1. d4

Melekhina plays 1.d4 for the first time in her life! She said she did it because white gets good positions in the King's Indian Defense, which she was expecting. I find it a little confusing she might say that though as Melekhina herself plays the King's Indian!

1... g6 2. Nf3 Bg7 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 Bg4!?

A great decision by Tsagaan to play an offbeat variation guessing that Melekhina wasn't too acquainted with the white side of the opening.

7. Be3 Nfd7

Melekhina went into a think here, having not seen this position before, and came up with...

8. a3

which has not been played before according to my database! Melekhina said that sometimes a3 is a useful move in some lines of the King's Indian, saving a tempo if the move b4 is ever needed to kick a knight out of c5.

8... c5 9. d5 Na6 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Nc7 12. Qd2 a6 13. Bh6 b5 14. h4 Bxh6 15. Qxh6 f6

Planning to meet h5 with g5 keeping the kingside closed up.

16. Be2 Ne5 17. Qe3 Nxc4 18. Bxc4 bxc4 19. f4 Rb8 20. h5 g5

20... Qe8 21. hxg6 Qxg6 22. O-O-O Kh8

21. fxg5 fxg5

21... Rxb2 22. g6 e5!? 23. dxe6 Nxe6 24. O-O

22. Qxg5+ Kh8 23. Qd2 Qd7 24. O-O-O Qg4!

The best move, played in her usual time trouble.

25. Rde1 Qf4 26. Re3

26. Qxf4 Rxf4 27. Rhf1 Rg4=

26... Qe5 27. Rf3 Rf6

Swapping a couple of rooks and simplifying the position may have been Tsagaan's best option, especially when short of time 27... Rxf3 28. gxf3 Rf8 29. Qe3 Nb5 and black cannot be losing this.

28. h6 Rbf8 29. Rhf1 Kg8 30. Kc2?!

30. a4!? stopping the black knight joining the game.

30... Nb5! 31. Nxb5 Qxe4+ 32. Kc1 axb5 33. Re1

A tough move to meet with little time on your clock. Where can the queen go that will prevent white getting a mating attack?

33... Qd4?

33... Qh4 34. Rxe7 Rxf3 35. Rg7+ Kh8 36. gxf3 Rxf3 and black is a pawn up but both kings are wide open.

33... Qg6 was the other option 34. Rxe7 Qxh6 35. Rg3+ Kh8 36. Qxh6 Rxh6 37. Rb7=

34. Qg5+

34. Qg5+ Rg6 (34... Kf7 35. Qg7+ Ke8 36. Qxe7#) 35. Rxf8+ Kxf8 36. Qxe7+ Kg8 37. Qe8#

1-0 [Bird C.]