Divya Deshmukh set to make her FIDE Women's GP debut in Shymkent, Kazakhstan

by Shahid Ahmed - 30/10/2024

The second leg of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix 2024-25 will start today in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. IM Divya Deshmukh will make her FIDE Women's GP debut at this event. The legend, GM Koneru Humpy will be the only other Indian participant. The 10-player round-robin tournament will feature GM Zhongyi Tan (CHM), GM Aleksandra Goryachkina, GM Kateryna Lagno, IM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ), GM Elisabeth Paehtz (GER), IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE), IM Nurgyul Salimova (BUL) and IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul (MGL) along with the previously mentioned Humpy and Divya. Zhongyi is the highest rated player of the event. In the first round, Divya will face Humpy. Round 1 starts today from 3 p.m. local time, 3:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Konstantin Chalabov

Humpy will be the only other Indian at this event

The second leg of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix 2024-25 series starts today in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. Ten top women of the world will fight for the first prize €18000 and valuable GP points which adds up to the direct qualification to FIDE Women's Candidates 2026. The total prize fund of the tournament is €80000. IM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ) and IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE) are the only two players who will be playing their second GP event of the season after participating in the Tbilisi GP a couple of months ago. Each GP participant can play three out of the six legs. This is the last leg of this year, the next one will take place in Monaco from 17th to 28th February 2025.

Participants of FIDE Shymkent GP 2024 | Photo: FIDE / Konstantin Chalabov

Participants:

1. GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN, 2551)

2. GM Aleksandra Goryachkina (2533)

3. GM Koneru Humpy (2530)

4. GM Kateryna Lagno (2527)

5. IM Divya Deshmukh (2501)

6. IM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ, 2487)

7. GM Elisabeth Paehtz (GER, 2458)

8. IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE, 2439)

9. IM Nurgyul Salimova (BUL, 2405)

10. IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul (MGL, 2344)

The highest rated player of the event - GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN) | Photo: FIDE/Konstantin Chalabov

The second-highest rated player of the tournament and FIDE Women's World Cup 2023 winner - GM Aleksandra Goryachkina | Photo: FIDE/Konstantin Chalabov

World no.6 and India no.1 among women - GM Koneru Humpy | Photo: FIDE/Konstantin Chalabov

Three-time World Blitz and former World Rapid Women's champion - GM Kateryna Lagno | Photo: FIDE/Konstantin Chalabov

Tournament Director and Executive Director of Kazakhstan Chess Federation - WGM Gulmira Dauletova (fourth from left) with guests | Photo: FIDE/Konstantin Chalabov

A colorful opening ceremony which also featured a fashion show by Aida Kaumenova | Photo: FIDE/Konstantin Chalabov

Players with the guests and organizing team | Photo: FIDE/Anna Shtourman

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.

Pairings

Round 1 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 3:30 p.m. IST. The tournament will go on till 8th November 2024. Sole rest day is on Monday 4th November.

Bo.	No.	FED	Rtg		White	Result		Black	FED	Rtg	No.
1	1	FID	2527	GM	Lagno, Kateryna		GM	Goryachkina, Aleksandra	FID	2533	10
2	2	IND	2501	IM	Divya, Deshmukh		GM	Koneru, Humpy	IND	2530	9
3	3	CHN	2551	GM	Tan, Zhongyi		GM	Paehtz, Elisabeth	GER	2458	8
4	4	MGL	2344	IM	Munguntuul, Batkhuyag		IM	Tsolakidou, Stavroula	GRE	2439	7
5	5	BUL	2405	IM	Salimova, Nurgyul		IM	Assaubayeva, Bibisara	KAZ	2487	6