Indian chess players Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh finished the second leg of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024-25 in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, with draws in their final-round matches, securing shared fifth-place positions in a challenging tournament.
Experienced Koneru Humpy holds steady
Koneru Humpy, known for her composure and tactical insight, concluded her campaign with a quick 36-move draw against Ukrainian Grandmaster Kateryna Lagno.
This was Humpy’s third consecutive draw, ending her tournament with 4.5 points out of 9 and placing her in fifth position. Humpy’s performances displayed her characteristic resilience, though she couldn’t quite reach the top positions this time.
Divya Deshmukh secures fifth position
Following in her teammate’s footsteps, Divya Deshmukh, playing with the black pieces, battled against Germany’s Elisabeth Paehtz in an intense 48-move game.
Her draw concluded a consistent run at the tournament, finishing with 4.5 points and also tied for fifth. Throughout the event, Divya displayed impressive consistency, with seven drawn games and a notable victory against Batkhuyag Munguntuul of Mongolia.
Goryachkina Claims Victory
Aleksandra Goryachkina secured the top spot with a solid 7 points after drawing her final-round game, while China’s Tan Zhongyi claimed the runner-up position with 6.5 points. The competition saw top-tier performances from several international players as they vied for Grand Prix points toward the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament.
Current standings in FIDE Women’s Grand Prix series
This tournament marks the second of a six-leg Grand Prix series, serving as a qualifying path for the Women’s Candidates Tournament. Humpy and Divya earned 55 points each for their fifth-place finish, placing them outside the current top five on the Grand Prix leaderboard. Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva presently leads with 182.5 points, while Greece’s Stavroula Tsolakidou follows with 149.17 points.
India’s contenders remain in fray
India has a strong presence in the Grand Prix series, with Humpy, Divya, R Vaishali, and Harika Dronavalli representing the country in the event. Each player is scheduled to participate in three Grand Prix tournaments, leaving the competition open as the series progresses.
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