Nalchik GP: Zhao Xue with 7.5/8 points, 2968 performance, +38 rating points

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 seven report

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Chinese GM Zhao Xue conceded her first draw in this tournament, when she found herself in serious difficulty – for the first time since the beginning of this tournament. Bottom seed Ekaterina Kovalevskaya (RUS) had black and won the opening battle, gaining a clear advantage by move 20. But then she decided to trade down to a rook endgame which was impossible to win, even with her extra pawn.

After three consecutive wins Antoaneta Stefanova (above) suffered a defeat. Playing with white against Kateryna Lahno (UKR) the Bulgarian GM gave the initiative to the opponent in the middlegame got a difficult endgame which she was unable to save.

Battling for second place (with a happy smile): Ukrainian GM Kateryna Lahno

Viktorija Chmilyte (above) prevailed over Alexandra Kosteniuk of Russia in an acute, dramatic duel. Having got the advantage from the opening, the Lithuanian GM handed the initiative to the opponent in the middlegame. But the former women's world champion was unable to use the chance, and in time trouble on move 40 she made a mistake and got a lost endgame.

Top seed Nadezhda Kosintseva (above) dominated in her game against former women's world champion Zhu Chen, but could not convert the rook and knight vs rook endgame, although she tried for 33 moves.

In the above game Mongolian IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul saved a very suspicious position against her Russian opponent GM Tatiana Kosintseva, who missed the three-fold repetition in a winning position.

“I’m so glad I managed to draw the game, because I really wanted to stop this incredible series
of losses," said Tuul. "Anyway my mood is okay now, and I hope that it’s just the beginning.”

• Full report on round seven here

Round eight report

Monday, October 17, 2011

"I hope that it’s just the beginning.” Fateful words by Batkhuyag Munguntuul after the previous round. In her game against second placed WGM Ju Wenjun the two girls played the first 20 moves of a Najdorf in less than four minutes. After a somewhat shakey start the Mongolian IM took over and has a very promising position. But she let her Chinese opponent back into the game, which should have ended in a draw. But then fate struck...

Tuul on the rise: Batkhuyag Munguntuul in her game against ...

... Chinese WGM Ju Wenjun, who could still theoretically catch the leader

Chinese GM Zhao Xue (above left) virtually sealed her victory by defeating top seed Nadezhda Kosintseva. The Russian GM weakened her position in the center and on the kingside, which was skillfully used by Zhao Xue. Sacrificing the exchange she seized the initiative and in tactical complications beat the opponent. Zhao is now leading the field by a full three points (with three rounds to go). Her nearest rival is compatriot Ju Wenjun.

Stratospheric: 7.5/8 points, 2968 performance, 38 rating points gained – GM Zhao Xue

Alexandra Kosteniuk (above in round eight) celebrated her second victory on this tournament, beating IM Ekaterina Kovalevskaya with the black pieces. The game Katerina Lahno vs Tatiana Kosintseva ended in a draw, as did Viktorija Chmilyte against Alisa Galliamova.

The duel of two former women's world champions was the last game of the round to end. It was a Slav that became a Catalan, and it brought the second loss of Antoaneta Stefanova in a row, this time to Qatari GM Zhu Chen. “I made some strange moves In a time trouble," said Antoaneta shared. "After that I got a drawn endgame, which turned out to be quite complicated. We played for a long time and in the end I got into a time trouble again and missed everything”. Her opponent conceded: “I was very lucky in the end! To be honest I didn’t see how to win in that position”.

GMs Antoaneta Stefanova and Zhu Chen in the press conference

• Full report (mysteriously entitled "Intestine wars") here

Current standings

Tuesday is a free day, the games of round nine will be played on Wednesday, October 19.

Links Official tournament site All games in PGN – All ChessBase reports 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.

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