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.
In this video course, experts (Pelletier, Marin, Müller and Reeh) examine the games of Judit Polgar. Let them show you which openings Polgar chose to play, where her strength in middlegames were, or how she outplayed her opponents in the endgame.
Khadem continued to resist until move 60 before conceding defeat.

Sara Khadem | Photo: Niki Riga
Goryachkina 1 - 0 Humpy
The Jobava London System is a minor form of the London System. White tries to play Lf4 quickly followed by Nc3.

Aleksandra Goryachkina | Photo: Niki Riga

Kateryna Lagno, who won the 2022/23 Women's Grand Prix remains in the lead in Monaco | Photo: Niki Riga
Round 6 results
Standings
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