Khanty-Mansiysk 01-06: Batsiashvili leads; Harika on fifty percent
The final leg of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix is in progress at Khanty-Mansiysk in Ugra, Russia. Twelve players, including India's GM Dronavalli Harika, are competing for top honors. After six rounds of play, Georgian GM Nino Batsiashvili leads the tournament with 4.5/6. Four players follow her a point behind. GM Dronavali Harika is on 3.0/6 with a win and a loss apiece. We have an illustrated report with analysis.
Khanty-Mansiysk 01-06: Batsiashvili leads; Harika on fifty percent
Visuals: Eteri Kublashvili, Anna Volkova, and Anastasia Popova
Koneru Humpy leads the Grand Prix standings as the final leg is progress in Khanty-Mansiysk. But she is not playing — and this means that if Ju Wenjun finishes at third place or higher in this event, she tops the standings.
Why is it so important? Because the winner of the Grand Prix is scheduled to play the world champion in a 10-game match. The world champion will be decided by the 2017 World Championship to be held in the Knock-Out format in Iran.
The final leg of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix is in progress at Khanty-Mansiysk in Ugra, Russia. Twelve players, including India's GM Dronavalli Harika, are competing for top honors.
The venue and host: Ugra Chess Academy (Yes, that is a chess academy).
GM Dronavalli Harika (2543) settled for a draw with WGM Olga Giriya (2450) in the sixth round.
After six rounds of play, Harika has scored fifty-percent, that is, 3.0/6. But more importantly, Harika has made one noticeable change in her repertoire — in the three games with white so far, she has opened with 1.e4.
In the second round, she faced Nino Batsiashvili with the white pieces. Harika gained a pleasant position out of the opening but went astray, taking too much time for some of her moves.
Georgian GM Nino Batsiashvili (2489) beat Harika in the second round. Fun Fact: Did you know that Batsiashvili had held Magnus Carlsen to a draw last year?
Nino Batsiashvili was on a winning spree. She lost to GM Valentina Gunina in the fourth round, but has only one draw otherwise, winning the remaining four games. Nino now leads the event by a full point with 4.5/6.
[Event "FIDE Grand Prix"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.11.20"]
[Round "2.4"]
[White "Harika, Dronavalli"]
[Black "Batsiashvili, Nino"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2543"]
[BlackElo "2489"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]
[WhiteClock "0:27:39"]
[BlackClock "0:25:23"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.11.20"]
[Round "2.4"]
[White "Harika, Dronavalli"]
[Black "Batsiashvili, Nino"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2543"]
[BlackElo "2489"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]
[WhiteClock "0:27:39"]
[BlackClock "0:25:23"]
1. e4 {0} e5 {0} 2. Nf3 {0} Nc6 {0} 3. Bc4 {0} Nf6 {4} 4. d3 {14} Bc5 {6} 5.
O-O {46} d6 {109} 6. c3 {128} a6 {16} 7. Re1 {264} Ba7 {151} 8. Bb3 {56} Ne7 {
500} 9. Nbd2 {712} O-O {223} 10. Nf1 {237} Ng6 {44} 11. Ng3 {369} h6 {412} 12.
h3 {50} Re8 {181} 13. d4 {198} exd4 {1175} 14. cxd4 {188} c5 {35} 15. Be3 {964}
Be6 {1258} 16. Bc2 {408} Rc8 {239} 17. Qd2 {469} Bb6 {435} 18. a3 {446} cxd4 {
88} 19. Nxd4 {185} Ne5 {154} 20. Nxe6 {174} Rxe6 {15} 21. Bxb6 {473} Qxb6 {2}
22. b4 {78} Nc4 {75} 23. Qd1 {180} Rce8 {388} 24. Rf1 {172} Re5 {296} 25. Kh1 {
140} d5 {43} 26. Bb3 {6} Qc6 {247} 27. exd5 {53} Rxd5 {7} 28. Qc2 {97} b5 {42}
29. Rac1 {84} Rd4 {37} 30. Nf5 {50} Rde4 {14} 31. Ne3 {45} Rc8 {66} 32. Bxc4 {
21} bxc4 {3} 33. Rfd1 {35} g6 {58} 34. Qc3 {39} Nh5 {54} 35. Rd4 {27} Nf4 {11}
36. Rxe4 {25} Qxe4 {1} 37. f3 {27} Qe6 {10} 38. Rf1 {44} Ne2 39. Qd2 {33} Ng3+
{18} 40. Kg1 {0} Nxf1 {0} 41. Kxf1 {0} c3 {0} 42. Qd3 {0} h5 {0} 43. g4 {0} Qc6
{0} 44. Nc2 {0} Qb5 {0} 45. Qxb5 {0} axb5 {0} 46. Ke2 {0} Rd8 {0} 47. Ke3 {0}
Kg7 {0} 48. g5 {0} h4 {0} 49. f4 {0} Rd1 {0} 0-1
O-O {46} d6 {109} 6. c3 {128} a6 {16} 7. Re1 {264} Ba7 {151} 8. Bb3 {56} Ne7 {
500} 9. Nbd2 {712} O-O {223} 10. Nf1 {237} Ng6 {44} 11. Ng3 {369} h6 {412} 12.
h3 {50} Re8 {181} 13. d4 {198} exd4 {1175} 14. cxd4 {188} c5 {35} 15. Be3 {964}
Be6 {1258} 16. Bc2 {408} Rc8 {239} 17. Qd2 {469} Bb6 {435} 18. a3 {446} cxd4 {
88} 19. Nxd4 {185} Ne5 {154} 20. Nxe6 {174} Rxe6 {15} 21. Bxb6 {473} Qxb6 {2}
22. b4 {78} Nc4 {75} 23. Qd1 {180} Rce8 {388} 24. Rf1 {172} Re5 {296} 25. Kh1 {
140} d5 {43} 26. Bb3 {6} Qc6 {247} 27. exd5 {53} Rxd5 {7} 28. Qc2 {97} b5 {42}
29. Rac1 {84} Rd4 {37} 30. Nf5 {50} Rde4 {14} 31. Ne3 {45} Rc8 {66} 32. Bxc4 {
21} bxc4 {3} 33. Rfd1 {35} g6 {58} 34. Qc3 {39} Nh5 {54} 35. Rd4 {27} Nf4 {11}
36. Rxe4 {25} Qxe4 {1} 37. f3 {27} Qe6 {10} 38. Rf1 {44} Ne2 39. Qd2 {33} Ng3+
{18} 40. Kg1 {0} Nxf1 {0} 41. Kxf1 {0} c3 {0} 42. Qd3 {0} h5 {0} 43. g4 {0} Qc6
{0} 44. Nc2 {0} Qb5 {0} 45. Qxb5 {0} axb5 {0} 46. Ke2 {0} Rd8 {0} 47. Ke3 {0}
Kg7 {0} 48. g5 {0} h4 {0} 49. f4 {0} Rd1 {0} 0-1
Batsiashvili and Harika analyze
In the fourth round, Harika was able to beat GM Natalia Zhukova (2448).
[Event "FIDE Grand Prix"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.11.22"]
[Round "4.6"]
[White"Harika, Dronavalli"]
[Black "Zhukova, Natalia"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C03"]
[WhiteElo "2543"]
[BlackElo "2448"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]
[WhiteClock "0:07:33"]
[BlackClock "0:00:33"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.11.22"]
[Round "4.6"]
[White"Harika, Dronavalli"]
[Black "Zhukova, Natalia"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C03"]
[WhiteElo "2543"]
[BlackElo "2448"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]
[WhiteClock "0:07:33"]
[BlackClock "0:00:33"]
1. e4 {0} e6 {0} 2. d4 {0} d5 {3} 3. Nd2 {0} Be7 {297} 4. Ngf3 {21} Nf6 {21} 5.
e5 {20} Nfd7 {10} 6. Bd3 {54} c5 {18} 7. c3 {14} b6 {54} 8. O-O {184} Ba6 {11}
9. Ne1 {17} Bxd3 {169} 10. Nxd3 {3} Nc6 {35} 11. Qg4 {324} g6 {524} 12. Nf3 {63
} h5 {45} 13. Qg3 {303} Qc7 {813} 14. Bd2 {1098} O-O-O {105} 15. Rac1 {74} Kb7
{591} 16. h4 {637} Rc8 {352} 17. Rfd1 {370} Ka8 {791} 18. Be3 {662} cxd4 {421}
19. cxd4 {83} Qb7 {7} 20. Bg5 {389} Bxg5 {146} 21. Qxg5 {5} Rc7 {125} 22. Rc3 {
111} Rhc8 {39} 23. Rdc1 {70} a5 {548} 24. Kh2 {188} Ka7 {253} 25. a3 {39} b5 {
242} 26. Kh3 {406} Nb6 {422} 27. b3 {184} Ne7 {43} 28. Nc5 {121} Qb8 {2} 29.
R3c2 {116} Na8 {86} 30. Qd2 {208} Qb6 {17} 31. Ng5 {83} Nf5 {56} 32. Qd3 {54}
Qb8 {78} 33. a4 {42} Qb6 {33} 34. axb5 {24} 1-0
e5 {20} Nfd7 {10} 6. Bd3 {54} c5 {18} 7. c3 {14} b6 {54} 8. O-O {184} Ba6 {11}
9. Ne1 {17} Bxd3 {169} 10. Nxd3 {3} Nc6 {35} 11. Qg4 {324} g6 {524} 12. Nf3 {63
} h5 {45} 13. Qg3 {303} Qc7 {813} 14. Bd2 {1098} O-O-O {105} 15. Rac1 {74} Kb7
{591} 16. h4 {637} Rc8 {352} 17. Rfd1 {370} Ka8 {791} 18. Be3 {662} cxd4 {421}
19. cxd4 {83} Qb7 {7} 20. Bg5 {389} Bxg5 {146} 21. Qxg5 {5} Rc7 {125} 22. Rc3 {
111} Rhc8 {39} 23. Rdc1 {70} a5 {548} 24. Kh2 {188} Ka7 {253} 25. a3 {39} b5 {
242} 26. Kh3 {406} Nb6 {422} 27. b3 {184} Ne7 {43} 28. Nc5 {121} Qb8 {2} 29.
R3c2 {116} Na8 {86} 30. Qd2 {208} Qb6 {17} 31. Ng5 {83} Nf5 {56} 32. Qd3 {54}
Qb8 {78} 33. a4 {42} Qb6 {33} 34. axb5 {24} 1-0
Zhukova and Harika analyze
The logos of the organizers and the sponsors of this well-organized tournament.
GM Ju Wenjun (2580) needs to buck up and start winning some games if she hopes to win the Grand Prix series. She needs to finish at least third. Right now, she has scored 3.0/6 with a win and a loss apiece. The loss came against...
...Former World Champion GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (2555). She has scored 3.5/6 and is tied for the second spot with three others.
GM Valentina Gunina (2525) also won her first two games, but then fell behind Batsiashvili by losing the third. In the fourth, she beat Batsiashvili to catch up but then lost again in the sixth round. She is on 3.5/6.
IM Sarasadat Khademalsharieh (2435) of Iran is also on 3.5/6.
Russian GM Olga Giriya is also on 3.5/6.
Pairings for Round 07:
| Round 7 26.11.2016 03.00 PM | ||||||||
| SNo. | Name | Rtg | Res. | Name | Rtg | SNo. | ||
| 4 | IM | Batsiashvili Nino | 2489 | – | IM | Javakhishvili Lela | 2461 | 12 |
| 5 | WGM | Pogonina Natalija | 2492 | – | IM | Khademalsharieh S. | 2435 | 3 |
| 6 | GM | Zhukova Natalia | 2448 | – | IM | Skripchenko Almira | 2455 | 2 |
| 7 | GM | Ju Wenjun | 2580 | – | GM | Gunina Valentina | 2525 | 1 |
| 8 | WGM | Girya Olga | 2450 | – | GM | Kosteniuk Alexandra | 2555 | 11 |
| 9 | GM | Khotenashvili Bela | 2426 | – | GM | Harika Dronavalli | 2543 | 10 |
Crosstable:
| Rank | Name | Rtg | FED | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Pts | |
| 1 | IM | Batsiashvili N. | 2489 | GEO | * | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4½ | |||||
| 2 | GM | Gunina V. | 2525 | RUS | 1 | * | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 3½ | |||||
| IM | Sarah K. | 2435 | IRI | ½ | 1 | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 3½ | ||||||
| WGM | Girya O. | 2450 | RUS | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3½ | ||||||
| GM | Kosteniuk A. | 2555 | RUS | 0 | ½ | * | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 3½ | ||||||
| 6 | GM | Harika D. | 2543 | IND | 0 | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | 1 | ½ | 3 | |||||
| 7 | GM | Ju Wenjun | 2580 | CHN | ½ | 0 | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | 1 | 3 | |||||
| 8 | GM | Zhukova N. | 2448 | UKR | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | * | ½ | 3 | |||||
| 9 | WGM | Pogonina N. | 2492 | RUS | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | * | 1 | ½ | 2½ | |||||
| 10 | GM | Khotenashvili B. | 2426 | GEO | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | * | ½ | 2½ | |||||
| 11 | IM | Skripchenko A. | 2455 | FRA | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | 2 | |||||
| 12 | IM | Javakhishvili L. | 2461 | GEO | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | * | 1½ |
Grand Prix Standings:
| Rank | Player | Rating | Monte | Tehran | Batumi | Chengdu | Khanty- | Total |
| Carlo | Mansiysk | |||||||
| 1 | Koneru Humpy (India) | 2557 | 120 | 70 | NP | 145 | NP | 335 |
| 2 | Ju Wenjun (China) | 2580 | NP | 160 | NP | 93⅓ | 253⅓ | |
| 3 | Zhao Xue (China) | 2508 | NP | 120 | 70 | 60 | NP | 250 |
| 4 | Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine) | 2561 | 30 | NP | 100 | 93⅓ | NP | 223⅓ |
| 5 | Mariya Muzychuk (Ukraine) | 2532 | 120 | NP | 40 | 60 | NP | 220 |
| 6 | Valentina Gunina (Russia) | 2525 | NP | 45 | 160 | NP | 205 | |
| 6 | Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia) | 2507 | 50 | 85 | 70 | NP | NP | 205 |
| 8 | Alexandra Kosteniuk (Russia) | 2555 | 65 | NP | 130 | NP | 195 | |
| 9 | Dronavalli Harika (India) | 2543 | NP | 45 | NP | 145 | 190 | |
| 10 | Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria) | 2512 | 65 | 15 | NP | 93⅓ | NP | 173⅓ |
| 11 | Natalia Pogonina (Russia) | 2492 | 85 | 85 | NP | NP | 170 | |
| 12 | Hou Yifan (China) | 2635 | 160 | NP | NP | NP | NP | 160 |
| 13 | Sarasadat Khademalsharieh (Iran) | 2435 | 10 | 120 | NP | NP | 130 | |
| 14 | Pia Cramling (Sweden) | 2461 | 85 | 30 | NP | 10 | NP | 125 |
| 15 | Nino Batsiashvili (Georgia) | 2489 | NP | 15 | 100 | NP | 115 | |
| 16 | Almira Skripchenko (France) | 2455 | 30 | NP | 70 | NP | 100 | |
| 17 | Natalia Zhukova (Ukraine) | 2448 | 30 | 60 | NP | NP | 90 | |
| 18 | Olga Girya (Russia) | 2450 | NP | NP | 40 | 35 | 75 | |
| 18 | Lela Javakhishvili (Georgia) | 2461 | NP | NP | 40 | 35 | 75 | |
| 20 | Bela Khotenashvili (Georgia) | 2426 | NP | NP | 10 | 60 | 70 | |
| 21 | Elina Danielian (Armenia) | 2444 | NP | NP | 20 | NP | NP | 20 |
| 21 | Tan Zhongyi (China) | 2492 | NP | NP | NP | 20 | NP | 20 |
Note: NP means Not Played — a player is allowed to play, maximum, in three GPs.
Joy: Zhukova and Wenjun discuss their game.
The women's Grand Prix is marked by the professionalism of highest degree. The arena is beautiful, the players more so. The chess is mercurial and the style statement...? Well, the picture says it all.
India's Prof. R. Anantharam is the chief arbiter
When the rest day arrived, the players backtracked into their shells and went out to watch...
...Ice Hockey!
Experience the fun in this 2-min. video
Press officer Eteri Kublashvili takes a selfie with Bela Khotenashvili and Nino Batsiashvili.
Here, Eteri is seen interviewing the CEO of FIDE, Mr. Geoffery Borg.
The students and fans frequenting the Ugra Chess Academy were present to cheer for their favourite stars!