Monaco GP: Tan and Goryachkina grab full points

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
2/25/2025 – Round six of the Monaco Women's Grand Prix saw two decisive games, as Aleksandra Goryachkina and Tan Zhongyi (pictured) claimed victories to shake up the standings. Sole leader Kateryna Lagno held a quick draw to maintain her lead, while Humpy Koneru and Sara Khadem suffered defeats. Goryachkina's endgame technique allowed her to overcome Humpy, while Khadem faltered in a difficult defensive position against Tan. With three rounds remaining, Goryachkina and Batkhuyag Munguntuul now trail Lagno by just half a point. | Photo: FIDE / Niki Riga

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Goryachkina now a half point behind Lagno

Following the rest day, two out of five games ended decisively in round six of the Women's Grand Prix stage in Monaco. Kateryna Lagno, the sole leader, secured a 28-move draw with Alexandra Kosteniuk to maintain her position at the top of the standings. Meanwhile, two of the players who had been trailing Lagno by half a point suffered defeats: Humpy Koneru lost to Aleksandra Goryachkina, while Sara Khadem was defeated by Tan Zhongyi.

These results allowed Goryachkina to move into shared second place alongside Batkhuyag Munguntuul, with both players just half a point behind Lagno. Tan, on the other hand, now sits in a four-player group with an even score, a further half point back.

Both decisive games of the day were decided in the technical phase. Goryachkina outplayed Humpy in a double-rook endgame (full game analysis below), while Khadem was unable to hold what was theoretically an equal position with a queen and a minor piece per side. From a practical standpoint, however, the position was extremely difficult to defend. Now representing Spain, Khadem erred with 42.Qb2, whereas 42.Nd2 would have been the most accurate defensive resource.

There followed 42...Qe4+ 43.Kd2 Qg2+ 44.Kc3 Qf3+ 45.Kd2 Be4, and Black's bishop had infiltrated decisively.

Khadem continued to resist until move 60 before conceding defeat.

Sara Khadem

Sara Khadem | Photo: Niki Riga

Goryachkina 1 - 0 Humpy

Aleksandra Goryachkina

Aleksandra Goryachkina | Photo: Niki Riga

Kateryna Lagno

Kateryna Lagno, who won the 2022/23 Women's Grand Prix remains in the lead in Monaco | Photo: Niki Riga

Round 6 results

Standings

All games

Links

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Topics: Aleksandra Goryachkina, Tan Zhongyi, Women's Grand Prix 2024/25
Carlos Colodro is a Hispanic Philologist from Bolivia. He works as a freelance translator and writer since 2012. A lot of his work is done in chess-related texts, as the game is one of his biggest interests, along with literature and music.
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Monaco GP: Five draws, Humpy and Paehtz get promising positions

2/23/2025 – As the Monaco Women's Grand Prix reached its rest day, all five games in round five ended in draws, leaving Kateryna Lagno in the sole lead. Three players - Humpy Koneru, Sara Khadem and Batkhuyag Munguntuul - remain just half a point behind. Lagno held a solid draw with black, while both Humpy and Elisabeth Paehtz (pictured) missed opportunities to convert promising positions. | Photo: FIDE / Niki Riga
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Monaco GP: Kosteniuk and Goryachkina score

2/20/2025 – The third round of the Monaco Women's Grand Prix saw all four co-leaders hold their positions at the top of the standings after drawing their games. Batkhuyag Munguntuul and Humpy Koneru split the point in the only direct clash between frontrunners, while Sara Khadem and Kateryna Lagno secured safe draws with the black pieces. Meanwhile, Aleksandra Goryachkina and Alexandra Kosteniuk bounced back from first-round losses with victories over Bibisara Assaubayeva and Tan Zhongyi. | Photo: FIDE / Niki Riga
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Video

60m English New ideas in the Najdorf_E

‘New ideas in the Najdorf – a Power Play 18 Update’ aims to complement Daniel King’s popular DVD from last year ‘The Sicilian Najdorf - a repertoire for Black’. Such a dynamic and popular opening as the Najdorf is developing the whole time. On this download, Daniel King updates lines that were included on his DVD but also responds to viewers’ requests, considering lines that he omitted from his original repertoire. The lines examined on this update are: • 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 h3 e5 7 Nde2 • 5….a6 6 Bc4 in combination with the English Attack (Be3, f3 etc) • 5…a6 6 Be3 and the …a5 variation • 5…a6 6 Be2 and 9 Re1 • 5 f3 (instead of 5 Nc3) It isn’t necessary to have seen the original Najdorf DVD to understand the lines examined here – but it would help as they form part of a complete repertoire.