Aleksandra Goryachkina wins Candidates
Aleksandra Goryachkina of Russia drew against Tan Zhongyi to win the Ladies Candidate Tournament with two rounds to spare!
She now gains the right to challenge the Women’s World Chess Champion Ju Wenjun of China. The total prize fund for this event is an impressive €500,000.
The fight for the second place continues, and three games of the 12th round finished with a decisive score. Anna Muzychuk defeated Kateryna Lagno and leapfrogged her opponent in the second place. Nana Dzagnidze, who could not win any game after the fourth round, outplayed Alexandra Kosteniuk. Valentina Gunina won the second game in a row this time against Mariya Muzychuk.
Standings
After 12 rounds Goryachkina is in the first place with 9 points, Anna Muzychuk is in second place with 6.5 points. Kateryna Lagno is in third place with 6 points. Valentina Gunina, Tan Zhongyi, Mariya Muzychuk and Nana Dzagnidze have 5.5 points. Alexandra Kosteniuk has 4.5 points.
Tan Zhongyi v Aleksandra Goryachkina
Tan Zhongyi had a promising position against Aleksandra Goryachkina. It seemed the former Women’s World Champion had good chances for the victory after the game transposed into the ending with two Bishops and an extra pawn. However, Aleksandra Goryachkina put up a stubborn defence, trying to use in her favour the weak position of White’s King.
Tan Zhongyi made a few imprecise moves after the time control and had a completely lost position after Qh1. Goryachkina decided to offer a draw with a perpetual. “The game was really tough. I got a bad position out of the opening. It was also very complicated later. When I saw a draw by repetition, I just went for it. I could not play anymore, as I wanted to survive until the end of the tournament,” commented Aleksandra after the game.
Tan Zhongyi v Aleksandra Goryachkina
Nana Dzagnidze v Alexandra Kosteniuk
A typical hedgehog position appeared in the game Dzagnidze-Kosteniuk. Alexandra was trying to prepare Fischer’s plan with Kh8-Rg8-g5, but later on, she switched to another typical breakthrough, d6-d5. This gave Black quite interesting counter chances, but Nana Dzagnidze found a precise way to neutralise all Black’s threats and won the game.
Nana Dzagnidze v Alexandra Kosteniuk
Anna Muzychuk v Kateryna Lagno
Kateryna Lagno bravely played the Janisch Gambit of the Ruy Lopez against Anna Muzychuk, but after the game, she regretted her decision: “I should have played something more solid today. The game started and finished! I just blundered 19.Qe4 and could have resigned immediately after this move.”
By playing 18…e4 or 18…b5 and 19…e4, Kateryna could have avoided Qe4, and the game would have continued.
Anna Muzychuk v Kateryna Lagno
Mariya Muzychuk v Valentina Gunina
Valentina Gunina and Mariya Muzychuk had the longest game of the twelfth round. In a very complicated middle game, Valentina managed to sharpen the position and won an exchange, after an inaccuracy of her opponent. Valentina played carefully and confidently in the endgame and was able to break the resistance after five hours of play.
Mariya Muzychuk v Valentina Gunina
13th round draw
The 13th round will take place on Saturday, 15th of June 2019.
Valentina Gunina — Anna Muzychuk.
Alexandra Kosteniuk — Mariya Muzychuk.
Aleksandra Goryachkina — Nana Dzagnidze.
Kateryna Lagno — Tan Zhongyi.
Interesting facts about Aleksandra Goryachkina
10 facts about Aleksandra Goryachkina.
✅ She was born on September 28, 1998, and is 20 years old now.
✅ Her father Yuri is a FIDE Master and her first coach, he is her companion at every tournament.
✅ She is at her peak rating right now (2537 in June 2019).
✅ She is currently #8 rated women in the world.
✅ In 2013, she finished 2nd in Russian Under 19 Open Championship competing with boys.
✅ She won her first gold medal at the girls Under 10 world championship in 2008.
✅ She is 2-times Russian Women’s Champion (2015, 2017).
✅ In 2018 she became a Grandmaster.
✅ She has a slight fear of darkness and closed space.
✅ She likes detective series and movies.
Links
Aleksandra Goryachkina inches forward.
Goryachkina maintains her lead.
Goryachkina extends her lead in round in round 10.
Aleksandra 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.