WGP Shymkent: Humpy loses to Assaubayeva, Divya secures first win

The FIDE Women’s Grand Prix Shymkent reached its halfway mark in dramatic fashion, with India’s Divya Deshmukh claimed her first full point of the tournament against Mongolia’s Munguntuul Batkhuyag.

Determined to overcome previous time management issues, Divya maintained a rapid pace, achieving a 50-minute lead on the clock by move 16.

Her patience and tactical skills paid off when Batkhuyag faltered in the late game, allowing Divya to capitalize and convert her advantage into a win.

Meanwhile, Koneru Humpy faced a challenging round, suffering a loss to Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva.

Playing with a more positional approach than her usual aggressive style, Bibisara created pressure with an isolated queenside pawn and eventually capitalized on Humpy’s kingside error.

Bibisara’s accuracy led to a quick and decisive attack, sealing Humpy’s defeat.

Meanwhile, Aleksandra Goryachkina emerged as the sole leader after a third consecutive win, defeating Tan Zhongyi in a dynamic game.

Goryachkina’s precision and willingness to embrace complex positions allowed her to gain an early advantage, eventually overpowering Tan with a powerful kingside attack. This win marks Goryachkina’s third straight victory, positioning her as the top contender as the tournament progresses.

Other games saw mixed results: Stavroula Tsolakidou outlasted Elisabeth Paehtz in a lengthy endgame, while Nurgyul Salimova and Kateryna Lagno settled for a draw after an intense battle in a Queen’s Gambit Declined.

As players head into the rest day, Goryachkina stands firmly at the top, while India’s Koneru Humpy dropped to third position after a loss to Bibisara Assaubayeva.

With the tournament still wide open, Round 6 on November 5th promises renewed excitement as players return refreshed and ready to contend for the top spot.