India’s Koneru Humpy bounced back into contention for the title in the FIDE women’s Grand Prix chess with a crucial victory over Kateryna Lahno of Ukraine in the ninth round of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix chess at Kazan, Russia, on Wednesday.
Danielian loses
The win has taken third-seeded Humpy to the lead position, along with second-seeded Anna Muzychuk of Solenia, who drew with Lithuania’s Viktorija Cmilyte, and the sole overnight leader Elina Danielian of Armenia, who suffered her first defeat of the tournament, at the hands of Russian Alexandra Kosteniuk.
With two rounds left, they have six points apiece, half-a-point head of Cmilyte and Hou Yifan, the top seed from China.
The results (ninth round):
Viktorija Cmilyte (Ltu) 5.5 drew with Anna Muzychuk (Slo) 6; Nadezhda Kosintseva (Rus) 4.5 drew with Tatiana Kosintseva (Rus) 4.
Antoaneta Stefanova (Bul) 3.5 drew with Betul Cemre Yildiz (Tur) 2; Kateryna Lahno (Ukr) 4.5 lost to Koneru Humpy (Ind) 6.
Alexandra Kosteniuk (Rus) 4.5 bt Elina Danielian (Arm) 6.
Alisa Galliamova (Rus) 2 lost to Hou Yifan (Chn) 5.5.
Keywords: FIDE women’s Grand Prix chess
