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TOP SEED EDGES CLOSER TO TITLE AT U.S. WOMEN’S CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP
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ST. LOUIS, Oct. 11, 2009 — Top-seeded Anna Zatonskih moved one step closer to winning the 2009 U.S. Women’s Chess Championship by defeating third-seeded Rusudan Goletiani, of Hartsdale, N.Y., in round seven. The nine-round tournament is being held at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis.
Zatonskih, of Long Island, N.Y., remains one point ahead of her nearest rival, Camilla Baginskaite of Sioux Falls, S.D., who kept pace by winning her game.
Zatonskih is trying to win the tournament by leading wire to wire. She has six wins and one draw and if she is able to win her final two games she will equal the lofty winning score of 8.5 out of 9, turned in by Irina Krush in 1998. Zatonskih has already beaten Krush, her closest rival, in round three. “I was expecting seven (wins) out of seven (games)!” Zatonskih joked after the game.
In today’s game, Zatonskih lined up her pieces against Goletiani’s king and broke though with a well-time piece sacrifice. Her position became so dominant that she had many paths to victory. “In the beginning, I was happy with a draw,” she said. “I have a very bad score with Goletiani.”
Prior to today’s game, Goletiani had never lost to Zatonskih. The two have played as teammates several times, representing the U.S. in various international team tournaments.
Baginskaite kept the margin at one point by using the Fianchetto Variation of the King’s Indian Defense to beat Battsetseg Tsagaan, of Ellicott City, Md. The opening is known to stifle the opponent and create a calm game, exactly the opposite of Tsagaan’s preferred style. Zatonskih also used the same opening to beat Tsagaan earlier in the tournament.
[view:float_left_thumb==1149] Baginskaite does not play competitively much any more but has hinted that a return to regular competition may be on the horizon. She has two rounds left to try to catch Zatonskih, but she will need some help from the rest of the field. Even if she finishes in second, she will earn a spot, along with Zatonskih, to the next Women’s World Chess Championship, to be held in Istanbul, Turkey.
“I’m not chasing Anna so much any more,” she said. “It is out of my hands. Realistically it will be difficult to catch her.”
Members of the live audience predicted Zatonskih has upwards of a 90 percent chance to win the tournament.
Second-seeded Krush, of Brooklyn, N.Y., won her second game in a row to rebound after a mediocre start to the tournament. In the longest game of the day, she plucked an extra bishop from Sabina Foisor, of Baltimore, Md., and converted the point.
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The win keeps Krush tied for third place with 18-year-old Alisa Melekhina, of Philadelphia, Pa., who surprised Yun Fan by moving a knight to the edge of the board on the sixth move. The obscure opening idea confused Fan, of Greencastle, Ind., and Melekhina won without having to make the kind of dramatic comeback that she has relied on so far in the tournament.
Tatev Abrahamyan, of Glendale, Calif., also defeated Iryna Zenyuk, of Pittsburgh, Pa. Both women had lost in round six.
Round seven was the second in a row to feature all decisive games. Draws are usually plentiful in top-level chess.
“Of all the round-robins I’ve seen, this has had the most fighting chess,” said grandmaster commentator Ben Finegold.
For complete standings, go to www.saintlouischessclub.org/US-Womens-Championship-2009/standings.
Round eight play starts Monday at noon Central time. Games can be followed live at http://www.saintlouischessclub.org/US-Womens-Championship-2009/Live-Cove… and the broadcast can be heard at www.chessclub.com/chessfm.
For a complete listing of all events surrounding the 2009 U.S. Women’s Chess Championship, go to www.saintlouischessclub.org/US-Womens-Championship-2009.
The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis is a not-for-profit, 501(c)3 organization that opened in July 2008. Founded by retired investment fund manager Rex Sinquefield, it has more than 500 members. The club offers free classes, discounted tournament entry fees and discounted merchandise for club members. For more information, please visit www.saintlouischessclub.org, or call 314-361-CHESS.
