Round 8 of WGP: Muzychuk and Zhu Held to Draws, Title Race Still Wide Open
Round 8 of WGP in Austria brought excitement, tension, and surprises. The battle for the top spot is still undecided with one round left.
Leaders Draw Their Games
Anna Muzychuk drew her fourth game in a row. She couldn’t break through against Lela Javakhishvili and had to settle for a draw after 28 moves in the English Opening.
Zhu Jiner’s five-game winning streak also ended. Olga Badelka, playing the French Defence, held Zhu to a draw after 43 moves.
Both leaders — Muzychuk and Zhu — remain tied at the top heading into the final round.
Final Round Showdown
In Round 9, Muzychuk plays with White against Vaishali Rameshbabu. She needs a win to have a shot at winning both the tournament and the overall Grand Prix title — only if Zhu doesn’t win.
Zhu will face a tough challenge with the Black pieces against former World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk. A draw is enough for Zhu, but she must avoid losing.
A Moment of Silence
Before the round began, a minute of silence was held for Kurt Jungwirth, long-time president of the Austrian Chess Federation, who passed away at age 95.
Game Highlights
Javakhishvili vs Muzychuk
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Lela (White) pushed on the queenside in the English Opening.
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Both played cautiously.
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The game ended in a balanced position with threefold repetition.
Zhu vs Badelka
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Zhu had more time on the clock but couldn’t create winning chances.
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She tried to push after seeing Anna’s result, but Badelka stayed solid.
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A draw was agreed after 43 moves.
Most Intense Game: Dzagnidze vs Salimova
Nana Dzagnidze and Nurgyul Salimova played the sharpest and longest game of the day — lasting nearly five hours.
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Dzagnidze had a promising start but made a critical mistake.
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Salimova counterattacked with sharp tactics, even sacrificing pieces.
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Both players were in time trouble and missed several chances.
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Eventually, Dzagnidze turned the game around and won.
She now has 4.5 points and is tied for fourth place with Vaishali.
Other Games
Vaishali vs Tan Zhongyi
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Played the Murphy Defence of the Ruy Lopez.
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Vaishali had a slight edge early on.
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The game turned equal and ended in a draw after 51 moves.
Mariya Muzychuk vs Alexandra Kosteniuk
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Kosteniuk had a good position in the French Defence.
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But she miscalculated with 17…e5, losing material.
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Mariya took full advantage and won the game in 49 moves.
Standings and Final Round
With only one round to go, the title is still up for grabs.
Round 9 Pairings:
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Olga Badelka vs Nana Dzagnidze
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Alexandra Kosteniuk vs Zhu Jiner
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Tan Zhongyi vs Mariya Muzychuk
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Anna Muzychuk vs Vaishali Rameshbabu
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Nurgyul Salimova vs Lela Javakhishvili
Round 9 starts on Thursday, May 15 at 2 PM CET.
About the Tournament
The Grosslobming event is the final leg in the 2024/2025 Women’s Grand Prix series.
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Format: 10-player round-robin (9 rounds)
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Time control: 90 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes for the rest, with 30-second increments per move
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Prize fund: €120,000
The WGP Series is a key part of the Women’s World Championship cycle. The top two players from the series will qualify for the 2026 Candidates Tournament.
Photos: Przemysław Nikiel, FIDE_chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
