Three rounds are left to celebrate the winner

Four games in the eighth round of FIDE Women Grand Prix in Kazan were decisive, but in fact, all of them could have been scored, provided Betul Yildiz and Viktorija Cmilyte, who had big advantage, would defeat their opponents - sisters Nadezhda and Tatiana Kosintsevas.

The central clash of the day took place between the current leader Elina Danielian and chaser Katerina Lahno. Armenian player proceeded her winning pace, this time sealing her success on the 29th move.

Elina Danielian: I can’t say I was perfectly ready to the variant we have played. At a certain moment black suffered a mistake to make every following move lost.

Elina, you have been playing chess for long. Do you feel the game is a part of your life or is just a job?

Elina Danielian: In case it didn’t give pleasure, we would have quitted it long before. Every chess player enjoys what he or she is doing, and this is impossible otherwise. 

We’d like to cheer up Katerina, who has lost her game. There is at least one sport, where Russians are envious to Ukrainian. 

Katerina Lahno started to smile, realizing the question concerned EURO-2012.

Katerina Lahno: This is just for a while, believe me! I don’t have a feeling we will play well against England. We might lose them either – 1:2, 0:2 or 0:3. Ukraine has fewer chances in football than in chess, while the money is also very different.

Betul Yildiz shared points for the first time at her Kazan tournament with Nadezhda Kosintseva.

What are chess in your life: are they a job or a kind of hobby?

Betul Yildiz: This is a job indeed! When I studied at a university, I had no time to play chess in full size. However now I have graduated from the law department, and can concentrate on chess. Several years later I might come back to the choice, judging upon results I will see if it would make sense to stay in chess or take some another profession.

Nadezhda Kosintseva: Chess is my job, although if I proceed the way I’m doing now I’d rather take it as hobby.

Nadezhda, it seems as if you are a colleague of Betul. Have you ever worked as a layer?

Nadezhda Kosintseva: Not yet!

World Champion Hou Yifan, who played white against Alexandra Kosteniuk, sacrificed the second knight on g7 square in this tournament as it also happened in the game with Antoaneta Stefanova in the sixth round. The attack of Chinese player was decisive and Alexandra could not defend her position.  

Humpy Koneru created strong initiative in the middle game and defeated Antoaneta Stefanova. 2 moves earlier Hou Yifan celebrated a win over Alexandra Kostenyuk.

Anna Muzychuk got a better position after the opening in the game against Alisa Galliamova but later on didn’t play precisely and allowed black to equalize. In the deep endgame Slovenian player managed to find winning chances and beat her opponent.

Alisa Galliamova: To begin with, I normally evaluated my position, and then I lost my way.

Do you take chess as hobby or a job?

Anna Muzychuk: I graduated from the Institute of Physical culture, so I can work as a coach, however chess are top priority for me.

Alisa Galliamova: - I can hardly call myself a professional now, since for I just played five or six games during 7.5 months. This has nothing to do with professional chess level! There is no surprise Im doing not so well indeed! On the one hand, I am missing practice, and on the other I’m already tired.

I happened to have a dedicated training camp before the event, after which I was already tired of chess and of the theory. As a result, I have now what I have. I have to confess, that I don’t have the mood to play. I showed neither fighting spirit, nor play to win. I didn’t make use of my chances and opportunities. During the second game, I had a good position. I stood pretty well in the third match. Today I didn’t manage to convert  a very promising position into anything material. I wish I’d rather quit the tournament. It’s pretty difficult to stand still psychologically. You’re to go out and play after those sensitive defeats! You are to tease yourself even if your game has not wish to return. Tomorrow is a day-off, and it gives me comfort to think of it, however I will have three more games to play...

After the 8 rounds of play Elina Danielian is on the top with 6th points. Anna Muzychuk is on the second place half a point behind. Viktorija Cmilyte and Humpy Koneru share the third place with 5 points. Hou Yifan increased her tournament situation and share the fifth place with Katerina Lahno with 4,5 points. Nadezhda Kosintseva (Russia) is currently seventh with 4 points, followed by Alexandra Kosnenyuk and Tatiana Kosintseva (both - Russia) with half point less. Antoaneta Stefanova stays on the 10th place with 3 points. Alisa Galliamova and Betul Yildiz are on the 11th and 12th positions with 2 and 1.5 points respectively.