Hou Yifan express keeps a steady pace forward in Khanty-Mansiysk FIDE Grand Prix after today’s win against Anna Ushenina, to the despair of second place, requested by Anna Muzychuk, who also won her game against Zhao Xue.
Just like in yesterday’s standings, third comes the local hero, Olga Girya, with a remarkable 4.5/7, after winning a beautiful game against her compatriot and former women world champion, Alexandra Kosteniuk.
Absolutely nothing changed at the top: Hou Yifan is waving from her 1st position to Anna Muzychuk and Olga Girya, who are on the 2nd, respectively 3rd place and some work to do to catch up with the Chinese, as she is a full point ahead and only 4 rounds to go.
Hou Yifan
Four players are on 50% score: Antoaneta Stefanova, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Kateryna Lagno and Nafisa Muminova, who keeps on proving her tactical skills after today’s win over her friend but rival on the chess board: Batchimeg Tuvshintugs.
Less fortunate are the players on 3 points: Zhao Xue and Anna Ushenina, who lost their games today; also on 3 points is the Georgian Nana Dzagnidze, after drawing Kateryna Lagno.
Last but hopefully not least, are Tatiana Kosintseva, with 2,5 points and a rough tournament so far, as well as Batchimeg Tuvshintugs, who has difficulties to restore her bad luck.
Hou Yifan was featured in the Daily Mail newspaper and Oyster magazine, make sure to check it out!
Round 7 results:
WGM Girya Olga 2450 1 – 0 GM Kosteniuk Alexandra 2527
GM Muzychuk Anna 2560 1 – 0 GM Zhao Xue 2552
GM Hou Yifan 2618 1 – 0 GM Ushenina Anna 2501
GM Kosintseva Tatiana 2496 ½ – ½ GM Stefanova Antoaneta 2489
WGM Batchimeg Tuvshintugs 2340 0 – 1 WGM Muminova Nafisa 2321
GM Dzagnidze Nana 2550 ½ – ½ GM Lagno Kateryna 2543
Round 8 pairings:
GM Kosteniuk Alexandra 2527 – GM Lagno Kateryna 2543
WGM Muminova Nafisa 2321 – GM Dzagnidze Nana 2550
GM Stefanova Antoaneta 2489 – WGM Batchimeg Tuvshintugs 2340
GM Ushenina Anna 2501 – GM Kosintseva Tatiana 2496
GM Zhao Xue 2552 – GM Hou Yifan 2618
WGM Girya Olga 2450 – GM Muzychuk Anna 2560