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5th Cairns Cup R6: Humpy beats Harika to emerge sole leader

by Shahid Ahmed - 17/06/2025

GM Koneru Humpy defeated GM Harika Dronavalli to emerge sole leader at 5th Cairns Cup. Harika made an incorrect exchange sacrifice. She had compensation but it was not enough as Humpy's long-term material advantage helped her to win the game. She is now at 4.5/6. IM Alina Kashlinskaya (POL) defeated GM Mariya Muzychuk (UKR) to move to 4/6. IM Carissa Yip (USA) played fantastic chess to beat GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN). She is now at 3.5/6 with Harika and IM Alice Lee (USA). GM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ) crushed Alice after the latter went wrong early in the game. GM Nino Batsiashvili (GEO) made a one-move blunder in the endgame which cost her the point against GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO). Round 7 starts today at 12 p.m. local time, 10:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club

Decisive games only

For the second time at this event since Round 1, all five games ended decisively.

GM Koneru Humpy is the sole leader 4.5/6 | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club

Humpy - Harika: 1-0

GM Koneru Humpy (2543) has not lost a Classical rated game against GM Harika Dronavalli (2483) since July 2016. Earlier this year, Humpy defeated Harika at Monaco GP in February. This time the result was also the same.

Position after 13.cxd5

13...Bxd5 14.Bxd5 cxd5 15.Qxd5 would have been fine for Black. Instead, Harika decided to give up an exchange 13...cxd5 14.c4 d4 15.Bxa8 Rxa8 Black had compensation, however White converted her long-term material advantage into a win eventually.

Interview with GM Koneru Humpy | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club

GM Koneru Humpy got the better of GM Harika Dronavalli | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club

Zhongyi - Carissa

Position after 21.Bc4?

21.Bc4? dropped another pawn without any compensation h4 22.Bh2 Qxe4 23.Re1 Qf5 24.Bd3 Qd5 25.Ra3 h3 26.Be4 Qh5 27.Bf3 Qh8 not only the queen is safe but also keeps the d4-pawn protected 28.Bd6 Nde5 29.Bxf8 Bxf8 30.Nbc5 hxg2 31.Bxg2 Bg4 and Black went on to win the game. IM Carissa Yip (USA, 2431) certainly played at a level to beat the 16th Women's World Champion, GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN, 2546).

Interview with IM Carissa Yip (USA) | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club

IM Carissa Yip (USA) played fantastic chess to beat GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN) | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club
Interview with GM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ) | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club

IM Alice Lee (USA) imploded against GM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ) | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club

IM Alina Kashlinskaya (POL) - GM Mariya Muzychuk (UKR): 1-0 | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club
Interview with GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club

A one-move blunder cost GM Nino Batsiashvili (GEO) dearly against GM Nana Dzagnidze (GEO) | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club

WGM Thalia Cervantes Landeiro (USA) ready to ring the bell to signal the start of Round 6 | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club

Replay live stream

Replay Round 6 live commentary by GM Yasser Seirawan (USA), IMs Nazi Paikidze (USA) and Almira Skripchenko (FRA), and WGM Katerina Nemcova (USA) | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club

Round 6 results

All decisive games in Round 6 | Graphic: Saint Louis Chess Club

Standings after Round 6

GM Koneru Humpy is the sole leader 4.5/6 | Graphic: Saint Louis Chess Club

Round 7 pairings

Round 7 pairings | Graphic: Saint Louis Chess Club

Schedule

Every day Round starts at 12 p.m. local time, 10:30 p.m. IST. Only rest day is on Sunday 15th June 2025.

Schedule | Source: Official site

Total prize fund

The total prize fund is US$ 250000. The top three prizes are $60000, $50000 and $40000.

Prize details | Source: Official site

Format

It is a round-robin event with a Classical time control of 40 moves in 90 minutes + 30 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.

Links

Official site

Tournament Regulations

Saint Louis Chess Club: Official site, facebook, twitter, instagram, youtube


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