Koneru Humpy moved into the sole lead at the end of the fourth round of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix chess at Chengdu, China, on Tuesday. The top seed from Vijayawada has now 3.5 points, following her victory over Tan Zhongyi of China.
This was the third straight win for Humpy, who had begun with a draw in the opening round. Fellow-Indian Dronavalli Harika is in the second slot with three points. The fifth seed drew with former World champion Mariya Muzychuk of Ukraine, who is seeded third.
With another seven rounds remaining in this round-robin tourney, three players are on 2.5 points – second seed Ju Wenjun of China, Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria and Bela Khotenashvili of Georgia. Wednesday is a rest day.
The Chengdu Grand Prix is the fourth of five tournaments in the 2015-16 cycle. Following the withdrawal of the World champion Hou Yifan of China at the end of the third leg in Georgia - because of FIDE’s refusal to agree to a change of format for the women’s World championship – Russia’s Valentina Gunina and Nana Dzanigdze are on top of the table, with 205 Grand Prix points apiece.
Alexander Kosteniuk of Russia is placed third with 195 points, followed by Humpy and Zhao Xue, with 190 points each. Harika has 45 points, but unlike the leading players, she has played only one Grand Prix tournament (a contestant could play three).
The results (fourth round): Mariya Muzychuk (Ukr) 1.5 drew with Dronavalli Harika (Ind) 3; Pia Cramling (Swe) 1.5 lost to Ju Wenjun (Chn) 2.5; Anna Muzychuk (Ukr) 2 drew with Lela Javakhishvili (Geo) 1.5; Koneru Humpy (Ind) 3.5 bt Tan Zhongyi (Chn) 1; Antoaneta Stefanova (Bul) 2.5 drew with Olga Girya (Rus) 1.5; Bela Khotenashvili (Geo) 2.5 drew with Zhao Xue (Chn) 1.
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