- In a close game, K Humpy defeated Divya Deshmukh
- Humpy won in 53 moves over almost five hours in Round 3 of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix
- D Harika achieved her maiden win over Bulgarian Nurgyul Salimova
With a promising situation that could have resulted in a victory, K Humpy almost touched her bishop while contemplating her 31st move. Feeling the moment, her opponent Divya Deshmukh automatically picked up her pen to note the anticipated move.
K Humpy, with the opportunity to put her nose in front, first thought of moving her bishop on move 31 but instead played a wiser move—Qc8. Her game was not flawless by computer analysis, but her experience glistened. She outplayed overnight leader Divya Deshmukh calmly with the white pieces, registering a closely fought win in 53 moves over almost five hours in Round 3 of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix on Wednesday.
Humpy, India's best and world rapid women's champion, reminded everyone of her status as the world rapid champion. Divya's loss, combined with Zhu Jiner's draw from Georgia's Salome Melia, left Zhu in sole first place with 2.5 points.
It was also India's big day, as D Harika achieved her maiden win over Bulgarian Nurgyul Salimova. While R Vaishali followed up her opening day's defeat to Divya with a draw against Russian Polina Shuvalova in a rook-and-pawn ending, Mongolian Batkhuyag Munguntuul, who is rated 2361, overcame Poland's Alina Kashlinskaya (2196) employing the black pieces. Like Divya, Munguntuul too has played all three decisive games till now.
Humpy and Shuvalova are now tied second along with two points apiece. Humpy got going after Divya made the move h6 on the 11th move in the Four Knights Symmetrical English—one that was unknown to both. Though computer engines did not criticize the move, Humpy felt it was an error. She searched for a mating attack by centralizing her knights and achieving a bishop pair advantage but had to make a change when Divya stood firm.
As the queens departed from the board, Humpy changed gears—being adaptable, incisive, and practical—to ultimately wring out a winning position. Divya resigned when she was on the verge of losing material. There was a brief moment of uncertainty when Divya believed she hadn't made it to the time control after 40 moves—her score only had 38 because she had cramped writing—but Humpy played safe intelligently, waiting moves to keep her on schedule, even if mistakes were subsequently discovered in the recording.
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