Alexandra Kosteniuk Qualifies For Final of Fourth GP Leg of Women's Speed Chess Championship

She will play against Humpy Koneru.

The semifinal matches of the fourth Grand Prix leg of the FIDE Chess.com Women's Speed Chess Championship were played on July 17.   

Alexandra Kosteniuk defeated Sarasadat Khademalsharieh 7.5-3.5, while Humpy Koneru eliminated Hou Yifan by winning 6-5. 

On Sunday, July 19, Alexandra Kosteniuk and Humpy Koneru will determine the strongest one in the final match.

***

The Grand Prix consists of four legs with a total of 21 participants. Each of the 21 players participates in three of the four legs. 

Each leg is a 16-player knockout and will last five days (including one rest day after the semi-finals). The dates are June 24-28, July 1-5, July 8-12, and July 15-19.

All matches in each Grand Prix leg are divided into three segments:

30-minute segment of matches with the time control 5 minutes + 1 second per move
30-minute segment of matches with the time control 3 minutes + 1 second per move
10-minute segment of matches with the time control 1 minute + 1 second per move.

In each leg, every player scores cumulative Grand Prix points according to her position in the final standings. The two players, who score the highest points in all three legs, qualify for the Super Final.