The beautiful city of Nicosia, Cyprus, is set to host the fourth stage of the 2024-25 FIDE Women`s Grand Prix from March 14th to 25th. This prestigious tournament, organized by the International Chess Federation and the Cyprus Chess Federation, will bring together ten of the world`s best female chess players. They will compete for prize money and, more importantly, for Grand Prix points that are crucial for qualifying for the next FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament.
About the Event
The Women`s Grand Prix Series 2024–25 includes 20 players, each participating in three out of six tournaments. Each tournament is a round-robin featuring 10 players. Points are awarded based on the final standings in each event, and the overall series winner is the player with the highest cumulative score across their three tournaments.
- Prize Fund: Each event has a prize fund of €80,000, with an additional €120,000 awarded to the top 10 players in the overall series standings.
- Qualification: The top two players in the Grand Prix series will qualify for the 2026 FIDE Women`s Candidates Tournament.
This Nicosia event features a strong lineup of players, including Aleksandra Goryachkina, who currently leads the Grand Prix series after winning the second and third stages in Shymkent and Monaco. Also competing are Indian stars Harika Dronavalli and Divya Deshmukh, the well-known Muzychuk sisters, Anna and Mariya, former European Champion Nana Dzagnidze, German No. 1 Elisabeth Paehtz, Greece`s top player Stavroula Tsolakidou, and series newcomers Zhu Jiner and Olga Badelka, replacing Lei Tingjie and Regina Theissl-Pokorna.
After the first three stages, Aleksandra Goryachkina is leading the Grand Prix standings, having won in both Shymkent and Monaco. This tournament in Nicosia is her last opportunity to gain more points in the series.
FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich has highlighted the Grand Prix series as an important initiative for the advancement of women`s chess.
Venue
Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, provides a beautiful setting for this important chess event. Participants will have the chance to enjoy the city`s rich culture, historical landmarks, and Mediterranean atmosphere. Nicosia is also the largest city in Cyprus, serving as the island`s financial and international business center.
Schedule and Round 1 Pairings
The first round is scheduled for March 15th, with pairings for the first round already set. To ensure fairness, players from the same country are paired against each other in the first round:
- Aleksandra Goryachkina vs. Nana Dzagnidze
- Anna Muzychuk vs. Mariya Muzychuk
- Divya Deshmukh vs. Harika Dronavalli
- Stavroula Tsolakidou vs. Elisabeth Paehtz
- Zhu Jiner vs. Olga Badelka
Timur Turlov, CEO of Freedom Holding Corp., has expressed his support for the event.
Evgenii Tiapkin, Executive Director at Freedom24, has reaffirmed the company`s dedication to supporting chess in Cyprus.
For further details and live updates, please visit the official website.
Gideon Holt 
Elton Marrow