Fred McKim
03-09-2011, 12:36 PM
There was plenty of action, this past weekend, at the conclusion of the final event in the Women’s 2009/2011 Grand Prix series of tournaments, in Doha, Qatar. The overall winner of the Grand Prix would earn the right to battle Women's World Champion Hou Yifan (China), later this year for the world championship title.
As it turns out, the champion title match spot would go to the second place GP finisher overall, as Hou Yifan already had the title sewn up. This meant it came down to Humpy Koneru (India) and Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia), both participating in this final event to out duel each other and take 2nd spot and the Championship match right.
Elina Danielian (Armenia) led the tournament the whole time, but finally in the last round she was caught by Humpy Koneru, and the two shared 1st with scores of 8/11. This allowed Koneru to overtake Dzagnidze for 2nd spot in the Grand Prix, and as runner-up she will play Hou Yifan later this year.
Hou Yifan and Humpy Koneru are the only two Women players over 2600, with the exception of Judit Polgar (Hungary), who doesn’t compete in Women only events.
The 2011/2012 Grand Prix starts next month in Nalchik, Russia. It appears a Women’s World Championship will take place every year now, alternating between the Grand Prix winner challenging the current champion, and the 64 Player World Championship tournament (next such event in 2012).
http://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/5092-fide-womens-grand-prix-short-overview.html
http://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/5108-hou-yifan-is-overall-winner-of-womens-grand-prix-2009-2011.html
As it turns out, the champion title match spot would go to the second place GP finisher overall, as Hou Yifan already had the title sewn up. This meant it came down to Humpy Koneru (India) and Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia), both participating in this final event to out duel each other and take 2nd spot and the Championship match right.
Elina Danielian (Armenia) led the tournament the whole time, but finally in the last round she was caught by Humpy Koneru, and the two shared 1st with scores of 8/11. This allowed Koneru to overtake Dzagnidze for 2nd spot in the Grand Prix, and as runner-up she will play Hou Yifan later this year.
Hou Yifan and Humpy Koneru are the only two Women players over 2600, with the exception of Judit Polgar (Hungary), who doesn’t compete in Women only events.
The 2011/2012 Grand Prix starts next month in Nalchik, Russia. It appears a Women’s World Championship will take place every year now, alternating between the Grand Prix winner challenging the current champion, and the 64 Player World Championship tournament (next such event in 2012).
http://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/5092-fide-womens-grand-prix-short-overview.html
http://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/5108-hou-yifan-is-overall-winner-of-womens-grand-prix-2009-2011.html