Nicosia GP Round 1: Divya Deshmukh draws with Harika Dronavalli
IM Divya Deshmukh drew her first round game against GM Harika Dronavalli at FIDE Nicosia GP 2025. Harika opted for the Berlin Defence in the Ruy Lopez. The nature of this opening is drawish. Pieces got exchanged at regular intervals and the game was drawn after 50 moves. IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE) capitalized on her opportunity when her opponent, GM Elisabeth Paehtz (GER) missed a tactical idea in the back rank. GM Jiner Zhu (CHN) outplayed IM Olga Badelka (AUT). Stavroula and Jiner are the only two victors of the round. Harika will face Stavroula in Round 2 and Divya will be up against GM Mariya Muzychuk (UKR). Round 2 starts today from 3 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE / Mark Livshitz
Stavroula and Jiner make a winning start
Divya - Harika: 0.5-0.5
IM Divya Deshmukh (2470) faced GM Harika Dronavalli (2483) in three Classical rated games. Harika won two and the third one ended in a draw. In their fourth Classical battle, the GM opted for the Berlin Defence in the Ruy Lopez. Pieces got exchanged at regular intervals and the game ended in a draw after 50 moves.
Replay live stream
GP Standings
GM Aleksandra Goryachkina is the new sole leader of the GP with 236.67 points, followed by IM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ) 197.5 and GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN) 170 points. Bibisara has played all three of her GP events of the season. So, she has none left.
Prizes
Total prize fund is €80000. The top three prizes are €18000, €13000 and €10500 each. The top three GP points are - 130, 105 and 85. For more details, check out the regulations below.
Schedule
Round 1 starts on 15th March at 3 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST. The tournament will go on till 24th March 2025. Sole rest day is on Thursday 20th March.
Round 1 results
GM Aleksandra Goryachkina - GM Nana Dzagnidze: 0.5-0.5
GM Anna Muzychuk - GM Mariya Muzychuk: 0.5-0.5
IM Divya Deshmukh - GM Harika Dronavalli: 0.5-0.5
IM Stavroula Tsolakidou - GM Elisabeth Paehtz: 1-0
GM Jiner Zhu - IM Olga Badelka: 1-0
Standings after Round 1
Round 2 pairings
GM Nana Dzagnidze - IM Olga Badelka
GM Elisabeth Paehtz - GM Jiner Zhu
GM Harika Dronavalli - IM Stavroula Tsolakidou
GM Mariya Muzychuk - IM Divya Deshmukh
GM Aleksandra Goryachkina - GM Anna Muzychuk
