World Rapid 2025 Day 2: Humpy and Jiner emerge coleaders

by Shahid Ahmed - 28/12/2025

The reigning and defending champion, GM Humpy Koneru and GM Jiner Zhu (CHN) are the coleaders at FIDE World Rapid Championship 2025 Women. They will inevitably clash against each other in Round 9. Humpy crushed IM Sara Khadem (ESP) to gain sole lead after Round 7. Then she missed few winning chances against GM Aleksandra Goryachkina in the following round, allowing Jiner to catch up with her. GM Harika Dronavalli is among the ten pursuers at 6/8 each. In the Open section, GM Vladislav Artemiev handed the World no.1, GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR) his first loss of the event in Round 7. Currently, Artemiev and GM Hans Niemann (USA) are the coleaders at 7.5/8 each. Carlsen is trailing by a half point with GM Alexey Sarana (SRB), GM Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus (TUR) and GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) at 7/8 each. Round 10 Open and Round 9 Women starts today at 2 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

Open: Artemiev and Hans are at the top

Back in 2022, GM Vladislav Artemiev defeated GM Magnus Carlsen with the white pieces in Round 11 and the latter still went on to win the tournament. It might still happen this time but the only difference is four more rounds left and this time he is not in the lead. Humpy can go for her third World Rapid Women's title and a second consecutive one after she won it last year in New York, USA.

GM Humpy Koneru eyeing for her third World Rapid Women crown

Round 6 Open: Hans halts Goutham's unbeaten streak

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA, 2730) and Magnus Carlsen (NOR, 2824) played plenty of Rapid rated games against each other in nearly two decades. The World Blitz 2021 champion, had some chances but the game eventually ended in a draw.

The battle of the World Blitz champions - Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) and Magnus Carlsen (NOR) ended peacefully in Rapid

Arjun - Artemiev

Position after 27...Bxa2!?

GM Vladislav Artemiev (2727) made an interesting sacrifice 27...Bxa2!? 28.Bb2 Rxb1 29.Qxb1 now ideally, White should be fine, but the connected passed pawns on a and b-files are menacing. They played a key role in handing GM Arjun Erigaisi (2714) his first loss of the event.

World no.5, GM Arjun Erigaisi suffered his first loss against GM Vladislav Artemiev

GM Anish Giri (NED) - GM D Gukesh: 0.5-0.5

GM Yangyi Yu (CHN) halted GM Sandipan Chanda's winning streak

Hans - Goutham

Position after 48.Bd4

IM Goutham Krishna H (2392) had the tough task to find 48...Rc6 to stay in the game. He played 48...Nc6? 49.Kc4+- and GM Hans Niemann (USA, 2612) went on to win the game.

GM Hans Niemann (USA) started his second consecutive day with a win

GM Aravindh Chithambaram managed to salvage a draw from a difficult endgame against World Blitz 2008 champion, GM Leinier Dominguez Perez (USA)

Round 5 Women:

GM Harika Dronavalli traded queens at an inopportune moment and the game meandered into a draw against the former Women's World Champion, GM Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL)

Round 7: Artemiev beats Carlsen

Three years ago, GM Vladislav Artemiev defeated GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR) at World Rapid 2022 in Round 11 with the white pieces. This time he did it in Round 7.

Position after 15.e6

Black made the mistake of playing 15...Qc7?? 16.exf7+- Rxf7 17.Bd5 Black not only lost an exchange but the position collapsed in a hurry.

GM Vladislav Artemiev scored an encore of World Rapid 2022

GM D Gukesh - GM Alexey Sarana (SRB): 0.5-0.5

The All-American clash between GM Ray Robson and GM Hans Niemann ended in an 11-move draw

GM Maksim Chigaev (ESP) - GM Arjun Erigaisi: 0.5-0.5

Chile no.1, GM Cristobal Henriquez Villagra handed FIDE World Cup 2025 winner - GM Javokhir Sindarov (UZB) his first loss of the event

GM Ivan Zemlyanskii could not seize his advantage against GM Nihal Sarin and the latter won the game

GM Sandipan Chanda suffered his first loss of the day against former World Blitz champion, GM Liem Quang Le (VIE)

IM Goutham Krishna H bounced back with a win over GM M Amin Tabatabaei (IRI).

Round 6 Women:

Vaishali - Tingjie

Position after 50...Kg8

GM R Vaishali (2359) made the incorrect decision to trade rooks 51.Re8+?? Kf7 52.Ne5+ Kxe8 53.Nxc6 the resultant minor piece endgame is winning for Black. However, 51.Nf6+! Kf8 52.Rd7 f4 53.gxf4 Rxf6 54.Rxc7 Rxf4 55.Rc5 Rxa4 56.Rxh5 was not easy to find. It would have given White some fighting chances.

GM R Vaishali suffered a tough loss against former World Rapid Women's champion, GM Tingjie Lei (CHN)

The reigning and defending champion, GM Humpy Koneru (2448) made a checkmate threat of her own against WGM Yana Zhapova (2227) which she could not avert.

GM Humpy Koneru reduced the gap with the leader with her win over WGM Yana Zhapova

FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 winner, GM Divya Deshmukh (2419) defeated former Women's World Champion, GM Antoaneta Stefanova (BUL, 2379).

IM Cori T Deysi (PER, 2275) lost to WGM Rakshitta Ravi (2082).

WIM Isha Sharma (2168) used her central passed pawn beautifully to beat IM Irina Bulmaga (ROU, 2388).

Round 8 Open: Carlsen bounces back, Gukesh scores an emphatic victory against the new Spain Absolute 2025 champion

World no.1, Magnus Carlsen is always a difficult opponent to face after a loss. GM Shant Sargsyan (ARM, 2611) had to face the brunt of it.

Magnus Carlsen vs Shant Sargsyan | Video: ChessBase India

Magnus Carlsen (NOR) bounced back with an emphatic victory over Shant Sargsyan (ARM)

The newly crowned Spain Absolute 2025 champion, GM David Anton Guijarro made the World Champion, GM D Gukesh earn his full point

GM Hans Niemann (USA) defeated former World Blitz champion, GM Liem Quang Le (VIE) to reduce the gap with the leader

GM Arjun Erigaisi won the All-Indian clash against GM Narayanan S L

The first and only Indian National Triple crown champion, GM Aravindh Chithambaram held former World Rapid champion, GM Daniil Dubov to a well contested draw

Round 7 Women: Humpy crushes Sara to gain sole lead

GM Tingjie Lei (CHN) - GM Divya Deshmukh: 0.5-0.5

GM Humpy Koneru crushed IM Sara Khadem (ESP) to emerge sole leader 6/7

IM Savitha Shri B (2238) played a hard-fought draw against GM R Vaishali (2359).

IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva's (AZE, 2254) ambitious attack did not work out against WGM Priyanka Nutakki (2176).

Round 9 Open: Hans joins Artemiev in the lead

GM Ray Robson's (USA) positional inaccuracy was aptly punished by GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR)

The sole leader, GM Vladislav Artemiev made a quick draw against GM Alexey Sarana (SRB) in just 10 moves

Shimanov - Hans

Position after 26.Na3?

GM Aleksandr Shimanov (2554) was forced to give up an exchange after 26.Na3? Nxf3+ 27.Bxf3 Be5 28.Rxd5 Rxd5 29.Rxd5 Bxd5 and Black went on capitalize on his advantage to join the lead with Artemiev at 7.5/9 each.

Hans Niemann (USA) defeated Aleksandr Shimanov to become the coleader with Artemiev

D Gukesh - Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Former World Rapid champion, GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov defeated the reigning World Champion, GM D Gukesh

Chile no.1, GM Cristobal Henriquez Villagra drew against the World no.5, GM Arjun Erigaisi

GM Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus (TUR) - GM Nihal Sarin, Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Round 8 Women: Jiner catches up with Humpy

The defending champion, GM Humpy Koneru (2448) had a few good chances against former FIDE Women's World Cup winner, GM Aleksander Goryachkina (2505). The best one was at the final moments of the knight endgame.

Position after 54.Nb4+

Taking the b6-pawn allowed White to escape with a draw. 54...Kxb6?? 55.Nd5+ Kc5 56.Nxc3 Kd4 57.Kd2 and White escaped with a draw. 54...Kb7! 55.Nd5 Nf2+ 56.Ke2 Ne4 was certainly difficult to find in such less time.

GM Aleksandra Goryachkina survived by the skin of her teeth against GM Humpy Koneru

GM Elina Danielian (ARM, 2306) lost to IM Savitha Shri B (2238).

WIM Isha Sharma (2168) got the better of IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva (AZE, 2254).

For more photos, please click at the following links: Round 6 Open and Round 5 Women, Round 7 Open and Round 6 Women, Round 8 Open and Round 7 Women, Round 9 Open and Women, and Day 2.

Watch live stream

Replay Live Commentary of World Rapid 2025 Day 2 by IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal from 2 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Round 6-9 Open games

Replay Round 5-8 Women games

Round 9 Open results

o.	No.		White	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Black	Rtg	No.
1	29	GM	Robson, Ray	2652	6	0 - 1	6	GM	Carlsen, Magnus *)	2824	1
2	7	GM	Artemiev, Vladislav	2727	7	½ - ½	6½	GM	Sarana, Alexey	2641	36
3	85	GM	Shimanov, Aleksandr	2554	6½	0 - 1	6½	GM	Niemann, Hans Moke	2612	48
4	16	GM	Gukesh, D	2692	6½	0 - 1	6	GM	Abdusattorov, Nodirbek	2717	8
5	52	GM	Mamedov, Rauf	2610	6	½ - ½	6	GM	Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	2730	6
6	65	GM	Henriquez Villagra, Cristobal	2586	6	½ - ½	6	GM	Erigaisi, Arjun	2714	9
7	156	GM	Erdogmus, Yagiz Kaan	2446	6	1 - 0	6	GM	Nihal, Sarin	2664	24
8	31	GM	Le, Quang Liem	2646	5½	0 - 1	5½	GM	Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	2707	11
9	12	GM	Sindarov, Javokhir	2704	5½	1 - 0	5½	GM	Anton Guijarro, David	2619	45
10	13	GM	Dominguez Perez, Leinier	2703	5½	1 - 0	5½	GM	Iturrizaga Bonelli, Eduardo	2605	54
11	15	GM	So, Wesley	2702	5½	1 - 0	5½	GM	Aravindh, Chithambaram VR.	2590	62
12	17	GM	Dubov, Daniil	2686	5½	½ - ½	5½	GM	Matlakov, Maxim	2602	56
13	19	GM	Yu, Yangyi	2680	5½	½ - ½	5½	GM	Makarian, Rudik	2524	106
14	74	GM	Lazavik, Denis	2576	5½	1 - 0	5½	GM	Andreikin, Dmitry	2671	21
15	179	GM	Movahed, Sina	2405	5½	0 - 1	5½	GM	Maghsoodloo, Parham	2669	22
16	25	GM	Praggnanandhaa, R	2663	5½	½ - ½	5½	GM	Kosakowski, Jakub	2506	119
17	27	GM	Sevian, Samuel	2658	5½	1 - 0	5½	GM	Bai, Jinshi	2571	76
18	67	GM	Narayanan, S L	2582	5	0 - 1	5	GM	Nepomniachtchi, Ian	2762	2
19	83	GM	Hong, Andrew	2556	5	½ - ½	5	GM	Firouzja, Alireza	2754	4
20	95	GM	Petrov, Nikita	2543	5	0 - 1	5	GM	Caruana, Fabiano	2751	5

Details

Standings after Round 9

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	Rp
1	7	GM	Artemiev, Vladislav	FID	2727	7,5	50	54,5	2658	2913
2	48	GM	Niemann, Hans Moke	USA	2612	7,5	44	48	2515	2771
3	1	GM	Carlsen, Magnus	NOR	2824	7	48	51,5	2654	2856
4	36	GM	Sarana, Alexey	SRB	2641	7	42,5	46,5	2555	2758
5	156	GM	Erdogmus, Yagiz Kaan	TUR	2446	7	41,5	44,5	2620	2784
6	8	GM	Abdusattorov, Nodirbek	UZB	2717	7	40,5	43	2567	2778
7	6	GM	Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	FRA	2730	6,5	50	53	2647	2796
8	9	GM	Erigaisi, Arjun	IND	2714	6,5	47,5	51,5	2623	2774
9	65	GM	Henriquez Villagra, Cristobal	CHI	2586	6,5	46,5	50,5	2596	2729
10	52	GM	Mamedov, Rauf	AZE	2610	6,5	46,5	50,5	2545	2690
11	16	GM	Gukesh, D	IND	2692	6,5	45,5	49,5	2594	2739
12	12	GM	Sindarov, Javokhir	UZB	2704	6,5	44,5	48,5	2580	2735
13	74	GM	Lazavik, Denis	FID	2576	6,5	44	47	2616	2734
14	15	GM	So, Wesley	USA	2702	6,5	43	46	2551	2682
15	85	GM	Shimanov, Aleksandr	FID	2554	6,5	42,5	45,5	2600	2736
16	27	GM	Sevian, Samuel	USA	2658	6,5	42	46,5	2520	2679
17	13	GM	Dominguez Perez, Leinier	USA	2703	6,5	41,5	45	2549	2705
18	11	GM	Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	AZE	2707	6,5	39,5	43,5	2507	2660
19	22	GM	Maghsoodloo, Parham	IRI	2669	6,5	39,5	43	2495	2651
20	29	GM	Robson, Ray	USA	2652	6	47,5	51,5	2586	2691

Details

Round 10 pairings

Bo.	No.		White	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Black	Rtg	No.
1	1	GM	Carlsen, Magnus *)	2824	7		7	GM	Sarana, Alexey	2641	36
2	48	GM	Niemann, Hans Moke	2612	7½		7½	GM	Artemiev, Vladislav	2727	7
3	8	GM	Abdusattorov, Nodirbek	2717	7		7	GM	Erdogmus, Yagiz Kaan	2446	156
4	6	GM	Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	2730	6½		6½	GM	Gukesh, D	2692	16
5	9	GM	Erigaisi, Arjun	2714	6½		6½	GM	Sevian, Samuel	2658	27
6	22	GM	Maghsoodloo, Parham	2669	6½		6½	GM	Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	2707	11
7	85	GM	Shimanov, Aleksandr	2554	6½		6½	GM	Sindarov, Javokhir	2704	12
8	13	GM	Dominguez Perez, Leinier	2703	6½		6½	GM	Mamedov, Rauf	2610	52
9	65	GM	Henriquez Villagra, Cristobal	2586	6½		6½	GM	So, Wesley	2702	15
10	2	GM	Nepomniachtchi, Ian	2762	6		6½	GM	Lazavik, Denis	2576	74
11	30	GM	Esipenko, Andrey	2649	6		6	GM	Caruana, Fabiano	2751	5
12	42	GM	Ivanchuk, Vasyl	2630	6		6	GM	Dubov, Daniil	2686	17
13	18	GM	Giri, Anish	2685	6		6	GM	Kosakowski, Jakub	2506	119
14	56	GM	Matlakov, Maxim	2602	6		6	GM	Yu, Yangyi	2680	19
15	170	GM	Pranav, Anand	2421	6		6	GM	Grischuk, Alexander	2677	20
16	24	GM	Nihal, Sarin	2664	6		6	GM	Gurel, Ediz	2502	122
17	106	GM	Makarian, Rudik	2524	6		6	GM	Praggnanandhaa, R	2663	25
18	214	IM	Ahmad, Khagan	2302	6		6	GM	Robson, Ray	2652	29
19	4	GM	Firouzja, Alireza	2754	5½		6	IM	Meng, Yihan	2355	203
20	21	GM	Andreikin, Dmitry	2671	5½		5½	GM	Pichot, Alan	2577	73

Details

Round 8 Women results

Rd.	Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
8	1	3	GM	Goryachkina Aleksandra	2505	5½	½ - ½	6	GM	Koneru Humpy	2448	8
8	3	9	GM	Dronavalli Harika	2435	5½	½ - ½	5½	FM	Chen Yining	2143	96
8	4	13	GM	Divya Deshmukh	2419	5½	0 - 1	5½	GM	Zhu Jiner	2435	10
8	15	25	GM	Vaishali Rameshbabu	2359	4½	½ - ½	4½	WGM	Nurman Alua	2289	48
8	18	39	GM	Danielian Elina	2306	4½	0 - 1	4½	IM	Savitha Shri B	2238	67
8	26	63	IM	Kulon Klaudia	2245	4	0 - 1	4	IM	Vantika Agrawal	2321	34
8	31	47	IM	Padmini Rout	2290	4	1 - 0	4	WGM	Rakshitta Ravi	2082	112
8	33	85	WGM	Priyanka Nutakki	2176	4	0 - 1	3½	IM	Salimova Nurgyul	2311	38
8	35	82	WGM	Nandhidhaa P V	2186	3½	0 - 1	3½	WIM	Zhang Lanlin	2273	54
8	44	60	IM	Fataliyeva Ulviyya	2254	3	0 - 1	3	WIM	Sharma Isha	2168	89
8	66	126	WFM	Charvi A	1962	2	1 - 0	2	WIM	Parnali S Dharia	2021	120

Details

Standings after Round 9

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	Rp
1	10	GM	Zhu, Jiner	CHN	2435	6,5	37,5	41,5	2385	2611
2	8	GM	Koneru, Humpy	IND	2448	6,5	36	40	2311	2547
3	3	GM	Goryachkina, Aleksandra	FID	2505	6	39	43,5	2374	2547
4	29	GM	Batsiashvili, Nino	GEO	2346	6	39	42	2406	2559
5	4	GM	Lei, Tingjie	CHN	2496	6	37	41	2335	2512
6	9	GM	Dronavalli, Harika	IND	2435	6	37	40,5	2301	2475
7	96	FM	Chen, Yining	CHN	2143	6	35,5	39,5	2373	2553
8	12	GM	Muzychuk, Mariya	UKR	2421	6	35,5	38,5	2355	2527
9	50	WIM	Mungunzul, Bat-Erdene	MGL	2288	6	35,5	37,5	2352	2496
10	6	GM	Lagno, Kateryna	FID	2452	6	35	38,5	2293	2473

Details

Round 9 pairings

Rd.	Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
9	1	10	GM	Zhu Jiner	2435	6½	6½	GM	Koneru Humpy	2448	8
9	5	50	WIM	Mungunzul Bat-Erdene	2288	6	6	GM	Dronavalli Harika	2435	9
9	9	67	IM	Savitha Shri B	2238	5½	5½	GM	Dzagnidze Nana	2425	11
9	10	35	IM	Mammadzada Gunay	2315	5½	5½	GM	Divya Deshmukh	2419	13
9	13	34	IM	Vantika Agrawal	2321	5	5	IM	Kamalidenova Meruert	2398	15
9	17	24	IM	Shuvalova Polina	2360	5	5	IM	Padmini Rout	2290	47
9	18	66	WGM	Kairbekova Amina	2240	5	5	GM	Vaishali Rameshbabu	2359	25
9	32	85	WGM	Priyanka Nutakki	2176	4	4	GM	Zhu Chen	2297	43
9	38	89	WIM	Sharma Isha	2168	4	4	GM	Girya Olga	2260	59
9	42	112	WGM	Rakshitta Ravi	2082	4	4	WGM	Mamedjarova Zeinab	2188	80
9	50	127	WIM	Karimova Guldona	1960	3½	3½	WGM	Nandhidhaa P V	2186	82
9	55	68	WGM	Charkhalashvili Inga	2235	3	3	WFM	Charvi A	1962	126
9	67	120	WIM	Parnali S Dharia	2021	2	2	WCM	Lesbekova Assel	1951	130

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Prize fund

The total prize fund combining Rapid and Blitz is €1000000, €700000 in Open and €300000 in Women. The top three prizes in Rapid Open are €70000, €50000 and €36000, for Women, they are €40000, €27000 and €19000.