Women’s Grand Prix Tbilisi R5: The day of surprising twists
Three of the five games saw wild twists and turns, with players trading advantages, sometimes move by move. Nana Dzagnidze emerged victorious against Alexandra Kosteniuk after catching a lucky break following a daring line she chose. Vaishali Rameshbabu suffered a defeat at the hands of Mariya Muzychuk despite having a significantly better position earlier in the game. Stavroula Tsolakidou and Alina Kashlinskaya traded advantages throughout their endgame, ultimately finishing in a draw. With five rounds completed and four remaining, four players lead with three points each It was an unusual day at the Women’s Grand Prix in Georgia. Typically, players are less ambitious in their play before the rest day, as one experienced chess pundit noted before the round. This seemed to be the case initially, as most games saw rapid opening play, and the first game to finish, between Bibisara Assaubayeva and Anna Muzychuk, ended in a peaceful draw. However, as the day progressed, unexpected storms erupted on the remaining boards. The most anticipated matchup of the round was between Georgia’s Nana Dzagnidze and former Women’s World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk. After spending considerable time in the opening, Dzagnidze opted for a risky line in the Nimzo-Indian Defense, sacrificing a bishop. Initially, this appeared to be a miscalculation: Kosteniuk, playing rapidly, seemed to be in preparation, while Dzagnidze was using up her time. However, a series of mistakes from Kosteniuk completely turned the game around, putting Dzagnidze in a winning position. Kosteniuk tried to emulate Dzagnidze’s miraculous escape against Anna Muzychuk in round four but found no such salvation this time. After misplaying advantageous positions in the earlier rounds, fortune finally favored Dzagnidze, who won the game and secured a spot among the leaders with three points. Kosteniuk, missing her chance to take sole lead, finished the first half of the tournament at 50%. A similar story unfolded in the game between Vaishali Rameshbabu and Mariya Muzychuk. In the Italian Game, both players ventured into a sharp position where Vaishali emerged with a significant advantage. However, in just a few moves, the game slipped away from her. She underestimated Black’s kingside threats and launched an attack that backfired, leading to a lost position. With this victory, Mariya Muzychuk joined the leading pack with three points, while Vaishali remains on two. The game between Stavroula Tsolakidou and Alina Kashlinskaya saw the most dramatic shifts of the day. In the Ruy Lopez, Kashlinskaya found herself in trouble during a complex middlegame and ended up in a worse position. However, as the game transitioned to an ending, Tsolakidou lost her grip, and Kashlinskaya found herself with a winning chance. Unfortunately for Kashlinskaya, she missed several opportunities to secure the win, and the game eventually ended in a draw. This was enough to keep Tsolakidou among the leaders with three points, while Kashlinskaya sits at 2.5 out of five. Round five also saw Sara Khadem win her first game of the tournament. Playing in the Exchange Variation of the Queen’s Gambit Declined, Khadem capitalized on a blunder by four-time Georgian Women’s Champion Lela Javakhishvili on move 19. Khadem played accurately thereafter, not allowing her opponent any chances to salvage a draw. This victory marks Khadem’s first in the event, though she still finds herself in last place with 1.5 points. Having been out of competitive play for more than six months, some rustiness is to be expected. Lela Javakhishvili remains on two points. With five of nine rounds played, the players will have a rest day on Tuesday before the games resume on Wednesday, August 21. Standings after Round 5 Here follows a closer look at the games of round five of the Women’s Grand Prix in Tbilisi: Nana Dzagnidze – Alexandra Kosteniuk This was the derby of the round. In the Nimzo-Indian, Nana spent a significant amount of time in the opening, deliberating whether to go for a line involving a piece sacrifice. At first glance, the position looks like a typical opening setup without much excitement. However, the main line here for White involves taking on d5, leading to a sharp game: 8.cxd5 Bxf1 9.dxe6 Ba6 10.exf7+ Kxf7 11.e4. This results in a very sharp position where White has two pawns for a piece and an attack on the black king. Other options for White include 8.b3 and 8.Qf3. After 20 minutes of contemplation, Nana decided on 8.cxd5, directly entering the piece sacrifice line. 8. cxd5 Bxf1 9.dxe6 Ba6 10.exf7+ Kxf7 Here, both 11.e4 and 11. Qb3+ continuations have been tested extensively, with the former option being considered slightly better for White. 11…Ke8 12.Ne6 According to engines, the position is now equal. Kosteniuk played very quickly, indicating this was likely part of her preparation. From here, things started to deteriorate for Nana. 12…Qd7 13.Ng7+ Kd8 White has three pawns for a piece, but the computer evaluates the position as significantly better for Black. 14.e4 Nc6 15.Be3 Na5 Here, 15…Ng4 was the engine’s first choice. 16.Qc2 At this point, Kosteniuk made two consecutive mistakes. 16…Bxa3? The first one. Alexandra should have played either 16…Kc8 or 16…Ng4 with a slightly better position. 17.Nf5 Bb4? The second mistake. Here, Kosteniuk should have played 17…Bxb2 18.Qxb2 Nxe4 19.Nxe4 Qxf5 20.Qc2 Qd5 21.f3, with the position being roughly equal. Now, White got a chance to activate her pieces and turn the tables. 18.Bg5 Rf8 19.e5 Black needed to either move her king to safety or open the c6-vent for the king. Instead, Kosteniuk made a critical error. 19…Qe6?? Again, 19…Kc8 was a better choice, although Black’s position is no joy. White is now completely winning. 20.Ne3! Be7 21.exf6 Bxf6 22.Bxf6+ Rxf6 23.b4 Nc4 24.Rxa6 Not only has White regained the bishop, but she is also a knight up. Kosteniuk continued to play, hoping to find a perpetual check. Unfortunately for her, Dzagnidze played accurately and recovered the time lost in the opening. Kosteniuk resigned on move 43. Bibisara Assaubayeva – Anna Muzychuk In the Queen’s Gambit Declined, Black started with an isolated pawn in the center.
Chairpersons and CON, EDC, VER commissions members to be elected at FIDE GA in Budapest
Dear National Federations, Dear Chess Friends, In accordance with the FIDE Charter and the FIDE Electoral Rules, the elections of the Chairpersons and members of the Verification Commission, Ethics and Disciplinary Commission and Constitutional Commission will take place at the FIDE General Assembly, on September 21, 2024, in Budapest, Hungary. We would like to kindly remind you that the candidatures for the Chairmen and the Members of the Verification Commission, Ethics and Disciplinary Commission and Constitutional Commission should reach the FIDE Offices by August 21st, 2024, 6 PM CET. Please use the following link to the Congress website General Assembly – 2024 – FIDE Congress 2024, where the relevant documents (requirements, application and nomination forms) can be obtained under General Assembly.
FIDE EDU “Preparation of Teachers” course in Budapest, Hungary, announced
Dear federation colleagues, Given the growing interest in the FIDE EDU “Preparation of Teachers” courses, we are excited to announce the 18th in-person POT course, which will be held during the 45th Chess Olympiad. Are you an aspiring or current chess educator? Prepare to enhance your chess teaching skills and earn the prestigious FIDE Schools Instructor Title at an inspiring event in Budapest, Hungary! Course Details: Dates: September 15-16 & 20-21, 2024 Location: Budapest, Hungary Seminar Language: English This exceptional 4-day seminar is an ideal opportunity for teachers, chess educators, beginner and advanced players with basic chess knowledge, and anyone with experience working with children. Engage in hands-on activities designed to integrate chess into academic settings while fostering essential 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration. Meet Our Expert Lecturers: Rita Atkins, WIM, Secretary of the FIDE Chess in Education Commission (Hungary) Anzel Laubscher, WIM, FIDE Instructor, and FIDE EDU Commission Member (South Africa) Registration Details: E-mail to register: edu.courses@fide.com Registration deadline: September 10, 2024 Fees: Seminar Fee: 150 EUR Title Fee: 50 EUR As an added benefit, successful candidates will receive lifelong access to the OPENING MASTER PREMIUM chess databases. Space is Limited—Only 30 Spots Available! We look forward to welcoming you to Budapest for a transformative educational experience!