Women's Candidates 2022-23 Pool A QF: Humpy makes a perfect start

by Shahid Ahmed - 26/10/2022

Koneru Humpy made a perfect start at FIDE Women's Candidates 2022-23. She won the first game of the Quarterfinals in just 24 moves against Anna Muzychuk. The India no.1 and World no.3 woman did not expect her opponent to opt for Queen's Gambit Accepted line. Soon she landed in trouble and Humpy seized her opportunity. Mariya Muzychuk also had a tough start. She lost to the Candidates debutant, Lei Tingjie in the first game. Both games were won with the white pieces. Three more games to go in the Pool A Quarterfinals. Game 2 starts at 3 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza

A tough start for the Muzychuk sisters

Koneru Humpy made a strong start | Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza

Humpy - Anna, Game 1

Position after 19...Kf8

19...Kf8 turned out to be the decisive mistake. Before that Black needed to retreat her bishop to e5, instead of 18...Bd6 which allowed 19.Nc4. It only left Black with inferior choices. 19...Ke8 is the only way to keep everything from falling apart immediately. 20.Rad1 ends the game. Find out the winning continuation for White after 20...Be7.

A Diwali Firecracker victory for Humpy, crushes Anna Muzychuk in 24 moves | Video: ChessBase India

Interview with Humpy Koneru after winning the first game of FIDE Women Candidates - Pool A | Video: FIDE

Humpy made a short work of Anna Muzychuk in 24 moves | Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza

Lei - Mariya, Game 1

Position after 19...Bf4

White got a comfortable position out of the opening. Black made an incorrect offer of a bishop exchange 19...Bf4 which shifted things significantly towards White. 20.Bxf4 gxf4 21.Qe4 and White went on to convert her extra pawn advantage into a win.

Interview with Lei Tingjie after winning the first game of the FIDE Women Candidates Pool A | Video: FIDE

Lei Tingjie (CHN) - Mariya Muzychuk (UKR): 1-0 | Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza

Former Women's World Champion and FIDE Treasurer GM Zhu Chen made the first move on Lei-Mariya's board | Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza

FIDE Deputy Chair and European Chess Union Deputy President, WGM Dana Reizniece-Ozola made the first move on Humpy-Anna's board | Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza

The match schedule for Pool A | Photo: Official site

Replay FIDE Women's Candidates 2022-23 Pool A Quarterfinals Game 1 live commentary by IM and WGM Almira Skripchenko and GM Igor-Alexandre Nataf | Video: FIDE

Links

Official site

Tournament Regulations

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