
From July 16 to 29, 2012 the southern Armenian hamlet of Jermuk is playing
host to the Fifth 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). A full shedule with all results is given at the bottom
of the page. Monday, July 23 is a free day.
Round nine: Thursday July 25,
2012 at 15:00h |
WGM |
Ruan Lufei |
2483 |
1-0 |
GM |
Zhao Xue |
2556 |
IM |
Kovalevskaya Ekaterina |
2417 |
0-1 |
GM |
Hou Yifan |
2617 |
GM |
Kosintseva Nadezhda |
2516 |
1-0 |
GM |
Danielian Elina |
2480 |
GM |
Lahno Kateryna |
2537 |
½-½ |
IM |
Khurtsidze Nino |
2456 |
IM |
Munguntuul Batkhuyag |
2447 |
½-½ |
GM |
Koneru Humpy |
2598 |
IM |
Mkrtchian Lilit |
2450 |
½-½ |
WGM |
Ju Wenjun |
2518 |

The game of the day was the attractive and instructive victory played by Ruan
against Zhao Xue. After the opening, a complicated position arose, and on move
19, black erred, allowing white to uncork an impressive tactical combination

The game between Kosintseva and Danielian was rife with tension throughout.
After the opening, white had a nominal advantage, but black made a couple of
inaccurate moves, handing white an advantageous position. Not all was yet decided,
and white in fact gave back the queen for rook and bishop, hoping to generate
some winning chances in the resulting endgame.

In the game between Kovalevskaya and Hou Yifan, spectators saw a back and forth
affair. Out of the opening, the Chinese player chose an active approach, but
white countered accurately, and was able to enter the middle game with a better
position. At this point, however, the roles reversed and it was white who began
to lose the thread and play in an unsure manner.
The clash between Kateryna Lahno (above) and Nino Khurtsidze was a captivating
game. After a balanced opening, the Ukrainian star sacrificed a pawn for the
initiative, and looked to be in full control after some inaccurate responses
from the Georgian. However, just when it appeared that the end would be near,
it was white’s turn to stumble.

Another game which was worthy of attention was the battle between Munguntuul
and Koneru, in which the opening saw an imbalanced position which was difficult
to assess. Koneru chose an unorthodox variation, but as it turned out, white
was up to the challenge and matched her opponent’s knowledge and preparation.
Having attained a certain advantage, white instead of continuing the battle
opted instead to repeat the position and take the draw.

Another interesting game was seen in the match between Lilit Mkrtchian and
Ju Wenjun (above in the press conference with tournament commentator Aghasi
Inants). The opening phase ended in an equal position, when black started to
play quite actively and in a risky fashion, with the hopes of stirring things
up. White responded properly and enjoyed some advantage, but at a critical juncture,
didn’t proceed in the best way.
Summary commentary of the round
This analysis is porovided by Aghasi Inants in Armenian and translated into
English by and Aram Hajian.

1.e4 | 1,184,215 | 54% | 2421 | --- |
1.d4 | 958,932 | 55% | 2434 | --- |
1.Nf3 | 286,327 | 56% | 2441 | --- |
1.c4 | 184,722 | 56% | 2443 | --- |
1.g3 | 19,884 | 56% | 2427 | --- |
1.b3 | 14,598 | 54% | 2428 | --- |
1.f4 | 5,953 | 48% | 2377 | --- |
1.Nc3 | 3,906 | 50% | 2384 | --- |
1.b4 | 1,790 | 48% | 2378 | --- |
1.a3 | 1,250 | 54% | 2406 | --- |
1.e3 | 1,081 | 49% | 2409 | --- |
1.d3 | 969 | 50% | 2378 | --- |
1.g4 | 670 | 46% | 2361 | --- |
1.h4 | 466 | 54% | 2382 | --- |
1.c3 | 439 | 51% | 2425 | --- |
1.h3 | 289 | 56% | 2420 | --- |
1.a4 | 118 | 60% | 2461 | --- |
1.f3 | 100 | 47% | 2427 | --- |
1.Nh3 | 92 | 67% | 2511 | --- |
1.Na3 | 47 | 62% | 2476 | --- |
Please, wait...
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.c4 Ba6 9.b3 g6 10.g3 Bg7 11.Bb2 0-0 12.Bg2 Rae8 13.0-0 Nb6 14.Re1 f6 15.e6 Qd6 16.Ba3 c5 17.Nc3 Rxe6 18.Ne4 Qe7 19.Qd2 d6? 19...Re8 20.Bxc5 d6 21.Be3 Bb7 22.Nxf6+ Bxf6 23.Bxb7 Bxa1 24.Rxa1 Rxe3 25.fxe3 Qxe3+ 26.Qxe3 Rxe3 20.Nxc5 dxc5 21.Qa5 f5 22.Bxc5 Rxe1+ 23.Rxe1 Bc3 24.Bxe7 Bxa5 25.b4 Bxb4 26.Bxb4 Rd8 27.c5 Nd5 28.Ba5 Bc4 29.Rd1 Rd7 30.c6 Rd6 31.Bxc7 Rxc6 32.Rc1 Nxc7 33.Bxc6 Bxa2 34.Ra1 Bc4 35.Rxa7 Ne6 36.Ra4 Bb3 37.Rb4 Ba2 38.Bb5 Bd5 39.Bc4 Bxc4 40.Rxc4 Kg7 41.f4 Kf6 42.Kf2 h6 43.Rc6 Kf7 44.Ke3 h5 45.h4 Nf8 46.Kd4 Nd7 47.Kd5 Nf6+ 48.Rxf6+ Kxf6 49.Kd6 1–0 - Start an analysis engine:
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Ruan,L | 2483 | Zhao,X | 2556 | 1–0 | 2012 | C45 | FIDE WGP Jermuk 2012 | 9.3 |
Kovalevskaya,E | 2417 | Hou,Y | 2617 | 0–1 | 2012 | A30 | FIDE WGP Jermuk 2012 | 9.2 |
Lahno,K | 2537 | Khurtsidze,N | 2456 | ½–½ | 2012 | B40 | FIDE WGP Jermuk 2012 | 9.6 |
Mkrtchian,L | 2450 | Ju,W | 2518 | ½–½ | 2012 | E61 | FIDE WGP Jermuk 2012 | 9.1 |
Munguntuul,B | 2447 | Koneru,H | 2598 | ½–½ | 2012 | C77 | FIDE WGP Jermuk 2012 | 9.5 |
Please, wait...
Round ten: Friday July 26, 2012
at 15:00h |
GM |
Zhao Xue |
2556 |
1-0 |
WGM |
Ju Wenjun |
2518 |
GM |
Koneru Humpy |
2598 |
1-0 |
IM |
Mkrtchian Lilit |
2450 |
IM |
Khurtsidze Nino |
2456 |
1-0 |
IM |
Munguntuul Batkhuyag |
2447 |
GM |
Danielian Elina |
2480 |
½-½ |
GM |
Lahno Kateryna |
2537 |
GM |
Hou Yifan |
2617 |
½-½ |
GM |
Kosintseva Nadezhda |
2516 |
WGM |
Ruan Lufei |
2483 |
½-½ |
IM |
Kovalevskaya Ekaterina |
2417 |
As the participants approach the finish line at the Jermuk Women Grand Prix,
the tension continues to rise. With the penultimate round already complete,
the reigning World Champion Hou Yifan solidified her grasp on first place, and
with it, first place in the entire Grand Prix cycle.

In the game Koneru-Mkrtchian, Black was unable to solve the opening problems
set before her by White. Endeavoring to equalize, Black searched for the right
move, but instead stumbled.

An IQ puzzle for our readers: from which country does IM Lilit Mkrtchian
come?

A thrilling game was enjoyed by the spectators in the all-Chinese clash Zhao
Xue-Ju Wenjun. A complex position arose after the opening phase, with mutual
chances. Principles of positional chess mandated that Black must move actively,
with a resolute plan. Ju was up to the challenge and in one sequence unleashed
a series of sacrifices. Punches and counterpunches were delivered with the computer’s
assessment of the position changing with seemingly every move.

Lost her game, her lead and a realistic chance of winning the tournament:
Ju Wenjun

Another thrilling struggle was seen in the game Khurtsidze-Munguntuul. White
did not achieve much of an advantage out of the opening, but a pawn sacrifice
secured the initiative for White, as she dictated the play into the middle game.
Black had difficulties navigating around the problems posed to her by White,
and at one point she erred, allowing White to capitalize and achieve a winning
advantage. All that was left was for White to make a couple of correct moves
and the game would be decided. At this point, it was White’s turn to blunder,
but Black missed the golden opportunity to take advantage.

The game between Elina Danielian (above right, in the press conference with
tournament Kateryna Lahno and commentator Aghasi Inants) and Kateryna Lahno
was short, but not devoid of excitement. White chose a somewhat unorthodox variation
of the Grunfeld and went straight after Black’s king. But Katya Lahno
kept her cool and was able to neutralize all threats, and at some point found
a perpetual check after sacrificing a rook.

The game Hou Yifan-Kosintseva was a relatively peaceful one, with White getting
no particular advantage after the opening. The picture changed little as the
middle game unfolded, with each player choosing moves in keeping with the positional
themes. Not surprisingly, the players repeated moves and on move 25, shook hands
to agree to the draw.
Photos by Arman
Karakhanyan
Summary commentary of the round
The following analysis was provided by Aghasi Inants in Armenian and translated
into English by and Aram Hajian.

1.e4 | 1,184,215 | 54% | 2421 | --- |
1.d4 | 958,932 | 55% | 2434 | --- |
1.Nf3 | 286,327 | 56% | 2441 | --- |
1.c4 | 184,722 | 56% | 2443 | --- |
1.g3 | 19,884 | 56% | 2427 | --- |
1.b3 | 14,598 | 54% | 2428 | --- |
1.f4 | 5,953 | 48% | 2377 | --- |
1.Nc3 | 3,906 | 50% | 2384 | --- |
1.b4 | 1,790 | 48% | 2378 | --- |
1.a3 | 1,250 | 54% | 2406 | --- |
1.e3 | 1,081 | 49% | 2409 | --- |
1.d3 | 969 | 50% | 2378 | --- |
1.g4 | 670 | 46% | 2361 | --- |
1.h4 | 466 | 54% | 2382 | --- |
1.c3 | 439 | 51% | 2425 | --- |
1.h3 | 289 | 56% | 2420 | --- |
1.a4 | 118 | 60% | 2461 | --- |
1.f3 | 100 | 47% | 2427 | --- |
1.Nh3 | 92 | 67% | 2511 | --- |
1.Na3 | 47 | 62% | 2476 | --- |
Please, wait...
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.Nd2 Nbd7 4.Ngf3 g6 5.e3 Bg7 6.c4 c5 7.cxd5 0-0 8.e4 cxd4 9.Bc4 Nc5 10.Qe2 h6 11.Bxf6 exf6 12.0-0 Re8 13.Rfe1 Bd7 14.Qf1 Qb6 15.Rab1 Rac8 16.h3 a6 17.a3 Qd6 18.b4 Na4 19.Bd3 Nc3 20.Rbc1 f5 21.exf5 Bxf5 22.Bxf5 gxf5 23.Qd3 Rxe1+ 24.Rxe1 Qxd5 25.Nh4 Ne4 26.Nxe4 fxe4 27.Rxe4 Qb5 28.Qg3 Kh8 29.Re7? 29.Qg4 Qc6 30.Nf5 Qg6 31.Qxg6 fxg6 32.Nxg7 Kxg7 33.Rxd4 29...Qd5 30.Nf3 d3 31.Qf4 Kg8 32.g3 Rd8 33.Kh2 Qa2 34.Nd2 Qd5 35.h4 Kf8 36.Rc7 b5 37.Ra7 Qe6 38.Nf3 Qf6 39.Qe3 Kg8 40.Re7 Kf8 41.Ra7 Qd6 42.Qe4 Kg8 43.Qb7 Qd5 44.Qe7 Bf8 45.Qf6 Bg7? 45...Re8! 46.Qf4 Re2-+ 46.Qf4 Qc4 47.Qe3 Qe6 48.Qf4 Qc4 49.Qe3 Qd5 50.Qf4 Rd6 51.Nd2 Rf6 52.Qe3 Re6 53.Qf4 Re2 54.Rxa6 Bd4 55.Rd6 Rxf2+ 56.Qxf2 Qxd6 57.Qf3 Bg7 58.Qa8+ Kh7 59.Qe4+ Qg6 60.Qd5 Bb2 61.h5 Qg5 62.Qxd3+ Kg7 63.Kg2 Qxh5 64.Nf3 Bf6 65.Qd7 Qg6 66.Qxb5 Qc2+ 67.Kh3 Qc3 68.Qf5 Qxa3 69.b5 Qb2 70.Qg4+ Kf8 71.Qc4 Kg7 72.Qd3 Qb4 73.Qf5 Qd6 74.Qg4+ Kf8 75.Qc8+ Ke7 76.Qb7+ Kf8 77.Qc8+ Ke7 78.Qb7+ Kf8 79.Qa8+ Bd8 80.Qc8 Ke7 81.Nh4 Qd1 82.Qc4 h5 83.Qe4+ Kf8 84.Qf3 Qd7+ 85.Qf5 Qd1 86.Qf3 Qd7+ 87.Qf5 Qd1 88.Qf3 ½–½
- Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Danielian,E | 2480 | Kovalevskaya,E | 2417 | ½–½ | 2012 | A45 | FIDE WGP Jermuk 2012 | 8 |
Khurtsidze,N | 2456 | Kosintseva,N | 2516 | ½–½ | 2012 | D38 | FIDE WGP Jermuk 2012 | 8 |
Ju,W | 2518 | Munguntuul,B | 2447 | ½–½ | 2012 | D15 | FIDE WGP Jermuk 2012 | 8 |
Hou,Y | 2617 | Ruan,L | 2483 | 1–0 | 2012 | C77 | FIDE WGP Jermuk 2012 | 8 |
Zhao,X | 2556 | Mkrtchian,L | 2450 | 1–0 | 2012 | D31 | FIDE WGP Jermuk 2012 | 8 |
Koneru,H | 2598 | Lahno,K | 2537 | 0–1 | 2012 | D86 | FIDE WGP Jermuk 2012 | 8 |
Please, wait...
Standings after ten rounds

Remaining schedule
13th day: Round 11 and Closing Ceremony |
28.07.2012 |
14th day: Departure |
29.07.2012 |
Schedule and results
Round one: Tuesday July 17, 2012
at 15:00h |
GM |
Koneru Humpy |
2598 |
1-0 |
GM |
Zhao Xue |
2556 |
IM |
Khurtsidze Nino |
2456 |
0-1 |
WGM |
Ju Wenjun |
2518 |
GM |
Danielian Elina |
2480 |
½-½ |
IM |
Mkrtchian Lilit |
2450 |
GM |
Hou Yifan |
2617 |
½-½ |
IM |
Munguntuul Batkhuyag |
2447 |
WGM |
Ruan Lufei |
2483 |
½-½ |
GM |
Lahno Kateryna |
2537 |
IM |
Kovalevskaya Ekaterina |
2417 |
1-0 |
GM |
Kosintseva Nadezhda |
2516 |
Round two: Wednesday July 18,
2012 at 15:00h |
GM |
Zhao Xue |
2556 |
0-1 |
GM |
Kosintseva Nadezhda |
2516 |
GM |
Lahno Kateryna |
2537 |
1-0 |
IM |
Kovalevskaya Ekaterina |
2417 |
IM |
Munguntuul Batkhuyag |
2447 |
0-1 |
WGM |
Ruan Lufei |
2483 |
IM |
Mkrtchian Lilit |
2450 |
0-1 |
GM |
Hou Yifan |
2617 |
WGM |
Ju Wenjun |
2518 |
1-0 |
GM |
Danielian Elina |
2480 |
GM |
Koneru Humpy |
2598 |
1-0 |
IM |
Khurtsidze Nino |
2456 |
Round three: Thursday July 19,
2012 at 15:00h |
IM |
Khurtsidze Nino |
2456 |
0-1 |
GM |
Zhao Xue |
2556 |
GM |
Danielian Elina |
2480 |
1-0 |
GM |
Koneru Humpy |
2598 |
GM |
Hou Yifan |
2617 |
½-½ |
WGM |
Ju Wenjun |
2518 |
WGM |
Ruan Lufei |
2483 |
1-0 |
IM |
Mkrtchian Lilit |
2450 |
IM |
Kovalevskaya Ekaterina |
2417 |
1-0 |
IM |
Munguntuul Batkhuyag |
2447 |
GM |
Kosintseva Nadezhda |
2516 |
½-½ |
GM |
Lahno Kateryna |
2537 |
Round four: Friday July 20, 2012
at 15:00h |
GM |
Zhao Xue |
2556 |
1-0 |
GM |
Lahno Kateryna |
2537 |
IM |
Munguntuul Batkhuyag |
2447 |
½-½ |
GM |
Kosintseva Nadezhda |
2516 |
IM |
Mkrtchian Lilit |
2450 |
1-0 |
IM |
Kovalevskaya Ekaterina |
2417 |
WGM |
Ju Wenjun |
2518 |
1-0 |
WGM |
Ruan Lufei |
2483 |
GM |
Koneru Humpy |
2598 |
½-½ |
GM |
Hou Yifan |
2617 |
IM |
Khurtsidze Nino |
2456 |
½-½ |
GM |
Danielian Elina |
2480 |
Round five: Saturday July 21,
2012 at 15:00h |
GM |
Danielian Elina |
2480 |
½-½ |
GM |
Zhao Xue |
2556 |
GM |
Hou Yifan |
2617 |
1-0 |
IM |
Khurtsidze Nino |
2456 |
WGM |
Ruan Lufei |
2483 |
½-½ |
GM |
Koneru Humpy |
2598 |
IM |
Kovalevskaya Ekaterina |
2417 |
½-½ |
WGM |
Ju Wenjun |
2518 |
GM |
Kosintseva Nadezhda |
2516 |
0-1 |
IM |
Mkrtchian Lilit |
2450 |
GM |
Lahno Kateryna |
2537 |
½-½ |
IM |
Munguntuul Batkhuyag |
2447 |
Round six: Sunday July 22, 2012
at 15:00h |
GM |
Zhao Xue |
2556 |
½-½ |
IM |
Munguntuul Batkhuyag |
2447 |
IM |
Mkrtchian Lilit |
2450 |
½-½ |
GM |
Lahno Kateryna |
2537 |
WGM |
Ju Wenjun |
2518 |
½-½ |
GM |
Kosintseva Nadezhda |
2516 |
GM |
Koneru Humpy |
2598 |
1-0 |
IM |
Kovalevskaya Ekaterina |
2417 |
IM |
Khurtsidze Nino |
2456 |
0-1 |
WGM |
Ruan Lufei |
2483 |
GM |
Danielian Elina |
2480 |
½-½ |
GM |
Hou Yifan |
2617 |
Round seven: Tuesday July 23,
2012 at 15:00h |
GM |
Hou Yifan |
2617 |
½-½ |
GM |
Zhao Xue |
2556 |
WGM |
Ruan Lufei |
2483 |
½-½ |
GM |
Danielian Elina |
2480 |
IM |
Kovalevskaya Ekaterina |
2417 |
0-1 |
IM |
Khurtsidze Nino |
2456 |
GM |
Kosintseva Nadezhda |
2516 |
1-0 |
GM |
Koneru Humpy |
2598 |
GM |
Lahno Kateryna |
2537 |
½-½ |
WGM |
Ju Wenjun |
2518 |
IM |
Munguntuul Batkhuyag |
2447 |
½-½ |
IM |
Mkrtchian Lilit |
2450 |
Round eight: Wednesday July 24,
2012 at 15:00h |
GM |
Zhao Xue |
2556 |
1-0 |
IM |
Mkrtchian Lilit |
2450 |
WGM |
Ju Wenjun |
2518 |
½-½ |
IM |
Munguntuul Batkhuyag |
2447 |
GM |
Koneru Humpy |
2598 |
0-1 |
GM |
Lahno Kateryna |
2537 |
IM |
Khurtsidze Nino |
2456 |
½-½ |
GM |
Kosintseva Nadezhda |
2516 |
GM |
Danielian Elina |
2480 |
½-½ |
IM |
Kovalevskaya Ekaterina |
2417 |
GM |
Hou Yifan |
2617 |
1-0 |
WGM |
Ruan Lufei |
2483 |
Round nine: Thursday July 25,
2012 at 15:00h |
WGM |
Ruan Lufei |
2483 |
1-0 |
GM |
Zhao Xue |
2556 |
IM |
Kovalevskaya Ekaterina |
2417 |
0-1 |
GM |
Hou Yifan |
2617 |
GM |
Kosintseva Nadezhda |
2516 |
1-0 |
GM |
Danielian Elina |
2480 |
GM |
Lahno Kateryna |
2537 |
½-½ |
IM |
Khurtsidze Nino |
2456 |
IM |
Munguntuul Batkhuyag |
2447 |
½-½ |
GM |
Koneru Humpy |
2598 |
IM |
Mkrtchian Lilit |
2450 |
½-½ |
WGM |
Ju Wenjun |
2518 |
Round ten: Friday July 26, 2012
at 15:00h |
GM |
Zhao Xue |
2556 |
1-0 |
WGM |
Ju Wenjun |
2518 |
GM |
Koneru Humpy |
2598 |
1-0 |
IM |
Mkrtchian Lilit |
2450 |
IM |
Khurtsidze Nino |
2456 |
1-0 |
IM |
Munguntuul Batkhuyag |
2447 |
GM |
Danielian Elina |
2480 |
½-½ |
GM |
Lahno Kateryna |
2537 |
GM |
Hou Yifan |
2617 |
½-½ |
GM |
Kosintseva Nadezhda |
2516 |
WGM |
Ruan Lufei |
2483 |
½-½ |
IM |
Kovalevskaya Ekaterina |
2417 |
Round eleven: Saturday July 27,
2012 at 15:00h |
IM |
Kovalevskaya Ekaterina |
2417 |
- |
GM |
Zhao Xue |
2556 |
GM |
Kosintseva Nadezhda |
2516 |
- |
WGM |
Ruan Lufei |
2483 |
GM |
Lahno Kateryna |
2537 |
- |
GM |
Hou Yifan |
2617 |
IM |
Munguntuul Batkhuyag |
2447 |
- |
GM |
Danielian Elina |
2480 |
IM |
Mkrtchian Lilit |
2450 |
- |
IM |
Khurtsidze Nino |
2456 |
WGM |
Ju Wenjun |
2518 |
- |
GM |
Koneru Humpy |
2598 |