Despite the final round defeat from her compatriot Ju Wenjun, China’s GM Zhao Xue convincingly won the 2011 Nalchik FIDE Grand Prix with 9.5 points from 11 games. In an impressive display of skill and persistence, Zhao secured the first place with three rounds to spare.
Ju Wenjun comes second with 7.0 points, a full point ahead of Rostov nominee Ekatarina Kovalevskaya and European champion Viktorija Cmilyte.
Replay the games with computer analysis
Final standings:
1. GM Zhao Xue CHN 2497 – 9½
2. WGM Ju Wenjun CHN 2536 – 7.0
3-4. IM Kovalevskaya Ekaterina RUS 2421 and GM Cmilyte Viktorija LTU 2525 – 6.0
5. GM Lahno Kateryna UKR 2554 – 5½
6-9. GM Zhu Chen QAT 2490, GM Kosintseva Tatiana RUS 2536, GM Kosintseva Nadezhda RUS 2560 and GM Stefanova Antoaneta BUL 2528 – 5.0
10. IM Galliamova Alisa RUS 2498 – 4½
11. IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag MGL 2467 – 4.0
12. GM Kosteniuk Alexandra RUS 2469 – 3½
Group photo with the participants and officials
Zhao Xue
Zhu Chen
Tatiana and Nadezhda Kosintseva met each other in the last round. The game ended in a draw.
