Lagno Clinches With Double-Digit Margin, Advances To Semifinals

GM Kateryna Lagno moves on to the Julius Baer Women's Speed Chess Championship 2023 Semifinals after defeating WGM Priyanka Nutakki 17.5-4.5. She will play GM Harika Dronavalli in the Semifinals on Friday.

Priyanka got off to a fantastic start by winning the first two games of the match. Lagno responded with an eight-game winning streak, and never let go of her ever-expanding lead.

The Quarterfinals conclude on Wednesday, November 15 with IM Vaishali Rameshbabu vs. GM Alexandra Kosteniuk starting at 3:30 a.m. ET / 9:30 CET / 2:00 p.m. IST.

Lagno 17.5-4.5 Priyanka | Quarterfinals 

• 5+1: Lagno 4.5-2.5 Priyanka
• 3+1: Lagno 7.5-0.5 Priyanka
• 1+1: Lagno 5.5-1.5 Priyanka

Lagno is the defending WSCC champion, while Priyanka is the only player in the field making her debut in the event. The SmarterChess prediction formula had a very clear preference in this matchup:

5+1: Lagno 4.5-2.5 Priyanka

Priyanka threw pre-match predictions out the window when she won the first two games. However, once Lagno found her rhythm, the runaway train just didn't stop.

The very first game was a stellar piece of preparation as Priyanka walked into a Greek sacrifice on purpose with 11...Nh4!. It happened to be the engine's best move, and White's only path to equality required several only moves—but Lagno was unable to find them all.

Internet connection issues did cost Lagno over two minutes on move 17, but she was already objectively lost by that point.

Priyanka won the second game too after trapping a piece. But the hot start would be her last hurrah—the only other game she'd win in the entire remainder of the match would be game 20.

Lagno won game three, drew game four, game five, and went on an eight-game winning streak that stretched into the 3+1 portion. 

The first game in that long string of wins featured a nifty queen sacrifice for mate that wasn't played—one that commentator GM Robert Hess yelled out for: "So close, yet so far!"

Lagno was better on the clock and better on the board as she won the next two games as well, closing out the portion with a two-point lead.

The last game started as an Exchange French, but an unusual one featuring opposite-side castling. Lagno's ferocious attack on the queenside landed with greater effect, and GM Rafael Leitao analyzes this as our Game of the Day below.

3+1: Lagno 7.5-0.5 Priyanka

The three-time women's world blitz champion won every game but one (a draw) in this segment.

Lagno put heavy pressure on the clock in every game, but also on the board. As the losses stacked up, Priyanka's play seemed to suffer as she succumbed to simpler tactics; in game six, she blundered a piece.

In the next game, Lagno found a crushing tactic to demolish the opposite king's position.

Lagno then trapped a knight to win another game, before her eight-game streak was finally stunted with a draw.

Still, she won the last two games. The final game ended with a checkmate on the board:

1+1: Lagno 5.5-1.5 Priyanka

Given Lagno's nine-point lead going into the segment, Priyanka's chances depended on an absolute meltdown from her opponent. As it went, the result was never in doubt.

After a draw in the first game, Lagno won all the others with one loss. We saw two checkmates back-to-back. 

In game four, Priyanka blundered a mate-in-one from an otherwise equal position:

Lagno takes a 12-point lead after finding the checkmate in the position below!#WSCC #SpeedChess pic.twitter.com/1jGlSWNwrD

— chess24.com (@chess24com) November 14, 2023

However, Priyanka finished off the next game with a mate of her own:

Still, Lagno won the next two endgames to finish the match with a +13 score.

In the interview, Lagno said: "Even if you win with a big score, you feel when you play that your opponent missed many chances, you saw during the game also... she was very low on time and couldn't find the right way." Lagno estimated that her opponent left at least full five points on the table.

The victor takes home $3,562.50 plus another $2,833.80 by win percentage. Priyanka earns $728.70 by win percentage as she leaves the tournament.

Fans should look forward to the upcoming match on Wednesday, which IM Irene Sukandar called "one of the most anticipated matches in the Quarterfinals... it's a battle between the youngster and the experienced player."

Lagno said "I feel a bit sorry for Alexandra," who's also playing in the European Women's Team Chess Championship over the board. "I don't know how she's gonna manage to play both." Meanwhile, Vaishali looks to be in great form after winning the 2023 FIDE Women's Grand Swiss. 

The 2023 Julius Baer Women's Speed Chess Championship (WSCC) is an online competition featuring some of the strongest women chess players in the world, with the main event starting on November 13. The WSCC features a $75,000 prize fund.

Previous coverage

• Harika Wins All 3 Segments, Hou Yifan Cranks Out 7-Game Winning Streak
• Shuvalova, Priyanka Qualify For Julius Baer WSCC 2023
• 'Hou Yifan Out For Revenge Against Lagno In 2023 Julius Baer Women’s Speed Chess Championship