Humpy Koneru win against Zhu Jiner, Leads Women’s Grand Prix in Pune
What a thrilling round in the Women’s Grand Prix India! With just two rounds left, the tournament has taken a dramatic turn. Humpy Koneru delivered a fantastic win against Zhu Jiner and now leads the event. The round also featured bold moves, close calls, and powerful performances by India’s rising stars.
Humpy Koneru Shines in Crucial Clash
In a must-win situation, India’s top female player, Humpy Koneru, played brilliantly with the white pieces to beat Zhu Jiner. It was a deep positional battle. Humpy’s plan was clear: play solidly, create small advantages, and push her opponent into trouble.
Zhu surprised Humpy in the opening with the Queen’s Indian Defense. Humpy admitted she may have misplayed it early but recovered well. She gained control of the c-file, planted her knight on c6, and slowly outplayed her opponent.
Under pressure, Zhu made a mistake and lost a piece in a complex tactical sequence. Humpy stayed calm and converted her advantage into a win.
After the game, Humpy said,
I just play my game and whatever happens, happens.
A humble champion, indeed!
Divya Deshmukh Crushes Munguntuul
Young star Divya Deshmukh played a spectacular game against Munguntuul Batkhuyag. She used the quiet 4.e3 line in the Slav Defense, followed by an aggressive plan with opposite-side castling.
Divya launched a powerful pawn storm on the kingside. On move 20, she sacrificed a full piece with 20.h6!—a brilliant idea that completely opened up her opponent’s king.
Munguntuul, short on time and stuck in a tough position, couldn’t hold on. Divya played with precision and scored a commanding win.
In her post-game interview, Divya said,
My score with Zhu Jiner is not that good… but there is always time to turn it around.
She’s got her eyes set on the top!
Vaishali vs. Kashlinskaya: A Draw With Drama
Vaishali Rameshbabu chose a solid setup, aiming to exchange bishops early. The game remained balanced, but time trouble caused some complications.
Kashlinskaya sacrificed a pawn and later won Vaishali’s queen for a rook, bishop, and pawn. Still, Vaishali managed to build a fortress, and the game ended in a draw.
Harika Holds Against Polina Shuvalova
Harika Dronavalli played the ultra-solid Petroff Defense against Polina Shuvalova. With deep preparation and calm play, Harika gave up a pawn to control key light squares and force a draw in an opposite-colored bishop endgame.
A well-fought and balanced game!
Salimova Presses, Melia Defends
Nurgyul Salimova put constant pressure on Salome Melia’s isolated d-pawn, but Melia defended perfectly. Both players showed incredible accuracy (over 97%!) and agreed to a draw on move 57.
What’s Next?
Round 8 of the 2024/25 FIDE Women’s Grand Prix continues on Tuesday, April 22, at 3:00 PM CET in Pune, India. Don’t miss the exciting matchups!
Pairings for Round 8:
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Nurgyul Salimova vs. Salome Melia
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Vaishali Rameshbabu vs. Alina Kashlinskaya
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Humpy Koneru vs. Zhu Jiner
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Divya Deshmukh vs. Munguntuul Batkhuyag
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Polina Shuvalova vs. Harika Dronavalli
Catch the games live with expert commentary on FIDE’s YouTube channel.
Photos: Abhilash Shinde, FIDE_chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
