The participants of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix hit the ground running: the current world women’s champion Ju Wenjun and the Challenger Aleksandra Goryachkina won the first-round games with black pieces.
FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich made the first move in the game GM Cramling Pia (2487) – GM Ju Wenjun (2576).
In the game mentioned above, the position went into an early endgame where black got a pair of bishops. The Chinese GM managed to turn this slight positional edge into material advantage which she gradually converted.
The game of former World women’s champion GM Antoaneta Stefanova (2491) and GM Aleksandra Goryachkina (2564) ended dramatically. Having an enormous amount of time on the clock Stefanova eventually found herself in a time trouble and made a fatal blunder on then move 31st.
Indian derby GM Koneru Humpy (2560) – GM Harika Dronavalli (2503) ended up in drawish rook endgame, although the former had a significant advantage throughout the game. Unfortunately for Hampy, time pressure did not allow her to achieve more than a half-point.
Another sharp position arose in the game of IM Elisabeth Paehtz (2479) and the 14th world women’s champion GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (2495). With 22.Bg5 white sacrificed a piece for two pawns in return for a sharp attack on the kingside. Kosteniuk found the most precise way to defend the position and the game ended up with a perpetual check.
Valentina Gunina (2502) sacrificed two pawns in order to gain the initiative in her encounter with Alina Kashlinskaya (2487). Alina was holding tight but eventually buckled under pressure making a deadly mistake on the move 30.
The game between GM Kateryna Lagno (2545) – GM Marie Sebag (2450) was rather peaceful. Players agreed on draw on the move 34th.
The second-round games start on September 12, at 3 pm (GMT +3).
Spectators can follow the games with English and Russian commentaries:
https://www.youtube.com/fidechannel
Official site: https://wgp2019.fide.com
