The Georgian chess player Bela Khotenashvili (2514)  started the 3^rd tournament of women’s Grand-Prix series, which takes places in Tashkent,  with defeat. But then celebrated 2 victories in a row and went through the top 3.

Today, Khotenashvli won over one of the strongest female chess player in the world, Chinese Xue Zhao (2579), who participated without a loss before and she surrendered at the 70^th run with white pieces against Georgian.

After three rounds, Humpy Koneru of India (2607) is a leader with maximum number of points.  2.5 points have also to his compatriot Harika Dronavalli (2475),  and then comes Khotenashvili, Zhao and Ukrainian katerina Lahno (2532) with 2-2 points, among them the best additional showing has Khotenashvili.

In the 4^th round, Khotenashvili will play with black pieces. Her opponent will be former champion of the world Alexandra Kosteniuk (Russia, 2535). The parties of Koneru –Lahno and Dronaval – Ju (China, 2535) should be also interesting.

We remind that the Grand Prix series consists of 6 stages and the World’s 18 strongest women chess players participate in it. Each of them will participate in 4 stages and each place will be marked with corresponding money prize and points.

After two rounds, the first five is following: 1. Ana Muzichuk (Slovenia) – 250 points; 2. Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia) – 220; 3. Tatiana Kozinceva (Russia) – 190; 4. Bela Khotenashvili (Georgia) – 170; 5. Humpy Koneru(India) – 160;