
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.
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.
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 |