Anna Muzychuk or Jiner Zhu - Who will win Grosslobming GP?

by Shahid Ahmed - 15/05/2025

GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) drew with IM Lela Javakhishvili (GEO) in the penultimate round of FIDE Grosslobming GP in Austria. GM Jiner Zhu (CHN) also drew her game against IM Olga Badelka (AUT). IM Nurgyul Salimova (BUL) had the most exciting game of the round. She missed a great opportunity against GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) and lost the game. GM R Vaishali drew with GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN). GM Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) scored the only other win of the round against GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (UKR). Round 9 starts today at 2 p.m local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Przemysław Nikiel

Zhongyi Tan with an outside chance

Both GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) and GM Jiner Zhu (CHN) are at 5.5/8 each. Both of them having the result in the final round will result in Anna winning the tournament as she has a better tie-break score. Anna will face GM R Vaishali in the final round and Jiner's opponent will be GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI). If both coleaders lose and GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN) beats GM Mariya Muzychuk (UKR), then she will become a clear champion.

GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) has the best chance to win the GP | Photo: FIDE/Przemysław Nikiel

IM Lela Javakhishvili (GEO) - GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE/Przemysław Nikiel

GM Jiner Zhu (CHN) - IM Olga Badelka (AUT): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE/Przemysław Nikiel

Vaishali - Zhongyi: 0.5-0.5

GM R Vaishali (2475) defeated former Women's World Champion, GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN, 2536) once, drew also once and lost thrice in Classical rated games. This was their second draw against each other.

GM R Vaishali - GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE/Przemysław Nikiel

Dzagnidze - Salimova

Position after 32.Qg7

There is an unusual move which Black needed to find 32...Na1+! to gain the upper hand. However, 32...Qe4+ 33.Bd3 Qa4 34.Qxc3 Nc5+ and Black lost all her chance.

IM Nurgyul Salimova (BUL) had a good chance in a wild game against GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) | Photo: FIDE/Przemysław Nikiel

GM Alexandra Kosteniuk's (SUI) sacrifice did not work out against GM Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) | Photo: FIDE/Przemysław Nikiel

Angelika Valikova (UKR) returned to do commentary with GM Felix Blohberger (AUT) | Photo: FIDE/Przemysław Nikiel

The picturesque venue - G’Schlössl Murtal in Austria | Photo: FIDE/Przemysław Nikiel

Round 8 in progress | Photo: FIDE/Przemysław Nikiel

Venue Tour | Video: FIDE

Replay live stream

Replay Round 8 live commentary by Angelika Valkova (UKR) and GM Felix Blohberger (AUT) | Video: FIDE

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 8 results

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

Details

Standings after Round 8

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	Rp
1	8	GM	Muzychuk, Anna	UKR	2526	5,5	5	20,75	3	2618
2	4	GM	Zhu, Jiner	CHN	2541	5,5	3	19,25	5	2615
3	7	GM	Tan, Zhongyi	CHN	2536	5	5	18,00	4	2568
4	10	GM	Dzagnidze, Nana	GEO	2509	4,5	4	17,25	2	2528
5	2	GM	Vaishali, Rameshbabu	IND	2475	4,5	3	14,25	3	2520
6	3	GM	Muzychuk, Mariya	UKR	2494	4	3	14,25	2	2473
7	6	GM	Kosteniuk, Alexandra	SUI	2479	3,5	5	14,75	3	2431
8	1	IM	Javakhishvili, Lela	GEO	2430	3	3	11,50	2	2411
9	5	IM	Badelka, Olga	AUT	2426	2,5	4	8,25	2	2344
10	9	IM	Salimova, Nurgyul	BUL	2399	2	5	8,25	1	2305

Details

Round 9 pairings

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