Dzagnidze leads GP in Jermuk
After four rounds Nana Dzagnidze leads the 4th FIDE Women Grand Prix in Jermuk, Armenia. The Georgian grandmaster is on 3.5/4. The winner of the previous GP, Tatiana Kosintseva from Russia, is trailing by half a point.
Hou Yifan from China is currently leading the overall Women GP standings with 250 points, followed by Zhao Xue (240), Humpy Koneru (230) and Nana Dzagnidze (230). The first Women GP was held in March 2009 in Istanbul and was won by Humpy Koneru. Xu Yuhua finished first at the second, in September-October 2009 in Nanjing. In March of this year Tatiana Kosintseva was the convincing winner.
FIDE Women Grand Prix: Standings after 3 tournaments
(Thanks to ebutaljib)
The Women Grand Prix series consists of six tournaments. The winner of each tournament wins 6,500 euros out of a prize fund of 40,000 euros and the overall winner of the series will win a further 15,000 euros at the end of the series. The final two GPs will be held in Ulanbaatar, Mongolia (29 July-12 August 2010) and Santiago, Chile (27 October-9 November 2010).
According to FIDE regulations, the winner of the Grand Prix series at the end of 2010 will play the Women World Champion in the third quarter of 2011 in a ten game match for the Women’s World Championship title.
The 4th FIDE Women Grand Prix tournament takes place June 23 - July 6 in Jermuk, Armenia, where last year the 5th Men's GP was also held. Hou Yifan (CHN, 2589), Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL, 2560), Pia Cramling (SWE, 2536), Tatiana Kosintseva (RUS, 2534), Maia Chiburdanidze (GEO, 2514), Xu Yuhua (CHN, 2484), Nana Dzagnidze (GEO, 2478), Lilit Mkrtchian (ARM, 2477), Elina Danielian (ARM, 2473), Shen Yang (CHN, 2452), Baira Kovanova (RUS, 2366) and Martha Fierro (ECU, 2363) play.
Nana Dzagnidze started strongly in Jermuk. She beat Antoaneta Stefanova and Elina Danielian, then drew with Pia Cramling and then beat Baira Kovanova. Tatiana Kosintseva, who won the last Grand Prix in Nalchik, drew twice and won twice.
Games rounds 1-4
Game viewer by ChessTempo
Location is the beautiful Jermuk, Armenia...
...with fairy-tale bridges...
...and faces, this is a sandstone 'Mother Sose' (Sose Vardanian, 1865–1952), an Armenian female hajduk (freedom fighter), the wife of famous hajduk leader Serob Aghpur. She was surnamed "mayrig" (mother) by Serob's hajduks for her bravery and maternal concern for Armenian youth.
The venue, with demo boards in front
The opening ceremony, last Wednesday...
...with many officials present, including FIDE Commercial Director Geoffrey Borg, Technical Adviser Nona Gapridashvili, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, Serge Sarkissian (President of Armenia and the Armenian Chess Federation) and organizer, GM Smbat Lputian
Grand Prix leader Hou Yifan (China) drawing her lot...
...and former World Champion Maia Chiburdanidze doing the same
Organizer GM Smbat Lputian keeping an eye on everything
The stunning playing hall which you might recall from last year's Men's GP
Photos © FIDE, more here
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Founder and editor-in-chief of ChessVibes.com, Peter is responsible for most of the chess news and tournament reports. Often visiting top events, he also provides photos and videos for the site. He's a 1.e4 player himself, likes Thai food and the Stones.
Comments
Rob Brown
1 year 7 months ago
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Jeez, those Armenians conducting the drawing of lots should get out in the sun more often!
VladimirOo
1 year 7 months ago
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Hem, apart from money; what's the point of separate women GP?
I know this has been debated over and over, but the point of all this remains...
Michel83
1 year 7 months ago
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Does anybody else feel like there is a crossroad for Hou Yifan soon?
She clearly has the potential for 2700, but seems stuck slightly under 2600 since some time.
I feel like she either needs to change her coach and training or will be stuck at 2600 forever. What would be a huge pity with her tactical abilities.
noyb
1 year 7 months ago
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The point of separate women GP is that if they dared mix women with men, the women would always be finishing near the bottom. Case in point, Judit Polgar. Much was made about her, but she always finished near the bottom vs. the top men. What's the point?
vladimirOo
1 year 7 months ago
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We might argue that by never facing a stronger opposition, they will never progress. And precisely, i do worry about Hou Yifan too: let's hope she will dare facing men and try to get stronger!
and Judith was a permanent top 10 (if not more), i believe a lot of people would consider this as complete successful career as a chessplayer!
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