“It is an honor to once again welcome some of the world’s top female players to Saint Louis,” said Dr. Jeanne Cairns Sinquefield, co-founder of the Saint Louis Chess Club. “Through events like the Cairns Cup, we aim to create greater opportunities for females in chess and inspire the next generation to compete, achieve, and lead in this timeless game.”

Live games from Cairns Cup 2025 will be daily on Chessdom, while additional news can be found in the Chessdom Newsletter – you can sign up for free in the form below.

Cairns Cup 2025 participants

See the Women Top 100 rating list here

Historical winners of Cairns Cup

2019: Valentina Gunina
2020: Humpy Koneru
2023: Anna Zatonskih
2024: Tan Zhongyi

More about Cairns Cup

Launched in 2024 and running through July 4, 2029, the Saint Louis Chess Club is offering the Cairns Chess Queens Award — a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at encouraging more female chess players from the United States to achieve the Grandmaster (GM) title. A $100,000 prize will be awarded to any U.S. female player who earns the overall GM title within this five-year period. Up to five players will be recognized, with eligibility limited to female chess players who are American citizens or who become citizens before earning the title.

“The Saint Louis Chess Club remains dedicated to advancing the game of chess at every level,” said Tony Rich, Technical Director of the Saint Louis Chess Club. “The Cairns Cup plays a vital role in fostering the growth of women in chess, offering a world-class stage where top talent can challenge themselves, gain critical experience, and inspire future generations.”

The tournament follows a prestigious ten-player round-robin format of classical chess, similar in format to the illustrious Sinquefield Cup. Games will be held at the World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries in the historic Central West End neighborhood where its latest exhibition — “Charles Houska: Master of Play” — will be on display during the tournament.

Each round of the Cairns Cup will be streamed live daily from June 10 to 20 at 12:20 p.m. CDT with expert commentary by Woman Grandmaster (WGM) Katerina Nemcova, WGM Almira Skripchenko and International Master (IM) Nazi Paikidze. International Arbiter (IA) Maya Myers will serve as Chief Arbiter and IA Anastasia Sorokina as Deputy Arbiter.

Games will be live daily on Chessdom.com. More: Grand Prix Pune Tournament information / Live games / Details about the Women Grand Prix series

The Shymkent leg of the Grand Prix series follows the successful first event in Tbilisi, Georgia, from August 14-25, 2024, which saw outstanding performances and thrilling games. Alina Kashlinskaya clinched first place, putting her at the top of the Grand Prix leaderboard with 130 points. Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva and Greece’s Stavroula Tsolakidou both had successful debuts in Tbilisi, both leading the tournament early on, ultimately ending second and third, respectively. They will be back for this second leg, joined by Aleksandra Goryachkina, Kateryna Lagno, Tan Zhongyi, Humpy Koneru, Elisabeth Paehtz, Nurgyul Salimova, Batkhuyag Munguntuul, and Divya Deshmukh.

WGP Series consists of six Women’s Grand Prix tournaments held over two years 2024-2025. A total of twenty players compete in the WGP series, as each Women Grand Prix event will have ten participants. The competitors of the first leg was the Women Grand Prix in Tblisi. Replay the games here:

Round 1: Bibisara Assaubayeva – Sarasadat Khademalsharieh / Nana Dzagnidze – Lela Javakhishvili / Anna Muzychuk – Mariya Muzychuk / Alina Kashlinskaya – Alexandra Kosteniuk / Stavroula Tsolakidou – R Vaishali

Round 2: Alexandra Kosteniuk – R Vaishali / Sarasadat Khademalsharieh – Stavroula Tsolakidou / Lela Javakhishvili – Bibisara Assaubayeva / Mariya Muzychuk – Nana Dzagnidze / Alina Kashlinskaya – Anna Muzychuk

Round 3: Anna Muzychuk – Alexandra Kosteniuk / Nana Dzagnidze – Alina Kashlinskaya / Bibisara Assaubayeva – Mariya Muzychuk / Stavroula Tsolakidou – Lela Javakhishvili / R Vaishali – Sarasadat Khademalsharieh

Round 4: Alexandra Kosteniuk – Sarasadat Khademalsharieh / Lela Javakhishvili – R Vaishali / Mariya Muzychuk – Stavroula Tsolakidou / Alina Kashlinskaya – Bibisara Assaubayeva / Anna Muzychuk – Nana Dzagnidze

Round 5: Nana Dzagnidze – Alexandra Kosteniuk / Bibisara Assaubayeva – Anna Muzychuk / Stavroula Tsolakidou – Alina Kashlinskaya / R Vaishali – Mariya Muzychuk / Sarasadat Khademalsharieh – Lela Javakhishvili

Round 6: Alexandra Kosteniuk – Lela Javakhishvili / Mariya Muzychuk – Sarasadat Khademalsharieh / Alina Kashlinskaya – R Vaishali / Anna Muzychuk – Stavroula Tsolakidou / Nana Dzagnidze – Bibisara Assaubayeva

Round 7: Bibisara Assaubayeva – Alexandra Kosteniuk / Stavroula Tsolakidou – Nana Dzagnidze / R Vaishali – Anna Muzychuk / Sarasadat Khademalsharieh – Alina Kashlinskaya / Lela Javakhishvili – Mariya Muzychuk

Round 8: Alexandra Kosteniuk – Mariya Muzychuk / Alina Kashlinskaya – Lela Javakhishvili / Anna Muzychuk – Sarasadat Khademalsharieh / Nana Dzagnidze – R Vaishali / Bibisara Assaubayeva – Stavroula Tsolakidou

Round 9: Stavroula Tsolakidou – Alexandra Kosteniuk / R Vaishali – Bibisara Assaubayeva / Sarasadat Khademalsharieh – Nana Dzagnidze / Lela Javakhishvili – Anna Muzychuk / Mariya Muzychuk – Alina Kashlinskaya

Players

Bibisara Assaubayeva

Bibisara Assaubayeva, born on February 26, 2004, is one of the brightest young talents in the world of chess. She has achieved significant milestones from a very young age and continues to impress with her skill and dedication. Assaubayeva has won multiple titles in different age categories, including the World Youth Chess Championships, establishing her as a top competitor on the youth circuit. In 2021, she made history by becoming the youngest-ever Women’s World Blitz Champion at the age of 17, a remarkable achievement in her burgeoning career.

Photo: Michal Walusza

She retained her title a year later, proving that her first victory was no accident. As she continues to develop her skills and gain experience, Bibisara Assaubayeva is poised to become an even more prominent figure in women’s chess. Bibisara’s participation in the second leg of the Women’s Grand Prix 2024–2025 series will provide her with further opportunities to compete against top-tier opponents and enhance her reputation on the global stage.

Stavroula Tsolakidou

Stavroula Tsolakidou, born on March 24, 2000, is one of the most promising young talents in the chess world and is the No. 1 ranked Greek female player. She has achieved significant milestones from a young age and continues to make her mark on the international stage. One of Tsolakidou’s significant achievements was her performance in the World Youth Chess Championships (U14, U16, U18), where she secured multiple titles, showcasing her talent and potential at a young age.

Photo: Anna Shtourman

Stavroula’s participation in the second leg of the Women’s Grand Prix 2024–2025 series will provide her with further opportunities to compete against top-tier opponents and make a name for herself among the global elite.

Aleksandra Goryachkina

Aleksandra Goryachkina, born on September 28, 1998, with a peak rating of 2611, is known for her positional and strategic mastery. Her deep understanding of chess fundamentals and ability to outmaneuver opponents in complex positions make her a formidable player.

Photo: Michal Walusza

A highlight of her career was winning the 2019 Women’s Candidates Tournament, which earned her the right to challenge Ju Wenjun for the Women’s World Chess Championship. Although she narrowly lost in the tie-breaks, her performance earned her widespread acclaim. Recently, she won the 2023 FIDE Women’s World Cup and continues to be a dominant force in the Women’s Grand Prix series.

Kateryna Lagno

Former Women’s World Champion Kateryna Lagno, born on December 27, 1989, is celebrated for her dynamic and flexible chess style, with a peak rating of 2563. Achieving Grandmaster status at just 12 years and 4 months, she broke records and set new standards in women’s chess. Her career highlights include winning the European Women’s Championship twice and triumphs in the World Women’s Blitz Championship in 2010, 2018 and 2019.

Photo: Michal Walusza

Lagno’s consistent performance in the Women’s Grand Prix series, including winning the first leg of the 2022–23 series, showcases her versatility and strength. With a solid foundation in all phases of the game, she remains a formidable competitor in every tournament she enters.

Tan Zhongyi

Tan Zhongyi, born on May 29, 1991, is a former Women’s World Champion renowned for her solid and strategic playing style. Her deep opening preparation and exceptional endgame technique make her a challenging opponent. She won the Women’s World Chess Championship in 2017 after defeating Anna Muzychuk in the final. In 2024, she won the Cairns Cup, dominating a field of elite players.

Photo: Michal Walusza

She also won the Women’s Сandidates Tournament 2024, allowing her to compete against Ju Wenjun in the Women’s World Chess Championship 2025. Tan has a history of strong performances in the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix series, and with her current momentum, she is one of the favorites in the Grand Prix 2024-2025.

Humpy Koneru

Humpy Koneru, with a peak rating of 2623, is India’s highest-rated female player and a dominant force in women’s chess. Known for her tactical acumen and excellent positional understanding, Humpy has secured numerous titles, including the 2011 FIDE Grand Prix series and the 2019 Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship.

Photo: Mark Livshitz

After a brief hiatus, she returned triumphantly to win the Cairns Cup in 2020. Humpy’s consistent top-three finishes in the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix series demonstrate her world-class skills and relentless pursuit of victory.

Elisabeth Paehtz

Elisabeth Paehtz, born on January 8, 1985, is one of Germany’s most accomplished female chess players. She has had a distinguished career marked by numerous titles and significant contributions to the game. In November 2022, at the age of 37, FIDE confirmed the Grandmaster title for Paehtz, making her the first German woman to receive this title. In a time of chess prodigies on the rise, Paehtz serves as an inspiration that anything is possible at any age.

Photo: Maria Emelianova

Elisabeth consistently plays and performs with the women’s elite and participated in both the 2019-2021 and 2022–2023 Women’s Grand Prix Series. Her consistent performances across different legs of the series highlight her capability to maintain a high standard of play over an extended period.

Nurgyul Salimova

Nurgyul Salimova, born on June 2, 2003, is a rising talent from Bulgaria who burst onto the elite chess scene by reaching the final of the 2023 FIDE World Cup, defeating several experienced IMs and GMs along the way. Despite losing to Goryachkina in the final, her silver medal earned her spots in both the 2024 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament and the 2024–2025 Women’s Grand Prix. Known for her dynamic and attacking style, Salimova frequently employs sharp tactical lines and takes calculated risks to gain an advantage.

Photo: Maria Emelianova

Her consistent performances indicate a bright future, and the chess world eagerly anticipates her continued development.

Batkhuyag Munguntuul

Mongolian chess player Batkhuyag Munguntuul, born on October 8, 1987, has a strong opening repertoire and impressive endgame skills. Representing her country at multiple chess Olympiads, she has consistently outmaneuvered opponents in technical positions. Her standout performance at the 2023 FIDE Grand Swiss, where she placed fourth, earned her a spot in the Women’s Grand Prix Series.

Photo: Lennart Ootes

Munguntuul’s experience and skill make her a respected competitor in any tournament she enters.

Divya Deshmukh

Divya Deshmukh, born on December 9, 2005, in Nagpur, Maharashtra, is an Indian chess prodigy who holds the titles of Woman Grandmaster and International Master. A multiple-time national champion, she has won gold at the World Youth Chess Championships in various categories, establishing herself as a top young talent. She won the 2022 Women’s Indian Chess Championship, the 2023 Asian Women’s Chess Championship, and the 2024 FIDE World Junior Girls Championship.

Photo: Michal Walusza

Divya is regarded as one of India’s brightest chess stars, and most recently won the team gold as well as the individual gold medals at the 45th Chess Olympiad in 2024. Her performance pushed her rating to its peak of 2501, putting her at the number one Female Junior (Under 20) spot on the FIDE rankings.

Venue

The event will be held at the Rixos Khadisha Shymkent Hotel, a fitting venue for the chess elite, known for its excellent facilities and warm Kazakh hospitality.

Pairings

About the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix

The Women’s Grand Prix Series 2024-25 will feature a total of 20 players, and each one of them will participate in three out of six WGP tournaments.

Each WGP tournament is played with ten (10) players round robin. In each WGP tournament, every player scores WGP points according to her position in the final standings; the winner of the WGP Series is a player who scores the most cumulative points earned in all three WGP tournaments she played.

The total prize fund for each one of the four events is EUR 80,000, with another EUR 120,000 being distributed among the top 10 finishers in the overall standings for the Grand Prix series.

The two (2) players who score more cumulative points in the WGP series qualify for the FIDE Women Candidates Tournament 2026.

More events under the Austrian Bundesliga banner: Austrian Chess Bundesliga 2024 – 2025 / Frauen Austrian Chess Bundesliga 2024/2025 / West Division 2 / Mitte Division 2 / East Division 2 / Live games

More national chess championships: Schachbundesliga 2024 – 2025 / Serbian Team Chess Championship / Slovenian Team Chess Championship / Austrian Bundesliga 2024 – 2025 / Romanian Team Chess Championship / Croatian Team Chess Championship / Japan Team Chess Championship / 2024 US Chess Championship

Frauen Austrian Chess Bundesliga 2024/2025

Replay all games from the Tbilisi FIDE Women Grand Prix

Round 1: Bibisara Assaubayeva – Sarasadat Khademalsharieh / Nana Dzagnidze – Lela Javakhishvili / Anna Muzychuk – Mariya Muzychuk / Alina Kashlinskaya – Alexandra Kosteniuk / Stavroula Tsolakidou – R Vaishali

Round 2: Alexandra Kosteniuk – R Vaishali / Sarasadat Khademalsharieh – Stavroula Tsolakidou / Lela Javakhishvili – Bibisara Assaubayeva / Mariya Muzychuk – Nana Dzagnidze / Alina Kashlinskaya – Anna Muzychuk

Round 3: Anna Muzychuk – Alexandra Kosteniuk / Nana Dzagnidze – Alina Kashlinskaya / Bibisara Assaubayeva – Mariya Muzychuk / Stavroula Tsolakidou – Lela Javakhishvili / R Vaishali – Sarasadat Khademalsharieh

Round 4: Alexandra Kosteniuk – Sarasadat Khademalsharieh / Lela Javakhishvili – R Vaishali / Mariya Muzychuk – Stavroula Tsolakidou / Alina Kashlinskaya – Bibisara Assaubayeva / Anna Muzychuk – Nana Dzagnidze

Round 5: Nana Dzagnidze – Alexandra Kosteniuk / Bibisara Assaubayeva – Anna Muzychuk / Stavroula Tsolakidou – Alina Kashlinskaya / R Vaishali – Mariya Muzychuk / Sarasadat Khademalsharieh – Lela Javakhishvili

Round 6: Alexandra Kosteniuk – Lela Javakhishvili / Mariya Muzychuk – Sarasadat Khademalsharieh / Alina Kashlinskaya – R Vaishali / Anna Muzychuk – Stavroula Tsolakidou / Nana Dzagnidze – Bibisara Assaubayeva

Round 7: Bibisara Assaubayeva – Alexandra Kosteniuk / Stavroula Tsolakidou – Nana Dzagnidze / R Vaishali – Anna Muzychuk / Sarasadat Khademalsharieh – Alina Kashlinskaya / Lela Javakhishvili – Mariya Muzychuk

Round 8: Alexandra Kosteniuk – Mariya Muzychuk / Alina Kashlinskaya – Lela Javakhishvili / Anna Muzychuk – Sarasadat Khademalsharieh / Nana Dzagnidze – R Vaishali / Bibisara Assaubayeva – Stavroula Tsolakidou

Round 9: Stavroula Tsolakidou – Alexandra Kosteniuk / R Vaishali – Bibisara Assaubayeva / Sarasadat Khademalsharieh – Nana Dzagnidze / Lela Javakhishvili – Anna Muzychuk / Mariya Muzychuk – Alina Kashlinskaya

After 10 days and nine rounds of play, Alina Kashlinskaya – playing for Poland – secured first place with a victory against Ukraine’s Mariya Muzychuk in the final round, finishing with six points. Second place went to Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva, who ended with five points. Three players shared third place, with Greece’s Stavroula Tsolakidou emerging on top due to superior tiebreaks

The first in a series of six tournaments in the new edition of the Women’s Grand Prix concluded in Tbilisi with high drama, as the winner was decided in the final game of the tournament. Apart from Assaubayeva, Kashlinskaya was the only other player entering the final round with five points.

In the decisive match, Kashlinskaya faced Mariya Muzychuk, who was trailing by half a point. From the onset, it was clear that this would be a tough contest. Playing the Ruy Lopez, both sides were cautious in the early stages, resulting in an even position. Kashlinskaya offered Muzychuk a chance to head for a draw with the Zaitsev variation, but Muzychuk chose to fight on. This decision backfired, and by move 32, Muzychuk was significantly weaker; by move 39, she was completely lost.

With this victory, Kashlinskaya also secured the leading position in the WGP series, with 130 points. Assaubayeva is in close second with 105.

Kashlinskaya: ‘My 10-month-old helped me win’

“I am so happy to win this tournament. I played a decent game and won,” said Kashlinskaya in an interview immediately after the game.

Kashlinskaya mentioned that she typically doesn’t follow other games during the round, even those crucial to her standing. “But somehow, in this game [between the other leader of the round – Bibisara Assaubayeva and Vaishali Rameshbabu], I decided to check it out. I saw that Vaishali was in time trouble and that the position was in Bibisara’s style, so in my head, I understood she would win this game, so I was surprised when it was a draw.”

Kashlinskaya was the only player in the tournament accompanied by her child – 10-month-old Anthony, who was often seen with Alina and her mother at the hotel restaurant. When asked whether the presence of her toddler was more of a help or a hindrance to her game, Kashlinskaya quickly responded: “Well, you see the results. He helped a lot.”

“I will definitely bring him with me to the next tournament,” she added, noting that her son even has chess pieces hanging from his pram, suggesting that his future may be connected to chess.

When asked if she would encourage other chess moms to bring their children to events, Kashlinskaya said: “Of course. Again, my result speaks for itself. And for motherhood, it is important to be with the baby as much as possible.” FIDE has launched the project ChessMom to encourage players with small children to take them to the forthcoming Olympiad in Budapest.

Assaubayeva second, Tsolakidou third

Bibisara Assaubayeva played as Black against Vaishali Rameshbabu. Given Vaishali’s shaky performance in the event, this match presented a significant opportunity for the Kazakhstani player. Despite quickly equalizing in the Sicilian, Bibisara neither pressed the position nor created any substantial chances, leading to a draw after 22 moves.

Assaubayeva explained after the game that her thoughts were still on her round-eight match, where she failed to convert a completely winning position against Tsolakidou. With 5.5 out of nine points, Assaubayeva awaited the outcome of the game between Mariya Muzychuk and Alina Kashlinskaya to determine whether she had secured first place. Vaishali, meanwhile, acknowledged that this was not her best tournament, noting that she needs to improve her time management, among other areas.

Stavroula Tsolakidou, playing as White, drew with Alexandra Kosteniuk in the English Opening. Despite having an almost winning position a couple of times, Tsolakidou managed only a draw. Still, with 5.5 points and no defeats in her first appearance at the Women’s Grand Prix, this was a significant success for the Greek player. Kosteniuk finished on four points.

In the final round, Nana Dzagnidze played as Black against Sara Khadem. Dzagnidze, one of the tournament favorites, often squandered advantages and lost games where she had the upper hand. Meanwhile, Khadem, having not competed in tournaments for the past six months, struggled with her matchups in Tbilisi.

In their Nimzo-Indian game, Dzagnidze gained a winning position early on but let her advantage slip. Fortunately for her, Khadem made a blunder that led directly to a lost rook endgame. Dzagnidze finished in a solid fourth place, with 5/9, which she described as “a fair result,” though she noted, “looking at my games, it could have been seven out of nine.” Khadem ended the tournament in last place with 2.5 points.

Anna Muzychuk drew as Black with Lela Javakhishvili. In the Indian Game, neither side created any chances nor offered any significant opportunities, resulting in a calm draw after 40 moves. Javakhishvili finished the tournament with five points, while Lela ended on 3.5 out of nine.

FIDE WGP Standigns

Here follows a closer look at the games from round nine:

Stavroula Tsolakidou – Alexandra Kosteniuk

This was a crucial game for Tsolakidou, as she was just half a point behind the two leaders. Stavroula played the English Opening, and the game started well for her – her pieces were more active, and she had the initiative on the board.

In the middlegame, Stavroula had a better position but misplayed it.

Here White could have obtain a decisive advantage with energetic 23.e5! but opted for a sluggish 23.Qe3.

Still, the Greek got two more chances to seal the deal but missed the opportunities. The second miss was particularly bitter.

After Kosteniuk’s 41…Qb5?? White could have won with 42.Qxh5 Qxb3 43.Qg4+ Kf8 44.Qc8+ Kg7 45.Qd7+ Kh6.

Instead, Stavroula played 42.Qe6??, allowing Black to pick up a pawn and exposing her king to perpetual checks.

Vaishali Rameshbabu – Bibisara Assaubayeva

Vaishali Rameshbabu faced the top favorite of the round, Bibisara Assaubayeva, who was tied for first place with five points after eight rounds. Playing the Najdorf in Sicilian, Assaubayeva quickly managed to equalize.

Vaishali prepared a kingside push, but Black effectively neutralized White’s threats.

14…b5 Black now counterattacks on the queenside. It is important to note that White did not manage to take control over the d5-square, which is critical in this system.  15.a3 Nb6 16.Rfd1 Black now had a chance to strike in the center with 16…d5, followed by 17…Rxc3 with a good initiative for an exchange, but Bibisara decided to play it safe and opted for the more neutral 16…h6.

Neither side had significant chances for the rest of the game. As Vaishali entered time trouble, she offered a repetition of moves, which Assaubayeva accepted.

Sarasadat Khademalsharieh – Nana Dzagnidze

Nana played the Nimzo-Indian against Khadem, and by move 20, she was winning.

20…Rd2 21.Bc3 Rc2 22.f3 Rxc3 23.fxe4 Re8 24.Nc6 Qe6, and White’s pawns are hanging across the board.

However, as in several rounds in Tbilisi, Nana did not demonstrate precision. Instead, she played 20…Rfd8and immediately lost a significant portion of her edge.

21.f3 Bc2 22.e4 Ba4 23.Bc3, and the position became roughly even.

Throughout the Women’s Grand Prix in Tbilisi, Nana often misplayed better positions, losing her advantage. But in this game, luck turned in her favor as her opponent made a critical blunder.

28.h4 Re7 29.Qxd7 Bxd7 30.Red1 Rxd1+ 31.Rxd1 Kf7 32.g4 offered White a chance to hold a draw.

But then Sara played 28.f4??, blundering not only a pawn but also any hope of avoiding a completely lost endgame.

28…Rxe4! 29.Qxd7 Rxe1+ 30.Rxe1 Bxd7 31.Bc3 Be6. The weaker party often has good drawing chances in such endgames with the opposite-coloured bishops, but this is not the case, as White’s queenside pawns are too weak. 32.a4 Bxc4 33.Bxf6 gxf6 34.Rxc4, and Black soon collected another pawn and won.

Lela Javakhishvili – Anna Muzychuk

The four-time Georgian champion entered the final round with three points, while Anna Muzychuk, with 4.5 points, had more at stake as she aimed for a top placement. In the Indian Game, neither player made the most precise moves, resulting in neither gaining a significant advantage throughout.

After a series of exchanges, the game transitioned to a balanced queen endgame. Muzychuk attempted to create opportunities, but Lela held her ground, despite later revealing in an interview that she wasn’t feeling well. The game concluded on move 40, following a threefold repetition.

Mariya Muzychuk – Alina Kashlinskaya

Apart from Assaubayeva, Kashlinskaya was the only other player in the tournament who was on five points, while Mariya Muzychuk was half a point behind. From the onset it was clear that this will be a very tough game. Kashlinskaya opted for the Murphy Defense in the Ruy Lopez and gradually outmanoeuvred her opponent.

Black is clearly better, but White still has some defensive resources. Mariya, however, played 35.g4? which became the last straw. After 35.Qd7 36.Kg3 Bc5 Black controls the d-file, has a strong bishop and is well aligned for an attack on the exposed white king.

37.R1e2 Rd3 38.Qc2 Qd5 39.Kg2 Rxe5!!

White refused to resign for another 12 moves, but Kashlinskaya was confident – winning the game and the tournament.

About the Women’s Grand Prix 2024/2025 series

The FIDE Women’s Grand Prix is a prestigious series of six tournaments exclusively for women chess players. The top two finishers in the cycle earn spots in the Candidates Tournament, which determines the challenger for the World Championship title.

This event is a key component of FIDE’s efforts to promote women’s chess globally. In the 2024/2025 series, twenty players will participate, each competing in three of the six tournaments, with ten players featured in each tournament.

Written by Milan Dinic

Photos: Anna Shtourman

This is the game Mariya Muzychuk – Alina Kashlinskaya from round 9 of the Tbilisi Grand Prix

Mariya Muzychuk – Kashlinskaya, Tbilisi Grand Prix 2024

This is the game Alina Kashlinskaya – Lela Javakhishvili from round 8 of the Tbilisi Grand Prix

Kashlinskaya – Javakhishvili, Tbilisi Grand Prix 2024

This is the game Sarasadat Khademalsharieh – Alina Kashlinskaya from round 7 of the Tbilisi Grand Prix

Khademalsharieh – Kashlinskaya, Tbilisi Grand Prix 2024

This is the game Alina Kashlinskaya – R Vaishali from round 6 of the Tbilisi Grand Prix

Kashlinskaya – Vaishali, Tbilisi Grand Prix 2024

Parallel tournaments live: Dortmund Chess 2024 / Spilimbergo 2024 / Hans Niemann – Nikita Vitiugov / Sinquefield Cup 2024 / Abu Dhabi Chess 2024

Round 1: Bibisara Assaubayeva – Sarasadat Khademalsharieh / Nana Dzagnidze – Lela Javakhishvili / Anna Muzychuk – Mariya Muzychuk / Alina Kashlinskaya – Alexandra Kosteniuk / Stavroula Tsolakidou – R Vaishali

Round 2: Alexandra Kosteniuk – R Vaishali / Sarasadat Khademalsharieh – Stavroula Tsolakidou / Lela Javakhishvili – Bibisara Assaubayeva / Mariya Muzychuk – Nana Dzagnidze / Alina Kashlinskaya – Anna Muzychuk

Round 3: Anna Muzychuk – Alexandra Kosteniuk / Nana Dzagnidze – Alina Kashlinskaya / Bibisara Assaubayeva – Mariya Muzychuk / Stavroula Tsolakidou – Lela Javakhishvili / R Vaishali – Sarasadat Khademalsharieh

Round 4: Alexandra Kosteniuk – Sarasadat Khademalsharieh / Lela Javakhishvili – R Vaishali / Mariya Muzychuk – Stavroula Tsolakidou / Alina Kashlinskaya – Bibisara Assaubayeva / Anna Muzychuk – Nana Dzagnidze

Round 5: Nana Dzagnidze – Alexandra Kosteniuk / Bibisara Assaubayeva – Anna Muzychuk / Stavroula Tsolakidou – Alina Kashlinskaya / R Vaishali – Mariya Muzychuk / Sarasadat Khademalsharieh – Lela Javakhishvili

Round 6: Alexandra Kosteniuk – Lela Javakhishvili / Mariya Muzychuk – Sarasadat Khademalsharieh / Alina Kashlinskaya – R Vaishali / Anna Muzychuk – Stavroula Tsolakidou / Nana Dzagnidze – Bibisara Assaubayeva

Round 7: Bibisara Assaubayeva – Alexandra Kosteniuk / Stavroula Tsolakidou – Nana Dzagnidze / R Vaishali – Anna Muzychuk / Sarasadat Khademalsharieh – Alina Kashlinskaya / Lela Javakhishvili – Mariya Muzychuk

Round 8: Alexandra Kosteniuk – Mariya Muzychuk / Alina Kashlinskaya – Lela Javakhishvili / Anna Muzychuk – Sarasadat Khademalsharieh / Nana Dzagnidze – R Vaishali / Bibisara Assaubayeva – Stavroula Tsolakidou

Round 9: Stavroula Tsolakidou – Alexandra Kosteniuk / R Vaishali – Bibisara Assaubayeva / Sarasadat Khademalsharieh – Nana Dzagnidze / Lela Javakhishvili – Anna Muzychuk / Mariya Muzychuk – Alina Kashlinskaya