4th Cairns Cup R6: Zhongyi Tan maintains her sole lead, Kosteniuk and Harika in pursuit

by Shahid Ahmed - 20/06/2024

GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN) drew with GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) to maintain her sole lead 4/6 at 4th Cairns Cup 2024. GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI) scored her third win of the event. Her opponent, GM Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) got a substantial advantage in the rook and minor piece endgame. However, she traded the rooks at an inopportune moment. It evaporated her advantage and allowed Kosteniuk to equalize. Mariya made another mistake in the resultant minor piece endgame which allowed Kosteniuk to win the game. GM Harika Dronavalli drew against IM Anna Zatonskih (USA). Both Kosteniuk and Harika are trailing the sole leader by a half point at 3.5/6 each. They are followed by five players at 3/6. Round 7 starts today at 1 p.m. local time, 11:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club/Lennart Ootes

Kosteniuk wins her third game

Former Women's World Champion - GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI) has played the highest number of decisive games so far, five. At this point, no one mathematically has the opportunity to play more decisive games than her in this tournament. It can only be tied.

GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN) made a quick draw with GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) to maintain her sole lead 4/6 | Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club/Lennart Ootes

Cairns Cup official logo | Photo: Official site

Kosteniuk -Mariya: 1-0

GM Mariya Muzychuk (UKR, 2510) had a substantial advantage in the rook and minor piece endgame against GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI, 2501). However, Mariya made an incorrect rook exchange.

Position after 40.Rc2

Black needed to play 40...Rb1 41.Kf2 g4 42.Rd2 Kc7 to maintain the upper hand. 40...Rxc2 41.Bxc2 White is now relieved as she is out of the woods.

Position after 56.h5+

A critical moment. Which way should the king move - up or down? Black made the incorrect decision 56...Kg5? 57.Be7+ and White went on to win the game. 57.Bxf4+ works too.

GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI) scored her third win of the event | Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club/Lennart Ootes

GM Harika Dronavalli - IM Anna Zatonskih (USA): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club/Lennart Ootes

GM Elisabeth Paehtz (GER) and GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) had an exciting draw | Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club/Lennart Ootes

IM Alice Lee (USA) - GM Irina Krush (USA): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club/Lennart Ootes

Round 6 in progress | Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club/Lennart Ootes

Replay live stream

Replay Round 6 Live Commentary by GM Yasser Seirawan, and IMs Jovanka Houska, Nazi Paikidze and Begim Tokhirjonova | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club

Replay Round 6 games

Round 6 results

Table	White	Score	Fed.	Rating	Black	Score	Fed.	Rating	Result
1	GM Dzagnidze, Nana	2.5	GEO	2506	GM Tan, Zhongyi	3.5	CHN	2540	½-½
2	GM Paehtz, Elisabeth	2.0	GER	2457	GM Muzychuk, Anna	2.5	UKR	2505	½-½
3	GM Dronavalli, Harika	3.0	IND	2489	IM Zatonskih, Anna	1.0	USA	2327	½-½
4	GM Kosteniuk, Alexandra	2.5	SUI	2501	GM Muzychuk, Mariya	3.0	UKR	2510	1-0
5	IM Lee, Alice	2.5	USA	2368	GM Krush, Irina	2.5	USA	2415	½-½

Details

Standings after Round 6

Zhongyi Tan still in sole lead 4/6, Kosteniuk and Harika are at 3.5/6 each | Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club

Details

Round 7 pairings

Table	White	Score	Fed.	Rating	Black	Score	Fed.	Rating
1	GM Krush, Irina	3.0	USA	2415	GM Dzagnidze, Nana	3.0	GEO	2506
2	GM Muzychuk, Mariya	3.0	UKR	2510	IM Lee, Alice	3.0	USA	2368
3	IM Zatonskih, Anna	1.5	USA	2327	GM Kosteniuk, Alexandra	3.5	SUI	2501
4	GM Muzychuk, Anna	3.0	UKR	2505	GM Dronavalli, Harika	3.5	IND	2489
5	GM Tan, Zhongyi	4.0	CHN	2540	GM Paehtz, Elisabeth	2.5	GER	2457

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

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