- 5 / 9
- Points from games
- +3 =4 −2
- Wins, draws, losses
- 1
- Boards played
- 2321
- Average opponent
How Alexandra Kosteniuk played the olympiad
Alexandra Kosteniuk played nine rounds on board 1 and sat out rounds 1 and 8. With opponents averaging 2321 she had the hardest list in the women’s team and finished the event on 5 out of 9.
The three wins came against Shahenda Wafa in round 2, against Milana Babic in round 9 and against Deysi Cori in round 11, where 17...h6 was the tactical mistake and 30.Bxh6 exploited the pin on the g7 pawn. That last win opened the 2.5 to 1.5 against Peru in the final round.
Two games she gave away. Against Marina Brunello in round 6 the position was winning after 22.Bxh6, and 30.Kh2 instead of 30.Nd5 handed it back. Against Carissa Yip in round 7, 24.e6 won a rook and returned the game in the same move; 43...f3 came three moves too late. The four draws against Mai Narva, Joanna Worek, Brunello and Olga Badelka keep board 1 in the match, no more than that.
All 9 games, annotated
Every game leads to its analysis, with board, variations and commentary.
- Round 2against WGM Shahenda WafaA Richter-Rauzer with Black: 20...Rh5 builds the threat against g2, and 22.Rdg1 decides the game.0-1
- Round 3against IM Mai NarvaA Najdorf with White: 10.f5 wins the space, 11.O-O gives it back, and 42.c5 saves the half point.½-½
- Round 4against WGM Joanna WorekA Queen’s Pawn game with Black: 8.g4 attacks two pieces, 8...fxe5 counts correctly, and 43.d5 hands the half point back.½-½
- Round 5against IM Eline RoebersA Caro-Kann with Black: 22...Be7 restores the balance, and 23...Bb5 invites the white queen home from the edge.1-0
- Round 6against IM Marina BrunelloA Moscow Variation with White: 22.Bxh6 opens the black king, and 30.Kh2 instead of 30.Nd5 hands the won position back.½-½
- Round 7against IM Carissa YipA Petroff with Black: 13...O-O-O is a move almost nobody finds, 24.e6 wins a rook and hands the game back, and 43...f3 comes three moves too late.1-0
- Round 9against WFM Milana BabicA Caro-Kann with White: six best moves from 15.f4 to 20.Bf2, then 24.Bg3 breaks the advantage, and 34...b5 with thirty-two seconds left clears the road for the h pawn.1-0
- Round 10against IM Olga BadelkaA Queen’s Pawn game with Black: 12...Bc2 and 13...e5 invite White’s central break, 32.Re8?? with under a minute leaves the c6 knight undefended, and 32...f5 levels the game.½-½
- Round 11against IM Deysi Cori T.A Classical French with White: 17...h6 is the tactical error, 18.Rc1 after fifteen minutes leaves 18.Bxb4 on the board twice in a row, and 30.Bxh6 uses the pin on the g7 pawn.1-0