Lopota 02: Hou Yifan early leader

The fourth stage of the the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix series 2013-2014 is taking place at the Ugra Chess Academy, Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia from the from the 19th of June until the 1st of July 2014. It is a twelve-player round robin with time controls of 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, with 30 minutes plus an additional 30 seconds per move for the rest of the game. The total prize fund is 60,000, with the winner getting 10,000 Euro.

Round Two

The playing hall isn't as ample as in the previous editions of the playing hall, but it does nicely

Daniel Alsina and Maia Lomineishvili provide live commentary on the official website

Stefanova, Antoaneta ½-½ Muzychuk, Anna
A very strange game, but it seems that Stefanova's games are always so. Her attempt to crash through the kingside in this Stonewall look-a-like was met with stiff defense. Stefanova decided to repeat moves in a position that could still be played on.

Stefanova is fighting a cold and she decided she didn't also want to risk it all over the board

Considering how unpleasant her position was Muzychuk is surely happy with a draw

Zhao Xue ½-½ Khotenashvili, Bela
The fighting spirit of both players was commendable, but the game was very equal all throughout and no real fireworks occured.

Kosteniuk, Alexandra 0-1 Dronavalli Harika
The Indian player certainly gave Kosteniuk a lesson in positional chess. Despite the Russian's pair of bishops it was clear that the knights were the ones dominating the board. Kosteniuk was too over-eager and instead of trying to equalize she went for an attack that backfired as she had no way to protect her e3 pawn.

Alexandra: "Perhaps I over-estimated my position."

Muminova, Nafisa ½-½ Ju Wenjun
A positionally bizarre decision from Ju Wenjun to close down the center and kill her own dark-squared bishop while weakening all of her light-squares left her in an inferior position. In the final position instead of takking a three-fold repetition Muminova could have tried to push for an advantage in a relatively risk-free scenario.

Muminova's 0.5/2 against two Chinese players is not bad, but she had interesting chances in both

After playing a move like 12...e5? Ju Wenjun should be happy with a draw

Khotenashvili, Bela 0-1 Hou Yifan
Hou Yifan followed an unusual path in the Nimzo-Indian in which she was left with hanging pawns in the center, but White's structure was not better and Black's knights were very well placed. The game was approximately equal until the following moment:

Yifan is, as usual, traveling with her mother

Khotenashvili still has plenty of time to recover

Koneru Humpy ½-½ Zhao Xue
A strong positional game by Koneru but an event better by Zhao Xue. A well played game that finished in a fighting draw.

Tomorrow Koneru will face Hou Yifan in a very important game

Standings

Round Two Games

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Photos by Alina l'Ami, from the official website

Schedule and results

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 12 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.