"VAN" (Sports Desk - 21.08.2023) :: Anna Muzychuk defeated former Women’s World Champion Tan Zhongyi by 1.5:0.5 and won third place. In the Open, Magnus Carlsen qualified for his first-ever final in this competition
Anna Muzychuk has won third place in the Women’s World Cup after drawing in today’s game against former World Champion Tan Zhongyi. She scored in the first game, winning the match with 1.5:0.5. In a post-game interview, Anna – with the Ukrainian flag on her shoulders, a gift from the Ukrainian ambassador to Azerbaijan – thanked everyone for their support and to those who helped and are helping her and her family who now live in Spain.
In the Women’s finals, Aleksandra Goryachkina had a lucky escape with a draw against Nurgyul Salimova, as the two head for the tiebreaks.
The former World Champion Magnus Carlsen has qualified for his first-ever final of the Open World Cup tournament, after drawing as Black against Nijat Abasov of Azerbaijan. The Norwegian won in the first game, so a draw was enough. Carlsen’s biggest success at the World Cup so far was clinching third place in the 2021 event, in Sochi. Now, he will fight for a chance to add the only missing jewel in his crown of tournament victories.
The second semi-final match, between R Praggnanandhaa and Fabiano Caruana, goes to the tiebreaks after another draw following a tense battle which lasted over four and a half hours.
The Women’s Tournament Highlights
In their second game of the match for third place, Anna Muzychuk (playing as Black) achieved a significant advantage as early as move 10. After White’s 22nd move, Black was on the brink of scoring a victory with a piece sacrifice which Muzychuk didn’t see. Throughout the game, Black had the initiative and was pushing, but the Ukrainian could not find the best moves to secure a victory. In the end, the two reached a drawn bishop endgame.
The longest game of the day was in the fight for first place between Nurgyul Salimova and Aleksandra Goryachkina. Playing as White, Salimova achieved a significantly better position against Goryachkina by move 33. By move 45 White was winning. Unfortunately for Salimova, she made several mistakes in the endgame which was enough for Goryachkina to reach safety. Moreover, Aleksandra then tested Nurgyul in a rook and knight vs. rook drawing endgame for quite a while before they agreed to split a point. The winner of the Women’s World Cup will be decided in the tiebreaks.
The Open Tournament Highlights
Magnus Carlsen only needed a draw to get through to the finals. To stay in the race, his opponent Nijat Abasov (the Azeri star who surprisingly reached the finals) needed to win in this game where he was playing as White. Abasov went for the London system – an opening which does not require detailed knowledge of many lines and which also allows White to achieve a solid position. In the first part of the game, White got a slight edge but soon it was Black exerting some pressure on the opponent’s position. As the situation started clearing in the centre, the two reached an equal endgame with two rooks and a bishop each, where neither side had a chance to make progress. After trading the rooks, Magnus gave up his bishop to end up with two runners on the Queenside, but White was just in time to hold and a draw was agreed after all the pieces were exchanged on the board.
Despite losing this match, Nijat Abasov is still in the race, but he will be fighting for third place.
R Praggnandnandhaa and Fabiano Caruana drew today again. In the Catalan, White (Praggnanandhaa) made a mistake right after the opening which allowed Black some chances, but Caruana decided not to take them. In a complicated game with a lot of manouvering tactics, Black emerged slightly better but Pragg held his ground with an accurate defence. In the end, the opponents advanced passers on the opposite wings, but after trading them, they realised it was time for a draw.
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