qd3 Qc7 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.Qxc3 O-O 10.Bd3 d5 11.cxd5 Qxc3+ 12.bxc3 exd5 13.e5 Ne4 14.Be3 Nd7 15.f4 Ndc5 16.Bc2 Nxc3 17.Nb5 Nxb5 18.Bxc5 Re8 19.Kd2 Bd7 20.Rhc1 Bc6 21.Bb6 Rac8 22.Bf5 Ra8 23.a4 Na7 24.Bd4 g6 25.Bd3 Nc8 26.g4 Ne7 27.h3 Rac8 28.Rab1 Bxa4 29.Rxc8 Rxc8 30.Rxb7 Nc6 31.Ke3 Bb5 32.f5 Nxd4 33.Kxd4 Bxd3 34.Kxd3 gxf5 35.gxf5 h6 36.Kd4 Ra8 37.e6 fxe6 38.fxe6 a5 39.Ke5 a4 40.Kf6 a3 41.Rg7+ Kh8 42.Rg1 Rf8+ 43.Ke7 Rg8 44.Ra1 Rg3 45.Kd7 Rxh3 46.e7 Re3 47.Rxa3 Re4 48.Ra6 Rxe7+ 49.Kxe7 Kg7 50.Rd6 h5 51.Rxd5 Kg6 52.Ke6 h4 53.Ra5 1-0

Dzagnidze had a chance with 32…Bxd3! But played 32…Nxd4? instead.

In the second game Dzagnidze could not do anything. Dronavalli could easily win, but brought the game to its end with a draw.

Round 4.4, Feb. 22,2017
25+10
Dzagnidze, Nana – Harika, Dronavalli
E05 Catalan, open, Classical line

1.c4 e6 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.Nf3 Be7 5.O-O O-O 6.d4 dxc4 7.Na3 Bxa3 8.bxa3 Nc6 9.a4 Nd5 10.Qc2 Nb6 11.Bb2 a5 12.a3 Bd7 13.Nd2 Ne7 14.Bxb7 Rb8 15.Bf3 Bxa4 16.Qc1 Bc6 17.Bc3 Bxf3 18.Nxf3 Qd5 19.Qc2 f5 20.Rab1 Nc6 21.Rfd1 h6 22.Nh4 Qe4 23.Qd2 Nd5 24.Rbc1 f4 25.Qc2 Qxc2 26.Rxc2 Rb3 27.Be1 c3 28.Ng6 Rfb8 29.Nxf4 Rb1 30.Rxb1 Rxb1 31.Nxd5 Nxd4 32.Rxc3 Rxe1+ 33.Kg2 exd5 34.e3 Ne6 35.Rc6 Kf7 36.Ra6 Ra1 37.Rxa5 c5 38.Ra8 c4 39.a4 c3 40.Rc8 Rxa4 41.Rxc3 d4 42.Rd3 dxe3 43.Rxe3 Ra2 44.h4 h5 45.Re5 g6 46.Rd5 Ra3 47.Kg1 Ra1+ 48.Kg2 Ra3 49.Kg1 Ra1+ 1/2-1/2

The pairings for the semi-final tomorrow are:

1. Tan – Harika
2. Muzychuk – Kosteniuk

using the same schedule as to now. The final, however, will be a four-game classical match with provision for a play-off.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Games of the WWC 2017, Tehran

Games of the WWC 2017, Tehran

February 23, 2017

Round Five

WWC 2017, Tehran
Iran
Round 5.1, Feb. 23, 2017
Tan, Zhongyi – Harika, Dronavalli
E54 Nimzo-Indian, Gligoric System

1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 c5 6.Nf3 d5 7.O-O cxd4 8.exd4 dxc4 9.Bxc4 b6 10.Bg5 Bb7 11.Qe2 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Nbd7 13.Bd3 Qc7 14.Rac1 Ng4 15.Be4 Rfe8 16.h3 Bxe4 17.Qxe4 Ngf6 18.Qe2 Rac8 19.c4 Qb7 20.Rfe1 Qa6 21.Ne5 Nxe5 22.dxe5 Nd7 23.Qg4 Kh8 24.Qh5 Kg8 25.Qg4 Kh8 26.Re4 Qa3 27.Rd1 Nf8 28.h4 Qc3 29.h5 h6 30.Bh4 Rc7 31.Red4 Qc2 32.R1d3 Rc5 33.Rg3 Qh7 34.Rf4 Rc7 35.Qf3 Nd7 36.Qe2 Rf8 37.Be7 Rg8 38.Bd6 Rcc8 39.Rxf7 Qb1+ 40.Kh2 Nc5 41.Qe3 Qh7 42.Rg6 a5 43.Be7 Rc7 44.Rxh6 1-0

Round 5.1, Feb. 23, 2017
Kosteniuk, Alexandra – Muzychuk, Anna
C07 French, Tarrasch, open variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.dxc5 Nf6 6.Ngf3 Bxc5 7.Bc4 Qc6 8.Qe2 O-O 9.Nb3 Bd6 10.Nbd4 Qc7 11.Nb5 Qa5+ 12.Bd2 Bb4 13.c3 Be7 14.Bf4 a6 15.b4 Qa4 16.Nc7 Ra7 17.Nd4 Nc6 18.Nc2 Nb8 19.Nxa6 bxa6 20.Bxb8 Ra8 21.Be5 Bb7 22.Nd4 Bd5 23.Bb3 Bxb3 24.Nxb3 Rfc8 25.O-O Qb5 26.Qe1 Rc4 27.Nd2 Rc6 28.a4 Qd3 29.Nf3 Rac8 30.Bd4 Nd7 31.Rd1 Qf5 32.Qe2 Rc4 33.Kh1 R4c6 34.Rd3 g6 35.Rfd1 R6c7 36.h3 h5 37.Re3 Bf6 38.Bxf6 Nxf6 39.Nd4 Qg5 40.Rg3 Qh4 41.Nxe6 Rxc3 42.Rxc3 Rxc3 43.Nd4 Rc8 44.Nf3 Qxb4 45.Qxa6 Qc3 46.Qb7 Re8 47.Kg1 Qc2 48.Ra1 Qc3 49.Rb1 Kg7 50.g3 Qa5 51.Rb4 Rd8 52.Qb5 Qa8 53.Qe2 Re8 54.Qd1 Ne4 55.Qd4+ Kg8 56.Ne5 Ng5 57.Rb3 Nxh3+ 58.Kh2 Nxf2 59.Qxf2 Rxe5 60.Qb2 Qxa4 61.Rf3 Qb5 62.Qc3 Re2+ 63.Kg1 Qb1+ 64.Rf1 Qb6+ 0-1

We are in the semi-finals now with two interesting matches Russia vs Ukraine with Kosteniuk-Muzychuk and China vs India with Tan-Harika and millions of fans behind each.

Tan won against Harika in convincing fashion.

In the other game, it seemed that Kosteniuk was going to win, having equal pieces (Q,R,N) but a passed a-pawn. Then something went horribly wrong and Muzychuk won.

Teymur Rajabov kept tweeting how Kosteniuk could/would win.

(Rajabov) – Yep, Kosteniuk will win this game

(Europe-Echecs) Anna Muzychuk stammered her opening, suffers, falls in zeitnot but wins! Miracle, sorcery, voodoo!

(Rajabov) – Hard to imagine how Kosteniuk lost this position. Very shocking for her! Will be very hard to come back!

and about the other game:

(Silvio Danailov) – Impressive win today by Tan Zhongyi vs Harika Dronavalli. Somehow reminds me of old Lajos Portisch games. Very mature play for a girl of 19 years.
___________

Stockfish does not like 56. Ne5, played with a minute left on the clock. It likes Kg2.

Tomorrow colours are reversed in the two matches. If Anna wins or draws she is in the final. If she loses then there is the playoff.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Games of the WWC 2017, Tehran

Games of the WWC 2017, Tehran

February 24, 2017

Round Five

WWC 2017, Tehran
Iran
Round 5.2, Feb. 24, 2017
Muzychuk, Anna – Kosteniuk, Alexandra
B40 Sicilian Defence

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Bc5 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.e5 Ng8 9.Ne4 Qb6 10.Nxc5 Qxc5 11.Qd6 Qxd6 12.exd6 a5 13.b3 Nf6 14.f3 O-O 15.Be3 Ne8 16.O-O-O e5 17.Bd3 g6 18.Bh6 Ng7 19.Rhe1 f6 20.f4 Re8 21.fxe5 fxe5 22.Rd2 Re6 23.c5 Ba6 24.Bxa6 Rxa6 25.Bxg7 Kxg7 26.Rde2 Kf6 27.Rf1+ Kg7 28.Ref2 e4 29.Rf7+ Kh6 30.Re7 1-0

Round 5.2, Feb. 24, 2017
Harika, Dronavalli – Tan, Zhongyi
B30 Sicilian, Nimzowitsch-Rossolimo Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.O-O Bd7 5.Re1 Nf6 6.c3 a6 7.Bc4 b5 8.Bf1 e5 9.d4 Be7 10.d5 Na7 11.Nbd2 O-O 12.Bd3 Nc8 13.Nf1 Nb6 14.h3 Qc7 15.Ng3 a5 16.Bg5 Rfe8 17.Qc1 h6 18.Be3 c4 19.Bc2 b4 20.Qd1 Reb8 21.Nd2 Nh7 22.Qe2 Rc8 23.Bxb6 Qxb6 24.Nxc4 Qc5 25.Bd3 bxc3 26.bxc3 Bg5 27.Rab1 Rab8 28.Nf1 Nf8 29.Kh2 h5 30.Qxh5 Bf4+ 31.Kg1 Bb5 32.Qe2 Bxc4 33.Rxb8 Rxb8 34.Bxc4 Qa3 35.Bb5 Qxc3 36.a4 Rc8 37.g3 Bg5 38.Ne3 Qb4 39.Nc4 Nd7 40.Nxa5 Rc2 41.Qxc2 Qxe1+ 42.Kg2 Nc5 43.Nc6 Bd2 44.Bd3 g6 45.h4 Bc3 46.Be2 Nxa4 47.Ne7+ Kf8 48.Nc8 Bd4 49.Bf3 Qb4 50.h5 gxh5 51.Qc1 Bc5 52.Qh6+ Ke8 53.Bxh5 Qxe4+ 54.Bf3 Qg6 55.Qh4 Kd7 56.Be4 f5 57.Ne7 Qf7 58.Bxf5+ Kc7 59.f3 Nb6 60.Be6 Qg7 61.Nf5 Qf8 62.Qh7+ Kb8 63.Ne7 Nc4 64.Nc6+ Ka8 65.Qg8 Qxg8 66.Bxg8 Kb7 67.g4 Be3 68.Nd8+ Kc7 69.Ne6+ Kd7 70.g5 Ke7 71.Bh7 Nb6 72.g6 Nxd5 73.g7 Nf6 74.g8=Q Nxg8 75.Bxg8 Kd7 76.Nf8+ Kc6 77.Ng6 Bg5 78.Kh3 Kc5 79.Kg4 Bd8 80.Nf8 Ba5 81.Ne6+ Kc4 82.Kf5 Kd3 83.Ng5 Kd4 84.Ba2 Bb4 85.Ne6+ Ke3 86.Bd5 Ba5 87.Ng5 Kd4 88.Ke6 Bc7 89.Ne4 Ke3 90.Nxd6 Kf4 91.Be4 Ba5 92.Nb7 Bc3 93.Nc5 Kg5 94.Nd3 Bd2 95.Kxe5 Bc3+ 96.Ke6 Bd2 97.Bc6 Kg6 98.Ke5 Kg5 99.Ke4 Kf6 100.Nf2 Ke6 101.Bd5+ Kd6 102.Ba2 Kd7 103.Ng4 Bg5 104.Ne5+ Kc7 105.Bb3 Bh6 106.Nc4 Bg5 107.Ba4 Kd8 108.Ne3 Kc7 109.Bb5 Kd6 110.Nf5+ Kc5 111.Be8 Kb4 112.Nd4 Bh6 113.Ne2 Kc5 114.Bf7 Bg5 115.Ba2 Bh6 116.f4 Bxf4 117.Nxf4 Kb4 118.Kd4 Kb5 119.Bd5 Kb4 120.Bc4 Ka3 121.Nd3 Ka4 122.Kc5 Ka3 123.Be6 Ka4 124.Nb4 Ka3 125.Kc4 Kb2 126.Bg4 Kc1 127.Kc3 Kb1 128.Nc2 Ka2 129.Be6+ Kb1 130.Ne3 Ka1 131.Nc4 Kb1 132.Nd2+ Ka1 133.Nb3+ Kb1 134.Bf5+ Ka2 135.Be4 Ka3 136.Bb1 Ka4 137.Nd4 Ka5 138.Kc4 Kb6 139.Bg6 Kc7 140.Kd5 Kd7 141.Nc6 Kc7 142.Kc5 Kd7 143.Bf7 Kc8 144.Be6+ Kc7 145.Ne5 Kb7 146.Bd5+ Kc8 147.Kd6 Kd8 148.Bf7 Kc8 149.Kc6 Kd8 150.Ng6 Kc8 151.Bd5 Kd8 152.Kd6 Ke8 153.Bb3 Kd8 154.Ba4 Kc8 155.Bc6 Kd8 156.Ne5 Kc8 157.Bd7+ Kb7 158.Nc4 Ka6 159.Kc7 Ka7 160.Bb5 Ka8 161.Nb6+ Ka7 162.Nc8+ 1-0

Another K+N+B vs the lone King. In Round 3.1 Antoaneta Stefanova vs Nino Khurtsidze had the same material and the game went to move 115.

If you have no trouble with this ending, then you may be rather critical of the player who would have the win. This tweet:

(Carsten Hansen) – Harika’s lack of technique is making me physically ill. I had mastered this at age 11. I cannot understand.
_________

Anna Muzychuk has beaten Alexandra Kosteniuk two games straight and goes on to the final.

The match Tan-Harika is tied after two classical games and must now proceed to the third day with the usual two 25+10 games. If the match is still tied then two 10+10 games and if it is still tied then, the Armageddon game.

After Feb. 26 as the rest day, the two finalists sit down to a four-game, four-day match Feb. 27-March 2 (inclusive). If it is still tied, March 3 is scheduled for the play-off.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Games of the WWC 2017, Tehran

Games of the WWC 2017, Tehran

February 25, 2017

Round Five
Playoffs

WWCC 2017, Tehran
Round 5.3, Feb. 25, 2017
25+10
Harika, Dronavalli – Tan, Zhongyi
B06 Robatsch Defence

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 a6 4.f4 d6 5.Nf3 Nd7 6.Bc4 e6 7.f5 Nb6 8.Bb3 exf5 9.O-O Ne7 10.Bg5 O-O 11.Qe1 h6 12.Qh4 Re8 13.Bxh6 d5 14.e5 Nd7 15.Ng5 Bxh6 16.Qxh6 Nf8 17.Rf4 1-0

A terrible mistake by Tan with 11…h6

Round 5.4, Feb. 25, 2017
25+10
Tan, Zhongyi – Harika, Dronavalli
D61 QGD, Orthodox Defence, Rubinstein variation

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Nf3 h6 7.Bh4 O-O 8.Qc2 c5 9.Rd1 Qa5 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Bxe7 Nxe7 12.Be2 Nf6 13.O-O cxd4 14.Nxd4 e5 15.Ndb5 Bf5 16.Qb3 Be6 17.Bc4 Bxc4 18.Qxc4 a6 19.Nd6 b5 20.Qb3 Qc7 21.Rd2 Nc8 22.Rfd1 Nxd6 23.Rxd6 Rfd8 24.Qa3 Rxd6 25.Qxd6 Qxd6 26.Rxd6 b4 27.Na4 Ne4 28.Rd1 Rc8 29.f3 Nf6 30.Rd2 Kf8 31.Kf2 Ke7 32.e4 Rc6 33.b3 Nd7 34.Nb2 f6 35.h4 h5 36.Nd1 Rd6 37.Ke2 Rxd2+ 38.Kxd2 Kd6 39.Ne3 g6 40.Kd3 Kc5 41.Nd5 a5 42.g3 Kb5 43.f4 Kc5 44.Ne7 Nf8 45.f5 gxf5 46.Nxf5 Ne6 47.Ne7 Kd6 48.Nf5+ Kc5 49.Ke3 Kb5 50.Nd6+ Kc6 51.Ne8 a4 52.bxa4 Nc5 53.Nxf6 Nxa4 54.g4 hxg4 55.h5 Nb2 56.h6 Nc4+ 57.Ke2 Nd6 58.h7 Nf7 59.Nxg4 Kd6 60.Kd3 Kc5 61.Ke3 Kd6 62.Kd2 Ke6 63.Kd3 Nh8 64.Kc4 Kf7 65.Kxb4 Kg7 66.Nxe5 Kf6 67.Nc6 Kg7 68.a4 Nf7 69.a5 Nd6 70.a6 Nc8 71.a7 Nxa7 72.Nxa7 Kxh7 73.Nc6 1-0

Round 5.5, Feb. 25, 2017
10+10
Tan, Zhongyi – Harika, Dronavalli
D36 QGD, Exchange, positional line

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 c6 6.Qc2 Be7 7.e3 Nbd7 8.Bd3 Nh5 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 10.Nge2 g6 11.O-O O-O 12.Rab1 Ng7 13.b4 a6 14.Na4 Nf6 15.h3 Bf5 16.Nc5 Bxd3 17.Nxd3 Nf5 18.Nef4 Nd6 19.Ne5 Nd7 20.Nfd3 Nxe5 21.Nxe5 f6 22.Nf3 Nc4 23.Qc3 b5 24.Nd2 f5 25.Rfe1 Qd6 26.Nb3 Rf7 27.Nc5 g5 28.Nd3 Re7 29.Ra1 Rf8 30.a4 g4 31.hxg4 fxg4 32.Nf4 g3 33.fxg3 Rfe8 34.axb5 axb5 35.e4 dxe4 36.Rad1 Qf6 37.Rf1 Qg5 38.d5 e3 39.d6 e2 40.dxe7 exf1=Q+ 41.Rxf1 Qxe7 42.Kh1 Qg7 43.Qf3 Qh6+ 44.Nh3 Kh8 45.Qf7 Qe6 46.Qc7 Ne5 47.Re1 Qe7 48.Qb6 Qf6 49.Qd4 Qg7 50.Re3 Qf6 51.Nf4 Kg8 52.Re4 Qh6+ 53.Kg1 Qg5 54.Qe3 Qf5 55.Nd3 Rd8 56.Nxe5 Rd1+ 57.Kh2 Qf1 58.Rg4+ Kh8 59.Nf7+ Qxf7 60.Qe5+ 1-0

Round 5.6, Feb. 25, 2017
10+10
Harika, Dronavalli – Tan, Zhongyi
B32 Sicilian, Labourdonnais-Loewenthal variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 a6 6.Nd6+ Bxd6 7.Qxd6 Qe7 8.Qd1 Nf6 9.Nc3 O-O 10.Bg5 Qe6 11.Bd3 Ne7 12.Qd2 b5 13.a4 Bb7 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.axb5 axb5 16.O-O b4 17.Nb5 Nc6 18.Bc4 Ba6 19.Rfd1 Bxb5 20.Bxb5 Nd4 21.Rxa8 Rxa8 22.Bxd7 Rd8 23.Bg4 Nf3+ 24.Bxf3 Rxd2 25.Rxd2 g6 26.h3 Qa6 27.b3 Qa1+ 28.Bd1 Kg7 29.Rd3 Qc1 30.Kf1 Qf4 31.f3 h5 32.Rd7 Qe3 33.Rd3 Qc5 34.h4 Qe7 35.g3 g5 36.hxg5 Qxg5 37.Kf2 h4 38.gxh4 Qxh4+ 39.Ke2 Qh2+ 40.Ke1 Qg3+ 41.Kd2 Qf2+ 42.Kc1 Qe1 43.Kb2 f6 44.Kc1 Kg6 45.c3 bxc3 46.Kc2 Qf2+ 47.Kxc3 Qa2 48.b4 Qa3+ 49.Kc4 Qc1+ 50.Kb5 f5 51.Bb3 f4 52.Bc4 Qb2 53.Kc5 Qf2+ 54.Kc6 Qc2 55.Kd5 Qf2 56.b5 Qb6 57.Kxe5 Qc5+ 58.Bd5 Qe7+ 59.Kd4 Qb4+ 60.Bc4 Qb2+ 61.Kc5 Qe5+ 62.Rd5 Qc7+ 63.Kb4 Qe7+ 64.Rc5 Qd6 65.Bd5 Kg5 66.e5 Qg6 67.Be4 Qe6 68.Rc6 Qe7+ 69.Kc4 Qf7+ 70.e6 Qa7 71.b6 Qa4+ 72.Kc5 Qa3+ 73.Kb5 Kf6 74.b7 Qb3+ 75.Ka6 Ke7 76.Ka7 Qe3+ 77.Rb6 Qa3+ 78.Ra6 Qc5+ 79.Ka8 1-0

Round 5.7, Feb. 25, 2017
5+3
Tan, Zhongyi – Harika, Dronavalli
B06 Robatsch Defence, Two Knights,
Settles variation

1.d4 g6 2.e4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3 d6 5.Be3 Nd7 6.h3 Qc7 7.a4 a5 8.Be2 Ngf6 9.O-O O-O 10.Nd2 b6 11.f4 Bb7 12.e5 Ne8 13.Bf3 e6 14.Qe1 Rc8 15.Qf2 d5 16.Ne2 c5 17.c3 Ba6 18.g4 f6 19.exf6 Ndxf6 20.Rfe1 Nd6 21.Ng3 Bd3 22.Qg2 Rce8 23.Be2 Bc2 24.Rec1 Be4 25.Ndxe4 Nfxe4 26.Nxe4 Nxe4 27.Bf3 Nd6 28.b3 c4 29.Rab1 cxb3 30.Rxb3 Nc4 31.Qe2 Nxe3 32.Qxe3 Qxf4 33.Qxf4 Rxf4 34.Bg2 Rc8 35.Rd1 Rc6 36.Rd3 Bh6 37.Bf1 Rf8 38.Rd1 Rf3 39.Re1 Bd2 40.Re2 Bf4 41.Bg2 Re3 42.Rc2 Kg7 43.Kf2 g5 44.Bf3 h6 45.Re2 Rxe2+ 46.Kxe2 Kf6 47.Kd3 Ke7 48.Rb1 Kd6 49.Bd1 Kc7 50.Bc2 Kd7 51.Re1 Ke7 52.Rf1 Kd6 53.Bb3 e5 54.dxe5+ Bxe5 55.c4 dxc4+ 56.Bxc4 Bf4 57.Re1 Kc5 58.Re6 Rxe6 59.Bxe6 b5 60.axb5 Kxb5 61.Kc3 Be5+ 62.Kb3 a4+ 63.Ka2 Kb4 64.Bd7 a3 65.Be6 Bd6 66.Bf7 Kc3 67.Bh5 Kd4 68.Bg6 Ke3 69.Bh5 Kf4 70.Kb3 Kg3 71.Ka2 Kxh3 72.Kb3 Kg3 73.Ka2 Kf4 74.Kb3 Ke3 75.Ka2 Kd2 76.Bg6 Kc3 77.Bh5 1/2-1/2

Round 5.8, Feb. 25, 2017
5+3
Harika, Dronavalli – Tan, Zhongyi
B32 Sicilian, Labourdonnais-Loewenthal variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 a6 6.Nd6+ Bxd6 7.Qxd6 Qe7 8.Qd1 Nf6 9.Nc3 O-O 10.Bg5 Qe6 11.Bd3 h6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.O-O d6 14.Bc4 Rd8 15.Qd2 Be6 16.Bd5 Rab8 17.Kh1 Ne7 18.Rad1 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 Qg5 20.Ne3 Qe7 21.a3 Rbc8 22.Qe2 b5 23.Nd5 Bxd5 24.Rxd5 Rc5 25.Rfd1 Rxd5 26.Rxd5 Rc8 27.Qd2 Rc6 28.c3 Qc7 29.g3 Qe7 30.Kg2 Qc7 31.h4 Qb7 32.Kh2 Qc7 33.Qd1 Qe7 34.Qg4 Qe6 35.Qf3 Qe7 36.Qd1 Qc7 37.Rd2 Qb6 38.Kg2 Qb7 39.Qf3 Qe7 40.Qd3 Qe6 41.Qd5 Qxd5 42.Rxd5 Kf8 43.Kf3 Ke7 44.Ke3 Ke6 45.Rd1 Rc4 46.f3 g6 47.g4 Ke7 48.h5 g5 49.Rd5 Ke6 50.Rd1 1/2-1/2

Round 5.9, Feb. 25, 2017
Armageddon
Harika, Dronavalli – Tan, Zhongyi
A07 Reti, King’s Indian Attack (Barcza System)

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 e6 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.O-O Be7 5.d3 b6 6.Nbd2 Bb7 7.Re1 Nbd7 8.c3 O-O 9.Qc2 Re8 10.b3 a5 11.a4 e5 12.Bb2 c5 13.e4 d4 14.Nc4 Bf8 15.h3 Ba6 16.Ncd2 Rc8 17.c4 g6 18.Rf1 Bh6 19.Rae1 Rf8 20.Bc1 Qc7 21.Nh2 Rce8 22.Kh1 Kh8 23.Ndf3 Bg7 24.Bd2 Bc8 25.Qc1 Ng8 26.Nh4 Bf6 27.Bg5 Bxg5 28.Qxg5 Qd8 29.Qd2 Ndf6 30.N4f3 Nh5 31.Ng4 Nhf6 32.Nfxe5 Nxg4 33.Nxg4 Bxg4 34.hxg4 Nf6 35.g5 Ng4 36.Bh3 Ne5 37.f4 Nc6 38.Kg2 Kg7 39.Bg4 Rh8 40.Bf3 h6 41.gxh6+ Rxh6 42.Rh1 Reh8 43.e5 Rxh1 44.Rxh1 Rxh1 45.Kxh1 Qd7 46.Kg2 Ne7 47.Be4 Nf5 48.Bxf5 Qxf5 49.Qe2 g5 50.Qf3 g4 51.Qf1 Qh5 52.Kf2 Qh7 53.Kg1 f6 54.Qe2 Qh3 55.exf6+ Kxf6 56.Qe5+ Kf7 57.Qe1 Kf6 58.Qe5+ Kf7 59.f5 Qh6 60.Qc7+ Ke8 61.Qb8+ Kf7 62.Qc7+ Kf8 63.Qd8+ Kf7 64.Qc7+ Kf8 65.Qf4 Qh3 66.Qd6+ Kf7 67.Qe6+ Kf8 68.Qd6+ Kf7 69.f6 Qh6 70.Qe7+ Kg6 71.Qe4+ Kxf6 72.Qc6+ Kg7 73.Qd7+ Kf8 74.Qc8+ Kf7 75.Qf5+ Ke7 76.Qe5+ Kf7 77.Qd5+ Ke7 78.Qe4+ Kf7 79.Qxg4 Qe3+ 80.Kg2 Qxd3 81.Qf4+ Ke6 82.Qg4+ Kd6 83.Qf4+ Kc6 84.g4 Qc2+ 85.Kg3 d3 86.Qe4+ Kc7 87.g5 Qxb3 88.Qf4+ Kb7 89.Qf3+ Kc7 90.g6 Qxc4 91.Qe3 Qg8 92.Qf4+ Kc6 93.Qe4+ Kc7 94.Qxd3 c4 95.Qf5 c3 96.Qf7+ Qxf7 97.gxf7 c2 98.f8=Q c1=Q 99.Qe7+ 0-1

Tan wins the Armageddon and the match.

(I think it was on time)

The final takes place Feb. 27, a four-game match between Zhongyi Tan and Anna Muzychuk.
__________

- Tan Zhongyi plays Anna Muzychuk in the WWCC2017 final after Harika finally lost on time in Armageddon!

- Tough luck Harika, Well played, fought hard till the end..!!! Proud of you, India is with you

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Games of the WWC 2017, Tehran

WWCC 2017, Tehran

February 27, 2017

Finals
Round Six

Today is the first game of a four-game final with Anna Muzychuk playing Tan Zhongyi.

The two commentators are Evgenij Miroshnichenko and Anastasiya Karlovich.

The latter is a Ukrainian WGM, born in 1982. She started her journalistic career in 2006 and has worked as a press officer for a variety of FIDE events.

She graduated from the National Law Academy of Ukraine, where she teaches Constitutional Law of Foreign Countries while she finishes her PhD.

She did interviews in the Anand-Carlsen and Carlsen-Karjakin matches. The one player she would like to interview, which she hasn’t, is Vassily Ivanchuk.

One of the things that is screened every broadcast is a roll of World Women FIDE Chess Champions. I was struck strongly by the fact that I could not name them in order, nor could I name more than half. Almost any chess player can rattle off the men champions' names from Steinitz to Carlsen but I would bet that not one in ten could do the women. I give the list at the end.

The first game ends in a draw by agreement.

WWCC 2017, Tehran
Iran
Round 6.1, Feb. 27, 2017
Muzyhchuk, Anna – Tan, Zhongyi
C10 French, Fort Knox variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bd7 5.Nf3 Bc6 6.Bd3 Nd7 7.O-O Ngf6 8.Ned2 Be7 9.b3 O-O 10.Bb2 b6 11.c4 Bb7 12.Qe2 c5 13.Rfe1 Re8 14.Rad1 Qc7 15.Ne4 Nxe4 16.Bxe4 Bxe4 17.Qxe4 Nf6 18.Qe5 Bd6 19.Qe2 Rad8 20.dxc5 Bxc5 21.Bxf6 gxf6 22.g3 Rxd1 23.Rxd1 Rd8 24.Kg2 Rxd1 25.Qxd1 Qc6 26.Qd3 f5 27.Qd8+ Kg7 28.Qg5+ Kf8 29.h4 Qe4 30.Qd8+ Kg7 31.Qd2 a5 32.h5 h6 33.Qc3+ Kg8 34.Qd2 Kh7 35.Qb2 Qg4 36.Ne5 Qxh5 37.Nd7 Qg5 38.Nf6+ Kh8 39.Ne8+ Kg8 40.Nf6+ Kh8 41.Ne8+ Kg8 42.Nf6+ 1/2-1/2


Women’s World FIDE Chess Champions

1. Vera Menchik 1927-1944
2. Lyudmila Rudenko 1950-1953
3. Elisaveta Bykova 1953-1956
4. Olga Rubisova 1956-1958
5. Nona Gaprindashvili 1962-1978
6. Maia Chiburdanidze 1978-1991
7. Xie Jun 1991-1996
8. Susan Polgar 1996-1999
9. Xie Jun 1999-2001
10. Zhu Chen 2001-2004
11. Antoaneta Stefanova 2004-2006
12. Xu Yuhua 2006-2008
13. Alexandra Kosteniuk 2008-2010
14. Hou Yifan 2010-2012
15. Anna Ushenina 2012-2013
16. Hou Yifan 2013-2015
17. Mariya Muzychuk 2015-2016
18. Hou Yifan 2016-2017

See also:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women'...s_Championship

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Games of the WWC 2017, Tehran

WWCC 2017, Tehran

February 28, 2017

Finals
Round Six

The two commentators are Evgenij Miroshnichenko and Anastasiya Karlovich.

I cannot remember if the dictum is that you should play an important chess game on your birthday or that you should not.

In any case, today is Anna Muzychuk’s birthday. She has to play today and she is in a losing position.

This is the second game of four classical games in the Women’s World final. There appears to be no audience – just the two players and the officials in a great hall. The loneliest, quietest world championship I can remember watching.

WWCC 2017, Tehran
Round 6.2, Feb. 28, 2017
Tan, Zhongyi – Muzychuk, Anna
D43 QGD, Semi-Slav

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Qd3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 b5 7.Qd3 a6 8.e4 c5 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8 11.Bd3 Bb7 12.e5 Ng4 13.Ne4 Bb4+ 14.Ke2 Nd7 15.Bf4 Nc5 16.Nxc5 Bxc5 17.Rhc1 Bb6 18.Ng5 Ke7 19.Be4 Bxe4 20.Nxe4 Rhc8 21.f3 Nh6 22.g4 Ng8 23.Nd6 Rxc1 24.Rxc1 Kd7 25.Nxf7 Ne7 26.Be3 Bxe3 27.Kxe3 Ng6 28.h4 Rf8 29.h5 Ne7 30.Ng5 Nd5+ 31.Kf2 h6 32.Ne4 Ra8 33.a3 a5 34.Nc3 Rc8 35.Rd1 Ke7 36.Nxd5+ exd5 37.Rxd5 Rc2+ 38.Ke3 Rxb2 39.Ke4 a4 40.f4 Rb1 41.Kf5 Rb3 42.Rc5 Kd7 43.Kg6 b4 44.axb4 Rxb4 45.Kf5 Ke7 46.Rc7+ Kf8 47.Ra7 Kg8 48.g5 hxg5 49.fxg5 Rb6 50.Rxa4 g6+ 51.hxg6 Rb1 52.Ra8+ Kg7 53.Ra7+ Kg8 54.g7 Rf1+ 55.Kg6 Ra1 56.Rf7 1-0

Tan answered questions at the post-mortem through an interpreter. The most interesting fact to come out of the conference was that the Chinese team booked all of their return tickets for the end of Round Five, hoping that at least one lady would make it through to the end.
___

It probably is not advisable to play on your birthday, if you can avoid it.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Games of the WWC 2017, Tehran

WWCC 2017, Tehran

March 1, 2017

Finals
Round Six

The heading on the screen says WWCC Day 18.

The score so far in this match is Tan-Muzychuk 1.5-0.5. In the present game, White (Muzychuk) is up by three pawns.

WWCC 2017, Tehran
Iran
Round 6.3, Mar. 1, 2017
Muzychuk, Anna – Tan, Zhongyi
C11 French, Steinitz, Boleslavsky variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qd2 O-O 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.O-O-O Qa5 11.a3 Be7 12.Bd3 a6 13.h4 b5 14.Bxh7+ Kxh7 15.Qd3+ Kg8 16.Ng5 f5 17.Nxd5 b4 18.Nxe7+ Nxe7 19.Bd2 Rb8 20.Qd6 Qc5 21.Bxb4 Qxd6 22.Bxd6 Ng6 23.Nxe6 Re8 24.Bxb8 Rxe6 25.g3 Bb7 26.Rh2 Nc5 27.Rd8+ Kh7 28.Bd6 Ne4 29.h5 Nh8 30.h6 Nf7 31.Rd7 Rxd6 32.Rxf7 1-0

Tan will be White in the classical game tomorrow.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Games of the WWC 2017, Tehran

WWCC 2017, Tehran

March 2, 2017

Finals
Round Six

WWCC 2017, Tehran
Iran
Round 6.4, Mar. 2, 2017
Tan, Zhongyi – Muzychuk, Anna
D11 QGD Slav

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Qb3 e6 5.g3 Nbd7 6.Bg2 b6 7.Nc3 Ba6 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.Nb5 Bxb5 10.Qxb5 a6 11.Qb3 Bd6 12.O-O O-O 13.Bg5 Qb8 14.Rfc1 Ne4 15.Rc2 Nxg5 16.Nxg5 h6 17.Nf3 Rc8 18.Rac1 Rxc2 19.Rxc2 Ra7 20.Qd3 a5 21.Nd2 Nf6 22.e4 dxe4 23.Nxe4 Nxe4 24.Qxe4 1/2-1/2

From the fide site:

The fourth classical game of the Women's World Chess Championship took place in the Espinas Palace Hotel in Tehran on March 2 and finished in a draw after 2, 5 hours of play. The score in the match remained level and it means that the fate of the match will be determined on tie-break with quicker time controls.

The game has started as Slav Defence but later on it was transferred into the position, which is characteristic to Catalan.

Most probably both players decided not to take too much risk in the last classical game and after 24 moves of play it finished in a draw.

According to regulations after a new drawing of colors, two tie-break games with the time control 25min + 10sec will be played. Anna Muzychuk will play the first game with White.

If the scores are still level, then, after a new drawing of colors, a match of two games with the time control 10min + 10sec will be played.

In case of a level score, another match of two games will be played, with a blitz time control of 5min + 3sec.

If still there is no winner, one sudden-death game will be played. The player who wins the drawing of lots may choose the color. The player with the white pieces shall receive 5 minutes, the opponent with the black pieces shall receive 4 minutes whereupon, after the 60th move, both players shall receive an increment of 3 seconds for each move from move 61. In case of a draw the player with the black pieces is declared the winner.

So far Anna Muzychuk hasn’t played any tie-breaks in this championship (she won all previous matches in classic), while her opponent Tan Zhongyi played 3 tie-breaks, including 2 sudden-death games against Anna Ushenina and Harika Dronavalli.

http://tehran2017.fide.com/en/main-p...shed-in-a-draw
________

- I guess the winner of this World Championship may not be the strongest woman in the world, because of the format. However, for the spectator, this is much more engaging and enjoyable than the turgid Sharjah tourney. Who wants to watch two players competing to see who can remember 25 or 30 moves of the latest theory? I'd rather sit at home with my books if that were my interest. If I am going to invest time and money, I want something that engages my emotions. I want blood! This championship has been a joy.

I like Miro, but I think - at least in the earlier stages, when there are multiple games - being a lone commentator is an impossible job. Not to mention the technical issues.

- I find myself enjoying women's tournaments more than the men's nowadays, much more drama, emotions, fighting chess and decisive results.

- I find Miro to be an excellent commentator, candid and knowledgeable.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Games of the WWC 2017, Tehran

WWCC 2017, Tehran

March 3, 2017

Finals
Round Six

WWCC 2017, Tehran
Iran
Round 6.5, Mar. 2, 2017
25+10
Muzychuk, Anna – Tan, Zhongyi
C42 Petrov, Nimzowitsch Attack

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Be3 O-O 8.Qd2 Qe8 9.Bd3 Nc6 10.O-O-O Ne5 11.Nxe5 dxe5 12.c4 Qa4 13.Kb1 Be6 14.f3 Rfe8 15.Qe2 Qa5 16.Bd2 Qc5 17.Bc3 f6 18.Qe4 g6 19.Qxb7 Bxc4 20.Bxc4+ Qxc4 21.Rd7 Bd6 22.Rd1 Rab8 23.Qd5+ Qxd5 24.Rxd5 Rbd8 25.Rxd8 Rxd8 26.a4 Rd7 27.Ra5 c5 28.Ka2 Rb7 29.Rb5 Rc7 30.Ba5 Rc6 31.Kb3 c4+ 32.Kc3 e4 33.fxe4 Bxh2 34.Kd4 a6 35.Rb7 Bg1+ 36.Kc3 Bh2 37.Bb6 Bg3 38.Be3 Re6 39.Kd4 f5 40.exf5 gxf5 41.Bg5 h6 42.Bd2 f4 43.Kxc4 Re2 44.Bc3 Rxc2 45.Rg7+ Kf8 46.Rh7 Rxg2 47.Rxh6 Ke7 48.Kd5 Re2 49.Rh7+ Ke8 50.Be5 Rh2 51.Rxh2 Bxh2 52.Ke4 Kd7 53.Bxf4 Bxf4 54.Kxf4 Kc6 55.Ke5 Kc5 56.a5 1/2-1/2

Round 6.6, March 3, 2017
25+10
Tan, Zhongyi – Muzychuk, Anna
D11 QGD Slav

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 dxc4 7.Nxf5 exf5 8.e3 Nbd7 9.Bxc4 Nb6 10.Be2 Bd6 11.Bf3 O-O 12.O-O Re8 13.Qc2 Qd7 14.b3 Re7 15.Na4 Rae8 16.Nc5 Qc8 17.Bd2 Nbd5 18.Rac1 Ne4 19.Bg2 g6 20.b4 Qc7 21.Nxe4 fxe4 22.b5 Ba3 23.Rb1 cxb5 24.Qb3 Qd6 25.Qxb5 Rc8 26.Qb3 Kg7 27.Bc1 Bxc1 28.Rbxc1 Rc6 29.Rxc6 Qxc6 30.Qa3 Qb6 31.Rc1 Qb4 32.Qxa7 Nc3 33.Rf1 Qc4 34.Qa3 Re6 35.Re1 Ra6 36.Qe7 Rxa2 37.Bxe4 b5 38.Bf3 b4 39.Qe5+ Kh6 40.g4 f6 41.Qxf6 Ra5 42.h4 1-0

39….Kh6 is fatal

According to the format, Zhongyi Tan becomes the World Women’s Champion after winning this two-game set.

There was a press conference with Tan and her interpreter, the president of FIDE and the head of the Iranian Chess Federation.

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov congratulated Zhongyi, thanked Iran and Mr. Pahlevanzadeh for holding the match. He reminisced about Tehran holding the World Championship between Anand and Shirov in 2000. Some might dispute this designation.

And, he hoped that one day Iran would hold a chess Olympiad. That would be some time off because it’s Batumi in 2018 and Khanty-Mansiysk in 2020.

Perhaps by 2022, the men will be forced to wear turbans during their contests! Then we will hear some heavy-duty complaining.

Final Score:

Tan, Zhongyi – Muzychuk, Anna 3.5-2.5

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Games of the WWC 2017, Tehran

WWCC 2017, Tehran

March 22, 2017

News from chess-news.ru:

March 21, 2017

Humiliation suffered by participating in the World Cup in Tehran continues. The players still have not received payment. The money, which was to have been credited to the players no later than two weeks after the end of the championship, has not been paid.

Neither has FIDE received anything. The organizers were to have transferred a prize fund of $450,000 + 20% to FIDE not later than one month before the event. The money never came but FIDE went ahead and actually held the championship though its pockets were empty.

This is the second case in recent years. In 2011, the organizers of the World Championship Match of Hou Yifan vs Humpy Koneru in Tirana (Albania), too ignored the agreement and left the chess players without money. FIDE then found the necessary $200,000 in a roundabout way, through money collected from the national federations under various pretexts.

We have asked Kirsan Ilyumzhinov for comment but as of this date he has not responded.

http://www.chess-news.ru/node/22875
________

On the EC Forum today Chris Rice made this comment:

Yes it's not the first or second time this has happened. Ironically the bidding procedure for the 2018 FIDE Women's World Championship match has shown up on the FIDE site today. Presumably as both contestants are Chinese it will be played in China and there will be no issues on the financial front. (The FIDE site is still showing Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia as we discussed earlier in the thread and my guess is that this will be the default location if no bids are received).

My main point is that in order to bid at all the prospective organisers are supposed to provide bank guarantees. Given Iran's global issues with sanctions etc it's not surprising if they were struggling to provide such a guarantee, which in that case would make you wonder why they were allowed to stage the 2017 tournament at all. Given that they were allowed to do so then wouldn't it have been prudent to have asked for the prize money and commission up front before the bid was accepted? If on the other hand bank guarantees were placed with the Tehran bid (and presumably with previous bids where there has subsequently been issues) is there an actual issue in activating the guarantees? Has it ever been done before to anyone's knowledge?

http://www.ecforum.org.uk/viewtopic....197216#p197216