Bodhana stuns Mariya Muzychuk
The first round of the European Club Cup in Rhodes saw the rating favourites prevail comfortably in both the open and women’s sections.
In the open competition, which features matches played on six boards, all ten of the top teams scored at least 5 points to defeat their lower-rated opponents. The pattern was similar in the women’s event, where matches are played on four boards. All twelve matches were won by the team with the higher average rating, and none ended narrowly 2½–1½ or in a draw, confirming the strength gap between the leading contenders and the rest of the field.
- Full technical information on Chess-Results: Open | Women’s
- All available games on Live.ChessBase.com: Open | Women’s
There was, however, one remarkable exception on an individual level – and it came from one of the most promising prodigies in the chess world. Bodhana Sivanandan, aged 10 and representing the Lionesses #1 team, achieved the biggest surprise of the day by defeating Mariya Muzychuk, who is representing Turkish Airlines.
The young player from London, whose parents moved to England from Tiruchirappalli, India, handled a sharp Sicilian with confidence and ambition. Muzychuk, one of the most experienced and accomplished players in the women’s event, underestimated Bodhana’s attacking chances on the queenside after castling long.
The child prodigy seized the initiative, breaking open the position and outplaying her renowned opponent in a sharp middlegame. It was a notable personal victory for Bodhana, even though her team could not convert the overall match. Turkish Airlines recovered from the setback, winning all three remaining games to claim a 3-1 victory.
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Bodhana Sivanandan playing white against Mariya Muzychuk on the second board of the match between Lionesses #1 from England against Turkish Airlines | Photo: Patricia Claros
In the open section, top seeds BayeganPendik from Turkey began their campaign in emphatic fashion with a 5–1 win over HWP Haarlem from the Netherlands.
Playing on board two for the Turkish team was Richard Rapport, who came into the event on the back of a strong showing at the European Team Championships, where he scored 5½ points out of 7. Once again, Rapport demonstrated his trademark attacking style. Facing Babak Tondivar with the white pieces, he built up steady pressure as Black’s light-squared bishop and rooks became restricted on the queenside in a structure that left the position closed on that flank.
Rapport freely mobilised his major pieces on the kingside to open lines against the opposing king. The attack concluded with 31.Rxg7+, prompting resignation.
After 31…Qxg7 32.Rg3 Qxg3 33.Qxg3+ the white queen is ready to penetrate decisively via the weakened dark squares.
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov is playing on top board for rating favourites BayeganPendik – he faced Bart Gijswijt with black in the first round | Photo: Patricia Claros
