20.Nf3! [In order to transfer the knight to a better position and clear the second rank for his queen.]
20...Rc8 21.Rxc8+ [△Qc2]
21...Bxc8 22.Qc2 Qb8! [22...Bb7?! 23.Ne5 a5 24.Nd3 Ba6 25.Nxb4 axb4 26.Bc1 h6 27.Bd2 Ne4 28.Be1+/= △f3]
23.Bc3 Qc7 24.Ne1 Ne4?? [A strange blunder at such a high level.]
[24...Bxc3 25.Nxc3 a5 26.f3 Ba6 27.Bf1 Bxf1 28.Kxf1 h6 29.Kf2 Kf8 30.Ke2 g5 31.Na4 Qxc2+ 32.Nxc2=]
25.Bxb4 1–0
20...Rc8 21.Rxc8+ [△Qc2]
21...Bxc8 22.Qc2 Qb8! [22...Bb7?! 23.Ne5 a5 24.Nd3 Ba6 25.Nxb4 axb4 26.Bc1 h6 27.Bd2 Ne4 28.Be1+/= △f3]
23.Bc3 Qc7 24.Ne1 Ne4?? [A strange blunder at such a high level.]
[24...Bxc3 25.Nxc3 a5 26.f3 Ba6 27.Bf1 Bxf1 28.Kxf1 h6 29.Kf2 Kf8 30.Ke2 g5 31.Na4 Qxc2+ 32.Nxc2=]
25.Bxb4 1–0
Anna Muzychuk is the first player into Round 2 of WWCC2018 after beating 74-year-old Rani Hamid 2:0
Mariya Muzychuk: Of course, it is possible to see my sister Anna as an opponent here. But we can only play in the final. I just play round by round and don't think about it yet.
After two draws, Irina Krush and Inna Gaponenko head to playoffs tomorrow at the Women’s World Chess Championships.
Sabina Foisor makes another draw against Stefanova to join Irina for Playoff Monday at the Women’s World Championship! Good luck to Irina and Sabina on making the round of 32 🇺🇸🌎
18-year-old Mobina Alinasab from Iran knocks out 259-point higher rated Elisabeth Paehtz 1.5:0.5!