World Blitz Championship 2009

There are two chess femmes playing in this elite of the elite championship of 22 players: GM Judit Polgar (HUNG 2680) and GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS 2517). So far, the ladies have scored some telling wins through Round 28 (which gives you an idea of how fast and furious this BLITZ Championship is going), but both of them are out of contention for a medal. There are 42 rounds altogether. What are the odds that they can stage a second-half comeback? Hmmm.... This news is probably a bit old (from The Week in Chess), after 17 rounds: 1. Carlsen, Magnus g NOR 2801 21.0 2. Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2788 20.0 3. Karjakin, Sergey g UKR 2723 18.5 19. Polgar, Judit g HUN 2680 11.5 20. Kosteniuk, Alexandra g RUS 2517 11.0

Chess Femme News

Just a brief update tonight - I've got a casserole calling my name that hasn't even been started yet and it's 8:45 .m. and I'm taking the rest of the night off! From GM Alexandra Kosteniuk's blog, the following: One year ago today, she became the 12th and currently ruling Women's World Chess Champion after defeating GM Hou Yifan 2.5/1.5. Sorry - I missed this earlier (adding it now as I'm munching on my casserole at 10:28 p.m.) GM Kosteniuk is also playing on a team in the 14th Women's European Club Cup, October 3 - 11, 2009 in Ohrid, Macedonia. She is part of the Monte Carlo (Monaco) team, winner of the last two Women's title,s that boasts the following players: GM Kosteniuk (2516); GM Humpy Koneru (2595); GM Pia Cramling (2535); GM Monika Socko (2476); IM Almira Skripchenko (2448). Also, GM Kosteniuk announced yesterday, September 16, 2009, that she would be taking part in the FIDE World Blitz Chess Championship in Moscow November 16 - 18, 2009, with a stellar cast of players (19 others, 20 in all). She's going to have her work cut out for her, despite her great record at playing blitz. She is a qualified player/invitee to the FIDE World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk, 20 November to 15 December 2009. Since no announcement has been made by GM Kosteniuk (yet?), does this mean she will not be playing in the World Cup? I posted at her blog tonight and asked her.