FIDE WOMEN’S GRAND PRIX 2024-25-PUNE 5TH LEG

Pune, 14th April 2025: Intense games, engrossing battles but a bitter- sweet day for India as wild-card entrant Divya Deshmukh defeated Nurgyul Salimova and Dronavalli Harika ending on the losing side against Zhu Jiner of China in the very first round of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix being played at Amanora, The Fern in Pune. The game between Vaishali R and Koneru Humpy ended in a hard- fought draw. In another decisive game Polina Shuvalova escaped from an inferior position to defeat Alina Kashlinskaya. The last game to finish was the one where Munguntuul Batkhuyag defeated Melia Saloma.

After Georgia, Kazakhstan, Monaco and Cyprus, the fifth and the penultimate leg of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024-25 is being hosted in Pune. This is a prestigious event as at stake are two slots from these six events to directly enter the Women’s Candidates (8 players play the Candidates). The winner in the Candidates earns the right to challenge the World Champion for the title.

Harika opted for the French Defence against 22-year-old Zhu Jiner , the second highest player in fray and interestingly both players delayed castling, Harika castling on the queen side on the 16th turn and her opponent on the King-side on the very next turn brought the game alive with attacking options for both players.

Harika was perhaps a trifle aggressive in opening up a crucial file leading towards Jinar’s King on the 26th turn as this move backfired badly.

Though White’s King-side had cracked, Jiner did manage to infiltrate with better placed pieces. Harika’s pieces were pushed backwards and appeared passive and she had to part with a rook for a bishop. Jiner forced the exchange of pieces, advanced her passed pawns and was threatening checkmate when Harika resigned after 52 moves.

The Spanish Game between Alina and Polina had the former treading along better lines in the Opening stages. However the fortunes fluctuated in this game and Polina holdingonto her nerves ended on the winning side after 57 moves. “ After the Opening stages Alina was clearly better and did miss a few moves there after “ said Polina later.

The Indian Defence game between Nurgyul Salimova and Divya Deshmukh had the Indian holding a distinct edge around the first time control but an inaccurate 41st move and dour defence by Nurgyul prolonged the game but not the result as Divya won after 53 moves. “ I may have missed an earlier route to victory when made an inaccurate move” admitted Divya later

The All- Indian encounter between Vaishali and Humpy went the Italian way. The transition to the endgame had both players left with double rooks, a bishop each with identical number of pawns. Further exchange of rooks and bishop and the game petered into a draw after 54 moves. A disappointed Vaishali commented “ I though I had some interesting moments in the game where I had chances to press but missed my way.

Melia Salome celebrating her 38th birthday adopted the Sicilian defence against Munguntuul. Some solid and positional play had the game going along equal lines but just in the dying stages of the game Mumguntuul capitalised on a mistake by Melia to romp home the winner.

Dr Parineeta Fuke, Chairman of the Organizing committee and Aditya Deshpande, Director of City Corporation made the ceremonial first move of Round1. Parineeta Phuke said “Chess is an ancient game of Indian origin and must be encouraged. India is now working hard for woman empowerment and when such high profile women events are hosted, women here will naturally be inspired. It is a pleasure to host and inaugurate this event.”

RESULTS ROUND 1

IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag (2361) bt IM Melia Salome (2293)
GM Zhu Jiner (2525) bt GM Dronavalli Harika (2488)
IM Kashlinskaya Alina (2496) lost to IM Shuvalova Polina (2500)
IM Salimova Nurgyul ( 2402) lost IM Divya Deshmukh (2460)
GM Vaishali Rameshbabu (2484) drew GM Koneru Humpy (2528)