Astana GP Round 8: Vaishali moves up, Lagno joins Goryachkina in the lead

by Shahid Ahmed - 27/09/2022

IM Vaishali R drew with Kazakhstan no.1 woman, GM Zhansaya Abdumalik in the eighth round of FIDE Astana GP 2022. She had some chances in the final moments of the endgame, however, she decided to draw. GM Aleksandra Goryachkina prevailed in the battle among the tournament leaders, against WGM Zhu Jiner (CHN). GM Kateryna Lagno defeated IM Elisabeth Paehtz (GER) to join the lead 6/8. IM Polina Shuvalova, WGM Dinara Wagner (GER) and GM Tan Zhongyi (CHN) are the remaining three victors of the round. Vaishali will face GM Alexandra Kosteniuk in round 9 which starts today at 2:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Five decisive games

The eighth round of FIDE Astana GP 2022 was certainly an exciting one. Five out of six games ended decisively, including the important clash between two-third of the tournament leaders.

IM Vaishali R keeps making steady progress | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Vaishali - Zhansaya: 0.5-0.5

IM Vaishali R (2449) had a good opportunity against GM Zhansaya Abdumalik (KAZ, 2503) in the final moments of the endgame.

Position after 38...Rxb3

38...Rxb3 created a much needed opportunity for White. It actually does not remove the guard and threaten Rxh3#. Instead, it does the opposite, relieves the pressure White had on the kingside. 39.Rxb3 Bxb3 40.Kg3 Rh1 41.Rxd6 Be6 42.Rd8 Rxh3+ 43.Kf4 Rh8 44.Ne8+ Kh7 45.Nf6+ and a draw was agreed as the black king cannot get out of the perpetual check. However, White could have continued further as Black has limited choices due to Rg8 checkmate threat looming large.

Vaishali could have pushed for her second win of the event | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Goryachkina - Jiner: 1-0

GM Aleksandra Goryachkina (2579) won the battle of the leaders against WGM Zhu Jiner (CHN, 2464), after the latter made a simple mistake in the endgame.

GM Aleksandra Goryachkina - WGM Zhu Jiner (CHN): 1-0 | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

GM Kateryna Lagno - IM Elisabeth Paehtz (GER): 1-0 | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Replay the live stream

Replay Live Commentary of Astana Women's GP Round 8 with GM Ilya Smirin and WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni | Video: FIDE

Replay all Round 8 games

Round 8 Results

Bo.	No.	Rtg		Name	Result		Name	Rtg	No.
1	12	2510	IM	Shuvalova Polina	1 - 0	GM	Kosteniuk Alexandra	2521	10
2	11	2449	IM	Vaishali R	½ - ½	GM	Abdumalik Zhansaya	2503	9
3	1	2579	GM	Goryachkina Aleksandra	1 - 0	WGM	Zhu Jiner	2464	8
4	2	2547	GM	Lagno Kateryna	1 - 0	IM	Paehtz Elisabeth	2477	7
5	3	2491	IM	Kashlinskaya Alina	0 - 1	WGM	Wagner Dinara	2358	6
6	4	2443	IM	Assaubayeva Bibisara	0 - 1	GM	Tan Zhongyi	2525	5

Round 9 pairings

Bo.	No.	Rtg		Name	Result		Name	Rtg	No.
1	5	2525	GM	Tan Zhongyi		IM	Shuvalova Polina	2510	12
2	6	2358	WGM	Wagner Dinara		IM	Assaubayeva Bibisara	2443	4
3	7	2477	IM	Paehtz Elisabeth		IM	Kashlinskaya Alina	2491	3
4	8	2464	WGM	Zhu Jiner		GM	Lagno Kateryna	2547	2
5	9	2503	GM	Abdumalik Zhansaya		GM	Goryachkina Aleksandra	2579	1
6	10	2521	GM	Kosteniuk Alexandra		IM	Vaishali R	2449	11