Pune GP R7: Humpy beats Jiner, emerges sole leader
GM Koneru Humpy defeated GM Jiner Zhu (CHN) to become the new sole leader at FIDE Pune GP 2025. Jiner lost her first Classical game to Humpy after she went on a misadventure with her queen. Humpy has moved up to the top with 5.5/7, staying a half point ahead of the rest. IM Divya Deshmukh decimated IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul (MGL) with a devastating attack on the kingside. She is now at second place 5/7. GM R Vaishali and GM Harika Dronavalli drew their respective games against IM Alina Kashlinskaya (POL) and IM Polina Shuvalova respectively. Round 8 starts today at 3 p.m. IST. Photos: Anmol Bhargav
Divya climbs up to the second place
GM Koneru Humpy is now two games away from winning FIDE Pune GP. Her last two round opponents are - IM Alina Kashlinskaya (POL) and IM Nurgyul Salimova (BUL). IM Divya Deshmukh and GM Jiner Zhu (CHN) are the only two players on her trail at 5/7 each.
Humpy - Jiner: 1-0
GM Koneru Humpy (2528) faced GM Jiner Zhu (CHN, 2525) in three Classical rated games. All of them were with the white pieces. Jiner won one and the remaining two ended in draws. It was about time to Humpy to deliver the equalizer. Jiner opted for the Queen's Indian opening and equalized easily out of the opening.
Jiner made a questionable decision to capture the b4-pawn. The position is semi closed. Black has two knights and White has a bishop pair. So Black making any attempt to open up the position is not going to end up well. 44...Qxb4?? 45.Bxe6 Qb1+ 46.Kg2 Qe4+ 47.Kh2 Qe2 48.Bc4 Qxf2+ 49.Qg2 White has not only managed to save the d2-bishop but also thwart Black's attempts to stir up trouble.
Divya - Munguntuul
IM Divya Deshmukh (2460) launched a brutal attack on the kingside by running her h-pawn down the board. 20.h6 g6 21.d6 Bxd6 22.Bxg5 Be7 23.Bxa6 bxc3 24.Bxc8 Qxc8 25.h7+ Kg7 26.Qxc3 and White had no trouble converting her advantage into a win against IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul (MGL, 2361).
For more Round 7 photos, please click here.
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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 7 results
| Bo. | No. | Rtg | White | Result | Black | Rtg | No. | PGN | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 2402 | IM | Salimova, Nurgyul | ½ - ½ | IM | Melia, Salome | 2293 | 10 | PGN | ||
| 2 | 5 | 2484 | GM | Vaishali, Rameshbabu | ½ - ½ | IM | Kashlinskaya, Alina | 2496 | 3 | PGN | ||
| 3 | 6 | 2528 | GM | Koneru, Humpy | 1 - 0 | GM | Zhu, Jiner | 2525 | 2 | PGN | ||
| 4 | 7 | 2460 | IM | Divya, Deshmukh | 1 - 0 | IM | Batkhuyag, Munguntuul | 2361 | 1 | PGN | ||
| 5 | 8 | 2500 | IM | Shuvalova, Polina | ½ - ½ | GM | Dronavalli, Harika | 2488 | 9 | PGN |
Standings after Round 7
| Rk. | SNo | Name | FED | Rtg | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | GM | Koneru, Humpy | IND | 2528 | 5,5 | 4 | 20,25 | 4 | |
| 2 | 7 | IM | Divya, Deshmukh | IND | 2460 | 5 | 4 | 13,75 | 4 | |
| 3 | 2 | GM | Zhu, Jiner | CHN | 2525 | 5 | 3 | 13,00 | 4 | |
| 4 | 8 | IM | Shuvalova, Polina | FID | 2500 | 4 | 4 | 11,25 | 2 | |
| 5 | 9 | GM | Dronavalli, Harika | IND | 2488 | 3,5 | 4 | 12,75 | 1 | |
| 6 | 5 | GM | Vaishali, Rameshbabu | IND | 2484 | 3 | 3 | 9,50 | 1 | |
| 7 | 4 | IM | Salimova, Nurgyul | BUL | 2402 | 3 | 3 | 8,50 | 1 | |
| 8 | 10 | IM | Melia, Salome | GEO | 2293 | 2 | 4 | 7,75 | 0 | |
| 9 | 3 | IM | Kashlinskaya, Alina | POL | 2496 | 2 | 3 | 5,75 | 0 | |
| 10 | 1 | IM | Batkhuyag, Munguntuul | MGL | 2361 | 2 | 3 | 4,00 | 2 |
Round 8 pairings
| Bo. | No. | Rtg | White | Result | Black | Rtg | No. | PGN | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | 2293 | IM | Melia, Salome | GM | Dronavalli, Harika | 2488 | 9 | ||||
| 2 | 1 | 2361 | IM | Batkhuyag, Munguntuul | IM | Shuvalova, Polina | 2500 | 8 | ||||
| 3 | 2 | 2525 | GM | Zhu, Jiner | IM | Divya, Deshmukh | 2460 | 7 | ||||
| 4 | 3 | 2496 | IM | Kashlinskaya, Alina | GM | Koneru, Humpy | 2528 | 6 | ||||
| 5 | 4 | 2402 | IM | Salimova, Nurgyul | GM | Vaishali, Rameshbabu | 2484 | 5 |
