In the seventh round, the leader of the tournament Aleksandra Goryachkina held a draw against Mariya Muzychuk to take her score to 5,5/7. Thus, she maintained her 1,5 points tournament lead over her nearest pursuers Katerina Lagno and Nana Dzagnidze, who played the longest game today which eventually finished in a draw. Anna Muzychuk overlooked good winning chances against Alexandra Kosteniuk. Valentina Gunina, who has herself up and down tournament so far, defeated Tan Zhongyi, for whom it was the third consecutive loss in the Candidates. It turned out to be the only decisive game in the seventh round.
After seven rounds, half way the tournament, Goryachkina has 5,5 points. Dzagnidze and Lagno share second with 4/7. Four players including Muzychuk sisters, Gunina and Kosteniuk have 3 points and Tan Zhongyi has 2,5 points.
Alexandra Kosteniuk ½
Anna Muzychuk ½
Aleksandra Goryachkina ½
Mariya Muzychuk ½
Kateryna Lagno ½
Nana Dzagnidze ½
Valentina Gunina 1
Tan Zhongyi 0
