Stefanova won the first game.
Kovalevskaya - Stefanova [C78]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.a4 One of the modern variation of the Spanish game. As it is not advisable to move the piece to b4 at once, black can choose between 7...Bb7 played in the game and 7...Rb8. 7...Bb7 [7...Rb8 8.c3 d6 9.d4 Bb6 with sharp game.] 8.d3 White temporarily refuse to open the game in the center, as in this case [8.Re1 d6 9.c3 h6 10.d4 Bb6] black has enough for counter play - their bishops are pressing the center. 8...d6 9.Nc3 b4 10.Ne2 0-0 11.Ng3 The white-square bishop of black does not take part in the game on the queen’s flank and white make use of the situation by moving the pieces closer to the opponent’s king. 11...h6. Black prevents threatening to the Knight f6 by Bg5. The drawback of this move is the weakening of the castling.
12.Nf5?! Too straightforward. Before starting attacking the king it was necessary to finish the development. It looked good [12.Be3] 12...Bc8! this move activated the bishop on the king’s flank. Now in order to keep the knight on f5, white played 13.N3h4 that weakened the control on square d4 and allowed black play 13...Nd4 14.Nxd4 Bxd4 15.Qf3
15...Bg4! The best move. In case [15...Be6?! 16.Nf5! Bxb3 17.cxb3 (hazardous 17.Bxh6? It was denied 17...Be6!? 18.Nxg7 Bg4 ( 18...Ng4! would also do 19.Nxe6 Qh4 20.h3 Nxh6 21.Nxf8 Rxf8 and despite of the material equality, white could not defend itself from the attack on the king’s flank.) 19.Qg3 Kh7 20.Qh4 Rh8) 17...Kh7 18.Qh3! Threatening at h6. 18...Ng8 19.g4 with the strong initiative on the king’s flank.] 16.Qg3 Kh7
17.Be3? Inappropriate hazard. It should be [17.Nf3 with the equal game.] 17...Bxb2 18.Rab1
18...Bc3! Exactly! Looks like white were counting on [18...Bd4?! 19.Bxd4 exd4 20.f4 Bd7 (In case 20...Be6? 21.Bxe6 fxe6 22.Rxb4 white has a considerable advantage, as on 22...c5? wins 23.Rb7) 21.e5 Nh5 22.Qe1 with the initiative for the victimized piece.]
19.f3 [Maybe it was worth risking having played 19.f4!? exf4 20.Rxf4!? Be5 21.Rbf1 Of course black has a big material advantage, but all pieces of white are attacking the king’s flank. Thus the careless 21...g5? will be followed by 22.Rxf6 Bxg3 23.Rxf7+ Rxf7 24.Rxf7+ Kg8 25.Rd7+ (25.Rxc7+? d5) 25...Kf8 26.Ng6+ Ke8 27.Rxd8+ Rxd8 28.hxg3 with the decisive advantage of white.; Immediately lose 19.h3? in view of 19...Be2! threatening Nh5.] 19...Bd7 [Worse 19...Be6?! in view of 20.Bxe6 fxe6 21.Qg6+ Kh8 22.Bxh6 gxh6 (22...Qd7!?) 23.Qxh6+ Nh7 24.Ng6+ Kg8 25.Nxf8] 20.Qf2 a5 Black takes calmly the pawn à4, counting on the stability of its position.
21.g4 Qe8 22.Nf5 Bxa4 23.g5 [Even the following would not bring success 23.Qh4 Ng8 24.g5 Bxb3 25.cxb3 f6 26.gxh6 g6 with the winning position.] 23...Nh5 24.Qh4 g6 25.Nxh6 [Maybe there would be more chances to survive 25.Ng3 though after 25...hxg5 26.Bxg5 f6 27.Bxf6 Bxb3 28.cxb3 Qf7 black kept the advantageous position.]
25...Bxb3 26.Ng4 Qe6 27.Nf6+ Kg7 28.Nxh5+ gxh5 29.cxb3 a4 30.bxa4 Rxa4 31.Kh1 Ra2 32.Rg1 Re2 Black has a decisive advantage. White have nothing to oppose to the doubling of black rooks on 2d line. 33.Bf2 Ra8 34.f4 exf4 35.Qxf4 Raa2 36.Rg2
36...Kg6! The most accurate. To be on the safe site black move the king on white square in order not to be attacked by white bishop at the variants as [36...Ra1? 37.Rxa1 Bxa1 38.Bd4+ Bxd4 39.Rxe2] 37.Qf3 Rac2 38.Rf1 b3
39.e5!? The last attempt to confuse the opponent before the control. 39...Bxe5! Exactly. [In case of 39...Qxe5?? white could even win continuing 40.Be3!!; Unnecessary complications could be created by 39...dxe5?! 40.Qa8 and now careless 40...Kg7? would have led to a draw in view of 41.Bc5! Kh7 42.Rxf7+! Qxf7 43.g6+ Qxg6 44.Rxg6. Black would have had a winning position continuing on the 40th move 40...Kh7! 41.Qf8! Bb4! 42.Qb4 b2]
40.d4 Bg7 41.Bg1!? Hoping for the miracle 41...Rxg2! Not being afraid of ghosts 42.Qd3+ Kxg5 43.Be3+ [Even the following could not help 43.d5 in view of 43...Qg4 44.h3 Rh2+ 45.Bxh2 Qg2#] 43...Kh4 44.Rf4+ [after 44.Bf4 the most simple 44...Qd5] 44...Rg4 45.d5 Rc1+!? Of course, 45...Qe5 would easily win, but having noticed the possibility of fast approach of endgame with three spare pawns, black decided not to count on other variants. 46.Bxc1 Qe1+ 47.Rf1 Qe4+ 48.Qxe4 Rxe4 49.Kg2 b2 50.Bf4 Rb4 51.Bg3+ Kg5 52.h4+ Kg6 53.Rb1 Ra4. 0-1
Stefanova - Kovalevskaya. Game 2. Annotation by GM Yuri Yakovich.
In order to understand why two brilliant chess players made many mistakes not typical for their level during the game described below, we should remember that they passed through five very hard rounds. In fact the question was who would be the last to make a mistake. It turned to be Kovalevskaya.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c6 4.Qc2 Nf6 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.Qxc4 b5 7.Qc2 Bb7 8.e3 Nbd7 9.Nbd2 Qb6. The popular variant of the Queen’s gambit was played. The plans of the sides are definitely clear – black strives for ñ6-ñ5, it is natural that all the attempts of white are directed to prevent this releasing movement. Now black has everything ready for ñ6-ñ5 – therefore 10.a4 a6 11.Qb3 (again white block the move ñ5, and black just finish the development) 11...Be7 12.Be2 0-0 13.0-0 Rfc8.
14.Ne5! Very competent decision! White strive to exchange those black pieces that may help to move the pawn on ñ5. Their main task is not to allow bishop b7 enter the game. 14...Qd8 (enforced; 14...Nxe5 leads to the clear advantage of white? 15.dxe5 Nd5 16.Bxe7 Nxe7 17.Nc4!) 15.Nxd7 Nxd7 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.Rfc1.
17...e5?! It seems to be not the best decision. 17...Rab8!? 18.Bf3 c5 was worth paying attention to (18...bxa4?! 19.Qxa4 c5 20.Bxb7 Rxb7 21.Qxa6) 19.Bxb7 Rxb7 20.axb5 axb5 (the following would be worse 20...Rxb5 in view of 21.Qa3 a5 – 21...Qd8 22.Qxa6 Rxb2 23.Nc4; 21...Qf8 22.Qxa6 Rxb2 23.Ne4 – 22.Nb3) 21.Ra5 Rcb8 and black keep the position.
18.d5?! An Emotional decision. It is natural 18.Bf3! underlines the advantage of white, for example: 18...Nf6 (18...exd4 19.exd4) 19.Rc5!? (19.dxe5 Qxe5 20.Qc3) 19...exd4 20.exd4 Rd8 21.Re5! Qd7 22.Rae1 Qxd4? 23.Re7. 18...cxd5 19.axb5.
19...a5!? It seems both opponents did not see that after 19...Rxc1+!? 20.Rxc1 axb5 21.Rc7 black has the answer equalizing the game 21...Qd8! 22.Rxb7 Nc5 23.Qxb5 Nxb7 24.Qxb7 Rb8. 20.Rxc8+ Rxc8 21.Rxa5.
21...Qc5?! (more active would be 21...Rc1+!? 22.Bf1 Qc5 with the compensation for the sacrificed pawn) 22.Nf1 (22.Ra1!? Qc2 23.Qb4) 22...g6?! To my mind black should have activated its strength having played 22...d4!?
23.Ra1 Qc2 24.Bd1 Qc5 25.Qa3 Qb6 (unfortunately the following could not work 25...Qxb5? 26.Ba4 è 26…Qe2 hoping on 27.Bxd7? Rc2 28.Kh1 Qxf2 29.Bh3 d4 30.e4 Bxe4 31.Qg3 Rxb2, íî 27.Qd7! Nc5 28.Be8 denied black’s plan) 26.Qe7 Rc7 27.h3 (the following should be paid attention to 27.Qd8+!?, tying the black pieces) 27...Kg7 28.Bg4 Qf6 29.Qxf6+ Kxf6 30.Bxd7! Rxd7 31.Rc1! White cramped black at maximum, but still there are chances for a counter play.
31...Ke6 (complicated position of black in case of 31...d4 32.exd4 exd4 33.Nd2) 32.Nd2 Kd6 33.f4! f6. Black does not have time enough to activate, continuing 33...exf4 34.exf4 Re7 as white would reply 35.Nb3 Re2? 36.Na5. 34.fxe5+ fxe5.
35.Kf2?! Too slow. The following would be worth attention to 35.Nf3!? with idea 36. b6 è 37.Rñ7, but to my mind black has just enough time to rescue, continuing 35...Rd8! 36.Ng5 (36.b4 Ra8; 36.b6 Rb8 37.Rc7 Bc8) 36...Rb8 37.Nxh7 d4 38.exd4 exd4. Also intersting 35.Nb3!? with idea on 35...Rc7 to play 36.Rxc7 Kxc7 37.Nc5.
35...Rf7+? (The loss of temp could equalize 35...Rd8! 36.b6 Rb8) 36.Ke2 Rf8 37.Rf1! Rb8 (during the zeitnote it is difficult to decide if it is enough for the draw 37...Rxf1 38.Kxf1 d4 39.b4) 38.Rf7. More problem made 38.Rf6+ Kc5 (38...Ke7 39.Rb6!) 39.Nf3 but it seems black rescued here as well, continuing 39...d4! 40.Nxe5 (40.exd4+ exd4 41.b6 Be4) 40...Re8! 41.b4+ Kxb5 42.exd4 Bxg2.
38...Bc8! 39.Rxh7 (39.Rf8?? Bg4+) 39...Rxb5 40.b3 Ba6 (it could be possible 40...Ra5 41.Rh6 Ba6+ 42.Kf3 Ra2 – 42...Bd3 43.e4 dxe4+ 44.Nxe4+ Kd5, with equality – 43.Rxg6+ Kc5 44.Nb1 Be2+ 45.Kg3 Bf1=) 41.Kf2 (41.Rh6 Ra5+ 42.Kf3 Ra2 43.Rxg6+ Kc5) 41...Rc5 (bad 41...Ra5? ââèäó 42.Ra7) 42.Ra7. The following led to equality 42.Rh6 Bd3 43.e4 Rc2!? (43...Bxe4 44.Nxe4+ dxe4 45.Rxg6+ Kd5 46.Rg8 Rc2+) 44.Rxg6+ Kc5 45.Ke3 Bb5 46.exd5 Rc3+ 47.Kf2 Rc2=. 42...Bd3 43.Ra2 Rc8 44.Nf3 Rb8 (good looking 44...Rf8!? 45.Ke1 – 45.Kg3 Rb8 – 45...e4! 46.Nd2 d4!? 47.Ra4 dxe3 48.Nc4+ Bxc4 49.Rxc4 Kd5 with a draw) 45.Rb2 Rb4 46.Ke1.
46...Ke6?? Terrible move which can be explained only by tiredness. Having lost the tempo the king is moved to a bad position. The following actively suggested itself 46...d4!? (Katia saw this continuation) 47.exd4 (47.Kd2 Be4) 47...e4!? (47...exd4!? 48.Rd2 Rxb3 49.Nxd4 Rb1+ 50.Kf2 Be4 51.Nf3+ Ke6) 48.Ne5 (48.Kd2 exf3 49.Kxd3 fxg2 50.Rxg2 Rxb3+=) 48...Kd5 49.Nxg6 (49.Kd2 Rxd4) 49...Kxd4 50.Nf4 Rb8 51.b4 (51.g4 Ra8) 51...Ra8 52.Rd2 Ke3 53.Nd5+ Kd4=. Meanwhile after 46...Be4 47.Ng5 black has difficulties – 47.Kd2? d4!
47.Kd2 Ba6. most probably even the following would not save 47...Be4 48.Ng5+ (48.Kc3 Rb7 49.b4 Bxf3 50.gxf3 Rf7 51.b5 Kd7) 48...Kf5 49.h4! Rb8 (49...Bxg2? 50.Kc3 Rg4 51.Rf2+; 49...d4? 50.g4+) 50.Nxe4 Kxe4 51.b4 Rb5 52.g4 d4 53.h5 (53.exd4 exd4) 53...gxh5 54.gxh5 dxe3+ 55.Ke2 Kf5 (55...Rb6 56.b5 Rh6 57.Rb4+) 56.Kxe3 Kg5 57.Kd3 Kxh5 58.Kc4 Rb8 59.Kd5 Re8 60.Re2 (60.b5 e4 61.b6 e3 62.b7 Kg4 63.b8Q Rxb8 64.Rxb8 e2) 60...Rb8 61.Rxe5+ Kg6 62.Re4.
48.Kc3 Rb8 49.b4? (why? – after 49.Ra2! there is no way out) 49...Rc8+ 50.Kd2 Bb5 51.Ne1 Rf8 (why not 51...d4!? 52.e4 – 52.exd4 exd4 – 52...Rc3=) 52.Nd3 g5 (52...e4? 53.Nf4+) 53.Ra2 e4 54.Nc5+.
54...Kd6? There were still chances 54...Ke5 55.Kc3 Rf1 56.Ra5 Bc4, though even here 57.Ra8!? (the following would lead to a draw 57.Nd7+ Ke6 58.Nb6 Rd1! 59.Nxc4 Rd3+ 60.Kc2 dxc4 61.Rxg5 Rxe3 62.h4 Rb3 63.h5 – 63.b5 e3 – 63...Rxb4 – 63...e3 64.h6 e2 65.Kd2 Rb2+ 66.Ke1 – 64.Kc3 e3 65.Rg3? Rb3+ 66.Kxc4 e2) 57...Rc1+ 58.Kd2 Rb1 59.Rg8! with the idea to 59...Rb2+ to play 60.Kc3 Rxg2 61.h4 g4 62.Rg5+ Kd6 63.Nxe4+ dxe4 64.Kxc4 with the decisive advantage of white.
55.Kc3 Rf1 56.Ra5 Be2? (now 56...Bc4 loses immediately in view of 57.Nxe4+; the last chance was 56...Bc6! 57.Nb3 Re1 58.Kd2 Rg1 59.g4 Rg2+) 57.Ra7 Rg1 58.g4 Bb5 59.Rg7 Rc1+ 60.Kd2 Rh1 61.Rg6+ Kc7 62.Rxg5 Rxh3 63.Rxd5 Bc6 64.Ne6+ Kb7 (64...Kb6 65.Rd6) 65.Nd8+ Kc7 66.Nxc6 Kxc6 67.Re5. White won.
Stefanova Antoaneta of Bulgaria is Women`s World Chess Champion 2004. She is the 10th Women’s World Chess Champion.
Stefanova Antoaneta of Bulgaria, having two wins after 2 games of the Final Match, made a draw in the 3rd Game and became the Women`s World Chess Champion 2004.
FINAL. GAME 3. KOVALEVSKAYA - STEFANOVA [C47].
Annotation by GM Yuri Yakovich.
How to play after the two hardest defeats, when a victory is the only way to success? How to use white? To try to catch the opponent in the opening or force an unpleasant way of playing to the rival? Kovalevskaya has chosen the second strategy – taking into account that her opponents was eager to finished the match as soon as possible. Ekaterina played an opening of 4 knights, in hope to win Stefanova in a long game.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.g3 Bc5 5.Bg2 d6 6.d3 a6 (black prefer to save its bishop from exchange; to 6...0-0 would follow this 7.Na4) 7.0-0 0-0. It would be better not to hurry with castling, having played 7...Be6 8.Be3 Bxe3 9.fxe3 Ne7 10.Nh4 c6 11.Nf5 Bxf5 12.exf5 Qb6 13.Qd2 d5 with an equal game, Glek - Sokolov (Meinz 2003).
8.h3 h6 (black wants to lead d6-d5, and prepare the encampment for the shite squared bishop in advance on å6) 9.Kh2 Be6 10.Be3 Bxe3 11.fxe3 d5 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Qe1. Both sides can be satisfied with the results of the opening – on the one hand, black totally equaled the game, on the other hand – white feels good with the new position: there is a long maneuvering game ahead.
13...Rb8 (it is not east to understand the sense of this move, but in this situation it does not spoil anything) 14.a3 Nxc3 15.Qxc3 Qd6 16.Rf2.
16...f5?! This is a carelessness. Black weaken its pawns’ structure, which is immediately used by white. The following would be more simple 16...f6. 17.Nd2! Ne7.
18.Raf1!? Of course, having played 18.Nc4 there could be an exchange 18...Bxc4 19.Qxc4+, but in this case the advantage of white would be just symbolic. Having played 18.Raf1, white are ready to move the pawn «å» at the next move, taking into consideration that on 19.e4 it is impossible to reply with 19...f4, in view of 20.gf4 ef4 21.e5.
18...c6?! To 18...Bd5 white of course would play 19.e4. The following should have been taken into account 18...Nd5!? with the approximate variant 19.Bxd5 Qxd5 20.e4 (20.Qxc7 Rfc8) 20...fxe4 21.Nxe4 with the minimum advantage of white.
19.e4 Qd4 20.Qxd4 exd4 21.exf5 Nxf5! (other captures would not do: 21...Bxf5? 22.Nb3 Rbd8 23.g4; 21...Rxf5? 22.Nf3 c5 23.Re2 Rf6 24.Rfe1 Kf7 25.Nd2) 22.Be4 g6 (22...Ne3? 23.Bh7+-).
23.Bxf5? A disputable moment. The transfer to an endspiel with light pieces would definitely give a chance for victory 23.g4!? Ne3 (23...Ne7? 24.Rxf8+ Rxf8 25.Rxf8+ Kxf8 26.Nf3) 24.Rxf8+ Rxf8 25.Rxf8+ Kxf8 26.Bxg6 Nxc2 27.Kg3 Kg7 28.Be4 Kf6 29.Kf4 with the following movement of pawns of the king’s flank and break of the king to å5.
23...Rxf5 (23...Bxf5? 24.Nb3) 24.Rxf5 Bxf5? (mistake; it should be 24...gxf5 and it is very difficult, if possible, to use somehow weak pawns) 25.Nb3 Rd8 (bad 26.Nxc5? èç-çà 26…Rc8; 25...c5 26.g4!) 26.Rf4 c5. The following does not save 26...Re8 in view of 27.Nxd4 c5 28.Nxf5 Re2+ 29.Kg1 gxf5 30.Rf2.
27.g4. 27...c4! (better chance!) 28.dxc4. Worse 28.Nxd4 in view of 28...Bxd3! (28...cxd3 29.Nxf5 dxc2 – 29...d2 30.Ne3 Re8 31.Nd1 Re1 32.Nc3 – 30.Ne7+ Kg7 31.Rc4) 29.Ne6 Re8 30.cxd3 Rxe6.
28...Bxc2 29.Rxd4! (practically impossible to realize a spare pawn in case of 29.Nxd4?! g5 30.Rf2 Rxd4 31.Rxc2 Rd3) 29...Rc8! Very bad 29...Re8? ââèäó 30.Nc5.
30.Nd2 Re8 31.Kg2.31...Ba4! (better resource, black move the bishop to the square ñ6 in hope of the technical mistakes of white) 32.Kf2 Bc6 33.h4?! I do not like this move. Now white have too many unprotected pawns. The following looked good 33.Rd3 with the following Nb3-d4.
33...Kg7 34.Rf4 g5 35.hxg5 hxg5 36.Rf5. It seems white were approaching this position having played 33.h4.
36...Kh6! Wonderful defense! In fact, the following immediately looses 36...Kg6? in view of 37.Nf3 Bxf3 38.Kxf3 with the easy-winning rook ending. The following should be paid attention to 36...Bd7!? 37.Rd5 (37.Rc5? Kf6; 37.Rxg5+ Kf6 38.Nf3 Re4) 37...Bc8 38.Kf3 (38.Rxg5+ allowed black to exchange one more pawn, which would definitely increased the chances for a draw: 38...Kf6 39.Nf3 Re4 40.Kg3 Rxc4 41.Rg8) 38...Kh6 though even here they have to fight hard for the draw.
If the future World Champion having played in zeitnot 36...Kh6, could foresee the consequences of the move 37.Nf3!?, we only admire her ability to choose a continuation in a critical moment, which created maximum problems to her opponent 37...Re4! 38.Ne5 Ba4! (38...Be8 39.Kf3) 39.Rf6+ Kh7 (39...Kg7 40.Rg6+) 40.Rf7+ Kg8 (40...Kh6 41.Re7) 41.Rf5 Kg7! 42.Kf3 (42.c5 Bd1! – 42...Bc2 43.Rxg5+ Kf6 44.Nf3 Rc4 45.Kg3 – 43.Rxg5+ – 43.b4 Re2+ 44.Kg3 Re3+ – 43...Kf6 44.Nf3 Re2+) 42...Bc2! 43.Rxg5+ (43.Rf7+ Kg8 44.Re7 Re1 45.c5 – 45.Kf2 Re4; 45.Nc6 Bd1+ 46.Kf2 Rxe7 47.Nxe7+ Kf7 48.Nf5 Ke6 – 45...Bd1+) 43...Kf6 44.Rf5+ Ke6 45.Ng6 Rxc4 46.Nf4+ Ke7 and black save chances for a draw. The following also should be paid attention to 37.b4!? Bd7 38.Rf6+ Kg7 39.Rb6 Bc8.
37.Rf6+?! Kg7 (37...Kg7) 38.Rd6? It is very hard to find the worse move for a rook. It seems that load of responsibility and tiredness was beginning to tell. It is not late to repeat the position by 38.Rf5.
38...Rh8! (now black have a strong counter play) 39.Nf1? (it was worth trying 39.Kg3 Re8 40.Rd3) 39...Rh3 40.Nd2 Rh2+ 41.Ke3 Rg2 42.Rd4 Kf6! (all black figures are active, a draw becomes obvious) 43.c5 Rg3+ 44.Ke2 Ke5 45.Rb4 Rg2+ 46.Kd3 Bb5+ 47.Kc2 Kd5 48.b3 Kxc5 49.Kc1 Rg1+ 50.Kb2 Rg2 51.Kc1 Rg1+. A draw.
