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Women Grand Prix series launched again |
    
So once again FIDE is pleased to announce the launch of the new series for the world's leading women players. This new series sees 18 players combatting it out over two years to produce a challenger for the World Championship.
The lineup is very impressive and includes current Women World Champion Anna Ushenina from Ukraine and former World Champions Hou Yifan (China), Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria) and Alexandra Kosteniuk (Russia). Not to mention of course other top players such as Humpy Koneru (India), Anna Muzychuk (Solvenia), Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia) and Kateryna Lagno (Ukraine).
| Name |
Title |
Country |
Rating |
| Hou, Yifan |
g |
CHN |
2617 |
| Koneru, Humpy |
g |
IND |
2597 |
| Muzychuk, Anna |
g |
SLO |
2585 |
| Zhao, Xue |
g |
CHN |
2565 |
| Dzagnidze, Nana |
g |
GEO |
2554 |
| Lagno, Kateryna |
g |
UKR |
2547 |
| Kosintseva, Nadezhda |
g |
RUS |
2531 |
| Stefanova, Antoaneta |
g |
BUL |
2530 |
| Cmilyte, Viktorija |
g |
LTU |
2514 |
| Harika, Dronavalli |
g |
IND |
2510 |
| Ju, Wenjun |
wg |
CHN |
2505 |
| Khotenashvili, Bela |
m |
GEO |
2499 |
| Kosteniuk, Alexandra |
g |
RUS |
2495 |
| Ushenina, Anna |
g |
UKR |
2477 |
| Danielian, Elina |
g |
ARM |
2466 |
| Girya, Olga |
wg |
RUS |
2440 |
| Muminova, Nafisa |
wg |
UZB |
2312 |
| Batchimeg Tuvshintugs |
wg |
MGL |
2295 |
The full list is very impressive and it is anyone's guess, as we have seen in past Grand Prix events what can happen. Thirteen players out of the eighteen hold the highest title in the chess world. The other gfive will be chasing this title as well as the overall title.
Thanks to Fondation Neva, the sponsors of the first leg, the series will kick off in the beautiful city of Geneva, Switzerland. No expense has been spared to ensure that we will have a quality event and the staring list is equally impressive. GM Tatiana Kosintseva replacing her sister solely for this leg.
GM Ushenina will be in Geneva and she has been showing some great form of late including her last appearance in the Women World Team Championship. Similarly GM Hou Yifan will want to repeat her performance in the previous to series and at the same time keeping in mind her match against GM Ushenina later on this year. They will both be challenged by an exceptionally strong field and we will witness many a great game.
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