The fifth stage of Women’s Grand Prix where 12 chess players participated came to an end.

Humpy Koneru was considered as the favorite of the Lopota tournament. She has won two stages. Bela Khotenashvii also had a good chance but unfortunately, she took the 11^th place. The Georgian was a debutant of Grand Prix. Overall, she did not play bad. Her only minus is unstable play which can be improved.

Koneru took the 8^th place but she has a chance to play world champion in final. After three stages she has 370 points and is sharing the first-second place with the current world champion Hou Yifan.

Here are the results of the fifth stage.

1. Hou Yifan (China) 10000 EUR, 160 points
2. Ju Wenjun (China) 8250, 130
3. Elina Danielian (Armenia) 6750, 110
4. Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia) 5750, 90
5. Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria) 5000, 80
6. Harika Dronavalli (India) 4500, 70
7. Anna Muzychuk (Slovenia) 4250, 60
8. Humpy Koneru (India) 4000, 50
9. Alexandra Kosteniuk (Russia) 32520, 40
10. Zhao Xue (China) 3000, 30
11. Bela Khotenashvili (Georgia) 2750, 20
12. Nafisa Muminova (Uzbekistan) 2500, 10

Mongolia will host the sixth stage of Grand Prix. It will be held from August 24 to September 7. The following chess players will participate in the mentioned tournament:

1. Hou Yifan
2. Humpy Koneru
3. Ju Wenjun
4. Elina Danielian
5. Harika Dronavalli
6. Zhao Xue
7. Nafisa Muminova
8. Viktorija Cmilyte
9. Tuvshintugs Batchimeg
10. Anna Ushenina
11. Tatiana Kosintseva
12. Kateryna Lahno

Nana Dzagnidze, Bela Khotenashvili, Anna Muzychuk, Olga Girya, Alexandra Kosteniuk and Antoaneta Stefanova have participated in four stages and finished the competition.

Roland Labuchidze