Gibtelecom (Gibraltar) 2010

Ladies' Standings (in top 100) after R8:

9 GM Koneru, Humpy 6.0 IND F 2614
13 IM Javakhishvili, Lela 6.0 GEO F 2493
23 GM Stefanova, Antoaneta 5.5 BUL F 2545
24 GM Cramling, Pia 5.5 SWE F 2528
26 GM Kosteniuk, Alexandra 5.5 RUS F 2523
31 GM Dzagnidze, Nana 5.5 GEO F 2506
35 IM Harika, Dronavalli 5.5 IND F 2471
36 WGM Zhukova, Natalia 5.5 UKR F 2462
37 IM Krush, Irina 5.5 USA F 2455
42 WIM Cori T., Deysi 5.0 PER F 2412
44 WGM Karavade, Eesha 5.0 IND F 2405
45 IM Houska, Jovanka w 5.0 ENG F 2401
47 IM Dworakowska, Joanna w 5.0 POL F 2374
50 IM Sedina, Elena 5.0 ITA F 2335
59 IM Cmilyte, Viktorija 4.5 LTU F 2489
60 GM Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan 4.5 SCO F 2470
62 IM Zatonskih, Anna 4.5 USA F 2466
66 IM Tania, Sachdev 4.5 IND F 2398
71 WGM Reizniece, Dana 4.5 LAT F 2341
73 IM Zozulia, Anna 4.5 BEL F 2321
77 WFM Videnova, Iva 4.5 BUL F 2301
87 WIM Martsynovskaya, Marina w 4.5 FRA F 2184
96 WGM Calzetta Ruiz, Monica 4.0 ESP F 2359

Final round tomorrow. Key match-ups for the ladies:

5 GM Koneru, Humpy 6.0 IND 2614 GM Kamsky, Gata 6.0 USA 2693
6 GM Fressinet, Laurent 6.0 FRA 2670 IM Javakhishvili, Lela 6.0 GEO 2493
13 IM Harika, Dronavalli 5.5 IND 2471 GM Geetha Narayanan Gopal 5.5 IND 2584
14 IM Lenderman, Alex 5.5 USA 2560 GM Dzagnidze, Nana 5.5 GEO 2506
15 IM Krush, Irina 5.5 USA 2455 GM Malakhatko, Vadim 5.5 BEL 2549
16 GM Stefanova, Antoaneta 5.5 BUL 2545 IM Shankland, Samuel L 5.5 USA 2491
17 FM Lovik, Lasse Ostebo 5.5 NOR 2343 GM Cramling, Pia 5.5 SWE 2528
19 GM Kosteniuk, Alexandra 5.5 RUS 2523 WGM Zhukova, Natalia 5.5 UKR 2462

Generally speaking, if there is a spread of around 100 points between two players, the higher-rated player will usually win.  That was the case today with the ladies versus their opponents, with some notable exceptions:

1 GM Koneru, Humpy 5.5 IND 2614 GM Movsesian, Sergei 5.5 SVK 2708 ½-½
11 IM Javakhishvili, Lela 5.0 GEO 2493 GM Lopez Martinez, Josep Manu 5.0 ESP 2593 1-0
19 GM Bhat, Vinay S. 4.5 USA 2540 IM Krush, Irina 4.5 USA 2455 0-1

Humpy's draw is significant as it vaulted her back into first place for the women's title and also back into the top 10 of players overall.  Well done!

Javakhishvili has been on a holy chess goddess tear during this tournament!  I am in awe.

Krush's win behind the black pieces against a solid American GM is significant because she keeps herself in contention for a share of the ladies' prize money, depending upon what happens tomorrow.