The strongest women chess players in the world qualified for the next edition of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix
The Women’s Grand Prix is a series of tournaments launched by FIDE in 2009 to promote women’s chess.
FIDE is pleased to announce the list of players who have secured their place in the 2024-2025 WGP Series. All 14 qualified players have earned their spot in the Women’s Grand Prix thanks to fulfilling the qualifying conditions. The remaining six players to take part will be nominated by the organizers of each of the six tournaments.
Among the players participating in the event, there are as many as three women’s World Champions in classical time control – Tan Zhongyi (2017-2018), Alexandra Kosteniuk (2008-2010) and Mariya Muzychuk (2015-2016). Joining them are former Rapid World Champions Humpy Koneru, Kateryna Lagno and Anna Muzychuk.
The reigning champion, Ju Wenjun, will not take part in the series. She was replaced by Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, vice-champion of both Women’s World Rapid and Women’s World Blitz Championships 2018, who was the next in line to qualify by rating according to the April 2024 FIDE Rating List.
Qualified players
|
N |
Player |
Qualification Path |
|
1 |
Ju Wenjun* (China) |
FIDE Women’s World Championship Match 2023 participants |
|
2 |
Lei Tingjie (China) |
|
|
3 |
Kateryna Lagno (FIDE) |
FIDE Women’s Grand Prix Series 2022-23 |
|
4 |
Aleksandra Goryachkina (FIDE) |
FIDE Women’s World Cup 2023
|
|
5 |
Nurgyul Salimova (Bulgaria) |
|
|
6 |
Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine) |
|
|
7 |
Tan Zhongyi (China) |
|
|
8 |
Vaishali R (India) |
FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss 2023 |
|
9 |
Batkhuyag Munguntuul (Mongolia) |
|
|
10 |
Humpy Koneru (India) |
Standard Rating in the April 2024 FIDE Rating List |
|
11 |
Mariya Muzychuk (Ukraine) |
|
|
12 |
Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia) |
|
|
13 |
Harika Dronavalli (India) |
|
|
14 |
Alexandra Kosteniuk (Switzerland) |
*replaced by Sarasadat Khademalsharieh
In October 2023, FIDE announced the overhaul of the WGP regulations. Compared to the previous series, the upcoming WGP Series features several improvements:
- The number of tournaments has increased from four to six.
- The number of participants has grown from 16 to 20.
- The prize money for participants has been increased.
Emil Sutovsky, the CEO of FIDE, congratulated the players who have qualified for the competition and emphasized the importance of the WGP for women’s chess.
“One of the key focus areas for FIDE is women’s chess. We want more women to play, and we want them to have more events, better events, and better conditions. Our best female players deserve it - and it will also serve as an incentive for the new generation”.
“The Women’s Grand Prix is one of the most important events for us in promoting women’s chess, and we are very much looking forward to the 2024-2025 edition, as we expect more interest from both the public and the sponsors. Women’s chess is improving, but we need to, want to and will do more,” Sutovsky added.
The regulations for the Women’s Grand Prix series can be found here.
