Pune: Humpy and Divya Shine in FIDE Women’s Grand Prix, Zhu Jiner Retains Sole Leadership

In a thrilling day of chess action at the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in Pune, D Harika, despite having a favorable position and ample time on her hands, opted not to push for a win against R Vaishali. However, it was K Humpy and Divya Deshmukh who seized the opportunities presented to them and emerged victorious in their respective matches.

Humpy and Divya’s crucial wins over strong opponents did not catapult them to the top of the leaderboard after four rounds, but it did reduce the number of players tied for second place from four to two. Zhu Jiner of China maintained her lead at the tournament with a win over Alina Kashlinskaya of Poland, putting her at 3.5 points. Humpy and Divya closely followed with three points each, showcasing their impressive accuracy percentages of 99 and 90, respectively.

In her match against Polina Shuvalova, Humpy showcased her strategic prowess by utilizing her active king to secure a victory in the endgame. On the other hand, Divya bounced back from a previous loss to Humpy by outplaying Melia Salome in a complex endgame that ultimately saw her clinch the win.

Meanwhile, Harika found herself in a tricky position against Vaishali and ultimately settled for a draw by repetition, despite having a significant advantage according to computer evaluations. The decision to play it safe may have been influenced by the clock, as Harika had only eight minutes left to make a move.

The day also saw Batkhuyga Munguntuul of Mongolia suffer her fourth consecutive defeat, this time against Nurgyul Salimova of Bulgaria. Despite putting up a fight in the endgame, Munguntuul was unable to overcome her opponent’s strong play.

Overall, the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in Pune continues to deliver exciting and unpredictable matches, with players showcasing their skills and resilience on the chessboard. Fans can look forward to more intense battles in the upcoming rounds as the competition heats up.