Zhongyi on the verge of winning 6th Cairns Cup

GM Zhongyi Tan defeated GM Bibisara Assuabayeva in the penultimate round of 6th Cairns Cup 2026. She is now just a draw away from winning the tournament.

Alice trails by a full point

The 16th Women’s World Champion, GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN) needs just a draw against IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE) in the final round to become a clear champion. Zhongyi is at 6.5/8, a full point ahead of IM Alice Lee (USA) 5.5/8. Alice got the better of GM R Vaishali in the penultimate round.

The 16th Women’s World Champion – GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN) outplayed GM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ) | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Saint Louis Chess Club

IM Alice Lee (USA) got the better of GM R Vaishali | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Saint Louis Chess Club

IM Carissa Yip (USA) – IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE): 1-0 | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Saint Louis Chess Club

GM Humpy Koneru – GM Divya Deshmukh: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Saint Louis Chess Club

GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) – GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Saint Louis Chess Club

Replay live stream

Replay Round 8 live commentary by IMs Nazi Paikidze (USA) and Almira Skripchenko (FRA) | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club

Replay Round 8 games

Schedule and Format

There will be one round per day from 10th to 19th August. Rest day is on 15th August. Round 1 starts at 12 p.m. local time, 10:30 p.m. IST. It will be a 10-player Round Robin event. Time control will be 40 moves in 90 minutes + 30 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.

Prize

The total prize fund for Cairns Cup is $250000, the highest ever for the tournament’s history. The top three prizes are $60000, $50000 and $40000.

Round 8 results

GM Zhongyi Tan, IM Alice Lee and IM Carissa Yip scored a win each in Round 8 | Graphic: Saint Louis Chess Club

Standings after Round 8

Zhongyi Tan maintained her sole lead by a full point 6.5/8 | Graphic: Saint Louis Chess Club

Pairings and Results

Links

Buy tickets

Cairns Cup: Official site