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Humpy qualifies to the FIDE Women's Candidates 2022

by Shahid Ahmed - 03/06/2021

Koneru Humpy qualified to the FIDE Women's Candidates 2022 as she secured second place overall with 293 points in FIDE Women's Grand Prix 2019-21. Humpy was unable to take part in the Gibraltar GP due to the travel restrictions owing to Covid-19 pandemic. Her next major over-the-board event is FIDE Women's World Cup in July this year. We all hope that things improve by then so that she can travel and take part in it. Kateryna Lagno finished overall third (280 points) in the entire GP. Thus she is the second player to qualify to Women's Candidates 2022 via this event. Photo: Amruta Mokal

Humpy finishes overall second for the fifth consecutive time

Reigning Women's World Rapid champion was unable to play the Gibraltar GP due to the travel restrictions owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. Humpy had earlier won Skolkovo GP and finished at second place in the Monaco GP in 2019. Thus she had a massive 293 points in the GP points table and missing Gibraltar GP did not affect her chances. As the legendary Humpy mentioned in a tweet, she finished overall second in the FIDE Women's Grand Prix for the fifth consecutive time since 2009-11 event. This is consistency at its absolutely best.

Winning Skolkovo GP and finishing second in Monaco GP allowed her to qualify for FIDE Women's Candidates 2022 | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Humpy and Lagno qualified to FIDE Women's Candidates 2022 as the top two finishers in FIDE Grand Prix 2019-21 | Photo: FIDE

Top 3 (L to R): Runner-up - Mariya Muzychuk 7.0/11, Champion - Zhansaya Abdumalik 8.5/11 and Second Runner-up Gunay Mammadzada 6.5/11 | Photo: David Llada
Interview with the winner of the tournament - Zhansaya Abdumalik | Video: FIDE

Kashlinskaya - Stefanova: 1-0

Kashlinskaya slowly converted her advantage by maneuvering her pieces against Stefanova to pick up her fourth victory of the event.

Position after 38...f5

Black's pieces are all cramped up, although there is no immediate weakness in black's camp but white can increase her advantage here. Find out how.

Kashlinskaya finished a half point ahead of Stefanova at eighth place with 5.0/11 | Photo: David Llada/FIDE

Did you know: The last time Kashlinskaya beat Stefanova was in Skolkovo GP 2019.

Interview with Alina Kashlinskaya | Video: FIDE

Gunina - Dzagnidze: 0.5-0.5

Dzagnidze dominated the better part of the game against Gunina, however the Russian's never-give-up attitude allowed her to salvage a draw after a 135-move long grueling battle.

Position after 19.Nxe4

White not only loses a pawn after 19...Bxe2 but also firm control of the position.

Position after 25.axb4

The game continued with 25...g5 and black did what needed to be done a bit later. What is it that black should have gone right now?

Position after 35.Kg1

Black played 35...Bc6 here, however there was a better continuation. What is it? Despite a few inaccuracies, black still got some decent advantage once again but eventually it diminished and white salvaged a draw.

Gunina saved an extremely difficult game against Dzagnidze | Photo: David Llada/FIDE

Lagno - M Muzychuk: 0.5-0.5

Although Lagno and Mariya Muzychuk made a draw, computer says there were a couple of moments where things could have gone in a different direction.

Position after 25...Nh5

White has a bishop pair and the b-file is open. How can white utilize it to its advantage in the above diagram?

Position after 30.Be2

The game went on with 30...Nxc3. However 30...Rxa4 is an interesting variation. The game ended up in a draw after 31.Bxc3 Rxc3.

Mariya Muzychuk finished at 2nd place 7.0/11 and Lagno secured 4th 6.0/11 | Photo: David Llada/FIDE

Anna Muzychuk and Abdumalik made a short draw | Photo: David Llada/FIDE

Saduakassova - Bulmaga: 1-0

Saduakassova scored her second victory of the event, this time against Bulmaga in the final round.

Position after 21...Nh5

21...Nh5 allows white to gain substantial advantage. How? Saduakassova seize the opportunity and converted her advantage into a victory.

Both Saduakassova and Bulmaga had a tough tournament but played some good games | Photo: John Saunders/FIDE
Interview with Dinara Saduakassova | Video: FIDE

Mammadzada scored an impressive 6.5/11 to finish third | Photo: John Saunders/FIDE
Interview with Gunay Mammadzada | Video: FIDE

Replay all Round 11 games

Replay the live stream

Women's GP Gibraltar Round 11 - Part 1 with Veselin Topalov and Fiona Steil-Antoni | Video: FIDE
Women's GP Gibraltar Round 11 - Part 2 with Veselin Topalov and Fiona Steil-Antoni | Video: FIDE

Round 11 Results

Kashlinskaya - Stefanova: 1-0

Gunina - Dzagnidze: 0.5-0.5

Lagno - M Muzychuk: 0.5-0.5

A Muzychuk - Abdumalik: 0.5-0.5

Saduakassova - Bulmaga: 1-0

Paehtz - Mammadzada: 0.5-0.5

Final Standings

Rk.SNo NameFEDRtgPts. TB1  TB2  TB3 
13
IMAbdumalik ZhansayaKAZ24728,50,0643,75
24
GMMuzychuk MariyaUKR25447,00,0435,50
31
IMMammadzada GunayAZE24436,51,0432,50
48
GMLagno KaterynaRUS25466,50,0332,25
511
IMPaehtz ElisabethGER24566,01,0330,00
65
GMDzagnidze NanaGEO25246,00,0328,00
79
GMMuzychuk AnnaUKR25355,50,0231,25
86
IMKashlinskaya AlinaRUS24945,00,0424,00
912
GMStefanova AntoanetaBUL24704,51,0224,25
107
GMGunina ValentinaRUS24214,50,0420,00
1110
IMSaduakassova DinaraKAZ25004,00,0219,50
122
IMBulmaga IrinaROU24402,00,0111,50

Details

GP Overall Standings

1. Goryachkina (RUS) - 398 points

2. Humpy (IND) - 293

3. Lagno (RUS) - 280

4. Dzagnidze (GEO) - 265

5. M. Muzychuk (UKR) - 250

 

The winner of Gibraltar GP - Zhansaya Abdumalik scored 270 points but her score is not counted towards ranking and qualification as she was a substitute player.

Schedule

Everyday game starts at 6:30 p.m. IST except the last round which starts at 5:30 p.m. IST.

Links

Official site

Tournament Regulations