Women's Candidates round 5: Goryachkina is back in the lead and still undefeated

by Shahid Ahmed - 06/06/2019

Aleksandra Goryachkina outplayed former Women's World Champion Tan Zhongyi in a Double Rook endgame with unbelievable precision to get back into the lead. The youngest in the fray is not only the sole leader, but also the only undefeated player in the tournament so far. Valentina Gunina missed an easy win in time pressure against Mariya Muzychuk. Alexandra Kosteniuk got lucky as overnight leader Nana Dzagnidze blundered in time pressure in a normal position, according to her. Kateryna Lagno had better for most of the game but Anna Muzychuk managed to trick her opponent and save half-a-point. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

Goryachkina outplays Zhongyi in the endgame, Nana suffers her first loss

Goryachkina played an amazing double rook endgame to defeat former Women's World Champion Tan Zhongyi| Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

In an Open Catalan opening, Tan Zhongyi equalized easily with Black pieces. Goryachkina started pushing for a win at the endgame.

Alexandra Goryachkkina - Tan Zhongyi, Round 5

We all know that rook is best placed on the seventh rank. Which pawn should Black defend here?

Black just played 35...Rd4. Find out the best continuation for White here.

It is evident that White is winning after 50...Kf7 but what is the correct plan for White? Find out.

Goryachkina analyzes her game after the completion of it (Russian audio) | Video: FIDE Chess

Battle of two former Women's World Champion ended up in a draw | Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

Gunina will definitely not be smiling about the fantastic opportunity she had missed. Then again she was in time pressure like the rest of her tournament, according to her.

Valentina Gunina - Mariya Muzychuk, Round 5

Gunina seems to be trying to surprise all her opponent with her opening choice

After 29...Bxc3, White is absolutely winning. Find out how

Valentina Gunina is almost out of words in the post-game interview | Video: FIDE Chess

Mariya talks about the game and what went through her mind | Video: FIDE Chess

Nana blundered in a seemingly equal position | Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

The Chess Queen Alexandra Kosteniuk opted for the Alapin variation in Sicilian Defence to which Nana had no difficulty equalizing.

Alexandra Kosteniuk - Nana Dzagnidze, Round 5

Computer might say 34...Na3 is okay but it really feels awkward as we know what they say about knights being on the rim

Nana herself was not sure why she put her Knight on a3. She added that she lost the game in two moves in a normal position.

Nana talks about the game and her difficult choice in time pressure | Video: FIDE Chess

Kosteniuk analyzes the game with Elisabeth Paehtz | Video: FIDE Chess

Despite being better for most of the game Lagno was unable to extract anything. According to Anna, she played one good move and managed to salvage a draw | Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

Anna found a very nice trick in the end to equalize the position from a difficult situation. Lagno later admitted that she missed this.

Kateryna Lagno - Anna Muzychuk, Round 5

White just played 26.Rae1. Black is in a difficult situation, find out how can Black untangle the position.

Anna talks about feeling like she played artificially, draw was a good result because she was in a difficult situation for most of the game and more | Video: FIDE Chess

Lagno talks about the game, handling four kids being more difficult than playing the tournament and more | Video: FIDE Chess

Round 6 will start on Thursday 6th June 2019 at 3 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Here are the pairings:

Anna Muzychuk — Valentina Gunina

Mariya Muzychuk — Alexandra Kosteniuk

Nana Dzagnidze — Aleksandra Goryachkina

Tan Zhongyi — Kateryna Lagno

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.

Related news:

	चीन की लेई टिंगजी बनी फीडे कैंडिडैट विजेता @ 03/04/2023 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	China to host Women's Candidates Final and Women's World Championship Match @ 04/03/2023 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Women's Candidates 2022-23 Pool A QF: Anna Muzychuk advances to the Semifinals @ 31/10/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Women's Candidates 2022-23 Pool A QF: Anna Muzychuk forces tie-breaks @ 30/10/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Women's Candidates 2022-23 Pool A QF: Humpy and Lei move closer to the Semifinals @ 29/10/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Women's Candidates 2022-23 Pool A QF: Humpy and Lei stay ahead @ 27/10/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Women's Candidates 2022-23 Pool A QF: Humpy makes a perfect start @ 26/10/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Humpy to face Anna Muzychuk in the Pool A Quarterfinals of FIDE Women's Candidates 2022-23 @ 25/10/2022 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	2022 फीडे कैंडीडेट में कोनेरु हम्पी को मिला प्रवेश @ 03/06/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	Mariya becomes the only player to beat Goryachkina at Women's Candidates @ 18/06/2019 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Women's Candidates: Anna shows true grit @ 17/06/2019 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Goryachkina wins Women's Candidates with two rounds to spare @ 15/06/2019 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Women's Candidates: Goryachkina is a win away from winning the Candidates @ 14/06/2019 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Women's Candidates: Goryachkina unstoppable, Kosteniuk scores a win @ 13/06/2019 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Women's Candidates: Muzychuk sisters win, Goryachkina stays at the top @ 11/06/2019 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Women's Candidates: Goryachkina scores her fifth win of the tournament @ 10/06/2019 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Women's Candidates: Gunina beats Zhongyi, Goryachkina extends her lead @ 09/06/2019 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Women's Candidates: Muzychuk sisters score their first win of the tournament, Goryachkina extends her lead @ 07/06/2019 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Women's Candidates: Nana takes sole lead after round 4 @ 05/06/2019 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Women's Candidates Round 3: Goryachkina and Dzagnidze in joint lead @ 03/06/2019 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Goryachkina and Dzagnidze score their first win in Women's Candidates @ 02/06/2019 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Women's Candidates: Gunina survives a scare in round 1 @ 01/06/2019 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	FIDE Women's Candidates: Drawing of lots @ 02/05/2019 by Shahid Ahmed (en)