Chess News
At the FIDE Women Grand Prix 2009, Istnbul, Turkey

The Turkish Chess Federation in collaboration with FIDE and Global Chess is organising the first event for the new Women Grand Prix series 2009/2010 ... This is the first time that such a series is being organised and is a significant development for the chess world ... This will be one of the strongest women tournaments of all times and it is important to point out that there are three ex-world Champions taking part.

Participants in Istanbul 2009

1 GM Koneru Humpy IND 2621
2 GM Hou Yifan CHN 2571
3 GM Antoaneta Stefanova BUL 2557
4 GM Pia Cramling SWE 2548
5 GM Marie Sebag FRA 2529
6 GM Maia Chiburdanidze GEO 2516
7 GM Zhao Xue CHN 2508
8 IM Elina Danielian ARM 2496
9 WGM Shen Yang CHN 2448
10 IM Martha Fierro ECU 2403
11 WGM Zeinab Mamedjarova AZE 2362
12 WIM Betül Cemre Yıldız TUR 2214

Round 1 - 7 March 2009

GM CRAMLING Pia 0-1 GM KONERU Humpy

Round 2 - 8 March 2009

GM KONERU Humpy 1-0 IM DANIELIAN Elina

Humpy having great start winning first 2 games playing with black and white pieces, she is sole leader after 2 rounds ... In third round she is facing local player with black pieces.
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Tennis News
At $35K+H Kyoto Challenger, Japan

[R1] (4) AMRITRAJ Prakash (IND,192) vs MITSUHASHI Junn (JPN,337)

Doubles
[R1] (2) AMRITRAJ Prakash (IND)/ AMRITRAJ Stephen (IND) bt KONDO Hiroki (JPN)/ MATSUI Toshihide (JPN) 57 75 10(5)

Good win against experienced Japanese pair in super tie-break for seeded Amritraj cousin.