Women’s Candidates R8: Lei takes down Tan

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
4/14/2024 – Lei Tingjie scored a third consecutive win in round 8 of the Women’s Candidates Tournament. Importantly, Lei defeated former long-standing sole leader Tan Zhongyi, which resulted in three players sharing first place at the end of the round — Lei, Tan and Aleksandra Goryachkina are now sharing the lead with 5 points each. One more game ended decisively on Saturday, as Humpy Koneru got the better of Vaishali R with the white pieces. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

ChessBase 17 - Mega package - Edition 2024 ChessBase 17 - Mega package - Edition 2024

It is the program of choice for anyone who loves the game and wants to know more about it. Start your personal success story with ChessBase and enjoy the game even more.

More...

Goryachkina and Lagno remain undefeated

Two players remain undefeated in the Women’s Candidates Tournament. Coincidentally, the two participants who have avoided losses throughout the first eight rounds are the Russian representatives, Aleksandra Goryachkina and Kateryna Lagno — in the open, the one player who remains unbeaten is also Russian: i.e. Ian Nepomniachtchi.

On Saturday, Goryachkina drew Lagno with black to climb to the shared lead for the first time in the event. What allowed the top seed to join the lead was Lei Tingjie’s victory over Tan Zhongyi. Tan started strong in Toronto, with 3 wins and 4 draws in the first seven rounds, but faced an in-form Lei, who came from scoring back-to-back victories in rounds 6 and 7.

Going into round 9, Lei, Tan and Goryachkina have 5/8 points each, and stand a half point ahead of Lagno. Nurgyul Salimova and Humpy Koneru are sharing fifth place a full-point behind Lagno, each on 3½/8.

This means that half the field has a ‘plus-score’ and half the field stands below the fifty-percent mark. Since the co-leaders only have a +2, though, there is still a chance for someone who started slow to get a winning streak and join the fight for first place.

Curiously, none of the four frontrunners will face each other on Sunday. Lagno, Tan and Goryachkina will play with the black pieces, while Lei is the only player in the pack that will play white in round 9 — will we see the latest World Championship challenger scoring a fourth victory in a row?

Results - Round 8

Kateryna Lagno, Aleksandra Goryachkina

Kateryna Lagno and Aleksandra Goryachkina signed a 34-move draw in Saturday’s eighth round | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Tan 0 - 1 Lei

Analysis by Klaus Besenthal

Tan Zhongyi

Tan Zhongyi | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Expert analysis by WIM Svitlana Demchenko

More photos from round 8

Humpy Koneru

In the all-Indian confrontation, Humpy Koneru defeated... | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Vaishali Rameshbabu

...Vaishali Rameshbabu | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Nurgyul Salimova, Anna Muzychuk

Nurgyul Salimova v. Anna Muzychuk was only agreed drawn after 120 moves! | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Anna Muzychuk

Anna Muzychuk taking a picture with a couple of fans! | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Standings after round 8

All games

Sometimes chess is so painful...

This is what makes Vidit Gujrathi special

Watch tons of high-quality content on ChessBase India’s YouTube channel!

Links

<< Candidates R8: Gukesh catches Nepo, Nakamura beats Caruana
Giri's ChessBase Book on the Caro-Kann and King's Indian >>
Topics: Candidates 2024, Lei Tingjie
Carlos Colodro is a Hispanic Philologist from Bolivia. He works as a freelance translator and writer since 2012. A lot of his work is done in chess-related texts, as the game is one of his biggest interests, along with literature and music.
Discussion and Feedback Submit your feedback to the editors

See also

Women’s Candidates R7: Lei beats Vaishali

4/12/2024 – The frontrunners in the Women’s Candidates Tournament faced each other in round 7, with Tan Zhongyi keeping the lead after holding Aleksandra Goryachkina to a 40-move draw with the black pieces. The one decisive game of the day saw Lei Tingjie beating Vaishali R. This was Lei’s second win in a row, which leaves her tied for third place with 4/7 points. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza
More...
 2

See also

Women’s Candidates R5: Missed chances lead to four draws

4/10/2024 – Tan Zhongyi remains as the sole leader at the Women’s Candidates after all four games ended drawn in Tuesday’s fifth round. None of the games lasted fewer than 44 moves, though, as a number of chances were missed in hard-fought struggles. Tan has a half-point lead over Aleksandra Goryachkina, while Vaishali R, Nurgyul Salimova and Kateryna Lagno (pictured) stand a half point further back. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza
More...
 1

Video

60m Caro Kann Exchange Variation

The Exchange Variation (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3) is a simple and easy to learn answer to the Caro-Kann. By clarifying the central tension White gives himself a clear plan of attack using the half open e-file and the e5 square. This is far from easy for Black to meet as Bobby Fischer, Jan Timman, Walter Browne and other leading Grandmasters have demonstrated in their games. Black too has his resources but he needs to know what he's doing. On this DVD you will find a clear explanation of the strategy for both sides as well as answers to popular treatments such as 4...Nc6 5.c3 Qc7. Whilst the main focus is on the White side of this opening you will also find ways for Black to defend.