Monaco Women's Grand Prix: Humpy outshines Harika in first round

Grandmaster Koneru Humpy started the third leg of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix 2024-25 with a solid win against compatriot Harika Dronavalli in the first round of the Monaco Grand Prix on Tuesday.

Humpy grabbed a victory in the first round with the black pieces in hand. She outclassed Harika in the end game of a marathon 74-move match with an accuracy of 92.6.

Harika started with the Spanish variation and claimed a tiny lead from the opening. But after the queen exchanges, the match turned into an equal position which Humpy with a late push on King's side converted into a win.

This was Harika's first tournament in the current Grand Prix cycle, whereas Humpy was playing in her second tournament of the current cycle after a fifth-place finish at Shymkent, Kazakhstan last year.

Humpy is currently on the top of the standings alongside Kateryna Lagno of Russia and Batkhuyag Munguntuul of Mongolia whereas Harika dropped to the last position.

With 8 more rounds to go, a lot more play is left in the tournament and both the Indian players will be trying to come up even stronger in the coming rounds.

Humpy will next take on Elisabeth Paehtz of Germany whereas Harika, having black pieces, will face Sara Khadem of Spain in the second round later today.