Chengdu GP: Harika wins the Grand Prix, Humpy second
by Priyadarshan Banjan - 15/07/2016
The Chengdu Grand Prix was hosted by China from 1-14th July 2016. Harika and Humpy left the remaining field a whole point behind, both of them scoring 7.0/11. While Harika hit and ducked to perfection, winning three and not losing a single round, Humpy lost two but won five games. The tie-break favoured Harika and she took first place while Humpy settled for the second spot. An illustrated report with interview.
Chengdu GP: Harika wins the Grand Prix, Humpy second
The Chengdu Grand Prix was hosted by China from 1-14th July 2016. The organizer of the tournament was the Chinese Chess Association, in partnership with the International Chess Federation (FIDE). This was the fourth stage of the 2015-16 FIDE grand Prix cycle.
In a range of stars, two Indians were in the fray, and not surprisingly, both of them have always been there for the nation in the Grand Prix cycle for quite some years now.
Harika and Humpy left the remaining field a whole point behind, both of them scoring 7.0/11. While Harika hit and ducked to perfection, winning three and not losing a single round, Humpy lost two but won five games. The tie-break favoured Harika and she took first place while Humpy settled for the second spot.
Round 09: Harika held GM Bela Khotenashvili with the black pieces, maintaining her lead.
Round 09: Anna Muzychuk vs. Koneru Humpy
Humpy was half a point behind Harika at the end of eight rounds. She slipped further in the ninth, losing to Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine with the black pieces.
White's play against the Classical French defence was nothing spectacular but she managed to trade the minor pieces down to knight vs a restricted bishop.
However, with the possibilities of pawn breaks on both wings and with two pairs of rooks on the board, black had an easy game.
Black (Humpy) to play
White should be praised for pushing hard to find the faintest of possibilities that would allow her to play for a win. Muzychuk was rewarded when Humpy decided to trade the rooks and enter a N+3P vs B+2P ending.
Round 10: Harika settled for another draw with the black pieces, this time against Zhao Xue.
Round 10:Mariya Muzychuk vs. Koneru Humpy
Mariya wanted to try something novel against the Modern but Koneru easily achieved equality. Mistakes followed from the white side and Humpy won the game without much ado.
This was the first FIDE Grand Prix win for Dronavalli Harika and gained her 145 points in the overall standings.
Post-tourney interview by Goran Urosevic:
Final Ranking:
Rank
SNo.
Name
Rtg
FED
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Pts
Res.
Vict
SB
Koya
1
8
GM
Harika Dronavalli
2526
IND
*
1
½
½
½
½
½
½
1
½
1
½
7
1
3
37.50
4
2
11
GM
Koneru Humpy
2575
IND
0
*
½
1
0
½
1
1
½
1
1
½
7
0
5
36.00
4
3
7
GM
Ju Wenjun
2578
CHN
½
½
*
½
1
½
0
½
½
½
½
1
6
1½
2
32.00
3½
4
1
GM
Stefanova Antoaneta
2512
BUL
½
0
½
*
½
½
1
½
1
½
½
½
6
1
2
31.75
3½
5
10
GM
Muzychuk Anna
2545
UKR
½
1
0
½
*
1
½
½
½
½
½
½
6
½
2
33.25
4
6
2
GM
Khotenashvili Bela
2454
GEO
½
½
½
½
0
*
½
1
½
0
½
1
5½
1½
2
29.25
3½
7
3
GM
Zhao Xue
2510
CHN
½
0
1
0
½
½
*
½
½
½
½
1
5½
1
2
28.50
3
8
12
GM
Muzychuk Mariya
2545
UKR
½
0
½
½
½
0
½
*
½
½
1
1
5½
½
2
27.75
2½
9
6
IM
Javakhishvili Lela
2487
GEO
0
½
½
0
½
½
½
½
*
1
½
½
5
1
1
26.50
3
10
4
WGM
Girya Olga
2444
RUS
½
0
½
½
½
1
½
½
0
*
½
½
5
0
1
27.25
4
11
5
WGM
Tan Zhongyi
2495
CHN
0
0
½
½
½
½
½
0
½
½
*
½
4
0
0
21.25
2½
12
9
GM
Cramling Pia
2463
SWE
½
½
0
½
½
0
0
0
½
½
½
*
3½
0
0
20.00
2
Ju Wenjun took the third position. Though Humpy finished second, she gained 145 points from this performance, taking her atop the overall Grand Prix standings.