Women's Grand Prix Istanbul

Women Grand Prix Series in Istanbul
05.03.2009 – Today the players arrive, Friday are the technical meetings and opening ceremony, on Saturday the first event for a new FIDE Women Grand Prix series 2009/2010 starts, in the Is Bankasi Art Gallery in Istanbul, Turkey. Twelve of the strongest in the world will play a round robin event for a total prize fund of 40,000 Euros. Press release and pictures of the ladies.

Istanbul GP: Four players lead after three rounds
10.03.2009 – The opening ceremony of the Is Bank Atatürk FIDE Women Masters in Turkey featured reigning Women's World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk and Turkish media mogul Ahmet Çalik as special guests. After three rounds there are four players in the lead, with 2.5/3 points each. Top seeds Humpy and Hou Yifan, followed by Zhao Xue and IM Martha Fierro from Ecuador. Big pictorial report.

Istanbul: Chinese girls dominate, Hou with 2900+ performance
16.03.2009 – Owing to technical and communications problems we have not been able to do wall-to-wall coverage of the very attractive FIDE Women Masters in Turkey, where the Chinese GMs Hou Yifan and Zhao Xue are dominating in stunning fashion, with 2905 and 2746 performances respectively. But now we intend to take up reporting again for the last four rounds. Here for starters is a big pictorial report.

Istanbul: the tide turns, Zhao beats Hou
17.03.2009 – The meteoric path of 15-year-old Hou Yifan has been stopped – by her compatriot Zhao Xue, who defeated her after the younger girl blundered on her last move before the time control. Zhao now leads with 7.0/8 points and a 2790 performance. Behind the Chinese girls and always good for a big finish: India's GM Koneru Humpy, the second strongest female player in history. Big pictorial report.

Istanbul: Humpy wins, Zhao loses for an exciting finish
18.03.2009 – French GM Marie Sebag actually did it: she outplayed the leading Zhao Xue to give the Istanbul Women's Grand Prix a rousing finish. Especially since Koneru Humpy scored a crushing win against Antoaneta Stefanova, and Hou Yifan survived a tough game against Elina Danielian. So it's Humpy, Hou and Zhao with 7.5/10 in the final round. All have the black pieces. Watch it on Playchess.

Istanbul: Zhao thwarts Humpy, stays in the lead
18.03.2009 – GM Zhao Xue came under considerable pressure in the Women's Grand Prix in Turkey, with India's Koneru Humpy pressing. But she managed to hold for 66 moves and remains in the lead. Hou Yifan drew against Marie Sebag, while Elina Danielian beat Martha Fierro to move into contention at equal third. The Turkish WIM Betül Yildiz scored her first victory, over Shen Yang. Round nine report.

Istanbul: Humpy wins Women Grand Prix
19.03.2009 – She actually did it! India's top female GM, Koneru Humpy, staged a big finish and won the Women Grand Prix with 8.5 out of 11. In the last round she pressured her French opponent, Marie Sebag, until the latter blundered and Humpy could win. Armenian IM Elina Danielian defeated Zhao Xue to finish joint second (with Hou Yifan) and earn a second GM norm in the process. Round eleven report.

Istanbul Women's Grand Prix – the closing ceremony
21.03.2009 – It took place on the 41st floor of Is Bank Towers, which is the highest spot in Istanbul – the highest incidentally in Southern Europe. Koneru Humpy, Elina Danielian and 15-year-old Hou Yifan picked up their trophies and checks for 6,500, 4375 and 4375 Euros for the first and joint second places. The Turkish Sports Minister and the bank chiefs were present. Pictorial report.