Day two of the 2009 U.S. Women’s Championship saw the two main favorites both win.
IM Anna Zatonskih won her second game in a row, this time a victory over WIM Battsetseg Tsagaan, who insisted on complicating the position when she had little time left on the clock.
IM Irina Krush sent a message to the rest of the competitors with a fighting win with the black pieces against one of her major rivals, IM Rusudan Goletiani.
Having being held to a draw with the white pieces in round one, Krush saw this game as a “must win” and succeeded in her quest to not fall a full point behind Zatonskih.
WGM Camilla Baginskaite moved into joint second place but was kicking herself after her game against WIM Alisa Melekhina as she felt she had a winning position towards the end but she, like Krush in the previous round, fell victim to Melekhina’s stubborn defense and a draw was agreed.
WIM Iryna Zenyuk got off the mark with a win against Yun Fan although check out the analysis for Fan’s not very obvious missed draw opportunity at the end of the game.
And last but not least, WGM Sabina Foisor and WFM Tatev Abrahamyan had a complicated affair that eventually fizzled out to a draw.
Photos By: Betsy Dynako
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