Ju Wenjun Keeps Leading FIDE WGP Leg in Skolkovo with Three Rounds to Go

Humpy Koneru is half a point behind.

The eighth round of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix leg was played in the Skolkovo business centre on September 19. 

The women's world champion Ju Wenjun (China) defeated Alexandra Kosteniuk (Russia) to maintain the sole leadership in the tournament with 6.5 points. Humpy Koneru (India) won against Elisabeth Paehtz (Germany) and is chasing the leader with 6 points scored. 

Pia Cramling (Sweden) beat Marie Sebag (France), while Valentina Gunina bested Kateryna Lagno in the Russian derby. The games Goryachkina - Kashlinskaya and Stefanova - Harika were drawn.  



Standings after Round 8:

1. Ju Wenjun - 6.5
2. Humpy Koneru - 6
3. Aleksandra Goryachkina - 5
4-5. Valentina Gunina, Kateryna Lagno - 4.5
6-7. Elisabeth Paehtz, Dronavalli Harika - 4
8. Alexandra Kosteniuk - 3.5
9-12. Marie Sebag, Alina Kashlinskaya, Antoaneta Stefanova, Pia Cramling - 2.5

Round 9 pairings: 

Lagno - Ju Wenjun, Koneru - Gunina, Harika - Paehtz, Sebag - Stefanova, Kashlinskaya - Cramling, Kosteniuk - Goryachkina. 

The games start at 3 p.m. The final 11th round will begin at 11 a.m. (Moscow time).

The prize fund is 80,000 euros. 

Chief Arbiter - IA Andrzej Filipowicz (Poland).

A vast additional program is organized during the tournament. The Skolkovo Cup, a stage of the Russian Rapid Grand Prix, will be held on September 21-22. 

Organizers: International Chess Federation (FIDE), Russian Chess Federation (RCF), and Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO.

General partner of the event: PJSC “Magnit”.

Partners: General partner of RCF PhosAgro and SILA International Lawyers. 

Official website