FIDE Women's Grand Prix: Humpy secures fourth straight win

Koneru Humpy replaced China's Ju Wenjun at the top of the leaderboard after the ninth round of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix Chess.

Koneru Humpy has seven points with two rounds remaining.

Koneru Humpy's great form continues in the first leg of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix chess at Skolkovo, Russia. She posted her fourth win in as many games to replace China's Ju Wenjun at the top of the leaderboard after the ninth round.

The Vijayawada player has seven points with two rounds remaining. Wenjun, who was beaten by Kateryna Lagno of Russia, remains on 6.5 points, but she is in the sole second position.

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That enabled Humpy, who had begun the day half-a-point behind the leader, to move ahead. She defeated Valentina Gunina, in a Blumenfeld Gambit, playing accurately and imaginatively against her erratic Russian opponent. Humpy is now the only unbeaten player in the field of 12.

The other Indian in the fray, Dronavalli Harika, who drew with Germany's Elisabeth Paehtz is placed sixth with 4.5 points.

The standings 1. Koneru Humpy (Ind) 7; 2. Ju Wenjun (Chn) 6.5; 3. Aleksandra Goryachkina (Rus) 6; 4. Kateryna Lagno (Rus) 5; 5-7. Elisabeth Paehtz (Ger), Dronavalli Harika (Ind) and Valentina Gunina (Rus) 4.5; 8-9. Alexandra Kosteniuk (Rus) and Alina Kashlinskaya (Rus) 3.5; 10-11. Antonaeta Stefanova (Bul) and Marie Sebag (Fra) 3; 12. Pia Cramling (Swe) 2.5