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The 18th European Individual Women’s Championship 2017 is in Riga, Latvia, from today (opening ceremony) to 23rd April in the Radisson Blu Latvija Conference & Spa Hotel. The first round is tomorrow at 3pm local time. The prize fund is a very cool 75.000 EUR. The Muzychuk sisters are the top two favourites. Our own Jovanka Houska is the 33rd seed. Its also a qualification event for the next World Women Championship, 14 players will qualify.

Round 1 pairings are up. Very strong event and Jovanka starts on Board 32.

32 WIM Utiatskaja (0) 2152 IM Houska, J. (0) 2397

Jovanka's game has started https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-tourn ... 017/1/1/32

Jovanka drew her first round game, she looked to have good chances for the win but the Russian's technique in a Rook & pawn ending was very solid.

Round 2 pairings, doesn't appear to have been any major upsets in the first round.

37 IM Houska, J. (½) 2397 - WIM Pavlidou, E. (½) 2180

Chris Rice wrote:Round 2 pairings, doesn't appear to have been any major upsets in the first round.

37 IM Houska, J. (½) 2397 - WIM Pavlidou, E. (½) 2180

Kashlinskaya was the highest rated casualty albeit Pogonina looked in some trouble in her game.

Jovanka drew again in round 2, Stockfish 8 showed her winning at a couple of points in a Queen and opposite coloured bishop ending though unsurprisingly I couldn't see how she was actually going to win it. Its not the end of the world, presumably her goal is not necessarily to try and win this tournament but to try and get one of those 14 qualifying places for the next World Championship. The round is still ongoing but there should be around 10 players on 2/2 when it finishes.

Chris Rice wrote:Jovanka drew again in round 2, Stockfish 8 showed her winning at a couple of points in a Queen and opposite coloured bishop ending though unsurprisingly I couldn't see how she was actually going to win it. Its not the end of the world, presumably her goal is not necessarily to try and win this tournament but to try and get one of those 14 qualifying places for the next World Championship. The round is still ongoing but there should be around 10 players on 2/2 when it finishes.

Round 3 pairings here: http://chess-results.com/tnr269716.aspx ... =NO&wi=821 ironically they were published before the live games had finished (explained by the transmission delay).

Jovanka drew again in a game similar to the first two where she had a promising position but with no killer blow available which then fizzled out. Oh well, she at least remains unbeaten! Round 4 sees her paired with a player from Azerbaijan:

33 32 IM Houska Jovanka 2397 1½ 1½ WGM Abdulla Khayala 2241

The only player on 3/3 is the Georgian, Nana Dzagnidze, with 25 players, including the Muzychuk sisters, a half point back.

And don't forget Keti Arakhamia-Grant (SCO) on 2.5 as well.

Good point Alex. Round 4 pairing:

7 14 WGM Goryachkina Aleksandra 2452 2½ 2½ GM Arakhamia-Grant Ketevan 2374

Both British women lost today. Mamedjarova, Atalik, Goryachkina, Muzychuk Mariya, Zimina and Dzagnidze lead on 3½/4.

Round 5 pairings:
1 IM Atalik Ekaterina 2429 3½ 3½ GM Muzychuk Mariya 2546
2 IM Zimina Olga 2395 3½ 3½ GM Dzagnidze Nana 2528
3 WGM Mamedjarova Zeinab 2322 3½ 3½ WGM Goryachkina Aleksandra 2452
28 GM Arakhamia-Grant Ketevan 2374 2½ 2½ WIM Pavlidou Ekaterini 2180
48 WFM Paramzina Anastasya 2202 1½ 1½ IM Houska Jovanka 2397

Wins today for both Jovanka and Ketevan.

28 44 GM Arakhamia-Grant Ketevan 2374 2½ 1 - 0 2½ WIM Pavlidou Ekaterini 2180 102
48 100 WFM Paramzina Anastasya 2202 1½ 0 - 1 1½ IM Houska Jovanka 2397 32

16 26 IM Gaponenko Inna 2416 3½ 3½ GM Arakhamia-Grant Ketevan 2374 44
33 32 IM Houska Jovanka 2397 2½ 2½ WIM Unuk Laura 2275 73

Draws today for the two Brits.

16 IM Gaponenko, I. (3½) 2416 ½ - ½ GM Arakhamia-Gr. (3½) 2374
33 IM Houska, J. (2½) 2397 ½ - ½ WIM Unuk, Laura (2½) 2275

Standings after Rd 6:
1-2 Goryachkina, Dzagnidze 5
21 Arakhamia-Grant 4
66 Houska 3

Rd 7:
1 WGM Goryachkina Aleksandra 2452 5 5 GM Dzagnidze Nana 2528
12 GM Arakhamia-Grant Ketevan 2374 4 4 IM Galliamova Alisa 2444
35 IM Sedina Elena 2253 3 3 IM Houska Jovanka 2397