FIDE Women's Grand Prix in Shenzhen, China

The second stage of FIDE Women's Grand Prix cycle 2011-2012 is being staged from 5th to 20th of September in the Wuzhou Hotel in Shenzhen, China. The tournament is being organized by the Shenzhen Press Group in collaboration with FIDE and Chinese Chess Federation. The participants include the current Women World Champion Hou Yifan and the former World Champion Zhu Chen, the current European Champion Viktorija Cmilyte. The winner of the tournament will receive 6,500 euros out of a prize fund of 40,000 Euros. Games startat 3:00 p.m. local time (round 11 starts at noon). Rest days are September 11th (after round four) and September 16th (after round eight).

Participants

Round 1 – Wednesday, 07 September 2011
The opening round passed in a tense struggle on all boards, with three decisive games. Playing white World Champion Hou Yifan got the advantage in the middle game and defeated Russian IM Ekaterina Kovalevskaya. Zhao Xue and Anna Muzichuk won their games against Munguntuul Batkhuyag and Elina Danielian accordingly. Three other games, Betul Yildiz-Zhu Chen, Tan Zhongui-Ju Wenjun and Viktorija Chmilyte-Ruan Lufei were drawn. Full report here.

Round 2 – Thursday, 08 September 2011
The second round left two players with perfect scores: Chinese GMs Zhao Xue and Hou Yifan, both playing black, won their games against Yildiz Betul Cemre and Munguntuul Batkhuyag respectively. Another Chinese player Ju Wenjun, was close to duplicating the success of her compatriots in her game against Viktorija Cmilyte, but overlooked the winning move in time pressure. Three other games, Zhu Chen-Ruan Lufey, Ekaterina Kovalevskaya-Anna Muzychuk, Elina Danielian-Tan Zhongyi also ended in draws. Full report here.

Round 3 – Saturday, 10 September 2011
In the third round, playing white, World Champion Hou Yifan conceded her first half a point to Turkish WIM Betul Yildiz. The other leader, Zhao Xue, also made a draw against former world champion Zhu Chen. Viktorija Cmilyte and Tan Zongyi managed to win their games against Elina Danielian and Ekaterina Kovalevskaya respectively. Munguntuul Batkhuyag took her first half a point in the game against Anna Muzychuk. Ruan Lufei made the third draw, against Ju Wenjun. As a result the situation with leaders didn't change – both Hou Yifan and Zhao Xue have 2.5 points from three games and share first place. Viktorija Cmilyte, Anna Muzychuk and Tan Zhongy share the third place with two points. Full report here.

Standings after three rounds

From the opening ceremony, with a musical erhu presentation.

A dance ensemble with traditional local costumes

A violinist plays Sunshine on Taxkorgan and Bach's Gavotte and Rondo

A scene from a traditional Chinese opera

The drawing of colours with the Vice General Secretary of the Chinese Chess
Federation Abigail Tian Hongwei

Women's World Champion Hou Yifan chose dog

Players with their choice of animals: Munguntuul Bathhuyag, Ju Wenjun, Victorija
Cmilyte, Hou Yifan, Anna Muzychuk

Speeches at the opening dinner: Chairman of Chinese Chess Federation Chu Bo, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, main sponsor Chen Yin, Vice General Secretary of the Chinese Chess Federation Abigail Tian Hongwei, advisor of President Ilyumzhinov Berik Balgabaev

At the start of round one Hou Yifan tells the dignitary which move she wants to make..

... and he duly executes it in her game against Ekaterina Kovalevskaya

The audience at the Women's Grand Prix in Shenzhen

... and facting former World Champion Zhu Chen in round three

Anastasiya Karlovich (right) in the press conference with Betul Yildiz and Zhu Chen

Anastasiya talks to Munguntuul Batkhuyag

Interviewing World Champion Hou Yifan and Munguntuul Batkhuyag after round two

A moment of levity with Anna Muzychuk and Ekaterina Kovalevskaya

Photos by Anastasiya Karlovich and He Long

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.

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