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Zhao Xue won the Grand Prix in Nalchik two rounds before the end of the tournament |
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Wednesday, 19 October 2011 |
 Chinese Zhao Xue ensured the first place in the third stage of women’s Grand Prix FIDE presently taking place in Nalchik (Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia). In nine played rounds she showed phenomenal result – 8.5 points! Nearest competitors of the Chinese chess player her compatriot Ju Wenjun and Russian Ekaterina Kovalevskaya are 3.5 points behind.
On Wednesday, in the next round of the competition Zhao with black defeated Antoaneta Stefanova. The Bulgarian chess player started the game on the queenside too risky and weakened her position in the center. Xue’s arguments turned out to be more valid and on the move 37 Stefanova resigned.
Ekaterina Kovalevskaya beat her compatriot Nadezhda Kosintseva
in this round, so made a significant bid to get into the prize-winning
triple. Her assets are 5 points and she shares the second and the third
places in the tournament table in the company of Ju Wenjun, who drew
with the Ukrainian Kateryna Lahno with white.
Russian Alexandra Kosteniuk after this round went away from the last
place having won with white pieces her compatriot Alisa Galliamova. Two
games ended in a draw: Tatiana Kosintseva (Russia) – Zhu Chen (Qatar),
Viktorija Cmilyte (Lithuania) - Batkhuyag Munguntuul (Mongolia).
The penultimate 10th round of the competition will be held on Thursday,
October 20. Start of the games is at 15-00 Moscow time. Follow the live
coverage!
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