Jermuk GP: Dzagnidze leads with a 2923 performance

The FIDE Women Grand Prix, a series of elite tournaments organised by FIDE and Global Chess, is being held in various countries around the world. There are six tournaments spread over two years, with three tournaments every year. The winner of each gets € 6,500 out of a prize fund of € 40,000. The overall winner of the series receives an additional € 15,000 at the end of the series. The Jermuk Grand Prix is one of the strongest women's tournaments of all times. There are eleven rounds in all, with one free day: Wednesday, June 30.

Round seven report

The game of the day was the "clash of the Georgians". It saw the leader, playing with the black pieces, against the most experienced player in the field, a legendary women's world champion (1978-1991), who is currently rated 36 points higher.

Chiburdanidze,M (2514) - Dzagnidze,N (2478) [D47]
4th FIDE GP w Jermuk ARM (7), 01.07.2010
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 Bd6 8.0-0 0-0 9.b3 e5 10.h3 Qe7 11.Qc2 b5 12.Bd3 Bb7 13.Ng5 h6 14.Nge4 Bc7 15.Ng3 Rfc8 16.Nf5 Qf8 17.f4 exd4 18.Nxd4 a6 19.a4 c5 20.Nf5 c4 21.bxc4 bxc4 22.Be2 Bb6 23.Rb1 Rab8 24.Kh2 Ba5

25.Bf3? This was probably the move that turned the game. After 25.Rfd1 Bb4 26.e4 Bc3 27.Qc3 Be4 (27…Ne4 28.Qd4 Ndc5 29.Bc4) 28.Rb8 Rb8 29.Ne3 White is not worse. 25...Bxf3 26.Rxb8 Rxb8 27.gxf3 and now the Georgian GM has a position quite to her liking, and she makes quick work of her advantage. 27...g6 28.Rg1 Kh7 29.Nh4 Bxc3 30.Qxc3 Qb4 31.Qd4 Qxa4 32.e4 Qc2+ 33.Ng2 Rb3 34.Be3 Rd3 35.Qa7 Qe2 36.e5 Nh5 37.Qb7 Ng7 38.Re1 Qa2 39.Qe4 Nf8 40.Qb7 c3 41.Bc1 Nfe6 42.Qxf7 Rxf3 43.Re3 Rxe3 44.Bxe3 c2 45.Qd7 Qc4 0-1. Another impressive win by the tournament leader, who appears to be in super-form.

Fierro Baquero,M (2363) - Xu Yuhua (2484) [C07]
4th FIDE GP w Jermuk ARM (7), 01.07.2010
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Ngf3 cxd4 6.Bc4 Qd6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Nb3 Nc6 9.Nbxd4 Nxd4 10.Nxd4 a6 11.Re1 Bd7 12.Bg5 Qc5?

13.Bxe6! fxe6 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Nxe6 Bxe6 16.Rxe6+ Kf7 17.Qd7+ Be7. White has given a piece for two pawns and a devastating attack. It takes Martha Fierro of Ecuador 49 more moves, but in the end she does reel in her first point in this tournament. 18.Rae1 Rhe8 19.b4 Qxb4 20.R6e4 Qd6 21.Qf5 Rh8 22.Re6 Qc7 23.R1e4 h5 24.Rxe7+ Qxe7 25.Qd5+ Kf8 26.Rxe7 Kxe7 27.Qxb7+ Ke6 28.h4 Rac8 29.Qxa6+ Kf7 30.Qb7+ Kg6 31.Qe4+ Kg7 32.a4 Rc7 33.Qf5 Ra8 34.a5 Rca7 35.Qxh5 Rxa5 36.Qg4+ Kf7 37.Qd7+ Kg6 38.Qg4+ Kf7 39.Qc4+ Kg7 40.Qc7+ Kg6 41.g4 R8a7 42.Qd8 Kg7 43.Kg2 Rc5 44.h5 Rac7 45.Qe8 Rg5 46.Kg3 Kh7 47.f4 Rgg7 48.Qe4+ Kh8 49.Qe6 Rgf7 50.c4 Kg7 51.c5 Rce7 52.Qf5 Rc7 53.Qg6+ Kh8 54.c6 Rf8 55.h6 Rff7 56.Qe4 Rce7 57.Qd3 Rc7 58.Qc2 Rc8 59.Qg6 Rcc7 60.Kh4 Rf8 61.Kh5 Rff7 62.Qe4 Rce7 63.Qd5 Rf8 64.Qd6 Ref7 65.Kg6 Kg8 66.Qe6 1-0.

Kosintseva-Shen Yang was a tense struggle in a topical variation of the French Defence, which the Russian GM decided in her favour (above Shen Yang and Kosintseva analysing with the computer after the end of the game).

Standings after seven rounds

Outing on the free day

First stop: the Art Museum, with Nana Gapridashivili in black in the foreground

Martha Fierro, Pia Cramling and Elina Daneilian admiring the paintings

Have we met before? Former women's world champion Xu Yuhua faces an exhibit

The famous steel brigde you cross to reach the town of Jermuk

The Chinese are coming: Xu Yuhua, Shen Yang, Hou Yifan and her mother

Jermuk is a resort town. located 170 km from Yerevan, in south-eastern part of Armenia, at an altitude of 2000 m above sea level. This is one of the most beautiful and ecologically clean regions of Armenia, which has rich natural resources and tourist attractions. Alpine climate of the resort.
However, the main curative factors of the resort are hypothermic mineral waters, which are intended to drink and take therapeutic baths. [From the city's home page – you must "clack Jermuk" for more information].

Climbing the famous Jermuk Waterfall on steps carved into the volcanic rock

Made it! Jermuk Canyon, with a clutch of top women players perched on the rock

Eagle eyes will spot Xu Yuhua, Tatiana and Nadezhda Kosintseva, Pia Cramling, Martha Fierro, and Nana Dzagnidze and Baira Kovanova in the front.

The cable ski lift which we saw in a previous report

Martha Fierro and Pia Cramling do not suffer from fear of heights (or do they?)

The Kosintseva sister on the way to the top

Swedish GM Pia Cramling

Hou Yifan and her mother

Yuhua and Yang – between them this delightful duo carries almost 5000 Elo points

Shen Yang in her stylish shades (can some fashion identify the brand?)

Back in Jermuk, with refreshments on the lake deck

Links Official tournament site All games in PGN Game commentary (PDF): R1, R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5, R6, R7 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 the free PGN reader ChessBase Light, which gives you immediate access. You can also use the program to read, replay and analyse PGN games. New and enhanced: CB Light 2009!