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Zatonskih Wins Fourth Title
By FM Mike Klein
After two weeks of almost non-stop playing, IM Anna Zatonskih needed a few more hours to win the 2011 U.S. Women’s Championship. She won her first rapid game as Black on Thursday against WFM Tatev Abrahamyan. Zatonskih seemed to be able to cruise to the title, but in the next round she spoiled a better position and lost. The two had to play a deciding Armageddon match that Zatonskih drew to give her the title. She had draw odds by virtue of playing Black and with less time.
“I don’t have enough energy to celebrate,” Zatonskih said. She slid down into a chair in relief.
The final game saw Zatonskih aim for an opposite-colored bishop endgame. Her control of the light squares stifled any chances for Abrahamyan to advance any pawns to make progress. After admitting that progress was impossible, a reluctant Abrahmyan looked up and signaled that she would concede the draw. Zatonskih immediately agreed, which gave her a fourth championship in six years.
Prior to the game’s commencement, Zatonskih entered a secret bid of 19 minutes, 55 seconds. When Abrahamyan’s bid of 24 minutes, 28 seconds was revealed, it meant that Zatonskih’s lower time would give her a time handicap but the advantage of only needing a draw to win. Abrahamyan started with 45 minutes but took the White pieces. She chose to repeat her opening from the first rapid game.
In that first game, Abrahamyan sacrificed an exchange early but got good pressure. Zatonskih gave the material back and entered an endgame with an extra pawn but without an obvious breakthrough. On her 58th move with only seconds left for both women, Abrahamyan slid her king out of check to the left, allowing Zatonskih’s bishop to attack from behind. Abrahamyan resigned a few moves later.
In their second rapid game, Zatonskih needed only a draw as White to avoid an Armageddon match and with the title outright. Instead, she squandered her space advantage and entered an endgame, this time down a pawn. Abrahamyan eventually found shelter for her king and promoted a pawn to a second queen, which she sacrificed for a forced checkmate. The match then stood at 1-1, requiring the Armageddon match.
Including the tiebreak and playoff matches, Zatonskih played 19 games of chess over a two-week period. This marks her fourth U.S. Women’s Championship title and second since 2009 when the U.S. Women’s Championship was first hosted in St. Louis.
Go Anna! Still think the Armageddon time thingy is asinine.
What a joy it has been to watch the US Women’s Championship these last 2 weeks. I predicted that Tatev Abrahamyan was going to win, and she almost did! My favorite is Irina Krush. What a competitor! And I’m still trying to imitate her swagger. (I’ve given up trying to imitate her chess style. And what a great name for a chess player.I’m so jealous.)
But the great thing about this championship has been the iron determination, fortitude, and stamina of Anna Zatonskih. It is such a privilege to be able to watch her in action.
I cannot say enough about Anna Zatonskih and I regret it a lot to not have included her in my women’s chess tribute. There was only so much space and I could not include other players.
I truly find her so lady like in her manneurism that I find quite appealing. In addition, she has charm and is a brilliant young lady. Another young lady who wowed me with her moves…. Tatev abrahamyan. I thought of Judit Polgar as soon as I saw her aggressivness… what do you know?
Tatev: “I was in complete awe,” Tatev said (of Judit Polgar). “My first thought was, ‘I want to be just like her.’
I did not like Irina’s sportsmanship in the 2008 final when she threw a piece of the board that probably hit a kibitzer. I’ve never seen this before and frankly, I was surprised to have seen this from a lady. I guess, you could say, I appreciate her chess strength but nothing more.
Congrats to Anna & Tatev!! That was one hell of a finals befitting the Women US Championship!!
Lucy, since you are into literature (and problably poems), that was was poetic justice indeed!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN5Hf1U9AAQ
Or visit here for some chess poetry:
http://ptionvlloi.blogspot.com/2010_12_09_archive.html
Aw Come on!