Muzychuk & Jiner Face Off in the WGP Cyprus Final Round
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Muzychuk & Jiner Face Off, the excitement is at its peak! Anna Muzychuk’s victory over Elisabeth Paehtz in round eight brought her back into the race. She is now tied with Zhu Jiner at 5.5/8, setting up an intense final round at the Cyprus Women’s Grand Prix.
Muzychuk will play Black against Harika Dronavalli, while Zhu Jiner will have the White pieces against Nana Dzagnidze.
Another highlight was Divya Deshmukh’s first win of the tournament against Olga Badelka. This game was special as chess legend Vishy Anand performed the ceremonial first move, playing 1.Nf3.
In an interesting twist, this same knight delivered the final blow with 63.Ne5-d7!
Let’s dive into the key games of the round.
Aleksandra Goryachkina – Harika Dronavalli (0.5-0.5)
Goryachkina was well-prepared for this match. She sacrificed a pawn early in the French Tarrasch and played an innovative 15.Ng5.
However, Harika defended well and equalized the position. After queens were traded, the game ended in a draw due to opposite-colored bishops.
Anna Muzychuk – Elisabeth Paehtz (1-0)
Anna and Elisabeth are close friends but fierce competitors. She, determined to recover from her previous loss, played 1.d4 to surprise Elisabeth.
The game was balanced until Elisabeth blundered with 24…Qc5? and 28…Qd8?. Anna capitalized on these mistakes, winning the game and keeping her championship hopes alive. (Muzychuk & Jiner Face Off)
Stavroula Tsolakidou – Zhu Jiner (0.5-0.5)
Zhu Jiner, leading the tournament, chose the aggressive Najdorf Sicilian. Tsolakidou responded with the sharp 6.Bg5 variation.
The game remained double-edged, but after a queen exchange on move 22, the tension eased. Both players played precisely, achieving a 98% accuracy score, and agreed to a draw on move 49.
Nana Dzagnidze – Mariya Muzychuk (0.5-0.5)
Both players had a shot at a Candidates spot with consecutive wins. They played the Three Knights variation of the Grunfeld, leading to a solid, balanced game.
Mariya had a slight initiative, but Nana defended well, securing a draw on move 53 with an impressive 99% accuracy.
Divya Deshmukh – Olga Badelka (1-0)
Divya, usually an 1.e4 player, opted for 1.Nf3, playing the Zukertort Opening. Olga had equality but overpressed with 57…e2 instead of 57…Kf7.
Divya seized the chance, earning her first win and exclaiming, “At last!”
Moment of the Day
Instead of the straightforward 63.c8=Q, Divya dazzled with 63.Ne5+ and 64.Nd7!, securing a stylish queen promotion.
Final Round Details
The final round of the Women’s Grand Prix will be held on Monday, March 24, at 14:00 CET in Nicosia, Cyprus. With the tournament nearing its end, every move will be crucial.
Round 9 Pairings:
- Zhu Jiner vs. Nana Dzagnidze
- Olga Badelka vs. Stavroula Tsolakidou
- Elisabeth Paehtz vs. Divya Deshmukh
- Harika Dronavalli vs. Anna Muzychuk
- Mariya Muzychuk vs. Aleksandra Goryachkina
For live games and updates, visit womengrandprix.fide.com. Watch the action with GM Alik Gershon and WGM Anastasiya Karlovich on YouTube!
Photos: Mark Livshitz, FIDE_chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
