The last round before the rest day produces significant changes in the standings, as leader Harika Dronavalli loses her game and swaps places with Alina Kashlinskaya.
The sixth round was launched by Irina Gladikh, who played the first move for her countrywoman Alexandra Kosteniuk. The IOC Associate Director must have a lucky hand, as Kosteniuk finally recovered from her disastrous start thanks to a win against Harika Dronavalli. The Indian was under pressure throughout the game but could have held in the end had she hanged Queens. Instead, she tragically blundered a checkmate. This slip actually benefits the three Russian players, as Aleksandra Goryachkina and Alina Kashlinskaya are now joint leaders. The vice world champion did not achieve any advantage against Anna Muzychuk and made a quiet draw.
Kashlinskaya clearly took Marie Sebag by surprise with her opening choice. In a well-known position, the French spent 35 minutes to play her ninth move and later committed some inaccuracies. Kashlinskaya played very forcefully and scored a convincing victory.
Zhansaya Abdumalik surprised Antoaneta Stefanova with the Scotch and especially with the rare move 5.Ne2. Black eventually obtained a decent position but underestimated the pawn grab 31.bxa4. There was no compensation and the Kazakhstani convincingly converted her advantage into a full point. The youngest participant moves up to 3,5 points and stands right behind the leaders.
The World Champion Ju Wenjun had some pressure with White on the position of Pia Cramling in the opening but after the queen's exchange was held to a draw by the experienced Swede.
Results of round 6:
Alina Kashlinskaya (RUS) – Marie Sebag (FRA) 1-0
Ju Wenjun (CHN) – Pia Cramling (SWE)
Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) – Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) ½-½
Aleksandra Goryachkina (RUS) – Anna Muzychuk (UKR) ½-½
Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS) – Harika Dronavalli (IND)
Zhansaya Abdumalik (KAZ) – Antoaneta Stefanova (BLG) 1-0
Standings after round 6:
1-2. Alina Kashlinskaya (RUS) and Aleksandra Goryachkina (RUS) - 4
3-5. Harika Dronavalli (IND), Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) and Zhansaya Abdumalik (KAZ) - 3½
6-8. Anna Muzychuk (UKR), Pia Cramling (SWE) and Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) - 3
9. Ju Wenjun (CHN) - 2½
10-12. Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL), Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS) and Marie Sebag (FRA) - 2 points.
8 March will be a rest day. Play will be resumed for the 7th round on March 9, at 3 pm:
Antoaneta Stefanova (BLG) – Alina Kashlinskaya (RUS)
Harika Dronavalli (IND) – Zhansaya Abdumalik (KAZ)
Anna Muzychuk (UKR) – Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS)
Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) – Aleksandra Goryachkina (RUS)
Pia Cramling (SWE) – Nana Dzagnidze (GEO)
Marie Sebag (FRA) – Ju Wenjun (CHN)
Follow all the action live with commentary by grandmasters Mikhail Gurevich and Keti Tsatsalashvili on the tournament website http://wgp2019.fide.com.
Pictures in high resolution are available for the press at our official Flickr account.
Text: Yannick Pelletier
Photos: David Llada
Contact: press@fide.com
