Astana GP Round 3: Vaishali draws with Assaubayeva

by Shahid Ahmed - 21/09/2022

IM Vaishali R had an interesting draw with IM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ) in the third round of FIDE Astana Grand Prix 2022. The former sacrificed her knight for the reigning World Blitz Women 2021 champion's pawn. Soon the game ended in a draw as the position did not yield a substantial advantage to either player. GM Aleksandra Goryachkina emerged as sole leader after she won a 97-move long battle against IM Alina Kashlinskaya (POL). Vaishali will face the former Women's World champion, GM Tan Zhongyi in round 4 which starts today at 2:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

50% decisive games

The third round had three decisive games. Apart from Goryachkina, GM Kateryna Lagno and GM Alexandra Kosteniuk were the other two victors against IM Polina Shuvalova and GM Tan Zhongyi.

IM Vaishali played well against IM Bibisara Assaubayeva | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Bibisara - Vaishali: 0.5-0.5

IM Vaishali R (2449) made an interesting knight sacrifice for a pawn in the endgame against IM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ, 2443).

Position after 25...bxa3

Although computer recommends 25...Nxd2 to be fine for Black, a human can definitely appreciate 25...bxa3. 26.fxe5 a2 27.Ra1 Nxb2 28.Bxb2 Rxb2 29.Nc5 Rc2 and the game ended in a draw in another seven moves.

Interview with IM Vaishali R | Video: FIDE

IM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ) - IM Vaishali R: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

Replay the live stream

Replay Live Commentary of Astana Women's GP Round 3 with GM Ilya Smirin and WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni | Video: FIDE

Replay all Round 3 games

Round 3 Results

Bo.	No.	Rtg		Name	Result		Name	Rtg	No.
1	2	2547	GM	Lagno Kateryna	1 - 0	IM	Shuvalova Polina	2510	12
2	3	2491	IM	Kashlinskaya Alina	0 - 1	GM	Goryachkina Aleksandra	2579	1
3	4	2443	IM	Assaubayeva Bibisara	½ - ½	IM	Vaishali R	2449	11
4	5	2525	GM	Tan Zhongyi	0 - 1	GM	Kosteniuk Alexandra	2521	10
5	6	2358	WGM	Wagner Dinara	½ - ½	GM	Abdumalik Zhansaya	2503	9
6	7	2477	IM	Paehtz Elisabeth	½ - ½	WGM	Zhu Jiner	2464	8

Round 4 pairings

Bo.	No.	Rtg		Name	Result		Name	Rtg	No.
1	12	2510	IM	Shuvalova Polina		WGM	Zhu Jiner	2464	8
2	9	2503	GM	Abdumalik Zhansaya		IM	Paehtz Elisabeth	2477	7
3	10	2521	GM	Kosteniuk Alexandra		WGM	Wagner Dinara	2358	6
4	11	2449	IM	Vaishali R		GM	Tan Zhongyi	2525	5
5	1	2579	GM	Goryachkina Aleksandra		IM	Assaubayeva Bibisara	2443	4
6	2	2547	GM	Lagno Kateryna		IM	Kashlinskaya Alina	2491	3