4th Cairns Cup R2: Harika Dronavalli outplays Alexandra Kosteniuk

by Shahid Ahmed - 15/06/2024

GM Harika Dronavalli got the upper hand out of the opening against GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI) in the second round of 4th Cairns Cup 2024. She had no trouble converting her extra pawn advantage into a full point. GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) scored the only other win of the round. She capitalized on her opportunity when her opponent, IM Anna Zatonskih (USA) made a tactical error in the middlegame. GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN) and GM Irina Krush (USA) had a well-contested draw. GM Elisabeth Paehtz (GER) and IM Alice Lee (USA) played a back and forth game which could have gone either player's way. Round 3 starts today at 1 p.m. local time, 11:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club/Lennart Ootes

White wins two

Alexandra Kosteniuk could not get out of the gate against Harika Dronavalli | Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club/Lennart Ootes

Cairns Cup official logo | Photo: Official site

Harika - Kosteniuk: 1-0

GM Harika Dronavalli (2489) got a substantial advantage out of the opening against GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI, 2501).

Position after 18...Qb5

19.Qxb5 axb5 20.Ne5 Bd6 21.Nxc6 and White used the extra pawn advantage to her favor.

GM Harika Dronavalli has made a great start | Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club/Lennart Ootes

Zhongyi - Irina: 0.5-0.5

GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN, 2540) and GM Irina Krush (USA, 2415) had a well contested draw.

GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN) - GM Irina Krush (USA): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club/Lennart Ootes

GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) - GM Mariya Muzychuk (UKR): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club/Lennart Ootes

Nana - Anna Zatonskih: 1-0

GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO, 2506) gained decisive advantage in the middlegame when the defending champion, IM Anna Zatonskih (USA, 2327) made a tactical error.

Position after 22...Bf8?

22...Bf8? allowed White to play the tactical shot 23.Bxe5 Qb6 24.Rxb5 Qxb5 25.Nh6+ gxh6 26.Bxf6 and White went on to win the game eventually.

GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) handed the defending champion IM Anna Zatonskih (USA) her second consecutive loss of the event| Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club/Lennart Ootes

Elisabeth - Alice: 0.5-0.5

IM Alice Lee (USA, 2368) held GM Elisabeth Paehtz (GER, 2457) to a draw. It could have gone either player's way.

GM Elisabeth Paehtz (GER) - IM Alice Lee (USA) | Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club/Lennart Ootes

Replay live stream

Replay Round 2 Live Commentary by GM Yasser Seirawan, and IMs Jovanka Houska, Nazi Paikidze and Begim Tokhirjonova | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club

Replay Round 2 games

Round 2 results

Table	White	Score	Fed.	Rating	Black	Score	Fed.	Rating	Result
1	GM Dzagnidze, Nana	0.5	GEO	2506	IM Zatonskih, Anna	0.0	USA	2327	1-0
2	GM Muzychuk, Anna	0.5	UKR	2505	GM Muzychuk, Mariya	1.0	UKR	2510	½-½
3	GM Tan, Zhongyi	1.0	CHN	2540	GM Krush, Irina	0.5	USA	2415	½-½
4	GM Paehtz, Elisabeth	0.0	GER	2457	IM Lee, Alice	0.0	USA	2368	½-½
5	GM Dronavalli, Harika	0.5	IND	2489	GM Kosteniuk, Alexandra	1.0	SUI	2501	1-0

Details

Standings after Round 2

Details

Round 3 pairings

Table	White	Score	Fed.	Rating	Black	Score	Fed.	Rating
1	GM Kosteniuk, Alexandra	1.0	SUI	2501	GM Dzagnidze, Nana	1.5	GEO	2506
2	IM Lee, Alice	0.5	USA	2368	GM Dronavalli, Harika	1.5	IND	2489
3	GM Krush, Irina	1.0	USA	2415	GM Paehtz, Elisabeth	0.5	GER	2457
4	GM Muzychuk, Mariya	1.5	UKR	2510	GM Tan, Zhongyi	1.5	CHN	2540
5	IM Zatonskih, Anna	0.0	USA	2327	GM Muzychuk, Anna	1.0	UKR	2505

Details

Schedule

Every day Round starts at 1 p.m. local time, 11:30 p.m. IST. Only rest day is on Tuesday 18th June 2024.

Thursday	6/13/24	13:00:00	Round 1
Friday	6/14/24	13:00:00	Round 2
Saturday	6/15/24	13:00:00	Round 3
Sunday	6/16/24	13:00:00	Round 4
Monday	6/17/24	13:00:00	Round 5
Tuesday	6/18/24	All Day	Rest Day
Wednesday	6/19/24	13:00:00	Round 6
Thursday	6/20/24	13:00:00	Round 7
Friday	6/21/24	13:00:00	Round 8
Saturday	6/22/24	13:00:00	Round 9
Sunday	6/23/24	13:00:00	Playoff (if necessary)

Total prize fund

The total prize fund is US$ 200000.

Place	Prize
1st	$50,000
2nd	$40,000
3rd	$30,000
4th	$20,000
5th	$15,000
6th	$11,000
7th	$10,000
8th	$9,000
9th	$8,000
10th	$7,000

Format

It is a round-robin event with a Classical time control.

Links

Official site

Tournament details

Saint Louis Chess Club: Official site, facebook, twitter, instagram, youtube

Related news:

	Zhongyi Tan convincingly clinches 4th Cairns Cup, Harika shares third place @ 23/06/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	4th Cairns Cup R7-8: Anna Muzychuk's win over Kosteniuk helps Zhongyi Tan extend her sole lead @ 22/06/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	कैरन्स कप शतरंज : हरिका तीसरे स्थान पर , तान की बढ़त कायम @ 21/06/2024 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	4th Cairns Cup R6: Zhongyi Tan maintains her sole lead, Kosteniuk and Harika in pursuit @ 20/06/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	4th Cairns Cup R5: Five fighting draws @ 18/06/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	4th Cairns Cup R4: 14-year-old Alice Lee stuns Alexandra Kosteniuk @ 17/06/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	4th Cairns Cup R3: Kosteniuk bounces back @ 16/06/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	4th Cairns Cup R1: Harika does a 126-move marathon draw against Nana Dzagnidze @ 14/06/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Harika Dronavalli set to face World's Best Women at 4th Cairns Cup @ 13/06/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)