Hail the new women’s world champ
As the chess world knows by now, Ju Wenjun is the new women’s world champion!
The challenger defeated reigning world champion Tan Zhongyi, 5.5-4.5, in a 10-game series, held May 3-18 in the Chinese cities of Shanghai and Chongqin.
The match was not easily predictable. While Tan was the defending champion, Ju was full of confidence and optimism. In years, they were even at 27. In FIDE ratings, the challenger was ahead by a whopping 49 points!
The final result shows one of the most exhaust- ing matches in modern chess history. For over two weeks, the protagonists exuded energy and grit, with the eventual winner unclear until the very last game. There was tension and electrified atmosphere throughout the match. Their games were rife with complications, averaging 55 moves per game, with game six extending to 121 moves, and games nine and 10, up to 80 and 73 moves, respectively.
The game shown below produced positional subtleties with a delightful display of fireworks.
Women’s World Championship 2018 W) Tan Zhongyi (China) B) Ju Wenjun (China) Bishop’s Opening 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 ...
This move carries us back to the times of Spanish players, Luis Ramirez de Lucena (1465-1530) and Ruy Lopez de Segura (1530-1580), who studied and analyzed extensively the Bishop Opening. The French master, Andre Duncan Philidor (1726-1795), also adopted the system, and later, the great Dane, Bent Larsen (1935-2010) was one of the few GMs to essay it often in top level competition. The system is long considered as comfortable for Black, but times change and so do opinions. Today, in this period of computer supremacy, the opening is still a sound flexible deployment, ready to engage any system that may come its way.
The system of development chosen by Black is one of the strongest and leads to equality. Also possible is 3...Nc6 and after 4. Nf3 Be7 5. 0-0 0-0 6. c3 d5!? 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Re1 Bg4 9. h3 Bh5 10. Nbd2 Nf4! the game is about even.
An important intermezzo, which prevents White’s Nb1-c3. After the normal 6...Bd6, White gains a slight edge with 7. exd5 cxd5 8. Bg5 Be6 9. 0-0 Nc6 10. Nc3 d4 11. Nd5, etc. 10. Bg5 leads to fair chances for both sides, according to the engine. The engine’s 13. Be3 is simple and good. 17. Re2 is obviously better than the text.
Herewith White introduces complications with a speculative Pawn sacrifice. Now play went on.
Definitely the losing move, as Black’s Kingside attack gains momentum. 31. Qd4 should have been tried, which would enable White, despite an inferior position, to hold on a little longer.
Now comes a decisive attack on the White King in which piece play is the winning formula.
Nothing could be done. 34. Rf2 is met by 34...Nf3ch, and 34. Kh1 is refuted by 34...Nf3! 35. exf3 Qxf3ch.
If 36. Kg1, Black wins with 36...Nf3ch 37. Kf2 Qh4ch 38. Kf1 Qh1ch or 36. Kf2 Qh4ch 37. Kg1 Nf3ch 38. Kf1 Qh1ch and mate follows. Solution to last week’s puzzle: White to move and win.
White=Kg1, Qd2, Rb8, Be7, Pa3, Pe5, Pf2, Pg2, Ph3
Black=Kh7, Qb5, Bb6, Ng3, Pa5, Pd5, Pe6, Pf7, Pg6, Ph4