Rostov R8: Stefanova and Ruan win, Hou leads by two points
8/11/2011 – Two decisive games in this round: Former women's world champion Antoanetta Stefanova won a second game in a row, against Ekaterina Kovalevskaya. The runner-up of last year's women's world championship Ruan Lufei beat Kateryna Lahno after several mistakes by the latter. The other four games were drawn, and the standings have not changed before the second rest day. Illustrated report.
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The Rostov Chess Federation in collaboration with FIDE and Global Chess is organising the first event for the 2011/2012 Women's Grand Prix series. The tournament is being held in the Don-Plaza Hotel and runs from August 1st (arrival, opening) until August 15 (departure). The eleven rounds are between August 2nd and 14, with rest days on the 6th and 11th. The start of the games from of rounds 1-10 is 3:00 p.m. local time, round 11 at starts at noon local time. The winner receives 6,500 Euros out of a total prize fund of 40,000 Euros, and the overall winner of the Women's Grand Prix will win a further 15,000 Euros at the end of the series.
Round eight report
Round eight: Wednesday August
10 |
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Ruan Lufei |
1-0 |
Lahno Kateryna |
Hou Yifan |
½-½ |
Kosintseva Tatiana |
Stefanova Antoaneta |
1-0 |
Kovalevskaya Ekat. |
Koneru Humpy |
½-½ |
Danielian Elina |
Galliamova Alisa |
½-½ |
Kosintseva Nadezhda |
Kosteniuk Alexandra |
½-½ |
Muzychuk Anna |
Lufei Ruan-Kateryna Lahno (1-0)
In a Scotch Defense White sacrificed a pawn in the opening to gain
the initiative, but Black decided to return it in the middle game in order to
neutrilize her opponent's activity. White continued the attack on the queenside
and Black in turn on the kingside. On the 33rd move White offered a draw by
repeating the position, but Black refused. She blundered on move 46 and lost
the game.
Ruan Lufei took a full point from second placed Kateryna Lahno
Yifan Hou-Tatiana Kosintseva (½-½)
The leaders of the tournament chose a very popular forced variation
of Ruy Lopez that ends in a draw by perpetual. Both players apparently decided
to have take an extra rest day before tomorrow's official one – still
the game is tactically quite interesting.
Still two full points ahead of everybody: Chinese GM Hou Yifan
Antoatena Stefanova-Ekaterina Kovalevskaya (1-0)
In the Queen's Gambit Tarrasch Ekaterina Kovalevskaya had prepared
the Swedish Variation with 9...c4. White exchanged knights on c6, doubling black
pawns on the c-file. Ex-World Champion Stefanova took advantage of this and
played 12.b3 and soon had the centre and the initiative. After an imprecision
by her opponent she gained tangible winning chances, but it was the blunder
on move 35 that sealed the Russian WGM's fate.
Always keep the flowers, Etti. They suit you very well
Humpy Koneru - Elina Danielian (½-½)
In a Slav Defence with 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 White got the advantage of two
bishops. Black attacked the centre with 16...e5 and after an exchange of pieces
a rook and knight endgame was on the board which was drawn after 52 moves.
Alisa Galliamova-Nadezhda Kosintseva (½-½)
In a QGD Ragozin the players exchanged queens very quickly move to
an equal rook and bishop ending. Black managed to complicate the position and
after the move 28...Rc5 White faced some problems. Alisa Galliamova had to play
precisely to draw in 37 moves.
Alexandra Kosteniuk-Anna Muzychuk (½-½)
For a second time in this tournament Anna Muzychuk played the Dutch
Defense (Leningrad System), with White leading the play. After an exchange of
queens White had a small advantage of the bishops pair, however, Black compensated
for that with a powerful passed pawn on d3 and then d2. White had one on b7,
and after these pawns came off the board a draw was agreed. The game lasted
54 moves.
Anastasiya Karlovich, Anna Muzychuk and Alexandra Kosteniuk in the press
conference
Pictures by Anastasiya Karlovich and
Kema Goryaeva with kind permission of FIDE
Current standings
Schedule and results
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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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