Pune GP R6: Humpy crushes Batkhuyag, stays in the hunt

by Shahid Ahmed - 21/04/2025

GM Jiner Zhu (CHN) defeated GM R Vaishali to maintain her sole lead 5/6 at FIDE Pune GP 2025. Vaishali misplaced her knight in a critical position, initiated an incorrect chain exchange which landed her in a lost endgame. IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul (MGL) got crushed by GM Koneru Humpy. She moved her score to 4.5/6. IM Divya Deshmukh drew with GM Harika Dronavalli to move to 4/6. Humpy and Jiner will face each other today in a crucial encounter. The result is quite possibly going to have an impact towards the outcome of the tournament. Round 7 starts today at 3 p.m. IST. Photos: Anmol Bhargav

Jiner wins and maintains her sole lead

GM Koneru Humpy maintains her pursuit for the top spot

Batkhuyag - Humpy: 0-1

GM Koneru Humpy (2528) has a score of 5.5-3.5 in Classical rated games against IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul (MGL, 2361). In Two Knights' Defence, Humpy went with 5...b5 after 5.exd5

Position after 15...g5

14.Nge4?? Qf5 15.Ne2 g5 and Black has gained a decisive advantage after 15 moves. She had no trouble converting her advantage into a win.

Interview with GM Koneru Humpy | Video: FIDE

GM Koneru Humpy scored a crushing victory over IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul (MGL)

GM Harika Dronavalli - IM Divya Deshmukh: 0.5-0.5

Jiner - Vaishali: 1-0

GM R Vaishali (2484) has never beaten GM Jiner Zhu (CHN, 2525) in a Classical rated game. Jiner won two and the other one ended in a draw. In a critical position, Vaishali misplaced her knight.

Position after 26.Re1

Black needed to go 25...Qh3 26.Nxd5 Nh4 instead 25...Ne3 26.Re1 now Rh6 is what Black needed to do. 26...Nxc2?? started a chain exchange which resulted in White gaining a decisive advantage. 27.Nxd5 Nxe1 28.Ne7+ Rxe7 29.Qxe7 h6 30.Re2 and White went on to convert his advantage into a win.

GM Jiner Zhu (CHN) scored her fourth win of the event

Interview with IM Polina Shuvalova | Video: FIDE

IM Melia Salome (GEO) - IM Polina Shuvalova: 0-1

IM Nurgyul Salimova (BUL) few good chances to win against IM Alina Kashlinskaya (POL)

For more Round 6 photos, please click here.

Highlights of Round 6 | Video: ChessBase India

Replay live stream

Replay Round 6 live commentary by IM Rakesh Kulkarni and CM Sahil Tickoo | Video: FIDE

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

The tournament will take place from 14th to 23rd April 2025. Sole rest day is on Saturday 19th April.

Round 6 results

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	10	2293	IM	Melia, Salome	0 - 1	IM	Shuvalova, Polina	2500	8	PGN
2	9	2488	GM	Dronavalli, Harika	½ - ½	IM	Divya, Deshmukh	2460	7	PGN
3	1	2361	IM	Batkhuyag, Munguntuul	0 - 1	GM	Koneru, Humpy	2528	6	PGN
4	2	2525	GM	Zhu, Jiner	1 - 0	GM	Vaishali, Rameshbabu	2484	5	PGN
5	3	2496	IM	Kashlinskaya, Alina	½ - ½	IM	Salimova, Nurgyul	2402	4	PGN

Details

Standings after Round 6

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	2	GM	Zhu, Jiner	CHN	2525	5	2	11,00	4
2	6	GM	Koneru, Humpy	IND	2528	4,5	4	13,00	3
3	7	IM	Divya, Deshmukh	IND	2460	4	4	9,75	3
4	8	IM	Shuvalova, Polina	FID	2500	3,5	4	7,50	2
5	9	GM	Dronavalli, Harika	IND	2488	3	3	8,75	1
6	5	GM	Vaishali, Rameshbabu	IND	2484	2,5	3	7,50	1
7	4	IM	Salimova, Nurgyul	BUL	2402	2,5	3	7,00	1
8	1	IM	Batkhuyag, Munguntuul	MGL	2361	2	2	3,00	2
9	10	IM	Melia, Salome	GEO	2293	1,5	3	5,50	0
10	3	IM	Kashlinskaya, Alina	POL	2496	1,5	2	3,50	0

Details

Round 7 pairings

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	4	2402	IM	Salimova, Nurgyul		IM	Melia, Salome	2293	10
2	5	2484	GM	Vaishali, Rameshbabu		IM	Kashlinskaya, Alina	2496	3
3	6	2528	GM	Koneru, Humpy		GM	Zhu, Jiner	2525	2
4	7	2460	IM	Divya, Deshmukh		IM	Batkhuyag, Munguntuul	2361	1
5	8	2500	IM	Shuvalova, Polina		GM	Dronavalli, Harika	2488	9