Goryachkina wins Women's Candidates with two rounds to spare
Goryachkina drew her game against former Women's World Champion, Tan Zhongyi with ease after the latter did not take the only chance she had. Thus Goryachkina wins the Candidates with two rounds to spare. She will face the reigning Women's World Champion Ju Wenjun in Women's World Championship Match. Gunina wins her second game in-a-row when she defeated Mariya Muzychuk, although Mariya had a fantastic position for some time. Anna Muzychuk defeated Kateryna Lagno emphatically to climb to second position. Nana Dzagnidze handed Kosteniuk her second consecutive defeat heading into the final rest day. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili
Three decisive games, Anna climbs to second position
Gunina won another long game consisting of 81 moves. This one also had a lot of ups and downs.
Mariya Muzychuk - Valentina Gunina, Round 12
Kosteniuk placed her pieces in a bizarre fashion which was already cramped up. She went for a wrong break which cost her a pawn.
Nana Dzagnidze - Alexandra Kosteniuk, Round 12
Goryachkina had no trouble equalizing against Tan Zhongyi in Caro-Kann Advance variation. However, Zhongyi got some chance that she needed to take.
Tan Zhongyi - Aleksandra Goryachkina, Round 12
Lagno tried to surprise Anna with 3...f5 to which Anna thought, which move she should make that her opponent has not prepared.
Anna Muzychuk - Kateryna Lagno, Round 12
Crosstable:
The final rest day is on 15th June. Round 13 will start on Sunday 16th June 2019 at 3 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Here are the pairings:
Valentina Gunina — Anna Muzychuk
Alexandra Kosteniuk — Mariya Muzychuk
Aleksandra Goryachkina — Nana Dzagnidze
Kateryna Lagno — Tan Zhongyi
Watch all games live here from 5:30 p.m. IST
The organizers are FIDE, Russian Chess Federation, Government of the Republic of Tatarstan, Ministry of Sports of the Republic of Tatarstan, and city administration of Kazan. The tournament is sponsored by PJSC PhosAgro and Russian Railways.