Li Ruofan eliminated by Irina Krush

Normally I am not overly interested in women's tournaments especially when Malaysia is not involved. But over the last few days with holidays and not much to do, I watched several games mostly involving Li Ruofan. China born Li who now plays for Singapore so at least there is some reason for me to cheer her on :)



From my observations, Li is evenly matched with her more well-known opponent, the American Irina Krush.  The first two games in standard time control were drawn and the match went to tie-breaks involving rapid and blitz. In the first rapid game Li lost but won the second to go into the 10 minute tie-breakers. This was drawn and the players went into the five minute tie-breakers. The first game was drawn but in the final game, Li seemed to have blundered a piece to a deadly pin and handed the  match to Irina.

Her local fans will be quite disappointed to see her leave the competition. Nevertheless, her performance is nothing to be ashamed of.

Here is the deciding game.


[Event "Women’s World Chess Cup 2012"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2012.11.13"]
[Round "1.8"]
[White "Krush, Irina"]
[Black "Li, Ruofan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A31"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2394"]
[TimeControl "300+3"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 b6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Bb7 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. f3 e6 7. e4 d6 8. Be2
Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Be3 a6 11. Qd2 Nbd7 12. a4 Qc7 13. a5 bxa5 14. Nb3 a4 15.
Nxa4 Nc5 16. Na5 Nxa4 17. Rxa4 Bc8 18. b4 Nd7 19. Ra2 Ne5 20. Rc1 Bd7 21. c5
dxc5 22. bxc5 Bb5 23. c6 Rfd8 24. Qe1 Nd3 25. Bxd3 Rxd3 26. Nb7 Bxc6??

I wonder whether black simply over-looked that the pin on the c-file will cost her. White's pawn on c6 looks menacing but it is securely blocked and there is no danger to black while black's bishop pair is quite dangerous in this position.


 27. Na5 Rd6 28. Rac2 Qd7 29. Nxc6 Bf8 30. Ne5 Qb5 31. Nc4 Rd3 32. Bf2 Rad8 33. h3 Qb3 34. Ne5 R3d6 35. Qe3 Rd1+ 36.
Kh2 Qb8 37. Bg3 Qb5 38. Qf4 f6 39. Nc4 e5 40. Qe3 R1d3 41. Qe2 a5 42. Ne3 Qb3
43. Nd5 Rd4 44. Bf2 Ra4 45. Rb2 Qa3 46. Rc7 Qa1 47. Qc2 Ra3 48. Rb1 Qa2 49.
Qxa2 Rxa2 50. Bc5 a4 51. Bxf8 Rxf8 52. Rbb7 Ra8 53. Rxg7+ Kf8 54. Nxf6 a3 55.
Rg8# 1-0