Zhu Jiner and Stavroula Tsolakidou Win in WGP Nicosia Opener
The 1st round of WGP in Nicosia was full of excitement. Out of five matches, two ended in victories for Stavroula Tsolakidou and Zhu Jiner. The only quick draw came from the Muzychuk sisters.
Grand Event in Cyprus
The fourth leg of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024-25 started at the Hilton Nicosia.
The 1st round of WGP, the tournament is packed with top talents, including leg 2 winner Aleksandra Goryachkina and former Women’s World Champions Anna and Mariya Muzychuk.
Rising stars like Zhu Jiner from China and Greece’s own Stavroula Tsolakidou are also competing.
If round one is any sign, we are in for an exciting tournament!
Match Highlights
Goryachkina vs. Dzagnidze (Draw)
Goryachkina, the tournament leader, played White against Nana Dzagnidze. She opened with the Queen’s Gambit, but Dzagnidze defended well in the Accepted Variation. Despite small advantages for both players, the game ended in a well-fought draw.
Anna Muzychuk vs. Mariya Muzychuk (Draw)
The Muzychuk sisters faced off again, continuing their tradition of drawing games. Playing the Najdorf Sicilian, they followed a well-known variation that ended in an equal endgame. A threefold repetition sealed the draw on move 27.
Divya Deshmukh vs. Harika Dronavalli (Draw)
Two Indian players clashed in a 50-move battle in the Ruy Lopez Berlin Defense. Divya had a slight advantage early on, but Harika’s experience helped her hold the position. A threefold repetition secured another draw.
Zhu Jiner vs. Olga Badelka (Win for Zhu Jiner)
This was the first WGP match for both players. The game started with a Ruy Lopez but shifted into an Italian setup.
Badelka made two small mistakes (15…Bxf3 and 20…Nh7), giving Zhu a strong position. With smart moves, Zhu won two pawns and broke through to Badelka’s king, forcing her opponent to resign on move 47.
Stavroula Tsolakidou vs. Elisabeth Paehtz (Win for Tsolakidou)
Tsolakidou, Greece’s top female player, delivered a great performance against experienced GM Elisabeth Paehtz.
The game followed a deep Sicilian Rossolimo variation, and Paehtz even offered a draw on move 13. But Stavroula wanted more and pressed on.
The key moment came when Paehtz played 38…Rxc2 instead of the safer 38…h6. Tsolakidou responded with 39.Bh6! and took full control. Paehtz had no choice but to resign after 42.g3 trapped her bishop.
Round 2 Pairings (March 16, 15:00 CET)
- Dzagnidze vs. Badelka
- Paehtz vs. Zhu Jiner
- Dronavalli vs. Tsolakidou
- Mariya Muzychuk vs. Divya Deshmukh
- Goryachkina vs. Anna Muzychuk
You can also watch the games live with expert commentary from GM Alik Gershon and WGM Anastasiya Karlovich on YouTube. For more details and live games, visit the official website: womengrandprix.fide.com
Photos: Mark Livshitz, FIDE_chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
