 The first game took place in Antakya Archaeological Museum, an excellent museum of ancient art in Antakya. Most of elo favorites won their games. Remarkable draw was made by Turkish player Betul Yildiz against Pia Carmling from Sweden who is three hundred elo points above. Two Indian players that were paired against each other, Harika Dronavally and Nadig Kruttika, made a draw. Kruttika who is three hundred rating points underdog, was black. Two players out of 64 participants didn`t manage to arrive to Hatay. Polish player Iweta Rajlich who was traveling with her husband and new-born kid was stopped by the weather conditions. The Warsaw airport was closed, so the whole Polish delegation went to close by Ukrainian city Lvov to fly from there, but this was not possible either. There was made a decision to travel to Kiev, but Rajlich family decided that it would be a too difficult journey for the kid, so they went back and sent apology letter to FIDE. English player Jovanka Houska, therefore, was lucky to promote to the second match without playing. Australian player Arianne Caolli didn`t come too and her opponent Ju Wenjun from China will start playing from the second match.
Orchestra welcomes participants at the entrance of Antakya Archaeological Museum.
The governor of Hatay M.Celalettin Lekesiz makes the first move in the game between World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk and Meziod Amina.
Turkish player Betul Yildiz made a draw with Pia Cramling.
Zhang Xiaowen from China made a draw with elo favorite Mkrtchan Lillit from Armenia.
Pogonina Natalia, who just became vice-champion of Russia, lost a game to compatriot from same city Saratov Baira Kovanova with white.
Elo favorite Elina Danielian lost the game to Tatiana Shadrina.
Alexandra Kosteniuk looks at the museum exibit.
A Statue from the museum
Chiburdanidze Maia plays next to the statue.
Antoaneta Stefanova is in good mood before the game.
Boris Kutin kibitzes the game Lominishvili-Zatonskih
Merab Gagunashvili, Anna Burtasova, Nadezhda Kosintseva, Elmira Mirzoeve and Ivan Cheparinov checking the centre of the city.
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