Hou Yifan Wins Khanty-Mansiysk Grand Prix, Girya Second

The result was never in doubt: Hou Yifan won the Women's Grand Prix in Khanty-Mansiysk. The result was never in doubt: Hou Yifan won the Women's Grand Prix in Khanty-Mansiysk. The reigning World Champion finished on 8.5/11 and 1.5 points ahead of Olga Girya, whose 7/11 was good for a GM norm. 

Photos © Kirill Merkuriev courtesy of FIDE

After eight rounds Hou Yifan topped the standings with a score of 6.5/8 and she was a full point ahead of Olga Girya. The two faced each other on Saturday, and so there was the possibility that the tournament would be all open again, with two rounds to go. Instead, Hou Yifan won yet again, and virtually decided the event.

Hou Yifan finished with two draws, against Anna Muzychuk and Alexandra Kosteniuk. With her excellent score Hou Yifan won the 10,000 Euro first prize and also 11 rating points. The distance to Judit Polgar in the women's rating list is becoming smaller and smaller: 56 points now.

Women Grand Prix, Khanty-Mansiysk | Final Standings

#	Name	Rtg	Perf	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	Pts	SB
1	Hou,Yifan	2618	2697		1	½	½	½	½	1	½	1	1	1	1	8.5/11
2	Girya,Olga	2450	2596	0		1	0	1	½	1	1	½	½	1	½	7.0/11
3	Kosteniuk,Alexandra	2527	2556	½	0		½	1	½	1	½	½	1	0	1	6.5/11
4	Lagno,Kateryna	2543	2523	½	1	½		½	½	½	0	1	½	½	½	6.0/11	33.50
5	Muzychuk,Anna	2560	2522	½	0	0	½		½	½	1	½	1	½	1	6.0/11	29.50
6	Stefanova,Antoaneta	2489	2496	½	½	½	½	½		0	0	1	1	½	½	5.5/11	29.50
7	Dzagnidze,Nana	2550	2459	0	0	0	½	½	1		0	½	1	1	1	5.5/11	25.00
8	Zhao,Xue	2552	2491	½	0	½	1	0	1	1		½	0	½	0	5.0/11	28.75
9	Ushenina,Anna	2501	2464	0	½	½	0	½	0	½	½		1	1	½	5.0/11	24.25
10	Muminova,Nafisa	2321	2414	0	½	0	½	0	0	0	1	0		1	1	4.0/11
11	Kosintseva,Tatiana	2496	2364	0	0	1	½	½	½	0	½	0	0		½	3.5/11	19.50
12	Batchimeg,Tuvshintugs	2340	2377	0	½	0	½	0	½	0	1	½	0	½		3.5/11	18.50

2, 1, 3: Olga Girya, Hou Yifan and Alexandra Kosteniuk

After this event, two more Grand Prixs will be held this year. The winner of the overall Grand Prix qualifies for a world title match which is scheduled for the third quarter of 2015.

Games via to TWIC