4th Cairns Cup R5: Five fighting draws

by Shahid Ahmed - 18/06/2024

IM Alice Lee (USA) survived by the skin of her teeth against GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) in Round 5 of 4th Cairns Cup 2024. The teenager misplayed in the endgame which almost cost her the game. Thanks to her neat little trick with the knight at the end. It helped her salvage a half point. GM Irina Krush (USA) had a great opportunity against GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI). The American did not take precautions to prevent perpetual checks by the former Women's World Champion. GM Harika Dronavalli defended well in a difficult position against GM Mariya Muzychuk (UKR). GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) had a well-fought draw against GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN). Today is the sole rest day. Round 6 starts tomorrow Wednesday 19th June at 1 p.m. local time, 11:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club/Lennart Ootes

No changes in the standings

IM Alice Lee (USA) is relieved to save a lost endgame against GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) | Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club/Lennart Ootes

Cairns Cup official logo | Photo: Official site

Alice -Nana: 0.5-0.5

IM Alice Lee (USA, 2368) barely survived against GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO, 2506). First she took her knight to the wrong side the board.

Position after 68.Nc4

White needed to keep her knight on the kingside instead of moving it to the queenside. 68.Nf3 Re7+ 69.Kf2 Kg4 would have been relatively easier to play than what happened in the game 68...Kg4 69.h3+ Kg3 70.Rg8+ Kxh3 71.Kf3 Be5 and Black got a decisive advantage. Once the rooks got traded, the resultant knight vs bishop endgame was easy to win.

Position after 84.Nf5

Black is still winning this endgame. She just needs to make sure not to fall into the only trap White is hoping for and that is exactly the mistake Black did 84...Bf2?? Find out why it is a mistake and how White can escape with a draw.

IM Alice Lee (USA) survived a lost endgame against GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) | Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club/Lennart Ootes

Krush - Kosteniuk: 0.5-0.5

GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI, 2501) would have suffered her second consecutive loss if her opponent, GM Irina Krush (USA, 2415) seized her opportunity correctly.

Position after 37.Qb8

The idea behind 37.Qb8 is quite simple, White wants to pin and attack the f8-knight. However, it is not so easy to gain the knight immediately. 37...Qc4?? 38.Rd8 Rc2+ 39. Kg3 Qf7 now White needed to play Qd6 to prevent Qg6+ shenanigans. 40.h4 h6 41.Kh3 Rc1 42.Bd6? Rh1+ 43.Kg3 f4+ 44.exf4 Qg6+ 45.Kf2 Qc2+ and Black got away via perpetual check.

GM Irina Krush (USA) missed a good opportunity to win against GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI) | Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club/Lennart Ootes

GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) had a well contested draw against GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN) | Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club/Lennart Ootes

GM Harika Dronavalli defended a worse position against GM Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) | Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club/Lennart Ootes

IM Anna Zatonskih (USA) drew against GM Elisabeth Paehtz (GER) | Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club/Lennart Ootes

Round 5 in progress | Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club/Lennart Ootes

Replay live stream

Replay Round 5 Live Commentary by GM Yasser Seirawan, and IMs Jovanka Houska, Nazi Paikidze and Begim Tokhirjonova | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club

Replay Round 5 games

Round 5 results

Table	White	Score	Fed.	Rating	Black	Score	Fed.	Rating	Result
1	IM Lee, Alice	2.0	USA	2368	GM Dzagnidze, Nana	2.0	GEO	2506	½-½
2	GM Krush, Irina	2.0	USA	2415	GM Kosteniuk, Alexandra	2.0	SUI	2501	½-½
3	GM Muzychuk, Mariya	2.5	UKR	2510	GM Dronavalli, Harika	2.5	IND	2489	½-½
4	IM Zatonskih, Anna	0.5	USA	2327	GM Paehtz, Elisabeth	1.5	GER	2457	½-½
5	GM Muzychuk, Anna	2.0	UKR	2505	GM Tan, Zhongyi	3.0	CHN	2540	½-½

Details

Standings after Round 5

Zhongyi Tan maintains her sole lead 3.5/5, Harika and Mariya at 3/5 | Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club

Details

Round 6 pairings

Table	White	Score	Fed.	Rating	Black	Score	Fed.	Rating
1	GM Dzagnidze, Nana	2.5	GEO	2506	GM Tan, Zhongyi	3.5	CHN	2540
2	GM Paehtz, Elisabeth	2.0	GER	2457	GM Muzychuk, Anna	2.5	UKR	2505
3	GM Dronavalli, Harika	3.0	IND	2489	IM Zatonskih, Anna	1.0	USA	2327
4	GM Kosteniuk, Alexandra	2.5	SUI	2501	GM Muzychuk, Mariya	3.0	UKR	2510
5	IM Lee, Alice	2.5	USA	2368	GM Krush, Irina	2.5	USA	2415

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 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 R2: Harika Dronavalli outplays Alexandra Kosteniuk @ 15/06/2024 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)