Shymkent welcomes second leg of FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024-2025

Mark your calendars as the second leg of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix Series 2024-2025 is set to take place in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, from October 29 to November 9, 2024, with an exciting line-up of some of the strongest female chess players in the world who will face off in a 9-round round-robin tournament. From the 2024 FIDE Candidates winner Tan Zhongyi to the recent Olympiad gold medalist Divya Deshmukh, there is an excellent blend of rising talent and experienced grandmasters, with each player vying for valuable points and a chance to secure a place in the FIDE Women’s Candidates.

The Shymkent leg of the Grand Prix series follows the successful first event in Tbilisi, Georgia, from August 14-25, 2024, which saw outstanding performances and thrilling games. Alina Kashlinskaya clinched first place, putting her at the top of the Grand Prix leaderboard with 130 points. Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva and Greece’s Stavroula Tsolakidou both had successful debuts in Tbilisi, both leading the tournament early on, ultimately ending second and third, respectively. They will be back for this second leg, joined by Aleksandra Goryachkina, Kateryna Lagno, Tan Zhongyi, Humpy Koneru, Elisabeth Paehtz, Nurgyul Salimova, Batkhuyag Munguntuul, and Divya Deshmukh.

Players

Bibisara Assaubayeva

Bibisara Assaubayeva, born on February 26, 2004, is one of the brightest young talents in the world of chess. She has achieved significant milestones from a very young age and continues to impress with her skill and dedication. Assaubayeva has won multiple titles in different age categories, including the World Youth Chess Championships, establishing her as a top competitor on the youth circuit. In 2021, she made history by becoming the youngest-ever Women’s World Blitz Champion at the age of 17, a remarkable achievement in her burgeoning career.

Photo: Michal Walusza

She retained her title a year later, proving that her first victory was no accident. As she continues to develop her skills and gain experience, Bibisara Assaubayeva is poised to become an even more prominent figure in women’s chess. Bibisara’s participation in the second leg of the Women’s Grand Prix 2024–2025 series will provide her with further opportunities to compete against top-tier opponents and enhance her reputation on the global stage.

Stavroula Tsolakidou

Stavroula Tsolakidou, born on March 24, 2000, is one of the most promising young talents in the chess world and is the No. 1 ranked Greek female player. She has achieved significant milestones from a young age and continues to make her mark on the international stage. One of Tsolakidou’s significant achievements was her performance in the World Youth Chess Championships (U14, U16, U18), where she secured multiple titles, showcasing her talent and potential at a young age.

Photo: Anna Shtourman

Stavroula’s participation in the second leg of the Women’s Grand Prix 2024–2025 series will provide her with further opportunities to compete against top-tier opponents and make a name for herself among the global elite.

Aleksandra Goryachkina

Aleksandra Goryachkina, born on September 28, 1998, with a peak rating of 2611, is known for her positional and strategic mastery. Her deep understanding of chess fundamentals and ability to outmaneuver opponents in complex positions make her a formidable player.

Photo: Michal Walusza

A highlight of her career was winning the 2019 Women’s Candidates Tournament, which earned her the right to challenge Ju Wenjun for the Women’s World Chess Championship. Although she narrowly lost in the tie-breaks, her performance earned her widespread acclaim. Recently, she won the 2023 FIDE Women’s World Cup and continues to be a dominant force in the Women’s Grand Prix series.

Kateryna Lagno

Former Women’s World Champion Kateryna Lagno, born on December 27, 1989, is celebrated for her dynamic and flexible chess style, with a peak rating of 2563. Achieving Grandmaster status at just 12 years and 4 months, she broke records and set new standards in women’s chess. Her career highlights include winning the European Women’s Championship twice and triumphs in the World Women’s Blitz Championship in 2010, 2018 and 2019.

Photo: Michal Walusza

Lagno’s consistent performance in the Women’s Grand Prix series, including winning the first leg of the 2022–23 series, showcases her versatility and strength. With a solid foundation in all phases of the game, she remains a formidable competitor in every tournament she enters.

Tan Zhongyi

Tan Zhongyi, born on May 29, 1991, is a former Women’s World Champion renowned for her solid and strategic playing style. Her deep opening preparation and exceptional endgame technique make her a challenging opponent. She won the Women’s World Chess Championship in 2017 after defeating Anna Muzychuk in the final. In 2024, she won the Cairns Cup, dominating a field of elite players.

Photo: Michal Walusza

She also won the Women’s Сandidates Tournament 2024, allowing her to compete against Ju Wenjun in the Women’s World Chess Championship 2025. Tan has a history of strong performances in the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix series, and with her current momentum, she is one of the favorites in the Grand Prix 2024-2025.

Humpy Koneru

Humpy Koneru, with a peak rating of 2623, is India’s highest-rated female player and a dominant force in women’s chess. Known for her tactical acumen and excellent positional understanding, Humpy has secured numerous titles, including the 2011 FIDE Grand Prix series and the 2019 Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship.

Photo: Mark Livshitz

After a brief hiatus, she returned triumphantly to win the Cairns Cup in 2020. Humpy’s consistent top-three finishes in the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix series demonstrate her world-class skills and relentless pursuit of victory.

Elisabeth Paehtz

Elisabeth Paehtz, born on January 8, 1985, is one of Germany’s most accomplished female chess players. She has had a distinguished career marked by numerous titles and significant contributions to the game. In November 2022, at the age of 37, FIDE confirmed the Grandmaster title for Paehtz, making her the first German woman to receive this title. In a time of chess prodigies on the rise, Paehtz serves as an inspiration that anything is possible at any age.

Photo: Maria Emelianova

Elisabeth consistently plays and performs with the women’s elite and participated in both the 2019-2021 and 2022–2023 Women’s Grand Prix Series. Her consistent performances across different legs of the series highlight her capability to maintain a high standard of play over an extended period.

Nurgyul Salimova

Nurgyul Salimova, born on June 2, 2003, is a rising talent from Bulgaria who burst onto the elite chess scene by reaching the final of the 2023 FIDE World Cup, defeating several experienced IMs and GMs along the way. Despite losing to Goryachkina in the final, her silver medal earned her spots in both the 2024 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament and the 2024–2025 Women’s Grand Prix. Known for her dynamic and attacking style, Salimova frequently employs sharp tactical lines and takes calculated risks to gain an advantage.

Photo: Maria Emelianova

Her consistent performances indicate a bright future, and the chess world eagerly anticipates her continued development.

Batkhuyag Munguntuul

Mongolian chess player Batkhuyag Munguntuul, born on October 8, 1987, has a strong opening repertoire and impressive endgame skills. Representing her country at multiple chess Olympiads, she has consistently outmaneuvered opponents in technical positions. Her standout performance at the 2023 FIDE Grand Swiss, where she placed fourth, earned her a spot in the Women’s Grand Prix Series.

Photo: Lennart Ootes

Munguntuul’s experience and skill make her a respected competitor in any tournament she enters.

Divya Deshmukh

Divya Deshmukh, born on December 9, 2005, in Nagpur, Maharashtra, is an Indian chess prodigy who holds the titles of Woman Grandmaster and International Master. A multiple-time national champion, she has won gold at the World Youth Chess Championships in various categories, establishing herself as a top young talent. She won the 2022 Women’s Indian Chess Championship, the 2023 Asian Women’s Chess Championship, and the 2024 FIDE World Junior Girls Championship.

Photo: Michal Walusza

Divya is regarded as one of India’s brightest chess stars, and most recently won the team gold as well as the individual gold medals at the 45th Chess Olympiad in 2024. Her performance pushed her rating to its peak of 2501, putting her at the number one Female Junior (Under 20) spot on the FIDE rankings.

Venue

The event will be held at the Rixos Khadisha Shymkent Hotel, a fitting venue for the chess elite, known for its excellent facilities and warm Kazakh hospitality.

Pairings

About the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix

The Women’s Grand Prix Series 2024-25 will feature a total of 20 players, and each one of them will participate in three out of six WGP tournaments.

Each WGP tournament is played with ten (10) players round robin. In each WGP tournament, every player scores WGP points according to her position in the final standings; the winner of the WGP Series is a player who scores the most cumulative points earned in all three WGP tournaments she played.

The total prize fund for each one of the four events is EUR 80,000, with another EUR 120,000 being distributed among the top 10 finishers in the overall standings for the Grand Prix series.

The two (2) players who score more cumulative points in the WGP series qualify for the FIDE Women Candidates Tournament 2026.

For more information, visit the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix official website.