European Individual Women's Chess Championship 2013

From The Week in Chess and the official website (check it out - lots of photographs of the action and interviews with the chess femmes, among other things). 

169 players.  Here are the top finishers only (see The Week in Chess for full table):

ch-EUR Ind w 2013 Belgrade SRB Tue 23rd Jul 2013 - Sat 3rd Aug 2013 Leading Final Round 11 Standings:
Rk	Name	Ti	FED	Rtg	Pts	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	Hoang Thanh Trang	GM	HUN	2467	9.0	2421	73.0	79.0
2	Melia Salome	IM	GEO	2428	8.0	2452	72.5	77.0
3	Mkrtchian Lilit	IM	ARM	2454	8.0	2404	70.5	75.5
4	Cmilyte Viktorija	GM	LTU	2497	8.0	2393	68.5	73.5
5	Kosteniuk Alexandra	GM	RUS	2489	8.0	2393	67.0	71.5
6	Khotenashvili Bela	IM	GEO	2512	8.0	2388	69.0	74.5
7	Socko Monika	GM	POL	2435	8.0	2360	65.0	69.5
8	Kashlinskaya Alina	WGM	RUS	2334	7.5	2433	69.5	73.0
9	Arabidze Meri	WGM	GEO	2320	7.5	2432	73.5	77.5
10	Pogonina Natalija	WGM	RUS	2478	7.5	2407	68.0	72.5
11	Kovanova Baira	WGM	RUS	2371	7.5	2398	70.0	74.5
12	Muzychuk Anna	GM	SLO	2594	7.5	2393	69.0	73.5
13	Girya Olga	WGM	RUS	2437	7.5	2391	69.5	75.0
14	Stefanova Antoaneta	GM	BUL	2497	7.5	2362	65.0	70.0
15	Ozturk Kubra	WGM	TUR	2293	7.5	2360	65.0	69.0
16	Cramling Pia	GM	SWE	2523	7.5	2356	64.5	70.0
17	Javakhishvili Lela	IM	GEO	2465	7.5	2324	59.0	63.5
18	Atalik Ekaterina	IM	EUR	2430	7.5	2319	59.0	63.5
19	Milliet Sophie	IM	FRA	2396	7.5	2298	60.5	65.0
20	Arakhamia-Grant Ketevan	GM	SCO	2385	7.5	2280	59.0	63.5

Good to see IM Salome Melia doing so well - and she looks fabulous too!  Melia was a WGM at the time we brought her from Europe to participate in the 2009 City of Montreal Chess Championships, and a city fell in love with her.  Best of all, she earned a second GM norm, whoop whoop! 

It seems like yesterday when Hoang Thanh Trang was a shy teenager with a bad haircut and thick glasses.  She was always a good chessplayer, and has maintained her high level of play.  Lilit Mkrtchian from Armenia (the place where the eight-spoke chariot wheel was first invented in the 19th century BCE, which revolutionized warfare and is, perhaps, memorialized in ancient chess pieces as the 'ruhkh' [often depicted as a horse-drawn war chariot]) has been near the top ranks of female players since her breakthrough performance a few years back in one of FIDE's knock-out format Women's World Chess Chamionships where, I believe (working from my badly leaking memory) she made it all the way into the quarter-finals.  Here's a pic from the official website of the top three finishers:

Salome Melia left, Hoang Thanh Trang center, Lilit Mkrtchian right.

Congratulations to the winners and also to GM Alexandra Kosteniuk who tied with 6 players with 8.0/11 (including Melia and Mrktchian). 

Chess Femme News!

Chess is a big deal in Armenia.  The press regularly covers local and international events and the top Armenian players (who are very fine, I have to say), are stars in their homeland.  I thought this was particularly interesting, the mention of ex-pat Armenians who now play chess for other countries!

Report at panorama.am.
8 November 2010
Armenian chess players at World Women’s Championship

WGM Lilit Mkrtchian

The list of participants to World Women’s Championship due to start on December 2, host city Hatay, Turkey, is published by FIDE, “armchess.am”.

Armenia will have two representatives to the championship. WGM Lilit Mkrtchian is going to play with WGM Zhang Xiaowen (China), GM Elina Danielian - with WGM Tatiana Shadrina (Russia) at the first round of the tournament which is going to be held by the knock-out system.

Two other Armenian chess players, GM Almira Skripchenko-Aghababian (France) and WIM Dina Kagramanova (Canada), are also going to play in Hatay. Their opponents will be WGM Christina-Adela Foisor (Romania) and GM Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia), respectively.

Pinay wins gold in ASEAN Olympiad
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 11/08/2010 12:13 PM | Updated as of 11/08/2010 12:13 PM

MANILA, Philippines – Chess player Marie Antoinette San Diego gave the Philippines its first gold medal in the ASEAN Primary School Sports Olympiad 2010 (APSSO) Chess Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia.

San Diego bested Nguyen Thanh Thuy Tien of Vietnam in the tie-break points to clinch the gold of the individual girls standard competition.

San Diego and Thanh Thuy Tien tallied 4 points apiece in 5 outings. San Diego crushed Parahita Miliyana L of Indonesia 3 in the final round while Thanh Thuy Tien clobbered former solo leader Dita Karenza of Indonesia 2.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) President-Chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. lauded San Diego's latest feat.

“This proves once again that the Filipino can be at par with the Asia’s best pawnpushers,” he said.

World Senior Chess Championships - Women
I found this report at GM Alexandra Kosteniuk's blog

Final standings:

1. WGM Khmiadashvili Tamar GEO 2162 7,0 7,0 1,0 37,5

2. GM Gaprindashvili Nona GEO 2363 7,0 7,0 1,0 34,0

3. WIM Fomina Tatyana EST 2256 7,0 7,0 1,0 34,0

4. WGM Fatalibekova Elena RUS 2270 6,5 6,5 0,0 31,0

5. WFM Miednikova Swietlana RUS 2146 5,0 5,0 0,0 27,0

6. WFM Khropova Larisa RUS 2037 5,0 5,0 0,0 27,0

7. WIM Borisova Borislava SWE 2096 5,0 5,0 0,0 27,0

8. WFM Komysheva Margarita RUS 2084 5,0 5,0 0,0 24,0

9. Tsygankova Enni UZB 0 5,0 5,0 0,0 23,0

10. Chireykina Natalia RUS 1799 5,0 5,0 0,0 21,5

From the website (in Italian):
1° € 600.- coppa e medaglia d’oro / trophy and Gold medal / Trophäe und Goldmedaille
2° € 500.- medaglia d’argento / Silver medal / Silbermedaille
3° € 400.- medaglia di bronzo / Bronze medal / Bronzemedaille
4° € 200.-

Chess Femme News!

Just a few items this evening - I must get to work on m friend's family tree, must have it finished for presentation on November 17.  I'm getting there, but I keep finding new family members and it's hard to resist following the new clues.  So far, I haven't been able to resist, but I must, I must!

News regarding the upcoming Women's World Chess Championship which is supposed to be held in Turkey December 2 - 25, 2010.  That is really crappy, actually, making any competitors who may be Christians play over the Christmas holiday - and in a Muslim country, no less.  Geez, dudes, great planning.  But then, FIDE doesn't give a hoot about the welfare and preferences of the chessplayers who actually feed it's existence.  It's all about what country or federation coughs up the most money to line the pockets of the corrupt chess politicians.  Where have we heard this tune before?  It's disgusting.  Mind you - I won't believe that this Championship is actually going to be held until it starts - we shall see...

From Panarmenian.net
Women's World Chess Championship in Hatay to host Elina Danielyan and Lilit Mkrtchyan
October 28, 2010 - 18:43 AMT 13:43 GMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - On December 2-25, Turkish province of Hatay will host Women's World Chess Championship.

Elina Danielyan and Lilit Mkrtchyan, European Chess Club Cup 2010 bronze winners, will represent Armenia at the tournament.

[Note: Mkrtchian had a very good showing in the 2008 Women's World Chess Championship, making it to the quarter-finals, but she lost 1.5/0.5 to GM Hou Yifan of China.]

Also from Panarmenian.net
Ashot Vardapetyan pleased with Mika’s results at European Chess Club Cup
October 28, 2010 - 16:00 AMT 11:00 GMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Members of Mika women’s club, who won bronze medals at the European Chess Club Cup, and club head Ashot Vardapetyan met with journalists on October 28 to comment on the results of the tournament.

Vardapetyan said he is pleased with the results. “Other teams prepare scrupulously for each match against Mika,” he noted.

Mika women’s chess club was formed in 2004 to win champion’s title two years later. In 2007, they won bronze. Men’s club won silver medals in 2009.

At the World Youth Chess Championships, my girl Narmin Kazimova is playing excellently, and I am so very pleased for her!  This is a news report on her progress and how some of the other Azeri chess femmes are doing after Round 8:

From news.az
Azerbaijani chess player leading in world championship in Greece
Thu 28 October 2010 11:52 GMT | 6:52 Local Time
The world chess championship among youth continues in Halkidiki (Greece).
Eight rounds have already been played. Azerbaijan is represented by 20 chess players. Eight of our representatives are currently among top ten. Narmin Kazimov[a] leading in U-18 contest with 7.5 points should be singled out.

Abdulla Gadimbeyli (U-8), Kenan Izzet (U-14), Sabina Ibrahimova (U-16) and Aydan Khojatova (U-12) taking second, third and fourth places also continue the struggle.

Khanim Balajayeva (U-10), Ulviya Fataliyeva (U-14), Sabina Ibrahimova (U-16) and Aydan Khojatova (U-12) are also among top ten.

2009 European Individual Women's Chess Championship

Update after play-offs: Gold medal: IM Kosintseva, Tatiana RUS Silver medal: IM Mkrtchian, Lilit ARM Bronze Medal: still undetermined when I checked this morning (8.53 a.m.) Qualified for the World Championship: 1 IM Kosintseva, Tatiana RUS 2 GM Socko, Monika POL 3 WGM Shadrina, Tatiana RUS 4 IM Kovalevskaya, Ekaterina RUS 5 IM Rajlich, Iweta POL 6 IM Ovod, Evgenija RUS 7 GM Hoang Thanh Trang HUN 8 WGM Romanko, Marina RUS 9 WGM Kovanova, Baira RUS 10 IM Turova, Irina RUS 11 IM Paehtz, Elisabeth GER 12 WGM Zawadzka, Jolanta POL 13 IM Khukhashvili, Sopiko GEO 14 IM Muzychuk, Mariya UKR Mrktchian isn't on the list, but I assume she has already qualified for the next WWCC. by virtue of her stellar performance at the 2008 WWCC.

2009 European Individual Women's Chess Championship

Wow! Lots of excitment in the final round - and it's not over yet! First of all, here are the top 10 final standings, with the caveat below (and it's a big one): Rank Pno Title Name Elo Fed Score TPR 1 11 IM Mkrtchian, Lilit 2460 ARM 8,5 2598 2 5 IM Kosintseva, Tatiana 2497 RUS 8,5 2551 3 15 GM Socko, Monika 2449 POL 8 2565 4 24 WGM Shadrina, Tatiana 2416 RUS 8 2552 5 17 IM Lomineishvili, Maia 2437 GEO 8 2520 6 16 IM Kovalevskaya, Ekaterina 2442 RUS 8 2550 7 9 WGM Pogonina, Natalija 2467 RUS 8 2540 8 27 IM Rajlich, Iweta 2399 POL 8 2552 9 18 IM Ovod, Evgenija 2430 RUS 8 2504 10 8 GM Hoang Thanh Trang 2483 HUN After visiting Chessdom I learned that IM Lilit Mkrtchian and IM Tatiana Kosintseva will do a play-off to determine which chess femme wins the title. (By the way, beautiful photos of the chess femmes at Chessdom). Here are the Round 11 results for the top boards: IM Kosintseva, Tatiana 7.5 RUS 2497 - IM Kovalevskaya, Ekaterina 8.0 RUS 2442 1-0 IM Lomineishvili, Maia 7.5 GEO 2437 - WGM Pogonina, Natalija 7.5 RUS 2467 0.5-0.5 IM Mkrtchian, Lilit 7.5 ARM 2460 - WGM Romanko, Marina 7.5 RUS 2451 1-0 IM Rajlich, Iweta 7.5 POL 2399 - GM Socko, Monika 7.5 POL 2449 0.5-0.5 GM Hoang Thanh Trang 7.0 HUN 2483 - IM Khukhashvili, Sopiko 7.0 GEO 2416 0.5-0.5 IM Paehtz, Elisabeth 7.0 GER 2455 - WGM Kovanova, Baira 7.0 RUS 2386 0.5-0.5 IM Ovod, Evgenija 7.0 RUS 2430 - WFM Bodnaruk, Anastasia 7.0 RUS 2384 1-0 IM Turova, Irina 7.0 RUS 2379 - IM Muzychuk, Mariya 7.0 UKR 2427 0.5-0.5 WGM Shadrina, Tatiana 7.0 RUS 2416 - IM Melia, Salome 7.0 GEO 2422 1-0WGM Demina, Julia 6.5 RUS 2361 - IM Muzychuk, Anna 6.5 SLO 2540 0-1 IM Vasilevich, Irina 6.5 RUS 2340 - GM Lahno, Kateryna 6.5 UKR 2488 1-0 IM Dworakowska, Joanna 6.5 POL 2352 - IM Gaponenko, Inna 6.5 UKR 2450 0.5-0.5 IM Foisor, Cristina-Adela 6.5 ROU 2412 - WIM Paulet, Iozefina 6.5 ROU 2315 0.5-0.5 WGM Zawadzka, Jolanta 6.5 POL 2385 - WGM Botsari, Anna-Maria 6.5 GRE 2289 1-0 GM Dzagnidze, Nana 6.0 GEO 2518 - WFM Severiukhina, Zoja 6.0 RUS 2327 1-0 At the moment, these are the play-offs: For Championship Title: -- L. Mkrtchian (ARM) -- T. Kosintseva (RUS) For Bronze and Silver Medals: -- (1) IM Monica Socko (POL) -- (2) E. Kovalevskaya (RUS) -- (2) N. Pogonina (RUS) (winner of this play-off will meet Socko) -- (3) T. Shadrina (RUS) -- (3) E. Ovod (RUS) (winner of 3 will play-off against winner of 4) -- (4) M. Lomineishvili (GEO) -- (4) I. Rajlich (POL) Here are the special prizes awarded to the chess femmes thus far: Rank Name Fed Score TPR Elo TPR-Elo Prize (Eur) 1 Ziaziulkina, Nastassia BLR 5 2208 1950 258 1000 2 Khokhlova, Ekaterina RUS 4,5 2068 1822 246 900 3 Petrukhina, Irina RUS 4,5 2113 1905 208 800 4 Della-Rossa, Anastasia RUS 4 2074 1868 206 700 5 Balaian, Alina RUS 5 2229 2037 192 600 6 Brunello, Marina ITA 5 2282 2106 176 550 7 Kushka, Alena RUS 5,5 2295 2124 171 500 8 Sorokina, Anastasia RUS 4,5 2250 2087 163 450 9 Lezhepekova, Veronika RUS 3,5 2079 1917 162 400 10 Styazhkina, Anna RUS 4 2072 1926 146 350 11 Lupik, Marina RUS 5,5 2307 2163 144 300 12 Abdulla, Khayala AZE 5 2205 2070 135 260 13 Zizlova, Sofia RUS 4,5 2153 2020 133 220 14 Girya, Olga RUS 7 2441 2315 126 200 15 Lomakina, Galja RUS 5 2183 2058 125 170 Where did my girl Narmin Kazimova finish? 85 114 Kazimova, Narmin 2165 AZE 5,5 2223 Respectable, but not spectacular (85 out of 168, and higher than her start place at 114). There was no magic in this year's Championship for Narmin. Narmin, you keep going. I think you've got what it takes, but you need more training and a LOT more exposure to international competitions. Unfortunately, you are not in a position to obtain this - the sad but true story for too many chessplayers around the world today.

2009 European Individual Women's Chess Championship

Standings after Round 8 - only those chess femmes within a point of the leaders. It is still any woman's Championship at this point. IM Lilit Mkrtchian has bounced back from 5th place to 2nd place today with a win. Keep your eye on her: 1 GM Socko, Monika 7.0 POL F 2449 2604 2 IM Mkrtchian, Lilit 7.0 ARM F 2460 2599 3 GM Hoang Thanh Trang 7.0 HUN F 2483 2605 4 WGM Shadrina, Tatiana 7.0 RUS F 2416 2583 5 IM Lomineishvili, Maia 7.0 GEO F 2437 2539 6 IM Kovalevskaya, Ekaterina 7.0 RUS F 2442 2569 7 IM Rajlich, Iweta 7.0 POL F 2399 2580 8 IM Foisor, Cristina-Adela 6.5 ROU F 2412 2535 9 IM Melia, Salome 6.5 GEO F 2422 2532 10 WGM Pogonina, Natalija 6.5 RUS F 2467 2507 11 IM Kosintseva, Tatiana 6.5 RUS F 2497 2486 12 WGM Romanko, Marina 6.5 RUS F 2451 2495 13 IM Turova, Irina 6.5 RUS F 2379 2502 14 GM Dzagnidze, Nana 6.0 GEO F 2518 2498 15 GM Lahno, Kateryna 6.0 UKR F 2488 2478 16 WGM Kovanova, Baira 6.0 RUS F 2386 2476 17 WGM Zawadzka, Jolanta 6.0 POL F 2385 2469 18 IM Khukhashvili, Sopiko 6.0 GEO F 2416 2467 19 WFM Bodnaruk, Anastasia 6.0 RUS F 2384 2475 20 IM Ovod, Evgenija 6.0 RUS F 2430 2448 21 WGM Nebolsina, Vera 6.0 RUS F 2312 2418 22 IM Ushenina, Anna 6.0 UKR F 2499 2469 23 WFM Girya, Olga 6.0 RUS F 2315 2451 24 IM Muzychuk, Anna 6.0 SLO F 2540 2445 25 IM Paehtz, Elisabeth 6.0 GER F 2455 2440 26 IM Dworakowska, Joanna 6.0 POL F 2352 2413 27 IM Muzychuk, Mariya 6.0 UKR F 2427 2434 28 WIM Solovjova, Valentina 6.0 RUS F 2324 2384 29 WIM Majdan, Joanna 6.0 POL F 2351 2430 30 WFM Severiukhina, Zoja 6.0 RUS F 2327 2372