Hou Yifan Dominating In Rostov
Women's World Champion Hou Yifan is dominating the first Grand Prix of the 2011/12 series, in Rostov, Russia.
After eight completed rounds, the 17 year-old champion from China has amassed an incredible undefeated score of 7/8, two points ahead of the top-quality field.
So far only the Kosintseva sisters, Nadezhda and Tatiana, have managed to hold Hou to a draw.
Tomorrow is the second and final rest day, so round nine is on Friday 12 August.
The standings after eight rounds:
| Name | Nat |
Elo | Pts |
| Hou Yifan | CHN | 2575 | 7 |
| Kosintseva Tatiana | RUS | 2557 | 5 |
| Koneru Humpy | IND | 2614 | 4½ |
| Stefanova Antoaneta | BUL | 2524 | 4½ |
| Lahno Kateryna | UKR | 2536 | 4½ |
| Muzychuk Anna | SLO | 2538 | 4½ |
| Kosintseva Nadezhda | RUS | 2560 | 4 |
| Galliamova Alisa | RUS | 2492 | 3½ |
| Ruan Lufei | CHN | 2479 | 3½ |
| Kosteniuk Alexandra | RUS | 2497 | 3 |
| Danielian Elina | ARM | 2521 | 2½ |
| Kovalevskaya Ekaterina | RUS | 2427 | 1½ |
Games start at 3pm local time except the last round which will be three hours earlier. Live coverage is available at the official website at this link.
The winner of each of the six Grand Prix tournaments in the series will win 6,500 euros out of a prize fund of 40,000 euros, and the overall winner will win a further 15,000 euros.
The leading lady, Hou Yifan
The full regulations for the 2011/12 Grand Prix can be found here.
Picture from the official website.
