Great chess interviews from European Team Championship 2011 with Carlsson, Dzagnidze, Topalov, Leko, Videnova

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011

Hi everyone,


Here are more great video interviews from www.chessdom.com who are covering the European Team Chess Championship 2011. 



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You can access this link for live games and this link for all the standings.

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Dzagnidze wins Jermuk Women's Chess Grand Prix 2010 with thrilling performance

Grand Prix Champion: Nana Dzagnidze of Georgia

Hello Everyone!

As expected, GM Nana Dzagnidze of Georgia, has won the Women's Chess Grand Prix 2010 in Jermuk, Armenia. She won it with 9 points out of 11 - a full 1.5 points ahead of GM Tatiana Kosintseva! But for Kosintseva's loss to IM Danielian Elina in the last round of the tournament, the lead would have been narrower.

Also, in the last round, GM Maia Chiburdanidze lost to GM Antoaneta Stefanova and IM Fierro Baquero Martha L. lost to GM Pia Cramling. The other boards had drawn games.

The highlight of the Jermuk Grand Prix have been Dzagnidze's thrilling performance and plenty of fighting chess with very few draws. You can look up the official tournament website for more statistics, photos and interview. You can find key positions in all games here.

Results of Round 11

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1. WGM Kovanova Baira-IM Mkrtchian Lilit 2477 1/2-1/2

2. IM Fierro Baquero Martha L-GM Cramling Pia 2536 0-1

3. GM Kosintseva Tatiana-IM Danielian Elina 2473 0-1

4. GM Chiburdanidze Maia-GM Stefanova Antoaneta 2560 0-1

5. GM Dzagnidze Nana-GM Hou Yifan 2589 1/2-1/2

6. WGM Shen Yang-GM Xu Yuhua 2484 1/2-1/2

Final Standings

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1. GM Dzagnidze Nana 2478 GEO 9

2. GM Kosintseva Tatiana 2534 RUS 7½

3. IM Mkrtchian Lilit 2477 ARM 6½

4. GM Stefanova Antoaneta 2560 BUL 6½

5. IM Danielian Elina 2473 ARM 6½

6. GM Hou Yifan 2589 CHN 6

7. GM Cramling Pia 2536 SWE 5½

8. WGM Shen Yang 2452 CHN 5½

9. GM Chiburdanidze Maia 2514 GEO 4½

10. GM Xu Yuhua 2484 CHN 4

11. WGM Kovanova Baira 2366 RUS 3

12. IM Fierro Baquero Martha L 2363 ECU 1½

Here is the nice game between Kosintseva and Danielian. You can run it in our pgnplayer or watch it in flash below. Kosintseva missed the 23....Rd3 completely and left the back rank unattended. A quick check and a Rook invasion left her with two choices - save the Queen or lose a Rook. She chose to resign.

PGN: 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 c5 6. Be3 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Ne7 8. Nd2 Nbc6 9. N2f3 Bg4 10. O-O Bxf3 11. Nxf3 Ng6 12. c4 dxc4 13. Bxc4 Qc7 14. Bb5 Be7 15. Rc1 O-O 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. Qd4 Rfd8 18. Qc3 Rac8 19. Rfd1 Qb8 20. g3 c5 21. h4 Qb7 22. Rxd8+ Rxd8 23. Nd2 Qd5 24. Nc4 h5 25. Rc2 Qd1+ 26. Kh2 Rd3 0-1

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

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Five draws in 10th round of Jermuk Women's Chess Grand Prix 2010

GM Pia Cramling with the only win in Round 10

Hello Everyone,

Round 10 was possibly the dullest one of the Jermuk Women's Chess World Championship with five draws and just one game with a result. GM Pia Cramling beat WGM Baira Kovanova in the only decisive game of the round.

With just one round to go, GM Nana Dzagnidze keeps her lead with one point over GM Tatiana Kosintseva. Kosintseva missed a clear win in the round though. You can view key positions in all the games here.

Results of Round 10

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• Mkrtchian Lilit-Shen Yang 1/2-1/2
• Xu Yuhua-Dzagnidze Nana 1/2-1/2
• Hou Yifan-Chiburdanidze Maia 1/2-1/2
• Stefanova Antoaneta-Kosintseva Tatiana 1/2-1/2
• Danielian Elina-Fierro Baquero Martha L 1/2-1/2
• Cramling Pia-Kovanova Baira 1-0

Standings after Round 10

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1. GM Dzagnidze Nana 2478 GEO 8.5

2. GM Kosintseva Tatiana 2534 RUS 7.5

3. IM Mkrtchian Lilit 2477 ARM 6

4. GM Hou Yifan 2589 CHN 5.5

5. GM Stefanova Antoaneta 2560 BUL 5.5

6. IM Danielian Elina 2473 ARM 5.5

7. WGM Shen Yang 2452 CHN 5

8. GM Chiburdanidze Maia 2514 GEO 4.5

9. GM Cramling Pia 2536 SWE 4.5

10. GM Xu Yuhua 2484 CHN 3.5

11. WGM Kovanova Baira 2366 RUS 2.5

12. IM Fierro B. L 2363 ECU 1.5

Here is the only win of the day. You can run it in our pgnplayer or watch in flash below.

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Jermuk Women's Chess Grand Prix: Fifth win in a row for Dzagnidze

Lilit Mkrtchian taking on Nana Dzagnidze in Round 8

Hello Everyone,

Grandmaster Nana Dzagnidze of Georgia is set to win the Jermuk Women's Grand Prix 2010 outright. She is ahead of the rest of the field with a clear 1.5-point lead after eight rounds. There is no doubt that she would win this tournament unless for some serious self-destructing games by her.

Tatiana Kosintseva has climbed back to the second spot after beating Yuhua while Lilit Mkrtchian has dropped down to the fourth spot after losing to Dzagnidze.

GM Hou Yifan who started the tournament with two losses has made a comeback climbing to the third spot after a win over Fierro. IM Fierro remains at the bottom of the table with just one win in eight rounds.

Results of 8th round

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• Mkrtchian - Dzagnidze 0-1
• Yifan - Fierro 1-0
• Yuhua - Kosintseva 0-1
• Yang - Chiburdanidze 1-0
• Stefanova - Kovanova 1/2-1/2
• Danielian - Cramling 1/2-1/2

Standings after 8 rounds

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1. GM Dzagnidze Nana 2478 GEO 7½

2. GM Kosintseva Tatiana 2534 RUS 6

3. GM Hou Yifan 2589 CHN 5

4. IM Mkrtchian Lilit 2477 ARM 5

5. GM Stefanova Antoaneta 2560 BUL 4

6. IM Danielian Elina 2473 ARM 4

7. WGM Shen Yang 2452 CHN 4

8. GM Chiburdanidze Maia 2514 GEO 3

9. GM Cramling Pia 2536 SWE 3

10. GM Xu Yuhua 2484 CHN 3

11. WGM Kovanova Baira 2366 RUS 2½

12. IM Fierro B. Martha L 2363 ECU 1

You can see key positions in all the games here.

Here is the interesting game between Dzagnidze and Mkrtchian. You can run it in our pgnplayer or watch it in the flashplayer below.

PGN: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d5 7. Bg5 dxc4 8. Qxc4 b6 9. Rd1 Ba6 10. Qc2 Nbd7 11. e4 Qc8 12. Bxa6 Qxa6 13. Ne2 c5 14. O-O Rac8 15. Nc3 Rfe8 16. Rd2 b5 17. dxc5 Rxc5 18. Bxf6 Nxf6 19. Rfd1 Qb7 20. Rd4 Qc7 21. Qe2 Qe5 22. Rd8 Kf8 23. Rxe8+ Nxe8 24. Rd8 Qc7 25. Qd3 Ke7 26. Rd4 g5 27. Qe3 a6 28. g3 h6 29. Rd3 Nd6 30. b3 g4 31. Qd4 h5 32. Re3 a5 33. b4 axb4 34. axb4 Rc4 35. Qg7 Rxb4 36. e5 Nf5 37. Qf6+ Ke8 38. Rd3 Rd4 39. Qh8+ Kd7 40. Rxd4+ Nxd4 41. Ne4 Qc1+ 42. Kg2 Nf3 43. Nf6+ Kc7 0-1

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Nana Dzagnidze unstoppable at Jermuk Women's Chess Grand Prix 2010

Comfortably ahead of the field: GM Nana Dzagnidze

Hi Everyone,

Grandmaster Nana Dzagnidze is unstoppable at the Jermuk Grand Prix 2010. The Georgian player won the seventh round also beating former world champion Grandmaster Maia Chiburdanidze. Dzagnidze leads in the tournament with an impressive 6.5/7. She has taken her lead to a full 1.5 points now. The fact that Dzagnidze was playing Black didn't matter at all!

Chiburdanidze did everything to pile up an attack down the g-file but Dzagnidze never allowed that attack to materialize and got the full point with a passed pawn rolling down the c-file.

Meanwhile, Yifan drew her game while Kosintseva won hers. Kosintseva once again climbed to the second spot drawing level with Lilit Mkrtchian. Mkrtchian also drew her game with Danielian to remain in the second spot.

Round 7 results

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Danielian - Mkrtchian 1/2-1/2

Cramling - Stefanova 1/2-1/2

Kovanova - Yifan 1/2-1/2

Fierro - Yuhua 1-0

Kosintseva - Yang 1-0

Chiburdanidze - Dzagnidze 0-1

Standings after Round 7

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1. GM Dzagnidze Nana 2478 GEO 6½

2. IM Mkrtchian Lilit 2477 ARM 5

3. GM Kosintseva Tatiana 2534 RUS 5

4. GM Hou Yifan 2589 CHN 4

5. GM Stefanova Antoaneta 2560 BUL 3½

6. IM Danielian Elina 2473 ARM 3½

7. WGM Shen Yang 2452 CHN 3½

8. GM Xu Yuhua 2484 CHN 3

9. GM Chiburdanidze Maia 2514 GEO 2½

10. GM Cramling Pia 2536 SWE 2½

11. WGM Kovanova Baira 2366 RUS 2

12. IM Fierro B. Martha L 2363 ECU 1

Here is the interesting match between Dzagnidze and Chiburdanidze. You can run it in our pgnplayer or watch it in the flashplayer below. You can also see key positions in all the games here.

PGN: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 Bd6 8. O-O O-O 9. b3 e5 10. h3 Qe7 11. Qc2 b5 12. Bd3 Bb7 13. Ng5 h6 14. Nge4 Bc7 15. Ng3 Rfc8 16. Nf5 Qf8 17. f4 exd4 18. Nxd4 a6 19. a4 c5 20. Nf5 c4 21. bxc4 bxc4 22. Be2 Bb6 23. Rb1 Rab8 24. Kh2 Ba5 25. Bf3 Bxf3 26. Rxb8 Rxb8 27. gxf3 g6 28. Rg1 Kh7 29. Nh4 Bxc3 30. Qxc3 Qb4 31. Qd4 Qxa4 32. e4 Qc2+ 33. Ng2 Rb3 34. Be3 Rd3 35. Qa7 Qe2 36. e5 Nh5 37. Qb7 Ng7 38. Re1 Qa2 39. Qe4 Nf8 40. Qb7 c3 41. Bc1 Nfe6 42. Qxf7 Rxf3 43. Re3 Rxe3 44. Bxe3 c2 45. Qd7 Qc4 0-1

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

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Dzagnidze leads, Mkrtchian in second spot at Jermuk Women's Chess Grand Prix 2010

Lilit Mkrtchian now in second spot at Grand Prix.

Hello Everyone!

Grandmaster Nana Dzagnidze is sailing strong and bright at the Jermuk Women's Chess Grand Prix-2010. In the sixth round she maintained her lead by beating Tatiana Kosintseva. Kosintseva was in second spot behind Dzagnidze in the fifth round.

Meanwhile, IM Lilit Mkrtchian beat GM Maia Chiburdanidze to jump to second spot behind Nana. In the other rounds WGM Shen Yang beat Fierro Baquero Martha L. Fierro is yet to score any points in the Grand Prix.

GM Xu Yuhua also beat WGM Kovanova Baira and GM Hou Yifan beat GM Pia Cramling. GM Antoaneta Stefanova also beat IM Elina Danielian making it an all-White-win day at the Grand Prix.

Round 6 results

--------------------

• IM Mkrtchian Lilit-GM Chiburdanidze Maia 1-0
• GM Dzagnidze Nana-GM Kosintseva Tatiana 1-0
• WGM Shen Yang-Fierro Baquero Martha L 1-0
• GM Xu Yuhua-WGM Kovanova Baira 1-0
• GM Hou Yifan-GM Cramling Pia 1-0
• GM Stefanova Antoaneta-IM Danielian Elina 1-0

Standings after Round 6

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1. GM Dzagnidze Nana 2478 GEO 5½

2. IM Mkrtchian Lilit 2477 ARM 4½

3. GM Kosintseva Tatiana 2534 RUS 4

4. WGMShen Yang 2452 CHN 3½

5. GM Hou Yifan 2589 CHN 3½

6. GM Stefanova Antoaneta 2560 BUL 3

7. IM Danielian Elina 2473 ARM 3

8. GM Xu Yuhua 2484 CHN 3

9. GM Chiburdanidze Maia 2514 GEO 2½

10. GM Cramling Pia 2536 SWE 2

11. WGMKovanova Baira 2366 RUS 1½

12. IM Fierro B. Martha L 2363 ECU 0

You can check the tournament website for interviews and other updates. You can see key moments in all the games here.

Here are the games from the top two boards. You can run them in our pgnplayer or watch in flash below.

PGN: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nge2 d5 6. a3 Be7 7. cxd5 exd5 8. g3 a5 9. Bg2 Na6 10. O-O Re8 11. f3 c5 12. Bd2 b6 13. Be1 Nc7 14. Bf2 Ba6 15. Qd2 cxd4 16. exd4 Bf8 17. Rfe1 Ne6 18. Nc1 b5 19. Nd3 b4 20. Na4 bxa3 21. bxa3 Bb5 22. Nc3 Ba6 23. Ne5 Qd6 24. f4 Nc7 25. Qa2 Rad8 26. Na4 Nd7 27. Rac1 Bb5 28. Nc5 Nxc5 29. Rxc5 Bc4 30. Qd2 Qb6 31. Nxc4 Rxe1+ 32. Qxe1 dxc4 33. Rc6 Qa7 34. d5 Qb8 35. Bb6 Re8 36. Qxa5 Na8 37. Bf2 Qb3 38. Ra6 c3 39. Rc6 Qd1+ 40. Bf1 c2 41. Qc3 Re2 42. d6 Nb6 43. Bxb6 Re1 44. Qxe1 Qxe1 45. d7 c1=Q 46. Rxc1 Qxc1 47. d8=Q Qxa3 48. Qd5 Qc1 49. Kg2 Qc2+ 50. Bf2 Qc7 51. Bc4 1-0

PGN: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d5 7. Bg5 dxc4 8. Qxc4 b6 9. Rd1 Ba6 10. Qc2 Nbd7 11. e4 Bxf1 12. Kxf1 Qc8 13. Qc6 e5 14. Ne2 exd4 15. Nxd4 Ne5 16. Qc2 Qa6+ 17. Kg1 Rad8 18. f3 c5 19. Nf5 Qc4 20. Qb1 Rd3 21. Rf1 Rb3 22. Bxf6 gxf6 23. Qe1 Rxb2 24. Qg3+ Ng6 25. h4 h5 26. Rd1 Kh7 27. Kh2 Rg8 28. Ne3 Qe6 29. Rd5 Ne5 30. Qf4 c4 31. Rg1 c3 32. Rc1 Rb3 33. Nf5 Rg6 34. Nd4 Qxd5 35. exd5 Nd3 36. Qc7 1-0

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com