Game Of the Week: Zhao vs. Batsiashvili - Women’s FIDE GP Theran

Zhao vs. Batsiashvili - Women’s FIDE GP Theran

Opening: D37: QGD: 4.Nf3

Player(s): Zhao, Batsiashvili

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The rather disquieting images of women wrapped in head scarves from the Women's Grand Prix in Tehran have taken most of the attention, but there are some interesting games there, too. In this week's feature, we see an odd junction of theory and creativity in the battle between Zhao Xue of China and Georgian Nino Batsiashvili. Zhao's sacrifice on move 12 was likely planned in advance. If Batsiashvili, who famously drew Magnus Carlsen in Qatar, was expecting it, she must have forgotten something. Let's take a closer look at this short, sharp struggle.