Humpy Triumphs Over Zhu in Tie-Break to Win Chess Grand Prix Fifth Leg

Swift Summary

• Koneru Humpy and Zhu Jiner finished with 7 points each after the ninth and final round of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix at Amanora-The Fern in Pune on April 23, 2025.
• humpy secured victory in the fifth leg of the series due to a better tie-break score, although prize money and Grand Prix points are shared in case of ties.
• This was Humpy’s last event (players participate in three), and she has accumulated 279.17 points, currently placing her second behind Russia’s Aleksandra Goryachkina (308.34). The standings may change since other players still have events remaining.
• On the final day:

– Koneru Humpy defeated Nurgyul Salimova using Slav Defence in an 84-move game dominated by two passed pawns threatening checkmate.
– Zhu Jiner overcame Polina Shuvalova after a long 76-move game.
– Divya Deshmukh claimed third place with joy for Maharashtra as host state.

• Final standings:

– Joint winners: Koneru Humpy & zhu Jiner (7 points).- Third place: Divya Deshmukh (5.5 points).
– Other placements included R. vaishali with 4 points, Harika Dronavalli & Polina Shuvalova tied at 4.5.

(Photo Credit: P.K Ajith Kumar)

Indian Opinion Analysis

The impressive performance by Koneru Humpy underscores India’s strong presence on international chess platforms, especially among women competitors. Her triumph through tiebreak scores reflects not only skill but extensive readiness for high-stakes matches such as these rigorous multi-round tournaments.

While her current standing ensures visibility on global rankings temporarily as second-place further movements depend on other players completing their rounds within this competitive Grand Prix circuit-leaving future qualifiers uncertain for now.

Additionally notable is Divya Deshmukh’s third-place finish-a testament to India’s deep talent pool-and hints at promising prospects for upcoming generations of players representing Maharashtra locally or globally. This success could catalyze momentum toward nurturing chess more prominently across India.

for enthusiasts tracking detailed pathways towards qualifying championships; attention awaits implications evolving next Candidate qualifier eligibility routes drawn here!

Read More