Koneru Humpy has had a long and illustrious career in chess, which includes winning the Women’s World Chess Championship in 2007 and becoming the first woman to achieve the title of Grandmaster in 2002. A major milestone was added to her legacy when she finished joint-top alongside Zhu Jiner at the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in Pune. This result not only marked a major achievement for Humpy but also placed her in a prime position to qualify for the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament.
In this article, we explore the significance of Humpy’s performance in the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix, how the series works, and the different pathways she can take to secure a spot in the Candidates Tournament.
Koneru Humpy’s Performance in the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix
Koneru Humpy’s journey in the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024-2025 took an important turn when she tied for first place at the Grand Prix event in Pune alongside China’s Zhu Jiner. This was no small feat as the event was fiercely contested, and a joint first-place finish brought Humpy closer to the ultimate prize: a spot in the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament.
The FIDE Women’s Grand Prix series is one of the most important competitions for women’s chess players as it provides a direct route to the Women’s Candidates Tournament, which in turn decides the challenger for the Women’s World Chess Championship. The Grand Prix consists of six events, and each participant can compete in three of the six, accumulating points based on their finishes in each event. The top two players at the end of the series qualify for the Candidates Tournament.
Humpy’s Journey So Far in the Grand Prix Series
Before the Grand Prix event in Pune, Humpy had already participated in two events. She finished joint-fifth in Kazakhstan and had a three-way tie for first place in Monaco. Her consistent performances in these events set the stage for her remarkable showing in Pune. With the joint-first finish in Pune, Humpy accumulated enough points to move to second place in the overall Grand Prix standings, a crucial position as only the top two players at the end of the series will earn a spot in the Candidates Tournament.
At the time of the Pune event, Aleksandra Goryachkina was leading the Grand Prix series with 308.34 points, followed by Humpy in second place with 279.17 points. The competition for the second spot, however, was still intense, with several players having a chance to overtake Humpy before the series concludes in Austria next month.
The Grand Prix Format and Points System
The FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024-2025 series is a highly competitive event, featuring 20 top women chess players from around the world. The players are allowed to participate in a maximum of three of the six events, and each event consists of ten participants. The points awarded in the Grand Prix events range from 10 to 130 points, depending on the player’s finish. The points distribution ensures that a consistent performance over multiple events is rewarded, making it possible for players to catch up in the standings even after a single event.
As of now, five out of the six Grand Prix events have concluded, and the final event will take place in Austria next month. Humpy, having completed her quota of three events, now has to watch how the other contenders perform in Austria to secure her spot in the top two.
The Path to the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament
The FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament is a prestigious event in women’s chess that decides the challenger for the Women’s World Chess Championship. To reach this tournament, players need to secure one of the coveted spots from the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix, as well as from other qualification routes.
For Koneru Humpy, her goal is to finish the Grand Prix series in one of the top two spots, thus earning her place in the Candidates Tournament. However, the competition is far from over, and she must now focus on the performance of the players who still have a chance to overtake her in the standings.
The Players Who Can Still Overtake Humpy
Currently, Humpy is in second place with 279.17 points, but she faces stiff competition from the following players:
- Zhu Jiner: With 235 points, Jiner is currently 44.17 points behind Humpy. To overtake her, Jiner will need to finish in at least 6th place in Austria. If Jiner performs well in Austria and places higher than Humpy, she will pass her in the standings and secure her spot in the Candidates.
- Anna Muzychuk: The Ukrainian Grandmaster has 189.17 points and will need a strong performance in Austria to have a chance to catch Humpy. Muzychuk will need to finish in the top two in Austria, or at least third place with a high score (6.5 points or more out of 9) to potentially move past Humpy.
- Tan Zhongyi: Tan is in the most difficult position, with only 170 points. To overtake Humpy, she must win the tournament outright in Austria. Even with a shared first-place finish, Zhongyi will not be able to surpass Humpy in the standings.
For Humpy, the key is that none of these players can surpass her position by finishing strong in Austria. If Jiner, Muzychuk, or Zhongyi falter, Humpy will retain her spot in second place, securing her place in the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament.
Other Qualification Routes for Humpy
While the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix is the primary qualification route for most players, including Humpy, there are other ways to secure a spot in the Candidates Tournament. These include the FIDE Women’s World Cup, the Women’s Grand Swiss, and the FIDE Women’s Events 2025-26 series.
The FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025
The FIDE Women’s World Cup, set to take place in Batumi, Georgia in July 2025, is another major event that offers players a chance to qualify for the Candidates Tournament. The Women’s World Cup follows a knockout format and features 128 players, with the top three finishers earning a spot in the Candidates.
If Humpy does not qualify via the Grand Prix, she can still secure her place in the Candidates by performing well in the World Cup. As a seasoned and experienced player, Humpy will certainly be a strong contender in this prestigious event.
The FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss 2025
The FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss, which will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan in September 2025, is another qualification route for the Candidates Tournament. The top two finishers in this tournament will qualify for the Candidates. The Grand Swiss is known for its challenging format and attracts the best chess players from around the world, making it a highly competitive event.
FIDE Women’s Events 2025-26 Series
The FIDE Women’s Events 2025-26 series is another avenue for players to qualify for the Candidates Tournament. This series will include major events such as the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in 2024 and 2025. If Humpy maintains her strong performance in these events, especially after her victory in the 2024 World Rapid Championship, she could qualify for the Candidates via the Women’s Events series.
Currently, Humpy is ranked second in the FIDE Women’s Events 2025-26 series, trailing only world champion Ju Wenjun. If she can maintain or improve her position, she could earn a spot in the Candidates through this route as well.
Frequently Asked Question
What is the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix?
The FIDE Women’s Grand Prix is a series of chess tournaments designed to offer women players a direct route to the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament. Players accumulate points over six events, with the top two finishers at the end of the series earning a place in the Candidates Tournament.
How does Koneru Humpy’s performance in the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix impact her qualification for the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament?
Koneru Humpy’s joint-first finish at the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix event in Pune has allowed her to move to second place in the Grand Prix standings. The top two players in the Grand Prix will qualify for the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament, so her consistent performances keep her in contention for a spot.
What is the format of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix?
The FIDE Women’s Grand Prix consists of six tournaments in which each player can participate in up to three. Points are awarded based on a player’s finish in each event, ranging from 10 to 130 points. The series helps determine the two players who will qualify for the Women’s Candidates Tournament.
Who are the players competing for the second spot in the Grand Prix standings?
Apart from Humpy, the players who can still overtake her in the standings are:
- Zhu Jiner: 44.17 points behind Humpy
- Anna Muzychuk: 90 points behind Humpy
- Tan Zhongyi: 109.17 points behind Humpy Each of these players will be competing in the final Grand Prix event in Austria.
How many points does Koneru Humpy need to secure a spot in the Candidates Tournament?
Humpy needs to remain in the top two positions at the end of the Grand Prix series. She is currently in second place with 279.17 points. To secure her spot, she needs to ensure that none of the players behind her (Jiner, Muzychuk, Zhongyi) surpass her in the final standings after the Austria event.
Can Koneru Humpy still qualify for the Candidates even if she doesn’t finish in the top two of the Grand Prix?
Yes, there are other qualification paths:
- FIDE Women’s World Cup: The top three finishers in this knockout tournament will qualify for the Candidates.
- FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss: The top two finishers will qualify for the Candidates.
- FIDE Women’s Events 2025-26 Series: This series includes major tournaments like the World Rapid and Blitz Championships. Humpy is currently ranked second in this series, which could offer her another opportunity to qualify.
Conclusion
Koneru Humpy has put herself in an excellent position to qualify for the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament. Her joint-first finish in the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix event in Pune has propelled her to second place in the overall standings. While other players still have a chance to overtake her in Austria, Humpy remains in contention for one of the top two spots in the Grand Prix series.
