6th Cairns Cup: Divya beats Vaishali, Humpy misses a win

By admin August 11, 2026 Updated: August 12, 2026 0 comments

GM Divya Deshmukh defeated GM R Vaishali in Round 1 of 6th Cairns Cup 2026. GM Humpy Koneru missed a win against IM Stavroula Tsolakidou.

Carissa blunders against Zhongyi, Alice stuns Kosteniuk

The defending champion IM Carissa Yip (USA) suffered a loss against the 16th Women’s World Champion, GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI). IM Alice Lee (USA) scored a huge win against the 12th Women’s World Champion, GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI). GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR) drew against GM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ).

GM Divya Deshmukh made a winning start against GM R Vaishali | Photo: Austin Fuller / Saint Louis Chess Club

Humpy – Stavroula: 0.5-0.5

GM Humpy Koneru (2524) and IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE, 2433) have played only one Classical rated game earlier. Stavroula won that battle. Humpy had a great opportunity to deliver the equalizer this time.

Position after 38…Kg8

Humpy miscalculated and played 39.Rxf7?? which is no longer winning for White. 39…Kxf7 40.Nd6+ Ke6 41.Nxc4 Bf2 42.g4 Bg3 43.Kxc3 Bxf4 and the game inevitably ended in a draw. What White should have done instead was 39.Nf6+ Kg7 40.Rb7 Rc8 41.Ne4 Kf8 42.Ng5 Bd4 43.Rxf7+ Ke8 44.Rxh7 and it would have been winning for White as the combined power of rook and knight is more effective than Black’s rook and bishop.

GM Humpy Koneru could have made a winning start against IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GRE) | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

Vaishali – Divya: 0-1

GM R Vaishali (2489) and GM Divya Deshmukh (2490) have played six Classical rated games against each other. Divya won two, Vaishali one and the remaining three ended in draws. Divya scored her thrd Classical win against the Women’s World Championship Challenger, Vaishali.

Position after 29…Qc5

In a difficult position, White blundered 30.Bd3?? Nb3-+ 31.Rc2 Qd5 and it’s over as White cannot avoid material loss.

The FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 winner, Divya Deshmukh got the better of FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026 winner, R Vaishali | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

Zhongyi – Carissa: 1-0

The defending champion, IM Carissa Yip (USA, 2459) started her event with a loss against the 16th Women’s World Champion, GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN, 2520).

Position after 35.Qf6

In a difficult position, Black blundered 35…Qf8?? 36.Qe6+ and it’s over as the rook cannot be saved. The seemingly odd move 35…Qf7 keeps the game going after 36.Rxg7+ Qxg7 37.Nxg7 Rxg7 and Black is fine. 36.Nh6+ Kf8 and Black does not need to worry about losing the queen as White’s queen at f6 is also under an attack.

The 16th Women’s World Champion, GM Zhongyi Tan (CHN) got the better of the defending champion, IM Carissa Yip (USA) | Photo: Austin Fuller / Saint Louis Chess Club

GM Anna Muzychuk (UKR, pictured) – GM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Austin Fuller / Saint Louis Chess Club

Lee – Kosteniuk: 1-0

The only other time IM Alice Lee (USA, 2430) faced the 12th Women’s World Champion, GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI, 2504) was at the very same event two years ago. Alice had won that game. This time also she repeated the same result.

Position after 55.Rd1

In the opposite side pawn race rook endgame, Kosteniuk faltered 55…Kf6?? 56.c6+- Rb2+ 57.Kc5 Rc2+ 58.Kb6 Rb2+ 59.Kc7 Ra2 60.Kb7 Rb2+ 61.Kc8 Ra2 62.c7 e5 63.Kd7 Rd2+ one last desperate attempt to no avail 64.Rxd2 h1Q 65.Rd6+ and White won. 55…Rb2+ 56.Kc4 Rc2+ would have kept the game going.

The talented American, IM Alice Lee (USA) seized her opportunity against the 12th Women’s World Champion, GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (SUI) | Photo: Austin Fuller / Saint Louis Chess Club

Round 1 in progress | Photo: Austin Fuller / Saint Louis Chess Club

Replay live stream

Replay Round 1 live commentary by IMs Nazi Paikidze (USA) and Almira Skripchenko (FRA) | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club

Replay Round 1 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.