Ankara Grand Prix Round 5

Official Website Report

In the fifth round of the sixth stage of the FIDE Women Grand Prix 2011-2012 in Ankara, a record number of games finished peacefully. The leaders Humpy Koneru and Ruan Lufei drew their games and allowed the rating favorite of the tournament Anna Muzychuk to catch up on the shared first place. The Slovenian player managed to outplay Monika Socko in an equal endgame.

Another decisive game was played between Chinese Zhao Xue and Ju Wenjun. Turkish player Kubra Ozturk saved a lost position playing with white against Tatiana Kosinsteva and her teammate Betul Yildiz managed to hold the position playing against Munguntuul Batkhuyag.

The standings after 5 rounds

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Monika Socko (left) and Anna Muzychuk

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Monika Socko: I think I had a better position after the opening. I was checking this line with Bf5 earlier. I was surprised when I saw the move 9… e6. I could have taken 10.Bd7 and after Nd7 tried Nb5. I thought in the end there is a draw in that endgame without a pawn but in fact it was very unpleasant to defend this endgame and I didn’t manage to hold it. Unfortunately it’s not the first game here when I lose drawish positions.
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Anna Muzychuk: At the beginning I thought my position was ok but since white managed to play e4-e5 and get French structure I understood that my knight on a3 cannot play and white has an attack and I don’t time even to bring my queen on c-file. So I had to defend this position. With queens on the board Monika had many chances to create problems for me.

Tatiana Kosintseva

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Kubra Ozturk: I played not so well again and made many mistakes and there were many moments when I could have played better. I was a pawn down but still was looking for some counterplay but nothing worked. So the position was just getting worse. Fortunately I managed to hold the position because of a mistake of my opponent.
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Tatiana Kosintseva: The position was absolutely winning but I spoiled everything with one move. I had to play Re6 instead of Kg5. I missed that pawn g6 was hanging.

Zhao Xue (centre) and Ju Wenjun (right) after their game

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Zhao Xue: After the opening the position was ok for white. The move h5 is out of my preparation. After 17.Bd1 white has a better attack. I think Qd7 was not good - I should have played Qc1 instead. I think after that move I could win in the middle game. After I got an extra piece I didn’t play really well. Maybe it was not a good choice to give it back.
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Ju Wenjun: I think I had good position after the opening but I made few blunders during the game, so I lost in the end.

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The final round of the Ankara Grand Prix is on 28 September. Rounds start at 15:00 local time (12:00 UTC), with rest days on 20 and 25 September.  Live games broadcast here.

Report adapted from the official website. Photos from the official website.  Games via TWIC.