Alina Kashlinskaya Tied for Lead Heading into Final Round of 2024 Tbilisi FIDE Women’s Grand Prix

IM Alina Kashlinskaya is making waves in the 2024 Tbilisi FIDE Women’s Grand Prix as she goes into the final round level with IM Bibisara Assaubayeva after a convincing win over IM Lela Javakhishvili. With three players just half a point behind, the competition is heating up as the tournament nears its conclusion.

In round eight, Kashlinskaya caught up with Assaubayeva in the lead, but IM Stavroula Tsolakidou and GMs Anna and Mariya Muzychuk are still in contention for first place. Assaubayeva had a chance to secure a win over Tsolakidou and potentially earn her third and final GM norm, but the game ended in a draw after a tense battle on the board and the clock.

Kashlinskaya, on the other hand, seized the opportunity to challenge Assaubayeva and emerged victorious with a strong performance in the Nimzo-Indian opening. With the win, Kashlinskaya now shares the lead going into the final round.

Meanwhile, GM Anna Muzychuk picked up her first win in the tournament after a series of draws, while GM Vaishali Rameshbabu also secured a crucial victory over GM Nana Dzagnidze. The final round pairings will determine the ultimate winner of the Grand Prix, with Kashlinskaya and Assaubayeva facing tough opponents in the last round.

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 a top prize of €18,000 and Grand Prix points. The top two players overall will qualify for the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the tournament.