Women’s European Club Cup

IM Malcolm Pein October 16, 2023

 

ROMANIAN heavyweights Superchess might have suffered a painful last-round defeat in the Open section at the European Club Cup, but they did take top honours in the Women’s event.
Following a surprise defeat at the hands of early leaders TAJFUN from Ljubljana, they dominated thereafter, defeating Hungarians Garuda Ajka in the final round to claim the gold medals with 12/14, two points ahead of Ajka, who took silver.
Wood Green were back in 10th place on 8/14, but had the consolation of two individual medals – Lan Yao winning silver for her superb 5.5/7 and 2501 performance on board two, with Jovanka Houska picking up a bronze on top board.
I was also delighted to see 21st seeds She Plays To Win finishing 18th, with teenager Abigail Weersing of Linton Chess Club earning the WFM title for a fine 4/7 on board three.
The gold medal for board one went to Bella Khotenashvili of Ajka, with silver for Nino Batsiashvili, as both Georgian GMs performed at over 2600.

E Doluhanova – N Batsiashvili
Panevezys vs Superchess
English Opening

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 e5!? 5.0-0 (5.Nc3 prevents 5...d5? in view of 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Nxe5!)
5...d5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Nc3 Be6 8.d3 Be7 (Black enjoys a comfortable Maroczy Bind set-up, in what is a reversed Sicilian Accelerated Dragon)
9.Bd2 0-0 10.Rc1 h6 11.a3 a5 12.Na4?! (12.Nxd5 Bxd5 13.Bc3?!, as in Khotenashvili–Batsiashvili, Global Chess League 2023, then
13...a4! favours Black, so 13.a4! looks best)
12...b6 13.e3 Rb8 14.Nc3 Nf6! (Black is in full control)
15.Ne1 Qd7 16.Ne2 (16.f4!? fights for some air)
16...a4! 17.Bc3 Bb3 18.Qd2 Rbd8 19.f4?! e4!

A powerful pawn sacrifice. Black’s light-square bind and White’s exposed centre will be the dominant factors.
20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Bxe4 Na5! 22.Nc3 (To free the queen, but now e3 falls)
22...Nc4 23.Qe2 Nxe3! 24.Rf3 Nf5 25.Rf1
(25.Bxf5 Qxf5 26.Nc2 Rfe8 27.Ne4 c4 is also carnage)
25...Bd4+ 26.Kg2 Ne3+ 27.Kh1 Nxf1 28.Qxf1 Rfe8 29.f5 Bxc3 30.bxc3 Bd5 0-1

Y Iglesias – Lan Yao, Asnières vs Wood Green.

Black is a pawn up. How did she win a second?

Show Answer

 

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