The second stage of FIDE Women's Grand Prix cycle 2011-2012 is being staged from 5th to 20th of September in the Wuzhou Hotel in Shenzhen, China. The tournament is being organized by the Shenzhen Press Group in collaboration with FIDE and Chinese Chess Federation. The participants include the current Women World Champion Hou Yifan and the former World Champion Zhu Chen, the current European Champion Viktorija Cmilyte. The winner of the tournament will receive 6,500 euros out of a prize fund of 40,000 Euros. Games startat 3:00 p.m. local time (round 11 starts at noon). Rest days are September 11th (after round four) and September 16th (after round eight).

Participants

Round 4 – Saturday, 10 September 2011
Two Chinese players, Zhao Xue and Hou Yifan, made a quick draw and kept their leading positions after round four. Anna Muzychuk won the game against Yildiz Betul and joined the group the leaders. Ju Wenjun and Ruan Lufei won their games against Zhu Chen and Elina Danielian respectively. The matches Ekaterina Kovalevskaya-Viktorija Cmilyte and Munguntul Bathhuyag-Tan Zhongyi were drawn. The victories of Black outnumbered White’s successes by 3 to 0. Full report here.

Round 5 – Monday , 12 September 2011
Two more players joined the leaders at 3.5/5, so that five players are now tied for places one through five. Ruan Lufei won her second straight game, this time against Ekaterina Kovalevskaya, and also has the highest Elo performance. Tan Zhongyi beat Betul Yildiz to also join the leaderboard. European Champion Viktorija Cmilyte lost to Batkhuyag Munguntuul who scored her first win in the tournament while Elina Danielian also scored her first win at Ju Wenjun's expense.

Rest day

On 11th of September the players enjoyed a day off. Most of the participants, trainers and organizers embarked on the rest-day’s activities but some preferred to stay in the hotel and relax before the next games. The organizers of the Grand Prix launched some special agenda for the participants. In the morning twelve, twelve players visited one of the sponsors of the tournament. – Xiang Yun Sha. It is a fashion company which makes clothes from special silk called xiang yun sha. It is an intangible cultural heritage of China. The sponsor provided each player with dresses and flowers.

The players gather for a picture before starting their tour

The parks illustrate Western architecture and themes, which for China would be the
epitomy of exoticism.

One of the many lovely views of the parks

The purpose isn't to necessarily have an adrenaline rush ride, but rather to enjoy the
beautiful and relaxing surrounding.

In the evening the lit up buildings can be very beautiful

After the launch, all participants and companions had a chance to visit the Oct East Theme Park. It is a theme park that was opened in summer of 2007, but it's a bit hard to categorize. OCT is one of the biggest real estate companies in Shenzhen that managed to buy an area of about nine square kilometres in the east of Shenzhen. The main attractions are the three major theme parks: Knight Valley, Tea Stream Valley and Wind Valley. There is also a huge golf course, hotels and real estate.

A young visitor finds a different use for them

The ladies had a lot of fun during the day off

Simon says: "Jump up and down!"

The participants pose for a photo shoot

In the Chinese lunar calendar tradition, the seventh, eighth and ninth months comprise Autumn. During fall, the skies are commonly clear and cloudless and the nights crisp and sharp. In these night sky conditions, the moon appears to be at its brightest.

In the evening there were live shows with colorful figurines

The imagination...

...and complexity of the shows are something the Chinese are deservedly famous for.

The visual effects of the lighting and shadows is down to an art

Of course, one must not neglect the Lady Moon, guest of honor of the festivities

During this period the festival celebrates the moon's appearance as the brightest and most beautiful throughout the year. As the holiday coincided with the Grand Prix, so all guests has the opportunity to enjoy the tradition and enjoy the moon during the evening. It is customary here to spend time with your friends and family and sit outside under a starless sky, gazing at the moon. This ancient Chinese tradition goes back nearly 1,400 years!

Besides the obvious, moon-gazing, Chinese families celebrate by getting together and eating. After all excursions everybody could enjoy the dinner in a restaurant. Zhu Chen and her parents during the dinner.

Standings after five rounds

Photos by Anastasiya Karlovich and He Long

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 11 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.

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