European Women's Individual Championship Update
The European Women's Individual Chess Championships is providing upsets and excitement in Gaziantep, Turkey.
Over 100 women from 25 countries are taking part in the Championship, which is an 11-round Swiss with a time control of 90 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move from the start.
After six completed rounds the 21st seed Hoang Thanh Trang is the sole leader with 5½ points. There are four players in the chasing pack on 5 points, and top seed Anna Muzychuk still in still contention among a group of five players on 4½ points.
Leader Hoang Thanh Trang (pictured) was born in Vietnam but now plays for Hungary.
The winner will receive a very respectable €20,500 for their efforts.
The top standings from among the 100+ players after 6 of 11 rounds:
| Name | Nat | Elo | Pts | TB | ||
| 1 | GM | HOANG Thanh Trang | HUN | 2438 | 5½ | 16½ |
| 2 | GM | SEBAG Marie | FRA | 2512 | 5 | 22 |
| 3 | IM | GUNINA Valentina | RUS | 2511 | 5 | 19 |
| 4 | IM | FOISOR Cristina-Adela | ROU | 2398 | 5 | 20 |
| 5 | GM | CMILYTE Viktorija | LTU | 2497 | 5 | 19 |
| 6 | GM | KOSINTSEVA Tatiana | RUS | 2513 | 4½ | 20½ |
| 7 | IM | MUZYCHUK Anna | SLO | 2583 | 4½ | 18½ |
| 8 | IM | KHURTSIDZE Nino | GEO | 2447 | 4½ | 18½ |
| 9 | GM | LAHNO Kateryna | UKR | 2546 | 4½ | 15½ |
| 10 | WGM | PAIKIDZE Nazi | GEO | 2406 | 4½ | 16 |
| 11 | GM | STEFANOVA Antoaneta | BUL | 2531 | 4 | 20 |
| 12 | WGM | SCHLEINING Zoya | GER | 2326 | 4 | 19 |
| 13 | WGM | GURAMISHVILI Sopiko | GEO | 2395 | 4 | 19 |
| 14 | WGM | GIRYA Olga | RUS | 2406 | 4 | 19½ |
| 15 | WGM | POGONINA Natalija | RUS | 2449 | 4 | 15½ |
| 16 | IM | MKRTCHIAN Lilit | ARM | 2458 | 4 | 15½ |
| 17 | GM | DANIELIAN Elina | ARM | 2478 | 4 | 14½ |
| 18 | IM | MELIA Salome | GEO | 2400 | 4 | 17 |
| 19 | IM | ROMANKO Marina | RUS | 2417 | 4 | 14 |
| 20 | IM | JAVAKHISHVILI Lela | GEO | 2448 | 4 | 17 |
| 21 | IM | REPKOVA Eva | SVK | 2416 | 4 | 15 |
| 22 | IM | GAPONENKO Inna | UKR | 2416 | 4 | 16 |
| 23 | GM | ZHUKOVA Natalia | UKR | 2435 | 4 | 13 |
| 24 | WIM | GORYACHKINA Aleksandra | RUS | 2341 | 4 | 15½ |
Immediately following the competition there will be a rapid championship (15-16 March) and a blitz championship (17-18 March).
Photo from the official website.
