The 5th tournament of the FIDE Women’s Grand-Prix 2013-2014 is taking place from 18th June to 2nd July in Lopota, Georgia.
Twelve players compete in the round robin tournament. The event is organized by the Georgian Ministry of Sport and Youth, FIDE and Georgian Chess Federation, and sponsored by SOCAR.
The most awaited game of the day was also the last one to finish. Long after all the other games were over, Hou Yifan defeated her closest rival, Dzagnidze to increase her advantage to one and half points.
It was interesting the gradual way the World Champion escaped from the compact group trailing her. For the last three rounds there were three players at only half point behind her, then two, one, none anymore.
Ju Wenjun fought back after her yesterday’s loss to the leader by winning against Stefanova and caught up with Dzagnidze in a tie for 2nd-3rd.
Muzychuk, who drew against Koneru, dropped half a point away from the podium, but still has to play direct games with all the three players classified above her. The only other draw of the day was Harika – Zhao, which didn’t affect the classification too much.
After breaking the spell with her first win of yesterday, Kosteniuk obtained a new victory, against Khotenashvili this time, and keeps chances for a positive result. Danielian also won (against Muminova) and steps onto +1.
This was an entertaining round with many decisive games, but the way it started it looked as if we would have no draws at all. It becomes obvious that the players start feeling tired, mistakes are popping up now and again.
Round 7 results:
WGM Ju Wenjun 2532 – GM Stefanova Antoaneta 2488 1 – 0
GM Dzagnidze Nana 2541 – GM Hou Yifan 2629 0 – 1
GM Dronavalli Harika 2503 – GM Zhao Xue 2538 ½ – ½
GM Muzychuk Anna 2561 – GM Koneru Humpy 2613 ½ – ½
GM Kosteniuk Alexandra 2532 – GM Khotenashvili Bela 2518 1 – 0
GM Danielian Elina 2460 – WGM Muminova Nafisa 2332 1 – 0
Round 7 standings:
1. GM Hou Yifan 2629 CHN – 6½
2-3. WGM Ju Wenjun 2532 CHN and GM Dzagnidze Nana 2541 GEO – 5
4. GM Muzychuk Anna 2561 UKR – 4½
5-7. GM Koneru Humpy 2613 IND, GM Danielian Elina 2460 ARM and GM Dronavalli Harika 2503 IND – 4
8-9. GM Stefanova Antoaneta 2488 BUL and GM Kosteniuk Alexandra 2532 RUS – 3
10. GM Zhao Xue 2538 CHN – 1½
11. GM Khotenashvili Bela 2518 GEO – 1
12. WGM Muminova Nafisa 2332 UZB – ½
Round 8 pairings:
GM Stefanova Antoaneta 2488 – WGM Muminova Nafisa 2332
GM Khotenashvili Bela 2518 – GM Danielian Elina 2460
GM Koneru Humpy 2613 – GM Kosteniuk Alexandra 2532
GM Zhao Xue 2538 – GM Muzychuk Anna 2561
GM Hou Yifan 2629 – GM Dronavalli Harika 2503
WGM Ju Wenjun 2532 – GM Dzagnidze Nana 2541
