The FIDE Chess.com 2022 Ladies’s Velocity Chess Championship resumed on Tuesday with a conflict between two of the event’s powerhouses, with GM Valentina Gunina overcoming GM Tan Zhongyi with a powerful rating of 19.5-9.5.
After a shaky 0-2 begin, Gunina hit her groove and punched her strategy to a four-point lead after the 5+1 phase. Not content material along with her lead, the three-time European particular person ladies’s champion misplaced solely a single recreation within the 3+1 video games, at which level she couldn’t be reached regardless of a surge within the 1+1 video games by Tan.
The following quarterfinal match between GM Kateryna Lagno and GM Humpy Koneru, each of whom have beforehand held world speedy titles, will happen on July 19, at 7.30 a.m. Pacific / 16:30 Central.
Blitz 5|1: Tan 3-7 Gunina
Tan kicked off the match simply as she did in her spherical of 16 match towards IM Polina Shuvalova, with an aesthetic win with the black items. Tan then held Gunina at bay with a second win after a heartbreaking rook blunder burnt her opponent’s drawing possibilities. This was no imply feat provided that Gunina had not misplaced two video games in a row for everything of her 32-game match towards IM Elisabeth Paehtz.Â
Gunina rapidly rebounded and avenged herself in one more drawn rook ending that proved too tough for Tan to defend with mere seconds on the clock.
Having settled her nerves after a rocky begin, Gunina then went on a five-game rampage full of colourful mixtures, sacrifices, and technical brilliance that left her commanding a five-point lead. Gunina would later reveal that she and her coach (who went unnamed within the post-match interview), had ready a line within the Caro-Kann Protection, which she instantly put to make use of in her game-four victory.
One of many key elements that led to Gunina’s purple patch within the 5+1 video games was her capacity to be decisive in even the trickiest positions, saving her time that might finally enable her to outplay Tan within the ensuing endings. Sport six was essentially the most notable of those and was undoubtedly the wildest of the day.
Gunina’s tactical mastery produced an intensive spotlight reveal on Tuesday as she took a commanding match lead.
Tan, who was down and out after a disappointing begin, was capable of briefly stunt Gunina’s streak with wonderful sample recognition within the eighth recreation. See if you happen to can spot Tan’s ploy within the puzzle beneath.
Though Tan’s play was admirable, Gunina couldn’t be curbed within the early video games. After 10 video games, her foe had taken a commanding 7-3 lead heading into the three+1 portion.
Blitz 3|1: Tan 1.5-8.5 GuninaÂ
Gunina picked up the place she left off and strung collectively one other three wins because the time management quickened. Commentator Kazarian was surprised on the stage of play introduced by Gunina, and Krush was fast to recall her personal expertise dealing with the in-form blitzer, citing her personal 24-5 loss in 2019.Â
Within the 14th recreation, Tan scored a win towards Gunina’s pet Caro-Kann Protection. The sport was not with out drama although and required Tan to unload blow after blow on her opponent who defended effectively with lower than 5 seconds on the clock. Gunina finally succumbed and surprisingly flagged, an ethical victory for Tan however little comfort on the scoreboard.
Tan’s luck ran out quickly after and Gunina once more went on a streak, capitalizing on her opponent’s inaccuracies and barely lacking a shot. An ingenious non permanent queen sacrifice was the cherry on high for Gunina who had actually hit her stride.
With the match slipping away and an eight-point margin having opened up, Tan by no means gave up. Regardless of materials deficits in a number of video games, she nonetheless made it tough for Gunina to transform in every recreation. Sadly for Tan, her opponent was equally medical as she was resourceful.
Bullet 1|1: Tan 5-4 GuninaÂ
A 15.5-4.5 rating was bleak heading into the bullet video games when it comes to a possible comeback, though with prize cash being break up based mostly on win share, each gamers have been nonetheless incentivized to win. Surprisingly, Tan discovered the power to edge out Gunina on this part of the match, courtesy of a pace improve and energetic play.
The Chinese language GM was capable of put collectively a three-game profitable spell, each in “good type” based on Krush.Tan’s late efforts allowed her to put up a decent rating of 9.5, although it didn’t evaluate to the outstanding 19.5 factors that Gunina accrued en path to victory.
Gunina earned $3,344.83 for her victory whereas Tan took in $655.17. Gunina’s subsequent opponent, within the semifinals, just isn’t but determined, although she is going to little doubt be amongst the favorites to proceed onwards within the occasion.
All Video games – Remaining
Ladies’s Velocity Chess Championship 2022 Bracket
The FIDE Chess.com 2022 Ladies’s Velocity Chess Championship is a web-based occasion the place titled ladies gamers will play a collection of blitz and bullet matches for a share of the $70,000 prize fund. The qualifiers for the occasion came about on Might 24-27, with the principle occasion beginning on June 13 and ending on July 21.
Earlier experiences:
