The Goryachkina Express
Aleksandra Goryachkina won one more important game, this time against Valentina Gunina. She is also the only player who has not lost any game so far.
The Muzychuk sisters both won in the 9th round. Mariya Muzychuk was stronger in the game against Tan Zhongyi. On the other hand, her sister Anna Muzychuk defeated Nana Dzagnidze. Kateryna Lagno drew against Alexandra Kosteniuk.
Goryachkina after nine rounds leads with 7.5 points. Lagno is in second place with 5 points. Sisters Mariya and Anna Muzychuk share third place with 4.5 points. Dzagnidze is in 5th place with 4 points. Gunina, Kosteniuk and Zhongyi have 3.5.
Valentina Gunina v Aleksandra Goryachkina
Valentina Gunina tried to surprise the leader Aleksandra Goryachkina with a rare line in the Caro-Kan, famously used by Bobby Fischer. Goryachkina, however, was satisfied with exchanges and a low-risk play.
Gunina lashed out with 15.b4, missing the transfer of the Black Queen from a5 to h4. This annoying check forced Valentina to concede the castling rights and to fall under the attack of the Black pieces.
Valentina tried to complicate matters and avoid the defeat. However, the extra piece eventually decided the game for Black.
Valentina Gunina v Aleksandra Goryachkina
Mariya Muzchuk v Tan Zhongyi
The game between Mariya Muzychuk and Tan Zhongyi started as a quiet Ruy Lopez. However, Black’s passive Knight retreat to b8 allowed Muzychuk to obtain a better position. This eventually snowballed soon into a strong attack. The temporary exchange sacrifice and a deep cut by the pawn on g6 decided the fate of the game.
Mariya Muzchuk v Tan Zhongyi
Nana Dzagnidze v Anna Muzychuk
Nana Dzagnidze tried an unusual line of the English opening against Anna Muzychuk. It looked quite good for White until Dzagnidze allowed her centre to collapse. She lost track of the game and even blundered an exchange.
Nana Dzagnidze v Anna Muzychuk
Alexandra Kosteniuk v Kateryna Lagno
Alexandra Kosteniuk and Kateryna Lagno was perhaps the sharpest game. Black sacrificed a pawn and then, surprisingly, castled long. Alexandra, however, did not pursue an attack but opted to exchange Queens and go into the endgame with an extra pawn. Kosteniuk planned to create a passed pawn on the Queenside. Lagno, on the other hand, attempted to maintain an active counterplay with her Rooks and Bishop. It seems Kosteniuk missed an excellent chance to seize an advantage on several occasions. With a stubborn defence, however Lagno was able to grab a draw.
Alexandra Kosteniuk v Kateryna Lagno
Round 10
The leader of the tournament Goryachkina will now face her nearest rival Lagno in the 10th round. Despite 2.5 points difference, Lagno said she still believes in miracles and will keep on fighting.
Tuesday is a rest day. The tenth round takes place on Wednesday, June 12th at 15:00 local time. The pairing are as follows;
Alexandra Kosteniuk — Valentina Gunina.
Kateryna Lagno — Aleksandra Goryachkina.
Anna Muzychuk — Tan Zhongyi.
Mariya Muzychuk — Nana Dzagnidze.
Unsung heroes
In every chess tournament, several people work quietly in the background to ensure that fans are kept well informed.
Eteri Kublashvili & Anastasiya Karlovych are two such heroes.
Both charming ladies are excellent photographers and have been instrumental in taking photos of this exciting event.
Anatasiya Karlovych is also responsible for the daily press briefs on the tournament which www.kenyachessmasala.com uses extensively to prepare it’s own stories..
Links
Goryachkina extends her lead in round 9.
Goryachkina extends her lead in round 8.
Rest day at the Women’s Candidate Tournament.
Goryachkina extends her lead in round 6.
Goryachkina grabs the lead in the Women’s Candidate Tournament.
Promotional video for the 2019 Women’s Candidates Tournament done by Kim Bhari.
Article on the Opening Ceremony.
