The sixth stage of the women’s FIDE Grand Prix officially opened today in Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club.
12 chess players representing 9 countries of the world will participate in the competition that will take place until the 7th of September 2014.
FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov expressed his gratitude to the organizers and wished all players to show their best in the tournament.
“I am happy to be here in Sharjah in this magnificent Chess Club, the largest in the world chess building, the opening of which in 2013 I was fortunate to attend. I would like to take this occasion to thank one more time His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Quassimi, the ruler of Sharjah, for his decisive contribution into this outstanding architectural and cultural project that resulted in appearance of the top level playing venue together with the Regional FIDE office, which has turned Sharjah into the major chess destinations all over the world.
Now Sharjah deservedly hosts the final leg of the Women’s Grand Prix Series, taking the baton from Georgian Lopota alone with other hosting cities of this significant women’s chess event, including here Khanty-Mansiysk in Russia, Tashkent in Uzbekistan, Dilijan in Armenia and Geneva in Switzerland. Women’s Grand Prix Series give strong impulse to development of women’s chess and let all of us enjoy tough and nonpresumable chess fights.”
AT the end of the speech the FIDE President has promised to announce the hosting city of the Women’s World Chess Championship during the closing ceremony of the Grand Prix in Sharjah on the 6th of September.
The big and small cups from “Lobortas Classic Jewelry House” were presented during the opening ceremony of the sixth stage of FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in Sharjah. The winner of the Women’s Grand Priz Series will be awarded with the small cup at the closing ceremony.
The Classic Jewelry House Lobortas had previously created for FIDE the Large and Small Chess Cups “Caissa”. World Champion Hou Yifan was the one who got the award “Caissa” during Istanbul Chess Olympiad in 2012.
Drawing of lots for the tournament was held during the opening ceremony. So, the pairs of the first round are:
ROUND 1 Pairings
No. Rtg Name Result Name Rtg No.
1 2461 GM Zhu Chen vs GM Zhao Xue 2508 12
2 2559 WGM Ju Wenjun vs GM Ushenina Anna 2487 11
3 2490 GM Danielian Elina vs GM Kosintseva Tatiana 2494 10
4 2346 WGM Batchimeg Tuvshintugs vs GM Koneru Humpy 2598 9
5 2446 WGM L’ami Alina vs GM Harika Dronavalli 2521 8
6 2315 WGM Muminova Nafisa vs GM Hou Yifan 2661 7
The Women Grand Prix Series consists of six tournaments that are being held over a two year period between 2013 and 2014. 18 top players participate in 4 of these 6 tournaments. The winner of the Grand Prix series will play a ten-game World Championship match with the Women’s World Champion; which will be determined during Women World Championship in the third quarter of 2015.
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