Exciting Action at the Cairns Cup 2024: Four Players Lead After Round 2!

Four players are currently leading the standings at the Cairns Cup 2024, with GMs Nana Dzagnidze, Harika Dronavalli, Mariya Muzychuk, and Tan Zhongyi all sitting on 1.5/2 after their impressive performances in the tournament. Dzagnidze and Dronavalli secured victories in their games against IM Anna Zatonskih and GM Alexandra Kosteniuk, respectively.

GM Irina Krush came close to a win against Tan but fell short in time trouble, while GM Elisabeth Paehtz and IM Alice Lee both missed opportunities in a thrilling encounter.

Round three of the tournament is set to start on Saturday, June 15, at 2 p.m. ET / 20:00 CEST / 11:30 p.m. IST.

The second round of the Cairns Cup saw two wins and three draws, shaking up the standings according to GM Yasser Seirawan.

In the games, Tan drew against Krush after a tense battle, Dzagnidze secured a win against Zatonskih, Dronavalli emerged victorious against Kosteniuk, Paehtz and Lee settled for a draw, and the Muzychuk sisters ended their game in a draw as well.

The tournament promises more exciting matchups in the upcoming rounds, with players vying for the top spot and a chance at the $200,000 prize fund. Fans can catch the action on the Saint Louis Chess Club’s YouTube or Twitch channels.

Stay tuned for more updates on the 2024 Cairns Cup as the competition heats up and the players battle it out for supremacy on the chessboard.