After two days at Fast and Blitz Chess Championship there are still 2 leaders, but they are others now. Chinese Qian Huang (2417) and Pia Cramling (2478) of Sweden could not succeed and as a result Hampy Koneru (2589) and Bulgarian Anthuaneta Stefanova (2518), who gained 5-5 points in 6 rounds, advanced.
As far as you know, world championship is underway in Batumi and its general sponsor is “SOCCAR”. There are 17 Georgian participants in this tournament, but none of them is among leaders. Nino Khurtsidze (2456) has the best results among other Georgian participants. She is in the 12nd place with 4.0 points, as for others, their tournament situation is the following: 12. Nino Khurtsidze (2456)- 4points, 17. Maia Chiburdanidze (2500)- 3.5; 20. Lela Javakhishvili (2449)-3; 23. Nana Dzagnidze (2547)-3; 24. Sofio Gvetadze (2338)-3; 26. Maia Lomineishvili (23366)-3; 27. Nino Batsiashvili (2436)-3; 33. Bela Khotenashvii (2500)-3; 37. Salome Melia(2410)-2.5; 38. Maka Purtseladze (2348)-2; 43. Natia Janjgava (2306)-2; 44. Miranda Mikadze (2323)-2; 48. Nona Gaphrindashvili (2396)-1; Nino Guruli (1329)-1;
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.
On June 2, the 7th, 8th and the 9th round matches are to be held. The games start at 15:00 o’clock.
