Hoang Trang wins and takes the lead
Hoang Thanh Trang defeated Valentina Gunina on the first board, in the decisive game of the 8th round. Valentina started with 1.Nf3, and Trang decided to go for 1...d5, instead of her typical answer 1...f5, and the game went to Reti. Very quickly, they exchanged the material, and the game shifted to an endgame, where Trang had a dominating bishop against white's knight, and had no difficulties to win.
Anna Muzychuk had quite an advantage with white against Natalia Pogonina, but at some point she lost it, and after the material was reduced, it was clear that game will have a peaceful outcome.
In Georgian clash on the third board, Salome Melia defeated Nana Dzagnidze in a very sharp game.
Another Georgian clash between Khotenashvili and Arabidze finished as a draw, after quite interesting game. Further analysis will show if there was other way to proceed for both of them.
Two Lithuanian players played against each other - Daulyte and Cmilyte, in which older and more experienced one - Viktorija scored with black.
Alexandra Kosteniuk played a good game with black against Nino Khurtsidze. In a sharp line of Nimzo-Indian she used the advantage of her position and captured a pawn. In the end Nino helped her with the blunder, after which she had to resign.
Marija Rakic, the best Serbian ranked player in the tournament so far, lost to Ekatarina Atalik. Ekatarina used well her space advantage, which eventually she turned into material advantage, and won in the endgame.
A win of Baira Kovanova against GM Katherina Lagno is certainly worth to mention.
After 8 rounds, Hoang Trang is in sole lead with 7 points, followed by Melia and Kosteniuk with 6.5.
Three more rounds to go, with very exciting and decisive games. Who has the most strength to make it till the end?
