Games
[Event "FIDE Women's World Championship"] [Site "Shanghai, China"] [Date "2020.01.08"] [Round "3"] [White "Aleksandra Goryachkina"] [Black "Ju Wenjun"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D41"] [WhiteElo "2578"] [BlackElo "2584"] [PlyCount "169"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 $5 {Wenjun is the first player to deviate from game one.} (4... Be7 5. g3 O-O {Goryachkina - Wenjun, WWCC Shanghai (1), 2020}) 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bc4 Nd7 12. O-O b6 13. a4 Bb7 14. Rfe1 Rc8 15. Bd3 a5 { Wenjun seemed well prepared while the challenger was trying to figure it out.} 16. Qb2 Qe7 17. Nd2 Rfd8 {Up until this point, Wenjun was blitzing out and her clock had five minutes more than what she started with!} (17... h6 18. h3 Rc7 19. Rac1 Rfc8 20. Rxc7 Rxc7 21. e5 {1/2-1/2 (59) Ivanchuk,V (2733)-Bacrot,E (2730) Cap d'Agde 2013}) 18. Rab1 {the first new move in this position.} (18. Bf1 Rc7 19. Rac1 Rdc8 20. Rxc7 Rxc7 21. f3 {1/2-1/2 (69) Moranda,W (2572) -Kveinys,A (2491) Polanica Zdroj 2013}) 18... Bc6 {Played after a long 20 minute think.} 19. Bc2 h6 20. Nf1 Qg5 21. Ne3 Ba8 22. f3 Rc7 23. Bd3 $2 { a harmless move that allows Black to grab the initiative.} Rdc8 $2 {Both players missed Ne5(!)} (23... Ne5 $1 24. dxe5 (24. Be2 {to protect 'f3' isn't possible because of} Qxe3+) 24... Rxd3 {Black has the initiative now.}) 24. Ba6 Bb7 25. Bxb7 Rxb7 26. Qf2 Qd8 27. Red1 Nf6 28. d5 Rd7 29. Rd4 Qe7 $6 {Black creates trouble for herself.} (29... Rc5 {and Black would have held with ease.} ) 30. Rbd1 Rcd8 31. Nc4 {Goryachkina's pressure has paid off. She now wins a pawn.} exd5 32. Nxb6 Rb7 33. Nxd5 Nxd5 34. exd5 Qd6 35. h3 Rdb8 36. Qe1 { Not the best move but it's hard to suggest an improvement. White has an extra passed pawn but there is no direct way to make progress.} Rb4 37. Re4 g6 38. Kh1 h5 39. Re8+ $2 {Nerves probably! Goryachkina goes for trades which just helps Wenjun to liquidate and neutralize.} (39. Re7 {the engine's choice. Keeps the pressure and the chances to win the game.}) 39... Rxe8 40. Qxe8+ Kg7 41. Qc6 Qxc6 42. dxc6 Rc4 43. Rd5 Rxc6 44. Rxa5 {We reach this famous rook endgame notoriously known for it's drawing tendencies.} Rc1+ 45. Kh2 { Unfortunately for White, Black already has the best defensive pawn structure and Wenjun makes life even more difficult with the next move.} h4 46. Rd5 Ra1 47. a5 f5 48. g4 {What else! White has no way to make progress.} Ra2+ 49. Kg1 fxg4 50. hxg4 Kh6 51. Rb5 g5 {Wenjun plays perfectly and defended this endgame like a machine.} 52. Rb6+ Kg7 53. a6 Kh7 54. Rb7+ Kg6 55. a7 Kh6 56. Kf1 Kg6 57. Ke1 {Goryachkina plans to bring the king over to the queenside.} h3 { perfect counterplay at the perfect time. Wenjun simply forces a draw.} 58. Rb2 Ra1+ 59. Kf2 h2 60. a8=Q Rxa8 61. Kg2 Rh8 62. Rb1 {This endgame is dead-drawn. Goryachkina tries on for a few more moves.} Ra8 63. Kxh2 Ra2+ 64. Kg3 Rc2 65. Rf1 Ra2 66. Rf2 Ra3 67. Rd2 Ra6 68. Kf2 Re6 69. Re2 Ra6 70. Ke3 Re6+ 71. Kd3 Rd6+ 72. Kc4 Kf6 73. Ra2 Ke5 {Wenjun goes the active defence and attacks White's pawns to force the issue.} 74. Ra5+ Kf4 75. Rf5+ Kg3 76. Kc3 Rd8 77. Kc4 Rd7 78. Kc5 Rd3 79. Rxg5 Rxf3 80. Rg8 Kh4 81. g5 Kh5 82. g6 Kh6 83. Kd5 Rg3 84. Rh8+ {The challenger sets one last trap which the world champion nonchantantly avoids!} Kg7 85. Rh1 {another fighting draw and almost playing till bare kings!} 1/2-1/2 [Event "FIDE Women's World Championship"] [Site "?"] [Date "2020.01.09"] [Round "4.1"] [White "Ju, Wenjun"] [Black "Goryachkina, Aleksandra"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D16"] [WhiteElo "2584"] [BlackElo "2578"] [Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"] [PlyCount "125"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 e6 6. e3 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8. exd4 Nc6 9. O-O Be7 10. d5 {Ju immediately gets rid of the isolated pawn. Her game plan is apparently very similar to the match approach of her opponent so far- small advantage, no risk at all.} ({Another way to play the position is:} 10. Bf4 O-O 11. h3 Nb4 12. Re1 Bd7 13. d5 exd5 14. Bxd5 Nbxd5 15. Nxd5 Nxd5 16. Qxd5 b6 17. Bc7 Qxc7 18. Rxe7 Bc6 19. Qe5 Qxe5 20. Nxe5 Bd5 {as in Giri,A (2780)-Duda,J (2730) chess.com INT 2019}) 10... exd5 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd5 O-O 13. Be3 Bf5 14. Qb3 {White has slight initiative as she can occupy first the open files but this advantage will quickly evaporate if Goryachkina is given one tempo.} Nb4 15. Rfd1 Qa5 16. Ne5 Nxd5 17. Rxd5 Qa6 18. Nd7 Be6 19. Nxf8 { [#]This whole sequence has been seen before. Both players play pretty confidently in the opening.} Kxf8 {N Goryachkina replies almost instantly and this is a novelty.} ({The predecessor saw Black suffering after:} 19... Rxf8 20. Rad1 Bxd5 21. Rxd5 Rd8 22. Rxd8+ Bxd8 23. Qd1 Bf6 24. Qd7 g5 25. b4 { Al Yaghshi,M (2056)-Kuybokarov,T (2504) Dubai 2017}) ({Howevver, another novelty seems much more natural to me:} 19... Bxf8 $5 {with the idea to bring the rook out as quick as possible after:} 20. Qd3 Bxd5 21. Qxd5 Re8) 20. Qb5 { The first lenghty thought by the world champion. She needs to break the pin obviously and any other reasonable queen move would lead to the same.} Bxd5 21. Qxd5 Rd8 22. Qe4 {This is why the king capture does not seem optimal. Black needs to weaken her kingside.} h6 ({Otherwise the black Monarch will stay in the center:} 22... g6 23. Bh6+) 23. g3 ({Apparently Goryachkina is not worried by the queen aggression:} 23. Qh7 f6 {as the most powerful white piece lacks support.}) ({White could have also inserted the rook move:} 23. Re1 $5 { Threatening discovered bishop attack, thus forcing:} Rd7 24. g3 b6 {But this does not seem better than the position White got into the game.}) 23... b6 24. Rc1 $1 {The rook is better on this file.} f6 {But this is not optimal.} ({ It was time to improve the bishop with:} 24... Bf6 $1 {When White's active attempts does not yield here anything:} 25. Qh7 ({Definitely not:} 25. Rc7 $4 Rd1+ 26. Kg2 Qf1+ 27. Kf3 Qh1+ 28. Kf4 Bg5+ 29. Ke5 f6+ 30. Kf5 g6+) 25... Qd3 {Swapping the queens off with equality as once more active moves backfire:} 26. Qh8+ $4 Ke7 27. Rc7+ Ke6) 25. Kg2 Rc8 ({Here too:} 25... Bd6 26. Rd1 Qc8 27. h4 Re8 {was better, slowly bringing the pieces out.}) 26. Rxc8+ (26. Rc6 $1 { looked even more unpleasant for Black.}) 26... Qxc8 27. Qd5 {As a result of Black's somewhat passive play Goryachkina got unplesant position. Both white pieces are clearly superior, especially he centralized white queen and this, coupled with the rising time-trouble makes Black's defense extremely difficult. } Ke8 ({Instead:} 27... Bc5 28. Bxc5+ bxc5 29. h4 {would be similar as the game.}) 28. h4 $1 {It will be good to fix some weaknesses on the kingside.} Qd7 29. Qg8+ Bf8 30. Qc4 h5 ({Not allowing:} 30... Be7 31. h5 $1) 31. Kh2 $1 { Excellent technique by the world champion. The king side-steps the possible nasty checks along the diagonal.} Be7 32. b3 (32. Qg8+ Bf8 33. Qh7 {is the computer suggestion.}) 32... Kf8 33. Qc2 Bd6 34. Qe4 Bc5 $6 {In time-trouble the contender tries to clarify the situation.} ({However, she should have tried to swap the ueens off, rather than the bishops with:} 34... Qe7 $1 { WWhite is still better here too with:} 35. Qh7 Qe6 36. Qxh5 ({Nothing changes: } 36. Qh8+ Qg8) 36... Qxb3 37. Qg4 {But this was Black's lesser eveil.}) 35. Bxc5+ bxc5 36. a5 $1 {Another excellent rook pawn advance. The pawn on a7 is fixed for good, thus the black queen will always have to stay around her king in order to save the pawns on the queeside.} Qe7 37. Qa8+ Kf7 38. a6 g6 39. Qd5+ Kg7 40. Qb7 Kf8 {The beginning of a conceptually wrong defensive plan.} ({ Black's only chances for survival was connected with the active play. Therefore:} 40... Kf7 $1 {should have been played. Then the plan that Ju used later in the game:} 41. Kg2 {Can be met with:} f5 $1 42. Kf3 Kf6 43. Qxe7+ (43. Kf4 Qe5+ 44. Kf3 Qe7 {only repeats moves.}) 43... Kxe7 44. Kf4 Kf6 45. f3 { For a moment it seems as Black is in zugzwang, but she has the wonderful resource:} g5+ $3 46. hxg5+ Kg6 {And it is White who has to find a draw with:} 47. g4 fxg4 48. fxg4 h4 49. Ke3 Kxg5 50. Kf3 h3 51. Kg3 h2 52. Kxh2 Kxg4 53. Kg2 Kf4 54. Kf2 Ke4 55. Ke2 Kd4 56. Kd2) 41. Kg2 {The king is needed for the win.} Ke8 42. Qa8+ (42. Kf3 $5) 42... Kf7 43. Qd5+ Kg7 44. Kf3 Kf8 {Following the same losing policy.} ({It was not too late for activity:} 44... g5 $1 45. Qb7 Kf8 46. hxg5 fxg5 47. Kg2 Kf7 {would have kept Black's survival chances realistic.}) 45. Qb7 Ke8 46. Qd5 {Missing the first winning opportunity.} ({ The pawn endgame after:} 46. Qxe7+ $1 Kxe7 47. g4 $1 {Would be won for Ju. By the way, she will get back to this idea later. For example:} Kd6 ({The trade of the pawns does not save Black neither as the first player can always create an outside passer with:} 47... hxg4+ 48. Kxg4 Kd6 (48... Ke6 49. f4) 49. f4 Ke6 50. f5+ gxf5+ 51. Kf4 {With this same idea (but reversed colors) Gligoric won a game against Gheorghiu, Hastings 1964.)}) 48. gxh5 gxh5 49. Ke4 Ke6 50. Kf4 { and wins as in the game.}) 46... Kf8 47. Kf4 Qc7+ 48. Ke3 Qc8 49. Qb7 Qd8 50. Kf3 Qe7 51. Qxe7+ $1 {Second chance is taken.} Kxe7 52. g4 {Opens the road for her more active king.} Kd6 53. gxh5 gxh5 54. Ke4 Kc6 55. f4 Kb5 56. Kd5 $1 { Precision till the end.} (56. Kf5 {would have missed the win due to:} Kb4 57. Kxf6 Kxb3 58. Kg6 c4 59. f5 c3 60. f6 c2 61. f7 c1=Q 62. f8=Q) 56... f5 ({ Nothing changes:} 56... Kb4 57. Kc6 f5 58. Kd6 Kb5 59. Kc7 $1 Kb4 (59... Kxa6 60. Kc6) 60. Kc6) 57. Kd6 Kb6 58. Kd7 $1 {At the end of the day the black king is outflanked.} Ka5 59. Kc7 Kxa6 60. Kc6 Ka5 61. Kxc5 Ka6 62. b4 Kb7 63. Kd5 1-0 [Event "FIDE Women's World Championship"] [Site "Shanghai, China"] [Date "2020.01.11"] [Round "5.1"] [White "Goryachkina, Aleksandra"] [Black "Ju, Wenjun"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A18"] [WhiteElo "2578"] [BlackElo "2584"] [Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"] [PlyCount "102"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 {After the painful defeat in the previous game, Goryachkina decided to abandon the slow grinding in favor of more aggressive play.} d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. e5 Ne4 6. Nf3 Bf5 7. d3 {White is following the footprints of her great countryman.} ({At the World Cup two strong grandmasters discussed a slightly different version of the line:} 7. Be2 d4 8. Nxe4 Bxe4 9. Bc4 Bd5 10. Qb3 Bxc4 11. Qxc4 Nc6 12. O-O Qd7 13. d3 Be7 14. a3 O-O 15. b4 {when White seemed more comfortable, Kovalenko,I (2674)-Lupulescu,C (2643) Khanty-Mansiysk 2019}) 7... Nxc3 8. bxc3 c5 9. d4 Qa5 10. Bd2 Nc6 11. c4 Qd8 12. Qb3 Be4 {N However, it is Ju who has the first novelty.} ({The predecessor saw:} 12... Be6 13. Qxb7 Rc8 14. Ng5 Nxd4 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Rb1 Be7 17. Bd3 Kf7 18. O-O Nc6 19. Be2 Nd4 20. Bd3 Nc6 21. Rfd1 {with initiative for White in Nepomniachtchi,I (2768)-Anand,V (2771) Batumi 2018. No doubt that both camps spent countless hours on the analyses of the positions.}) 13. Qxb7 Rc8 14. Bg5 {For her last two moves Goryachkina spent about 20 minutes on her clock. She did, however, a very good job in choosing this unpleasant continuation as Ju slowly caught up on the clock with her three next moves.} ({ Black's main idea is seen in the line:} 14. Ng5 Be7 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. d5 Nxe5 { where Black is very active and keeps the white bishops under control.}) 14... Be7 15. Bxe7 Nxe7 16. Qb5+ {Here comes the first lengthy thought by the world champion. After more than half an hour of deliberation, Ju decides on} Qd7 { which turns out to be a mistake.} ({The other natural block of the check:} 16... Nc6 {would not solve all the Black's problems either after:} 17. cxd5 Bxd5 ({Somewhat better is:} 17... Qxd5 18. Bc4 Qd7 19. Ng5 $1 Bd5 20. O-O { although Black also has problems to solve here.}) 18. Qxc5 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Nxd4 20. Bb5+ Nxb5 21. Qxb5+ Qd7 22. a4 {White's extra pawn should count for something, although I suspect that with accurate play Black should hold.}) ({ However, the artificial-looking move:} 16... Rc6 $1 {might have been best. The rook is now surprisingly well-placed; for example, after:} 17. cxd5 Bxd5 18. Be2 O-O 19. dxc5 Qc7 {Black should gradually regain both her pawns.}) 17. cxd5 Bxd5 18. Qxd7+ Kxd7 19. Bb5+ Ke6 ({Here a better chance is:} 19... Nc6 $5 { with the idea:} 20. dxc5 {And only then:} ({But White can still fight for the edge with:} 20. Rc1 $5) 20... Ke6 21. Ng5+ Kxe5) 20. Ng5+ $1 Kf5 21. h4 { Suddenly the black king is in trouble, and Ju has too many threats to worry about. She decided to sacrifice the exchange.} cxd4 ({The alternative is to play down a pawn after:} 21... Kg6 22. Bd3+ Kh6 23. dxc5 Rxc5 24. O-O { Definitely not fun as the black king is still not out of the woods.}) 22. Bd7+ Kxe5 23. Bxc8 Rxc8 {Goryachkina won the exchange, and this play should be good enough to win the game as the position is well open for the major pieces. However, accuracy is still required.} 24. O-O ({Here better is to keep the king in the middle:} 24. Kd2 $1 {Not worrying about:} Bxg2 $2 25. Rae1+ Kf6 26. Rhg1 {and White wins.}) 24... Kd6 25. Rfe1 Rc2 {Now Black gets some activity for her pieces, and the supported passer can become a significant factor.} 26. a3 h6 27. Ne4+ Bxe4 28. Rxe4 Nc6 29. h5 $1 {Fixing a weakness.} g6 ({The pawn is not hanging yet; therefore, Ju should have brought her king out with:} 29... Kd5 $1 {Then:} 30. Rg4 ({But White needs to play for the win with:} 30. Re8 $1) 30... d3 31. Rd1 d2 32. Kh2 Ne5 {leads White nowhere.}) 30. Rf4 ({Here and on the next move the contender needed to slow the passer with:} 30. Rd1 $1 gxh5 31. Rf4 Ke6 ({Or:} 31... Ke7 32. Rf5) 32. Re1+ Kd5 33. Rxf7 {eventually winning.}) 30... gxh5 31. Rxf7 d3 $1 {The passer is on the move.} 32. Rd1 d2 33. Rf3 Ne5 $1 34. Rf4 Nc6 {The decisive mistake. Ju was almost there.} ({ Correct is:} 34... Nc4 $1 35. Rd4+ ({The rook endgame after:} 35. Kf1 Ke5 $1 36. Rh4 Nb2 37. Rxh5+ Ke4 38. Ke2 Nxd1 39. Rh4+ $1 Kf5 40. Kxd1 Ra2 41. Rxh6 Rxa3 42. Kxd2 a5 {should also be a draw with accurate play.}) 35... Ke5 36. Rd7 Rc3 {Black's pieces are wonderfully positioned, and she can start swapping more pawns after:} ({Not:} 36... Rc1 $2 37. R7xd2 $1) 37. Kf1 (37. a4 a5) 37... Rxa3 38. Ke2 h4 {In this line White misses her Rd1.}) 35. Kf1 Ke5 36. Rf3 Na5 37. Ke2 {Everything is under control again, and Goryachkina leaves Ju no more chances.} Nc4 38. Rh3 Ra2 39. Rxh5+ Kd4 40. Rh4+ $1 {It is always useful to spoil the enemy's coordination.} Kc5 41. Rh3 a5 42. f4 Kd5 43. Rf3 $1 {The decisive maneuver after which the white pawns start to move as well.} Ke6 44. g4 a4 45. Rh3 Kd5 46. f5 Ke5 47. Rc3 Nxa3 48. Rc5+ (48. Re3+ {would be a bit faster.}) ({But not:} 48. Rxd2 $2 Rxd2+ 49. Kxd2 Nb1+ 50. Kc2 Nxc3 51. Kxc3 h5 {with a draw.}) 48... Kd6 49. f6 Nc2 50. Rc4 Na3 51. Rf4 Kd5 1-0 [Event "FIDE Women's World Championship"] [Site "Shanghai, China"] [Date "2020.01.12"] [Round "6"] [White "Ju Wenjun"] [Black "Aleksandra Goryachkina"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2584"] [BlackElo "2576"] [PlyCount "210"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] 1. e4 {Ju switches back to e4 from d4 that gave her the win in game four.} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 {Goryachkina employs the Berlin and shows her intention of playing solidly early on.} 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5 8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 {The most standard reply.} (10. Re2 Nc4 11. b3 Nb6 12. c3 {was seen in game two. ½-½ Wenjun (2584) - Goryachkina (2574), Shanghai WWCC, 2020.}) 10... Re8 11. c3 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 Nf5 13. a4 d5 14. a5 Be7 (14... c6 15. Nd2 Nd6 16. Nb3 Bf5 {1/2-1/2 (29) Karjakin,S (2748)-Giri,A (2779) Riga LAT 2019}) 15. Nd2 Bd6 16. Nf3 Ne7 17. b3 Bf5 18. c4 c6 19. Bb2 a6 20. Ne5 Qf8 21. Qc3 Rd8 22. Nd3 Ng6 23. g3 Be4 24. Bg2 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 Ne7 26. c5 { A provocative and long-lasting structure as this fixes the pawns on the queenside.} Bc7 27. Qb4 Rb8 28. Re1 Qd8 29. Bc3 Ng6 30. Qa3 h5 $5 {With pieces looking locked on the queenside, Goryachkina goes for a kingside attack.} 31. f4 Qf6 32. Qb2 Nh4+ 33. Kh1 (33. gxh4 $2 Qg6+ 34. Kh1 Qxd3 {and Black should be close to winning.}) 33... Nf5 34. Qe2 Qg6 35. b4 Rd8 36. Qf3 f6 37. Qe2 Kh7 38. Nf2 Rd7 39. Qd3 Re7 40. Rxe7 Nxe7 41. Qxg6+ Kxg6 {White seems to have avoided the worst and should hold unless she cracks under pressure.} 42. Kg2 h4 43. Kf3 hxg3 44. hxg3 f5 45. Nd1 Kf6 46. Ne3 Ng6 47. Be1 Nf8 48. Nd1 Ne6 49. Bf2 g5 50. Be3 Kg6 51. Nc3 Bd8 52. Ne2 Kh5 53. Bf2 Bf6 54. Be3 gxf4 55. gxf4 Bh4 56. Ng3+ Bxg3 57. Kxg3 {Another critical position. Black has the better position, but White might hold as there just aren't enough weaknesses to defend.} Ng7 58. Bc1 Ne8 59. Bd2 Nf6 60. Be1 Ne4+ 61. Kh3 Kg6 62. Kg2 Kh6 63. Kh2 Nf6 64. Kh3 Ne8 65. Kg3 Kh5 66. Kh3 Nc7 67. Bc3 Ne6 68. Kg3 Kg6 69. Kf3 Ng7 70. Be1 Kh6 71. Kg3 Nh5+ 72. Kh2 Nf6 73. Bd2 Ng4+ 74. Kh3 Kg6 75. Kg2 Nf6 76. Kh2 Nh5 77. Kh3 Kh6 78. Kh2 Ng7 79. Kg2 Ne8 80. Kh3 Kg6 81. Kg2 Nc7 82. Bc3 Ne6 83. Kg3 Ng7 84. Kg2 Nh5 85. Bd2 Kh6 86. Kh2 Nf6 87. Kg2 Ng4 88. Kf3 Kg6 89. Kg2 Nh6 90. Kh2 Kh5 91. Kh3 Nf7 92. Kg3 Nd8 93. Be1 Ne6 94. Bc3 Nf8 95. Kh3 Kg6 96. Bd2 Kh6 97. Kg2 Ne6 98. Be3 Kh5 99. Kg3 Nc7 100. Bc1 Ne8 101. Bd2 Nf6 102. Kh3 Kh6 103. Kh2 Ng4+ 104. Kg2 Kg6 105. Kh3 Nf6 {Draw agreed. Kudos to Goryachkina for trying and playing in this ending.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "FIDE Women's World Championship"] [Site "Vladivostok, Russia"] [Date "2020.01.16"] [Round "7.1"] [White "Ju, Wenjun"] [Black "Goryachkina, Aleksandra"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C65"] [WhiteElo "2584"] [BlackElo "2578"] [PlyCount "134"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. O-O Nd7 7. Be3 Qe7 8. Qe1 (8. Nbd2 Bd6 (8... O-O 9. Nc4 f6 10. Nh4 g6 11. g3 {1/2-1/2 (63) Le,Q (2694)-Yakubboev,N (2587) Xingtai 2019}) 9. d4 O-O 10. c3 Re8 11. Re1 {1-0 (64) Almasi,Z (2710)-Korneev,O (2637) Warsaw 2013}) 8... O-O 9. Nc3 Re8 10. a3 Bd6 11. Nd2 Nf8 12. f4 exf4 13. Bxf4 Ng6 14. Bg3 Be6 15. Nf3 Rad8 16. Kh1 Bg4 17. h3 Bxf3 18. Rxf3 Rd7 19. Rf5 b6 20. Ne2 c5 21. b3 Qd8 22. Qf2 {White enjoyes the more space and has also a tangible advantage. But the problem is that Black doesn't have any tangible weaknesses to exploit.} Bxg3 23. Qxg3 Qh4 24. Qxh4 Nxh4 {Goryachkina has traded two pieces to improve her passive position but her defensive duty is not yet complete.} 25. Rf2 Ng6 26. Nc3 Ne5 27. g3 a5 $6 (27... c6 28. a4 a6 29. Kg2 b5 {was a nice idea for Black to whip up some counterplay on the queenside.}) 28. a4 Nc6 29. Kg2 Nb4 30. g4 Re5 31. Nd1 h5 32. Ne3 Nc6 33. Kg3 Nd4 34. Raf1 f6 35. Nd5 Kf7 36. Ne3 Kg8 37. Nf5 $6 { allowing Goryachkina to trade into a drawish rook ending.} (37. h4 hxg4 38. Nxg4 Rh5 39. Rxf6 Nxc2 40. Rf8+ Kh7 41. R1f7 Rxd3+ 42. Kf4 Rxh4 43. Kg5 Rxg4+ 44. Kxg4 {The position is unclear but White is definitely calling the shots.}) 37... hxg4 38. hxg4 Nxf5+ 39. gxf5 g6 40. fxg6 Rg5+ 41. Kf4 Rxg6 42. Ke3 Rf7 43. Kd2 Kf8 44. Kc3 Ke7 45. Kc4 c6 46. Rh1 Rg8 47. Rh6 Ke6 48. Rh5 Rfg7 49. c3 Rg5 50. Rh6 R5g6 51. Rfh2 f5 52. Rxg6+ Rxg6 53. exf5+ Kxf5 {Black should hold this ending inspite of having doubled 'c' pawns.} 54. d4 cxd4 55. cxd4 Rg1 56. Rh6 Rc1+ 57. Kd3 Rd1+ 58. Kc2 Rxd4 59. Rxc6 Rb4 60. Kc3 Ke5 61. Rc4 Rxc4+ 62. Kxc4 Kd6 63. Kb5 Kc7 64. Ka6 Kc6 65. Ka7 Kc7 66. Ka6 Kc6 67. Ka7 Kc7 {another fighting draw.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "FIDE Women's World Championship"] [Site "Vladivostok, Russia"] [Date "2020.01.17"] [Round "8.1"] [White "Goryachkina, Aleksandra"] [Black "Ju, Wenjun"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2578"] [BlackElo "2584"] [PlyCount "89"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. Bd3 Ne4 $6 {a slightly dubious line. White has a huge 71% score in over 70 games after this move.} 9. Bg3 {a rather passive retreat played after a long 15 minute think.} Nxg3 (9... Bf5 10. Bxe4 (10. Nge2 Nxg3 11. hxg3 Bxd3 12. Qxd3 Nd7 13. g4 {1-0 (74) Barsov,A (2509)-Al Qudaimi,B (2428) Khanty-Mansiysk 2010}) 10... Bxe4 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Ne2 Bb4+ 13. Nc3 {1-0 (56) Khismatullin,D (2664) -Krapivin,A (2445) Moscow 2012}) (9... Nxc3 10. bxc3 Qa5 11. Ne2 O-O 12. O-O { 1-0 (31) Skomorokhin,R (2460)-Velvart,P (2155) Budapest 1993}) 10. hxg3 Nd7 11. Nf3 (11. Nge2 Nf6 12. Nf4 Bg4 13. Qc2 Bd6 14. Bf5 Qe7 15. Bxg4 Bxf4 16. gxf4 Nxg4 17. O-O-O {1-0 (50) Centelles Vivas,A (2021)-Crusats Mir,J (1948) Moia 2015}) 11... Nf6 12. Qc2 Be6 13. O-O-O Qc7 14. Kb1 O-O-O 15. Na4 Kb8 16. Nc5 Bxc5 17. dxc5 {Ju admiitted at the press conferecnce that after this she felt that the game was getting out of hand and she struggled to come up with an equalizing plan.} Bg4 18. Rc1 Bxf3 19. gxf3 d4 20. e4 g5 21. Qd2 Nd7 22. f4 f6 23. Rh5 {The h6 pawn will come under fire now.} gxf4 24. gxf4 Nf8 25. f5 Qg7 $2 ({Ju's best chance was to counter with} 25... Nd7 26. f4 Rhg8 27. Rxh6 Rg4 { but Black is still fighting.}) 26. Qf4+ Ka8 27. Qh2 Nd7 28. f4 Qf8 29. b4 b6 30. e5 bxc5 31. Qh1 Nb8 32. Be4 $2 (32. b5 Rh7 33. Ka1 c4 34. Rxc4 Qa3 35. Rh3 {White is coasting to a win.}) 32... Rh7 33. Rxc5 Rb7 34. Bxc6 Nxc6 35. Qxc6 d3 36. Rb5 Rdb8 37. e6 Qd8 38. Rh1 d2 39. Rd5 Qc8 40. Qxc8 Rxb4+ 41. Ka1 Rxc8 42. Rxd2 Kb7 43. Rd7+ Kb6 44. e7 Re8 45. Re1 {a fine win by the challenger to lead by one point with only four games to go!} 1-0 [Event "FIDE Women's World Championship"] [Site "Vladivostok, Russia"] [Date "2020.01.19"] [Round "9.1"] [White "Ju, Wenjun"] [Black "Goryachkina, Aleksandra"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A06"] [WhiteElo "2584"] [BlackElo "2578"] [Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"] [PlyCount "124"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. b3 {Behind in the score Ju decided that her chances would be better if she avoids the main theoretical lines full of forcing lines.} c5 3. e3 a6 4. Bb2 Nc6 5. d4 Nf6 ({Caruana chose instead:} 5... cxd4 6. Nxd4 Nf6 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. Nd2 e6 9. Bd3 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. c4 a5 {with normal play for Black, Nakamura, H (2792)-Caruana,F (2807) Saint Louis 2017}) 6. Nbd2 cxd4 7. exd4 g6 8. a3 Bg7 9. Bd3 Nh5 {N A good novelty which enables central play by the second player.} ({The predecessor saw:} 9... O-O 10. O-O Bf5 11. Bxf5 gxf5 12. Ne1 Ne4 13. Ndf3 Qb6 14. Qd3 Rac8 15. Qe3 f4 16. Qxf4 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Bxd4 18. Qg4+ Kh8 19. Bxd4+ Qxd4 {Gubajdullin,A (2346)-Harutyunian,T (2452) Kazan 2016}) 10. g3 O-O 11. Ne5 Nxe5 12. dxe5 d4 ({A much better idea seems the inclusion of the black queen:} 12... Qc7 $1 13. f4 {Then followed by the opening of the center:} f6 14. Qf3 Be6 {with double-edged position.}) 13. f4 f6 {Here White manages to consolidate.} 14. Qe2 fxe5 15. fxe5 Bh6 16. O-O-O Be3 17. Rhf1 Bh3 18. Rxf8+ Qxf8 {All of this was pretty forced and with her next prophylactic move Ju moves her king away from the dangerous diagonal.} 19. Kb1 ({However, in the process the world champion missed the strong continuation:} 19. Be4 $1 {Which is doubled attack. Black's best move is:} Qc8 {which will be answered by the same:} ({Not only the b7 pawn hangs:} 19... Rb8 20. Bxd4 $1 Bxd4 21. Qc4+ {drops the central pawn instead.}) 20. Kb1 {But in comparison to the game Black will have her pieces awkwardly placed.}) 19... b5 20. Nf1 { Now Goryachkina finds a brave resource.} Bg1 $1 {For a moment, it seems as the white pieces are stuck, but the world champion can be amazingly resourceful as well.} 21. a4 $1 {The most discussed move of the game. And maybe the match. In fact yesterday, when I played my for my Belgium team a very strong GM said he could not believe his eyes when he saw the move. Neither did his wife who is a world-class player as well.} ({A more normal continuation would be:} 21. Qe4 Rd8 22. Qh1 Bg4 23. Rc1 Bf2 24. Qc6 {with unclear game.}) 21... bxa4 22. bxa4 { This is even more weird. Ju completely strips her king from the pawn cover. Could anyone expect this? A closer look at the position though reveals that there are some serious advantages behind White's idea. First and foremost, the light-squared bishop gets an amazing diagonal to work on.} ({From objective point of view however:} 22. Nd2 {was stronger when after:} Be3 23. Nc4 axb3 24. Nxe3 dxe3 25. cxb3 Be6 $1 {Black is in time to block the enemy bishops.}) 22... Qc8 23. Bc4+ Kh8 {Goryachkina wants to have the g7 square available for her knight.} ({Here:} 23... Be6 $2 {fails tactically to the double attack:} 24. Bxe6+ Qxe6 25. Qg2) ({However:} 23... Kg7 $1 24. e6 Nf6 {would have been stronger than in the game for Black.}) 24. e6 Nf6 25. Rxd4 $5 {This is why the Chinese GM opened the road for her light-squared bishop. She needs the second one there too and the price of an exchanges seems fair to her.} ({Once more objectively better seems:} 25. Bxd4 Bxd4 26. Rxd4 Qb7+ 27. Bb3 Qh1 {When the game will most likely end in a draw either with immediate repetition:} 28. Bc4 ({Or with very complex perpetual check like in this line:} 28. Rf4 g5 29. Rf2 Ne4 30. Qe3 Nxf2 31. Qe5+ Kg8 32. Qxg5+ Kf8 33. Qh6+ Ke8 34. Qh5+ Kd8 35. Qa5+) 28... Qb7+ ({But Black can also try to play for the win with:} 28... Rb8+ $5)) 25... Bxd4 26. Bxd4 Qb7+ 27. Ka2 ({Surprisingly, the king would have been safer in the center:} 27. Kc1 $1 {Then:} Qb4 ({Or:} 27... Rd8 28. Bc3 Rb8 29. Nd2) 28. Ne3 Qxa4 29. Nd5 {allows White a chance to build strong attack.}) 27... Rd8 ({Missing the good chance:} 27... Qb4 $1 28. Bxf6+ exf6 29. Bb3 Kg7) 28. Bb2 Rb8 {Now this is wrong. It only pushes the white pieces to better squares.} ({Better was the prophylactic :} 28... Kg8 $1) ({Or the complex endgame after:} 28... Qg2 $5 29. Qxg2 Bxg2 30. Ne3 Bc6) ({Even the move:} 28... h5 $1 {would secure some essential squares for the black king and prevent White's dangerous threats.}) 29. Bb3 Qg2 ({Here:} 29... h5 $1 {was essential.}) 30. Qe5 {This is what Ju's idea was all about. Now her threats seem deadly.} ({ But if White was not fixated on her idea, she might have found the amazing study-like win:} 30. Qc4 $3 Qxf1 31. Qc7 Re8 32. Qd7 $3 {when the only way to stop the capture on e8 is:} Kg8 33. Bxf6 {which leads to a winning attack for White.}) 30... Rxb3 $1 {The only move.} ({It is not the black rook which is hanging only, the king is in danger. Say:} 30... Rc8 31. Qxf6+ $3 exf6 32. Bxf6+ Kg8 33. e7+ {and mate.}) ({There is no time for consolidation neither:} 30... Qb7 31. Ne3 $1 {as White will bring on the reserves with decisive effect. }) 31. cxb3 Qc6 32. Nd2 Bxe6 $1 {Again, the best defense.} ({The endgame after: } 32... Qxe6 33. Qxe6 Bxe6 34. Ne4 Kg7 35. Ka3 h6 36. Nc5 Bc8 37. Kb4 {is lost for Black.}) 33. Ka3 Kg8 34. Nf3 Qd5 ({Otherwise Black loses quickly, say:} 34... Qxf3 35. Qxe6+ Kf8 36. Qxa6) 35. Qb8+ Kg7 36. Ne5 Qc5+ 37. Qb4 Qxb4+ { Finally, Goryachkina decided that it is a good moment to trade.} ({But it was worth waiting with this once more:} 37... Qc7 $5 38. Qd4 Kf8 39. Nd3 {leads to a nasty position where White's edge is indisputable, but at least Black can hope for survival.}) 38. Kxb4 Kf8 39. Nc4 Ne4 ({The bishop is Lord after:} 39... Bxc4 40. bxc4 Ne4 41. Ka5) 40. Bd4 Ke8 {The fortieth move...} ({The contender missed a chance to build sort of a fortress with:} 40... Nd6 $1 41. Ne5 Nb7) 41. Ka5 Nd6 42. Nd2 $1 {Now the white king enters the queenside and Black's position is slowly collapsing.} ({Not:} 42. Nxd6+ exd6 43. b4 Bc4 { with a draw.}) 42... Bc8 43. Kb6 Kd8 44. Be5 Kd7 45. Bf4 $3 {A beautiful zugzwang!} ({The rushy:} 45. Bxd6 Kxd6 46. b4 e5 {would have allowed Black unnecessary counterplay.}) 45... g5 ({Nothing changes:} 45... h5 46. h4 Nf5 ( 46... Nf7 47. Nf3) 47. Ne4) 46. Bxg5 e5 47. Be3 {The rest is a matter of technique and the world champion has no problems at all.} Ke6 48. Kc7 Bd7 49. Bc5 Nf5 50. Kb6 Kd5 51. Nb1 $1 e4 52. Nc3+ Ke5 53. Kxa6 e3 54. a5 Nd4 55. b4 Bg4 56. Kb6 {Final preparation.} e2 57. Bxd4+ Kxd4 58. Nxe2+ Bxe2 59. a6 { And the pawns are unstoppable:} Bf3 60. a7 h5 ({Or:} 60... Kc4 61. b5 Kb4 62. Ka6) 61. b5 Kc4 62. h3 Kd5 1-0 [Event "FIDE Women's World Championship"] [Site "Vladivostok, Russia"] [Date "2020.01.20"] [Round "10"] [White "Aleksandra Goryachkina"] [Black "Ju Wenjun"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2576"] [BlackElo "2584"] [PlyCount "124"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qf3 Bg6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 10. Nf3 Nd7 11. Nh4 Be7 12. Ne2 f5 13. g3 Bxh4 14. gxh4 Nf6 15. Nf4 Nh5 16. Kd2 (16. Nd3 f4 17. Nxf4 Nxf4 18. exf4 Ke7 19. f3 Kf6 { 0-1 (46) Olsen,F (2354)-Antonsen,M (2434) Aarhus DEN 2018}) 16... Nxf4 17. exf4 Ke7 18. Be2 h5 {in this exact position, Black played Kd7 in Ganguly-L'Ami, Tata Steel Chess Challengers, 2020.} 19. Rae1 Kd6 20. Bd3 Rae8 21. Re3 Rxe3 22. fxe3 a5 23. a3 b6 24. b4 $2 ({better was} 24. Rg1 Rb8 25. Be2) 24... axb4 25. axb4 Ra8 {Black has completely equalized.} 26. b5 c5 27. dxc5+ bxc5 28. Rb1 Kc7 29. b6+ Kb7 30. Rb5 Rc8 31. Be2 f6 32. Ra5 Rc6 33. Ra7+ Kxb6 34. Rd7 Re6 35. Rxd5 Kc6 36. Bf3 Rd6 37. Rd3+ Kc7 38. Bd5 Be8 39. Kc3 Bb5 40. Rd2 Ra6 41. Bb3 Bd7 42. Rg2 Be6 43. Bxe6 Rxe6 44. Kd3 (44. Rg6 {was the simplest way to draw with active defense.}) 44... Kd6 45. Rg8 Kd5 46. Rd8+ Rd6 47. Rc8 Rd7 48. Rh8 c4+ 49. Kc3 Re7 50. Kd2 Ra7 51. Rxh5 Ra2+ 52. Kc3 Ra3+ 53. Kb4 $4 {The decisive mistake and potentially match changing move.} (53. Kb2 Rb3+ 54. Kc2 Ke4 55. Rh7 Kxe3 56. Rc7 {and White has decent chances to hold the draw.}) 53... Rb3+ 54. Ka4 Ke4 {Black is simply winning now. There is no way for white to stop the c pawn.} 55. Rh8 Rb7 $1 {Good technique by Ju.} 56. Rc8 Kd3 57. h5 c3 58. h6 c2 59. Ka3 Kd2 60. Rd8+ Kxe3 61. Rc8 Kd2 62. Rd8+ Kc1 {Thanks to this win, Ju leads by a point with only two games to go.} 0-1 [Event "FIDE Women's World Championship"] [Site "Vladivostok, Russia"] [Date "2020.01.22"] [Round "11"] [White "Ju Wenjun"] [Black "Aleksandra Goryachkina"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2584"] [BlackElo "2578"] [PlyCount "80"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 {Goryachkina sticks to the Berlin.} 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 {Ju deviates already. She had chosen a simpler move earlier.} (5. Re1 { was seen in game six.}) 5... Nd6 6. dxe5 $5 {making her peaceful intentions clear as early as move six.} ({White's more aggressive approach is with} 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8) 6... Nxb5 7. a4 Nbd4 8. Nxd4 d5 9. exd6 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd6 11. Qe3+ (11. Qe4+ Qe6 12. Qd4 Qd6 13. Qe4+ Qe6 14. Qd4 Qd6 {is a well-known grandmaster draw and seen in over a hundred games.}) 11... Be6 12. Nc3 a6 13. Rd1 Qc6 14. Rd3 Bc5 15. Qg3 f6 $1 {is forced.} (15... O-O $4 16. Bh6 {and White wins material.}) 16. Bf4 (16. Qxg7 $4 Rg8 {and Black is winning as the queen can't move due to mate on g2.}) 16... O-O 17. Bxc7 {white wins a pawn but Black is doing perfectly fine.} ({Also possible was} 17. h3 Rf7 18. Rad1 Bf5) 17... Bf5 18. Rd2 Rf7 19. Bf4 Bb4 20. Rad1 Bxc3 {Start of mass exchanges that will end in an opposite-colored bishop ending.} 21. Qxc3 Qxc3 22. bxc3 Rc8 23. Rd8+ Rxd8 24. Rxd8+ Rf8 25. Rxf8+ Kxf8 26. a5 Kf7 27. Kf1 Bxc2 {The players play on more for a dozen more moves to reach the obligatory 40th move} 28. Ke2 Ke6 29. Be3 Kd5 30. Bb6 Kc4 31. Kd2 Be4 32. g3 Bc6 33. f4 h5 34. h4 Kd5 35. Ke3 Ke6 36. Bc7 Kf5 37. Bb6 Bd7 38. Bc7 Ba4 39. Bb6 Kg4 40. Kf2 Bc6 {The score is 6-5 in favor of the world champion. The challenger will go all out with white in the last game.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "FIDE Women's World Championship"] [Site "?"] [Date "2020.01.23"] [Round "12.1"] [White "Goryachkina, Aleksandra"] [Black "Ju, Wenjun"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D00"] [WhiteElo "2578"] [BlackElo "2584"] [Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"] [PlyCount "119"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 {In a must-win situation Goryachkina finds a way to surprise her mighty opponent as early as on move two!} Nf6 3. Bf4 e6 4. Nb5 {A specialty of the creative grandmasters Jobava and Rapport. The knight is forced on the rim.} Na6 5. e3 Bb4+ {Alternatively Ju forces the c2-c3 move which will cut the way back of the white knight.} 6. c3 Be7 7. a4 O-O 8. Bd3 c6 9. Na3 c5 {Active play.} ({The alternative was to de-centralize the knight with:} 9... Nb8 $5 {followed by Nb8-d7, b7-b6 and Bc8-b7 keeping the enemy knight on a3 workless.}) 10. Nf3 {This turned out to be a novelty.} ({Instead: } 10. Nb5 Ne4 11. Nf3 Bd7 12. Ne5 Bxb5 13. axb5 Nc7 14. O-O {was a bit better for White in Bortnyk,O (2566)-Fingerov,D (2319) Kishinev 2017}) 10... Ne4 { Grabbing even more space.} ({The other way to play it was:} 10... Nh5 11. Be5 g6 ({But not:} 11... f6 12. Ng5 $1 {with strong attack for White.})) 11. h3 f5 12. Nb5 {Goryachkina also hurries to bring her knight back into the game.} ({ However, more accurate seems:} 12. O-O $5 {In order to meet:} c4 13. Bxe4 fxe4 14. Ne5 Nb8 {with quick central play after:} 15. f3) 12... c4 13. Bxe4 fxe4 14. Ne5 ({After:} 14. Nd2 {Black can still play:} Nb8 {As:} 15. Nc7 $2 {does not work due to:} Rxf4 $1) 14... Nb8 $1 {Once that this knight comes back into the game Black is more or less OK.} 15. O-O a6 {Once more forcing the knight back.} 16. Na3 Nd7 (16... Nc6 $5) 17. Nc2 Qe8 18. f3 {There is nothing else that White can do. Goryachkina needs to open the center while the black light-squared bishop is still idle.} Nxe5 19. Bxe5 Bd7 {Obvious and good.} ({ However, simpler looked:} 19... exf3 20. Rxf3 Rxf3 21. Qxf3 Qg6 {with less pieces on the board and easier equality as in the game.}) 20. Ne1 ({Against:} 20. fxe4 {Ju planned:} Rxf1+ 21. Qxf1 Bxa4 22. Qe2 Bxc2 23. Qxc2 Qg6 {when Black has nothing to worry about.}) 20... Qh5 {It is pretty obvious that the world champion successfully solved her opening problems and should be doing fine. Goryachkina needs to find something creative.} 21. Kh2 $1 {White defends the h3 pawn and prepares g2-g4.} ({The alternative was the gloomy endgame after:} 21. fxe4 Rxf1+ 22. Kxf1 Rf8+ 23. Kg1 Qxd1 24. Rxd1 Bxa4 {where White's chances for a win are close to zero.}) 21... exf3 ({Missing the strong:} 21... a5 $1 {The pawn on a4 will be fixed and in order to attack on the opposite win Goryachkina will have to sacrifice it sooner or later.}) 22. Nxf3 Be8 23. Qe1 Qg6 24. Bf4 Qe4 25. a5 $1 {Another chance will not be given. Now that White had put the queenside in order she can resume her preparation for the e3-e4 break.} h6 26. Nd2 Qh7 {Not the most accurate. From here on Ju's game will become more and more difficult to hold.} (26... Qc2 {was not accurate on the account of:} 27. e4 $1) ({However, good was:} 26... Qd3 {when Black should not fear:} 27. e4 {due to the idea:} Bh5 $1 28. exd5 Be2 29. Rf2 Rxf4 $1 30. Rxe2 ( 30. Rxf4 $2 Bd6) 30... Bh4 {and Black is in control!}) 27. e4 $1 {Now it becomes unpleasant for Black.} dxe4 ({Once more, good was to defend the e6 spot with:} 27... Qg6 $1 28. exd5 {and apply the same idea as in the above-mentioned line:} Rxf4 $1 29. Rxf4 Bd6) 28. Be5 ({White would be better in the endgame after:} 28. Qg3 $1 Qg6 29. Qxg6 Bxg6 30. Nxc4) 28... Rc8 { Nerves, nerves! Black is returning the favour.} (28... Rxf1 {was better, when:} 29. Qxf1 ({Or:} 29. Nxf1 Qg6 30. Nd2 Bc6) 29... e3 30. Nxc4 Bb5 {would lead to a much better version of the game for Black.}) 29. Rxf8+ Bxf8 30. Qe2 $1 { Very strong. The Russian player is heading to the more important pawn on c4.} ( {Less good were both:} 30. Nxe4 Bc6) ({And:} 30. Qxe4 Qxe4 31. Nxe4 Bc6 { in both cases with excellent chances for Black to hold.}) 30... e3 {Ju practically has no useful move.} (30... Bc6 {is met with:} 31. Nxc4 Bb5 32. b3) ({Still:} 30... Bb5 $1 31. Nxe4 Bc6 32. Ng3 Bd5 {might have been Black's best chance.}) 31. Nxc4 Bb5 32. b3 {Now the e3 pawn is doomed.} Qe4 ({If:} 32... Qg6 33. Rf1) 33. Rf1 Qc6 34. Qxe3 Qe8 {A sad necessity.} ({Black will get under mating attack in case of a pawn recapture:} 34... Bxc4 35. bxc4 Qxc4 36. Qf3 Qxc3 ({After:} 36... Kh7 37. Qf7 {would likely transpose.}) 37. Qf7+ Kh7 ({If: } 37... Kh8 38. Qxb7 {with the threats of Rf1xf8+! and Rf1-f7 would be crushing for Black.}) 38. Rf6 $3 {Intending Be5-f4 and Rf6xh6 and Black is helpless. Say:} Qxa5 39. Qg6+ Kg8 40. Rf7 {with unstoppable mate.}) 35. Qe2 Qg6 36. Rf3 {Goryachkina won a pawn and is now accurately converting it. First she reaches the time-control securely.} Kh7 37. Qf2 Bc6 38. Rg3 ({There is always a chance to go wrong when under tremendous pressure:} 38. Rxf8 $4 Rxf8 39. Qxf8 Qxg2#) 38... Qf5 39. Qe2 {The simplest. With the queens on White's attack is running by itself as Black cannot effectively use all her pieces into the defense.} ({The endgame should be also won for the first player after:} 39. Qxf5+ exf5 40. Bd6) 39... Rd8 40. Ne3 Qf7 41. Qd3+ ({There was also the brilliancy:} 41. d5 $3 exd5 42. Qd3+ Kg8 43. Ng4 $1 {with mating attack. But this was not needed at all.}) 41... g6 42. Rg4 (42. Ng4 Be7 {still holds for Black.}) 42... Bg7 ({More resilient was:} 42... Be7 43. Rf4 Qg8) 43. Bxg7 { With the swap of this defender Black will never be able to secure her king.} Kxg7 ({Or:} 43... Qxg7 44. Rg3) 44. Nc4 Bb5 45. Qg3 Bxc4 46. bxc4 ({Instantly winning was:} 46. Qe5+ Qf6 47. Qc7+ {and Goryachkina will come back to this idea a bit later.}) 46... Rd7 47. Re4 Qf6 48. Qe3 Rd6 49. c5 ({Here too:} 49. Rf4 Qg5 (49... Qe7 50. Qe5+) 50. h4 $1 Qh5 51. Qe4 {was winning fast for White. }) 49... Rc6 50. Kg1 Qf5 51. Rf4 Qg5 52. h4 $1 {Finally, Goryachkina accurately calculates the forcing lines and levels the score.} Qe7 ({As if:} 52... Qh5 53. g4 $1 Qxh4 (53... Qd5 54. c4 $1) 54. Qe5+ Kg8 55. Qb8+ {leads to mate.}) 53. Qe5+ Kg8 54. Rf6 Kh7 55. h5 gxh5 56. Qf4 e5 57. Qxh6+ Kg8 58. Qg6+ Kh8 59. Qxh5+ Kg8 60. Qg5+ {A grand battle! Goryachkina levelled the score with this final effort and will have another chance to become the new Women Champion in the rapid, and maybe the blitz?} 1-0 [Event "FIDE WWCC 2020"] [Site "Vladivostok"] [Date "2020.01.23"] [Round "12.1"] [White "Goryachkina, Aleksandra"] [Black "Ju, Wenjun"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D00"] [WhiteElo "2578"] [BlackElo "2584"] [Annotator "Shahid"] [PlyCount "119"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bf4 e6 4. Nb5 Na6 5. e3 Bb4+ (5... Be7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Bd3 c6 8. Nc3 Nb4 9. h3 Nxd3+ 10. cxd3 b6 11. O-O Bb7 {0-1 (40) Rapport,R (2731) -Giri,A (2783) Wijk aan Zee 2019}) 6. c3 {D00:1 d4 d5: Unusual lines} Be7 7. a4 O-O (7... c6 $5 8. Na3 $8 O-O $11) 8. Bd3 {The position is equal.} c6 9. Na3 c5 10. Nf3 $146 ({Predecessor:} 10. Nb5 Ne4 11. Nf3 Bd7 {1-0 (37) Bortnyk,O (2566) -Fingerov,D (2319) Kishinev 2017}) 10... Ne4 11. h3 f5 12. Nb5 c4 13. Bxe4 fxe4 14. Ne5 Nb8 $1 15. O-O a6 16. Na3 Nd7 17. Nc2 (17. b3 $14) 17... Qe8 18. f3 Nxe5 19. Bxe5 Bd7 20. Ne1 Qh5 21. Kh2 exf3 22. Nxf3 Be8 23. Qe1 Qg6 24. Bf4 Qe4 25. a5 h6 26. Nd2 Qh7 27. e4 {[#] Threatens to win with exd5.} dxe4 28. Be5 Rc8 29. Rxf8+ Bxf8 30. Qe2 e3 (30... Be7 $14 31. Re1 (31. Nxe4 Bc6 $11) 31... Rc6) 31. Nxc4 $16 Bb5 32. b3 Qe4 (32... Qg6 $16) 33. Rf1 $18 Qc6 34. Qxe3 Qe8 35. Qe2 Qg6 36. Rf3 Kh7 37. Qf2 Bc6 38. Rg3 Qf5 39. Qe2 Rd8 (39... Qe4 $142 40. Qd2 Rd8) 40. Ne3 Qf7 41. Qd3+ (41. d5 $142 exd5 42. Qd3+ g6 43. Ng4) 41... g6 42. Rg4 $36 {Black is under strong pressure.} Bg7 (42... Be7 {was called for.} 43. Rf4 Qg8) 43. Bxg7 Kxg7 44. Nc4 {aiming for Ne5.} Bb5 45. Qg3 {Black must now prevent Ne5!} Bxc4 46. bxc4 {Endgame KQR-KQR} Rd7 47. Re4 Qf6 (47... Re7 $142 48. Re3 Kh7) 48. Qe3 Rd6 49. c5 Rc6 50. Kg1 Qf5 $2 (50... g5 51. Qe1 Qg6) 51. Rf4 Qg5 52. h4 Qe7 53. Qe5+ Kg8 54. Rf6 Kh7 55. h5 {White mates.} gxh5 56. Qf4 e5 57. Qxh6+ Kg8 58. Qg6+ Kh8 59. Qxh5+ {[#] Double Attack} Kg8 60. Qg5+ { Accuracy: White = 84%, Black = 34%.} 1-0 [Event "2020 Women's World Championship TIebreak"] [Site "Valdivostok RUS"] [Date "2020.01.24"] [Round "15.1"] [White "Ju, Wenjun"] [Black "Goryachkina, Aleksandra"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A07"] [WhiteElo "2584"] [BlackElo "2578"] [Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"] [PlyCount "89"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. O-O Nd7 5. h3 Bh5 ({A recent top-GM game saw the principally different plan with the aggressive long castle for Black after: } 5... Bxf3 6. Bxf3 e6 7. d3 Bd6 8. e4 Ngf6 9. Qe2 Qc7 10. Nc3 O-O-O {as in Vachier Lagrave,M (2780)-Topalov,V (2740) Abidjan 2019}) 6. d4 e6 7. c4 Be7 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Nc3 Bxf3 10. exf3 $1 {N Although the computer disapproves this novelty it has a lot of merits. First, it breaks the symmetry, which is good for the bishop pair. Second, it opens the e-file for the white rook, where especially pleasant is the outpost on e5. And last, but not least- every novelty has psychological value.} ({The predecessor did not yield White much although he tried hard after:} 10. Bxf3 Ngf6 11. Bf4 O-O 12. e3 Re8 13. h4 Nf8 14. Bg5 N6d7 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. Re1 Nf6 17. Qc2 N8d7 18. e4 dxe4 19. Nxe4 Nxe4 20. Rxe4 Qd6 21. Rae1 Rxe4 22. Qxe4 Nf6 23. Qe5 Rd8 24. g4 {Harikrishna,P (2732)-Navara,D (2727) Prague 2018}) 10... Ngf6 11. h4 {Following Steinitz's footprints. A couple of centuries ago the first world champion explained how to limit the knights when owing the bishop pair-use your rook pawns!} O-O 12. Bh3 Nb6 13. Qd3 Re8 14. b3 {For the time being Ju doe snot want to put a rook on e1 and swap the major pieces. She takes away the active squares of the black knights instead.} Nfd7 {It is obviously difficult for Goryachkna to give good moves. The main problem is that her knights are lacking outposts.} 15. Re1 ({White could have continued with the same policy:} 15. a4 a5 16. Bd2) 15... Bf6 16. Bd2 a5 ({In case of:} 16... Rxe1+ 17. Rxe1 Nc8 {White can preserve slight advantage with:} 18. Na4 {However, this might have been Black's best choice.}) 17. Kg2 (17. a4 $5 {made perfect sense.}) 17... Nf8 {The knight is moving towards the d4 weakness- White's only one. But she is lacking the time for real counterplay.} ({Better was to make use of the mobility of the a-pawn with:} 17... a4 $1 18. Rxe8+ Qxe8 19. Re1 Qd8 {Thus opening a file for her own rook, and keeping busy the opponent on the queenside.}) 18. Rxe8 Qxe8 19. Re1 Qd8 20. Nd1 $1 {A very nice maneuver. The knight frees the c3 square for the bishop, thus stabilizing the queenside and moves to a much better spot.} Nbd7 ( {It was not too late for:} 20... a4 $1 21. Ne3 axb3 22. axb3 Nc8 {Moving teh knight to d6, and eventually b5 to pressurize the pawn, but Goryachkina is obsessed with the idea of a central pressure.}) 21. Ne3 Qb6 22. Bc3 ({The computer-like:} 22. Bxd7 $5 Nxd7 23. Nf5 Nf8 24. g4 {was also promising White the initiative on the kingside and the better game.}) 22... a4 23. b4 Ne6 { The last move of the plan aimed against the d4 pawn. However now after:} 24. Bxe6 fxe6 25. Ng4 Re8 26. f4 {White managed to keep everything under control and build serious advantage.} Qd8 27. h5 h6 {Probably the last inaccuracy. Goryachkina should not have allowed her opponent a chance to widen the attacking front.} (27... b5 28. Qe2 Nf8 {was mandatory for Black, although White is clearly better here too.}) 28. Re3 ({The immediate:} 28. b5 $1 { was also great for White, exploting the freshly open b-file after:} Nf8 29. bxc6 bxc6 30. Rb1) 28... Kh8 29. b5 $1 {The world champion opens the queenside as well. Thanks to her much more active pieces and the extra space this quickly nets her material.} Nb8 30. Qe2 cxb5 ({There is no other way to defend the backward pawn as:} 30... Qd6 31. Nxf6 gxf6 32. Qg4 {weakens horrificaly the black king.}) 31. Qxb5 {The simplest. Ju wins a pawn and keeps all the advantages of her position.} ({The other way to win the pawn was with the in-between capture:} 31. Nxf6 $1 Qxf6 32. Qxb5 Qe7 33. f5) 31... Qc8 32. Qxa4 Nc6 33. Bb2 Re7 34. Qc2 Qe8 35. Nxf6 {Finally, the black king gets under mortal attack.} gxf6 36. Ba3 Rg7 37. f5 e5 38. dxe5 fxe5 39. f6 Rg5 ({If:} 39... Rf7 40. Qg6 {is a disaster for the black king.}) 40. f4 $1 {Not a moment of hesitation. The whole game was conducted by the world champion in logical, merciless fashion.} Rxh5 41. fxe5 ({Even faster was:} 41. g4 Rh4 42. Qf5 { when Black does not have enough defenders around her king.}) 41... Qe6 42. Kg1 d4 {Most likely Goryachkina forgot about White's next move.} ({The last chance was:} 42... Rf5 {although White should also win here.}) 43. Qg6 Qd7 44. e6 Qc7 45. Qxh5 1-0