Koneru Humpy Defeats Divya, Jineri Emerges Sole Leader At FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024-25 Pune 5th Leg 

Pune, 17 April, 2025 

Experience prevailed over youth in an eventful third round of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix which continued at Amanora The Fern in Pune. Koneru Humpy was a class apart as she defeated overnight joint leader and compatriot Divya Deshmukh while Munguntuul Batkhuyag scored over Alina Kashlinskaya. Incidentally both 37-year-olds Humpy and Munguntuul have been contemporaries and it was interesting to witness both scoring emphatic victories today. Dronavali Harika defeated Nurgyul Salimova in an interesting game. Zhu Jiner was held to a draw by Melia Salome and has emerged as the sole leader with 2.5 points.

Koneru Humpy versus Divya Deshmukh was the cynosure of all eyes. For years, Humpy the reigning Women’s World Rapid Champion has been stamping her authority on World Chess, the second amongst the six women who breached the Elo 2600 mark and today gave a good display of her positional strength.

Humpy surprised Divya by opting for the English Opening, one which she hasn’t played in a while and that sent Divya into a think mode from the second move itself.  An opening inaccuracy had Humpy sitting comfortably while Divya’s knight found itself at the edge of the board. An open position had Humpy manoeuvring her pieces to keep gaining advantage. Humpy’s bishop pair and a passed pawn on the queen side resulted in a victory after 53 moves.

Humpy while commenting on her game said “With a new opening, one which I used to play long back , it was kind of practical play on board. After the 30th move, all I needed was to keep getting my pieces to the right squares”

In a Queen’s Gambit Declined game between Alina and Munguntuul it was apparent that the game was heading for an exciting and engrossing tussle with both players committing very early to castling on opposite sides and initiating attack on each- others Kings.

The middle-game was fluid with an open position with plenty of play possible for both. Munguntuul was the first one to break through on the queen-side. A pawn exchange on the 23rd turn by Alina tilted the game in the Mongolian’s favour. Alina resigned on the 34th turn when threatened with a checkmate by Munguntuul’s queen and rook. A visibly elated Mungultuul later summed “ I prepared and surprised her in the Opening by opting for an unfamiliar variation and thought that the position in the middle-game was rather unclear”

Nurgyul versus Harika was a Catalan game where Harika probably missed the fastest route to victory but nevertheless garnered a point after 68 moves.

The Italian Opening between Vaishali and Polina started with some quick exchanges in the opening stages. By the 20th turn most pieces including the Queen’s were exchanged. Both players decided against calling it a day and tried for initiative till all possibilities for a decisive result were exhausted. The draw was signed after 63 moves when each had a rook, king and couple of pawns.

Melia Salome adopted the Sicilian defence against Zhu Jiner and the game ended in a hard fought draw.

The ceremonial inaugural moves of the 3rd round were made by Dr. Pranati Tilak and Anirudha Deshpande

Results of Round 3

GM Zhu Jiner (2.5) drew  WIM Melia Salome (1)

IM Kashlinskaya Alina (0.5) lost to IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag (2)

IM Salimova Nurgyul  (0.5) lost to GM Dronavali Harika (1.5)

GM Vaishali Rameshbabu (1) drew IM Shuvalova Polina (2)

GM Koneru Humpy (2) bt  GM Divya Deshmukh (2)

Photo Caption 

Photo 0049

Koneru Humpy (white pieces) making move against Divya Deshmukh (black pieces) in the 3rd round at FIDE Women’s Grand Prix Chess Tournament