Joint leaders GM Nana Dzagnidze and WGM Natalija Pogonina experienced contrasting results in the 8th round of the Tehran FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2016. While Dzagnidze outclassed GM Harika Dronavalli, Pogonina went down against GM Antoaneta Stefanova. With these results, GM Dzagnidze has shoot into sole lead after Round 8 of this 11-round event. The Georgian Grandmaster has notched up an impressive 6.5 points so far and goes into the second rest day with a healthy one point lead over her nearest rivals.
Meanwhile, top-seed GM Koneru Humpy could only manage a draw against IM Khademalsharieh Sarasadat with the White pieces.
Results
| IM | Batsiashvili | 0 – 1 | GM | Gunina |
| GM | Koneru | ½ – ½ | IM | Khademalsharieh |
| GM | Stefanova | 1 – 0 | WGM | Pogonina |
| GM | Zhao Xue | ½ – ½ | GM | Ju Wenjun |
| GM | Zhukova | 0 – 1 | GM | Cramling |
| GM | Dzagnidze | 1 – 0 | GM | Harika |