|
The first round review by GM Evgeny Miroshnichenko |
 The first round of the World Championship confirmed my theory that women's chess is anything but boring. Tension was almost visible in the air, draw percentage was very low, and the plot of some matches could not possibly be predicted either by bookmakers or astrologists.
The pairing formula of the knock-out World Championships usually secures the top seeds an easy life in the starting round.
The six highest rated players of the event advanced easily and only conceded half a point (Anna Muzychuk agreed to a draw to secure the match win).
|
|
Tatiana Kosintseva: Whoever withstands the pressure can get to the final |
 Anastasia Karlovich: Our last guest in the Russian grandmaster Tatiana Kosintseva, who won her match against the Indian Mary Ann Gomes in the Armageddon game. Please, Tatiana, tell us about your tie-break.
Tatiana Kosintseva: What a crazy day it was! I won the first game as Black and had an advantage in the second one. I just needed to find a couple of accurate moves and secure the match victory. However, I started to play badly, gave my opponent chances and lost in the end. This affected my play in the next game, which I lost as well. So I had to make a comeback.
Blitz was the same story - I obtained a promising position, which I should by no means lose, however, I probably failed to adjust to the quicker time control and lost on time. Once again I needed to come back, and once again I was fortunate.
|
|
Alexandra Goryachkina is learning to make comebacks |
 The youngest member of the Russian team won a very exhausting match against Lilit Mkrtchian and came to the press center to share her experience with the media.
Anastasia Karlovich: Please welcome Alexandra Goryachkina, the Russian player who just won the match with Lilit Mkrtchian. Alexandra, this is you first World Championship, what are your impressions?
Alexandra Goryachkina: Yes, this is my first Women's World Championship. I am very impressed of course. My goal was to win at least one match, and I achieved it. Perhaps I will keep moving forward.
|
 Following the games with the classical time control, the third day of the FIDE Women's World Championship (Sochi, Krasnaya Polyana) was reserved for the tie-breaks with rapid and blitz games.
As many as 11 pairs were to settle the score in this format.
A reminder about the tie-break regulations:
It starts with two rapid games of 25 minutes + 10 seconds per move. If the score remains equal, the players proceed to another two games with a slightly faster time control – 10 minutes + 10 seconds per move. If these games do not determine the winner as well, then there are two blitz games: 5 minutes + 3 seconds per move. Finally, if the score is still even, there is an Armageddon game: White has 5 minutes, Black has 4 minutes, 3 seconds per move are added after the move 61, and a draw counts as a win for Black.
Marisa Zuriel has put up a heroic resistance against the overwhelming elo-favourite Zhao Xue, but after 1-1 in classical, she lost 2-0 in rapid games.
|
|
Salome Melia and her time management |
 The Georgian player visited the press center after defeating Irene Kharisma Sukandar on the tie-break and told the media about her match, time management and methods of preparation for the key events.
Anastasia Karlovich: Dear friends, today we are watching the tie-breaks of the first round of the World Championship, and our first guest is the Georgian player Salome Melia, who defeated the Indonesian Irene Kharisma Sukandar. Salome, tells us please about this match. How difficult was it for you? How did you win?
Salome Melia: It was quite difficult as in both classical games I had winning positions but failed to win.
|
|
|
|
|
<< Start < Prev 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Next > End >>
|
