Women's Candidates: Gunina beats Zhongyi, Goryachkina extends her lead

by Shahid Ahmed - 09/06/2019

Anna Muzychuk got a winning chance against Alexandra Kosteniuk after the latter's exchange sacrifice was dealt properly, but due to time pressure Anna missed it and the game ended up in a draw. Mariya declined a threefold repetition against Goryachkina in the endgame and it ended up in a draw eventually. Kateryna-Nana's game was a marathon game of 80 moves before a draw was agreed in a rook ending, although Nana had a decent advantage in early endgame. Gunina defeated former Women's World Champion Tan Zhongyi in Petroff's Defence after the former used her double bishops so well that Zhongyi had to give up the exchange. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

Only Gunina is victorious in round 7

Gunina executed a beautiful plan Zhongyi to beat her| Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

In Petroff's Defence, Tan Zhongyi had no difficulty equalizing with Black pieces, however Gunina executed a beautiful plan, maximizing the power of her double bishops in the endgame.

Valentina Gunina - Tan Zhongyi, Round 7

Computer will tell you the position is equal. However White has a beautiful plan in this position after 25...Ra3. Find it out

It is time for White to deliver the final blow

It is evident that White has an advantage here, but White must do what needs to be done. Find out the best continuation for White here.

Gunina got the better of Zhongyi | Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

Valentina Gunina analyzes her game with Elisabeth Paehtz after the completion of it | Video: FIDE Chess

Anna Muzychuk would have liked to score her second consecutive win of the tournament against Alexandra Kosteniuk | Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

Anna was surprised by her opponent's 19.Ba4 as according to her, "It wasn't easy to find a solution".

Alexandra Kosteniuk - Anna Muzychuk, Round 7

White just played 19.Ba4. Find out the best continuation for Black here.

According to Anna, 23.d6 made the position quite uncomfortable for Black

Kosteniuk was trying to complicate things with 28.Nd5, but it gave Black the winning opportunity. Can you find it?

Kosteniuk's risk went awry but missed the opportunity to capitalize | Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

Anna talks about the game and critical moments | Video: FIDE Chess

Kosteniuk talks about her opening preparation, what she played and more | Video: FIDE Chess

Goryachkina seemed the most vulnerable against Nana | Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

Goryachkina-Mariya ended up in a draw after a prolonged endgame. However, Mariya almost had a half chance which she could have taken.

Aleksandra Goryachkina - Mariya Muzychuk, Round 7

Mariya decided to give up the c4 pawn for the g2 White pawn when she played 34...Bc6. What else can Black do here?

With this draw, Goryachkina still maintains a 1.5 point lead over the competition | Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

Goryachkina talks about the game in a post-match interview (Russian audio) | Video: FIDE Chess

Post-match interview with Mariya Muzychuk (Russian audio) | Video: FIDE Chess

Kateryna Lagno got into slight trouble but she managed to salvage a draw in the longest game of the day | Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

Nana thought that she had a very good compensation when she sacrificed a pawn.

Kateryna Lagno - Nana Dzagnidze, Round 7

Nana thought Rc4, Ra4,Nc4,b5 would be the ideal position for Black, so she played 26...Rc4 here. Can you find what felt she should have played here instead of Rc4

Both Lagno and Nana wanted to win but it ended up in a hard fought draw | Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

Kateryna Lagno and Nana Dzagnidze talk about the game, the Candidates tournament and more | Video: FIDE Chess

Round 8 will start on Sunday 9th June 2019 at 3 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Here are the pairings:

Kateryna Lagno — Valentina Gunina

Aleksandra Goryachkina — Alexandra Kosteniuk

Tan Zhongyi — Nana Dzagnidze

Anna Muzychuk — Mariya Muzychuk

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.

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