Four players in the lead with 3/3 - Khotenashvili, Melia, Goryachkina and Gaponenko
Today's 3rd round wasn't full of surprises as the previous two, and it seems that as the tournament is going on, the favorites are managing to justify their role given at the start.
That's why today we didn't see so many turnovers on the first boards. Convincing victories achieved Bela Khotenashvili, Salome Melia, Katheryna Lagno, Tatiana Kosintseva and Viktorija Cmylite.
Antoaneta Stefanova had somewhat advantage during the game against Serbian player Jovana Vojinovic, but Jovana, with a good defense, eventually managed to draw.
However, some of the favorites suffered losses - Natalia Zhukova against Alina Kashlinskaya and Sofie Milliet against unpredictable Irina Chelushkina.
Among first 10 boards, many games were drawn, although the positions did not indicate the peaceful outcome. Natalia Pogonina was worse, but managed to punish imprecise play of her opponent Zoya Schleining, and eventually drew. Olga Girya was also in unenviable position, but it seems her opponent Baira Kovanova didn't have a plan for a win, so the game went into a draw outcome. Corina Peptan was increasing her advantage move by move against Maia Lomineishvili, was even a piece up, but this didn't seem to be enough for a win.
