Astana GP Round 2: Four decisive games

by Shahid Ahmed - 20/09/2022

The second round of FIDE Astana GP 2022 had four decisive games. IM Polina Shuvalova, WGM Zhu Jiner (CHN), IM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ), IM Alina Kashlinskaya (POL) scored wins over IM Elisabeth Paehtz (GER), WGM Dinara Wagner (GER), GM Alexandra Kosteniuk and IM Vaishali R. Vaishali had a complex game against the Poland no.1 woman. She need to take some chances before going on full defense mode. Eventually her defense succumbed to her opponent's onslaught. She will face the reigning World Blitz 2021 Women champion, IM Bibisara Assaubayeva in Round 3. It starts today at 2:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Reigning World Rapid champion loses to World Blitz champion

Out of the four decisive games, the biggest win was certainly scored by the 18-year-old World Blitz Women 2021 champion, IM Bibisara Assaubayeva over the reigning World Rapid Women 2021 champion, GM Alexandra Kosteniuk. The latter refused a threefold repetition, which resulted her in a loss, shortly after.

IM Bibisara Assaubayeva defeated GM Alexandra Kosteniuk for the first time in a Classical encounter | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Kosteniuk - Bibisara: 0-1

World Rapid 2021 Women's champion, GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (2521) lost to World Blitz 2021 Women's champion, IM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ, 2443) after she declined to repeat moves and accept a draw.

Position after 30...Kg8

Sometimes taking a draw by repeating moves is the best choice. An overambitious approach might prove to be a costly one. White could have played 31.Qc8+ and Black would have no choice but accept the threefold repetition. Instead, she opted for 31.Qg3 Qd2 32.Qf2 Qc3 and suddenly White's king is in grave danger. There is no perpetual check left for White. 33.Nd6 Ng4 34.Ne4 Qc7 threatening Qxh2+ as well as exploiting White's back rank weakness. 35.Qb6 Qxb6+ and White resigned.

Interview with IM Bibisara Assaubayeva | Video: FIDE

Vaishali - Kashlinskaya: 0-1

Poland no.1 woman, IM Alina Kashlinskaya's (2491) almost backfired against IM Vaishali R (2449).

Position after 19...Qxd3

White had to go for 20.gxf7 Rxf7 21.Qxg4 Qxd2 22.f4 to expose the king. 20.f3 Kxg6 21.fxg4 e4 kept White in the game. However, she had to put up a staunch defense to survive. It was certainly difficult, eventually White's defense fell apart and Black won the game.

Interview with IM Alina Kashlinskaya | Video: FIDE

IM Vaishali R - IM Alina Kashlinskaya (POL): 0-1 | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

The tournament hall at Astana International Financial Centre | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Replay the live stream

Replay Live Commentary of Astana Women's GP Round 2 with GM Ilya Smirin and WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni | Video: FIDE

Replay all Round 2 games

Round 2 Results

Bo.	No.	Rtg		Name	Result		Name	Rtg	No.
1	12	2510	IM	Shuvalova Polina	1 - 0	IM	Paehtz Elisabeth	2477	7
2	8	2464	WGM	Zhu Jiner	1 - 0	WGM	Wagner Dinara	2358	6
3	9	2503	GM	Abdumalik Zhansaya	½ - ½	GM	Tan Zhongyi	2525	5
4	10	2521	GM	Kosteniuk Alexandra	0 - 1	IM	Assaubayeva Bibisara	2443	4
5	11	2449	IM	Vaishali R	0 - 1	IM	Kashlinskaya Alina	2491	3
6	1	2579	GM	Goryachkina Aleksandra	½ - ½	GM	Lagno Kateryna	2547	2

Round 3 pairings

Bo.	No.	Rtg		Name	Result		Name	Rtg	No.
1	2	2547	GM	Lagno Kateryna		IM	Shuvalova Polina	2510	12
2	3	2491	IM	Kashlinskaya Alina		GM	Goryachkina Aleksandra	2579	1
3	4	2443	IM	Assaubayeva Bibisara		IM	Vaishali R	2449	11
4	5	2525	GM	Tan Zhongyi		GM	Kosteniuk Alexandra	2521	10
5	6	2358	WGM	Wagner Dinara		GM	Abdumalik Zhansaya	2503	9
6	7	2477	IM	Paehtz Elisabeth		WGM	Zhu Jiner	2464	8

Details

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