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From June 9 to 23, 2012 Kazan,
the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, will play host to the FIDE Women's
Grand Prix, part of a series of elite events organised by FIDE and Global Chess.
There will be six tournaments over two years in various countries around the
world. The winner of each tournament takes home 6,500 Euros, the total prize
fund is 40,000 Euros. The overall winner will get a further 15,000 Euros at
the end of the series. Starting time of the games is 15:00h (check
your local time here).
Twelve top women players are competing in Kazan, which is an eleven-round all-play-all
event. Among them is women's world champion Hou Yifan, former world champions
Alexandra Kosteniuk, Antoaneta Stefanova as well as current number three and
four among women by rating Anna Muzychuk and Humpy Koneru. Four members of National
Russian team, current Olympic champions Tatiana Kosintseva, Nadezhda Kosintseva,
Alexandra Kosteniuk, Alisa Galliamova will represent Russian Federation.
The participants: Nadezhda, Tatiana Kosintseva, Viktorija Cmilyte, Alexandra
Kosteniuk, Elina Danielian, Alisa Galliamova, Antoaneta Stefanova, Betul Cemre
Yildiz, Anna Muzychuk, Kateryna Lahno, Hou Yifan, Humpy Koneru.
View
Larger Map – Kazan Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga and
Kazanka Rivers in European Russia. It is the capital and largest city of the
Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. With a population of 1,161,308, it is the eighth
most populous city in Russia.
Opening ceremony
Music and dance in the style of the Republic of Tatarstan
The women in white flowing apparel
The four tenors of Tatarstan
The first President of the Republic of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev, now
Senior Advisor
to the FIDE President welcomes the participants on behalf of chess lovers of
Tatarstan.
Shaimiev recalled that a year ago Kazan hosted the Candidates
Matches which determined the challenger Boris Gelfand for the recently finished
world chess championship match. "And now we have been entrusted to carry
out one of the stages of FIDE Women Grand Prix”, said the State Advisor
of the Republic of Tatarstan. He also announced that during World Universiade
2013, which will be held in Kazan, chess will be included to the program as
one of the sports
The Chief Arbiter of the tournament Sultan Al Tahir conducted the ceremony
of drawing of lots. Each participant chose an ornamental plate with different
views of Kazan, with the number on the bottom. Women's world champion Hou Yifan,
above, drew the 11.
At the ceremonial banquet Mintimer Shaimiev proposes a toast
The ladies, with Humpy's father Ashok on the left
Finally the technical meeting, led by Sultan Al Tahir and Global Chess CEO Geoffrey
Borg
Video stream of the round
The Russian organisers are providing a HD video stream
of the action with expert commentary from Kazan. |
Photos and reports by Anastasiya Karlovich, with kind permission
of FIDE