Kazan Chess Grand Prix: Humpy Beats Lahno, Goes into Joint Lead

Kazan Chess Grand Prix Round 9 saw India’s Koneru Humpy beat Kateryna Lahno and go into joint lead on Wednesday.

Kateryna Lahno-Koneru Humpy 0-1

The other very attacking game of the day was played by 12th women’s world chess champion Alexandra Kosteniuk to bring down leader Elina Danielian. This is Danielian’s first loss of the tournament. Kosteniuk played for the initiative right from the start and found a nice sacrifice to open central files. Danielian’s defeat allowed Anna Muzychuk, who drew with Viktorija Chmilyte, and Koneru Humpy, who beat Lahno, to take joint lead with Danielian.

Alexandra Kosteniuk-Elina Danielian 1-0

Two more rounds have to be played. Meanwhile, women’s world chess champion Hou Yifan managed to win an almost-drawn game against Alisa Galliamova. After about five hours of play, former women’s world chess champion Antoaneta Stefanova managed to develop winning chances in a bishop endgame against Betul Yildiz, but could only draw. The Kosintseva sisters, as expected, drew their game in 14 moves. (Photos by Rashit Shiriyazdanov and Anastasiya Karlovich/FIDE.)

Round 9 ResultsGM Viktorija Cmilyte 2508 ½-½ GM Anna Muzychuk 2598 12GM Nadezhda Kosintseva 2528 ½-½ GM Tatiana Kosintseva 2532GM Antoaneta Stefanova 2518 ½-½ WGM Betul Cemre Yildiz 2333GM Keteryna Lahno 2546 0-1 GM Humpy Koneru 2589GM Alexandra Kosteniuk 2457 1-0 GM Elina Danielian 2484IM Alisa Galliamova 2484 0-1GM Hou Yifan 2623Standings after Round 9

1-3. Koneru Humpy, Elina Danielian, Anna Muzychuk 6

4-5. Viktorija Cmilyte, Hou Yifan 5.5

6-8. Kateryna Lahno, Nadezhda Kosintseva, Alexandra Kosteniuk 4.5

9. Tatiana Kosintseva 4

10. Antoaneta Stefanova 3.5

11. Alisa Galliamova, Betul Cemre Yildiz 2

Kazan, in the Republic of Tatarstan, is hosting the FIDE Women’s Chess Grand Prix, part of a series of elite events organised by FIDE and Global Chess. This tournament is running from June 9 to 23, 2012. The entire Grand Prix series includes six tournaments over two years in various countries around the world. The winner of each tournament takes home 6,500 euros. The total prize fund is 40,000 euros. The overall winner will get a further 15,000 euros at the end of the series.

Don’t forget to watch the last two rounds of the Kazan Chess Grand Prix live at the official tournament website from India time 4.30 pm.