29 April 2013

Foundation Neva Chess Grand Prix for Women in Geneva from May 2
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hi everyone, 


The Foundation Neva Chess Grand Prix for Women will be held in Geneva from May 2-16. Founded in Geneva in 2008 by the Timtchenko Family, Foundation Neva aims at reinforcing ties between Russia and Switzerland. It’s great that they are sponsoring this chess event. With the Geneva Grand Prix, FIDE also launches the new series of Chess Grand Prix events for the world’s leading women players. This new series sees 18 players battling it out over two years to provide a challenger for the World Championship. The lineup is very impressive and includes current Women World Champion Anna Ushenina from Ukraine and former World Champions Hou Yifan (China), Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria) and Alexandra Kosteniuk (Russia). Not to mention of course other top players such as Humpy Koneru (India), Anna Muzychuk (Solvenia), Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia) and Kateryna Lagno (Ukraine).

Name Title Country Rating
  • Hou, Yifan g CHN 2617
  • Koneru, Humpy g IND 2597
  • Muzychuk, Anna g SLO 2585
  • Zhao, Xue g CHN 2565
  • Dzagnidze, Nana g GEO 2554
  • Lagno, Kateryna g UKR 2547
  • Kosintseva, Nadezhda g RUS 2531
  • Stefanova, Antoaneta g BUL 2530
  • Cmilyte, Viktorija g LTU 2514
  • Harika, Dronavalli g IND 2510
  • Ju, Wenjun wg CHN 2505
  • Khotenashvili, Bela m GEO 2499
  • Kosteniuk, Alexandra g RUS 2495
  • Ushenina, Anna g UKR 2477
  • Danielian, Elina g ARM 2466
  • Girya, Olga wg RUS 2440
  • Muminova, Nafisa wg UZB 2312
  • Batchimeg Tuvshintugs wg MGL 2295
The full list is very impressive and it is anyone’s guess, as we have seen in past Grand Prix events what can happen. Thirteen players out of the eighteen hold the highest title in the chess world. The other five will be chasing this title as well as the overall title. GM Tatiana Kosintseva is playing in place of her sister for only the Geneva event. For the complete list of Women’s Chess Grand Prix events 201314 and the list of participants’ read: Women’s Chess Grand Prix 2013-14 Participants’ List

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