Vaishali Rameshbabu`s victory at the Pune Grand Prix highlights her competitive spirit amid a thrilling chess championship.

GM Vaishali Rameshbabu made headlines during the Pune FIDE Women’s Grand Prix by securing a crucial victory against IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul in round five. This win elevated her score to 50 percent, showcasing her resilience in a highly competitive field. Meanwhile, GM Zhu Jiner continues to dominate the tournament, surviving a dramatic queen sacrifice by IM Nurgyul Salimova to maintain her lead. Zhu remains half a point ahead of GM Humpy Koneru and IM Divya Deshmukh, setting the stage for an exciting round six.

The Pune Grand Prix features a 10-player round-robin format, with each player allotted 90 minutes plus an additional 30 minutes from move 40, along with a 30-second increment per move. The top prize of €18,000 (~$20,00 is at stake, alongside valuable Grand Prix points that contribute towards qualification for the upcoming 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament. Round six promises to be thrilling, with Zhu facing Vaishali and Humpy battling Divya.

In parallel, the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Championship Match concluded on April 18, alongside the FIDE World Cadets & Youth Rapid & Blitz Chess Championship in Rhodes, Greece, which saw over 430 participants from 48 countries competing across various age categories.

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