Alisa Galyamova and Antoaneta Stefanova took the lead from the start

Competition Day#1  of FIDE Women Grand Prix in Kazan came to a close late in the evening on 10 June, 2012 to bring good news for all Kazan fans. The first win at the tournament was clinched by the local favorite Alisa Galyamova, defeating Betul Yildiz from Turkey with the black pieces.

“It was pretty nervous for me, - confessed Alisa Galyamova at the post-game press-conference. - I have not once told every local reporter, that for me it’s always difficult to play at home first and foremost due to psychological factors. I strongly feel responsibility pressures, however I have won the first game, which was a good start, and that pleases me a lot”.

Alisa’s opponent from Turkey is the only participant of Kazan Grand Prix with Universiade background. Betul Yildiz was asked to share her impressions from 2011 Shenzhen Student Games .

“The matter is Universiade chess tournament was conducted separately from the main Universiade program. We stayed very far from the competition venue and had to spend very much time on traffic. Therefore, we had a few opportunities to feel the Universiade’s atmosphere to the full. Personally, I would like to take part in Kazan 2013 Universiade, but I am not sure if I manage to do that. It’s pretty difficult to plan for such a long period of time. If we speak of the sport level of the two competitions concerned, FIDE Grand Prix is much stronger and more interesting to play”. 

The fifth match ended in favor of Antoaneta Stefanova from Bulgaria, who managed to beat Russian Nadezhda Kosintseva. The journalists didn’t hesitate to inquire if Veselin Topalov urged his compatriot to come to Russia and take revenge for his modest result at the Candidates Matches-2011.

“It happened so, that Veselin didn’t manage to show his best in Kazan last year, but this had not the least impact on my plans to visit Kazan, - Antoaneta answered, - I heard, that the city is a good and experienced organizer of various international events, including chess tournaments”.

“I have got very special associations with Russia, - went on Mrs.Stefanova. – When I was five, I played Mikhail Tal, who conducted a series of simultaneous-game matches, and our match ended in a draw, which was a big event for Bulgaria. It flatters me a lot, that Mikhail Tal delivered his positive opinion of me, and that was of good use for my development as a chess player. He encouraged me a lot then though we came across just once in the lifetime, therefore I am doing my best to encourage young chess players myself now”.

The longest match of the Competition Day #1 finished at ten – fifteen minutes to nine p.m. Tatiana Kosintseva finally drew with Alexandra Kosteniuk to make official the ranking table after the first round. Alisa Galyamova and Antoaneta Stefanova took the dual lead from the start, having one point each in their baskets. Elina Danielian, Anna Muzychuk, Humpy Koneru, Hou Yifan, Tatiana Kosintseva, Alexandra Kosteniuk,  Viktorija Cmilyte and Katerina Lahno are ranking third – ten with 0.5 points earned in their first games, Nadezhda Kosintseva and Betul Yildiz are sharing 11th – 12th positions.

“The game was complicated and interesting at the same time, - Alexandra Kostenyuk  reflected on the battle for the Media. – Yawns are different, you know. Some may result in the defeat,  others are easier to stand still. I had no problems from the emotional viewpoint and therefore I’m coped with the situation after all”.

“The black had some advantage at first, - responded Tatiana Kosintseva, - though soon I have managed to take it back, and the game started to swing bringing initiative to both opponents in their turn. As a result we drew”.