Candidates debate

The grace of a snowflake lies in its outward simplicity, which on closer inspection reveals a sublime complexity. Chess endgames beguile me in much the same spirit. The examples below both occurred at the Fide Women’s Candidates tournament, which is currently approaching its conclusion in Toronto.

Just a few moves earlier, Anna Muzychuk had an extra pawn in a rook endgame, which was being patiently guided to victory. Lei Tingjie has sacrificed her rook to reach the diagram position, pinning her hopes on the passed g-pawn to salvage a draw. Crucially, her king can shepherd the pawn while also impeding the approach of the White king. Time is of the essence.

Anna Muzychuk–Lei Tingjie

Fide Women’s Candidates, April 2024

53 Rd5+? This natural move throws away the win. The correct idea was to place the rook behind the pawn with 53 Rg8!, though why that matters is not immediately obvious. After 53…g4 54 Kf7! Kf4 White must ignore the bait on f6 and aim for the h-file with 55 Kg6! and here 55…g3 56 Kh5 Kf3 57 Kh4 g2 58 Kh3 arrives just in time, or 55…f5 56 Kh5 Kg3 57 Rg7! waits and then 57…Kh3 58 Kg5! swaps sides yet again: 58… g3 59 Kf4 g2 60 Rh7# Kf4 54 Kxf6 g4 55 Rd4+ Kf3 56 Kf5 g3 57 Rd3+ Kf2 58 Kg4 g2 59 Rd2+ Kf1 59…Kg1! was neater, using a little trick: 60 Kg3 Kh1! 61 Rxg2 stalemate 60 Kf3 g1=N+ Check! The threat of Rd2-d1# makes this underpromotion a necessity.