Kazan Women’s Grand Prix: Koneru faces Hou Yifan in round 1

Dear Chess Friends!

The opening ceremony of the 4th stage of FIDE Women’s Grand Prix Series 2011-2012 took place in the assembly hall of the “Korston” Hotel in Kazan (Russia) on the 9th of June.

12 players from 9 countries will take part in the event among them world champion Hou Yifan, former world champions Alexandra Kosteniuk, Antoaneta Stefanova as well as current number three and four in rating list among women Anna Muzychuk and Humpy Koneru. Four members of National Russian team, current Olympic champions Tatiana Kosintseva, Nadezhda Kosintseva, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Alisa Galliamova will represent Russian Federation.

The event was attended by such honorable guests as 1st President of the Republic of Tatarstan State Advisor of the Republic of Tatarstan, Senior Advisor to the FIDE President Mr. M. Shaimiev, the Chief Executive Officer of FIDE Mr. G. Borg, assistant to the FIDE President Mr. B. Balgabaev and others.

The Chief Arbiter of the tournament Sultan Al Tahir form UAE conducted the ceremony of drawing of lots. Each participant was proposed to choose a plate with different views of Kazan with the number on the bottom of each.

The parings of the first round

Elina Danielian – Anna Muzychuk
Humpy Koneru – Hou Yifan
Betul Yildiz – Alisa Galliamova
Tatiana Kosintseva – Alexandra Kosteniuk
Viktorija Cmilyte – Katerina Lahno
Nadezhda Kosintseva – Antoaneta Stefanova

Games will start at 3 p.m. local time.

The official tournament web page http://kazan2012.fide.com

Photos from the opening ceremony and technical meeting are here http://kazan2012.fide.com/images/stories/gallery/Opening%20ceremony/index.html

http://kazan2012.fide.com/images/stories/gallery/Technical%20meeting/index.html

If you use our pictures and/or reports please give a reference: “photos and reports by Anastasiya Karlovich with kind permission of FIDE” and put the link to the official website.

Best regards,
Anastasiya Karlovich
FIDE Press officer