Gunina clinches European title

Valentina Gunina won the European Women's Championship on Tuesday in Gaziantep, Turkey. The 23-year-old Russian IM edged out Tatiana Kosintseva and Anna Muzychuk on tie-break after the three had finished on 8.5/11.

Valentina Gunina (Russia) wins in Giazantep | All photos by Anastasiya Karlovich © Turkish Chess Federation

The last time we reported about the European Women's Championship, Vietnamese-born Hungarian GM Hoang Thanh Trang was leading with 5.5/6, half a point more than Marie Sebag, Valentina Gunina, Cristina-Adela Foisor and Viktorija Cmilyte had by that point. The rest day was well spent, with most of the participants, trainers and organizers visiting the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, the Medusa Museum, the Cuisine Museum, Gazientep Castle and Coppersmiths' Bazaar.

The players in the Zeugma Mosaic Museum

After the free day, the players seemed ready for good fights again. On the first board, Valentina Gunina defeated the leader Hoang Thanh Trang and replaced her opponent in first place. Cristina-Adela Foisor defeated defending champion Viktorija Cmilyte and thus joined Gunina in first place. Rating favorite Anna Muzychuk won a important game against Marie Sebag, to reach shared first place with Hoang Thanh Trang.

Valentina Gunina, mentally preparing for the game against the tournament leader

In the eighth round, leaders Foisor and Gunina agreed on a draw after 42 moves. Hoang Thanh Trang fell back even further after a loss against Muzychuk, who joined the group of leaders with 6.5 points. Viktorija Cmilyte defeated Nazi Paikidze and reached fourth place, shared with Tatiana Kosintseva and Nino Khurtsidze.

Anna Muzychuk seemed well on her way to win the tournament

Beating Foisor and Cmilyte in the next two rounds, Anna Muzychuk increased her lead to a full point, with one round to go. Two Russian players, Valentina Gunina and Tatiana Kosintseva, were sharing second place. Muzychuk was as close as you can get to clinch the title, but then it eventually went wrong for her in a thrilling final round. In a position where she had good drawing chances, she blundered a mate in two against Gunina.

[Event "European Ind w 2012"]
[Site "Gaziantep TUR"]
[Date "2012.03.13"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Gunina, V."]
[Black "Muzychuk, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2511"]
[BlackElo "2583"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5k2/p4p2/7p/3bN1pN/P7/4K3/1r5P/3R4 w - - 0 37"]
[PlyCount "2"]
[EventDate "2012.03.02"]

37... Be6 $2 (37... Rxh2 38. Rxd5 Rxh5 {would have kept drawing chances.}) 38.
Rd8+ {and Black resigned, because 38...Ke7 39.Nc6 is mate.} 1-0

Although Kosintseva also win in the last round, it was Gunina who ended with the better tie-break (rating performance).

Valentina Gunina of Russia is the new European Champion

The European Women's Championship was held between March 2nd and 13th in the Anatolian Hotel in Gaziantep, Turkey. According to the official site it was also a qualifier for the World Cup, so we assume that the top 14 players are going to Tromsø next year.

The men's (or rather: open) European Championship will be held from March 19th till April 1st, 2012 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Many players of the Reykjavik Open are travelling to Bulgaria as we speak, although some are making a stop-over in Germany for this weekend's Bundesliga.

Selection of games rounds 7-11

PGN file

European Women's Championship 2012 | Final standings (top 30)