The defending Women’s World Champion fails to score a victory in her native city as Lei leads with 3.5:2.5. Game six saw a fast draw as both players seek respite ahead of the second part of the match which will take place in Chongqing
With 12 games scheduled for the classical part of the match, game six in the match marked the halfway point. It was also Ju’s last chance to score victory in her native city, as the second part of the match will take place in the central-Chinese city of Chongqing, Lei Tingjie’s home town.
Following a loss in game five and with two free days ahead, defending Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun was looking for either a comeback or some respite, going into the second part of the match.
Following a loss in game five and with two free days ahead, defending Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun was looking for either a comeback or some respite, going into the second part of the match.
While in the past five games Lei had typically been the one to set the opening tone, this time Ju (playing as White) made a surprise. In the Queen’s Gambit, she played the early 3.cxd5 but it all came down to a very popular line of Tarrasch Defence. The sides blitzed the moves and quickly exchanged the queens and a pair of minor pieces.
The two reached a seemingly calm but complicated middlegame with a minimal edge for Ju: she had a pair of bishops and slightly more initiative. Also, she did not put herself at risk of losing and had a small advantage which she was happy to play on, as in the previous games. Facing threats luring under the calm waters, Lei swam confidently, quickly developing her pieces and forcing exchanges to simplify and hold an even position.
The two reached a seemingly calm but complicated middlegame with a minimal edge for Ju: she had a pair of bishops and slightly more initiative. Also, she did not put herself at risk of losing and had a small advantage which she was happy to play on, as in the previous games. Facing threats luring under the calm waters, Lei swam confidently, quickly developing her pieces and forcing exchanges to simplify and hold an even position.
While in the past five games Lei had typically been the one to set the opening tone, this time Ju (playing as White) made a surprise. In the Queen’s Gambit, she played the early 3.cxd5 but it all came down to a very popular line of Tarrasch Defence. The sides blitzed the moves and quickly exchanged the queens and a pair of minor pieces.
The two reached a seemingly calm but complicated middlegame with a minimal edge for Ju: she had a pair of bishops and slightly more initiative. Also, she did not put herself at risk of losing and had a small advantage which she was happy to play on, as in the previous games. Facing threats luring under the calm waters, Lei swam confidently, quickly developing her pieces and forcing exchanges to simplify and hold an even position.
The two reached a seemingly calm but complicated middlegame with a minimal edge for Ju: she had a pair of bishops and slightly more initiative. Also, she did not put herself at risk of losing and had a small advantage which she was happy to play on, as in the previous games. Facing threats luring under the calm waters, Lei swam confidently, quickly developing her pieces and forcing exchanges to simplify and hold an even position.
Despite a pair of bishops and some minimal initiative, Ju could not develop anything concrete as Black countered very well. As the game progressed more pieces were traded and the two entered a drawn rook and knight endgame.
On move 48, after three hours of play, the two agreed on a draw.
Summarizing the first six games, Ju Wenjun said that the “overall quality was not bad, but I hope that in the second part of the match, I will improve my chess”.
On move 48, after three hours of play, the two agreed on a draw.
Summarizing the first six games, Ju Wenjun said that the “overall quality was not bad, but I hope that in the second part of the match, I will improve my chess”.
Lei was asked whether the fact that the match is moving to her home city of Chongqing will have any impact on her. “As a professional player you just focus on chess. I will be playing in my hometown, but playing in Shanghai was also good. Nothing will change for me”.
The Chinese WGM Gu Xiaobing asked the players how much truth they tell in press conferences. World Champion Ju claimed to tell "99 percent," while Lei was coy, saying she shares "about 50 percent." Ju's answer was a bit surprising, given that she is the world champion. But perhaps she is simply used to being in the spotlight and knows how to handle the media without raising much attention.
The Chinese WGM Gu Xiaobing asked the players how much truth they tell in press conferences. World Champion Ju claimed to tell "99 percent," while Lei was coy, saying she shares "about 50 percent." Ju's answer was a bit surprising, given that she is the world champion. But perhaps she is simply used to being in the spotlight and knows how to handle the media without raising much attention.
With six more games set to take place, the players will now relocate to Chongqing, the native city of Challenger Lei Tingjie. The match will continue on Saturday, 15th of July.
The starting time of the games remains the same as China has only one time zone - 3 PM Local Time in Chongqing (GMT +8).
Here follows a closer look at game six of the match:
The first move today was made by Zhang Yi, Director of the Youth Sports and Education Department in the Shanghai Administration of Sports and Ma Jiabin, Director of Jing'an District of the Shanghai Administration of Sports.
The starting time of the games remains the same as China has only one time zone - 3 PM Local Time in Chongqing (GMT +8).
Here follows a closer look at game six of the match:
The first move today was made by Zhang Yi, Director of the Youth Sports and Education Department in the Shanghai Administration of Sports and Ma Jiabin, Director of Jing'an District of the Shanghai Administration of Sports.
As in the previous five encounters, game six brought another opening surprise. While it was usually Lei who was setting these up and gaining an advantage, this time, Ju took the unexpected path in the opening. Following 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6, she decided to take on d5, preventing Lei from deploying the openings from previous rounds. Lei went for the Tarrasch defence – as in game two, but with a different setting, due to Ju's 3.cxd5 move – and both players were blitzing the well-known moves.
Soon, a pair of light pieces and the queens were off the board.
Soon, a pair of light pieces and the queens were off the board.
Here the Women's World Champion castled long, making the first original move in the game. Ju's opening choice and approach were branded as "very clever" by GM Xu Yi, who is part of FIDE's commentary duo, together with GM Alik Gershon.
"White has a pair of bishops and a more enjoyable position… From the previous games, we saw that Ju Wenjun can play these positions with tiny advantages, and the position doesn't put her at too much risk", Xu noted, as both he and Gershon agreed that losing today would be "a disaster" for Ju.
"White has a pair of bishops and a more enjoyable position… From the previous games, we saw that Ju Wenjun can play these positions with tiny advantages, and the position doesn't put her at too much risk", Xu noted, as both he and Gershon agreed that losing today would be "a disaster" for Ju.
Both sides have now finished development. White has a minimal edge but the position is roughly even.
20.Bg5 After this move, White lost even the tiny edge she had before. Somewhat better options were Bc1 or Nh4. Indeed after 20…f6 21.Rxd8+ Rxd8 22.Bd2 Bd3 Black had no problem whatsoever. Lei intended to exchange a pair of bishops and further simplify, heading for a draw.
Ju refused at first, but a few moves down the road, she accepted the inevitable.
20.Bg5 After this move, White lost even the tiny edge she had before. Somewhat better options were Bc1 or Nh4. Indeed after 20…f6 21.Rxd8+ Rxd8 22.Bd2 Bd3 Black had no problem whatsoever. Lei intended to exchange a pair of bishops and further simplify, heading for a draw.
Ju refused at first, but a few moves down the road, she accepted the inevitable.
It is difficult to see how White can improve her position here. 27.Bc5 is met with 27…Nf5, while in the line 27. Be2 Bd3 28. Bd1 Nd5 Black is also fine, thanks to his active pieces.
27.Bd6 Rd7 28.Rxe4. With this move, Ju admitted she could not make progress keeping her pair of bishops on the board.
The only thing White has in her favour after trading the bishops is Black's slightly extended queenside. On the other hand, Ju’s position on the kingside was not flawless.
The Women's World Champion was going for a very long technical squeeze, hoping to outplay her opponent, but realistically speaking, the position did not offer much, and Black faced no real problems.
27.Bd6 Rd7 28.Rxe4. With this move, Ju admitted she could not make progress keeping her pair of bishops on the board.
The only thing White has in her favour after trading the bishops is Black's slightly extended queenside. On the other hand, Ju’s position on the kingside was not flawless.
The Women's World Champion was going for a very long technical squeeze, hoping to outplay her opponent, but realistically speaking, the position did not offer much, and Black faced no real problems.
The position is even. The bishops are off the board, and the pressure of the queenside for Black has eased while White holds on the kingside. After exchanging the rooks, the two continued testing each other in a knight endgame, but it was a draw.
The opponents played until they were left with bare knights and split a point on move 48.
Lei maintains her lead as Ju gets a respite. With two free days and a change of scenery, the second part of the match will take place in Chongqing from Saturday.
The opponents played until they were left with bare knights and split a point on move 48.
Lei maintains her lead as Ju gets a respite. With two free days and a change of scenery, the second part of the match will take place in Chongqing from Saturday.
