Kazan GP R09: Danielian falters, as Koneru, Kosteniuk and Hou win

6/21/2012 – The FIDE Women Grand Prix in Kazan is gradually reaching its culmination. Hou Yifan and Humpy Koneru won their games, both with the black pieces, while Alexandra Kosteniuk inflicted the first defeat on the tournament leader Elina Danielian. Now, with two rounds to go, the three top seeds – Koneru, Danielian and Muzychuk – are in the joint lead, with 6.0/9 points. Round nine report.

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From June 9 to 23, 2012 Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, will play host to the 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).

Round nine results

5 GM Viktorija Cmilyte 2508
½-½
 GM Anna Muzychuk 2598 12
6 GM Nadezhda Kosintseva 2528
½-½
 GM Tatiana Kosintseva 2532 4
7 GM Antoaneta Stefanova 2518
½-½
 WGM Betul Cemre Yildiz 2333 3
8 GM Keteryna Lahno 2546
0-1
 GM Humpy Koneru 2589 2
9 GM Alexandra Kosteniuk 2457
1-0
 GM Elina Danielian 2484 1
10 IM Alisa Galliamova 2484
0-1
 GM Hou Yifan 2623 11


Elina Danielian (above left) lost the first game in the tournament, to Alexandra Kosteniuk

The former women's world champion, who had white pieces, played for initiative from the opening and found nice sacrifice to open the central files and create a decisive attack on opponent's king. The defeat of the Armenian player allowed Anna Muzychuk, who made a draw against Viktorija Chmilyte, and Humpy Koneru, who won against Katerina Lahno, catch her on the top of the scoreboard. Although two rounds to go there are three leaders in the tournament.


The begin of the round, with the game Galliamova-Hou Yifan about to begin


Hou Yifan managed to win in close to draw rook endgame against Alisa Galliamova


After five hours of play Antoaneta Stefanova got winning chances in a bishop endgame against Betul Yildiz,
but didn’t find the way to create more problems for her opponent and as a result the game was drawn.


Predictably, the Kosintseva sisters drew their game, which this time only lasted 14 moves


Humpy Koneru gound her opponent Kateryna Lahno down in an 82-move marathon


The Ukrainian GM resigned one move before mate

Photos and reports by Anastasiya Karlovich and Rashit Shiriyazdanov (above)

Standings after nine rounds of play

Replay all games of the round on our Javascript player

Video stream of the round

The Russian organisers are providing a HD video stream
of the action with expert commentary from Kazan.

Final rounds ten and eleven (June 21 and 22)

GM Anna Muzychuk 2598 GM Hou Yifan 2623
GM Elina Danielian 2484 IM Alisa Galliamova 2484
GM Humpy Koneru 2589 GM Alexandra Kosteniuk 2457
WGM Betul Cemre Yildiz 2333 GM Keteryna Lahno 2546
GM Tatiana Kosintseva 2532 GM Antoaneta Stefanova 2518
GM Viktorija Cmilyte 2508 GM Nadezhda Kosintseva 2528

GM Nadezhda Kosintseva 2528 GM Anna Muzychuk 2598
GM Antoaneta Stefanova 2518 GM Viktorija Cmilyte 2508
GM Keteryna Lahno 2546 GM Tatiana Kosintseva 2532
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk 2457 WGM Betul Cemre Yildiz 2333
IM Alisa Galliamova 2484 GM Humpy Koneru 2589
GM Hou Yifan 2623 GM Elina Danielian 2484

Links

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.