Munich GP Round 1: Humpy makes a quiet start with Harika

by Shahid Ahmed - 03/02/2023

The game between India's top two women, Humpy and Harika ended in a draw at Munich GP 2023. It was a hard fought battle. The first round witnessed four decisive games. GM Tan Zhongyi, GM Elisabeth Paehtz and GM Nana Dzagnidze scored convincing victories over WGM Zhu Jiner, WGM Dinara Wagner and GM Zhansaya Abdumalik respectively. Elisabeth got a better position when her opponent went wrong after thinking for nearly an hour for her sixth move. GM Alexandra Kosteniuk won a back and forth game against IM Alina Kaslinskaya. It will be Humpy vs Zhansaya and Zhu Jiner vs Harika in Round 2 which starts today at 7:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/David Llada

Four decisive games

Munich GP is off to an exciting start. Unlike the previous leg, this time the number of decisive games in the first round inverted with the number of draws from Astana GP.

GM Humpy drew with GM Harika in the first round | Photo: FIDE / David Llada

Tan Zhongyi - Zhu Jiner: 1-0

The new World Rapid Women's champion, GM Tan Zhongyi (CHN, 2547) defeated her compatriot WGM Zhu Jiner (CHN, 2486).

Position after 23...c6

Black made a minute mistake 23...c6 which was enough for White to turn things in her favor. 24.Qb3 attacked both b7 and f7 pawn. 24...Rd5 25.Qxb7 Qxf2 26.Qxc6 Black's poorly coordinated pieces allowed White to capture the queenside pawns without any consequences. 26...Red8 27.Rdf1 Qxe3+ 28.Kb1 R5d6 29.Qg2 Qh6 30.Ka2 Re6 31.Rf5 and White's attack on the kingside is too strong for Black to defend.

GM Tan Zhongyi (CHN) - WGM Zhu Jiner (CHN): 1-0 | Photo: FIDE/David Llada

Elisabeth - Dinara: 1-0

WGM Dinara Wagner (GER, 2414) went wrong early in the opening against GM Elisabeth Paehtz (GER, 2464). Black spent nearly one hour to play 6...e6.

Position after 7...Qa5

7...Qa5 is a bigger mistake after 5...Qc7. 8.Nc4 Qd8 9.Nb5 Nd5 10.Bg3 Nc6 11.Ncd6+ it wouldn't be an understatement to say that Black is lost as she lost castling rights and king gets stranded at the middle of the board.

Position after 22.Rd7!

A beautiful finish 22.Rd7! Find out why it works.

Interview with Elisabeth Pähtz | Video: FIDE

GM Elisabeth Paehtz scored a comfortable victory over WGM Dinara Wagner | Photo: FIDE / David Llada

Zhansaya - Dzagnidze: 0-1

GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO, 2517) made a thematic exchange sacrifice in the Sicilian against GM Zhansaya Abdumalik (KAZ, 2496).

Position after 15...Rxc3

16.bxc3 is forced Qa5 and now White had the choice to defend either a2 or c3. Saving both of them via 17.Kb2 is not a good idea as it provokes d5. White opted to defend the c3-pawn 17.Qe3 Qxa2 and Black went on to win the game.