Grosslobming GP R1: Vaishali starts with a win

by Shahid Ahmed - 07/05/2025

GM R Vaishali started her campaign with a win over IM Nurgyul Salimova (BUL) at FIDE Grosslobming GP in Austria. Vaishali has never lost a Classical rated game against Nurgyul. She maintained that streak when the Bulgarian went wrong in an already difficult double rook and minor piece endgame. GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN) defeated her compatriot GM Jiner Zhu (CHN). The former Women's World Champion's conversion of her advantage was not smooth. Thus, the game got prolonged to 96 moves. IM Olga Badelka (AUT) was worse for the better part of the game. However, her opponent, GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI) went wrong in the final moments. Round 2 starts today at 3 p.m local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Przemysław Nikiel

Badelka swindles Kosteniuk

GM R Vaishali started her event with a win over IM Nurgyul Salimova (BUL) | Photo: FIDE/Przemysław Nikiel

Vaishali - Nurgyul: 1-0

Last month, GM R Vaishali (2475) missed a winning opportunity against IM Nurgyul Salimova (BUL, 2399). She has never lost a Classical rated game against the IM. This time also Vaishali maintained her unbeaten streak against Nurgyul by making the most out of her chance in the endgame.

Position after 23...Rb5?

23...Rb5? Black needed to put her bishop on that square. 24.Nd3 Rbb8 realizing her mistake 25.Rc3 Ra7 26.f4 White keeps making progress Kd8 27.Kf2 Rc7 28.Rxc7 Kxc7 29.Ke3 Rb6 30.Rb4 f6 31.Kd4 Rc6 32.Nc5 Bc8 33.Rxb3 Ba6 34.Rc3 Kd8 35.Ra4 White won as Black cannot avoid the rook exchange and White's connected passed pawns on a and b-files are too strong.

Interview with GM R Vaishali | Video: ChessBase India

Interview with GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) | Video: FIDE

GM Zhongyi Tan's (CHN) imprecise play prolonged her win against GM Jiner Zhu (CHN) | Photo: FIDE/Przemysław Nikiel

Interview with IM Olga Badelka (AUT) | Video: FIDE

IM Olga Badelka (AUT) turned things around from a difficult position against GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI) | Photo: FIDE/Przemysław Nikiel

Interview with Michael Stöttinger, Tournament Director and President, Austrian Chess Federation | Video: FIDE

Replay live stream

Replay Round 1 live commentary by GM Felix Blohberger (AUT) and WIM Veronika Exler (AUT) | Video: FIDE

Replay Round 1 games

GP Standings

GM Aleksandra Goryachkina is still at the top spot 308.34. She is guaranteed a spot at the next Candidates as only GM Jiner Zhu (CHN) can surpass her. She is at 235 points. After winning Pune GP, GM Koneru Humpy moved up to the second spot with 279.17 points. She needs to hope that Jiner does not surpass her in GP points at the Grosslobming GP.

GM Aleksandra Goryachkina is at the top of the standings with 308.34 points | Source: Official site

Prizes

Total prize fund is €80000. The top three prizes are €18000, €13000 and €10500 each. The top three GP points are - 130, 105 and 85. For more details, check out the regulations below.

Schedule

Round 1 starts on 6th May at 3 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. The tournament will go on till 15th May 2025. Sole rest day is on Monday 12th May.

Round 1 results

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.
1	1	2430	IM	Javakhishvili, Lela	½ - ½	GM	Dzagnidze, Nana	2509	10
2	2	2475	GM	Vaishali, Rameshbabu	1 - 0	IM	Salimova, Nurgyul	2399	9
3	3	2494	GM	Muzychuk, Mariya	½ - ½	GM	Muzychuk, Anna	2526	8
4	4	2541	GM	Zhu, Jiner	0 - 1	GM	Tan, Zhongyi	2536	7
5	5	2426	IM	Badelka, Olga	1 - 0	GM	Kosteniuk, Alexandra	2479	6

Details

Standings after Round 1

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	7	GM	Tan, Zhongyi	CHN	2536	1	1	0,00	1
2	2	GM	Vaishali, Rameshbabu	IND	2475	1	0	0,00	1
	5	IM	Badelka, Olga	AUT	2426	1	0	0,00	1
4	8	GM	Muzychuk, Anna	UKR	2526	0,5	1	0,25	0
	10	GM	Dzagnidze, Nana	GEO	2509	0,5	1	0,25	0
6	1	IM	Javakhishvili, Lela	GEO	2430	0,5	0	0,25	0
	3	GM	Muzychuk, Mariya	UKR	2494	0,5	0	0,25	0
8	6	GM	Kosteniuk, Alexandra	SUI	2479	0	1	0,00	0
	9	IM	Salimova, Nurgyul	BUL	2399	0	1	0,00	0
10	4	GM	Zhu, Jiner	CHN	2541	0	0	0,00	0

Details

Round 2 pairings

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.
1	10	2509	GM	Dzagnidze, Nana		GM	Kosteniuk, Alexandra	2479	6
2	7	2536	GM	Tan, Zhongyi		IM	Badelka, Olga	2426	5
3	8	2526	GM	Muzychuk, Anna		GM	Zhu, Jiner	2541	4
4	9	2399	IM	Salimova, Nurgyul		GM	Muzychuk, Mariya	2494	3
5	1	2430	IM	Javakhishvili, Lela		GM	Vaishali, Rameshbabu	2475	2