23 January 2020
Aleksandra Goryachkina Levels Score at FIDE Women's World Championship Match
Tie-break to be played on January 24.
The ultimate 12th game of the FIDE Women's World Championship Match between Ju Wenjun (China) and Aleksandra Goryachkina (Russia) was played in Vladivostok on January 23.
First symbolic moves were made by Anton Voloshko, Vice-Governor of Primorsky Krai, and Nikita Anisimov, FEFU President.
Having the white pieces, the Russian player started the game with 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3, and that came as a surprise for the world champion, who spent almost 20 minutes on the second move. After 2...Nf6 3.Bf4, a double-edged position appeared, which had happened in the games of Baadur Jobava, Richard Rapport and other strong players.
Aleksandra Goryachkina got a certain edge and a time advantage but then she took several unprecise decisions, which allowed Ju Wenjun to consolidate the situation. However, White managed to grab the initiative again by breaking through in the centre. Being under pressure, the Chinese player made a mistake and lost a pawn.
After the time control was passed, the minor pieces were traded, but black pawn weaknesses remained. Aleksandra Goryachkina regrouped her forces and launched a decisive invasion on the kingside. Ju Wenjun resigned on the 60th move.
The score has equalized: 6-6.
A tie-break will be played on January 24.
A special technical meeting was held after the press conference. The drawing of colours was conducted. Firstly, Ju Wenjun picked a black piece so that Aleksandra Goryachkina got the right to choose the colour for rapid. The Russian also got a black queen and that means that Ju Wenjun will start the tie-break as White.
A match of four (4) games is played with a time control of 25 minutes + 10 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1. There is a drawing of lots to decide which player starts with white.
If the score is still level after the match, another match of two (2) games is played with a time control of 5 minutes + 3 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1. If the score is still level, another 2-game match is played with the same time control; this procedure may be repeated up to a total of five (5) 2-game matches. There is a drawing of lots to decide which player starts with white for each of the 2-game matches.
If the score is still level after five (5) matches (ten games), one (1) sudden death game is played. The player who wins the drawing of lots may choose the colour. The player with the white pieces receives five (5) minutes; the player with the black pieces receives four (4) minutes whereupon; after the 60th move, both players receive an increment of 2 seconds per move starting from move 61. In case of a draw the player with the black pieces is declared the winner.
Official website
Tournament page
Photos by Eteri Kublashvili
