Grand Opening, Fifth leg of FIDE WGP 2024–25 in Pune
The fifth leg of FIDE WGP 2024–25 began with a colorful celebration in Pune, India. The event is being held at Amanora. The Fern Hotel from April 14 to 23, 2025. It’s jointly organized by the Maharashtra Chess Association and FIDE.
This tournament is part of a six-event series. The top two players from this series will qualify for the Women’s Candidates Tournament.
The opening ceremony (fifth leg of FIDE WGP) started at 7:45 PM. A beautifully decorated stage in the hotel gardens set the perfect scene.
The atmosphere was even more festive thanks to the preparations for an Indian wedding taking place nearby.Chaitanya J. Rathi, the energetic host, kicked off the event.
He spoke about Pune’s strong sports culture, especially in chess and badminton.
He also thanked the sponsors and praised India’s recent success in the chess world.
Next, Nitin Narang, President of the All India Chess Federation, came to the stage. He was joined by other dignitaries and sponsors. They received flower bouquets and performed the traditional lamp-lighting ceremony. Lighting the diya is a symbol of wisdom, prosperity, and new beginnings in Indian culture.
The ceremony included cultural performances like traditional Indian dance and a beautiful video tribute to Lord Ganesha. Lord Ganesha is known as the remover of obstacles and the god of good fortune and wisdom.
Parineeta Fuke, the Chairperson of the Organizing Committee, gave a heartfelt speech. She said the tournament is not just about chess—it’s a celebration of strategy, skill, and sporting excellence.
She proudly highlighted the four Indian players in the event. “You are an inspiration to young girls all across the country,” she said. The audience also enjoyed an inspiring video from the Maharashtra Chess Federation showcasing all the players.
Ivan Syrovy, the Chief Arbiter, welcomed everyone on behalf of FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich. He thanked the Indian hosts for their warm hospitality.
Then came a unique performance by Team Kalayan—a classical Indian dance inspired by the game of chess. The audience had fun guessing which chess pieces the dancers represented.
The highlight of the evening was the introduction of the ten players. Each was welcomed on stage with flowers, mementos, and the traditional Puneri Pagdi—a symbol of honor and pride in Pune.
In his closing speech, Nitin Narang said, “The queens have always ruled the board. Today we celebrate the power, creativity, and brilliance of women in chess—right here in India, the birthplace of the game.”
The ceremony ended with the ceremonial first move, made by the players and dignitaries together. This was followed by the national anthems of India and FIDE.
The first round of games will begin on April 14 at 3:00 PM local time.
Round 1 Pairings:
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Munguntuul Batkhuyag vs. Salome Melia
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Zhu Jiner vs. Dronavalli Harika
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Kashlinskaya Alina vs. Shuvalova Polina
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Salimova Nurgyul vs. Divya Deshmukh
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Vaishali Rameshbabu vs. Koneru Humpy
For more updates, visit the official website: womengrandprix.fide.com
Photos: FIDE_chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
