Hoang Thanh Trang leads European Women's Championship

Hoang Thanh Trang is leading the European Women's Champoinship after six rounds. Four participants are half a point behind: Marie Sebag, Valentina Gunina, Cristina-Adela Foisor and Viktorija Cmilyte.

Hoang Thanh Trang (Hungary) | All photos by Anastasiya Karlovich © Turkish Chess Federation

We pick up the tournament from the second round - our first report can be found here. At the start of this round, FIDE Vice President and Turkish Chess Federation President Ali Nihat Yazici announced that the Chairman of the FIDE Qualification Commission, Mikko Markkula, had passed away. Chessbase has an eulogy.

In this round, Nadezhda Kosintseva unexpectedly lost her game against Sopilko Guramishvili. Jovana Vojinovic defended well and won against her higher rated opponent Elisabeth Paehtz, who sacrificed a piece in an equal position.

Nastassia Ziaziulkina vs Natalija Pogonina, a game from round 2

After three rounds, only three players were left with 100%. Defending European champion Viktorija Cmilyte won her game against Jovana Vojinovic while Cristina-Adela Foisor and Marie Sebag were defeated Tatiana Kosintseva and Natasa Bojkovic respectively. On first board former world champion Antoaneta Stefanova was held to a draw by Salome Melia. The upset of the day was Hilal Ozturk beating Anastasia Savina, who was 550 points higher rated!

A good day for Hilal Ozturk: rated 1784 she beat a 2325

In the fourth round Marie Sebag of France grabbed sole lead thanks to a win over reigning champion Viktorija Cmilyte. Valentina Gunina, Nastassia Ziazulkina, Nino Khurtsidze, Hoang Thanh Trang and Zoya Schlening managed to win, and were sharing second place, half a point behind Sebag.

Marie Sebag of France was leading the field after round 4

Sebag dropped her first half point the next day, against Valentina Gunina. The French lady was caught in the standings by Cristina-Adela Foisor, who defeated Nino Khurtsidze. The Georgian player blundered a rook in slightly better endgame and had to resign immediately. Hungarian player Hoang Thanh Trang became the third leader after beating Nastassia Ziaziulkina. Six players were on 4 points, sharing 4th place.

A cheerful atmosphere at ther start of round 5

Hoang Thanh Trang became the sole leader after the sixth round. Her opponent Olga Girya decided to trade queens and transfer the game into a knight endgame which happened to be more pleasant for the Hungarian player, who succeeded to convert her advantage into a full point. Four participants are half a point behind: Marie Sebag, Valentina Gunina, Cristina-Adela Foisor and Viktorija Cmilyte.

Hoang Thanh Trang leads the European Women's Championship after six rounds

The European Women's Championship is the first ECU tournament where the new dress code is applied. On the website of the tournament, an interview is published with General Secretary of ECU Sava Stoisavljevic. It makes clear that despite introducing these rules per January 1, 2012 the ECU doesn't know exactly what should be allowed, and what not. When Anastasiya Karlovich asks: "What do you think, is it acceptable to wear short skirts or open décolleté in the playing hall?" Stoisavljevic replies

Décolleté is partly covered in our regulations stating that in respect to shirts the second from the top button may also be opened in addition to the very top button. But, nothing is written in our rules about the length of skirts or dresses. There are several special rules in some companies which put restrictions on the length of skirts and dresses - not shorter than 5-10 cm above the knees for example. I can see that there are many players here who wear very short skirts. It's nice to see chess players with short skirts - they are very pretty girls, but I believe there should still be some limit. (...) So, the question remains open – I don't know if we should do something about it or not.

The Championship runs until March 13th and takes place in the Anatolian Hotel in Gaziantep, Turkey. The men's (or rather: open) event will be held from March 19th till April 1st, 2012 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Selection of games rounds 2-6

PGN file

European Women's Championship 2012 | Round 6 standings (top 30)