Koneru Humpy emerges as champion in FIDE Women’s Grand Prix at Amanora-The Fern

Koneru Humpy emerged as the champion of the fifth leg of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix, finishing with seven points alongside Zhu Jiner after the final round at Amanora-The Fern. Despite both players ending with the same score, Humpy clinched the title due to a better tie-break score.

The prize money and Grand Prix points are shared in case of a tie, but Humpy’s victory solidified her position in the standings. With this win, she concluded her campaign with 279.17 points, placing her second behind the current leader, Russia’s Aleksandra Goryachkina.

The top two players from the Grand Prix will qualify for the Candidates, the qualifying event for the World Championship. Humpy’s win puts her in a strong position to compete for the title.

In the final round, Humpy defeated Nurgyul Salimova in a challenging match that lasted 84 moves. Meanwhile, Zhu Jiner secured her victory against Polina Shuvalova after 76 moves. The third-place spot went to Divya Deshmukh, bringing some joy to the host state, Maharashtra.

Overall, the standings for the tournament were as follows: 1-2. Humpy and Zhu with 7 points; 3. Divya with 5.5 points; 4-5. Harika and Shuvalova with 4.5 points; 6. Vaishali with 4 points; 7. Salimova with 3.5 points; 8-10. Melia, Kashlinskaya, and Batkhuyag with 3 points each.

The intense competition and strategic gameplay showcased by these talented players made for an exciting conclusion to the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix at Amanora-The Fern.