4 October 2015
Mariya Muzychuk Leads in Monte Carlo
The World Champion has a perfect score after two rounds.
Two rounds are played at the first leg of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix in Monte Carlo. The reigning World Champion Mariya Muzychuk is the only player who won both starting games. In the first round the Ukrainian defeated former World Champion Antoaneta Stefanova, and in the second round celebrated a victory against Nana Dzagnidze.
Two players are half a point behind. Humpy Koneru and Natalija Pogonina made a draw in their individual game in the first round, and both won in the second round, against Hou Yifan and Anna Muzychuk respectively.
Former World Champion and world's highest rated woman Hou Yifan won against Pia Cramling in the starting round, but was defeated by Koneru on the next day.
The second Russian representative at the tournament, Alexandra Kosteniuk started with a draw with her good friend Almira Skripchenko, and then lost to Antoaneta Stefanova.
Standings after 2 rounds:
Mariya Muzychuk – 2
Koneru, Pogonina – 1.5
Hou Yifan, Cramling, Stefanova, Khademalsharieh, Zhukova – 1
Dzagnidze, Anna Muzychuk, Kosteniuk, Skripchenko – 0.5
