Humpy beats Divya Deshmukh, Jiner emerges sole leader

Pune, April 16: Experience prevailed over youth as India’s Koneru Humpy defeated compatriot Divya Deshmukh while China’s Zhu Jiner emerged as the sole leader in an eventful third round of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix here on Wednesday.
Humpy was a class apart as she beat overnight joint leader and compatriot Divya while Munguntuul Batkhuyag scored over Alina Kashlinskaya.
Incidentally, both 37-year-olds Humpy and Munguntuul have been contemporaries and it was interesting to witness them scoring emphatic victories on the day.
Dronavali Harika got the better of Nurgyul Salimova in an interesting game.
Jiner was held to a draw by Melia Salome and has emerged as the sole leader with 2.5 points.
For years, Humpy, the reigning women’s world rapid champion, has been stamping her authority on world chess, and gave a good display of her positional strength on the day.
Humpy surprised Divya by opting for the English Opening, one which she hasn’t played in a while and that left her opponent thinking from the second move itself.
An opening inaccuracy had Humpy sitting comfortably while Divya’s knight found itself at the edge of the board. An open position had Humpy manoeuvring her pieces to keep gaining advantage.
Humpy’s bishop pair and a passed pawn on the queen side resulted in a victory after 53 moves.
Alina and Munguntuul
In a Queen’s Gambit Declined game between Alina and Munguntuul, it was apparent that the clash was heading for an engrossing tussle with both players committing very early to castling on opposite sides and initiating attack on each other’s Kings.
The middle-game was fluid with an open position with plenty of play possible for both. Munguntuul was the first one to break through on the queen-side.
A pawn exchange on the 23rd turn by Alina tilted the game in Mongolian’s favour. Alina resigned on the 34th turn when threatened with a checkmate by Munguntuul’s queen and rook. (PTI)