Nalchik GP: The Zhao Xue express steams on
10/16/2011 – Someone should call Guinness – the Chinese GM Zaho Xue is on the rampage and has now won her sixth game in a row, maintaining a nominal 3300 performance. This time she profited from a prime blunder by former women's world champion Zhu Chen. Alexandra Kosteniuk ended her losing streak with a well-played game which, however, her opponent was able to defend. Round six report.
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The third stage of FIDE Women's Grand Prix cycle 2011-2012 is being staged from 8th to 23rd of October in Nalchik, the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria, in the Hotel Sindika. The playing days are October 9-12, 14-17, 19-21, the rounds start at 15.00h Moscow time (13:00h CEST, 7 a.m. New York)..
Round six: the Zhao Xue express goes on and on
Saturday, October 15, 2011
| Ti. | Name | Rtng | Ti. | Name | Rtng | Res. |
| IM | Kovalevskaya Ekaterina | 2421 | GM | Cmilyte Viktorija | 2525 | 1-0 |
| GM | Kosteniuk Alexandra | 2469 | WGM | Ju Wenjun | 2536 | ½-½ |
| IM | Galliamova Alisa | 2498 | GM | Kosintseva Tatiana | 2536 | ½-½ |
| IM | Munguntuul Batkhuyag | 2467 | GM | Stefanova Antoaneta | 2528 | 0-1 |
| GM | Lahno Kateryna | 2554 | GM | Kosintseva Nadezhda | 2560 | ½-½ |
| GM | Zhu Chen | 2490 | GM | Zhao Xue | 2497 | 0-1 |
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk looking determined before the start of round six
"Alexandra ended a series of defeats and showed her usual style in this game," says the tournament bulletin. "The Russian grandmaster showed all her courage in this battle. Everything happened in the game: a sharp Najdorf, sacrifice and counter sacrifice, an unusual fortress in the endgame." Indeed the Russian GM was winning, but her efforts to win a second game in this tournament were thwarted by her Chinese opponent.
Her opponent, WGM Ju Wenjun, defending her second place in this event
Kateryna Lahno vs Nadezhda Kosintseva
A Catalan in which White gained some advantage in the opening, but Nadezhda managed to find great defensive moves, and the chances became equal. The draw was agreed in the endgame. “Why is the tournament not going my way?” Kateryna mused during the press conference. Her explanation: she has really been playing a lot in recent months and doesn't feel fresh enough.
Batuuyag Munguntuul vs Antoaneta Stefanova was essentially decided by move
24
Former women's world champion Stefanova has won three games in a row
After her disaster in the previous round Alisa Galliamova played a fine
attacking
game against Tatiana Kosentseva, who however saved it to a draw
Ekaterina Kovalevskaya vs Viktorija Cmilyte was an interesting, fighting
game
Ekatrina Kovalevskaya had drawn all her games before this win.
The Russian IM and bottom seed is currently in fourth place.
What to say about this lady? GM Zhao Xue has won all her six games so far
In this round Zhao was helped by a crass blunder of her famous opponent
Current standings
To give you an overviews impression: the tournament hall in Hotel Sindika,
Nalchik
In the hotel theatre WGM Anna Sharevich comments for a handful of spectators
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but of course plenty more on the Internet
LinksThe 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. |
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