We have reached the end of a spectacular Grand Prix leg in Monaco, filled with intense battles, unexpected turns, and a newly crowned champion.
After nine grueling rounds, three players—Aleksandra Goryachkina, Batkhuyag Munguntuul, and Humpy Koneru—finished tied for first place. However, it was Goryachkina who emerged as the tournament winner, securing her second Grand Prix leg victory, thanks to the superiour Sonneborn-Berger tiebreak.
The final round delivered high-stakes drama, with Munguntuul and Goryachkina drawing their encounter, allowing Humpy Koneru to join them at the top after defeating Bibisara Assaubayeva. Meanwhile, Alexandra Kosteniuk bounced back with a victory over Elisabeth Paehtz, Tan Zhongyi and Harika Dronavalli drew, and in a shocking twist, Sarasadat Khademalsharieh defeated Kateryna Lagno, dashing her hopes for the title.
Yesterday’s results had already reshaped the leaderboard, with Goryachkina and Munguntuul catching up to Lagno, setting up a final-round showdown. The stakes were high: a win in Munguntuul-Goryachkina would likely secure first place for the winner, while Lagno needed a victory against Khademalsharieh to stay in contention. With everything on the line, the last round was a fitting climax to an unforgettable event.
Round 9 results
Batkhuyag Munguntuul 1/2-1/2 Aleksandra Goryachkina
Alexandra Kosteniuk 1-0 Elisabeth Paehtz
Tan Zhongyi 1/2-1/2 Harika Dronavalli
Humpy Koneru 1-0 Bibisara Assaubayeva
Sarasadat Khademalsharieh 1-0 Kateryna Lagno
Batkhuyag Munguntuul – Aleksandra Goryachkina
This was the game everyone had their eyes on. The tournament’s bottom seed, Batkhuyag Munguntuul, delivered a phenomenal performance in Monaco, while Goryachkina, the winner of the previous Grand Prix leg, fought her way to the top after an early setback in round one.
A victory for either would have secured at least a shared first place, while a draw would have left the final standings uncertain, depending on Lagno’s result. The opening choice—a Berlin Defense in Ruy Lopez—was particularly interesting, as it is known for its drawish tendencies. However, throughout this tournament, we have seen dynamic interpretations of this setup, and this game was no exception. Both players sought complications, but multiple exchanges eradicated any attacking chances, leading to a draw.
Goryachkina remains the clear favorite in the overall Grand Prix standings and will play her third and final leg in Cyprus (March 14-25). Will she cement her place at the top? Meanwhile, Munguntuul, who had a tough start in Shymkent but shone in Monaco, will return for the Indian leg (April 13-24). What will her third appearance bring?
Alexandra Kosteniuk – Elisabeth Paehtz
A King’s Indian Defense quickly turned favorable for White, both on the board and on the clock. Alexandra first advanced on the queenside, securing a strong outpost for her knight, and then took full advantage of Black’s passive pieces and ill-timed counterplay on the kingside. Both players have not had great time management in this tournament, and today they exchanged long tanks – for more than 20 minutes at some points. A key moment came at move 18 when Black faced a recapture dilemma:
Kosteniuk noted in her post-game interview that King’s Indian players instinctively want to recapture on f5 with a pawn, but here, Black’s passive position demanded either 18…Bxf5 or 18…Nxf5 instead. After further simplifications, White’s advantage became undeniable due to Black’s misplaced pieces and weak pawn structure.
The game concluded with a tactical shot following 36. Bb4, making White’s passed a-pawn a decisive factor. Paehtz, understandably determined to win, took risks, but Kosteniuk—bouncing back from her previous loss—remained composed and converted the advantage.
Paehtz started the tournament strongly but lost momentum. However, with her next appearance in Cyprus, she has the opportunity to regain her form. Meanwhile, Kosteniuk will return for the final Grand Prix leg in Austria.
Tan Zhongyi – Harika Dronavalli
Both players entered the round with confidence after winning their previous games. While neither had a standout tournament, ending on a strong note was crucial—especially for Harika, who will play in Cyprus next, and Tan, who is set to challenge the Women’s World Champion in just four weeks.
Tan, trailing the leaders by just half a point, still had an outside chance of winning, making this game all the more significant for both players. It began with a Sicilian but quickly deviated from mainline theory. White appeared more comfortable in the resulting closed position, securing a strong outpost knight. However, her other pieces were passive, preventing any decisive breakthroughs.
As the game progressed, Black found chances for a kingside initiative, but the position remained balanced. Eventually, the queenside opened up, leading to multiple exchanges and leaving Black with a passed a-pawn.
Dronavalli could have forced a draw by trading queens but opted to continue, given her slightly more active pieces. Despite Black’s winning pawns, the ensuing complications allowed Tan’s queen to remain a constant threat. Ultimately, the game ended in a hard-fought draw.
Tan will soon be in China for the World Championship match before returning for the Grand Prix final leg in Austria (May 6-17)—will she compete as the newly crowned World Champion? Meanwhile, Harika, despite an underwhelming performance in Monaco leg, will have two more chances to shine in Cyprus and India.
Humpy Koneru – Bibisara Assaubayeva
Trailing the leaders by half a point, Humpy had every reason to go all in, and that’s precisely what she did. Her opponent, Assaubayeva, struggling with health issues and sitting at the bottom of the standings, was likely not at her sharpest. An early mistake cost her a pawn, and from there, Humpy dictated the game.
Here, instead of 11…c6 or 11…Nh5 Black played 11…Nd7?, allowing 12. Qxd8 Rxd8 13. Nb5, attacking the c7-pawn.
Despite being down material early, Assaubayeva fought on, posing as many problems as possible. However, Humpy’s experience prevailed, and she secured a critical victory, joining the tournament leaders.
This was Assaubayeva’s final Grand Prix leg, while Humpy will return to compete in India, playing on home turf.
Sarasadat Khademalsharieh – Kateryna Lagno
Lagno had led the tournament for multiple rounds and played a quick draw on the previous day. But with her co-leaders facing off, she needed a win. Unfortunately, pushing too hard, she stumbled and suffered her first loss of the event—costing her the tournament victory.
Her opponent, Khademalsharieh, has had a difficult event but showed resilience against her higher-rated opponents. Today was no different. The game, a Fianchetto King’s Indian, remained quiet until Lagno took a risk, sacrificing a pawn for activity.
White’s position remained solid, and with precise play, Khademalsharieh consolidated, preserved her extra pawn, trading queens and converting a winning knight endgame. This win was a well-earned consolation after three consecutive losses, though she sympathized with Lagno, whose tournament hopes were dashed in this final game.
Both players will conclude their Grand Prix campaigns in India.
WGP Monaco final standings:
As FIDE’s first major event of the year, the Monaco Grand Prix was a resounding success.
This tournament showcased fighting chess, resilience, and the unpredictable nature of round-robin events. It brought forth brilliant games, moments of heartbreak, and a reminder of the incredible talent in women’s chess. But the battle for the overall title is far from over. With three legs remaining—and top contenders like Lei Tingjie still set to compete—the race for the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix crown is heating up.
The action now shifts to Cyprus (March 14-25), where several key players, including Goryachkina, will compete in their final leg. Meanwhile, Munguntuul and Koneru will return for the Indian leg (April 13-24), looking to build on their momentum.
With so much at stake, the Grand Prix series is only getting more exciting.
More information about the event, including the regulations and details of the pairings, as well as live games can be found on the official website: womengrandprix.fide.com.
Written by Charlize van Zyl
Photos: Niki Riga
