Dzagnidze leads at Women's Chess Grand Prix in Jermuk

Nana Dzagnidze

Hi Everybody!

Twenty three-year-old Grandmaster Nana Dzagnidze of Georgia has pulled ahead with a half point lead at the Women's Grand Prix-2010 being held in Jermuk, Armenia. She won the first three games and drew the fourth-round game on Sunday.

Dzagnidze is closely followed by GM Tatiana Kosintseva. Tatiana's sister, IM Nadezhda, is assisting her at the tournament.

Meanwhile, 16-year-old talented Chinese player, Hou Yifan, who lost her first two games seems to have got over her disappointing start with two straight wins.

Round 4 results
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• Mkrtchian Lilit - Kosintseva Tatiana ½ - ½
• Chiburdanidze Maia - Fierro Martha 1-0
• Dzagnidze Nana - Kovanova Baira 1-0
• Shen Yang - Cramling Pia ½ - ½
• Xu Yuhua - Danielian Elina ½ - ½
• Hou Yifan - Stefanova Antoaneta 1-0

Standings after 4 rounds
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1. GM Dzagnidze Nana 2478 GEO 3½

2. GM Kosintseva Tatiana 2534 RUS 3

3. IM Danielian Elina 2473 ARM 2½

4. IM Mkrtchian Lilit 2477 ARM 2½

5. GM Chiburdanidze Maia 2514 GEO 2½

6. GM Hou Yifan 2589 CHN 2

7. GM Stefanova Antoaneta 2560 BUL 2

8. GM Cramling Pia 2536 SWE 1½€‹

9. WGM Shen Yang 2452 CHN 1½€‹

10. GM Xu Yuhua 2484 CHN 1½

11. WGM Kovanova Baira 2366 RUS 1½

12. IM Fierro Baquero M. L 2363 ECU 0

You can read about key moments in all the games at the official website.

There are some nice photos and news report up on chessbase.com.

Here is the game in which Hou Yifan destroyed former World Champion Antoaneta Stefanova's Caro Kann in a sharp struggle during the 4th round.

You can run the game in our pgnplayer or watch the flashplayer below.

PGN: 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. Be3 Qb6 6. Rb1 e5 7. Nge2 Ne7 8. Bf2 Qa5 9. dxe5 Bxe5 10. Bh4 dxe4 11. b4 Qc7 12. Nxe4 O-O 13. Bf6 Nd5 14. Bxe5 Qxe5 15. Qd4 Qxd4 16. Nxd4 Rd8 17. Kf2 b5 18. Ne2 a5 19. bxa5 Bf5 20. Rd1 Nd7 21. N2g3 Bxe4 22. fxe4 Nc3 23. Rd3 b4 24. a3 c5 25. axb4 cxb4 26. Be2 Rxa5 27. Bg4 Ra7 28. Rd4 Kf8 29. Ne2 Ke7 30. Nxc3 bxc3 31. Rhd1 f5 32. exf5 Rf8 33. Re1+ Kd8 34. Re3 gxf5 35. Be2 Rc7 36. Bb5 Rf7 37. Red3 Kc8 38. Bxd7+ Rcxd7 39. Rxd7 Rxd7 40. Rxd7 Kxd7 41. Ke3 1-0

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com