GM Zhao Xue is slaying the opposition in the Nalchik FIDE Grand Prix and now leads the scoreboard with the perfect five points, full point and a half ahead of her compatriot Ju Wenjun.
Zhao’s opening against the former European champion Kateryna Lahno did not impress, but the Ukrainian over-pressed in the ecstasy of chasing the enemy King and the Chinese dropped the Queen to emerge with two Rooks and solid position. The resulting ending was roughly equal but still complicated and Lahno erred by allowing her King to fall under the mating attack.
Alisa Galliamova blundered(?) an exchange as early as on the 9th move and practically handed a huge advantage to the former World champion Antoaneta Stefanova. Eti blast opened the center and duly converted into a full point.
Kosintseva sisters were also successful, using the white pieces to defeat IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag and GM Alexandra Kosteniuk.
Live games with computer analysis
Zhao Xue
Round 5 results:
GM Zhu Chen 2490 ½ – ½ IM Kovalevskaya Ekaterina 2421
GM Zhao Xue 2497 1 – 0 GM Lahno Kateryna 2554
GM Kosintseva Nadezhda 2560 1 – 0 IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag 2467
GM Stefanova Antoaneta 2528 1 – 0 IM Galliamova Alisa 2498
GM Kosintseva Tatiana 2536 1 – 0 GM Kosteniuk Alexandra 2469
WGM Ju Wenjun 2536 ½ – ½ GM Cmilyte Viktorija 2525
Round 5 standings:
1. GM Zhao Xue 2497 CHN – 5.0
2. WGM Ju Wenjun 2536 CHN – 3½
3-4. GM Stefanova Antoaneta 2528 BUL and GM Kosintseva Nadezhda 2560 RUS – 3.0
5-8. GM Cmilyte Viktorija 2525 LTU, IM Kovalevskaya Ekaterina 2421 RUS, GM Kosintseva Tatiana 2536 RUS and GM Zhu Chen 2490 QAT – 2½
9. GM Lahno Kateryna 2554 UKR – 2.0
10. IM Galliamova Alisa 2498 RUS – 1½
11-12. GM Kosteniuk Alexandra 2469 RUS and IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag 2467 MGL – 1.0
Round 6 pairings:
IM Kovalevskaya Ekaterina 2421 – GM Cmilyte Viktorija 2525
GM Kosteniuk Alexandra 2469 – WGM Ju Wenjun 2536
IM Galliamova Alisa 2498 – GM Kosintseva Tatiana 2536
IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag 2467 – GM Stefanova Antoaneta 2528
GM Lahno Kateryna 2554 – GM Kosintseva Nadezhda 2560
GM Zhu Chen 2490 – GM Zhao Xue 2497
Zhu Chen and Zhao Xue visited the local elementary school and played chess with children
Antoaneta Stefanova
Nadezhda Kosintseva
Tatiana Kosintseva won the Russian derby against Alexandra Kosteniuk
