FIDE Women’s Grand Prix: Koneru Humpy Clinches Title With Tie-Break Superiority Over Zhu Jiner

Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy clinched the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024-25 Pune leg title on Wednesday, 23 April, edging out China’s Zhu Jiner on tie-breaks after both players finished with seven points from nine rounds. (More Sports News)

Humpy, who recently reclaimed the Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship in December in New York, defeated Bulgaria’s Nurgyul Salimova in the ninth and final round to stay level with Jiner at the top. Jiner had earlier beaten Russia’s Polina Shuvalova to also reach seven points.

“Humpy Koneru and Zhu Jiner both won their final round games and ended the FIDE Women's Grand Prix tied for first, but it’s Humpy who takes the top spot thanks to superior tiebreaks!” FIDE posted on the social media platform X.

Heading into the final round on six points each, Humpy had drawn her penultimate game against Alina Kashlinskaya, while Jiner had defeated India’s Divya Deshmukh in a tactical encounter.

In the final match against Nurgyul Salimova, Humpy faced the Slav Defence from the Bulgarian and took a sharp attacking approach early on. A misjudged rook manoeuvre by Salimova on move 16 weakened her position, allowing Humpy to seize the initiative on the kingside from move 19 onward.

Despite her opponent’s best efforts, Humpy maintained consistent pressure and eventually converted her advantage, securing victory in 84 moves.

However, inspite of her crowning win, Humpy will get the same prize money and Grand Prix points (117.5) as Zhu Jiner for the fifth leg of the tournament.

“After long time, I achieved a good result in Classical Chess and I am also gaining rating points,” Humpy said. “I have always believed that luck always favours the best player. I will be participating in a few events this year.”

Among other Indian players, Vaishali Rameshbabu drew her final round match against Georgia’s Salome Melia, while Divya Deshmukh also shared the point with Poland’s top-ranked player Alina Kashlinskaya. Dronavalli Harika drew against Mongolia’s Munguntuul Batkhuyag.

The tournament in Pune was the fifth leg in the 2024-25 FIDE Women’s Grand Prix series, part of the qualification cycle for the Women’s Candidates Tournament.

(With PTI Inputs)