Anna Muzychuk or Jiner Zhu - Who will win Nicosia GP?

by Shahid Ahmed - 24/03/2025

GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) won a virtually must-win game against GM Elisabeth Paehtz (GER) in the penultimate round of FIDE Nicosia GP 2025. Anna thought she surprised her opponent with 1.d4 but it was the German who surprised her by playing the Queen's Gambit Accepted variation. Later she defended a pawn incorrectly and paid a heavy price. GM Jiner Zhu (CHN) drew against IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE). Now both Jiner and Anna are at 5.5/8 each. They are followed by GM Harika Dronavalli, GM Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) and GM Aleksandra Goryachkina at 4.5/8 each. Round 9 starts today from 2 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE

Harika can spoil Anna's chances

GM Harika Dronavalli will face GM Anna Muzychuk in the final round, while GM Jiner Zhu will be up against GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO). There is a mathematical possibility of four players ending with the same score 5.5/9, or both coleaders Jiner and Anna finishing with the same score and then tie-breaks will decide the winner.

GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) won a virtually must-win game against GM Elisabeth Paehtz (GER) | Photo: FIDE

Anna - Elisabeth: 1-0

GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR, 2516) has not lost a Classical rated game against GM Elisabeth Paehtz (GER, 2424) in over 17 years. That statistic remained unchanged yesterday. Anna mentioned in a post-game interview that she thought she surprised her opponent with 1.d4 because generally she plays 1.e4. However, it was the Germany no.1 woman who surprised by opting for the Queen's Gambit Accepted line.

Position after 26...Rd5

Find out the winning continuation for White after 26...Rd5? A move ago Black had to go 24...Rxd4 25.axb5 Rxg4 26.hxg4 f6

Interview with Anna Muzychuk | Video: FIDE

GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) scored a crucial victory over GM Elisabeth Paehtz (GER) | Photo: FIDE / Mark Livshitz

GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) - GM Mariya Muzychuk (UKR): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE / Mark Livshitz

GM Aleksandra Goryachkina - GM Harika Dronavalli: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE / Mark Livshitz

Interview with IM Divya Deshmukh | Video: FIDE

IM Divya Deshmukh scored her first win of the event against IM Olga Badelka (AUT) | Video: FIDE

IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE) - GM Jiner Zhu (CHN): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE / Mark Livshitz

Round 8 in progress | Photo: FIDE / Mark Livshitz

Scanning devices for fairplay measures | Photo: FIDE / Mark Livshitz

The five-time World Champion and FIDE Deputy President, Vishy Anand made the first move on IM Divya Deshmukh and IM Olga Badelka's board | Photo: FIDE / Mark Livshitz

Interview with High Commissioner of India to Cyprus - Mr. Manish | Video: FIDE

Replay live stream

Replay Round 8 live commentary by GM Alik Gershon (ISR) and WGM Anastasiya Karlovich (UKR) | Video: FIDE

GP Standings

GM Aleksandra Goryachkina is the new sole leader of the GP with 236.67 points, followed by IM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ) 197.5 and GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN) 170 points. Bibisara has played all three of her GP events of the season. So, she has none left.

GM Aleksandra Goryachkina is at the top of the standings with 236.67 points | Source: Official site

Prizes

Total prize fund is €80000. The top three prizes are €18000, €13000 and €10500 each. The top three GP points are - 130, 105 and 85. For more details, check out the regulations below.

Schedule

Round 1 starts on 15th March at 3 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. The tournament will go on till 24th March 2025. Sole rest day is on Thursday 20th March.

Replay Round 8 games

Round 8 results

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	10	2513	GM	DZAGNIDZE, NANA	½ - ½	GM	MUZYCHUK, MARIYA	2490	9	PGN
2	1	2548	GM	GORYACHKINA, ALEKSANDRA	½ - ½	GM	DRONAVALLI, HARIKA	2483	8	PGN
3	2	2516	GM	MUZYCHUK, ANNA	1 - 0	GM	PAEHTZ, ELISABETH	2424	7	PGN
4	3	2470	IM	DIVYA, DESHMUKH	1 - 0	IM	BADELKA, OLGA	2429	6	PGN
5	4	2445	IM	TSOLAKIDOU, STAVROULA	½ - ½	GM	ZHU, JINER	2514	5	PGN

Details

Standings after Round 8

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	5	GM	ZHU, JINER	CHN	2514	5,5	4	19,50	3
2	2	GM	MUZYCHUK, ANNA	UKR	2516	5,5	3	19,75	4
3	8	GM	DRONAVALLI, HARIKA	IND	2483	4,5	5	17,50	2
4	9	GM	MUZYCHUK, MARIYA	UKR	2490	4,5	5	16,50	1
5	1	GM	GORYACHKINA, ALEKSANDRA	FID	2548	4,5	3	17,00	1
6	10	GM	DZAGNIDZE, NANA	GEO	2513	4	4	12,75	2
7	3	IM	DIVYA, DESHMUKH	IND	2470	3,5	3	13,25	1
8	6	IM	BADELKA, OLGA	AUT	2429	3	5	13,00	1
9	4	IM	TSOLAKIDOU, STAVROULA	GRE	2445	3	3	11,00	1
10	7	GM	PAEHTZ, ELISABETH	GER	2424	2	5	8,25	1

Details

Round 9 pairings

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	5	2514	GM	ZHU, JINER		GM	DZAGNIDZE, NANA	2513	10
2	6	2429	IM	BADELKA, OLGA		IM	TSOLAKIDOU, STAVROULA	2445	4
3	7	2424	GM	PAEHTZ, ELISABETH		IM	DIVYA, DESHMUKH	2470	3
4	8	2483	GM	DRONAVALLI, HARIKA		GM	MUZYCHUK, ANNA	2516	2
5	9	2490	GM	MUZYCHUK, MARIYA		GM	GORYACHKINA, ALEKSANDRA	2548	1