Russian Grandmaster(GM) Aleksandra Goryachkina clinched victory at the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (International Chess Federation, FIDE) Monaco Grand Prix (GP) 2025, held from February 18–28 2025 in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
- The event ended in a thrilling three-way tie, but Aleksandra Goryachkina won the title with her tactical brilliance and better Sonneborn-Berger tiebreak score.
About Monaco Grand Prix (GP):
The third leg of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix (GP) 2024–2025 featured a 10-player round-robin format, with players competing over nine intense rounds. Three competitors Aleksandra Goryachkina (FIDE), Humpy Koneru (India), and Batkhuyag Munguntuul (Mongolia) finished tied with 5.5 points each.
- Aleksandra Goryachkina’s superior Sonneborn-Berger tie break score (23.50) against Munguntuul secured her the gold, while Koneru took silver and Munguntuul bronze.
- Aleksandra Goryachkina won the gold with a Sonneborn-Berger score of 23.50, while Koneru took silver and Munguntuul bronze.
- Prize Money: The 41,500 Euro prize pool was split equally among the top three, with each earning 13,833 Euro.
- Sonneborn-Berger Score: A tiebreak system that rewards wins against higher-ranked opponents.
Monaco GP 2025: Top 3 Players & Prize Money
| Rank | Player | Country | Points | Prize Money (Euro) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (Gold) | Aleksandra Goryachkina | FIDE | 5.5 | 13833 |
| 2 (Silver) | Humpy Koneru | India | 5.5 | 13833 |
| 3 (Bronze) | Batkhuyag Munguntuul | Mongolia | 5.5 | 13833 |
Note: Russian players compete under the FIDE flag due to the ban on Russian and Belarusian flags in FIDE events following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Overall FIDE GP 2024–25 Standings (Top 4):
| Rank | Player | Country | Total GP Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aleksandra Goryachkina | FIDE | 236.67 |
| 2 | Bibisara Assaubayeva | Kazakhstan | 197.5 |
| 3 | Tan Zhongyi | China | 170 |
| 4 | Koneru Humpy | India | 161.67 |
Keynote: Only the top two players in the final standings qualify for the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament, the gateway to the World Chess Championship 2026.
About 2024–2025 FIDE Women’s Grand Prix(GP):
The 2024–2025 edition of the FIDE Women’s GP is a series of six chess tournaments exclusively for women which determined two players to play in the Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026.
- The winner of the Candidates Tournament would play the reigning world champion in the Women’s World Chess Championship 2026.
- Upcoming GP: Cyprus, India, and Austria.
