FIDE Women’s Grand Prix Shymkent Round 5: Goryachkina Takes Sole Lead

Tournament Information

The FIDE Women's Grand Prix 2024/25 consists of six tournaments that grant the top two finishers spots in the FIDE Women Candidates Tournament 2026. Each of these six tournaments is a 10-player round robin. Twenty players have qualified for the FIDE Women's Grand Prix 2024/25, and each player is allowed to play in three of the six tournaments based on the players' preferences concerning which tournaments they would like to participate in. The first tournament in Tbilisi, Georgia was played August 15–24; the Shymkent Grand Prix is the second tournament of the series.

The Lichess broadcast coverage can be found here.

Schedule

Leaderboard

GM Tan Zhongyi vs. GM Aleksandra Goryachkina 0-1

Photo credit: Konstantin Chalabov / FIDE

In terms of precise chess, GM Aleksandra Goryachkina has been playing nearly perfect — that is, of course, if one discounts her first round game against Lagno. Today, she added to her great tournament by defeating GM Tan Zhongyi, who has been having great results in 2024 and was tied for first going into today’s round. Goryachkina’s combination of an early h6 and a6 against the Italian Game was somewhat reminiscent of IM Nurgyul Salimova’s opening choice in round 2 against IM Stavroula Tsolakidou. Her opening preparation worked like magic as Tan’s early castling allowed Goryachkina to conduct a violent pawn storm, which whisked away Tan’s king. Similar to rounds 1 and 2, Tan once again had a rook vs. two minor pieces material imbalance, but this time she was lost and trying to defend. Goryachkina was on top of matters and won without any slips.

IM Bibisara Assaubayeva vs. GM Koneru Humpy 1-0

Photo credit: Konstantin Chalabov / FIDE

Yet another leader lost their share of 1st place as GM Koneru Humpy went down against IM Bibisara Assaubayeva. Assaubayeva went for a rare line in the English and chose a strategically interesting setup. The game was highly positional from the start and included a lot of careful maneuvering. It was Humpy who decided to clarify matters and her choice was in fact a correct one: Humpy’s 17...a5 was particularly well-timed. However, Humpy’s later pawn break with 23...f5 was not accurate and Assaubayeva infiltrated on the weakened light squares.

IM Stavroula Tsolakidou vs. GM Elisabeth Paehtz 1-0

Photo credit: Konstantin Chalabov / FIDE

After gradually misplaying her position, IM Stavroula Tsolakidou had to win again against GM Elisabeth Paehtz — a feat which she did in fact manage to do. Tsolakidou’s Alapin-esque 3. c3 against Paehtz’s Hyperaccelerated Dragon worked out well for the former as she maintained a stable opening advantage which in turn snowballed into an almost decisive one. While Tsolakidou’s position was better, though, it was not clear how to proceed, and after 19...f5 20. exf6, Paehtz was back in the game. Nevertheless, Tsolakidou pressed on and provoked many weaknesses, realizing the win on move 63.

IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul vs. IM Divya Deshmukh 0-1

Photo credit: Konstantin Chalabov / FIDE

Five rounds, five decisive games — IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul truly knows no draws. IM Divya Deshmukh, who kept Munguntuul’s drawless streak alive, uncorked a very rare line of the Ruy Lopez and played with extreme precision as she notched her first win of the event. Black was never in any trouble, and after White played the losing 36. Rd1, Divya found a nice x-ray and double attack tactic to finish the game.

IM Nurgyul Salimova vs. GM Kateryna Lagno 1/2-1/2

Photo credit: Konstantin Chalabov / FIDE

Some of the most exciting games in chess end up being drawn. While IM Nurgyul Salimova’s Tartakower Defense game against GM Kateryna Lagno is not one such game, it was not a completely equal game either. Lagno, who previously wasted chances in this tournament, did so again today. Of course, it’s difficult to blame Lagno for playing 34...Rd3 as it was quite difficult to appreciate why 34...Qe5 was so strong in the first place. After Lagno’s miss, Salimova defended accurately and the only draw of today’s round took place.

Round 6 Pairings