8-time U.S. Women’s Champion GM Irina Krush joined GM Alexandra Kosteniuk in the lead after defeating GM Nana Dzagnidze in a nice endgame. The other games saw draws between Mammadzada - Kosteniuk, Zatonskih - Paehtz, and Koneru - Dronavalli, while GM Bella Khotenashvili scored her first win of the event against a struggling GM Zhansaya Abdumalik