Alina Kashlinskaya Emerges as Sole Winner in Round 6 of 2024 Tbilisi FIDE Women’s Grand Prix

IM Alina Kashlinskaya emerged as the sole winner in Wednesday’s sixth round at the 2024 Tbilisi FIDE Women’s Grand Prix, stating that she was “in a good mood to play a fighting game.” Kashlinskaya defeated GM Vaishali Rameshbabu, while the other four games ended in draws, placing her in a five-player leading pack.

With round seven set to start on Thursday, August 22, the tournament is heating up as half of the field is now co-leading with three rounds to go. Alongside Kashlinskaya, the other leaders are GMs Nana Dzagnidze and Mariya Muzychuk, and IMs Bibisara Assaubayeva and Stavroula Tsolakidou.

Kashlinskaya, who represents Poland and is married to GM Radoslaw Wojtaszek, scored her first win after starting the tournament with five draws. Despite a hiccup in her morning preparation, she managed to outplay her opponent with a sharp line in the King’s Indian Defense.

Meanwhile, Assaubayeva showcased her resilience in escaping from difficult positions in her games, while Dzagnidze’s strong play was marred by a crucial blunder that led to a draw. Sara Khadem came close to securing back-to-back victories but missed a key opportunity in her game.

With three rounds remaining and five players at the top, the competition in Tbilisi is fierce and unpredictable. The 2024 Tbilisi FIDE Women’s Grand Prix is the first of six legs in the 2024-2025 FIDE Women’s Grand Prix series, with players vying for a top prize of €18,000 and a chance to qualify for the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament.