An anxious and diverse crowd saw Battersea’s women’s team renew their rivalry with Hammersmith, winning the match in a dramatic comeback late in the evening.
It was also a victory for inclusion, as the club’s thriving collective of female chess players were joined by newcomers and by Hammersmith’s visiting team — first studying Vladimir Vuković’s Art of Attack, before playing a tough 75+15 classical match.
The final games lasted over three hours. Karina Kowalczyk won on her debut for Battersea, before Anuurai Sainbayar and Djuna Tree finished the job, winning their games to end the match 3-2 over five boards — a dramatic turnaround after Battersea trailed 0-2 in the early stages.
(Ed: an earlier version of this article listed the final score as 3-2. This has been corrected to reflect Agata Becker’s win against Isabella Zheng, which was misreported on the night. Congratulations Aga — we regret the error.)
Anuurai’s game was especially impressive — an offbeat Polish Opening. She surprised her opponent, winning a piece in the opening, but Dina fought back with a dangerous mating idea. Anuurai found the stylish retreat 28. Rff1!! — incredibly, the only move that prevents a draw.
The match was a great showcase for women and girls in chess as the club continues with its mission to promote gender equity. A key area of progress in the last year has been improving the gender balance of all Battersea teams, with a huge increase in female membership.
The team now look to their next game against She Plays To Win — and indeed to playing in all the club’s events, both with league teams, in the Battersea Grand Prix, and for social chess every Tuesday.
Play through Anuurai and Dina’s game below:
