FIDE Women’s Grand Prix: Three-way tie, one round to play
It’s a packed leaderboard at the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix event in Monaco, where Aleksandra Goryachkina, Kateryna Lagno, and Batkhuyag Munguntuul are tied for the lead at 5/8, followed closely by Tan Zhongyi and Humpy Koneru at 4.5/8. Everything is up in the air with one game to play.
Lagno came into round eight with a half-point lead, and made a 21 move draw with Koneru. That allowed Goryachkina to catch up with her win, as well as Munguntuul, who continues to be the surprise of the tournament as an (outrated heavily!) IM among GMs.
Goryachkina earned Sara Khadem’s resignation with 50. Rxc8 in the above position, when Black’s position fully falls apart after …Rxc8 Nxd6+. Munguntuul’s game concluded with the professional 53. …Ra1 (D) and White has no moves! Kh3 gets mated on h1, the rook can’t move without losing the a7-pawn, and g3+ Kf3 can only delay the other options for a move or two.
The feature game of the ninth round will be the one between co-leaders Munguntuul – Goryachkina. The final round begins at 8:15 a.m. ET / 2:15 p.m. CET. Follow along on Lichess.
