In an unexpected twist at the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, Indian Chess Grandmaster Koneru Humpy suffered her second consecutive loss, while compatriot Divya Deshmukh settled for a draw. Round 6 proved challenging for Humpy, as she was defeated by Greek International Master (IM) Stavroula Tsolakidou, who has been in exceptional form throughout the tournament.
Koneru Humpy second loss in row
This loss to Tsolakidou marks Koneru Humpy’s second defeat in a row after she lost to Bibisara Assaubayeva in Round 5. The setback drops Humpy to fifth place in the standings with three points, in a highly competitive field of ten participants. Despite her impressive track record, Humpy is now under pressure to regain momentum in the upcoming rounds to improve her standings.
Tsolakidou stellar run continues
For Tsolakidou, her victory over Humpy is the third win of the tournament and her second consecutive triumph after defeating Grandmaster Elisabeth Paehtz in Round 5.
This success brings her tally to four points, placing her in the second spot alongside China’s Zhongyi Tan. Tsolakidou’s impressive run in Shymkent has boosted her reputation, as she continues to pose a strong challenge to other high-ranked players.
Divya Deshmukh Draws with Salimova Nurgyul
Meanwhile, Divya Deshmukh, playing her debut Grand Prix event, managed a draw against Salimova Nurgyul in Round 6. Following her first tournament victory over Munguntuul Batkhuyag in Round 5, Divya’s performance against Nurgyul has helped her maintain three points, putting her in sixth place.
Divya’s steady progress marks a promising start for the young player in the high-stakes environment of the Grand Prix.
Goryachkina leads pack
The tournament’s leaderboard is currently headed by Russian Grandmaster Aleksandra Goryachkina, who has amassed five points, solidifying her lead over her competitors. With four rounds remaining, players like Humpy and Divya will need to push hard to close the gap and improve their rankings.
Test of Resilience in Final Rounds
As the competition advances, Humpy and Divya face a critical test of resilience and strategy in the final rounds. For Humpy, bouncing back will be essential to reclaim her form and standings, while Divya’s performance offers hope for an impactful finish to her debut Grand Prix tournament.
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