Nicosia GP Round 3: Divya plays a solid draw against Goryachkina, Anna Muzychuk scores her first win

by Shahid Ahmed - 18/03/2025

IM Divya Deshmukh played a solid draw against the FIDE Women's World Cup 2023 champion, GM Aleksandra Goryachkina. The third round of FIDE Nicosia GP witnessed the solitary win by GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) against GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO). Anna could have finished things slightly earlier if she had traded queens at the opportune moment. It would have resulted in a winning pawn endgame for her. Nevertheless, she eventually checkmated her opponent's king in the queen endgame. Anna is now at 2/3 along with IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE), a half point behind the sole leader, GM Jiner Zhu (CHN) 2.5/3. Round 4 starts today from 3 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE / Mark Livshitz

Jiner maintains her early sole lead

GM Harika Dronavalli drew her game against the early sole leader, GM Jiner Zhu (CHN). Both IM Divya Deshmukh and Harika are at 1.5/3 each, a full point behind the leader.

GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) scored her first win of the event against GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) | Photo: FIDE / Mark Livshitz

Divya - Goryachkina: 0.5-0.5

IM Divya Deshmukh (2470) faced GM Aleksandra Goryachkina (2548) four times in Classical rated games. Divya drew once and lost the remaining three. This time, she played solid and drew comfortably.

IM Divya Deshmukh - GM Aleksandra Goryachkina: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE / Mark Livshitz

Anna - Nana

Position after 32.c5

GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO, 2513) needed to play 32...Rxc5 and things would have been fine for Black. Instead, she opted for 32...dxc5? which created an opening for White 33.Rxe5 threatening Rg5 33...Kh8 34.Re8+ Rxe8 35.Qxe8+ Qg8 36.Qe5+ Qg7 now GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR, 2516) should have traded queens here as that would have resulted in a winning pawn endgame for White. However, she declined the queen exchange, the game got prolonged and eventually she checkmated the black king.

GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) could have won the game slightly earlier against GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) | Photo: FIDE / Mark Livshitz

Interview with IM Stavroula Tsolakidou | Video: FIDE

IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE) had an exciting draw against the former Women's World Champion - GM Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) | Photo: FIDE / Mark Livshitz

GM Jiner Zhu (CHN) - GM Harika Dronavalli: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE / Mark Livshitz

Interview with IM Olga Badelka | Video: FIDE

IM Olga Badelka (AUT) - GM Elisabeth Paehtz (GER): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE / Mark Livshitz

Mr. Yiu Lantao, Chinese Ambassador and Mr. Manish, Indian Ambassador, made the ceremonial first move of Round 3 on GM Jiner Zhu and GM Harika Dronavalli's board | Photo: FIDE / Mark Livshitz

Round 3 in progress | Photo: FIDE / Mark Livshitz

Replay live stream

Replay Round 3 live commentary by GM Alik Gershon (ISR) and WGM Anastasiya Karlovich (UKR) | Video: FIDE

GP Standings

GM Aleksandra Goryachkina is the new sole leader of the GP with 236.67 points, followed by IM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ) 197.5 and GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN) 170 points. Bibisara has played all three of her GP events of the season. So, she has none left.

GM Aleksandra Goryachkina is at the top of the standings with 236.67 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 15th March at 3 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. The tournament will go on till 24th March 2025. Sole rest day is on Thursday 20th March.