Final Leg FIDE WGP: Badelka, Vaishali, and Tan Start with Wins
The final leg of FIDE WGP (Women’s Grand Prix) kicked off in Austria with high drama and exciting chess. Round one featured big wins for Olga Badelka, Vaishali Rameshbabu, and Tan Zhongyi.
Austrian Star Badelka Upsets Kosteniuk
IM Olga Badelka, playing for host country Austria, shocked former World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk. Despite being lower-rated and short on time, Badelka stayed calm in a sharp tactical game.
She played the Marshall Gambit in the Triangle Slav and bravely sacrificed material. Although Kosteniuk gained a big advantage, mistakes in time pressure cost her dearly. A key blunder on move 35 turned the game, and Badelka seized the win in 43 moves.
In the post-game interview, Badelka said she felt “tired, excited, and stressed.” She focused on surviving and keeping the game alive—and it paid off.
This is a huge win for Austria and a promising start for Badelka in her home event.
Vaishali Outplays Salimova
India’s Vaishali Rameshbabu also started strong, beating Bulgaria’s Nurgyul Salimova. Salimova chose the Caro-Kann, and the game entered unknown territory early.
Vaishali took control, especially on the dark squares. She used better time management and solid endgame play to dominate.
Salimova’s passive choices allowed Vaishali to win a clean game, ending in just 35 moves.
This is Vaishali’s third Grand Prix event this year, and she’s off to a great start.
Tan Zhongyi Grinds Down Zhu Jiner
Former World Champion Tan Zhongyi defeated rising star Zhu Jiner in a long and intense game lasting over five and a half hours.
The battle began in the Ruy Lopez, with both players playing carefully.
Zhu made a crucial mistake on move 38, giving Tan a big edge. But Tan also slipped, and the game equalized again.
Eventually, they reached a tricky endgame: bishop vs rook. Zhu made one final mistake on move 87, allowing Tan to break through and win.
It was a tough loss for Zhu and a hard-earned victory for Tan.
Other Games: Hard Fights and Quick Draws
Lela Javakhishvili and Nana Dzagnidze fought for over five hours before agreeing to a draw. It was a tough and even match.
Sisters Mariya and Anna Muzychuk drew quickly in the Closed Catalan. This was expected, as they are often paired together in events. Mariya still has an outside shot at the Grand Prix title.
Round One Venue and Opening
The round took place at the scenic G’Schlössl Murtal in southern Austria. Players passed strict Fair Play checks before entering the peaceful, elegant venue.
At 3 PM sharp, Chief Arbiter Gerhard Bertagnolli started the games. Austrian Chess Federation President Michael Stöttinger made the ceremonial first move in Badelka vs Kosteniuk.
This final leg of the Grand Prix is the most important. The results here will decide who qualifies for the 2026 Candidates Tournament.
Round 2 Pairings (7 May, 3 PM CET)
-
Nana Dzagnidze vs Alexandra Kosteniuk
-
Tan Zhongyi vs Olga Badelka
-
Anna Muzychuk vs Zhu Jiner
-
Nurgyul Salimova vs Mariya Muzychuk
-
Lela Javakhishvili vs Rameshbabu Vaishali
About the 2024/2025 Women’s Grand Prix
-
A series of six tournaments held in Georgia, Kazakhstan, Monaco, Cyprus, India, and Austria
-
Each player competes in three events
-
Top two players qualify for the 2026 Candidates Tournament
-
Total prize fund: €120,000 per tournament
-
Organized by FIDE as part of the World Championship cycle
Visit womengrandprix.fide.com for full details.
Photos: Przemyslaw Nikiel, FIDE_chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
