Chess Femme News

Here are some links to recent news stories about female chessplayers and women's chess events from around the internet: Susan Polgar Chess News and Information Blog, October 29, 2009: SPICE and Texas Tech get go-ahead for pilot chess program in selected Texas schools Chessbase, October 24, 2009: Indian chess champ on city streets – She is thirteen, rated 2132, and won the Asian U-14 title in Delhi last month. With her chess career she has made her country proud. But Saranya's childhood is anything but a bed of roses. Her father deserted the family five years ago, and her mother sells small items made of plastic and mud on the pavement of Thiruvottiyur (near Chennai) to eke out a living. Someone must help this girl. October 28, 2009: The USCF website published an article about the final determination of the winners of the 9 Queens "best games" prizes which were set $300, $200 and $100. 9Queens Presents the Best Games at the U.S. Women's By 9Queens Best Game Judges Four judges ranked their favorite five games from the 2009 US Women's Championship in a Best Games Contest sponsored by 9queens, a Tucson-based non-profit that promotes chess to those most in-need of its benefits especially girls and at-risk youth. The prizes were $300 for 1st place, $200 for 2nd and $100 for 3rd. The first place winning game won by a landslide, while the other awards were hotly contested. Winners: #1-: Anna Zatonskih-Alisa Melekhina, Round 6, 14 points ($300) #2-4: Abrahamyan-Krush,1-0, Round 9 ($100) #2-4: Baginskaite-Abrahamyan, 1-0, Round 1 ($100) #2-4: Tatev Abrahamyan vs. Alisa Melekhina (0-1), Round 3 ($100) 9 Queens Blog, October 28, 2009: Here is Jennifer Shahade's post on her thoughts about the best games at the 2009 U.S. Women's Chess Championship. Kosteniuk Blog, October 28, 2009: GM Alexandra Kosteniuk is currently playing first board for the Russian Women's Chess Team at the European Women's Team Chess Championship. She posted her 7th round victory behind the black pieces against Zeinab Mamedjarova (Azerbaijan).