In the final game of round 3, Muzychuk and Harika were tied 3-3. They went on to a one game Armageddon blitz playoff.
Harika won the coin toss and chose Black with 4 minutes and draw odd. White had 5 minutes but must win in order to advance. In a completely winning position (diagram above), White lost on time.
IM Muzychuk, Mariya UKR 2462 – IM Harika, Dronavalli IND 2525
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 5. a4 a6 6. c3 d6 7. d3 h6 8. O-O Nf6 9. Re1 O-O 10. h3 Be6 11. Nbd2 Re8 12. Qb3 d5 13. exd5 Bxd5 14. Ne4 Bxc4 15. Qxc4 Nxe4 16. dxe4 Qf6 17. a5 Ba7 18. Be3 Bxe3 19. Rxe3 Qe6 20. Qe2 Rad8 21. b5 Nb8 22. c4 Nd7 23. Rd1 Nc5 24. Rd5 Rxd5 25. exd5 Qg6 26. Rxe5 Rxe5 27. Qxe5 axb5 28. cxb5 Qb1+ 29. Kh2 Qxb5 30. Qxc7 Nd7 31. d6 g6 32. Qd8+ Kg7 33. Qe7 Qf5 34. Kg1 Qb1+ 35. Kh2 Qf5 36. Kg3 g5 37. Kh2 Qf4+ 38. Kg1 Qc1+ 39. Ne1 Nf6 40. Kf1 Qc4+ 41. Kg1 Qc1 42. Kh2 Qf4+ 43. Kg1 Qc1 44. Kf1 Qc4+ 45. Kg1 Qc1 46. Kh2 Qf4+ 47. Kg1 Qc1 48. g3 Qd1 49. Kg2 Qd5+ 50. Nf3 h5 51. Qe5 Qxe5 52. Nxe5 Kf8 53. Kf3 Ke8 54. Ke3 g4 55. hxg4 hxg4 56. Kd4 0-1
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That’s so sad.
Well… it’s chess. Harika won the first rapid game and Muzychuk tied it. Then Muzychuk won the first blitz game and Harika tied it. Then Harika took gave time odds and Muzychuk somehow used up her extra minute to get the winning position. Sad, but fair.
Aw Come On!
time is part of the game. congrats Harika
I have seen most people talk about position when there is allotted time for sudden death. It is a part of the game and who really won it should be congratulated rather than pitying about others position.
yes…sports can be cruel at times….but there can be only want 1 champion.
but undoubtedly there is very little to choose from these top players. they are all champs in their own right.
I don’t like to see important matches decided with blitz games. Why not at least continue to play pairs of regular blitz games until there is a decisive result? Giving time odds is incredibly hoakey.
Does white EVER win these type of tiebreakers? Choose black+draw, always, even if it means you get HALF the time of your opponent…
I think that if the time given is so short, then the games should be played over a computer with premove available on both sides.
I don’t think that the physical placing of the pieces and the dexterity and speed of that should be a deciding factor in the game of chess.
In reply to Mr. Zed, I think that it’s a good suggestion in terms of fairness. But personally, I like the feel of chess in tournaments. Feeling the pieces, staring into the eyes of your opponent – chess is psychological, and it doesn’t work if it’s played over the computer. Of course, I’m no pro chess player, just my opinion.