FIDE Women’s Grand Prix Shymkent Round 8: Status Quo Remains Unchanged

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 Aleksandra Goryachkina vs. GM Koneru Humpy 1/2-1/2

Photo credit: Konstantin Chalabov / FIDE

Five draws seemed likely today as all players had stable positions with no real advantage for any side. GM Aleksandra Goryachkina's game against GM Koneru Humpy was one such game as already by move 24, White did not have much to play for. By then, only a symbolic advantage in the form of a weak e6-pawn remained, but Humpy defended well and Goryachkina did not have any chance to play for a win.

GM Tan Zhongyi vs. IM Bibisara Assaubayeva 1/2-1/2

Photo credit: Konstantin Chalabov / FIDE

GM Tan Zhongyi's game against IM Bibisara Assaubayeva was particularly important for the standings as a win for Assaubayeva would have created a three-way tie for second place. It was Tan who was pressing, though, and Assaubayeva had to defend what at times seemed like a precarious position. Similar to Goryachkina's game, however, the single weakness on e6 was not enough for Tan to win. After Assaubayeva activated her major pieces to create counterplay, the draw was looking more probable, and Tan saw no better than to repeat moves and agree to a draw on the 46th move of the game.

IM Divya Deshmukh vs. IM Stavroula Tsolakidou 1/2-1/2

Photo credit: Konstantin Chalabov / FIDE

IM Stavroula Tsolakidou's game with IM Divya Deshmukh was far more exciting than the aforementioned games and saw mutual promotion. Ultimately, though, Tsolakidou was unable to capitalize on her small advantages throughout the game. The 7. a4 Bb7 line is one popular variation of the Sicilian Defense, Moscow Variation, and usually sees significant trades early on. A complicated, positionally rich queenless middlegame soon arose, and Divya had to deal with structural weaknesses, but maintained the long-term advantage of the bishop pair. Tsolakidou then outplayed her, however, and had some better ways to continue to apply further pressure. Alas, she did not find some critical moves and eventually had to agree to a draw after many adventures.

IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul vs. IM Nurgyul Salimova 0-1

Photo credit: Konstantin Chalabov / FIDE

We are sounding like a broken record by now, but IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul’s drawless streak is almost unheard of at this level of chess. Meanwhile, IM Nurgyul Salimova will be quite relieved after today’s victory as she played well, made use of the chances given to her, and has now somewhat righted the ship in terms of rating lost at this event. Another Sveshnikov was on the board — the same Sveshnikov Munguntuul lost against last round when facing Goryachkina. In fact, the same line was featured and it was on move 16 that Salimova deviated, playing 16...Rc8 instead of Goryachkina’s 16...f4. The game remained balanced for a long time and it was Munguntuul who forced matters with 33. c4, sacrificing an exchange a move later. Liquidation into a rook endgame soon occurred, and after Munguntuul played 43. b3??, she was simply lost and Salimova converted flawlessly.

GM Kateryna Lagno vs. GM Elisabeth Paehtz 1/2-1/2

Photo credit: Konstantin Chalabov / FIDE

Modern day chess can at times be flabbergasting. GM Kateryna Lagno’s 5. Bc4, followed by undeveloping with 6. Bd3, is one such line which seems absolutely strange at first sight, but makes sense when one delves deeper. For her part, GM Elisabeth Paehtz was not at all surprised as she played 5...e6 and 6...Nc6 quite quickly. After this peculiar opening adventure was over, Lagno had a slight pull owing to her better placed pieces and Black’s somewhat weak d6 pawn. Paehtz threatened to play f5, though, and Lagno had to deal with that threat, eventually handing enough control to Paehtz for repetition to make the most sense on move 32. Both sides could have played on, but there was little gain in risking too much for what would eventually likely turn out to be a draw in any case.

Round 9 Pairings