FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov opened the fourth leg of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix in Jermuk, Armenia in the presence of the President of Armenia and the Armenian Chess Federation the Hon. Serge Sargissian.

This tournament is one of the strongest in the history of women chess with three former world champions Grandmasters Maia Chiburdanidze, Antoaneta Stefanova and Xu Yuhua taking part, as well as the legendary Nona Gaprindashvili being present as Technical Adviser.

In his opening speech FIDE President gave thanks to the important role that Armenia is playing not only from the number of top players it produces but also in the hosting of top events. As a result, places like Jermuk which are famous for their spa centres, become well known around the world thanks to chess.

The tournament was dedicated to the memory of Henrik Kasparian, one of the greatest chess composers of all time.

The FIDE Women Grand Prix series continues with Jermuk tournament which will take place on 23rd June - 6th July 2010 in Jermuk, Armenia. The winner of each tournament will win 6,500 euros out of a prize fund of 40,000 euros and the overall winner of the series will win a further 15,000 euros at the end of the series.

This series will see the strongest women tournaments of all times and it is important to point out that there are three ex-world Champions taking part as well as the highest ranked women players in the world. Three events have already been completed, when Humpy Koneru won in Istanbul, Xu Yuhua won in Nanjing and Tatiana Kosintseva dominated in Nalchik.

After Jermuk, the last two tournaments will be held in Ulanbaatar, Mongolia, on 29 July - 12 August 2010, and Santiago, Chile, on 27th October- 9th November 2010. The overall winner of the Grand Prix series will challenge the 2010 Women World Champion to a match for the title in 2011.

Jermuk also hosted one of the men's Grand Prix tournaments, which was won by Vassily Ivanchuk.

Participants:
Hou Yifan CHN 2589
Antoaneta Stefanova BUL 2560
Pia Cramling SWE 2536
Tatiana Kosintseva RUS 2534
Maia Chiburdanidze GEO 2514
Xu Yuhua CHN 2484
Nana Dzagnidze GEO 2478
Lilit Mkrtchian ARM 2477
Elina Danielian ARM 2473
Shen Yang CHN 2452
Baira Kovanova RUS 2366
Martha Fierro ECU 2363

Official website

Photos from the Opening Ceremony


FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan.





Left to right: the sixth World Women's Chess Champion Nona Gaprindashvili, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, GM Smbat Lputian.





Speech of FIDE President.


Participant of the Grand Prix, Women's World Chess Champion Xu Yuhua (CHN).


Participants left to right: Shen Yang (CHN), Women's World Champion Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL), Women's World Champion Xu Yuhua (CHN), Tatiana Kosintseva (RUS), Lilit Mkrtchian (ARM), Martha Fierro (ECU)