Vaishali clinches Tata Steel Chess India 2022 Women Blitz convincingly, Harika third
India no.3 IM Vaishali R started the final day with a 7/9 score. She finished it with 13.5/18 to become the first-ever Tata Steel Chess India 2022 Women Blitz champion. She showed resiliency in her pursuit for the top prize. Despite losing to GM Anna Muzychuk for the second time in this event in Round 13, she managed to keep her composure and continue her path towards glory. After winning a double Bronze (Team and Individual) at the 44th Chess Olympiad 2022, this is certainly a huge achievement for her. Earlier in May, she scored her second GM-norm. Apart from this victory opening many more opportunities for her, she is also on her way to become a GM. Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) secured second place 12/18, followed by Harika Dronavalli 11/18 at third. Harika became the sole woman to make a podium finish in both Rapid and Blitz events. Photo: Lennart Ootes
Resilience always pays off
"Thank you very much. Firstly thanks to our parents for their support. I think without them, it's just impossible. Thanks to my sponsors, RAMCO Cements. They have been a big support. Thanks to Ramesh sir. He has also been the biggest supporter in my and my brother's career. Thanks to Anand sir, we are both a part of Westbridge Anand Chess Academy. We have been learning a lot from Sir and all the trainers. An excellent support system is there." - IM Vaishali R on winning Tata Steel Chess India 2022 Women Blitz. She also added, "It was not easy at all. I was lucky in many of my games." Vaishali also got an opportunity to play in the 85th edition of Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2023 in the Challengers section.
"First of all, I would say, very big thanks to organizers, sponsors, for organizing this event, also chess fans, chess players who came to watch and support us in our match. As Tania mentioned, India is becoming a lucky country for me, it's a great country, beautiful hospitality, I like culture, everything. Thank you very much." - GM Anna Ushenina (UKR), winner of Tata Steel Chess India 2022 Women Rapid. "Well, of course it was very nervous and Nana is a very very great player. We played a lot. I was just lucky and everything went well." - Ushenina on her tie-break games against GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO).
"Thank you everyone. I think you just reminded me again why it's fantastic to play in Kolkata. My first chess event here was in 1986 also with Tata Steel. So many years later, I'm very happy that this beautiful new tradition which started four years back, has already become such a major event. It is a world-class event. I mean, you have the absolute best players in the world playing here and this year we have doubled because we have one of the best women's tournaments in the world as well. I think best sporting city in India, amazing audience and it is becoming a very very nice tradition. So, Congrats to Gameplan and Tata Steel for putting together this big event and wonderful innovation with the women as well, equal prize fund. I think that really deserves to be commended. I'm just very very happy. Thank you all and thank you to all the other sponsors who made this event possible." - Vishy Anand, The Ambassador of Tata Steel Chess India 2022 Rapid and Blitz.
"Yes very much, it's become India's marquee event. It's something to look forward to and you get five days of such excitement. Even watching it is bad for the heart (laughter). It's dramatic till the end. You can see the results could have changed anytime in the last three rounds. I think when you think of a tournament, that's what you want to see happen. Calcutta is a sporting city, it's the city where the fans will not only know your results but they may even have a few hints about the moves. You come here and they not only know the results, they know extra details about everything. They read the magazines, you know people really live sport here. It's a fantastic event and it's growing beautifully. We keep trying with this India versus the World, this versus that and so on but now you can say it's just the best players in the world and I think we can say that." - Vishy Anand on how Tata Steel Chess India is growing over the years.
"I think we have the raw material, the potential. World Championship is a long road. Watching their chess is just amazing for me. I learn a lot as well. I think they have got what it takes, so we have to make it happen." - Anand on the continuous talk about India having a potential world champion and whether they are on right track for it. "You are right, this is the year of women in chess. It's a remarkable milestone that we now have, a Woman's tournament parallel to the Open event. They had the same prize money. By the way, they are looking amazing in saree especially our guests as well. I think it's a fantastic step. We should have many more like this." - Anand being the FIDE Deputy President and Women tournament having an equal prize fund during FIDE's Year of Women in Chess.
Round 10: Vaishali draws, Mariya wins
IM Vaishali R (2361) drew her tenth round game against GM Harika Dronavalli (2407). GM Mariya Muzychuk (UKR, 2427) defeated IM Bhakti Kulkarni (2209) which means Mariya moved to 9/10, increasing her lead by 1.5 points over Vaishali 7.5/10.
Round 11: Vaishali reduces the gap
As the number of rounds left were dwindling, Vaishali knew that she has to reduce the gap with her and then tournament leader, Mariya. The Muzychuk sisters had drawn their game. It was a now or never time for her. The game liquidated into a balanced Rook and Bishop vs Rook and Knight endgame against GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO, 2416).
Vaishali - Nana
69...Nf4 would have been the only way to make an attempt to stop the passed c5-pawn. 69...Rb4 enabled the c-pawn to rush towards the c8-promotion square without any resistance 70.Rb7+ Kd8 71.c6 Nf4 72.Rd7+ Ke8 73.c7 Rxb5 74.c8Q#. Vaishali defeated Nana for the second time in Blitz and moved to 8.5/11, Mariya 9.5/11.
Round 12: Humpy assists, Vaishali levels the score
GM Koneru Humpy (2474) scored a game changer win over GM Mariya Muzychuk (UKR, 2427) who was undefeated until that round. Black had to resign after 22 moves as she was going to lose heavy material.
Vaishali defeated IM Bhakti Kulkarni (2209) to become coleader with Mariya 9.5/12.
Round 13: Vaishali suffers setback, Mariya in the sole lead again
Vaishali suffered a loss against GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR, 2460) for the second time in this event, while GM Mariya Muzychuk defeated WIM Savitha Shri B. Thus, Mariya regained her sole lead 10.5/13.
Round 14: The Direct Encounter
The direct encounter between Mariya and Vaishali ended in a draw. Thus, Mariya maintained her sole lead 11/13, while Vaishali remained in pursuit 10/13. Vaishali was 1.5 points ahead of the field. It became clear that the championship race is between Vaishali and Mariya and the remaining are fighting for the third place and rest.
Round 15: Mariya's blindspot allows Vaishali to catch up
Mariya had a momentary blindspot which cost her a rook and the game against IM Oliwia Kiolbasa (POL, 2279). Vaishali persevered a tough position against WIM Savitha Shri B and eventually managed to win a relatively equal rook endgame.
Round 16: Vaishali beat Humpy, continued her lead with Mariya
Mariya beat her Olympiad Gold medalist teammate, GM Anna Ushenina (UKR, 2395) and Vaishali beat her Olympiad Bronze medal winning teammate, GM Koneru Humpy (2474).
Humpy - Vaishali
Vaishali seized her opportunity 28...f5, taking advantage of the pin. She won the game in the next five moves. Both Vaishali and Mariya moved to 12/16.
Round 17: Harika beats Mariya, Vaishali gains a full point lead
Mariya lost her third game of the day against Harika Dronavalli. Vaishali defeated Oliwia to gain a full point lead 13/17 heading into the final round.
Round 18: Vaishali draws with Ushenina and wins the tournament
Vaishali needed a draw in the final round against the Tata Steel Chess India 2022 Women Rapid winner, GM Anna Ushenina. She managed to achieve that and win the tournament 1.5 points ahead of the field.
Photo Gallery
Replay Round 10-18 games
Round 18 results
| Bo. | No. | Rtg | Name | Result | Name | Rtg | No. | |||||
| 1 | 10 | 2474 | GM | Koneru Humpy | 1 - 0 | IM | Kiolbasa Oliwia | 2279 | 5 | |||
| 2 | 4 | 2361 | IM | Vaishali Rameshbabu | ½ - ½ | GM | Ushenina Anna | 2395 | 6 | |||
| 3 | 3 | 2311 | WIM | Savitha Shri B | 0 - 1 | GM | Harika Dronavalli | 2407 | 7 | |||
| 4 | 2 | 2427 | GM | Muzychuk Mariya | 0 - 1 | GM | Dzagnidze Nana | 2416 | 8 | |||
| 5 | 1 | 2460 | GM | Muzychuk Anna | 1 - 0 | IM | Kulkarni Bhakti | 2209 | 9 |
Final standings after Round 18
| Rk. | SNo | Name | Rtg | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | TB4 | ||
| 1 | 4 | IM | Vaishali Rameshbabu | 2361 | 13,5 | 0 | 104,75 | 11 | 6 | |
| 2 | 2 | GM | Muzychuk Mariya | 2427 | 12 | 0 | 97,00 | 10 | 4 | |
| 3 | 7 | GM | Harika Dronavalli | 2407 | 11 | 0 | 93,25 | 8 | 5 | |
| 4 | 1 | GM | Muzychuk Anna | 2460 | 10,5 | 0 | 93,75 | 8 | 3 | |
| 5 | 10 | GM | Koneru Humpy | 2474 | 9,5 | 0 | 75,75 | 7 | 4 | |
| 6 | 6 | GM | Ushenina Anna | 2395 | 8,5 | 2 | 66,75 | 4 | 2 | |
| 7 | 8 | GM | Dzagnidze Nana | 2416 | 8,5 | 0 | 71,75 | 6 | 2 | |
| 8 | 3 | WIM | Savitha Shri B | 2311 | 6,5 | 0 | 46,75 | 6 | 3 | |
| 9 | 5 | IM | Kiolbasa Oliwia | 2279 | 6 | 0 | 44,75 | 5 | 2 | |
| 10 | 9 | IM | Kulkarni Bhakti | 2209 | 4 | 0 | 39,00 | 2 | 1 |
