11 February 2019
Alexandra Kosteniuk Strengthens Leadership at Cairns Cup
Five rounds of women's super tournament played in Saint Louis.
![Photo: Lennart Ootes](/upload/iblock/b56/b560e745d5df3447e8a7336a916af59b.jpg)
Photo: Lennart Ootes
In the fifth round of the 2019 Cairns Cup in Saint Louis, Alexandra Kosteniuk (Russia) defeated Bela Khotenashvili (Georgia) with White. Another Russian player Valentina Gunina outplayed Marie Sebag (France) also with the white pieces.
Irina Krush (USA) bested Zhansaya Abdumalik (Kazakhstan), while the games Elizabeth Paehtz (Germany) - Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia) and Anna Zatonskikh (USA) - Dronavalli Harika (India).
Standings after Round 5:
1. Alexandra Kosteniuk - 4.5
2-3. Valentina Gunina, Irina Krush - 4
4-5. Zhansaya Abdumalik, Dronavalli Harika - 2.5
6-7. Nana Dzagnidze, Anna Zatonskikh - 2
8. Elisabeth Paehtz - 1.5
9-10. Marie Sebag, Bela Khotenashvili - 1.
February 11 is the tournament's free day.
Round 6 pairings:
Krush - Kosteniuk, Gunina - Paehtz, Sebag - Khotenashvili, Dronavalli - Abdumalik, Dzagnidze - Zatonskikh.
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