Posts by: boris

Mariya Muzychuk: I tried to be calm and maybe this helped me

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An interview with Mariya Muzychuk from Ukraine after her victory over Zhansaya Abdumalik from Kazakhstan:

– Mariya, what happened today in your additional matches?

– It wasn’t easy at all, my opponent fought very well. Two times I won the first game and then couldn’t even make a draw in the second one. I think that the most difficult part was to understand that nothing happened after the lost game and you have the matches to continue so you just had to do your best. I tried to be calm and maybe this helped me.

– The most dramatic game was the first one with “10+10” time control. What was there there?

– Actually I was much better all the game. I won a pawn but at some point I just couldn’t convert it and I was short of time. Then we had a position where I had a rook and a knight against a rook. Of course, I had to play it because there were very many games where the stronger side won.

– But your opponent could have claimed a draw at some point.

– Actually, I am not sure. As for me, it seemed there were no 50 moves. But she didn’t claim, so I won.

Lei Tingjie: I was very lucky in the first rapid game

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An interview with Lei Tingjie of China after her victory over Alisa Galliamova from Russia in the tie-break of Round 3 of Women’s World Championship:

Tingjie, what happened in this tie-break?

– I was very lucky in the first rapid game. I think I had a worse position but my opponent was in time trouble and made a blunder. I also managed to win the second game, so I qualified for the next round.

– What can you say about your play here so far? Do you like your games?

– The quality of games is all right, but I am a little bit tired right now because this is a very tough tournament.

– What is your best result in such knock-out events?

– This is my second time to play in this tournament. I played four years ago in Sochi but I lost to Humpy Koneru in the second round. So this time I am doing much better and just enjoy playing chess.

– You are very young. Are you a chess professional, or do you study at the University?

– I went to the University in Shanghai this September to study business management, but I pay attention to both chess and studies.

 

Zhansaya Abdumalik: This is my first World Championship and I am happy with my games

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An interview with Zhansaya Abdumalik of Kazakhstan after her victory over Jolanta Zawadzka from Poland in the second game of Round 3 of the Women’s World Championship:

– Zhansaya, what was going on in the second game?

– Actually, in the opening I didn’t prepare the line with 4…d6 move in this variation of the Ruy Lopez so I played 5. d4 but it happened to be a wrong move so I lost a pawn. But then I got some advantage and just tried to play my best because it was the main game for me. If I lost or drew I would just stop playing here. That’s why I tried to push.

– Where do you think you started to outplay your opponent?

– I think after I played 17. Rd1. I didn’t know how to get some chances to attack my opponent for the lost pawn. So I just made normal moves. I think she was a little bit nervous because the position wasn’t really all right for her because her kind got stuck on e8 she couldn’t make a castle for a long time which led to problems. But after that she played 20…Qf6, which is a wrong move. I think 20…Nd7 and 21…Rf8 would be better. I just played 21. Qb3, and the pawn on e6 became a little bit weak so I was happy after 20…Qf6.

– How did you manage to prepare yourself psychologically for this game after the loss?

– Actually, I didn’t really get prepared. I thought: OK, I have the white colour so I just have to show what I can. I just played my best.

– What are your impressions on your playing here?

– I am playing fine. In some games, it could be better but this is my first Women’s World Championship and I am happy with my games. Hopefully, tomorrow I will win. I will try.