Jun needs just a draw for crown

By P.K. Ajith Kumar

NEW DELHI, DEC. 14. Qin Kanying's dream is not over yet. She was playing with the black pieces on Thursday, and a loss would have been the end of her.

But the gritty little lady ensured that Xie Jun would at least have to play the fourth game tomorrow to defend her crown. The third game of women's world championship, or the alternative Chinese National women's championship, was drawn at Hotel Hyatt Regency. That takes Jun, the defending champion who has always looked too good for her rivals here, to two points. She now just needs a draw to clinch what would be her fourth world title.

Once again it was Ruy Lopez. The two Chinese women seem to be unwilling to experiment outside the Spanish opening. Perhaps it is not surprising considering the fact that Kanying's present trainer Peng Xiaomin used to be Jun's second earlier. Though White mobilised her forces on the king-side and attempted for some attack, Black had no real problems in the opening, and she had opened up the queen-side somewhat on the 13th move, but she too was not able to do anything decisive.

On the 31st move, Jun exchanged the queens after trading her light-squared bishop a move earlier. Black did really well to force White to retreat her forces on the king-side. Jun had to take both her knights back as the game headed towards a draw. Both played solidly, and niether was willing to take any risk. There were weaknesses on both sides. Black had weak pawns on `d6 and `f4 and White compensated for that her pawns on `c3 and `h4. All the pieces except the rooks were exchanged by the 50th move. A move later a pair of rooks were also traded.

For quite some time only one result looked possible. So thought the two ladies too, and they signed the peace treaty after 52 moves. White rook was poised to take the `d6 pawn and the Black one was aiming at the `b4 pawn.

The result (final, game three): Xie Jun (Chn 2568) 2 drew with Qin Kanying (Chn 2501) 1.

The moves: White: Xie Jun (Chn), Black: Qin Kanying. Ruy Lopez. 1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. d4 Bg4 10. d5 Na5 11.Bc2 c6 12. h3 Bc8 13. dc Qc7 14. Nbd2 Qxc6 15. Nf1 Be6 16. Ng3 Rfe8 17. Bd3 Rab8 18. Qe2 h6 19. Rd1 Bf8 20. Nh2 Nc4 21. Qf3 Nh7 22. Ng4 Kh8 23. Qe2 Rbd8 24. b3 Nb6 25. Be3 Nd7 26. Rac1 Nc5 27. Bc2 Be7 28. b4 Bc4 29. Qd2 Ne6 30. Bb3 Bf8 31. Bxc4 Qxc4 32. Qd5 Rc8 33. f3 Qxd5 34. Rxd5 Rc6 35. h4 Rec8 36. Rd3 Nf4 37. Bxf4 ef 38. Nf5 h5 39. Nf2 g6 40. Nd4 Rc4 41. Ne2 Be7 42. a3 Nf8 43. Nh3 Ne6 44. Nhxf4 Nxf4 45. Nxf4 Bxh4 46. Ne2 R4c6 47. a4 ba 48. Ra1 Bf6 49. Rxa4 Bxc3 50. Nxc3 Rxc3 51. Rxc3 Rxc3 52. Rxa6 Rb3 0.5-0.5.

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