Exciting Start to 2024 Shymkent FIDE Women’s Grand Prix: Tan Zhongyi Wins in 107 Moves

Women’s World Championship Challenger Tan Zhongyi Starts Shymkent FIDE Women’s Grand Prix with a Win

In a thrilling start to the 2024 Shymkent FIDE Women’s Grand Prix, Women’s World Championship Challenger GM Tan Zhongyi showcased her skills by checkmating GM Elisabeth Paehtz in 107 moves. The tournament, which is the second of six events in the series, will determine two spots in the next Women’s FIDE Candidates Tournament.

Tan Zhongyi’s victory was not the only highlight of the day, as IMs Bibisara Assaubayeva and Stavroula Tsolakidou also began with wins, mirroring their success in the first Women’s Grand Prix in Tbilisi. The round saw three decisive games, setting the stage for an exciting competition ahead.

The Shymkent FIDE Women’s Grand Prix features a lineup of top female chess players, with each event being a 10-player classical single round-robin. The tournament is taking place in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, the third largest city in the country known for its rich chess history.

Tan Zhongyi’s impressive performance comes on the heels of her recent victories in the FIDE Women’s Candidates and the Cairns Cup. The former Women’s World Champion is in top form and is set to face GM Ju Wenjun in 2025 for a chance to regain the title.

The tournament also saw intense battles between players like Koneru Humpy, Divya Deshmukh, Kateryna Lagno, and Aleksandra Goryachkina, with some games ending in draws after fierce competition.

With round two set to begin on Thursday, the stage is set for more exciting matchups and intense battles as the players vie for the top prize of €18,000 and valuable Grand Prix points. Stay tuned for more updates on the 2024 Shymkent FIDE Women’s Grand Prix as the competition heats up.