Rostov R4: Yifan wins again, now 1.5 points ahead

The Rostov Chess Federation in collaboration with FIDE and Global Chess is organising the first event for the 2011/2012 Women's Grand Prix series. The tournament is being held in the Don-Plaza Hotel and runs from August 1st (arrival, opening) until August 15 (departure). The eleven rounds are between August 2nd and 14, with rest days on the 6th and 11th. The start of the games from of rounds 1-10 is 3:00 p.m. local time, round 11 at starts at noon local time. The winner receives 6,500 Euros out of a total prize fund of 40,000 Euros, and the overall winner of the Women's Grand Prix will win a further 15,000 Euros at the end of the series.

Round four

Hou Yifan-Anna Muzychuk. Before this round these two players were in first and second place. They played a Marshall Attack in the Ruy Lopez, with a well-prepared Anna Muzychuk calling the shots. However her home analysis ended at move fifteen, as she confessed, and she missed a good drawing chance two moves later. After good defensive work in a scary position Hou took over and steered into a technically winning endgame. This encounter is definitely worth playing through.

The phenomenal 4-0 Chinese GM in the press conference

Kateryna Lahno - Nadezhda Kosintseva was a Closed Catalan (or perhaps the Reti Opening) that turned into a slugfest. By the first time control they were down to a rook and opposite colored bishop ending in which Black had an extra pawn but White was calling the shots. With precise and imaginative play Kateryna steered it to victory.

In the press conference after the game, Nadezhda speaks...

... and Katya listens critically

Tatiana Kosintseva-Elina Danielian: Black chose the Caro-Kann Defence, with the typical plan of moving the knight to h6, aiming at f5. White exchanged and gave Black double pawns on the h-file. However the Armenian had the bishop pair and after her manoeuvre Bg7-f8-c5 things began to look very good for her. She must have been winning around move 23 but turned it into a drawish rook ending after the time control.

Lufei Ruan-Ekaterina Kovalevskaya was a determined Sicilian Defense by the Russian player. After her Chinese opponent took the advantage around move 21 Ekaterina Kovalevskaya defended grittily and wrapped it up to a kight and pawn vs knight and two pawns ending which she was able to hold. That brings her score from 0.5 to a full point at the bottom of the table.

Antoanetta Stefanova-Alexandra Kosteniuk, two former women's world champions, played a Queen's Indian developed into an interesting pieces battle. Black gained a distinct advantage which she threw away with an inaccuracy on move 35 (...Qd7 or ...Qc8 to attack the white g-pawn). After that precise defence secured White the draw.

In her day job the photographer in the background is arbiter WGM Zsuzsa Veröci

Humpy Koneru-Alisa Galliamova was a Slav with castling on opposite sides. Humpy gained a small advantage but her opponent managed to force the draw by repeating positions – four times, if the tournament records are to be trusted.

Humpy and Alisa in the press conference after their game

Humpy's father Ashok, who is always with her (as trainer and adviser)

The playing venue in the Don-Plaza Hotel in Rostov

We have always said: chess is a game that is made for the Internet

Current standings

Pictures by Anastasiya Karlovich and
Kema Goryaeva with kind permission of FIDE

Schedule and results

Links Official tournament site All games in PGN 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 11 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.

Copyright ChessBase