The opening round of the Teheran FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2016 witnessed as many as four decisive games.
Top-seed GM Koneru Humpy of India started off her campaign with a fantastic victory over GM Zhao Xue of China. Playing the black side of a Queen’s Gambit Declined, Koneru exploited her opponent’s slow play on the Queen-side with a devastating offensive on the other flank. Koneru’s bold play brought her a well-deserved victory on move 41.
However, GM Harika Dronavalli, the only other Indian in the fray, suffered a defeat against WGM Natalia Pogonina of Russia.
Apart from Koneru and Pogonina, GM Ju Wenjun and GM Zhukova also won their first round games.
Results
| GM | Stefanova | 2509 | ½ – ½ | IM | Batsiashvili | 2485 |
| GM | Zhao Xue | 2506 | 0 – 1 | GM | Koneru | 2583 |
| GM | Zhukova | 2484 | 1 – 0 | GM | Gunina | 2496 |
| GM | Dzagnidze | 2529 | ½ – ½ | IM | Khademalsharieh | 2403 |
| GM | Harika | 2511 | 0 – 1 | WGM | Pogonina | 2454 |
| GM | Cramling | 2521 | 0 – 1 | GM | Ju Wenjun | 2558 |