Munich GP Round 5: Harika halts Kosteniuk's winning streak

by Shahid Ahmed - 07/02/2023

Harika Dronavalli got herself very close to ending Alexandra Kosteniuk's unbeaten streak. However, the former could not capitalize on her advantage and Kosteniuk escaped with a draw. She is still in the sole lead 4.5/5 and 1.5 points ahead of the field. GM Mariya Muzychuk could not spot her opponent IM Alina Kashlinskaya's blunder and eventually she went on the to win the game. WGM Dinara Wagner had a great opportunity to beat the reigning World Rapid Women's champion, GM Tan Zhongyi. Today is a rest day. Round 6 starts tomorrow Wednesday 8th February 2023 at 7:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/David Llada

Missed opportunities

Harika, Mariya and Dinara missed some big chances to score a win against Kosteniuk, Kashlinskaya and Zhongyi respectively. Koneru Humpy got a small advantage against Nana Dzagnidze. However, it never turned out to be anything substantial.

GM Harika Dronavalli stirred up some real trouble for GM Alexandra Kosteniuk | Photo: FIDE/David Llada

Harika - Kosteniuk: 0.5-0.5

GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (2519) declined a queen exchange by retreating her queen when trading it would have been a better choice for her. GM Harika Dronavalli (2507) seized her opportunity to gain the upper hand.

Position after 23.b5

22...g5 is suggested to be a better move by the computer, to get rid of the bishop pair before they become menacing. 23.Be5 f6 and White can no longer hold on to the bishops. 22...Qb7? invited 23.b5! Rd8 24.f3 Nf6 25.e4 Bg6 and now 26.Bf1 or Qc5 would have maintained a firm control of the position. 26.bxc6 Rxc6 27.Rxc6 Qxc6 alleviated the pressure and Black's position became much easier to play. Computer still evaluates White's position to be significantly better after 28.Be5 a5, due to the idea of h4-Kh2 and then gain a pawn.

GM Alexandra Kosteniuk escaped from GM Harika Dronavalli's vice grip | Photo: FIDE/David Llada

Interview with Dinara Wagner | Video: FIDE

WGM Dinara Wagner (GER) missed a good opportunity against... | Photo: FIDE/David Llada

...the reigning World Rapid Women's champion GM Tan Zhongyi (CHN) | Photo: FIDE/David Llada

GM Zhansaya Abdumalik (KAZ) - GM Elisabeth Paehtz (GER): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE/David Llada

Mariya - Kashlinskaya: 0-1

GM Mariya Muzychuk (UKR, 2523) missed a great opportunity to capitalize on her opponent's IM Alina Kashlinskaya (POL, 2491) blunder.

Position after 28...Bc5

28...Bc5?? is a huge mistake as Black loses material after 29.g4 Rg6 30.Nh4. The game continued 29.Nd4 and Black gladly exchanged the bishop, which was a lost cause a move ago.

Position after 34...Rd7

34...Rd7 has a nice tactical motif. Try to find it.

Interview with Alina Kashlinskaya | Video: FIDE

GM Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) missed a tactic against IM Alina Kashlinskaya (POL) | Photo: FIDE/David Llada

GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) - WGM Zhu Jiner (CHN): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE/David Llada

Interview with Nana Dzagnidze | Video: FIDE

GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) recovered well after the opening against... | Photo: FIDE/David Llada

...GM Koneru Humpy to draw the game | Photo: FIDE/David Llada

Daniel Stock, Head of Sports of munich.tv, made the ceremonial first move of Round 5 on Harika-Kosteniuk's board | Photo: FIDE/David Llada

Players during the fifth round | Photo: FIDE/David Llada

Replay the live stream

Replay Live Commentary of Munich Women's GP Round 5 with WIM Veronika Exler and guests | Video: FIDE

Replay all Round 5 games

Round 5 Results

Three decisive games in Round 5 | Photo: FIDE

Standings after Round 5

GM Alexandra Kosteniuk is still 1.5 points ahead of the field 4.5/5 | Photo: Official site

Round 6 pairings

Round 6 pairings | Source: Official site

Links

Official site

Tournament Regulations

Related news:

	Harika speaks up about the New Delhi GP incidents @ 06/04/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Aleksandra Goryachkina wins New Delhi GP on tie-breaks @ 06/04/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	New Delhi GP is poised for an exciting finish @ 05/04/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	New Delhi GP Round 9: Vaishali puts up resistance against Humpy @ 04/04/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	New Delhi GP Round 8: Harika beats Nino @ 03/04/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	New Delhi GP Round 7: Humpy halts Bibisara's winning streak @ 02/04/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	New Delhi GP Round 6: Vaishali draws with Goryachkina @ 01/04/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	New Delhi GP Round 5: Humpy bounces back, Vaishali draws @ 31/03/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	New Delhi GP Round 4: No Punches Pulled @ 30/03/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	New Delhi GP Round 3: Bibisara wins two in-a-row @ 29/03/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	New Delhi GP Round 2: Vaishali loses against Bibisara @ 28/03/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	New Delhi GP Round 1: Elisabeth withdraws, two exciting endgames @ 27/03/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	What is happening in New Delhi at the FIDE Grand Prix 2023 @ 26/03/2023 by Sagar Shah (en)
	Alexandra Kosteniuk wins Munich GP 2023, Humpy second @ 14/02/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Munich GP Round 10: Kosteniuk barely escapes with a draw against Humpy @ 13/02/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Munich GP Round 9: Can Humpy stop Kosteniuk? @ 12/02/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Munich GP Round 8: Humpy wins and moves to second place @ 11/02/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Munich GP Round 7: Nana Dzagnidze reduces the gap @ 10/02/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Munich GP Round 6: Six draws @ 09/02/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Munich GP Round 4: Humpy wins, Kosteniuk increases her lead @ 06/02/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Munich GP Round 3: Kosteniuk scores a hat-trick @ 05/02/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Munich GP Round 2: Tenacious Humpy shows incredible resilience @ 04/02/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Munich GP Round 1: Humpy makes a quiet start with Harika @ 03/02/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Humpy and Harika set to battle at FIDE Women's GP in Munich @ 02/02/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Kateryna Lagno wins FIDE Astana GP, Vaishali impresses @ 30/09/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Kateryna Lagno or Aleksandra Goryachkina - Who will win the FIDE Astana GP? @ 29/09/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Astana GP Round 9: Kateryna Lagno wins four in-a-row, emerges sole leader @ 28/09/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Astana GP Round 8: Vaishali moves up, Lagno joins Goryachkina in the lead @ 27/09/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Astana GP Round 7: Vaishali draws with the leader Zhu Jiner @ 26/09/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Astana GP Round 6: Vaishali scores a win against Paehtz @ 24/09/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Astana GP Round 5: Goryachkina and Jiner still in the lead @ 23/09/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Astana GP Round 4: Vaishali splits the point with Tan Zhongyi @ 22/09/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Astana GP Round 3: Vaishali draws with Assaubayeva @ 21/09/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Astana GP Round 2: Four decisive games @ 20/09/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Astana GP Round 1: Vaishali makes a solid start @ 19/09/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Vaishali will make her FIDE Women's GP debut at Astana, Kazakhstan @ 17/09/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)