FIDE Women's Grand Prix 2013–14
# FIDE Women's Grand Prix 2013–14

The FIDE Women's Grand Prix 2013–14 was a series of six chess tournaments exclusively for women, which formed part of the qualification cycle for the Women's World Chess Championship 2015. The winner of the Grand Prix was decided in the last stage in Sharjah, UAE, when rating favorite and reigning world champion Hou Yifan overtook second seeded Koneru Humpy to win her third straight Grand Prix cycle. For the third time running, Koneru Humpy finished runner-up to Hou Yifan.

With the overall win Hou Yifan earned the right to play the Women's World Chess Championship 2016 in a ten-game match.

## Format

Eighteen women players were to be selected to compete in these tournaments. Each player agrees and will contract to participate in exactly four of these tournaments. Players must rank their preference of tournaments once the final list of host cities is announced and the dates are allocated to each host city.

Each tournament is a 12-player, single round-robin tournament. In each round players scored 1 point for a win, ½ point for a draw and 0 for a loss. Grand prix points were then allocated according to each player's standing in the tournament: 160 grand prix points for first place, 130 for second place, 110 for third place, and then 90 down to 10 points by steps of 10. In case of a tie in points the grand prix points are shared evenly by the tied players. Players only counted their best three tournament results. The player with the most grand prix points is the winner.

## Players and qualification

Players invited bases on qualifying criteria were:

* The four semi-finalists of the Women's World Chess Championship 2012:
* Anna Ushenina
* Antoaneta Stefanova
* Ju Wenjun
* Dronavalli Harika
* The six highest ranked players (average of nine FIDE World Rankings lists from March 2012 to January 2013):

       Judit Polgár (declined)
* Hou Yifan
* Koneru Humpy
* Anna Muzychuk
* Zhao Xue
* Nana Dzagnidze
* Kateryna Lahno
* Six organizer nominees:
* Alexandra Kosteniuk (of Geneva)
* Elina Danielian (of Dilijan)
* Nafisa Muminova (of Tashkent)
* Olga Girya (of Khanty-Mansiysk)
* Bela Khotenashvili (of Tbilisi)
* Batchimeg Tuvshintugs (of Erdenet)
* Two FIDE president nominees:
* Nadezhda Kosintseva (withdrew)
* Viktorija Čmilytė
* Replacements:
* Tatiana Kosintseva

## Prize money and Grand Prix points

The prize money has been increased from €40,000 to €60,000 per single Grand Prix and from €60,000 to €90,000 for the overall Grand Prix finishes.

| Place | Single Grand Prix event | Overall standings | Grand Prix points |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | €10,000 | €25,000 | 160 |
| 2 | €8,250 | €20,000 | 130 |
| 3 | €6,750 | €15,000 | 110 |
| 4 | €5,750 | €10,000 | 90 |
| 5 | €5,000 | €7,500 | 80 |
| 6 | €4,500 | €5,500 | 70 |
| 7 | €4,250 | €4,000 | 60 |
| 8 | €4,000 | €3,000 | 50 |
| 9 | €3,250 | – | 40 |
| 10 | €3,000 | – | 30 |
| 11 | €2,750 | – | 20 |
| 12 | €2,500 | – | 10 |

## Tie breaks

With the objective of determining a clear, single winner to play in the Challenger Match and in the case that two or more players have equal cumulative points at the top, the following criteria (in descending order) will be utilized to decide the overall winner:

* Fourth result not already taken in the top three results.
* Number of actual game result points scored in the four tournaments.
* Number of first places (in case of a tie – points given accordingly).
* Number of second places (in case of a tie – points given accordingly).
* Number of wins.
* Drawing of lots.

## Schedule

The fifth stage was moved from Tbilisi to Lopota. The sixth stage was moved from Erdenet, Mongolia to Sharjah, UAE, the world's largest chess club. A move apparently due to illness in the Mongolian organising committee.

The six tournaments were:

| No. | Host city | Date | Winner | Points (Win/draw/loss) |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Geneva, Switzerland | 2–16 May 2013 | Bela Khotenashvili (GEO) | 8/11 (+7=2–2) |
| 2 | Dilijan, Armenia | 15–29 June 2013 | Koneru Humpy (IND) | 8/11 (+5=6–0) |
| 3 | Tashkent, Uzbekistan | 17 September – 1 October 2013 | Koneru Humpy (IND) | 8/11 (+6=4–1) |
| 4 | Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia | 8–22 April 2014 | Hou Yifan (CHN) | 8.5/11 (+6=5–0) |
| 5 | Lopota Resort, Georgia | 18 June – 2 July 2014 | Hou Yifan (CHN) | 9/11 (+7=4-0) |
| 6 | Sharjah, United Arab Emirates | 24 August – 7 September 2014 | Ju Wenjun (CHN) and Hou Yifan (CHN) | 8.5/11 (+6=5-0) |

## Events crosstables

### Geneva 2013

    1st stage, Geneva, Switzerland, 2–16 May 2013 PlayerRating123456789101112PtsH2HWinsSBTPRGPRating change 1 Bela Khotenashvili (GEO)2505 X½011½1011118.00739.752681160+26 2 Anna Muzychuk (SLO)2585 ½X1½½½½1½½117.50437.752636130+8 3 Tatiana Kosintseva (RUS)2517 10X½0½1½½1½16.50.5433.002573100+9 4 Nana Dzagnidze (GEO)2545 0½½X1½01½½116.50.5431.252571100+5 5 Ju Wenjun (CHN)2544 0½10X1½½0½116.01429.25254075+0 6 Anna Ushenina (UKR)2491 ½½½½0X½11½½½6.00232.00254375+8 7 Kateryna Lagno (UKR)2548 0½01½½X01½½15.50327.25250860−6 8 Hou Yifan (CHN)2617 10½0½01X½10½5.00.5327.75247045−22 9 Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS)2491 0½½½100½X½1½5.00.5225.50248145−2 10 Viktorija Cmilyte (LTU)2522 0½0½½½½0½X½14.50122.00244630−12 11 Batchimeg Tuvshintugs (MGL)2298 00½00½½10½X½3.50117.25239720+18 12 Olga Girya (RUS)2463 00000½0½½0½X2.0009.75225410−27

Bela Khotenashvili won the first Grand Prix in Geneva and also won her third Grandmaster norm.

### Dilijan 2013

    2nd stage, Dilijan, Armenia, 15–29 June 2013 PlayerRating123456789101112PtsH2HWinsSBTPRGP 1 Humpy Koneru (IND)2597 X1½1½11½½½1½8.00542.752667160 2 Anna Muzychuk (SLO)2593 0X11½½1½½½1½7.01436.752594120 3 Nana Dzagnidze (GEO)2550 0½X0½½1111½17.00534.502598120 4 Tatiana Kosintseva (RUS)2526 001X0011½1½16.00530.00253490 5 Anna Ushenina (UKR)2499 ½½½1X½½½½½0½5.50131.00250580 6 Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL)2531 00½1½X½½10½½5.01226.00247160 7 Batchimeg Tuvshintugs (MGL)2316 0½00½½X½11½½5.01224.50249060 8 Dronavalli Harika (IND)2492 ½½00½½½X½½1½5.01126.25247460 9 Olga Girya (RUS)2436 ½½0½½00½X½1½4.51.5124.50244730 10 Viktorija Cmilyte (LTU)2511 ½000110½½X½½4.51223.50244030 11 Elina Danielian (ARM)2475 0½½½½½½00½X14.50.5124.00244430 12 Bela Khotenashvili (GEO)2531 ½½00½½½½½½0X4.00022.25240510

### Tashkent 2013

    3rd stage, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, 17 September - 1 October 2013 PlayerRating123456789101112PtsSBTPRGP 1 Humpy Koneru (IND)2607 X0½½111½1½118.039.252637160 2 Bela Khotenashvili (GEO)2514 1X½01001½1117.035.002572120 3 Kateryna Lagno (UKR)2532 ½½X½0½1½11½17.034.502571120 4 Dronavalli Harika (IND)2475 ½1½X0½011½1½6.534.00254385 5 Zhao Xue (CHN)2533 0011X011011½6.532.75253385 6 Ju Wenjun (CHN)2535 01½½1X½½½10½6.033.50250570 7 Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS)2495 01010½X0½½115.525.75247755 8 Olga Girya (RUS)2439 ½0½00½1X½½115.525.25248255 9 Elina Danielian (ARM)2470 0½001½½½X½½15.023.75244840 10 Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL)2496 ½00½00½½½X114.519.75241330 11 Nafisa Muminova (UZB)2293 00½00100½0X13.013.50232520 12 Guliskhan Nakhbayeva (KAZ)2307 000½½½00000X1.59.50217310

### Khanty-Mansiyk 2014

    4th stage, Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, 8–22 April 2014 PlayerRating123456789101112PtsSBTPRGP 1 Hou Yifan (CHN)2618 X1½½½1½½11118.543.002695160 2 Olga Girya (RUS)2450 0X1011½1½½1½7.035.502602130 3 Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS)2527 ½0X½11½½½1016.534.002558110 4 Kateryna Lagno (UKR)2543 ½1½X½½½01½½½6.033.50252785 5 Anna Muzychuk (SLO)2560 ½00½X½½1½1½16.029.50252685 6 Nana Dzagnidze (GEO)2550 000½½X10½1115.525.00249165 7 Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL)2489 ½½½½½0X011½½5.529.50249665 8 Zhao Xue (CHN)2552 ½0½1011X½0½05.028.75245445 9 Anna Ushenina (UKR)2501 0½½0½½0½X11½5.024.25245940 10 Nafisa Muminova (UZB)2321 001½½0½½0X114.018.50240930 11 Tatiana Kosintseva (RUS)2496 001½½0½½00X½3.519.50236315 12 Batchimeg Tuvshintugs (MGL)2340 0½0½00½1½0½X3.518.50237715

Olga Girya achieved a GM norm at the tournament.

### Lopota 2014

    5th stage, Lopota, Georgia, 19 June - July 1, 2014 PlayerRating123456789101112PtsH2HVictoriesSBTPRGP 1 Hou Yifan (CHN)2629 X1½11½1½½1119.00745.002773160 2 Ju Wenjun (CHN)2532 0X1½1½1½1½017.01534.752622120 3 Elina Danielian (ARM)2460 ½0X½½½1101½17.00434.002628120 4 Nana Dzagnidze (GEO)2541 0½½X0½½1½1116.50429.00258490 5 Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL)2488 00½1X½½011½16.00.5427.75256075 6 Harika Dronavalli (IND)2503 ½½½½½X½01½½16.00.5230.75255875 7 Anna Muzychuk (UKR)2561 000½½½X½1½115.51.5323.75251750 8 Koneru Humpy (IND)2613 ½½0011½X½½015.51.0328.75251250 9 Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS)2532 ½1½½000½X½115.50.5327.25252050 10 Zhao Xue (CHN)2538 00000½½½½X½13.50114.25238630 11 Bela Khotenashvili (GEO)2518 0½00000101X½3.00116.75234620 12 Nafisa Muminova (UZB)2332 0½000000001X1.5016.50222910

Ju Wenjun achieved another GM norm which makes it her final GM norm.

### Sharjah 2014

    6th stage, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, 24 August – 7 September 2014 PlayerRating123456789101112PtsRating changeTPRGP 1 Ju Wenjun (CHN)2559 X½½1½1½1½1118.5+192696145 2 Hou Yifan (CHN)2661 ½X½½1½1½11118.5+42687145 3 Harika Dronavalli (IND)2521 0½X½½1½10½116.5+5255187.5 4 Zhao Xue (CHN)2508 0½½X½½10½1116.5+7255287.5 5 Anna Ushenina (UKR)2487 ½0½½X½½11½½16.5+11255487.5 6 Batchimeg Tuvshintugs (MGL)2346 ½½0½½X1½½1½16.5+64256787.5 7 Koneru Humpy (IND)2598 ½0½½½0X11½½15.5-17248160 8 Elina Danielian (ARM)2490 0½010½0X½11½5-5245950 9 Tatiana Kosintseva (RUS)2494 ½0½1½0½½X0½14.5-10242740 10 Zhu Chen (QAT)2461 00½0½0½01X½½3.5-15236130 11 Nafisa Muminova (UZB)2315 00½0½½½0½½X½3.0+2233620 12 Alina l'Ami (ROU)2446 0000000½0½½X1.5-33217410

Batchimeg Tuvshintugs achieved a 9-game GM norm, her first one.

## Grand Prix standings

The lowest of four results is in italics and not taken into the total result. Khotenashvili took the lead after stage one, then Koneru Humpy went into the lead by winning two stages in a row. Hou Yifan then overtook the lead of Koneru Humpy at the last stage.

The top two places are the same as in the two previous Grand Prix cycles.

| | Player | July 2014 Rating | Geneva | Dilijan | Tashkent | Khanty-Mansiysk | Lopota | Sharjah | Played | Best 3 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Hou Yifan (CHN) | 2629 | 45 | | | 160 | 160 | 145 | 4 | 465 |
| 2 | Koneru Humpy (IND) | 2613 | | 160 | 160 | | 50 | 60 | 4 | 380 |
| 3 | Ju Wenjun (CHN) | 2538 | 75 | | 70 | | 120 | 145 | 4 | 340 |
| 4 | Anna Muzychuk (SLO) | 2561 | 130 | 120 | | 85 | 50 | | 4 | 335 |
| 5 | Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) | 2541 | 100 | 120 | | 65 | 90 | | 4 | 310 |
| 6 | Bela Khotenashvili (GEO) | 2518 | 160 | 10 | 120 | | 20 | | 4 | 300 |
| 7 | Kateryna Lahno (RUS) | 2540 | 60 | | 120 | 85 | | | 3 | 265 |
| 8 | Dronavalli Harika (IND) | 2513 | | 60 | 85 | | 75 | 87.5 | 4 | 247.5 |
| 9 | Anna Ushenina (UKR) | 2488 | 75 | 80 | | 45 | | 87.5 | 4 | 242.5 |
| 10 | Tatiana Kosintseva (RUS) | 2476 | 100 | 90 | | 15 | | 40 | 4 | 230 |
| 11 | Zhao Xue (CHN) | 2542 | | | 85 | 45 | 30 | 87.5 | 4 | 217.5 |
| 12 | Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS) | 2533 | 45 | | 55 | 110 | 50 | | 4 | 215 |
| 12 | Olga Girya (RUS) | 2493 | 10 | 30 | 55 | 130 | | | 4 | 215 |
| 14 | Elina Danielian (ARM) | 2458 | | 30 | 40 | | 120 | 50 | 4 | 210 |
| 15 | Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL) | 2488 | | 60 | 30 | 65 | 75 | | 4 | 200 |
| 16 | Batchimeg Tuvshintugs (MGL) | 2346 | 20 | 60 | | 15 | | 87.5 | 4 | 167.5 |
| 17 | Nafisa Muminova (UZB) | 2332 | | | 20 | 30 | 10 | 20 | 4 | 70 |
| 18 | Viktorija Cmilyte (LTU) | 2525 | 30 | 30 | | | | | 2 | 60 |
| 19 | Zhu Chen (QAT) | 2461 | | | | | | 30 | 1 | 30 |
| 20 | Guliskhan Nakhbayeva (KAZ) | 2300 | | | 10 | | | | 1 | 10 |
| 20 | Alina L'Ami (ROU) | 2446 | | | | | | 10 | 1 | 10 |

### Notes

* $^1$ Nadezhda Kosintseva withdrew from the Women's Grand Prix and she has been replaced by the next highest rating reserve, Tatiana Kosintseva.
* $^2$ Viktorija Cmilyte withdrew her participation in Tashkent due to illness and was replaced by Guliskhan Nakhbayeva.
* $^3$ Antoaneta Stefanova replaced Elina Danielian in Khanty-Mansiysk.
* $^4$ Alexandra Kosteniuk and Kateryna Lahno swapped places at fifth and sixth stage.
* $^5$ Viktorija Cmilyte and Kateryna Lahno were replaced by Alina L'Ami and Zhu Chen at the sixth stage.
