Pune GP R2: Vaishali self-destructs against Divya Deshmukh

by Shahid Ahmed - 16/04/2025

IM Divya Deshmukh scored her second consecutive win at FIDE Pune GP 2025. She defeated her 45th Olympiad Gold medalist teammate, GM R Vaishali. The GM blundered on move no.17. Divya had no trouble spotting the excellent tactic and win the game in nine more moves. GM Jiner Zhu (CHN) scored the only other win of the round against IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul (MGL). The latter made an incorrect pawn sacrifice in the double rook endgame which cost her the game. GM Koneru Humpy and GM Harika Dronavalli drew with IM Melia Salome (GEO) and IM Alina Kashlinskaya (POL) respectively. IM Polina Shuvalova shared the point with IM Nurgyul Salimova (BUL). Round 3 starts today from 3 p.m. IST. Photos: Anmol Bhargav

Jiner and Divya win two in-a-row

IM Divya Deshmukh won her second game in just 26 moves

Divya - Vaishali: 1-0

IM Divya Deshmukh (2460) played three Classical rated games against GM R Vaishali (2484) before this battle. Divya won the first one and drew the next two. In this game, Vaishali blundered on the 17th move.

Position after 17...Bg4

17...Bg4?? created an opportunity for White. Divya found the excellent tactical shot 18.Nxf6!+- White is now completely winning Bxf3 19.Nxd7+ Ke8 20.Nc5 Bc6 21.Re6 Bd7 22.Re5 h6 23.Bd2 Rf8 24.Rae1 Rf7 25.Bb4 Rb8 26.Ba3 and it's over as Black cannot avoid material loss. 17...Re8 needed to be played to stay in the fight. 18.Nxf6! is definitely worthy of making it into future books which features tactics.

IM Divya Deshmukh - GM R Vaishali, Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Interview with IM Divya Deshmukh | Video: FIDE

IM Divya Deshmukh has made a great start

IM Melia Salome (GEO) - GM Koneru Humpy: 0.5-0.5

IM Polina Shuvalova - IM Nurgyul Salimova (BUL): 0.5-0.5

GM Harika Dronavalli - IM Alina Kashlinskaya (POL): 0.5-0.5

Interview with GM Jiner Zhu | Video: FIDE

IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul (MGL) - GM Jiner Zhu (CHN): 0-1

For more Round 2 photos, please click here.

Replay live stream

Replay Round 2 live commentary by IM Rakesh Kulkarni and CM Sahil Tickoo | Video: FIDE

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

The tournament will take place from 14th to 23rd April 2025. Sole rest day is on Saturday 19th April.

Round 2 results

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	10	2293	IM	Melia, Salome	½ - ½	GM	Koneru, Humpy	2528	6	PGN
2	7	2460	IM	Divya, Deshmukh	1 - 0	GM	Vaishali, Rameshbabu	2484	5	PGN
3	8	2500	IM	Shuvalova, Polina	½ - ½	IM	Salimova, Nurgyul	2402	4	PGN
4	9	2488	GM	Dronavalli, Harika	½ - ½	IM	Kashlinskaya, Alina	2496	3	PGN
5	1	2361	IM	Batkhuyag, Munguntuul	0 - 1	GM	Zhu, Jiner	2525	2	PGN

Details

Standings after Round 2

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	2	GM	Zhu, Jiner	CHN	2525	2	1	1,50	2
2	7	IM	Divya, Deshmukh	IND	2460	2	1	1,00	2
3	8	IM	Shuvalova, Polina	FID	2500	1,5	1	0,75	1
4	6	GM	Koneru, Humpy	IND	2528	1	2	0,50	0
5	1	IM	Batkhuyag, Munguntuul	MGL	2361	1	0	0,50	1
6	4	IM	Salimova, Nurgyul	BUL	2402	0,5	1	0,75	0
7	5	GM	Vaishali, Rameshbabu	IND	2484	0,5	1	0,50	0
	10	IM	Melia, Salome	GEO	2293	0,5	1	0,50	0
9	3	IM	Kashlinskaya, Alina	POL	2496	0,5	1	0,25	0
	9	GM	Dronavalli, Harika	IND	2488	0,5	1	0,25	0

Details

Round 3 pairings

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	2	2525	GM	Zhu, Jiner		IM	Melia, Salome	2293	10
2	3	2496	IM	Kashlinskaya, Alina		IM	Batkhuyag, Munguntuul	2361	1
3	4	2402	IM	Salimova, Nurgyul		GM	Dronavalli, Harika	2488	9
4	5	2484	GM	Vaishali, Rameshbabu		IM	Shuvalova, Polina	2500	8
5	6	2528	GM	Koneru, Humpy		IM	Divya, Deshmukh	2460	7