Tehran Women GP 2016
India's No. 1 and No. 2 women players -- Humpy and Harika -- had their hands full playing some of the best females at the Tehran Grand Prix 2016 held in Iran. Chinese grandmaster Ju Wenjun won the tournament in a chaotic race to the finish. In this report, however, we shall focus on the Indian performance at the tourney. An illustrated report with games.
Photos by Alina l'Ami
Not a memorable Grand Prix
Once upon a time, it took guts to play chess in Iran.
After the 1979 Islamic Revolution in the country, chess was banned in public on the count of encouraging gambling. The game became a forbidden exercise associated with other vices. It was only in 1988, when Iran’s spiritual leader Ayatollah Khomeini brought the game back from the doldrums, that the sport began to be played in the open. Even then, the game has remained a symbol in the struggle between Iran’s democratic reformers and religious clerics.
Chess is not the only concept that Khomeini raised among the people of Iran. Iran has had a long history of suppressing the women In the 90s. After Komeini took over, women began to become unusually bold In expressing ideas, demands and criticisms.
The flags of the participating nations
India was represented by our No. 1 and 2: GM Koneru Humpy and GM Dronavalli Harika
As the tournament approached its end, GM Nana Dzagnidze was in the lead with GM Natalia Pogoninia. Then, the tournament began to go haywire. First Pogonina lost, thus surrendering her lead to Dzagnidze. Then even Dnagidze lost, allowing Chinese GM Zhao Xue to catch up with her in the pole position. And then the tournament became crazier when both the leaders – Dnagidze and Zhao Xue – lost their games allowing local star IM Sarasadat Khademalsharieh and…
…Chinese GM Ju Wenjun to grab the lead. In the end, the Chinese emerged the winner of the tournament as she remained undefeated throughout the Tehran Grand Prix 2016 that witnessed a chaotic end.
For a country that once upon a time had banned chess and in many cases, still treats men and women unequally, chess in Iran is not doing that badly. Chess is often a reflection of the society itself. In the light of all this, the local star IM Sarasadat Khademalsharieh was pampered and provided with every possible support she would need. The local star earned her first grandmaster norm and a second place finish despite her last round loss.
IM Sarasadat Khademalsharieh finished second and scored her first GM norm.
Unfortunately, the Indian challenge never got going as a handful of losses prevented Humpy from forging ahead.
[Event "Tehran WGP 2016"]
[Site "Tehran IRI"]
[Date "2016.02.13"]
[Round "3.5"]
[White "Dzagnidze, Nana"]
[Black "Koneru, Humpy"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2529"]
[BlackElo "2583"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2q1rk1/p4pp1/1p2pn1p/2bb4/8/3BPNB1/PP3PPP/2RQ1RK1 w - - 0 15"]
[PlyCount "2"]
[EventDate "2016.02.11"]
[Site "Tehran IRI"]
[Date "2016.02.13"]
[Round "3.5"]
[White "Dzagnidze, Nana"]
[Black "Koneru, Humpy"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2529"]
[BlackElo "2583"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2q1rk1/p4pp1/1p2pn1p/2bb4/8/3BPNB1/PP3PPP/2RQ1RK1 w - - 0 15"]
[PlyCount "2"]
[EventDate "2016.02.11"]
15. Qe2 {Can Black steal the pawn on a2?} Ne4 {and both sides could hardly
generate any pressure, resulting in a draw.} ({But Black can never go} 15...
Bxa2 $2 16. Rfd1 {is even stronger.} (16. b4 {is working} Bd6 17. Bxd6 Qxd6 18.
Rcd1 (18. Rfd1 Bd5 19. e4 Bb3) 18... Bd5 19. e4 Bb3 20. Rb1) 16... Qe7 (16...
Nd5 17. b4 Bb3 (17... Nxb4 18. Bb1) 18. bxc5 Bxd1 19. Qxd1 bxc5 20. Bh4 $16)
17. b4 $18) 1/2-1/2
generate any pressure, resulting in a draw.} ({But Black can never go} 15...
Bxa2 $2 16. Rfd1 {is even stronger.} (16. b4 {is working} Bd6 17. Bxd6 Qxd6 18.
Rcd1 (18. Rfd1 Bd5 19. e4 Bb3) 18... Bd5 19. e4 Bb3 20. Rb1) 16... Qe7 (16...
Nd5 17. b4 Bb3 (17... Nxb4 18. Bb1) 18. bxc5 Bxd1 19. Qxd1 bxc5 20. Bh4 $16)
17. b4 $18) 1/2-1/2
The games were broadcasted live in the official website with commentary.
The fourth round witnessed an Indian derby when Humpy took on Harika, but nothing really came out of it and the players settled for a repetition.
Humpy-Harika
[Event "Tehran WGP 2016"]
[Site "Tehran IRI"]
[Date "2016.02.14"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Koneru, Humpy"]
[Black "Harika, Dronavalli"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E81"]
[WhiteElo "2583"]
[BlackElo "2511"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2016.02.11"]
[Site "Tehran IRI"]
[Date "2016.02.14"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Koneru, Humpy"]
[Black "Harika, Dronavalli"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E81"]
[WhiteElo "2583"]
[BlackElo "2511"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2016.02.11"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 c5 7. Nge2 (7. dxc5
dxc5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Bxc5 Nc6 10. Nge2 Nd7 11. Be3 Nde5 {is well known theory
that allows Black ample play.}) 7... Nc6 8. d5 Ne5 9. Ng3 e6 10. Be2 {In her
bid to keep the pressure on White using novel means, Harika sprung upon Humpy
a move that has been seen only once before in a high-level game. And yes, it
involved an Indian player!} b5 (10... exd5 11. cxd5 a6 12. a4 h5 {is the
well-known way to continue here.}) 11. cxb5 (11. Nxb5 {was the move Sasi chose,
perhaps because the move keeps the e-file shut and the centre intact.} exd5 12.
cxd5 Rb8 13. Qd2 h5 14. O-O h4 15. Nh1 h3 16. Ng3 hxg2 17. Kxg2 Qd7 18. Nc3 Kh7
19. Kh1 Rh8 20. Rf2 Kg8 21. Rg1 Qh3 22. Bg5 Rb4 23. Bf1 Qh7 24. Nf5 Bxf5 25.
exf5 Bh6 26. Rg3 Rd4 27. Qc1 Bxg5 28. Qxg5 Rh4 29. h3 Qg7 30. fxg6 Nxg6 31. Kg1
R8h5 32. Qc1 Kh7 33. Bg2 Qh6 34. Qxh6+ Kxh6 35. Ne4 Ne8 36. f4 f5 37. Ng5 Nxf4
38. Nf7+ Kh7 39. Ng5+ Kh6 40. Nf7+ Kh7 41. Bf1 Nf6 42. Nxd6 Nxh3+ 43. Bxh3 Rxh3
44. Rxh3 Rxh3 45. Rxf5 Kg6 46. Re5 Rd3 47. Re6 Rxd5 48. Ne8 Kf7 49. Rxf6+ Kxe8
50. Ra6 Rd1+ 51. Kf2 Rd2+ 52. Ke3 Rxb2 53. Rxa7 Kd8 {1/2-1/2 (53) Sasikiran,K
(2640)-Ding,L (2749) Danzhou 2015}) 11... exd5 12. exd5 {is is interesting to
note how Black builds exerts pressure here, in return for the pawn she has
invested.} Re8 13. O-O Neg4 14. Bf4 Ne3 15. Bxe3 Rxe3 16. Qd2 {The position
does look curious; however, in reality as it turned out, there is nothing
major to make out of it.} Nd7 17. Nge4 Bd4 18. Kh1 Nf6 19. Rae1 Nxe4 20. fxe4
Qe7 (20... Qh4 {might have been a trickier try. Of course,} 21. Bf3 Rxe1 {
The simple} 22. Qxe1 $11 {should suffice for equality.} ({Now, the point is
that White should refrain from} 22. Rxe1 $4 Be5 23. g3 (23. h3 Bxh3 $19) 23...
Bxg3 $19)) 21. Bd3 Rxe1 22. Qxe1 a6 23. a4 axb5 24. Bxb5 Bd7 25. Qe2 Be5 26.
Qf2 Bxb5 27. axb5 Rb8 28. h3 {Here, the players found nothing better than to
just repeat.} Rb7 29. Qf3 Rb8 30. Qf2 Rb7 31. Qf3 Rb8 32. Qf2 Rb7 33. Qf3
1/2-1/2
dxc5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Bxc5 Nc6 10. Nge2 Nd7 11. Be3 Nde5 {is well known theory
that allows Black ample play.}) 7... Nc6 8. d5 Ne5 9. Ng3 e6 10. Be2 {In her
bid to keep the pressure on White using novel means, Harika sprung upon Humpy
a move that has been seen only once before in a high-level game. And yes, it
involved an Indian player!} b5 (10... exd5 11. cxd5 a6 12. a4 h5 {is the
well-known way to continue here.}) 11. cxb5 (11. Nxb5 {was the move Sasi chose,
perhaps because the move keeps the e-file shut and the centre intact.} exd5 12.
cxd5 Rb8 13. Qd2 h5 14. O-O h4 15. Nh1 h3 16. Ng3 hxg2 17. Kxg2 Qd7 18. Nc3 Kh7
19. Kh1 Rh8 20. Rf2 Kg8 21. Rg1 Qh3 22. Bg5 Rb4 23. Bf1 Qh7 24. Nf5 Bxf5 25.
exf5 Bh6 26. Rg3 Rd4 27. Qc1 Bxg5 28. Qxg5 Rh4 29. h3 Qg7 30. fxg6 Nxg6 31. Kg1
R8h5 32. Qc1 Kh7 33. Bg2 Qh6 34. Qxh6+ Kxh6 35. Ne4 Ne8 36. f4 f5 37. Ng5 Nxf4
38. Nf7+ Kh7 39. Ng5+ Kh6 40. Nf7+ Kh7 41. Bf1 Nf6 42. Nxd6 Nxh3+ 43. Bxh3 Rxh3
44. Rxh3 Rxh3 45. Rxf5 Kg6 46. Re5 Rd3 47. Re6 Rxd5 48. Ne8 Kf7 49. Rxf6+ Kxe8
50. Ra6 Rd1+ 51. Kf2 Rd2+ 52. Ke3 Rxb2 53. Rxa7 Kd8 {1/2-1/2 (53) Sasikiran,K
(2640)-Ding,L (2749) Danzhou 2015}) 11... exd5 12. exd5 {is is interesting to
note how Black builds exerts pressure here, in return for the pawn she has
invested.} Re8 13. O-O Neg4 14. Bf4 Ne3 15. Bxe3 Rxe3 16. Qd2 {The position
does look curious; however, in reality as it turned out, there is nothing
major to make out of it.} Nd7 17. Nge4 Bd4 18. Kh1 Nf6 19. Rae1 Nxe4 20. fxe4
Qe7 (20... Qh4 {might have been a trickier try. Of course,} 21. Bf3 Rxe1 {
The simple} 22. Qxe1 $11 {should suffice for equality.} ({Now, the point is
that White should refrain from} 22. Rxe1 $4 Be5 23. g3 (23. h3 Bxh3 $19) 23...
Bxg3 $19)) 21. Bd3 Rxe1 22. Qxe1 a6 23. a4 axb5 24. Bxb5 Bd7 25. Qe2 Be5 26.
Qf2 Bxb5 27. axb5 Rb8 28. h3 {Here, the players found nothing better than to
just repeat.} Rb7 29. Qf3 Rb8 30. Qf2 Rb7 31. Qf3 Rb8 32. Qf2 Rb7 33. Qf3
1/2-1/2
The contingent, except the Indians, had a memorable rest day as they visited...
...the Milad Tower, which is the sixth highest tower in the world.
Stefanova's joy was shortlived as...
...the Bulgarian's sub-standard choice of opening backfired.
Harika-Stefanova
[Event "Tehran WGP 2016"]
[Site "Tehran IRI"]
[Date "2016.02.16"]
[Round "5.3"]
[White "Harika, Dronavalli"]
[Black "Stefanova, Antoaneta"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2511"]
[BlackElo "2509"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2016.02.11"]
[Site "Tehran IRI"]
[Date "2016.02.16"]
[Round "5.3"]
[White "Harika, Dronavalli"]
[Black "Stefanova, Antoaneta"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2511"]
[BlackElo "2509"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2016.02.11"]
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. f4 c5 (4... Nf6 5. Nf3 O-O {would be the
Austrian Attack set up.}) 5. dxc5 {Fun fact: Antoaneta herself was on the
white side of this setup back in '08 in a blitz game. Why would Black enter a
position which is worse for her, with even the databases indicating that White
has an 80 percent success rate spread over 130 odd games?} dxc5 (5... Qa5 6.
cxd6 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Qxc3+ 8. Bd2 Qc6 9. Bd3 $16) (5... Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 dxc5 7.
Qxd8+ Kxd8 8. Nf3 Nf6 9. Ng5 Rf8 10. e5 $16) 6. Qxd8+ Kxd8 7. e5 (7. Bd2 {
was Antoaneta's choice when she was white, but she eventually did end up
playing e5.} Nd7 8. O-O-O e6 9. Nf3 Ke7 10. e5 b6 11. Bd3 Bb7 12. Be4 Bxe4 13.
Nxe4 Nh6 14. h3 Rhd8 15. g4 Rac8 16. Rhg1 Ng8 17. Bc3 b5 18. Nd6 Rc6 19. Nxb5
a6 20. Nd6 f6 21. Nc4 fxe5 22. fxe5 Nb8 23. Rxd8 Kxd8 24. Ng5 Bh6 25. Bd2 Bxg5
26. Bxg5+ Kc7 27. Rf1 h6 28. Rf7+ Nd7 29. Bd2 Kd8 30. Rg7 Ne7 31. Bxh6 Nd5 {
1-0 (31) Stefanova,A (2548)-Vasilevich,T (2368) Beijing 2008}) 7... b6 8. Nf3
Nh6 9. Bc4 Nc6 10. Be3 Kc7 11. O-O-O a6 12. h3 ({Another good idea is} 12. Ng5
f6 13. exf6 exf6 14. Nge4 Bf5 15. Nd5+ Kb7 16. Nd6+ Ka7 17. Nc7 Rad8 18. h3 $16
) 12... f6 (12... Nf5 13. Bf2 e6 14. g4 Nfd4 15. Nxd4 Nxd4 16. Bxd4 cxd4 17.
Rxd4 Bb7 18. Rhd1 Rad8 {White is clearly better but Black can try to fight
from tis position.}) 13. g4 {Black just gets crushed.} fxe5 14. fxe5 e6 15. Ng5
Nd4 16. Nce4 Ra7 17. Rhf1 Kb8 18. c3 Nc6 19. Nxe6 Bxe6 20. Bxe6 Nxe5 21. Bf4
Re7 22. g5 Nf5 23. Bxf5 gxf5 24. Ng3 Rf8 25. Nh5 Bh8 26. Nf6 Kc8 27. Bxe5 Rxe5
28. Nd7 1-0
Austrian Attack set up.}) 5. dxc5 {Fun fact: Antoaneta herself was on the
white side of this setup back in '08 in a blitz game. Why would Black enter a
position which is worse for her, with even the databases indicating that White
has an 80 percent success rate spread over 130 odd games?} dxc5 (5... Qa5 6.
cxd6 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Qxc3+ 8. Bd2 Qc6 9. Bd3 $16) (5... Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 dxc5 7.
Qxd8+ Kxd8 8. Nf3 Nf6 9. Ng5 Rf8 10. e5 $16) 6. Qxd8+ Kxd8 7. e5 (7. Bd2 {
was Antoaneta's choice when she was white, but she eventually did end up
playing e5.} Nd7 8. O-O-O e6 9. Nf3 Ke7 10. e5 b6 11. Bd3 Bb7 12. Be4 Bxe4 13.
Nxe4 Nh6 14. h3 Rhd8 15. g4 Rac8 16. Rhg1 Ng8 17. Bc3 b5 18. Nd6 Rc6 19. Nxb5
a6 20. Nd6 f6 21. Nc4 fxe5 22. fxe5 Nb8 23. Rxd8 Kxd8 24. Ng5 Bh6 25. Bd2 Bxg5
26. Bxg5+ Kc7 27. Rf1 h6 28. Rf7+ Nd7 29. Bd2 Kd8 30. Rg7 Ne7 31. Bxh6 Nd5 {
1-0 (31) Stefanova,A (2548)-Vasilevich,T (2368) Beijing 2008}) 7... b6 8. Nf3
Nh6 9. Bc4 Nc6 10. Be3 Kc7 11. O-O-O a6 12. h3 ({Another good idea is} 12. Ng5
f6 13. exf6 exf6 14. Nge4 Bf5 15. Nd5+ Kb7 16. Nd6+ Ka7 17. Nc7 Rad8 18. h3 $16
) 12... f6 (12... Nf5 13. Bf2 e6 14. g4 Nfd4 15. Nxd4 Nxd4 16. Bxd4 cxd4 17.
Rxd4 Bb7 18. Rhd1 Rad8 {White is clearly better but Black can try to fight
from tis position.}) 13. g4 {Black just gets crushed.} fxe5 14. fxe5 e6 15. Ng5
Nd4 16. Nce4 Ra7 17. Rhf1 Kb8 18. c3 Nc6 19. Nxe6 Bxe6 20. Bxe6 Nxe5 21. Bf4
Re7 22. g5 Nf5 23. Bxf5 gxf5 24. Ng3 Rf8 25. Nh5 Bh8 26. Nf6 Kc8 27. Bxe5 Rxe5
28. Nd7 1-0
The sixth round witnessed the highly anticipated India-China clash with Koneru Humpy taking on Ju Wenjun and Dronavalli Harika facing Zhao Xue. Humpy displayed subpar preparation and walked into a known knight sacrifice in the middle of the board.
Humpy-Wenjun
[Event "Tehran WGP 2016"]
[Site "Tehran IRI"]
[Date "2016.02.17"]
[Round "6.4"]
[White "Koneru, Humpy"]
[Black "Ju, Wenjun"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2583"]
[BlackElo "2558"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2016.02.11"]
[Site "Tehran IRI"]
[Date "2016.02.17"]
[Round "6.4"]
[White "Koneru, Humpy"]
[Black "Ju, Wenjun"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2583"]
[BlackElo "2558"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2016.02.11"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 O-O (4... d5 {is a famous alternative here
with many top level games.}) 5. e4 d5 6. cxd5 (6. e5 Nfd7 7. cxd5 exd5 {
transposes to the game.}) 6... exd5 7. e5 Nfd7 8. f4 (8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 f6
$11 {Black has scored positively here.}) {Black now hatches a plan to attack
the center with all her might.} 8... c5 9. Nf3 (9. a3 Ba5 10. Be3 Nf6 $1 11.
dxc5 (11. exf6 Re8 12. Kf2 Rxe3 13. Kxe3 cxd4+ 14. Kf3 dxc3 $19) 11... Ne4 12.
Nge2 Nc6 13. b4 Nxc3 14. Nxc3 d4 $1 $11) 9... cxd4 10. Nxd4 {A handful of
players rated above 2200, including one Indian previously -- GM Sriram Jha
back in 2006 -- have fallen for this exact same trap before!} Nxe5 11. fxe5
Qh4+ 12. Ke2 (12. g3 Qe4+ $19) 12... Bc5 {Now tempos transform into a tsunami
that washes the white king away.} 13. Be3 Bg4+ 14. Nf3 d4 15. Bg1 Bxf3+ 16.
Kxf3 Nd7 17. g3 Nxe5+ 18. Kg2 Qf6 19. Na4 Qc6+ 20. Kf2 d3+ 21. Nxc5 Qxc5+ 22.
Kg2 Qc6+ 23. Kf2 Rac8 24. g4 (24. Bg2 Qf6+ 25. Ke1 Rfe8 $19 {This is what
happened to GM Jha.}) 24... Qxh1 25. Bg2 Rc2+ 26. Qxc2 Qxg2+ 27. Kxg2 dxc2 28.
Rc1 {Because ...Nd3-Ne1 or even ...Rc8 is winning.} 0-1
with many top level games.}) 5. e4 d5 6. cxd5 (6. e5 Nfd7 7. cxd5 exd5 {
transposes to the game.}) 6... exd5 7. e5 Nfd7 8. f4 (8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 f6
$11 {Black has scored positively here.}) {Black now hatches a plan to attack
the center with all her might.} 8... c5 9. Nf3 (9. a3 Ba5 10. Be3 Nf6 $1 11.
dxc5 (11. exf6 Re8 12. Kf2 Rxe3 13. Kxe3 cxd4+ 14. Kf3 dxc3 $19) 11... Ne4 12.
Nge2 Nc6 13. b4 Nxc3 14. Nxc3 d4 $1 $11) 9... cxd4 10. Nxd4 {A handful of
players rated above 2200, including one Indian previously -- GM Sriram Jha
back in 2006 -- have fallen for this exact same trap before!} Nxe5 11. fxe5
Qh4+ 12. Ke2 (12. g3 Qe4+ $19) 12... Bc5 {Now tempos transform into a tsunami
that washes the white king away.} 13. Be3 Bg4+ 14. Nf3 d4 15. Bg1 Bxf3+ 16.
Kxf3 Nd7 17. g3 Nxe5+ 18. Kg2 Qf6 19. Na4 Qc6+ 20. Kf2 d3+ 21. Nxc5 Qxc5+ 22.
Kg2 Qc6+ 23. Kf2 Rac8 24. g4 (24. Bg2 Qf6+ 25. Ke1 Rfe8 $19 {This is what
happened to GM Jha.}) 24... Qxh1 25. Bg2 Rc2+ 26. Qxc2 Qxg2+ 27. Kxg2 dxc2 28.
Rc1 {Because ...Nd3-Ne1 or even ...Rc8 is winning.} 0-1
Harika had a decent position, but her inaccuracies paved the way to defeat.
Zhao-Harika
[Event "Tehran WGP 2016"]
[Site "Tehran IRI"]
[Date "2016.02.17"]
[Round "6.3"]
[White "Zhao, Xue"]
[Black "Harika, Dronavalli"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2506"]
[BlackElo "2511"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2016.02.11"]
[Site "Tehran IRI"]
[Date "2016.02.17"]
[Round "6.3"]
[White "Zhao, Xue"]
[Black "Harika, Dronavalli"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2506"]
[BlackElo "2511"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2016.02.11"]
1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 Bd6 {Relatively less common, but has been
endorsed by names such as Wei Yi, Carlsen, Zhigalko.} 5. Qc2 f5 6. Nc3 Nf6 7.
h3 O-O 8. g4 $5 {Aggression!} Ne4 (8... fxg4 9. hxg4 {Black is doomed.}) 9. Be2
Nd7 10. Bd2 Ndf6 11. Rf1 (11. g5 Nxd2 12. Nxd2 Ne4 13. h4 Nxd2 14. Qxd2 $11)
11... a6 12. c5 Bc7 13. O-O-O Qe7 14. Be1 Bd7 15. Na4 fxg4 16. Ne5 g3 (16...
Be8 17. hxg4 Bxe5 18. dxe5 Nd7 19. f3 Nexc5 20. Nxc5 Qxc5 21. Qxc5 Nxc5 22. Bb4
b6 $11) 17. f3 Nf2 (17... Be8 $1 18. fxe4 Nxe4 19. Nb6 Rxf1 20. Bxf1 Rd8 21.
Nbc4 Bh5 22. Ng4 Qg5 $15) 18. Bxf2 gxf2 19. Bd3 Be8 20. Rxf2 Bxe5 21. dxe5 Nd7
22. f4 g6 $16 23. Rg2 Rb8 24. Rdg1 Kh8 25. h4 b5 26. cxb6 c5 27. h5 c4 28. Bxg6
$1 {The point being} hxg6 29. hxg6 Kg8 30. Rh2 Rf5 31. Rh7 Qb4 32. Qh2 {
leading to a mate.} 1-0
endorsed by names such as Wei Yi, Carlsen, Zhigalko.} 5. Qc2 f5 6. Nc3 Nf6 7.
h3 O-O 8. g4 $5 {Aggression!} Ne4 (8... fxg4 9. hxg4 {Black is doomed.}) 9. Be2
Nd7 10. Bd2 Ndf6 11. Rf1 (11. g5 Nxd2 12. Nxd2 Ne4 13. h4 Nxd2 14. Qxd2 $11)
11... a6 12. c5 Bc7 13. O-O-O Qe7 14. Be1 Bd7 15. Na4 fxg4 16. Ne5 g3 (16...
Be8 17. hxg4 Bxe5 18. dxe5 Nd7 19. f3 Nexc5 20. Nxc5 Qxc5 21. Qxc5 Nxc5 22. Bb4
b6 $11) 17. f3 Nf2 (17... Be8 $1 18. fxe4 Nxe4 19. Nb6 Rxf1 20. Bxf1 Rd8 21.
Nbc4 Bh5 22. Ng4 Qg5 $15) 18. Bxf2 gxf2 19. Bd3 Be8 20. Rxf2 Bxe5 21. dxe5 Nd7
22. f4 g6 $16 23. Rg2 Rb8 24. Rdg1 Kh8 25. h4 b5 26. cxb6 c5 27. h5 c4 28. Bxg6
$1 {The point being} hxg6 29. hxg6 Kg8 30. Rh2 Rf5 31. Rh7 Qb4 32. Qh2 {
leading to a mate.} 1-0
Humpy plummetted to yet another defeat as she went down to Natalija Pogonina
Pogonina-Humpy
[Event "Tehran WGP 2016"]
[Site "Tehran IRI"]
[Date "2016.02.18"]
[Round "7.5"]
[White "Pogonina, Natalija"]
[Black "Koneru, Humpy"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2454"]
[BlackElo "2583"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "2016.02.11"]
[Site "Tehran IRI"]
[Date "2016.02.18"]
[Round "7.5"]
[White "Pogonina, Natalija"]
[Black "Koneru, Humpy"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2454"]
[BlackElo "2583"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "2016.02.11"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Bd7 (5... a6 6. O-O Nc6 7. e3
Bd7 8. Qe2 b5 9. b3 cxb3 10. axb3) 6. Ne5 Bc6 {This idea to improve Bc8 by
using the fort-knox-like maneuver is dodgy at best.} 7. Nxc6 Nxc6 8. O-O Qd7 9.
e3 O-O-O 10. Nd2 h5 {Recent games have shown that this idea to counter on the
kingside cannot be underestimated. Here nevertheless, White faces no problems.}
11. Nxc4 {White has earned a very good position by playing natural moves.} Nd5
12. a3 h4 13. b4 f6 14. b5 Nce7 15. a4 hxg3 16. hxg3 g5 17. Bd2 Kb8 18. Qe2 Qe8
19. e4 $18 {White has a pleasent advantage in activity in the queenside and
the centre and won a lopsided battle.} 1-0
Bd7 8. Qe2 b5 9. b3 cxb3 10. axb3) 6. Ne5 Bc6 {This idea to improve Bc8 by
using the fort-knox-like maneuver is dodgy at best.} 7. Nxc6 Nxc6 8. O-O Qd7 9.
e3 O-O-O 10. Nd2 h5 {Recent games have shown that this idea to counter on the
kingside cannot be underestimated. Here nevertheless, White faces no problems.}
11. Nxc4 {White has earned a very good position by playing natural moves.} Nd5
12. a3 h4 13. b4 f6 14. b5 Nce7 15. a4 hxg3 16. hxg3 g5 17. Bd2 Kb8 18. Qe2 Qe8
19. e4 $18 {White has a pleasent advantage in activity in the queenside and
the centre and won a lopsided battle.} 1-0
Harika narrowly escaped defeat against Natalia Zhukova
Harika-Zhukova
[Event "Tehran WGP 2016"]
[Site "Tehran IRI"]
[Date "2016.02.18"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Harika, Dronavalli"]
[Black "Zhukova, Natalia"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B10"]
[WhiteElo "2511"]
[BlackElo "2484"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rq2r1k1/3n1pb1/pnbPp1pp/Qp6/4NB2/1BNP4/PP3PPP/2R1R1K1 w - - 0 20"]
[PlyCount "26"]
[EventDate "2016.02.11"]
[Site "Tehran IRI"]
[Date "2016.02.18"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Harika, Dronavalli"]
[Black "Zhukova, Natalia"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B10"]
[WhiteElo "2511"]
[BlackElo "2484"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rq2r1k1/3n1pb1/pnbPp1pp/Qp6/4NB2/1BNP4/PP3PPP/2R1R1K1 w - - 0 20"]
[PlyCount "26"]
[EventDate "2016.02.11"]
20. Nd1 Bd5 21. Qd2 Bxb3 22. axb3 g5 23. Bg3 f5 24. Nxg5 (24. h4 $1 {is a
possibility that Harika reportedly saw but could not make herself play.} fxe4
25. hxg5 hxg5 26. dxe4 Qd8 27. Ne3 $11) 24... hxg5 25. Qxg5 Qd8 26. Qh5 Qf6 27.
Rc7 e5 28. Ne3 Rf8 29. Rec1 Qf7 30. Qg5 Qf6 (30... Rae8 31. R1c6 $11) 31. Qh5
Qf7 {Maybe Black could play for more, but she settles for a repetition.} 32.
Qg5 Qf6 1/2-1/2
possibility that Harika reportedly saw but could not make herself play.} fxe4
25. hxg5 hxg5 26. dxe4 Qd8 27. Ne3 $11) 24... hxg5 25. Qxg5 Qd8 26. Qh5 Qf6 27.
Rc7 e5 28. Ne3 Rf8 29. Rec1 Qf7 30. Qg5 Qf6 (30... Rae8 31. R1c6 $11) 31. Qh5
Qf7 {Maybe Black could play for more, but she settles for a repetition.} 32.
Qg5 Qf6 1/2-1/2
Harika's woes continued as she went down to Nana Dzagnidze, thus allowing the latter to waltz into the sole lead by a whole point.
Dzagnidze-Harika
[Event "Tehran WGP 2016"]
[Site "Tehran IRI"]
[Date "2016.02.19"]
[Round "8.6"]
[White "Dzagnidze, Nana"]
[Black "Harika, Dronavalli"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E67"]
[WhiteElo "2529"]
[BlackElo "2511"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2016.02.11"]
[Site "Tehran IRI"]
[Date "2016.02.19"]
[Round "8.6"]
[White "Dzagnidze, Nana"]
[Black "Harika, Dronavalli"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E67"]
[WhiteElo "2529"]
[BlackElo "2511"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2016.02.11"]
1. d4 g6 2. Nf3 Bg7 3. c4 Nf6 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. b3
Re8 9. e4 exd4 10. Nxd4 Nc5 11. f3 a5 12. Be3 Bd7 13. Qd2 Qc8 14. Ndb5 h5 15.
Rad1 Bc6 16. Rfe1 Nfd7 17. Bd4 h4 18. f4 hxg3 19. hxg3 Nf6 20. e5 Nh5 21. Bxc5
dxc5 22. Qf2 g5 23. Nd5 Bxd5 24. cxd5 Ra6 25. d6 cxd6 26. Nxd6 Rxd6 27. Rxd6
gxf4 28. gxf4 Qf5 29. Re4 Bf8 30. Rd3 Re6 31. Rh3 Rg6 32. Qf3 Rg4 33. e6 fxe6
34. Re5 Qb1+ 35. Kh2 Nf6 36. Rxe6 Rg6 37. Rg3 Kf7 38. Rxg6 Qxg6 39. f5 Qh6+ 40.
Kg1 Qc1+ 41. Bf1 Bg7 42. Qxb7+ Kg8 43. Qb8+ Kh7 44. Qg3 Qa1 45. Rd6 1-0
Re8 9. e4 exd4 10. Nxd4 Nc5 11. f3 a5 12. Be3 Bd7 13. Qd2 Qc8 14. Ndb5 h5 15.
Rad1 Bc6 16. Rfe1 Nfd7 17. Bd4 h4 18. f4 hxg3 19. hxg3 Nf6 20. e5 Nh5 21. Bxc5
dxc5 22. Qf2 g5 23. Nd5 Bxd5 24. cxd5 Ra6 25. d6 cxd6 26. Nxd6 Rxd6 27. Rxd6
gxf4 28. gxf4 Qf5 29. Re4 Bf8 30. Rd3 Re6 31. Rh3 Rg6 32. Qf3 Rg4 33. e6 fxe6
34. Re5 Qb1+ 35. Kh2 Nf6 36. Rxe6 Rg6 37. Rg3 Kf7 38. Rxg6 Qxg6 39. f5 Qh6+ 40.
Kg1 Qc1+ 41. Bf1 Bg7 42. Qxb7+ Kg8 43. Qb8+ Kh7 44. Qg3 Qa1 45. Rd6 1-0
The second rest day was just what the doctor ordered and Harika finished with three draws in the remaining three rounds while Humpy picked herself up and scored 2.0/3.
In the ninth round, she took advantage of Valentina Gunina's opening inaccuracy.
Gunina-Humpy
[Event "Fide2016"]
[Site "Tehran"]
[Date "2016.02.21"]
[Round "9.6"]
[White "Gunina, Valentina"]
[Black "Koneru, Humpy"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2496"]
[BlackElo "2583"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[SourceDate "2003.06.08"]
[WhiteClock "0:57:25"]
[BlackClock "0:31:01"]
[Site "Tehran"]
[Date "2016.02.21"]
[Round "9.6"]
[White "Gunina, Valentina"]
[Black "Koneru, Humpy"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2496"]
[BlackElo "2583"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[SourceDate "2003.06.08"]
[WhiteClock "0:57:25"]
[BlackClock "0:31:01"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Qb3
Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Bd3 c5 12. dxc5 Nd7 13. Na4 {IN an earlier
game in this tournament, Zhao Xue had played the correct 13.c6. White'sc hoice
i sknown to be sub par.} Bc6 14. Bb5 Bxb5 15. Qxb5 a6 16. Qe2 bxc5 17. O-O Qa5
18. Qc2 Rab8 19. Rad1 c4 20. Nd4 Rfc8 21. Nf5 Ne5 22. Rd4 Nd3 23. Rg4 h5 24.
Rg3 Qc7 25. Qd1 g6 26. Nc3 Rd8 27. Qf3 Qe5 28. e4 d4 29. Nd5 Rxd5 30. exd5 Rxb2
31. d6 Nf4 32. Qa8+ Kh7 33. Qf8 Ne2+ 34. Kh1 Nxg3+ 35. Nxg3 Qe6 36. Qa8 Qxd6
37. Ne4 Qe6 38. f4 Re2 39. Nxf6+ Qxf6 40. f5 Qxf5 41. Kg1 Qe6 42. Qf8 Qe3+ 0-1
Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Bd3 c5 12. dxc5 Nd7 13. Na4 {IN an earlier
game in this tournament, Zhao Xue had played the correct 13.c6. White'sc hoice
i sknown to be sub par.} Bc6 14. Bb5 Bxb5 15. Qxb5 a6 16. Qe2 bxc5 17. O-O Qa5
18. Qc2 Rab8 19. Rad1 c4 20. Nd4 Rfc8 21. Nf5 Ne5 22. Rd4 Nd3 23. Rg4 h5 24.
Rg3 Qc7 25. Qd1 g6 26. Nc3 Rd8 27. Qf3 Qe5 28. e4 d4 29. Nd5 Rxd5 30. exd5 Rxb2
31. d6 Nf4 32. Qa8+ Kh7 33. Qf8 Ne2+ 34. Kh1 Nxg3+ 35. Nxg3 Qe6 36. Qa8 Qxd6
37. Ne4 Qe6 38. f4 Re2 39. Nxf6+ Qxf6 40. f5 Qxf5 41. Kg1 Qe6 42. Qf8 Qe3+ 0-1
The World No. 2 finished with a win over Stefanova.
Humpy-Stefanova
[Event "Fide2016"]
[Site "Tehran"]
[Date "2016.02.23"]
[Round "11.6"]
[White "Koneru, Humpy"]
[Black "Stefanova, Antoaneta"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2583"]
[BlackElo "2509"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4r1k1/1p1bbppp/p4n2/q6r/2BB4/1P3N1P/P3QPP1/3R1RK1 w - - 0 24"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[SourceDate "2003.06.08"]
[WhiteClock "0:13:42"]
[BlackClock "0:14:09"]
[Site "Tehran"]
[Date "2016.02.23"]
[Round "11.6"]
[White "Koneru, Humpy"]
[Black "Stefanova, Antoaneta"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2583"]
[BlackElo "2509"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4r1k1/1p1bbppp/p4n2/q6r/2BB4/1P3N1P/P3QPP1/3R1RK1 w - - 0 24"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[SourceDate "2003.06.08"]
[WhiteClock "0:13:42"]
[BlackClock "0:14:09"]
24. Bxf6 Bxf6 25. Bxf7+ Kxf7 26. Rxd7+ Kf8 27. Qc4 Re7 28. Rxe7 Bxe7 {White
has won a pawn.} 29. Qc8+ Kf7 30. Qxb7 Qxa2 31. Re1 Qa3 32. b4 Qxb4 33. Ne5+
Kf6 34. Qc6+ Qd6 35. Qf3+ Rf5 36. Ng4+ Kg6 37. Qe4 Bh4 38. Re3 h5 39. g3 Bf6
40. Nh6 $1 gxh6 41. g4 hxg4 42. hxg4 Qd1+ 43. Kg2 Qxg4+ 44. Qxg4+ Rg5 45. Rg3
Rxg4 46. Rxg4+ Kf5 47. Ra4 h5 48. Rxa6 h4 49. f4 Bc3 50. Kf3 Be1 51. Rb6 Bg3
52. Rb5+ Kf6 53. Kg4 Bf2 54. Rb2 Be1 55. Rb6+ Kf7 56. Kf5 Kg7 57. Kg5 Kf7 58.
Rb7+ Ke6 59. f5+ Kd6 60. f6 Bd2+ 61. Kg6 1-0
has won a pawn.} 29. Qc8+ Kf7 30. Qxb7 Qxa2 31. Re1 Qa3 32. b4 Qxb4 33. Ne5+
Kf6 34. Qc6+ Qd6 35. Qf3+ Rf5 36. Ng4+ Kg6 37. Qe4 Bh4 38. Re3 h5 39. g3 Bf6
40. Nh6 $1 gxh6 41. g4 hxg4 42. hxg4 Qd1+ 43. Kg2 Qxg4+ 44. Qxg4+ Rg5 45. Rg3
Rxg4 46. Rxg4+ Kf5 47. Ra4 h5 48. Rxa6 h4 49. f4 Bc3 50. Kf3 Be1 51. Rb6 Bg3
52. Rb5+ Kf6 53. Kg4 Bf2 54. Rb2 Be1 55. Rb6+ Kf7 56. Kf5 Kg7 57. Kg5 Kf7 58.
Rb7+ Ke6 59. f5+ Kd6 60. f6 Bd2+ 61. Kg6 1-0
Harika ended the tournament with 4.5/11 and would obviously be unhappy with the way things unfolded for her.
India's strongest women players did suffer a setback, but her strong finish helped her land at 6.0/11, right in the middle of the field.
Final Ranking Crosstable:
Links: