Aleksandra Goryachkina Wins 2024 Shymkent FIDE Women’s Grand Prix

GM Aleksandra Goryachkina emerged victorious in the 2024 Shymkent FIDE Women’s Grand Prix, securing 130 Grand Prix points and €18,000 after making a draw with IM Nurgyul Salimova in the final round for a 7/9 score. GM Tan Zhongyi finished just half a point behind after scoring the day’s only win, a quick 22-move victory over IM Stavroula Tsolakidou. Despite Tan’s strong performance, it was Goryachkina who dominated the tournament with a five-game winning streak mid-tournament.

The game with the most at stake in the final round was Tsolakidou-Tan, with Tan needing a win to have a chance of tying Goryachkina for first place. In the end, Tan’s powerful win secured her second place in the tournament and a career-high live rating.

Goryachkina, on the other hand, expressed her gratitude for her success, stating, “There’s nothing without luck. Somehow in the middle of the tournament I got carried away and won so many games in a row that I crawled to the finish line.” With this win, Goryachkina now has the opportunity for a world championship rematch against GM Ju Wenjun.

Overall, the Shymkent FIDE Women’s Grand Prix showcased intense competition and strategic gameplay. The next event in the series is set to take place in Monaco in February. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting tournament series!