Gibtelecom (Gibraltar) 2010

Here are the final standings for all of the chess femmes:

Rank Name Score Fed. Rating TPR

10 WGM Zhukova, Natalia 7.0 UKR 2462 2686 (wins 8,000 BPS)

12 GM Koneru, Humpy 7.0 IND 2614 2663 (wins 4,000 BPS)

21 GM Stefanova, Antoaneta 6.5 BUL 2545 2614 

24 GM Cramling, Pia 6.5 SWE 2528 2546

27 IM Javakhishvili, Lela 6.5 GEO 2493 2535

29 GM Kosteniuk, Alexandra 6.5 RUS 2523 2519

31 GM Dzagnidze, Nana 6.5 GEO 2506 2488

32 IM Harika, Dronavalli 6.5 IND 2471 2478

34 IM Cmilyte, Viktorija 6.5 LTU 2489 2445

37 WIM Cori T., Deysi 6.5 PER 2412 2393

38 WGM Karavade, Eesha 6.5 IND 2405 2360

39 WGM Reizniece, Dana 6.5 LAT 2341 2359

41 IM Dworakowska, Joanna 6.5 POL 2374 2273

44 IM Krush, Irina 6.0 USA 2455 2495

54 IM Houska, Jovanka 6.0 ENG 2401 2350

58 WFM Tjolsen, Katrine 6.0 NOR 2212 2325

65 IM Zatonskih, Anna 5.5 USA 2466 2411

68 IM Tania, Sachdev 5.5 IND 2398 2359

75 IM Sedina, Elena 5.5 ITA 2335 2319

77 IM Zozulia, Anna 5.5 BEL 2321 2309

81 GM Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan 5.5 SCO 2470 2266

89 WGM Calzetta Ruiz, Monica 5.5 ESP 2359 2206

106 WGM Nadig, Kruttika 5.0 IND 2240 2225

107 WFM Videnova, Iva 5.0 BUL 2301 2214

123 WIM Schoene, Maria 5.0 GER 2251 2084

145 WIM Martsynovskaya, Marina 4.5 FRA 2184 2054

180 Lochte, Szilvia 4.0 HUN 2032 1919

189 Carlsen, Ingrid Oen 3.5 NOR 1508 1641

198 Hansen, Erle Andrea Marki 3.0 NOR 1699 1749

208 Jacobsen, Caroline Beer 2.5 NOR 0 1593

212 Chidi, Lovinia Sylvia 2.0 GER 1832 1683

215 Reci, Nadja 1.5 SUI 0 1550

223 Agdestein, Victoria 0.0 NOR 0 1166

224 Grodas, Margrethe Bjerkem 0.0 NOR 0 1140

GM Michael Adams won the overall Masters after play-offs among the top four players, and he took home the top prize of 15,000 BPS with 7.5 points.  Here are the top American finishers:

5 GM Kamsky, Gata 7.5 USA M 2693 2719

9 IM Lenderman, Alex 7.5 USA M 2560 2652 (GM Susan Polgar reports this should get him his GM title)

28 IM Shankland, Samuel L 6.5 USA M 2491 2535

33 GM Bhat, Vinay S. 6.5 USA M 2540 2477

36 IM Sarkar, Justin 6.5 USA M 2378 2408

56 FM Zaremba, Andrie 6.0 USA M 2360 2338

176 Sigamoney, Cyril S 4.0 USA M 0 1965

Gibtelecom (Gibraltar) 2010

Things are tightening up at the top - I actually thought R9, which was held today, was the final round! Wrongo, Jan. Goddess, I can't stand the tension!  I have no idea what's going to happen tomorrow.  The top 4 male players will face off against each other.  Will they go for a win or will they go for GM draws and take the chance that the tier of players right underneath them will go for draws too, and not too many will come out with wins to dilute the prize pool. I'm rooting for the chess femmes all the way.

The chess femmes will have their own battle going on, and I think each of them will be going for wins, regardless of what is happening in the larger Masters. 

Right now, there are four players tied with 7.0/9:

1 GM Movsesian, Sergei 7.0 SVK M 2708
2 GM Vallejo Pons, Francisco 7.0 ESP M 2705
3 GM Adams, Michael 7.0 ENG M 2694
4 GM Gustafsson, Jan 7.0 GER M 2627

There are 14 players right behind, at 6.5, including several of the chess femmes:

5 GM Bacrot, Etienne 6.5 FRA M 2713
6 GM Kamsky, Gata 6.5 USA M 2693
7 GM Fressinet, Laurent 6.5 FRA M 2670
8 GM Fridman, Daniel 6.5 GER M 2654
9 GM Sandipan, Chanda 6.5 IND M 2622
10 GM Koneru, Humpy 6.5 IND F 2614
11 GM Geetha Narayanan Gopal 6.5 IND M 2584
12 IM Lenderman, Alex 6.5 USA M 2560
13 GM Stefanova, Antoaneta 6.5 BUL F 2545
14 GM Cramling, Pia 6.5 SWE F 2528
15 GM Bindrich, Falko 6.5 GER M 2512
16 IM Javakhishvili, Lela 6.5 GEO F 2493
17 WGM Zhukova, Natalia 6.5 UKR F 2462
18 IM Boskovic, Drasko 6.5 SRB M 2454

AND, to jazz things up even further, there are 18 players with 6.0 points, only 1 point behind the leaders and 1/2 point behind the pack that are breathing down their necks!

19 GM Cheparinov, Ivan 6.0 BUL M 2660
20 GM Istratescu, Andrei 6.0 ROU M 2607
21 GM Felgaer, Ruben 6.0 ARG M 2591
22 GM Halkias, Stelios 6.0 GRE M 2566
23 GM Lemos, Damian 6.0 ARG M 2556
24 GM Malakhatko, Vadim 6.0 BEL M 2549
25 GM Naumann, Alexander 6.0 GER M 2525
26 GM Speelman, Jon S 6.0 ENG M 2525
27 GM Guliyev, Namig 6.0 AZE M 2516
28 IM Kapnisis, Spyridon 6.0 GRE M 2510
29 GM Hoffmann, Michael 6.0 GER M 2508
30 IM Cori, Jorge J 6.0 PER M 2483
31 IM Krush, Irina 6.0 USA F 2455
32 IM Vernay, Clovis 6.0 FRA M 2442
33 IM Sarkar, Justin 6.0 USA M 2378
34 IM Dworakowska, Joanna w 6.0 POL F 2374
35 FM Avalos Parra, Joao 6.0 CHI M 2245
36 Ivanov, Stojan Emilov 6.0 BUL M 2198

Here are the ladies' standings after R9:

Rank Name Flags Score Fed. M/F Rating TPR
10 GM Koneru, Humpy 6.5 IND F 2614 2687
13 GM Stefanova, Antoaneta 6.5 BUL F 2545 2661
14 GM Cramling, Pia 6.5 SWE F 2528 2571
16 IM Javakhishvili, Lela 6.5 GEO F 2493 2569
17 WGM Zhukova, Natalia 6.5 UKR F 2462 2688
31 IM Krush, Irina 6.0 USA F 2455 2528
34 IM Dworakowska, Joanna w 6.0 POL F 2374 2244
40 GM Kosteniuk, Alexandra 5.5 RUS F 2523 2493
41 GM Dzagnidze, Nana 5.5 GEO F 2506 2457
43 IM Cmilyte, Viktorija 5.5 LTU F 2489 2414
45 IM Harika, Dronavalli 5.5 IND F 2471 2455
49 WIM Cori T., Deysi J 5.5 PER F 2412 2362
51 WGM Karavade, Eesha 5.5 IND F 2405 2347
52 IM Houska, Jovanka w 5.5 ENG F 2401 2321
53 IM Tania, Sachdev 5.5 IND F 2398 2379
60 WGM Reizniece, Dana 5.5 LAT F 2341 2290
73 IM Sedina, Elena 5.0 ITA F 2335 2340
78 WIM Schoene, Maria 5.0 GER F 2251 2125
82 WFM Tjolsen, Katrine J 5.0 NOR F 2212 2322
97 GM Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan 4.5 SCO F 2470 2236
98 IM Zatonskih, Anna 4.5 USA F 2466 2403
99 WGM Calzetta Ruiz, Monica 4.5 ESP F 2359 2172
100 IM Zozulia, Anna 4.5 BEL F 2321 2286
101 WFM Videnova, Iva 4.5 BUL F 2301 2224
113 WIM Martsynovskaya, Marina w 4.5 FRA F 2184 2114
132 WGM Nadig, Kruttika 4.0 IND F 2240 2186
166 Lochte, Szilvia 3.5 HUN F 2032 1915
193 Hansen, Erle Andrea Marki J 3.0 NOR F 1699 1776
195 Carlsen, Ingrid Oen J 3.0 NOR F 1508 1600
208 Chidi, Lovinia Sylvia 2.0 GER F 1832 1683
215 Jacobsen, Caroline Beer J 1.5 NOR F 0 1442
216 Reci, Nadja 1.5 SUI F 0 1550
221 Agdestein, Victoria J 0.0 NOR F 0 1166 (dropped out after R4)
222 Grodas, Margrethe Bjerkem J 0.0 NOR F 0 1140 (dropped out after R4)

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.

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Here is a game from Round 3 featuring current Women's World Chess Champion, GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS 2523), with the white pieces, versus GM Gata Kamsky (USA 2707 - live rating), with the black pieces.  You can play through the game as GM Kosteniuk's chess blog:

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 c5 6. Be3 Nd7 7. O-O Ne7 8. c4 dxc4 9. Na3 c3 10. Bg5 f6 11. exf6 gxf6 12. Bc1 Nd5 13. Nh4 Bg6 14. Bf3 N7b6 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. bxc3 Kf7 17. c4 Nb4 18. Be3 Qe7 19. Nxg6 hxg6 20. Qe2 Rad8 21. Rad1 Na4 22. Bxc5 Qxc5 23. Qe4 Nc6 24. Rfe1 e5 25. Nb5 f5 26. Qc2 Nb6 27. Qc1 e4 28. Rxd8 Rxd8 29. Be2 Nd7 30. Rd1 Nf6 31. Rxd8 Nxd8 32. Qd2 Ne6 33. Nd6 Ke7 34. Nxb7 Qb6 35. Na5 e3 36. fxe3 Ne4 37. Qb4 Qxb4 38. Nc6 Kd6 39. Nxb4 Nc3 40. Bf3 a5 41. Nc6 a4 42. a3 Nb1 43. Nd4 Nxa3 44. Nxe6 Kxe6 45. Bd1 Nxc4 1/2-1/2

Chessdom.com is providing coverage and live game commentary, and also nice photographs!  This report of Round 3 action features several of the female players, including a photograph of Ingrid Carlsen, sister of GM Magnus Carlsen (top rated player in the world at the moment and the youngest player to ever achieve this distinction).  Here are brief biographies of some of the players (highest rated and others) from Chessdom, featuring many of the female players.  I'm so happy to see Chessdom devoting equal coverage to the female players; after all, we do make up about 51% of the world population, and more and more females are taking up chess every day, thanks to such organizations as 9Queens, Chess in Schools, and strong female chessplaying role models of the Polgar sisters, Kosteniuk, Stefanova, Zatonskih, Krush, Shahade, Hou Yifan, etc. etc.  I do not think I will live long enough to see it, but ultimately I do believe that relative parity of playing skill will be achieved between females and males.  We just need a lot more female players who toss away the constraints of subtle social gender roles.  Yes, I know - easier said than done!

Gibtelecom/Gibraltar generates tons of coverage - GM Susan Polgar's blog, Mig's Daily Dirt blog, The Week in Chess, Chessbase, Chessdom, Chessvibes, etc. etc. and this doesn't include the official website.  Going up against the stellar line-up at Corus, which is winding down now, is not an easy row to hoe!  But the Gibtelecom/Gibraltar Chess Festival is special because it makes a strong effort to recruit female players and offers great prizes to attract a wide field.  It has gotten progressively stronger every year over it's short (8 year) history.

Women's Prizes for 2010:

Open to all Women 

1st Prize £8,000 
2nd Prize £4,000
3rd Prize £3,000 
4th Prize £2,500
5th Prize £2,000
6th Prize £1,500
7th Prize £1,000
8th Prize £500

Prizes for best relative rating achievement
2350-2150 £500
Under 2150 £250
 
Round 5 today - key pairings for the top chess femmes:
 
Table 2 GM Adams, Michael 3.5 ENG 2694 GM Koneru, Humpy 3.5 IND 2614
Table 7 IM Harika, Dronavalli 3.0 IND 2471 GM Vallejo Pons, Francisco 3.0 ESP 2705
Table 9 IM Zatonskih, Anna 3.0 USA 2466 GM Istratescu, Andrei 3.0 ROU 2607
Table 10 GM Lopez Martinez, Josep Manu 3.0 ESP 2593 WGM Zhukova, Natalia 3.0 UKR 2462

Table 11 IM Krush, Irina 3.0 USA 2455 GM Halkias, Stelios 3.0 GRE 2566
Table16 IM Saravanan, V. 3.0 IND 2356 GM Cramling, Pia 3.0 SWE 2528

Table 17 GM Naumann, Alexander 3.0 GER 2525 IM Zozulia, Anna 3.0 BEL 2321
Table 18 IM Sedina, Elena 3.0 ITA 2335 GM Speelman, Jon S 3.0 ENG 2525
Table 20 Dasaolu, Adeoye 3.0 ENG 2068 GM Dzagnidze, Nana 3.0 GEO 2506

Gibtelecom (Gibraltar) 2010

Ladies' standings after R4 (226 players):

7 GM Koneru, Humpy 3.5 IND F 2614
21 GM Cramling, Pia 3.0 SWE F 2528
25 GM Dzagnidze, Nana 3.0 GEO F 2506
28 IM Harika, Dronavalli 3.0 IND F 2471
29 IM Zatonskih, Anna 3.0 USA F 2466
30 WGM Zhukova, Natalia 3.0 UKR F 2462
31 IM Krush, Irina 3.0 USA F 2455
37 IM Sedina, Elena 3.0 ITA F 2335
38 IM Zozulia, Anna 3.0 BEL F 2321
42 GM Stefanova, Antoaneta 2.5 BUL F 2545
44 GM Kosteniuk, Alexandra 2.5 RUS F 2523
48 IM Javakhishvili, Lela 2.5 GEO F 2493
49 IM Cmilyte, Viktorija 2.5 LTU F 2489
51 GM Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan 2.5 SCO F 2470
55 WGM Karavade, Eesha 2.5 IND F 2405
56 IM Houska, Jovanka w 2.5 ENG F 2401
65 WFM Videnova, Iva 2.5 BUL F 2301
73 WFM Tjolsen, Katrine 2.5 NOR F 2212
88 WIM Cori T., Deysi 2.0 PER F 2412
90 IM Tania, Sachdev 2.0 IND F 2398
92 IM Dworakowska, Joanna w 2.0 POL F 2374
96 WGM Reizniece, Dana 2.0 LAT F 2341
104 WGM Nadig, Kruttika 2.0 IND F 2240
115 WIM Martsynovskaya, Marina w 2.0 FRA F 2184
151 WIM Schoene, Maria 1.5 GER F 2251
181 Lochte, Szilvia 1.0 HUN F 2032
204 Hansen, Erle Andrea Marki 1.0 NOR F 1699
213 Chidi, Lovinia Sylvia 0.5 GER F 1832
216 Carlsen, Ingrid Oen 0.5 NOR F 1508
219 Jacobsen, Caroline Beer 0.5 NOR F 0 1527

Gibtelecom (Gibraltar) 2010

Chess femme standings after Round 3 (Masters - 223 players) (official website):

10 GM Koneru, Humpy 2.5 IND F 2614
17 GM Stefanova, Antoaneta 2.5 BUL F 2545
18 GM Cramling, Pia 2.5 SWE F 2528
20 GM Kosteniuk, Alexandra 2.5 RUS F 2523
23 IM Javakhishvili, Lela 2.5 GEO F 2493
25 IM Cmilyte, Viktorija 2.5 LTU F 2489
27 WGM Zhukova, Natalia 2.5 UKR F 2462
39 GM Dzagnidze, Nana 2.0 GEO F 2506
41 IM Harika, Dronavalli 2.0 IND F 2471
42 GM Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan 2.0 SCO F 2470
44 IM Zatonskih, Anna 2.0 USA F 2466
45 IM Krush, Irina 2.0 USA F 2455
49 IM Houska, Jovanka w 2.0 ENG F 2401
55 WGM Reizniece, Dana 2.0 LAT F 2341
56 IM Sedina, Elena 2.0 ITA F 2335
57 IM Zozulia, Anna 2.0 BEL F 2321
65 WGM Nadig, Kruttika 2.0 IND F 2240
72 WFM Tjolsen, Katrine 2.0 NOR F 2212
77 WIM Martsynovskaya, Marina w 2.0 FRA F 2184
92 WGM Karavade, Eesha 1.5 IND F 2405
93 IM Tania, Sachdev 1.5 IND F 2398
96 IM Dworakowska, Joanna w 1.5 POL F 2374
102 WFM Videnova, Iva 1.5 BUL F 2301
107 WIM Schoene, Maria 1.5 GER F 2251
141 WGM Calzetta Ruiz, Monica 1.0 ESP F 2359
167 Lochte, Szilvia 1.0 HUN F 2032
205 Chidi, Lovinia Sylvia 0.5 GER F 1832
212 Hansen, Erle Andrea Marki 0.0 NOR F 1699
214 Carlsen, Ingrid Oen 0.0 NOR F 1508 (Yes, the Carlsen's sister)
222 Jacobsen, Caroline Beer 0.0 NOR F 0 1228

Gibtelecom (Gibraltar) 2010

Lots of chess femmes playing in this fab event (the Masters event). Here is the listing of current chess femmes, as far as I can determine. Unfortunately, former Women's World Chess Championship GM Zhu Chen had to withdraw (along with her GM husband Mohamad Al-Modiahki), due to a family illness, reported at the offical website. The undisputed star of the Masters is 7 year old Ana Cramling-Bellon, daughter of GM Pia Cramling and GM Juan Manuel Bellon Lopez, born in 2002. GM Koneru Humpy (IND 2614) GM Hou Yifan (CHN 2590) GM Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL 2545) GM Pia Cramling (SWE 2528) GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS 2523) GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO 2506) IM Lela Javakhishvili (GEO 2493) IM Viktorija Cmilyte (LTU 2489) IM Harika Dronavalli (IND 2471) GM Ketevan Arakhamia (SCO 2470) IM Anna Zatonskih (USA 2466) WGM Natalia Zhukova (UKR 2462) IM Almira Skripchenko (FRA 2456) IM Irina Krush (USA 2455) WGM Karavade Eesha (IND 2405) IM Tania Sachdev (IND 2398) WGM Deysi Estela Cori Tello (PER 2374) WGM Monica Calzetta Ruis (ESP 2359) WGM Dana Reizniece (LAT 2341) IM Elena Sedina (ITA 2335) IM Anna Zozulia (BEL 2321) WIM Maria Schoene (GER 2251) WGM Nadig Kruttika (IND 2240) WFM Katrine Tjolsen (NOR 2212) Marianne Wold Haug (NOR 2041) Szilvia Lochte (HUN 2032) Lovinia Sylvia Chidi (GER 1832) Nadja Reci (SUI 1544) Ingrid Carlsen (NOR 1508) (sister of the famous GM Magnus Carlsen #1 rated player in world) Caroline Beer Jacobsen (NOR 1300) Ana Cramling-Bellón (ESP/SWE 1000)