Humpy Koneru Wins First Womens Grand Prix
Humpy Koneru of India (pictured) won the first event of the inaugural FIDE Women's Grand Prix in Istanbul.
The 12-player round robin event featured many of the world's top female players, despite an unfortunate scheduling clash with the Women's European Championships.
15 year-old Hou Yifan from China led for several rounds, and even defeated Koneru in round 7. However, Yifan lost to compatriot Zhao Xue in round 8, letting Xue take the lead. As the final round started, Koneru had clawed her way back to share first place with Yifan on 7.5/10 points. In the end, India edged out China as Koneru won her last game with Marie Sebag and Yifan could only draw with Shen Yang.
So Koneru wins the first Women's Grand Prix and takes home the €6,500 first prize. Another five Grand Prix are planned during 2009/10, with the overall winner qualifying to play the current Women's World Champion, Alexandra Kosteniuk, in 2011 for the title.
| 1 | Koneru, Humpy | IND | 2621 | * | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 8½ |
| 2 | Danielian, Elina | ARM | 2496 | 0 | * | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 8 |
| 3 | Hou Yifan | CHN | 2571 | 1 | ½ | * | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 8 |
| 4 | Zhao Xue | CHN | 2508 | ½ | 0 | 1 | * | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7½ |
| 5 | Sebag, Marie | FRA | 2529 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | * | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 6 |
| 6 | Fierro Baquero, Martha | ECU | 2403 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | * | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5½ |
| 7 | Cramling, Pia | SWE | 2548 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | * | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 5½ |
| 8 | Stefanova, Antoaneta | BUL | 2557 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | * | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 5 |
| 9 | Chiburdanidze, Maia | GEO | 2516 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | * | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 10 | Mamedjarova, Zeinab | AZE | 2362 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | * | 1 | ½ | 2½ |
| 11 | Shen Yang | CHN | 2448 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | * | 0 | 2½ |
| 12 | Yildiz, Betul Cemre | TUR | 2214 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | * | 2 |
