Artwork by Mike Magnan
The 2nd tournament of the FIDE Women Grand Prix 2011-2012 is scheduled to take place from 6th to 20th September in Shenzhen, China. 12 players compete in the round robin event. China is represented with four players, including the reigning World Champion Hou Yifan.
Shenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China’s Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China’s first and arguably one of the most successful Special Economic Zones. It currently also holds sub-provincial administrative status, with powers slightly less than a province.
Last month Shenzhen hosted the 26th Summer Universiade, which for the first time in the history of the FISU included chess as a competing sport.
It is curious that Kazan, like Shenzhen, will host the FIDE Women Grand Prix on May 2012 and Summer Universiade on 2013.
Players:
GM Hou Yifan CHN 2578 (World Champion 2010)
IM Anna Muzychuk SLO 2545 (by rating)
WGM Ju Wenjun CHN 2536 (nominee of Shenzhen)
GM Viktorija Cmilyte LTU 2525 (by rating)
GM Elina Danielian ARM 2517 (nominee of Jermuk)
IM Alisa Galliamova RUS 2498 (nominee of Kazan)
GM Zhao Xue CHN 2497 (semi-finalist world championship 2010)
GM Zhu Chen QAT 2490 (nominee of the FIDE President)
WGM Luan Rufei CHN 2477 (finalist world championship 2010)
IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag MGL 2465 (nominee of the FIDE President)
IM Ekaterina Kovalevskaya RUS 2421 (nominee of Rostov)
WIM Betul Cemre Yildiz TUR 2308 (nominee of Istanbul)
The FIDE Women Grand Prix is a series of elite tournaments which will be organised by FIDE and Global Chess. There will be 6 stages over two years in various countries around the world with three tournaments every year.
The winner of each tournament will win 6,500 euros out of a prize fund of 40,000 euros and the overall winner of the series will win a further 15,000 euros at the end of the series.
Kosteniuk could win this one by 2 points. She’s better than Hou Yifan.
Agreed.