Women’s World Rapid and Blitz Championship sponsored by “Socar”, has started at Batumi “Sheraton” hotel. On the first day, three round games were held in rapid chess. After that, two participants advanced.
Qian Huang of China (2417) and Pia Cramling of Sweden (2478) are leaders. Four chess players are 0.5 point behind the leaders: Humpy Koneru (India, 2589), Alexandra Kosteniuk (Russia, 2457), Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria, 2518) and Nino Khurtsidze (Georgia, 2456).
It is worth mentioning that in the third round Khurtsidze defeated Nana Dzagnidze (2547) with black pieces. Dzagnidze is in the 22nd place with 1.5 points. Lela Javakhishvili (2449) and Maia Chiburdanidze (2500) are in the 10th and 13th places. 17 Georgian chess players are participating in World Championship.
50 representatives of 17 countries are competing in the tournament. 17 participants have international grand master status among boys, 7 chess players are members of top-10 of the world: 3. Ana Muzychuk (Slovenia, 2598), 4. Hampy Koneru (India, 2589), 5. Zhao Xiu (China, 2549), 6. Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia, 2547), 7. Caterina Lanho (India, 2546), 8. Tatiana Kosintseva (Russia, 2532), 9. Valentina Gunina (Russia, 2530).
World championship is based on 9-round Swiss system and rapid chess in 11 rounds, as for blitz, it will be held in 15 rounds. Time control in each round is the following: rapid chess- 25 minute to each chess player, 10 seconds are added to each move. Blitz: 4 minutes to each player, 2 seconds for each move.
Prize money for each championship is 100 000 USD, champion in rapid chess wins 12 000 and in blitz- 10 000.
The 4th, 5th and 6th round games of rapid chess will be held on June 1. The games will start at 15:00.
