FIDE Grand Prix | Flawless Humpy scores crucial win over Batkhuyag

Koneru Humpy dominates FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in Pune, setting up a crucial match against Zhu Jiner.

Koneru Humpy played well-nigh flawless chess on Sunday to score a crucial win in the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix at Amanora-The Fern. The top seed was ruthless with black pieces against Mongolia’s Munguntuul Batkhuyag in the sixth round, as the tournament resumed after a day’s rest.

Humpy, who came up with some sharp chess in an Italian Game to punish the inaccuracies from her rival, romped home in 33 moves. White’s king had no defence against the Indian’s powerful attack on the king-side.

With three rounds remaining, the second-placed Humpy is on 4.5 points, trailing the overnight sole leader Zhu Jiner by half-a-point. The second seed from China maintained her lead thanks to her victory against R. Vaishali.

Humpy and Zhu come face to face on Monday in what promises to be a fascinating battle.

The results (sixth round): Salome Melia (Geo) 1.5 lost to Polina Shuvalova (Rus) 3.5; D. Harika 3 drew with Divya Deshmukh 4; Munguntuul Batkhuyag (Mng) 2 lost to Koneru Humpy 4.5; Zhu Jiner (Chn) 5 bt R. Vaishali 2.5; Alina Kashlinskaya (Pol) 1.5 drew with Nurgyul Salimova (Bul) 2.5.

Seventh-round pairings: Salimova v Melia; Vaishali v Kashlinskaya; Humpy v Zhu; Divya v Batkhuyag; Shuvalova v Harika.