China lost 2,5-1,5 against the team of Armenia, with IM Lilit Mkrtchian winning with black on board 1. USA managed to draw on three boards, but again the key game was on board 1, where WGM Turmunkh Munkhzul defeated IM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova.

Replay all top games from the Women Chess Olympiad here

That makes India absolute favorites for the title. Despite GM Harika Dronavalli losing to IM Assaubayeva, GM Vaishali and IM Vantika finished the job to keep India undefeated.

This is a flash report from the Olympiad, stay tuned for updates

This is the game Stavroula Tsolakidou – R Vaishali from round 1 of the Tbilisi Grand Prix

Stavroula Tsolakidou – R Vaishali, Tbilisi Grand Prix 2024

Tbilisi Women Grand Prix 2024 live games

FIDE Tblilisi Grand Prix 2024 Press release

There is no better place than Georgia to launch the new season of the Women’s Grand Prix. As the birthplace of chess legends like former Women’s World Champions Nona Gaprindashvili (the first woman to be awarded the title of Grandmaster) and Maia Chiburdanidze, as well as three-time Soviet Women’s Champion Nana Alexandria, Georgia holds a revered place in chess history. The country continues to produce world-class talent, including Nana Dzagnidze, Nino Batsiashvili, Lela Javakhishvili, and Bella Khotenashvili, making it a fitting host for this landmark event.

“We are delighted that this event will start in Georgia, given the country’s rich chess legacy,” said FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich.

“FIDE has made women’s chess one of its priorities, and the updated Women’s Grand Prix series is an opportunity to further raise awareness of women’s chess, hopefully getting more female players and more sponsors involved”.

The 2024/25 WGP series introduces several key changes, including an increase in participants from 16 to 20, an expansion from four to six tournaments, and a larger prize fund of 120,000 euros. Each player will compete in three of the six tournaments, earning points based on their standings in each event. The top two players in the series will secure spots in the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament.

The Tbilisi tournament

The tournament in Tbilisi will take place at the Biltmore Tbilisi Hotel – the first glass skyscraper in Georgia and the highest hotel in the Caucasus Region. This inaugural event features a strong lineup, including two former Women’s World Champions—Alexandra Kosteniuk, winner of the Munich leg in the 2022/23 series, and Mariya Muzychuk—alongside some of the most promising players in the chess world today.

First round and time control

The first round starts on Thursday, 3 PM local time in Tbilisi. The time control will be 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move one.

Lichess commentary on the 2024-2025 Grand Prix expectations

The world’s leading online free chess server Lichess comments on the upcoming Grand Prix, “Historically, the Women’s Grand Prix has been notoriously predictable. Hou Yifan won every series she played, and Humpy finished 2nd in the first five series, both of which are basically what you would have expected. When Ju Wenjun and Aleksandra Goryachkina won, they weren’t the highest-rated players at the beginning, but they were by the end. Following those expectations, whoever wins this series will probably be the highest-rated among the participants whenever it ends late next year. Right now, the highest-rated players in order are Tan Zhongyi, Lei Tingjie, and Aleksandra Goryachkina. Is that who you would expect to win? Tan probably won’t need the Candidates spot. Lei Tingjie has never played the Grand Prix before. Goryachkina has been one of the best Grand Prix participants, medalling in five of six events, but even she limped to the finish line last time and only ended up second. With the form Vaishali has shown in the past 12 months, it’s not crazy to think she could jump up 50 Elo and steal the series.”

Vaishali R scored her first victory in the tournament after beating Jergus Pechac. It was a drawish endgame which looked tougher for the Indian, but Pechac blundered the tactical motive in the first move after the time control and immediately resigned.

Erwin L’Ami was victorious against his compatriot Max Warmerdam with white pieces. L’Ami had a slightly worse position in the early middlegame but Warmerdam made a huge mistake with 27…Rfc8. L’Ami used his chances and won the game.

After six played rounds, Mustafa Yilmaz and Alexander Doncheko tie for first with 4.5/6 points, while Velimir Ivic and Javokhir Sindarov trail by half a point.

Rankings after 6 played rounds:

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Mustafa Yilmaz was today victorious against Max Warmerdam. The game was around the equal bar until Warmerdam’s 33…Kf8? followed by 34…Ba8?? Yilmaz did not let the advantage go, and scored his second consecutive victory in the event.

Velimir Ivic defeated Vaishali R in a very nice rooks endgame with mating motives. Ivic had winning chances earlier, but Vaishali stroke back and fought for draw. However, 35…Kg6? was a crucial mistake and the Serbian grandmaster found the way to victory.

Alexander Donchenko scored against Jergus Pechac. Donchenko had a clear advantage from the middlegame which was improving all way after, and Pechac eventually resigned in the 36th move.

Tata Steel Challengers 2023 – Round 3 recap / LIVE games

Round 4 pairings:

Eline Roebers – Amin Tabatabaei
Velimir Ivic – Vaishali R
Adhiban – Javokhir Sindarov
Mustafa Yilmaz – Max Warmerdam
Jergus Pechac – Alexander Donchenko
Luis Paulo Supi – Thomas Beerdsen
Abhimanyu Mishra – Erwin L’Ami

Velimir Ivic was convincing with Black against Abhimanyu Mishra. The 14-year-old American made a crucial mistake with 33.Qe3 and Velimir didn’t let go. He brought the game to the end with almost perfect technique and scored his first win in the tournament.

Mustafa Yilmaz scored against Erwin L’Ami. The Turkish grandmaster had a clear advantage in the early middlegame, quickly upgrading it to a decisive advantage. L’Ami eventually resigned in the 38th move.

Javokhir Sindarov outplayed Vaishali R in the two rooks endgame. The material was equal, but Sindarov’s rooks were too active and Vaishali couldn’t defend.

Replay all games here / Replay Day 3 video coverage here

Round 3 results:

Featured photo by Lennart Ootes Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2023

Three games finished today with decisive results, with 17-year-old IM Eline Roebers stealing the show as she defeated the reigning Dutch Chess Champion GM Erwin L’Ami. GM Alexander Donchenko was victorious against IM Vaishali R, while GM Amin Tabatabaei scored an impressive victory over GM Jergus Pechac, despite the blunder of a piece in the 7th move! Replay all games here

As the rest of the games finished in a draw, four players now tie for the top of the Tata Steel Challengers 2023 scoring 1.5 points each: Abhimanyu Mishra, Amin Tabatabaei, Alexander Donchenko and Max Warmerdam.

Round 2 results:

Featured Photo © Jurriaan Hoefsmit – Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2023

The second round starts today at 14:00 CEST, with broadcast delay of 15 minutes. Round 2 pairings are:

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Tata Steel Masters 2023 – LIVE / Tata Steel Challengers 2023 – LIVE

Featured photo: © Jurriaan Hoefsmit – Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2023

The first round brings seven interesting clashes. GM Mustafa Yilmaz will be White against GM Velimir Ivic, GM Abhimanyu Mishra plays against IM Eline Roebers, GM Max Warmerdam goes against GM Jergus Pechac. Round 1 pairings can be found below:

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Tata Steel Masters 2023 – LIVE / Tata Steel Challengers 2023 – LIVE