Bibisara Assaubayeva enters Top 3 at Women's Candidates Tournament in Paphos

Bibisara Assaubayeva defeated Kateryna Lagno in the 12th round of the Women's Candidates Tournament in Paphos, El.kz reports.

The Round 12 match ended in favor of the Kazakhstani player, securing a vital point during the tournament's most competitive stage. Following this victory, Assaubayeva’s total score has reached 6.5 points.

Zhu Jiner and Rameshbabu Vaishali are currently at the top of the standings with 7 points each, leaving the Kazakhstani trailing by only half a point.

The tournament is being held in Cyprus from March 28 to April 16. Eight contestants are competing in a double round-robin format, with the winner earning the right to challenge for the Women's World Chess Crown.

Assaubayeva has two games left. In the 13th round, she will face Anna Muzychuk, and in the final round, she will go up against Divya Deshmukh.