Exciting Round Three Recap of 2024 Tbilisi FIDE Women’s Grand Prix: Vaishali Rameshbabu Shines

In a thrilling round three of the 2024 Tbilisi FIDE Women’s Grand Prix, GM Vaishali Rameshbabu showcased her skills by smoothly outplaying IM Sara Khadem to bounce back from a tough start and join the seven-player pack on 50 percent. The other games in the round ended in draws, allowing IMs Bibisara Assaubayeva and Stavroula Tsolakidou to maintain their lead by half a point.

Vaishali’s victory was a breath of fresh air in a day filled with intense battles on the chessboard. The clash between GMs Anna Muzychuk and Alexandra Kosteniuk ended in a draw, with Kosteniuk admitting her risky move of castling on the opposite side of the board. Meanwhile, GM Nana Dzagnidze pressed hard against IM Alina Kashlinskaya in a heavy-piece endgame but had to settle for a draw.

The leaders, Tsolakidou and Assaubayeva, both faced challenges in their games but managed to hold on to their positions at the top. Vaishali’s dominant performance against Khadem stood out as she strategically built up a huge advantage without even exchanging pawns, leading to a well-deserved victory.

With the tournament still wide open and six rounds to go, the excitement continues to build in Tbilisi. Round four promises more intense matchups, with the leaders facing tough opponents with the black pieces. The 2024 Tbilisi FIDE Women’s Grand Prix is the first of six legs in the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix series, with players vying for the top prize and Grand Prix points to qualify for the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament.

Stay tuned for more updates and coverage of the 2024 Tbilisi FIDE Women’s Grand Prix as the competition heats up in Georgia.