The FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in Shymkent has reached its halfway point with some exciting matches. India’s Divya Deshmukh earned her first win in the tournament by defeating Mongolia’s Munguntuul Batkhuyag in the fifth round.
Divya, keen to fix her earlier time management issues, played much faster this time, gaining a 50-minute lead by the 16th move. Her patience and smart play paid off when Batkhuyag made a mistake, giving Divya the chance to secure the victory.
Koneru Humpy faces a challenge
On the other hand, India’s Koneru Humpy had a tough time, losing to Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva. Bibisara, who usually plays an aggressive style, chose a more strategic approach this time. Humpy made an error on the kingside, which Bibisara quickly used to her advantage, finishing the game with a strong attack. Now, Humpy slipped to third position after the fifth round.
Goryachkina takes the lead
Aleksandra Goryachkina continued her strong run, winning her third game in a row by beating Tan Zhongyi. Goryachkina’s precise moves and her ability to handle tricky situations gave her an early lead, and she wrapped up the game with a powerful kingside attack. This victory makes her the clear leader of the tournament.
Mixed outcomes in other games
The other matches had mixed results. Stavroula Tsolakidou defeated Elisabeth Paehtz in a long endgame, while Nurgyul Salimova and Kateryna Lagno settled for a draw after a tense battle in the Queen’s Gambit.
Looking ahead to round 6
With a rest day ahead, Goryachkina leads the standings, while Koneru Humpy has dropped to third after her loss to Bibisara. As the tournament continues, Round 6 on November 5th promises more exciting action as the players return refreshed and eager to compete for the top spot.
What is FIDE Women’s Grand Prix?
The FIDE Women’s Grand Prix is a biennial series of chess tournaments organised by FIDE, specially for women. It aims to promote women’s chess and highlight top female players. The winners of the Grand Prix get the chance to qualify for the Women’s Candidates Tournament, which decides who will challenge for the Women’s World Chess Championship.
The ongoing 2024-2025 edition of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix consists of six tournaments, with 20 players participating in three out of these six events. The best performers in the Grand Prix will earn spots in the Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026.
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