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New Delhi GP Round 8: Harika beats Nino

by Shahid Ahmed - 03/04/2023

GM Harika Dronavalli scored her first win of New Delhi GP 2023 in Round 8. She defeated GM Nino Batsiashvili who was also in search of her first victory of the event. The latter misjudged her opponent Harika's intensity of attack on the kingside. It cost her a pawn and allowed the rooks to be invaded via the seventh rank. IM Polina Shuvalova got a better position out of the opening, IM Vaishali made incorrect decisions at critical junctures and lost her game. GM Kateryna Lagno mysteriously repeated moves in a winning position against GM Aleksandra Goryachkina. WGM Zhu Jiner mantained her sole lead 5.5/8 as she drew with IM Bibisara Assaubayeva. Round 9 starts today at 3 p.m. IST. Humpy has a Bye. Photo: Abhyudaya Ram

Kateryna makes a bizarre repetition

It is quite difficult to fathom, how GM Kateryna Lagno could not beat GM Aleksandra Goryachkina after finding the excellent 38.Nxf6+! which threw her opponent's kingside wide open.

GM Harika Dronavalli registered her first win of the event | Photo: Abhyudaya Ram

Harika - Nino: 1-0

GM Harika Dronavalli (2511) registered her first win of the event against GM Nino Batsiashvili (GEO, 2489). Both were in search of their first win and it was Harika who emerged the victor.

Final position after 38.Nf3

The best way for Black to defend the e5-pawn was to play 37...Qd6. Instead, she opted for 38...Re8? After 39.Ra2 Black made another mistake Ra5? which cost her the c7-pawn. Kg7 was required to be played to prevent Qh6 entry. 40.Qh6 Qf6 41.Rac2 not only the c7-pawn falls, but the rook's placement on c7 certainly makes it incredibly difficult for Black to defend. Black lost the queen in another six moves and the game too.

Final moments: GM Harika Dronavalli vs GM Nino Batsiashvili (GEO) | Video: ChessBase India
Interview with Harika Dronavalli | Video: FIDE

GM Nino Batsiashvili (GEO) lost her second game in-a-row | Photo: Abhyudaya Ram

Kateryna - Goryachkina: 0.5-0.5

GM Kateryna Lagno (2560) found a tactical shot against GM Aleksandra Goryachkina (2576). It should have been enough for the former World Rapid and three-time World Blitz Womens' champion. However, she could not find a follow through and repeated moves instead.

Position after 38.Nxf6+

38.Nxf6+ was not that difficult to find. It was possible to play in the previous move too. 38...gxf6 39.Rxe8+ Bxe8 40.Re4 Qd5 41.Rxd4 Qxc5 42.Qg3+ Kf8 43.Ng6+ Kf7 44.Nh8+ Kf8 45.Ng6+ and the game surprisingly ends in an anti-climactic way, a draw via threefold repetition. Try to find out what White should have played to win the game.

Kateryna Lagno's Brilliance - The Soumya Swaminathan breakdown | Video: ChessBase India

Maybe GM Aleksandra Goryachkina's stare hypnotized GM Kateryna Lagno in a winning position? | Photo: Abhyudaya Ram

IM Polina Shuvalova - IM Vaishali R: 1-0 | Photo: Abhyudaya Ram

WGM Zhu Jiner (CHN) - IM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Abhyudaya Ram

Round 8 in progress | Photo: Abhyudaya Ram
Highlights of Round 8 | Video: ChessBase India

Replay the live stream

Replay Live Commentary of Delhi Women's GP Round 8 with GM Pravin Thipsay and IM Soumya Swaminathan | Video: FIDE

Replay all Round 8 games

Round 8 Results

Bo.No.Rtg NameResultName RtgNo.PGN
1112560
GMLagno, Kateryna½ - ½GMGoryachkina, Aleksandra
25769PGN
2102511
GMHarika, Dronavalli1 - 0GMBatsiashvili, Nino
24898PGN
312484
IMShuvalova, Polina1 - 0IMVaishali, Rameshbabu
24337PGN
432489
WGMZhu, Jiner½ - ½IMAssaubayeva, Bibisara
24406PGN
542525
GMDzagnidze, Nana+ - -GMPaehtz, Elisabeth
24745
622576
GMKoneru, Humpy0bye
0-1

Details

Standings after Round 8

Rk.SNo NameFEDRtgPts. TB1  TB2  TB3  TB4  TB5 
13
WGMZhu, JinerCHN24895,5218,75200
26
IMAssaubayeva, BibisaraKAZ24405418,25400
39
GMGoryachkina, AleksandraFID25765315,00200
41
IMShuvalova, PolinaFID24844,5112,25200
511
GMLagno, KaterynaFID25604413,50200
610
GMHarika, DronavalliIND25114410,00100
72
GMKoneru, HumpyIND25764311,75100
84
GMDzagnidze, NanaGEO2525338,50000
98
GMBatsiashvili, NinoGEO24892,554,75000
107
IMVaishali, RameshbabuIND24332,535,75000
115
GMPaehtz, ElisabethGER2474000,00000

Details

Round 9 pairings

Bo.No.Rtg NameResultName RtgNo.PGN
152474
GMPaehtz, ElisabethGMLagno, Kateryna
256011
262440
IMAssaubayeva, BibisaraGMDzagnidze, Nana
25254
372433
IMVaishali, RameshbabuGMKoneru, Humpy
25762
482489
GMBatsiashvili, NinoIMShuvalova, Polina
24841
592576
GMGoryachkina, AleksandraGMHarika, Dronavalli
251110
632489
WGMZhu, Jiner0bye
0-1

Details

Links

Official site

Tournament Regulations


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