Yifan Hou of China (2617) advanced in the 9th round of FIDE Grand Prix which is underway in the city of Armenia, Jermuk. Hou has 6.5 points. She defeated Ekaterina Kovalevskaya of Russia (2417) with black pieces.
Georgian Nino Khurtsidze (2456) played draw with Kateryna Lahno of Ukraine (2537) with black pieces. Georgian chess player has 2.5 points though she is still in the last place among 12 participants. Khurtsidze will play two games in Jermuk. On July 27 Nino will play against Batkhuyag Munguntuul of Mongolia (2447) with white pieces. On July 28 she will play against Lilit Mkrtchian of Armenia (2450).
Jermuk is the 5thstage. Six stages are planned. Chess player with the best result will be declared as a winner.
Champion will earn 160 points. Other points will be distributed this way: II – 130, III – 110, IV – 90, V – 80, VI – 70, VII – 60, VIII – 50, IX – 40, X – 30, XI – 20, XII – 10.
Top 5 chess players of Grand Prix have the following points: Hou – 420, Anna Muzychuk (Slovenia, 2606) – 375, Lahno – 260, Zhao – 235, Viktorija Cmilyte (Lithuania, 2525) – 235.
