Third women's chess grand prix begins today in Nalchik

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

Hello everyone,

Another 'beautiful' chess news. The third Fide Women's Chess Grand Prix begins in Nalchik today. Of course the games would start tomorrow but we're all excited. No interest taken away from the ongoing Grand Slam Masters in Bilbao with top men grandmasters of the chess planet. 

This Women's Grand Prix would take us through to all the way till October 23. Nalchik is the capital of Kabardiono Balkaria. Apart from the three former Women World Champions - GM Alexandra Kosteniuk from Russia, GM Antoaneta Stefanova from Bulgaria and GM Zhu Chen from Qatar - we would also see top Russian sisters in action, Tatiana and Nadezhda Kosinteva. They will all be challenged by another two top world class players GM Katerina Lahno from Ukraine and WGM Ju Wenjun from China. The other talented chess players in the event include Viktorija Cmilyte, Alisa Galliamova, Zhao Xue, Munguntuul Batkhuyag and Ekaterina Kovalevskaya. That makes a total of eight GMs, one WGM and two IMs. 

Stay tuned for all the info. You can access the official website at this link.

And, just a trip down memory lane. Enjoy the video.

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From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

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Also see her personal blog at

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Hou Yifan wins Women's Chess Grand Prix in Mongolia

Photos from the closing ceremony.

Hello Everyone,

The talented young Hou Yifan has won the Women's Chess Grand Prix in Ulan Bator, Mongolia without losing a single game. She came to the eleventh round needing only a draw against GM Antoaneta Stefanova who was just half point behind. And, draw she got despite Stefanova going all out for a win.

Stefanova was second while Tatiana Kosintseva got the third spot. Tatiana beat Zhao Xue and top seed Koneru Humpy on tie-break as all three had 6.5 points each. You can see several photos and other details on the official website.

Results of Round 10

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

1. GM Chiburdanidze Maia-WGM Shen Yang ½ - ½

2. IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag-GM Zhu Chen 0-1

3. GM Stefanova Antoaneta-GM Hou Yifan ½ - ½

4. GM Kosintseva Tatiana- WIM Yildiz Betul Cemre 1-0

5. GM Zhao Xue-GM Sebag Marie ½ - ½

6. GM Xu Yuhua-GM Koneru Humpy ½ - ½

Final standings

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

1. GM Hou Yifan 8

2. GM Stefanova Antoaneta 7½

3. GM Kosintseva Tatiana 6½

4. GM Zhao Xue 6½

5. GM Koneru Humpy 6½

6. GM Chiburdanidze Maia 6

7. GM Xu Yuhua 5½

8. WGM Shen Yang 5

9. GM Zhu Chen 5

10. GM Sebag Marie 4

11. IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul 3½

12. WIM Yildiz Betul 2

Here is the nice Stefanova-Yifan game from the last round. You can run it in our pgnplayer or watch in flash below.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

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Also see her personal blog at

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Women's Chess Grand Prix: Hou Yifan in lead after 9 rounds

GM Hou Yifan

Hello Everybody,

The talented youngster GM Hou Yifan had fallen ill before the eighth round and played her game against GM Zhu Chen on the rest day.

But surely she recovered well! Because she beat Chen and then drew with Maia Chiburdanidze in the ninth round to top the table with 6.5 points! She is closely followed by GMs Koneru Humpy and Antoaneta Stefanova at 6 points each.

There are still two rounds to go. You can check photos and other statistics at the official website.

Results of Round 9

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

1. GM Zhu Chen-WGM Shen Yang ½ - ½

2. GM Chiburdanidze Maia- GM Hou Yifan ½ - ½

3. IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag-WIM Yildiz Betul Cemre 1 - 0

4. GM Stefanova Antoaneta-GM Sebag Marie 1-0

5. GM Kosintseva Tatiana-GM Koneru Humpy ½ - ½

6. GM Zhao Xue-GM Xu Yuhua 0-1

Standings after Round 9

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

1. GM Hou Yifan 6½

2. GM Koneru Humpy 6

3. GM Stefanova Antoaneta 6

4. GM Kosintseva Tatiana 5½

5. GM Chiburdanidze Maia 5½

6. GM Zhao Xue 5

7. GM Xu Yuhua 4½

8. WGM Shen Yang 4

9. IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag 3½

10. GM Zhu Chen 3

11. GM Sebag Marie 2½

12. WIM Yildiz Betul Cemre 2

Here is the nice Hou Yifan-Zhu Chen game. You can run the moves in our pgnplayer or watch in flash below.

PGN: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nge7 4. c3 a6 5. Ba4 g6 6. d4 exd4 7. cxd4 b5 8. Bb3 Bg7 9. a4 b4 10. O-O Na5 11. Bc2 d6 12. Nbd2 O-O 13. Nb3 Nec6 14. h3 Nxb3 15. Bxb3 Na5 16. Ba2 Bb7 17. Bg5 Qb8 18. Re1 Re8 19. Bd2 c5 20. Rc1 Qa7 21. dxc5 dxc5 22. Ng5 Rf8 23. Be3 Rac8 24. Bxf7+ Kh8 25. Rxc5 Rxc5 26. Ne6 Qb8 27. Nxf8 Qxf8 28. Bxc5 Qxc5 29. Qd8+ Bf8 30. Rd1 Kg7 31. Bd5 Bc8 32. Qe8 Be7 33. Qf7+ Kh6 34. Qf4+ Bg5 35. Qg3 Qc2 36. Qf3 Qc5 37. g3 Qe7 38. h4 Bf6 39. Qe3+ Kg7 40. Qb6 Qd8 41. Qxb4 Nc6 42. Qc5 Bg4 43. Rc1 Ne7 44. Qc7 Qxc7 45. Rxc7 Kf8 46. b4 Be5 47. Ra7 Bc3 48. Rxa6 Nxd5 49. exd5 Bxb4 50. Rf6+ 1-0

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

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Women's Chess Grand Prix: Humpy back in lead

Not the one to give up: Shen Yang

Hello Everyone,

It couldn't get more exciting at the Women's Grand Prix being held in Ulan Bator, Mongolia. Top seed Koneru Humpy was back in lead after the eighth round when she convincingly beat former world champion Antoaneta Stefanova.

Sadly, Hou Yifan fell ill and her opponent Zhu Chen agreed to play the game on the free day on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Shen Yang beat Zhao Xue while Yildiz Betul Cemre lost to Maia Chiburdanidze.

Results of Round 8

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

1. WGM Shen Yang-GM Zhao Xue 1-0

2. GM Xu Yuhua-GM Kosintseva Tatiana ½ - ½

3. GM Koneru Humpy-GM Stefanova Antoaneta 1-0

4. GM Sebag Marie-IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag 1-0

5. WIM Yildiz Betul Cemre-GM Chiburdanidze Maia 0-1

6. GM Hou Yifan-GM Zhu Chen (To be played on Sunday)

Standings after Round 8

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

1. GM Koneru Humpy 5½

2. GM Kosintseva Tatiana 5

3. GM Zhao Xue 5

4. GM Stefanova Antoaneta 5

5. GM Hou Yifan 5

6. GM Chiburdanidze Maia 5

7. WGM Shen Yang 3½

8. GM Xu Yuhua 3½

9. IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag 2½

10. GM Zhu Chen 2½

11. GM Sebag Marie 2½

12. WIM Yildiz Betul Cemre 2

Here is the nice Humpy-Stefanova game to run through the pgnplayer or watch in flashplayer below. You can also see the official website here.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com

Women's Chess Grand Prix: Day of upsets, three-way tie for lead

IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag and

GM Koneru Humpy before their seventh round game.

Hello Everyone,

Top seed GM Koneru Humpy lost her rhythm during the seventh round at the Women's Chess Grand Prix being held in Ulan Bator, Mongolia. GM Zhu Chen also went down fighting to a much lower-rated player. While Humpy lost to IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag, Chen lost to WIM Yildiz Betul Cemre.

The other games were equally exciting with WGM Shen Yang holding GM Hou Yifan to a draw while GM Maia Chiburdanidze beating GM Marie Sebag. Also, GM Tatiana Kosintseva beat overnight leader GM Zhao Xue.

Now, there is a tie at the top slot with GMs Zhao Xue, Antoaneta Stefanova and Hou Yifan all at 5 points each. Kosintseva and Humpy have four points each.

Results of Round 7

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

1. GM Hou Yifan- WGM Shen Yang ½ - ½

2. GM Zhu Chen- WIM Yildiz Betul Cemre 0 - 1

3. GM Chiburdanidze Maia-GM Sebag Marie 1-0

4. IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag-GM Koneru Humpy 1-0

5. GM Stefanova Antoaneta-GM Xu Yuhua 1-0

6. GM Kosintseva Tatiana-GM Zhao Xue 1-0

Standings after Round 7

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

1. GM Zhao Xue 5

2. GM Stefanova Antoaneta 5

3. GM Hou Yifan 5

4. GM Kosintseva Tatiana 4½

5. GM Koneru Humpy 4½

6. GM Chiburdanidze Maia 4

7. GM Xu Yuhua 3

8. IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag 2½

9. GM Zhu Chen 2½

10. WGM Shen Yang 2½

11. WIM Yildiz Betul Cemre 2

12. GM Sebag Marie 1½

Here is the nice Batkhuyag-Humpy game that had Humpy in time trouble as well. You can run the moves through the pgnplayer or watch in the flashplayer below. Don't miss the sacrifices on the fifteenth and thirty-sixth moves. You can also check the official website here.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

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Women's Chess Grand Prix: Zhao Xue keeps leads

Fighting spirit: Former World Champion Maia Chiburdanidze

Hi Everyone,

Fluctuating fortunes and fighting chess is happening at the Women's Grand Prix in Ulan Bator, Mongolia. The sixth round saw interesting results. Overnight joint leader GM Antoaneta Stefanova lost her game with Black to joint leader GM Zhao Xue giving the latter a half point lead over the rest of the field.

GM hou Yifan and GM Koneru Humpy both moved to joint second by winning their games against WIM Yildiz Betul Cemre and GM Maia Chiburdanidze respectively. Humpy slogged it out for 108 moves to get the better of the former world champion.

Results of Round 6

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

1. WGM Shen Yang-GM Kosintseva Tatiana ½ - ½

2. GM Zhao Xue-GM Stefanova Antoaneta 1-0

3. GM Xu Yuhua-IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag 1-0

4. GM Koneru Humpy-GM Chiburdanidze Maia 1-0

5. GM Sebag Marie-GM Zhu Chen 0-1

6. WIM Yildiz Betul Cemre-GM Hou Yifan 0-1

Standings after Round 6

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

1. GM Zhao Xue 5

2. GM Hou Yifan 4½

3. GM Koneru Humpy 4½

4. GM Stefanova Antoaneta 4

5. GM Kosintseva Tatiana 3½

6. GM Chiburdanidze Maia 3

7. GM Xu Yuhua 3

8. GM Zhu Chen 2½

9. WGM Shen Yang 2

10. IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag 1½

11. GM Sebag Marie 1½

12. WIM Yildiz Betul Cemre 1

Here are some nice games from Round 6 that you can run through the pgnplayer or watch in flash below. You can also keep track of updates at the official website.

PGN:1.d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. e4 d5 6. e5 Ne4 7. Bd3 c5 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. O-O cxd4 11. Nxd5 Qxd5 12. Bxe4 Qxe5 13. Bxh7+ Kh8 14. Bf4 Qf6 15. Be4 Re8 16. Rac1 Bd7 17. Qd3 Rxe4 18. Qxe4 Re8 19. Qd5 Bg4 20. f3 Bc8 21. Rf2 Rd8 22. Qh5+ Kg8 23. Bg5 Qe5 24. Ng3 f6 25. Bd2 Bf8 26. Re2 Qxh5 27. Nxh5 a5 28. Nf4 Kf7 29. h4 Bf5 30. g4 Bh7 31. Ne6 Rd5 32. Nxf8 Kxf8 33. Kg2 Kf7 34. f4 Bd3 35. Ree1 f5 36. g5 a4 37. b4 axb3 38. axb3 Be4+ 39. Kg3 Kg6 40. b4 d3 41. Rc5 Rxc5 42. bxc5 Nd4 43. Ra1 Nf3 44. Ra2 Bd5 45. Rb2 Nd4 46. Rb6+ Bc6 47. Kf2 Kh5 48. Ke3 Ne6 49. Kxd3 Nxc5+ 50. Kd4 Nd7 51. Rb1 Kxh4 52. Ra1 Kh5 53. Ra8 Kg6 54. Bb4 Kf7 55. Bd6 Be4 56. Be5 Nf8 57. Rb8 Ne6+ 58. Kc4 Bc6 59. Bd6 Kg6 60. Rh8 Kf7 61. Kd3 Be4+ 62. Ke3 Bc6 63. Kf2 Kg6 64. Kg3 Kf7 65. Rh2 Kg6 66. Ra2 Be4 67. Ra5 Kf7 68. Re5 Bd3 69. Kf3 Be4+ 70. Ke3 Bc2 71. Bb4 Be4 72. Ba3 Bc2 73. Kf3 Be4+ 74. Kg3 Bd3 75. g6+ Kf6 76. Bb2 Ke7 77. Rd5 Be4 78. Ra5 Bd3 79. Ra8 Bb5 80. Rb8 Bc6 81. Be5 Be4 82. Kh4 Bc6 83. Rg8 Bd5 84. Rh8 Bc6 85. Rh7 Kf8 86. Rh5 Be4 87. Bd6+ Ke8 88. Kg3 Kd7 89. Ba3 Ke8 90. Rh8+ Kd7 91. Rh2 Ke8 92. Rd2 Bb1 93. Rd6 Ba2 94. Kf3 Bc4 95. Ke3 Ba2 96. Rb6 Bd5 97. Rb5 Be4 98. Re5 Kd7 99. Bb2 Bc2 100. Ba3 Be4 101. Rxe4 fxe4 102. Bb2 Nc5 103. f5 Ke7 104. Bxg7 Nd7 105. Kxe4 Nc5+ 106. Kf4 b5 107. Bc3 Nd3+ 108. Ke3 1-0

PGN: 1. c4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e3 Bf5 4. Nc3 e6 5. Qb3 Qb6 6. c5 Qc7 7. e4 dxe4 8. Bf4 Qc8 9. Nge2 Nf6 10. Ng3 Bg6 11. Bc4 Nbd7 12. O-O Nd5 13. Bd2 Nxc3 14. bxc3 b5 15. Be2 h5 16. Rfe1 h4 17. Nf1 Be7 18. a4 a6 19. Bd1 e5 20. Bc2 exd4 21. cxd4 O-O 22. Bxe4 Bxe4 23. Rxe4 Bf6 24. Rae1 Rd8 25. Ba5 Rf8 26. h3 bxa4 27. Qxa4 Qb7 28. Nd2 Rfb8 29. Nc4 Qb5 30. Qa2 Kh7 31. Bc7 Qb3 32. Qe2 Rc8 33. Re3 Qb7 34. Ba5 Qa7 35. Nd6 Rf8 36. Qf3 Kg8 37. Re7 Bxd4 38. Bb6 Nxb6 39. Rxa7 1-0

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

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Also see her personal blog at

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Women's Chess Grand Prix: Stefanova, Zhao in joint lead after 5 rounds

GM Antoaneta Stefanova

Hi Everyone,

Former Women's World Chess Champion GM Antoaneta Stefanova won her third straight game at the Women's Grand Prix in Ulan Bator, Mongolia in the fifth round. She now leads jointly with GM Zhao Xue. Both have four points each.

In the fifth round Stefanova got the better of Tatiana Kosintseva. Top seed GM Koneru Humpy drew yet again. She played Black against GM Zhu Chen. Meanwhile, GM Maia Chiburdanidze beat GM Xu Yuhua and WIM Yildiz Betul Cemre lost to WGM Shen Yang. GM Hou Yifan beat GM Marie Sebag.

Earlier, just before the start of the fifth round, Maia Chiburdanidze was felicitated for being the Women's World Chess Champion five times and continuing to play. You can check the official website for more details.

Results of Round 5

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

1. WIM Yildiz Betul Cemre-WGM Shen Yang 0-1

2. GM Hou Yifan-GM Sebag Marie 1-0

3. GM Zhu Chen-GM Koneru Humpy ½ - ½

4. GM Chiburdanidze Maia-GM Xu Yuhua 1-0

5. IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag-GM Zhao Xue ½ - ½

6. GM Stefanova Antoaneta-GM Kosintseva Tatiana 1-0

Standings after Round 5

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

1. GM Stefanova Antoaneta 4

2. GM Zhao Xue 4

3. GM Hou Yifan 3½

4. GM Koneru Humpy 3½

5. GM Chiburdanidze Maia 3

6. GM Kosintseva Tatiana 3

7. GM Xu Yuhua 2

8. GM Zhu Chen 1½

9. IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag 1½

10. GM Sebag Marie 1½

11. WGM Shen Yang 1½

12. WIM Yildiz Betul Cemre 1

Here is the nice Stefanova-Kosintseva game with both players caught in a time scramble. You can check the moves in the pgnplayer or watch the flashplayer below.

PGN: 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 d5 3. e3 g6 4. Bxf6 exf6 5. Ne2 Bd6 6. g3 c6 7. Bg2 f5 8. b3 Be6 9. Qd3 Nd7 10. Nd2 Nf6 11. c4 Ne4 12. c5 Bc7 13. b4 h5 14. Nf3 Qf6 15. h4 Qg7 16. O-O f6 17. b5 g5 18. bxc6 bxc6 19. Qa6 Bd7 20. Rab1 O-O 21. Rb7 Bc8 22. Rfb1 Bxb7 23. Rxb7 Qd7 24. hxg5 Nxg5 25. Nh4 Rfb8 26. Nf4 Ne4 27. Qxa7 1-0

Here is the interesting Chiburdanidze-Yuhua game with the pgn moves.

PGN: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Ba6 5. Qc2 Bb7 6. Bf4 Be4 7. Qd2 d5 8. Nc3 Bd6 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Qe3 Qe6 13. Nxe4 Qxe4 14. Qxe4+ dxe4 15. Nd2 f5 16. g4 g6 17. gxf5 gxf5 18. Bh3 Rf8 19. Rc1 Nd7 20. Nc4 Ke7 21. Ne3 Ke6 22. Rg1 Bxh2 23. Rg6+ Rf6 24. Bxf5+ Kd6 25. Bxe4 Rxg6 26. Rc6+ Ke7 27. Nd5+ Kf7 28. Bxg6+ Kg7 29. Bf5 Nf8 30. Nxc7 Rd8 31. e3 h5 32. Ke2 Bd6 1-0

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com