The first three rounds of the World Women's Chess Rapid Championship 2012 being held in Batumi were completed on Thursday. The strong competition includes top seed Anna Muzychuk, European women's chess champion Valentina Gunina, women's world chess championship finalist Koneru Humpy, European women's chess silver medalist Tatiana Kosintseva, former women's world chess champions Antoaneta Stefanova and Alexandra Kosteniuk, US women's chess champion Irina Krush, and Armenia's leading player Elina Danielian.
The event is being organised by the Association of Chess Professionals under the very able leadership of GM Emil Sutovsky and the Georgian Chess Federation.
Here is the opening ceremony video:
After three rounds at the chess championship WGM Qian Huang and GM Pia Cramling are leading the competition with a perfect score of 3,0/3 points. WGM Qian Huang defeated GM Tatiana Kosintseva, GM Zhu Chen, and GM Maia Chiburdanidze, while GM Pia Cramling was victorious against IM Purtseladze, GM Nona Gaprindashvili, and GM Zhao Xue.
The leaders are closely followed by the World Championship finalist GM Humpy Koneru, former women's world chess champions Stefanova and Kosteniuk, and local player Nino Khurtsidze with 2.5 points each.
Koneru Humpy beat Nino Batsiashvili, drew with Alexandra Kosteniuk, and beat Jue Wang.
Meanwhile, India's other player Harika Dronavalli, who started as ninth seed is also doing well and obtained three straight draws in the first three rounds against Cori T. Deysi, Ekaterina Kovalevskaya, and Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant.
The top-five ranking list after three rounds includes WGM Huang Qian and GM Pia Cramling at 3.0, GM Koneru Humpy, GM Alexandra Kosteniuk, GM Antoaneta Stefanova, and IM Nino Khurtsidze at 2.5 each. There are 15 players with 2.0 points each. Find the full standings at Chess Results. You can watch the Batumi Women's World Rapid Chess Championship live at the official site.
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