Zhu Jiner Scores Hat-Trick at FIDE WGP Austria After Defeating India’s Vaishali
Zhu Jiner is on fire at the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in Austria. She won her third game in a row by defeating India’s Vaishali Rameshbabu in round five. This win puts her in second place, tied with two others.
Meanwhile, Anna Muzychuk continues to lead the tournament with 4 out of 5 points. Although she missed a winning chance against Tan Zhongyi, she managed to hold a draw.
Another surprise came from Bulgaria’s Nurgyul Salimova. She scored her first win by defeating former World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk in just 25 moves.
Round 5 Highlights
Round five marked the halfway point of this final WGP tournament. Muzychuk leads with 4/5. Zhu, Vaishali, and Dzagnidze are close behind with 3/5.
Lela Javakhishvili outplayed Olga Badelka to reach 2.5 points. Tan Zhongyi also has 2.5. Salimova and Kosteniuk are at 1.5 each.
A Sunny Turnaround in Austria
After several days of rain, the sun finally shone over G’Schlössl Murtal. The calm chess hall was filled with the sound of birds, making the venue feel peaceful.
All eyes were on two big games:
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Anna Muzychuk vs Tan Zhongyi
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Zhu Jiner vs Vaishali Rameshbabu
Both Muzychuk and Zhu are in the running to win the full Grand Prix series.
Muzychuk Misses Her Chance
Anna needed every point to qualify for the Candidates Tournament. She had a strong position as Black in the Giuoco Piano.
But instead of playing the best move 18…Ne5, she chose 18…d5. This gave Tan a chance to fight back. The game ended in a draw after many complications. Anna looked upset but still kept her lead.
Zhu Jiner’s Brilliant Comeback
After losing her first two games, Zhu has now won three in a row. She played aggressively against Vaishali in the Four Knights Sicilian. Vaishali spent too much time thinking and entered time trouble.
The turning point came at move 30 when Vaishali played 30…Qc2?? This allowed Zhu to trade queens and win in a rook endgame. Zhu’s clean technique gave her the full point. Vaishali remains at 3 points and faces a tough road ahead.
Salimova Stuns Kosteniuk
In the Queen’s Gambit Declined, Kosteniuk started well and gained a pawn. But after 16.Be4?, she lost her advantage. Salimova struck back with accurate and aggressive moves.
The game ended by move 25. It was the shortest and most surprising win of the tournament so far. This was Salimova’s first victory in the event.
Javakhishvili Beats Badelka
Olga Badelka started well as White but couldn’t keep up the pressure. Javakhishvili defended calmly and took over the game. She even sacrificed material to finish faster.
Badelka resigned on move 42 after three hours. Javakhishvili now stands at 2.5 points. Badelka has 2 points from two wins and three losses.
Muzychuk vs Dzagnidze Ends in a Draw
Mariya Muzychuk and Nana Dzagnidze played a balanced game in the Sicilian. Dzagnidze had doubled pawns but used activity to hold the position. Dzagnidze stays undefeated with one win and four draws. Mariya still hasn’t won a game and has two points.
After the game, Mariya admitted:
The field is strong. I’m not really feeling this tournament.
Vishy Anand Supports Women’s Chess
Former World Champion Vishy Anand visited the event. He praised the tournament and FIDE’s efforts in promoting women’s chess.
Anand stressed the need for long-term plans. He said young girls should feel inspired to take up chess as a career. He also pointed out how important it is for women to compete in open events to improve.
On Judit Polgar, he said:
She was one of a kind. But we need both strong women’s tournaments and chances to play in open events.
Round 6 Pairings (Sunday, May 11, 3 PM CET)
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Nana Dzagnidze vs Anna Muzychuk
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Nurgyul Salimova vs Tan Zhongyi
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Lela Javakhishvili vs Alexandra Kosteniuk
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Vaishali Rameshbabu vs Olga Badelka
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Mariya Muzychuk vs Zhu Jiner
About the Event
This tournament in Austria is the last of six in the 2024–2025 FIDE Women’s Grand Prix. Ten players compete in a round-robin format. Time control is 90 minutes for 40 moves, plus 30 minutes for the rest, with 30-second increments. The total prize fund is €120,000.
About the Grand Prix Series
The WGP Series includes six events held in different countries: Georgia, Kazakhstan, Monaco, Cyprus, India, and Austria. Each player participates in three of them. The top two scorers will qualify for the 2026 Candidates Tournament. The winner of the Candidates will challenge the reigning World Champion Ju Wenjun.
Photos: Przemysław Nikiel, FIDE_chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
