Five Straight for Zhu at FIDE Women’s Grand Prix
Jiner Zhu has completed her spectacular comeback at the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in Austria, as she won her fifth game in a row to catch Anna Muzychuk for the tournament lead at 5/7 with two rounds to play. It’s a tough scene for Muzychuk, who needs solo first to secure a Candidates spot through Grand Prix qualifying, while Zhu only needs to be top three to pass pre-tournament leader Aleksandra Goryachkina. The full season standings can be viewed on the Grand Prix website.
Zhu-Dzagnidze experienced the critical moment on move 35, where Black played 35. …Rf4??, not respecting the danger of the passed pawn. 35. …Nb6! would have kept it in check, but after the game move, 36. d7! wins material directly, 36. …Nxd7 37. Qxd5 Qxd5 38. Rxd5 Nf6 39. Rxa5 (D) and White soon simplified into a winning king and pawn endgame.
Muzychuk was unable to generate anything in a Scotch Four Knights against IM Nurgyul Salimova, which will feel like a miss playing as White against one of the players in last place. She and Zhu will both be feeling tomorrow’s games are must-win against the other two IMs, in Javakhishvili-Muzychuk and Zhu-Badelka.
Tan Zhongyi also won in round seven to climb within half a point of the tournament lead, while Vaishali Rameshbabu lost to Alexandra Kosteniuk and dropped to fourth place. You can follow the tournament on Lichess.
Photo via FIDE
