Shymkent GP R6: Goryachkina extends her sole lead

by Shahid Ahmed - 06/11/2024

The sixth round also had four decisive games just like the previous round at FIDE Shymkent GP. GM Aleksandra Goryachkina defeated GM Elisabehthe Paehtz (GER) to extend her sole lead 5/6 by a point. In an opposite color bishop endgame, it was not easy for the Germany no.1 woman to navigate through all complexities. She blundered at a crucial moment and lost the game. GM Koneru Humpy returned her opponent, IM Stavroula Tsolakidou's (GRE) sacrificed exchange. However, it was not enough to bounce back from a dwindling position. IM Divya Deshmukh had a well contested draw against IM Nurgyul Salimova (BUL) to maintain her 50% score 3/6. Round 7 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 3:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Konstantin Chalabov

Four decisive games again

GM Koneru Humpy, GM Elisabeth Paehtz (GER) and IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul (MGL) suffered their second consecutive losses. IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE) and GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN) are the only two players, trailing the sole leader by a full point at 4/6 each.

GM Aleksandra Goryachkina won her fourth game in-a-row | Photo: FIDE / Konstantin Chalabov

Goryachkina - Paehtz: 1-0

The last two Classical rated games between GM Aleksandra Goryachkina (2533) and GM Elisabeth Paehtz (2458) ended in draws. This one also seemed to be heading that way in an opposite color bishop endgame, until the Germany no.1 woman blundered.

Position after 48.Ke5

The opposite color bishop endgame is far from over. It is certainly not easy. If Black can afford to give up the e4-pawn, what is the best way to defend? Firstly, the black king needs to improve his position 48...Kb7 49.Kxe4 Bf5+ 50.Kd5 Ka6 51.Bd2 Bh3 52.Kd6 Bc2 53.c5 Kb5 and Black has managed to stop both pawns for now. Even if White sacrifices one of them, the other one will not promote.

"I really like playing 2500s" - Stavroula Tsolakidou | Video: FIDE

GM Koneru Humpy could not recover even after returning the sacrificed exchange by IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE) | Photo: FIDE / Konstantin Chalabov

"I'm just trying to play better" - Kateryna Lagno | Video: FIDE

GM Kateryna Lagno - IM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ): 1-0 | Photo: FIDE/Konstantin Chalabov

IM Divya Deshmukh - IM Nurgyul Salimova (BUL): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE/Konstantin Chalabov

GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN) - IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul (MGL): 1-0 | Photo: FIDE/Konstantin Chalabov

Round 6 in progress | Photo: FIDE/Konstantin Chalabov

Replay live stream

Replay Shymkent GP Round 6 live commentary by GM Evgenij Miroshnichenko (UKR) and IM Irene Sukandar (INA) | Video: FIDE

Replay Round 6 games

Prizes

Total prize fund is €80000. The top three prizes are €18000, €13000 and €10500 each. The top three GP points are - 130, 105 and 85. For more details, check out the regulations below.

Schedule

Every day round starts at 3 p.m. local time, 3:30 p.m. IST. Only the last round starts at 1 p.m. local time, 1:30 p.m. IST. The tournament will go on till 8th November 2024. Sole rest day is on Monday 4th November.

Round 6 results

Bo.	No.	FED	Rtg		White	Result		Black	FED	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	10	FID	2533	GM	Goryachkina, Aleksandra	1 - 0	GM	Paehtz, Elisabeth	GER	2458	8	PGN
2	9	IND	2530	GM	Koneru, Humpy	0 - 1	IM	Tsolakidou, Stavroula	GRE	2439	7	PGN
3	1	FID	2527	GM	Lagno, Kateryna	1 - 0	IM	Assaubayeva, Bibisara	KAZ	2487	6	PGN
4	2	IND	2501	IM	Divya, Deshmukh	½ - ½	IM	Salimova, Nurgyul	BUL	2405	5	PGN
5	3	CHN	2551	GM	Tan, Zhongyi	1 - 0	IM	Munguntuul, Batkhuyag	MGL	2344	4	PGN

Details

Standings after Round 6

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	10	GM	Goryachkina, Aleksandra	FID	2533	5	3	15,00	4
2	7	IM	Tsolakidou, Stavroula	GRE	2439	4	4	8,75	3
3	3	GM	Tan, Zhongyi	CHN	2551	4	2	8,50	3
4	6	IM	Assaubayeva, Bibisara	KAZ	2487	3,5	4	10,00	2
5	9	GM	Koneru, Humpy	IND	2530	3	3	7,50	2
6	2	IM	Divya, Deshmukh	IND	2501	3	2	7,75	1
7	1	GM	Lagno, Kateryna	FID	2527	2,5	2	8,50	1
8	5	IM	Salimova, Nurgyul	BUL	2405	2	3	5,25	0
9	4	IM	Munguntuul, Batkhuyag	MGL	2344	2	3	3,50	2
10	8	GM	Paehtz, Elisabeth	GER	2458	1	4	2,75	0

Details

Round 7 pairings

Bo.	No.	FED	Rtg		White	Result		Black	FED	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	4	MGL	2344	IM	Munguntuul, Batkhuyag		GM	Goryachkina, Aleksandra	FID	2533	10
2	5	BUL	2405	IM	Salimova, Nurgyul		GM	Tan, Zhongyi	CHN	2551	3
3	6	KAZ	2487	IM	Assaubayeva, Bibisara		IM	Divya, Deshmukh	IND	2501	2
4	7	GRE	2439	IM	Tsolakidou, Stavroula		GM	Lagno, Kateryna	FID	2527	1
5	8	GER	2458	GM	Paehtz, Elisabeth		GM	Koneru, Humpy	IND	2530	9