Indian chess Grandmaster Koneru Humpy and IM Divya Deshmukh drew their respective games in round two of the ongoing FIDE Women’s Grand Prix, in Kazakhstan on Thursday.
Koneru Humpy drew against GM Tan Zhongyi, in a game where the Indian was very close to winning.
Meanwhile, Divya’s maiden Grand Prix event saw her score a draw against GM Kateryna Lagno in the second round.
Both Humpy and Divya had drawn their first-round matches as well and are now in 4th and 6th place in the standings respectively after two rounds.
There is a three-way tie at the top, with IM Bibisara Assaubayeva, IM Stavroula Tsolakidou and GM Tan Zhongyi all on 1.5 points.
Tournament standings after round two. (Photo Credit: Chess.com)
GM Kateryna Lagno played an eventful draw against 18-year-old IM Divya Deshmukh in her debut Women’s Grand Prix.
The second-ranked Indian prodigy had no complaints about how her tournament has been going.
“So far, so good. Two days, two draws, can’t complain,” Divya said after her match.
“It’s been a good year. I am trying my best and this tournament is so prestigious so I’m going to give my best,” she added.
Meanwhile, GM Koneru Humpy and GM Tan Zhongyi played the longest game of the day.
Koneru held the advantage over Tan but a miscalculation on move 40 meant that the game ended in a draw.
In round three, Divya Deshmukh will face GM Aleksandra Goryachkina, while Koneru Humpy will play IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul.
The third round of matches will be played today, on Friday, starting at 3:30 PM, IST.
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