Euro Women Rapid heats up

by Albert Silver
6/3/2015 – The second day of the European Women's Rapid was confirmation of two world champions as favorites: both Antoaneta Stefanova and Alexandra Kosteniuk took the lead with 6.5/8. While Stefanova slowed down on day two with three draws, Kosteniuk was on fire and won all four of her games. They will meet in round nine with challengers waiting for just one slip.

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The tournament

The ACP-ECU European Women's Rapid championship is currently underway in Kutaisi, Georgia, following directly after the end of the standard time control championship. It is an eleven-round competition held over three days from June 1 to June 3, 2015. Games are played at a rate of 15 minutes per game per player, with an increment of ten seconds per move). The base prize fund is 10 thousand Euros, with 2000 for 1st place, 1500 Euros for 2nd, and 1000 Euros for 3rd (subject to 20% Georgian Income Tax), however there is also an additional 8000 Euros added by the ACP. All games are broadcast at the official site and at Playchess as of 1 PM Paris time or 7AM New York.

Day two

The entrance to the Bagrati hotel where the event is held in a cozy atmosphere

Emil Sutovsky, together with Jeroen Van Den Berg, the Wijk-an-Zee director and ACP board
member, as well as Gia Giorgadze at the beautiful Martvili monastery, built in the 7th century.

Georgian player IM Maia Lomineishvili, rated 2399 (FIDE Rapid) has had a see-saw event,
with three wins on day one, and three losses on day two

Giorgi Khomeriki with his two daughters, Ketevan and Nino, both of whom are playing

Stefanova had a perfect start with 4.0/4 one day one, but then conceded three draws on
day two and is now sharing the lead with...

... Alexandra Kosteniuk who went 4.0/4 on day two and is now at 6.5/8.

Nino Khurtsidze vs Nino Melashvili

White has conducted an excellent game and now tops it off with a mating
shot. White to play and win.

IM Meri Arabidze, from the deep ocean of chess talent in Georgia

IM Salome Meridze from Georgia has 4.5/8

WIM Miranda Mikadze has had a rough event and is at 3.0/8

2015 European Champion in standard time controls: Natalia Zhukova

Jeroen Van Den berg observes the action

A young talent on the rise

Solution: White mates after 1.Rd7!

Photos by Picasso

Standings after eight rounds (ratings are FIDE rapid)

Rk SNo Ti. Name FED Rtg Pts  TB
1 1 GM Stefanova Antoaneta BUL 2570 6.5 2418
2 6 GM Kosteniuk Alexandra RUS 2456 6.5 2366
3 3 GM Gunina Valentina RUS 2495 6.0 2419
4 19 IM Gvetadze Sofio GEO 2312 6.0 2416
5 9 IM Gaponenko Inna UKR 2429 6.0 2329
6 25 IM Daulyte Deimante LTU 2240 5.5 2437
7 5 IM Javakhishvili Lela GEO 2470 5.5 2358
8 10 IM Batsiashvili Nino GEO 2424 5.5 2273
9 22 WGM Charkhalashvili Inga GEO 2284 5.0 2380
10 15 IM Guramishvili Sopiko GEO 2361 5.0 2376

Click for complete standings


Links

The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 13 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.


Born in the US, he grew up in Paris, France, where he completed his Baccalaureat, and after college moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He had a peak rating of 2240 FIDE, and was a key designer of Chess Assistant 6. In 2010 he joined the ChessBase family as an editor and writer at ChessBase News. He is also a passionate photographer with work appearing in numerous publications, and the content creator of the YouTube channel, Chess & Tech.

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