FIDE Women's Grand Prix 2019–2021

The 2019–2021 edition of the FIDE Grand Prix was a series of four chess tournaments exclusively for women which determined two players to play in the Women's Candidates Tournament 2022. The winner of the Candidates Tournament will play a 12-game match against the world champion in the Women's World Chess Championship 2022.[1]

This is the fifth cycle of the tournament series. The number one woman player, Hou Yifan, who won the first three editions of the Grand Prix, was unable to play due to studies at Oxford University.

Players

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16 players were published by FIDE in July 2019.[2]

Invitee Country Elo (July 2019)
Ju Wenjun   China 2595
Aleksandra Goryachkina   Russia 2564
Humpy Koneru   India 2558
Mariya Muzychuk   Ukraine 2551
Kateryna Lagno   Russia 2549
Anna Muzychuk   Ukraine 2547
Alexandra Kosteniuk   Russia 2517
Nana Dzagnidze   Georgia 2511
Valentina Gunina   Russia 2497
Dronavalli Harika   India 2492
Alina Kashlinskaya   Russia 2492
Zhao Xue   China 2485
Pia Cramling   Sweden 2479
Antoaneta Stefanova   Bulgaria 2474
Elisabeth Paehtz   Germany 2473
Marie Sebag   France 2451
Zhansaya AbdumalikR   Kazakhstan 2458
Dinara SaduakassovaR   Kazakhstan 2474
Irina BulmagaR   Romania 2435
Gunay MammadzadaR   Azerbaijan 2427

R Due to travel restrictions on Chinese citizens due to the Coronavirus outbreak, Zhao Xue was unable to participate in the Lausanne leg of the Grand Prix. She was replaced by Zhansaya Abdumalik.[3] For the Gibraltar WGP, Koneru, Ju, Zhao and Sebag were replaced by Zhansaya Abdumalik, Dinara Saduakassova, Irina Bulmaga and Gunay Mammadzada.[4] These replacement players were not eligible for the Candidates spots.

Schedule and results

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No. Host city Date Winner Points (Win/draw/loss)
1 Skolkovo, Russia 10–23 September 2019   Humpy Koneru 8/11 (+5=6-0)
2 Monaco 2–15 December 2019   Alexandra Kosteniuk
  Humpy Koneru
  Aleksandra Goryachkina
7/11 (+5=4-2)
7/11 (+4=6-1)
7/11 (+5=4-2)
3 Lausanne, Switzerland 1–14 March 2020   Nana Dzagnidze
  Aleksandra Goryachkina
7/11 (+4=6-1)
7/11 (+3=8-0)
4 Gibraltar 22 May – 2 June 2021   Zhansaya Abdumalik 8.5/11 (+6=5-0)

The fourth stage of the Grand Prix, initially planned from 2 to 15 May 2020 in Sardinia, was postponed by FIDE due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. FIDE announced that the fourth stop of the Women Grand Prix was to be held in Gibraltar on January 17–29, 2021,[5] but it was then postponed again[6] to 22 May to 2 June 2021.[7]

Events crosstables

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Grand Prix standings

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160 Grand Prix points were awarded for 1st, 130 for 2nd, 110 for 3rd and then in steps of 10 from 90 for 4th to 10 for 12th place. If players ended up tied on points, points for those places were shared equally.

As Goryachkina was already qualified for the Candidates Tournament, the third place qualified instead of her. The replacements (in italics) were not eligible to qualify for the Candidates.

Rank Player Skolkovo Monaco Lausanne Gibraltar Total
1   Aleksandra Goryachkina (RUS) 120 133⅓ 145 398⅓
2   Humpy Koneru (IND) 160 133⅓ 293⅓
3   Kateryna Lagno (RUS) 90 90 100 280
4   Zhansaya Abdumalik (KAZ) 110 160 270
5   Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) 35 145 75 255
6   Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) 60 60 130 250
7   Anna Muzychuk (UKR) 80 85 60 225
8   Alexandra Kosteniuk (RUS) 45 133⅓ 15 193⅓
9   Dronavalli Harika (IND) 60 60 60 180
9   Alina Kashlinskaya (RUS) 45 85 50 180
11   Elisabeth Paehtz (GER) 75 20 75 170
12   Ju Wenjun (CHN) 120 35 155
13   Valentina Gunina (RUS) 75 10 35 120
13   Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL) 25 60 35 120
15   Pia Cramling (SWE) 10 60 35 105
16   Gunay Mammadzada (AZE) 100 100
17   Marie Sebag (FRA) 25 15 40
18   Zhao Xue (CHN) 35 35
19   Dinara Saduakassova (KAZ) 20 20
20   Irina Bulmaga (ROU) 10 10

References

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  1. ^ https://www.fide.com/FIDE/handbook/regulations_WGP_2019_20.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  2. ^ IDE Women's Grand Prix Series 2019-2020
  3. ^ "Zhansaya Abdumalik will replace Zhao Xue at WGP in Lausanne". www.fide.com. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  4. ^ "Women's Grand Prix Gibraltar: Pairings announced". www.fide.com. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  5. ^ "Gibraltar to host the final stage of the Women's FIDE Grand Prix". www.fide.com. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  6. ^ "FIDE Women's FIDE Grand Prix rescheduled".
  7. ^ "FIDE Women's Grand Prix Gibraltar: New dates announced".
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