One big tournament follows another in Khanty-Mansiysk. Just yesterday ladies celebrated at the closing ceremony of the FIDE Grand Prix, and today they have to start thinking about a new serious challenge. We asked the players about their mood prior to the World Rapid and Blitz Championships.

Batchimeg Tuvshintugs: “I participate in this tournament for the first time. I think I am in a great shape. I had a difficult start in the Grand Prix, but the concluding games were quite good. Hope to show my strength in the coming tournament. The competitors are very strong – they are the best players of the world. I will have to work very hard to win it”.

Olga Girya: “I am quite driven, although yesterday evening was quite a chaotic, and today we moved to another hotel. I still have a whole evening to relax, so I hope everything will be fine. I warmed up quite well with 11 Grand Prix games, so it should be easier for me to pick the pace”.

Maria Fominykh: “I am glad that I came to Khanty-Mansiysk. The World Championship cannot be boring by definition, and rapid and blitz are perhaps the most exciting and dynamic forms of chess. I also want to mention that the competition is going to be very tough”.

Antoaneta Stefanova: “I am always in a mood to play, although I am a bit tired after the Grand Prix. Perhaps my result in the coming tournaments will be better than in the Grand Prix. All the participants are quite strong, I cannot name my main rival. Let’s see what happens. I am very serious about these events”.

Marina Guseva: “There are many strong players here, so I don’t have any special plans for the Championships. I just want to play my best chess. All in all, I am in a good mood, and there are many important tournaments ahead”.