Norway Chess Women R4: Vaishali checkmates Anna Muzychuk after a mate-in-one blunder
GM R Vaishali made a quick draw against GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) in Round 4 of 2nd Norway Chess Women 2025. Vaishali was lost for the better part of Armageddon. However, Anna started misplaying her advantage and eventually blundered a mate-in-one which Vaishali spotted and walked away with a win. GM Koneru Humpy drew the Classical battle against GM Wenjun Ju (CHN). In Armageddon, Humpy did not react well to the five-time Women's World Champion's attack on her kingside. She blundered and eventually succumbed. IM Sara Khadem (ESP) persevered a tough position to beat GM Tingjie Lei (CHN) who blundered at the end and lost her game. Today is the first of two rest days. Round 5 starts tomorrow Saturday from 5 p.m. local time, 8:30 p.m. IST. Apart from youtube, there is also a live broadcast on Sony Liv. Photo: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza
Tingjie tanks against Sara, Anna and Humpy still coleaders
Both coleaders, GM Anna Muzychuk and GM Koneru Humpy lost their respective matches against GM R Vaishali and GM Wenjun Ju. However, IM Sara Khadem winning her Classical battle against GM Tingjie Lei earned her three points and ensured that Anna and Humpy remain at the top 7/12. Wenjun is 1.5 points behind at 5.5/12, followed by Sara at 5/12.
Vaishali - Anna: 1.5-1
GM R Vaishali (2475) and GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR, 2526) had six draws in Classical battle, including two at the same event last year and Vaishali won one. This time they had the shortest draw in just 14 moves.
Armageddon
Position after 44.Nd6
GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) was winning for the better part of Armageddon against GM R Vaishali. Even in the above position, 44...Be7 is still winning for Black. The game continued 44...Qa2?? 45.Qb7 Qxe2?? Black blundered a mate in one 46.Qxf7#
Wenjun - Humpy: 1.5-1
Last year, GM Wenjun Ju (CHN, 2580) drew both Classical battles against GM Koneru Humpy (2543) at this event and the five-time Women's World Champion won both Armageddon. This year, she has already done half of it.
After a draw in the Classical, Wenjun went for 1.Nf3 instead of another Italian opening. Humpy did not respond correctly to Wenjun's attack on her kingside. A incorrect pawn capture ended things in a hurry.
Tingjie - Sara: 0-3
GM Tingjie Lei (CHN, 2552) and IM Sara Khadem (ESP, 2449) have played four Classical rated games against each other. Sara won one and the remaining three ended in draws. All four of them occurred between 2015 and 2018. The fifth game was won by the IM. She persevered a tough rook and bishop vs rook and knight endgame.
57.bxa3 Rxc3 58.axb4 axb4 59.Rxb4 Rxg3+ 60.Kh2 leads to an easy draw. White blundered 57.Bf6+?? Kf7 58.bxa3 Nd5 59.Rb5 Nxf6 60.Rxa5 g4 and Black went on to win the game comfortably.
Replay live stream
Round 4 results
Standings after Round 4
Round 5 pairings
Sara Khadem - R Vaishali
Anna Muzychuk - Wenjun Ju
Koneru Humpy - Tingjie Lei
Format
6 players will take part in the Tournament.
The Tournament is a double-round event with Armageddon.
The Tournament consists of 10 rounds.
Berger tables will be used for the pairings.
Time Control
Each player will have 120 minutes on the clock with an increment of 10 seconds starting from move 41. The time control for the Armageddon game: white has 10 minutes and black has 7 minutes with an increment for both players of 1 second per move, starting from move 41.
Draw by Mutual Agreement
Players are not allowed to agree to a draw until at least 30 moves have been made by each player. This rule does not apply to Armageddon games.
Armageddon
If the classical game is drawn, an Armageddon game will be played. It shall start within 20 minutes of the conclusion of the classical game. The player with White pieces will continue with White in Armageddon. If the Armageddon game is drawn, black will win.
Points
Players will get the following points per round:
Win in the classical game: 3 points
Loss in the classical game: 0 points
Draw in the classical game & win Armageddon: 1½ points
Draw in the classical game & loss Armageddon: 1 point
Schedule
From 26th May to 6th June, every day game starts at 5 p.m. local time and 8:30 p.m. IST. Rest days are on Friday 30th May and Wednesday 4th June.
Prize money
Prize Money The total prize fund of the Tournament is 1690000 NOK. Distribution of Prize money occurs as followed:
1st - NOK 700000
2nd - NOK 350000
3rd - NOK 200000
4th - NOK 170000
5th - NOK 150000
6th - NOK 120000
Watch the tournaments live at the venue:
Venue: Finansparken. For ticket info, visit here.
Ticket prices per day:
Adults: 200 NOK
Children and youth (under 18): 100 NOK
Family: 400 NOK
Links
Norway Chess: Official site, facebook, twitter, instagram, youtube, linkedin
