New women’s champ crowned
In the recently concluded Women’s World Chess Championship, held in Sochi, Russia, 64 of the most skilled female players on earth fought for the title. Three former champions competed: Anna Ushenina of Ukraine, Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria and Alexandra Kosteniuk of Russia. A look at the strength of this year’s all-master field reveals the high level to which women’s chess has advanced. Participating were 20 Grandmasters, 20 International Masters, 18 Women’s GMs, and six Women’s IMs.
Through round after round of knockout matches, the 64 became 32, the 32 became 16, and so on, until one remained: 22-year-old Mariya Muzychuk of Ukraine. Coming into the competition ranked eighth and possessing only an IM title, she was not one of the favorites. To upset the oddsmakers, she had to defeat six-time Polish Women’s Champion GM Bartosz Socko, former Champion Stefanova, No. 1 seed Koneru, and others. As a built-in bonus for winning the Championship, she was automatically granted her full Grandmaster title.
Regular readers of this column may wonder what happened to Women’s World Champion GM Hou Yifan of China, the highest-rated female player in the world, the only active female player ranked in the overall World’s top 100. By choosing not to participate this time around, she forfeited her title. Some are wondering if she, like GM Judit Polgar before her, is so far beyond the others of her gender that she is opting to just “play with the boys” from here on out. We will know soon enough. She won the International Chess Federation’s Women’s Grand Prix last year, which qualifies her for a 10-game match this year with new Champion Muzychuk.
A) The Scotch Game can be traced back to the mid–18th Century. Instead of an ambitious attempt to occupy the center with pawns, as found in the Ruy Lopez Opening, White simply exchanges center pawns early. At the master level, this is not considered very ambitious, however it does leave White with some advantage in space. Even World Champions have turned to the Scotch as a surprise or to avoid prepared Lopez variations. Magnus Carlsen, Viswanathan Anand, and Garry Kasparov are some who have. B) This move, Nxc6, and Nb3 are the most popular replies, all having had comparable success. C) Of course, other direct piece-activating moves work also: Bc4, Qd2, and even Nc2 to unblock the bishop. D) The most popular reply, jumping on the opportunity for this center pawn break right away. The question is whether this is a bit too aggressive for the 2nd player at this point. E) After 10...Bxd4 11.Nxe4 Qg6 12.cxd4, White has a plus with the two Bishops, the c-file for rooks, and more space; the cost, an isolated queen pawn. F) For 13.cxd4, see the last note. G) After this, Black has pressure on the a-file. Instead, 14.Be3 Bxe3 15.Rxe3 Be6 16.Qe2 is equal. Note 14.Nc5! Bxc5 15.Be4 Qg5? 16.h4 Qe7 17.Qh5 g6 18.Qxc5 Qxc5 19.Bxc5 and White has great board control. Black could have answered 15.Be4 with 15...Nxd4 16.Bxf5?! Nxf5 with some advantage. H) 16.Qc2 Rxa2? (16...Bd5 17.Nf6+ Qxf6 18.Bxd5) 17.Rxa2 Bxa2 18.b3 Ra8 19.Ra1 Qa5 20.Nf2 And Black is tied to his pinned Bishop. I) Faced with losing the a-pawn, Muzychuk goes for a king attack. J) 24...h5? 25.Nf6+ gxf6 26.gxf6 Threatening mate (Qg3-g7) with no viable defense. K) A fatal weakening. 25...Rd1 26.Qe2 Rxe1+ 27.Qxe1 Qxb5 28.Qd2 Qc5+ 29.Kh2 Qd6 30.Qxa2 Qxf4+ 31.Kh1 Qc1+ etc. yields a draw. L) Winning in grand style! M) 26...Ra8 27.Bd5+ Kf8?? 28.Nh7 mate. N) One more queen offer forced resignation. 29...Rxf7 (29...Qa3 30.Qh5+ Kg8 31.Qh7 mate) 30.Re8+ Rf8 31.Rxf8 mate.