Grosslobming GP R2: Vaishali wins two in-a-row

by Shahid Ahmed - 08/05/2025

GM R Vaishali won her second consecutive game at FIDE Grosslobming GP in Austria. IM Lela Javakhishvili (GEO) made a miscalculation which allowed Vaishali to have a center passed pawn and a strong knight at e2. However, she let go of the pawn and the Georgian made another mistake a few moves later. It cost her an exchange and the game. GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN) defeated IM Olga Badelka (AUT) comfortably to win her second game in-a-row. GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) grinded a relatively equal knight endgame to beat GM Jiner Zhu (CHN). Anna is the only one at 1.5/2. Round 3 starts today at 3 p.m local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Przemysław Nikiel

Anna Muzychuk grinds a knight endgame against Jiner Zhu

GM R Vaishali made a perfect start Grosslobming GP in Austria | Photo: FIDE/Przemysław Nikiel

Lela - Vaishali: 0-1

GM R Vaishali (2475) faced IM Lela Javakhishvili (GEO, 2430) thrice, twice at the Olympiad where Vaishali won them. Only once at a GP last year which ended in a draw.

Position after 17.Nd4?

White made a mistake 17.Nd4? Nxd4 18.Bxb4 Ne2+ 19.Kh1 Re8 20.Qd2 Rc8 21.Bc3 b5 22.a3 Qc7? Black loosened her grip by giving up the d3-pawn 23.e4 Bxe4 24.Bxe4 Rxe4 25.Qxd3 However, after few more moves White made another mistake

Position after 31.Rb1?

Vaishali found the nice interference 31...Nc1! 32.Qf5 Qe2 and now White cannot avoid the loss of an exchange 33.Kg1 Re5 34.Qd7 Qc2 35.Bd2 Qxb1 and Black won the game in the next few moves.

GM R Vaishali analyzes her win over IM Lela Javakhishvili (GEO) | Video: FIDE

GM R Vaishali defeated IM Lela Javakhishvili (GEO) comfortably | Photo: FIDE/Przemysław Nikiel

GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) missed quite a few winning opportunities against GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI) | Photo: FIDE/Przemysław Nikiel

GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN) seized her opportunity when IM Olga Badelka (AUT) went wrong in the endgame | Photo: FIDE/Przemysław Nikiel

Anna - Jiner: 1-0

GM Anna Muzychuk's (UKR, 2526) quite possibly the biggest rival in the tournament is - GM Jiner Zhu (CHN, 2541). The reason is the GP standings. Thus, Anna tried her level best to win the game and she did.

Position after 39...Ke6?

39...Ke6? allowed White to be in the driver's seat 40.Kd2+ Kd6 41.f5 Ng8 42.Re6+ Kc7 43.Kc3 Rb7 44.Nb4 Kd7 45.Na6? White needed to go 45.a4 here. Black got back in the game after White misplayed a little bit.

Position after 58...Kb8

The above seems to be heading towards a draw after the rook trade which is inevitable.

Position after 84.Ke5

The above knight endgame seems to be ending in a draw, provided Black does not make a mistake. 84...Na3?? 85.Kd6+- Nc2 86.Nd3 Black has reached far away from the king and it became difficult for Black to hold on to the c6-pawn. 86...Kb7 87.Kc5 Ka6 88.Ne5 and Anna converted her advantage into a win.

GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) analyzes her win over GM Jiner Zhu (CHN) | Video: FIDE

GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) showed her willingness to win against GM Jiner Zhu (CHN) and she found a way | Photo: FIDE/Przemysław Nikiel

IM Nurgyul Salimova (BUL) - GM Mariya Muzychuk (UKR): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE/Przemysław Nikiel

Round 2 in progress | Photo: FIDE/Przemysław Nikiel

The picturesque venue of the Grosslobming GP | Photo: FIDE/Przemysław Nikiel

WIM Veronika Exler (AUT) and GM Felix Blohberger (AUT) are the official commentators | Photo: FIDE/Przemysław Nikiel

Replay live stream

Replay Round 2 live commentary by GM Felix Blohberger (AUT) and WIM Veronika Exler (AUT) | Video: FIDE

Replay Round 2 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 2 results

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

Details

Standings after Round 2

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	2	GM	Vaishali, Rameshbabu	IND	2475	2	1	1,00	2
	7	GM	Tan, Zhongyi	CHN	2536	2	1	1,00	2
3	8	GM	Muzychuk, Anna	UKR	2526	1,5	1	0,50	1
4	3	GM	Muzychuk, Mariya	UKR	2494	1	1	1,00	0
5	5	IM	Badelka, Olga	AUT	2426	1	1	0,50	1
6	10	GM	Dzagnidze, Nana	GEO	2509	1	1	0,50	0
7	6	GM	Kosteniuk, Alexandra	SUI	2479	0,5	2	0,50	0
8	9	IM	Salimova, Nurgyul	BUL	2399	0,5	1	0,50	0
9	1	IM	Javakhishvili, Lela	GEO	2430	0,5	0	0,50	0
10	4	GM	Zhu, Jiner	CHN	2541	0	1	0,00	0

Details

Round 3 pairings

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