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The tournament format is a classical round-robin with ten players. Nine rounds will be played, one each day through February 15th (except the rest day on the 11th) with a possible playoff on Saturday, February 16th.
The total prize fund of USD $150,000 includes $40,000 for first, $30,000 for second and $20,000 for third.
Players receive 90 minutes for 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game plus a 30-second bonus per move starting from move one.
Commentary by GM Yasser Seirawan, GM Maurice Ashley and WGM Jennifer Shahade
Participants include players from seven different countries, including former Women's World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk, former Women's World Rapid Champion Nana Dzagnidze, four-time US Women's Champion Anna Zatonskih and seven-time US Women's Champion Irina Krush.
Even without the leading six players on the February Elo rating list (Hou Yifan, Ju Wenjun, Kateryna Lagno, Anna Muzychuk, Humpy Koneru and Mariya Muzychuk), it will be one of the strongest women's tournaments ever in this format.
Group photo at the opening ceremony | Photo: Lennart Ootes