Humpy Koneru takes lead at Women’s Grand Prix in Pune

By  News On Air   Apr 22, 2025

In Chess, Indian Grandmaster Humpy Koneru seized the lead at the Women’s Grand Prix in Pune with a crucial victory over Chinese Grandmaster Zhu Jiner in the seventh round yesterday.

Humpy surprised Zhu in the opening, gradually increasing her positional advantage in the mid-game. Under pressure, Zhu blundered a piece in a long tactical sequence, ultimately leading to her defeat.

Meanwhile, Divya Deshmukh kept herself in contention for the top spot with a dominant win over Mongolian International Master Batkhuyag Munguntuul. If Divya manages to defeat Zhu Jiner in today’s game, she will have a strong chance at claiming the tournament lead. Round eight is set to begin today at 3 PM IST.

The Pune Grand Prix 2025, the fifth leg of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix Series, plays a crucial role in the qualification process for the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament.