The FIDE Women’s Chess Grand Prix 2025 in Pune electrifies fans as Indian grandmasters Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh surge to joint second. With China’s Zhu Jiner leading at 3.5 points, the tournament showcases fierce competition. Humpy’s positional mastery and Divya’s relentless endgame precision keep India in the spotlight. Friday’s fifth round promises high-stakes clashes, including an all-Indian showdown between Humpy and Dronavalli Harika.
Women’s Chess Grand Prix: Indian Powerhouses Dominate Round 4
Koneru Humpy outplayed Russia’s Polina Shuvalova in a 37-move Italian Opening game. She capitalized on Shuvalova’s tentative eighth-move pawn push, exchanging queens early and infiltrating with a rook. “It was a comfortable game,” Humpy said, downplaying her clinical victory. Meanwhile, Divya Deshmukh triumphed over Melia Salome in a 70-move Caro-Kann Exchange Variation. Divya maintained a slight edge, dominating the queen-and-double-rooks endgame. Both players now hold 3 points, trailing Zhu Jiner by half a point.
Dronavalli Harika faced compatriot Vaishali Rameshbabu in a Grunfeld Defence battle. Harika held the upper hand but settled for a draw after Vaishali’s spirited defense forced a perpetual check. Elsewhere, Zhu Jiner secured her third win, defeating Poland’s Alina Kashlinskaya. Nurgyul Salimova also claimed victory, outlasting Munguntuul Batkhuyag in another Caro-Kann game. According to FIDE’s official site, Zhu leads with 3.5 points, followed by Humpy, Divya, and Kashlinskaya at 3 points each.
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Round 5 Showdowns to Ignite Women’s Chess Grand Prix
Friday’s fifth round sets the stage for thrilling encounters. Humpy faces Harika in an all-Indian clash that could reshape the leaderboard. Divya takes on Shuvalova, aiming to close the gap with Zhu. The Women’s Chess Grand Prix, part of FIDE’s 2024-2025 series, awards qualification points for the Women’s Candidates Tournament, making every move critical. FIDE reports that the series spans multiple cities, with Pune hosting this leg from April 8-18, 2025. Fans can follow live games on FIDE’s official platform or ChessBase India’s YouTube channel.
Indian chess continues its global ascent, with Humpy (world no. 2) and Divya (world no. 14) proving their mettle. Harika and Vaishali, ranked 25th and 33rd, add depth to India’s talent pool. The Women’s Chess Grand Prix not only highlights their skill but also inspires young players. As the tournament progresses, India’s chess queens aim to dethrone Zhu and claim the Pune crown.
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