Harika, Dronavalli(2475)
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Zatonskih, Anna(2268)
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An incredibly tense game, where Zatonskih comes within an inch of victory early, then refuses to settle for a draw after some ill-timed trades. Harika then simplifies back into a drawn rook endgame when she could have played on.1.d4g62.e4Bg73.Nc3d64.Be3a65.Qd2b56.f3Nd77.O-O-ONb68.Bd3h59.Kb1c610.f4Nf611.Nf3Bg4?!12.Qf2...12.h3Bxf313.gxf3White should be happy with this trade. Her e-pawn is more supported, and even the g-file could prove useful.12....Rb813.h3Bxf314.Qxf3Qc815.e5Nfd516.Nxd5Nxd517.exd6...17.Rhe1White did not need to hurry to make a decision here, as Black does not want to capture even if given the time to do sodxe518.dxe5e619.g4as White's pawns keep rolling.17....Qe6!Black jumps on the first hint of counterplay she could find.18.Bd2Qxd619.f5gxf520.Bxf5b421.Be4Rb722.Rhf1e623.Bc1a524.Bf4Qe725.Be5?...25.Qg3!Rg8This would be a massive victory, fixing the king in the center and settling White's plan on how to continue.25....Bxe526.dxe5...The closing of the e-file makes Black's nomadic king a bit less vulnerable.26....h427.Rd4Rg828.Bxd5cxd529.Rf4a430.Qf2a331.b3...31.Rxh4axb232.Rf4±It is unclear how Black planned to continue, however it is understandable why White did not want to find out.31....Qc732.Rxh4?!...32.Kc1Qxe533.Rxf7Qa1+34.Kd2Qc3+32....Qc333.Qd4Qxd434.Rxd4Rxg2Now it is Black pushing for a win!35.Rg4Rxg4Perhaps given the game's shape, Black is happy to cut her losses. But clearly she could play on here.35...Re2-+36.hxg4Kf837.Kc1Kg738.Rf6Rb839.Kd2Rh840.Rf4Rh2+41.Kd3Rh3+42.Kd2Rh2+43.Kd3Rh3+44.Kd2Rh2+1/2-1/2 The game is a draw.1/2-1/2