Saga Of Zatonskih vs. Krush, Kosteniuk Wins 2nd: 'I have 6 out of 9!'

The last round of the Cairns Cup 2023 featured an epic matchup between IM Anna Zatonskih and her longtime U.S. Women's Championship rival GM Irina Krush. Further cementing her tournament victory, Zatonskih held off Krush's pressure in the endgame, finishing undefeated and a full point ahead of the field. 

In the Game of the Day, GM Alexandra Kosteniuk defeated GM Elisabeth Paehtz in a lively duel to finish in clear second. Krush and GM Bella Khotenashvili tied for third. 

Zatonskih's tournament victory is like a Cinderella story, starting the event as the lowest rating and achieving an incredible undefeated plus-four performance to become the first-ever American to win the Cairns Cup. 

Though Zatonskih had already sealed first entering the last round, four competitors were contenders for the $35,000 second prize: Krush, Khotenashvili, Kosteniuk, and Paehtz. 

Dzagnidze vs. Mammadzada

Despite being out of contention for the top prizes, GM Nana Dzagnidze and IM Gunay Mammadzada created a fight of a game. The top Azerbaijani woman led the way with …Ba3! on move nine, shaking her opponent out of the standard opening fare into a position where she could set the tone. 

Mammadzada took over the dark squares while Dzagnidze brought both her rooks to press on the half-open f-file and then struck on the kingside with 23.g4!? Both sides focused their forces on this side of the board when the 22-year-old international master missed a way to jumpstart her attacking chances. Can you find what she overlooked?

Mammadzada built up her attack more gradually instead when Dzagnidze counterattacked in the center. The younger competitor eliminated the last of White's kingside pawn cover and chased the opposing king out of what was left of its shelter. Yet, the Georgian grandmaster fought on, and when Mammadzada blundered amid the complexities, Dzagnidze capitalized, winning a piece and rushing her king over to a haven on the queenside.

Paehtz vs. Kosteniuk

Kosteniuk turned up the volume against the Ruy Lopez with 24...d5!? Her pieces soon sprung to life, wrestling control of the center from White's grip. As the struggle intensified, the 12th world champion gained a significant time edge on her opponent: 33 minutes vs. five. Two moves before reaching the time control, Paehtz blundered with 39.Ne3?, and Kosteniuk's pieces soon hunted down their enemy counterparts. Can you find how Black can finish the game?

This energetic clash is our Game of the Day with annotations by GM Rafael Leitao.

After the game, Kosteniuk candidly shared her feelings about her performance:

“Well, I have six out of nine. I’m sorry, but I have six out of nine! I know that I could’ve gotten more, but that’s it. If there is someone who has six out of nine, we're going to talk."

"But ok, of course, I’m very happy to finish on a win and to finish so well because this tournament, as I mentioned, it’s the second in a row. Also, the fatigue, the cold, the disappointment of this stolen point―despite all these events going on in the background―I managed to play well and to finish well, so of course I cannot complain.”

The fatigue, the cold, also the disappointment of this stolen point―despite all these events going on in the background―I managed to play well.

-Alexandra Kosteniuk

Krush vs. Zatonskih

It's fitting that the Cairns Cup would finish with a clash between Zatonskih and Krush: the greatest rivalry of American women's chess. These two competitors have faced each other as rivals and allied as U.S. teammates for two decades. Monday was as much of a battle as ever. The players were the last game to finish, fighting for 130 moves and nearly 6.5 hours. 

GM Yasser Seirawan shared his thoughts on Zatonskih's mindset entering the game with the tournament already won: “I think, first of all, there’s a great sense of relief. She’s accomplished her mission. But the second thing is, she’s a competitor.… You get to the board and that competitive spirit, it wells up.”

Krush, on the other hand, was in the midst of a tense fight for second, tied with Kosteniuk and Khotenashvili along with Paehtz on their tails just a half point behind. 

Zatonskih and Krush's lifetime score is 12-9 in the grandmaster's favor with 10 draws. Krush gained an extra pawn early in the game, but Zatonskih held the balance as pieces were steadily traded away.

Even with just two pawns each in a rook and opposite-color bishop ending, Krush continued to press, trying to create a mating net with her more active king. She again won a pawn, yet Zatonskih set up a fortress to hold back White's extra passer and king. Krush didn't seem to have any way to make progress and the game appeared to be winding down to a draw.

On move 62, the players fell into mutual time trouble, and the steady, even game shifted into a tornado of winning and drawing chances flying by as the American rivals skirmished and blitzed for another 60 moves.

Here is one of Krush's last opportunities to claim the full point. How would you try to win this challenging endgame?

Khotenashvili vs. Harika

Of the 27 previous games between them, Khotenashvili has never won while GM Harika Dronavalli has 11 victories. The score being overwhelmingly in favor of the Indian grandmaster may be why Khotenashvili chose to aim for a draw with the white pieces. She opted for the same line in the Catalan that she used to draw vs. GM Kateryna Lagno at the Nicosia FIDE Women's Grand Prix last month. 

Results - Round 9

Standings

All Games - Round 9

The Cairns Cup 2023 took place June 3-13, 2023, at the Saint Louis Chess Club. The format was a 10-player round-robin. Fans enjoyed a chess tournament similar in style to the prestigious Sinquefield Cup with the 10 best female players from around the world who competed in the World Chess Hall of Fame for a $180,000 prize fund.

Previous Coverage:

• Zatonskih Clinches Cairns Cup Day Early, Earns 1st GM Norm
• Day Of Daring Fights But Resting Zatonskih Still Leads
• Determined Zatonskih Extends Lead In Nearly All-Decisive Round
• Reversal of Fortunes: Voided Victories, From 0-2 to 2nd, Last Seed Leads
• Overnight Leaders Beaten; Anna Zatonskih Sole Leader
• Gambits Galore: Krush Catches Kosteniuk
• Kosteniuk Doubles Down With Win Over Harika In Round-2 Bloodbath
• Decisive Start: Kosteniuk Defeats Defending Champion