Chess
R Vaishali plays out a draw in round four at Tbilisi FIDE Women’s Grand Prix
At the end of the fourth round, Vaishali is joint fourth with two points, just half a point below the three league leaders.
Indian GM R Vaishali played out a draw against Lela Javakhishvili of Georgia in round four of the Tbilisi Fide Women's Grand Prix 2024. (Photo Credit: Chess.com)
Indian grandmaster R Vaishali continued her good form by securing a hard-fought draw against international master Lela Javakhishvili, in an action-packed round four of the 2024 Tbilisi FIDE Women’s Grand Prix, on Sunday.
The draw with Javakhishvili was significant as it showcased her resilience in a challenging rook endgame. Vaishali's solid defensive play ensured she maintained her standing in the tournament.
Grandmaster Alexandra Kosteniuk joined IMs Bibisara Assaubayeva and Stavroula Tsolakidou at the top of the standings at the end of round four. Vaishali is joint fourth with two points, just half a point below the three league leaders.
The fourth round saw Kosteniuk take advantage of a critical error by IM Sara Khadem, making her the sole winner of the day and placing her among the leaders.
The only other notable result was a 102-move draw between GM Anna Muzychuk and GM Nana Dzagnidze, with Dzagnidze showing remarkable resistance despite being down a piece.
Meanwhile, the encounter between IM Alina Kashlinskaya and Assaubayeva, marked by a bold pawn sacrifice by Assaubayeva, ended in a draw by repetition.
Tsolakidou, another co-leader, managed a draw against GM Mariya Muzychuk despite being in a difficult position after exchanging queens.
Vaishali got her first win at Tbilisi in round three, thanks to a commanding performance to outplay IM Sara Khadem.
Round five will kick off on Monday, August 19, at 4:30 PM IST.
