Russia's Valentina Gunina Wins Women's World Blitz Chess Championship 2012 in Batumi, Georgia; Natalia Zhukova, Anna Muzychuk Tie for Second

Valentina Gunina

Russian chess player Valentina Gunina has won the Women's World Blitz Chess Championship in Batumi, Georgia. On the second day of play, on Wednesday, she amassed a total of 13 points out of 15 rounds. Earlier, this year, Gunina had also won the European Women's Women's Blitz Chess Championship and the European Women's Championship in classical chess.

Second place went to Natalia Zhukova of Ukraine and third place went to Anna Muzychuk of Slovakia. Both tied for the second place with 10.5 points. Russia's Alexandra Kosteniuk was a trifle unlucky to miss out on the medals with her fourth place at 10 points. Kosteniuk had won the silver medal in the women's world rapid chess a day earlier. Bulgaria's Antoaneta Stefanova had to settle for the fifth place with 9.5 points. Stefanova had won the gold medal a day earlier in the rapid section.
India's Koneru Humpy, who had won a bronze in the rapid section, had to settle for the 20th place with 8.0 points. India's other entry, Harika Dronavalli, who had done well in the rapid section, had to settle for the 32nd place.

Both the women's world rapid and blitz chess championships held in Batumi, Georgia had an exceptionally strong field with 50 of some of the strongest women chess players of the world taking part.

Posted in: alexandra kosteniuk,anna muzychuk,antoaneta stefanova,batumi blitz,harika dronavalli,koneru humpy,natalia zhukova,valentina gunina,women's world blitz chess