WGP Cyprus: Shake-up at the Top! Badelka Shines, Zhu Jiner Leads
The WGP Cyprus Round Seven saw major upsets and a new tournament leader! Three games ended decisively, with Olga Badelka defeating Anna Muzychuk in a stunning attack.
Zhu Jiner took the top spot after a strong win against Divya Deshmukh, while Nana Dzagnidze bounced back with a victory over Stavroula Tsolakidou.
A Grand Opening Ceremony
The round began with a ceremonial first move. Former Women’s World Champion Zhu Chen made the first move for Zhu Jiner, while FIDE Vice-President Joran Aulin Jansson did the honors for Divya Deshmukh.
Let’s take a closer look at the five games of the WGP Cyprus Round Seven.
Quick Draws and Hard Battles
Elisabeth Paehtz vs. Aleksandra Goryachkina (0.5-0.5)
A quick 11-move draw! Due to the threefold repetition rule, the game ended early, with both players finishing with more time than they started.
Harika Dronavalli vs. Mariya Muzychuk (0.5-0.5)
A well-fought draw. Muzychuk played a rare move (7…c4) in the London opening, leading to a balanced position. After a queen exchange, the game ended with a threefold repetition on move 28. Both players showed impressive accuracy—99%!
Olga Badelka vs. Anna Muzychuk (1-0)
The biggest upset of the day! Fresh from a rest day, Badelka played an outstanding attacking game in the Colle-Zukertort.
The key moment came on move 15 when Badelka found a crushing move, 16.dxe6!, leading to a decisive attack. Reflecting on the game, Badelka said, “Maybe she wanted to simplify things quickly, but it wasn’t to be.”
Zhu Jiner vs. Divya Deshmukh (1-0)
Zhu Jiner continued her excellent form, winning convincingly against Deshmukh’s French Defense.
A crucial mistake (21…b3?) allowed Zhu Jiner to seize control. If Deshmukh had played 21…e5, she might have turned the game around. In her interview, Zhu Jiner revealed that she would have needed to use an underpromotion to a knight if Deshmukh had continued fighting!
Stavroula Tsolakidou vs. Nana Dzagnidze (0-1)
Dzagnidze, recovering from a previous blunder, won smoothly with the black pieces. Tsolakidou’s aggressive play backfired, and a risky exchange sacrifice (18.Bf2) wasn’t enough. Dzagnidze wrapped up the game with ease, leaving her opponent no counterplay.
Round 8: Upcoming Pairings
The next round of the Women’s Grand Prix will be held on Sunday, March 23rd at 15:00 CET in Nicosia, Cyprus. Here are the pairings:
- Nana Dzagnidze vs. Mariya Muzychuk
- Aleksandra Goryachkina vs. Harika Dronavalli
- Anna Muzychuk vs. Elisabeth Paehtz
- Divya Deshmukh vs. Olga Badelka
- Stavroula Tsolakidou vs. Zhu Jiner
Stay Updated!
For more information, visit the official website: womengrandprix.fide.com
Watch live games with expert commentary by GM Alik Gershon and WGM Anastasiya Karlovich on YouTube.
Photos: Mark Livshitz, FIDE_chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
